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AT&T is in hot water at the moment, as customers affected by data breaches are entitled to compensation of up to $7,500. Were referring to multiple data breaches that occurred over a period of time and affected millions of Americans.

AT&T has to pay millions due to data breaches; affected customers can claim up to $7,500

A $177 million class action settlement has been reached with AT&T, even though the company admitted to no wrongdoing. The first data breach was announced back in March last year, and the information from 2019-2021 was compromised. Approximately 734 million current and former customers were affected.

What was stolen? Names, addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, social security numbers, account passcodes, and billion account numbers, it is said. AT&T initially denied this breach, but then the stolen data surfaced on the dark web in March 2024.

The second breach was announced in July last year. Call and text records from specific time periods were stolen, and that refers to all AT&T cellular customers and customers of other carriers using AT&Ts network.

The settlement fund for the first breach is $149 million, while the settlement for the second breach is $28 million. The settlement was already approved, though that was a preliminary approval. The final approval hearing is scheduled for December 3, 2025.

This was AT&Ts statement following the initial approval: While we deny the allegations in these lawsuits that we were responsible for these criminal acts, we have agreed to this settlement to avoid the expense and uncertainty of protracted litigation.

You are eligible for the first settlement class if you are a living person in the United States whose data elements (including any combination of names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth, account passcodes, billing account numbers, and Social Security numbers) were included in the AT&T 1 Data Incident.

You are eligible for the second settlement class if you were an AT&T account owner, line user, or end user whose telephone numbers and related call/text records were involved in the AT&T 2 Data Incident.

Youll need to file your claim if you were affected by either data breach

In case you were affected by both data breaches, you are eligible to file claims for both incidents and could receive up to $7,500 in total compensation. If you are eligible for either of the two, you should have received an email notification from AT&T.

Do note that you have until November 18, 2025, to file your claim. Youll need to gather documentation and file separate claims for the two breaches if you were affected by both.

You can submit your claim via www.TelecomDataSettlement.com, where youll also need to upload the aforementioned documentation. Once you do that, youll get a confirmation number, and then youll have to wait, basically.
A lot of AI companies offer users free access to their AI models. However, there are limitations. These limitations may include a lower priority connection or bandwidth, or you cant access certain models, or there is a cap on how much you get to interact with the AI model per session. This is to encourage users to sign up for more advanced plans. Well, if youre looking for a cheap way to get more out of AI, Google is expanding the availability of its AI Plus plan.

Google expanding AI Plus availability

For those who are learning about this for the first time, Google first introduced AI Plus to developing markets such as Indonesia. Following the successful launch, Google is now expanding AI Plus to 36 additional countries. This means that in addition to Indonesia and the first wave of 40 countries, AI Plus is now available in 77 countries.

At the moment, Google has two paid AI plans. This includes AI Pro and AI Ultra. AI Pro is priced starting at $20 a month, while AI Ultra is priced at $250 a month. Both plans offer additional perks and expanded limitations beyond the free tier. While $20 a month for AI Pro isnt exactly super expensive, it is quite pricey for a tool that some people might still deem as niche.

The goal of AI Plus is to make subscribing a little less painful on the wallet. This could appeal to students or users who are on a budget or who arent sure about whether they should commit to paying $20 a month. So, how much will AI Plus cost? This will depend on where youre located. Google notes that prices will vary by country, so just head on over to the Google One page and you should find prices in your local currency.

What will you get with AI Plus?

According to Google, Google AI Plus includes higher limits for our image generation and editing model, Nano Banana, and more access to video generation in the Gemini app, Flow and Whisk. You also get Gemini built into apps like Gmail and Docs, expanded access to NotebookLM, 200 GB of storage and more.

As you can see in the comparison above, you get more or less the same thing as a Pro subscription. The main difference is in storage, where instead of 2TB, you get 200GB. You also get fewer monthly AI credits that you can use towards video generation. Also, Googles wording is interesting. While a Pro subscription gets you higher access to Gemini 2.5 Pro, AI Plus subscribers get more access.

In any case, if youre not a power user, AI Plus might be a better and cheaper alternative.
Samsung appears set to continue shaking up its traditional software release timeline. While the rollout of One UI 8 (based on Android 16) is still completing its journey to many devices, new reports suggest the company is preparing to launch a public beta program for its next major iteration: One UI 8.5. This move is highly unusual for Samsung, as mid-cycle (.5) updates typically skip the public testing phase.

According to a SamMobile report, users might get their first look at the One UI 8.5 beta as soon as the final week of November. More specifically, the beta firmware could be available around the week beginning November 24. This is a notably early start compared to previous cycles. If true, it reflects Samsungs recent attempts to accelerate its software development cadence after the unexpected delays that affected the One UI 7.0 release.

Breaking tradition: Samsung tipped to hold a public beta for One UI 8.5 soon

Samsung traditionally saves its large-scale public beta programs for the One UI version that will debut on its next Galaxy S flagship phone. In this case, the highly anticipated Galaxy S26 series, expected early next year, will ship with One UI 8.5 out of the box. Holding a beta now allows the company to iron out bugs and collect user feedback. This will ensure a polished experience for its most important release of the year.

The fact that Samsung skipped smaller point releases entirely and jumped straight to 8.0 before rapidly moving to 8.5 suggests a strong push to bring a more substantial set of features to users sooner. Early information indicates that One UI 8.5 will be a larger refresh than the One UI 8.0 update. The update will deliver significant visual and operational changes based on the Android 16 QPR2 framework.

Device and availability details

Samsung has not yet provided official information regarding eligibility or regional availability. But the pattern is predictable. We can safely assume that flagship devices launched in the past two years will be the first in line. Models like the Galaxy S25 series and the latest Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 models will lead the charge. Past beta programs have typically been limited to countries like the United States, South Korea, Germany, and India. So, we can expect a similar limited geographical rollout this time.

The launch of the One UI 8.5 beta program in late November sets up the stable release perfectly to coincide with the global debut of the Galaxy S26 series early next year.
As the government shutdown goes into its second week, Democrats have found an unlikely ally as they hope to extend subsidies for the Affordable Care Acts health insurance marketplace: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).

On Monday evening, Greene posted on X how she did not like the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, but had come to a stark reality about it.

Lets just say as nicely as possible, Im not a fan, she said. But Im going to go against everyone on this issue because when the tax credits expire this year my own adult childrens insurance premiums for 2026 are going to DOUBLE, along with all the wonderful families and hard-working people in my district.

Former president Joe Biden expanded tax credits for people who purchase health insurance on the state by state marketplace enacted by the 2010 law signed by Barack Obama. The subsidies expire at the end of the year.

Democrats have said they will not vote for a clean continuing resolution, a stopgap spending bill to avoid a shutdown that keeps spending at current levels with no additional amendments, and instead want to include an extension of the Obamacare subsidies in the resolution.

Firebrand MAGA Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia has surprised Democrats  and her party  once again with her stance on Obamacare and the continuing resolution. (Getty Images)

Greene for her part assailed her partys leadership.

Not a single Republican in leadership talked to us about this or has given us a plan to help Americans deal with their health insurance premiums DOUBLING!!! she wrote on X.

The words pleasantly surprised Democratic lawmakers, including her home states upper chamber rep, Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).

You are going to hear me utter words I never thought I'd say: Marjorie Taylor Greene is right, Warnock told The Independent Tuesday.

I'm seeing what she's seeing. She's seeing what I'm seeing. People's health care premiums on the marketplace are going up astronomically high.

In response, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) highlighted Greenes tweet during his press conference on Tuesday.

Marjorie Taylor Greene acknowledges this fight is about the health care of the American people, Jeffries said. Its Republicans in terms of the leadership that is missing in action.

Some Democrats expressed surprise  but pleasure  at the fact Greene mentioned it.

When Marjorie Taylor Greene is saying we need to pass this, youre idiots if youre going to go down to a loss because of Donald Trump and Mike Johnson, Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), who served in the House with Greene, told The Independent.

Greenes words come as the government shutdown moved past the week-long mark. Democrats have continued to dig in and opposed Republican attempts to pass a clean continuing resolution despite multiple attempts to reopen the government.

But Greene has increasingly challenged her own party leadership despite her steadfast devotion to Trump. Earlier this year, she criticized Trumps decision to conduct military strikes on Irans nuclear facilities.

When Congress returned from recess in September, she joined a discharge petition from Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) to release files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This came despite the fact that House Speaker Mike Johnson has opposed such efforts.

Furthermore, Greene broke with many in her party in criticizing Israels war in Gaza, going farther than many Democrats in accusing Israel of committing a genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

Greene also criticized the fact that the One Big, Beautiful Bill signed by Trump initially included a moratorium on states regulating artificial intelligence. Though that provision would later be stripped.

Despite her fundraising prowess and status as a Trump loyalist, Greenes career has stalled. She passed on running for governor of Georgia and running to challenge her states other Democratic Sen. Jon Osoff, who is up for re-election next year.

Last year, she filed a motion to vacate Johnson as speaker, which ultimately failed after Democrats and Republicans blocked the effort.

On Tuesday, Greene doubled down on her criticism.

Ruroh. MTG broke ranks and told the truth about the seriousness of unaffordable health insurance plaguing Americans, she said on X. Launch the same old controlled DC reporters to ask her Republican colleagues questions about her and write articles to frame and isolate her. Go ahead. It always backfires.

Greene added a laughing emoji to her tweet.
Halloween decorations at the home of Mobile county sheriff, Paul Burch. Photograph: Whitney Newman

A sheriff in Mobile county, Alabama, is facing criticism for putting up a Halloween display that featured two fake skeletons in sombreros and traditional Mexican ponchos being chased over a fence by three skeletal figures dressed in ICE T-shirts.

The display outside sheriff Paul Burchs home has drawn ire online, from neighbors and from Hispanic interest groups.

Its hard to put into words how disappointing it is to see our elected sheriff use his own front yard to mock and dehumanize a group of people, neighbor Whitney Newman said in a response to a Facebook post.

Newman called the scene inappropriate, given the sheriffs role as an elected law enforcement official, reported Al.com, an Alabama news outlet.

I dont think its cute or funny. And coming from a law enforcement official makes it exponentially worse. This crosses a line from tasteless joke into a public statement about who deserves dignity, she said.

Grace Resendez McCaffery, owner of Latino Media Gulf Coast in Pensacola, Florida, said the display was extremely disappointing and sad and sent a harmful message.

Its questionable whether these are messages that indicate or perpetuate fear, which of course leads to racism, McCaffery told News 5 WKRG. Whether its done by another immigrant or Hispanic person, its still harmful.

The sheriffs wife, Michelle Burch, has attempted to deflect any controversy, saying in a written statement to the outlet that she was responsible for the display, describing it as tongue-in-cheek.

My husband had nothing to do with these, other than mowing the grass around them, she wrote. I made this one, playing both on my Cuban background and new, needed changes in federal immigration enforcement.

Burch said she decorated for Halloween and other holidays on a rotating basis of themes: My parents were legal immigrants, and I have plenty of immigrants throughout my family. Ill make a new one shortly  we have no shortage of topics to cover.

The Mobile county sheriffs department has not commented on the display, but local business groups have pointed to the integrated cultural nature on the Gulf coast.

The Latin community in Mobile, Alabama, is a vibrant community that contributes to the overall success of the city, Silvia Lessa Skultety, president of the Hispanic American Business Association of the Gulf Coast, said in a statement.

For years, we have celebrated the vibrant culture, contributions, and resilience of the Latin community, strengthening Mobile through cultural events, educational initiatives, economic development, and civic engagement.

The mixed reaction to the Burch familys display comes days after Donald Trump and other Republicans posted meme videos of Democrats wearing sombreros and handlebar mustaches to illustrate Republican claims that Democrats shut down the government to fund healthcare for undocumented immigrants. Democrats deny the connection.

But the Halloween display in Mobile comes soon after sheriff Burch defended his deputies after they struck a man identified as Henry Castilo. The video showed Castilo being struck in the face as he is being held down by two deputies. Burch told AL.com that Castilo was resisting arrest.

He decided he wanted to fight the deputies. He was tased twice, which was ineffective, and so they went to a physical altercation where he assaulted the deputy. [He] grabbed [the deputy] around the neck and the vest. And as that fight continued, a second deputy came in to assist, he said.

The controversy also comes as debate continues over what is and is not considered an acceptable costume for Halloween, traditionally a pagan festival, but increasingly devoted to spooky cosplay that generates about $8bn in economic activity.

Sierra Austin, at the department of womens and gender studies at Ohio state university, advises that dressing up like any ethnic/racial group is offensive. Individuals of marginalized/oppressed groups whose identities are trivialized and come with sociohistorical trauma, however, do not have the privilege of taking off the oppression they face on an everyday basis.

In 2018, brands Sephora and Urban Outfitters faced criticism for what some claimed was commodifying Indigenous spirituality and occult magic.

Problematic white-owned brands market traditional healing methods as nuevo wellness without properly crediting or compensating the cultures that originated the practices. These sacred traditions deserve respect, not monetization, wrote Jennifer Billock on the Substack Witchs Kitchen.
Representative Lauren Boebert, a MAGA lawmaker from Colorado, is raising eyebrows after her campaign sent an out-of-this-world fundraising email on Monday.

In the email, Boeberts re-election campaign accused the U.S. government of covering up UFOs and claimed the American people deserve to know whats really going on up there, according to a copy obtained by local outlet KDVR. The email also directs readers to a website that asks, Are aliens real?! and solicits donations, the outlet reports.

For decades, our government has shrouded the truth about UFOs in a veil of secrecy, the email reads, in part. Strange crafts have been spotted soaring through our skies, defying the laws of physics, and yet the bureaucrats in Washington act like were too NAIVE to handle the facts.

They tell us were crazy like we cant see these things flying through the air with our own eyes, the email continues. I SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! The American people arent children to be spoon-fed half-truths or dismissed with vague excuses. We deserve to know whats really going on up there.

Boebert will be up for re-election in Colorados 4th Congressional District in 2026.

Representative Lauren Boebert's re-election campaign sent a fundraising email accusing the U.S. government of covering up UFO activity, a new report reveals (Getty Images)

Boeberts campaign confirmed the emails authenticity and said it is performing extremely well, KDVR reports. The Independent has contacted Boeberts office for comment.

Some are questioning why Boebert would send this email amid the government shutdown, which hit the one-week mark on Wednesday.

The government is shut down, and theres no opportunity right now to talk. So, what she needs to be doing is facilitating a way to get the government open again, not worrying about whether or not we have UFOs in our skies, Democratic analyst Andy Boian told KDVR.

Boian described the email as a cry for help in politics.

And she may raise a few thousand dollars, but shes also going to get a lot of really weird looks, he added.

Democratic analyst Andy Boian questioned why Boebert's campaign would send the UFO email during the government shutdown (Getty Images)

But others have praised Boebert, like Colorado resident Morgan Vaughn, who lives at the Flying Saucer RV Resort in Sheridan. She told KDVR she also wants to know about the unexplained phenomenon in our skies.

I agree with her. I think its time to get real about what could be happening, she said.

This isnt the first time the MAGA firebrand has used her position to question the governments knowledge of UFOs and other unexplained phenomena.

In November, Boebert pressed a panel of experts during a House Oversight Committee hearing titled, Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena: Exposing the Truth. The panelists included a retired Navy Rear Admiral, a former Defense Department official, a former NASA official and a journalist.

At one point, Boebert described a supposed rumor she heard about a secretive project within the Department of Defense involving the manipulation of human genetics with what is described as non-human genetic material potentially for the enhancement of human capabilities, hybrids.

She then asked if the panelists were familiar with the rumor. All four said they were not.

Boebert has been the subject of several controversies since she first ran for Congress. Boebert has claimed, without evidence, that the 2020 election results were fraudulent, and made statements that same year that appeared to support the far-right conspiracy theory QAnon.

Boebert also made headlines when she was kicked out of a Beetlejuice performance in 2023 after the venue claimed she was vaping, recording and causing a disturbance  which she later apologized for, claiming she simply fell short of my values."
The study found two years of war had led to enormous nutritional consequences for tens of thousands of children across Gaza. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Almost 55,000 children under the age of six in Gaza are estimated to be acutely malnourished, far more than have so far been identified as victims of the potentially lethal condition, a study published in the Lancet, the respected international medical periodical, has revealed.

The study, published on Wednesday, and led by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (Unrwa), offers a month-by-month breakdown through much of the two-year conflict, and shows for the first time a clear link between Israeli restrictions on supplies entering Gaza and levels of malnutrition among children.

Israel has repeatedly denied blame for any hunger in Gaza, saying that it allows adequate food into the territory and claiming that the humanitarian agencies there are ineffective.

The research comes amid cautious optimism that indirect talks between Hamas and Israel under way in Egypt could lead to an end to the war.

Related: Young lives cut short on an unimaginable scale: the 18,457 children on Gazas list of war dead

The 21-point plan under discussion in Sharm el-Sheik, the Red Sea resort, was announced last week by Donald Trump. It calls for a ceasefire, the return of hostages still held by Hamas and a surge of aid into Gaza without interference  through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent.

Dr Akihiro Seita, the Unrwa director of health and an author of the study, said more malnourished children would die unless there was an end to hostilities and unimpeded, competent, international humanitarian nutritional, medical, economic and social services.

The study found two years of war had led to enormous nutritional consequences for tens of thousands of children across Gaza.

Researchers used measurements of the circumference of the arms of 220,000 children aged between six months and five years old in Gaza between January 2024, and August 2025, when famine was declared in parts of Gaza by a UN-backed panel of independent experts.

In January 2024, 5% of children screened showed evidence of wasting, rising to nearly 9% six months later, researchers found. After Israel imposed severe aid restrictions from the end of 2024, the prevalence of wasting had almost doubled by January 2025.

When a six-week ceasefire allowed more aid to enter Gaza, wasting declined significantly before Israel imposed a tight 11-week blockade in March. Though these restrictions were eased in May 2025, levels of wasting among screened children soared to nearly 16%, with almost a quarter of these suffering severe acute malnutrition, the most dangerous form of the condition.

Among the estimated total population of Gaza, this is equivalent to more than 54,600 children up to six years old who need emergency nutrition and medical care, including 12,800 severely wasted children, the researchers said.

Israel has accused Hamas of looting much of the aid reaching Gaza, but has not provided evidence of any significant amount of theft by the Islamist militant organisation. Cogat, the Israeli agency that controls the entry of aid into Gaza, also accused Hamas of deliberately preventing civilians accessing aid by firing rockets at aid distribution sites.

Between May and July, more than 1,400 Palestinians were killed seeking humanitarian assistance in Gaza, 859 in the vicinity of sites run by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and 514 along the routes of food convoys, according to the UN, which said that most of the killings were committed by the Israeli military.

Aid agencies say Israeli restrictions prevent much of the aid getting into Gaza, and conditions created by the war and Israeli strategic decisions have made it almost impossible for them to operate.

Dr Masako Horino, nutrition epidemiologist at Unrwa and lead scientist for the study, said that evidence from before the war indicated that children in Palestinian refugee families in the Gaza Strip were already food insecure but were only marginally underweight.

Following two years of war and severe restrictions in humanitarian aid, tens of thousands of preschool aged children in the Gaza Strip are now suffering from preventable acute malnutrition and face an increased risk of mortality, Horino said.

Leading child health experts and paediatricians said the study was particularly notable and important because it was the first major medical study to reveal the extent of malnutrition among children in Gaza after two years of war.

Writing in a comment piece in the Lancet, Zulfiqar Bhutta, Jessica Fanzo, and Paul Wise, who were not involved in the research, said: It is now well established that the children of Gaza are starving and require immediate and sustained humanitarian assistance. The study by Horino and colleagues provides some of the most definitive evidence to date of this effect.

Bhutta, of the Hospital for Sick Children in Canada, Fanzo, of Columbia University and Wise, of Stanford University, also praised the researchers for using scientific evidence to show grievous, preventable harm to children.

These temporal data strongly suggest that restrictions on food and assistance have resulted in severe malnutrition among children in the Gaza Strip, a reality that will undoubtedly impact their future health and development outcomes for generations.

Although attention has mostly focused on the short-term outcomes of starvation, there should also be serious concern over its long-term health effects, which included inordinately high risks of non-communicable diseases, they added.

On Tuesday, Cogat said it continues to support international organisations facilitating food delivery and production for Gazas civilian population.

The study found that in Rafah, the southern city in Gaza, there was a fourfold increase in wasting malnutrition after Israel launched a massive offensive into the city and levelled it. There was then a sharp decline in April 2025 after the short-lived ceasefire.

In Gaza City, prevalence of wasting malnutrition rose more than fivefold from March 2025, reaching almost 30% in mid-August 2025.

James Elder, a spokesperson for Unicef, said last week that there was a lot of panic, a lot of very hungry people in Gaza City.

It is very difficult to describe the levels of desperation there. There are tens of thousands of children. About two-thirds of people just cant leave. There are pregnant women eating a meal a day. More aid trucks are coming in but it is a fraction of what we need, Elder said.

Unrwa, which was founded in 1949 to provide essential services for Palestinian refugees who had fled or been expelled during the wars surrounding the foundation of Israel, has been accused by Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, of being perforated by Hamas and banned by Israel. Unrwa denied the allegations and was cleared by UN investigators.
Many of those wounded in the ongoing violence are now struggling to get medical care, the Red Cross warns - Simon Townsley/The Telegraph

Nearly nine-out-of-10 clinics and hospitals in war-ravaged Eastern Congo are running low on medicines, and many are seeing an exodus of critical medical staff, the Red Cross has warned.

The international aid body said health centres in the region were facing a dire situation despite multiple peace agreements meant to end decades of fighting.

The survey last month by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) found 85 per cent of facilities were running out of medicines and 40 per cent had lost staff.

Ongoing fighting in the North and South Kivu provinces, and a lack of funding amid cuts to aid agencies, were all having an effect on the ground, the medical charity said.

Peace talks overseen by the United States and Qatar have not stopped the violence, which has led to a humanitarian crisis, Bintou Keita, the head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo, told the Security Council last week.

The M23 militia group, which both the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the UN say is backed by neighbouring Rwanda, captured the two main cities in the region earlier this year.

Rwanda denies backing the M23, while the group itself claims to be protecting the rights of Congolese Tutsis.

In June, Rwanda and the DRC both signed a US-brokered peace deal, which Donald Trump described as a wonderful treaty ending a savage machete war.

Since then, however, the M23 have continued to take territory.

Mr Keita told the Security Council: There are discrepancies between the progress we see on paper and the reality we observe on the ground, which continues to be marred with violence.

Many of those wounded in the ongoing violence are now struggling to get medical care.

Dr Hippolyte Ten, deputy health coordinator at the ICRC, said: Its often the case that even when a sick or wounded person manages to reach a medical facility, despite the difficulties in doing so, there isnt anyone qualified to treat them.

And even when there is someone, in most cases, the medicines they need arent available.

Health officials said the war and lack of money meant it was very difficult to restock their pharmacies.

One medical director of a hospital in South Kivu said: We are struggling to get to [the provincial capital] Bukavu, where we buy our medicines.

And when we do succeed in buying them, not only do we have to pay transport costs, but we also have to pay lots of other fees at checkpoints set up by various armed groups along the route.

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security
A 29-year-old suspect has been arrested and accused of maliciously starting the deadly Palisades Fire that killed a dozen people earlier this year.

The complaint against Jonathan Rinderknecht alleges that he started a fire on New Year's Day, which turned into one of the most destructive fires in Los Angeles history. He is charged with destruction of property by means of fire, or arson.

The fire in the Pacific Palisades area destroyed over 6,800 buildings and killed 12 people on January 7. It was not fully contained until January 31.

Announcing the news on X Wednesday, Bill Essayli, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, said that among the evidence collected from Rinderknechts digital devices was an image he generated on ChatGPT depicting a burning city.

Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, is charged with destruction of property by means of fire, resulting in the historic blaze that destroyed over 6,800 buildings and killed 12 people on January 7, cop say. (X/Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli)

Chat GPT pics allegedly produced by Jonathan Rinderknecht show the burning of cities. (X/Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli)

While we cannot undo the damage and destruction that was done, we hope his arrest and the charges against him bring some measure of justice to the victims of this horrific tragedy, Essayli said.

According to the AGs office, on the evening of December 31 2024, Rinderknecht was working as an Uber driver.

After dropping off a passenger in Pacific Palisades, Rinderknecht  who once lived in that neighborhood  drove towards Skull Rock Trailhead, parked and then walked up the trail. He then used his iPhone to take videos at a nearby hilltop area and listened to a French rap song  to which he had listened repeatedly in previous days  whose music video included things being lit on fire.

Rinderknecht later used his phone to call 911 several times but could not get through, prosecutors said. When he finally did he was at the bottom of the hiking trail, but the fire had already been reported.

The fire in the Pacific Palisades area of LA destroyed 6,800 buildings and killed 12 people on January 7 (Getty Images)

He then fled in his car, passing fire engines attending the scene, but turned around to follow them, according to authorities. Arriving back the scene he then hiked up the same trail from earlier to watch the fire fighters  and took video.

During a joint press conference, held by the U.S. Attorneys Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Los Angeles Police Department, Wednesday, Essayli said that Rinderknecht had lied to police in an interview later in January.

However officials refused to reveal further details of conversations they had had with the suspect about a potential motive.

I wish we could get into someones head, but we cant. People do evil things for whatever reason, said Kenny Cooper, special agent in the LA field office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Palisades blaze and the nearby Eaton Fire burned for days reducing entire neighborhoods to rubble and ash (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Rinderknecht's initial appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Orlando. According to authorities, he relocated to Florida following the fires in Los Angeles. He has no prior criminal history, Essayli said Wednesday.

An outside review of the blazes released in September found that a lack of resources and outdated policies for sending emergency alerts led to delayed evacuation warnings.

The report, commissioned by Los Angeles County supervisors, said a series of weaknesses, including outdated policies, inconsistent practices and communications vulnerabilities, hampered the countys response.

Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the Palisades blaze or the Eaton Fire, which broke out the same day in the community of Altadena and killed 18 people.

Both fires burned for days, reducing entire neighborhoods to rubble and ash and ultimately spread across more than 40,000 acres  larger than the land area of Washington D.C.  with the flames having been fanned by a fierce windstorm known as the Santa Ana winds.

A brush fire burns near homes in Pacific Palisades, California, on January 7 (David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images)

Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the Palisades blaze or the Eaton Fire, which broke out the same day in the community of Altadena and killed 18 people. (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

The economic losses from the fires may reach $275 billion, according to previous estimates.

The fires became somewhat of a political football, with tensions between President Donald Trump and Gavin Newsom being tested regularly  as each man blamed the other for the devastating impact of the disaster.

In January 2025, Trump blamed the state's water and forest management policies, while Newsom blasted the federal government, which controls most of the state's forest land, for failing to act.

Following the announcement of Rinderknechts arrest, Newsom thanked the Justice Department, and hailed an important step toward determining how the horrific fire had started and bringing closure to the thousands of survivors whose lives were upended.

This tragedy will never be forgotten  lives were lost, families torn apart, and entire communities forever changed  and there must be accountability, he wrote on X.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch will close her partys conference by unveiling plans for spending cuts, tax cuts and a curb on students attending university. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

Kemi Badenoch will unveil a golden rule to reduce government borrowing through spending cuts as she seeks to rebuild the Conservatives reputation for economic credibility.

In a speech at the Tory party conference on Wednesday, she will promise that at least half of all the money saved through spending cuts would be used to bring down the countrys deficit, with the remainder used for tax cuts and other measures aimed at economic growth.

UK government borrowing rose to a five-year high in August, jumping to 83.8bn for the financial year and dealing a blow to Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, as she prepares for the 26 November budget.

Badenoch and her shadow cabinet have already set out plans to cut 47bn of spending on welfare, aid and the civil service but also plan to cut taxes by reversing Labour decisions to levy VAT on private schools and inheritance tax on farms and scrapping business rates for shops and pubs.

Related: A British Ice and more stop and search: Badenochs Tories set out new policies

In her speech on the final day of the conference in Manchester, she will attempt to portray the Tories as the party of sound economic management  a reputation that was torn to shreds under the leadership of her predecessors such as Liz Truss.

Badenoch will say: We are the only party with a plan to get our economy back on track. It starts with fiscal responsibility. We have to get the deficit down. And we must also show how every tax cut or spending increase is paid for.

So today, I am going to introduce a new golden economic rule. Every pound we save will be put to work. At least half will go towards cutting the deficit  because living within our means is our first priority. And with the rest, we are going to get our economy growing again. And bring down the taxes stifling our economy.

Over the next decade, Rachel Reeves is going to double the deficit with her borrowing and tax doom loop. Its not sustainable and its not fair. It is stealing from our children and grandchildren. And Conservatives will put a stop to it.

She will also announce that a Conservative government would cap the number of students who could attend rip off university courses deemed not worthy of taxpayer support, such as debt trap arts degrees. Driving down the number of people who attend university by 100,000 each year would save 3bn in unpaid student loans, allowing funding to be doubled for vocational apprenticeships, Tory sources told The Telegraph.

Related: Not words that I would have used: Stride distances himself from Jenricks no white faces comments  as it happened

Badenoch will say: We need more apprenticeships. I was working with adults. I was paying my own way. And it gave me self-confidence in a way my university degrees never did. And unlike my subsequent university degree, I wasnt still paying off my debts in my early 30s.

A Labour spokesperson said: Kemi Badenoch has some brass neck. Its astounding that her latest speech still contains no apology for the Conservatives crashing the economy, which left families saddled with sky-high mortgages and rising prices in the supermarket.

The party said the Conservatives fantasy savings had been worked out on the back of the same fag packet Nigel Farage has been writing on.

The Tories are all over the place, it shows theyve learned nothing and still cant be trusted with the public finances, the spokesperson said.

A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said the idea that the public would trust the Conservatives with the economy was laughable.
Three Bollywood films will be made in the UK from next year, the Prime Minister has revealed during his trade mission to India.

Sir Keir Starmer made the announcement as he visited Yash Raj Films (YRF), a film studio in Mumbai, alongside a delegation from the British film industry.

The studio, Indias leading film production and distribution company, will bring three major productions to locations across the United Kingdom from early 2026.

The announcement marks the end of an eight-year hiatus to the studio making films in the UK, with Downing Street claiming the decision to return was influenced by the UK-India trade deal.

No 10 claimed the new productions could help to create 3,000 jobs in the UK and generate millions for the British economy.

Sir Keir said: Bollywood is back in Britain and its bringing jobs, investment and opportunity, all while showcasing the UK as a world-class destination for global film-making.

This is exactly the kind of partnership our trade deal with India is destined to unlock  driving growth, strengthening cultural ties and delivering for communities across the country.

Joining the Prime Minister on the visit to Yash Raj were representatives of leading British film industry bodies, including the British Film Institute, the British Film Commission, Pinewood Studios, Elstree Studios and Civic Studios.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (left) is shown a sound-mixing desk during a visit to Yash Raj Films (Leon Neal/PA)

Yash Raj Films chief executive officer Akshaye Widhani and leading Bollywood star Rani Mukerji accompanied Sir Keir as he toured the studio facilities.

The Prime Minister also sat behind an audio mixing desk where he listened to a song from the soundtrack of the 1995 romance film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge.

The Yash Raj production, a Hindi language favourite feature, is also known by its initials DDLJ, or under the English language name The Brave-Hearted Will Take The Bride.

It is said to be the longest-running film in the history of Indian cinema, as it has been shown continuously at a Mumbai cinema since its release.

Sir Keir was then given a surprise introduction to the films composer Lalit Pandit while Mr Widhani told the Prime Minister his music has the power to make India film fans go ballistic.

Sir Keir Starmer speaks with Indian actress Rani Mukerji (Leon Neal/PA)

Mr Widhani said the UK holds a very special place in our hearts as the announcement his studio will return to the UK was made.

He added: It is truly special to reignite YRF and UKs filming ties in the 30th anniversary of DDLJ  a film that is synonymous to UK-Indias relationship. Our company is currently producing the stage adaptation of DDLJ, the English musical titled Come Fall in Love (CFIL) in the UK too.

So, we are thrilled to join hands with the UK again and return to filming in the country that has always been extremely kind to us.

The UKs infrastructure, technology and talent is unmatched, and we are delighted to deepen our cultural ties with a country that has always empowered us to excel creatively.
Prince Harry has been involved with the charity since 2016 - African Parks

The Duke of Sussexs conservation charity has been removed from its role managing protected parks in Chad amid accusations of arrogance, serious financial misconduct and failing to protect wildlife.

Prince Harry served the charity, African Parks, as president from 2017 to 2023, before joining its board.

The charity  established in 2000  manages 24 protected areas across 13 African countries, with financial support from billionaire philanthropists such as Howard Buffett and Bill Ackman.

But Hassan Bakhit Djamous, the environment minister of Chad, has announced that the governments 15-year long partnership with the charity would be coming to an end with immediate effect.

The result is that African Parks is no longer responsible for the protection of wildlife and the environment in the Ennedi area and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem, which includes both Zakouma and Siniaka-Minia national parks.

Hassan Bakhit Djamous, Chads environment minister, accused the charity of underinvestment at its reserves

In a four-page document, the ministry of environment, fishing and durable development alleged grave breaches of contract and financial irregularities, accusing African Parks of maintaining unaudited accounts and a lack of transparency over how the charity raised revenue, according to The Times.

Disrespectful

The Chad government also alleged that the charity collected tourism revenues, used tax-haven bank accounts in the Isle of Man and the transfer of capital abroad to the detriment of Chad and in flagrant violation of national banking and tax regulations.

Mr Djamous said the charity had shown a recurring, indelicate and disrespectful attitude towards the government.

African Parks work in Chad included anti-poaching efforts and the restoration of elephant populations.

But, according to The Times, Mr Djamous claimed there had been an increase in poaching, stemming in part from a lack of investment at the reserves by the charity.

The charity said in a statement: African Parks confirms that on October 6, 2025, it received official correspondence from Mr. Hassan Bakhit Djamous, the Minister of Environment, Fisheries and Sustainable Development of Chad, informing the organisation of the Government of Chads unilateral decision to terminate the two management mandates it has with African Parks.

These mandates relate to the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem, which includes Zakouma National Park and Siniaka-Minia National Park.

African Parks has initiated discussions with the Ministry to understand the Governments position and to explore the best possible way forward in support of the continued protection of these critical conservation landscapes, as well as to ensure that the significant conservation and social gains achieved over the past 15 years, are sustained.

African Parks will continue to keep its partners and stakeholders informed, as further clarity is obtained.

Warren Buffett is one of the charitys financial backers - Shutterstock

The charity has previously been criticised for a militarised approach to conservation and complaints of abuse against its staff have been upheld.

Earlier this year, an independent investigation found that African Parks staff had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous Baka people in the Republic of the Congo.

The charity increased the elephant population at Zakouma National Park from 450 in 2010 to more than 550 by 2019, according to its reports.

In his autobiography, Spare, Prince Harry described a rivalry with his brother, Prince William, over their charity work in Africa, as well as the pairs contrasting opinions on conservation.

The Telegraph contacted the Duke of Sussex and African Parks for comment.
Children could pick their gender at school under EU proposal

Children could pick their own gender under new EU proposals.

Member states could be punished for challenging gender ideology under a new strategy unveiled by the European Commission.

Any age limits on gender recognition could be scrapped and therapy to check whether children really want to change their own gender outlawed by the plans.

The Athena Forum, a European version of the British womens rights group Sex Matters, said on Wednesday that women were being silenced by the EU.

British feminists said the new rules proved there were advantages to Brexit as the UK would not have to abide by them.

The new proposals are contained in the European Commissions new LGBTIQ+ equality strategy 2026-2030.

It suggests blocking funds from discriminating regions and supports the strengthening of equality bodies.

Varying requirements for legal gender recognition

On self-ID, it criticises countries such as Britain that require a GPs approval before a person can be allowed to identify legally as the opposite sex.

Requirements for legal gender recognition vary significantly across member states, it said. While a number of member states have adopted self-identification models, others impose medical procedures, which the European Court of Human Rights has found may infringe human rights.

The commission will facilitate exchanges of best practices among member states to support the development of legal gender recognition procedures based on self-determination that are free from age restrictions.

The document also suggests a ban on talking therapy for children suffering from gender issues.

Critics said this would mean there would be no way for parents or professionals to check whether a child really did want to begin irreversible gender-changing procedures.

It also calls for sanctions for countries that do not comply with the values set forth in the agenda.

Chilling EU-wide strategy

Maya Forstater, chief executive of sex-based rights charity Sex Matters, called Brexit a mercy because Britain would not have to follow the sinister plans.

She said: This chilling EU-wide strategy pushes legal gender self-identification for children of any age and a ban on talking therapy for vulnerable children.

It is a mercy that British campaigners for sex-based rights dont have to deal with this sinister strategy and the pernicious capture of EU institutions, on top of our own challenges in the UK.

Gender activists have entrenched their ideology in European institutions with devastating consequences for women and girls, vulnerable children, and gay and lesbian people.

The Athena Forum is a continental version of Sex Matters, the gender-critical group which has fought against the ideological capture of public bodies by trans rights activists in the UK.

Founder Faika El-Nagashi is a former Green MP in Austria who has been targeted for her gender-critical views.

Faika El-Nagashi, founder of the Athena Forum, says its outrageous that the European Commission seeks to embed gender-identity ideology across virtually every policy area - APA-PictureDesk/Alamy

With its new LGBTIQ+ equality strategy, the European Commission is effectively following the wish list of trans activist lobby groups in Brussels, groups that are extremely well funded by the commission itself and highly influential within EU institutions, she said.

It is outrageous that despite protests from womens rights groups, lesbians and gays, parents and detransitioners, the commission blatantly centres a push for self-ID laws without age restrictions across Europe, and seeks to embed gender-identity ideology across virtually every policy area including, crucially, womens rights.

Perhaps most revealingly, the addition of a plus to the title signals that the commission has fully internalised trans activist ideology. It is as if they are trying to add infinity to an already infinite scope of identities. This is not a serious policy document, but it will have very serious consequences.

Ms El-Nagashi said trans activist concepts had been embedded in legislation, policy, data collection, education and healthcare, often without public debate or democratic accountability.

A growing number of feminists and academics are being silenced for views which do not align with the trans rights agenda.

For years, gender identity ideology has been smuggled into European institutions through soft law, without debate, transparency or accountability, she said.

What happens in Brussels does not stay there. The trans ideology that first appears in strategy papers is then rolled out through funding priorities and mainstreamed into every corner of policy.

Much of civil society has been cowed into silence, fearing defamation as far Right and the loss of funding.

The UK has begun to push back against the harms of transitioning children and eroding sex-based rights. Now its time to bring that courage to the rest of Europe.

The commission document is not yet final and needs to be ratified by national governments.
A Chinese spying trial collapsed after the Government refused to label Beijing a threat to national security, the director of public prosecutions (DPP) has said.

Stephen Parkinson said the Crown Prosecution Service had tried over many months to get the evidence it needed to carry out the prosecution, but it had not been forthcoming from the Labour Government.

The case against Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, and Christopher Berry was dropped on September 15, sparking criticism from Downing Street and MPs from both sides of the political aisle.

The decision reportedly came after senior Whitehall officials met to discuss the trial, including national security adviser Jonathan Powell and the Foreign Offices top civil servant Sir Oliver Robbins, according to the Sunday Times.

To prove the case under the Official Secrets Act 1911, prosecutors would have had to show the defendants were acting for an enemy.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer defended the Government, insisting the decision to brand China a threat would have to have been taken under the previous Conservative administration.

In a letter to the chairmen of the home affairs and justice committees, Mr Parkinson said: It was considered that further evidence should be obtained.

Efforts to obtain that evidence were made over many months, but notwithstanding the fact that further witness statements were provided, none of these stated that at the time of the offence China represented a threat to national security, and by late August 2025 it was realised that this evidence would not be forthcoming.

When this became apparent, the case could not proceed.

Mr Parkinson added that a High Court judgment in a separate Russian spying case last year ruled that an enemy under the 1911 Act must be a country which represents a threat to the national security of the UK at the time of the offence.

Speaking as he travelled with a trade delegation to Mumbai, the Prime Minister defended his Government against accusations that its approach led the case to collapse.

Sir Keir Starmer joins a business delegation heading to India (Leon Neal/PA)

Sir Keir insisted that as the alleged offences took place under the previous Conservative government, that administrations approach to China had to be considered in courtroom evidence.

The Tories at the time  including current leader, Kemi Badenoch  declined to describe China as a threat, and the Prime Minister told reporters: Therefore statements were drawn up at the time according to the then-government policy, and they havent been changed in relation to it, that was the position then.

I might just add, nor could the position change, because it was the designation at the time that matters. You cant prosecute someone two years later in relation to a designation that wasnt in place at the time.

So this has to be the position of the last government, Im not saying that defensively, because that was the last government.

Asked if he laid the blame for the charges being withdrawn at the door of the CPS, Sir Keir suggested he was not expressing a view one way or the other, adding: Nor would I on what the DPP or CPS say, because its wise not to.

Sir Keir also suggested other recent espionage-related case law had impacted on the CPSs ability to prosecute.

Since the alleged spying offences took place, the National Security Act has superseded elements of the Official Secrets Act which require proof that someone is working for a state classed as an enemy.

The Prime Ministers political opponents have suggested he has questions to answer about how the case ended.

Mr Cash and Mr Berry have denied all wrongdoing.

Speaking at the Conservative Party conference on Monday, shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: I cant imagine Jonathan Powell, whos one of Keir Starmers closest and most senior advisers, would have done that without discussing it with the Prime Minister first, so Keir Starmer now has some very serious questions to personally answer.

Sir Keir told reporters he had been briefed on the process of the case.
House Speaker Mike Johnson excoriated Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and blamed the government shutdown on Schumers fears of race-leading New York City Democratic nominee for mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Johnson and the rest of Republican leadership spoke to reporters for the third consecutive day as the government shutdown entered the weeklong mark. Johnson rattled off a series of headlines from various states with Democratic senators about how airlines face numerous challenges, food banks see increased use and national parks will be closed.

I could do this all day, Johnson told reporters, near-echoing the I can do this all day line famously uttered by Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, in multiple Marvel superhero movies.

There is one sad and inescapable fact that no one can forget here: This shutdown is nothing more than political cover for Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, Johnson told reporters. The Marxists are about to elect a mayor in New York City. That's Chuck Schumer state. He's terrified that he's going to get a challenge from his far left.

As of right now, Schumer, who is Jewish and a staunch defender of Israel, has yet to endorse Mamdani, who has sharply criticized the Israeli government for its response after the October 7 attack. Johnson and President Donald Trump have taken to labeling the Democratic leader as Shutdown Schumer the past week in a bid to blame the government stalemate on him.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) has continued to blame Democrats for the government shutdown. (Getty Images)

Schumer also faced criticism in March when he joined Republicans to pass a stopgap spending measure known as a continuing resolution that the Republican-controlled House passed with little to no Democratic input.

That prompted calls for Schumer, who is not up for re-election until 2028, to face a primary challenge from a left-wing Democrat such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

So they picked a fight on something that's not even related at all to the shutdown and the funding that we should have gotten done by the end of September, Johnson said at his press conference. We just need a stop gap measure to give us a little more time to get the job of Congress done.

But this time around, Democrats have largely united to oppose a continuing resolution that would keep the government open in hopes that they can get Republicans to extend Covid-era enhanced tax credits for the Affordable Care Acts health insurance marketplaces.

Many state-run exchanges have sent notices that say premiums will double if the extensions are not extended.

Johnsons fellow Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia also criticized Johnson and the rest of House Republican leadership for not having a plan to extend the tax credits, saying she is absolutely disgusted that premiums would double.

In addition, some Republicans fear that federal workers who are furloughed would not receive back pay, even though President Donald Trump signed legislation in 2019 to ensure they would receive back pay.

Federal workers, it's my understanding that the law is that they would be paid and thats my position, he said. They should not be subjected to harm and financial dire straits because Chuck Schumer wants to play political games.
Labours proposals for mandatory digital ID have been met with fierce opposition - Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Digital ID cards are set to be used to access tax records under Sir Keir Starmers plans to embed the technology into everyday life.

The controversial ID could also be used to claim benefits, book childcare and apply for school places in an expansion of the Prime Ministers policy.

Critics warned it would turn daily tasks into a checkpoint where citizens were forced to hand over personal data to access basic services.

Sir Keir announced plans for mandatory digital ID last month, with the proposals vehemently opposed by the Conservatives, Reform UK and civil liberties groups.

The ID cards will initially be used only to prove someones right to work in the UK as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration.

But the Prime Minister has now suggested that he would like to bring in a new voluntary equivalent for everyday tasks, in a move sceptics warned could expand the mandatory scheme by the back door.

He also set alarm bells ringing by praising Indias extensive digital ID scheme as a massive success despite concerns over its impact on civil liberties.

News of the plans follows revelations by The Telegraph that digital identity cards could pave the way for a 600m Treasury tax grab.

A mock-up ID card with a picture of Sir Keir, who says there is a case to be made about the benefits of voluntary ID - Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock

Asked on Wednesday about the future of the digital ID scheme, Sir Keir told reporters: We need to address the fact that too many people can come to this country and work illegally. And thats why ID mandatory for working is really important.

I think there is a case to be made about the benefits for voluntary ID into other areas, and obviously, we need to make that case.

I think its a really important discussion for us to have. So on the one hand, its mandatory for work, but I actually think it would be a good passport.

I dont know how many times the rest of you have had to look in the bottom drawer for three bills when you want to get your kids into school or apply for this or apply for that drives me to frustration.

Speaking on a trip to Mumbai, where he is leading a major trade mission ahead of the Budget, he added: I do think that we could gain a significant advantage. Were going to a country, India, where theyve already done ID and made a massive success of it. So one of the meetings Ill be having is about ID, in relation to that.

No 10 said that voluntary ID cards could be used for tasks such as all the paperwork you have to provide when youre applying for school places as well as services like driving licences, childcare, welfare and streamlining access to tax records.

Sir Keir at a Diwali ceremony in Mumbai, where he is leading a trade mission ahead of the Budget - Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

The Prime Ministers spokesman said: This is about, on the voluntary side of things... making life easier for people, streamlining things, saving costs, that sort of thing, which is obviously separate to the right to work and the mandatory ambition that we set out for the end of the parliament.

Downing Street sources insisted that the UK scheme was not based on the Indian one, despite Sir Keirs praise for it. He met with Nandan Nilekani, the architect of the Indian national ID system, in Mumbai on Tuesday.

While the Indian system is comprehensive, with some 95 per cent of the population now holding ID cards, it has been marred by controversy.

The scheme, called Aadhaar, is technically voluntary, and advertises itself as such. However, Indians cannot access state benefits or file their income tax returns without it, making it effectively mandatory for some.

The identifier  a unique 12-digit number  is now held by some 1.4 billion people, the vast majority of the Indian population.

To enrol, a citizen is required to submit personal information such as their date of birth and address, as well as biometric data in the form of fingerprints and facial photographs.

India launched its national ID scheme around 15 years ago, just as the former Labour governments attempt to introduce its own version fizzled out.

The last Labour government attempted to introduce ID cards in 2009, but the scheme was scrapped by the incoming Tory-led coalition on the basis that it was an erosion of civil liberties.

Sir Tony Blair and Lord Blunkett, the former home secretary who first put forward the idea, have remained strong advocates of compulsory ID as a simple, effective way to tackle illegal migration.

Sir Tonys think tank led a campaign for the Government to adopt digital ID, with a suggestion that HMRC could use ID cards to better target tax-compliance activity and raise 600m a year.

HMRC is already seeking to fill in sections of tax returns automatically using digital ID as part of a drive to secure unpaid revenue and prevent error by the public.

The Tories suggested that Sir Keirs plans showed it would only be a matter of time before British people were forced to use digital ID cards to get by.

Alex Burghart, the shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: What started as a smokescreen for Labours failure to stop illegal migration is being rapidly expanded. Given how the Governments position keeps changing, its obvious that they havent thought this through in any way.

The Government needs to come clean about its real intentions. How long before we are all obliged to use digital ID for day-to-day tasks? The Conservatives will oppose moves towards mandatory digital ID.

Jasleen Chaggar, of the campaign group Big Brother Watch, said: The Government is already signalling plans to expand digital ID into more areas of life  all it will take is the next moral panic to make it mandatory.

Labour risk building a mass surveillance infrastructure that will be inherited and open to abuse by future governments.

Extolling the praises of Indias biometric ID system ignores its serious failures: massive data breaches with personal data sold on the dark web, people locked out of essential services and the chilling effect on privacy and civil liberties.

Now, the Government is saying the quiet part out loud: a digital ID scheme would embed the state into our daily lives turning childcare, welfare, healthcare and paying taxes into a checkpoint, where were forced to hand over personal data just to access basic services.

The PM must listen to the publics opposition and abandon his plans for an expansive mandatory digital ID system.

Protesters gathered outside Downing Street to demonstrate against mandatory digital ID cards - TOLGA AKMEN/EPA/Shutterstock

Sir Keir was treated to an exceptionally warm welcome as he arrived in Mumbai, with more than 5,000 posters adorned with his face plastered across the city.

Giant billboards featuring Sir Keir shaking hands with Narendra Modi, the Indian prime minister, were emblazoned with the message: Paving the way for a vibrant new era of India-UK partnership.

Musicians and street performers in colourful costumes also lined the streets, with several small stages set up along the Prime Ministers route.

Reflecting on the display, a senior Government official said: My understanding is PM Modi said to the Maharishi government, please make sure that the Prime Minister understands how welcome he is in India.

It is absolutely extraordinary. Im used to quite a level of welcome in Delhi for foreign leaders. Ive never seen anything like this.
A Disneyland guest died Monday after riding the beloved Haunted Mansion attraction at the California theme park. (Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort )

A Disneyland visitor died after riding the amusement parks beloved Haunted Mansion attraction, officials said.

The guest, a woman in her 60s, died Monday after going on the mainstay attraction, which had been decked out in holiday decor themed to Tim Burtons beloved Disney movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Anaheim Fire & Rescue responded to the Disneyland Resort for an unresponsive woman in her 60s who had just finished riding the Haunted Mansion attraction, Matt Sutter of the Anaheim Police Department told The Independent.

Security personnel at the California park provided CPR until paramedics arrived, Sutter added.

Soon after, the woman was transported to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

A Disneyland guest died Monday after riding the beloved Haunted Mansion attraction at the California theme park. (Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort)

The Orange County Sheriff-Coroner will determine the cause of death at a later date, Sutter said.

Out of respect for the family, no further details will be released. This appears to be an unfortunate medical episode, and our thoughts go out the family, he added.

Disneyland and Anaheim Fire officials have not shared details about the woman, including her name and exact age.

The Independent has reached out to Disneyland for comment.

Disneylands Haunted Mansion ride takes guests on Doom Buggies through a spirit-filled tour, featuring ghosts, seances and other occult objects. During the holidays, seasonal overlays bring in characters and themes from the 1993 film The Nightmare Before Christmas.

The Haunted Mansion ride at the Anaheim park gets decked out in The Nightmare Before Christmas decor during the holiday season. (Getty Images)

Disneylands Haunted Mansion ride originally opened in 1969 in the New Orleans Square portion of the park.

The guests death comes weeks after another tourist died of blunt force injuries on a Universal Orlando Resort roller coaster in Florida. That tourist, 32-year-old Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, died after riding the Stardust Racers ride at Universals Epic Universe park in Orlando, Florida, which opened this past May.

Nearly a month later, Zavala's family and attorney Ben Crump accused Universal Orlando on Monday of putting "profits over people" by reopening the ride weeks after his death. The Stardust Racers ride reopened Saturday.

Crump and Zavala's family, however, had asked that the roller coaster remain closed until several investigations were finished to determine how Zavala died, and until their own experts could look into the ride, Fox 35 reported. In an emotional statement read Monday, Zavala's father told the amusement park: "Kevin's blood is on your hands."

In a statement immediately after his death, Universal Orlando's president said its investigations found the ride operated normally, and its team members followed all procedures and protocols. The amusement park has not issued any statements since.
Dominique Pelicot described himself as the devil during a court appearance, nine months after he was jailed for 20 years for raping his ex-wife and inviting dozens of strangers to abuse her.

Mr Pelicot, 72, was at the Nimes Appeal Court on Tuesday to give evidence after one of the men convicted of rape at the end of last year sought to overturn the verdict.

He told the court that Husamettin Dogan, 44, knew Gisele Pelicot, 72, was sedated and came to their home deliberately to abuse her, as Mr Dogan insisted he believed Ms Pelicot had consented to a sex game in which she pretended to be asleep.

He had that information from the start, Mr Pelicot told the court, having been brought from jail. They all knew. They all came with the same intention.

Mr Pelicot rejected Mr Dogans argument regarding the crimes against his then-wife, insisting: I know what they say, but I know what they did and I know what I did. I have admitted what I did and I am paying for it.

Asked separately why his wife never suspected that she was being drugged and abused by him, Mr Pelicot said: I did everything so that she wouldnt notice. The person has confidence in you and does not notice the devil.

Giles Pelicot and her son Florian arrive for the appeal hearing on 7 October (AFP via Getty)

At the end of his evidence, Mr Pelicot apologised to his family. His ex-wife attended the hearing with her son, Florian, 46.

On Wednesday, Ms Pelicot gave her own evidence, saying she never gave her consent to Mr Dogan.

At what moment did I give you my consent? Ms Pelicot asked, confronting Mr Dogan. Never.

Take responsibility for your actions and stop hiding behind your cowardice, she said.

Ms Pelicot is under no obligation to attend the proceedings. One of her lawyers, Stephane Babonneau, told the BBC she feels she needs to be there and has a responsibility to be there until the end of the proceedings.

Tuesday was the first time Ms Pelicot had seen her former husband since he was jailed last year.

The three-month trial ending in December rocked France, bringing sexual violence against women into the spotlight and inspiring rallies in support nationwide.

Pelicot before the start of the appeal hearing on 6 October (Reuters)

Mr Pelicot, a former electrician and estate agent, crushed sleeping tablets and anti-anxiety medication in his then-wifes food, and invited strangers to abuse her while she was unconscious at their home in Mazan, Provence, between 2011 and 2020.

Mr Dogan was one of 51 men convicted, and the only one to challenge the verdict. Around 20 could not be identified and remain at large.

Mr Dogan, who was found guilty of aggravated rape and sentenced to nine years in prison, told the appeal trial this week: I never intended to rape that lady.

He claims he was manipulated by Mr Pelicot, believing that his wife had consented to a sex game in which she would pretend to be asleep.

The court in Nimes was told on Tuesday that Mr Dogan had sex with Gisele and that she was inert.

Dominique Pelicot was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his crimes in December 2024 (Handout)

Mr Pelicot filmed and photographed her, storing the images on a computer file called abus (abuse).

He said that he met Mr Dogan, a married father of one, on a chatroom and told him clearly that he had drugged his wife and was seeking men to come and abuse her.

Mr Pelicot also denied putting pressure on Mr Dogan to have sex with his wife.

I never forced anyone, they never needed me, he said on the second day of the trial.

He added: All the defendants said that I blackmailed them. It is absolutely not true, he said.

Mr Pelicot told the court in tears that he remains in solitary confinement, visited only by his lawyer.

The only things that keep me going are writing and literature, he said.

During last years trial, many of the defendants claimed that they did not realise that Ms Pelicot had not consented, claiming they believed it was the couples fantasy and that they had been tricked.

The trial, lasting 16 weeks, saw 46 men found guilty of rape, two of attempted rape and two of sexual assault.
Stunned onlookers watched on Monday as a woman was caught on camera cutting down yellow ribbons tied to the railings of a small park in Muswell Hill  placed there to remember the Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.

The incident, which occurred on Fortis Green Road, was filmed by Jewish woman Miranda Levy, who said the encounter left her feeling a mix of sadness, anger, and fear.

When challenged by Ms Levy and another man, who called her actions disgusting, the woman  later named in reports as Nadia Yahlom, a PhD student and artist at the University of Westminster  replied: I think condoning a genocide is disgusting.

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it is reviewing the footage to determine whether any offences were committed.

The yellow ribbon carries deep symbolic weight within the Jewish community. It has been embraced by families as part of the 'Bring Them Home' campaign and also holds a broader, universal meaning as a symbol of hope and homecoming.

Ms Levy, who has lived in London for two decades, told the Daily Mail she felt compelled to act, particularly being part of the Jewish community herself.

She said: Sitting in the coffee shop after this altercation, my anger turned to sadness, then a tiny pop of fear.

For years, I told friends they were being paranoid when they said the UK 'was no longer a place for Jews'.

But in the past couple of years, I've started to think they have a point.

Heres everything we know about Nadia Yahlom.

Who is Nadia Yahlom?

Nadia Yahlom, who also goes by the name Jaglom, is a 32-year-old Arts Council-funded PhD student at the Centre for Research and Education in Arts and Media (Cream) at the University of Westminster.

According to Cream, Ms Yahlom is a "Palestinian-Jewish and British artist and visual anthropologist, looking at hauntedness, supernatural life and the bio/necropolitical between Palestine and the UKs."

Her research examines the political relationship between Palestine and Britain, focusing on how humans, artefacts and landscapes reverberate with colonial violence.

Ms Yahlom has worked with Battersea Arts Centre, Rich Mix, ICA, Open City Docs, Tate Britain, Southbank Centre, and others.

She also founded the Sahra Collective, a group that specialises in experimental art forms from Palestine.

She previously studied at the University of Cambridge and Goldsmiths.

Who is Nadia Yahloms husband?

Ms Yaholms husband is a Palestinian actor and filmmaker, originally from the West Bank, who moved to London in 2011, according to reports.

What has the University said?

The University of Westminster has reaffirmed that it has zero tolerance for antisemitism or any form of discrimination.

A spokesperson for the university told Jewish News: Our values define who we are. At the University of Westminster, diversity, inclusion and equality of opportunity are at the core of how we engage with students, colleagues, applicants, visitors and all our stakeholders.

We are fully committed to enabling a supportive and safe learning and working environment which is equitable, diverse and inclusive, is based on mutual respect and trust, and in which harassment including antisemitism and discrimination are neither tolerated nor acceptable.

As a University, we believe it is important that we nurture an environment in which all members of our community, including Jewish students and colleagues feel welcome, valued and supported. There is no place for any form of discrimination at our University.

What has Met Police said?

Met Police has stepped up patrols in the Muswell Hill area following the incident on Monday and is reviewing the footage to see whether offences have been committed.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said:  At approximately 4.25pm on Monday, October 6, officers were made aware of a video circulating online which appears to show a woman removing the ribbons in Muswell Hill, Haringey.

Officers attended the location and are reviewing the footage to determine whether any offences, including hate crime or criminal damage, have been committed.

Enquiries remain ongoing.

The AHRC, University of Westminster and Ms Yahlom have been contacted by The Standard for comment.
US President Donald Trump during a multilateral meeting with European leaders in the East Room of the White House - Aaron Schwartz/CNP

Russias hostile military incursions have brutally exposed Europes limited ability to organise its own defence.

The past few weeks have witnessed a significant increase in provocative acts undertaken by the Russian military. Last month saw Russian drones violating Polish and Romanian airspace. This was followed by Nato warplanes intercepting three MiG-31 fighter jets flying over Estonian territory.

Russia has since been blamed for operating the unidentified drones that caused the recent closure of airports in Denmark and Germany, causing massive disruption to commercial air traffic.

Various explanations have been advanced for this upsurge in Russian provocation, from Moscow seeking to test the readiness of Natos defensive capabilities on its eastern flank, to Russian President Vladimir Putins desire to draw attention away from the failure of his military campaign in Ukraine.

Whatever the truth behind Moscows more aggressive attitude towards its European neighbours, it has prompted European leaders to hold emergency talks to consider how best to improve the continents defences.

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Persuading Europe to take its defence obligations seriously has been a major problem for US President Donald Trump, who has publicly chastised his European allies for their over-reliance on American firepower.

Trumps enduring dislike of what he regards as European freeloading, which dates back to his first term in the White House, has prompted fears that the defence review currently being undertaken by Elbridge Colby, the US Undersecretary of War, could result in significant reductions of US forces based in Europe. Colby has previously argued persuasively that the US needs to prioritise China over Europe in order to protect its own interests.

To counter the anti-Europe lobby within the Trump administration, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has set out her own plans for boosting Europes defences, called Eastern Flank Watch. Von der Leyen is proposing four defence projects that will better protect Europe from future acts of Russian aggression.

This includes creating a drone wall, a complex network of detection and interception systems that would prevent Moscow from launching drone and missile attacks against European targets on the scale recently witnessed in Ukraine.

The drone wall concept featured prominently when European leaders, including Sir Keir Starmer, gathered in Copenhagen to discuss their response to Russias persistent violations of European airspace.

EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, a former Lithuanian prime minister, predicted the plan to establish air defences to cover Poland and the Baltics would cost about 1 billion, and that the system could be up and running in less than a year.

But the challenge of persuading European leaders to cooperate on a unified mission should not be underestimated.

Countries such as Poland and the Baltic States, that are located in close proximity to Moscows war machine, are understandably keen to endorse a project that will help to safeguard their security. There has been less enthusiasm shown by European leaders who do not have to contend directly with the Russian threat.

Germany and France have raised concerns over feasibility and cost, and how the proposals will be integrated into existing EU and Nato military plans. There are also concerns that Brussels might be exploiting the Russia threat to pursue its long-standing agenda to establish its own defence force to rival Nato, a move that most defence experts believe would fundamentally undermine the transatlantic alliance.

Meanwhile opposition to the proposals from southern EU countries, such as Italy and Greece, is based on concerns that any future EU defence projects should benefit the entire bloc, and not just those countries on Natos eastern flank.

This unedifying wrangling between European leaders over how best to improve their defensive arrangements could ultimately prove self-defeating, as it is likely to confirm the Trump administrations view that Natos European member states are constitutionally incapable of protecting their own interests.

Trump has already shown through his interventions on the Ukraine conflict that he believes conflicts taking place in Europe should be resolved by Europeans.

If the Europeans prove incapable of constructing even the most basic defensive measures, such as an anti-drone shield, to protect themselves against Russia, the US leader is unlikely to be willing to come to their rescue in the event of a major escalation in tensions with Moscow.

Divisions among European leaders over how best to defend Natos eastern flank will also confirm Putins view that it is Nato, and not Russia, that is the paper tiger in the confrontation between Russia and the West.

When Trump made his quip about Russias military being a paper tiger because of its failed offensive in Ukraine, he may not have fully grasped the inadequacies of Natos own ability to achieve its own goals.
Florida man, 43, arrested and accused of pointing gun at group of kids for making waves near his boat

A 43-year-old Florida man has been arrested and accused of pointing a gun at a group of kids for making waves near his boat.

Christopher Evensen, 43, was operating his boat along the Intracoastal Waterway off the east coast of Florida on Saturday when the kids made a wake nearby, causing Evensen to become irate, the New Smyrna Beach Police Department said in a recent Facebook post, citing the victims' accounts.

The man reportedly pointed a handgun at the juveniles and made verbal threats, stating he would shoot them, the post read.

Several kids who were on the water during the incident claimed Evensen pointed the gun at them while yelling threats, New Smyrna Beach police said.

According to a police report obtained by local outlet WSVN, cellphone footage of the incident showed a man on a boat reaching into his pocket for a silver and black item that resembled a semi automatic handgun.

Christopher Evensen, a 43-year-old Florida man, has been arrested as police accused him of pointing a gun at a group of kids for making waves near his boat (New Smyrna Beach Police Department)

Witness Kevin Buchans, who said he didnt see the gun, told WSVN, He was threatening them all, Come over here to the boat ramp, come park your boat, and Ill kill all yall.

Hes an adult, he should know better, Bunchans said.

New Smyrna Beach police said Evensen was seen trailing his boat after the alleged incident, and police eventually found his car at a local home. He was arrested and charged with five counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Improper Exhibition of a Dangerous Weapon.

Evensen admitted to police he did scream at the kids and acted stupid, but refuted the weapon claim, saying he didnt even have a gun on him, per WSVN. The outlet said Evensen had first told authorities he didnt own a gun, but later said that was false.

It is unclear whether Evensen has legal representation.

Buchans said, shortly after Evensen yelled at the kids, he offered him whiskey.

That might be why youre in an argument with these other people in the boat, because you sound like youve had too much to drink already, is what I told him, Buchans recalled.

Evensen was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail, and local outlet WESH said he posted his $25,500 bail.
James Comey has had a rocky relationship with Donald Trump - Andrew Harnik/Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

James Comey pleaded not guilty to lying to Congress about leaking information on FBI investigations to the press.

The former FBI director, one of the US presidents most prominent political foes, is charged with obstructing a congressional proceeding and making false statements to Congress.

Our view is that this prosecution was brought at the direction of President Trump, Patrick Fitzgerald, Mr Comeys lawyer, told the court.

Mr Comey and his lawyers urged Judge Michael Nachmanoff, a Biden appointee, to push the case through quickly. A trial date was set for Jan 5.

Last month, Mr Trump demanded prosecutors move faster to bring a case against the former bureau boss, whom he sacked in 2017 when Mr Comey was overseeing the investigation into possible Russian interference into Mr Trumps 2016 presidential win.

Trumps personal lawyer brought in

Lindsey Halligan, one of Mr Trumps personal lawyers, was brought in to replace Erik Siebert who was fired by Mr Trump for failing to bring charges against Mr Comey and another of his foes, New York State attorney general Letitia James who is accused of mortgage fraud.

Ms James denies the accusations.

Ms Halligan joined Mr Comey in court on Wednesday in an unusual move, according to CNN, indicative of how keen the Trump administration is to secure a prosecution against the former FBI chief.

Mr Comeys charges stem from testimony he gave before a congressional committee in Sept 2020, on the FBIs handling of the Trump-Russia investigation, also known as Russiagate.

He is accused of lying to the Senate judiciary committee, when he denied claims he had leaked information to the press, and obstructing Congresss investigation in allegedly doing so.

Legal experts think Mr Comeys team will move to have his indictment dismissed before trial, arguing the case amounts to a selective or vindictive prosecution.

People protest outside the courthouse in Virginia on Wednesday - Chip Somodevilla/2025 Getty Images

Judge Nachmanoff, who was randomly assigned to the case, was nominated to the bench by Joe Biden, the former president.

Known for methodical preparation and a cool temperament, the judge and his background have already drawn Mr Trumps attention, with the president previously deriding him as a crooked Joe Biden appointed judge on Truth Social.

Mr Comey and the US president have had a rocky relationship.

Mr Trump fired him as FBI director days after Mr Comey publicly confirmed that the president was under investigation over his election campaigns alleged connections to Russia.

Mr Comey then emerged as a prominent critic of the president, calling him morally unfit for office.

The Russia investigation, which Mr Trump repeatedly called a witch hunt, later unearthed numerous contacts between the campaign and Russian officials, but concluded that there was not enough evidence to establish a criminal conspiracy.

Republicans have long claimed that the investigation was intended to undermine Mr Trumps first administration.

The justice departments internal watchdog in a 2019 report faulted Mr Comey for asking a friend to give memos detailing Mr Comeys one-on-one interactions with Mr Trump to The New York Times.

Untruthful slime ball

The department during Mr Trumps first term declined to pursue criminal charges against Mr Comey.

In a memoir published after Mr Trump sacked him in 2017, Mr Comey claimed the president had demanded a Mafia-style loyalty oath just days into his first term.

I need loyalty, I expect loyalty, he said Mr Trump told him at a private dinner.

Mr Comey, who replied that he would give the president honesty, said dealing with his boss at the time gave him flashbacks to my earlier career as a prosecutor against the Mob.

Mr Trump responded by branding his former FBI chief a leaker and a liar and an untruthful slime ball.
Former FBI director James Comey pleads not guilty to criminal charges after Trump called for prosecution

Former FBI director James Comey has pleaded not guilty to lying to Congress in a case President Donald Trump demanded the Department of Justice seek, regardless of evidence, against his longtime foe.

Comey made his first appearance in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, Wednesday to face charges stemming from his testimony to the Senate judiciary committee in 2020, when he denied authorizing leaks to reporters.

Thank you, your honor, Comey said inside the courtroom after charges were read. Thank you very much.

A trial date is tentatively scheduled to begin 5 January 2026, but Comeys attorneys are expected to try to have the case thrown out altogether, citing Trumps vindictive prosecution and the presidents installation of his personal attorney to bring the case against him.

Comeys attorneys are preparing a motion to disqualify Virginia U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan, and his defense counsel Patrick Fitzgerald said his legal team will also accuse the government of abusing the grand jury process and outrageous conduct.

To find him guilty of making false statements to Congress, a jury would have to agree that they believe he knowingly and wilfully deceived senators about an issue material to a question at the center of that 2020 Senate hearing.

The hearing focused on the FBIs role in the Trump-Russia investigation, although the allegation that Comey made false statements to the committee involves a separate investigation into Hillary Clintons foundation in 2016.

Ex-FBI director James Comey pleaded not guilty to lying to Congress (AP)

Two months into Trumps first term, Comey announced the FBI was investigating Russias efforts to interfere in the 2016 election, and sought to determine if there were any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government, Comey testified at the time.

Comey is now accused of lying about whether he authorized someone at the FBI to be a source for The Wall Street Journal, which published a story about a probe into Trumps former Democratic opponent that was published in October 2016, shortly before the presidential election, which Trump won.

In the hearing, Republican senator Ted Cruz asked Comey whether he had ever authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source, though Comey said that he stood by previous testimony in which he said that he had not authorized a leak.

The indictment alleges that his testimony was false, and that Comey had authorized another person  which the indictment does not identify  to serve as an anonymous source in news reports about the FBIs investigation into Clinton.

In 2018, an inspector general report sided with Comeys account after finding that, in 2016, then-deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe authorized FBI personnel to speak to The Wall Street Journal, and then lacked candor when Comey and other officials approached him about the source of the leak.

McCabe was fired from the FBI the following month, just days before his scheduled retirement.

Last month, McCabe told CNN that its unbelievable that law enforcement never reached out to him about the case.

All I can say is what my own experience revealed, and that is, I didnt ever see Jim Comey authorizing other people to leak information, McCabe said.

A two-count indictment against Comey involves statements he gave in his 2020 testimony to the Senate judiciary committee (AFP/Getty)

Comey  whose firing by Trump during his first administration led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller  has long been a target of the president and his allies following his investigation to determine whether Trumps associates coordinated with Russian figures to interfere with the 2016 presidential election.

Im not afraid, and I hope youre not, either, Comey said in a video message responding to his indictment last week. My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system.

The Russia investigation consumed the presidents first term and cast a shadow over his 2024 campaign and current administration, fueling a campaign of retribution he promised against his perceived political enemies. The case against Comey marks the most significant prosecution of Trumps alleged adversaries yet, after the president explicitly directed his Justice Department to investigate Comey and others.

Trump, his attorney general Pam Bondi and her radically reshaped Justice Department  now filled with loyalists and attorneys to dominate agencies that the president claims have been weaponized against him  are also targeting prominent Democratic officials, progressive fundraising groups and an array of ideological opponents the administration alleges are tied to acts of terrorism.

Comey, a registered Republican who had worked for the Justice Department since the 1980s, is the first former senior government official facing criminal charges under Trumps retribution campaign, which the president celebrated on his Truth Social by labeling him one of the worst human beings this country has ever been exposed to.

Demonstrators protest as Comey makes his first appearance in federal court on Wednesday (AFP/Getty)

Prosecutors investigating his appearance before the Senate judiciary committee in 2020 have repeatedly rejected bringing criminal charges against him, citing insufficient evidence that he gave false testimony.

According to an internal memo in which career prosecutors explained why they would not seek an indictment, prosecutors determined that a central witness  Comeys longtime friend Daniel Richmond, a law professor at Columbia University  would prove problematic and likely prevent them from establishing a case, according to ABC News.

Richmonds testimony would result in likely insurmountable problems for the prosecution, the memo stated.

But Comey was ultimately charged after Trump successfully pressured the acting head of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia to resign.

He then tapped yet another one of his former personal attorneys to the role, despite her lack of prosecutorial experience.

In a highly unusual move, Lindsey Halligan presented the case to a grand jury herself, and the grand jury voted to indict him last month.

Halligan initially sought three charges against Comey, but 12 or more jurors did not find probable cause to indict him. If convicted on the two remaining charges, he faces up to five years in prison.

John Bowden contributed reporting from Alexandria
The Bosch headquarters in Gerlingen. The company has recently announced thousands of job cuts - Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images Europe

German industry was once the envy of Europe. But after a decade of dancing to the tune of fashionable green dogma, the chickens are coming home to roost.

Bosch, once synonymous with German engineering prowess, will axe 22,000 jobs by 2030. Lufthansa is cutting 4,000. Chemical and steel giants like BASF and ThyssenKrupp are shadows of their former selves. This is but to name a few examples.

Well into the 2000s, Germany was proud of the fact that, unlike Britain, it had retained a strong manufacturing base. To suggest that the increasing influence of green ideas was eroding it was to invite accusations of populism. But it turns out the populists were right. Deindustrialisierung is happening in broad daylight and can no longer be credibly denied.

Yes, the rise of China and the impact of American tariffs have bitten at the heels of the German economy. Yes, productivity has sagged. But the severest wounds are self-inflicted. After the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan in 2011, industry leaders rushed to endorse an end to nuclear energy. IG Metall even urged workers to march for the closure of reactors, which, in effect, meant its employees campaigning for their own unemployment.

Later, Germany industry applauded the supposed reliability of Russian gas. When Putin shattered that illusion, they were still hobnobbing at Green Party conferences, praising zealots who would rather burn coal than extend a single nuclear plant.

Car manufacturers like Volkswagen, Mercedes and Porsche embraced electric euphoria, ignoring that customers, for good reason, trust combustion engines. A few dissenters, like BMW, warned against the shift in attitude, but they were drowned out. Now, facing slumping sales and soaring costs and being overtaken by Chinese brands, the industry protests the rules it helped to write.

Amid the ruins, however, one hopeful figure stands out: Katherina Reiche, Germanys new minister for economic affairs. After barely six months in office, she has earned more enemies than most do in a lifetime. She is derided by Greens as a climate heretic, scorned by her governments centre-Left SPD coalition partners and distrusted even within her own conservative CDU party.

She wears their fury as a badge of honour. While others mumble about transitions and stakeholder processes, she states the obvious: without reliable power, there is no industry.

Her demand for 20 gigawatts of new gas-fired capacity has scandalised environmentalists, who appear to prefer fantasy to physics. Greenpeace and the SPD accuse her of sabotaging the Energiewende, the German term for a shift to clean energy.

The Greens call her a fossil lobbyist, but her real sin is honesty. Reiche has injected reality into a conversation allergic to it. She knows Germany cannot run its economy on moral posturing alone. Unlike her predecessor, Robert Habeck, she does not worship wind turbines. She understands that an advanced economy cannot run on hope and hashtags.

The deeper rot though is structural. Angela Merkel coasted on the remnants of Gerhard Schroders labour reforms, but rather than modernising the economy, she expanded the state and destroyed Germanys edge in cheap power by killing nuclear energy. Dependence on Russian gas compounded the folly and led Germany into dismay.

The current government made matters worse by borrowing heavily, announcing grand reforms, then delivered nothing. The pretence that borrowed money equals renewal is delusion. To recover, Germany must do what it has avoided for decades: deliver real relief to working people, cut taxes and admit the grievous errors of an ideologically driven energy policy.

The consequences are not merely economic. Communities once sustained by steady industrial jobs now see livelihoods vanish. Betrayal by industry, unions and government has driven disillusioned voters into the arms of the AfD. The so-called green transition has become fertile ground for political polarisation.

The lesson is clear: policies have consequences. If you abandon nuclear energy, demonise combustion engines and overload firms with regulation, factories fall silent. Add Merkels squandered years, the looming pensions time bomb, debt-fuelled pseudo-reform and the loss of China as a crutch, and you have a systemic crisis.

German industry didnt stumble into crisis; it strutted into it, hand in hand with the Greens, humming hymns to renewable utopia. The tragedy is that this collapse now spills into the ballot box, fuelling resentment and propelling the AfD ever closer to power. Germany, the land of engineers and inventors, has engineered its own downfall, and done so with characteristic precision.
Greenlands leader has urged the European Union to invest in the islands mineral resources, renewable energy, airports, and internet services, thanking the 27-nation bloc for its steadfast support.

Addressing the European Parliament, Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated that "2025 has been an eventful if not dramatic year for Greenland."

He highlighted the significant challenge posed by climate change but notably omitted any mention of President Donald Trumps previous discussions about acquiring the Arctic territory.

"We need cooperation and partnerships with like-minded countries and institutions who share our values," the 34-year-old premier said in Strasbourg, France.

He described the EU as "a stable, reliable and important partner for Greenland for more than 40 years," extending "a heartfelt thank you" for its "strong support for Greenland during challenging times we are going through right now.

You have stood by us as a friend and partner. We will never forget this."

Greenland, which was a Danish colony until 1953, gained home rule in 1979 and became a self-governing entity in 2009, though it remains part of the Danish realm.

Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said that 2025 has been an eventful if not dramatic year for Greenland (Associated Press/Pascal Bastien)

Denmark, which also currently holds the EUs rotating presidency, and Greenland have rejected Trumps offers to buy the island. He hasnt ruled out military force to take control of the mineral-rich territory.

When asked by a reporter before his speech about relations with the Trump administration, Nielsen said that US-Greenland ties should be managed in mutual respect, with respect for international law.

We seek to have more and better cooperation also with the USA, when we can fulfill the respectful tone, he said.

During the speech, Nielsen said that Greenland has most of the critical raw minerals that the EU is seeking, but that mining these resources is capital intensive.

Greenland has resisted Donald Trumps offers to buy the island (Associated Press/Pascal Bastien)

He also urged the bloc to invest in the untapped hydroelectricity potential provided by the island's rivers and glaciers.

Nielsen also called for financial support to develop telecommunications networks, particularly in the poorly connected north, and to build two regional airports.

It is essential for us that those who operate telecommunications in Greenland are trusted and reliable actors. This is vital to ensure the stability of the infrastructure, and to prevent unauthorized parties from disrupting and compromising connections, he said.

Lawmakers gave Nielsen a standing ovation as he said thank you for being a trusted friend of Greenland.
Kemi Badenoch and her husband Hamish arrive in Manchester for the Conservative party conference (Getty Images)

As Kemi Badenoch delivered her leaders speech at the Conservative Party conference, she made reference to her fellow Tories being her family  none more so than husband Hamish.

"You are my family  in many ways quite literally  I married the deputy chairman of my association," she said to much laughter from the audience at Manchester Central convention centre.

Watch: Kemi Badenoch sings Sweet Caroline in cringe video as Tory leader dismisses 'flat' Tory conference criticism

While the public has come to know Kemi, a figure who remains something of a mystery is the man in her life.

Hamish Badenoch has largely stayed in the background as his wife has climbed to the top of the Tory ladder.

But now, with Ms Badenoch at the helm of her party, the banker may also become a household name.

Here is what you need to know about Hamish Badenoch.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch (PA Media)

Hamish Badenoch has a banking background

For the past 15 years, Hamish Badenoch has worked at Deutsche Bank and is currently the global head of future of work and real estate transformation according to his LinkedIn.

He previously worked at Barclays and read history at Cambridge from 1998 to 2001.

His unusual surname dates back to a Scottish Gaelic heritage, although he was born in Wimbledon.

Hamish, too, has won elections for the Tories  albeit at a lower level

He was a Conservative councillor from 2014 to 2018 at Merton Council.

He has been nowhere near the Commons, however, as he won only 132 votes when he stood for his party in the Northern Irish constituency of Foyle in 2015.

Hamish and Kemi Badenoch (PA Wire)

They married in 2012 and they have three children

Hamish Badenoch met Kemi Adegoke in 2009 at the Dulwich and West Norwood Conservative Club, writes the Mail, and gradually became an item as they worked together.

They married in 2012 and have two sons and a daughter, aged six to 12.

He has supported Kemi throughout her whole political career

While not a career politician himself, he has been there every step of the way for his wife, giving her a lift around south London in 2010 as she battled Dame Tessa Jowell for the Dulwich and West Norwood seat.

Sky News reports that this gives him a similarity to Denis Thatcher, but unlike the Iron Ladys other half, Mr Badenoch has a very low profile.

Lord Ashcroft commented: "Hamish and she are like a team. He put her career ahead of his own. If he said to her that he didn't think her being the leader would work for the family, she wouldn't do it."

Kemi Badenoch has been married to Hamish since 2012 (PA Wire)

Unlike his wife, he was pro Remain

Kemi Badenoch has campaigned on a pro Brexit message but her husband does not share this view and is considered by insiders to be a more centrist Tory.

Lord Ashcroft commented: "Anyone who claims she doesn't understand the One Nation wing of the party is reminded that she wakes up beside a Remainer every morning."
An Indian citizen fighting alongside Russian forces has surrendered to the Ukrainian military, Kyiv claimed on Tuesday.

The 63rd Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Army posted a video on Telegram showing a man calling himself Majoti Sahil Mohamed Hussein in its custody. The man claims to be a 22-year-old from Morbi in the western state of Gujarat.

In the one minute and 45 second-video, Mr Hussein  wearing a red T-shirt and speaking in Russian  claims he was sent to fight in Ukraine after being convicted on drug charges in Russia.

The Ukrainian military claimed he shared his story voluntarily. He studied in Russia, but got caught with drugs. And in order not to go to prison, he went to war, it said on Telegram, accusing Moscow of actively recruiting foreigners into their army.

There was no official statement from New Delhi.

Government sources told the Hindustan Times that the Indian embassy in Kyiv was trying to verify the authenticity of the video and that no formal communication had been received from Ukrainian authorities.

India has previously raised concerns about its citizens being recruited into the Russian military. Last month, the foreign ministry said it had strongly urged Moscow to release and repatriate 27 Indian nationals currently serving with Russian forces.

The ministrys spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, said in September that families had recently informed Indian authorities about more Indian nationals being recruited.

We have taken up the matter vigorously with our mission in Russia and with the authorities in Moscow, urging that our nationals be released and brought back at the earliest, he said. He warned against temptations or employment opportunities leading Indians to join the Russian army.

Officials in New Delhi estimate that over 150 Indians have been recruited by the Russian military since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022. At least 12 have been killed, 96 have been discharged, and 16 remain missing.

Spoke with my friend President Putin and conveyed warm birthday greetings and best wishes for his good health and long life. Deeply appreciate his personal commitment to deepening IndiaRussia ties over the years.@KremlinRussia_E  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 7, 2025

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi raised the issue during his visit to Moscow last year.

On Tuesday, he called to wish Russian leader Vladimir Putin on his birthday and they discussed ongoing cooperation and reaffirmed their special and privileged strategic partnership, according to an Indian government readout.

Mr Modi also said he looked forward to welcoming Mr Putin to India for a summit in early December.
A Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla aimed at breaking Israels naval blockade has been intercepted by the Israeli military, days after the detention of activists on an earlier flotilla led to international outrage and widespread protests.

Nine sailing vessels flying Italian and French flags and a motor ship registered in Timor-Leste were intercepted and boarded starting at 4.34am on Wednesday in international waters roughly 120 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza, the groups organisers the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and Thousand Madleens to Gaza said in a statement.

It came as 82 parliamentarians from the Council of Europe parliamentary assembly and the European parliament called for the immediate and unconditional release of activists from the earlier Gaza Sumud flotilla (GSF) held last week by Israel. At least seven of the more than 450 people detained remain in custody, according to Israeli media reports.

We urge all governments, international organisations and the international community to condemn the interception of the Global Sumud flotilla and abduction/detention of humanitarian civilians in international waters, the parliamentarians said.

The latest flotilla, which set sail from Turkey, was carrying doctors, nurses and journalists on a ferry converted into a floating hospital, plus medicines, respiratory equipment and nutritional supplies intended for Gazas health facilities.

The flotillas live tracker said that by 10am on Wednesday all the vessels had been intercepted. A statement from the organisers said the Israeli military had no jurisdiction in international waters and the flotilla posed no harm. It said its crews had been kidnapped.

Related: Israel accused of detaining Greta Thunberg in infested cell and making her hold flags

The statement said: This seizure is a blatant violation of international law and defies the binding orders of the international court of justice, which call for unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza. Our volunteers are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction and cannot be criminalised for taking part in a humanitarian mission aimed at delivering aid or for sailing in international waters. Their detention is arbitrary, unlawful and must end immediately.

The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed it had intercepted the boats and that those onboard would be transferred to an Israeli port to be processed and then deported. Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing, it said in a social media post.

Turkeys foreign ministry described the incident as an act of piracy and said all initiatives were being taken for Turkish citizens held by Israel to be freed and returned to Turkey, and that it was coordinating with other countries regarding their citizens.

Those detained include Melissa Camara, a French MEP. Israel has once again violated international law, she said in a statement sent by her assistant. What happened is in fact an act of abduction  targeting individuals whose sole aim was to help end the illegal blockade of Gaza, while sailing in international waters that are clearly not under Israeli jurisdiction.

Last week Israel intercepted about 40 vessels and detained more than 450 activists including the Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. Some activists have alleged being subjected to physical and verbal abuse by Israeli forces and being denied medical care during their detention.

Thunberg said after arriving back in Sweden on Tuesday: Personally I dont want to share what I was subjected to, I dont want there to be quotes about that Greta was tortured because that isnt what the story is here.

I could talk about all the children who cant go to school. About all the children amputated. Of all the children who have become parentless. About all the homes that have been bombed down. I could also talk about the extreme physical abuse and the torture that we were subjected to in prison.

Israels foreign ministry has dismissed all claims of mistreatment of members of the flotilla as brazen lies, posting on social media: All the detainees legal rights are fully upheld. It said Thunberg did not complain to the Israeli authorities about any of these ludicrous and baseless allegations  because they never occurred.

David Adler, a US activist, described a five-day nightmare of serial and systematic violation of our most basic rights in an audio statement after his release from Israeli detention on Tuesday.

We were intercepted illegally and violently by Israeli naval forces, Adler said. We were kidnapped, stripped, zip-tied, blindfolded and sent to an internment camp, on a police van, without any access to food, water or legal support. And for the next five days, on and off, we were psychologically tortured.

The Oxford PhD student said conditions at Ketziot, a high-security jail in the Negev desert, were not at all normal prison conditions. He said: From the first moment that we stepped on to that tarmac after interception, we were violently forced on to our knees into positions of submission  We were denied the most basic things, like critical access to insulin for diabetic detainees that were part of the flotilla. In short, we were treated as terrorists, just as [the Israeli] national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, had promised.

Meanwhile, South African activists, including Nelson Mandelas grandson Mandla Mandela, said on arrival back in South Africa that they had been treated more harshly owing to their governments case at the international court of justice accusing Israel of genocide.

Fatima Hendricks and Zaheera Soomar said their hijabs were forcibly removed and they were made to strip naked in front of Israeli soldiers, something they said did not happen to female Muslim activists from other countries.

Ben-Gvir has said he was proud of the way staff behaved at Ketziot. He said in a statement on the activists: They should get a good feel for the conditions in Ketziot prison and think twice before they approach Israel again.
Credit: Floridas Voice

Donald Trump cut short a press conference for emergency Gaza talks, saying Israel and Hamas were very close to a deal.

The US president was speaking at the White House on Wednesday when Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, handed him a note on the state of negotiations and whispered in his ear.

I was just given a note by the secretary of state saying that were very close to a deal in the Middle East, and theyll need me pretty quickly, Mr Trump announced.

The hand-written note read: We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first.

The note from Mr Rubio - Evan Vucci

The two sides remain on the cusp of a peace deal and are aiming to sign a formal agreement to release the remaining hostages as early as Thursday, according to sources.

In Israel, it was reported that the government had begun drafting a formal proposal for ministers to vote on, in a further sign that a deal was close.

Wednesday began with leaks that Hamas was making difficult demands, including the return of the bodies of symbolic figures such as Yahya Sinwar and his brother Mohammed, both former leaders of the terror group.

There were also reportedly unresolved differences on the issues of Hamas disarmament and the IDFs withdrawal timetable from Gaza.

However, on Wednesday night, the Times of Israel reported Arab and other sources as saying that mediators were planning an agreement to be signed on Thursday that would entail an immediate release of hostages.

Other officials suggested, contrary to expectations, that all hostages could be returned while the details on disarmament remained to be negotiated.

Hamas is believed to hold 48 hostages, 20 of whom Israel believes to be alive.

The terror group has asked the IDF to stop operating in some areas, to allow them to collect the bodies.

Fears for the health of the living hostages grow as each month passes.

Minutes after being handed the note, Mr Trump, who is notorious for holding lengthy press conferences that run for hours at a time, announced he was leaving to try and solve some problems in the Middle East.

Im very well represented by our secretary of state, he can probably do an even better job than me, but who knows? he said. We dont want to take any chances.

Mr Trump then left the room with Mr Rubio and Susie Wiles, his chief of staff.

Officials from the White House, Israel, Turkey and those close to the talks in Sharm el-Sheikh all reported substantive progress, leading to hopes the hostages could walk free this week.

Hamas wants Israel to return the body of Yahya Sinwar, its former leader - Reuters/Mohammed Salem

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Trump told reporters that talks with Hamas seem to be going well and that a deal was very close.

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said in a statement Mr Trump was considering heading to the Middle East on Friday.

Our final negotiation, as you know, is with Hamas, and it seems to be going well, he said.

His comments followed two White House officials telling the Axios news outlet that they expected an agreement within days.

In June, Mr Trump abruptly left the G7 summit in Canada a day early to return to Washington amid rising tensions with Tehran. Days later, Washington launched military strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites.

On Wednesday, the family of Bipin Joshi, a Nepali hostage, published a video taken shortly after he was abducted on Oct 7 2023, to mark the second anniversary of the massacre.

No sign of life has been received from him since then.

Israel to release 2,000 prisoners

According to the outline deal set down by Mr Trump last week, Israel has pledged to release just under 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences.

It remains to be seen, if there is a deal, how many will be totemic figures of traditional Palestinian armed resistance, such as Marwan Barghouti, whom Israel is known to want to retain.

While Hamas had agreed to some points in Mr Trumps 20-point plan, it had stopped short of agreeing to others, such as the demand to disarm.

Mr Trump has urged both sides to lose no time in reaching a deal.

Steve Witkoff, his Middle East envoy, and Jared Kushner, his son in law, arrived in Egypt to join the talks on Wednesday.

Mr Witkoff has a track record of staying away from talks until they are showing signs of progress, so their arrival could be another reason for optimism.

Steve Witkoff (right), Donald Trumps Middle East envoy, is in Egypt with Jared Kushner, the US presidents son-in-law - Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty

A ministerial meeting will be held in Paris on Thursday, when European, Arab and other states will discuss Gazas post-war transition.

On Wednesday, Israeli forces intercepted a new Gaza-bound aid flotilla, days after stopping Greta Thunbergs boats from reaching the territory.

The International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza, a network of pro-Palestine activists, said three vessels had been attacked and illegally intercepted early on Tuesday morning around 130 miles off the coast. The group said a fourth was under attack.

The Israeli military has no legal jurisdiction over international waters  our flotilla poses no harm, the organisers added, claiming that the flotillas signals had been jammed.

Israels foreign ministry dismissed the incident as a publicity stunt.

It came as Spanish legislators formally approved an arms embargo on Israel that Pedro Sanchez, the prime minister, introduced to end what he called the genocide in Gaza.
Judge tosses summons for The Bear writer who was dragged off train by cops after white woman complained about his sitting position

A New York City judge has tossed out a summons against Alex OKeefe, a former writer for the acclaimed TV series The Bear, who was handcuffed and escorted off a train last month following complaints about his seating position.

OKeefe, who has also worked as a speechwriter for prominent politicians, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, was handcuffed and escorted off a Metro-North train by police last month. OKeefe, who is Black, says he was targeted after a white passenger complained about him.

OKeefe was issued a summons for disorderly conduct following the incident. The summons was thrown out by a judge on Tuesday, which is a common outcome for these types of alleged violations, the Associated Press reports. OKeefe also shared an Instagram post on Tuesday afternoon confirming a judge at the Bronx Criminal Court dismissed all charges against me, ruling they were facially insufficient.

That means the state failed to present basic facts showing any crime was committed, OKeefe wrote on Instagram. Sitting is not illegal.

"When Mr. OKeefe appeared in criminal court Tuesday, in compliance with the summons he had been issued after police removed him from the Metro North on September 18th, the Court dismissed the disorderly conduct violation, terminating the case against him," his attorney, Lindsay Lewis, told The Independent.

O'Keefe was pictured being stood against a wall after being removed from the train (Alex O'Keefe/Instagram)

Video of the September 18 incident went viral after OKeefe shared it on Instagram.

OKeefes footage shows Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) officers placing handcuffs on his wrists as he points to an elderly woman and says, "You're going to arrest the one Black dude on the train because this white woman said she didn't like the way I was sitting on the train."

You called the police, you called the police to arrest the one Black dude on the train, he continued. I havent done anything illegal.

Lets go, an officer said in response.

After handcuffing him, the officers removed OKeefe from the train. Once they were outside, a second video that appears to have been taken by another person shows OKeefe facing a wall while speaking with officers. At one point, OKeefe can be heard saying: They just saw the Black guy and they arrested me."

OKeefes Instagram video has received more than two thousand comments and hundreds of reposts.

O'Keefe once wrote for the hit TV show 'The Bear' and worked as a speechwriter for prominent politicians, including Senator Elizabeth Warren (Getty Images for WGAW)

An old white woman got on the train and immediately pointed at me and told me to correct how I was sitting. I refused so she went to the conductor and complained, he wrote on Instagram. The conductor called the police and stopped the train. While waiting for the police to arrive, the old Karens friend said Youre not the minority anymore.

The MTA Police Department told The Independent officers were responding to a report of a disorderly passenger, and that the conductor reported a passenger occupying two seats had refused to remove his feet from one of the seats.

The officers investigation, as well as their body-worn cameras and on-board security footage, showed he had both legs stretched across an adjacent seat, the agency said. Officers boarded the train and asked OKeefe to exit, but police say he refused.

When he continued to refuse to exit, delaying service for several hundred other riders for six minutes, the passenger involved was handcuffed and removed from the train, where he was issued a summons for disorderly conduct, a violation, without further incident at approximately 1048 hours, and allowed to board the next train to complete his trip, the police department said.

The agency noted OKeefe was never placed under arrest.

OKeefes wife, Aracely Jimenez, launched a GoFundMe to cover his legal expenses. The incident occurred just days after their wedding, she said. More than 200 people had donated a total of $11,531 as of Wednesday afternoon.

This experience has been confusing, painful and traumatizing for our family,Jimenez wrote on the GoFundMe page.
Statue of Justice on top of the Old Bailey - Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

For the past three weeks I have been an unreliable mother, a miserable wife, an absent friend, and a non-existent writer. I have left the house every morning heavy with dread, and returned home every afternoon with a replacement weight of vicarious grief.

Yet now that my jury service is finished, I almost miss it. Not the case  which involved child rape, and at times felt unendurably squalid and sad  but the actual service.

Being part of the civic machinery of my country. Witnessing up close how justice works in a democracy, and shouldering some responsibility for its careful dispensation. Best of all, getting locked in a room with 11 complete strangers  men and women of every age, race, class and temperament  and coming away with renewed affection for my compatriots.

Serving on a jury is intensely bonding, not least because it is a criminal offence to discuss the details of an ongoing trial with anyone but your fellow jurors. The more upsetting the case, the more you rely on each other for debriefing, commiseration and company. Like survivors of a plane crash, you quickly form a self-contained miniature society, with in-jokes, rituals and assigned roles: the comedian, the quiet one, the devils advocate, the comforter.

I must be careful. Although I can talk about the trial itself now that it is over, a permanent legal omerta applies to everything that happens during jury deliberations. The jury room is one of the most secretive institutions in public life. No judge, lawyer, journalist or researcher is ever allowed in as an observer. Under Section 20 of the Juries Act, it is a crime even to ask a juror how they reached a decision, let alone for them to answer. For this reason, nobody really understands how juries succeed, almost always, in finding their way to a verdict. You cant know until you have tried it.

It is a heartening process, though  I can tell you that much. In many ways it feels like the antidote to the current zeitgeist of polarisation and fomented distrust. It forces you into close, real-life contact with strangers from very different backgrounds: people who share your city, but not necessarily your world. It imposes the same solemn duty on each of you equally, giving you a shared goal. To make any progress, you have to listen respectfully to other points of view, and perhaps even change your mind.

There are currently proposals afoot to reduce the number of jury trials, to help speed up the post-Covid backlog in the crown courts. Judges and magistrates might be allowed to sit alone on less serious trials, as well as those, such as complex fraud cases, that often bamboozle juries.

That may well be a more efficient way to run the courts. But what about the effect on our civic fibre? National service used to force class-bound Britons out of their social bubbles, but today we have precious few such institutional mixers. If, as Keir Starmer fears, we are becoming an island of strangers, shouldnt we preserve every opportunity to make each others acquaintance?

Jury service is a rare opportunity to serve your community and your country. It can be onerous and even traumatic, but also unexpectedly precious. It allows you to meet your fellow-citizens in all their variety, united in a common cause.
Julia Wandelt is accused of calling Kate McCann Mum on a number of occasions and signing a letter to her Madeleine x. Photograph: Go Get Funding

Kate McCann has said it was hard to hear an alleged stalker refer to her as Mum, as she gave evidence in the trial of a woman who claimed to be her missing daughter.

Speaking from behind a screen, McCann told Leicester crown court she was left frightened and distressed by the actions of Julia Wandelt, 24, who is accused of a two-and-a-half-year harassment campaign.

The Polish national is accused of calling McCann Mum on a number of occasions while claiming to be Madeleine, who was three when she disappeared while on a family holiday in the Portuguese holiday resort of Praia da Luz in 2007. This included in a letter signed Madeleine x.

That was an example of a thing that was getting to me, McCann said. Its obvious the thing I want the most  is for Madeleine to be back and for Madeleine to be calling me 'Mum. And that was really stressful for me. Referring to me as Mum is hard.

The court was told that Wandelt and her co-defendant, Karen Spragg, 61, from Cardiff, bombarded McCann with messages and calls and waited for the family outside their home on the evening of 7 December 2024.

McCann described getting out of her car alone and hearing a voice in the darkness saying Kate. I knew it was someone behind me but I didnt know who it was, she said. I got a fright.

Turning round, she recognised Wandelt pretty quickly from the pictures she had sent, she said. She was quite vivid in my mind anyway because of all the communications, she said.

I got a fright and when I realised who it was I felt quite distressed. I think Id been on edge anyway with all the communication and it just bubbled up.

She said she managed to get inside the house despite Wandelt putting her hands out trying to stop me closing the door.

The pair had been asking for a DNA test, something McCann said she would have been unable to do without the involvement of the police, who had already ruled out the possibility that Wandelt was her daughter.

She said she had not wanted to indulge the womenbut admitted she had a moment of doubt.

I think because [the alleged harassment] was getting to be so much, a little bit of my brain was saying what if?, even though I knew 

I guess having seen a photograph of her, and shes Polish, none of it made any sense. I cant say what Madeleine looks like now, but if I saw a photo of her, I would recognise her. When I say there was a niggle, it was tiny.

Madeleines father, Gerry McCann, was asked about the same evening in court on Wednesday afternoon. He had come home after his wife to be confronted by the defendants, which he described as pretty horrible.

He talked about being sure Wandelt was not his missing daughter and said that at one point he answered the phone to her. I cant remember my exact words but I said something like: Youre not Madeleine, please stop calling, he said.

He struggled to speak through the emotion as he talked about trying to protect his other two children from the spotlight brought by Madeleines case.

Social media can be really damaging, all the horrible things that have been written about us and nasty stuff online, so obviously we wanted to try to protect them from that, he said.

Kate McCann had also been emotional earlier in the day when she said it was only when Wandelt contacted their grown-up daughter Amelie that they decided to pursue things through the police. Her voice broke as she said Amelie and her twin brother Sean had had to deal with a lot.

Wandelt began sobbing from the dock in what appeared to be an effort to ensure McCann could hear her. She was ushered to the back of the dock where she shouted: Why are you doing this to me? She was led through the door leading towards the cells and her crying could be heard echoing in the corridor.

Wandelt and Spragg deny the charges against them. The trial continues.
Kristi Noem during a roundtable discussion at the White House on Wednesday in Washington DC. Photograph: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

The homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, on Wednesday compared antifa to MS-13, Hamas, Hezbollah and the Islamic State, calling the loosely affiliated network of antifascist street activists just as dangerous as designated terrorist organizations during a White House roundtable discussion.

They are just as sophisticated as MS-13, as TDA [Tren de Aragua], as Isis, as Hezbollah, as Hamas, as all of them, they are just as dangerous, Noem said. They have an agenda to destroy us, just like the other terrorists weve dealt with for many, many years.

The roundtable featured rightwing social media journalists such as Andy Ngo, Nick Sortor, Katie Daviscourt and others who cover leftwing protests.

Some of the groups Noem cited  Hamas, Hezbollah and Isis  are formally designated terrorist organizations that control territory, operate military wings, maintain command structures and have carried out mass casualty attacks including bombings, kidnappings and assassinations.

Extremism experts have long described antifa, by contrast, as having no centralized leadership, formal membership or organizational structure, and it has generally been described by federal law enforcement as a decentralized movement of activists who engage in protest activity, some of which has included property destruction and street violence.

Related: What is antifa and why has Trump branded it a terrorist organization?

The roundtable comes after Donald Trump signed an executive order in September designating antifa as a domestic terrorist organization.

Days before the announcement, Joe Biggs, a Proud Boys leader who was convicted and then pardoned for his role on January 6, posted on X: Whos ready to go ANTIFA hunting? Because I know a few guys.

During Wednesdays roundtable, the attorney general, Pam Bondi, sat beside Trump and repeated his condemnations of antifa. This is not activism, its anarchy, she said. We cant and we will not let masked terrorists burn our buildings, attack our law enforcement and intimidate our communities.

Trump also listed examples of attacks against federal agents which he has attributed to antifa, and suggested that the man charged with shooting Charlie Kirk was a a far-left extremist. Law enforcement officials have not established a link between Tyler Robinson and any specific group.

The epidemic of leftwing violence and antifa-inspired terror has been escalating for nearly a decade, Trump said.

All of the witnesses who spoke during the roundtable were conservative influencers or partisan rightwing journalists, who all claimed that antifa was a terror organization without presenting any evidence.
Last of New Orleans jail inmates who broke out in viral escape is caught months later

The final and most dangerous inmate involved in a viral escape from a New Orleans prison has been recaptured, months after he is accused of going on the run along with nine other men.

Derrick Groves was taken into custody in Atlanta, Georgia, after evading the authorities for almost five months, the U.S. Marshals said Wednesday.

The 28-year-old, who had been convicted of murder and was facing a possible life sentence before the jailbreak, is accused of escaping from the Orleans Parish Jail in May after he and the other inmates crawled through a hole behind a toilet, police said.

Out of all the accused escapees, Groves had the most violent criminal record, and authorities had offered a $50,000 reward for tips that lead to his recapture.

Sgt. Kate Stegall, a spokesperson for the Louisiana State Police, said there had been a brief standoff with officers before the arrest.

The final and most dangerous inmate involved in a viral escape from a New Orleans prison has been recaptured, months after authorities say he went on the run along with nine other men. Derrick Groves was taken into custody in Atlanta, Georgia, after evading the authorities for almost five months, the U.S. Marshals said Wednesday (AP)

He was hiding in a crawl space, Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair said. It appears he was the only one in this house and he was hidden pretty well.

Groves was arrested by the Marshals southeast regional fugitive task force and Atlanta Police Department SWAT team, Fair said.

Police previously captured the other nine accused escapees following the May 16 jailbreak, one of the largest in recent U.S. history. Authorities said the men yanked open a faulty cell door inside the New Orleans jail, squeezed through a hole behind a toilet, scaled a barbed-wire fence and fled into the dark.

Their disappearance was not discovered until the following morning during a headcount. Authorities found a message drawn around the hole they say the men used to escape: an arrow pointing at the gap and the words To Easy LoL.

Police previously captured the other nine escapees following the May 16 jailbreak, one of the largest in recent U.S. history (AP)

Reacting to news of Groves arrest, his mother Stephanie Groves said she was all messed up.

Im just trying to talk to him, she told the Associated Press. Im just seeing it on the internet, I woke up to it on the internet. Its just been a mess.

Im just glad its over with Of course he was going to get caught.

In July, while authorities say Groves was still on the run, the nine other men fugitives pleaded not guilty to escape charges.

All 10 men are charged with simple escape, which is tacked on top of previous criminal counts that initially landed them in jail, Attorney General Liz Murrill's office confirmed.

In July, while Groves was still on the run, the nine other fugitives pleaded not guilty to escape charges (Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office)

If found guilty, the escape charge carries a sentence of two to five years in prison.

Officials have pointed to multiple security lapses in the jail, but authorities remain adamant that the men also had likely had help.

A maintenance worker at the jail was arrested for allegedly helping the incarcerated men escape, by turning off the water to the toilet where the fugitives escaped through the hole.

The man has denied knowingly aiding them via his lawyer, who says he was simply unclogging a toilet. Another former jail employee, identified by authorities as Groves girlfriend, is accused of helping coordinate the escape.
The manager of the Condor Club, which claims to be the first topless bar in the U.S., was found dead in the street not far from his home, police say. (Google)

The manager of a famous San Francisco strip club that claims to be the first topless bar in the country was found dead from a gunshot in the middle of a California street last week.

Mark Calcagni, 60, was found lying on Brookwood Avenue in Santa Rosa, about 55 miles north of San Francisco, just before 6:30 a.m. Friday, The San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Calcagni was the longtime general manager of the Condor Club, which claims to be the first topless bar in the U.S. The club opened in 1964.

He was found with a gunshot wound about 350 feet from his home, also on Brookwood Avenue. He was pronounced dead at the scene, ABC 7 reported. Police have not made any arrests in the case or publicly identified any suspects.

Calcagni also once managed Vanity San Francisco, a strip club a block away from the Condor Club. Vanitys current general manager, Wolfgang Welch, described Calcagni to the Chronicle as being larger than life and having a massive impact on the community.

The manager of the Condor Club, which claims to be the first topless bar in the U.S., was found dead in the street not far from his home, police say. (Google)

Calcagni was found dead on Brookwood Avenue in San Francisco, not far from where he lived (Google)

He was a really great guy, Welch told the Gazetteer SF.

Welch continued: He always spoke so highly of keeping the community and the family as strong and tied together as he could; he was always a willing to take his shirt off to give it to someone else kind of guy.

No suspect or suspects had been identified as of Monday. Authorities have not yet recovered any firearm linked to the shooting, Santa Rosa police said Monday.

Though any time a suspect of a violent crime remains at large it presents a potential risk, we do not believe there is an ongoing threat to public safety, the department said.

Investigators are asking for any video evidence that may help with the case. Anyone with information is urged to contact the police tip line at (707) 543-3590 or submit tips online. A reward of up to $5,000 is also being offered by the Sonoma County Alliance Community Engagement and Safety Fund for information leading to the arrest of the suspects involved.
The Manchester synagogue terrorist called 999 and pledged allegiance to Islamic State after he launched the attack.

Counter Terrorism Policing North West has confirmed that knifeman Jihad al-Shamie, 35, called police in the initial stages of the attack last Thursday.

Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, were both killed and several others were injured during the attack, which took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

A spokesperson for Counter Terrorism Policing North West said: We can confirm that, in the initial stages of the attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, a call was made by the attacker to police claiming to pledge allegiance to the so-called Islamic State.

We are continuing to investigate the full circumstances and motivation behind what happened. The investigation is continuing at pace.

Jihad al-Shamie was on bail for an alleged rape offence (Facebook)

Reports in The Sun say he told 999 operators: I have killed two Jews in the name of the Islamic State.

Shamie, who was on bail for an alleged rape offence, was shot dead by police minutes after he launched the attack, which was declared a terror attack by authorities.

Police are still working to establish the full details of the motivations of the 35-year-old attacker, who was a British national of Syrian heritage and was granted citizenship in 2006 as a minor.

Investigators do not believe he had ever been referred to Prevent, Britains counterterrorism programme, but did have a criminal history and police say he may have been influenced by an extreme Islamist mindset.

Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, where two men died in a terror attack (PA)

In a statement, his family condemned the attack, describing it as a heinous act.

It later emerged that two victims of the attack were shot by armed police as they sheltered inside the barricaded door of the synagogue.

Adrian Daulby, 53, died after he sustained a bullet wound, while another person was injured by a stray bullet.

Sir Stephen Watson, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said the victims bullet wounds may sadly have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently required action taken by my officers to bring this vicious attack to an end.

Worshipper Adrian Daulby, left, and security guard Melvin Cravitz were killed during the terror attack (Handout/Greater Manchester Police/PA)

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the police watchdog, has launched an investigation into the fatal shooting by armed officers.

The police chief said he welcomed that the police watchdog had found that no misconduct is apparent in the forces response to the Manchester synagogue attack.

It comes after the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the three armed officers who fired their weapons while responding to the attack outside Heaton Park Synagogue in Crumpsall are being treated as witnesses to the investigation.

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

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

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

Police said they have further releases planned for today, but have not concluded the investigation.
Members of the national guard patrol on the National Mall near the Washington Monument in Washington DC last month. Photograph: Gent Shkullaku/Zuma Press Wire/Shutterstock

More than half of Americans believe that the US government should only deploy armed troops in the event of external threats, according to a new survey.

The Reuters/Ipsos survey released on Wednesday found that 58% of Americans believe that the president should only send in armed forces to areas with external threats. Meanwhile, 25% said that they believed the US military could be used for other purposes and 18% said that they were not sure.

The survey, which comes as Donald Trump continues to send or threaten to send armed national guard troops to major American cities including Portland, Baltimore, Chicago and Los Angeles  much to public outrage  found that 72% of Democrats agreed with the sentiment.

Notably, only a slight majority, 51%, of Republicans said that they agreed and 53% of respondents with other political affiliations said the same.

Related: Texas national guard troops head to Illinois after judge fails to block move

The survey also found that only 37% of all Americans believed that the president should be able to send in troops into a state even if its governor objects; 48% of responders said they disagreed and 15% said they were unsure.

Among those who agreed with Trumps deploying of armed troops to a state despite a governors objection, 70% of Republicans said yes while only 13% of Democrats said the same.

Additionally, the survey found that 83% of all Americans said that the US military should remain politically neutral. Among Republicans 78% agreed with the sentiment, 93% of Democrats said the same and 80% of respondents with other political affiliations agreed as well.

Last month, Trump faced widespread backlash from Democratic lawmakers after he suggested the US military use American cities as training grounds.

Addressing a room of more than 800 military leaders in Quantico, Virginia, Trump said: Last month I signed an executive order to provide training for quick reaction force that can help quell civil disturbances. This is gonna be a big thing for the people in this room, because its the enemy from within, and we have to handle it before it gets out of control.

He added that he told the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, that we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military.

On Wednesday, Trump called for the jailing of Chicagos mayor, Brandon Johnson, and Illinoiss governor, JB Pritzker, as armed national guard troops arrive in the Chicago area under Trumps orders.

Both leaders, whom Trump has accused of failing to protect Ice officers amid their immigration raids, have refused to budge. Johnson said, Im not going anywhere, while Pritzker said: I will not back down.

A federal judge on Saturday blocked the Trump administration from sending national guard troops to Portland, Oregon. The judges decision came after Trump threatened to authorize full force, if necessary in the heavily liberal city which he has claimed to be war-ravaged.
Drug gangs stormed by police with thousands of county lines shut down

More than 2,300 drug smuggling deal lines have been shut off in the past year, new figures from the Home Office have revealed.

Crime minister Sarah Jones welcomed the new data, which she said speak for themselves, but promised to go further than ever to stop this evil trade, adding that the authorities will be relentless in tackling Britains drug gangs.

Targeted work on key transport networks and investment into automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology resulted in more than 1,120 senior gang members being charged in the 12 months to July, the government said.

They are the highest annual figures since the governments county lines programme began six years ago, in 2019.

The exploitation of children and vulnerable people in this way is disgusting and cowardly, said Ms Jones, who joined police on a dawn raid in Liverpool as part of an operation targeting drugs on Tuesday.

County lines gangs are also driving knife crime in our communities, and I want criminals to know that we will not let them get away with it.

We will be relentless in going after these gangs.

Todays results speak for themselves  but we are going further than ever to stop this evil trade.

We are going further than ever to stop this evil trade, says crime minister (Merseyside Police/Ryan Birchall)

Ms Jones said three new criminal offences brought in through the Crime and Policing Bill, which faces scrutiny in the Lords before it becomes law, would help ensure the punishment matches the severity of the crime.

These include the proposed new offences of coerced internal concealment  where children and vulnerable people are made to hide objects inside their bodies  and criminal exploitation of children, which would each carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

The third proposed new offence of cuckooing  taking over vulnerable peoples homes to carry out crime  would carry a maximum penalty of five years jail time.

Lynn Perry, chief executive of the charity Barnardos, called for children who are being exploited to be treated as victims rather than criminals.

Items seized after Metropolitan Police officers carry out a dawn raid in Canary Wharf as part of an investigation into a county lines drug gang (PA)

Children who are exploited are often forced to commit crimes by being coerced, threatened and made to feel like theres no way out.

For too long, these children have been treated as criminals, rather than victims in need of protection.

The government recently included measures in the Crime and Policing Bill which makes child criminal exploitation an offence.

This is a step in the right direction, however more work needs to be done, including creating a statutory definition of child criminal exploitation. This will help to protect and defend children from prosecution during legal cases.

Barnardos works with thousands of children across the UK who have experienced exploitation, and we know that too often children are not able to access support services and are left at continued risk of harm.

Were urging the government to invest in specialist services to make sure all children who have been abused or exploited get the help they need.
Minor detained over bomb threat to Utah high school which forced an evacuation: beyond the scale of a hoax

A minor has been detained over a bomb threat to a Utah high school, which forced students to evacuate.

Ben Lomond High School in Ogden was targeted in a bomb threat that local Police Captain Tim Scott called beyond the scale of a hoax.

Police responded to the bomb threat last Thursday, clearing students from the school almost immediately, Scott told reporters at the time.

There was a large police presence at the school with Ogden firefighters as well as a drone team, K-9 officers and our metro SWAT team, Scott said.

Ogden Police said the school was fully cleared by late Thursday afternoon, and no explosives were found.

A minor has been detained over a bomb threat to Ben Lomond High School in Utah, which forced students to evacuate (Google Earth)

All students are safe and were safely reunited with their families, a Facebook post read.

Nearly a week after the terrifying incident, police announced they had identified an out-of-state boy as a suspect in the bomb threat.

The suspect was located in Washington State and detained, a statement issued Tuesday read.

Lieutenant William Farr with Ogden Police told the Standard-Examiner the boy was not a student at Ben Lomond High School.

Its unclear what connection, if any, the boy had to the school. The Independent has reached out to Ogden Police for comment.

When asked why the bomb threat was not treated as a hoax, Scott said Thursday, There is investigative information that we have that tells us this is not a hoax. That we actually did have an active threat at the school.

The Ogden School District told the Standard-Examiner Tuesday, It reaffirms the great confidence in our local law enforcement to see that they have the drive and the means to pursue and identify those who threaten the safety of our schools, even when the source originates outside of Ogden City or outside of Utah.

The school district added that it was very pleased with the response to the bomb threat, adding, School employees and students followed their training and carried out the emergency response protocol quickly and calmly.

Also on Tuesday, there was a shooting near the Ben Lomond High School, in which a 16-year-old was killed. Scott told reporters the incident was not connected in any way to the bomb threat. Police have yet to identify a suspect in the shooting.
Myleene Klass has said her home now has to be like Fort Knox after a man posted her an air pistol and handcuffs.

Peter Windsor, 61, was found guilty on Tuesday of stalking after he sent the TV and radio star handcuffs, a police uniform and disturbing unwanted letters.

Jurors also convicted him of stalking Klasss Classic FM colleague Katie Breathwick by sending her details of a DIY will-writing kit and other raving and unhinged mail.

Stalker Peter Windsor (West Midlands Police/PA)

Speaking after the verdict, Klass said Windsors behaviour left her looking over her shoulder and that the air pistol could have killed someone.

She told ITV News: As the police have pointed out, the fact that the gun wasnt opened is a literal lifesaver, because whilst it was an air pistol, at six foot its still fatal.

It was in a parcel. Think of the hands that would have touched that parcel from the post office all the way through to my colleagues at work, through to the person delivering the parcel, the girls at reception, who work at the reception where I work.

All Ive done is play through how many people would have held the box with the gun in it before it got to me.

Youre always looking over your shoulder. You have to remember I didnt know what my stalker looked like, she said of her experience.

Klass told the broadcaster she had been forced to increase her security.

Its like literally Fort Knox now. We live in Alcatraz now, she said.

I have to be careful. I dont want to become my own prisoner. I certainly dont want that for my family.

Windsor, of Mary Road, Stechford, Birmingham, had denied stalking both Klass and Breathwick by sending items to Classic FMs central London studios between March 2020 and August 2024.

Jurors at Birmingham Crown Court reached their unanimous guilty verdicts after deliberating for four hours and eight minutes over two days.

Windsor, wearing a grey sweatshirt, sighed and pursed his lips in the dock as the verdicts were announced.

Judge Tom Rochford told Windsor, who has been on remand throughout his trial, that the options for his sentencing next month include prison or two types of hospital order.
Gisele Pelicot and her son Florian Pelicot (right) are in court this week reliving the horrors of her abuse - Gabriel Bouys/Getty Images

He has a face France would rather forget.

A year ago, the country learned with horror that an outwardly respectable middle-class pensioner had invited dozens of men to rape and assault his wife while she lay drugged and unconscious in their home in Mazan, a Provencal village ringed by vineyards.

While Gisele Pelicots stoic expression and red bob have become a global beacon of female resistance against sexual abuse, France had hoped her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, would fade into oblivion after being sentenced to 20 years.

Yet on Tuesday, the monster of Mazan, as one of Frances worst sexual predators is known, was extracted from solitary confinement to face his ex-wife and the one man who refused to let the case rest.

Husamettin Dogan, a 44-year-old Turkish-born builder, is the only one of the 51 men convicted by a court in Avignon to appeal his sentence.

In doing so, he has dragged France back into the nightmare of the Mazan rapes  a case that shocked the nation, scarred a small Provencal town and turned one woman into a feminist icon.

I am here because I did not want to rape this lady, whom I respect, Dogan told three judges and nine jurors of the Nimes appeals court when the case opened on Monday. Convicted last year of rape and sentenced to nine years in prison, he now claims he was deceived.

Husamettin Dogan arrives in court where he is appealing against his conviction for rape

Like so many other defendants last year, who all chose not to appeal their sentences of three to 15 years, he said he thought he was participating in a libertine couples game and only realised something was wrong when he heard Ms Pelicot snoring.

I thought she was pretending to sleep, he said as he recounted visiting the couples home on June 28 2019.

His eyes stayed fixed on the bench. He never once looked left  towards Ms Pelicot, now 72, who sat quietly beside her son, Florian, 46.

Gisele Pelicot remained unmoved in court, where the defendant refused to look at her - Alexandre Dimou/Reuters

Pelicot had manipulated and threatened him, he asserted. He said I would have big problems if I did not do what he said.

But taking to the bar, this time as key witness rather than the accused, Pelicot, 72, clinically cut through such claims in court on Tuesday.

Dogan and he had connected via the notorious, now defunct libertarian Coco website in the without her knowledge chat room, said Pelicot.

I told him I was looking for someone to abuse my wife while she was asleep, without her knowledge, he said in a matter-of-fact tone after asking to remain seated due to hip problems.

He sent me a photo, I sent him mine and a photo of my wife without her face. The meeting was set for the night of 28 to 29 June. He parked his car, I watched him, I asked him to undress, he undressed.

Gisele Pelicots lawyer said she was reluctant to return to court but recognises the importance of forcing France to look at itself - Guiallaume Horcajuelo/EPA/Shutterstock

Then, Pelicot described how Dogan raped her over the course of two hours.

After that, he leaves.

Investigators found a total of 107 photos and 14 videos from the night Dogan visited the couples home.

It is clear that the two men are acting very cautiously and meticulously so as not to make any noise, said investigator Jeremie Bosse Platiere.

They whisper so as not to startle the victim and are clearly intent on not waking her up.

Despite the damning evidence, Dogan on Wednesday insisted it was not rape.

I engaged in a sexual act, I never raped anyone. Hes the manipulator, not me. Hes the one who lured me there, he told the court.

Mrs Pelicot asked the court that her son Florian be forewarned when footage of her abuse was about to be shown - Guiallaume Horcajuelo/EPA/Shutterstock

Then it was Gisele Pelicots turn to speak.

It was the first time she had done so since last years verdict, and the diminutive grandmother had lost none of her defiance and outrage.

At what moment did I give you my consent?, she grilled the lone defendant. Never.

I am the only victim in this room. Take responsibility for your actions and stop hiding behind your cowardice, she glowered.

She twisted the knife further after the court was shown extracts of the sordid videos of her abuse once her son had left the room at her request.

She said that she had not been able to look at the videos shown in court and had instead kept her eyes fixed upon Dogan.

I saw that he revelled in them again. He did not lower his eyes once.

Addressing him directly, she added: You have still not understood what a rape is.

I have to rebuild myself from these ruins

Earlier, she had arrived at the Palais de Justice to applause from hundreds of women. Dressed in her candy-pink jacket, she smiled briefly, flanked by her lawyers, before walking inside.

Among the crowd were four high school girls holding handwritten signs: Courage Gisele. Shes brave, one said. Shes our hero.

Her lawyer, Antoine Camus, said she would have preferred to quietly get on with her life. But she knows this case forces France to look at itself, he said. It asks what men think gives them permission.

In court, Gisele Pelicot concurred: What I want most of all is to never set foot in a courtroom again, ever.

For me, the damage is done. I have to rebuild myself from these ruins. Im on the right track, she went on, informing the court that she had to live with four sexually transmitted diseases and that doctors feared she had developed precancerous cells.

But her appearance was worth it if I can give this strength to others.

Today, when women wake up and cant remember anything, they will think of this story and they will find support. But once again, no, I am not an icon, I am an ordinary woman who dared to break the silence, despite myself.

Huge crowds gathered outside the courthouse in support of Gisele Pelicot - Alexandre Dimou/Reuters

The case continues to defy comprehension. For nearly a decade, Pelicot drugged his wife, sometimes slipping sedatives into her soup or wine. Then, he would invite strangers recruited online to abuse her.

The assaults were filmed and catalogued: 92 rapes, 72 identified perpetrators. When he was finally arrested in 2020, for filming up womens skirts in a supermarket, police found a cache of images of his unconscious wife. The scale of the abuse soon emerged.

For the people of Mazan, where the horrors unfolded, the trials return is an open wound. The Pelicot family home has become a grim tourist stop for morbid sightseers; a rape house gawped at by strangers.

Estate agents admit the scandal has tainted the areas reputation.

Yet not all legacies are bleak. At an equestrian centre on the village outskirts, Chloe Sarra now helps victims of domestic abuse rebuild confidence through therapy with horses. Giseles courage changed things, she said. It helped women speak who were too ashamed before. The shame has shifted, finally, to the abusers.

Mrs Pelicot herself quietly donated 20,000 (17,300) to the project. She wanted Mazan to be known for something other than rape, said Ms Sarra.

As the appeal continues, the town, the country and perhaps even Gisele Pelicot herself, remain trapped in the same impossible question: how do you move on from something everyone wants to forget  but no one should.
Destruction in Gaza. Hamas is seeking guarantees Israel will not resume bombing after it releases the hostages it captured on 7 October 2023. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Donald Trump has said he may travel to the Middle East at the end of the week, adding that negotiations in Egypt to end the two-year war in Gaza were very close to reaching a deal.

The US president said that he could visit the region on Saturday or Sunday as he hailed talks that could bring peace for the Middle East.

Its very close, theyre doing very well, Trump told reporters on Wednesday evening. Its something I think will happen, has a good chance of happening  There is a very good chance, negotiations are going very well.

During a White House roundtable, secretary of state Marco Rubio handed the president a handwritten note with the words very close underlined.

You need to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first, read the hand-scrawled note on White House stationery. After reading the message, the text of which was captured by an Associated Press photographer, Trump told reporters: I was just given a note by the secretary of state saying that were very close to a deal in the Middle East, and theyre going to need me pretty quickly.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later said in a statement that was considering travel to the Middle East after a visit to Walter Reed hospital in Washington DC on Friday morning.

Earlier, US, Qatari and Turkish officials arrived in the Egyptian coastal resort of Sharm el-Sheikh for the third day of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The US Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law, were joined by the Qatari prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and the head of Turkish intelligence, Ibrahim Kalin.

The presence of the senior officials from the three countries brought further hope that this round of talks could result in a deal, even as significant gaps remained between the two sides.

Related: Young lives cut short on an unimaginable scale: the 18,457 children on Gazas list of war dead

Good progress has been made today, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, told reporters in Washington DC. Events are moving in a good direction, but theres still some work to be done.

Hamas has said that it is seeking international guarantees that Israel will not resume bombing Gaza after the group releases all the remaining hostages, living and dead, that it captured on 7 October 2023  its main leverage over Israel.

In mid-March, Israel unilaterally ended a ceasefire when it resumed fighting in Gaza and declined to move to a second stage of talks that would have led to an end to the war.

In an interview with Egyptian TV on Wednesday, the leader of the Palestinian negotiating delegation and senior Hamas official, Khalil al-Hayya, said that the group needed firm guarantees from Trump that the war will not return.

Though Hamas has agreed to three parts of Trumps 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza  namely the release of all hostages in return for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, surrendering power in the strip and Israels withdrawal from Gaza  the rest of the deal still needs to be discussed.

Among the points that still need to be negotiated are the demands that Hamas disarm, how and when Israeli troops withdraw from the Gaza Strip, and the makeup of an international technocratic body that is meant to govern Gaza.

Logistics of a hostage-prisoner swap still need to be ironed out. Hamas had given mediators a list of Palestinian prisoners it wants to see released from Israeli prisons, said Taher al-Nounou, a senior Hamas official.

Rightwing members of the Israeli government have put pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, not to allow the release of certain prisoners, such as Marwan Barghouti, who has frequently been touted as a future Palestinian political leader, according to Israeli media.

The far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that Netanyahu should seek complete victory over Hamas in Gaza, in remarks he made while praying at al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem  a disputed area that contains Islams third-holiest site and is Judaisms holiest place  on Wednesday. Hamas called his visit a deliberate provocation.

Related: Weary Israelis greet Trump as saviour as hostages deal inches closer

Joining the talks are militant groups allied to Hamas including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which holds some Israeli hostages as Hamas tries to present a unified Palestinian front.



Israel and Hamas have said that they are committed to making sure talks succeed. Netanyahus office said on Tuesday that Israel was cautiously optimistic about the discussions. Hamas has also said it will operate in good faith to ensure talks result in a permanent ceasefire.

In separate statements, however, both parties have given conflicting visions on how they see the long-term prospects of the ceasefire. Netanyahu has said on two occasions that the Israeli army will remain in Gaza, in apparent contradiction to the Trump plan.

In a statement on Tuesday, Hamas did not mention disarmament, while in interviews with Arabic media, some officials have rejected the idea of laying down the groups arms entirely.

The Trump administration and its Arab allies, as well as regional players such as Turkey, have thrown their weight behind the current round of peace talks in an effort to quickly push through a truce that has evaded negotiators for two years. Trump has said that he wants Israeli hostages to be released this week and has threatened Hamas with total obliteration if it does not agree to the deal.

Related: How likely is it that Trumps Gaza plan will work?

Trumps plan calls for an immediate end to fighting in Gaza, the release of all 48 hostages held by Hamas  20 of whom are believed to still be alive  the disarmament of Hamas and its relinquishing of governing power in the Gaza strip to an international transitional authority headed by Trump. In return, Israel would gradually withdraw to a buffer zone at the edges of the strip and return nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees.

Humanitarian aid would also surge in a bid to alleviate the famine that consumes parts of Gaza as a result of Israels blockade, as well as reconstruction funds to the destroyed strip.

In conjunction with the talks in Egypt, France is to host a ministerial meeting in Paris with counterparts from Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE, among other countries, according to Reuters.

The meeting will discuss the potential international stabilisation force in Gaza, the body meant to rule over the territory, the disarmament of Hamas, as well as humanitarian aid and reconstruction, the Associated Press reported.

The Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Saar, criticised the ministerial meeting for not including the country, describing it as being concocted behind Israels back. Saar said that he hoped the meeting would not jeopardise the release of hostages.

Israel continued to strike Gaza as negotiations progressed, despite the US calling for a ceasefire on Friday. At least 10 people were killed by Israeli strikes and fire over the last 24 hours, according to the Gaza health authority.

At least 67,183 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 170,000 wounded by Israels military campaign in Gaza over the last two years. Israel launched its war in Gaza after Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostage on 7 October 2023.



A growing number of bodies, including the UN commission of inquiry, have concluded that Israel has committed genocide in its two-year war in Gaza. Israel denies the claim, saying it has only acted in self-defence.
Grenada is one of the hottest places to travel in 2026 (GTA)

Grocery shopping, reading and beauty are set to top Skyscanners list of the top travel trends for 2026.

The flight comparison website has released its 2026 Travel Trends report, offering a snapshot into how Brits will be looking to travel in the months ahead  and where.

The reasons we travel are diverse, but this year, one standout theme (according to the report) is an increase in people looking to travel for food, solo and a for a bit of peace and quiet.

According to a survey, 43 per cent of travellers will be looking to explore grocery stores while abroad, while 13 per cent are planning to shop for local skincare and beauty products (interestingly, 15 per cent of travellers also admit to doing their beauty routine mid-flight).

Getting lost in a good book also seems to be a trend; 40 per cent of people apparently want to travel places simply so they can get away from it all and read. Reading is also influencing the destinations people want to travel  a third of people plan to visit a destination mentioned in a book, while 18 per cent are planning to stay in book-themed accommodation.

In an age of self-care, it also seems as though hotels are disproportionately influencing where we travel: 45 per cent of travellers have picked a destination based purely on accommodation, which rises to 61 per cent for Gen Z.

But where are we going? Japan and Iceland are once again on the list of top trending destinations for next year, though Salerno in Italy has apparently seen the largest percentage increase in searches for Brits  with a 211 per cent increase.

Thats followed by Koror in Palau and Kochi in Japan  as well as Bilbao in Spain, which has seen a 97 per cent increase.

Salerno, Italy (Shutterstock / Boris Stroujko)

Salerno, Italy: +211%

Koror, Palau: +156%

Kochi, Japan: +106%

Bilbao, Spain: +97%

Rabat, Morocco: +87%

Akureyri, Iceland: +83%

Rijeka, Croatia: +75%

Kaunas, Lithuania: +59%

St Johns, Canada: +58%

St Georges, Grenada: +56%

In terms of good value, some of the best destinations arent that far from home. Cologne in Germany has seen a 44 per cent drop in flight prices in the last year, while Kaunas in Lithuania is 31 per cent cheaper and Madeira in Portugal is 26 per cent cheaper.

Tbilisi, in Georgia, also looks to be an attractive destination: flights there are 21 per cent cheaper than usual. Or of course, you could head for Goa in India, where flight prices are down 34 per cent.

Read more: David Komas guide to Tbilisi

Tbilisi, Georgia (Unsplash)

Cologne, Germany: 44%

Goa, India: 34%

Kaunas, Lithuania: 31%

Bergen, Norway: 27%

Madeira, Portugal: 26%

Santiago de Compostela, Spain: 25%

Tbilisi, Georgia: 21%

Ottawa, Canada: 20%

Murcia, Spain: 20%

Phnom Penh, Cambodia: 20%
The Pentagon Press Association pushed back on Pete Hegseths upcoming restrictions for reporters covering the Department of Defense, stating that the defense secretarys policy conveys an unprecedented message of intimidation as it suggests its criminal to speak without express permission.

The associations Wednesday statement comes days after it was reported that the Pentagon had relaxed its proposed press access rules following negotiations with national news agencies.

Under the rules, journalists requiring credentials to the Pentagon will not need approval from the department before publishing articles with information not officially released, the New York Times reported. News organizations widely interpreted an earlier draft as requiring that approval, drawing their condemnation.

Late last month, the Pentagon announced it was imposing severe new restrictions on journalists covering the department, requiring them to refrain from gathering any information that hadnt already been authorized for release by the military. Any reporter who did not sign that pledge risked losing their press credentials.

The press does not run the Pentagon  the people do, Hegseth fumed at the time. The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility. Wear a badge and follow the rules  or go home.

Pete Hegseth is implementing severe new restrictions on the press corps covering the Pentagon. (AP)

The 17-page document, which appeared to be in response to Hegseths relentless complaints about leaks to the media, immediately sparked intense backlash from media organizations over its perceived attack on the free press.

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, National Press Club president Mike Balsamo said last month. That should alarm every American.

According to the new draft of the Pentagons press rules, members of the news media are not required to submit their writings to the department in advance of publication. At the same time, though, the draft outlines which journalists may be deemed security risks and could have their credentials pulled.

Additionally, the Pentagon is giving news organizations a week to review the policy and decide whether to sign, noting that failure to acknowledge it could result in their journalists being denied a press credential. It does state that a signature from a reporter would merely acknowledge the document, even if I do not necessarily agree with such policies and procedures.

Despite being described as a loosening of the previously proposed restrictions following good faith negotiations with the media, the revised rules were blasted by the group that represents journalists covering the Defense Department  which was recently rebranded as the Department of War by the Trump administration.

Unfortunately, those negotiations have not been as successful as we hoped, the Pentagon Press Association noted in a statement, adding that it had exhibited caution with our public statements as part of an effort to negotiate revisions to the rules.

We acknowledge and appreciate that the Pentagon is no longer requiring reporters to express agreement with the new policy as a condition for obtaining press credentials, the association stated. But the Pentagon is still asking us to affirm our understanding of policies that appear designed to stifle a free press and potentially expose us to prosecution for simply doing our jobs.

Expressing concern that the document opens up the possibility of the department revoking credentials for reporters who exercise their First Amendment rights by seeking information that hasnt been pre-approved for formal release, the group said this conveys an unprecedented message of intimidation to everyone within the DoD, warning against any unapproved interactions with the press and even suggesting its criminal to speak without express permission  which plainly, it is not.

Despite being described as a loosening of the previously proposed restrictions following good faith negotiations with the media, the revised rules were blasted by the group that represents journalists covering the Defense Department (AFP via Getty Images)

Status News founder Oliver Darcy, meanwhile, mockingly described the new press rules as Hegseth creating his own safe space within the department. Hegseth, the former Fox News host who once endlessly mocked the idea of safe spaces, is now constructing the largest one in Washington, Darcy wrote this week. It turns out he is a snowflake all along who seems quite triggered by reporting into what he is up to at the Pentagon.

The association also stated that it was surprised and disturbed to learn that the Pentagon plans to relocate all news outlets from their dedicated workspaces, adding that, combined with the earlier restrictions imposed this year, the changes will further isolate reporters.

Pointing out that Pentagon journalists have always worn badges while in the halls of the building and have never been allowed in classified spaces, something that Hegseth has suggested is a problem, the idea that reporters have been prowling in offices where they are not allowed is preposterous.

Explaining that reporters have a constitutional right to ask questions, the press group insisted that every administration since Dwight Eisenhower has allowed the same level of access at the Pentagon.

Limiting the medias ability to report on the U.S. military fails to honor the American families who have entrusted their sons and daughters to serve in it, or the taxpayers responsible for giving the department hundreds of billions of dollars a year, the statement concluded. The American people deserve to know how their military is being run. They deserve more information from this administration, not less. We hope the Pentagon reconsiders.

The searing statement from the press corps, however, will likely fall on deaf ears  especially based on Hegseths remarks over the weekend when asked by Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy about the restrictions and whether hed use polygraphs to stop press leaks.

The Pentagon press corps can squeal all they want, the Fox morning host turned defense chief exclaimed. Were taking these things seriously. They can report; they just need to make sure theyre following the rules.
Indias largest pilots union has urged regulators to ground and inspect all Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in the country after an Air India flights emergency power device unexpectedly activated mid-air.

The ram air turbine or RAT, a backup system that deploys automatically to provide emergency power during in-flight failures, dropped from the fuselage of flight AI117 en route to Birmingham, UK, on Saturday, even though the airline later confirmed that all systems were operating normally.

The Federation of Indian Pilots, representing some 6,000 pilots, called the incident unprecedented and warned that it could have signalled an electrical malfunction.

The union sent a letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation asking for a full inspection of all 34 Dreamliner aircraft in the country.

I have never heard of the RAT being deployed automatically without any hydraulic loss, power loss or failures, the associations president, Charanvir Singh Randhawa, was quoted as saying by The New York Times.

The Federation of Indian Pilots has asked that all 787 aircraft are subject to an inspection (Getty/iStock)

The incident occurred on 4 October when flight AI117 from Amritsar, in the northern Indian state of Punjab, was en route to Birmingham. The pilots of the 12-year-old Boeing 787-8 were alarmed when its RAT deployed during the approach to runway 33 even though the aircrafts power systems and engines were working fine.

The aircraft landed safely but the return flight was cancelled as a precaution. It was cleared to fly again the next day on the Birmingham-Delhi route.

In a statement, Air India said the activation of the back-up engine was neither due to a system fault nor pilot action.

The deployment of the RAT was uncommanded, consistent with similar occurrences with other airlines in the past, as reported by Boeing, it said.

The airline said it had submitted a report to the industry regulator in line with protocols, adding: At Air India, the safety of all passengers and crew remains our foremost priority.

In response to a query from The Independent, Boeing said: Well have to defer to the customer for comments.

This is the second notable incident involving a Boeing 787 in recent months. The crash of Air India flight 171 in June, which killed 260 people, occurred after the RAT deployed following a loss of power.

A preliminary investigation into the incident in June confirmed that the turbine deployed after the plane lost power, but officials are still working to determine the reason for the loss of power. The preliminary report noted that the Dreamliners fuel-control switches were moved from run to cutoff just before impact, cutting off fuel to both engines.

Air India, a Tata Group airline, said after the latest incident that the Birmingham flight landed safely on Saturday and an initial inspection showed all electrical and hydraulic parameters were normal.

It is a serious concern that warrants a detailed inquiry, Captain Randhawa said, according to the Associated Press.

Regulators are yet to say whether they will investigate the incident.

The Independent has reached out to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation for comment.
Precise heads a field of 11 for the bet365 Fillies Mile at Newmarket on Friday.

Aidan OBriens filly was last seen taking the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes at the Curragh, prior to which she was the winner of the Group Three Prestige Fillies Stakes at Goodwood in August.

She steps up a furlong in trip on the Rowley Mile and is one of four Ballydoyle entrants as Debutante Stakes winner Composing and Newtownanner Stud Stakes runner-up Moments Of Joy are both due to run alongside May Hill third Sugar Island.

Also popular in the market at this stage is John and Thady Gosdens Legacy Link, with Charlie Applebys Dance To The Music prominent too given her Sweet Solera Stakes victory.

Joseph OBriens Queen Of Hawaii, Karl Burkes Evolutionist, Sir Mark Prescotts Moon Target and the Charlie Johnston duo of Amora Queen and Venetian Lace complete the field.

The Group Two Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards Challenge Stakes has attracted a small field of five, with Harry Charltons Cosmic Year aiming to return to form when taking on French raider Beauvatier, Burkes Poet Master, William Haggas Scoville and the Gosden-trained Audience.

There are three Group Three events on the card, with the Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes field currently topped by the OBrien-trained Brussels, and the Godolphin Lifetime Care Oh So Sharp Stakes and Newmarket Pony Academy Pride Stakes run at the same level.
The Chadian government has severed ties with African Parks, a prominent conservation charity whose board includes the Duke of Sussex, following allegations of serious financial misconduct and failure to adequately protect wildlife.

Announcing the end of a 15-year partnership, Chads Environment Minister accused the organisation of displaying a recurring, indelicate and disrespectful attitude towards the government.

African Parks, a non-profit founded in 2000, manages 24 protected areas across 13 African countries, covering more than 20 million hectares of land.

The charity helped look after two wildlife reserves in Chad: the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem, which includes the Zakouma and Siniaka-Minia national parks.

A four-page government report, obtained by The Times, accused the organisation of financial wrongdoing, including the illegal collection of tourism revenues, the use of offshore bank accounts, and the transfer of funds overseas to the detriment of Chad and in flagrant violation of national banking and tax regulations.

The move marks a significant setback for Prince Harrys charitable work, coming just months after he stepped down from Sentebale, the organisation he co-founded to support children orphaned by AIDS.

Harry working with African Parks (PA Archive)

He has served on the board of African Parks since 2023, following a six-year tenure as its president.

Prince Harry first became involved with the charity in 2016, when he took part in its flagship 500 Elephants relocation project in Malawi. He has remained closely engaged with its conservation mission ever since.

African Parks said it had opened discussions with the Ministry to determine the best path forward.

The charity said in a statement: African Parks has initiated discussions with the Ministry to understand the Governments position and to explore the best possible way forward in support of the continued protection of these critical conservation landscapes, as well as to ensure that the significant conservation and social gains achieved over the past 15 years, are sustained African Parks will continue to keep its partners and stakeholders informed, as further clarity is obtained.

It comes as the latest scandal to plague the charity after it admitted earlier this year that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers in Confo-Brazzaville following an independent review.

In a report published by the Mail on Sunday, community members accused African Parks rangers of beating, waterboarding and raping locals to stop them from accessing the ancestral forests which are in the conservation area.

African Parks has not made the findings of this review public.
Stamp duty is seen as a dead weight on the property market (Anthony Devlin/PA) (PA Archive)

Kemi Badenochs pledge to abolish stamp duty on homes was today welcomed as the single best tax reform any government could make.

The Tory leader told her party conference to rapturous applause: At the heart of a Conservative Britain is a country where people who wish to own their first home, can," she says. "But our housing market is not working as it should."

"The next Conservative government will abolish stamp duty.

Stamp duty on homes starts at 2% at 125,000 - or 300,000 for first time buyers - but rises to 12% on the value of homes above 1.5 million, with an extra 5% on top for second homes or investment properties.

It raises around 15 billion nationally, of which around a third comes from London home buyers. It has been blamed for slowing down activity in the property market, particularly in the capital, where many buyers are saddled with tax bills for many tens of thousands of pounds.

The Tory leader did not explain how she would pay for such a big loss of tax revenue.

Tom Clougherty, executive director of the free market think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs said:

"Abolishing stamp duty is the single best reform any government could make to Britain's tax system.

"As things stand, this outdated and uneconomic levy is wreaking havoc on our already troubled housing market  by deterring sales and depressing house-building.

"Indeed, research suggests that the wider social and economic harms are equivalent to three-quarters of the revenue raised  and that's on top of the loss to the people actually paying the tax.

"This means that stamp duty is many times more damaging, as a source of revenue, than broad-based taxes on income and consumption.

"Any proposal to permanently cut or abolish it is therefore extremely welcome."

Richard Donnell, executive director at property portal Zoopla, said: "Stamp duty hits four in five homeowners and two in five first-time buyers across the country, especially southern England where 60% of all stamp duty is paid. We welcome any proposals that remove the financial barriers to moving home. More home moves would support economic growth and the ambition to build more homes."

Guy Meacock, director of buying agency Prime Purchase, says: This is a wonderful soundbite but I would imagine its not deliverable, even if Kemi Badenoch is the next prime minister.

Removing stamp duty would be transformative but one wonders how on earth the government would finance such a sweeping change. How would they budget for it, particularly as the economy is in such a sticky spot? They would need to recoup the money some other way.

Its a shame as this is the first piece of good news the property industry has had in a long while. Finally, someone is listening, has the common sense to realise that stamp duty is having such a detrimental impact on peoples mobility and is a block in every direction for the housing market.

It is also making London and the UK far less investable. More realistically, a rebasing of council tax, using up-to-date property values, would be far more equitable and go some way to helping end the inherent injustice in the system."
Schumer and the Democrats hope to make Obamacare and the shutdown a 2026 issue. Good luck with that, Chuck!

Going into the second week of the government shutdown, Democrats are emboldened.

Even though they have not been able to get an extension of the subsidies for the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, that they want, they have shifted the conversation to health care.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has held press conferences three days in a row while he rebuffs Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries overtures to debate on the House floor. And after being accused of fecklessness and impotence for much of the year, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer seems willing to play hardball with Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

When Johnson has to say, We need to fix health care, you know he's under some duress, Schumer told reporters during a gaggle with reporters Wednesday.

Even MAGA firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said the House needs to come up with a plan before premiums double if the tax credits are not extended.

When [House Speaker] Johnson has to say, We need to fix health care, you know he's under some duress, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters Wednesday. (Getty Images)

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) also threw down the gauntlet and challenged Republicans to take up any deal the Senate would strike to extend the subsidies and said Republicans would pay a price.

It's an off-year election, the economy is not getting better, and now you're going to be known as being obstructionist to the point where premiums increase, Gallego told The Independent. If you want to be that Republican that walks down the plank for Johnson? Good luck.

Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn) said Democrats see less of a reason to back down now.

I think, if anything, we're like, feeling more strong that this is a very important fight for us to be making, she told The Independent. 

By contrast, Republicans want to force Democrats back to the negotiating table. They dont have a lot to offer them. Senate Republicans cant guarantee Johnson will put the bill on the floor. As Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said Not a lot of guarantees around this place are there?

Democrats might think they have a winning issue that could boost them next year. But, to borrow from Ted Lasso, the American public has the memory of a goldfish. Just look at history.

In 2013, a handful of hellraising conservatives in the House, accompanied by Ted Cruz in the Senate, sought to defund the Affordable Care Act by shutting down the government. Cruz delivered a faux filibuster and read Green Eggs & Ham on the Senate floor. When The Independent asked Cruz last week why Democrats didnt read any Dr. Seuss, he said lack of creativity.

The outcome was a disaster. The ACA was not defunded, Republicans shouldered the blame and then-speaker John Boehner quit two years later.

But twelve months later, Republicans swept the midterms. They flipped nine Senate seats and Republicans held the House and governorships across the country. That virtually wiped out the Democratic bench.

Cut to January 2018. During Trumps first presidency, Democrats held out on a spending bill to provide relief for recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which prevented undocumented immigrants who arrived in the country as children from being deported. Three days later, Democrats folded.

What price did Democrats pay in November? Absolutely none. A few months later, they flipped the House of Representatives. While they lost Senate seats in Florida, North Dakota, Missouri and Indiana, they flipped others in the swing states of Nevada and Arizona, beginning Arizonas trajectory as a purple state.

How about the shutdown that happened a few weeks later, when Trump told Schumer "I am proud to shut down the government for border security? That shutdown would last 35 days, Trump would not get the money for his border wall.

Well, a ton changed between then and 2020, between Trumps first impeachment and a pandemic. While Democrats held the House, they would lose seats in swing districts, Joe Biden would barely win the presidency and they failed to flip seats in Iowa, North Carolina and Maine.

This is not to say that Republicans are guaranteed to hold the House and Senate. To the contrary, the generic ballot shows Democrats leading in the buildup to the 2026 midterms.

Republicans risk losing two big races in Maine and North Carolina and Texas looks wobbly. And, as Inside Washington wrote on Monday, Republicans risk losing the governorship in Virginia as Abigail Spanberger has a wide lead over Lieutenant Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.

My own just travels around Virginia thus far, people seem to know who's responsible for it, and I think that could likely help Abigail, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), a former governor himself, told The Independent.

But Democrats are lucky that race is happens next month. But even if the government opens next month, so much can happen in a year.

This does not mean Republicans can come out unscathed. If Democrats fold and Republicans can pass a continuing resolution before time runs out and premiums begin to spike, voters will blame Republicans.

But dont expect them to remember Democrats voted against keeping the government open.
Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, attracted criticism for his comments about the failure of integration in Handsworth, Birmingham - Anadolu/Anadolu

As is his wont, Robert Jenrick has been stirring up trouble. This time, the spiritual leader of the Conservative Party touched a nerve by describing Handsworth in Birmingham as one of the worst integrated places Ive been to, as close as Ive come to a slum in this country, and observing that he didnt see another white face.

These comments didnt cause a fuss because they were inaccurate. They touched a nerve because they were correct. At least from the perspective of government data, Handsworth looks like every warning critics of mass migration ever came out with.

Roughly 23 per cent of the areas population doesnt identify as British in any way, shape or form. More than one in ten either cant speak English well, or dont speak it at all. Perhaps unsurprisingly, there are serious economic issues, with roughly 40 per cent of those aged 16-64 on out of work benefits of one form or another.

And as Jenrick directly observed, the sheer scale and pace of migration-induced demographic in the area has resulted in near complete population turnover. There are approximately 600 White British people in Handsworth out of a total population of roughly 12,000.

Attempts to defend Handsworths honour did not exactly improve its image. Former mayor Andy Street offered the observation that its been 40 years since the last civil disturbances there, neatly skating over the ethnic rioting in 2005 and the looting in 2011 in his haste to emphasise progress since 1985.

Local MP Ayoub Khan insisted that Jenrick had misrepresented a storied and diverse community, but failed to note that his own electoral success as a pro-Gaza independent could be read as evidence in its own right that something is out of line with the rest of the country.

Local defensiveness is one thing. The broader reaction from beyond Birmingham, however, is more a matter of principle. By pointing to an area where migration has unquestionably failed, Jenrick has invited others to do the same. They are unlikely to be short of examples.

Earlier in the year I calculated a set of segregation indices for England and Wales as a whole. Birmingham ranked sixth out of every local authority area, and was home to five of the ten least relatively diverse streets in the country. The city as a whole is diverse: pick two random people, and the probability theyd belong to the same ethnic group is just 23 per cent. Look at two people from a local neighbourhood, however, and it jumps to almost 38 per cent, a difference of 15 percentage points.

Measure in terms of religion, and its even more startling. The probability that two randomly chosen religious people across Birmingham would share the same faith is around 42 per cent. On a given set of streets, its closer to 62 per cent.

Then again, you dont need mathematical analysis to tell you this. A simple glance at a map  and the ring of white areas around non-white central Birmingham  is probably enough to give you the general impression.

Just as telling is the behaviour of local residents. Chart internal migration (people moving in and out of a city from within the UK) and external migration (international movements), and Birmingham is a clear outlier. More people have moved into the area from outside Britain since 2021 than any other local authority: more people have left for other parts of England, too.

Politicians can talk up the benefits of migration all they want: revealed preference would appear to be that people are not wholly keen on its consequences, moving away from high migration areas, and segregating within cities.

Handsworth  which continues in its current form thanks in part to 27 million in Universal Credit payments each year  is a microcosm of this experience. Weigh the full effect of taxes and benefits on household incomes, and white households are the only major group (black, white, Asian, other, mixed) in England and Wales to come out as net contributors. Drill down below the surface level, and many nominally diverse areas are deeply segregated.

Small wonder that those responsible for the current state of affairs are furious at having this pointed out. The semi-official line from Britains establishment is that diversity is an immense economic benefit (so self-evidently so that we need to be reminded on a regular basis), and that the countrys institutions are hideously white, or that the homogeneity of the countryside is a psychological burden for non-white visitors. Representation is so important that we require schemes across the public and private sector to ensure minorities can see people who look like them.

In this environment, looking at the economic costs of diversity, or concluding that white people might also like seeing similar faces, is little short of nailing a set of dissident theses to the cathedrals door. The facts, however, are on Jenricks side. On this matter, and only this matter, here I stand: I can do no other.
South Lake Tahoe mayor reveals she embezzled money from local church and felt so guilty she tried to end her own life in shocking confession to local newspaper

Lake Tahoe residents have had a rollercoaster week, learning their mayor stole money from a local church, before trying to end her own life, only to then find out another city official allegedly assaulted someone at a restaurant.

Earlier this week, South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tamara Wallace admitted to embezzling money from a local church and wrote in a letter she made public that she was so guilt-racked over her actions that she attempted suicide on September 11.

The day after the letter was released, news broke that the city's Mayor Pro Tem, Cody Bass, allegedly attacked someone in a restaurant and had been arrested on assault charges.

Despite the chaos, at least for now, neither of the scandal-ridden city officials appear to be vacating their seats. Sheree Juarez, a spokesperson for the city, told SF Standard that both officials planned to attend an upcoming October 21 City Council meeting.

Wallace admitted that she stole money from a Presbyterian church where she worked in a letter published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune and on South Tahoe Now. She did not disclose how much money was taken but she said her theft did not involve any of the citys money.

South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tamara Wallace admitted in a letter that she had embezzled funds from a church where she worked and said her guilt drove to attempt suicide (City of South Lake Tahoe)

The mayor then explained that the extreme guilt she felt for embezzling from a church resulted in her attempting to end her life.

I was so filled with guilt, shame, and grief that I experienced a mental health crisis that made suicide seem to be the best solution, she wrote. It was only by the grace of God that I failed.

She said she has sought help and has spent 18 days receiving treatment in a mental health facility, doing intense, all-day, everyday group and individual counseling sessions.

The mayor also shared some of her past trauma that she believes may have contributed to her mental health crisis, noting that she was abused as a child, that her son, Christopher, died from fentanyl poisoning, and she shared the stress she felt from receiving death threats while she was a city council member.

She acknowledged that while tragedy in her life may have contributed to her mental health deteriorating it does not excuse her actions.

These things may be reasons, but not excuses for my behavior, she wrote.

She continued, saying she did not want to be "like many public servants and individuals who try to lie, hide, and delay the consequences of something they have done" and was "taking a different path."

I am telling the truth and admitting what I have done, she wrote.

City spokesperson Juarez told the outlet that the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office was investigating the embezzlement claims.

The Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church issued a statement in response to Wallaces admission, which was shared in the Tahoe Daily Tribune:

Tamara Wallace has formally acknowledged committing a significant offense against the congregation of Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church.

When this was discovered by the church, her employment was terminated on September 26, 2025, and the matter was appropriately referred to law enforcement authorities. She did not attend our church and was not a member. Our congregation has suffered extensive loss, and as we address this loss and its impact, we remain committed to prayer, compassion, transparency, and justice.

On September 26  the same day Wallace was fired from the church  Bass was arrested after he allegedly had a physical confrontation with an employee at AleWorx. The incident reportedly happened after midnight.

South Lake Tahoe Mayor Pro Tem Cody Bass was arrested after he allegedly assaulted an employee at a bar near the California-Nevada border. The assault charges against him were dropped but he is still being charged for making threats and trespassing (City of South Lake Tahoe)

According to a report in KRNV in Reno, Bass said that hed been kicked and threatened at the bar, and allegedly said he was going to have people kill one of the employees. He reportedly had previously been banned from the bar, according to the report.

Investigators obtained surveillance video of the confrontation and said it was determined that Bass was the aggressor.

He was charged with misdemeanor counts of assault, trespassing, and threats/harassment by the Douglas County Sheriffs Office and District Attorneys Office, but the offices later dropped the assault charge.

He was booked into a county jail and released a few hours later, according to the Tahoe Daily Tribune.

In a Facebook post after the incident, Bass insisted that he had truly done nothing wrong.

On the evening in question, I was assaulted for the second time by the doorman at AleWorx on the sidewalk in front of AleWorx while I was walking to Lucky Beaver to get some food. I reported the assault to the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, he wrote. Despite my testimony, the deputy chose to place me under a citizens arrest, accepting the doormans account over mine.

He disputed reports that he assaulted anyone and said he had never been banned from the bar, and that he had only had one drink the night of the incident.

I will absolutely not be stepping down from my position on the City Council, as I have done nothing wrong. I am committed to going through the due process to prove my innocence, he wrote. As business owners, we should expect our establishments, especially those that welcome patrons, to be represented by individuals who show respect for others and do not intimidate or assault people.

South Lake Tahoe City Council member David Jinkins told SF Standard the incidents were a surprise to all of us, but said that all [city] services remain intact and unaffected by recent events.

The Independent has requested comment from both Wallace and Bass.

If you are based in the U.S. and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
Kemi Badenoch has solidified her position as Tory leader with a policy-laden Tory conference speech aimed at silencing her critics.

Addressing a packed hall at the Manchester Convention Centre, Ms Badenoch said the Labour government is making one hell of a mess and set out plans for how the Conservatives would fix it.

The Independent looks at what policies Ms Badenoch promised party members in her headline address.

Stamp duty

The biggest headline-grabber in Ms Badenochs speech was her vow to axe stamp duty if the Conservatives win the next general election.

Kemi Badenoch pledged to abolish stamp duty (PA)

Figures from the Institute for Fiscal Studies show it would cost around 4.5bn to axe the tax as it stands, but the Conservatives offered a cautious estimate that it would cost 9bn by the end of the decade.

The party said this would be paid for out of a 47bn pot of savings shadow ministers claim to have found, made up of welfare cuts, downsizing the civil service and further slashing the countrys foreign aid budget.

In her speech, Ms Badenoch said: The next Conservative government will abolish stamp duty on your home. It will be gone.

That is how we will help achieve the dream of home ownership for millions.

Scrapping Labour tax hikes

Ms Badenoch also vowed that the Conservatives will undo a series of Labour tax hikes they have campaigned against.

Most notable was the promise to undo the governments changes to inheritance tax on family farms, dubbed the tractor tax.

Kemi Badenoch took aim at Rachel Reeves, vowing to reverse her tax hikes (PA)

Also for the chop under a Tory government is Labours levy of VAT on private school fees, which Ms Badenoch said was a vindictive tax on education.

These too would be funded from its 47bn savings pot.

But noticeably absent on the list of tax hikes the Tories would undo was Rachel Reevess employer national insurance hike, which would cost tens of billions of pounds, despite the Conservatives having linked it to job losses and sluggish economic growth.

Employment rights

Among the more risky promises in Ms Badenochs speech was a promise to undo Angela Rayners workers rights reforms.

Badenoch also promised to undo Angela Rayners workers rights reforms (PA)

The policy package will give employees more security and better protections in the workplace, but the Conservatives argue it will hammer employers and stunt economic growth.

We will reverse the terrible measures in Angela Rayners unemployment bill, written by the unions, for the unions... that will wrap firms in red tape, cost businesses 5bn and make Angela Rayner one of the last people in Britain to ever be legally sacked, Ms Badenoch said.

The workers rights package will have had years to bed in by the next general election, making vowing to scrap it now a risky move.

Banning doctors strikes

Another eye-catching policy was the Tory leaders plan to ban doctors from going on strike.

Ms Badenoch linked industrial action in the NHS to higher waiting lists, promising to crack down on unions if the Conservatives are elected. The unions were not happy.

British Medical Association council deputy chair Dr Emma Runswick said: Doctors should have a right to strike, just like everyone else. Banning strikes is anti-democratic and at odds with any concept of a free British society. Gagging committed professionals when they sound the alarm about NHS crises will make the problems worse.

Patients are having operations or appointments postponed every single day in the NHS due to understaffing and lack of beds; undervaluing staff contributes to that. Banning doctors from expressing their concerns with legitimate industrial action only devalues them further.

Golden economic rule

The speech was underpinned by what Ms Badenoch dubbed her golden economic rule. She promised the new doctrine for Tory tax and spending in a bid to distance the party from the legacy of Liz Truss, who sparked financial chaos in her 49 days as prime minister.

Distancing herself from the Liz Truss legacy, Badenoch promised to follow a golden economic rule (ITV)

Outlining the 47bn of savings already identified by the opposition, she said the Conservatives will spend half of all the money they claw back on tax cuts and the other half on paying down the deficit.

Thats the Conservative way  responsibility today, opportunity tomorrow, she added.
Sir Keir Starmer is meeting Narendra Modi for face-to-face talks on the second and final day of his trade mission to India, with Vladimir Putin likely to be on the agenda.

The Prime Minister and his Indian counterpart are meeting at Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the governor of Maharashtra, the state of which Mumbai is the capital.

The pair shook hands in front of a row of British and Indian national flags on a lawn surrounded by palm trees and walked around the gardens of the residence before heading inside for their meeting.

Alongside the new trade deal between the two nations, the two prime ministers are expected to discuss the Indian leaders relationship with Russia and the long-term detention of a British citizen.

Sir Keir has so far declined to answer questions about Mr Modis close relationship with Mr Putin, and Indias continued purchase of Russian fossil fuels during his visit to Mumbai.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer lights a candle at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai to celebrate the approaching Diwali festival of light during his visit to India (Leon Neal/PA)

Western nations who back Ukraine are attempting to tighten the screw of sanctions on Russias so-called shadow fleet of ships, which it uses to illicitly sell oil and gas.

Sir Keir has insisted the UK remains among Kyivs biggest supporters, but suggested Britains relationship with India is also stronger than ever.

Meanwhile the family of Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton, near Glasgow, are calling on the Prime Minister to take decisive steps to secure the 38-year-olds release in his talks with Mr Modi.

Sir Keir has insisted the Government is raising the detainees case at every level.

Mr Johal was bundled into the back of an unmarked car and arrested in November 2017 in India, just weeks after his wedding there.

The British Sikh has claimed to be subject to torture, and his imprisonment was recognised by a UN panel as arbitrary detention in 2022.

He was acquitted earlier this year in a case in which he was accused of financially supporting a terror group, but he still remains in jail and faces federal charges from the Indian authorities.

His elder brother, Gurpreet Singh Johal, urged the Government to reveal what it means when it tells the family it is raising Mr Johals case with the Indian authorities.

He added: If it means more of the same, he will fail Jagtar like all the others.

But Im holding on to hope that it means decisive steps are being taken, behind the scenes, to bring my brother home.

Sir Keir insisted he has not in the slightest forgotten Mr Johals case during the trade mission.

The trip to Mumbai has seen the Prime Minister promote the UK-India trade deal he signed with Mr Modi in July, said to be worth 4.8 billion each year to the British economy.

Sir Keir has urged the 125 British trade delegates joining him on the mission to forge new trade pathways due to the relaxed tariffs in the deal.

New flights between London, Manchester and Indian cities were announced ahead of the trade mission, and a Bollywood studio has agreed to produce three films in the UK as of next year.

Some 7,000 jobs will be created in the UK as a result of Indian investment from newly struck trading arrangements, Downing Street claimed.

Some 64 Indian companies, including in engineering, technology and the creative industries, have agreed deals worth some 1.3 billion to Britain during the visit, with No 10 pointing to the reassurance provided by the UK-India free trade agreement as a catalyst for the pacts.

The Prime Minister has received a warm welcome in Mumbai during the visit, with some 5,700 posters, banners and billboards bearing his face and greeting messages placed along the citys roads.

Mr Modi is understood to have told the state government of Maharashtra to ensure Sir Keir feels welcome in India.

A senior UK official described it as a real signal of modern India meeting modern Britain, adding: And there is so much more potential. This is just the beginning.
Doreen Lawrence arrives at the royal courts of justice for the start of David Norriss parole hearing on Tuesday. Photograph: Ben Whitley/PA

The mother of Stephen Lawrence has called one of her sons killers a coward after he refused to show his face at a parole hearing or name his accomplices to the murder.

David Norris, 49, who was convicted in 2011, was speaking publicly for the first time at the hearing. He said he was deeply sorry for the attack in which he punched Lawrence on the back of his head while he was crouched on the ground.

He refused, however, to name the four or five attackers who were with him on the night of 22 April 1993. He is making his first appearance at a Parole Board hearing that was video-streamed to a room at the royal courts of justice.

At the public hearing on Wednesday, Doreen Lawrence, 72, said: The only person he feels sorry for is himself. As far as I am concerned he is a coward. He refused to show his face. He needs to look me in the eye and tell me exactly what he did and why he did it.

Two days of proceedings have been held in public, but the final day will take place in private on Friday. Lawrence also spoke outside the court, saying it had been incredibly painful to listen to the proceedings but that it was vital the hearing was held in public.

He says hes sorry for the pain he caused me and my family, I dont believe him, she said.

All of the witnesses to the hearing except one said they did not believe Norris was ready to be freed. Lawrence said: The evidence to me is crystal clear. He is not safe to be released. He is a danger to the public and a danger to people like me. He was a violent racist and is still a violent racist. He has not changed.

Norris admitted his involvement in Lawrences murder in 2018 when he confessed to a Catholic priest. Doreen Lawrence called on the Metropolitan police to urgently investigate after he said he would not name the others involved in the killing because of fears for his familys safety.

This person can name the other killers and says he would love to do so, she said. The police must do everything in their power to obtain that evidence and bring all of Stephens murderers to justice. This man owes me the truth and the Met owe me justice.

Before Norris was questioned on Tuesday, he read a statement in which he said he wanted to express my genuine remorse for the death of the victim in my case.

I will go to my grave with that guilt in my heart, he said, adding that the events of that night 32 years ago should never have happened.

The Mets deputy assistant commissioner, Matt Ward, said: Officers have been closely monitoring David Norriss parole hearing and we remain committed to achieving the arrest, prosecution and conviction of all of those responsible for Stephens murder.

We have commissioned the College of Policing to conduct a review of the investigations since October 2013 into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. The review is being conducted independently of the Metropolitan police and we give it our full backing and support.


The disease is transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes, which carry Plasmodium parasites - OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT/AFP via Getty Images

Just 25 years ago, Suriname, the smallest country in South America, had the continents highest malaria rates. Now it has become the first Amazon nation to be declared malaria-free.

Located on the northeastern coast of South America and home to 630,000 people, Suriname has defeated malaria through a combination of community engagement, rapid testing and treatment.

Its a huge milestone, Patricia Sanchez, the Senior Global Health Officer for the Global Health team at the United Nations Foundation, told The Telegraph; one which holds out hope for other tropical countries, including neighbouring Brazil.

Other countries in the Amazon should recognise this, and recognise the community-based approach, where you put the ability to test and diagnose and treat cases into peoples hands.

Forty-six countries have now received a malaria-free certification from the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as one territory  the Dutch Island of Aruba in the Caribbean.

The disease is transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes, which carry Plasmodium parasites.

In the Americas, the most common strain  responsible for about 75 per cent of cases  is Plasmodium vivax. Unlike Plasmodium falciparum, which dominates in Africa, P. vivax is less lethal but more elusive.

It can persist after treatment because the parasite lies dormant in the liver for months, making it harder to fully eliminate, leading to relapses.

The Amazon region  home to nine countries  is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes because of its abundant rainforests and remote populations.

More than 90 per cent of Surinames land is covered by rainforest,and is scattered with remote indigenous communities and illegal gold mining operations.

Professor Brian Greenwood, Manson Professor of Clinical Tropical Medicine at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, says targeting these communities has was key to the eradication effort.

It comes down to having a deep understanding of the epidemiology in your own country  and then tailoring interventions based on whats actually happening in different regions, he said. Thats the key to effective malaria control and elimination.

Surinames fight against malaria dates back to the 1950s.

The first step was addressing outbreaks in the countrys coastal areas, where officials relied heavily on indoor spraying with the pesticide DDT and antimalarial treatment to reduce transmission and control outbreaks.

Then the focus shifted to the countrys dense, tree-covered interior where the open-style housing of indigenous tribal communities made things much more difficult.

In the Amazon, malaria control teams realised they needed to follow people. They needed to provide people with access to diagnosis and treatment, said Ms Sanchez.

They thought: How do we take diagnosis and treatment to the last mile?

The Malaria Service Deliverers (MSD) initiative was launched in 2006 to reach the most remote communities. Locally trained volunteers were trained to provide diagnosis, treatment, and education in areas where central services could not reach.

The approach is fairly straightforward: someone notices a case, the person gets treated quickly, it is recorded in a database, and then someone will go and eliminate mosquito breeding sites in that area, said said Prof Greenwood.

Diagnose, treat, and isolate

Suriname also targeted miners directly, offering medical treatment rather than penalising them for their illegal digging and often undocumented immigration status.

Transient mining communities caused cases in Suriname to reach a peak of more than 15,000 in 2001, the highest transmission rates of malaria in the Americas.

To overcome this, the Malakit Project was launched in 2018, distributing self-testing and self-treatment kits directly to gold miners working in the black market..

Equipped with rapid testing kits  similar to the at-home Covid-19 tests used during the pandemic  miners can detect and treat malaria early.

If the test is positive, the patient starts treatment immediately with a full course of antimalarial drugs included in the kit.

They recruited people directly from the mining communities, individuals who were part of that world, and trained them to diagnose, treat, and isolate cases, explained Prof Greenwood.

More than 90 per cent of Surinames land is covered by rainforest - Trond Larsen/Conservation International

Between April 2018 and March 2020, the Malakit initiative contributed to a 43 per cent reduction in malaria cases.

Surinames successful campaign against malaria offers a blueprint for neighbouring countries still struggling to control the disease, particularly Brazil, which accounts for the majority of malaria cases in the Americas.

Its emphasis on training local health workers, decentralising diagnosis and treatment, and decriminalising healthcare access for undocumented groups could be game-changing for other countrys, experts say.

Ms Sanchez said there are signs that surrounding countries are adopting a similar approach.

Brazil has established a network of community health workers in some regions of the Amazon, while Colombia has recently started to expand community-based care.

Its about how we treat these vulnerable, often invisible populations  people who, at some point, are seen as not counting, said Ms Sanchez.

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Alexis Steinman gets a hands-on course in viticulture and viniculture at Domaine Rouge-Bleu. Photograph: Andy Haslam

The wind whips the grapevines, turning my meditative picking stance into a full-body workout. I firmly plant my legs, stabilising a thrashing branch with my left hand as my right snips off a bunch of grapes. Local people claim the roaring mistral wind makes you crazy, which I can appreciate as each arid gust chaps my lips and desiccates my eyes.

Im at Domaine Rouge-Bleu, an organic vineyard in the Cotes du Rhone wine region in southern France. I have volunteered for les vendanges, the autumnal grape harvest where backbreaking work is doused in camaraderie.

Participating in this time-honoured tradition had long been a dream of mine, a lifelong Francophile and food writer. So, in 2017, eager to understand more about winemaking beyond the bar stool, I joined a motley crew, trading sore arms and farmer tans for a hands-on course in viticulture and viniculture. I expected to gain an oenological education. I had not anticipated how hard the picking would be  nor how gratifying it felt to accomplish something so big together. Many vendangeurs go back for more. I have returned almost every year since my first harvest, becoming friends with the owners of Domaine Rouge-Bleu.

I had not anticipated how hard the picking would be  nor how gratifying it felt to accomplish something so big together

France is one of the top producers of wine worldwide, pouring 4.78bn litres of wine into the market each year. About 59,000 winemakers manage 789,000 hectares (nearly 2m acres) of vineyards. Thats a lot of grapes to pick. Since the Greeks first planted vines in France in the sixth century BC, raisins (grapes) have been harvested by hand. Machines arrived in the 1960s for speed and cost efficiency. Yet 30%-40% of French wineries still retain the traditional vendanges a la main (hand-picked harvests).

Why would a winemaker opt for a method that costs more time and money? Renowned regions such as Champagne are required to do so to deliver the clusters to the press house intact. Grapevines can grow too close together to allow a machine to pass through. Some winemakers believe machines harm the vines and grapes. You get better quality by hand since you only pick good grapes, without leaves, vines or oil from the machine, says Thomas Bertrand, who co-owns Domaine Rouge-Bleu with his Australian partner Caroline Jones.

The hard-working couple illustrate the realities of winemaking that are far from the glamour of Bordeaux chateaux. They bring in volunteers to cut costs. However, harvest volunteers are a legal minefield in France. The government insists winemakers pay harvesters, so some offer room and board in lieu of wages, though many refrain from doing so to avoid any issues. Many winemakers wish volunteers were recognised, for communal harvests have been part of the winemaking heritage for centuries. Our metier is all about sharing and creating convivial moments, says France Breton, who welcomes volunteer harvesters at Domaine Breton in the Loire.

For example, Vignerons Independants de France runs the Vendangeur dun Jour (harvester for a day) programme across France from late August to early October. It is wonderful for wine tourism since so many want to pitch in, says Jean-Marie Fabre, president of the association. You can also find opportunities on volunteer work sites such as WWOOF. I contacted wineries direct via introductions by my local wine bar, eventually finding Domaine Rouge-Bleu through its former owner, whose wife runs the French Word-A-Day blog.

Domaine Rouge-Bleu is in Sainte-Cecile-les-Vignes, a small town of 2,900 off the tourist track, despite its location in Provence. Fittingly for the town name  vignes are vines  the flat landscape is blanketed with grids of vineyards, with Mont Ventoux, the legendary Tour de France thigh-thumper, looming in the distance. At the end of a picturesque driveway lined with olive trees, a 17th-century farmhouse is home to Thomas, Caroline and their two girls. In harvest season, it swells with vendangeurs. I hit the roommate jackpot with Hannah, a perky Brit who works at a wine shop. Our 16-person team hails from France, the UK, Ireland, Australia and the US, my homeland.

Conversation inevitably flows, profound at times due to the thick vines that block our faces like confessional screens

Each morning, the smell of coffee wakes us before 7am. We don clothes that we dont mind getting dirty  grape juice stains are stubborn. Despite the heat, we wear thick socks under our boots to avoid burs scraping our ankles. Thomas gives us a lay of the land on the first day. The first rule of picking is to be gentle with the grapes. Manhandling them can break their skins prematurely, causing the oxidation that negatively affects aromas and flavours.

We should also watch out for oidium, a chalky mildew, because crap grapes make for crap wine, says Thomas. When I find a snail on a grape, he jokes: Thats why wine isnt vegan. (He jokes fluently in English.) Snipping grapes eight hours a day for three weeks wreaks havoc on the hands. Cuts are so prevalent I become the unofficial nurse of the group, carrying plasters in my bumbag. We work in pairs, bookending the vines to ensure no bunch gets left behind. To break up the monotony, conversation inevitably flows, profound at times due to the thick vines that block our faces like confessional screens. Everyone has a story  healing from a breakup or breaking free from a corporate job.

This sociability is an antidote to the demanding work: the constant ache in muscles I never knew I had; the unrelenting sweltering sun and hot wind. My skin and clothes are sticky with sweat, dirt and grape juice, my fingernails permanently painted purple. Yet, knowing our collective efforts will be bottled into delicious wine is incredibly rewarding. Theres no feeling like people coming together for a shared mission, says Hannah.

What is surprising to me is that I find solace in the repetition. As a freelancer weighted with managing, and finding, my own work, I appreciate having specific tasks; being told what to do; the simple choreography of snip, haul, repeat. Plus, the monotony is broken up by the varied terrain.

Terroir, the buzzword that rolls off sommeliers tongues, refers to the soil, climate and sunlight that give wine grapes their distinctive character. I get a crash course on Rouge-Bleus 12 hectares planted with 21 grape varietals. Stooped low like elderly ladies, the 115-year-old grenache gobelet vines are planted in an ancient riverbed of large white stones. While these heat-retaining galets help the grenache reach peak ripeness, their uneven surface is torturous  like trying to balance in a ball pit. The trellised syrah are easier to pick, their extended branches welcoming us with open arms to gather their purple jewels.

Gathering around the table for meals is a harvest highlight, a moment of conviviality that recharges our batteries

Once we fill the trailer  emblazoned with an In Grenache We Trust sticker  we head back to the winery. This entails a different workout  manoeuvring hoses and vats, loading the press, shovelling grape bunches into the tank. We keep their stems to reduce heat buildup during fermentation, which leads to the jammy flavours we dont want, says Caroline. I appreciate her red wines even more with this knowledge. My favourite task is climbing into the press to stomp out every last drop of juice.

The drudgery is lessened as we toast the days end with craft beers from a friends Alpine brewery. It takes a lot of beer to make good wine, is a common harvest adage that Thomas repeats. Gathering around the table for meals is a harvest highlight, a much-deserved moment of conviviality that reinforces our team spirit and recharges our batteries. Each night, a different harvester cooks a recipe of their choosing, often calorie-replenishing meals such as lasagne, grilled sausages or chickpea curry. Naturally, the meals are paired with Domaine Rouge-Bleus bottles, from its citrusy white Dentelle to the luscious Lunatique that bursts with blackberry notes. The most oenologically curious of us have a vertical tasting for a nightcap  by sampling the same wine from different years, we can taste how age intensifies its flavours.

Just as a fine wine lingers in the mouth, participating in a wine harvest is an enduring experience. A fellow harvester, Oscar, goes so far to say: Its about as useful a thing a person could do. Each time I drink wine, I taste its people, its place, its story. My time among the vines has made me truly appreciate Louis Pasteurs words: There is more philosophy in a bottle of wine than in all the books in the world.

Further information: Domaine Rouge-Bleu; Domaine Breton; Vendangeur dun Jour; WWOOF
Pro-Palestine protesters are seen during the Palestine Action Group's March for Humanity in Sydney, on 3 August. The group is fighting NSW police about a separate protest to the Sydney Opera House. Photograph: Flavio Brancaleone/AAP

One of New South Wales most senior police officers has told a court that a proposed pro-Palestine march to the Sydney Opera House has disaster written all over it due to significant safety concerns.

Representatives from the Palestine Action Group and Jews Against Occupation remain before the court of appeal in their fight against the New South Wales police over the proposed march from Hyde park to the Sydney landmark this Sunday.

Last week, the group announced its plan to diverge from the normal route of its nearly weekly rallies over the past two years to mark two years since 7 October and call for an end to genocide in Gaza. But on Friday the NSW police announced it would knock back the groups application to march to the Opera House, citing safety concerns.

Related: Pro-Palestine activists ask court to make genocide ruling during battle over Sydney Opera House protest

The court of appeal, which inherited the case on Tuesday from the supreme court due to the urgency of the matter and legal complexities, is now determining if the march will be authorised to finish at the Opera House.

The assistant commissioner Peter McKenna said in his evidence that of particular concern was how the 40,000 people expected to attend would safely enter and exit the Opera House forecourt without the risk of crowd crush. He also questioned the estimate of 40,000 people, saying it could be more.

We are not anti-protest. We assisted this group with over 100 protests over the last two years and we do about 1,500 protests a year, he said.

All the altruism in the world does not assist when we have a physical situation where we believe the numbers are far too excessive to keep people safe.

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Palestine Action Groups barrister, Felicity Graham, put to McKenna that police could stagger the crowd as it leaves from Hyde park. McKenna said police could facilitate this with 10,000 people, but not significantly upwards of that.

Youre talking significant resources, which I dont have, he said.

Under the bylaws which govern the Opera House, it has the power to conduct searches, which could include X-ray equipment and bag searches. The court heard this was standard operating procedure during events that attract large crowds.

McKenna told the court he would advise the Opera House to screen protesters.

I would still say to the Opera House that being such an iconic location, and where, and Im careful with what I say here  but there are people who are in our society [that] would love an opportunity to do some things at that location because of the media interest [and] given our current threat in Australia, I would say it would be good to know who is coming in there and what they have on them, he said.

Just because theres a protest, it does not stop other people from coming into that environment.

Graham asked if that would not be impractical because it would cause the crowd to grind to a halt.

McKenna responded: My whole argument is that 40,000 to 100,000 people going there is impractical.

Andrew Bell, the chief justice of NSW, is one of three judges overseeing the case. He expressed concern at protesters finishing the march in what he called a cul-de-sac.

Graham told the court that three exit points had been identified for protesters to leave the forecourt. She also raised the possibility of staggering protesters as they arrive at the Opera House so that only about 6,000 people were in the forecourt at a time.

McKenna told the court the organisers expectation that people would leave the Opera House forecourt  which marks the end of the march  as soon as they arrived was farcical. He added that people will want to stay to get the imagery they need to get global media attention.

The court also heard submissions from the Jewish community in opposition to the rally.

Barrister Vanessa Whittaker, speaking on behalf of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, told the court the planned protests proximity to the second anniversary and its location would create further fear of antisemitism, which includes violence, and further distress amongst the Jewish community.

The affront is that in reality, in the modern age, in the modern democracy, it is impossible for the Jewish community  to be oblivious to the consequences, the attention and the heat  generated by this kind of protest, she said.

The matter remains before the court.
President Donald Trump has threatened mass layoffs and other irreversible consequences from the government shutdown  but some in Washington believe that he could be shying away from those plans, according to a report.

Now more than a week into the shutdown, those threats have not manifested, leading to a growing belief that it might be another example of TACO, - or Trump Always Chickens Out, - the Washington Post reported.

When the Office of Management and Budget issued a memo directing agencies to consider reductions in force if a lapse in funding occurred, it was clear to me that it was absolute bluster and B.S., Virginia Democratic Rep. James Walkinshaw told the Washington Post. And by the way, the federal employees that I represent saw it as such as well.

We didnt want the Democrats to shut down the government  the Administration wanted a straightforward and clean [continuing resolution] to keep the government open, the exact same proposal that Democrats supported just 6 months ago and 13 times under the Biden Administration, a White House spokesperson told The Independent. Unfortunately, Democrats have chosen to shut down the government because they think demanding free health care for illegal aliens is more important than paychecks and benefits for American taxpayers. Any lapse in funding, this one brought on by the Democrats, unfortunately has consequences. The Democrats can reopen the government at any time.

There have still been visible changes to the federal workforce. Non-essential services have been suspended. Most federal workers wont be paid until the shutdown ends, while some who were furloughed may be denied back pay, the president threatened this week, in contradiction with a law he signed in his first term.

Theres reportedly a growing belief in Washington that President Donald Trump wont act on his threats to execute mass layoffs in the federal workforce during the shutdown. (AP)

Meanwhile, Trump has used the shutdown to further his own policy agenda, such as threatening to cut Democratic agencies, cancelling nearly $8 billion in grants for clean energy projects in states that backed Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, and freezing $18 million for infrastructure projects in New York City  home to both Democratic leaders.

In the days leading up to the shutdown, Trump warned: We can do things during the shutdown that are irreversible, that are bad for them and irreversible by them, like cutting vast numbers of people and cutting things that they like, cutting programs that they like.

Previous government shutdowns have not led to mass layoffs. Still, on the first day of the shutdown, Vice President J.D. Vance warned that mass reductions may be required to keep the American peoples essential services continuing to run.

On Tuesday, Trump furthered these threats, telling reporters that jobs could be permanently slashed. If the shutdown continues, the cuts will be substantial. He added: And a lot of those jobs will never come back.

The president has yet to act on these threats. Several government employees dont think hell ever carry them out.

A State Department employee considers the potential firings an empty threat. This is stupid, even for them, he told the Washington Post. The bar is in the basement, and they have managed to tunnel under it somehow.

Similarly, an Agriculture Department worker said shes grown so accustomed to Trumps threats to federal workers that she now treats the presidents firing claims as background noise, the Post reported.

The federal shutdown has closed government buildings and delayed services. Trump has threatened not to give back pay to workers on furlough because of the closure. (Getty Images)

Trump has backed away from several plans during his second term, giving rise to the TACO descriptor.

The acronym first appeared earlier this year in the context of tariffs. Some Wall Street traders used the term to describe the presidents pattern of making trade policy threats that were likely to cause the stock market to dip before he inevitably walked back on that threat, leading to a rebound. For example, after unveiling his so-called Liberation Day tariffs in April, the markets plunged. The following week, he ordered a 90-day pause, prompting the market to soar to record highs.

But Trump has walked back on a number of stances beyond trade policies. The Department of Government Efficiency executed sweeping layoffs cuts in the early days of the administration, only to later rehire hundreds of them.

Even this week, Trump suggested he would negotiate with Democrats, who have demanded health care subsidies, to end the shutdown  but then walked it back, insisting they cave before any discussions take place. He wrote on Truth Social: I am happy to work with the Democrats on their Failed Healthcare Policies, or anything else, but first they must allow our Government to re-open.
A British Transport Police officer who grabbed a 15-year-old girls neck when he accosted her for fare dodging has been found guilty of assault.

PC Adrian Young, 48, used unlawful force in the incident at Camden Road station last September as he returned to work from his lunch break.

The girl and her friend were spotted pushing their way through the barriers after a station worker refused to let them through for free.

CCTV caught the moment Young put the girl in a headlock and grabbed her by the neck in a struggle in the ticket hall. He went on to drag her back through the barrier and then restrained her against a wall, again grabbing hold of her neck.

At Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday, District Judge Nina Tempia found Young guilty of assault by beating and adjourned his case for sentencing next month.

The court heard the girl had complained of struggling to breathe as she accused Young of using as stranglehold on her.

The judge found several inconsistencies in Youngs account of the incident, and said the CCTV is clear and compelling.

The defendant had his hand around the complainants neck in front of the barrier, and thereafter when they went through the barrier, she said.

He had his hand around her neck when she was up against the wall.

Young looked emotional in the dock and shook his head as the guilty verdict was delivered. The judge ordered a probation report, which will consider if a prison term is the appropriate sentence.

During the trial on Wednesday, Young - a 19-year veteran of the British Transport Police - called the girl and her friend hysterical and insisted he had only grabbed hold of the fare dodgers clothing to stop her escaping. He denied ever intentionally touching her neck.

Prosecutor Mark Gadsden told the court Young entered the station on September 22 last year just as the girl and her friend, also 15, were pushing through the ticket barriers.

He swung her around and got hold of her in a headlock with his arm around her neck, he said.

She was a 15-year-old child, and we say that degree of force was unnecessary, not reasonable in the circumstances, and not proportionate.

Playing footage of events as they were captured on the stations CCTV cameras, Mr Gadsden said: The complainant in this case, together with a friend, came to Camden railway station, they wished to go through the barrier without a ticket, and asked a member of staff to allow them.

Camden Road Overground station (Google)

He refused, the friend pushed through the barrier, and the complainant was in the process of pushing her way through the barrier when the defendant, a British Transport Police officer, walked in.

He grabbed hold of her, initially around the torso, imprisoning her arms.

The prosecutor said the girl was initially swung around while her friend remonstrated with Young to let go.

He continues to restrain her with his arm around the neck, he said.

They go through the barrier, back from the unpaid to the paid part where you need to have a ticket, one of the staff members having opened the barrier to facilitate that.

He (Young) is holding the complainant up against the wall with his left hand around her neck, and thats a continuation of the assault.

The teenage girl alleged to be the assault victim was due to give evidence, but this morning told prosecutors she would not be attending court.

Nonetheless, Mr Gadsden said the case would continue, largely based on CCTV evidence and images of the incident as it unfolded.

This is a trained police officer, he told the judge.

It is not a member of the public attempting a citizens arrest on someone who is an unknown quantity.

He is a training officer who knows the proper way to restrain people, and ways you should not restrain people such as in a headlock.

Young, who is part of BTPs London Overground Tasking Team, told Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigators that he denies using any force beyond what was lawful, reasonable, and proportionate.

In evidence, Young said he was working that day, though he was not in full uniform as he was mainly concentrating on completing paperwork.

He was in police issue trousers and other civilian clothes when he entered the station to return from getting lunch, and had his warrant card out already when he spotted the teenage fare dodger.

I could hear the audible chirp the TfL gates make when they are being pushed through, he said. It triggers a quiet but noticeable alarm Im familiar with.

Young said he saw the girl actively pushing through the gates, and believed it was his duty to intervene.

If we were able to have a calm conversation with her, which was my intention, I would have invited her to engage with railway staff so they could use their procedures to deal with ticketless travel. Usually this takes the form of some kind of penalty fare.

I asked her to stop in my initial approach to her...and she didnt stop. It was abundantly clear to me she recognised and heard I told her I was a police officer, she had seen the warrant card, and she actively tried to evade me by going round to my left.

Young said he extended my arm out in order to stop her going around me, and told the court he grabbed hold of part of the girls upper clothing, just below her shoulder.

It was a flurry of activity, the very second I clamped on to her clothing she started to attack that hand in order to remove my grasp.

Young told the court he himself was assaulted by the girl, and believed at the time she had dug her nails into his hand.

He said his hand may have risen up her body as she struggled, but he insisted it was brief and unintentional, and he accused the girl of making the first physical contact by moving her torso into his outstretched arm.

Throughout this, both (girls) are screaming at me, shouting get off, choice words, four letter words, screaming almost hysterically, he said.

Young argued that he felt a hostile presence growing around him, and when he had taken the highly-strung girl back through the barriers and into corner he said the hysterical screaming and struggling continued.

At no point did I hold her by the throat, or do anything that could reasonably be described as strangulation or throttling, he said.

When he was first interviewed over the incident, Young claimed the girl had tried to knee him in the groin while she was being detained.

Clearly she was absolutely determined to get away, and I wasnt able to let go, he said.

He denied ever putting the girl in a headlock, and under cross-examination he insisted he had eventually removed his grip on the teen because she was being more compliant, rather than as a reaction to being filmed by others in the station.

Young went on to arrest the girl for fare evasion and assaulting a police officer, but later de-arrested her and said she had apologised, blaming her reaction on panic that her parents would have to be called.

Mr Gadsden questioned: You let her go because you realised you had assaulted her.

Young responded: I would argue there is no footage that actively shows what you say.

One of Youngs BTP colleagues was at her desk at Camden Road station when she got an urgent call to assist in the ticket hall, and arrived to find Young grappling with the girl and calling out for handcuffs.

She said it was really difficult to get the handcuffs on to the girl, who was kicking and flailing while her friends were shouting and videoing the scene.

The crowd felt very hostile, she said. I feared we were going to get our heads kicked in.

IOPC Director Emily Barry said: All police officers are trained to use force that is necessary, proportionate and reasonable in the circumstances. On this occasion, there was no lawful reason for the force used by PC Young, which could have resulted in serious injuries, particularly as he was dealing with a child who was considerably smaller than him.

The incident was witnessed by several members of the public who expressed concerns at the scene about the officers actions, with one of the witnesses making a complaint to BTP that ultimately led to us carrying out an independent investigation.

This shows that the public can have confidence in the police complaints system and that the IOPC will hold officers to account for their actions, with PC Young now convicted of a criminal offence.

Young, who lives in Spalding, Lincolnshire, denied assault. He will be sentenced on November 13.
Ken Paxton speaks at the CPAC conference in National Harbor, Maryland, on 23 February 2024. Photograph: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Eight people linked to a Texas midwife accused of performing illegal abortions have been arrested, Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, announced on Wednesday.

The midwife, Maria Rojas, earlier this year became the first person to be charged under Texas laws that outlaw virtually all abortions. She is now facing three counts of performing an abortion and 12 counts of practicing medicine without a license. The new arrests were all of people indicted for practicing medicine without a license under Rojas, who operated three clinics in the Houston area, according to Paxtons office.

Paxton, a Republican who is now running for Senate, called the individuals a cabal of abortion-loving radicals and fake doctors in a press release.

Those responsible will be held accountable, he said. I will always protect innocent life and use every tool to enforce Texass pro-life laws.

The Center for Reproductive Rights, which has represented Rojas in court, did not immediately reply to a request for comment. But in court documents, lawyers for Rojas have said that Texas has not proved that Rojas performed abortions, nor that she operated outside the scope of her midwifery license. Texas law enforcement, the lawyers argued, jumped to wild conclusions after overseeing a slipshod investigation.

Related: Abortion pill providers targeted by new Texas law refuse anticipatory obedience

The lawyers for Rojas argued that Texas prosecutors relied too heavily on Rojass possession of the drug misoprostol as proof that she performed abortions. While misoprostol can be used to end pregnancies, it is also used for an array of other reasons, such as helping to soften a cervix before labor.

A licensed midwifes possession of misoprostol is evidence of a midwifery practice, not abortion, the lawyers argued in court. If possessing misoprostol were evidence of abortion, then every hospitals labor-and-delivery ward would be accused of providing abortions.

In the three years since the US supreme court overturned Roe v Wade, unleashing a wave of state-level abortion bans, anti-abortion activists have escalated their attacks on abortion providers. Louisiana has issued warrants for doctors in New York and California who are accused of mailing abortion pills across state lines, while several individuals  including men whose partners had abortions  have sued abortion providers.

Paxton has emerged as a frontline leader in the fight against abortion providers. Late last year, he sued a New York doctor over accusations she provided abortion pills to a Texas woman. He has since sued a New York county clerk who refused to enforce a fine against the doctor, setting up a high-stakes battle over a New York law meant to protect providers from out-of-state prosecutions.

In court, lawyers for Rojas have said that her clinics offered standard midwifery care, including telemedicine.

In court documents filed in Rojass case in June, Texas prosecutors accused two of the people recently arrested of working as unlicensed medical assistants. Prosecutors cited a witness who said that one of the assistants, Jose Manuel Cendan Ley  who admitted to triaging patients  gave her a vitamin infusion and iron injection. The other assistant, Sabiel Bosch Gongora, had apps on his phone used by medical professionals for clinical decision support, including drug interactions, medical guidelines, and disease diagnosis tools, prosecutors said.

Rojass lawyers argued in a September court briefing that prosecutors failed to prove that Ley and Gongora were independently diagnosing and treating patients. They may have been carrying out duties that had been appropriately delegated to them by licensed clinicians, the lawyers said.

Paxtons press release does not provide evidence for the allegation that the other arrested individuals were operating without the right licensure.

In March, days after Rojass arrest, a judge suggested the case could take years.
Russia is using its illicit shadow fleet of oil tankers for intelligence gathering and sabotage operations including launching drones, according to Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Currently, Russians are using tankers not only to earn money for the war, but also for reconnaissance and even sabotage activities. It is entirely possible to stop this, said Ukraines president after a briefing from his foreign intelligence chief, Oleh Ivashchenko, describing sabotage and destabilising operations in Europe.

Zelenskyy said: Recent cases of drones being launched from tankers are one such example. We are sharing this information with partners and it is important that their response to Russia be real. Danish police have not ruled out the possibility that one such ship, the Boracay, was involved in drone sightings above airports and military installations in Denmark in late September. The ship was later boarded and halted by French troops. Its captain is scheduled to go on trial in France in February accused of failing to cooperate with authorities.

Ukrainian drones have attacked an oil refinery at Tyumen in Siberia, more than 2,000km (1,200 miles) behind the frontline, marking potentially Kyivs deepest ever strike into Russian territory. At least two UAVs damaged its distillation column and water supply system, said the independent Russian news outlet Astra. The regional government sought to play down the attack, saying three UAVs were detected and neutralised on the territory of an enterprise in the Antipino district of Tyumen.

Fire continued to rage at the Feodosiya oil terminal in Russian-occupied Crimea after an earlier Ukrainian strike, with reports saying the blaze had spread further through the facility.

Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said he was discussing with Russia and Ukraine how to restore off-site power to the illegally Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Europes largest nuclear plant has been cut off from external power for more than a week. It is being cooled by emergency diesel generators that are not intended to be used long-term.

Russia meanwhile claimed a Ukrainian drone crashed into a cooling tower of the Novovoronezh nuclear plant in Russias Voronezh region which borders Ukraine. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine  each side regularly accuses the other of courting disaster by targeting nuclear power stations.

Ukraine wants to increase natural gas imports by 30% amid intensified Russian airstrikes on its gas infrastructure, damage from which Ukrainian energy minister, Svitlana Hrynchuk, described on Tuesday as significant. Russia had attacked energy facilities 26 times in the last 24 hours, said the minister. We plan to import throughout the coldest months, although the priority now is to secure imports for October-December and, if necessary, for other months  The faster we can restore (production), the less we will need to import.

It is not in Polands interest to hand over a Ukrainian man wanted by Germany for suspected involvement in explosions that damaged the Nord Stream gas pipelines, the Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, has declared. Tusk added it was ultimately for a court to decide on the extradition of Volodymyr Z, who plans to plead not guilty according to his lawyer. German prosecutors allege the trained diver is one of a group of people suspected of renting a sailing yacht and planting explosives on the pipelines, which run from Russia to Germany, in September 2022.

Tusk reiterated Polands longstanding opposition to the pipelines, which Warsaw says were key to making Europe too dependent on Russian energy. The problem of Europe, the problem of Ukraine, the problem of Lithuania and Poland is not that Nord Stream 2 was blown up, but that it was built, Tusk said. No one has taken responsibility for the Nord Stream blasts and Ukraine has denied any role. Volodymyr Zs Polish lawyer has said his client has done nothing wrong and that he will plead not guilty. Another Ukrainian man was arrested in Italy in August and plans to fight extradition to Germany.
Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, only rightwing politicians, an Austrian Green MEP said. Photograph: NatashaPhoto/Getty

Veggie burgers, tofu steak and cauliflower schnitzel will be off the menu if the European parliament gets its way after a vote on food names.

MEPs voted on Wednesday by 355 in favour to 247 against to reserve names such as steak, burger and sausage exclusively for products derived from meat, a longstanding demand of farm unions.

In order to come into effect, the idea would have to be approved by a majority of the EUs 27 member states, which is far from certain.

The vote is a victory for the French centre-right MEP Celine Imart, who drafted the amendment to legislation intended to strengthen the position of farmers in the food supply chain.

Imart, who is also a cereals farmer in north-west France, said: A steak, an escalope or a sausage are products from our livestock, not laboratory art nor plant products. There is a need for transparency and clarity for the consumer and recognition for the work of our farmers.

She argues the proposal is in line with EU rules that already ban the use of terms such as milk and yoghurt for non-dairy products.

The European parliament rejected a ban on meaty names for plant-based products in 2020, but the 2024 elections shifted the parliament to the right, bringing in more lawmakers who seek close ties with farmers.

Opposition was led by Green MEPs, who decried what they saw as a populist move to rename plant-based foods. Veggie burgers, seitan schnitzel and tofu sausage do not confuse consumers, only rightwing politicians, Thomas Waitz, an Austrian Green MEP, said after the vote. This tactic is a diversion and a pathetic smokescreen. No farmer will earn more money or secure their future with this ban.

Even Imarts centre-right European Peoples party (EPP) is divided on the issue. The EPPs group leader, Manfred Weber, said before the vote that the issue was not a priority for him and lawmakers had more important things to deal with. Consumers are not stupid when they go to the supermarkets and buy their products, he said.

The proposal is opposed by leading German supermarkets such as Aldi and Lidl, which fear that banning familiar terms would make it more difficult for consumers to make informed decisions.

Germany is the largest market for plant-based products and these businesses fear they would be particularly affected by any move to change the names of plant-based foods.

Related: Warnings of imports of caged hen eggs as Ukraine and Poland become UKs biggest suppliers

Frances livestock sector strongly backs the proposals. Without clear safeguards, consumers risk being misled by products that are disguised as meat but are not meat, Jean-Francois Guihard, the head of Interbev, the French livestock and meat association, told AFP.

France introduced a ban on words such as steak and sausage being applied to plant-based foods in 2020 but the European court of justice ruled the measure illegal under EU law in 2024. The original French decree introduced a ban on 21 terms used by butchers, including ham, filet and prime rib.

Consumer groups say the measure has little support among shoppers. A 2020 survey of 11 EU member states by the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) found that most were not concerned about the use of meat-related names as long as a product was clearly labelled as vegetarian or vegan.

Irina Popescu, a food policy officer at the BEUC, said the vote was disappointing and made little sense. Almost 70% of consumers understand these names as long as products are clearly labelled vegan or vegetarian. Policymakers should focus on making packaging clear and understandable with trustworthy labels, she said.

The Austrian MEP Anna Sturgkh, a member of the centrist Renew group, said consumers were unlikely to be misled. A beef tomato doesnt contain any beef  Ladies fingers are not made of actual ladies fingers. Lets trust consumers and stop this hotdog populism, she said.
Victoria Beckham launched her highly anticipated Netflix docuseries supported by her nearest and dearest  well, most of them.

On Wednesday night, the former Spice Girl turned fashion designer was joined by husband Sir David Beckham and their children Romeo, Cruz and Harper at the glamorous London premiere at Curzon Mayfair, followed by an afterparty at No. 5 Hertford Street. But eldest son Brooklyn was a noticeable absentee, amid continued speculation of a rift between him and his parents.

Romeos girlfriend Jackie Apostel was also in attendance, joining the Beckham family for the high-profile event  a show of unity from the couple, who have been together since last year.

Former Spice Girls Emma Bunton and Melanie Chisholm were also snapped on the red carpet.

English fashion designer Victoria Beckham poses upon arrival at Curzon Mayfair (AFP via Getty Images)

Cruz Beckham, from left, Jackie Apostel, Romeo Beckham, Harper Beckham, Victoria Beckham and David Beckham pose for photographers (Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)

Emma Bunton attends the "Victoria Beckham" World Premiere (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

(REUTERS)

The new Netflix series, Victoria Beckham, offers an intimate look at her life and career, charting her evolution from pop icon to acclaimed fashion designer. It follows her creative process, family life and the rise of her eponymous label, which has become a fixture at Paris Fashion Week.

The premiere follows the 51-year-old wowing the fashion world at Paris Fashion Week last Friday with her latest collection, before returning to London to open her first-ever pop-up store at Selfridges.

For the launch, she wore a deep burgundy pencil dress from her own label  cut in a sleek, body-conscious silhouette with a dramatic cape detail  paired with cream heels and her newly lengthened, softly curled locks.

I wanted to create an immersive experience that would feel like an extension of my creative world, but also of my home  intimate and full of personal touches, with a real focus on architectural lines, rich textures and colours, she told fans on Instagram.

Cruz Beckham and Jackie Apostel attend the world premiere of the Netflix documentary series (Ian West/PA Wire)

Jackie Apostel, Cruz Beckham, Romeo Beckham, Harper Beckham, Victoria Beckham and David Beckham (Dave Benett)

With her family rallying around her and another global project set to stream worldwide, Victoria Beckhams latest venture cements her status as both a fashion powerhouse and pop culture icon  even if one family members absence didnt go unnoticed.

Victoria Beckham begins streaming globally on Netflix from October 9.
Credit: CBS News

The Democrats leading candidate for California governor tried to end an interview after being asked how she would win over Donald Trump supporters.

Katie Porter, whom polls show leading the pack to replace Gavin Newsom in next years election, accused a CBS reporter of being unnecessarily argumentative in a fractious interview.

Rival Democrats also running to clinch the partys nomination for governor accused her of dismissing voters and being unable to answer simple questions.

Ms Porter was pressed by correspondent Julie Watts after claiming she would not need to win over Donald Trumps supporters to become governor.

The former congresswoman frowned, turned to the camera and laughed openly, before asking in apparent incredulity: How would I need them in order to win, maam?

Porter appears to contradict herself

Ms Porter went on to claim she would win every vote of the 60 per cent of Californians who did not vote for the US president in last years election to beat a Republican candidate in the gubernatorial election.

When asked how she could do so in a primary contest against other Democrats, she replied: I dont intend that to be the case.

Ms Porter then appeared to contradict herself, saying she had won Republican votes in the past when she represented a swing district in Orange County, which has a strong conservative streak.

I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative, she then said, before placing her hands in front of her as if trying to keep Ms Watts at bay. What is your question?

Katie Porter accused CBS reporter Julie Watts of being unnecessarily argumentative

Throughout the interview, the CBS reporter repeatedly pointed out that she had posed the same questions to other Democratic candidates for governor.

Im going to try and win every vote I can and what Im saying to you is that  Ms Porter said, before stopping abruptly and giving up on the interview.

I dont want to keep doing this, Im going to call it, she said, moving as if to take her microphone off, though she did not do so, and complaining about seven follow-ups to every question you ask.

I dont want this all on camera

When Ms Watts again said her Democratic rivals had answered the same questions, Ms Porter answered: I dont care I want to have a pleasant, positive conversation.

I have never had to do this before, ever to end an interview. Im running for governor because Im a leader, she said, before slapping her hands on her legs in frustration.

I dont want to have an unhappy experience with you. And I dont want this all on camera, she added.

Ms Porters rivals were quick to pounce on her attempt to cut short the interview and apparent admission she did not need the support of Mr Trumps supporters.

Xavier Becerra, the former health secretary under Joe Biden, said he was not interested in excluding any vote.

Antonio Villaraigosa, the former Los Angeles mayor, said: We need a leader who will solve hard problems and answer simple questions.

Steve Hilton, the leading Republican candidate in the race, said: As governor, Ill serve every citizen of this state, whether they voted for the president or not, whether they vote for me or not.
A multi-ethnic question  Nigerian Modernism is a conduit for the process that has seen the country become a hub for cultural resistance. Photograph: Stephen Chung/Alamy Live News

What distinguishes modern Nigerian art from its traditional form? I had this question in mind when I attended a private viewing of Tate Moderns new exhibition, Nigerian Modernism, which traces artwork from the period of indirect colonial rule to post-independence.

Walking through the gallery with the curator Osei Bonsu, learning about the incredible ways in which modern Nigerian artists sought to define, shape and rebel against the beautiful but contested state, I found answers.

The arrival of an independent Nigeria

Osei Bonsu, the curator of international art at Tate Modern alongside assistant curator Bilal Akkouche, tells me that Nigerian Modernism is around three years in the making, though his initial research began as early as the Covid pandemic. I was able to research the collections of the Universities of Birmingham, York and Chichester, all of which have really rich African collections. He found that modern Nigerian artists were often categorised within ideas of traditional African art, which he felt decontextualised the work and severed its links to modernity.

Many of the artists in Nigerian Modernism grappled with this question of cultural nationalism and identity, which had been shaped as much by interactions with European colonial culture as by their heritage. This was an especially pressing question in the build up to independence in 1960. That is immediately apparent in the first room of the exhibition, which features the work of the modern arts teacher and painter Aina Onabolu. Bonsu draws my attention to his 1922 oil painting of an elite Lagosian woman, Charlotte Obasa: Commissioning her portrait was a way of signifying her wealth and importance within Lagosian society. If you look at her dress and how shes framed, theres a sense of the British upper class.

Portraiture was a kind of artistic realism that helped define class structures. But realist art also served more democratic purposes. Akinola Lasekan, a student of Onabolus, took a very different approach to painting. Instead of engaging in the honorific language of portraiture, he was more invested in portraying scenes of everyday life, but also scenes of Nigerian mythology, Bonsu explains. In Onabolus works, we see watercolour paintings of Hausa traders at Lagos market, as well as a depiction of the creation story through Obatala, the orisha who descended from the sky to create the Earth. You could say these artists were revolting against the grain of Christian missionary culture that discouraged the representation of daily Nigerian realities.

Being half Bini (the ethnic group of Nigerian descendants of the Benin empire), I am especially interested in a vitrine containing photographs by Jonathan Adagogo Green, which depicts Ovonramwen, the Oba of Benin, just after the sacking of his kingdom in 1897. Bonsu included such work because they provide a mini retrospective of his photographic practice that was, at the time, interested in traditional rules, and these transitions of power. Though he notes that Green was employed by the British colonial government and operated as a double agent, representing both traditional Nigerian culture and the sweeping changes of colonial rule.

These changes are also recorded in one of the exhibitions most remarkable acquisitions: a panel of doors by the sculptor and innovator of Yoruba visual language Olowe of Ise, which was gifted to the British Museum. The carving depicts a meeting between the ogoga (king) of Ikere and a colonial officer, Captain William Ambrose. Bonsu says: We often think about traditional Yoruba carving as being used to represent honorific dynastic culture. But this spoke to a social critique and depicted the captain as a supplicant of the king, which in a sense used sculpture to politicise a national event.

Despite this exploration of colonial relations, you wont find stolen Benin bronzes here, or any other plundered art. It was important to start where that narrative leaves off, Bonsu explains. These are the artists who emerge on the other side of that violence, grappling with a loss of tradition and trying to relocate forms and techniques.

One of the shows stars is the sculptor and painter Ben Enwonwu, who is often described as the most influential African artist of the 20th century. His work Negritude is the lead promotional image for the exhibition; it depicts a woman dancing, and in the galleries I find a series of similar pieces. Bonsu explains that these were inspired by Enwonwus attendance of the legendary Nigerian nightclub Caban Bamboo: You can see hes trying to catch movement through the brushstrokes, and the layering of limbs to depict the performance of dance in a painterly form.

There is technical brilliance in Enwonwus work, but he is also an interesting study in contradiction. One of his most famous sculptures is, in fact, of Queen Elizabeth, commissioned to inaugurate a state visit she made to Nigeria in 1956. Hes heralding this arrival of a newly independent Nigeria, Bonsu says. But hes also embodying a lot of the virtues of the Commonwealth through his presence as a Black artist who received a great deal of privilege and access.

Even where Enwonwu depicted Nigerias struggles, they were sometimes at a remove. His epic oil painting Storm Over Biafra, portraying the devastation and loss caused by the Nigerian civil war, was painted five years out from the conflict, because he was able to flee to the UK during it. Other modern Nigerian artists were less of the establishment, such as those of the Zaria Art Society, who came together in 1958 to decolonise arts education in Nigeria. Unlike Enwonwu who was a kind of national figure, these were figures who were questioning the politics of nationalism but also trying to create art that embodied the possibilities of independence.

Taking in the expanse of the exhibition, from the pottery of Ladi Kwali and the wall reliefs of El-Anatsui to the adire (indigo dye) art of Nike Davies-Okundaye, I wonder about the challenges of acquisition. British university collections were generous, and there was good cooperation from Nigerian authorities. What proved more difficult was accessing private collections. Restoration was another issue, with about 50 works needing treatment, including Enwonwus Negritude, which was aided by conservators from the Museum of West African Art (Mowaa) in Benin City, Nigeria.

I have to ask Bonsu what made him pursue Nigerian modernism specifically, considering that there are non-Nigerian artists in the show. (Bonsu himself is Ghanaian.) I ask myself that question every day! he says with a laugh. In this period in particular, Nigeria was a melting pot for so many west African cultures. Lagos in the 19th century was a crossroads for formerly enslaved Afro-Brazilians who returned, Victorian Britons who were coming to create industry, and there were enterprising Nigerians creating economic networks across west Africa. So I think this is a west African story.

He expands, saying: Many of these artists deal with the idea that Nigerian culture has to be taken as a multinational and multi-ethnic question, in which artists are free to disrupt and redirect different narratives in service of their own artistic vision. So when we talk about independence in this exhibition, its not just about political independence. Its about the freedom of artists to choose what kind of narratives they want to absorb or reject.

Bonsu also wants us to think of Nigeria as an international hub for artists in the way that Paris, New York and London are: People such as Ibrahim El-Salahi from Sudan, Naoko Matsubara, whos Canadian-Japanese, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, whos German, they were all coming to Nigeria to be part of this cultural renaissance.

Bonsu is hoping to tour the exhibition to other cities after it concludes its run at the Tate, focusing on locations where you can find the Nigerian diaspora. If the show does anything, I hope it encourages local museums everywhere to really think, What does it mean to preserve your national heritage? Bonsu also wants custodians of these works to figure out how they can offer access to the public domain. Artists have always resisted exclusion, he says, and so the more ways to create access to these works, the better.

 Nigerian Modernism is at Tate Modern, London, until 10 May.
The future of Britain's Friday teatime staple - fish and chips - could be under threat due to overfishing, conservationists warn.

Oceana UK is urging the government to set catch quotas, or risk key fish stocks facing "imminent" collapse.

A report from the charity says many fish stocks are in a perilous state, with half of the country's top 10 commercial stocks either at critically low levels, being over-exploited, or both.

That includes the North Sea's cod, for which scientists have recommended a "zero catch" quota this year to protect stock, edible crab populations, herring, and North East Atlantic mackerel.

Overall, just two fifths (41%) of 105 UK commercial fish stocks are assessed as being in a healthy state, the report adds, with more than a quarter (27%) overfished.

One in four (25%) are being over-exploited, with current fishing quotas in excess of scientific advice to ensure sustainable populations in future.

Oceana UK's executive director, Hugo Tagholm, said: "If we carry on like this, without strategic action based on the science, collapse for some of these stocks could be imminent.

"The fish and chip supper is a British staple which is much-loved not just around the coasts but in all parts of the country, and we need to make sure that can continue."

Read more from Sky News:

What's fuelled a British octopus boom?

'Supertrawlers' blamed for depleting fish stocks

Mr Tagholm pointed to examples of catch limits on West of Scotland haddock and North Sea plaice. In place since 2020, both species now have healthy populations.

But the industry would need support from the government to ensure more limits did not impact their livelihoods.

A spokesperson for the environment department (Defra) said: "Defra are working with the fishing industry to promote British seafood and manage stocks sustainably - and have announced a brand new 360m fisheries and coastal growth fund to drive growth in the sector.

"We are committed to restoring our stocks to sustainable levels and have made significant progress over the past five years, while continuing to support the long-term viability of our domestic fishing industry."
Prince Harry watching an anti-poaching exercise in Malawi in 2019 during a royal tour of Africa to visit his charities (Getty)

A conservation charity in which Prince Harry is a member of the board of directors has had its agreement to manage protected parks in Chad terminated.

The countrys government has accused African Parks of serious financial misconduct, a disrespectful attitude and failing to curb poaching.

The Duke of Sussex has been involved with the organisation since 2016 as president, before joining its board in 2023.

Within Chad, the charity was responsible for protecting two wildlife reserves, the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem.

Prince Harry pictured working with African Parks in 2016 (PA)

They form part of 24 national parks and protected areas managed by African Parks across 13 countries, including Rwanda, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe.

However, Chads environment minister Hassan Bakhit Djamous said the governments 15-year partnership with the charity would end with immediate effect.

The government accused the charity of using tax-haven bank accounts in the Isle of Man and transferring capital abroad to the detriment of Chad, and of maintaining unaudited accounts, according to a four-page government report seen by The Times.

Mr Djamous said the charity had shown a recurring, indelicate and disrespectful attitude towards the government. He also blamed it for a resurgence of poaching due to a lack of investment from the charity.

The non-profit organisation confirmed it was informed of the unilateral decision on Monday in an official letter.

The charity said in a statement: African Parks has initiated discussions with the ministry to understand the governments position and to explore the best possible way forward in support of the continued protection of these critical conservation landscapes, as well as to ensure that the significant conservation and social gains achieved over the past 15 years, are sustained.

African Parks will continue to keep its partners and stakeholders informed, as further clarity is obtained.

Representatives for the Duke of Sussex have been contacted for comment.

Founded in 2000, the charity aims to protect Africas national parks and invest in conservation, helping countries that struggle to preserve their wildlife due to poverty, famine and conflict.

The Chadian governments decision is another blow for the charity, after it admitted earlier this year that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against an indigenous group in the Republic of Congo. African Parks acknowledged the abuses at the time and added: We deeply regret the pain and suffering caused to the victims. There is no place for any form of abuse in the name of conservation.

It is also another blow for Prince Harry, who stepped down from the charity Sentebale earlier this year, which he helped found to continue the work of his late mother, Princess Diana, in supporting children with HIV.

The duke said he was utterly devastated after a bitter boardroom dispute with the chair Sophie Chandauka led to his resignation.

The Charity Commission later found there was no evidence of widespread bullying, harassment or misogyny, but criticised all parties for allowing a damaging dispute to play out.
A woman has been questioned by Metropolitan Police officers in connection with the removal of yellow ribbons in London remembering hostages on the anniversary of the October 7 massacre.

The pieces of fabric  which symbolise calls for a return of the remaining hostages being held by Hamas  were put up on railings in Muswell Hill, Haringey ahead of the two-year anniversary of the attacks in which 1,200 Israelis were killed.

Scotland Yard confirmed a 36-year-old woman voluntarily attended a police station on Tuesday and was interviewed under caution.

A Met spokesperson said: At approximately 16:25hrs on Monday, 6 October, officers were made aware of a video circulating online which appears to show a woman removing ribbons from fence poles in Muswell Hill.

A 36-year-old woman attended a police station on Tuesday, 7 October, for a voluntary interview in connection with the incident, which is being treated as racially-aggravated criminal damage and a racially-aggravated Section 5 public order offence.

Officers are continuing to carry out reassurance patrols in the Muswell Hill area.

Ben Paul, a resident who put up the ribbons, previously said the ribbons removal was "morally repugnant", adding: "I don't care what your politics are: this is a simple tale of morality."

Miranda Levy, who saw the memorial of ribbons being torn down, told the Daily Mail: On the rare occasion the ribbons do get put up, they last for minutes before they are unceremoniously ripped down by people who cant bear to think there are humans on both sides of the conflict.

It is believed that 48 hostages remain in the Gaza Strip, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.

According to Palestinian health officials, more than 60,000 people have been killed since Israels military campaign against Hamas commenced two years ago.
An overview of the Oscar Mayer ready meal manufacturing site in Wrexham, Wales, where Karl Davies worked (Google Street View)

An engineering storeman sacked after saying top of the morning to ya in a mock Irish accent to a colleague has been awarded a five-figure sum after an employment tribunal deemed it to be an unfair dismissal.

Karl Davies, then 57, was working at a manufacturing site in Wales on August 13, 2024, when he greeted a manager, Scott Millward, in the accent while listening to Irish music.

Mr Millward, a manager at Wrexhams Oscar Mayer ready meal manufacturing site, had been escorting a red-headed external auditor when the remark was made and he reported his colleague to the employer, who launched a probe into whether the comments amounted to racial harassment, the tribunal in Mold was told.

The claimant repeated the phrase multiple times, with tribunal Judge Vincent Ryan accepting that he was effectively channelling the musical vibe.

The judge said that Mr Davies adopted an accent in a reprehensible and mocking way and goaded Mr Millward by repeating the phrase in a manner that Mr Millward was bound to find irritating and embarrassing.

He said that the claimant was trying to get on Mr Millwards nerves to get a reaction from him and to cause him embarrassment.

He added: I find that the purpose was not to racially harass Mr Millward, and there is no evidence before me that it had the effect, either, on anyone.

It was nevertheless blameworthy as (Mr Davies) was subordinate to Mr Millward.

Mr Davies, a employee at an Oscar Mayer ready meal manufacturing site, won more than 16,000 for unfair dismissal (Getty Images)

It gave rise to the disciplinary proceedings and therefore contributed to the eventual sanction.

The claimant did not know and had not seen the auditor, who is not known or believed to be Irish, the tribunal heard.

A manager, against whom Mr Davies had an unresolved grievance, conducted the investigation into Mr Daviess comments, the tribunal was told.

The judge wrote that Oscar Mayers disciplinary case was based on its perception that Mr Davies may have perceived that the auditor looked typically Irish.

Mr Daviess phrase was found by his employer to amount to harassment, but neither his clean disciplinary record or 27 years of employment for the firm were taken into account, the judge found.

The tribunal ruled that the chosen investigator was not appropriate, witness statements were inconsistent and the probe was largely based on assumptions.

Mr Davies won more than 16,000 for unfair dismissal.

The judge said: The claimant was accused of using an employment ending, reputation damaging, loss-inducing, racially motivated slur, a slur which could have created an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive working environment; these are serious matters.

On the facts peculiar to this case, I found that the dismissal was unfair, which does not mean that I approve the use of the greeting in question or the use of mock accents.

He added that the case was not an indication of wokeness or anti-wokeness.
New Zealand is bearing the brunt of warming and rising oceans, putting communities and the environment at risk. Photograph: Connect Images/Alamy

New Zealands oceans are warming 34% faster than the global average, with NZ$180bn (US$104bn) worth of housing at risk of flooding, a new report about the nations marine environment has revealed.

The ministry of the environment and Stats NZs three-yearly update, Our Environment 2025, collates statistics, data and research across five domains  air, atmosphere and climate, freshwater, land, and marine  to paint a picture of the state of New Zealands marine environment.

The latest in the series, Our Marine Environment 2025, painted a sobering picture for the countrys oceans and coasts  one defined by warming and rising seas, intensifying marine heatwaves and ocean acidification, brought about by global heating.

Related: Are New Zealands marine heatwaves a warning to the world?

Climate change isnt just something far and distant  it has impacts on our ocean and on our coast, Dr Alison Collins, the ministrys chief science adviser, told the Guardian.

The coastal zone is under a real squeeze  and the importance of that coastal environment is absolutely critical  its what we rely on in terms of our homes, our communities, our livelihoods and ultimately our connection to place.

The report presented a wide array of risks associated with the marine changes, including threats to indigenous marine species, coastal inundation and flooding of homes, as well as stronger and more devastating storms, and risks to communities and the economy.

It noted 219,000 homes worth $180bn were located in coastal inundation and inland flood zones, while more than $26bn worth of infrastructure was vulnerable to damage. About 1,300 coastal homes could face significant damage from extreme weather.

Some regions will experience a rise of 20cm to 30cm in sea levels by 2050, a tipping point for some communities, Collins said.

Sea levels that reach that height mean that a coastal storm that used to happen every 100 years could start happening every year, she said.

The worlds oceans have been absorbing about 90% of the extra heat created from the human-caused climate crisis.

New Zealand is bearing the brunt of these warming seas because of its position in the ocean, which makes it more vulnerable to atmospheric circulation and changes in ocean currents.

Between 1982 and 2023, New Zealands sea-surface temperatures in its four ocean regions increased, on average, 0.16 to 0.26 degrees Celsius per decade, and its rate of ocean warming outstripped global averages by 34%.

Coastal waters are also warming faster than the global average, it said.

Meanwhile, the Subtropical Front  the boundary between cold subantarctic water and warmer subtropical water that is biologically and economically significant  has moved 120km west, the report said, noting it was the first time a shift in large-scale ocean circulation around New Zealand had been observed.

The shift, which is driven by warming water, will have huge impacts on ecosystems, the food-web and on species such as corals, sponges, kelp and fish, Collins said.

Ocean acidification and warming are also affecting the countrys fishing and aquaculture industries  which contribute $1.1bn to the economy  and can lead to toxic algae bloom in shellfish. Marine heatwaves, meanwhile, are becoming more intense, longer lasting and more frequent.

New Zealand has been hit with unprecedented marine heatwaves in recent years, which have been linked to mass sea sponge bleaching, die-offs of southern bull kelp, large scale fish strandings and penguin deaths.

Monitoring and research into the marine environment was growing but there were still gaps in understanding, the report noted, adding that more comprehensive research would reduce risk to people, foster climate resilience, and promote sustainability.

Of particular concern was a lack of understanding into how climate change, oceans, severe weather events and ecosystems interact, Collins said.

It is a bit like pulling a thread from a fabric and the whole thing can sort of fall apart  understanding those interactions is perhaps the biggest blind spot for us.
Christopher Berry (left) and former parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash (right) leaving Westminster Magistrates Court, central London, where they appeared accused of an offence under the Official Secrets Act, April 26 2024 - PA

The collapse of the trial of two suspected Chinese spies has thrown a spotlight on Beijings spooks. But what are their espionage capabilities? And how do they work?

The first thing to know about Chinese intelligence, says Mike Feinberg, a former FBI agent who spent years hunting Chinese spies inside the United States, is that it operates across the full spectrum of imaginable activities.

Theres really no limit to what the Chinese intelligence services will do, he says. And look, let me be very clear. Western services are doing this too. The CIA, MI6, Australian SIS, CSIS in Canada, were all trying to embed spies in each others nations. Thats what nations do.

The difference is China is really going after ordinary citizens for their political activities in a way that the Five Eyes intelligence services generally do not, he says, referring to the intelligence sharing network of America, Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.

China is also enabling corporate espionage in a way that Western intelligence agencies for the most part refrain from doing. And thats simply because the Western agencies dont have state-owned enterprises that they need to help.

Structure

China has three main intelligence agencies. The largest, the Ministry of State Security (MSS), covers foreign intelligence gathering and some domestic security: in Western terms, loosely equivalent to MI6 or the CIA.

The Ministry of Public Security is, like MI5 or the FBI, largely internally focused  although it does run some overseas operations, particularly involving repression of Chinese dissidents and other regime critics living abroad.

Ministry of Public Security is the main law enforcement body in China

Then there is the Intelligence Bureau of the Joint Staff Department  the military intelligence branch, which runs its own espionage operations  and the United Front Work Department (UFWD), which concentrates on influence-building operations. For example, the UFWD has been accused of trying to sway elections in Canada and develop links with British MPs.

Like all spy agencies, their budgets and size are secret. But together, these four agencies are thought to comprise the largest intelligence machine on the planet.

Some estimates put Chinas spy force at 600,000. Russias FSB, for comparison, has been put at 200,000, but the vast majority are in its border guards service, not intelligence. The CIA was revealed to have 21,575 employees when a secret budget was leaked in 2013. And MI6 had 3,644 in 2022, according to the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee report of that year.

The challenge of the security threat posed by China is fundamentally one of scale, says Nigel Inkster, a former deputy head of MI6, told The Telegraph last year.

Informal networks

For a long time, however, Western intelligence agencies were preoccupied with the idea that China did not run conventional espionage operations in Cold War-style but relied on students, businessmen, members of the diaspora and private companies.

Hence scandals such as the one involving Yang Tengbo, the businessman accused of trying to access the British establishment by befriending Prince Andrew, or Christine Lee, the solicitor whom MI5 publicly accused of trying to win over MPs for the UFWD.

The Duke of York with Yang Tengbo, who was banned from the UK after MI5 deemed him to be an agent for China

This threat certainly endures. But over the past 15 years, says Feinberg, whats become apparent in a series of high-profile investigations throughout all the Five Eyes countries is that while they do rely on informal networks, they also have a very robust system of formal intelligence officers.

Those professional spy operations should not be underestimated. Between 2010 and 2012, Chinas intelligence agencies wound up the CIAs entire network inside China, imprisoning or killing more than two dozen people.

The CIA has never officially commented on that disaster, which was described as one of Americas worst ever security breaches when first reported in The New York Times in 2017. What is not disputed is that the Chinese probably either succeeded in hacking a supposedly secure CIA communications network, or managed to infiltrate a mole into a high level of the CIA.

Turncoats are key. Between 2017 and 2018, the FBI caught three CIA officers  Jerry Chun Shing Lee, Kevin Mallory, and Ron Rockwell Hansen  who had been spying or attempting to spy for the MSS. In 2020 they detained Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, an FBI officer who had been passing secrets to the Shanghai branch of the MSS.

Ron Rockwell Hansen, a former US intelligence officer who pleaded guilty to trying to sell secrets to China - AP

No evidence has been made public linking those men to the loss of the CIA network in 2010, although some former CIA officers say they are convinced a mole was responsible.

Even if they were not behind that, their recruitment was, from the Chinese point of view, an undeniable conventional espionage success story.

Chinas vulnerability

The Chinese way of spying does have a couple of peculiar weaknesses, however. The first, says one former Western official, is that Chinese intelligence services have a poor record of looking after agents who get caught.

That sets them apart from the US, British and Russian agencies who make a point of getting their people back as a way of encouraging loyalty and persuading potential recruits and assets that the risks of cooperation are worthwhile.

This attitude led to the spy swaps of the Cold War. Sergei Skripal, the GRU officer who spied for Britain and was swapped in 2010, was one beneficiary of that system until the Russians broke the rules and tried to murder him in exile. Viktor Bout, the convicted Russian arms dealer, and Vadim Krasikov, the FSB man who murdered a dissident in Berlin, are among those the Kremlin brought home after stints in jail.

But Beijings more utilitarian attitude presents obvious opportunities for rival services.

The other oddity is an obsessive appetite with information, however useless it may be.

While British, US or Russian spies might devote their precious resources on high-value targets  recruiting a mole in an enemy intelligence service, for example, or trying to find out as much as possible about a particular military or technical secret  Chinas spooks seem determined to vacuum up every scrap of information they can find.

In a way, that might be a blessing, suggests one former Western official. If your adversary is wasting time hacking data he could have found with a Google search, it means he is not putting those resources into targets that matter.

The big advantage

The intelligence allegedly provided by Christopher Berry and Christopher Cash, a former parliamentary researcher, would probably have fallen into the could-have-been-a-Google-search category. Both men have always denied the accusations.

The MSS would have had zero interest in the information provided, guessed one former Western official.

The point was probably to normalise the idea of such a transactional relationship, so that if and when they rose to a more useful position in 10, 20, or 30 years, an exploitable relationship had already been established.

It would put Berry and Cash in the same boat as Glenn Duffie Shriver, an American who was approached by the MSS with an apparently innocuous request while working in Shanghai in the 2000s. He was eventually arrested after applying to join the CIA, at his handlers suggestion.

Its a fundamental political reality, says Feinberg. If you have an authoritarian government that doesnt have to worry about re-election cycles or public approval ratings, they can afford to be more patient than governments which do.
Rob Clough says sunny summer may not necessarily be a good thing due to extra duty on drinks with alcohol content over 8.5 per cent - SWNS/Tom Maddick

The hottest summer on record has led to an extra-sweet apple harvest, which presents an issue for cider makers.

Higher sugar content brought on by back-to-back sunshine means that cider will have a higher alcohol content.

Rob Clough, owner of Charnwood Cider in Ulverscroft, Leicester, said that this is not necessarily a good thing as pubs will not want to buy his extra-strength alcohol.

Mr Clough, 45, who has been brewing cider for 20 years, said this years crops were unlike any other in recent times thanks to the hot summer months, with record levels of sugar in the apples.

But, he said some pubs dont really want to have 8.5 per cent cider... most really want stuff thats about 6 per cent or 6.5 per cent and Ive got one coming out at 10.5 per cent this year.

He added: The pubs wont take cider over 8.4 per cent but this gives me the opportunity to take them to markets and sell them as specialist and premium 750ml bottles.

Duty rates for pubs increase as the alcohol percentage increases. For cider, the duty is 10.02 per litre of pure alcohol in the product if the alcohol by volume is between 3.5 and 8.4 per cent.

However, this rises to 29.54 if the alcohol by volume is between 8.5 per cent to 22 per cent.

Mr Clough produces 5,000 litres of cider a year as well as perry, a pear cider, from his two-and-a-half acre orchard which has more than 500 trees.

Around 300 of them were planted around 15 years ago and he says he is now seeing those trees reach full maturity.

Mr Clough produces 5,000 litres of cider a year from his orchard in Ulverscroft, Leicester - SWNS/Tom Maddick

Mr Clough added: The back-to-back sunshine has caused there to be a lot of sugar in the fruit, which means that the ciders going to be stronger.

The fruit can produce more sugars the sunnier it is and there have been no late frosts either.

Ill be pressing well into November now before I will leave them to ferment and mature over the winter months  I wont be selling them until next year.

The National Association of Cider Makers also said the warm spring and summer have produced apples full of rich flavours and natural sweetness.

This summer was the UKs hottest on record and cider makers elsewhere have also reported bumper crops.

James Pearce runs Kicking Goat Cider in Stoke Row, Oxfordshire, and said the production and fermentation process had been brought forward because apples were dropping earlier.

Barny Butterfield, owner of Sandford Orchards, near Exeter, joked: I think Gods a cider maker, adding that its been an incredibly special year.

Showerings Cider, in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, said it was expecting a harvest of up to 3,000 tonnes of apples, compared to the 1,000 tonnes collected last year.

Director Nick Showering said: I think the unprecedented sun is going to create a vintage like Ive never seen before.
CCTV footage shows Jihad al-Shamie driving towards the Manchester synagogue where he launched his deadly terror attack.

The 35-year-old Islamist terrorist can be seen at the wheel of his black Kia Picanto just 100 metres from the Heaton Park shul on Thursday morning.

Moments later, he carried out a car-ramming and knife attack that resulted in the deaths of Adrian Daulby, 53, and 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz, with three others injured.

The terrorist, who claimed to be a devout Muslim but had a string of convictions and had recently been arrested on suspicion of rape, was shot dead by armed police at the scene.

In the footage, obtained by The Telegraph, al-Shamie can initially be seen walking towards the synagogue on Middleton Road at 8.56am. He is wearing a brown coat and carrying a black backpack.

A still shows al-Shamie walking calmly shortly before the attack

The bald father of three arrived outside the gated synagogue minutes later and loitered there, attracting the suspicion of security guards.

Ivor Rosenberg, one of the guards, recalled telling him that he could not remain outside, to which al-Shamie replied: Youre very brave inside the fence.

When later asked to leave again, he is said to have replied: This is a free country, I can go wherever I want.

Jihad al-Shamie at the doors of the synagogue, where he was later shot dead by police

The CCTV footage captures Syrian-born al-Shamie returning in the direction from which he came along Middleton Road at 9.18am, walking calmly but at a slightly faster pace.

Later footage captured by a doorbell on nearby Whitehouse Avenue  where two people would be arrested by armed counter-terror officers after the attack  shows al-Shamie walking down the street before driving away.

The CCTV camera then picks up the car moving down Middleton Road in the direction of the synagogue.

Moments later, al-Shamie accelerated into the front wall and gates of the synagogue, injuring a security guard before getting out of the vehicle wearing a fake suicide vest and launching a knife attack.

Witnesses have described him throwing flowerpots and stabbing at the shuls doors after service-goers who were there to mark Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, barricaded them shut.

There he is said to have shouted let me in, Im going to kill you and this is what you get for killing our children, an apparent reference to Israels war in Gaza.

Armed police arrived at the scene seven minutes after the first 999 call at 9.31am, shooting the terrorist dead with two shots.

It has since transpired that their bullets passed through al-Shamies body, the synagogue doors, and into Mr Daulby and Yoni Finlay, who were inside.

Mr Finlay remains in hospital along with Bernard Agyemang, a security guard, and Andrew Franks, who is said to have been guarding one of the synagogues three doors.

A total of six other people have since been arrested on suspicion of commissioning and preparing acts of terrorism, two of whom have been released and will face no further action.

Asst Commissioner Laurence Taylor, the head of Counter-Terrorism Policing, has said al-Shamie did not appear to be known to counter-terror police.

But on Monday, neighbours of al-Shamie said they had warned police about his family five years ago.

Greater Manchester Police has insisted there is no record of Jihad al-Shamie being known to counter-terrorism police or the security service, but it is not known if other members of the family were on a watchlist.
The pro-Palestine rally in London on the two-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks - Alex Day/Avalon

Scotland Yard is investigating whether a pro-Palestine group called Intifada 87 has broken terrorism laws.

Counter-terrorism officers are assessing whether the protesters name illegally expresses support for Hamas. It comes after Sir Keir Starmer demanded a crackdown on offensive chants at rallies.

Intifada 87 is thought to have organised a last-minute pro-Gaza march that blocked Tower Bridge in London on Tuesday, the two-year anniversary of the October 7, 2023 attacks. Participants chanted from the river to the sea, words seen as calling for the destruction of Israel.

The groups name and the protests timing so close to the Manchester synagogue attack have cause grave concern among Jewish leaders.

Supporting Hamas is a criminal offence in the UK, with a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Intifada is Arabic for the uprising against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, while 1987 is the year Hamas was founded.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman told The Telegraph: We understand the concerns raised about the name of the group that organised the protest, including the suggestion that it could be interpreted as being supportive of the proscribed organisation, Hamas.

While previous instances of implied or non-explicit support have been found not to meet the threshold for a criminal offence, we are reviewing the circumstances in this case, including seeking advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, to determine whether any offences may have been committed.

It is understood that Intifada 87 failed to give the full six days notice of Tuesdays protest. Police imposed conditions on its route from the BBC to Downing Street to prevent it going near the Central Synagogue in Great Portland Street.

Labour MP Joani Reid, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on anti-Semitism, said: Its deeply concerning that the Met allowed an unannounced protest outside Downing Street by a group calling itself Intifada 87.

The name is not accidental - its a deliberate reference to the year Hamas was founded. The Met have serious questions to answer about how and why this was permitted to go ahead.

Lord Walney, a former government political violence adviser, said: What on Earth is the Met doing allowing a protest on the anniversary of October 7 by a group whose very name signals support for the terrorists who carried out that terrible massacre of Jewish people?

Keith Black, chair of the Jewish Leadership Council, said: Across the Jewish community there is a feeling that the police and government have lost control. The closure of Tower Bridge, the hateful chanting in support of terrorism, and the decision not to stop the Intifada 87 march have created a deep sense of fear and abandonment.

Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, is considering giving ministers and police greater powers to ban protests outright. That option is currently limited to marches where there is assessed to be a risk of serious disorder.

A Met police spokesman said: The police do not give permission for protests, nor do we have any power in law to refuse permission either. We do have the power to impose conditions under the Public Order Act on things like start and end points, routes or timings in order to prevent serious disruption and/or serious disorder.

Only the Home Secretary has the power to ban a protest march, but only on request from the police in circumstances when it is anticipated that a protest would cause disorder that is so serious it cannot be dealt with by police intervention alone. This is a very high bar and not one that has been met at any point in recent years.

On Tuesday we imposed conditions to move the start point of the protest away from Portland Place given its close proximity of a nearby synagogue. We did so recognising that the protest was taking place on the anniversary of the October 7 attacks and acknowledging the impact on Jewish Londoners of an unprecedented period of almost constant protest over the past two years.

The Telegraph attempted to contact Intifada 87 for comment.
Jeff Stewart, better known as Pc Hollis, helped real-life officers apprehend the persistent thief by sitting on his legs - Hampshire Constabulary

A serial shoplifter who was arrested after being caught by an actor who starred in The Bill has been jailed for 20 weeks.

Jeff Stewart, who played Pc Hollis for 24 years in the ITV police series, detained thief Mohamed Diallo after he fell from his bike while trying to flee a shop in Southampton, Hampshire.

The actor sat on the offenders legs while police officers handcuffed him on July 23.

Diallo, of Southampton, was convicted of seven offences of theft from supermarkets and convenience stores in the Hampshire city between May and July this year.

At Southampton magistrates court, the prosecutor Adam Doyle said that Diallo, 29, had stolen coffee and alcohol worth a total of about 314 during the series of thefts. He added that the defendant had 13 previous convictions for a total of 48 offences, including 41 of theft.

Barry Keel, defending, said that Diallo had been receiving treatment for alcohol and drug addiction while on remand for the offences, and added that he hoped to break the cycle of reoffending.

Sentencing Diallo, the magistrate Alan Foster told him: You are a persistent thief with a record that is unenviable.

Credit: Hampshire Police

Whatever help we have tried to give you since you have been sentenced before and currently, you have turned it down and you have carried on stealing from shops to allow your habit of hard drugs to continue.

We can find nothing that shows remorse on your part  you keep falling back into your way of life when even offered many opportunities that others take.

[You are a] persistent offender over a period of time, you do not engage with services offered, you continue to be a blight on small local shopkeepers. As such you pass the custodial threshold.

Expect the unexpected

Following the arrest in July, a Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: In policing you should always expect the unexpected, but this really wasnt on The Bill for this week.

Officers making an arrest in Southampton were aided by none other than TVs Pc Reg Hollis during an incident on Wednesday July 23.

The officers, from Bargate Neighbourhoods Policing Team, were in the city in the afternoon when they were alerted by staff at Co-op in Ocean Way to a suspected shoplifter, who attempted to make good his escape on a bicycle.

The thief, 29-year-old Mohamed Diallo, fell off the bike during his attempts to flee, before officers pounced to make their arrest.

To their surprise, local TV legend Jeff Stewart, who played Pc Hollis for 24 years in The Bill, came to their aid by sitting on the suspects legs while officers put him in cuffs.

Long since retired from Sun Hill station  but hes still got it.
Keir Starmer with Xi Jinping at 2024s G20 meeting. Labour has embarked on a charm offensive towards China

Sir Keir Starmers former top civil servant has challenged the official explanation as to why a prosecution of alleged Chinese spies collapsed.

The Prime Minister insisted on Tuesday that the Government was unable to state that China had been a national security threat at the time of the arrest of two alleged spies in 2023.

The UKs most senior prosecutor has said Labours failure to provide such evidence led the Crown Prosecution Service to abandon the case.

However, in a rare public intervention, Simon Case, who served as cabinet secretary under Sir Keir and Rishi Sunak, his predecessor, questioned this explanation.

He said intelligence agencies had publicly described China as a threat for years, suggesting there was enough evidence to go ahead with the trial.

Lord Case told The Telegraph: Going back over years, we have had heads of our intelligence agencies describing in public the threat that China poses to our national and economic security interests.

Simon Cases comments are a rare intervention from a former cabinet secretary - Yui Mok/PA

Three former Tory Cabinet ministers, a former chief prosecutor, a former head of MI6 and the Governments counter-terror watchdog also questioned Sir Keirs account of the events that led up to the collapse of the case.

The Prime Minister faces growing accusations that the trial was deliberately scuppered in order to protect Britains trading relationship with China, which the Government sees as a key driver of economic growth.

Experts have pointed out that officials repeatedly said China was a threat to national security.

On the same day that Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry were arrested, the Government published a report vowing to tackle areas in which Chinese Communist Party actions pose a threat to our people, prosperity and security.

Lord Macdonald, a former director of public prosecutions, said it was difficult to understand why the case had been dropped, as it was self-evident that China posed a threat.

His comments were backed by Suella Braverman, the home secretary at the time, who said Sir Keir was deluded if he thought China had not been classed as a threat by previous governments.

Christopher Berry (left) and Christopher Cash in a sketch from a magistrates court appearance in 2024. Their case never made it to trial - Elizabeth Cook/PA

Writing for The Telegraph, below, Tom Tugendhat, the former security minister, says he was told by the countrys top security officials that the spy case was a slam dunk and that the only explanation for its collapse was that someone in Government made a choice that preserving good relations with China was more important than protecting national security.

Labour has embarked on a charm offensive towards China, with visits to Beijing made by Jonathan Powell, the national security adviser, David Lammy, the Deputy Prime Minister, Ed Miliband, the Net Zero Secretary, and Peter Kyle, the Business Secretary. Sir Keir is due to visit next year.

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, described the Governments explanation for the collapse of the case as a direct lie.

Sir Richard Dearlove, the head of MI6 between 1999 and 2004, told Times Radio the collapsed case should be reopened.

He said: It seems to me pretty straightforward. The idea that China is not a threat to national security when its acting in this manner is completely absurd. Its sort of inexplicable.

Another former Whitehall official described Sir Keirs claims as madness and said: The whole thing is utterly baffling. The people who drafted the Official Secrets Act didnt have in mind the suggestion that it would depend on the definition of who our enemies are in pamphlets published by the government.

It has been perfectly clear that China has been acting as an enemy of the British state.

The Chinese spy saga began in 2023 when former parliamentary aide Mr Cash and teacher Mr Berry were arrested on suspicion of passing secrets to China.

Matthew Collins, the deputy national security adviser, agreed to give evidence in court about the threat to national security posed by China, and last year the two men were charged with offences under the Official Secrets Act.

Then, shortly before Labour came to power, a judge ruled in a separate case that spying constituted providing information to a state that posed a threat to national security.

The Crown Prosecution Service decided that it needed more evidence to prove that China was a threat, but this was not provided by the Government, despite repeated requests over many months.

At a meeting in September attended by Mr Powell, Whitehall officials were told that Mr Collins would not be describing China as an enemy in court. The case was then dropped.

Stephen Parkinson, the current director of public prosecutions (DPP), has said it was the Governments failure to provide evidence that led to the case being abandoned.

He said: Efforts to obtain that evidence were made over many months, but notwithstanding the fact that further witness statements were provided, none of these stated that at the time of the offence China represented a threat to national security.

By late August 2025, it was realised that this evidence would not be forthcoming. When this became apparent, the case could not proceed.

But Sir Keir told reporters on Tuesday that the case collapsed because China was not classed as a national security threat at the time the alleged offences were committed under the Conservative government.

He told reporters: What matters is what the designation was in 2023, because thats when the offence was committed and thats when the relevant period was.

Lord Case, who was Cabinet Secretary from 2020 to 2024, serving under Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir, would not comment on the specifics of the case, but his intervention casts doubt on both Sir Keirs explanation and the DPPs.

In recent years, Sir Ken McCallum, the head of MI5, has made several public speeches about Chinas huge spying operation on the UK and its state-sponsored cyber attacks on UK interests.

The National Cyber Security Centre has also accused China of cyber attacks on MPs, the Electoral Commission and democratic institutions in general.

Lord Macdonald said: The whole thing is very difficult to understand. It seems self-evident that China poses that threat because it is accused of recruiting two people to spy on the UK, including upon its parliamentarians. That of itself clearly constitutes a threat to national security.

He said the CPS did not need the Government to provide further evidence of the threat posed by China but he also did not understand why the Government did not provide it, as the Chinese threat to the UK is so well known and so well documented.

He added: I dont think I have ever encountered a political and legal row that is as strange as this one. I think we find ourselves trapped by an inability to trust the Trump administration, a fragile relationship with the EU, and a resulting conviction on the part of some people in Downing Street that our only salvation now lies in a strong trading relationship with China.

Undermining our security services

Mrs Braverman, who was home secretary from October 2022 to November 2023, said: As home secretary, I was under no illusion  China is a threat to the UK and is aggressively targeting our people and our democracy.

MI5 first formally, and publicly, declared China to be a significant threat in 2022. To suggest anything else is deluded and puts UK interests at risk. The Prime Minister and Attorney General have a lot of questions to answer as to why this case collapsed and further, why they are undermining our security services, which are focused on keeping the British people safe, not pandering to the Chinese Communist Party.

Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of terrorism and state threat legislation, also cast doubt on the official explanations for why the trial of Mr Cash and Mr Berry had been scrapped.

He said he believed that the recent court ruling that led prosecutors to seek more information from the Government should, if anything, have made it easier to mount a prosecution, because it expanded the legal test for determining whether China was an enemy.

Mr Hall also said he was looking into whether the collapse of the China spy case could prevent the UK mounting future prosecutions of enemy agents.

He told The Telegraph: Two weeks ago, I informed the Government that I would be considering whether the failure of the Cash/Berry prosecution could have an impact on future prosecutions under the new National Security Act.

The key questions concern the use of government witnesses to prove matters relating to national security. For example, how does one government witness articulate a single view on prejudice to the UKs safety and interests where different departments have differing views and priorities?

On Wednesday evening, it was reported that Charles Parton, a former senior British diplomat, had been due to be a prosecution witness in the trial.

Mr Parton claimed that the Governments refusal to provide evidence showed China that the UK can be bullied.

In broad fashion, this says to the Chinese: Yes, we can bully the British, they will crumble if we play hard ball in whatever the negotiation is. Thats the worrying thing to me, he told the Financial Times.

Mr Parton, who is an associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), added that the failed prosecution was a missed opportunity to demonstrate clearly Chinas espionage efforts, and to say to anyone thinking of betraying our national interest, that you will be caught and punished.

Jonathan Hall KC, the UKs independent reviewer of terrorism legislation and state threat Legislation, has told LBC that China is a threat to national security, that he is investigating this matter and that the public deserve a much fuller explanation.

Asked if China was a threat to Britains national security, Mr Hall said: Yeah, it is a threat to national security. Whats going on with the prosecution is something that Im investigating. I know quite a lot about it now and I dont think that the public explanation thats been given so far is at all adequate.

I personally find it confusing and I do think that when something like this happens, the public and everyone who was looking at this [are going] to say, well, how is the UK going to treat this sort of behaviour by China? It deserves a much fuller explanation.

Someone sank this trial  we need to know who

By Tom Tugendhat

When a prosecution for spying on Parliament collapses, theres really only one question that matters: who allowed such a key trial to fail? The answer should be clear and easily explained, but every answer coming from this case raises more questions.

Two men were charged with espionage under the Official Secrets Act. Counter Terrorism Police spent years building the case. Both defendants maintained their innocence. We all need to hear their defence in court. Instead, weeks before trial, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped everything.

In trying to explain what happened, the CPS pointed out that a recent High Court ruling changed the evidential requirements. Prosecutors now needed to demonstrate that China represented a threat to national security at the time of the alleged offences. The director of public prosecutions says the Labour Government refused to submit the evidence he needed. Case closed.

But wait. The High Court ruling actually made prosecutions easier, not harder. The judge ruled that enemy under the 1911 Official Secrets Act includes any country posing a threat to UK national security. Thats broader than before.

Even under the previous ruling, I was told by the most senior security officials in the country that this case was a slam dunk. So if the legal bar was lowered, why couldnt they clear it?

It certainly wasnt for want of evidence. Ken McCallum, the director of MI5, has repeatedly warned of Chinese espionage on an epic scale. A former director of public prosecutions has gone on record to agree, saying: Of course China is a threat to the UKs national security. When I was DPP, on an almost monthly basis we were being subjected to cyber attacks by Chinese state actors.

As the former security minister, I agree. Countless cases of traditional espionage, cyber espionage and harassment of British nationals crossed my desk. All the Government needed to do was give them to the CPS.

From a legal perspective, these pieces of evidence make whether or not the Government used the word threat totally irrelevant. You just have to demonstrate it. But even there, No10s defence doesnt add up. The March 2023 Integrated Review said the UK will further strengthen our national security protections in those areas where the actions of the CCP pose a threat to our people, prosperity and security. Its there in black and white.

Lack of political will

The truth is, this isnt about legal technicalities. Its about political will. Or rather, the lack of it.

Look at the pattern. The Chagos Islands, a strategic asset in the Indian Ocean, handed over not to the Chagossians who have been wronged for generations, but to Mauritius, whose tenuous connection was already bought out in the 1960s.

Look at Chinas proposed fortress embassy in London, which continues to progress despite concerns from our own security services.

Even our energy policy looks like a capitulation to Beijing as Labour refuses to use the resources in our waters and under our feet, choosing instead to make us dependent on Chinese supply chains built using coal-powered furnaces and forced labour in Xinjiang.

And now, when we finally have suspected Chinese spies in the dock, the chance to stand up for ourselves and show that we will not be pushed around, the chance not just to expose the alleged wrongdoing  as we did when Christine Lee was named as a threat to national security  but to stand up for ourselves what happens?

Labour capitulates. Chooses weakness over strength. Looks out for Beijings interests over our own.

The question Parliament must answer is simple: who decided that China couldnt be called a threat in court? Was it the Attorney General, Lord Hermer? The Prime Ministers special adviser, Jonathan Powell? Or did it come from the Prime Minister himself?

Someone made a choice. Someone decided that maintaining good relations with Beijing mattered more than protecting our Parliamentary freedom. Someone looked at years of police work and said: not worth it.

The public deserves to know who made that decision.

Because heres what Beijing will have learned from this debacle  Britain talks tough but folds when tested. Well condemn Chinese espionage in Parliament, but we wont risk offending them in court. We value their trade more than our security.

Its not just the Chinese Communist Party who will draw that lesson. Rivals dont respect weakness. They exploit it. Weakness is provocative. Every day they take one more step forward, probing for resistance. When they find none, they push further.

Britain faces a fundamental choice about our relationship with China. We can pretend were taking it seriously while failing every test. And it will cost us if we dont. We must defend our interests, even when its difficult.

The collapse of this prosecution tells us which path Starmers Government has chosen. Its the path of appeasement. The path of decline. And it should worry every British citizen who cares about our sovereignty and security.

So I ask again: whose side are you on? Because right now, its hard to tell.

Tom Tugendhat was security minister from September 2022 - July 2024
In California, residents of Solvang keep a picturesque Danish village alive. HannaTor/Shutterstock

Neighborhoods across US cities showcase a variety of international cultures.

These neighborhoods offer unique travel experiences without requiring a trip abroad.

See inside these 13 neighborhoods, from German towns in Texas to Ethiopian corners in the capital.

You don't have to travel outside the US to experience diverse cultures.

Across some of the biggest cities in America, diasporic communities from countries all over the world have created homes away from home.

From German populations that have established their own Southern-influenced dialect in Texas to Haitian families who've filled Florida streets with their art, music, and food, a multitude of cultures have helped shape neighborhoods across the US.

We've identified 13 unique neighborhoods across the US that show how these cultures have persevered.

Andersonville, Illinois

Marilou Trias/Shutterstock

Swedish flags line the streets of Andersonville, a neighborhood with European flair only 15 minutes from Lake Michigan in Chicago.

Founded by Swedish immigrants in the 1850s, it's still believed to be one of the most concentrated areas of Swedish heritage in the country.

Clark Street is the neighborhood's nucleus, home to numerous Swedish bakeries and restaurants, the famous Swedish American Museum of Chicago (whose opening ceremony was attended by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden himself), and one of Chicagos most popular street festivals: Midsommarfest.

Fredericksburg, Texas

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Nestled in the region of Texas Hill Country, youll find Fredericksburg, a small town named after Prince Frederick of Prussia that proudly preserves its German heritage.

German was Fredericksburg's primary language until World War II, and today its still home to Texas German, a dialect that started when the German settlers who founded the town in 1846 refused to learn English.

Here youll find the Vereins Kirche (society church), now a museum, as well as the Old German Bakery and Restaurant, Der Lindenbaum restaurant, Opas Smoked Meats, and the Fredericksburg Brewing Company, to name a few authentically German haunts.

Greektown, Maryland

Jon Bilous/Shutterstock

Formerly known as The Hill, this Baltimore neighborhoods name was officially changed to Greektown in the '80s.

As you may have guessed, the area is home to a thriving Greek community, as well as numerous thriving Greek businesses, including Akropolis, Ikaros, Samos, and Zorba restaurants, and the annual Greek Folk Festival, a four-day celebration of all things Greek.

Solvang, California

HannaTor/Shutterstock

Only 130 miles from Los Angeles but a world away, this almost 6,000-person-strong Danish village was founded over 100 years ago by a group of Danish teachers who named it sunny field.

Every Danish cliche is nicely represented in the form of windmills, not one but five Danish bakeries, a replica of Copenhagen's famous Little Mermaid statue, a copy of Copenhagen's Round Tower, and a bust of Hans Christian Andersen.

Little Australia, New York

Lesley Rigg/Shutterstock

OK, so maybe its only the Aussies that call it that, but New York Citys Nolita  which derives from "north of Little Italy," another neighborhood in Manhattan  has spawned a sub-hood called Little Australia.

With Mulberry Street as its heart and soul, the area features Australian businesses like Little Ruby's, a small eatery that serves flat whites and Sydney-themed burgers, as well as the Down Under-inspired Two Hands cafe and restaurant.

India Square, New Jersey

George Wirt/Shutterstock

Also known as Little India or Little Bombay, this area has the highest concentration of Asian Indians in the Western Hemisphere, per the Jersey City Independent. Per the most recent available data, Jersey City's Hudson County was home to an estimated 37,236 Asian Indians in 2010, with 13.4% of the total county population identifying as Asian, according to a 2012 report by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

The city is home to 73,800 Asian American residents, who make up 25.5% of Jersey Citys population, per 2020 census data.

Wandering down Newark Avenue, youll come across sari shops, storefronts advertising henna, Bollywood ads, dozens of Indian restaurants, and, once a year, the colorful Holi festival and Navratri celebrations.

Little Canada, Minnesota

mailcaroline/Shutterstock

In 1844, a French Canadian settler decided to build the first grist mill in Minnesota that was independent from the government. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Today, Little Canada, which is on the outskirts of St. Paul, proudly waves Canadian flags, features a red maple leaf as its official logo, and hosts the annual Canadian Days celebration.

Chindianapolis, Indiana

Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire

Indiana is home to nearly 30,000 Burmese residents, per the Burmese American Community Institute.

The citys south side, particularly Perry Township, is nicknamed Chindianapolis, thanks to the over 7,000 Chin refugees that live there and have opened Burmese restaurants and shops, the most well-known being the Chin Brothers Restaurant & Grocery.

Persian Square, California

FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

In Los Angeles, Persian Square, also known as Little Persia or Tehrangeles, was established in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution in 1979, and it now has the largest population of Persians outside of Iran, The New York Times reported in 2022.

Thanks to this, it has traditional Iranian restaurants and stores, ice cream shops selling treats like saffron ice cream, and eateries serving up fusion faves like Iranian pizza and kebabs on every corner.

Little Ethiopia, Washington, DC

Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post

The DC metro area also has the largest number of Ethiopians outside Ethiopia, as reported by Global City Mission Initiative.

Consequently, it features a vast number of Ethiopian businesses: In fact, theres an entire 900-page phone directory dedicated to Ethiopian-owned businesses.

Check out 9th and U, Little Ethiopias main drag, a single block featuring more than two dozen shops and restaurants where Ethiopian music blasts and the scent of Ethiopian coffee blends with that of fragrant African spices.

Little Brazil, Massachusetts

Yingna Cai/Shutterstock

Bostons beaches are a far cry from Brazils, but they have still attracted a vast number of Brazilians in the last 30 years. The city now has the second-largest Brazilian immigrant population after Florida, per a 2024 report by Instituto Diaspora Brasil, the Latino Equity Fund, and the Boston Foundation.

Signs are in Portuguese, shops sell typically colorful clothing, green and yellow flags line the streets, and the smell of fried plantains and Brazilian BBQ is everywhere.

Little Haiti, Florida

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

If you want to experience Haiti's unique blend of French, African, Spanish, and indigenous cultures without leaving the US, you just need to travel to Miami.

South Florida has the largest Haitian population outside Haiti, and thousands of residents call this neighborhood in Miami their home.

Little Haiti, located only steps from Miami's vibrant Wynwood neighborhood and Design District, is rich in art, music, and culture.

Walking around Little Haiti, you'll find plenty of colorful murals representing the Haitian diaspora and culture, signs written in Haitian Creole, music playing from homes and cars, and restaurants serving the best of Haitian Creole cuisine.

Little Saigon, California

The Image Party/Shutterstock

The largest Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam lives in San Jose, California, as noted by the Visit San Jose website.

The city's Little Saigon is home to numerous cultural institutions, including the Viet Museum and the Museum of the Boat People & the Republic of Vietnam, as well as the Vietnam Town shopping mall and Lion Plaza, where the community gathers to celebrate Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year.

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Five hundred National Guard members have arrived in the Chicago area and are mobilized for an initial period of 60 days, despite an ongoing lawsuit challenging their deployment there, according to a statement Wednesday from U.S. Northern Command, a part of the Defense Department.

About 200 members from multiple units in the Texas National Guard and 300 members from units in the Illinois National Guard have been activated and sent to the Chicago area, the statement said. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has denounced the deployment as an unconstitutional invasion.

The troops are stationed at the Army Reserve center in Elwood, outside Joliet, about an hour southwest of Chicago.

These forces will protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other U.S. government personnel who are performing federal functions, including the enforcement of federal law, and to protect federal property, U.S. Northern Command said in its statement.

More National Guard coverage

On Monday, the state of Illinois and city of Chicago sued to block the Trump administration from deploying federalized National Guard troops on the streets of Chicago.

In a statement Sunday, ahead of the National Guards arrival, Pritzker said, We must now start calling this what it is: Trumps Invasion.

It started with federal agents, it will soon include deploying federalized members of the Illinois National Guard against our wishes, and it will now involve sending in another states military troops, he said.

The brave men and women who serve in our national guards must not be used as political props, he said. This is a moment where every American must speak up and help stop this madness.

President Donald Trump said Wednesday on Truth Social that Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson should be in jail in an escalation of his conflict with the two Democratic officials.

Members of the Texas National Guard assemble at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood, Ill., on Tuesday. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! he said in the post. Governor Pritzker also!

Trump has threatened for weeks to send troops to Chicago as part of a crime-fighting and immigration effort, and Democrats have pushed back and said any deployment would be politically motivated against his perceived enemies and an overreach of authority.

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

Pritzker responded to Trump on X, saying, I will not back down.

Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power, he said. What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?

Reached for comment, Johnson said, This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested.

Im not going anywhere, he added.

The Trump administration is also seeking to send the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, but a judge granted a temporary restraining order over the weekend to block the move as the case is considered in court.

A three-judge panel on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday granted an administrative stay of Judge Karin Immerguts ruling Saturday and will allow for the federalization of Oregon National Guard members. The ruling did not address the deployment of those members in Portland, which is expected to be addressed at a hearing Thursday.

The emergency administrative ruling stands, while the appeals process in the case continues.

A Pentagon spokesperson said the troops would have worked to support ICE and other federal personnel, as well as protect federal property.

On Tuesday, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek directed U.S. Northern Command to demobilize Oregons 200 National Guard troops and return another 200 California National Guard members to their state.

Referring to the judges decision temporarily blocking Trump from sending the National Guard into Portland, Kotek said in a statement, Immerguts orders are a clear and forceful rebuttal to President Trumps misuse of states National Guard.

Thus, I am directing Northern Command to send Oregons citizen-soldiers home from Camp Rilea immediately, she said. Lets remember that these Oregonians are our neighbors and friends, who have been unlawfully uprooted from their family and careers  they deserve better than this.

It was unclear whether Koteks letter to U.S. Northern Command would have any effect. The governors office did not respond to a request for comment about legal standing for directing Northern Command to send troops home. Northern Command also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Trump administration has asked a federal appeals court to block Immerguts order while the case makes its way through the courts, arguing her ruling improperly impinges on the Commander in Chiefs supervision of military operations, countermands a military directive to officers in the field, and endangers federal personnel and property. Attorneys for the state contend her order should stay in place. The 9th Circuit court is scheduled to hear both sides arguments at a hearing Thursday.
Getty Images Anne Hathaway attends the Balenciaga Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on October 4

The Gist

Anne Hathaway is embracing a maximalist aesthetic while filming The Devil Wears Prada 2 in Milan, Italy.

The actress stepped out on October 7 in a divisive disco ball jumpsuit with a surprising accessory loved by her character Andy Sachs in the original film.

Hathaway made an appearance at Paris Fashion Week on Saturday.

As fans gird their loins for the second installment of The Devil Wears Prada, Anne Hathaway is continuing to show off her character Andy Sachss evolved style. Miranda Priestleys personal assistant-turned-journalist has teased a new hair color, $15,000 loud luxury jewelry, and monochromatic suiting on set of the highly-anticipated sequeland on Tuesday, October 7, Hathaway showed off one of her wildest looks yet on the streets of Milan.

Taking a walk through the fashion capital of Italy, Hathaway made a bold style statement in a head-to-toe bedazzled look that epitomized boundary-pushing maximalism. While filming The Devil Wears Prada 2, the Princess Diaries alum wore a disco ball-coded jumpsuit with bubble-inspired parachute pants that featured voluminous legs before cinching at her ankles. Featuring a plunging neckline and a fitted bodice done up with silver chain laces, the rhinestone-encrusted one-piece juxtaposed Hathaways otherwise menswear-inspired look. Even in her new style era, Hathaway paid homage to one of her characters favorite accessories from the Noughties: A jauntily-placed black suede newsboy cap, which is similar to the hats that Andy Sachs sported in the original film.

Getty Images Anne Hathaway is seen on the set of "The Devil Wears Prada 2" on October 7 in Milan, Italy

As Hathaway strolled through the neighborhood, she leaned into power dressing with a light gray checkered tie, which she styled underneath the silver chains holding the bodice of her jumpsuit together. A floor-length oxblood red leather trench coat added some additional sartorial drama and Italian glamour to her look. Hathaway, who could be seen holding a matching baguette-style handbag made out of the same dark red leather, accessorized with black sunglasses and a pair of black-and-white Oxford-inspired stilettos. She wore her dark brown hair down with a subtle lip stain.

Getty Images Anne Hathaway is seen on the set of "The Devil Wears Prada 2" on August 27

Getty Images Anne Hathaway is seen during the Womenswear Spring Summer 2026 as part of Paris Fashion Week

While Hathaway might be embracing a bold style aesthetic in Andys new chapter, shes also been having fun with fashion risks in real life as well. The Interstellar actress took a break from filming to attend the Balenciaga Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 show on October 4 wearing a band T-shirt with the designers name printed on the front in orange lettering, black work slacks, black leather elbow-length opera gloves, and a floor-grazing black coat. As she posed for photographers, Hathaway revealed that the short-sleeved jacket also had the same punk rock-inspired Balenciaga design on the black.

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A Republican state lawmaker in Florida has filed a bill requiring all of the state's public state universities and colleges to rename one roadway on their campuses after the slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

And if they don't, the legislation proposes holding back "state funds" that go to the institutions.

State Rep. Kevin Steele, RDade City, filed the bill (HB 113) in the Florida House on Oct. 7. There's no Senate companion yet. Steele wasn't immediately available for comment.

The bill, if passed, would make "each institution's "board of trustees ... redesignate the following roadways or portions of roadways, as applicable."

It then lists each roadway to be renamed:

The University of South Florida shall redesignate USF Alumni Drive as Charlie James Kirk Drive.

The University of Central Florida shall redesignate Gemini Boulevard South as Charlie James Kirk Boulevard.

The Florida State University shall redesignate Chieftain Way as Charlie James Kirk Road.

The Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University shall redesignate West Osceola Street as Charlie James Kirk Street.

The Florida Atlantic University shall redesignate University Drive as Charlie James Kirk Drive.

The Florida Gulf Coast University shall redesignate FGCU Boulevard as Charlie James Kirk Boulevard.

The Florida International University shall redesignate Southwest 17th Street as Charlie James Kirk Street.

The Florida Polytechnic University shall redesignate Polytechnic Circle as Charlie James Kirk Circle.

New College of Florida shall redesignate College Drive as Charlie James Kirk Drive.

The University of Florida shall redesignate Stadium Road as Charlie James Kirk Road.

The University of North Florida shall redesignate UNF Drive as Charlie James Kirk Drive.

The University of West Florida shall redesignate Campus Drive as Charlie James Kirk Drive.

Broward College shall redesignate College Avenue as Charlie James Kirk Avenue.

Chipola College shall redesignate College Street as Charlie James Kirk Street.

College of Central Florida shall redesignate Southwest 26th Street as Charlie James Kirk Street.

Daytona State College shall redesignate Pinecrest Avenue as Charlie James Kirk Avenue.

Eastern Florida State College shall redesignate Titan Boulevard as Charlie James Kirk Boulevard.

Florida Gateway College shall redesignate Southeast College Place as Charlie James Kirk Drive.

The College of the Florida Keys shall redesignate College Road as Charlie James Kirk Road.

Florida SouthWestern State College shall redesignate FSW Parkway as Charlie James Kirk Parkway.

Florida State College at Jacksonville shall redesignate Broad Street as Charlie James Kirk Street.

Gulf Coast State College shall redesignate College Street as Charlie James Kirk Street.

Hillsborough College shall redesignate West Tampa Bay Boulevard from Air Cargo Road to North Dale Mabry as Charlie James Kirk Drive.

Indian River State College shall redesignate Cross Campus Road as Charlie James Kirk Road.

Lake-Sumter State College shall redesignate College Drive as Charlie James Kirk Drive.

Miami Dade College shall redesignate Northeast 1st Avenue as Charlie James Kirk Avenue.

North Florida College shall redesignate Mockingbird Trail as Charlie James Kirk Drive.

Northwest Florida State College shall redesignate McCracken Way as Charlie James Kirk Drive.

Palm Beach State College shall redesignate Ersey Street as Charlie James Kirk Street.

Pasco-Hernando State College shall redesignate Mrs. Prameela Musunuru Health And Wellness Trail as Charlie James Kirk Trail.

Pensacola State College shall redesignate College Boulevard as Charlie James Kirk Boulevard.

Polk State College shall redesignate PSC Access Road as Charlie James Kirk Road.

St. Johns River State College shall redesignate Peoria Cemetery Road as Charlie James Kirk Road.

St. Petersburg College shall redesignate 5th Avenue North as Charlie James Kirk Avenue.

Santa Fe College shall redesignate Northwest 83rd Street as Charlie James Kirk Street.

Seminole State College of Florida shall redesignate College Drive as Charlie James Kirk Street.

South Florida State College shall redesignate College Drive as Charlie James Kirk Drive.

State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota shall redesignate 57th Avenue West as Charlie James Kirk Avenue.

Tallahassee State College shall redesignate Progress Drive as Charlie James Kirk Drive.

Valencia College shall redesignate Valencia College Drive as Charlie James Kirk Drive.

"State funds shall be withheld from any state university or Florida College System institution whose board of trustees fails to redesignate the roadway or portion of a roadway listed above within 90 days after the effective date of this act," it says. "This act shall take effect upon becoming a law."

Steele was first elected in 2022. His online bio says he's the vice chair of the House Information Technology Budget & Policy Subcommittee and sits on the chamber's Criminal Justice Subcommittee and Select Committee on Property Taxes.

This week's bill follows one filed by another Republican lawmaker to rename a "portion of S.R. 985/S.W. 107th Avenue between S.W. 24th Street and S.R. 90/S.W. 8th Street in Miami-Dade County" to "Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue."

State Rep. Juan Carlos Porras, R-Miami, filed his measure (HB 33) on Sept. 23, the same day the Lake County Commission unanimously voted to rename a road for Kirk there. It would take effect July 1, 2026. That measure has been assigned to the House Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee, records show.

Kirk was fatally shot Sept. 10 while speaking at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He was struck in the neck by a single bullet and later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

The 31-year-old was a prominent and polarizing political figure  an author, radio host, and podcaster  whose outspoken critiques of what he described as dangerous liberal ideas made him both an influential voice and a lightning rod in political circles.

Charlie Kirk vigil held at Kennedy Center in Washington, DC Mourners queue to attend a vigil for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was was fatally shot during an event at Utah Valley University, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. on September 14, 2025.

He founded Turning Point USA in 2012, at age 18, to build a grassroots student organization devoted to free markets, limited government and conservative activism on college and high school campuses. He toured campuses across the country to debate students on issues, often sparking protests.

During a tearful address at his recent memorial in Arizona, Kirk's widow said she forgave the man accused of killing him, and that her husband had wanted to "save young men just like the one who took his life."

I forgive him because it was what Christ did and it is what Charlie would do, said Erika Kirk, 36, to a standing ovation in Glendale, Arizona. The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the Gospel is love.

Florida previously has renamed sections of roadways for other conservative icons, most recently for the late radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh.

The 2026 legislative session convenes Jan. 13, and committees have started meeting this week.

This story contains previously published reporting, including from USA TODAY and the Daily Commercial, a USA TODAY NETWORK newspaper. Jim Rosica is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK  Florida Capital Bureau. Reach him at jrosica@tallahassee.com and follow him on Twitter/X: @JimRosicaFL.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida bill would make colleges rename streets after Charlie Kirk
Israeli military vehicles manoeuvre near the Israel-Gaza border, as seen from Israel, September 19, 2025. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

By Tala Ramadan, Jana Choukeir and Nidal al-Mughrabi

SHARM EL-SHEIKH (Reuters) -Hamas said on Wednesday it had exchanged a list of the names of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be released under a swap deal and that it was optimistic about talks in Egypt on U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza.

Negotiations, to be attended by senior foreign political and intelligence officials, are focused on the mechanisms to halt the conflict, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the swap deal, the Palestinian militant group added.

One of the biggest sticking points will be pressure on Hamas to disarm, an issue it has so far been unwilling to discuss at the talks, according to a Palestinian source close to the negotiations.

The timing of the implementation of the first phase of President Donald Trump's 20-point initiative has not been agreed so far during talks in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, the Palestinian source said.

TRUMP OPTIMISTIC, WITKOFF AND KUSHNER DUE TO JOIN TALKS

Trump expressed optimism about progress toward a deal on Tuesday, the second anniversary of Hamas' attack on Israel that triggered Israel's assault on Gaza.

A U.S. team including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law who served as Middle East envoy during Trump's first term, will take part in the talks over a plan that has come closest to silencing the guns.

But officials on all sides urged caution over the prospects for a rapid agreement.

Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's close confidant - was due to join the talks on Wednesday afternoon, according to an Israeli official. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, a longstanding mediator, will also take part, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Another participant will be Turkish spymaster Ibrahim Kalin, pointing to a growing role for Turkey, a powerful NATO member which has close contacts with Hamas but which Israel has not previously viewed as a mediator. A Turkish security source said Kalin had consulted with U.S., Egyptian and Hamas officials.

ERDOGAN SAYS TRUMP ASKED TURKEY TO HELP PERSUADE HAMAS

President Tayyip Erdogan told reporters that Trump had asked Turkey to help convince Hamas to support his plan, and that Turkey was discussing with the group the best approach for the future of a Palestinian state.

Gaza must remain part of a Palestinian state in any post-war scenario and it must be governed by Palestinians, Erdogan said. He added that the deployment of foreign forces to Gaza and ensuring security there should be discussed in detail, and Ankara was ready to contribute to all efforts.

Trump's plan calls for an international body led by Trump himself and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to play a role in Gaza's post-war administration. Arab countries which back the plan say it must lead to eventual independence for a Palestinian state, which Netanyahu says will never happen.

Hamas wants a permanent, comprehensive ceasefire, a complete pullout of Israeli forces and the immediate start of a comprehensive reconstruction process under the supervision of a Palestinian "national technocratic body".

Israel, for its part, wants Hamas to disarm, which the group rejects. Hamas has said it won't hand over its weapons until a Palestinian state has been established.

U.S. officials suggest they want to initially focus talks on a halt to the fighting and the logistics of how the Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinian detainees in Israel would be freed.

In the absence of a ceasefire, Israel has pressed on with its offensive in Gaza, increasing its international isolation.

Even if a major breakthrough is reached, there is no clear indication yet of who will rule Gaza when the war ends. Netanyahu, Trump, Western and Arab states have ruled out any role for Hamas, which seized the territory in 2007 after a brief civil war with its Palestinian rivals.

Global outrage has mounted against Israel's assault, which has internally displaced nearly Gaza's entire population and set off a starvation crisis. Multiple rights experts, scholars and a U.N. inquiry say it amounts to genocide. Israel calls its actions self-defense after the 2023 Hamas attack.

According to Gaza authorities, some 67,000 people have been killed in Israel's assault. It followed the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, when 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken to Gaza as hostages, according to Israel's tallies.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Daren Butler in Ankara, Jana Choukeir and Tala Ramadan in Dubai and Maayan Lubell in JerusalemWriting by Michael GeorgyEditing by Peter Graff)
Lawyers for Robert Roberson, the condemned man on Texas death row who faces execution next week, say the first episode of a Dateline podcast about his case includes highly relevant evidence that highlights judicial misconduct and supports their petition for a new trial.

The ongoing claim before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals seeks to halt Robersons Oct. 16 execution for the 2002 death of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki. If he is executed by lethal injection, Roberson, 58, would be the first person put to death in the United States in a case of shaken baby syndrome.

For more on this case, listen to episodes of the Dateline podcast The Last Appeal

In a filing Monday, Robersons lawyers wrote that an interview with Nikkis maternal grandfather conducted by Dateline anchor Lester Holt is directly relevant to the judicial misconduct claim, which alleges a serious violation of Mr. Robersons fundamental right to a trial before an impartial tribunal  and before a tribunal that appears impartial.

Gretchen Sween, a lawyer for Roberson, said in a statement, Its shocking that we are discovering the truth about this glaring, undisclosed evidence of bias only by chance, from a podcast, days before Robert is scheduled to be executed for a tragedy that has been mislabeled as a crime.

Robert Roberson with his daughter Nikki. (Courtesy Roberson family)

In January 2002, Roberson and Nikki fell asleep in their East Texas home and he later awoke, he said, after he heard a sound and found Nikki had fallen out of bed, according to court documents.

Later that morning, when Roberson discovered his daughter was unconscious and her lips were blue, he rushed her to an emergency room.

Within three days, a detective arrested Roberson on a capital murder charge.

For the initial episode of The Last Appeal podcast, which was released Monday, Holt interviewed Larry Bowman, Nikkis maternal grandfather.

Bowman identified Anderson County Judge Bascom Bentley as the judiciary official who called the hospital, directing it to contact the Bowmans for permission to authorize removing Nikki from life support.

Matter of fact, Judge Bentley told em we were the parents, Bowman said.

But Robersons lawyers say that the Bowmans did not have that authority and that Roberson had custody of Nikki and was appointed her sole conservator in November 2001, about two months before she died.

Roberson had been a single father caring for Nikki after her mother lost custody because of personal issues.

In addition to Bentleys providing false information to the hospital, which allowed Nikki to be removed from life-sustaining care, according to the latest filing, he was the judge who signed Robersons arrest warrant based on the shaken baby syndrome diagnosis and then presided over all but one proceeding in Robersons criminal trial.

Robersons lawyers say Bentleys involvement in the early stages of Robersons case is material to their larger claims of judicial misconduct that they say tainted his trial.

Any objective member of the public, with knowledge of the new facts, would reasonably believe that Judge Bentley had prejudged Mr. Robersons guilt and, animated by that presumption of guilt, improperly circumvented the law governing parental rights and the guarantees of due process and thus should have recused himself from presiding over Mr. Robersons criminal case to preserve the appearance of impartiality, the court filing says. Judge Bentleys failure to do so caused structural error and requires a new trial.

Robert Roberson. (NBC News)

Bentley died in 2017. The Texas Attorney Generals Office, which is now overseeing the prosecution against Roberson, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The office of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declined to be interviewed for the Dateline podcast.

Roberson was nearly put to death a year ago, but a bipartisan group of Texas lawmakers used their legislative power to help block his execution in a last-minute maneuver.

State Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has previously said Roberson murdered his daughter by beating her so brutally that she ultimately died, vowed to press ahead with an execution date.

In filings this year, Robersons legal team has argued that there is new evidence of his innocence and that the medical and scientific methods used to convict him of so-called shaken baby syndrome, in which a child is shaken so violently that the action causes head trauma, have since been largely discredited.

His team also claims that judicial officials in Anderson County, where a jury sentenced him to death in 2003, violated Robersons constitutional rights.

Aside from the request in front of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Roberson filed a separate plea this month with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for a stay of execution so he could file a new legal challenge claiming his imprisonment is illegal because of overwhelming evidence that he was convicted using discredited science. That appeal is also ongoing.

Previous attempts to stop Robersons execution have been unsuccessful, including as it relates to a 2013 junk science law in Texas that allows prisoners to potentially challenge convictions based on advances in forensic science.

While doctors and law enforcement officials concluded that Nikki suffered blunt-force trauma and was shaken, Robersons defense team says a new understanding of shaken baby syndrome shows that other medical conditions can be factors in a childs death, as it believes was the case with Nikki.
It's not your run-of-the-mill scam  if there is even such a thing anymore. It starts out with a fake text, just like many scams do these days, but surprisingly morphs further into crooks even showing up at your door.

Sophisticated crime rings engineered yet another way to turn stolen mail or packages into cold cash.

Here's how it works: You get a call or text from someone who is impersonating your bank. You're told you must act quickly because your account has been or is about to be compromised. But then these crooks take things one step further.

Here's the oh-my-gosh-they're-doing-what twist: They're ready to pounce  sometimes after hiring accomplices  to attempt to steal mail that contains new replacement debit cards being sent by the bank to a customer's home.

Once they intercept the new debit card, the crooks plan to use those debit cards to further drain bank accounts.

Crooks aren't just out to steal paper checks; they're figuring out ways to steal debit cards from the mail, too, as a way to get your money.

Sophisticated crime rings engineered yet another way to turn stolen mail or packages into cold cash.

How a new debit card scam went down in metro Detroit

An elaborately engineered debit card scam hit several consumers throughout metro Detroit this year, according to police, including some customers at Chase Bank.

On Sept. 21, Troy police officers arrested David Andrew Williams, 30, of Chicago, in connection with what police called "a complex identity theft and financial fraud scheme targeting residents across the metro Detroit area."

According to Troy police, the investigation began after a UPS delivery driver had been approached by a man attempting to intercept a package. A surveillance effort was put into place at the address where the package was to be delivered.

The bank's customer was contacted and the package with the new debit card later was delivered by the UPS driver, according to Troy police. Police observed a man approaching the porch and attempting to steal the package.

If you pay before you choose to purchase gas with a card and select "pay outside," officials suggest you tap with a chip card instead of inserting a visa or debit card to prevent theft from card skimmers who install devices on gas station pumps.

Williams was charged with identity theft, as well as two counts of stealing and retaining a "financial transaction device without consent," and driving without an operators license on him.

Williams pleaded not guilty during a recent hearing. The court system did not include contact information for his court-appointed attorney.

Crooks use various tactics to be able to use the new replacement cards to withdraw money from bank accounts.

In some cases, consumer watchdogs indicate the fraud victims might have disclosed some information to the criminals through the spoofed texts or the criminals already had some account information on hand. Chase Bank declined to comment on the fraud when asked about the scheme by the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Crooks also engage in card skimming. Crooks are able to harvest data, including your PIN, when you make a purchase at a compromised point-of-sale terminal at a gas station or grocery store or withdraw money at an ATM.

New 2025 tax changes: New IRS form lets taxpayers claim deductions on tips, overtime pay, car loan interest

Check fraud and debit card fraud both saw an uptick

We've heard much about the risks of check fraud, as the federal government moved toward a Sept. 30 deadline to stop to issuing paper checks for benefits issued by Veterans Affairs and Social Security and federal income tax refunds to the extent permitted by law.

Check fraud is on the rise, with a significant portion being fueled by mail theft, according to the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. In many cases, compromised checks can clear and the money can be withdrawn by bad actors before the fraud is detected, according to an alert issued in January.

Photo exmaple of a scam text asking for banking information.

More than 1 in 5 adults have or know someone who has experienced check fraud, even though two-thirds rarely or never use paper checks, according to polling conducted by Morning Consult in June for the Independent Community Bankers of America.

Yet it's important to be aware of increasingly complex fraud involving debit cards, including mail theft.

Debit cards ranked as the top payment method for both attempted fraud and actual dollar losses in 2024, with 73% of financial institutions surveyed by the Federal Reserve Financial Services saying they experienced such attempts.

Forgery, counterfeits, stolen mail and impersonating authorized parties were highlighted as primary drivers of fraud involving debit cards and checks.

In September, the Manhattan district attorney seized 12 domain names that were involved with selling stolen debit card and credit information and personal identifying information on the dark web. The ongoing investigation indicated that the vendors had information from more than 1 million cards stolen from people across the United States.

Unfortunately, bank customers aren't always reimbursed when they're hit by some scams, including when they're deceived into making a payment to a con artist, such as in a romance scam. It's best to notify your bank immediately when a scam takes place, including when a debit card is lost or stolen to limit your liability.

Under federal law, consumer protections exist that can limit what you have to pay if your ATM or debit cards are lost or stolen.

Victims have the unauthorized use and error resolution protections of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act for lost and stolen debit cards.

"The amount that a consumer may be on the hook for depends on when the consumer discovers the stolen debit card and reports it," said Carla Sanchez-Adams, staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center.

If a consumer doesn't discover a problem until a charge was made, she said, the consumer must notify the bank of the theft of the card within two business days to keep their liability for any future charges at $50. They will not be liable for the initial fraud charge.

Elena Herrada, 67, of Detroit looks through paperwork and holds a police report she filed in June on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. Herrada lives on a small pension and her Social Security check each month. But she couldn't buy a cup of coffee when her debit card was declined. The money should have been there, she said but it wasn't. She soon discovered that money was withdrawn from her account at Michigan First Credit Union and she wasn't able to get the credit union to reimburse her.

"The rationale there is that a victim is never on the hook for the very first unauthorized charge, only the subsequent charges that could have been prevented by the bank canceling the card if they had been timely notified by the consumer," she said.

We're also warned about a scam to steal chips on a card

Consumers, though, increasingly must realize that con artists are often impersonating banks, government agencies and others in authority. The scams are odd  but fraudsters can sound incredibly convincing.

The FBI issued one of the more bizarre alerts a year ago.

Like other well-known schemes, crooks start out impersonating a bank employee who asks about recent transactions on a customer's account.

The consumer is led to believe there is a fraudulent activity involving their account  and they're tricked with working with a scammer to fix a fake problem. The call seems legitimate when it's not.

Bank customers are then advised to destroy their bank card  but they're told to leave the small computer chip on the front of the card intact for so-called security reasons. The chip is designed to make it harder to produce counterfeit plastic.

Now, scammers are out to steal the chips.

Crooks tell the unsuspecting customer that the chip must be returned to the bank.

"Next, the impersonator arranges for an accomplice, also allegedly 'from the bank,' to pick up the bank card (with chip intact) from the customer's residence," according to the FBI alert.

If the impersonators do not currently have the customer's PIN, the accomplice or impersonator will use social engineering techniques to obtain this from the customer.

"With the chip and PIN, the impersonators can steal funds from the bank customer's account," the FBI alert stated.

The FBI said it is unknown how the impersonators are obtaining personal information, such as name, address and bank account information. The FBI requests that fraudulent or suspicious activities be reported to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov as quickly as possible.

An important scam alert: The FBI's IC3 "will never directly contact you for information or money." Yes, con artists are impersonating the FBI's central hub for reporting cyber-enabled crime, too.

Fraud losses can exceed loan losses for some banks

"We're seeing a lot of creativity on the part of fraudsters," said Scott Anchin, senior vice president of strategic initiatives and policy for the Independent Community Bankers of America.

At some community banks, fraud losses now exceed losses from loans, Anchin said, noting that bankers have indicated that debit cards and checks are often the payment methods most susceptible to fraud.

Many times, he said, community banks can control credit risks associated with making loans but face less control when it comes to ever-evolving fraudulent schemes.

"Mail theft has become one of the top fraud vectors," Anchin told the Detroit Free Press.

The Independent Community Bankers of America  which represents community banks with nearly 45,000 locations nationwide  has worked with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to develop an in-branch handout to start conversations with customers about check fraud. These handouts have been shipped to more than 800 community banks across the country. Michigan has 89 community banks operating in the state with 734 branches; 78 of those banks are headquartered in Michigan.

While alerting customers to fraud online is important, Anchin said, it's also essential to have conversations with customers about how they can protect themselves. As artificial intelligence grows, he warned, schemes could become even more sophisticated in the future.

Michigan banker Michael J. Burke Jr. said education on the front end is necessary to help consumers, both young and old, avoid getting tripped up by some very convincing bad actors.

Many times, con artists will pitch the story that they believe will get you to act quickly  a fake job offer, phony programs to forgive student loan debt, a text demanding that you pay a small toll to avoid bigger penalties, a warning that your Netflix account has been compromised.

"All it takes is a weak moment where maybe they were having problems with their Netflix by chance, totally by chance," said Burke, who is president of ChoiceOne Bank, an independent Michigan-based bank with 56 locations in the state.

Burke said fraudsters don't know you have Netflix when they send out the texts, they just hope you do  much like when they impersonate bank employees of a financial institution. It's already very easy for con artists to spoof a phone number to make it look like a call is coming from your bank.

"They'll flood our market. They don't know anyone has a ChoiceOne account. That's not public information. But they hope you do," he said.

The more legitimate the text or call seems, the more vulnerable the consumer is to clicking on a link or responding in some way.

He noted that his bank saw a really bad rash of toll road scams at one point this year.

Sometimes, people think they did drive through Chicago or another area with toll roads and do owe money. But the texts aren't real. If you click and pay $7 or so, you give scammers more room to use your banking information to drain your bank account.

"What's happened is, now they have their debit card, right?" Burke said. "And then they go out and use it until the person cancels it."

The customer has to notify the bank right away after paying fake tolls to limit their losses, he said.

The American Bankers Association  which ran a "Banks Never Ask That" campaign, notes: "Banks will not ask you for account passwords, PIN, one-time text codes, or other sensitive information when calling you."

The five warning signs of a scam listed: Con artists ask you to open a link. They send an attachment. They request personal info like PINs, passwords or Social Security numbers. They pressure you to log into or send money with payment apps. They ask you to keep it a secret.

Unfortunately, consumers are living in a world where we now must be extremely skeptical of every email, text and phone call.

Anchin's top tip to consumers: Anytime you're contacted by someone claiming to be from a financial institution, do not engage in a conversation immediately. Instead, hang up and dial the phone number that's listed on your bank card or your bank statement to discuss any issues. Or visit a bank branch in person to ask about a concern.

No one is being rude by not talking to someone who calls out of the blue, he said. Instead, the customer is being prudent when taking an extra step to call on their own or visit a bank branch to make sure that they're not talking with an imposter who is eager to drain your savings.

Contact personal finance columnist Susan Tompor: stompor@freepress.com. Follow her on X @tompor.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Crooks engage in elaborate scheme to steal debit cards from the mail
For months, as the expiration of health insurance subsidies loomed, state health insurance commissioners warned Congress that millions of middle-class Americans were likely to see their insurance premiums double or triple.

Now, Washington is at a stalemate. The government has closed.

Democrats say Congress needs to permanently extend the credits now before open enrollment for state health insurance marketplaces begins Nov. 1. Republicans say they will not discuss health policy as part of a bill to reopen the government and can deal with the subsidies before they expire Dec. 31.

But the reality on the ground is that people are already being notified of the expected cost increases. Insurance companies have submitted their rates and open enrollment begins in less than a month, leaving little time to make adjustments.

See the impact of the government shutdown as agencies shutter or fight to stay open Travelers wait in line at a security checkpoint at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois on November 7 2025. Hundreds of flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered reductions to ease strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay amid congressional paralysis on funding the US budget. Forty airports were due to slow down, including the giant hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.

People see that December 31st date, but it really is that people are making decisions within weeks from now, said Devon Trolley, executive director of Pennie, Pennsylvania's insurance marketplace.

Trolley said it will be chaotic and messy if Congress waits to act until open enrollment begins, and even worse if lawmakers wait until the end of the year.

The cleanest, most cost-effective, most beneficial time to do it is right now, before open enrollment starts, she said.

Even if Congress does act to extend the tax subsidies later this year or early in the next, insurance commissioners fear the damage will have been done and at least hundreds of thousands of Americans will be newly uninsured.

Impact didn't sneak up

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners sent three letters to Congress this year and commissioners visited repeatedly in person, pleading with Senate and Democratic leaders of both parties to act.

Its not like it snuck up on us, said Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready, chair of the association's Health Insurance and Managed Care Committee.

In those months of talking with Congress, the association urged representatives and senators to at least scale back the subsidies over a few years so people would have time to find a way to pay for the increase. Instead, they are facing a cliff, Mulready said.

The insurance commissioners association's president, Jon Godfread, who is also North Dakota's insurance commissioner, said every state commissioner told their delegations what the cost of not extending the enhanced subsidies will be for their states.

Q&A: Health care for 'illegal immigrants'? Here's what's behind the shutdown rhetoric.

I don't know of a single insurance commissioner  red state, blue state, wherever, elected, appointed  that doesn't support the continuation of these tax credits, Godfread said.

Until recently, the deadline felt far away, he said. It was hard to get Congress to listen.

I feel like I spent the entire month of May in DC talking to Congress on this issue, Godfread said. "As with everything it feels like these days in DC, you've got to wait till the very deadline to make some movement on this stuff.

Trolley, of Pennsylvania, said she begged Congress for certainty so insurance companies and consumers would have time to plan.

"Congressional vehicle after vehicle has passed without any updates, and this is really kind of the last train leaving the station before people make those decisions, she said.

Congress fighting over  and maybe starting to budge on  health care

Democrats say they are taking one of the few open opportunities as the minority party to push back on the GOP's health care changes. Democrats also want to undo large-scale Medicaid cuts this summer in the Republicans' tax and spending bill.

Republicans say Democrats are holding the government hostage over a topic that doesn't need to be resolved in the midst of a crisis and that discussions of what to do about the subsidies can wait.

We have effectively three months to negotiate. In the White House and in the halls of Congress, thats like an eternity, House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, told MSNBCs Ali Vitali on Oct. 6.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) holds a press conference at the U.S. Capitol during the sixth day if the federal government shutdown on Oct. 6, 2025. The Senate is scheduled to vote on the stopgap funding bill for a fifth time later in the day.

There is some behind-the-scenes movement. A bipartisan group of senators has begun quietly meeting to find a path forward, and cracks in the Republican position are starting to show.

On Oct. 6, Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who opposes the Affordable Care Act, broke with House leaders in supporting extending the subsidies.

That same day, President Donald Trump indicated to reporters that the subsidies might be a negotiating point in reopening the government.

"We have a negotiation going on with the Democrats that could lead to good things," Trump said. "And I'm talking about good things with regard to health care."

Godfread is still hopeful Congress will extend the subsidies before open enrollment begins in most states Nov. 1 or at least early in the enrollment window.

The challenge we have right now is the timing of it all, Godfread said. We are up against the absolute deadline.

Subsidized health coverage for 24 million Americans at stake

The enhanced premium tax credits are a product of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Congress expanded who could get a subsidy to help people buy insurance on the marketplace in an effort to get as many Americans insured as possible.

The enhanced tax credits increased subsidies for eligible people and expanded eligibility to include those making more than four times the federal poverty level. In 2025, that figure is $62,600 for an individual or $124,800 for a family of four.

More: What to know about the Obamacare subsidies at the center of the government shutdown

Americans flocked to buy insurance with the subsidies. The number of people purchasing insurance through the marketplace has more than doubled since 2020. The majority of users are in states that voted for Trump in 2024, like Florida, Georgia and Texas, according to KFF, a nonprofit health policy institute.

About 92% of the 24.3 million Americans who use the marketplace receive a subsidy of some amount, according to KFF. If Congress doesn't act and the credits expire at the end of 2025, out-of-pocket premiums would rise by more than 75% on average.

Two sets of rates established

Because of the uncertainty, many states asked insurance companies for two sets of rates: one for if the enhanced subsidies ended, the other if Congress acted to extend them.

"We really built our planning around a go-no-go of Sept. 30, said Covered California Executive Director Jessica Altman.

The no-enhanced-subsidy rates were loaded into their system when the government closed that day and California began mailing out personalized renewal information  including expected costs without the enhanced subsidies  to the 2 million people who purchase insurance through the marketplace.

A sign points the way during an Affordable Care Act sign-up event. Nearly 24 million people signed up for ACA coverage in 2025,

"If you think about this from the consumer perspective and the moment in time when they're understanding this impact and making decisions based on that impact, not only is it happening in November, they actually start to find out about it in October, she said.

In Oklahoma, we were sort of holding off in pushing forward real education to the consumers, kind of hoping and thinking that something might change or something might come about. But for our state that wait has ended. We've got to be communicating out to folks, Mulready said.

More: Will the federal government shutdown last long enough to hurt US economy?

Insurance companies determined their rates expecting that with lower or no subsidies, younger and healthier people will not purchase insurance, leaving an older and less healthy pool of people  a group that will cost more to cover because they have chronic conditions, or more severe health needs.

"The ones who need health coverage because their life literally depends on it  it's their cancer treatments, it's medications that are keeping their seizures at bay, like literally, it is life or death for them to stay on health coverage  they will continue to stay, find a way to stay enrolled," Trolley said.

Without the enhanced subsidies, most people who purchase through the marketplace will see their premiums double, if not more. KFF has a calculator that people can use to estimate how their costs could change based on state, ZIP code, income and family size.

We are anticipating that people, even as soon as (Nov. 1), will have to make the tough decision that they cannot afford to stay covered for 2026 because of the significant premium increases, Trolley said.

A sign indicates the Smithsonian's National Gallery of Art is closed as the US government continues its shutdown on October 6, 2025, in Washington, DC. Trump administration officials and top Republicans warned on October 5 that Americans will increasingly feel the pain of an ongoing government budget shutdown as a second week begins with most federal operations shuttered. With Democrats refusing to give in over their demands for continued government health care subsidies in the budget, the White House says plans are being finalized for the firing of thousands of federal workers.

Who uses the marketplace?

About half of users are small business owners, self-employed people and people who work for a small business, according to KFF.

"By definition, we serve people who don't have the privilege of the type of work that offers a stable job with stable benefits where the employer is paying a large portion of the cost of their health insurance," Altman said. That includes parents of young kids working part-time in the gig economy, entrepreneurs and early retirees too young for Medicare, she said.

More: These people have found their health care at the center of a shutdown showdown

Godfread said he has stressed to his North Dakota delegation that farmers, ranchers, small business owners and their employees make up a large percentage of people who buy on the exchange. They dont have access to health care through any other means such as through an employer, Medicare, Medicaid or Tricare, he said.

A lot of these folks who these subsidies are impacting are the ones who are moving our economy forward, Godfread said.

Even if Congress acts soon, delays and confusion are likely

Marketplaces and consumers face a drawn-out, costly process if Congress waits until December or later to act on the subsidies, Trolley said.

If Congress extends the enhanced premium tax credits, the lower rates pitched by insurance companies based on having a larger pool of consumers can be implemented and all people who buy on the marketplace  not just those who get the enhanced subsidies  are expected to see their rates go down.

But it could take a month or two to input the lower rates provided by insurance companies and then inform consumers that rates have changed, Trolley said.

"Even just to update everything would probably take into January or February in order to give people a chance to update their premiums and update their information," Trolley said. It'll be very disruptive to do that after people have already selected. It would be very messy."

In some cases, people will have already had to sit with the stress of a difficult choice for weeks if not months, Altman said.

They will have started reorganizing their household costs around affording the higher price tag for their health insurance." Altman said. Some will have switched to high-deductible plans. "And some consumers will have said, I just can't do it, and walked away."

Commissioners fear those people won't return, Mulready said.

Mulready said Oklahoma is expecting at least a third of the 300,000 people who purchased from the marketplace last year to skip it this year.

Trolley expects 150,000 of the 500,000 people using Pennie will go uninsured without the enhanced premiums, and she fears the marketplace's outreach if the subsidies are extended won't be considered credible.

California expects 400,000 of the 2 million people on the marketplace to walk away and while the state is setting aside money to win them back through text messages, emails, letters and calls if Congress acts, Altman said she doubts all will return.

If that scenario plays out where tax breaks are extended in December, or at the end of the year, early next year, we will have lost people for coverage for what ends up being no reason other than Congress failed to act soon enough.

Sarah D. Wire, a senior national political correspondent for USA TODAY, can be reached at swire@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Does having the Obamacare tax credits fight now matter?
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia  Former FBI Director James Comey, a longtime nemesis of President Donald Trump, pleaded not guilty Oct. 8 to charges that he lied to Congress and obstructed a congressional proceeding during testimony he gave more than five years ago.

Comey entered the plea through his lawyer and longtime friend, former senior Department of Justice prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, at an initial hearing in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. Comey sat stone-faced, staring straight ahead, through most of the hearing. When asked to stand, he stood ramrod straight with his hands at his sides, looking directly at the judge. He didn't say a word.

"It is the honor of my life to represent Mr. Comey in this matter," Fitzgerald said.

The proceeding  which would for most other defendants be routine  took only minutes, but it jump-started a criminal process that could last months or years. The case has special significance because it has engendered widespread concern that Trump is politicizing the DOJ and using it to go after his enemies.

Comey was released without having to post bail. His trial is scheduled for Jan. 5.

See protests outside courthouse as former FBI Director James Comey is arraigned Activists protest outside the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia's Bryan Courthouse during the arraignment of former FBI Director James Comey on Oct. 8, 2025 in Alexandria, Va.

Trump publicly called for Comey to be prosecuted in a Sept. 20 social media post. That same day, the president replaced a longtime prosecutor who reportedly raised concerns about the evidence with a former personal lawyer who had never prosecuted a case before. With little time to spare before the statute of limitations to indict expired, the new prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, secured an indictment from a grand jury on Sept. 25.

Comey's not guilty plea was expected. Within hours of the indictment, he posted a video statement on Instagram suggesting it was a corrupt prosecution and he vowed to fight the charges.

"My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system," Comey said. "I'm innocent, so let's have a trial and keep the faith my family and I have known for years."

What is Comey accused of?

A federal grand jury charged Comey Sept. 25 with lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding.

Comey is accused of lying when he testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Sept. 30, 2020, that he hadn't authorized someone at the FBI to anonymously leak information about an investigation to the media. According to the indictment, Comey had in fact authorized someone to serve as an anonymous source in news reports about the investigation, and he knew it when he testified. The name of the alleged anonymous source wasn't provided in the indictment.

Portrait of Former FBI Director James Comey on April 13, 2018 in Washington, DC, USA.

The obstruction charge Comey faces is tied to the same hearing in 2020. The brief indictment  it takes up just 1.5 pages  accuses him of corruptly attempting to influence, obstruct and impede the Senate Judiciary Committee's inquiry "by making false and misleading statements."

Why did Trump want Comey indicted?

Trump and Comey have had tensions since the first year of Trump's first term as president. Comey is a longtime Republican who was appointed by President Barack Obama in 2013 to lead the FBI after serving senior prosecutorial roles under President George W. Bush. He was still serving his 10-year term when the FBI began investigating contacts between the 2016 Trump campaign and the Russian government.

Trump fired Comey in May 2017. The president initially said the termination was prompted by Comeys handling of an investigation into former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's email server, but later admitted this Russia thing was a factor. In the termination letter, Trump referred to the Russia-related FBI investigation, telling Comey he appreciated him "informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation," a claim Comey would later deny.

Comey no longer identifies as a Republican. He has said he believes the party began to change with the 2016 presidential campaign and continued to change with Trump in office.

Ultimately, special counsel Robert Mueller concluded there wasn't sufficient evidence that the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia.

Former FBI Director James Comey indicted on two counts Investigative Journalist Richard Esposito and Author James Comey, former FBI Director, speak at the Barnes & Noble Upper West Side on May 19, 2025 in New York City. Comey sat with Esposito to discuss his career and new book "FDR DRIVE," the third of a series of fictional crime novels featuring attorney Nora Carleton.

Just five days before the indictment, with a five-year deadline for bringing charges fast approaching, Trump posted on social media that Comey was "guilty as hell" and delay was not an option.

That post, Trump's last-minute installation of Lindsey Halligan, an aide with no prosecutorial experience, who quickly sought charges against Comey, and the president's history of threatening political opponents with prosecution have fueled fears that the DOJ's independence from a vengeful White House is hastily eroding.

What comes next?

The Comey defense team said at the Oct. 8 hearing that it plans to challenge the indictment in several ways, including by arguing that Halligan wasn't validly appointed to lead the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District of Virginia. If the defense team wins on one of those arguments, it may be able to get the case thrown out completely.

Fitzgerald said the defense's first substantive contact with the prosecution was on Oct. 7, and that the defense team still doesn't know who the unnamed people are who are referenced in the indictment. The indictment mentions the alleged anonymous source and someone else who was allegedly under FBI investigation.

The defense also indicated it plans to seek a dismissal of the case based on the argument that it reflects a selective and vindictive prosecution. In addition, the defense plans to argue that the case should be dismissed because there was an abuse of the grand jury process.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former FBI head James Comey pleads not guilty, facing trial
FILE PHOTO: Members of the Great Lakes anti-fascist organization (Antifa) fly flags during a protest against the Alt-right outside a hotel in Warren, Michigan, U.S., March 4, 2018. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith/File Photo

FILE PHOTO: Members of the Great Lakes anti-fascist organization (Antifa) fly flags during a protest against the Alt-right outside a hotel in Warren, Michigan, U.S., March 4, 2018. REUTERS/Stephanie Keith/File Photo

By James Oliphant

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump plans to attend a White House roundtable on Wednesday to discuss the anti-fascist antifa movement, which he has called a domestic "terrorist organization" sponsoring left-wing political violence.

Here is some background on antifa, and why it might be difficult for the Trump administration to follow through on its threats to crack down on the movement's sympathizers.

WHY IS TRUMP DOING THIS NOW?

Trump vowed to take action against left-wing groups he accuses of fomenting violence after the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in September.

There is no public evidence tying antifa to Kirk's assassination. The motive of the accused gunman, Tyler Robinson, remains under investigation.

Still, Trump has described antifa as a "sick, dangerous, radical left disaster" and has vowed to go after its sources of funding.

WHAT IS ANTIFA EXACTLY?

Antifa (short for "anti-fascist") is not an organized political group in the traditional sense. It is a decentralized movement without a clear structure, command hierarchy or leader, according to a 2020 Congressional Research Service report.

Some experts on political extremism, along with former FBI director Christopher Wray, have argued that antifa is better viewed as an anti-fascist, anti-white supremacy ideology than a cohesive entity. As such its adherents would enjoy First Amendment free speech protection under the U.S. Constitution.

WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS OF THE MOVEMENT?

Antifa traces its roots to the anti-fascist movements in Europe in the early part of the 20th century. It gained further visibility within the United States after Trumps election in 2016.

HOW IS THE MOVEMENT STRUCTURED?

The movement operates as a loose collection of local groups that are independent of one another, but might share plans, tactics and resources either in person or through encrypted messaging apps.

Antifa activists cluster into "affinity groups," informal units of three to eight people who trust and protect each other during protests, according to Reuters reporting and a 2020 report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

HOW DOES THE MOVEMENT OPERATE?

Adherents to antifa believe in "direct action," which can take the form of street protests or cross the line into more violent conduct such as burning police cars or shattering windows. Activists often wear black and cover their faces, according to the CSIS report.

Online, they might track right-wing groups or dox those they view to be right-wing extremists.

HAS ANTIFA BEEN IMPLICATED IN VIOLENT INCIDENTS?

According to U.S. law enforcement, there has never been a terrorist incident in the United States connected to antifa. Trump first sought to designate the movement as a domestic terror organization during the George Floyd protests in 2020.

The most notorious episode involving the movement occurred in Portland, Oregon, in August 2020, when Michael Reinoehl, a self-identified antifa supporter, shot and killed Aaron Jay Danielson, a member of the far-right group Patriot Prayer. Reinoehl was killed by federal and local law enforcement officers during an attempt to arrest him.

More recently, a San Diego jury found two men guilty of conspiracy to riot earlier this year in a case that stemmed from street protests in 2021. Prosecutors labeled the men as members of antifa.

IS TRUMP'S ORDER LEGAL?

The U.S. government does not currently officially designate solely domestic groups as terrorist organizations in large part because of constitutional protections.

But a Justice Department official said Trump's order would unlock expansive investigative and surveillance authorities and powers.

The government is focusing on foreign money seeding U.S. politics and drawing connections to foreign bank accounts, a White House source familiar with the plans told Reuters.

Legal experts have said the domestic terrorism designation may be legally and constitutionally dubious, hard to execute and raise free-speech concerns, given that subscription to an ideology is not generally considered criminal under U.S. law.

(Reporting by James Oliphant; Additional reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Ross Colvin and Nia Williams)
American aviator Amelia Earhart (1898 - 1937) in the cockpit of her aeroplane at Culmore, near Derry, Ireland, after her solo Atlantic flight. - Topical Press Agency/Getty Images

The Trump administration has ordered FBI employees in Washington, DC, and New York to immediately search their workstations and digital media for any records pertaining to the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, two law enforcement sources told CNN.

Employees in the FBIs DC and New York field offices received a highly unusual message from their leadership flagged with high importance late Tuesday telling them: Per a priority request from the Executive Office of the President of the United States, please search any areas where papers or physical media records may be stored, to include both open or closed cases, for records responsive to Amelia Earhart.

FBI employees were given a priority deadline of Wednesday to respond to the request, which comes on the seventh day of an ongoing federal government shutdown.

Earhart was attempting to become the first woman to fly around the world when her plane went missing over the Pacific Ocean in 1937. She was declared lost at sea following a 16-day search.

President Donald Trump last month said he was directing his administration to declassify and release all government records related to Earhart.

Her disappearance, almost 90 years ago, has captivated millions. I am ordering my Administration to declassify and release all Government Records related to Amelia Earhart, her final trip, and everything else about her, Trump posted on Truth Social.

Earhart, the first female pilot to fly solo over the Atlantic Ocean, broke a number of aviation records, and she has been a source of public fascination during her life and after.

Conspiracy theories have developed since the aviators disappearance, but as CNN noted in 2024, the US government suspected that Earhart and her navigator crashed into the Pacific when the plane ran out of fuel.

Trump has previously ordered the release of documents related to other high-profile deaths that have sparked conspiracy theories, including records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This story and headline have been updated with additional details.

CNNs Veronica Stracqualursi contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
The last of 10 inmates who had been on the lam following a New Orleans jailbreak in May has been captured, police said Wednesday.

Derrick Groves, 28, was apprehended following a "brief stand-off" in Atlanta, Louisiana State Police said.

The capture involved a "coordinated effort" that included the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Louisiana State Police, the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office, the New Orleans Police Department, the Atlanta Police Department, Crimestoppers Greater New Orleans and other agencies, police said.

Louisiana State Police - PHOTO: Derrick Groves.

Tips to Crimestoppers led authorities to the house in southwest Atlanta on Wednesday morning and he was arrested in a crawl space two to three hours later, according to the U.S. Marshals New Orleans Task Force.

The Atlanta Police Department's SWAT team deployed "a number of canisters of gas to help move him throughout the house," and Groves moved to the basement, Atlanta Police Deputy Chief Kelly Collier told reporters. A police canine located Groves in a crawl space, according to Collier.

He had minor scrapes, but otherwise no one was injured, authorities said.

Groves is one of 10 inmates who authorities said brazenly escaped from the Orleans Justice Center in the early morning hours of May 16 after climbing through a hole behind a toilet. Their disappearance was not noticed for several hours and touched off a massive manhunt.

Groves was convicted last year of two counts of second-degree murder in a 2018 Mardi Gras Day shooting and faces a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, prosecutors said. Unrelated to that case, he also subsequently pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter, online court records show.

WSB - PHOTO: Derrick Groves is seen after being apprehended at a residence in Atlanta, Oct. 8, 2025.

New Orleans jail escape: Girlfriend of inmate arrested for allegedly aiding in jailbreak

"Groves' escape represented a serious breach of public safety and a historic failure of custodial security," Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said in a statement on Wednesday. "His capture brings long-awaited calm to victims, their families, the witnesses who testified, the assistant district attorneys who prosecuted him and the people of New Orleans who were rightly concerned that a convicted violent offender had escaped so easily and evaded justice for so long."

Williams added his office will "pursue every available legal avenue to ensure that Derrick Groves answers for every crime he has committed and every consequence he has sought to avoid."

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill also said Wednesday that Groves now faces charges "for his role in the escape and I will ensure that he is prosecuted to the full extent of the law."

Louisiana State Police - PHOTO: Louisiana State Police said the 10th and final inmate who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center is now in custody.

Williams said authorities will investigate to see who may have helped Groves get to Atlanta.

"He obviously had some help, and there will be a thorough investigation into any and everybody that helped him along the way, in whatever parish and whatever county that assistance came," Williams said during a press briefing Wednesday.

Groves' apparent girlfriend, Darriana Burton, was arrested in June for allegedly helping Groves escape, authorities said. She allegedly had an "active involvement in the planning phase of the escape," according to the affidavit for her arrest warrant, including relaying "escape-related information" and coordinating communications between Groves and people outside the jail.

Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office - PHOTO: The cell at Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans where inmates apparently escaped from.

Burton is one of over a dozen people who have been arrested on suspicion of helping the escapees, including another inmate in the jail and a jail maintenance worker who is accused of shutting off water to the toilet allowing escapees to remove it.

Three of the 10 inmates who escaped were apprehended in New Orleans within the first 24 hours of the jailbreak. Others were captured in the following days, including in Baton Rouge and Texas.

The ninth inmate, Antoine Massey, was located in New Orleans in late June after the sheriff's office said it received a tip. Louisiana authorities were investigating a video circulating online earlier that month that appeared to show Massey pleading to rappers and President Donald Trump to help him while he was still on the run.

ABC News' Faith Abubey and Sasha Pezenik contributed to this report.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa, pictured August 18, 2025. - Adriano Machado/Reuters

Five people have been arrested following an alleged assassination attempt on Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, according to the countrys energy minister Ines Manzano.

Noboas car was surrounded by a group of around 500 people throwing rocks as he traveled in a convoy to Canar province, where he was scheduled to announce a set of infrastructure projects, the minister said Tuesday.

Signs of bullet damage were later found on the car, according to the minister, but Noboa was not hurt in the attack.

CNN could not independently confirm whether shots were fired.

A video released by the Ecuadorian presidency shows hundreds of people on both sides of the road, many waving arms and shouting, surging forward as the motorcade approaches. Members of the crowd throw rocks toward the vehicles, hitting and cracking some of the windows. In the background, a panicked voice can be heard warning passengers to duck.

Authorities said those detained will face terrorism and attempted murder charges.

Shooting at the presidents car, throwing stones, damaging state property  thats just criminal, Manzano said Tuesday after formally filing a report of an assassination attempt against Noboa, according to Reuters. We will not allow this.

This is not the first time a convoy carrying Noboa has been attacked. In September, roughly 350 people attacked a motorcade carrying the president and diplomats during a protest in Imbabura province, according to officials.

Authorities said the attackers ambushed the convoy with fireworks, molotov cocktails and rocks.

The attacks come amid unrest in Ecuador sparked by the government saying it would end a subsidy on diesel to reduce public spending, curb fuel smuggling and free up funds for social programs.

In recent weeks, demonstrators led mostly by Ecuadors Indigenous community have blocked roads and clashed with security forces, with one incident a week ago leaving one civilian dead and several injured.

The presidency claims terrorist groups have infiltrated the demonstrations, but protesters argue the government is violently repressing dissent over the new fuel policy.

Indigenous leaders have also accused the government of allowing unchecked mining and oil drilling on ancestral lands.

Following Tuesdays incident, national Indigenous confederation CONAIE again accused the government of violence toward demonstrators, saying in a post on X that the five detained people were protesters who  alongside elderly women  had been attacked in a brutal police and military action.

At the weekend, the government declared a state of emergency in 10 provinces where there have been protests, citing serious internal unrest, but it has not prohibited peaceful demonstrations. The provinces affected have large Indigenous communities.

Noboa has insisted the fuel subsidy cut is here to stay. Those who choose violence will face the law. Those who act like criminals will be treated as criminals, the president said Sunday on X.

With additional reporting from Michael Rios and Ana Maria Canizares.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty Wednesday to both counts in a federal indictment, and his attorneys said they will seek to have the case dismissed for vindictive and selective prosecution.

A federal grand jury indicted Comey on Sept. 25, just days after President Donald Trump publicly demanded Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Justice Department act "now" against Comey and other political opponents.

Comey is charged with one count of false statements and one count of obstruction of a congressional proceeding, related to his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2020.

MORE: Central witness undermines case against James Comey, prosecutors concluded: Sources

The plea was entered by his attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, who asked for a jury trial.

The judge read the charges and said they carry a penalty of up to five years in prison with a $250,000 fine.

He asked if Comey understood the charges, and he replied, "I do, Your Honor."

A trial date was set for Jan. 5.

The judge asked how long the government anticipated the trial lasting, and the government said 2-3 days.

Here's a list of the individuals, including James Comey, targeted so far by the Trump administration

The judge said that he was prepared to move forward with a speedy trial. The government said the case was "complicated," but didn't appear to object to the trial date in court.

"This doesn't appear to be a complicated case," the judge said.

Fitzgerald agreed, saying, "We see this as a simple case."

Comey has been a longtime target of Trump's criticism over his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Trump on Monday, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, called Comey a "dirty cop" and claimed it was a "simple case."

But the Comey matter has thrown the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia into turmoil, according to sources. The previous U.S. attorney, Erik Siebert, resigned over pressure from the Trump administration to bring criminal charges against Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Trump said he fired Siebert.

Dana Verkourtere - PHOTO: James Comey appears in court for his arraignment, Oct. 8, 2025, in Alexandria, Virginia.

Trump then handpicked Halligan, a White House aide and his former defense attorney, to replace Siebert and lead the office. Halligan presented the Comey case to the grand jury, despite prosecutors and investigators allegedly determining there was insufficient evidence to charge him, ABC News reported at the time.

Comey's attorneys told the judge Wednesday they plan to file a motion challenging the lawfulness of Halligan's appointment, but that will be heard by a different judge appointed by the chief judge of 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The judge on Wednesday instructed the government to respond to those motions by Nov. 3 and directed the defense to respond by Nov. 10. The judge said he wants the case to be fully briefed by Nov. 19 and said hearings will be planned for Nov. 19 and Dec. 9.

Oral arguments will be held Dec. 9 on the defense's motion to dismiss because of grand jury abuse, "outrageous government conduct" and other motions Comey's attorneys did not disclose.

Both the defense and the judge expressed some confusion as to why the government said there would be a substantial amount of classified information involved in the case.

MORE: DOJ adds 2 out-of-state attorneys to Comey case ahead of his arraignment

At one point Fitzgerald said that he believed the government should have figured out the issue with classified information before bringing the case. It appears the "cart has been put before the horse," Fitzgerald said.

The judge said there should be no reason the case gets off track because of classified information.

"We will go through the fastest CIPA process you have ever seen in your life," he joked, referring to the litigation that occurs around cases involving classified information.

The judge also said, "I will not slow this case down" over the government's obligations to produce discovery to the defense.

Comey was in court Wednesday for the first time since he was indicted last month, where he was joined inside the Alexandria, Virginia, courtroom by Fitzgerald and attorney Jessica Carmichael.

Al Drago/Getty Images - PHOTO: Lindsey Halligan, attorney for Donald Trump, holds ceremonial proclamations to be signed by Donald Trump (not pictured) in the Oval Office of the White House, on March 6, 2025 in Washington, DC.

The government was represented by Halligan and Nathaniel "Tyler" Lemons, a prosecutor from the Eastern District of North Carolina. Ahead of Wednesday's arraignment, the Department of Justice added two assistant U.S. attorneys from out of state to work on the case.

Comey's wife and his daughter, Maureen Comey, were seen arriving at the Alexandria courthouse ahead of the proceeding.

Comey has denied any wrongdoing and has said he looks forward to a trial.

ABC News' Alexandra Hutzler, Alexander Mallin, Peter Charalambous and Ely Brown contributed to this report.
A person smokes a joint, as Germany's "Friends of Cannabis" meet for a "smoke in" by the Brandenburg Gate, in Berlin, Germany, April 20, 2024. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen

By Bernadette Hogg

BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany's cabinet passed plans on Wednesday to restrict the online sale of cannabis to tackle a surge in imports of the drug since the legalisation of its recreational use last year, the government said.

The amendment to the existing law will require direct, in-person contact with a doctor for a cannabis prescription and ban mail-order delivery of the drug, with distribution restricted to physical pharmacies to ensure proper counselling.

Germany became the ninth country to legalise recreational use of the drug in April 2024. In the first half of 2025, imports rose by more than 400% from the same period in the previous year, the government said.

"The massive increase in cannabis imports and the practice of prescribing cannabis online without any personal medical contact require political action," said Health Minister Nina Warken.

The increase is not due to greater demand from seriously ill patients, the government said, as prescriptions via the social health insurance system only rose by a single-digit percentage.

"People who really need medicinal cannabis will still be able to get it," Warken told reporters.

A spokesperson for Jiroo, a pharmacy in Berlin specialising in cannabis, told Reuters they expected the main impact to be on patients in rural areas who, they said, may not be able to access adequate care locally.

(Reporting by Bernadette HoggEditing by Madeline Chambers)
Putnam County Sheriffs Office Indiana Britney Gard Missing Poster (left); and Britney Gard.

NEED TO KNOW

Britney Gard was last seen in Bainbridge, Ind. on Sept. 30

On Oct. 1, fire department officials responded to a fire at her home, but could not locate her

Gard's purse and vehicle were left behind at the residence, her family said

The family of an Indiana mother is desperate for answers a week after the woman disappeared amid a fire at her home that authorities believe is "suspicious" in nature.

Britney Gard, 46, was listed as missing and endangered after emergency personnel responded to her Bainbridge, Ind. house which had smoke coming out of it on Wednesday, Oct. 1, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

They could not locate Gard inside her home and multiple attempts to contact her were unsuccessful, police said.

Gard was last seen and spoken to on the evening of Sept. 30, the local sheriff's office said. Her family realized she was missing following the fire.

Her daughter said she knew something was wrong when Gard did not show up for her volleyball game the following day, WRTV reported.

Gard's sister Stephanie Bowen told the outlet that Gard is her children's biggest cheerleader and it was uncharacteristic of her to miss her daughter's game.

Bowen also added that Gard's vehicle and purse were left at her residence.

I feel like theres something bigger here that we dont know and someone knows something," she said.

Putnam County Sheriffs Office Indiana Britney Gard

Gard's family, alongside law enforcement, are ramping up efforts to locate the missing mother of two. They have plastered the town with her picture and physical description, including at gas stations and on pizza boxes, WRTV reported.

Authorities have also used drones to look for Gard in the area, the sheriff's office said. They had contacted the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to help search for Gard in a pond on her property immediately after her disappearance  but did not have any luck finding her.



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The sheriff's office said in an updated statement on Friday, Oct. 3, that fire investigators believe the fire was "suspicious in nature" and that their findings will be submitted to criminal investigators as the investigation continues.

Gard is 5'9", 140 lbs. and has long black hair, per the sheriff's office. Anyone with information is urged to call 765-653-5115.

Her loved ones have set up the Facebook page called "Find Britney Gard" dedicated to raising awareness about her disappearance.



Read the original article on People
Lynn White was out of options.

Behind on payments for her mobile home in Long Beach, California, and facing an eviction notice, she had no money for a lawyer. So she accepted a court-appointed attorney and lost.

But White wanted to appeal. She decided to consult ChatGPT. Having previously used AI to generate videos for her small music production business, she thought it might be able to help in the legal arena, too.

It was like having God up there responding to my questions, White said after using the chatbot and an AI-powered search engine called Perplexity to help represent herself in court.

Lynn White outside her RV home. (Alyson Aliano for NBC News)

White regularly provided ChatGPT with documents and detailed information about her case. The chatbot helped White identify potential errors in a judges procedural decisions, chart out possible courses of action, research applicable laws and draft responses to the court.

Several months of litigation later, White managed to overturn her eviction notice and avoid roughly $55,000 in penalties and more than $18,000 in overdue rent.

I cant overemphasize the usefulness of AI in my case, White said. I never, ever, ever, ever could have won this appeal without AI.

White originally used the free version of ChatGPT before upgrading to its premium service for $20 a month. White used Perplexity Pro, which also costs $20 a month.

With a slew of generative AI tools available to anyone with an internet connection, a rising number of litigants are using AI to assist in their legal cases. Many are eschewing lawyers altogether, representing themselves in court with AI as their primary guide.

To understand the role of AI in self-represented, or pro se, litigation, NBC News spoke with over 15 pro se litigants, legal professionals, nonprofit leaders, AI startups and legal research companies.

In interviews, lawyers and litigants described AI as producing mixed results in court. Some say AI tools are helping them navigate mazes of court procedure and simplify legal jargon. Others have faced steep penalties for submitting court filings with inaccurate or nonexistent information. Regardless of the consequences, legal practitioners and experts say generative AI tools appear to be encouraging certain people to seek legal guidance from algorithms instead of human lawyers.

Ive seen more and more pro se litigants in the last year than I have in probably my entire career, said Meagan Holmes, a paralegal at Phoenix-based law firm Thorpe Shwer, talking about the use of AI chatbots in law.

Some leading AI companies discourage customers from using their services for legal purposes, while others have made little to no mention of the possibility. Google's terms of service state: Dont rely on the Services for medical, legal, financial, or other professional advice. Any content regarding those topics is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified professional. The acceptable use policy for xAI warns users not to use its models to operate in a regulated industry or region without complying with those regulations.

Yet when asked legal questions, most chatbots will respond and provide legal advice without any warnings beyond ever-present, fine-print disclaimers noting that generative AI answers may not be accurate.

In a statement, Perplexity spokesperson Jesse Dwyer told NBC News: We dont claim to be 100% accurate, but we do claim to be the only company who works on it relentlessly.

The consumer use of AI in some of the most challenging aspects of the legal ecosystem is proof of how necessary that reliability and accuracy is, Dwyer wrote.

OpenAI, Anthropic, Google DeepMind and xAI did not respond to requests for comment.

Staci Dennett used ChatGPT to negotiate a settlement after she was served a court summons over an unpaid debt. (Courtesy Staci Dennett)

Staci Dennett is among the many litigants now representing herself using AI. Dennett owns a home fitness business in New Mexico and describes herself as an early adopter of AI. So when she was served with a court summons about an unpaid debt, she turned to ChatGPT for advice on how to respond.

Im not normally fighting lawsuits on ChatGPT, but I do use it a lot in my business and in my life, she said.

The bot provided templates and drafted arguments for her responses, with Dennett regularly asking it to find potential errors in her logic. I would tell ChatGPT to pretend it was a Harvard Law professor and to rip my arguments apart, she said. Rip it apart until I got an A-plus on the assignment.

White ultimately negotiated a settlement and saved over $2,000 compared to her original debt, which she said was a partial victory she attributes largely to AI.

She said the opposing lawyers complimented her on her knowledge of the law and court proceedings as the case was wrapping up, writing to her in an email: If the law is something youre interested in as a profession, you could certainly do the job.

Lynn White organizes her legal documents in her home; White using her computer. (Alyson Aliano for NBC News)

The price of AI legal advice

Even as some litigants have found success in small-claims disputes, legal professionals who spoke to NBC News say AI-drafted court documents are often littered with inaccuracies and faulty reasoning.

Holmes said litigants will use a case that ChatGPT gave them, and when I go to look it up, it does not exist. Most of the time, we get them dismissed for failure to state an actual claim, because a lot of times its just kind of, not to be rude, but nonsense. AI models often generate information that is false or misleading but presented as fact, a phenomenon known as hallucination. Chatbots are trained on vast datasets to predict the most likely response to a query but sometimes encounter gaps in their knowledge. In these cases, the model may attempt to fill in the missing pieces with its best approximation, which can result in inaccurate or fabricated details.

For litigants, AI hallucinations can lead to pricey penalties. Jack Owoc, a colorful Florida-based energy drink mogul who lost a false advertising case to the tune of $311 million and is now representing himself, was recently sanctioned for filing a court motion with 11 AI-hallucinated citations referencing court cases that do not exist.

Jack Owoc, founder of Bang Energy, admitted using AI to draft court documents. (Courtesy Jack Owoc)

Owoc admitted he had used generative AI to draft the document due to his limited finances. He was ordered to complete 10 hours of community service and is now required to disclose whether he uses AI in all future filings in the case.

Just like a law firm would have to check the work of a junior associate, so do you have to check the work generated by AI, Owoc said via email.

Holmes and other legal professionals say there are common telltale signs of careless AI use, such as citations to nonexistent case law, filler language that was left in, and ChatGPT-style emoji or formatting that looks nothing like a typical legal document.

Damien Charlotin, a legal researcher and data scientist, has organized a public database tracking legal decisions in cases where litigants were caught using AI in court. Hes documented 282 such cases in the U.S. and more than 130 from other countries dating back to 2023.

It really started to accelerate around the spring of 2025, Charlotin said.

And the database is far from exhaustive. It only tracks cases where the established or alleged use of AI was directly addressed by the court, and Charlotin said most of its entries are referred to him by lawyers or other researchers. He noted that there are generally three types of AI hallucinations:

You got the fabricated case law, and thats quite easy to spot, because the case does not exist. Then you got the false quotations from existing case law. Thats also rather easy to spot because you do control-F, Charlotin said. And then there is misrepresented case law. Thats much harder, because youre citing something that exists but youre totally misrepresenting it.

Earl Takefman has experienced AIs hallucinatory tendencies firsthand. He is currently representing himself in several cases in Florida regarding a pickleball business deal gone awry and started using AI to help him in court last year.

It never for a second even crossed my mind that ChatGPT would totally make up cases, and unfortunately, I found out the hard way, Takefman told NBC News.

Takefman realized his mistake when the opposing counsel pointed out a hallucinated case in one of Takefmans filings. I went back to ChatGPT and told it that it really f----d me over, he said. It apologized.

A judge admonished Takefman for citing the same nonexistent case  an imaginary one from 1995 called Hernandez v. Gilbert  in two separate filings, among other missteps, according to court documents.

Embarrassed about the oversight, Takefman resolved to be more careful. So I said, OK, I know how to get around it. Im going to ask ChatGPT to give me actual quotations from the court case I want to reference. Surely they would never make up an actual quotation. And it turns out they were making that up too!

I certainly did not intend to mislead the court, Takefman said. They take it very, very seriously and dont let you off the hook because youre a pro se litigant.

In late August, the court forced Takefman to explain why he should not receive sanctions given his mistakes. The court accepted Takefmans apology and did not apply sanctions.

The experience has not turned off Takefman from using AI in his court dealings.

Now, I check between different applications, so Ill take what Grok gives me and give it to ChatGPT and see if it agrees  that all the cases are real, that there arent any hallucinations, and that the cases actually mean what the AI thinks they mean, Takefman said.

Then, I put all of the cases into Google to do one last check to make sure that the cases are real. That way, I can actually say to a judge that I checked the case and it exists, Takefman said.

So far, the majority of AI hallucinations in Charlotins database come from pro se litigants, but many have also come from lawyers themselves.

Earlier this month, a California court ordered an attorney to pay a $10,000 fine for filing a state court appeal in which 21 of the 23 quotes from cited cases were hallucinated by ChatGPT. It appears to be the largest-ever fine issued over AI fabrications, according to CalMatters.

I can understand more easily how someone without a lawyer, and maybe who feels like they dont have the money to access an attorney, would be tempted to rely on one of these tools, said Robert Freund, an attorney who regularly contributes to Charlotins database. What I cant understand is an attorney betraying the most fundamental parts of our responsibilities to our clients  and making these arguments that are based on total fabrication.

Freund, who runs a law firm in Los Angeles, said the influx of AI hallucinations wastes both the courts and the opposing partys time by forcing them to use up resources identifying factual inaccuracies. Even after a judge admonishes someone caught filing AI slop, sometimes the same plaintiff continues to flood the court with AI-generated filings filled with junk.

Matthew Garces, a registered nurse in New Mexico whos a strong proponent of using AI to represent himself in legal matters, is currently involved in 28 federal civil suits, including 10 active appeals and several petitions to the Supreme Court. These cases cover a range of topics, including medical malpractice, housing disputes between Garces and his landlord, and alleged improper judicial conduct toward Garces.

After noting that Garces submitted documents referencing numerous nonexistent cases, a panel of judges from the 5th U.S. Court of Appeals recently criticized Garces prolific filing of new cases, writing that he is WARNED FOR A SECOND TIME to avoid any future frivolous, repetitive, or otherwise abusive filings or risk increasingly severe penalties.

A magistrate judge in another of Garces cases also recommended that he be banned from filing any lawsuits without the express authorization of a more senior judge, and that Garces be classified as a vexatious litigant.

Still, Garces told NBC News that AI provides access to the courthouse doors that money often keeps closed. Managing nearly 30 federal suits on my own would be nearly impossible without AI tools to organize, research and prepare filings.

Zoe Dolan has helped self-represented litigants learn how to use AI. (Alyson Aliano for NBC News)

Some lawyers remain optimistic

As the use of AI in court grows, some pro bono legal clinics are now trying to teach their self-representing clients to use AI in ways that help rather than harm them  without offering direct legal advice.

This is the most exciting time to be a lawyer, said Zoe Dolan, a supervising attorney at Public Counsel, a nonprofit public interest law firm and legal advocacy center in Los Angeles. The amount of impact that any one advocate can now have is only sort of limited by our imagination and organizational structures.

Last year, Dolan helped create a class for self-represented litigants in Los Angeles County to learn how to leverage AI in their cases. The class taught participants how to use various prompts to create documents, how to fact-check the AI systems outputs and how to use chatbots to verify other chatbots work.

Several of the litigants who took the class, including White, have gone on to win their cases while using AI.

Numerous legal professionals railing against the sloppy use of AI in court also say that theyre not opposed to the use of AI among lawyers more generally. In fact, many say they feel optimistic about AI adoption by legal professionals who have the expertise to analyze and verify its outputs.

Andrew Montez, an attorney in Southern California, said that despite his firm seeing pro se litigants constantly using AI over the past six months, he himself has found AI tools useful as a starting point for research or brainstorming. He said he never inputs real client names or confidential information, and he checks every citation manually.

While AI cannot substitute for his own legal research and analysis, Montez said, these systems enable lawyers to write better-researched briefs more quickly.

Going forward in the legal profession, all attorneys will have to use AI in some way or another. Otherwise they will be outgunned, Montez said. AI is the great equalizer. Internet research, to a certain extent, made law libraries obsolete. I think AI is really the next frontier.

As for pro se litigants without legal expertise, Montez said he believes most cases are too complex for AI alone to understand sufficient context and provide good enough analysis to help someone succeed in court. But he noted that he could envision a future in which more people will use AI to successfully represent themselves, especially in small claims courts.

White, who avoided eviction this year with the help of ChatGPT and Perplexity.ai, said she views AI as a way to level the playing field. When asked what advice she would give to other pro se litigants, she thought it was fitting to craft a reply with ChatGPT.

Lynn White stands at her desk in her home. (Alyson Aliano for NBC News)

AI gave me research support, drafting help and organizational skills that I could not access. I used AI to double as a virtual law clerk, White said, reading from ChatGPTs response. Interjecting her own thoughts, she added: And it wants me to emphasize, which I totally agree with, that it felt like David and Goliath, except my slingshot was AI.
US Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino is interviewed at CNNs bureau in Chicago on Tuesday. - Mustafa Hussain for CNN

The heavily armed agents carrying out President Donald Trumps aggressive immigration enforcement push in Chicago are often masked. The man leading them is not.

Nearly three decades into his career with the US Border Patrol, Gregory Bovino has become the on-the-ground face of Trumps effort to surge federal law enforcement into blue states and cities regardless of whether local officials want them there  first in Los Angeles, now in Chicago, with other possible cities on deck.

But if he and his officers are an unwelcome presence or face interference from protesters, Bovino said he is not dissuaded.

Were going to carry out that mission, Bovino said in an interview with CNN in Chicago on Tuesday. And thats paramount, or else we shouldnt be here. Were going to carry that mission out.

He added that if someone steps in the way, then  that may not work out well for them, and if we need to effect an arrest of a US citizen or anyone else, then well do that.

Local officials have described Bovino as leading a branch of law enforcement which deploys tactics that are frighteningly authoritarian and which has been styled into Trumps own personal police force, used by the president as a cudgel against Democrat-led localities and the people  citizens and noncitizens alike  who live in them.

I refuse to let Trump, Noem and Bovino continue on this march toward autocracy, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday. Their plan all along has been to cause chaos, and then they can use that chaos to consolidate Trumps power.

Federal law enforcement agents deploy tear gas against demonstrators protesting outside of an immigrant processing center in Broadview, Illinois, on September 27. - Scott Olson/Getty Images

Trying to tame chaos

Bovino, 55, holds the title of chief patrol agent of the El Centro sector and has been the lead on the administrations crackdown in cities  now, 2,000 miles away from the California sector he helms. His newfound resurgence in the agency under Trump finds him in a position of power unique among his peers in Border Patrol.

His heavy-handed tactics, including immigration sweeps in parking lots and smashing car windows, have fueled consternation among some in the Trump administration while also garnering praise from senior Homeland Security officials.

The Trump administration has defended Bovinos tactics as necessary to tamp down crime and violence in places the president has described as war zones. Trump has mobilized the Texas National Guard to respond to Chicago, and troops this week are training at a nearby military facility while a federal judge considers legal challenges to their placement in the city.

An ICE branded vehicle sits behind security fencing at the Broadview ICE processing facility, on September 23. - Jim Vondruska/Reuters

A person is detained as residents of Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood confront Border Patrol and other law enforcement agents, as agents allegedly detained an unidentified man. - Octavio Jones/AFP/Getty Images

A protester's shirt is covered in pepper ball residue after federal agents fired on protesters outside of the Broadview ICE processing facility, on September 26. - Jim Vondruska/Reuters

Trump told reporters this week he could potentially invoke the Insurrection Act to respond to Chicago and other cities, enabling him to bypass restrictions placed by courts on his ability to mobilize troops.

Asked whether he considered protests and threats against immigration enforcement personnel to be an insurrection, Bovino said chaos would be a better word.

I would call it chaos in a near catastrophe, that here in Chicago, those threats against agents are manifesting in bounties to be paid out by transnational gangs here on American soil, he said.

The Department of Homeland Security this week announced the arrest of an alleged Latin Kings gang member in Chicago who offered $2,000 to anyone who could capture Bovino and $10,000 to anyone who could kill him.

US Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino at CNN'ss bureau in Chicago on Tuesday. - Mustafa Hussain for CNN

Sparring with mayors

Local officials are taking their own steps to stymie the administrations crackdown. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on Monday signed an executive order prohibiting immigration enforcement on city property. Bovino told CNN Johnsons order is a pipe dream that he would not abide by.

There is no sanctuary here in Chicago, Bovino said. So, Mayor Johnson, you can keep on putting those executive orders out, but were going to keep on enforcing the law.

He also blamed city officials heated rhetoric against immigration agents for prompting threats like the one he received.

Bovino arrived in Chicago in mid-September fresh off a summer operation in Los Angeles, where he helped orchestrate the arrests of more than 5,000 immigrants. He led contingents of federal law enforcement in shows of force in the citys MacArthur Park.

When a National Guard Major General scrutinized some of Bovinos tactics, the Border Patrol chief questioned his loyalty to the country.

Bovino has frequently traded barbs with local officials at the locations where hes carrying out immigration enforcement. Better get used to us now, because this going to be normal very soon, he told Fox News in response to criticism from the Los Angeles mayor, Karen Bass.

US Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino is interviewed by CNN on Tuesday. - Mustafa Hussain for CNN

Federal agents stand guard on top of the Broadview ICE facility, on September 19. - Jim Vondruska/Reuters

Debris and personal belongings sit on the floor of an empty apartment, in a Chicago complex where 37 people were detained during a large scale ICE raid, on September 30. - Jim Vondruska/Reuters

Near Chicago, videos show Bovino leading a phalanx of camouflage-fatigued agents outside the Broadview Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, barking directions to the agents and warnings to the protesters they pushed through. His agents have shattered car windows, targeted Home Depots, fired chemical irritants at protesters and members of the media and shoved to the ground people who are opposing their presence and tactics, including a militarized late-night raid on a Chicago apartment complex last week that netted 37 arrests, and involved adults and children being pulled from their homes.

When you see a lot of Border Patrol agents or ICE agents, or CBP officers, or those allied law enforcement agencies out on the streets, and there are large numbers of them, thats to keep our agents safe against a very real threat, Bovino said of the raid.

His operations have been chronicled in highly stylized and sleekly edited videos posted to social media showing agents carrying tactical-like operations throughout the city.

You think its a Hollywood video? Thats real life, Bovino said. It might be so real life that it appears to be Hollywood, but a lot of that is real time. A lot of that is whats actually happening on the ground.

US Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino leads agents as they confront demonstrators outside the Broadview ICE processing facility, on September 27. - Scott Olson/Getty Images

Accused of racial profiling

Critics worry the scope of the operations led by Bovino go far beyond the worst of the worst the Trump administration officials say are being targeted, and they say some immigration arrests have been based on racial profiling. A recent lawsuit argued agents indiscriminately stopped individuals, prompting an order from a federal judge who said roving patrols identifying who to stop based upon apparent ethnicity alone was illegal. The Supreme Court put that order on hold.

Bovino on Tuesday denied his officers use racial profiling as a factor in deciding whether to stop or arrest someone. But he said certain characteristics of a person, including whether they look panicked or whether their demeanor changes when interacting with officers, could be among the myriad of factors that are considered.

Originally from North Carolina, Bovino joined the Border Patrol in 1996. His nearly 30-year career has taken him from Washington to New Orleans as well as foreign postings in Honduras and Africa. In 2020 he was named Chief Patrol Agent of the El Centro Sector.

In 2023, Bovino was briefly relieved of command from his position in what House Republicans described as a retaliatory measure after Bovino testified critically about conditions along the border under President Joe Bidens administration. The Associated Press reported other factors were also at play  including his social-media presence and an online profile picture of him posing with an assault rifle.

The fact that Bovino is currently in Chicago is a sign of how much importance the administration is placing on the enforcement push in the city. But Bovino wouldnt specify where his team would head next after Chicago.

Everythings based on intelligence, he said. Were gonna go where that threat is.

Federal law enforcement agents watch demonstrators outside of the Broadview ICE facility on September 27. - Scott Olson/Getty Images

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Pamela Anderson is having a busy year. Following the critically acclaimed 2024 film The Last Showgirl, directed by Gia Coppola, the actress has starred in this summer's hit film, The Naked Gun, alongside Liam Neeson, and is set to appear in Rosebush Pruning and Place to Be.

Anderson is also proving to be 2025's breakout hair icon. Since swapping her signature tumbling blonde waves for a sleek Joan of Arc bob with bangs at the Met Gala in May, the Bazaar UK cover star has been making a strong case for just how creative and versatile shorter lengths can be.

From chic, polished bobs with flicked-out ends to elegant, Old Hollywood waves, Anderson has proven herself to be the ultimate beauty chameleon this yearbut she's always been fearless when it comes to her hair. "The reason I cut my hair into a pixie cut was because of Jean Seberg," she shares in a Criterion Closet video. Legends of French cinema clearly continue to inspire her hair styling, as demonstrated by her recent appearances at Paris Fashion Week for the spring/summer 2026 shows.

Dave Benett - Getty Images

After a transformation that saw a toasted auburn color change teamed with shaggy layers, Anderson made an appearance at Tom Ford's SS26 presentation with a "boyfriend bob," a side-parted style with the hair pushed back for a minimalist, modern finish. This was followed by a drastic eighties interpretation to complement an all-black ensemble at Mugler. With feathery curls, plenty of volume, and full bangs, it was a notable departure from her previous looks.

While in France, she turned to the hairdresser and colorist John Nollet. "I'm preparing for a film and so I'm playing with the colorI have my little references like Marlene Jobert," she told WWD. "So, why not get it done in France with a great French hairdresser? Because it's inspired by French cinema."

If you've been considering a chop, let Anderson inspire you. "The bob is probably the most versatile haircut you can have," says Marcos Verissimo, the hairstylist and founder of luxurious beauty townhouse, The Six. "It works when styled straight, wavy, tucked behind the ear, even slicked back for something formalit never feels dated."

The trick to achieving an adaptable bob lies in "internal layers and texture," along with regular trims. "The cut needs constant rebalancing so the weight of the hair doesnt distort the shape. Thats what makes a bob something you can keep experimenting with."

At your hair appointment, discuss your natural texture and density. The neck is key, too. A good hairstylist will ensure that your bob enhances the elegance of your neck for an impeccable finish. "If youre nervous, dont think of a bob as one haircut, think of it as a cut you can evolve. Start with something just above the shoulders, add internal texture, and play with styling," Verissimo tells Bazaar.

Marc Piasecki - Getty Images

Since Anderson's beauty focus is on clean skin and little else, hair can serve as an excellent way to express creativity and personality, acting as an extension of one's style. It's the cherry on top for any ensemble and ties the fashion styling together.

"Pamelas short hair is a reminder of what happens when you stop playing it safe. Short hair isnt about hiding; its about expression. Her cut works because its textured, not razor-sharp, so it has movement and versatility," says Verissimo. "A short haircut like this doesnt have to lock you into one look. If its done with the right balance, you have endless options, and Pamela shows that beautifully."

As Anderson herself says, "I'm just having fun and playing with it. It's gonna be different every day." We'll be ready to bookmark them all.

The 5 Best Pamela Anderson Short Hair Moments

1) The Minimalist Bob

Neil Mockford - Getty Images

2) The Auburn 'Bixie'

Getty Images

3) The Joan of Arc

Dia Dipasupil - Getty Images

4) The Dolce Vita

Francois G. Durand - Getty Images

5) The Old Hollywood

Sebastian Reuter - Getty Images

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Washington  Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked an effort aimed at preventing continued U.S. strikes on alleged drug-carrying boats off the coast of Venezuela.

Democrats forced a vote on the issue under the War Powers Act. In a 48-51 vote, the effort failed to garner enough support to move forward. Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted with nearly all Democrats in favor, while Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania joined Republicans in opposing it.

The resolution, led by Sens. Adam Schiff of California and Tim Kaine of Virginia, would have blocked the U.S. military from engaging in hostilities with "any non-state organization engaged in the promotion, trafficking, and distribution of illegal drugs and other related activities" without congressional authorization.

"There has been no authorization to use force by Congress in this way," Schiff said Wednesday, saying the strikes risk escalating into a full-blown conflict with Venezuela. "I feel it is plainly unconstitutional."

The strikes in the Caribbean Sea have prompted bipartisan backlash, with lawmakers questioning their legality. Congress, which has the sole authority under the Constitution to declare war, has not authorized the use of military force against drug cartels.

The Trump administration says it has conducted four strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats near Venezuela since Sept. 2, killing at least 21 people.

In a notification to Congress after the second strike in mid-September, the Trump administration said the U.S. is in a "non-international armed conflict" with drug cartels it has designated as terrorist organizations. The drugs smuggled by these cartels kill tens of thousands of Americans each year and constitute an "armed attack" against U.S. citizens, according to the White House.

The Trump administration has designated several drug cartels and gangs as terrorist organizations, including Venezuela's Tren de Aragua, Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel and El Salvador's MS-13.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was at the Capitol on Wednesday to meet with Senate Republicans, told reporters the president has the authority to order the strikes without congressional authorization.

"These are targeted strikes against imminent threats against the United States," he said.

Regarding claims that the U.S. is acting in self-defense, David Janovsky, the acting director of The Constitution Project at Project on Government Oversight said, "The situation in the Caribbean is not that."

Democrats' war powers resolution said the designation of drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations "provides no legal authority for the president to use force against members of designated organizations or any foreign state."

Kaine said the administration has not provided answers to lawmakers' questions on the intelligence supporting the strikes, the legal rationale for them or why the decision was made to attack the boats instead of intercept them.

"The White House does not maintain there's any congressional authorization," Kaine said. "These military actions should stop unless authorized by Congress  not stopped, period, permanently, forever, can't-do-them stopped  unless authorized by congressional action."

Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the president is required to consult Congress before introducing armed forces into hostilities, unless there has been a declaration of war or other congressional authorization. If Congress does not authorize military force, the president has to withdraw forces within 90 days. The law was enacted in response to the Vietnam War as a check on the president's power to wage war without the consent of Congress.

Paul has been the loudest GOP critic of the strikes on the alleged drug smuggling boats. After the first strike, Paul condemned Vice President JD Vance, who said "killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military."

"What a despicable and thoughtless sentiment it is to glorify killing someone without a trial," Paul wrote.

Paul underscored his point in a floor speech Wednesday, saying the strikes risk killing innocent people and the administration has presented no evidence that the boats were carrying drugs.

"If anyone gave a you-know-what about justice, perhaps those in charge of deciding whom to kill might let us know their names, present proof of their guilt, show evidence of their crimes," Paul said. "Is it too much to ask to know the names of those we kill before we kill them? To know what evidence exists of their guilt? At the very least, the government should explain how the gang came to be labeled as terrorists."

Paul added, "the blow-them-to-smithereens crowd also conveniently ignores the fact that death is generally not the penalty for drug smuggling."

During debate on the resolution, other Republicans were untroubled about the president taking unilateral action against the alleged drug traffickers and that the administration has left Congress in the dark on details of the strikes.

"These strikes were fully compliant and fully justified," Republican Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho said.

There were similar efforts by Congress over the summer to reassert its authority to declare war as tensions boiled over between Israel and Iran. The U.S. became directly involved in the 12-day war by bombing Iran's nuclear facilities before Iran and Israel agreed to a ceasefire.

After the Iran strikes, the Senate voted down a measure that Kaine had introduced in the days before the bombings to block President Trump from using further military force against Iran.

"The Iran situation was extremely time-limited," Janovsky said. "The administration has made it very clear that they continue, and have in fact continued, to carry out these strikes in the Caribbean. So I think that certainly creates more ongoing urgency for Congress to act in some way in this case."

Schiff said Congress has abdicated its war-declaring responsibilities because members don't want to go on the record on the issue. He said that sets a dangerous precedent.

"We're blowing up ships thousands of miles from our shore," Schiff said. "What is to stop some other nation from deciding, well, they're going to use the same precedent to blow up ships thousands of miles from their shore, whether in the South China Sea or elsewhere, with a purported rationale that they're engaged in some kind of trafficking and therefore they're taking action? I don't think this is a practice we want to see other nations adopt."

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RENO, Nev.  On the western edge of Nevada, its hard not to think about water. The driest state in the country is often hit by droughts, but that hasnt stopped developers from buying up ranches and farmland to build homes or businesses.

Today, Reno, the Biggest Little City in the World, is poised to become a new player in the nations data center construction boom. At least three data center projects have been approved since 2024, with more in a nearby industrial park.

The giant computing facilities are essential to the internet as we know it, providing the digital infrastructure for cloud storage and for emerging artificial intelligence systems. They also require massive amounts of energy to run and often need hundreds of thousands of gallons of water to stay cool.

Some community leaders, like Reno Vice Mayor Kathleen Taylor, have celebrated data centers, which can bring jobs and tax revenue. Earlier this year, officials projected a $25 million deficit in the upcoming budget year. But opponents argue that data centers can also bring consequences, if they raise electricity costs or cause water shortages down the road.

Its part of a wider tension accompanying the infrastructure needed in the global artificial intelligence race. A Bloomberg investigation found that two-thirds of all new data centers are being built in water-stressed regions, like Nevada, where severe drought is a major concern.

Community members wary of the data center push have focused their attention on a vote this week that will decide whether developers of a new project on the outskirts of Reno can dramatically scale back its housing to allow more than half of its land to go to industrial uses  including data centers.

Originally pitched as a cozy enclave of 5,000 homes with a scenic view, the new proposal would include roughly 12 million square feet for industrial and commercial use (up from 1.2 million square feet in the original proposal) and 1,350 housing units.

Im not anti-data center, said Olivia Tanager, director of the Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club, who has spearheaded opposition to the revised proposal. My organization is not anti-data center. But we are anti-huge amounts of potable water being gobbled up by data centers.

Olivia Tanager, director of the Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter, fears data centers will exacerbate the region's climate challenges. (Jackie Montalvo and Aarne Heikkila / NBC News)

In Southern Nevada, home to more than half of the states more than 60 data centers, evaporative cooling, a process that uses more water, is banned in new commercial buildings. Tanager says Reno, a growing hub for data center construction, is behind when it comes to regulating them.

Apart from concerns about water and electricity use and costs, critics say the city cant afford to turn down new housing. By its own estimates, Reno needs an additional 15,000 housing units by 2035 to meet demand.

I think when tech comes into small cities that are desperate for income, sometimes it looks like its the easy answer, said Wendy Baroli, whose 100-acre farm on the California border is about 2 miles away from the proposed development. But its really dangerous to rush through things, especially when youre talking about finite resources.

She remembers the days of parched ground cracking in previous droughts and worries that data centers would further strain resources.

At a July 24 hearing, Andy Durling, a representative for the developer, Heinz Ranch Land Co., defended the revised proposal, stating that it would use less water than the prior housing-heavy one.

Through a spokesperson, Heinz Ranch Land Co. declined to answer a question regarding that estimate or address the concerns raised in this article.

Thursdays vote on the revised StoneGate project could finally decide the fate of the revised proposal. In April, the citys planning commission rejected the plan, but a month later, Renos City Council approved it. Another planning body failed to advance the project in August, so the issue now goes before the Regional Planning Governing Board.

In a May City Council meeting, Durling said the shift by the Heinz Ranch Land Co. was driven by rising costs. The developers said the new plan could bring 8,800 jobs, almost triple that of the original plan. Durling described the new proposal as an opportunity for the city to compete economically with a nearby industrial park. The TahoeReno Industrial Center is home to several companies now planning or building data centers, including Google.

The Tahoe Reno Industrial Center has attracted Fortune 500 companies and multiple data centers. (Jackie Montalvo and Aarne Heikkila / NBC News)

Councilmember Meghan Ebert, who has voted against StoneGates proposal, called the reduced housing in the new plan a huge loss, given the areas housing shortage, and worries about water as well.

We have enough examples across the country to know that data centers are super-consumers of natural resources, she said.

Brian Bonnenfant with the Center for Regional Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno said data centers might be attractive in locales facing a cash crunch. (The center has previously provided research to StoneGates developer.)

Do I want the data center thats going to shore up my budget? he said, explaining that housing developments might bring increased costs. The original plan included a police station and fire station.

On the flip side, we desperately need housing, he said.

In the past, Bonnenfant said, there were conflicts over the citys growing warehouse industry sprawling out and backing up against residential communities. More debates over the best use of the regions land could lie ahead.

For Baroli, it doesnt make sense to pivot from building thousands of housing units to warehouses storing computer servers. I get that we need all of this processing space, she said, but the last place you should put a data center, frankly, is a place where water is finite.

Aarne Heikkila and Steve Patterson reported from Reno and Bracey Harris from Jackson, Mississippi.
Stacks of colorful shipping containers are arranged in rows at a port. Photo: Matthew Henry / Burst

(The Center Square)  President Donald Trump hosted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House Tuesday for the second time but was reluctant to say the meeting would result in a trade deal.

When asked whether Canada would leave Washington empty-handed, Trump suggested they would be pleased with Tuesdays negotiations without specifically mentioning a deal.

I think they're going to walk away very happy. I think so, the president said.

Though the U.S. has negotiated deals with several other countries, it had not yet reached an agreement with its neighbor to the north heading into Tuesdays meeting. Carney left the White House in the mid-afternoon without responding to questions from journalists about how the meeting went, according to reports.

Currently, theres a 35% tariff on most Canadian goods not covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a trade agreement the previous Trump administration had negotiated that preserved free trade (or tariff-free trade) among the three countries on most goods.

In March, Trump imposed broad 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, claiming their lack of border enforcement was contributing to Americas problems with illegal immigration and drug trafficking. He later added imported cars to the items tariffed at 25%. In August, the Republican raised tariffs to 35%, saying that Canada had not done enough to suppress fentanyl trafficking.

On Tuesday, Trump appeared satisfied with Canadas efforts in that regard.

Canada's worked hard, and they've done a much better job than in the past. We have very few people coming in through our southern border too. We've worked with Canada and we've worked with Mexico, so we've made it a lot better, Trump said.

The U.S. also levies a 50% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum and will charge a 45% customs duty on Canadian lumber starting Oct. 14.

Despite Canadas progress on the border, there are natural conflicts between the two countries simply due to their proximity, according to Trump, that make it harder to reach a sustainable agreement.

Well, it's a complicated agreement, more complicated maybe than any other agreement we have on trade, because, you know, we have natural conflict, Trump said. The problem we have is that they want a car company, and I want a car company They want steel, and we want steel.

Trump added that while other countries were very far away, Canadas geographic closeness to the U.S. means theyre more likely to compete economically  but both want to avoid competing as much as possible.

We don't like to compete because we sort of hurt each other when we compete, the president said.

Trump did indicate that there would be at least some tariffs in the final agreement between the U.S. and Canada, but that the U.S. would treat Canada fairly  likely meaning that he wont allow the U.S. to be ripped off by Canadian trade policies but perhaps that America wont demand exorbitant tariffs.

We're going to especially treat Canada fairly, Trump said. All we do now is fairness, but fairness leads us to the most successful country there's ever been.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker talks with NPR Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep during a visit to the Chicago neighborhood of Pilsen, days after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered an increased federal law enforcement presence in the city along with stepped-up immigration enforcement actions carried out by the Department of Homeland Security, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. September 9, 2025. REUTERS/Octavio Jones

By Brendan O'Brien, Susan Heavey and Andy Sullivan

CHICAGO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for jailing Chicago's mayor and Illinois' governor, both Democrats, as his administration prepared to deploy military troops to the streets of the third-largest U.S. city.

Trump's call to imprison the two prominent opponents of his immigration crackdown comes as another high-profile political rival, former FBI Director James Comey, was due to appear in court to face criminal charges that have been widely criticized as flimsy.

Trump has frequently called for jailing his opponents since he first entered politics in 2015, but Comey is the first to face prosecution.

On his social media platform, Trump accused Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker of failing to protect immigration officers who have been operating in Chicago.

"Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!" Trump wrote, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel.

Hundreds of Texas National Guard soldiers have gathered at an Army facility outside Chicago, over the objections of Pritzker, Johnson and other Democratic leaders in the state. Trump has threatened to deploy troops to more U.S. cities as well.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday found most Americans oppose the deployment of troops without an external threat.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago, and Susan Heavey and Katharine Jackson in Washington; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Frank McGurty)
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker talks with NPR Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep during a visit to the Chicago neighborhood of Pilsen, days after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered an increased federal law enforcement presence in the city along with stepped-up immigration enforcement actions carried out by the Department of Homeland Security, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S. September 9, 2025. REUTERS/Octavio Jones

By Brendan O'Brien, Andy Sullivan and Susan Heavey

CHICAGO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for jailing Chicago's mayor and the governor of Illinois, both Democrats, as his administration prepared to deploy military troops to the streets of the third-largest U.S. city.

Neither Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson nor Illinois Governor JB Pritzker have been accused of criminal wrongdoing, though both have emerged as prominent opponents of Trump's immigration crackdown and deployment of National Guard troops in Democratic-leaning cities.

Trump's call to imprison the two elected officials comes as another high-profile political rival, former FBI Director James Comey, was due to appear in court to face criminal charges that have been widely criticized as flimsy.

Trump has frequently called for jailing his opponents since he first entered politics in 2015, but Comey is the first to face prosecution.

On his social media platform, Trump accused Johnson and Pritzker of failing to protect immigration officers who have been operating in Chicago.

"Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!" Trump wrote, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel.

Johnson signed an executive order on Monday creating an "ICE Free Zone" that prohibits federal immigration agents from using city property in their operations.

Johnson and Pritzker could not be immediately reached for comment.

Hundreds of Texas National Guard soldiers have gathered at an Army facility outside Chicago, over the objections of Pritzker, Johnson and other Democratic leaders in the state. Trump has threatened to deploy troops to more U.S. cities, which he said last week could serve as "training grounds" for the armed forces.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday found most Americans oppose the deployment of troops without an external threat.

Trump has ordered Guard troops to Chicago and Portland, Oregon, following his earlier deployments to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. In each case, he has defied staunch opposition from Democratic mayors and governors, who say Trump's claims of lawlessness and violence do not reflect reality.

"My goal is very simple. STOP CRIME IN AMERICA!" he wrote on his social media platform.

Violent crime has been falling in many U.S. cities since a COVID-era spike, and National Guard troops have so far been largely used to protect federal facilities, not fight street crime.

Protests over Trump's immigration policies in Chicago and Portland had been largely peaceful and limited in size, according to local officials, far from the conditions described by Trump administration officials.

"What we have going on right now is literally domestic terrorism in Chicago," Todd Blanche, the No. 2 Justice Department official, said on Fox News.

Pritzker has accused Trump of trying to foment violence to justify further militarization, and his state has sued to stop the deployment. A federal judge on Monday permitted the deployment to proceed for the time being. Another federal judge has blocked the deployment to Portland.

Trump has threatened to invoke an anti-insurrection law to sidestep any court orders blocking him, which was last invoked during the Los Angeles riots of 1992.

(Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago, and Susan Heavey and Katharine Jackson in Washington; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by Frank McGurty and Nick Zieminski)
Matt Van Epps in Dickson, Tenn., on Sept. 8. (George Walker IV / AP file)

Matt Van Epps, a former state official who earned an endorsement from President Donald Trump last week, won the Republican nomination Tuesday in the special election for Tennessees 7th Congressional District House seat, NBC News projects.

Van Epps bested 10 other Republican candidates after a primary in which all of them campaigned on their support for Trump. But Van Epps was the only one to get Trumps backing, adding it to early endorsements from former Rep. Mark Green  the Republican who resigned from the 7th District this year  as well as Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.

Van Epps now advances to the special general election for the district, which Trump carried with more than 60% of the vote last year. The 7th District ranges from the two of the richest counties in Tennessee to some of its poorest, including an Army base and part of Nashville. It has been solidly Republican for decades.

State Rep. Aftyn Behn, a community organizer and licensed social worker, won the Democratic primary in a close contest against two other state lawmakers and a businessman. She represents a deep-blue seat including downtown and east Nashville.

Democrats hope to compete in the heavily Republican seat during the special general election on Dec. 2, which is likely to see lower voter turnout than a regular election.

Van Epps, a lieutenant colonel in the Tennessee Army National Guard and a former active-duty combat pilot in the Army, hoped to appeal to voters with his platform of security, opportunity and prosperity. His goals include investing in infrastructure like small nuclear reactors, broadband and cellphone coverage.

In an interview before Trumps endorsement, Van Epps said he wanted to continue Greens work in Congress, noting his work with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Former Rep. Mark Green at the U.S. Capitol on May 20. (Ting Shen / Bloomberg via Getty Images file)

What he did to secure the border and work with Secretary Noem and the president serves as a good way to pick up the ball and run with it from where he had it, Van Epps said.

He said he was happy with Trumps deployment of National Guard troops to Memphis, which isnt in the 7th District, and would support additional deployments.

Van Epps said he hoped to remain in the state guard if he is elected. He was on active duty for a decade and has been in the guard for another eight years.

After Trump announced he was backing Van Epps, a pair of Republican candidates suspended their campaigns, though they still appeared on the ballot. The field of other Republican candidates included one pardoned by Trump for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

Van Epps will face Behn in December. In a video on Instagram Monday, the new Democratic nominee said she hoped to reach voters under 45, who make up a majority of the district but were outnumbered by older voters during the two weeks of early voting.

Behn also noted she is the only woman in the race from either party, though she faced questions from fellow state Rep. Vincent Dixie  the only Black Democratic candidate  about how she would ensure Black constituents would be represented in Washington if elected, the Nashville Banner reported. She responded that she would add a full-time Black organizer for the Davidson County Democratic Party.
Cargo ship 'Cosco Shipping Gemini' of Chinese shipping company 'Cosco' is loaded at the container terminal 'Tollerort' in the port in Hamburg, Germany, October 25, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer

By Lisa Baertlein

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -The U.S. is one week away from imposing port fees on certain vessels with links to China, a move expected to cost the top 10 carriers $3.2 billion next year as President Donald Trump seeks to address China's growing dominance on the high seas.

"While some observers believe the October 14 deadline may be extended  or even scrapped  as part of broader negotiations, the uncertainty has already unsettled carriers, adding another layer of geopolitical risk to fleet deployment strategies," S&P said in a report this week.

Trump's administration said fees imposed on ships built, owned or operated by Chinese entities will help pay to revive U.S. shipbuilding. A law to direct that long-term funding is making its way through the U.S. Congress with strong bipartisan support.

In an update late last week, the U.S. Trade Representative put ship owners on notice that they, not the agency, are responsible for establishing if the fees apply.

"The burden for determining if a vessel owes the fee is on the operator, NOT CBP," USTR said.

It also said fees must be paid through the Department of the Treasury's Pay.gov website, not at the port of entry.

Vessels owned or operated by a Chinese entity will face a flat fee of $80 per net tonnage per voyage to the U.S. Non-Chinese operators of Chinese-built ships will be charged the higher amount of either $23 per net tonnage or $154 per 20-foot equivalent unit capacity. Both fees are imposed on a ship no more than five times a year, maritime technology and data provider Alphaliner said.

Following intense industry push back, USTR significantly eased fees from initial proposals, exempted many U.S.-based operators and extended the timeline for fees on liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.

On the other hand, it expanded fees to include any non-U.S. built roll-on/roll-off auto carriers - with exceptions for U.S.-flagged ships.

Alphaliner estimated that Chinese carrier COSCO, including its OOCL fleet, is most exposed to the fees.

COSCO's fees could be as much as $1.53 billion next year - nearly half of the $3.2 billion projected for the top 10 cargo carriers, it said.

Many other carriers, including France's CMA CGM, said they re-deployed Chinese-built ships to avoid the fees.

Meanwhile, Beijing has responded. Premier Li Qiang signed a decree pledging countermeasures against any discriminatory measures on Chinese ships or crews.

Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are slated to meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit scheduled for late October through November 1 in South Korea.

Last year, U.S. shipyards built fewer than 10 commercial ships. China shipyards, many of which build both commercial and military vessels, turned out well over 1,000.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles, additional reporting by Gus Trompiz in Paris; Editing by David Gregorio)
President Donald Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner will join Gaza ceasefire talks in Egypt on Wednesday, as Hamas said the two sides had taken an initial step toward a key point of the U.S. plan to end the devastating war.

The arrival of the U.S. delegation, as well as the leader of mediator Qatar, comes after a second day of indirect talks as Israel and Palestinians mourned the two-year anniversary of the October 7 attacks and the brutal conflict that has followed.

Hamas released a statement Wednesday saying that a list of Palestinian prisoners who would be released under a deal had been provided to Israel.

"The mediators are making great efforts to remove any obstacles to implementing the ceasefire, and a spirit of optimism prevails among all," the militant group said.

The release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza and of 1,950 Palestinian prisoners are key parts of Trump's 20-peace proposal.

Israel has not yet commented on the Hamas statement.

Top Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya said Tuesday that the group had come to engage in serious and responsible negotiations.

Hamas was ready to reach a deal, but needed a guarantee to end the war and ensure it is not repeated, he told Egyptian state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV.

Israel has pressed ahead with an aerial and ground assault on Gaza City amid the talks. (Anadolu via Getty Images)

An Israeli army soldier at the October 7 attacks memorial at the Nova Festival grounds in southern Israel on Tuesday. (John Wessels / AFP via Getty Images)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not comment on the status of the talks, but told Israelis Tuesday they were in fateful days of decision.

Trump expressed optimism about the talks, telling reporters in Washington there was a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Thani is also set to join the talks, which are taking place in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Qatar wants international guarantees, led by the U.S., that what is negotiated in Egypt will lead to Israels withdrawal from Gaza, the entry of more aid, and a permanent end to the war, foreign ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari told Saudi Arabian news channel al-Hadath on Tuesday.

Israel has continued its assault on Gaza while the talks have been taking place. Its military campaign has killed more than 67,000 people, reducing much of the enclave to rubble following the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas, in which some 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken to Gaza as hostages.

There were somber gatherings across Israel on Tuesday to mark the attacks, including in the countrys south where families and friends paid respects to the more than 370 victims killed at the Nova music festival.

Palestinians, meanwhile, reflected on two years of brutal conflict and their hopes for an end to the devastation.

Alaa Abu Daraz. (NBC News)

Alaa Abu Daraz and her children left their home in eastern Gaza on October 7, and two years later they are yet to return, living on the streets as they seek safety.

Our children are left in the streets, with no tent, no shelter, not even a blanket, she told NBC News this week. We managed through the summer and survived the heat, but the winter is unbearable; one cannot live or do anything in these conditions.

Israel has faced mounting global isolation over its assault.

A new aid flotilla bound for Gaza that included a number of Americans was intercepted by the Israeli army Wednesday, days after the detention of activists on board a high-profile flotilla fueled international outrage.

Eight U.S. citizens were "likely abducted" by Israeli forces while on international waters, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said Wednesday.
Deloitte said it would invest $3 billion in generative AI development through fiscal year 2030. (Getty Images)

Deloittes member firm in Australia will pay the government a partial refund for a $290,000 report that contained alleged AI-generated errors, including references to non-existent academic research papers and a fabricated quote from a federal court judgment.

The report was originally published on the Australian governments Department of Employment and Workplace Relations website in July. A revised version was quietly published on Friday after Sydney University researcher of health and welfare law Chris Rudge said he alerted media outlets that the report was full of fabricated references.

Deloitte reviewed the 237-page report and confirmed some footnotes and references were incorrect, the department said in a statement Tuesday.

Deloitte did not immediately respond to Fortunes request for comment.

The revised version of the report includes a disclosure that a generative AI language system, Azure OpenAI, was used in its creation. It also removes the fabricated quotes attributed to a federal court judge and references to nonexistent reports attributed to law and software engineering experts. Deloitte noted in a Report Update section that the updated version, dated September 26, replaced the report published in July.

The updates made in no way impact or affect the substantive content, findings and recommendations in the report, Deloitte wrote.

In late August the Australian Financial Review first reported that the document contained multiple errors, citing Rudge as the researcher who identified the apparent AI-generated inaccuracies.

Rudge discovered the reports mistakes when he read a portion incorrectly stating Lisa Burton Crawford, a Sydney University professor of public and constitutional law, had authored a non-existent book with a title outside her field of expertise.

I instantaneously knew it was either hallucinated by AI or the worlds best kept secret because Id never heard of the book and it sounded preposterous, Rudge told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The Big Four consulting firms and global management firms such as McKinsey have invested hundreds of millions of dollars into AI initiatives to develop proprietary models and increase efficiency. In September, Deloitte said it would invest $3 billion in generative AI development through fiscal year 2030.

Anthropic also announced a Deloitte partnership on Monday that includes making Claude available to more than 470,000 Deloitte professionals.

In June, the UK Financial Reporting Council, an accountancy regulator, warned that the Big Four firms were failing to monitor how AI and automated technologies affected the quality of their audits.

Though the firm will refund its last payment installment to the Australian government, Senator Barbara Pocock, the Australian Greens partys spokesperson on the public sector, said Deloitte should refund the entire $290,000.

Deloitte misused AI and used it very inappropriately: misquoted a judge, used references that are non-existent, Pocock told Australian Broadcasting Corp. I mean, the kinds of things that a first-year university student would be in deep trouble for.The matter has been resolved directly with the client, a spokesperson from Deloitte Australia told TheAssociated Press.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
The Trump administration has already missed a self-imposed deadline this week to announce its plan to help US soybean farmers. The gridlock on Capitol Hill means that the delays are likely to continue.

The shutdown is furloughing administration staffers needed to finalize and implement the farmer aid that had been promised to be unveiled on Tuesday, as well as putting on ice any additional money that lawmakers may need to provide.

For now, no new timing is imminent for an announcement, with a Department of Agriculture spokesperson telling Yahoo Finance on Wednesday that the agency "will continue to assess the farm economy and explore the need for further assistance."

"However, there is nothing new to share at this time."

The limbo also comes as farmers are saying the varied dollar amounts being publicly floated won't be enough, even when the money eventually comes through.

American Soybean Association president Caleb Ragland recently appeared on Yahoo Finance and noted that proposed ideas for $10 billion to $14 billion in aid are akin to "putting a Band-Aid on an open wound."

"We are bleeding economically," he added, saying eventual relief will come "by not having tariffs that are in place," referring to both President Trump's tariffs and the countermeasures from foreign nations.

Soybeans being harvested in Warren Indiana in September. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Farmers are caught between foreign countermeasures with significant effects (Chinese purchases of US soybeans have fallen from $12.6 billion last year to $0 currently) and a large harvest that is now underway and may be impossible to sell at a profit.

Ragland's group estimates that soybean farmers are facing losses of $109 per acre this fall.

Farmer Blake Hurst, former president of the Missouri Farm Bureau, added in his own comments that Trump's tariff plans have, in his view, been "a complete bust."

More important to Hurst than a bailout is that he wants Trump to "drop the tariffs and resume normal trade relations."

Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet

Stuck in the middle of the shutdown fight

For the moment, any aid is part of the partisan fighting in Washington.

White House deputy press secretary Kush Desai recently posted, "Help is on the way for American farmers  just not from the Democrats who shut our government down and threw a wrench in our ability to deliver for the American people."

A message likewise greets visitors to the US Department of Agriculture website, blaming "Radical Left" Democrats for the shutdown and adding that Trump "wants to keep the government open and support those who feed, fuel, and clothe the American people."

Both Desai and the USDA spokesperson declined to address whether contingency plans might be forthcoming to get any money out before the shutdown ends or whether new legislation from Congress would be needed.

The USDA spokesperson did tout current measures in place to help farmers, including lower taxes implemented in the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

"Currently, the farm economy is in a difficult situation, and President Trump is utilizing all the tools available to ensure farmers have what they need to continue their farming operations," the spokesperson said.

President Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on Oct. 7. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The delay also comes as the shape of the eventual bailout plan remains in flux, with multiple reports that a $10 billion to $14 billion plan could be in the offing.

A recent Politico report outlined a plan for a $12 billion to $13 billion bailout by reallocating funds from internal USDA accounts.

But the shutdown is throwing a wrench into even those plans, with the report noting that delays are expected because USDA officials are furloughed.

Read more: How the government shutdown affects your student loans, Social Security, and more

More limited government options

It also comes as questions continue about how much Trump may ultimately be able to do short of asking a slow-moving Congress to approve new money.

In his first term, Trump offered a series of bailouts to tariff-impacted farmers and was largely able to do so by tapping existing administration sources.

The scale of that unilateral action may not be possible this time around. The USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation fund was used last time to provide $28 billion in farm aid.

But that fund is apparently running low, and lawmakers have reportedly said there is just $4 billion left. Alternative funding methods may be possible without going to Congress, but those remain unclear, as Trump himself has often touted using tariff revenues to pay farmers.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in recent days that she is in regular consultation with both the president and Congress about getting the money needed, but without specifying an amount or a timeline.

Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins speaks to reporters at the White House on Sept. 30. (Reuters/Ken Cedeno) (REUTERS / Reuters)

And previous timelines have fallen by the wayside.

Last week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent promised during a CNBC interview that a substantial package for farmers would be unveiled on Tuesday, a deadline that has now come and gone.

National Black Farmers Association founder and president John Boyd Jr. recently said that the delay comes during one of the worst times in history for farmers and that the moment has already seen "the administration slow to react."

In Boyd's view, Trump and his team are also making matters worse by entertaining a $20 billion currency swap to aid Argentina, even during the shutdown, to prop up the troubled  but very Trump-friendly  administration of President Javier Milei.

That nation and its own soybean production have recently emerged to help fill the gap for Chinese purchases and further undercut American farmers.

Ben Werschkul is a Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance.

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A top Wall Street analyst has sounded an alarm over the U.S. equity bull market, warning that its remarkable run is built on a precariously narrow foundation: a surge in spending on, and optimistic assumptions about, infrastructure for artificial intelligence (AI). This spending has fueled a boom in the shares of most of the so-called Magnificent 7 and a few dozen related businesses, which have now come to account for roughly 75% of the S&P 500s returns since the rally of the last few years began.

The commentary on September 29 by Morgan Stanley Wealth Managements chief investment officer, Lisa Shalett, frames the current market boom as a one-note narrative almost entirely dependent on massive capital expenditures in generative AI, raising questions about its durability as economic and competitive risks start to mount. Shaletts critique came squarely in the middle of some people in the AI field  and many financial commentators around Wall Street fretting at market exuberance and beginning to talk openly about a bubble.

In an interview with Fortune, Shalett said she was very concerned about this theme in markets, saying her office had broadened from a belief that the market would only bid up seven or 10 stocks to roughly 40. At the end of the day  this is not going to be pretty if and when the generative AI capital expenditure story falters, she said.

Shalett said shes worried about a Cisco moment like when the dotcom bubble burst in 2000, referring to the company that was briefly the most valuable company in the world before an 80% stock plunge. When asked how close we are to such a moment, Shalett said probably not in the next nine months, but very possibly in the next 24. When you look at the actual spending and the amount of capital coming into the space, were a lot closer to the seventh inning than the first or second inning, she said.

Starting to do what all ultimate bad actors do

Shaletts comments centered on several recent multibillion-dollar deals to scale up data-center infrastructure. As notable substacker and former Atlantic writer Derek Thompson recently noted in a post titled This is how the AI bubble will pop, so much money is being spent to support AIs energy-consumption needs that its the equivalent of a new Apollo space mission every 10 months. (Tech companies are spending roughly $400 billion this year alone on data-center infrastructure, while the Apollo program allocated about $300 billion in todays dollars to get to the moon from the 1960s to the 70s.)

Whats more than a little concerning to Shalett is that one company alone, Nvidiathe most valuable company in the history of the world, with an over $4.5 trillion market capis at the center of a significant number of these deals. In September alone, Nvidia invested $100 billion in OpenAI in a massive deal, just days after pledging $5 billion to Intel (the Intel agreement was tied to chips, not data-center infrastructure, per se).

Fortunes Jeremy Kahn reported in late September on significant concerns about circular financing, or Nvidias cash essentially being recycled throughout the AI industry. Shalett sees this as a major concern and a major sign that the business cycle is headed toward some kind of endgame. The guy at the epicenter, Nvidia, is basically starting to do what all ultimate bad actors do in the final inning, which is extending financing, theyre buying their investors.

Shalett expanded on her concerns by saying that companies around Nvidia are starting to become interwoven. She noted that OpenAI is partially owned by Microsoft, but now Nvidia has also made an investment in the startup, while Oracle and AMD each have their own purchasing agreements with OpenAI. But OpenAI also has a data-center deal with tech giant Oracle, with the bad news, Shalett notes, that this deal is totally debt-financed. OpenAI also struck a deal in October with chip-maker AMD that allows OpenAI to buy up to 10% of AMD. Essentially, Nvidias main competitor is going to be partially owned by OpenAI, which is partially owned by Nvidia. So, Nvidia can own a piece of its largest competitor. It is totally circular and increases systemic risk.

When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Nvidia said, We do not require any of the companies we invest in to use Nvidia technology.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang discussed the OpenAI investment in an appearance on the Bg2 podcast with Brad Gerstner and Clark Tang on September 25, calling it an opportunity to invest and part of a partnership geared toward helping OpenAI build their own AI infrastructure. When asked about the allegation of circular financing in general and the Cisco precedent in particular, Huang talked about how OpenAI will fund the deal, arguing that it will have to be funded by OpenAIs future revenues, or offtake, which he pointed out are growing exponentially, and by its future capital, whether its raised by a sale of equity or debt. That will depend on investors confidence in OpenAI, he said, and beyond that, its their company, its not my business. And of course, we have to stay very close to them to make sure that we build in support of their continued growth.

Shalett said that she and her team were starting to watch for signs of a bubble popping, highlighting the deal announced roughly a week before OpenAI struck its $100 billion data-center deal with Nvidia, when it struck another with Oracle worth $300 billion. Analysts at KeyBanc Capital Markets estimated that Oracle will have to borrow $100 billion of that amount$25 billion a year for the next four years.

Every morning the opening screen on my Bloomberg is whats going on with CDS spreads on Oracle debt, Shalett said, referring to credit default swaps, the financial instrument that was obscure before the Great Financial Crisis, but infamous for the role it played in a global market meltdown. CDSs essentially serve as insurance to investors in case of insolvency by a market entity. If people start getting worried about Oracles ability to pay, Shalett said, thats gonna be an early indication to us that people are getting nervous. She added that all the indications to her speak of the end of a cycle and history is littered with cautionary tales from such times.

Oracle did not respond to requests for comment.

90% growth since the last bear market

Since the October 2022 bear market bottom and the launch of ChatGPT, according to Shaletts calculations, the S&P 500 has soared 90%, but most of these gains have come from a small group of stocks. The so-called Magnificent Sevenincluding high-profile names like Nvidia and Microsoftplus another 34 AI data-center ecosystem companies, are responsible for, as cited by Shalett and separately by JP Morgan Asset Managements Michael Cembalest, about three-quarters of overall market returns, 80% of earnings growth, and a staggering 90% of capital spending growth in the index. Comparatively, the other 493 names in the S&P 500 are up just 25%showing just how concentrated the rally has become.

The so-called hyperscaler companies alone are now spending close to $400 billion annually on capex supporting AI infrastructure, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management calculated. The economic influence of AI capex is now immense, contributing an estimated 100 basis pointsfully one percentage pointto second-quarter GDP growth, according to Morgan Stanleys research. This pace outstrips the rate of underlying consumer spending growth by tenfold, underscoring its centrality to both market performance and broader economic data.

People conflate AI adoption, which is in the first inning, with the capex infrastructure buildout, which has been going full-out since 2022, Shalett told Fortune. She cited concerns about the prominence of private equity and debt capital coming into play, as that tends to produce bubbles, because it may be unspoken-for capacity. In other words, people have money to burn and theyre throwing it at things that may not pay off.

Shalett waved away macro theories about the labor market or the Federal Reserve. We think thats missing the forest for the trees because the forest is entirely rooted in this one story about AI infrastructure. Morgan Stanleys bull-case mid-2026 price target for the S&P 500 is an eye-popping 7,200, but Shalett highlights that even the most optimistic outlook admits that risk premiums, credit spreads, and market volatility do not seem to fully account for the vulnerabilities lurking beneath the AI-fueled advance.

Shaletts analysis suggests that AI capex maturity is approaching and some possible slowdowns are already visible. For instance, hyperscalers have already seen free-cash-flow growth turn negative, a sign that investment may have outpaced underlying technology returns. Strategas, an independent research firm, estimates that hyperscaler free cash flow is set to shrink by more than 16% over the next 12 months, putting pressure on lofty valuations and forcing investors to demand more discipline in how these funds are deployed.

Shalett was asked about data centers disproportionate impact on GDP throughout 2025, which media blogger Rusty Foster of Today in Tabs described as: Our economy might just be three AI data centers in a trench coat. The Morgan Stanley exec said Thats what makes this cycle so fragile, adding that at some point, were not gonna be building any data centers for a while. After that, its just a question of whether you crash: Do you have a mild 1991-92-style recession or does it really become bad?

A more bullish case

Bank of America Research weighed in on the semiconductors sector in a Friday note, writing that vendor financing in the space, especially Nvidias $100 billion commitment to OpenAI, has been raising eyebrows. Nevertheless, the team, led by senior analyst Vivek Arya, argued that the deal is structured by performance and competitive need, rather than pure speculative frenzy.

In an interview with Fortune, Arya explained why he wasnt worried despite the optics being pretty obviously bad. Its very easy to say, Oh, Nvidia is giving [OpenAI] money and they are buying chips with that money and so on, but he argued the headlines are misleading about how much money is actually being spent and the $100 billion sticker price on the OpenAI deal scared everyone. Noting that the deal has multiple tranches that will play out over several years to come, he said its not like Nvidia is just handing a $100 billion check to OpenAI [and saying] you know, go have fun.

Nvidia didnt fund all of it, Arya said of the wider generative AI capex boom. Citing public filings, Arya argued that Nvidias entire investment in the AI ecosystem is in fact less than $8 billion or so over the last 12 months, not such a large figure after all. And hes still bullish on Nvidia and OpenAI, he added, because he sees them as the winners of this particular story. We think they are going to be among the four or five ecosystems that come up. Its not like Nvidia is going and investing in every one of those ecosystems, right? Theyre only investing in one of those five, which is, of course, the most disruptive, that being OpenAI.

When asked about his own fears of a bubble, Arya actually sounded a calmer but strikingly similar tune to Shalett. Im extremely comfortable with what will happen in the next 12 months, Arya said, And I have high sense of optimism about what will happen in the next five years. But can there be periods of digestion in between? Yeah. Explaining that this is the nature of any infrastructure cycle, its not always up and to the right. In other words, after the next nine months in Shaletts opinion and the next year in Aryas, the data-center buildout endgame could be in play. When these data centers are built, Arya said, they are not built for todays demand. Theyre built with some anticipation of demand that will develop in the next, you know, 12 to 18 months. So, are they going to be 100% utilized all the time? No.

Rising worries about a bubble

Some of the biggest names in tech and Wall Street offered were hedging hard about the possibility of a bubble on Friday. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon and Jeff Bezos, both speaking at a tech conference in Turin, Italy, said they were seeing the same patterns as Shalett. Solomon said the massive amounts of spending werent fundamentally different from other booms and busts. There will be a lot of capital that was deployed that didnt deliver returns, he said. Thats no different from how investment works. We just dont know how that will play out.

Bezos characterized it as kind of an industrial bubble, arguing that the infrastructure would pay off for many years to come.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who got markets jittery in late August when he mentioned the B-word, was asked again to comment on the subject while touring (what else?) a giant new data center in Texas. Between the 10 years weve already been operating and the many decades ahead of us, there will be booms and busts, Altman said. People will overinvest and lose money, and underinvest and lose a lot of revenue.

For his part, Cisco CEO John Chambers, one of the faces of the dotcom bubble, told the Associated Press on October 3 that he sees a lot of tremendous optimism about AI that is similar to the irrational exuberance on a really large scale that marked the internet age. It indicates a bubble to him, but only a future bubble for certain companies. Is there going to be train wreck? Yes, for those that arent able to translate the technology into a sustainable competitive advantage, how are you going to generate revenue after all the money you poured into it?

When asked whether the size of this potential bubble represents uncharted waters for the economy, especially considering the one-note nature of the long bull market, Shalett said Wall Streeters are always evaluating risk. But putting on her American citizen hat, she warned about the media consolidation that sees Oracles founder Larry Ellison also now playing a major role in TikTok (as part of a buying consortium of Trump-friendly billionaires) and Paramount in Hollywood and CBS News in New York (through his son, David Ellison, the media companys new owner). Shalett said shes worried about groupthink filtering into the functioning of markets. That is not something that most of us have experienced in our lifetimes, she said. You stop factoring in risk premiums into markets, there is no bear case to anything.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
The last of the 10 inmates who allegedly escaped from a New Orleans jail back in May was captured Wednesday at a residence in Atlanta, after being on the run for nearly five months, officials said.

Derrick Groves, 28, was convicted of murder and was facing a possible life sentence before he and nine other inmates escaped from a New Orleans jail on May 16. Out of the escapees, Groves had the most violent criminal record, and authorities had offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to his apprehension.

Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair told the Associated Press that after obtaining a search warrant, a SWAT team spent hours searching the Atlanta house for Groves. They couldnt find him, they had to deploy gas multiple times into the house and basement, Fair said. Based on how long it took a seasoned, well-trained SWAT team to get him out, he had planned to hide for a while.

A police dog eventually located Groves hiding in the homes basement crawl space, according to Atlanta police Deputy Chief Kelley Collier.

The Louisiana State Police said tips to CrimeStoppers and investigative work across multiple agencies ultimately led to his recapture.

Let me be very clear: when someone escapes our custody, we will not stop until they are found, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said in a statement.

Heres how the jailbreak unfolded.

Authorities said that just after midnight on May 16, a lone guard monitoring the inmates stepped away to grab food. Around 12:23 a.m., the inmates allegedly yanked on a defective cell door to pull it off track and were able to break it open.

"These are the cells that we keep telling we need to replace at great cost in this facility," Hutson said. "There was a corrections monitoring technician in the pod module to be watching that. They were still able to exit the jail about 1:01 a.m. after breaching a wall behind a toilet in the jail."

Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office

The inmates allegedly used electric hair trimmers to help cut their way through the cell walls, reported CNN, citing a source with direct knowledge of the investigation.

Hutson added they could be seen on video surveillance scaling a wall and running across the interstate.

Jail officials discovered the inmates were missing hours later at 8:30 a.m. during a routine head count the morning of May 16. The jail was immediately placed on lockdown.

What we know about the inmates who escaped and were recaptured

The following 10 inmates initially escaped on May 16: Antoine Massey, Lenton VanBuren, Leo Tate, Kendell Myles, Derrick Groves, Jermaine Donald, Corey Boyd, Gary Price, Robert Moody and Dkenan Dennis.

Several of the inmates are facing charges for murder, attempted murder or other offenses, including burglary, illegal carrying of weapons and domestic abuse involving strangulation.

Three inmates  Myles, Moody and Dennis  were recaptured within hours of their escape back in May. They were awaiting trial on various felony charges, according to the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office.

Price was caught on May 19 in New Orleans. He was originally jailed at the Orleans Justice Center for attempted first-degree murder, domestic abuse, and aggravated assault.

Boyd was recaptured on May 20 in the French Quarter in New Orleans. He was originally incarcerated for second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery and threatening a public official, according to police.

On June 2, VanBuren was arrested in Baton Rouge, La., by police. He was originally facing charges of illegal carrying of weapons, possession of a firearm or weapon by a felon, obstruction of justice and introducing contraband into a prison.

Tate and Donald were arrested the same day in Walker County, Texas, by the Texas Department of Public Safety. Tate was jailed on charges of burglary, possession of a firearm by a felon and illegally carrying a weapon, while Donald was facing charges of second-degree murder, aggravated battery and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Massey was recaptured at a home in New Orleans on June 27 after authorities received a CrimeStoppers tip. He was initially charged with vehicle theft and domestic abuse involving strangulation.

After a coordinated multi-agency effort involving Crimestoppers GNO, U.S. Marshals, FBI, HSI, LSP, OPSO, NOPD, APD, and others, 28-year-old Derrick Grovesone of 10 inmates who escaped Orleans Parish Prison on May 16was apprehended in Atlanta, GA, after a brief standoff. pic.twitter.com/bIpGjpVDI9  LA State Police (@LAStatePolice) October 8, 2025

Who has been accused of helping the escapees?

During the investigation into the jailbreak, more than a dozen people were arrested and accused of helping the prisoners escape, including Grovess girlfriend, Darriana Burton, who allegedly discussed the escape with Groves during an unmonitored call.

Jail maintenance worker Sterling Williams was also arrested in connection with the jailbreak. Authorities allege that Williams shut off the water to a toilet that was covering a hole in a cell wall in order to help in the escape of the inmates who squeezed through the gap.

However, Williams's lawyer said he shut the water off in order to unclog a toilet, not to aid in the escape of the inmates, the AP reported.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said the recaptured inmates  and anyone who helped in their escape  will face new charges.




California Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin), shown at a hearing last month, is seeking information about how the California Volunteers Fund spent a $500,000 grant from the disaster-relief charity FireAid. (Nell Redmond / Associated Press)

Two House Republicans launched an investigation on Wednesday that will, in part, examine how a California charitable organization used a $500,000 grant that was meant to support victims of the deadly Palisades and Eaton fires, a move that is expanding congressional scrutiny over the response to the disaster.

Reps. Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) sent a letter to the head of the California Volunteers Fund asking for financial records related to a $500,000 grant it received from the disaster-relief charity FireAid, which raised an estimated $100 million for fire victims through its flagship benefit concerts in January.

"It is not publicly known how the California Volunteers Fund distributed this $500,000, or what individuals or entities received funds," Kiley and Jordan wrote in a letter Wednesday to Dave Smith, the fund's chief executive. "It is also unclear whether the state-based California Volunteers, run out of the Governor's Office, received any of the FireAid-originated funds via the California Volunteers Fund."

Kiley and Jordan added that they want to examine all documents and communications related to the California fires between the California Volunteers Fund and California Volunteers, an entity that the charity supports and is housed within Gov. Gavin Newsom's office.

In their letter, they said FireAid has "come under scrutiny for diverting donations to nonprofits instead of providing direct relief to fire victims."

The California Volunteers Fund said in a statement that although it was considered for a grant, it did not accept any funds from FireAid.

"The inclusion of California Volunteers on the FireAid website was an error on their part and has been corrected," Cristina Valdivia Aguilar, a spokesperson for the organization, said in an email.

Newsom's office said that any implication tying the governor to any of the FireAid grants was "entirely false."

"To be clear: We had absolutely no role in FireAid, and any implication otherwise by these Republican stooges is an asinine conspiracy theory."

Kiley's office has published a database on its website that includes both of the entities in a list of FireAid grantees. FireAid's public website does not include the names.

Read more:Florida man 'maliciously' started Palisades fire, then tried to cover his tracks, authorities allege

The congressional inquiry into the distribution of disaster relief funds comes after months of pressure from Republican politicians, including President Trump, who have questioned FireAid's methods and priorities. In July, Kiley called for an investigation into the charitable funds, urging the attorney general to open an investigation into the matter.

Politically, the investigation comes as Newsom  whose office was mentioned several times in the letter  becomes a frequent political target of Trump and Republicans amid speculation that he could be eyeing a potential 2028 presidential run.

In response to the criticism, FireAid commissioned two audit reports, including an independent review led by law firm Latham & Watkins that found no evidence of fraud or misuse of funds. The reports were sent to local and federal officials and the Department of Justice.

The law firm conducted an independent review of the charity, and shared conclusive findings affirming that FireAid has acted in accordance with mission, has strong accountability measures and aid is reaching affected communities, the FireAid organization said in a statement about the review findings at the time.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Supervisor Kathryn Barger called for an investigation into alleged misconduct in L..A. County's $4-billion sex abuse settlement. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles County launched an investigation Tuesday to determine whether a record $4-billion sex abuse settlement approved this year may be tainted.

County supervisors unanimously approved a motion to have county lawyers investigate possible misconduct by legal representatives involved in the recent flood of sex abuse litigation against L.A. County. The county auditors office also will set up a hotline dedicated to tips from the public related to the lawsuits, according to the motion.

It is appalling and sickening that anyone would exploit a system meant to bring justice to victims of childhood sexual abuse, said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who first called for the investigation. We must ensure that nothing like this ever happens again and that every penny that we are allocating to victims goes directly to the survivors.

Barger said she was incredibly disturbed and quite frankly disgusted by a Times investigation published last week that found seven plaintiffs in the largest sex abuse settlement in U.S. history who claimed they were paid by recruiters to sue the county. Two people said they were told to make up claims of abuse. The plaintiffs who spoke with The Times said the recruiters paid them outside a social services office in South Los Angeles.

All of the people who said they were paid by the recruiters were represented by Downtown L.A. Law Group, or DTLA, a personal injury firm with more than 2,700 plaintiffs in the settlement. DTLA has denied any involvement with the recruiters. The Times could not reach the recruiters for comment.

We do not pay our clients to file lawsuits, and we strongly oppose such actions, the firm previously said in a statement. We want justice for real victims.

The county agreed to a $4-billion settlement in the spring to resolve thousands of lawsuits by people who said they were sexually abused inside the countys foster homes and juvenile halls as children. The lawsuits were spurred by a 2020 law that changed the statute of limitations and gave victims a new window to sue.

To pay for the settlement, most county departments had to slash their budgets. Supervisor Holly Mitchell called it a painful irony that many of the people who were paid to sue were there to get help from the South L.A. social services office in her district  part of a department which now faces cuts.

We are not an ATM machine, Supervisor Hilda Solis said. We are the safety net.

The Times found many of the attorneys involved in the case will receive 40% of their clients settlement. Barger said she was shocked to learn that meant more than $1 billion in taxpayer money could go to law firms.

I seriously doubt any of those attorneys understand the depth of what they have done, Barger said. It is going to have an impact on the county's ability to function.

The motion passed Tuesday directs county lawyers to enlist law enforcement as necessary and consider referring the allegations in The Times reporting to the State Bar.

California lawmakers, labor leaders and a powerful attorney trade group also have called for the bar to investigate.

The State Bar has declined to comment on whether it will launch an investigation, but said California law generally prohibits making payments to solicit or procure clients, a practice known as capping.

A majority of the supervisors expressed anger Tuesday at the 2020 change, saying the law was poorly crafted and left the county hemorrhaging billions. Many counties and school districts have similarly decried the change to the statute of limitations, which they say forced them to fight decades-old cases without records. Governments are required to throw out older records related to minors for privacy reasons, leaving lawyers often unable to prove whether a person suing them was at the facility where the abuse allegedly occurred.

The law change was championed by former lawmaker Lorena Gonzalez, now the president of the California Federation of Labor Unions. Barger repeatedly called the law, commonly referred to as AB 218, the "Gonzalez bill.

I'm calling it what it is, said Barger, noting that school districts across the state now find themselves in similarly dire financial straits. Maybe it is time for us all to get together and figure out how we clean up the mess that the Gonzalez bill put into play.

Gonzalez says she believes plaintiffs attorneys have taken advantage of her legislation and is looking for someone in Sacramento to pass a new bill that will make it easier for jurisdictions to defend themselves. She emphasized that her priority was protecting real victims and said her bill didnt change the burden of proof.

What, are they just pissed because they cant do due diligence? she said. Theyre deflecting their whole responsibility in this. Ive been clear there should be changes made. They should be clear that maybe they didnt live up to their own burden of proof.

Over the last week, some county unions and state legislators have questioned whether county lawyers did enough to screen the abuse claims before agreeing to pay out billions. The supervisors planned to meet with county lawyers in closed session Tuesday afternoon to discuss, in part, how the claims had been vetted.

Did we do depositions? Did we do due diligence?  Supervisor Janice Hahn said. That was the first thing that came to my mind is what responsibility did we have to actually vet each and every one of the cases?

The supervisors emphasized that they believed there were many legitimate claims in the settlement, and they wanted those victims to get compensated for the abuse they suffered at the hands of county employees.

Many victims have told The Times that they suffered egregious abuse decades ago at the hands of probation staff, who they said would molest them and threaten them with solitary confinement if they told higher-ups. MacLaren Children's Center, a now-shuttered county-run shelter in El Monte, was also rife with predatory staff, according to interviews with half a dozen victims.

It must truly reach those who are harmed, Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said. These funds must go to survivors  not individuals or entities who are looking to profit from someone else's suffering.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Director Raoul Peck, photographed in New York City in October. (Justin Jun Lee / For The Times)

No one goes to Cannes expecting to be frightened by a film about a long-dead British writer. Unless, of course, that writer is George Orwell.

When Raoul Pecks documentary Orwell: 2+2=5 premiered at the festival in May, the crowd reacted with the startled tension of a horror screening  gasps, murmurs, a few cries  before finally breaking into thunderous applause.

What they saw on screen felt both familiar and terrifyingly current. Peck builds the film entirely from Orwells words, delivered in a low, steady burn by actor Damian Lewis ("Billions"), repositioning the dying author of Nineteen Eighty-Four in his final tubercular days on the Scottish Isle of Jura, into today's world. His vision of power, propaganda and language as a weapon meets a barrage of torn-from-the-news imagery: refugees adrift on boats, authoritarian leaders twisting the truth, AI hallucinations blurring whats left of reality. The film, to be released nationwide on Friday by Neon, plays less like a documentary than a seance in which Orwells ghost watches his own warnings play out: urgent, relentless, immersive as a nightmare.

Peck says the Cannes reception didnt surprise him.

I knew it would touch a nerve, Peck, 72, says over Zoom from New York. His calm, French-accented voice  hes based in Paris but travels frequently  carries the quiet fatigue of someone whos spent decades watching history repeat itself. Its not just a problem of the U.S.  its everywhere. We have all sorts of bullies and theres no reliable sheriff in town. Even the most powerful institutions are on shaky ground. I knew the film would either break people or energize them. If youre a normal citizen, a normal human being, you must ask yourself questions when you come out of it.

There are no talking heads in Pecks film, no experts spelling out the relevance of an author who died in 1950. Instead, he draws from the writers essays, letters and diaries, as well as the longer-form works like the barnyard political allegory Animal Farm and the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. He also weaves in fragments from past screen adaptations of Orwells titles, including the 1954 animated "Animal Farm" and Michael Radfords stark, desaturated adaptation of "Nineteen Eighty-Four" starring John Hurt, cross-cutting them with current images of drone wars, surveillance and algorithmic control.

"Raoul has been unbelievably thorough," says narrator Lewis via Zoom from his home in London, where he regularly rides his bike past one of Orwell's former residences. "The film is dense in the best way, thick with ideas and images. You come out of it feeling like you've been through something important."

Lewis, who delivers Orwells words with a steely intensity that builds toward alarm, says his warnings have only grown more pressing.

"I read recently that about 37% of countries in the world are now categorized as not free," he adds. "That's getting dangerously close to half the planet. What Raoul's film captures  and what Orwell saw so clearly  is how authoritarian ideas don't arrive overnight. They creep up on us, little by little, as words like 'democracy' get redefined to mean whatever those in power want them to mean."

Peck's filmmaking has long blurred the line between art and activism. Born in Haiti, he fled with his family from Francois Duvaliers dictatorship in 1961 and grew up in what was then the Republic of the Congo (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), where his father worked for the United Nations. After studying engineering and economics in Berlin, he returned home to serve as Haitis minister of culture in the 1990s. His breakthrough, the Oscar-nominated 2016 film I Am Not Your Negro, channeled James Baldwins words to examine race and power in America and the countrys uneasy reckoning with its past. He continued that exploration in HBOs Exterminate All the Brutes (2021), tracing the myths of empire and white supremacy that shape the modern world.

If I cant mix politics and art, I probably wouldnt make a project," Peck says. "Thats what Orwell himself said  Animal Farm was the first time he was really trying to link politics with art. And thats what Ive been trying to do all my life as a filmmaker.

Few writers have been more quoted  or misquoted  than Orwell. Decades after coining ideas such as Newspeak (state-controlled language) and doublethink (the ability to hold two contradictory beliefs at once), hes been claimed by every side: Fear-mongering politicians cite him, pundits weaponize him, partisans wield Orwellian as shorthand for whatever offends them most. Even President Trump recently praised Orwell in the same breath as Shakespeare and Dickens at a state banquet at Windsor Castle.

Asked what Orwell would make of that, Peck gives a small, mirthless laugh.

He would probably faintly smile, he says. Because thats exactly what he wrote about  how thought corrupts language and language corrupts thought. Were living doublespeak now in an exponential way, the bully using the words of justice and peace while bombing people at the same moment. Its so absurd. Thats why I feel so close to him. Coming from Haiti, I learned very early that what politicians were saying never matched my reality.

George Orwell, author of "1984" and "Animal Farm," whose warnings about power and language echo through the timely documentary "Orwell: 2+2=5." (Associated Press)

Peck came to the project warily. Honestly, I wasnt sure I wanted to touch Orwell, he admits. Where I come from, Orwell had been turned into a kind of Cold War mascot. Raised under Mobutu Sese Sekos U.S.-backed regime in what became Zaire and later educated in America and Europe, he was keenly aware of how Orwells legacy had been co-opted, from the CIAs funding of the 1954 animated Animal Farm to the deployment of his books as Cold War propaganda.

That was not something that interested me, Peck says. I grew up deconstructing everything I was getting from the West, including Hollywood movies.

Then came a call from his friend, Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker and producer Alex Gibney ("Taxi to the Dark Side"), who was involved with a project that had secured the rights to Orwells complete body of work and wanted Peck to direct it.

How could I say no? he recalls. For a filmmaker like me, who loves to dig deep into someones mind and work, it was an incredible gift.

What Peck found wasnt a prophet or a symbol but a man full of contradictions: a writer wrestling with class, illness and empire, trying to fuse politics and art before his own time ran out. That realization deepened when he came across a photograph of Orwell as a baby in the arms of his Indian nanny, a white child of the British Empire cradled by the colonized woman charged with his care. Born into what he called the lower-upper-middle class, Orwell gradually recognized his own complicity in the system he opposed and came to despise his role as a kind of middle manager in the machinery of oppression.

His own biography  born in India, sent to Burma as a young soldier, doing what he did there and being ashamed of it  drew him closer to my own experience, Peck says. We were from the same world. We saw the same things.

To embody Orwell, Peck turned to Lewis, also known for Band of Brothers and Homeland.

I knew I was telling a story, not making a traditional documentary, Peck says. So I needed a great British actor, someone with real stage experience. I knew Damian could bring the presence I wanted  to be Orwell, not imitate him. That was the main direction I gave him: to work from the interior.

"If we don't bring rules around AI very rapidly, we won't be able to put the paste back in the tube," says filmmaker Raoul Peck. "AI is an instrument and should stay an instrument. That means we're using it. It's not using us." (Justin Jun Lee / For The Times)

Lewis, who had previously voiced Orwell for the international Talking Statues project  an app that lets passersby scan a QR code to hear historical figures speak  approached the feature-length performance with similar restraint.

His language, the rhythm of his prose, dictates the rhythm of delivery, he says. Raoul was very clear that it should sound intimate and conversational, not overly formal. Thats what we tried to aim for  something direct, specific, detailed and personal.

Much of Orwell: 2+2=5 unfolds like a fever dream, Orwells words colliding with scenes from the present, including bombed-out streets in Gaza and Ukraine. There were too many conflicts to include, Peck says. So I had to find the connections  what repeats, how bodies are treated, how power behaves.

In one of the films most charged moments, Peck turns Orwells warning about political language into a montage of modern euphemisms: peacekeeping operations, collateral damage, illegals  and then, pointedly, antisemitism 2024. He knows the inclusion is provocative but says thats the point: to show how words can be twisted or emptied of meaning, including in debates over Israels war in Gaza.

Every word is precise, Peck says. I dont say the Jews, I dont say Israel, I say the Israeli administration. But even then, theres a reflex  you cant touch this.

At Cannes, that moment drew applause. One of Pecks closest friends  a Jewish writer who, he notes, agrees with him on nearly everything politically  told him later that while she was deeply moved by the film, shed felt a jolt of fear as the audience clapped.

We talked about it, Peck says. In France today, you cant touch that term. And for me, thats the beginning of the end  when you cant speak your mind.

He recalls being in New York after 9/11, unable to voice unease about the flag-waving and rush to war. I cried like everybody else, he says. But when, after five days, youre asked to wave a flag, thats using your humanity for war. The point is the same  to shut down conversation.

Peck carries Orwells warning into the digital present. The writers words play against AI-generated images and voices, echoes of the future he once imagined.

He wrote about it without knowing it would be called AI," Peck says. "He said someday youd be able to write whole books and newspapers with artificial intelligence  exactly whats happening now.

For Peck, the technology is the next front in the battle over truth and power. In his film, every AI-generated sound, image and piece of music is clearly labeled with onscreen text.

"There should be transparency about that," he says. "If we don't bring rules around AI very rapidly, we won't be able to put the paste back in the tube. Profit is the only guideline right now  nobody's controlling its impact, not on energy, not on children, not on schools. AI is an instrument and should stay an instrument. That means we're using it. It's not using us."

Read more:A feminist take on Orwell's '1984' reads like the original  only better

Even as Orwell: 2+2=5 reaches theaters, Peck is already working on two new documentaries, including one about the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise.

Its an incredible geopolitical mess, he says. Every day I discover more. I need to go back to fiction for a while  documentaries are exhausting. But I cant complain. I wish everyone could be as passionate about their work as I am.

For all its darkness, Peck insists on leaving a sliver of light. He points to Orwells line in Nineteen Eighty-Four: If there is hope, it lies in the proles.

The civil society is always the one who saved the day  the civilians, the students, the churches, the alliances, he says. Like the civil rights movement. Blacks, Jews, whites, churches, everybody sat down around the table and decided to have a strategy. And unfortunately, thats the only thing we have. Its long and its hard, but that door is still open. Its us, individually and collectively, who have to make that choice.

What keeps him going, he says, isnt optimism so much as duty.

If I lived completely engulfed in my own bubble, Id probably be desperate, he says. What keeps me grounded is that I still have friends in Congo. I still work with Haiti every day. I talk with journalists who risk their lives in Gaza. So I cant afford to look at those people and say, Im tired. Theyre still doing the work.

He pauses, his voice tightening. People laugh at the latest stupidity from the president, as if its funny, he says. But thats a dictatorship coming. Hes attacking every institution  newspapers, academia, justice, business. Its the same playbook. They change the laws first, because most people would rather obey the law than say 'No, two plus two equals four.' Thats what authoritarian leaders count on.

He sits quietly for a moment. People are waiting for miracles, he says finally. But there are no miracles.



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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
DUCHESNE, Utah (KSL.com)  A Herriman man is accused of traveling to Duchesne County and killing a llama that had recently given birth.

Jordan Blake Gomez, 33, was charged Monday in 8th District Court with wanton destruction of livestock, a third-degree felony.

On Friday, one of Gomezs relatives called police to say he just showed up and that Gomez told her that he purchased a gun yesterday and a butcher kit, which he brought with him, according to a police booking affidavit. (The relative) told me that she has no idea why Jordan would just show up at her house. She said that he shot the llama, which just had a baby this week. She said that without the mother llama, the baby would also die, and they cannot catch it.

She said that when she spoke with Jordan about why he did this, he told her that he has been having a hard time and just felt like it and left with the llama, the affidavit states.

A Duchesne County sheriffs deputy responding to the call spotted Gomez on U.S. 40 and pulled him over.

Upon approach of the vehicle, I observed the destroyed llama in the bed of the pickup, according to the affidavit. He said that he has just been having a hard time lately because his wife left him and took their child.

The relative told the sheriffs office that Gomez is a disabled vet with post-traumatic stress disorder, the affidavit states.

The deputy arrested Gomez after pulling him over and questioning him.

The post Utah man accused of killing llama that had just given birth appeared first on East Idaho News.
Navneesh Garg (NG): Shortly after completing my engineering and computer science degree in Delhi in 2002, I took up a graduate role with HCL Technologies. My university ran a good program which put us in contact with large IT companies, so it was a very smooth transition from studying to the world of work.

My two years with HCL Technologies gave me good exposure to the services industry; we learnt corporate ways of doing things and how to work with customers in international spaces. I hadnt had any part-time jobs prior to that. Coming from an Indian background and having parents who were teachers, the focus at home was always on education. During my high school years, I was very passionate about getting into computer science  the dot com boom was in full flight  and I studied up to 16 hours a day to win a scholarship that covered the cost of my degree.

How did you get started in the IT industry and progress to where you are today?

NG: After my stint with HCL Technologies, I moved to Adobe Systems to work in their quality engineering team. It was quite a different experience, going from a services company to a product business. While in that role, I met a couple of friends who were keen for the three of us to do something of our own.

We were young and passionate, and we thought we had time. So, we quit our corporate jobs and set up an IT business called CresTech Technologies which quite quickly grew to 150 staff. Then, in 2010, the opportunity to migrate came up and I had a difficult choice to make  whether to take that path or stick with CresTech. I chose the former, sold my stake in the business and moved to Australia. My wife Sapna and I started Adactin in 2011. It was just the two of us at first but fast forward 14 years and we now have 360 staff, offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Delhi, and Singapore and a customer list that spans state and federal governments and the health, energy and education sectors.

What has been your biggest business mistake and the lessons youve learnt from that experience?
by Maria Casadei

The Canadian government has listed the powerful India-based criminal network as a terrorist group. The decision follows a long trail of shootings and extortions against members of the Sikh diaspora, and comes as Ottawa attempts to restore cooperation with New Delhi following tensions over the murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canadian authorities accuse the gang of acting as a tool of intimidation, with connections to Indian intelligence, a charge New Delhi vehemently denies.

New Delhi (AsiaNews)  Canada's Minister of Public Safety, Gary Anandasangaree, officially designated the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organisation on 29 September after years of criminal activity in the North American country.

The decision gives Canadian authorities the power to freeze the group's assets, block its funding, and prosecute its members under anti-terrorism legislation.

According to the Department of Public Safety, The Bishnoi Gang is a transnational criminal organization operating primarily out of India. They have a presence in Canada and are active in areas with significant diaspora communities.

The Bishnoi Gang engages in murder, shootings and arson, and generates terror through extortion and intimidation. [. . .]

Listing the Bishnoi Gang will help Canadian security, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies in combatting their crimes and making communities safer.

The gang's leader, Lawrence Bishnoi, has been detained in India since 2015 for heading a criminal network of more than 700 members involved in drug trafficking, arms smuggling, extortion, and targeted killings.

Among the most high-profile cases blamed on the group are the assassinations of Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala in 2022 and politician Baba Siddique in 2024. The gang also claimed responsibility for recent shootings in Canada.

In one of the most recent incidents, a gang member, Goldie Dhillon, claimed to have given the order to fire at three locations of Indian restaurant chain Ustaad G76 in Surrey, British Columbia.

In a Facebook post, Dhillon accused the owner, Sanjay Bajaj, of mistreating employees and withholding wages, threatening that those who behave this way will face the same consequences.

The restaurants, which were closed at the time of the attack, suffered some damage, but no one was reportedly injured.

The incident occurred just days after another shooting claimed by the group, in which a gang member known as Fateh Portugal posted videos claiming responsibility for three shots fired at the property of businessman Navi Tesi, who is accused of using Bishnoi's name to extort money.

The gang primarily targets wealthy members of Canada's South Asian community for extortion; in cities such as Brampton (ONT), Edmonton (AB), and Surrey (BC), Canadian police estimate that the group's activities have netted tens of millions of dollars.

Although in a prison interview, Bishnoi described himself as a Hindu nationalist who does not support the creation of Khalistan, the gang does not appear to have any specific religious affiliations.

Canadian police alleged that in recent years, Indian intelligence agencies have used the Bishnoi Gang to carry out assassinations and acts of intimidation against supporters of the Khalistan independence movement, which advocates for the creation of a separate country for the Sikh community in Punjab.

Ottawa has accused New Delhi of providing intelligence to criminal groups like the Bishnoi Gang to silence critics and opponents of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government abroad, a charge India strongly denies.

For its part, the Indian government claims that Canada has ignored more than two dozen extradition requests involving gang members, continuing to protect individuals wanted for serious crimes.

Canadian authorities say to have a vast body of evidence, including evidence linking the Bishnoi gang to the 2023 murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar near Vancouver.

Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, had been listed as a terrorist by India for his activism in support of the cause of Khalistan, an issue that has far more support among the Sikh diaspora than in India. New Delhi has repeatedly denied its involvement in the murder.

The group's listing as a terrorist organisation not only allows for the seizure of assets and funds linked to the gang, but also strengthens law enforcement's ability to disrupt their recruitment, financing, and international movements.

This will give us more powerful and effective tools to confront and put a stop to their crimes, said Public Safety Minister Anandasangaree.

So far, Canadian police have arrested at least eight people, including three suspected of involvement in Nijjar's murder, as well as around 20 individuals accused of extortion.

The Ottawa-based World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) welcomed the government's decision but called for full accountability of the officials who allegedly commissioned or financed the violence against Sikhs in Canada.

The WSO now calls on the Government of Canada to expose and sanction those Indian officials who have directed, financed, or facilitated this gang, reads a statement by the organisation.

Relations between India and Canada have recently improved since the election of Mark Carney, Justin Trudeau's successor, in March.

At the G7 summit in June, Carney met with Prime Minister Modi to discuss the restoration of regular diplomatic relations, which had been put on ice in 2023 following the Nijjar shooting.

Canadas National Security and Intelligence Advisor Nathalie Drouin confirmed that India is committed to cooperating with Canadian authorities in the ongoing investigation, emphasising that the two countries are maintaining an open dialogue on their respective security concerns.

India, however, has chosen not to publicly comment on Canada's decision.
by Vladimir Rozanskij

For the first time in several years, population growth in Kazakhstan is slowing down, and in more than half of the country's regions, especially in the north, the figures indicate a demographic decline. Even in one of the countries with the lowest population density in the world, 63.4% of people live in large cities.

Astana (AsiaNews) - In the first eight months of 2025, Kazakhstan's population increased by 143,200 people, up 0.71% according to the national statistics office, and as of 1 September, the population is estimated at nearly 20.5 million.

As in other Central Asian countries, the trend remains one of population growth, but in Kazakhstan, for the first time in several years, this growth is occurring at a slower rate, and in more than half of the country's regions, especially those in the north, the figures indicate a decline in population.

In reality, growth is only occurring in five regions: Astana with +4.76%, Shymkent +2.23%, Almaty +1.76%, the Almatynskaya region +1.5% and Mangistau +1.23%. In three other regions, growth is below the national average (Aktyubinskaya, Atyrauskaya and Akmolinskaya), while in the remaining regions the population is declining, as in northern Kazakhstan (-1.06%), Abay (-0.8%) and Ulytau (-0.7%). In the regions of northern and eastern Kazakhstan, the decline is due to natural factors, with mortality exceeding birth rates, while it is difficult to calculate growth due to migratory flows, which remain positive only in the three megacities of Almaty, Astana and Shymkent.

The urban population grew by 1.41%, reaching almost 13 million inhabitants, while the rural population fell by 0.5%, to almost 7.5 million, resulting in an urban percentage of 63.4% and an extra-urban percentage of 36.6%. In absolute terms, Kazakhstan's population density is one of the lowest in the world, with 7.5 people per square kilometre, making it one of the ten largest countries in the world in terms of area, but with a low population, reflecting the situation in Russia to the north.

At the end of the 19th century, Kazakhstan was part of the Russian Empire, and according to the results of the 1897 census, 3,645,000 people lived there, rising to over 4 million when Kazakhs scattered across other imperial lands were counted.

Tsarist policy sought to populate the Kazakh steppes by transferring Russian peasants, but the revolts of 1916 and the revolution, with political repression and forced collectivisation, led to a serious demographic crisis, with the percentage of Russian inhabitants almost equal to that of Kazakhs.

In 1926, there were 3,627,000 people, rising to over 2 million in 1937, thanks to the arrival of Russians and also many German and Polish exiles and deportees during Stalin's deportations.

In the post-war Soviet era, Kazakhstan had reached almost 10 million inhabitants, according to the 1956 census, but Kazakhs accounted for only 30% of the republic's total population.

The last Soviet census was conducted in 1989, maintaining the percentages of previous decades, while the first census of independent Kazakhstan took place ten years later, in 1999.

The results were published at the end of the 2000s, calculating just under 15 million inhabitants, 1.5 million fewer than in 1989, and the ethnic percentage began to rise for Kazakhs, reaching about 50% of the entire population.

The next census in 2009 reported a total population of over 16 million, with an increase mainly in rural areas and a further rise in the Kazakh percentage compared to the Russian percentage, around 60% versus approximately 30%. Five years ago, in 2021, the third census since independence was held, with the population exceeding 19 million, a large increase in the Kazakh ethnic group and migration flows from Asian countries.

In the thirty years since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the percentage of Germans has been reduced to a minimum, with most returning to the homeland of their ancestors, and Kazakhs are well above 60%, with Russians just over 20%, Uzbeks 2.8%, Ukrainians 2.1%, Uighurs 1.4%, Tatars 1.3%, Germans 1.1%, and other ethnic groups 4.5%.

Russian remains the most widely spoken language, but the use of Kazakh is growing steadily in a country that is 70% Sunni Muslim and 27% Christian, mainly Russian Orthodox, but also Catholic and Protestant. The future of Kazakhstan lies not so much in the percentages, but in people's choices regarding their ethnic, linguistic and religious identity, which is also reflected in tensions and heated debates about common prospects.
by Sumon Corraya

More than fifty people are showing symptoms consistent with the disease, which is transmitted from livestock to humans. For the first time, cases have also been reported in the Rangpur region. The government has launched mass vaccinations and awareness campaigns, but experts warn that surveillance structures remain fragile and the risk of new infections is high.

Dhaka (AsiaNews) - An anthrax outbreak has hit the northern districts of Bangladesh, Rangpur and Gaibandha, causing serious concern among health authorities and local communities. This is the first time that human infections have been recorded in Rangpur, according to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), which has launched an urgent investigation to contain the epidemic.

More than fifty people in the suburbs of Pirgachha, Mithapukur (Rangpur) and Sundarganj (Gaibandha) are showing symptoms consistent with the disease, which can be fatal if left untreated. The bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which causes anthrax, can survive in the soil for decades, infecting cattle, goats and buffaloes that eat contaminated grass. Humans become infected through contact with the meat, blood or skin of infected animals.

Fear has spread rapidly among meat traders. Fazlur Rahman, a butcher in Pirgachha, tells AsiaNews: I used to slaughter three cows a day. Now I only slaughter one, and even that is difficult to sell. People are afraid. I only buy healthy animals, but demand has plummeted.

The Department of Livestock of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has activated emergency measures: mass vaccination of livestock, veterinary visits, information campaigns and a ban on the slaughter of sick animals. Leaflets have begun to be distributed in the most affected areas, while loudspeakers in markets and villages broadcast awareness and prevention messages.

The authorities have also published notices in national newspapers and launched public meetings and training sessions as part of the One Health initiative, which promotes collaboration between public health and veterinary services. Controls have been tightened to trace the origin of infected animals and prevent new infections.

According to Dr Mushtaq Hossain, former scientific director of the IEDCR, it is essential to remain vigilant: Anthrax spreads through contact with infected animals or remains. Slaughtering these animals must be strictly prohibited. Their meat must not be eaten. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment can save lives.

The doctor pointed out that symptoms in animals include fever, breathing difficulties and dark blood discharge; in humans, however, the disease manifests itself as black skin lesions. " It is essential to report suspected cases immediately and contact local health centres," he added.

Despite the government's immediate response, experts believe that surveillance facilities remain weak and coordination between different departments is still insufficient. The source of the new outbreak has not been identified, and specialists warn that without a national prevention plan, the risk of recurrence remains high.

Anthrax is also known to have been used as a biological weapon, as the spores can be easily dried and spread. The most notorious incident occurred in 2001 in the United States, when envelopes containing spores were sent to newspapers and politicians, causing five deaths and 17 infections.
by Melani Manel Perera

Last Sunday evening, eve of World Habitat Day, a ceremony was held at Temple Trees in the presence of Sri Lankan President Dissanayake to mark the start of a programme to provide a home to at least 4,000 families in need. Land and a symbolic cheque were also handed over. The government pledged to offer a safe, comfortable, and dignified living environment for all its citizens.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  Responding to a housing emergency and the needs of the most vulnerable segments of the population, the Sri Lankan government provided a thousand newly completed homes to eligible beneficiaries on World Habitat Day, an observance celebrated worldwide on Monday, 6 October.

The handover took place a day earlier, on Sunday evening, during a ceremony held at Temple Trees, the Prime Minister's official residence, in the presence and under the patronage of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

World Habitat Day is celebrated every first Monday of October under the auspices of the United Nations to reflect on the state of countries and cities and on the fundamental right of all to have adequate and dignified shelter and housing.

The president handed over a thousand homes, which were built using digital technology as part of a programme by the National Housing Development Authority aimed at providing housing to nearly 4,000 low-income families without the financial means to build their own homes.

The theme chosen for the 2025 edition of the UN Day was "A Place to Belong - A Beautiful Life." In keeping with this, a Habitat Week was held between 1 and 5 October, during which a series of activities and events were held across the country.

Some 357 symbolic land deeds were handed over, contributing to the recipients wellbeing. The thousand low-income families received financial assistance amounting to one million rupees each (US$ 3,300). President Dissanayake symbolically presented a cheque with the given amount to 157 ci beneficiaries.

The president also visited an art exhibition organised to promote the creative talent of schoolchildren marking World Habitat Day and an exhibition of design concepts related to housing planning.

Addressing the gathering, Minister of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing Anura Karunathilaka said that the present government had formulated and was implementing a comprehensive programme to meet Sri Lankans housing expectations.

The government, the minister noted, was well aware of the need for a systematic approach to housing planning, while promoting a broader dialogue within society on the concept of housing.

He also reiterated that the government is committed to creating a safe, comfortable, and dignified living environment for all Sri Lankans.

Harshini Halangoda, head of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in Sri Lanka, delivered a message from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on this day.

During the ceremony, the Ambatale water supply project was formally presented to the president. Expected to be implemented with the assistance of the Indian government and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDR), it is currently underway.

Like past initiatives, this one is also supported by a contribution from the UN-Habitat Sri Lanka office.
A law enacted by the government in 2023 ago calls for a gradual introduction of universal income declaration in the country, which has until now been obligatory only for senior state officials and members of their families. Government officials have said that it will further complicate tax evasion and make it easier for the authorities to identify people who are really in need of government aid.

The more than 700,000 Armenians who have officially registered jobs or businesses were initially required submit such declarations electronically by May 1, 2025. They had to report not only their wages but also remittances or other cash donations exceeding 300,000 drams ($780) per transfer.

In January, the government extended the deadline to November 1, saying that most citizens do not have new ID cards that are necessary for the financial disclosure. The decision came amid growing complaints about a lack of clarity in the disclosure procedures. The fact that the electronic filing system created by the State Revenue Committee (SRC) still did not function properly added to the public discontent.

The discontent did not seem to ease in the following months. The head of the SRC, Eduard Hakobian, said last month that only 92,000 people have filed income declarations to date.

Babken Tunian, a parliament deputy from the ruling Civil Contract, announced earlier this week that those Armenians who earn no revenue apart from their legal wages or other income visible to the SRC will no longer have to log on to a relevant website to fill out an income declaration. They make up the vast majority of the citizens subject to financial disclosure.

Tunian gave no reason for the effective scrapping of universal income declaration. The Armenian parliament controlled by Civil Contract is expected to meet in the coming days to make appropriate changes to the law.

The governments about-face comes less than a year before parliamentary elections in which Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and his party will be fighting hard for their political survival. Pashinians political opponents have accused him of seeking to increase the tax burden on the population through the declaration system. The premier and his allies have denied that.
8 October 2025 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

The 12th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), held in Gabala, Azerbaijan, marks a significant evolution in the bloc's identitytransforming it from a forum focused on cultural heritage into a growing center of geopolitical and economic influence. With Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev delivering a wide-ranging opening address, the summit underscored the increasing alignment of the Turkic nations in areas such as security, connectivity, energy, and digital transformation.

"Today, the Organization of Turkic States has evolved from merely a platform for cooperation into one of the significant geopolitical centers," President Aliyev declared, setting the tone for the summit. He emphasized the importance of shared ethnic and cultural roots, pointing out that these are not merely symbolic ties, but strategic assets in unifying member states' positions on global issues.

Indeed, the summit reaffirmed that common historical legaciesrooted in language, traditions, and a shared Eurasian geographyare being transformed into actionable policies. This transition from cultural kinship to strategic alignment forms the backbone of what many analysts now see as an emerging regional power center with increasing relevance in global geopolitics.

Security cooperation featured prominently in the discussions. President Aliyev pointed to the strategic need for unity amid global instability, noting that "development cannot be achieved without ensuring security." His proposal to host joint military exercises for OTS members in Azerbaijan in 2026 reflects a growing understanding within the bloc that hard power complements soft power in maintaining sovereignty and ensuring stability.

This follows Azerbaijans own recent military developments, including the 2020 victory in the Second Garabagh War and the 2023 counter-terrorism operations, which President Aliyev framed as a restoration of justice and sovereignty. The peace process with Armeniahighlighted by the initialing of a peace agreement in Washingtonwas portrayed not only as a national victory, but also as a contribution to broader regional peace.

The summit also highlighted economic integration as a central pillar of cooperation. President Aliyev described Azerbaijans role as a "vital bridge" in the East-West and North-South transport corridors, citing a 90% increase in cargo traffic along the Middle Corridor since 2022. Azerbaijans strategic investments in transportsuch as the Port of Alat, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, and nine international airportsposition the country as a regional logistics hub and connector between Central Asia and Europe.

The inauguration of the Zangazur Corridor was described as a geopolitical and economic milestone, simultaneously enhancing connectivity and reaffirming sovereignty. President Aliyev also called attention to the countrys growing energy portfolio, noting that Azerbaijan now supplies natural gas to 14 countries, and is prioritizing renewables with the aim of generating 40% of its energy from green sources by 2030.

This aligns closely with broader economic trends in the Turkic world. According to the Turkish Economic Review Q2 2025, prepared by the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication , OTS countries collectively achieved an average GDP growth of 5.4%, significantly outpacing the global average of 2.3%. Countries like Kyrgyzstan (11.7%), Uzbekistan (7.2%), and Turkmenistan (6.3%) posted particularly high growth, reflecting expanding investment in infrastructure, digital transformation, and energy diversification.

Azerbaijans economy grew by a modest 1.5%, yet its trade surplus of $920 million and growing investments in digital and green infrastructure underscore its strategic role as a stable and resource-rich partner within the bloc.

The digital and green transformation agenda

The summit reaffirmed the commitment of member states to digital transformation and sustainability. President Aliyev highlighted ongoing efforts in digital governance and smart city development, particularly in the liberated territories of Garabagh and Zangazur. These initiatives reflect a regional pivot toward innovation-driven growth, with OTS countries investing heavily in green energy and digital infrastructure.

Kazakhstan, for instance, has allocated $3.2 billion toward renewables, while Uzbekistan has raised $1 billion through green bonds. Azerbaijans integration into a green energy corridor linking Central Asia with Europe demonstrates how energy and digital agendas are being aligned across the region.

Beyond economics and security, institutional consolidation and cultural unity remain core to the OTSs identity. President Aliyev proposed commemorating the 100th anniversary of the First Turkological Congress in Baku next yeara symbolic gesture that reinforces cultural solidarity while linking it to the modern political project of Turkic unity.

President Aliyev also acknowledged the growing role of informal summits in facilitating strategic dialogue, referencing last years summit in Shusha and this years gathering in Budapest. These formats allow for more flexible and focused engagement among member states, and could evolve into a model for future regional diplomacy.

The 12th Summit of the OTS confirmed that the Turkic states are no longer content with symbolic alliancesthey are building a shared future rooted in tangible cooperation. From joint military exercises to integrated transport corridors and digital economies, the member states are acting with increasing coordination.

President Aliyev's speech captured the essence of this evolution: "Our common history and ethnic roots, our languages unite us like one family." But beyond rhetorical unity, the summit demonstrated actionable commitment across security, economic, and cultural domains.

In an era of geopolitical realignment and global uncertainty, the Organization of Turkic States is positioning itself not just as a cultural bloc, but as a strategic coalition with growing influence across Eurasia and beyond.
8 October 2025 13:43 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Azerbaijan and the Sultanate of Oman have explored avenues to enhance bilateral economic cooperation.

Azernews reports that Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov shared details of the discussion in a post on his official account on "X" (formerly Twitter).

"It was a pleasure to meet with H.E. Said bin Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Saqri, Minister of Economy of the Sultanate of Oman, during our business visit to the country," Jabbarov wrote.

"We reviewed opportunities to strengthen economic relations, unlock cooperation potential in trade and investment, and promote joint initiatives in energy, industrial zones, tourism, SMEs, and transit sectors. We also exchanged views on Azerbaijans strategic geographic location and its high transit efficiency, which offers favorable conditions for foreign investment," the post stated.
8 October 2025 13:00 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

On October 7, 2025, the Azerbaijani Embassy in Jordan, in collaboration with the Azerbaijan National Commission for UNESCO and under the patronage of Princess Dana Firas, President of the Petra National Trust and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, hosted the opening of the exhibition "Echoes of the Centuries: Azerbaijani Musical Instruments" in Amman, the capital of Jordan, Azernews reports.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from Jordan's governmental and cultural institutions, members of the diplomatic corps accredited in the Kingdom, as well as notable figures from the academic and artistic communities, and local public representatives.

In his speech at the opening, Eldar Salimov, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, emphasized that the exhibition was not only an art display but also a reflection of the Azerbaijani people's spirit, their centuries-old history, and rich cultural heritage. He noted that Azerbaijan's musical traditions date back to ancient times, including the musical and dance scenes depicted in the rock carvings of Gobustan and Gamygaya.

The Ambassador Salimov further pointed out that Azerbaijani music has always held an important place in the spiritual life of the people, and it is widely reflected in the works of great classical poets such as Nizami Ganjavi and Mohammad Fuzuli, as well as in "Book of Dede Qorqud" epic

He also mentioned prominent figures like Uzeyir Hajibayli, Fikrat Amirov, Gara Garayev, Muslum Magomayev, and other distinguished artists, whose work has played a key role in bridging Eastern and Western cultures.

The Ambassador said that each musical instrument on displaytar, kamancha, nagara, saz, qaval, qanun, oud, tutak, and zurna serves as a living carrier of national memory and is a manifestation of Azerbaijan's historical and spiritual identity.

Ambassador Salimov also noted that under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijani music culture has entered a new phase of development. He highlighted the restoration of the Kharibulbul Festival in the city of Shusha as a prime example of national cultural revival.

In conclusion, the Ambassador presented the musical instruments and Azerbaijani carpets, which represent the country's ancient craftsmanship, to the Petra National Trust as an official gift on behalf of the Azerbaijan National Commission for UNESCO.

He described this symbolic gesture as a reflection of Azerbaijan's contribution to the preservation and promotion of humanity's shared cultural heritage.

During the event, participants were treated to a performance by Jordan's "Duroob" group, featuring classical Azerbaijani musical pieces.
8 October 2025 18:27 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

To advance the restoration of the splendid Momine Khatun Mausoleum, a masterpiece of Azerbaijani national architecture, the management and experts from Atelier Erich Pummer GmbH have arrived in Nakhchivan, Azernews reports citing Nakhchivan Culture Ministry.

Geo-technical investigations are currently being conducted to study the condition of the ground around the mausoleum.

As a result of the drilling of engineering-geological wells, soil samples, both damaged and undamaged, will be taken and subjected to laboratory tests (granulometric composition, density, moisture, strength limit, consolidation coefficient). This will help determine the level and characteristics of the groundwater.

A technical report reflecting the results of the research and recommendations for ensuring the monument's stability will be prepared by the company and submitted to the Nakhchivan Culture Ministry.

The Momine Khatun Mausoleum is one of the most distinguished landmarks in Nakhchivan.

Built in 1186 by Ajemi Abubakiroglu, the mausoleum honors Momine Khatun, the wife of Shamsaddin Eldeniz, the founder of the Azerbaijan Atabaylar state.

It is believed that Shamsaddin Eldeniz, Momine Khatun, and their son Mahammad Jahan Pahlavan were buried within the mausoleum, though the headstones in the vault were looted and removed.

The mausoleum is adorned with intricate geometric patterns and verses from the Quran. An inscription in Kufic script on the monument's arch reads: *"We pass away, but only the wind is left behind us. We die, but only a work is left as a present."*

The Momine Khatun Mausoleum was likely once part of a madrassa. Drawings and photographs from the nineteenth century suggest it was part of a larger religious and educational complex.

The structure consists of both underground and aboveground sections. Inside the dome, four circular medallions feature the names of the Caliphs.

The interior of the mausoleum is circular in shape, with Momine Khatun's burial chamber located beneath the building, though access to it is no longer possible.

Four round medallions on the inner side of the dome bear inscriptions with the names of the Prophet Mohammed and the four Rashidun CaliphsAbu Bakr, Omar, Osman, Alias well as his sons Hassan and Hussein.

This exceptional example of Azerbaijani architectural heritage was added to UNESCO's World Heritage Tentative List in Need of Urgent Safeguarding on September 30, 1998.
8 October 2025 17:45 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The 11th Baku International Book Fair, organized by the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry, has officially wrapped up, Azernews reports.

The large-scale event, held at the Baku Expo Center, was organized under the theme "Techno-human: A Legend of Yesterday, A Phenomenon of Today."

The book fair drew a diverse crowd, featuring over 41 international organizations from 18 countries, as well as more than 100 local publishing houses, printing companies, and other industry-related institutions.

The event offered a great platform for writers, publishers, and readers to engage in meaningful dialogue about the future of books in an increasingly digital age.

Over the span of seven days, the 11th Baku International Book Fair hosted more than 250 events, including master classes aimed at both children and adults, presentations on inclusive literature, book signings, conferences, symposiums, and competitions.

There were also special sessions devoted to reading and music, adding a rich cultural layer to the event. Industry professionals had the opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss trends, and collaborate on future projects.

One of the highlights of the fair was the opportunity for visitors to explore the latest publications in the book market and engage directly with authors and publishers.

From books on inclusion to the latest works of fiction, attendees were able to immerse themselves in a wealth of literary experiences. In addition, the fair served as an important space for networking and collaboration, providing a valuable platform for the international book industry.

Among the participants were not only Azerbaijan's prominent writers and poets, including several People's Writers, but also esteemed foreign authors from countries such as Turkiye, Argentina, the United Kingdom, Lithuania, and Qatar.

The event featured a mix of well-known literary figures and emerging voices, offering something for every type of reader.

A particularly poignant moment came during the awards ceremony, where several individuals and organizations were recognized for their contributions to the book industry.

The Most Creative Stand Award was given to the Mayak Publishing House, while Chingiz Abdullayev received the Most Read Writer Award. The Honorary Writer Award was bestowed upon Rustam Behrudi, in recognition of his outstanding work in literature.

Reflecting the book fair's broader theme, "Techno-human: A Legend of Yesterday, A Phenomenon of Today," many discussions centered around how technology has transformed the way we read, write, and engage with stories.

As literature continues to adapt to the digital age, the book fair provided a valuable opportunity for creators and audiences alike to consider the intersection of technology and culture.

The 11th Baku International Book Fair, with its diverse events, global representation, and stimulating discussions, has reaffirmed its status as a premier cultural event in Azerbaijan.
8 October 2025 15:01 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

The Draconid meteor shower will be active on October 8-9, Azernews reports.

Department of Astrophysics at Baku State University (BSU) informs that the source of this meteor shower is the 21P/GiacobiniZinner comet.

Discovered in 1900 by French astronomer Michel Giacobini and re-observed in 1913 by German astronomer Ernst Zinner, this comet orbits the Sun every 6.6 years.

As the comet releases dust and gas during each orbit, which intersects Earth's orbit, we observe it as a meteor shower.

Unlike other meteor showers, Draconids move very slowly and leave bright, long-lasting trails across the sky. Typically, their activity is low, with around five meteors visible per hour.

The speed of Draconid meteors is quite slow, approximately 20 kilometers per hour.

However, throughout history, the Draconids have occasionally been marked by surprise bursts: for instance, observers recorded thousands of meteors per hour in 1926, 1933, 1946, and 2011.

This year, the peak activity of the Draconid meteor shower is expected to occur on the evening of October 8-9, particularly between 19:30 and 23:00.
8 October 2025 12:17 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

A delegation led by Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandrokovic, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, paid tribute to National Leader Heydar Aliyev at the Alley of Honor in Baku, Azernews reports.

The delegation laid a wreath at Heydar Aliyevs grave in memory of the architect and founder of the modern independent Azerbaijani state.

Later, the Croatian delegation visited the Alley of Martyrs, where they honored the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for Azerbaijans independence and territorial integrity and laid a wreath at the Eternal Torch monument.

During the visit, the guests also viewed the panorama of Baku from its highest point and were briefed on the history of the Alley of Martyrs, as well as the citys ongoing development and reconstruction efforts.
8 October 2025 12:37 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The state has ensured comprehensive conditions for the free and safe activity of all religious confessions, including Christian communities, in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports.

This was stated by Ramin Mammadov, Chairman of the State Committee for Work with Religious Organizations, during his visit to the United States at a meeting with Utah Senate President Adam Stewart.

During the meeting, it was noted that Azerbaijan-US relations have entered a new and promising stage. Confidence was expressed that the Joint Declaration signed by the leaders of Azerbaijan, the United States, and Armenia in Washington on August 8 represents a historic milestone in the peace process, contributing to interfaith harmony and coexistence.

Ramin Mammadov emphasized that promoting an environment of tolerance and ensuring peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths is a key direction of Azerbaijans state policy.

As a clear example, the official registration of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Azerbaijan demonstrates the states commitment to interfaith tolerance and equal treatment, he noted.

The Committee Chairman also invited the President of the Utah Senate to visit Azerbaijan, which Adam Stewart gratefully accepted. Stewart praised Azerbaijans multicultural values and interfaith harmony, acknowledging President Ilham Aliyevs contribution to preserving religious tolerance and cultural diversity.

Utah Senators Kirk Collymore and Mike McKell also participated in the meeting, where both sides exchanged views on strengthening cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States in promoting dialogue among religions and cultures.
8 October 2025 13:01 (UTC+04:00)

On October 8, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a Croatian delegation led by Gordan Jandrokovic, Speaker of the Parliament, Azernews reports.

Noting that this was his first visit to Azerbaijan, the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament stated that the beauty of the capital Baku had made a deep impression on him.

Gordan Jandrokovic congratulated President Ilham Aliyev on his contributions and service to the Azerbaijani state and people. He also extended his congratulations regarding the outcomes achieved in Washington toward advancing the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Stating that relations between Azerbaijan and Croatia are at a high level, Jandrokovic emphasized the existing opportunities for further expanding interparliamentary ties. He noted the activities of interparliamentary friendship groups in both countries and underlined the importance of strengthening cooperation between various parliamentary committees.

Expressing gratitude for the congratulations, President Ilham Aliyev highlighted the historic significance of the agreements reached between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The head of state praised the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Croatia. He underscored that Croatia has consistently supported the development of Azerbaijan's relations with the European Union and NATO.

During the meeting, they stated that bilateral relations are developing based on principles of friendship and partnership with ample opportunities existing for cooperation in energy, investments, tourism, and other fields. They also discussed the prospects for advancing relations within international parliamentary organizations.
8 October 2025 14:43 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Azerbaijans Defense Ministry hosted the First Staff Talks between the defense ministries of Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry.

The meeting, held at the International Military Cooperation Department of the Azerbaijani Defence Ministry, brought together representatives from various divisions of both countries defense institutions.

During the talks, the two sides reviewed the current state of bilateral military relations and identified new areas of cooperation. As a result, a draft plan for bilateral military cooperation for 2026 was prepared.

Both delegations delivered presentations outlining the organizational structures of their respective defense ministries and the ongoing reforms being implemented within them.

The sides expressed confidence that continued military collaboration between Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina will serve the mutual interests of both countries and contribute to the further strengthening of their partnership.
8 October 2025 16:43 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

On October 8, 2025, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov received Diego Martinez-Belio, Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, who was on an official visit to Baku, Azernews reports.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, the meeting focused on the current state and future prospects of bilateral relations, emphasizing the importance of political dialogue, and cooperation in economic, energy, tourism, transport, humanitarian, and cultural fields, as well as discussions on regional developments.

Minister Bayramov highlighted that ties between Azerbaijan and Spain are based on principles of friendship and mutual respect, and underlined the importance of strengthening dialogue and collaboration within international organizations. He noted the significance of recent meetings between the leaders of both countries  held during COP29 in Baku and later in Tirana  as milestones in expanding cooperation.

Both sides also discussed the outcomes of the first meeting of the Strategic Economic Dialogue, held in Baku in March 2025, describing it as an important platform for boosting economic interaction. The talks additionally touched upon AzerbaijanEU partnership, energy security, green energy initiatives, and cooperation in transport and communication projects.

Minister Bayramov briefed the Spanish delegation on the new realities in the post-conflict period, the ongoing peace process, the results of the historic Washington meeting, and Azerbaijans consistent efforts toward sustainable development and stability in the region.

The meeting concluded with an exchange of views on international and regional issues of mutual interest.

On the same day, the next round of political consultations between the two foreign ministries was held. The Azerbaijani delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Fariz Rzayev, while the Spanish side was represented by State Secretary Diego Martinez-Belio.
8 October 2025 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

Netflix has launched a thought-provoking new documentary series titled The Last Words of a Celebrity, offering some of the worlds most influential figures a final opportunity to share their stories, values, and reflections. Hosted by Emmy Award-winning producer Brad Falchuk, the series features intimate, in-depth interviews filmed under a unique condition: they are only to be released posthumously, Azernews reports.

The debut episode is a powerful tribute to the remarkable life of Dr. Jane Goodall  renowned primatologist, ethologist, environmentalist, and humanitarian  who passed away of natural causes on October 1st this year in Los Angeles at the age of 91. Celebrated globally for her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees, Dr. Goodall was also a passionate advocate for animal welfare and environmental education, inspiring generations to rethink their relationship with nature.

Inspired by the acclaimed Danish TV format Det Sidste Ord (The Last Word), the show breaks away from the conventions of traditional documentaries. Each interview is conducted in complete privacy, with only Brad Falchuk and the guest present, captured solely through discreet, remote-controlled cameras. This minimalist setup fosters raw honesty, deep introspection, and emotional vulnerability.

Falchuk describes the project as moving, unconventional, and transcendent, adding:

Its unlike any other interview format. Its not just about legacy  its about truth, closure, and having the final say.

The series also explores how people confront mortality, legacy, and the desire to shape how they are remembered  a theme rarely tackled so candidly in mainstream media.

Falchuk serves as the executive producer of The Last Words of a Celebrity, and the premiere episode featuring Dr. Jane Goodall is now available to stream exclusively on Netflix.
Plaintiffs appealing a recent ruling in a North Carolina redistricting lawsuit are asking the full 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals to hear the case. They also ask appellate judges to expedite the case as candidate filing approaches for the state's 2026 elections.US District Judge James Dever ruled on Sept. 30 that the North Carolina General Assembly did not violate constitutional restrictions against racial gerrymandering when it drew two challenged state Senate districts in northeastern North Carolina.Plaintiffs Rodney Pierce and Moses Matthews issued a notice of appeal the following day. The 4th Circuit normally would assign a three-judge panel to hear the case. Pierce and Matthews filed a petition Monday for an en banc hearing involving all eligible 4th Circuit judges.Pierce is a Democratic state representative who was elected to office after filing the suit in 2023. Republican state legislative leaders have defended the challenged maps against the lawsuit in court.Appellate judges appointed by Democratic presidents outnumber those appointed by Republicans on the 4th Circuit.the plaintiffs' lawyers wrote.The state Senate map split northeastern North Carolina'sof voters, according to the court filing.the plaintiffs' lawyers wrote. Dever'sruling wouldSection 2 of the federal Voting Rights Act.the petition continued.Dever foundhe wrote in a 126-page order.The trial judge had conducted a five-day trial in the case in February.Dever wrote, citing the 1994 court precedent Johnson v. DeGrandy.The order also referenced a 1986 precedent.Dever wrote.the judge explained.Dever noted the success of black candidates in existing North Carolina districts with black voting-age populations below 50%.he wrote.the court order continued.Dever wrote.Dever added.Dever's order chided Reives for comments he made about Pittman's 2024 electoral victory during the trial. Reivesby suggesting that Pittman might not count as a black candidate for the purposes of a racial gerrymandering case, Dever explained.the judge explained. Dever cited US Rep. Don Davis' success in Congressional District 1, along with Reps. Alma Adams in District 12 and Valerie Foushee in District 4.Dever wrote.the judge explained.The plaintiffs failed to meet standards set by the 1986 Gingle precedent, Dever wrote.the judge determined.Dever rejected the plaintiffs' argument that the challenged Senate districts illegally split ain northeastern North Carolina.he wrote.Dever noted.the judge added.Dever wrote.he wrote.he explained.Dever wrote.
Unionists hit out at regulatory absurdity after lawmakers back ban on words linked to meat

A loophole in the Brexit treaty means that Greggs vegan sausage roll will escape the possible order.

Vegan sausage rolls will have to be renamed in Northern Ireland after the European Parliament voted against the selling of plant-based food under meaty terms.

Meat-free products in Northern Ireland will have to be sold under new terms, such as tubes or discs following Wednesdays vote.

It was backed by a majority of conservative EU lawmakers, as well as some liberal members, to appease farmers.

The ban will apply because of the Windsor Framework, which commits Northern Ireland to following EU rules not followed by Britain, including on food labelling.

Unionist politicians complained before the vote that it was evidence of Northern Ireland being forced to adhere to rules it never backed.

Timothy Gaston

TUV MLA Timothy Gaston told The Daily Telegraph: Once again, Northern Ireland finds itself bound by rules it did not make, subject to decisions in which no Northern Ireland representative has a vote.

While the European Parliament debates what a sausage roll can be called, businesses here must brace for yet another layer of regulation that applies in Belfast but not in Birmingham.

UUP MP Robin Swann told the newspaper: This regulatory absurdity highlights the urgent need to scrap the Irish Sea border and ensure NI businesses operate under UK, not EU, law.

For those who remember the 1984 episode of the satirical television programme Yes Minister, the plotline in which the EU would require the renaming of the British sausage as an emulsified, high-fat offal tube seems to be fast becoming a reality.

Robin Swann

The Assembly can delay the application of EU law by using the Stormont brake, designed to block, at least temporarily, the application of a rule if it has a significant impact specific to everyday life in Northern Ireland in a way that is liable to persist.

On the two previous occasions that the brake has been tested, however, Westminster has denied its use, claiming it did not meet the threshold.

It is also unclear whether there is sufficient opposition to this new rule within the Assembly.

Celine Imart, the French MEP who put forward the amendment, said: A steak is made of meat, full stop. Using these names only for real meat keeps labels honest, protects farmers and preserves Europes culinary traditions.

Plant-based burgers and steaks are also affected. The list of 29 forbidden words for plant-based products includes beef, chicken, pork, bacon and descriptive terms such as breast, wings, drumsticks or ribs.

French MEP Celine Imart

Dairy products are already protected under the same regulation. Why not meat? Because lets be clear: this vagueness around designations is no accident, Imart told Euractiv, accusing certain NGOs of seeking to impose an ideological vision of food.

Imart said meat-related terms were all too often usurped, and that stricter rules were needed ahead of the imminent arrival of synthetic meats.



Rafael Pinto, senior policy manager at the European Vegetarian Union, said there was abundant data from several EU countries showing that consumers are not confused by the use of these terms and are not buying plant-based products by accident.

He continued: This proposal has nothing to do with consumer protection and transparency. Artificially restricting the use of meat terms would be a waste of public resources and an undue restriction of European entrepreneurship and innovation.

A loophole in the Brexit treaty means that Greggs vegan sausage roll will escape the possible order.

NI restaurant crowned Champion of Champions in prestigious UK awards

The name of one vegan sausage roll will nevertheless remain unchanged in Northern Ireland despite the potential ruling: a loophole in the Brexit treaty means that Greggs product will escape the possible order.

The loophole allows for certain products made in Britain to be sold under their original name. The pastries are made in Britain before being shipped to 24 bakeries in Northern Ireland.

They cross the Irish Sea border using the green lane, which means they are deemed not at risk of crossing into Ireland.
Swedish furniture giant IKEA is set to open its first pop-up store in Northern Ireland next month at a popular Co Down shopping centre.

Set to open at The Boulevard, the 250sqm pop-up store will provide customers with a taste of IKEA's affordable design-led solutions for the home, tailored to everyday needs.

A dedicated selection of 150 home furnishing accessories  including kitchen, bedroom, and living room essentials  will be available for immediate takeaway.

IKEA was founded in 1943 by Ingvar Kamprad in Almhult, Sweden.

The name IKEA is an acronym derived from Kamprad's initials, the family farm Elmtaryd, and the nearby village Agunnaryd. Initially, IKEA sold small items like pens and wallets, but it expanded into furniture in the 1950s.

It opened the first and only store in Northern Ireland in Belfast in 2007 near the Belfast City Airport.

In addition to the product offering, customers will have access to free, personalised kitchen and wardrobe planning services as part of the new pop-up.

Ikea will host a pop up next month.

The store said the services will give customers the tools and confidence to turn their home projects into reality, all while staying within their budget.

The site will also host a pick up point enabling customers to collect IKEA online purchases closer to home.

This new location will is also set to complement IKEAs existing Collect Near You points in Ballymena, Antrim, Limavady, and Dungannon.

Michaela Quinlan, Market Manager at IKEA Belfast, said: We are excited to welcome customers to our first pop-up in Northern Ireland. This is not only an opportunity to meet new customers where they are but also a chance to make IKEA even more accessible.

"Whether you're planning a dream kitchen or picking up everyday essentials, were here to help customers across Northern Ireland create the spaces they love.

The addition of our Collect Near You point at The Boulevard is also an exciting step toward making it even easier for customers to shop with us, allowing them to order from our entire range online and conveniently collect their purchases nearby.

IKEA's first NI pop-up opens in Banbridge next month

Belfast History Explained: Who was Mary Ann McCracken?

Paul McCann, Asset Manager at Lotus Property (owners of The Boulevard) said: Its fantastic to welcome IKEA to The Boulevard as part of their first pop-up initiative in Northern Ireland.

"The addition of a global brand like IKEA not only enhances the retail experience for our visitors but also reinforces The Boulevard as a dynamic destination for shopping.

"Were confident this arrival will be hugely popular with our loyal customers and visitors from across the region, especially the busy Belfast-to-Dublin corridor.

IKEAs pop-up store at The Boulevard will open on Thursday 13th November and operate Monday to Wednesday from 10:00-18:00, Thursday to Friday from 10:00-21:00, Saturday from 09:00-18:00 and Sunday from 13:00-18:00.
The owner of a popular Northern Ireland eatery has said he is so proud to have received an award at a competition highlighting the best of Indian restaurants across the UK.

Nu Delhi in Belfast was crowned the Champion of Champions in the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards (ARTA) in Londons Hilton at Park Lane.

The ARTAs, dubbed the Oscars of the curry industry, celebrate the best in UK-based Indian cuisines.

Nu Delhi is the first Northern Irish restaurant to be awarded the competitions highest title.

I was humbled and surprised as well, but I was very pleased, said Nu Delhi owner, Nazim Din after Monday nights win.

Nu Delhi in Belfast

Mr Din said the whole team was shocked but honoured when they were announced as the competitions overall winners.

I was so proud of my team, the whole team works so hard, we all work really hard. Thats hospitality.

Everyone works very hard, everyday is a learning day, so it was nice to be given that kind of gratitude, he said.

Mr Din never expected Nu Delhi to be recognised on such a large platform.

We have won the regional category previously but to win the champion of champions is just something else - they call it the Oscars of the curry industry so it is a bit of a big deal, he said.

Mr Din is hopeful the win can elevate his restaurant as a must-dine experience for foodies across the UK.

We are quite lucky where we are, as we are close to a lot of the hotels in Belfast so we get a lot of international customers coming into the restaurant quite regularly, so we do see a lot of different people from a lot of different walks of life.

But hopefully the award means more people are encouraged, when they do come to Belfast and see our lovely city, they are encouraged to come through our doors and see what Nu Delhi has to offer.

The team at Nu Delhi being crowned the Champion of Champions at the ARTA in London

Despite the struggles facing the hospitality industry, Mr Din said he is proud to work in the industry.

It can be a very hard industry, but I personally am very proud to be a part of the Belfast hospitality industry - its a great industry to be a part of, he said.

Mr Din has big plans for Nu Delhi following the win.

We are going to go onwards and upwards, he added.

We are looking into a new venue at the minute - we are hoping to expand but well see how that goes.

In terms of internally within the restaurant we are working on expanding the menu, we are coming out with a new menu in the new year - a lot of work is going into the menu, we want something for everyone so hopefully our customers enjoy it, he said.

Mr Din also thanked those in Belfast and further afield that continue to support Nu Delhi.

We really do have to thank our customers and all the people that support us because we wouldnt have this without them, he said.
If Cushnahan was being paid by Cerberus, wed never have done 1.1bn deal, Namas ex-chairman tells jury

I would have had no doubt that we would not have gone ahead with the sale to Cerberus if Cushnahan stood to secretly pocket millions, Frank Daly tells court

NAMA accused Frank Cushnahan at Belfast Crown Court today. Photo: Alan Lewis/PhotopressBelfast.co.uk

Sam McBride Wed 8 Oct 2025 at 18:52

The US vulture fund that bought Namas Northern Ireland loans would likely never have been allowed to do so if it had been known that Frank Cushnahan stood to make money from the deal, Namas former chairman has said.
Music and Gigs

I was pigeonholed into a genre that I didnt get to choose: Singer Ella opens up about breaking away from dance music
Inquest told killer likely suffering from drug-induced psychosis

A murderer who died while serving a life sentence in prison had developed romantic delusions towards one of his mental health carers and was exhibiting other bizarre behaviours, an inquest heard on Tuesday.

Belfast man Jason Weir (33) was found dead in his cell at Magilligan on February 9, 2021, nine years into a life sentence for the 2012 murder of Philip Strickland, near Comber, and was due to be released the following year.
The Biscuit Factory in Little Donegall Street will add almost 800 new student beds to Belfast city centre when it opens in September next year. Image: Digital Aspects

The latest Belfast student accommodation block is on schedule to open next September.

A 724-bed development at Little Donegall Street has officially topped out.

Biscuit Factory, a 50m project, comprises a mix of studios and flats across 10 storeys, complemented by modern social and wellbeing amenities.

Located near Ulster University, it enhances the citys housing options as demand for student living space continues to grow.

Student accommodation operator, Fresh, will manage the site, which is expected to be completed in June 2026.

Named in a nod to its history, the development occupies the site of the former Marsh & Co biscuit factory, established in 1881. It was run by John Marsh, while his brother, Joseph, the architect of the building, later became proprietor of the Ulster Tin Company.

Marsh & Co closed in 1928, and the building was heavily damaged in the 1970s.

Significant investment from Lacuna Developments has breathed new life into the site. Featuring thoughtfully designed interiors, modern amenities, and comfortable living spaces, the development offers an unparalleled experience for students.

Ciaran Leahy, contracts manager at construction firm Graham, said: Biscuit Factory is a fantastic addition to Belfasts student accommodation, designed to provide modern, comfortable, and purpose-built homes for todays students.

We have worked closely with the project team to ensure this complex sets a new standard for student living. Its exciting to see how it will enhance the city and create a vibrant community where students can truly thrive.

Anthony Best, managing director of Lacuna Developments, added: The topping out of Biscuit Factory marks a major milestone in bringing new life to a site with a rich history.

Transforming the area into a modern, high-quality student accommodation, the development celebrates the sites past while providing contemporary, welcoming spaces for students to live, study and connect.

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Sam Scott, managing director at Fresh, said: It is great to see Biscuit Factory taking the next steps towards opening. This is an exciting time as we prepare to launch Biscuit Factory for both students currently studying and those looking to make Belfast their home in September 2026.

"Working with LDS Devco and Graham, were proud to be bringing this property to life, not just by creating a brand that reflects the sites heritage, but by also delivering a modern and vibrant offering that will shape the student experience enabling students from all over the globe to come together under one roof.

The Biscuit Factory in Little Donegall Street will add almost 800 new student beds to Belfast city centre when it opens in September next year. Image: Digital Aspects

Belfast History Explained: Who was Mary Ann McCracken?

Brian McCracken, funding partner, said: I am very excited and proud to have got this large best-in-class project out of the ground which will be a great asset for the future student experience in Belfast.
The head of the Western Health Trust has admitted there were flaws in our planned process to close emergency general services in Co Fermanagh, and we should have spent more time engaging with the local community.

The Trust today formally closed its public consultation on changes to emergency general surgery (EGS) services at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH) and said it will now begin developing a long-term vision for health and social care in Fermanagh and west Tyrone.

The move follows a direction from the Health Minister in July, who instructed the Trust to end the consultation process and instead produce a plan outlining how the SWAH will meet the health needs of its population in the years ahead.

Chief Executive Neil Guckian said the Trust had reflected deeply on the concerns raised during the paused consultation.

Western Trust Chief Executive Neil Guckian

Since pausing the Public Consultation, we have reflected on what we have heard and it is important that I acknowledge the tremendous depth of feeling and concerns raised by people who have written to us and spoken to us directly, he said.

As Chief Executive, I accept that there were flaws in our planned process. The previous process from the publics perspective felt rushed and we should have spent more time engaging with the local community before the launch of the consultation process.

The timing of the public events was wrong, and we underestimated the number of people who would want to attend our public meeting in Fermanagh.

We have apologised for these shortfalls and the fact that they caused a lot of unnecessary anxiety and uncertainty. We will learn from this moving forward as we develop our plans for the period ahead.

Mr Guckian said the Trust remained steadfast in its commitment to the long-term sustainability of SWAH as part of Northern Irelands regional hospital network.

As Chief Executive, I accept that there were flaws in our planned process. The previous process from the publics perspective felt rushed and we should have spent more time engaging with the local community before the launch of the consultation process.

The new work  Future Health and Care Services in Fermanagh and West Tyrone  will involve staff, trade unions, elected representatives and community groups such as Save Our Acute Services (SOAS). The Trust also confirmed it will explore collaboration with the Health Service Executive (HSE) in the Republic of Ireland.

While the new planning process is under way, the temporary suspension of Emergency General Surgery (EGS) at SWAH, introduced in December 2022, will remain in place.

Mr Guckian said independent analysis showed that since the temporary changes, patient outcomes in emergency general surgery across the Western Trust had improved, with decreased mortality, lower complication rates, and fewer readmissions.

He added: We want to reassure the public that the clinical pathways in place are in line with all required clinical standards and they continue to be monitored carefully.

Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Pat Cullen  the former General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing  welcomed the decision to end the consultation but urged the Trust to provide an urgent update on the new plan.

Sinn Fein MP Pat Cullen at Stormont Parliament buildings (Photo by Kevin Scott)

The Sinn Fein MP said: It is the right decision to close the public consultation, a consultation that was seriously flawed and lacking in public engagement and confidence.

However, the latest update from the Trust does little to alleviate the anxieties of people in Fermanagh and South Tyrone citing no clear timeframe for a final Vision Plan.

The lack of timescales for a final Vision Plan adds to the growing concerns. People in Fermanagh and West Tyrone are left with no reassurance about the future of emergency general surgery.

To have a temporary service withdrawal in place since December 2022 is totally unacceptable, she said.

We urge the Trust to move at pace with this plan. It is urgent that the fears and anxieties of our constituents are alleviated.

She also welcomed confirmation that SWAH will remain an acute hospital with a 24/7 Type 1 Emergency Department, maternity services, intensive care and resuscitation facilities.

Stock image

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Mrs Cullen further called on the Trust to publish the findings showing improved outcomes: In the interest of openness and transparency, I call on the Chief Executive to publish the independent analysis around this as well the data on recruitment efforts of permanent, full-time consultant surgeons, to work specifically in SWAH.

Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Jemma Dolan added: The Trust is now focused on developing a Vision Plan that is informed by a population needs assessment. This work should have been completed prior to any previous consultation and decision-making that led to the temporary withdrawal of emergency general surgery.

The SWAH was commissioned on the basis of cross-border collaboration, it is vital that this is implemented as a matter of urgency.
Firefighters at the scene of the blaze in Coleraine (Photo by Kevin Scott)

Firefighters were at the scene of a large shed blaze in Co Londonderry last night.

The fire is believed to have begun at a pig shed on the outskirts of Coleraine at around 8pm.

At least six Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) appliances and 51 firefighters were dealing with the incident.

It is not yet known if any animals have died as a result of the incident.

Firefighters at the scene of the blaze in Coleraine (Photo by Kevin Scott)

News Catch Up - Sunday 5 October

An NIFRS spokesperson said last night: Following an initial call at 8pm on Tuesday 7th October 2025, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service are in attendance at an agricultural fire at Kilmaconnell Road, Coleraine.

"Six fire appliances and 51 firefighters are in attendance supported by a Command Support Unit and other specialist vehicles.

"Members of the public are asked to please avoid the area help support firefighting operations.

Local residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed.
Folk group goes down a storm in French capital

Actress Ariana Greenblatt arriving at the show (Photo by Alexander McQueen)

The Armagh Rhymers in Paris (Photo by) Alexander McQueen

The Armagh Rhymers have made their debut at Paris Fashion Week, appearing in Alexander McQueens new collection.

Their famous willow and straw masks were seen on the catwalks of the French capital on Sunday evening.

The ready-to-wear collection they appeared in was inspired by the countryside and the natural environment, nodding to creative director Sean McGirrs Irish heritage.

It was also inspired by The Wicker Man, his favourite film.

His creations often draw on Irish folklore, with a range earlier this year referencing banshees.

For his latest collection, he combined the tradition of mumming with fashion.

McGirr teamed up with the Armagh Rhymers to create a straw sculpture made in Armagh which was used as the centrepiece of the show.

More than 8,000 metres of hessian was used to dress the set, which Vogue described as a cross between a pagan festival and a rave site.

In collaboration with Cottage Corn Craft Armagh, the rhymers created traditional harvest knots which were used as invitations for more than 500 guests.

The love tokens were made in Armagh by straw craft artist Moira Burns, combining local craft with high fashion.

As part of the project, Cottage Corn Craft Armagh and the rhymers held a harvest knot workshop in Aonach Mhacha, an Irish language and cultural hub, in a bid to help preserve the craft for generations to come.

Actress Ariana Greenblatt arriving at the show (Photo by Alexander McQueen)

The folk group has been keeping the tradition of Irish mumming and rhyming alive through performances and workshops for the past 50 years.

Its masks have graced stages at the Glastonbury Festival, been used in performances in China and the US, and entertained famous people including Seamus Heaney.

The fashion house approached the group about a possible collaboration earlier this year.

Clare Jennings, the rhymers programme manager, said the move into high fashion was natural.

It was a quick turnaround when they approached us only a few months ago, but its been very exciting, she added.

The collection featured a lot of floral prints and references to insects and things like that.

So, it was a good fit [with the group], and it also referenced McQueens previous, nature-inspired collections.

It is the first time the Armagh Rhymers have collaborated with a high fashion brand, but they have worked with artists previously.

Earlier this year, the group collaborated with sculptor Tim Shaw who on six bronze pieces capturing the rhymers which were featured in a show at the Royal Academy of Arts in London.

The harvest knot invitations

These collaborations brought us pretty naturally into the high fashion world, [and] this collaboration with Alexander McQueen is just another artistic realm for us, Clare said.

It brings together local performers, local heritage and local craftspeople on an international stage.

Dara Valley, the co-founder and artistic director of the Armagh Rhymers, said the group was delighted to have the opportunity to work with a world-leading fashion house.

He added: For generations, our masked tradition has connected the natural world with the other realm, exploring the connection between myth and reality, life and death, half human, half beast.

To partner with McQueen is to bring this folklore to life with a creative partner renowned for their theatrical spectacle.

[This is an incredible opportunity to bring unique and important Irish culture and heritage to a global audience.
The scene of the robbery in Aughnacloy.

A masked gang is believed to have stolen more than 1m during a heist at a Co Tyrone filling station.

Police and gardai are continuing to investigate after men wearing boiler suits and masks threatened security staff at a cash machine in Aughnacloy on Wednesday.

It came as a retail chief warned such attacks were contributing to a decline in ATM availability.

The incident, which detectives believe bore the hallmarks of an organised crime gang, took place when the security firm personnel were attending an ATM on the Caledon Road.

The amount of money stolen is believed to be more than 1m, the BBC reported.

Security staff attending to the ATM were threatened before the gang swiped the money and made off from the scene in a dark coloured vehicle.

Police said the incident had been shocking experience for the staff involved, and appealed for dash-cam footage to help the investigation.

They added they are working alongside An Garda Siochana.

Armed robbers wearing boiler suits and masks stole money from a security van in County Tyrone. Photo: Pacemaker

Detective Inspector McCamley said: All information relating to this armed robbery is needed. This would have been a shocking experience for the staff involved.

"This masked group had ordered staff into the ATM bunker then removed cash boxes from the security van and the cash machine.

They then made off from the scene in the direction of Armagh in a dark-coloured Audi Q7 with a significant sum of cash. As part of our enquiries, we are liaising with An Garda Siochana.

A spokesperson for Pivotal Sec Plus, whose van was robbed, said: "Our greatest concern is for our employees following this frightening experience, and we are working to support their well-being."

"We shall continue to assist the PSNI during the investigation," they added.

Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts called the incident a direct attack on the community.

I think that the bigger picture in all of this means that communities have less and less access to cash and will have to travel further and further to access cash, Roberts added. Because obviously the bank network is not there in the way it was. It has a much wider impact than just this robbery on the store.

As investigations continue, gardai looking at whether the same gang orchestrated a recent overnight raid on an ATM in Clones 30 miles away.

That incident came after thieves targeted an independently owned machine at the towns former Ulster Bank building shortly before 2am on August 1.

It is understood the gang wrenched open a steel security door in order to try and secure access to the ATM.

Although the ATM itself was left intact, an undisclosed sum of cash was taken in the heist.

The scene of the robbery in Aughnacloy.

Belfast History Explained: The Story of the River Farset

Gardai have been focusing much of those inquiries on a Ford Transit van and silver Audi which were spotted in and around the scene of the robbery.

Sources believe the episode may also be linked to a similar incident just days previously in Jonesborough, a small village along the Armagh-Louth border.

Part of that belief is based on the involvement of the Audi which senior investigators believe was also used in the Jonesborough raid.

Sinn Fein Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Colm Gildernew branded this weeks raid in Aughnacloy as disgraceful.

My thoughts are with the workers caught up in it, who will no doubt be left frightened. Anyone with information should contact the police, he said.

PSNI Chief Inspector Ryan McConville said: It was reported at around 6.40am that a short time earlier a group of males, wearing boiler suits and masks, armed with suspected firearms threatened security staff who had been attending an ATM at the premises on the Caledon Road.

The group ordered staff into the ATM bunker then removed cash boxes from the security van and the ATM before making off from the scene in a dark coloured vehicle, with a significant sum of cash.
A child has been taken to hospital following a road traffic collision in Lisburn.

In a statement, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said it received a 999 call at 15:12 on Wednesday 8th October, following reports of an RTC in the Pond Park Road Area, Lisburn.

Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) stock image. Picture: Aodhan Roberts/Belfast Telegraph

News Catch Up - Sunday 5 October

"Following assessment and initial treatment at scene, one patient has been taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast for sick children by Ambulance.

In a statement, a police spokesperson said: Police attended the scene of a collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian in Pond Park Road area of Lisburn this afternoon, Wednesday 8th October.

Around 3.15pm, it was reported that a teenager had been in collision with a car's wing mirror. Minor injury sustained.
Host Chris Buckler said it was awful there was agreement that murders were justified in this place.

A former Sinn Fein MP says she believes there was a justification for murders during the Troubles.

Loyalist activist Jamie Bryson also agreed with murders during that period.

The pair were speaking in a new BBC podcast, Borderland  UK or a United Ireland.

They were directly asked, do you think murder was justified?

Michelle Gildernew, a former Fermanagh-South Tyrone MP, said the Army had helped to spark violence.

She said: I wish it had been avoided, but I think the British Army brought a war to our streets and the repercussions of that were as a result of what happened.

But I also think that if we're not talking about history, a few miles from where I live there was a bonfire (in Moygashel) with a boat full of migrants on it burned

Mr Bryson, who previously claimed the UVF was a counter-terrorist organisation, then interrupted to say Ms Gildernew had not answered the question.

He pressed the former MP, saying hed be honest too.

In response, she said: Yes, I do (think murder was justified).

Jamie Bryson.

Mr Bryson responded: Thats fine, at least we can be honest with each other. I believe loyalists had a right to do the same the other way. Thats fair enough, at least were honest.

The host, Chris Buckler, said it was awful that there was agreement between the pair that murders were justified in this place.

Mr Bryson then responded saying he thinks the murder of IRA people was justified, yes, not civilians.

Ian Paisley, a former DUP MP for North Antrim, remained quiet during the exchange, but then said he was really interested in listening to the discussion.

He added: We can spend the next four episodes of this podcast having a grievance culture and discussing our historical culture  to me, we all know that, and we all know the buttons to push.

The real issue is how do we make Britain on our British link better.

The Grand Secretary of the Orange Order, Rev Mervyn Gibson, said he has spoken for several years about moving forward, appealing to a new generation that has different values.

He added: We've defended Britishness, we defended it against the IRA and won. So moving forward, we need to promote Britishness.

On the issue of a border poll, Mr Bryson stated: I personally would never accept a united Ireland because I think some things are more fundamental than that.

And the only difference is, look, I'm honest enough about that, you know.

Gerry Adams, Michelle Gildernew and Martin McGuinness outside Downing Street in 2005

Ms Gildernew then put it to Mr Bryson that he also said he was a democrat, and asked if he would accept the outcome of the border poll.

He responded: No, I've said before that fundamentally there's some things which are just more important than that.

The former Sinn Fein MP then asked if Mr Bryson would go back to your buddies in the UVF and say, right lads, lets get

Mr Bryson hit back: What do you mean about my buddies in the UVF, I havent started talking to you about your buddies in the IRA.

Ms Gildernew said she wasnt in the IRA and Mr Bryson said that he wasnt in the UVF.

Michelle Gildernew and Jamie Bryson.

Adams: Its a regret that end to armed campaign took decades to bring about

They both accused the other of having close links, with Mr Bryson saying that when Ms Gildernew was his age, she was going to Downing Street for negotiations with Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness.

I was going with the leadership of Sinn Fein, she stated.

Mr Buckler then said listeners will be very concerned by what Mr Bryson said, because they will take it as a threat, that suggestion that if there was to be a border poll that some groups might take up arms again.

He added, that will scare them and they'll also think it's really a responsible language.

In response, Mr Bryson said: Well, it's not irresponsible to tell the truth.

And I'm not saying; nobody has said that to me, but I'm just saying, look what happened in this community whenever a large section of the community refused to accept the legitimacy of the state.

Look what they've done for 30 years.

Ms Gildernew said: Youre talking about incitement violence now, Jamie?

He denied inciting violence saying there was no causal link between what hed said and threatening violence.

He said people may engage in civil disobedience or refuse to recognise the legitimacy of the state, saying Ms Gildernew doesn't recognise the state of Northern Ireland.

Speaking during the podcast, Mr Paisley said he was open to conversations about a united Ireland, but has not been convinced by any argument put forward.

Following the release of the podcast the DUP made clear that Mr Paisley is appearing in this series in a personal capacity.

"As Ian is no longer in public office, he is entitled to give his own views but he is not appearing on behalf of the party, a statement said.

The Democratic Unionist Party is not interested in engaging or being persuaded on the so-called merits of a United Ireland or New Ireland or any other label those who want to pursue that aspiration might put on their latest project.

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We believe in the Union and we are not open to taking part in discussions about a new Ireland and we will not be enticed by honeyed words designed to convey an impression that Unionists would be welcomed and openly accommodated in a United Ireland.

"A cursory examination of how Unionists are treated when they find themselves in a minority tells us all we need to know and gives the lie to the narrative being pursued.
Executive faces calls for additional support as charity sounds alarm

'The whole world is not corrupt' NI woman shares personal experience with homelessness

An NI woman has shared her horrific experience of homelessness, during which she was the only woman living in an all-male hostel.

Laoise McDonnell became homeless in January 2024 and was placed in a hostel the following month.

She shared her story as the Simon Community released new research at Stormont on Monday, looking at the link between childhood trauma and record levels of homelessness in Northern Ireland.

It was terrifying. I was put into an all-male hostel and it was just something else, said Laoise.

It was horrific, it took me ages to come out of my room, when I realised I could lock my door, I felt a lot better, but it took me forever to actually try and bond with the people that were there.

After becoming more comfortable in the hostel, Laoise was able to build a friendship with some of the men she lived with.

Laoise McDonnell at a Simon Community event in Stormont on October 7, 2025 (Credit: Luke Jervis/ Belfast Telegraph)

I now know that while there are bad people in the world, not every person is going to be like what you have experienced, she explained.

Thats really important for young vulnerable men and women to know, the whole world is not corrupt  there are people that will be there for you.

Laoise added that her own experience had changed her perception of homelessness.

I always thought it was a choice that people make, so when it happened to me, I was like Oh this could happen to anyone, she said.

The research by the Simon Community found that one in four hostel residents in Northern Ireland first experienced homelessness as children.

As of May 2025, 4,730 children in Northern Ireland were living in temporary accommodation  an increase of 75% in the past five years. Over half (52%) of these children were aged 9 and under.

The research found that 66% of hostel residents had experienced four or more adverse childhood experiences, compared with 18% of people in Northern Irelands general population.

Chair of Simon Community Joe ONeil speaking at an event in Stormont on the October 7, 2025 (Credit: Luke Jervis/ Belfast Telegraph)

It also showed that 73.9% had a diagnosed mental health condition and that nearly one in three women currently experiencing homelessness had spent time in care as children.

Laoise called for more to be done to tackle the root issues that lead to homelessness.

The Simon Community is working together, but we need other organisations to work with them, the government needs to work with them to support the people that need it the most.

She added that she believes more needs to be done to support young people leaving the care system  with 123 care leavers presenting as homeless over the past year.

A child never chooses to be taken into care, a child leaving care at 18 and being put into a hostel or temporary accommodation is atrocious.

What needs to be done to protect those kids and protect their future is they need a safe space to go to and we need to guarantee them a home.

They didnt ask to be in care, they should be in a loving home, but because they are in care, they are packed out the door once they turn 18 and we arent giving them the right resources to make a better life for themselves  so how can we expect them to succeed, she said.
The Prisoner Ombudsman has praised the quick action of prison staff in treating a suicidal man saying it resulted in a prisoners life being saved.

A Serious Adverse Incident was called after the man  who was on remand awaiting trial in Maghaberry Prison  attempted to take his own life on May 7, 2023.

The man was treated on site by NI Prison Service staff, a prison nurse and by Northern Ireland Ambulance Service emergency response paramedics, before being taken to Craigavon Area Hospital.

He survived without serious long-term harm from the incident.

Prisoner Ombudsman Darrin Jones said his investigation did not find any action or lack of action by NIPS or the trust which directly contributed to this prisoner self-harming.

Darrin Jones, Prisoner Ombudsman

The report notes that on Saturday 7 May 2023 at 7.32pm the prisoner was found unresponsive during a cell check shortly after lock up.

Staff observed the prisoner had attempted to take his own life and entered his cell. They immediately cut a ligature and commenced first aid, issuing an alert.

An emergency ambulance was requested and while the prisoner was breathing he was having seizures.

Nursing staff arrived on the scene and took over his medical care at 7.40pm.

The ambulance arrived on the scene at 8pm and paramedics took over treatment.

The prisoner remained unresponsive and he was moved to the ambulance and taken to Craigavon Area Hospital arriving half an hour later.

The prisoner returned to Maghaberry on 13 May 2023 with no known lasting effects.

Maghaberry Prison

News Catch Up - Sunday 5 October

The Ombudsman said, As there were no indications that the prisoner was at imminent risk of self-harm, I am content that NIPS and Trust staff provided the prisoner with appropriate care during the Committal process and the remainder of his short time in custody on this occasion.

I note the Trust conducted an internal review of this serious adverse incident which has been shared with the individual concerned.

The Trust identified areas of learning including on the continuation of withdrawal monitoring and has updated its policies to embed best practice within prisons. I would like to thank all those who contributed to the preparation of this report.

A Clinical Reviewer was brought in by the ombudsman and found the healthcare provided to the prisoner leading up to the incident was prompt and broadly equivalent to what he could reasonably have expected in the community.

They added that there was a gap in recorded administration of Mirtazapine, between the prisoners committal on 2 May 2023 and the incident on 7 May.

The reviewer noted nothing in any records indicate that he raised any concerns about prescription medications during interactions with healthcare and NIPS staff and there is no indication from records that [the prisoner] was acutely concerned about this at the time.

They added that the man was on the lowest possible dosage and the omission of this one medicine was not found to be a matter of substantive concern.

There were no recommendations made to the Northern Ireland Prison Service or the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust.

Mr Jones added, I would like to thank NIPS and Trust staff for the response taken in relation to this incident which resulted in a prisoners life being saved.
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) are currently at the scene of a fire in Co Derry.

A spokesperson for the NIFRS said it received a call at 8pm this evening (Tuesday) following a report of an agricultural fire at Kilmaconnell Road.

Following an initial call at 2000hrs on Tuesday 7th October 2025, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service are in attendance at an Coleraine, they said.

"Six fire appliances and 51 firefighters are in attendance supported by a Command Support Unit and other specialist vehicles.

Members of the public are asked to please avoid the area help support firefighting operations.

Local residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed.
Housing Minister James Browne has said the Government is declaring a war on dereliction with a new tax operated by the Revenue Commissioners.

Minister of State John Cummins said they had tried various schemes as the carrot approach, but this tax represented the stick.

A new Derelict Property Tax was announced as part of Budget 2026 to replace the Derelict Sites Levy.

It is not expected to go lower than the levys rate of 7% of the site market value and legislation to underpin it is to be brought forward next year.

Those who do not pay the tax will be listed on Revenues tax defaulters.

Mr Browne said officials do not know the exact level of dereliction in Ireland other than what they see and hear anecdotally.

My view is dereliction is anti-social behaviour, I think it damages our society in many different ways, he said on Tuesday.

Asked about local authorities handling of the dereliction levy, he said: I think the local authorities have quite an extensive remit of what they have to do.

Some have them have handled it much better than others, but I think, you know, the only way to really address dereliction in this country now is through using the Revenue measure, the tax measure, and really, I think hammering that we are declaring a war on dereliction in this country.

I mean, its totally unacceptable that we would have properties in towns, in cities. You have water, you have electrical connections, you have roads, the street lights paid by taxpayers, and people are leaving them there.

He said although some personal situations might lead to dereliction, there is an issue with people leaving their property to increase its value.

We can all see it as we walk down the streets, even in Dublin city centre, you can see dereliction in every provincial town, and people are desperate for those properties.

So what we want to do is get to a situation where people feel so uncomfortable that they will release those properties to those people who will use it, be it an individual or developer, whatever the case would be.

The writ certainly wont be less than 7% and if we feel it needs to increase, that will be a matter for (the finance minister), we will discuss that at the time.

But what I would be saying to people who have derelict properties: youve been getting away with it up to now, some of them, wrongly.

But were going after every derelict property.

Mr Cummins said that in previous years, schemes such as the vacant property refurbishment grant had been offered to help bring derelict sites back into use.

That was the carrot. Were now coming with a stick, he said.

Its unacceptable, as Minister Browne said, for there to be vacant and derelict properties in this country. And we are going after it. We are serious about tackling it.

The rate will be set at least 7% and, you know, the local authorities will have a role to play next year in identifying all of those derelict properties that are across the country, and itll obviously be levied thereafter.

The message is clear: use the carrot; use the items that are there to support in bringing those properties back into use, and if you dont, the stick is coming with the tax.

On the Governments new housing plan, Mr Browne said it will go to the Cabinets housing committee in the next week and will be finalised afterwards, meaning it is expected within the next three weeks.
Court artist drawing by Elizabeth Cook of (left to right) Walid Saadaoui, Bilel Saadaoui and Amar Hussein appearing at Preston Crown Court (Elizabeth Cook/PA)

Two men accused of plotting to kill Jewish people in Manchester planned to cause untold harm, a court has heard.

Walid Saadaoui, 38, and Amar Hussein, 52, are alleged to have prepared acts of terrorism between December 13 2023 and May 9 2024.

The charge against them alleges that they arranged for the purchase and delivery of firearms, conducted reconnaissance and made plans of attack.

Opening the prosecution case at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday, Harpreet Sandhu KC showed footage of Walid Saadaoui standing by the open boot of a car in a hotel car park in Bolton, Greater Manchester before he ran away away from approaching counter-terrorism police officers.

The prosecutor said: In the car he ran away from were two assault rifles, a semi-automatic pistol and almost 200 rounds of ammunition.

Mr Sandhu said the defendant was also awaiting delivery of a further two assault rifles, another pistol and at least 700 more rounds of ammunition.

He told the jury: Those firearms are fierce weapons. The assault rifles are capable of firing several hundred rounds of ammunition per minute.

They are the type of firearms used in many terrorist attacks, including attacks in Paris in 2015 when approximately 130 people were killed and hundreds of people were injured.

The firearms and ammunition Walid Sadaaoui was about to receive were capable of causing untold harm.

Untold harm was precisely what Walid Sadaaoui had planned to cause together with Amar Hussein.

Mr Sandhus address to the jury was then interrupted by an outburst from Hussein who repeatedly shouted: Dont talk shit.

From the dock, Hussein added: How many children? How many babies?

Trial judge Mr Justice Wall asked the jury to leave the courtroom as the proceedings were interrupted.

He later apologised to jurors for the disturbance as the case resumed and said Hussein did not wish to return in court for the rest of the prosecution opening.

Earlier, the judge said the background of the case was coincidental to last weeks attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester.

He said: It is no part of the prosecutions case that any of these defendants had anything to do with what happened in the synagogue in Manchester last week.

You must try them fairly without reference or thought to what happened there. For the purposes of this trial, it is irrelevant.

You are here to try the defendants fairly on the evidence.

A third defendant, Walids brother Bilel Saadaoui, 36, is also on trial over an allegation he failed to disclose information about acts of terrorism on the same dates.

Walid Saadaoui, of Abram, Wigan; Bilel Saadaoui, of Hindley, Wigan; and Hussein, of no fixed abode, deny the allegations.

The trial is scheduled to last up to 12 weeks.

Mr Sandhu said: Walid Saadaoui was about to receive those firearms and that ammunition because he and Amar Hussein were planning terrorist attacks.

They planned to kill. They planned to cause mass fatalities. In particular, they planned to kill as many members of the Jewish community as they could, especially those in the north west of England.

Their plan was to get the weapons and ammunition and identify a mass-gathering of Jewish people whom they could attack. They had also identified areas in Greater Manchester with a large Jewish population to attack.

In addition, they intended to kill any law enforcement or police officers who got in their way.

Both men were Islamic extremists, he said, and were prepared to risk their own lives.

Mr Sandhu said they believed they were planning their attacks with a third man called Farouk who they thought shared their extremist views.

However, Farouk was an undercover operative, the court heard.

The prosecutor continued: Their plans were laid bare through their communication with Farouk and, as a result, the police were able to stop those plans from becoming a tragic reality.

Bilel Saadaoui was not planning to take part in the terrorist attacks but knew what his brother was up to and sympathised with the views of the Islamic State, said the prosecutor.

Mr Sandhu said that Walid Saadoui, in preparing to martyr himself, had prepared a will and left a copy with his brother, along with access to his belongings and tens of thousands of pounds in cash to help provide for his family.

During the time of the allegations Hussein worked at Salim Appliances in Grecian Crescent, Bolton, and also effectively lived there, the court also heard.

The prosecutor pointed to WhatsApp messages between Bilel Saadoui and Hussein which provided a flavour of the views they held about Jewish people.

In one message Bilel Saadaoui had sent Hussein a link to a news report that a number of Jewish people had been killed in a bridge collapse, and he added the hashtag Beloved Palestine.

Hussein replied: Allah is truly vigilant over them.

Mr Sandhu told jurors: That, ladies and gentlemen, was not a response in sympathy but rather a message that gloried in the death of Jewish people.

Amar Hussein and Walid Saadaoui planned to kill Jewish people because they had a visceral dislike for them.

The response from Amar Hussein was sent in 2021 and it shows how deep-rooted and long-standing that dislike for the Jewish people was.

The court heard that images of the Manchester Jewish Museum were found on Husseins phone  one capturing the outside of the building in Cheetham Hill and one inside.
Sir Keir Starmer will resist calls from business leaders to provide more UK visas for Indian workers, the Prime Minister signalled as he travelled to the country on a trade mission.

He said opening up more visas for Indian nationals isnt part of the plan, during his journey to Mumbai with more than 100 business chiefs and university leaders.

India reportedly pushed for far more visa access to the UK when the two countries were finalising their trade deal earlier this year.

But the south Asian nation backed down before the deal was closed by Sir Keir and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in July.

Sir Keir Starmer (right) with Narendra Modi (Kin Cheung/PA)

As he flew to India on what the Government dubbed the UKs largest-ever trade mission to the country, Sir Keir was asked if he would agree to the demands of business leaders joining him on the flight, and widen access to visas for skilled Indian workers.

The Prime Minister told reporters: No, that isnt part of the plan. Were here now to take advantage of the free trade agreement that weve already struck. Weve got to implement it.

Obviously, I wanted that done at speed. Ive already sent instructions into the system that I want that done as quickly as possible, but already its having an impact, because these businesses want to take advantage of the mood music thats changed because of the free trade agreement.

The deal is expected to be worth 4.8 billion each year to the UKs economy, and could add 2.2 billion collectively to wages.

Among those set to benefit most are Scottish whisky producers, which will see tariffs drop from 150% to 75% and then to 40% over the next 10 years.

New air links between the UK and India have been announced ahead of the trip.

British Airways said it will run a third daily flight between Delhi and Heathrow from 2026, and Manchester Airport will launch a direct route to Delhi operated by IndiGo.

Sir Keir Starmer and his business delegation prepare to depart (Leon Neal/PA)

The Prime Minister is joined by 125 chief executives, university leaders and representatives from British cultural institutions during the trip to Mumbai.

The business chiefs include representatives from Rolls-Royce, British Telecom, Diageo, London Stock Exchange and British Airways.

Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha is among the leading cultural figures joining the trip.

Sir Keir wants businesses to use the trade deal as a launchpad for growth because it offers vastly reduced Indian tariffs for many UK industries.

The Prime Minister also faced questions about Mr Modis close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as he began the trip.

India continues to buy oil from Moscow, despite western nations efforts to boycott Russias war machine, and Delhi has faced sanctions from US President Donald Trump as a result.

Mr Modi also wished the Russian leader happy birthday in a post on social media on Tuesday.

Sir Keir Starmer has been asked to raise the case of Jagtar Singh Johal (Family handout/PA)

Asked if he had any leverage to discuss the Indian PMs relationship with Mr Modi, Sir Keir replied: Just for the record, I havent sent birthday congratulations to Putin, nor am I going to do so.

I dont suppose that comes as a surprise, in relation to energy, and clamping down on Russian energy, our focus as the UK, and weve been leading on this, is on the shadow fleet, because we think thats the most effective way.

Weve been one of the lead countries in relation to the shadow fleet, working with other countries.

The Prime Minister is also facing calls to raise the case of a British national detained abroad with Mr Modi during the visit.

Jagtar Singh Johal, 38, a Sikh activist from Dumbarton near Glasgow, has been detained by the Indian authorities since November 2017.

He was acquitted earlier this year in a case in which he was accused of financially supporting a terror group, but he still faces federal charges from the Indian authorities.

His older brother Gurpreet Singh Johal told the PA new agency that the Prime Minister is best placed to advocate for his release, after a series of high-profile cases of Britons detained abroad being resolved.

The Prime Minister last raised Mr Johals case with his Indian counterpart when Mr Modi visited the UK in July.
An aerial view shows the devastation left by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles (Jae C Hong/AP)

A 29-year-old man charged with sparking the most destructive blaze in Los Angeles history likely used a lighter to start a fire on New Years Day that smouldered underground and reignited almost a week later, killing 12 people in a wealthy hillside neighbourhood, authorities said.

Law enforcement officials charged Jonathan Rinderknecht with lighting the January 1 fire that was extinguished by fire crews only to flare up days later during high winds, acting US attorney Bill Essayli said during a news conference.

Rinderknecht was arrested in Florida on Tuesday and was due to appear in court Wednesday.

Jonathan Rinderknecht, a suspect in the Palisades fire (US Attorneys Office via AP)

He faces charges including malicious destruction by means of a fire, which carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison.

Aisha Nash, the public defender assigned to represent Rinderknecht, has not responded to Associated Press requests for comment.

The Palisades Fire  one of two that broke out on January 7, killing more than 30 people and destroying thousands of homes while burning for days in Los Angeles County  ripped through hillside neighbourhoods in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, destroying mansions with spectacular views of the ocean and downtown LA.

Investigators said on Wednesday that Rinderknecht had been working as an Uber driver, and after dropping off a passenger in Pacific Palisades, he parked and walked up a trail.

He then used his iPhone to take videos at a nearby hilltop area and listened to a rap song with an accompanying music video that included objects being lit on fire, prosecutors said.

He fled the scene after starting the fire, but returned to the same trail to watch it burn, Mr Essayli said.

He left as soon as he saw the fire trucks were headed to the location. He turned around and went back up there. And he took some video and, and watched them fight the fire, Mr Essayli said.

Rinderknecht also made several 911 calls to report the fire, according to a criminal complaint.

Special agent Kenny Cooper speaks between acting US attorney Bill Essayli and Los Angeles Police chief Jim McDonnell during a news conference (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

During an interview on January 24, Rinderknecht told investigators where the fire began, information not yet public and that he would not have known if he had not witnessed it, the complaint said.

He lied about his location, claiming he was near the bottom of the hiking trail, Mr Essayli said.

The suspect was visibly anxious during that interview, according to the complaint.

His efforts to call 911 and his question to ChatGPT about a cigarette lighting a fire indicated he wanted to preserve evidence of himself trying to assist in the suppression of the fire and he wanted to create evidence regarding a more innocent explanation for the cause of the fire, the complaint said.

Investigators determined the January 1 fire was intentionally lit, likely by a lighter taken to vegetation or paper, according to the criminal complaint.

They excluded other possibilities, including fireworks, lightning and power lines.

Authorities also looked into whether a cigarette may have caused the fire, but concluded that was not the cause, the complaint says.

Investigators found a barbecue-style lighter inside the glove compartment of Rinderknechts car on January 24.

The devastation of the Palisades fire is seen at sunset in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles (Ethan Swope/AP)

It appeared to be the same lighter as one that was in his apartment on December 31, based on a photo on his phone.

He admitted to bringing a lighter with him when he walked up the hill.

Investigators still have not determined the cause of a second blaze called the Eaton Fire, which broke out the same day in the community of Altadena and killed 19 people.

Both fires reduced block after block of entire neighbourhoods to grey and black debris, destroying homes, schools, businesses and churches.

While rebuilding is under way in some neighbourhoods, it will take years.

Many homeowners will not be able to afford it, even those with insurance.

An outside review released in September found that a lack of resources and outdated policies for sending emergency alerts led to delayed evacuation warnings.

The report commissioned by Los Angeles County supervisors said a series of weaknesses, including outdated policies, inconsistent practices and communications vulnerabilities hampered the countys response.
Donald Trump has said the Illinois governor and Chicago mayor should be jailed as they oppose his deployment of National Guard troops for his immigration and crime crackdown in the nations third-largest city.

The Republican president made the comment in a social media post, the latest example of his brazen calls for opponents to be prosecuted or locked up  a break from long-time norms as the Justice Department traditionally has tried to maintain its independence from the White House.

Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social that Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor JB Pritzker should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers!, in a reference to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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It was not immediately clear what Mr Trump was objecting to.

Mr Johnson, in a post on X, said: This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a black man unjustly arrested. Im not going anywhere.

Mr Pritzker, also on X, said: I will not back down. Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power. What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, when asked what crimes the President believed the two Democrats had committed, failed to identify any, but she said they have blood on their hands and pointed to Chicago Police Department reports that at least five people were killed and 25 shot over the weekend.

Instead of taking action to stop the crime, these Trump-deranged buffoons would rather allow the violence to continue and attack the President for wanting to help make their city safe again, Ms Jackson said.

National Guard troops from Texas are positioned outside Chicago despite a lawsuit by the state and city to block the deployment.

The troops mission is not clear but the Trump administration has undertaken an aggressive immigration enforcement operation in Chicago.

Mr Trump has called Chicago a hell hole of crime, even though police statistics show significant drops in most crimes, including homicides. Protesters have skirmished with agents outside a detention centre in the village of Broadview, outside Chicago.

A woman in Chicago was shot by a Border Patrol agent over the weekend after she and a man were accused of using their vehicles to strike and then box in the agents vehicle. The agent then exited his car and fired five shots at Marimar Martinez, 30.

Martinez and Anthony Ruiz, 21, are charged with forcibly assaulting a federal officer and were ordered to be released on Monday pending trial. Martinezs lawyer Christopher Parente claimed body camera footage contradicts the federal governments narrative of her actions.

Mr Trumps comment came as former FBI director James Comey appeared in a Virginia courtroom, pleading not guilty in a case that has intensified concerns about Justice Departments efforts to target Trump adversaries.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has said hes not going anywhere (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

When Mr Trump was campaigning for the White House in 2024 at a time he faced criminal and civil investigations, he told supporters: I am your retribution.

The Justice Department has also opened criminal investigations this year against California Senator Adam Schiff, New York attorney general Letitia James and former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running for New York City mayor. The three, all Democrats, have all denied wrongdoing and say the investigations are politically motivated.

Mr Pritzker, one of Mr Trumps fiercest critics, has called the president a wannabe dictator, comparing his leadership to that of Russian President Vladimir Putin and joking that the Republican doesnt read anything. The governor has suggested that Mr Trump, who has threatened Chicago with apocalyptic force, suffers from dementia.

Mr Pritzker, eyed as a potential 2028 White House contender, has strongly fought against any federal intervention along with Mr Johnson, saying it is not wanted or needed in Illinois or Chicago.
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OLD BENNINGTON  Old Bennington village trustees will discuss the planned redevelopment of the iconic Walloomsac Inn property during a public information session in November.

Trustees also plan to invite the new owners, who intend to restore the rambling 18th century structure as an operating inn.

The session was tentatively set for November 4, during the next scheduled board meeting. Trustees said they plan to heavily promote the meeting as a chance for the public to ask questions and learn about the proposed restoration project.

The Walloomsac is vacant and hasnt been operated as an inn since the 1990s, showing marked exterior deterioration from the elements.

Dates to 1770s

The boards discussion Tuesday came after a recent open house event at the historic structure, part of which dates to the 1770s and is considered the site of Vermonts first hostelry.

It is situated at Monument Avenue and West Road, across from the Old First Church on Monument Avenue.

The new owners, Rafe Churchill and Casey Sunderland, member/owners of Walloomsac Property, LLC, purchased the property in June for $230,000 from Kathleen and William Kaiser  members of the last family to operate it as an inn.

Sunderland said during a recent phone interview that an open house at the historic inn was originally planned for people associated with Bennington College, from which Churchill graduated. However, the event attracted many others from the village and the town of Bennington, he said, totaling approximately 400 people in all.

It was great, and it ended up extending beyond the Bennington College community, he said, and the response from the public was overwhelmingly enthusiastic.

Sunderland added, We want to work with the community and make them feel that they are part of the [restoration] process.

Positive impression

Trustee Jim Thatch said Tuesday of Churchill and Sunderland, They are very motivated. I was impressed with both of them. They are ready to go. I had a very good feeling after meeting them that this is going to be a godsend for the village.

Ed Woods, presiding officer of the board, said he and others got a very positive impression of the new owners and their plans to restore and operate the inn.

I came away feeling very positive, Woods said. Im not going to steal their thunder, though, because they want to come to talk to us. So I think we should do our best to promote the next meeting pretty hard for attendance.

Restoration projects

The new owners are part of the leadership team for the architecture and interior design firm, Hendricks Churchill.

They acquired the Walloomsac as part of a portfolio of historic properties Sunderland said they are developing in the Northeast for a hospitality venture.

Sunderland said Hendricks Churchill will design the projects, including for the Walloomsac Inn.

No formal plans or permit applications have yet been submitted to the village concerning the Walloomsac, the trustees said Tuesday.

One aspect that might have to be resolved is the question of whether a change of use for the property from residential to commercial  or some other approval from the village  will be required.

Seminary Lane site

Previously, a residence at 3 Seminary Lane in the village was purchased by Churchill and his wife, Heide Hendricks, Sunderland said. He noted that Churchill had graduated from Bennington College, and the couple currently has two children attending the school.

They originally thought of the property as a place for family, friends and people associated with the college to gather, Sunderland said.

That evolved into an idea to create a six-bedroom hospitality venue in what is a historic building, he said, in part since it had originally been a boarding school in the early 1800s, later became a clubhouse for the Mount Anthony Country Club, and was owned for a time by Bennington College.

However, it has been a private residence for the past 60 years.

During a meeting in September before the village Zoning Board of Adjustment, concerns were raised about the potential impacts on a residential neighborhood.

We heard the concerns of the community, and at that point we had already purchased the Walloomsac, and that became our real focus, Sunderland said. We decided to pull [the change of use] application, just out of hearing from the community, and we are focusing on the really big project, which is the Walloomsac.

Woods said Tuesday that it seems unclear whether the Walloomsac was ever officially reclassified for residential use, even after the family that owned it stopped operating it as an inn. Officials said they will research that possibility.

Historical significance

The Walloomsac Inn dates to the colonial era and was often at the center of historic events in the formation of Vermont and the United States.

The building was established as a tavern during the 1770s by Elijah Dewey, who later served as a captain in the local militia in the Battle of Bennington in August 1777.

In addition to being possibly Vermonts first inn, the Walloomsac hosted future presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in 1791. They were in town to help mark acceptance of the independent Republic of Vermont into the union.

Another U.S. president, Rutherford B. Hayes, stayed at the inn and attended events related to the Battle of Benningtons 100th anniversary in 1877.

And President Benjamin Harrison held a reception at the inn in 1891 to celebrate the states centennial and the formal dedication of the Bennington Battle Monument.
BENNINGTON  A Springfield, Mass., man accused in the summer of 2022 of an early morning drive-by shooting on Main Street in Bennington and the killing of an individual on Pleasant Street a month later pleaded guilty Wednesday to amended charges of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter.

Raul Cardona, 30, was sentenced according to the agreed-upon plea deal to a 7-15-year sentence, suspended, with four years to serve, and an 11-year probation with several conditions on the manslaughter charge, and a 4-10-year sentence on the amended attempted manslaughter charge, with four years to serve and an 11-year probation with conditions. Both sentences will be concurrent with credit for time already served. Cardona is scheduled for release in approximately a year.

Cardona, who initially fled Vermont, was charged in 2022 with the murder of Patrick Mullinnex, who was shot to death in his apartment at 324 Pleasant Street that August.

In a dramatic hearing in a Bennington courtroom, Cardona, escorted into court in handcuffs and leg irons, stared straight ahead and motionless as several members of Mullinnexs family, including one of his teenage sons, tearfully pleaded with the judge to give Cardona a longer sentence, and told Judge John Valente about the impact the killing had on their lives.

I was 13 years old when my father was taken from me, Gavin Cucinotta said through a cascade of tears as he tried to speak. I was devastated. I still have my moments where I cry because I know I will never get to hear my fathers voice, or see him again.

Before leaving, Cucinotta turned toward Cardona, who sat still, staring straight ahead.

Raul, I hate you, Cucinotta said. I hate you for taking my father away from me and from everyone else. I hope that karma one day will come back to you.

Other members of Mullinnexs family also spoke, many through tears, while some, unable to speak, sat at the prosecution table and had statements read aloud by the courts victims advocate.

Uncle Pat was kind, soft spoken, selfless, and full of love, said Gisele Arie, a niece. He showed up for me in every way a person can. I no longer have that. I lost not just an uncle, but the person I confided in, laughed with, and leaned on when life was hard. My heart is shattered.

You took everything from me, said Mullinnexs fiancee, Alicia Holmes. Patricks death has left an irreparable void in my life. Youre not a man, youre a monster.

Nearly all of Mullinnexs family stated in open court that they disagreed with the deal and asked the judge for the maximum possible sentence.

For his part, Cardona addressed the court and apologized to Mullinnexs family, the Bennington community, and his parents for his actions.

I want to apologize for any pain that I have caused, Cardona said in a brief statement.

According to an official investigation of the shooting, Cardona, after using the bathroom in the apartment that Mullinnex shared with another individual, an argument broke out inside the bathroom, which resulted in Mullinnex being shot to death. There was no clear indication that the two men knew each other prior to the incident or if there was any connection between the two. Cardona maintained that he shot Mullinnex in self-defense.

According to a police affidavit, Cardona shot Mullinnex several times in the chest before fleeing back to Springfield, Mass. Cardona turned himself in to Bennington authorities after an arrest warrant was issued in his name on a murder charge.

A year later, while Cardona was being held in Vermont, he was again charged, this time with shooting into an apartment on Main Street in Bennington one month before the Pleasant Street incident, in July 2022. During the police investigation, it was determined that Cardona, after being robbed of drugs several weeks earlier by a rival gang headquartered at 546 Main Street and 111 McCall Street, allegedly shot at the apartment on Main Street in retaliation.

Both shootings came at a time of great concern by authorities in Bennington, according to police. Several violent incidents, upsurges in drugs, weapons, the proliferation of gangs, and drug-related crimes were on the rise in unprecedented numbers locally. The Bennington Police Department, working with law enforcement partners including members of Homeland Security, became engaged in a series of measures in response that continue to this day.

Cardona's plea agreement called for the state to amend the charges from murder and attempted murder to manslaughter and attempted manslaughter, dismissing the former, which carried a possible life sentence for each count. Cardona pleaded guilty to the manslaughter charges and, after a brief recess, Judge Valente accepted the deal, sentencing Cardona to a 7-15-year sentence on the manslaughter charge and a 4-10-year sentence on the attempted manslaughter charge. He was also sentenced to 11 years of probation, which cannot be shortened. Both sentences will be served concurrently, suspended, with four years to serve in jail. Cardona was also given credit for time already served. According to court records, Cardona has been in custody since his 2022 arrest, leaving little more than a year left to serve before his release.

As Mullinnexs family left the courthouse, one family member, when asked for comment, said, We are all pretty angry right now.

According to State Prosecutor Jared Bianchi, the plea deal was considered appropriate because of the uncertainty of bringing the case to trial and the fact that much of Cardonas known criminal history would not be admissible at trial in order not to prejudice the outcome, according to Vermont law.

The complicated case is outlined by police in an affidavit.

According to the court documents, witness told police that Cardona and Brayan (Pablo) Mejias, 24, from Springfield, Mass., were members of the Gotti gang, an affiliate of the Springfield-based Knox Street gang. The Gotti gang was reportedly selling drugs in the Bennington area, and were rivals to another gang based in Springfield and associated with the Bloods, allegedly headed by Christopher Arroyo-Cruz, 19. Police found several threatening Facebook postings between the rivals, including photos of Cardona and Arroyo-Cruz with large sums of money.

Cardona was at the McCall Street location last June, where several individuals from Arroyo-Cruzs crew were gathered, according to the affidavit. Shots were fired. Days later, Cardona and Mejias were reportedly robbed of 50 bags of fentanyl or heroin. Witnesses told police that The Boys, a slang reference to Arroyo-Cruz and his affiliates, robbed Cardona to send a message to stay away from the area.

Cardona allegedly didnt get the message, police say.

In the early morning of July 1, 2022, Cardona allegedly got out of a vehicle and shot at the apartment on Main Street, according to the affidavit, where several individuals associated with Arroyo-Cruz were present. Police found bullet holes in the building and were able to locate spent .45 caliber bullet casings that matched the .45 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun witnesses said Cardona always carried.

Cardona was arrested on July 17, 2022, in Enfield, Conn., in a separate incident involving a considerable amount of suspected heroin/fentanyl and nearly $2,500 in cash. Cardona also reportedly possessed a loaded .45 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun. Bennington police sent the Enfield authorities the shell casings found at the Main Street shooting, which matched the gun Cardona was carrying when he was arrested.

Almost exactly a month after the Main Street shooting, Mullinnex was found dead shortly after Bennington Police officers arrived on Aug. 3 at 324 Pleasant St. at approximately 9:17 a.m. His body was found lying on the floor of a first-floor apartment bathroom with several gunshot wounds. Police believe hed been shot minutes before their arrival, according to the affidavit. The next day, Bennington Police released Cardonas name and photograph, identifying him as the alleged shooter, and an arrest warrant was issued the following day.

Cardona initially faced a maximum life sentence with a presumptive 20-year minimum if he was found guilty of the Pleasant Street murder. He faced an additional life sentence for attempted murder in the second degree for the shooting on Main Street.

A multi-day trial on the charges was set to begin next week.

Cardona has a criminal history in Vermont, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Connecticut. After the hearing ended, he was led out of the courtroom by sheriffs deputies to start his sentence.
MILL RIVER  When the sale of Limestone Farm became a matter of record last week, county and area dairymen and others were not sure whether to offer the former owners congratulations or condolences.
Pittsfield city councilors are calling for a comprehensive review of how the Shannon Grant is being used  and whether longtime partner 18 Degrees is effectively reaching the youth most at risk of gun violence  as the grant approaches renewal.
Jeff Robbins, a part-time resident of Stockbridge, is a former U.S. delegate to the United Nations Human Rights Council and a former assistant U.S. attorney and chief counsel for the Democrats on the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Reach him at Jeffrey.Robbins@saul.com.
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data.
Massachusetts homeowners have wasted no time responding to the states new accessory dwelling unit law. Since Gov. Maura Healeys administration pushed the measure into effect earlier this year, 844 homeowners have applied to build ADUs  small, rentable in-law units on their property meant to expand the housing supply.

Lets call it an encouraging start. But the map of applications tells a familiar story: While urban and suburban communities like Boston and Plymouth are moving quickly, Berkshire Countys ADU activity has barely stirred, as reported by The Eagles housing reporter Nate Harrington. In the five months since the law took effect, only six Berkshire County homeowners have filed applications  one each in Pittsfield, Lenox, Great Barrington, Monterey, Sheffield and Mount Washington.

The disparity speaks to a deeper truth about the housing crisis and the uneven terrain of Massachusetts. In theory, ADUs are an elegant idea  they offer gentle density, adding homes without changing neighborhood character. But in practice, the economics that make an ADU feasible in Brookline or Arlington dont translate to Adams or Lee. Construction costs are nearly identical statewide, but local incomes and property values are not. Building a backyard apartment might make sense where rents are high and demand is relentless; its much harder to justify when the investment will take decades to pay off.

Despite housing shortage, Berkshires slow to embrace ADUs  heres why Lofty predictions made many people see ADUs as a crucial part to solving the housing crisis, but five months after a state-wide ADU law came into effect, Berkshire County doesn't seem too invested.

Other obstacles loom large in the Berkshires. Many homes sit on private wells and septic systems rather than municipal sewer and water, driving up the cost of adding another unit. And while the state has championed ADUs as an important housing tool, its financial support remains thin. For most homeowners here, the idea remains out of reach  not because of regulation, but because of affordability.

Some local institutions are trying to bridge that gap. Great Barringtons Affordable Housing Trust has joined with Construct to offer no-interest loans to homeowners who want to build ADUs, and Greylock Federal Credit Union has rolled out a lending program for that purpose. These are promising starts, and the state should be doing everything it can to amplify them.

The Healey administration deserves credit for modernizing the states housing rules and clearing away local zoning barriers. But now that the policy groundwork has been laid, the states next step ought to be practical support. That could take the form of grants for rural homeowners and technical guidance for septic and well conversions.

Accessory dwelling units will not solve the housing shortage alone. They are one useful tool in a much larger effort to close the states housing gap  especially in places like the Berkshires, where the crisis is defined not by density battles but by economic realities.
Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital launches specialised myopia clinic in Chandigarh

October 08, 2025 | Wednesday | News

Clinic offers a holistic approach to managing childhood myopia

Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital, one of Indias largest networks of eye care facilities, has launched a specialised Myopia Clinic in Chandigarh to address the alarming rise of near-sightedness among children and young adults.

The launch event was done under the aegis of Chandigarh Ophthalmic Society and was graced by doctors from the hospital and was followed by an awareness workshop highlighting early signs of myopia, lifestyle risk factors, and preventive strategies for parents and educators.

The clinic offers a holistic approach to managing childhood myopia, including early detection, counselling, education, and regular follow-up care. Equipped with advanced diagnostic technology and a specialised team of paediatric ophthalmologists and optometrists, it provides personalised treatment plans tailored to each childs needs.

It also offers a comprehensive range of myopia-control options from eye drops and specialised glasses to soft contact lenses and orthokeratology (Ortho-K) lenses to effectively manage the condition and minimize potential complications.

Dr Rajiv Mirchia, Head Clinical Services  Mirchias Laser Eye Center, a unit of Dr Agarwals Eye Hosptial said, The launch of our Myopia Clinic in Chandigarh is a significant step towards addressing the growing burden of myopia in Punjab and North India. With childhood cases rising at an alarming pace, our aim is to provide comprehensive care that not only corrects vision but also helps slow the progression of the condition. Through this centre, we want to empower families with awareness, timely intervention, and access to the latest treatment options.

Dr Anin Sethi Senior Pediatric Ophthalmologist said, Myopia, or near-sightedness, is rising rapidly worldwide, with countries such as China, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan already seeing epidemic levels, affecting up to 95% of teenagers and young adults. By 2050, nearly half of the global population could be myopic. In India, prevalence among urban children aged 515 has increased from 4.44% in 1999 to 21.15% in 2019 and is projected to reach 48% by 2050. In Punjab, a 2007 study reported nearly 10% of schoolchildren in urban areas were myopic. Growing academic pressure, reduced outdoor time, and increased screen usage are contributing to higher rates across North India.

Beyond clinical care, Dr Agarwals Eye Hospital plans to conduct school-based awareness campaigns and workshops for parents, children, ophthalmologists, and optometrists across Chandigarh and Punjab, reinforcing community-level understanding of myopia prevention.

The hospitals long-term vision is to make myopia management a public health priority. With rising prevalence and increasing severity, the clinic aims to serve as a regional hub for early detection, intervention, and long-term control of childhood myopia.


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Award-winning author and convicted serial fraudster Pat Sheedy has died in his native Limerick following a short illness.

Mr Sheedy, 56, from Cliona Park, Moyross, had claimed to have turned his life around after he swindled thousands of euros from innocent victims through a series of elaborate cons.

Regarded as a master of deception, Sheedy had over 100 convictions.

He previously duped a 79-year-old man out of 7,610 for 48 Six Nations rugby match tickets that never existed.

In that swindle, for which he was jailed for nine months in July 2021, Sheedy posed as an official with World Rugby and duped Peter Whiteside, a club official at London Irish Amateur rugby club, to pay him for the non-existent tickets.

Sheedys excuse for his criminal offending was that he was feeding a chronic gambling addiction; however, some believe the thrill of the con also fueled his crimes.

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Gambling was a lifelong affliction, beginning when he was around 12 years, Sheedy had explained in several interviews down the years.

In a case before Limerick Circuit Court in April 2021, he received a six-month sentence for conning the prominent Limerick horse trainer, Michael Hourigan, into believing he was a representative of RTE and Horse Racing Ireland to obtain a horse box to use for filming in a so-called television project that did not exist.

Sheedy defrauded a friend of 4,170 in another scam and was jailed for six months in 2016. Ennis court heard Sheedy was a compulsive fraudster and liar, and the sentencing judge, Patrick Durkan, now retired, described Sheedy then as a master of deception.

Sheedys first registered brush with the law came in 1989, when, aged 19, he appeared before Limerick District Court, charged with forging a cheque.

Over the years, Sheedy set up bank accounts in different banks and used their overdraft facilities to gamble; he also pocketed funds from a housing charity.

Despite managing to go straight, stay gambling free and finding a career in sales and marketing and public relations, in Dublin, he relapsed several times and blew all his savings in bookie shops and online gambling sites.

Sheedy served his last sentence in August 2023, having accumulated 100 convictions and estimated himself to have gambled away over a million euro.

However, while in jail, and under the guidance and tutelage of teacher Shauna Gilligan, at Portlaoise Prison, Sheedy honed new skills as a wordsmith.

In 2021 and 2022, while still serving time behind bars, Sheedy won the Writing in Prison award at the Listowel Writers Festival for short story writing.

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In February last year, Sheedys writing career reached new heights when he published his memoir, A Hundred to One: 100 Convictions, 1 Million Euro-The Devastating True Story of a Compulsive Gambler.

He had re-engaged with Gamblers Anonymous (GA) and was working with Speire Nua, and the Bedford Row Family Project, two organisations helping prisoners find employment and helping prisoners  families cope.

Sheedy planned to teach creative writing in prisons, where he used the resources on offer to turn his life around.

Sheedy died surrounded by his family in the care of Milford Care Centre, Limerick, last Monday.

His remains will repose at Griffins Funeral Home, Johns Gate, Limerick, from 5-6.30pm, this Wednesday October 8th.

The funeral mass will take place at 12 noon, at Corpus Christi Church, Moyross, on Thursday, followed by a private cremation service at Shannon Crematorium, Shannon, Co Clare.

Mr Sheedy is predeceased by his father John and nephew David, and is survived by his mother Pearl, sisters Lisa and Niamh, and extended family.
Charity organisations are disappointed that there are no measures in place for the homeless in Budget 2026.

The Simon Communities of Ireland, who work with homeless people, said that it was deeply disappointed that there was no mention of homeless prevention.

It said that homelessness remains invisible in the budget, as well as the housing conversation.

Ber Grogan, Executive Director of the Simon Communities of Ireland said: While its refreshing to hear that housing has been at the forefront of Governments minds, Budget 2026 certainly seems to be focused on landlords and developers, with many measures being announced to encourage housing construction.

"We urgently need a clear commitment to increasing homeless prevention funding to prevent people from entering homelessness in the first place.

"It is disappointing to hear the Government speak about running multiple surpluses whilst the number of people being forced into homelessness grows month on month.

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"Over 5,000 children are living in homelessness and are being robbed of their childhoods. This is not just an economic issue - but a moral one."

Focus Ireland said Budget 2026 has failed the record number of 16,353 homeless people, with no mention of homelessness for the second year in a row.

They said there has been a massive 25% rise in homelessness since it was last mentioned in a Budget speech in October 2023.

Focus Ireland Director of Advocacy Mike Allen said: This Budget included a lot of mentions about 'targeting the most vulnerable', but when it comes to housing, there was no targeting towards providing more low-cost or affordable housing for people who are struggling every day.

With the new Housing and Homelessness plan expected to launch in the coming weeks, the absence of any reference to measures tackling Irelands record levels of homelessness raises serious concerns about the Governments commitment to addressing one of the nations most pressing challenges."

The organisation also said that the Budget, which was announced as making decisive measures to tackle child poverty, failed to acknowledge the plight of over 5,000 children currently experiencing homelessness  the most extreme form of poverty in Ireland today.

Focus Ireland recognised the significant increase in funding to the Dept of Housing, from just under 8 billion last year to 11.3 billion in 2026 and said the increase in allocation for new build social homes and second-hand acquisitions is positive. However, it said the details of how this will be spent remain to be seen.

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Pavee Point, which provides services for the traveller and Roma community, said it was disappointed Budget 2026 fails to address the systemic issues impacting Travellers and Roma in Ireland.

There are no measures to address homelessness and public accommodation supply, said Martin Collins, Co-Director of Pavee Point.

Homelessness is an issue that impacts 39% of the Traveller population, which is a young population, and we dont see any real steps forward on this issue in this budget.

Budget 2026 Budget 2026: Disabled people will be worse off, charities say Read more

Homeless charity Depaul said that it welcomes the attempt to address child poverty and the cost of living with Budget 2026, but awaits further details as to how these supports will be targeted to those in poverty and those experiencing homelessness, particularly children and their families.

They said they welcome the targeted relief for families and renters and the social protection package, including the planned increase in social welfare payments, the minimum wage and the Child Support Payment.

However, they said this budget needed to be about impacting affordability - which is deeply linked to housing, food, and heating costs - and supporting the thousands of children and their families in homelessness, and preventing homelessness.

They added that they dont believe the measures have gone far enough.
Five Irish activists who were held in Israel after their vessels in a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza were intercepted, have arrived back in Dublin.

The group said that they were denied access to water, medical care and legal aid after being detained while attempting to provide humanitarian support to the people of Gaza.

Five of the 15 Irish citizens who had been aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla arrived at Dublin Airport on Tuesday afternoon.

Dozens of people including family members, friends and supporters gathered at arrivals to welcome home the pro-Palestinian activists.

Comedian Tadhg Hickey said their treatment was the most inhumane that he had ever seen in his life.

Tadhg Hickey, one of the Irish citizens detained by Israel following the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

He said: For the crime of trying to get baby formula into a besieged population to try and feed starving babies, we were brought to effectively a terrorist prison camp, denied any access to lawyers, denied any access to doctors, to medical care.

One of us, Paddy (Kelly), a 75-year-old man, was denied access to insulin.

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They never gave him his insulin over three or four days, knowing that easily he could die because of that.

We were drinking toilet water for three or four days.

Another of the group Diarmuid Mac Dubhghlais said they were treated as if they had no rights.

He said: There were Israeli dogs barking and attacking Palestinian prisoners that were treated much, much worse than us.

Whatever technology the Israelis had, disabled the electronic acceleration, so we were dead in the water.

They knew we were coming.

Global Movement to Gaza Eire, the group supporting the flotilla from Ireland, hit out at the Irish Governments inaction over the genocide in Palestine

What happened was completely illegal under international law and should never have been allowed. Niamh MacNamara

Niamh MacNamara, coordinator with Global Movement to Gaza Eire said: Our governments inaction over the genocide and ethic cleansing in Palestine has directly led to this situation, ordinary Irish citizens forced to risk their lives because leaders refused to act.

What happened was completely illegal under international law and should never have been allowed.

If Ireland had imposed sanctions on the genocidal state of Israel and upheld human rights, this mission would never have been necessary.

We demand immediate political action to protect those still sailing to Gaza and to end our complicity in this genocide.

Some of the group of 15 Irish citizens who were detained returned to Ireland on an earlier flight while more are expected to return in the early hours of Thursday.

They are Caitriona Graham, Chris Andrews, Colm Byrne, Cormac ODaly, Diarmuid MacDubhghlais, Donna Schwarz, Louise Heaney, Maureen Almai, Paddy Kelly, Patrick ODonovan, Sarah Clancy, Tadhg Hickey, Tara OGrady, Tara Sheehy, and Thomas McCune.
Kneecap has vowed to fight in court again after prosecutors announced they will appeal against a courts decision to throw out the terrorism case against rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh.

The rap trio said the case is politically driven, and that the Crown Prosecution Service has submitted nothing new in its appeal.

O hAnnaidh was accused of displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist organisation Hezbollah at a gig in November last year, until a technical error in the way he was charged led to the chief magistrate ruling he could not try the case.

The CPS said in a short statement it would be appealing against the decision because we believe there is an important point of law which needs to be clarified.

In a social media post the band said: Once again this is a massive waste of taxpayers money, of police time, of court time.

Once again there are endless news reports about Mo Chara, about Kneecap but we are NOT the story.

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We will fight you in your court again. We will win again.

News of a Crown Prosecution Service Appeal against the ruling of their own judge is unsurprising.

He ruled the charge was unlawful and null and it was.

Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring agreed with O hAnnaidhs lawyers that prosecutors needed to seek the permission of the attorney general to charge the rapper, before informing him on May 21 that he would be charged with a terror offence.

It is understood the CPSs position is that permission only needed to be obtained before his first court hearing, which took place about a month later.

The bands statement continued: It is unsurprising because this whole process has not been driven by the police or the courts, it has been driven by politicans (sic) backed up by British media. This is political policing.

There is no important point of law. The CPS have submitted nothing new in their appeal.

What there is though, is a state wide witch-hunt against Palestinan (sic) solidarity.

The media were gleefully informed about this appeal before we were, they added.

The decision to appeal against the judgment comes as Attorney General Lord Hermer warned shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick not to prejudice future proceedings against O hAnnaidh, asking him to carefully consider any further public comments.

Mr Jenrick had previously written to Lord Hermer calling for an urgent inquiry into the issue, claiming it raised serious questions about the competence of all those involved.

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Ireland Kneecap: UK prosecutors appeal against decision to dump terror case Read more

The chief magistrate called the decision to charge O hAnnaidh unlawful, as he dismissed the case while sitting at Woolwich Crown Court on September 26.

Prosecutors allege O hAnnaidh can be seen in a recording of a gig at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town, north London, which shows him wearing and displaying the flag of Hezbollah while saying up Hamas, up Hezbollah.

In an interview with Virgin Media News, the rapper told the Prime Minister better luck next time, adding: Even if it had went to court we would have won anyway.
A mother-of-three has said it is only due to a backlash from parents and students that a proposed 1,000 hike in student contribution fees wasn't introduced.

Nicola Kearns from Ratoath, Co Meath, now has to find an extra 1,500 this year for college fees because of the budget.

She believes the Government has reneged on their election promises and the Programme for Government by reinstating only half of the 1,000 student contribution fee.

This fee was reduced over the last three years as part of cost-of-living packages.

Plans to reinstate the full amount of 1,000 were mooted in June by Minister for Higher and Further Education James Lawless.

"That decision sparked a huge backlash from students and parents, and considerable media coverage. I believe that push back has led the government to rethink that planned increase," Ms Kearns said.

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"We were told back then, 'wait and see what comes out in the budget', so parents were left juggling budgets while the government decided to play with our stress levels after telling us the full fees would be reintroduced.

"In this budget, the Government pushed the fee back up by half - 500, and they expect us to be grateful that they're only reinstating half of the 1,000 reduced to help us in cost-of-living measures.

"I have a bit of news for them. The cost of living has only increased, but I don't suppose we will ever see any of them trying to look for the bargains while doing their weekly shop.

"As a parent of three third-level students, I will have to find 7,500 this year (1,500 extra) to pay for those fees for my three children who are in three different colleges.

Budget 2026 Callers from squeezed middle class quiz finance ministers over Budget 2026 Read more

"When you reflect on that alongside the fact that Ireland is considerably lagging behind other European countries when it comes to budgetary spend on third level, at less than 1 per cent of GDP, it's reasonable to conclude that the government and Minister Lawless have significantly more work to do to address the gross underfunding of the sector.

"I went to pay for my children's fees in recent weeks, and the colleges weren't even sure what to charge. I've paid 20% of the fees for one and started a monthly direct debit, which will now have to be changed to reflect the extra cost.

"I've paid 50 per cent of the fees to another college, and the third university hasn't come to me yet for any payment.

"I have a one-income family and I know a lot of parents will now be digging deep, going without, facing into a winter with rising fuel, transport and grocery bills."
Two men have been arrested following the discovery of a cannabis growhouse in Co Wexford.

It was found during the search of a home in Oylegate on Tuesday noon, where a sophisticated growhouse operation was discovered within the premises.

Gardai seized 130 suspected cannabis plants with an estimated value of approximately 164,000.

A man in his 20s was arrested at the scene and detained at a station in the Eastern Region under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996.

Ireland Alleged 380k cannabis smuggler remanded in custody after airport arrest Read more

Another man, aged in his 50s, was arrested during a follow-up search in Wexford town, which saw cash and a number of items seized. He is currently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda station in the Eastern Region.

This operation was carried out as part of Operation Tara, targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the area.

The seized drugs will be forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland (FSI) for further analysis.

Investigations are ongoing.


James Comey has pleaded not guilty in a criminal case that has highlighted the Justice Departments efforts to target adversaries of Donald Trump, with lawyers for the former FBI director saying they plan to argue the prosecution is politically motivated and should be dismissed.

The arraignment lasted less than half an hour but it was nonetheless loaded with historical significance given that the case has amplified concerns the Justice Department is being weaponised in pursuit of the Republican presidents political enemies.

Comeys not guilty plea to allegations that he lied to Congress five years ago kick-starts a process of legal wrangling that could culminate in a trial in a few months at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington.

Defence lawyers said they intend to ask that the case be thrown out before trial on grounds that it constitutes a vindictive prosecution and plan to challenge the legitimacy of the appointment of the prosecutor who filed the charges just days after Mr Trump hastily appointed her to her position.



FBI director James Comey, second from left, denied the charges (Dana Verkouteren via AP)

Its the honour of my life to represent Mr Comey in this matter, one of Mr Comeys lawyers, Patrick Fitzgerald, a long-time friend who served with him in President George W Bushs Justice Department, said in court on Wednesday.

The indictment two weeks ago followed an extraordinary chain of events that saw Mr Trump publicly implore Attorney General Pam Bondi to take action against Comey and other perceived adversaries.

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The Republican president also replaced the veteran attorney who had been overseeing the investigation with Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide who had never previously served as a federal prosecutor.

Ms Halligan rushed to file charges before a legal deadline lapsed despite warnings from other lawyers in the office that the evidence was insufficient for an indictment.

The two-count indictment alleges that Comey made a false statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 30 2020 by denying he had authorised an associate to serve as an anonymous source to the news media and that he obstructed a congressional proceeding.

Comey has denied any wrongdoing and has said he was looking forward to a trial.

The indictment does not identify the associate or say what information may have been discussed with the media, making it challenging to assess the strength of the evidence.

Though an indictment is typically just the start of a protracted court process, the Justice Department has trumpeted the development itself as something of a win, regardless of the outcome.



Troy Edwards Jr, son-in-law of former FBI director James Comey, was at the court (Alex Brandon/AP)

Trump administration officials are likely to point to any conviction as proof the case was well-justified, but an acquittal or even dismissal may also be held up as further support for their long-running contention the criminal justice system is stacked against them.

The judge randomly assigned to the case, Michael Nachmanoff, was nominated to the bench by President Joe Bidens Democratic administration and is a former chief federal defender.

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Known for methodical preparation and a cool temperament, the judge and his background have already drawn Mr Trumps attention, with the president deriding him as a Crooked Joe Biden appointed Judge.

Besides Comey, the Justice Department is also investigating other foes of the president, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California.

Several Comey family members arrived in court on Wednesday morning ahead of the arraignment, including his daughter Maurene, who was fired by the Justice Department earlier this year from her position as a federal prosecutor in Manhattan, as well as Troy Edwards Jr, a son-in-law of Comeys who minutes after Comey was indicted resigned from his job as a prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia  the same office that filed the charges.
Russia is waging a targeted grey-zone campaign against Europe, including airspace violations, sabotage and cyber attacks that will only escalate if the Kremlin is not challenged, the European Unions top official has warned.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that in just two weeks, fighter jets had breached Estonias airspace, while drones overflew military bases and critical infrastructure sites in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Poland and Romania.

Europe must respond. We must investigate every incident, and we must not shy away from attributing responsibility, because every square centimetre of our territory must be protected and safe, Ms von der Leyen told EU politicians in Strasbourg, France.





Make no mistake.



The recent incursions in our skies are part of a pattern of growing threats.



Its time to call it by its name.

This is hybrid warfare.



Europe must get the capacity to respond and protect our skies.



Work has begun  https://t.co/dbs5H2NNaE  Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) October 8, 2025

If we hesitate to act, the grey zone will only expand, she said.

The EUs executive branch, under Ms von der Leyens guidance, is preparing a plan for Europe to be ready to confront such challenges by 2030.

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EU officials believe that Russia could be capable of launching an attack on another European country within three to five years.

The plan includes the development of a drone wall of high-tech systems linked to equipment that can detect, track and destroy drones, as well as strike their operating systems or pilots on the ground.

We need an anti-drone system that is affordable and fit for purpose. For swift detection, swift interception, and when needed, swift neutralisation European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

In two weeks, Ms von der Leyen will submit a road map for bolstering Europes defences by the end of the decade to the 27-nation blocs heads of state and governments for their approval.

Ms von der Leyen said that it was simply not affordable for European countries to continue to scramble the latest-generation fighter jets to counter relatively cheap drones, as happened when several of them entered Polish airspace a month ago.

This is absolutely not sustainable. We need an anti-drone system that is affordable and fit for purpose. For swift detection, swift interception, and when needed, swift neutralisation, she said, adding that Europe had much to learn in this from Ukraine.

The commission believes that the best way to encourage European countries to invest more in defence is to ensure that it creates jobs and is good for business in Europe. It insists that at least 65% of any project funded with EU money should be based on the continent.

In recent years, the member nations have placed about two-thirds of their orders with US defence companies.



French President Emmanuel Macron has said Europe must take a more aggressive approach with Russia (Thomas Traasdahl/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

Most investment goes outside Europe. In other words, these are jobs outside Europe. This is absolutely not sustainable, Ms von der Leyen said.

This is European money and we want to see a return on this investment in jobs here in Europe.

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At a summit in Copenhagen last week, the position of some EU leaders towards the drone incidents, acts of sabotage, cyber attacks and sanction-busting appeared to have hardened. Denmark has not directly attributed a series of drone flights over the country in recent weeks to Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron said that Europe must take a more aggressive approach with Russia by shooting down drones that enter European airspace and boarding shadow fleet ships illicitly transporting oil to deprive Moscow of war revenue.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for jailing Chicago's mayor and the governor of Illinois, both Democrats, as his administration prepared to deploy military troops to the streets of the third-largest US city.

Neither Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson nor Illinois Governor JB Pritzker have been accused of criminal wrongdoing, though both have emerged as prominent opponents of Trump's immigration crackdown and deployment of National Guard troops in Democratic-leaning cities.

Trump's call to imprison the two elected officials comes as another high-profile political rival, former FBI Director James Comey, was due to appear in court to face criminal charges that have been widely criticized as flimsy.

Trump has frequently called for jailing his opponents since he first entered politics in 2015, but Comey is the first to face prosecution.

On his social media platform, Trump accused Johnson and Pritzker of failing to protect immigration officers who have been operating in Chicago.

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"Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!" Trump wrote, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel.

Johnson signed an executive order on Monday creating an "ICE Free Zone" that prohibits federal immigration agents from using city property in their operations.

Johnson and Pritzker could not be immediately reached for comment.

Hundreds of Texas National Guard soldiers have gathered at an Army facility outside Chicago, over the objections of Pritzker, Johnson and other Democratic leaders in the state. Trump has threatened to deploy troops to more US cities, which he said last week could serve as "training grounds" for the armed forces.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday found that most Americans oppose the deployment of troops without an external threat.

Trump has ordered Guard troops to Chicago and Portland, Oregon, following his earlier deployments to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. In each case, he has defied staunch opposition from Democratic mayors and governors, who say Trump's claims of lawlessness and violence do not reflect reality.

"My goal is very simple. STOP CRIME IN AMERICA!" he wrote on his social media platform.

Violent crime has been falling in many US cities since a COVID-era spike, and National Guard troops have so far been largely used to protect federal facilities, not fight street crime.

World Trumps son-in-law joins third day of Gaza peace talks Read more

Protests over Trump's immigration policies in Chicago and Portland had been largely peaceful and limited in size, according to local officials, far from the conditions described by Trump administration officials.

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"What we have going on right now is literally domestic terrorism in Chicago," Todd Blanche, the No. 2 Justice Department official, said on Fox News.

Pritzker has accused Trump of trying to foment violence to justify further militarization, and his state has sued to stop the deployment. A federal judge on Monday permitted the deployment to proceed for the time being. Another federal judge has blocked the deployment to Portland.

Trump has threatened to invoke an anti-insurrection law to sidestep any court orders blocking him, which was last invoked during the Los Angeles riots of 1992.
Donald Trumps top adviser for the Middle East and other senior US officials have joined the third day of peace talks between Israel and Hamas in an Egyptian resort.

Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and the US presidents son-in-law, Jared Kushner, arrived at Sharm el-Sheikh for the discussions.

Hamas says it is seeking firm guarantees that Israel will not resume its military campaign in the Palestinian territory after the militant group releases all the remaining hostages.

All sides have expressed optimism for a deal to end the two-year war, with tens of thousands of Palestinians killed and most of the Gaza Strip destroyed.

But key parts of the peace plan have still not been pinned down  including requirements that Hamas disarm, the timing and extent of an Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza and the creation of an international body to run Gaza after Hamas steps down from power.



Palestinians carry plastic bottles in an area of a makeshift tent camp for displaced people along the shore of Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Qatars prime minister and top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, was heading to the Egyptian coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh to join the talks.

From Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus top adviser Ron Dermer was also joining, an Israeli official said.

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As Qatari, Egyptian and US mediators met both sides in preliminary talks on Wednesday morning, a senior Hamas official, Taher Nounou, said the group has exchanged a list of Palestinian prisoners it seeks to release in return for Israeli hostages under the deals terms.

The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire and release of the 48 hostages that militants in Gaza still hold from their October 7 2023 surprise attack on Israel that started the war and triggered Israels devastating retaliation. Around 20 of the hostages are believed to still be alive.

It envisages Israel withdrawing its troops from Gaza after Hamas disarms, and an international security force being put in place. The territory would be placed under international governance, with Mr Trump and former UK prime minister Tony Blair overseeing it.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said on Wednesday in televised comments that the negotiations so far were very encouraging.

Mr Netanyahu has accepted Mr Trumps plan. His office said on Tuesday that Israel was cautiously optimistic, framing the talks as technical negotiations over a plan that both sides already had approved.

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In a statement on Tuesday, Hamas reiterated its long-standing demands for a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza but said nothing about disarmament, a step it has long resisted. Hamas has also spoken against the idea of international rule, though it has agreed it will have no role in governing post-war Gaza.



Israelis marked the anniversary of the Hamas attack (Ariel Schalit/AP)

Speaking in Sharm el-Sheikh, Khalil al-Hayya, Hamass top negotiator, told Egypts Qahera TV that the group wanted solid guarantees from Mr Trump and mediators that the war will not return. It appeared to be his first public appearance since an Israeli strike targeting him and other top Hamas leaders in Qatar last month killed six people, including his son and office manager.

In January, the two sides had a ceasefire that brought the release of some Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Under the agreement the two sides were then supposed to enter negotiations over a long-term truce, an Israeli withdrawal and a full hostage release.

But Israel broke the ceasefire in March, resuming its campaign of bombardment and offensives, saying it aimed to pressure Hamas for the remaining hostage releases.

Past rounds of negotiations have frequently fallen apart over the same obstacle, with Hamas demanding assurances of the wars end and Mr Netanyahu vowing to keep fighting until the group is destroyed.

The Trump plan attempts to resolve all the issues at once, by laying out Hamas disarmament and a post-war scenario for governing the territory with provisions for a massive reconstruction campaign.
A Russian attack has seriously damaged one of Ukraines thermal power plants as Moscow pursues a campaign to deny Ukrainians heat, light and running water as winter approaches.

Two workers were injured in the attack, according to DTEK, Ukraines biggest electricity operator.

Ukrainian authorities release few details about the routine Russian attacks on its power grid so as not to give away intelligence to the enemy. Repair crews, meanwhile, work round the clock to undo the damage.

The energy sector has been a key battleground since Russia launched an all-out invasion of its neighbour more than three years ago.





The Head of Foreign Intelligence reported in detail on how the Russians are utilizing tankers of their shadow fleet  not only to finance the war, but also for sabotage and various destabilization attempts in Europe. Recent launches of drones from tankers are one such example. pic.twitter.com/B09UQo9EZK  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) October 7, 2025

Each year, Russia has tried to cripple the Ukrainian power grid ahead of the bitter winter, hoping to erode public morale and disrupt military manufacturing. Ukraine has accused Moscow of weaponising winter.

Ukraines winter runs from late October through March, with January and February the coldest months.

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Ukraine has been hitting back with long-range strikes on the Russian energy supply, recently causing outages in some Russian regions along the border.

The Russian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that its air defences overnight intercepted 53 Ukrainian drones over nine Russian regions.

The Ukrainian town of Shostka, in the north-eastern Sumy region, has been hard hit by the Russian onslaught against the power supply, officials say.

Authorities have put up tents where locals can warm up, drink hot tea, charge their phones and receive psychological support, according to regional head Oleh Hryhorov.

He posted photos on Telegram of people cooking in outdoor kitchens in the street over open fires on Tuesday.

Shostka mayor Mykola Noha posted the locations of 11 places in the town where locals can get food and tea. Please bring your own dishes, he wrote on Facebook on Wednesday morning.

Russia also struck energy infrastructure in Ukraines northern Chernihiv, southern Kherson and south-eastern Dnipropetrovsk regions, authorities said.

Ukraines air force said it intercepted or jammed 154 out of 183 Russian strike and decoy drones fired at the country overnight.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian rockets killed three people and wounded one more in Russias Belgorod border region, where previous attacks have brought power outages, governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Wednesday.
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Exclusive BusinessCompaniesMedia & marketing SBS staff sworn off naming Palestine despite federal recognition Calum Jaspan October 8, 2025  2:00pm 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

SBS staff remain unable to use the word Palestine in news stories despite the federal government recognising its statehood at the UN last month, as tensions over reporting on the conflict in Gaza remain high in newsrooms across the country two years after the October 7 massacre. While some of those tensions have been momentarily alleviated after Australia last month became one of more than 150 nations that recognise the State of Palestine, staff at the multicultural broadcaster say their organisations own response to meet the moment  or lack thereof  is stark. SBS staffers say they are experiencing increasing levels of grief and moral injury caused by its hardline editorial approach to the conflict in Gaza. Gabriele Charotte On September 22, the day after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recognised Palestine in a statement, SBS staff were informed the term Occupied Palestinian Territories would be still used when referring to the Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem. Its journalists are permitted to qualify that Australia now recognises these areas as the State of Palestine, or that Australia and the majority of UN member states now recognise the State of Palestine, but are not to refer to it as that in editorial copy, or without qualification, according to an editorial style guide update circulated by Lanneke Hargreaves, SBS current affairs managing editor.

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Antisemitism Sheer horror: Pro-terrorism graffiti removed after uproar The term Palestine is permitted in specific contexts, such as a direct quote where a person self-identifies as being from Palestine, in official names such as the Palestine national football team or Palestine Olympic Committee, or in historical references to the area known as Palestine before 1948, it also said. One staff member jokingly likened the use of the word Palestine to that of Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter books as the word that must not be named. Other terms, such as genocide, are strictly but unofficially still not permitted in most circumstances, except in direct quotes, multiple staff members said. By contrast, three days after the Albanese governments recognition of Palestine, the ABC updated its own policies permitting ABC reporting use Palestine when referring to its geography, history, community and the intended state encompassing the Occupied Palestinian Territories, editorial director Gavin Fang said in an email reported by this masthead last week. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong at a press conference in New York on Australia formally recognising the State of Palestine. Dominic Lorrimer

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SBS staffers say there are increasing levels of grief and moral injury in the broadcaster caused by its continued hardline editorial approach to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. They spoke anonymously due to concerns over any disciplinary consequences that might stem from speaking out publicly. Those who spoke to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age said they were hesitant to speak at all due to a fear of retribution after significant internal backlash when staff spoke to Crikey in 2024 over concerns the newsroom was losing its multicultural staff. Related Article Updated

Courts Disaster written all over it: Police urge court to block Opera House protest In response to a series of questions, an SBS spokesperson said the broadcaster takes a considered approach to language in all its content, especially in relation to matters that are contested, in this instance in reference to Palestinian statehood. We take a range of factors into account and in particular include context wherever possible, which is how we are approaching references to Australias recognition of the Palestinian State, the spokesperson said.

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While the broadcaster has a general news and current affairs division, it also houses SBS Radio, home to more than 60 different language services, including both Arabic and Hebrew news services. It employs a number of both Muslim and Jewish staff. But staff said SBS has failed to explain why it refused to bring its editorial output and guidelines in line with the governments updated foreign policy position, which they say has added to a growing culture of censorship within its newsroom and pushback to any questioning of management. How widespread this feeling is across the newsroom is difficult to gauge due to the inability to speak out, some said. Two years on from the October 7 attack that unleashed the war in Gaza, the conflict continues to divide newsrooms, with policies and reporting on both Israel and Palestine facing heightened scrutiny, despite a potential peace deal in the works, brokered by US President Donald Trump. Related Article Courts Lattouf seeks up to $350,000 as penalty from ABC after court win

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In November 2023, just one month after October 7, ABC staff criticised the broadcasters coverage of the conflict in an open staff forum, citing the inability to use terms such as genocide, apartheid and occupation. Weeks later, journalists from newsrooms including The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, ABC and Guardian Australia, among others signed an open letter calling for greater scrutiny in the reporting of the conflict. There were differing levels of action taken against signatories, with journalists who had signed the letter at this masthead temporarily taken off stories relating to the conflict, while other newsrooms urged journalists not to sign any open letters. Last month, the ABCs Fang told staff there was no longer any need to correct interviewees who refer to Palestine or otherwise qualify the word when used by people in ABC coverage. SBS is searching for a new managing director after James Taylor joined outdoor media company oOh!media. It is also without a permanent chair, while the government is advertising for a replacement for George Savvides, who left in July. The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the days trading. Get it each weekday afternoon.
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Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Zenith locks in big Queensland discovery with thick gold hits Brought to you by BULLS N BEARS Andrew Todd October 8, 2025  5:37pm 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

Zenith Minerals has locked in its big new Queensland gold discovery, with some eye-catching, thick gold intercepts from its Red Mountain project near Bundaberg. Fresh assays from its two intercepting diamond holes have locked in wide mineralisation with solid grades down to 530 metres vertical depth. Zenith Minerals Red Mountain gold project outside Bundaberg in Queensland, where it has confirmed its big gold discovery with a second mineralised gold hit. The Queensland project is shaping up as a hefty intrusion-related gold system (IRGS) with room to grow west and deeper as the mineralisation shows tell-tale signs of a million-ounce-plus Mt Wright-style IRGS. The headline grabber is the first hole sunk at Red Mountain, where results stretch the earlier 139.7 metres hit running 1.05 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 214.9m to a meaty 325m at 0.56g/t from the same depth.

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The extended results include whiffs of zinc, lead and silver sulphides with intervals like 27.7m at 0.61 per cent zinc from 237 metres. Th company says the pathfinders signal the cooler edges of a Mt Wright-style setup with richer gold likely closer to the core of the intrusion and yet to come. The second hole into the IRGS was a scissor hole more than an extensional one, aimed to gauge a greater understanding on the direction of the mineralisation. The hole returned smaller but still impressive intercepts of 98.4m running 0.60g/t gold from 232m, including a 5.6m stretch at 6.32g/t, followed by a 29m section at 1.08g/t from 375m and a 17m hit 1.08g/t from 466m.  were confident were advancing towards a significant new gold discovery at Red Mountain. Zenith Minerals managing director Andrew Smith The initial assays have displayed similar scale and tenor down to 530m, with assays still pending for significant gaps from 330m to 375m which could widen the net. The hole pins the gold within a flat-lying rhyolite sill as the main host, with lower hanging units hitting 17m at 1.18g/t and granite in between showing denser veins and better grades than the first hole.

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Zenith is working on the premise the mineralised zone stretches open to the west and down dip based on high-powered IP chargeability surveys lining nicely with the mineralised rhyolite. The company has plans for a 10 to 15-hole reverse circulation (RC) campaign later in the month to map the upper sills full spread to the west and zero in on the higher grade IRGS core. Zenith says its holes will case off for diamond tails if needed, expecting multi-element data to steer the plan with full results from the second hole due soon. The setup mirrors Mt Wright Mt Leyshon and Mt Rawdon with breccia pipes and intrusive feeds that have banked millions before. Zenith Minerals managing director Andrew Smith said: These results support our interpretation that were on the outer halo of a larger mineralising system, with strong potential for higher-grade zones at depth and to the west. Were now expediting our next phase of RC drilling to test the full lateral extent and vector towards the high- grade core. With further assays still pending, momentum is building rapidly  and were confident were advancing towards a significant new gold discovery at Red Mountain.

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Meanwhile, in Western Australia phase two RC drilling started at Zeniths Consolidated Dulcie gold project with 9000-12,000m on the slate for a exploration target of some 0.3-to-0.8-million-ounces. The drilling spans a window across more than 6-kilometres from Dulcie to Dulcie North and Dulcie Far North. The expansive program aims to add to an already substantial 8.2 million tonne resource grading 1.2g/t gold for 302,000 ounces at Dulcie Far North. The plan includes infill drilling aiming to boost resource categories, step-outs along strike and at depth as well as targeting new zones like footwall lodes, fold noses and BIF horizons that have delivered high grades in Forrestania before. The dual Australian gold push is in almost perfect sync with the market, with Zenith revealing wider zones with deeper hits and increasing prospects for scale just as gold notched past US$4000 an ounce ($A6097) today for the first time in history. The companys plans for 300,000+ ounce WA resource couldnt be more timely. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
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CultureBooksReview Chilling stories from inside South-East Asias scam factories Kurt Johnson October 8, 2025  11:00am 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

Whats good, whats bad, and whats in between in literature? Here we review the latest titles. See all stories .

CYBERCRIME

Scam: Inside Southeast Asias Cybercrime Compounds

Mark Bo, Ivan Franceschini and Ling Li

Verso, $33.99 In 2022, living in Laos and searching for an apartment to rent, I came across a Facebook post from a desperate parent trying to locate her daughter. All she knew was that the daughter had arrived from Vietnam with a promise of lucrative but vaguely defined work. Upon landing, she had vanished. Eventually, she escaped after being forced to work in a scam compound until shed paid off an invented debt. Once back, she was not just traumatised but too ashamed to speak to anyone outside the family. Sadly, this is a common story in South-East Asia, where about 100,000 such workers in Cambodia and 120,000 more in Myanmar are enslaved in high-security compounds running scams on an industrial scale. Scam is a thorough investigation of this cybercriminal machine built on corruption, international smuggling and interpersonal betrayal. It analyses the logistic, economic and psychologically chilling dimensions of a growing sector that authorities are unwilling or unable to confront. The shame that the daughter felt presents one challenge to investigation: the line between victim and perpetrator blurs when those imprisoned target ordinary people and are criminalised in the process. Public sympathy has struggled in the face of high-profile cases such as the blood slave, where a 31-year-old Chinese man alleged he had been held captive and that his rare typed blood had been extracted and sold off at regular intervals, a story later shown to be a fabrication. Many escapees, like the daughter, emerge broken, plagued by paranoia borne of betrayal by friends of family members who sold them off.

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Scam also tells the evolution of the industry. Beginning in Taiwan in the 1990s, operations spread to mainland China and then, after concerted efforts at cross-strait law enforcement, were forced into the borderlands of Myanmar, Cambodia, the Philippines and Laos. Places like the Cambodian city of Sihanoukville or LaosGolden Triangle Special Economic Zone sport entire economies dependent on scamming. Banners warning people of human trafficking and scam centres at a checkpoint near the Moei River in Thailands Mae Sot District. Kate Geraghty COVID supercharged things: the scamdemic provided critical conditions that transformed back-room operations into a sophisticated and sprawling billion-dollar sector. First, it created a pool of desperate workers unable to return home and ineligible to work legally. Second, criminally preferred enterprises like gambling and prostitution dried up, forcing gangsters to go remote like the rest of us. Finally, many mainland Chinese, the most frequent targets of compounds, often became lonely and isolated amid hardline COVID measures, making them easy targets for those exploiting misery. The compounds themselves are grim places of psychological manipulation, physical torture and sexual assault. Part prisons with guards, barred windows and brutal punishments, they are also modern offices sporting HR departments, org-charts and training sessions. Those who are adept will be rewarded with bonuses and privileges, while those not meeting targets are humiliated, tortured and quickly sold on. Scam builds on investigations like those conducted by in this masthead, reaching beyond easy stereotypes. The book rejects the assumption that operations are parasitic to their local community. Instead, they require many services in support. Subcontracting has replaced vertical integration. Onsite brothels, shops, tech support and janitorial work are outsourced to local subcontractors. They offer a hefty markup and work by exploiting the same slave labour pool.

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This integration with the local economy means police are often hamstrung or unwilling to shut operations down. Surrounding populations are as likely to sell escapees back as to help. A theme of Scam is how anyone complicit will ultimately be corrupted. Related Series

Asia Borderlands: On the edge of humanity While certainly a landmark investigation by its three authors, Scam suffers from some dry analysis, remarkable given the intense subject matter. The immense reporting that located sources, gaining their consent to speak on the record has been undermined by how seldom their victims and perpetrators are given space to talk. Certainly, when allowed, their stories are chilling. Take this one anecdote that surely changed the lives of eight people: One interviewee told us a story about his former supervisor in a scam company who had taken seven workers out for dinner, planning to sell them to another company. He contacted a group of gangsters in advance and arranged a hijacking. However, when the gangsters appeared, they seized the supervisor along with the men he was planning to sell, and sold them all to yet another company that had made a better offer.

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Its tempting to write off such episodes as another ruthless underworld over there, but the authors correctly identify those features of late-stage capitalism all on the uptick throughout the globalised world: a precarious job market creating desperate workers, the predatory employment landscape and the features shared between criminal and ordinary enterprises. All this translates to the disturbing aspects of Scam less being about violence and criminality and more about how familiar some of it is. The Booklist is a weekly newsletter for book lovers from Jason Steger. Get it delivered every Friday.
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CultureMoviesFilm Julia Roberts couldnt be happier her new film is so controversial Stephanie Bunbury October 8, 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

After the Hunt, the new film with Julia Roberts as a senior academic caught up in sexual assault case, was always going to get audiences arguing. In fact, the scrapping started the day after its first screening at the Venice Film Festival, with reviews spread evenly across the board from fandom to fury  it scores exactly 50 on the Tomatometer  and a tense press conference where Roberts took up the cudgels against a journalist who accused the film of being anti-feminist. Not to be disagreeable because its not in my nature, Roberts riposted, but the thing you said that I love is it revives old arguments  You all came out of the theatre talking about it. Thats how we wanted it to feel. You realise what you believe in strongly because we stir it all up for you. So, youre welcome. Roberts: one, journalist: zero. The problem, she continued, warming to the theme, is that people have forgotten how to have a conversation. I made a meal of it, she says later. Julia Roberts stars as Yale University philosophy professor Alma Imhoff in After the Hunt. Yannis Drakoulidis The one humorous moment came when she told her fellow panellists to open their cans of water at the same time, so that the noise doesnt disrupt the incredible things were about to say. Andrew Garfield, who plays the lecturer accused of crossing the line with a female student, chipped in that it was just like that on set. When her can had to be opened, everyones had to be opened. Thats the microcosm of Julia Roberts. Whatever the spritz of truth in that, there is no doubt that Julia Roberts  now 57, however difficult that is to believe as her famously super-wattage smile lights up the room  brings the full power of her queendom to her role as Alma Imhoff, a philosophy professor at Yale University who is within tasting distance of tenure, the academics grail. On the credit side, she is brilliant and esteemed by her students; more dubiously, she plays favourites with those who flatter her. Maggie (Ayo Edebiri, fresh from The Bear) clearly idolises her, while Almas closest friend, Hank (Andrew Garfield), is more of an admirer, the sexual charge between them palpable.

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Hank is also manoeuvring towards gaining tenure, essentially competing with Alma for a place. It is another unspoken tension that will be stretched to breaking point when Maggie accuses him of assaulting her after a faculty party. He denies doing anything; she refuses to give details but expects Alma, as her mentor, feminist and once a victim herself  a little secret Maggie has discovered and is quite prepared to weaponise  to support her. So, of course, does Hank. Almas alliances, meanwhile, are under critical scrutiny  not least from her husband, Frederik (Michael Stuhlbarg), a psychoanalyst who picks her apart like faulty knitting. Their icy togetherness is a study in itself. Ayo Edebiri is PHD student Maggie, who accuses another professor of assaulting her. AP Its fair to say that director Luca Guadagnino doesnt mind ruffling feathers  hes the director of gay romance Call Me By Your Name, the cannibal romance Bones and All and crazed neo-giallo Suspiria  not to mention casting the most recent James Bond as William Burroughs in Queer. But he seems to have been unprepared for the vehemence of the culture wars fighting forces. A movie with these sublimely powerful female characters, how can that be described as anti-feminist? he says. What attracted him to Nora Garretts script, he says, was the complex play of power, privilege and human weaknesses. People lie without even knowing theyre lying. Nora was so cunning in creating this world, these characters and the dialogue. I love the way these people express themselves, because many of the things they say hide something else they want to say but dont want to be heard saying. That was compelling. I think the script worked in a beautiful way as a text to work on the visible and the invisible. For me, cinema is all about that. There were discussions on set that were, Guadagnino says, endless and compelling and fascinating and exciting about the characters perceptions of what had happened, but he says he didnt come to any conclusions and doesnt know whether the actors did either. I think the true drive for me was the casting of doubt and the triggering of a dynamic of power between the characters. I dont like to think in terms of like who did it or what did they do. I think its more about what is the unconscious of this character is telling me. The unconscious, he says a few minutes later, never lies.

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Director Luca Guadagnino on set with Edebiri and Roberts. AP Guadagnino had wanted to work with Roberts since he saw her in Steel Magnolias (1990), a southern story of women sharing confidences at the hair salon, sequestered from men. In the same year, Roberts had the leading role in the film that would make her bankable for life: Pretty Woman, a movie that certainly wouldnt make it out of the starting gate in these post-#MeToo times. A slew of work followed. P.J. Hogans My Best Friends Wedding came out in 1997, Notting Hill in 1999. In 2000, she was awarded the Oscar for her performance as campaigner Erin Brockovich in Steven Soderberghs eponymous film. Guadagnino references Closer, Mike Nichols 2004 adaptation of Patrick Marbers play about duplicitous couples that he clearly feels shares something of the same questing spirit as After the Hunt. But there is so much more: Roberts filmography is packed, even though she always says she mostly likes being at home. Her idea of a well-executed day, she says, includes a range of accomplishments  and dinner ready when I want it to be, not an hour later. A tidy house is a tidy mind, right? When I have all those things under control, it makes for a nice nights rest. Roberts in Pretty Woman, a film that certainly wouldnt make it out of the starting gate post-#MeToo.

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She has to be persuaded, therefore, that whatever takes her out of the home is worthwhile. Basically, when I became a parent, she told The Sunday Times, I learnt that I could not take a job unless I was fully committed to it. If I still felt like I had one foot in the house I could not do it, but the thing that intrigued me here was that I just couldnt decide if I liked Alma or hated her. Or even understood her. And that is a reason to leave the comfort of my own home for work, right? To go someplace uncomfortable. It was Almas frostiness in the face of others distress that she found most difficult. I have a very hen-like personality; I want to gather, and I want to feed and care, Roberts told Variety. And shes just the opposite of every instinct Ive ever had in my life. She was able to feed and care for everyone in real life, however: she invited the cast to rehearse at the Malibu house where she lives with her husband of 23 years, cinematographer Daniel Moder; they have three children, including twins who are now at college. Guadagnino stayed overnight on his way through to Italy from promoting his film, Queer, with his production designer. They slept in the twins empty rooms; Roberts made them banana bread to take on the flight. You have to know something about Julia. Shes an incredible cook, he says. Spending time with her in their private life is amazing. Roberts remembers when she first heard of #MeToo in 2017. She was doing media for her film Wonder; someone asked her about the erupting scandal around Harvey Weinstein. Like a lot of people, I found it wildly unsurprising, she says. In After the Hunt, Alma gives a stinging speech reflecting on a career carved out of a deeply misogynist institutional culture. Any woman of her age, she says, could make the same speech. Like Alma, Roberts has spent decades dealing with an industry she describes as super-male, where she has often been the only woman in the room, but has toughed it out. In those environments, she told The Sunday Times, I have no fear. The thing that intrigued me here was that I just couldnt decide if I liked Alma or hated her. Or even understood her. Julia Roberts Alma has also beaten back fear; there was no place for it in the front line of second-wave feminism. In that spirit, Alma tells her students not to expect to be comfortable in her classes; woe betide, one suspects, any snowflake who starts bleating about safe spaces. Guadagnino says he worked with Garrett to beef up the generational rift within the film. He wanted a clash of contemporalities. Their perspective comes from now, while the perspective of Alma and Frederik and Hank comes from their own now, which is before. Neither generation was necessarily right. Its how we see the clash of their truths, the director says.

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Now 54, Guadagnino has often shown an instinctive sympathy for the young in films such as Bones and All  in which Timothy Chalamets teenage cannibal is surely the ultimate outsider  and his terrific TV series We Are Who We Are, about a group of youngsters growing up on an army base near Venice. If you do not really look towards the generation below you, you start to be certain of your certainties, paralyse yourself progressively and, without knowing, choke and die is one of his more portentous quotes. Roberts accepting the Oscar for best actress in Erin Brockovich in 2001. AP That doesnt mean he cant feel a middle-aged distaste for social media, with its extremities of opinion and constantly renewed anger. He also holds to an old-fashioned belief in freedom of expression as central to liberal democracy with all its contradictions and shortcomings, which surely puts him at odds with Maggies crew. Isnt he due to become a dinosaur too? A dinosaur? No, he says. I feel alive to what I do. I feel alive as a person, very much so, vivid and alive. Im curious. I like people. I like very much people. I wonder what a person would do in a situation, a human situation, or if I see something that I have not predicted, I want to know more. I am very, very, very curious. Related Article Streaming He is recognised all over the world but this Australian star is now finding his feet Misogyny has scarcely evaporated in a remade #MeToo world; on the contrary, it flourishes on the internet. Its clearly and sadly a situation that is infused currently by the politics of my country. There is this feeling that if theres enough of us doing it, it makes it OK, Roberts told Variety in Venice. Speaking in a huge generalisation, those participating in this particular moment dont even believe in it. They just want to be part of something. And so I call it a sport  it just seems like a game. It is, however, a game gaining a lot of ground. The Roberts-Moder twins are 20; their younger brother is 18. Countering that misogynist culture, for the couples sons at least as much as for their daughter, has become part of modern parenting.

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I think like any value a person holds sacred, you teach it by being it, Roberts says. And, you know, standing up for yourself and what you believe and building a life that has a very deep and specific moral compass. My husband and I try to reflect our values in everything we do and the work we do and the company that we keep and the way we move through the world. It is the greatest thing we can teach our children, who we truly are as their parents. She could not be more proud of her young men, she says. Theyre curious and sure-footed. This sporting game of cruelty comes from insecurity, from feeling you live on a very slippery slope. Curiosity is certainly a cardinal virtue for Luca Guadagnino; it is a word he uses often. Perhaps this is one reason he and Roberts clicked instantly; perhaps it is simply that it is a quality central to making art. You know, I am a natural inquisitor, Roberts says. With Alma, someone so smart and so capable, I wonder, why has she made choices where she ends up trapped in the way that she is trapped? And that was so interesting to me, to chip away at that masonry she has constructed so intricately for herself. And the nature of the ambition every character has, their different desires: thats super-interesting. And if it can provoke arguments among people who see it, so much the better. After The Hunt opens on October 16. Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.
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Eating outFood Cult NYC bar reveals Brisbane location  and its not where you expect Death & Co will open this summer, but it wont be in Fortitude Valley or the CBD. Heres why. Matt Shea October 8, 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

Death & Co will open its much-anticipated Brisbane bar this summer, the celebrated US cocktail group has announced. But it wont be in Fortitude Valley, or even the CBD. Instead, it will be in Toowong, slotted beneath the Regatta Hotel in the subterranean premises previously occupied by The Walrus Club. Why? Because the local bar will be operated in partnership with Death & Co by Australian Venue Co, which oversees more than 200 pubs and bars across the country, including The Regatta. The Regatta Hotel in Toowong will be the home of Death & Cos Brisbane cocktail bar. The original Death & Co opened in New York in 2006 and was influential in the worldwide craft cocktail renaissance of the late 2000s. It later expanded to Denver, Los Angeles and Washington. The cocktail group announced in May that it was further expanding to Australia  its first foray beyond US shores  with venues in Melbourne and Brisbane, but it remained tight-lipped at the time about the exact locations.

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From my understanding, we started talking at the start of last year, says Regatta venue manager Liam Gibbons. But there could have been higher-level discussions before that. Related Article Exclusive Renowned New York bar to open two Australian venues this year  and theyre not pop-ups But when they came over to look at the locations, that was last year. The Walrus Club closed in late September and the site is now being refurbished in a style sympathetic to Death & Cos US venues. Newly appointed venue and bar managers (the Brisbane venue will be managed by Samantha Katsikas) also spent two weeks in the Denver and New York outlets to get to grips with the brand, its cocktails, and its service philosophy. Absolutely, [Death & Co] has had a lot of oversight, Gibbons says. Obviously, its been between both operators, but it needs to be on-brand and to facilitate their vision.

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Death & Cos Naked & Famous cocktail. Brisbanes Death & Co will serve to the table US classics such as the Naked & Famous (Del Maguey Vida mezcal, Chartreuse, Aperol, lime) and the Oaxacan Old Fashioned (El Jimador Reposado tequila, Del Maguey Vida mezcal, agave syrup, Angostura bitters), alongside new, locally inspired additions to the menu. The bar will also serve wine, tap beer and a food menu of elegant bites  more food options than you can usually get in a cocktail bar, Gibbons says. The partnership between Death & Co and Australian Venues Co may seem a curious one, given the latters background in running expansive pubs, but Gibbons is sanguine about the bars impending opening. Death & Co started in New York but has since expanded to four North American cities.

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I dont think theres too much pressure around it, he says. Its something this area of Brisbane is probably missing in terms of great cocktail bars. Every venue does cocktails, but not to the standard and complexity  and simplicity, at the same time  that [Death & Co] brings to the table. We get a lot of local customers already, but to give them an extra offering, its definitely what theyre going to be looking for. And theres so much more thats going on around here in terms of development, and thats just going to keep booming all the way up to the Olympics. Gibbons wouldnt be drawn on an exact opening date except to say it would likely be late November [or] December-ish. Thats obviously dependent on building works and whatnot, but thats where were looking.

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Food

For subscribers Matt Shea is Food and Culture Editor at Brisbane Times. He is a former editor and editor-at-large at Broadsheet Brisbane, and has written for Escape, Qantas Magazine, the Guardian, Jetstar Magazine and SilverKris, among many others.
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LifestyleFashionFashion designers The good, the bad and the brave: Aje and Christopher Esber in Paris Damien Woolnough October 8, 2025  9:18am 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

Giorgio Armani and Gianni Versace; Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks. For every good boy or girl in fashion theres a reputedly bad designer or model, scowling at the end of another runway, preparing to start a fashion feud. For a moment, it looked like that might be the case with Australian designers on the last day of Paris Fashion Week. Christopher Esber is at the top of the class when it comes to local talent, having been accepted on the official schedule of Paris Fashion Week two years ago. However hours before his show, Aje designers Edwina Forest and Adrian Norris gatecrashed the calendar with their appropriately named off-schedule show Rebel Rebel. Rather than a schoolyard brawl, the result was a win for Australian fashion. Designer Christopher Esber with a model wearing his new Specsavers glasses. Louise Kennerley The reserved Esber, looking more brooding and bookish than usual with stylish spectacles, courtesy of a deal with Specsavers that sees his name join those of Alex Perry, Collette Dinnigan and Vivienne Westwood on a range of eyewear, delivered a sophisticated collection bristling with barely repressed sexiness.

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Theres a rawness, a lot of kind of disarray in the fabric developments, and things are a bit more messed up, Esber said following the show. Christopher Esber at Paris Fashion Week. Getty Images Christopher Esber at Paris Fashion Week Getty Images Christopher Esber at Paris Fashion Week. Getty Images Its difficult to imagine the always immaculately dressed Esber in a Speedo or board shorts, but he says that the starting point for this collection was the beach.

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Its how a woman would tuck a T-shirt or a towel into her bikini or into her briefs, and the play of clothing and undergarments. Were guessing the tops that looked like twisted wind-chimes drew inspiration from a beach near Byron Bay, but Esber has always marched to the beat of his own bongo drum. For his Specsavers range, featured on the runway and arriving in stores next week, Esber took a break from watching waves to look at his core collection. I was with the team in Milan doing sourcing, the acetates and the lenses, and it is quite similar to picking fabrics, buttons and trims and finding a way to make them work together. More importantly, the collection allows Esber to connect with customers intimidated by coats with soaring thigh slits and barely there mustard briefs.

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Being with Specsavers is cool in the sense like that theyre iconic and can reach customers that might not even know about my brand, or afford to buy into other pieces of the brand, Esber says. Its pretty cool to be part of that stable and that legacy of the brands still working with them. Not surprisingly, the sunny beach credentials of Queenslanders Edwina Forest and Adrian Norris were more obvious. There was very little rebellion in the pretty pink flower dresses with sheer skirts, on-trend double denim and pastel lace trim party dresses. A leather jacket on top of a maxi-dress was less a raised middle finger to conservatism and more a come hither gesture to the cash registers. Among the potent mix of denim, lace and exaggerated silhouettes, there were nods to the well-honed design language of Zimmermann, who showed yesterday. Zimmermann has walked so Australian labels can run their own race on the Paris catwalk.

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Aje at Paris Fashion Week. Getty Images Aje at Paris Fashion Week. Getty Images Aje at Paris Fashion Week. Getty Images The sequin floral dresses that closed the show were 100 per cent Aje. Paris has pushed the partnership of Norris and Forest even further than their standout show at Australian Fashion Week in May. I think that Eddie and I pushed ourselves with the craftsmanship and the designs and the details to make sure that we could stand next to everyone else over here at Paris Fashion Week, Norris said. I hope that we do it justice.

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Related Article Zimmermann Nicole Kidman at Chanel and koalas on the runway in Paris We feel like weve been working on techniques over the past 20 years and the team and the experience we have got us to a place where I feel very, very proud of what we showed. It felt natural and evolved, says Forest. With a sprawling retail empire in Australia, Aje has its eyes on developing international markets. Expect Aje to enter the official schedule and drop any pretense of rebellion. We have definitely cracked the Australian market and our next target is international and showing up in the same way that we show up in Australia, internationally and especially in Europe, Norris says. Thats why Paris was our focus. Its always been part of the journey. Ive met with the Federation de la Haute Couture et de la Mode many times and we just had the president, Pascal Morand, at the parade come backstage to congratulate us on such a beautiful collection. Thats the way it works over here in Paris. You take small steps towards proving yourself. Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday.
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A planned pro-Palestine march that would result in tens of thousands of people descending on the Opera House forecourt on Sunday has disaster written all over it, NSW Police told the states top court as it seeks to block the rally. The Court of Appeal held an urgent hearing on Wednesday in a test case on protest rights as police seek to halt the march from the Sydney CBD to the Opera House. It will deliver its decision on Thursday morning. Pro-Palestine protesters at the Opera House after it was lit up in Israeli colours following the Hamas attack, October 9, 2023. Louie Douvis Assistant Police Commissioner Peter McKenna told the court he had significant concerns about ingress and egress from the Opera House forecourt. It has disaster written all over it. We are not anti-protest. All the altruism in the world doesnt assist when you have a physical situation where we believe numbers are far too excessive to keep people safe.

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He said 40,000 to 100,000 people congregating at the site was impractical. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Premier Chris Minns said police had made some very  strong and direct arguments in relation to public safety. Nobody would want a Hillsborough-style tragedy occurring. Chief Justice Andrew Bell Its a narrow peninsula at the Opera House. We dont know how many people are expected, but itll be in the thousands, Minns said. We dont want to have a confrontation with police or other protesters or a crowd crush.

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NSW Police are seeking a prohibition order over the protest, which would expose participants to potential criminal sanctions for specific activities, such as for blocking traffic. Protesters have limited immunities from liability for such offences if a march is authorised. Soccer fans try to escape the crowd crush at Hillsborough Stadium during a match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in 1989. Ninety-seven people died in the disaster. Alamy Stock Photo Chief Justice Andrew Bell, presiding over the hearing with Justices Ian Harrison and Stephen Free, said he was concerned organisers had not contacted the Opera House or nearby Royal Botanic Garden about the plan. Even 40,000 is between five and six times the practical capacity of the forecourt, Bell said. In a reference to a fatal crowd crush at a football match in England in 1989, the chief justice said: Nobody would want a Hillsborough-style tragedy occurring.

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Contempt risk Bell suggested it would also be a contempt of court for a protester to participate if they knew a prohibition order had been made. Lawyers for the protest organisers disputed this, arguing that a prohibition order was not a ban on protesting but simply removed the limited immunities available to participants in authorised protests. The court is expected to resolve this question. When is a protest authorised? A protest is an authorised public assembly if organisers serve a notice on NSW Police at least seven days before the protest and: The police commissioner doesnt oppose the protest; or

It is not prohibited by a court. In this case, notice was given of the protest on Friday. The protest will remain authorised unless the Court of Appeal makes an order prohibiting it. When a protest is authorised, participants have a relatively narrow immunity from criminal liability for certain acts related to the protest, such as blocking traffic. This is not a licence to engage in criminal activity. In the Opera House protest case, the Court of Appeal has also been asked to decide if offences under Opera House by-laws which ban protests on the premises would fall within that limited immunity. NSW Police have asked the court to find that the immunity doesnt extend this far.

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Genocide finding Barrister Felicity Graham, acting for organisers from the Palestine Action Group and Jews Against the Occupation, urged the court to make a finding that a genocide is occurring on the Gaza Strip, or that organisers had a reasonable basis for believing a genocide was occurring. Pro-Palestine protesters outside the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday. Janie Barrett Graham said this was a factor of overwhelming significance when the court was considering whether to make a prohibition order because it was relevant to the urgency of the protest when every day means more people are being killed. James Emmett, SC, acting for NSW Police, said that the court cannot properly or indeed fairly make that finding. He said police accepted the organisers had a genuine belief that a genocide was occurring.

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Timing of protest The planned protest has stoked outrage among sections of the Jewish community because it would be held days after the two-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which 1200 people were killed and a further 250 were taken hostage. A pro-Palestine protest outside the Opera House on October 9, 2023, sparked months of controversy. The Minns government had lit the buildings iconic sails in the colours of Israels flag. Israels invasion of Gaza following October 7 has resulted in the deaths of more than 60,000 Palestinians, and was labelled a genocide in a landmark United Nations report last month. The proposed protest follows a historic pro-Palestine march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in August and two years of rolling protests in the CBD. A police application for a prohibition order over the Harbour Bridge rally was knocked back by the Supreme Court.

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The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, which is also representing the views of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, made submissions opposing the rally. In an affidavit filed in court, ECAJs head of legal, Simone Abel, said the march would take place within days of the two-year anniversary of the Hamas terror attacks  in which the largest number of Jews were murdered in a single day since the Holocaust. The Opera House was considered within the Jewish community to be a provocative destination, she said. Protest ban in Opera House by-laws The court has also been asked to decide whether the limited range of immunities from criminal sanction available to participants in an authorised public assembly extends to offences in Opera House by-laws banning public demonstrations at the site.

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The march would remain authorised if the court does not make the prohibition order. NSW Police wants the court to find that protesters may still be charged with offences under the Opera House by-laws even if there is no prohibition order. Political communication But the protest organisers argue the by-laws ban on protests at the Opera House is either invalid because it falls foul of the implied freedom of political communication in the Commonwealth Constitution, or conduct amounting to political communication is not captured by the ban. Supporters in court

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Trish Burt was among a handful of pro-Palestine demonstrators in court to observe the hearing, and had her fingers crossed they would be given the green light to protest at the Opera House, a national icon. Im here to support the Palestinian cause  I just cant stay silent, said Burt, who praised the conduct of police at protests over the past two years. There are people in their 70s, in their 80s [at the protests], there are so many people with children in strollers or holding childrens hands. Weve been peaceful the whole time, thats the purpose of these rallies. Another demonstrator, Jacqui, said marches on national landmarks were vital when an issue is that important, even if it causes some of us to be inconvenienced. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalNSWCity life Opinion Its time to admit it: Parramatta has finally become Sydneys second CBD Anthony Segaert Parramatta bureau chief October 8, 2025  6:30pm

October 8, 2025  6:30pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share 167 View all comments

For almost as long as Sydneysiders have complained about house prices or asked each other which school they went to, Sydneys government planners have attempted to brand Parramatta as our citys second CBD. And for most of that time, Sydneysiders responded with something like the line in Mean Girls about making fetch happen: Stop trying to make Parramatta happen  its not going to happen. Downtown Parramatta is flourishing. Wolter Peeters And rightly so: walking down Church Street in decades past often felt akin to stepping into a large country town with a pub and a town hall, plus an oversized shopping centre. But now, incredibly, Parramattas done it. It has risen to the promise of those long-sighted planners. In what took decades, and then happened overnight, Parramatta has finally become Sydneys second CBD.

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The citys colonial origins placed it firmly as No.2: British colonists came to Parramatta 10 months after stepping onto Sydney Cove, finding it to be the furthest they could get on water before the river became too narrow. The settlement was never going to beat Sydneys pristine coastline or access to resources in the early days. The Sydney Region Outline Plan of 1968 envisaged Parramatta and Sydney, as well as Campbelltown, as the major business districts. State Planning Authority/City of Sydney Archives But it was as early as 1968 when planners saw its potential. The landmark Sydney Region Outline Plan, a mammoth document that set the blueprint for growth corridor development we see today, proposed for the first time that steps be taken to expand the Parramatta centre to become a very major commercial employment centre. It said 50,000 new jobs should be placed in the region and proposed Parramatta become the connecting point for a north-south rail corridor between Newcastle and Wollongong (sound familiar?). The plan was replaced long before its 30-year vision arrived. But the groundwork had been laid for Parramattas potential as a future second CBD. And now we have it. Stand in the middle of the new Parramatta Square and see the fruition of that vision: the land that was once a single-storey carpark is now home to one of Australias most dynamic universities, which is next to one of the countrys most beautiful public libraries, which is next to the home of the public broadcaster, which is next to the home to thousands of state government bureaucrats, which is next to top consulting companies and banks.

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Thats before you look across the dozens of new apartment buildings, where the new light rail stretches out into suburban centres to Carlingford, and will later take commuters all the way to Sydney Olympic Park. Theres the city-shaping metro opening next decade, the cultural behemoth that is the Powerhouse Museum, and a pedestrian link that will connect them all to the increasingly clean river. Need an arts fix? The Riverside Theatres complex, already host to many fine productions, is about to be redeveloped into one of the finest arts precincts in the nation. The winning design of the new $188 million Riverside Theatres. Cox Architecture with 3XN Architects, Aileen Sage, Turf Design Studio and Bangawarra Sport? Commbank Stadium, just a stroll from Parramatta Square, has already cemented its reputation as the best venue in NSW to watch rugby league, rugby union or soccer. But theres at least one thing that sets a CBD apart from a real city: the interesting. The layer of discovery, surprise and fun that entrances visitors, encourages people to spend time in public spaces, and cultivates a sense of belonging among its residents.

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Thats where Parramatta distinguishes itself from, say, Macquarie Park, the sterile corporate centre-cum-science precinct with unusually large office blocks that exist between major motorways. There is nothing exciting about spending time there. Here, though, you dont need to look far to find something interesting. Before you leave the square, the regular chess and table tennis games are going on, with live music from young local musicians coming from nearby. There is genuinely world-class dining on every precinct. (Theres far more to be done on this front, though. We reported last week that the region is still struggling with business vibrancy late at night, despite a high variety of late-night dining options. This will come with time.) Related Article City life Nightlife is booming in one part of Sydney  but theres still a way to go Parramatta has not yet reached its peak  in terms of building height and its overall growth as a city. And its only halfway there. The local councils 2050 vision paints a far more ambitious goal than just being Sydneys second-in-command: it wants to be known the world over, and its demanding legislative change (the creation of the City of Parramatta Act, which would give it more powers in line with what the City of Sydney has) to make it happen. When I told inner-city councillors, developers and other sources that I would start reporting exclusively on Parramatta and the west, the refrains were predictable: Dont forget to change your watch for the timezone! Do you have your passport?

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These cynics have always sneered at the west, and theres no sign theyll get on board with its growth now. But ironically, while Sydney has for so long sneered at the west, Parramatta has quietly been building up a city. And now theres no doubt where it stands. Anthony Segaert is the Parramatta bureau chief at The Sydney Morning Herald.
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Police say a former UFC fighter shot dead while on an early evening walk in Sydneys north-west had links to large-scale drug and gun supply as they investigate links between this shooting and shots fired at a home in Sydneys west last week. Suman Mokhtarian, 33, was shot in a brazen and targeted daylight attack at the intersection of two residential streets in Riverstone, north of The Ponds, about 6pm on Wednesday. He was shot in the upper body and was unable to be revived by paramedics. It was at least the third time he had allegedly been targeted. A white van was set alight soon after the shooting death of Suman Mokhtarian. Nine News Two cars set alight in the suburb are believed to be linked to the killing. Home security footage showed a white van ablaze rolling out of a driveway, setting fire to grass around it and sending plumes of black smoke into the air. A red Audi was also located burning in a separate location.

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Police are investigating links between this shooting and a shooting in Cecil Hills, in Sydneys west, last week, where shots were fired at a home during the night. Occupants of the house were uninjured. The intended victim is believed to be involved in Sydneys combat sports scene. Mokhtarian, who last fought in the UFC in 2019, was the alleged target of a gangland hit at a Sydney mixed martial arts event in April, which was cancelled amid fears for his life. If they gonna kill me, I need to make sure people have a good image. Suman Mokhtarian He also survived an alleged attempted hit outside the Australian Top Team gym in Wentworthville in February last year when a man allegedly posing as a food delivery driver opened fire. Mokhtarian founded the gym. Following the April alleged attempt, Mokhtarian messaged SCN World Star, an Instagram account covering Sydney crime news, to check that they had good photos of him.

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If they gonna kill me, I need to make sure people have a good image, he wrote. Brazen, horrific attack Superintendent Jason Joyce of Riverstone Police Area Command said police believe the shooting was a targeted attack and that the victim was thought to have been hit while going on a walk. Its very brazen, and its a shame that this is happening in our community. Youd want to think that in a residential area that people could wander the streets at that time of night and be safe, but we do believe its a targeted attack, Joyce said.

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My heart goes out to the family of this victim, and certainly any of the people that witnessed it, [it] would have been a horrific thing to witness, and its certainly not something we tolerate in the community. Residents and paramedics at Riverstone, where suburban streets were cordoned off after a man was shot dead. Joyce said one of the burnt cars was a red Audi, and that a male suspect was possibly inside it before it caught on fire. Police believe one of the destroyed vehicles was in the Riverstone area hours before the shooting occurred. We have the description of potentially one male in the vehicle. Thats all we know at this stage from the witnesses, [and it] was seen to speed away from the location, and that vehicle was found burnt out shortly thereafter, he said. Riverstone resident Ben, who declined to share his last name, said the shooting was a surprise for a quiet suburban street.

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We saw the commotion  and a local said that someones been [shot]. It was around then, when we heard a bang as well, and a lot of smoke went up in the air  that would have been the car. Loading There was a large commotion, a lot of people were just shocked because theyve never witnessed anything like this  the shooting happened with children literally riding bikes around the park. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland, who represents Riverstone as the federal member for Greenway, said she was deeply shocked and saddened by the shooting, and said her thoughts were with Mokhtarians friends and family. Our community in Riverstone is full of young families, and this kind of senseless violence is distressing and unacceptable, Rowland wrote on social media.

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A passionate and invigorating fighter Fighter Jesse Swain, who trained under Mokhtarian, said he couldnt sleep after hearing the news of his coachs death. Suman believed in me more than I believed in myself, I owe all Ive done in MMA to him, he wrote on Instagram. Mokhtarian was defeated in both of his UFC featherweight bouts, in 2018 and 2019, where he lost by technical knockout and unanimous decision, respectively. He was a contestant on the UFCs The Ultimate Fighter program in 2018, a reality TV show in which fringe professionals train and compete against each other in a bid to advance their budding careers.

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Mokhtarian transitioned to coaching in recent years, and was a licensed coach at the Australian Top Team gym where he trained several fighters. with AAP Get alerts on significant breaking news as happens. Sign up for our Breaking News Alert.
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The states top court has blocked a planned pro-Palestine march that was expected to result in tens of thousands of people descending on the Opera House forecourt on Sunday, after police warned the proposal had disaster written all over it. In an urgent decision on Thursday, the Court of Appeal issued a prohibition order over the proposed march following an application by NSW Police to halt the rally, and delivered a warning that flouting the order might expose participants to punishment for contempt of court. Loading In co-operation with police, protesters are now expected to march on Sunday from Hyde Park in the Sydney CBD along George Street to Belmore Park near Central Station. There would be a visible police presence at the Opera House to ensure compliance with the courts order, Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said. The Opera House would also have its own security in place.

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The lead organiser of the protest, the Palestine Action Group, said it was disappointed in this outcome but we have an agreed march route through the heart of the city. Respect the umpires call Premier Chris Minns welcomed the courts decision, and warned that demonstrators who defied the order by gathering at the Opera House could face the full force of the law. If you litigate it in front of the Court of Appeal  and they make a decision, then youve got to respect the umpires call, Minns said. The decision of the police and the government to [oppose the planned protest]  on public safety grounds has been validated by the decision.

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Minns backed protest organisers to deliver a safe demonstration with an alternative route, noting that the vast majority of pro-Palestine marches over the past two years have occurred without incident. The court said in its decision that the public safety risk to participants and other members of the public is extreme in light of the likely number of protesters and the capacity and physical constraints of the Opera House forecourt. Pro-Palestine protesters outside the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney earlier this week. Janie Barrett It would be irresponsible to allow the public assembly to proceed, irrespective of the political significance of the event, Chief Justice Andrew Bell and Justices Ian Harrison and Stephen Free said. The judges said there was a real risk organisers estimate of 40,000 protesters will be exceeded, particularly having regard to the timing of the march, on approximately the second anniversary of the bombing of Gaza, the iconic nature of the proposed destination  and the heightened attention the march would receive as a result of the court case.

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The prohibition order would expose protesters to potential criminal sanctions if they forged ahead with the march to the Opera House. [The] public safety risk to participants and other members of the public is extreme. NSW Court of Appeal McKenna said police sought the prohibition order because of concerns about a crowd crush at the Opera House. He told the court on Wednesday the plan had disaster written all over it, and between 40,000 to 100,000 people congregating at the site was impractical. Contempt warning The court warned in its decision that anyone who participated in a rally while knowing it was covered by a prohibition order might be in contempt of court.

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It appears to mark a significant departure from previous decisions of single judges of the NSW Supreme Court, including Justice Belinda Rigg earlier this year. Those decisions had been regarded as distinguishing a prohibition order from an outright ban on protesting. Related Article Updated

Courts Disaster written all over it: Police urge court to block Opera House protest Lawyers for the protest organisers, Palestine Action Group and Jews Against the Occupation, had argued a prohibition order was not a ban but simply removed a relatively narrow immunity from criminal liability for acts such as blocking traffic, which is given to protesters in authorised marches. In the protest organisers view, this would mean it was not a contempt of court to participate in a march because the prohibition order did not prevent that. In her decision in August refusing a police application for a prohibition order over the historic pro-Palestine march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Rigg said the effect of a prohibition order is not that the assembly would be prevented from taking place but that the immunity  would not apply.

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Banning order But the Court of Appeal said in its unanimous decision on Thursday that a prohibition order operates to do precisely what the terms of the order suggest, namely to prohibit the holding of the proposed public assembly. It said that a breach of that order may render a person in contempt of court if they had knowledge of the order, and this might extend in some cases to persons who were not parties to the proceedings in which the order was made. It would be highly incongruous for the legislature to empower the court to make an order prohibiting the holding of a public assembly, if the terms of that order did not accurately reflect the legal consequence of the order, the court said. Solicitor Nick Hanna, acting for the protest organisers, said outside court that many, many groups will have an interest in seeking to take that to the High Court to challenge those findings.

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He said the decision had very important ramifications for the right to protest in Australia. It would be understandable for many Australians to be very concerned about that aspect of the judgment, Hanna said. The court did not deal with separate legal questions about Opera House by-laws banning protests at the site because it was not necessary. Timing of protest The original protest plan stoked outrage among sections of the Jewish community because of its timing within days of the two-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which 1200 people were killed and a further 250 were taken hostage.

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The proposed route was also regarded as inflammatory because a pro-Palestine protest outside the Opera House on October 9, 2023, sparked months of controversy. Israels invasion of Gaza following October 7 has resulted in the deaths of more than 67,000 Palestinians, and was labelled a genocide in a landmark United Nations report last month. When is a protest authorised? A protest is an authorised public assembly if organisers serve a notice on NSW Police at least seven days before the protest and: The police commissioner doesnt oppose the protest; or

It is not prohibited by a court. In this case, notice was given of the protest on Friday. The court has now issued a prohibition order over the march to the Opera House, but not the revised march from Hyde Park to Belmore Park. When a protest is authorised, participants have a relatively narrow immunity from criminal liability for certain acts related to the protest, such as blocking traffic. This is not a licence to engage in criminal activity. That immunity wouldnt be available to protesters if they marched to the Opera House. The court also warned that protesters with knowledge of the order who participated in that march might be in contempt of court. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalQueenslandCrime Alleged lawnmower victim may have been dead for some time, court told Cloe Read Updated October 8, 2025  4:35pm ,first published October 8, 2025  9:52am 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

Paramedics reported a Queensland mother was cold and stiff and had possibly been dead for some time when they arrived at her home after her husband, and accused killer, called for help following an alleged lawnmower accident, a court has heard.

Former Royal Australian Air Force pilot Robert John Crawford stands accused of killing Frances Elizabeth Crawford at their rural Upper Lockyer Valley home about July 30, 2024. The prosecution has alleged Crawford staged the death to look like a lawnmower accident and later manipulated the scene by sending messages from his wifes phone to himself after her death. Robert Crawford, who served as a pilot and safety officer with the Royal Australian Air Force, has appeared in court accused of killing his wife, among other charges. Nine News Mrs Crawfords body was found by emergency services about 3.30am at the bottom of a retaining wall at the couples property on Thomas Road.

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Crawford appeared in the Ipswich Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning for his committal hearing wearing a suit and represented by top barrister Saul Holt, KC. He declined to comment to media outside. The prosecution tendered 183 statements for the case, ahead of the hearing, which would determine if Crawford would face trial. Forensic pathologist Dr Andrzej Kedziora, who examined Mrs Crawfords body, told the court she suffered multiple injuries, including to her head, neck, chin, and fractures to her ribs. Kedziora was questioned on the various scenarios he considered when analysing the death. He said it was difficult to completely rule out possibilities without seeing a reconstruction or looking at the lawnmower parts himself. The scenarios included Mrs Crawford falling from the mower over the retaining wall, or that she was allegedly strangled.

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Kedziora said some of Mrs Crawfords injuries, including a scalp laceration and rib fractures, could be explained by a fall or the lawnmower. He said Mrs Crawford suffered an injury under the chin, which Kedziora described as a very conspicuous abrasion or graze. Frances Crawford was found dead near a lawnmower at her rural property. Nine News In this scenario, possibly some part of the lawnmower  possibly the steering wheel  could have caused this. Probably this would be more likely if there was some rubbing against the steering wheel  not just one movement but multiple instances of ... scraping. He said some neck and chin injuries may have been caused by Mrs Crawford trying to free herself from under the mower.

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Theres a story that the body was found under the lawnmower and the steering wheel was against the chin. I did not see any tiny objects sticking out in this area which could have caused those individual abrasions. Therefore, I postulate this is one of the possibilities that perhaps the [finger]nails caused those, and the mechanism would be that the person tries to possibly pull on something thats resting against the chin but the hand slips and then the nails hit the skin and cause those abrasions. Kedziora was also asked about the scenario of Mrs Crawford being allegedly strangled, or being placed in a headlock. In answer to Holts questions about his analysis of some of the injuries being atypical, Kedziora said: The number of those injuries in the head and neck region made me wish to confront and correlate those injuries with the scene. This hasnt been done. Holt asked Kedziora if he would also have needed Crawfords version of events to help with his analysis. Kedziora agreed.

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The issue with that is, I believe when Queensland Ambulance Service arrived  shortly before 4am, they reported the body was cold and stiff. They reported rigor mortis in all, basically all, muscle groups, and it takes some time for rigor mortis to develop. So basically, it sort of means that Mrs Crawford had been deceased for some time for the rigor mortis to develop. If I see quite a bit of bruising around the neck, it means that it may have been sustained during life. Kedziora said it was possible the neck abrasion could have been caused by fabric or a hand rubbing, while injuries on the upper chest may have been caused by an elbow during a headlock.

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And the abrasions may have been caused by [Mrs Crawfords] nails grasping the forearm and hitting the skin of the neck. This is a possibility and I do not give it any probability, he said. The court also heard evidence from biomechanics professor David Ackland, whose report said the mower weighed 237 kilograms. Holt said Acklands report on Mrs Crawfords death had the unqualified assertion that injuries to her hyoid neck bone could not be explained by contact with the steering wheel. Holt questioned Ackland over how he told the court he was not aware of any previously published studies on reported fractures of the thyroid cartilages and hyoid bone in injuries other than strangulation and hanging. Holt asked Ackland if he understood he was giving an expert report to a court. Holt said it took him five minutes to find such studies on Google.

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The hearing will continue on Thursday before Magistrate Sue Ganasan. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalVictoriaJustice Evidence in dozens of court cases under review after forensics officer arrested Alexander Darling October 8, 2025  3:06pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Evidence in dozens of criminal cases before the courts is under a cloud after the arrest and suspension of a digital forensics officer with Victoria Police. Police say they have identified 77 ongoing court cases that might be affected by the staff members work, and at least 46 of these require data re-extraction and analysis. Police say they have identified 77 ongoing court cases that might be affected by the officers work. Louie Douvis In a letter police sent to Victorian defence lawyers obtained by this masthead, police said the staff member had worked as a digital forensics officer in Bendigo for many years. The letter said the staffers role was providing specialist digital forensic expertise to investigators in the search, seizure, and preservation of digital evidence, primarily through the extraction and examination of devices.

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On Wednesday, police said in a statement: The staff member is currently suspended with pay, and that investigation remains ongoing. That process is currently being undertaken by the cybercrime squad. The overall assessment process remains ongoing. As the investigation also remains ongoing, we will not be commenting further at this time. Police did not specify in their media statement or the letter to lawyers exactly what the staff member allegedly did wrong or the types of criminal cases affected by the audit they are undertaking. They have also not specified whether court cases that have been resolved  such as through convictions and prison sentences  are being reviewed as part of the audit.

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Asked if an external review was needed, Opposition Leader Brad Battin said he wanted a formal briefing from the state government on the matter. Our priority is to ensure that victims are protected and that anyone who has committed serious ... offences in Victoria is kept behind bars, whatever that takes, he said. Weve already seen under the previous Labor government with Lawyer X what happens when you effectively oversee some of the biggest issues that we saw with Victoria Police in the past. A government spokesperson said the reports were concerning.

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We stand by every victim-survivor and we will always encourage them to come forward so offenders can be held to account, they said. Forensics staff aid the courts and the justice process through written reports or in-person testimony. The aim of this is to provide unbiased evidence that can assist courts and juries to understand what happened in a case. With AAP Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalVictoriaPlanning Mid-rise developments could loom over suburbs, secret documents reveal Lachlan Abbott October 8, 2025  3:01pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share 131 View all comments

Mid-rise apartment developments could loom closer to heritage homes and overshadow solar panels, under confidential Victorian draft planning guidelines. The Department of Transport and Planning is finalising new deemed-to-comply design standards for four- to six-storey residential developments that would exempt proposals from time-consuming appeals. Camberwell resident Jane Oldham worries mid-rise apartment design will worsen under the new code and harm Boroondara, where heritage homes are prevalent. Alex Coppel The draft rules were recently shared with councils for feedback in a document marked confidential, but Boroondara Council revealed details at a meeting on Monday night. Jane Oldham, of the Boroondara Community Group, spoke at the meeting against the draft standards, which propose approval for street setbacks of 4 metres, lower than the already reduced six-metre requirement under the low-rise code announced earlier this year.

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Oldham was concerned that the changes would lead to mid-rise buildings jammed together, reducing privacy, sunlight and green space. Why people like suburbs such as Camberwell, I think, is the heritage, the character, the greenery, Oldham said. And that will definitely be lost. We can do better. The Allan government has argued the mid-rise code would make the planning system easier and boost housing supply while maintaining amenity. The standards have not been finalised.

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In a statement, Boroondara Mayor Sophie Torney said the broader community deserved honesty and criticised the state government for keeping under wraps the options that have been canvassed. Boroondara believes in open, transparent decision-making, she said. Communities have a right to know whats being proposed in their own neighbourhoods before decisions are made, not after. Boroondara Mayor Sophie Torney says the state has ignored locals in their plans for the Hawthorn, Glenferrie, Auburn and Kew Junction activity centres. Eamon Gallagher The new mid-rise code is most applicable to the Housing Choice and Transport Zones in Melbournes 60 new activity centres, which are slated for four- to six-storey development. Affluent eastern suburbs are overrepresented in the state governments activity centre program, as the state government says outer suburbs have shouldered too much of the home-building load in recent decades.

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Related Article Property development Planning shake-up to slash approval times, fees for landowners who want to subdivide The only way to make housing fairer for young Victorians is to build more homes faster, a state government spokesperson said. This is exactly why weve been overhauling our planning system, because the status quo is not an option. Boroondara is among several councils that have strongly criticised the approach so far. On Monday night, Torney expressed particular concern that the proposed mid-rise standards did not have a clause to prevent buildings from blocking sunlight to solar panels, which was included in the low-rise standards announced earlier this year. Were literally building shadows over the very homes we want to electrify, and not ensuring new apartment builds potentially have solar, Torney said.

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That makes no sense to me, and its in direct contrast to the governments energy policies. In their submission to the government, Boroondara council officers also took issue with a proposal to deem bedrooms compliant if their sole sunlight source was a window facing an internal-light courtyard, rather than an outward-facing window. We can do better: Jane Oldham, a member of Boroondara Community Group, pictured in Camberwell. Alex Coppel The proposed 4.5-metre setback standard also caused consternation, as the council said it would incentivise higher development while the minimum low-rise setback was six metres. The irony at the moment [is] under the existing scenario for a single dwelling, it has to be further back again, Boroondaras urban living director Scott Walker said on Monday.

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Now thats going to get changed  but weve got quite a paradoxical standard scenario at the moment. Related Article Brighton Brighton locals vow to protect their seaside suburb from Gold Coast high-rises Whitehorse City Council also expressed significant concerns about the draft mid-rise standards at a meeting in September. Planning Institute of Victoria president Pat Fensham, having viewed the mid-rise code proposals in the Boroondara council document, said he was also concerned there appeared to be no provision for councils to consider local design issues. He argued this meant site-specific environmental problems could be missed under a narrow assessment of whether a mid-rise proposal was deemed to comply with built-form standards.

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You cant anticipate all the impacts. Local context matters, he said. YIMBY Melbourne lead organiser Jonathan OBrien, whose group has urged governments to address the missing middle of housing development, supported the state governments overall approach when he viewed the proposals detailed in the Boroondara council documents. We see codification like this, even if its imperfect, as an absolute improvement, he said. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.

CORRECTION An earlier version of this story reported Boroondara Councils claim that their officers were asked to sign confidentiality agreements, but the council and state government later clarified that this was not the case.
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NationalWAPlanning and development Rineharts $250m West Perth HQ approved despite heritage pushback Carla Hildebrandt October 8, 2025  4:12pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

A century-old Federation home in West Perth will be demolished to make way for Gina Rineharts $250 million Hancock Prospecting headquarters, a decision that has reignited scrutiny of former Perth lord mayor Basil Zempilas role in denying the property a spot on a heritage survey. The Western Australian Planning Commission unanimously approved the 14-storey business hub on Wednesday morning. Concept designs of Hancock Prospectings $250 million West Perth development. Hancock Prospecting. The development will transform the home on Outram Street into a high-end office and wellness precinct featuring landscaped terraces, hospitality spaces and basement parking and a vertical garden facade intended to mirror West Perths leafy streetscape. State Development Assessment Unit planner Jacky Jurmann told the committee the proposal exceeded current height limits but was considered consistent with the emerging planning framework and aligned with the citys future density targets.

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Element Advisory principal Dan Lees, speaking for Hancock Prospecting, said the team had explored retaining the original Federation home but found it would compromise the deliberate whole-block outcome achieved through the new design. Related Article Exclusive

City of Perth Century-old home facing demolition fell off Perth heritage list in move that divided council This is quite distinctive  dare I say, iconic  architecture that simply wouldnt have been possible if the (home) remained, he said. When questioned about the lack of public residential use, Lees said West Perths mixed-use zoning referred to the wider area rather than requiring each building to include a mix of functions. He said the executive suites in the proposal would be used by visiting staff and clients. WAPC panel member Megan Adair said she welcomed the design and believed the buildings height and form were appropriate for West Perth.

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I do think that the architecture is very welcome in Perth - its nice to see something a bit different that will stand out, she said. Panel member Ray Haeron also backed the project, describing it as a well-resolved design that would make a really interesting contribution to Perths evolving skyline. When Dan mentioned that this is unique and distinctive, I would agree, Haeron said. If this does work, wed love to see it translate to other buildings in Perth. Zempilas, now the WA Liberal leader, used his casting vote in March 2023 to prevent the traditional home from being added to the City of Perths Local Heritage Survey.

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The move followed a tied council debate over whether to recognise the propertys heritage value, after the citys planning officers identified it as a well-preserved example of early West Perths residential architecture, with its original timber porch, doors, fireplace and tiles. A total of 21 objections had been received, including a letter from planning consultants engaged by Hancock Prospecting. The leafy concept designs. At the time, Zempilas told the council after the objections from those representing the property owners, Im satisfied that taking them off will not negatively impact the heritage of our city. Zempilas later faced questions over whether he should have excused himself from the decision because of his relationship with Rinehart, having hosted her private events as MC and attended others as a guest of honour.

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During a press conference on Wednesday morning, Premier Roger Cook said there were question marks over how the City of Perth handled the original decision under Zempilas leadership. I hope we can all have confidence in the decisions that the City of Perth made, although there clearly seems to be some question marks in relation to that decision, Cook said. We want to make sure that we have vibrancy that can develop and grow, but we do need to be respectful of our built heritage and our cultural heritage. I certainly hope, in this case, that all due process was followed. Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti accused Zempilas of hypocrisy, pointing to his recent opposition to a development project. This is a person who now pretends he cares about anything, and when he was mayor, he did whatever he liked, she told reporters.

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Under the conditions of approval, the developer must prepare a detailed archival record of the 1904 house for the Heritage Council before demolition, preserving its history on paper but not in place. The approval is valid for four years and will lapse if construction does not begin within that period. A Hancock Prospecting spokesperson said: We welcome the decision by the WA State Development Assessment Unit to approve the plans for our West Perth property development. Zempilas declined to comment. The City of Perth has been contacted for comment. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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NationalWACourts Three states, 13 hospitals, no medical problems: WA mum jailed for toddlers abuse Rebecca Peppiatt October 8, 2025  7:06pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

After 13 hospital visits across three states, a mother who presented as a loving, worried parent now faces more than three years in prison after pleading guilty to the medical abuse of her two-year-old son. Sarah Jayne Kelly, 30, told doctors at multiple hospitals in Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia that her fourth child suffered from epilepsy and cerebral palsy over nearly a two-year period from 2021 to 2023. Sarah Jayne Kelly, 30, was sentenced after lying about her childrens medical conditions. On Wednesday, as she was being sentenced in Perths District Court, Judge Laurence Levy told the court Kelly took the child to the emergency claiming he was vomiting, had a head injury and was suffering seizures  but medical professionals could not find any evidence of the issues. In 2022, however, the Gold Coast University Hospital in Queensland prescribed the boy with anti-epileptic drugs, after Kelly went to the emergency department claiming her son was having chronic seizures.

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She also requested a dietitian examine the boy, and he was later fitted with a nasogastric tube. Three weeks later, Kelly was back in WA, where she grew up, and took her son to Perth Childrens Hospital where she told doctors he had five epileptic seizures and cerebral palsy, which was not true. His anti-seizure medication was increased, and he continued to be fed through a tube. Three days later, she took him to the emergency department at Bunbury Hospital, where she again falsely claimed the child was suffering from epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Another three weeks later, she was at the emergency department at Esperance Hospital, claiming the boy had again suffered multiple seizures. As a result of that presentation, the boy was transported back to Perth Childrens Hospital, where he was admitted for a two-week stay.

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During that visit, doctors began to question the two-year-olds diagnoses. Sarah Jayne Kelly and her husband Jacob with two of their four children. Kelly was unable to supply videos of his seizures, and none of the medical staff witnessed an epileptic seizure themselves. Levy also told the court that, during that stay in early 2023, staff attempted to feed the child normally after they formed the view he did not need the nasogastric tube, but Kelly obstructed them, withheld food from him and insisted he be fed through the tube. You threatened to take him from the hospital against medical advice, Levy said.

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The matter was raised with WA Police, who charged Kelly with having care or control of a child engaged in conduct that was reckless and may have resulted in that child suffering. On Wednesday, the court heard Kelly told police she had anxiety about her children suffering illnesses and may have over presented to hospitals, believing they were ill. Levy also said there was a likelihood Kelly had similarly abused another of her children after a fundraising page saw her receive $2000 in donations for falsely claiming one child had leukemia and a brain tumour. By November 2023, Kelly had pleaded guilty to the charge but then fled WA with her husband and children, leading to charges of breaching bail. She then provided a fake doctors letter to the court falsely claiming she was suffering from breast cancer and undergoing treatment.

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Multiple psychologists and psychiatrists assessed Kelly ahead of her sentencing, which at times saw her taken from prison to hospital after she claimed to have lost mobility in one half of her body, and that she was suffering from amnesia. On Wednesday, Levy said the woman was suffering from factitious disorder imposed on another  formerly known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy  during the period of offending against her son. However, he said Kelly then turned the medical issues on to herself in a form of malingering to garner sympathy from the court as she faced sentencing. Ms Kelly has consistently lied for a very long time, Levy said. The consequences are that it becomes more and more difficult to accept anything that she says unless it can be verified.

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That poses a real risk for the upbringing of her children in the future. The court was previously told there was a warrant out for the mother-of-fours arrest in Queensland after she was hit with fraud charges and Levy told the court on Wednesday she was also now facing fraud and forgery charges in WA. Levy sentenced Kelly to three years and nine months in prison, with eligibility for parole after serving half of her sentence, which was backdated to April this year. She will be back in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday to face the fraud and forgery charges. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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WorldMiddle EastIsraeli-Palestinian conflict Opinion Israel has lost the support of the American people. Its danger time for Netanyahu Amin Saikal Professor of Middle Eastern, Central Asian and Islamic Studies October 8, 2025  4:00am

October 8, 2025  4:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Donald Trump appears to have gained the upper hand in his relations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at least for the time being. The US president shocked the Israeli leader last week by undercutting his main goals of extinguishing Hamas and securing Gaza for Israel. But Netanyahu is a master political tactician and cannot be expected to walk away from those ambitions. Trumps 20-point peace plan and Netanyahus public embrace of it has come against the backdrop of unprecedented global condemnation and isolation of Israel over the Gaza operations and, more importantly, a dramatic decline in Americans support for Israel. According to a New York Times and Siena University poll, more Americans side with Palestinians over Israelis for the first time since the poll began in 1998, and most American voters now oppose sending more economic and military aid to Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Donald Trump at the White House on September 29. Bloomberg In the past week, a Washington Post poll of Americas Jewry found more disapprove of Israels actions in Gaza than support them, and 68 per cent had a negative view of Netanyahus leadership. Six in 10 believe Israel has committed war crimes and four in 10 believe Israel is guilty of genocide. Most alarming for Trump is the growing criticism of Netanyahu and his extremist ruling coalition from many prominent MAGA loyalists. They have questioned the value of Americas costly strategic partnership with Israel, the influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in US politics, and Israels intelligence and military infiltration of the American administration.

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MAGA ideologue Steve Bannon, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and media personality Tucker Carlson have voiced serious concerns about the Trump administrations deep and unwavering commitment to Israel. They have variously called for an overhaul of US-Iran relations. Bannon has disparaged Israel as Americas protectorate, Greene wants to see an end of American aid to Israel and Carlson has asked why a country of 9 million people (Israel) has so much influence on a country of 350 million citizens (the US). Discontent in Trumps MAGA power base has shaken the president more than any other factors. It has prompted Trump to maximise pressure on Netanyahu to accept his 20-point peace plan as a victory for him and Israel, though arguably at the cost of not allowing the Israeli leader to end the Gaza war entirely on his terms. To pull him into line, Trump has reprimanded Netanyahu several times in recent months. Related Article Opinion

Middle East at war Tony Blair supervising Palestinian modern governance is satire, not diplomacy Anas Iqtait Professor He publicly rebuked Netanyahu for trying to scuttle the presidents call for a ceasefire in the war with Iran last June and dressed him down again over his attack targeting Hamas leaders in the oil-rich emirate of Qatar, Americas close ally, in early September. He subsequently made Netanyahu apologise to the emirates prime minister in a phone call from the White House. Trump once more upstaged Netanyahu when he ordered him to stop bombing Gaza immediately when Hamas announced its conditional acceptance of the presidents peace plan last week, involving the release of all hostages within 72 hours once a ceasefire had come into effect. He said that Hamas wanted peace, and criticised Netanyahu for having gone too far in Gaza and losing a lot of support  something his peace plan will bring back.

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However, Netanyahu has not laid down the hatchet. He hasnt halted the Israel Defence Forces campaign in Gaza, causing more displacement and the loss of civilian lives, has remained firm in his demand for the total destruction of Hamas and wants Israel to be in charge of Gazas security. These are contentious issues for Hamas. It wants the governance of Gaza to be handed over to a Palestinian body made up of technocrats and for the IDF to withdraw from all of Gaza, with Hamas retaining its arms until these objectives are achieved. Trump has indicated a ceasefire and release of the hostages as priorities, but he appears to have a willingness to let other points of his plan be negotiated. Netanyahus intransigence has frustrated the president, who reportedly told him to stop being so f---ing negative. Yet, Trump knows that Netanyahu is not for turning. He has accompanied his admonition with a warning to Hamas to move fast in accepting his plan; otherwise, he will let Israel obliterate it. Related Article Opinion

Israeli-Palestinian conflict Trump has licensed Netanyahu to finish the job in Gaza. His plan is peace, maybe  or else Waleed Aly Columnist, author and academic Negotiations between Israel and Hamas to implement Trumps plan have begun in Cairo under Qatari, Egyptian and American mediation. The outcome is most likely to be shaped by whether Trump will prevail over Netanyahu or vice versa. There is a lot at stake for both sides. For Trump, it is to maintain his MAGA power base and keep alive his chances of a Nobel Peace Prize. For Netanyahu, it is to keep on board the extremists in his coalition cabinet, and to meet the demands of the Israeli public for a ceasefire with an urgent release of the hostages. He also wants to retain power and avoid facing a trial and potential imprisonment on longstanding charges of fraud and loss of public trust. Given the complexity of the situation, Trumps plan hangs in the balance. Amin Saikal is professor emeritus of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies at ANU, adjunct professor of social sciences at the University of Western Australia, and a Vice Chancellors Strategic Fellow at Victoria University.
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Updated WorldMiddle EastIsraeli-Palestinian conflict Celebrations in the streets after Trump announces Gaza peace deal Matthew Knott Updated October 9, 2025  7:34pm ,first published October 9, 2025  8:32am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

The remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza will be released within days and Israels military presence wound back under a breakthrough agreement aimed at halting the fighting after two years of bloody conflict. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined other world leaders in applauding the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, which was announced by US President Donald Trump and drew Israelis and Palestinians onto the streets to celebrate. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio with President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday (US time). Bloomberg Trump said the 20 estimated surviving Israeli hostages  who have been held in captivity since being abducted on October 7, 2023  would probably be freed on Monday (AEDT), but other reports suggested they could be released as early as Saturday. The remains of the estimated 28 hostages who have died in captivity would then be handed over in phases soon after. Some 400 aid trucks a day will enter Gaza, where civilians have suffered dire food shortages and starvation, and almost 2000 Palestinians are set to be released from Israeli jails.

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I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan, Trump wrote on his Truth Social media platform as he declared: Blessed Are The Peacemakers. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace, he wrote. Loading Gaza authorities say more than 67,000 people have been killed and much of the enclave has been flattened since Israel began its military response to the Hamas cross-border attack on October 7. About 1200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage back to Gaza, according to Israeli officials. Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong hailed the agreement as a much-needed step to peace as they urged both parties to respect the plans terms.

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Australia welcomes President Trumps announcement that Israel and Hamas have signed off the first phase of the plan to bring peace to Gaza, they said in a statement. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the agreement should inspire hope in Australia and around the world, as she urged Australians to suspend protests about the war as a ceasefire goes into effect. People in Tel Aviv celebrate after waking to the news that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a peace plan. AP Today is the start of the end of the war, and the beginning of enduring peace, she said. Speaking to this masthead from southern Gaza, where he works as a doctor, Mohammad Alastal said the announcement had brought a profound sense of relief and cautious optimism to the people of Gaza.

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The people here have learnt to celebrate with restraint, knowing how fragile peace can be, he said. Still, we choose to believe that this time can be different, that humanity and conscience will prevail, and that the world will stand with us as we rebuild our lives in peace. The relatives of hostages held in Gaza celebrate in Washington upon hearing that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement that will bring all the hostages home. Liri Agami and Alon Kaplun Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a great day for Israel and that he would convene the government on Thursday (Israel time) to approve the deal, which was signed in Egypt. With Gods help we will bring them all home, he posted on social media.

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I thank President Trump and his team from the bottom of my heart for their commitment to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages. Israeli media outlets reported that Israel would remain in control of over half of Gaza under the deal, but the Associated Press reported that the Israeli military could withdraw from as much as 70 per cent of Gaza. Related Article Israeli-Palestinian conflict What we know so far about the Gaza deal  and what needs to happen next The Israeli military said Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had instructed forces to prepare strong defences, to be ready for any scenario and to prepare to lead the operation for the hostages return with sensitivity and professionalism. Confirming the agreement on its Telegram channel, Hamas called on Trump and guarantor states to ensure that Israel fully implements the ceasefire, saying the group would never relinquish our peoples national rights until freedom, independence, and self-determination are achieved.

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The statement said Hamas appreciated the efforts of mediators Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, and in an extraordinary shift in tone, added that the group valued the efforts of US President Donald Trump. The Hostages Families Forum, a grassroots group representing many of the families of Israeli hostages, said it had received the news of a ceasefire with excitement, anticipation, and apprehension. It called on the Israeli government to immediately convene to approve the deal and praised Trump for his commitment and determination that led to this historic breakthrough. Relatives of Israeli hostages held by Hamas celebrate on the streets of Tel Aviv. AP As Israelis flocked to Hostages Square in Tel Aviv to celebrate, returned hostage Aviva Siegel said the news was truly amazing and that she and husband Keith, who was also freed from captivity, were finally able to smile. Many questions remain, and subsequent phases of a peace agreement will likely prove more difficult to negotiate.

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It was not immediately clear whether the parties made any progress on the trickier questions about the future of the conflict, including whether Hamas will demilitarise, as Trump has demanded, and eventual governance of the war-torn territory. Related Article Analysis

Israeli-Palestinian conflict A moment of hope breaks the despair of the Gaza war  thanks to Donald Trump It was also unclear which Palestinian prisoners would be released, but the list of people that Hamas wanted freed is believed to include some of the most prominent prisoners ever jailed by Israel, prisoners whose release has been off limits in previous ceasefires. But Israel and Hamas appear to be closer than they have been since at least March to ending a war that has killed an estimated 67,200 Palestinians, flattened most of Gaza and frayed social cohesion around the world, including in Australia. The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network welcomed a reprieve to the war, but said it feared Israel would breach the ceasefire as it did in March.

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While this plan is a recognition that Israels current position is untenable, it does not lift the criminal siege, dismantle the apartheid system or end the occupation, the group said. Alon Cassuto, chief executive of the Zionist Federation of Australia, said that for the Australian Jewish community, the hope of seeing the hostages finally return after two agonising years brings both deep emotion and profound relief. Katya Emelianova kneels beside a portrait of Eden Gez, who was killed at the Nova Festival on October 7, 2023. David Guttenfelder/The New York Times This day may yet close one of the most painful chapters in living memory, he said. A report by a United Nations commission of inquiry released last month found that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza and accused Israeli authorities of intending to kill as many Palestinians as possible.

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Israel has denied the charge of genocide, saying it continued the war to secure the release of the hostages and ensure Hamas, a listed terror group, could never again govern Gaza or threaten Israels security. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the agreement as a momentous opportunity while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it a moment of profound relief that will be felt around the world. The Hamas wish list for prisoner releases reportedly includes Marwan Barghouti, a leader of the Fatah movement, and Ahmad Saadat, head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Both are serving multiple life sentences for involvement in attacks that killed Israelis. Marwan Barghouti appears in court in Jerusalem in 2012. AP In the lead-up to the announcement, Israeli officials were pushing back on inclusion of Barghouti  the most prominent Palestinian prisoner, who is serving five life sentences in an Israeli jail  according to a person briefed on the negotiations, who spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

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Israeli officials had made clear to the United States that the release of Barghouti would set off the far-right members of Netanyahus coalition, the person said. In his post announcing the deal, Trump said the development marked a historic and unprecedented event that ensured all parties would be treated fairly. Photo: Matt Golding Earlier on Wednesday (US time) Trump said he might travel to Egypt this weekend. His envoys joined talks in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh after two days of indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, to try to seal the ceasefire and hostage-release agreement, based on a 20-point plan Trump had presented to the parties.

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I was just given a note by the secretary of state [Marco Rubio] saying that were very close to a deal in the Middle East, and theyre going to need me pretty quickly, Trump said during an unrelated White House event. The war in Gaza evolved into a regional conflict after it began in response to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, drawing in countries such as Iran, Yemen and Lebanon, and reshaping the Middle East. Just a day after the second anniversary of Hamas attack, negotiators handed over their lists of hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be freed in a swap with Israel. Loading Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close confidant of Netanyahu, arrived and began participating in the negotiations overnight, Israeli and Palestinian sources said.

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Also joining the discussions was the prime minister of longstanding mediator Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, according to Egyptian sources. In parallel with the Sharm el-Sheikh talks, Arab and other states will meet in Paris on Thursday to discuss Gazas postwar transition, with Washington likely to be represented, diplomatic sources said. Hamas said the first couple of days of indirect negotiations had been focused on three issues: halting the conflict, withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza, and the swap deal. Related Article Israeli-Palestinian conflict Tony Blair tried and failed to bring peace to the Middle East before. Can he succeed this time? The group has so far refused to discuss Israels demand that Hamas give up its arms, which the Palestinian source said Hamas would reject as long as Israeli troops occupied Palestinian land.

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Two sources familiar with the talks confirmed that sticking points included the mechanism for the Israeli withdrawal, with Hamas seeking a clear timeline linked to the release of hostages and guarantees of a complete withdrawal by Israeli forces. Within Gaza, Israel has dialled down its military campaign at Trumps behest, but it has not halted strikes altogether. The Israeli military said on Wednesday that its forces had killed several militants in Gaza City who it said were on their way to attack Israeli soldiers. Trumps plan calls for an international body led by Trump and including former British prime minister Tony Blair to play a role in Gazas postwar administration. Arab countries that back the plan say it must lead to eventual independence for a Palestinian state, which Netanyahu says will never happen. Related Article Israeli-Palestinian conflict In both Israel and Gaza, the message is the same: Talks must end this war There is no clear indication who will rule Gaza when the war ends. Netanyahu, Trump, Western and Arab states have ruled out a role for Hamas, which has run Gaza since driving out Palestinian rivals in 2007.

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Hamas has said it would relinquish Gaza governance only to a Palestinian technocrat government supervised by the Palestinian Authority and backed by Arab and Muslim countries. It rejects any role for Blair, or foreign rule of Gaza. With Reuters, AP, Bloomberg Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on whats making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.
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WorldNorth AmericaUS politics Vindictive prosecution: Ex-FBI boss Comey pleads not guilty in case Trump pushed for Eric Tucker , Alanna Durkin Richer and Michael Kunzelman Updated October 9, 2025  4:44am ,first published October 9, 2025  1:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Alexandria, Virginia: Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty in a criminal case that has highlighted the Justice Departments efforts to target adversaries of US President Donald Trump, with lawyers for the former FBI director saying they plan to argue the prosecution is politically motivated and should be dismissed. The arraignment lasted less than half an hour, but it was nonetheless loaded with historical significance given that the case has amplified concerns the Justice Department is being weaponized in pursuit of the Republican presidents political enemies and is operating at the behest of an administration determined to seek retribution. Former FBI director James Comey speaks during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing in 2017. AP Comeys not guilty plea to allegations that he lied to Congress five years ago kick-starts a process of legal wrangling that could culminate in a trial in a few months at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside of Washington. Defence lawyers said they intend to ask that the case be thrown out before trial on grounds that it constitutes a vindictive prosecution and plan to challenge the legitimacy of the appointment of the prosecutor who filed the charges just days after Trump hastily appointed her to her position.

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Its the honour of my life to represent Mr. Comey in this matter, one of Comeys lawyers, Patrick Fitzgerald, a longtime friend who served with him in President George W. Bushs Justice Department, said in court on Wednesday, local time. The indictment two weeks ago followed an extraordinary chain of events that saw Trump publicly implore Attorney General Pam Bondi to take action against Comey and other perceived adversaries. The Republican president also replaced the veteran attorney who had been overseeing the investigation with Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide who had never previously served as a federal prosecutor. Halligan rushed to file charges before a legal deadline lapsed despite warnings from other lawyers in the office that the evidence was insufficient for an indictment. A courtroom sketch of former FBI director James Comey, second from left, during his arraignment on Wednesday. AP What the indictment says The two-count indictment alleges that Comey made a false statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 30, 2020, by denying he had authorised an associate to serve as an anonymous source to the news media and that he obstructed a congressional proceeding.

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Comey has denied any wrongdoing and has said he was looking forward to a trial. The indictment does not identify the associate or say what information may have been discussed with the media, making it challenging to assess the strength of the evidence or to even fully parse the allegations. Related Article Trump's White House Department of Revenge: Bondi accused of turning office into weapon for Trump as troops land in Chicago Though an indictment is typically just the start of a protracted court process, the Justice Department has trumpeted the development itself as something of a win, regardless of the outcome. Trump administration officials are likely to point to any conviction as proof the case was well-justified, but an acquittal or even dismissal may also be held up as further support for their long-running contention the criminal justice system is stacked against them. The judge was nominated by Biden The judge randomly assigned to the case, Michael Nachmanoff, was nominated to the bench by former president Joe Bidens Democratic administration and is a former chief federal defender. Known for methodical preparation and a cool temperament, the judge and his background have already drawn Trumps attention, with the president deriding him as a Crooked Joe Biden appointed Judge.

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Besides Comey, the Justice Department is also investigating other foes of the president, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California. Several Comey family members arrived in court ahead of the arraignment, including his daughter Maurene, who was fired by the Justice Department earlier this year from her position as a federal prosecutor in Manhattan, as well as Troy Edwards jnr, a son-in-law of Comeys who minutes after Comey was indicted resigned his job as a prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia  the same office that filed the charges. A demonstrator holds a sign outside the US District Courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, on Wednesday. Bloomberg Trump and Comeys fraught relationship The indictment was the latest chapter in a long-broken relationship between Trump and Comey.

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Trump arrived in office in January 2017 as Comey, appointed to the FBI director job by President Barack Obama four years earlier, was overseeing an investigation into ties between Russia and Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. The dynamic was fraught from the start, with Comey briefing Trump weeks before he took office on the existence of uncorroborated and sexually salacious gossip in a dossier of opposition research compiled by a former British spy. In their first several private interactions, Comey would later reveal, Trump asked his FBI director to pledge his loyalty to him and to drop an FBI investigation into his administrations first national security adviser, Michael Flynn. Comey said Trump also asked him to announce that Trump himself was not under investigation as part of the broader inquiry into Russian election interference, something Comey did not do. Comey was abruptly fired in May 2017 while at an event in Los Angeles, with Trump later saying he was thinking about this Russia thing when he decided to terminate him. The firing was investigated by Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller as an act of potential obstruction of justice. Comey in 2018 published a memoir, A Higher Loyalty, that painted Trump in deeply unflattering ways, likening him to a mafia don and characterising him as unethical and untethered to truth.

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Trump, for his part, continued to angrily vent at Comey as the Russia investigation led by Mueller dominated headlines for the next two years and shadowed his first administration. On social media, he repeatedly claimed Comey should face charges for treason  an accusation Comey dismissed as dumb lies  and called him an untruthful slime ball. AP 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.
There is discussion of another housing bubble. I wouldn't call the current situation a "bubble".

A bubble requires both overvaluation based on fundamentals and speculation. It is natural to focus on an assets fundamental value, but the real key for detecting a bubble is speculation ... Speculation tends to chase appreciating assets, and then speculation begets more speculation, until finally, for some reason that will become obvious to all in hindsight, the "bubble" bursts.





We might see some price declines, especially in some 2nd home areas that saw a surge in demand at the onset of the pandemic, but the recent buyers are all well qualified, and some price declines will not lead to forced selling. So there is no threat to the financial system with widespread defaults.





On fundamentals:













This graph shows the price to rent ratio (January 2000 = 1.0). This suggested prices were way too high during the housing bubble, and also suggests prices might be high now - but only about half the housing bubble. Every month, I post a price-to-rent graph based on 2004 paper by Fed economist John Krainer and researcher Chishen Wei: House Prices and Fundamental Value . Kainer and Wei presented a price-to-rent ratio using the OFHEO house price index and the Owners' Equivalent Rent (OER) from the BLS. Here is a similar graph using the Case-Shiller National and Composite 20 House Price Indexes.This graph shows the price to rent ratio (January 2000 = 1.0). This suggested prices were way too high during the housing bubble, and also suggests prices might be high now - but only about half the housing bubble.









Here is another measure - house prices to the Median Household income.







This graph shows the ratio of house price indexes divided by the Median Household Income through 2020 (the HPI is first multiplied by 1000).



This uses the year end National Case-Shiller index since 1976 (December 2020 estimated).

House price appear elevated relative to incomes, but still well below the levels of the housing bubble. If we factor in low rates, demographics, and if low supply persists (I think inventory will increase this year), maybe prices are only a little out of line.Here is another measure - house prices to the Median Household income. This graph uses the year end Case-Shiller house price index - and the nominal median household income through 2019 (from the Census Bureau). 2020 median income is estimated at a 5% gain.This graph shows the ratio of house price indexes divided by the Median Household Income through 2020 (the HPI is first multiplied by 1000).This uses the year end National Case-Shiller index since 1976 (December 2020 estimated).





From a historical perspective, house prices are high. But lending standards have been solid, and we haven't seen significant speculation - so I wouldn't call this a bubble.

Way back in early 2005, I wrote: Housing: Speculation is the Key Maybe prices are too high based on fundamentals (due to extremely low supply and record low mortgage rates), but there is very little evidence of speculation (not like the loose lending of the housing bubble).Ben Carlson discusses lending (and other issues) in Why This is Not Another Housing Bubble The lack of wild speculation doesn't mean house prices can't decline, but it means that. In the 2006 through 2011 period, as prices fell, and teaser rates and other "affordability products" expired - more and more homeowners were forced to sell (or just walk away). That drove prices down 26% nationally from peak to trough, and much more in certain "bubble" cities like Las Vegas (down 62% from peak) and Phoenix (down 56%).
La crise politique a Madagascar entre dans une phase decisive et extremement perilleuse. Le mouvement  Generation Z , fer de lance des recentes manifestations antigouvernementales, a mis le feu aux poudres en lancant un ultimatum de 48 heures au president Andry Rajoelina. La menace est claire et lourde de consequences : si leurs revendications ne sont pas satisfaites, une greve politique generale paralysera le pays.







La colere, nee de coupures d'eau et d'electricite intenables, a mute. Elle exige desormais la tete du president, une reforme en profondeur de l'action gouvernementale et des solutions immediates aux penuries qui etouffent la population. Pour les jeunes manifestants, la recente nomination du general Ruphin Zafisambo au poste de Premier ministre et la formation d'un gouvernement dit d'union nationale ne sont qu'une  manuvre de diversion  pour sauver un regime a la derive.

Tentative de riposte ou fuite en avant ?

La promotion du general Zafisambo, ancien directeur militaire de la presidence, est percue comme un calcul politique visant a apaiser les tensions au sein de l'armee, mecontente de la preeminence des gendarmes. Le chef de l'Etat lui a imparti une mission surhumaine : retablir l'ordre administratif et la confiance du peuple en seulement six mois. Un delai qui semble un vu pieux face a l'urgence de la situation.







Dans les rues d'Antananarivo, la tension est palpable. Les forces de l'ordre bouclent l'acces au centre-ville, creant un paysage de check-points et de circulation paralysee, tandis que les jeunes descendent manifester, defiant un pouvoir qui semble de plus en plus sourd a leurs cris.

Le cout d'une crise

Derriere les barricades et les slogans, le bilan est deja lourd. Depuis le debut des troubles le 25 septembre, les pillages et les affrontements avec la police ont provoque des degats economiques estimes a un vertigineux 200 milliards d'ariary (environ 40 millions d'euros). Une saignee pour l'une des economies les plus pauvres du monde.







Le compte a rebours est lance. Madagascar retient son souffle. Dans 48 heures, le president Rajoelina devra soit ceder a la pression de la rue, soit se preparer a affronter une tempete d'une ampleur inedite. La Generation Z a montre qu'elle ne bluffait pas. La suite appartient au palais d'Iavoloha.





Madagascar on the Brink: Generation Z Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum to President

Rajoelina's power under severe pressure as youth-led protests escalate, threatening a nationwide political strike.







The political crisis in Madagascar has entered a decisive and highly dangerous phase. The "Generation Z" movement, spearheading recent anti-government protests, has raised the stakes by issuing a 48-hour ultimatum to President Andry Rajoelina. The threat is clear and carries severe consequences: if their demands are not met, a nationwide political strike will bring the country to a halt.







The anger, born from unbearable water and power cuts, has evolved. It now demands the president's resignation, a deep reform of government action, and immediate solutions to the shortages suffocating the population. For the young protesters, the recent appointment of General Ruphin Zafisambo as Prime Minister and the formation of a so-called unity government are merely a "diversionary tactic" to save a floundering regime.

A Countermove or a Downward Spiral?

The promotion of General Zafisambo, former military director of the presidency, is seen as a political calculation to appease tensions within the army, dissatisfied with the prominence of gendarmes. The head of state has given him a superhuman mission: to restore administrative order and public confidence in just six months. A timeline that seems wishful thinking given the urgency of the situation.







On the streets of Antananarivo, tension is palpable. Security forces have sealed off access to the city center, creating a landscape of checkpoints and paralyzed traffic, while young people take to the streets to protest, defying a power that appears increasingly deaf to their cries.

The Cost of a Crisis

Behind the barricades and slogans, the toll is already heavy. Since the unrest began on September 25, looting and clashes with the police have caused economic damage estimated at a staggering 200 billion ariary (approximately 40 million euros). A massive blow for one of the world's poorest economies.







The countdown has begun. Madagascar is holding its breath. In 48 hours, President Rajoelina will have to either yield to street pressure or prepare to face a storm of unprecedented scale. Generation Z has shown it is not bluffing. The next move is up to the Iavoloha palace.





Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, Generation Z, ultimatum, crise politique Madagascar, manifestations Antananarivo, greve generale, Ruphin Zafisambo, Premier Minister Madagascar, demission president, reforme gouvernementale, coupure eau electricite, emeutes Madagascar, opposition Madagascar, politique Afrique, actualite Madagascar, cameroun24







Didier Cebas K.
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 8:55PM

Source: Google

It looks like Google is ready to phase out its collection of basic HTML5 mini games from Android Auto. These GameSnacks have already started disappearing from the stable and beta versions of the app. Google hasn't officially announced its retirement, but what users are reporting suggests it might be heading that way.

The move seems to come as Google is making other changes with in-car gaming on Android Auto. Earlier this year, Android Auto 14.1 beta added support for full-fledged, native Android games such as Angry Birds 2, Beach Buggy Racing, Farm Heroes Saga, and Candy Crush Soda Saga.

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Sonya McLean

A man has been jailed for five and a half years for his role in assaulting a sergeant during the Dublin riots almost two years ago.

The court heard that the assault on Sergeant Brendan Eddery was livestreamed, and his wife and teenage daughter later received videos of the attack.

Sgt Eddery said in his victim impact statement that when he saw a number of men running towards him that night, he decided on principle not to yield to bullies, a mob.

He said the groups only goal was random violence and intimidation before he described his patrol car being set alight.

During interview, Thomas Fox (22) said he thought migrants were smell bags.

I would do murder if they even touched a kid. You hear about them grabbing kids an all. I thought more kids were going to get stabbed and snatched, Fox said.

When asked why he had got involved in the riots, he said because of what happened to the child earlier that day, referring to the stabbing of the child earlier that day on Parnell Square.

Fox initially denied that it was him in the footage the gardai showed him and claimed I just stood around in town. He later accepted that it was him.

Fox, who was living in hostel accommodation, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to committing a riot on Burgh Quay, Dublin 2 on November 23, 2022.

He also pleaded guilty to violent disorder, burglary of Foot Locker on OConnell Street, interfering with the mechanism of a bus on OConnell Bridge, assaulting Sgt Eddery causing him harm also on Burgh Quay and possession of cocaine for sale or supply in the hostel he was living in at the time on Lord Edward Street in Dublin City Centre.

The court heard that the plea to the assault on Sgt Eddery is accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions on the basis of joint enterprise.

Detective Inspector Ken Hoare told Joe Mulrean BL, prosecuting, that Fox was independently identified by two gardai after viewing CCTV footage of the riots. He said Fox was involved in the riots for about four hours.

Fox was arrested on July 22, 2024 in the hostel where he was living at the time. Cannabis worth 210 and crack cocaine worth 340, along with drug paraphernalia was found there. Clothing was also found that matched what Fox was seen wearing on CCTV footage.

Judge Martin Nolan complimented Sgt Eddery on the way he behaved on the night in question and the way he gave his evidence during the sentence hearing on Wednesday. He acknowledged how the attack had also impacted Sgt Edderys family.

Judge Nolan said Fox deserved a custodial sentence before he set a headline sentence of eight years. He then imposed a global sentence of five and half years.

Best of luck sergeant, Judge Nolan said after imposing sentence on Fox.
Ottoline Spearman

A total of 73,336 students received their Junior Cycle results on Wednesday.

This is the third year in a row that the number of candidates taking the Junior Cycle examinations (or any of its predecessors - the Junior Certificate or Intermediate Certificate) has exceeded 70,000.

Some 646,602 grades in 21 individual subjects have been released.

Revised Junior Cycle grade bands have been introduced this year following the announcement by the Minister for Education and Youth in April 2025.

Those who score 85 or higher will now receive a distinction, with those scoring 70 to 85 receiving a higher merit.

However, there are the same number of grade bands as before, with the top four grade descriptors (distinction, higher merit, merit, and achieved) evenly distributed in bands of 15 percentage points.

As a result of these changes, the rate of the distinction grade between 2024 and 2025 has more than doubled from 3.6 per cent to 8.6 per cent.

The rate of higher Merits has increased by just over 5 percentage points to 30.4 per cent of all grades awarded this year.

In consequence of the narrowing of the merit band and the displacement of candidates into the higher merit band, the rate of merits awarded has reduced by almost 11 percentage points from 44.5 per cent to 33.7 per cent.

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Speaking on Newstalk, the Waterpark College in Waterford City said they are glad the wait is over: "We were all very worried, but it's good to have them back now. I think we're feeling a lot better."

Also on Newstalk, General Secretary of the Teachers' Union of Ireland, Michael Gillespie, said it is important students' hard work is recognised: "We have to welcome the widening of the bans to 15 per cent, which the TUI had advocated for a number of years.

"In fairness, the Minister brought in for this year, which is already showing that we're going to have an increase to 8 per cent of the people who get merits and a corresponding 5 per cent increase in the number of people getting higher merits.

"That's going to be good for students because it's going to build confidence and give them a well-deserved sense of achievement."

The decision to make the change followed careful consideration by the Department of Education and Youth in conjunction with the SEC and the NCCA, taking on board feedback about the impact that the previous grade bands may have been having on the teaching and learning experience.

This feedback came from many stakeholders, including teachers and school leaders, as well as candidates taking examinations, their parents and guardians.
CLIMATE Action Week 2025, running from 6 to 13 October, has a range of free events aimed at helping all Carlovians to take positive steps towards tackling the climate crisis.

Climate Action Week 2025 is about empowering everyone in our community to take simple, meaningful steps toward a more sustainable future, explained Jannette O Brien, climate action coordinator with Carlow County Council. Whether youre a climate champion or simply curious, we invite everyone in our community to get involved and learn how small actions can make a big difference  for our environment, our well-being and our shared future.

Councillor Ken Murnane, cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, said: The week offers a diverse range of events that demonstrate how small, everyday choices can lead to significant benefits for our environment, well-being and local economy.

The programme celebrates the mutual benefits of sustainability, including better health, stronger local economies and deeper community connections. Whether youre planting your first vegetable, swapping clothes for a more sustainable wardrobe or learning how to reduce energy bills, every action contributes to a more resilient and thriving Carlow.

There is funding available through the Carlow Community Climate Action Fund for local groups and organisations involved in grassroots climate projects.

During Climate Action Week, participants can learn how to grow their own food in organic vegetable workshops and create low-carbon floral arrangements at the sustainable blooms sessions. There will also be an opportunity to meet local food producers and farmers at an evening event. These engaging activities promote healthier lifestyles, support local food systems and reduce environmental impact.

Creativity meets climate awareness through events such as the free screening of Fashion Reimagined and the Clothes Swap and Eco Fashion Show, which explore the environmental impact of fashion and offer stylish, sustainable alternatives. These experiences invite the community to rethink consumption and embrace positive change in fun, engaging ways.

Climate Action Week 2025 isnt just for individuals and communities; its also supporting local businesses in leading the way. One standout event is From plate to planet, a powerful half-day conference for hospitality professionals hosted by Carlow County Council.

The session focuses on practical strategies to cut food waste, save money and drive climate action in the food sector. Attendees will hear from top chefs, innovators and sustainability experts, gaining valuable insights into how everyday choices in hospitality can benefit both the planet and the bottom line. Lunch is included, and booking is essential.

For further information, log on to Carlow County Councils website under Carlow Climate Action Week.
ARTHRITIS Ireland will host a Living well with arthritis programme in the New Oak Community Centre, Carlow. The free course, consisting of six weekly sessions, starts on Friday 10 October and is suitable for people with any form of arthritis. It will run from 11am to 1.30pm.

The Living well with arthritis course gives people the tools and techniques to help them better manage their condition. This includes managing pain and fatigue, reducing reliance on health professionals and medication, and improving a persons overall sense of well-being. The courses also offer participants the opportunity to connect with others living with the condition. To register for a place, visit www.arthritisireland.ie.
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The 17th edition of Weird Market, Spains leading gathering for animation, video games, comics, and more, wrapped up over the weekend after three days of showcasing the top talent, projects, films, and properties from Spain and, more and more each year, the world at large.

This years event, which focused on highlighting the importance of protecting and fostering original IPs, recognized 13 outstanding works across short films, series, and video games, alongside the international WFest short film festival.

Festival director Jose Luis Farias emphasized the markets impact despite limited resources compared to larger international events, and urged for greater support. Were going to keep fighting for Weird Market wherever we can, because our creators and producers deserve a meeting point in our country, he said, urging greater institutional support for the growing industry.

Emerging Animation Talent

One of Weirds most prestigious awards, the RTVEWeird Market Talent Award for Best Animated Short Film Project, went to Moosika by Victor Monigote (Spanish Academy Goya Award winner) and Esther Yanez. The story follows a young prehistoric woman who, despite partial paralysis, discovers the transformative power of sound and music. The prize includes a 25,000 development grant, opening the door for the short to evolve into a feature or series.

Another key honor, the Movistar Plus+ Short Film Project Award, granted by the countrys top streamer and one of its most important animation partners, was given to Only Rats by Paz del Carre, a SpanishPortuguese stop-motion co-production set in New York City. The prize includes a 9,000 acquisition deal and guarantees a premiere at the first Weird Market after the film is finished.

Additionally, Nuria Manosa Vazquez was recognized with the Best Young Creator Series Project Award (AnnecyMIFA) for Kipaut Survival Guide, earning free professional accreditation to next years MIFA, the market component of Frances Annecy Festival.

Innovation in Video Games

Weird Market has long spotlighted independent interactive media, and this years RTVE/Fallo de Sistema Awards honoring three standout video games who devs were present at the market:

Numbra (Hamahiru  DigiPen Bilbao)  Best Video Game Project

Parkoff! (Xabier Olaz)  Most Innovative Video Game

Jordi & Oslo: La Cua Perduda (Joveguille)  Weird Plus Video Game

WFest: Global Short Films

The WFest short film festival distributed prizes to some of the most exciting voices in animation worldwide. The international jury praised the JordanianFrench co-production Shadows by Rand Beiruty as Best International Short Film for its compassionate portrayal of resilience in the face of violence and exile.

The European section celebrated Percebes (PortugalFrance) by Alexandra Ramires and Laura Goncalves for its poetic storytelling, while Izibene Onederras When It Comes (It Will Have Your Eyes) was named Best National Short Film.

A new award in 2025, the Jury Award for International Talent, went to Balconada by Bulgarian filmmaker Iva Tokmakchieva, recognizing debut works from global animation schools.

Special mentions were also given to Off-Time by Nata Metlukh (European section) and Mater Benefacta by Marc Riba and Anna Solanas (National section).

Finally, the Audience Award went to Jervasio by Felix Bollain and David Rosel.

Winners  Weird Market 2025
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Animation superstar Rebecca Sugar, creator of the groundbreaking Steven Universe, is set to write and direct the first-ever U.S.-produced animated feature based on the beloved Moomin stories.

The film, announced today by Moomin Characters and Annapurna Animation, marks Sugars first feature as a director and a major new chapter for one of the most influential artists in modern animation.

We are thrilled to partner with the talented Rebecca Sugar as well as Annapurna for this milestone new film, said Roleff Krakstrom, CEO of Moomin Characters. We are excited to see how this accomplished team will reinterpret the beloved Moomin stories and for them to be discovered and rediscovered by old and new fans alike.

Robert Baird and Andrew Millstein, co-presidents of Annapurna Animation, added: Were honored to bring Tove Janssons timeless vision to the big screen. Along with Rebecca and Julia, we cant wait to introduce these beloved characters  and the humor, heart, and subversive spirit Tove brought to her work  to new audiences.

The film will adapt the works of Finnish artist Tove Jansson, whose gentle, adventurous Moomin family has captivated readers for eight decades. The franchise, translated into more than 60 languages and adapted for television in over 120 countries, has recently seen a resurgence in the U.S., with features in The New Yorker and an exhibition at the Brooklyn Public Library. Veteran producer Julia Pistor (The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, The Rugrats Movie) is attached to produce.

The project adds momentum to Annapurna Animation, which launched in 2022 under Baird and Millstein and earned acclaim with the Oscar-nominated Nimona. The studio is also adapting the hit indie video game Stray.

Sugar, meanwhile, is expanding her own beloved creation with Lars of the Stars, a new Steven Universe spinoff executive produced with her partner Ian Jones-Quartey (OK K.O.! Lets Be Heroes). The series follows eternal teenager and space outlaw Lars Barriga as he and his pirate crew smuggle contraband, evade the authorities, and uncover the darkest secrets of the fallen Gem Empire.
OpenAI is changing how its AI video generator Sora handles copyrighted material after a wave of criticism from Hollywood and other rightsholders over its initial opt-out copyright policy. See our previous piece on the companys original plan here.

In a blog post late Friday (copied in full at the bottom of this piece), CEO Sam Altman said the company will give rights holders more granular control over the use of their characters in Sora videos. Until now, studios and artists had to proactively ask OpenAI to block their characters or file takedown requests if they appeared. Altman said the new approach will move closer to Soras existing opt-in model for personal likenesses, but with added tools to decide how (or if) characters can be used.

We are hearing from a lot of rightsholders who are very excited for this new kind of interactive fan fiction  but want the ability to specify how their characters can be used (including not at all), Altman wrote.

Altman also said OpenAI is exploring a revenue-sharing system for creators and companies who allow their intellectual property to be used in user-generated Sora videos. The company has been surprised by how much video people are generating, often for very small audiences, and says it must find a way to monetize the platform while rewarding rightsholders. The exact payout model has not been finalized, but it is expected to roll out soon.

The shift comes after Sora, launched last week on an invite-only basis, quickly filled with clips of well-known characters from shows such as South Park, Dragon Ball Z, Rick and Morty, and SpongeBob SquarePants. Talent agencies and studios warned clients to opt out, and legal experts predicted potential copyright suits if the policy remained unchanged.

Altman compared the current pace of change to the early days of ChatGPT, saying OpenAI will iterate quickly and fix missteps as it goes.

Altmans blog post:
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Industry experts and policymakers gathered in Hanoi on 3 October to explore how Vietnams cement sector could play a key role in addressing plastic pollution while advancing green and circular growth.

The event, hosted by the Norwegian Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research (SINTEF) and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in collaboration with the Vietnam National Cement Association (VNCA), marked the conclusion of the Ocean Plastic Turned into an Opportunity in Circular Economy (OPTOCE) project  a Norwegian-funded initiative promoting the co-processing of non-recyclable plastics in cement kilns.

Combating marine plastics and climate change is a top priority for Norway  both globally and in Vietnam, said Norwegian Ambassador Hilde Solbakken. Through OPTOCE, weve seen how science-based solutions like co-processing can transform plastic waste into a resource that benefits the climate, the economy, and communities.

Launched over six years ago, OPTOCE has demonstrated success across eight Asian countries. Chief Scientist Dr. Kare Helge Karstensen emphasised that the approach is technically feasible, environmentally sound, and capable of delivering rapid, large-scale impact, urging governments to embed co-processing in national waste and energy policies.

Vietnams cement industry  one of the largest globally  has already piloted the method. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luong Dun Long, VNCA vice president, called co-processing a safe and effective solution and urged stronger government incentives and collaboration with environmental enterprises.

Pilots at INSEE Cement (Kien Giang) and Lam Thach Green Cement (Quang Ninh) have achieved thermal substitution rates of up to 40 percent, significantly reducing coal consumption and plastic leakage.

Calls for legal reform

Workshop speakers stressed that technical success alone is not enough  an enabling legal framework, fiscal incentives, and robust waste management systems are essential if co-processing is to scale. Experts recommended making regulations mandatory, for example requiring that all waste with a calorific value above 1500kcal/kg be directed to cement kilns or waste-to-energy plants under clear, phased targets.

They also flagged the need to enforce new emission standards (QCVN 41:2025) aligned with global best practices (BAT/BEP), adopt continuous emissions monitoring, allow independent audits, and make performance data publicly accessible.

To support supply chains, experts advocated for publicprivate partnerships to build infrastructure for refuse-derived fuel (RDF) pre-treatment, adjust waste fees, offer tax breaks or carbon credits based on thermal substitution rates, and standardize RDF quality to ensure reliable fuel supply.



Only about 10-12 Vietnamese cement plants currently perform co-processing, while nearly 60 plants and 90 kilns remain untapped. Logistics pose challenges too, as many plants lie far from waste sources, making transport costly. Some firms hesitate to invest because they must redo environmental impact assessments  a complex, time-consuming procedure  when shifting to co-processing.
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Cement dispatches in Vietnam increased by eight per cent YoY to 6.058Mt in August 2025, according to the Vietnam National Cement Association (VNCA). Of this total, VICEM delivered 1.616Mt, up eight per cent YoY, while other VNCA members saw a nine per cent YoY increase to 1.131Mt. Non-members reported an eight per cent YoY increase to 3.310Mt.

Export volumes rose 40 per cent to 3.289Mt, with clinker exports up 114 per cent YoY to 1.502Mt, while cement exports rose nine per cent YoY to 1.786Mt. VICEM members reported 84,115t of clinker exports and 142,011t of cement, down 27 per cent YoY. Other VNCA members reported 24,669t of clinker exports, down one per cent YoY, and cement exports of 229,324t, down six per cent YoY. Clinker exports by non-members increased 111 per cent YoY to 1.394Mt, while cement exports increased 18 per cent YoY to 1.415Mt. Bangladesh was the main clinker destination at 0.680Mt, followed by Cote dIvoire at 0.333Mt, Malaysia, Philippines and Peru.

January-August 2025

In January-August 2025, cement dispatches in Vietnam rose 16.7 per cent YoY to 49.847Mt. VICEM saw a 17.2 per cent YoY rise in domestic sales to 13.470Mt, while other VNCA members reported a 13.4 per cent YoY increase to 8.723Mt. Domestic dispatches by non-members rose 16.9 per cent YoY to 27.655Mt.

Total exports increased by 13 per cent YoY to 23.236Mt in 8M25, with clinker exports up 33 per cent YoY to 9.294Mt and cement exports up two per cent YoY to 13.942Mt. VICEMs clinker exports dropped 62 per cent YoY to 288,560t and cement exports by 44 per cent to 1.002t. Other VNCA members reported clinker exports 274,406t, down one per cent YoY, and cement exports of 1.980Mt, down 13 per cent YoY. Non-members saw a 47 per cent YoY increase in clinker exports to 8.734Mt and a 14 per cent YoY increase in cement exports to 10.960Mt.

The USA and the Philippines were the key cement export destinations in 8M25, accounting for around 3.5Mt each. Followed by Singapore with roughly 1.2Mt, Honduras, South Africa and Malaysia. Bangladesh was the main clinker destination with over 4Mt, followed by Cote dIvoire at just under 2Mt, the Philippines, Taiwan and Malaysia.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) is hosting an Open House at all six campuses to provide an opportunity to learn more about the programs offered at GNTC, tour the facilities and meet faculty and staff.

The event on Thursday, Oct. 16, will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on each of GNTCs campuses: Catoosa County Campus, Ringgold; Floyd County Campus, Rome; Gordon County Campus, Calhoun; Polk County Campus, Rockmart; Walker County Campus, Rock Spring; and Whitfield Murray Campus, Dalton.

Legare Price, associate vice president of Student Success at GNTC, shared his excitement about the upcoming Open House.

Open House is a great chance for anyone to come explore one of our six campuses and see what GNTC has to offer, Price said. Anyone can feel free to drop by to tour our campuses and programs, meet our experienced staff and faculty, learn about our student support services and even apply to GNTC. In fact, GNTC will waive the $25 application fee for anyone who applies on campus that day.

The event will include information and assistance on admissions, advising, career guidance and financial aid. GNTC will waive the admission application fee for those attending the event. Attendees will receive GNTC giveaways.
The Scott L. Probasco, Jr., Distinguished Chair of Free Enterprise at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, is co-hosting a panel entitled "Navigating Tariffs: From City Hall to Global Markets" alongside the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerces International Business Council.The free event will take place on Monday, Nov. 3 from 5-6:30 p.m. in Fletcher Hall, Room 105, 601 McCallie Ave. on the UTC campus.Moderated by Adam Myers, vice president of economic development at the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, the panel will explore how tariffs influence supply chains, shape global trade and impact Chattanoogas economy.Mr. Myers will be joined by experts in government, academia and industry, each of whom will bring a unique perspective to the discussion.Panelists include:Dr. Claudia Williamson Kramer, probasco chair, UTCTim Kelly, mayor of ChattanoogaCraig Fuller, CEO, FreightWavesThis event is designed to help attendees understand the complex economic and policy dynamics of tariffs, said Dr. Kramer. By bringing together voices from multiple sectors, we hope to foster meaningful conversation about how these policies shape opportunities and challenges across our community.While attendance is free and open to the public, registration is requested and can be accessed here
The EPB Energy Pros are giving away free Energy Savings Starter Kits valued at $45 to customers who complete a Free EPB Home Energy Checkup while supplies last.Each free kit also includes easy-to-use energy savings resources from TVA: a $15 gift card to any Elders Ace Hardware, provided by EPB; an advanced, energy-saving power strip; a door sweep; an LED nightlight; and a faucet aerator and showerhead.EPB Energy Pros will be on-site at the Highway 58 Elders Ace Hardware, 4921 Hwy.58 in Chattanooga, on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to answer customer questions about how they can lower their bill by taking steps to save energy. Customers can ask EPB Energy Pros about home energy improvements they can make to their home and sign up for a Home Energy Checkup.October is National Energy Action Month and the best time to prepare homes for cold temperatures coming this winter, and head off higher energy bills, said Elizabeth Hammitt, director of residential energy and environmental solutions, EPB. Were grateful to Elders Ace Hardware for generously supporting our customers with gift cards so customers can put money toward the energy home improvements that will help them save energy and reduce cost.During Home Energy Checkups, EPB Energy Pros conduct thorough in-person assessments of customers homes, including attics, crawlspaces and living areas, to identify areas where improvements can help save energy. Customers receive detailed reports with suggestions on how to save when checkups are complete. Get a sneak peek of what happens during a Home Energy Checkup here Were proud to support EPB Energy Pros because they help our community save energy and live more comfortably, said Tom Glenn, president, Elders Ace Hardware. This is a great opportunity for our customers to access even more local, trusted expertise.Officials said, "As our communitys energy experts, EPB Energy Pros were recently recognized for helping customers save money by TVA as the East Regional Champion in Total Energy Savings."Free home energy advice and resources are available to help all customers improve efficiency through in-person or phone consultations at epb.com/energypros: EPB Home Energy Checkups: In-person visits that provide personalized recommendations about cost-effective ways to make homes more energy efficient. 30-Minute Calls with a Pro: Address questions or concerns about home energy efficiency via phone. Home Energy Rebate Program with TVA: EPB Energy Pros help customers navigate the rebate program, which offers savings on qualifying HVAC systems, ductwork, insulation and air sealing.EPB Energy Pros are trained to provide specialized advice to our residential customers so they can reduce home energy use, said John Watts, senior supervisor, energy services. Our team focuses on recommending solutions that make the biggest impact on energy usage so customers can enjoy savings.Officials said, "As our communitys energy experts, EPB Energy Pros offer expertise on a wide range of efficiency topics to residential customers."This includes: Home renovations: At customer request, perform Quality Assurance Checkups when projects are complete. Appliance advice: Identify energy-efficient appliances for a range of budgets. Solar and EV charger installations: Advise on best practices, work with customers during installation, and provide free, third-party verification of completed work. (EPB does not sell or install solar panels or EV chargers.)EPB Energy Pros also serve customers in need through Home Uplift, a partnership with TVA EnergyRight, to provide home energy improvements at no charge to qualifying customers. Recipients save an average of $450 per year on energy costs.Call 423-648-1372 or visit epb.com/energypros to learn more about home energy efficiency tips or schedule time with an EPB Energy Pro.
Chattanooga City Council members on Tuesday approved the Chattanooga Fire Departments request to purchase a $1.8 million 107-foot Smeal ladder truck for Station 21 on East Brainerd Road. 15 new firefighter positions have also been approved for that fire station to staff the additional truck. Station 21 is already home to an engine company, as well as a water tanker truck.

The additional truck and personnel at Station 21 are the result of funding from the FY26 budget amendment that was passed by the city council last month.

This provides more substantial coverage and response to neighborhoods and businesses in that part of the city.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) studies show that when ladder companies arrive late, key functions  search, rescue, ventilation, and forcible entry  are delayed, potentially leaving civilians trapped longer and increasing risk to firefighters. The absence of a ladder at Station 21 meant critical life-saving operations were postponed up to 15 minutes. Having Ladder 21 at Station 21 closes the emergency coverage gap for the neighborhoods they serve.

International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) deployment guidelines recommend at least two ladder companies on initial alarms for high-hazard occupancies such as schools, hospitals, and multi-family residences.

The CFD will use an existing reserve apparatus at Station 21 until the new ladder truck arrives so it plans to have Ladder 21 in place and operational by the end of the month.
Upper Room Studios and the Upper Room Christian Creative Community are set to host Upper Room WKND 2025 on Nov. 78 in Chattanooga.This two-day experience will bring together Christian creatives, worshippers and musicians from across the Southeast for a time of "worship, collaboration and renewal.""Last year, Upper Room WKND brought together more than 150 creatives from six different states for a powerful weekend of worship, connection and collaboration," officials said."This years gathering builds on that momentum, empowering believers to grow in their faith, refine their gifts and impact the Kingdom through creativity."Centered around the theme of Worship. Create. Connect., Upper Room WKND includes four free events designed to inspire and equip both emerging and experienced artists: Upper Room Worship Sessions (Friday, Nov. 7)  A powerful citywide worship night featuring Upper Room Worship, recording artists, and special guests. Networking Brunch (Saturday, Nov. 8)  A time of connection and conversation with Monica Coates, music industry veteran and former Motown Gospel executive, offering insight and encouragement for creatives navigating faith and purpose in their work. Songwriting Sessions (Saturday, Nov. 8)  Collaborative writing experiences for both adults and youth, led by the Upper Room Studios team with a special Youth Songwriting Session in partnership with Songbirds Foundation, facilitated by Amber and Dran Lewis.Upper Room WKND is about more than events. Its a space for believers to experience Gods presence and discover the purpose behind their creativity, said Carlous Drake, co-founder of Upper Room CCC. Our hope is to see creatives come together, find community and be reminded that what they create can impact the Kingdom.All events are free to attend, but registration is required at upperroomstudios.org/uprwknd2025
National Park Partners celebrates its 20th year hosting the Moccasin Bend Lecture Series, inviting the public to a one-of-a-kind event featuring retired National Park Service Superintendent M. Ann Belkov and Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly.The Oct. 20 event features a presentation from the first woman named a National Park Service superintendent, Ms. Belkov. She will be joined by Mayor Kelly in a conversation about the relevance of community involvement in a National Park City."Also the former superintendent of the Statue of Liberty, Ms.Belkovs service in Chattanooga was critical to shaping the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park," officials said.Register here for this discussion.Officials said, "During her tenure as CCNMP superintendent, Ms. Belkov accomplished three major feats that distinguish her among past superintendents and remain highly relevant today. She organized the Friends of CCNMP, which began fundraising in 1986 for the expansion of the Visitor Center at Chickamauga Battlefield. Following that success, she rallied support for the restoration and installation of the James Walker mural in the new Visitor Center at Lookout Mountain Battlefield (the painting had been in a storage shed for more than 35 years). Finally, almost alone, she prevented a four-lane divided highway from being constructed through the middle of Chickamauga Battlefield."Retired Superintendent Belkov will discuss how engagement between the National Park Service and the community was instrumental to the success of these achievements and how essential community engagement is to current and future successes given current staffing and budget challenges. She and Mayor Kelly will describe the potential for linking Chattanooga's National Park City designation with the tremendous resources of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, including Moccasin Bend National Archeological District."Ann is the retired superintendent of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island Museum. She had a 25-year career with the National Park Service that also included her positions as superintendent of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in Louisiana and Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Park and Russell Cave National Monument in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. A D.C. native, she also worked for the D.C. Department of Recreation for nine years. Ann took a civilian assignment with the U.S. Air Force in the Far East during the Vietnam conflict. She received the Freedom Foundation Award and the Department of Interior Superior Performance Award. She retired in 1996 and has since been active in the D.C. arts and nonprofit scene as an active board member of both Step Afrika! and the Atlas Performing Arts Center. Ann also serves on the board of the U.S. Park Police Foundation."The culminating presentation in the series, Public Lands Partnerships: The Fort Monroe National Monument Model, is presented by Scott Martin, former administrator of the Department of Parks and Outdoors (DPO) for the City of Chattanooga. Linda Moss Mines, Hamilton County historian, will join Scott for a discussion of how the best practices of their model for public lands management may be replicated in other communities.Register here for this culminating presentation.All Moccasin Bend Lecture Series events take place on Monday evenings at 7 p.m. at the Tennessee Aquarium River Journey Auditorium. Seating is limited and advance registration is required to guarantee a spot. All lectures are free and open to the public, and recordings of previous lectures are available on-demand on the National Park Partners YouTube Channel Officials said, "Hosted now in her honor, the series was important to Johanna Rita Vital. Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1930 to German immigrant parents, Rita married Leo Vital, a returning WWII veteran in 1951, and embarked on a lifelong pursuit of education and faith. She earned her bachelors degree from Atlantic Union College, a masters degree in public health from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a chaplaincy degree from Andover Newton Theological School. An avid traveler, she visited over 50 countries, loved nature and founded the Adventurers program, a nature-based youth outreach effort with the Seventh Day Adventists that was so successful it was spread internationally. Rita was instrumental in the Moccasin Bend Lecture Series, never missed an event and was a stalwart supporter of the National Park Service."National Park Partners preserves and promotes the landscapes and stories of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, including Moccasin Bend National Archeological District. We believe the park belongs to everyone and everyone belongs in the park, and we engage the community in growing Chattanoogas National Park legacy for current and future generations."Visit nppcha.org for more information.
Georgia Northwestern Technical Colleges (GNTC) Medical Assisting program successfully passed its recent accreditation site visit with no recommendations from the review team.

GNTCs Medical Assisting program prepares students for employment in a variety of positions in hospitals, physicians offices, outpatient care and other healthcare facilities. The program also provides opportunities to retrain in Medical Assisting or upgrade present knowledge and skills.

The program is accredited through the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB), a Committee on Accreditation (CoA) of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). This accreditation assures students, employers and the community that GNTCs Medical Assisting program meets rigorous national standards and fully prepares graduates for success in both clinical and administrative roles in healthcare, said Allie Patnode, dean of Nursing and Health Technologies at GNTC.

The accreditation review with no recommendations is a rare and admirable achievement that reflects the strength of our Medical Assisting program and its alignment with national standards, Patnode explained. This distinction highlights the programs exceptional quality and commitment to excellence.

Criteria reviewed include providing faculty resources, demonstrating alignment with program goals, achieving established competency outcome thresholds, conducting ongoing program self-assessments, and ensuring the successful placement and supervision of students in healthcare settings.

GNTC takes pride in assuring that all of our accredited programs are meeting their standards, Patnode said. We are extremely proud of our Medical Assisting faculty for their accomplishments
Erlanger Primary Care - Bledsoe announces Melissa Ashman-Brown, MD has joined its team of providers."Dr. Ashman-Brown brings to our community a wide range of specialties in family medicine, including lifestyle medicine and womens health," officials said. "Dr. Ashman-Brown's services in lifestyle medicine will assist patients with weight loss, smoking cessation and management of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension and heart diseases. Her training in womens health allows her to deliver routine gynecologic care, colposcopy birth control and prenatal care."Dr.Ashman-Brown grew up in West Virginia and attended West Virginia University, where she completed her undergraduate degree in exercise physiology. Dr. Ashman-Brown later completed her medical degree and family medicine residency at Marshall University.Coming from rural West Virginia, I understand firsthand the unique healthcare challenges that many small communities face. This experience shaped my commitment to practicing in rural areas, where the need is often greatest, said Dr. Ashman-Brown. With my passion for women's health and lifestyle medicine, I have the privilege of caring for patients through every stage of life.Dr. Ashman-Brown is currently accepting patients at Erlanger Primary Care - Bledsoe, 136 Wheelertown Ave. in Pikeville.
Chattanooga 2.0 has been selected for a new initiative that will help seven communities across the country reach their economic mobility goals by expanding enrichment and career-focused opportunities for young people. Chattanooga 2.0 was selected following an extensive process, which started with an Open Call that drew interest from more than 1,700 communities.Supported by The Wallace Foundation, the Advancing Opportunities for Adolescents initiative is a national effort that will explore how schools, nonprofits, government agencies, businesses and other entities can deepen their collaboration with the afterschool, enrichment and summer programs that comprise each communitys out-of-school sector.The initiative also includes partnerships in Adams County and Broomfield County, Co.; Akron, Oh.; Poughkeepsie, NY; Monterey County, Ca.; South Salt Lake City and Millcreek, Ut.; and Wayne County, NY.Wallace anticipates investing approximately $6 million to $10 million into Hamilton CountyChattanooga over the course of the initiative.Officials said, "Exact funding for our county will be determined during the planning and pilot years (2026-2027) and based on factors such as poverty levels, number of youth being served and other considerations. Funding from Wallace is intended to augment investments that participating communities are already making for young people.In addition to funding, the communities will have access to additional resources and supports, such as peer learning opportunities and technical assistance."The initiative aims to provide adolescents in the middle through early high school years with greater access to out-of-school opportunities that spark new interests, skills and an awareness of potential future careers they may choose to pursue. Adolescents and their families will have more formalized support available to help them navigate across systems to find programs and resources they need."Chattanooga 2.0 serves as the cradle-to-career backbone for Hamilton County, facilitates cross-sector partnerships and leads local initiatives focused on children and youth. These efforts include the Out-of-School Time Alliance, a network of local partners who serve students after school and during the summer; close collaboration with Hamilton County Schools to increase student supports and success; and Viable Pathways to Prosperity, education-to-workforce pathways to thriving wage careers in the community."Chattanooga 2.0 is an early adopter of creating supports for young people to navigate their way through challenges and to identify opportunities that interest them, working with a dedicated adult, said Gigi Antoni, vice president of youth development for The Wallace Foundation. This has, to date, happened through the school district, and the partnership is eager to expand and deepen this work during the initiative. Were impressed by the partnerships ability to garner collaboration across city, county and school system leadership, and we look forward to working with and learning from them.Following a year of vision-setting and planning, Chattanooga 2.0 will concentrate its efforts on a range of core activities, which include:1. Strengthening and Expanding Collaboration with the Hamilton CountyChattanooga youth development sector, including expanding the quantity and quality of opportunities available to youth furthest from opportunity.2. Bolstering Youth Development Practices and Programs by identifying what interests young people and piloting efforts in one or two underserved areas, strengthening programming and focusing on professional development for the adults working with youth.3. Establishing or Strengthening Relationship-Based Navigation, pairing each young person with a caring adult who co-creates a personalized, strengths-based plan with them and their support network. These adults will help connect adolescents to resources and opportunities that remove barriers and support their goals.4. Collecting and Analyzing Data across the community to track program availability, cost, participation, and more to support continuous improvement and cost modeling.5. Executing a Strategic Communications Plan to build internal and external support, using compelling stories and data to promote understanding and sustainability.6. Planning for Sustainable Funding by mapping public and private funding sources (federal, state, and local) and identifying how to address gaps and develop strategies to sustain youth development and navigation efforts beyond the life of the initiative.7. Participating in National and Local Research to document the impact on youth outcomes, produce evidence-based tools and playbooks, and share lessons learned.Officials said, "This national research, led by American Institutes for Research, will span all participating communities efforts to document approaches and outcomes across systems, programs and youth levels. Chattanooga 2.0s participation in this initiative aims to not only produce local insights for the community but also benefit the broader youth development field by capturing and sharing what is learned."Organizations providing technical assistance and supporting the initiative as thought partners include Childrens Funding Project; Community Wealth Partners; Every Hour Counts; FrameWorks Institute;The Institute for Success Planning at The EdRedesign Lab at Harvard Graduate School of Education; and The Marlo Companies. Additional partners will be added as the initiative unfolds.
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Founder Pastor Tony Evans of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church in Dallas, Texas, is prayed over by the elders during a restoration ceremony on Sunday, October 5, 2025. | Screenshot: YouTube/ /Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship

Elders at the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church in Dallas, Texas, revealed on Sunday that Pastor Tony Evans has been reinstated to ministry after stepping down over a year ago for a sin that was not disclosed publicly.

They clarified that he will not resume any staff position or hold a leadership role within the church.

Dr. Evans acknowledged in a public statement falling short of God's standard and a need to submit to the church's discipline and restoration process. We are pleased to report that Dr. Evans has fully submitted to the church's discipline and restoration process, Chris Wheel, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowships associate pastor of outreach, told the congregation on Sunday.

Wheel explained that Evans' 12-month restoration process included counseling with outside non-staff professionals, pastoral mentoring, and a period of stepping away from pulpit ministry.

In alignment with biblical principles and unanimous affirmation of the elder board, Dr. Evans has successfully completed this restoration journey, Wheel said. While he will not be returning in a staff nor leadership role at OCBF, we joyfully look forward to seeing how God uses Dr. Evans' gifts and calling to proclaim the truth of Scripture with clarity and conviction for the strengthening of the body of Christ.

In June 2024, after 48 years of leading his church, Evans, 75, confessed that he had fallen short of biblical standards years prior. Although he did not specify the nature of the sin, he emphasized that he had not violated any secular laws.

"While I have committed no crime, I did not use righteous judgment in my actions. In light of this, I am stepping away from my pastoral duties and am submitting to a healing and restoration process established by the elders," Evans stated in his confession.

Evans son, the Rev. Jonathan Evansmentioned that his father only revealed to his family that he had fallen short a few days before sharing it with the congregation, and he did not share any more than what was disclosed to the church.

During his restoration ceremony, where he spoke with his son, the Rev. Jonathan Evanswho is soon to be formally confirmed as the churchs new lead pastorTony Evans described his past year's journey as bittersweet.

It's certainly bitter when you've done something for 48 years every day, every week, and then youre no longer doing it. And it's your fault. And that creates a wound in your soul. A wound in the soul that's not easily [healed], he explained.

And so, I have felt the angst of that, the pain of that, the struggle of that. But I also understand that when you go through something, you have to relate to God in a deeper place. You have to experience him in a deeper way.

He elaborated that the church created a restoration policy to support members and leaders when they fall, viewing church as a hospital of restoration and not just a place where you go.

I had to submit to the very process I helped to install and say, you know what  I need to apply the Word to me as I applied it to everybody else along the way. Because if we're going to be a Bible church, that just can't be a name. You got to come underneath the Bible and underneath the prescribed governance, which are the elders in this case of the local church, he added.
Home News Louisiana files lawsuit against Trumps FDA over abortion pills by mail

Louisiana has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Food & Drug Administration over allowing abortion pills to be mailed into the state from other states.

Filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, the complaint seeks to reinstate an earlier policy requiring the abortion drugs to be dispensed in person.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, a conservative Christian activist and former Louisiana state lawmaker, expressed his support for the lawsuit in a statement on Wednesday.

I applaud my home state of Louisiana for filing this lawsuit to reinstate commonsense safety requirements that the Biden administration so callously and dangerously removed, stated Perkins. The Trump administration should repeal approval of mifepristone altogether, but it should also swiftly adopt a policy that aligns with its declaration that abortion belongs under state jurisdiction.

Perkins called the abortion drug Mifepristone a murder weapon and unsafe for women, as well as a tool used by killers often against a woman's will or without her knowledge.

Perkins was alluding to multiple reportedinstances of men who laced the drinks of pregnant women with abortion-inducing drugs to cause a miscarriage, also harming the women in the process.

While a transparent, unbiased review of mifepristone is taking place, abusers could be disarmed if the Trump administration would re-enact and strengthen the FDA safety protocols originally governing the drug, he added.

Last year, Louisiana passed a law labeling the abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol as dangerous controlled substances, effectively banning them from the state.

However, as there is no federal ban on the abortion-inducing drugs, some states continue to mail the pills to Louisiana residents, despite the state's recently enacted law.

Louisiana recently issued an arrest warrant for a doctor in California who allegedly mailed abortion drugs to a woman in the state in defiance of state law.

In July, 14 attorneys general, including Louisiana's AG, sent an official letter to Congress calling on elected officials to take action against states that shield providers who mail abortion-inducing drugs across state lines.

These laws are blatant attempts to interfere with States ability to enforce criminal laws within their borders and disrupt our constitutional structure, stated the letter.

By encouraging medical professionals in pro-abortion states to violate pro-life States abortion laws, shield laws are antithetical to the spirit of federalism and the Dobbs decision by not allowing each State to regulate abortion as it sees fit.
The News in Brief Wednesday, October 8, 2025

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has called on the Georgian government to uphold the right to peaceful assembly and to stop targeting civil society groups and activists.In a statement issued on Tuesday, ODIHR expressed concern over the continued detention, sentencing, and fining of peaceful demonstrators in Georgia. The organization reminded the government of its obligations under both the OSCE framework and international law to protect human rights and respect the freedom of assembly."The detention, sentencing, and fining of peaceful demonstrators continue in Georgia," the statement said. "The government has an obligation to fulfill its commitments within the OSCE framework regarding human rights, as well as its international obligations, which include respecting peaceful assembly."ODIHR Director Maria Telalian urged the authorities to stop pressuring civil society and to allow activists to carry out their work freely."I urge the Georgian government once again to ensure that civil society and human rights defenders are not targeted and that their voices are heard, as their work is critically important for the growth of a vibrant democratic society," Telalian said.The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia has filed formal charges against 13 people accused of attempting to seize and block a strategic state facility and participating in group violence during the unrest in Tbilisi on October 4. Deputy Chief Prosecutor Amiran Guluashvili announced the charges at a briefing on Monday, saying prosecutors would seek pre-trial detention for all the suspects.The Prosecutor's Office said the investigation established that the suspects, acting on calls from organizers, launched a coordinated assault on the evening of October 4 to seize the administrative building of the President of Georgia. They allegedly damaged protective barriers and entered the grounds of the complex, attacking law enforcement officers with iron structures and other objects and verbally abusing them. The Prosecutor's Office said their actions endangered the lives and health of police officers and resulted in significant property damage."Individuals participating in group violence deliberately dismantled, damaged, and destroyed by fire municipal and privately owned property located in the adjacent territory," Guluashvili said. "Due to the active actions carried out by government representatives to protect public order, the criminal plan to seize the strategic object - the administrative building of the President of Georgia - could not be carried out."The 13 suspects were detained on October 6 on the basis of a judge's warrant. They have been charged under Article 19-222, Part 2(a) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which covers attempted seizure of strategic or particularly important objects committed by a group, and Article 225, Part 2, which covers participation in group violence. The charges carry combined sentences of up to 13 years in prison.Earlier, five other individuals - Paata Burchuladze, Murtaz Zodelava, Irakli Nadiradze, Paata Manjgaladze, and Lasha Beridze - were detained on related charges of organizing and leading group violence, attempting to seize a strategic object, and calling for the violent overthrow of the constitutional order.According to the Prosecutor's Office, Burchuladze, Zodelava, and Nadiradze made public appeals ahead of the local self-government elections, urging citizens to take part in a revolution and to overthrow the government by force. On election day, they allegedly presented a detailed "action plan" at a rally on Freedom Square, instructing supporters to seize government representatives and storm the President's administrative building.Following the call, the crowd moved toward the area near Orbeliani Square, where, according to investigators, participants set fires, damaged public and private property, and erected barricades to resist police. The Tbilisi City Court has since granted the Prosecutor's Office's motion for pre-trial detention for all five of the accused organizers.Deputy Chief Prosecutor Guluashvili emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and that authorities will continue to take "all necessary legal measures" against individuals involved in organizing or carrying out violent actions during the October 4 unrest.
Home News Man arrested at DC church hosting 'Red Mass' had 200 homemade explosives: police

A man arrested outside a church before it was set to hold a Red Mass worship service, traditionally attended by U.S. Supreme Court justices, was found to have 200 explosive devices in his possession.

Louis Geri, a 41-year-old resident of New Jersey, was arrested Sunday outside of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle hours before the service was scheduled to begin.

According to a D.C. Metropolitan Police Department press release, Geri, who had been previously barred from the cathedral grounds, decided to set up a tent near the church building.

While Geri was arrested without incident after refusing to leave the property, authorities discovered multiple suspicious items, including vials of liquid and possible fireworks, inside of the suspects tent.

Members of MPDs Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team and the Arson Task Force responded to the scene to search the suspects belongings. The scene has been secured and there is no threat to public safety, stated D.C. police.

Authorities charged Geri with possession of a Molotov cocktail, threats to kidnap or injure a person, and unlawful entry. The investigation is ongoing and includes personnel from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Geri was eventually found to have had around 200 explosive devices at the tent, according to The Washington Post, including Molotov cocktails and bottle rockets.

Court records indicate that Geri expressed negative opinions about U.S. Supreme Court justices, the Catholic Church, Jewish individuals, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

While Catholic members of the Supreme Court were initially slated to attend the mass, the incident prevented them from attending the service, which took place as scheduled.

A judge on Monday ordered Geri to be held without bond.

The Red Mass is an annual observance at St. Matthews Cathedral held in honor of those who practice law and is typically scheduled shortly before the opening of the Supreme Courts term.

According to the Archdiocese of Washington, the Red Mass tradition dates back many centuries and derives its name from the color of the liturgical vestments worn by the celebrants and the color of fire, a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

The John Carroll Society, a D.C. metropolitan-area organization that ministers to Catholic legal professionals, co-hosts the religious gathering alongside the archdiocese.
Home News Red carpet premiere of 'Soul on Fire' honors first responders, real-life heroes behind miraculous story

ST. LOUIS, Mo.  The story of Soul on Fire has always been bigger than one man.

When a 9-year-old John OLeary lay in a St. Louis hospital bed with burns covering 100% of his body, it was the community that rallied around him that kept him alive. Neighbors prayed, nurses fought, and even a famous sportscaster showed up.

Decades later, that same spirit filled Powell Hall as the community came together once again, this time to celebrate the film that tells their story.

The red carpet premiere of Soul on Fire, the new AFFIRM Films drama directed by Sean McNamara, brought out local icons, including Ozzie Smith, Joe Buck and the Cardinals mascot, as well as the people who inspired the films characters, including first responders and Dr. Vatche Ayvazian, the doctor who saved OLearys life.

The cast of the film, including John Corbett, William H. Macy, Joel Courtney, and Maisie McLean, joined OLeary on the red carpet to reflect on the story of survival, faith and community.

Its surreal, OLeary told The Christian Post. I never expected to have a film made about my life. But this isnt a story celebrating me, its about how the people around me showed up. Its about how great God is, working through ordinary people.

Corbett, who plays OLearys father, Dennis, reflected on the emotional power of the story and how it highlights the power of community. Ahead of his death in May, OLearys father and hero had the opportunity to view the film, something he called a real gift.

John wasnt supposed to live more than 24 hours, so the fact that he survived that horrible fire is amazing. But what really moved me was seeing how many people fought for him, Jack Buck, Nurse Roy, his parents. Everyone came together to save this kid, he said.

Corbett said he hadnt realized how beloved sportscaster Jack Buck was in St. Louis until he learned about his visits to the hospital, where he encouraged the young Cardinals fan to fight for his life. He said, Kid, wake up. Were gonna get through this together, Corbett recalled. Thats pretty good odds, a little extra hope from your hero when you need it most.

Macy, who portrays Buck, said he was drawn to the films depiction of quiet heroism, from Johns sister, who threw water on his face to keep it from burning, to Nurse Roy, who challenged John to walk again despite the pain.

John said it best; its not a movie about him, Macy said. Its about the community that stepped up when someone needed help, and they did it quietly and selflessly. Thats what we need more of in this country.

A teacher once told me that theater is like a church; its where people go to hear the truth and to hear love. Thats what I believe this film is. It tells the truth, and it reminds us to keep loving each other.

Maisie McLean, who plays OLearys wife, Beth, described her character as fearless in love. The film depicts the OLearys love story and how it was Beths persistence and unconditional love that helped John remove his emotional barriers. Today, the couple have four children, all of whom walked the red carpet with their parents.

Beth is not scared of scars, McLeab said. She sees Johns pain and steps toward it instead of away. To me, shes a reflection of the Gospel. God looks at us in our brokenness and says, I choose you anyway. Thats what Beth does for John.

She added that the storys themes of redemption and restoration feel particularly timely. Were all in need of redemption, she said. Whatevers been broken, God can rebuild. Thats what this film is about.

Courtney, who portrays OLeary as a young man, said the film resonated deeply with him as a Christian and as someone aware of todays mental health struggles. The film depicts how OLearys road to healing, both physical and emotional, took consistency, setbacks and the willingness to confront pain.

Theres so much depression and hopelessness right now, he said. This story tells people, especially young people, that their life matters. You can move forward even when you feel buried. A seed has to be buried before it grows.

He described one of the films most powerful scenes: a father-son conversation filmed on the patio of OLearys childhood home, the same house where the fire happened. That was surreal, he said. We were telling the story in the place it actually unfolded. It didnt feel like acting; it felt like honoring.

Courtney said the verse Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you  plans to give you hope and a future, came to mind often during filming. That verse is Johns story, he said. He didnt always believe it, but God clearly had plans for him.

The number one thing I want people to remember, he said, is that their life matters and the little things matter too. The acts of love, the moments of showing up for someone else. Thats what changes everything.

OLeary, today a bestselling author and motivational speaker, stressed that the film serves as a reminder that miracles happen not in isolation, but in community and through the power of prayer.

"Soul on Fire" opens on Oct. 10.
Home News Supreme Court asks Congress for more security funding after death threats from abortion activists

The United States Supreme Court has asked Congress to provide more security funding amid ongoing threats made to its members by pro-choice activists.

Last week, the Supreme Court submitted its budget request for Fiscal Year 2024. Included in its request was an additional $12.4 million to improve security for the justices, Bloomberg reported.

Specifically, the request said that on-going threat assessments show evolving risks that require continuous protection for members of the high court and their families.

The request for improved security followed a comprehensive review and recommendations from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, with funding needed to reinforce the building.

Last May, Politico released a leaked draft opinion for the case of Dobbs v. Jackson, which showed that the high court was going to overturn Roe v. Wade, the controversial 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

The leaked draft spurred a wave of protests and violence against pro-life organizations and churches, as well as demonstrations outside of the homes of Supreme Court justices and a thwarted assassination attempt on Justice Bret Kavanaugh.

Weeks before the Supreme Court released its final opinion for Dobbs, which overturned Roe, a man was arrested near Kavanaugh's home and charged with attempted murder.

The man, Nicholas John Roske of Simi Valley, California, was arrested with multiple weapons on his person. He told police that he wanted to kill Kavanaugh over his plans to overturn Roe.

Last October, Justice Samuel Alito told those gathered at an event hosted by the conservative think-tank the Heritage Foundation that the leaking of the draft opinion made members of the high court targets for assassination.

The leak also made those of us who were thought to be in the majority in support of overruling Roe and [Planned Parenthood v. Casey] targets for assassination, because it gave people a rational reason to think they could prevent that from happening by killing one of us, said Alito.

Alito also told the Heritage crowd that everyone, from the justices to their staff, just want things to get back to normal the way they were before all this last term.

During my 16 years on the court, the justices have always gotten along very well on a personal level. I think the public, when they read our opinions, probably misses that, Alito added.

In January, the Supreme Court announced that its investigation into who was responsible for leaking the draft opinion of Dobbs had still failed to identify a person responsible by a preponderance of the evidence.
Home News Thousands of churches expected to close in UK over next 5 years: study Methodist congregations fear their churches are most at risk

Thousands of churches across the United Kingdom are at risk of shutting down over the next five years, according to the findings of a new survey that point to a continuing decline in church viability driven by financial strain, location and denominational pressures.

While most congregations believe their church buildings will remain open, a significant minority are doubtful, with estimates projecting up to 2,000 closures by 2030, according to a nationwide survey by the National Churches Trust, a U.K.-based charity focused on preserving historic places of worship.

The study, which included 3,600 responses from churches in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, was conducted in May and June, but its findings have only recently been released.

Just under 70% of churches surveyed said they were confident they would remain open for worship through the next five years, and another 26% reported they were probably secure, Christian Today reported.

However, 5% expressed uncertainty about their future, a proportion that translates to around one in every 20 churches facing the possibility of closure if extrapolated nationwide.

The study found that churches in rural areas were more vulnerable than urban ones.

Seven percent of respondents from the countryside anticipated that their churches would shut down, which would amount to roughly 900 closures in rural regions. Rural churches tend to face greater challenges in upkeep, volunteer recruitment and regular attendance.

The survey also revealed that denominational affiliation plays a significant role in closure risk.

Methodists were the most uncertain, with 12% of Methodist congregations indicating that they might not survive beyond 2030. Presbyterians followed, with 9% expressing similar doubt.

While Baptists and Independents showed lower levels of concern, they still represented a meaningful share of those at risk. Anglicans, who account for the largest proportion of U.K. congregations, reported the lowest closure risk at 4%. However, due to their greater numbers, this figure still equates to around 700 possible closures, including an estimated 40 in Wales.

The status of the church building also appeared to affect the outlook.

Churches with historic Grade I listed status were more confident about their future than those operating from unlisted or non-designated structures. Grade I listed buildings benefit from certain protections and public recognition, which can assist with funding and conservation support.

In contrast, unlisted churches or those in poor condition might face higher maintenance costs and fewer opportunities to access grants. The frequency of use and the condition of the building were among the top concerns listed by congregations as factors threatening their long-term viability.

Many smaller churches struggle to host regular services or community events, which can affect their relevance to local residents and donors.

Cathedrals, which tend to receive stronger institutional and public support, reported full confidence in their ability to remain operational through 2030. Their larger reach, symbolic status and tourism income might shield them from some of the financial and demographic challenges faced by local congregations.

In June, NCT described the condition of church buildings as an existential moment, as it launched the Future of the U.K.s Church Buildings survey to identify causes of closure and explore potential strategies for sustainability, according to Premier Christian News.

One recent policy shift might be aggravating the problem.

Churches can now claim up to 25,000 (over $33,500) per year under the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, but only for repair bills exceeding 1,000 (over $1,300). This cap has limited the financial support available to smaller congregations, particularly those with multiple minor repair needs rather than a single large project.

In Wales, where church attendance and population density have been declining in tandem, 25% of churches have already closed over the past 10 years. The trend has heightened concerns about regional imbalances in church survivability and placed pressure on remaining congregations to absorb displaced members or find new uses for disused buildings.

A 2021 study by The Brierley Research Consultancy showed that the number of churches in active use for worship across the U.K. had fallen from approximately 42,000 to 39,800 over the past decade, according to Evangelical Focus. The NCT said churches were increasingly being sold, demolished or converted into housing, with closures worsened by reduced funding and lackluster attendance after COVID-19 lockdowns and a growing repair bill.
Home News Sen. Tom Cotton seeks to ban light sentences for trans criminals, kick men out of womens prisons

A U.S. senator has introduced legislation banning judges from considering an inmates self-declared gender identity when determining prison sentences and prohibiting trans-identified men from being housed in womens prisons amid outrage over a light sentence given to a man who now claims to identify as female, after he attempted to assassinate U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., introduced the Preventing Violence Against Female Inmates Act on Wednesday. The legislation would prohibit the Bureau of Prisons from putting female inmates in danger by housing trans-identified male inmates in women's correctional facilities and would withhold federal funds from states that fail to comply.

Prisoners should be placed based on their biological sex, not on what they choose to identify as, Cotton said in a statement published Wednesday. Documented cases prove that men  including men who identify as women  in womens prisons put female inmates at increased risk of sexual assault. My bill decreases the risk for women by ensuring men and women are separated in federal prison.

In an X post on Wednesday, Cotton added, Gender identity shouldnt be a factor when determining sentencing. Thats why Im introducing two bills to ensure all criminals are properly sentenced and placed in the correct prisons.

Cottons introduction of the Fair Sentencing Act comes less than a week after Judge Deborah Boardman, appointed to the bench by former President Joe Biden, generated outrage for sentencing Nicholas Roske to eight years in prison for attempting to assassinate Kavanaugh in 2022.

Roskes attorneys had submitted a sentencing memo to Boardman detailing how their client identifies as a woman named Sophie and insisting that his longstanding issues with gender identity and mental health justified a sentence far shorter than the 30 years recommended by the U.S. Department of Justice. The DOJ has vowed to appeal the ruling, which it condemned as woefully insufficient.

The light sentence given to Roske isn't the only example of a trans-identified male criminal receiving preferential or sympathetic treatment from a judge due to his chosen gender identity.

At an event hosted by The Christian Post last year, titled Unmasking Gender Ideology II, Amie Ichikawa, founder of the ministry devoted to serving the needs of incarcerated women, called Woman II Woman, detailed how one of Bidens nominees to serve on the federal judiciary wrote a recommendation that a trans-identified rapist be housed in a womens prison.

Ichikawa lamented that the judge, Sarah Netburn, wrote a 48-page recommendation to the higher courts explaining the plight of this individual who raped a baby and raped a 17-year-old girl and was full of sympathy for the trans-identified prisoner and did not include even a paragraph about how this was going to impact the incarcerated female population.

Biden's nomination of Netburn did not advance out of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, which voted 11-10 against advancing her to the full Senate for a vote.

The failure of Netburn to receive the votes necessary to advance the full Senate was seen as significant because Democrats held a majority of seats in both the Senate and the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., voted with Republicans to derail Netburns nomination.

Ichikawa also recounted the incidents of women being raped by trans-identified male inmates, leading some women to become pregnant with their abuser's baby.

More than 44 trans-identified male prisoners have been successful in transferring into womens prisons.

Ichikawa described the plight of women's suffering and abuse in prisons as one of the biggest female human rights crises that Ive seen in my lifetime and the biggest step backwards in womens rights this century.
Home Opinion Is 'once saved always saved' a biblical teaching?

Editors note: The Christian Post Opinion Page has published two countering views on Calvinism. To read the opposing view in the piece titled No, dear Christian  you cannot lose your salvation. Ever, click here.



There are many who strongly believe in a doctrine often referred to as once saved, always saved (OSAS), or eternal security or perseverance/preservation of the saints.



Proponents of this doctrine believe that once a person with a sincere heart truly confesses Jesus as Lord and Savior, he is guaranteed Heaven. They believe that from that moment on, God will hold onto that believer and nothing  not even the person's own free will  can cause him to forfeit his eternal standing with God.

While I believe that it is entirely possible to be confident of one's future salvation (i.e., can you think of anything that could sway you from your faith in God? No? Me either.), the question is, what does the Bible teach?

The good news

Let's start with a few things that we can be absolutely sure of: God is good; God is faithful; God is for us; God wants us to succeed, and he actively helps us to achieve a spiritual victory  that is, to get to Heaven (Acts 17:26-27). And God has guaranteed that there is an inheritance for those who stand firm in their faith in Jesus. Nearly every Christian will agree that abiding faith is the requirement to obtain that inheritance.

Warnings and exhortations

Let me point out that if the doctrine of eternal security is true  that is, the belief that a true Christian cannot lose his/her salvation  the apostle Paul seemed to be unaware of it. In his letter to the saints in Thessalonica, he refers to them as loved and chosen by God. Were told that they received the Gospel with full conviction, with power and with joy (1 Thes 1:4-6). Yet, a few paragraphs later, Paul shares his concern that the tempter had tempted them and that his labor was in vain (1 Thes 3:5).

Additionally, Paul was astonished that the believers in Galatia were so quickly deserting the one who called [them] (Gal 1:6). In exasperation Paul asks, What has become of your blessedness? (Gal 4:15). And he warns Timothy that in later times, some will depart from the faith (1 Tim 4:1).

The other New Testament writers also warn believers against drifting from the Gospel and neglecting such a great salvation (Heb 2:1-3). Many early church leaders expressed sincere concern for the falling away (apostasy) of Christians, exhorting them to strive and to hold fast and to stand firm as they endure the trials and persecutions they were facing.

In his book, Life in the Son, Robert Shank asserts, Completely absurd is the assumption that men are to be sincerely persuaded that apostasy is impossible, and at the same time, sincerely alarmed at the warnings.

But what about...?

So, what about verses like Eph 1:13-14 and Phil 1:6? Don't they tell us that salvation is assured upon coming to faith in Jesus? Let's take a look.

Ephesians 1:13-14: In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Doesn't this beautiful passage say that, upon belief in Jesus, Christians are sealed  that is, they have a guarantee of Heaven?

First, sealed is better translated (as in the NIV), marked with a seal. It is a reference to the soft wax into which people in authority would press their signet ring, ensuring the authoritative source of a document or missive. In this case, the Holy Spirit is simply the proof that what they were experiencing was from God.

Then, Paul further adds that the Holy Spirit is also the down payment, the earnest, that ensures God will follow through with his promised inheritance. In other words, the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of God's faithfulness, not ours. Abiding in faith is up to us.

Philippians 1:6: And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Doesn't this verse say that God will ensure our sanctification?

In light of many other texts, this is not a reference to individual salvation. The work that God will bring to completion is the work he began in the early churches, not a promise of the sanctification of any individual. Note that the you in this verse is plural (he who began a good work in you all (the early churches) will bring it to completion...). Again, this is a reference to the faithfulness of God.

Interestingly, in the same letter, the apostle Paul expresses his own tenuous stature with regard to salvation and his need to press on  that is, to persevere in faith. In the third chapter, Paul says that he will do whatever it takes to obtain the resurrection from the dead. Then goes on to say, not that I have already obtained it or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own (Philippians 3:11-12).

Final thought

In the end, the only real danger of believing in eternal security (OSAS) is the temptation to take our salvation for granted; that is, to presume upon God's grace. The apostle Paul trusted in the faithfulness of God, never taking his own standing for granted, and neither should we.

If you believe that God has given you assurance that you will never be lost to him, I would never deny your personal conviction or dispute the work of the Spirit in your heart. I fully acknowledge that God works in each person uniquely. Yet, since abiding faith is the only guarantee of obtaining heaven, this should prompt us all to strive to work out our own salvation by ensuring that our faith is unshakable.
On AIs purpose: With AI, it all starts with the right data, and weve been working to build our foundation so we can get at the data and analytics we need. Were also looking at AI for visualization capabilities and how we can help the design process be more effective. So the customer sees that picture, envisions what theyre hoping to see, and if they can see it, theyre much more willing to make the investment. By giving tools to our sales associates that make a difference, or the answers through analytics to help them make good decisions to help customers, I think AI is great provided you dont use AI for AIs sake. I remind myself that its a tool just like every other technology that needs to be used with a purpose in mind, to get the results or the return that the organization is looking for. As a CIO, I need to operate as a business person first, and a technologist second. You have to test it, prove it out, and learn some things. And in some cases, you just have to say, not yet.

On teams: Its important to know your organization and its culture, and finding a good fit for the team you build and hire for. Thats a key factor to recruit and retain top talent. Just because someones the smartest person in the room doesnt necessarily mean they fit the culture and can operate. I also remind myself that all the work we do is transient. You might build something, and its gone in three years, so part of the objective is to meet business needs, and knowing that what you learn and the relationships you build are whats most critical. If you have those relationships, the team is probably going to have more fun, and theyll value working as a team and feel success as they stay focused.

On customer expectations: Today, speed is everything in terms of delivery and how fast it can get there. Managing projects, you need to be on time, and delivering that product means we need to have good visibility with our entire supply chain, so weve had to deliver capabilities for that. People arent necessarily willing to wait, so we need to manage how to get product from overseas, which might be manufactured in Italy, Spain, or somewhere in Asia. Its also being able to give visibility to our sales employees to help the customer understand their expectations since our selling process is a client-telling, consultative approach, so were constantly wanting to know what the customer is looking for. Plus, you see technology democratization you couldnt have imagined before. That level of change means customers expect answers quickly, so our website needs to be faster. So we upgraded our website in order to make sure we had the speed and can deliver the capabilities that customers expect.
RNLI x Ford partnership Credit: RNLI x Ford

From support in kind and financial investment, through to licensing deals, there are many ways international and local charities can create partnerships with businesses. And although these relationships can be challenging  and markedly different from relationships charities may have with trusts, for example  the benefits for charities, and for businesses, can be significant.

RNLI is one of the largest charities in the UK and to provide equipment, infrastructure and training for the crews of its 238 lifeboat stations around the UK and Ireland costs around 200m a year. Most of this income comes from legacies, but partnerships with companies, brands and businesses are a crucial part of RNLIs support.
Aside from big high-street retailers such as Tesco and Sainsburys, which give around 12% of their pre-tax profits to charity, most businesses in the UK give less than 1%, and even that is flagging. CAF research indicates that the total spend on corporate giving by the 100 largest UK companies has decreased by 34% in real terms over the past decade, meaning that charities are competing for a more fiercely contested slice of an ever-diminishing pie.

Most fundraisers are aware that alignment is key. Companies are more likely to support charities whose objectives resonate with their corporate values, sustainability goals, or social responsibility commitments. The challenge is communicating this effectively, and consistently maintaining the dialogue around impact. This then naturally plays into relationship building and stewardship.

So far, so familiar. But if these are the key ingredients to success, why arent more businesses giving? And why are those that do give, giving less?

As the cover story shows, innovation can play a role in growing this segment. Charities can explore co-branded campaigns, cause-related marketing, or sponsorship of events that provide companies with visibility and reputational benefits. Additionally, approaching corporate foundations or engaging in match-funding initiatives can multiply contributions.

As the economy continues to flatline, businesses are unlikely to up their corporate giving without something in return. And this is what fundraisers can lean into. The Ford/RNLI partnership is great example of this with the car manufacture basking in the brand reputation and recognition of the charity... and paying to do so. Charities have a lot to offer businesses in terms of soft marketing and, if values are aligned, there is no reason why not-for-profits cant leverage that to mutual benefit.

The other opportunity that is still growing in popularity is merchandise. Pledging a percentage of profits of a brand-aligned product can be a win-win, cost effective and low maintenance for the charity, and added value for the retailer.

Of course, there are pitfalls and charities must make sure contracts are comprehensive and goals/return on investment clearly indicated. But in chastened times for individual giving, corporates might be one segment of the fundraising mix that could present more opportunity and might be worth revisiting in your strategy.

Stephen Cotterill is editor of Fundraising Magazine.

Fundraising Magazine is a practical and inspiring magazine that provides fundraising professionals with the tools to unlock new revenue streams, yield better results from campaigns and boost donor income. Subscribe today to receive 10 issues per year and access to premium fundraising content on civilsociety.co.uk. Find more information here and subscribe today! is a practical and inspiring magazine that provides fundraising professionals with the tools to unlock new revenue streams, yield better results from campaigns and boost donor income. Subscribe today to receive 10 issues per year and access to premium fundraising content on civilsociety.co.uk.
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The government has no plans to introduce paid statutory volunteering leave, despite a charity-led campaign to do so.

In February, four national charities wrote a joint letter to prime minister Keir Starmer, urging him to introduce 35 hours per year of paid statutory volunteering leave.

The signatories, including Sea Cadets, Girlguiding, St John Ambulance and Scouts as well as cross-party MPs, said the move would help at-risk local charity services stifled by the lack of their key resource.

However, the government did not commit to introducing any volunteering leave legislation in its response and Civil Society understands it has no plans to do so.

Meanwhile, over 12,000 have signed Scouts petition for the right to request up to 35 hours of paid volunteer leave each year.

The case for legislation

In their letter, the charities said the number of people volunteering has fallen to a record low and that without more volunteers, these local services are at risk.

They argued that statutory volunteering leave would unlock charities abilities to make a difference as well as offering employees the breathing space to discover and engage in volunteering.

This simple act could also create avenues for funding the sector without further imposition on government finances, for example, supplementing a leave policy with a volunteering levy for those who aren't able to take part, they said.

This could be modelled on the apprenticeship levy, which means that broadly speaking, large employers who didn't offer this volunteering leave would instead need to pay into a common pot to help support volunteering across the country.

Affordability for smaller businesses could also be addressed through a right to request statutory volunteer leave.

DCMS: Matter is for individual employers

In her written response, seen by Civil Society, charities minister Stephanie Peacock said the government wants to encourage and enable as many people as possible to be involved in delivering positive change in their local areas.

In relation to volunteering leave, Peacock said the government encourages employers to introduce volunteering leave as part of their employee benefits package.

Employees have a day one right to request flexible working, which can support people to balance work with volunteering.

This government is bringing in changes to flexible working through the employment rights bill which should make that easier, by making flexible working the default, except where it isnt reasonably feasible.

This will make it easier for employees to access flexible working options to help balance work with their personal lives and responsibilities, including volunteering.

She added that employees already have the right to reasonable time off work to carry out specified public duties, including those of a magistrate and school governor.

Businesses of all sizes need to balance how they operate, therefore time off work for other voluntary duties is a matter for individual employers.

Essential services face real risks

Guy Holloway, chief executive of Sea Cadets, told Civil Society: Volunteers are the heartbeat of our communities, yet numbers have declined sharply since the pandemic.

Introducing statutory volunteering leave, backed by a levy modelled on the apprenticeship scheme, would provide sustainable support at no extra cost to the public purse.

Without it, essential services face real risks.

A spokesperson for Scouts said: The minister has connected us with officials in her department to discuss the policy ask.

Well follow this up again before Christmas by talking with the civil servants.

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A mosque charity has raised over 30,000 following a suspected arson attack on Saturday evening, which is being treated as a hate crime by police.

Fire crews were called to the incident at Peacehaven Mosque in Sussex on 4 October and a 25-year-old man has been arrested and is in custody.

No one was injured in the incident but the front entrance of the building and a vehicle outside were damaged, police confirmed, while the mosque is temporarily closed.

At the time of the fire, Peacehaven Mosque said in a statement it was deeply saddened by the incident and profoundly grateful no one was injured.

The mosque set up a fundraising page raising money for Peace Community Centre in response to the incident, with a target to raise 100,000 to repair the building, replace whats lost and protect the mosque so this never happens again.

On its fundraising page, which has so far attracted nearly 35,000 in donations, the mosque wrote: Were not responding with anger or division. Were responding with unity, sabr and action.

This was a test, and well rise from it. Our goal now is simple: rebuild stronger, safer, and more secure  for everyone who calls this place home.

Police investigation

Two people inside the mosque managed to escape through the front entrance during the time of the fire.

Besides the man currently in custody, another 46-year-old man was arrested on Monday afternoon and has now been released on conditional bail while enquiries continue.

Detective chief inspector Mark Cullimore from Surrey Police said the investigation is progressing at pace.

Superintendent Rachel Swinney added: Sussex Police takes a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime and there is no place for hate across the county.

The British Muslim Trust said it is in contact with the mosque following the attack and has been engaging with Muslims nationwide.

Akeela Ahmed, CEO of the trust, said the suspected arson had sent shockwaves throughout Muslim communities.

She said: This callous attack comes amid a deeply concerning rise in hate crimes targeting mosques across the UK and raised fear in Muslim communities nationwide.

The trust added that it had reported its concerns to the government and called for a national response to ensure attacks on British Muslims are met with the full force of the law.

Muslim communities being scapegoated

Meanwhile a separate attempted arson incident occurred on Sunday at Kettering Mosque in Northamptonshire.

Arif Ali Rafiq, 43, appeared at Northampton Magistrates Court charged with attempted arson.

The Muslim Charities Forum (MCF) published a statement on Sunday saying that recent attacks on mosques are part of a deeply disturbing chain reaction sparked by the Manchester incident last week, in which two Jewish worshippers were killed at a synagogue.

MCF chief executive Fadi Itani said: This is yet another occasion where Muslim communities are being scapegoated through divisive rhetoric.

We must stand together in solidarity to build a society rooted in hope, compassion, and mutual respect.

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In May 2024, Daniel Ojukwu, a twenty-six-year-old reporter for the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, a Nigerian nonprofit, was grabbed off the streets of Lagos by armed police and bundled into a vehicle. For the next several days, he was held in a cell incommunicadofirst in Lagos, and later in the federal capital, Abujawithout being told exactly what hed been arrested for. It was more of an abduction, Ojukwu recalled recently, via WhatsApp. Finally, on the fourth day, the authorities informed him that he was being accused of breaching a 2015 law known as the Cybercrime Act. His violation: an article he wrote about alleged corruption in the office of the president.

The Cybercrime Act was introduced to combat a growing trend of internet fraud and other criminal activity within Nigeria, but it has instead frequently been used to suppress journalism published online. One provision in particularSection 24, which made it illegal to publish false information online that was deemed to be grossly offensive, indecent, or even merely an annoyancehas been especially ripe for abuse. In 2019, for instance, Agba Jalingo, a journalist and publisher of CrossRiverWatch, in Nigerias Cross River State, was arrested and charged under Section 24 after he published articles accusing the states governor of corruption. (He was later acquitted.) In February 2024, Nigerian lawmakers amended Section 24 to remove some of its most egregious elements, but the new language still makes it illegal, and punishable by up to three years in jail, to knowingly or intentionally communicate online anything that is false, for the purpose of causing a breakdown of law and order [or] posing a threat to life.

This vague text is still used to unfairly prosecute journalists, particularly those who regularly publish investigative reports implicating political or institutional forces, said Sadibou Marong, the sub-Saharan Africa bureau director of Reporters Without Borders. Authorities are intent on gagging investigative journalism uncovering corruption and governance issues in the country. The continued implementation of this law constitutes a real threat.

Nigeria is not the only country using laws designed to legitimately combat online misbehavior to instead repress journalism. In neighboring Niger, Abdourahamane Tchiani, who seized power in a coup in 2023, signed an order amending three articles of the countrys cybercrime law to reinstate prison sentences for defamation, insults, and the dissemination of data likely to disturb public order or undermine human dignity when these offenses are committed electronically. The law, originally enacted in 2019, had previously been softened to remove prison sentences for such offenses, in part owing to how the law had been abused to repress journalists. In Pakistan, Georgia, and Turkey, among others, recent laws meant to limit nefarious activity online, or the spread of misinformation, have been used to restrict acts of journalism. According to Amnesty International, at least fifteen people in Jordan have been prosecuted under a 2023 expansion of the countrys Cybercrimes Law, for offenses ranging from spreading fake news to threatening society peace.

Unfortunately, most of the laws being passed will have little effect in actually curbing misinformation, but instead may give governments far more authority to control content they deem false or misleading, said Gabrielle Lim, a doctoral fellow at the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, who recently coauthored a paper tracking the misuse of fake news laws around the world. For some governments, the threat of misinformation provides a convenient justification for censorship. This is compounded by the fact that liberal democracies are also considering or passing similar laws, which can give cover to authoritarian regimes who want to do the same.

In Nigeria, more than two dozen journalists have faced prosecution under the Cybercrime Act, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. In most cases, the journalists have been accused of cyberbullying, cyberstalking, or attempting to overthrow the government. On February 16, 2024two weeks before the amended Cybercrime Act was signed into lawfour journalists of The Informant247, an independent online newspaper based in Nigerias Kwara State, were arrested and briefly detained after they published a two-part investigative series that alleged a corrupt atmosphere at a state-run polytechnic institute. The experience was profoundly disturbing, said Salihu Ayatullahi, the publications editor in chief and one of the arrested journalists. We were locked in a dark, cramped cell with hardened criminals. The psychological impact was heavier than the physical discomfort: I couldnt sleep, not because of the poor conditions, but because I couldnt stop thinking about how broken our system had become and how the corrupt could illegally summon the police to punish those who expose them. The case was dismissed eleven months later without any evidence presented against the reporters.

Solomon Okedara, a Nigerian digital rights lawyer and researcher, notes that the use of the Cybercrime Act has created a chilling effect in the nations civic space. It is even more worrisome that most of the time, the prosecution cannot establish ingredients of the offense to the point of conviction, Okedara said. Knowing a fellow journalist has faced arrest, harassment, and detention, or endless trials, can force others to drop an investigative story idea.

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Despite their ordeals, both Ojukwu and Ayatullahi say they are more determined than ever to use their craft to hold public officials accountable. As a journalist, the whole experience has made me understand that there is more work to do, Ojukwu said. And since there is no limit to which the corrupt are willing to go, there is also none for me. The Cybercrime Act remains a thorn in the flesh of journalists in Nigeria.
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In early September, Anup Kaphle, the editor in chief of the digital news site Rest of World, was in his home country, Nepal, for what he hoped would be a vacation. Around the same time, discontent was brewing among the countrys young people over a weak economy, rising corruption, and a new social media ban, which was poised to shut down the platforms many of them relied on for information, connection, and spare income.

On September 8, that discontent erupted in a fury of protests and attacks on government and economic institutions, much of it organized on social media platforms like Instagram and Discord. By the end of a week of riots, these so-called Gen Z Protests would see the nations Parliament set afire, several prominent politicians homes attacked, and the prime minister forced to resign. Some seventy-five people were killed and another two thousand injured. Since then, similar Gen Zled uprisings have taken place in Morocco and Madagascar.

Media institutions in Nepal found themselves trapped in the middle. Some were seen as arms of the establishment. Others were instrumental in providing accurate information about the unfolding events that the social media news influencers who drove the protests relied on. Kaphle was forced to suspend his vacation, and soon found himself inside a Nepali newsroom that was under threat of being besieged by protesters. Rest of World, which considers itself a technology first global news publication, was uniquely positioned to cover how the battle over digital rights and the growing social upheaval coalesced into real-world unrest. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

ILN: How did the uprising in Nepal last month begin?

AK: Lets start with the social media ban. A Supreme Court directive essentially asked that any social media platform that was operating inside Nepal must register with the government and secure a license within three months, and appoint a company representative in Nepal. On September 4, the deadline passed and the government announced that it was banning twenty-six social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Obviously, there was disenchantment among social media users. There are people who earn their living through Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube, including journalists.

And while that was playing out, there was also this nepo baby hashtag trend, mostly on TikTok and Instagram. That trend appeared to have come from Indonesia and the Philippines. There were photos of the Indonesian parliament being burned, and then people were generating AI images of the Nepali parliament on fire and saying We need to do the same thing, enough is enough.

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So there was that disenchantment with the social media ban, which coupled with this frustration among younger people about where the country was headed. The unemployment rate is high. GDP growth averaged under 5 percent. And then every day, close to two thousand people leave the country. The scene at the only international airport in the capital is actually quite jarring: you see thousands of people just there to wave goodbye to their loved ones.

So the narrative was that while all these young people are going abroad in hopes of better livesand send remittances that essentially help run the economythere are privileged elites living in luxury and their kids are flaunting those things on Instagram.

Protests were announced for September 8 by a bunch of youth movements. They organized themselves on Discord and on Instagram, and it was supposed to be peaceful. They asked people to gather at this regular venue where protests usually start, and everything went downhill from there.

What was your experience?

I was going to take a break from work in September, so I was planning a vacation [outside of Kathmandu], even as the protests were taking place. While we were driving [out of town], we realized the protests had gone violent. First we heard that a reporter had been injured by a bulletit turned out to be a rubber bullet. But it was clear that the police had opened fire, and within the next couple of hours, I learned that thirteen people were declared dead, mostly young students, protesters. So I canceled the vacation and came back to Kathmandu that night, when a curfew had already been imposed.

The next day, I was planning to go to the offices of a media group, Kantipur Publications, that I joined the board of. So we were all in the office that morningit must have been like ten-thirty or so. Obviously we have been monitoring Discord for a couple of days. Weve seen people talk about How do you make Molotov cocktails? Heres what we want to do: we want to start dropping these things on the houses of members of Parliament. And they named specific institutions, including media organizationsKantipur as well. And then at some point there was enough information that a mob was headed to the building that housed the newsroom, so we all evacuated.

The rest of the day was just utter chaos. Ive never seen anything like that. I couldnt get home for the next thirty hours. I stayed with a driver in his house on the way.

How did the traditional media come to be regarded as a part of this ancien regime that protesters were trying to bring down?

It wasnt always the case. People saw the media as being on their side for a long time. Nepal has gone through a number of revolutions, and the media was seen as one of the political powers that helped fight against autocracy and helped usher the country toward democracy.

But in the last decade or so, theres been disenchantment. Even though there are thousands of online media outlets, they havent really evolved in terms of what they cover, how they cover it, and are they really doing a public service? I think thats been the perception. So as the largest media group, Kantipur was obviously a target.

So where do young people get their news from?

I think if you are Gen Z, youre most likely getting your news from Instagram, from TikTok, from YouTube, and probably a narrow selection of online mediums, including online versions of newspapers.

Over the last five years, theres been a proliferation of social-media-native media platforms. Theres one called Routine of Nepal Banda, which is quite prominent actually. They started out as a Facebook page that used to publicize whenever there was a strike in the country or things like schedules for load shedding and power outages, and theyve become quite a powerhouse in terms of information sharing. Or theres In-Depth Story, which is a YouTube explainer platform. But these are not full-fledged newsrooms. A lot of these places are either getting their information from mainstream publications that have reporters out in the field or theyre publishing stuff based on hearsay.

The Arab Spring in 2011 was sometimes described as the Facebook Revolution. Do you see the events in Nepal as a continuation of that kind of movement, or is it something unique?

I feel like its a continuation of what weve seen postArab Spring.

One thing I hadnt seen before was the use of Discord. Obviously, weve seen Discord at the center of misinformation campaignsso it was surprising to see how central it had become in the current revolution in Nepal. One of the major youth movements that had called the protest on September 8 started a group called Youths Against Corruption on Discord, and they were using the platform to plan, organize, mobilize, and share information.

And then once the government was toppled, the platform also became sort of like an online polling place to decide which candidate, which leader should head the interim government. I believe there were close to seventy-eight thousand votes that were cast live on Discord, and the woman who won that ballot, the former chief justice Sushila Karki, also ended up becoming the interim prime minister.

How can Nepali media change to better meet the needs of the younger generation?

At least inside Kantipur, where theres a young managing director whos inherited the business from his father, there is a realization that the media hadnt actually evolved, even though everything around us had been changing. What does the management look like? What does the leadership look like? What does the newsroom itself look like? Are there young people working inside the newsrooms? What kind of topics are they covering?

Nepali journalism, for the longest time, has been very politics-heavy. Politics-dominant, actually; theres very little reporting on social issues or trying to contextualize the socioeconomic stories vis-a-vis politics. I think people were really missing out on this storytelling. So there is an attempt to correct that.

I know even on social media, users are demanding that media organizations and journalists actually need to change. They need to stop parroting anything a politician says as news and really try to help contextualize things and serve the public.
A cohort of Russian-speaking hackers known as Qilin has claimed responsibility for a ransomware attack that hobbled Asahi Group Holdings Ltd.s operations for more than a week.

The group stole roughly 27 gigabytes of data from Japans biggest beer brewer including financial documents, contracts, development forecasts and employees personal information, Qilin said on its website. Bloomberg was unable to verify the authenticity of the claims.

All of Asahis domestic plants are expected to be back online by Thursday, although output will be lower than usual, a spokesperson for the Tokyo-based company said. Information suspected to have been leaked through the hack has been found on the internet, Asahi said in a statement on Wednesday. The spokesperson declined to provide more details on the investigation.

The outage at Asahi was the latest in a global wave of cyber-incidents that have hit carmakers, financial firms and hospitals. The hack underscores Japans vulnerability to online attacks, where even brief halts can ripple from factory floors to store shelves and restaurants given the countrys intricate supply chains.

The beermaker was forced to halt production at most of its roughly 30 factories nationwide after the cyberattack paralyzed distribution last week. Employees have been processing orders over the phone and have had to limit orders to those for the popular Asahi Super Dry brew. The company, which first reported the hack on Sept. 29, expects to expand shipments to other products from Oct. 15.

Thats as Asahis domestic rivals Kirin Holdings Co., Sapporo Holdings Ltd. and Suntory Holdings Ltd. are fielding a surge in orders from restaurant operators and retailers to make up for any shortages. To secure adequate production capacity for its mainstay beers, Suntory said its scrapping the launches of two varieties of limited-edition beers in December.

Qilin has been active since mid-2022 and targeted more than a hundred companies in more than a dozen countries, according to a list of alleged victims on the gangs website. The group has said it was involved in a $50 million ransomware hack on UK hospital lab-service provider Synnovis, which led to hundreds of canceled operations and outpatient appointments in 2024.

The group encrypts files on infected computers to prevent access. It also often steals data, which it then threatens to publish, if the target refuses to pay for the decryption key and opts to rebuild the computer system from a backup database. Such so-called double-extortion methods have become increasingly popular as a means to compel payments, according to Jon Clay, vice president of threat intelligence at Trend Micro.

Its not clear if Qilins blog entry  which includes screenshots of data it says it stole from Asahi  means the brewer refused to pay a ransom.

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.
A $12.5 million settlement could provide payments to Washington residents who received unsolicited Cash App Invite Friends texts between 2019 and 2025. Nikolas Kokovlis/Getty Images

SEATTLE, Washington  A $12.5 million settlement has been reached to end a class-action lawsuit accusing Block, Inc., the parent company of Cash App, of helping users send unwanted text messages to Washington residents through its Invite Friends program.

The case, Bottoms v. Block, Inc., claimed the company violated Washingtons Commercial Electronic Mail Act and Consumer Protection Act by substantially assisting users who sent referral texts without prior consent.

Block, formerly known as Square Inc., denied any wrongdoing and says it has complied with all state and federal laws. The company maintained the lawsuit is not well grounded in law or fact, according to the settlement agreement filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

If approved by the court, the settlement would create a $12.5 million fund to compensate eligible recipients, cover administrative costs and pay attorneys fees and other expenses. Payments to qualified class members are expected to range between $88 and $147.

To qualify, Cash App users must have received a Cash App referral text between Nov. 14, 2019, and Aug. 7, 2025 while living in Washington, and must not have clearly consented to the message in advance.

An example of a message:

Hey! Ive been using Cash App to send money and spend using the Cash Card. Try it using my code and youll get $5.

Eligible people must submit a claim form by Oct. 27. Those who take no action will not receive payment but will waive the right to file related claims.

A final fairness hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 2. If approved, payments would be distributed after court approval becomes final and no appeals remain pending.

This story was written with the assistance of AI.
Ohio-grown soybeans are not going to China this year because Donald Trump's tariffs have created a trade war, and soybean farmers don't know what they will do with their crops. It's the latest hit Ohio is taking because of Trump policies. during an interview at their facilities in Greenville, Ohio. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) AP

Donald Trump has socked Ohio soybean farmers in their wallets as his helter skelter trade policies hit home with devastating effect, and Today in Ohio hosts says its just one of many local ramifications of the presidents second term.

In a shocking development, Chinawhich typically purchases between 25-30% of the total U.S. soybean crophasnt bought any soybeans this year.

Not one bushel. And they typically pre book billions of dollars in soybean orders, explained Lisa Garvin on Tuesdays episode.. The impact is particularly severe for Ohio, which ranks among the top soybean-producing states in the country.

The cause of the agricultural catastrophe is clear. China has imposed a punishing 35% retaliatory tariff on U.S. soybean imports in response to the ongoing trade war launched by Trump. This has effectively priced American soybeans out of their largest international market.

Theres no doubt this is a direct result of Donald Trump, said Chris Quinn. We cant sell our soybeans. Quinn noted that many economists saw this kind of damage coming when Trump began initiating tariffs.

The consequences extend beyond immediate sales. Ohio farmers now face a terrifying long-term threatpermanent loss of market share to international competitors who are eagerly stepping in to fill the void.

The danger is that China will permanently find other suppliers of soybeans. Argentina would love to supplant Ohio and the U.S., and were helping them do that. And thats bad, Quinn warned.

Making farmers even angrier is that Argentina had already worked to undercut U.S. pricing, yet Trump is providing the country with a big financial package.

The soybean situation has become so dire that many Ohio farmers are contemplating storing their harvest in hopes of better prices next yeara risky proposition with no guarantee of improvement. Others are bracing for the possibility of requiring federal bailout money, a solution that runs contrary to the free-market principles that many in the agricultural community have long supported.

Farmers dont want to be subsidized, really, Garvin sayd. They want to be able to sell their crop. They dont want bailout from the government, a lot of them.

The crisis is compounded by drought conditions that have already reduced crop yields this year. With both natural and man-made disasters hitting simultaneously, Ohios soybean farmers find themselves in an increasingly desperate position.

The irony of the situation isnt lost on Quinn, who pointed out the contradiction in current economic policy: So now the U.S. Talks about, well, maybe well have to subsidize the farmers. Its crazy. Let the free market roll. But the Republicans who used to always be about the free market are collapsing it.

As harvest season continues, the future remains uncertain for Ohios soybean farmers. What is certain, however, is that the trade policies intended to strengthen Americas position on the global stage have instead delivered a crushing blow to one of Ohios most important agricultural industries.

Without a resolution to the trade dispute or a dramatic shift in Chinas purchasing patterns, this crisis could reshape Ohios agricultural landscape.

Listen to the discussion here.

Listen to full Today in Ohio episodes where Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with Editorial Board member Lisa Garvin, Impact Editor Leila Atassi and Content Director Laura Johnston.
Knox, a K9 police dog at Brown County Sheriff's Office in Indiana, helped rescue two 11-year-old children who became "lost in the thick of the woods" in Hoosier National Forest on Sunday, police said. (Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images) Corbis via Getty Images

The old adage says that every dog has his day, and boy did Knox, the K-9 police dog.

Knox helped rescue two 11-year-olds who were lost in Hoosier National Forest in Indiana on Sunday. The children became separated from their mothers and were lost in the thick of the woods, according to a news release from the Brown County Sheriffs Office.

Authorities, including Knoxs partner Deputy Cody Loncaric, responded to the scene around 5:48 p.m. in the area of Sundance Lake.

Knox began tracking for the children in a field that was about 550 yards in length, police said.

K9 Knox pointed first responders in the right direction and helped to successfully locate the two missing juveniles, BCSO said in the release. We are beyond thankful for the great teamwork put together by all involved.

The Nashville Police Department, Indiana Department of Natural Resources  Law Enforcement, Harrison Township Fire Department, and Southern Brown Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the scene.

Hoosier National Forest, located in southern Indiana, is the only national forest in Indiana, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It features more than 260 miles of hiking trails, according to its website.
Wayne County native Julie Stufft discusses her nomination to be U.S. ambassador to Kazakhstan at a July, 2025 Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing. Screenshot

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Julie Stufft, who grew up on a small farm in Wayne County, Ohio, as the next U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan by a vote of 51 to 47.

Stufft, a career Foreign Service officer, previously served as deputy chief of mission in Moldova and Djibouti, and in missions in Russia, Ethiopia, and Poland.

Kazakhstan, a landlocked nation in Central Asia bounded by Russia to the north, China to the east, and the Caspian Sea to the southwest, is the largest country in Central Asia and the ninth largest in the world. The country is the worlds leading producer of uranium, supplying more than 40% of global output, and holds vast reserves of critical minerals and major oil fields. It has a population of more than 20 million.

At her Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing in July, Stufft expressed gratitude to her family, and said shes grateful that her parents, Hal and Nancy Leach, inspired her to imagine a big world from our little farm in Wayne County, Ohio.

Multiple senators praised Stuffts career Foreign Service background. New Hampshire Democrat Jeanne Shaheen noted that Stufft received the Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award, the highest award granted to a civilian federal employee, and four meritorious Honor Awards. Both Shaheen and Montana Republican Steve Daines said they were pleased to see a career Foreign Service officer nominated for the ambassadorial position.

Stufft holds degrees from Case Western Reserve University and Duke University, and speaks Russian, Romanian, French, and Polish. In 2023, she received the Distinguished Executive Presidential Rank Award, the highest award granted to a civilian federal employee. Her other honors include seven Superior Honor Awards and the American Foreign Service Associations Award for Constructive Dissent by a Senior Officer.

During her confirmation hearing, Stufft outlined her priorities for the position. If confirmed, my top priority will be to ensure the safety and security of all Americans in Kazakhstan, including my Embassy and Consulate teams, she said.

She emphasized the strategic importance of deepening economic ties with Kazakhstan, particularly in energy and critical minerals. Today, were on the threshold of a new era of commercial and energy cooperation with Kazakhstan, a global leader in uranium production, a major oil exporter, and holder of vast reserves of critical minerals, Stufft testified. If confirmed, I will work with the Departments Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, U.S. EXIM Bank, and the private sector, to make the United States more prosperous by fostering deeper bilateral economic ties, including through U.S. investment in energy, technology, and infrastructure.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved Stuffts nomination last month by a unanimous 21-0 vote. The full Senate confirmed her in a group of more than 100 nominees who were voted on together.

Stufft emphasized that the U.S.-Kazakhstan partnership extends beyond commercial interests. Russia looms over Kazakhstan across the worlds longest land border, with China trying to dominate the telecommunications and extractive sectors, she told senators. The United States benefits from a Kazakhstan that is stable, independent, and prosperous.

The United States has maintained a strong relationship with Kazakhstan since 1991, when it became the first country to recognize Kazakhstans independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The U.S. assisted Kazakhstan in eliminating Soviet-era nuclear weapons and infrastructure after the country renounced its nuclear arsenal in 1993.

U.S.-Kazakhstani cooperation in security and nuclear non-proliferation remains a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship. Under the Cooperative Threat Reduction program, the United States has spent over $275 million to assist Kazakhstan in eliminating weapons of mass destruction and related infrastructure.

The government and people of Kazakhstan have appreciated Americas support since 1991, when we were the first country to recognize their independence, Stufft noted at her hearing. We helped Kazakhstan eliminate Soviet nuclear and biological weapons and infrastructure. Soon after, U.S. energy companies made multi-billion-dollar investments that still benefit both countries.

In her closing remarks to the Foreign Relations Committee, Stufft pledged close cooperation with Congress. If confirmed, I pledge to work closely with you to support Americas growing strategic partnership with Kazakhstan, and I look forward to welcoming you there, she said.
Vietnam clinched a long-awaited upgrade to emerging-market status from FTSE Russell, a shift that could unlock billions of dollars in fresh capital for its financial markets.The countrys stocks will be included in FTSE Russells secondary emerging markets grouping, joining the likes of China, India and Indonesia. The upgrade from frontier status will be effective on Sept. 21, 2026, according to a statement.The reclassification of Vietnam reflects the implementation of key market infrastructure enhancements, David Sol, global head of policy at FTSE Russell, said in a statement.Vietnam was first added to FTSE Russells watchlist for potential reclassification in September 2018, and authorities have undertaken sweeping reforms to align the market with global standards. The country will now be subject to an interim review in March next year. FTSE had predicted an upgrade would add up to $6 billion in redirected foreign inflows to Vietnam.HSBC Holdings Plc projected last month that an upgrade would lead to inflows of $3.4 billion, adding that about 38% of Asia funds and 30% of global emerging market funds already hold Vietnamese stocks.Such a magnitude of capital inflows would be sufficient to reverse the persistent foreign net selling seen in recent years, reaffirming a turning point for the market, said Tyler Manh Dung Nguyen, chief market strategist at Ho Chi Minh City Securities.Vietnams benchmark VN Index has climbed 33% this year to fresh highs, driven by strong economic growth and hopes for the upgrade. Despite record foreign outflows in August, retail traders powered the market to its best month in more than five years.The upgrade should bring new capital inflows to the nation, which could boost the Vietnamese dong, said Brendan McKenna, a strategist at Wells Fargo in New York. Sustainability of those flows is key, and its certainly a step in the right direction for the economy and currency, he added.Not every factor about an upgrade is positive. As of September, Vietnam held the largest weighting of about 32% in the FTSE Frontier Index, followed by Morocco at nearly 20%. Moving into an emerging market index would mean competing with bigger, more established countries.FTSE Russells upgrade of Vietnam to emerging-market status marks a watershed moment for Southeast Asias fastest-rising economy and equity story. Yet the celebration comes with caution, said Hebe Chen, an analyst at Vantage Markets in Melbourne, citing a fast-rising dong and high valuations.The VN Index is trading at 12.2 times forward earnings, compared with its three-year average of 10.1 times, data compiled by Bloomberg shows.One reform undertaken by Vietnam on its path to an upgrade eliminated the ability of public companies to impose foreign ownership caps below limits allowed by law or international agreements. Another scrapped the requirement for overseas investors to fully pre-fund equity trades, removing a major barrier to participation.In May, the country launched the long-awaited KRX trading system, a technological upgrade seen as crucial to strengthening transparency and market infrastructure.Last month, Vietnams government laid out a plan to fully meet FTSE Russells criteria for upgrading this year and to reach emerging-market status at MSCI Inc. by 2030. The latter is widely seen as a more significant milestone, potentially unlocking even greater foreign inflows.Theres been a lot of anticipation on this (upgrade) already, said Nguyen Thomas, chief global markets officer at SSI Securities Corp. Whats most critical is for Vietnam to continue its path of development.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday, October 7, that she and two of her ministers had been reported to the International Criminal Court for alleged complicity in genocide in connection with Israels offensive in Gaza.Speaking in an interview with state television broadcaster RAI, Meloni said Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani had been denounced, and "I think" also Roberto Cingolani, the head of defence group Leonardo."I dont believe there is another case like this in the world or in history," Meloni said.She did not elaborate on who had brought the case against her and her ministers.Italy has seen a string of demonstrations over the last week, bringing hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets to protest against the mass killings in Gaza, with many protesters also taking aim at Meloni.Her right-wing government, generally a staunch supporter of Israel, has distanced itself recently from what it calls its "disproportionate" offensive in Gaza, but has not severed any commercial or diplomatic links, or recognised the state of Palestine.The Israeli assault on Gaza began after gunmen from the Palestinian militant group Hamas killed some 1,200 people and took 251 hostages according to Israeli tallies, in an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.Israels response has killed more than 67,000 people, Gaza health officials say.Israel denies accusations of genocide.Meloni said she was "amazed" by the accusation of complicity in genocide because "anyone who knows the situation is aware that Italy has not authorised new, lets say, arms supplies to Israel after October 7."In response to her remarks, a Leonardo spokesperson said Cingolani had already expressed the companys position in an interview with daily Corriere della Sera last month when he said the suggestion that it was complicit in genocide was "a very serious frame-up."In other remarks, Meloni said she believed that US President Donald Trump had come to the conclusion that Russia was not interested in a peace deal with Ukraine."In the face of this refusal by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin  the only way forward is to apply pressure, continue to support Ukraine, and to impose sanctions," she said.
Fewer international students, especially Indians, are likely to join US universities for the new academic year starting September as August this year saw the sharpest drop in US student visas issued.

Indians students received 44.5% fewer visas year-on-year in the first year under the Trump adminsitration's second term at the White House. With this, China has effectively dethroned India as the top source of foreign students to the US.

The US overall issued 313,138 student visas in August, which is a 19.1% drop from the same month last year, AFP reported citing the International Trade Administration. Of this, 86,647 visas went to students from mainland China in August which is more than twice the number issued to Indians.



In June, Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefly suspended processing of student visas in June and ordered US embassies to screen social media activities of visa applicants. AFP reported that the administration had revoked thousands of visas of students who were critical of Israel and related US policy.

This is not the first time that immigration policy under the Trump administration has hit India hard.

Just last month, US President Donald Trump on Friday (September 19) signed a proclamation raising H1-B visa fee to a staggering $100,000 annually. The move was expected to affect Indian professionals, who accounted for over 71% of H-1B approvals in FY24. This also drew rebuke from major US businesses and tech companies.

Last week, a coalition of business groups representing chipmakers, software companies and retailers sent a letter to Trump stating the fee hike threatens a crucial talent pipeline of foreign skilled workers and could leave critical jobs unfilled.

Bilateral ties between India and the US have soured significantly in the last few months. As far as trade is concerned, the US imposed a 50% reciprocal tariff on India--which came into effect on August 27--including a 25% penalty for purchasing Russian oil and defence equipment.

Also Read: $100,000 fee for H-1B visa is one-time requirement for new applicants only, US Official confirms to CNBC-TV18
A breakdown in AI governance at Deloitte Australia has forced the consulting giant to refund part of an AU$440,000 (US$290,000) government contract after AI-generated fabrications were included in a final report, exposing vulnerabilities that analysts said are symptomatic of broader challenges as enterprises rapidly scale up AI adoption.

Deloitte used OpenAI GPT-4o to help produce a 237-page independent review for Australias Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR), but failed to detect fabricated academic citations and non-existent court references before delivery. The firm also did not disclose its AI use until after errors were discovered.

The Australian government told ComputerWorld that Deloitte has confirmed some footnotes and references were incorrect and agreed to repay the final installment under its contract. The Secretary provided an update, noting that a correct version of the statement of assurance and final report has been released.
The people who paid the comedians to come to this are not good people

When Louis C.K. made an appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher last Friday, the comedian not only received a free pass from the host regarding his performance at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, but he also received an endorsement. I basically think its a great idea to go anywhere like that, Maher told C.K. I think the people who are doing it are brave, and apparently, the ones over there are enjoying it.

If Aziz Ansari was expecting similar treatment from Jimmy Kimmel last night, he was mistaken. Ansari, on the show to answer softball questions about his directorial debut, Good Fortune, also performed at the festival. But Kimmel wasnt applauding him for appearing.

People, a lot of comedians especially, are very upset because the people who paid the comedians to come to this are not good people, Kimmel said. Its a pretty brutal regime. Theyve done a lot of horrible, horrible things.

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Lets just say Jimmy Fallon wouldnt have started that way, nor would he have asked the obvious question: Why would Ansari take money from not good people to perform? You made this decision, Kimmel said. Im curious as to why you decided to do that.

Im glad you asked, Ansari said, clearly not glad that Kimmel asked.

Its something I put a lot of thought into, the comedian continued, explaining he had an aunt who lived in Saudi Arabia for a while. She said, you know, theres people over there that dont agree with the stuff that the governments doing, and to ascribe the worst behavior of the government onto those people, thats not fair. Just like theres people in America that dont agree with the things the government is doing.

Kimmel wasnt letting Ansari off the hook, though. I know were doing horrible things over here, but they murdered a journalist. These are not good people over there.

Again, Ansari reiterated that he wasnt there for the bad guys: I was just there to do a show for the people.

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Ansari said his wife helped persuade him to take the gig. She said, you know, whenever theres repressive societies like this, they try to keep things out, whether its rock and roll music or blue jeans, because it makes people curious about outside ideas, outside values, he said. And this is a very young country, like half the country is under the age of 25, and things can really change.

A comedy festival, explained Ansari, is something thats pushing things to be more open and to push a dialogue. He didnt explain how comedy can push a dialogue about the Saudi government when comedians agreed to ignore that part of the conversation.

After hearing all the criticism, Ansari said he went to his team and suggested giving part of the fee to causes that support a free press and human rights.

Like which causes, specifically? Kimmel pressed.

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I think I read about Reporters Without Borders, which I think is a great organization, and Human Rights Watch as well, Ansari replied without confirming hed actually donated to either organization.

Ansari believes the festival will have a long-term positive impact. I hope people see that and they go, Wow, this was really great and I want more of this, not just in comedy, but in everything. To push things to be more open and to have the ability to say what we want and to have dissent. Hopefully, its a step in that direction.
So its not okay to bring up 9/11 during dinner parties?

Apart from Chevy Chase, the most depressing character to come out of Saturday Night Live is probably Debbie Downer. The perpetually-miserable vibe-killer played by Rachel Dratch was first introduced back in 2004, in a sketch featuring host Lindsay Lohan.

Debbie is dining with a number of friends during a Disney World vacation. But she cant help ruining their enthusiasm with interjections about train explosions and the recent mauling of Roy from Siegfried & Roy. Of course, every one of Debbie Downers depressing non sequiturs is accompanied by a melancholy trombone sound effect.

How did this bummer of a character come to be? Well, as Dratch recently revealed during the latest episode of Good Hang with Amy Poehler, she has her therapist to thank.

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It really started because I went on a vacation by myself, (which) had been suggested to me by a therapist, Dratch explained. And I often leave that detail out. But since Im on this one-on-one Amy interview

Although skeptical, Dratch went on the solo vacation, ending up at an eco lodge thing in the jungles of Costa Rica. While most of the other visitors were really cool, one guest was, well, a downer.

During one communal dinner, someone said, Where are you from? and I said, New York. And then they said, Oh were you there for 9/11? Dratch recalled. And it was like three years after 9/11. It wasnt like it just happened. And then I was kind of like Uhh yeah. It was just like in Debbie Downer, you have to get the conversation back (on track).

And then about a week later after I got home, I was out listening to some band I just had that idea. Debbie Downer popped into my head, she added.

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So Dratch took the idea to longtime SNL writer Paula Pell, and they hammered out the first draft of the sketch. It was originally set in an office, but it wasnt really flowing. The pair realized that the characters needed to be somewhere happy, and figured there was no better setting than the Happiest Place on Earth.

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Pell and Dratch also made those sad trombone noises with their mouths during the writing process, purely for their own amusement, before finally asking, What if we put that in the scene?

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The character went on to return in several more sketches, including one that co-starred Robert De Niro, Drew Barrymore and Ayo Edebiri in SNL50.

You know, that event where everyone caught COVID (mwap-waaaaah).
Becoming a political martyr is really great for ratings.

Nothing feels as precious as it does when you think youre about to lose it, even Jimmy Kimmels very middle-of-the-road late-night show. When the FCC and Donald Trump issued (very public) mafia-style threats to Disney, the Jimmy Kimmel Live! host was removed from television in a stunning act of censorship, punished with indefinite suspension for the very mild comments he made about the murder of conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk.

Kimmel became an overnight cause celebre and the most high-profile face of Trumps ever-escalating authoritarian regime. After several days off-air, he made a triumphant Tuesday night return, earning him the shows highest ratings of all time and an absolute temper tantrum from Trump on Truth Social.

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The ratings stayed buoyed for about a week  longer than the single night I previously predicted  but, according to Mediaite, were already back to pre-martyr numbers. Kimmels Wednesday, October 1st show had 1.70 million viewers, dropping 74 percent from the 6.48 million viewers he had his first night back after being yanked from air. And thats actually lower than his Q2 average ratings of 1.77 million viewers.

This is a depressing reality about a number of things: 1) the number of Americans actually willing to stay up and watch live television at 11:30 p.m.; 2) the length of time Americans are willing to devote their time to any political cause; and 3) just how little allure Kimmel has with audiences.

You get nearly seven million people to watch your television show, and your retention rate is below what your ratings already hit this year less than a week later? Thats not a good sign for Kimmels longevity. Even if Trump never mentions late-night television again, theres no way network executives arent noticing that even as big of a boost as Kimmel received with his dramatic return, it didnt leverage to even a slight longer-term gain.

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Even though Kimmel did a pretty good job of balancing the seriousness of the his return with scathing digs at the administration that caused his departure, and that he still has higher approval ratings than Donald Trump, its clear the market for late-night viewers isnt as big as the market for being victimized by the president.

And thats simply not a sustainable business model.
The rare family activity to include fatal candlestick beatings, Clue is obviously one of the most iconic board games of all-time. In the decades since it debuted back in 1949, Clue/Cluedo has inspired video games, books and, of course, the beloved 1985 movie.

Now Netflix has announced that they will be producing a Clue "competition series in which contestants will face physical and mental challenges to collect clues before stepping into a real-life game of deduction and deception.

This might sound like a pretty wacky idea, but its not the first time that Clue has been turned into a TV game show. Back in 1990, the UKs ITV-produced Cluedo premiered, a series that challenged players to solve murder mysteries presented in filmed segments by interrogating suspects. To win, celebrity contestants had to identify the killer, the murder weapon that was used and which room it occurred in.

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But while were reasonably sure that Tim Curry has never taken a human life, one Cluedo cast member committed a very real crime.

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A Season Four episode ended with the revelation that the killer was Colonel Mustard, in the kitchen, with the G-string? Yeah, after four seasons, the producers apparently kept things interesting by replacing the traditional weapons, like the revolver and lead pipe, with a G-string, a poisonous snake, a crossbow and a flamethrower!

Surely even the most amateur of detectives would be able to tell the difference between a G-string-induced laceration and a fatal flamethrower attack.

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Apart from the fact that no undergarments were included as potential murder weapons in the original Parker Brothers game, the most eyebrow-raising part of this development was the fact that Colonel Mustard was played by EastEnders star Leslie Grantham, who died in 2018. Per The Daily Mail, when Grantham was 18 he joined the Royal Fusiliers, and in 1966, while stationed in Germany, he made the catastrophic decision to rob taxi driver Felix Reese in the town of Osnabruck.

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After holding the driver at gunpoint, the cabbie fought back and Grantham ended up shooting him in the head during the ensuing scuffle  although Grantham later claimed that he had not realized the pistol was loaded and never intended to harm the driver. But the jury didnt buy it, and he was convicted of murder at a court martial held in Germany. Grantham served just 10 years of a life sentence.

The fact that Cluedos killer had been convicted for murder in real life didnt go unnoticed by fans, either. Presumably Netflix will vet their new cast members a little more thoroughly.
Mischievous software must be why everyone is so mad at Burr

Why is everyone so angry at Bill Burr for performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival? Blame the bots, Burr said during a surprise guest appearance this week on the Conan OBrien Needs A Friend podcast, per the Hollywood Reporter.

The general consensus is, How dare you go to that place and make those oppressed people laugh, you fucking piece of shit. I cant believe you went to that place. I cant find it on a map, and this bot said I was upset about it, so now I am,' Burr ranted. Its one thing to wear clothes made by sweatshop labor. Its quite another to go to the factory and make em laugh. I cant believe how much anger I had about this issue after it went viral.

Whos programming the woke bot mob? Why are they targeting Bill Burr? Does Burr have special bot-detection software?

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Those questions remain unanswered as the comedian defended himself against his virtual online attackers, even though he doesnt give a fuck what all these phony fucking people are saying.

Burr fought back with the Our government is bad too defense, because as everyone knows, wrong plus wrong equals right. Jesus Christ, were fucking grabbing moms and dads and sticking em in a van for making illegally made fucking tacos to go to Alligator Alcatraz, he fumed. Its fucking insane. Someday, theyre gonna be out of brown people to put in those vans. Theyre still gonna have the vans, so you shouldnt be feeling comfortable about it.

Burrs got a point about those American outrages  did he speak about them at Riyadh?

As the comedian picked up steam about one of the top three experiences hes ever had, Burr decided that maybe bots werent to blame after all  its his fellow comedians, or as he likes to call them, all of these sanctimonious (c-slurs) out there. According to Burr, the comics who criticize Riyadh comedians dont really sincerely give a shit. Crawl back into your holes, Marc Maron and David Cross!

While Burr gave credit to gay Jewish comic Jessica Kirson for doing a set in Riyadh (Thats the biggest balls of anyone Ive ever seen), he acknowledged that shes had second thoughts and expressed her regrets. Kirson was forced into her apology, said Burr, by hardcore psycho gays. Fucking lunatics, man.

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Burr conceded that the bots blowback might cool his comedy career, but so what? I really dont give a fuck, Conan. If online attacks mean fewer gigs at clubs around the country, so be it. Ive been to LAX enough in my life, he said. Ill fucking sit home for a little bit. I will actually tell you LAX is slightly sadder than Saudi Arabia.
On Sunday night, Conan OBrien hosted a live taping of his podcast Conan OBrien Needs A Friend featuring a surprise special guest: Bill Burr. The balder red-haired comedian is currently under fire for his decision to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, especially because Burr refuses to be cowed by the angry comments from fans and other comedians.

The general consensus is, How dare you go to that place and make those oppressed people laugh, you fucking piece of shit! I cant believe you went to that place. I cant find it on a map, and this bot said I was upset about it so now I am, Burr said to OBrien, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Its one thing to wear clothes made by sweatshop labor. Its quite another to go to the factory and make em laugh. I cant believe how much anger I had about this issue after it went viral.

Bill, to borrow your fucked-up metaphor, you didnt perform for the people who were working in the sweatshops. You performed for the people who owned, operated and managed them. Please, grow up.

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But the secondary story to all of Burrs defensive statements is the venue he got to make them in. Clearly, theres been no shunning of the Riyadh comedians; Aziz Ansari has already made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, though he did receive some questioning from the late-night host. OBrien, too, made sure to broach the topic with Burr. Yet the approach is a few wrist slaps for taking blood money from the Saudi royal family, before we can all get back to laughing together.

That might work for the brethren of comedians, who seem to forgive all sorts of bad behavior from their fellow funnymen. But it wont be so easy for the fans to forget, as evidenced by the OBrien audience members who walked out of Sunday nights live taping.

I was really interested when Bill was revealed as the surprise guest. Hes a smart guy, Ive always enjoyed his contrarian takes, and I was curious how hed respond to all the flak hes been getting for the Riyadh comedy fest, one person wrote on the r/Conan subreddit. Instead, he went on a bizarre rant about how he did such an incredible act of good by doing this festival and that anyone upset at him is a moron who doesnt know where Saudi Arabia is on a map and must think everyone there is a machete-wielding, people-beheading psychopath because theyve never actually been to the country like he now has.

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The post continued: We couldnt believe how self-righteous he was about it all, talking about how because he went and performed comedy there, he helped advance the people over there to be closer to where were at, that hes now able to see that the Saudis are people just like us because they like the same jokes, that his critics are just bots, and that the only way to make money these days is to troll and outrage people.

The Redditor expressed frustration that OBrien didnt interrupt Burrs tirade. After it kept on, they reported walking out of the taping. So disappointing and off-putting, and after realizing no one on that stage (Conan, Sona or Matt) was gonna try to have an honest conversation with Bill, just agree with everything or stay silent, we were hoping it would move on but after a while it didnt seem like Bill wanted to talk about anything else so we just left, they wrote, adding that the audience seemed split.

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Burr may be accusing bots of driving the outrage against him, but its clear real people who held him in high esteem arent willing to sit through his explanations either, even as his fellow comedians dont give him any real pushback.
The News in Brief Thursday, October 9, 2025

The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on Georgia's occupied territories titled "Cooperation with Georgia" on October 8, 2025, in Geneva, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.The ministry stated that this was the first time the resolution, which Georgia has presented annually since 2017 and which focuses on the human rights situation in the occupied territories, was adopted by consensus.Georgia's Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia presented the resolution at the Council's session. "By adopting the resolution by consensus, the Human Rights Council expressed unprecedented support for Georgia," the Foreign Ministry said.The resolution reaffirms the Council's support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. It expresses serious concern about various forms of discrimination and human rights violations committed against the ethnic Georgian population in the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali.The document highlights the importance of the Geneva International Discussions, which were established under the August 12, 2008 ceasefire agreement.As in previous years, the resolution includes references to the occupation of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region by Russia, as well as to the European Court of Human Rights decisions issued between 2021 and 2024.The Council expressed concern that international and regional human rights monitoring mechanisms are still denied access to the occupied territories. It called for immediate and unrestricted access for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and other international and regional human rights bodies to Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region.The European People's Party (EPP) has issued a statement declaring that the Georgian people "deserve democracy, not autocracy" and "aspire to integration with Europe, not isolation." The statement came in response to Georgia's October 4 local elections, which the EPP described as fraudulent."As the Georgian people continue their fight for their freedoms and a European future, Bidzina Ivanishvili's 'Georgian Dream' held yet another fraudulent election on October 4, marked by the lowest voter turnout in Georgia's history, which major opposition parties boycotted amid repression and violence against regime opponents," the statement said. "Recent detentions and threats of persecution from 'Georgian Dream' representatives aim to restrict people's right to protest, suppress the pro-Western opposition, and instill widespread fear in society."The EPP urged the European Union to take concrete measures in response to the situation. "We call on 'Georgian Dream' to stop violence and repression and to respect the European aspirations of the Georgian people. We urge the European Union and its member states to impose targeted sanctions against Bidzina Ivanishvili and his enablers who are complicit in undermining democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Georgia," the statement read.According to the party, the European Union should impose sanctions against individuals "undermining the rule of law and human rights in Georgia," emphasizing its support for the Georgian people's democratic and pro-European aspirations.
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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

Arguably one of the most hard-working skincare products, a top-notch serum can make all the difference in achieving a radiant complexion.

But it's almost impossible to find the perfect formula in such a saturated market.

Enter Trinny London's Naked Ambition - a new vitamin C serum designed to deliver a slow-release boost of brightening power, promoting consistently luminous skin.

The formula, designed to be applied to the face, neck and decolletage, has just landed in Australia, and it's already being hailed as the 'must-have' serum your skin has been waiting for.

Fans who got early access to the new serum are already raving about the glow it brings, with one saying: 'My skin feels fab... I look like a different person.' What shoppers love most? The way this formula leaves their skin looking dewy and refreshed every morning.

Featuring a powerhouse duo of skin-loving ingredients - vitamin C and azelaic acid -this glow-boosting pair draws on years of cosmetic science to deliver radiant, refreshed-looking skin. It visibly brightens and evens out skin tone while reducing the appearance of dullness.

I put Naked Ambition to the test to see if it lives up to expectations. While consistency is key, I noticed my skin looking more radiant within just a matter of days. To me, it feels like a healthy glow in a bottle.

I put Trinny London's Naked Ambition to the test to see if it lives up to expectations. While consistency is key, I noticed my skin looking more radiant within just a matter of days. To me, it feels like a healthy glow in a bottle

Trinny London Naked Ambition Naked Ambition is a next-generation daily serum designed to visibly enhance your skin's natural radiance - helping you feel confident in your skin, with or without makeup. The formula combines slow-release vitamin C and 10% azelaic acid in a skin-friendly exosome delivery system, supporting brighter, more even-looking skin over time. Used daily, it helps reduce the visible signs of dullness and uneven tone for a smoother, more radiant complexion. Shop

So how does Naked Ambition compare to other serums on the market? It's the powerful pairing of vitamin C and azelaic acid brought together in a formula designed to deliver results, with minimal risk of the usual irritation.

They're widely touted by dermatologists as some of the key ingredients for brightening, plumping, and protecting skin all at once.

Vitamin C and azelaic acid are well-researched skincare ingredients, recognised for their ability to improve the appearance of uneven tone, redness and dullness. However, both can be challenging to formulate together due to their potency.

In a world-first innovation, Trinny London has combined them in a sophisticated 'exosome' delivery system designed to maintain potency while remaining gentle on the skin.

A bit about me: I have sensitive skin so I've always been selective with my skincare, especially when it comes to products with potent ingredients like acids. That's why I was genuinely surprised by how gentle Naked Ambition felt on my skin.

As someone with combination skin, I often struggle with dry patches so I find many products fail to hydrate evenly. But Trinny London's new serum instantly made my skin feel nourished and balanced - something that's not easy to come by.

The formula works particularly well after cleansing, followed by moisturiser and SPF. First impressions? I love the vibrant orange bottle - it's eye-catching and simple to use. It's very lightweight and the silky texture feels luxurious and hydrating - my skin drinks it up almost instantly.

It layers beautifully with other skincare products and makeup and leaves my skin looking healthy with a hydrated finish - without being greasy. It can be used alone or used alongside your favourite nourishing skincare products. Either way, the formula gently brightens to bring back your skin's natural glow. It's still early days so I can't talk to any transformative results just yet - but I'm keen to keep using it as part of my morning skincare and makeup routine.

Trinny London has launched Naked Ambition - a new vitamin C serum. The formula has been shown in clinical trials to improve the appearance of skin - evening skin tone, boosting radiance, and helping to visibly reduce the appearance of redness in just two weeks*

Naked Ambition Mini If you're curious to try Trinny London's new Naked Ambition but aren't ready to commit to a full-size bottle, you're in luck. The vitamin C + azelaic acid exosome serum comes in a 9.5mL mini pot. Shop

My colleague Carina was looking for a hydrating serum around the office so I handed her my Naked Ambition to try - and she was instantly impressed by the formula.

'I was surprised by how smooth and silky it felt on my skin - I can't say it reminds me of anything else on the market,' she said, adding she's been a huge fan of Trinny London's skincare since it was first released.

'It doesn't have a scent, feels lightweight and absorbs quickly. My skin is quite sensitive so I was pleased it didn't make me turn red. I'll definitely be buying a bottle for myself.'

While the serum comes with a luxury price tag of $144 (30mL), a little goes a long way - so one bottle can last for months. When it comes to replenishing, shoppers can save by opting for the refill bottle at $119 (30mL).

And if you're not quite ready to commit to the full size - or simply curious to try it first - there's also a mini pot available for $56 (9.5mL).

It's hard to come by a punchy vitamin C serum but this formula has really delivered. Your skin barrier is getting a real treat with this one.

If you're new to skincare or on the hunt for a new serum, Naked Ambition is a great entry-level vitamin C option - gentle, effective and easy to incorporate into your morning routine.

'My secret weapon'

As Trinny London founder and CEO Trinny Woodall playfully describes it, her latest skin-friendly formula is set to become your skin's new secret weapon.

'My secret weapon has always been vitamin C. I wanted to give everyone the chance to experience the powerful results, so I created Naked Ambition,' Woodall said.

'Our breakthrough, universal formula goes above and beyond to brighten, even skin tone and give you back that confidence in your bare skin.

'The main reasons why people wear more makeup are: unevenness, dullness and redness. We wanted to address all three. Azelaic acid has always been the prescription answer to dealing with redness.

'We're delivering it via exosome technology for deeper absorption while maintaining its integrity. If you want something that fundamentally changes how your skin looks with or without makeup, this is it. Be ambitious about your skin.'

First impressions? I love the vibrant orange bottle - it's eye-catching and simple to use. It's very lightweight and the silky texture feels luxurious and hydrating - my skin drinks it up almost instantly

The best way to use Trinny London's new Naked Ambition AM routine only Use daily AM only  apply two pumps to clean face, neck and decolletage Apply before your SPF (such as See The Light SPF 50+ Moisturiser), and use retinal at night Lightweight, gel texture sits beautifully under makeup For skincare beginners: Apply after cleansing and before moisturiser/SPF for a daily glowing complexion For skincare lovers: Apply after exfoliation and pre-treatment/serum for an added boost of glow Advertisement

The 10 per cent azelaic acid is delivered deep down into the skin via the hair follicle to help maximise effectiveness while vitamin C provides a time-released boost for a brighter-looking complexion.

With plankton liposomes and red algae, this serum helps reduce the appearance of dark spots and promotes a more even-looking skin tone - for consistently radiant, healthy-looking skin.

In three clinical studies, conducted by Trinny London, 90 per cent of participants saw a more even skin tone in just 14 days* while 81 per cent had a more radiant complexion in six weeks**.

Naked Ambition has been shown in Trinny London-conducted trials to improve the appearance of skin - evening skin tone, boosting radiance, and helping to visibly reduce the appearance of redness in just two weeks*.

'We are on a mission to demystify skincare,' Woodall said.

'Our transformative formulations, developed with highly active ingredients are delivered through easy-to-understand personalised routines to give you sensational skin.'

Trinny London has been leaving clues about the new serum in the days leading up to the launch, with one excited fan saying: 'OMG! What is it? I've got a basket full on your products and I can't check out in case I NEED this.'

'Whatever it is I need it,' one confessed.

'Can't stand the suspense,' another added.

'Waiting impatiently,' one shared.

Naked Ambition layers beautifully with other skincare products and makeup and leaves my skin looking healthy with a hydrated finish - without being greasy. The formula has earned a spot in my beauty bag, and I'm keen to keep using it each morning to see how it performs

Meanwhile, some fans were spot on with their guesses, with one saying: 'Praying it's a vitamin C for sensitive skin.'

'Trinny! Your skincare is AMAZING and I have no doubt that this is just another bloody product I won't be able to live without! The current vitamin C is the best I've used, so I'm excited to see how this one has been improved,' another revealed.

'Feels like an improved vitamin C serum or perhaps a gradual tan? Looking forward to the reveal as I adore your products,' one shared.

Woodall founded Trinny London from her kitchen table in 2017 with one purpose - to give everyone the tools they need to feel their best.

The beauty brand - loved by celebrities, make-up artists and beauty enthusiasts around the world - is best known for its award-winning skincare collection, from nourishing cleansers to energising moisturisers.

Best-sellers include Be Your Best Cleanser ($64), Plump Up Serum ($140), BBF SPF30 Cream ($75), Eye2Eye eyeshadow ($34) and BFF De-Stress tinted serum ($75).

Some of the brand's most recent launches included Miracle Halo multi-use illuminator ($62) and Trinity three-in-one multitasker for lips, cheeks and eyes ($68).

To shop the new Trinny London Naked Ambition, click here.

Naked Ambition was tested in three independent clinical studies on 88 women*, and an eightweek user trial ** with 173 participants.
Robert Jenrick walked on with a black metal box, rather like a professional conjuror.

After stern words about the anti-British attorney general Lord Hermer, Mr Jenrick turned to the audience and said, now you might be wondering what I have in this box. My suspicion was that it could be a white rabbit, or a bikini-clad lovely whom Bobby J could saw in half.

A Channel 4 man beside me thought it might be a masonic apron. Close. From his black box Mr Jenrick produced a judges wig. This he raised to the audience, an executioner brandishing King Charless head. He continued to hold the wig aloft while giving our judiciary a tremendous spanking. He was really quite rude about them. There used to be a convention in public life that one should not call beaks berks. Mr Jenrick ignored it.

There were, he said, dozens of judges with ties to open-borders charities, who take to social media to broadcast their views, whove spent their career fighting to keep illegal migrants in this country. Some continue to do so while, astonishingly, serving as judges.

All this was said while he held that wig. One almost expected it to bite him back, like Rod Hulls hand-puppet Emu. Despite demotic insults about criminals (scumbags, freeloaders, morons), the second part of Mr Jenricks speech was up-beat.

He quoted Keats  let me not see our countrys honour fade  and listed favourite things about Britain: big skies in Nottinghamshire, blue-remembered hills seen from Black Country towns, Chris Woakes batting with his arm in a sling, a Greggs pie shop at Peterborough North motorway services. The audience liked him. A lot.

From his black box Mr Jenrick produced a judges wig. This he raised to the audience, an executioner brandishing King Charless head, while giving our judiciary a tremendous spanking

Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott did not scintillate. Blinding teeth and a white trouser suit. Advert for a smile clinic

Otherwise, a patchy day for oratory. Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott did not scintillate. Blinding teeth and a white trouser suit. Advert for a smile clinic. Fidgety Philp, the Shadow Home Secretary, had the tricky first slot of the day. If you needed someone to ape Basil Fawltys goose-stepping routine, long-legged Chris Philp would be your man. He is so energetic that he forgets to breathe properly and becomes v. gulpy. It is exhausting simply to watch.

Aged 23, he had set up a courier firm. I literally know how to deliver! Silence. The smallish crowd was just thinking, that perpetual frown: did he bolt his breakfast sausages?

The speech contained much about bad migrants. We have not been under-truncheoned on the subject. I spotted one gent in a Panama hat and another in red corduroys. Rare specimens. This conference has not, despite certain reports, been short of spotty Tory youths in cheap suits.

The endangered species is the ageing shires Tory, the sort that inhabits Annie Tempest cartoons and smells faintly of sherry and shoe leather. I saw a couple at the Lib Dems conference, none at Reform or Labour. Have most of them simply given up on politics until it all becomes less shouty?

A session on trans-rights was unexpectedly more congenial. It featured the Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies  whose Rapunzel locks have gone quite white, presumably from all that chlorine  and a deep-voiced Scot, Marion Calder. Both have been prominent in opposing trans-athletes invasion of womens sport.

A libertarian in the front row tried to give them gyp. Sister Calder was in no mood for nonsense.

I will not allow one man to drown out women, she growled. The libertarian, scrofulously ill-shaven and wearing a trans-rights T-shirt, departed looking cheesed-off. Ms Calders firm no-nonsense manner was preferable to all this belligerence we have had during the autumn conferences. Our political class could usefully rediscover the art of the amusing rebuff.

Talking of which, Kemi Badenoch, on radio, compared Nigel Farage to (loud coughing) Jeremy Thorpe. She meant 1970s Liberal leader Thorpe was once a flyaway political sensation, but then failed.

Being Kemi  she has an engineers earnestness  she did not seem to realise everything else that J Thorpe entailed. An accidental joke from Mrs Badenoch.

She makes her big speech today. Bring your tickling sticks.
With its Asian grocery stores and jewellers, a West Indian bakery, sweetcorn street vendor and even a branch of the Bank of India, the main Soho Road through Handsworth certainly seems multicultural.

So Tory Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick's remarks that he found the district a 'slum' and 'one of the worst integrated places I've ever been to' during a 90-minute visit earlier this year were met with both anger and incredulity when the Daily Mail visited yesterday.

But during our own 90-minute visit to Soho Road yesterday, the Daily Mail encountered just a handful of white people  and all but two were foreign nationals.

Another white woman staggering along the pavement appeared to be on drugs, while a white man in his 20s loitering near the area's last remaining pub had earlier been identified to us as a drug dealer by an Asian businessman.

Of the two white British people who were approached by the Daily Mail, one declined to comment while the other was a mother-of-two, Kerry Lothiyi, married to a British Asian who was born and raised in the suburb.

Kerry and Rishi Lothiyi, were walking along Soho Road with their two young daughters and said the district was a model of integration.

Mr Lothiyi, 42, said Mr Jenrick must've been 'drunk' to suggest the area had an integration problem.

The couple, who met online five years ago, live in a village in Shropshire, near 41-year-old hairdresser Mrs Lothiyi's home town of Telford, but said Handsworth was a 'melting pot' of cultures.

Mr Lothiyi, a consultant whose family is from India, said he never experienced racism growing up in Handsworth 'unless I went into the city centre'.

People walk past shops along Soho Road in the Handsworth area of Birmingham yesterday

Vinod Parekh moved from Fiji 35 years ago and now runs a custom-made jewellery business

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According to Birmingham City Council, only 1,032 of Handsworth's 11,814 residents are white, equivalent to 8.7 per cent. The main ethnic groups are Indian (2,736 residents) and Pakistani (2,962 residents).

Mr Jenrick's comments about Handsworth were recorded during a dinner at the Aldridge-Brownhills Conservative Association dinner on March 14.

He made the remarks after the MP  whose family home is in the distinctly white Herefordshire countryside outside Leominster - had filmed a video for GB News about litter in Handsworth in the first few days of the city's all-out bin strike.

He told the dinner: 'I went to Handsworth in Birmingham the other day to do a video on litter and it was absolutely appalling.

'It's as close as I've come to a slum in this country. But the other thing I noticed there was that it was one of the worst integrated places I've ever been to.

'In fact, in the hour and a half I was filming news there I didn't see another white face.

'That's not the kind of country I want to live in.

'I want to live in a country where people are properly integrated. It's not about the colour of your skin or your faith, of course it isn't. But I want people to be living alongside each other, not parallel lives. That's not the right way we want to live as a country.'

In a recording of the Telegraph's Daily T podcast yesterday, Mr Jenrick doubled down on his claims, saying Birmingham 'did look like a slum' when he visited and that his comments about not seeing a white face while there were an 'observation'.

Among the few on the ground in Handsworth today who agreed with his comments were a Latvian mother who gave her name only as Lilija, 39. The housekeeper moved to the UK in 2010 with her husband and settled in Handsworth.

Baba Dilbag Singh, owner of The Red Lion Market, with Wah Ji Wah on Soho Road, Handsworth

The Mail encountered just a handful of white people during a 90-minute visit to Soho Road

People walk on Soho Road in Handsworth yesterday after Robert Jenrick's comments emerged

She said: 'He (Mr Jenrick) is correct. There are many Indian and black people here. It's always been like this, but it isn't a problem.'

The mother-of-two said her only gripe with the area was the crime. 'My bicycle was stolen' she said. 'But the police just say 'you should have insurance'.

Tanja Muhlbauer, 29, a German from Munich has lived in Handsworth since 2018. The street vendor said: 'I know a couple of white people here but it's true there are not too many.'

Amongst the few other white people approached by the Mail were a Polish man who couldn't speak English and an English man in his 20s who declined to comment.

Another local claimed: 'The only white people you see around here are on the buses passing through'.

A British Asian who runs a printing and photography business in the area, but who asked not to be named, recalled how he had once been called up and accused of being racist  because a passer-by noticed his window display only contained photographs of black or Asian subjects.

'I do passport photographs and portraits for people and there were some examples of my work in the shop window, but because none of the photographs were of white people I was accused of being racist', he said. 'The truth is that the photographs reflect my clients here.

'There used to be more white people in this area, but ever since the shop opened in 1981 it has always been predominantly black and Asian around here.

'The only problem I have is drug dealing on a car park behind the road  it happens in broad daylight.

'There are not enough police. I see more parking wardens than police here.'

Ranjit Singh, the landlord of the last pub in the area, The Cross Guns, said his customers came from all colours and creeds.

Robert Jenrick during the Conservative Party conference in Manchester yesterday

'I see white people in here all the time', he added. 'We have lots of Irish and English customers. Everybody gets along around here.'

As if to prove his point, roofer John Silwood then wandered in to the pub's front bar and ordered a pint of lager.

The 35-year-old said he was stopping by after work and added: 'Diversity is what makes Handsworth'.

A few yards further up, on the other side of the road, the Grade II-listed Red Lion Hotel still stands out on the main road.

But in what is perhaps an illustration of the changes that Handsworth has seen over recent decades, after closing in 2008, the pub stood derelict for a decade until it was bought by Sikh businessman Baba Singh, 55, and turned into a carpet and soft furnishings.

Another pub, The Frightened Horse, further down the road towards the city centre, closed around the same time and is now an Asian boutique.

According to Birmingham City Council, only 1,032 of Handsworth's 11,814 residents are white, equivalent to 8.7 per cent.

The main ethnic groups are Indian (2,736 residents) and Pakistani (2,962 residents).

But there is also a strong Vietnamese community, as well as people from other nations such as Vinod Parekh, 60, who moved to the city from Fiji 35 years ago.

He now runs a custom-made jewellery business and said: 'We have people coming into our business from outside of Birmingham, they come from all over the country.

'We have a lot of people making a business here. What difference does it make what colour of skin they have?'

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said: 'When I heard what he (Mr Jenrick) had said, my first thought was 'haven't we heard this crap before?'

'Politicians like Enoch Powell were spouting about rivers of blood 50 years ago so nothing changes.

The Pound Plus Supermarket on Nineveh Road in Handsworth yesterday

People walk past shops along Soho Road in the Handsworth area of Birmingham yesterday

'He (Mr Jenrick) might be accurate when he says there are more ethnic minorities in Handsworth than white people but so what?

'You don't hear people criticising the Cotswolds, which is only an hour's drive from here, being wall-to-wall white faces, but maybe that's because it's full of rich people.'

Speaking on Soho Road, Ayoub Khan, the independent MP for Perry Barr, which includes Handsworth, branded Mr Jenrick's comments 'disingenuous' and 'repulsive'.

He said: 'To make a flippant remark about faces and colour of people he may and may not have seen has undertones of racism.'

Rani Rawji, Business Liaison Officer for Soho Road Business Improvement District, said Handsworth was 'far from a slum' and added: 'Whenever a shop closes we get 50 or 60 bids to take it on. It's booming around here.

'We have people from all communities here.'

Away from the main shopping area, residents remained exercised about Mr Jenrick's comments.

Liz Davies, 77, a retired teacher, has lived in her smart detached home overlooking Handsworth park for more than 40 years and said the MP's remarks were 'ignorant and ridiculous'.

The widow added: 'My neighbours are Asian, black and Eastern European and we all get along. This is a vibrant community, I walk in the park, regularly shop on Soho Road and go to the library along there.

'The area has changed in the time I have lived here and there are fewer white people, but you could say that about lots of areas.

A Palestinian flag can be seen on a pole on Soho Road in Handsworth yesterday

According to Birmingham City Council, only 1,032 of Handsworth's 11,814 residents are white

'Everyone gets along here and that's the main thing.'

The furious pensioner said Mr Jenrick's comments were 'wrong and based on bigotry'. She added: 'As a man who has stood to be leader of his party I would have thought he would have a wider understanding of society, a better vision and more knowledge about people.

'I'm not a woman of violence but I would like to slap him.'

Community leader Bishop Dr Desmond Jaddoo has demanded that Mr Jenrick apologise for his 'divisive' comments.

He said: 'I was born in Handsworth maternity hospital and I'm black, does that make me un-British?

'I know of lots people from ethnic minorities who are proud to live in Handsworth and are proud to call themselves British. I also know lots of white folk who are also proud to live in Handsworth.

'Why is he (Jenrick) making these divisive comments in 2025?

'At a time of heightened racial tensions, we should be celebrating diversity while recognising our colonial past.'

Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: 'Robert Jenrick's comments are disgraceful. It shows a complete lack of respect for the people of our region.

'Handsworth is a community where people of different backgrounds all live and work side by side.'

He accused Mr Jenrick of separating 'people by the colour of their skin'.

Mr Parker added: 'People deserve more than politicians who talk our region down for political point scoring.

'They deserve respect - and a government that focuses on fixing the issues that matter to them. Not politicians that turn up for an hour with a video camera to show you how they spent 14 years abandoning and ignoring our region.'
On Monday morning, I stepped out for a coffee in Muswell Hill, the area of north London where I live. It was a bright, cloud-free day, and my heart leapt to see rows of yellow ribbons fluttering on the railings around a small park.

Yellow ribbons have long been a sign of support for people taken hostage or in captivity, and right now they are a way of remembering the 48 Israeli hostages  20 of whom, it is hoped, are still alive  held in horrendous conditions in tunnels beneath Gaza. Yesterday, October 7, marked two years since they were abducted.

We don't really see the yellow ribbon very often  most of urban UK is mired in the red, black and green of the Palestinian cause.

And on the rare occasion the ribbons do get put up, they last for minutes before they are unceremoniously ripped down by people who can't bear to think there are humans on both sides of the conflict.

On Monday, I caught one of those ribbon-rippers in the act. Or should I say ribbon-snippers, because the young woman in front of me was mechanically cutting down the ribbons with a pair of dressmaking scissors. She had clearly come well-prepared that morning. Snip, snip, snip, she went, then stuffed the dangling pieces into her bag.

It later transpired that this woman was called Nadia Yahlom, a 'Palestinian-Jewish artist'  I'm not sure what that means  who lives in the local area.

'What are you doing?' I asked. My knee-jerk response was a cold, furious need to challenge her: not even a sociopath wielding a pair of scissors was going to stop me.

'What are you doing? What's your name? If you're so proud of yourself, please tell us your name.'

On Monday morning, Nadia Yahlom, who lives in north London, used scissors to brazenly snip the memorial bands that the Jewish community had tied to railings

The ribbons were tied in honour of the 251 people taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023

Miranda Levy caught ribbon-snipper Nadia Yahlom in the act

I took out my phone to film her because, even in that split second, I knew the world needed to see this.

'You can call the police if you think it's illegal,' she said.

A man who had joined me in the street added his voice. 'You're disgusting,' he told her.

To which, the woman responded, predictably: 'I think committing genocide is disgusting.' Here we go, I thought.

There is a horrible war going on in Gaza, with an appalling loss of life, but how is putting up yellow ribbons 'supporting genocide', exactly? The ribbons are to remember those poor young men still in captivity.

The woman eventually skulked off. A bunch of north London Jews had dispatched their vigilante justice in the way we always tend to: with words. I later found to my great joy that the ribbons had been put back up.

Sitting in the coffee shop after this altercation, my anger turned to sadness, then a tiny pop of fear.

What if the woman was waiting for me on the way back? What if she'd hired a mob of friends to berate or attack me?

It turns out my anxiety wasn't just paranoia: the woman had in fact enlisted a male friend to turn on another Jewish lady in the crowd, who'd been reduced to tears.

None of this is happening in a vacuum. Fear among British Jews has been rising since October 7, 2023. On October 9, before the first bomb dropped on Gaza, pro-Palestinians held a demonstration in London.

Ms Yahlom declared the ribbons - which were put up on the eve of the second anniversary of the attacks - were 'condoning genocide'

The residents retied the ribbons on Tuesday morning after they were cut down

Muswell Hill residents gathered to replace the yellow ribbons cut down by Ms Yahlom

Scrap that: let's call it a celebration, because that's what it was. 'Globalise the intifada!' they shouted with their drums, flares and hatred.

Well, as we all know, the intifada found its global way to a synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur last week, when a stabbing attack resulted in the loss of two Jewish lives. I don't know why the BBC, the politicians, the commentators, all seemed so surprised. As the news began to break, every British Jew thought: 'We told you this would happen.'

I am not a particularly observant Jew. I am not an activist. I did not grow up being especially interested in Israel: no family or friends live there. Until a couple of years ago, being Jewish was very much a secondary part of my identity.

Unlike others I know, I had never suffered anti-Semitism and I did not engage with the synagogue much at all. But the genetic memory of persecution runs through us like the pink writing on a stick of rock.

Our ancestors survived attacks by the medieval Christians, the Cossacks, the Nazis.

My family came over here to escape eastern European pogroms at the turn of the 20th century, but my aunt's husband was a survivor of several Nazi concentration camps  that story is never far away.

For years, I told friends they were being paranoid when they said the UK 'was no longer a place for Jews'.

But in the past couple of years, I've started to think they have a point. Especially since last Thursday. While I wouldn't say I feel frightened on a day-to-day basis, I've taken some precautions.

Last year I took my surname off my Uber account, because I know of Jewish friends who've been subjected to tirades by their drivers.

I glance with a spike of anxiety at my mezuzah (the Jewish prayer scroll we nail to the door frame) when a delivery driver stomps up the stairs to my flat. Is this paranoia or just being sensible?

Now we are told a wave of anti-Semitic and racist comments are going unchecked among doctors in the NHS, with some openly celebrating 'Palestinian resistance' and saying that 'all UK Jews should be held accountable' (for what's going on in Gaza).

Just last month, one doctor was not deemed a 'danger to patients' and allowed to keep her licence to practise, despite claiming on social media that the Royal Free Hospital  not far from my incident with the ribbon-snipper was a 'Jewish supremacy cesspit'.

On social media, I've had abuse from both the far-Right and the far-Left. I have been called a babykiller, a c***, and a rat. I've had a swastika and horns superimposed on my profile picture.

Yes, there are neo-Nazis out there, but I'm afraid the vast majority has been from Islamists and Left-wing anti-Semites. One lovely fellow told me to 'go back to Jew land' last night, while denying the right of Israel to exist. Where is 'Jew land', I'd love to know.

An Israel supporter stages a counter-protest as pro-Palestine students protest outside University College London on October 7, 2025

Demonstrators at London School of Economics take part in a pro-Palestinian student march in London, Britain, October 7, 2025

Then, of course, there are the constant marches. While I would dispute that central London has become a no-go zone for Jews at the weekend, I certainly wouldn't venture into Trafalgar Square on a Saturday afternoon.

I'm sure the scissor-wielding charmer yesterday morning is no stranger to a Saturday march; that she sees herself on the side of the angels. But could they please give it a rest this week of all weeks? Do they have a heart?

The Muswell Hill ribbons were flying on Monday afternoon, restored to their former glory after the snipper.

But by yesterday, October 7 itself, they'd been taken down again. So a rallying call went out, via a local WhatsApp group.

At 11am, back went a group of Jewish residents, bearing armfuls of yellow silk, more resolute than before.

And so the little park on the corner of the road shines brightly once again  with optimism, hope, and love.
Kemi Badenochs speech yesterday was one of the most uplifting I have heard from a Tory leader in many years. I suspect most true Conservatives will feel the same.

Many of the policies we wanted successive Tory governments to deliver and yet never emerged  or, if they did, in pitifully small measure  were promised by Kemi in tones that suggested she really believed in them.

The tragedy is that she and her party may never have the opportunity to fulfil her vision. The reason is simple. Most of the ideas that were enticingly dangled in front of us have already been appropriated by Reform UK, to which the Tory leader only glancingly referred.

Its no exaggeration to say that if the Tories had previously adopted the policies that Kemi so enthusiastically unveiled yesterday, there would have been no need for Reform to exist.

Nigel Farage has stepped into a political vacuum created by Conservative failure and weakness. Now that he occupies this space, it is going to be extremely difficult for the Tories to reclaim it.

Almost everything Kemi said was welcome. When she spoke about securing our borders, she was clearly talking about legal immigration as well as the illegal variety. The government of which she was part notoriously let immigration soar to levels not even approached by Tony Blair.

A future Tory administration led by Kemi would withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights, enabling it to resist challenges to its plan to deport 150,000 illegal immigrants a year. Why didnt the Tories under Rishi Sunak have the courage to do that?

Kemi was a member of an administration that hurtled towards net zero with little thought of the effect on the economy. Now she declares herself a net zero sceptic who wouldnt jeopardise economic growth. New drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea  outlawed by Labour  would be encouraged.

Kemis speech yesterday was one of the most uplifting I have heard from a Tory leader in many years, writes Stephen Glover

Glover says that almost everything Kemi said was welcome. When she spoke about securing our borders, she was clearly talking about legal immigration as well as the illegal variety

She also promised cutting public expenditure by a sizeable 47 billion a year, most of which would come from reducing welfare and shrinking the size of the Civil Service to 2016 levels. I asked myself: why didnt the last Tory government do this when so many, not least this newspaper, were clamouring for it?

Half the reduction in public expenditure would go towards cutting taxes, the other half to bringing down Labours ballooning deficit. This so-called golden rule implies a degree of prudence not always obvious in Nigel Farages announcements.

Banning doctors from going on strike is another bold idea, though one likely to be legally challenged by the profession. Even when the NHS was crippled by a junior doctors strike, Rishi Sunaks government didnt contemplate going so far.

Kemis piece de resistance was the abolition of stamp duty on primary residences in England and Northern Ireland (Scotland and Wales have their own arrangements under devolution). This will allow young people to get on the housing ladder more easily, while freeing up the housing market.

However, the full benefit of getting rid of stamp duty wont be felt unless the Tories manage to build many more homes  which Labour, despite its many promises, so far shows no sign of doing.

The Conservative leader also struck a robust note on crime, saying that she stood for a country where actions have consequences, where we talk about responsibilities as well as rights, where crime is punished and justice is served, where the welfare of victims outweighs the welfare of criminals.

All this was heartening. After the cautious, technocratic language we have heard from so many Conservative politicians in recent years, Kemi plainly intends to take the Tory Party to places where it hasnt dared go for a long time. She offered what she called a new settlement.

There should be a word of warning, of course. Tory politicians at party conferences are capable of getting carried away, and promising to do things which, once in government, they entirely forget about.

Perhaps the best example is George Osbornes undertaking when Shadow Chancellor at the 2007 conference to abolish, or at least greatly reduce, inheritance tax. Polls showed that most people welcomed the policy. Yet in 14 years of government the Tories actually made the burden of this tax heavier by freezing thresholds.

Let us, however, give Kemi Badenoch the benefit of the doubt, and assume that if she ever became prime minister she would put an end to stamp duty and do all the other things she mentioned. In short, she would behave like the proper Tory she yesterday seemed to be.

Shadow cabinet ministers gave a rapturous reception to Mrs Badenoch's conference speech

This was a good speech, and its acuity suggests that those who have written off Kemi may have been premature. I admit that after recent misgivings I was impressed by her. Robert Jenrick and other would-be successors will have to shelve their plans, at any rate for the time being.

The more pressing question is whether Kemi, or indeed any other Tory, will walk into No 10 as prime minister in the foreseeable future. Eloquent and rousing though the speech was  and it was very well received by the party faithful  I doubt it will significantly improve the Tories prospects.

For the truth is that on tax, welfare, immigration and much else, Kemi is merely catching up Nigel Farage. It is the leader of Reform who has been setting the agenda on the political Right.

Do we really believe, for example, that the Tories would be embracing the idea of mass deportations of illegal immigrants if Farage (himself influenced by Donald Trump) hadnt done so first?

It is true that Reform hasnt yet come up with a tax cut as well-judged and alluring as stamp duty, though it probably wont take Farage long to think of something equally attractive.

Its also true that there was a degree of detail in what Kemi said  a sense of policies having been properly worked out  that isnt always present in speeches made by Reforms leader.

The fact remains that the Tories have let Farage seize what should be their territory, and having done so its going to be dreadfully difficult to win it back. If they had been as robust as Kemi was yesterday, Reform would not exist. They werent, and it does.

Much could, of course, happen before the next election. Reform might self-destruct amid bickering and contradictions. Creating a cohesive party isnt easy. Meanwhile, the liberal media will be straining for any piece of evidence that shows Farage is unfit to be prime minister.

As things stand, though, Reform has the political centre stage, and it is going to be very hard for Kemi Badenoch, or any other potential Tory leader I can think of, to dislodge it. This may be Kemis tragedy.

If there is hope to be drawn from Kemis speech, its that it is increasingly difficult to imagine two parties with such similar policies being at loggerheads. Some sort of eventual alliance is surely inevitable.

I doubt the Tories are finished as a governing party for all time. For now, at least, what should be their rightful clothes have been handed over to another political party, which is wearing them with great conviction.
If you need to speak to someone, contact the rape crisis helpline on 0808 500 2222 or visit the website

When one of America's wealthiest women wrote an emotional memoir earlier this year about the sexual abuse she experienced as a child, she won plaudits from A-listers such as Oprah, Reese Witherspoon and Jenna Bush Hager.

The Tell, released in March 2025, revealed how billionaire venture capitalist Amy Griffin, 49, had recovered memories of being raped on several occasions from the age of 12 by her middle-school teacher in Amarillo, Texas.

The memories returned to her while she was under the influence of MDMA as part of psychedelic-assisted therapy, which is not FDA approved, at a nonprofit that uses the experimental treatment to help veterans.

While MDMA is illegal, the treatment can take place in certain settings for research purposes, and when Amy tried it she was left in no doubt that the memories of abuse she unlocked were real.

'My body knew what had happened to me. The way I'd shake when I'd tell my story; the way my eyes welled up with tears at the mention of Texas,' she wrote.

However, more than six months after the release of Amy's book, for which she was reportedly paid $1 million, the memoir has been called into question by psychologists who argue that memories 'recovered' during drug therapy are not always accurate.

The New York Times has also raised questions over the best-selling book, which was looked over by lawyers but 'not fact-checked by its publisher,' Penguin Random House, according to the newspaper.

There is no suggestion that Amy was dishonest in writing the book or recounting what she believes to be her memories, however a number of questions have been raised - in addition to expert scepticism over drug-induced recovered memories.

One of Amy's former classmates has claimed that her childhood abuse by a different teacher at the same school was 'eerily similar' to what the billionaire describes in her book.

Meanwhile, a police officer quoted in the book who Amy recounted her story to now says said that while he found her account completely credible, she did not reveal to him that she had taken drugs before recalling the alleged abuse.

Amy Griffin - a billionaire and first-time author - attends the Met Gala event in May 2024 in New York City

In 'The Tell', Amy writes about her childhood experience throughout the 1980s at Amarillo Independent School District, claiming she was assaulted by Mr Mason - the pseudonym she used for her teacher - in a classroom, a school bathroom, the locker room and also outside under sporting benches.

She says that during violent attacks, when she was aged between 12 and 16 years old, she had her hands tied behind her back and alleges that the teacher beat and dragged her along the bathroom floor.

Amy - who is married to John Griffin, the founder of hedge fund Blue Ridge Capital - claimed that before she took MDMA, she said: 'There's something I can't face. I know something happened to me, something I'm talking around. But I don't know what it is.'

She took the drug in pill form and told Oprah: 'I was lying down on a couch, there was this beautiful flamenco music playing in the background, I put the eye shades on and I surrendered.

'The therapist doesnt say one word but I felt the connection with her.

'In five minutes, I turned to the practitioner and I said "Why is he here? Why is my teacher here?" and then I said "Im going to tell you everything".'

For eight hours, she spoke about 'every single scenario' and re-lived the sexual abuse she allegedly faced.

Alongside having illegal drug therapy, the mother-of-four spoke to a counsellor who told her that they have 'no reason to suspect that these are false or implanted memories.'

However, psychologist Elizabeth Loftus - who does not believe that repressed memories exist - said she became 'immediately suspicious' of the memories shared in Amy's book.

She told The Times that there is 'no credible scientific support' for the idea of repressed memories and even designed a study which found that quarter of participants developed fake memories of a made-up event.

Manoj Doss, a psychologist at the University of Texas at Austin, described MDMA to the outlet as the 'perfect drug to induce a false memory'. However, he added that further research was needed into the theory.

Amy Griffin, the founder of G9 Ventures and first-time author, released 'The Tell' - an emotional memoir detailing the alleged sexual abuse she faced as a child

Rick Doblin, founder of MAPS, the multidisciplinary association for psychedelic studies, knows the Griffins because John Griffin, Amy's husband, donated $1 million to Maps after undergoing psychedelic therapy himself.

Rick told the NYT: 'In the therapeutic setting, what Amy went through, whether it's true or not, it has value because the emotion is real.' He later told the paper that he believed Amy's memories were real.

Amy's opening sentence reads: 'This is a story of a secret. A secret kept for decades. One I had buried so deep, I didn't even know it was there.'

Jim Hopper, clinical psychologist, read 'The Tell' and the NYT investigation and told USA Today that he has seen both patients who have falsely remembered an experience but also cases that have been confirmed independently.

He said: 'Some ideas and beliefs could potentially lead her to recall something that didn't happen, but it also could be based in reality that something did happen to her, and she finally felt safe to allow herself to be open to what it might be.'

When Amy started to put together a team of lawyers and private investigators to see if she had a case against her teacher, she was contacted by Sergeant Gordon Eatley.

He is known in the book as Sgt. Hank Jones, who is quoted as saying that his conversation with Amy was one of the most 'credible calls' of his career.

However, until 'The Tell' was published, he did not know she had taken drugs. 'I was never told that it was a recovered memory,' Sgt. Eatley told the NYT.

'The Tell' was promoted by A-listers such as Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon and Jenna Bush Hager

Some of the reviews of 'The Tell' on Good Reads, with some readers saying they were 'sceptical' of her memories

Can MDMA cause a false memory? There are no conclusive results on whether or not MDMA can induce false memories - or if can help bring repressed memories to the surface. The practice, which is illegal in most countries, sees patients take MDMA - a class A drug in the UK - before psychotherapy sessions. There have been a number of studies which have sought to discover whether the use of MDMA can affect the different types of memories people have - including whether it makes users of the drug more susceptible to creating 'false' memories. Some of these studies include giving participants a specific dose of the drug, or a placebo, and then using different types of memory tests to see whether MDMA has any impact. So far, the results seem somewhat inconclusive, with a 2022 study published in European Neuropsychopharmacology suggesting that further studies are needed. Trials are in the US are currently underway to see if MDMA is an effective tool to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. Australia is the only country where it is completely legal, for the treatment of depression and PTSD. Advertisement

Amy said in her book that an attorney advised her not to inform the police that her memories occurred while using illegal psychedelics.

The author could not bring a criminal case against her alleged attacker because it fell outside of the statute of limitations. In 2007, Texas changed its law and got rid of the statute of limitations for most child sex crimes.

Despite this, Amarillo police expected more victims to come forward with allegations about Mr Mason - who had worked at the school for 30 years - after the book was released on 13 March 2025.

Speaking on Oprah's Book Club, Amy said: 'The pursuit was something that I thought I needed because for many reasons. One, I knew I had to hold that person accountable so he couldn't hurt anyone else.'

But nobody filed any complaints against him over the course of his career or even after the memoir was released, according to officials, as per the NYT.

Amy - who considered bringing a civil case - also writes in her book that there was 'no smoking gun, no physical evidence, no tangible proof. There had been no witnesses.'

The newspaper also tracked down one of Amy's former classmates, who said that her childhood abuse was 'eerily similar' to what the billionaire describes in her book.

The anonymous woman told the NYT that she was sexually abused by another teacher who was not Mr Mason. It was reported that she has hired a lawyer since reading the memoir.

In 'The Tell', Amy wrote that she was raped while wearing a borrowed dress at an eighth grade dance.

However, the woman alleged that she was assaulted by a teacher in a supply closet during an eighth grade dance in a gown that she had borrowed from Amy.

Thomas Clare, Amy's lawyer, said that the anonymous classmate who was interviewed by the paper was a 'fabulist'.

Despite disguising his identity via a pseudonym, locals have become aware of who Mr Mason is. Amy reportedly used the teacher's real name in the book proposal sent out to publishers and residents who read the book were able to unravel who it was based on descriptions of him in the memoir.

Her Amarillo family members also reportedly shared his name after hearing about Amy's recollections. The teacher - who is now retired - has not been seen in the town for months, according to the NYT.

John Griffin, the founder of Blue Ridge Capital, is pictured with his wife Amy Griffin in 2015

Amy Griffin is pictured with Diane Sawyer and Gayle King at the 2024 Met Gala in New York City

Amy has had numerous big -name stars and celebrities rally behind her, including Gwyneth Paltrow, who described 'The Tell' it as an 'unbelievable book'.

She said that she was 'deeply proud' of her friend for telling her story on the Goop podcast.

Amy's investment firm G9 has backed Gwyneth's wellness and lifestyle brand, Goop, along with other female-owned brands such as Bumble, Spanx and Hello Sunshine which is Reese Witherspoon's media company.

The billionaire was also named in Time's 100 Most Influential People, with Reese describing her as a 'beacon for women everywhere', adding: 'To say I'm enormously proud of my friend is an understatement.'

Oprah said that she decided to promote 'The Tell' on her Book Club show, because 'I am so proud of you'.

She told Amy: 'I'm proud of you for having the courage to speak your truth and I know your truth is going to liberate a lot of people.'

The first-time author said she was 'so grateful' to the host for inviting her onto the programme.

Amy is the eldest of four children and her parents, Julie and Gregory Mitchell, are known in Texas for owning Toot'n Totum, a convenience shop chain.

In 2003, she married wealthy businessman John Griffin, who founded the hedge fund Blue Ridge Capital. They currently live in New York City with their four children.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Amy Griffin's lawyer, Penguin Random House and Amarillo Independent School District for comment.

If you are from England and Wales you need to speak to someone, contact the rape crisis helpline on 0808 500 2222 or visit the website here

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Emma Stone shocked fans last week when she debuted a striking new look at Paris Fashion Week.

The acclaimed actress, 36, was seated front row at the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2026 show in a knitted cream bodycon dress, but it wasn't her luxe wardrobe that captured the attention of onlookers.

Indeed, Stone's stunning face seemed fuller and smoother than usual, leading fans on social media to speculate about her 'unrecognizable' appearance.

'Emma Stone's new face is crazy,' commented one person, while another wrote, 'She went from looking very unique to looking like a wealthy suburbanite from Southern California.'

Others, however, argued that Stone's new look may simply be down to filters on the photo or professional makeup.

'People keep commenting on Emma having a new face and I genuinely don't see any difference except maybe she got some filler and a different makeup artist?' wrote one user.

But experts with whom the Daily Mail spoke speculated there could be more to Stone's seemingly changed look than good lighting and her glam team.

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr Jennifer Harrington said that she believes the actress may have used injectables to enhance her look.

The acclaimed actress, 36, was seated front row at the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2026 show in a knitted cream bodycon dress, but it wasn't her luxe wardrobe that captured the attention of onlookers

'Is Emma Stone ageing backwards? She has captured the perfect skin tone, texture, and color to complement two of the most captivating eyes in Hollywood,' Harrington, who has not treated the actress, told the Daily Mail

'These touches are subtle and what most women want today. I would guess that she has indulged in some neuromodulators like Botox, Dysport or Daxxify to soften wrinkles over the glabellar lines, forehead and around the eyes.

'Perhaps a touch of Sculptra to soften the smile lines and a hint of filler in the upper and lower lips to add fullness and contour. It is very tastefully done and looks great on her.'

But other experts speculated that there is more to Stone's changing appearance than some injectables.

Harvard-trained plastic surgeon Dr Yael Halaas, who has also not treated Stone, told the Daily Mail that it 'looks like' the actress may have had a brow lift.

'Treatments like a brow lift, skin tightening, or neuromodulators can open the eyes and refresh the upper face without changing a persons natural expression,' said Halaas.

'The goal for these types of procedures especially for celebrities is always harmony and natural movement, not overcorrection.'

Stone's stunning face seemed fuller and smoother than usual, leading fans on social media to speculate about her 'unrecognizable' appearance. Pictured: In 2019 (left) and 2025 (right)

Aesthetic physician Dr Jennifer Armstrong agreed.

While Stone is not a patient, Armstrong speculated that the star may have had multiple procedures, including a brow lift and a fat transfer or fillers under her eyes.

'What I think is changing her look significantly is the brow placement,' Armstrong told the Daily Mail.

She believes that another 'huge difference' in Stone's visage is her 'lateral eye volume,' which can be done with filler and can be a 'game changer' when done correctly.

'The lateral eye is what is really giving you that youthful natural lifted look,' she explained, adding that 'the results are natural and undetectable.'

'It also makes the eye look very almond shaped by lifting it up. I call it going from sad eye to happy eye.'

It is, she added, one of her 'favorite' procedures, which she performs 'frequently' in her office with her own technique.

'Of course, filler can change the face or balance the face. It can be pretty dramatic and life-changing for a lot of people,' she said.

'I think she looks gorgeous. The lateral eye is the money spot.

'I do it all day on my patients. A lot of people won't perform it, honestly, because they don't know how.'

Despite the rampant speculation, Stone has never confirmed any cosmetic work or plastic surgery. (Pictured in 2019)

The Daily Mail has contacted Stone's management for comment.

Despite rampant speculation, Stone has never confirmed any cosmetic work or plastic surgery - though this isn't the first time her appearance has raised eyebrows.

Earlier this year, a top cosmetic doctor speculated that the Hollywood star had undergone a 'very well executed' face lift.

At the time, the actress had sparked chatter among fans after attending the Los Angeles premiere of her new film 'Eddington.'

Pictures from the event, which took place on June 26, showed the Oscar winner looking slightly different  with many comments claiming that it looked like her upper face was 'tighter.'

Dr Jonny Betteridge, a London-based aesthetics doctor and founder of the clinic JB Aesthetics, believed she may have had surgery on her upper eyes and a face lift procedure.

In a video posted on TikTok, he asked: 'Did you notice Emma Stone looking a bit different?

'At 36, and at the recent Eddington film premiere, her face looked noticeably more defined and facelifted.

'Her brows sit higher, especially the tails, the eyelids are more visible, and her eyes have an almond like shape.

'Looking from her four years ago, these changes could be consistent with an upper blepharoplasty and an endoscopic temporal brow lift and mid face lift.

'They lift and tighten the mid to upper face, like the cheeks, temples, and brows, using small incisions and a tiny camera called an endoscope.'

Stone also sparked speculation around her new look back in June at the 'Eddington' premiere

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure where excess skin is removed from the eyelids, either reducing overhang from the eyebrows or removing fatty deposits and tightening 'bags' from under the eyes.

In an upper blepharoplasty, excess skin is cut from the eyelids in order to make the eyes appear larger and more 'awake.'

For more dramatic results, it is often performed along with a brow lift, where tiny incisions are made in the hairline and the muscles of the upper face are pulled upwards, reducing age-related sagging.

He added that these are 'minimally invasive procedures' that are 'typically done on people in their 30s to 40s who are showing mild to moderate signs of facial aging.'

But he added: 'Whatever may have been done, it appears to be tasteful, elegant and very well executed.'
The UK retail giant has seen a boom of sales among the younger generation

Just a few years ago, even Marks and Spencer's own CEO admitted their clothing was associated with a certain 'frumpiness'.

So if you've not set foot in a store recently, it might surprise you that the British retail giant has officially been declared 'cool' by younger customers who are singing the praises of its 'many gems' on social media, while others are stealing M&S clothes from their mothers' wardrobes.

It's quite a turnaround for the high street stalwart that once attracted a more traditional shopper who favoured practicality and wardrobe staples over the latest fashions.

Now, while the brand hasn't alienated its core base, there is the addition of unmistakably on-trend items lining the racks to tempt both younger buyers and millennial women who are very much invested in looking good - as well as celebrity collaborations with the likes of Sienna Miller and former Made in Chelsea star Binky Felstead.

So, just how did M&S become cool? The answer lies largely with Maddy Evans, the former fashion director of Topshop, who was hired in 2019 as head of buying and promoted to director of womenswear in 2022.

Her presence has helped M&S fill the crucial gap left by what was one of the most high street's most popular brands by offering must-have pieces such as a faux croc leather trench coat that is rapidly selling out and being re-stocked.

It's also adopted a faster fashion approach, meaning new items can move from the drawing board to the shelf in as little as a month - enabling the retailer to react to demand and the newest trends.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Ms Evans said: 'We're pleased to see womenswear achieve its highest ever style rankings, particularly with the 35-54 customer - a clear sign our focus is landing and our ranges are resonating with more people more often.

'It's important that we keep up momentum so this season we're supercharging newness across the board: from dresses and partywear through to denim, knitwear and outerwear. We're investing in fabrics, silhouettes and trend-led pieces our customers want; while still delivering the value they trust us for.'

Nine M&S style bargains you must snap up this season... This Croc Faux Leather Belted Longline Trench Coat from the British retailer is priced at 90 As reds and burgundy have grown in popularity over the past few seasons we're starting to see rich bitter chocolate hues come through, according to trend forecaster Robbie Sinclair. Patent and high shine leather is key as we head into the winter season with fabrics that drink up the colour. The classic trench is key for this winter season but updates come through in the form of high shine finishes. Shoppers can get their hands on this Plisse Striped Round Neck Sleeveless Top for a reasonable 26 Plisse fabrics have been trending for a few years now. Originally only living in the high end space with thanks to Issey Miyake, we're now seeing this luxurious feeling fabric making its way into high street stores making it accessible for high street lovers. Combinations of black and brown are having a big moment and this striped top is an easy to wear piece that lets the print and fabric do all of the talking. These 46 Animal Print Strappy Ballet Pumps are key wardrobe staple Animal-print hits hard every winter season and following on from the western trend we're still seeing cow print as one of the key print directions for the coming season. Mary Jane and ballet pump inspired silhouettes have been bubbling up from Miu Miu and dries Van Noten and allows the wearer to tap into something more statement to inject life into a safer wardrobe. Priced at 45, these Cotton Rich Palazzo Trousers are an 'important item for the coming season', said the expert As wide legs and barrel jeans continue to dominate as the most important trouser silhouettes we're also seeing a return to flared silhouettes. This wide leg Palazzo shape is an important item for the coming season. This 45 Satin Lace Detail Midi Drop Waist Dress from M&S is ideal for the upcoming party season, he said Part lingerie, part grunge, the camisole dress is a key piece for winter which is a great option for transitional and cold weather dressing. It's versatile so can be worn over sweaters and with black tights for colder months or in combination with sloppy knitted cardigans for an undone effortless feel. The rich burgundy elevates the look here. There are also strong undertones of boho dressing which is returning in a big way. Sling bags are a fashion must-have - and this 100 M&S is a great choice, according to the expert XXL Sling bags continue as a key bag silhouette for this winter, again in that rich burgundy that works very well with black and brown transforming the black lovers assortment. There is a huge return to boho dressing and this bag works as the new boho bag of choice. For 75, shoppers can get their hands on a Checked Collared Car Coat in time for the winter months With a big desire for heritage design we're seeing classic coat silhouettes come through in a big way that feel like heirloom pieces. Micro checks are the perfect winter option. This cozy Checked Hooded Duffle Coat With Wool, priced at 80, is new in at the British store There is a pull towards items that celebrate the outdoors, leading to trends that feel cozy and comforting, and the duffel coat gives consumers that much needed mood boost that reminds them of countryside walks and simpler times. Knitted vests are all the rage these days, and this Wool Blend Checked Button Through Gilet costs 50 at M&S Knitted vests have been trending for the last few years, and consumers are looking for the perfect update. Items like soft touch gilets are a great move on for this best selling silhouette Advertisement

UK fashion influencer Gemma Talbot (pictured) is among the Gen Z'ers shopping at M&S following the brand's style overhaul

Trend forecaster Robbie Sinclair, who analyses cultural shifts, develops trends, and guides brands in developing best selling collections, told The Daily Mail of how M&S is filling a Topshop shaped hole on the high street.

Sinclair said, 'There are a number of interesting factors here. Millennials are aging much slower than their predecessors and still have a strong focus on fashion-led purchases.

'As brand loyalty from consumers has dropped off we're seeing shoppers becoming more willing to try new brands they didn't connect with before, whether that's independent stores that pop up on their Instagram feed or stepping into stores like M&S to try it for the first time.

'It's shed its image of the place where grandma shopped and is connecting more with Millennials and even Gen Z. M&S have really stepped up with their offering and it proves that legacy brands can adapt and evolve to meet consumer needs.

'I've seen lots of memes and stories of people saying 'Is M&S cool or am I just getting older?' and this is a great example of a positive brand turn around. The original Topshop customer is a little older now but they still have their finger very much on the pulse.

UK-based Alice Spearing (pictured) took to Instagram to tell her followers that she is 'obsessed' with M&S clothes

'Consumers are being very cautious with their spending and are looking for strong wardrobe builders that last season after season.

'They then sprinkle in stand out pieces to elevate their wardrobe without stepping too far outside of the comfort zone. M&S is making a conscious effort and reacting to the demand for newness.

'Over the past few years we've seen a decline in excitement within high street fashion with brand personality declining, and we're seeing a sea of sameness in collections across the board.

'The brands who are succeeding and being noticed are the ones who are trying new things.

'It's great to see M&S pushing themselves into a newer direction. For consumers who grew up with Topshop this is enticing because there has been a Topshop shaped hole in the market where shoppers can buy their staples but also be introduced to newness.

'I'm excited to see what Topshop does next following their re-launch. For a few years now, brands have been too guided from the faced-paced algorithm-based trend cycle, and finally, we're starting to see some brands step away from the feed and focus on what sets them apart.

When Evans joined the firm, shares had plummeted 40 per cent and it had fallen out of the FTSE 100 for the first time, while Steve Rowe, the then-chief executive, admitted the brand had a reputation for 'frumpiness'.

Evans, who lives in Hackney, London, herself told The Times: 'It was not considered stylish, not considered modern and certainly not relevant to most women.'

Maddy Evans (pictured), the former fashion director of Topshop, was hired in 2019 as head of buying and promoted to director of womenswear in 2022

She recalled how she told her team: 'We're not designing for your grandmother. We're designing for all of us. Everybody in the room should want to wear this dress.'

Since joining the company, Evans reconfigured the brand's style to focus more on the 'modern mainstream' - and while they don't specifically 'age' their clothing, they saw a new opportunity among those aged between 35 and 50.

Discussing the brand's revamp, luxury stylist Angela Kyte told The Daily Mail how Evans has led the brand to success through authentic yet accessible designs.

'Marks & Spencer's revival is one of the most interesting retail stories of the last few years, and I think its success with Gen Z really comes down to two things, which are authenticity and accessibility.

'As a stylist working with clients who span generations, I've noticed younger shoppers are much more intentional about where they spend, and M&S has managed to position itself as both trustworthy and trend-aware.

'The brand has leaned into timeless wardrobe staples and we've seen that with their well-cut trousers, versatile knits and elevated basics, that Gen Z can mix into their wardrobes alongside thrifted or high fashion pieces.

'The quality feels reliable, yet the styling and collaborations now have a freshness that resonates with social media culture. When influencers are showing how a 39.50 blazer can look as sharp as designer tailoring, it creates real buzz and relatability.

'Gen Z's love of sustainable shopping also plays a role. M&S's heritage of durability means clothes are built to last, which aligns with the mindset of investing in fewer, better pieces.'

Influencer Felina Chiara (pictured) filmed herself in an M&S in London trying on new items of clothing

The stylist added that the brand's collaborations with individuals such as Sienna Miller, Bella Freud and Binky Felstead have also improved its visibility.

She said, 'M&S's recent cool collaborations feel very deliberate, and a big part of it has been smart choices that inject personality without losing the brand's DNA.'

'Capsule collections from names who carry cultural weight create social media moments, and they bring editorial styling cues that are easy to replicate and amplify on feeds, while still being accessible to buy.

'Take the recent creative edits over the past year or so. A boho-inflected party capsule from Sienna Miller, playful slogan knits from Bella Freud, and even influencer-led kidswear from Binky.

'Each collaboration feels authentic to the partner yet rooted in M&S quality and that mix makes the clothes feel both attainable and aspirational, so you can style a 49 blazer next to a vintage find and it reads editorial, not ordinary.'

'It's a clever balance of being affordable but aspirational, classic but updated. That's what makes M&S feel cool again, and why younger customers now see it as a destination, not just somewhere their parents shop.'

Gen Z are also thought to have been attracted by M&S's app, which includes styling tips for different body shapes, add-ons, and ever-changing discounts. It even offers customers a free surprise on their birthday.

Elsewhere, consumer champion Martin Newman, who has advised brands including Burberry and Harrods, told The Daily Mail how the brand has carefully planned its revival.

TikTok is filled with young people, including influencer Alice Nendick, sharing their clothing finds in M&S stores

One UK-based content creator, who goes by @babeilous, questioned whether she had got 'seriously old' for liking the clothes in M&S

'What's happening with M&S isn't luck, it's a carefully managed style renaissance. For years, Marks & Spencer was pigeonholed as dependable, but slightly dated.

'Over the past two to three years, though, they've shifted gear, combining their heritage strength (quality, value, inclusive sizing) with sharper design, cultural relevance and influencer fuel.

'The Sienna Miller collaborations are key, by bringing in someone whose style is both classic and of the moment, M&S has bridged that generational gap. Her boho-chic cred, her reputation, plus the pieces she's designed all hit the sweet spot between nostalgia and trend.

'Influencers have amplified this re-entry into 'cool' in a big way, the viral denim, wide-leg palazzo jeans, standout statement knitwear, quilted jackets, sequin party pieces from the party-edit for festive season, all of these are being picked up, showcased, styled by younger content makers.

'On TikTok, Instagram Reels and in editorials, it's become normal to see Gen Z users posting M&S 'fits, comparing them favourably with fast fashion or designer dupes. That creates social relevance.'

'The brand has re-earned 'cool' by balancing visible fashion credibility via celebrities, collabs and influencers but with substance (quality, fit, price). Gen Z didn't bring M&S back alone, but they are absolutely central to its comeback.'

Indeed, M&S has landed itself in the centre of attention online, with the younger generations sharing content on the brand.

TikTok user Erin, from the UK, wrote, 'Either I'm getting old or M&S is stepping up their game because excuse me?'

She filmed herself trying on different trousers, and added in the caption, 'Hard debating which trousers to buy right now, those jeans fit me like a glove.'

Elsewhere, UK content creator Bethany Smith wrote, 'M&S really pulled something out of the bag here', as she admired the brand's new accessories collection.

To revamp the style of the women's clothing, M&S top boss Evans focused in particular on the dresses section, including introducing collaborations with brands such as Ghost.

They have also overhauled the denim collection, with new styles including mom, boyfriend and wide-leg jeans, all popular with a younger audience.

Evans also explained that they had ditched more 'outdated' style elements, including darts around the bust area.

At the same time, she's been wary of 'alienating' the brand's traditional audience and has kept classic M&S staples including buttoned-up cardigans and jeggings.

Meanwhile, she told Drapers Online that her next mission is to make M&S the nation's go-to option for footwear.

Her impact on the brand's changing reputation hasn't gone unnoticed. 'People have been a really big part of it,' retail expert Catherine Shuttleworth told The Guardian previously, adding that Evans has helped the brand understand what their shoppers are looking for.

In 2023, M&S became the surprise winner of the UK's best retailer for womenswear that year, with sales of clothing alone rising by 5.5 per cent - four years after the brand fell out of the FTSE 100 for the first time.

In particular, sales of partywear were up 49 per cent, and knitwear was up 23 per cent, compared to the previous year.

Other members of the style squad that can be credited for the M&S revival include design supremo Lisa Illis; merchandising guru Helen Wilson and director of sourcing and tech, Monique Leeuwenburgh.

Evans previously told the Mail on Sunday how she brought to bear the fashion nous she picked up in a previous job at Topshop.

She said: 'Between me, Lisa, Helen and the team, we have a pretty good sense of the aesthetic. We are trying to perfect every single detail on a dress, so it will fit and flatter most body shapes. We look at everything.'

They invested in fabrics and also simplified many of the ranges and pricing.

The team identified a number of 'magic prices' including 39.50 for dresses and jeans, where customers are happy to buy.

As for sizing, Evans says that 'from a fit perspective, we have a fantastically experienced technical team led by Monique'.

The retailer uses 'blocks' or templates in each size for its garments, which are then tested through the range of sizes from 6 to 24.

The time between designing an item and seeing it in store has been radically shortened so that M&S can cash in on trends.

Evans said denim miniskirts flew out of the shops this summer because 'we saw a trend, jumped on it and tested it really quickly'. Lisa Illis has a team of forecasters who try to spot the next big things.

Trends that have trickled down to M&S have included women's waistcoats, crochet dresses and double denim.

Menswear too, has received a revamp worthy of the younger generation: in 2024, Callum Briggs, former head of design at Hugo Boss, joined as head of men's design.

M&S has also forged a successful partnership with Ghost and introduced third-party brands such as Nobody's Child into stores.

In February, M&S saw another reshuffle, welcoming former Boohoo CEO and Primark COO John Lyttle as the new managing director of clothing, home and beauty.

The move seemingly reflects M&S's new 'fast fashion' approach to design, turning around new dresses from drawing board to shelf in as little as a month.

Historically, the 139-year-old chain would take a year to sign off and produce a new design, leaving it at the mercy of sudden changes in high street tastes.

As a result, much of its fashion output was sold at a knock-down price as the store's aisles regularly turned into something of a jumble sale.

These days, it benefits from selling much more of its stock at full price, while its much slicker process means it can quickly generate new orders to cash in on best sellers.

Now, dresses can cost as little as 17, while men's trousers begin at 11 - prices that may one day have seemed more similar to those of its high street rivals, such as H&M or New Look.

However, M&S insists its approach to quality has not been compromised following the changes.

In a press release sent out in February, CEO Stuart Machin said: 'The Clothing, Home & Beauty business is now on a much stronger footing with improved product.

'Style perceptions have increased consistently and our lead on quality and value has extended, driving growth in sales and market share.'
The Duchess of Sussex's makeup artist, Daniel Martin, has revealed the secret behind Meghan's 'radiant' Paris Fashion Week look.

The Montecito-based royal, 44, surprised the fashion community last weekend when she made an appearance at the Balenciaga show in support of the brand's latest creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli.

Meghan hired the help of Martin, her longtime friend and makeup artist who completed her 2018 wedding day look to Prince Harry, to master her complexion for the event.

The artist, who appeared in the duchess's Netflix series, used an unusual technique of combining Meghan's foundation with a 83 Longevity serum from luxury Japanese skincare brand Tatcha to create a refreshed look.

He took to Instagram to break down his technique, but first thanked his followers for their kind words. 'I want to come on and say thank you so much for all the love and support, it's been so overwhelming to be honest.'

Martin, Tatcha's global director of artistry and education, continued, 'I did my usual skin prep with her, which was a lot of Tatcha, and I'm not saying that because I'm with the brand, but it's a skincare ritual that has been in my kit, and I [have] used on all my clients for years.'

'The switch up was that I actually mixed the Tatcha Longevity serum in with the foundation, and I think that added another layer of radiance to her makeup, which made her look even more juicy and glowy.

'I use foundation a lot with my hands, so when I apply it, I'm applying it like a massage... I'll go in with a brush to add more coverage, and then I'll use a sponge to blend it out.'

The Duchess of Sussex's makeup artist, Daniel Martin, has revealed how he created Meghan's 'juicy and glowy' Paris Fashion Week look (pictured)

He continued, 'Regarding powder, she has powder only in the T-zone of her face. There's no loose powder all over. I just wanted to knock out the shine that happens in the middle of her forehead and around her nose, and the powder I used was the Paris Berlin press powder.

'They're a makeup brand local to Paris, you can only get it in Paris, I believe, and every time I'm in Paris, I always go there to shop. It's like a theatrical industry makeup store, which is awesome.

'Her cheek is the Tom Ford contour cream. I only use the contour; I kind of use it like a bronzer, and on top of it was the Tatcha serum stick, so it gave that added radiance to that.

'We just wanted to keep everything light, fresh, and radiant. She just flew in, and your skin gets dehydrated from the plane, so I just wanted to bring some hydration back into her skin and just bring some life to it.

'Her lipstick, I had several Tom Ford lipstick options, and the one that she chose was iconic nude, which is like this beautiful mauve-y pink, and we use Makeup Forever lip liner, and that was pretty much it.

'Her eyeshadow was just browns, I did a halo effect, [and] mascara. I introduced her to this Mac mascara, which she loves. It's all about beautiful, structured brows, keeping everything fresh and polished.

'When you come from fashion like I do, it's not about the makeup, it's about just looking beautiful, radiant, polished.'

He concluded, 'I would love to get her in a lip one day, Meghan if you're watching this, let's do a lip, I'd love to see you in a lip.'

Daniel (pictured left in Netflix's With Love, Meghan) has worked Meghan since her days playing Rachel Zane on Suits

The creative added in the post's caption, 'Wow- what an overwhelming reaction you all have had to this look of Meghan's last Saturday night for the Balenciaga show!

'It's been a whirlwind but I wanted to just quickly give a few insights behind the skincare/makeup approach we took. Hope this helps for anyone who wants to recreate at home! Sending love.'

Meghan was seen at the show for luxury fashion line Balenciaga last Saturday, mingling with fellow guests including Vogue's global editorial director Anna Wintour, actress Anne Hathaway and film director Baz Luhrmann, with whom she exchanged a kiss.

Cutting an elegant figure in a stylish white oversized button-through ensemble with an incorporated cape, the star had a full style squad - and a luxury place to reside - for the fleeting visit.

Meghan, who resides in Montecito with Prince Harry and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, checked in with her entourage at the luxurious Hotel Plaza Athenee, part of the Dorchester group, in the city.

And the Duchess seemed committed to speaking the local language, sharing a clip of her 100-day streak on learning app Duolingo.

The former Suits star studied French for six years, but said in 2016 she'd lost her fluency with the language and wanted to re-learn it, saying it was on her New Year's resolution list 'every year'.

On social media on Sunday afternoon, Meghan shared how her glamorous weekend overseas had panned out in a short video montage, showing the moment she arrived in the city to an affectionate note left for her on a hotel notepad ahead of her heading out to the show.

With three pairs of feet seen perched on the backseat of a luxury car, it seems Meghan arrived in the city on Saturday afternoon, with Paris under blue skies as the car drove past the Arc de Triomphe.

From there, it was on to the five-star Hotel Plaza Athenee, which is part of the highly luxe Dorchester hotel group and where suites costs thousands of pounds a night.

Blooms of white hydrangeas were pictured in the suite where the Duchess was staying.

There were glimpses of the team tasked with making the royal look glamorous just hours after the long flight from LA - and also fries, omlettes and other snacks to keep the former royal sustained for her moment in the spotlight.

Meghan wore her chocolate brown tresses in an effortlessly elegant slicked back bun and minimal makeup.

The Duchess cut an elegant figure in the stylish white oversized button-through ensemble with an incorporated cape and, according to some observers at least, certainly had the strut of a fashionista.

The mother-of-two paired the look with a black suede Balenciaga bag, glitzy oval diamond earrings and 745 black Balenciaga Knife heels.

Appearing amongst high-profile celebrity guests such as Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, FKA Twigs and Anne Hathaway, Meghan had her own catwalk moment as she channelled her inner supermodel in front of numerous cameras while exiting the star-studded show.

She was previously a regular at New York and Toronto Fashion Weeks whilst working as an actress on US drama series Suits.

A spokesperson for Meghan told PEOPLE: 'She has long admired [Pierpaolo's] craftsmanship and modern elegance, and tonight was no different.

'This evening reflects the culmination of many years of artistry and friendship, reflected in her support for his new creative chapter at Balenciaga.'

According to the publication, the pair have worked together closely over the years and would often 'collaborate' on designs for 'key moments'.
A plastic surgeon has issued a serious warning to newlywed Lauren Sanchez Bezos after noticing an alarming detail in photos of her appearances at Paris Fashion Week.

This week, the former journalist, 55, has been out and about in the City of Love, attending multiple shows including Chanel and Balenciaga, joining the star-studded, high-fashion crowd that also saw Meghan Markle and Kim Kardashian as guests.

During the trip, Sanchez was even spotted in a gorgeous, silky red Valentino dress as she stepped out for a lavish family night with her husband, Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos.

The American philanthropist was the epitome of fashion in the ruched number, flashing a glimpse of her ample assets.

She accessorized the stunning dinner look with a quilted red chain-strap bag, also from Valentino, and wore elegant matching heels.

But after reviewing recent photos of the star, including ones from a September gala appearance, Orgeon-based plastic surgeon Dr. Sean McNally has shared some concerns exclusively with Daily Mail.

Dr. McNally believes that Sanchez has had dermal fillers that have since 'migrated,' though he has not personally treated the star.

'In some of the pictures, her filler has definitely migrated a bit outside of the area you'd typically like,' Dr. McNally told Daily Mail exclusively after studying pictures.

A plastic surgeon has issued a serious warning to newlywed Lauren Sanchez Bezos after noticing an alarming detail during photos of her appearances at Paris Fashion Week, seen here this week

This week, the former journalist has been out and about in the City of Love, attending multiple shows including Chanel and Balenciaga , joining the star-studded, high-fashion crowd that saw Meghan Markle and Kim Kardashian as guests, as they're seen leaving The Ritz Hotel in Paris

But after reviewing recent photos of the star, including ones from a September gala appearance, above, Orgeon-based plastic surgeon Dr. Sean McNally has shared some concerns exclusively with Daily Mail

'The vast majority of the volume should be present on the red portion of the lip, with a little to highlight the edge of the white roll, which is the unpigmented skin just outside the red, but she has volume well past that area,' he explained.

Filler migration happens when the filler moves from the area that it was injected into, and instead, goes into nearby tissue, per the American Academy of Facial Esthetics.

When it goes into these nearby tissues, it can cause 'swelling' or even lumps - and when it happens, it's time to reverse the damages.

Migration was once a rare risk when it came to getting filler, according to Allure, but it has become more common with the uptick in the supply and demand factor, as many are flocking all over for treatment.

'With migration, it's likely time for a reset,' Dr. McNally advised Sanchez.

'I'd suggest having her current filler dissolved and redone fresh, if they haven't already,' Dr. McNally continued.

'Adding more on top of the already migrated filler will only likely make the problem worse.'

But even though migration can pose a risk to those who have had filler injected, there are also some other dangers to consider, according to Dr. McNally.

'I'd suggest having her current filler dissolved and redone fresh, if they haven't already,' Dr. McNally continued, as the star is seen here in 2018

Sanchez, seen here this week, posted a number of pictures on her Instagram from Paris Fashion Week

Sanchez and her husband, Jeff Bezos, attended the Chanel runway show in Paris this week

He told Daily Mail that filler poses more risks than those that are simply cosmetic.

'The scariest complication is injection into a blood vessel, which can occlude the vessel,' the plastic surgeon said.

'Depending on the area, this can kill the skin in the area fed by that blood vessel or even blind you if the injection is around the eye,' he shared.

Daily Mail reached out to Sanchez's rep for comment.

The Fly Who Flew To Space author's appearance at Paris Fashion Week comes just as she returned to Italy last weekend for the first time since she and Bezos tied the knot there in June, celebrating with a glamorous Venetian wedding.

The couple were back in the European country on Friday for Italian Tech Week 2025, held in the city of Turin.

The appearance comes almost three months after she said 'I do' to Bezos during their Venice nuptials.

Described as the 'wedding of the century,' the Amazon founder and former journalist exchanged vows in front of almost 200 VIP guests on San Giorgio Maggiore island.

The Fly Who Flew To Space author's appearance at Paris Fashion Week comes just as they returned to Italy last weekend for the first time since she tied the knot there in June, celebrating with a glamorous Venetian wedding. She is seen here in September 2025

In addition to their over-the-top reception, Bezos and Sanchez hosted a number of other lavish events, like a welcome dinner and pajama-themed brunch party the following day, as they're seen here at the March 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar party

Guests included a slew of A-listers like Kris Jenner, Ivanka Trump, Orlando Bloom and Kim Kardashian.

Sanchez wore a high-neck, long sleeve lace Dolce & Gabbana gown that took over 900 hours of atelier to make, per Vogue.

The gown featured a flared skirt, long veil, and a tight-fitting waist, with tons of buttons going up the middle.

'Very Lauren. Sexy, happy, not too serious, not too drama. Elegant but at the same time sensual,' Domenico Dolce told the outlet about the bride's dress.

In addition to their over-the-top reception, Bezos and Sanchez hosted a number of other lavish events, like a welcome dinner and pajama-themed brunch party the following day.

They also kicked things off with a foam party on Bezos' $500 million yacht, Koru, early in the week.

The couple also showed their guests with gifts, the Daily Mail learned from a source in Italy at the time.

Each guest received hand-blown glassware by local glassmaker Laguna B, which features features bright colors, stripes, and floral details.

All of the glasses have different motifs and designs, with one large-size cup running customers $167.
Kerrygold has become the latest victim of shrinkflation after its parent company, Ornua, slashed the size of the beloved Irish butter blocks from 250g to 200g in the UK.

Despite the significant size change, retailers such as Asda and Waitrose have kept the original price, leaving customers worse off than before.

The butter, which retails at an average of 3 and is made with milk from Irish grass-fed cows, has long been a favourite for consumers, and even counts Kourtney Kardashian and Maura Higgins as fans.

However, since September, UK Kerrygold loyalists have had to cope with less butter per purchase after the brand introduced smaller packs.

The company made the change as a result of cost pressure in the industry, according to The Grocer.

Despite the decision to reduce the packaging size, Asda and Waitrose have kept the cost the same, resulting in a price per gram increase of over 25 per cent.

However, Tesco, Ocado, and Sainsbury's have maintained the price per gram since the change, resulting in the relevant cost deduction, The Grocer found.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Ornua Foods UK.

Kerrygold has become the latest victim of shrinkflation as the butter blocks have reduced from 250g to 200g (stock image)

An Ornua Foods UK spokesperson told the outlet, 'To ensure our products remain accessible to the growing number of shoppers who choose Kerrygold, we have adjusted the pack size, which brings Kerrygold block butter products in line with all of the other top five major block butter brands that have moved to 200g packs in recent years.

'We are confident that Kerrygold, with its unique taste credentials and premium quality, continues to offer strong value and choice across the full range, which includes our 250g tub, 100g butter sticks and the 500g block introduced earlier this year.'

It comes after research found that some of the nation's favourite Christmas chocolates have shrunk this year.

Despite the smaller sizes, prices have surged by as much as 33 per cent in some instances, and the rising cost of cocoa is partly to blame.

Quality Street tubs are among the sweet treats shrinking in size, going from 600g to 550g.

Although the box has decreased by 8.3 per cent, its pre-promotional price at Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Morrisons has risen by 16.7 per cent year-on-year, The Grocer revealed.

The outlet noted that at budget supermarket Asda, the price of the 550g tub is cheaper than the 600g one was last year, dropping from 6 to 4.68.

Elsewhere, the 750g tin of Cadbury Roses has reduced from 750g to 700g in Morrisons, but the price has surged from 14 to 16.50.

The change results from cost pressures in the dairy industry, Kerrygold's parent company said (stock image)

Terry's Chocolate Orange has also faced similar changes, and has reduced by 7.6 per cent in size. However, in Tesco, the treat has faced a 33 per cent price hike.

In Sainsbury's, the orange-flavoured chocolate has risen by 28.2 per cent in price, and by 25 per cent in Morrisons.

Toblerone is also facing changes, going from 360g to 340g, and costing more than before in Morrisons and Sainsburys.

A spokesperson for Toblerone and Cadbury told The Grocer that the changes were implemented as a 'last resort'.

Discussing the Quality Street change, a Nestle Spokesperson told the Daily Mail, 'Each year we introduce a new Quality Street range with formats, sizes, weights and RRPs based on a range of factors including the cost of manufacturing, ingredients and transport and the preferences of our customers and consumers.

'We think our 2025 range and pricing is competitive with a good variety of choice for Quality Street fans. Final prices are at the discretion of individual retailers.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to Mondelez International, and Terry's Chocolate Orange for comment.

The change comes as rising temperatures and erratic rainfall have 'hammered' cocoa harvests in Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon and Nigeria, according to a report from Christian Aid.

These four West African countries are responsible for producing approximately 70 per cent of the world's cocoa, the key ingredient in chocolate.

Cocoa prices have risen 400 per cent to $12,218 (9,800) per ton after droughts, floods and climate-related diseases hit west African cocoa farmers last year, it said.

Higher temperatures and more irregular rainfall make growing conditions less than ideal for the cocoa tree, which relies on finely-tuned conditions to thrive.

Osai Ojigho, director of policy and public campaigns at Christian Aid, said climate change is 'causing havoc' to chocolate production.

'Growing cocoa is a vital livelihood for many of the poorest people around the world and human caused climate change is putting that under serious threat,' she said.

Humanity's love for chocolate relies on the cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao), which thrives under specific conditions such as high humidity and abundant rain.

That's why production of cocoa is limited to the tropics  the hot, humid region of the Earth that surrounds the equator.

Even then, a few countries dominate commercial production, including Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon and Nigeria in west Africa, Indonesia in Asia and Ecuador in South America.

Globally, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire are the top producers, together accounting for about 58 per cent of the world's cocoa, while African countries account for more than 70 per cent of the world's cacao crop.

Christian Aid's report warned that extreme weather last year caused failed harvests in west Africa, making temperatures too hot for cocoa growing.

In 2024, human-caused climate change added at least three weeks above 89.6F (32C) annually during the main cacao crop season (October-March) in Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana  above the optimal temperature range for the tree.

Over the same time period, climate change added just over two weeks above 32C annually during the main crop season in Cameroon and more than one week in Nigeria.

The report said we are already in a cocoa shortage, which started in 2023, due to unexpectedly heavy rainfall during Ghana's dry season followed by severe drought in 2024.

Total precipitation in west Africa in 2023 was more than double the 30-year average for the time of year and the wet conditions caused plants to rot.

Meanwhile, Ghana's 2024 drought affected more than one million people, resulting in terrible crop losses and record-high food prices, the UN said

According to a prior study by World Weather Attribution, climate change made the heatwave in west Africa 10 times more likely.

The report also said changing climatic conditions may adversely affect the tiny midge pollinators, which cacao trees rely on to fertilize their flowers.

But our favourite chocolate bars, boxes and truffles are often also manufactured using other tropically-produced commodities, such as sugar, soy and sometimes palm oil, each of which 'has its own climate-related supply chain vulnerabilities and wider environmental impacts', the report said.

What's more, the ongoing issue of deforestation means farmers do not have as much suitable land to grow cocoa.

Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, for instance, lost 25 per cent and eight per cent respectively of their humid forests where the tree thrives between 2002 and 2019, said Cocoa Life.

Worryingly for the industry, the anticipated loss in cocoa yields is set to coincide with a increase in demand for chocolate, the report also warned
Michelle Obama has opened up about what it was like to go through menopause while she was First Lady... revealing she was suffering from severe hot flashes while giving important speeches.

The author, 61, spoke about the difficulties of her body changing while in the public eye to OB/GYN and nationally renowned expert in women's health Sharon Malone during the latest episode of her IMO podcast.

Michelle explained that she started to feel the symptoms of menopause during her husband, Barack Obama's first term as president.

'It comes [suddenly], you wake up one day and you're having hot flashes,' she dished.

'It had to be in my mid-late 40s. I woke up one day and started having these severe bouts of heat flashing and sweating. I was like, what happened? I woke up and was different.'

Michelle admitted that she told herself, 'I can get through this,' instead of calling her doctor.

But balancing her job as First Lady and doing public events while suffering from heat flashes was extremely difficult.

'I was the First Lady so I've got speeches to give, I'm on planes, I'm [dressed up] and have my hair done,' she continued.

Michelle Obama has opened up about what it was like to go through menopause while she was First Lady. She's seen in 2009

The author (seen recently), 61, spoke about the difficulties of her body changing while in the public eye to OB/GYN Sharon Malone during the latest episode of her IMO podcast

'There was one trip I had about 40 hot flashes, and I was like, I can't live like this.

'I can't get off this plane soaking wet, I can't factor in the time to change clothes and redo my hair during a day of speeches.'

She joked that she worried people might see her sweating while giving speeches and assume that she's nervous because she's lying.

'It's like a hot furnace is lit inside you,' she added of what the hot flashes felt like.

'It's like your organs are hot coals. And then you burst with water, you're dripping, your clothes are soaking wet, you have to change your clothes.'

In the end, Michelle said she used hormone replacement therapy, which helped immensely.

'We need to talk about the symptoms because a lot of women aren't even taught to be aware of what's happening to their bodies,' she stressed.

'I want women to embrace tradition, because that's still something we struggle with. We view transition as something negative, but we are always evolving and that's a good thing.

Michelle (seen in 2009) explained that she started to feel the symptoms of menopause during her husband, Barack Obama 's first term as president

'There was one trip I had about 40 hot flashes, and I was like, I can't live like this. 'I can't get off this plane soaking wet, I can't factor in the time to change clothes and redo my hair,' she said

'If we're alive enough to have a transition then we're blessed and we shouldn't be ashamed of it. I'm trying - because it's something you never stop working on as a woman - to figure out all the good and not get sucked into what I didn't have or didn't do because there's still time ahead.'

The former First Lady said she wasn't afraid of aging, and revealed that her 60s have been the 'best time of her entire life' - despite ongoing rumors that she and Barack are having marital issues.

'The best time of my entire life is right now. It really is. I do not wish to be 20 again, not in any way shape or form,' she said with a laugh. 'There is some real freedom about this time in life.'

'And I'm already thinking about my 70s and 80s, I want to be able to do some of this stuff in my 80s.'

In addition to hot flashes, Michelle previously revealed that she struggled with weight gain while going through menopause.

'I never used to weigh myself. I'm not trying to stick to numbers, but when you're in menopause, you have this slow creep that you just don't realize,' she explained to People in 2022.

In the end, Michelle said she used hormone replacement therapy, which helped immensely. She's seen in 2009

'We're all in menopause with stretchy [waist] bands and our athleisure wear on, and you look up and you can't fit the outfits you had last year. I have to be more mindful. Not obsessive, but more mindful.'

Overall, however, Michelle said she considered herself 'blessed' by her menopause experience, telling People at the time, 'I think my skin still feels healthy. My hair is still in my head. These are the things that I have to count my blessings for.'

Speculation surrounding the Obama's relationship began when Michelle skipped several high-profile events, including Donald Trump's inauguration and former President Jimmy Carter's funeral.

The couple - who recently enjoyed a vacation on Stephen Spielberg's yacht in Italy - have been married for almost 33 years and share daughters, Malia, 26, and Sasha, 24.
It's fair to say this was not your average party. In fact, it might have been one of a kind. Rather than canapes, there were chia pots and granola.

Yes, there was dancing, but I also led my guests in a workout. And they certainly weren't knocking back champagne until 2am. Alcohol doesn't suit me any more, and my friends and I all struggle to sleep, so we enjoyed rounds of kombucha and shots of green juice instead. But looking around the packed room, I felt a huge sense of pride. After all, as far as I know, I'm the first woman to ever throw herself a menopause party!

I was celebrating that moment when you can officially say you've gone through menopause - exactly 12 months after your final period. I was excited not just about the start of the second half of my life, but that, after a difficult time, I've never felt so healthy and happy.

We have birthday parties, weddings, baby showers and even divorce parties these days, so why not celebrate how amazing our mid-life bodies are too?

I had booked a room at a five-star hotel in London's Marylebone and the dress code was 'vibrant and colourful', symbolising the fact that middle-aged women shouldn't need to hide.

My guests included skincare and wellbeing expert Liz Earle, make-up supremo Ruby Hammer and Gladiator and Olympian Montell Douglas.

I made a speech and we did a bit of 'exercise snacking' - the phrase I coined in my best-selling book The Feel Good Fix - including a ten-second balance on each leg, a few squats and a bit of marching on the spot. Then we ended with a group hug.

It's ironic that it's taken until I'm almost 50 to throw a party for myself, but, like many women, I struggled through menopause without knowing what was happening to my body.

Lavina Mehta, MBE, is a personal trainer and best-selling author who decided to celebrate her menopause and remove the stigma around menopause for South Asian women

The guest list at Lavina's Menopause Party included skincare and wellbeing expert Liz Earle, make-up supremo Ruby Hammer and Gladiator and Olympian Montell Douglas

My South Asian heritage meant menopause was likely to arrive five or six years earlier than the oft-mentioned 51, which is the 'average' age cited for women globally, and I went through the final moment aged 46 (I'm just 47 now).

But I didn't know that when I first started having symptoms. Sixteen years previously, I'd left a high-flying corporate job as a global project manager to be a mum to my three boys. Then, as they were all at school, I retrained as a PT aged 39. Inadvertently, this launched a whole new career. When lockdown hit in 2020, I started to do live, free workouts online, and soon thousands of people were joining me in my classes.

I was thrilled by my work, and I looked happy enough, but, by then in my early 40s, my periods were all over the place and I couldn't sleep - lying awake for hours on end, getting more and more wound up.

My mood had changed; I was stressed and anxious but put it down to my new career and simply carried on - that's what women do.

But then I developed awful brain fog, which brought me to tears. I was terrified I had early-onset Alzheimer's, as I forgot to do things or remember dates - parties, games kit, picking up times, and it was driving my kids and my husband mad. He was sympathetic, but as baffled as me, and repeatedly asked me to write things down. So I had lists everywhere.

The worst came when I had tightness in my chest and thought I had heart problems. I begged my husband to book me a chest X-ray, but the results came back normal.

Ironically, at the same time I was struggling with my health my PT career was going from strength to strength. I launched a campaign called Get UK Asians Fit! and received an MBE for my health and fitness work during the pandemic, which has seen my online following grow to around 200,000.

The turning point came after two years, in 2022, when I watched Davina McCall's programme, Sex, Myths and the Menopause. Then 44, I burst into tears, stunned and relieved to learn that what I was going through was entirely normal.

When my husband came in to see what was wrong, I simply turned to him and said, 'Just sit with me'. The next day I wrote an emotional post on Instagram and declared I was in perimenopause, a word I had never previously mentioned or heard of.

This had a huge response. My direct messages were flooded with women at rock bottom who had had a lightbulb moment like me. I found it liberating, partly because women's health, and periods in particular, have always been imbued with shame for South Asian women.

One woman even came up to me in the gym in tears. 'You're so brave talking about this as an Indian woman,' she said. 'I wanted to thank you for normalising the menopause, so my family and friends understand what I've gone through.' I was blown away.

Like that woman, once I knew what was happening with my body, I was able to take action.

I tried HRT for 18 months, but everyone is different, and it didn't work for me. Now I focus purely on lifestyle changes: healthy eating, exercise, good sleep and stress management. It has, as I say, been like a rebirth.

So I was determined this party would be a celebration of mid-life. I wore a bright pink dress by Coast with wide, pleated sleeves, like wings. One friend even referred to them being like butterfly wings - for mid-life metamorphosis.

Most heartwarming were the friends who stood up and said how much it means to have menopause in the public forum.

TV presenter Cherry Healey made me laugh by doing an impression of the two of us doing squats in the Houses of Parliament on World Menopause Day.

We're seeing a lot of women reinventing themselves now. We need to focus on our health, on our future, and on ourselves - women don't do enough of that.

We need to remove the stigma around ageing. That's why I hope countless other women will now feel inspired to have their own menopause party.

As told to Alice Smellie
A popular Twitch streamer has ignited backlash after a clip of his dog appeared to cry out in pain during a livestream went viral causing many to accuse him of using a shock collar.

Hasan Piker was broadcasting at home earlier this week with his dog Kaya lying in the background.

During the stream, Kaya seemed to grow restless and proceeded to get up from where she was sitting.

But as she attempted to do this, Piker, 34, retaliated and ordered her to 'go back'.

He said: 'Kaya, please just f***ing go back, just stop. Jesus Christ, what are you doing? You're being such a baby.'

In the video, Piker then appeared to reach for something off camera, which in turned caused the dog to make a noise before going back to where she initially was.

Explaining the situation during the stream, he of the dog: 'She is literally just so incredibly spoiled from my mom.

'No, she doesn't wanna come over here to see what's up, she just wants to f***ing roam the house because she got to roam the house when I was gone and she needs to literally have the same structure regimented.'

Hasan Piker has ignited backlash after his dog appeared to cry out during a livestream

The animal had attempted to move away from the spot she had been sitting in when Piker reached for something off camera

In a separate broadcast, Piker hit back at the accusations of animal abuse.

'Yes, I am incredibly abusive to the, not only best trained, but also the best behaving and most spoiled dog on the planet,' he said.

According to The Express Tribune, he went on to add: 'Yeah she yelped because she f***ing clipped herself on something when she was getting off the bed.'

Daily Mail has contacted a rep for Piker for comment.

Social media users were in shock over the viral clip with many expressing their upset at the scenes.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one said: 'He doesn't let the dog... roam... the house???'

Another wrote: 'Why even have a dog if all you want it to do is lay there? Get a stuffed doll instead'

'This isn't funny the dog should be removed from him immediately!!!!!' a third continued.

The dog made a noise before going back to where she initially was, prompting social media users to express their upset

Piker hit back at the accusations of animal abuse and described his dog as the 'best trained' and 'best behaved'

'This is actually super disgusting, my heart,' added a fourth.

Piker, a popular left-wing political commentator, started streaming on Twitch in 2018.

In 2021, he was banned from the platform for one week for using a racial slur against white people.

More recently, in February 2025, he was banned from Twitch for 24 hours after he said Republicans would 'kill' Florida Sen. Rick Scott if they truly cared about government fraud.

He was banned again in May 2025, after claiming the DC terror attack looked like a 'false flag' operation.
Donald Trump's 1990 cover and 'flirty' interview for Playboy Magazine have resurfaced - and he didn't hold back with his responses.

At the time, Trump was just 44 years old, and still married to his first wife, Ivana Trump.

A user posted their own copy of the magazine on Reddit this week, showing Trump, now 79, posing for the March 1990 cover alongside model Brandi Brandt, as she looked at him admiringly and leaned into him.

The businessman was wearing a tuxedo and looked quite mischievous as he stared into the camera, with Brandt standing next to him in what appeared to be his tuxedo jacket.

The cover story was a profile on Trump and his upbringing, as well as his business dealings at the time - with the story addressing the Trump takeover that seemed to be happening all over New York City.

And, strangely enough, during the interview, Trump was asked about a potential presidential run, but seemed to shrug off the possibility.

'The presidency? No, that takes an election, and it is clear that Trump is not that patient,' he told the outlet at the time.

'Too much to do!' he concluded.

President Donald Trump's 1990 cover and flirty interview for Playboy Magazine have resurfaced

And, strangely enough, during the interview, Trump was asked about a potential presidential run, but seemed to shrug off the possibility

He also spoke about his marriage to Ivana, answering some seriously scandalous questions about whether or not the relationship was 'monogamous.'

'I don't have to answer that,' Trump said. 'I never speak about my wife - which is one of the advantages of not being a politician.'

'My marriage is and should be a personal thing,' he continued.

The interviewer also asked him if he 'enjoyed flirtations' - to which he admitted that men who don't would be 'lying.'

'I think any man enjoys flirtations, and if he said he didn't, he'd by lying or he'd be a politician trying to get the extra four votes,' he said at the time.

'I think everybody likes knowing he's well responded to,' he continued.

'Especially as you get into a certain strata where there is an ego involved and a high level of success, it's important.

'People really like the idea that other people respond well to them,' Trump concluded.

He also spoke about his marriage to Ivana, answering some seriously scandalous questions about whether or not the relationship was 'monogamous'

Currently, a copy of the magazine is on sale for $1,500 on eBay.

Another copy is available for a slightly lower price of $299.99 on Amazon.

But although Trump may have been the cover star of the magazine at the time, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner's son, Cooper, revealed in a 2017 interview with The Hollywood Reporter that his dad 'regretted' putting the now President on the front page.

'We don't respect the guy,' Cooper said about Trump.

'There's a personal embarrassment because Trump is somebody who has been on our cover.'
A group of women have launched legal action against deodorant brand Mitchum after claiming its popular roll-on 'burnt through their skin'.

Last month, social media was flooded with reports from customers who said they had developed agonising rashes and blisters after using a reformulated version of the product.

Pictures showing raw, red armpits were shared across TikTok, Instagram and online forums, with users in tears over the painful welts spreading across their skin.

Mitchumowned by Revlonissued an apology and admitted that a 'change in the manufacturing process' had caused some batches of eight products to react differently on the skin.

The affected lines have since been withdrawn from sale.

Now, three women have begun legal action against the beauty giant, claiming they were left with lasting scars and ongoing pain.

One says she was even prescribed antibiotics after developing an infection.

Rachel Cummins, 42, a sales assistant from Surrey, said the 48-hour roll-on, which costs 3.45, left her with deep brown scarring under her left arm after just one use.

Rachel Cummins (pictured), from Surrey, is among the women launching the action against deodorant brand Mitchum

The 42-year-old sales assistant, who had never used Mitchum products before, claimed she was left with deep brown scarring under her left armpit after using the 3.45 '48-hour 100ml roll-on' deodorant

She said: 'I bought two roll-ons instead of my usual brand because they were on offer.

'But when I used it under both of my armpits before work, I just felt a bit sore for some reason.

'I just put it down to being something different that I hadn't tried before and that it would calm down. I certainly didn't guess the pain that was coming.'

Hours later during her shift, her armpits started burning, became sore and she took painkillers once she arrived home.

She added: 'I never usually complain or take medicines, so it had to be a bad experience for me to do that. I had only used it the once and it really started stinging and burning, mainly under my left armpit.

'I also had to use Savlon antiseptic and some Sudocrem. I thought it would just die down on its own.'

But the next day, her symptoms worsened she discovered white blisters forming under her left armpit leaving it 'red raw'.

Ms Cummins said: 'The pain was so bad it would get me up and I would have to take strong pain killers to get any sleep.'

Hours after using the deodorant her armpits started burning, became sore and she took painkillers once she arrived home

Mitchum have issued statements apologising to customers and said a change in the manufacturing process' changed how eight of their products interacted with the skin in some people

'I couldn't have anything to touch my under my armpit, I had to wear loose fitting clothing as if anything touched the area, it was pure agony.

'My left armpit felt like it was on fire as it was hot to the touch and very tender. I didn't know the damage that had already been done.

'It was one of the worse pains I have ever had, and you would never expect that from your deodorant.'

After the small white blisters began to 'pop and ooze' she attended her local pharmacy and contacted the GP.

'As soon as I showed her the pictures of my armpits, the doctor said I have got an infection and need antibiotics as well as strong steroid cream immediately,' she said.

'I couldn't believe my deodorant had caused that.'

Despite the burning pain subsiding over the following weeks, she was horrified to discover it had left a deep, dark brown scar.

'It is horrible to look at, every time I look in the mirror I see it there. I only used the product once and now may have probably been scarred for life,' she said.

Despite the burning pain subsiding over the following weeks, Rachel Cummins was horrified to discover the deodorant had left a deep, dark brown scar

Last month, Mitchum issued a statement via Instagram apologising to customers for the reactions they may have experienced using the affected products

'I am going to have an over sensitive left armpit for life.

'Now I must moisturise it every day and it feels all rough. It's scary when you can't rely on the big brands to keep you safe.'

After submitting a complaint to Mitchum's manufacturer Revlon, she claimed she was sent vouchers allowing her to buy more Mitchum products.

'I couldn't believe what I was seeing. They knew how serious the infection was as I had sent them the pictures,' Ms Cummins said.

'It was a complete joke and very poor customer service. I was in agony, and they were trying to get me to use their products again.

'Statements saying sorry simply don't help with your health. Luckily, I got help when I did as the infections are very serious and it could have spread even more.'

Experts have suggested that the burning, itchy armpits may be due to two specific new ingredients in the eight affected products.

Professor Penny Ward, a pharmaceutical expert at King's College London, told the Daily Mail: 'The contents of the 'new' format includes acetyl cedrene which has been shown to be an irritant in patch testing as well as vanillin which can also be a skin irritant in some individuals.

Mitchum claimed 'a change in the manufacturing process of one of our raw materials altered how the product interacts with the skin in some consumers'

'Generally the irritant chemicals are most likely to be those which are the added fragrances.

'In general most dermatitis rashes are itchy rather than painful, pain might be an indication of infection and might need treatment with an antibiotic or antifungal cream.'

Ms Cummins contacted specialist lawyers through injurylawyers4u.co.uk who are now managing her claim alongside two other women.

Faulty product specialist, Anna Molloy said: 'These women have been injured by a simple item in their beauty routine.

'And some have been badly burnt which left them with scars through no fault of their own.

'Women have a right to a daily beauty regime free of pain. We are now compiling medical evidence and will be sending claim letters to Mitchum and their representatives.

'Big companies need to protect their consumers from harm when using their products.'

When approached by the Daily Mail, Mitchum said it did not comment on pending legal matters.
A commonly prescribed painkiller may not be as effective as once thought at easing long-term pain, experts have warned.

Opioid drug tramadol, widely prescribed for moderate to severe pain, can provide short-term reliefbut new research suggests its benefits for chronic pain are 'limited'.

Danish scientists who analysed the health records of more than 6,500 patients found the drug increased the risk of serious side effects, including heart disease.

Publishing their findings in BMJ Evidence Based Medicine, the team from Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen said tramadol's potential harms 'likely outweigh' its modest benefits.

They reviewed 19 clinical trials involving patients with chronic pain and concluded that tramadol and similar opioids 'should be minimised to the greatest extent possible'.

Doctors have long warned that patients waiting months for NHS operations are often left on tramadol and other opioids for dangerously long periods, putting them at risk of addiction.

Tramadol is one of the most commonly prescribed opioid painkillers in the UK, with hundreds of thousands of NHS prescriptions issued every month.

In the US, it's the 36th most prescribed drug, with more than 16 million prescriptions issued a year.

Opioids like tramadol, can provide highly effective pain relief when used in the short-term. But doctors have previously warned that patients waiting months for NHS operations are taking the painkillers for dangerously long periods

It is typically given to patients with moderate or severe pain following surgery or injury, or to those with long-term conditions such as arthritis or back problems.

The review included five trials looking at tramadol's effect on nerve painwhich happens when the nerves themselves are damaged and can cause burning, shooting or tingling sensations.

Nine trials focused on osteoarthritis, four on long-term back pain and one on fibromyalgia. Most patients took tramadol as tablets for between two and 16 weeks.

While it did reduce pain, the effect was small and not enough to make a real difference to patients' symptoms, the researchers said.

They also found people taking tramadol were about twice as likely to experience side effects compared with those on dummy pills.

These included higher rates of chest pain, heart disease and heart failure, as well as nausea, dizziness, constipation and drowsiness.

The researchers wrote: 'Around 60 million people worldwide experience the addictive effects of opioids.

In 2019, drug use was responsible for about 600,000 deathsnearly 80 per cent linked to opioids, and a quarter due to overdose.'

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Responding to the findings, Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said:

'GPs understand how debilitating chronic pain can be and the serious impact it has on our patients' lives.

'In the UK, GPs have been advised to limit, reduce and ideally stop prescribing tramadol for chronic painand not to start it for new patients.

'Treating long-term pain is often difficult because the underlying cause isn't always clear, which makes it hard to target treatment.

'As with any condition, GPs will look at the physical, psychological and social factors affecting a patient's health and come up with a plan together.

This often includes non-drug options, but access to services such as pain clinics is patchy across the country.'

It comes after research last year found the NHS had spent almost 1 billion on addictive opioid painkillers over five years.

Figures from Oxford University's OpenPrescribing.net show the cost of opioid prescriptions rose from 90 million in 2019 to 186 million in 2023, with spending expected to hit 189 million this year.

The Royal College of Surgeons has also warned that hundreds of thousands of patients are 'continuing to live in pain on waiting lists'.

Many are forced to rely on powerful drugs to get by  leaving them at risk of developing addictions that can continue even after surgery.
A common hair loss drug that promises to halt a receding hairline has been linked to suicide, a new study suggests.

Finasteride, sold under the brand name Propecia and available by prescription, has surged in popularity in recent years after doctors said it could slow male hair loss with little more than a pill a day.

But as more men turn to the drug, reports of troubling side effects have mounted, with some claiming it left them battling mood swings, loss of libido and even genital shrinkage.

Now, a review of existing literature has concluded that those taking the medication may be at higher risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

Israeli researchers analyzed eight studies, published between 2017 and 2023, and found a significantly higher risk of suicidal behavior among those taking the drug compared to those who were not taking the medication.

Its unclear why finasteride may raise suicide risk, but researchers say it may lower levels of brain chemicals that calm the nervous system and ease stress.

Dr Mayer Brezis, an internist at the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center who led the study, said: 'The evidence is no longer anecdotal.

'We now see consistent patterns across diverse populations. and the consequences may have been tragic.'

The mother of Henry Goyzueta, 50, said her son (pictured) developed penis shrinkage and lost his libido after being prescribed finasteride. His mother also said the drug, which she blamed for his mental health struggles, led to his suicide, though no formal connection has ever been made

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Finasteride was approved to treat male hair loss in 1997 and is now prescribed to an estimated 7.5million people every year, almost all men. (The drug is not approved for women, but may be prescribed off-label for female hair loss).

It has been taken by celebrities including Elon Musk, and is even rumored to have been used by President Donald Trump to combat his hair loss, though this has never been confirmed.

The FDA first added depression as a possible side effect of taking finasteride in 2011, and updated the label in 2022 to add suicidal behaviors, though researchers had raised concerns over a potential link as early as 2002.

Data from the monitoring system FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), shows nearly 300 suicides among people who took the drug between 1993 and 2025, along with 111 suicide attempts and six suspected suicides.

The FAERS system is not verified, and claims can be submitted by anyone. It also only highlights correlations, which do not necessarily prove that any drug directly caused a side effect.

In the latest scientific review, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry last month, the researchers warned the drug may have caused 'hundreds of thousands' of cases of depression and hundreds of suicides since it was approved.

The paper reviewed four studies that analyzed suicide reports among finasteride users from multiple adverse events reporting systems, such as the FDA's FAERS, and four studies that analyzed healthcare records to determine whether finasteride raised the risk of suffering from depression or other mental problems.

It included a 2017 study by Canadian researchers that analyzed data on 93,000 men who started taking finasteride between 2003 to 2013.

That research warned those on the drug had an 88 percent higher risk of being diagnosed with depression within the first 18 months of starting on the drug. It did not find a higher risk of suicide.

Mark Millich, pictured above on the right, has said previously that he suffered from mental health problems and saw changes in his genitals after taking finasteride

The review also analyzed a 2024 study involving more than 50,000 men with hair loss, including 23,300 who were prescribed finasteride. Results showed patients who took the drug were 40 percent more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety or depression than those who did not use the drug.

The paper concludes: 'Current evidence shows that finasteride use can cause depression and suicidality.

'The lesson is that before approving a medication for the market, regulators should require manufacturers to commit to performing and disclosing ongoing post-approval analytical studies, and this requirement needs to be enforced.'

The review, however, disclosed that it had significant limitations, including the chance the large databases researchers used could potentially contain errors and poor data.

A poor dataset contains errors, gaps or inconsistencies, for example, incorrect birth dates or missing fields. It may also be one where users changed how they recorded information over time.

The researchers also noted that the suggestion in their paper that finasteride could have caused hundreds of suicides was 'highly speculative' and said that more research was needed.

Finasteride works by blocking an enzyme that converts testosterone into another hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is linked to hair loss.

Medical information from the FDA estimates that more than one in 100 people who take the drug experience problems getting an erection, a lower libido and problems with ejaculation.

Finasteride does carry a warning suggesting that it could be linked to suicide on its label

In one in 1,000 people, the drug has been linked to swelling and tenderness in the chest and low mood, or depression.

In an update in 2022, the FDA added a warning to the drug's label over a potential link to suicides, with the label now including under the section side effects: 'Nervous system/Psychiatric: Depression, suicidal ideation and behavior'.

Its manufacturer, Merck, told Reuters in 2021 that the scientific evidence 'does not support' a 'causal link' between finasteride and suicides or suicidal thoughts, adding that these terms 'should not be included in the labeling'.

It continued: 'Merck works continuously with regulators to ensure that potential safety signals are carefully analyzed and, if appropriate, included in the label for Propecia [finasteride].'

Daily Mail contacted Merck ahead of the publication of this article for comment.

About 49,000 Americans die by suicide every year, which is the second leading cause of death among adults aged 10 to 34 years old. About 80 percent of suicides recorded every year are in men, according to the CDC.
Scientists say they've developed a world-first blood test for chronic fatigue syndromebut the claim has triggered an immediate backlash from fellow researchers, who branded it 'another false dawn'.

Until now, the illness, medically known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), could only be diagnosed by assessing symptoms and ruling out other causes.

Researchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and Oxford BioDynamics say their new test can identify ME with 96 per cent accuracy, raising hopes for hundreds of thousands of sufferers who struggle for years to get a diagnosis.

Leading scientists, however, accused the team of overhyping early results from a small 'proof-of-concept' study.

One expert described the figures as 'remarkable but unrealistic', while another said it was 'not yet close' to providing a usable diagnostic tool.

The UEA-Oxford team say the test, published in the Journal of Translational Medicine, detects unique 'epigenetic' patterns in blood that appear only in people with ME.

They used a technology known as EpiSwitch 3D Genomics to analyse blood from 47 patients with severe ME and 61 healthy volunteers, developing a model they say can distinguish the two with 92 per cent sensitivity and 98 per cent specificity.

Lead researcher Professor Dmitry Pshezhetskiy said: 'Our discovery offers the potential for a simple, accurate blood test to help confirm a diagnosis, which could lead to earlier support and more effective management.'

Scientists say they've developed a world-first blood test for chronic fatigue syndromebut the claim has triggered an immediate backlash from fellow researchers

He added: 'We know that some patients report being ignored or even told their illness is all in their head.

'With no definitive tests, many people have gone undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for years.

'We wanted to see if we could develop a test to diagnose the conditionand we did.'

Experts say the work could also pave the way for new treatments, as well as future tests for long Covid.

Oxford BioDynamics chief scientific officer Alexandre Akoulitchev said: 'Chronic fatigue syndrome is not a genetic disease you're born with.

'That's why using EpiSwitch 'epigenetic' markers, which can change during a person's life, unlike fixed genetic code, was key to reaching this high level of accuracy.'

He added that the same technology has already been used to create 'practical, rapid blood diagnostics accessible at scale'.

However, some researchers urged caution, arguing that the small study size and the lack of comparison with other conditions such as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis or depression make the claims premature.

Miranda Hart revealed in her autobiography the condition left her 'bedbound and without joy'

Dr Charles Shepherd, medical adviser for The ME Association, said: 'These results, using epigenetic profiling, appear to be an important step forward in the search for a diagnostic blood test.

'However, as the researchers point out, a diagnostic blood test has to be both highly sensitive and specific to that condition.

'In this case, we therefore need to know whether the abnormality is consistently present in the very early stages of ME/CFS as well as in people with longstanding disease who have mild or moderate ME/CFS.

'We also need to know that, in addition to the abnormality not being present in healthy controls, it is also not present in a range of other chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases that cause ME/CFS-like symptoms.

'Consequently, further research needs to be carried out to properly validate and repeat these findings before concluding that we do now have a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic blood test for ME/CFS.'

Dr Alastair Miller, a retired infectious disease consultant, also said: 'The authors are claiming a higher rate of sensitivity and specificity than in most other biomedical tests.

'Ninety-six per cent accuracy is almost unheard of for this sort of test, so this is quite a remarkable claim.

'My worry is that it will prove to be yet another false dawn, launched with a huge amount of hype and will raise patients' expectations unrealistically.'

Until now, the illness, medically known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), could only be diagnosed by assessing symptoms and ruling out other causes

Meanwhile, Professor Chris Ponting, chair of medical bioinformatics at the University of Edinburgh, said: 'The authors claim a "revolutionary blood test" for ME/CFS based on a technology developed by Oxford BioDynamics, who co-authored and funded this research.

'This test needs to be fully validated in better-designed and independent studies before it is considered for clinical application. Even if validated, the test will be expensive, likely around 1,000.'

Professor Kevin McConway, an applied statistician at The Open University, said: 'This new research is an interesting development.

'But it's crucial to note that the researchers describe it as a proof-of-concept studythat is, one aimed at finding out whether the approach can potentially be useful.

'On the basis of what we know so far, it's just not possible to say how well it would work in real clinical practice.'

Chronic fatigue syndrome/ME affects an estimated 400,000 people in the UK and up to 30 million worldwide, according to patient groups.

It is most common in women and typically develops between the ages of 25 and 50, though it can occur at any age.

Symptoms range from overwhelming fatigue and post-exertional malaisea severe worsening after even minor activityto muscle and joint pain, sleep disturbance, headaches and problems with memory or concentration known as 'brain fog'.

Many sufferers are left unable to work, and around one in four are so severely affected they become housebound or bed-bound.

There is no known cure, and while graded exercise and cognitive behavioural therapy were once recommended, official NICE guidance was updated in 2021 to remove these as treatments after patient backlash.

Management now focuses on pacing, symptom control and support with daily activities.

Well-known sufferers include comedian Miranda Hart, who revealed in her autobiography last year that the illness left her 'bedbound and without joy.'
A businessman ended up in hospital for nearly a week after gorging on a 6.6lb bag of Haribo cola bottles left him with agonising stomach cramps and dangerously high blood pressure.

Nathan Rimmington, 33, from South Yorkshire, ordered the bulk 18 bag to satisfy a late-night cravingbut finished the entire thing in just three nights, consuming an estimated 10,461 calories in sugar.

A few days later, the HGV business owner collapsed in agony at home, suffering intense stomach pain and wild swings in body temperature.

'I thought it might have been the Sunday roast I'd eaten a few days after finishing the sweets,' he said.

'But my stomach was in absolute agony. By Wednesday I couldn't even get out of bedI was sweating, it was awful.

'I went to the doctor, but I was literally lying on the floor in the waiting room because the pain was so bad.'

Tests revealed Mr Rimmington's blood pressure was alarmingly high, and he was rushed to Rotherham Hospital  where doctors discovered the real, and rather unusual, cause of his suffering.

'They asked me what I'd eaten and all I could think of was the Sunday dinner, so they put it down to food poisoning.

Nathan bought the 3kg bag of sweets from Amazon to satisfy his cravings, despite not usually having a sweet tooth

'Then they said "you've got loads of gelatine in your system, do you eat a lot of sweets?"

'I said I'd had some cola bottles, they asked me how many and I said three kilos. I didn't think that was bad'.

'They were laughing and joking about it with me.'

Mr Rimmington was then diagnosed with acute diverticulitis  a condition that affects the large intestine, causing abdominal pain, high temperature and even rectal bleeding.

It's caused by small bulges or pouches in the walls of the intestine called diverticula  though according to the NHS most people will not get symptoms.

Common treatment includes antibiotics, if the diverticulitis is caused by an infection and painkillers such as paracetamol.

Rarely, diverticulitis can lead to serious complications such as a blockage in the bowel, a build-up of pus in the bowel, fistula and bowel perforationwhich can cause a severe infection called peritonitis.

In Mr Rimmington's case, doctors were able to treat his condition through administering antibiotics and fluid intravenously through a drip, negating the need for surgery.

Just over a week later, Nathan ended up in hospital with agonising stomach cramps, a high temperature and sweats

He said he thought 3kg for 18 was a good deal, not knowing the horrendous pain his binge would cause

For the six days he was in hospital, Mr Rimmington was nil-by-mouth, meaning that he was not allowed to have any food, drink or medication by mouth.

A year on Mr Rimmington hasn't eaten a cola bottle since, knowing now that everything's better in moderation.

'It was my own stupid fault and I haven't eaten a cola bottle since,' he said.

'It's like PTSD, I see a cola bottle now and think I'm going to end up in A&E.

'My advice to avoid the same thing happening to anyone else would be just do it in moderation, don't go full blase and get kilos at a time like me.'

Haribo has been contacted for comment.

His ordeal comes as the Government bans price-slashing deals on junk food, as part of its long-delayed crackdown on obesity.

'Buy one get free' offers on sweets, crips, sugary drinks and other snacks were banned from October 1, alongside free refills of fizzy drinks in restaurants and cafes.

The rules apply to supermarkets, bigger high street shops and online retailers, and come after years of delays amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Ministers insist the measures are a crucial step in tackling obesityparticularly among children.

It will be followed in January by a ban on online adverts for unhealthy food and drink, and restrictions on TV advertising before 9pm.

Similar restrictions are due in Wales next year, with Scotland expected to follow.

The policy was first announced by Boris Johnson in 2021 as part of a UK-wide strategy  but has been watered down and delayed repeatedly, with ministers blaming the cost-of-living crisis for giving the food industry more time to prepare.
The FDA is issuing an urgent recall of a common cooking spice that has been linked to improved dementia symptoms because it could be contaminated with a toxic metal.

Eureka Inc of Pomona, California, is recalling its Durra Ground Cinnamon 100 gram plastic container because the FDA found samples of the product contained elevated levels of lead.

Lead is a heavy metal that has been linked to reproductive issues, cancer and autism. Food products can become contaminated with lead from natural sources - lead is found in soil and crops - or during the manufacturing or packaging process.

No illnesses have been reported, but the FDA warned even small amounts of lead could lead to abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea and fatigue.

As lead accumulates in the blood and vital organs through prolonged exposure, it can cause lasting developmental disorders and certain forms of cancer.

And exposure in children can be catastrophic.

A growing body of research has linked prolonged lead exposure to autism, which is on the rise in the US, leading health figures such as Robert F Kennedy Jr to link the 'epidemic' to environmental contaminants.

The recall comes just after a new study touted cinnamon as a cheap tool for protecting against dementia, as it may reduce inflammation in the brain and prevent toxic plaques from killing off brain cells.

A recent study found a compound in cinnamon improved cognitive function in people with Alzheimer's markers (stock image)

Eureka Inc of Pomona, California , is recalling its Durra Ground Cinnamon 100 gram plastic container (pictured above) because it may contain lead

The FDA's recall notice stated: 'Exposure to extremely high amounts of lead may result in overt and possibly severe symptoms for which an individual is likely to seek medical attention.

'If a child is exposed to enough lead for a protracted period of time (e.g., weeks to months) permanent damage to the central nervous system may occur.

'This can result in learning disorders, developmental defects, and other long-term health problems.'

Chronic lead exposure in anyone is associated with kidney dysfunction, high blood pressure and cognitive effects.

There is no safe level of lead exposure.

The recalled product is packaged in a 100g clear plastic container with the universal product code (UPC) 6251136 034139 and the lot code: Batch No: 06 B:02.

It has a best-by date of May 2026 and was distributed by Eureka Inc to grocery stores in California and Michigan from August 2024 through this week.

The recall was initiated after the FDA collected samples of the cinnamon and detected elevated levels of lead.

Last month, another cinnamon product was recalled also over possible contamination with lead.

New York-based SLR Food Distribution recalled its Wise Wife brand cinnamon after FDA officials found it contained elevated levels of the toxin.

The products were distributed to unspecified retailers in New Jersey, New York, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Ohio between February 15, 2024 and June 28.

They can be identified as the 'Wise Wife' brand sold in 1.76-ounce clear plastic jars with black lids. The UPC 0 688474 302853 is printed on the back label.

It's unclear exactly how lead makes its way into products, though there are several theories.

The metal is naturally present in the Earth's crust, so it could be present in soil where spices are grown. The FDA also previously theorized metals may be added to the spices for financial gain, as it increases their weight and helps them sell at a higher price.

Researchers found sodium benzoate, a key compound produced when the body metabolizes cinnamic acid, which is found in cinnamon, reduced symptoms of dementia (stock image)

It is also sometimes used to make spices appear brighter in color and more attractive to consumers.

Last month, a study suggested the cinnamon could be a powerful tool in improving dementia.

Researchers from Taiwan tested how sodium benzoate, a key compound produced when the body metabolizes cinnamic acid, which is found in cinnamon, reduced symptoms of dementia.

Study participants with mild Alzheimer's disease showed improvement in cognitive performance after receiving sodium benzoate for 24 weeks.

Cinnamic acid has been shown to act as an antioxidant for the body by relieving stress from free radicals on cells, reducing inflammation in the body and preventing changes to DNA that lead to cancer.

It is unclear how much cinnamic acid or sodium benzoate is needed to see these improvements, and if that amount is achievable through consumption of the cooking spice.
Top experts have developed new 'natural killer' cells to fight off cancer and lower the risk of disastrous immune effects.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) implanted mice with cancerous tumors and injected them with CAR-NK (natural killer) cells.

Natural killer cells are found in the immune system and kill invaders without needing to be 'trained' to recognize specific dangers.

Similar to CAR-T cells, which have become widely used in cancer treatments, CAR-NK cells are genetically engineered to specifically target cancer cells.

However, CAR-NK cells run the risk of being rejected by the patient's immune system, so the Boston-based researchers engineered a new series of CAR-NK cells to prevent this.

The team said that NK cells could evade detection by T cells, which are found in the immune system and target unfamiliar invaders, if they were modified to 'silence' properties that would cause T cells to attack them.

When they gave the mice these modified CAR-NK cells, they stayed in their bodies for three weeks and were able to nearly eliminate the cancer.

Mice that either received naturally occurring NK cells or the standard CAR-NK cells, meanwhile, saw those cells deplete within two weeks, and the cancer went unchecked.

Natural killer (NK cells), pictured in the above stock image, are innately present in the immune system. Researchers at Harvard and MIT have discovered a modified version that could treat lymphoma

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The team also noted these new CAR-NK cells were less likely than standard CAR-T cell therapy to cause cytokine release syndrome (CRS), a side effect of chemotherapy that can cause multi-organ failure.

The genetic modification used took just one additional step, which the researchers believe could make it easier to develop 'off-the-shelf' CAR-NK cells that could be given to patients as soon as they are diagnosed.

Traditional CAR-NK and CAR-T cells often take several weeks to develop due to needing multiple steps.

Jianzhu Chen, senior study author and professor of biology at MIT, said: 'This enables us to do one-step engineering of CAR-NK cells that can avoid rejection by host T cells and other immune cells.

'And, they kill cancer cells better and theyre safer.'

In the new study, published Wednesday in the journal Nature Communications, researchers modified mice with human-like immune systems and injected them with cells that cause lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system.

Lymphoma affects about 90,000 Americans every year and kills 20,000.

To create CAR-NK cells, doctors take a blood sample from a patient, isolate NK cells and engineer them to express the protein chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), which targets proteins found on cancer cells.

The cells then spend several weeks replicating until there are enough to transfuse into the patient.

The above graph shows the estimated cancer diagnoses for 2025 by cancer type. Breast, prostate, and lung cancers are expected to be the most common cancers this year

Researchers in the study found that NK cells may be able to evade detection by T cells if the T cells did not carry the surface proteins HLA class 1, which are usually expressed on NK cells and trigger T cells to attack if the immune system cannot recognize them.

The team engineered the CAR-NK cells used in the study to express short interfering RNA that stops the genes of HLA 1 from being expressed.

By being modified with CAR, the cells were able to produce the genes for proteins that make NK cells more effective.

Mice who received the modified CAR-NK cells still had them in their bodies for three weeks and had nearly all of their lymphoma cured, while mice receiving normal NK cells or CAR-T cells did not have a response because the cells filtered out of their bodies after two weeks.

In those mice, the cancer continued to spread.

Chen suggested modified CAR-NK cells could eventually replace CAR-T cell therapy. CAR-NK cells are being developed in clinical trials to treat lymphoma and some other forms of cancer, and the Boston researchers believe their findings could be adapted in those studies.

The team is planning to run a clinical trial using their approach and is working with a biotech company to test CAR-NK cells to treat lupus, an autoimmune disorder suffered by 1.5million Americans that causes the immune system to attack healthy tissues and organs
Joy Behar has suggested that Donald Trump will use the National Guard to block the next election.

The Trump administration has launched plans to reduce crime in Democratic cities by deploying the National Guard to Washington, DC, and Memphis, Tennessee, with plans to send troops to Chicago, Illinois.

During a discussion on The View about Trump's use of federal troops this Tuesday, Behar claimed the president's actions are a sign he will abuse his power when it comes time to vote in 2028.

'This is a pretext to stop the next election. That's what I think it is,' she said.

Before making her wild prediction, Behar's co-host, Alyssa Farah Griffin, recognized the crime issue in the US and touched upon why she believes Trump is handling the issue wrong.

'Its not the way to address the problem if it even is as significant as it is,' she said.

'There is crime in American cities, but the way to deal with it is to get the funding that you need for police, get the training that you need, and work with local officials.'

Behar nearly interrupted Griffin twice to get out her opinion on Trump's tactics against crime.

Joy Behar suggested an extreme theory that President Donald Trump will use the National Guard to block the next election

Donald Trump has attempted to reduce crime in democratic cities by deploying the National Guard

Whoopi Goldberg chimed in to add what she believes is the mindset behind the government orders.

The 83-year-old comedian addressed Goldberg: 'And if they stop us from voting, that's the one thing people have.'

Goldberg then said to Behar: 'It's the one thing that makes us different from lots of other countries. Our votes do count, I do know that they count.'

To which Behar interrupted: 'If we were allowed to vote.'

Goldberg answered: 'I think people will figure out how to vote. One thing I believe I know about Americans is that they dont want to be told what to do. They dont want a dictatorship.'

Co-host Sara Haines also shared her own theory behind the plans.

'I would say it might also be a distraction from the hearing that's going on about the Epstein files,' she claimed.

'Some things have come up, and AG (Attorney General) Pam Bondi was dodging questions and attacking back.'

Co-host Whoopi Goldberg touched upon what she believes is the mindset behind the government orders

Alyssa Farah Griffin, recognized the crime issue in the US and touched upon why she believes Trump is handling the issue wrong

The live studio audience applauded her theory.

Some Trump supporters have been slowly turning on the administration over its failure to release an alleged list of clients connected to the late pedophile, dubbed The Epstein List.

On September 2, an enormous collection of Justice Department files on disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein was released to the public, including the missing minute from surveillance footage of his prison cell.

The House Oversight Committee has been reviewing 33,295 pages of files related to the late pedophile's 2019 death in custody while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

While the Trump administration deals with the fallout over the Epstein debacle, National Guard troops have been stationed outside Chicago.

More troops could be in Memphis by Friday as the Trump administration pushes ahead with an aggressive policy toward big-city crime whether local leaders support it or not.

Troops from Texas had settled in at an Army Reserve center in Illinois by early Wednesday, despite a lawsuit and vigorous opposition from Democratic elected leaders.

Police and Federal officers stand guard an area by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, Oregon on Sunday

Their exact mission was not clear, though the Trump administration has an aggressive immigration enforcement operation in the nations third-largest city, and protesters have frequently rallied at an immigration building outside Chicago in Broadview.

The president has called Chicago a 'hell hole' of crime, although police statistics show significant drops in most crimes, including homicides.

In Memphis, Tennessee, Police Chief Cerelyn Davis said a small group of commanders were already in the city, planning for the arrival of Guard troops.

Republican Gov. Bill Lee has said troops will be deputized by the U.S. Marshals Service to 'play a critical support role' for local law enforcement, though that role hasnt been precisely defined yet.

Trumps bid to deploy the military on U.S. soil over local opposition has triggered a conflict with blue state governors. Illinois and Chicago are urging a federal judge to stop 'Trumps long-declared "War"' on the state.

A court hearing on their lawsuit is scheduled for Thursday. In Oregon, a judge over the weekend blocked the Guards deployment to Portland.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has predicted that National Guard troops from the state would be activated, along with 400 from Texas. He has accused Trump of using troops as 'political props' and 'pawns,' and said he didnt get a heads-up from Washington about their deployment.
Primetime Fox News host Jesse Watters has opened a new front in the war between Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Stephen Miller.

The Five co-host reacted to Ocasio-Cortez calling Miller 'tiny' by claiming she wants to 'sleep' with the White House Deputy Chief.

It comes after the Democratic congresswoman targeted Miller by calling him a 'clown' who was under five feet tall.

Co-host Dana Perino asked Watters on Tuesday's show if he thought MAGA men were insulted by Ocasio-Cortez's fiery slams.

'No, I think AOC wants to sleep with Miller,' Watters responded.

'It is so obvious. And, Im sorry, you cant have him.'

The primetime co-host added that he knows Miller 'the best' and that he is 'not overcompensating.'

Watters then praised the deputy chief as a 'policy savant' who provides 'wise counsel' to President Trump.

Jesse Watters inserted himself in the long-running feud between Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Stephen Miller

Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez targeted White House Deputy Chief Stephen Miller, calling him a 'clown' and claiming he was under five feet

Stephen Miller responded to Ocasio-Cortez's swipes on Monday, calling her a 'trainwreck'

The 47-year-old Fox host's swipes follow AOC's comments from an Instagram live stream on Sunday.

'I've never seen that guy [Miller] in real life, but he looks like he's, like, 4'10,' she said.

'And he looks like he is angry about the fact that he's 4'10". And he looks like he is so mad that he is 410 that he has taken that anger out at any other population possible.'

Watters proceeded to scold and lecture her on what he classified as 'high value men', adding that Miller is the definition.

'He has vision, and hes on a mission to save this republic and protect western civilization. He speaks with confidence and flair, and hes unafraid of anything.'

Watters even slammed California Governor Gavin Newsom and US Senator Adam Schiff because they 'miserably failed' his 'high value' test.

'Those men are not brave men. Those men did not protect the country when the country needed it,' he added.

Watters scolded and lectured Ocasio-Cortez on what he classified 'high value men' as

Co-host Dana Perino asked Watters on Tuesday's show if he thought MAGA men were insulted by Ocasio-Cortez's fiery slams

After pausing and rethinking his rant, co-host Gutfeld responded 'that was pretty creepy'

'Men who are high-value men like Stephen Miller take risks. Theyre brave, theyre unafraid, theyre confident, and theyre on a mission. And they have younger wives with beautiful children.'

Watters paused for a moment after his rant, adding that he 'just gave Miller a dating recommendation.'

'I dont know, man, that was pretty creepy,' co-host Gutfeld joked.

In her initial Instagram video, Ocasio-Cortez told her followers that 'MAGA men' need to be mocked for their 'insecure masculinity.'

'People talk about toxic masculinity, let's put that to the side for just one second, this is about insecure masculinity, and one of the best ways that you can dismantle a movement of insecure men is by making fun of them,' she shouted into the camera.

She added that her insults werent directed toward physical appearance, but at 'the way people overcompensate over their own stories.'

Miller reacted to Ocasio-Cortez's swipes on Monday.

'Well, we knew that her brain didn't work, now we know their eyes don't work,' Miller told host Laura Ingraham, with a laugh.

'I mean, she is a mess, right? What a trainwreck. What a trainwreck.'

The Daily Mail reached out to AOC for comment.
The gravitational pull of Generation Y  the millennials  towards fintech sites such as Revolut, Wise, Monzo, Robinhood and Nutmeg (now under the Chase banner) is often attributed to their tech-savvy skills.

Maybe. But this fresh band of financial providers, and online banks such as Atom and Shawbrook, also offer a digital alternative to distrusted bigger financial players.

Britain has been up to its neck in financial mis-selling scandals for more than a quarter of a century.

Among the most prominent have been endowments, wrongfully sold private pensions, payment protection insurance (PPI) and, now, the car finance swindle.

All have had corporate and economic consequences. The endowment selling scandal of the 1980s and 1990s cost Britains life insurers up to 40billion.

It played a big role in the destruction of an industry, with the demise of Equitable Life, the transformation of the Prudential into an Asian insurer and the roll-up of most of the life providers into Resolution and Phoenix, which recently rebranded itself as Standard Life.

Bad deals: Millions of consumers could be eligible for 700 payouts after City watchdog The Financial Conduct Authority set out compensation plans for the car finance scandal

As an economic phenomenon the financial sector has effectively been offering its own version

of quantitative easing  or helicopter money  with PPI alone gifting back 53billion to consumers.

By these standards, the estimated payout of 11billion to car buyers who suffered an injustice is relatively small.

Hidden commissions were paid by financial suppliers, such as Lloyds Bank and Close Brothers, two of the more-recognised offenders, which should have known better.

Once the barrel starts rolling one never quite knows where the final bill will end up. Initial reaction from FTSE investors was to mark up the shares of Lloyds, Barclays et al in a minor relief rally.

The sums involved do not look existential, as with previous episodes.

Yet none of this is risk-free. There is a steady erosion of confidence in our high street banks. Branch closures are a particular irritant.

Barely a day passes without a letter or email of complaint from readers fearful of the impact of closures on them personally, local business and high streets.

One complainant wrote to Paul Thwaite, the chief executive of NatWest, in August asking for a stay of execution for the historic Abingdon branch.

The outlet closed its doors last month  with no reply from Thwaite and barely an explanation from a junior executive.

A scandal over car finance should not have come as a great shock to anyone. Second-hand car dealers often are shorthand for financial hooliganism.

New car buying is fiendishly complex, with leasing deals, deposits that vanish in a cloud of smoke and re-leasing piling up the monthly charges.

A clean-up has been long overdue and more vulnerable customers, the uninitiated first-time purchaser, the elderly and the less financially literate, have been easy marks.

Even those of us who abhor the compensation culture have reason to be sympathetic to victims who signed up to 14.2m bad deals between 2007 and 2024.

We can be thankful that new ways of buying and selling second-hand cars, such as We Buy Any Car owned by Constellation, offer a more transparent way of doing business.

If you cannot trust regulated suppliers of credit to be up-front and honest with customers, then the nation is really lost.

There will be consequences for the economy. Showering 700 on affected individuals should provide a boost to consumers in much the same way that Trumps cheques to US taxpayers in Covid helped people get through.

The banks have been campaigning heavily against the idea of an increase in the current levy on profits from 2 per cent to a higher figure of, say, 5 per cent in the upcoming Budget.

Their principal argument is that it could put a crimp in their ability to lend at a time when Chancellor Rachel Reeves is desperate for growth.

The riposte to that is the banks, through bad faith with car buyers, have betrayed trust once bestowed on them by the public.

If the profits spew out so generously that they can afford to buy back their own shares, then it should be a payback moment for working people.
Investors are treating the astonishing rebound since markets threw a tantrum over Donald Trumps tariffs with caution.

While many are celebrating a major boost to their portfolios  with the S&P 500 up 35 per cent from its April low  there are concerns over the valuations of US tech giants and the stability of the AI boom.

So, how can you find the best companies in the world to invest in but dodge the hype?

On this episode of the Investing Show, Simon Lambert is joined by Chris Rossbach, manager of the J Stern and Co. World Stars Global Equity fund, who explains how it looks for the worlds highest quality companies at valuations that work.

You have to pay up for quality, says Rossbach, but he adds a vital caveat: Overpaying for something is never going to work and never has.

Nvidia is now the largest of all the US tech giants, with its $4.5trillion market capitalisation.

But while Rossbach says there are some very large, overvalued companies out there, Nvidia is not one he is worried about.

The AI computing chipmaking goliath is the largest position in the fund and one that Rossbach holds up as an example of the quality companies it seeks.

The manager believes Nvidia will continue to benefit from the huge investment into data centres and computing infrastructure, is generating huge amounts of cash, and has a very significant opportunity.

He says: Were in an environment where markets are more fully priced and where there are some very large, overvalued companies out there.

'We think Nvidia, the largest company now in the world, is not one of those. Its an incredible business, because computing capacity is only at the very beginning.

Nvidia, led by CEO Jensen Huang, has become the world's largest company off the AI boom

Rossbach explains the funds formula for working out what makes a company count as one of the best in the world and how it looks for quality.

And he highlights some companies that are away from the limelight and offer investors the chance to back great opportunities that others are ignoring.

These range from a US power management leader, to some consumer and luxury household names, and the global eyecare and eyewear specialist that has bought streetwear brand Supreme.

The fund has ongoing charges of 1.12 per cent and holds a concentrated portfolio of 20 to 30 stocks. As its portfolio differs substantially from the market, its short-term performance has slipped behind global indices where returns have been driven by a small number of large companies. Over three to five years, the fund's performance has comfortably outstripped the market.

J Stern and Co. World Stars Global Equity fund is up 6.4 per cent over one year, 47.3 per cent over three years and 57.1 per cent over five years. Over a similar period, the MSCI World Index is up 17.7 per cent over one year, 24.3 per cent over three years and 14.9 per cent over five years.
An Albanian 'gun trafficker' is walking the streets after being let out on bail as he fights extradition - while a fugitive killer was able to roam free for five years posing as a refugee.

Alban Gjidiaj, 28, is wanted by prosecutors in his home country in connection with an alleged plot to smuggle eight guns and a stash of bullets from Albania to sell to UK-based gangs.

He was arrested earlier this year by the Met Police on a warrant from Albanian special prosecutors before being granted bail after offering a 5,000 surety.

The decision to keep him on the streets of London will raise eyebrows given the seriousness of the charges against him. If convicted, he faces a 17-year prison sentence. He told the Mail he denied the charges and vowed to extradition.

In a second shocking example of Britain's broken immigration system, an Albanian thug who shot a man in a cafe was able to sneak into the UK illegally and lodge an asylum claim - despite being a wanted fugitive.

Mikel Hoxha, 33, is still here seven years after arriving in a lorry - five of which he spent as a free man after officials failed to realise he was being hunted.

He went on to be jailed in absentia for 17 years by an Albanian court for 'attempted premeditated murder' while remaining at liberty in Britain.

When Hoxha was finally arrested in Cardiff in September, 2023, he was on immigration bail and in the process of appealing the refusal of his asylum claim.

He has been in custody ever since - with his lawyers attempting to fight his extradition using the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Hoxha's legal team is using Article 8 - the right to a family life - to claim that his extradition would harm his partner and two young children, who were born in 2019 and 2022 after his illegal entry to the UK. Hoxha's partner is also seeking asylum.

Alban Gjidiaji is wanted by prosecutors in his home country in connection with an alleged plot to smuggle weapons and ammunition from Albania to sell to UK gangs

Albanian police seized a large haul of firearms in the port of Durres

Mikel Hoxha, 33, is still in the UK seven years after arriving in a lorry - five of which he spent as a free man after officials failed to realise he was being hunted for attempted murder

Alban Gjidiaj - who was pictured by the Mail driving a white Mercedes GLC AMG worth around 20,000 - is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates' Court for an extradition hearing on December 4, 2025.

Prosecutors from Albania's Special Structure against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) accuse Gjidiaj of being part of a gang that arranged for a shipment of guns and ammunition to be sent to Britain from the port city of Durres, according to court records.

An Albanian expert on organised crime, who requested anonymity, told the Mail: 'By dismantling this criminal organisation, SPAK prosecutors have saved lives.

'These lethal weapons, with serial numbers removed, were destined to end up in the hands of Albanians involved in organised crime in the UK.

'They were intended to protect cannabis farms across the country, which are often targeted by rival gangs.

'They were also likely to be used by individuals guarding so-called ''safe houses'' - locations used to store cocaine before distribution.

'This operation not only disrupted a major trafficking route but also potentially prevented violent conflicts from escalating in both the UK and Albania.'

A source at the Interpol office in the Albanian capital, Tirana, added: 'Due to such dangerous criminal activity of this criminal organisation with a devastating impact in the UK, it was a priority for us to locate others who were not in Albanian territory.'

Prosecutors have also implicated Gjidiaj's 33-year-old brother, Almir, in the plot.

He was arrested at a hotel on the Islas del Rosario, a small, scenic group of islands off the coast of Colombia.

A search found eight pistol-type firearms bearing the brand names Glock, Herstal and Browning, four pistol magazines and 201 9mm calibre cartridges hidden inside a wooden table.

According to prosecutors, Almir was the leader of a UK-based subgroup within the larger trafficking network.

He was responsible for managing logistics and transportation for the illegal sale of medium and long-range firearms on the black market, it is claimed.

Almir previously owned a cleaning company in London, according to Companies House records.

His brother last appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on August 1, where his bail was extended until his full extradition hearing on December 4.

Approached by the Daily Mail on Friday, he denied the charges and vowed to fight his extradition

Gjidiaj is subject to a range of bail conditions, including staying at his home between the hours of 7pm and 7am, reporting regularly to a local police station and not applying for any travel documents. He is on an electronic tag.

A press statement released by SPAK in July states that a van with British licence plates was stopped by officers at a checkpoint at Durres port on April 10, 2023.

A search found eight pistol-type firearms bearing the brand names Glock, Herstal and Browning, four pistol magazines and 201 9mm calibre cartridges hidden inside a wooden table.

The serial numbers on the weapons had been removed, SPAK said.

The statement named Gjidiaj as playing an 'assisting' role in the conspiracy.

SPAK said a further 24 pistols, one Kalashnikov and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were later recovered in a raid on a house belonging to another defendant.

In the case of his compatriot, cafe killer Mikel Hoxha, the Home Office has refused to say how the criminal was able to apply for asylum despite being a fugitive - with campaigners criticising its policy of issuing a blanket 'no comment' on all individual cases.

'The Home Office has failed yet again, and it is a democratic abomination that they continue to hide behind ''no comment'' responses rather than provide the public with full transparency and details,' said Robert Bates from the Centre for Migration Control.

Meanwhile, Alp Mehmet, chair of MigrationWatch UK, criticised the Home Office's tendency to 'button up when revealing facts might show up past failures'.

'The public have a right to know why this dangerous criminal was able to string out his stay for five years having arrived illegally before being locked up,' he said.

On June 6, 2018, Hoxha opened fire on a man called Admir Haruni after they had an argument at a cafe in the Tomorri Hotel in the south-western Albanian city of Gramsh.

He fired several bullets, hitting Mr Haruni in the leg.

In an intercepted phone conversation on June 7, Hoxha's father was heard telling a contact how his son had 'shot someone in the leg' and was wanted for 'illegal possession of firearms and attempted murder'.

Court documents seen by Daily Mail revealed that Hoxha fled Albania shortly after the incident, initially escaping to neighboring North Macedonia.

He then paid people smugglers in Belgium to enter the UK illegally inside a lorry later in 2018, before claiming asylum on August 8 on the basis he was fleeing a 'blood feud'.

The guns were wrapped in plastic and on their way to the streets of Britain

On April 23, 2021, while Hoxha was still in the UK, a court jailed him for 17 years in absentia after finding him guilty of 'attempted premeditated murder' and 'unlicensed possession of firearms'.

From his British hideaway, the thug then appointed his own Albanian lawyer to conduct an appeal, which succeeded in having his offence reclassified as 'intentional serious injury' and his sentence reduced to four years.

Despite being the subject of two trials in Albania, he was only arrested on September 20, 2023 - five years and a month after his initial asylum claim.

At the time, he was living in a 170,000 semi-detached house in Cardiff.

Hoxha's lawyers attempted to block his extradition under Article 3 of the ECHR, claiming there was a real risk of inhuman or degrading treatment in Albania due to poor prison conditions.

This was rejected by district judge Tan Ikram - sitting at Westminster Magistrates' Court - who noted that Albania was a signatory to the ECHR.

He also described claims Hoxha was at risk from a 'feud' as 'unconvincing' and found the public interest in extraditing him outweighed any Article 8 considerations.

Mr Ikram referred the extradition case to the Secretary of State earlier this month, but Hoxha - who is currently at Wandsworth Prison, has the right to seek permission to appeal.

Currently, 14 Albanian nationals arrested while hiding out in the UK are facing extradition proceedings at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

The Home Office said it was its 'longstanding policy' not to comment on 'individual cases'.

rory.tingle@dailymail.co.uk
Donald Trump's deportation agenda is on pace to get rid of two million illegal migrants in 2025 and officials say it's 'just the beginning'.

Around 493,000 migrants have been deported since Trump took office in January, while another 1.6 million have self-deported.

Trump and Kristi Noem are responsible for having 'jumpstarted an agency that was vilified and barred from doings its job for the last four years,' spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said.

Another 457,000 illegal migrants have been arrested by ICE agents since January, as McLaughlin says law enforcement has made 'meteoric progress to carryout President Trump's promise of arresting and deporting illegal aliens who have invaded our country.'

'Illegal aliens are hearing our message to leave now or face the consequence. Migrants are now even turning back before they reach our borders,' she told The New York Post.

The final year of Biden's presidency saw just 271,000 removed, which was an increase from 142,000 in 2023.

On the other side of the border, federal agents have only apprehended 238,000 migrants trying to illegally get into America during the 2025 fiscal year, a 55-year low.

That's a shocking drop from the height of the border crisis under President Joe Biden, when in 2022, a record 2.2 million were taken in at the border, CBS News reports.

Donald Trump 's day one deportation agenda is on pace to get rid of two million illegal migrants in 2025 and officials say its 'just the beginning'

Around 493,000 migrants have been deported since Trump took office in January, while another 1.6 million have self-deported

Over 60 percent of the apprehensions at the Mexican border happened during Biden's final three months in office.

'President Trump has overwhelmingly delivered on his promise to secure our Southern Border,' said white house spokesperson Abigail Jackson.

'As a result, Americans are safer  unvetted criminal illegal aliens and dangerous drugs are no longer pouring over our border unchecked,' Jackson added.

'And for all the Democrats who claimed it was impossible to secure the border or that they needed new policy, turns out all we needed was a new President.'

Officials surrounding the president have noted that the Trump administration has achieved its goals despite the courts getting in the way and the numbers come as the White House faces another legal battle over his efforts to deploy the National Guard to Chicago.

Judge April Perry set a midnight Wednesday deadline for a response from the federal government and scheduled a Thursday hearing in the lawsuit filed Monday.

In the meantime, Perry has opted not to temporarily block the deployment, paving the way for Trump to send in as many as 200 Texas National Guard troops overnight.

According to The New York Times, the troops will be flown in via military aircraft and will begin operations on the ground no sooner than Wednesday.

On the other side of the border, federal agents have only apprehended 238,000 migrants trying to illegally get into America during the 2025 fiscal year, a 55-year low

Protesters stand and chant in the Brighton Park neighborhood of Chicago, on Saturday, after protesters learned that U.S. Border Patrol shot a woman Saturday morning on Chicago's Southwest Side

The lawsuit railing against the move alleges that 'these advances in President Trump's long-declared ''War'' on Chicago and Illinois are unlawful and dangerous.'

'The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a president's favor,' the lawsuit says.

Trump has argued that the troops are needed to help fight crime in Chicago and to ensure that federal agents can enforce immigration laws in the city, which limits cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

The president threatened Monday to use emergency powers against rebellion to deploy more troops into Democratic-led US cities, intensifying his rhetoric as his attempts to mobilize the military face legal challenges.

The Republican leader openly mulled use of the Insurrection Act after a federal judge in Oregon temporarily halted a National Guard deployment in Portland, while another judge in Illinois allowed a similar move to proceed for now in Chicago.

Both cities have seen surges of federal agents as part of Trump's mass deportation drive, prompting protests outside immigration processing facilities.

'We have an Insurrection Act for a reason. If I had to enact it I would do that,' Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

'If people were being killed and courts were holding us up or governors or mayors were holding us up, sure I would do that.'

Illinois officials had filed a suit seeking to block the deployment in Chicago, but Judge Perry, an appointee of Trump's Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, declined to issue an immediate temporary restraining order.

She scheduled a full hearing on the matter for Thursday and asked the government to inform the court to provide more information.
President Donald Trump's former TikTok producer Jack Advent celebrated news of a deal to save the popular social media app TikTok  proposing that his son Barron could also have a greater role to play in the company.

Trump made his triumphant return to TikTok on Monday, sharing a video on his profile from the Oval Office that earned him over 6 million views in just a few hours.

'To all those young people of TikTok, I saved TikTok, so you owe me big,' the president said. 'And now you're looking at me in the Oval Office.'

The president signed an executive order to clear the way for investors to operate a United States version of the platform indicating the deal to save the platform was finally happening, despite months of delays.

'President Trump delivered on his promise to save TikTok and the millions of Americans who run their businesses and get their unfiltered news through the app,' Advent told the Daily Mail in reaction to the deal.

'TikTok Jack,' as Trump proudly referred to him on the campaign trail, is known as Jack Advent, who helped introduce the president to the wildly popular social media platform.

The details have yet to be settled, but the president's executive order requires that a majority of US investors would purchase the app and it would be operated in the United States with a seven-seat board of directors.

Advent praised the president's efforts exclusively to the Daily Mail, but proposed that the president include young people on the board.

'TikTok Jack' films President Donald Trump on the campaign trail

Barron Trump attends the inauguration parade at Capitol One Arena

'Young people are overwhelmingly the user base of TikTok. I'm hopeful President Trump will consider appointing his son Barron and maybe other young Americans to TikTok's board to help ensure it remains an app young people want to keep using,' he said.

For the president's communications and media team, the success of the TikTok deal represents a big step forward for young people on social media.

'Promises made, promises kept. President Trump recognizes TikTok is the favorite platform of America's youth and a powerful tool for small businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive,' former advisor for the Trump campaign Alex Bruesewitz told the Daily Mail. 'It is now here to stay.'

The TikTok ban was signed by President Joe Biden in 2024, but President Trump kept the platform alive until a deal to sell the U.S. version to non-Chinese owners could be settled.

Former White House deputy press secretary Harrison Fields said Republicans should celebrate the deal.

'Biden was going to just allow this thing to just end. There was no talk of a deal. The Democrats used TikTok to their benefit but they did nothing to save it, so this was an opportunity for the president to show leadership and he did,' Fields told the Daily Mail in an exclusive interview.

He acknowledged there were still concerns about the future of the platform and the transfer of ownership, but that ultimately it was an important political moment.

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to speak with former first lady Melania Trump and Barron Trump during an election night event

President Donald Trump films a TikTok video for his campaign

'A lot of young people, it's crazy to say it, but they would vote for this issue,' he said. 'I think overall the deal is very successful.'

In 2024, Trump's team quickly realized the platform was important for outreach and went all in, recruiting UFC CEO Dana White to help introduce the president to TikTok.

'The president is now on TikTok,' White said unceremoniously, pointing at Trump as they stood backstage of the UFC in June. 'It is my honor,' Trump replied, before the video cut to Trump's walk-on to the stage for UFC.

Trump's debut generated hundreds of millions of views, marking the largest political launch in TikTok history.

Trump was impressed with the numbers and from that day on, Advent was synonymous with the platform.

As one of the successful characters in the president's orbit, Trump frequently gave a shoutout to Advent on the campaign trail.

'That's TikTok Jack, actually he's became very famous,' Trump said to the reporters who clustered around the former president as he spoke to them from a drive-thru window at a McDonalds, as he worked a shift at the fast food restaurant.

'We have TikTok Jack working for us right?' Trump told DailyMail.com in an interview in September. 'And we have the biggest numbers in the history of TikTok.'

The team generated 35 billion views, across the different @realDonaldTrump and @TeamTrump TikTok accounts and associated hashtags, according to campaign sources.
A 77-year-old career criminal arrested only two weeks ago for a decades-old cold case has been found dead in his cell.

George Legere was arrested on September 19 over the brutal stabbing of 21-year-old Janet Couture who was found dead in her East Hartford home in October 1973.

The suspected killer was found unresponsive in his prison cell on October 3. He later died at a local hospital.

Connecticut State Police described his passing as an untimely death and the medical examiner's officer is yet to rule on the cause.

Legere had been a suspect early in the investigation, however there was not enough evidence to link him to the crime, according to NBC Boston.

The case went unsolved until he was arrested in 2019 and his DNA was taken, which matched a sample in a national database.

He was arrested at MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution, where he was already serving a 25-year sentence for kidnapping a woman in 1984.

George Legere, 77, was arrested for murder and died two weeks later in prison

Janet Couture was stabbed to death in her home in East Hartford in October 1973

Legere kidnapped the woman from her apartment complex parking lot, blindfolded her, tied her, beat her, and raped her.

The woman was found alive in a vehicle with the horn sounding off. However, he was not charged with sexual assault due to the statute of limitations.

Legere had confessed to stabbing Couture, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

'I went into the apartment looking for money and unfortunately the person woke up and recognized me and that left me no choice to do what I did. I ended up stabbing her,' Legere said, according to police.

Police said Legere's confession included details that only the murderer would know, such as the color of the knife handle and the exact location Couture fell.

He also detailed that the knife was Janet's from her own kitchen and was used to stab her in the chest.

He added that she was bound and then beaten with a wire coat hanger in her bedroom.

Connecticut State Police determined the incident as an untimely death and said they are investigating

Officials said that Legere had a criminal history of more than 30 criminal cases

Police investigated the death of the young woman for over five decades

The interview with the police took place after Legere had talked to a fellow prisoner about the murder.

Couture was a part-time model and secretary at a factory in Windsor, according to the CT Insider.

Shirlene Couture, the victim's sister, said she visited Janet's house the day before she was killed.

While she was there, Legere came to her sister's screen door.

She says she told her: 'He comes in to use my phone all the time. I'm afraid of this guy. He keeps asking me out.'

Officials said that Legere had a criminal history of more than 30 criminal cases, including convictions for sexual assault, kidnapping, negligent homicide, and others, according to the outlet.
Organ harvesting has surged across Canada, fueled by controversial assisted suicides offered to people battling depression, not terminal illness.

Canada legalized Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) in 2016, allowing medical professionals to either administer a lethal injection or prescribe a drug that eligible patients can take themselves to end their lives.

Those who opt for MAiD can also agree to donate their organs after death, voluntarily giving them to patients in need of a transplant.

But today, even Canadians who arent terminal can qualify for the governments assisted suicide program - from those battling autoimmune diseases and diabetes to chronic pain sufferers who could live for years with proper care.

The controversial policy was delayed until March 2024 amid fierce arguments that it could be exploiting the most vulnerable, pressuring them to give up their organs to others deemed more deserving.

'Will they recognize that we need to treat depression and give people hope for a better life rather than ending their lives?' Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre told CBC at the time.

Yet Canadas euthanasia program has since become a 'world leader' in organ harvesting, with 15,280 doctor-assisted suicide deaths reported in 2023 - a 15 percent jump on the previous year.

Many of these patients werent even dying, and records suggest that up to 25 percent of Ontario MAiD providers may have skirted the criminal code.

Organ harvesting has surged across Canada , fueled by controversial assisted suicides offered to people battling depression, not terminal illness (stock photo)

The controversial policy was delayed until March 2024 amid fierce arguments that it could be exploiting the most vulnerable, pressuring them to give up their organs to others deemed more deserving (pictured: Robert Fuller assisted suicide)

Canadas euthanasia program has since become a 'world leader' in organ harvesting, with 15,280 doctor-assisted suicide deaths reported in 2023 - a 15 percent jump on the previous year

In June 2023, 37-year-old Kathrin Mentler turned to Vancouver General Hospitals Access and Assessment Centre for help - hoping for safety from the suicidal thoughts haunting her mind, as reported by The Christian Institute.

She told hospital staff she was spiraling into crisis, desperately fighting the urge to overdose on medication and begging for help to stay alive.

During her assessment, Mentler was told there were 'no beds' for her and that she would have to endure a lengthy wait just to see a doctor as an outpatient.

Minutes later, Mentler said that a clinician asked if she had thought about the country's MAiD program - selling it as 'relief' after the recent death of another patient battling mental illness and suicidal ideation.

'That made me feel like my life was worthless or a problem that could be solved if I chose MAiD,' Mentler told the outlet.

'I live with chronic suicidal thoughts but that doesn't mean I never feel joy in my life,' she added.

The Vancouver hospital later apologized for 'any distress caused' by the doctors suggestion, but said it was intended only to assess whether Mentler was at risk of self-harm.

'MAiD for mental health is not legal yet, so giving someone specifics of the process seems wrong,' Mentler told the outlet at the time. 'How can this be standard procedure for suicide crisis intervention?'

In June 2023, 37-year-old Kathrin Mentler turned to a Vancouver hospital for help with suicidal thoughts, but was instead asked if she had considered the country's MAiD program (stock photo)

Amir Farsoud (pictured), a disabled Canadian man, was prepared to be euthanized in November 2022 because he said he couldnt bear having to choose between homelessness and death

Amir Farsoud, a disabled Canadian man, was prepared to be euthanized in November 2022 because he said he couldnt bear having to choose between homelessness and death.

He revealed how easily he was deemed eligible for the program, despite only considering euthanasia because of his desperate housing situation.

After the rooming house he lived in was listed for sale, Farsoud said he was out of options - left choosing between 'miraculously finding a place,' taking his own life, or applying for MAiD.

'I did tell my doctor right off the bat that while I qualify for medical reasons, the reason I'm asking is my socio economic position at the moment,' he told BBC in May 2024.

The doctor swiftly approved Amir for MAiD under the grounds of 'unbearable suffering' - clearing the way for him to be euthanized after a 90day assessment and waiting period.

But Farsouds story soon made headlines across Canada, and a GoFundMe campaign set up by a stranger raised more than $60,000 - enough to secure him new housing and ultimately change his mind about ending his life.

Farsoud called it 'horrible' and 'backwards' that people like him were driven to consider death simply because the country's social system had failed them.

'I think it's horrible, whether it's ethical or not, but I think it's backwards,' Farsoud told the outlet.

Farsoud (pictured) revealed how easily he was deemed eligible for the program, despite only considering euthanasia because of his desperate housing situation

In 2024, a desperate Canadian father pleaded with a judge to stop his 27-year-old daughters assisted suicide, insisting she wasnt eligible due to her autism and severe mental health struggles (stock photo)

Hours before death, donors are brought to the hospital, prepped with a central venous line and heparin to preserve their organs, injected with a lethal cocktail, declared dead and immediately rushed into surgery

'I think in a country such as ours, people shouldn't be hungry and shouldn't be worried about whether there's a roof over their head,' he added.

In 2024, a desperate Canadian father pleaded with a judge to stop his 27-year-old daughters assisted suicide, insisting she wasnt eligible due to her autism and severe mental health struggles.

The daughter also suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, according to the father, who said that euthanasia was not the answer to her problems.

Her request for assisted suicide, made in 2023, had been approved by three medical professionals.

The father's lawyer, Sarah Miller, said there were 'genuine concerns with respect to impartiality,' and that the young woman had been swayed into making her life-ending decision.

'There's no evidence before this court that she has an irremediable condition,' Miller wrote.

Even doctors who back MAiD have warned its risky, admitting it very well may put 'societal pressure' on the community's most vulnerable.

Hours before death, donors are brought to the hospital, prepped with a central venous line and heparin to preserve their organs, injected with a lethal cocktail, declared dead and immediately rushed into surgery.

Canada 's assisted suicide laws have only continued to rapidly expand in recent years, with a group of doctors pushing for disabled newborn babies to be euthanized (stock photo)

Louis Roy (pictured) raised the notion of euthanasia for babies up to a year old 'who are born with severe deformations and very grave and severe medical syndromes'

Ethicist Wesley J. Smith labeled the process a 'bitter irony,' while exposing its details in a Belgian medical journal, according to Slay News.

'Ponder the enormity of what was done here,' Smith wrote. 'Four people - who were not otherwise dying - were killed and then swiftly wheeled into a surgery suite to have their organs removed.'

'Three of the donors were struggling with neuromuscular disabilities - people who often face social isolation and discrimination - and one was mentally ill,' she added.

'In a particularly bitter irony, the latter patient was a chronic self-harmer, the "treatment" for which was a willing professional team ready to administer the ultimate harm.'

Canada's assisted suicide laws have only continued to rapidly expand in recent years, with a group of doctors pushing for disabled newborn babies to be euthanized.

In 2022, the Quebec College of Physicians began suggesting legalizing euthanasia for infants born severely ill.

Louis Roy, of the college, raised the notion of euthanasia for babies up to a year old 'who are born with severe deformations, very grave and severe medical syndromes, whose life expectancy and level of suffering are such that it would make sense to ensure that they do not suffer.'

While parents already have the option of stopping treatment for babies suffering from medical conditions, the proposal would accelerate the infant's death, sparking questions about consent.

MAiD now accounts for 4.6 percent of all fatalities - making it the most common cause of death after cancer, heart disease and accidental injuries

Just one doctor - Vancouver's Ellen Wiebe (pictured), who used to be an abortion provider - has euthanized more than 430 patients in nine years

Other jurisdictions, including a growing number of US states, also allow doctor-assisted suicide (pictured)

MAiD now accounts for 4.6 percent of all fatalities - making it the most common cause of death after cancer, heart disease and accidental injuries.

Just one doctor - Vancouver's Ellen Wiebe, who used to be an abortion provider - has euthanized more than 430 patients in nine years.

Stefanie Green, another Vancouver doctor, said she calls her MAID deaths 'deliveries' instead of 'provisions,' which is the term for euthanasia that Canadian doctors use.

As a former maternity doctor, she used to welcome lives into the world, and now sees her job as 'delivering life out.'

Euthanasia is legal in seven countries - Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain - plus several states in Australia.

Other jurisdictions, including a growing number of US states, also allow doctor-assisted suicide.

In Canada, both options are referred to as MAiD, though more than 99.9 percent of such procedures are carried out by a doctor. The number of MAiD deaths in Canada has risen steadily by about a third each year.
Kemi Badenoch is planning up to 25 billion in tax cuts as she puts the economy at the heart of her push for a Tory revival.

The Conservative leader will pledge to 'bring down the taxes stifling our economy' and reverse Labour's 'borrowing and tax doom loop'.

She will unveil plans for a new 'golden rule' which will require half of every pound saved to be used for cutting the deficit, with the other half spent on tax cuts and boosting the economy.

The Conservatives' annual conference in Manchester has focused heavily on new policies to curb illegal immigration, including pledges to quit the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and deport 750,000 people with no right to be in this country.

The moves are designed to show voters that the Tories are willing to match Nigel Farage's tough stance on immigration, which has seen Reform soar in the polls.

But Tory strategists believe the party's best hope for recovery lies in trying to restore its battered economic credentials.

In her keynote speech to Tory conference in Manchester, Mrs Badenoch will say the Conservative approach 'starts with fiscal responsibility', adding: 'We have to get the deficit down.'

'Over the next decade, Rachel Reeves is going to double the deficit with her borrowing and tax doom loop,' she will say.

'It's not sustainable and it's not fair. It is stealing from our children and grandchildren. And Conservatives will put a stop to it.'

Kemi Badenoch will outline a new 'Golden Rule' on the economy as she bids to revive Tory fortunes at the Conservative conference in Manchester

Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride announced plans this week to slash government spending by 47 billion by clamping down on welfare, reducing the size of the civil service by a quarter and cutting billions from foreign aid.

Mrs Badenoch will today commit to using at least half the money saved to reduce the deficit, with the rest spent on cutting tax or boosting the economy.

Pledging a new 'golden economic rule', she will say: 'Every pound we save will be put to work. At least half will go towards cutting the deficit. Because living within our means is our first priority.

'With the rest, we are going to get our economy growing again. And bring down the taxes stifling our economy.'

The Conservatives have set out plans this week to scrap business rates for 250,000 pubs and high street shops at a cost of 4 billion. A further 2.8 billion has been allocated to fund a new 'first job bonus' which would offer young people entering the workplace up to 5,000 towards their first home.

But, even with 24 billion used to cut the UK's deficit, this would still leave up to 16 billion available for potential further tax cuts.

The Tory leader will also pledge to curb funding for 'low quality' degree courses and use the proceeds to double the number of apprenticeships.

Mrs Badenoch will warn that too many courses are drawing students into a 'debt trap' in which they will never earn enough to pay back their tuition fees.

She will cite analysis suggesting that almost a third of graduates now see 'no economic return' on their years of study, adding: 'Every year thousands of young people go off to university, but leave with crippling loans and no real prospects.

'We will shut down these rip-off courses and use the money to double the apprenticeship budget. Giving thousands more young people the chance of a proper start in life.'

Tory sources highlighted figures showing that many graduates in areas like the performing arts, media studies earn below the national average wage.

Under Tory plans, funding for courses whose graduates go on to earn low wages would be capped. The savings would be used to increase the number of apprenticeship places on offer.

Student number caps were fully lifted in England in 2015, leading to a record number of students being accepted onto university courses that year.

By reintroducing and gradually lowering the caps, the Conservatives hope to limit loan repayment losses through a reduction in the number of people going to university.

The party said the policy would see 100,000 fewer people per year going to university by the end of the next parliament, saving 3 billion - enough to fund a doubling of the apprenticeship budget.
Former FBI Director James Comey is appearing in court on Wednesday for a dramatic arraignment on charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation.

Comey, 64, who has professed his innocence, is in the dock at the same courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia where 9/11 plotter Zacarias Moussaoui and members of the ISIS terror cell known as the Beatles were previously tried.

He is appearing before U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff, who was nominated by President Joe Biden in 2021. The judge's recent cases included sentencing an MS-13 gang leader to life in jail for his role in six gruesome killings.

It is an astonishing twist in the life of the man who was one of America's top law enforcement officers from 2013 until he was unceremoniously fired by President Donald Trump in 2017.

The decision to charge Comey, one of the president's most high-profile enemies, has ignited a political firestorm.

Democrats have accused the president and Attorney General Pam Bondi of politicizing the Department of Justice to seek revenge against his opponents, which they have denied.

James Comey is appearing as a defendant in a court where he previously brought cases as FBI Director

The indictment against him has been brought by Lindsey Halligan, the new U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia

According to an indictment brought by Lindsey Halligan, the recently appointed U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Comey faces two counts.

The first is 'making false statements within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch of the United States Government.'

It is alleged that on September 30, 2020 he 'willfully and knowingly made a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement' while testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The statement was that he had not 'authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports regarding an FBI investigation concerning PERSON 1.'

Prosecutors allege that, contrary to that statement, he did authorize someone else to 'serve as an anonymous source in news reports.'

'PERSON 1' in the indictment is believed to be Hillary Clinton, with Comey's statement relating to an investigation into her private email server.

In the second count, Comey is charged with obstruction of a Congressional proceeding.

It is alleged he 'did corruptly endeavor to influence, obstruct and impede ' a Senate Judiciary Committee investigation by 'making false and misleading statements.'

If convicted Comey faces up to five years in prison, although actual sentences for similar crimes are typically less than the maximum.

When he was charged on September 25, Halligan said: 'The charges as alleged in this case represent a breach of the public trust at an extraordinary level.

'The balance of power is a bedrock principle of our democracy, and it relies upon accountability and a forthright presentation of facts from executive leadership to congressional oversight.

'Any intent to avoid, evade, prevent, or obstruct compliance is a violation of professional responsibility and, most importantly, the law.'

President Trump and James Comey in January 2017 before he was fired as FBI Director

Comey was appearing at the he Albert V. Bryan U.S. Courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia

Trump fired Comey in 2017, early in his first term in office, and they have been engaged in a long-running feud ever since.

The president blames Comey for having started an investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 campaign that led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller.

Mueller spent two years investigating whether Trumps campaign colluded with the Kremlin to help him win the White House.

In the end, Mueller uncovered no evidence that Trump or his associates criminally colluded with Russia

Trump has long vented about the 'Russia hoax,' which overshadowed the start of his first term.

However, the charges against Comey do not relate to the Russia investigation.

President Trump has been lambasting Comey ever since firing him in 2017

Attorney General Pam Bondi was grilled by senators this week with Democrats accusing her of politicizing the Department of Justice

According to Solomon Wisenberg, a former federal prosecutor, Comey appears to have made the statement pinpointed in the indictment in response to questioning from Senator Ted Cruz at the 2020 judiciary committee hearing.

Cruz was pressing Comey over the role that his deputy director, Andy McCabe, played in authorizing a leak to The Wall Street Journal.

The Wall Street Journal story examined how the FBI handled an investigation into Clintons use of a private email server when she was Secretary of State.

The senator noted that Comey had told Congress in 2017 that he had not authorized anyone to speak to reporters.

But Cruz then asserted that McCabe had 'publicly and repeatedly said he leaked information to The Wall Street Journal and that you (Comey) were directly aware of it and that you directly authorized it.'

Comey responded: 'I stand by the testimony you summarized that I gave in May of 2017.'

Prior top the arraignment Comey, who has denied wrongdoing, said: 'My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump,

'My heart is broken for the Department of Justice but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system, and Im innocent. So lets have a trial.'

The indictment against Comey was brought by Lindsey Halligan, formerly special assistant to the president, and now U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia

Lindsey Halligan signed the indictment against Comey

Last week, an FBI agent was relieved of duty for declining to arrange a 'perp walk' of Comey in front of news cameras.

The Department of Justice is also investigating other opponents of Trump, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and hos former national security adviser John Bolton.

Last week, Trump said he expected more people to be charged.

'Its not a list, but I think therell be others. Its about justice. Its not revenge,' he said.

he said Comey had been 'so bad for our country, for so long, and is now at the beginning of being held responsible for his crimes against our nation,'

On Tuesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi deflected questions as she was accused, during a congressional hearing, of

seeking vengeance against Trumps political opponents.

Hakeem Jeffries, the democrat leader in the House, said the indictment of Comey was a 'disgraceful attack on the rule of law.'

Comey set out his disgust for Trump in his 2018 memoir, 'A Higher Loyalty.'

He wrote: 'This president is unethical, and untethered to truth and institutional values. His leadership is transactional, ego driven and about personal loyalty.'

He recalled a private meeting with Trump early in his first term in which the president demanded allegiance, which Comey likened it to a mafia induction.

Comey has been involved in a long-running feud with the president

Comey posted a social media message which he denied was a call to violence

Earlier this year, the Trump administration said it was investigating a social media post by Comey that Trump and his allies interpreted as a call for violence against the president.

In an Instagram post, Comey wrote 'cool shell formation on my beach walk' under a picture of seashells that appeared to form the shapes for '86 47.'

Comey deleted the post and said he did not know 'some folks associate those numbers with violence.'

Halligan 36, a former beauty queen, became U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia after her predecessor Erik Siebert was ousted last week.

Siebert's office led a criminal probe involving Comey and his role in the FBI's investigation of Trump's 2016 campaign.

He privately told Justice Department officials he lacked strong evidence of criminal wrongdoing.

In a Truth Social post last month, Trump said: 'I fired him [Siebert], and there is a GREAT CASE, and many lawyers, and legal pundits, say so.'

A five-year statute of limitations for bringing a case against Comey over statements in the congressional hearing on September 30, 2020 ran out last week.

Halligan secured an indictment before a grand jury shortly prior to the legal deadline.
Do you know a small business that has been unfairly targeted with a Proceeds of Crime Act order?

A cash-strapped Labour council has been accused of cynically using anti-gangster laws to hit local firms with huge penalties for minor planning breaches.

Targets of Lewisham Council in south London include a family-run restaurant facing a 2.5 million fine for fitting an extractor fan without permission, and an elderly builder's merchant pursued for 167,000 for storing bags of cement in a shipping container.

Both businesses had previously been convicted of planning breaches -a technicality that gave officials the power to launch confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The legislation was introduced in 2002 to strip drug lords, money launderers and other serious criminals of their illicit profits by allowing authorities to recover any money gained from criminal conduct - and keep a significant share of it.

But Lewisham, which last year overspent by 22million and now faces a 30million budget shortfall, has started using the legislation in planning disputes.

They argue that firms convicted of breaching planning rules have financially benefited from operating without permission, allowing the borough to pursue large confiscation orders through the courts.

The council's enforcement priorities were laid bare in a 2018 job advert for a 'Private Sector Housing Fraud and Intelligence Officer,' which stated that the successful candidate would be expected to 'ensure prosecutions are successful and maximise income for the borough in respect of proceeds of crime.'

The human cost of its approach is now being felt by brothers Sahin and Ahmet Gok, who have run the much-loved Turkish restaurant Meze Mangal in Lewisham for more than 20 years.

Sahin (right) and Ahmet (left) Gok have run the much-loved Turkish restaurant Meze Mangal in Lewisham for more than 20 years

Kevin Bottomley, 74, (pictured) who ran KJ Building Supplies in Lewisham was hit with proceeds of crime fine of 167,000 for storing sand and cement in a shipping container adjoining his shop. He has since been given planning permission for it

The restaurant has long been a cornerstone of the local community and is even a favourite among council staff and executives - yet the brothers are now facing a 2.5 million Proceeds of Crime penalty over an extractor fan they installed after a new neighbour complained about cooking smells.

Officials then pored over their accounts and claimed that every meal cooked while the extractor fan was on amounted to financial benefit from unlawful activity that could be clawed back under POCA.

Their bank accounts were frozen and their passports seized after the council told a court they posed a 'flight risk', despite the fact they have lived in Britain since the early 1980s.

The brothers have also started a GoFundMe campaign to fight the case, raising over 13,000 in less than a week.

Sahin, 57, told The Daily Mail: 'It's absolutely disgusting what the Council are doing to us. We have had our passports taken from us, are not allowed to leave the country and anybody would think that we are international criminals or terrorists.'

Ahmet, 59, added: 'All we've ever done since we came to this country in 1981 is work hard. We have never been in trouble with the law. We installed the extractor fan because we were trying to be good neighbours.

'OK, we made a mistake not getting planning permission, but does that mean we should be fined under POCA? It's meant to be used against big time criminals, not honest citizens like us.'

The 2.5million fine covers the period the restaurant has been in breach of planning laws for.

The brothers are facing a 2.5million Proceeds of Crime penalty over an extractor fan they installed after a neighbour complained about cooking smells

Mr Bottomley was fined 1,000 in January 2024 for breaching planning laws, but his POCA fine was dropped a year later after he challenged it in court

Ahmet added: 'This unjust fine will bankrupt us and has left us totally devastated. Even if we sell the business, it will not raise enough to pay the 2.5 million the Council is demanding.'

In 2014 they installed a large extractor fan and adjoining platform so that it can be accessed for servicing following a complaint from a neighbour about cooking smells wafting into their home.

They applied for retrospective planning permission, but it was refused and an appeal was dismissed, prompting the council to begin legal action in 2019.

In 2023, after being given just a day's notice to attend a hearing, they failed to appear in court and were automatically found guilty of breaching planning laws.

Sahin said: 'Our mother died, our father was terminally ill, and we had a lot going on. We didn't deliberately try to avoid the court hearing but none of this was taken into consideration.

'We have come up with a number of solutions to cover up the extractor fan, but these have all been rejected. This is nothing but a cynical attempt by the Council to try and extract money from us. We are just easy targets, it's as simple as that.'

He added: 'This situation has caused both of us a lot of depression and anxiety. We can't sleep at night and don't look forward to coming to the restaurant any more with this fine hanging over us.'

Kevin Bottomley, 74, who ran KJ Building Supplies in Lewisham was hit with proceeds of crime fine of 167,000 for storing sand and cement in a shipping container adjoining his shop.

Mr Bottomley estimates that he spent 40,000 on legal fees fighting the Council while the Goks have already spent close to 50,000

Officials pored over the brothers' accounts and claimed that every meal cooked while the extractor fan was on amounted to financial benefit from unlawful activity that could be clawed back under POCA

Kevin Bottomley ran KJ Building Supplies (pictured) in Lewisham

Brothers Sahin and Ahmet Gok have run the much-loved Turkish restaurant Meze Mangal (pictured) in Lewisham for more than 20 years

He said: 'The threat of this fine almost ruined my life. My wife and I were constantly stressed and anxious because I had no way of paying it and could have gone to prison.

'Being treated like this was not nice at all. The Council are just going after low hanging fruit like me and the Goks to make some easy money because their finances are in such a mess.'

Mr Bottomley was fined 1,000 in January 2024 for breaching planning laws, but his POCA fine was dropped a year later after he challenged it in court.

Ironically, in the interim period he was granted planning permission for using the shipping container for storage. He has since given up running the business.

He said: 'The whole thing has been a joke and a complete waste of time. I have always been a hardworking, law-abiding citizen so why was I being targeted by POCA?

'The Council still ended up giving me planning permission but even though I didn't have to pay that ridiculous fine, I'm still left with a criminal record and that upsets me because I've never got in trouble with the law before.'

Mr Bottomley estimates that he spent 40,000 on legal fees fighting the Council while the Goks have already spent close to 50,000.

A preliminary hearing of their proceeds of crime case is due to be heard at Woolwich Crown Court later this month with the brothers preparing for a legal battle that could continue for another year.

But Sahin admitted: 'Whatever the outcome, we are now seriously reconsidering the future of our restaurant. The stress of this situation has been too much, and our families don't want us to continue with it.'

A Lewisham Council spokesperson said: 'This has been a long running case since neighbours complained about the smoke, noise and smells from the restaurant before 2018.

'In 2019 the restaurant owners said they would remove the extraction system once their planning appeal had been dismissed. However, the restaurant continues to operate with the illegal extractor eight years after this case was opened.

'The Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) has arisen because they have been found guilty by the Court of a criminal offence. The Court ordered confiscation of passports because the defendants did not turn up at Court hearings. This was a matter for the Court and we had no involvement.

'Similarly, the financial investigation and penalties are guided by the rules set out in the Proceeds of Crime Act and the decisions of the Court.

'Our priority now is to ensure this matter is resolved as quickly as possible and we remain committed to working with the restaurant owners.'
A government appointed commissioner has defended a decision to place a trans paedophile dad into a women's prison after he sexually abused his own daughter.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr Anna Cody this week told a parliament hearing she believed convicted sex monster Autumn Tulip Harper is a 'trans woman'.

Dr Cody made the startling confession after she was grilled by Liberal Senator Claire Chandler during a Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee hearing this week.

'You'd be familiar with the Victorian case of a male paedophile being housed in a women's prison. It's been in the media in the last week,' Ms Chandler asked Dr Cody.

'For the purposes of the Sex Discrimination Act, do you consider that this man, who is a child sex offender, is a woman?'

Dr Cody responded: 'The Sex Discrimination Act includes trans women within it, so, the person who I believe you're referring to is a trans woman.'

Ms Chandler, a Liberal senator from Tasmania, ended her line of questioning with the comment: 'That was very revealing.'

The parliamentary grilling came after the Daily Mail revealed the Victorian Government gave more than $100,000 to a trans prison program less than three weeks before Harper was sentenced to jail in Victoria's female maximum security prison, the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre.

Autumn Tulip Harper was convicted for molesting his daughter

Liberal Senator Claire Chandler (pictured) raised the Harper controversy during a senate hearing

Jacinta Allan's government announced it had allocated a further $30,000 on top of the $75,000 it had given to trans organisation Flat Out and its 'Beyond Bricks and Bars' program on August 7 last year.

Harper, not their birth name was jailed on August 26.

At his pre-sentence hearing, Witt Gorrie, the coordinator of Beyond Bricks and Bars, wrote a report for Harper which was highlighted by Judge Nola Karapanagiotidis as Harper was sentenced to a minimum 30-month jail term.

'I accept that Mr Gorrie has the expertise and experience to give evidence on these issues and his evidence was not challenged,' Judge Karapanagiotidis said.

'The report indicates that all trans women who enter the women's system are placed in solitary confinement upon reception and remain there for anywhere from five weeks to their entire prison sentence.

'Placement in long-term solitary confinement is restrictive and has significant impacts on a person's mental health.

'In Mr Gorrie's experience in working with trans women in the prison system, all have also 'reported transphobic bullying and harassment', along with sexual harassment and abuse, within the custodial environment.

'He also referred to some of the common difficulties and delays around receiving, and appropriately monitoring, hormone replacement therapy in custody.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr Anna Cody this week told a parliament hearing she believed Harper is a 'trans women'

'Mr Gorrie considers that as a young trans woman you would be particularly at risk in prison.'

Harper's lenient sentence and allocation to a women's prison after he was convicted of abusing his five-year-old daughter sparked outrage amid claims it has set a 'dangerous precedent'.

The Australian Federal Police, acting on a tip from US law enforcement, raided Harper's home in Clayton South, in Melbourne's south-east, on September 15, 2023.

Investigators discovered Harper subjected his five-year-old daughter to 'persistent sexual abuse' between May and June of that year.

Harper sent 77 child abuse files via Discord to his United States-based paedophile master known in court documents as 'Samuel Booth'.

The details of Harper's offending, who pleaded guilty in the Melbourne County Court in July 2024 to charges including persistent sexual abuse of a child under 16, are too harrowing to publish.

Detectives discovered Harper had been in a 'master/slave' relationship with Booth where he would order them to perform daily tasks and film them.

'These directions included brushing your teeth or showering, but also included instructions for the sexual abuse of your daughter,' Judge Karapanagiotidis said.

Harper before his transformation

Harper initially expressed 'hesitance and concern', once telling Booth that 'she is my daughter and I shouldn't be doing it'.

'Booth encourages and instructs you to engage in a variety of sexual and perverse acts with your daughter,' the judge noted.

'He occasionally offers you affirmations that you made him 'so hard and proud' and that he is 'impressed by you' and that 'you did so good' and are 'such a good girl'.'

Harper told police they 'felt terrible and horrible' about the offending.

'You felt tied to Booth because you were not in a good mental state,' Judge Karapanagiotidis said.

'Booth seemed to care, which is not something you had much of. You feel your life had gone terribly and everything got worse.'

Forensic psychiatrist Dr Rajan Darjee said Harper 'identified as a female, living as a female and hormonally female' and exhibited a common 'pattern of sexual abuse seen in females'.

'This pattern of sexual abuse is one which a more dominant male pressurises, manipulates and/or coerces a female who has access to a child... to sexually abuse that child and/or to make that child available to him to sexually abuse,' Dr Darjee wrote in his report.

Someone hacked Harper's Facebook page and wrote 'I'm a pedo'

'The person who drives this offending is the dominant male who is able to use a vulnerable female to do what he is sexually motivated to achieve.'

Shortly after Harper pleaded guilty, an unnamed individual hijacked his Facebook page and changed the cover picture to the words: 'I'm a pedo'.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety refused to comment on Harper's location.

'When considering placements, Corrections Victoria considers the safety of the individual prisoner and the safety of other prisoners and staff, as well as the security of the prison and relevant legal requirements,' a spokesman said.

However, the Harper case has drawn anger from women's rights campaigners.

Women's Forum Australia chief executive Rachael Wong demanded that the Victorian government review the sentence, claiming the 'extraordinary leniency sets a dangerous precedent'.

Women's Voices Australia founder Jasmine Sussex said this was the grim consequence of the state allowing gender self-identification.

'This is an obscene human rights violation by the Victorian government against the most vulnerable group of women in the state - those incarcerated,' she said.

Witt Gorrie (pictured), the coordinator of Beyond Bricks and Bars, wrote a report for Harper which was relied upon in court

'All decent-minded Victorians are sickened by this craven government policy.

'It forces the County Court to lie to a five-year-old girl surviving her father's evil sexual assault and aggravate his offence with state-sanctioned abuse - claiming the paedophile rapist is a woman.'

Harper was jailed for a maximum of four years and nine months.

The County Court heard Harper would most likely be housed in solitary confinement at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre.
A Kentucky man has been arrested after disturbing residents with a vile Halloween yard display showing what body bags labeled with the titles of local government officials.

Stephan Marcum, 58, of Stanton, was arrested Saturday and charged with terroristic threatening after a local prosecutor reported the display to authorities.

The grim scene, set up outside Marcum's home on Court Street, featured several black plastic bags shaped like corpses, each tagged with the names or positions of city leaders.

Shocked residents and community leaders said it looked less like a Halloween prank and more like a direct threat.

'This is something you just don't see every day,' Powell County Judge Executive Eddie Barnes told WKYT, adding he was stunned when he saw the display for himself.

'At first I didn't know what to think about it because I actually drove by and saw it in his yard and thought, wow, that's kinda harsh.'

Barnes, who said he has known Marcum for decades, described him as someone who 'can be a good person' but said he completely disagreed with how he chose to express himself.

According to police, the fake decorations were seized and taken to Kentucky State Police Post 8 in Morehead as evidence. Marcum is being held at the Powell County Detention Center on a $5,000 bond.

Kentucky State Police removed the mock body bags and other decorations from Marcum's yard as evidence after residents described the display as threatening

Police say Stephan Marcum, 58, was taken into custody after displaying fake body bags labeled with the titles of local officials outside his home in Stanton, Kentucky

Stephen Voss, an associate professor of political science at the University of Kentucky, told WKYT that while Americans have broad protections under the First Amendment, threats are not one of them.

'If you're actively threatening someone in a terrorizing way, that may not be covered by the general right to free expression,' he said.

Voss told KBTX that rising political tensions have made the public far less tolerant of violent imagery. 'We're seeing less tolerance for violent communication or violent imagery because there seems to be a greater risk people will enact it or carry it out,' he said.

He added, 'A display or statement that might have been taken as tongue-in-cheek or almost a joke in a less polarized, conflict-ridden age may not be seen as funny or innocent these days.'

Police have not released a motive, but local officials said the incident highlights how political anger in small-town America is increasingly spilling into the public square - sometimes in disturbing and dangerous ways.

Last October, a children's soft play center in Gloucestershire, England, apologized after hanging fake body bags as Halloween decorations that left parents horrified.

Rugrats and Halfpints in Cirencester removed the props after complaints. Photos showed black bin bags tied to resemble human bodies, some wrapped in tape marked Caution and Danger.

Powell County Judge Executive Eddie Barnes said he was shocked when he saw the display, calling it 'kinda harsh' and 'deeply inappropriate'

One mother told Sky News she 'did a double take' and didn't want to explain the display to her child. The center said it 'wasn't meant to cause distress' and took it down immediately.

Weeks later, Liverpool mother Caroline Ashley said she was ordered by the council to remove two inflatable body bags from a tree outside her home after a neighbor complained.

She shared the saga in a Facebook group asking, 'Are the body bags too much?' - sparking thousands of comments, most encouraging her to add fake blood.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has unleashed on Australia's grocery giants after experiencing a common problem - a paper bag splitting open.

The senator said the Woolworths bag tore apart as she was walking to her Canberra apartment on Tuesday, leaving her fuming.

Hanson didn't hold back, telling Woolworths executives to 'get your act together'.

'I'm sure many of you are used to this  you buy these cheap rubbish bags that split and break on you all the time,' Hanson said.

'I'm over it. I'm so angry about this.

'And 25 cents a bag, I'm sure many of you know how I feel about that.

'Of course, I had to buy it, didn't I? Because I'm in Canberra and I didn't carry my own bags with me. This is what you have to put up with.'

Hanson added that 25 cents for a flimsy bag during a cost-of-living crisis, in which Woolworths and Coles have been accused of price gouging, seemed unreasonable.

Pauline Hanson (pictured) lashed out at Woolworths and Coles for charging for flimsy paper bags

'I'm telling Woolies and Coles, get your act together with the bags,' she said.

'You charge a fortune for it. Cost of living, people can't afford it. It's ridiculous.

'I'm sure you're making a fortune out of it.'

Thousands of Aussies were quick to applaud Hanson for voicing their thoughts.

'Not only bags - it's serve yourself so they save on staff,' one wrote.

'I remember when supermarkets bagged up your groceries for free. That was in the 1970s with paper bags,' another said.

'I will literally carry 20 items out in my arms before giving in to that crap,' another wrote.

'You don't even get a choice with Coles online shopping they just include them in the price. Lucky if I can get my shopping from the doorstep to the kitchen without them breaking,' another said.

Hanson (pictured) told the grocers: 'Get your act together'

Other commenters pointed out the irony in Woolworths and Coles switching from plastic bags to paper while still using other single-use plastics.

'I always laugh at the useless little cardboard tabs to close the bread and the bread is in a plastic bag,' one wrote.

Another mocked the grocers, writing: 'We are saving the planet. Ridding it of plastics. Save the dolphins. Oh and we also have these awesome plastic figurines to give you when you shop. Collect them all!'

In response to Hanson's rant, a Coles spokesperson said: 'Since we phased out soft plastic shopping bags in 2023, we have been impressed by our customers' overwhelmingly positive response to our paper bags  a change that has removed 230 million plastic bags from circulation every year.

'Coles paper bags have undergone rigorous independent testing and proven to safely carry up to 6 kilograms of groceries.

'They're designed to be reused multiple times and are made from 100 per cent recycled paper that is FSC-certified  unlike soft plastic bags, which are not recyclable through kerbside collection.'

Daily Mail has contacted Woolworths for comment.
Chilling dashcam footage has emerged of a police officer saying 'I'm going to hit him' before fatally running down a shoplifting suspect who was fleeing the scene on foot.

The Pueblo Police Department in Colorado released the footage of the June 3 death of suspect Antonio Herrera.

Officers were responding to reports of an alleged shoplifter at Famous Footwear. When they arrived, the suspect fled from the scene and was pursued both by officers on foot and in the car.

Body camera footage captured the moment an officer on foot told his colleagues 'he's got a gun. He pulled a gun out on me. Careful, he's got that gun in his hand.'

He refused multiple commands to drop his weapon, and officers noticed he was running toward an occupied car.

Fearing he was about to jump in the car and flee, the officer driving the patrol car said 'I'm going to hit him.'

Chilling dashcam footage has emerged of a police officer saying 'I'm going to hit him' before fatally running down a shoplifting suspect who was fleeing the scene on foot

The Pueblo Police Department in Colorado released the footage of the June 3 death of suspect Antonio Herrera

Police said 'rescue efforts were attempted, but the suspect was declared dead at the scene.'

In the split second before he was run down, Herrera turned briefly to look at the car as it pursued him.

Then, the harrowing footage shows the car ramming into him.

The driver appeared to visibly speed up from the slow pace he had been driving, and rammed Herrera in the back at speed.

The gun that he was holding flew from his hand as he crumbled and fell to the floor.

The gun that he was holding flew from his hand as he crumbled and fell to the floor

In the split second before he was run down, Herrera turned briefly to look at the car as it pursued him

Police said 'rescue efforts were attempted, but the suspect was declared dead at the scene.'

An investigation was commenced to determine whether the officers involved used an appropriate amount of force during their interactions with Herrera.
Natalie Barr has taken aim at the Albanese Government amid explosive reports that several women who left Australia to join ISIS have quietly returned to the country.

The women allegedly escaped Syria's Al-Hawl camp and travelled to Beirut, where they were detained for visa breaches before being given Australian passports after DNA and security checks - including for children born in Syria.

A report from The Australian claimed 'senior federal government officials are assisting the operation quietly in the background.'

The government insists it did not provide any repatriation assistance, a claim Housing Minister Clare O'Neil was forced to defend during a fiery exchange on Sunrise.

'So Clare, you're confirming that several of these ISIS brides have come back into the country, but they're Australian citizens, so the Australian government hasn't helped them, is that right?' Barr asked.

'I'm not confirming anything that isn't already on the public record,' O'Neil replied.

Barr refused to back down. 'Is it true several ISIS brides have come back into the country but they're Australian citizens but the Albanese Government hasn't helped them?'

'Nat, I'm not going to add any detail to what the Home Affairs Minister and Foreign Minister talked about,' O'Neil said.

Barr pressed again: 'Why would that be, what's the problem? So you have not assisted them but they have come back. Why can't we say they have come back?'

Natalei Barr (centre) took aim at the Albanese Government over reports about ISIS Brides

Six ISIS brides and their children have reportedly returned to Australia from Syria (file)

Her line of questioning prompted opposition spokesperson Michaelia Cash to step in.

'What is the issue, Clare, with saying the ISIS brides have returned? The children were not born in Australia. They were born overseas. They didn't have any documents - they didn't have a passport or birth certificate.

'The Australian government had to facilitate the giving of those documents to the children in order for them to come into Australia.'

Barr contined to demand an answer: 'Clare, if there were children involved and they were born overseas, maybe they didn't have paperwork - are you sure the government didn't need to assist them?'

'The government hasn't provided any repatriation or assistance to these people,' O'Neil said.

Barr pressed again: 'So how did they get back here?'

'I will let the Foreign Minister tell you,' O'Neil replied.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese echoed that stance in Parliament on September 3, saying reports of government involvement were 'not accurate.'

He said Australian citizens have 'a right to enter Australia' and that 'Australia did not provide assistance' to a group of two women and four children who re-entered via Lebanon.

However, the Opposition argues that passport processing and security checks indicate otherwise.

During Senate Estimates, Penny Wong was pressed on when the government learned of the families' arrival and how many ISIS brides are now in Australia.

Appearing with departmental staff, she declined to answer and took the questions on notice.

Penny Wong was grilled on Tuesday over whether the government offered the ISIS brides help

'I think I should let on those sorts of response that I would let the Prime Minister speak for himself on,' Wong said.

Assistant Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said the women had a right to return.

'A lot of those people would be Australian citizens, so they have a right to return to Australia,' he told the ABC.

'Our government hasn't provided assistance or anything like that, aside from the normal assistance any Australian gets returning to their homelands.'

In a seperate statement, the Albanese government said: 'If any of those people find their own way to return, our security agencies are satisfied that they are prepared and will be able to act in the interests of community safety.

'Our agencies have been monitoring these individuals for some time. We have confidence in our agencies.'
Three months after being pardoned by the ruler of Dubai for having sex with a teenage girl during a holiday romance, Marcus Fakana found himself in a BMW in the early hours of Friday - not far from his parents' home in Tottenham, north London.

What the 19-year-old, sat in the passenger seat and his friend Marwaan Mohamed Huseen, also 19, were doing at 12.50am remains unclear  but what is known is that the car they were in was 'a vehicle of interest' to the Metropolitan Police.

We know this because when a patrol car spotted the BMW parked up on and pulled up, rather than co-operate, Mr Huseen put his foot down and sped off.

What followed was a 60-second, high-speed chase through the streets of north London that was to be the final minute of Marcus's eventful life  and ended with the BMW the friends were travelling in wedged beneath a lorry on the side of the road.

And what prompted the reaction from Mr Huseen is also unclear but he has since appeared in court charged with causing death by dangerous driving and driving without a valid licence or insurance.

Friends say Marcus's family have been left heartbroken by his death.

Neighbours describe the builder's apprentice as a 'caring and respectable young man' who looked out for younger pupils during his time at Gladesmore Community School in Tottenham.

Three months after being pardoned by the ruler of Dubai for having sex with a teenage girl during a holiday romance, Marcus Fakana (pictured) found himself in a BMW

What followed was a 60-second, high-speed chase through the streets of north London that was to be the final minute of Marcus's eventful life. Marcus is pictured here with a friend

Marcus Fakana, 19, who was jailed in Dubai after having sex with a UK tourist was killed in a car crash - just months after being set free following a royal pardon

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Yet since his death, some uncomfortable questions have emerged about the company Marcus was keeping both before and after his time in the strict Arab state.

People who knew him showed the Daily Mail a disturbing photo which they say gives an insight into Marcus's associations with north London gangs.

They say the boy on the left with his hood up wearing a black balaclava covering his face and making a gang sign is Marcus.

Next to him, perched on a kitchen counter in the picture, is a teenager called Tyler McDermott.

Shortly after the photo was taken, Tyler, 17, a rapper who went by the name 'Trizz', was murdered outside a recording studio, shot in the head and sliced up with a machete as he lay bleeding on the floor.

Trizz was said to belong to a drill rap group called WC8.

His crime? He got into a row with a gang from south London at a party when one of the rival group objected to being filmed.

Four men  Tyrese Barnett, 20, Leo Reid, 21, Rhys Antwi, 21 and 19-year-old Kalam Bagge  were convicted of his murder.

The boy on the left with his hood up wearing a black balaclava covering his face and making a gang sign is said to be Marcus. Next to him, perched on a kitchen counter in the picture, is a teenager called Tyler McDermott

Tyler, 17, a rapper who went by the name 'Trizz', was murdered outside a recording studio, shot in the head and sliced up with a machete as he lay bleeding on the floor. 'Trizz' featured in drill music videos like the one pictured above

Trizz was said to belong to a drill rap group called WC8. He featured in their music videos like this one titled 'Stick and Move'

Marcus knew other members of the WC8 gang, who have their origins in a notorious group called the Tottenham Mandem gang

WC8, based in Lower Edmonton, paid tribute to him in a music video on YouTube which featured the words 'RIP Trizzy' on a car number plate.

A second equally disturbing photo apparently shows Marcus with a black mask covering his face again wearing a black hoodie and sat in a 4x4 vehicle.

Although both photos appear credible, the Daily Mail has been unable to definitively verify them, although mourners laying flowers at the spot where he died confirmed that he and Trizz had been close friends.

'They had known one another since they were youngsters and were quite tight,' said one. 'Marcus knew a lot of people in this area and let's just say, some of them were quite lively characters.'

Another added: 'He (Marcus) wasn't a bad kid but he did know a lot of people who weren't so good. That's just what it's like if you grow up around here, you can end up having all kinds of friends.

'He spent a lot of time with Trizz and he knew a lot of other people who were always in trouble with the law.'

Marcus knew other members of the WC8 gang, who have their origins in a notorious group called the Tottenham Mandem gang, which has splintered into several offshoots made up mainly of young men involved in crime and drill music.

The friend added: 'There are a lot of smaller gangs in this area who always have problems with each other.'

Marcus died after a car he was passenger in crashed at The Roundway in Tottenham (Pictured: general view of the street)

A tribute left to Marcus reads: 'R.I.P My family only you knew the truth rest in eternal peace gone but never forgotten'

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the car Marcus was travelling in was 'of interest' - but have provided no further details.

Officers say they 'temporarily lost sight of the vehicle' and have asked for any witnesses to the crash or those who may have dashcam footage of the incident.

The force informed the Directorate of Professional Standards about the incident, together with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), in line with standard practice.

Marcus had been pulled from the wreckage and rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

His death after being freed from serving seven months in a maximum-security prison has left his family in 'too much' pain to bear.

Marcus (C) is pictured alongside two friends. Marcus began a holiday romance with the girl after they met at the 210-a-night Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah

His conviction last December in the United Arab Emirates made headlines around the world because it followed a consensual holiday romance with a female British tourist who was just a few months younger than him.

Marcus began a holiday romance with the girl after they met at the 210-a-night Hilton Dubai Palm Jumeirah.

His nightmare began after the girl returned to the UK with her family and her mother reported Marcus to the Dubai authorities after finding birth control pills in her daughter's luggage.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was one month away from turning 18, but sex with anyone under the age of 18 is an offence in Dubai.

They met when both their families were staying at a luxury hotel.

He was initially accused of rape, but was cleared when police reviewed hotel CCTV footage which showed the girl going into his hotel bedroom at 4am.

The fact the girl was 17 put her under Dubai's age of sexual consent and Marcus was convicted of having underage sex and sentenced last December, prompting him to issue a statement which read: 'I never intended to break the law. It didn't occur to me at the time and for that, I'm sorry.

'I am asking His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum to please forgive me and pardon me. Let me go home. Please give me my life back'.

The girl's mother reported Marcus - who was aged 18 at the time - to the UAE authorities after seeing messages between the two when she had returned to the UK.

His case drew widespread attention and outrage, highlighting the UAE's harsh laws that criminalise personal relationships which critics say disproportionately target foreign nationals.

Radha Stirling, Founder and CEO of Detained in Dubai, who helped Marcus in the Gulf state, told the Daily Mail she was 'deeply saddened' to learn of his death.

She said: 'I came to know Marcus as he faced one of the most frightening experiences of his life, and I witnessed his strength and courage throughout.

'He was grateful for the compassion shown to him by the British public, and his experiences gave him a renewed focus on Christianity and prayer.

'Marcus was thankful to have regained his freedom and was looking forward to building a positive future. My heartfelt condolences go to his family and friends at this difficult time.'

While in prison, Marcus's family had campaigned to bring him home and had hoped for a pardon from Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum (protestors pictured January 4)

She added: 'Marcus spent the majority of this year in a Dubai prison which no doubt caused him long-lasting mental anguish. It's sad that of all of 2025, he was only free for the three months from the 3rd of July until the 3rd of October.

'It wasn't necessary for him to be in prison at all. He could have been deported instead. David Lammy and the FCDO caused Marcus and his family no end of grief, refusing to effectively help him as the Foreign Minister.

'It's sad that he had to go through this in what would be the last months of his life.'

A vigil attended by tearful friends and family was held in his honour on Sunday.

Mr Huseen appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates 24 hours earlier on Saturday. He will appear next on Monday, October 13, at the Old Bailey.
A Sydney father was initially skeptical after he received an unprompted text message urging him to check his lottery tickets.

The Campbelltown man initially thought the text was a joke, only to learn that it was real and that he had become an instant millionaire.

He was the sole division one winner in last Friday's $1million Weekday Windfall draw, which meant he pocketed the entire jackpot.

'I received your text, which said to check my lottery tickets, and I just thought someone had to be joking,' the man told The Lott.

'I went to the newsagency and I'm a regular, so when I walked in, it's like they already knew it was me who had won!

'Then they checked my ticket, and it really was me! I couldn't believe it.'

The lucky winner looks forward to sharing the unexpected windfall with loved ones.

'I never win anything, so you have no idea how I feel right now,' he said.

A Campbelltown father has become an overnight millionaire after he was the sole division one winner in last Friday's $1million Weekday Windfall draw (stock)

The winning ticket was bought at Eaglevale Newsagency (pictured) in Sydney's south-west

'Oh my god. It's amazing. It just means so much to me and my family. It'll really help my children and I.

'I've been playing a long time, so I'm thrilled. Thank you very much.'

He is a regular customer at Eaglevale Newsagency, where his winning 25-game QuickPick was purchased.

It's the third division one lottery ticket the outlet has sold in the last five years.

The Campbelltown father became the ninth division one winner from Sydney south-west this year, sharing a combined $124million.

The Weekday Windfall draws are held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights.

It comes as another lucky Aussie pocketed an eye-watering $15million in Tuesday's Oz Lotto draw.

The next chance to win big is Thursday night's $50million Powerball jackpot.

The Lott's division one winning tally has reached 324 so far in 2025 with almost a third from NSW alone.
A boy has been left fighting for his life after he was hit by a tram and 'dragged underneath' on Tuesday afternoon.

The youngster was flown by air ambulance following the incident at the Crossacres Metrolink stop on Brownley Road in Wythenshawe, south Manchester, which occurred just after 3.30pm.

Greater Manchester Police said the boy, whose age has not been confirmed, had suffered 'life-changing and potentially life-threatening injuries'.

Emergency services, which also included paramedics, advanced clinicians and fire crews, rushed to the scene and are understood to have rescued the child from underneath the tram.

A neighbour told Manchester Evening News: 'I just heard all the sirens - the police, ambulance, helicopter that landed across the road. It was completely shocking, I only found out what happened later and it's just horrible.'

Tram services between Roundthorn and the Airport are suspended while the police investigation continues. Commuters are advised to check the Transport for Greater Manchester website and social media pages for the latest updates.

There are also several road closures in place close to the scene of the incident and bus services have been diverted.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: 'Emergency services are currently responding to reports of a serious incident on the tram network at Crossacres tram stop in Wythenshawe.

A boy has been left fighting for his life after he was hit by a tram in Wythenshawe, south Manchester, and 'dragged underneath' on Tuesday afternoon

Greater Manchester Police said the boy, whose age has not been confirmed, had suffered 'life-changing and potentially life-threatening injuries'

'A boy was struck by a tram and has been taken to hospital with life-changing and potentially life-threatening injuries.

'Trams to Manchester Airport have been suspended whilst emergency service personnel conduct their enquiries.'

Danny Vaughan of Transport for Greater Manchester told us:

'First and foremost our thoughts are with the boy - who suffered serious injuries during the collision - and his loved ones at this extremely difficult time.

'Our priority was to work with Greater Manchester Police and the North West Ambulance Service in their immediate response. We are now doing everything we can to support the police investigation into exactly what happened.

'We're also working with the operator to make sure the staff involved have the support they need.'

Roads later reopened, with tram and bus services resumed as normal.
A British father who was climbing Mount Everest in memory of his late daughter described how the weather 'got pretty hairy, pretty quick' as this weekend's killer snowstorm hit.

Rob Mason, who embarked on the dangerous expedition to raise money for a charity in memory of his daughter Kezia, said his group were 'so lucky' to have survived the unexpected blizzard on the last day of their trek.

Over the weekend, hikers battled brutal weather on the Tibetan side of the mountain after the storm buried campsites under thick snow, forcing terrified climbers to dig themselves out - with at least one person thought to be dead.

Mr Mason from Jersey said parts of the trail he had walked were washed away in a landslide, describing his experience as 'sobering'.

'The rain came down and apparently there was four inches in 12-14 hours which is not normal for this time of year,' he told BBC Radio Jersey.

'It was quite difficult for us but we were on the last day of our trek.

'Unfortunately those that were on the first, second, third day of their trek were heading up as we were heading down, some of the stories when we got back to Lukla - which is the start and finish point of the base camp trek - were pretty harrowing.'

The trek was organised to raise money for Kezia's Fund, a charity collecting funds to support young people's mental health in Jersey.

Mr Mason's group of seven friends did make it to Everest base camp, they left a green heart on one of the prayer flags at the site in her memory

Mr Mason from Jersey said parts of the trail he had walked were washed away in a landslide, describing his experience as 'sobering'

It was established in memory of Mr Mason's 14-year-old daughter, who took her own life in 2022.

The father said one of the most harrowing moments for him was finding the recovered body of a person who had been caught in the blizzard higher up in the trek while his team were waiting to leave Lukla, Nepal.

The snowstorm arrived on Friday and intensified through Saturday during China's 'Golden Week' holiday, when thousands travel to the Himalayas for sightseeing and trekking.

People's tents are said to have been crushed, with some climbers suffering from hypothermia due to the freezing conditions.

A major rescue operation began earlier on Sunday on Tibet's eastern slope of Mount Everest.

Mr Mason's group of seven friends did make it to Everest base camp, they left a green heart on one of the prayer flags at the site in her memory.

The walk was filled with emotion but a success as the group have raised about 20,000.

For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details
Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out a future giveaway of visas for Indian workers.

The Prime Minister said allowing more people to work in the UK was not 'part of the plans' as he set off on his first trade mission to India.

He said his trip, on which he is being accompanied by more than 100 British business leaders, was about boosting investment following the trade deal he struck with his counterpart Narendra Modi in July.

The Free Trade Agreement had been delayed as the UK resisted demands by New Delhi for more professionals in sectors such as IT to be allowed to work in Britain.

Told on his way to Mumbai that chief executives in his delegation as well as in India still want more visas, the PM replied: 'The visa situation hasn't changed with the Free Trade Agreement, and therefore we didn't open up more visas.'

Asked if that was likely to change in the future, he insisted: 'No, that isn't part of the plans. We're here now to take advantage of the Free Trade Agreement that we've already struck.'

He said businesses 'want to take advantage of the mood music that's changed' because of the deal and pointed out that British Airways is increasing its daily flights to Delhi.

'The issue is not about visas. It's about business-to-business engagement and investment and jobs and prosperity coming into the United Kingdom,' Sir Keir said.

Sir Keir Starmer speaking with business leaders at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai, India

Posterson the streets on Mumbai were put up to welcome the Prime Minister as he arrives

Starmer was flanked by a huge delegation of business leaders who have accompanied him on the trip

Starmer takes a selfie with a disposable camera during an interaction with the business leaders

The red carpet was rolled out as the Prime Minister arrived at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai

Keir Starmer speaks on the tannoy system to passengers on the plane as he prepares to board a flight to India where he will meet Narendra Modi

Downing Street said the two-day visit will be the biggest ever UK Government trade mission to India.

Flying with the PM and his entourage are 125 chief executives, entrepreneurs, university vice-chancellors and leading figures from cultural institutions who want to boost ties in the wake of the trade deal.

By lowering tariffs on British exports such as whisky and cars, the Government predicts the deal will increase GDP by 4.8billion a year.
A teacher is accused of raping a teenage girl seven times then trying to fly out the country.

Patrick Jan Starkey, 42, from the NSW Central Coast, allegedly groomed then sexually assaulted a girl on multiple occasions in August and September.

Police launched an investigation into the allegations on September 13 before Starkey was arrested at Sydney Airport the next day while trying to travel to South Africa via Perth.

He has been charged with seven counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a child aged between 14 and 16 years, three counts of intentionally sexually touching a child between 10 and 16 years and grooming a child for unlawful sexual activity.

Starkey was a teacher at St Brigid's Catholic College in Lake Munmorah, on the NSW Central Coast.

The Daily Mail understands he taught English and had only been employed at the school since the beginning of this year.

Before joining St Brigid's, Starkey reportedly worked at several public schools in the region.

The school did not respond to a request for comment when contacted by The Daily Mail last month, and the staff directory has been taken down from their website since Starkey's arrest.

Patrick Jan Starkey, 42, was arrested last month

Starkey, a former teacher at St Brigid's Catholic College, was stood down before his arrest

Parents and carers received a letter from Danny Casey, the director of schools at Catholic Schools Broken Bay, on September 15 to notify them of Starkey's arrest.

Mr Casey said the organisation was restricted in what it could say, as the matter was before the courts, but advised Starkey was stood down on Friday, September 12, when the school became aware of alleged serious misconduct.

He said CSBB was working closely with NSW Police and other authorities, including sharing information about the screening process conducted before Starkey's employment.

'The safety and wellbeing of our students is our highest priority and we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of safeguarding in our schools,' he said.

'I understand that this news is concerning and distressing. Please be assured that CSBB will provide the community with further updates whenever possible.'

Child abuse squad detectives launched an investigation on Saturday, September 13, after complaints were made to police against Starkey.

Police executed a search warrant at 5.55pm the next day at a unit in Kincumber, where a car and laptops were seized for forensic examination.

Starkey was arrested at the airport 35 minutes later. He appeared in court on September 15 and did not apply for bail.

He is next due to appear at Gosford Local Court on November 14.
Displeased parents have complained kink societies on university campuses are 'promoting fetishes' to young and 'vulnerable' students.

Kink societies exist within several student unions across the UK, however their purpose isn't always entirely clear.

In Anglia Ruskin, their society says its aim is to 'empower' those within the group to explore 'their desires safely and confidently'.

Elsewhere, a fetish society at the University of York holds workshops on Japanese rope bondage, with attendees able to come in duos or solo and 'self tie'.

Last March, Sheffield students' union had its first-ever kink club night, where party-goers were told there was no dress code, but covering genitalia was a must.

And an Instagram post promoting the event said: 'Our performers will take over the stage with strip teases, domination and more to get your pulse racing'

However, in many other higher education institutions, these types of groups are more comparable to social clubs.

At Warwick University, its fetish society held a film night for its group where they discussed Fifty Shades of Grey, which features Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson.

And former president of Nottingham University's kink society, Erin Cranson, said there were 'misconception[s]' when it came to kink societies.

Displeased parents have complained kink societies on university campuses are 'promoting fetishes' to young and 'vulnerable' students (stock image)

She told Impact student newspaper: 'The most common misconception I'd say is that people think it's a sex society, people think it's a sex society.'

But, in actual fact, it was a gathering of around 80 to 90 members to meet and discuss their shared interest in a 'safe' setting.

However, a mother whose daughter came across the Kinkster Society shortly after beginning her studies at Anglia Ruskin has since spoken out against such groups.

The parent said she anticipated universities to have sexual health stalls and was 'grateful' for them.

However, she claimed that such societies 'promoting fetish and potentially dangerous and abusive sexual practices crosse[d] the line'.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous for her daughter's privacy, said students were still 'vulnerable' being away from home 'for the first time'.

After adding how she didn't expect for her daughter to be confronted with such subject matter at 18 during freshers week, she told The Times: 'I'm shocked at how badly this university has failed in their duty of care in allowing the promotion of these sexual practices.'

Lucy Marsh from Family Education Trust, a campaign group for traditional family values, said universities were failing to protect students by permitting fetish societies to run without restrictions.

'Student unions are charities which exist to advance the education of students, not to promote dangerous sexual fetishes as normal  especially not in public,' she said.

She said fresh-faced 18-year-olds are vulnerable to 'grooming by older adults' as they are away from home for the first time during freshers week.

Ms Marsh said youngsters should be encouraged to participate in risky activities, which she claimed sought to 'degrade and humiliate'.

She concluded that parents do not send their children to universities and anticipate they will be faced with others 'trying to normalise BDSM and kink clubs'.

An Anglia Ruskin student union spokesperson said: 'The union exists to represent and support all students.

'All registered student societies adhere to our code of conduct and policies, which strictly prohibit activities that are unsafe, discriminatory or non-consensual, and we have received no complaints about this society.'

A University of York spokesperson said: 'Societies are created and run by students to explore lots of different interests, across all kinds of academic, cultural, sporting and social activities.

'Our students' union is home to hundreds of affiliated societies, and given our students are independent adults, they are free to decide which ones they wish to join or attend.'

The Daily Mail reached out to Nottingham University, Warwick University, and Sheffield University and their respective students' unions for comment.
Kristi Noem has lashed out at country music star Zach Bryan for his 'disrespectful' new song which includes lyrics taking aim at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The musician invited the furious wrath of MAGA fans on Monday after a snippet of his latest track Bad News went viral.

On Tuesday, Bryan, a veteran of the US Navy, addressed the scrutiny, taking to Instagram to explain his side - but only after Noem had issued her own take down in an interview with Benny Johnson.

'I hope Zach Bryan understands how completely disrespectful that song is, not just to law enforcement but to this country, to every single individual that has ever stood up and fought for our freedoms,' the Secretary of Homeland Security said.

'He just compromised it all by putting out a product such as that attacks individuals who are just trying to make our streets safe.'

Noem expressed her happiness at never having given a penny to the 29-year-old and added that she had never listened to Bryan before.

She also revealed plans to go out and 'download some' other artist, such as Jason Aldean, John Rich, Kid Rock, and Jon Pardi.

Meanwhile Bryan, who was called 'a piece of s**t', 'liberal' and 'p***y' online by angry listeners, attempted to quell the fury with his own statement, denying the song was anti-ICE.

Kristi Noem has lashed out at country music star Zach Bryan for his 'disrespectful' song that criticizes ICE

Zach Bryan, a veteran of the US Navy, addressed the scrutiny, taking to Instagram to explain his side

Under the title 'pls f**n read this', he pleaded: 'I wrote this song months ago. I posted this song three months ago as a snipped. This shows you how divisive a narrative can be when shoved through social media.

'This song is about how much I love this country and everyone in it more than anything. When you hear the rest of the song, you will understand the full context that hits on both sides of the aisle.

'Everyone using this now as a weapon is only proving how devastatingly divided, we all are. We need to find our way back.'

He said the song is about 'all of us coming out of a divided space' and pressed that he wasn't speaking a politician, or 'some greater-than-thou a**hole,' but as a 29-year-old who is 'confused as everyone else'.

'To be clear, I'm on neither of these radical sides. To all those disappointed in me on either side of whatever you believe in just know I'm trying my best too and we all say things that are misconstrued sometimes.'

Bryan attempted to quell the fury with his own statement, denying the song was anti-ICE

Bryan touched on how, over the last few months, he has been scrutinized more than he could have imagined.

'I feel like l've tried my hardest in so many ways and it's so hard to see where my bearings even are anymore. Been falling off a cliff while trying to grow wings at the same time.'

The snippet of Bryan's latest tune had been posted across his social media with the caption: 'The fading of the red, white, and blue.'

While only a teaser of the track was released, lyrics heard in Bad News quickly ignited widespread backlash.

The artist sings: 'And ICE is gonna come, bust down your door / Try to build a house no one builds no more / But I got a telephone / Kids are all scared and all alone / The middle fingers rising, and it wont stop showing / Got some bad news / The fading of the red, white and blue.'

In amidst the drama, The Department of Homeland Security trolled the artist by using his song Revival as background music for a recruitment video posted to X.

The video captioned: 'Were having an All Night Revival' featured officers rounding up criminals and fighting off protestors as the song blares behind it all.

The Department of Homeland Security trolled the artist by using his song Revival as background music for a recruitment video posted to X

Bryan had previously avoided sending political messages in his music but had acknowledged the assassination attempt on President Trump in July of 2024.

'I don't support Trump or Biden, but the man got shot in the ear, head... and then fist bumped in the air. That is sick, dude!'

Bryan was spotted in a picture with the 45th and 47th presidents at the Super Bowl last year, accompanied by comedian Shane Gillis.

Donald Trump's deportation agenda is tracking to remove two million illegal migrants in 2025 and officials say it's 'just the beginning'.

Around 493,000 migrants have been deported since Trump took office in January, while another 1.6 million have self-deported.

Trump and Noem are responsible for having 'jumpstarted an agency that was vilified and barred from doings its job for the last four years,' spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said.

Another 457,000 illegal migrants have been arrested by ICE agents since January, as McLaughlin says law enforcement has made 'meteoric progress to carryout Trump's promise of arresting and deporting illegal aliens who have invaded our country.'

'Illegal aliens are hearing our message to leave now or face the consequence. Migrants are now even turning back before they reach our borders,' she told The New York Post.

Around 493,000 migrants have been deported since Trump took office in January, while another 1.6 million have self-deported

The final year of Biden's presidency saw just 271,000 removed, which was an increase from 142,000 in 2023.

On the other side of the border, federal agents have only apprehended 238,000 migrants trying to illegally get into America during the 2025 fiscal year, a 55-year low.

That's a shocking drop from the height of the border crisis under Biden, when in 2022, a record 2.2 million were taken in at the border, CBS News reports.

Over 60 percent of the apprehensions at the Mexican border happened during Biden's final three months in office.

'President Trump has overwhelmingly delivered on his promise to secure our Southern Border,' said white house spokesperson Abigail Jackson.

'As a result, Americans are safer  unvetted criminal illegal aliens and dangerous drugs are no longer pouring over our border unchecked,' Jackson added.

'And for all the Democrats who claimed it was impossible to secure the border or that they needed new policy, turns out all we needed was a new president.'
Every black individual in Britain should be paid slavery reparations, Sir Lenny Henry has argued.

The 67-year-old comedian and racism advocate has previously argued that as much as 18trillion should be given to the Caribbean nations by Britain in acknowledgment of its historic role in the slave trade.

But Sir Lenny - who has co-written a book on the subject, The Big Payback - has also outlined the reasons why black people living in Britain and not just the states should also receive compensation.

The Caribbean nations of Jamaica, Antigua, St Kitts, Nevis and Barbados, which were under British control, connected Britain to Western Africa and the Americas and formed a key part of the triangular slave trade between the countries and Britain.

They grew in population from a few thousand in the mid-17th Century to 18,000 in the 1680s - with slaves making up more than half of the total.

Britain prohibited trade in slaves in its empire in 1807 but did not formally abolish the practice of slavery until 1834.

To compensate slave owners, the British government took out a 20million loan - a very large sum at the time - and only finished paying off the ensuing interest payments in 2015.

In his forthcoming book, co-authored with TV executive and charity boss Marcus Walker, Sir Lenny puts forward the argument that all black British people should receive reparations.

Every black individual in Britain should be paid slavery reparations, Sir Lenny Henry argues in his forthcoming book

In one section they write, 'we personally deserve money for the effects of slavery', arguing that it directly led to racism and black people being treated unfavourably in Britain, The Daily Telegraph reported.

They add that 'the reason we have racism today and also why black British people are grossly over-represented in the prison population', as well as higher levels of unemployment, is 'all because of the transatlantic slave trade.'

The pair argue that the reparations are not only justly deserved but also are a necessity for 'ridding the world of racism'.

Dudley-born Sir Lenny made a name for himself in the 1970s and 80s for edgy stand-up routines and outrageous characters that would poke fun at his Jamaican roots.

But over the past decade, the comedian has turned towards fighting for racial equality as a black rights campaigner  with a particular focus on improving diversity on television.

He has also spoken about how he regrets some of his earlier comic creations such as Theophilus P Wildebeeste, an amorous soul singer who appeared on The Lenny Henry Show in the 1980s.

Another example he has previously cited was Donovan Bogarde, a character from 'Lenny Henry in Pieces', which aired between 2000 and 2003.

Bogarde was a lecherous pensioner with a thick West Indian accent who constantly used sexual innuendos in conversations with Mrs Johnson, a woman he was pursuing.

According to the latest figures, the majority of Britain's 2.4 million black population are of African descent.

More than 15 million people were shackled into the transatlantic slave trade, according to the United Nations.

The transatlantic slave trade was a triangular route from Europe to Africa, to the Americas and back to Europe.

Merchants exported goods to Africa in return for enslaved Africans, gold, ivory and spices. The ships then headed across to the American colonies, where the slaves were sold for sugar, tobacco, cotton and other produce.

Once in the colonies, the slaves worked on plantations and inside the homes of Europeans as cleaners, cooks or other household domestics.

The products were then brought back to Europe, benefiting British citizens and producing profit for businesses based in Britain.

Slaves were victim to an oppressive regime that exploited labour to make profit for wealthy landowners. They were bought and sold as property and often lived under horrendous conditions.

In 1672 the Royal Africa Company was formed and held the monopoly on the British slave trade. Jamaica became one of the busiest markets and African slaves soon outnumbered Europeans five to one.

The gold it supplied to the Royal Mint was named the guinea, after the West African country from which the gold was taken.
Detectives swooped on an alleged teenage guns-for-hire hit squad said to be en route to execute a crime figure, amid fears innocent bystanders at a childcare centre could be caught in the crossfire.

Kevin Mundine, 19, Greall Tighe, 18 and Tyrone Tuiluga Rio, 26, were allegedly hired to gun down a known criminal as part of an internal power struggle in a south-east Asian criminal network operating in Australia, police said on Wednesday.

But they were stopped in their tracks on Tuesday afternoon in a dramatic intervention by a police task force which had the alleged gang under surveillance.

Heavily armed police stopped traffic in Revesby in Sydney's south-west as they opened fire on two vehicles in broad daylight.

Officers from Tactical Operations Unit, PolAir, the Dog Squad and State Intelligence Command intervened due to the risk posed to bystanders.

'We clearly stopped them from [allegedly] murdering someone and we clearly stopped other people, innocent bystanders, from being caught up in this intended [alleged] murder,' Detective Superintendent Peter Faux said on Wednesday.

'These people we arrested intending to carry out the [alleged] murder. They do not know the victim [or] have a personal relationship with the victim.

Greall Tighe, 18, was one of three arrested in the dramatic swoop on Tuesday

Tighe, Kevin Mundine, 19, and Tyrone Tuiluga Rio, 26, were allegedly hired to gun down a known criminal as part of an internal power struggle in a south-east Asian criminal network

They were stopped in their tracks on Tuesday afternoon in a dramatic intervention by a police task force which had the alleged gang under surveillance

Tactical police were pictured swarming a Mercedes in Revesby on Tuesday afternoon

'They were people [allegedly] hired by a syndicate, possibly an offshore syndicate, to carry out this [alleged] murder on their behalf.'

'We believe it is an internal matter where there is a dispute inside the organisation.'

The unidentified target came 'pretty close' to being killed before police intervened, senior officers have revealed.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner and head of State Crime Command Scott Cook said on Wednesday that the Tactical Operations Squad has been 'working relentlessly on this crime syndicate for a number of weeks' prior to Tuesday's operation.

'Yesterday we were aware that these three people, their conduct and their behaviour just prior to this interdiction indicated they would do something of a serious nature,' he said.

It's understood that officers fired 'bean bag' rounds - pouches packed with lead pellets designed to stop but not kill - to bring the cars to a halt.

Inside the vehicles, police allegedly uncovered two pistols, balaclavas, body-worn cameras and jerry cans filled with fuel

The Mitsubishi SUV was also peppered with bullets and had its windows smashed

Dramatic video footage showed officers in bulletproof vests at the scene

Dramatic video footage showed officers in bulletproof vests pounding on the sides of a silver Mercedes and shouting orders as one officer aimed his firearm at an occupant.

Within seconds, two men were dragged from the vehicle and pinned to the road.

Further down The River Road, a Mitsubishi SUV peppered with bullet holes was boxed in by police before officers hauled a third man from the driver's seat.

Inside the vehicles, police allegedly uncovered two pistols, balaclavas, body-worn cameras and jerry cans filled with fuel.

The three men were arrested at the scene.

Mundine and Tighe have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, possession of an unauthorised pistol, being carried in a stolen vehicle, participating in a criminal group and breaching bail.

Tuiluga Rio is facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder and participation in a criminal group. All were refused bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday.

Mundine and Tighe have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, possession of an unauthorised pistol, being carried in a stolen vehicle, participating in a criminal group and breaching bail

A Mitsubishi SUV (pictured) was also stopped and searched during the police operation

Tuiluga Rio is facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder and participation in a criminal group. All were refused bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday

It's understood that officers fired 'bean bag' rounds - pouches packed with lead pellets designed to stop but not kill - to bring the cars to a halt

'This was a calculated and coordinated intervention that stopped what we allege was a planned killing in a place where families expect to feel safe,' said Assistant Commissioner Cook said.

'This outcome reflects the strength of our intelligence capabilities and the precision of our surveillance operations. These individuals were being watched, and we moved at the right moment.

'Strike Force Flodine is part of State Crime Command's broader strategy to dismantle organised crime networks operating across Sydney, and these arrests are that strategy in action.

'We remain committed to protecting the community from serious and organised crime, especially when it threatens everyday spaces where families expect to feel safe.'
A neighbour of the sheep station where four-year-old August 'Gus' Lamont went missing has urged strangers to stop attending the property and volunteering to search for him.

Gus was last seen by his grandmother playing in the sand outside his grandparents' homestead on a large property, 40km south of Yunta in South Australia's outback, at about 5pm on September 27.

When the grandmother went to check on Gus again half an hour later, he was nowhere to be found.

A massive search for Gus, one of the largest and most protracted searches ever undertaken by SA Police, was concluded on Friday, October 3, having only found a single bootprint believed to be from Gus.

A neighbour and family friend said she has been visiting the property to help Gus' parents and grandparents in their ongoing search.

However, a recurring issue has been strangers arriving at the property and asking to lend a hand as it bothered the family as it was grieving Gus' loss.

'I know this family very well and they don't want people turning up and having to just deal with that,' she told the Adelaide Advertiser.

'Even if the people are well-meaning and sympathetic, they just want peace and quiet and to try and work out for themselves what's actually happened.'

August 'Gus' Lamont (pictured) was last seen outside his grandparents' homestead near Yunta on September 27

SA Police called of the search, one its largest ever, last Friday (pictured, SES and officers at the scene)

A neighbour and family friend (pictured) revealed unwanted strangers have been turning up to the family's property

'They must be in shock and they just need to be left alone. They're the best people you can get - honest, reliable, trustworthy.'

It comes as another Yunta local, Alex Thomas, told the outlet Gus' family had been victims of horrific 'online vitriol' accusing them of being involved in the little boy's disappearance.

'I really want to gently inform people about the realities of rural life and ask them for their compassion and understanding,' Ms Thomas said.

'Because this gentle and loving family - they're not headlines, they are not a spectacle.

'They are real people who are hurting beyond belief.'

Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott on Friday said his team were 'confident that we have done all we can to locate Gus'.

'The determination of every individual involved to find Gus has never wavered,' he said.

'Like every member of the community who has been following this sad event, they too have been very much affected by what has happened.

The only trace of Gus searchers were able to find was a bootprint (pictured), believed to be left by the four-year-old boy

Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott said his team were 'confident that we have done all we can to locate Gus' (pictured, searchers on the property)

'They are all mothers, fathers or have young siblings and share the anguish and despair that Gus' family have been going through since last Saturday night.'

Commissioner Parrott added while Gus is known to be 'shy but adventures' he had 'never left the family property previously'.

'On Tuesday night senior police spoke to Gus' family and prepared them for the fact that Gus may not have survived due to the passage of time, his age and the nature of the terrain he is missing in,' he said.

'This assessment was based on medical evidence from a doctor who is recognised by the Australian rescue authorities as an expert opinion on time frame for survival.

'While those involved in the search have been hoping for a miracle, over the past 48 hours the search has shifted to a recovery operation.

'At this point, no trace of Gus has been located. No tangible pieces of evidence, such as footprints, a hat or clothing, have been located to identify any direction of travel to assist searchers.'

The investigation into Gus' disappearance is now being managed by the Missing Persons Investigation Section, which deals with long-term cases.

Jason O'Connell was one of the 30 SES volunteers who attended the Yunta property every day to help find Gus.

Yunta local Alex Thomas (pictured) called out 'online vitriol' aimed at Gus' family, lecturing the conspiracy theorists on the 'realities of rural life'

The search for Gus (pictured) has been called off with the investigation now in the hands of the Missing Persons Investigation Section

He said he was 'personally very doubtful' the youngster was on the property

'There's really not much there, and with our lights I'm surprised because we just didn't find anything,' he told the Adelaide Advertiser.

'If he was in a bad way or if he passed away, we'd listen for foxes, look for birds of prey.

'No birds of prey means he's not there.'

Inquiries into Gus' disappearance remain ongoing.
Victorians have vented their anger over a proposal to lease out empty prison beds to interstate inmates as the state contends with its own surge in crime.

The Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) proposed the state government lease vacant prison cells to other jurisdictions, such as Queensland and South Australia, to generate an estimated $290million annually.

IPA research fellow Mia Schlicht found Victoria's jails are currently operating under capacity despite a spike in violent crime and a crackdown on bail laws.

Premier Jacinta Allan's government introduced on March 28 harsher bail laws that made it more difficult for criminals to be released back into the community.

Despite the clampdown, crime rates have soared with 483,583 criminal incidents reported in the 12 months to June 30, making an 18.3 per cent jump to last year.

Criminal incidents per 100,000 Victorians stands at 6,814, which is a 16.3 per cent increase since 2024 and the highest level recorded in more than a decade.

Victorians were left with a foul taste in their mouth after learning the proposal had been made to bring more criminals into their state, and questioned why more local thugs weren't being arrested and sent behind bars to fill up the spare beds.

'I don't know about you, but I'd rather the criminals - the hardened criminals breaking the law, getting out on bail time and time again - to be imprisoned, not out on bail,' Adam Scholte said in a fiery TikTok.

TikToker 'theramulaschronicles' says empty jail cells should house violent offenders

The IPA has proposed that the Victorian government could earn about $290 million a year leasing out cells at Victoria prisons including Barwon (pictured)

'But we're making money through this: let's lease the prisons, let's leave the criminals of Victoria on the outside, continuing to make crime and make people scared s***less in their own home.

'This is what it come down to. Let's keep it empty, keep the prisoners on the outside, and we'll bring prisoners from another state to put in the jails. Please, wake up.'

Social media users echoed Mr Scholte's sentiment.

'Thats what happens when you got this Victoria government, which is a pathetic and corrupt government,' one wrote.

'They sent this state bankrupt and theyre doing anything they can to get money back in.'

Another added: 'The prison system is a money maker for the state.'

Ms Schlicht found Victorian prisons are currently operating at around 70 per cent capacity and any income could be reinvested into crime prevention and other areas of the justice system.

According to Ms Schlicht's report, Victorian prisons average 2,648 empty prison places each day while prisons in South Australia and Queensland are running at maximum capacity.

IPA research fellow Mia Schlicht found Victoria's jails are surprisingly running under capacity

She suggested SA and Queensland could send their extra prisoners to Victoria where the average cost to house a prisoner is almost $600 per day.

'However, the cost of adding an extra prisoner to the system, the marginal cost, is less because much of the prison systems expenditure is fixed,' Ms Schlicht noted.

'The marginal cost of housing an additional prisoner in Victoria is currently $445.43 per day or about $162,581.95 per year.

'If the state leased out 20 percent of its overall prison capacity, priced at the marginal cost of adding each additional prisoner, it could generate approximately $289.8 million annually at current prices.

'International precedent demonstrates that such measures are feasible without compromising the safe and efficient operation of prisons.

'Victoria could convert idle capacity into a revenue stream, reduce the cost burden on taxpayers, and assist other states in managing their prison populations without the immediate need for costly infrastructure expansion.'

Ms Schlicht also highlighted the IPA proposal would be a 'short-term' solution to Victorias 'costly but underutilised prison system'.

'Victoria leasing out its excess prison capacity will not arrest the rising nationwide trend in incarceration,' she noted.

Western Plains Correctional Centre is currently under capacity

'Inevitably, governments will need to address the capacity challenge by either adding new capacity, at a significant cost to the taxpayer, or reforming sentencing so that alternative punishments are used for non-violent, low-risk offenders.'

Ms Schlicht recently expressed her views on Sky News Australia's The Bolt Report, including condemning Victoria's 'crime crisis'.

'Im sure many Victorians are quite surprised that their prisons arent full, especially given the context of the crime crises that were seeing on our street with far too many violent offenders who are basically being let off the hook for committing very extreme offences, and quite rightly so,' she said.

'I think many Victorians are disappointed that those criminals arent facing consequences. But what I think Victorian taxpayers would be even more surprised by is just how much they are paying to keep these empty prison cells afloat.

'I mean, just for an example, in Geelong, there was the Western Plains Correctional Centre, which cost $1 billion to construct. It sat empty for two years, and taxpayers spent 36 million per year keeping those cells open.'

Ms Schlicht said the Victorian government could use the extra income to fund more police.

'I mean, the reality is, this state is broke. There is no more money, and we know that the best way to deter crime is to put more police on the streets, but we dont have money to do so,' she said.

'So lets say if the IPA has proposed that the Victorian government could earn about $290 million a year from this proposal, some of that could be spent putting more police on our streets to stop crime before it happens and make our streets safer.'

Melbourne crime has spiked in recent years (pictured, a woman smashes in a glass door at a store in the CBD)

Ms Schlicht said the IPA's proposal had been well received by the public.

'Certainly weve been out in the community and they are sick and tired of a lack of action here in Victoria,' she said.

'Any criminal justice reform thats been implemented has made the situation worse. I mean, just take one look at the bail laws, which have led us to this situation where violent criminals are not being locked away.

'So the reception from the community has been, lets take this on.'

Allan has not commented on the IPA proposal.
An illegal immigrant was trying to sweet talk Kristi Noem while being detained in Portland but in return she delivered a blunt message that he would never be allowed in the country again.

The Secretary of Homeland Security got confused when the migrant said something that sounded vaguely like 'Let me out' in English - a language he did not speak.

'La e mirao en la tele,' he said, which translates roughly to 'I've seen you on TV.'

He then repeated 'La e mirao' - meaning 'I've seen you' or 'I watched you.' But a bewildered Noem misinterpreted him as asking to be 'let out' of custody.

'Let you out? No. Not let you out,' she told him, as the smile faded from the man's face. 'You're under arrest.'

Her message was translated to Spanish as Noem continued to rant against the man and his brother, who were both placed under arrest for being in the United States illegally.

A video of the interaction was shared on X by conservative commentator Nick Sortor, who was inundated Spanish-speaking users who explained that Noem had been mistaken, and that the man was actually trying to 'sweet talk' her.

'He was actually saying ''I've seen her on tv,'' not ''Let me stay'',' one critic said.

'He was star struck. That's why he was smiling at first.'

The smiling man appeared to ask Noem to 'let me out' in the footage, filmed by conservative commentator Nick Sortor , but translators have since argued he was actually noting he had 'seen her on the tele[vision]'

Kristi Noem has delivered a sharp warning to illegal immigrants all over America as she participated in an arrest this week

The man refused to make any further comment, prompting Noem to move on to speak with his brother, who had also been arrested.

'That is a criminal charge in this country, to be here illegally,' Noem said.

'You waited until we detained you, so now you will be removed from this country, and you will never have the chance to come back. Do you have family here besides your brother?'

She later revealed she had been taking part in an operation targeting the immigrant's brother, who was also in the country illegally but 'had criminal convictions' relating to ID theft.

'He is detained because he is in this country illegally as well,' she said.

Noem had a message directly for illegal migrants who are still in America and have so far avoided detection, warning them: 'If you care about your family, go home. Go home now.

'If you deport now, if you're in this country illegally and leave on your own, you may get the chance to come back to the United States again someday.

'But if you wait until we detain you, you will never, ever get the chance to come to America again.'

Sortor incredulously asked if the man truly believed asking to be let go would 'work' on ICE agents.

Noem was in Portland, Oregon on Tuesday to meet with law enforcement officials regarding protests

ICE has been ramping up operations across the country as Trump seeks to crack down on immigrants

Noem has been mocked in the comments of the video, shared to X, as Spanish speakers noted she had misunderstood what the man was trying to say.

'I wish he said that. But he didn't. He said. ''La e mirado en la tele'' means I have seen her on tv,' a second added.

It comes amid revelations ICE plans to use a hub in Vermont to bolster its digital surveillance capabilities as the agency ramps up operations across the country to reflect Trump's anti-immigration agenda.

Under the latest plans, a contractor would use sites such as Facebook, Instagram and X  and could, in addition, use powerful online commercial, law enforcement and federal government databases  to generate leads about 'individuals who pose a danger to national security, risk public safety or otherwise meet ICE enforcement priorities.'

Details collected could include people's social media posts and the locations tagged in them, according to the plans.

The contractor could also be asked to find information about targeted people's 'associates,' including family members and coworkers, for the purpose of determining someone's whereabouts, the plans from last week state.

The agency is spending millions of dollars on an advertising blitz to increase staffing numbers as Trump seeks to expand arresting capabilities.

'You took an oath to protect and serve, to keep your family, your city, safe,' the narrator says in the advertisement as images of the cities targeted and ICE agents arresting people move across the screen.

Noem has been mocked for misunderstanding the man, who was speaking Spanish

ICE plans to use a hub in Vermont to bolster its digital surveillance capabilities as the agency ramps up operations across the country to reflect Trump's anti-immigration agenda

'But in sanctuary cities, you're ordered to stand down while dangerous illegals walk free.'

The campaign  airing in more than a dozen cities, including Chicago, Seattle and Atlanta  is part of ICE's $30 billion initiative to hire 10,000 more deportation officers by the end of the year to supercharge deportations.

The money is part of the $76.5 billion sought by the Trump administration for ICE  a 10-fold increase in its current budget  as part of the sweeping, multitrillion-dollar tax breaks and spending cuts bill enacted in July.

ICE is already offering bonuses of up to $50,000 for new recruits and other benefits such as tuition reimbursement as it seeks to fast-track hiring.
The Ohio father of a baby who was fatally mauled by his vicious pit bull mix inside their home has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

Blake Bates entered the damning plea on October 2, more than a year after his six-month-old son, Royal Bates, was brutally attacked by his dog Kilo - which had a history of aggressive behavior, Marion County Prosecutor Ray Grogan said.

Bates and his girlfriend, Alyssa Smith, left Royal alone with the pit bull and another child on April 28, 2024.

While the adults were nowhere to be found, the animal lunged at Royal and tore into his skull.

Gut-wrenching body camera footage shows the moment officers arrived at the gory scene at the Marion home.

Smith and Bates appeared frantic and panicked as first responders did everything they could to save the baby.

Bates was heard sobbing as Royal was rushed away in an ambulance. The infant was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Kilo was promptly put down to avoid any further instances of violence.

Royal Bates (pictured) was fatally attacked by his father's dog Kilo last April

Blake Bates (pictured left) entered the damning plea on October 2, more than a year after his dog killed his son while mom Alyssa Smith (pictured) pleaded guilty to child endangerment

Pit bull mix Kilo (pictured) had a history of aggression, according to the case's prosecutor

'The evidence showed Bates ignored warnings about the dog's aggression after it previously attacked a neighborhood child,' Grogan wrote in a statement.

'Months later, the vicious pit bull was left near the unsupervised infant, leading to the fatal attack that gripped the community and highlighted the dangers of negligent pet ownership.'

Grogan said that Bates failed to protect his baby and take sufficient precautions, despite knowing Kilo had lashed out at a child in the past.

'This guilty plea holds Bates accountable for a preventable horror that stole an innocent baby's life,' Grogan said.

'Bates knew his pit bull was dangerous, yet he gambled with this baby's safety  recklessness that demands severe consequences.'

Smith previously pleaded guilty to child endangerment for her role in what Grogan described as a preventable death. She is awaiting sentencing.

Bates faces three years in prison for his involuntary manslaughter conviction, but he also faces sentencing for prior crimes.

These offenses include a fourth-degree felony strangulation of a woman he was involved with and a third-degree felony escape attempt, Grogan said.

Gut-wrenching body camera footage shows the moment officers arrived at the gory scene at the Marion home (pictured)

Smith and Bates have also have a daughter, although it is unclear if she was the child with Royal when he died (pictured: the Bates-Smith family)

'Everyone is responsible for the dogs they own, and  for aggressive dogs  those owners must take extra precautions, especially around kids,' Grogan asserted.

According to Royal's obituary, he was a smiley baby who adored his older sister. It is unclear if she is the child he was with when he was killed.

Over the summer, another Ohio family was faced with similar devastation when a pet pit bull killed a one-year-old in front of her mother.

Blakely Blosser, 1, was killed at her Dover, Ohio home on July 2 after being savaged by the dog.

The prosecutor said that Bates (pictured with Kilo) had an obligation to protect his son, which he failed to do

In the split second her mom Nicole had her back turned to pick up some laundry, the dog growled and jumped at Blakely, relentlessly biting the helpless child on her face and throat.

Her mom sprang into action, sustaining bite marks and cuts as she unsuccessfully tried to pry the dog away from her suffering baby.

But the animal could not be stopped and Blakely died almost immediately after one of the deadly bites, authorities said.
Former California Congresswoman Katie Porter lashed out at an interviewer challenging the Democrat on her candidacy for governor.

Porter, who currently leads many of the polls in the state's primary to replace Gavin Newsom, was being asked about the current governor's attempt to redistrict California to benefit Democrats.

Reporter Julie Watts asked what she would say to Californians who voted for Donald Trump, whom she'll 'need to win.'

The 51-year-old furrowed her brow and asked: 'How would I need them in order to win, ma'am?'

Watts pushed back, saying: 'Unless you think you're going to get 60 percent of the vote. You think you'll get 60 percent? Everyone who did not vote for Trump will vote for you?'

President Trump won just 38 percent of the vote in the Golden State to Kamala Harris' 58 percent.

'If it is me versus a Republican? I think that I will win the people who did not vote for Trump,' Porter said, after laughing at Watts' initial question.

Watts then pointed out that California's electoral system involves a 'jungle primary,' in which several candidates from all parties contest one primary, with the top two candidates moving on to the general.

Former California Congresswoman Katie Porter lashed out at an interviewer challenging the Democrat on her candidacy for governor

Porter, who currently leads many of the polls in the state's primary to replace Gavin Newsom , was being asked about the current governor's attempt to redistrict California to benefit Democrats

Porter was pressed on what would happen were her general election opponent to be another Democrat.

'I don't intend that to be the case,' she responded.

Watts wondered how she could be sure that a Democrat-on-Democrat general wouldn't happen.

Porter, growing increasingly annoyed, said she would build the support and cited her experience representing Orange County in Congress, as its a swing district.

'But you just said you don't need those Trump voters,' Watts retorted.

Porter finally began to crack, starting to gesture with her hands and questioning Watts' interview.

'Well you asked me if I needed them to win. I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative, what is your question?'

Watts then returned to the original topic, which was that she wanted to know what she'd say to Trump voters against Newsom's redistricting efforts.

Reporter Julie Watts asked what she would say to Californians who voted for Donald Trump , whom she'll 'need to win'

Porter became furious at the line of questioning and criticized Watts for asking 'seven follow-ups to every question'

Porter said: 'I'm happy to say that, it's the 'do you need them to win' part that I don't understand.'

As she continued to try and explain herself, she finally became fed up with the questions.

'I don't want to keep doing this, I want to call it. Thank you,' she said, suggesting she was about to walk out on Watts.

Watts asked: 'You're not going to do the interview with us?'

Porter answered: 'Nope, not like this, I'm not. Not with seven follow-ups to every single question you ask.'

Watts said that 'every single candidate' had gone through a similar interview, with Porter responding: 'I don't care.'

'I want to have a pleasant, positive conversation in which you ask me about every issue on this list and if every question, you're gonna make up a follow up question, we're never going to get there,' she continued.

Porter indignantly claimed she 'never had to do this before' as she was daring herself to walk out on Watts, who again pointed out that every other candidate had done the same interview.

Porter's conduct was slammed by her fellow candidates on both sides of the aisle

'I'm me. I'm running for governor because I'm a leader, so I am going to make-' she said before Watts asked: 'So you're not going to answer interview questions from reporters?'

Watts tried to bring the interview back to her list of questions but Porter refused.

'I don't want to have a negative experience with you and I don't want this all on camera,' Porter said.

Watts agreed that she didn't want to have a negative experience either but she would 'love to continue to ask these questions so that we can show our viewers what every candidate feels about every one of these issues that they care about and redistricting is a massive issue.'

The clip was blasted across social media and pounced on by her electoral rivals on both sides.

Fellow Democrat Xavier Beccera wrote: 'Im not interested in excluding any vote. Every Californian deserves affordable health care, safe streets, a roof over their head and a living wage.'

Republican Steve Hilton added: '15 years of one party rule. This is what you get. It's time for change in California.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to Porter for comment.

Porter believes she can win the governor's office without the help of Trump voters

Porter, who left Congress in 2025 after a failed Senate bid, has been the subject of controversy in recent years

Porter, who left Congress in 2025 after a failed Senate bid, has been the subject of controversy in recent years.

Last year, she obtained a temporary restraining order against her ex-boyfriend after accusing him in court of abuse and harassment that she said caused her to fear for her safety and well-being.

The California Democrat petitioned for a domestic violence restraining order on Tuesday with the Orange Country Superior Court, court records show.

Porter alleged her romantic partner of several years sent her, her family and her staff more than a thousand text messages and emails over three months, according to the filing reviewed by Politico.

Judge Michael Perez approved the order Tuesday afternoon ordering Willis to make no contact and stay away from the congresswoman and her children until another hearing in mid-December.

He also ordered Willis not contact her current and former employees or her co-workers about her, but he denied requests for restraining orders for adults she does not live with including her mother, according to the documents reviewed by Politico.

Including in the case filing were details about threats against Porter, 50, to call Child Protective Services to remove her children from her custody.

It also detailed attempts to extort Porter for thousands of dollars and make 'defamatory' false allegations like her having genital herpes. She submitted test results to the court to prove she did not have the sexually transmitted disease, Politico said.

Porter left Congress after an unsuccessful run for Senate.

She was first elected to Congress in the 2018 midterms and has represented first California's 45th district and then 47th district since 2023.

In Congress, she built a name for herself in House committee hearings where she went head-to-head with witnesses and using a whiteboard as a prop.

Following her election loss to Senator Adam Schiff in November, Porter wasted no time in throwing her hat back in the ring.

She is currently campaigning for the 2026 California gubernatorial election, with current Governor Gavin Newsom term-limited next year.
Passengers on a Rex Airlines flight have captured the terrifying moment an engine burst into flames just seconds after take-off.

Flight ZL4818 from Adelaide to Broken Hill was preparing to depart on Wednesday morning when a fault indicator signalled a problem with the left engine.

Unburnt fuel caught fire in the engine just moments later.

Smoke and flames were seen billowing from the plane, forcing the flight to be quickly aborted.

Passengers disembarked on the tarmac and were bussed back to the terminal, as the plane was returned to its bay.

There were no reports of any injuries.

Mark Goodger was among dozens of passengers on board and said the budget airline handled the 'scary' incident well.

'They had to evacuate on the tarmac,' his wife, Julie Goodger, told 7News.

The fire erupted just seconds after the Rex Airlines flight left Adelaide Airport on Wednesday

'He's got a refund and so did others. Not flying today!'

Passengers have been rebooked on alternate services.

'The crew followed standard operating procedures, rejecting the take-off and safely vacating the runway,' a Rex Airlines spokesman told Daily Mail.

'In accordance with standard operating procedures, crew shut down the left engine and as a result a small amount of unburnt fuel ignited in the left-hand engine's exhaust pipe for a brief period.'

It's understood the plane is now out of service as airline conducts an internal review.

Australia's national transport safety investigator ATSB has also launched an investigation.

The incident caused the brief closure of the runway before normal operations resumed at 8am.
A teenager accused of participating in a six-hour gang rape has shielded his face with a mask all the way through his first in-person court appearance.

Adam Abdul-Hamid was in Campbelltown Local Court, in Sydney's southwest, on Wednesday for his first appearance since being granted bail in September.

The 19-year-old, along with three other teens who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of participating in the six-hour-long sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl at multiple Sydney locations in December 2024.

Abdul-Hamid walked into the courthouse with his lawyer, Muhammad Tehseldar, with a black face mask and dark sunglasses covering much of his face.

He continued to wear the mask when asked to stand in court.

Prosecutors do not allege Abdul-Hamid physically assaulted the woman but say DNA evidence on the car where the assaults took place show his complicity in the acts.

Police said the alleged victim was initially approached by a 16-year-old boy, who she didn't know, at a shopping centre in Liverpool in southwest Sydney on a Sunday evening.

Adam Abdul-Hamid, 19, (pictured) covered his face for his first in-person appearance at Campbelltown Local Court, in Sydney 's southwest, on Wednesday

Abdul-Hamid, with three teens who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of participating in a six-hour-long sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl at multiple Sydney locations

Abdul-Hamid walked into the courthouse with his lawyer, Muhammad Tehseldar, (both pictured) with a black face mask and dark sunglasses covering much of his face

The boy allegedly asked to be driven to a park at a nearby suburb, which the girl agreed to on the understanding he would get out of the car.

At the park, two other males got into the car and allegedly joined in sexually assaulting her.

A fourth male arrived in another car and the assaults continued as the girl was driven around for six hours, detectives allege.

During the alleged assault, Abdul-Hamid was allegedly asked 'do you want to have a turn?', according to a police facts sheet presented to the court.

'No, I'm all right,' he allegedly replied.

While he was initially refused bail in June, Abdul-Hamid successfully had that decision overturned in the NSW Supreme Court on September 26.

His bail conditions include being under house arrest with an exception to attend work at the barber shop he runs.

When he was seen out and about for the first time since his arrest on September 30, he was being driven in a white 2015 Mercedes CLA45 AMG by his mother.

Abdul-Hamid (pictured) has been placed under strict bail conditions including being under house arrest with an exception to attend work at the barber shop he runs

While he was initially refused bail in June, Abdul-Hamid successfully had that decision overturned in the NSW Supreme Court on September 26

Wearing a Gucci cap on backwards, with his distinctive rat-tail on display, Abdul-Hamid was on his way to the police station where he must report every day.

When the Daily Mail approached the teenager for a comment, a family member unleashed a tirade of profanities.

'The rape is alleged,' the man bellowed. 'They [the police] don't have enough proof.'

Abdul-Hamid will return to court on October 29.

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Lberal Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has unleashed on her own party, demanding an end to the damaging leaks tearing the Liberals apart.

In a fiery interview with 2GB's Ben Fordham, Senator Price threw her full support behind Andrew Hastie following his shock decision to quit the frontbench so he could speak more freely on immigration.

'I know what it's like to feel like you don't have the support of some of your colleagues,' she said. 'He is a man of principle - I fully back him.'

Price said she had personally spoken with Mr Hastie and agreed with his concerns about 'mass migration', calling for a respectful national debate on the issue.

But the outspoken Northern Territory senator then turned her fury on the Liberal leadership, warning the party risked looking like a 'clown show'.

She urged colleagues to 'get their act together' after an internal review was leaked to the media that said Peter Dutton had blamed Mr Hastie for the Coalition's election loss.

'The leaking of a verbal submission to, quite frankly, lazy journalists is ridiculous,' she said.

'It's another attempt at a pile-on on Andrew Hastie and also verballing our former leader, Peter Dutton, and something has to be done.

'I've written to our leader about my concerns about backgrounding and about leaking to the media - it has to stop.'

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (pictured) said her party risked looking like a 'clown show' over leak

Price denied there was a plan to bring down Opposition Leader Sussan Ley (pictured)

The senator said the Liberal Party should be focused on 'serving the Australian people instead of feeding leaks.'

'Enough is enough. It's just become juvenile, this kind of conduct, and I'm pretty over it.'

Despite growing speculation about tensions inside the opposition, Price dismissed talk of any move to oust Ley.

'No, there isn't a campaign to bring down Sussan Ley,' she said.

'There are those of us who want to get on with the job of serving the Australian people, and a campaign to bring down this wretched government, which is driving this country into the ground.'

Price was removed from the Coalition frontbench last month after refusing to apologise for remarks about Indian migration and declining to publicly support Ley.
A chef-hatted restaurant has gone bust with almost $400,000 in debt, just weeks after its co-founder narrowly avoided jail for assaulting his former partner.

Nina Restaurant, a tapas-style Spanish restaurant in the heart of Adelaide's CBD, suspended trading last Friday and went into liquidation on Tuesday.

Disgraced chef Leonardo Moreira received a suspended sentence in August after he pleaded guilty to the aggravated assault of food influencer Brenda Loveday.

The court heard that the former couple were staying at an Airbnb in July 2024 when Moreira pushed Ms Loveday to the ground, causing her to hit her head, and punched her in the abdomen after she tried to calm him during an argument.

The incident occurred less than a year after the then-couple teamed up with Jessica Purcell to open Nina.

Moreira and Ms Loveday both left the business earlier this year, leaving Ms Purcell as the sole owner, the Adelaide Advertiser reports.

The former couple are both listed as among the creditors owed a combined $384,871.54. Loureiro is owed $39,555, while Ms Loveday is owed $40,000.

'We're investigating the affairs of the company. We're looking for a new purchaser for the business at this time,' liquidator Hugh Martin said.

Adelaide's Nina Restaurant has gone into liquidation just months after it was awarded one chef hat by the Australian Good Food Guide. Former co-owner, celebrity chef Leonardo Moreira, is pictured centre wearing sunglasses

Food influencer and restaurant co-founder Brenda Loveday left the business earlier this year

In his report to creditors, he said he would proceed in the recovery and sale of any available property and report any findings into the company's affairs to ASIC.

An update is expected within three months.

Daily Mail has contacted the liquidator for further comment.

Nina's website and social platforms remain online as of Wednesday afternoon with no mention of its closure.

The website is currently not taking any restaurant bookings until late November.

Moreira was still part of Nina when it was awarded one Chef Hat by the Australian Good Food Guide earlier this year.

The Brazilian-born chef trained at Le Cordon Bleu before working alongside several high-profile culinary figures, including Matt Moran (ARIA), late Masterchef judge Jock Zonfrillo (Orana), and Massimo Bottura (Osteria).

Moreira left Nina in May following his guilty plea.

Opened in October 2023, the restaurant was renowned for its tapas-style cuisine

'Recent events involving a former co-founder of Nina have understandably drawn public attention,' Ms Purcell said in a statement at the time.

'I want to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation, whilst also affirming my commitment to the team, our guests, and the values we uphold at Nina.'

Ms Loveday had left the business two months earlier and was quickly inundated with widespread public support on social media.
A middle school gym teacher who was jailed for repeatedly raping a 15-year-old girl has been killed in prison.

Ernest Nichols, 60, was found unresponsive inside his cell at Greene Correctional Institution in Maury on Sunday morning at around 6.50am, according to officials.

The facility in North Carolina was sent into lockdown, and he was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later.

Nichols was convicted of statutory rape in 2011 and was sentenced to 15 years behind bars. He was set to be released in September 2027.

On Tuesday, the Greene County Sheriff's Office issued a murder warrant for Wilbert Baldwin, 41, who was convicted of second-degree murder in 2010.

The disgraced former gym teacher at Ransom Middle School was first charged with statutory rape and a slew of other sex offenses in 2009, WBTV reported.

According to a search warrant, Nichols raped the teenager multiple times over the course of six months starting in the fall of 2008.

The former teacher was also said to have watched his young victim have consensual sex with another male during the same time period.

Sex offender Ernest Nichols, 60, was found unresponsive inside his cell on Sunday morning

On Tuesday, the Greene County Sheriff's Office issued a murder warrant for Wilbert Baldwin (pictured), 41, who was convicted of second-degree murder in 2010

Investigators also found that Nichols had been posing as his teenage son on Facebook and had sent the teen girl inappropriate messages.

These texts included him telling her to let him know when she was going to take a shower and prompting her to make up sexual stories.

Investigators said he also told her to tell people she 'wanted to' have sex with him if anyone ever asked about their relationship.

All the instances of sexual assault occurred at Nichols's Huntersville home, where he was arrested in 2009.

Investigators seized videotapes, a camera, pictures and sex toys on the premises.

The victim was not a student at the school where he taught.

Before his arrest, police said the victim's mother confronted him. During the tense interaction, Nichols, who was married with two kids, allegedly called himself a 'pig.'

Greene Correctional Institution in Maury was in lockdown after Nichols's corpse was found

During his hearing, he was uncooperative with the judge when he was urged to enter a plea deal, reportedly insisting in court that he was not a 'straw man,' as per WBTV.

He also claimed he did not understand the charges pressed against him and had to be physically restrained by the bailiff as he reluctantly entered his pleas.

Nichols's death remains under investigation. The Bureau of Investigations said that after Baldwin was served with the murder warrant, he was taken to the Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) to continue his current sentence.
Violent cartel members have threatened US tourists in Mexico in an effort to send a warning to FBI Director Kash Patel as the administration continues to crack down on drug and weapons trades.

Extraordinary banners have been erected in Baja California responding to recent raids and weapons seizures conducted by the FBI.

The messages claim that starting Sunday, cartel gunmen from the Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa cartel will begin targeting US citizens who are in Mexico with violence.

In particular, tourists and Americans living in Cabo San Lucas and San Jose have been warned they will be targeted.

Written in Spanish, the warnings state: 'You will be the ones to blame. We'll show how we'll make this war starting 5/10/2025 on all Americans residing in areas where we have a presence especially those living in San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas.

'We are the ones who rule here and we'll demonstrate what we are capable of if you don't stop arresting our people and decommissioning our loads and weapons.'

Cartels are known to hang 'narco banners' from bridges and overpasses in an effort to deliver a message to governments or their rivals.

But Christian Agundez Gomez, mayor of San Jose del Cabo maintained there is no credible proof of the existence of the banners.

Extraordinary banners have been erected in Baja California responding to recent raids and weapons seizures conducted by the FBI

The banners were specifically addressed to FBI Director Kash Patel (pictured)

'It's not true,' he said. 'We have investigated the information and determined the banners were never placed.'

He added: 'There are necessary investigations that are still ongoing. We will monitor results issued by the attorney general.

'Unfortunately, social media sometimes plays a role against people's peace of mind, that's why it's important to verify the information with official sources before distributing it.'

Local news sources railed against the mayor's comments, maintaining they had received images of the banners from multiple sources, according to Border Report.

The banners were specifically addressed to Patel and Terry Cole, director of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Mexico's attorney general in Baja California Sur said there were instances in which banners had been falsely placed to spread fear in the community, despite having no known gang or cartel links.

The Trump administration earlier this month declared the United States is in an 'armed conflict' with drug cartels amid recent strikes on boats in the Carribean trying to cross into US waters.

'The President determined that the United States is in a non-international armed conflict with these designated terrorist organizations,' a memo seen by AP states.

The messages claim that starting Sunday, cartel gunmen from the Los Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa cartel will begin targeting US citizens who are in Mexico with violence

Trump directed the Pentagon to 'conduct operations against them pursuant to the law of armed conflict.'

'The United States has now reached a critical point where we must use force in self-defense and defense of others against the ongoing attacks by these designated terrorist organizations.'

Earlier this week, the US Treasury sanctioned a network of companies and their affiliates that allegedly supplied precursor chemicals to make fentanyl to a faction of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel.

A dozen Mexico-based companies and eight of the people managing them were accused of using their pharmaceutical, laboratory, chemical, cleaning and real estate businesses to purchase the chemicals and provide them to the Sinaloa cartel's 'Chapitos' faction, run by sons of the former Sinaloa leader Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman.

The cartel is among an expanding number of Latin American criminal groups that the Trump administration has designated as foreign terrorist organizations, part of an ongoing effort to more aggressively go after drug-trafficking groups.

'President Trump has made clear that stopping the deadly flow of drugs into our country is a top national security priority,' Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence John K. Hurley wrote in a statement.

'The Treasury Department is committed to dismantling the complex financial networks that support these terrorist organizations.'
A woman prosecutors claim had her death staged to look like a lawnmower accident could have died from deliberate strangulation or in a tragic mistake, a magistrate has heard.

Frances Elizabeth Crawford was found dead near a ride-on lawnmower at the base of a retaining wall at a rural Upper Lockyer property, west of Brisbane, in July 2024.

Her husband and former Royal Australian Air Force Pilot Robert John Crawford, 47, was charged three months later with murder and interfering with a corpse.

Crawford faced Ipswich Magistrates court on Wednesday for the start of a two-day committal hearing to determine if there is sufficient evidence for him to face trial.

Prosecutors have alleged Crawford strangled his wife in a 'murderous rage', possibly in the couple's home bathroom, then moved her body to stage her death to make it look like a late-night accident while she was trying to move the lawnmower away from water sprinklers.

His defence have argued she died from the mower accidentally falling on top of her and the steering wheel compressing her neck.

Frances Crawford's autopsy revealed injuries including 15 abrasions to her throat area and an abrasion to her chin, acting magistrate Sue Ganasan heard.

Forensic pathologist Andrzej Kedziora testified he had performed the autopsy.

Frances Elizabeth Crawford was found dead near a ride-on lawnmower at the base of a retaining wall at a rural Upper Lockyer property, west of Brisbane , in July 2024

Under cross-examination by Crawford's barrister Saul Holt, Dr Kedziora was asked if the injuries could be potentially be explained by someone accidentally reversing a ride-on mower off a retaining wall at night.

'Yes,' Dr Kedziora said.

His report found Frances Crawford was likely not strangled by someone using their hands but could have been killed by someone pressing their arm across her throat via a headlock, Ms Ganasan heard.

'It's possible the abrasions on the neck may have been caused by fabric or the hand by rubbing, the injury on the chest could have been caused by an elbow and the abrasions may have been caused by nails grasping the forearm and hitting the skin of the neck,' Dr Kedziora said.

Mr Holt asked Dr Kedziora if he agreed with another doctor's view that a bruise on Frances Crawford's chest and the abrasion on her chin were more likely to have been caused by the lawnmower than manual strangulation.

'I am unable to determine the probability of these incidents. I included several scenarios and did not rule any out,' Dr Kedziora said.

Mr Holt asked Dr Kedziora about a review of his autopsy report that claimed it 'comes across a bit as though you are trying to fit the cause of death to police suspicions'.

'Do you accept that criticism?' Mr Holt said.

Her husband and former Royal Australian Air Force Pilot Robert John Crawford, 47, was charged three months later with murder and interfering with a corpse

'No,' Dr Kedziora said.

It was standard procedure for another doctor to review an autopsy in the case of a suspicious death, Dr Kedziora said in response to a re-examination by crown prosecutor Chris Cook.

The committal continues and is due to hear from further forensic expert witnesses.

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James Comey was expected to mount a 'very aggressive' defense of the charges levied against him by Trump's Justice Department on Wednesday as Kash Patel addressed rumors about his possible 'perp walk.'

The former FBI director was set to make his first appearance at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia to answer charges of lying to Congress in a bombshell case some have called politically-motivated.

Comey is expected to plead not guilty at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, kickstarting a process of legal wrangling.

Defense lawyers will almost certainly move to get the indictment dismissed before trial, possibly by arguing that the case amounts to a selective or vindictive prosecution, legal experts have said.

'Not only that, but when he files that motion ... he's going to demand to get all the records the Dept of Justice has about the other prosecutors who looked at this case & decided not to bring this case,' former prosecutor Scott Frederickson told CBS News.

Meanwhile, Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared on Fox News where they fielded rumors about a highly publicized perp walk for Comey.

Both Trump officials dismissed the rumors as 'gossip' intended to paint the legitimate prosecution as a circus.

'The mainstream media wants to take the eye off the ball and create theater,' Patel told Fox News Digital.

'We're not about theater. We're about producing our results in court. And that's what you're going to see tomorrow start, the revelation of details, and it will be forthcoming in the judicial process as everyone in America is entitled to, including Mr. Comey, and we want him to have his day in court, and it starts tomorrow.'

James Comey was expected to mount a 'very aggressive' defense of the charges levied against him by Trump's Justice Department

Kash Patel shrugged off rumors that Comey would be forced into a 'perp walk' before the media

'We conduct arrests, the FBI conducts arrests at every courthouse in this country every single day of the year,' Blanche added.

'Mr. Comey has been directed to appear, and I expect that he will. But the noise from MSNBC and from retired agents or unnamed anonymous sources about perp walks is just that. It's just noise.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to Comey's legal team for comment.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has made preparations ahead of Comey's first day in court on Wednesday.

Prosecutor Lindsey Halligan's team has added two attorneys who normally practice in the Eastern District of North Carolina to their legal team, ABC News reported.

Though an indictment is typically just the start of a protracted court process, the Justice Department has trumpeted the development itself as something of a win, regardless of the outcome.

Trump administration officials are likely to point to any conviction as proof the case was well-justified, but an acquittal or even dismissal may also be held up as further support for their long-running contention that the criminal justice system is stacked against them.

The judge randomly assigned to the case, Michael Nachmanoff, is a Biden administration appointee and former chief federal defender.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche suggested Comey's arraignment would be extremely typical of the FBI's work

Former FBI Director Comey called Trump 'a tyrant' and refused to back down after he was indicted by the Department of Justice on one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction

Known for methodical preparation and a cool temperament, the judge and his background have already drawn the president's attention, with Trump deriding him as a 'Crooked Joe Biden appointed Judge.'

Comey lashed out at Donald Trump, calling him 'a tyrant' and challenging him to a trial after the president's DOJ indicted him.

The former director defiantly stated he's 'not afraid' and promised his family would 'not live on our knees' as he prepared to surrender in late September on the charges against him.

'Somebody that I love dearly recently said that fear is the tool of a tyrant and she's right but I'm not afraid and I hope you're not either,' Comey said on Instagram.

'My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump. But we couldn't imagine ourselves living any other way. We will not live on our knees and you shouldn't either.'

The former spy chief was probed over with his September 30, 2020 testimony on what was known as 'Crossfire Hurricane' by the FBI, the original probe into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia in 2016.

The DOJ indicted Comey on one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction, while a grand jury declined to indict Comey on a third count, which was a second count of making false statements, according to documents obtained by the Daily Mail.

'I hope instead you're engaged, you're paying attention and you will vote like your beloved country depends on it, which it does,' Comey continued.

The former spy chief was probed over with his September 30, 2020 testimony on what was known as 'Crossfire Hurricane' by the FBI , the original probe into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia in 2016

Donald Trump celebrated the indictment on Truth Social

'My heart is broken for the Department of Justice but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system. I'm innocent, so let's have a trial and keep the faith,' added Comey.

Donald Trump celebrated the indictment on Truth Social by calling Comey 'one of the worst human beings this Country.'

In a statement to The Daily Mail, Comey's attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald said: 'Jim Comey denies the charges filed today in their entirety. We look forward to vindicating him in the courtroom.'

The case stems from a 2017 incident where Comey, who was FBI director at the time, shared seven memos documenting private conversations he had with Trump.

Comey then gave those to his friend, Columbia Law professor Daniel Richman, who leaked details to the New York Times. This report led to Robert Mueller being appointed special counsel to probe whether Trump colluded with Russia to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.

In September 2020, Comey was brought before Congress to discuss Crossfire Hurricane  the codename for the Trump-Russia investigation.

He was pressed by Republicans about leaks at the FBI during his tenure, including the memos.

Comey denied that he authorized anyone to disclose the memos to the media, stating of his friend: 'I had no idea he was going to do that.'

The DOJ indicted Comey on one count of making false statements and one count of obstruction, while a grand jury declined to indict Comey on a third count, which was a second count of making false statements, according to documents obtained by the Daily Mail

While Comey has been investigated for lying to Congress in the past, he had not been convicted.

A 2019 DOJ Inspector General report found that he improper leaked, but declined prosecution because Comey's denial was 'narrow.'

The indictment makes Comey the first former senior government official to face prosecution in connection with one of Trumps chief grievances: the long-concluded investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Trump and his supporters have long derided that investigation as a 'hoax' and a 'witch hunt' despite multiple government reviews showing Moscow interfered on behalf of the Republicans campaign.

The criminal case is likely to deepen concerns that the Justice Department under Bondi, a Trump loyalist, is being weaponized in pursuit of investigations and now prosecutions of public figures the president regards as his political enemies.

It was filed as the White House has taken steps to exert influence in unprecedented ways on the operations of the Justice Department, blurring the line between law and politics for an agency where independence in prosecutorial decision-making is a foundational principle.

Comey was fired months into Trumps first administration and has long been a top target for Trump supporters seeking retribution.

He was singled out by name in a social media post before the indictment in which Trump complained directly to Bondi that she had not yet brought charges against him.

Acting US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan (pictured) was appointed earlier this month

Donald Trump (right) asserted that James Comey nearly started a war by launching Crossfire Hurricane. Pictured top left: US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan

The following evening, Trump said in a Truth Social post aimed at the attorney general that department investigations had not resulted in prosecutions.

He said he would nominate Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide, to serve as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

'The charges as alleged in this case represent a breach of the public trust at an extraordinary level,' said U.S. Attorney Halligan in a statement.

'The balance of power is a bedrock principal of our democracy, and it relies upon accountability and a forthright presentation of facts from executive leadership to congressional oversight. Any intent to avoid, evade, prevent, or obstruct compliance is a violation of professional responsibility and, most importantly, the law.'

She has been one of Trump's personal lawyers and does not have experience as a federal prosecutor.

'For far too long, previous corrupt leadership and their enablers weaponized federal law enforcement, damaging once proud institutions and severely eroding public trust.'

'We cant delay any longer, its killing our reputation and credibility,' Trump wrote, referencing the fact that he himself had been indicted and impeached multiple times. 'JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!'

Halligan had rushed to present the case to a grand jury this week. Prosecutors were evaluating whether Comey lied to Congress during testimony on Sept. 30, 2020, and they had until Tuesday to bring a case before the five-year statute of limitations expired.

Trump's Attorney General Pam Bondi (pictured) has been laying the groundwork for multiple cases against the president's political enemies

This courtroom sketch depicts U.S. District Michael Nachmanoff, who will preside over the Comey case

The push to move forward came even as prosecutors in the office had detailed in a memo concerns about the pursuit of an indictment.

Trump has for years railed against both a finding by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia preferred him to Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election and the criminal investigation that tried to determine whether his campaign had conspired with Moscow to sway the outcome of that race.

Prosecutors led by special counsel Robert Mueller did not establish that Trump or his associates criminally colluded with Russia, but they did find that Trumps campaign had welcomed Moscows assistance.

Trump has seized on the fact that Muellers investigation did not find that the Trump campaign and the Kremlin colluded, and that there were significant errors and omissions made by the FBI in wiretap applications, to claim vindication.

A years-long investigation into potential misconduct during the Russia investigation, was conducted by a different special counsel, John Durham.

That produced three criminal cases, including against an FBI lawyer, but not against senior government officials.

The criminal case against Comey does not concern the substance of the Russia investigation.

Rather, it accuses him of having lied to a Senate committee in his 2020 appearance when he said he never authorized anyone to serve as an anonymous source to a reporter about the investigation.

Nicolle Wallace interviews James Comey onstage in 2023

The case will take place at Albert Bryan United States Courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia

Trumps administration is trying to cast the Russia investigation as the outgrowth of an effort under Democratic President Barack Obama to overhype Moscows interference in the election and to undermine the legitimacy of Trumps victory.

Administration officials, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, have declassified a series of documents meant to chip away at the strength of an Obama-era intelligence assessment published in January 2017 that said Moscow had engaged in a broad campaign of interference at the direction of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Comey has for years been a prime Trump antagonist. Comey was a senior Justice Department official in Republican President George W. Bushs administration, was picked by Obama to lead the FBI in 2013 and was director when the bureau opened the Russia investigation.

His relationship with Trump was strained from the start and was exacerbated when Comey resisted a request by Trump at a private White House dinner to pledge personal loyalty to the president. That overture so unnerved the FBI director that he documented it in a contemporaneous memorandum.

Trump fired Comey in May 2017, an action later investigated by Mueller for potential obstruction of justice.

After being let go, Comey authorized a close friend to share with a reporter the substance of an unclassified memo that documented an Oval Office request from Trump to shut down an FBI investigation into his first national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

Trump and his allies later branded Comey a leaker, with the president even accusing him of treason.

Comey himself has called Trump 'ego driven' and likened him to a mafia don.

Comey has also instigated the president. On May 15, 2025, he posted a photo on Instagram showing seashells arranged to form the message, '8647.' He captioned the image with: 'Cool shell formation on my beach walk'

Comey has also instigated the president. On May 15, 2025, he posted a photo on Instagram showing seashells arranged to form the message, '8647.' He captioned the image with: 'Cool shell formation on my beach walk'

The Justice Department, during Trumps first term, declined to prosecute Comey over his handling of his memos.

The departments inspector general did issue a harshly critical report in 2019 that said Comey violated FBI policies, including by failing to return the documents to the FBI after he was dismissed and for sharing them with his personal lawyers without FBI permission.

Earlier this year, the department fired Comeys daughter, Maurene Comey, from her job as a prosecutor in the Southern District of New York.

She has since sued, saying the termination was carried out without any explanation and was done for political reasons.

Critics call the continued prosecution of Comey by Halligan politicized and have pointed to her ties to defending Trump in past cases.

But Comey has also instigated the president.

On May 15, 2025, he posted a photo on Instagram showing seashells arranged to form the message, '8647.' He captioned the image with: 'Cool shell formation on my beach walk.'

It was deleted just hours later after Trump allies interpreted it as a code calling for the 47th president's assassination. The service industry slang to '86' something is to get rid of it.

Comey insisted he was unaware of any political meaning and said he opposed violence.

But DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced Secret Service launched an investigation and the former FBI Director voluntarily sat for an hour interview with the president's protective detail.
The beloved host of a Kiwi cop show has died following a battle with cancer.

Graham Bell, host of the hit New Zealand show Police Ten 7, died peacefully at 78-years-old while surrounded by family on Tuesday.

'He leaves behind his devoted wife of 57 years, Joyce, his children David, Megan, and Chrissy, their partners Shar, Dobbo, and Morne, and his adored grandchildren Tom, Ruby, Scarlett, Ollie, Jack, and Bella,' a family statement read.

Bell served 33 years with New Zealand Police, having risen to Detective Inspector by the time he left the force in 2001.

He hosted Police Ten 7 from when it first aired in 2002 until 2014. For Australian fans, the show was broadcast on Foxtel, Channel 7 and Channel 10.

'Bell - a retired Detective Inspector - was an avuncular grouch who earnt the respect of the viewers,' Stuff TV reviewer Graeme Tuckett wrote in 2023.

'No matter how salty Bell was in describing the "lunatic scumbags" and "gutless morons" who featured each week, there was also no hiding that Bell had a real love of community and the best interests of the victims at heart.'

It's understood Bell's dialogue was largely unscripted with the ex-cop drawing on his own experience and passion for commentation.

Graham Bell, host of the hit New Zealand show Police Ten 7, died peacefully at 78-years-old while surrounded by family on Tuesday

Bell served 33 years with New Zealand Police, having risen to Detective Inspector by the time he left the force in 2001 (he is pictured on the set of Police Ten 7)

Detective Sergeant Rob Lemoto, who took over hosting Police Ten 7 from Bell in 2014, applauded Bell for being 'passionate about helping police to solve crimes'.

'He was very successful on Police Ten 7 at getting the public to call in to steer investigations in the right direction,' Lemoto said.

'He set the bar very high having seen the gratitude of victims who received justice, thanks to his tenacity.

'On screen and on the front line, Graham was formidable. He oversaw the investigations into 19 murders and many other serious crimes; he was focused on justice for victims, and pursued leads relentlessly.'

Those investigations included some of New Zealand's most infamous cases.

One of which in 1998 saw Bell lead a team of 60 officers looking into murder of Reporoa woman, Beverly Bouma.

The following year, Bell had to contend with the passing of his colleague, Constable Murray Stretch, who was beaten to death during a burglary investigation.

'It adds a whole new dimension to something when you go to a murder, and the person that's lying there is known to you,' Bell said in 1999.

He hosted Police Ten 7 (pictured) from when it first aired in 2002 until 2014. For Australian fans, the show was broadcast on Foxtel, Channel 7 and Channel 10

'You can't bring people back to life, but you can certainly make those that carry out criminal acts pay for them.'

Fellow policeman have long sung Bell's praises.

'As a young police officer and fresh detective, Bell was someone I certainly looked up to in terms of his passion for policing but also his drive to hold some of our worst offenders to account,' Commissioner of Police Richard Chambers previously said.

'He was a bit of a legend when it comes to policing in New Zealand and a real personality as well.'

Bell was awarded the Queen's Service Medal in 2001 for his police work and contribution to criminal investigations.

He oversaw 19 murder cases over his 33-year career.
A businessman found guilty of raping a female acquaintance on a Greek holiday organised by families linked to a top Sydney private school is living in Australia while appealing his conviction.

Nicholas 'Nic' Stavropoulos is believed to be living freely in Point Piper in Sydney's well-heeled east after being found guilty in May by a Greek court in the city of Naxos of raping a woman in the bathroom at a Mykonos nightclub in 2016.

The attack took place during a holiday organised by families associated with elite eastern suburbs private school Kambala Girls.

The scandal has since divided Sydney's high society and sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community.

Stavropoulos, 50, who pleaded not guilty, was sentenced to six years' jail after a panel of three judges and a jury of four found him guilty of rape.

He immediately launched an appeal and remains on bail in Australia until a full retrial takes place in Greece.

NSW Police are aware of his conviction and have moved to apply for a court-ordered apprehended violence order (AVO) to protect the victim, according to The Australian.

A civil case in the NSW District Court brought by the woman, seeking damages for mental health treatment and legal costs, is also set to resume on October 16 after being paused since 2022.

Litsa and Nicholas Stavropoulos on one of their European getaways

The pair quietly ended their marriage - with Nicholas now dating Pembe Bekir (left), the former best friend of his his ex wife Litsa (right).

Nicholas Stavropoulos was convicted in a Greek court in May following an attack on the island of Mykonos in 2016

The conviction is the latest chapter in a dramatic fall from grace for Stavropoulos, who was once hailed as a rising star of the travel industry.

In 2002, he co-founded Excite Holidays, which grew into a billion-dollar wholesaler before its sudden collapse in January 2020 left furious agents and suppliers out of pocket to the tune of more than $35 million.

Staff were reportedly instructed to switch off their phones over Christmas to avoid angry calls, even as bookings continued to be taken  despite hotels and airlines not being paid.

At the time, administrators KPMG told unsecured creditors their chances of a getting any money back were 'extremely unlikely.' Stavropoulos and fellow director George Papaioannou expressed 'deep regret' for the collapse.

But less than three years later, Stavropoulos was again in the spotlight  this time for his lavish personal spending.

In August 2023, he threw a masked ball at the State Library of NSW for his then-wife Litsa's 50th birthday.

The black-tie celebration, attended by Sydney's eastern suburbs elite, reportedly cost more than $100,000.

The marriage ended in February this year, sparking another scandal that has since consumed the city's social set.

The former couple sold their Vaucluse home in May for $10,500,000

Nicholas and Litsa Stavropoulos in Europe with their two children.

The former couple sold their Vaucluse home in May for $10,500,000.

Stavropoulos is now dating Litsa's former best friend, Pembe Bekir  a relationship that insiders describe as 'seismic,' shattering friendships and blindsiding his ex-wife.

The saga echoes the 2021 high-society scandal involving investment banker Charlie Aitken, who began a relationship with Hollie Nasser, the close friend of his ex-wife Ellie, following their split.

In 2022, Litsa had shared a photograph of herself with Pembe on social media, gushing: 'She's the YANG to my YIN. Love you a million times to the moon and back @pembebekir.'

But in recent months, she has posted cryptic memes hinting at betrayal, including one that read: 'When people show you who they are, believe them'.

Friends say Sydney's once tightly-knit eastern suburbs set is now fractured, with many rallying around Litsa, who remains a popular figure in the community.

The AVO matter will be mentioned at Waverley Local Court on Thursday.
The ex-husband of Mark Latham's former partner has slammed police over her arrest and detention after she was charged with revenge porn offences.

Nathalie Matthews was taken into custody at Sydney Airport about 7am on Sunday on an outstanding warrant when she flew home from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

The 38-year-old was charged with accessing or modifying restricted data without authorisation and intentionally recording and distributing an intimate image without consent.

Matthews was granted bail on Monday and on Wednesday appeared in Downing Centre Local Court where she pleaded not guilty.

Her ex-husband is currently also before the courts accused of waging a campaign of harassment against Matthews, but he spoke out strongly against her arrest.

Ross Matthews told the Daily Mail he was not the alleged victim of the charges his ex-wife was facing - that person cannot be identified - but he was aware of 'the circumstances surrounding them'.

'While I condemn Nat's [alleged] behaviour, for her to be arrested at the airport and held for 28 hours over such a petty matter that she never would have been charged with had she not been in the public eye is ridiculous,' he said.

'I know for a fact that NSW Police were in contact with Nat a week before she was arrested, after they had already issued the warrant for her arrest but did not advise her she had an outstanding warrant or even ask her to return to Australia.

The ex-husband of politician Mark Latham's former porn star partner Nathalie Matthews (above) has slammed police over her arrest and detention after she was charged with revenge porn offences

Ross Matthews said he was not the victim of the charges his ex-wife was facing but he was aware of 'the circumstances surrounding them'. The former couple is pictured on their wedding day

'What is their excuse for this?

'Nat is hardly going to become a permanent fugitive from the country she was born in and runs a business in over such minor charges, so I understand why Nat has pleaded not guilty.

'These charges are ridiculous and NSW Police should not be applying the law differently based on the fact she is in the public eye. That is disgraceful - but NSW Police are a disgrace, so not surprised.'

Ross Matthews has previously criticised police for accusing him of harassing his ex-wife without even having interviewed him.

He is charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend Nathalie Matthews with phone calls and emails between April 1 and June 2 this year.

The starting date of that alleged conduct coincides with the first listing of a case Matthews brought against his ex-wife in the NSW Supreme Court.

Ross Matthews pleaded not guilty to the harassment charge on July 23 and his case will return to Downing Centre Local Court for hearing in December.

He previously told the Daily Mail he was not a public figure and wished to maintain his privacy, but was unhappy with the way police had handled his case.

Ross Matthews (left) is currently also before the courts accused of waging a campaign of harassment against his ex-wife (right) but spoke out strongly in her defence

'As my lawyer has stated, phone records will demonstrate that the claims made against me are false,' he said.

'It is disappointing that NSW Police chose not to verify Ms Matthews' allegations or even speak with me before laying charges.'

Police are also seeking an apprehended violence order on Ms Matthews' behalf to protect her from her ex-husband.

The harassment allegation against Ross Matthews emerged a week after he insisted he no longer had anything to do with his former wife since their split three years ago.

He spoke out after Ms Matthews accused Latham, a former federal Labor leader turned NSW Upper House independent, of 'a sustained pattern' of psychological, financial and emotional abuse during their relationship.

'Please stop messaging me,' Ross Matthews posted to X. 'I don't speak to Nathalie and do not care. Thank you.'

Nathalie Matthews is privately seeking an AVO against 64-year-old Latham, accusing him of vile conduct 'including defecating on me before sex and refusing to let me wash'.

She further claims he forced her into degrading sexual acts, demanding she call him 'master' and pressuring her to take part in sex with others.

Ms Matthews has accused 64-year-old Latham of 'a sustained pattern' of psychological, financial and emotional abuse during their relationship. They are both pictured above

The businesswoman also alleges physical violence including Latham pushing her against walls, forcing her out a door, throwing a plate at her, and driving at her with a car.

Latham appeared in Downing Centre Local Court in relation to the AVO application on Wednesday while Nathalie Matthews was present

In her AVO application, Matthews stated she still held fears about Latham.

'The defendant has held intimate photos and videos of me, and I have been afraid he would expose them to shame and control me if I attempted to leave or resist his demands,' she wrote.

The Daily Mail is not suggesting any wrongdoing by Latham, only that Ms Matthews has made allegations against him.

Ms Matthews describes herself as the managing director of Skynet Global Logistics, a company involved in freight forwarding which has a presence in Sydney, Perth and Dubai.

This publication revealed in July that Ms Matthews had worked as an OnlyFans porn star for years before she began dating Latham and converted to Islam in 2022, adopting the name Maryam Abdullah.

Ms Matthews posted hundreds of explicit images of herself on the site under the name Bondi C** S***, as well as videos showing her having sex.

The Daily Mail revealed in July that Ms Matthews (above) had worked as an OnlyFans porn star for years before she began dating Latham and converted to Islam in 2022

Latham has denied ever mistreating Ms Matthews during what he describes as a 'sexed-up, consensual, open arrangement'.

He has not disputed sending sexually graphic texts to Ms Matthews - but says some messages have been taken out of context - and has not denied having sex with Ms Matthews in Parliament House.

'The big news is I had a private life,' Latham told 2SM's Chris Smith. 'I had a sex life and I've got to say it was fantastic.

'If I'm the only person in Australia who in a work environment engaged in a bit of playful sex talk with their partner, then I'll buy everyone a lottery ticket tomorrow.'

Ms Matthews' revenge porn matter will return to court in November. Her AVO application is next listed later this month.
At least forty people have died after a paraglider dropped bombs on a festival in Myanmar.

Hundreds of people were gathered in the Chaung U township for the Thadingyut full moon festival on Monday evening when the military dropped bombs on the crowd, according to a member of the committee that organised the event.

The woman, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said people were gathering for the festival and an anti-junta demonstration at around 7:00 pm when the bombs killed more than 40 people and wounded about 80 others.

'The committee alerted people and one-third of the crowd managed to flee,' she told AFP. 'But immediately, one motor-powered paraglider flew right over the crowd', dropping two bombs on the centre of the gathering.

'Children were completely torn apart,' said the woman, who was not at the scene but attended funerals on Tuesday.

When another motorised paraglider flying overhead left the area, she said people rushed to help the wounded.

'As of this morning, we were still collecting body parts from the ground - pieces of flesh, limbs, parts of bodies that were blown apart,' she added.

A resident of Chaung U who attended the event on Monday confirmed the estimated toll, saying people attempted to run when they realised the paramotor was flying overhead.

'While I was saying to people "please don't run", the paramotor dropped two bombs,' he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

An airstrike by the military on a village in January. On Monday, another airstrike launched by the army killed at least 40 people during a festival

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'Two of my comrades were killed just in front of me. There were even more who died in front of me.'

He said he attended funerals on Tuesday for nine friends who were killed. A local media outlet also said 40 people were killed in the attack.

A junta spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment late Tuesday.

Myanmar has been reeling from civil war since the military seized power in a 2021 coup, prompting pro-democracy rebels to take up arms and ally with ethnic armed groups against the junta.

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International said in a statement that the nighttime attack 'should serve as a gruesome wake-up call that civilians in Myanmar need urgent protection'.

The attack showed the military was 'intensifying an already brutal campaign against pockets of resistance,' the London-based organisation said.

'The international community may have forgotten about the conflict in Myanmar, but the Myanmar military is taking advantage of reduced scrutiny to carry out war crimes with impunity,' said Joe Freeman, Amnesty's Myanmar researcher.

Since 2021, thousands of people have been killed and millions have been displaced.

Although the military lost control of more than half of the country, it has started to make significant gains.

Myanmar is set to hold general elections in December, the first since the 2021 coup that toppled Aung San Suu Kyis government.

Smoke seen rising from the Khampat Township after a military strike in January. Amnesty International said that the latest nighttime attack 'should serve as a gruesome wake-up call that civilians in Myanmar need urgent protection'

The junta, led by General Min Aung Hlaing, claims the vote will restore civilian rule, but critics say it is a sham designed to legitimise military control.

The opposition National League for Democracy has been dissolved, and fierce fighting continues between the army and ethnic rebel groups.

With large parts of the country in conflict, tight media restrictions and limited independent observation, analysts warn the election could trigger fresh unrest and widespread violence.

According to reports, the military has carried out airstrikes and artillery attacks on rebel-held towns, burning villages and displacing civilians.

This is a breaking news story with more to follow.
Detectives are probing possible links between the death of a Sydney woman earlier this year and an alleged foiled execution plot at a daycare centre this week.

Tactical police swooped on three alleged would-be hitmen in traffic at Revesby, in the city's south, on Tuesday afternoon. Investigators on the case are examining potential links to the alleged kidnapping and murder of mum-of-two Thi Kim Tran.

Police allege the Vietnam-born woman was abducted from her western Sydney home in April by masked men and shot before her remains were found in a burnt-out car.

The 45-year-old woman was likely targeted over her husband's alleged ties to a Vietnamese-linked crime network based in Victoria, detectives said.

Bankstown man The Anh Nguyen, 29, was charged with her murder in August. He is not accused of having killed Ms Tran himself but of facilitating her death.

The nature of any links between Tuesday's arrests and the death of Ms Tran being investigated by police, first reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, are not clear.

However, police alleged on Wednesday the foiled assassination plot at the daycare was commissioned by a Vietnamese criminal network operating in Australia.

Daily Mail is not suggesting the incidents are linked, only that investigators are looking into potential links.

The three arrested on Tuesday - Kevin Mundine, 19, Greall Tighe, 18 and Tyrone Tuiluga Rio, 26 - were allegedly hired to gun down a known criminal at a daycare pick-up as part of an internal power struggle within a criminal group.

Investigators are exploring potential links between an alleged foiled assassination on Tuesday and the alleged execution of Sydney woman Thi Kim Tran (pictured) in April

Tactical police are pictured swarming a Mercedes in Revesby traffic on Tuesday afternoon

Greall Tighe, 18, was one of three arrested in the dramatic police traffic stop on Tuesday

They group was stopped in their vehicles on Tuesday afternoon in a dramatic intervention by a police task force which had them under surveillance.

Heavily armed police stopped traffic in Revesby in Sydney's south-west as they opened fire on two vehicles in broad daylight.

Officers from Tactical Operations Unit, PolAir, the Dog Squad and State Intelligence Command were involved in the arrests.

'We ... stopped them from [allegedly] murdering someone and we ... stopped other people, innocent bystanders, from being caught up in this,' Detective Superintendent Peter Faux said on Wednesday.

He said police did not believe the group personally knew the alleged intended victim.

'They were people [allegedly] hired by a syndicate, possibly an offshore syndicate.

'We believe it is an internal matter where there is a dispute inside the organisation.'

He said police swooped on the group in traffic as investigators believed they were on the way to a daycare where there would have been children present.

Tighe, Kevin Mundine, 19, and Tyrone Tuiluga Rio, 26, were allegedly hired to gun down a known criminal as part of an internal power struggle in a south-east Asian criminal network

Police had the alleged gang under surveillance before they stopped them in traffic

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner and head of State Crime Command Scott Cook said on Wednesday that the Tactical Operations Squad has been 'working relentlessly on this crime syndicate for a number of weeks' prior to Tuesday's operation.

It has since been revealed Tighe was on bail when police swooped on the car after he was charged with 17 cases of break and enter.

It's understood that officers fired 'bean bag' rounds - pouches packed with lead pellets designed to stop but not kill - to bring the cars to a halt.

Dramatic footage showed officers in bulletproof vests pounding on a Mercedes and shouting orders as one officer aimed his firearm at an occupant.

Within seconds, two men were dragged from the vehicle and pinned to the road.

Further down The River Road, a Mitsubishi SUV peppered with bullet holes was boxed in by police as officers hauled a third man from the driver's seat.

Inside the vehicles, police allegedly uncovered two pistols, balaclavas, body-worn cameras and jerry cans filled with fuel.

Inside the vehicles, police allegedly uncovered two pistols, balaclavas, body-worn cameras and jerry cans filled with fuel

Dramatic video footage showed officers in bulletproof vests at the scene

Mundine and Tighe have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, possession of an unauthorised pistol, being carried in a stolen vehicle, participating in a criminal group and breaching bail.

Tuiluga Rio is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and participation in a criminal group. All were refused bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday.

'This was a calculated and coordinated intervention that stopped what we allege was a planned killing in a place where families expect to feel safe,' said Assistant Commissioner Cook said.

'This outcome reflects the strength of our intelligence capabilities and the precision of our surveillance operations. These individuals were being watched, and we moved at the right moment.

'Strike Force Flodine is part of State Crime Command's broader strategy to dismantle organised crime networks operating across Sydney, and these arrests are that strategy in action.

'We remain committed to protecting the community from serious and organised crime, especially when it threatens everyday spaces where families expect to feel safe.'
A 14-year-old girl told police she was held overnight and raped after meeting a man in a Sussex village.

The girl told detectives she met the man on Keymer Road near the junctions with Parklands Road and Grand Avenue in Hassocks, West Sussex, on Thursday evening.

She was later held overnight at an address in the village and raped, the girl told detectives. Police said the girl had been in contact with the man before meeting him.

Sussex Police arrested a 25-year-old man was early on Monday morning on suspicion of rape.

The suspect, who is British and from the Mid Sussex area, has been interviewed and released on conditional bail while further enquiries are carried out.

The force added that they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.

Investigators began knocking doors and patrolling the West Sussex village in a bid to establish the circumstances of what happened.

A local resident who was asked for doorcam footage said police were asking to see footage from Thursday evening and the early hours of Friday morning.

A 14-year-old girl was raped by a man after meeting him on Keymer Road near the junctions with Parklands Road and Grand Avenue (pictured) in Hassocks on Thursday evening

The woman - who asked not to be named - said: 'It's really worrying. The police wanted to see anything the camera recorded on Thursday evening and between 4am and 5am on Friday morning.

'It's broad daylight at that time in the evening, then it's really early in the morning. I don't understand what that could be about.'

A local high school emailed parents saying they were aware of the incident and had asked staff to 'remain vigilant'.

Head teacher of Downlands Community School, Matt Ashdown, told parents: 'We are aware of an alleged incident that took place in Hassocks last week.

'In response, we have increased our pastoral support capacity and asked staff to remain vigilant in monitoring students' wellbeing and reactions.

'At this time, we have not received any further information from the police beyond what has already been shared within the community.

'The safety and wellbeing of our students remain our highest priority.

'Staff are on duty in the village before and after school each day.

'Within school, students are aware of how to report any safeguarding concerns, and we continue to encourage them to report anything of concern..'

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Cobbett said: 'This is an evolving investigation, and we have specialist officers in contact with the victim to ensure she is fully supported throughout.

'From the moment this was reported to us on Friday morning, we have conducted multiple enquiries in the Hassocks area to try and establish the full circumstances of what happened.

'Through these enquiries, we now believe the victim and suspect were in contact with one another prior to the reported offence.

'Our investigation is ongoing, but we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident and do not believe there to be any risk to the wider public.'

Inspector David Derrick added: 'Officers will be maintaining a presence in Hassocks while our enquiries into this matter are ongoing, and we encourage anyone who has any concerns to speak with them.

'We take all reports of this nature incredibly seriously and the public can be reassured that an extensive and thorough investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with any information relating to what happened is asked to report online or by calling 101 quoting Operation Insight.
Terrifying new footage of the moment an elephant flipped over a safari canoe and tried to crush a woman to death has emerged.

Panicked holidaymakers were left clinging for their lives after the furious animal stormed toward them in the Okavango Delta in Botswana. Astonishingly, they filmed their own attack.

Larry Unrein, who was among a party of one American couple and one British couple, had been around twenty minutes into a boat safari when he spotted the elephant on the riverbank.

Moments later, it suddenly began charging at the vessel. Attempts by their tour guide to steer them away from the incensed animal proved futile.

The speeding beast quickly closed in, slamming into the boat with such force that it flipped over, sending Larry and the other passenger plunging into the crocodile-infested water.

As chaos erupted, the animal appeared to target one of the tourists, using its head to push the helpless passenger beneath the surface.

Larry said he waded away in panic as screams echoed across the delta, with others desperately trying to scare the animal off.

He recalled: 'It was life and death, and I did my best to record the encounter. We somehow survived, and the footage is insane.

In terrifying new footage, a woman was attacked by the elephant who had charged at the group

The tour guide is said to have taken the group too close to the elephant, leading to the attack

Astonishingly, the tourists filmed their own attack. Larry said he waded away in panic as screams echoed across the delta, with others desperately trying to scare the animal off

After the attack, the animal rejoined its herd as the tourists tried to get to safety

After a few tense moments, the elephant finally backed off and returned to its young, allowing the drenched and shaken passengers to swim to safety.

Miraculously, everyone escaped the frightening incident that happened on September 22 without injury.

Experts said the tourists were lucky to have escaped as they could have all been killed by the animal.

Others also commented that they could have been ravaged by crocodiles after the disturbance.

Initial reports indicated that the tourists had gotten too close to the elephant and its young, leading to the shocking attack.
The BBC has apologised after referring to Hamas's October 7 attacks as an 'escalation' on the second anniversary of the massacre that left more than 1,200 people dead.

The wording appeared in an internal email to BBC News staff marking two years since the atrocities, sparking fury and accusations of anti-Israel bias inside the broadcaster.

Rather than showing the Israeli victims of Hamas's murderous rampage, the message was accompanied by a picture of Palestinian women and children picking their way through rubble in Gaza.

The email formed part of a regular update from the BBC Audiences team, which analyses audience data and advises journalists and producers on how best to engage viewers and listeners.

It said: 'As we reach the two-year anniversary of the escalations in the Israel-Gaza conflict, we asked UK audiences what they want and need from news coverage moving forward.'

The wording provoked an immediate backlash - with critics accusing the corporation of downplaying the horrors of October 7 and once again showing bias against Israel.

The wording appeared in an internal email to BBC News staff marking two years since the atrocities

Israelis gather to mark its darkest day. Some said prayers while others shed tears

Adam Ma'anit, whose cousin, Tsachi Idan, was taken hostage from the Nihal Oz kibbutz on October 7 and murdered in captivity, condemned the BBC.

He said: 'To use that language and framing is incendiary and insulting.

'That this report was circulated today of all days speaks to an institutional bias within the BBC that is shocking and distressing. Does our pain not count?'

Natalie Sanandaji, a survivor of the October 7 Nova festival massacre, said: 'To make such a 'mistake' on October 7 of all days is painful for me to see as a survivor of the Nova festival. Once again, it feels the media is trying to downplay or erase what happened to us on October 7, what started this war: an attack on Israel by Hamas.

'I would have hoped that the media would respect our pain for just one day, the way they respect the pain of the people of Gaza all year round for the past two years.'

After several staff members reportedly complained about the email's wording and the choice of image, the BBC issued an apology.

A spokesman told the Mail: 'This internal staff email should have been worded differently and we're sorry for any offence caused. We are editing it and will replace the text on our intranet.'

It is understood the message was written by a junior member of staff.

A BBC source said the image of Gaza was used because the email discussed current audience attitudes to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

The row is the latest in a long line of controversies for the corporation over its coverage of Israel and Hamas.

Since the attacks two years ago, the BBC has repeatedly faced accusations of bias including criticism for refusing to call Hamas terrorists in its early reporting of the massacre.

An Israeli flag is left in house that was destroyed in a battle between Israeli soldiers and Palestinian militants on Saturday's Hamas attack on the kibbutz on October 14, 2023 in Be'eri, Israel

Just three days ago the broadcaster was also criticised by Jewish leaders for broadcasting a programme hours after the Manchester synagogue attack where an expert blamed Israel and the British government for the atrocity that claimed two lives.

It aired the news talk show called The World This Evening on its controversial Arabic service channel, which is part of the licence-payer-funded BBC World Service.

In the show, broadcast on Thursday evening to millions in the UK and across the Arab world, presenter Mohammed Saif Al-Nasr interviewed a Jewish rabbi called Jonathan Romain, and a Cambridge-based Midde East expert called Dr Makram Khoury-Machool, a Palestinian himself.

During the 14-minute exchange, the two guests were asked about the attack by Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, on the Heaton Park synagogue earlier in the day, which left two Jewish worshippers dead and three injured.

Police shot dead Al-Shamie himself, who was carrying a knife and fake suicide device on him.

Whilst British and Muslim leaders in the UK condemned the terrorist attack, Dr Khoury-Machool appeared to blame the British government and the support of Jewish leaders of the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war.

Dr Khoury-Machool said: 'The Jewish community and the British government cannot treat such an incident in Britain as though it fell from the sky, and suddenly the perpetrator carried out the attack and assaulted a Jewish synagogue.

'The British government must inquire on its own police and statements. When we listen to the Jewish leadership, they either support the Israeli occupation, and most of them do  it is not possible for a British Jewish leader to endorse Netanyahu's crimes and not expect there to be reactions on the British street.'
By Nazrin Abdul



Azerbaijan and the Sultanate of Oman have explored avenues to enhance bilateral economic cooperation.

Azernews reports that Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov shared details of the discussion in a post on his official account on "X" (formerly Twitter).

"It was a pleasure to meet with H.E. Said bin Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Saqri, Minister of Economy of the Sultanate of Oman, during our business visit to the country," Jabbarov wrote.

"We reviewed opportunities to strengthen economic relations, unlock cooperation potential in trade and investment, and promote joint initiatives in energy, industrial zones, tourism, SMEs, and transit sectors. We also exchanged views on Azerbaijans strategic geographic location and its high transit efficiency, which offers favorable conditions for foreign investment," the post stated.
Keir Starmer's government deliberately collapsed the prosecution of two men accused of spying for China so it could 'suck up to Beijing', Kemi Badenoch said today.

The Tory leader lashed out amid claims that the Prime Minister's light touch with the Communist regime had handed it a free pass to commit espionage in the UK.

Her comments in her speech closing the Conservative Party Conference came after the astonishing decision by the director of public prosecutions (DPP) to publicly accuse ministers of undermining his work.

Stephen Parkinson revealed that the Crown Prosecution Service had spent more than a year trying to get key evidence that the accused pair, Chris Cash and Christopher Berry, were spying for an 'enemy'.

In a letter which has deepened the war of words in Whitehall over the scandal, he said prosecutors were rebuffed by officials who, as Labour look for closer relations with Beijing, refused to say China represented a threat to the UK's national security.

Sir Keir today insisted the previous Tory government policy on China needed to be the focus of scrutiny, as they were charged in April 2024, when the Tories were in power.

But critics laid the blame at his door and that of Attorney General Lord Hermer, with calls for the latter to face questions in Parliament.

In her leader's speech at the Manchester conference, Mrs Badenoch said: 'Today, we learn that Labour deliberately collapsed the trial of two men accused of spying on MPs for China, because the Prime Minister wants to suck up Beijing.

'This is squalid.'

The Tory leader lashed out amid claims that the Prime Minister's light touch with the Communist regime had handed it a free pass to commit espionage in the UK.

Sir Keir today insisted the previous Tory government policy on China needed to be the focus of scrutiny, as they were charged in April 2024, when the Tories were in power.

Speaking in Mumbai, the Prime Minister said: 'Well, as you know, we were disappointed that the trial didn't proceed, but the position is very clear that the trial would have had to take place on the basis of the situation as it was at the time under the previous Tory government.

'So whatever their position was, was the only position that could be presented at trial.'

So it wasn't, as it were, this Government's position. It was the Tory government before's position.

'Now that's not a political to and fro, that's a matter of law.

Earlier a Labour minister refused to label China as 'an enemy' of Britain.

Emma Hardy admitted dealing with the communist regime was 'a challenge', the day after the director of public prosecutions launched an astonishing attack on the government.

And she told Sky News there was no plan to brand China an 'enemy'.

'China is a challenge and China is a country which we have a large trading relationship with,' she said.

Emma Hardy admitted dealing with the communist regime was 'a challenge', the day after the director of public prosecutions launched an astonishing attack on the government

CPS chief Stephen Parkinson has sensationally revealed that the China spy case collapsed after the Government's national security adviser refused to provide crucial evidence that China represented an 'active threat'

'Sometimes we will be competing with China and sometimes we will be collaborating with China and sometimes we need to challenge China when it makes decisions that we don't think are in our interests.

'But ultimately this government acts in the national interest.'

However, former DPP Ken MacDonald told the BBC that the Lord Hermer needed to reveal what happened.

'Everybody's saying, you know, ''I knew nothing about this. The decision was made by somebody else. No one consulted me. None of its my fault and I can't explain it''', he said.

'The reality is, you simply cannot have a serious national security case collapsing without some proper explanation being given to the public.

'The Attorney General Lord Hermer has to attend Parliament when Parliament returns from its recess to explain what has happened here.'

Last night, Shadow Security Minister Alicia Kearns, who has been told by the CPS that she was 'targeted' by China as part of the case  and with whom Mr Cash previously worked  said: 'It looks like this Labour Government is so desperate to appease China to get some sort of deal across the line that they refused to provide vital evidence to the CPS that China represented a threat to the UK's national security.

'It's effectively handing carte blanche to China to spy on Britain without fear of repercussions, because it shows that no one in Government was willing to say that China poses a threat  not even that China is an enemy state, just that it poses a threat of any sort.'

When they were charged under the Official Secrets Act 1911, Mr Cash and Mr Berry were accused of collecting and passing information that would be 'directly or indirectly useful to an enemy'.

Just weeks later, a High Court ruling on a similar Bulgarian spy case effectively set the bar for prosecution when judges ruled that spying must constitute an active threat to national security.

Following that judgement, Mr Parkinson sought additional evidence from national security advisers in Whitehall to fortify the case against Mr Cash and Mr Berry.

But he had to pull the plug last month after prosecutors were strung along for months with the promise of further witness statements to resolve the issue, only for them to never materialise.

Downing Street has confirmed that National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell will appear before senior MPs and peers to answer questions about the scandal

When the case was dropped at the Old Bailey last month, Henry Blaxland KC, representing Mr Cash, said his client was 'entirely innocent'.

Mr Berry had also denied the allegations and said he did not understand why the case was brought.

It can now be revealed that Matthew Collins, the Executive Deputy National Security Adviser, made the decision that China was not a national security threat to Britain.

Last night it was claimed that he provided evidence to the CPS that the Government did not consider China a threat even before the suspects were charged.

Government sources hit back at Mr Parkinson by claiming Mr Collins had consistently maintained the same position when asked for clarity by the CPS. The clash will pile yet more pressure on Keir Starmer's National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, to explain why taxpayers' cash was wasted on a two-year case which may have been doomed from the outset due to the Labour Government's efforts to build ties with the Communist state.

Former parliamentary aide Christopher Cash, 30, was charged with passing secrets to Beijing

Also charged was teacher Christopher Berry, 33. The charges against both men were dropped

Downing Street has confirmed Mr Powell will appear before senior MPs and peers to answer questions about the scandal. But his appearance before the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy will be in private.

Ms Kearns, a former chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and a long-standing critic of China's human rights record, added: 'If you look at the [Bulgarian case] High Court judgement, it was pretty reasonable, there is plenty of evidence in the previous speeches of MI5 chief Ken McCallum that China poses a threat.

'Keir Starmer has questions to answer here, this judgement effectively lowered the bar for prosecution, yet no one in Government was willing to help the CPS.'

It was after mounting calls for an inquiry into the episode that Mr Parkinson wrote to the chairmen of the Home Affairs and Justice Committees last night saying he had decided to provide 'further information' due to 'Government briefings' on the case.

He wrote: 'I am satisfied the decision to charge this case in April 2024 was correct.'

Speaking about the case for the first time, Sir Keir, himself a former DPP, insisted that witness statements were prepared on the basis of the Tory administration's stance on China in 2023, which described the country as merely an 'an epoch-defining challenge' rather than an enemy.

He said: 'What matters is what the designation was in 2023, because that's when the offence was committed and that's when the relevant period was.'
Chinese firms are using fake photos and backstories of so-called family-run UK businesses to dupe British shoppers into parting with their cash.

The Daily Mail has uncovered four separate websites that present themselves as a wholesome mother-and-daughter clothing businesses but are actually using identical AI generated images with false stories to lure in customers.

'June and Wren', 'Carol and Emily', 'Mabel and Daisy' and 'Olivia and Ivy' all claim to have been started based off of 'family love' and to make 'women feel confident'.

However, customers have told of feeling 'completely ripped off' after thinking they were buying from quaint independent boutiques in England - only to receive cheap, mass-produced items shipped from warehouses in East Asia.

The businesses have received hundreds of one-star reviews on Trustpilot, with furious customers complaining they paid premium prices for shoddy goods and were then hit with 'extortionate' return fees.

Sara Black said: 'Would have loved to give zero stars this 'company' is an absolute scam.

'Ordered a 'wool' jumper and when it eventually arrived was what can only be described as cheap crimplene definitely not to be worn near a naked flame.'

While Mary Maguire added: 'AVOID. Poor quality items, nothing like as described on the website. Tracking revealed apparently shipped from China.'

'June and Wren', 'Carol and Emily', 'Mabel and Daisy' and 'Olivia and Ivy' all claim to have been started based off of 'family love' and to make 'women feel confident'

The Daily Mail has uncovered four separate websites that present themselves as a wholesome mother-and-daughter clothing business but use identical AI generated images of two women

However, customers have told of feeling 'completely ripped off' after thinking they were buying from quaint independent boutiques in England

Another suspect store, Mabel & Daisy, presents itself as a wholesome mother-and-daughter clothing business based in Bristol, but its contact details trace back to Hong Kong

Each websites thanks shoppers for their support in helping their 'dreams come true'.

Carol & Emily says: 'Your support has turned that dream into something real, and it means so much to us.'

While Mabel & Daisy writes: 'Thanks to your support, our dream continues to grow and we're so grateful to have you with us on this journey'.

Shoppers said they were targeted by adverts as they scrolled through Facebook, raising further questions about how social media platforms allow dubious firms to promote themselves.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said tech companies must do more to protect consumers.

Another suspected dupe firm, showed a lovely elderly couple, Eileen and Patrick, in matching shirts and cabinets filled with glittering jewellery behind them.

Together they own jewellery brand C'est La Vie, which claims to be based in Colmore Row, Birmingham.

However recent adverts for the company told customers that Eileen's 'beloved husband' Patrick had died and that she was closing the business with a heart-wrenching 80 percent off sale.

'I've battled to keep our handmade jewellery boutique alive but grief has drained my strength and I must close our doors,' the message read.

With their warm smiles, matching shirts and cabinets filled with glittering jewellery behind them, Eileen and Patrick look every inch the proud small-business owners

Customers have told of feeling 'completely ripped off' after thinking they were buying from quaint independent boutiques in England - only to receive cheap, mass-produced items shipped from warehouses in East Asia

But buyers lured in by the sob story soon flooded Trustpilot with complaints about receiving 'lumps of resin', 'plastic junk' and 'cheap metal rubbish'.

'If I could give 0 stars, I would - complete scam, no such company in Birmingham, can't believe I fell for it,' one shopper fumed.

The websites have been approached for comment.

Last month adverts for a company that posed as a 'British' clothing firm but was actually shipping goods from a warehouse in Asia was banned by the regulator.

The Advertising Standards Authority found that Marble Muse misled consumers into thinking it was a British-based brand with its use of images of the Union flag and models walking along cobbled streets and in gardens surrounded by roses.

The firm's website, seen in May, featured an image of a handbag set against a city street backdrop, above text that read 'British Brand' alongside a Union flag icon and the text 'Free UK Shipping'.

Further down the page, an image showed a woman carrying a Marble Muse handbag while crossing a cobbled street framed by townhouses and shops.

'Every thread tells a story. Each piece is designed with timeless elegance and modern precision, crafted with the utmost care and dedication,' the website reads, adding the Marble Muse collection embodies 'sophistication confidence and sustainability'.

Adverts for Marble Muse - a company posing as a 'British' clothing firm that was actually shipping goods from a warehouse in Asia have been banned by the ASA. Pictured is a page discussing Marble Muse's supposed founders, James and Eleanor

Further down the page, an image also shows a woman carrying a Marble Muse handbag while crossing a cobbled street framed by townhouses and shops

In the 'Contact Us' section, the company's address was listed as an address in London, while a page titled 'Our Beginnings' claimed that the brand was also founded in the capital.

Another page discussed Marble Muse's founders, James and Eleanor, alongside a picture of a silver haired man and a ginger woman smiling in a clothes shop.

Customers looking to return any of their items are also told to send them to Marble Muse's central warehouse in Asia 'at the customers expense'.
A newly elected German mayor was found fighting for her life with multiple stab wounds after a screaming row was overheard at her house by neighbours.

Iris Stalzer, 57, mayor-elect of the town of Herdecke near the western city of Dortmund, has refused to name her attacker, amid reports that her 17-year-old adopted daughter is suspected by police.

She was found at her home at around 12.40pm local time on Tuesday with life-threatening injuries, and was allegedly bleeding on an armchair.

She sustained 13 stab wounds on her back and stomach, according to German outlet Westfalenpost, which quoted the police saying the 'crime scene is located at the politician's home'.

She was discovered there where her adopted children - her daughter and 15-year-old son - were both present, reported Bild.

The pair called 911 and the boy told police that his mother had been attacked by 'several men on the street', the outlet added.

But neighbours told the publication that they overheard a row take place at the house.

'Half an hour before the rescue helicopter landed, I heard the boy and his mother arguing,' a 62-year-old neighbour said. 'They were literally screaming at each other.'

The teenagers were questioned by the police; the boy was reportedly arrested and handcuffed, and he was photographed entering a police car wearing an evidence-preserving overall.

According to a report in Blick, investigators are now pursuing the politician's teenage daughter as their suspect.

Stalzer was said to regain consciousness later in the day to provide police with brief details of the stabbing; she reportedly said she knew the attacker but declined to provide a name.

Officers escort Iris Stalzer's 15-year-old adopted son to a police car

Iris Stalzer, 57, mayor-elect of the town of Herdecke near the western city of Dortmund, was found at her home at around 12.40pm local time on Tuesday with life-threatening injuries.

Forensic investigators appear at the crime scene at a street in Herdecke after the newly elected mayor was found critically injured in her apartment

Stalzer was quickly taken to hospital by helicopter where she was immediately treated in intensive care and is said to be in critical condition.

Her daughter was involved in a previous case of domestic violence in the Stalzer household in the summer of this year, reported Der Spiegel, which claimed the teenager used a knife against her mother.

Prosecutors and police said in a statement later that there was 'no sign that this was a politically motivated deed... On the contrary, we suspect it was a family dispute'.

They added that the politician's children were at the police station as investigators 'try to clarify the circumstances' of the attack.

'Close family involvement cannot be ruled out at the present time,' they said in a statement yesterday.

Stalzer was due to take office after being elected as the mayor of Herdecke, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, only a week ago.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the attack as a 'heinous act' and demanded that the crime and its background 'be swiftly clarified'.

In the wake of the attack, German police issued a major alert and begun a manhunt for suspects, but the search has allegedly been dropped, reported Blick.

Stalzer is the newly elected mayor of Herdecke in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia

Emergency services stand next to a rescue helicopter in Herdecke

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Ambulance vehicles are seen near the site where Iris Stalzer was attacked

Forensic investigators were pictured searching for evidence and sealed off the road around the Stalzer house, where police said that there was a large operation under way.

A homicide squad is expected to take over the investigation into the attack shortly.

'The motive for the crime is completely unclear; we are investigating all avenues,' said police spokesman Tino Schafer on Tuesday.

Stalzer, of Germany's centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), the junior party in the country's conservative-led national government, was elected on September 28 as mayor of Herdecke.

After securing just over 52.2 per cent of the vote, she celebrated her success in a post on Instagram, writing: 'Above all, I would like to thank the citizens of Herdecke for this fantastic result and the trust you have placed in me as the new mayor.

'I will begin my term in November  full of joy, enthusiasm, and respect for this task. Together with you, I want to shape, develop, and keep our city vibrant.'

The comments on the post are now filled with 'get well soon' messages in the wake of the news of the attack.

'Disgusting act. A speedy recovery,' one person wrote.

'I pray for your health,' another added.

The mayor is married with two teenage children and has lived in Herdecke for almost the entirety of her life.

She is a lawyer and a specialist in employment legislation, and had already served on Herdecke's city council prior to the local election.

Merz wrote on social media that 'we fear for the life of mayor-elect Iris Stalzer and hope for her full recovery'.

'My thoughts are with her family and her relatives,' he added.

Police officers work at the scene after the attack

The leader of the Social Democrats' parliamentary group in Berlin, Matthias Miersch, told reporters Tuesday that 'we heard a few minutes ago that newly elected mayor Iris Stalzer was stabbed in Herdecke'.

He said that 'we hope that she survives this terrible act'.

'We can't say anything at the moment about the background,' he added.

Stalzer, who beat a candidate from Merz's centre-right Christian Democrats in a runoff vote to win election, is due to take office on November 1.

Herdecke is a town of about 23,000 people in western Germany's Ruhr region, between the cities of Hagen and Dortmund.

The Herdecke city administration issued a statement following the attack.

First Deputy Mayor Dennis Osberg said: 'The media reports about the police operation at Iris Stalzer's home have caused shock and dismay among the city administration.

'I sincerely wish Ms. Stalzer a speedy recovery. My thoughts are with her and her family.

'The city administration cannot provide any information on Iris Stalzer's condition.'

Fabian Haas, the politician's opponent in the runoff election, expressed his condolences following the attack 'on our elected mayor, Iris Stalzer'.

He wished for her recovery, saying: 'My thoughts are with her and her family.'

The case initially raised memories of the 2019 murder of conservative local government president Walter Luebcke, a supporter of then Chancellor Angela Merkel's refugee policy, who was shot dead by a far-right activist as he smoked a late-night cigarette on his terrace at home.

The attack comes after a region-wide campaign that politicians in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's largest state, said was distinguished by the viciousness and rawness of its tone.

A recent study found 60 per cent of politicians in Germany had experienced violence at least once, with one in five saying it had made them more reluctant to appear in public.

In 2015, Henriette Reker was stabbed by a right-wing extremist the day before she was elected mayor of Cologne. She made a full recovery and is due to leave office later this year.

She was stabbed in the neck while campaigning at a street market by a 44-year-old man wielding two knives, who was motivated to attack her because of his opposition to mass immigration.

Four other people were also injured in the attack as they attempted to try to save her.

Frank S. was convicted of attempted murder in 2016 and was sentenced to 14 years.

He told the High Court in Duesseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, that he stabbed her in the neck with a hunting knife because she 'welcomed' refugees, and claimed he only meant to wound her, not kill her.


Kemi Badenoch has vowed to abolish stamp duty to help millions of people own their own home as she insisted only the Conservatives can restore Britain's economy.

Closing the Conservative conference in Manchester, the Tory leader dismissed fears that the party is finished with supporters switching to Reform.

Announcing the party's new policy to scrap stamp duty, she said the country's housing market must be freed up to prevent the death of social mobility.

She told activists that only the 'competent' Tories and their 'timeless principles' can save Britain from its 'darkest days' of 'decline', by stabilising the economy and overhauling society's 'broken model'.

Watch: Kemi Badenoch speech at the end of Conservative Party Conference

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One in 10 working age Scots have never had a job, a new analysis of figures has revealed.

A total of 314,200 people in Scotland, aged 16-64, have never worked a day in their lives, the data from the Office for National Statistics claims.

This includes 165,700 Scots who are not in full-time education, but have still not worked.

It means that more than nine per cent of the 3,468,100 working age adults have never had a job, according to the analysis by the Scottish Conservatives.

The figures come amid major concerns about the soaring cost of benefits in Scotland.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, told the Daily Telegraph: 'We've got an SNP Government that is not remotely interested in Scotland's economy.

'Far too many people are trapped on a life of benefits to their great detriment  and to the detriment of the wider economy.'

He said the figures are 'deeply concerning' but said he was 'not surprised' by what they showed.

One in 10 working age Scots have never had a job, a new analysis of figures has revealed (Stock Photo)

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Mr Findlay said: 'It's unfair on them. It's unfair on those who are working hard and paying tax, and that's why we need to do a lot better as a country about getting these people into the workplace.'

The number of people who have never worked in Scotland has soared dramatically in the last year.

In 2022, 111,500 people were recorded as having never having worked and were not in full-time education, but this figure soared to 151,200 in 2023 and to 165,700 in 2024, according to data compiled by the Scottish Parliament's independent research centre (SPIce) in response to a request by the Tories.

The figures come after Mr Findlay used a speech at the Tory conference to condemn the SNP's failings on the economy, the bloated benefits bill and the nationalisation of industry.

He claimed that both the SNP and Reform UK are 'economic vandals', while the Nationalists wants to turn Scotland into a country 'that rewards skivers, and not strivers'.

In contrast, he pledged that the Scottish Conservatives will be 'Scotland's party of economic opportunity'.

Audit Scotland recently highlighted that more people in Scotland now identify as having a long-term illness, going from 18.7 per cent in 2011 to 21.4 per cent in 2025.

A report by the Auditor General for Scotland recently showed how the Scottish Government will spend 2.6 billion on the adult disability payment (ADP) this year, which is 141 million more than the funding it receives for it through its block grant from Westminster.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay used a speech at the Tory conference to condemn the SNP's failings on the economy, the bloated benefits bill and the nationalisation of industry

It said the overall funding gap for ADP will grow to 770 million by 2029/30  and that the overall gap for all devolved social security payments will rise to 2 billion by the end of the decade.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'Scotland's unemployment and claimant count rates are lower than the UK as a whole and our devolved employability services have supported almost 27,000 people into employment.

'The Adult Disability Payment is a payment to help with the additional cost of being disabled. It is not an unemployment benefit and many of its recipients are in full-time employment.'

In the UK, one million young people aged 16 to 24 are not in education, employment or training, of which an alarming 58 per cent have never had a paid job, according to ONS statistics.

In 2020, it was revealed that 3.4 million people in the UK (8.2 per cent of the working-age population) had never had paid employment.
Spain has declared an emergency in the Balearic islands after they became Europe's fastest-growing short sea crossing for North African migrants.

Overall, irregular migration to Spain has fallen this year, but it rose by 170 percent in the Balearics in the first six months of 2025 to around 3,000 people, official data released in August shows.

By the end of September, nearly 6,000 people had reached the holiday islands in nine months, with arrivals up by 84 percent year-on-year, according to Alfonso Rodriguez, the Spanish representative on the Balearic Islands.

Authorities on the archipelago off eastern Spain, which include holiday hot-spots Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera - say they feel abandoned.

They fear they could become a new migrant gateway, like the Canary Islands, which received 47,000 from West Africa at the peak of that route's popularity in 2024.

Arrivals in the Canaries fell by 46 percent in January-July of this year, largely thanks to tightened controls by Mauritania.

The majority of the boats are believed to have left from Algeria, signalling that the central Mediterranean route is gathering pace while the once-busy flow from Mauritania to the Canary Islands has collapsed.

'Where is the government of (Pedro) Sanchez?' Balearic regional leader Marga Prohens said on X back in August, referring to Spain's prime minister.

Spain has declared an emergency in the Balearic Islands as they become Europe's fastest-growing short sea crossing for North African migrants

Irregular migration to Spain has fallen this year, but it rose by 170 percent in the Balearics in the first six months of 2025

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She called for increased law enforcement resources and cooperation with Algeria, where it is believed the majority of the small wooden boats, known as pateras, are coming from.

The central government said earlier this year it would improve the Balearics' capacity to absorb arrivals, and has reportedly given island officials 6.7million euros to combat the crisis.

Madrid has ordered three new emergency centres to be built in Formenteta, Ibiza ad Palma, while Spain's Civil Guard has reinforced its patrols.

Yet local media in Mallorca have reported cases of newly arrived migrants being left by authorities for several hours in parks due to an absence of shelters before they board ferries to the mainland.

Meanwhile, videos and images shared by local news outlets and social media accounts show migrants arriving by boat as they disembark on tourist-packed beaches.

Clips show migrants perched up outside houses resting from their perilous journey across the Mediterranean, while other videos show young men aimlessly walking along country roads on the Spanish islands after their arrival.

Rodriguez says the profiles of migrants have changed over the years.

In 2024, two out of three migrants came from northwest Africa, but this summer, two-thirds of arrivals came from sub-Saharan Africa.

Balearics representative Rodriguez attributes this to conflicts in Somalia, Sudan and Mali and says that people-smuggling mafias are profiting from desperation and putting lives at risk.

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Screen grab from a video shared on X shows migrants disembarking on a beach in the Balearics

A group of Algerian and sub-saharan migrants gather at a public park after arriving from Algeria earlier in the day in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, August 12, 2025

Algerian migrants rest in the shades of a tree in a park at the Palma de Mallorca Maritime Station in Palma de Mallorca, on August 24, 2025

By the end of September, nearly 6,000 people had reached the Balearic islands in nine months, with arrivals up by 84 percent year-on-year

Last month, at least six migrants died while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea and washed up off the coast of Carboneras in the southern Spanish province of Almeria.

This year, 45 bodies have been recovered altogether, and at least a dozen remain missing.

The crisis has inflamed local politics, with Balearic government officials, run by the conservative Popular Party, accusing the prime minister of lacking an effective policy to curb illegal migration.

Fears over the Balearics turning into a new hot-spot for migrant arrivals comes after dozens of sunbathing tourists watched in shock as 20 suspected migrants disembarked from a dinghy onto a packed beach in the Spanish islands last year.

The vessel pulled into the cove and stopped on the shoreline in Cala Gran Santanyi, Mallorca last August.

Video shared on social media showed how roughly 20 people - mostly young men - got off the boat and dodged beach towels as they walked in single file across the sand.

The migrants appeared to be in good health and physical condition. But most seemed to have with them only a small rucksack or the clothes they were wearing.
British holiday home owners in Europe are facing a major crackdown as Brussels prepares to tighten border checks and enforce strict post-Brexit travel limits.

The European Union has ordered member states to apply the 90/180-day rule 'rigidly', meaning Britons who overstay could soon be hit with hefty fines of up to 8,700 and even ten-year bans from entering the bloc.

The warning comes as the EU's long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) - a new automated border control database - finally comes into force this Sunday.

The system will gradually ramp up until April and is designed to automatically log when non EU-travellers, including Britons, enter and leave the Schengen zone.

Until now, officials have been accused of 'turning a blind eye' to those flouting the rules. But with the new technology, every movement will be tracked - and the days of easy overstays in Spanish or French villas are numbered.

Under the post-Brexit agreement, Britons who do not have EU residency or a member state passport are only permitted to spend 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area.

For many second-home owners, that has meant cutting trips short or facing complex residency applications.

The new electronic system will replace the old-fashioned passport stamping method - a process that has allowed many to slip under the radar.

A person uses a EES kiosk during the preview at King's Cross St Pancras for the Eurostar European Union entry/exit system (EES) before its rollout

The European Union has ordered member states to apply the 90/180-day rule 'rigidly', meaning Britons who overstay could soon be hit with hefty fines of up to 8,700 and even ten-year bans from entering the bloc

Officials admit that inconsistent manual checks have led to widespread under-enforcement of the rule.

Now, the Home Office has launched an information campaign to alert travellers to the changes.

Under the new system, British passengers will have to register their fingerprints and have their photo taken on the first entry into the EU, with biometric checks conducted at every crossing thereafter.

A source told The Times: 'Governments on both sides of the Channel are aware that some people have been breaching the time limits.

'We have been told that because the system will automatically flag people, the enforcement is going to be much stricter. For people who can't, for whatever reason, get residency, it's going to be a big wake-up.'

The new rules have been become a hot topic at the Abta annual conference in Magaluf, Spain, where officials say the largest number of overstaying Britons are thought to own properties.

Luke Petherbridge, Abta's director of public affairs, warned: 'It will mean that those who are breaching the 90/180-day rule will be automatically detected. We know that hasn't really been happening'.

He said that several, if not most, countries have not been carrying out those checks 'particularly closely'.

Petherbridge added: 'It will be from April when it will automatically be detected in every country.

'The advice for those who own a second home will be to go down the residency route in those countries and ensure, therefore, you are exempt.'

The Foreign Office has also issued updated travel advice, reminding Brits that: 'To be exempt from registering with the EU's EES, British residents in the EU will be required to show a uniform-format biometric card which is listed as a residency document under the Withdrawal Agreement.

'For residents of Spain, that card is the Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE).

'During the initial 6 months of EES your passport may be stamped on entry and exit.

'This will not affect your rights in the EU country or countries where you live or work'.
Police will be urged to crack down on offensive chants at pro-Palestine protests, Sir Keir Starmer has revealed.

The Prime Minister said there needed to be a conversation with forces about how controversial rallies for Gaza are being policed amid growing concerns that anti-Semitism is being allowed on the streets of the UK.

He singled out the chants heard at the marches - such as globalise the intifada and from the river to the sea - which many people consider to be inciting violence against Jews but which have until now gone unpunished.

His new call for tougher action as part of a review of public order laws comes just days after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that police will be given the power to restrict repeat protests, admitting large demonstrations over the past two years have caused considerable fear within the Jewish community.

Pro-Palestine activists remain defiant, however, with students ignoring his plea not to take part in provocative marches on the second anniversary of Hamass October 7th massacre of Israelis.

Protests also took place around the UK just hours after the Islamist terror attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday, while another 500 people were arrested at the weekend for demonstrating in support of banned terror group Palestine Action.

Asked by reporters on his trade mission to India what he will do about the danger posed by Islamism, Sir Keir replied: I think we need to review more broadly public order powers and there will be a series of actions that we will agree in due course across Whitehall.

The Prime Minister said there needed to be a conversation with forces about how controversial rallies for Gaza are being policed

He singled out the chants heard at the marches - such as globalise the intifada and from the river to the sea - which many people consider to be inciting violence against Jews

Protests also took place around the UK just hours after the Islamist terror attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday

He went on: I've asked the Home Secretary to look more broadly at what other powers are available, how they're being used, and whether they should be changed in any way.

I think we need to go further than that in relation to some of the chants that are going on at some of these protests.

Asked what that would mean, the PM said: Obviously operational matters are very much a matter for the police. So there's only so much the government can do.

But I do think we need to have a conversation with various police forces about the way in which these are being policed and what measures can be taken.

That has to be part of the review that we carry into what powers do we have and how they're being exercised.

And then the question of do any of these powers therefore need to be changed or enhanced. And that's the exercise we're going through.

But we are talking at length to leaders of the Jewish community about this, as you would expect.
'Have you news of My Boy Jack?'

It is the opening to one of the most haunting poems ever written by Rudyard Kipling; penned in 1916 as hundreds of thousands of parents grieved their dead or missing sons amid the ongoing horrors of the First World War.

Now, nearly 90 years on from the The Jungle Book author's death, letters revealing his torment over his own missing son have come to light.

The patriotic If poet had helped his child, John, to sign up to fight, but he disappeared during the Battle of Loos in 1915, just six weeks after arriving in France.

In one of the two letters being sold at auction, Kipling pleads with the matron of a military hospital to ask injured soldiers about the whereabouts of the 18-year-old.

Writing from the family home of Bateman's in Sussex, he asks if Private Joseph Ahern, wounded alongside his son and recovering in the City of London Military Hospital, may have information.

He says: 'My only hope of knowing my son's fate is from the evidence of the men who fought near him on the action of the 27th September.'

In the other typed letter, Kipling writes: 'So far we can get no report from Germany of his being a prisoner there, or any report from Belgium of his being in hospital there, and we are anxious to get the evidence of the men who were wounded in the same action and who are now in England, before they are separated.

Letters revealing the torment of Rudyard Kipling over his missing son have emerged for sale. Above: Jon Kipling in his Army uniform. He disappeared during the Battle of Loos in 1915

In one of the two letters being sold at auction, Kipling pleads with the matron of a military hospital to ask injured soldiers about the whereabouts of the 18-year-old

'This must be my excuse of troubling you. I have written to Private Ahern, but I have found that the men find it easier to tell the story than to write it.'

On September 27, 1915, 2nd Lieutenant Kipling went into battle on the third day of the Battle of Loos, dubbed the 'Big Push'.

The young soldier was wounded and subsequently declared missing as his Irish Guard battalion advanced towards Chalk Pit Wood.

In 1916, the army officially declared John dead, though his body had not been found.

In 1919, the body of an unidentified Irish Guards lieutenant was discovered on the battlefield, and was buried in an anonymous grave at St Mary's Cemetery.

Then, in 1992, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission changed the description on the gravestone to read John Kipling.

The move led to a huge debate over whether the grave really contained Kipling's son.

Research in 2016 concluded that the remains are those of the John Kipling.

In the other typed letter, Kipling writes: 'So far we can get no report from Germany of his being a prisoner there, or any report from Belgium of his being in hospital there, and we are anxious to get the evidence of the men who were wounded in the same action and who are now in England, before they are separated. This must be my excuse of troubling you

The correspondence is expected to make 800-1,200 at Hansons Auctioneers in Etwall, Derbyshire, on October 9.

The letters have been unearthed after originally being acquired by London collector and builder Cecil Johnson in the 1950s.

His grandson, who lives in Derbyshire and doesn't want to be named, inherited them from his mother.

He said: 'My grandfather was a wheeler dealer and a bit of a Del Boy.

'But he had a lot of money and was a frequent visitor to London auction houses which is how he might have acquired them.'

Hansons Auctioneer's Karl Martin added: 'These letters are deeply personal and a great insight into the torment of a father desperately seeking information about his son.

'Guilt might have played a part. Kipling, who was in favour of the war, helped facilitate his son's commission with the Irish Guards after his poor eyesight made him ineligible for military service.

'Knowing the casualty rate, Kipling might have known he was signing his son's own death warrant.

Kipling died in 1936 after turning from a supporter of the war to a devoted critic

'But he and wife Carrie thought it essential to prevent a German victory.'

Kipling also feared his pro-war stance meant his son, if captured, might face a hash imprisonment.

It was the second time that he and his wife had lost a child. In 1899, their eldest daughter Josephine died from pneumonia at the age of six.

Kipling's poem My Boy Jack was explicitly written for Jack Cornwell, who was awarded the Victoria Cross after being killed aged 16 while serving on Royal Navy ship HMS Chester during the Battle of Jutland.

However, it is widely accepted that the poem's verses echo is own anguish at his missing son.

His grief was dramatised in the 1997 play My Boy Jack, which was adapted into a TV film starring Daniel Radcliffe in 2007.

Kipling went on to pen the similarly haunting poem Common Form, which reads: 'If any question why we died / Tell them, because our fathers lied.'

He died in 1936 after turning from a supporter of the war to a devoted critic.
A Jack the Ripper copycat who murdered two mothers after stalking them through the streets of London like the notorious Victorian murderer has died, aged 64.

Derek Brown, dubbed the 'Modern Ripper', was jailed for a minimum of 30 years on October 6 2008 after he was found guilty of murdering DVD seller Xiao Mei Guo, 29, and prostitute Bonnie Barrett, 24.

He denied murder but admitted paying both women for sex before their disappearance in 2007.

The previously-convicted rapist found his victims in the Whitechapel area of London - famously stalked by Jack the Ripper in the 1880s.

A search of Brown's Rotherhithe flat found traces of blood belonging to both women, as well as a receipt for a bow saw, heavy duty gloves, rubble sacks and cleaning materials.

It's believed he hacked his victims apart before disposing of their remains.

Brown was serving his sentence in HMP Wakefield but is believed to have become unwell on September 27.

He was taken to hospital and died two days later at the age of 64 - just days away from his 65th birthday.

The remorseless killer's victims' remains have never been found.

Jack the Ripper copycat killer Derek Brown has died, aged 64, after being taken to hospital

He was sentenced to a minimum term of 30 years on October 6 2008 after he was found guilty of murdering DVD seller Xiao Mei Guo (right), 29, and prostitute Bonnie Barrett, 24 (left)

A source close to former delivery driver Brown said: 'He was in critical care since Saturday.

'They found him in his cell on Saturday, and he was in critical care since Saturday 5pm until Monday when he died at 3pm.'

Police at the time of the murders believed Brown sought 'notoriety' for the killings.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark Kandiah said: 'If he kept killing prostitutes from the Whitechapel area, then that link (with Jack the Ripper) would be made.

'If this was a spree, it seems likely that we stopped him at number two.'

Speaking during his court case, sentencing Judge Martin Stephens told Brown: 'You have shown not a sliver of remorse.

'You murdered two women. Both were vulnerable, plying their trade on the streets, in each case falling into your hands precisely because of their availability and their lack of protection.

'What you did to each of those women before you killed them we can only speculate about. How you killed them we cannot know.

'What we do know is you disposed of their bodies with frightening efficiency so that not a trace of either woman has been found.'

Mrs Guo, who had two children, was last seen in August 2007 selling DVDs in Whitechapel market. CCTV pictures showed her with Brown by Whitechapel Tube station, a court heard.

Derek Brown is caught on CCTV after slaughtering two women in London in 2007

Prosecutors say he wanted to gain 'notoriety' for his killings, which appeared to copy those of Jack the Ripper (pictured is an artist's impression of the Ripper from the Police Gazette)

Miss Barrett disappeared from the same area on September 18 2007.

Police spent 800 hours searching for their bodies, which including trawls of the Thames by specialist divers.

Judge Stephens said there was clear 'circumstantial evidence' which proved Brown dismembered and disposed of the bodies.

'The only person who could prove this not to be true would be you, if you ever chose to tell the police where their bodies or remains could be found,' the judge added.

'The anguish of both victims' families is exacerbated, made much worse by their inability to lay each lady to rest.'

The prosecution said Brown targeted the women as they were 'soft targets' and would not be missed

Speaking of his death, a Prison Service spokesman said: 'Derek Brown died in hospital on September 29 while serving a sentence at HMP Wakefield.

'As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.'
A Polish woman accused of stalking Kate McCann after claiming to be her missing daughter Madeleine dramatically burst out 'why are you doing this to me' in court.

An hysterical Julia Wandelt wept uncontrollably and was heard screaming after Mrs McCann concluded her evidence against her.

Taking to the witness stand at the trial of Wandelt, 24, and Karen Spragg, 61, an emotional Mrs McCann said all she wanted was for her beloved daughter Madeleine to be back and calling her 'mum' again.

However, in dramatic scenes after Mrs McCann finished giving evidence, a weeping Wandelt was escorted out of the dock, yelling: 'Why are you doing this to me?'

During her evidence, Mrs McCann was asked about a letter posted through her door the day after Wandelt and Spragg turned up at her home, addressed 'Dear Mom' and signed 'Madeleine'.

Prosecutor Michael Duck KC said: 'As far as the receipt of that letter is concerned, what was the impact on you?'

A visibly distraught Mrs McCann replied: 'I think that is an example of a thing that was really getting to me it is obviously that is the thing I want most, and for her to be calling me 'mum' - that was really distressing for me.'

Wandelt, is accused of stalking 57-year-old Mrs McCann for almost three years, allegedly turning up at the McCanns' family home, a vigil in honour of Madeleine and of writing 'distressing' letters claiming to be Mrs McCann's daughter.

While Spragg has been charged with one count of stalking involving serious alarm or distress for her alleged involvement.

Kate and Gerry McCann are pictured at the annual prayer vigil in their home village of Rothley, Leicestershire, to mark the 18th anniversary of the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine

Madeleine McCann who vanished in 2007 while on holiday in Portugal

Polish national Julia Wandelt (pictured), 24, is accused of stalking Mrs McCann for almost three years

Polish 'stalker' claiming to be Madeleine and her letter to Kate McCann

A letter signed "Madeleine X" was posted through the door of Madeleine McCann's parents' home the day after two women accused of stalking them attended the property, a court has heard. Leicester Crown Court heard Karen Spragg, 61, and 24-year-old Julia Wandelt, who claims to be the missing girl, visited the McCanns' home in Leicestershire on December 7, 2024. The next day, a letter was posted through the door. Here is the full text of the letter: Dear Mum, I'm so sorry for causing you so much distress, but when I saw you yesterday, my emotions were so strong. I felt a close connection to you. I don't like to see you being upset. All I want is to find out the truth. I have memories and I have gathered a lot of evidences supporting my case. I think that inside your heart you believe and know who I am and I am your daughter. I don't understand why you don't want to do a DNA test with me. I think you are scared, but whatever makes you scared, just remember that you are stronger than that. Yesterday, I heard a lot of care and love in your voice. I believe and I hope that you will find a way to contact me. Lots of love, Madeleine X Advertisement

During the hearing, Mrs McCann described how Wandelt attempting to contact her daughter Amelie, one of Madeleine's younger siblings, had been the 'final straw'.

She said it was at this point she contacted officers from Operation Grange - the name of the police probe into Madeleine's disappearance - telling Leicester Crown Court: 'That was the final straw for me, I just wanted to protect Amelie and Sean.'

Earlier in the hearing, the judge said it was 'entirely usual' for some witnesses to give evidence from behind a screen and did 'not in anyway reflect on the two defendants'.

Mrs McCann told the court she had kept the same mobile phone number since before 2007, when Madeleine vanished. When asked why she said 'I'm not very good at technology' adding: 'I didn't think I should have to (change it).

Mr Duck asked about pictures of Wandelt: 'Having had the opportunity to look at, along with Gerry, did you conclude that she was plainly not Madeleine?'

Mrs McCann, who was softly spoken, replied: 'Yes. I was clear it was not Madeleine.'

Mr Duck asked her if she responded to any of the messages from Wandelt. Mrs McCann replied: 'No, I did not want to engage'.

Mrs McCann was at this point asked to speak up so the jury could hear her.

The court was then played a rambling voicemail from Wandelt left on Mrs McCann's phone in which she said: 'Don't give up on your daughter. Please don't reject me'.

Mr Duck KC asked Mrs McCann about a voicemail message left on her phone by Wandelt which asked her and husband Gerry for a DNA test to be carried out.

He said: 'Was that something you had a willingness or desire to do?'

Mrs McCann replied: 'If I'm honest, because of the persistence of Julia's behaviour, it did start to get to me.

'I almost wanted a DNA test to put it to bed... from the photographs.. I knew it wasn't her.'

During Mrs McCann's evidence, the Crown's barrister told jurors that Wandelt had attended a vigil on May 3 2024 held in Madeleine's Leicestershire home village.

Karen Spragg outside Leicester Crown Court, where she is charged with one count of stalking involving serious alarm or distress, in connection with an investigation into the alleged stalking of Madeleine McCann's family

The court heard Wandelt and Spragg had allegedly considered following Mr and Mrs McCann to a restaurant to steal any cutlery they used to get DNA that would 'prove' Wandelt was really Madeleine

After Mrs McCann confirmed she and her husband Gerry were not present at the event, Mr Duck asked: 'You weren't present, but did you become aware that Julia Wandelt had come to that vigil?'

'Yes' Mrs McCann answered as the court heard that Wandelt claimed to have handed a letter to Madeleine's great-aunt during the gathering.

Asked how she felt about hearing Wandelt had attended, Mrs McCann told the jury: 'If I am honest I was relieved we weren't there.

'It (the annual vigil) is quite a hard but positive experience. It would have taken away from the actual reason we were there.'

Later, the mother was questioned about the manner of Spragg, who had attended the McCann home address with Wandelt.

'I would say she was slightly more aggressive,' Mrs McCann told jurors. 'She was a bit more kind of... 'don't you want to find your daughter?'.'

Mr Duck KC asked if she wanted the women there, to which Madeleine's mother replied no.

The prosecutor added: 'Did you make that plain?'

'I did,' Mrs McCann insisted. 'I told them to leave. I told them I was distressed.'

She said she phoned her husband when she managed to get inside her home and lock the door and told him what had happened.

Wandelt and Spragg are pictured in a court sketch today

Kate and Gerry McCann shortly after their daughter's disappearance

LISTEN: The Trial of the 'McCann Stalkers'. Listen to the latest on this Daily Mail podcast

However, Mrs McCann told the jury during Wandelt and Spragg's December 7 visit last year, they 'did not give any indication' they would hurt her.

She added she did not know whether Wandelt had been crying when she turned up at the McCanns' family home, but said the Polish national had been 'pleading' and 'asking about DNA tests again'.

Tom Price KC, defending Wandelt, suggested the women left 'a short time after' Mr McCann got home.

Mrs McCann said: 'Not immediately, but yes. Certainly not half an hour or anything.'

Asked if they made her think that would hurt her, Mrs McCann said: 'No they did not give me any indication of that.'

Under cross examination, Mrs McCann said she had a 'tiny niggle' that she should take a DNA test because the contact from Wandelt was 'so incessant'.

She said: 'I think it was just because it was getting to me so much there was a little bit of my brain saying what if?

'I had seen a photo of her, she was Polish and none of it made any sense. I could not say what Madeleine looks like but if I saw a photo I would recognise her.'

Speaking to the court, about the toll the alleged stalking had taken on her, the 57-year-old said her level of 'stress and anxiety' had increased but she felt 'more relaxed' after being told Wandelt had been arrested at Bristol Airport on February 19.

'I feel like it has escalated, the level of stress and anxiety it's caused me has increased over that time,' she told the court.

'I would say it's only since February 19 you notice a change, you actually feel more relaxed.'

When asked about Madeleine's younger twin siblings, Mrs McCann said: 'I don't want any media attention on them. I think what they had to deal with, and still have to deal with, is a lot.'

Madeleine McCann is seen beaming in a family photo before her disappearance in 2007

On Tuesday, jurors were told the two women parents allegedly discussed going through their bins to find DNA traces.

Wandelt and Spragg are also said to have considered following Mr and Mrs McCann to a restaurant to steal any cutlery they used to get DNA that would 'prove' Wandelt was really Madeleine.

Michael Duck KC, prosecuting, said the ends to which the two women were prepared to go were 'remarkable'.

He told Leicester Crown Court they had a discussion about taking the McCanns' 'garbage' back to the hotel where they were staying, 'as long as it doesn't stink'. In one message Spragg said: 'We can go through the bins lol'.

In another, she told Wandelt: 'Shame we cant [sic] follow them to a bar or restaurant and get a knife or fork.'

Wandelt insists she is Madeleine, who was abducted aged three on May 3, 2007, from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal. Mr Duck had previously told jurors scientific evidence proved Wandelt, 24, could not be Madeleine, who would now be 22.

The court heard that Wandelt messaged Spragg: 'We should get their DNA, it's the only way to prove it.'

Spragg, 61, of Cardiff, and Wandelt, from Poland, are accused of stalking the McCanns, causing 'serious alarm or distress', between June 1, 2022, and February 21, 2025, which they deny.

Jurors were told yesterday how Mrs McCann, 57, was 'visibly upset' after being confronted at home by Wandelt.

In a recording of the encounter on December 7 last year, an emotional Mrs McCann pleads with her and Spragg - who supports Wandelt's claim to be Madeleine - to leave her driveway, telling them: 'You are causing us a lot of distress. Stop it.'

When Mr McCann, 57, arrived moments later, they shouted at him and tried to force a letter into his hand. In the recording he tells Wandelt: 'You need help. You are not Madeleine.'

Wandelt later posted a letter through the door of the couple's home in Rothley, Leicestershire, in which she called Mrs McCann 'mummy'. It was signed 'Madeleine', jurors were told.

Mr Duck said Spragg was 'front and centre of the pursuit of the McCanns'. Wandelt had travelled from Poland to go to the McCanns' house, arriving at East Midlands airport where she was greeted by Spragg in her car.

The court heard Spragg messaged a friend that read: 'We are sat outside the McCanns home waiting for them... never thought I would be stalking the McCanns.'

The next day, a letter was put through the McCanns' door. It began, 'Dear Mum', and went on: 'Inside your heart you believe... who I am and I am your daughter.' It ended, in what Mr Duck said was a 'final cruel signature' with 'lots of love, Madeleine'.

Jurors heard that Wandelt said she remembered 'her' abduction, saying she was injected and was taken by a man with tanned skin. She claims the McCanns were involved in abducting Madeleine.

Wandelt was arrested in February when she arrived at Bristol airport on a flight paid for by Spragg, having made plans to go to the McCanns' place of work. Spragg was arrested outside the airport shortly afterwards.

Wandelt and Spragg both deny a count of stalking causing serious alarm and distress to Kate and Gerry McCann between June 2022 and February this year.

Madeleine's disappearance from Portugal's Algarve in 2007 remains unsolved.

The trial continues.

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A senior Hamas official said on Wednesday that negotiations held in Egypt for an end to the war in Gaza were advancing in a 'spirit of optimism'.

The group exchanged with Israel a list of prisoners for release, in exchange for the remaining Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip.



'The mediators are making great efforts to remove any obstacles to the implementation of the ceasefire, and a spirit of optimism prevails among all parties,' Taher al-Nunu told AFP from the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, where indirect talks began on Monday between Israel and Hamas.

The Palestinian militant group submitted a list of prisoners it wants to be released in the first phase of the truce 'in accordance with the agreed-upon criteria and numbers,' Nunu added.

In exchange, Hamas is set to release 47 hostages, both alive and dead, it seized in its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Twenty are believed to be alive and there are grave concerns for the well-being of two others, according to Israeli officials.

Among the bodies held by the terrorist group is an IDF soldier killed in the Strip in 2014.



Negotiations are focused on the mechanisms to halt the conflict, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the swap deal, the Palestinian militant group said.

The timing of the implementation of the first phase of President Donald Trump's 20-point initiative has not been agreed so far during talks, added a Palestinian source close to the negotiations.

Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli military strike in the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, October 8, 2025

A view of the partially collapsed mosque in Gaza City, on October 4, 2025

Hamas wants a permanent, comprehensive ceasefire, a complete pullout of Israeli forces

Trump expressed optimism about progress toward a deal on Tuesday, the second anniversary of Hamas' attack on Israel that triggered Israel's assault on Gaza.

A U.S. team including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law who served as Middle East envoy during Trump's first term, will take part in the talks over a plan that has come closest to silencing the guns.

But officials on all sides urged caution over the prospects for a rapid agreement.

Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's close confidant - was due to join the talks on Wednesday afternoon, according to an Israeli official.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, a key mediator, and Turkish spymaster Ibrahim Kalin, will also take part in the ceasefire negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Hamas wants a permanent, comprehensive ceasefire, a complete pullout of Israeli forces and the immediate start of a comprehensive reconstruction process under the supervision of a Palestinian 'national technocratic body'.

Israel, for its part, wants Hamas to disarm, which the group rejects

Israel, for its part, wants Hamas to disarm, which the group rejects.

U.S. officials suggest they want to initially focus talks on a halt to the fighting and the logistics of how the Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinian detainees in Israel would be freed.

Once all hostages are returned, Israel will free 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, plus 1,700 Gazans arrested since October 7, 2023, including all women and children.

For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 dead Gazans, the Trump plan says.

In the absence of a ceasefire, Israel has pressed on with its offensive in Gaza, increasing its international isolation.

According to the Hamas-run Gazan authorities, some 67,000 people have been killed in Israel's assault. It followed the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, when 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken to Gaza as hostages.
The NHS faces a spike in its 20billion-a-year drugs bill as desperate ministers try to avoid Donald Trump's tariffs and pharma giants pulling investment in the UK.

A deal is believed to be close to increase the 'value for money' threshold used by England's NHS spending watchdog by 25 per cent.

The government has admitted higher prices will be 'necessary' to stave off the threats from the US and industry, and negotiations are at an 'advanced' stage.

The UK boss of AstraZeneca delivered a stark message earlier this week that investment would be reduced unless there is a settlement.

According to Politico, the offer briefed to Washington would potentially allow Brits access to more expensive drugs - but would also drive up costs.

The NHS faces a spike in its 20billion-a-year drugs bill as desperate ministers try to avoid Donald Trump 's tariffs and pharma giants pulling investment in the UK

Mr Trump has threatened 100 per cent tariffs on pharma imports unless prices are made 'fairer'

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) assesses medicines based on a number of factors including clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and the overall cost to the NHS.

It uses quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), which combines both the length of life gained from a treatment and its impact on quality of life, represented as a number.

In general, Nice considers medicines costing between 20,000 and 30,000 per additional QALY gained to represent good value for money for the NHS.

Increasing the threshold would make it easier for NHS patients to access more expensive drugs, but it would also mean that the health service pays more for medicines overall.

It comes after science minister Lord Patrick Vallance conceded that an increase in the price the NHS pays for medicines will be 'necessary' to prevent pharmaceutical investments from continuing to leave the UK.

Major firms have shelved or paused planned UK pharmaceutical industry investments this year, and industry bosses recently told MPs a 'difficult' environment and pressure on pricing had made Britain a less attractive investment environment than other countries such as the US.

Mr Trump wants more parity on drug pricing, with drug prices in the US higher than than anywhere else in the world and has threatened impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on pharmaceutical imports.

A Government spokesman said: 'The pharmaceutical sector and the innovative medicines it produces are critical to our NHS, our economy and the Plan for Change.

It comes weeks after AZ paused plans to invest 200 million at a Cambridge research site.

'Through our Life Sciences Sector Plan, we've committed to working with industry to accelerate growth in spending on innovative medicines compared to the previous decade.

'We've secured a landmark economic partnership with the US that includes working together on pharmaceutical exports from the UK whilst improving conditions for pharmaceutical companies here.

'We're now in advanced discussions with the US administration to secure the best outcome for the UK, reflecting our strong relationship and the opportunities from close partnership with our pharmaceutical industry.'
A $100million luxury apartment proposal backed by billionaire James Packer has drawn passionate opposition from the residents of a wealthy Sydney suburb.

Time and Place, a developer backed by the tycoon, is proposing to build a 13-storey tower on Macleay Street in the inner-city suburb of Potts Point.

The development will include space for 34 apartments, parking and some ground-floor retail and 15 per cent of the building will be earmarked for affordable housing at about 20 per cent below market value.

But local residents claim the build would reduce the number of affordable homes in the area, uniting advocates on both sides of the Sydney housing debate.

As of Wednesday, 198 submissions have been lodged with the state government, of which only four support the proposal in its current form.

It would redevelop The Chimes complex which currently sits at the Macleay Street site and contains 80 studios and one-bedroom units and 27 car spaces.

Of main concern to many residents is that the new build would contain fewer than half the number of dwellings in the current tower and many likely at a significant mark-up.

Among those opposed to the build is the board of the neighbouring Macleay Regis building, where the tycoon's sister Gretel Packer resides part-time.

Developer Time and Place is backed by business tycoon James Packer (pictured)

The Chimes building in Potts Point (pictured) would be redeveloped under the $100m proposal

'Of most concern to many of our residents is the loss of 80 affordable homes, to be replaced by exclusive apartments not just for the wealthy but the very wealthy,' its submission reads.

'Since the lockout laws were instituted in 2014, and the area has become safer, developers have been buying apartment blocks and redeveloping sites in and around Potts Point to create luxury housing for a select few.'

Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich also opposes the project, claiming it would reduce housing density and undermine the city's affordability goals.

'The concept proposal for The Chimes is a cynical attempt to use laws aimed at increasing housing affordability as a loophole to justify the removal of low-cost housing and housing supply for profit,' his submission reads.

'The 25 market-priced luxury apartments proposed will not be affordable to the existing 80 plus residents of the Chimes, most first home buyers, essential workers or anyone on a low or medium income', he added.

'Even the nine affordable homes will do little to improve affordability when considered in the context that they come at the expense of 80 low-cost homes and will likely be returned to the private market after 15 years.'

But the developer defended the plan in a report prepared by property consultancy Urbis, claiming it delivers on government housing goals.

'The proposal delivers diverse and affordable housing in an accessible location, directly responding to the NSW government's policy mandate to improve housing choice and affordability,' the report reads.

Independent MP Alex Greenwich (pictured) opposes the project, describing it as a 'cynical attempt' to manipulate affordable housing laws

A render of the new development that is seeking approval from the government

'The site's location allows easy access to employment centres, retail, open space, and social infrastructure (schools, hospitals etc).'

It also addressed concerns from residents including potential impacts from the addition of an extra floor and claims the tower would not suit the surrounding street.

Planning Minister Paul Scully said the proposal was only in its early stages and spruiked the government's role in ensuring it would contain affordable dwellings.

'If not for the government's reforms, there's every chance that this project would have had no affordable housing in it,' he said.

Daily Mail has contacted developer Time and Place.
The frontrunner to become Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party deputy has admitted that 'things aren't going well' under his leadership.

Lucy Powell, who was sacked as a minister by Sir Keir last month, hit out as voting opened in the race to become the party's deputy leader, saying his record should not be 'sugar-coated'.

The Manchester Central MP has been backed by figures including Lord Neil Kinnock and others who want the Prime Minister to tack left to restore Labour's electoral support.

However, her attack was met with a furious riposte by her challenger, Bridget Phillipson.

The Education Secretary warned that voting for her rival risks 'energising our opponents', as they seek to replace Angela Rayner.

In a video posted on X, Ms Phillipson said: 'Make no mistake, change is on the ballot, but it's the kind of change that you get to choose  whether it's me at the Cabinet table pushing for more of the brilliant Labour things that you all want to see, or the risk that comes of disunity, of shouting from the sidelines and energising our opponents.

'With a seat at the Cabinet table, I'll put Labour's heart and soul into Government, and I'll make sure that I deliver for working people, unite our party and secure that second-term Labour Government that we all want to see.'

Lucy Powell, who was sacked as a minister by Sir Keir last month, hit out as voting opened in the race to become the party's deputy leader, saying his record should not be 'sugar-coated'.

However, her attack was met with a riposte by her challenger, Bridget Phillipson, who said voting for her rival risks 'energising our opponents'

Ms Phillipson has the backing of unions including GMB and Unison, as well as former home secretary Alan Johnson, while Ms Powell has the support of Lord Kinnock  who led the party from 1983 to 1992.

Ms Powell, speaking at a rally with members in east London on Tuesday, said the party needs to start telling 'a stronger story about the purpose of the Labour Government'.

She said: 'I'm proud of Labour's achievements, but we need to acknowledge that mistakes have been made.

'We can't sugarcoat the fact that things aren't going well. We have ceded the political megaphone to our opponents instead of setting the agenda ourselves. I want to help Labour wrest it back.'

Ms Powell said Labour is in the 'fight of our lives' and needs to start listening to broader voices or risk 'group-think' setting in.

She added: 'Politics has become more fractured and divided, we're losing support to both sides. Trying to 'out-Reform' Reform doesn't work.'

Ms Phillipson, writing in The Mirror, said it was important for the party to stay united and not 'turn in on ourselves at this crucial moment' which would be welcomed by Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK.

She also pledged to make reducing child poverty the 'moral mission' of the Government, guaranteeing it would fall in this Parliament.

She said: 'Like Angela Rayner and John Prescott, I'm going to give members a voice from the Cabinet table, not throw rocks from the outside.

'As deputy leader I want to unite our party, deliver change for working people and beat Reform  and deliver the second Labour term our children deserve.'
Kemi Badenoch was lauded for her bold plan to axe stamp duty today as she moved to silence her internal party critics with a rousing speech to close Tory conference.

Mrs Badenoch delivered a barnstorming rallying cry to Tories that culminated in a fresh pledge to ditch the hated purchase tax on family homes to revive the dream of ownership.

The party is proposing an end to the charges for primary residences, amounting to a 4.5billion tax cut paid for by trimming benefit handouts.

Mrs Badenoch insisted only the Tories can 'save Britain' as she sought to fend off talk of a coup by MPs amid dire poll ratings and fears the party is finished.

She told activists - who cheered her for 20 minutes during her speech - that only 'timeless' Tory principles can roll back the 'darkest days' of 'decline', by stabilising the economy and overhauling society's 'broken model'.

Her surprise move on stamp duty was welcomed by economists and the property expert Kirstie Allsopp, who said it was 'brilliant and bold' and told Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves to copy it.

'Much has been written about how damaging stamp duty is, taxing people when they are moving house, often for work, education, relationship breakdown, including elderly family etc,' the Location, Location, Location host said.

'Kemi Badenoch is correcting a mistake made by both Tory and Labour chancellors.'

As the Conservatives battle to prove they are still in the hunt for power:

Mrs Badenoch delivered an extraordinary jibe at Mr Farage offering 'free' things to voters, warning that getting into a direct fight with Reform would be like 'wrestling a pig'. 'You both get dirty and the pig likes it,' she added.

She accused Sir Keir of 'deliberately' collapsing the China spying trial. The government has insisted it was an independent decision by prosecutors;

Mrs Badenoch condemned time 'wasted' by police on non-crime hate incidents;

She committed the Conservatives to banning doctors from striking if they return to government;

The leader said she was not a climate sceptic but she is a 'Net Zero sceptic' as she confirmed the Tories want to shave 165 a year off energy bills by axing green levies;

Mrs Badenoch was preceded on the stage by the national anthem being played - after a backlash that it was not going to be used at the end of the conference.

Kemi Badenoch closed the conference in Manchester with an impassioned speech arguing that the Conservatives are not finished

Mrs Badenoch was embraced by her husband Hamish after electrifying the Tory faithful with her vision for their revival

Her surprise move on stamp duty was welcomed by economists and the property expert Kirstie Allsopp , who said it was 'brilliant and bold' and told Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves to copy it.

What did Kemi Badenoch say in her Tory conference speech? Kemi Badenoch thanked Tory members for 'standing by' the party.

She said the Conservatives can 'save' Britain from the 'steady decline' of 'a weak economy and weak borders'.

Mrs Badenoch hailed the Tories as the 'only party who can meet the tests of our generation'.

She said the UK economy is 'addicted' to immigration.

The Tory leader defended the party's 14 years in power, saying they 'lifted millions of people out of tax and got millions into work'.

She urged her party to 'remember who we are fighting for'.

Mrs Badenoch blasted Labour's first year in power, saying: 'Never have so many been let down by so few'. Advertisement

Mrs Badenoch said a 47billion clampdown on benefits and wasteful spending would let the government reduce its debt mountain at the same time as scrapping Labour's hated taxes - including VAT on private school fees and the farms inheritance tax raid.

She said Motability vehicles would be restricted to those with disabilities rather than conditions such as ADHD.

Mrs Badenoch contrasted her tough approach on spending and benefits with Reform's platform of 'free' giveaways. Tories believe that Mr Farage's efforts to move into Labour territory have opened ground for them.

'Stamp duty is a bad tax', she said. 'We must free up our housing market, because a society where no one can afford to buy or move is a society where social mobility is dead.'

She said she had looked at options for changing thresholds for stamp duty and decided it was not enough.

'The next Conservative government will abolish stamp duty on your home,' she said.

The Adam Smith Instuitute (ASI) suggested that abolishing stamp duty could lead to 467,000 extra house sales per year.

Economist Mitchell Palmer said: 'Almost every economist agrees that stamp duty land tax is one of the most destructive taxes on the books.

'It traps older people in homes that are too big or expensive for them, and younger people out of the homes they need to start a family. It also makes it more difficult for British people to pursue new opportunities, limiting their ability to increase their incomes and contribute to national productivity.'

Stamp duty applies in England and Northern Ireland, with separate property taxes in Scotland and Wales.

The tax is a 'slab' tax, with a 'nil rate' band applying on the first 125,000 and different rates applying on other portions of the property price.

First-time buyers have a higher 'nil rate' band of 300,000.

Aides were jubilant about the performance, following fears that Mrs Badenoch's first conference speech might be her last with a local elections meltdown looming in May.

One Tory veteran said that potential leadership rivals like Robert Jenrick had been put 'back in their box'.

Another told the Daily Mail that Mrs Badenoch had quashed leadership jostling and signalled a turning point for the party. 'I think it will be seen as the most significant speech since Cameron in 2007,' they said.

Shadow cabinet ministers gave a rapturous reception to Mrs Badenoch's conference speech

Mrs Badenoch was congratulated by one of her biggest supporters after the speech in Manchester - 7ft 2in student James McAlpine

Mrs Badenoch said the challenge was to 'secure our borders and restore our strength so our children inherit a country that works'.

Mrs Badenoch told the hall that she was proud to be leading 'the only party that can meet the test of our generation'.

'Britain is stagnating while the world around us moves on,' she warned.

Mrs Badenoch pointed to the Tories' historic achievements - including setting up the modern police force and Brexit.

She said: 'Every generation must face its test.

'In the 1940s, our test was to defeat fascism and ensure victory of freedom.

'In the 1980s, it was to banish socialism and deliver prosperity.

'In the 2020s, our test is to restore a strong economy, secure our borders and rebuild Britain's strength so our children inherit a country that works.

'Ladies and gentlemen, conference, thank you. Thank you for standing by the only party that can meet the test of our generation, the only party that can deliver a stronger economy and stronger borders.'

Mrs Badenoch pledged to 'bring down the taxes stifling our economy' and reverse Labour's 'borrowing and tax doom loop'.

She unveiled plans for a new 'golden rule' which will require half of every pound saved to be used for cutting the deficit, with the other half spent on tax cuts and boosting the economy.

Mrs Badenoch said her political rivals were busy 'shaking the same magic money tree'.

'Last year, the public voted for change, but all they have been given is change for the worse,' she said.

'And because they are still angry with us, parties that in normal times will never be seen as a serious option for government are gaining ground, making promises they will never be able to keep.

'Let's look at what's on offer out there for all those disappointed by Labour.

'Reform, promising free beer tomorrow; Jeremy Corbyn, promising free jam; Lib Dems, promising free lettuce; all of them promising more spending, blowing up the public finances.

'Whether it's Starmer, Farage, Corbyn or Davey, all these men are shaking the same magic money tree, following the same failed playbook, no plans for growth, no honesty about the scale of the challenges.

'And it always leads to the same result, more government, more taxes, more debt.'

She added: 'It's irresponsible, it's cynical, and it's why Britain needs Conservatives back in charge.

'But we can't beat them, simply by attacking them.

'As George Bernard Shaw said. 'Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty, and the pig likes it.''

Effectively declaring war on benefits culture, Mrs Badenoch complained that '5,000 new people are signing on every single day'.

'Many are young people, who are losing the chance to make something of themselves, never knowing what it's like to pay their own way,' she said.

Ms Badenoch said motability cars are 'not for people with ADHD'.

'We will restrict motability vehicles to people with serious disabilities. Those cars are not for people with ADHD,' she said.

She also criticised time 'wasted' by police on non-crime hate incidents.

'Conference, we are going to free the police to protect the public, not to chase political correctness,' she said.

The Tories have been sounding tough noises on illegal immigration, including committing to quit the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and deport 750,000 people with no right to be in this country.

However, Tory strategists believe the party's best hope lies in restoring its battered economic credentials.

In her keynote speech, Mrs Badenoch said the Conservative approach 'starts with fiscal responsibility', adding: 'We have to get the deficit down.'

'Over the next decade, Rachel Reeves is going to double the deficit with her borrowing and tax doom loop,' she will say.

'It's not sustainable and it's not fair. It is stealing from our children and grandchildren. And Conservatives will put a stop to it.'

Shadow chancellor Mel Stride announced plans this week to slash government spending by 47billion by clamping down on welfare, reducing the size of the civil service by a quarter and cutting billions from foreign aid.

According to Mrs Badenoch, at least half the money saved will be used to reduce the deficit, with the rest spent on cutting tax or boosting the economy.

Pledging a new 'golden economic rule', she said: 'Every pound we save will be put to work. At least half will go towards cutting the deficit. Because living within our means is our first priority.

'With the rest, we are going to get our economy growing again. And bring down the taxes stifling our economy.'

The Conservatives have set out plans this week to scrap business rates for 250,000 pubs and high street shops at a cost of 4billion.

A further 2.8 billion has been allocated to fund a new 'first job bonus' which would offer young people entering the workplace up to 5,000 towards their first home.

But, even with 24billion used to cut the UK's deficit, this would still leave up to 16billion available for potential further tax cuts.

The Tory leader pledged to curb funding for 'low quality' degree courses and use the proceeds to double the number of apprenticeships.

Mrs Badenoch warned that too many courses are drawing students into a 'debt trap' in which they will never earn enough to pay back their tuition fees.

She cited analysis suggesting that almost a third of graduates now see 'no economic return' on their years of study, adding: 'Every year thousands of young people go off to university, but leave with crippling loans and no real prospects.

'We will shut down these rip-off courses and use the money to double the apprenticeship budget. Giving thousands more young people the chance of a proper start in life.'

Mrs Badenoch and her husband waved for the cameras after her successful turn on stage

Tories believe that Nigel Farage's efforts to move into Labour territory have opened ground for them

Mrs Badenoch with her husband Hamish on the way to deliver her big speech

Tory sources highlighted figures showing that many graduates in areas like the performing arts, media studies earn below the national average wage.

Under Tory plans, funding for courses whose graduates go on to earn low wages would be capped. The savings would be used to increase the number of apprenticeship places on offer.

Student number caps were fully lifted in England in 2015, leading to a record number of students being accepted onto university courses that year.

By reintroducing and gradually lowering the caps, the Conservatives hope to limit loan repayment losses through a reduction in the number of people going to university.

The party said the policy would see 100,000 fewer people per year going to university by the end of the next parliament, saving 3 billion - enough to fund a doubling of the apprenticeship budget.

Labour chairwoman Anna Turley said Mrs Badenoch was in 'complete denial'.

'The public saw the Tories' disastrous blueprint for Britain across their 14 years of failure in government  and the Conservatives still won't apologise for the mess they left,' she said.

'Kemi Badenoch set herself a new 'golden economic rule' today and broke it immediately. It's the same old Tories, with the same old policies without a plan. They didn't work then and you can't trust them now.

'Only Labour can renew Britain. Real wages have grown more in the first 10 months of this Labour Government than in the first 10 years under the Tories. Only Labour can be trusted to grow our economy, secure our borders, and make working people better off.'
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Northern Ireland is facing a 'culture war' over fake meat, which could see a vegan sausage roll ban being imposed upon it by the EU if they are not renamed.

The European Parliament is today expected to vote in favour of outlawing plant-based food sold under 'meaty terms'.

Should the motion be backed, meat-free products in Northern Ireland will have to be sold under new names like 'tubes' or 'discs' because of a push from conservative EU lawmakers to appease farmers.

Thanks to Brexit, Britain is escaping the sweeping attack on vegan food products by Brussels.

It's understood Greggs vegan sausage rolls will also escape the EU name ban because of a loophole in the Brexit treaty.

However, the ban will still operate in Northern Ireland - should it be approved - because of the Windsor Framework, which means the country must follow some EU rules that Britain does not, including on food labelling.

The prospect has outraged unionist politicians, who say the country has been given no say on rules imposed upon it by the European Union.

Robin Swann, an MP for the Ulster Unionist Party, said: 'This regulatory absurdity highlights the urgent need to scrap the Irish Sea border and ensure NI businesses operate under UK, not EU, law.'

Vegan sausage rolls could be banned in Northern Ireland if they are not renamed. The change could come into effect after a vote by the European Parliament. Greggs vegan sausage rolls, however, will be immune to the change thanks to a loophole in Brexit rules

The treaty created the Irish Sea border, which kept the land border with the Republic of Ireland invisible after Brexit while introducing checks on British goods.

However, it also created a loophole which ensures vegan sausage rolls produced by bakery giant Greggs, and other similar products made in Britain, can continue to be sold in Northern Ireland under their proper UK name.

Greggs makes the pastries in Britain before they are shipped to 24 bakeries in Northern Ireland.

The goods are imported across the Irish Sea via a 'green lane' for items deemed not at risk of crossing into Ireland.

However, Unionist politicians have said Brussels' influence on some aspects of Northern Irish life are becoming ludicrous.

Timothy Gaston, the member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for the Traditional Unionist Voice, said: 'Once again, Northern Ireland finds itself bound by rules it did not make, subject to decisions in which no Northern Ireland representative has a vote.

'While the European Parliament debates what a sausage roll can be called, businesses here must brace for yet another layer of regulation that applies in Belfast but not in Birmingham.'

The vote in the European Parliament is being held later today.

Northern Irish politicians have expressed their exasperation at the vote, which is being taken at the European Parliament later today (file image)

Political analysts say the ban is expected to be backed by the centre-right European People's Party - the largest in Strasbourg - as well as the hard-right and some liberal MEPs.

Celine Imart, the centre-Right lead MEP who put forward the amendment, said: 'A steak is made of meat  full stop. Using these names only for real meat keeps labels honest, protects farmers and preserves Europe's culinary traditions.'

Thomas Waitz, an Austrian Green MEP, said: 'This is a cultural war, and this is a cultural war that has been started by the far-Right.'

Should the ban be voted through, the Northern Ireland Assembly does have the power to can delay the application of EU law by using the 'Stormont brake'.

The legislation is designed to temporarily block the application of a rule if it has a 'significant impact specific to everyday life in Northern Ireland in a way that is liable to persist'.

On the two previous occasions this brake has been tested, however, the UK government has denied its use, claiming it did not meet the threshold.

It is also unclear whether there is sufficient opposition to this new rule within the assembly.
Nadine Dorries has hit back at Susanna Reid in a TV clash over jailed tweeter Lucy Connolly after being accused of sharing a Reform stage with a 'convicted criminal'.

Former Conservative Culture Secretary Ms Dorries, who defected to Reform UK last month, was involved in a fiery argument on ITV's Good Morning Britain today.

Ms Connolly had been warmly greeted by Nigel Farage with a hug at the Reform party conference in Birmingham last month, not long after being freed from jail.

She served a year of a 31-month sentence for stirring up racial hatred in a tweet where she called for 'mass deportation now' and told people to 'set fire' to migrant hotels in the aftermath of the Southport murders.

Susanna Reid opened today's GMB interview with Ms Dorries by discussing the former MP's decision to defect, adding: 'And you end up on stage with Nigel Farage and also a convicted criminal, Lucy Connolly.'

When Ms Dorries replied that she 'wasn't on the stage' with her, Reid went to say it was 'the same stage as Lucy Connolly, a convicted criminal who was convicted of inciting racial hatred'.

Ms Dorries responded by saying: 'I call her a mother rather than a convicted criminal.'

When asked whether she felt 'uncomfortable' about being in company with Connolly, Ms Dorries said: 'It's a new party.

'Well, Reform is the same thing Nigel has been saying for 30 years, banging the same drum - didn't decide on a policy because it wanted to win votes and I felt a relief to be in a party with other people who share those views.'

Former Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries (right) clashed on ITV's Good Morning Britain in an interview with presenters Ed Balls and Susanna Reid

Lucy Connolly (pictured) at Reform UK's party conference in Birmingham in September 2025

When pressed further on Connolly's case by GMB co-presenter Ed Balls, a former Labour Shadow Chancellor, Ms Dorries said: 'I felt what we saw with Lucy Connolly was a severe reaction to a woman who took down a tweet, and we've all posted - Ed tweets - that we shouldn't have done.

'It was in the aftermath of an attack where young girls had been murdered. I'm not sure what the purpose of this is.'

Ms Dorries also used the interview to predict Robert Jenrick would become Conservative leader 'very soon' - as she told of feeling 'pity' for the party she left for Reform.

Former cabinet minister Ms Dorries, who this year defected from the Tories, today praised Shadow Justice Secretary Mr Jenrick - amid controversy over his comments about 'seeing no white faces' during a visit to a Birmingham district.

She also poured scorn on her former party, which is currently staging its annual conference in Manchester - with Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride speaking yesterday and current leader Kemi Badenoch on stage today.

Ms Dorries was asked whether she thought Mr Jenrick might follow in her footsteps by switching parties.

She replied: 'Do I think Robert Jenrick would jump? I think there's a bigger question. I'll tell you what I think  Robert Jenrick is probably going to be leader of the Conservative party very soon.

'When the May local elections come, there won't be a single Conservative councillor left in either Wales or Scotland - that's a very unusual situation for a party to be in, in Westminster.'

Former Conservatives cabinet minister Nadine Dorries, who has since defected to Reform UK, told ITV's Good Morning Britain she felt 'pity' regarding her former party

Ms Dorries also predicted current Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick (pictured on October 7 at his party's annual conference in Manchester) to be Tory leader 'soon'

Most recent UK-wide opinion polling puts the Conservatives in joint third place with the Liberal Democrats on 17 per cent - behind Reform's 27 per cent and Sir Keir Starmer's Labour on 20 per cent.

Mr Jenrick finished runner-up to Kemi Badenoch in last autumn's Conservative leadership election, after defeated former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stepped down.

Ms Dorries went on to say today: 'Kemi Badenoch has already said yesterday that if  I think the words she used were, if the poll ratings hadn't improved by May she would resign.

'I think basically what she's saying is, 'If we're absolutely trounced in the May local elections, I'll resign".

'I think Jenrick will be leading the Conservative party and I think he sees that opportunity.'

Bookmakers have today suggested Ms Badenoch is odd-on to be replaced as Conservative leader next year, with Mr Jenrick the favourite to succeed her.

Ladbrokes put the chances of her being toppled in 2026 at 8/11, while she is 7-1 to go this year - with Mr Jenrick the 11/10 frontrunner while Shadow Home Secretary Sir James Cleverly is seen as his closest contender at 6-1.

Cal Gildart, from the betting firm, said: 'The writing is on the wall for Kemi Badenoch's leadership, as far as the odds go.

Nadine Dorries (right) was challenged by Ed Balls (left) over the Lucy Connolly case

Lucy Connolly served 10 months of a 31-month sentence for inciting racial hatred with a tweet

'Even if she hangs on beyond 2026, the betting markets give her next to no chance of leading her party into the next election.'

When asked today on GMB whether she felt 'sad' about the Conservatives' present position, Ms Dorries said: 'I feel pity more than sad.

'You've already got their Treasury team at each other's throats - we've got Mel Stride saying, if I was [Chancellor] Rachel Reeves, I would immediately hike up income tax because that's the cleanest and quickest way to raise money.

'It was laughable yesterday when I heard Mel Stride say he would take away business rates across the UK.

'That was an idea that was put forward over and over again in 14 years we were in government and that was never ever entertained.'

Mr Jenrick's reported remarks about his 90-minute visit to Handsworth were made at an Aldridge-Brownhills Conservative Association dinner on March 14.

He went on to say at the event that it was 'not about the colour of your skin or your faith', but about people 'living alongside each other'.

Handsworth's population by ethnicity is nine per cent white, 25 per cent Pakistani, 23 per cent Indian and 10 per cent Bangladeshi, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.

Nadine Dorries, who defected from the Tories to Reform, believes Robert Jenrick will soon become the next Conservative leader - succeeding current incumbent Kemi Badenoch

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has told of seeing 'no white faces' during a visit to the Birmingham district of Handsworth

Mr Jenrick has since told a fringe event at the Conservatives' conference that he visited during the early stages of Birmingham's bin strike and that the area 'did look like a slum'.

He has also said people should not be stopped from talking about integration out of a 'misplaced fear of being called racist'.

Asked whether he had any regrets about his comments, Mr Jenrick told BBC Radio 5 Live on Tuesday: 'No, not at all and I won't shy away from these issues.'

Ms Badenoch has defended her shadow minister, saying she did not agree with accusations of racism and that there was 'nothing wrong with making observations'.

But Andy Street, former Conservative mayor for the West Midlands, has described Mr Jenrick as being 'wrong' about Handsworth.

And the Bishop of Birmingham, Right Reverend Michael Volland, described himself as dismayed and disappointed to hear Mr Jenrick's remarks.

In a letter to the shadow minister, co-signed by a number of community leaders, the bishop said: 'Comments like those you have made have the potential to generate anxiety and stir up division.

'They can feed into a harmful narrative that provides fuel for a fire of toxic nationalism.

'It is deeply unhelpful for politicians to make such comments and I encourage you to think about how your rhetoric might contribute towards unity rather than stoking division.'

Labour's West Midlands mayor Richard Parker told BBC Radio WM he found the comments racist, adding: 'He's set out intentionally to draw on a particular issue, people's colour, to identify the point he wanted to make.'
The 12th Duke of Malborough is set to face a trial after allegedly driving 80mph in a 50mph zone.

James Spencer-Churchill, who is a relative of Princess Diana and Sir Winston Churchill, is due to appear in court accused of speeding.

The Duke, 69, of Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, denied two charges at Oxford Magistrates' Court.

He is charged with driving a Hyundai 80mph on Woodstock Road, Yarnton, in a 50mph zone on October 18 last year.

The Duke is also charged with failing to provide the identity of a driver who was alleged to have been guilty of an offence.

He pleaded not guilty to both charges on September 29 and will face a trial at Wycombe Magistrates' Court on January 12 next year.

The Duke is a distant cousin of Princess Diana, as she was a descendant of the Spencer-Churchill line, which included the first Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill.

He is also a relative of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who is his first cousin three times removed.

The 12th Duke of Marlborough, James Spencer-Churchill, is set to face a trial after allegedly driving 80mph in a 50mph zone

Blenheim Palace, located in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, the Duke's place of residence

Mr Spencer-Churchill previously spent time in jail, having been imprisoned for a month for forging prescriptions in 1995.

In September 2007, he was sentenced to six months behind bars on two counts of dangerous driving and one of criminal damage.

In 2022, a county court judge ordered that a 132,000 Porsche Cayenne belonging to the Duke be seized by a finance company, after payments defaulted.

Mr Spencer-Churchill was not present in court in Oxford for the application to re-possess the top of the range luxury car.

Volkswagen Financial Services UK Ltd took the Duke to court for a hearing to recover the part paid-for car after it was alleged he failed to keep up payments - despite being worth 188million at the time.

At the hearing, District Judge Richard Lumb ruled that the financial services firm could recover the Porsche, which had been 'wrongly kept' by the peer. He was also ordered to pay 602 in costs.
Sir Lenny Henry has claimed all black Britons should be paid slavery reparations.

The comedian argues in a new book that the UK should hand over an unspecified amount of money to its black population because of the 'effects of slavery'.

Writing in The Big Payback, Sir Lenny justifies this by saying that the reasons for modern-day racism can be traced back to the transatlantic slave trade.

The book out tomorrow also claims reparations must 'dismantle the foundations' of western society built on slavery and racism and make 'new foundations'.

It cites a figure from a Brattle Group report in 2023 claiming the UK owes 18trillion in payments to countries including to former colonies in the Caribbean.

But what do you think  should the UK pay slavery reparations to its black population? Vote in the Daily Mail's latest poll.

In yesterday's poll, Mail readers were asked: 'Was Robert Jenrick right to complain about not 'seeing another white face' in Handsworth?' Some 90 per cent of you said 'yes' and 10 per cent said 'no'.
An NHS junior doctor faces a new tribunal after being allowed to keep her job despite claims of Holocaust denial and making a throat-slitting gesture at Jewish protesters.

Dr Rahmeh Aladwan, a trainee trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, has come under investigation over social media posts - including a suggestion that the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, north London, was 'a Jewish supremacy cesspit'.

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service ruled last month that no suspension was necessary.

But now the General Medical Council, which had brought that original case demanding she be suspended, has now had the case referred back to the MPTS.

A new hearing date has been set for October 23, it has been revealed.

A GMC spokesman told how the doctors' watchdog had 'referred Dr Rahmeh Aladwan to an Interim Orders Tribunal', adding: 'The GMC will make a referral where it believes an interim order is necessary to protect the public or public confidence in doctors during an investigation.'

Dr Aladwan, of British-Palestinian descent, was allowed to keep her job after she allegedly denied the Holocaust, describing it as a 'concept' and 'fabricated victim narrative' - while also calling Israeli people 'worse than Nazis'.

The MPTS ruled that Dr Aladwan would be able to continue to practice after concluding her previous posts did not amount to 'bullying or harassment'.

NHS medic Dr Rahmeh Aladwan, a trainee trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, has come under investigation over social media posts - she has been accused of antisemitism

This was despite the GMC doctors' watchdog telling the medical tribunal that Jewish patients would not feel safe under her care.

Following the ruling, Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he had no faith in the medical regulator - writing on X: 'The racist language of "Jewish supremacy" reflects the values of Nazis, not the NHS.'

Dr Aladwan has since sparked fresh controversy after sharing a news article about members of the public being urged to stay away from A&E departments in Greater Manchester unless in need of urgent medical treatment.

She shared the post last Thursday - just hours after Jihad Al-Shamie's terrorist attack outside a synagogue in Manchester that resulted in the death of two people.

In a response, Dr Aladwan claimed that the decision 'effectively places a specific communitys security above the healthcare of the entire population, creating a dangerous and discriminatory precedent'.

She did later clarify that the lockdown only applied to A&E services.

Dr Aladwan also shared a post from a Palestinian journalist named Abubaker Abed, which read: 'Apparently, the lives of 4 Jews in Manchester are more significant than 53 lives of Muslims in Gaza.

'This is racism and Jewish supremacism. This is Western civilisation.'

The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service ruled last month that no suspension was necessary, allowing Dr Rahmeh Aladwan (pictured) to carry on working

Controversy surrounding Dr Aladwan erupted earlier this year after several social media posts from the NHS doctor were uncovered.

This included a claim that 'British Jewish children are taught that they are superior to non-Jews, that they have the right to colonise Palestine, and are groomed through birthright trips to become colonisers'.

On July 30, she claimed that the Royal Free Hospital in north London, which serves a large Jewish community, was a 'Jewish supremacy cesspit' has also previously said 'I will never condemn the 7th of October'.

In other social media posts, believed to be written by Dr Aladwan, she described anti-Semitism and the Holocaust as 'concepts' used by Jewish people to 'promote a narrative of victimhood'.

Following her comments, the General Medical Council, which regulates the conduct of NHS doctors, referred her to the MPTS.

The GMC had asked the tribunal to impose an 12-month interim order of conditions on Dr Aladwan while an investigation was carried out.

This would have placed restrictions on a doctor's practice, including that they be supervised or requiring them to undergo further training.

Counsel for the GMC, Isobel Thomas described these conditions as necessary due the 'nature and seriousness of the allegations'.

Dr Aladwan, of British-Palestinian descent, was allowed to keep her job after she allegedly denied the Holocaust, describing it as a 'concept' and a 'fabricated victim narrative'

She told the hearing that Dr Aladwan's posts 'appear to demonise Israelis and Jews' and described the Holocaust 'as a fabricated victim narrative'.

Dr Aladwan's social media posts were alleged to have included 'justification of terrorism, denial of sexual violence, spreading of antisemitic conspiracy theories, misuse of Holocaust imagery'.

One complainant highlighted posts including footage said to show Dr Aladwan 'at a pro-Palestinian concert (July 2024) where she does a slit your throat hand gesture towards the counterprotesters (who are mainly Jewish)'.

The tribunal ruled there was not sufficient evidence to show that Dr Aladwan posed a real risk to patients.

It added that allowing her to remain practising would not undermine public confidence in the medical profession.

In a speech after she left the tribunal building, Dr Aladwan said she hoped the ruling would encourage other medical professionals to 'speak up'.

Mr Streeting has continued to condemn the MPTS's ruling - and this week vowed to overhaul the way medical regulators investigate cases of antisemitism, saying the current system was failing to protect Jewish people.

Mr Streeting said: 'We must be unequivocal that antisemitism has absolutely no place in our NHS, or anywhere in our society.'

Dr Rahmeh Aladwan is seen leaving a medical tribunal in Manchester on September 25 2025

A post shared by Dr Aladwan following the Manchester synagogue attack on October 2 2025

Dr Aladwan shared a post from a Palestinian journalist named Abubaker Abed

The GMC and the MPTS presently assess the conduct of doctors and decide whether sanctions - such as being struck off the medical register - are necessary.

Campaigners say antisemitism has been able to 'fester unchecked' in the NHS and medical profession since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 2023.

Mr Streeting said: 'Two years on from the horrific events of October 7 and just days after a despicable attack on our nation's Jewish community, we must be unequivocal that antisemitism has absolutely no place in our NHS, or anywhere in our society.

'The NHS is a universal health service, which means that everyone, regardless of race, religion, or creed, should feel safe seeking its care.

'I deplore the fact that this is frankly not the current reality for many Jewish patients and staff, and I am determined to change this for once and for all.

'It should go without saying that doctors making racist comments about Jewish people is abhorrent and demands action. Yet all too often, appropriate action by regulators has been sorely lacking.

'It is clear that the current medical regulatory system is completely failing to protect Jewish patients and NHS staff.

'I am looking urgently at how we can overhaul the current regime, which has been found completely wanting.'

Dr Aladwannow faces a new tribunal hearing scheduled for October 23

The Jewish News reported in July that 454 complaints of antisemitism have been submitted to the General Medical Council (GMC) since October 7 2023.

Some 84 per cent were closed at the triage stage, though it said this is in line with the percentage of general complaints against doctors closed at an early stage of proceedings.

A GMC spokesperson has said: 'Antisemitism has no place in healthcare.

'We make clear what we expect from doctors through our guidance to them and our fitness to practise processes reinforce these expectations.

'We do this so patients' trust in the professions we regulate is maintained, and they receive good, safe care.'

The GMC today said: 'The General Medical Council has referred Dr Rahmeh Aladwan to an Interim Orders Tribunal.

'The GMC will make a referral where it believes an interim order is necessary to protect the public or public confidence in doctors during an investigation.'

Law firm Rahman Lowe, representing Dr Aladwan, has hit back at Mr Streeting's comments in a letter to the Health Secretary.

In a statement, the London based company said: 'The letter expresses grave concern about the ministers intervention in live quasi-judicial proceedings, without knowledge of the evidence or submissions before the MPTS.

'The comments, made in apparent alignment with complainants, undermines the independence of regulatory and judicial processes and raise serious questions about the Secretary of States adherence to the Ministerial Code, the House of Commons Code of Conduct, and the principle of the Rule of Law.

'We have demanded that the Minister ceases all further commentary or involvement in Dr Aladwans case, and that he discloses details of any meetings or communications held with complainants or the GMC.'

Rahman Lowe today declined further comment.
Hate-filled synagogue terrorist Jihad al-Shamies voice was revealed for the first time - as it emerged he called 999 to report the attack claiming it was on behalf of ISIS.

The 35-year-old reportedly told the call handler: 'I have killed two Jews in the name of the Islamic State.'

Al-Shamie is said to have made the emergency call immediately after driving into worshippers at the gates of a Manchester and stabbing at least two people.

His claim of responsibility and clearly defined motive expressed to the operator prompted counter-terror police to swiftly declare the attack a terrorist incident, The Sun reported.

Police have confirmed they received a call made by the attacker making the IS claim.

But despite his claim of acting on behalf of Islamic State, police and MI5 have been unable to establish any links between al-Shamie and any terror groups. Instead, they believe he was a lone wolf, who viewed extremist material online.

The voicemail was revealed by a woman he wed in an Islamic ceremony  despite already being a married father.

The woman  believed to be the bigamist terrorists third wife - released a voicemail in which the murderer admits to being angry.

New picture of synagogue terrorist Jihad al-Shamie, 35, who wed 'at least three' women

The anonymous woman described him as a vile and controlling man. He tells her how Allah will 'forgive her for her shortcomings'  then calls her babe and says he misses her and her children.

The white Muslim convert, 38, had a three-year abusive relationship, during which al-Shamie raped her multiple times.

She is believed to have been the third woman married to the Islamist, who was also married to a British Pakistani woman, with whom he had three children.

He is believed to have also wed another white convert working as an NHS nurse and had adulterous relationships with other women.

Al-Shamie, 35, was shot dead by police after launching a knife and car attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue last Thursday.

New picture of synagogue terrorist Jihad al-Shamie, 35, who wed 'at least three' women

Adrian Daulby, 53, and Melvin Cravitz, 66, were killed and four were injured. The jihadist was on police bail accused of rape at the time. It later emerged Mr Daulby's fatal injuries were caused by a police bullet.

The voicemail was sent to the woman after Al-Shamie admitted to her that he was already married with a child when he married her.

Al-Shamie said: Look, first of all I didn't say anything about the kids.

I love both of them. I miss them a lot. I miss [child) and I was getting to know [child].

Obviously I was angry - I said some stuff. Like I said to you in person, I never say, I never treat you badly. I never say anything bad to you.

You know, you always shout at me. I always take it and you calm down afterwards.

I forgive you - you know, you should forgive me. You are only in Islam if you forgive people. Allah will forgive you for your shortcomings. I know I shouldn't have said that. I know I have upset you.

He adds: I'm going to be living very close to you very soon. And we can make it work this time, properly. I am not going to be in Manchester.

I am going to be able to see you whenever support you, all that sort of stuff.

Al-Shamies third wife, from Nelson, Lancashire, said the couple married in an online Islamic ceremony in January 2022 after meeting via Muslim dating app Muzz, formerly known as Muzmatch.

In hundreds of other messages to her, the terrorist cuts a desperate figure - constantly begging for forgiveness as his lies unravel. Reportedly a university drop-out, al-Shamie was born in Syria but was granted British citizenship in 2006 when he was around 16, having entered the UK as a young child.

Greater Manchester Police said he 'may have been influenced by extreme Islamist ideology'.

A Counter Terrorism Policing North West spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that, in the initial stages of the attack, a call was made by the attacker to police claiming to pledge allegiance to the so-called Islamic State.

'We are continuing to investigate the full circumstances and motivation behind what happened. That investigation is continuing at pace.'
A widow erupted at an Arizona judge after he gave a slap on the wrist to the driver who shot her husband dead in a road rage incident.

Alyssa Honer said she was 'astounded' after Jason Scott Jameson, 43, was spared jail for killing Doctor Jeffrey Honer, 47, in March last year.

Jameson faced up to three-and-a-half years in prison for negligent homicide but was sentenced to four years' probation this week - by a visibly emotional judge.

'We did not anticipate and expect that this is what would happen, especially after we heard the judge and how he himself felt,' Alyssa told KGUN9 outside court.

'It was a horrible case. He was emotional. The judge was emotional, which to me, meant that he felt strongly in our particular case, and then the punishment did not fit the crime.'

Judge Howard Fell teared up during the hearing, saying: 'I'm so sick of gun violence. I've seen it for 50 years.

Alyssa Honer, speaking outside an Arizona court this week, said she was 'astounded' after her husband's killer was spared jail time

Alyssa, seen with her children and late husband Doctor Jeffrey Honer, who was shot dead on a Tucson road last March

Jason Jameson faced up to three-and-a-half years in prison for negligent homicide but was sentenced to the maximum of of four years' probation this week

'I was a prosecutor, then a judge for 28 years and it's just sickening, the gun violence in our country.'

Jameson shot Honer dead as he walked away after the confrontation on a Tucson road.

Honer's family said he had been on the way to a patient's home when he was killed.

'It was his last patient of the day, it was a Friday afternoon. The nurses and him were in separate vehicles,' Alyssa said.

'He was supposed to, you know, jump in his car and come home to us. He had his suitcase in the trunk and he was ready to go home.'

The killer initially suggested he acted in self-defense but eventually pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of negligent homicide.

Judge Fell made the decision after hearing emotional testimony from Honer's family.

Before his sentencing, Jameson told the judge he wished he could take back the shooting.

'I reacted out of fear. And I don't know how to reconcile with it,' Jameson told the court.

The widow said she was 'astounded' by Judge Howard Fell's decision to sentence her husband's killer to probation and no jail time

Jameson shot Honer dead as he walked away after a confrontation on a Tucson road

Jameson's defense told the court he and Honer had their Christian faith and two young children in common.

But Honer's family was not swayed by his words, with the victim's brother Kenneth Honer saying: 'The difference between the two couldn't be clearer.

'Jeff was a man who taught Seminary in the morning; six o'clock in the morning to teenagers. He took in a Ukrainian family he didn't know. He gave his time and his money and his talents to help others consistently.'
A little girl who was allegedly physically and sexually abused by two sisters has fled their house of horrors after escaping her restraints, court documents state.

The 12-year-old, whose identity is being withheld for her own protection, was allegedly held captive in Brenda Garcia's Montgomery County, Texas home.

Brenda, 38, and her sister Tania Garcia, 37, are accused of hitting the child with belts, cords and sticks, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by KTRK.

The girl was also tied up, cut with scissors and choked around the neck with a belt until she couldn't breathe, investigators allege.

She has lived with the sisters since March. Brenda took her in after the girl reported that her uncle, whom she lived with in Houston, had been sexually assaulting her.

But instead of providing her safety, the Garcias allegedly inflicted six more months of horrific abuse on the young girl.

She finally escaped on September 28 after she managed to break out of her restraints and flee the sisters' Goodman Road home.

Investigators found the girl with injuries all over her body and a large gash on her head that had become infected, the affidavit claims.

Brenda Garcia, 38, has been charged with charged with felony Injury to a child, unlawful restraint, and invasive visual recording. She denies wrongdoing

Tania Garcia, 37, was arrested and charged with felony Injury to a child and unlawful restraint

The girl disclosed months of alleged physical and sexual abuse to detectives.

She told investigators how in one instance Brenda wrapped a belt around her neck and told her to 'die' as she choked her until she couldn't breathe.

Brenda was also accused of taking nude photographs of the girl.

Detectives took the child to a nearby hospital, where medical staff confirmed that her injuries were consistent with abuse and malnutrition, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office reports.

The girl, whose biological mother lives in another country, is currently safe and receiving medical care and support services.

Police obtained and executed arrest warrants for Brenda and Tania on October 3.

The sisters were charged with felony Injury to a child and unlawful restraint, according to arrest records obtained by the Daily Mail. Brenda was also charged with invasive visual recording.

They remain jailed, with bond set at $200,000.

Brenda, who denies wrongdoing, claimed during her interview with detectives that the girl had manufactured the allegations of abuse.

A 12-year-old girl allegedly suffered months of physical and sexual abuse at the sisters' home in Montgomery County, Texas

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said the investigation remains 'active and ongoing' and no further details will be released at this time.

It is unclear at this time if charges have been filed against the girl's uncle in connection to the sexual assault allegations.

A spokesperson for the Montgomery County District Attorney's office told KTRK: 'Regarding any further arrests, the investigation is ongoing, and we cannot provide anything further right now to protect the integrity of the case.'

Sheriff Wesley Doolittle, in a statement obtained by the Daily Mail, called the case 'deeply disturbing' and vowed the 'safety and well-being of children will always be my highest priority'.

'This case is deeply disturbing, but it also highlights the importance of community awareness and the courage it takes to speak up,' he said. 'Together, we can protect the most vulnerable among us and ensure that justice is served.'
A top female French comedian is facing a police probe after kicking a six-year-old boy in the stomach on the Champs Elysees.

Nawell Madani is accused of assaulting the young boy, named locally as Djulian, after he attempted to take a photo with her, his family have said.

Following the Monday attack, which occurred at around 10:30pm, the child was rushed to Necker Hospital before Madani handed herself into the police.

According to the Paris prosecutor's office, she explained that she 'had been approached by children, had been afraid of being robbed, and had struck a child.'

An investigation into 'violence against a child under 15' has since been opened.

The boy's father - a single dad to four sons aged six to 13 - told local media they had left a restaurant on the Champs Elysees before they ran into the comedy icon.

According to the father, Bebethan, the children are well known in France for being TikTok stars and have over 10,000 followers on the platform.

As they had been walking away from the restaurant, they bumped into a local fan named Nabil and struck up conversation when Madani walked past.

Following the Monday attack, which occurred at around 10:30pm, the child was rushed to Necker Hospital

Nawell Madani is accused of assaulting the young boy, named locally as Djulian, after he attempted to take a photo with her, his family have said

Nabil, who had been an extra in one of Madani's shows, greeted the comedian, causing Djulian to ask who she was.

The fan explained that Madani was a famous actress and Djulian made the request to take a photo with her, to which his father agreed.

According to Bebethan, the three eldest brothers began running towards Madani, with Djulian following close behind.

One of the brothers told Le Parisien that the comedian had got 'angry with us' and warned them to 'stay behind' - but Djulian had not heard this.

'The older ones stopped dead in their tracks,' Bebethan recalled. 'But Djulian was already running, and since he didn't hear, he kept running toward her.'

He said the comedian had a small dog in her bag which the young boy wanted to pet.

But in just a matter of moments, the situation turned sour as Madani 'turned around and gave him a huge kick in the chest,' said Bebethan.

'The kid flew and crashed to the ground. While he was on the ground, I heard her say to the child, 'Now you're going to respect me',' he told the French newspaper.

Djulian reportedly stood up crying before running screaming into his father's arms.

Nabil said the father remained calm, but Madani quickly pulled out her phone to capture the friend confronting her about her actions.

'I think she realised her mistake and started calling us names, accusing the children of trying to rob her and calling them thugs and scum,' Nabil said.

According to the Paris prosecutor's office, Madani explained that she 'had been approached by children, had been afraid of being robbed, and had struck a child'

Bebethan desperately called the authorities and Djulian was rushed to hospital, but the comedian reportedly left before medics could arrive.

'She went her own way without even worrying about Djulian's condition,' the father added.

Djulian was was released without any visible injuries, but remained in shock following the incident.

His father filed a complaint to the police between midnight and 1am, and the following day, Djulian was taken back to the hospital after continuing to complain of chest pain.

Madani did not respond to Le Parisien's request for comment.
Michelle Mone's luxury Belgravia London townhouse has been purchased by a racing driver whose father is worth 525 million, it was revealed today.

The six-bedroom property was purchased for 5 million less than the 23m asking price by 20-year-old Freddie Tomlinson.

His father, Lawrence Tomlinson, lent him the 17.8 million used to purchase the house, having made his fortune through care homes and racing cars.

Tomlinson purchased the property in 2023 but details of the sale have only just emerged, a week after a judge ruled that a company linked to Baroness Mone which had access to the government's Covid 'VIP PPE lane' must repay 122 million.

Included in the deal was the 6,000 square-foot townhouse and an adjoining mews house.

Documents show Tomlinson attained the property from two companies listed in the British Virgin Isles.

These firms had bought the house for 11 million in 2015, before Mone and her husband Doug Barrowman spent a considerable sum refurbishing it.

This included installing an indoor pool and home cinema, it is understood.

Michelle Mone's luxury Belgravia London townhouse has been purchased by a racing driver whose father is worth 525 million, it was revealed today (Pictured: Baroness Mone standing in front of the property)

The six-bedroom property was purchased for 5 million less than the 23m asking price by 20-year-old Freddie Tomlinson

Freddie Tomlinson, 20, was today revealed to be the new owner of Michelle Mone's Belgravia pad

Lawrence Tomlinson, a multi-millionaire estimated to be worth 525 million, lent his son the 18 million for the property purchase, documents show

Voirrey Coole, a former director of PPE Medpro - the firm which supplied botched equipment to the government during the pandemic - acted on behalf of the British Virgin Island firms during the sale, documents show.

The house itself had previously been included on a list of frozen assets and was raided during the fraud investigation into PPE Medpro by the National Crime Agency in 2022.

Its new owner is a racing driver who competes for his father's family-owned team Ginetta.

Baroness Mone, 53, a Tory peer who rose to fame as the creator of the Ultimo bra company, has come under public scrutiny since the pandemic over the PPE equipment her husband Doug Barrowman's firm PPE Medpro supplied.

A criminal investigation and a House of Lords inquiry are both ongoing.

The company won a lucrative contract to supply 25 million surgical gowns, allegedly after improper lobbying of the Government by the Baroness, without declaring an interest.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) sued, claiming the gowns were not sterile.

In her 87-page ruling, Mrs Justice Cockerill said the gowns 'were not, contractually speaking, sterile, or properly validated as being sterile'.

One of the six-bedrooms in the couple's former Regency home

It boasts a cinema, media room, gym, swimming pool and spa amenities, such as a jacuzzi and steam room

The home underwent 'extensive' renovations after it was acquired in 2011

The Belgravia home's living room had original artwork on the wall depicting Lady Mone's husband Doug Barrowman (centre) above the sofa next to an image of one of her heroines, Marilyn Monroe (far right)

She said: 'That means that they could not be used as sterile gowns in the NHS or elsewhere.'

It was ruled that the firm must repay the 122 million spent by the government on the products, although Judge Cockerill did not rule it must pay a further claim of 8 million over storage of the PPE.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves welcomed last week's judgment, saying: 'We want our money back. We are getting our money back. And it will go where it belongs  in our schools, NHS and communities.'

But Mr Barrowman blasted the judgment as a 'travesty of justice'.

He said: 'Today, a travesty of justice took place following the judgment of Lady Justice Cockerill.

'She gave the DHSC (Department of Health and Social Care) an Establishment win despite the mountain of evidence in court against such a judgment.

'Her judgment bears little resemblance to what actually took place during the month-long trial, where PPE Medpro convincingly demonstrated that its gowns were sterile.

'This judgment is a whitewash of the facts and shows that justice was being seen to be done, where the outcome was always certain for the DHSC and the Government. This case was simply too big for the Government to lose.'

Before the verdict, Baroness Mone also posted on social media and accused the Government was 'scapegoating' her and her husband Doug Barrowman.

She said: 'This case was never about gowns or money. It has always been about politics and blame-shifting, a way to cover up the Government's disastrous 10 billion PPE write-off.

'Doug and I have been deliberately scapegoated and vilified in an orchestrated campaign designed to distract from catastrophic mismanagement of PPE procurement.

'The Government decided to make us the poster couple for the PPE scandal, a convenient distraction to take the blame off them.'

There are calls for her to be stripped of her peerage over the matter, including from the leader of the Conservative party Kemi Badenoch.

Speaking to the BBC before this week's Tory conference, Badenoch said that the case was 'enough' reason for the peerage to be withdrawn.

She added: 'I want to make sure is that people can see that the Conservative Party is a party of integrity.

'That's why we removed Michelle Mone from our party.

'And it's very, very important that people see that politicians, whether they're in the Commons or in the Lords, are acting above board.'
A woman in Maine received 250 blank state ballots in her Amazon package last week, triggering an investigation from state and federal authorities.

The woman, who opted not to be identified, said she was shocked they were included in her order of coffee, rice and paper plates.

The Newburgh woman said the package looked to have been opened and retaped, suggesting that someone ripped open the box and stuffed the ballots inside, ABC News first reported.

She handed them over to the Newburgh town office. The same day, the town of Ellsworth - about 40 miles away - reported it had 250 missing absentee ballots.

It came days before Maine residents were allowed to vote early by mail in a state referendum, which officially began Monday this week.

One of the issues tackled on the ballot is whether the state should make voters show photo identification.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who is also running for governor, said this week that she has 'full confidence that law enforcement will determine who is responsible' for the recent incident.

'Any bad actor will be held accountable. We will not stop until we have answers,' she added during her Monday press conference at the Maine State House in Augusta.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who is also running for governor, addressed the mystery ballot delivery in a press conference on Monday, insisting that there will be consequences for whoever is responsible

This controversy comes as the Trump administration is suing Bellows and Maine for refusing to hand over voter registration data

Bellows said her office, which oversees statewide elections, has partnered with the Maine attorney general, the Maine state police, the FBI and an investigation team with the US Postal Service to get to the bottom of what happened.

'Whatever happened last week, and we will find out what happened, will not impact our election,' Bellows vowed.

Amazon released a statement, explaining that one of their employees was likely not responsible for tampering with the package.

'We're cooperating with the law enforcement agencies investigating this incident. Based on our initial findings, it appears that this package was tampered with outside of our fulfillment and delivery network, and not by an Amazon employee or partner,' the company said in a statement.

Maine Republicans have said Bellows cannot be trusted to lead the investigation, citing her refusal to hand over voter registration data to federal authorities so they could make sure ineligible voters were not on the rolls.

Maine House Republican Leader Billy-Bob Faulkingham and Senate Republican Leader Trey Stewart sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel on October 1, before Bellows announced the FBI would be assisting with the investigation.

'Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has consistently shown she is willing to put partisanship over the safety and security of Maine elections,' they wrote.

'She has used her office to refuse compliance with the Department of Justice, even going as far as telling President Trump to "go jump in the Gulf of Maine" in response to routine requests for voter registration data.'

Ahead of the 2024 Maine presidential primaries, Bellows took Donald Trump off the ballot, arguing he wasn't eligible because of his conduct on January 6, 2021. The Supreme Court reversed this

In September, the Department of Justice sued Maine for opting not to hand this data over, with Bellows arguing that the DOJ is engaging in a 'fishing expedition for sensitive voter information'.

Bellows also removed now-President Donald Trump from the state's primary ballot, citing the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which states that no one who has 'engaged in insurrection' can legally hold public office.

The Supreme Court overturned this action and forced Bellows to return Trump back to the primary ballot.

Trump won the contest on March 5, 2024, with 71 percent of the vote, defeating his only rival, Nikki Haley.

In the general election, former vice-president Kamala Harris won Maine.
President Donald Trump wants an investigation into 'sanctimonious' Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal for lying about his military service in Vietnam decades ago.

Trump's sudden interest in Blumenthal comes after the Connecticut lawmaker traded jabs with Attorney General Pam Bondi at a Senate hearing on Tuesday.

Bondi brought up the senator's military service scandal after Blumenthal pressed her about the indictment against former FBI Director James Comey.

'I'm not going to be lectured to you about integrity by someone who lied about being in the military just to be elected as senator,' Bondi told Blumenthal.

Trump later joined in on the attacks against Blumenthal on Tuesday night by demanding a formal investigation into the senator's military service.

'Sanctimonious Richard 'Da Nang Dick' Blumenthal, perhaps the biggest 'joke' in the United States Senate, is at it again! 'Dick' lied until the midpoint of his political career, convincing everyone, in particular the Fake News Media, that he was a great 'War Hero' who lived on the precipice of death in the jungles of Vietnam,' Trump wrote.

'He would talk about his life in the military in almost every speech, in particular the death defying dangers he faced in his many years 'fight for freedom' while in Vietnam. He stated that 'the battles were violent and long, but there was no going back' - And then it happened, Blumenthal was found out to be a FRAUD.'

In 2010, a New York Times investigation determined that Blumenthal had lied about his military record by suggesting he served in the Vietnam war.

President Donald Trump demanded an investigation into Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal over a decade-old lie regarding the lawmaker's military service record

In 2010, Blumenthal lied about his military service by suggesting he served in the Vietnam war

Bondi brought up the senator's military service scandal after Blumenthal pressed her about James Comey's indictment

The Times found that Blumenthal had five deferments from 1965 to 1970 but later joined the Marine Corps Reserve Reserves.

However, he never fought in active military combat in the Vietnam war as he had previously suggested throughout his political career.

The issue was heavily litigated in Blumenthal's 2010 Senate campaign, but he survived the firestorm and defeated Republican opponent Linda McMahon by 12 points.

Trump continued, 'This guy shouldn't even be in the U.S. Senate. It should be investigated, and Justice should be sought.'

The president then appeared to cite disgraced former Rep. George Santos by noting, 'Right now there is a Congressman sitting in prison for lying about his past during a campaign. Well, those lies were nothing compared to those of Richard 'Da Nang Dick' Blumenthal'

'He should be allowed to speak no longer!'

After the Times released their investigation into Blumenthal, he later apologized by claiming he had 'misspoke' and his comments were not 'clear or precise.'

Blumenthal responded to Trump's latest Truth Social attack during a live interview with CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins.

Blumenthal joined the Marine Corps Reserve Reserves, but never fought in the Vietnam war

'This allegation of 15 years ago has been really rejected by the voters of Connecticut three times, overwhelmingly reelecting me,' he noted.

Blumenthal added, 'But more to the point, I was honorably discharged as a sergeant from the United States Marine Corps. I served in the reserves, and I referred to my service 'in Vietnam' on a handful, just a couple of occasions, rather than 'during Vietnam.'
Police investigating the disappearance of a Polish mother 19 years ago have discovered human remains in an area of scrubland.

Malgorzata Wnuczek vanished on her way home from her job at a logistics company in Leicester in May 2006.

The 27-year-old was last seen catching a bus from her workplace on Sunningdale Road to the city centre, only to seemingly disappear without a trace.

The last contact she had with her family, who affectionally referred to her as Gosia, was via text message on 29 May 2006, police have said.

She left behind a daughter, Ola, who was three at the time of her disappearance.

Today, Leicestershire Police announced that officers had discovered human remains in an area of scrubland off Great Central Way - close to Leicester City's stadium.

Officers had begun a renewed search for Ms Wnuczek on September 30 following a tip off 'from colleagues in Poland', with their efforts focused on digging up the scrubland.

Police have yet to indicate whether the human remains showed any signs of murder and it is understood no arrests have been made over the discovery.

In June 2023, a 39-year-old man was arrested in the Greater Manchester area on suspicion of assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice and later released with no further action.

The 2023 arrest came as specialist search teams combed the River Soar over several days following another tip-off from Polish police, but nothing was found.

Ms Wnuczek's family previously made a public appeal for information on the 10-year anniversary of her disapperance in 2016, including a 10,000 reward, but only seven people were said to have got in touch and no new lines of inquiry were established.

In a statement released following the grim find, the force said: 'It is unknown at this time whether the remains are that of Ms Wnuczek and further forensic tests will be undertaken to establish the identity of the person in question.'

Malgorzata Wnuczek disappeared on her way home from her job at a logistics company in Leicester in May 2006

Leicestershire Police announced that officers had discovered human remains on scrubland off Great Central Way

She left behind a daughter, Ola, who was three at the time of her disappearance.

Officers had begun a renewed search for Ms Wnuczek on September 30 following a tip off 'from colleagues in Poland'

A police tent set up in scrubland off the Great Central Way, Leicestershire, where remains have been found

Her family are said to be in contact with officers who are providing them with support

The statement continued: 'Though remains have been found, a search of the area is continuing.'

Ms Wnuczek's family are said to be in contact with officers who are providing them with support.

Ola learned to understand what had happened to her mother as she got older, sharing a number of appeals, including an emotional video appeal when she was just six and another on her 13th birthday in May 2016, according to Leicestershire Live.

She had been living in Poland with her grandparents since before her mother's disappearance.

Following the discovery of the human remains, Det Supt Jenni Greenway, the senior investigating officer, said: 'While I appreciate this news may come as a shock to the community, I hope this discovery will provide us with information that helps us understand what may or may not have happened to Malgorzata.

'Officers are in contact with her family and are providing support to them at what is undoubtedly a difficult time.

'Officers will remain in the Watkin Road area to carry out further work and also provide reassurance to those living nearby.'

The officer said in an earlier statement: 'For nearly 20 years now, Malgorzatas family have lived their lives not knowing what happened to her and we owe it to them to answer the questions they have.'
A Florida dentist who arranged the murder of his ex-brother-in-law was seen in new footage berating jail staff in an entitled meltdown over a sore toe.

Convicted murder-for-hire plotter Charlie Adelson, 47, flew into a frenzy and screamed at prison officers in the newly released clip as he claimed one slammed a cell door on his foot.

'That was really f***ing stupid,' he said in the video taken on August 31, first revealed by podcast Lies and Alibis.

'Really stupid. You opened the hatch, I was standing here barefoot and you slammed the door into my toe.'

Adelson is serving a life sentence for hiring a hitman to murder his brother-in-law Dan Markel in 2014.

The footage was taken after Adelson was moved to the Leon County Jail earlier this year to prepare for the possibility that he would be called to testify in the murder trial of his mother Donna Adelson.

Donna was ultimately also convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy and solicitation in the death of Markel.

Convicted murder-for-hire plotter Charlie Adelson, 47, was seen in new footage berating jail staff in an entitled meltdown after hurting his toe

Daniel Markel, 41, was found shot dead outside his garage in what police believe was a murder for hire plot in 2014, which Adelson was found to have orchestrated

In the new footage, Adelson was seen berating an unidentified prison worker before demanding to speak with their supervisor.

'Bring your lieutenant over. Ill tell him how f***ing stupid you are,' the raging inmate said.

'You dont know what stupid is? Youre f***ing stupid.

'Give me my medicine and open the hatch like a normal person. Like someone with a brain.'

The footage then showed the worker explaining the situation to their supervisor, saying: 'We came to this cell to do a medication pass. He was standing at the door.

'I unlocked the door to push the door open, he said I ran over his toe.

'Ive been recording, he done cursed me out, he done called me stupid... He's going to tell you how stupid I am.'

Adelson was convicted of helping orchestrate Markel's death as he was engaged in a bitter custody battle with her daughter, Wendi Adelson

Before his conviction, Adelson was a traveling periodontist who also had lucrative side jobs in real estate, steroid selling and stock market investments

Adelson, seen in his trial in 2023, is serving a life sentence for hiring a hitman to murder his brother-in-law

The emergence of the footage gave a glimpse inside the prison life of the convict, whose case drew national headlines in 2023.

Attorney Melba Pearson told CourtTV that the footage was evidence that Adelson is far from a model prisoner, and shows him being an 'entitled, privileged brat.'

'This is not unexpected for me because he thinks hes still at the Ritz, living his best life out of custody. But the reality is, hes going to have to adapt.

'Hes not going to get special treatment. He is not special,' Pearson said.

'His wealth means nothing there. He needs to sit down, learn some respect and learn some humility. Hes going to learn that lesson one way or the other.'

Before his conviction, Adelson was a traveling periodontist who also had lucrative side jobs in real estate, steroid selling and stock market investments.

He was known to live a life of luxury and owned a Ferrari, yacht and a large Florida home with a pool and hot tub.

Donna Adelson is seen being transported to a facility in Florida on September 4, 2025, shortly after she was found guilty of being the mastermind behind Markel's murder

Prosecutors say Sigfredo Garcia (pictured) ultimately killed Markel

Adelson was convicted two years ago of first-degree murder, conspiracy and solicitation in the murder of Markel, who was a Florida State University law professor and the father of Adelsons two nephews.

Adelson's sister and Markel were in a bitter custody dispute at the time that he was gunned down outside his home.

The dentist was found to have conspired with his then-girlfriend Katherine Magbanua to hire two hitmen, named as Latin Kings gangmembers Sigfredo Garcia and Luis Rivera, to carry out the murder.

Garcia, Magbanuas ex-husband, was found guilty of being the triggerman and is serving a life sentence. Rivera is serving a 19-year sentence after cooperating with the state.

Donna was seen in courtroom footage weeping and screaming 'oh my god' as she was convicted last month.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has hit Donald Trump with a fiery 'come and get me' warning after the President threatened to jail him for 'failing to protect ICE officers.'

Amid an ongoing war of words, the Democrat remained defiant on Wednesday and said: 'This is a convicted felon who is threatening to jail me. This guy is unhinged. He's insecure. He's a wannabe dictator.'

He told reporters: 'There's one thing I really want to say to Donald Trump: if you come for my people, you come through me. So come and get me.'

It comes hours after Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: 'Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect ICE Officers! Governor Pritzker also!'

Around 200 National Guard troops from Texas arrived in crime-ravaged Chicago on Tuesday, as well as 200 Illinois guardsmen federalized by the Pentagon.

Trump, who refers to the city as 'Chiraq,' says that violent Antifa rioters are putting ICE agents at risk as they arrest illegal immigrants.

The White House also cited the staggering homicide rate in the Windy City  seven killed and 26 wounded in shootings at the weekend.

Illinois and Chicago have sued the administration to block them from sending troops.

For over a month, Donald Trump has sought to send the National Guard into Chicago to enforce a crime crackdown

On Tuesday, JB Pritzker claimed that Trump wants to deploy troops to Chicago because the President is suffering from 'dementia'

Trump has ordered 400 federalized National Guard troops from Texas to enter Chicago to assist ICE agents with their mass deportation operation

Federal agents keep demonstrators away from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in downtown Portland, Oregon, on Monday

'This is a man who's suffering dementia,' Pritzker told the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday. 'This is a man who has something stuck in his head. He can't get it out of his head.'

Pritzker added: '[Trump] doesn't read. He doesn't know anything that's up-to-date. It's just something in the recesses of his brain that is effectuating to have him call out these cities.

'And then, unfortunately, he has the power of the military, the power of the federal government to do his bidding, and that's what he's doing.'

In recent weeks, Trump's Department of Homeland Security has deployed across Chicago to ramp up their mass deportation effort against illegal migrants.

'Operation Midway Blitz' was launched by DHS in early September to expand their deportation operation in the windy city.

For over a month, ICE officials have faced daily clashes with protesters at their detention facilities.

Trump has claimed federal troops are needed to protect ICE agents and DHS officials overseeing his administration's deportation operation.

Later this week, a federal Judge in Chicago will hold a hearing regarding the lawsuit launched by city and state leader to block Trump's deployments.

Military personnel in uniform, with the Texas National Guard patch on, are seen at the US Army Reserve Center in Ellwood, Illinois, on Tuesday

Members of the Texas National Guard are seen at the Elwood Army Reserve Training Center on Tuesday, in Elwood, Illinois

Federal agents work to keep demonstrators away from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in downtown Portland, Oregon, on Monday

The judge refused to sign a temporary restraining order in to block the administration from deploying troops until the legal case concludes in court.

'We're not going to go to war between the state of Illinois and the federal government, not taking up arms against the federal government,' Pritzker told reporters.

'But we are monitoring everything they're doing, and using that monitoring to win in court.'

Trump's Democratic critics have long feared the President would use his power in the White House to target his political enemies.

Previously, Trump had demanded the Department of Justice prosecutes former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Days after Trump issued his legal threats against Comey, the DOJ indicted him for allegedly lying to Congress.

Comey is expected to be arraigned in court later on Wednesday.
A Muslim passenger confronted a TSA worker after she allegedly asked his wife to remove her hijab.

Ajmal Aziz claims his wife Jalissa was instructed to remove the religious head garment during a TSA pre-enrollment appointment meeting in Sidney, Montana.

The aftermath of the alleged request on September 10 was caught on camera by Aziz who can be heard clarifying the TSA worker's demands.

'So you're saying she has to take her hijab off?' Aziz said.

The worker responded: 'Yes, we were told. I've been through several trainings. I've been doing this for 12 years and they told us to make sure.'

Aziz responded by saying his 'entire family' is Muslim and had never had any problems with TSA.

'It's literally illegal to tell somebody of their faith to take their covering off their head,' Aziz replied.

'And it's got nothing to do with you, but I just wanna make sure because I'm going to push this up the wall, up the limit.

The spat was captured by Ajmal Aziz, who filmed the employee during a TSA pre-enrollment appointment

Aziz alleged that the TSA worker asked his wife Jalissa to remove her hijab

'If you're saying that that's what you gotta do, so be it. But if that's not the case, then somebody is gonna get in trouble.'

A hijab is a head covering worn by some Muslim women as a symbol of modesty.

The TSA's website said that people wearing head coverings 'undergo additional security screening, which may include a pat-down.'

The pat-down is performed by an officer of the same sex.

If anything further is needed, officers 'may ask to remove the head covering in a private screening area.'

The First and Fourteenth Amendments of the US Constitution bar federal and state governments from making laws or rules that specifically prohibit women from wearing hijab, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

He finished: 'That is very distasteful.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to the TSA for comment.

Aziz said that the TSA worker in the video had told his recently converted wife to remove her hijab to take a photo.

Aziz said the TSA worker in the video had told his recently converted wife to remove her hijab to take a photo

In the video, the worker said: 'I've been through several trainings. I've been doing this for 12 years and they told us to make sure'

He added that his wife is new to Islam, was not aware of any rules and felt 'pressured' to remove her head covering.

When he found out, he confronted the worker, who allegedly 'flat out refused to redo the photo'.

He claimed the 'most disturbing part' was that the TSA worker was unmoved after he explained the 'importance of the hijab.'

'She neglected what matters to over 2 Billion Muslims just because it wasn't part of her own belief system,' Aziz wrote in an Instagram post

The worker allegedly said that they would have to 'pay again' for a redo of his wife's photo.

'She then spent almost 10 minutes flipping through notes saying in her 12 years she was instructed hijab must be removed,' Aziz wrote.

The note she read said "the face must be shown and clear." I pointed it out that it says THE FACE".'

After that, Aziz claimed, the worker insisted that she was not taking the photo again.

Aziz said that the worker told him 'What does it matter?' after he 'explained the importance of the hijab'

The worker allegedly 'flat out refused to redo the photo' but only relented when a supervisor got involved, according to Aziz's claims

Eventually, a 'higher level supervisor' allegedly got involved and 'confirmed' what Aziz had been saying.

He said: 'A hijab does not need to be removed and forcing someone to do so is a violation.

'They walked her through deleting the photo and retaking it with my wife's hijab on, without us paying again.

'In the end, my wife's dignity was restored and the staff member admitted she learned a lesson.'

Last year, New York City agreed to pay $17.5million to settle a lawsuit filed by two Muslim women who were forced to remove their hijabs for police mugshots.

Jamilla Clark and Arwa Aziz - of no relation to Ajmal Aziz - sued the city after their respective arrests in 2017, claiming that the New York Police Department demanded they remove their hijabs or face additional criminal charges.

In 2020, as a response to the lawsuit, the NYPD started allowing head coverings during mugshots as long as people's faces could still be seen.
At 7ft 2in to her 5ft 4in - it was lofty praise indeed for Kemi Badenoch!

Photos show 22-year-old James McAlpine congratulating the Tory leader after she delivered a barnstorming speech to close the Conservative conference in Manchester.

Dubbed the 'tallest Conservative in Britain', the Scottish-born Oxford Brookes University student became a social media star after partying his way around high society events such as the Cheltenham Festival.

But as a proud 'Tory boy', he has serious political ambitions to represent the party as a councillor or an MP.

His height - which by breaking through the 7ft threshold means he fits the medical definition of a giant - made him easy to spot among the party faithful gathered in Manchester.

Both he and Ms Badenoch were beaming as they shook hands following her set piece speech.

Last night, Mr McAlpine attended the Margaret Thatcher disco at Manchester bar Cloud 23, where he used an interview to hit out against Labour's hated Family Farm Tax.

James McAlpine, who is 7ft 2in-tall, congratulates the Tory leader after she delivered a barnstorming speech to close the Conservative conference in Manchester

Ms Badenoch, who previously revealed she was 5ft 4in, was dwarfed by the giant activist

'I never get annoyed about people asking about my height - and I don't get worried about any health issues I might get because of it,' he told the Daily Star.

'I'm worrying about real things that matter, like the issue of food security in and among British farmers, and the preservation of the countryside, which is being pelted by Labour.'

The student was referring to Labour's plan to apply a 20 per cent tax on inherited agricultural assets worth more than 1million from April 2026.

He has previously generated social media attention after being spotted at everything from Ascot to Henley and the Highland Show.

One clip of him at Cheltenham generated more than four million views.

Mr McAlpine watched on today as Ms Badenoch issued a rally cry to Tories - insisting only they can 'save Britain'.

She told activists that only the 'competent' Tories and their 'timeless principles' can roll back the 'darkest days' of 'decline', by stabilising the economy and overhauling society's 'broken model'.

She said a clampdown on benefits and wasteful spending would mean Labour's hated taxes could be scrapped - including VAT on private school fees and the farm inheritance tax raid.

Ms Badenoch said Motability vehicles would no longer be available to people with ADHD.

Dubbed the 'tallest Conservative in Britain', the Scottish-born Oxford Brookes University student has become a social media star after partying his way around high society events

A proud 'Tory boy', he has political ambitions to represent the party as a councillor or an MP

Mr McAlpine partied his way around the Cheltenham Festival earlier this year

And in a huge retail offer to voters she said stamp duty would be ditched altogether to revive the dream of home ownership. The party is proposing an end to the charges for primary residences, amounting to a 4.5billion tax cut.

Mrs Badenoch contrasted her tough approach on spending and benefits with Reform's platform of 'free' giveaways. Tories believe that Mr Farage's efforts to move into Labour territory have opened ground for them.

'Stamp duty is a bad tax', she said. 'We must free up our housing market, because a society where no one can afford to buy or move is a society where social mobility is dead.'

She said she had looked at options for changing thresholds for stamp duty and decided it was not enough.

'The next Conservative government will abolish stamp duty on your home,' she said.

Aides were jubilant about the performance, following fears that Mrs Badenoch's first conference speech might be her last with local elections looming in May.

One Tory veteran said that potential leadership rivals like Robert Jenrick had been put 'back in the box'.

As the Tories try to show they are still relevant amid dire polls and Reform's surge:
A Miami schoolgirl has been arrested after beating an epileptic classmate with a Stanley cup and a trumpet in a school bathroom.

The 15-year-old girl was arrested after she was accused of brutally attacking another teenager, identified by her mother as 17-year-old Ariadna Sharpton, at Miami Northwestern Senior High School on Monday morning.

Sharpton was left bleeding from her forehead and transported to Jackson Pediatrics Center, where her mother, Nicole Luster, said that her daughter required three stitches.

'I was gushing blood out my forehead. I couldn't see,' Sharpton told NBC6 News. 'There was blood on my face, my eyes, my nose. There was blood everywhere.'

The teen said the group of girls were being 'disrespectful' moments before she was struck.

Sharpton told WSVN that she had also been kicked by the group, and added that they 'pulled my [...] down in front of my face so I couldn't really see who was all kicking me and stomping me.'

Footage obtained by the outlet showed the lead up to the violent attack, where a group of girls were engaged in a heated argument.

17-year-old Ariadna Sharpton was left bloodied and bruised after she was beaten with a Stanley cup and a trumpet in a bathroom at Miami Northwestern High School

Sharpton was left bleeding from her forehead and transported to Jackson Pediatrics Center, where her mother, Nicole Luster, said that her daughter required three stitches

Footage obtained by the outlet showed the lead up to the violent attack, where a group of girls were engaged in a heated argument

'She said someone hit her in the head with a Stanley cup,' Luster told Local 10 News.

'Then someone took a tuba, which is an instrument, and hit her in the head again. And she said when she knew anything, it was eight of them on top of her. Eight. It was eight girls who jumped her.'

It remains unclear how many were involved in the altercation. Sharpton, who also claimed eight girls were involved, clarified that she had been hit with a Stanley cup and then a trumpet.

'Anything could have happened to me at that time, at that moment,' Sharpton told the outlet.

Luster said she was particularly concerned because her daughter suffers from epilepsy.

The 15-year-old and another teen involved in the attack told NBC News anonymously that Sharpton 'really was antagonizing' the group of girls and claimed they 'had no other choice.'

'She kept trying to leave the situation alone, but she just wouldn't let it go,' one said.

'Self-defense. That's the only thing I know. Somebody hit me, hit them back. So, I hit her back,' the other said.

A mother to one of the teens apologized to Sharpton's parents, but added that she felt 'bullying is not what it is.'

The 15-year-old and another teen involved in the attack said anonymously that Sharpton 'really was antagonizing' the group of girls and claimed they 'had no other choice'

Luster said she was particularly concerned because her daughter suffers from epilepsy and is removing her daughter from the school

Luster told the outlet that an apology is not enough and is removing her daughter from the school.

'I have no words to say to you. I have no words to say to her,' she said, adding that the situation is 'devastating.'

The 15-year-old sophomore student, who faces charges related to the attack, has been placed on house arrest and is only allowed to leave for school.

Both students who spoke with the outlet have been placed on a ten day suspension from school. The attack resulted in one arrest, while others involved were disciplined, NBC reported.

A Miami-Dade County Public Schools spokesperson said in a statement to the outlet: 'Miami-Dade County Public Schools is aware of a physical altercation that occurred [Monday] involving students from Miami Northwestern Senior High School.'

'School administration and Miami-Dade Schools Police swiftly addressed the situation, resulting in an arrest. Additionally, the students involved are being disciplined according to the Code of Student Conduct,' the statement added.
A British man is facing up to 20 years in jail after admitting his part in a $99 million (73 million) wine fraud scheme.

James Wellesley, 58, admitted conspiracy to commit wire fraud at a court in New York for running a Ponzi-like enterprise where he sold high end wines that never existed.

He posed as an executive of a company called Bordeaux Cellars and fooled investors around the world, with some losing out on hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Wellesley, a former property developer, appeared at a court in Brooklyn, New York and admitted a single count.

He will be sentenced in February and was remanded in custody.

As part of a plea deal - which was seen by the Daily Mail - he will have to give up $1 million (720,000) in profits from the scheme and any wines he had in storage.

The fraudster had been extradited to the US in July over the plot and was charged with another Briton, Stephen Burton, 60.

Both men had been charged with wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering.

James Wellesley, 58, (pictured) admitted conspiracy to commit wire fraud at a court in New York for running a Ponzi-like enterprise where he sold high end wines that never existed

The fraudster had been extradited to the US in July over the plot and was charged with another Briton, Stephen Burton, 60 (pictured)

Burton (pictured), who was extradited to the US from Morocco in 2023, denies the allegations against him

Burton, who was extradited to the US from Morocco in 2023, denies the allegations against him.

Wellesley had pleaded not guilty but changed his plea during a hearing on Tuesday.

The remainder of the charges are expected to be dismissed when he is sentenced.

According to court documents filed in the Eastern District of New York, between June 2017 and February 2019, the two men claimed to be brokers of loans backed by expensive bottles of wine.

The idea was that investors would get a regular interest payment and Bordeaux Cellars would keep the wine in storage in case of default.

Wellesley and Burton made their pitch to numerous victims at investment conferences and some said that Wellesley was their main point of contact afterwards, court documents state.

But prosecutors said that Wellesley and Burton had thousands fewer bottles of wine in its custody than the loan documents claimed - or just never had the wine at all.

Instead they used the money from new investors to pay interest payments to older investors, according to court papers.

In an affidavit, Assistant US Attorney Lauren Elbert said: Financial records from bank accounts used by Bordeaux Cellars reflect incoming deposits from victim investor lenders.

These records also show that these incoming funds were not directed to individual borrowers as promised in the loan documents.

Instead, they were used to make payments to other Bordeaux Cellars investors, and/or misappropriated by the defendants and used to pay personal expenses.

By using the incoming, fraudulently-obtained investor funds to make promised interest payments, the defendants were able to promote the continuation of the scheme, enticing additional investors and generating additional ill-gotten profits.

Included in the court papers is a link to a video of Burton speaking at an investment conference which was billed as peer to peer backed lending.

In the clip from 2019, he talks about wines like Screaming Eagle, a Californian Cabernet Sauvignon that goes for 5,000 a bottle.

Burton bragged: I do quite a few million dollar loans. This year Ive done four million dollar loans.

We do charge 16 percent (interest) and we take four percent and I pass eight percent on to my lenders.

In the video Burton claimed to have been inspired to start the business after reading an article in the Sunday Times about bankers taking out loans on their expensive cars with pawnbrokers.

He claimed that Bordeaux Cellars had a temperature controlled warehouse in London but as part of Wellesleys plea deal he had to give up any wine held in a self storage site in Bagshot, Surrey.

Court documents state that one of the victims lost as much as $150,000 (111,000) when the scheme collapsed in February 2019 and the fraudsters stopped making interest payments to their victims.

Frantic victims called the UK office of Bordeaux Cellars only to be told there was no company at that number, court papers state.

In a statement, FBI New York Assistant Director Christopher Raia said: James Wellesley and his business partner allegedly concocted an elaborate scheme defrauding investors out of millions of dollars to finance their own personal expenses.

Their alleged deceit spread across years and continents.

Ricky Patel, Special Agent in Charge of the FBIs New York office, said: James Wellesley and his co-conspirator are accused of masterminding their nearly $100 million international fraud scheme that exploited the unsuspecting public for their own selfish enrichment.

US prosecutors have said that Wellesley also went by the names Andrew Fuller and Andrew Templar and was jailed in the UK in 2013 for six years and three months.

At Maidstone Crown Court, Wellesley admitted fraud and forgery for conning a bank out of millions of pounds to fund property developments.

The Daily Mail has contacted Burtons lawyer for comment.
Former Trump White House advisor and podcaster Steve Bannon slammed James Comeys 'special treatment' after the disgraced ex-FBI director was spared a perp walk ahead of his arraignment today.

'I got breaking news. They slipped Comey in through another entrance, so he didnt have to come through here. This is bull****,' he said on his podcast War Room.

Former FBI Director Comey pleaded not guilty to all charges after he was arraigned in federal court today.

Comey's attorneys have also requested a jury trial for his case, set to begin January 5, 2026, after Judge Michael S. Nachmanoff read him his charges.

Comey, 64, who has professed his innocence, is facing charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation brought on by Donald Trump's beauty queen turned US Attorney Lindsey Halligan.

Comey stayed silent as he faced the judge. His not guilty plea is viewed as a strategic legal move, a way to challenge the charges without giving them credibility.

Follow along for the latest updates
The 'TACO Trump' memes are back as the president has yet to make good on his Grim Reaper threat to lay-off thousands of bureaucrats in the government shutdown.

Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and press secretary Karoline Leavitt all dangled the bloodbath threat in an attempt to heighten the stakes for Democrats.

But the opposing party has called his bluff and are dug in for the long haul as the government shutdown enters its eighth day.

The 'Trump Always Chickens Out' meme first surfaced during the president's tariff threats earlier this year. Wall Street traders gleefully profited as he failed to follow through on imposing the levies and the so-called TACO trade was born.

Trump even lashed out when asked about it, seething that it was a 'nasty question.'

Now that same fervor is gripping Capitol Hill as Democrats sense that Trump has overplayed his hand amid concerns that widespread job cuts will alienate moderates.

'From the very beginning, when I saw the original memo that Vought put out threatening the mass firings or mass layoffs, it was clear to me that it was absolute bluster and BS,' Democratic Rep. James Walkinshaw told The Washington Post.

Walkinshaw's Northern Virginia district includes thousands of federal workers.

'And by the way, the federal employees that I represent saw it as such as well,' Walkinshaw added.

The 'TACO Trump' memes are back as the president has yet to make good on his grim reaper threat to lay off thousands of bureaucrats in the government shutdown. The 'Trump Always Chickens Out' meme found popularity during his tariff threats earlier this year, when Wall Street traders profited from the so-called TACO trade

Trump, Vice President JD Vance and press secretary Karoline Leavitt (at a press conference on Monday) all dangled the bloodbath threat in an attempt to heighten the stakes for Congressional Democrats

An unnamed State Department official acknowledged that in an interview with the Post.

'This is stupid, even for them,' he said. 'The bar is in the basement, and they have managed to tunnel under it somehow.'

Last Wednesday, hours after the federal government shut down, Russell Vought, the director of the White House's Office of Management and Budget, warned House Republicans that the layoffs would begin in a day or two.

A day later, Trump posted an AI video portraying Vought as the Grim Reaper, ready to cut those jobs.

But a week has gone by, with CNN reporting Tuesday that there's been a change in strategy as an increasing number of Trump administration officials and Republican lawmakers realize the optics of mass firings could be politically perilous.

One official told CNN that Republicans would be better served by laying off people if the shutdown is prolonged.

It's 'the idea that if we give it more time, it'll be because the Democrats truly forced our hand and left us no choice,' an official said, confirming fears that a stealth purge might still be on the cards.

'And we do not want to appear gleeful about people losing their jobs, of course,' the official added.

A sign showing that the welcome center at Yosemite National Park is closed due to the ongoing federal government shutdown

A House Republican told CNN that while 'it's rhetoric that excited the base,' the GOP is 'in a messaging battle to win the middle.'

'"Slash and burn" talk turns them off, and is reducing our leverage,' the House Republican said. 'We have the high ground now, but could lose it with mass firings.'

Democrats have resisted passing a clean funding bill over expiring Obamacare subsidies that could see some Americans' healthcare premiums double.

Some Republicans have expressed openness to passing an Obamacare fix, but most have demanded that Senate Democrats vote to open the government first.
A suburban street in Alabama has been rocked by a sheriff's Halloween display that shows skeletons dressed as ICE agents.

Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch has been slammed for the decorations in his front yard after one of his neighbors shared them on Facebook on Tuesday.

The controversial display showed skeletons dressed as ICE agents appearing to chase other skeletons dressed in sombreros and serapes that were positioned to look as if they are jumping over the fence.

Whitney Newman, the neighbor who shared images of the display, said it was inappropriate and that she could not 'in good conscience, stand by and watch this happen.'

Newman added: 'Its hard to put into words how disappointing it is to see our elected sheriff use his own front yard to mock and dehumanize a group of people.

'I dont think its cute or funny. And coming from a law enforcement official makes it exponentially worse.

'This crosses a line from tasteless joke into a public statement about who deserves dignity.'

A sheriff in Alabama sparked outrage after his neighbor shared the Halloween display on his front yard, which was ICE-themed and deemed unacceptable by many

Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch's neighbor said on Facebook she felt she had to speak out about his Halloween display

Social media users left dozens of comments under Newman's post denouncing the decorations.

Miranda Smith wrote: 'Blatant bigotry like this has no place in public office. Im with you - this is highly offensive and disturbing.'

Adrianne Berg added: 'This is absolutely abhorrent !! Shame on him, shame on any one who thinks this is funny!'

Following outrage over the decorations, Sheriff Burch's wife Michelle Alfonso Burch took responsibility for the 'tongue-in-cheek display' and noted she has Cuban heritage.

Alfonso Burch told WKRG5: 'Every year, I make tongue-in-cheek Halloween decorations with a topical theme at my home... My husband has nothing to do with these, other than mowing the grass around them.

'I made this one, playing both on my Cuban background and new, needed changes in federal immigration enforcement. My parents were legal immigrants, and I have plenty of immigrants throughout my family. Ill make a new one shortlywe have no shortage of topics to cover.'

Sheriff Burch was recently in the news after he defended his deputies for hitting a man who was allegedly resisting an immigration-related arrest.

The display showed skeletons dressed as ICE agents appearing to chase skeletons dressed in sombreros and serapes that were positioned to look as if they are jumping over the fence

Sheriff Burch's wife Michelle Alfonso Burch took responsibility for the 'tongue-in-cheek display' and noted she has Cuban heritage

Video of the incident showed the migrant, Henry Castillo, wearing a neon work vest and being hit in the face as two officers held him down.

'Henry Castilo decided he wanted to fight the deputies,' Burch said of the incident.

'He was tased twice, which was ineffective, and so they went to a physical altercation where he assaulted the deputy. Castillo grabbed (the deputy) around the neck and the vest. And as that fight continued, a second deputy came in to assist.'
Jimmy Kimmel has shocked viewers, and himself, by paying a rare compliment to a MAGA firebrand - marking an unexpected break from his usual politics.

Speaking on his late show Tuesday night, Kimmel ripped into Republicans for their rhetoric on the ongoing government shutdown - but praised Marjorie Taylor Greene for breaking ranks with her peers over the issue.

The comedian used his monologue to question claims by Donald Trump's administration that the bill currently causing a stalemate in the Senate would not impact healthcare if passed.

'The reason the Democrats refuse to sign this budget agreement is because it will cause millions of Americans to lose their healthcare,' he told viewers on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

'Republicans deny this, they say it won't hurt anyone at all.'

The 57-year-old then went on to cite an X post from Georgia Representative Taylor Greene which he said disproves this claim by most MAGA loyalists.

In part of her lengthy post, Greene, 51, wrote: 'I'm going to go against everyone on this issue because when the tax credits expire this year my own adult children's insurance premiums for 2026 are going to DOUBLE, along with all the wonderful families and hard-working people in my district.

'No I'm not towing the party line on this, or playing loyalty games.'

Jimmy Kimmel has shocked viewers by paying a rare compliment to a MAGA firebrand

Kimmel ripped into Republicans for their rhetoric on the government shutdown - but praised Marjorie Taylor Greene for breaking ranks over the issue in her X post shown above

Responding to the post, Kimmel said: 'I know this sounds crazy, but I will say it for the second time in a month: Marjorie Taylor Greene is right.'

'I know,' he joked, 'I need something to wash out my mouth.'

Kimmel previously aligned himself with Greene last month, when she urged Trump to meet Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking victims in the Oval Office.

'I can't believe I'm saying this,' Kimmel said at the time, 'But good going, Marjorie Taylor Greene.'

Left-wing pundit Kimmel is ordinarily highly critical of the Congresswoman. He has previously slammed her speeches as 'idiotic' while describing her as a 'sociopath'.

The insult came after Greene reported Kimmel to the Capitol Police for making a 'threat of violence' against her with a joke about Will Smith slapping her.

She quoted a clip from Kimmel Live! where the comedian said: 'This one Klan mom is especially upset with the three Republican senators who said they'll vote yes on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.'

Kimmel then read Greene's tweet about the Supreme Court nominee. 'Murkowski, Collins and Romney are pro-pedophile. They just voted for #KBJ.'

Greene has split from her peers over the issue of the bill causing the government shutdown

Kimmel previously aligned himself with Greene last month in another break with convention, when she urged Trump to meet Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking victims in the Oval Office

'Wow, where is Will Smith when you really need him, huh?'

Greene getting the cops involved only prompted Kimmel to double down on her.

Speaking in a Kimmel Live! segment titled 'Jimmy vs. Klan Mom', the comedian said: 'She's dialing 911 because she got made fun of. She's a snowflake and a sociopath at the same time.

'A snowciopath, as we'll refer to her from now on... If she's going to report me to the police, if that's how she wants to play it, I'll report you right back.'

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has also praised Greene for her X post on the budget dispute, in a surprising cross-party alliance.

Hold on to your hats, Schumer said on Tuesday, I think this is the first time Ive said this, but on this issue, Representative Greene said it perfectly.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail in August, Greene said that it may be time for her to walk away from the Republican side.

'I don't know if the Republican Party is leaving me, or if I'm kind of not relating to the Republican Party as much anymore,' she revealed. 'I don't know which one it is.'

'I think the Republican Party has turned its back on America First and the workers and just regular Americans,' Greene added.

Her fidelity to the President is still strong, she insists, but she sees flashing red lights warning that the GOP is out of step with the MAGA base.

Greene is close with Donald Trump and frequently campaigned with him, making her split with her party even more surprising

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on Tuesday: I think this is the first time Ive said this, but on this issue (Obamacare subsidies), Representative Greene said it perfectly

The government shutdown began on October 1, when Republicans and Democrats could not agree to pass a bill funding federal services for the coming months.

The expiring Obamacare subsidies are the key sticking point, making Greenes admission that they are important to her so controversial among Republicans.

Democrats, including Schumer, have repeatedly said that they would be willing to negotiate an end to the shutdown should Republicans come to the table and talk about extending subsidies.

Effectively, every Republican, including GOP leadership, has said that all negotiations to extend the ACA subsidies should come after a government funding deal is reached. All except Greene.

The House passed a funding bill in September to keep the government open. However, that bill has not received the 60 votes necessary in the Senate to pass the government funding proposal.

Republicans hold 53 seats in the Senate and need Democratic votes to pass any funding deal.

The Senate has unsuccessfully voted on the funding bill five times and will presumably continue to vote on the proposal until an agreement is made.

However, Democrats are adamant that it wont happen unless ACA subsidies are included.

Trump has warned that he will start mass lay-offs of federal workers if negotiations continue to stall, a senior White House official said on Sunday.
A New Jersey man found with over 200 homemade explosives threatened to blow up a Catholic church in Washington, D.C. where Supreme Court justices were set to attend a mass on Sunday, court records show.

Police were able to thwart the attack and said the man, identified as Louis Geri from Vineland, had modified bottle rockets and Molotov cocktails that were 'fully functional'.

He was also discovered to have writings that expressed 'significant animosity' toward the Catholic church, Jews, Supreme Court justices, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and ICE facilities, according to police.

None of the nine members of the Supreme Court attended the service at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle due to security concerns, reported the Catholic Standard, the newspaper of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.

As seen in pictures, Geri allegedly set up a green tent on the steps of the church ahead of the Red Mass, an annual service that honors those in the legal profession and marks the start of the new Supreme Court term.

Officers with the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department tasked with clearing the entire block for the event confronted Geri, 41, and told him to move his tent, according to an affidavit.

In response, Geri refused and allegedly said: 'You might want to stay back and call the federales, I have explosives.'

After an officer called over a sergeant with the bomb squad, Geri said he was aware of the Red Mass before issuing another threat, according to court records.

Louis Geri, of New Jersey, is accused of having more than 200 explosive devices outside a Catholic church in Washington, D.C. that Supreme Court justices were scheduled to be attending

Pictured: The tent on the steps of the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle was set up by Geri, according to police, who also said he wrote a manifesto that contained hate for the Catholic church, Jews, Supreme Court justices and Immigration and Customs Enforcement

'Do you want me to throw one out, I'll test one out in the street? I have a hundred plus of them. If you just step back, I'll throw one in the street, no one will get hurt, there will be a hole in the street,' Geri said to the two officers, per court records.

'If you just step back, I'll take out that tree. No one will get hurt, there will just be a hole where that tree used to be,' he allegedly continued.

When the officers said he would be removed against his will, Geri said 'several of your people are gonna die from one of these', the affidavit said.

The sergeant tried to deescalate from there by offering to read what Geri had written.

She unzipped the tent flap, and he handed her nine pages torn from a notebook that was titled 'Written Negotiations for the Avoidance of Destruction of Property via Detonation of Explosives', court records stated.

While this was all happening, the sergeant said she saw that Geri was holding a butane lighter and an 'unknown white-capped shaped object'.

She unzipped the flap all the way, which angered Geri, who reached into a dark bag and pulled out multiple capped vials containing yellow liquid. The vials also had explosive devices taped to them, according to the affidavit.

Geri said he was the sole author of the pages he had handed the sergeant and then threatened to ignite the vials with his butane lighter, per the affidavit.

'You better have these people step away or there's going to be deaths, I'm telling you now!' he said, according to the officers' account.

At this point, the sergeant ordered officers to go back up to the perimeter that had already been established around the church, court records show.

Eventually, Geri left the tent to go to urinate near some trees at the corner of the church, allowing three officers to subdue him and put him in handcuffs.

None of the Supreme Court Justices attended the Red Mass on Sunday due to security concerns (From L-R: Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Amy Coney Barrett, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Elena Kagan)

Pictured: The Cathedral of St. Matthew, where Geri was tackled and arrested. He now faces eight charges including the manufacture or possession of weapon of mass destruction with a hate crime enhancement

A bomb squad technician found an explosive device in his pocket along with a butane lighter, according to police.

His hundreds of makeshift bombs were taken to the FBI for processing, after which authorities determined that some of the vials he had contained nitromethane.

Nitromethane is primarily used as racing or rocket fuel, but amateur bombers frequently adapt the substance for use in improvised explosives.

Timothy McVeigh used the compound in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing that killed 168 people inside a federal building.

Geri described his explosives as grenades that used a rubber band to secure the detonation fuse, according to court records.

He also had modified bottle rockets with aluminum foil heads that were attached and treated with an explosive solution, allowing him to detonate his bombs from a distance, court records said.

Experts who saw these devices said they 'appeared to be fully functional'.

Geri faces eight charges in connection to this incident, including the manufacture or possession of weapon of mass destruction with a hate crime enhancement. That charge alone could send him to prison for 30 years if convicted.

Geri was arraigned on Monday for charges related to a September 26 incident where he again camped on the steps of the church and was barred from the premises.

He is being held without bond and is scheduled to appear in court again for the latest slew of charges against him on Thursday morning.

The Daily Mail approached Geri's attorney, Amanda Epstein, for comment.
Kemi Badenoch took on Britain's trade unions today as she out plans to ban doctors from going on strike.

In her keynote speech to the Conservative conference in Manchester, Mrs Badenoch said NHS waiting lists were being kept high 'for far too long' by industrial action.

'Enough is enough. We will ban doctors from going on strike,' she told Tory members.

It comes amid an ongoing dispute between resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, and the Government over pay.

Resident doctors walked out of English hospitals for five days in July in their latest disruptive strike, which saw thousands of NHS appointments cancelled.

In her Tory conference address, Mrs Badenoch also hit out at Labour for having 'bent over to the teaching unions'.

She bemoaned how ministers were 'removing our academy freedoms which have been so successful'.

'We will reverse this act of educational vandalism,' the Tory leader said.

'And we will make sure that brilliant schools and teachers have the freedom to do what they do best. Teach.'

Kemi Badenoch took on Britain's trade unions today as she out plans to ban doctors from going on strike

In her Conservative conference speech, Mrs Badenoch (pictured with her husband Hamish) said NHS waiting lists were being kept high 'for far too long' by industrial action

Mrs Badenoch also hit out at Labour for having 'bent over to the teaching unions' and bemoaned how ministers were 'removing our academy freedoms'

The Tories have vowed to introduce new laws to block medics from taking widespread industrial action.

This would place the same restrictions on doctors that apply to police officers and soldiers.

Minimum service level rules - introduced for some sectors by the previous Tory government but scrapped by Labour - would be rolled out across the NHS under the Conservative plans.

Tory shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew has also asked the medical regulator to rule that NHS strikes are 'incompatible' with doctors' duty to protect patients.

He urged the General Medical Council (GMC) to review its guidelines for practitioners following the July walkout by resident doctors.

Earlier this year, three former Tory education secretaries issued a warning against Labour's proposed changes to academy schools.

Amanda Spielman, the former Ofsted chief, also accused Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson of putting the interests of unions ahead of children.

The Government is seeking to curb freedoms on curriculum, teacher recruitment and pay and conditions for academy schools.

Academies are state schools that are free from council control, with more freedom to innovate and answerable directly to central Government.

Labour's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill will make all academies follow the national curriculum, allow councils to open schools again and end the automatic academisation of failing schools.

Ms Phillipson has argued the legislation will deliver a child-centred government, with better protections for young people and real join up between childrens social care, schools and local services'.

She ahas also said it will 'drive high and rising standards in our schools'.

In response to Mrs Badenoch's speech, BMA council deputy chair Dr Emma Runswick said: 'Doctors should have a right to strike, just like everyone else.

'Banning strikes is anti-democratic and at odds with any concept of a free British society.

'Gagging committed professionals when they sound the alarm about NHS crises will make the problems worse.

'Patients are having operations or appointments postponed every single day in the NHS due to understaffing and lack of beds; undervaluing staff contributes to that.

'Banning doctors from expressing their concerns with legitimate industrial action only devalues them further.'
Former FBI Director James Comey vowed to fight Donald Trump and his Justice Department in court on Wednesday as he was arraigned for the first time.

Comey, 64, pleaded not guilty in the Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia to charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation.

He also requested a jury trial at the arraignment and sought a speedy trial, and a judge set his trial date for January 5, 2026.

Courtroom reporters said Comey appeared in good spirits despite the pressure of the charges he is facing, and was seen chatting with his attorneys and making jokes as they walked in.

As the former intelligence chief arrived early Wednesday, his wife Patrice Failor appeared upset as she showed support outside the courthouse.

Comey is facing charges brought by Trump's beauty queen turned US Attorney Lindsey Halligan, who has never prosecuted a case in court before.

However, sources say that a central witness in Halligan's case is proving to be 'problematic' and will likely prevent them from establishing their case to a jury.

Testimony from Daniel Richman, a law professor who prosecutors claim was authorized by Comey to leak information, would 'likely cause insurmountable problems,' ABC News reported.

Former FBI Director James Comey vowed to fight Donald Trump and his Justice Department in court on Wednesday as he was arraigned for the first time

Comey is facing charges brought by Donald Trump's beauty queen turned US Attorney Lindsey Halligan, who has never prosecuted a case in court before

Prior to the Wenesday arraignment, Comey shared a video to social media vowing to fight the charges against him, saying: 'My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump.

'My heart is broken for the Department of Justice but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system, and Im innocent. So lets have a trial.'

The dramatic arraignment unfolded at the same courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia where 9/11 plotter Zacarias Moussaoui and members of the ISIS terror cell known as the Beatles were previously tried.

He is appearing before U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff, who was nominated by President Joe Biden in 2021. The judge's recent cases included sentencing an MS-13 gang leader to life in jail for his role in six gruesome killings.

It is an astonishing twist in the life of the man who was one of America's top law enforcement officers from 2013 until he was unceremoniously fired by President Donald Trump in 2017.

As the former intelligence chief arrived early Wednesday, his wife Patrice Failor appeared upset as she showed support outside the courthouse

President Trump has been lambasting Comey ever since firing him in 2017

The decision to charge Comey, one of the president's most high-profile enemies, has ignited a political firestorm.

Democrats have accused the president and Attorney General Pam Bondi of politicizing the Department of Justice to seek revenge against his opponents, which they have denied.

Last week, an FBI agent was relieved of duty for declining to arrange a 'perp walk' of Comey in front of news cameras.

The Department of Justice is also investigating other opponents of Trump, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and hos former national security adviser John Bolton.

Outside the courthouse while Comey was arraigned, a small number of protesters demonstrated against the move from the DOJ, with some seen holding signs reading: 'Show trial.'

Outside the courthouse while Comey was arraigned, a small number of protesters demonstrated against the move from the DOJ

President Trump and James Comey in January 2017 before he was fired as FBI Director

According to an indictment brought by Lindsey Halligan, the recently appointed U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Comey faces two counts.

The first is 'making false statements within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch of the United States Government.'

It is alleged that on September 30, 2020 he 'willfully and knowingly made a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement' while testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The statement was that he had not 'authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports regarding an FBI investigation concerning PERSON 1.'

Prosecutors allege that, contrary to that statement, he did authorize someone else to 'serve as an anonymous source in news reports.'

'PERSON 1' in the indictment is believed to be Hillary Clinton, with Comey's statement relating to an investigation into her private email server.

In the second count, Comey is charged with obstruction of a Congressional proceeding.

It is alleged he 'did corruptly endeavor to influence, obstruct and impede ' a Senate Judiciary Committee investigation by 'making false and misleading statements.'

If convicted Comey faces up to five years in prison, although actual sentences for similar crimes are typically less than the maximum.

When he was charged on September 25, Halligan said: 'The charges as alleged in this case represent a breach of the public trust at an extraordinary level.

The indictment against him has been brought by Lindsey Halligan, the new U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia

'The balance of power is a bedrock principle of our democracy, and it relies upon accountability and a forthright presentation of facts from executive leadership to congressional oversight.

'Any intent to avoid, evade, prevent, or obstruct compliance is a violation of professional responsibility and, most importantly, the law.'

Trump fired Comey in 2017, early in his first term in office, and they have been engaged in a long-running feud ever since.

The president blames Comey for having started an investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 campaign that led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller.

Mueller spent two years investigating whether Trumps campaign colluded with the Kremlin to help him win the White House.

In the end, Mueller uncovered no evidence that Trump or his associates criminally colluded with Russia

Trump has long vented about the 'Russia hoax,' which overshadowed the start of his first term.

However, the charges against Comey do not relate to the Russia investigation.

According to Solomon Wisenberg, a former federal prosecutor, Comey appears to have made the statement pinpointed in the indictment in response to questioning from Senator Ted Cruz at the 2020 judiciary committee hearing.

Cruz was pressing Comey over the role that his deputy director, Andy McCabe, played in authorizing a leak to The Wall Street Journal.

The Wall Street Journal story examined how the FBI handled an investigation into Clintons use of a private email server when she was Secretary of State.

The senator noted that Comey had told Congress in 2017 that he had not authorized anyone to speak to reporters.

But Cruz then asserted that McCabe had 'publicly and repeatedly said he leaked information to The Wall Street Journal and that you (Comey) were directly aware of it and that you directly authorized it.'

Comey responded: 'I stand by the testimony you summarized that I gave in May of 2017.'
A celebrated chef best known for his modern fine-dining cuisine has died of liver failure at age 43.

Justin Woodward, who ran kitchens in both New York City and Oregon, passed away last Thursday in San Diego, California after a battle with alcoholism.

Woodward had been sober for three weeks and was just seven days away from getting a liver transplant when he suffered a fatal internal bleed, his sister told The Oregonian newspaper.

He died surrounded by his close family, who cared for, fed and showed him love in his final days, his obituary stated.

The Boston-born chef used food to 'show his love', his family said, and took 'great pride' in the menus and dishes he created.

Staff at his Portland area restaurant Ok Omens paid tribute to Woodward on Instagram, hailing his loyalty, creativity and dedication to mentoring young chefs.

'His legacy lives on in their work - across the country, those he guided continue to thrive and push the boundaries of fine dining in America,' the tribute said.

Woodward led the kitchens at Ok Omens and Castagna for nearly 15 years and is credited with defining the identities of both restaurants.

Justin Woodward, (pictured) who ran kitchens in both New York City and Oregon, passed away last Thursday in San Diego, California after a battle with alcoholism

Woodward, best known for his modern fine-dining cuisine, died of liver failure at age 43

Woodward studied culinary arts at the Art Institute of San Diego and trained in kitchens across New York and Europe.

He met Michelin-starred chef Matt Lightner while working at L'Auberge Del Mar restaurant in San Diego.

He moved to Portland to serve as Lightner's sous chef at Castagna and later took over as the restaurant's executive chef.

Under his leadership, the eatery gained the reputation of the city's 'most forward-thinking restaurant'.

Woodward showcased his culinary talents with 20-course menus that featured 'challenging' dishes.

He earned a nomination for the James Beard Foundation's Rising Star Chef award in 2013. He was nominated as Best Chef Northwest for four consecutive years beginning in 2015.

Woodward showcased his culinary talents with 20-course menus that featured 'challenging' dishes. His former restaurant Castagna gained the reputation of being Portland's 'most forward-thinking restaurant'

Although he loved showcasing his talents in the kitchen, Woodward also loved nature, hiking and mountain biking, according to his obituary. He enjoyed travelling and experiencing new places through native art and cuisine

Castagna closed during the coronavirus pandemic, so Woodward shifted his focus to Ok Omens.

The restaurant received James Beard nominations for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages last year and in 2023.

The highly-regarded chef was dedicated to helping others and used both his food and kitchen skills to 'bring joy to people, especially in their times of need,' his older sister Rachel Ruiz said.

She recalled how if someone would mentioned a recipe they like, he would often show up at their front door to deliver it.

Although he loved showcasing his talents in the kitchen, Woodward also loved nature, hiking and mountain biking, according to his obituary.

He enjoyed travelling and experiencing new places through native art and cuisine.

But his passions did not prevent him from battling 'personal demons' that ultimately led to his death.

Woodward's family said they hope his 'unfortunate and sudden passing' and their 'transparency' about his disease will 'help inspire others to get help when needed'

'My brother struggled with alcohol issues in the industry,' his older sister Rachel Ruiz told the Oregonian, as she urged people struggling with alcoholism to seek help.

'We don't want people to speculate about his cause of death. We want people to know how serious alcohol can be and to get resources. Even if you don't feel like you're sick, it's doing damage to your body.'

The family said they hope Woodward's 'unfortunate and sudden passing' and their 'transparency' about his disease will 'help inspire others to get help when needed'.
The Albanese government have known for months that two woman linked to terrorist group Islamic State and their four children were intending to return to Australia.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, and Foreign Minister Penny Wong have repeatedly refused to confirm if any so-called ISIS brides had recently returned to Australia.

But in a Senate Estimates hearing on Wednesday, Australian Federal Police (AFP) officials said the government was briefed back in June about the intention of the women to return and were briefed again on September 29 after their arrival.

Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash said the government's silence on the issue amounted to a 'cover-up'.

'It is clear that this Government has deceived the Australian people about when and what they knew about the return of the ISIS brides and their children,' she said.

Just a day earlier in Tuesday's hearing Wong and senior officials from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) refused to answer questions on the subject.

There had been reports that a group of women and their children had fled Syria and travelled to Beirut where they were detained for not having valid visas.

They were then issued Australian passports after DNA and security checks.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke was briefed by AFP officials on June 6 about a group of ISIS brides and their children who were intending to return to Australia

Liberal Senator James Paterson asked Wong when the Prime Minister was briefed about the group before he dismissed - in Parliament on September 3 - reports they had been repatriated.

'Presumably, if the Prime Minister was able to say in Question Time that those reports were not accurate, that sometime prior to the 3rd of September, he was briefed on the possible return of ISIS brides to Australia,' he said.

Wong refused to answer.

'Everything after ''presumably'' is your hypothetical, so I'm not responding to it,' she said.

Paterson then asked the officials.

'How was the Prime Minister able to say in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, the 3rd of September, that those reports were not accurate if he had not been briefed on the matter?' he asked.

'That's a very good question,' Wong said, after a long pause, saying it was a 'clever way of asking the same question'.

Wong was also asked what was incorrect about the reports, something she also refused to answer.

Penny Wong (pictured) refused to answer details about the reported return of a group of ISIS brides to Australia

Wong accused the Opposition of repeatedly 'asking the same question for political effect'

Albanese insists his government played no role in the reported return of the group.

'Australia did not provide assistance,' he said on Monday, adding that as citizens, the women 'have the right to enter Australia.'

The Opposition, however, argued that passport processing and security checks clearly proved government involvement.

'The parliament has given the government the power to temporarily exclude someone from Australia if they've had an association with a terrorist organisation, and it does not appear the government used those powers,' Paterson said.

In one particularly awkward exchange, when asked if giving passports to the women amounted to assistance, Wong went silent.

'That is acting in accordance with [the Government's] obligations' she said.

PM&C officials also declined to confirm whether the women are in Australia, citing 'privacy reasons.'

Wong further refused to say if the women had undergone de-radicalisation checks, and accused the Opposition of 'asking the same question multiple times for political effect.'

Michaelia Cash (pictured) said the stonewalling was 'another Albanese Government cover-up'

Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Michaelia Cash then slammed Wong's evasiveness.

'The Albanese Government refuses to answer the most basic questions about the ISIS brides that were brought back to Australia,' Senator Cash said.

'These women chose to join one of the world's most barbaric terrorist groups, and now they're living in our communities.'

'This has turned into another Albanese Government cover-up,' Cash said.

'There was nothing asked today that would infringe on the privacy of any individual. This is an extremely weak excuse for what amounts to a shoddy cover-up.'

The Opposition has vowed to keep up the pressure, and signalled they will make the issue a key focus as Senate estimates hearings continue.

The issue is expected to dominate a Home Affairs hearing, happening on Friday.
Kemi Badenoch today used her first Conservative conference speech as party leader to thank her husband Hamish.

In her keynote address to the Tory gathering in Manchester, Mrs Badenoch hailed the party as 'my family', adding this was 'in many ways quite literally'.

'I married the deputy chairman of my association,' she said. 'And I certainly would not be standing here today without my husband, Hamish. Thank you Ham.'

At the end of Mrs Badenoch's speech, Hamish joined his wife on stage as they shared a hug in front of an applauding audience.

Hamish is a true blue and a former politician, having represented the Conservatives as a councillor in the past.

But what more is there to know about him?

Kemi Badenoch today used her first Conservative conference speech as party leader to thank her husband Hamish

At the end of Mrs Badenoch's speech, Hamish joined his wife on stage as they shared a hug in front of an applauding audience.

Who is Kemi Badenoch's husband?

The Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is married to Hamish Badenoch.

The family name comes from the Scottish Gaelic 'baideanach', meaning 'drowned land' - refering to a historic region of the Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands where the upper River Spey caused seasonal flooding.

But Hamish was born in Catholic maternity hospital St Teresa's in Wimbledon - coincidentally, also the birthplace of his future partner.

Mr Badenoch went to Catholic private school Ampleforth - now costing over 30,000 a year for day students and 45,000 for boarders - in York.

He went on to become head boy before then studying at Cambridge University.

His mother moved to London from Ireland before Hamish was born, but Mr Badenoch once hoped to move to the Emerald Isle when he ran as the Tory candidate for Foyle in 2015.

To his disappointment, he finished last in that race with a meage 0.4 per cent of the vote - clearly lacking the knack for political success which his spouse has displayed.

How did Kemi Badenoch meet her husband?

Hamish is a true blue and a former politician, having represented the Conservatives as a councillor in the past

The Badenochs first met on the campaign trail at the Dulwich and West Norwood Conservative Club in 2009.

Mr Badenoch had just moved to the area and coincidentally lived on the same road as his new colleague.

She recalled thinking her future husband fancied himself as a nominee, but the 25-year-old software engineer had already been selected.

She told The Times, 'it wasn't love at first sight,' but things developed as they worked together more and more.

Then Kemi Adegoke, the future Tory leader was fundraising ahead of the 2010 General Election when the Tories reclaimed power for the first time in over a decade

However, Badenoch lost out to former Labour minister Tessa Jowell.

Do Kemi Badenoch and her husband have children?

Kemi and Hamish married in 2012 and have three children - two sons and a daughter (pictured)

Mrs Badenoch took her newborn baby into the Commons as she was sworn in as an MP in 2019

Kemi and Hamish married in 2012 and have three children - two sons and a daughter - who are kept out of the public eye.

The youngsters - aged from five to 12 - became an unexpected talking point during their mother's Tory leadership campaign, when Sir Christopher Chope, 77 - a Tory backbencher supporting Jenrick - claimed the MP for North West Essex would struggle as leader due to being 'preoccupied' with motherhood.

Mrs Badenoch, who held multiple ministerial positions at once while the Tories were in power, quickly slapped down the claim.

The former Minister for Women and Equalities insisted parenting is a 'two person job'.

What is Kemi Badenoch's husband's job?

Mr Badenoch became a banker after a brief stint in politics himself

Mr Badenoch now works at Deutsche Bank after his own stint in politics.

When running to be the Tory candidate in Foyle in 2015, Mr Badenoch was in the middle of a term on Merton Borough Council, where he represented the Conservatives from 2014 to 2018.

As he dropped out of politics, his wife only became more involved, landing her first junior ministerial position in 2019 under Boris Johnson, when she became Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children, Families and Wellbeing.
Do YOU know who the two women are?

Two more women have been filmed tearing down yellow ribbons for Jewish hostages just one day after a Palestinian-Jewish artist removed them from railings in London.

New footage shows the two women brazenly ripping the memorial bands from a metal barrier opposite a synagogue on Henlys Corner in Regents Park Road, North London, on Tuesday - the second anniversary of Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel.

They also snatch them from a nearby signpost, before smirking at each other and walking off with the ribbons stuffed inside a Mango shopping bag, surrounded by traffic.

It comes just one day after Palestinian-Jewish mother Nadia Yahlom, who is married to a Palestinian actor, was filmed using scissors to chop down yellow ribbons the Jewish community had tied to railings in honour of the 251 people taken hostage by Hamas terrorists.

In the video, taken by horrified bystanders, Ms Yahlom declares the bands are 'condoning genocide'.

Around 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage in Hamas' deadly invasion of Israel in 2023.

The Met Police on Wednesday confirmed a woman has been interviewed under caution following the first incident, which happened in Muswell Hill, and it is being treated as racially-aggravated criminal damage.

The yellow ribbon is the symbol of the 'Bring Them Home' campaign for the hostages taken and held captive in Gaza.

Two women are seen tearing yellow ribbons from a metal barrier guarding traffic lights on Henlys Corner in Regents Park Road, North London, on Tuesday

The pair can then be seen smirking at each other as they walk off with the ribbons stuffed inside a Mango shopping bag

The women take ribbons put up for Jewish hostages held captive in Gaza from a metal pole

The symbol comes from young women who used to tie yellow handkerchiefs or ribbons while their lovers spent a period of time away, such as in the military or prison.

A Met Police spokesperson said on Wednesday: 'A woman has been interviewed under caution following an incident in Muswell Hill.

'At approximately 16:25hrs on Monday, 6 October, officers were made aware of a video circulating online which appears to show a woman removing ribbons from fence poles in Muswell Hill.

'A 36-year-old woman attended a police station on Tuesday, 7 October, for a voluntary interview in connection with the incident, which is being treated as racially-aggravated criminal damage and a racially-aggravated Section 5 public order offence.

'Officers are continuing to carry out reassurance patrols in the Muswell Hill area.'

The Daily Mail has contacted Met Police for comment on the new incident.

On Tuesday, the Mail revealed how Ms Yahlom is a pro-Palestine artist whose work focuses on 'hauntedness and supernatural life' in the war-torn state.

She studied at Cambridge University and Goldsmiths before embarking on an Arts PhD at the University of Westminster. Her husband is a Palestinian actor and film-maker. He was born in West Bank, Palestine, and moved to London in 2011.

She is also the co-founder of Sarha Collective, an artists' organisation for experimental works from Palestine and the broader Southwest Asia and North Africa region.

On Monday, Palestinian-Jewish mother Nadia Yahlom (pictured), who is married to a Palestinian actor, was filmed using scissors to snip yellow ribbons that the Jewish community had tied to railings

In a video taken by horrified bystanders, Ms Yahlom declared the bands - which were put up on the eve of the second anniversary of the attacks - were 'condoning genocide'

Ms Yahlom walked off with the yellow ribbons she had brazenly snipped from the railings

Furious locals confronted the activist on Monday on Fortis Green Road in Muswell Hill outside The Pocket Park, just yards from where the district's synagogue is located.

On Tuesday, a group of Muswell Hill residents, led by Miranda Levy and Ben Paul, gathered at the memorial to replace the ribbons cut down by Ms Yahlom.

Mrs Levy, who captured the original footage of the vandalism, said: 'As a Jewish person I felt that pull to do something. It feels personal.

'These ribbons are to remember all the people who were kidnapped and those who are still there.

'There is a climate that it's acceptable, you can get away with it and even more than that, that people applaud it. People think [they] are on the side of the good, the side of the righteous by standing against Israel and the Jewish people.

'Frankly what she was doing was anti-Jewish, anti-Israel and anti-humanity.'

Mrs Levy told the Daily Mail that she was on her way to get coffee when she noticed Ms Yahlom 'methodically' cutting down the ribbons.

'Immediately I was furious,' she said. 'It was like an instinct and I just said: 'What are you doing?'

But Ms Yahlom ignored her and carried on snipping them down, as shocked bystanders tried to intervene.

'No, you are not going to do this,' she replied, adding: 'Because I'm not committing a crime.'

When bystanders told her she was breaking the law, she told them to 'call the police and then let them know that you have an issue with this'.

A man was then heard calling her a 'disgusting little human being'.

But in reply the activist, holding on to the bunch of ribbons she had removed, said: 'I think condoning genocide is disgusting... yeah, because that's what this is.'
The highest ranking female lieutenant in a California police department is suing the city after claiming she endured a 'toxic' work environment and accused a colleague of calling her young child a 'f*** trophy.'

After joining the police force more than 16 years ago, Lt. Julia Clasby earned her rank as Seal Beach Police Department's first female lieutenant in history.

But in a recent lawsuit obtained by the Daily Mail, the mother-of-three is suing the city alleging a long history of discrimination and harassment.

After eleven years with the Seal Beach Police Department, Clasby said she had endured a 'toxic culture' within the workplace that had become rife with 'rampant sexism, harassment and retaliation.'

The complaint alleged that she had been passed up for promotions, ridiculed for her being a mother and denied opportunities for training that her male colleagues were freely able to take advantage of.

The mother-of-three is one of four women on the force out of 39 sworn-in personnel, and Clasby is the only woman in the Department's Command Staff, according to the lawsuit.

Clasby spent her time on the force working her way up to becoming the second female Sergeant in the department's history before becoming their first female Lieutenant and its only pregnant sworn-Officer ever, the complaint said.

The complaint names the department's current Chief of Police, Michael Henderson, as having 'fostered and sustained' the culture that had become prevalent within the department.

Lt. Julia Clasby sued Seal Beach City in a recent lawsuit alleging a 'toxic culture' within the workplace that had become rife with 'rampant sexism, harassment and retaliation'

The complaint alleged that she had been passed up for promotions, ridiculed for her status as a mother and denied opportunities for training that her male colleagues took advantage of

Clasby named current Police Chief Michael Henderson in the complaint with multiple alleged instances of blatantly sexist questions and actions toward herself and other current or prospective female employees

'Plaintiff's career has been anything but a story of triumph over adversity. Rather, it is a sad, and at times highly disturbing, story of what is happening with public resources and governmental leaders, such as Chief Henderson, operating under the cloak of authority,' the complaint read.

'The barriers and obstacles that Chief Henderson and other male personnel have repeatedly thrown in Plaintiff's way are not "character building." These unlawful acts have nearly ended Plaintiff's career, and have inflicted serious harm on her health  both physically and mentally.'

During her first pregnancy in 2015, Clasby alleged in the complaint that several male colleagues began discussing her pregnancy during a monthly management meeting.

The suit claims that during the meeting, without her present and 'in derogatory terms,' her colleagues said words to the effect of 'typical female, just got here, immediately pregnant, going on light duty.'

It is alleged the comments implied Clasby had intentionally become pregnant to 'take advantage of the system,' despite the fact she says she had hid the pregnancy for 20 weeks out of fear for such a reaction to the news.

Further comments following the birth of her child queried about how Clasby was performing as a wife and mother and asked why she wasn't 'home with the baby' or how much longer she would continue working, according to the complaint.

'During one of the first Department holiday parties that Plaintiff attended, a male Sergeant concluded the festivities by, on a microphone for all attendees to hear, referring to Plaintiff's young child as "the Clasbys' f*** trophy." There were no repercussions for doing so,' the complaint stated.

Clasby named Chief Henderson in the complaint with multiple alleged instances of blatantly sexist questions and actions toward herself and other current or prospective female employees.

Clasby served as a police officer for more than 16 years, and joined Seal Beach Police Department in 2014

While on a hiring committee in 2022, Clasby alleged that she witnessed Henderson questioning both a female and male applicant in a round of interviews.

Henderson was alleged to have queried on the female applicant's relationship status and future family plans.

'Henderson did not ask these questions of the male applicant. There were no repercussions for Henderson speaking this way in a formal interview,' the complaint stated.

'Henderson demonstrated that differential and discriminatory treatment toward women starts at the interview phase in Seal Beach.'

Clasby also claimed in the court document that she had been passed over three times in a single year for a Sergeant position, 'despite ranking higher on the eligibility list than several males who were promoted ahead of her.'

The mother-of-three earned her rank as Seal Beach Police Department's first female lieutenant in history

'[The then-Chief] explained that he was actually doing [Clasby] a favor, because this way no one would be mad at [her] for promoting ahead of them,' the complaint said.

Clasby also claimed, when she inquired about the reasoning behind her being passed over for a promotion, that she was told to 'lower the pitch of her voice to be seen as more authoritative' by the current Chief Henderson.

When asking another colleague the same question, a male Commander told her that she 'had a beautiful smile and should try to smile more,' the complaint alleged.

Henderson was also accused in the complaint of asking Clasby, 'Do you need help with that?,' after she stated that she needed to 'go pump' breastmilk for her child.

In another instance in Spring 2019, the department's previous Chief allegedly poked Clasby in the side of her breast.

'He justified it by saying that he "wanted to see if you had a vest on",' the suit alleged. 'This made no sense, and it was obvious that he just wanted an excuse to touch her breast.'

The police chief was also accused of calling Clasby's husband to 'get his approval' before promoting her to Lieutenant, the complaint stated.

During the meeting, without her present and 'in derogatory terms,' her colleagues said words to the effect of 'typical female, just got here, immediately pregnant, going on light duty'

She further alleged that, upon her promotion, rumors began to circulate speculating how she obtained her promotion to lieutenant, including that she cheated on the exam.

The department was further accused of regularly making targeted comments regarding Clasby's gender and performance as an officer, the filing stated.

In November 2024, a male supervisory employee in the department allegedly told Clasby: 'Let's just address the elephant in the room  you are a woman who will have to work twice as hard for half the respect and people are threatened by your success because they think you promoted too quickly.'

The suit also referenced instances aside from her own experiences with harassment and discrimination within the force, with an example of two male officers arguing over who another female colleague would 'be going to bed with.'

The unnamed female officer is said to have filed a complaint against Seal Beach in 2018 alleging sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation and constructive discharged, according to the filing.

A settlement was agreed upon in 2019, but when asked to provide a statement on her work performance the department allegedly told a potential employer, 'I would be sure to do your due diligence on her background,' the complaint said.

Further alleging that 'this was obvious code for do not hire her, blatant retaliation against a female for daring to raise legal claims against Seal Beach.'

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Clasby's attorney, Jon King, said: 'We are in a time when people want law and order, but they also want it delivered in an appropriate way in keeping with modern times. Lieutenant Clasby is part of the solution, not the problem.

The mother of three is one of four women sworn onto the force out of 39 sworn-in personnel, and Clasby is the only woman in the Department's Command Staff

Clasby's attorney, Jon King (pictured), said that Clasby isn't searching for 'special treatment' and just 'wants to be treated fairly'

'But highly accomplished, intelligent women like her in law enforcement continue to be ground down by the men that dominate the profession's power structure. And the allegations in the Complaint detail exactly why so many women are driven out of law enforcement, or deterred from even starting a career in law enforcement.

'I hope that this case encourages other women in law enforcement to stand up for their rights. As a community, as a society, we very badly need them in law enforcement.'

In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, Seal Beach City Manager Patrick Gallegos said: 'This personnel matter is being handled in accordance with the City's established legal and administrative procedures.

'The City is committed to ensuring that all such matters are reviewed thoroughly, fairly, and in compliance with applicable laws and policies.'

The Daily Mail reached out to Gallegos, Henderson and the Seal Beach Police Department for comment. Clasby declined to comment at this time.

Clasby also devotes her time to speak out about motherhood as a police officer, including authoring a book and 'providing leadership strategies to support female officers balancing motherhood and their careers,' her website stated.

King told the Times that Clasby 'doesn't want special treatment,' and added: 'She just wants to be treated fairly and to go about doing her job for the department and the community.'
A former Texas elected official who ran over and killed a father and son with her truck in 2017 will now spend 10 years behind bars after a jury mercifully slapped her with a decade of probation.

Dee Ann Haney, the former commissioner of Texas City, blew a golden opportunity to stay out of prison after she failed to stay sober and complete her court-ordered community service.

After getting busted for a DWI, Judge Jeth Jones told Haney, 61, that the jury gave her a second chance but that he would not be giving her a third.

The original crime occurred on the morning of July 3, 2017, when Haney was driving her Ford F-150 on the Galveston Causeway and side-swiped a Toyota Tacoma.

Van Duoc Le, 58, and his son Hong Phuc Le, 33, were standing outside the Tacoma and were killed on impact. They had been loading cargo into the bed.

Haney admitted to a Texas State Trooper that she had smoked marijuana hours earlier. Toxicology results also showed that she had a muscle relaxant and sleeping pill in her system the morning of the crash.

In February 2024, Haney was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and was given 10 years of probation, much to the chagrin of prosecutors and causing distress to the victims' families.

Seven months later, Haney was arrested while driving erratically through Texas City on September 27, 2024. She refused a breathalyzer test, but police noted that she had bloodshot eyes and was slurring her words.

Dee Ann Haney, the former commissioner of Texas City, is pictured in court on October 3, 2025, as her probation is revoked and she is re-sentenced to 10 years in prison

Pictured: The scene of the crash on July 3, 2017, when Haney struck and killed Van Duoc Le, 58, and his son Hong Phuc Le, 33

Haney told police she was following a Honda sedan driving recklessly, according to a police affidavit obtained by The Galveston County Daily News.

She then told police that she got out of her 2013 white Ford F-150 and was attacked by three people who had been inside the Honda sedan.

A witness contradicted her story, claiming Haney got out of her truck, walked over to a nearby park and began screaming and rolling around on the ground with no one else around.

She admitted to having a beer and a shot about three hours earlier, police said.

Prosecutors immediately filed a motion with the court to revoke her probation, and after several months of legal back and forth, that was granted by Judge Jones on October 3. That day, she began serving her ten year prison sentence.

Court documents also indicated that Haney did not complete the minimum 16 community service hours per month she needed to do to reach a total of 600 hours before the end of her probation.

'Everybody here knows that the jury gave you probation,' Judge Jones said. 'They gave you a second chance and you didn't even get through 10 percent [of your sentence] before violating it.'

'It seems like you did not take any of this seriously,' he added.

Judge Jeth Jones cited Haney's DWI and failure to complete her community service as reasons why he was sending her to prison

Haney will still have to complete her community service obligations after her 10-year prison sentence

Galveston County Chief Assistant Criminal District Attorney Kacey Launius told KTRK that what the court had asked of her was not difficult.

'The jury really did give her a second chance at being able to live out in the community while she served her sentence and that was her opportunity to take responsibility for her actions and live as a good citizen,' Launius said.

'She wasn't successful at completing the technical obligations of her probation. Completing community service hours is such an easy thing to do, and she simply was not doing that,' she added.

Haney will still have to complete her community service obligations after her 10-year prison sentence.
A California driver says he was violently pulled from his car and beaten in a terrifying road rage attack - as stunned motorists looked on but did nothing to help.

Adam Berry told CBS Los Angeles the assault happened on September 23 along La Cienega Boulevard, near Baldwin Hills in Los Angeles, after a routine attempt to pass a slow-moving truck turned into a nightmare.

Berry said he went around the slow-moving truck since there were three open lanes, saying he didnt honk, gesture, or act in a confrontational way.

Moments later, the truck driver - towing a Toyota Camry - allegedly pulled up beside Berry and unleashed a tirade of anti-gay slurs and expletives.

'I roll my window down and he starts screaming at me,' Berry recalled. 'I do remember processing, I should probably not be sticking around for this.'

Berry said the suspect hurled homophobic language before attacking him. Police have not yet said whether they are investigating the incident as a hate crime.

Trying to get away, Berry weaved through traffic until he reached La Cienega and Obama Boulevard.

Thinking he was in the clear, he stopped - only for the man to return and kick in his driver's side mirror.

Berry said he was dragged from his car and beaten in a violent road rage attack during a routine pass

Berry said he managed to take photos of the suspect and his license plate after the assault before the man drove off

'Next thing I know, a hand reaches in and opens my door and pulls me out of the car,' Berry said.

The suspect threw him to the ground and beat him repeatedly while traffic came to a standstill.

'All lanes of cars were stopped,' Berry said. 'Everyone's just sitting there watching. No one really got out, as far as I could see. I think everyone was pretty freaked out.'

When Berry tried to take a picture for police, the man came back and punched him three more times.

'I'm trying to wipe the blood off of my phone and get a good shot that's usable for the police,' he said. 'I can't get the blood off in time. He comes back, and I get about three more hits to the head.'

The suspect eventually fled, but traffic allowed Berry to snap a photo of the man and his license plate before he drove off.

Police said the attacker was gone by the time officers arrived but confirmed a felony battery report had been filed. Paramedics took Berry to the hospital to treat a gash to his chin and bruises to his forehead.

Two weeks later, Berry said he's still shaken and wants the suspect caught - but he also reflected on the growing tension he feels on LA's roads.

Berry said he went around the slow-moving truck near the intersection of La Cienega Boulevard near Baldwin Hills in Los Angeles

'I've never had anything like that happen in my life,' he said. 'I just feel like there's a lot of heat, a lot of hate  I just wish that this stuff would stop because this is a really beautiful community.'

Police say the suspect remains at large as their investigation continues.

Daily Mail has contacted the Los Angeles Police Department for comment.
A teenager has denied the manslaughter of a 25-year-old woman who fell to her death from a block of flats.

Jaiden Hassan-Agard, 18, appeared in court today in relation to the death of Tia Langdon, who died after plunging from the building on August 28 in Southampton.

Police were called Cuckmere Lane in the Redbridge area of the city at around 2.45pm and found Ms Langdon with severe injuries. She was airlifted to hospital but died the next day despite doctors efforts.

Appearing at Southampton Crown Court, Hassan-Agard, of Southampton, who identifies as mixed White and Black Caribbean, pleaded not guilty to nine charges - including manslaughter, false imprisonment, actual bodily harm, threatening with an offensive weapon, and making threats to kill Tia Langdon.

He also denied false imprisonment, threatening with an offensive weapon, making threats to kill, and kidnapping a second woman, Shannon McNeil.

The teen wore a grey Superdry shirt and tracksuit bottoms as he stood in the dock.

Prosecutor Sarah Jones told the court: There will need to be a trial in this case. There is an enormous amount of material in this case.

Tributes paid to 'beautiful' Tia Langdon, pictured, descibed her as the 'best big sister ever'

Police were called Cuckmere Lane in the Redbridge area of Southampton around 2.45pm and found Ms Langdon with severe injuries

Judge William Mousley said: You will have heard the discussions that have taken place. The trial could be heard here, but the decision on that will be made in the future.

A provisional two-week trial has been set for April next year, likely to take place at either Southampton or Winchester Crown Court. Hassan-Agard will remain in custody until at least March 4.

A Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson said: As part of our enquiries, we established a man and woman had been at the address with Tia at the time, and our investigation team have been examining the circumstances that led up to Tias death.

Tributes were later left outside the flats, with one message reading: Thank you for being the best big sister ever. You were the smartest person I ever knew, and Ill forever be proud of you.

Another note said simply: Beautiful girl, RIP my darling.
Joan Bennett Kennedy, the first wife of late Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, has died at the age of 89.

Born Joan Bennett, she passed away peacefully in her sleep atn her Boston home early Wednesday morning, her family confirmed.

She was was a model and classically-trained pianist when Ted's older sister Jean Kennedy introduced the pair in 1957.

They were engaged within the year and married in her hometown of Bronxville, New York, in 1958. The pair were married for 24 years and had three children together: Kara, Ted Jr and Patrick.

They divorced in 1983, but Kennedy was long-remembered for the struggles she endured throughout their marriage.

She suffered multiple miscarriages, including one shortly after Ted plunged a car off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island in 1969 and killed his young, female passenger.

She stood by Ted's side as he attended the victim's funeral, pled guilty to leaving the scene of an accident, and as his extramarital affairs and heavy drinking made national headlines.

Joan battled her own demons, having fought alcoholism and depression for many years. She became one of the first leading ladies in America to publicly address her struggles and was an advocate for mental health and addiction services.

Joan Kennedy in a beaded white formal dress, circa 1970

Ted Kennedy stands to the right of his Joan Bennett at their New York wedding in 1958

Joan leaves the Roundabout Theater in New York City after attending a performance by the Dennis Wayne Ballet Company, circa 1977. Joan, a model and classically trained pianist, was a known patron of the arts

The former Joan Bennett was born in New York City on September 2, 1936. She was raised in a Roman Catholic family in the tiny suburb of Bronxville.

She met Jean while both women were studying at Manhattanville College.

Joan was a model and classically trained pianist when she married Ted in 1958.

But the couple's lives changed drastically during their 15 years of marriage.

Ted's brother-in-law John F Kennedy was elected president in 1960 and assassinated three years later.

Her brother-in-law Robert F Kennedy Sr served as attorney general under JFK, was elected to the Senate in 1964 and assassinated while seeking the presidency.

Her husband was elected to the Senate in 1962 and became among the country's most respected legislators despite initial misgivings that he was capitalizing on his family connections.

Joan was forced to stand by her husband as he battled scandals of his own making.

Ted, Joan, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, John Kennedy Jr and Caroline Kennedy are pictured together at the 1965 JFK memorial in Runnymede, Britain

Joan is pictured leaving lunch with Luciana Avedon, Father Francis Murphy and jewelry designer Joan Guerreiro in New York in 1972

Joan and Ted attend Kennedy Center Arts Preview Gala on May 27, 1971 at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC

In 1969, Ted plunged the car he was driving plunged off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, killing passenger Mary Jo Kopechne.

Ted, who swam to safety and waited hours before alerting police, later pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident.

The Chappaquiddick tragedy shadowed him for the rest of his life, weighing against his own chances for the presidency.

Joan stood by her husband through the scandal, but their estrangement was nearly impossible to hide by the time of his unsuccessful effort to defeat President Jimmy Carter in the 1980 Democratic primaries.

The couple had formally separated in 1978, but did not divorce until after Ted's failed presidential campaign. One bumper sticker from Carter's campaign read 'Vote for Jimmy Carter, Free Joan Kennedy.'

Joan and Ted publicly announced their plans to divorce in 1981. The dissolution of their marriage was finalized nearly two years later.

She never remarried, but Ted - who served as a senator until his death in 2009 - did have a second wife.

He was married to Victoria Reggie Kennedy, the current Ambassador to the Republic of Austria, from 1990 until he passed away from a brain tumor at the age of 77.

Ted and wife Joan circa 1980 in New York City

The Kennedy family pays tribute at Robert F Kennedy's grave on what would have been his 47th birthday, at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on November 20, 1971

Joan, Maurice Templesman and Jackie circa 1986 in New York City

Joan turned to alcohol as she tried to cope with the tragedies and scandals that plagued her very public life.

In an 1978 interview with People Magazine, she admitted that she sometimes 'drank to block out unhappiness, to drown my sorrows.'

She told the outlet how she was an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous and despite working the program, found that 'staying sober is difficult.'

'But I'm sober today, and that's all that matters. I'm working on my recovery a day at a time,' she said in the interview.

Joan struggled maintaining her sobriety for decades and was arrested four times for drunk driving.

She was also hospitalized in March 2005 after being found sprawled out on a Boston sidewalk with a broken shoulder and concussion.

She was ordered to enter an alcohol treatment program later that year and appointed a guardian to manage her personal affairs. She was also assigned two trustees to manage her estate.

Her three children led the calls for guardianship, with a judge ruling Joan was 'incapable of taking care of herself by reason of mental illness.'

Senator Ted and his wife Joan leave West Palm Beach airport for the drive to his father's home and vacation in November 1964

Joan is welcomed by President and First Lady Nixon to the second of three receptions for members of Congress at the White House in 1969

Joan and Ted, right, are seen backstage with Boston Pops Orchestra conductor Arthur Fiedler in Boston on May 11, 1969

Patrick Joseph Kennedy II graduates from Phillips Andover College in 1991. He is surrounded by his mother Joan, his father Ted and his brother Edward Moore Kennedy Jr

Motherhood presented its own set of struggles for Joan, with two of her children having battled cancer.

Kara, a filmmaker and television producer, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2002. She died from a heart attack in 2011 aged 51.

Ted Jr, 64, was diagnosed with bone cancer at the age of 12 and had a partial leg amputation. Despite this, he went on to become a lawyer and served in the Connecticut state Senate for four years.

In a tribute honoring his late mother, Ted Jr said: '[We will] always admire...the way that she faced up to her challenges with grace, courage, humility, and honesty.'

'She taught me how to be more truthful with myself and how careful listening is a more powerful communication skill than public speaking,' he added.

Joan's youngest, Patrick, served as a Rhode Island congressman for 16 years and, like his mother, was an avid advocate for mental health.

Patrick and his wife Amy praised his mother's dedication as a 'loving mother' and champion for mental health and addiction causes.

'Mrs Kennedy was a classically trained pianist, an advocate for mental health and addiction recovery, and a quiet pioneer in publicly addressing challenges with alcoholism and depression at a time when few others would,' the couple said.

Joan (second from left), dressed in cap and gown, poses with her family after receiving her Master's degree in Education from Lesley College in 1981

Joan at a 1992 taping of the Sally Jesse Raphael Show at Unitel Studios in New York City

Congressman Patrick Kennedy and his mother Joan arrive for a rally with Democratic campaign workers in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on November 7, 2006

Patrick added that she was a 'powerful example to millions of people with mental health conditions'.

He also recognized the 'instrumental' role Joan played in helping her husband launch his political career.

Joan was known for opening her husband's campaign rallies with a piano serenade.

In a 1992 Associated Press interview, she recalled playing piano for brother-in-law Bobby when he ran for president in 1968.

'He took me with him and encouraged me,' she told the outlet. 'He had a theme, This Land Is Your Land - the Woody Guthrie song. I'd play that on the piano and everybody would come in, feeling really great about everything.'

Joan relocated from Washington to Boston after she and Ted divorced.

She pursued a master's degree in music education at Lesley University and later became a music teacher.

She also toured with orchestras around the world. Her family said she would combine her masterful playing with a message about the transformational potential of the arts and the need for equitable arts education.

Joan is seen during a formal ceremony to dedicate the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate in Boston on March 30, 2015

She was an active member in the city's arts scene and worked with several local organizations, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops.

Boston Pops conductor Laurete John Williams said Kennedy will be 'greatly missed' at the orchestra, but notes her dedication to the program leaves a 'lasting impact'.

'Joan was an accomplished pianist and possessed an impressive knowledge of the classical music repertoire,' he said in a statement to WFTX.

'She will be greatly missed and will always be regarded as a member of our Boston Symphony Family.'
A husband thought he was in a happy marriage - but all the while his wife and her lover were allegedly plotting various ways to kill him, including putting foxgloves in his salad.

Former soldier Christopher Mills, 48, was planning a holiday and home improvements with wife Michelle Mills, 46, when her lover Geraint Berry allegedly teamed up with friend Steven Thomas for a murder attempt, Swansea Crown Court heard.

It involved a fake armed break-in, complete with imitation guns, at the couple's holiday caravan in a countryside beauty spot. It was thwarted, however, when 20-stone Mr Mills allegedly fought off the pair and they were eventually found by police.

Other inventive murder plots included placing ground-up sleeping pills in his drink, smothering him with a pillow, putting foxgloves in his salad and sneaking anti-freeze into his gravy, the court heard.

But Mr Mills claims he was none the wiser throughout this alleged campaign and indeed was under the impression he was in a 'happy marriage' with Michelle Mills.

He did, however, notice his wife had been spending more time at her work as South Wales manager for homeless veterans charity Alabare, where she met Berry, 46, who was receiving accommodation, and where her husband had also worked.

Mr Mills asked her, 'Are we alright?' and she reassured him their relationship was fine and put her longer hours down to staff sickness.

He told the court on Wednesday: 'She started to go to work extremely early at about 7am and wouldn't come home until late. She seemed a bit preoccupied and a bit stressed.'

Christopher Mills, pictured right, thought he was in a happy marriage - but all the while his wife Michelle, left, and her lover were allegedly plotting various ways to kill him

He was planning a holiday and home improvements with his wife when her lover Geraint Berry, pictured, allegedly teamed up with friend Steven Thomas for a murder attempt

The court heard Mr Mills asked his wife why she had been spending so much time with client Berry, but she always claimed it was work-related.

He said: 'I thought, "yes ok, she is stressed out. She has got no staff." I kind of put it out of my head.

'She reassured me at the time there was nothing going on. She said it is literally just work related and "I love you".'

Mr Mills said the couple would stay at their caravan, which they had bought for 58,000 in August 2023, in Argoed Meadow campsite in Cenarth, Carmarthenshire, after finishing work on Fridays and spend the weekends there together.

The court heard the former soldier, who works for Help For Heroes, did not find out about the three-month affair between his wife and Berry until after the armed raid.

Mr Mills was arrested following the masked attack in September last year after his wife made claims of domestic violence against him, which he denied.

He said: 'It was a massive shock but the first time it came to my attention was the following day.

'I was arrested. At that instant I realised then that Michelle was involved. My heart sank.'

They allegedly staged a fake armed break-in, complete with imitation guns, at the couple's holiday caravan in a countryside beauty spot but Mr Mills, pictured, thwarted the attack

He did, however, notice his wife had been spending more time at her work as South Wales manager for homeless veterans charity Alabare

Mr Mills denied every being violent towards his wife, saying: 'I have never laid a finger on her.'

He added: 'I have done nothing to Michelle. As far as I was concerned we had a happy marriage. We had new passports and we were saving up to go on holiday.'

Mr Mills told the jury he opened the boot to his wife's Volkswagen Passat car days after the attack to find metal cable ties, three pairs of gloves and a roll of duct tape.

The court heard the three defendants had conspired together to murder Mr Mills, but all three deny the charges.

Michelle Mills also denies attempting to pervert the court of justice in relation to deleting phone messages and her account to police.

Berry and Thomas, 47, have previously pleaded guilty to possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear.

The plan came just one month after a life insurance policy for Mr Mills had come into effect, naming his wife as the sole beneficiary of a 124,000 payout in the event of his death, the court heard.

The policy was a result of his charity work first with Alabare and later Help For Heroes.

The court heard Mr Mills, pictured outside Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday, asked his wife why she had been spending so much time with client Berry

Michelle Mills allegedly said she wanted her husband dead so she and her lover could 'move forward' together.

Armed officers and police dogs rushed to the scene at Cenarth, Carmarthenshire in Wales on September 20, 2024 before a police helicopter spotted the duo and they gave themselves up.

Michelle Mills told officers she never wanted her husband to be hurt and claimed killing him was 'just a fantasy that she could escape to'.

The court heard Berry and Michelle Mills were in a sexual relationship and sent extensive text messages in the months leading up to the murder attempt.

These included a message from Berry to his 'queen' Michelle Mills saying he would put her husband 'in the f***ing ground'.

He also allegedly said he would 'f***ing kill him' while talking about arranging for hitmen to carry out the killing of Mr Mills.

Michelle Mills told Berry that her husband was violent towards her during sex and had threatened to 'break her in' on the night of the raid.

She told police in interview that she could not leave him because she believed she would 'end up on the street' with nothing.

Thomas, pictured, was allegedly involved with Berry in a murder attempt which ended in the pair being found by police

Mr Rees said: 'Michelle Mills and Geraint Berry had embarked on a secret sexual relationship which, on Geraint Berry's part at least, had become increasingly intense.

'Berry, encouraged on by Michelle Mills, had become increasingly occupied by hostile thoughts about Christopher Mills.'

He added: 'She said she was concerned that if she left Christopher Mills he would sell up everything they owned and she would have been left with nothing.'

The court heard Berry had messaged an Army supplies shop to ask for advice on how to 'blow up' a Mini Cooper S - the same car driven by Mr Mills.

Berry had also enquired about a gun suppresser and bullets while saying: 'I need to get rid of someone.'

He claimed that there had been two 'aborted' visits to the caravan on separate nights before the alleged attack took place.

After the failed attempt, Berry and Thomas fled the scene before being stopped by police and found with gasmasks containing filter canisters, as well as cable ties, pliers, cloths and a telescopic gun sight in their rucksacks.

There was also a fake 'suicide note' made to look like it was written by Mr Mills and addressed to his wife, whose nickname is 'Babs'.

Pictured: the caravan site where the alleged attack took place. Armed officers and police dogs rushed to the scene at Cenarth, Carmarthenshire in Wales on September 20, 2024

The court heard Michelle Mills sent a message to Berry shortly after the raid telling him: 'Police have been called. Get away. Delete all contact on both phones. I love you.'

She told police in the aftermath of the incident she did not know the men and could not think of a reason why anybody would want to rob the couple.

The allegedly unfaithful wife later told officers her 'fantasist' lover Berry said he would 'make it look like suicide' before she printed out the bogus suicide note he sent her.

Mr Rees said: 'Michelle Mills said she had no input into the writing of the fake suicide letter.

'She accepted she printed off the letter but said she didn't read it. She then gave the letter to Geraint Berry.'

The court heard Michelle Mills told police: 'He (Berry) did mention about suicide and things you know, to make it look like Chris had committed suicide, but I thought it was all fantasy.'

Mr Rees said Michelle Mills told officers she had a sexual relationship with Berry but denied that she loved him and claimed she 'never thought she was encouraging him'.

Mr Rees said: 'She accepted there was a jealousy element to Geraint Berry that she was aware of but she didn't accept that she fed his jealousy.

'She denied that she was stoking the fire.'

The trial at Swansea Crown Court before Mr Justice Nicklin is expected to last three weeks.
A millionaire megachurch founder who resigned over a secret unknown 'sin' he committed has returned to his ministry after a mysterious redemption process.

Pastor Tony Evans, 75, claimed he 'successfully completed this restoration journey' as he returned to the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church in Dallas, Texas, on Sunday.

Evans stepped down from the church in June 2024 but never revealed what exactly his moral failure was.

He received a huge standing ovation as he returned to the church's stage over the weekend, CBS News reported.

'As you know, this last year has been an extremely challenging time - a time of being separated from what I love most - the proclamation of Gods word,' Evans said on a video the church posted on YouTube after his return.

'A lot of that was due to my own fault, and I had to go through a period of repentance and restoration so that healing could take place.'

Evans and the church did not specify which steps Evans took to repent for the unknown sin he confessed to last year.

The church clarified that Evans will not be serving or leading the congregation and that his son will now take over as the new lead pastor.

Pastor Tony Evans, 75, returned to the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship Church in Dallas on Sunday

Evans started Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in 1976 as a bible study for just 10 people. Now, the church has over 10,000 members and 100 different ministries

Evans, a former chaplain for the Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas Mavericks, married Dr Carla Crummie in 2023

'Dr. Evans acknowledged in a public statement falling short of God's standard and a need to submit to the church's discipline and restoration process,' said Wheel, the church's associate pastor.

'We are pleased to report that Dr. Evans has fully submitted to the church's discipline and restoration process.'

Evans, a former chaplain for the Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas Mavericks, married Dr Carla Crummie in 2023.

He was previously married to Lois Evans for 49 years. She died in 2019.

Evans stepped down from his ministry in June, 2024, after 48 years via a written statement to his congregation.

'The foundation of our ministry has always been our commitment to the Word of God as the absolute supreme standard of truth to which we are to conform our lives,' Evans wrote.

'When we fall short of that standard due to sin, we are required to repent and restore our relationship with God. A number of years ago, I fell short of that standard,' he wrote in the Sunday message posted to the church's website.

Evans clarified he didn't commit a crime but didn't use 'righteous judgment' in his actions.

Evans was previously married to Lois Evans for 49 years and they had two sons and a daughter. She died in 2019

Evans and the church did not specify which steps Evans took to repent from the unknown sin he confessed to last year

President George W. Bush listens to applause with Pastor Tony Evans at the dedication of the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship's Youth Education Center, October 29, 2003 in Dallas, Texas

A statement shared by the church itself said the decision to sideline its most popular preacher 'was made after tremendous prayer and multiple meetings with Dr. Evans and the church elders.'

'Dr. Evans and the elders agree that when any elder or pastor falls short of the high standards of scripture, the elders are responsible for providing accountability and maintaining integrity in the church,' the statement continued.

Evans started Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in 1976 as a bible study for just 10 people. Now, the church has over 10,000 members and 100 different ministries targeted at adults, youth, singles and couples.

The pastor also had a popular daily radio show featuring snippets of his energetic sermons called 'The Alternative,' which aired on over 1,400 stations in more than 130 countries.
A Polish woman accused of stalking Kate McCann for years and claiming to be her missing child, Madeleine, wrote to her saying: 'You know who I am, I am your daughter.'

Julia Wandelt - who is on trial alongside Karen Spragg, 61 - allegedly stalked the McCanns for almost three years, turning up at a vigil for the missing girl, as well as trying to contact Madeleine's two younger siblings.

Leicester Crown Court heard 24-year-old Wandelt also penned a 'distressing' letter to 57-year-old Mrs McCann a day after turning up at her Leicestershire home with Spragg.

In it, the Polish national is accused of writing: 'Dear Mum (Kate), I'm so sorry for causing you so much distress, but when I saw you yesterday, my emotions were so strong. I felt a close connection to you. I don't like seeing you upset.

'All I want is to find out the truth. I have memories and I have gathered a lot of evidence supporting my case.'

She added: 'I think that inside your heart you believe and know who I am and I am your daughter,' before going on to sign off the letter with a kiss.

An emotional Mrs McCann and her husband, Gerry, both took to the witness stand to give evidence in the trial today, in which they denied Wandelt was their daughter.

At the end of Mrs McCann's evidence, a hysterical Wandelt wept uncontrollably and screamed 'why are you doing this to me' as she was led away from the dock.

This afternoon, a tearful Mr McCann broke down, insisting his family still had a 'glimmer of hope' they would one day be reunited with his daughter, who has not been seen for more than 18 years.

But speaking of Wandelt, he said: 'We know she is not our daughter.'

Kate and Gerry McCann are pictured at the annual prayer vigil in their home village of Rothley, Leicestershire, to mark the 18th anniversary of the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine

Madeleine McCann vanished in 2007 while on holiday in Portugal

Polish national Julia Wandelt (pictured), 24, is accused of stalking Mrs McCann for almost three years

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Taking to the witness stand from behind a curtain, Mr McCann described the toll on his family, adding: 'It has many effects. We dont know what happened to Madeleine. There is no evidence she is dead.

'We hope, and we know it is only a glimmer, that Madeleine is alive.

'So when people claim to be your daughter it inevitably pulls your heartstrings.'

He added her claims also had a 'wider effect', which he described as 'damaging the search' for Madeleine.

Madeleine vanished from the McCanns' holiday flat in Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007, aged three. Despite extensive search efforts, her location remains unknown. The mystery has prompted widespread media coverage and public curiosity.

Describing the impact on his twins Amelie and Sean - Madeleine's younger siblings - Mr McCann said: 'We have done our best to try to protect them.' At which point he broke down and took a second to compose himself before resuming.

He went on: 'Given what has happened to Madeleine we try to keep them out of the media as much as possible. We know they want to be identified as Amelie McCann and Sean McCann and not missing Madeleine McCann's sister.'

Prosecutor Michael Duck KC told him: 'Take whatever time you like' as the father struggled to talk though his tears.

'As a parent you want to try to protect your children we know social media can be really damaging all the horrible things that have been written about us and nasty stuff online. We want to try to protect them from that.'

Earlier Mr McCann's emotional wife, Kate, told the court all she wanted was for her beloved daughter to be back and calling her 'mum' again.

However, in dramatic scenes after Mrs McCann finished giving evidence, a weeping Wandelt was escorted out of the dock, yelling: 'Why are you doing this to me?'

Speaking out today, Mr McCann told jurors he and his wife had been asked by officers from Operation Grange - the police mission investigating Madeleine's disappearance - to look at a picture of Wandelt after she started claiming publicly to be their missing daughter.

'We both did that independently. I was very confident just looking at the picture that it was not Madeleine,' he told the court.

LISTEN: The Trial of the 'McCann Stalkers'. Listen to the latest on this Daily Mail podcast

He added he had been left 'frustrated and angry' by the constant calls to his wife's phone, which she was 'obviously very distressed' by.

Asked by prosecutor Mr Duck about one occasion, possibly in the summer of last year, where he took hold of the phone in his kitchen and spoke to the caller, Mr McCann said: 'Kate was upset. I was getting frustrated and angry that these calls were coming.

'The phone went and I picked it up and answered it. I said "you're not Madeleine, please stop calling" and then hung up very, very quickly.

'I made it very clear these were unwanted calls. To be honest, it was a bit of a blur.'

During her evidence, Mrs McCann was asked about a letter posted through her door the day after Wandelt and Spragg turned up at her home, addressed 'Dear Mum' and signed 'Madeleine'.

Prosecutor Mr Duck said: 'As far as the receipt of that letter is concerned, what was the impact on you?'

A visibly distraught Mrs McCann replied: 'I think that is an example of a thing that was really getting to me it is obviously that is the thing I want most, and for her to be calling me "mum" - that was really distressing for me.'

Wandelt is accused of stalking while Spragg has been charged with one count of stalking involving serious alarm or distress for her alleged involvement. Both deny the charges.

During the hearing, Mrs McCann described how Wandelt's attempt to contact her daughter Amelie, one of Madeleine's younger siblings, had been the 'final straw'.

She said it was at this point she contacted officers from Operation Grange, telling jurors: 'That was the final straw for me, I just wanted to protect Amelie and Sean.'

The court heard Wandelt and Spragg had allegedly considered following Mr and Mrs McCann to a restaurant to steal any cutlery they used to get DNA that would 'prove' Wandelt was really Madeleine

Earlier in the hearing, the judge said it was 'entirely usual' for some witnesses to give evidence from behind a screen and did 'not in anyway reflect on the two defendants'.

Mr Duck asked about pictures of Wandelt: 'Having had the opportunity to look at, along with Gerry, did you conclude that she was plainly not Madeleine?'

Mrs McCann, who was softly spoken, replied: 'Yes. I was clear it was not Madeleine.'

Mr Duck asked her if she responded to any of the messages from Wandelt. Mrs McCann replied: 'No, I did not want to engage'.

Mrs McCann was at this point asked to speak up so the jury could hear her.

The court was then played a rambling voicemail from Wandelt left on Mrs McCann's phone in which she said: 'Don't give up on your daughter. Please don't reject me.'

Mr Duck KC asked Mrs McCann about a voicemail message left on her phone by Wandelt which asked her and husband Gerry for a DNA test to be carried out.

He said: 'Was that something you had a willingness or desire to do?'

Mrs McCann replied: 'If I'm honest, because of the persistence of Julia's behaviour, it did start to get to me.

Karen Spragg outside Leicester Crown Court, where she is charged with one count of stalking involving serious alarm or distress, in connection with an investigation into the alleged stalking of Madeleine McCann's family

'I almost wanted a DNA test to put it to bed... from the photographs.. I knew it wasn't her.'

During Mrs McCann's evidence, the Crown's barrister told jurors that Wandelt had attended a vigil on May 3, 2024, held in Madeleine's Leicestershire home village.

After Mrs McCann confirmed she and her husband Gerry were not present at the event, Mr Duck asked: 'You weren't present, but did you become aware that Julia Wandelt had come to that vigil?'

'Yes' Mrs McCann answered as the court heard that Wandelt claimed to have handed a letter to Madeleine's great-aunt during the gathering.

Asked how she felt about hearing Wandelt had attended, Mrs McCann told the jury: 'If I am honest I was relieved we weren't there.

'It (the annual vigil) is quite a hard but positive experience. It would have taken away from the actual reason we were there.'

Later, the mother was questioned about the manner of Spragg, who had attended the McCann home address with Wandelt.

'I would say she was slightly more aggressive,' Mrs McCann told jurors. 'She was a bit more kind of... "don't you want to find your daughter?".'

Mr Duck KC asked if she wanted the women there, to which Madeleine's mother replied no.

The prosecutor added: 'Did you make that plain?'

'I did,' Mrs McCann insisted. 'I told them to leave. I told them I was distressed.'

She said she phoned her husband when she managed to get inside her home and lock the door and told him what had happened.

Wandelt and Spragg are pictured in a court sketch today

Kate and Gerry McCann shortly after their daughter's disappearance

However, Mrs McCann told the jury during Wandelt and Spragg's December 7 visit last year, they 'did not give any indication' they would hurt her.

She added she did not know whether Wandelt had been crying when she turned up at the McCanns' family home, but said the Polish national had been 'pleading' and 'asking about DNA tests again'.

Tom Price KC, defending Wandelt, suggested the women left 'a short time after' Mr McCann got home.

Mrs McCann said: 'Not immediately, but yes. Certainly not half an hour or anything.'

Asked if they made her think that would hurt her, Mrs McCann said: 'No they did not give me any indication of that.'

Under cross examination, Mrs McCann said she had a 'tiny niggle' that she should take a DNA test because the contact from Wandelt was 'so incessant'.

She said: 'I think it was just because it was getting to me so much there was a little bit of my brain saying what if?

'I had seen a photo of her, she was Polish and none of it made any sense. I could not say what Madeleine looks like but if I saw a photo I would recognise her.'

Speaking to the court, about the toll the alleged stalking had taken on her, the 57-year-old said her level of 'stress and anxiety' had increased but she felt 'more relaxed' after being told Wandelt had been arrested at Bristol Airport on February 19.

'I feel like it has escalated, the level of stress and anxiety it's caused me has increased over that time,' she told the court.

'I would say it's only since February 19 you notice a change, you actually feel more relaxed.'

When asked about Madeleine's younger twin siblings, Mrs McCann said: 'I don't want any media attention on them. I think what they had to deal with, and still have to deal with, is a lot.'

Madeleine McCann is seen beaming in a family photo before her disappearance in 2007

On Tuesday, jurors were told the two women allegedly discussed going through their bins to find DNA traces.

Wandelt and Spragg are also said to have considered following Mr and Mrs McCann to a restaurant to steal any cutlery they used to get DNA that would 'prove' Wandelt was really Madeleine.

Michael Duck KC, prosecuting, said the ends to which the two women were prepared to go were 'remarkable'.

He told Leicester Crown Court they had a discussion about taking the McCanns' 'garbage' back to the hotel where they were staying, 'as long as it doesn't stink'. In one message Spragg said: 'We can go through the bins lol'.

In another, she told Wandelt: 'Shame we cant [sic] follow them to a bar or restaurant and get a knife or fork.'

Wandelt insists she is Madeleine, who was abducted aged three on May 3, 2007, from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal. Mr Duck had previously told jurors scientific evidence proved Wandelt, 24, could not be Madeleine, who would now be 22.

The court heard that Wandelt messaged Spragg: 'We should get their DNA, it's the only way to prove it.'

Spragg, 61, of Cardiff, and Wandelt, from Poland, are accused of stalking the McCanns, causing 'serious alarm or distress', between June 1, 2022, and February 21, 2025, which they deny.

Jurors were told yesterday how Mrs McCann, 57, was 'visibly upset' after being confronted at home by Wandelt.

In a recording of the encounter on December 7 last year, an emotional Mrs McCann pleads with her and Spragg - who supports Wandelt's claim to be Madeleine - to leave her driveway, telling them: 'You are causing us a lot of distress. Stop it.'

When Mr McCann, 57, arrived moments later, they shouted at him and tried to force a letter into his hand. In the recording he tells Wandelt: 'You need help. You are not Madeleine.'

Wandelt later posted a letter through the door of the couple's home in Rothley, Leicestershire, in which she called Mrs McCann 'mummy'. It was signed 'Madeleine', jurors were told.

Mr Duck said Spragg was 'front and centre of the pursuit of the McCanns. Wandelt had travelled from Poland to go to the McCanns' house, arriving at East Midlands airport where she was greeted by Spragg in her car.

The court heard Spragg messaged a friend that read: 'We are sat outside the McCanns home waiting for them... never thought I would be stalking the McCanns.'

The next day, a letter was put through the McCanns' door. It began, 'Dear Mum', and went on: 'Inside your heart you believe... who I am and I am your daughter.' It ended, in what Mr Duck said was a 'final cruel signature' with 'lots of love, Madeleine'.

Jurors heard that Wandelt said she remembered 'her' abduction, saying she was injected and was taken by a man with tanned skin. She claims the McCanns were involved in abducting Madeleine.

Wandelt was arrested in February when she arrived at Bristol airport on a flight paid for by Spragg, having made plans to go to the McCanns' place of work. Spragg was arrested outside the airport shortly afterwards.

Wandelt and Spragg both deny a count of stalking causing serious alarm and distress to Kate and Gerry McCann between June 2022 and February this year.

Madeleine's disappearance from Portugal's Algarve in 2007 remains unsolved.

The trial continues.

To learn more about this case, search for The Trial of the 'McCann Stalkers', wherever you get your podcasts.

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A man gunned down on in broad daylight on a suburban Sydney street has been revealed to be a prominent former UFC fighter.

Emergency crews were on the scene at Annaluke St in Riverstone in the the city's north-west about 6pm on Wednesday following reports of a shooting.

Officers located a man suffering gunshot wounds at the scene where he died despite being treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics. He has since been identified as Suman Mokhtarian, reported The Daily Telegraph.

Mokhtarian founded the Australian Top Team UFC gym and survived a previous attempt on his life when a shooter, disguised as a food delivery driver, repeatedly shot at him outside his gym in February last year.

He was not so fortunate on Wednesday night, with police saying they believe he was the victim of a targeted attack.

'We believe he may have been out for a walk, but we're yet to confirm,' Riverstone Police Area commander Jason Joyce told reporters on Wednesday night.

Witnesses said the gunman had fled in a red Audi.

About 15 minutes after Mokhtarian was found, emergency services were called to nearby Riverstone Road where a car had been set ablaze.

Suman Mokhtarian was gunned down in Riverstone on Wednbesday night (he is pictured at a UFC Fight Night weigh-in event at Hilton Adelaide on November 30, 2018)

Police have established a crime scene on Annaluke Street in Riverstone following a fatal shooting. Officers are pictured at the scene on Wednesday evening

An officer is pictured studying bullet casings metres from the deceased

Police are investigating whether the incident is linked to a nearby car fire

Fire crews attended and extinguished the fire, however, the vehicle was destroyed.

'Police have established a second crime scene and are working to establish whether the two incidents are linked,' NSW Police said in a statement.

A manhunt is underway to find the gunman.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A gay 'throuple' who adopted a little girl have launched a lawsuit demanding that their home province of Quebec legally recognizes all three of them as her parents.

Eric LeBlanc, Jonathan Bedard, and Justin Maheu, said they had been trying to become fathers for years until they were finally matched with a child this week.

The trio, who live together in Montreal as a 'throuple', said they adopted the three-year-old girl through the Quebec Youth Protection Services (DPJ) on Thursday.

'She's perfect,' LeBlanc told CTV News. 'She's curious, she's energetic. She loves to play, she loves to jump, she loves to dance.'

However, it followed a long process involving two years of fostering, and after hiring a lawyer to convince adoption services they were a good fit.

The trio said their main roadblock were Quebec's laws, which do not recognize more than two people as parents.

At the moment, Quebec's political and judiciary officials are at loggerheads over the issue, with one liberal Superior Court Judge saying the status quo is 'unconstitutional' - while the province attempts to block any changes.

Canada is generally ruled by very liberal laws, and several provinces including Ontario and British Columbia do legally recognize more than two parents.

A gay 'throuple' who have adopted a three-year-old girl have launched a lawsuit demanding that their home province of Quebec legally recognizes them as parents

Eric LeBlanc, Jonathan Bedard, and Justin Maheu, (pictured together) said they had been trying to become fathers for years until they were finally matched with a child this week

LeBlanc, Bedard and Maheu said the first adoption agency they approached would not take them on because of Quebec's legal system.

After hiring a lawyer, they convinced another agency to take on their case, who began evaluating them more than two years ago.

'Through that process they learned that we are a little different because we're three, but we're not different from any other family,' LeBlanc told CTV News.

LeBlanc, Bedard and Maheu are now pushing for the right for all three of them to be recognized as parents in Quebec.

In April last year, a Superior Court Judge in the province ruled that the government has one year to modify the civil code which would allow children to have more than two legal parents.

The judge said the status quo is 'unconstitutional' and violates the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms by discriminating against non-nuclear families.

However, Quebec is appealing this decision.

Justice Minister and Attorney General Simon Jolin-Barrette has said recognizing multi-parent families could harm children.

'Having more than two parents could have important consequences for the child,' he said, including in cases of separation.

'I don't think it's in the interest of the child to have four, five, six, seven, eight parents.'

LeBlanc told CTV News he thinks the issue could 'go all the way to the Supreme Court'.

'We're saddened from the fact that we're not backed by our own government, which is supposed to be an open government that wants to help every single family,' he said.

Not all three of the men are legally recognized as their daughter's parents, but they said they are sharing the joys and responsibilities of bringing her up equally.

The trio (pictured together above), who live together in Montreal as a 'throuple', said they adopted the little girl through the Quebec Youth Protection Services (DPJ) on Thursday

The trio (pictured) said their main roadblock was Quebec's legal system, which does not recognize more than two people as parents, which isn't the case in other Canadian provinces

'We are lucky to be three to give her all that support, but I think we are the lucky ones to have her in our life,' Leblanc said.

Throuples are the term given when three people are in a relationship. They are a form of consensual polyamory, which is when a person has more than one romantic partner.

Like Quebec, most provinces in the US do not recognize more than two parents.

As many as one in five Canadians and Americans reported that they have engaged in consensual non-monogamy, according to the Vanier Institute of the Family.
A Michigan Senate candidate has been left humiliated after delivering a speech to what appeared to be just one person at a Democrat rally.

But Haley Stevens did not let the dismal turnout dampen her spirits as she addressed the sparse event at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids.

'You guys have brought the heat here to Progressives in the Park,' Stevens announced to an almost empty field.

Video and pictures from the address on on October 4 showed just one man watching Stevens' speech as another woman, thought to be a staffer, took photographs.

Social media users were quick to note the embarrassing turnout and joked it was linked to the government shutdown.

One commenter said on X: 'No employees available to fake attendance while on the clock, lol.'

Another added: 'Why is she still at the podium with a microphone, why didn't she just go talk to the one person there?

'They must be filming and will put in the applause in edit.'

A third joked: 'It's like she's speaking directly to me.'

Senate candidate Haley Stevens addressed a minimal crowd at the Michigan Democratic party's Progressives in the Park event

In videos shared on social media, Stevens can be seen giving her speech seemingly to what looks like one man

But others defended Stevens and said they hoped she was just 'doing a sound check'.

The Congresswoman kept her own posts about the event brief and did not share any video from her speech.

Members of her campaign team told the Daily Mail that none of the speakers at the event commanded large crowds.

'The photo is taken out of context attendees were at the booths set up away from the stage,' a spokesman said.

The event was put on by state Representative Phil Skaggs and Grand Rapids Mayor David LaGrand.

Several other Michigan Democrats attended the event over the weekend, including senate candidate Mallory McMorrow, who posted photos with voters who showed their support.

Fellow senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed posted a video of his own speech at the event, which showcased a moderate turnout of voters.

He captioned it: 'How about that crowd at the Progressives in the Park in Grand Rapids last weekend?'

Stevens did not let the dismal turnout dampen her spirits as she addressed the sparse event at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids

Huge crowd huh pic.twitter.com/k7P4rqgpK9  Zach Snyder (@zsnydzzzz) October 6, 2025

Stevens currently serves Michigan in the US House of Representatives after being elected in 2019. She was re-elected last November for her third term, which ends in 2026.

Despite the apparent lack of support at Progressives in the Park, the New York Times reported that she garnered almost 60 percent of the votes during her last election to Michigan's 11th congressional district.

Stevens is doing well in the polls, according to The Hill, she is leading her 2026 Republican counterpart by just over one point.

Michigan, which voted Republican in the last election, is a notorious swing state.

According to an analysis by the Public Religion Research Institute, more than one third of Michiganders identify as Democrats and 26% identity as Republicans.

Daily Mail reached out to the Congresswoman's office and the organizers of Progressives in the Park for comment.
Billionaire Richard Desmond is embarking on a courtroom battle to demand 1.3billion after failing to win the competition to run The National Lottery.

If he wins the jackpot in his high-stakes High Court case against the gambling regulator, it could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds.

Mr Desmond - the former proprietor of titles including the Daily Express  alleges the competition process for Britains largest public sector contract, the lottery licence, was unfair.

Since its inception in 1994, the lottery was run by Camelot. But the operator changed hands for the first time when Allwyn won the 10-year licence in 2022, and took over running the draw last year.

Mr Desmond and his firms, The New Lottery Company and Northern & Shell, came third in the bidding process.

Now in a High Court showdown starting on Thursday and expected to last seven weeks, they will allege manifest errors in the bidding process.

He is demanding 1.3billion in damages for the money he says he would have made from running the draw over a decade.

Richard Desmond and his wife Joy pictured in 2024. Mr Desmond and his firms are now suing the Gambling Commission for 1.3billion.

The National Lottery was run by Camelot for 30 years, before being handed over to new operator Allwyn following a bidding process in 2022 that Mr Desmond claims was unfair

Andrew Rhodes, chief executive of the Gambling Commission, which is being sued by Mr Desmond's companies. It says awarding the contract to Allwyn was 'fair, open and robust'

Victory for the Dubai-based tycoon could have a significant cost for charities and the taxpayer. If he wins, it will be up to regulator the Gambling Commission and the government to decide who pays any compensation owed to Mr Desmond. Either taxpayer funds or the good causes pot would have to be raided to settle any payout.

The claim for damages is denied, with the Gambling Commission defending its decision to place Mr Desmonds bid third, and saying it followed a fair, open and robust competition. Its chief executive Andrew Rhodes has previously told MPs that legal claims against the commission could lose good causes millions of pounds.

Mr Desmond argues the outcome of the lottery licence process was predetermined. It is said he felt he was needlessly strung along, wasting 17.5million on a bid process that he was never going to win.
For 50 years, drivers cruising along Interstate 280 between San Francisco and San Jose could spot a colossal concrete figure rising above the trees - a 26-foot statue of St. Junipero Serra, the Spanish missionary once hailed as the Apostle of California.

Now its gone.

In August, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) quietly removed and demolished the monument at the Crystal Springs rest stop in Hillsborough - closing the area for a week, then reopening it with the hillside bare.

There was no notice, said Patricia Gonzalez, who manages the rest stop, in an interview with CBS San Francisco. They just closed it down, took it down, and that was it. People still come every day asking where it went.

Built in 1975 by sculptor Louis DuBois, the statue depicted Serra robed and pointing outward - a familiar roadside landmark for decades of commuters and families who often pulled over for photos.

Caltrans said the structure no longer met Transportation Art Program requirements, had been repeatedly vandalized, and was deemed ineligible for the California Register of Historical Resources.

There are no plans to replace it.

Serras likeness, part of the landscape since 1976 when the freeway was christened the Junipero Serra Freeway, has long been controversial.

An 18th-century Franciscan missionary, Serra founded nine of Californias 21 Catholic missions, but his legacy is marred by forced labor, cultural suppression, and the deaths of thousands of Indigenous people.

The 26-foot statue of St. Junipero Serra once overlooked Interstate 280 in Hillsborough, California, before being quietly removed this summer

Locals have flooded social media with reactions - some mourning the loss of a landmark, others calling the move long overdue

For Indigenous leaders, the removal marks overdue progress. Jonathan Cordero of the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone told SFGate his group petitioned Caltrans back in 2020, calling the move a precedent for similar future actions.

But Catholic officials were outraged, accusing Caltrans of secrecy and bias.

The Archdiocese of San Francisco said the statue was taken down in the dark of the night, while Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone argued the agency failed to consult dissenting voices, saying, Would we expect this treatment if it happened to be associated with another religious organization? I think not.

The Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, not directly involved in the decision, told KRON4 the removal showed a willingness to acknowledge a painful history of colonialism in our ancestral homelands.

It comes amid a broader statewide reassessment of monuments to figures like Christopher Columbus and Serra himself.

At the Crystal Springs rest stop, all that remains now is a patch of bare earth - and a debate that refuses to fade.

The statues removal triggered a fierce debate on Facebook, with hundreds of locals weighing in - some furious, others relieved, and many simply nostalgic.

Several users lamented the loss of a familiar roadside landmark. Always looked forward to seeing that on I-280, wrote one commenter.

Graffiti reading Monument of genocide was sprayed across the Junipero Serra statue before its removal, reflecting growing backlash over the missionarys legacy

Erected in 1975 by sculptor Louis DuBois, the statue depicted the Spanish missionary pointing outward across the Peninsula

Another added, Very sad, it was a landmark! and Absolutely ridiculous - its been there for 50 years.

Others defended Serras legacy outright. He put San Francisco on the map, one user wrote. He founded El Camino Real, the Kings Highway - many cities were named by him. Give the guy some credit.

But not everyone agreed. Some Facebook users argued the removal was overdue, describing the statue as a symbol of oppression tied to the colonial mission system.

Good! The atrocities far outweigh the benefits of that person, one wrote. Rebuild Native lives.

The comment threads quickly filled with humor, frustration, and cultural fault lines.

While some joked about replacing the statue with a Trump, Epstein, or Jesus monument, others accused state officials of hypocrisy and secrecy.

If California can destroy it, they will, one man wrote.

The flood of reactions captures Californias divide - between those mourning what they saw as a piece of state history, and those who view its removal as a long-overdue reckoning with its past.
Slumped in a chair in an austere wood-paneled courtroom James Comey's 6ft 8in frame looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

The irony was undoubtedly not lost on him. Once one of the nation's highest law enforcement officers, America's former 'top cop' was now in the dock.

In jails across the country felons, many of whom he personally put behind bars, must have been celebrating.

One can only imagine the delight at the White House, just across the Potomac River from the Albert V. Bryan federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia.

As he faced court for the first time as a defendant Comey, 64, adopted a stoic expression, putting his elbows on a wooden table in front of him and resting his chin on his fists.

His family sat in a wooden pew behind him. Earlier, his wife Patrice Failor had bitten her lip and looked close to tears as she lined up with the public to get into the building while protesters held 'Show Trial' signs.

Comey himself was allowed to use another entrance, evading the cameras. He had received a summons to attend court, rather than being arrested, so he escaped the ignominy of a perp walk, or being handcuffed.

Before proceedings began teams of lawyers milled about in the courtroom. Lindsey Halligan, the rising MAGA legal eagle who brought the case, stood 6ft away from Comey for several minutes, while he remained seated.

Comey appeared to studiously ignore her and look straight ahead. Halligan, a former beauty pageant queen dressed all in black, occasionally glanced in the defendant's direction with a steely stare.

Former FBI Director James Comey, standing to the left of his lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald, pleaded not guilty to two charges relating to congressional testimony

Patrice Failor, wife of former FBI director James Comey, arrives for Comey's arraignment hearing at the Albert V. Bryan United States Courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia

At 9.56am Judge Michael Nachmanoff walked briskly into Courtroom 600.

Comey, in a dark suit, stood with his hands clasped in front, towering over the nine members of the U.S. Marshals Service guarding him.

The judge read the first of the two charges he faces, telling the defendant he was accused of 'making false statements within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch of the United States Government.'

In the second count, Comey is charged with obstruction of a Congressional proceeding, the judge said.

Both relate to testimony he made to the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 30, 2020, in which he denied authorizing another person to leak details of an investigation to the press. The investigation was into Hillary Clinton's email server when she was Secretary of State.

The judge then told Comey he had the right to remain silent and anything he said could be used in evidence against him.

Comey was told that, if he could not afford a lawyer, the court would provide one.

Comey's defense argues Lindsey Halligan, the prosecutor brining the case, was unlawfully appointed

Patrice Failor, wife of former FBI Director James Comey, and her daughter Claire Comey (R) depart after the 27-minute hearing

Protesters outside court for Comey's arraignment

When the judge asked if he understood, Comey left his seat at the defendant's table and moved to the lectern from which lawyers are supposed to address the court.

Perhaps it was force of habit. Earlier in his career he spent five years as a prosecutor in the same district he is now being tried in.

Speaking clearly into the microphone, Comey told the judge: 'I do Your Honor, thank you very much.'

His lawyer Patrick Fitzgerald then stood at the lectern and told the court it was the 'honor of my life' to represent his friend.

Fitzgerald laid out four motions which he would submit in an attempt to torpedo the case.

In the first he claimed that Comey is the victim of a 'vindictive and selective' prosecution launched at the direction of President Trump. It was the only mention of the president during the hearing.

The second motion will focus on Halligan, 36, and her recent appointment as U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

She was previously a personal lawyer and adviser to President Trump. Halligan brought the case against Comey days after her appointment, and after her predecessor investigated but did not pursue it.

Fitzgerald said: 'We think it's an unlawful appointment.'

Judge Nachmanoff said a judge from outside the district would have to be found to decide the matter.

Halligan did not speak during the hearing and sat between two prosecution colleagues at a table about 10ft to Comey's right.

Comey's lawyers will claim that prosecutor Lindsey Halligan was unlawfully appointed

Comey and President Donald Trump in 2017

Comey appeared for an arraignment lasting less than 30 minutes

In other motions Comey will claim that the prosecution has 'abused' the grand jury system, and that he is the victim of 'outrageous government prosecution.'

The judge said classified documents were expected to form part of the case and issued a stern warning to the prosecution.

He said: 'I will not allow this case to be delayed because the government does not hand everything over.

'There is no way this case is going to go off the rails because of classified information.'

Comey listened intently, occasionally whispering to Fitzgerald. He did not appear to be taking notes.

When the judge said he would not 'subject you all' to a hearing during Thanksgiving week, Comey appeared to smile.

Members of DHS (Department of Homeland Security) patrol with a K9 dog outside the U.S. District Court

Supporters of Comey have accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of politicizing the Justice Department to target the president's enemies

Comey will face trial on January 5

The courthouse where Comey will be tried has previously been the scene of cases involving terrorists, killers and gang members.

One of Judge Nachmanoff's recent hearings involved sentencing an MS-13 leader over his role in six gruesome killings.

Two decades ago, in a courtroom one flight of stairs up, Nachmanoff was a public defender on the legal team of 9/11 Al Qaeda plotter Zacarias Moussaoui.

He has already been lambasted on social media by Trump, who called him a 'Crooked Joe Biden appointed Judge.'

And the president suggested the random selection of Nachmanoff to hear the case meant Comey was 'off to a very good start.'

Nachmanoff was nominated to the bench by Biden in 2021 and confirmed in a 52-46 Senate vote, with the support of only three Republicans - Lindsey Graham, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski.

He previously oversaw the arraignment of Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, two associates of Rudy Giuliani, on campaign finance charges.

During the 27-minute arraignment of Comey the judge made clear he wanted a 'speedy' trial and encouraged both sides to adhere to that.

He set a trial date for January 5 and it is expected to last two or three days.

As the judge cleared courtroom Comey was left sitting silently in his chair. He appeared to stare at a large judicial seal on the wall. Once again, he ignored Halligan.

Then, as his wife left through the front entrance in dark sunglasses he slipped silently away without being seen.
A Democratic congressman claimed that a staggering number of his GOP colleagues are ready to defy Donald Trump over the release of the Epstein files because they don't want 'to defend a pedo-protector.'

California Rep. Eric Swalwell said on Wednesday he had discussed the issue with 'a lot of House Republicans' and that their efforts to stop a vote to release the full documents are 'fading.'

'It's coming to an end guys. I've spoken to a lot of House Republicans this week and they've confided that Trump's movement/support is fading,' Swalwell wrote on X.

'As one told me, "this Epstein bomb is about to drop and no want [sic] wants to defend a pedo-protector. It's just a matter of time."'

Swalwell then claimed in a follow-up post: 'One Republican just texted me that if there's a discharge vote on Epstein they expect a "jail break" of over 100 members. Trump will go nuts!'

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie said on Sunday that he has the 218 signatures required for the vote. A discharge petition allows lawmakers to circumvent party leaders to force a vote.

Some of Swalwell's critics were quick to seize on the fact that congressman did not specify which Republicans he claimed to have spoken to and accused him of making the whole thing up.

The Daily Mail has contacted Swalwell's office for comment.

Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell said on he had discussed the release of the Epstein files with Republican colleagues and that their efforts to stop it are fading'

California Rep. Eric Swalwell posted on X Wednesday that he had 'spoken to a lot of House Republicans,' without specifying which ones

The Democrat's statement came as the government shutdown stretched into an eighth day Wednesday, with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson keeping the chamber in recess during the funding the stalemate.

The break has prevented the House from moving forward with the petition, leading Swalwell, Massie and others to accuse Johnson of stalling to avoid a vote.

Arizona Democratic Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, whose signature on the petition would tip the scales in favor of releasing the files, is waiting to be sworn into office as the recess drags on.

On Tuesday, Johnson denied that he is holding up Grijalva's swearing-in to keep her from casting the decisive vote.

'It has nothing to do with that at all,' he said. 'We will swear her in when everybody gets back.'

MAGA loyalist Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of four House Republicans to join Democrats in signing the petition, said she has never felt more heat on an issue.

'My signature is on that discharge petition, and there has not been another issue where I have ever received more pressure than that one, and I'm pretty much shocked by it,' Greene told NewsNation.

'I can't imagine  I've never understood how this is an issue.'

The Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files has left MAGA loyalists reeling in recent months

House Speaker Johnson said the ongoing government shutdown has kept him from swearing in an Arizona congresswoman-elect whose signature would tip the scales on the petition seeking to release the Epstein files

MAGA loyalist Marjorie Taylor Greene is one of four House Republicans to join Democrats in signing the petition to release the files

She added: 'I think when it comes to women being raped, especially when they were 14 years old, that's pretty black and white.'

The Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files has left some MAGA loyalists reeling in recent months.

It has exposed divisions in the movement, leading to heavy criticism of Attorney General Pam Bondi, who had teased a full release of evidence related to the disgraced financier.

In July, a memo from Justice Department and the FBI said 'no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted' in the Epstein case, months after Bondi suggested 'a client list' was sitting on her desk.
An Uber driver has been arrested today in connection to the Palisades Fires that decimated Los Angeles in January.

Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, was charged with 'maliciously' starting the catastrophic blaze that destroyed thousands of homes.

Acting US attorney Bill Essayli said: 'The complaint alleges that Rinderknecht's started a fire in Pacific Palisades on New Year's Day - a blaze that eventually turned into one of the most destructive fires in Los Angeles history, causing death and widespread destruction.

'Among the evidence that was collected from his digital devices was an image he generated on ChatGPT depicting a burning city.'

In July last year Rinderknecht asked AI to make an image showing a hellish fire scene where people were 'watching the world burn down, watching the people struggle. They are laughing, enjoying themselves, and dancing,' the complaint claimed.

Officials said they believe the Palisades Fire was a 'holdover fire' - a continuation of the Lachman Fire allegedly started by Rinderknecht.

Rinderknecht was arrested in Florida, according to officials. His first court appearance was scheduled for today at 1.30pm in Orlando.

He was charged with destruction of property by means of fire - a felony that carries a mandatory minimum five-year prison sentence and is punishable by up to 20 years.

The fire that erupted on January 7 killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,000 homes and buildings in the Pacific Palisades, a wealthy coastal neighborhood of LA.

Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, was charged with starting the Palisades Fires that decimated Los Angeles

Among the evidence that was collected from his digital devices was an image he generated on ChatGPT depicting a burning city, officials said

The fire that erupted on January 7 killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,000 homes and buildings in the Pacific Palisades, a wealthy coastal neighborhood of LA

A-listers such as Paris Hilton and Tom Hanks lost their mansions in the fires.

Rinderknecht is a former resident of the Palisades and allegedly lit the blaze with an open flame - likely a lighter - after he completed an Uber ride, per the criminal complaint.

The complaint against Rinderknecht said two of his taxi passengers on the night of December 31, 2024, said he seemed agitated and angry.

Detectives said that at about 11.28pm the same night, Rinderknecht listened to a song by French artist Josman with 'themes of despair and bitterness.' The music video for the song shows the singer lighting things on fire.

The suspect had allegedly listened to the same song nine times in four days, and watched the music video three times over the same time period.

Rinderknecht made several unsuccessful 911 calls repeatedly on January 1 after starting the fire, officials said.

Rinderknecht fled the scene of the original fire, but returned to the same trail where hed been earlier to watch it burn, Essayli said. During an interview with investigators, he lied about his location, claiming he was near the bottom of the hiking trail, Essayli said.

A still taken from footage from a UCSD camera at 12.12am EST on January 1st. Th bright spot on the upper left is the Lacklan Fire. According to police, Rinderknecht's parked car is visible down the hill on the right

Officials said they believe the Palisades Fire was a 'holdover fire' - a continuation of the Lachman Fire allegedly started by Rinderknecht

A wildfire breaks out near Pacific Palisades on the west side of Los Angeles during a weather-driven windstorm in Southern California

Authorities first interviewed Rinderknecht on January 24, according to the criminal complaint. He told them he had been in the area on January 1 and did not see anyone else in the area at that time.

The criminal indictment noted that the suspect's neck artery would pulsate and become visible whenever he was asked a question about how the fire started.

Investigators excluded other possibilities including fireworks, lightning and power lines. Authorities also looked into whether a cigarette couldve caused the fire, but concluded that was not the cause, the complaint says.

LA mayor Karen Bass, who received massive backlash for being out of town as the fires escalated, reacted to the arrest on Wednesday.

The Democrat said: 'More than nine months ago, our city faced one of the most devastating periods our region had ever seen  Our heroic firefighters fought the blaze valiantly  As we are working tirelessly to bring Angelenos home, we are also working towards closure and towards justice  and today is a step forward in that process.'

The arrest comes after an outside review released in September found that a lack of resources and outdated policies for sending emergency alerts led to delayed evacuation warnings during the deadly fires.

Firefighters run as a brush fire burns in Pacific Palisades, California

The report commissioned by Los Angeles County supervisors said a series of weaknesses, including 'outdated policies, inconsistent practices and communications vulnerabilities,' hampered the countys response.

The Associated Press found that the first evacuation order covering neighborhoods closest to the start of the devastating Pacific Palisades wildfire didnt come until about 40 minutes after some of those homes were already burning.

The wildfire, the most destructive in California history, had spread rapidly in ornamental plantings and burning homes by 11.27am on January 7, recordings of scanner traffic reveal.

So many people fled on their own, as wind-whipped flames raced over the nearby hills, that by the time officials issued the order to evacuate at 12.07pm, traffic was gridlocked.

Authorities eventually urged people to exit their cars and leave on foot, and then used a bulldozer to clear away abandoned vehicles and make way for fire crews.

Despite the timing of the order, nearly all the residents of Pacific Palisades made it to safety  a relief that some attributed to the hyper-awareness of fire danger in a region frequently scarred by it, the efforts of first responders, the initiative that many took to evacuate on their own, and the fact that the fire broke out in broad daylight, when those nearby were awake to notice it.

Paris Hilton lost her beachfront mansion in Malibu in the fires. It was not her main residence

An oceanfront Malibu home owned by the socialite 'burned to a crisp.' Pictured before the fires

The time lag is one of several issues that may have complicated the fire response. With the severe winds preventing aerial firefighting, water hydrants ran dry amid unprecedented demand.

A reservoir near Pacific Palisades was empty because it needed repairs. Top Los Angeles Fire Department commanders decided not to deploy roughly 1,000 available firefighters and dozens of water-carrying engines in advance, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Oxford is still the best university in the world despite the worst performance in a decade from the UK overall, according to new rankings.

This years Times Higher Education (THE) league tables found that while some of our universities are still world-leading, there are clear warning signs of UK decline.

It comes amid a financial crisis in the sector, caused by rising costs and a reduction in the number of international students following changes to visa rules.

Experts said it represented a shift in the balance of power from Western universities to the rising stars of the East as part of a new world order.

Yesterday, Professor Irene Tracey, Oxfords vice chancellor, said she was honoured to get first place but warned of a time of real strain for UK higher education.

She added: Sustaining a dynamic and globally competitive sector requires renewed investment and support, so that universities can continue to drive discovery, opportunity and economic growth for future generations.

The respected rankings, which have been running for 21 years, placed 49 UK universities in its top 500.

This is the first time since 2016 that the UK has featured fewer than 50 times.

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The UK is now the joint fourth most represented country in the rankings, down from joint third last year, and lagging behind the USA, India and Japan.

A total of 28 UK universities lost ground in the ranking, more than double the 13 that made improvements, while 64 retained their positions.

The UK did well in some areas, but saw a fall in scores for research strength, and the student-staff ratio grew from 16.8 to 20.5 students per teacher.

Phil Baty of THE said: There are clear warning signals of serious decline for the UKs jewel in the crown university sector, as the full extent of the sectors financial crisis kicks in with mass redundancies and course closures.

This years rankings highlight a dramatic and accelerating trend  the shift in the balance of power in research and higher education excellence from the long-established, dominant institutions of the West to rising stars of the East.

We appear to be shifting towards a new world order and a new, Eastern centre of gravity for new knowledge creation and innovation, and the UK must act to support its university sector if it is not to miss out.

Times Higher Education's top universities in the UK for 2026 UK Rank 2026 WUR Rank 2026 University Overall Teaching Research Environment Research Quality Industry International Outlook 1 1 University of Oxford 98.2 97.2 100 97.7 99.9 96.4 2 3 University of Cambridge 97.2 96.2 99.9 97.1 87.6 96.3 3 8 Imperial College London 94.7 90.6 94.9 98 91.9 98.2 4 22 UCL 87.5 77.8 85.9 97.6 74.7 97.5 5 29 University of Edinburgh 82.5 75.7 74.7 94.8 71 96.2 6 38 King's College London 78.7 64.2 72.1 95.5 72.3 96.9 7 52 London School of Economics and Political Science 75.4 60.5 71.2 93.4 46.8 94.2 8 56 University of Manchester 74.9 61.2 65.9 92.4 74 94.5 9 80 University of Bristol 69.7 51.4 56.5 94.4 74.6 91.8 10 84 University of Glasgow 68.9 50.6 52.2 95.9 73.2 95.5 11 98 University of Birmingham 66.3 47.7 48.4 93.7 74.2 94.3 12 108 University of Sheffield 65.4 49.7 49.1 88.3 79.4 90.4 13 118 University of Leeds 64.9 48.3 50.3 87.2 71.6 93.6 14 122 University of Warwick 64.1 48.1 49.3 85.6 69.4 95.6 15 129 University of Southampton 63.4 44.6 45.4 89.6 73.1 96.1 16 134 Queen Mary University of London 62.9 38.7 42.6 95.7 76.5 97.5 17 143 University of Liverpool 62.2 43.5 42 91.2 68 95 18 144 Newcastle University 62.1 39.8 43.2 93 80 89.5 19 145 University of Nottingham 62 45.8 43.3 87.3 72.1 91.8 20 154 University of York 61.5 44.1 43.9 87.5 67.6 90.6 21 162 University of St Andrews 60.9 50.6 43.3 78.2 71.9 94.4 22 170 University of Exeter 60.6 36.6 42.1 94 59.1 93.4 23 175 Durham University 60.3 45.2 44.9 81 62.8 94.6 24 184 Lancaster University 59.7 40.9 40.8 86.7 67.2 95.1 25 192 University of Leicester 59.2 35.4 34.9 95.9 69 94.8 26 198 Queen's University Belfast 58.8 34.7 38.4 90.8 70 98.3 27 201-250 Cardiff University 56.4-58.6 35.9 39.1 86 70.3 88.4 27 201-250 University of Aberdeen 56.4-58.6 38 34.8 82.3 79.6 96.4 27 201-250 University of Reading 56.4-58.6 41.7 38.1 85.2 66.9 94.2 27 201-250 University of Surrey 56.4-58.6 36.3 34.4 89.5 71.6 96 27 201-250 University of Sussex 56.4-58.6 34.3 36 88.9 64.8 94.8 32 251-300 University of Bath 54.3-56.3 39.8 35.1 81 67.1 93.2 32 251-300 University of East Anglia 54.3-56.3 34.7 30.2 89.1 62 87.3 34 301-350 Birkbeck, University of London 51.6-54.2 34.2 32.2 76 65.5 91.6 34 301-350 Loughborough University 51.6-54.2 34.8 32.9 76.1 70.2 89.4 34 301-350 Swansea University 51.6-54.2 30.8 30.6 87.4 58.3 88.6 34 301-350 University of Dundee 51.6-54.2 28.5 32.6 82.1 87 91.7 34 301-350 University of Essex 51.6-54.2 30.1 30.2 81 61.2 97.3 39 351-400 City St George's, University of London 49.9-51.5 23.6 24.8 91.8 65 95.6 39 351-400 University of Strathclyde 49.9-51.5 37 35.2 66.4 79.7 90.5 41 401-500 Aston University 46.2-49.8 21.7 26.2 83.6 64.6 95.7 41 401-500 Bournemouth University 46.2-49.8 18.8 21.7 89.3 46.4 89.2 41 401-500 Brunel University of London 46.2-49.8 24 26.6 81.8 64.9 98.1 41 401-500 Heriot-Watt University 46.2-49.8 33.4 30.3 58.8 70.3 95.5 41 401-500 Northumbria University 46.2-49.8 23.6 25.5 80.5 47.8 91.4 41 401-500 Royal Holloway, University of London 46.2-49.8 32.3 28.9 72.2 65.1 92.5 41 401-500 SOAS University of London 46.2-49.8 38.7 34.7 59.9 38.9 79.9 41 401-500 University of Kent 46.2-49.8 29.5 28.4 73.2 64.4 92.6 41 401-500 University of Portsmouth 46.2-49.8 22 20.1 88.7 51.1 94.5 50 501-600 Bangor University 43.6-46.1 28.3 26 70.3 63.2 87.1 50 501-600 Goldsmiths, University of London 43.6-46.1 28.2 23.5 71.2 48.8 80.8 50 501-600 Keele University 43.6-46.1 23.5 22.6 75.5 63.8 82.3 50 501-600 Liverpool John Moores University 43.6-46.1 19.7 19.7 83.8 51.2 79.9 50 501-600 Middlesex University 43.6-46.1 22.4 18.7 76.1 45.3 92.5 50 501-600 Royal Veterinary College 43.6-46.1 31.9 21.5 66.2 64.4 93 50 501-600 University of Bradford 43.6-46.1 21.4 21.4 76.1 58.5 93.3 50 501-600 University of Huddersfield 43.6-46.1 25.6 23.9 73.9 51.3 89.3 50 501-600 University of Hull 43.6-46.1 27.3 23.8 72.9 57.5 87.8 50 501-600 University of Plymouth 43.6-46.1 23 21.2 77.9 65.8 82.2 50 501-600 University of Stirling 43.6-46.1 24.4 26.3 74.6 45.6 91.1 61 601-800 Aberystwyth University 39.0-43.5 26.9 22.2 61.9 62.1 83.1 61 601-800 Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) 39.0-43.5 18.5 14.6 83.6 34.1 91 61 601-800 Coventry University 39.0-43.5 21.6 15.1 73.5 44.9 94.4 61 601-800 De Montfort University 39.0-43.5 17.7 16.4 70.5 50.4 92.9 61 601-800 Edinburgh Napier University 39.0-43.5 17.5 19.7 75.3 41.2 90.3 61 601-800 London Metropolitan University 39.0-43.5 16.6 14.4 76.6 30.2 91.3 61 601-800 London South Bank University 39.0-43.5 18.5 13 75.6 48.1 95.9 61 601-800 Manchester Metropolitan University 39.0-43.5 20.8 19.5 78.3 42.7 83 61 601-800 Nottingham Trent University 39.0-43.5 20.8 14.1 83.3 38.1 89.1 61 601-800 SRUC (Scotland's Rural College) 39.0-43.5 25.2 14.9 75.4 28 65.4 61 601-800 Teesside University 39.0-43.5 20.6 14.3 72.9 29.8 87.9 61 601-800 Ulster University 39.0-43.5 22.8 22.8 65.7 54.3 95 61 601-800 University of Brighton 39.0-43.5 19.9 19.3 63.4 64.9 84.7 61 601-800 University of Derby 39.0-43.5 19 14.1 74 34.6 80.2 61 601-800 University of Greenwich 39.0-43.5 17.6 16.5 81.6 39.1 97.1 61 601-800 University of Hertfordshire 39.0-43.5 18.2 13.2 76.5 44.8 92.1 61 601-800 University of Lincoln 39.0-43.5 20.5 18.5 77.2 34.1 86.9 61 601-800 University of the West of Scotland 39.0-43.5 19.5 15.5 69.7 66.1 91 61 601-800 UWE Bristol (University of the West of England) 39.0-43.5 18.8 14.6 73.3 59.2 81.2 80 801-1000 Birmingham City University 35.5-38.9 17.9 13.4 65.5 25.2 86.3 80 801-1000 Glasgow Caledonian University 35.5-38.9 17.8 15.2 63.7 48.7 83.5 80 801-1000 Kingston University 35.5-38.9 20.4 15.4 54.6 48.3 90.9 80 801-1000 Leeds Beckett University 35.5-38.9 19.2 15.9 69.2 48 74.9 80 801-1000 Oxford Brookes University 35.5-38.9 26.9 23.1 53.9 30.6 88.1 80 801-1000 Robert Gordon University 35.5-38.9 17.3 13.9 69.9 39.2 90.1 80 801-1000 Sheffield Hallam University 35.5-38.9 18 14.1 65.5 34.9 73.2 80 801-1000 The Open University 35.5-38.9 17.8 14.3 67 48 61.5 80 801-1000 University of Roehampton 35.5-38.9 18.9 22.8 55 27.6 88.2 80 801-1000 University of Salford 35.5-38.9 19 14.8 64.9 57 84.8 80 801-1000 University of Westminster 35.5-38.9 19 16.5 63.1 48.7 85.4 80 801-1000 University of Wolverhampton 35.5-38.9 20.3 15.6 59.3 47.3 78.8 92 1001-1200 Cardiff Metropolitan University 32.1-35.4 20.7 14.4 51.3 26.8 86.8 92 1001-1200 Edge Hill University 32.1-35.4 18.5 14.2 62.2 30.7 58.7 92 1001-1200 University of Bedfordshire 32.1-35.4 18.1 14 55.3 32.9 86.7 92 1001-1200 University of East London 32.1-35.4 23.6 15.3 49.5 32.2 87.5 92 1001-1200 University of Gloucestershire 32.1-35.4 18.5 14.2 58.7 27.1 72.2 92 1001-1200 University of Lancashire 32.1-35.4 18.7 13.4 57.2 38.7 82.6 92 1001-1200 York St John University 32.1-35.4 17.3 15.4 60.1 16 66.1 99 1201-1500 Canterbury Christ Church University 27.3-32.0 18 13.5 46.3 19 74.1 99 1201-1500 University of South Wales 27.3-32.0 18.2 11.7 35.7 52.3 78.6 99 1201-1500 University of Staffordshire 27.3-32.0 16.3 12.3 48 23.8 73.4 99 1201-1500 University of West London 27.3-32.0 15.4 10.5 53.3 20.7 90 99 1201-1500 University of Winchester 27.3-32.0 19 15.4 45.4 18 61.2 104 1501+ Liverpool Hope University 10.3-27.2 19.5 16.8 30.2 19 77.2 104 1501+ University of Chester 10.3-27.2 19.8 12.9 31 27.9 69.8 104 1501+ University of Northampton 10.3-27.2 16.1 11 40.4 18.7 80.3 104 1501+ University of Sunderland 10.3-27.2 19.3 9.6 34.6 33.7 72 104 1501+ University of the Arts London 10.3-27.2 23.9 11.8 25.4 19.3 74.1 104 1501+ University of Worcester 10.3-27.2 17.1 12 37.9 23.6 59.2

Of the top performers, Oxford was placed number one for the 10th consecutive year, due to its research and teaching excellence.

Meanwhile, Cambridge rose to third position and Imperial College London has rose to eighth position.

The UK had 11 universities in the global top 100, including University College London, Edinburgh and Kings College London.

However, other top universities suffered losses, with London School of Economics (LSE) suffering its worst ever performance by dropping from joint 50th to 52nd place.

Warwick also had its worst year on record, dropping to 122nd from 106.

Mr Baty said that while UK universities were losing ground, East Asian nations, led by China, continue to thrive and surge up the table.

Universities in China took 12th and 13th, the National University of Singapore came in 17th, and the University of Tokyo rose up two places to 26th.

The rankings are built on analysis of almost 19 million research papers, 1.5 million votes in a survey and data on more than 30,000 universities.

Oxford (pictured) is still the best university in the world despite the worst performance in a decade from the UK overall, according to new rankings

They include factors such as teaching reputation, research reputation and strength, and institutional, research and industry income.

Last month, the Sunday Times, which uses different metrics for its league tables, ranked the LSE as top and Oxbridge slipped out of the top three for the first time.

A Universities UK spokesman said: The UKs universities are world leading, and continue to punch above their weight in global league tables and research partnerships.

But other governments around the world are making the decision to invest in their universities while funding in the UK has decreased in real terms.

With a commitment from Government to a long-term and lasting funding settlement, this slight downturn can be reversed.

For more rankings information, visit the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 website
Gisele Pelicot, the Frenchwoman who became a feminist hero in a mass rape trial last year, has told a court that she is trying to rebuild her life 'from the ruins'.

The 72-year-old's former husband, Dominique Pelicot, last year admitted to drugging her with sedatives and inviting dozens of strangers to rape and abuse her over nearly a decade in a case that shocked the world.

A court in southern France handed her ex-husband, also 72, the maximum term of 20 years in jail. He and 49 other men convicted in the case are not appealing their sentences.

But one man, 44-year-old Husamettin Dogan, has maintained his innocence, arguing that he, too, is a victim of Dominique Pelicot.

As a result, she has been forced back into court despite saying she hoped to never step foot in one again.

Gisele, who has been greeted with applause at each of her arrivals in court since the trial opened on Monday, said: 'The damage has been done, and I will have to rebuild myself from the ruins.

'I am well on my way.'

Dogan was sentenced to nine years in prison for rape at the original trial. He now risks a maximum of 20 years in jail.

The 44-year-old argued he was not a 'rapist' and insists he thought he was participating in a libertine couple's sexual game on June 28, 2019.

Gisele Pelicot (pictured), the Frenchwoman who became a feminist hero in a mass rape trial last year, has told a court that she is trying to rebuild her life 'from the ruins'

Both investigators and Pelicot himself have taken his arguments apart.

A total of 107 photos and 14 videos from the night Dogan visited the couple's home in the southern town of Mazan were found on a hard drive belonging to Pelicot.

Some of that footage, which shows Dogan penetrating an inert Gisele and also trying to force her to perform oral sex on him, was shown to the court on Wednesday.

Despite the video evidence, Dogan defended himself, saying he 'never raped anyone'. He tried to shift the blame onto Gisele's former husband, saying he felt 'trapped'.

'I wanted to stop,' Dogan said, adding: 'I continued because he reassured me. He's the manipulator, not me.'

A furious Gisele told him that he needs to 'take responsibility' for his actions.

Gisele, who famously argued that it should be the perpetrators of sexual violence, not the victims, who should be ashamed, rejected his argument outright.

'You are in no way a victim of Mr. Pelicot. Take responsibility for your actions. I am ashamed of you,' she said in court in the city of Nimes on the third day of the appeal trial.

Husamettin Dogan (pictured), who has arthritis and appeared at the first trial using a walking stick, is technically still a free man as his appeal has put his prison sentence on hold

Gisele, the victim of a mass rape orchestrated by her then-husband Dominique Pelicot at their home in the southern French town of Mazan, arrives with her son Florian Pelicot (right)

'I am the only victim,' she said.

'At what moment did I give you my consent?' Gisele added. 'Never.'

Since the first trial, she has become an icon in the fight against sexual violence, and her case has set in motion a change to France's rape legislation.

But speaking in court, Gisele pushed back against being called a symbol.

'Stop saying I'm an icon. I'm an ordinary woman who has lifted the veil of secrecy,' she said.

She reiterated that she hoped that sharing her story would help other victims feel less ashamed.

'If one morning these women wake up and don't remember, they will think of me,' she said, adding that Dogan 'will be a rapist for life,' she added.

On Tuesday, lead investigator Jeremie Bosse-Platiere attacked Dogan's arguments, citing the graphic video footage.

He said that he had remained at the scene for 'at least three hours and 24 minutes', according to the video timeline.

Gisele is 'astounded by Dogan's 'continued denial, despite the material evidence', one of her lawyers, Antoine Camus, told AFP.

The verdict is expected on Thursday.
Stephen Lawrence's mother has said the 'violent racist' who murdered her son 'has not changed' as he makes a bid to be released from prison.

David Norris, 49, one of two men convicted of Stephen's racist murder, was jailed for life in January 2012 with a minimum term of 14 years and three months, which expired in December 2024.

Yesterday and today, a parole hearing has taken place in public, with another day scheduled to take place in private on Friday.

During the parole hearing, Norris was repeatedly asked who he was with on the night of the murder in 1993, but refused to name others involved, claiming he feared for his family's safety.

Yesterday, he also admitted to punching Stephen 'two or three times' after the teenager dropped to his knees in the street during the racist attack, saying he was 'disgusted by his role in the murder'.

But his own offender manager told the panel it was possible he was only now expressing remorse to secure his freedom.

Now, Mr Lawrence's mother, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, has spoken about how 'incredibly painful' it has been for her to hear son's killer make a bid to be released from prison.

Following today's hearing, she said Norris remains a 'danger to the public' and is 'still a violent racist' who has 'not changed'.

Stephen Lawrence (pictured) was murdered by a racist gang while running for the bus home

David Norris (pictured) told the hearing yesterday that he and his family would be 'at risk' if he divulged details about the others involved in Stephen's murder

'It has been incredibly painful for me listening to this person's application to be released from prison,' she said.

'He is a racist, who with others, murdered my son Stephen. I will not name him.

'It was vital that this hearing took place in public so that everyone could see and hear what was said by him and about him.

'He says he's sorry for the pain he caused me and my family. I don't believe him. The only person he is sorry for is himself. As far I am concerned he is a coward.

'He refused to show his face. He needs to look me in the eye and tell me exactly what he did and why he did it.

'Whilst the parole board will now have to make its decision, having listened over two days, the evidence to me is crystal clear. He is not safe to be released.

'He is a danger to the public and a danger to people like me. He was a violent racist and is still a violent racist. He has not changed.'

She added: 'He was and remains a liar. Only if he tells the full truth can anyone, including me, start to think he is truly sorry.

'If he was truly sorry he would tell us the whole truth and I was hoping and believing that might happen over the last two days.

'It has added to the pain and hurt that I still feel that he has not done so. This man only feels sorry for himself and he is just saying thinks he thinks could get him released.

'It is deeply shocking the police and authorities have known for years that he now accepts being part of the attack on my son.'

She also urgently called for the Met Police to investigate her son's death in the hopes of finding others involved in Stephen's murder.

'This person can name the other killers and says he would love to do so. The police must do everything in their power to obtain that evidence and bring all of Stephen's murderers to justice.

'This man owes me the truth and The Met owe me justice. The Police now have no excuse not to act.'

Neville Lawrence, Stephen's father has also urged the board to deny Norris his freedom.

Baroness Doreen Lawrence, the mother of Stephen Lawrence, arrived with lawyer Imran Khan at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London yesterday where the hearing is being video streamed

Neville Lawrence (pictured), the father of Stephen Lawrence, previously said the other racist gang members who murdered his son should be named before Norris is considered for parole

'He says he hasn't been able to name the people who were with him when he killed my son because he and his tell us family would be in danger. Well, good luck to him!

'That's not a good enough reason,' he said: 'He is talking about their lives, but what about my son's life and the lives of me and my family?

'Whether or not he has been threatened is nothing to do with me. He's the one who murdered Stephen.

'He deserves everything that is coming his way as a consequence of that. I couldn't care less whether or not he has been threatened.

'I'm waiting for him to give those names and until then he should stay where he is.'

Mr Lawrence also accused Norris of lying when he claimed not to have known that a gang member was armed with a knife, and that he only punched Stephen and did not see the fatal stabbing.

He said their habitual possession and use of knives was clear from the infamous police video filmed covertly when they were under investigation.

He, too, called on the police to reopen the murder investigation drawing on what little information Norris has reluctantly disclosed over the past two days.

It comes after a prison psychologist told a parole hearing that he found Norris was an 'unreliable narrator of his own life'.

Giving evidence to the hearing on Wednesday, the psychologist said: 'Hearing the evidence it was quite confusing, as to sometimes admitting something, sometimes going back on that, being confused around dates.'

The psychologist added: 'I think sometimes he has good memory, good detail for certain things, other times less so... He's obviously very careful about what he wants to admit to.'

The psychologist told the panel he had spent around nine hours with Norris spread over five meetings to assess him.

The hearings took place in prison, but were video streamed to a room in the Royal Courts of Justice where the public and media are able to follow proceedings.

Among those watching the hearing was Baroness Doreen Lawrence, while his father Neville observed from overseas.

Norris, wearing a grey long-sleeved top and using a hearing loop, was only visible from behind.

The 49-year-old has been in the current prison he resides for around two years and works preparing and distributing food in the prison servery, the hearing was told.

A prison key worker said he had come to the unit wanting to work on 'reactions and perceptions of rudeness towards him'.

The prison psychologist also said Norris has a lack of racial awareness and is more likely to use racist language during times of mental ill health or frustration.

On Tuesday, it was heard Norris had clashed with Muslim prisoners, which included claims he had thrown faeces and used derogatory terms, which he denies.

While he has since made progress and mixes with other prisoners from varied backgrounds, the psychologist said he would not recommend release.

The psychologist advised Norris should instead be transferred to a lower security category C prison.

Ahead of questioning on Tuesday, Norris read a statement where he wished to ''express my genuine remorse for the death of the victim in my case'.

Speaking publicly for the first time since admitting his role in the killing, he said: 'I will go to my grave with that guilt in my heart'.

He later added: 'The events of that night 32 years ago should never have happened.'

The prison psychologist also suggested yesterday that Stephen may have been killed as part of a gang initiation.

The stabbing of the innocent black teenager, in April 1993, bore similarities to the knifing of a white boy in the same area of South-East London a month earlier, the expert said.

It was believed that both attacks were carried out by the same group of youths and 'there are some suggestions that it was part of an initiation for the gang.'

In assessing Norris's case, Parole Board member Dr Duncan Harding said the panel had considered a weighty dossier on Norris which included his other alleged offences.

In one case he was charged with the attempted murder of the white boy, but he was acquitted  allegedly after his gangster father Clifford Norris bribed the victim into changing his evidence.

Dr Harding acknowledged Norris's acquittal but asked the psychologist whether he saw 'any parallels' between the two attacks.

'Yes, I think there werein terms of targeting someone, there being some kind of verbal dispute maybe, and their being stabbed,' the unnamed psychologist replied.

'I touched on this in my report and I spoke to Mr Norris about it. There are some suggestions that it was part of an initiation for the gang.

'Mr Norris denies that. It may be the case that the previous allegation (the attack on the white youth) was also about it. It may be that that was what the (attack on Stephen) was about.'

He added that this theory was 'highly speculative.'

Dr Harding said he was aware Norris had been found not guilty of the first attack, and had 'heard this loud and clear'.

However, it had been mentioned in the McPherson Report  the landmark inquiry into the Lawrence case  and he felt it could 'potentially give some understanding for the possible motive' for Stephen's murder  'that it could potentially have been some kind of initiation.'

Norris has admitted to being 'a horrible, violent, racist kid' but insists he no longer holds those views.

'He claims reports that he has used the 'N' word and other racist slurs in prison in recent years, and groomed a young prisoner in bigoted ideology, have been fabricated by prison staff to smear him.

But his psychologist says it was 'likely' that he used racist language. Norris had been transferred between several prisons, he said, and it was implausible that staff in all these institutions had been dishonest.

The psychologist also told the panel he believes Norris, who is in a specialist prison unit, has expressed genuine remorse for the murder.

'I'm not overly sceptical of it. Some of the remorse has been expressed nowhere near a parole hearing and so can't solely be accounted for by that,' he said.

Norris broke prison rules to get two mobile phones while behind bars, and messaged family and friends about when he would be released, it was also heard.

The psychologist said someone can still feel remorse but 'lapse' in certain situations.

An independent psychologist instructed for Norris then told the hearing that she believes he could be released from jail, or if he remains in prison should be moved to a lower category and lower security prison.

Norris was moved back up to category B after he was caught with mobile phones and a screwdriver against prison rules.
A senior police officer has warned that there are many young men viewing similar material to the Southport attacker and said he fears there could be another attack.

Alice Aguiar, nine, Bebe King, six, and Elsie Stancombe, seven, were stabbed to death at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29 last year by Rudakubana, then aged 17.

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Winstanley of Lancashire police told the inquiry into the killings: 'Sadly, there are other children out there with similar interests and behaviours that Axel Rudakubana displayed.'

The officer said there was a 'real challenge in managing children's mental health' and children's mental health services, were 'working extremely hard, doing their best, but are overburdened'.

He warned of a group of children who have 'got what appears to be completely unregulated access to the internet, where at the click of a button, they can see the most horrific and horrendous incidents'.

'They can go online and purchase things, which, frankly, I see no legitimate purpose for - crossbows and machetes,' the officer added.

'Barely a day goes by where we look at our morning summaries and there hasn't been an incident the day before where somebody has either been attacked or threatened with a machete.

'There is no other purpose for these weapons, other than to intimidate, enforce violence or deliver violence on people.'

Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, were all murdered in the atrocity on July 29, 2024

Axel Rudakubana, 18, was jailed for 52 years for the murders of Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine, at Liverpool Crown Court in January

Chairman Sir Adrian Fulford is overseeing the inquiry at Liverpool Town Hall

The officer told the inquiry: 'It is far too easy for our young people, particularly those who are suffering with their mental health, to be influenced and to see this material, and to then get access to weapons that allow them to carry out, on occasion, atrocities, the like of which I hope we never see again, but I fear that we will.

'I accept completely that Lancashire constabulary and policing has a significant role in this and we need to improve but these are things that as a society, there needs to be systemic change around if we're going to make a difference.'

The inquiry has heard that two years before the Southport attacks, on March 17 2022 Rudakubana was reported missing from home by his mother who told police that he was severely autistic and had taken a knife from the kitchen.

They found him after a bus driver called police because he had got on a bus and refused to pay. When the officers spoke to him he admitted that he was carrying a small kitchen knife, the inquiry heard.

However, Rudakubana was treated as a vulnerable person, taken home by police and a referral for social services and mental health support under a process called 'protecting vulnerable persons' (PVP).

A probationary officer at the time recorded that on the way back to his home in the police car, Rudakubana told the officers 'I want to stab someone' but said he did not have access to information about concerns that Rudakubana was viewing material about high school massacres.

A knife identical to the one used in the attack at The Hart Space dance studio, on July 29 last year

One of the machetes that was found at Rudakubana's home address by police

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Nicholas Moss KC, for the inquiry, said: 'The fact that officers on the ground didn't have that full picture, but it would have led to an arrest and search if they had had that full picture, must mean that this was a very serious missed opportunity to identify and address the risks posed by Axel Rudakubana.'

Winstanley agreed but added that at the time they considered custody as 'being a place of last resort for children.'

On March 14 2023, Presfield School, a specialist school that dealt with autism, called to request a welfare check, saying they had not seen him for ten months.

The police refused to attend under a process called 'right care right person' saying it was not an emergency and child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) were better positioned to deal with the case.

Mr Moss said there was 'significant non-attendance' of Rudakuana at school and they could not get to see him, CAMHS had difficulty engaging and he was not always keen to see the mental health services.

'It's not really proper multi-agency working at all, is it?' he said.

The inquiry continues.
The runaway thief who was stopped by the actor who played PC Reg Hollis in The Bill has today been jailed.

Actor Jeff Stewart foiled shoplifter Mohamed Diallo's attempts to escape on July 23 when he sat on his legs after the criminal fell from his bike in Southampton, Hampshire.

Diallo, 29, had raided 314 worth of coffee and alcohol from convenience stores and supermarkets in the city during a theft spree between May and July this year.

He was today jailed for 20 weeks after being convicted of seven offences of theft.

At Southampton Magistrates' Court, prosecutor Adam Doyle said that Diallo of Anglesea Road, Southampton, had 13 previous convictions for a total of 48 offences including 41 of theft.

Barry Keel, defending, said that Diallo had been receiving treatment for alcohol and drug addiction while on remand for the offences and added that he hoped to 'break the cycle' of re-offending.

Sentencing Diallo, magistrate Alan Foster called him 'a persistent thief with a record that is unenviable'.

'Whatever help we have tried to give you since you have been sentenced before and currently, you have turned it down and you have carried on stealing from shops to allow your habit of hard drugs to continue,' he said.

The Bill actor Jeff Stewart (pictured) was seen on police bodycam footage helping officers capture shoplifter Mohamed Diallo

Diallo (pictured) - from Southampton - raided 314 worth of coffee and alcohol from convenience stores and supermarkets in the city during a theft spree between May and July this year

'We can find nothing that shows remorse on your part, you keep falling back into your way of life when even offered many opportunities that others take.

'(You are a) persistent offender over a period of time, you do not engage with services offered, you continue to be a blight on small local shopkeepers.

'As such you pass the custodial threshold.'

Mr Stewart, who starred in more than 900 episodes of the hit ITV drama from its inception in 1984 until he left in 2008, sprinted across to assist police with the shoplifter, helping to sit on his legs as officers arrest him.

As an officer turns to the Scottish actor to thank him, Mr Stewart, 69, is heard saying in response: 'Well, I was in The Bill for 24 years'.

Following the arrest in July, a Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: 'In policing you should always expect the unexpected, but this really wasn't on The Bill for this week.

'Officers making an arrest in Southampton were aided by none other than TV's Pc Reg Hollis during an incident on Wednesday July 23.

While Diallo initially manages to get on his bike, he eventually falls off, with officers quickly tackling him to the ground in a car park as he desperately tried to escape their grip

Mr Stewart starred in more than 900 episodes of the hit ITV drama from its inception in 1984 until he left in 2008

'The officers, from Bargate Neighbourhoods Policing Team, were in the city in the afternoon when they were alerted by staff at Co-op in Ocean Way to a suspected shoplifter, who attempted to make good his escape on a bicycle.

'The thief, 29-year-old Mohamed Diallo, fell off the bike during his attempts to flee, before officers pounced to make their arrest.

'To their surprise, local TV legend Jeff Stewart, who played Pc Hollis for 24 years in The Bill, came to their aid by sitting on the suspect's legs while officers put him in cuffs.

'Long since retired from Sun Hill station - but he's still got it.'
Two extremists inspired by Islamic State bought assault rifles, handguns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition as they prepared for a suicide attack on the Jewish community in Manchester, a court has heard

Walid Saadaoui, 38, from Abram, near Wigan, was arrested by police in a car park in Bolton as he took delivery of the weapons, following an undercover sting operation.

Before the trial started, Mr Justice Wall told the jury: 'The case is centred on an alleged plot to kill Jewish people in Manchester.

'We are trying that against the background what happened in Manchester last week. It's coincidental, it is no part of the prosecution's case that any of these defendants had anything to do with what happened at the synagogue in Manchester last week.

'You must try them fairly without reference or thought as to what happened there. It is for the purposes of this trial irrelevant.'

The jury at Preston Crown Court was played police bodyworn footage that showed Saadaoui running from officers as they approached to arrest him on May 8 last year.

He is accused with Amar Hussein, 52, of preparing a terrorist attack by making plans for an attack, conducting reconnaissance, and arranging the purchase and delivery of firearms.

Harpreet Sandhu KC, prosecuting, told the jury: 'The firearms and ammunition Walid Saadaoui was about to receive were capable of causing untold harm.

'Untold harm was precisely what Walid Saadaoui had planned to cause together with Amar Hussein.'

As soon as Hussein's name was mentioned, he shouted across the court: 'Don't talk s***, how many babies, how many children? Don't talk s***, we defend ourselves.'

The court rose and the judge, Mr Justice Wall later told the jury: 'I am sorry about that, members of the jury.

'Mr Hussein has decided he does not want to be in court for the rest of the opening.'

When proceedings resumed, Mr Sandhu told the court that Walid Saadaoui was about to receive the firearms and ammunition because he and Hussein were planning to cause 'mass fatalities'.

'In particular, they planned to kill as many members of the Jewish community as they could, especially those in North West of England,' the barrister said.

Court artist drawing of (left to right) Walid Saadaoui, Bilel Saadaoui and Amar Hussein appearing at Preston Crown Court today

'Their plan was to get the weapons and ammunition and identify a mass gathering of Jewish people whom they could attack.'

They had identified areas in Greater Manchester with a large Jewish population to attack and also intended to kill any police officers who got in their way, he said.

Hussein had images showing the outside and inside of the Manchester Jewish Museum on his phone, saved on July 18, 2022, and also had images of firearms.

Both men were Islamic extremists who embraced the views of the so-called Islamic State and were prepared to risk their own lives to become 'martyrs', the prosecution said.

'By May 2024, they had spent months preparing for their acts of terrorism. That included preparing themselves for their own deaths,' Mr Sandhu said.

The two men face trial alongside Saadaoui's younger brother, Bilel, 36, from Hindley near Wigan. He has been charged with failure to disclose information about an act of terrorism.

Bilel Saadaoui was said to sympathise with the views of the Islamic State and received a copy of a will prepared by his brother and tens of thousands of pounds in cash to provide for his brother's family.

Police were able to catch Walid Saadaoui 'red-handed' because the two men believed that they were planning their terrorist attacks with a third man called Farouk, who wanted to kill hundreds of innocent people just as they did, Mr Sandhu said.

'What they did not know, however, was that Farouk was an undercover operative,' he added.

'Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein's plans were laid bare through their communication with Farouk and, as a result, the police were able to stop those plans from becoming a tragic reality.'

Bilel Saadaoui is pictured today outside Preston Crown Court where he is on trial for terrorism offences

Mr Sandhu described how Walid Saadaoui was standing by the open boot of car in a hotel car park in Boltonwhen he was approached by the officers.

In the car were two assault rifles, a semi-automatic pistol and almost 200 rounds of ammunition.

Saadaoui had arranged and paid for the firearms and ammunition to be smuggled into the country and delivered to him and was waiting for a further two assault rifles, another pistol and more ammunition to be smuggled into the country.

He would have had a total of six firearms and his plan was to have at least 900 rounds of ammunition, the prosecutor said.

'Those firearms are fierce weapons. The assault rifles are capable of firing several hundred rounds of ammunition per minute.

'They were the type of firearms used in many terrorist attacks, including attacks in Paris in 2015 when approximately 130 people were killed and hundreds of people were injured.'

In one message, Bilel Saadaoui sent Amar Hussein a link to a report that 25 Jewish people had been killed and 150 others injured when a bridge collapsed during celebrations of Hannukah and Hussein replied: 'Allah istruly vigilant over them'.

Mr Sandhu said that was 'not a message sent in sympathy but a message that gloried in the death of Jewish people.'

'Amar Hussein and Walid Saadaoui planned to kill Jewish people because they held a visceral dislike for them. The response from Amar Hussein we have just read shows how deep-rooted and long-standing that dislike was,' he added.

The trial continues.
The alleged arsonist accused of starting the deadly Palisades Fire demonstrated an obsession with fires in the months and days leading up to the devastating inferno, court documents have revealed.

Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, was charged Wednesday with 'maliciously' starting the Lachman Fire on January 1, which ignited the Palisades Fire just six days later.

The catastrophic Palisades blaze, the most destructive fire in Los Angeles history, killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,000 homes and buildings.

Rinderknecht intentionally lit the Lachman Fire, likely by a lighter taken to vegetation or paper, investigators alleged in a criminal complaint.

A review of the suspected arsonist's digital footprint revealed months of fire-centric content and ChatGPT searches.

Rinderknecht asked the AI in July 2024 to make an image showing a hellish scene depicting a burning city, the complaint claimed.

A month later, he told the chatbot and a family member how he 'literally burnt the Bible', which made him feel 'amazing' and 'liberated', according to the court filing.

But the eeriest discovery was that Rinderknecht allegedly listened to a song by French artist Josman about 'despair and bitterness' on the night of the blaze. The accompanying music video depicted Josman lighting fires.

Alleged arsonist Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, (pictured) was charged Wednesday with 'maliciously' starting a fire on January 1, which later ignited the Palisades Fire

Among the evidence that was collected from his digital devices was an image Rinderknecht generated on ChatGPT (pictured) depicting a burning city, a criminal complaint said

Rinderknecht, who was working as an Uber driver, listened to Josman's song Un Zder, Un The at about 11.28pm on December 31, 2024, the complaint stated.

The song features 'themes of despair and bitterness' and a lyric that seems to celebrate setting fires. The lyric translates in English to: 'I'm taking off, I'm moving up, everything we burn is counted in grams, yeah.'

The suspect had allegedly listened to the same song nine times in four days, and watched the music video three times over the same time period.

Rinderknecht, a former Pacific Palisades resident, allegedly lit the Lachman Fire early in the morning on January 1 after he completed an Uber ride, the filing stated.

Rinderknecht fled the scene of the original fire, but returned to the same trail to watch it burn, officials claimed.

He also made several 911 calls to report the fire, according to the criminal complaint.

During a 911 call at approximately 12.17am, the suspect reported the blaze to authorities and also allegedly asked ChatGPT: 'Are you at fault if a fire is lift [sic] because of your cigarettes.'

The AI chatbot replied 'yes,' the filing states.

Rinderknecht allegedly listened to Un Zder, Un The, a song by French artist Josman about 'despair and bitterness' on the night of the blaze. The music video for the song (pictured) depicted Josman lighting fires

The catastrophic Palisades Fire, (pictured) the most destructive blaze in Los Angeles history, erupted on January 7, killing 12 people and destroying more than 6,000 homes and buildings

Rinderknecht had multiple discussions about fire with ChatGPT, officials alleged.

On November 1 last year he wrote the chatbot: 'I am 28 years old. And... I basically... This just happened. Maybe like... I don't know, maybe like 3 months ago or something. Like, the realization of all this.

'I literally burnt the Bible that I had. It felt amazing. I felt so liberated.'

The prompt mirrored a message he sent to a family member on August 1 admitted that he 'burned the Bible I had literally', the complaint said.

Rinderknecht also asked ChatGPT to create a 'dystopian painting' that depicts a devastating inferno ripping through a forest as a crowd runs away.

'In the middle, hundreds of thousands of people in poverty are trying to get past a gigantic gate with a big dollar sign on it,' he instructed the AI, according to the filing.

'On the other side of the gate and the entire wall is a conglomerate of the richest people. They are chilling, watching the world burn down, and watching the people struggle. They are laughing, enjoying themselves, and dancing.'

The suspect wanted the image to demonstrate the 'stark contrast and the direct 19 connection between the different parts of the world.'

A still taken from footage from a UCSD camera at 12.12am EST on January 1st. The bright spot on the upper left is the Lachman Fire. According to police, Rinderknecht's parked car is visible down the hill on the right

Officials said they believe the Palisades Fire was a 'holdover fire' - a continuation of the Lachman Fire allegedly started by Rinderknecht

Rinderknecht was arrested in Florida on Tuesday, according to officials.

He was charged with destruction of property by means of fire - a felony that carries a mandatory minimum five-year prison sentence and is punishable by up to 20 years.

The Palisades Fire broke out on January 7 and ripped through hillside neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, destroying mansions with spectacular views of the ocean and downtown LA.

A-listers such as Paris Hilton and Tom Hanks were among the residents who lost their mansions in the fires.

Authorities first interviewed Rinderknecht on January 24, according to the criminal complaint. He told them he had been in the area on January 1 and did not see anyone else in the area at that time.

The criminal indictment noted that the suspect's neck artery would pulsate and become visible whenever he was asked a question about how the fire started.

Investigators excluded other possibilities including fireworks, lightning and power lines. Authorities also looked into whether a cigarette could've caused the fire, but concluded that was not the cause, the complaint stated.

An aerial view of a worker next to homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire as wildfires cause damage and loss through the LA region on January 16, 2025 in Malibu, California

His efforts to call 911 and his question to ChatGPT about a cigarette lighting a fire indicated he 'wanted to preserve evidence of himself trying to assist in the suppression of the fire and he wanted to create evidence regarding a more innocent explanation for the cause of the fire,' the complaint alleged.

Investigators still haven't determined the cause of a second blaze called the Eaton Fire, which broke out the same day in the community of Altadena and killed 19 people.

Aisha Nash, the federal public defender assigned to represent Rinderknecht, has not responded to requests for comment.
Trust in the Scottish Government has plunged to the lowest level since devolution and there has been a sharp decline in satisfaction with the NHS.

A damning new survey has revealed a massive fall in approval ratings for the current SNP Government, with the levels of trust falling to the lowest level since the creation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.

The annual Scottish Social Attitudes Survey found that only 47 per cent of respondents trust the Scottish Government to act in Scotlands best interests, which has plummeted compared to 61 per cent in 2019 and 81 per cent in the first year of devolution.

Only 36 per cent said they thought the Scottish Government is good at listening to people, which was the lowest score since 2006.

It also revealed the lowest ratings for the NHS since the Scottish Parliament was opened, with only 22 per cent saying they were satisfied with the health service.

Paul Bradshaw, director of the Scottish Centre for Social Research, which carried out the research, said: These latest results show a clear decline in trust in the Scottish Government, alongside continued concern about public services and the economy.

While Scots remain strongly attached to their Scottish identity, our data suggest that confidence in political institutions is under pressure, a finding that will be important for policymakers and the public alike.

ScotCen said the 22 per cent satisfaction rating for Scotlands NHS is comparable with the rest of Britain, and follows a 2023 finding that 69 per cent of people felt the standard of the health service had declined.

Only 36 per cent said they thought the Scottish Government is good at listening to people

The new survey has revealed a massive fall in approval ratings for the current SNP Government

It also revealed concerns about the economy, with 24 per cent of Scots saying they are really struggling financially, while a minority  41 per cent  said they were living comfortably or doing alright financially.

Researchers said the figures had improved marginally from 2023 but are still significantly less positive than before the Covid pandemic.

Other findings included that 74 per cent of respondents say they identify Scottish as at least one of their identities, which is lower than 84 per cent in 1999.

Support for independence stands at 47 per cent, according to the research.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: Its no surprise that trust in John Swinneys government is at an all-time low after nearly two decades of abject SNP failure in every major policy area.

Struggling Scots can see that this Nationalist government doesnt listen to their concerns, and instead focuses on fringe issues and obsessing over independence.

The SNP have imposed the highest taxes in the UK, while decimating frontline services. They have continually failed to meet their promises on everything from NHS waiting times to teacher numbers and housebuilding.

This is a damning verdict on a government that has ignored the public and neglected its basic responsibilities.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: This damning survey shows this tired SNP government has lost the trust of Scottish people and compromised the founding principles of our NHS.

Its no wonder people are losing faith in this SNP government when nearly one in six Scots are stuck on an NHS waiting list and basic services are becoming increasingly impossible to access.

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie said: Satisfaction in John Swinneys government is the worst in the history of the Scottish Parliament and is even lower than Humza Yousafs. Its time for a change.
A top fire investigator has warned that a politically-motivated arson attack cannot be ruled out in the blaze that destroyed a South Carolina judge's coastal home  saying that only a slow, scientific and apolitical investigation will uncover the truth.

Robert Rowe, a 45-year veteran fire investigator from California and CEO of Pyrocop, said that even though no clear evidence of arson has yet been found, investigators must be alert to the possibility that the fire was deliberate and politically charged, given its suspicious timing.

The home of Circuit Court Judge Diane Schafer Goodstein, 69, went up in flames at Edisto Beach over the weekend. Early and unconfirmed reports suggested an explosion started the blaze.

The inferno forced her husband, Arnold Goodstein, 81  a decorated Vietnam War veteran and former state lawmaker  and their family to leap from the first floor to escape. Several were injured, including one who reportedly broke both legs.

Images showed the exclusive waterfront mansion engulfed in flames and thick black smoke, as firefighters used kayaks to rescue the trapped residents from the backyard of the hard-to-access property.

The blaze came just weeks after Judge Goodstein ruled against the Trump administration in a dispute over state voting records  a decision that angered conservative activists before being overturned by a higher court.

In the wake of the fire, politicians and pundits rushed to assign blame, with Democratic Rep. Daniel Goldman accusing 'the extreme right' of political violence and Trump aide Stephen Miller firing back, calling Goldman's remarks 'vile' and 'malicious.'

Against that tense political backdrop, Rowe said that retaliation must be on investigators' radar.

Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein's home in Edisto Beach burned to the ground over the weekend after being engulfed by a massive fire

An investigation into the fire must weigh whether it could have been retaliation for Judge Goodstein's ruling against the Trump administration

'Yes, there is political motivation when a decision is made by a judge against a person  doesn't matter who it is,' Rowe told the Daily Mail in an exclusive interview.

'Retaliation is definitely something that I'm sure the fire investigators are considering as they sit down and meet about this.'

He said that in any high-profile case, the discussion inside the investigation room would quickly turn to motive.

'They'll be asking themselves, what do we have here? We know we have motive. What would be the motive? Well, retaliation based on a decision. One would think that, right? Investigators would think that.'

Goodstein's ruling against the Trump administration made her a lightning rod for partisan anger and fuelled a slew of death threats in the weeks leading up to the blaze. Rowe said the sequence of events naturally raised questions.

'Because she's a judge, and because the fire just so happened to occur after a decision was made, an outcome based on her involvement in that case might be a motive,' he said.

Still, Rowe cautioned that even in the face of such suggestive timing, investigators must not let politics cloud their work.

'What you don't want to do is get into expectation bias,' he said. 'They warn against that. Your investigation should be pure, clear, and thorough.'

Rowe, who has spent decades investigating hundreds of arson and explosion cases, said that modern arsonists have become increasingly sophisticated  able to disguise deliberate fires as freak accidents.

'Retaliation is definitely something that investigators are considering,' says Robert Rowe, a 45-year veteran fire investigator from California

Investigators have found no immediate evidence of arson relating to the fire

'People are getting more creative,' he said, noting that the methods used today can make a cause 'extraordinarily difficult to pinpoint.'

Among the possible tactics he outlined were:

Tampering with gas lines  loosening fittings so that gas accumulates before igniting, creating an explosion that looks accidental.

Manipulating electrical systems  creating deliberate arcs or short circuits to mimic faulty wiring.

Timed chemical reactions  allowing an arsonist to escape before ignition.

Hidden accelerants or gels  tucked behind outlets or under furniture to fake an electrical fire.

Throwing incendiary devices, such as a Molotov cocktail, through a window to trigger an inferno.

Each of these methods, he said, could make even a deliberate attack look like a tragic mishap  unless investigators proceed methodically, following the evidence rather than their instincts.

Rowe said that investigators must adhere strictly to the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) 921 standard, which outlines the scientific method for determining fire causes.

The investigation 'should not be politically motivated,' he said. 'It should be independent, non-biased, and follow the process.'

He added: 'All fire investigators must perform an investigation in alignment with the scientific method identify the problem, collect data, develop a hypothesis, test it, and then reach a conclusion.'

That process, Rowe explained, means considering every possible source  from faulty wiring to candles to deliberate tampering.

A complete investigation into what caused a blaze can take weeks to complete, said Rowe

The home of Judge Diane Schafer Goodstein, 69, went up in flames at Edisto Beach over the weekend

Investigators have found no immediate evidence that the blaze was caused by arson

'You have to take everything into consideration  witness statements, burn patterns, gas lines, appliances  before you ever jump to a conclusion.'

'A lot of times, because of the circumstances that surround an incident, people focus on a scenario that might not be correct. You have to be very careful before you pull that trigger and say, 'it's this.''

Investigators, he added, should interview neighbors and victims, scour doorbell and security camera footage, and look for signs of motive, including graffiti, threatening communications, or prior harassment.

'If I were investigating this fire, I would take it as far as I possibly could before coming to a final conclusion. The most embarrassing thing for a fire investigator is to do a half-a***d job.'

He added that when done correctly, the evidence might surprise even the most confident theorists.

'When you do it right, you're not falsely accusing someone of arson. The evidence might not follow the person you think  it might follow a different path altogether.'

South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Chief Mark Keel has already said that the blaze does not appear to have been intentionally set, and Governor Henry McMaster urged the public to avoid spreading rumors.

But Rowe said that conclusion should come only after every lead is tested  and retested.

'Fire investigation is a process that should take time. You walk away saying, 'We turned over every rock, we looked at everything, we talked to everyone.' Only then can you say what really happened.'

Ultimately, Rowe's message to investigators and the public was clear: keep politics out of the science  but don't ignore motive, either.

'You don't want to get it wrong,' he said. 'Do it by the book, turn over every rock, and then  only then  can you say what really happened.'

Judge Goodstein, who has served on the bench since 1998, is a respected jurist with a long career in South Carolina's circuit courts.

Firefighters used kayaks to rescue the trapped residents from the backyard of the hard-to-access property.

Without evidence and contrary to reports by law enforcement, Daniel Goldman blamed the 'extreme right' for the fire at the judge's home

Her husband, Arnold, was once commissioner of the state Department of Transportation and twice awarded the Bronze Star for heroism during the Vietnam War.

The couple and their family have been left displaced and injured after losing their home in one of the most high-profile fires the state has seen in years.

While the official cause remains 'under investigation,' Rowe said the burden now lies on investigators to resist public pressure, political spin, or emotional assumptions  and instead, let the evidence tell the story.

In the charged atmosphere surrounding the case, that may be easier said than done.

Still, as Rowe put it: 'When you do it right, you can walk away knowing the truth  not the version people want to hear.'
A man who allegedly murdered his lover in a stabbing frenzy told police to shoot him, a court has heard.

Aren Pearson is accused of killing Claire Leveque in February last year.

The 41-year-old, who denies murder and several other charges, is currently on trial at the High Court of Edinburgh.

PC Kevin Simpson, 32, told the court that following a 999 call on the night of the alleged murder, he was one of the first officers to arrive at the home of the accuseds mother in Shetland.

Asked by prosecutor Margaret Barron what Pearson had said, the officer replied: Murderers are to be killed. Put me in the kill box. Take me out to the boonies and put a bullet in me.

When Ms Barron asked him what the boonies were, PC Simpson replied that it was a rural part of North America.

Earlier on in the day, jurors were told of statements given by Pearsons now late mother, on the night of February 11, 2024.

The 71-year-old, who passed away in May, told police her son had looked like a zombie.

Aren Pearson is accused of killing Claire Leveque, pictured

She said shed watched her son stab himself in the neck and told police he had claimed to have driven his car in the sea before saying he had hurt Ms Leveque, 24.

Mrs Pearson told officers she went to the victims home in Sandness and found her within the hot tub adding: The water was red with blood.

Claire was covered with blood. She had severe injuries to her face.

She called 999 in her sons presence and describing the call to police added: He was calm and was acting strangely.

I told the officer on the phone that Aren was there and I passed the phone to Aren who spoke to the officer.

Aren did not look like my son. He was just like the way a zombie looks.

During the first day of the proceedings on Tuesday, a recording of the call was played with jurors hearing how Pearson, who is Canadian, took the phone from his mother to tell the operator: Hello, hi, my name is Aren Pearson. Ive just killed my girlfriend in the hot tub in the garage. I stabbed her about 40 times. I stabbed myself in the neck four times.

I drove my Porsche right into the ocean - its gone yeah. She is dead. I definitely killed her - to make sure, I drowned her after I stabbed her several times.

Yesterday, the court heard Mrs Pearson had been born in Shetland before moving to Canada in the early 1970 with her son born there in 1984.

She moved back to the island in September 2022 and her son came to live with her.

He was unsuccessful in applying for a UK passport meaning he couldnt work and returned briefly to Edmonton, in Alberta, where he met Ms Leveque.

Mrs Pearson told officers her sons partner had been good natured and helped with house work.

She also told police that on the day of the alleged murder, there were no issues at all with the couple - they had been out to the shops and jurors were shown CCTV images of the pair visiting businesses.

In one statement, she said she her son had several previous girlfriends and that she was not aware of any cases of domestic abuse.

In another one, Mrs Pearson said he had been very depressed and wished he wasnt here.

Although she said Ms Leveque had also been on anti-depressants, they seemed very happy together.

But she also told officers a parcel addressed to Ms Leveque had arrived from someone called Jeremey (corr) with the package handed to detectives.

On Tuesday, jurors were read a statement of evidence which prosecutors and defence lawyers have agreed is proven and uncontroversial.

They heard that the cause of death was established as stab wounds of the neck and chest.

It was agreed that the male voice heard on the 999 call was Aren Pearson and that his mother died aged 72 in May.

Prosecutors claim that Pearson assaulted Ms Leveque by repeatedly striking her on the head, neck and body with a knife.

They also claim that he repeatedly inflicted blunt-force trauma to her head, neck and body by means unknown.

Prosecutors then claim that Pearson compressed Ms Leveques neck and did submerge her head and body in water and that he murdered her.

He faces a total of seven charges including allegations he behaved in a threatening and abusive manner towards Ms Leveque, acted aggressively towards her, assaulted her and attempted to defeat the ends of justice following the alleged murder.

Pearson is said to have sent messages to two men informing them that he intended to provide Ms Leveque with money and a plane ticket.

He is said to have told Clint Leveque that [his daughter] Claire was in good health and that he had booked flights for her to return to Canada.

Pearson is also accused of driving a car into the sea, taking possession of a knife and striking himself with the blade in the neck in his mothers presence.

He has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The trial, before judge Lord Arthurson, continues.
The newly elected mayor of a German town who was found at her home with stab wounds is believed to have been attacked by her teenage daughter, investigators said.

Iris Stalzer, 57, was voted in as the mayor of Herdecke on September 28 and is due to take office on November 1.

Police said emergency services were alerted shortly after midday on Tuesday by her daughter, who reported that Ms Stalzer had been seriously wounded outside her house in an attempted robbery.

Officers went to the house, where they found Ms Stalzer sitting in a chair with at least 13 stab wounds and determined that the attack appeared to have happened indoors.

She was flown to a hospital by helicopter, having suffered serious injuries, including a wound to her lung. Police said on Wednesday that she is now out of danger.

Investigators found two knives and clothing in the house, which are believed to have been used in the attack, and detained Ms Stalzer's 17-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son.

The evidence was found in her son's bedroom. Investigators also found that large blood stains appeared to have been removed before emergency services were called, though these were visible upon a deep inspection, according to Bild.

When questioned on Tuesday evening, Ms Stalzer pointed to her daughter as the suspect, police investigator Jens Rautenberg said.

Iris Stalzer (pictured) was elected as the mayor of Herdecke in western Germany on September 28

Forensic police officers seen arriving at the scene after Herdecke's newly elected Mayor Iris Stalzer was found seriously injured in a stabbing incident on October 7 2025

There was no immediate information on the nature of the family conflict that preceded the stabbing.

Sources told Bild that the mother and daughter had an argument last summer, in which domestic violence and the use of a knife were mentioned.

Stalzer is also said to have had tensions with the son.

Mr Rautenberg declined to comment on a possible motive at a news conference in the nearby city of Hagen, saying that is still a matter for investigation.

Prosecutor Bernd Haldorn said he considers it a case of bodily harm, and that police and prosecutors at present intend to release the children and put them in the hands of the youth welfare office, which would decide on further measures while the investigation continues.

The attack on Ms Stalzer, which followed violence against other local politicians in Germany in recent years, drew swift condemnation from Chancellor Friedrich Merz and others. But investigators quickly determined on Tuesday that there was no sign of a political motive.

Herdecke is a town of about 23,000 people in western Germany's Ruhr region, between Hagen and Dortmund.
A judge has stayed a sexual assault charge against fashion mogul Peter Nygard after ruling that police violated his right to a fair trial.

Nygard, 84, was sentenced to 11 years in prison last September after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting four women in Toronto.

The disgraced businessman appeared before a judge again Wednesday over a case pertaining to a separate alleged sexual assault.

The alleged victim, whose identity is protected under Canadian law, accused Nygard of assaulting her in November 1993 at his warehouse in Winnipeg.

The woman spoke with police in Winnipeg and North Vancouver at the time of the alleged crime, but charges were not filed. She came forward again in 2020 and police launched an investigation.

Nygard - who once hosted Prince Andrew in the Bahamas - was charged with sexual assault and unlawful confinement in 2023. His trial was scheduled for this December.

But Justice Mary Kate Harvie has now stayed the charges after police failed to retain records from their interview with the alleged victim in 1993, according to CBC News.

Harvie ruled that Nygard's right to a fair trial was 'substantially prejudiced' by the records breach and would be 'further aggravated' if proceedings were to continue.

A judge has stayed a sexual assault charge against fashion mogul Peter Nygard (pictured in 2017) after ruling that police violated his right to a fair trial

The judge ruled that Nygard's right to a fair trial was 'substantially prejudiced' by the records breach and would be 'further aggravated' if proceedings were to continue. Nygard is pictured during a bail hearing in 2022

Nygard's lawyer Gerri Wiebe filed a motion to stay his trial in September after the police officers who interviewed the alleged victim over 30 years ago were unable to produce documentation of the exchange.

Wiebe, in her motion, argued testimony from the woman and police was not an 'adequate substitute' for the missing evidence and that her client was being denied his right to a fair trial.

The prosecution argued the interview documents were relevant, but claimed their loss did not meet a level of 'unacceptable negligence.'

Harvie, however, sided with the defense and on Wednesday stayed the charges.

She told the court it is 'critically important' that police departments ensure all communications with victims are preserved.

'It is important that all players within the criminal justice system recognize that it may take multiple meetings, over months or years, for the disclosure process to be completed and for charges to be laid,' the judge said, according to CBC.

Harvie said forces may need to make 'significant changes' in the way they categorize and store reports, notebooks and statements.

'We live in a day and age where the storage of vast quantities of documents has never been easier. For the sake of victims of sexual violence, and to ensure against wrongful convictions, no other alternative is acceptable,' she added.

Peter Nygard leaves court in a police van, after being found guilty of four counts of sexual assault, in Toronto in November 2023

Nygard, who attended the hearing virtually from prison, hailed the judge's ruling as 'wonderful news.'

The fashion mogul still faces a trial on sex charges in Quebec, as well as extradition to the US on sex trafficking and racketeering charges.

He founded a fashion company in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1967 that ultimately became Nygard International.

His company produced women's clothing under several brand names and had corporate facilities in both Canada and the US.

Nygard stepped down as chairman of the company after the FBI and police raided his offices in New York City in February 2020. The firm has since filed for bankruptcy.
John Swinney was declared detached from reality after making a baseless claim that households could be 10,200 better off under independence.

The First Minister was ridiculed after including the figure in a taxpayer-funded paper on separation ahead of the SNP conference in Aberdeen this weekend.

The Scottish Tories accused him of squandering public money on a fantasy to placate his party members.

The FM claimed leaving the UK was vital as Scotland had reached the limits of devolution to improve living standards - and denied it was his government that had run out of steam.

The 90-page paper failed to mention income tax, gave no figures on the public finances after separation, and lacked any timetable for creating a Scottish pound or rejoining the EU.

Mr Swinney repeatedly refused to say if the personal tax burden would rise outside the UK, saying his best guess was that the income tax profile wouldnt change.

He also claimed the Bank of England would step in to help Scotland if it suffered a currency crisis while initially using Sterling after quitting the Union.

Deputy Scottish Tory leader Rachael Hamilton said: John Swinneys launch of yet another fantasy paper on the SNPs independence obsession shows how out of touch he is with ordinary Scots.

John Swinney claimed Scots would be 10,200 better off under independence

Its unacceptable that John Swinney is squandering yet more taxpayers cash on this.

Labour MSP Michael Marra said the 10,000 figure  based on a 2023 think-tank paper about the UK as a whole  should make Mr Swinney embarrassed at these baseless claims which are entirely detached from reality.

It came as Mr Swinne was accused of being delusional during angry exchanges at Holyrood after denying the SNP had any failures in education.

John Swinney clashed with former Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross when he was quizzed by Holyrood committee conveners.

Mr Ross, who chairs the education committee, asked him what the SNPs biggest failure on the issue in 18 years in power.

Despite the SNPs broken promise to close the attainment gap between rich and poor pupils, Mr Swinney repeatedly dodged the question by saying people had to look at the record of the government as a whole and listed its achievements.
A series of children's books is hurriedly being pulled from the shelves and withdrawn from primary schools after a website link promoted inside was taken over by pornographic material.

The printed editions of the Spy Dogs books by Andrew Cope - popular with seven to 11-year-olds - feature an URL which now directs the readers to explicit images and videos.

Waterstones removed the books from it shelves yesterday morning while schools up and down the country were alerted by their local authorities.

Puffin, the publisher of the series, said it is working to pull the affected editions from all schools, libraries and bookshops.

A letter to horrified parents in one London borough yesterday said: 'As a school we have been made aware by the Local Authority that a series of children's books appear to contain a website link on the back cover which, when accessed, directs you to a website containing pornographic content.

'The series is called "Spy Dogs/Pups" & "Spy Cats", written by Andrew Cope.

'The issue has been raised by many schools and the publishers, Penguin, have been notified about the problem.

'If your child has any school copies of the book, please could they be returned to the school, until we can confirm that the issue has been sorted.'

The books, popular with seven to 11-year-olds, were hurriedly pulled from the shelves and withdrawn from primary schools

The printed editions of the Spy Dogs books by Andrew Cope feature an URL which now directs the readers to explicit images and videos

The website, which was set up in 2016 and promoted by the author on his Twitter page as well inside the books, was previously used to host more information about the main characters in the series.

A page featured in the back of several of the Spy Dog series books reads: 'Discover even more about Lara, Spud, and Star. Meet them at their OFFICIAL WEBSITE'.

Puffin confirmed that the URL had once belonged to Mr Cope but the domain printed in the book had since been acquired by a third party.

The publisher said it is now working to remove the website but admitted it would be 'an in-depth and complex legal process' which could take some time.

Puffin added that they 'have immediately paused on the sale and distribution of the books whilst we deal with this matter'.

Yesterday a gaping hole was left on the shelves of a West London branch of Waterstones where the series had once been displayed with staff confirming they were no longer allowed to sell it.

A spokesperson for Waterstones told the Daily Mail: 'Following advice from the publisher we have notified our bookshops to remove the titles from sale until further notice.'

The publisher, a subsidiary of Penguin Random House, added that the content featured on the website has no association with either Puffin or Mr Cope.

A joint statement from Puffin and Mr Cope said: 'In some editions of the Spy Dog, Spy Cat and Spy Pups series there is a reference to the author, Andrew Cope's, former website for the series which was owned and managed by him.

'We understand an unconnected third party has very recently taken control of the domain name and is using it to display a different website with inappropriate adult content.

'This website is not associated with Puffin or Andrew Cope. We are asking people not to visit the website and ensure that children do not visit it either.'

The statement added: 'We are taking this extremely seriously and are acting on this issue as a matter of urgency through the appropriate channels to get this website removed.

'This is an in-depth and complex legal process and will take time. In addition, we have immediately paused on the sale and distribution of the books whilst we deal with this matter.

'We are currently working with retail and education and library partners to remove the books from shelves for the time being.'
The chief of the Oakland Police Department has resigned after just 18 months in the role.

Chief Floyd Mitchell, who was appointed in March 2024, announced Wednesday he will be stepping down on December 5.

'Deciding to resign was not an easy decision, nor was it made in haste,' Mitchell said in a statement.

'Even as I pen this email to each of you, I am filled with a complex mix of emotionsgratitude, pride, and, above all, a deep appreciation for the work you all do.'

Mitchell was Oakland's 11th chief since 2013 and sixth since 2020 and vowed to take a firm stance to tackle the city's rampant crime problem.

It is unclear why he is leaving, but Huy Nguyen, the president of the Oakland police union, suggested that his tough approach was unwelcome in the liberal city.

Nguyen told KTVU some were 'questioning whether certain anti-law enforcement factions of the community were ready or open to his honesty, dedication, and support of public safety.'

Though he was not clear on who the 'factions' were, Nguyen said the Oakland Police Officers Association 'is deeply concerned' about Mitchell's resignation.

Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell announced his resignation on Wednesday after just 18 months in the position

Oakland has long been known as a crime-ridden city, but under Mitchell's leadership, he was trying to make it safer for residents. (Pictured: Oakland Police officers investigate a shooting)

'His departure represents another chapter in a troubling pattern of instability at the highest levels of city government and the Oakland Police Department.

'Oakland deserves better. Our police officers deserve steady leadership. And, our residents and businesses deserve a city government that is focused on solutions to keep them safe,' Nguyen said.

Another source told the outlet Mitchell often made decisions on his own and was 'not very responsive' to the mayor.

Sheng Thao was in charge of Oakland when Mitchell was first appointed and was succeeded by current Mayor Barbara Lee in April 2025.

Others said the decision was due to his impatience with the decades-long federal oversight of the department and the power of the Oakland Police Commission.

'I don't think he wanted to be a chief in California,' civil rights attorney Jim Chanin said.

Chanin, who often worked with Mitchell in the ongoing federal oversight agreement, added: 'He seemed to be unhappy here.'

In September 2024 a federal judge told Mitchell that the department's Internal Affairs division must report to him which irritated the chief, who said that the process would consume a lot of his time.

Huy Nguyen, the president of the Oakland police union, said the news of Mitchell's resignation made the Oakland Police Officers Association 'deeply concerned'

The only way for the Oakland Police Department to break from the federal oversight would be if it met 50 reforms. It has so far only met 48.

Crime in Oakland is about 10 times higher than the national average, but under Mitchell's leadership it dropped 29 percent in the first half of 2025.

In 2024, the city had a violent crime rate of about 3,640 per 100,000 residents. The U.S. recorded an average of approximately 359 per 100,000 residnets that same year.

He introduced several policies in a bid to clean up the city, many of which were met with criticism.

Among them included urging officials to amend the department's rules around police chases which required officers to get permission before chasing a criminal at high speeds on city streets.

Governor Gavin Newsom backed Mitchell on the proposal, both acknowledging that high speed chases create danger for citizens.

In August, Mitchell and Mayor Lee announced the reduction in crime, but made it clear there was more to come.

'There is a lot of work still to be done, but what we are doing right now is showing benefits and that's evident in the reduction of the crime that we're seeing.

'We need to get the word out so people can feel confident about shopping and eating and enjoying themselves,' Mitchell said at the time.

In September, Mitchell pushed for a change in police pursuit policies, asking that officers be required to get permission before chasing a criminal at high speeds on city streets.

Mayor Lee thanked Mitchell for his time in the role and credited him for 'significant reductions in crime.'

Mitchell was appointed chief in March 2024 by ousted Mayor Sheng Thao. He was Oakland's 11th chief since 2013 and the crime ridden city's sixth police chief since 2020

A homeless encampment is seen on the streets of Oakland in April 2024

'I want to thank Chief Mitchell for his dedicated service to Oakland and his leadership during a critical time for our city.

'Under his tenure, we have seen significant reductions in crime - a testament to his commitment to public safety and the hard work of our police officers.

'I am grateful for Chief Mitchell's collaboration with our administration and his focus on community-centered policing. The women and men of the Oakland Police Department have my full support as we work together to ensure a smooth transition and continue building on the progress we've made for Oakland's residents.'

The Oakland Police Department said they will work with Lee and City Administrator Jestin Johnson to find an interim chief until a new one is hired.

Mitchell, who previously served as a police chief in Lubbock, Texas, was ousted Mayor Sheng Thao's final pick after a yearlong search for a replacement to LeRonne Armstrong.

Armstrong was fired by Thao in February 2023 after a probe ordered by a federal oversight monitor found he mishandled two police misconduct cases. An arbitrator later cleared him of wrongdoing.

He then went on to sue the city, accusing them and the former mayor of 'illegal and retaliatory' termination in a lawsuit filed in Alameda County Superior Court in February 2024.

Half of the lawsuit was dismissed in November 2024 as an independent hearing officer found that Armstrong shouldn't have faced discipline over breakdowns in the department's Internal Affairs division, but disagreed with his claim that OPD's federal monitor created a false case to kick him out.

New Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee (pictured Tuesday) thanked Mitchell for his time in the role and credited him for 'significant reductions in crime'

The new mayor, Lee, recently announced she was taking a shockingly practical approach to rescuing the battered city.

The 79-year-old progressive firebrand is ramping up police recruitment, clearing homeless encampments, and slashing red tape to secure federal money, all in a bid to reverse years of violent crime, urban decay and political chaos.

Lee has stunned critics and allies alike by embracing a back-to-basics strategy since taking office in April, despite her progressive bona fides.

Her tactics have included reopening long-shuttered firehouses, reinstating high-speed police pursuits, and personally touring blighted streets in a hands-on crackdown on RV encampments and illegal dumping.

Lee stepped in to finish her term and is now leaning on decades of political clout in Washington - and an unexpected appetite for tough municipal management to stabilize a city that residents feared was slipping into ungovernable chaos.

'Right now, I'm trying to make sure that the city gets more unified,' Lee told the Wall Street Journal from Oakland City Hall. 'That we do the work here.'
The last of 10 inmates who fled from a New Orleans jail in a daring escape has been arrested after almost six months on the run.

Derrick Groves, 31, a convicted killer, was reportedly cornered in a standoff with police in Atlanta on Wednesday.

The fugitive barricaded himself in a home but was taken into custody after cops descended on the scene.

He has been linked to four killings, and authorities warned that he may be violent or attempt to locate witnesses in his murder trial while on the lam.

Groves was the final inmate to be caught among those who escaped through a wall behind a prison toilet in May.

The group's escape captured headlines as footage showed them taunting prison staff by writing 'too easy' on the wall they slipped out of before sprinting to freedom.

After breaching the wall at the Orleans Justice Center, the escapees scaled another wall by using a towel to cover barbed wire before fleeing across the interstate.

The other inmates who were captured before Groves were named as Corey Boyd, Dkenan Dennis, Jermaine Donald, Antoine Massey, Robert Moody, Kendell Myles, Gary Price, Leo Tate and Lenton Vanburen.

During Groves' time on the run, his girlfriend and former prison guard Darriana Burton, 28, was charged with 'conspiracy to commit simple escape' after she allegedly helped the group flee.

Derrick Groves, the last of 10 inmates who fled from a New Orleans jail in a daring escape has been located after over six months on the run

Groves was the final inmate to be caught among those who escaped through a wall behind a prison toilet in May

Authorities said the inmates broke through the law behind a toilet, and taunted cops as they wrote 'too easy lol' on the hole they escaped through

Groves was accused of attempted second-degree murder at 17, but was eventually found not guilty in that case, according to court records.

He was convicted last year on two charges of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder for a 2018 shooting on Mardi Gras.

Groves was one of two gunmen who opened fire on 'what should have been a joyous Mardi Gras family gathering' with AK-47-style assault rifles, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Following his escape earlier this year he lasted over four months longer on the run than the ninth convict who was caught, Antoine Massey, 33.

During his six weeks on the run, Massey taunted cops in Instagram videos saying he was 'let out' of the jail; while also pleading with President Trump for a pardon.

The ten prisoners were captured on shocking video footage escaping from the Orleans Parish Jail in New Orleans, Louisiana, on May 16

During Groves' time on the run, his girlfriend and former prison guard Darriana Burton, 28, was charged with 'conspiracy to commit simple escape' after she allegedly helped the group flee

When the 10 inmates escaped, investigators said the men were helped out by prison maintenance worker Sterling Williams, who allegedly turned off the water to the cell where they broke out before they unscrewed a toilet to flee.

Williams has said he was forced to do so by the inmates who threatened to 'shank' him if he refused.

Williams was among over a dozen alleged accomplices that New Orleans cops have arrested since the escape, also including the grandmother of inmate Jermaine Donald.

Connie Weeden, 59, is accused of helping her grandson flee and allegedly was in regular contact with him before and after the jailbreak.

The investigation uncovered evidence that Weeden was speaking to Donald over the phone in the lead-up to the escape and continued providing assistance even after he had fled the facility.

Police say she even provided cash to the dangerous fugitive through a mobile phone app, potentially helping to fund his life on the run.
Kemi Badenoch vowed to abolish stamp duty as she took the fight to Labour and Reform on the economy.

The Tory leader electrified her party's annual conference in Manchester by announcing plans on Wednesday for an audacious 9 billion tax cut funded by a crackdown on welfare and waste.

She told cheering delegates that abolition of the hated tax would restore the Tories' reputation as the party of home ownership, and help trigger an economic and social renaissance.

Mrs Badenoch said the Conservatives had always believed that 'owning your own home gives you a real stake in society, roots in your community'. But she said a 'a big barrier keeps getting in the way'.

Vowing to abolish stamp duty on all primary residences, she said: 'That is how we will help achieve the dream of home ownership for millions.

'This change will bring wider benefits to our economy, too, because every time a home is sold it triggers a chain reaction of activity.'

Mrs Badenoch said the move would mean that first-time buyers, growing families and pensioners looking to downsize would no longer be 'punished with a tax that is a barrier to doing the right thing for them, for their family, and for society'.

In a bullish speech that belied her party's stuttering fortunes, Mrs Badenoch vowed to reverse the country's 'stagnation' under Labour, declaring that she would 'save Britain from that fate'.

Kemi Badenoch vowed to abolish stamp duty as she took the fight to Labour and Reform on the economy on Wednesday

The Tory leader electrified her party's annual conference in Manchester by announcing plans for an audacious 9 billion tax cut funded by a crackdown on welfare and waste

Mrs Badenoch, flanked by her husband Hamish, said the move would mean first-time buyers, growing families and pensioners looking to downsize would no longer be 'punished' by the tax

Her performance appeared to have silenced her internal critics and calmed the fevered speculation around her own leadership. One shadow cabinet plotter said the 'impressive' speech had 'bought her some time - maybe more'.

A senior loyalist said leadership rivals like Robert Jenrick had been put 'back in their box' by the tax masterstroke.

Tory strategists now face an anxious wait to see if the 'big bazooka' policy succeeds in capturing the public imagination - and shifting the party's dismal poll ratings.

In a 45-minute address, Mrs Badenoch:

- Pledged to break Britain's 'addiction' to immigration and deport 150,000 people a year who have no right to be here.

- Said the Conservatives would 'bring back the high street' with a 4 billion plan to abolish business rates for pubs and shops.

- Vowed to legislate to ban doctors from going on strike.

- Described a surge in sickness benefit claims under Labour as a 'national tragedy' while promising to strip 'freeloaders' of welfare payments.

- Pledged to scrap 'non-crime hate incidents' and 'free the police to protect the public not chase political correctness'.

- Warned the record tax burden imposed by Labour was 'making Britain poorer' and forcing businesses to 'give up'.

- Committed to scrapping green levies on energy bills, saving the average household 165 a year.

A senior loyalist said leadership rivals like Robert Jenrick had been put 'back in their box' by Mrs Badenoch's tax masterstroke

Mrs Badenoch and her husband waved for the cameras after her successful turn on stage

Shadow cabinet ministers gave a rapturous reception to Mrs Badenoch's conference speech

The decision to axe stamp duty was a tightly held secret, with even members of the shadow cabinet kept in the dark.

It came at the end of a week in which the Tories fleshed out a previously threadbare policy platform with a string of announcements covering everything from immigration and the economy to schools and the police.

Mrs Badenoch said that despite last year's landslide election defeat and growing alarm over the party's slump in the polls, the Conservatives were still 'fizzing with ideas'.

The abolition of stamp duty will save homebuyers thousands of pounds at one of the most financially stretching times in their lives. The tax hits around 600,000 property transactions a year.

Tory sources said the change is likely to be brought in immediately in the event of a Conservative victory to avoid gumming up the housing market.

Mrs Badenoch vowed to reverse the country's 'stagnation' under Keir Starmer's Labour, declaring that she would 'save Britain from that fate'

Her surprise move on stamp duty was welcomed by economists and the property expert Kirstie Allsopp, who said it was 'brilliant and bold'

Economists have long blamed the tax for distorting the housing market and impacting the wider economy. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has described it as 'the most economically damaging tax in the UK'.

The Tory plans will apply across England and Northern Ireland. But they will only apply to primary residences, meaning that those buying a second home will still face the charge.

A Tory source said scrapping the tax was 'not just a moral good, but an economic good too'.

The source added: 'It would remove artificial restrictions on the property market - restrictions that stop working people taking jobs or relocating where they need to for employment, or that stop older people from downsizing and freeing up larger properties for families.

Mrs Badenoch said scrapping stamp duty was the 'key to unlock a fairer and more aspirational society.'

Property expert Kirstie Allsopp praised Mrs Badenoch for 'correcting a mistake' made by successive governments who looked to the property market as a source of easy revenue without considering the negative impact on the economy.

The Location, Location, Location star described the initiative as 'brilliant and bold', adding: 'If Rachel Reeves wants to boost the economy she should copy this straightaway.'

Tom Clougherty, of the Institute of Economic Affairs think tank, said abolishing stamp duty was 'the single best reform any government could make to Britain's tax system'.

Mrs Badenoch acknowledged continuing public anger with the Tories  and said it had given Reform, led by Nigel Farge, a platform for policies that would 'blow up the public finances'

What did Kemi Badenoch say in her Tory conference speech? Kemi Badenoch thanked Tory members for 'standing by' the party.

She said the Conservatives can 'save' Britain from the 'steady decline' of 'a weak economy and weak borders'.

Mrs Badenoch hailed the Tories as the 'only party who can meet the tests of our generation'.

She said the UK economy is 'addicted' to immigration.

The Tory leader defended the party's 14 years in power, saying they 'lifted millions of people out of tax and got millions into work'.

She urged her party to 'remember who we are fighting for'.

Mrs Badenoch blasted Labour's first year in power, saying: 'Never have so many been let down by so few'. Advertisement

He added: 'As things stand, this outdated and uneconomic levy is wreaking havoc on our already troubled housing market - by deterring sales and depressing house-building.'

The Adam Smith Institute suggested the move could lead to 467,000 extra house sales per year, providing a massive stimulus to the economy.

Mrs Badenoch said the measure would be paid for from the proceeds of 47 billion in cuts unveiled by shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride earlier this week.

The package includes 23 billion of welfare savings that will ban people with low-level mental health issues like anxiety from claiming sickness benefits and tighten up eligibility for the controversial Motability car scheme.

Further savings come from slashing civil service numbers by 130,000, cutting 7 billion from foreign aid and scrapping Net Zero subsidies.

The Tory leader announced a new 'golden rule' which would require at least half of all savings to go towards reducing the huge budget deficit, with the rest spent on tax cuts and measures to boost the economy.

She confirmed tax cuts totalling 21 billion, including reversing Rachel Reeves's tax hike on family farms and businesses, ending Labour's 'shameful' VAT raid on private schools and introducing a 5,000 'first job bonus' for youngsters entering the workforce for the first time.

Mrs Badenoch said a future Tory government would 'bring down the taxes stifling our economy' and reverse Labour's 'borrowing and tax doom loop'.

Tory strategists believe the party's best hope for recovery lies in trying to restore its battered economic credentials.

Mrs Badenoch said the Conservative approach 'starts with fiscal responsibility', adding: 'We have to get the deficit down.'

'Over the next decade, Rachel Reeves is going to double the deficit with her borrowing and tax doom loop,' she said. 'It's not sustainable and it's not fair. It is stealing from our children and grandchildren. And Conservatives will put a stop to it.'

She mocked Labour's election slogan, saying Keir Starmer had delivered 'change for the worse'.

But she acknowledged continuing public anger with the Tories - and said it had given Reform a platform for policies that would 'blow up the public finances'.

'Because (voters) are still angry with us, parties that in normal times would never be seen as a serious option for government are gaining ground, making promises they will never be able to keep,' she said.
Britain's tallest Tory became the unlikely star of this year's Conservative Party Conference - even meeting leader Kemi Badenoch after her barnstorming speech.

Standing at 7ft 2in, James McAlpine towered over the 5ft 4in Tory leader as she thanked him for being 'our tallest member' at the conference in Manchester today.

The 22-year-old Oxford Brookes University student attracted extra attention from fellow attendees thanks to his considerable height and even sat near the front for Ms Badenoch's closing speech.

Mr McAlpine, who has been a Conservative member for four years but was attending his first party conference, said he thought the Tory leader's speech was 'fantastic'.

'She's got my full support. She's fantastic, she's in touch with the young Conservatives, and she's a brilliant leader,' he told the Mail.

James McAlpine, who is 7ft 2in-tall, congratulates the Tory leader after she delivered a barnstorming speech to close the Conservative conference in Manchester

Ms Badenoch, who previously revealed she was 5ft 4in, was dwarfed by the giant activist

'And with the removing of stamp duty, I just think that's fantastic. Because it's going to help absolutely everybody, whether you're buying your first home, buying a new family home and also for the older generations as well who are looking to move somewhere smaller.'

Mr McAlpine, who is studying for a BA in business management, hopes to work in finance in the City to gain real-world experience before pursuing a career in politics.

He said he 'would love to be' a Conservative councillor and eventually an MP, adding: 'I'm not going to say leader just yet.'

If his ambitions are realised, Mr McAlpine - whose mother is 6ft 5in and his late father was 6ft 9in - would break the Guinness World Record for the tallest politician.

The current world record holder is US Republican Jon Godfread, who stands at just over 6ft 10in, while the tallest Tory is former MP Daniel Kawczynski, who is 6ft 9in.

Dubbed the 'tallest Conservative in Britain', the Scottish-born Oxford Brookes University student has become a social media star after partying his way around high society events

A proud 'Tory boy', he has political ambitions to represent the party as a councillor or an MP

Mr McAlpine partied his way around the Cheltenham Festival earlier this year

Mr McAlpine said he has a 'love-hate' relationship with the attention he receives due to his height but believes it gives him a 'platform' to speak up for what he believes in.

'I don't adore it, but I also I don't hate it,' he said. 'Because I think it's given me a voice and I'm able to speak up and represent the Conservative Party.'

Asked whether he receives attention at university from other students for his political views, Mr McAlpine said: 'It's mostly been my about my height, never really my political views.

'But I think when I go back tomorrow things might change.'

The proud 'Tory boy' is a huge horse racing fan and has also become a social media star after partying his way around high society events such as the Cheltenham Festival, where his interviews have attracted millions of views.

He said: 'Labour just want to ban anything that people enjoy doing, starting with the tax on farming, horse racing and the cost of shotgun licencing going up.'
A woman died of a heart attack while riding the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland in California on Monday evening.

Anaheim Fire & Rescue responded to the scene at 6:30pm on a report that there was an unresponsive woman in her 60s on the ride, The Orange County Register reported.

Members of Disneyland's security team provided CPR to the woman until paramedics arrived, according to Sergeant Matt Sutter with the Anaheim Police Department.

She was transported to a local hospital and was later pronounced dead, Sutter said.

The Orange County Sheriff-Coroner will be responsible for determining the cause of death, Sutter added.

The woman's name, exact age or city of residence has not been released by Disneyland or Anaheim Fire officials.

Matt Desmond, an influencer who goes by DisneyScoopGuy, first shared the news on X, writing: 'Sending condolences to her family and loved ones'.

The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland first opened on August 9, 1969, and is a low-speed ride that 'contains some mildly frightening scenes' but no gore, according to the theme park's website.

Pictured: The Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. It first opened on August 9, 1969

Pictured: In one of the scenes on the ride, a creature sits at a dining table that has a gingerbread house on it

There are Haunted Mansion rides at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom park in Orlando, Florida, as well as Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris.

The death comes after multiple people had been injured in recent months on Universal Orlando's new 62mph rollercoaster, the Stardust Racers ride.

On September 17, Kevin Rodriguez Zavala, 32, was killed on the ride due to blunt force trauma.

Authorities have not shared how he sustained the trauma, but the Orange County Sheriff's Office is continuing to investigate.

A GoFundMe was started to cover Zavala's funeral costs and it has raised nearly $30,000 as of Wednesday afternoon.

A woman who survived but claims she sustained injuries on the coaster sued Universal last week.

Sandi Streets, a 49-year-old nurse, got to ride Stardust Racers before the park opened it to the public on May 22.

She claimed in her lawsuit she got such bad whiplash on the dual track ride that she now has permanent injuries.
An Uber driver has been arrested after allegedly shooting a 16-year-old girl over a late-night pick-up from Waffle House.

Meredith Grundy, 38, and a group of five teenagers got into an argument outside of a Waffle House in Dunwoody, Georgia, at 2.30am on Sunday after he refused to pick them up, police said.

Grundy told the girls he didn't have enough room in the car for all of them, and said there weren't enough seatbelts to take them all safely, according to the Dunwoody Police Department.

Police said Grundy and the 16-year-old victim got into a heated argument over who should cancel the trip.

The teenager then 'threatened to kill the driver' and 'struck him in the face' while he was inside the car, DPD said.

That was when Grundy allegedly pulled a gun and shot the girl, who was taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta with wounds to her back and legs.

She was reported to be in critical but stable condition on Tuesday, police said.

The other teenage girls who witnessed the altercation, however, said the assault and threat to the driver didn't happen before the gunshots were fired.

Meredith Grundy, 38, and a group of five girls got into an argument outside of a Waffle House in Dunwoody at 2.30am on Sunday after he refused to pick them up

Grundy told the girls he didn't have enough room in the car for all five, and said there weren't enough seatbelts to take them all safely

Grundy claimed the teen threatened and struck him before he allegedly shot the teenager, who was taken to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta with wounds to her back and legs

Grundy was booked into Dekalb Jail for aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during a felony.

He has since posted bond after his arrest early on Sunday morning, Law & Crime reported.

Sergeant Michael Cheek of the DPD told Atlanta News First that the investigation is ongoing and it remains unclear if the girl assaulted the driver.

'We're going to let her medical care get taken care of,' he said. 'That's priority for now.'

A spokesman for Uber said 'the reported details of this incident are horrifying.'

'We removed the driver's access to the platform and stand ready to support law enforcement with their investigation,' the representative told WANF.

According to Uber policies, riders and drivers are prohibited from carrying firearms while using the platform 'to the extent permitted by applicable law.'

'We take your safety extremely seriously. Our firearms policy is intended to help ensure that our community, including both riders and drivers, feel safe and comfortable when using Uber and follows state law with respect to the possession of firearms,' the company website stated.

According to Uber policies, riders and drivers are prohibited from carrying firearms while using the platform 'to the extent permitted by applicable law'

The shooting comes months after a Lyft driver shot a passenger in April over a ride fare in Atlantic Station at around 2.30am

Users found violating the policy 'may lose access to Uber.'

In Georgia, individuals legally eligible to possess a firearm are permitted to carry one in their vehicles without a permit under the Georgia Constitutional Act of 2022.

Firearms must be stored correctly and are not permitted in schools and courthouses.

According to the US Concealed Carry Association, Georgia is a Castle Doctrine state and has a 'stand your ground' statute.

'There is no duty to retreat in defense of a forcible felony, such as rape, armed robbery or kidnapping,' the website said.

The shooting comes months after a Lyft driver fired at a passenger in April over a ride fare in Atlantic Station at around 2.30am.

A 26-year-old man was discovered with a gunshot wound and was rushed to hospital.

The driver, Robert Wallace, was arrested and taken into custody. Lyft said in a statement to Atlanta News First that Wallace was removed from the platform.
A history professor at Rutgers University who has courses on antifascism said he is moving abroad after receiving a death threats from far-right individuals.

Mark Bray, who has taught at the New Jersey college since 2019, told his students that all of his classes would move online for the foreseeable future, The Washington Post reported.

'Since my family and I do not feel safe in our home at the moment, we are moving for the year to Europe,' Bray said in an email to students.

'Truly I am so bummed about not being able to spend time with you all in the classroom.'

Bray traced the threats against him back to when he was quoted in various news stories explaining what antifascism was after President Donald Trump declared Antifa a 'domestic terrorist organization' in a September 22 executive order.

The order came after authorities said the suspect who allegedly killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk was motivated by leftist ideology, though he was never connected to Antifa itself.

Bray contradicted the Trump administration's description of Antifa as 'a militarist, anarchist enterprise' that uses 'coordinated efforts to obstruct enforcement of federal laws'.

'It's essentially a kind of coalition politics of all kinds of radicals, from different kinds of socialists to communists, anarchists and more independent radicals,' Bray said in the wake of the executive order. 'There are Antifa groups, but Antifa itself is not a group.'

Rutgers University history professor Mark Bray left the United States for Spain after receiving three death threats tied to his involvement in the antifascist movement. He denies being a part of any Antifa group

Bray claims the threats came after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on September 22 designating Antifa a terrorist organization

After these comments, MAGA influencer Jack Posobiec called Bray a 'domestic terrorist professor', while someone else shared the address of his New Jersey home.

The Rutgers chapter of Turning Point USA, the group Kirk founded, then launched a petition demanding that the university fire Bray.

The students claimed Bray is a member of Antifa and that he is a radical who wishes 'violence on them'.

Bray told The Post that he has received three death threats since September 26, one of which threatened to kill him in front of his students.

'I'm gonna burn your house down and kill you as you come running out,' read one of the threats obtained by Newsweek.

'You had better run, b****,' another email read. 'WE THE PEOPLE are back and we do not approve of your ideas and teachings. You prey on the weak, turning their brains to mush. Your organization will soon be mush.'

Rutgers said it is aware of Bray's plans to move to Spain for the rest of the academic year, as well as the petition calling for his firing.

'We are gathering more information about this evolving situation,' the university said in a statement to The Post.

Bray himself denied he is part of an Antifa group, but clarified that he does support anti-fascist movements.

Before Bray taught at Rutgers (pictured), he was a professor at Dartmouth and raised eyebrows for comments justifying political violence in some instances. He made the comments after the 2017 'Unite the Right' white supremacist rally that resulted in one person's death

The Turning Point USA petition accused him of advocating for political violence largely based on his 2017 book, Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook.

In the introduction, Bray wrote that the book argues that 'militant anti-fascism is a reasonable, historically informed response to the fascist threat that persisted after 1945 and that has become especially menacing in recent years'.

Bray later gave examples of tactics militant antifascists have used to achieve their goals, including singing over fascist speeches, occupying fascist meeting sites, infiltrating their groups and physically disrupting their newspapers sales.

He has also, in no uncertain terms, said that violence from left-wingers in response to perceived fascist threats is sometimes justified.

He most notably made this argument in the aftermath of the 2017 'Unite the Right' white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old counter-protestor, was killed when a man drove his car into the crowd.

Bray was a Dartmouth professor at the time and 100 of his colleagues rallied around him, though the university's president condemned him for 'supporting violent protest'.

Bray has taught courses on terrorism, human rights, modern Germany and communism while at Rutgers.

He said he wants to return to the US soon, but will be prerecording his classes for now.

'Im hopeful about returning, and Im hopeful  and I say this as a history professor  that someday we will look back on this as a cautionary tale about authoritarianism,' he said.
An alleged professional hit foiled by police is believed to have included live-streaming of the planned execution outside a daycare centre - with a handwritten note to be left beside his body.

Kevin Mundine, 19, Greall Tighe, 18, and Tyrone Tuiluga Rio, 26, were allegedly hired to gun down a known criminal as part of a power struggle within a South-East Asian crime syndicate operating in Australia.

The trio were stopped by police in traffic in Revesby, in Sydney's south-west, on Tuesday afternoon during a dramatic intervention by a specialist taskforce that had been monitoring the gang.

When heavily armed officers pulled the men from their vehicle, they allegedly found a disturbing handwritten note in the back seat - believed to have been intended for the victim's body, The Daily Telegraph reports.

The note allegedly read: 'TFCF - The Final Crime Family.'

Tighe was reportedly wearing a GoPro camera strapped to his chest at the time of his arrest, which police believe he planned to use to live-stream the execution for others to watch.

A chilling handwritten note was allegedly found in the back seat of the would-be killers' car when police foiled an assassination attempt in Revesby on Tuesday

Police allege that Kevin Mundine, 19, Greall Tighe, 18 and Tyrone Tuiluga Rio, 26, were hired to gun down a known criminal. Pictured is one of the trio being arrested

It's alleged the 'kill team' received specific instructions for the assassination plot via encrypted messaging app Threema.

'We wanna hit the dog out front of daycare,' one of the messages allegedly read.

'Make sure you leave the cardboard on his body.

'Shoot point blank at him... and smoke him.'

Police revealed on Wednesday that the intended target had links to crime and was a former gang member.

He came 'pretty close' to being gunned down before police intervened.

'We clearly stopped them from allegedly murdering someone and we clearly stopped other people, innocent bystanders, from being caught up in this intended [alleged] murder,' Detective Superintendent Peter Faux said.

'These people we arrested intending to carry out the alleged murder. They do not know the victim or have a personal relationship with the victim.

Greall Tighe, 18, allegedly had a GoPro camera strapped to his chest when he was arrested

the trio were stopped in their tracks in Revesby in Sydney 's south-west on Tuesday afternoon in a dramatic intervention by a police task force which had the alleged gang under surveillance

Police foiled an alleged assassination attempt on a father outside a daycare in Revesby in peak hour traffic on Tuesday afternoon

'They were people allegedly hired by a syndicate, possibly an offshore syndicate, to carry out this alleged murder on their behalf.

'We believe it is an internal matter where there is a dispute inside the organisation.'

Detectives are also examining potential links to the alleged kidnapping and murder of mum-of-two Thi Kim Tran earlier this year.

Police allege the Vietnam-born woman was abducted from her western Sydney home in April by masked men and shot before her remains were found in a burnt-out car.

The 45-year-old woman was likely targeted over her husband's alleged ties to a Vietnamese-linked crime network based in Victoria, detectives said.

Bankstown man The Anh Nguyen, 29, was charged with her murder in August. He is not accused of having killed Ms Tran himself but of facilitating her death.

The nature of any links between Tuesday's arrests and the death of Ms Tran, first reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, are not clear but under investigation by police.

NSW Premier Chris Minns weighed on on Wednesday after it was revealed that both Tighe and Mundine were on bail at the time of their arrests.

The pair had previously been charged with separate, unrelated, break-and-enter charges from earlier this year.

'Ultimately, we do rely on judges making what we regard as sound decisions to keep the community safe when assessing bail,' Minns said.

Kevin Mundine, 19, Greall Tighe, 18 and Tyrone Tuiluga Rio, 26, were all refused bail on Wednesday

Police allegedly uncovered two pistols, balaclavas, body-worn cameras and jerry cans filled with fuel in the trio's vehicles

'A lot of people would have seen the circumstances yesterday and said, 'Well, they got that one wrong."'

Mundine and Tighe were charged with conspiracy to commit murder, possession of an unauthorised pistol, being carried in a stolen vehicle, participating in a criminal group, and breaching bail.

Rio is facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder and participation in a criminal group.

All were refused bail in Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday.

Mundine will reappear in court on Thursday.

Tighe and Rio will return on December 3.
Synagogue attacker Jihad Al-Shamie's Muslim dating profile through which he duped a string of women can today be revealed for the first time.

The Syria-born knifeman - who it was yesterday revealed rang 999 during his deadly attack pledging allegiance to Islamic State - had a tangled love life and was married to at least three women simultaneously.

He was a prolific user of the Muzmatch app where he referred to himself as 'J' and said he was a data analyst of 'Syrian mixed heritage'.

In a sinister twist, the Daily Mail has also established that another of his many social media aliases was Dormammu - a reference to a 'demonic entity' from the Marvel universe.

In previously unseen messages, the one-time RAC call handler cynically tells his secret second wife that she is 'the only woman that I want in my life'.

After she discovered he was still married to his first wife, Ikra Sulehman, and they had children together, he admitted he had been lying to her.

But Al-Shamie - who was obsessed with clean living and watching foreign news bulletins - refused her pleas to grant her a divorce and kept demanding to meet up.

Callously, in a voicenote revealed today, he dismissed her concern about Ms Sulehman's reaction, telling her it was 'natural' for women to get jealous and 'in their nature'.

He met the second wife - a Muslim convert - over Muzmatch, now known as Muzz, in 2021, marrying her in an online religious ceremony the following year.

Synagogue attacker Jihad Al-Shamie's profile on Muslim dating app Muzmatch which he trawled for women, eventually taking three wives simultaneously

Fitness fanatic synagogue attacker Jihad Al-Shamie was obsessed with clean living and watching foreign news bulletins

Islamic State supporter Jihad Al-Shamie was 'intimidating' and 'aggressive', his secret second wife said, 'rocking up' sporadically and demanding sex

He later married a third woman, a 35-year-old NHS worker called Elizabeth Davis who has five children from previous relationships.

Today the second wife told the Mail that Al-Shamie was 'intimidating' and 'aggressive', and obsessed with watching foreign TV news channels.

But despite branding him a 'controlling' liar, she said there was nothing in his behaviour when they were together that suggested he was becoming radicalised.

'One minute he can talk nice, then its like flipping a switch,' said the woman, who is helping counter-terror police now probing his background and who the Mail is not identifying.

When they first met he seemed 'lovely', she said.

'A nice guy, genuine, seemed normal, prayed.

'But then he would be "Im outside yours, where are you?", turning up when he felt like it.'

She said Al-Shamie would 'rock up whenever he felt like it', demanding sex.

In an exchange months after they married, Al-Shamie tells his secret wife that she isn't allowed to 'disappear' and block him

Jihad Al-Shamie 'flipped' between being 'nice' and 'vile', his secret second wife said

One of Jihad Al-Shamie's many social media aliases was Dormammu - a reference to a 'demonic entity' from the Marvel universe

Al-Shamie refused the Muslim convert's plea to end their marriage, telling her that even though he had said he was divorcing her three times - a traditional Islamic custom - it didn't count as one of them was 'in anger'

'Until April this year he wouldnt leave me alone. It was a rollercoaster.'

The woman - who has children by a previous partner - said the terrorist used to 'slate' her, saying no man would want her because of her 'baggage'.

She now believes 'controlling, manipulative' Al-Shamie never told Ms Sulehman that he had taken a second wife.

'I kept saying youve got a wife and he kept denying it.

'One minute shes jealous, next minute she accepts it, next minute shes not bothered,' she said.

During their 'rollercoaster' on-off long-distance relationship, Al-Shamie lied that he planned to move closer to her home and wanted children with her.

In one voicenote obtained by the Daily Mail, controlling Al-Shamie tells her: 'I miss you a lot, right, Im crazy about you, I cant stop thinking about you.

'And youre the only woman that I want in my life, youre the only woman thats ever made me feel like this before.

'The only woman that I have a connection like this with.'

In another recording, talking about Ms Sulehman, he tells her: 'Babe, every woman gets jealous, its natural, its in their nature.

'It doesnt mean shes opposed to it or hates it.

'Shes fine by it, do you understand? Shes fine with it.

'She knows about us already.'

Under some interpretations of Islam, a husband can end his marriage by telling his wife he is divorcing her three times - known as talaq.

But the convert said Al-Shamie told her she couldn't have a divorce - instead tormenting her by telling her twice but crucially not a third time.

She said Al-Shamie was 'big' on watching foreign TV news but never talked about politics or the fighting in Gaza.

'He was glued to his phone watching the news.

The profile picture which synagogue attacker Jihad Al-Shamie used as his profile on dating app Muzmatch

Jihad Al-Shamie (pictured working out at the gym) made the call claiming responsibility for the attack after driving at people in his car outside Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, last Thursday morning

'He was just big on going to the mosque and praying.'

Al-Shamie was also obsessed with healthy eating, telling her Red Bull was 'nasty' and her children should only drink water.

When she found out he was the attacker shot dead last week, she said her first thought was: 'Why?'

'Ive let you in my home, Ive given you my time, youve harassed me for years, you married me and wouldnt divorce me so Im still technically married to him to this day.

'I wouldnt say hes got the mindset of being a terrorist, personally, from what I knew of him.

'But at the same time how aggressive he was, how manipulating he was, was he this terrorist all along or was he crying out for help, who knows.'

The 35-year-old made the call claiming responsibility for the attack after driving at people in his car outside Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, last Thursday morning as Jewish worshippers attended for the holy day of Yom Kippur.

He then attacked others with a knife and tried to storm the synagogue, wearing a fake suicide belt, before being shot dead by armed police.

Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, who was shot dead minutes after he targeted Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester. It is believed he had three wives and was a father of three children

Al-Shamie travelled to Britain with his family as a young child and was granted UK citizenship in 2006, aged around 16

Father-of-three Melvin Cravitz, 66, was killed, along with Adrian Daulby, 53, believed to have been inadvertently shot by police as he ran to block the synagogue doors to stop Al-Shamie getting inside to continue his knife rampage.

Counter-terror police believe that Al-Shamie, a Syrian-born UK citizen, was influenced by extremist Islamist ideology.

Despite claiming to act on behalf of Islamic State, MI5 have reportedly been unable to establish any links between Al-Shamie and the terror group or other proscribed organisations.

Counter-terror police initially arrested six people in connection with the attack, releasing two without charge on Saturday.

The four others arrested were released without charge last night.

Last night it emerged that the police watchdog has found no misconduct by the three armed officers who opened fire during the attack.

Tragically Mr Daulby was accidentally shot and killed while a second congregant was injured as they tried to block Al-Shamie from entering the synagogue.

Instead the Independent Office for Police Conduct is treating the officers as witnesses in its ongoing investigation, it said.

Melvin Cravitz, 66, from Crumpsall, died in the deadly attack last Thursday

Adrian Daulby, 53, also died in the attack after being accidentally shot by police

Welcoming the finding, Sir Stephen Watson, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, said the force had been 'inundated with messages of thanks and support for the actions that our brave officers took to prevent further harm to our Jewish community'.

'I welcome this continued support and acknowledge the fact that the IOPC have today confirmed their finding that no misconduct is apparent in the actions required of our officers in bringing this dreadful attack to an end.

'These findings relate to the death of the terrorist and to the tragic death of Mr Adrian Daulby; and the injury sustained by another courageous member of the congregation.'

He pledged to work with the IOPC on previous complaints of rape and harassment it has received against Al-Shamie.

The IOPC said its finding would remain 'under review' as its investigation continues.

Director Emily Barry said: 'Our investigation, which is mandatory in situations where police use of force may have resulted in the death of a member of the public, is looking at the actions and decision-making of the officers involved in the incident.

'This includes whether police may have caused or contributed to the death of Mr Daulby, and any role the police may have played in the injuries suffered the other man who suffered a non-fatal gunshot wound during the incident.'

Earlier Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North West , Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts, said: 'Minutes after the first call was made to GMP and as firearms officers were making their way to the scene, Al-Shamie called 999 claiming responsibility for the attack.

'He also pledged allegiance to Islamic State.

'The attack continued but thanks to the bravery of security staff, worshippers and the fast action of police, the attacker was prevented from gaining access to the synagogue.'

Mr Potts said the police investigation continues and reiterated that while Al-Shamie was on bail for an alleged rape, he was not known to either the Government's anti-radicalisation programme Prevent or to counter-terror police.

Three men remain in hospital with serious injuries, including a security guard with car-impact injuries and a Community Security Trust (CST) worker with stab wounds.

The so-called Islamic State is a jihadist Islamist terror group who conquered territory in Syria and Iraq and declared a 'caliphate' in 2013 before battlefield defeats.
President Donald Trump appears to be closer to invoking the Insurrection Act, which would give him the power to put active-duty troops on the ground in U.S. cities for law enforcement purposes.

NBC News reported Wednesday on the discussions, which have ebbed and flowed since Trump returned to office in January.

Such an action doesn't appear to be imminent, but Trump has expressed frustration when his efforts to send National Guard troops into cities have been rebuffed.

Trump has said the National Guard is necessary to combat crime in places like Washington, D.C., but he's also wanted soldiers to protect the efforts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers as his administration carries out its mass deportation plan.

NBC reported that the Insurrection Act discussions have centered around what the president could do if local law enforcement officers refuse to protect ICE.

But having troops on the ground could lead to clashes between active-duty forces and American civilians, some involved in the discussions have warned.

Trump had considered invoking the Insurrection Act during the series of 'Black Lives Matter' protests that followed the May 2020 death of George Floyd, but Defense Secretary Mark Esper waved him off the idea at the time.

A senior administration official told NBC that Trump now regrets that decision and views the current decision through that prism.

President Donald Trump speaks at a roundtable meeting on Wednesday on Antifa. Earlier, NBC News reported that he's inching closer to invoking the Insurrection Act

Members of the Texas National Guard carry rifles and riot shields at a base outside of Chicago, Illinois

Key White House adviser Stephen Miller has been a proponent.

Polling shows, however, that it would not be a popular move as 58 percent of Americans - including seven in 10 Democrats and half of Republicans - think the president should only send troops into areas where they face external threats, polling from Reuters/Ipsos revealed.

Asked about it in the Oval Office on Tuesday, the president expressed an openness.

'Well, it's been invoked before. If you look at Chicago - Chicago is a great city where there's a lot of crime and if the governor can't do that the job, we'll do the. job,' Trump said.

On Wednesday, Trump was flanked by Attorney General Pam Bondi and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and held an hour-and-a-half discussion on Antifa.

Much of the conversation surrounded what conservative journalists had seen on the ground in Portland, but Trump circled back to Chicago again and again.

He labeled Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker a 'loser' and pushed the idea that Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson could be prosecuted by the Department of Justice for not helping ICE.

'I understand that's a criminal offense,' Trump floated.

Trump has also talked about the Insurrection Act in regards to Portland, after a judge on Sunday blocked the president from sending National Guard members from any state into the Oregon city.

The president said he would invoke the Insurrection Act 'if it was necessary.'

'If people were being killed, and courts were holding us up, or governors or mayors were holding us up, sure, I'd do that,' he said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dramatically interrupted a summit held by Donald Trump at the White House to hand him an urgent note on the Gaza peace deal.

'I was just given a note by the Secretary of State saying that we're very close to a deal in the Middle East, and they're going to need me pretty quickly,' Trump told reporters gathered at the roundtable on Wednesday.

The frantically scrawled note was caught on camera. It read: 'Very close. We need you to approve a post on Truth Social soon, so you can announce the deal first.'

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed that Trump 'is considering heading to the Middle East' as soon as Friday.

No announcement has yet been made on his Truth Social platform.

It comes as Hamas and Israel remain locked in high-stakes negotiations in Egypt. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner are attending the talks.

'"Peace for the Middle East," that's a beautiful phrase, and we hope it's going to come true, but it's very close, and they're doing very well,' Trump said earlier.

'We have a great team over there, great negotiators, and they're, unfortunately, great negotiators on the other side also. But it's something I think that will happen.'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio interrupts a summit held by Donald Trump at the White House to hand him an urgent note on the Gaza peace deal

The note handed by Rubio to Trump appeared on camera as the president read it over. 'Very close. We need you to approve a post on Truth Social soon, so you can announce the deal first,' it says

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said that he had received 'encouraging' signs and hailed the support of Trump, whose 20-point peace proposal forms the basis of the talks.

Hamas too expressed 'optimism' over the indirect discussions with its foe Israel.

Trump's plan calls for a ceasefire, the release of all the hostages held in Gaza, Hamas's disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the territory.

'The mediators are making great efforts to remove any obstacles to the implementation of the ceasefire, and a spirit of optimism prevails among all parties,' senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said from the resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, where talks kicked off on Monday.

The terror group submitted a list of prisoners it wants to be released in the first phase of the truce 'in accordance with the agreed-upon criteria and numbers,' Nunu added.

In exchange, Hamas is set to release 47 hostages, both alive and dead, it seized in its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

Twenty are believed to be alive and there are grave concerns for the well-being of two others, according to Israeli officials.

Among the bodies held by the terrorist group is an IDF soldier killed in the Strip in 2014.

Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he arrives at the White House on September 29

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Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli military strike in the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Negotiations are focused on the mechanisms to halt the conflict, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the swap deal, the Palestinian militant group said.

But officials on all sides urged caution over the prospects for a rapid agreement.

Hamas wants a permanent, comprehensive ceasefire, a complete pullout of Israeli forces and the immediate start of a comprehensive reconstruction process under the supervision of a Palestinian 'national technocratic body'.

Israel, for its part, wants Hamas to disarm, which the group rejects.

American officials suggest they want to initially focus talks on a halt to the fighting and the logistics of how the Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinian detainees in Israel would be freed.

Once all hostages are returned, Israel will free 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, plus 1,700 Gazans arrested since October 7, including all women and children.

For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 dead Gazans, the Trump plan says.

In the absence of a ceasefire, Israel has pressed on with its offensive in Gaza, increasing its international isolation.

According to the Hamas-run Gazan authorities, some 67,000 people have been killed in Israel's assault.

It followed the October 7 attack, when 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken to Gaza as hostages.
Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon's Secretary of War, is spearheading a witch hunt into Charlie Kirk's critics.

According to documents obtained by the Washington Post, the Pentagon has reviewed the online comments of almost 300 Defense Department employees spanning service members, civilian staff, and contractors  made in the aftermath of last month's assassination of the conservative luminary.

After Kirk was killed on September 10, the Defense Department actively searched for employees who had made critical comments about him or his movement.

By the end of September, 128 service members had been investigated in connection with Kirk's death, with most cases still ongoing, according to documents seen by the Post.

Out of those, 26 have been officially reprimanded, which could affect their career advancement and future assignments.

It comes at the same time the Pentagon is tightening it's belt on journalists and the way they cover the department.

In recent weeks, the Defense Department has faced criticism from journalists in Washington for implementing a new policy requiring reporters to agree not to collect information without the departments explicit permission.

Journalists who refuse to sign this agreement risk losing their credentials to report on Pentagon activities.

Last week, Daily Mail reported that Hegseth was accused of 'condescending and insulting' America's top generals and admirals at a highly anticipated summit in Quantico.

The Washington Post reports that Pete Hegseth , the Pentagon 's Secretary of War, is spearheading a witch hunt into Charlie Kirk 's critics

According to documents obtained by the Post, the Pentagon has reviewed the online comments of almost 300 Defense Department employees spanning service members, civilian staff, and contractors  made in the aftermath of last month's shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk

After Charlie Kirk was killed on September 10, the Defense Department actively searched for employees who had made critical comments about him or his movement

In a highly awaited speech, Hegseth laid out a vision for troops and their commanders free from what he called 'woke politics,' diversity initiatives, and policies he referred to as involving 'dudes in dresses,' using strong language throughout his speech.

A day later, several firings were made within the department.

A former national security official told the Daily Mail he found it absurd to see the military's highestranking service men and women being forced to listen to Hegseth, who was only ever a juniorranking soldier before becoming a Fox TV host.

The exdefense staffer said: 'I thought it was a highly inappropriate politicization of the US military, which both Trump and Hegseth love to do.'

Since Kirk's death, Hegseth and his team have argued that any speech praising or mocking the death of the Turning Point USA founder is 'improper partisan behavior' and can lead to disciplinary measures, including possible firing.

'It's a violation of the oath, it's conduct unbecoming, it's a betrayal of the Americans they've sworn to protect & dangerously incompatible with military service,' spokesman Sean Parnell wrote last month on social media.

Former defense officials and congressional Democrats say that Defense Secretary Hegseth's order to go after people who criticized Charlie Kirk shows growing concern about Kirk's influence over the military.

Opponents accuse the administration of hypocrisy for ignoring political violence when it targets their side, pointing to the president's silence after a Democratic lawmaker was assassinated.
Capitol Hill lawmakers and aides doubt there will be a resolution to the government shutdown before mass anti-Trump demonstrations descend on Washington DC next week.

The 'No Kings' protest set for October 18 is expected to draw thousands. Organizers say it'll be a show of force to oppose President Donald Trump's 'authoritarian power grab' and to put more pressure on Democrats to stymie the adminstration.

Any capitulation by Senate Democrats before then is only expected to exacerbate liberal outrage, say the Daily Mail's sources on Capitol Hill.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, who may face a competitive primary against progressive Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez in 2028, will almost certainly feel pressure to hold the line against Trump.

'They are putting their own folks at a disadvantage,' one senior Senate Republican aide told the Daily Mail, predicting that the longer the shutdown last, the more Democrats will be blamed for it.

'If I were the 'No Kings' guys, I'd be saying we need to move this [protest] up to, like, the 13th or 14th,' the Republican aide added.

An upcoming protest is on Democrats' radar as they try to find a way to fund the government

The 'No Kings' protest map includes hundreds of cities nationwide. Washington, D.C., is expected to be the focal point of the event. Democratic lawmakers are taking notice, and may be pressured to hold fast if the government shutdown is still ongoing

The top Senate Republican John Thune noted how the upcoming protest will put pressure on Democrats

Nevada's Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto told the Daily Mail she was confident her colleagues were closely tracking the 'No Kings' protest.

She is one of the three Democratic senators who have bucked Schumer and voted alongside Republicans to fund the government and end the shutdown. Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and Angus King, I-Maine, have also voted with the GOP.

'I think that the Democrats are under a ton of pressure from their far-left base,' Senate Majority Leader John Thune told the Daily Mail. 'They've got a big rally out here on October the 18th.'

'A bunch of liberal groups are organizing it, and I think they're afraid, honestly, to open up the government and the kind of abuse they'll take,' he added.

A sixth vote to reopen the government failed on Wednesday by a margin of 54 to 45. At least 60 votes are needed for any funding bill to pass.

President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers have blamed Democrats for the government shutdown. A GOP-authored spending bill has failed to pass the Senate due to liberal legislators voting against it. It needs 60 votes to pass

The top Democrat in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, has repeatedly demanded that an ACA subsidy extension be attached to any government funding bill.

Demonstrators take part in a protest against the Trump administration during the 'No Kings' national rally in downtown Los Angeles, California, on June 14, 2025

Few Democrats have been publicly forthcoming about the pressure they feel.

Fetterman, who has repeatedly voted to reopen the government, told the Daily Mail the shutdown has caused chaos that impacts millions of US citizens.

'You really shouldn't hold it hostage,' he said. 'It's getting more and more difficult to be a voice of moderation.'

Schumer and Democrats have said over and over that they would not vote to reopen the government until the ACA, or Obamacare, subsidies are renewed before they expire at the end of December.

Tens of millions of Americans rely on these subsidies for low-cost insurance. If they are not renewed, some Americans could see their insurance costs double, or worse.

A Secret Service Agent guards the entrance to the White House as thousands march through Washington D.C. in protest of Donald Trump's use of federal agents and the National Guardsmen to conduct policing actions throughout the city

'I would be very disappointed if I end up as the lone Democrat who believes both: it's always wrong to shut the government down but fully supports to extend these ACA tax credits.' Fetterman continued.

Republicans, meanwhile, have argued that government funding bills should not be tethered to healthcare reform legislation.

And they are not eager to engage with Democrats, who they believe started the shutdown with their healthcare demands.

In fact, some would rather let them reap what they sowed.

'There's not much to talk about,' Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., told the Daily Mail. 'We can't solve Chuck Schumer's political problems that he's got.'

As the shutdown heads into a ninth day, it is increasingly seeming like it will drag on well into October.

The longest government shutdown in history came during Trump's first term and stretched for 35 days between December 2018 and January 2019.
Keir Starmer wants to expand the use of controversial digital IDs to cover Britons' everyday lives.

The Prime Minister announced last month that a mandatory system would be introduced so people can prove they have the right to work here  in an attempt to curb illegal migration.

But Sir Keir has now said the system could also be used on a voluntary basis by citizens to prove identity and make it easier to apply for public services, such as childcare and benefits.

And he will press ahead with the radical policy despite tumbling public support.

Sir Keir, during his trade mission to Mumbai, met IT giant Infosys' Nandan Nilekani who founded India's biometric ID system under which more than one billion people have cards.

The PM was asked if he had killed off support for digital ID in the UK.

He replied: 'We need to address the fact that too many people can come to this country and work illegally, and that's why ID mandatory for working is really important.'

But he went on: 'I think there is a case to be made about the benefits for voluntary ID into other areas.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer lights a candle at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai to celebrate the approaching Diwali festival of light during his visit to India

Tory MP Alex Burghart (pictured) said: 'What started as a smokescreen for Labour's failure to stop illegal migration is being rapidly expanded. It's obvious they haven't thought this through' (file image)

'On the one hand, it's mandatory for work, but I think it'd be a good passport.'

Tory MP Alex Burghart said: 'What started as a smokescreen for Labour's failure to stop illegal migration is being rapidly expanded.

'It's obvious they haven't thought this through.'
President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night that both Israel and Hamas had signed off on the 'first phase' of his proposed peace deal - a substantial step in ending the war in Gaza.

'This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace,' Trump wrote on Truth Social.

'All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen,' he continued. 'BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!'

Hamas plans to release all 20 living hostages this weekend, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press, in exchange for roughly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, while the Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority of Gaza.

Trump later told Reuters that it's 'a great day for the world'.

'The whole world has come together on this one, Israel, every country has come together. This has been a fantastic day,' he said. 'This is a great day for the world. This is a wonderful day, a wonderful day for everybody'.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the government will convene Thursday to ratify the deal and looked forward to the release of the hostages.

'With God's help, we will bring them all home.' Netanyahu said in a statement.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio interrupts a summit held by Donald Trump at the White House to hand him an urgent note on the Gaza peace deal

The note handed by Rubio to Trump appeared on camera as the president read it over. 'Very close. We need you to approve a post on Truth Social soon, so you can announce the deal first,' it says

President Donald Trump's put out the news in the anticipated Truth Social post, announcing that Israel and Hamas had signed off on the 'first Phase of our Peace Plan'

'I thank the heroic soldiers of the IDF and all the security forces  thanks to their courage and sacrifice we have reached this day. I thank from the bottom of my heart President Trump and his team for mobilizing for this sacred mission of freeing our hostages.

'With God's help, together we will continue to achieve all our objectives and expand peace with our neighbors.'

Hamas thanked Trump, as well as mediators in Qatar, Egypt and Turkey for the peace deal which they say provides 'the withdrawal of the occupation, allows the entry of aid and implements a prisoner exchange.'

'We call on President Trump, the guarantor states of the agreement, and all Arab, Islamic and international parties to oblige the government of the occupation to fulfill all the agreement's commitments, and not to allow it to evade or delay implementation of the accords.'

Netanyahu's office said that he and Trump spoke and congratulated each other on the agreement to release all hostages, which Netanyahu's office described as a 'historic achievement.'

According to a statement from the prime minister's office, the conversation was 'warm and moving.' Netanyahu thanked Trump for his 'efforts and global leadership,' while Trump praised Netanyahu's 'determined leadership and the actions he led.'

A senior Hamas official said the group has handed over a list of Palestinian prisoners who will be released as part of the ceasefire deal.

Zaher Jabarin, who oversees Palestinian prisoners' affairs, said in a statement the list was prepared in accordance with 'the criteria agreed upon in the agreement.'

Smoke rises to the sky following an Israeli military strike in the northern Gaza Strip, as seen from southern Israel, Wednesday, October 8, 2025

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He said the group still 'awaiting final agreement on the names,' and that they will be announced 'once the relevant procedures and understandings are completed.'

An Israeli official told CNN that they're preparing for Trump to visit early next week.

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed the agreement between Israel and Hamas late Wednesday while urging all parties to 'abide fully by the terms of the agreement.'

Guterres said that the U.N. will support the full implementation of the agreement and is ready to deliver more humanitarian aid to Gaza, which has been sitting on the border of Jordan and Egypt.

'I urge all stakeholders to seize this momentous opportunity to establish a credible political path forward towards ending the occupation, recognizing the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, and achieving a two-state solution that enables Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security,' he said.

Earlier in the day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio had interrupted a roundtable Trump was having in the State Dining Room to deliver him an urgent note on the Gaza peace deal.

'I was just given a note by the Secretary of State saying that we're very close to a deal in the Middle East, and they're going to need me pretty quickly,' Trump told attendees.

The frantically scrawled note was caught on camera.

Netanyahu's office said that he and Trump spoke and congratulated each other on the agreement to release all hostages, which Netanyahu's office described as a 'historic achievement'

A view of devastation in Shujaiyya, one of the largest and oldest neighborhoods in eastern Gaza City

It read: 'Very close. We need you to approve a post on Truth Social soon, so you can announce the deal first.'

At the same event, Trump confirmed reports that he would head to the Middle East as soon as this weekend.

He told reporters he would likely travel to Egypt , where negotiations are happening, but expressed an openness to traveling to Gaza as well.

Trump also has yet to travel to Israel during his second term.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the trip in a statement, saying that Trump would visit Walter Reed on Friday to meet with the troops and receive his annual physical as he's 'considering going to the Middle East shortly thereafter.'

There, he would join special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who have been attending the talks.

Prior to Trump's announcement, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said that he had received 'encouraging' signs and hailed the support of Trump, whose 20-point peace proposal formed the basis of the talks.

Hamas too expressed 'optimism' over the indirect discussions with its foe Israel.

Trump's plan calls for a ceasefire, the release of all the hostages held in Gaza, Hamas' disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the territory.

'The mediators are making great efforts to remove any obstacles to the implementation of the ceasefire, and a spirit of optimism prevails among all parties,' senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said from the resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, where talks kicked off on Monday.

The terror group submitted a list of prisoners it wants to be released in the first phase of the truce 'in accordance with the agreed-upon criteria and numbers,' Nunu added.

In exchange, Hamas is set to release 47 hostages, both alive and dead, that the group had seized during the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel, when 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken into Gaza as hostages.

Twenty are believed to still be alive.

Once the hostages are returned, Israel will free 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, plus 1,700 Gazans arrested since October 7, including all the women and children.

For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 dead Gazans, the Trump plan says.

Trump's announcement of a deal comes one day after the second anniversary of that grim day, which kickstarted the present war.

This will be the third ceasefire reached since the start of the war.

The first, in November 2023, saw more than 100 hostages, mainly women and children, freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners before it broke down.

The second, in January and February of this year, saw Palestinian militants release 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight more in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israel ended that ceasefire in March with a surprise bombardment.
A pro-Palestine protest at the Sydney Opera House has been banned from going ahead.

Police challenged the Palestine Action Group's right to protest at a full-day NSW Court of Appeal hearing on Wednesday.

Organisers had hoped that Sunday's march would see at least 40,000 people flock to the CBD and march to the Opera House.

NSW Chief Justice Andrew Bell, Common Law Chief Judge Ian Harrison, and Justice Stephen Free handed down their verdict on Thursday morning.

Justice Free said a protest of that size would have 'given rise to a risk of crowd crush', and that was a unanimous view shared by the judges.

NSW Assistant Police Commissioner Peter McKenna had earlier warned that the proposed event would threaten public safety, as the Opera House forecourt has a maximum safe capacity of 6,000.

'It has disaster written all over it,' Assistant Commissioner McKenna told the court on Wednesday.

'We are not anti-protest. All the altruism in the world doesn't assist when you have a physical situation where we believe numbers are far too excessive to keep people safe.'

A 2023 protest outside the Sydney Opera House saw an Israeli flag burned and flares fired

A pro-Palestine protest at the Sydney Opera House this Sunday has been banned

Assistant Commissioner McKenna was due to address the media about the court decision later on Thursday.

Before the verdict was handed down, organisers and lawyers behind the Palestine Action Group declined to confirm whether they would press on with an unauthorised protest.

Comparing the protest to the August rally at the Sydney Harbour Bridge which was attended by more than 100,000 despite wet and wintry conditions, Justice Bell expressed concerns that even more could attend Sunday's event.

He also noted Macquarie Street could become a 'narrow funnel' that pushes protesters into a tight space.

Palestine Action Group's lawyers denied there was a danger in such a large crowd, citing previous unticketed events at the Opera House, such as the popular light show Vivid, which were managed capably.

In the 1990s, Australian-New Zealand band Crowded House performed on the steps of the Opera House to a crowd of 100,000, organisers noted in a post on social media.

The lawyers also argued that 'altruism and mutual assistance' would prevent a public safety catastrophe.

Outside the court on Wednesday, Palestine Action Group spokeswoman Amal Naser highlighted the importance of the rally.

'We can see no end to this genocide,' she said.

'That's why it is urgent, right now, for us to protest, to demand that the Australian government abide by its international law obligations to prevent and punish Israel for this genocide.'

More than 40,000 protesters were expected to attend this Sunday's proposed rally

Justice Bell expressed concerns that crowds at Sunday's proposed rally at the Opera House could exceed the 100,000 that shut down the Sydney Harbour Bridge in August

Israel has repeatedly denied such allegations, even though the United Nations commission and top international law scholars have found it has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Palestine Action Group has been organising weekly rallies in Australia's capital cities since Israel's military assault on Gaza began in 2023.

About 1200 people killed after Hamas staged a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

As of the latest reports, 48 hostages taken during the October 7 attacks are still believed to be in captivity in Gaza, with around 20 of them thought to be alive.

The subsequent war has already killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

The ban on Sunday's protest comes as US President Donald Trump announced that Hamas and Israel have agreed to a peace deal in Gaza after days of negotiation.

'I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,' Trump wrote on Truth Social.

'This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a strong, durable, and everlasting peace.

'All parties will be treated fairly! This is a great day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!!'

NSW has a permit system that allows protesters to block public roads and infrastructure unless a court denies permission after a police challenge.

An impromptu demonstration was staged by pro-Palestinian supporters on the Sydney Opera House forecourt in the days following the October 7 massacre in 2023.
Harry and Meghan are expected in New York tomorrow at a mental health gala where they will be recognised as 'humanitarians of the year'.

But the ceremony will be overshadowed by a critical letter issued by the government of Chad targeting a charity with which the Duke is closely linked.

The country's environment minister, Hassan Bakhit Djamous, has accused African Parks - which counts Harry among its board members - of financial misconduct and 'disrespect'.

In a damning four-page letter, Mr Djamous said African Parks had demonstrated 'a recurring indelicate and disrespectful attitude' towards his government.

The charity, of which Harry was president for six years before he joining its board in 2023, looks after more than 20 protected national parks and reserves in 13 countries on behalf of their governments.

Its backers include famous billionaire investors Warren Buffet and Bill Ackman, and it has counted the EU, WWF and People's Postcode Lottery among its supporters.

But Mr Djamous has accused it of illegally collecting tourist revenues, using tax-sheltering bank accounts in the Isle of Man and transferring assets abroad in 'flagrant violation' of Chad's banking laws.

He further claimed there had been a resurgence in poaching and a lack of investment at reserves managed by the conservation group.

The Duke of Sussex has been contacted for comment on the claims - a day before he and Meghan arrive in New York for Project Healthy Minds' World Mental Health Day Festival at the flashy Spring Studios venue.

Harry and Meghan are set to be recognised as 'humanitarians' by a mental health initiative they have supported on several occasions this week (pictured at a 2023 World Mental Health Day event organised by Project Healthy Minds)

The pair will be recognised by Project Healthy Minds - with whom their charity, Archewell, has collaborated extensively (pictured: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at a World Mental Health Day event organised by both bodies)

Prince Harry (pictured 2019) was African Park's President for six years until being elevated to the governing board of directors in 2023. He is said to have been fully involved in plans to change the charity

At the ceremony, they will be feted for their 'meaningful contributions to advancing mental wellbeing worldwide' including with young people - having collaborated extensively with Project Healthy Minds, who is giving out the award, in the past.

In a joint statement, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: 'Working with families and young people to prioritize safety online has been some of the most meaningful work of our lives.

'As parents ourselves, we have been moved to action by the power of their stories and are honored to support them.

'We're proud to be long-time partners of Project Healthy Minds as we work together to shine a light on what remains one of the most pressing issues of our time.'

Project Healthy Minds founder and CEO Phillip Schermer, a former high-flyer at investment firm Blackrock - called it a privilege to be able to honor the couple.

And it comes just days after Meghan made a surprise appearance at Paris Fashion Week, turning heads as she rubbed shoulders with Anna Wintour and Baz Luhrmann at a Balenciaga runway event.

Harry is understood to have stayed home to look after their children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lillibet, four.

But the African Parks scandal may loom at the back of the Duke's mind - coming soon after his very public departure from children's charity Sentebale after a dispute with chair Dr. Sophie Chandauka, who called his personal brand 'toxic'.

She remains in post. A Charity Commission probe earlier this year found no evidence of 'widespread bullying or harassment' as she had claimed, but criticised the organisation for lacking proper processes to report allegations of misconduct.

Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho walked away from children's charity Sentebale earlier this year

The charity's chair, Dr Sophie Chandauka, had made claims of bullying and harassment that were later not found to be proved

The Duke of Sussex, while he worked in Malawi with African Parks as part of an initiative involving moving 500 elephants over 200 miles across the country in 2016

The Chad scandal is the latest issue to befall African Parks after a Mail investigation found evidence that guards managed by the NGO were embarking on campaigns of abuse and intimidation.

Allegations of abuse of indigenous people were upheld earlier this year following an independent investigation, the results of which African Parks has not published.

And the Duke, 41, has not spoken out on either those claims or the latest allegations made by the Chadian government.

He did, however, attend an African Parks event in September 2024, several months after human rights abuses came to light.

African Parks said in a statement it was in talks to 'better understand the government's position' and 'explore the best way forward to support the continued protection of these critical landscapes'.

'African Parks will continue to keep its partners and stakeholders informed, as further clarity is obtained,' the charity said.

It had led anti-poaching efforts and to restore elephant populations at the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem, which includes the Zakouma and Siniaka-Minia national parks.

According to African Parks, the elephant population at Zakouma National Parks increased from 450 in 2010, when it took over management of the site, to over 550 by 2019.

African Parks has helped to relocate critically endangered animals such as black rhinos (pictured) away from zones of poaching - but has been accused of not properly resourcing anti-poaching activities in Chad

The Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve in Chad (pictured) was one of several managed by African Parks on behalf of the Chadian government

Zakouma National Park, home to a large elephant population, was managed by African Parks until Chad ended the deal

It comes just six months after Chad renewed its agreement with the charity - off the back of shocking findings following a probe into allegations of human rights abuses by staff linked to African Parks.

Last year, an investigation by The Mail on Sunday discovered evidence of intimidation and abuse in the rainforests of the Republic of the Congo by guards managed and paid by the African Parks charity, including allegations of rapes and beatings.

The MoS found first-hand testimonies of atrocities inflicted on the Baka, an indigenous people once known as pygmies, to stop them entering forests where they have foraged, fished, hunted and found medicines for millennia.

One woman told of being raped by an armed guard while clinging to her newborn baby. And a teenage boy claimed he was groomed for paid sex by another guard.

A community activist said a Baka man died after being beaten and jailed without getting treatment for his injuries.

African Parks then launched an independent review and the charity has now admitted that human rights abuses occurred in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park since December 2023.

The results of the probe, carried out by London law firm Omnia Strategy LLP, then went directly to African Parks. It did not publicly share the results.

The charity said in a statement in May: 'The board of African Parks has reviewed Omnia's advice and endorsed the management plan and timeframes to implement the recommendations resulting from this process.

'African Parks acknowledges that, in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred, and we deeply regret the pain and suffering that these have caused to the victims.

'Omnia's process also highlighted several failures of our systems and processes that were insufficient for the level of responsibility given to us, particularly in the early years of our management of Odzala.'

The Mail has contacted the Government of Chad and the Duke of Sussex for further comment. African Parks declined to comment further when approached.
Wealthy New Yorkers are considering fleeing to the suburbs as the possibility of a progressive mayor gets stronger.

As the reality settles in that Zohran Mamdani  a steadfast Democratic Socialist  may soon become New York City's mayor, many city-dwellers are planning their escape route.

This is because the policies at the core of Mamdani's campaign are largely unpopular with wealthy and upper-middle class New Yorkers.

Mamdani has pledged to increase taxes on high-earners in an effort to make the city more affordable. In doing so, he is pushing those with high incomes out of the city and into lower-tax areas.

Certainly, according to realtors, New York City's loss is Westchester's gain.

Westchester, a leafy suburb in the Hudson Valley, is located just north of the city, with an easy commute into Manhattan.

'We are absolutely seeing a correlation between Zohran Mamdani's surprise win in the Democratic primary and an uptick in real estate interest in Westchester,' Zach and Heather Harrison, real estate agents in the area, noted.

'Since the summer, nearly every buyer from the city we have taken out to see homes in Westchester has mentioned the mayoral election as one of the drivers for shopping in the suburbs,' they told Realtor.com.

Wealthy New Yorkers who want to avoid Mamdani's taxes on high-earners are exploring moving to Westchester County

Zohran Mamdani won the primary in June and is now polling ahead of his opposition

Since Mamdani won the Democratic primary in June, sales going into contract in Westchester County are up 15 percent compared to the same period last year, according to The Harrison Team.

Local agents are already calling it the 'Mamdani effect.'

'The current environment is giving buyers and investors a reason to reconsider their next real estate move, and turning to Westchester as the main attraction,' say the Harrisons.

In comparison to New York City, Westchester offers more space, lower crime rates, and often lower effective taxes.

For those who work in the city, the commuter rail (Metro-North) still connects Westchester to New York City  but with remote work, many people don't need to be in the city daily anyway.

Another attractive quality is the highly-rated public schools Westchester towns have to offer  which are a big draw for families.

However, in this case, the suburbs are not less expensive than the city. As of August, the median home list price in Westchester County was $729,999.

Not only is this well above the national median of $429,990, but it is also higher than New York City's median list price, which was $631,300 in August, according to Zillow.

Westchester is easily commutable from New York City on the train or by car

In comparison to New York City, Westchester offers more space, lower crime rates, and often lower effective taxes

Mamdani has campaigned on making housing in New York City more affordable for working class communities and immigrants

What Mamdani is proposing for New York City aims to make housing more affordable for working-class and immigrant communities who have been hit hard by decades of rising rents and limited affordable housing options.

This plan, however, will not do much for the upper echelon.

Mamdani's housing proposal calls for a $100 billion investment over the next decade, paired with the construction of 200,000 new publicly subsidized, rent-stabilized units.

The progressive politician has also pledged to impose a multiyear rent freeze on rent-stabilized apartments and committed to doubling the capital budget for the New York City Housing Authority in order to maintain public housing.

He promised to grant 'fast-track' status to any project that is 100 percent affordable housing by cutting through red tape that usually causes delays.

Mamdani predicts that that these moves, along with a 2 percent tax on New Yorkers earning more than $1 million annually, could pull together $4 billion a year.

He plans to funnel this money into programs focusing on universal early child care and more affordable housing options.

Mamdani is up in the polls ahead of the election on November 4.

Now that the city's current mayor Eric Adams has dropped out of the race, the only people left between him and City Hall are the Independent candidate, Andrew Cuomo, and the Republican candidate, Curtis Sliwa.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has finally shared new details about the mysterious interstellar visitor days after its closest approach to Mars.

The object, dubbed 3I/ATLAS, came within 18.6 million miles of the Red Planet on October 3, and while NASA quickly uploaded images captured by its Perseverance rover on the Martian surface, ESA had remained quiet until now.

The ESA's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) captured images of the object, appearing as a tiny, blurry white dot in a series of images.

The object's icy nucleus and its surrounding halo of gas and dust, called a coma, could not be distinguished separately, but the faint glow was clearly visible against the blackness of space.

Scientists were initially unsure whether either orbiter's cameras would detect the comet at all. Both are designed to photograph Mars' bright, rocky surface from just a few hundred to a few thousand miles away, not to capture a dim object tens of millions of miles distant.

'This was a very challenging observation for the instrument,' said Nick Thomas, principal investigator of the CaSSIS camera.

'The comet is around 10,000 to 100,000 times fainter than our usual targets.'

The visible coma suggested that 3I/ATLAS is beginning to heat up as sunlight reaches its surface, causing ice to vaporize and release dust, which gives comets their ghostly appearance.

The European Space Agency finally released images 3I/ATLAS, captured by a Mars orbiter

Originating from outside our Solar System, 3I/ATLAS is only the third interstellar comet ever seen, following 1I/Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019.

'These comets are absolutely foreign,' the ESA shared on Tuesday, referring to 3I/ATLAS as a 'rare visitor.'

'Every planet, moon, asteroid, comet and lifeform in our Solar System shares a common origin.

'But interstellar comets are true outsiders, carrying clues about the formation of worlds far beyond our own.'

ExoMars TGO captured the series of images with its Color and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS), which was unable to distinguish the nucleus from the coma due to 3I/ATLAS being too far away.

However, the device was able to image the coma that spanned thousands of miles across.

'The full size of the coma could not be measured by CaSSIS because the brightness of the dust decreases quickly with distance from the nucleus,' the ESA report shared.

'This means that the coma fades into the noise in the image.'

3I/ATLAS made its closest approach to Mars on October 3 and is set to continue through our Solar System

NASA was quick to release images of the object snapped by its Perseverance rover on Mars. The agency uploaded them over the weekend

Typically, material from the coma is swept into a long tail that can stretch for millions of miles as the comet moves closer to the sun.

'The tail is much dimmer than the coma. We cant see the tail in the CaSSIS images, but it may become more visible in future observations as the comet continues to heat up and release more ice,' shared the ESA.

The images have flooded X, where one user posted: 'ESA Finally Releases Images of 3I/ATLAS. After days of silence, ESA finally broke the blackout.'

The ESA's report comes days after NASA released its view of the visitor.

Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb, who has been convinced that the object could be an alien craft or probe, analyzed the Perseverance rover's photos by calculating its distance, speed, and camera settings.

According to his initial study, Loeb was not convinced 3I/ATLAS is actually a massive cylindrical object, noting that the strange shape might have been a trick of the rover's camera stretching out its shape.

He explained that the apparent cylinder from the rover's 'Navcam' was likely caused by the camera stacking hundreds of images of 3I/ATLAS over a period of about 10 minutes, making it look more like a log than a ball.

The professor added that 3I/ATLAS is likely smaller and rounder, but still massive, with a potential diameter of more than 28 miles across.

Dr Horace Drew, a retired senior researcher at Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), noted that the mysterious green glow seen in some images could be a result of the object being an interstellar spacecraft coated in nickel.

Color-enhanced images shared by multiple social media users revealed a strange green glow around 3I/ATLAS

Drew explained that humans use the same practice on Earth-made space technology on a much smaller scale.

'It is not a 'comet,'' Drew declared on a post on X Monday morning.

Drew disagreed with Loeb's conclusion that the cylindrical shape was a result of the Mars rover sending back a stretched image over several minutes, claiming that an amateur astronomer on Earth captured a similar shape with their telescope.

'We can see an extended white shape, with a green coma outside. Not a small white ball,' Drew explained in a post about the astronomer's photograph.

Drew, who earned his PhD in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology, added that previous images of the interstellar object were allegedly from a 'head-on view' and didn't capture its shape from the side, like the new photos from Mars.

Loeb said he's excited about another image taken by a different Mars camera, called HiRISE, which has better resolution and could show 3I/ATLAS more clearly.

That image is being sent back to Earth by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and has yet to be released by NASA.
The origin of Easter Island's iconic head statues is one of the world's greatest archaeological puzzles.

Now, scientists claim to have solved one important part of the mystery.

Weighing between 12 and 80 tonnes, scientists have long wondered how the island's ancient civilisation could have moved the huge stone statues into place.

Using a combination of 3D modelling and reallife experiments, scientists have confirmed that the statues actually 'walked' to their final destinations.

After studying nearly 1,000 of the heads  known as moai  anthropologists found that the people of Rapa Nui likely used ropes to rock the statues in a zigzag pattern.

This technique would have allowed small teams of people to move the enormous moai over long distances with relatively little effort.

Coauthor of the study Professor Carl Lipo, of Binghamton University, says: 'Once you get it moving, it isn't hard at allpeople are pulling with one arm.

'It conserves energy, and it moves really quickly, the hard part is getting it rocking in the first place.'

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Scientists say that they have solved the mystery of how Rapa Nui's stone heads reached their destinations. According to a new study, the stone heads 'walked' to their destinations

The origin of Easter Island's iconic head statues is one of the world's greatest archaeological puzzles

Previously, anthropologists had thought that the moai must have been laid flat and pulled all the way to their destinations.

This would have been an enormously strenuous task requiring a large number of people, and would have been almost impossible for some of the larger heads.

However, there is now mounting evidence to suggest that the people of Rapa Nui had come up with a more elegant solution.

By attaching ropes to either side of the head and pulling back and forth, the moai can be rocked side to side and shuffled forward in a 'walking' motion.

Professor Lipo and his collaborator Professor Terry Hunt, of the University of Arizona, previously tested their walking theory on smaller models, but wanted to see how it would work for larger moai.

First, the researchers created a detailed 3D model of a moai head to investigate which features helped them walk.

They discovered that the moai appear to have been carefully designed with walking in mind.

Their large Dshaped base and forwardleaning position make them more likely to move forward in a zigzag pattern when rocked side to side.

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Scientists used computer modelling to investigate how the moai heads might have moved, and found that they were perfectly shaped to rock forwards in a zigzag pattern

With a Dshaped base and forwardleaning position, the heads are made more likely to shuffle forward when rocked from side to side. This suggests they were walked rather than pulled

Easter Island timeline 13th century: Easter Island (Rapa Nui) is settled by Polynesian seafarers. Construction on some parts of the island's monuments begins. Early 14th to mid15th centuries: Rapid increase in construction 1600: The date that was longthought to mark the decline of Easter Island culture. Construction was ongoing. 1770: Spanish seafarers landed on the island. The island is in good working order. 1722: Dutch seafarers land on the island for the first time. Monuments were in use for rituals and showed no evidence of societal decay. 1774: British explorer James Cook arrives on Rapa Nui His crew described an island in crisis, with overturned monuments. Advertisement

To test this theory in the real world, Professor Lipo and Professor Hunt constructed a 4.35tonne replica moai head based on their 3D model.

Just like the real things, this model had a Dshaped base and the distinctive forwardleaning centre of gravity.

With a team of just 18 people, the researchers were able to move the moai 100 metres in just 40 minutes  much faster than previous attempts.

The researchers argue that this is extremely strong evidence that the largest of the moai heads must have been moved by walking.

Professor Lipo says: 'The physics makes sense. What we saw experimentally actually works.

'And as it gets bigger, it still works. All the attributes that we see about moving gigantic ones only get more and more consistent the bigger and bigger they get, because it becomes the only way you could move it.'

This new scientific evidence even aligns with surviving oral traditions on the island, which describe the heads 'walking' from the quarry where they were made to their final positions.

To add even more support for the theory, the study also looked at the network of 'moai roads' which crisscross the island.

Some moai heads found by the side of transport routes show evidence of attempts to right them by digging under their feet (pictured). The researchers believe these 'moai roads' were also shaped specifically to help support a rocking motion.

'Every time they're moving a statue, it looks like they're making a road. The road is part of moving the statue,' says Professor Lipo.

These specially prepared paths are believed to have been made specifically to enable the moai heads to be moved over long distances, and their shape is perfect for 'walking'.

Made to be around 4.5 metres wide with a concave profile, the researchers found that the specific shape of these roads helped to stabilise the heads and made them more likely to shuffle forwards.

Moai fallen by the side of the road during transport even have signs that people attempted to right them by digging underneath their 'feet'.

According to the researchers, this is another strong indication that the people of Rapa Nui knew that walking was the best way to move their large statues.

Professor Lipo says: 'It shows that the Rapa Nui people were incredibly smart. They figured this out.

'So it really gives honour to those people, saying, look at what they were able to achieve, and we have a lot to learn from them in these principles.'
From When Harry Met Sally to Bridget Jones, many romcoms show the 'nice guy' getting the girl.

But despite what we've been shown on TV and movies, there may be little truth to this, according to a new study.

Researchers in Sweden have found that reallife nice guys are less likely to be in a relationship than bad boys.

In their study, the team found that traits like agreeableness are less desirable to women than traits like assertiveness and overconfidence.

The findings appear to contradict the general onscreen trend, where good guys seem to have better luck with winning the girl.

Instead, the results suggest that shows like Mad Men and Gossip Girl, whose central characters  Don Draper and Chuck Bass, respectively  are bad boys, are more realistic.

'Agreeable men were less likely to have a partner,' study author Filip Fors Connolly, a professor of psychology at Umea University, told the Times.

'But an assertive, extroverted man may get positive responses when approaching potential partners.'

In the hit American TV series Gossip Girl, 'bad boy' Chuck Bass, a promiscuous womanizer, is played by English actor Ed Westwick

In the 1998 film, John Lynch plays Gerry in 'Sliding Doors' opposite Helen (Gwyneth Paltrow)  a duplicitous bad guy having an affair behind her back

For decades, both the 'bad boy' and 'nice guy' tropes have been a classic of TV and films of a romantic subject matter.

The 'bad boy,' usually the Alpha male, has a confident, extraverted and strong demeanor and isn't afraid to treat women mean to 'keep them keen'.

But he is also prone to showing negative tendencies, such as dishonesty, disagreeableness, manipulativeness and even some psychopathic traits.

Typically the exact opposite, the nice guy is open, honest, kind, attentive, funny and agreeable  and often has better overall success of winning and keeping the girl.

Onscreen nice guys include Tom Hanks in 'Sleepless in Seattle', Hugh Grant in 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' and Colin Firth in 'Bridget Jones' Diary.

Meanwhile, bad guys include Jamie Dornan in '50 Shades of Grey', John Lynch in 'Sliding Doors' and Ed Westwick in 'Gossip Girl'.

To test the stereotype, researchers sent 3,800 adults in Sweden, Denmark and Australia questionnaires to assess their personalities.

Specifically, participants were tested for levels of the 'big five' traits  openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism.

'Nice boys don't kiss like that': In Bridget Jones's Diary' (2001), romantic hero Mark Darcy (Colin Firth, pictured) wins out over bad boy Daniel Cleaver (Hugh Grant)

Nice guy Charles (Hugh Grant) in 'Four Weddings and A Funeral' is affable, witty and meek with an inherent awkwardness

Good guys and bad boys: Typical traits GOOD GUYS Agreeableness

Openness

Conscientiousness

Selflessness BAD BOYS Extraversion

Dishonesty

Narcissism

Selfishness Advertisement

Participants were also quizzed about their relationship status, and, if they were in a relationship, how satisfied they were with it.

The results revealed a negative correlation between men being in a relationship and having the 'nice guy' trait agreeableness  an umbrella term that includes empathy and patience.

In other words, the more agreeable a man, the less likely he is to have a partner  suggesting nice guys struggle to even get the girl.

Meanwhile, extraverted men  typically a bad guy trait with displays of confidence and sociability  were significantly more likely to be in a relationship than less extroverted men.

Also, men who showed neuroticism were less likely to have a partner too  although this could arguably be a bad guy trait as well as a good guy one.

The new study, published in the Journal of Research in Personality, showed different patterns in women.

In contrast, more agreeable women were no more likely to be in a relationship than less agreeable women.

Interestingly, women who scored higher on neuroticism were slightly more likely to be in a relationship.

Nice guy Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) in 'Sleepless in Seattle' (1993) is a sweet, funny, recently widowed Chicago architect

Overall, confidence, assertiveness and dominance may still be thought of as attractive in men, while things like empathy and emotional warmth may be more desirable in women.

The researchers stress that agreeableness isn't a bad trait for men to have once in a relationship, just that agreeable men are less likely to have a partner  a subtle distinction.

'In fact, agreeableness was positively related to relationship satisfaction for both men and women,' associate professor Mikael Goossen, co-author of the study, told the Daily Mail.

'The traits that help you get into a relationship aren't necessarily what make it satisfying.'

The team also point out that their sample consisted of less than 4,000 adults across only three countries, so there could be vast cultural differences worldwide.

'Our focus is on common patterns across thousands of people,' Professor Connolly told the Times.

'None of this determines any single persons relationships or their quality.'

Another study has found that agreeableness is more strongly related to financial hardship, further suggesting that 'nice guys finish last'.
Hurricane Priscilla's path through the Pacific has shifted, and forecasters warn that several southwestern states could see storms and floods within hours.

The National Hurricane Center uses a 'cone of uncertainty' to show the likely path of a hurricane like Priscilla on maps, with the cone widening to cover areas where the storm might go over the next three to five days.

Their latest cone revealed that the Category 2 storm's path is expected to shift north, turning Priscilla towards land on Thursday.

Spaghetti models revealed that Priscilla will likely barrel over Mexico and reach as far inland as Southern California and Arizona before it begins to break up.

Several other states in the Southwest, including New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada, have been warned to expect thunderstorms and flash floods due to the moisture being pulled inland from Priscilla starting tomorrow and lasting through Sunday.

Parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah could see up to four inches of rain between Thursday afternoon and Saturday night.

AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva noted that Priscilla's impact on Arizona could be particularly severe on Thursday night, with heavy rain and flooding forecasted throughout the state.

The intense downpours could end up doubling the 1.5 inches of rainfall places like Flagstaff, Arizona, typically get during an average October.

Hurricane Priscilla (pictured on radar) is expected to impact several southwestern states, bringing thunderstorms and flash floods as soon as Thursday

The Category 2 hurricane has been pulled over the Southwest by the jet stream flowing across the US from west to east

Meteorologists added that another tropical system is likely to form right behind Priscilla, potentially creating even more dangerous weather along the West Coast that extends into next week.

National Hurricane Center forecasters said there is an 80 percent chance of a tropical wave currently near the southern tip of Mexico becoming the next Pacific storm, named Raymond.

The AccuWeather team explained that a dip in the natural jet stream, which flows over the US, has been pulling Priscilla in a northeastern direction, steering the hurricane from the Pacific to the Southwest.

It's expected to do the same to Raymond as the potential Pacific storm forms and moves up the Mexican coast.

AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said: 'The next storm that may develop behind Priscilla, and some of Priscilla's moisture, is likely to result in several days of locally heavy showers and thunderstorms.'

Priscilla has already hammered parts of Mexico with strong winds and downpours along the country's west coast, and areas closer to the US have issued a tropical storm watch as the storm nears.

This includes the major tourist destination Cabo San Lucas, which welcomes more than three million US tourists each year.

With two months still to go in the Pacific hurricane season, Priscilla is the 16th named storm and the ninth to become a hurricane, shattering predictions by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Another tropical storm is likely to form right behind Hurricane Priscilla, bringing more moisture to the US

Spaghetti models show Priscilla making landfall in the Baja Peninsula of Mexico on Thursday or Friday

Earlier this year, the agency predicted a 'below-normal season' for the eastern Pacific, with 12 to 18 named storms, five to 10 hurricanes, and up to five major hurricanes.

The storms are arriving just as the Southwest is coming out of its annual monsoon season, which lasts from June to September.

Local forecasters noted that it was wetter than average in parts of New Mexico, like Albuquerque, and northern Arizona, with record flash flood warnings being issued.

The monsoon season in the Southwest is a period when the region gets a big chunk of its yearly rain in short, intense bursts.

It's driven by the land heating up in summer, creating low-pressure areas in the region. Meanwhile, winds shift and pull in moist air from the Gulf of America (formerly the Gulf of Mexico) and the Pacific Ocean.

Hurricane Priscilla (pictured) has sustained winds of more than 100 mph as of Wednesday

This moist air clashes with the hot, desert air, leading to thunderstorms that dump massive amounts of rain, sometimes in less than two hours.

'Flash floods happen very quickly. Since the Southwest doesn't typically get as much rain, it can take only a small amount of rain to cause a flash flood,' DaSilva warned.

This October downpour from Priscilla is a rare event in the Southwest, but it may end up benefiting some areas suffering through severe droughts this year.

This includes parts of southern Arizona, eastern Utah, and central Colorado.
The remains of a beloved saint are set to be removed from his tomb and put on display for the first time in 800 years as part of an ancient Catholic ritual.

The bones of Saint Francis of Assisi will be showcased at the basilica bearing his name in Italy from February 22 to March 22, 2026, for veneration, a traditional form of reverence and respect given to saints.

According to ancient texts, the practice of veneration originated after the martyrdom of Saint Polycarp, who was burned alive and then stabbed for refusing to worship the Roman Emperor nearly 1,870 years ago.

His followers collected his bones and treated them with great reverence, sparking the Church's centuries-old tradition of honoring those who devoted their lives to faith and sacrifice.

St Francis' body will be moved from its tomb in the crypt and placed at the foot of the papal altar in the lower church of the basilica.

St Francis' bones rest inside a sealed glass urn beneath the Basilica, preserved in a controlled nitrogen atmosphere to prevent decay.

What remains are aged, yellowed skeletal fragments, the long, fragile bones of the arms and legs, the curved line of ribs, and pieces of the skull, arranged reverently within a protective casing.

When his tomb was first opened in 1818, witnesses described the skeleton as remarkably intact for its age, wrapped in remnants of a coarse woolen habit, consistent with the humble robes of the Franciscan order he founded.

The bones of St Francis of Assis are set to be put on display in Italy next year for veneration, a traditional form of reverence and respect given to saints

The saint claimed he had a vision of an angelic being, and when he came back to reality, there were crucifixion marks on his palms. The wounds appeared to be similar to those of Jesus when he was nailed to the cross

Vatican News, the official outlet of the Vatican, said: 'The 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis will be a time of remembrance and renewal, a celebration of a life that 'blossoms from the gift and offering of oneself,' a seed 'sown in the earth that continues to bear fruits of peace, faith, and love.'

'The event's motto is 'Saint Francis Lives.'

St Francis, an Italian friar and mystic, is the patron saint of animals, the environment, ecology and Italy, known for his love of all God's creatures and his founding of the Franciscan Order, which serves the poor and marginalized.

Born as Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, he was born between 1181 and 1182 to Pietro di Bernardone, a wealthy cloth merchant, and Lady Pica, who may have been French.

While his father was away on business in France, his mother named the baby Giovanni, but when Pietro returned, he changed it to Francesco, inspired by his love of France or his wifes heritage.

In his early adulthood, Francis experienced a spiritual transformation after a series of visions and encounters with poverty.

He renounced his familys wealth, embracing a life of simplicity, humility and service, and founded the Franciscan Order, emphasizing poverty, compassion and devotion to God.

While St Francis is renowned for his deep faith and devotion to all living things, Christians believe he performed several miracles.

His remains are hidden crypt beneath the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, Italy

St Francis' bones rest inside a sealed glass urn beneath the Basilica, preserved in a controlled nitrogen atmosphere to prevent decay

The most famous was the 'Miracle of the Stigmata,' which occurred after he had a vision of a Seraph, an angelic being, with six wings

As the vision faded, it left marks on his body, resembling the wounds of the crucified Christ, a phenomenon known as the stigmata.

Francis died in 1226 at the age of 44 and was canonized two years later in 1228 by Pope Gregory IX.

His body was initially interred in a hidden location to protect it from potential desecration. It remained concealed for nearly 600 years until it was rediscovered in 1818 during an excavation commissioned by Pope Pius VII.

The remains were found with several coins, beads, a ring, and a piece of iron, with his head resting on a stone. Following this discovery, the remains were carefully examined and preserved.

Over the centuries, the bones have darkened and dried, their surfaces rough and brittle with time, yet they retain a striking human form.

The Vatican is expecting a 'large influx of faithful,' and has asked those hoping to attend the veneration to book their visit online.

'At the end of the veneration path, there will be a short liturgical rite, and each participant will receive a gift from the Franciscan community,' Vatican News shared.
Archaeologists have made a stunning discovery at a biblical city where the Apostle Paul famously performed a miraculous healing of a man born lame.

Teams working in the ancient city of Lystra have uncovered a 100-foot-long basilica adorned with gold-gilded mosaics and richly decorated walls, hallmarks of late antique craftsmanship.

The basilica provides tangible evidence that Lystra was a thriving urban center during the earliest centuries of Christianity.

The discovery confirms biblical accounts by showing that Lystra was a real, organized Christian community, large enough to support worship, leadership structures, and the activities described in the Acts of the Apostles, including Paul's healing miracles and the appointment of Timothy as a church leader.

Its location near modern-day Hatunsaray in central Anatolia also aligns with the geographic details mentioned in scripture, reinforcing the historical accuracy of the biblical narrative.

Although Lystra's importance has long been recorded in the Bible, where it is mentioned eight times, the unearthing of this basilica provides concrete archaeological evidence of the city's role in spreading Christianity across the region.

The basilica likely functioned as both a center of worship and an administrative hub, illustrating how early Christian church organization developed in Anatolia, particularly around Konya, known in ancient times as Iconium.

Archaeologists believe the find could be the clearest proof yet that stories once confined to scripture were grounded in the living cities and miracles of the ancient world.

The Bible says that apostles performed miracles in the ancient city of Lystra. Archaeologists have uncovered ruins of a church that support history in scripture

Established as a Roman colony under Emperor Augustus, Lystra rose to prominence as one of the leading cities in the ancient region of Lycaonia.

According to the New Testament, Paul and his companion Barnabas visited the city during their first-century missionary journeys.

Acts 14:8-10 reads: 'In Lystra there sat a man who was lame. He had been that way from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul as he was speaking.

'Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed, and called out, 'Stand up on your feet!' At that, the man jumped up and began to walk.'

The miracle, according to the Bible, was witnessed by many locals who reportedly mistook Paul and Barnabas for the gods Hermes and Zeus.

Among other apostles connected to Lystra was Timothy, Paul's 'spiritual son,' who is believed to have been appointed one of the first bishops in the region.

Acts 16:13 reads: 'Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek.

'The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.'

Archaeologists uncovered stunning artifacts, including coins and turquoise-colored beads found in children's graves, suggesting that the site retained spiritual importance well into the 12th to 13th centuries

The discovery confirms biblical accounts by showing that Lystra was a real, organized Christian community, large enough to support worship, leadership structures, and the activities described in the Acts of the Apostles

Excavations in the ancient city also revealed new insight into the Seljuk era, which was the period when the Seljuk Empire, a medieval Turkic dynasty, dominated a vast territory in Central and Western Asia from the 11th to the 13th centuries, with its greatest influence in Anatolia.

This era saw the significant introduction of Turkic culture and Islam to Anatolia, a flourishing of Persian culture and arts, and pivotal roles in conflicts like the Crusades.

Archaeologists uncovered stunning artifacts, including coins and turquoise-colored beads found in children's graves, suggesting that the site retained spiritual importance well into the 12th to 13th centuries.

These beads are considered precursors to the nazar boncugu (evil-eye bead), illustrating a period of cultural and religious coexistence between Christians and Seljuk Turks.

Ilker Mete Mimiroglu of Necmettin Erbakan University, who led the excavation, told ArkeoNews: 'It shows that when the Seljuks came, the local Christian population did not disappear.

Lystra was founded by a Roman colony under Emperor Augustus, and archaeologists have uncovered ruins left behind

'They continued their lives under Seljuk rule, within an atmosphere of tolerance.'

Parts of the basilica were repurposed into smaller chapels, with one altar incorporating a Roman funerary stele, highlighting how successive civilizations adapted the same sacred space for new purposes.

The discovery has provided a rare opportunity to connect biblical narratives to archaeological evidence, showing that Lystra was a historical city where early Christian faith and community thrived.

'From the miracle of the lame man to the grand basilica and beyond, the city embodies centuries of devotion, artistry, and cultural exchange,' said Mimiroglu.
By Laman Ismayilova



On October 7, 2025, the Azerbaijani Embassy in Jordan, in collaboration with the Azerbaijan National Commission for UNESCO and under the patronage of Princess Dana Firas, President of the Petra National Trust and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, hosted the opening of the exhibition "Echoes of the Centuries: Azerbaijani Musical Instruments" in Amman, the capital of Jordan.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from Jordan's governmental and cultural institutions, members of the diplomatic corps accredited in the Kingdom, as well as notable figures from the academic and artistic communities, and local public representatives.

In his speech at the opening, Eldar Salimov, the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, emphasized that the exhibition was not only an art display but also a reflection of the Azerbaijani people's spirit, their centuries-old history, and rich cultural heritage. He noted that Azerbaijan's musical traditions date back to ancient times, including the musical and dance scenes depicted in the rock carvings of Gobustan and Gamygaya.

The Ambassador Salimov further pointed out that Azerbaijani music has always held an important place in the spiritual life of the people, and it is widely reflected in the works of great classical poets such as Nizami Ganjavi and Mohammad Fuzuli, as well as in "Book of Dede Qorqud" epic

He also mentioned prominent figures like Uzeyir Hajibayli, Fikrat Amirov, Gara Garayev, Muslum Magomayev, and other distinguished artists, whose work has played a key role in bridging Eastern and Western cultures.

The Ambassador said that each musical instrument on displaytar, kamancha, nagara, saz, qaval, qanun, oud, tutak, and zurna serves as a living carrier of national memory and is a manifestation of Azerbaijan's historical and spiritual identity.

Ambassador Salimov also noted that under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijani music culture has entered a new phase of development. He highlighted the restoration of the Kharibulbul Festival in the city of Shusha as a prime example of national cultural revival.

In conclusion, the Ambassador presented the musical instruments and Azerbaijani carpets, which represent the country's ancient craftsmanship, to the Petra National Trust as an official gift on behalf of the Azerbaijan National Commission for UNESCO.

He described this symbolic gesture as a reflection of Azerbaijan's contribution to the preservation and promotion of humanity's shared cultural heritage.

During the event, participants were treated to a performance by Jordan's "Duroob" group, featuring classical Azerbaijani musical pieces.
A scientist has warned that the interstellar visitor moving closer to Earth could be a 'Trojan Horse,' where a technological object masquerades as a comet.

The Harvard professor, who has been monitoring 3I/ATLAS since its discovery in July, said Wednesday that there is a 30 to 40 percent chance the object 'does not have a fully natural origin.'

Avi Loeb admitted that his ranking could change after new data comes in over the next few months, including observations next month from a spacecraft en route to Jupiter and when 3I/ATLAS comes 167 miles within Earth in December.

'We have no idea of the amount of traffic of extraterrestrial probes in the vicinity of the Solar system,' he said in a blog post.

'Given the uncertainty, it would be prudent to collect as much data as possible on interstellar objects from all directions and assess the level of risk based on that data.'

The object, a rare visitor from beyond the solar system, is unusually large and closely aligned with the plane of the planets, making it visible to orbiters around Mars over the weekend.

NASA's rover on the Martian planet snapped images of 3I/ATLAS, which captured it as a massive cylindrical object, sparking fresh theories about alien technology.

Stargazers on social media shared color-enhanced images of the object, which showed the interstellar visitor having a green glow.

A Harvard scientists said there is a possibility that the interstellar visitor moving closer to Earth could be a 'Trojan Horse,' where a technological object masquerades as a comet

Loeb analyzed the Perseverance rover's photos by calculating its distance, speed, and camera settings.

According to his initial study, Loeb was not convinced that 3I/ATLAS is actually a massive cylindrical object, noting that the strange shape might have been a trick of the rover's camera stretching the object out.

He explained that the apparent cylinder from the rover's 'Navcam' was likely caused by the camera stacking hundreds of images of 3I/ATLAS over a period of about 10 minutes, making it look more like a log than a ball.

The professor added that 3I/ATLAS is likely smaller and rounder, but still massive, with a potential diameter of more than 28 miles across.

Dr Horace Drew, a retired senior researcher at Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), noted that the mysterious green glow seen in some images could be a result of the object being an interstellar spacecraft coated in nickel.

He explained that humans use the same practice on Earth-made space technology on a much smaller scale.

'It is not a "comet,"' Drew shared in a post on X.

Drew disagreed with Loeb's conclusion that the cylindrical shape was a result of the Mars rover sending back a stretched image over several minutes, claiming that an amateur astronomer on Earth captured a similar shape with their telescope.

The Perseverance rover on Mars captured new images of the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS as it passed by the planet this weekend

'We can see an extended white shape, with a green coma outside. Not a small white ball,' Drew explained in a post about the astronomer's photograph.

However, Loeb recently cited the findings from the Very Large Telescope, highlighting how it detected an unusual nickel plume from the object.

Unlike natural comets, which always emit nickel alongside iron, 3I/ATLAS shows the metallic element without any detectable iron.

Loeb explained that this nickel signature is a hallmark of industrial production of nickel alloys.

'Is this anomaly another clue for a possible technological origin of 3I/ATLAS?' Loeb wrote in a blog post.

'The paper suggests that chemical formation occurs through the nickel carbonyl channel, an extremely rare process in comets, but a standard technique in industrial nickel refining,' he added.

The new study, published by astrophysicists in Chile in late August, found that 3I/ATLAS is shedding nickel at roughly five grams per second and cyanide at 20 grams per second, with both rising sharply as the object moves closer to the sun.

Researchers noted that the mechanisms driving these emissions are not typical of natural cometary processes.

They hypothesized that nickel might be released from dust through gentle processes, such as sunlight, causing it to evaporate or breaking down small nickel-containing compounds.
Are you a bit of a daredevil? A thrill seeker? A fan of ghosts and all things paranormal?

If so, you might be on the hunt for a spooky adventure - especially now, in the run up to Halloween.

Las Vegas' 'most haunted' hotel is offering one brave soul a staggering $5,000 (3,700) to spend a weekend within its walls.

The El Cortez Hotel and Casino, the oldest hotel in the city - often dubbed its 'most haunted' too - has set a new challenge.

It is hosting a contest for a participant to spend a weekend at the hotel and hunt down ghosts.

One person will be chosen to participate in the spooky adventure, the New York Post reported.

The legendary El Cortez, the longest-running hotel casino in Vegas, is situated in 'the Old Strip' or 'Old Vegas.'

This establishment has seen it all since it first opened its doors in 1941: mobsters, murders and even paranormal activities.

Las Vegas' 'most haunted' hotel is offering one brave soul a staggering $5,000 (3,700) to spend a weekend within its walls

The El Cortez Hotel Casino, the oldest hotel in the city - often dubbed its 'most haunted' too - has set a new challenge

At 84 years old, it's got everything you might expect from a historic building - things that creek and shadowy figures galore.

'We're sending you to investigate, fully equipped with ghost-hunting gear, to see if the stories are true!' the contest listing from Casino.org read.

It added: 'Why El Cortez? Opened in 1941, it's the longest-running hotel casino in the city, with decades of mobster sightings, high-rollers, and paranormal happenings.

'Many have whispered about shadowy figures, phantom footsteps, and sudden cold spots.

'We're sending you to investigate, fully equipped with ghost-hunting gear, to see if the stories are true!

'The chosen ghost hunter will check in to El Cortez for a haunted weekend stay, where you'll explore the casino's oldest and eeriest corners, searching for signs of ghostly activity.'

The winner will have to explore the premises, walking around areas that are rumoured to be haunted - especially at night.

Ghost-hunting equipment is essential: the lucky winner will need to try out EMF meters, EVP recorders, flashlights, and thermal sensors to detect unusual activity.

At 84 years old, it's got everything you might expect from a historic building - things that creek and shadowy figures galore

Opened in 1941, it's the longest-running hotel casino in the city, with decades of mobster sightings, high-rollers, and paranormal happenings

It is also essential to capture evidence on camera.

The participant is required to take plenty of photos or short videos to document anything spooky.

Another condition placed on the winner is they must compile a short report of the scariest, funniest, or even mysterious moments to send back to the hotel.

Applications are open between October 6 and 31.

El Cortez said: 'El Cortez Hotel & Casino is aware of a recent online contest promotion related to a Vegas Ghost Hunt and is not affiliated in any way with this contest or its organisers. While we appreciate the continued public interest in our historic property, any official partnerships, promotions, or events associated with El Cortez will always be communicated directly through our verified channels, including our website and social media accounts.'
A British man visiting the U.S. has been left stunned after visiting 'America's Asda' - where he stumbled across aisles teaming with 'bin bag'-sized treats.

Kris, who is engaged to Chicago citizen Anna, recently travelled to the States on a K1 visa as the pair prepare to tie the knot.

The couple often document the 'culture shocks' they experience while visiting one another's native countries, in videos posted to their joint TikTok page, @krisandanna2.

In a video uploaded on 6 October, Kris stopped by Walmart - which he had never visited before - to check out the superstore's offerings, but was left taken aback by its range of bumper-sized, 'crazy-flavoured' products.

Accompanied by his fiance, he said: 'I'm told that this is the American version of ASDA.'

Walmart acquired Asda in 1999 and had indeed owned the supermarket chain until 2020 when it was sold for 6.8 billion to British millionaires and brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa.

As the pair approached a range of autumnal-themed products in the chilled aisle, Anna pointed her finger towards toffee apples topped with nuts and sprinkles, and asked her fiance whether they're available in the UK.

Taken aback by the elaborately decorated apples, the Brit answered: 'We do - not as good as these ones, though.'

Kris, who is engaged to Chicago citizen Anna, has been left stunned after visiting 'America's Asda ' - where he stumbled across aisles teaming with 'bin bag'-sized treats

In the crisp aisle, the Brit held up a box of baked Goldfish cheddar snacks next to his fiance, jokingly adding: 'They're literally the same size as your head - they are bigger than you.'

They soon moved on to the confectionary aisles, where Kris commented on the 'absolutely insane' selection of sweets and chocolate.

Holding up a bag of family-sized M&Ms to the camera, he said: 'The packaging is huge. You just can't even believe they're literally a kilo. But they also have crazy flavours.'

The couple later ventured to the breakfast aisle, where a dumbfounded Kris compared the size of cereal products to that of 'bin bags'.

As Anna showed off a 907g bag of Lucky Charms, Kris panned the camera across towering shelves, jam-packed with cereal available in colossal portions.

In the crisp aisle, the Brit held up a box of baked Goldfish cheddar snacks next to his fiance, jokingly adding: 'They're literally the same size as your head - they are bigger than you.'

Kris continued to utter the word 'insane' as the couple finalised their purchases and exited the store armed with coffee creamer, Reece's peanut butter snacks and a pumpkin-carving kit.

In the comments, over 200 Brits were left divided over the larger portion sizes and extra additives typically found in American food products.

One person wrote: 'The EU/UK only allows 300 food additives. In the US, over 3000 are allowed, which means that tastes and flavours are amazing, unlike anything youve ever experienced! It allows for incredible choice and much cheaper prices.'

In the comments, over 200 Brits were left divided over the larger portion sizes and extra additives typically found in American food products

Another said: 'One of my favorite things to do when abroad is visiting supermarkets. But in the US it was a bit of a turn off tbh. Central Market was nice though'

However, one viewer commented: 'Tbh I was super underwhelmed by the sizes of packaging of sweets in the US, everybody always notes how big everything is, but it's the same size as it is in the German export shops.

'The only thing I found to be impressive was the size of an onion I found in the produce section.

A fourth chimed: 'Meanwhile in the UK all our products are half the size than what they use to be at the same price.'
Europe's new biometric border checks are set to come into force from this weekend.

The Entry/Exit System (EES), due to be launched on October 12, will aim to make going through airport checks faster.

But what does this mean for you and your travels?

Here's everything you need to know about the new rules...

The system is designed to replace manual passport stamping for non-EU travellers, including UK passport holders, entering the Schengen Area.

Visitors from 29 countries, including 25 in the EU, plus Switzerland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland  will soon enter using the new system.

Ireland and Cyprus will continue with manual processing of passports for incoming passengers. The UK is not part of the Schengen area.

The EU's official website says: 'The EES will gradually replace passport stamps with a digital system that records when travellers enter and exit, making border checks faster and helping staff to work more efficiently.'

Europe's new biometric border checks are set to come into force from this weekend

The system aims to crack down on crime and enforce the 90-day stay limit, which applies to British travellers and other third-country nationals, within any 180-day period.

It will collect and collate data from passengers when they enter or leave at an external Schengen border: this includes international airports, sea ports, railway stations and road crossings.

British travellers will need to register on their first visit to a participating country after EES is introduced. This registration is valid for a rolling three-year period or until the passport expires.

On the first crossing, it will save a digital record of the passenger's face and fingerprints, as well as personal data. On future crossings, data will be checked against this record.

The majority of travellers will register on kiosks at borders. You will need to place the photo page of your passport on scanners, and then follow the instructions. From the first crossing onwards, you'll either use a kiosk or eGate to get through.

Children under 12 will need to be registered under EES but will just have their photograph taken. Travellers do not have to pay for EES.

Travellers may be asked for a return ticket, accommodation details, proof of funds and proof of medical cover; these arent mandatory, but not having them to hand could mean further questioning.

You might not notice any huge changes immediately - the border checks are being rolled out over a period of 180 days, from October 12, 2025 to April 9, 2026.

The Entry/Exit System (EES), due to be launched on October 12, will aim to make going through airport checks faster

Only a few border points are part of the first phase of the new checks - and, as a result, the EU is confident there will not be significant disruption.

The GOV.UK website says: 'When EES is introduced, you may need to create a digital record on your first visit to the Schengen area at the port or airport on arrival. You will need to submit your fingerprints and have your photo taken at dedicated booths.'

It adds: 'You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and there is no cost for EES registration.'

The latest update from the Foreign Office for the countries using the new system states: 'On your first visit into a Schengen country from October 12 onwards, you may be asked to register your details at a special booth before proceeding to the immigration desk.

'Follow directions from your travel operator or the staff at your port of entry. You may also need to provide either your fingerprint or photo when you leave the Schengen area.

'Children aged 11 or younger will not have their fingerprints scanned but may need their photo taken.'
For many travellers, having to check their hand luggage fits the airline's dimensions can be a stressful moment.

One holidaymaker, Richard Deakin, 37, claims he had to measure his bag 'four times' before easyJet would allow him onto his flight.

He was about to board the plane at London Luton Airport to Malaga, Spain on September 28 when he was asked by staff to place his bag in the sizer.

The passenger, from the West Midlands, had only brought hand luggage with him for the four-night trip to visit his friend.

Richard had packed his clothes and four tubs of gravy granules for his friend's mother in his bag and claimed it did fit the requirements, but was 'hard to get in' the sizer.

He admits he was 'quite angry' by the request and in footage shared on TikTok, Richard can be seen repeatedly shoving his bag into the sizer until it slides in.

The security consultant explained how he demonstrated his bag fit 'once or twice' before the video was filmed, but was asked to check two more times in front of managers.

Richard claims 'it was a money-making tactic' used by the airline workers and that he 'was confident it was the right size because I'd measured it and weighed it'.

One holidaymaker, Richard Deakin, 37, claims he had to measure his bag 'four times' before easyJet would allow him onto his flight

He was about to board the plane at London Luton Airport to Malaga, Spain on September 28 when he was asked by staff to place his bag in the sizer

He recalled: 'At first it's a bit of a struggle pushing it down but then it just slides in and goes all the way down to the bottom.

'It was hard to get in because I had several tubs of gravy granules because in Spain it's quite expensive.

'I was quite angry. I did know I could just take a few things out of my bag but I was being a bit pedantic out of principle. If you want to pick on me, I don't mind having a debate about it.

'After that video was recorded a manager came down and asked me to do it again.

'This is the bit that really [annoyed] me. I said: "It's just been witnessed by six of your staff who said it's okay and this is the video". He said: "I need to see it again".

'I'd done it once or twice before the video, and [then] two times with managers. It looked like the flight was going to take off and I was scared at that point.'

Richard described how he 'put away' his 'ego' and frantically removed his book and charger out of the bag to try and get it to fit more smoothly.

The holidaymaker is now urging fellow tourists to not to pay excessive baggage fees if their luggage is within the requirements.

The passenger, from the West Midlands, had only brought hand luggage with him for the four-night trip to visit his friend

He admits he was 'quite angry' by the request and in footage shared on TikTok, Richard can be seen repeatedly shoving his bag into the sizer until it slides in

Richard said: 'So many people wouldn't have been so persistent and fallen right into the trap.

'There are people that won't stand up and talk and ask the question so they're getting charged.

'While I understand the rules, it's frustrating to pay for a bag that was underweight and would have been placed in the same overhead locker as everyone else's.'

Some social media users agreed with Richard, while others criticised him for 'yelling' at staff in the video.

One user wrote: 'EasyJet should be ashamed.'

A third added: 'If it fits, it doesn't matter if it's easy or not.'

Other users criticised Richard for his demeanour.

One user wrote: 'Why are you yelling at them?'

He recalled: 'At first it's a bit of a struggle pushing it down but then it just slides in and goes all the way down to the bottom.'

Another commented: 'Why are you shouting at them for doing their jobs?'

An EasyJet spokesman said: 'We have a well understood bag policy and customers are only charged if their bags are too large, in fairness to customers who have paid to bring larger bags.

'And we do not tolerate aggressive or threatening behaviour towards our ground crew.

'Once Mr Deakin was able to fit his bag in the gauge, he was not charged and was able to board.'
The group were reportedly left without accommodation, food and return flights

The owners of a travel agency based in Argentina have been sued after 50 South American tourists were left 'stranded' in Edinburgh.

A civil complaint filed at a courthouse in Rio Negro, northern Patagonian Argentina, reveals the firm reportedly did not provide the group with bare necessities, such as food, accommodation, and even return flights home from their trip to the Scottish capital.

Members of the group claim to have forked out tens of thousands of dollars for the trip - with some, such as Carolina Apis, having paid the travel firm up to $44,460 (32,000).

Ms Apis revealed she had paid for herself and five family members to join the trip, which included breaks in European destinations such as France, Greece, Spain and Portugal, along with Edinburgh.

As reported by the Herald, she said: 'In Europe, none of the travel conditions were met, which meant I had to return to Argentina before the scheduled date.

'I had to cover my own travel, lodging, and transportation expenses, as well as those of my family.'

Meanwhile, another member, who has not been named, alleges that he parted with $4,800 (3,500) for a tour package that promised English language lessons in Edinburgh, as well as experiences in London, Paris and Naples.

He claimed he was also reportedly forced to cover the costs of his stay in Edinburgh, along with his plane ticket back home to Argentina.

The owners of a travel agency based in Argentina have been sued after 50 South American tourists were left 'stranded' without accommodation, food and return flights home during a trip to Edinburgh

The group attempted to seek support from the Argentine Consulate in Edinburgh, who told them they were unable to provide assistance due to a 'conflict between private parties'

While in Edinburgh, the group attempted to seek support from the Argentine Consulate.

However, officials informed members that they were unable to provide assistance due to a 'conflict between private parties,' as reported by La Nacion.

The owners of the travel agency, siblings Liliana Beatriz Silva and Sergio Nibaldo Silva, are further accused of pocketing the funds to pay for a family holiday to Portugal, according to La Nacion.

In the court papers, seen by the Argentinian publication, the group highlighted shocking details of the scheme, which allegedly included the issuing of false receipts and links to a so-called Edinburgh-based partner that didn't exist.
Tucked in the heart of historic St Jamess and prestigious Mayfair, there's a five-star hotel that's no stranger to A-list guests - as well as royalty.

The Stafford London describes itself as a 'true hidden gem', offering a 'quintessentially British experience with unparalleled luxury and charm'.

Few hotels can boast a neighbor as iconic as Buckingham Palace, but The Stafford London goes one step further.

The hotel is said to house a discreet private tunnel that leads directly to the doors of St Jamess Palace, the London residence of Princess Anne, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Alexandra, as reported by Page Six.

While the palace is open to visitors on selected dates for guided tours, if you were hoping to catch a glimpse of the tunnel, you would be out of luck.

The underground tunnel doorways have reportedly now been blocked off and are no longer in use by royals.

However, with regards to the tunnel, the Royal Collection Trust added: 'We have no evidence that supports this claim.'

But beneath the Stafford, there are impressive wine cellars which were built by Francis Godolphin in the 17th century which you can hire out - if you have the cash to splash.

The Stafford London describes itself as a 'true hidden gem', offering a 'quintessentially British experience with unparalleled luxury and charm'

The hotel is said to house a discreet private tunnel that leads directly to the doors of St Jamess Palace. Pictured: The Stafford Hotel wine cellar

The cellars house more than 8,000 bottles of wines and Champagne, including many rare and precious vintages

The cellars house more than 8,000 bottles of wines and Champagne, including many rare and precious vintages.

The cellars host an informal museum, with artefacts left by Canadian and American servicemen and women in World War II, and can be hired for tastings and events.

While the cost of hiring out this space depends on the occasion, some sources indicate the starting point is between 650 and 1,000.

The last remaining casket and wine corking machinery are also on show in the main chamber of the cellars.

Before its transformation into a fully functioning wine cellar, the tunnel was used as an air raid shelter during World War II.

At the time, the hotel operated as a club for American and Canadian officers stationed in London, with authentic artefacts from that era still proudly displayed in the cellar today.

It has been reported that the Queen Mother and Queen Elizabeth II both used the secret underground tunnel for discreet lunches away from the public eye.

Originally a private residence in the 17th century, the Stafford London has been hosting some of the most affluent guests since 1912 with fine dining and 105 rooms and luxurious suites.

To stay at this exclusive hotel, you can expect to pay between 500 and 1,000 per night.

It is said to have hosted everyone from royalty and world leaders to celebrities and elite athletes.

St Jamess Palace has been home to Kings and Queens for more than 300 years and was built by Henry VIII

Members of the Royal Family, including the late Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, Zara Tindall, and Prince Harry, have reportedly stayed at this hotel, with athletes such as David Beckham and Evander Holyfield following suit.

The hotel has also welcomed prominent figures, including Bing Crosby, Bill Nighy and former US President Ronald Reagan, who had famously stayed at the spot before his election.

At the other side of the former tunnel, St James's Palace was built by King Henry VIII in the 1530s on the site of a 12th-century hospital.

It served as the principal residence of the British monarchy and was home to Kings and Queens for centuries, until Queen Victoria moved to Buckingham Palace in 1837

Elizabeth I set out from St James's Palace to address her troops assembled against the Spanish Armada, Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in the Chapel and King Charles III was officially proclaimed King at the Palace.
Welcoming and helpful staff, as well as the airport's facilities and atmosphere, are all important factors to consider when travelling.

And new research has looked into the 120 busiest airports across the globe to see which one came out top for being friendly.

Now, the friendliest of them all has been revealed and a UK hub managed to bag second place.

Over 71,000 Google reviews were analysed and words like 'friendly', 'helpful' and 'polite' were specifically looked for.

The hub with the most reviews mentioning friendly workers proved to be Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.

Coming top, some 73.6 per cent of the airport's ratings were about its kind staff, according to Airport Parking & Hotels.

The airport jets off to 101 destinations around the world, including Dallas, Seoul and Abu Dhabi from Taipei.

It has some raving reviews from pleased passengers - 129 mention staff being 'friendly,' 106 describe them as 'helpful' while 42 say they are 'efficient'.

The hub with the most reviews mentioning friendly workers proved to be Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport

Cornwall Airport Newquay came second and followed closely with an impressive 73.3 per cent of reviews mentioning friendly workers.

In the summer of 2024, the hub saw 160,000 passengers pass through and many seemed to be pleased with the welcoming service.

Meanwhile, Narita International Airport in Japan came third with 73.1 per cent positive reviews.

The airport boasts a range of restaurants, beauty salons and lounges making it an appealing place to stop by when travelling.

In fourth place was another UK hub - Southampton Airport - which has 70.9 per cent positive ratings.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, in Arizona, came fifth, with 70.4 per cent of its reviews describing friendly staff.

Several other UK hubs made the top 20, including London City airport in 13th place, Exeter Airport in joint 15th, Humberside Airport in 18th and Cardiff Airport in 19th.

Cornwall Airport Newquay came second and followed closely with an impressive 73.3 per cent of reviews mentioning friendly workers

Elsewhere, almost half of the top 20 were made up of North American airports, making it the best destination for friendly hubs.

Eight of those were in the United States including Arizona, Minnesota, Virginia and Utah.

It comes after Rome Fiumicino was revealed to be the best airport in Europe last month.

The latest ACI EUROPE Best Airport Awards, which honour airports pushing boundaries across the continent, once again recognised Rome Fiumicino for its impressive commitment to passenger experience, sustainability and innovation.
A passenger has revealed the reward he received when he saved someone's life while on a cruise.

Reddit user Valkia said the experience took place on his first cruise - starting from Singapore on Mein Schiff.

During the trip, a member of his group went into cardiac arrest.

Valkia and his group kept him alive while waiting for medical support.

Valkia explains: 'In a turn of very fortunate events in the same area was a couple of guests, one a nurse and the other a surgeon who dashed into action initiating CPR.'

As a result, Valkia says he received a rare plaque of the ship by the captain.

Valkia explained the chain of events in the harrowing experience, saying: 'I went on my first cruise at the beginning of the year in South East Asia, starting from Singapore via Mein Schiff (TUI) across 13 days.

'We planned to surprise my partner's parents who were taking the cruise to celebrate their retirement, so we excitedly appeared in the background of a photo to reveal ourselves. The parents were also joined by my partner's uncle and his partner too, making our group six.'

A passenger has revealed the reward he received when he saved someone's life while on a cruise

As a result, Valkia says he received a rare plaque of the ship by the captain

He added: 'Anyhow, after a very exciting first few days, we were sitting at drinks in the evening when the uncle started touching his back, arm and chest.

'The other caveat is that I'm on a German cruise, and being English, I can understand enough of the language to get by, but I'm not fluent.

'The uncle told the others (in German) that he was feeling OK, and not to worry but watching his body language and expressions I became concerned, and told him to follow me to reception as we went looking for the board doctor to check him out.

'As we arrived at the reception, he went into cardiac arrest and fell to the floor, which was pretty scary.

'The not so cool part about all of this was my lack of knowledge in how to deal with the situation at hand.'

Fortunately, medically trained passengers and staff were nearby.

Valkia wrote: 'The cruise staff sounded Star Code (medical emergency), and a short time later the cruise medical crew took over and managed to get him stable. He was wheeled down to the medical center, which we were able to visit a few hours later.

'Early the following morning he was shipped out to a local hospital on Koh Samui, where he stayed for the next few weeks.'

Reddit user Valkia said the experience took place on his first cruise - starting from Singapore on Mein Schiff

He went on: 'A few days later we had an invite taped to the door to meet the captain on the bridge along with the other two who helped save the Uncle.

'We chatted to the senior doctor, and he mentioned that this was his final cruise before retiring, and that in his 40 years being a doctor he's not seen a situation in which someone having a heart attack is in the right place with people that can keep them alive long enough before the doctors take over and it was a nice final win.'

Valkia was then handed a plaque from the captain to thank him.

'Naturally, we couldn't enjoy the cruise fully after this happened,' Valkia said, 'but we were happy that he survived, and had a super nice hospital room on the island.

'Looking forward to my next one, with less drama.'
Brussels is set to be paralysed by strikes, disrupting up to 70,000 plane passengers.

The city's airports are set to grind to a halt on October 14, as strikes by security and ground staff are set to prevent all departing flights from taking off from the European aviation hubs.

Brussels Airport is set to see all departing flights cancelled, and Brussels South Charleroi Airport is set to see all flights cancelled on October 14.

The airport services, on average, 200 departures a day, according to Brussels Airport's website.

It is a major hub for international flights, offering services to many British airports, including London Heathrow, Birmingham, Manchester, and Edinburgh.

Some inbound flights at Brussels Airport are expected to be affected as well.

However, the extent of the impact is still unclear, as levels of disruption for these flights will be determined by the yet undecided level of participation by airline staff.

Brussels Airport management has released a statement saying: 'Due to the national trade union action on Tuesday October 14, in which the staff of the security service provider are participating, we unfortunately expect a major impact on our airport operations.

Brussels airports to set to be paralysed by strikes, disrupting up to 70,000 passengers

'In order to guarantee the safety of our passengers and staff, we have decided, in consultation with the airlines, not to allow any departing passenger flights to take place on October 14.'

Brussels Charleroi Airport's spokesperson, Nathalie Pierard, said: 'Due to the national day of action planned for Tuesday, October 14, as part of a joint union front, and the lack of staff present to ensure safe operations, all flights scheduled to and from Charleroi Airport on that day will be canceled.'

These strikes continue a series of industrial actions that have been affecting Belgium since the start of 2025.

Unions are protesting government proposals to raise the retirement age, and reform pensions.

In February, strikes protesting the same issue cancelled a total of 430 flights at Brussels Airport.

The strike is being called as part of a wider set of Belgian industrial action taking place on October 14.

Unions across the country are striking in protest against a savings plan that has been put forward by the Belgian government.

Ivalyo Danilov, CEO of air passenger rights specialists SkyRefund comments on the disruption: 'There has been a number of strikes in the aviation sector across Europe in recent months, tens of thousands of passengers across the UK and Europe have had their trips disrupted.

The city's airports are set to grind to a halt on October 14, as strikes by security and ground staff are set to prevent all departing flights from taking off from the European aviation hubs

'Strikes can be confusing for passengers looking to claim compensation, as strikes by airline staff are considered to be within an airline's control, while most strikes by ground staff and airport staff are not.

'However, during strikes, the actual reason for you flight being disrupted may be your airline after all.

'Because of this, we always recommend using a free compensation calculator, to check what you are owed.

'Regardless of why your flight is cancelled or delayed, airlines do have a duty of care to their passengers, and must help with reasonable accommodation, food and drinks for passengers who are substantially delayed, which will be important for most passengers affected by this strike.'
Most Brits are restricted to a set number of annual leave days, and have to ask their employer for permission to take them.

But new data suggests that employees desire a better work-life balance that offers more room for travelling.

A survey of 14,000 participants from 14 different countries revealed that Brits are keen holidaymakers.

Some 46 per cent of Brits have booked at least one trip away for the next 12 months, according to research by Hilton.

But it seems they would book even more if they had the holiday allowance at work.

The study revealed that 46 per cent of the nation would take a pay cut if they were given unlimited annual leave.

Some people have been using other tactics to make up for not having enough leave.

To allow them to travel, 39 per cent have taken unpaid holiday from work so they can get away more.

Most Brits are restricted to a set number of annual leave days, and have to ask their employer for permission to take them. But new data suggests that employees desire a better work-life balance that offers more room for travelling

While it may be a more drastic approach, a whopping 41 per cent said they would quit their job if their leave request was rejected.

Brits want to experience more personal growth and explore when they do manage to get away from the office.

They consider their children's interests, too, when booking a trip.

When travelling with youngsters, 41 per cent of the nation try to plan holidays around educational experiences.

As for pursuing passions and personal interests outside of work, 66 per cent shared they would take time off to do so.

This was a common theme across the other countries, as 72 per cent of other global participants said the same.

Hilton boss Simon Vincent CBE explained how the report found overall that travelling is a clear 'top priority' for people.

He said: 'Hilton's 2026 Trends Report confirms that travel remains a top priority, with people looking for added meaning in every trip they take.'

A study by Hilton revealed that 46 per cent of the nation would take a pay cut if they were given unlimited annual leave.

As for where Brits are jetting off to and spending their annual leave visiting, one destination takes the crown.

Spain is the most popular holiday destination for Brits, according to the ABTA Holiday Habits 2025 Report.

It ranked the favourite destinations over the last year - and handed the crown to the holiday hotspot.

Europe's popularity overall is reflected in its dominance of the most favoured countries visited by UK holidaymakers in the last 12 months.
From ancient Celtic beliefs in the spirit world to the legend of Jack the Ripper, the UK has a fascinatingly dark history.

Britain is home some of the world's oldest surviving buildings, with many carrying the legacy of a painful past.

And with Halloween weekend fast approaching, a study by QR Code Generator has revealed the UKs most popular haunted locations that you can visit - measured by the number of social media uploads.

Read on to find out which places top the ranking, as well as their eerie history and the ghosts that are rumoured to haunt the spots.

London Bridge

London Bridge, a former public execution site, was found to be the most popular haunted attraction in the UK on social media.

The original London Bridge has a history dating back to Roman times, with various versions of the bridge being built and rebuilt over the centuries.

Up until the 17th century, the heads of 'traitors', including William Wallace, were displayed on the bridge as a warning.

Unsurprisingly, London Bridge, a former public execution site, was found to be the most popular haunted attraction in the UK

The iconic tourist destination, which has amassed over 1.6million uploads on social media, is known for its reports of paranormal activity with some locals claiming to have seen ghostly figures along the River Thames at night.

In 2007 a former plague pit containing hundreds of skeletons was uncovered during construction for the London Bridge Experience.

Some of the skulls found had holes in them, suggesting they may have been impaled on spikes.

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle, ranked the the second-most popular haunted attraction, is pictured

Standing on Castle Rock, Edinburgh Castle was ranked the second most popular haunted attraction, and is often regarded as one of Scotlands most haunted locations.

As a military fortress, Edinburgh Castle has witnessed some of the most violent and gruesome events in Scotlands history.

Visitors and staff alike have claimed to have witnessed apparitions and shadowy figures while walking around the tourist attraction.

Tower of London

The Tower of London, a historic castle located on the north bank of the River Thames, is pictured

The Tower of London is one of historys most famous sites for executions and imprisonment and numerous ghost sightings have been reported around the area.

Visitors and ceremonial guards have reported hearing unexplained sounds and chilling sensations throughout the historic castle.

The most famous ghost sighting is that of Queen Anne Boleyn, who was beheaded on Tower Green in 1536.

Hampton Court Palace

Pictured: Hampton Court Palace in Richmond, London, is rumoured to be haunted by two of Henry VIIIs ex-wives

Hampton Court Palace is rumoured to be haunted by two of Henry VIIIs ex-wives, Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard.

Visitors and staff have frequently reported paranormal activity within the iconic Tudor landmark, so much so that one of the palaces rooms is referred to as the Haunted Gallery.

Eerie sightings have also been captured on CCTV, making the palace one of Londons most haunted destinations.

Whitechapel

A blue plaque on Cable Street in London, UK, marking where the body of Jack the Ripper victim Elizabeth Stride was taken from to the mortuary in 1888

Whitechapel is closely associated with Jack the Ripper, who murdered several women in the area in 1888.

Haunted locations include the Ten Bells Pub, where Jack the Ripper's victims were last seen, and Mitre Square, said to have glowing cobblestones on the anniversary of a murder.

The area also features a historical building on Cable Street, once a Victorian mortuary.

Numerous Jack the Ripper walking tours operate within the area, taking tourists around some of Whitechapels creepiest sites.

Highgate Cemetery

Pictured: Highgate Cemetery, next to Waterlow Park, in the London Borough of Camden

Another London site takes the sixth spot in the ranking.

Highgate Cemetery, known for being the resting place of influential figures like Karl Marx and Christina Rossetti, is the subject of numerous folklore myths, including the Highgate Vampire.

The cemetery's Gothic architecture, abandoned status after WWII, and a legend of cult activity fueled the rise of paranormal tales and reports of spectral figures, a woman in white, and even a winged creature in the 1970s.

York Minster

The 7th century York Minster, a popular spot for ghost hunters, is pictured

York Minster is known as one of Yorkshire's most haunted buildings and is a popular spot on ghost tours of the historic city.

The impressive 7th century cathedral is widely associated with the gothic aesthetic and ghosts sightings have been reported within the building.

Visitors have reported ghostly sightings and unexplained phenomena, including Roman soldiers in the crypt, monks gliding through the aisles and a naval officer appearing to a young lady just before his death.

Chislehurst Caves

The Shambles in York (pictured) was once an open-air slaughterhouse and meat market

The Chislehurst Caves have been named as the UKs eighth most popular haunted destination.

The manmade caves in Kent have been the subject of multiple ghost stories over the years, especially the famed White Lady apparition.

The caves have also been the focus of two Most Haunted investigations, showcasing the areas famed eerie reputation.

The Shambles

Walking down the narrow, twisting lanes of the medieval Shambles in York feels like stepping back in time.

The street was once an open-air slaughterhouse and meat market and was mentioned in the Domesday Book of William the Conqueror.

Ghostly figures and apparitions have reportedly been sighted in shop windows along the street, making it another essential stop on one of the citys ghost tours.

Warwick Castle

The 11th-century Warwick Castle has been the subject of multiple ghost stories, including reports of a large black dog with glowing red eyes

Coming in at number 10, the 11th-century Warwick Castle has been the subject of multiple ghost stories, including reports of a large black dog with glowing red eyes.

The castle itself was built in 1068, and its survival through various conflicts and changes in fortune has contributed to its legendary status and associated ghost stories.

In particular, the castles dungeons are well-known for having an eerie presence.

Multiple visitors claim to have experienced the overwhelming sensation of being watched and the feeling of being touched or dragged.
Gatwick taxi drivers are set to protest over Uber swerving licensing laws which they argue is 'crippling trade'.

The action will take place tomorrow (October 9) at Gatwick South Terminal roundabout from 8am.

Drivers feel Uber has an unfair advantage over the private hire taxis in Crawley because of them being able to avoid local licensing laws.

Regulations mean Ubers registered in London can come into the town and provide their service.

The local area has seen an increase in London-based Uber cabs which Unite, a union representing local drivers, feel is poaching private taxis.

Gatwick Airport partnered with Uber earlier this year which allows travellers to easily book a taxi.

However, some local drivers feel this puts them at an unfair disadvantage.

The union calls for action from Gatwick Airport and Uber, as well as the government to help strengthen council taxi licensing laws.

The action will take place tomorrow (October 9) at Gatwick South Terminal roundabout from 8am (stock)

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham called for Gatwick to address the concerns.

He said: 'Gatwick is disgracing itself by partnering with a race-to-the-bottom firm like Uber, which is destroying local livelihoods and damaging Crawley's economy.

'Unite will not rest until Gatwick takes action to address our members' concerns.

'Nor can the government continue to sit on the sidelines  Uber's sidestepping of local licensing laws is hurting workers and putting passengers at risk across the country. Ministers need to close the loopholes in the legislation.'

A London Gatwick spokesperson told the Daily Mail: ''We recognise the importance of fair competition across all transport providers.

'Airport Cars, London Gatwick's official taxi partner, continues to operate from dedicated bays directly outside the terminals, offering convenient access for passengers.

'Passengers who choose to use Uber or other private hire vehicles can do so from designated pick-up zones designed to reduce congestion on local roads and provide a smooth passenger experience.'

An Uber spokesperson said: 'Uber operates according to the high standards set across the industry and abides by the same regulations as all other private hire operators.

Drivers feel Uber has an unfair advantage over the private hire taxis in Crawley because of them being able to avoid local licensing laws (stock)

'This has been supported by a thorough independent review by Crawley Borough Council, which upheld our set-up at Gatwick.'

It comes after a recent report revealed Gatwick Airport's second runway could cause house prices in the local area to plummet.

The plan, which involves moving the hub's emergency runway 13 yards north, will ramp up flights by around 100,000 a year.

It has been suggested that the second runway could be in action before 2029.

However, the plans could cause house prices in the local area to plummet by as much as 40,000, according to new research by Yopa.

The analysis found the homes closest to Gatwick or located under new flight paths could reduce in value by -7.5 per cent.

In Mole Valley, this would be a 40,513 fall on average, while it could be 38,270 in Tandridge and 36,469 in Reigate and Banstead.
A company that won the support of Dragons' Den is now worth a staggering 140million, just two years after appearing on the show.

Marisa Poster and Teddie Levenfiche, founders of matcha firm PerfectTed, have made history by securing the show's biggest ever payday by offering an alternative to high-caffeine energy drinks such as Red Bull.

Levenfiche and Poster impressed the dragons when they appeared on the show in 2023, with two of the panel, Steven Bartlett and Peter Jones, ultimately purchasing a five percent stake in the company for 50,000.

Just two years after the pair secured the life-changing investment, PerfectTed has now 'grown rapidly' and gained the best returns for the dragons in the show's history.

It was reported today that the company is worth 140million and has recently secured further investment from the venture capital firm Felix Capital.

Back in May, it was already predicting a huge 30million of annual revenue, with bosses adding it was working towards '100million'.

PerfectTed prides itself on its range of healthy, matcha-based energy drinks made from all natural ingredients that provide customers with a boost without the large amounts of added ingredients contained in traditional energy drinks.

The firm claims to be the largest supplier of matcha products in Europe and recently revealed its ambition to become the world's first billion-dollar matcha brand.

Marisa Poster and Teddie Levenfiche (left), founders of matcha firm PerfectTed, have made history by securing the show's biggest ever payday by offering an alternative to high-caffeine energy drinks such as Red Bull (Pictured with Levi Levenfiche, right)

Poster, pictured with her husband, was just 25 when she appeared on the BBC 1 programme

PerfectTed has now 'grown rapidly' with the help of the dragons after being founded just four years ago

Its success has seen it branch out from drinks to also provide coffee machine pods, flavoured matcha and latte products.

Having been founded in 2021 with 250,000 of the founder duo's own savings, it has achieved exponential growth in just four years.

This has been achieved with the help of major UK supermarkets and health stores, with PerfectTed drinks now stocked in retailers including Waitrose, Holland & Barrett, and Whole Foods.

The firm's products are now being sold in over 50 countries and in more than 30,000 stores worldwide.

The company has also secured partnerships with high street coffee chains including Cafe Nero and Joe and the Juice.

And even before PerfectTed caught the eye of the dragons, Poster and Levenfiche had secured the backing of retail giant Tesco.

They were both just 25 when they appeared on the show, which has been running on the BBC since 2005.

The dragons were instrumental in the company's success, with Bartlett's investment fund, Flight Fund, said to have allowed the company to significantly scale up its operation.

The company's founders, Teddie Levenfiche and Marisa Poster, impressed the dragons when they appeared on the show, with Steven Bartlett and Peter Jones ultimately purchasing a 5 percent stake in the company for 50,000

A company that won the support of Dragons' Den in 2023 is now worth a staggering 140 million

If the PerfectTed drinks look familiar to you from more than just the show, they are now stocked in several well-known retailers including Waitrose, Holland & Barrett, and Whole Foods

The FEBE Growth 100 list said that the brand had achieved a whopping 532 per cent growth year-on-year.

Marissa told The Grocer: 'This is more than just an investment - it's fuel for our mission to make matcha accessible to everyone.'

Following the success of its initial offering, the company has moved into the production of matcha lattes and powder.

PerfedTed is said to be a 'driving force' behind the drink's growing popularity in the UK.

Appearing on the show, Poster and Levenfiche asked the dragons for 50,000 for a 5 per cent stake in their business.

They said they had put 250,000 of their own savings into the business, which sells natural energy drinks made using matcha, as well as raising 125,000 from family.

The dragons were impressed by their pitch, with all five business people vying for a stake in the company.

The latest success for the BBC show is one of a long line of savvy investments which have seen contestants become major business figures in UK stores and beyond.

In 2007, Levi Roots became one of the first major names to hit the high street with his homemade spicy Jamaican 'Reggae Reggae Sauce'.

After securing a 50,000 investment from two dragons the product was quickly picked up by supermarket Sainsbury's.

But the programme has also seen the dragons pass on opportunities which have now become superstars of the business world.

This includes brands such as BrewDog, Gousto and Pasta Evangelists.

Dragons' Den airs on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer.
Dancing with the Stars kicked off week four of season 34 with Disney Night on Tuesday, before ending it with a shock elimination.

In honor of Disneyland Resort's 70th Celebration, the 11 remaining couples took on styles like the Quickstep, Viennese Waltz, and Cha Cha, dancing to iconic Disney film songs.

Despite consistently good scores from the judges, Hilaria Baldwin's, 41, journey on the show ended when she was surprisingly voted off.

Before learning her fate, the star even teased that her husband Alec Baldwin, 67, would join her on the dance floor in the next episode, if she made it through.

After learning that the audience decided to vote her off, she said: 'This has been an incredible experience. I am so grateful to all of you. I am grateful to my children. I am grateful to my family. Thank you guys for this.'

'This is wonderful. I am cheering on everybody in the cast. This has been an amazing time,' she added.

Dancing with the Stars started Season 34, Week 4 with Disney Night, but ended with a shock elimination as Alec Baldwin's wife, Hilaria Baldwin, 41, was voted off

After learning that the audience decided to send her home, she said: 'This has been an incredible experience. I am so grateful to all of you. I am grateful to my children'

Before learning her fate, the star even teased that her husband Alec, 67, would join her on the dance floor in the next episode, if she made it through

Host Julianne Hough asked her dance partner Gleb Savchenko: 'Gleb, I heard you say I am so proud of you. What else do you want to say?'

'I am so proud of you. Superhero in the dance studio and incredible mom to your kids. You put so much love and passion into dance. You are truly inspirational, and I am so happy that I had a chance to dance with you,' he replied.

Hilaria was joined by Alec and four of their seven kids in her intro clip, as they enjoyed Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland, before she hit the stage.

'Having a day at Disneyland with my family, who are my biggest supporters. I really needed it to have a day we are spending time together,' she shared as Alec and the kids joined her.

Hilaria also shared that Alec is a big Star Wars fan, as he was heard exclaiming, 'This is exactly like the movie set.'

'My kids mean so much to me. They love Disney. So I hope that I put on the best performance to thank them for how supportive that they have been for me,' she added.

After dancing the quickstep with Gleb, she teased that if she makes is through to the next round she might do a dance with Alec.

For their Quickstep, Hilaria and Gleb performed to 'Cantina Band' from Star Wars: A New Hope.

Host Julianne Hough asked her dance partner Gleb Savchenko: 'Gleb, I heard you say I am so proud of you. What else do you want to say?'

'I am so proud of you. Superhero in the dance studio and incredible mom to your kids. You put so much love and passion into dance. You are truly inspirational, and I am so happy that I had a chance to dance with you,' he replied

Hilaria found herself in the bottom three with actress Danielle Fishel and comedian Andy Richter

She was voted off despite getting consistently good scores from the judges

For their Quickstep, Hilaria and Gleb performed to 'Cantina Band' from Star Wars: A New Hope

Judge Bruno Tonioli was wowed by the performance, telling her: 'The force is still with you. Whatever you did worked'

Before they reviewed their scores, Julianne asked Hilaria, 'I know how important that it is for you to get through tonight's elimination for next week. You have somebody special that and you will be dancing with'

'I do. I have somebody special. Can you imagine who that is?' Hilaria teased. 'It might be your other father,' she joked as Julianne added, 'Alec'

Hilaria was joined by Alec and their kids in her intro clip, as they enjoyed Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland, before she hit the stage

Hilaria's exit from DWTS was met with a mixed reaction among some viewers

Judge Bruno Tonioli was wowed by the performance, telling her: 'The force is still with you. Whatever you did worked.'

'I watched very closely everything that you did tonight, really analyzing. I was looking for something wrong. I did not see it.'

Judge Carrie Ann Inaba said 'It was beautiful' adding, 'Here is the contender.'

Derek Hough praised Hilaria's 'amazing talent' but said he was hoping for more Quickstep in their routine.

Carrie Ann and Bruno both gave Hilaria an 8, while Derek gave her a 7, for a total of 23 out of 30.

Before they reviewed their scores, Julianne asked Hilaria, 'I know how important that it is for you to get through tonight's elimination for next week. You have somebody special that and you will be dancing with.'

'I do. I have somebody special. Can you imagine who that is?' Hilaria teased.

'It might be your other father,' she joked as Julianne added, 'Alec.'

She also expressed her hope to remain in the competition.

'Next week we have something really fun planned. We are going to do a dance that I love so much. I think it will be very meaningful to my entire family and my children who have been so supportive for me here. I really hope to make it.'

Hilaria's exit from DWTS was met with a mixed reaction among some viewers.

'HILARIA ELIMINATED THANK GOD,' one wrote on X.

'HILARIA IS GONE WE DID IT.'

'me giving 10 votes to even people I hate just so hilaria leaves.'

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney Leavitt danced the Foxtrot with partner Mark Ballas to 'The Room Where It Happens' from Hamilton

Bruno called the dance 'show-stopping' and 'worthy of the best of Broadway'

Whitney seemed to tear up as she told Julianne that her 'daughter is here in the audience for the first time'

The pair earned a score of 25, and remained on top of the leaderboard for the fourth consecutive week

Influencer Alix Earle performed a Viennese Waltz to Once Upon a Dream from Maleficent with dancing with pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy

Val revealed he wanted to cast the TikTok star as the villain for Disney Night, subverting expectations that she would dance as a princess

Alix's outfit was even complete with signature horns

They received a score of 24 out of 30

'Simultaneously celebrating hilaria being gone while panicking at the thought that eliminations are about to be so much harder,' another added.

'Hilaria talking like shes automatically coming back next week wouldnt it be funny if she didnt.'

Alix Earle, Andy Richter, Danielle Fishel, Elaine Hendrix, Jordan Chiles, Dylan Efron, Scott Hoying, Robert Irwin, Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt were among the other stars still competing for the mirrorball trophy.

Last week's episode ended with a shock elimination as Fifth Harmony's Lauren Jauregui and her partner Brandon Armstrong.

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Whitney danced the Foxtrot with partner Mark Ballas to 'The Room Where It Happens' from Hamilton.

Bruno called the dance 'show-stopping' and 'worthy of the best of Broadway.'

Whitney seemed to tear up as she told Julianne that her 'daughter is here in the audience for the first time.'

'Mommy loves you!' she told her.

The pair earned a score of 25, and remained on top of the leaderboard for the fourth consecutive week.

Dylan kicked off this week's episode, dancing a Quickstep with partner Danielle to 'Life Is a Highway' from Cars.

Bruno said that Dylan is 'hitting the highway to the final' as he complimented his footwork.

Dylan ended up with a score of 23 out of 30.

Robert Irwin and his partner Witney Carson performed the Cha Cha to Shakira's 'Try Everything' from the first Zootopia film

'As soon as Shakira comes on, the hips can't lie,' he joked in his intro package

He ended with a score of 22 out of 30

Jen Affleck and her partner Jan Ravnik performed Jazz to 'Friend Like Me' from Aladdin

The duo received 23 as their final score

Jordan Chiles and her partner Ezra Sosa danced the Quickstep to 'Special Spice' from Tianas Bayou Adventure ride based on The Princess and the Frog

Bruno said Jordan is 'dance royalty' calling her 'always elegant.' The pair ended the night with a score of 24 out of 30

Elaine Hendrix and her partner Alan Bersten were dressed as aliens when they hit the dance floor and performed the Quickstep to the theme song from Disneyland's Space Mountain ride

She ended the night with a score of 24 out of 30

Dylan Efron kicked off this week's episode, dancing a Quickstep with partner Danielle to 'Life Is a Highway' from Cars

Bruno said that Dylan is 'hitting the highway to the final' as he complimented his footwork

Dylan ended up with a score of 23 out of 30

Meanwhile Danielle danced to 'I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)' from The Jungle Book with partner Pasha Pashkov.

Bruno called her a 'naughty, naughty mama bear.'

She got a 21 out of 30.

Scott then took the stage with partner Rylee, dancing the salsa to 'Bop to the Top' from the original High School Musical movie.

Carrie Ann praised him, saying, 'You razzle dazzled us' adding, 'You two together [are] wonderful.'

They received a final score of 21 out of 30.

Influencer Alix was up next, dancing with pro partner Val Chmerkovskiy.

Val revealed he wanted to cast the TikTok star as the villain for Disney Night, subverting expectations that she would dance as a princess.

They performed a Viennese Waltz to Once Upon a Dream from Maleficent.

Alix's outfit was even complete with signature horns.

Derek praised the dance as 'mesmerizing' and 'spellbinding' adding, 'This was your best dance.'

Bruno called it 'gripping' and 'haunting' while Carrie Ann gushed that it was 'so fun.'

Meanwhile Val joked that Alix has got 'a little villain in her.'

They received a score of 24 out of 30.

Comedian Andy performed a Viennese Waltz to 'Le Festin' from Ratatouille with partner Emma Slater.

Danielle Fishel danced to 'I Wan'na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)' from The Jungle Book with partner Pasha Pashkov

Bruno called her a 'naughty, naughty mama bear.' She got a score of 21 out of 30

Comedian Andy performed a Viennese Waltz to 'Le Festin' from Ratatouille with partner Emma Slater

Andy ended up with a score of 18 out of 30

Scott Hoying took the stage with partner Rylee, dancing the salsa to 'Bop to the Top' from the original High School Musical movie

They received a final score of 21 out of 30

Carrie Ann told him to 'challenge yourself a little bit more.'

Bruno joked that the two 'put Martha Stewart to shame.'

Andy ended up with a score of 18 out of 30.

Robert and his partner Witney Carson performed the Cha Cha to Shakira's 'Try Everything' from the first Zootopia film.

'As soon as Shakira comes on, the hips can't lie,' he joked in his intro package.

'You can't help but smile when I watch you perform,' Derek told him afterwards.

'It was clean, it was clear, it was sweet,' Bruno added. 'I liked it very, very much.'

He ended with a score of 22 out of 30.

Elaine Hendrix and her partner Alan Bersten were dressed as aliens when they hit the dance floor and performed the Quickstep to the theme song from Disneyland's Space Mountain ride.

Derek joked that he 'blacked out' from the dance.

'I felt like I was on the rollercoaster. I am so impressed. That was a complicated routine. Really, really great.'

She ended the night with a score of 24 out of 30.

Jordan and her partner Ezra Sosa danced the Quickstep to 'Special Spice' from Tianas Bayou Adventure ride based on The Princess and the Frog.

Bruno said Jordan is 'dance royalty' calling her 'always elegant.'

Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET

The pair ended the night with a score of 24 out of 30.

Jen and her partner Jan Ravnik performed Jazz to 'Friend Like Me' from Aladdin.

The duo received 23 as their final score.

Dancing With the Stars airs on ABC and Disney+ Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET.
WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for Netflix's Steve

Cillian Murphy's new Netflix film Steve is leaving viewers sobbing with its poignant depiction of a broken school system and teachers who refuse to give up on the pupils in their care.

Set over the course of one day, it details events after it is announced that a reform school for troubled boys in the UK must close.

With a documentary crew on site, head teacher Steve (Cillian Murphy) describes himself as 'very, very tired' as he attempts to help his pupils, including Shy, who describes himself as 'angry and bored'.

The film's official synopsis reads: 'A head teacher at a reform school struggles to keep his students in line while also battling with his own mental health issues.'

With several complicated plot points, it's not long before there is more at stake than just the school and Shy attempts to end his life.

By the end of the day, Steve has broken his sobriety, but he has saved Shy's life, leaving him at a low point at the end of the film, which has a heart-wrenching ending that's been given several meanings.

Cillian Murphy 's new Netflix film Steve is leaving viewers sobbing with its poignant depiction of a broken school system and teachers who refuse to give up on the pupils in their care

Set over the course of one day, the film details events after it is announced that a reform school for troubled boys in the UK must close

Following the traumatic day, after returning home to his wife and children, Steve climbs into his attic, which on a simple level has been interpreted as the headteacher giving up on life and spiralling into addiction or worse.

However, it's also been suggested that despite appearing bleak on the surface, the film's ending is a hopeful one.

This is because while the school will inevitably close, Steve has saved a life and the ultimate conclusion is the Durdle Door.

It is used as a symbol of hope throughout the film and is of particular interest to Shy.

Like him, the natural limestone arch has been battered by the elements, but it is still standing.

Based on the novella Shy by Max Porter, while the film is fictional, it inspired by real-world problems.

The author told Esquire: 'Anybody reading this book now, who is awake, will see what the consequences of a place like Last Chance closing is.

'When you close youth clubs and social support systems in inner cities... these things are obvious and terrifying.'

Steve has received acclaim from viewers and critics alike - with Cillian Murphy's acting a particular highlight for many

But while he school will inevitably close, Steve saves a life and the ultimate conclusion is the Durdle Door, which is used as a symbol of hope throughout the film

The film has had an impressive reception since it was released in September, with many viewers taking to social media to praise its emotional ending.

They wrote: '#Steve is the best to come out of Netflix since #adolescence!! #CillianMurphy and all the kids are absolutely wonderful! The last scene brought tears to my eyes! [sic]';

'Steve is absolutely amazing! Also, the message behind the movie is precious. The movie is a blend of emotions and hope.

'So amazingly did the actors act that I enjoyed watching the movie. I would love to give credit to everyone, including Cillian Murphy.';

'Brilliant film. Cant imagine another actor playing that role.'

Cillian was arguably the perfect actor to step into Steve's shoes, as both his parents were teachers.

He told Deadline: 'I grew up in a household where I saw the after effects of standing in front of 35 teenagers all day long while my mother was trying to raise four of her own, and they were both out at work.

'My grandfather was a headmaster. All my aunts and uncles are teachers. So I know that inside-out of that world.'

Steve is available to stream exclusively on Netflix now.
A Coronation Street star recently surprised fans by making an unexpected appearance in Hollyoaks.

Dr Susan Gaddas has been a familiar face on the cobbles now for over a decade, but amid a quiet time for the character, actress Christine Mackie took on the role of a judge at Tony Hutchinson's plea hearing.

Her brief appearance is part of a dramatic storyline that has seen Tony falsely imprisoned for the murder of Bobby McQueen.

After being beaten by his fellow inmates, he is now facing pressure to admit to carrying out the crime - despite his innocence.

This is not the actress first appearance in the soap and she also stepped into the shoes of Mrs Webster in 2008.

A soap fan praised: 'Obsessed with Dr Gaddas becoming a judge in Chester now her services are no longer required in Corrie because everyone goes straight to hospitalher hardworking ways [sic].'

A Coronation Street star recently surprised fans by making an unexpected appearance in Hollyoaks - appearing as the judge at Tony Hutchinson's plea hearing

Actress Christine Mackie is well-known on Coronation Street for playing Dr Susan Gaddas

Others wrote: 'Knew it was her! Thanks for the confirmation and I'm sure the woman who came out to get them in the room was from Doctors & Corrie as well at one point.';

'I knew it was her!!!'

The actress has made several appearances in Corrie over the years, first popping up way back in 1989 to play a nurse at Blackpool's Victoria Hospital.

She returned in 2010 to play dancing instructor Bella.

However, it was not until 2014 that the actress took on her longest-standing role on the soap to date.

After stepping into the shoes of GP Dr Susan Gaddas, she helped David and Kylie Platt with their son Max's seemingly uncontrollable behaviour.

She soon diagnosed him with ADHD and referred Max to a child psychologist for further treatment.

The actress's character has been there for many of Weatherfield's residents in their time of need and also diagnosed Steve McDonald with depression and assisted Beth Tinker when she developed hives after taking an allergic reaction.

A soap fan praised: 'Obsessed with Dr Gaddas becoming a judge in Chester now her services are no longer required in corrie because everyone goes straight to hospitalher hardworking ways [sic]'

The actress's character has been there for many of Weatherfield's residents in their time of need since joining the soap in 2014

Dr Susan has also helped with other conditions, including drug addictions and heart palpitations, as Corrie continues its long-standing tradition of exploring important societal issues with its storylines.

The character arguably shone the brightest when she helped care for Sinead Tinker during her terminal cancer battle.

Acknowledging her wish to pass away at home, Dr Susan supported her family to ensure that Sinead could spend her final days with her son Bertie and dad Daniel.

Coronation Street airs on weekdays at 8:30pm on ITV and ITVX.

Hollyoaks, meanwhile, airs at 7pm on Channel 4.
Horrified Married At First Sight UK fans gasped 'they are done!' as a groom broke down in tears after a brutal swipe from his bride's friends on Tuesday's episode of the E4 show.

This week on MAFS marks in-laws week and the couples have been catching up with their family and friends as newly-weds.

Professional dancer Julia-Ruth Smith, 29, and actor Divarni Balogun, also 29, have definitely had their fair share of ups and downs since saying 'I Do' just moments after meeting down the aisle.

During their honeymoon, Divarni broke down in tears after Julia-Ruth told him that she finds him 'intense', they later clashed and they also butted heads when Divarni placed sex and looks lower down in values of a relationship to Julia-Ruth.

The latest instalment of the programme saw Julia-Ruth meet up with her pals Jay Jay and Drew to talk about her marriage, while Divarni caught up with his cousin Tia.

They later all met up together and it went down hill very quickly.

Horrified Married At First Sight UK fans gasped 'they are done!' as a groom broke down in tears after a brutal swipe from his bride's friends on Tuesday's episode of the E4 show

Julia-Ruth's friend told Divarni that he didn't think he took accountability for his actions

Professional dancer Julia-Ruth Smith, 29, and actor Divarni Balogun, also 29, have definitely had their fair share of ups and downs since saying 'I Do' just moments after meeting down the aisle

Julia-Ruth's friend told him: 'I'm really concerned about what Julia told me about you telling at her. Personally, I don't agree with people that shout to communicate.'

Divarni replied: 'When it comes down to something that is heavy on my chest that I need to get off, what I've learnt, I'm going to have to take a step back.

'Take space if there is any form of conflict, instead of badgering, I guess "attacking".'

Julia chimed in and said: 'But you're not taking accountability there so... by doing this [making quotation marks] you're taking away from it.

'Acknowledge and accept, don't back track. But doing this [making quotation marks] takes away from it.'

Divarni said: 'You're making it sound like it was intentional.'

'I'm not saying you have a malicious bone in your body, I'm saying that was the situation. That's what you did,' she replied.

Divarni told her: 'I took accountability.'

Crying to his cousin, Divarni said: 'It's just the words, saying I attacked her and all that kind of stuff. I'm not that kind of person'

'Noone is gaslighting, your feelings are valid. I told you that,' Divarni's cousin Tia tells Julia-Ruth and her friends

Julia-Ruth's friend said: 'I don't think you did, sorry.'

Crying to his cousin, Divarni said: 'It's just the words, saying I attacked her and all that kind of stuff. I'm not that kind of person.'

Things got very heated around the table and Divarni went quiet and eventually got up and walked off.

Away from the cameras he started crying and his cousin tried to comfort him.

'You're not like yourself,' she told him.

When they returned to the table, Tia told them that they needed to be more careful with the words that they used, to which Julia's friend said that she was 'gaslighting her feelings'.

'No-one is gaslighting, your feelings are valid. I told you that,' Tia replied.

At the end of the conversation Divarni said that he wanted to make it work, while Julia-Ruth said this week was 'make or break it'.

One fan wrote: 'They are done.'

'Divarni and Julia-Ruth are yet ANOTHER failure by the experts. He wants deep convos, the quiet life and lots of kids. She wants fun, adventure and great s*x. Polar opposites and I see no reason as to why they were even matched!'

'Julia-Ruth and Divarni need to go.'

Earlier on in the episode, Julia-Ruth's mates asked how she was, to which she replied: 'I'm good... I think.'

'The wedding day was fab. Nothing happened but we spent the night together, we were going to our honeymoon the next day.

'The reality of everything set in. We were in Morocco and we were on a camel ride which was amazing, I asked him if there was anything he's scared of, he says complete opposite of were he was going to go.

'He's like nobody is ever going to love me, when I'm looking for the humour and the fun, I'm struggling because everything ends up feeling so f***ing deep.'

She then went on to recall an argument that they had where he 'yelled at her' - and the pair were not impressed.

'You don't shout at anyone, especially in fresh relationships,' they told her.

Divarni told his cousin: It's been a rollercoaster.

'When we got married, we shot off to Morocco, we had a hiccup, it went south, I opened up about sensitive info about me, it was too heavy, it was an overload at that time.

'She took it as like I'm badgering about having a bad past.'

He then spoke about their argument and confessed: 'It was bad delivery because my emotions were high. It got to a point where she thought I was attacking her.'

Julia-Ruth also mentioned their values and she told her friends that she thought he was being 'fake'.

When asked about their sex life, the dancer also stayed quiet and told them that her toys are 'collecting dust'.
The surgeon father of Bachelorette star Georgia Love has opened up about their at-times strained relationship, after her recent social media activity hinted at a rift.

Whispers of a possible falling-out emerged last month when Georgia - who split from husband Lee Elliott earlier this year  failed to acknowledge her dad, urologist Dr Christopher Love, on Father's Day.

However, the following day  September 8  the former Channel Seven reporter, 37, marked what would have been her late mother Belinda's birthday.

'A September 8 Mum would approve of,' she captioned a photo of herself lying poolside in a bikini. 'Happy birthday, Mum.'

When asked about rumours of tension, Dr Love told Daily Mail that 'things were tough' in the past, but had improved in recent years.

From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop.

Dr Christopher Love (right), the urologist father of Bachelorette star Georgia Love (left), has spoken about their at-times strained relationship following the 2016 death of her mother

Speculation about a possible falling-out surfaced when Georgia didn't post about Dr Love on Father's Day - but the next day, she marked what would have been her late mother's birthday

When approached by the Daily Mail at his Moorabbin office on Wednesday, Dr Love appeared to confirm the past few years had been challenging. 'Things were tough,' he said

Belinda died in 2016 following a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

Georgia, now an ambassador for the Pancare Foundation, has spoken candidly about her grief in the years since.

Her relationship with her father - a renowned penile implant surgeon and recognised expert in erectile dysfunction treatment - appeared outwardly close in the years after her mother's death.

For instance, he attended her 2021 wedding to Lee  her winning suitor on Ten's The Bachelorette. (The couple confirmed their split in February.)

But since then, their social media interactions have been noticeably sparse.

When Daily Mail spoke to Dr Love on Wednesday, he appeared to confirm the last few years had been challenging.

'As you know, Georgia's mother died, eight, nine years ago. I think it's fair to say for a short while afterwards things were tough,' he said.

'She'd just done Bachelorette with Lee and all the rest of it.

'So, yeah, I think it's probably fair to say that communication for a little while was not ideal, but that's certainly not the case in recent times.'

'I think it's probably fair to say that communication for a little while was not ideal, but that's certainly not the case in recent times,' said Dr Love

'I think "estranged" is a very strong word and I wouldn't use that,' Dr Christopher Love added

Georgia, now an ambassador for the Pancare Foundation, has spoken openly about her heartache in the years that followed her mother Belinda's death from pancreatic cancer in 2016

Dr Love insisted, however, that he was on speaking terms with his youngest daughter.

'I think "estranged" is a very strong word and I wouldn't use that,' he said.

'I think families with grief and all the rest of it, it can be a bit of an issue. That's all.'

Dr Love revealed he had recently helped Georgia move into a new apartment, following the sale of her four-bedroom marital home in Hampton East.

The townhouse, which she and Lee purchased in 2021, sold during post-auction negotiations for an undisclosed amount after being listed with a $1.58million price guide.

'Particularly since she separated, I'm probably speaking to her much more regularly just to keep an eye on her,' added Dr Love.

As Daily Mail was preparing this article for publication, Georgia was not following her father on Instagram, though he continued to follow her.

Dr Christopher Love and his late wife Belinda are pictured together

Georgia did not attend her father's wedding to his new wife Susan (left) in February 2022  nor did she publicly congratulate the couple on social media

Georgia's social media interactions with her widowed father appeared to taper off before he married Susan in February 2022.

Dr Love shared several photos from the big day on Instagram, but Georgia was nowhere to be seen. She didn't like or comment on any of his wedding posts, nor did she reference the nuptials on her own account.

Dr Love confirmed to Daily Mail that Georgia did not attend his wedding.

When asked if his daughter had any 'issues' with him remarrying, he replied: 'No, no. Well, no is the simple answer.

'I think basically, again, as I imagine with most families, that re-partnering when someone is no longer around is a tense situation, but that's all I'd say.'

When pressed on whether the pair got along, he added: 'Yeah, reasonably well. I mean, again, as a stepmother-type situation, I think, probably, that's fairly common as well.

'I think the summary of the period of time would be it was awkward early on with grief. Things are a hell of a lot better. I speak to her every few days, week, or so.

'From what I can see, they're not acrimonious at all. They're talking and communicating, but it's over,' Dr Love said of Georgia's split from her ex-husband Lee Elliott

'I'm comfortable with it given she lost her mum, I've re-partnered, that changes the dynamic of families, doesn't it?'

When asked about Georgia's split from Lee, Dr Love said: 'I still follow him on Instagram.

'From what I can see, they're not acrimonious at all. They're talking and communicating - but it's over. It's not nasty or anything.

'I just haven't spoken to Lee because I probably wouldn't have spoken to him that much regularly anyway, so that's not very different.'

Georgia Love was contacted for comment.

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Cruz Beckham made sure all eyes were on him on on Friday as he strode around Paris in a pair of quirky green frog clogs.

However while the youngest Beckham son's bold fashion choice may have appeared out of the blue, it seems instead he could be hinting at his upcoming music venture.

Cruz, 20, has reportedly signed with the top music management company C3, who worked with the US indie group The Strokes.

And 'frog clues' have been popping up on Cruz's social media account for months, with fans becoming increasingly suspicious.

The frog furore began back in April when Cruz included the drawing of a cartoon frog at the end of an Instagram dump.

In the following months he has shared numerous snaps and videos of him rehearsing with his band, captioning his June post with a tongue and frog emoji.

Cruz Beckham has sparked a fan frenzy as they speculated a release of new songs could be on the horizon after the budding musician dropped a trail of toad inspired easter eggs

The youngest Beckham son, 20, made sure all eyes were on him on on Friday as he strode around Paris in a pair of quirky green frog clogs on Friday

Later in July, Cruz shared sneak peak of new music as he strummed his guitar in the back of the car and sang the lyrics 'Green day in Paris', perhaps a hint to the title of an upcoming album.

Then last week he created his own 'green day in Paris' as he sported a pair of 370 quirky green frog clogs from JW Anderson while walking hand in hand with his girlfriend Jackie Apostel.

Jackie was also kitted out in green heels and bright green leather gloves which tied in with the song and frog hints.

And in recent weeks it seems hints towards new music have really accelerated, with Cruz's girlfriend also getting in on the froggy games.

Posting a snap from rehearsals in mid September, Jackie, who is also a songwriter, commented: 'it's about time i think?' as Cruz replied: 'I agree'.

Meanwhile, as Cruz sported his bizarre shoes ahead of Victoria's Paris Fashion Show on Friday, his girlfriend took to her own Instagram to share a snap of the pairs feet as well as a zoomed in picture of her hat, which read the date '24.10.25'.

Cruz was also seen walking about with the upcoming October date printed on a white T-shirt.

And while it was thought that date marked the publication of Victoria's upcoming cover issue with Elle USA Magazine, fans are starting to think it could be something more and may mark the release of new music.

On Sunday Cruz gave his biggest hint yet as he posed in a toad headpiece and sunglasses, captioning the post 'What sound does a horny toad make'.

The frog furore began back in April when Cruz included the drawing of a cartoon frog at the end of an Instagram dump

In the following months he has shared numerous snaps and videos of him rehearsing with his band, captioning his June post with a tongue and frog emoji

In recent weeks it seems hints towards new music have really accelerated, with Cruz's girlfriend Jackie Apostel also getting in on the froggy games

On Sunday Cruz gave his biggest hint yet as he shared a picture of Willem Defoe in a frog suit as he penned: 'What sound does a horny toad make'

He then answered his own caption with 'Rubbit' while his girlfriend commented: 'Toadally'

He then answered his own caption with 'Rubbit' while his girlfriend commented: 'Toadally'.

Fans have gone wild for the clues as they asked: 'Whats happening on the 24th? Music?'; 'New single???'; 'Hey what's 24.10.25 means? A date for what?';

'If its a release date Im toadally down for it'; 'Go cruzie cannot wait whats on the 24th'.

While others speculated whether it might be an album announcement, another suggested his new band is called 'toads'.

They penned: 'album is coming, i feel it'; 'Cruz just tell us ?? Band song release and band is called toads ? My humble guess'.

The Daily Mail have contacted Cruz's representatives for comments.

As well as teasing October 24, fans have also marked October 14 in their diary after he shared a snap to Instagram showing a stack of invitations barring that date.

Above the date, the invitations read: 'Cruz D Beckham officially invites you, one night only.'

The picture showing the invitations on his Instagram story was followed by a snap of a guitar with a winking-face emoji - leading fans to believe his event was music related.

Cruz originally attempted to begin his music career when he was just 11-years-old after he released his festive single If Everyday Was Christmas back in 2016.

Taking to her own Instagram, Jackie shared a snap of the pairs feet as well as a zoomed in picture of her hat, which read the date '24.10.25

While it was thought that date marked the publication of Victoria's upcoming cover issue with Elle USA Magazine, fans think it could be something more (Cruz pictured)

Later in July, Cruz shared sneak peak of new music as he strummed his guitar in the back of the car and sang the lyrics 'Green day in Paris'

In another strange frog-themed snap he shared a pictured of a gold and diamond encrusted toad

As well as teasing October 24, fans have also marked October 14 in their diary after he shared a snap to Instagram showing a stack of invitations barring that date

Posting a snap from rehearsals in mid September, Jackie, who is also a songwriter, commented: 'it's about time i think?' as Cruz replied: 'I agree'

Proceeds from the single went to 'disadvantaged children and young people across the UK' as part of Global's Make Some Noise.

Despite raising money for charity, the youngster and his parents faced backlash for embarking on the project at such a young age.

Television personality Piers Morgan even called the early pop breakthrough 'sickening' on Good Morning Britain, adding that Cruz 'should be at school.'

Yet now, aged 20, it seems he is ready to make his way into the charts for real this time.

And while Cruz is leaving a trail of green Easter eggs for fans to follow, his eldest brother Brooklyn has also been making a conceited effort to promote his own hot sauce brand Cloud 23.

The aspiring chef, 26, and his wife Nicola Peltz, 31, are currently at the heart of an acrimonious divide that has seen them notably absent from all significant family celebrations over recent months.

And while the rest of the family descended on the French capital to show their support for Victoria's fashion brand, Brooklyn strode around Los Angeles in his Cloud 23 branded T-shirt.

While Cruz is leaving a trail of green Easter eggs for fans to follow, his eldest brother Brooklyn has also been making a conceited effort to promote his hot sauce brand Cloud 23

Fans have gone wild for the clues as they asked: 'Whats happening on the 24th? Music?'; 'New single???'; 'Hey what's 24.10.25 means? A date for what?'

Cruz originally attempted to begin his music career when he was just 11-years-old after he released his festive single If Everyday Was Christmas back in 2016

He also announced on Monday that he will be attending a burger event in Seaport to collaborate with Hamburger America and his hot sauce.

Back in June it was reported that Cruz was visiting the studio most days and was even working with Luke Pritchard from The Kooks.

The band's frontman Luke told The Sun how he was eager to help the youngster 'navigate' his future career in music.

He told the publication: 'We started writing songs together and we've become mates.

'I'd just love to help him navigate [a career in music]. He's naturally going to come under criticism because of who his parents are - he's aware of that.'
Denise Richards continued to share details about the alleged abuse she suffered from estranged husband Aaron Phypers.

Richards, 54, and Phypers, 53, returned to the courtroom in Los Angeles on Tuesday, during a hearing regarding a temporary restraining order the star was granted against her ex in July, which she now wants to make permanent.

She claimed that Phypers, whom she wed in 2018, 'caused me at least three concussions' in a court filing obtained by People.

During one incident, which the actress claims happened at a Chicago hotel in April 2025, she alleges Phypers 'was squeezing my head so hard' that it 'felt like he was crushing my skull.'

She also claimed her tumultuous marriage to Charlie Sheen, 60, was better because 'he never hit below the belt.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to representatives for Phypers and Richards.

Denise Richards, 54, continued to share details about the alleged abuse she suffered from estranged husband Aaron Phypers, 53, during a court hearing on Tuesday; Seen in 2024

She also claimed her tumultuous marriage to Charlie Sheen , 60, was better because 'he never hit below the belt'; Seen with Sheen in September

Richards was granted a temporary restraining order on July 16, just 11 days after Phypers filed for divorce.

A source close to Phypers claimed that actress and her legal team are 'spewing fiction' and that he is 'planning on emerging victorious on this domestic violence protection order.'

The source added, 'Denise is again behaving like a coward and the truth will prevail.'

The source also pointed to a quote Sheen made about his ex-wife six years prior, stating that Richards 'and her legal posse traffic only in fiction.'

'If telling the truth is below the belt then so be it,' the insider stated.

The source went on to say that 'Aaron too, will be vindicated when the truth comes out, just as Charlie promised' adding, 'When you can't be credible enough to stop an affair like Denise's promise to Aaron not once, not twice, but three times, how can you be credible enough in a court of law on a bogus domestic violence complaint?'

Meanwhile Richards claimed she learned about her concussions because Phypers allegedly used equipment at his wellness center on her after she complained about having headaches, 'not feeling good' and being 'nauseous.'

'He scanned me, and it showed up that I had a concussion,' she claimed.

Richards detailed one instance when she reportedly got a black eye in January 17, 2022.

In another, she claimed Phypers 'slammed me up against the concrete wall and my head hit it' while they were in the carport at Phypers wellness center sometime between March and May 2022.

She claimed that Phypers, whom she wed in 2018, 'caused me at least three concussions' in a court filing obtained by People; Pictured in 2024

During one incident, which the actress claims happened at a Chicago hotel in April 2025, she alleges Phypers 'was squeezing my head so hard' that it 'felt like he was crushing my skull'; They are seen in May

Richards was granted a temporary restraining order on July 16, just 11 days after Phypers filed for divorce; They are seen in 2023

The third instance allegedly happened at a Chicago hotel in April 2025, with Richards claiming Phypers 'picked my head up' and was 'squeezing' it in a manner that felt 'crushing.'

During her first day of testimony, Richards said that after bringing up her texts with another man, Phypers started 'grabbing me, pushing me down' during their stay at the Chicago hotel for ComicCon.

She alleged 'his fingers were around my face' and that she warned him he was going to 'give me a bruise.'

She also claimed she said, 'Please stop, you're hurting me.'

And on Tuesday, she discussed the headaches she got from the incidents calling them 'very painful.'

She said there was a 'constant throbbing' and she felt 'off balance' and 'nauseous.'

Under cross-examination the actress admitted she never called authorities about the alleged incidents and that no other medical professional diagnosed her with concussions.

During the hearing, a video Richards recorded in August was shown by Phypers' attorneys, according to People.

In it, Richards compared their six-year marriage to her previous union with Sheen, to whom she was married from 2002 to 2005 and shares daughters Sami, 21, and Lola, 20, with.

'Things were bad with Charlie and I, but he never hit below the belt,' she said in the clip.

She also said, 'I don't know you. Charlie, I knew. Every other ex, I knew. You, I don't know. That's why this has been really f*****g hard.'

'I don't even know who the f**k you are,' she went on, adding, 'And I gave you everything.'

A source close to Phypers claimed that actress and her legal team are 'spewing fiction' and that he is 'planning on emerging victorious on this domestic violence protection order'; Pictured in January

Phypers denied Richards' earlier abuse claims last month in court, instead claiming that the actress has 'attacked' and 'harassed' him 'many times'

The references to Richards' ex-husband surfaced after Phypers' attorney named Sheen on a potential witness list for a future hearing.

Richards and Sheen's split was highly contentious, with the actress filing for divorce in March 2005 while six months pregnant with their second child. Richards made serious allegations, including that Sheen was violent to her.

In the clip that played in court, Richards also claims she found evidence of Phypers cheating. 'I saw the d**k pics you took,' she claimed while denying that she had cheated.

She added that it was 'such a shock' when Phypers filed for divorce. 'I really thought you were my soulmate,' she said.

She also alleged, 'You've hit me too many f*****g times and each time it's getting worse and worse.'

Richards was reportedly visibly emotional when the video played, and was seen wiping her tears away.

The day prior, Richards' estranged husband Phypers was accused of punching her in the face hard enough to give her a black eye in explosive testimony delivered by a family member.

Phypers' cousin, Kathleen McAllister, supported Richards' claims that her ex subjected her to domestic abuse in virtual testimony delivered Monday.

'I saw Aaron hit Denise and immediately she had a really bad black eye,' McAllister claimed via her virtual testimony about an incident on January 17, 2022. 'I'm literally in shock now to this day about it.'

Richards also claimed on the stand that Phypers 'would often threaten to throw me through the windows and off balconies.'

She alleged 'Hes almost killed me so many damn times.'

She also revealed that their separation was triggered on July 4, when she asked Phypers to leave their shared residence.

'He got very angry at me and volatile, he got very close to me. I had just recovered from a full facelift and I still had stitches behind my ears, and I felt extremely vulnerable.'

Richards alleged their arguments frequently turned physical.

'He would grab my arms and he would yell, call me names,' including 'cheating w**e and a c**t and a lying b***h.'

She detailed how it made her feel 'scared' and 'sad.'

Richards was married to Sheen from 2002 to 2005 and shares daughters Sami, 21, and Lola, 20, with him. She filed for divorce while six months pregnant with their second child; They are seen in 2005

'It made me feel intimidated by him. He's very big,' she added. 'Im a lot smaller than him.'

In a previous court filing in July, Richards claimed that Phypers, would 'frequently violently choke me, violently slap me in my face and head, aggressively slam my head into the bathroom towel rack, threaten to kill me, hold me down with his knee on my back to the point where I would have to plead with him to get off me so that he would not kill me.'

She further alleged that he 'regularly threatened to "break my jaw" and would cry, beg me to stay, and promise to get help  none of which ever happened.'

Phypers has previously denied all the accusations against him.

And in a filing on September 15, he alleged that Richards 'attacked' and 'harassed' him 'many times.'
Nicole Kidman has shared major career news after announcing her separation from husband of 19 years Keith Urban.

The Australian superstar revealed in a statement on Tuesday that she is returning to Chanel as an ambassador following the debut of Matthieu Blazy as the House's new creative director.

'I am thrilled to be joining Chanel as it begins its new chapter with Matthieu at the helm,' the 58-year-old said.

'As someone who has such an appreciation for Haute Couture, I am so looking forward to witnessing Matthieus vision for the oldest Haute Couture House still in operation and having the opportunity to wear what I know will be gorgeous creations.'

She went on: 'Chanel has always been ahead of the curve, shining a smart and gracious light on women, and I am sure Matthieu will be no exception, just like Karl did in his time.'

Blazy celebrated Kidman's return to Chanel with his own statement, looking back on one of her standout projects with the House led by a famed Aussie director.

Nicole Kidman has shared major career news after announcing her separation from husband of 19 years Keith Urban (pictured)

The Australian superstar revealed in a statement on Tuesday that she is returning to Chanel as an ambassador following the debut of Matthieu Blazy as the House's new creative director. (Pictured with Baz Luhrmann at Chanel's 2025 Paris Fashion Week show)

'From the unforgettable Baz Luhrmann film to her countless red carpet looks, Nicole has always been part of the history of the House,' he said.

'Having worked with Nicole in the past and now reuniting with her at Chanel is a dream come true and couldnt make me happier.'

Kidman took to social media to mark the exciting venture, posting a carousel of images from Chanel's Paris Fashion Week show.

One snap even showed the star with Aussie director Baz, whom she worked alongside in films such as Moulin Rouge! and Australia.

'Thank you @chanelofficial for having me and my girls. So excited to be a part of it with you @matthieu_blazy,' she captioned the post.

Nicole was supported by her children on Monday evening as she made her second notable public appearance since confirming the end of her marriage.

The Hollywood star announced her split from husband Keith Urban last week amid claims the country star has already moved on and is romantically involved with a younger woman in the music industry.

The Hollywood star announced her split from husband Keith Urban last week amid claims the country star has already moved on (Pictured: Nicole and Keith at the 2023 CMA Awards)

Nicole Kidman was supported by her children on Monday evening as she made her second notable public appearance since confirming the end of her marriage (L-R: Sunday Rose Urban, Nicole Kidman and Faith Margaret Urban)

But she was in good company while attending Chanel's showpiece catwalk presentation during Paris Fashion Week.

Kidman was joined by children Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret while mingling with a star-studded guest list in the French capital.

With denim a recurring theme, the actress looked typically stylish in an understated white shirt and jeans as she posed for photos alongside her two daughters with Urban.

Eldest child Sunday, 17, also opted for jeans beneath a smart red sleeveless sweater, while her younger sister Faith, 14, wore a bleached denim jacket over her elegant black minidress.

Mother and daughters were joined by journalist Lucia Hawley - the daughter of Kidman's sister, Antonia, as they made their way into the Paris venue on Monday.

The Hollywood star announced her separation from country star Urban, effectively drawing a line under their once rock-solid 19-year marriage.

Kidman filed to end the marriage last Tuesday - citing irreconcilable differences - as a source claimed to the Daily Mail that Urban has already moved on with an unnamed female musician.

The well-placed Nashville music business PR source said: 'The rumour is that he's with a younger woman in the business.

'It's all everyone is talking about. Everyone wants to know who, but so far, that's a mystery.'

Daily Mail has contacted representatives for comment.
Jack Whitehall has honoured TV star Nicholas Lyndhurst's late son Archie five years after his sudden death.

Archie died in his sleep after suffering an intracerebral haemorrhage caused by acute lymphoblastic lymphoma - an incredibly rare condition which kills around 800 people a year.

A promising young actor whose TV credits included So Awkward and comedian Jack's comedy Bad Education, the 19-year old had also launched his own streetwear range, Fated To Pretend, in 2017.

It's understood that Jack is now helping to posthumously launch Archie's fashion collection in tribute to his memory.

A source told The Sun: 'Archie's fashion brand was his big passion and his loved ones were determined to help see it flourish in his memory.

'A lot of hard work has gone into it and Jack was proud to play a small role.'

Jack Whitehall has reportedly honoured TV star Nicholas Lyndhurst 's late son Archie five years after his sudden death

Archie died in his sleep after suffering an intracerebral haemorrhage caused by acute lymphoblastic lymphoma (Nicholas, Lucy Smith and Archie in 2017)

Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Jack for comment.

Devastated parents Nicholas, 64, and Lucy decided to honour their late son's memory by relaunching the brand as they approached the fifth anniversary of his death on September 30.

Taking to Instagram at the time, Lucy shared a brief promotional video for the brand alongside a poignant message to her son.

Captioning the clip, she wrote: 'For you Archie from the proudest parents alive. There are still people yet to meet you. We love you. Mama & Old Man.'

Fated To Pretend relaunches on October 4, eight years after Archie devised the brand as a creative outlet for his love of skateboarding.

Speaking in March 2020, six months before his death, he said: 'Fated To Pretend started when I was 17 years old and it came from me being a skater and being into streetwear.

'I had originally decided to make my own skateboard company, as I wasnt really interested in making clothes.'

He added: 'When I was 18, started going through my life and I thought I could make something creative. I channelled the problems I was having in my life into Fated To Pretend.

A promising young actor whose TV credits included So Awkward and comedian Jack 's comedy Bad Education, the 19-year old had also launched his own streetwear range, Fated To Pretend, in 2017 (Seen with dad Nicholas in 2011)

'I created this brand from my own pain and from my own life and thats why its so personal to me, and why Im so passionate about what Im doing.

'Fated To Pretend is always going to be the biggest passion project Ill ever work on. Im going to keep working on it until the day I die because I adore it.'

Nicholas, best known for his role as dimwitted Rodney Trotter in Only Fools And Horses, and wife Lucy were left devastated when Archie of a brain haemorrhage.

Marking the first anniversary of his death on social media in September 2021, Lucy wrote: 'It's so hard to believe that it's already been a week since we passed a year without you.

'Thank you to everyone who came to show their love for our magical boy. Your friendship and kindness is beyond amazing and incredibly appreciated.

'To have to live without you is the biggest test of endurance we will ever face. We miss you every second of everyday. Life threw us the cruelest card.

Jack is helping to posthumously launch Archie's fashion collection in tribute to his memory

'Who would have thought that the silence in a home could be so deafening. We love you with every fibre of our being Archie. That will never change. And we are beyond grateful and honoured for every moment we had.'

She added: 'Some people aren't lucky enough to experience such love, but our days were filled with it from the moment we awoke to the moment we slept.

'We love you and miss you more than words could ever describe, the vocabulary simply doesn't exist. Thank you for choosing us. We hold on tight to every treasured memory, we are lucky, the list is endless.

'You are, and always will be the most extraordinary human being I will ever have the privilege to know. Love you to the moon and back and beyond. Forever.'
Frances Bean Cobain shared a romantic homage to her husband Riley Hawk as they celebrated their second wedding anniversary together.

The 33-year-old daughter of the late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain shared a photo from her wedding to pro skater Tony Hawk's son, 32, via her Instagram Stories on Tuesday.

Frances was pictured embracing her other half, who looked dapper in a black tuxedo, under a stunning floral arch in a flowing white wedding gown.

'Celebrating our second wedding anniversary today! @rileyhawk,' Frances  who shares a one-year-old son with Riley  wrote over the image.

'We both forgot because we don't sleep anymore but I wouldn't want to walk sleeplessly through life with anyone else. I love him deep in my bones .'

Riley also marked the occasion on his Instagram Stories, calling Frances his 'best friend.'

Frances Bean Cobain, 33, shared a romantic homage to husband Riley Hawk, 32, as they celebrated their second wedding anniversary together

He shared a sweet photo of him standing behind Frances as he kissed the top of her head while she snapped the photo on her cellphone.

'2 years married to my best friend!  ' he wrote on the image.

Riley and Frances  whose mom is rock star Courtney Love, 61  got married in October 2023 and welcomed their first child together, son Ronin, in September 2024.

'We just do our own thing,' Riley, a first-time dad, told People about the legacy each of their family carries.

This comes after his dad Tony left fans in tears with an emotional reflection about the late Nirvana frontman never meeting their shared grandson.

'We don't really think too much about it, honestly, other than the fact that we do stuff like this with a video game, or whatever it may be, or something regarding her side of the family,' he continued as he mentioned his appearance in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4.

He added: 'But other than that, we're just a very quiet stay-at-home family. We just hang out.'

Riley also noted that their son is 'learning every day' as they enjoy 'growing as a family.'

Last September saw the iconic skateboarder, 56, become a first-time grandpa after his son Riley and his wife Frances welcomed their baby boy Ronin into the world.

At the time, Kurt's daughter dropped the surprise update via Instagram and wrote: '9.17.2024 Ronin Walker Cobain Hawk. Welcome to the world most beautiful son. We love you more than anything.'

Months later, Tony took time to share his grief over the loss of family moments they would never get to share.

Taking to his Instagram story, he posted a picture of a ticket stub from a Nirvana concert he attended back in October 1991, in Houston, Texas.

Reflecting on the night, he wrote: 'Went straight from a S.U.A.S. event at Houston Skatepark to this concert in 1991.'

The daughter of the late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain shared a snap from their wedding on Instagram, writing 'I love him deep in my bones.' Riley also marked the occasion on his Instagram Stories, calling Frances his 'best friend'

Riley  whose father is pro skater Tony Hawk  and Frances  whose mom is rock star Courtney Love  got married in October 2023

They welcomed their first child together, son Ronin, in September 2024; Frances seen with their baby boy in an Instagram snap

This comes after the skateboarding legend Tony left fans feeling emotional as he shared a sentimental reflection about the fact late musician Kurt will never get to meet their shared grandson; pictured Courtney and the late Kurt with their daughter Frances in 1993

Tony stated: 'I wish Kurt were here so he could see the incredible woman his daughter has become, meet her devoted, caring husband, and hold our wondrous grandchild'

His post immediately struck a chord with fans as one raced to share the image on X

'It was as transformative as live music can possibly be; we all experienced something rare and powerful that night. The world would never be the same.'

He then noted how much it hurt to no longer have Kurt in the world as he continued: 'I wish Kurt were here so he could see the incredible woman his daughter has become, meet her devoted, caring husband, and hold our wondrous grandchild.'

His post immediately struck a chord with fans as one raced to share the image on X, formerly Twitter, and wrote: 'I am sobbing at Tony Hawk posting about his grandchild who is also Kurt Cobain's grandchild.'

'Shed a tear or two,' one fan admitted while another joked: 'Who the f**k is cutting onions?'

Many fans couldn't help but marvel at the fact Ronin would be able boast about his iconic grandparents when he grows up.

Nirvana frontman Kurt took his own life on April 5, 1994.

The musician had risen past the status of a cult icon on the 90s grunge scene to find mainstream success, penning two critically acclaimed alt-rock albums and inspiring a generation of artists from the Arctic Monkeys to Lana del Rey.
Australian fashion influencer Elle Ferguson was left heartbroken on Tuesday after she was locked out of Paris Fashion Week.

The former Block star, 40, shared a video to social media showing her streaming the Miu Miu show on her iPhone from the backseat of a car.

'We're still in traffic. So sad we missed the show,' she captioned the footage, before adding: 'We are live-streaming from the car.'

Fortunately, Elle eventually made it to the invite-only event and later shared a series of glamorous photos of herself stepping out of her car and heading into the venue.

'Living in a Miu Miu dream where I'm in Paris wearing sparkly socks and attending the SS26 show,' she wrote next to the photos.

Australian fashion influencer Elle Ferguson (pictured) was left heartbroken on Tuesday after she was locked out of Paris Fashion Week

The former Block star, 40, shared a video to social media showing her streaming the Miu Miu show on her iPhone from the backseat of a car

It comes after Elle responded to the heavy backlash she copped after making the ultimate fashion faux pas when modelling a very revealing dress by Spanish fashion house Loewe.

After the former Block star shared an Instagram video of herself wearing the frock in August, many of her followers said the designer ensemble looked 'unflattering', 'uncomfortable' and 'hideous'.

She defended her viral sartorial moment, calling the piece the 'most beautiful dress'.

'The only thing I was thinking when I put this dress on is I was exceptionally lucky to be looking at Jonathan Anderson's last collection with Loewe,' Elle told The Daily Telegraph.

She added that she had been looking forward to trying on the dress and when she found out it was in Sydney, the opportunity to try it on made her feel very special.

'I loved that dress. I still love that dress. I put it on and stood there proudly,' she said, adding that her fiance Joel Patful loved it too.

Elle went on to remind her fans that art is subjective and shouldn't be used as a way to criticise people.

'Art starts conversations. But I dont think there's any place for negative comments or tearing a woman down for wearing a dress,' she said.

Fortunately, Elle eventually made it to the invite-only event

The frock, which is part of luxury fashion house Loewe's Fall 2025 collection, features a plunging neckline and peplum-layered design around the waist.

The frock, which is part of luxury fashion house Loewe's Fall 2025 collection, features a plunging neckline and peplum-layered design around the waist.

'All I can say is THE LILAC @loewe dress is even better in real life. Such a dream to experience @jonathan.anderson last collection in real life and get to play dress-ups with the collection. Big thanks to the incredible #loewe team and @mcm_pr,' she wrote.

Elle's fans flocked to the comments to slam her 'hideous' look, with many insisting the dress didn't complement her figure.

'Different isn't always flattering. And I'm talking about the dress not you. This dress wouldn't be flattering on anyone as it is,' one person wrote.

However some praised the daring look, with one writing: 'You are the full model vibe. Give this girl a catwalk.'

Despite the divide in opinion over the dress, Elle found a silver lining behind the viral post.

The influencer told Sunday Confidential that her Instagram engagement had soared 'through the roof' recently, garnering 8.2 million views in 30 days.
Demi Lovato's former fiance Max Ehrich alarmed fans on Tuesday when he posted a disturbing series of posts and acted erratically on a livestream.

One user said it appeared that Emmy-nominated actor, 34, was 'experiencing a mental health crisis' in the clip, in which he was with his mother Rhonda.

The user cited similar behavior exhibited by other celebrities in describing what it appeared the Marlboro Township, New Jersey-born actor was going through.

'Max Ehrich is pulling an Aaron Carter/Kanye West right now and its very concerning,' the user said. 'I really hope someone in his circle is able to intervene.'

One user said that Ehrich was 'constantly going live on Instagram' with 'his poor mother crying in the corner.'

Daily Mail has reached out to reps for Ehrich for further comment on the story and has yet to hear back.

Fans took to social media on Tuesday night after Demi Lovato's former fiance Max Ehrich posted what was described as a disturbing series of posts in addition to a livestream. Pictured in 2020

One user said it appeared that Emmy-nominated actor, 34, was 'experiencing a mental health crisis,' in the clip, in which he was with his mother Rhonda

Another said, 'An actor I cant even remember where Ive seen him from, Max Ehrich, is live on IG attacking his mom'

Ehrich also posted to Instagram multiple times, including one of text that read 'My heart is broken.'

Ehrich captioned the post 'Link in bio give zelle to my mom,' accompanied by his mother's phone number.

Fans of Ehrich populated the comment section with concerned comments calling for some form of an intervention.

Said one user, 'Where is his family? Mom, dad, grandparents, siblings, anyone?' while another asked, 'Does this man not have any family or PR team? Manager? Anybody?'

One follower asked, 'Is he in active psychosis or something? What is happening?'

One user advised the actor, 'Max you NEED to take a break from the internet for a bit please.

Ehrich played Fenmore Baldwin on 120 episodes of The Young and the Restless. He has also been seen in movies including High School Musical 3: Senior Year, A Cowboy Christmas Romance and Southern Gospel.

Ehrich also posted to Instagram multiple times, including one of text that read 'My heart is broken'

The actor was seen on the red carpet in Hollywood, California in 2022

Fans of Ehrich populated the comment section with concerned comments calling for some form of an intervention

One fan said that Ehrich's mercurial tone in consecutive posts made the situation tiresome: 'Omg I am exhausted with this lol.'

Another said, 'Every other hour or so it changes and why on your stories are your grabbing yourself while your mom is sitting on the floor right in front of you.

'That just felt so wrong.'

Ehrich and Lovato dated in 2020, a year marked by chaos including the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and resultant lockdowns; massive social upheaval in the wake of the death of George Floyd; and a contested presidential election.

Ehrich and Lovato revealed they were engaged after four months, as they bonded in isolation during the strange time.

He proposed to her on July 23 of that year, and she took the Instagram to celebrate the news.

Ehrich and Lovato dated in 2020, a year marked by chaos

Lovato visited the SiriusXM Studios in NYC on September 16, 2025

Lovato said at the time, '@maxehrich  I knew I loved you the moment I met you. It was something I cant describe to anyone who hasnt experienced it firsthand but luckily you did too.

She continued, 'Ive never felt so unconditionally loved by someone in my life (other than my parents) flaws and all.

'You never pressure me to be anything other than myself. And you make me want to be the best version of myself.'

Lovato concluded in saying, 'Im honored to accept your hand in marriage. I love you more than a caption could express but Im ecstatic to start a family and life with you.

'I love you forever my baby. My partner. Heres to our future!!!!'

The pair would call off the engagement that September.
Actress Francia Raisa, who gave Selena Gomez a new lease of life by donating a kidney to her, has spoken out about rumors of a feud between the two.

The 37-year-old was featured in a new interview in which she claimed that reports of her falling out with Gomez were just 'rumors'.

Raisa also referenced Gomez's then-upcoming wedding to Benny Blanco, which she reportedly did not attend.

In her place were numerous A-listers, including Taylor Swift, Gomez's Only Murders In The Building co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short, Zoe Saldana, Paris and Nicky Hilton and Ed Sheeran, among others.

In the interview, which was apparently filmed at an event in a bookstore, Raisa wished Gomez the best ahead of her wedding while speaking in Spanish.

'I know she's getting married, and I'm very happy for her. And look... she has a life and she is already a billionaire and I am grateful that I could do that for her,' she said, according to translated subtitles.

Actress Francia Raisa (left), donated a kidney to Selena Gomez, has spoken out about rumors of a feud between the two; pictured together after the procedure in 2017

The 37-year-old was featured in a new interview in which she claimed that reports of her falling out with Gomez were just 'rumors'

However, Raisa appears not to have attended Gomez's wedding to Benny Blanco last weekend

After she was asked what she would say to anyone considering organ donation, Raisa emphasized that the process is about saving someone's life, rather than creating a special bond with them.

'Look, from the beginning the doctors told me, it's a donation,' she explained.

'If you are going to donate a dollar to St. Jude or somewhere else, you're not going to call to say, "Hey, what are you doing with my dollar?"

'It's a donation and it's something nice that I was able to do,' she said of the kidney she gave to Gomez. 'I am grateful that I am alive and I can say that I have saved a life.'

Raisa also suggested that organ donation could be 'more difficult' for women compared to men, though she didn't expand on what might cause that gender divide.

The How I Met Your Father actress had a forceful response when she was asked about reports that she had gotten 'angry' with Gomez over how she was treating her body after receiving her kidney.

'Well, right now what you are asking me is nonsense that has been in the media, and there are too many rumors,' she responded. 'I've never said anything.'

'When that rumor came out that I had gotten angry or something like that because [Gomez] was smoking, I wasn't aware of those rumors,' Raisa added.

Gomez required a new kidney after hers was damaged by the autoimmune disease lupus. She and her organ donor are pictured in 2017

'No one knows what's going on, and neither she nor I are talking about it,' she continued, adding, 'One day, maybe we will address it.'

Raisa donated a kidney to Gomez in 2017 after the Spring Breakers star was diagnosed with lupus.

Sufferers of the disease have hyperactive immune systems that can attack their healthy tissues and organs, .

In a 2018 interview, Raisa admitted that both she and Gomez fell into a bout of depression following the kidney donation procedure, which nearly killed Gomez after one of her arteries burst in the middle of surgery.

Raisa recalled the warning that a social worker gave her before the surgery.

'Its going to be hard, the recipient is going to glow and shes going to recover a lot faster than the donor because shes getting something she needs and you are losing something you dont need to lose. Its going to be hard,' she recalled being told in an interview with SELF.

'And it was hard,' Raisa continued, adding, 'Selena and I both went through a depression.'

Raisa also raised her shirt and lowered her pants to reveal a mark resembling a 'C-section' scar, as well as smaller scars higher on her stomach.

Raisa and Gomez previously revealed their scars from the donation procedure. Gomez also has one on the inside of her thigh from emergency surgery to save her life after one of her arteries burst during the procedure

Raisa denied reports that she had been angry with Gomez due to allegedly not treating her body properly after the donation, calling them 'rumors'

In 2022, the pair were rumored to be feuding after Gomez, pictured in 2023, said in a Rolling Stone interview that 'my only friend in the industry really is Taylor [Swift]'

She also noted that Gomez had a large scar on the inside of her thigh that was from the emergency surgery to repair her rupture artery.

In the same interview, Raisa mentioned that it was Gomez who informed her that she was a match for the kidney donation, rather than doctors, which led some fans to worry that she may have felt pressured to agree to the donation.

In 2022, the pair were rumored to be feuding after Gomez said in a Rolling Stone interview that 'My only friend in the industry really is Taylor [Swift], so I remember feeling like I didnt belong.'

'Interesting,' Raisa wrote in a since-deleted comment on a post about the quotation.

In response to Raisa's comment, Gomez replied, 'Sorry I didn't mention every person I know.'

But the following year, the two tried to tamp down any talk of a feud.

'I will never, ever, ever be more in debt to a person that Francia,' Gomez said in her Apple TV+ docuseries Dear... 'The idea of someone not even second-guessing to be a donor was unbelievably overwhelming.'

The same year, Raisa emphasized that she was not 'forced' into donating her kidney.

Both actress tamped down speculation about a feud in 2023, but Raisa admitted that she and Gomez hadn't spoken much in recent years, though they had recently gotten close again

Raisa was reportedly not at Gomez's wedding, which featured A-listers including Taylor Swift, Gomez's Only Murders In The Building costars Steve Martin and Martin Short, Zoe Saldana, Paris and Nicky Hilton and Ed Sheeran, among others

'I know she's getting married, and I'm very happy for her. And look... she has a life and she is already a billionaire and I am grateful that I could do that for her,' Raisa said in the new interview

'It came out of the genuine kindness of my heart, and Ive been super blessed ever since,' she said in an interview on the Good Guys podcast.

In December 2023, Raisa admitted that she and Gomez had been distant in recent years, but she confirmed that they were still friends.

'We hadnt spoken much in six years. Especially [in] the last year, we didnt speak at all,' she told USA Today, though she said that they had made up around her 35th birthday.

'Weve never really had beef with each other. Nothing happened, and if you ask either of us, we dont know what happened, but we needed that time apart. Then when you come back together, youre better people.'

In 2024, she told E! News that she and Gomez could go long periods of time without talking despite still being friends.

'One of the best, the best friendships that I know, you go a year without talking, and then when you see each other again, its like you never went a day without talking. So, thats where its at,' she said of her relationship with Gomez.

Raisa also noted that, although she and Gomez were close, she wasn't close with Gomez's other friends.

Raisa went unmentioned among the notable guests at Gomez's wedding to Blanco.

Fans noticed that she shared a video on Instagram of herself dancing with a choreographer around the time of the wedding, suggesting that she was elsewhere.
A reality star has turned heads while doing Pilates in the nude - nude activewear, that is.

The Bachelor's Kiki Morris took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a series of clips showing her in a reformer class wearing a questionable ensemble.

In the videos, the 38-year-old could be seen donning flesh-coloured tights and a matching, sleeveless crop top.

The Challenge winner could be seen posing in the mirror, flaunting her killer abs, before launching into a reformer routine.

'Pilates in nude,' she cheekily captioned the post, before tagging Kitty Activewear on Instagram.

She continued: 'Proof you can get a glute pump in Pilates!'

The Bachelor's Kiki Morris (pictured) took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a series of clips showing her in a reformer class

In the videos, Kiki could be seen wearing flesh-coloured tights and a matching, sleeveless crop top

'Pilates in nude,' she captioned the post, before tagging Kitty Activewear on Instagram

The content creator then revealed her big career move in the works.

'Im currently studying for my reformer and mat certificate and will have a new studio opening very soon!!'

The 'nude' Pilates session comes just weeks after Kiki switched up her appearance.

The social media star stunned her fans with a new look, sharing her updated makeover to Instagram in August.

She posed up a storm in several selfies that showed her bright blonde locks and heavily tanned skin.

Kiki flaunted her sizeable bust and puffy pout, which she highlighted with a face full of glamorous makeup.

The former reality star also showed off her figure in a barely-there crochet bikini that left very little to the imagination.

In August last year, Kiki relocated from Australia to sunny Ibiza, Spain, to live with her rumoured fiance Jorge.

The nude Pilates session comes just weeks after Kiki switched up her appearance

Kiki is now based in Bali, where she takes part in charity efforts to save stray cats and dogs in the area, and has since split with Jorge.

The Bachelor fans will remember Kiki from Richie Strahan's season in 2016.

After being dumped on the show, she later returned to screens in spin-off series Bachelor In Paradise - but failed to find love there.

In 2023, she won a decent pay cheque of $100,000 when she took out the crown on The Challenge.

Just weeks after the finale aired, she became the latest in a long line of reality stars who signed up to the X-rated site OnlyFans for a quick payday.
Australian influencer Dean Wells has taken to social media to slam Australia Post for including a Traditional Place Name box on its parcel address form.

The 47-year-old former Married at First Sight groom posted his angry response to his stories on Tuesday, with the sarcastic caption: 'Really Auspost?'

Wells' whinge comes nearly five years after Australia Post introduced standard packaging on parcels and envelopes that included the option to write the First Nations name into the address.

In his share, Wells included a screenshot of an Australia Post envelope, which included spaces for 'contact name' and 'company name'.

However, in his post, Wells had circled in red the section that said: 'Traditional place name (if known)'.

'There is literally no reason to put traditional place names on our envelopes,' he added in a comment.

Australian influencer Dean Wells (pictured) has taken to social media to slam Australia Post for including a Traditional Place Name box on its parcel address form

In his share, Wells included a screenshot of an Australia Post envelope, and circled the 'Traditional place name (if known)' section. (Pictured)

A spokeswoman from Australia Post told Daily Mail back in 2020 that the new address guidelines were created to encourage customers to 'acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land your item is being delivered on'.

'We have a long and proud history of promoting and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and implementing measures that contribute to a lasting reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.'

Wells developed a reputation for his outspoken nature when he appeared on MAFS in 2018.

He now hosts his own politically incorrect podcast and YouTube series called Dangerous Ideas with Deano.

In August 2023, he announced his engagement to Beauty and The Geek star Aimee Woolley.

Dean and Aimee first sparked rumours they were dating in August 2022 when they were seen cuddling and kissing in a restaurant.

The lovebirds went official the following month after they both walked the red carpet at Maxim Magazine's 11th birthday party in Sydney's Potts Point.

Aimee uploaded a picture of the couple cuddling at the event to Instagram, writing: 'Could this be my new geek?'

A spokeswoman from Australia Post told Daily Mail back in 2020 that the new address guidelines were created to encourage customers to 'acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land your item is being delivered on'

Wells developed a reputation for his outspoken nature when he appeared on MAFS in 2018. Pictured: In 2023, he announced his engagement to Beauty and The Geek star Aimee Woolley

Dancing With The Stars contestant Dean promptly commented on the post: 'Haha I'm def not a geek babe.'

Aimee was a contestant on Beauty And The Geek in 2022, teaming up with 'geek' and martial arts expert Jayden.

Meanwhile, Dean shot to fame on Married At First Sight's fifth season after cheating on his 'wife' Tracey Jewel with Davina Rankin.

He has since made headlines for his controversial and outspoken views.

In February 2023, he shared a Photoshopped flyer to Instagram advertising a performance by Sydney drag queen Charisma Belle at Manly Library for children as young as three.

Dean edited the original flyer to include an unrelated image taken from Charisma's Instagram feed showing the performer spreading her legs in a vulgar fashion.

He accompanied this with a caption condemning the event and labelled drag performances 'inherently sexual' - sparking outrage among critics.
David 'Diddy' Hamilton has opened up about his affair with a sex worker behind his ex-wife's back while admitting having children 'spoils marriage'.

The BBC Radio legend, 87, has shared an eye-opening insight into his personal life off the airwaves.

David's presenting career began in 1959 during his national service with the British Forces Network.

He then joined the BBC in 1967, presenting Family Choice before going on to anchor a number of slots across Radio 1, from late nights to his own daily show.

David, who was given the nickname 'Diddy' by the late Ken Dodd, also hosted the legendary Top Of The Pops.

Reflecting on his life, the presenter has talked about his affair behind his wife Shelia Moore's back.

David ' Diddy ' Hamilton has opened up about his affair with a sex worker behind his ex-wife's back while admitting having children 'spoils marriage' (pictured in 1973)

The BBC Radio legend, 87, has shared an eye-opening insight into his personal life off the airwaves (pictured in May this year)

David's presenting career began in 1959 during his national service with the British Forces Network before joining the BBC in 1967

He married the makeup artist in 1962 and the pair went on to have two children together - Jane and David Jr.

However, they split up in 1970, following his affair.

David admitted: 'I was happily married. Until I fell in love with someone else.'

He continued to Best magazine: 'I went to meet her at Liverpool Street station. She was sitting on her suitcase wearing a fur coat, which she told me later she'd borrowed.

'I just looked at her and thought, wow. I think if anything spoils a marriage, it's children. Suddenly, the man is taking a back seat.

'My wife found out because I talked about Roz a lot. I was head over heels. I left my wife and children, and we lived together for four years.'

Speaking about his relationship with a sex worker, David said she had asked him to open her new shop at the height of his fame, where he attempted to charge her 500.

He said: 'She told me she charged 100 for her services, so 'If you give me five I'll give you one.'

David was first married makeup artist Shelia Moore and the pair had two children together before splitting up in 1970

'That sounded fair, so I collected the first one that evening.

'I thought that would be it. But we'd become very fond of each other. She was still working at the club and I was getting in too deep.'

David married his second wife Dreena in 1993, with the couple first meeting after being set up on a blind date.

Dreena previously told Daily Mail that her friends warned her against tying the knot with David, cautioning that he was a 'womaniser'.

She said: 'We've been together for 40 years now, married for 30.

'And there are no regrets there.'

In 2022 it was revealed David had been diagnosed with a rare cancer that makes him look like he has a sun tan.

He was left confused last year when friends and family said he had a glow about him and looked healthier than ever.

Speaking about his relationship with a sex worker, David said she had asked him to open her new shop at the height of his fame, where he attempted to charge her 500

Unbeknownst to him and those around him, the opposite was true.

It wasn't until he started urinating blood one day and was referred to a specialist by his doctor that he was diagnosed with polycythaemia vera.

The rare disease causes the body to overproduce red blood cells, causing the skin to develop a 'very rosy complexion'.

'Everybody who sees me says how well I look,' Hamilton told Daily Mail.

'Too many red blood cells gives you a very rosy complexion, so it looks like you've got a sun tan.'
The quiet fishing village of Cadgwith on The Lizard was transformed into the wizarding world of Harry Potter on Tuesday as they continued to film the HBO series.

Dominic McLaughlin was spotted in costume as the new Harry Potter as he arrived at the film set for the Philosophers Stone.

Filming kicked off at the Cadgwith Cove Inn before moving to the beach, where a dramatic scene was staged involving a car surrounded by fishing boats and extras in traditional Sou'westers.

Rain was simulated using sprinklers and water sprays, adding to the atmosphere of the scene, which featured Harry and Bel Powley as Aunt Petunia.

Bel was spotted sitting in the front seat of the car clutching her handbag while Dominic and cousin Dudley, played by Amos Kitson, sat in the back seats.

The car was surrounded by cameras as the sprinklers were turned on causing rain while Uncle Vernon (Daniel Rigby) paced around the vehicle before picking up what looked like a broom stick wrapped in paper.

Dominic McLaughlin was spotted in costume as the new Harry Potter as he arrived at the film set for the Philosophers Stone in Cornwall on Tuesday

The quiet fishing village of Cadgwith on The Lizard was transformed into the wizarding world of Harry Potter as they continued to film the HBO series

He was seen chatting to a grey bearded man in the harbor dressed in overalls, a waterproof jacket and wellies before they hugged and Daniel walked away with the broomstick.

During a break, the cast were later seen catting away outside the vehicle to the crew as they prepared for the scene.

The entire village was closed to traffic during the day.

Locals and fans gathered along the cliffs and roadside to catch a glimpse of the production, which is expected to wrap up on Wednesday.

Dominic, who was selected from over 32,000 hopefuls, steps into the iconic role which was originally made famous by Daniel Radcliffe.

He leads a fresh-faced cast that includes Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley and Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger.

Nick Frost, known for Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, takes on the role of Hagrid.

It comes after the new HBO series of Harry Potter began filming last month, but the magic of the franchise was no match for Mother Nature, as the set was hit by a nasty swarm of bugs.

Camera crews were spotted surrounding a red car filming the stars in dramatic scenes

During a break, the cast were later seen catting away outside the vehicle to the crew as they prepared for the scene

Filming kicked off at the Cadgwith Cove Inn before moving to the beach, where a dramatic scene was staged involving a car surrounded by fishing boats and extras in traditional Sou'westers

Camera equipment was covered with waterproof sheets as they filmed rainy scenes

Rain was simulated using sprinklers and water sprays, adding to the atmosphere of the scene, which featured Harry and Bel Powley as Aunt Petunia

Bel was spotted sitting in the front seat of the car clutching her handbag while Dominic and cousin Dudley, played by Amos Kitson, sat in the back seats

The car was surrounded by cameras as the sprinklers were turned on causing rain while Uncle Vernon (Daniel Rigby) paced around the vehicle

The entire village was closed to traffic during the day

He was seen chatting to a grey bearded man in the harbor dressed in overalls, a waterproof jacket and wellies before they hugged

Uncle Vernon looked to have picked up a broom stick wrapped in paper

Stars and crew were thought to have battled with ticks and horseflies as they shot scenes at Windsor Great Park, with production bosses forced to issue a warning about the 'infested' woodland.

Everybody on set were asked to cover up, check for bites and report any nasty reactions to the on-site medic.

According to the NHS website, ticks can vary in size and feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans.

Whilst not usually painful, their bites can cause swelling, itchiness, blistering and bruising.

The Daily Mail has contacted HBO for comment.

After the filming took place, a source told The Sun: 'The Harry Potter films are legendary, and everyone wants the new TV series to be just as popular.

'It's safe to say that warning everyone of bites from ticks and horseflies on day one didn't put everyone in the best of moods.

'No one likes getting bitten, and you could see everyone nervously swatting away midges.'

It comes after bosses are so desperate to keep filming under wraps, they are thought to have taken extreme lengths to stop secrets leaking from the multimillion-pound set.

Cast and crew have apparently been ordered to use codewords to hide the project's identity, first using the word 'Dark Train' before switching to 'Brown Cat.'

Phones are thought to be banned on set, and messages to cast and crew vanish after being read once.

The duo were spotted on the stony beach while the rest of the cast sat in the car and crew members watched on

The youngsters were seen chatting away on set

Locals and fans gathered along the cliffs and roadside to catch a glimpse of the production, which is expected to wrap up on Wednesday

Dominic, who was selected from over 32,000 hopefuls, steps into the iconic role which was originally made famous by Daniel Radcliffe

Uncle Vernon held onto a brown parcel which looked similar to a broomstick shape

He chatted away to the fisherman on the shore

The cast filmed scenes in a red car

Dominic wore a green jacket and the round Harry Potter glasses while filming

The crew surrounded the car while filming in Cornwall

The cast were also seen filming in an old Land Rover while at the harbor

Meanwhile, a 4million set has been built in Windsor park, complete with a replica of Hogsmeade Station and half a mile of track where the Hogwarts Express has been seen steaming through.

The shoot last month was taking place close to Forest Lodge, soon to be the home of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Following a nationwide casting search, Dominic McLaughlin landed the role of the titular hero Harry Potter.

Arabella Stanton will play Harry's close friend Hermoine Granger and Alastair Stout is set to star as Ron Weasley.

The likes of John Lithgow, 79, will play Albus Dumbledore, while Janet McTeer, 64, will be Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu, 35, as Severus Snape and Nick Frost, 53, as Hagrid.

Many are desperate to know who has landed the character as Lord Voldemort - who was originally played by Ralph Fiennes, 62, in the franchise between 2005 and 2011.

According to DanielRPK, HBO are looking at both male and female stars to potentially star in the TV series as the iconic character.

Harry Potter hit our screens in November 2001 after author J.K Rowling released seven books.

The names include: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

It comes after last month the TV series confirmed the return of one of the original film stars - with the iconic actor set to reprise his role.

British actor Warwick Davis will be returning to the hotly anticipated new series as Professor Filius Flitwick - the passionate, if uptight, teacher of Charms.

The announcement was made to mark Back to Hogwarts, the annual September 1 celebration where fans around the globe honour the beloved return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Producers have been trying to keep certain aspects of filming secret

Dominic arrived on set wrapped up in a long black coat

The youngsters were spotted being chaperoned on set

It comes after the new HBO series of Harry Potter began filming last month, but the magic of the franchise was no match for Mother Nature, as the set was hit by a nasty swarm of bugs

Stars and crew were thought to have battled with ticks and horseflies as they shot scenes at Windsor Great Park, with bosses forced to issue a warning about the 'infested' woodland

Everybody on set were asked to cover up, check for bites and report any nasty reactions to the on-site medic

According to the NHS website, ticks can vary in size and feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans

Whilst not usually painful, their bites can cause swelling, itchiness, blistering and bruising

Oscar nominee John Lithgow was seen as Albus Dumbledore as filming got underway

Cast members were dressed in their costumes for filming

Filming moved onto Kynance Cover later in the day

The cast and crew gathered on the mountains

J.K. Rowling's involvement in the series as executive producer has attracted controversy from fans over her views on transgender issues.

The author who created the fantasy novels on which the show is based, previously took to X to rave about the first two episodes after confirming that while she did not pen them herself, she did work closely with the writers.

She said: 'I read the first two episodes of the forthcoming HBO Harry Potter series and they are SO, SO, SO GOOD!'.

Meanwhile, HBO previously defended Rowling's involvement in a statement, saying: 'We are proud to once again tell the story of Harry Potter  the heartwarming books that speak to the power of friendship, resolve and acceptance.

'JK Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.'

Back in April, Rowling hit the headlines as she celebrated the Supreme Court's ruling that trans women are not legally women.

Britain's top judges unanimously found that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act referred to biological sex, not acquired gender.

The decision was hailed by gender-critical campaigners as a major victory, with the multi-millionaire author saying it would protect 'the rights of women and girls across the UK'.

Rowling, who reportedly helped fund the women's rights campaign group which brought the Supreme Court case, shared a photo online from on board her $150 million superyacht puffing a cigar in celebration.

Daniel Radcliffe, 35, and fellow Harry Potter stars Emma Watson, 35, and Rupert Grint, 36, have spoken publicly in support of gender ideology - that biologically male trans women should be regarded as women.

They have each commented in opposition to Rowling's views on the issue, while expressing their gratitude for her role in their careers.
A Married At First Sight UK groom was allegedly in a relationship with TOWIE star Dani Imbert before going on the show behind her back.

Painter and decorator Reiss Boyce, 33, wed new bride Leisha Lightbody, 31, during Tuesday night's instalment of the E4 series, claiming he was looking for the 'love of his life' by signing up to the experiment.

Friends close to Dani, 27, say Reiss joined the show despite seemingly being committed to her, and claiming he had gone travelling.

A source told the Daily Mail that Reiss had declared she was The One and that they would continue their romance once he returned from his holidays.

Reiss agreed to marry dental nurse Leisha after meeting her for the first time at the altar but was quickly taken aback by her larger-than-life personality.

The scenes have reportedly left Dani 'hurt' and 'humiliated,' amid claims Reiss is only on the show to boost his public profile.

A Married At First Sight UK groom was allegedly in a relationship with TOWIE star Dani Imbert before going on the show behind her back

Reiss Boyce wed new bride Leisha Lightbody during Tuesday night's instalment of the E4 series, claiming he was looking for the 'love of his life' by signing up to the experiment

Friends close to Dani say Reiss joined the show despite seemingly being committed to her, and claiming he had gone travelling

A source revealed: 'Dani had been dating Reiss from early 2023 until May 2024, when they briefly split because she feared he was more interested in fame than their relationship.

'Despite the split, they continued seeing each other in secret and were still together in March 2025, when, without Dani knowing, he began filming Married At First Sight UK.

'Reiss told Dani he was going travelling and promised they would reconnect and become official again.

'Dani now feels hurt and betrayed; they had been in a long-term relationship, and Reiss had led her to believe they had a future together. In reality, he was filming a dating show and would go on to marry another woman.'

Reiss told the Daily Mail: 'Dani is a great girl but it didn't work out for us romantically. I will always think a lot of her and wish her the best, but when I signed up for Married At First Sight I was single and ready for commitment.'

During Tuesday night's Married At First Sight UK, Reiss told the relationship experts that he was willing to do anything to find the perfect partner and shouldn't be judged by his Essex persona.

He said: 'Without a shadow of a doubt, I definitely consider myself to be a pretty boy. I might look like a stereotypical Essex boy but there's a lot more to me deep down.

'I miss being in a relationship, you can't really beat it. I don't know if I've found the full package. I do choose the wrong girls, my last relationship unfortunately came to an end because the bickering became too much. I have been heartbroken in past relationships. Marrying a stranger will work because I am willing to do anything to find the perfect one.'

The Daily Mail has contacted a spokesperson at Channel 4 for comment.

A source told the Daily Mail that Dani feels 'hurt and betrayed' after Reiss lied about going travelling, instead filming a dating show where he married another woman

Dani, known for her appearances on TOWIE, recently hit the headlines after kissing two contestants from this summer's Love Island on the same night

Reiss explained on the show how he discovered later in life that his dad wasn't his biological father, spurring on his hunt for a wife and a family.

He said: 'I need someone who's going to love me for me and not disappear when things get a little bit tough.

'I am ready to settle and now is the right time. I have been in love, I know what it feels like, butterflies in your stomach, it's the best feeling you can have, I want my forever person and the fairytale.'

Shortly after meeting bride Leisa at the altar, Reiss was immediately put off by her personality, which he described as 'loud' and 'over the top.'

He said: 'I am contemplating whether I am going to be attracted to her, it's hard to tell.'

Dani, known for her appearances on TOWIE, recently hit the headlines after kissing two contestants from this summer's Love Island on the same night.

Tommy Bradley and Ben Holbrough admitted kissing Dani, despite being in relationships with their respective Love Island partners.

The reality star has also enjoyed a romance with cast mate Roman Hackett, who's now dating former Love Islander Matilda Draper.
Abbey Clancy ensured all eyes were on her as posed up a storm in a sheer beige dress on Wednesday.

The model, 39, took to Instagram with a slew of sexy shots taken by photopaper Karis Kennedy.

For the shoot, Abbey looked ethereal in the ensemble which featured crinkle fabric and a decorative overlay at the neckline.

Giving a glimpse of her sensational figure, the star covered her modesty with a beige bra and underwear.

The snaps comes after Abbey recently joked she wanted to 'die' after a very embarrassing encounter which took place when she was nine months pregnant.

The Britain's Next Top Model star shares daughters Sophia and Liberty and sons Johnny and Jack with her husband Peter Crouch, 44.

Abbey Clancy ensured all eyes were on her as she posed in a beige sheer dress for a series of snaps on Wednesday

Taken by photopaper Karis Kennedy, the model showed off her sensational figure in the ensemble

The stunning dress featured crinkle fabric and a decorative overlay at the neckline

Speaking on her podcast, The Therapy Crouch, the model explained she was heavily pregnant when she had an awkward interaction with another mother in a chemist.

She said: 'I had a terrible incident in a chemist once when I was nine months pregnant and had a hold of a six-month old baby.

'There was a lady at the till with a baby and what I thought was a pregnant tummy. I said to her, "God, you're as nutty as me".

'The baby was kicking off and I went, "Oh God, we've got it all to come haven't we?"

'She said 'I'm not pregnant, this is my baby weight from this baby' and I just wanted to die. I was like, 'I am so sorry, I am so sorry'.

'She went, 'Don't worry about it', and thought it was funny but I was heartbroken. It's not good, never, ever do that'.'

Meanwhile Peter said that he never congratulates someone unless they explicitly mention they're pregnant.

He said: 'I genuinely don't ever say congratulations, even if I know someone is blatantly eight months pregnant.

The snaps comes after Abbey recently joked she wanted to 'die' after a very embarrassing encounter which took place when she was nine months pregnant

The Britain's Next Top Model star shares daughters Sophia and Liberty and sons Johnny and Jack with her long-time husband Peter Crouch, 44 (pictured altogether)

In August, the lovebirds proved they're still madly in love by sharing a passionate kiss during a recent Oasis concert



'I still don't say it. I would never even... I just wouldn't mention it, and if they say something like, 'I've only got a month to go', then you go, 'Congratulations by the way'. I would never say congratulations, ever, because you never know.'

Abbey and Peter have been an item since 2006 and eventually tied the knot in 2011.

The lovebirds recently proved they're still madly in love by sharing a passionate kiss during a recent Oasis concert.

The couple, who tied the knot in 2011, didn't seem to care who was around to to see as they locked lips during the gig in Dublin in August.

Abbey and ex Liverpool striker Peter were joined by their teenage daughter Sophia as they cosied up to each other in snaps shared to Abbey's Instagram.

The band are currently on their world reunion tour, Oasis Live '25 and fans across the globe have turned out in their masses to watch them perform.

The Crouches decided to watch the band perform in Ireland, with Abbey reminiscing on how good of a time it was.

Abbey captioned her dump: '@oasis we had a blast love you guys.'

Another video showed Peter singing as behind the camera Abbey could be heard shouting to her husband: 'You're fit, you're fit' before he pulled his bucket hat over his eyes pretending to be shy.
Taylor Swift has opened up about the true inspiration behind the songs on her new album, The Life Of A Showgirl, after she admitted the meaning of one her songs 'about her ex Joe Alwyn' would remain a mystery.

The American pop star, 35, often leaves the messages of her tracks up to her fans' interpretation - however during an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, she revealed more than usual about the words in a couple of her songs from the record.

Revealing the meaning of Eldest Daughter and Wi$h Li$t in her own words, Taylor told the host what she was thinking when she wrote each song as she offered a surprising analysis of Life Of A Showgirl tunes.

Detailing how she wanted the verses of Eldest Daughter to sound, she explained how the 'satirical lyrics' were about someone 'trying to figure out things they have read on the internet' before admitting the chorus was more honest.

The song explores the trials and tribulations of firstborn daughters, which is listed as track five on the album, which she has previously confessed is reserved for the most 'vulnerable' of her songs.

Taylor Swift has opened up about the true inspiration behind the songs on her new album, The Life Of A Showgirl, after she admitted the meaning of one her songs 'about her ex Joe Alwyn ' would remain a mystery

Revealing the meaning of Eldest Daughter and Wi$h Li$t in her own words, Taylor told the host what she was thinking when she wrote each song as she offered a surprising analysis of Life Of A Showgirl tunes

Talking to Zane about the song, she explains: 'Sometimes I'll use specific vernacular to be satirical. The entire first verse of Eldest Daughter is somebody trying to figure out how to say things that they've read on the internet...

'Whether it be like apathy is hot, or memes and trolling, and how do I keep up with how we're supposed to talk in order to describe how much we don't care when really we all care about something.

'So then you go to the pre-chorus and I go more into my own voice of "I've been afflicted by a terminal uniqueness. I've been dying just from trying to seem cool". That's the talent.

'So that's the kind of flip of every way in which I was speaking in this entire first verse was me trying to assimilate to the way culture tells us to be.

'Which is weird, because honestly, I feel like going back to the idea of a showgirl, they are tough in a way that's actually kind of old school tough where they're going to smile on the outside and they might have a storm going on in their lives.'

Taylor also spoke about her thought process behind Wi$h Li$t, which is about her relationship with her fiance Travis Kelce.

The star sweetly admitted that when she met her husband-to-be she began to feel like someone who has 'romantic whims' and strive for dreams.

She said: 'And the song, 'Wi$h Li$t', is like that chorus, like you were just talking about the verses, which were so fun and funny to write, but it gets very sincere in the chorus.

The American pop star, 35, often leaves the messages of her tracks up to her fans' interpretation - however during an interview with Zane Lowe, she revealed more than usual about the words in a couple of her songs from the record

Detailing how she wanted the verses of Eldest Daughter to sound, she explained how the 'satirical lyrics' were about someone 'trying to figure out things they have read on the internet' before admitting the chorus was more honest

'I don't know if you've seen the movie 'Happy Gilmore', but he has this happy place where he goes into this utopia of this is exactly what he would want and this is where he escapes to mentally in times of stress, pressure, anxiety or chaos.

'And that chorus of that song is me just describing what my happy place is.'

Taylor also spoke about how making this album allowed her to show off her 'fun and flirty' side because the topic of her songs are typically quite serious.

'Making this album was really something I've been wanting to do for my entire career, because I have always wanted to have fun in this type of way.

'To have fun to exhibit mischief and be flirty, and fun, and make jokes, and get to have that side of my personality.

'That's a huge part of my personality. A lot of people who are friends with me and when we meet in person and stuff, people realise that, oftentimes, I get so serious or I'm really known for a lot of my sad songs, my cathartic songs or breakup songs or whatever because I love to write those things, but that's not the place I'm in my life.'

The interview comes shortly after Taylor debunked the theory that one of her songs is about a pub frequented by her English ex-boyfriend Joe - as she told fans she wouldn't explain the real meaning behind the song.

Taylor sings about seeing an ex walk 'into some bar called The Black Dog,' and she mentions that the ex forgot to turn off location tracking after their break-up.

The interview comes shortly after Taylor debunked the theory that one of her songs is about a pub frequented by her English ex-boyfriend Joe - as she told fans she wouldn't explain the real meaning behind the song

She sings about seeing an ex walk 'into some bar called The Black Dog,' and she mentions that the ex forgot to turn off location tracking after their break-up (pictured 2020)

Many believed that the lyrics are about her former flame Joe and guessed that she saw him spending time at the free house following the split.

Others also suggested song, titled The Black Dog, may be about her other ex, 1975 frontman Matty Healy, another Englishman who she dated briefly after separating from Joe.

However, during an appearance on Radio 2 with Scott Mills on Monday morning, Taylor bragged that nobody actually knows the meaning behind the track.

During a conversation about having to give the subjects of her songs a heads up before they appear in the lyrics, Scott asked whether she notified The Black Dog pub, in south London, about their mention in her song.

He queried: 'Yeah, because with an enormous fan base, comes great responsibility like did you have to tell the Black Dog Pub that they might be getting a few calls?'

However in a surprise move, Taylor revealed that fans have the wrong end of the stick when it comes to her track from her 2024 album The Tortured Poets Department.

She said: 'I meanI did not and still nobody knows what I'm even talking about on that song. They think they know but they have no idea.'

Scott said: 'But you know but they don't know' and Taylor confirmed: 'Yeah and that's the one thing.'

Elsewhere during the radio chat, Taylor spoke about how she trusts her friends to remain tight-lipped about what she is working on behind the scenes.

Scott asked her: 'So you were doing this while you were on the tour, so you'd do a three hour live show, then you'd pop to Sweden and record an album. And nobody blabbed. It stayed secret. How big is the circle of trust? How do you manage to keep that secret?'

Taylor insisted: 'My friends don't rat. They do not rat.

'And you can tell by the amount of stories about me that are out there that are absolutely not true, because all of my friends had heard the music a year ago.

Many believed that the lyrics are about her former flame Joe and guessed that she saw him spending time at the free house following the split (pictured The Black Dog pub in Vauxhall)

'They know about my life. They know what's going on. They do not snitch. It is phenomenal. I've got a really good circle of friends. It takes a while to get there.

Scott applauded her, saying: 'You have chosen your friends well.'

Taylor replied: 'Well, thank you! I feel so proud about that. But yeah, my friends know everything just like anybody's friends know everything. And they, the thing is that they just don't.'

Scott then asked: 'So the label knew and your friends knew?

But while her pals knew about the new album, Taylor admitted: 'The label didn't know at all. Until we had, until the record was done and we had made and we'd shot all of the art, we'd done everything, we do keep that close to the vest because, you know, I think it's fun to surprise them, honestly, it's really fun.

'We do a lot of things in-house, my team, so I think it's easier for them when the label can really just focus on what they have to do in terms of distribution, we have an amazing team that do that, so, yeah.'
James Norton has a reputation for being one of the nicest guys in showbiz. Sadly, he's in danger of wrecking his halo.

The actor, currently starring in the dramas The House of Guinness on Netflix and King & Conqueror on BBC1, has some pet peeves to share.

He took a swipe at the modern trend for leading actors to take an executive producer credit. Often it can be a way of justifying paying the big names more money.

He wouldn't name names, but his co-star Sarah Lancashire had this honour on crime drama Happy Valley, and Robson Green did on Grantchester, too.

Norton said: 'I have to say this is a pet peeve. You see a lot of actors who say they are executive producers. When you see actors with 'executive producer', they are not.

'It is often used as a 'shiny title'. When I have done shows that I have an executive producer credit on, I have produced them. I am not disparaging those who haven't, but they have not done a single f****** thing.

'Their agent has negotiated with the production when they are doing their deal saying, "Can we get executive producer?" Maybe they have read a draftthere are different degrees I am sure.'

He breaks off and jokes: 'I am a vicious backstabber.'

James Norton, who stars in the Netflix series House of Guinness, has hit out at a number of the actors he has worked with

Norton was an executive producer on King & Conqueror, as well as starring in it

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Well, James you said it!

He also hates to be pigeonholed as 'posh', which he has said before gets on his nerves. 'People like to pigeonhole and this country likes to pigeonhole when it comes to class and race which is a really frustrating thing,' he says.

'There is a trap as an actor where you sound and look a certain way and they say, "Okay, you must be this so we will repeat that over and over again".'

He thinks his role as murderous Tommy Lee Royce in Happy Valley saved him from the fate of playing floppy-haired nice boys forever. 'The Happy Valley thing for me was so important, as it allowed me to disrupt the pigeonhole that I would have more likely ended up in if I had not been in that role.'

Since then, Norton has shown even more remarkable range by founding his own production company, Rabbit Track Pictures. He has executive produced three dramas, Rogue Agent in 2022, Playing Nice and King & Conqueror this year.

He was famously very close to Robson Green when they worked together on Grantchester and said in an interview at the time he left: 'It's no secret that Robson and I are very good friends. I have so much love and respect for that man.'

Of his last episodes before leaving the show, he added: 'The relationship Sidney and Geordie had was largely informed by that. And so when you have two very good friends having a version of a goodbye, both Robson and James and Geordie and Sidney were all in this big emotional self-indulgent mess. It was very sad, but very easy to act because it felt very true to the reality of the situation.'

It's less clear how close he is to Sarah Lancashire, although he was very close to many other actors in the cast of Happy Valley.

Robson Green's friendship with Norton has not made him immune from his criticism

Norton's Happy Valley co-star Sarah Lancashire took an executive producer credit on the show

Some viewers have had issues with Norton's Irish accent on The House of Guinness, in which he plays foreman Sean Rafferty, but the actor, who read theology at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, says: 'If there is an accent I will do the accent all day and try and stay in that. The sound of a voice does take you into a person very quickly. I do carry a person by the virtue of his voice.

He told The Graham Norton Show on Friday that he was 'terrified of getting it wrong' and added: 'I worked really hard on it  I didn't want to be held to account. My problem was getting out of the accent because I loved the character so much.'

Future plans will involve a return to theatre. He was nominated for an Olivier Award for his powerful performance in the gruelling adaptation of Hanya Yanagihara's A Little Life in 2023.

He commented: 'I want to keep that conversation alive. It is annoyingly difficult. I am fortunate to have the shows I have. You have to carve out time for theatre so far in advance. I really need it and I want it so much. It is a powerful thing.

'The show I am in at the moment, you have five cameras on you so they can cut a bad performance [to look good]. I love film, I do, but you are always protected by the fact that you can go again.

'In theatre you have to rely on your craft and you feel so nourished by it.'

He adds of acting: 'It is the best job in the world. Sometimes I think my job is ridiculous. My sister is a doctor, while I am running down a hill going "Charge!".'

Again, James no arguments.
Love Island's Greg O'Shea shared a kiss with his wife Jeanni Mulder in the first photos from their intimate wedding ceremony on Tuesday.

The TV personality, 30, who starred on the fifth series of the ITV2 dating show in 2019, tied-the knot with the model at The College Green Hotel in Dublin.

Jeanni looked stunning in an elegant strapless lace gown, complete with a lace-up corset and a classic white veil.

Photographed by Moments by Sarah Jean, the happy couple posed for a series of romantic shots in the grounds of the venue.

Greg looked smart in a timeless black-and-white suit as he embraced his new wife.

Sharing several photos from the wedding, Greg captioned the post: 'Mr. & Mrs. OShea.. Intimate, emotional & exactly what we wanted.'

Love Island's Greg O'Shea shared a kiss with his wife Jeanni Mulder in the first photos from their intimate wedding ceremony on Tuesday

The TV personality, 30, who starred on the fifth series of the ITV2 dating show in 2019, tied-the knot with the model at The College Green Hotel in Dublin

He continued: 'Yesterday was the start of the rest of our lives, as we tied the knot in front of our nearest & dearest (ring emoji).'

The couple's announcement was met with an outpouring of love and well-wishes from fans and celebrity friends.

It comes just over two years since they first met back in 2022.

Jeanni was encouraged to slide into Greg's DMs after meeting a group of Irish girls while travelling in Bali.

Talking about how they got together, Greg previously explained to EVOKE: 'The Irish girls said that they heard me on a podcast and that Jeanni should message me because we're both quote-unquote cringy.

'So I'm cringy according to Irish women, and Jeanni's cringy as well. She slid into my DMs.'

The sportsman went on to admit he initially thought he was being catfished by the blonde beauty before romance quickly blossomed for the duo.

He added: 'I obviously thought she was catfishing me at the start. She got me on WhatsApp, then, and then FaceTimed me, and then she ended up flying to Dublin.'

Jeanni looked stunning in an elegant strapless lace gown, complete with a lace-up corset and a classic white veil

Photographed by Moments by Sarah Jean, the happy couple posed for a series of romantic shots in the grounds of the venue

Greg looked smart in a timeless black-and-white suit as he embraced his new wife

Sharing several photos from the wedding, Greg captioned the post: 'Mr. & Mrs. OShea.. Intimate, emotional & exactly what we wanted'

Concluding his recount of their love story, Greg added: 'Two years later, she lives with me!'

The Irish star first found fame in 2019 after being crowned the winner of the dating show alongside then partner Amber Gill, 28.

However, six years later, Greg found love with Jeanni and asked her to be his wife in a romantic New Year's countdown.

Taking to Instagram in January this year, Greg shared the moment he popped the question to a stunned Jeanni as the clocks struck midnight.

Captioning the heartwarming video, which saw him burst into tears as Jeanni said 'yes', Greg penned: '3, 2, 1 special way to start the new year.'

The Irish rugby union player also went on to share a series of photos in which his now-wife showed off her dazzling engagement ring.
EastEnders star Max Bowden is reportedly growing close to Coronation Street's Katie McGlynn - after splitting from his actress girlfriend Tori Allen-Martin.

The actor, 30, who co-starred with stunner Tori in musical Midnight Cowboy, were said to have been 'inseparable' during the show's run but last month went their separate ways ahead of his brief soap return as Ben Mitchell.

Now he is starring in touring play Murder At Midnight alongside Katie, 32, - who split from TOWIE star Ricky Rayment in July - with the pair reportedly having 'chemistry'.

A source has told The Sun: 'Max and Katie have been around each other for years. They were in the soap world for so long where everyone knows each other.

'They've got loads in common and both have found themselves single at the same time as doing the tour.

'They get on well and have been spending time together - it's clear they've got chemistry. Who knows what the future holds?'

EastEnders star Max Bowden is reportedly growing close to Coronation Street's Katie McGlynn - after splitting from his actress girlfriend Tori Allen-Martin

The actor, 30, co-starred with stunner Tori in musical Midnight Cowboy, were said to have been 'inseparable' during the show's run but last month went their separate ways ahead of his brief soap return as Ben Mitchell

Representatives for Max and Katie have been contacted by MailOnline for comment.

It comes after last month Max split from Tori.

She is best known for her role in BBC sitcom Here We Go in which she plays Cherry alongside Alison Steadman and Katherine Parkinson.

Meanwhile back in July the Daily Mail revealed that Katie had split from Ricky.

The couple, who started dating after meeting on a cruise ship in 2023, went their separate ways despite sparking engagement speculation when Katie was pictured wearing a diamond ring last Valentine's Day.

Katie, who left Corrie in 2022 after her character Sinead Tinker died of cervical cancer, and Ricky, famed for his appearances on ITVBe's The Only Way Is Essex, said they 'couldn't be happier' during their first interview as a couple last year.

But in summer, the pair called time on their year-long romance, which saw Katie who's Manchester based, and Ricky, 34, who lives in Essex, commit to each other despite living in different cities.

A source has told The Sun: 'Max and Katie have been around each other for years. They were in the soap world for so long where everyone knows each other'

Now he is starring in touring play Murder At Midnight alongside Katie, 32, - who split from TOWIE star Ricky Rayment in July - with the pair reportedly having 'chemistry'

The exes have even removed all trace of each other from their respective Instagram profiles including loved up posts from holidays together and the announcement of their relationship.

A source revealed to Daily Mail: 'Katie and Ricky have ended their romance, they're still friends and want to remain civil but in terms of a romantic relationship, it's definitely over.

'It was difficult at times for them dating even though they lived miles apart from each other but ultimately it just wasn't meant to be.'

Ricky said Katie first caught his eye as she appeared on ITV soap Coronation Street, where she portrayed Sinead Tinker between April 2013 and March 2020.

Katie's exit storyline involved her character Sinead dying from cervical cancer and the devastating realities such a loss has on close friends and family.

The important plot didn't go unnoticed by Ricky, who said: 'I first became aware of her years ago, when she was doing those incredible final scenes in Corrie when her character had cancer. I thought then she was amazing.'

Katie and Ricky (seen together) split earlier this summer

After she left Coronation Street, Katie appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021 but only made it to the second week of the competition.

Katie was partnered with Gorka Marquez and said she had found an 'amazing friend' in the dancer after their early elimination during Movie Week.

The actress, who's also starred in Waterloo Road and Hollyoaks, admitted that before meeting Ricky in person, she judged him based on the years he appeared on TOWIE when he was known for dating ex-girlfriend Jess Wright.

She said: 'I recognised his face and just assumed he wasn't going to be my type of person - you know, Jack, the lad from Essex - and I took it for granted we wouldn't get on... happy to say I got that one wrong.'
Nicole Kidman's fans have come out swinging in her defence amid her split with Keith Urban.

The Australian actress returned to social media on Tuesday with a post announcing her new role as a Chanel ambassador.

She was inundated with support from her admirers, with many praising the 58-year-old's glowing new look and fresh hairdo.

'How could Keith Urban leave this gorgeous, amazing, talented woman,' wrote one person in the comments of Nicole's latest Instagram post.

'We're all here for you Nicole, you can count on all your fans. You can start to wear heels again, find yourself a tall good looking man,' they added.

'The glow up is real,' said another while one more chimed in, 'Keith who? Keep slaying queen!'

Nicole Kidman's fans have come out swinging in her defence amid her split with Keith Urban. The Australian actress returned to social media on Tuesday with a post announcing her new role as a Chanel ambassador (pictured)

Someone else said, 'First she served the divorce papers and then she served face.'

'Fantastic! I'm excited for your next chapter,' another fan said, with one more commenting, 'Keith who? You are amazing!'

'Imagine fumbling Nicole Kidman. Embarrassing,' someone else wrote, with another saying, 'This era is beautiful on you'.

'You just won,' a fan said simply, with another writing, 'Look so much better single baby!'

Even TV star Catriona Rowntree chimed in, writing, 'We are right behind you! Perfect choice.'

This week, Kidman shared major career news after announcing her separation from her husband of 19 years.

The Australian superstar revealed in a statement on Tuesday that she is returning to Chanel as an ambassador following the debut of Matthieu Blazy as the House's new creative director.

'I am thrilled to be joining Chanel as it begins its new chapter with Matthieu at the helm,' she said.

She was inundated with support from her admirers, with many praising the 58-year-old's glowing new look and fresh hairdo

This week, Kidman shared the major career news after announcing her separation from her husband of 19 years. Pictured with Urban

'As someone who has such an appreciation for Haute Couture, I am so looking forward to witnessing Matthieu's vision for the oldest Haute Couture House still in operation and having the opportunity to wear what I know will be gorgeous creations.'

She went on: 'Chanel has always been ahead of the curve, shining a smart and gracious light on women, and I am sure Matthieu will be no exception, just like Karl did in his time.'

Blazy celebrated Kidman's return to Chanel with his own statement, looking back on one of her standout projects with the House led by a famed Aussie director.

'From the unforgettable Baz Luhrmann film to her countless red carpet looks, Nicole has always been part of the history of the House,' he said.

'Having worked with Nicole in the past and now reuniting with her at Chanel is a dream come true and couldn't make me happier.'

Kidman took to social media to mark the exciting venture, posting a carousel of images from Chanel's Paris Fashion Week show.

One snap even showed the star with Aussie director Baz, whom she worked alongside in films such as Moulin Rouge! and Australia.

'Thank you @chanelofficial for having me and my girls. So excited to be a part of it with you @matthieu_blazy,' she captioned the post.

Kidman was supported by her children on Monday evening as she made her second notable public appearance since confirming the end of her marriage. L-R: Sunday Rose Urban, Nicole Kidman and Faith Margaret Urban

Nicole was supported by her children on Monday evening as she made her second notable public appearance since confirming the end of her marriage.

The Hollywood star announced her split from husband Keith Urban last week amid claims the country star has already moved on and is romantically involved with a younger woman in the music industry.

But she was in good company while attending Chanel's showpiece catwalk presentation during Paris Fashion Week.

Kidman was joined by children Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret while mingling with a star-studded guest list in the French capital.

Kidman filed to end the marriage last Tuesday - citing irreconcilable differences - as a source claimed to the Daily Mail that Urban has already moved on with an unnamed female musician.

The well-placed Nashville music business PR source said: 'The rumour is that he's with a younger woman in the business.

'It's all everyone is talking about. Everyone wants to know who, but so far, that's a mystery.'

Daily Mail has contacted representatives for comment.
Ozzy Osbourne has revealed in his posthumous memoir that he let Matthew Perry attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at his Los Angeles home.

The Black Sabbath frontman, who passed away aged 76 on July 22, said the late Friends star 'gave everything to stay clean' as he battled addiction.

Matthew was found dead in his jacuzzi on October 29, 2023, at the age of 54 after he shared details of his struggles to dissuade others from following a similar path.

In an extract from his book, Last Rites, Ozzy said the actor would 'come to our house for AA meetings, or so my wife tells me.'

He wrote: 'He was the funniest, most talented bloke. And he was trying so hard.'

The rocker reflected on the sadness he felt upon hearing that Matthew, who had played the role of Chandler Bing in the popular comedy, had passed away.

Ozzy Osbourne has revealed in his posthumous memoir that he let Matthew Perry attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at his Los Angeles home

The Black Sabbath frontman, who passed away aged 76 on July 22, said the late Friends star 'gave everything to stay clean' as he battled addiction

Ozzy added: 'Then one day he listened to his addiction telling him it was ok to get loaded, and that was it - game over. He'd given everything to stay clean. But it wasn't enough.'

The Prince of Darkness detailed how he thought about using a ketamine treatment, similar to the one Matthew got hooked on, in an attempt to combat his own addictions but the experience put him off from taking the drug completely.

Ozzy recalled: 'They started me on this tiny dose. A microdose, they call it. But the second I felt it kick in - a very small but unmistakable altering of the mind - I was like, "Oh, yeah, I could have some serious fun with this."'

He said that he walked out of the clinic and said to himself he would never let addiction 'steal my spirit from me again.'

In 2012 Ozzy admitted he attended 90 AA meetings in as many days in West Hollywood as he worked on getting back to being sober.

Speaking on his Madhouse Chronicles podcast in October last year, he said he had gone back to smoking marijuana and was 'tempted to return to stronger drugs' because of his health woes.

In his last months, Ozzy struggled with his Parkinson's disease as well as problems with his neck and back and relied on a wheelchair and crutches.

He explained: 'I am happier, but I am not completely sober. I use a bit of marijuana from time to time.'

In an extract from his book, Last Rites, Ozzy said the actor would 'come to our house for AA meetings, or so my wife tells me' (Ozzy and wife Sharon pictured together in 2017)

Ozzy wrote: 'Then one day he listened to his addiction telling him it was ok to get loaded, and that was it - game over. He'd given everything to stay clean. But it wasn't enough'

The Prince of Darkness praised his wife, 71, for being his constant motivation to keep him from swaying back to his old habits, but cannabis, which is legal in LA, has slowly crept back into his life.

'I am lucky my wife kicks my butt all the time and she would make life so difficult,' he said. 'Even with marijuana she will f***ing find it and get rid of it.'

On the podcast, Ozzy also revealed how he tried enough ketamine 'to spark him' after he was offered the medical sleep drug at a surgery.

'I went to a doctor recently and started to have this ketamine,' he explained.

'He put a tiny bit in me, but that was enough to spark me. That thing came back and weighted my brain.'

He confessed that while he stopped attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, he now questions if that was the correct decision.

He said: 'If you are out there and you are using dope and you want to get off, there is plenty of help.

'AA is a 12-step programme. It got me sorted out to a certain degree. I do not go to meetings myself anymore. Maybe I should do, I don't know.'

Ozzy, who has spoken openly about his addiction issues, felt that many rock stars and musicians that use the California approach of 'micro dosing' drugs are risking their lives. He said micro-dosing would not work for him.

The rock and roll legend admitted that during the height of his fame in the 1970s, he felt he could not 'do a thing creatively sober'.

'I was the king of the world, a rock star and I had the biggest party ever. The thing is, I never thought I could do a f***ing thing of creativity (if I was sober).'

Ozzy once admitted he felt like he should have died years before some of his late 'drinking buddies' following a battle with booze and drugs.

He discussed how he feels about outliving his friends, including Motorhead star Lemmy and UFO bass player Pete Way, who he performed with in the eighties.

He said: 'I've been doing a lot of reflection while I've been laid up, and all my drinking partners, I've realised they're all f*ing dead.

'I should have been dead before loads of them. Why am I the last man standing? Sometimes I look in the mirror and go, 'Why the f*k did you make it?'.

'I should have been dead a thousand times. I've had my stomach pumped God knows how many times.'

News of Ozzy's death sparked an outpouring of tributes from fans in the music world and showbiz industry alike. His funeral on July 30 was attended by his family and rock royalty

Official documents listed three causes of death including cardiac arrest, acute myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease, and Parkinson's disease with autonomic dysfunction

News of Ozzy's death this summer sparked an outpouring of tributes from fans in the music world and showbiz industry alike.

His funeral on July 30 was attended by his family and a host of rock royalty.

Sharon and their children were joined by stars including Marilyn Manson and Ozzy's lead guitarist Zakk Wylde during the event at the family's 250-acre estate near Gerrards Cross.

Official documents listed three causes of death for the rock legend. This included an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, acute myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease, and Parkinson's disease with autonomic dysfunction.

In a statement shared in July, Ozzy's family said he died 'surrounded by love', adding: 'It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning.'
She has made no secret of her intention to move abroad once her children turn 18.

And a new report has shed further light into Angelina Jolie's relocation plans and where she will likely be based once she leaves Los Angeles.

A new Us Weekly article has dug deeper into Jolie's relocation efforts, with an insider revealing she will likely be spending time in areas of the world connected to her children.

Jolie is also legally single following the end of her years-long divorce battle from Brad Pitt late last year, with a source telling the site, 'You can really feel a shift in Angelina recently; shes lighter and more at ease,' they said. 'Shell always love L.A., but she feels it has served its purpose. Shes ready for her next chapter.'

A second insider added: 'She's very excited for this next phase of her life.'

The second source says Jolie intends on moving in July after her youngest children, twins Knox and Vivienne, celebrate their 18th birthday, and will probably be based part-time in Cambodia, the country where she adopted son Maddox from in 2002, and an area where she also owns property.

Angelina Jolie reportedly intends to spend time in areas of the world connected to her children after she relocates from the United States; pictured 2025

Jolie with her children Maddox, Vivienne, Knox, Shiloh, and Zahara in 2021

Jolie also will likely be found in France and Africa, areas of the world that are also close to her heart.

Her twins were born in Nice, France, and she adopted daughter Zahara from Ethiopia and gave birth to Shiloh in Namibia.

'Theyre all very special places,' the source continued. 'She has dear friends in all of [those areas] who she considers confidantes and family.'

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Jolie over the report but have not yet heard back.

The new report comes after Jolie revealed she no longer recognizes the United States, after she addressed her fears as an artist and American following controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel's show (the late night series was briefly taken off the air following comments he made about Charlie Kirk's accused killer).

'The MAGA Gang (is) desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,' Kimmel said on his show, which sparked the controversy. 'In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.'

President Trump's FCC chairman Brendan Carr accused Kimmel of 'slandering' the late Turning Point USA founder and suggested that ABC could face consequences if it didn't take action. He also warned the FCC may review the public interest obligations of ABC and its affiliates.

Days after the scandal erupted, Angelina was asked about her concerns as an artist and American at a press conference at the San Sebastian Film Festival.

'It is a very difficult question,' Angelina said, according to Variety. 'I love my country, but at this time, I dont recognize my country.'

'Ive always lived internationally, my family is international, my friends, my life My worldview is equal, united, and international. Anything anywhere that divides or limits personal expressions and freedoms from anyone, I think, is very dangerous. These are such serious times that we have to be careful not to say things casually. These are very, very heavy times we are living in together,' she said.

Jolie has also previously denounced Trump's policies during his first administration.

She wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times: 'We must never allow our values to become the collateral damage of a search for greater security.'

The actress will probably be based part-time in Cambodia, the country where she adopted her son Maddox (far R) from in 2002

A mother of six, Jolie shares Maddox, 24, Pax, 21, Zahara, 20, and Shiloh, 19, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 17, with ex-husband Brad Pitt, 61, whom she filed for divorce from in 2016.

After their split, Angelina purchased a historic Los Feliz estate owned by iconic Hollywood director Cecil B. DeMille - a home located nearby their father.

'I wanted it to be close to their dad, who is only five minutes away,' she told Harper's Bazaar in 2019.

'I would love to live abroad and will do so as soon as my children are 18. Right now Im having to base where their father chooses to live,' she added.

She has previously said she wants to move after her children turn 18; pictured with Vivienne in 2024

A source recently told People Jolie 'is 'eyeing several locations abroad' and intends on selling the house and moving once her youngest children turn 18.

Jolie 'never wanted to live in L.A. full time' but she 'didn't have a choice because of the custody arrangement with Brad,' a source told People. The exes reached a settlement in their ugly divorce in December 2024 after an eight-year legal battle.

'She'll be very happy when she's able to leave Los Angeles,' the insider added.

Jolie previously opened up about her desire to leave Los Angeles in 2024, but said she had to remain in California until her and Pitt's six children all turn 18.

Jolie shares her six children with her ex-husband Brad Pitt

'I would love to live abroad and will do so as soon as my children are 18. Right now Im having to base where their father chooses to live,' she previously said

'I grew up in this town [Los Angeles]. I am here because I have to be here from a divorce, but as soon as they're 18, I'll be able to leave,' she told The Hollywood Reporter.

She continued: 'When you have a big family, you want them to have privacy, peace, safety. I have a house now to raise my children, but sometimes this place can be  that humanity that I found across the world is not what I grew up with here.'

After her youngest two children become legal adults, Jolie said she plans on spending 'a lot of time in Cambodia' and visiting her 'family members wherever they may be in the world.'

Jolie will join a number of other Hollywood stars who've left Los Angeles in recent years, including Natalie Portman, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Longoria, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, Sophie Turner as well as Rosie O'Donnell among others.

In the meantime, the star is remaining busy with her thriving career in showbiz, which recently pivoted from Hollywood to Broadway.

Jolie has pivoted towards Broadway these last few years, co-producing The Outsiders, a production that won Best Musical at the Tonys last year

She co-produced the show The Outsiders, a production based on S.E Hinton's 1987 novel and Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 coming-of-age crime drama.

Last year it won numerous Tony Awards - including Best Musical.

'In Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1967, Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny Cade and their Greaser family of outsiders battle with their affluent rivals, the Socs. THE OUTSIDERS navigates the complexities of self-discovery as the Greasers dream about who they want to become in a world that may never accept them. With a dynamic original score, THE OUTSIDERS is a story of friendship, family, belongingand the realization that there is still lots of good in the world,"' according to the show's website.

In a conversation with the musical's director Danya Taymor, Jolie reflected on how the storyline has resonated with audiences around the world.

'Somebody said, "You know, this is a uniquely American story." But I have also found it extraordinary how much the story has resonated globally,' she explained in the video, obtained by People.

'It's what we have in common. Everywhere in the world has something that has challenged those neighborhoods, those families, those people, where you're wondering your place and where communities or class systems put people against each other and have made them feel very different and very separate.'
Emma Thompson has confessed she once 'snogged' actor Rik Mayall in the back of a taxi as she said the late star was 'really beautiful' .

The actress and screenwriter, 66, confessed to the cheeky kiss with the late actor, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 56, during a conversation with Ben Elton at Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire to promote his new memoir What Have I Done?

Admitting the kiss, Emma said: 'I don't know if I should say this but there is no hiding the fact that I I did have a snog in a taxi with Rik once. I have just remembered it actually. I probably should not be sharing with a cathedral full of strangers.'

'He would love that. He told me. He said "I snogged Emma",' Ben said, to which Emma, looking surprised, replied: 'Did he?'

'He was very handsome,' said Ben, with Emma agreeing as she added: 'He was really beautiful.'

Elsewhere in the chat, Emma revealed how actor Keanu Reeves had the hots for her mum Phyllida Law, now 93, when they starred together in the 1993 movie Much Ado About Nothing. Her mum would have been 61 at the time.

Emma Thompson has confessed that she once snogged 'beautiful' Young Ones star Rik Mayall in the back of a taxi (Emma seen on Friday)

The actress and screenwriter, 66, confessed to the cheeky kiss with the late actor, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 56 (Rik seen in 2006)

Keanu, now 61, is currently dating Alexandra Grant, 52 who is 10 years his junior. He is currently starring in Waiting for Godot in New York.

Emma's Scottish actress mum had a small part of Ursula alongside Keanu in the movie, which also starred Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton, Kenneth Branagh, Kate Beckinsale.

Recalling Keanu's feelings towards her mum, Emma said: 'Keanu is such a lovely person. A really lovely person.

'I don't know if you know but he really fancied my mum. She was in the movie? Did you know that?'

But Emma went on to say she wasn't even aware her mother was in the film, before praising Keanu for his reputation for being a good guy.

She said: 'I did not know she was in the movie.

'I know he is known and is famously seen as an actor who never puts his hand (around a woman). He is always quite self-consciously showing that he is not taking advantage. A good bloke and protecting women.'

It comes after Emma was joined by her daughter, 25, for the screening of her newest film Dead Of Winter at London's Picturehouse Central, as well as her husband Greg Wise, 59, and her mother Phyllida Law.

Emma made the confession during a conversation with Ben Elton at Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire to promote his new memoir What Have I Done? (Pictured)

Elsewhere in the chat, Emma revealed how actor Keanu Reeves had the hots for her mum Phyllida Law, now 93, when they starred together in the 1993 movie Much Ado About Nothing (Emma seen with her mum and daughter in September)

Keanu, now 61, is currently dating Alexandra Grant, 52 who is 10 years his junior. He is currently starring in Waiting for Godot in New York (Seen in Much Ado About Nothing)

Posing for snaps together at the premiere, Emma opted for an eye-catching white three-piece suit covered with green embroidery, while Gaia slipped into an elegant black strapless dress.

Meanwhile Greg, who has been married to Emma for 20 years, showed off his own snazzy sense of style in an eye-catching printed zipped jacket.

Phyllida, 93, herself an actress who has starred in a string of film and TV roles including Much Ado About Nothing with her daughter, arrived on the premiere's blue carpet in a wheelchair.

In Dead Of Winter, Emma plays a widow, travelling alone through snowbound northern Minnesota, who interrupts the kidnapping of a teenage girl.

Hours from the nearest town and with no phone service, she realizes that she is the young girl's only hope.

Gaia plays the younger version of Emma's role, portraying the character's journey from a person who experienced a rich and happy life, through trauma, to becoming someone capable and willing to sacrifice.

The film explores the darker side of human nature and revenge narratives, but also highlights the heroine's resilience and strength.

Gaia's father Greg is Dame Emma's second husband, former Strictly star and Walking On Sunshine actor.

Emma has been happily married to her second husband Greg for 20 years.

Gaia made her acting debut in the BBC series Silent Witness - where she played university student Jo Reynolds whose mother, the controversial health secretary, is assassinated  sparking the interest of forensic pathologists.
Daniel Craig was supported by his wife Rachel Weisz as he joined his glamorous co-stars Mila Kunis, Kerry Washington and Glenn Close at the Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery premiere.

The James Bond actor, 57, has played Benoit Blanc in the Knives Out movie series since 2019 and reprises the role in its next instalment.

Arriving on the red carpet for the premiere at the Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall, London, on the opening night of the BFI London Film Festival on Wednesday, Daniel put on a loved-display with his wife, as she was seen cuddling into him for photos.

Daniel appeared to trade in his usually slicked silver locks for a wiry voluminous look, paired with his grey tweed double-breasted suit, light blue shirt and red striped tie.

Meanwhile actress Mila, 42, turned heads in a black beaded strapless gown, featuring a bejewelled bodice and satin balloon skirt, worn with Repossi jewellery.

Also seen on the carpet was Kerry, 48, who looked sensational in a figure-hugging silver mirror sequin strapless gown.

Daniel Craig was supported by his wife Rachel Weisz as he joined his glamorous co-stars Mila Kunis, Kerry Washington and Glenn Close at the Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery premiere

Mila Kunis was also seen on the red carpet for the premiere of the film, in which she plays Geraldine Scott

Other co-stars who made an appearance at the premiere include Kerry Washington and Glenn Close

Elsewhere acting legend Glenn Close opted for a black and silver sequin dogtooth patterned harem jumpsuit.

She paired the look with velvet elbow-length gloves, open-toed platform heels and an array of silver jewellery.

Another co-star at the premiere was Cailee Spaeny, who wore a cream halterneck gown featuring a sequin bodice and full skirt.

They were joined by Irish actor Andrew Scott, who sported a pair of sage green tailored trousers, a butter yellow blazer, pink shirt and a black tie.

Meanwhile Josh Brolin kept it casual in grey tailored trousers, a white t-shirt and a green velvet blazer.

Daryl McCormack looked stylish in a grey oversized suit paired with a dark green shirt and black and white polka dot tie.

Daniel's return as detective Benoit Blanc in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery has already been hailed a triumph - with the film landing a perfect 100 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes ahead of its release.

The third instalment in Rian Johnson's hit whodunnit franchise sees Blanc investigating a chilling murder in a sombre church setting.

The film is not out until December 12, but early critics' reviews have been glowing.

Rachel opted for a Giorgio Armani black satin blazer and flared trousers, as well as a white open-neck shirt and stilettos

Arriving on the red carpet for the premiere at the Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall, London, on the opening night of the BFI London Film Festival on Wednesday, Daniel was seen sporting a new hairdo (Seen left on Wednesday and right in November 2024)

Daniel appeared to trade in his usually slicked silver locks for a wiry voluminous look, paired with his grey tweed double-breasted suit

Daniel also sported a light blue shirt and red striped tie for the evening, as well as a pair of black leather patent shoes

Meanwhile actress Mila, 42, turned heads in a black beaded strapless gown, featuring a bejewelled bodice and satin balloon skirt

That 70s Show star Mila was later spotted hopping into a taxi as she left the after party at Ham Yard Hotel

Also seen on the carpet was Kerry, 48, who looked sensational in a figure-hugging silver mirror sequin strapless gown

Meanwhile Kerry had an outfit change for the after party as she was seen wearing baggy black trousers and a sheer bejewelled corset

Elsewhere acting legend Glenn Close opted for a black and silver sequin dogtooth patterned harem jumpsuit

She paired the look with velvet elbow-length gloves, open-toed platform heels and an array of silver jewellery

Another co-star at the premiere was Cailee Spaeny, who wore a cream halterneck gown featuring a sequin bodice and full skirt

After skipping the red carpet, star Josh O'Connor was seen joining his co-stars at the after party

Collider declared: 'Wake Up Dead Man is twistier, darker and more emotional than the previous two instalments, in which Johnson explores ideas of faith and logic and the mythologising that gets us through the day - all in a brilliant murder mystery.'

Punch Drunk Critics agreed, calling it 'the most intricate mystery of them all, grappling with issues of faith, redemption, revenge and forgiveness.'

Meanwhile, The Wrap branded the film a 'glorious, goofy gothic horror.'

They added: 'Although Wake Up Dead Man is the Knives Out movie that's most preoccupied with existential questions surrounding death, writer and director Rian Johnson's third film in the series is also the one that's most full of life.'

The Netflix production started principal photography last summer and director Rian gushed about the cast he has assembled for the film.

'Weve been very lucky with each of these movies to have gathered some of my favourite actors on the planet, and thats absolutely the case here,' he said referring to Craig as well as other stars.

Ram Bergman, Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Cailee Spaeny, Mila Kunis, Rian Johnson, Daniel Craig, Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, Daryl McCormack, Cecilia Blair and Composer Nathan Johnson attend the Opening Gala screening of Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

They were joined by Irish actor Andrew Scott, who sported a pair of sage green tailored trousers

The Fleabag star also wore a butter yellow blazer, pink shirt and a black tie for the premiere in London

Meanwhile Josh Brolin kept it casual in grey tailored trousers, a white t-shirt and a green velvet blazer

Daryl McCormack looked stylish in a grey oversized suit paired with a dark green shirt and black and white polka dot tie

Daniel's return as detective Benoit Blanc in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery has already been hailed a triumph

'Theyre also all lovely folks who get along, which is the dinner party aspect of it. When youre making an ensemble movie like this I think thats key.'

Jeremy takes on a whole part in the third film. He appeared in the second film in the form of a bottle of 'Renning Hot' habanero chili pepper sauce.

He took that joke in stride and Johnson was thrilled to get the chance to work with him.

'Jeremys a great actor who Ive wanted to work with for a long time,' Rian told Netflixs Tudum.

'I was very relieved he thought the hot sauce thing was funny! Hes playing a proper part in this one, well keep the sauce off screen. Maybe well sneak a few bottles onto the catering table.'

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will be released in select cinemas on 28 November, before releasing on Netflix on December 12
Victoria Beckham was supported by her beloved family and Spice Girls bandmates on the red carpet at the star-studded premiere of her much-anticipated Netflix documentary at London's Curzon Mayfair cinema on Wednesday.

Dressed head-to-toe in white, Victoria, 51, was a vision as she slipped into a thigh-high split skirt and structured blazer from her collection.

The mother-of-four was joined by her dapper husband David, 50, for the unveiling of the three-part series - launching October 9 - which follows her journey from a Spice Girl, to a WAG and a fashion designer.

The couples sons Romeo, 23, and Cruz, 20, his girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30, and daughter Harper, 14, was out in full force for the celebration.

Despite the notable absence of her estranged, yet beloved, son Brooklyn, 26, the pop star turned fashion designer couldn't stop smiling as she revelled in her glory on her big night out.

It was yet another poignant moment, and perhaps a painful reminder, that things have changed for the Beckham gang. For it was just over two years ago that Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz were in attendance for the premiere of Davids show, Beckham, which was held at the same venue.

Victoria Beckham was supported by her beloved family at the star-studded premiere of her Netflix documentary at London's Curzon Mayfair cinema on Wednesday

Dressed head-to-toe in white, Victoria, 51, was a vision as she slipped into a thigh-high split skirt and structured blazer

The mother-of-four was joined by her dapper husband David, 50, for the unveiling of the three-part series which follows her journey from a Spice Girl, to a WAG and a fashion designer

While Victoria and David have reconciled that they wont see their eldest son for the foreseeable future, the couple are always missed at family gatherings following the fall out which came to a head when the pair shunned all of Davids 50th birthday celebrations.

Still, it was a night of delight for Victoria because there was a mini Spice Girls reunion which was only incomplete because Melanie Brown is currently away on business in the US.

She did, however, send Posh flowers to wish her luck for her big night yesterday.

Geri Halliwell Horner, Emma Bunton and Melanie C did however make a show-stopping arrival as they supported their close friend.

Geri was joined by her husband Christian Horner who made their first public appearance since it emerged that the former F1 guru received an 80million pay off from his former employers, Red Bull.

She was dressed in her trademark white as she posed for the cameras.

Mel C and her boyfriend Chris Dingwall made a rare appearance together at the premiere.

Mel finally went public with her new man in summer last year after months of speculation about their romance.

The couples sons Romeo, 23, and Cruz, 20, his girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30, and daughter Harper, 14, was out in full force for the celebration

Despite the notable absence of her estranged, yet beloved, son Brooklyn, 26, the pop star turned fashion designer couldn't stop smiling as she revelled in her glory on her big night out

Victoria's daughter Harper wore a chic VB black gown from her mother's collection

Cruz and Jackie looked more than loved-up as they posed together at the event

David made sure to keep out of Victoria's spotlight

He placed a loving hand on Victoria's back as they strutted across the premiere

Cruz, Jackie, Harper, Romeo stood to one side with David

It was yet another poignant moment, and perhaps a painful reminder, that things have changed for the Beckham gang

For it was just over two years ago that Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz were in attendance for the premiere of Davids show, Beckham, which was held at the same venue

Victoria waved to her fans as she arrived at her premiere

David and Harper shared a sweet father-daughter moment

David and Victoria shared a sweet moment with fans on the sidewalk

Fans were in awe of Victoria

Harper linked arms with her brother Romeo as they walked shortly behind their mother

Harper looked the spitting image of her mother

Cruz and David looked dapper in tailored suits

Jackie flashed her cleavage in a lace bra as she arrived at the premiere

Victoria was the moment in head-toe-toe white

A source close to Victoria said: 'Victoria is so happy that the Spice Girls could be there, she just loves being with them so much.

'They are a huge part of her journey and they are featured a lot in the documentary. It was a shame that Mel B wasnt there but she was away, and on this occasion nobody was not there because of any in-fighting.'

Also there for the knees up, which began with a champagne reception in the opulent cinema, were Victoria's parents Jackie and Tony Adams, as well as her sister Louise and her children.

Victoria gushed she's 'so proud to be with her family' as she shared snaps from the premiere on her Instagram.

She wrote: 'Im so proud of what weve built together and to be here with my family tonight. Thank you to the incredible people that worked so hard to make this happen. I love you all so much! x'

The documentary will certainly be much talked about. During the three episodes, the former Spice Girls tells how she suffered from an eating disorder after she didnt like what she saw in the mirror.

Also for the first time, Victoria shares her fears of how her fashion label would go bust after spending so many years in the red.

Victoria revealed she suffered from an eating disorder which she became good at lying about so she could hide it from even her closest family.

It was a night of delight for Victoria because there was a mini Spice Girls reunion which was only incomplete because Melanie Brown is currently away on business in the US

She did, however, send Posh flowers to wish her luck for her big night yesterday

Geri Halliwell Horner, Emma Bunton (L) and Melanie Chisholm (R) made a show-stopping arrival as they supported their close friend Victoria Beckham at her Netflix documentary premiere

Geri was joined by husband Christian Horner who made their first public appearance since it emerged that the former F1 guru received an 80M pay off from his former Red Bull employers

She was dressed in her trademark white as she posed for the cameras with her stepdaughter Olivia and husband Christian

Geri linked arms with her stepdaughter as they arrived at the premiere

A source close to Victoria said: 'Victoria is so happy that the Spice Girls could be there, she just loves being with them so much. They are a huge part of her journey and they are featured a lot in the documentary.'

Emma giggled with her lookalike son Beau Bunton at the premiere

She looked incredibly chic in a khaki green VB suit, complemented with a stylish bag from the collection

Mel C flashed her toned abs in a tiny bralette

Mel C and her boyfriend Chris Dingwall made a rare appearance together at the premiere

Victoria's best friend Eva Longoria was the epitome of chic in a satin off-white dress, from Victoria Beckham's collection

The 50-year-old Desperate Housewives star - who is the godmother of Victoria's daughter Harper - looked incredibly glamorous in her figure hugging gown

Eva put on an animated display as she gathered on the red carpet

Eva waved to fans with a huge smile

Victoria Beckham was supported by husband David's mother Sandra Beckham (L) and sister Joanne (R) at the premiere of her Netflix documentary on Wednesday night

Victoria's parents Tony Adam and Jackie Adams were every inch the proud mother and father

Also there for the knees up, which began with a champagne reception in the opulent cinema, were Victoria's sister Louise and her children

Richard E. Grant put on a vibrant display in a bright green ensemble

The actor, 68, famously played the Spice Girls' manager, Clifford, in Spice World

Dave Gardner, 47, held hands with his Victoria's Secret model girlfriend Jessica Clarke

The model towered over Dave as they posed for photos

The couple looked more than loved-up as they held hands

Victoria posed for a photo with fashion icon Tom Ford

Tana Ramsay and her daughter Tilly supported their close friend Victoria

The mother-daughter duo celebrated their family friend

In her Netflix documentary, Victoria Beckham, the former Spice Girl confesses how she 'didn't like' what she saw when she looked in the mirror so began to control her weight in what she describes as an 'incredibly unhealthy way.'

Posh shares for the first time her torment at being body shamed, something which started when she was at theatre school when she was a teenager but she was dishonest about even to her beloved parents Tony and Jackie.

Speaking on the three part series, Victoria says: 'I really started to doubt myself and not like myself and because I let it affect me, I didn't know what I saw when I looked in the mirror.

'Was I fat? Was I thin? I don't know, you lose all sense of reality. I was just very critical of myself. I didn't like what I saw. I have been everything from porky posh to skinny posh, I mean, it's been a lot and that's hard.

'I had no control over what was being written about me or the pictures that were being taken and I suppose I wanted to control that. I could control it with the clothing, I could control my weight. I was controlling my weight in an incredibly unhealthy way.

'When you have an eating disorder you become very good at lying. And I was never honest about it with my parents.

'I never spoke about it publicly, it really affects you. When you're told constantly you're not good enough. And I suppose that's been with me my whole life.'

Victoria, who catapulted to fame in the mid-90s with the Spice Girls, also recalls a moment when she was weighed by live on television by Chris Evans on his Channel 4 show TFI Friday to see if she had lost her baby weight just months after giving birth to her eldest son Brooklyn back in 1999.

Victoria revealed in her Netflix doc that she suffered from an eating disorder which she became good at lying about so she could hide it from even her closest family

Victoria, the former Spice Girl confesses how she 'didn't like' what she saw when she looked in the mirror so began to control her weight (pictured during her Spice Girls audition)

Elsewhere in the documentary, Victoria recalled the 'embarrassment' of David having to bail out her fashion business during 'a dark, dark time'

While at the time she was all smiles, today she reveals the toll that it took on her as a 25-year-old new mum.

'I was weight on national television,' says Victoria. 'Get on those scales, have you lost the weight?' we laugh about it and we joke about it but I was really, really young and that hurts.'

Victoria's body confidence agony began when she was just a teenager and won a place at the Laine Theatre school in Epsom, Surrey  which she reveals her parents funded by remortgaging their house in Goffs Oak, Hertfordshire.

She tells how despite her hard work she wasn't the best dancer, or indeed singer. But she also told how she looked different to her classmates.

'I didn't look like a lot of the other girls,' she says. 'That's where I started getting a lot of criticism about my appearance, my weight.

'I remember the principle of the theatre school saying to me, you know, at the end of the show we are going to just fly in. "You girls can be flown in" meaning that we weren't looking as aesthetically pleasing as some of the others, "so we'll just fly you in the back."

Victoria's mother Jackie also adds that the star was told 'you're overweight. You'll be at the back.'

She added; 'It must have affected her, it's a very silly thing to say to someone, "you're fat."'

The documentary follows Victoria in the run up to her Paris Fashion Week show in September 2024  the biggest catwalk occasion she had ever thrown.

Viewers will see how the weather left her and the team at her label on tenterhooks as they feared they would have to postpone it.

But it also takes viewers on the former singer's journey from a Spice Girl, to a WAG, right through to the present day as a fashion designer.

It is nothing if not candid, and at times Victoria's voice shakes as she holds back tears about some of the more difficult times in her life.

Amongst them was when her VB label was millions in the red and was on the verge of closure.

After launching it in 2008, she was repeatedly bailed out by husband David which made her a laughing stock.

For the first time Victoria tells of her upset at almost losing the London-based firm and the 'embarrassment' it caused.

'This business is everything to me, it's absolutely who I am but it has been a hell of a journey. I almost lost everything and that was a dark, dark time,' she says.
Julia Roberts opened up about struggling with insecurity in the early days of her acting career.

Roberts, who has become one of the most famous actors in Hollywood history, admitted she struggled with self-confidence when she first started working in front of the camera.

The 57-year-old admitted she did not begin pursuing her dreams 'with much confidence' as she spoke with People in an interview published on Wednesday.

'It was so much more about who I wanted to be as opposed to what kind of career I wanted to have,' Roberts shared.

'I encountered early on, not a lot but a few critical people who were really cruel, and it was a really interesting challenge for me to decide the kind of person I wanted to strive to be.

'I don't think I entered into my career with much confidence,' she said in a joint sit-down chat with her After the Hunt co-star Ayo Edebiri.

This comes after Roberts  who rose to fame after starring in the 1990 rom-com Pretty Woman and took home an Academy Award for her Erin Brockovich biopic in 2000  claimed 'Hollywood is still super-male' dominated and revealed how she has battled the industry during her 35-year career.

Julia Roberts opened up about struggling with insecurity in the early days of her acting career

Roberts said she experienced 'more bumps than smooth sailing' during her teenage years and early 20s.

'Of course, even then, I would have shreds of gratitude,' said the star.

'I would think, "Okay, there's a reason why it has to be so hard." Now I look at it as some of the lessons that I'm the most grateful for because they proved my endurance to myself.

'Being insecure, it can be crippling,' Roberts added. 'So if someone embarrassed me, it stopped me.

'I was apoplectic, so learning to navigate that  because this is not an industry to be in if you can't take criticism or harshness or being embarrassed.'

She also told a childhood story about how she once stayed up late to watch a trumpeter perform for Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show.

'Johnny calls him over to the chair,' she recalled.

Roberts, 57, who has become one of the most famous actors in Hollywood history and an Oscar winner, admitted she struggled with self-confidence when she first started acting; pictured in 1990 Pretty Woman movie still

She admitted she did not begin pursuing her dreams 'with much confidence' in an interview with People published on Wednesday. 'It was so much more about who I wanted to be as opposed to what kind of career I wanted to have,' she confessed; pictured alongside Richard Gere in 1990 Pretty Woman movie still

'I don't think I entered into my career with much confidence,' she said in a joint sit-down chat with her After the Hunt co-star Ayo Edebiri; pictured from left to right: Ayo Edebiri, Julia Roberts and their After the Hunt director Luca Guadagnino

Roberts said she experienced 'more bumps than smooth sailing' during her teenage years and early 20s. She said the insecurity she felt back then was 'crippling'; pictured in 2000 Erin Brockovich movie still

'He puts his instrument down and he starts to walk over and he trips and falls on the stage.'

She continued: 'And me, sitting in the safety of my own home, minding my own business, was ... It might as well have happened to me.

'I felt it,' she added. 'What did I know? But I had a lot of things I needed to overcome for myself.'

While reflecting on her decades-spanning career and her varied experience with working in multiple genres and acclaimed directors, she explained she often chose certain projects based on 'personal evolution and discovery.'

After the Hunt premieres in select theaters on Friday, October 10 and will be released everywhere else on October 17.
Nicole Kidman's next chapter might just be her most romantic yet.

Following her high-profile split from Keith Urban, relationship experts say the Oscar winner, 58, deserves a love story that's calm, grounded and far away from the red carpet chaos she's long lived in.

This week, the Daily Mail spoke exclusively with multiple leading dating and relationship experts who weighed in on what and who could make the Big Little Lies star truly happy following the end of her marriage after 19 years.

Licensed sexologist and relationship therapist, Sofie Roos says Kidman's next partner should bring a sense of emotional steadiness.

'Since Nicole is a person with much charisma and integrity, she needs someone who's secure in themselves and is low-key,' Roos explains. 'Humor, emotional intelligence and someone that can match her intensity are also qualities she should look for to make it work out well long term.'

Roos believes Kidman will thrive with someone who respects her independence: 'She needs someone that lets her breathe and isn't in need of consistent attention, but who can give Nicole the freedom she also needs post-divorce.'

And while dating another Hollywood name could be tempting, Roos says Kidman should 'look outside the industry, or at least away from the red carpet.'

'I think she would benefit from having a relationship out from the spotlight, which would give a greater chance of building something in private and at her own pace,' she adds. 'Maybe someone behind the camera?'

Nicole Kidman's next chapter might just be her most romantic yet following her split from Keith Urban after 19 years of marriage; seen last year

Her only warning: steer clear of anyone 'wanting to date her as a trophy.'

As for her dream match? Roos calls Colin Firth 'a classy comeback,' adding, 'He's low key, safe and would most likely be a stable and good man for her, especially now.'

Amber Lee, co-founder of elite matchmaking firm Select Date Society, says Kidman's ideal partner would bring peace and laughter, not headlines.

'Nicole Kidman needs a drama-free man who will bring her a sense of lightness,' Lee says. 'She has lived in the spotlight, raised children, and earned global respect, so she needs a confident man who can fit into her world.'

Lee adds that Kidman 'deserves a partner who makes her feel safe and adored, someone with whom she can laugh easily, and someone who she respects.'

'I'd love to see her with someone outside of Hollywood,' Lee continues, suggesting 'a philanthropic entrepreneur or a global thought leader with intelligence and calm confidence.'

Relationship experts say the Oscar winner, 58, deserves a love story that's calm, grounded, and far away from the red carpet chaos she's long lived in

If she were to date within the industry, however, Lee thinks The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal would be an incredible match.

'He is charming while staying grounded. I could envision the two of them having a genuine connection,' she says.

As she dips her toe back into the dating pool, Lee warns that 'men will be drawn to the idea of Nicole Kidman.'

'She needs someone who is going to fall in love with the woman, not the actress. The right man will not try to dim her light or outshine her. He will quietly protect her,' Lee cautions.

Kimmy Seltzer, a national dating expert and confidence therapist who has shared her advice in Oprah Magazine and Cosmopolitan, agrees that Kidman's next relationship should help her reconnect with joy.

'After years of being the poised, elegant powerhouse, Nicole deserves a partner who helps her laugh, relax, and feel adored for her real self  not her public image,' Seltzer says. 'She'd thrive with someone available, grounded, and confident enough to match her strength with playfulness.'

Seltzer notes that Kidman would benefit most from a partnership built on 'curiosity, emotional intimacy, and shared humor.'

Licensed sexologist and relationship therapist, Sofie Roos says Kidman's next partner should bring a sense of emotional steadiness like Colin Firth (pictured in 2018)

Kimmy Seltzer, a national dating expert and confidence therapist, said she could she Kidman 'clicking with Pedro Pascal for his warmth and humor'

'After years in a high-profile marriage, what she needs most is connection without chaos,' she explains. 'Availability, communication, and shared growth are key.'

Like the others, Seltzer suggests Kidman should look beyond Hollywood for love.

'Ideally, she should look outside the industry  perhaps toward someone more low-profile, like an architect, writer, or philanthropist. That balance could give her space to be seen beyond the red carpet and reconnect with life's simple joys.'

Her biggest dating trap? Falling back into 'caretaker mode.'

'She should be mindful not to overgive or play the healer or fixer,' Seltzer cautions. 'She needs to learn through the dating process to express her feelings more and be more available to see who listens.'

Seltzer also suggested Chris Martin (seen in August 2025) as a good match due to 'his soulful calm'

'I'd say have a fling with Alex Pettyfer (seen in 2022) and marry Chris Martin!' Jaydi Samuels Kuba, CEO at LJMatchmaking, playfully advised

Still, Seltzer agrees that certain famous names could spark genuine chemistry:

'I could see her clicking with Pedro Pascal for his warmth and humor, Colin Firth for his depth and sophistication, or Chris Martin for his soulful calm.'

Whether she chooses a creative type or someone entirely outside Hollywood, experts agree that Nicole Kidman's next great love should bring calm, curiosity, and laughter  not chaos.

As Roos puts it, 'She needs someone who encourages her creativity, stands on their own feet, and cheers her on  without losing curiosity about her.'

Jaydi Samuels Kuba, CEO at LJMatchmaking, suggested Kidman date 'around for a minute post divorce.'

'I'd say have a fling with Alex Pettyfer and marry Chris Martin!' the Match Made in Hollywood co-host playfully advised.
Geri Halliwell and Christian Horner put on a united front as they were joined by his daughter Olivia at the Victoria Beckham premiere.

The former Spice Girl, 52, and her former Red Bull boss husband, 51, were among a host of stars at the world premiere of her bandmate Victoria's new Netflix docuseries at The Curzon Mayfair on Wednesday.

Geri ditched her signature white uniform for a cream outfit for the premiere, wearing a roll neck sweater with a cable knit cardigan and a lace sheer maxi skirt.

Christian wore for a navy suit as he posed for snaps alongside wife Geri and his daughter Olivia, 11, who he shares with his late ex-wife Beverley Allen.

The family have had a difficult year, after Christian was cleared of allegations of inappropriate behaviour by two internal investigation and denies any misbehaviour and was sacked by Red Bull in summer.

And tragically, Beverley died just ten days before his Red Bull sacking after a long battle with cancer, Daily Mail learned in July.

Geri Halliwell and Christian Horner put on a united front as they were joined by his daughter Olivia at the Victoria Beckham premiere in London on Wednesday

Beverley Allen, 58, who was the mother of the fired F1 boss's teenage daughter, passed away at her Cotswolds home last Monday, two years after first being diagnosed with eye cancer.

Beverley had spent 14 years with Horner before he married Geri Halliwell following their split - and as well as sharing a daughter, he had helped raise her two sons, remaining on friendly terms.

Beverley and Christian were together throughout the early and mid 2000s - with her support crucial to his extraordinary F1 success.

A friend of Beverley's told Daily Mail: 'Beverley was a lovely woman and it is so cruel what has happened to her.

'She found out she had eye cancer a couple of years ago and she was aware that it wasn't going to be a very good prognosis but it is still a devastating shock.

'Beverley was loved by everyone who knew her. It's just heartbreaking.'

Her death came just days before Christian was sacked by Red Bull 15 months after allegations of 'inappropriate behaviour' made last year by a female colleague at Red Bull Racing.

Christian had denied the claims and was cleared of any wrongdoing by an independent KC appointed by Red Bull to investigate but the row did not go away.

A source told the Daily Mail: 'Christian will be very upset indeed by Beverley's passing - he has lost an old friend and his daughter has lost her mother.'

The former Spice Girl, 52, and her former Red Bull boss husband, 51, were among a host of stars at the world premiere of her bandmate Victoria's new Netflix docuseries

Geri opted for her signature white uniform for the premiere, wearing a roll neck sweater with a cable knit cardigan and a lace sheer maxi skirt

Tragically, Olivia's mother and Christian's ex-wife Beverley died just ten days before his Red Bull sacking after a long battle with cancer, Daily Mail learned in July

Beverley was initially heartbroken back in October 2014 when Christian, 51, walked out on her when their daughter was just six months old and began a romance with Geri.

The pair made their relationship public and announced their engagement in November of the same year. They later wed in May 2015 at St Mary's Church in Woburn, Bedfordshire, however, Christian's parents chose to not attend the ceremony as they were reportedly upset over his split from Beverley and his new relationship with Geri.

The parents are said to have remained close to Beverley and their granddaughter despite the split from their son.

A friend of Beverley's added that 'life had been cruel' to her, especially as she had just become a mother to their much wanted daughter when Christian left her.

'She really didn't have it easy, we are all devastated.'

But Christian and Beverley, a former publican, were able to patch their relationship up and things between them had been 'harmonious' in recent years.

Beverly, who was six years her former husband's senior, had two sons from a previous relationship when they met - to whom Christian had been a stepfather figure.

Christian with his ex-wife Beverly Allen during a dinner at One Marylebone in 2013

Beverley had spent 14 years with Horner before he married Geri Halliwell following their split. Horner is pictured with his wife Geri at the 2024 Bahrain Grand Prix

Meanwhile two days ago, the unnamed woman at the centre of the Christian scandal was paid 3million to leave Red Bull, according to sources connected to the team.

The employee, whose identity is protected by legal anonymity, has agreed to move on and drop her allegations in return for the fee.

She was in the paddock at the Singapore Grand Prix, and has taken up a new position at another team.

Christian is no longer involved in the sport though seeks a route back after he was elbowed out by Red Bull in July. He was cleared of allegations of inappropriate behaviour by two internal investigation and denies any misbehaviour.

He has since taken an 80m pay-off and wishes to return to F1 next Spring, subject to his severance package's obligations.

Christian's representatives were approached for a response.
Ben Affleck sent fans into a frenzy when he slipped into Spanish to gush over ex-wife Jennifer Lopez at the premiere of her new film Kiss of the Spider Woman.

The 53-year-old Oscar winner, who also produced the movie, surprised onlookers as he continued speaking in the language to shower Lopez with praise for her performance in the musical.

During the red carpet interview, Affleck explained that Lopezs role as Ingrid Luna was one she had long dreamed of  having grown up watching similar Hollywood classics with her mother.

Its a great honor to be here because that is a kind of character for Jennifer that she wanted, Ben said. And now she has the opportunity to do it and she is incredible in this movie. You must see. Must see. This movie is spectacular.'

The actor's unexpected bilingual moment left fans swooning online.

One fan raved, 'He speaks Spanish so well!' while another joked, 'He speaks better than J.Lo!

Ben Affleck sent fans into a frenzy when he slipped into Spanish to gush over ex-wife Jennifer Lopez at the premiere of her new film Kiss of the Spider Woman

The 53-year-old Oscar winner, who also produced the movie, surprised onlookers by effortlessly continuing in Spanish to heap praise on Lopez's performance during the red carpet interview

Others praised the effort, with one writing, I love seeing all the effort he makes to speak Spanish.

The red carpet also marked a reunion for the former couple  their first public appearance together since finalizing their divorce earlier this year after two years of marriage.

And fans couldnt help but get sentimental, with one romantic follower commenting on Bens heartfelt Spanish tribute: Awwwww how beautiful what love does! It takes you out of your comfort zone!!!

Back in May 2023, when Lopez was still married to Affleck, she couldnt help but gush about his Spanish skills.

Yeah, really great Spanish, the actress told Access Hollywood when asked about her then-husbands command of the language.

He spent time in Mexico when he was a kid, and so, he loves the culture, and he loves the people, and he loves speaking Spanish.

He learned it then, and he's kind of kept it up his whole life and really loves speaking Spanish, she continued.

Lopez even admitted she feels more hesitant speaking the language than Affleck does.

Affleck explained that Lopezs role as Ingrid Luna was one she had long dreamed of  having grown up watching similar Hollywood classics with her mother

Its a great honor to be here because that is a kind of character for Jennifer that she wanted, Ben said

And now she has the opportunity to do it and she is incredible in this movie. You must see. Must see. This movie is spectacular.'

The actor's unexpected bilingual moment left fans swooning online

I get very self-conscious, because I didn't grow up in Puerto Rico, you know what I mean? she said. I speak Spanish, and I know Spanish. I know Spanish well, but I still get self-conscious  not him!

Affleck has also spoken about his love for the language over the years.

During a 2020 appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, he said he speaks it passively  and revealed his daughter Violet was on the verge of surpassing him.

She's always been a very good student, and she's been interested in Spanish, and so I would often help her, the Oscar winner said at the time.

Now, all of a sudden, she's gotten into the grade where she's, like, in the harder Spanish classes, and she's getting better.

He added, She's right at the point where I think she might be passing me.

The Spanish interview comes after Affleck found himself in yet another meme-worthy moment on Monday night after an onstage mishap left him standing alone at the movie premiere.

Affleck was ushered onstage mid-speech as director Bill Condon addressed the crowd, per People.

In a clear case of mistiming, Affleck ended up standing silently behind Condon, hands clasped in front of him, as the director spoke for more than seven minutes  completely unaware the actor was there.

At one point, Affleck even set down the can of soda hed brought onstage, patiently waiting as Condon continued to thank the cast and crew, according to the outlet.

When Condon finally turned around, he jumped at the sight of Affleck.

The 53-year-old Oscar winner was left stranded under the spotlight at the New York City debut of Kiss of the Spider Woman  the new musical film starring his ex, Lopez

'I didnt know you were there!' the director laughed before walking over to hug the actor.

After wrapping his speech, Condon introduced Lopez and her co-star Tonatiuh to join them onstage.

Affleck later took the mic to share a few kind words, per the outlet.

'I'm humbled and honored to be standing up here,' Affleck told the crowd. 'It's an honor to be here. This movie is exquisite.'

The unintentionally hilarious moment marked a full-circle return to Afflecks meme era  more than eight years after the original 'Sad Affleck' photo went viral.

That now-iconic image, snapped in London in 2016, showed the actor in a blue sweater and jeans, cigarette in hand, looking visibly weary.

Once posted online, it exploded across social media  Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Reddit  with fans pairing the photo with captions capturing the spirit of quiet defeat.
KISS rocker Gene Simmons was taken to the hospital after getting into a car crash in Malibu and is now at home recuperating.

NBC4 LA reports Simmons, 76, crashed his vehicle into a parked car on Pacific Coast Highway on Tuesday after apparently passing out or fainting inside his Lincoln Navigator.

The rock legend has since told the news outlet he is doing fine.

Simmons informed deputies he passed out or fainted before the collision, The Sheriff's Department told the outlet.

His wife Shannon Tweed, 68, told the news outlet Simmons is now recovering at home after passing out during the accident.

She said her spouse's vehicle had careened across a few lanes of traffic during the accident.

KISS rocker Gene Simmons was taken to the hospital after getting into a car crash in Malibu and is now at home recuperating

Tweed added Simmons recently had his medication changed by his doctor, and now needs to drink more water, which she noted he's not particularly fond of.

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Simmons for comment.

In 2023 Simmons also made headlines after suffering dehydration during a KISS concert in Manaus, Brazil.

The rocker became ill on stage, prompting the band to pause the show.

Afterwards, Simmons assured fans he was doing OK via X: 'Hey everybody, thanks for the good wishes. Im fine. Yesterday at Manaus Stadium in Brazil, experienced weakness because of dehydration. We stopped for about five minutes, I drank some water, and then all was well. Nothing serious. Tomorrow, Bogota Stadium. See you there!'

In a follow-up, he elaborated: 'Ok, kids. Not a big deal. Thanks for your kind wishes. Last night we played Amazon jungle Stadium/Brazil. Humidity and temperature were sky high. I was dehydrated and was forced to sit for a song. We got back on stage in 5 minutes & finished the show.'

Simmons also suffers from the heart condition atrial fibrillation, which he says he manages with rest and liquids.

Describing the first time he learned he had the condition, also known as 'AFib', he explained on The Doctors in 2016: 'I had never heard of the term AFib, but about 10 years ago, we were on tour someplace, and stage the temperature goes up about a hundred, with all the stage lights and my heart,' he said before mimicking the sound of a fast heartbeat.

'I started to get dizzy and perspire and short of breath. So I called a doctor and he showed up and said, "OK, heres whats going on. Theres something called AFib," and he went down the list. And it was a lot to take in,' he continued.

Simmons is one of the co-founders of the iconic rock band; pictured 2023

Shannon Tweed, Simmons' wife, said her husband had recently changed medications and now needs to drink more water, which he isn't particularly fond of (The couple pictured with their two children Sophie and Nick in 2017)

'Since that event I haven't really had recurring problems because I get plenty of rest, drink lots of liquids. But am I prone to AFib? You bet.'

Simmons has been touring with his band since he retired from KISS in 2023 after wrapping up their End of the Road World Tour.

As a co-founder of KISS, he played bass and co-led vocals from 1973 until their retirement two years ago.

The metal band was formed by Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss in addition to Simmons in New York City in the early 1970s.

The rock legend has since told the news outlet he is doing fine

Simmons (L) will soon be reuniting with Paul Stanley (R) and Tommy Thayer for Kiss Kruise in Las Vegas; pictured 2023

During the band's half a century together, Simmons and Stanley also performed with now-former bandmates Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer for years.

Simmons was recently on tour with his eponymous music group, Gene Simmons Band, last performing in Sturgis, South Dakota on August 3.

He's scheduled to perform 'unmasked' next month with fellow KISS rockers Stanley and Thayer in Las Vegas next month for Kiss Kruise.

Recently he came under fire for charging one lucky fan $12,495 to be his personal assistant for a day.

But he defended the move, telling the New York Post: 'When I was a kid and went to see shows, I was always curious, "What's it like when they're in a hotel?"

'"What's it like when the stage is set up? What's it like being onstage when they're performing and seeing the audience from the stage?"'

'I decided, You know what, nobody's ever done it. Why not open the idea to be my personal roadie for the day?'
Emma Bunton ensured she claimed her own share of the spotlight on Wednesday evening as she attended the London premiere of Victoria Beckham's new Netflix documentary on the arm of her son.

The Spice Girl looked stunning in a pea green trouser-suit after arriving at the Curzon Mayfair in central London for the first official screening of her former band-mate's fly-on-the-wall series.

Opting to complete the look with a sheer top that exposed her black lace bra, Emma inevitably commanded attention while making a rare red carpet appearance with son Beau Jones.

Beau, 18 - the elder of Emma's two children with husband Jade Jones - looked appropriately smart in a grey chalk stripe suit and tie as they linked arms on the red carpet.

Emma, 49, was without Jade and their 14-year old son Tate while attending Wednesday's event, during which she reunited with all but one of her Spice Girls bandmates.

While Melanie Chisholm and Geri Horner-Halliwell joined Emma on the red carpet in support of Victoria, Melanie Brown was notably absent due to a scheduling clash.

Emma Bunton attended the London premiere of Victoria Beckham 's new Netflix documentary on the arm of her son Beau

The Spice Girl looked stunning in a pea green trouser-suit after arriving at the Curzon Mayfair in central London on Wednesday evening

Meanwhile, Victoria, 51, was joined by her beloved family on the red carpet at the star-studded premiere of her much-anticipated Netflix documentary.

Dressed head-to-toe in white, the fashion designer, 51, was a vision as she slipped into a thigh-high split skirt and structured blazer from her collection.

The mother-of-four was joined by her dapper husband David, 50, for the unveiling of the three-part series which follows her journey from a Spice Girl, to a WAG and a fashion designer.

The couples sons Romeo, 23, and Cruz, 20, his girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30, and daughter Harper, 14, was out in full force for the celebration.

Despite the notable absence of her estranged, yet beloved, son Brooklyn, 26, the pop star turned fashion designer couldn't stop smiling as she revelled in her glory on her big night out.

It was yet another poignant moment, and perhaps a painful reminder, that things have changed for the Beckham gang.

For it was just over two years ago that Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz were in attendance for the premiere of Davids show, Beckham, which was held at the same venue.

While Victoria and David have reconciled that they wont see their eldest son for the foreseeable future, the couple are always missed at family gatherings following the fall out which came to a head when the pair shunned all of Davids 50th birthday celebrations.

Opting to complete the look with a sheer top that exposed her black lace bra, Emma inevitably commanded attention while making a rare red carpet appearance with son Beau

The pair linked arms as they posed for photos on the red carpet during Wednesday's event

Still, it was a night of delight for Victoria because there was a mini Spice Girls reunion which was only incomplete because Melanie Brown is currently away on business in the US.

She did, however, send Posh flowers to wish her luck for her big night yesterday.

As well as Emma, Geri Halliwell Horner and Melanie C made a show-stopping arrival as they supported their close friend.

Geri was joined by her husband Christian Horner who made their first public appearance since it emerged that the former F1 guru received an 80million pay off from his former employers, Red Bull.

She was dressed in her trademark white as she posed for the cameras.

Emma accessorised her look with a smart black leather handbag and minimal jewelry

Victoria Beckham was supported by her beloved family at the star-studded premiere of her Netflix documentary at London's Curzon Mayfair

The mother-of-four was joined by her dapper husband David for the unveiling of the three-part series which follows her journey from a Spice Girl, to a WAG and a fashion designer

Mel C and her boyfriend Chris Dingwall made a rare appearance together at the premiere.

Mel finally went public with her new man in summer last year after months of speculation about their romance.

A source close to Victoria said: 'Victoria is so happy that the Spice Girls could be there, she just loves being with them so much.

'They are a huge part of her journey and they are featured a lot in the documentary. It was a shame that Mel B wasnt there but she was away, and on this occasion nobody was not there because of any in-fighting.'

Geri Horner-Halliwell was dressed in her trademark white as she posed for the cameras with her stepdaughter Olivia and husband Christian
The Spice Girls have reunited to support Victoria Beckham for the premiere of her Netflix docuseries.

The three-part series Victoria Beckham will follow her journey from a Spice Girl, to a WAG and a fashion designer.

And for the premiere at the Curzon Mayfair on Wednesday, Mel C, Geri Halliwell and Emma Bunton turned out to show support for their former bandmate.

Emma was joined by her son Beau, 18, while Mel C made a rare appearance with her boyfriend Chris Dingwall and Geri took to the red carpet with her husband Christian Horner and stepdaughter Olivia.

Mel B was notably absent from the event - however she had sent Victoria good luck flowers of support ahead of the premiere.

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, Victoria tagged Mel B and Geri as she shared snaps of extravagant floral displays they had sent her and penned: 'Kisses'.

The Spice Girls have reunited to support Victoria Beckham for the premiere of her Netflix docuseries in London on Wednesday

For the premiere at the Curzon Mayfair on Wednesday, Mel C (right), Geri Halliwell and Emma Bunton (left) turned out to show support for their former bandmate

While the Spice Girls are rarely all seen together, they often vocalise their support for each other over on social media.

Back in July Victoria congratulated Mel on her wedding to Rory McPhee as she shared a throwback snap of the bandmates and penend: 'Congratulations @officalmelb @rorymcphee on your special day!

'I couldn't be more excited for you both and wish you a lifetime of happiness! kisses xx'.

Meanwhile all five bandmates, including Mel C and Emma Bunton, attended Victoria's 50th birthday last year as they celebrated the milestone birthday together.

During the lavish festivities, all five of the Spice Girls came together to sing one of their hit tracks, Stop, for the star-studded guests - which was all caught on camera by David Beckham.

It comes after Victoria sent Spice Girls fans into a tizz last month as she admitted she was 'tempted' by a reunion on the final night of Oasis' reunion tour.

Among a slew of snaps on her Instagram from the Wembley gig, Victoria shared a video panning around the sold-out venue with 'Tempting....' written over the top alongside tags of her bandmates' Instagram handles.

Fans soon flooded X with excitement, with users penning: 'Fans took to Twitter to pen: 'Victoria Beckham teasing something about the Spice Girls. Hmmmm...

Geri Halliwell took to the red carpet for the event with her husband Christian Horner and stepdaughter Olivia

Meanwhile Emma Bunton brought her 18-year-old son Beau Bunton to the premiere of Victoria's premiere

DJ Mel C made a rare appearance with her boyfriend Chris Dingwall at the event on Wednesday

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, Victoria tagged her two pals as she shared snaps of the extravagant displays from Geri (L) and Mel B (R)

'DID VICTORIA BECKHAM JUST HIT A SPICE GIRLS TOUR ?!? ON HER IG STORY ?!? OMGGG... victoria beckham posting about how tempting watching oasis perform is and tagging all the girls you guys, we have never been this back i am on the floor.'

In April, it was claimed the group are reportedly set to reunite to mark their 30th anniversary as they have been secretly planning an upcoming world tour.

Geri, Emma, Mel B and Mel C were said to have met in Miami to discuss the finer details, yet Victoria is '90 per cent out of the running', with the foursome pushing ahead with plans without her for now.

It was alleged at the time that Geri and band manager and guru Simon Fuller are reportedly in touch again which has moved things along after years of hints from various members that they would get back together.

A source said: 'There have been rumours swirling for months, but Geri has always been too busy and had other things on, preventing her from saying yes.

While the Spice Girls are rarely all seen together, they show often vocalise their support for each other over social media (pictured in 1995 in London)

'Nothing is yet confirmed but Geri and Simon are back in touch with a myriad of exciting ideas.'

Victoria has often been named as the stopper on reunion plans - saying in 2019: 'I'm not going on tour. The girls aren't going on tour'.

However she conceded she did not know what the future may hold, saying: 'It's a positive thing. You know, there's so much bad stuff going on, and the Spice Girls were about fun and celebrating individuality...

'I think there's so much that the brand can do, and it's such a positive message for young kids. What does that look like in the future? It's not me in a cat-suit'.
Aaron Phypers fired back at his estranged wife Denise Richards accusations that he physically assaulted her during their six-year marriage.

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum, 54, took the stand in a Los Angeles courtroom this week, recounting the alleged abuse she claims she suffered at Phypers hands  allegations the actor, 53, vehemently denies.

On Tuesday, Phypers told The Daily Mail exclusively that he is feeling 'great' and praised his attorney, Michael Finley, for 'doing an amazing job.'

'He's exposing her. The truth will set you free,' he said as he arrived to court to testify in his own defense.

Phypers then criticized the cultural expectation to 'believe women' without question.

'There's a notion out there [to] believe women but all of them? I believe women, but some of them, they lie. And this one, she's lying. So it'll be exposed soon enough.'

Aaron Phypers broke his silence after his estranged wife Denise Richards accused him of physically assaulting her during their six-year marriage

Phypers continued that all he wants is a fair opportunity to defend himself.

'We're getting a fair shot. And this judge is amazing,' he said. 'I have the truth. I feel confident, and we'll see what happens.'

That same day, Richards gave her testimony as part of a hearing over whether a temporary restraining order she was granted in July should be made permanent.

Richards claimed that Phypers, whom she wed in 2018, 'caused me at least three concussions' in a court filing obtained by People.

During one incident, which the actress claims happened at a Chicago hotel in April 2025, she alleges Phypers 'was squeezing my head so hard' that it 'felt like he was crushing my skull.'

She also claimed her tumultuous marriage to Charlie Sheen, 60, was better because 'he never hit below the belt.'

Richards was granted a temporary restraining order on July 16, just 11 days after Phypers filed for divorce.

A source close to Phypers claimed that actress and her legal team are 'spewing fiction' and that he is 'planning on emerging victorious on this domestic violence protection order.'

The source added, 'Denise is again behaving like a coward and the truth will prevail.'

'I feel great,' Phypers told The Daily Mail. 'My lawyer [Michael Finley] is doing an amazing job. He's exposing her. The truth will set you free'

He then criticized the cultural expectation to 'believe women' without question

The source also pointed to a quote Sheen made about his ex-wife six years prior, stating that Richards 'and her legal posse traffic only in fiction.'

'If telling the truth is below the belt then so be it,' the insider stated.

The source went on to say that 'Aaron too, will be vindicated when the truth comes out, just as Charlie promised' adding, 'When you can't be credible enough to stop an affair like Denise's promise to Aaron not once, not twice, but three times, how can you be credible enough in a court of law on a bogus domestic violence complaint?'

Meanwhile Richards claimed she learned about her concussions because Phypers allegedly used equipment at his wellness center on her after she complained about having headaches, 'not feeling good' and being 'nauseous.'

'He scanned me, and it showed up that I had a concussion,' she claimed.

Richards detailed one instance when she reportedly got a black eye in January 17, 2022.

In another, she claimed Phypers 'slammed me up against the concrete wall and my head hit it' while they were in the carport at Phypers wellness center sometime between March and May 2022.

Richards claimed that Phypers, whom she wed in 2018, 'caused me at least three concussions' in a court filing obtained by People; seen in 2024

The third instance allegedly happened at a Chicago hotel in April 2025, with Richards claiming Phypers 'picked my head up' and was 'squeezing' it in a manner that felt 'crushing.'

During her first day of testimony, Richards said that after bringing up her texts with another man, Phypers started 'grabbing me, pushing me down' during their stay at the Chicago hotel for ComicCon.

She alleged 'his fingers were around my face' and that she warned him he was going to 'give me a bruise.'

She also claimed she said, 'Please stop, you're hurting me.'

And on Tuesday, she discussed the headaches she got from the incidents calling them 'very painful.'

She said there was a 'constant throbbing' and she felt 'off balance' and 'nauseous.'

Under cross-examination the actress admitted she never called authorities about the alleged incidents and that no other medical professional diagnosed her with concussions.

During the hearing, a video Richards recorded in August was shown by Phypers' attorneys, according to People.

She also claimed her tumultuous marriage to Charlie Sheen , 60, was better because 'he never hit below the belt'; seen with Sheen in September

In it, Richards compared their six-year marriage to her previous union with Sheen, to whom she was married from 2002 to 2005 and shares daughters Sami, 21, and Lola, 20, with.

'Things were bad with Charlie and I, but he never hit below the belt,' she said in the clip.

She also said, 'I don't know you. Charlie, I knew. Every other ex, I knew. You, I don't know. That's why this has been really f*****g hard.'

'I don't even know who the f**k you are,' she went on, adding, 'And I gave you everything.'

The references to Richards' ex-husband surfaced after Phypers' attorney named Sheen on a potential witness list for a future hearing.

Richards and Sheen's split was highly contentious, with the actress filing for divorce in March 2005 while six months pregnant with their second child.

In the clip that played in court, Richards also claims she found evidence of Phypers cheating.

Richards was granted a temporary restraining order on July 16, just 11 days after Phypers filed for divorce; Pictured in 2024

'I saw the d**k pics you took,' she claimed while denying that she had cheated.

She added that it was 'such a shock' when Phypers filed for divorce.

'I really thought you were my soulmate,' she said.

She also alleged, 'You've hit me too many f*****g times and each time it's getting worse and worse.'

Richards was reportedly visibly emotional when the video played, and was seen wiping her tears away.

The day prior, Richards' estranged husband Phypers was accused of punching her in the face hard enough to give her a black eye in explosive testimony delivered by a family member.

Phypers' cousin, Kathleen McAllister, supported Richards' claims that her ex subjected her to domestic abuse in virtual testimony delivered Monday.

'I saw Aaron hit Denise and immediately she had a really bad black eye,' McAllister claimed via her virtual testimony about an incident on January 17, 2022. 'I'm literally in shock now to this day about it.'

A source close to Phypers claimed that actress and her legal team are 'spewing fiction' and that he is 'planning on emerging victorious on this domestic violence protection order'

Richards also claimed on the stand that Phypers 'would often threaten to throw me through the windows and off balconies.'

She alleged: 'Hes almost killed me so many damn times.'

She also revealed that their separation was triggered on July 4, when she asked Phypers to leave their shared residence.

'He got very angry at me and volatile, he got very close to me. I had just recovered from a full facelift and I still had stitches behind my ears, and I felt extremely vulnerable.'

Richards alleged their arguments frequently turned physical.

'He would grab my arms and he would yell, call me names,' including 'cheating w**e and a c**t and a lying b***h.'

Phypers has previously denied all the accusations against him (pictured in 2025)

She detailed how it made her feel 'scared' and 'sad.'

'It made me feel intimidated by him. He's very big,' she added. 'Im a lot smaller than him.'

In a previous court filing in July, Richards claimed that Phypers, would 'frequently violently choke me, violently slap me in my face and head, aggressively slam my head into the bathroom towel rack, threaten to kill me, hold me down with his knee on my back to the point where I would have to plead with him to get off me so that he would not kill me.'

She further alleged that he 'regularly threatened to "break my jaw" and would cry, beg me to stay, and promise to get help  none of which ever happened.'

Phypers has previously denied all the accusations against him.

And in a filing on September 15, he alleged that Richards 'attacked' and 'harassed' him 'many times.'
Victoria Beckham mentioned her estranged son Brooklyn in her heartfelt thank you speech at the premiere of her Netflix documentary at London's Curzon Mayfair cinema on Wednesday.

Despite Brooklyn, 26, failing to attend his mother's big night, Victoria didn't hesitate when bringing up her son at the screening on stage.

Holding back her emotion as she thanked her beloved family, she said: 'My children - Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, Harper - and David - oh my God hes not a child! - I was doing so well without [prompt] cards as well!

'Its taken this process to really be proud of what Ive achieved and to realise finally that I am enough.'

She added: '[Thank you to] my husband for convincing me and then forcing me, giving me no choice David', she laughed.

Victoria added: 'I very much live in the present, I'm always looking forward, I'm very ambitious, I dream really really big. But this process forced me to reflect and look at my journey so far and it was a very emotional experience, I've never done that before.

Victoria Beckham, 51, mentioned her estranged son Brooklyn in her heartfelt thank you speech at the premiere of her Netflix documentary at London's Curzon Mayfair cinema on Wednesday

Despite Brooklyn, 26, failing to attend his mother's big night, Victoria didn't hesitate when bringing up her son at the screening on stage (pictured together in 2019)

'I actually probably think [it's like] a year's intense therapy to be honest and it really made me realise a lot.

'I want to thank my mum and dad for everything, my brother and sister.'

Brooklyn's no show marks yet another Beckham family event he has failed to attend this year, ever since their family rift.

The mother-of-four was joined by her dapper husband David, 50, for the unveiling of the three-part series - launching October 9 - which follows her journey from a Spice Girl, to a WAG and a fashion designer.

The couples sons Romeo, 23, and Cruz, 20, his girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30, and daughter Harper, 14, was out in full force for the celebration.

Despite the notable absence of her estranged, yet beloved, son Brooklyn, the pop star turned fashion designer couldn't stop smiling as she revelled in her glory on her big night out.

It was yet another poignant moment, and perhaps a painful reminder, that things have changed for the Beckham gang. For it was just over two years ago that Brooklyn and his wife Nicola Peltz were in attendance for the premiere of Davids show, Beckham, which was held at the same venue.

While Victoria and David have reconciled that they wont see their eldest son for the foreseeable future, the couple are always missed at family gatherings following the fall out which came to a head when the pair shunned all of Davids 50th birthday celebrations.

Holding back her emotion as she thanked her beloved family, she said: 'My children - Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz, Harper - and David - oh my God hes not a child! - I was doing so well without [prompt] cards as well!'

'Its taken this process to really be proud of what Ive achieved and to realise finally that I am enough', she added

Brooklyn's no show marks yet another Beckham family event he has failed to attend, ever since their family rift

The couples sons Romeo, 23, and Cruz, 20, his girlfriend Jackie Apostel, 30, and daughter Harper, 14, was out in full force for the celebration

Her speech also included a sweet nod to her former Spice Girls bandmates Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton, Mel B and Mel C.

She said to the audience: 'Id like to thank the Spice Girls - Geri, Emma, Melanie and Melanie. I love you so much and thank you so much.'

It was a night of delight for Victoria because there was a mini Spice Girls reunion which was only incomplete because Melanie Brown is currently away on business in the US. She did, however, send Posh flowers to wish her luck for her big night yesterday.

Geri, Emma and Mel C did however make a show-stopping arrival as they supported their close friend.

Geri was joined by her husband Christian Horner who made their first public appearance since it emerged that the former F1 guru received an 80million pay off from his former employers, Red Bull.

She was dressed in her trademark white as she posed for the cameras.

Mel C and her boyfriend Chris Dingwall made a rare appearance together at the premiere.

Mel finally went public with her new man in summer last year after months of speculation about their romance.
In his speech, opposition leader Raila Odinga denounced the Kenyan election as a "sham" and vowed to fight on

Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga on Tuesday rejected outright the result of last week's "sham" election, vowing to fight on after the protest-hit poll that handed President Uhuru Kenyatta a landslide win.

"This election must not stand. If allowed to stand, it will make a complete mockery of elections," he said in his first remarks on Thursday's presidential re-run, which his supporters boycotted en masse.

Without change, "elections will become coronation rituals," Odinga warned.

The vote, which saw Kenyatta winning with 98 percent of the votes cast, was the chaotic climax of two months of political drama and acrimony triggered by the Supreme Court's overturning of an initial August poll over widespread irregularities.

But Odinga did not say whether he would once again petition the Supreme Court to have the vote annulled, as he did back in August.

Residents of Nairobi's Kibera slum clean up a shop that was burned down during clashes after President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner of last week's protest-hit election

He spelt out a campaign of non-violent protest and disobedience that would ensure the government had "no peace" so long as there was no change.

The remarks are likely to extend the political uncertainty that has paralysed the country since September 1.

Despite his successful bid to throw out the results of the August election, Odinga withdrew from the re-run some two weeks beforehand, citing concerns the new vote would be neither free nor fair.

Last week, the 72-year-old leader pledged to transform his National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition into "a resistance movement" that would spearhead a campaign of "civil disobedience."

On Tuesday, he laid out plans for a programme of "vigorous" political action including "economic boycotts, peaceful processions, picketing and other legitimate protests."

"If there is no justice for the people, let there be no peace for the government," he declared.

- Odinga 'the unpredictable' -

Supporters of Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga say they will do whatever he tells them

In his western stronghold of Kisumu, Odinga's highly-anticipated speech drew a mixed reaction.

"It was a very good speech," nodded Linah Awuor, 42, who was selling plastic jerrycans in Kibuye market, saying she hoped the government would hear his "message of peace".

"I am happy that it's peaceful. It was not good for business lately, and I hope it will get better now."

And Nixon Juma, a 25-year-old who said he had taken part in every protest since August, said he was happy to follow Odinga's leadership.

"Raila has said dialogue first, so dialogue it is. We will see what happens," he said. "Raila knows that he can count on us, we are here, and we will be waiting for his word."

But 21-year-old taxi driver Samwell Ochyeng was a bit nonplussed, saying Odinga was definitely living up to his nickname Agwambo, a Luo word which translates as "the unpredictable".

"I don't understand, I am a bit disappointed. We were waiting for a crucial announcement, and he comes up with this speech," he said.

But in the end, they would follow, he said. "We are waiting, and whatever he says, we'll do."

Aside from some scuffles after the results were announced, things have been largely calm for the past four days although security was stepped up Tuesday as more than a million pupils aged between 13 and 15 began sitting their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams.

- Victor but at what cost? -

President Uhuru Kenyatta said his victory in Thursday's election re-run was a "revalidation" of the people's will

In his victory speech on Monday, Kenyatta hailed the result as vindication of his triumph in the August poll which was later overturned.

But it proved to be a bittersweet victory.

Turnout was just 38.8 percent, marring the credibility of a vote that has deeply polarised the East African nation, sparking months of bitter infighting, legal wrangling and violent protest.

The last few months of chaos drew a sharp rebuke on Tuesday from the European Union's election observer mission.

"Actions by both sides of the political divide have been damaging to the electoral process and have put the people and institutions of Kenya in an extremely difficult position," it said.

"Such a divisive electoral process, with accompanying violence, has been detrimental to Kenyas democratic functioning and the rule of law, as well as its prosperity," the mission said.

And it stressed the "urgent need for dialogue between the two sides... and for grievances to be addressed through democratic and judicial channels", saying the onus was on the leaders to "find a way out of the current impasse".

But from a technical point of view, it said the actual polling and counting process appeared to be "generally well administered" with some technical improvements evident in the results process.

The political crisis is the worst to hit the country since a 2007 vote sparked months of politically-driven ethnic violence that left 1,100 people dead.

While the dynamics of 2017's political crisis are very different, the memory of the bloodshed a decade ago is never far away.
Long John Silver made his life on the water. But the company named after him is playing with fire.

The 56-year-old chain with 485 US restaurants has unveiled a new logo that removed any reference to its signature seafood, the pirate lore behind its name, or the nautical themes that dominate its restaurants.

Instead, it is highlighting a surprising animal: a chicken.

It is a big bet for a legendary seafood company that has featured a pale red fish in its most recent logos. The brand is also modifying its name in the reboot, adding 'Chicken + Seafood' into the new art.

Restaurant experts said the move risks alienating customers  echoing Cracker Barrel's rebranding fiasco from last month.

Cracker Barrel drew outrage after removing the old man from its logo, and replacing rustic wood lattice decor for plain white wainscoting in its restaurants.

The backlash forced the chain to abandon its $700 million overhaul. Insiders warn Long John Silver's could be courting the same fate.

'There is absolutely no reason to picture a chicken as part of the Long John Silver's logo and signage,' Jerry Thomas, CEO of analytics firm Decision Analyst, which works with restaurant businesses, told the Daily Mail.

Long John Silver's recent logo featured a fish, highlighting the chain's niche offering: seafood served to customers from a drive-thru

Restaurant insiders are shocked by the company's new branding, which prominently features a pale yellow chicken. The company is also adding 'Chicken + Seafood' to the bottom of the new logo to highlight the poultry focus

Long John Silver's said it needs to modernize the look of its restaurants. 'Some of our restaurants look like they're 75 years,' an SVP said

'It makes you wonder if Long John Silver's did the necessary consumer research to fully evaluate the reactions of customers to such a radical change,' he added.

Founded in 1969 in Lexington, Kentucky, Long John Silver's built its name  and restaurants styled like New England fishing shacks  around nautical themes.

The restaurant is named after a character in a nearly 150-year-old children's novel.

By the 1980s, the chain had grown to more than 1,500 locations and became America's go-to for fast-food fish before years of declining sales and ownership changes sent it into a long slump. It entered bankruptcy in 1998.

Bosses decided Long John Silver's needed a reboot.

'We're a 56-year-old brand, but some of our restaurants look like they're 75 years old,' Christopher Caudill, the company's senior vice president of marketing, told Nation's Restaurant News.

'We need to update those to be more inviting. It's costly, but the return is fantastic.'

Part of that update includes testing new chicken products, like a $6 basket and strip-style offerings.

Nate Fowler, right, took over as the company's CEO in February 2025. For years, the brand has struggled with shrinking sales and closing stores

Eateries around the US featured ocean blue roofs, bright yellow accents, and white shiplap walls - all to give the brand a nautical theme. Now, it's rolling out chicken to compete with the likes of Taco Bell, McDonald's, and Chick-fil-A

The pivot follows a wider industry trend. Taco Bell recently launched chicken nuggets and burritos, Chick-fil-A keeps expanding across the US, and McDonald's just posted a strong quarter fueled by returning chicken favorites.

'Guests have been telling us for years that our chicken is a best-kept secret,' Caudill added about the brand's early menu returns.

Insiders agree that chicken might be the right strategic move for the chain. They just are not in love with the brand's execution.

'Not everyone likes fish,' Thomas added. 'The addition of a limited number of chicken items to the Long John Silver's menu might be a good idea.'

But Thomas said the new sign, and the decision to rebrand to Long John Silver's Chicken and Fish is 'dangerous and ill-advised.'

'Chances are high that Long John Silver's customers will be turned off by the new logo and signage.'

The company remains bullish. In a comment to the Daily Mail, a spokesperson said the chain is 'not shifting away from our heritage.'

'Long John Silver's has been well known for our fish for decades, but we want to recognize another one of our fan-favorite offerings, our chicken,' they said.
Hyundai is recalling over 135,000 of one of its most important cars over potential fire issues.

On Wednesday, safety regulators confirmed that the South Korean automaker recalled certain 2024 and 2025 Santa Fe SUVs.

The issue stems from a potential electrical short that could occur during a crash. If certain engine components crumple, the SUV risks catching fire.

Impacted vehicles were built between December 2023 and July 2025 at Hyundai's Alabama assembly plant. The recall only impacts gas-powered models.

Hyundai says it already has a fix ready, and owners will begin receiving recall notices in early December.

Dealerships are instructed to repair the issue free of charge and to provide impacted customers with complimentary 'alternative transportation' while their cars are in the shop.

The 24-year-old three-row SUV is one of Hyundai's core models, selling more than 100,000 this year. It's entering the third year of production following a dramatic redesign that shocked industry insiders.

In 2023, the Santa Fe blended in as a standard family hauler that could easily camouflage in a school pickup line or grocery store parking lot.

The Santa Fe is entering the third year since its wild reboot. The car's face includes headlights that are shaped like the letter H and a distinctive white LED bar

The rear continues the Santa Fe's shocking approach, pushing the tail lights to the bottom of the car's body - Hyundai took design cues from Tesla and Land Rover for the redesigned car

Hyundai leaned heavily into the car's off-road appeal, adding packages for dirt and gravel roads

This is a stock image of a car on fire in Los Angeles

But in 2024, Hyundai gave the SUV a radical new look, borrowing Land Rovers boxier design cues and Teslas love of LED light bars.

That angular redesign carries through to 2026 models, with customers able to choose between a gas-powered version starting at $34,800 or a hybrid beginning at $36,150.

A Hyundai spokesperson didn't immediately respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.

This isn't the first time the Santa Fe has been recalled. Last summer, the company recalled 12,000 cars because a software glitch risked letting the car roll away.

Wednesday's recall is Hyundai's 14th this year, the sixth most among major carmakers this year. Five of Hyundai's recalls have been for electric component issues.

So far, Hyundai has recalled more than 700,000 cars this year, according to Daily Mail analysis of public documents.

That is a small amount of cars compared to other high-volume automakers in the US market.

Ford, for example, has shattered recall records this year, issuing 113 separate actions that together impact more than 9 million vehicles.

The company has issues recalls for technical glitches, door handle failures, seat part problems, and engine component breakages.

Its spent $5.8billion on the problem this year.
Eight were working for NGO, accusing them of providing sensitive security information to foreign powers

Burkina Fasos ruling junta said it has arrested eight humanitarian workers on spying charges, accusing them of providing sensitive security information to foreign powers.

The eight were working for the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO), a Netherlands-based group specialised in humanitarian safety. The organisation collected and recorded sensitive information about the West African countrys military, including operation zones, convoy routes and the number of personnel deployed, Security Minister Mahamadou Sana said in a statement Tuesday.

Among those arrested were two French nationals, including INSOs country director for Burkina Faso, a Czech man, a Malian and four Burkinabe nationals, the minister added. He did not specify the dates of the arrests. INSO said in a statement Tuesday it only collects information to monitor safety trends and protect aid workers on the ground.

The information we collect is not confidential and is largely already known to the public, the organisation said.

INSO said it has fully cooperated with the Burkinabe authorities investigation and is working to secure the safe release of its detained staff.

Burkina Faso has been run by the military following a coup in 2022 that the soldiers said was to stabilise the country amid a worsening security crisis and provide better governance.

Instead, there has been a surge in the number of attacks by armed groups who control most of the country, especially outside of the capital.
Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen have detained nine employees of the United Nations as part of a long-running crackdown on the organisation, the UN said.

The detentions bring the number of detained UN workers in Houthi-held territories in Yemen to 53 since 2021, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement late Monday.

No details about the circumstances or timing of the latest detentions were given.

Dujarric said the crackdown has impeded the UNs ability to operate in Yemen and to deliver critical assistance to the local population in the Arab worlds poorest country.

He called for the immediate and unconditional release of all UN staff as well as workers from other international organisations and diplomatic missions who have been detained by the rebels.

They must be respected and protected in accordance with applicable international law, Dujarric said. A spokesman for the rebels did not respond to calls and messages seeking comment. The rebels have previously said that their crackdown on the UN and other international groups is linked to suspected members of an alleged espionage network.

In August, the rebels raided UN offices in the capital, Sanaa, and detained 19 employees, according to the UN. They later released Lana Shukri Kataw, the deputy director of UNICEF in the country.
The Labour government is trying to push through a Digital ID system that would include social credit scores, that would rate every citizen in the UK. Labour are very close to the CCP, and are being tutored on how to bring a digital ID system into the UK. Labour are so close to the communist state that they recently let off two Chinese spies from being prosecuted through an extraordinary intervention.

Meanwhile tens of thousands young Chinese people are becoming homeless, Because they are blacklisted by Social Credit System. Once you are blacklisted, you are banned from using Digital wallet WeChat. This makes it hard for you to receive salary. So you cant find a job. https://t.co/szB3vQfnvX pic.twitter.com/fStC0cOrio  Songpinganq (@songpinganq) October 6, 2025

In China, hundreds of thousands of people are now homeless, sleeping in the streets where they can because they have been blacklisted from society due to having low social credit scores. Chinas digital wallet WeChat is also Chinas major social media app.

If you criticise the Chinese government on WeChat, it immediately reports you to the police, and puts you on the social credit blacklist. Then you have three days to withdraw your digital money from WeChat. WeChat sometimes bans people from getting their digital money, and they are left with nothing.

Fun fact: you can earn 4 social credit points for getting vaccinated, while lose 50 points for a single social media post that deemed disinformation in China. You can also earn 20 points for reporting your neighbor as a suspect. pic.twitter.com/N0XQ5aiLHC  Songpinganq (@songpinganq) October 7, 2025

Because most important things in China are only bought with WeChat, once you are banned you cannot receive a salary, find a job, healthcare, rent a home, or even purchase a ticket on public transport. China is now predominantly a cashless society, therefore all transactions are made digitally.

In Chinas Xiamen city, only people with a social credit score of 584 or higher are allowed to visit a doctor in public hospitals. In China, if your neighbour doesnt like you, youre shit out of luck if they have a high social credit score, because they can report you for any minor infraction and get you blacklisted.

In China, your welfare, benefits, government handouts, and even pension all depend on your social credit score.

If your score falls too low that you get Blacklisted, you would lose access to all of those. pic.twitter.com/51KbgnoRNo  Songpinganq (@songpinganq) October 7, 2025

Tony Blair is the engineer of all this, and it is the first move towards the CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) and subsequent social credit system.

This is the future of Digital ID Britain under Labour. Every individual has a citizen score that jumps up or down with each action. A subversive Big Brother Big State algorithm tracks all your behaviour: purchases, internet use, what you say in chat groups. AI-powered facial-recognition cameras record your every move and use it as evidence if needed. If your score drops too low, you become part of a new subclass, the Untermensch, locked out of the system, unable to perform even basic freedoms like buying train tickets, renting a room, receiving money  nothing.

They waited for the public uproar on mass immigration to reach a crescendo to capitalise on introducing the Digital ID system that will effectively remove the last strands of basic freedoms Britons have left in their own country.
It is rather ironic that after decades of forced inclusivity demanded by African Americans and the liberals of America, it is the African American contingent who are now calling for the return of segregation. Why is there so much hate going around right now? What happened to peace and love?

Black woman says that we should BRING BACK segregation, because shes sick and tired or living around white people..  pic.twitter.com/UvoMrdVHYf  American AF  (@iAnonPatriot) October 7, 2025



The levels of crime created by African Americans is disproportionate to their population, and for many in the country, voluntary segregation would be a wonderful situation for the violent militants. Hallelujah!

In 2021, among males, Black or African American (Black) males had the highest age-adjusted rate of firearm-related homicide (52.9 deaths per 100,000 standard population), and Asian males had the lowest rate (1.5). Among females, Black females had the highest rate (7.5), and Asian females had the lowest rate (0.5). Males had higher rates than females across all race and Hispanic origin groups.

Of course, not all African Americans are militant racists, but it would maybe be a sigh of relief if there are sections of African American society who wish to shut themselves off in their own segregated enclave. No harm in that at all.
The government of Bangladesh has granted initial approval for a significant expenditure aimed at modernizing its air force, a move that could see the nation become the third operator of Chinas advanced J-10 multirole fighter jet. The plan, part of the countrys broader Forces Goal 2030 initiative, also includes the acquisition of new long-range radars and surface-to-air missile systems to bolster its defensive capabilities.

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Air Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan, the head of the Bangladesh Air Force (BAF), announced last month that the interim government had provided an in-principle green light for the procurement of multirole combat and attack aircraft. While specific models were not officially named, strong indications point toward the Chinese-made J-10CE as the leading contender.

A Push for Modernization

The urgency for this upgrade is underscored by the BAFs current fleet, which is largely composed of aging and accident-prone aircraft. The force primarily operates Chinese-built F-7 fighters, a local variant of the Soviet MiG-21, alongside a squadron of Russian MiG-29s. The risks associated with the older airframes were tragically highlighted in July when an F-7 crashed on a college campus in Dhaka, resulting in an estimated 36 fatalities.

The Chinese Contender

This modernization effort gained momentum following a meeting in March between Bangladeshs interim Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yumus, and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where the ambition to acquire new fighter jets was discussed. An inter-ministerial committee, led by Air Chief Marshal Khan, is now tasked with finalizing the purchase details and conducting negotiations with Chinese officials.

Should the deal proceed, the BAF could acquire up to 20 J-10CE jets by 2027. The Chief Advisers office has estimated the cost for the aircraft at $1.2 billion, with the total package, including training, spare parts, and other logistical support, reaching approximately $2.2 billion. The proposed payment plan would be spread over a decade, extending into the mid-2030s.

The J-10CE is considered a 4.5-generation fighter and would represent a quantum leap in capability for the BAF. The aircraft is equipped with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, modern data links, and the ability to fire advanced beyond-visual-range missiles like the PL-15E. Brendan Mulvaney, director of the U.S. Air Force-affiliated China Aerospace Studies Institute, described the J-10C as a modern and fairly capable aircraft, the best one that China exports, noting that its capabilities make it a formidable presence.

Although the BAF has explored Western alternatives, including a demonstration of the Eurofighter Typhoon in Italy in May, Bangladeshs long-standing reliance on Chinese military hardware makes the J-10 a probable choice. Recent acquisitions include Type 15 light tanks and Type 035G submarines from China.

Regional and Geopolitical Implications

The potential acquisition carries significant geopolitical weight. Situated between India and Myanmar, Bangladesh aims to better defend its airspace and protect its maritime interests in the Bay of Bengal. If the purchase is finalized, J-10 fighters would be operating on Indias western, northern, and eastern frontiers, with Pakistan already flying the same model. The aircraft gained publicity for its alleged performance during an aerial skirmish between India and Pakistan in May, which may have further solidified Bangladeshs interest. The move, however, risks upsetting Western nations, such as the United States, as Bangladesh deepens its defense ties with Beijing.
In general, respondents rated their work quality higher when working with human colleagues. Respondents across all age groups reported receiving higher-quality feedback from human colleagues compared to AI. Aside from the youngest workers, most preferred peer collaboration over AI for core work tasks. These findings suggest that while workers recognize the value of AI tools, they still see benefits to human collaborationespecially for work requiring in-depth knowledge.

However, when it comes to speed of delivery, the picture shifts. Across several tasksespecially problem solving, creativity, and trainingrespondents from younger age groups (ages 18 to 44) were more likely to say that AI helps them deliver faster. The youngest workers (ages 18 to 24) rated AI higher on speed in nearly every task type. These findings seem to reinforce the perception that AI tools excel in efficiency, even if they dont yet match humans in quality or nuance.

This reflects a key tension at the heart of AI integration: the tradeoff between speed and quality. While AI is valued for its ability to deliver faster results, workers across generations remain cautious about using it for work requiring human-centric skills. Monitoring how these preferences change over time will be key as technology evolves, particularly as AI-native workers entering the workforce may have stronger preferences for using these tools compared to those who entered the workforce before the advent of AI.25 Investing in AI technologies may not only enhance current workforce productivity, but it could also attract talent eager to benefit from the latest advances.26

Our survey findings also suggest that there is scope to better train and develop AI tools and agents to help workers with core tasks, creativity, brainstorming, training, and seeking feedback or advice. Respondents preferences for working with AI were also influenced by several other factors, including their preparedness and perception of AIs utility. Workers who felt more prepared to use AI at work were more likely to say that AI outperforms humans in speed. Similarly, those who found AI more helpful in their work were more inclined to rate AI higher in both quality and speed. These findings emphasize the importance of investing in AI literacy and skill development programs as part of a holistic approach to technology and talent development.27

Key takeaways



Leaders can consider the following actions to prioritize human oversight of agentic AI as it becomes more embedded in organizational workflows:

Establishing clear boundaries for automation around tradeoffs between efficiency and quality . Updating AI usage guidelines to distinguish between activities where AI can be used for speed and efficiency, and those that require deliberate human oversight or governance, can help create these boundaries.

. Updating AI usage guidelines to distinguish between activities where AI can be used for speed and efficiency, and those that require deliberate human oversight or governance, can help create these boundaries. Monitoring workforce preferences around human and AI collaboration. Surveys and feedback can be useful tools for tracking worker preferences. Surveyed workers rate humans higher on quality, especially for core tasks, but younger surveyed workers (ages 18 to 24) say AI delivers faster results in nearly every area. Defining where and how to use AI for work could become critical for organizations in the future, especially as digital natives majorly comprise the workforce.

Surveys and feedback can be useful tools for tracking worker preferences. Surveyed workers rate humans higher on quality, especially for core tasks, but younger surveyed workers (ages 18 to 24) say AI delivers faster results in nearly every area. Defining where and how to use AI for work could become critical for organizations in the future, especially as digital natives majorly comprise the workforce. Keeping humans on the loop instead of just in the loop. As agentic AI takes on more complex tasks at work, organizations could shift from direct control to supervisory oversight on these tasks. Treating AI like a junior team membermonitored, guided, and corrected when neededcan help enable efficiency without sacrificing accountability.

As agentic AI takes on more complex tasks at work, organizations could shift from direct control to supervisory oversight on these tasks. Treating AI like a junior team membermonitored, guided, and corrected when neededcan help enable efficiency without sacrificing accountability. Investing in AI literacy and skill development. Respondents who feel more prepared to use AI and understand its capabilities and limitations rate it higher in both speed and quality. Prioritizing training programs that build AI fluency can help increase adoption and impact.

Opportunity 3: AI can be an upskilling engineespecially for entry-level workers

Organizations are increasingly linking together multiple agentic systems, taking agents designed to handle specific tasks and combining them to create larger workflows. These new workflows can help boost productivity across job levels and free up time for workers to focus on other tasks.

However, while agentic technology may offer efficiencies, it also raises questions around skill development, especially for early-career workers. It will likely be important for organizations to invest not only in technology but also in developing a robust talent pipeline.

Deloittes 2025 Human Capital Trends found that two-thirds of surveyed hiring managers and executives believe entry-level hires are underprepared, with lack of experience being the primary weakness. One risk of treating AI development separately from human capital development is that automation may reduce opportunities for on-the-job training. Automating tasks traditionally performed by entry-level workers, such as taking and distributing meeting notes, may create short-term efficiencies but may limit on-the-job training and other tools organizations have traditionally used to upskill early-career workers.28 Deloitte research suggests that the rise of AI could be contributing to the difficulty workers face in finding entry-level jobs.29

To manage this dynamic, organizations can leverage AI to accelerate skill development for early-career workers. Sixty-one percent of respondents to our survey believe that AI can support upskilling opportunities for entry-level workers, with respondents between the ages of 25 and 34 years being the most likely (66%) to agree. Research by the National Bureau of Economic Research shows that gen AI can be particularly beneficial for lower-skilled workers, offering real-time support and coaching to help them learn faster.30 It also suggests that early-career workers are more likely to embrace AI as a tool for skill development.
Sie glauben, erfolgreiches Investieren sei kompliziert? Falsch gedacht! Weil der Aktienmarkt alle bekannten Informationen bereits einpreist, gibt es nur einen Weg zu uberdurchschnittlichen Renditen: Sie mussen etwas wissen, was andere nicht wissen. Ken Fisher zeigt Ihnen, wie Sie mit nur drei Fragen Anlagemythen entlarven, versteckte Marktmuster erkennen und Ihr Gehirn uberlisten konnen, das Sie unbewusst zu Fehlentscheidungen verleitet. Dieses Buch bietet Ihnen einen anwendbaren Rahmen, den Sie jetzt und fur den Rest Ihrer Investorenkarriere nutzen konnen. Vergessen Sie komplizierte Anlagestrategien  mit Fishers wissenschaftlichem Ansatz denken Sie anders als die Masse und handeln profitabler. Der Schlussel: konventionelle Weisheiten hinterfragen und sich selbst herausfordern.
Portarlington on the Laois Offaly border is to get 25 new jobs and a self-storage depot, if a planned 4 million development gets council approval.

Derry company P McVey Building Systems has revealed its plans to the Leinster Express / Laois Live for the two sites it is buying in Laois County Council's Canal Road Business Park.

The company has bought half of the 6 acre site for 500,000 plus VAT from Laois County Council.

The family run business describes itself as "Irelands leading and fastest-growing provider of modular and portable accommodation". It expects to spend 4 million to build a state-of-the-art modular construction facility.

Subject to planning, the Portarlington facility will manufacture modular units for the companys expanding rental fleet while also hosting a public self-storage depot and cabin sales centre serving the wider Midlands region.

The development is expected to create up to 25 new jobs locally by 2030, with construction due for completion by September 2026, "pending final approvals".

McVey say that "local reaction to the councils approval of the land sale has been overwhelmingly positive, reflecting strong community support for the project and the economic opportunities it will bring".

They explain why they chose Laois.

"P McVey Building Systems selected Laois due to its central location, strong road network, and skilled workforce  making it an ideal logistics and manufacturing hub.

Laois offers the perfect location for our next phase of growth in ROI, and we look forward to bringing new opportunities, employment, and innovation to the region.

They have built units in the county already.

"The company already maintains a strong presence in Laois, having recently completed a 1.8 million modular classroom facility at Portlaoise Educate Together National School and continuing to deliver major projects for Tier 1 contractors in the healthcare and education sectors."

They describe their expansion as "another milestone in the companys growth and its ongoing commitment to regional development".

Nationally, it has supplied modular projects at Waterford University Hospital and Beaumont Hospital.

"These projects reinforce why P McVey Building Systems is widely recognised as a leading provider of modular accommodation. We are proud of our heritage and equally excited about our future, a spokesperson for P McVey Building Systems told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

The company serves the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and education sectors, combining family values, technical expertise, and sustainability in modular construction in Ireland and the UK.

The family-run company already employs over 60 skilled professionals across multiple sites. It prides itself on blending "a strong tradition of craftsmanship with a forward-looking commitment to innovation and community partnership".

READ ALSO: Five Derry producers among the winners at Blas na hEireann 2025

"This expansion marks another milestone in P McVey Building Systems journey from a small family business to a national leader in modular construction."

A third site at Canal Road Business Park is being sold to Fletchers Hardware from Portarlington, leaving a final fourth site on the market. Avon was once one of the largest employers in the Midlands with 1200 workers until the factory closed down.
By Akbar Novruz



A trial has been held on the criminal case initiated by the State Security Service (STS) against Khagani Omarov, Anar Salamzadeh, and Elchin Azizov, who are accused of financing terrorism.

The hearing took place at the Baku Grave Crimes Court under the chairmanship of Judge Nigar Imanova. During the session, the defense submitted a motion requesting the termination of the criminal case against Khagani Omarov.

The court rejected the motion, deeming it unfounded. Subsequently, witnesses gave testimony, and the statements previously provided to the investigation by four individuals involved in the case were read aloud in their absence.

The trial is set to continue on October 28.

It should be noted that the accused were detained as a result of an operation conducted by the State Security Service. The investigation revealed that they had transferred funds to certain individuals operating abroad to support terrorist activities. They were charged under Article 214-1 (financing of terrorism) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Free Derry Corner has become the site of a shocking and powerful art installation titled 'Her Name Was Hind'.

The piece was accompanied by a vigil, organised by the city's RISE for Palestine group on Wednesday afternoon, part of its week of solidarity events marking two years of the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Co-founder of RISE for Palestine, Catherine Hutton, said the event was held "in honour of the memory of Hind Rajab, her family, and the countless victims of genocide in Gaza".

"On January 29, 2024, five-year-old Hind Rajab was murdered, alongside her family, in a brutal act of genocidal violence by the Israeli Defence Forces. Hind survived the initial attack but was left trapped in the wreckage, surrounded by the dead bodies of her family members. Her cries for help, captured during a live call to emergency services, were broadcast worldwide. The inhumanity of this calculated act reverberated globally, showing Israel's systematic and indiscriminate targeting of civilians in Gaza," said Ms Hutton.

"We remember Hind as more than a victim of Israel's genocidal campaign. She is a symbol of resistence, a child whose life and story demand justice. More than 18 months after the murder of Hind Rajab, those responsible have not faced justice yet," added Ms Hutton.

"Hind, alongside her four cousins, aunt, and uncle, made an attempt to evacuate from the Tel al-Hawa neighbourood in Gaza city as Israeli forces invaded. As they were trying to escape in their Kia Picanto, an IDF unit began shooting at their car. Hind's cousin, 15-year-old Layan Hamada, made an urgent call to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), stating that they were being targeted, a tank was getting closer, and that everyone in the car besides Hind and her were killed. Seconds after, gunshots were heard once again, and Layan's screaming abruptly stopped. Hind was now the only one left alive, gravely injured and alone, trapped in the car. The PRCS stayed in contact with Hind, as they attempted to gain permission from the IDF to send paramedica to the location to save her.

"The PRCS released a recording of a call from Hind Rajab reading Quran.

"An investigation by Forensic Architecture later found that a total of 335 bullets were fired at the car and that the tank operators had a clear view of the two children inside the vehicle. The investigation also found that the IDF tank was placed only 13 to 23 metres away from the car of Hind's family. In just six seconds 64 gunshots were fired on Hind's cousin, 15-year-old Layan, while she was already on the call with the PRCS.

"Around 6.00pm, PRCS paramedics Yusuf al-Zeino and Ahmed al-Madhoun left Al-Ahli Hospital in an ambulance in order to rescue Hind. After they arrived at the location of the car, they were never heard from again. The last thing captured on a call between the two paramedics and the PRCS communication team was an explosion," said Ms Hutton.

The call recorded between them went: "Control room: 'Can you see the car?' Ambulance: 'I can't see a thing here.' Control room: 'Do you have your siren and flashing lights on?' Ambulance: 'Just the lights, not the sirens.' Ambulance: 'Oh! There it is.' EXPLOSION."

According to Catherine Hutton, two weeks after the attack, when the IDF finally evacuated the area, the "decomposing bodies of Hind, Layan and their family members were discovered.

She said: "A few metres away, the burnt out ambulance was found together with the remains of paramedics Yusuf and Ahmed,

"Hind Rajab's story resonates far beyond her individual tragedy because it symbolises the systemic cruelty and humiliation faced by Palestinans under occupation. Similar to thousands of children who were slain before and after her; the story of Hind Rajab gives a clear image of the intentional, collective punishment that Israel has been inflicting on civilians, especially children, as well as the deliberate targeting of healthcare workers.

"On January 29, 2024, the IDF's genocidal intent was again on full display to the world, yet their actions went unpunished.

"According to the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute, five-year-old Hind Rajab, her family, and two paramedics who attempted to save Hind were all victims of a serious and complex crims that included multiple grave violations and war crimes." [Euro Med Monitor]

Ms Hutton concluded: "In a world that often seeks to normalise or ignore the suffering of Palestinians, we refuse to let Hind's story be erased or dismissed.

"Preserving Hind's memory is a powerful act of resistence. I reminds us that these acts are not isolated but part of a deliberate and ongoing campaign of violence.

"Honouring Hind's memory means taking action to ensure that her murder - and the murder of so many others - is not forgotten."
Yvette Cooper is to host European allies for talks on immigration crime and security in the Western Balkans as the Government searches for ways to curb the rise in small boat crossings.

The UK will promise funding for strengthened border security and law enforcement training in Kosovo as well as support to bolster cyber defences against the threat of interference from Russia in the region.

The Foreign Secretary will meet partners from countries including Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as European allies such as France, Germany and Italy on Thursday.

At the gathering at Hillsborough Castle  the backdrop for the Good Friday Agreement  Ms Cooper will announce 4 million in funding to help combat Russian threats aimed at destabilising the region and fanning ethnic tensions, the Foreign Office said.

Ahead of the meeting, the Foreign Secretary will also announce 10 million investment for schemes aimed at tackling people-smuggling in the Western Balkans and other key regions.

Meanwhile, Foreign Office staff are being redeployed to focus more heavily on migration, including on progressing negotiations with other countries to return people with no right to remain in Britain, the department said.

The Western Balkans is a key transit route through which migrants travel to the European Union and UK, accounting for almost 22,000 irregular border crossings in the continent recorded last year, according to the Foreign Office.

Ms Cooper said: It is in all our interests to protect security and stability in the Western Balkans, and we must be alive to the full range of threats that our partners in the region are facing, from Russian efforts to revive ethnic tensions, to vile people-smuggling gangs trading in human lives.

International co-operation is vital to boosting our economic growth, protecting our national security, and securing our borders. The partnerships we build abroad make us stronger here at home.

In particular, the support that we are giving our partners in the Western Balkans to tackle people smuggling will have a direct impact on the supply chains and profits of organised immigration crime networks, and reducing the threat that they represent to the UK.

It comes as the Government struggles to curb the number of people crossing the English Channel by small boat, which has reached 34,401 this year.

This puts 2025 on course to break the record for most arrivals in a single year, according to PA news agency analysis of Home Office figures.

A one in, one out migration deal brokered with France earlier this year has seen 18 people returned after making the journey.
Beijing's K-visa policy sparks domestic debate over job opportunities for youth

China's new K-visa program, designed to attract foreign STEM professionals, has triggered domestic backlash amid soaring youth unemployment. Critics argue the policy, which allows overseas talent to work in China without employer sponsorship, risks sidelining local graduates struggling to find jobs in an already challenging labor market, according to Yonhap News and Sing Tao.

In October, China implemented the K-visa policy in response to rising H-1B visa fees in the US. The K-visa targets foreign nationals with bachelor's degrees or higher in STEM from top universities, allowing longer stays without employer sponsorship for work in education, technology, culture, entrepreneurship, and business. However, the policy has sparked debate domestically amid concerns over youth unemployment.

China's youth unemployment rate soared to 18.9% as of August 2025, according to coverage by South Korea's Herald, far exceeding the national average. Critics argue that prioritizing overseas STEM graduates for these visas, while local university graduates struggle to find jobs and often pursue further education, creates an uneven playing field. The policy's relaxed application process and lack of rigorous local vetting have also prompted calls for stricter scrutiny.

Alfred Wu of Singapore National University's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy linked domestic criticism partially to the opaque nature of China's policy announcements. Wu suggested that more transparency and the public release of detailed data could help ease public skepticism about the initiative.

Reports from Yonhap and Sing Tao indicate significant foreign interest since the K-Visa's rollout. Seoul News cited a Shanghai-based consulting firm, noting a more than 30% surge in inquiries from prospective applicants hailing from India, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the US. This international enthusiasm suggests the visa could become a competitive alternative to US immigration programs, despite domestic concerns within China.

Article edited by Jack Wu
Qualcomm acquires open-source MCU firm Arduino to tap developer community

Qualcomm has announced the acquisition of Italian open-source hardware and software company Arduino, assuring that Arduino's brand mission and community spirit will remain intact. Arduino enables developers to create devices using open-source microcontrollers (MCUs) that sense and interact with their environment, designed for rapid prototyping even by students and makers.

Qualcomm stated that Arduino will retain its independent brand, tools, and mission, while continuing to support a wide range of microcontrollers and microprocessors from multiple semiconductor providers. Crucially, Arduino's global developer base of over 33 million can now leverage Qualcomm's technology to streamline development processes.

The newly launched UNO Q marks the first collaboration between Arduino and Qualcomm, featuring a "dual brain" architecturea Linux Debian-capable microprocessor (MPU) and a real-time microcontrollerto bridge high-performance computing with real-time control.

With Qualcomm's Dragonwing QRB2210 as the MPU, UNO Q is engineered to help enable AI-powered vision and sound solutions that react to their environment, ranging from sophisticated smart home solutions to industrial automation systems.

In addition, UNO Q is the first Arduino board to work with Arduino App Lab, a new, integrated development environment built to unify the Arduino development journey across Real-time OS, Linux, Python, and AI flows to make development faster and easier.

CNBC noted that while developers use Arduino products primarily for prototyping and validating ideas, they rarely transition directly into commercial production with Arduino hardware. Qualcomm's acquisition aims more at gaining insights into current developer community trends to inform future product development strategies.

Article edited by Jack Wu
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Vice-Chancellor Professor Katie Normington met with students enrolling on a brand-new DMU pharmaceutical course in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The central Asian country has been developing its pharmaceutical industry to match the demand for medicine in the region, and built Pharmaceutical Technical University (PTU) to train a new generation of pharmacists.



Professor Katie Normington speaks with students at PTU in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

DMU has been working with PTU since 2021, providing training opportunities for the universitys future teaching staff at the Leicester campus, as well as developing the curriculum of a new, dual-awarding postgraduate pharmaceutical course.

On Monday 29 September, the first students enrolled on the bespoke MSci Pharmacy at PTU, having completed their International First Year in Sciences the previous academic year.

The students who complete the programme will earn a DMU degree and join the thousands of students who are currently studying for a DMU award at partner institutions across the world, including Asia Pacific University (APU) in Malaysia and Liaoning University (LNU) in China.

Professor Normington said: This partnership with the Pharmaceutical Technical University marks an exciting new chapter for DMU and for higher education in Central Asia. Our collaboration is helping to develop the next generation of pharmaceutical professionals while giving students in Uzbekistan the opportunity to gain a British degree close to home.

It reflects DMUs commitment to widening access, sharing expertise globally, and supporting countries to build the skills and knowledge that will shape their futures.

Demand for British degrees from overseas students remains high and Transnational Education partnerships like PTU offer more students the opportunity to study for a DMU qualification, without leaving their home country and therefore widening access.



From left to right: Dr Sherzod Abzalov, Mr Fathulloh Abdullaev, Mr Feruz Marapov, Dr Abdumalik Djumanov, Professor Katie Normington, Lawrence D'Souza, Duncan Hepworth and Ms Nilfufar Khusanova

Professor Normington was joined by DMUs Director of International, Lawrence DSouza and Duncan Hepworth, Partnerships Development Manager in Tashkent.

The visit cements DMUs presence in Central Asia, following on from DMU Kazakhstans first-ever graduation ceremony, which took place on Saturday 27 September.

DMUs Global Partnership Unit (GPU) has been working with PTU to offer students in Uzbekistan more opportunities to study for a DMU degree. This September saw the launch of a joint International First Year in Business and Computing course.

The course will feed into two new DMU honour courses: BSc Data Analytics, a BA Business Management with further study onto an MSc Data Analytics, all of which are set to be approved in November.

The trio also met with the British Ambassador, Timothy Smart, and Abdulla Azizov, Chairman of Uzbekistans Pharmaceutical Industry Development Agency.

Lawrence DSouza said: It's fantastic to see the scale of investment in the pharmaceutical hub. The partnership between PTU and DMU goes beyond a traditional teaching partnership  our engagement with PTU provides opportunities for both universities to strengthen research and industry-based collaborations.

This is precisely what the students we met are looking forward to experiencing.

This project helps support wider higher education reforms that encourage international engagement, supporting Uzbekistan's ambition to become an educational hub for Central Asia. We are proud to contribute to this vision and look forward to the mutual benefits this partnership will bring to our academic communities, our students, and the industries we serve."
LOUTH LIVE'S BUDGET 2026 COVERAGE IS SPONSORED BY CONNECT CREDIT UNION

Dundalk Chamber of Commerce has welcomed the addition of Dundalk to the Living City Initiative Scheme under Budget 2026. The Scheme provides significant tax reliefs to revitalise buildings in town centres through targeted refurbishment and reuse of existing buildings.

Speaking on the announcement, Dundalk Chamber CEO John McGahon said The Living City initiative was originally established in 2015 and only included Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Waterford and Limerick.

"In every pre-budget submission that the Chamber has submitted, having Dundalk included in the living city initiative has been one of our key priorities. Our current PRO Paddy Malone has been instrumental in drafting, submitting and lobbying Government over the last decade and more about the need for Dundalk to be added to the scheme.

"It is a huge achievement that Government has finally listened to Dundalk Chamber of Commerce and added Dundalk to the Scheme."

Welcoming the news, Dundalk Chamber President, Hanna McDonnell said: "The Living City Initiative demonstrates how targeted tax incentives can transform older buildings into vibrant homes and commercial spaces. Most importantly, this scheme will get people back living above the shop front, bringing more people and activity into our town centre."

Dundalk PRO Paddy Malone added: "The Living City Initiative offers a range of generous income tax and capital allowance reliefs to individuals and businesses who undertake qualifying refurbishment or conversion works on properties located within designated Special Regeneration Areas (SRAs).

"This scheme is a proven model for urban regeneration, and it represents an immediate opportunity to reduce tax liabilities, repurpose vacant buildings and drive commercial and residential renewal in Dundalk."
LOUTH LIVE'S BUDGET 2026 COVERAGE IS SPONSORED BY CONNECT CREDIT UNION

Labours Finance Spokesperson Ged Nash TD has welcomed the Governments decision in Budget 2026 to transfer responsibility for collecting the Derelict Sites Levy from local authorities to the Revenue Commissioners. He said the move, which Labour has long called for, marks a significant step forward in holding big developers and property owners to account.

The Louth TD said:

Labour has been calling for years for the Derelict Sites Levy to be collected by Revenue rather than local authorities. Big developers and speculators have ignored local councils for too long  but they wont be able to ignore Revenue. This change is a long overdue recognition that tackling vacancy and dereliction requires serious enforcement.

For too long, the problem of vacancy and dereliction has been treated as an afterthought. Across every town and city in Ireland, families walk past boarded-up homes and crumbling buildings that could be providing secure housing. By empowering Revenue to collect the levy, Government is finally acknowledging that the system must have teeth.

Deputy Nash also responded to the extension of the Living City Initiative to large towns, which provides tax breaks for renovating vacant and derelict buildings.

I welcome any effort that makes it easier and more attractive to bring vacant and derelict properties back into use, particularly in our towns and smaller urban centres. Extending the Living City Initiative is a positive step, and it will be welcomed in my own local area in Drogheda and Dundalk, but it must deliver real change on the ground. For too long, tax reliefs in this area have been overly complex and underused.

Read Next: Oriel Park fundraiser for St Patrick's Parish Soup Kitchen in Dundalk

If this measure is to work, it must be accompanied by clear guidelines, proper oversight, and a focus on making homes liveable again  not just another perk for developers or landlords sitting on idle properties.

He added that the housing crisis cant be solved with piecemeal incentives alone.

We need a joined-up national strategy that combines enforcement, investment, and reform. The Derelict Sites Levy, properly enforced by Revenue, can help shift behaviour. But it must be backed by real funding for local authorities to identify, acquire, and renovate vacant properties. We need to see homes, not headlines.
Presidential election candidate, Heather Humphreys, visited Louth again yesterday (Tuesday) as part of her presidential campaign.

She began her day with a visit to LMFM studios in Drogheda for a chat with Adrian Kennedy.

She then moved on to Drogheda Museum in Millmount where she was greeted by local students from St.Josephs Secondary School and had the opportunity to field some questions from the students about her vision for the presidency.

After this, there was a tour of the Millmount Cultural Quarter where she got to visit local arts studios followed by a tour of the Museum itself.

Next stop was Termonfeckin and a trip to An Grianan, the headquarters of the Irish Country Womens Association, where Humphreys was warmly greeted by ICA President, Mary DArcy, who took her on a tour of An Grianan showcasing the wide range of arts and crafts activities being undertaken by ICA members on the day.

Following this, it was on to the Forge Field Farm Shop in Termonfeckin for some lunch.

Read Next: Louth TD welcomes revenue takeover of derelict sites levy in Budget 2026

Ms Humphreys said: I am a centre ground, common sense, pro-European candidate in this election. The presidency is above party politics and I am asking voters to place their trust in me so that I can bring my experience to the role of president.

I served in cabinet for 10 years overseeing the successful 1916 Commemorations; supporting businesses through Brexit and the pandemic; rolling out hot school meals to young children across the country; enhancing supports for our pensioners; and investing in local communities.

I wont let our country down and I will represent Ireland with pride diplomatically and culturally at home and on the world stage.
Red Bull is looking for Irelands best Tetris player to compete at the Red Bull Tetris World Finals in Dubai- with Louth players encouraged to take part. Live in Ireland from today, Red Bull Tetris invites students and gamers of all levels to test their skills in the worlds most versatile Tetris tournament.

First launched in 1984, Tetris is one of the most iconic video games of all time. From its early days on PC to becoming a cultural phenomenon on the Nintendo Game Boy in the 90s, the simple but addictive puzzle game has soundtracked student dorms, bedrooms, and arcades for decades.

Now, in 2025, Red Bull Tetris takes the beloved classic into the future  a cross-platform tournament that blends the nostalgia of old-school gameplay with modern competition. For the first time, players will compete across multiple platforms, testing their skills in a dynamic, multi-device environment, with the single-player Qualifier Phase now live in Ireland.

Players eager to prove themselves can start competing today at www.redbulltetris.com.

The single-player, mobile qualifier phase is open to participants of all levels aged 18 and over, from casual players to seasoned competitors. With campus qualifiers taking place in colleges across Ireland, competition is heating up for a place on the national leaderboard.

Those with the highest scores will be invited to the Red Bull Tetris Irish National Final on Thursday, November 6th. The event will take place at Zero Latency, Dublins cutting-edge free-roam VR venue, where the best players from across the country will play 1v1 on desktop for the title of Irelands top Tetris player.

The stakes? The Irish National Champion will secure their place in the Red Bull Tetris World Finals in Dubai, taking place from December 11th  13th. This once-in-a-lifetime event will be hosted at the iconic Dubai Frame, where the final match will unfold in the night sky - a world-first live playable game of Tetris powered by over 2,000 drones.

Read Next: Dundalk's addition to Living City Initiative a 'huge boost' for the town centre

Speaking as the global partnership was announced, Maya Rogers, the President and CEO of The Tetris Company, said: Our partnership with Red Bull celebrates what Tetris has stood for since the beginning: simple, joyful gameplay that connects people across the world.

For over 40 years, Tetris has remained a beloved game through its ability to adapt and inspire. Red Bull Tetris is the next chapter, bringing a bold, unexpected twist to the tournament scene and offering fans a spectacular new way to engage with the brand.

The search for Irelands best Tetris player has started - build your path to Dubai today at www.redbulltetris.com. For updates, qualifier announcements, and more, follow @RedBullIre on Instagram and TikTok.
Every business can benefit from improving efficiency, managing costs and embracing solutions, according to Niall Gallagher of Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Louth. Our All In A Days Work initiative is built around one clear idea, to help you make your business better.

All In A Days Work offers a range of practical supports to help local companies become leaner, greener and more digitally competitive.

The team at LEO Louth, part of Louth County Council, are encouraging local businesses to apply for the All In A Days Work supports. Niall says, whether your priority is streamlining processes, cutting energy costs or embracing new tools, our consultants will work with you to develop a plan that is tailored to your business needs.

The Lean for Business programme has already proven its value to Louth businesses. Karen Matthews of Hoeys DIY shared: We were looking for ways to improve productivity and enhance quality. Lean has improved communication, transparency, and given us real-time reporting so we can keep customers up to date immediately.

"I would highly recommend any business to sign up  even if you think youre doing everything right, Lean can help in so many ways.

For those focused on sustainability, Green for Business is delivering measurable results. Mark Dearey of The Spirit Store outlines: The grant supported us in upgrading our keg room and integrating our cooling systems. The benefits are twofold.

"Our projected savings over the coming year are approx. 3,000 in energy costs, and our CO emissions will decrease by an estimated 3.6 tonnes. But the biggest value was the Green for Business Report. This has given us a customised roadmap to energy efficiency with plenty more actions to follow. I would highly recommend it.

Niall concludes, Our goal is simple. We want to help every business in Louth improve and thrive. The All In A Days Work suite of Lean, Green and Digital supports provides the tools and expertise to achieve that.

For more information and to sign up, visit www.allinadayswork.ie or call the team at the Local Enterprise Office on 042 9335457.
There is plenty of live music in Toales venue in Dundalk this week.

Thursday 9th October - Fireside Sessions presents Gerry Maguire feat. Declan Campbell + support from The Louth Strings Ukulele Group.- Show starts at 9pm - Free admission.

Fireside Sessions at Toales is Dundalks coziest stage for fresh, original sounds  a mix of campfire storytelling, indie club spirit, and a real community heartbeat.

Each Thursday night the spotlight falls on songwriters, musicians, and bands from near and far, all sharing their craft in an intimate, welcoming space.

With free admission and an audience that genuinely listens, Fireside Sessions has become a gathering point for those who value discovery, connection, and the raw joy of live music.

Thursday 9th October sees a welcome return of Gerry Maguire, once described by the late Arty McGlynn as a hidden gem and a song machine.

READ NEXT: PICTURES: Sharing smiles and memories at the Clan Na Gael GAA reunion night

A writer of songs across every genre, Gerrys true magic lies in his fresh take on jazz, soul, and R&B.

The Journal of Music in Ireland praised his work for its healing quality, calling his songs mirrors he holds up to his audience.

Joined by long-time friend Declan Campbell, Gerry will share songs old and new  including material from his upcoming album  with his trademark mix of fun, feel, and attitude.

Expect an evening of heartfelt music with a groove to lift the spirit.

Support on the night comes from the Louth Strings Ukulele Group.

Friday 10th October - Bold Frontiers Present JUNK DRAWER + ARCO ARENA - Free admission. - Doors 7PM

This October 10th12th, Dundalk comes alive with Bold Frontiers, a brand-new urban festival celebrating music, art, and contemporary culture.

Set against the backdrop of Irelands Ancient East, the festival transforms iconic local venues  including the Spirit Store, Mo Chara, Toales, Dundalk Gaol, St Nicholas Church, and An Tain Arts Centre  into immersive spaces for live performance, installation, and late-night gatherings.

Designed as a weekend of discovery and connection, Bold Frontiers invites audiences to see Dundalk anew  as a vibrant creative hub alive with energy, possibility, and imagination.

On Friday 10th October, Toales Live Venue kicks off the weekend with an unmissable double-headline show featuring two of Irelands most vital acts  Arco Arena and Junk Drawer.

Arco Arena, the Dundalk-born post-funk/dance-rock powerhouse, delivers an electrifying blend of heavy riffs and infectious grooves  think Rage Against The Machine meets Foals meets Parliament Funkadelic.

Their live shows are a kinetic blur of energy, hooks, and sheer musicianship that demand attention.

Joining them, Junk Drawer brings their acclaimed, award-winning sound from Belfast  a hypnotic collision of post-punk, krautrock, and psychedelia, earning praise from KEXP, Stereogum, and Paste Magazine.

Fresh off their second album Days of Heaven, the bands set promises to be one of the highlights of the festival.

Two trailblazing bands. One legendary venue. A free show that captures the Bold Frontiers spirit  bold, original, and completely unforgettable.

Saturday 11th October - Triple Tribute Night feat Next Passing Breeze, Cork, and The Rockers - 10 admission - Doors 8pm

Get ready for a Triple Tribute Night at Toales Rock Bar & Live Venue, Dundalk, on Saturday 11th October  a full-throttle celebration of Irish rock legends Rory Gallagher, Thin Lizzy, and Gary Moore.

Featuring powerhouse performances Next Passing Breeze, Cork, and The Rockers, its a night that promises sweat, soul, and searing guitar work from first note to last. Doors open at 8pm, admission 10.

More than just another gig, this ones happening in Toales  Dundalks only true rock and dive bar, a venue that has built its name on loud, heavy, and unapologetically live shows.

With a stage thats seen everything from punk chaos to blues grit, Toales remains the go-to home for proper rock energy  raw, communal, and always at a knock-down admission price.

So grab a pint, stake your spot by the stage, and let three killer bands light up the night in true Toales fashion  loud, proud, and built for the believers.

Sunday 12th October - Bold Frontiers present Norabelle + Sean McCluskey - Free admission - Doors 7.30pm

As Bold Frontiers draws to a close, Dundalks new urban festival wraps up with an unforgettable evening of music at Toales Live Venue on Sunday 12th October.

Offering free admission, the night brings together two remarkable acts who perfectly capture the festivals spirit of creativity and connection  Sean McCluskey and Norabelle.

Opening the night at 8.30pm, Sean McCluskey steps into the spotlight with his distinctive take on contemporary jazz.

A pianist whose work evok[es] the likes of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Bob James and Uri Caine without directly imitating any of them (Dean Minderman, St. Louis Jazz Notes), McCluskey draws inspiration from traditional Irish melodies, Puerto Rican salsa, medieval polyphony, and Israeli contemporary music.

His performances shimmer with invention and narrative drive  what Chicago Readers Neil Tesser described as originality that reaffirms core jazz values.

At 9.30pm, Norabelle brings the weekend to a close with their poetic storytelling and harmony-rich soundscapes.

Their debut album Wren earned wide acclaim  The Sunday Business Post praised its achingly sweet harmonies, while The Irish Times called it elegant and evocative, drawing comparisons to Adrian Crowley and Bill Callahan.

Influenced by Sun Kil Moon, Bonnie Prince Billy, and Sufjan Stevens, Norabelles songs explore grief, love, and memory with breathtaking honesty and warmth.

A night of beauty, depth, and musical conversation  and a fitting finale for Bold Frontiers.
The lunchtime customers in The Groves in Blackpool were unimpressed with Budget 2026 yesterday, as they watched Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers on the big screen from behind creamy pints of Beamish.

You wouldnt go mad on the extra tenner a week on the pension was the consensus response to the announced across-the-board 10 increase on social protection payments.

Im getting 270 a week, and I was hoping for an extension all right, but more than a tenner, and we wont see that till March, said Timmy OMahony, 72, from The Glen.

I dont mind waiting, if twas backdated, but that wont happen. I worked all my life and surely be to God I should be getting 350 a week.

Its a struggle, paying the rent, and the price of fuel, and the price of the pint.

That there was no increase in excise duty cut little ice in Blackpool, and John Lynch, 66, from Roches Buildings, said it was the worst budget that ever came out.

A tenner a week is ridiculous, and an extra fiver on the fuel allowance, they never seem to look after the pensioners, he said.

One pensioner who gave his name as Simon Cowell said the budget had left him depressed rather than impressed.

There was a surprising amount of talk about the number of pubs closing down, something which would have been appreciated by Michael ODonovan, owner of The Castle Inn on South Main St and president of the Vintners Federation of Ireland.

He was equally unimpressed with Budget 2026, not least with the increase in the minimum wage by 65c per hour to 14.15 per hour, telling The Echo that it was a very disappointing day for traditional pubs.

Costs have been increased with minimum wage, and we know auto-enrolment is coming next year, so costs will go up by 6.5% on payroll next year, yet the Government didnt give any help to the traditional pub, Mr ODonovan said.

Those that do food in our industry will get help in July with the Vat rates being cut from 13.5% to 9%, so for them its a welcome day  but for the rest of our sector, its a bad day.

That Vat reduction has come after a long campaign by cafes, restaurants, and others in the hospitality sector. The reduction will kick in from July, despite a call from the industry for it to take force from January.

Liam Edwards, the owner of the Jim Edwards bar and restaurant in Kinsale, said he would have preferred to see the reduction kick in from January rather than July, but he was happy the Government had heard industry concerns.

He said of the 9% Vat rate: We feel like thats our survival rate, I think thats the rate that we can survive. With all the other factors brought in, that is the just rate, that is the rate that should be in Ireland.

He said the rising cost of doing business has been unbearable, and energy costs have not come down, while in the last two to three years wage costs have also gone up 10%-15%.

What the minimum rate does to a place like us  where were very labour-intensive  is that every time the minimum wage goes up, we feel obliged to give everybody a wage increase, and thats what we have done in the last two to three years."

That increase in minimum wage has also been criticised by Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), the largest representative body for the retail industry in Ireland, which called it short-sighted and anti-business.

Jean McCabe, CEO of REI, said that opposition to the measure was not in any way anti-worker.

Business owners want to look after their people, but the harsh reality is that many minimum-wage workers will not have jobs to go to, as many businesses are not in a position to shoulder these cost increases alone, she said.

Any gains for employees as a result of this budget will be short-lived.

However, the Irish Hotels Federation welcomed Budget 2026s Vat measures, with its president, Michael Magner, owner of the Vienna Woods Hotel, describing them as a crucial intervention for struggling food service businesses the length and breadth of the country at a time of enormous challenges and unsustainable increases in operating costs.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said he will not be asking Fianna Fail supporters to lend their votes to Fine Gaels Heather Humphreys in the upcoming presidential election.

With Fianna Fails former candidate Jim Gavin now out of the race, Mr Martin said people will decide for themselves how they vote, and he did not believe in dictating to people.

Mr Martin was speaking to The Echo ahead of tonights meeting of the Fianna Fail parliamentary party, in which his leadership is expected to come in for serious criticism, with some members claiming there would be blood in the air.

The party has been in turmoil since late Sunday night when its presidential candidate Jim Gavin withdrew from the race following reports that he owed a former tenant 3,300 for a rental arrangement that was not properly registered.

With the October 24 presidential election now a two-horse race, voters have a clear choice between left-wing Independent candidate Catherine Connolly and former Fine Gael minister Heather Humphreys.

Given that some of Ms Connollys politics could not be said to align with Fianna Fails, The Echo asked Mr Martin if he would urge Fianna Fail supporters to lend Ms Humphreys their vote.

Look, people will make their own individual decisions, well cross that bridge later on, he said.

Thats a matter for people, but Ill deal with that later. I dont believe in dictating to people, or telling them how to vote, that never works.

Mr Gavin was selected on September 9 as Fianna Fails presidential candidate after being strongly backed by Mr Martin and deputy leader Jack Chambers.

Members of the 71-strong Fianna Fail parliamentary party voted for Mr Gavin over Ireland South MEP Billy Kelleher by a margin of 41 to 29.

In the wake of Mr Gavins withdrawal, Mr Martins leadership has come under sustained criticism, with Mr Kelleher and those politically close to him  including Cork TDs Padraig OSullivan, James OConnor, and Seamus McGrath  saying there must be accountability for the debacle.

Mr OConnor said yesterday that parliamentary party members had come under extensive pressure from Mr Martin and Mr Chambers to vote for Mr Gavin, with the leader and deputy leader repeatedly phoning them in the days leading up to the vote.

On Monday, Galway Fianna Fail councillor Michael Regan denounced Mr Martin as a dictator.

Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Martin said he was very, very disappointed with the events surrounding Mr Gavins withdrawal from the presidential election campaign but we acted in good faith in terms of trying to do the best for the party.

Jim Gavin had very strong credentials in terms of sporting and military achievements as a peacekeeper, and his role in [Dublins] north-east inner city, Mr Martin said.

I understand how hurt party members are, but I look forward to engaging with parliamentary party members tonight. He said he believed the process which led to the selection of Mr Gavin should be reviewed but he rejected some commentary around it as simply inaccurate.

Mr Martin was asked about a suggestion by the Irish Independent that Fianna Fail had known the day before Mr Gavins selection that there was an issue around his dealings with a tenant.

That first contact that the Independent is referring to, there was no definitive [information]. They were asking did we hear, a had ye heard anything about kind of a question, to which the answer was no, we hadnt.

And then when Jim Gavin was approached, he said there was absolutely no issue, there was never an issue between him and a tenant, Mr Martin said.

The difficulty is people on one hand say Ye didnt do due diligence. We did. And then when you say you did it, youre accused of throwing someone [under the bus], which we have no intention of doing.

The Fianna Fail parliamentary party meeting is scheduled to begin at 7pm in this evening in Leinster House.
A murder trial jury was told by the prosecution today that the instigation for the killing was the deceaseds mans involvement in an assault and robbery of one of the two men now accused of murdering him.

They were also told that he probably met a violent death that same day even though his skeletal remains were not found for almost five months in a garda search of wet ground in a rural area of East Cork with the help of a cadaver dog.

33-year-old Niall Long, formerly of St. Michaels Close, Mahon, Cork, and 27-year-old Luke Taylor, formerly of Cherry Lawn, Blackrock, Cork, pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork to the single charge of murder.

The murder count against each man states that on a date unknown between September 1 2023 and January 29 2024 at an unknown location within the state in the District Court area of Cork city he did murder Kieran Quilligan, contrary to Common Law.

Donal OSullivan prosecution senior counsel said in his opening address to the jury today, The prosecution is not in a position to say which of the two accused landed the killing blows. We say it was a joint enterprise. Sometimes the phrase used is common design where two people embark on something and the purpose is to commit a particular crime A lot of it is circumstantial evidence.

EVIDENCE

He said that the jury would hear evidence in relation to drugs but that this was not what they were here to judge.

Kieran Quilligan was 47 in September 2023. He was a user of the Simon Community and lived in an apartment provided by them.

He was someone who took drugs and was dealing drugs at the time. Niall Long is someone who was a drug user and may have been dealing drugs as well, Mr OSullivan said.

He said that on the morning of September 1 2023 on a side street off York Street (which runs between MacCurtain Street and Wellington Road) Kieran Quilligan was with John Paul Thornton, who is nicknamed Bubbles.

They had an involvement with Niall Long on the side street. They robbed him and assaulted him. That was on the morning. Kieran Quilligan and John Paul Thornton then left the area and they went to Kieran Quilligans apartment It appears this is the instigating factor of what occurred later that evening.

Luke Taylor was known to both Kieran Quilligan and Niall Long. He (Taylor) came into contact with Kieran Quilligan in his (Quilligans) apartment. They went across the city, the prosecution senior counsel said.

He said the two men passed South Gate Bridge and walked towards St. Fin Barres cathedral and walked up the wide steps of St. Fin Barres Place which connects with Dean Street.

Mr Quilligan and Mr Taylor went up that lane. Two people in one of the houses heard a violent altercation and they called the guards, he said.

He said that Niall Long was at his address in Mahon and drove his mothers white Toyota car to Dean Street where it was reversed into St. Fin Barres Place at 9.05 p.m.. Kieran Quilligan and Luke Taylor were not seen on CCTV at the top of that lane. The car leaves and is later tracked to Little Island and to a lane at farmland in East Cork, and back to Jacobs Island in Mahon where Luke Taylor is dropped off.

'NEVER SEEN ALIVE AGAIN'

Kieran Quilligan is never seen alive again. The last time he was seen was at Probys Quay around 9 p.m., Mr OSullivan said.

At 10.15 p.m. on September 4 2023 Luke Taylor is seen being picked up in a white Toyota car at Rochestown Park Hotel and the car is tracked on CCTV in the area of Midleton, Rostellan, Trabolgan, Little Island. Gardai later became concerned about a particular area at White Well, Rostellan. With the assistance of a cadaver dog from Northern Ireland, gardai searching the area on January 29 2024 found an empty one-ton gravel bag and underneath it was a second gravel bag containing skeletal remains of Kieran Quilligan.

Margaret Bolster, pathologist, found that the man had been badly beaten and that a weapon was used, in the nature of a hammer, Mr OSullivan said, adding, He met his end in a violent manner after a lot of bony injuries.

Before the remains were found in January 2024, there was a search under warrant of the property of Niall Long on September 15 2023 and a car was found to contain a bucket with cleaning products. Blood was found. It was matched to Kieran Quilligan.

Mr OSullivan said as he concluded his opening summary to the jury of the anticipated evidence, You have heard from what I said, I dont have direct evidence, I dont have witnesses saying, I saw Luke Taylor and Niall Long beat him to death. I dont have that. The case is for the most part circumstantial  a man goes missing on September 1, found on January 29, most likely he died on September 1.

The trial continues.
A 16-year-old displaying a hyper-masculine ideology who sexually assaulted a woman walking at an amenity walk near Newmarket last year has now been sentenced to three years detention with half of this term suspended.

The injured party said: I should have felt safe as any woman is entitled to. I've lost my love of walking. When someone mentions the Island Wood, it sends shivers down my spine.

In public places, I am constantly on edge and always watching out. This was not just an attack on me physically, but an attack on my sense of safety, trust and peace of mind.

What happened to me was serious, harmful and undeserved. All women deserve to feel safe and respected.

Judge Dermot Sheehan noted from a psychiatric report prepared for Cork Circuit Criminal Court that it was suggested the accused was on an autism spectrum and was in need in therapeutic support, but the judge accepted that he had insight into his offending from the letter he had written to the victim, expressing remorse for his attack on her.

However, judge also noted that the psychiatric report indicated that the teenager had exhibited a hyper-masculine ideology as part of his identity and the psychiatrist had also expressed concern that he was at a serious risk of engaging in further sexually inappropriate behaviour.

He also noted that the offence itself had involved a significant level of violence.

The woman told Cork Circuit Criminal Court how her life had changed hugely ever since she was sexually assaulted by the then 16-year-old on June 6 2024 while walking.

This assault interrupted my life at a time when I was most happy and forced me to live with a level of caution and guardedness I didn't ask for. What happened to me that day has changed how I see the world and how I see myself, she said.

Detective Garda Noelle McSweeney of the Cork County Protective Services Unit told how the woman was walking on her own at the Island Wood at around 7pm on the day when she noticed the teenager walking ahead of her so slowly she thought he was waiting for her to catch up with him.

When she spotted the teenager approaching, she rang her boyfriend just before the accused lunged at her, sexually assaulted her and tried to push her into a hedge but she managed to fight him off with her boyfriend hearing her screams down the phone as she fled.

She managed to make her way back to the car park where she met another woman who assisted her and the gardai were called.

The teenager admitted being at the Island Wood at the time but denied engaging with anyone. Gardai obtained a DNA sample from him, and they got a match with DNA left on the womans clothing by her assailant, but the teenager could not explain how his DNA was on her clothes.

Defence counsel, Jane Hyland SC pleaded for leniency, pointing out her client had pleaded guilty, had no previous convictions and while probation and psychiatric reports suggested he had difficulty accepting responsibility, he had expressed remorse in a letter to the woman.

The defendant who is now 17 cannot be identified as he is a juvenile.
Cork advocate for the elderly Paddy OBrien says that the Government could have done more to support the elderly population in Budget 2026.

A 10 increase in the maximum weekly rate of all State pensions from January 2026 was announced in the budget.

There also will be proportionate increases for qualified adults and people getting a reduced rate.

It was also announced in the budget that there will be a 5 increase in the fuel allowance, from 33 to 38 per week, from January 2026, which will provide an additional 140 during the annual fuel allowance season.

Also, the Christmas bonus is to be paid to more than 1.47m long-term social welfare recipients in December this year.

Disappointment

Mr OBrien told The Echo there was disappointment that the increase in the State pension was only 10.

To be quite honest, people expected the increase would be between 12 and 15, said Mr OBrien. That is because, I have said it on many occasions, the elderly are struggling currently to exist on their present payments.

The cost of living has increased, and people are finding it difficult going to the supermarket.

They are cutting back on their food items and they are cutting back on their fuel, because they dont have the financial means.

Alone, the organisation that supports older people to age at home, said that the Government missed an opportunity to target older people with supports this winter.

At risk of poverty

It said that, although the pension and fuel allowance have increased, older people living alone are still at risk of poverty this winter and over 300 worse off compared to last year.

Alone CEO Sean Moynihan said that Budget 2026 was always going to be a tough budget, with the Government warning in advance that last years one-off measures wouldnt be repeated.

However, the scale of the cost-of-living crisis remains stark; CSO figures show that 45.6% of older people living alone would have been at risk of poverty without last years one-off measures, he said.

With the cost of living failing to stabilise, and with more older people coming to Alone for support with issues around housing, finances, and physical health needs, the lack of targeted support like the living alone allowance in this years budget will be a cause of concern for many.
Budget 2026 failed to tackle child poverty, overcrowded classrooms, underfunded schools, and the mistreatment of education workers, a local TD has said.

Cork TD and Labour Party education spokesperson Eoghan Kenny said Tuesdays budget lacked ambition on education.

Included in the allocation of 13.1bn for education were 1,717 additional special needs assistants, and an increase of 1,042 teacher posts, including 860 additional special needs teachers.

There will be additional funding to support the implementation of Deis+ and a new Deis plan for children at risk of educational disadvantage.

However, Mr Kenny said Budget 2026 had failings: This budget is another missed opportunity to show real ambition for Irelands children, teachers, and school communities, he said.

It is not enough to make token gestures while ignoring the major issues at the heart of our education system.

The Government must commit to reducing class sizes, properly funding schools, delivering equal access to hot meals, and treating education workers with the respect they deserve.

John Byrne, a teacher in Bandon and an Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland standing committee representative, said the Government missed an opportunity to invest further in education.

Increased

He said: A United Nations panel on the teaching profession recently advised governments that investment in education should be increased. At the moment, we are investing 0.8% of our gross domestic product on education. That is less than half of the EU average.

Meanwhile, there is a permanent reduction of 500 in the student contribution fee to support students facing rising living expenses.

UCC Students Union president Alex Angland told The Echo that the measure is counter-productive.

On one hand, we welcome the first-ever permanent reduction in the student contribution fee. But, on the other hand, students will still be paying 500 more than they were last year.

Mr Angland said he would have liked more of a commitment on student accommodation.

There is a huge need for UCC and in Cork to have publicly-owned, purpose-built student accommodation. UCC has the lowest number of beds per student in the university sector.

Cork Labour Party senator Laura Harmon said there was serious concern now regarding the student poverty crisis.

Last year, a UCC study found that more than a quarter of its students had gone to class hungry. This is as a direct result of sky-high accommodation costs and the persistence of the contribution fee, she said.
If youre a farmer, but are finding it hard to manage on the income you take in, what social welfare schemes can help?

You may be eligible for Farm Assist, a weekly means-tested payment for low-income farmers.

Qualification for Farm Assist can also lead to the farmer becoming eligible for the Rural Social scheme.

How do I qualify for Farm Assist?

To qualify for Farm Assist, you must be a farmer, farming land in Ireland, aged between 18 and 66, and you must pass a means test.

You are considered a farmer if you farm land that you own or lease and that you use for the purpose of husbandry (working the land with the aim of taking produce from the land). It is not sufficient for a person simply to own a farm of land.

How much is Farm Assist?

The current maximum rate of Farm Assist is 244 per week. There are also increases for:

An adult dependant (162)

Child dependants under 12 (50 full-rate, 25 half-rate)

Child dependants 12 and over (62 full-rate, 31 half-rate)

How are my means assessed for Farm Assist?

In a means test, the Department of Social Protection examines all your sources of income. To get Farm Assist, your income must be below a certain amount.

Some of the items included in the means test are:

Cash income that you or your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant may have, including income from employment and income and direct payments from certain farm schemes.

There is some cash income not included in the means test. You should speak with your local Citizens Information Centre for more information on this.

Capital, for example, the value of savings, investments, shares or any property you have (but not your own home). The first 20,000 of your capital is not taken into account. Contact your local Citizens Information Centre to find out more about capital not included in the means test.

Maintenance paid to you.

You can find detailed information on how all sources of income are assessed in the means test for Farm Assist on gov.ie.

Will I qualify for Farm Assist if I have my land leased out?

If you have leased part of your land, the income from the leasing is assessed in full. None of it is disregarded. If you have leased all your land, you are not eligible for Farm Assist.

How do I apply for Farm Assist?

To apply for Farm Assist, you should complete the application form, which you can download or pick up from your local Citizens Information Centre or Social Welfare Office.

Are there any additional benefits available to people in receipt of Farm Assist?

There are some extra supports which may be available to you are getting Farm Assist, depending on your circumstances such as:

Fuel Allowance: a payment to help with the cost of heating your home during the winter

A medical card: many farmers qualify for medical cards even if they are not getting a social welfare payment (apply on the medical card form or online on www.medicalcard.ie

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance

The Rural Social Scheme

What is the Rural Social Scheme (RSS)?

The RSS is aimed at low-income farmer and fishermen/women. In the scheme, you get a top-up payment in return for providing services to the community.

Work under the scheme can include maintaining walking routes and bog roads, social care and care of older people, community care for pre-school and after-school groups.

How many hours would I have to work?

You work 19.5 hours per week. These hours are based on a farmer-friendly schedule so participation in the scheme does not affect your farming activities.

Who qualifies to go on the Rural Social Scheme?

To qualify for RSS, you must either be getting Farm Assist or be actively farming and getting another social welfare payment, such as Jobseekers Allowance or Disability Allowance.

To prove you are actively farming you must provide confirmation of your application for the Basic Payments Scheme for the current year and a valid herd number. If you are eligible but do not wish to participate in RSS, your dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant can take the available place.

If you are a child/sibling of a herd number owner and you can certify that you are resident and/or working on the farm and you are getting one of the qualifying social welfare payments, you may be eligible to participate in RSS on the basis of your parents/siblings herd number.

Does a person who is farming have entitlement to any other Social Welfare payments?

A self-employed farmer usually pays Class S PRSI

These Class S contributions cover you for a limited number of payments.

Maternity benefit

Adoptive benefit

Paternity benefit

Widows, widowers or surviving civil partners contributory pension

State Pension Contributory

Treatment benefit scheme

Invalidity Pension

Contact your local Citizens Information Service to clarify the eligibility criteria for each of these benefits.

If youre a farmer, but are finding it hard to manage on the income you take in, what social welfare schemes can help?

You may be eligible for Farm Assist, a weekly means-tested payment for low-income farmers.

Qualification for Farm Assist can also lead to the farmer becoming eligible for the Rural Social scheme.

How do I qualify for Farm Assist?

To qualify for Farm Assist, you must be a farmer, farming land in Ireland, aged between 18 and 66, and you must pass a means test.

You are considered a farmer if you farm land that you own or lease and that you use for the purpose of husbandry (working the land with the aim of taking produce from the land). It is not sufficient for a person simply to own a farm of land.

How much is Farm Assist?

The current maximum rate of Farm Assist is 244 per week. There are also increases for:

An adult dependant (162)

Child dependants under 12 (50 full-rate, 25 half-rate)

Child dependants 12 and over (62 full-rate, 31 half-rate)

How are my means assessed for Farm Assist?

In a means test, the Department of Social Protection examines all your sources of income. To get Farm Assist, your income must be below a certain amount.

Some of the items included in the means test are:

Cash income that you or your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant may have, including income from employment and income and direct payments from certain farm schemes.

There is some cash income not included in the means test. You should speak with your local Citizens Information Centre for more information on this.

Capital, for example, the value of savings, investments, shares or any property you have (but not your own home). The first 20,000 of your capital is not taken into account. Contact your local Citizens Information Centre to find out more about capital not included in the means test.

Maintenance paid to you.

You can find detailed information on how all sources of income are assessed in the means test for Farm Assist on gov.ie.

Will I qualify for Farm Assist if I have my land leased out?

If you have leased part of your land, the income from the leasing is assessed in full. None of it is disregarded. If you have leased all your land, you are not eligible for Farm Assist.

How do I apply for Farm Assist?

To apply for Farm Assist, you should complete the application form, which you can download or pick up from your local Citizens Information Centre or Social Welfare Office.

Are there any additional benefits available to people in receipt of Farm Assist?

There are some extra supports which may be available to you are getting Farm Assist, depending on your circumstances such as:

Fuel Allowance: a payment to help with the cost of heating your home during the winter

A medical card: many farmers qualify for medical cards even if they are not getting a social welfare payment (apply on the medical card form or online on www.medicalcard.ie

Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance

The Rural Social Scheme

What is the Rural Social Scheme (RSS)?

The RSS is aimed at low-income farmer and fishermen/women. In the scheme, you get a top-up payment in return for providing services to the community.

Work under the scheme can include maintaining walking routes and bog roads, social care and care of older people, community care for pre-school and after-school groups.

How many hours would I have to work?

You work 19.5 hours per week. These hours are based on a farmer-friendly schedule so participation in the scheme does not affect your farming activities.

Who qualifies to go on the Rural Social Scheme?

To qualify for RSS, you must either be getting Farm Assist or be actively farming and getting another social welfare payment, such as Jobseekers Allowance or Disability Allowance.

To prove you are actively farming you must provide confirmation of your application for the Basic Payments Scheme for the current year and a valid herd number. If you are eligible but do not wish to participate in RSS, your dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant can take the available place.

If you are a child/sibling of a herd number owner and you can certify that you are resident and/or working on the farm and you are getting one of the qualifying social welfare payments, you may be eligible to participate in RSS on the basis of your parents/siblings herd number.

Does a person who is farming have entitlement to any other Social Welfare payments?

A self-employed farmer usually pays Class S PRSI

These Class S contributions cover you for a limited number of payments.

Maternity benefit

Adoptive benefit

Paternity benefit

Widows, widowers or surviving civil partners contributory pension

State Pension Contributory

Treatment benefit scheme

Invalidity Pension

Contact your local Citizens Information Service to clarify the eligibility criteria for each of these benefits.
Now there was something I wasnt expecting to find.

Cleaning out my office in preparation for the big refresh  out with the stacks of old files, the shelves of used notebooks, the work diaries, the crammed plastic paper-holders, the unread self-help books, the broken ornaments, ancient memorial cards, and ceramic bowls that didnt suit anywhere else in the house.

Tucked away in the far corner of the very top shelf of a book-shelf, so high up I cant even reach without standing on a stool, is the diary I started when I was 10.

It consists of one thin little soft-cover notebook tucked inside a thick journal with a hard, battered red cover.

A lesson  never underestimate a child.

The entries last five years and cover everything from the first Star Wars movie to a national state of near-emergency over the threatened landing of the plane of an African dictator in Cork.

There is a Popes visit to Ireland and the potential discovery of the lost continent of Atlantis, all cheek by jowl with reports about parcels from granny and schoolyard fights.

The very first entry, on Thursday, November 29, 1973, describes the weather - very wet - and explains that we got home faster than usual that lunchtime and didnt get wet because we got a spin up from the local priest. I dont remember either the priest, or coming home from school for our lunch in the middle of the day.

A different world.

On Friday, November 30, 1973, I get into a fight in the schoolyard with my best friend. I report that she started it, of course (of course), by slapping me and I (of course) was then forced to defend myself. The fight takes place in a corner of the playground and lasts for only a few minutes. Onlookers, I record, are wildly entertained. My friend and I are both left exhausted.

On Saturday, December 1, I start reading The Diary Of Anne Frank.

A few days later, the same best friend and I get slaps on the hands from the Master (yes, there was still corporal punishment in schools back then) but, as I declare defiantly, it barely made my fingers tingle. I dont go on to explain why we were punished. A pity, that.

December, 1973, rolls on. Granny sends us colouring books and crayons. We join the library. I get the flu. We go to see Santy. I complain that the Master is overdoing it in the homework stakes. Christmas tests loom. I worry.

Ah, but tucked into the pages is a folded letter from my granny, lovingly reassuring me that she has no doubt that I will do very well in all my tests because she and Granda brought me to Lourdes when I was seven.

I score 49 English spellings out of 50 correct, 92 out of 100 for Geography and 80 out of 100 for history. However, the Irish and maths results, always the dodgy ones for me, arent back yet  the Master is still correcting them and Im hoping and praying Lourdes will come through for me.

The diary continues until April, 1979. Theres a three-month stay in a remote mountain farmhouse in the Gaeltacht that does wonders to improve my Irish.

There are swimming lessons. Many visits to and from beloved grandparents.

Bizarrely, the African dictator Idi Amin, one of the most brutal tyrants and despots in modern world history, utterly notorious for his regime of torture and murder, makes an appearance in the diary of this child living in a quiet village in East Cork.

I report that gardai and the army are deployed to Cork Airport to protect us against the possibility that Amin, who has imposed a reign of blood-stained terror in Uganda, was due to land his plane there.

To my great disappointment, Idi never shows. Instead, I report in a later entry, he appears on television doing a pop dance. You couldnt make it up.

The first years of second level school, the Inter Cert, a first boyfriend, the death of my grandfather. A letter from my grandmother explaining that she feels he is still in the house with her.

Theres an ancient photograph of myself in swimming togs and a really and truly vile cream, rubber swimming hat covered in beige rubber flowers.

At some point, I mention trying on my first pair of nylons. There are visits to the seaside. A circular yellow keepsake of the visit of Pope John Paul IIs visit to Ireland in September, 1979.

There is mention of second-level and disliking my Spanish teacher. A school trip to France. Parcels from granny. A newspaper clipping about the possible discovery of the lost continent of Atlantis. Going to see the first Star Wars film. Babysitting. Ceilis, which seemed to have been a bit of a thing for teenagers back in the 70s. The theft of my prized roller-skates.

For a period, I write only in Irish after a family member confesses to having read my diary and spilled the beans on it.

There is a folded letter from a kind aunt, dated 1981, which I had saved and tucked into the diary. She has enclosed 20 and is consoling me about something  why is not clear but I suspect, given the year that was in it, the letter had something to do with me failing exams in college. Ouch.

The last entry, April 18, 1979, on the final page: Someday when Im older and wiser, I write with utter confidence, Ill come back and read this and enjoy it.

That was 46 years ago.

I never came back; never enjoyed it. Until now.

I set the diary aside.

I get on with the clear-out.

And what do I find next.

A book called The Journal Writers Companion.

This book is all about the benefits of journaling.

Writing a journal, the author says, can increase your sense of well-being, make you happier, more productive and fulfilled, helps you become more organised, develop ideas, solve everyday problems and blocks, and help you create a sense of purpose.

I knew it all when I was 10, didnt I?
By Bairbre Holmes, PA

Government ministers have reiterated their desire to protect the economy as they answered queries from members of the public the day after the Budget was delivered.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers responded live to questions from listeners of RTE Radio Ones Today with Claire Byrne programme on Wednesday morning.

The first caller, Marie, wanted to know what the budget has done for the squeezed middle class.

She lives with her husband, daughter, her daughters partner and her two grandchildren, one of whom has additional needs.

Mr Donohoe responded by saying the most important thing for me is that we still have an economy, and a society, in which we have everybody at work.

They're beautiful words around the political table, but for us who are here at the coal face trying to live, can you just speak in normal language and tell me what I need to hear? Radio caller Liz

Mr Chambers echoed that sentiment when answering small business owner Gerry.

He said: Whats crucial to your business is that you continue to have demand for the service or the business that you provide for your customers.

And critical to that is to have an economy which is continuing to grow.

By the third caller, Liz, there was clear frustration with the ministers focus on the economy, rather than the Budgets impact on individuals, with the pensioner saying: Theyre beautiful words around the political table, but for us who are here at the coal face trying to live, can you just speak in normal language and tell me what I need to hear?

The 66-year-old explained how her pension and 22 a week living alone increase were not enough to deal with the rising cost of living.

She said she is eating into her savings on a weekly basis, leaving her to worry how she will cope in her older age and that she cant live on words.

The treatment of the elderly was also why Catherine contacted the programme.

She described it as a disgrace that her 94-year-old father is worried about how he can afford the local property tax on the home he has lived in for 70 years.

The Minister for Finance explained there is a deferral in place that allows people to pay the tax later in life, or when the property is sold.

He went on to say: It is a really important tax that makes a big difference to what happens within our local communities and pays for public services at a local level like roads, libraries and local authorities.

Father-of-five Garvan challenged the description of the 500 permanent reduction in student fees as a cut.

Mr Chambers defended it, saying: The measures that were taken the last two or three years were temporary and were one-off.

And what weve done in this Budget is any measure weve taken is permanent and indefinite.

They were temporarily reduced and I appreciate, for you, now it appears like an increase.

It was not something Garvan accepted, responding they are an increase, they dont look like it, they are.

Another parent, Louise, wanted to know when the 200 a month cap on childcare outlined in the Programme for Government would come into place, as she is paying 1,500 a month for her two young children.

Mr Chambers said it is something we want to advance over a series of budgets. Its not possible to do it in one go.

When Louise told the ministers her youngest would be out of childcare by the end of this governments term, Mr Donohoe pointed to the additional funding was put into the national childcare scheme, which means that, I think, approximately 30,000 of the children will be able to participate in it.

Callers shoe retailer Bernard and Tara, who has a small craft and design business, challenged the reduction in VAT for hospitality businesses to nine per cent when the products they sell are subject to 23 per cent VAT.

When asked if there could be a tiered system to help small businesses, the Minister for Public Expenditure explained EU law means that were not able to change our VAT law to recognise the size of different businesses and enterprises.
High Court reporters

A High Court judge has approved a rescue plan for the debt-ridden airline CityJet.

Mr Justice Michael Quinn on Wednesday said he would confirm the plan put forward by the joint examiners of the Dublin-based airline, Kieran Wallace and Andrew OLeary of Interpath Advisory. The judge said he would give his full judgment in the case next week.

Examinership allows court-appointed examiners up to 100 days to devise a rescue plan for a troubled company.

CityJet sought court protection and the appointment of examiners in May, saying it had just 7.7 million to pay creditors seeking 13 million.

An independent report on its finances said that the business had a reasonable prospect of survival were it placed in examinership. The report found the airlines net liabilities were 38.5 million at the end of February.

The rescue plan for the airline had been opposed by CityJets sole shareholder, Strategic Alliance of Regional Airlines (SARA), and several related entities.

According to court documents, SARA argued that the plan was prejudicial to its interests and that the airline does not have a reasonable prospect of survival under the plan. SARA also argued it would be left in a better position if the airline was liquidated.

These arguments were rejected by the joint examiners.

The joint examiners submitted that the company was receiving substantial investment from an experienced investor and has the support of a key customer, Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS). They also said that the rescue plan will leave SARA in a significantly better position than if the company was liquidated.

CityJet previously went into examinership in April 2020, before emerging from court protection the following August. It was also placed in examinership in 1996.

Run by chief executive and founder Pat Byrne, who is no longer a shareholder, CityJet has flown regional routes for SAS and Germanys Lufthansa under contract. It uses its own aircraft and crews for this, a practice known in the industry as wet leasing.
(Photo: REUTERS / Suhaib Salem)A Palestinian stands atop the remains of a mosque, which police said was hit in an Israeli air strike, in Gaza City on July 22, 2014. Israel pounded targets across the Gaza Strip, saying no ceasefire was near as top U.S. and UN diplomats pursued talks on halting the fighting that has claimed more than 600 lives. Hamas, the dominant group in the Gaza Strip, and its allies fired more rockets into Israel, triggering sirens in Tel Aviv.

On the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks led by Hamas in Israel Pope Leo XIV and the World Council of Churches head Rev. Jerry Pillay reflected sombrely on the pain the world has suffered since that bloody day.

"In Israel, Two-Year Anniversary of Oct. 7 Attack Is Quiet but Inescapable," headlined The New York Times.

"The somber milestone comes with peace talks underway, hostages from the Hamas-led attack still in Gaza, more than 67,000 Palestinians dead and Israel more isolated than ever," said the newspaper.

The newspaper reported that "all told," on that day, Hamas killed around 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took about 250 captives back to Gaza.

"It was the bloodiest day in Israel's history and the deadliest for Jews anywhere since the Holocaust."

Pope Leo said, "These have been two very painful years. Two years ago, 1,200 people were killed in a terrorist attack.

"We must think about how much hatred exists in the world and begin to ask ourselves what we can do. In two years, around 67,000 Palestinians have been killed. We must reduce hatred, we must rediscover the ability to dialogue, to seek peaceful solutions."

Pope Leo condemned both terrorism and recent episodes of antisemitism, reaffirming the Gospel message of peace, according to Vatican News.

"It is certain," he said, "that we cannot accept groups that engage in terrorism; this style of hatred in the world must always be rejected," said the Pope.

"At the same time, the existence of antisemitism, whether it is increasing or not, is concerning. We must always proclaim peace, and respect for the dignity of every person."

- CONDEMNS ATTACKS

For his part, Pillay said, "The WCC unequivocally condemns the attacks against civilians and communities carried out by Hamas and other armed groups on 7 October 2023, which constitute crimes against humanity and violations of fundamental morality.

"We continue to pray for the victims, the survivors, and those who remain in captivity."

Two years on, Pillay said, the world witnesses a human catastrophe in Gaza of unprecedented scale.

"Tens of thousands of civiliansmost of them women and childrenhave been killed, and almost the entire population has been displaced amid famine, disease, and destruction," he said.

"The WCC condemns the collective punishment by Israel of a civilian population, in violation of international law and moral conscience."

Pillay asserted that the tragic cycle of violence will not be broken without addressing its underlying causes.

"Decades of occupation, blockade, and systemic inequality have perpetuated insecurity and eroded hope for a just peace," he said.

"A sustainable future for both Palestinians and Israelis depends on upholding international law, ensuring equal rights and dignity for all, and advancing a genuine political process grounded in justice and mutual recognition."
Google recently started letting you try on clothes from the comfort of your home by uploading a photo and letting AI take care of the rest  and if youre in the US, you can now do the same thing with shoes. Fortunately, the process isnt nearly as creepy as Google needing a close-up of your bare feet. Rather, when youre browsing shoes, you tap the pair you want to try on and upload a full-length photo of yourself in any old outfit.

Google will then swap out whatever shoes youre wearing in the original photo for the ones youre interested in buying, so you can see how they look with a particular outfit. For the best results, it advises that you stick to solo photos in which youre standing upright, with good lighting and a background that isnt too busy. Your clothing shouldnt be too baggy either. And naturally, Google warns to only use photos of yourself or those you have permission to use from someone else. It wont accept photos of children, either.

Google points out that the image it generates is designed to help you see how an item might look, but doesnt guarantee that itll actually fit you in real life. Its an approximation, then, rather than an image that perfectly takes into account your body shape and personal features. This is probably more of a catch when youre for clothes than shoes, though. Just dont walk into a store and blame Google when the sneakers you tried on virtually arent manufactured in your real-world size.

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Google says that no biometric data from the photo you upload is collected or stored, nor will it use the image for training purposes. It wont share it with other Google apps or third parties either, but you can delete both the original photo and any generated images if youd rather not let it hang onto them.
Over a year after former Twitter executives sued Elon Musk for around $128 million in unpaid severance benefits, both parties have agreed to settle for an undisclosed amount. The settlement is dependent on "certain conditions" being met in the near term, according to a new filing in the Northern District Court of California, but will postpone existing deadlines in the case so Musk can fulfill his obligations.

Former Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, CFO Ned Segal, chief legal officer Vijaya Gadde and general counsel Sean Edgett originally sued Musk for millions of dollars of unpaid severance benefits in 2024. The justification for their lawsuit was made clear in Walter Isaacson's account of the Twitter acquisition: Musk closed the $44 billion deal early and fired the executives in an attempt to avoid paying out their severance and vested stock options. The executives naturally sued, and now appear to be receiving some amount of what they're owed.

The whole lawsuit likely wouldn't have happened if Musk hadn't originally tried to back out of his acquisition of Twitter, which the company later forced to happen through an extended legal battle. The early days of Musk's ownership of the social network were characterized by drastic cost saving measures as a result, including mass layoffs and the decision to just not pay rent for some of the company's offices.

Finally settling this lawsuit closes the book on that original Twitter saga, with a dismissal of the lawsuit the only real missing milestone. If for whatever reason Musk and X are not able to meet the terms of the settlement, the case will continue on October 31.
Everyone uses smartwatches differently. There are the people who wear them all day, those who only wear them when theyre outside, those who only use them while working out and even those who only wear them to bed. In 2025, most smartwatches can do it all and satisfy your needs regardless of how you use them. They perform a lot of basic activity and sleep tracking while serving as excellent passive data gatherers. Googles latest, the Pixel Watch 4, stands strong against rivals like the Apple Watch Series 11 and Samsungs Galaxy Watch 8, and if you look just at those model numbers, its impressive how far Google has come in just four generations.

The Galaxy Watch 8 is probably the Pixel Watch 4s closest competitor, considering theyre both compatible with Android while the Apple Watch only works with iPhones. Comparing them can feel a bit futile, since its most likely youll buy the watch that works best with your brand of phone (i.e. Pixel watch for a Pixel phone, Samsung for Samsung). But its still worthwhile to see how they fare against each other. If you know what a Samsung watch can do, it helps contextualize what should be considered acceptable on, say, your Pixel or Apple watch.

It bodes well that for the Pixel Watch 4, Im no longer questioning its fundamental functionality or complaining about its battery life. Rather, I found myself pondering its adaptability and consistency, as well as its strengths over the competition. Unsurprisingly, thanks to its Google and Fitbit heritage, those strengths lie in AI and health tracking. But the Pixel Watch 4 has a surprising advantage that I never saw coming: charging speed.

Google / Engadget 86 100 Expert Score Pixel Watch 4 The Pixel Watch 4 is a solid smartwatch thanks to its well-rounded suite of features. Its repairable design and super fast charging are laudable bonuses. Pros Super fast recharging

Comprehensive health and fitness tracking

Bright, beautiful display

Repairable design Cons Gemini wake gesture is finicky

Must be connected to internet for Gemini to work $300 at Amazon Explore More Buying Options $300 at Target$300 at Best Buy

Whats new on the Pixel Watch 4

Before I get into that though, lets quickly go over whats changed on the Pixel Watch 4. It now has a curved display under its domed glass covering, which makes it look even livelier than before. Its surrounded by bezels that Google says are 16 percent smaller than the last models, allowing its screen to be about 10 percent roomier. The display is also brighter by about 50 percent, now going up to 3,000 nits. Thats the same as Samsungs Galaxy Watch 8, but higher than the Apple Watch Series 11s 2,000 nits of peak brightness.

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Altogether, the physical changes make Pixel Watch 4 look eye-catching and attractive, and I kept getting compliments from people outside my usual tech-savvy circles. Other hardware upgrades include the new dual-frequency GPS, custom haptics engine and speaker, as well as updated processors and a revamped, faster charging system that places the contact points on the watchs edge instead of the back. Importantly, though I didnt test it for this review, the Pixel Watch 4 is more repairable, since you can unscrew its case to replace its display and battery if needed.

Like many non-Apple smartwatches, the Pixel Watch 4 runs Googles Wear OS, but with some new features like a wrist-raise gesture to trigger the Gemini assistant. The company also improved its algorithms for activity- and sleep-tracking, brought its Material 3 Expressive design languages and new watch faces to the OS and overhauled the Fitbit app to center around an AI coach. However, the redesigned Fitbit app wasnt available for testing during this review, so you wont see any evaluations of it here.

One more thing I didnt try on the Pixel Watch 4: Emergency SOS via Satellite. Googles smartwatch was the first mainstream wearable to be announced to have satellite communications built in, though Apple released the Watch Ultra 3 with similar capabilities shortly after. Because the setup would result in a call or message being sent to emergency services, I decided against testing the satellite feature for this review.

If youre new to smartwatches or considering your first one, check out our smartwatch buying guide for details on what to expect of a device in 2025. By and large, though, this review wont cover the basics of what a smartwatch does and what apps or features are typically available.

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Fast-charging is so good that I no longer worry

I never thought Id be such a fan of short charge times, but Googles latest wearable is so fast at refueling that Ive actually changed my behavior around it. I typically place my smartwatch (usually just the most recent Apple Watch Ive tested) on my kitchen island so that I see it when I grab my pre-bedtime cup of water and remember to put it on the charger overnight.

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With the Pixel Watch 4, Ive started to just drop it on the charger when I wake up, and by the time Im done brushing my teeth, washing my face and changing into my gym clothes, itll have plenty of power for about half a day. I cant say the same for the Apple Watch, though the Series 11 has respectable charging speeds that allow me to get enough for a morning walk and a workout after about 10 minutes of being plugged in.

For the actual numbers, you can read my colleague Sam Rutherfords story where he meticulously charted the charge time of the larger 45mm model of the Pixel Watch 4 hes been using. It jives with my experience, where, after just six minutes, my device went from 37 percent to 62 percent.

I was also impressed when I saw an alert on the watchs face that told me the charger wasnt actually plugged into an outlet. Ive been burned in the past when I placed other smartwatches on their charging pucks, only to come back an hour later and realize it hadnt actually been charging because I didnt connect the cable to a socket. This feature felt like a particularly thoughtful touch on Googles part.

The Pixel Watch 4s battery life

With such quick recharging, it can feel like a long-lasting battery isnt as important. But the Pixel Watch 4 still manages to deliver respectable runtimes.

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In general, I preferred to let the Pixel Watch 4 get a full charge, because I noticed its battery doesnt get me through a whole day after just a few minutes on the dock. But when I took it off the charger at 3:35PM one Friday afternoon, it managed to last all through Saturday night, going from 100 percent to 22 percent by 9PM the next day. Thats after a full day of passive activity tracking, where the watch noted that I had burned about 3,000 calories, hiked 6.73 miles and climbed the equivalent of 128 floors.

The Pixel Watch 4 typically lasts about as long as the Apple Watch Series 11. Both devices clock about a day and a half, depending on how frequently I use features like Gemini or the remote control view for the phones camera. That runtime also seems similar to the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, which my colleague Amy Skorheim reviewed.

Considering Google rates the 41mm version of the Watch 4 to last about 30 hours on a charge, the experience I had mostly surpasses that estimate. Of course, battery performance usually deteriorates over time, so my brand new review unit will likely get a little less long-lasting after a while.

Fitbit / Engadget

Sleep tracking: A tale of insomnia and naps

I wouldnt usually dwell on a feature that has been around for generations of a device, but Google did update its sleep-tracking algorithms for the Pixel Watch 4, calling it our most accurate sleep-tracking. Plus, as Apple only just introduced Sleep Score on the Series 11, I thought it was a good opportunity to compare the two.

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Both companies thoughtfully limit the brightness of their watches displays when youre in bed, and tuned their software in response to your usual bedtimes so you wont be awoken by endless notifications while sleeping. They all deliver sleep scores and readouts of the zones you cycled through while you rested, too, to help you get better insight on your slumber.

While I prefer Apples presentation of the sleep score in a ring with three segments to indicate areas of potential improvement, I find Googles charts more readable and specific data easier to find. Im not going to spend too much time complaining about an apps layout, though, since it largely has to do with getting used to the way a company organizes its info. Whats more important is how their devices count your sleep, and whether they do so accurately.

In anticipation of a long day that would start at about 4:45AM, I went to bed at about 10PM, only to wake up at 1:57AM, unable to fall back asleep. I counted sheep, told myself to fall asleep, got angry at myself for not being able to sleep and peeked at my phone, which showed me that it had been an hour since I woke up. I finally drifted off after some time, waking up when the Pixel Watch 4 dragged me out of a dream by buzzing relentlessly on my wrist. In my half-awake state, I actually thought the vibration was part of the dream and almost went back to sleep, until I remembered it was the silent alarm I had set for 4:45AM.

Color me shocked when I saw my sleep score was 81  deemed Good by the Pixel Watch 4 due in part to my accumulating six hours and 24 minutes of rest. I immediately dug into the sleep chart to see if my hour awake had been misattributed to sleep. It had been. The device did pick up many moments of restlessness, saying that movement was detected during 9 percent of my sleep. But it couldnt tell that despite my lying fairly still, I had been, sadly, wide awake.

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I cant penalize Google or Fitbit too heavily for that. Most sleep trackers cant tell between periods of sleep and complete stillness either. Google said lying awake but very still in bed before you sleep can sometimes be tracked as sleep, and that its a known limitation of the algorithm that its working on improving for future iterations.

Another area for improvement: napping. On the way home to New York from Lake Placid, I passed out for about an hour at 9PM. Since that was late enough to count as bedtime for some people, I hoped that the Apple Watch and Pixel Watch would both take those minutes into consideration. But neither did.

With the Pixel Watch 4, I found out later that naps during the day would be counted, they just had to last at least two hours. Two-hour naps? In this economy?? I dont know who else has the time but a quick hourlong lie-down is big for me.

Meanwhile, the Apple Watch was reported to be able to track naps in a watchOS 11 beta, but Im still waiting on official word and details about that.

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Like I said at the start of this review, sleep-tracking isnt a major reason I use smartwatches. For those, like Sam, who do, the Pixel Watch 4 will be quite satisfying. Sam noted that the device was mostly accurate in his experience, and detected when he had to get up to feed his baby at night. Plus, its light and comfortable enough to wear to bed (when paired with the right strap), and its battery will last all night. Add the fast charging weve already raved about and it seems like theres almost no reason to not have the Pixel Watch 4 on your wrist at all times.

A word on alarms, timers and stopwatches

I also like that on the Pixel Watch, I was able to set an alarm to wake me with just vibration and no sound, so I could get up earlier than my partner before we left for our five-hour drive to Lake Placid. I could not find this on the Apple Watch  though I did have the option to allow the alarm to break through silent mode. Its just another way the two companies differ, and I imagine theyll both copy each other and add the respective missing features soon enough.

Google / Apple / Engadget

One thing I do wish Apple would change: the icons for the Stopwatch, Timer and Alarm apps on watchOS. All three of them are represented by orange circles in the app drawer, with slightly different versions of circles with clock hands in them. Theyre not labeled, either, so if youre not in the List view youll have to guess which of these three orange orbs is the time-related app you want, and go back and forth until you find the right one.

Google is only slightly better at this, since it uses an hourglass to represent the Timer and the Alarm and Stopwatch icons are a bit more distinct from each other. Plus, Alarm sits at the top of the Pixel Watchs drawer, whereas the Stopwatch and Timer are closer together near the bottom. Theyre clearly organized alphabetically, since other options near the top are Contacts, Calendar and Camera while Recorder, Settings and Spotify are at the end with Stopwatch and Timer.

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Meanwhile, all of Apples first-party apps are at the top of the watchOS app drawer and if you throw in the other orange circle that is the World Clock, youll have four cheesy orbs sitting in close proximity to each other like Ritz crackers.

Gestures and Gemini  convenience with some caveats

Samsungs Galaxy Watch 8 was the first smartwatch to have Googles Gemini onboard, but when the Pixel Watch 4 launched, it brought the raise to talk to Gemini feature with it. This allows for convenient hands-free communication with the AI, so long as you have an internet connection, anyway.

When I left my Pixel 10 Pro in a locker and went for a quick riverside walk, I wasnt able to get the assistant to set a timer so I knew when to start heading back. This isnt just about the wrist-raising gesture  Gemini simply wont work on the Pixel Watch 4 if its not online, whether that be via a tethered phone or its own cellular connection. In contrast, while I did have to long-press the Apple Watchs knob or say Hey Siri, I was at least able to get it to set that alarm, even when I put it (and the iPhone it was linked to) on Airplane mode.

This isnt a dealbreaker, but its frustrating if you dont have an LTE version of the watch and decide to leave your phone at home. Sure, you can touch the screen and use the app to set that timer, but I dont want to have to stop, lift up my wrist and select the number of minutes my countdown should run.

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

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There are a few caveats to note when specifically talking about the wrist-raise gestures, too. For one, youll have to make sure either tilt-to-wake or the Always On Display is enabled, since the system needs to detect changes in movement and state. Youll also have to be fairly deliberate with the gesture, bringing your wrist to your mouth from about waist-level.

For the most part the Pixel Watch 4 responded as expected, with the onscreen indicator telling me Gemini was listening when I brought my hand to my mouth. But every now and then, especially when I was sitting down, it would fail to react. There are few situations more embarrassing than sitting in a cafe, repeatedly jerking your wrist up to your face while holding a phone up to get a video of the feature working. I could only hope the other people at the coffee shop where I was writing this review didnt think I was doing something worse.

Sometimes, the little glowing animation would appear to show that my action was successful, but if I even moved my wrist slightly after that, it would disappear. Also, if you lift your wrist from any screen other than the home page, you wont see the indicator. But if you confidently speak your request into the ether anyway, youll realize Gemini was actually awoken by your gesture.

With the apps drawer open, I lifted my wrist and asked what the weather was like, and promptly got a response. There was also a light vibration to let me know the watch had heard me. When I raised my hand again and asked how about tomorrow, Gemini was quick to tell me it would be rainy in my area. I was impressed by the speedy responses and the fact that I could keep bringing my hand up to my mouth to ask follow-up questions or interrupt an overly wordy response, but I do have to acknowledge that there is a certain finesse that is required to get the gesture right each time.

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I was a little perturbed that the action needs to be somewhat deliberate, right up until the one time it accidentally triggered when I flipped my wrist during a call. Out of nowhere, the assistant was responding to my conversation with my therapist. This only happened once during my 10 or so days with the Pixel Watch 4, so the rate of false positives is fairly low. The jerkiness of raise-to-talk to Gemini is a tradeoff Im willing to make in exchange for fewer accidental triggers.

Plus, Google has said this is an initial foray into gesture-based interaction with the Pixel Watch, and it appears to continue to tweak its algorithms for greater accuracy and sensitivity. The Watch 4 may not currently support the double tap and wrist flick gestures that Apple does (or Samsungs pinch-based actions). But Ive been in the industry long enough to remember when Android Wear watches allowed you to flip your wrist to scroll through long notifications. It seems Wear OS still supports that, along with a limited set of gesture-based navigation actions. I was able to dismiss notifications and return to the home page by rotating my wrist on the Pixel Watch 4 thanks to the existing ungaze gesture thats designed to close an alerting notification.

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

Auto workout detection is different, but still here

Over the years, Google has gone back and forth on its auto-workout-detection system. With the original Pixel Watch, the device didnt bother to tell you if it noticed you had gone on a walk. Youd have to go into the Fitbit app a few hours later to see that session. That changed with the Pixel Watch 2, which brought reminders to start a workout for seven types of activities including running, walking, rowing and outdoor biking. The Watch 3 improved upon that by being quick on the uptake, suggesting I had been active as soon as I had been moving for 10 minutes.

On the Watch 4, Google changed its approach (again). At first, it no longer appeared to automatically track my daily 20-minute walks to and from my gym. But because I remembered my experience with the original model, I went to the Fitbit app on my phone and was relieved to see a suggested workout logged there.

Subsequently, I discovered that the Watch 4 would prompt me to confirm detected periods of activity, but only 30 minutes after I was done. The idea is that the prompt to record a walk or impromptu run might interrupt your flow, and while I can understand that rationale, I wish there was an option for me to just set it how I prefer it.

The good news is that in my time with the Pixel Watch 4, I never felt shortchanged. As long as they lasted at least 15 minutes, pretty much all my extended walks were accurately logged (minus the location information, which makes sense from a privacy perspective). I also wore a Galaxy Ring during my review, since in my experience thats the most accurate at tracking every little walk I take, and the two devices usually matched up. The Apple Watch, meanwhile, barely ever registered any of my walks, and I always needed to remember to manually start an Outdoor Walk workout.

With its new dual-frequency GPS, the Pixel Watch 4 is better at mapping out my routes than its predecessors, especially in building-dense cities like the one I live in. I never noticed a significant delay in the watch latching onto a signal, even as I walked out of a small tunnel into the skyscraper-rich Newport area of New Jersey.

Fitbit / Engadget

Stress-detection, messaging and more

Each of this years new smartwatches has some unique features. Samsung has its antioxidant index test, Apple has hypertension notifications and Google has had loss of pulse detection and body response alerts. That latter basically notices changes in your electrodermal activity and prompts you to note if youre feeling particularly stressed or excited. Its been around since the Pixel Watch 2, and isnt enabled on the fourth-generation device by default so you wont have to worry about it pinging you too much. I had it activated and was buzzed several times most days to think about my mood, and each evening Id have a nice log of how many times I was agitated.

There are quite a few new features on the Pixel Watch 4 that I wont spend too much time evaluating. The real-time streaming of your bike workout stats to your connected phone is one example. Like Apples version of this feature, it works and makes it easy to see your stats safely on a mounted handset during your ride.

Google also introduced something called notification cooldown which minimizes interruptions after several of them come through in rapid succession. If your group chat is getting particularly fiery, for example, this can help reduce the amount of vibrations and alerts being sent to your wrist after some time. I made my friend Julian Chokkattu at Wired test this out with me and we sent each other single-word messages nonstop for minutes at a time and both of us found notification cooldown kicked in after a few alerts.

Speaking of, the Pixel Watch 4 also features AI-generated suggested replies to messages that support the Wear OS quick reply protocol. Google said this is a first-of-its-kind small language model designed for use on a watch. Because its on-device, it wont require an internet connection to work, though if youre receiving messages I have to imagine youre at least connected to cellular. When it did work, it was nice to see the smart reply suggestions instead of the generic canned ones before. But most of the apps I use, like Telegram and Instagram messages, dont support quick reply. Google also says smart replies wont work on Workspace or select WhatsApp messaging.

The interface youre most likely to interact with on any smartwatch is your main watch face, and in general the new watch faces on the Pixel Watch 4 are rich with information and shortcuts. While I wish Google would move away from the cartoonish, rounded fonts in favor of something cleaner and sharper, I like that all its layouts offer plenty of customization options with lots of room for convenient complications. I chose to put my most important stats on my home screen, as well as a shortcut to launch Spotify. I do wish Google would make nicer faces like Apples Photos one that has a dynamic clock to better highlight your pictures, instead of the current option on the Pixel Watch that sticks the text in the bottom and calls it a day.

Cherlynn Low for Engadget

Wrap-up

When I reviewed the Pixel Watch 3, it felt like the first time Googles smartwatch was on par with the likes of Apples and Samsungs offerings. With the Pixel Watch 4, not only is Google closing the gap even further than it did last year, but its also bringing unique tools you wont find elsewhere. This years model differentiates itself with a repairable design, super fast charging and, though its no longer the only one on the market to offer this, satellite communications. The first two alone feel like game changers, and even with its limitations, raising your wrist to talk to Gemini is a convenient gesture when it works.

Beyond the new features sit the comprehensive suite of health-related tools that make the Pixel Watch 4 a formidable smartwatch and excellent companion for your smartphone. Wear OS and Material 3 Expressive make for a vibrant, easy-to-navigate interface for a system that can do almost anything your phone can, just on a smaller screen.

At $350, the Pixel Watch 4 is $20 more than the Galaxy Watch 8 (and $50 less than the Apple Watch Series 11). Its hard to justify that exact price difference and tell you which is a worthier purchase. My recommendation remains the same as ever: Get the watch thats from the same company as your phone. Itll be better for you.

Update, October 10 2025, 1:55PM ET: This story has been updated to clarify that either tilt-to-wake or Always On Display have to be enabled for the raise-to-talk to Gemini feature to work. If the AOD is off but tilt-to-wake is enabled, the feature will still function.
Prince Andrew could have been dishonest regarding how long ago he met convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a new claim by a former beauty queen alleges.

The allegations imply that the tainted royal's association with Epstein started years earlier than his documented timeline suggests.

According to RadarOnline, Swiss model and ex-beauty pageant queen Beatrice Keul claimed Epstein talked of meeting the Duke of York in 1993, well before Andrew's version of their meeting in 1999.

In an interview with The Sun, Keul remembered encountering Epstein at a beauty pageant that year, where he introduced himself by bragging about his influential connections.

"Straight away, he told me, 'I'm Don's best friend,'" she said, referring to Donald Trump. "So I trusted him."

She added that Epstein attempted to lure her to an event at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. "He was trying to invite me to a dance party in Florida and trying to convince me to come, saying, 'I will take care of you. Flights, hotels, I'll sort everything, just come because Don likes you'"

Keul stated she grew suspicious of Epstein's actions early on. "I didn't like the way he talked to me. He was very slimy... He wasn't my type at all," she described.

Keul said when she was hesitant, Epstein started boasting of having a connection with the British royal family to get her trust.

"He kept saying he had very rich and powerful friends and knew the Royal Family. And then I said, 'The Royal Family?' And he said, 'Prince Andrew.' He said he could facilitate the contact."

She continued, "I was shocked because he wasn't the kind of guy that you'd think would be in the Royal Family's society. But he wanted to put me in touch with Prince Andrew. Then he told me, 'You've got the calibre for this league.'"

These revelations contradict Prince Andrew's claim during his infamous 2019 BBC Newsnight interview, where he stated he first met Epstein in 1999.

Andrew's longstanding relationship with Epstein has done extensive harm to his public reputation.

His association with the deceased financier resulted in losing his royal responsibilities, strained personal relationships within the royal household, and a civil suit brought by Virginia Giuffre, whom he was accused of sexually assaulting while she was 17 years old. The suit was settled during early 2022 for a sum of $16 million.

As the news outlet pointed out, Keul's allegations bring fresh controversy to Andrew's already questionable reputation, placing further doubt on his widely criticized timeline.
The birth of Cosima Grosvenor, daughter of Hugh Grosvenor, the Duke of Westminster, and his wife, Olivia, has prompted renewed speculation that a private family ceremony could offer a rare opportunity for reconciliation between Prince William and Prince Harry.

According to RadarOnline, the Grosvenors, one of Britain's most prominent aristocratic families, welcomed Cosima in late July. Hugh Grosvenor, 33, is widely reported to be considering naming both William and Harry as joint godfathers  a gesture some royal observers and palace insiders say could provide a carefully staged setting for the brothers to appear together and possibly begin to repair their fractured relationship.

A longtime friend of both men, the duke has maintained ties with members of the royal family since childhood. He served as an usher at the duke's 2024 wedding; Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, were absent from that event, while Prince William attended.

As per Cosmopolitan, Grosvenor is already a godfather to Prince George and to Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, underscoring his close connections to both branches of the family.

"Naming them joint godfathers has come up more than once," one palace source said. "He thinks it could be a small step toward healing things."

Since Harry and Meghan's decision to step back from senior royal duties in 2020 and their subsequent move to the United States, public tensions between the brothers have endured. High-profile interviews, media projects and palace briefings have fuelled a rift that, while not wholly visible in private interactions, has dramatically altered public perceptions of the once-close siblings.

Experts in royal affairs said a christening could provide a controlled environment in which the two men might share time without the intense glare of a major state occasion.

Opponents of the idea caution that a shared godparent role would not erase deeper disagreements over family dynamics, privacy and the monarchy's future.

Royal aides said the decision on godparents is likely to be announced nearer to a christening, which sources say may take place this autumn at a private chapel on the Grosvenor family's Eaton Hall estate in Cheshire. Those close to the family stress that the event, if it happens, would be intimate and not intended for political theatre.

Both William and Harry reportedly sent messages of congratulations following the birth.
Channing Tatum is setting the record straight: he says he was not roommates with Jax Taylor, despite the reality star's repeated claims.

During an interview on "Andy Cohen Live" this week, the "Magic Mike" actor firmly denied ever living with the "Vanderpump" Rules alum when both were starting out as models in New York City.

"Absolutely not," Tatum, 45, said when asked directly by host Andy Cohen. "I don't think I ever roommated with him."

According to PageSix, Jax Taylor  whose real name is Jason Cauchi  has often told the story that he and Tatum shared a model apartment back in 2002.

Most recently, he repeated the claim in a 2023 interview with Rolling Stone, saying they lived together in a small room with bunk beds along with other young models.

Tatum, however, doesn't recall any of that.

"I did live in a model house, but I don't remember him," Tatum added. "I'd have to see a picture of the guy."

After Cohen showed him photos of Taylor, Tatum still didn't recognize him. "All models kinda look the same. He's a good-looking guy," he said, adding, "Maybe, I guess? But I don't think so."

Channing Tatum set the record straight over Vanderpump Rules alum Jax Taylors previous claim that they were one-time roommates at the beginning of their careers in New York City. https://t.co/SPTCilEyhq pic.twitter.com/mvVmpvf3uo  E! News (@enews) October 8, 2025

Channing Tatum Recalls Fight in Model House

Tatum also shared that his time in the model house was short-lived  he got kicked out after a fight with another roommate. Still, he didn't link any of those memories to Taylor.

Taylor first made the claim back in 2013 during an appearance on "Watch What Happens Live," saying Tatum was his first roommate when he moved to New York to pursue modeling, People reported..

According to Taylor, the agency-provided housing was similar to dorm rooms, with bunk beds and shared bathrooms.

"He was one of six guys in our room," Taylor told sources. He also said Tatum left soon after landing a Mountain Dew commercial  a turning point that led to his big-screen debut in "She's the Man" with Amanda Bynes.

Despite Tatum's clear denial, Taylor has not responded to the actor's comments.

While the memory gap may simply be due to the fast-paced, shared-living nature of model apartments, Tatum seemed confident in his recollection  or lack of it.

"I don't think I ever roommated with him," he repeated. "But maybe. I don't know."
US President Trump said he 'never had the privilege' of visiting Jeffrey Epstein's island, saying he turned down an invitation f...
A 44-year-old man has pleaded guilty of murdering 34-year-old Megan Ashley Stedman in Gallatin County in late 2023 as part of a plea deal with prosecutors.

The man, Christopher Brandon Foiles, pleaded guilty before 18th District Judge Rienne H. McElyea last week in Bozeman. He is scheduled to appear at a sentencing hearing Nov. 25 at the Gallatin County Justice Center in Bozeman..

The plea agreement calls for a 60-year prison sentence with no time suspended. The state indicated it will recommend to the court that Foiles be prohibited from receiving parole for 25 years. During his sentencing hearing, Foiles will be allowed to ask the court to impose a lesser parole restriction.

Foiles is allowed to withdraw the guilty plea if McElyea deviates from the 60-year sentence, according to the plea agreement. The agreement calls for Foiles to pay restitution and court costs and advises the court that he be banned from having any contact with members of Stedmans family.

McElyea ordered that a detailed report of Foiles' life be prepared  known as a pre-sentence investigation report  to aid her in delivering the sentence.

Foiles was in the Gallatin County jail as of Tuesday on a bond of at least $1 million.

Foiles killed Stedman in December 2023 using a kitchen knife, according to an affidavit filed by the county attorneys office. Her body was found in an RV in Idaho Falls after authorities, concerned for her safety, had been searching for her. The couple had reportedly been living in the RV.

Foiles is accused of killing Stedmans dog and faces a felony animal cruelty charge. He also faces charges of identity theft, evidence tampering, violating a no-contact order, and obstructing a peace officer.

Stedman, who used to work at a gas station in Livingston, is described in her obituary as having been "positive, dynamic, brilliant, charming, creative, fun-loving, a little mischievous, and a social butterfly."

She went to high school in Washington, and also lived in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Arizona and Oregon.

At various points in her life, she worked for an assisted living home, the Spokane Club, the Spokane Convention Center, the Spokane Arena, and Volunteers of America. She became a nail technician at Glen Dow Academy and started a business, Shotgun Nails.

"She loved bringing beauty to others," reads her obituary. "Ensuring people around her laughed, loved, and lived boldy were values she shared. Others also knew she was a comedian, she was a fashionista; she was a chef extraordinaire and made the best creative buffets and food dishes. She loved helping others."

Stedman was survived by two children, her parents, and four siblings.

Previous reporting on the case can be found at https://tinyurl.com/mw8n459.
Months of relentless rainfall followed by scorching droughts have made managing crops impossible, leaving many growers fearing for the resilience of their businesses.

New analysis by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) reveals the wider picture: Britain has lost the equivalent of more than a years supply of bread this decade as extreme weather takes its toll on wheat harvests.

Between 2020 and 2024, the shortfall reached over seven million tonnes  enough to bake more than four billion loaves. That works out at 64 loaves per person, more than a years supply for every Briton.

I have never known a more challenging time to farm, says Lincolnshire arable farmer Colin Chappell, who is now facing his second disastrous harvest in succession.

The problem shows little sign of easing. With another poor harvest forecast for 2025 after record hot and dry conditions, the UK is expected to become even more reliant on imports.

Last autumn, wheat imports doubled compared to the five-year average, with self-sufficiency slumping from 96% in 2023 to just 79% in 2024.

Tom Lancaster, land, food and farming analyst at ECIU, said: This decade has already seen some of the worst harvests on record after extreme rainfall made it impossible for farmers to drill and manage crops.

"And this year weve seen the opposite as crops suffered in the hottest and one of the driest springs and summers on record.

He warned: Extreme weather is making our bread less British, as millers have to turn to imports due to shortfalls in UK production, costing British farmers billions in lost income and reducing our self-sufficiency in our main, staple crop.

Two of the three worst wheat harvests ever recorded have occurred this decade  in 2020 and 2024  both the result of relentless rainfall.

Wetter, warmer winters are now consistent with climate projections, with climate change linked to extreme downpours that disrupted drilling and hit yields.

Chappell stressed that support is urgently needed if farmers are to adapt. I need more support to be able to adapt to these extremes and build the resilience of my business, but with the green farming schemes here in England closed, that support isnt open to me.

"Getting them open has to be a priority if farmers are to be able to continue to grow wheat and other key crops for the Great British public, he said.

The ECIU analysis highlights how volatility has become harder to manage. In the past, bumper years offset weaker ones, but since 2020 four out of five wheat harvests have fallen below the twenty-year average.

Analysts warn another poor yield this year could reduce output by nearly two million tonnes compared to the long-term trend.

For farmers and consumers alike, the implications are clear: Britains daily bread is becoming less homegrown  and more vulnerable to the weather.
The life of David Richardson  Norfolk farmer, broadcaster and writer whose work reshaped British agriculture  will be celebrated at a special memorial service next month.

Mr Richardson, who died in August aged 87, was widely praised as a true great, a legend and a towering figure of the farming world.

For more than 50 years he combined hands-on farming with journalism and broadcasting, becoming one of the most respected and straight-talking voices in the industry.

A memorial and thanksgiving service will take place on 14 November at 1pm at the Norfolk Events Centre, part of the Royal Norfolk Showground in Costessey.

The venue was chosen to reflect his lifelong connection to the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association (RNAA), to which he devoted more than six decades and where he served as president in 2003.

His family expect a large attendance and have asked those wishing to come to register online. Donations in his memory can also be made there to support the RNAA Food and Farming Discovery Trust and The Big C cancer charity.

Born into a farming family near Wymondham, David Richardson spent his working life promoting and defending agriculture. His influence reached boardrooms and showgrounds alike, where he was a passionate advocate for farmers role in society.

He was awarded the OBE in 2000 for services to farming and received many further honours. His media career began in the 1960s, when he brought farming into living rooms through programmes such as the BBCs Farming Programme and Anglia TVs Farming Diary and Country People.

Decades before environmental stewardship became mainstream policy, he was calling for farming systems that worked in balance with nature and maintained public trust. His vision culminated in the founding of LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) in 1991, where he served as chair for ten years.

Philip Wynn, chairman of LEAF, said: Davids foresight and values were truly ahead of their time. His unwavering belief in farming as a force for good laid the foundations for everything LEAF stands for today.

As well as shaping policy and practice, David Richardson was also a mentor and friend to many, including the late Caroline Drummond, LEAFs long-serving chief executive. Together they pushed for a model of agriculture that balanced productivity with environmental responsibility.

His family, colleagues and peers will gather in Norfolk next month to pay tribute  not just to a much-loved father and friend, but to a man whose voice helped change farming for the better.
A major new five-year research programme has been launched to help farmers regain control over cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB), one of the most damaging pests to oilseed rape (OSR) in England.

The programme will test the performance of new control products in the field, strengthen guidance on cultural control methods, deepen understanding of CSFB behaviour, and explore the role of natural enemies.

Researchers also aim to drive innovation and knowledge exchange to put practical solutions directly into farmers hands.

Announced by AHDB, the CSFB Research+ project brings together leading applied research organisations  ADAS, Niab and Rothamsted Research  in the largest single investment AHDB has made into CSFB.

The total project value is just under 750,000, with a third provided through cash and in-kind contributions from a broad network of industry partners.

Sacha White, AHDBs lead crop protection scientist, said confidence in OSR has been hit hard by pesticide restrictions and resistance issues.

Faced with a lack of chemistry and insecticide resistance challenges, confidence and commitment to OSR has waned, with the UK shifting from a net exporter to a net importer in recent years, he said.

White added that the new initiative brings together passionate and knowledgeable people from across the industry  spanning farmer cooperatives, input specialists, grain merchants, food producers and applied researchers  to co-design activity that puts CSFB control firmly back into the hands of farmers.

Over the course of the project, researchers will examine the field performance of novel control products such as seed treatments, botanical biopesticides, entomopathogenic nematodes and synergists.

They will also expand the range of cultural control methods available to farmers, including practices like cultivating oilseed rape stubble to disrupt soil-dwelling pupae, or sowing brassicas in cover crops to divert beetles away from cash crops.

The project will also investigate how environmental conditions influence CSFB traits and migration patterns, helping to fine-tune cultural, biological and chemical control approaches.

Another strand of work will focus on the two main parasitoids of the beetle, Microctonus brassicae and Tersilochus microgaster, with particular emphasis on encouraging the former to thrive in the field.

Finally, the programme will work in close partnership with stakeholders to co-design knowledge exchange activities, promote innovation and ensure that results are quickly communicated to levy payers so they can be applied on farm.

The project builds on a decade of AHDB and Defra-funded research that has transformed understanding of CSFB life cycles and risks, and earlier this year led to the publication of a top ten list of management strategies.

CSFB Research+ officially runs from July 2025 to January 2030 and represents what AHDB describes as a comprehensive, industry-wide push to secure the future of oilseed rape in the UK.
Pilgrims Europe has posted a strong set of full-year results, reporting higher profits and renewed commitments to British farmers as the business completes its first full trading year as a unified group.

The meat producer  which brings together Pilgrims UK, Moy Park and Pilgrims Food Masters under one structure  recorded post-tax profits of 128.4m in 2024, up from 106m the year before, despite a slight dip in revenues to 4.06bn.

Profit margins improved from 4.2% to 6%, driven by investment in brands, infrastructure and efficiencies. President Ivan Siqueira said the results underlined the benefits of integration over the past two years, which had strengthened Pilgrims market presence.

The results demonstrate how integration has strengthened Pilgrims Europes marketplace presence while cultivating a more nimble, customer-focused organisation to further scale profitable growth in 2025 and beyond."

He added: Weve cultivated profitable growth by simplifying our structure, optimising our footprint, and investing behind our brands Thank you to all our team members for your support in continuing to drive our business forward and enhancing our position as a trusted partner to our customers and farmers.

The company stressed that profitability is enabling long-term commitments to its supply chain. Over the year, Pilgrims backed on-farm investment in both poultry and pork, supporting productivity, welfare and sustainability.

It became the first supplier to support Waitroses move to 100% Better Chicken Commitment higher-welfare standards from April 2025, and it announced a new 10-year pork supply deal with the retailer.

In a sector often criticised for short-term contracts, the company has introduced 20-year agreements for pig farmers. Agriculture Director Fabio Brancher said: Delivering sustainable profitability within our business allows us to address fundamental issues in our sector.

"Our new 20-year farmer contracts are a clear demonstration of how were giving producers a unique opportunity to build a business with guaranteed long-term profitability.

Pilgrims invested 109m in capital projects during 2024. Highlights included 19m in pork processing, new slow-cooked facilities in Bodmin, automation in Corsham, and upgrades at Kings Lynn, Westerleigh and Spalding.

A three-year 40m programme was launched across poultry sites in Anwick, Ashbourne, Ballymena, Craigavon and Dungannon, boosting retail and foodservice capacity. Its Meals business received 12m as part of a 40m upgrade programme at Windmill Lane and Attleborough.

Retail demand remained resilient in poultry and chilled meals through FY24 and into 2025, although pork and lamb consumption dipped due to higher price points and cost-of-living pressures.

The wider sector is grappling with planning delays, welfare-driven changes such as the Better Chicken Commitment, and plant capacity constraints.

Against this backdrop, Pilgrims said it would continue to prioritise efficiency, innovation and partnerships with retailers to help customers outperform category averages.
Family farms across Britain could be facing their toughest battle yet, with a rural consultancy warning that the governments budget may deliver a devastating blow to businesses already stretched by looming inheritance tax reforms.

Agricultural and rural property advisers Galbraith said speculation is mounting that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce further changes to inheritance tax rules later this year, raising fears that some family-run farms may be forced into selling up.

Nick Ainscough, senior associate with Galbraiths rural department, cautioned: If all the commentary is correct, there will be another round of IHT changes on top of those already announced, which really would spell the death knell for some farms.

"It is simply unaffordable for the next generation to be saddled with IHT payments from the moment they take on the farm.

Under measures already set to take effect in April 2026, only the first 1 million of qualifying property per individual or trust will benefit from 100% agricultural property relief (APR) or business property relief (BPR).

Any value above that will only receive 50% relief. In addition, any transfers made within seven years of death will count towards the 1 million cap.

Galbraith argues that these reforms will hit far more working farms than government estimates suggest, with many families already delaying investment decisions or exploring asset sales to prepare for the shift.

Commentators believe the autumn budget on 26 November could tighten the net further, with potential changes to lifetime gifting allowances and the rules on Potentially Exempt Transfers.

Currently, gifts made more than seven years before death are exempt from inheritance tax, with taper relief reducing liability between years three and seven. But proposals under discussion include capping total gifts, reducing or removing taper relief, and extending the exemption period to ten years.

Galbraith warns that such measures would strip farming families of one of the few remaining succession planning tools.

Ainscough said: Rural businesses operate on long-term considerations and investment has to be based on a strategic evaluation of all the factors potentially affecting profitability.

"A tax raid by the government is absolutely the final nail in the coffin. We will see small farms being forced to sell up unless they have taken measures to mitigate their risk.

The consultancy points to a sector already grappling with volatile farmgate prices, changing regulation, and pressure on consumer spending. Many farms, it says, are on a knife-edge even before new tax burdens take effect.

Galbraith, which manages farming, forestry and estate interests across 4.5 million acres in Scotland and the north of England, insists that government policy is being based on flawed assumptions.

From all its public statements, the government seems to have based its assessment of the sector on flawed data. It needs to look again, Ainscough stressed.

With only weeks until the budget, rural businesses are bracing themselves for confirmation of whether these feared changes will become reality.
Heela Yang, co-founder and CEO of Sol de Janeiro, has redefined global beauty standards with her vibrant, feel-good approach to skincare. Inspired by Brazils unapologetic celebration of body positivity and sensuality, Heela has built a cult-favourite brand that champions self-love, confidence, and authenticity.



Edited excerpts



Tell us about the move from New York to Brazil. What was your biggest discovery? Having worked with beauty giants, what was the aha moment that led you to launch your brand?

When I moved to Brazil, I was struck by the confidence I saw at the beach, women of every shape and age wearing bikinis with complete ease. It was liberating and made me rethink beauty as something you feel, not just how you look. That spirit of self-acceptance and celebration inspired Sol de Janeiro. I wanted to create a brand that brought that same energy to people everywhere.



Considering your illustrious career with beauty behemoths, what learnings did you apply with Sol de Janeiro?

Trust your gut and keep learning. Beauty is a creative industry, but it also demands rigorous analytics to stay close to the consumer. I have always believed in studying the market, listening to the consumer, and then leading rather than following. That combination of instinct and discipline continues to guide every decision we make.



Can you elaborate on the brands ethos and Brazilian-inspired approach to beauty?

Living in Brazil taught me that beauty is not about perfection. It is about self-celebration. That inspired Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, vibrant, sensorial, and designed to make you feel powerful in your own skin. From the bright packaging to the addictive gourmand scent, every detail was meant to capture the peak summer feeling of Brazil and shift how people think about body care.



The Bum Bum Cream sells every 4 seconds. Did you ever think the brand would be that viral, and how do you grapple with the pressure of creating a great product in an industry that now thrives on virality over functionality?

Brazilian Bum Bum Cream did not just go viral. It changed the way people connect with body care. The scent and texture created a daily ritual of self-celebration that people look forward to. Every launch since has been grounded in that same goal, combining transportive scent, luxurious texture, and results that make people feel good in their own skin.



How do you view India as a market, and what are your expansion plans for India?

Indias deep beauty traditions align perfectly with our focus on self-celebration. The market is dynamic, fast growing, and rich in cultural rituals that celebrate the body. We are excited to bring indulgent, results driven body care to India through our partnership with major global retailer, Sephora, among others, pairing rich textures with nourishing ingredients to deliver both sensorial delight and visible results.



Tell us about your new launch.

Body Badalada,thats now in Sephora, is a new generation of body lotion, light, hydrating, and rooted in self-expression. Powered by Brazilian sugarcane and seven types of hyaluronic acid, it delivers lasting hydration and glow without heaviness.

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Bobby Deol, who is enjoying a strong second innings in Bollywood after hits like Animal and The Ba***ds of Bollywood*, recently shared insights about his sons Aryaman and Dharam. In a candid conversation, the actor talked about their education, interests, and how they are choosing very different paths in life.













Speaking to Radio Nasha, Bobby revealed that while he always wanted his sons to focus on studies, their choices went in separate directions. I wanted my sons to study. My younger son left studies after 12th standard, but my elder son was selected in all the colleges he applied to. He got into NYU Stern School of Business. I didnt know much about the college, but when I told people, they said, Wow, its a great college. I thought, okay! I didnt know that, he said with a laugh.

Bobby also spoke about Aryaman, who has already started getting attention in Bollywood. The actor shared that his elder son is being approached for film offers but is not rushing into acting. He is training, preparing. A lot of offers are coming, but I dont want to throw him into the middle of the ocean without knowing how to swim. I want him to understand the art first, and then take his first step. He is working on himself, Bobby told Times Now.













The actor added that both his sons are interested in films, but he wants them fully prepared for the pressures of being star kids. Comparing with Shah Rukh Khans son Aryan Khan, Bobby said, I know how difficult it is, even being from the industry, to be Shah Rukh Khans son. If he is trying something challenging like directing, I have to be there for him.

On the work front, Bobby Deols career is picking up pace. After his acclaimed villain role in Animal, he will be seen in Anurag Kashyaps Bandar, Alia Bhatts Alpha, and the Tamil film Jana Nayagan. Bandar was also showcased at the Special Presentations section of the 50th Toronto International Film Festival.




The makers of Vaa Vaathiyaar have officially confirmed that the film will release on December 5. The announcement came from Studio Green, which called Karthi the Swag Master while sharing the news online. Directed by Nalan Kumarasamy, the film marks the filmmakers return to big-screen storytelling after several years. The release date positions Vaa Vaathiyaar as one of Tamil cinemas most anticipated year-end releases, arriving after the packed Diwali schedule.





An MGR Legacy and a Flamboyant Cop



Reports suggest that Vaa Vaathiyaar revolves around an MGR superfan who raises his grandson to carry forward the legendary actors ideals. Karthi plays a charismatic police officer who appears to embody that same larger-than-life energy. The teaser showcased his entry scene with celebratory visuals and a pulsating Santhosh Narayanan background score that set the tone for a lively action drama.



The film stars Krithi Shetty as the female lead, with veteran actors Sathyaraj and Rajkiran in key roles. The supporting cast includes Anandaraj, Shilpa Manjunath, Karunakaran, GM Sundar, Vadivukarasi, and Madhur Mittal.



The first single, Uyir Pathikaama, composed by Santhosh Narayanan and sung by Vijaynarain, Aditya Ravindran, and Santhosh himself, was released earlier this year. Written by lyricist Vivek, the song carries the films emotional pulse while staying true to Santhoshs distinct musical flair.



This project also marks Santhosh Narayanans third collaboration with Nalan Kumarasamy after Soodhu Kavvum and Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum. The technical team includes George C. Williams as the cinematographer and Vetre Krishnan as the editor.



Karthis Next Big Chapter



Vaa Vaathiyaar marks what is believed to be Karthis 27th film, following his recent performance in C. Prem Kumars Meiyazhagan alongside Arvind Swamy and Sri Divya. The actor, known for balancing intense dramas with mass entertainers, seems set to bring both charm and authority to his latest role.



Karthis upcoming lineup also includes PS Mithrans Sardar 2 and Tamizhs Marshal. With Vaa Vaathiyaar, he appears to be returning to the kind of full-on commercial territory that made him a fan favourite in films like Kaithi and Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru.



For director Nalan Kumarasamy, this film signals a shift back toward mainstream cinema. Known for his sharp writing and satirical humour, he seems to have created a story that both celebrates and playfully critiques Tamil film fandom. With Karthi leading the charge and Santhosh Narayanan on music, Vaa Vaathiyaar has the makings of a strong year-end winner.







Also Read: A Year of Meiyazhagan: When Conversations Became Cinema






Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 7, 2025) - Maritime Resources Corp. (TSXV: MAE) ("Maritime" or the "Company") today announced that it has filed and is in the process of arranging for delivery of the management information circular (the "Circular") and related proxy materials for the annual general and special meeting (the "Company Meeting") of the holders of common shares (the "Common Shares") in the capital of the Company (the "Shareholders") and the holders of options (the "Options") to purchase Common Shares (the "Optionholders", together with the "Shareholders", the "Securityholders"), to be held on November 5, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. (Toronto time) at 82 Richmond Street East, Toronto, Ontario M5C 1P1. At the Company Meeting, Securityholders will be asked to consider and, if deemed advisable, pass a special resolution (the "Arrangement Resolution") to approve a proposed arrangement (the "Arrangement"), in accordance with the terms of an arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") entered into between the Company and New Found Gold Corp. (the "Purchaser" or "New Found Gold") on September 4, 2025, pursuant to which the Purchaser agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding Common Shares that it does not already own by way of a statutory plan of arrangement pursuant to Division 5 of Part 9 of the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia).

Under the terms of the Arrangement, New Found Gold will acquire all the issued and outstanding Common Shares and Shareholders will receive 0.75 of a common share in the capital of New Found Gold (each whole share, a "New Found Gold Share") for each existing Common Share held (the "Exchange Ratio"). All outstanding Options will be canceled and exchanged for New Found Gold options exercisable for New Found Gold Shares and all outstanding Maritime warrants will become exercisable for New Found Gold Shares, with the number of New Found Gold Shares issuable on exercise and the exercise price adjusted in accordance with the Exchange Ratio, as further described in the Circular. Other than as set forth above, all other terms and conditions of the Options, including the expiry date, conditions to and manner of exercising will be the same and will be governed by the terms of the omnibus equity incentive plan of the Company. All outstanding Maritime warrants will be adjusted in accordance with their terms and shall continue to be governed by and be subject to the terms of the applicable warrant indenture or certificate.

The board of directors of the Company (the "Board"), in consultation with its senior management and financial and legal advisors, unanimously determined that the Arrangement is in the best interests of the Company and is fair to the Shareholders, and the Board unanimously approved the Arrangement. The Board unanimously recommends that Shareholders vote FOR the Arrangement Resolution at the Company Meeting.

SCP Resource Finance LP and Canaccord Genuity Corp. each provided an opinion to the Board, stating that, based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth therein, the consideration to be received by the Shareholders pursuant to the Arrangement is fair, from a financial point of view, to the Shareholders.

Approval Requirements

In accordance with the interim order granted by the Supreme Court of British Columbia on October 3, 2025, providing for the calling and holding of the Company Meeting and other procedural matters relating to the Arrangement, the Arrangement can only proceed if, among other conditions, the Arrangement Resolution is approved at the Company Meeting by at least: (i) 662/3% of the votes cast on the Arrangement Resolution by Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Company Meeting on the basis of one vote per Common Share held; and (ii) 662/3% of the votes cast on the Arrangement Resolution by Shareholders and Optionholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Company Meeting, voting together as a single class, on the basis of one vote per Common Share held and one vote for each Common Share that the Optionholder would have received on a valid exercise of such Optionholder's Options without reference to any vesting provisions or exercise price.

The completion of the Arrangement is also conditional upon and subject to customary closing conditions, including, but not limited to, the receipt of all requisite regulatory and court approvals.

Support Agreements

Each director and senior officer of the Company, Dundee Resources Limited, Mr. Eric Sprott and SCP Resource Finance LP, representing in the aggregate approximately 48.48% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, have entered into voting and support agreements with the Purchaser, pursuant to which, among other things, each such director or senior officer of the Company or significant Shareholder, has agreed to vote or cause to be voted all of the Common Shares and Options, held or controlled thereby in favour of the Arrangement Resolution.

Other Matters to be Acted Upon at the Company Meeting

In addition to the Arrangement Resolution, at the Company Meeting, Shareholders will also be asked: (i) to receive the audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2024, together with the auditor's report thereon; (ii) to fix the number of directors of the Company at six; (iii) to elect directors of the Company for the ensuing year; (iv) to appoint Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Accountants, as the auditor of the Company for the ensuing year, and to authorize the directors of the Company to fix its remuneration; (v) to consider and, if deemed advisable, to pass, with or without variation, an ordinary resolution to re-adopt and re-approve the omnibus equity incentive plan of the Company, as more fully described in the Circular; and (vi) to transact such other business as may be brought before the Company Meeting or any adjournment or adjournments thereof.

Optionholders will not have a vote on the foregoing matters to be voted upon at the Company Meeting. Optionholders will only be asked to vote on the Arrangement Resolution.

Company Meeting and Circular

The Company Meeting will be held at the offices of Maritime located at 82 Richmond Street East Toronto, Ontario M5C 1P1 on November 5, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. (Toronto time). Securityholders of record as of the close of business on September 23, 2025, are entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Company Meeting. Securityholders are urged to vote before the proxy deadline of 2:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on November 3, 2025.

The Circular provides important information on the Arrangement and related matters, including the background of the Arrangement, the rationale for the recommendations made by the Board, and voting procedures. Securityholders are urged to read the Circular and its appendices carefully and in their entirety. The Circular, the form of proxy, the voting instruction form, the financial statement request card and the letter of transmittal, as applicable, are being delivered to Securityholders in compliance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The Circular, the form of proxy, the voting instruction form, the financial statement request card and the letter of transmittal are available under Maritime's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on Maritime's website at www.maritimeresourcescorp.com/investors/annual-general-and-special-meeting/.

Impact of Canada Post Labour Strike

Due to the ongoing Canada Post labour strike, it is possible that Securityholders may experience a delay in receiving the Circular and related materials in respect of the Company Meeting. Securityholders are encouraged to access the Circular and related proxy materials electronically, as noted above. Registered Shareholders and Optionholders experiencing a delay in receiving the Circular and related proxy materials may contact Computershare Investor Services Inc. at 1-800-564-6253 to obtain their individual control numbers in order to vote their Common Shares and Options. Registered Shareholders and Optionholders are encouraged to vote their Common Shares (i) via email to service@computershare.com, (ii) via the internet at www.investorvote.com or (iii) via telephone at 1-800-732-VOTE(8683) Toll Free in North America or direct dial at 1-312-588-4290. Registered Shareholders and Optionholders are also encouraged to complete and return letters of transmittal by hand or by courier to ensure the appropriate documents are received in a timely manner. Beneficial Shareholders experiencing a delay in receiving the Circular and related materials should contact their broker or other intermediary for assistance in obtaining their individual control numbers in order to vote their Common Shares. Beneficial Shareholders are encouraged to vote their Common Shares via the internet at www.proxyvote.com or via telephone at 1- 800-474-7493 (English) or 1-800-474-7501 (French). It is recommended that any physical forms of proxy or voting instruction forms be delivered via courier to ensure that they are received in a timely manner.

Registered Shareholders who wish to exercise their dissent rights in connection with the Arrangement are also cautioned to deliver their written objection to Maritime by mail using a method other than Canada Post, in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Circular to ensure that they are received in a timely manner.

About Maritime Resources Corp.

Maritime is a gold exploration and development company focused on advancing Hammerdown Gold Project in the Baie Verte District of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, a Tier 1 jurisdiction. Maritime holds a 100% interest directly and subject to option agreements entitling it to earn 100% ownership in the Green Bay Property, which includes the former Hammerdown gold mine and the Orion gold project. Maritime controls over 439 km2 of exploration land including the Green Bay, Whisker Valley, Gull Ridge and Point Rousse projects. Mineral processing assets owned by Maritime in the Baie Verte mining district include the Pine Cove mill and the Nugget Pond Hydrometallurgical Gold Plant gold circuit.

About New Found Gold Corp.

New Found Gold is a well-financed advanced-stage exploration company that holds a 100% interest in the Queensway Gold Project, located in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, a Tier 1 jurisdiction with excellent infrastructure and a skilled local workforce.

New Found Gold has completed an initial mineral resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment at Queensway (for additional information see New Found Gold news releases dated March 24, 2025, and July 21, 2025, on the Company's website at https://newfoundgold.ca/news-releases).

Recent drilling continues to yield new discoveries along strike and down dip of known gold zones, pointing to the district-scale potential over a 110 km strike extent along two prospective fault zones.

New Found Gold has a new management team in place, a solid shareholder base, which includes an approximately 23.1% holding by Eric Sprott, and is focused on growth and value creation at Queensway.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release, including, without limitation, statements with respect to the proposed Arrangement and the terms thereof, the timing and location of the Company Meeting, the delivery of the Circular and related proxy materials, including the Canada Post Labour strike and its effect on the delivery of the Circular and related proxy materials, the completion of the Arrangement, including receipt of all necessary court, Securityholder and regulatory approvals and timing thereof, and the plans, operations and prospects of Maritime and its properties are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the risk that the Arrangement Resolution will not be approved by the Securityholders; the failure to, in a timely manner, or at all, obtain the required court approval for the Arrangement, the failure to otherwise satisfy the requisite conditions to complete the Arrangement, the possibility that the Arrangement Agreement may be terminated; the effect of the announcement of the Arrangement on the Company's strategic relationships, operating results and business generally; significant transaction costs or unknown liabilities; the risk of litigation that could prevent or hinder the completion of the Arrangement; other customary risks associated with transactions of this nature; and assumptions in respect of current and future market conditions. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis and the Circular, which are made publicly available through the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. Although Maritime has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Maritime disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269558

SOURCE: Maritime Resources Corp.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR DISSEMINATION DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES

North Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 7, 2025) - Lion One Metals Limited (TSXV: LIO) (OTCQX: LOMLF) ("Lion One" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that as a result of further investor demand, the Company has increased the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement for gross proceeds of $20,000,000 to gross proceeds of $25,000,000 (the "LIFE Offering"). The upsized LIFE Offering will consist of an offering of up to 78,125,000 units (the "Offered Units") at a price of $0.32 per Offered Unit (the "Issue Price"), pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption available under National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions, in each of the provinces and territories of Canada other than Quebec. Each Offered Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.42 for a period of three years from the date of issuance.

The Company initially announced the LIFE Offering on September 9, 2025 and previously upsized the LIFE Offering from gross proceeds of $15,000,000 to gross proceeds of $20,000,000 on September 12, 2025. On September 24, 2025, the Company closed the first tranche of the LIFE Offering (the "First Tranche") for gross proceeds of $18,715,153. Pursuant to the First Tranche, the Company issued 58,484,853 Offered Units at the Issue Price plus an additional 984,375 Offered Units at the Issue Price in lieu of paying a $315,000 cash finder's fee to one finder.

The second tranche of the LIFE Offering (the "Second Tranche") is expected to close on or around October 15, 2025. Closing of the Second Tranche will consist of the issuance of up to a further 18,655,772 Offered Units for further gross proceeds of up to $5,969,847.04.

There is an amended offering document relating to the LIFE Offering (the "Second Amended Offering Document") that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at https://liononemetals.com. Prospective investors in the LIFE Offering should read the Second Amended Offering Document before making an investment decision.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the LIFE Offering to fund the development of the Company's 100% owned and fully permitted high grade Tuvatu Gold Project, repayment of principal and interest for the Company's loan facility with Nebari, and for working capital purposes.

Closing of the LIFE Offering is subject to certain customary conditions including receipt of all necessary approvals, including satisfaction of listing conditions of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V"). The LIFE Offering may be closed in one or more tranches. The securities offered under the LIFE Offering will not be subject to Canadian resale restrictions in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

The Company may pay finders' fees in connection with the LIFE Offering, as permitted by applicable securities laws and the rules of the TSX-V. The finders' fees will consist of cash commissions equal to up to 7% of the gross proceeds raised from purchasers introduced to the Company by eligible finders and finder warrants equal to up to 7% of the aggregate number of Offered Units sold to purchasers introduced to the Company by eligible finders. Each finders warrants will entitle the holder to purchase one Common Share at a purchase price of $0.32 per finders warrant exercisable for a period of 24 months after the issuance of such finder warrants.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any Common Shares in the United States. The securities to be sold in the LIFE Offering have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

About Lion One Metals Limited

Lion One Metals is an emerging Canadian gold producer headquartered in North Vancouver BC, with new operations established in late 2023 at its 100% owned Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji. The Tuvatu project comprises the high-grade Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Deposit, the Underground Gold Mine, the Pilot Plant, and the Assay Lab. The Company also has an extensive exploration license covering the entire Navilawa Caldera, which is host to multiple mineralized zones and highly prospective exploration targets.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of

Lion One Metals Limited,

"Walter Berukoff"

Chairman of the Board

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "may", "will", "plan", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend" and similar words referring to future events and results. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by management of the Company. Forward-looking statements made in this news release include statements regarding anticipated completion of the LIFE Offering and the proposed use of proceeds of the LIFE Offering. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information since no assurance can be given that they will prove to be correct.

Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks, including, with respect to the LIFE Offering, debt settlement; the conditions of the financial markets; availability of financing; timeliness of completion of the LIFE Offering; the timing of TSX Venture Exchange approval; with respect to the use of proceeds, the sufficiency of the proceeds; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; fluctuating commodity prices; and competition, as described in more detail in our recent securities filings available at www.sedarplus.ca. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269570

SOURCE: Lion One Metals Limited
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 7, 2025) - Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc. (CSE: NOP) ("NOP" or the "Company"), a B.C. based leader in organic sedimentary phosphate exploration, is pleased to announce that it has approved the issuance of 3,500,000 stock options to certain officers, directors, and consultants of the Company for the purchase of up to 3,500,000 common shares in the capital of the Company pursuant to the Company's Stock Option Plan. Each option vested immediately and is exercisable for a period of five (5) years at an exercise price of $0.09 per share.

The Company also announces that it has agreed to issue 2,000,000 common shares of the Company to Robin Dow, CEO, and 1,000,000 common shares to Garry Smith, P. Geo., as bonus compensation (the "Compensation Shares"). The Compensation Shares are being issued at a deemed price of $0.06 per share, in accordance with policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange. All Compensation Shares issued are subject to a four (4) month and a day hold period.

The issuance of the Compensation Shares constitutes a "related party transaction" as this term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101: Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The issuance of the Shares was exempt from the valuation requirement of MI 61-101 by the virtue of the exemption contained in section 5.5(b) as the Company's Shares are not listed on a specified market and from the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemption contained in Section 5.7(1)(a) as the value of the Shares issued did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing of the Compensation Shares transaction as the details and amounts of the bonuses were not finalized until closer to the closing and the Company wished to close the transaction as soon as practicable, which the Company deems reasonable.

Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc.

NOP is a junior exploration company with an organic sedimentary raw rock phosphate bed, 6.6 kilometres long, in northeast Nevada. Additional applications extend the potential strike of rock phosphate to over 30 kilometres. This is believed to be the only known large-scale organic sedimentary phosphate project in North America. It is situated close to the main highway to Montello/Elko, Nevada, and near the rail head to California.

For More Information

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services providers have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information ("FLSI") within the meaning

of applicable securities laws. FLSI may include expectations, anticipations, beliefs, opinions, plans, intentions, estimates, forecasts, projections, guidance or other similar statements and information that are not historical facts. All statements which are not historical statements are considered FLSI. All FLSI is based on assumptions, which may prove inaccurate, and subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's public securities filings, which may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated or implied in FLSI. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance or value on FLSI. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any FLSI in this news release are reasonable at the present time, it can give no assurance that such FLSI will prove to be correct. Any FLSI in this news release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to publicly update or revise any FLSI, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. Any FLSI in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269574

SOURCE: Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc.
West Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 7, 2025) - Surge Battery Metals Inc. (TSXV: NILI) (OTCQX: NILIF) (FSE: DJ5) (the "Company" or "Surge") wishes to make a clarification with respect to its previously announced non-brokered private placement offering (the "LIFE Offering") of up to 20,000,000 units (the "Offered Units") at a price of $0.25 per Offered Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $5,000,000, pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption available under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions. Each Offered Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.40 for a period of three years from the date of issuance. In connection with the offering 3L Capital Inc. is acting as financial advisor to the transaction.

The Company previously announced that the proceeds of the LIFE Offering will, among other matters, position Surge to meet near-term funding commitments under the contemplated joint venture (the "JV") with Evolution Mining Limited on the Nevada North Lithium Project. The Company wishes to clarify that the LIFE Offering is not conditional on the formation of the JV and in the event the JV is not formed, the Company will use certain proceeds currently contemplated for the JV for other purposes as further set out in the Amended Offering Document (as defined below). There is no certainty that the JV will be formed and the TSX Venture Exchange has not approved the proposed JV.

There is an amended and restated offering document relating to the LIFE Offering (the "Amended Offering Document") that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and at https://surgebatterymetals.com/. Prospective investors in the LIFE Offering should read the Amended Offering Document before making an investment decision.

The securities issued pursuant to the LIFE Offering have not, nor will they be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons in the absence of U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Surge Battery Metals Inc.

Surge Battery Metals, a Canadian-based mineral exploration company, is at the forefront of securing the supply of domestic lithium through its active engagement in the Nevada North Lithium Project. The project focuses on exploring for clean, high-grade lithium energy metals in Nevada, USA, a crucial element for powering electric vehicles. With a primary listing on the TSX Venture Exchange in Canada and the OTCQX Market in the US, Surge Battery Metals Inc. is strategically positioned as a key player in advancing lithium exploration.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

"Greg Reimer"

Greg Reimer,

President & CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This document may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan" or "planned", "possible", "potential", "forecast", "intend", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information herein include, but are not limited to, statements concerning future prices of commodities including lithium and nickel, the accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, the accuracy of cash flow forecasts, projected capital and operating costs, metal processing recoveries, mine life, production rates, regulatory or government requirements or approvals including approvals of title and mining rights or licenses and environmental, local community or indigenous community approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure or water, changes in laws, rules and regulations including in the United States, Nevada or California or any other jurisdiction which may impact upon the Company or its properties or the commercial exploitation of those properties, currency risks including the exchange rate of USD$ for Cdn$ or other currencies, fluctuations in the market for lithium related products, changes in exploration costs and government royalties, export policies or taxes in the United States or any other jurisdiction and other factors or information, the Company's expectations with respect to the use of proceeds and the use of available funds following completion of the LIFE Offering, and the completion of the LIFE Offering. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

This news release is not for distribution to U.S. newswire services for dissemination in the United States

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269579

SOURCE: Surge Battery Metals Inc.




BANGKOK, Oct 8, 2025 - (ACN Newswire) - Sappe PCL (SAPPE), Thailand's leading innovator in beverages, showcased the strength of Thai beverage innovation on the world stage once again at Anuga 2025, the world's largest food and beverage trade fair. Held from October 4 ~ 8, 2025 in Cologne, Germany, under the theme "Sustainable Growth", the event gathered more than 8,000 exhibitors from 110 countries.SAPPE presented its iconic brand Mogu Mogu, the world-famous Snackable Drink alongside other popular brands, underscoring the company's innovative spirit in the main exhibition zone. The highlight of the showcase was the official launch of Mogu Mogu's new global campaign, 'Life's too Short, You Gotta Chew,' introduced to an international audience as part of SAPPE's mission to bring Thai creativity and innovation to the global beverage market.Ms Piyajit Ruckariyapong, CEO of Sappe, said the Mogu Mogu booth drew strong attention from international visitors with its vibrant, playful design that captured the brand's cheerful DNA. As the world's first Snackable Drink, Mogu Mogu celebrated the joy of chewing with interactive experiences like the 'Play Game!' station, which invited attendees to experience the brand's fun and engaging personality. The booth also featured the debut screening of the new 'Life's too Short, You Gotta Chew' campaign films, highlighting positivity, creativity, and playfulness - values that align closely with SAPPE's vision of building a global lifestyle brand through innovation and emotional connection.Participating in Anuga 2025 marks another milestone in SAPPE's journey to elevate Thai innovation to the world stage. This year's Anuga spotlighted the key trends shaping the future of global food and beverage - from plant-based diversity and personalized nutrition to clean label transparency and sustainability as the new standard - all of which resonate with SAPPE's commitment to enhancing consumer well-being through creative, sustainable products.With distribution in over 100 countries, Mogu Mogu - the World-Famous Nata de Coco Snackable Drink - has become a symbol of Thai soft power and a pioneer in the global Snackable Drink category. This year, SAPPE continues to expand its global footprint and strengthen engagement with fans worldwide through the new campaign 'Life's too Short, You Gotta Chew', which connects with the young generation's lifestyle of Social Connection, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and Playful & Fun energy. The campaign extends across key international markets including South Korea, Indonesia, France, and the United Kingdom, with immersive activations both online and offline."Being part of Anuga this year reaffirms our pride as a Thai brand that can compete on the world stage," said Ms Ruckariyapong. "We believe in the power of innovation, creativity, and determination to continuously deliver happiness and value to consumers around the world."In addition to the global spotlight on Mogu Mogu, SAPPE introduced new product innovations such as Mogu Mogu Candy and Mogu Mogu Pretzel, extending the brand's playful concept into new formats. Visitors also enjoyed SAPPE's popular beverage lines including Sappe Aloe Vera Drink, Sappe Beauti, and All Coco, reflecting the company's commitment to quality and creativity in every product.Anuga, held biennially in Cologne, has been the world's leading food and beverage trade fair for over 106 years, since its debut in 1919. The event continues to serve as a key platform driving innovation and setting global benchmarks for the industry. SAPPE's participation underscores its mission to connect with global partners, strengthen the presence of Thai brands in international markets, and position itself as a company driven by innovation, sustainability, and the joyful spirit of the 'Home of Innovators.'Through its presence at Anuga 2025, SAPPE continues to inspire and deliver happiness to consumers worldwide - one bottle of Mogu Mogu at a time.About SAPPESappe PCl (SAPPE) is a leading Thai beverage innovator and the creator of the "Snack Drink" category through its iconic global brand, Mogu Mogu, now exported to over 100 countries across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. The company specializes in fruit juice and functional health beverages designed to serve the evolving lifestyle needs of modern consumers around the world.SAPPE's diverse portfolio includes globally recognized brands such as Mogu Mogu, the world's first snackable drink; Sappe Aloe Vera, known for its refreshing taste and natural ingredients; and Sappe Beauti, a functional drink line focused on health, wellness, and women empowerment. Headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, SAPPE is listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) under the symbol SAPPE.Driven by innovation, deep consumer insights, and a strong commitment to sustainability, SAPPE operates with a balanced focus on product innovation, economic performance, social responsibility, and environmental impact. The company believes that building a sustainable future begins with valuing people, embracing diversity, and leading with authenticity, creativity, and the courage to drive positive change. SAPPE's mission is to inspire lives worldwide one meaningful beverage at a time.Sappe official: https://www.sappe.com/en/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sappeplaygroundInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mogumogu_global/Line: https://shop.line.me/@sappeonlineShopee: https://shopee.co.th/sappe.officialEmail: corpcom@sappe.comSappe PCL [SET: SAPPE; SAPPE/F; SAPPE-R]?https://www.sappe.com/en/?Source: SAPPECopyright 2025 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
West Kelowna, British Columbia and Bonham, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - October 7, 2025) - Kelso Technologies Inc. (TSX: KLS) ("Kelso" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that is has appointed CBIZ CPAs P.C. ("CBIZ" or "Successor Auditor") as the Company's new public accounting firm, effective October 6, 2025.

CBIZ was appointed following the receipt by the Company of the formal resignation of Smythe LLP ("Smythe" or "Former Auditor") effective September 25, 2025. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Audit Committee") accepted the resignation of Smythe as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm due to a change in Smythe's policies.

The Board of Directors of the Company, on the recommendation of the Audit Committee after reviewing multiple accounting firm proposals, selected CBIZ as the new auditor until the next Annual General Meeting of the Company.

"CBIZ is ranked among the top 10 public accounting firms in the United States. Their worldwide coverage will be a great asset in Kelso's next phase of growth, and we look forward to working with them," said Mark Temen, independent director and Audit Committee Chair.

The Company has sent a Notice of Change of Auditor (the "Notice") to the Former Auditor and to the Successor Auditor and has received a letter from each, addressed to the securities commissions in each of British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario stating that they agree with the information contained in the Notice. The Notice and letters have been reviewed by the Company's Board of Directors.

The Notice, together with the letters from the Former Auditor and the Successor Auditor are available on SEDAR+ in Canada and on EDGAR in the United States.

About Kelso Technologies

Kelso is a diverse transportation equipment company that specializes in the creation, production, sales and distribution of proprietary products used in rail and other transportation. The Company's rail equipment business has been developed as a designer and reliable domestic supplier of unique high-quality tank car valves that provide for the safe handling and containment of commodities during rail transport. Kelso products are designed to address the challenging issues of public safety, worker well-being and potential environmental harm while providing effective and efficient operational advantages to customers through the use of the Company's portfolio of proprietary products.

For a more complete business and financial profile of the Company, please view the Company's website at www.kelsotech.com and public documents posted under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ in Canada and on EDGAR in the United States.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Frank Busch

President & Chief Executive Officer

Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements indicate expectations or intentions. Forward-looking statements in this news release include the summary description of the Company's business. Although Kelso believes the Company's anticipated future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, they can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. The reader should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information as such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors including economic uncertainties and events which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Kelso to differ materially from anticipated future results, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and information. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to update the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this news release.

For further information, please contact:

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269585

SOURCE: Kelso Technologies Inc.
CAMDEN (dpa-AFX) - Campbell's Co. (CPB) announced the appointment of Todd Cunfer as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective October 20, 2025. Cunfer succeeds Carrie Anderson who is leaving the company to pursue new opportunities. Cunfer will report to Campbell's President and Chief Executive Officer Mick Beekhuizen and become a member of the company's Operating Committee and an Executive Officer. Cunfer has over 25 years of finance and operational experience in the consumer packaged goods industry, specifically in food. He joins Campbell's from Freshpet (FRPT) where he served as Chief Financial Officer since 2022. From 2017 until 2022, he was Chief Financial Officer at Simply Good Foods Company. Previously, Cunfer spent over twenty years in senior finance roles at The Hershey Company (HSY), including Vice President International Finance, Vice President, Global Supply Chain Finance and Vice President, North America Finance. Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Relief Therapeutics Holding SA / Key word(s): Mergers & Acquisitions

Relief Therapeutics and NeuroX, Successor to MindMaze, Sign Definitive Agreement for Business Combination



08-Oct-2025 / 07:00 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Relief Therapeutics and NeuroX, Successor to MindMaze, Sign Definitive Agreement for Business Combination Companies sign definitive agreement following previously announced binding term sheet

Transaction to create an expanded, SIX-listed, commercial-stage, AI-driven, scalable health tech company

Combined company to be renamed MindMaze Therapeutics Holding SA upon closing

Positioned as a global leader in evidence-based neurotherapeutic solutions for neurological diseases and brain disorders

Over 250 hospitals and rehabilitation centers, thousands of home sessions deployed, and multiple pharma collaborations establish robust commercialization footprint

Proprietary neuro-data engine and responsible AI framework will enable scalable precision medicine for neurological diseases based on more than 30,000 patients

Secured a unique reimbursement code (CAT-3) to support the delivery of its home-based neurotherapeutic training in the United States

Over the past decade MindMaze has raised and invested more than USD 350 million to establish clinical evidence, demonstrate significant medico-therapeutic outcomes and market disease-modifying platforms including stroke, Parkinson's and at-risk aging

Closing expected in December 2025, subject to customary conditions and approvals

GENEVA and LAUSANNE (Oct. 8, 2025) - RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA (SIX: RLF , OTCQB: RLFTF , RLFTY ) (Relief or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company committed to delivering innovative treatment options for select specialty, unmet and rare diseases, and NeuroX Group SA (NeuroX), a privately held company focused on digital neurotherapeutics and brain health technologies, today announced they have entered into a definitive agreement to combine their businesses. The proposed combination will create a publicly listed, AI-based therapeutics platform integrating software-delivered, disease-modifying clinical interventions with pharmacological treatments and a comprehensive brain health platform. NeuroX contributes a clinically validated, de-risked portfolio supported by multiple milestones achieved across technological development, regulatory approvals, and market access, as well as a solid network of pharmaceutical partners. AI and Data Platform for Precision Neurology The MindMaze proprietary technology stack integrates multimodal data collected across thousands of patients in clinical and real-world settings. In the future, the platform will build on advanced machine learning and federated AI models to personalize neurorehabilitation, predict recovery trajectories, and optimize pharmacological and digital treatment combinations. All technologies are developed in compliance with EU AI Act principles, GDPR, MDR, and FDA Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) frameworks, ensuring transparency and clinical-grade data integrity. Commercial-Stage Footprint and Reimbursement Readiness NeuroX's clinically validated digital neurotherapeutic suite is currently deployed in over 250 clinics and rehabilitation centers globally. Its solutions are supported by a unique U.S. Category III reimbursement code (CAT-3), enabling scalable and recurring revenue generation. Over the past decade, more than USD 350 million has been invested to build this data-rich therapeutic platform, supported by strong evidence of improved clinical and medico-economic outcomes in stroke, Parkinson's disease, and at-risk aging. Additional R&D initiatives target multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and Alzheimer's/dementia. Gregory Van Beek, vice-chairman of the board of directors of Relief, said: "Over the past months, our collaboration with NeuroX has confirmed the potential of combining our businesses. With today's signing, we are advancing a transaction that represents a compelling and risk-balanced, high-growth investment case. The combined company will stand as an attractive complement to other innovative technology and healthcare SMEs listed on SIX, while offering Relief shareholders exposure to a differentiated therapeutic platform. We are confident this is a well-structured and value-creating transaction for our investors." Tej Tadi, founder of MindMaze, added: "Finalizing this agreement is a pivotal step in our ongoing journey. Over the years we have built a de-risked platform through sustained investment, clinical validation, regulatory approvals and reimbursement milestones, and we are now ready to scale. Partnering with Relief and accessing the public markets will enable us to broaden adoption of our precision neurology solutions and expand collaborations across pharma and healthcare." Leadership and Governance Upon completion of the transaction, the combined company will be guided by Tej Tadi, founder of MindMaze, supported by NeuroX's current executive leadership team and additional key hires underway. Relief's chief financial officer will continue in that role. Other members of Relief's current executive committee will assume management positions, focusing on Relief's existing business and supporting the NeuroX platform. At an upcoming extraordinary general meeting, Relief's board of directors will propose the election of four new members. Gregory Van Beek, the sole incumbent director, will continue to serve on the board of directors to ensure continuity and support the integration of the two companies. Transaction Terms The transaction is based on agreed equity valuations of CHF 100 million for Relief, a premium to its current market capitalization, and CHF 1 billion for NeuroX. Under the terms of the agreement, NeuroX shareholders shall contribute all their NeuroX shares to Relief in exchange for newly issued SIX-listed Relief shares, at a fixed exchange ratio of 140 Relief shares per NeuroX share. Based on this exchange ratio and reflecting an agreed relative valuation of 10-to-1 on a fully diluted basis in favor of NeuroX, Relief will issue 140,000,000 new ordinary shares to acquire NeuroX. Following completion, Relief expects to have 152,584,419 ordinary shares outstanding, excluding 1,500,398 treasury shares and subject to adjustments for any outstanding options exercised prior to closing. The transaction has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies and is expected to close in December 2025. Completion remains subject, inter alia, to approval of the transaction by Relief's shareholders and to the admission of the newly issued Relief shares for listing and trading on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Upon closing, Relief will be renamed MindMaze Therapeutics Holding SA. NeuroX is in advanced discussions to secure a new CHF 200 million equity commitment through a share subscription facility with Relief's shareholder Global Emerging Markets (GEM), in addition to an existing equity commitment to be contributed by Relief representing an additional CHF 50 million. The combined company will also seek to uplist its OTC ADR program to a Level III as soon as practicable after closing the business combination, expanding visibility and access to U.S. investors. Additional Information Relief will convene an extraordinary general meeting to submit to shareholders the proposals required to implement the contemplated transaction, including the issuance of new shares to NeuroX shareholders and the election of new members to the board of directors. Relief and NeuroX intend to host a joint press conference on or around the day of the extraordinary general meeting. An investor presentation with additional information on the combined company is currently available for download on Relief's website . YUMA Capital is acting as financial advisor for the transaction.

ABOUT NEUROX

NeuroX is a Swiss-based, commercial-stage company that in 2025 acquired strategic assets of MindMaze Group SA and MindMaze SA (MindMaze), including intellectual property and the MindMaze brand, through a pre-pack transaction in connection with MindMaze's debt restructuring moratorium. MindMaze has developed first-of-its-kind neurotherapeutics that provide disease-modifying motor and cognitive treatments for neurological diseases and brain disorders. These neurotherapeutics are delivered through proprietary software and hardware, underpinned by an advanced brain technology platform that integrates wearables and sensors, and provides digital assessments as well as telehealth services. The unique suite of MindMaze solutions is delivered globally across the continuum-of-care, both in-clinic and in patients' home, to successfully address some of neurology's major unmet needs. NeuroX has already partnered with leading pharmaceutical companies that use its proprietary technology across multiple clinical trials. Over the last decade, MindMaze has raised and invested more than USD 350 million to establish clinical evidence, demonstrate significant medico-economic outcomes, and market MindMaze's disease-modifying therapeutic platform across neurological diseases, including stroke, Parkinson's disease, and at-risk aging. In the United States, MindMaze has received a unique reimbursement code (CAT-3) to support the delivery of its home-based neurotherapeutic training. Its R&D pipeline focuses on adjacent neurological diseases, such as spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and Alzheimer's disease/dementia. Moved by the mission to accelerate the brain's ability to recover, the MindMaze platform innovates by combining software-delivered behavioral treatments, drugs, devices, data, and AI to establish a new paradigm of precision medicine in neurology and neural repair.

ABOUT RELIEF

Relief is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to advancing treatment paradigms and improving the lives of patients with rare and debilitating diseases. With core expertise in drug delivery systems and drug repurposing, Relief's clinical pipeline includes innovative treatments designed to address critical unmet medical needs in rare dermatological, metabolic and respiratory conditions. The Company has also successfully brought several approved products to market through licensing and distribution partnerships. Headquartered in Geneva, Relief is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the symbol RLF and quoted in the U.S. on OTCQB under the symbols RLFTF and RLFTY. For more information, visit www.relieftherapeutics.com .

CONTACT

RELIEF THERAPEUTICS Holding SA

Jeremy Meinen

Chief Financial Officer

contact@relieftherapeutics.com MindMaze

pr@mindmaze.com

DISCLAIMER

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as "believe," "assume," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "will," or similar expressions. These statements are based on current plans and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, financial condition, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such factors include, but are not limited to, changes in economic conditions, market developments, regulatory changes, competitive dynamics, and other risks or changes in circumstances. There can be no assurance that the proposed business combination will be completed on the terms described herein or at all. This communication is provided as of the date hereof, and Relief undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. No offer or solicitation - This press release does not constitute (i) a prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act or under any other applicable laws, (ii) a solicitation of proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed business combination or (iii) an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation to buy any security of Relief, NeuroX, or any of their respective affiliates. No securities may be sold in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration, or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. This press release should not be regarded as investment advice or offering material of any kind and is provided for information purposes only, nor shall it or any part of it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract or investment decision. This announcement is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, or any other jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.

Additional features:





File: Ad hoc release

End of Inside Information
Chicago, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - In response to the industry's needs, ExcelMindCyber Institute has expanded its training programs to serve a larger global audience. ExcelMindCyber's programs provide accelerated, hands-on learning experiences designed to get students job-ready in 90 days, making high-paying cybersecurity roles accessible to individuals with no prior technical background.

ExcelMindCyber Institute Expands Training Programs to Help Non-Tech Professionals Enter the Cybersecurity Industry

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/268996_5ab4ca441429bb08_002full.jpg

ExcelMindCyber's GRC training program equips participants with the practical knowledge required to enter the cybersecurity workforce in as little as 90 days. Through accelerated, hands-on learning, individuals from various sectors, including finance, healthcare, and administration, are empowered to transition into this fast-growing industry without the need for extensive technical experience.

Global Expansion of Training Programs

ExcelMindCyber Institute has also increased its global reach, now operating in 47 countries, making its training programs available to a broader international student base. The online platform provides flexible learning opportunities, with students able to access materials and live sessions from anywhere in the world. This expansion aims to bridge the global cybersecurity skills gap by offering accessible training solutions for professionals eager to enter the field.

"We're committed to making cybersecurity careers accessible to everyone, regardless of their prior technical experience," said Tolulope Michael, Chief Visionary Officer of ExcelMindCyber Institute. "Our GRC training programs provide an effective and fast-track solution for professionals seeking to enter the industry."

Training Professionals for the Cybersecurity Workforce

ExcelMindCyber's expanded GRC programs are designed to address the cybersecurity talent shortage by providing non-technical professionals with the necessary skills to fill critical roles. The programs prioritize hands-on training, real-world case studies, and job placement assistance to ensure graduates are job-ready and equipped to thrive in the cybersecurity sector.

ExcelMindCyber Institute Expands Training Programs to Help Non-Tech Professionals Enter the Cybersecurity Industry

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/268996_5ab4ca441429bb08_003full.jpg

About ExcelMindCyber Institute

ExcelMindCyber Institute is a leading provider of accelerated cybersecurity training, specializing in non-technical roles such as Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC). The institute offers job-ready programs designed to equip professionals from diverse industries with the skills needed to enter the cybersecurity workforce quickly and effectively. ExcelMindCyber Institute is committed to providing accessible and effective training solutions to meet the global demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/268996

SOURCE: Plentisoft
Kawasaki and Las Vegas, Oct 8, 2025 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Limited and ARYA Inc. (hereinafter ARYA) today announced a strategic partnership for the joint development and deployment of a new security solution. The solution integrates Fujitsu's video analytics AI technology, from the Fujitsu Smart Space Uvance offering, with ARYA's geospatial AI, which enables real-time data visualization and message sharing. The collaboration, formalized on September 22, 2025, aims to significantly enhance security across public and private facilities by automatically identifying suspicious activity and supporting rapid on-site response using existing monitoring, thereby helping to make safer and more livable cities and spaces.Moving forward, Fujitsu and ARYA will further accelerate their collaboration as Uvance partners, promoting the deployment of this solution in public facilities such as airports and large resort hotels, primarily in North America. Aligned with a shared vision of "realizing a safe, secure, and sustainable society through innovation," the two parties aim to fundamentally transform how organizations detect, respond to, and prevent crime, thereby contributing to the creation of safer and more livable urban spaces.Fujitsu will further advance its Uvance business model, utilizing data and AI to optimize facilities and services, ultimately creating secure, safe, and attractive living environments that address pressing societal challenges.Features of the new solutionThe solution leverages Fujitsu's AI technology for video analytics, which combines over 100 types of basic behavior data. This eliminates the need for large volumes of training data, allowing it to detect suspicious behaviors such as loitering from footage recorded through existing security monitoring measures. The system can also automatically track identified individuals across multiple camera feeds, allowing for consistent monitoring of their actions throughout the entire target area.By integrating ARYA's geospatial AI technology, detected suspicious behaviors are immediately pinpointed on a map, providing real-time location alerts. This intuitive visual representation ensures comprehensive situational awareness across extensive monitoring areas, enabling swift and efficient information exchange among security staff in both the public and private sector. In a successful proof-of-concept conducted with Wynn Resorts, Limited, a leading U.S. hotel resort owner and operator, the solution accurately identified and promptly notified of suspicious activities.Robert Wilson, CEO and Chairman, ARYA, Inc. comments:"True security begins with true intelligence. ARYA and Fujitsu will evolve security beyond incident response to proactive prevention within organizations."Hidenori Ito, Head of Cross Industry Solution Business Unit, Fujitsu Limited comments:"This partnership will leverage Fujitsu's AI and ARYA's technology to achieve crime prevention through enhanced security. Together with ARYA and our customers, we aim to realize a safe, secure, and sustainable society."Todd Fasulo, SVP, Wynn/Encore comments:"We strive to maintain the exceptional guest experience at our properties and are piloting new emergent technology provided by ARYA and Fujitsu."Roles and responsibilitiesFujitsu:- Provision of high-precision AI technology for video analytics from the Smart Space Uvance offering (including implementation, operation, and maintenance of the solution), as well as the research and development of continuous joint solutions.ARYA:- Integration of its City Connect geospatial AI technology to provide real-time alerts for suspicious behavior, streamlining information sharing among facility security personnel- Responsible for solution offerings, marketing, and serving as the primary contact for all customer operations and maintenance.About FujitsuFujitsu's purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers around the globe, our 113,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: AI, Computing, Networks, Data and Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$23 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. Find out more: global.fujitsuAbout ARYA, Inc.ARYA is redefining organizational resilience and communication with its cutting-edge AI and quantum-powered platform. Designed to protect people, assets, and intellectual property, ARYA delivers critical information to the right people at the right time-transforming daily operations and crisis management. Built in collaboration with global leaders in law enforcement, cybersecurity, and enterprise technology, ARYA is creating safer, smarter communities. Learn more at: www.ARYA.EarthPress ContactsFujitsu LimitedInquiriesArya, IncAriana Brandt, Director of CommunicationsAriana.Brandt@ARYA.EarthSource: Fujitsu LtdCopyright 2025 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - Purebread Brands Inc. (TSXV: BRED) ("Purebread" or the "Company") announces that its wholly owned subsidiary, Coho Acquisition Corp. (the "Borrower"), has received a demand letter (the "Demand Letter") from the Bank of Montreal (the "Bank") in respect of amounts owed under a letter of agreement dated June 28, 2023, as amended (the "Letter of Agreement"), among the Bank, the Borrower, and Purebread Bakery Inc. as guarantor.

In the Demand Letter, the Bank demanded immediate payment of C$5,209,930 owed under the Letter of Agreement. The outstanding balance consists of a revolving operating demand loan, a non-revolving demand loan, and a corporate credit card facility.

The Bank has also delivered to the Company a Notice of Intention to Enforce Security (the "BIA Notice") pursuant to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) in respect of the indebtedness secured under a General Security Agreement dated September 20, 2023, covering all property of the Purebread Bakery Inc.

Pursuant to section 244(1) of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Bank shall not enforce its security over the collateral until October 14, 2025, unless the borrower consents to earlier enforcement.

The Company is pursuing opportunities to repay the amounts due under the Letter of Agreement, which may include a recapitalization or refinancing transaction, or a third-party assumption or purchase of the outstanding obligations.

The Company will provide an update when further disclosure is required or otherwise appropriate.

About Purebread Brands Inc.:

Purebread Brands Inc. is a leader in fast-casual cafe / bakeries in British Columbia, driving retail expansion in vibrant communities across Canada and beyond. Purebread is committed to crafting exceptional food experiences and making a positive impact on the communities it serves.

For more information and updated investor presentation, please visit www.purebreadbrands.com or contact:

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts.

These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. In making the forward looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269618

SOURCE: Purebread Brands Inc.
Paris, October 8, 2025 - WALLIX (Euronext ALLIX), a European Identity & Access Management (IAM) vendor and recognized leader in Privileged Access Management (PAM), provides simple and secure solutions enabling organizations to operate freely across digital (IT) and industrial (OT) environments. WALLIX today announces that its WALLIX PAM solution has obtained the fixed-time security certification (Beschleunigte Sicherheitszertifizierung, BSZ) from the BSI (Bundesamt fur Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik), the German Federal Office for Information Security. Thanks to mutual recognition agreements, this certification is also recognized by ANSSI (Agence nationale de la securite des systemes d'information), the French national cybersecurity authority, further strengthening WALLIX's position as a strategic player in European cybersecurity.

A strategic recognition for public market and critical operators

The certification granted by BSI confirms that the WALLIX PAM solution meets the cybersecurity requirements as defined by the BSI and the ANSSI by mutual recognition. As part of Franco-German cooperation in the field of cybersecurity, ANSSI and BSI have established a mutual recognition agreement for their respective national certifications (CSPN in France and BSZ in Germany). This agreement ensures that certification issued by one authority is recognized by the other, without the need for a new evaluation. It is a lever of mutual trust, regulatory simplification, and support for the development of a European cybersecurity market built on shared, internationally recognized standards.

The BSZ certification is therefore also recognized by ANSSI and applies within the regulatory frameworks covering e.g.:

Public administrations , subject to policies of digital sovereignty and strict compliance requirements,

, subject to policies of digital sovereignty and strict compliance requirements, Operators of Vital Importance (OIVs) and Operators of Essential Services (OESs) , which must guarantee the continuity and resilience of their critical infrastructures,

and , which must guarantee the continuity and resilience of their critical infrastructures, Large enterprises and regulated industries (energy, transport, healthcare, finance), for which cybersecurity is both a lever of trust and competitiveness.

A European first, WALLIX selects the BSI process for its certification

WALLIX is now the only PAM software vendor to have obtained certification through the BSI process yet, recognized in both Germany and France - two of the most demanding cybersecurity markets in the world. This recognition reinforces WALLIX's credibility with customers seeking sovereign, certified solutions compliant with European standards such as NIS2, DORA, as well as national and industry-specific cybersecurity regulations.

With this achievement, WALLIX continues to deliver on its mission: protecting identities, access, and critical infrastructures, while promoting a cybersecurity approach aligned with both regulatory requirements and the operational efficiency of enterprises.

A major expansion opportunity in Germany

The NIS2 directive will affect approximately 150,000 entities in Europe, including nearly 15,000 in France and around 30,000 in Germany, according to the draft transposition law presented by the German government. The German market alone is roughly twice the size of the French market in terms of entities subject to new cybersecurity obligations. As a reference player in France, chosen by 80% of Operators of Essential Services (OESs), WALLIX now positions itself as a European leader to support compliance and the protection of critical infrastructures in Germany and across Europe.

WALLIX's mission remains clear: to protect identities, access, and critical infrastructures, empowering organizations to operate freely and securely in a secure digital world.

About WALLIX

WALLIX is a European cybersecurity software vendor that provides companies with robust identity and access security solutions, ensuring seamless and secure digital interactions. WALLIX's innovative technologies in privileged access management, employee access, and governance access protect critical assets, streamline compliance, and improve operational efficiency. Committed to providing simple and secure identity and access solutions, WALLIX's mission is to enable secure operations in digital (IT) and industrial (OT) environments.

www.wallix.com | info@wallix.com

FINANCIAL COMMUNICATION CONTACTS

ACTUS Finance & Communication

Investor Relations - Helene de Watteville

+33 (0)1 53 67 36 33 / WALLIX@actus.fr

Press Relations - Deborah Schwartz+33 (0)6 27 09 05 73 / dschwartz@actus.fr

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Firm to invest 300-350 million to modernise and expand on its Bournemouth campus, including a new building and upgraded facilities for more than 5,300 employees

JPMorganChase announces 3.5 million philanthropic investment over five years to local non-profits, supporting young people's skills development and career access in the South West

As the largest private sector employer in Dorset JPMorganChase has been operating in Bournemouth since 1986

JPMorganChase today announces two major investments to strengthen Bournemouth's workforce and community. The firm will invest 300-350 million to modernise and expand on the Bournemouth campus for its 5,300 local employees, and provide 3.5 million over five years to support local non-profit organisations dedicated to helping young people in the South West develop skills and access career opportunities. These investments underscore JPMorganChase's commitment to its employees, the local community, and its confidence in Bournemouth as a place to do business.

Modern campus for its 5,300 local employees

The extensive modernisation and expansion project will be a significant financial investment in the current site, which JPMorganChase moved to nearly 40 years ago. It will add a new building and transform both existing and new spaces into a world-class centre for financial innovation, payments technology, and artificial intelligence. In line with the firm's approach to real estate development, employees can expect enhanced workplace experiences, dedicated collaborative and communal areas, and enhanced health and wellness facilities among other improvements. Plans will be submitted to local authorities in the coming weeks, and will be subject to approval.

Jamie Dimon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of JPMorganChase, said: "Bournemouth has long demonstrated that there is strong financial services and technology talent outside of London, and we're proud to be the largest private employer there. Wherever we operate, we believe in making a positive impact, and this long-term investment in a world-class workplace and in local skills development is something the community will truly benefit from."

As JPMorganChase approaches 40 years in Bournemouth, the firm has grown from 650 employees in 1986 to 5,300 today. The Bournemouth campus, the firm's second largest location in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), is now a vital hub for global operations, employing staff in operations, technology, and client services that support clients in 100 global markets. As Dorset's largest private sector employer, the site processes around 350,000 transactions daily, totalling over $1 trillion each day.

The campus leverages AI and advanced technologies to improve service platforms and drive digital innovation. Bournemouth employees are also active in the community. In 2024, employees supported more than 100 non-profits, with 2,370 volunteers contributing over 8000 hours to 136 local projects.

Tom Hayes, Member of Parliament for Bournemouth East said: "I'm delighted that JPMorganChase's latest investment will help more young people build their future here in Bournemouth, rather than feel they have to leave to get ahead. Their continued commitment to the area is a huge boost to our local economy and clearly signals that Bournemouth is a great place to build a future."

Jessica Toale, Member of Parliament for Bournemouth West said: "JPMorganChase has been a great success story and mainstay in Bournemouth for decades. I am pleased to see the firm's continued commitment to the town as they move forward with their building plans and their support for building skills and opportunities for our young people locally. Not only does this show that the UK is open for business, it is a huge boost for our economy in the South West."

JPMorganChase invests 3.5 million in the South West region as part of 40 million UK commitment

In addition to its campus renovation, JPMorganChase will provide 3.5 million over five years to support career opportunities for young people in the South West. This is part of the firm's broader 40 million commitment to promote sustainable economic growth across the UK.

As part of that, JPMorganChase is announcing 980,000 in philanthropic support to Business in the Community (BITC), the UK's largest responsible business network. Working with local employers and stakeholders, this funding will help drive business-led initiatives to improve social mobility, such as skills-based hiring and expanding access to pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programmes. In the long term these efforts should attract further investment in the area.

Karine Sweeney, Managing Director of JPMorganChase's Bournemouth site, will leverage her insights as a member of the BCP Growth Board-a business-led group established by the local council-to help drive economic growth and better define local skills needs in the region. Today's support for BITC aligns with the BCP Growth Board's work to foster and retain top talent in the area. Karine said: "Our success in Bournemouth is down to the great potential of the local workforce. That's why we're so heavily invested in the careers of young people in the area it's the right thing to do but it also makes good business sense to help nurture the available talent of tomorrow."

Sue Husband, Executive Director of Community Impact at Business in the Community, said: "We know that businesses can play a significant role in helping to tackle barriers to social mobility and providing quality careers in our communities. Through the support of JPMorganChase, we can bring together both the business community and public sector to drive change in hiring practices, moving toward skills-based recruitment in the region."

Building on existing investments in the South West to enhance social mobility

Last year, JPMorganChase announced its support for Young Enterprise, a national non-profit focused on enterprise and financial education. This philanthropic investment is also part of the broader 40 million UK commitment and aims to improve social mobility by connecting 70% of local secondary school students with employers and business leaders. In the first year alone, 2,900 students gained work experience, internships, and volunteer opportunities. Today's announcement builds on this progress by further promoting social mobility through business collaboration.

JPMorganChase also helps social housing residents gain skills for green construction jobs through a partnership with the Housing Associations Charitable Trust. This programme benefits local residents and helps housing associations meet their sustainability goals.

JPMorganChase recruitment practices creating quality career opportunities

JPMorganChase is dedicated to creating career opportunities in the South West and believes today's investment will help attract and retain top talent. By focusing on skill-based hiring valuing a person's abilities over degrees or job titles the firm attracts employees from a wider variety of backgrounds. The "skills-first" approach benefits candidates across the country, especially in areas such as Bournemouth, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, where the firm is recruiting for technology, operations, and corporate jobs.

JPMorganChase provides opportunities for young people through internships and apprenticeship programmes at the firm. Bournemouth was the firm's first UK location to launch an apprenticeship programme for financial services roles, hiring over 600 apprentices in the past decade, with more than 80% landing full-time roles.

About JPMorganChase

JPMorgan Chase Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America ("U.S."), with operations worldwide. JPMorganChase had $4.6 trillion in assets and $357 billion in stockholders' equity as of June 30, 2025. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. Under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands, the Firm serves millions of customers in the U.S., and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients globally. Information about JPMorgan Chase Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com

JPMorganChase in the UK

With a legacy dating back more than 200 years, JPMorganChase has a track record of demonstrating leadership during times of both economic growth and financial instability. The firm employs approximately 22,000 employees throughout the UK and is committed to operating a healthy and vibrant company that plays a leading role in advancing a sustainable and inclusive economy. The firm provides 600 billion in credit and capital to nearly 4,500 medium and large companies and supports over two million retail customers. At the same time, together with its non-profit partners the firm has supported over 33,000 low income households reduce their debt and improve their financial health, helped over 10,800 small businesses to grow their activity and placed over 9,800 individuals into apprenticeships or full and part-time employment.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008136240/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts:

Patrick Burton +44 20 7134 9041

Michael Fusco +1 212 270 2495
Baar, Switzerland--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) -

medmix AG

Neuhofstrasse 20

CH-6430 Baar

communications@medmix.com

www.medmix.swiss

MEDIA RELEASE

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medmix Wins One of the Largest New Beauty Businesses in Company History and Strengthens Position in Key Global Beauty Markets with Facility Extensions

medmix Group strengthens its position in key global beauty markets through strategic facility expansions, opening a second state-of-the-art production facility for its subsidiary Guangdong Qiaoyi Plastic Co. Ltd. (Qiaoyi) in China and completing a major expansion of its GEKA operations in Brazil. In addition to these strategic initiatives, GEKA has recently achieved strong progress in securing new projects, among them one of the largest single projects and new business deals in the company's history. This project will deliver significant revenues in 2026 and 2027.

The new 4,000-square-meter Qiaoyi facility in China includes a dedicated injection workshop with large-scale machinery, a three-dimensional warehouse system, and AI-powered automation. With these advanced capabilities, the plant can significantly ramp up the production of cosmetic packaging such as lip gloss, lipstick and compact cases, serving the rapidly growing Asian beauty market.

Complementing this growth in Asia, GEKA do Brasil has officially opened its expanded facility in Cotia, Sao Paulo, marking both 10 years of local production in Latin America and the 100th anniversary of the GEKA brand. GEKA has more than doubled its Brazilian facility, insourcing warehousing and allowing both finished and semi-finished products to be stored on-site. The expansion increased capacity by 25%.

"Our global footprint allows us to meet our customers' needs for global, synchronized product launches. Since acquiring Qiaoyi in 2023, we have been impressed by their innovation capabilities and deep understanding of the Asian beauty market," said Rene Willi, CEO of medmix Group. "Combined with our Brazilian expansion, these developments represent significant milestones in our Beauty growth strategy as we strengthen our presence in key beauty markets worldwide while meeting the evolving needs of our customers."

Both expansions emphasize automation and sustainable production processes, reflecting medmix' dedication to operational excellence and environmental responsibility while serving dynamic global markets.

-Ends-

About medmix

medmix is a global leader in high-precision delivery devices, with leading positions in healthcare, consumer and industrial end-markets. Our customers benefit from our dedication to innovation and technological advancement that has resulted in over 900 active patents. Our 14 production sites worldwide together with our highly motivated and experienced team of nearly 2'700 employees are at service of our customers with uncompromising quality, proximity and agility. medmix is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland. Our shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: MEDX). www.medmix.swiss

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269620

SOURCE: medmix AG
LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Lloyds Banking Group (LYG, LLOY.L, LLD.DE) acknowledged the recent announcement and consultation paper issued by the Financial Conduct Authority or FCA regarding a proposed industry-wide redress scheme for motor finance. Lloyds Banking Group said it is currently assessing the implications and impact of the consultation, particularly in relation to its existing provisions for motor finance-related matters. The Group intends to update the market as appropriate once its evaluation is complete. Motor finance encompasses various financial products-such as hire purchase, personal contract purchase (PCP), and leasing-that enable consumers to obtain vehicles through monthly payments instead of paying the full price upfront. These agreements typically include interest charges and may offer options to buy, return, or refinance the vehicle at the end of the term. The FCA's proposal aims to address concerns around historical commission arrangements and potential overcharging in motor finance agreements. According to FCA, the payouts on an estimated 14 million unfair motor finance agreements could begin next year, under a proposed industry-wide compensation scheme from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA projects that affected individuals may receive approximately 700 pounds per agreement on average. Based on its estimates of consumer participation, total compensation from lenders could reach 8.2 billion pounds. Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Boomi, the leader in AI-driven automation, today announced the winners of its EMEA Customer Innovation Awards, recognized at its 2025 Boomi World Tour stop in London

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008061493/en/

Boomi Announces EMEA 2025 Customer Innovation Award Winners

The awards celebrate organizations that are reimagining how business is done using the Boomi Enterprise Platform to unify systems, orchestrate data, and power automation at scale. This year's winners were chosen for their measurable business impact, digital transformation, modernization initiatives, and leadership in preparing for, and thriving in, the era of agentic AI.

2025 EMEA Award Winners include:

Sandoz EMEA Regional Award: Sandoz made enterprise integration and API management a pillar of its divestiture programme, standardising on Boomi to replace disparate legacy tools with a unified, governed platform. Working with Boomi and a strategic delivery partner, Sandoz executed a best-practice migration that met TSA milestones, reduced operational risk and complexity, and accelerated secure data exchange across business units and partners establishing a scalable foundation for post-separation growth.

Aramex Supply Chain Innovation Award: Aramex unified its global logistics estate on a cloud-based integration layer powered by Boomi, enabling same- and next-day delivery, omnichannel engagement (mobile, WhatsApp, web), and automated partner onboarding accelerating time-to-market while strengthening resilience and sustainability through smarter routing and ESG data automation.

Convex Insurance Broker Experience Excellence Award: Convex Insurance digitised the underwriting value chain with Boomi Integration and API management, enabling real-time, accurate data exchange across multiple distribution partners dramatically shortening quote turnaround and delivering a market-leading broker experience with a lean, modern operating model.

Decathlon Retail Agility Productivity Award: Decathlon implemented an event-driven integration fabric with Boomi that harmonises retail order flows across ERP, WMS, logistics, and WCS (mechanization partners) shortening development cycles from weeks to days, scaling to 100+ integrations, and reliably processing millions of messages per day to keep logistics synchronised globally.

DS Smith AI-Enabled Excellence Award: DS Smith is "redefining packaging for a changing world" by transforming its legacy data integration capability into a Boomi-powered, cloud-native, scalable backbone for real-time data and AI innovation. Using generative AI to design, map, and test 5,000 existing B2B and application flows, Hitachi and DS Smith have significantly reduced the risk, cost, and time that a non-AI migration would have incurred. The first wave of critical business integrations is now fully live on Boomi and the service team is open for business to meet a backlog of net-new API first digital requirements.

JDE Peet's Real-Time Operations Insight Award: JDE Peet's has introduced an Agentic AI Layer into its integration landscape, powered by the Solace Agent Mesh and seamlessly integrated through Boomi. This initiative will bring real-time visibility and actionability to order management and supply chain operations. Business-capability agents securely traverse enterprise systems via established integration guardrails to answer complex questions and generate on-the-fly reports. The result is faster issue resolution, cleaner and better-monitored integrations, and a step-change in productivity and decision speed.

Given the exceptional quality and volume of nominations for this year's EMEA Customer Innovation Awards, Boomi is also proud to recognize and celebrate the program's finalists. These organizations, including Culina Group and SHV Energy, among other leading innovators, have showcased outstanding use of the Boomi Enterprise Platform, setting new standards of excellence and establishing themselves as leaders in their industries.

"The recipients of the 2025 Boomi EMEA Customer Innovation Awards show what's possible when organisations connect, integrate, and automate on a unified platform. With the Boomi Enterprise Platform, they are accelerating adoption of agentic AI," said Adrian Trickett, Vice President and General Manager, EMEA, at Boomi. "We commend these organisations for embracing agentic transformation empowering systems and people to act with greater autonomy and intelligence. Their efforts are delivering better outcomes every day for their organisations, customers, and partners."

Additional Resources

Learn more about the Boomi Enterprise Platform

Explore the Boomiverse Community

Follow Boomi on X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube

About Boomi

Boomi, the leader in AI-driven automation, enables organizations worldwide to connect everything, automate processes, and accelerate outcomes. The Boomi Enterprise Platform including Boomi Agentstudio unifies integration and automation along with data, API, and AI agent management, in a single, comprehensive solution. Trusted by over 25,000 customers and supported by a network of 800+ partners, Boomi is driving agentic transformation helping enterprises of all sizes achieve agility, efficiency, and innovation at scale. Discover more at boomi.com.

2025 Boomi, LP. Boomi, the 'Boomi' logo, the 'B' logo, and Boomiverse are registered trademarks of Boomi, LP or its subsidiaries or affiliates in the US and other countries. All rights reserved. Other names or marks may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008061493/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Elliot Harrison

Boomi Corporate Communications

elliot.harrison@boomi.com
Omnissa, a leading digital work platform company, today announced the Omnissa Secure Access Suite, which combines Google Chrome Enterprise Premium with Omnissa Workspace ONE to enable secure browser functionality for the Omnissa platform. The new suite enables organizations to provide more secure, seamless access to SaaS and web applications for critical use cases such as bring-your-own (BYO) devices and supporting regulatory-compliance requirements in industries like healthcare and financial services.

"Our partnership with Google reflects the commitment Omnissa has to advancing our platform with security at the core," said Bharath Rangarajan, senior vice president of products and technology alliances at Omnissa. "The Omnissa Secure Access Suite adds advanced security and data protections to SaaS and web applications, building on the seamless and unified access experience delivered by the Omnissa platform."

With more applications delivered as SaaS and cloud-based services, organizations face new challenges in securing access across a diverse workforce that includes employees, contractors, and partners. By extending new protections through Chrome Enterprise's secure browser solution, a common access point for modern applications, Omnissa empowers IT and security teams to better protect sensitive data, enforce compliance requirements, and maintain productivity without disrupting how people work.

Together, Google Chrome Enterprise Premium and Workspace ONE provide enhanced security in SaaS and web access for BYO devices through risk-based conditional access, enforce data loss protection policies for corporate applications directly in the browser, and help reduce phishing, malware, and other modern threats across desktops and mobile devices. The suite provides greater security than traditional platforms while ensuring a consistent, seamless experience for employees across all their applications.

The Omnissa Secure Access Suite also helps organizations prepare for the next wave of workplace challenges, including the rise of generative AI. By applying enterprise-grade controls in the browser, IT teams can protect against sensitive or regulated data being unintentionally shared with popular AI tools, extending compliance, security, and trust to emerging applications as AI adoption accelerates.

"With the evolving threat landscape, rise in emerging technologies and hybrid work environments, it's never been a more critical time to make secure web and SaaS access simple and seamless for employees," said Jon Ramsey, VP/GM of Google Cloud Security, Google Cloud. "The browser is the most common access point for modern applications, making it a vital control point for security. By applying enterprise-grade controls directly into the browser, organizations can protect against the next wave of challenges, including securing the use of AI."

Omnissa Secure Access Suite will be available in November this year. Visit the Omnissa and Google partner page to explore our joint offerings and learn more.

About Omnissa

Omnissa is the leading digital work platform company, empowering the world's dynamic workforces to do their best work from anywhere. The company's AI-driven digital workspace platform helps organizations and their people unlock exponential business value. Trusted by 26,000 customers worldwide, Omnissa is a privately-held company with 4,000 employees and a 20-year track record in defining digital workspaces. For more information, visit www.omnissa.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008685213/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

David Rodriguez

Omnissa Corporate Communications

press@Omnissa.com
STOCKHOLM, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Milepost AB, a Swedish EV-charging operator, has raised SEK 600 million from Obligo Investment Management and existing shareholders. The investment will fuel Milepost's expansion of everyday EV-charging infrastructure across Sweden, ensuring apartment dwellers and city residents have the same convenient access to charging as single-home owners.

Since 2022, Milepost has deployed more than 500 charge points across 25+ Swedish cities, working in close partnership with municipalities and real estate owners. The company's turnkey model - covering financing, deployment, operations, and maintenance - offers municipalities a no-cost solution for expanding public charging infrastructure, while enabling property owners to meet new regulatory requirements. Milepost's growth strategy is driven both by new installations and the acquisition of networks previously operated by municipalities and utilities.

Jorgen Lantto, CEO of Milepost, said:

"With Obligo as a long-term partner, we are ready to scale everyday charging across Sweden and beyond. Our mission is simple: make EV-charging as easy for people in apartments as it is for homeowners."

Knut Bringedal, CIO of Obligo Investment Management and incoming Chairman of Milepost, added:

"Transport is responsible for a third of Sweden's CO2 emissions. EV-charging infrastructure is the backbone of electrification, and Milepost has built an outstanding model to deliver it. We are excited to support Milepost in combining climate impact with strong, sustainable growth."

Milepost was advised by Arctic Securities and LW Advisory, while Obligo was advised by Mannheimer Swartling.

For more information, please contact:

Jorgen Lantto, CEO Milepost AB. +46108885530

Email: info@milepost.se

About Obligo Investment Management

Obligo Investment Management is an independent, Oslo-based investment manager with a strong Nordic presence. The firm focuses on real assets and sustainable infrastructure, partnering with innovative companies driving the green transition. Obligo is dedicated to delivering long-term value for institutional investors while contributing to measurable environmental impact.

About Milepost

Milepost develops and operates EV-charging solutions in partnership with municipalities and property owners. Its charge points are available across Sweden, enabling drivers to charge where they live, work, or visit. Milepost is backed by Obligo Investment Management and its management team.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d028cd16-ae99-4b95-83a2-3a377d68447f
MINATO (dpa-AFX) - ANA Holdings Inc. (ALNPY.PK, ALNPF.PK,9202.T), a Japanese air transportation service provider, on Wednesday announced that its unit Air Japan is set to increase the frequency of its Seoul to Tokyo route during the year-end and New Year holiday season to meet growing travel demand between Japan and South Korea. From December 19, 2025, to January 3, 2026, the company will operate two additional flights NQ123 and NQ124, along with the regular flights NQ121 and NQ122. Two daily round-trip flights will be operated during this period, with One-way fares for these additional flights starting from 99,500 South Korean Won. The flights are expected to operate between Narita Airport in Tokyo and Incheon Airport in Seoul. Ticket for the additional flights can be purchased on the official Air Japan website from 11:00 Japan Standard Time, from October 8. NQ123 is scheduled to start from Tokyo, Narita airport at 12:50 and land in Seoul Incheon airport at 15:30 every day during the period. NQ124 is scheduled to start from Seoul Incheon airport at 17:10 and land in Tokyo Narita airport at 19:40 every day during the period. On the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the shares had closed 0.91% lower at 2820 Yen. Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Pioneering medical technology company Xenco Medical has been named the Medical Device/Diagnostics Company of the Year at the 2025 PM360 Trailblazer Awards, held at Gotham Hall in New York City on September 30th. Drawing together the world's leading life sciences organizations each year, the Trailblazer Awards crown the most innovative and impactful organizations, leaders, and initiatives shaping the future of healthcare. Xenco Medical won the top honor as the Company of the Year in the Medical Device/Diagnostics category for its trailblazing development of biomimetic implants, regenerative biomaterials, and composite polymer surgical instruments with AI-driven software technologies that redefine the continuum of surgical care. "This year's winners showcase exactly what sets our industry apart-bold ideas, breakthrough innovation, and real-world impact," said Anna Stashower, CEO and Publisher of PM360. "Their work improves lives, advances care, and drives the kind of progress that truly matters." The other winners at the coveted awards ceremony included Merck Company, named Pharmaceutical/Biotech Company of the Year and Vertex Pharmaceuticals for Specialty Pharma/Biotech Company of the Year.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008490627/en/

On September 30th, 2025, Xenco Medical took home the top crown as Company of the Year in the Medical Device/Diagnostics category at the lauded Trailblazer Awards Ceremony in New York City's Gotham Hall.

"We are profoundly honored to have been named the Company of the Year in the Medical Device/Diagnostics category at the 2025 Trailblazer Awards, and we look forward to continuing to translate the abounding promise of science into a transformative impact on the lives of countless patients," said Jason Haider, Founder and CEO of Xenco Medical.

Inspired by the principles of mechanotransduction, Xenco Medical's groundbreaking TrabeculeX Continuum technology synergistically harmonizes the bone-forming potential of its regenerative biomaterials with AI-powered post-surgical rehabilitation. By enabling surgeons to remotely monitor pain scores, rehabilitation adherence, and motion recovery through AI-driven pose assessment, Xenco Medical continues to advance its mission of dissolving the barriers that typify the siloed nature of surgical care.

As one of the most prestigious honors in the life sciences, the Trailblazer Awards celebrate excellence in breakthrough innovations, corporate governance, and social responsibility, recognizing companies that exemplify leadership and ingenuity across the healthcare ecosystem. A leader in the medical device sector, Xenco Medical's breakthrough technologies have heralded a value-based approach to healthcare. Radically optimizing the operational efficiency of healthcare facilities through its streamlined single-use surgical implant systems as well, Xenco Medical's logistics-optimized surgical devices have significantly decreased surgical turnover times by eliminating the need for the sterilization and reprocessing of implant and instrument systems between surgeries. In March of this year, Xenco Medical was also named one of the World's Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company Magazine for the second time.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008490627/en/

Contacts:

Melissa Russell

858-202-1505

info@xencomedical.com
Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - F3 Uranium Corp (TSXV: FUU) (OTCQB: FUUFF) ("F3" or "the Company") is pleased to announce a fall drill program at its 100% owned Broach Lake Property, on the recently discovered high-grade Tetra Zone (see NR August 5, 2025).

This 3,000m diamond drilling fall program is designed to test the extent of the uranium mineralization which is currently highlighted by PLN25-205, which returned a 1.0m high grade interval with 2.50% U3O8 within a 22.5m mineralized main interval averaging 0.26% U3O8 and PLN25-217, which intersected a total of 67.0m composite anomalous radioactivity including 49.0m of continuous radioactivity (see Map 1).

Ground EM surveying has also been completed, and 3D inversions are in progress; these results will be incorporated into the targeting model for regional drill targeting along strike.

Sam Hartmann, Vice President Exploration, commented:

"We are excited to resume drilling at Tetra now that ground geophysics has been completed, and plan to focus this fall drill program at a deposit scale on the Tetra Zone, initially stepping out from high grade mineralization as in PLN25-205 and the significant intervals of radioactivity in PLN25-217. The unique geological setting of the Tetra Zone with differs from many basement hosted uranium deposits in the area, is also reflected in the geophysical responses, where weaker conductivity is associated with less resistive rocks associated with a structural damage zone hosting the Tetra Zone."





Map 1. Broach Lake - Tetra Zone Fall Drilling Target Area

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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The natural gamma radiation detected in the drill core, as detailed in this news release, was measured in counts per second (cps) using a handheld Radiation Solutions RS-125 spectrometer which has been calibrated by Radiation Solutions Inc. The Company designates readings exceeding 300 cps on the handheld spectrometer (occasionally referred to as a scintillometer in industry parlance; this colloquial usage stems from historical naming conventions and the shared functionality of detecting gamma radiation between a spectrometer and a scintillometer)-as "anomalous", readings above 10,000 cps as "highly radioactive", and readings surpassing 65,535 cps as "off-scale". However, readers are cautioned that spectrometer or scintillometer measurements often do not directly or consistently correlate with the uranium grades of the rock samples and should be regarded solely as a preliminary indicator of the presence of radioactive materials.

The Company considers uranium mineralization with assay results of greater than 1.0 weight % U3O8 as "high grade" and results greater than 20.0 weight % U3O8 as "ultra-high grade".

All depth measurements reported are down-hole and true thicknesses are yet to be determined.

About the Patterson Lake North Project:

The Company's 42,961-hectare 100% owned Patterson Lake North Project (PLN) is located just within the south-western edge of the Athabasca Basin in proximity to Paladin's Triple R and NexGen Energy's Arrow high-grade uranium deposits, an area poised to become the next major area of development for new uranium operations in northern Saskatchewan. The PLN Project consists of the 4,074-hectare Patterson Lake North Property hosting the JR Zone Uranium discovery approximately 23km northwest of Paladin's Triple R deposit, the 19,864-hectare Minto Property, and the 19,022-hectare Broach Property hosting the Tetra Zone, F3's newest discovery 13km south of the JR Zone. All three properties comprising the PLN Project are accessed by Provincial Highway 955.

Qualified Person:

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and approved on behalf of the company by Raymond Ashley, P.Geo., President & COO of F3 Uranium Corp, a Qualified Person. Mr. Ashley has reviewed and approved the data disclosed.

This news release also refers to neighboring properties in which F3 Uranium has no interest, and the Qualified Person has been unable to verify the information from those properties. Mineralization on those neighboring properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the PLN Project. For additional information on the PLN Project, please refer to the report titled "Technical Report on the Patterson Lake North Project, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada" prepared by SLR International Corporation with a signing date of January 25, 2023 and an effective date of November 20, 2023 available at www.sedarplus.ca, and prepared in accordance with NI 43-101.

About F3 Uranium Corp.:

F3 is a uranium exploration company, focusing on the high-grade JR Zone and new Tetra Zone discovery 13km to the south in the PW area on its Patterson Lake North (PLN) Project in the Western Athabasca Basin. F3 currently has 3 properties in the Athabasca Basin: Patterson Lake North, Minto, and Broach. The western side of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, is home to some of the world's largest high grade uranium deposits including Paladin's Triple R project and NexGen's Arrow project.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the suitability of the Properties for mining exploration, future payments, issuance of shares and work commitment funds, entry into of a definitive option agreement respecting the Properties, are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

The TSX Venture Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange have not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Dev Randhawa"

Dev Randhawa, CEO

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269490

SOURCE: F3 Uranium Corp.
On 7 October 2025, the Government of Indonesia launched the National Productivity Master Plan (MPPN) 2025-2029, a whole-of-nation blueprint for accelerating innovation, strengthening industrial competitiveness, and raising living standards through sustained productivity gains. Unveiled at a ministerial ceremony in Jakarta, the plan aligns policy and execution across central agencies, provinces, and the private sector to drive a shift from input-driven growth to growth led by total factor productivity (TFP). The launch featured addresses by Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Secretary-General Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata, Minister of Manpower Professor Yassierli, Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian, and Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (BAPPENAS) Professor Ir. Rachmat Pambudy, M.S., underscoring the unified commitment to productivity as the pathway to higher-quality jobs and Indonesia Emas 2045 ("Golden Indonesia 2045").

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008632566/en/

Formal joint launching moment of the National Productivity Master Plan (MPPN) 2025-2029 by Vice Minister Febrian Alphyanto Ruddyard (left), Minister Tito Karnavian (second from left), Minister Pambudy (center), Minister Yassierli (second from right), and APO Secretary-General Dr. Indra (right).

The MPPN sets out an integrated agenda to boost productivity across the economy: diffusing technology and management excellence in firms; upgrading workforce skills for digital and green transitions; deepening value chains and export capabilities; improving the enabling environment (regulatory quality, infrastructure, logistics); and institutionalizing measurement, review, and accountability. BAPPENAS will serve as system integrator, coordinating ministries and local governments to align programs and budgets, while public-private collaboration and demonstration projects will speed adoption on the ground. Core to the plan is disciplined monitoring and evaluation, ensuring that productivity gains translate into competitiveness, incomes, and regional convergence.

"Over the long run, a nation's standard of living is determined by its ability to raise output per worker, its productivity," said Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata, adding that "by creating more value from every hour worked and every rupiah invested, Indonesia can lift real wages, lower costs, expand opportunities, and strengthen social and economic resilience."

"Productivity improves product quality, cost efficiency, and export competitiveness," noted Minister Yassierli, emphasizing the need to convert stable headline growth into broad-based, quality jobs through skills upgrading, technology adoption, and stronger labor market institutions to harness Indonesia's demographic bonus.

Minister Tito Karnavian underscored that resilient, well-coordinated local governments are the foundation of national productivity, calling for tighter alignment of central and provincial governments under the current division of functions and for stronger coordination to turn demographic and structural transitions into inclusive, sustainable growth.

Presenting the government's roadmap, Minister Pambudy situated the MPPN within the architecture of Indonesia's long-term development plan (RPJPN) and medium-term development plans (RPJMNs) and outlined a collaboration agenda to leap into a new era of productivity-based growth, with BAPPENAS integrating policies, budgets, and accountability so reforms translate into measurable gains nationwide.

Implementation of the MPPN will focus on (1) establishing rigorous governance with BAPPENAS as integrator; (2) alignment of central and provincial governments to ensure policy translates into delivery; (3) accelerating firm-level adoption through demonstration and diffusion projects; (4) skills and technology upgrading to raise TFP; and (5) quarterly and annual performance reviews to track outcomes and iterate. The government invited businesses, academia, and provinces to join a shared productivity agenda that scales innovations from pilots to national impact.

This initiative was developed with the support of the APO as part of its advisory role to APO member economies, which includes policy assistance, capacity building, and demonstration projects that help embed productivity as a daily practice across the economy.

Formal joint launching moment of the National Productivity Master Plan (MPPN) 2025-2029 by Vice Minister Febrian Alphyanto Ruddyard (left), Minister Tito Karnavian (second from left), Minister Pambudy (center), Minister Yassierli (second from right), and APO Secretary-General Dr. Indra (right).

About the National Productivity Master Plan (MPPN) 2025-2029

The MPPN is Indonesia's cross-government strategy to accelerate innovation-led, TFP-driven growth. It integrates policy, budget, and delivery across ministries and provinces; supports firm-level technology and management upgrading; strengthens workforce skills for digital and green transitions; and institutionalizes productivity measurement and accountability to ensure gains translate into competitiveness, incomes, and inclusive prosperity.

About the Asian Productivity Organization (APO)

Founded in 1961, APO is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific. Through research, policy advisory, capacity building, and demonstration projects, the APO supports member economies in raising productivity, competitiveness, and sustainable, inclusive growth.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008632566/en/

Contacts:

For details, contact the APO Digital Information Unit: pr@apo-tokyo.org

Website: https://www.apo-tokyo.org
The DEA Regulatory Revolving Door Spins Again

After years of blocking FDA approved cannabis research for Huntington's and Multiple Sclerosis, former DEA official Matthew Strait has resurfaced on the board of ASOP Global, rebranding himself as a "patient safety" advocate. It's the ultimate Washington hypocrisy: the man who buried medical cannabis under red tape now lectures the world about access and safety. As MMJ CEO Duane Boise put it, "It's the regulatory equivalent of a bad penny that keeps turning up."

WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 2025 / When now retired Matthew Strait, a 26-year veteran of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies (ASOP Global), the announcement drew little fanfare in Washington.

But within the pharmaceutical and medical cannabis research community, it landed like a thunderclap.

THOMAS PREVOZNIK MATT STRAIT

Strait's new "patient safety" role represents the regulatory revolving door at its most cynical: the same official who spent years obstructing FDA approved cannabinoid drug development for Huntington's disease and Multiple Sclerosis now claims to champion safe access to medicine.

"It's the regulatory equivalent of a bad penny that keeps turning up," said Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, whose company endured Strait's obstruction firsthand. "The same official who blocked access to potentially life changing medicine is now branding himself a defender of safe access. It's Orwellian repositioning at its worst."

From Bureaucratic Delay to Constitutional Collapse

The controversy around Strait's tenure is not just bureaucratic - it's constitutional.

MMJ BioPharma Cultivation applied in 2018 for DEA registration to cultivate pharmaceutical-grade cannabis for FDA clinical trials, targeting two devastating neurological conditions. Despite full compliance with DEA and FDA regulations, and despite Congress passing the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act in 2022 - requiring DEA approval within 60 days - MMJ's application was buried for seven years.

Documents produced through litigation show that Strait's office created contradictory regulatory requirements that effectively froze research in place. Applicants were told they needed a "bona fide supply agreement" before DEA registration - an agreement that, under DEA's own rules, could only be executed after registration was granted.

One DEA official privately admitted, "I know nothing about marijuana," reflecting the agency's longstanding cultural resistance to cannabis science.

"We had the science, the facilities, and FDA Orphan Drug Designations," Boise said. "What we didn't have was permission from an agency that claimed to support research but refused to follow the law."

The Constitutional Earthquake: DOJ Admits DEA Courts Were Illegal

In September 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) formally conceded that the DEA's in-house administrative court system - the very process Strait relied upon to stall cannabis research - was unconstitutional.

Citing 5 U.S.C.  7521, the DOJ confirmed that Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) were unlawfully shielded from presidential oversight, violating Article II of the U.S. Constitution and the separation of powers.

This reversal followed the Supreme Court's landmark rulings in Axon v. FTC (2023) and Jarkesy v. SEC (2024), which struck down similar "agency-run" tribunals for denying due process.

MMJ BioPharma's lawsuit - filed years before the DOJ's admission - had predicted this collapse. The company argued that DEA's internal courts violated due process and effectively made the agency prosecutor, judge, and jury over its own decisions.

"MMJ was among the first to expose that the DEA's administrative courts were operating outside the Constitution," said Boise. "Now that DOJ has conceded the system is invalid, every agency that used ALJs without proper accountability is on notice."

Matthew Strait's DEA Legacy: Obstruction by Design

As Deputy Assistant Administrator for the DEA's Diversion Control Division, Strait oversaw the regulatory framework governing controlled substances and research licensing.

Under his leadership, cannabis research applications languished, creating what industry insiders describe as a "Catch-22 bureaucracy."

2018-2025: MMJ BioPharma's application remained pending despite statutory deadlines.

2022: Congress passes the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act requiring a 60-day approval.

2023-2024: DEA ignored the law, claiming it still needed "clarification."

2025: DOJ reverses its position on ALJ constitutionality, effectively dismantling Strait's enforcement model.

Meanwhile, MMJ BioPharma - holding FDA Orphan Drug Designations, IND approvals, and GMP-certified partnerships - paid over $20,000 per month maintaining secure facilities it was forbidden to use.

A chart of the damage tells the story of millions of dollars in damages:

Aspect Before Delay (2018) After 7-Year Delay (2025) Research Status Ready for FDA Clinical Trials Unable To Manufacture Required Batches Patient Access Huntington's & MS Treatments No Access Legal Framework DEA Tribunal Operating Declared Unconstitutional Monthly Cost Minimal $2m + Facility Expense

"Every year of delay costs lives and prolongs suffering," said Boise. "This wasn't regulation - it was cruelty disguised as process."

The Revolving Door: From Regulator to Consultant

After retiring from the DEA amid growing legal scrutiny, Strait launched Controlled Substance Strategies LLC, a consulting firm advising the very companies he once regulated.

He now markets "regulatory strategy," "quota management," and "policy interpretation" services to pharmaceutical manufacturers - the same processes he controlled while in government.

His appointment to the ASOP Global Board of Directors completes the circle.

ASOP's mission - combating illegal online pharmacies - is broadly supported. But Strait's presence raises ethical concerns: How can an official who obstructed legitimate pharmaceutical research now claim to defend patient access?

"This is the regulatory revolving door in full spin," Boise said. "The same officials who weaponized bureaucracy for years are now monetizing their experience under the banner of 'safety.'"

A Pattern of Institutional Arrogance

Strait was not alone. Other DEA officials, including Thomas Prevoznik and Aarathi Haig, played key roles in enforcing the agency's unconstitutional systems.

Haig, a DEA attorney, continued to push for tribunal judgments long after Supreme Court precedent made them legally indefensible.

A February 14, 2023 letter from the New Jersey Board of Bar Examiners confirmed she was "not eligible to receive a Certificate of Good Standing" for failing to meet continuing legal education, client protection fund, and IOLTA requirements - a troubling indicator of systemic disregard for professional standards inside the DEA's legal division.

The Human Cost: Patients as Collateral Damage

While the legal battles unfold, patients remain trapped in the crossfire.

MMJ BioPharma's research aimed to deliver standardized cannabinoid soft-gel formulations for Huntington's disease and Multiple Sclerosis, conditions for which no curative therapies exist.

Instead, bureaucratic obstruction delayed hope, while patients and families faced deterioration with no alternatives.

"Every delay means another family watching someone decline without treatment," Boise said. "Science is ready - bureaucracy isn't."

Beyond One Man: A System Built to Obstruct

Strait's new career is not an aberration - it's a symptom of a system that rewards failure and recycles obstructionists.

DEA officials who stalled science now occupy "ethics" and "compliance" roles across the healthcare sector, exporting the same policies that crippled cannabis research.

The parallels are unmistakable: like the Department of Labor's overreach against small businesses, the DEA's misconduct represents a pattern of agencies acting as investigator, prosecutor, judge, and executioner under unconstitutional structures now collapsing in court.

Restoring Accountability: The Path Forward

Experts and advocates are calling for structural reform across the DEA and other administrative agencies:

Immediate Stay of DEA Proceedings - Transfer all pending cases to Article III courts for impartial review. Published Standards - Eliminate circular "bona fide agreement" traps. Independent Oversight Board - Evaluate scientific and ethical integrity of DEA research policies. Cooling-Off Periods - Restrict post-agency employment in regulated industries. Scientific Expertise Requirement - Limit key DEA roles to individuals with verifiable scientific training. Whistleblower Protections - Safeguard staff who expose obstruction or misconduct.

The Bad Penny Problem

Matthew Strait's return to public influence as an "advocate" for safe access is not a coincidence - it's a case study in how Washington's bureaucracy rewards those who break the system.

For patients with Huntington's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and countless other conditions, the DEA's obstruction has meant years of unnecessary suffering.

For MMJ BioPharma and similar innovators, it's been a fight for survival.

And for the public, it's a reminder that without accountability, the same bad pennies will keep turning up - again and again.

"America doesn't need recycled regulators," Boise concluded. "It needs reformers who believe that controlled substances can also be controlled for good - through science, compassion, and law."

About MMJ International Holdings

MMJ International Holdings, through its subsidiaries MMJ BioPharma Cultivation and MMJ BioPharma Labs, develops pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoid formulations for FDA-regulated clinical trials in Huntington's disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

The company holds a DEA Schedule 1 Lab License, FDA Orphan Drug Designations, multiple IND filings, and global GMP partnerships for manufacturing and distribution.

MMJ is represented by attorney Megan Sheehan

CONTACT:

Madison Hisey

MHisey@mmjih.com

203-231-8583

SOURCE: MMJ International Holdings

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/a-dea-bad-penny-keeps-turning-up-ex-dea-official-matthew-strait-resur-1084187
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - Provenance Gold Corp. (CSE: PAU) (OTCQB: PVGDF) ("Provenance" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the first step-out drilling results from the Herman Area of its Eldorado gold project in eastern Oregon, significantly expanding the potential scale and scope of gold mineralization at Eldorado West.

Highlights

ED27:

1.25 g/t gold over 44.20m, within 179.83m of 0.67 g/t gold including: 1.58 g/t gold over 7.62m 1.63 g/t gold over 24.38m 10.16 g/t gold over 1.52m in a newly defined contact zone at the base of the mineralized upper interval; and

1.92 g/t gold over 7.62m within 0.5 g/t gold over 53.34m, hosted in metasedimentary rocks within a new mineralized horizon starting at 211.84m.

ED28:

1.01 g/t gold over 108.20 meters within 0.82 g/t gold over 172.21m including 1.75 g/t gold over 15.24m including 3.27 g/t gold over 6.10m and 1.22 g/t gold over 57.91m and 0.86 g/t gold over 13.72m; and

0.38 g/t gold over 41.15m including 0.74 g/t gold over 3.05m and 2.01 g/t gold over 3.05m



Drill holes ED27 and ED28, the first holes completed in the newly permitted Herman Area, are located 730 meters south of recently reported hole E26 (Figure 1-2). Both ED27 and ED28 intersected broad, pervasive intervals of strong gold mineralization from surface, and identified a new mineralized contact zone between the host sedimentary rocks and the diorite. The newly recognized diorite-metasedimentary contact zone is shallow-dipping, laterally extensive, and projects south, west, and northwest of ED27 and ED28 (Figure1-2). This geometry creates a new broad exploration target that has the potential to host both bulk-tonnage and high-grade gold mineralization across a large area of the previously unexplored, southern and western portions of the property. In addition, this structural setting has been identified with strong mineralization at the newly acquired Eldorado East project and supports the geological model that the mineralization at Eldorado spans both Eldorado East and West.

Provenance's CEO, Rauno Perttu commented, "We are confirming a broader target in the Herman Area that looks to substantially increase the mineralized footprint of the Eldorado property. The extensive volume of gold mineralization above this contact zone combined with strong grades in the contact zone and within the metasedimentary rocks, points to a much larger mineralized system than previously recognized. We are excited to receive further assays from ongoing drilling, including hole ED29 extending to the southwest in the Herman area that showed strong visual mineralization, supporting our data and our belief that mineralization continues southward and is open in all directions at Eldorado West. I believe we are only exploring a fraction of a very large gold system."

Ongoing Exploration

RC drilling continues and includes ED29 (assays pending), drilled southwestward from ED27. In addition, the core rig has arrived on site and drilling has commenced with EC04 located in the Herman Area (Figure1). Core drill holes will target the expansion of known mineralization and provide critical insights about the structural and geological controls on the system.

Provenance is also conducting detailed geological mapping of the southern part of Eldorado West in preparation for permitting drill pads over a planned 2-3-kilometer major step-out area for next year's drill program.





Figure 1. Plan Map of the Herman Area Drillhole Locations

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Figure 2. Cross-section A to A', 012.5 +/- section on ED27 and ED28 looking south.

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Table 1. 2025 RC Drill Holes Assay Results

2025 RC Drill Holes Assay Results Hole From To Length Gold Area (m) (m) (m) (g/t)

ED27

0.000 179.832 179.83 0.67 Herman

including 44.196 88.392 44.20 1.25



including 45.720 51.816 6.10 1.58



including 65.532 88.392 22.86 1.63



including 172.212 173.736 1.52 10.16



and 211.836 265.176 53.34 0.50 Contact Zone

including 213.360 220.980 7.62 1.92

ED28

0.000 172.212 172.21 0.82 Herman

including 9.144 117.348 108.20 1.01



including 9.144 24.384 15.24 1.75



including 18.288 24.384 6.10 3.27



Including 59.436 117.348 57.91 1.22



Including 147.828 161.544 13.72 0.86



Including 153.924 158.496 4.57 1.35



and 185.928 227.076 41.15 0.38 Contact Zone

including 193.548 196.596 3.05 0.74



including 211.836 214.884 3.05 2.01



*All reported intervals in this news release are downhole core lengths. True widths of mineralized intervals are not known at this time. Geological modelling is ongoing, and additional drilling will be required to establish the geometry and orientation of the mineralized zones in order to determine true thicknesses.

Sampling, Laboratory, and QAQC

The Company has implemented a quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) program to ensure sampling and analysis of all exploration work is conducted in accordance with industry best practices.

The RC drill chips were sampled at 1.5-meter intervals onsite. A rotation of certified standards, blanks, and field duplicates were inserted into the sample stream approximately every 30m. The Company QA/QC, as well as the laboratory inserted standards, blanks, and duplicates were monitored closely upon receiving assay certificates from the laboratory. No discrepancies were reported in the reference samples inserted. The Company will continue to monitor QA/QC procedures closely.

Provenance submitted samples for gold determination by PhotonAssay to fully accredited Paragon Geochemical in Reno, NV (ISO 17025:2017). PhotonAssay is a fast, accurate, non-destructive process to determine gold, silver and copper in geological and process samples. The technique uses gamma ray activation to induce nuclear transitions in the elements of interest, which leads to photon emissions with highly characteristic energies. After analysis, the entire assay charge is returned intact and can be submitted for subsequent analyses such as geochemistry, cyanidation, metallurgical testing, environmental testing, or retained for future verification.

RC Samples were split onsite and shipped to Paragon in Reno. Samples submitted to Paragon beginning in June and July 2025 were processed whereby the entire sample is coarsely crushed to approximately 70% passing 2 mm mesh and subsequently riffle split leaving a ~500g charge. The large assay charge of approximately 500g is introduced to the instrument, improving representativeness of the sample, particularly for those samples which may exhibit coarse gold.

Qualified Person

The technical content disclosed in this press release was independently reviewed and approved by Jo Price, P.Geo., M.Sc., a technical advisor to the Company and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101.

About Provenance Gold Corp.

On behalf of the Board,

Provenance Gold Corp.

Rauno Perttu, Chairman

1-541-930-0986

Safe Harbor Statement: Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange, nor its regulation services provider, accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269516

SOURCE: Provenance Gold Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - Independence Gold Corp. (TSXV: IGO) (OTCQB: IEGCF) ("Independence" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the commencement of a helicopter-borne high-resolution magnetic and radiometric geophysical survey being conducted by Precision GeoSurveys Inc. over its 3Ts Project and recently staked Tay property located southwest of Prince George, British Columbia (see below for further information on the Tay Project). Located approximately 185 kilometres southwest of Prince George, British Columbia, the 3Ts Project comprises thirty-one mineral claims covering approximately 35,486 hectares in the Nechako Plateau region. The Project lies 16 km southwest of Artemis Gold Inc.'s Blackwater Mine and hosts a low-sulphidation epithermal quartz-carbonate vein district within which at least nineteen known mineralized veins, ranging from 50 to over 1,100 metres in strike length and true widths of up to 32 m have been identified.

The airborne survey will cover approximately 4,284 line-kilometres of systematic low-level flight lines across three survey blocks (3Ts East, 3Ts West, and Tay), flown at 100-metre line spacing and 40-metre nominal flight height. Using state-of-the-art cesium vapour magnetometers and 8.4-litre gamma spectrometers, the detailed survey will deliver one of the highest-resolution datasets ever acquired over the project area. The objective of this survey is to map geological structures, alteration zones and lithological contacts which may be associated with gold-silver vein systems known throughout the 3Ts district. The data will also help define new target areas across the expanded Tay Project, enhancing the Company's regional understanding of the broader epithermal systems. Precision GeoSurveys anticipates completing data acquisition in late October 2025, with final processed data and maps expected within four weeks of survey completion.

The Tay Project, BC

The Tay Project is located 25 km northeast of the Company's 3Ts Project in central British Columbia and is comprised of three mineral claims covering approximately 40 square kilometres. The property is road accessible and is underlain by the same Jurassic-aged Naglico Formation volcanic and sedimentary rocks that host gold-silver mineralization at the 3Ts Project and is intruded by Cretaceous felsic to intermediate stocks thought to be related to regional mineralizing events.

Regional geochemical datasets from the BC Geological Survey have identified gold and copper anomalies above the 95th percentile in local stream drainages, highlighting strong exploration potential. Field work completed in the summer of 2025, including geological mapping and prospecting, has established important structural and lithological controls that will directly complement and guide interpretation of the upcoming geophysical survey.

Figure 1: 3Ts and Tay Project Locations

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About Independence

Independence Gold Corp. is a well-financed mineral exploration company with holdings ranging from early-stage grassroots exploration to advanced-stage resource expansion in British Columbia and Yukon. The Company is positioned to add shareholder value through systematic project advancement, while management continues to evaluate additional gold and silver projects for possible acquisition. For additional information, visit the Company's website www.ingold.ca.

Andy Randell, P.Geo., the Company's Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and who is an independent consultant for the Company, has reviewed the technical information in this news release.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF INDEPENDENCE GOLD CORP.

"Randy Turner"

Randy Turner, President and CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to Independence within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements with respect to the Company's planned drilling and exploration activities. The Company provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to those identified and reported in Independence's public filings under Independence Gold Corp.'s SEDAR profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although Independence has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Independence disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269550

SOURCE: Independence Gold Corp
The government of Montserrat is searching for an engineering, procurement and construction contractor for a solar-plus-battery storage project. The deadline for applications is October 23.Montserrat's Ministry of Buildings, Utilities, Infrastructure, Labour, Transportation & Ecclesiastical Affairs has opened a tender for a solar-plus-storage project. According to available tender details the project will be located at Shinlands, an approximately 3 acre area identified as suitable for the project on the northern side of the island. The solar power plant is expected to have a minimum capacity of ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Cavli's newest 5G NR Sub-6 IoT modules set a new benchmark in performance standards, delivering exceptional data speeds and advanced carrier aggregation. These capabilities support advanced use cases across high-bandwidth IoT applications, including Industry 4.0, smart cities, industrial gateways, and more.





NEW DELHI, India, Oct. 08, 2025, a leading innovator in cellular IoT solutions, is excited to unveil its ultra-low latency flagship 5G NR modules, the CQM212 and CQM215, at India Mobile Congress 2025. Engineered for high-throughput connected applications, these modules deliver high-bandwidth 5G NR connectivity across a wide range of IoT deployments. With this launch, Cavli continues to solidify its position as a trusted partner for OEMs developing next-generation IoT solutions.



The CQM212 and CQM215 modules are designed to provide superior 5G NR Sub-6 performance, adhering to 3GPP Release 18 standards. Both modules measure 45.0 x 52.0 mm and are offered in an LGA form factor. They offer exceptional download speeds of up to 7.01/5.36 Gbps and upload speeds of up to 1.25 Gbps, addressing the demands of high-throughput, data-heavy IoT applications. Built on Qualcomm's latest SDX82 and SDX85 baseband chipsets, the modules integrate state-of-the-art hardware components, including a Quad-Core Arm Cortex-A55 processor that clocks up to 2.5 GHz and a Qualcomm Hexagon DSP processor. Furthermore, the SDX82/85 baseband platform from Qualcomm is equipped with Qualcomm AI Stack and AI Hub support, enabling seamless execution of on-device AI models. It also provides AI-enhanced Traffic Classification, prioritization, energy savings, lower latency, and improved location accuracy, a combination that allows Cavli's CQM212 and CQM215 modules to handle high-throughput operations and complex computing tasks seamlessly.

A key feature of the CQM212 and CQM215 modules is their Carrier Aggregation capability. The CQM212 supports up to 3xCC, while the CQM215 offers up to 4xCC, allowing the modules to aggregate multiple carrier frequencies, thereby optimizing the available radio spectrum for higher data speeds and enhanced network reliability. Both modules ensure continuous, reliable connectivity, even under demanding conditions. Applications that require ultra-low latency in areas of network congestion, such as real-time industrial control systems, gateways and router solutions, or smart surveillance systems, benefit significantly from the speed and network resilience of CQM212 and CQM215.

Equipped with global compatibility, both the CQM212 and CQM215 support an integrated eSIM along with multi-constellation, dual-band GNSS (L1+L5), facilitating precision tracking capabilities across the globe. Whether for asset tracking, real-time data analytics, or other location-based services, these modules ensure seamless tracking even in challenging environments such as urban canyons and tunnels. With dual-band GNSS, they deliver precise positioning with accuracy up to 2 meters, enabling dependable location-based services critical for modern IoT solutions.



The CQM212 and CQM215 serve a wide range of industries, delivering transformative IoT solutions. In Industry 4.0, the modules' high throughput and advanced processing capabilities facilitate real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance across factory floors housing a multitude of machines that generate large volumes of data. This enables manufacturers to optimize operational costs and minimize downtime by employing Industrial gateways/routers powered by the modules. For smart cities, these modules support intelligent infrastructure, such as smart surveillance solutions and public safety systems, ensuring more efficient and responsive urban environments. In logistics and transportation, the modules' GNSS capabilities and robust connectivity enable accurate real-time tracking, improving operational efficiency and safeguarding high-value assets.

Both the CQM212 and CQM215 modules feature dual SIM capability, with one slot configurable as an optional embedded eSIM alongside a physical SIM. This enables seamless cross-regional deployments and integration with the Cavli Hubble platform, further enhancing the modules' capabilities through remote diagnosis, monitoring, and debugging - core features of the Cavli Hubble IoT connectivity and modem management platform. This feature eliminates the need for physical intervention, simplifying the deployment and expansion of IoT solutions. Through strategic alliances with operators worldwide, Cavli has established a leading presence, delivering unparalleled connectivity solutions that set new standards in service quality and cost-effectiveness.

John Mathew, the CEO and the Chief Technology Architect of Cavli Wireless, remarked, "The CQM212 and CQM215 modules mark a major advancement in the IoT landscape. With AI enhanced network capabilities, such as higher data throughput, lower latency, and 5G-NR Sub-6 support, they are engineered to meet the complex demands of modern high-throughput applications. These modules offer seamless scalability, and robust global connectivity, making them ideal for industries demanding high-performance, reliable IoT solutions."

By combining advanced features with seamless global connectivity, Cavli continues to set new standards for reliability, scalability, and innovation in cellular IoT. As the IoT landscape evolves, the CQM212 and CQM215 exemplify Cavli's vision of delivering future-ready connectivity solutions that empower industries and drive technological advancement. We invite you to connect with our solution specialists at IMC 2025 to explore how CQM212 and CQM215 can enhance your upcoming project.

About Cavli Wireless

Cavli Wireless is a leading manufacturer of cellular IoT modules, integrating IoT connectivity and data management into a unified platform. Cavli designs and manufactures industrial-grade cellular IoT smart modules that enhance equipment reliability and expedite application development. Cavli's smart cellular modules are equipped with global cellular connectivity through integrated eSIM technology, offering users cost-effective global data plans, streamlined device management, and centralized subscription control powered by Cavli's proprietary cloud platform, Cavli Hubble.

About India Mobile Congress 2025

India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, taking place in New Delhi, is Asia's largest platform for technology, telecommunications, and innovation. The event brings together global leaders, policymakers, and industry pioneers from across the digital and connectivity ecosystems to showcase groundbreaking advancements in 5G, IoT, AI, and emerging technologies. IMC 2025 serves as a key forum for fostering collaboration, driving innovation, and shaping the future of connected technologies in India and beyond.

CONTACT:

Abhinand Dinesh, Sr. Associate - Corporate Marketing

Cavli Wireless

abhinand.dinesh@cavliwireless.com

+91-9605750306

https://www.cavliwireless.com/

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e92b954e-2f39-4744-a6b5-1e37d696503b
BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - European stocks rose slightly on Wednesday, with banks and energy stocks leading the surge despite ongoing political crisis in France and U.S. government shutdown worries. Investors also shrugged off data that showed Germany's industrial production declined more than expected in August. Industrial output fell 4.3 percent year-on-year in August, in contrast to the 1.3 percent increase in July, Destatis reported. Output was expected to fall 1 percent. On a yearly basis, industrial production logged a decline of 3.9 percent, reversing July's 1.5 percent increase. The pan European Stoxx 600 edged up by 0.4 percent to 571.63 after falling 0.2 percent on Tuesday. The German DAX gained 0.3 percent, France's CAC 40 climbed 0.6 percent and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 added 0.4 percent. Banks Commerzbank, Deutsche Bank and Credit Agricole all traded up around 1 percent. Oil giant BP Plc gained 0.6 percent, tracking higher oil prices. German wind turbine manufacturer Nordex SE rose nearly 2 percent on securing orders in the U.S. totaling 236 megawatts (MW). Copper producer Aurubis slumped 5.6 percent. The company has set an earnings target for the 2025/26 financial year broadly in line with what it had guided for the previous year. ABB shares rose 1.4 percent. The Swiss-Swedish multinational corporation has agreed to sell its global robotics division to SoftBank Group for $5.38 billion. Fragrance firm Givaudan added 1.2 percent after an announcement that it would invest CHF187 million ($233 million) in the construction of a new production plant near Cincinnati, Ohio, in the United States. BMW plunged 8.2 percent after the German luxury carmaker cut its profit forecast, citing U.S. tariffs and weaker-than-expected growth in the Chinese market. ASML Holding declined 1.3 percent after U.S. lawmakers called for broader bans on chipmaking equipment sales to China. Lloyds Banking Group rallied 2.3 percent in London. The bank announced that it is assessing the FCA's motor finance redress scheme. Bunzl fell 1.2 percent after saying it has completed two new acquisitions in Ireland and Spain. Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - A senior Al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist attack planner has been killed in an airstrike by U.S. forces in Syria. U.S. Central Command said Muhammad 'Abd-al-Wahhab al-Ahmad was killed in an attack conducted last week. He was a member of Ansar al-Islam, an Al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist group. 'U.S. forces in the Middle East remain postured to disrupt and defeat efforts by terrorists to plan, organize, and conduct attacks,' said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander. 'We will continue to defend our homeland, warfighters, allies and partners throughout the region and beyond,' he added. Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
HUDDERSFIELD, England , Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With Christmas fast approaching, homeowners across the UK are turning their attention indoors-refreshing spaces, upgrading tired flooring, and making their homes warm and welcoming ahead of the festive season. To support this seasonal spruce-up, Flooring365.co.uk has launched a limited-time sale, offering 15% off all sale orders over 699, available now till the 20th October.

These savings are on top of the up to 70% off already available across the Flooring365.co.uk website, making it one of the most generous offers of the year for those looking to upgrade their home ahead of Christmas.

As the evenings draw in and the thought of family gatherings, guests, and festive decor takes centre stage, autumn has become a popular time for home improvements. Whether it's a full renovation or a quick hallway update, the right flooring can set the tone for the entire season.

Top Flooring Choices for a Cosy Christmas:

Engineered Wood Flooring

Combines the timeless beauty of natural wood with enhanced stability. It's durable, stylish, and suitable for a variety of subfloors and heating systems, making it a practical choice that doesn't compromise on charm.





Combines the timeless beauty of natural wood with enhanced stability. It's durable, stylish, and suitable for a variety of subfloors and heating systems, making it a practical choice that doesn't compromise on charm. Vinyl Flooring

Highly durable, low-maintenance, and water-resistant. Modern vinyl options offer realistic wood and stone effects with the added benefit of comfort underfoot, perfect for busy households and everyday living.





Highly durable, low-maintenance, and water-resistant. Modern vinyl options offer realistic wood and stone effects with the added benefit of comfort underfoot, perfect for busy households and everyday living. Solid Wood Flooring

Offers unmatched authenticity and character, adding long-term value to any home. With proper care, it lasts for decades, giving a premium feel and a beautifully warm finish that ages gracefully.

"We know this is one of the busiest times of year for renovations," Richard, director of Flooring365.co.uk shared. "People are preparing their homes not just for Christmas but for a winter season full of entertaining, relaxing, and staying in. The right flooring can completely transform a room, and our autumn sale is here to help customers achieve that transformation affordably and on time."

With fast delivery and expert support, even last-minute planners can get their flooring laid before the guests arrive. From rustic oak tones to sleek grey finishes, shoppers can explore hundreds of styles, take advantage of quick sampling, and enjoy seasonal savings while they last.

About Flooring365.co.uk

Flooring365.co.uk is a leading UK supplier of quality engineered wood, solid wood and vinyl flooring. Based in Huddersfield, the company combines affordability with outstanding service and a carefully selected product range. Their mission is to help homeowners transform their spaces with style, value, and ease.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cosy-floors-for-christmas-flooring365couk-unveils-seasonal-savings-ahead-of-festive-rush-302576898.html
By Akbar Novruz



A delegation led by Speaker of the Croatian Parliament Gordan Jandrokovi?, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, paid tribute to National Leader Heydar Aliyev at the Alley of Honor in Baku.

The delegation laid a wreath at Heydar Aliyevs grave in memory of the architect and founder of the modern independent Azerbaijani state.

Later, the Croatian delegation visited the Alley of Martyrs, where they honored the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for Azerbaijans independence and territorial integrity and laid a wreath at the Eternal Torch monument.

During the visit, the guests also viewed the panorama of Baku from its highest point and were briefed on the history of the Alley of Martyrs, as well as the citys ongoing development and reconstruction efforts.
Bangkok, Thailand--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) is proud to announce the Thailand Space Expo 2025 (TSX 2025), the largest and most comprehensive space technology expo ever held in Southeast Asia. Leading experts, technology providers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and enthusiasts from across the globe are invited to gather at this landmark event in Bangkok.





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8530/269616_gytimg2.jpg

Event Overview

TSX 2025 is more than an exhibition; it is a critical platform designed to inspire, educate, and connect the key players driving the future of the space economy.

Dates: October 16-18, 2025.

Venue: TRUE ICON HALL, 7th Floor, ICONSIAM, Bangkok, Thailand.

Admission: Complimentary registration is available

A Hub for Global Collaboration

This event offers unparalleled opportunities for networking, partnership, and business development:

Exhibition: Explore space innovation up close with showcases from over 60 booths featuring space technology startups and established partners from multiple countries. The exhibition spans 12 themed zones, covering sectors like Satellite and Launch , Space Exploration & Frontier Technology , Digital & Solution , and Agriculture .

Explore space innovation up close with showcases from featuring space technology startups and established partners from multiple countries. The exhibition spans 12 themed zones, covering sectors like , , , and . Program Highlights: Engage with global thought leaders through a dynamic program featuring 150 Leading Speakers Globally , 30+ Sessions on Stage , and 20+ Workshops .

Engage with global thought leaders through a dynamic program featuring , , and . Exclusive Networking: Secure international investor partnerships and high-level negotiations by attending the exclusive Reception Dinner; a luxury cruise on The Chao Phraya River.

Who Should Attend?

TSX 2025 is meticulously designed to create value for diverse audiences:

Industry Professionals: Researchers, startups, and space-tech industries seeking partnerships, funding, and collaboration will find dedicated networking opportunities with global space agencies and innovators.

Researchers, startups, and space-tech industries seeking will find dedicated networking opportunities with global space agencies and innovators. Aspiring Professionals: Students and young professionals passionate about science and technology are encouraged to attend to grow in the space sector. A dedicated Education Zone will engage participants with hands-on experiences and mentorship .

Students and young professionals passionate about science and technology are encouraged to attend to grow in the space sector. A dedicated will engage participants with . The Public: General visitors and families seeking inspiration and exploration are welcome to witness the cutting edge of space technology.

Join GISTDA at TSX 2025 to forge future collaborations and contribute to the next frontier.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269616

SOURCE: GYT
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - Exploits Discovery Corp. (CSE: NFLD) (OTCQB: NFLDF) (FSE: 634) announces the commencement of high-resolution drone magnetic and VLF-EM surveys at its Fenton and Wilson gold projects in Quebec. These surveys are aimed at identifying new areas of interest and gaining a more detailed understanding of the projects' known high-grade gold zones. Results from the surveys and this summer's field work, will guide the design of a winter drill program focused on expanding known resources and testing new zones of gold mineralization.

High-Resolution Detailed Geophysics at Quebec Gold Projects

The geophysics crew will fly high-resolution drone magnetic and VLF-EM surveys across each property. The magnetic survey will cover 270-line kilometres at Fenton and 700-line kilometres at Wilson, while the VLF-EM survey will cover 135-line kilometres at Fenton and 350-line kilometres at Wilson.

Other highlights include:

Drone magnetic and VLF-EM survey to cover the entire Fenton and Wilson properties

Both surveys will use 50-metre line spacing at 35 to 40 metres above surface for high-resolution

The drone magnetic survey will be run in two perpendicular directions to improve detail and help identify high-angle cross structures that trend parallel to historical survey lines.

Jeff Swinoga, President and CEO, comments: "We are excited to launch these high-resolution surveys at our Fenton and Wilson projects, which together with our field work will ultimately lead to drilling programs on these gold projects. The surveys are designed to map structural controls on gold mineralization and highlight new, high-priority drill targets across both properties. The results will greatly benefit our anticipated upcoming winter drilling programs, where we aim to expand known resources and test new zones of gold mineralization. With the recent announced sale of our Newfoundland properties to New Found Gold Corp. for up to 3,547,100 shares at 2.48 per share (for up to approximately $8.8 million), Exploits will have over $10 million in cash and cash equivalents and no debt to aggressively advance our projects."

The Fenton and Wilson properties contain high-grade gold mineralization associated with regional geophysical conductors near intersections with high-angle cross structures. A summary of the work to date on each project is below.

Fenton Project

The Fenton project comprises 18 contiguous claims covering approximately 760.7 hectares, with year-round access via forestry roads.

A historical mineral resource estimate (non-NI 43-101 compliant)* reported 426,173 tonnes grading 4.66 g/t gold (Au), for 63,885 ounces of gold, including 23,643 ounces within the first 50 metres below surface. This estimate was prepared by Exploration Boreale Inc. (Denis Chenard, Ing., 2000), and based on a cut-off grade of 2.0 g/t Au and a minimum true width of 1.0 m.

Since that time, an additional 25 drill holes totaling more than 10,800 metres have been completed, which expanded the mineralized envelope along strike and to depth. Reported highlights include:

DDH 1354-17-17: 0.9 g/t Au over 32.6 m from 405.6 m , including 12.1 g/t Au over 1.0 m (SOQUEM, 2018)

, including (SOQUEM, 2018) DDH 1354-17-17: 3.4 g/t Au over 20.0 m from 556.0 m , including 29.6 g/t Au over 2.0 m (SOQUEM, 2018)

, including (SOQUEM, 2018) DDH 1354-17-24: 1.1 g/t Au over 11.0 m from 660.0 m, including 8.2 g/t Au over 1.0 m (SOQUEM, 2018)

In addition to the Fenton Historical Resource and the immediate area, several other targets have been identified on the property (see figure 1), including:

One with drill holes and a similar geophysical signature: 1391-17-20 returned 42.3 g/t Au over 5.1 m including 356.0 g/t Au over 0.6 m ( Gagnon, 2018 ) 1391-20-36 (a second drill hole) returned 2.9 g/t over 11.0 m, including 25.7 g/t Au over 1.0 m (Gagnon, 2020)

Four with surface grab samples and a similar geophysical signature: Multiple > 10.0 g/t Au grab samples with one reaching 90.1 g/t Au

Nine with similar geophysical targets with no sampling to date but coincident NW trending Mag high and EM conductor axis

(Details of sampling, QA/QC, and analytical procedures for the 2012, 2017-2018 and 2020 SOQUEM programs are provided below in Appendix A).

Figure 1. Fenton Property, showing historic results and InfiniTEM Survey (Cartier Resources Inc., 2021).

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6393/269598_e07fd92e74ffb9ab_002full.jpg

Wilson Project

The Wilson gold project comprises 42 contiguous claims covering 1,660 hectares, located just 15 kilometres east of Lebel-sur-Quevillon in Quebec.

The project hosts multiple gold-bearing zones, including the high-grade Toussaint showing where a historical mineral resource estimate (non-NI 43-101 compliant)* reported 187,706 tonnes at 7.1 g/t gold totalling approximately 42,850 ounces of gold (conducted by Freewest Resources in 1994 based on 70 holes and 9,634 metres).

An additional 92 holes totaling over 22,000 metres have been drilled on the property since the MRE was calculated. The results have greatly expanded the mineralized envelop along strike and to depth and include the following reported results:

DDH HMW 21-09: 13.11 g/t Au over 3.0 m from 121.0 m , including 38.0 g/t Au over 1.0 m (Yordanov, 2022)

, including (Yordanov, 2022) DDH HMW 21-08: 11.25 g/t Au over 3.0 metres from 104.0 m , including 30.9 g/t Au over 1.0 m (Yordanov, 2022)

, including (Yordanov, 2022) DDH WL17-15: 6.8 g/t Au over 4.0 m , including 16.1 g/t Au over 1.0 m (Cartier, 2017)

, including (Cartier, 2017) DDH WL17-05: 24.8 g/t Au over 1.0 m and 5.0 g/t Au over 3.0 m; including 14.1 g/t Au over 1.0 m (Cartier, 2017)

In addition to the Toussaint Historical mineral resource and immediate area, at least seven other targets have been identified on the property (see figure 2):

Six have highly anomalous drill intercepts and a similar geophysical signature including: DDH HMW 21-33: 17.31 g/t Au over 3.0 m including 58.8 g/t Au over 1.0 m (Yordanov, 2023) 64.6 g/t Au over 0.4 m DDH HMW 21-36: 5.8 g/t Au over 4.1 m (Yordanov, 2023)

One has anomalous channel samples and a similar geophysical signature: 3.9 g/t Au over 2.0 metres

(Details of sampling, QA/QC, and analytical procedures for the 2017 Cartier and 2021-2022 Hawkmoon programs are provided in Appendix A).

Figure 2. Wilson Property, showing historic results and OreVision Survey.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6393/269598_figure298.jpg

*Historical Resource Disclaimers

Fenton (GM 56275; Chenard, 2000): The historical estimate predates NI 43-101, cannot be compared to CIM standards, and lacks complete QA/QC documentation. It is considered relevant but uncertain and suspect due to limited verification, incomplete sampling, and inconsistencies in survey control. A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the estimate as current, and the Company is not treating it as current. Additional work (data verification, re-logging, re-sampling, confirmation drilling, and updated modelling) would be required.

Wilson (GM 52557; Freewest, 1994): The historical estimate predates NI 43-101 and categories cannot be compared to CIM standards. It is considered relevant but uncertain and suspect given the limited tonnage, historical methodology, and absence of modern QA/QC. A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify it as current, and the Company is not treating it as current. Additional work (data compilation, core verification, confirmation drilling, and updated modelling) would be required.

Sale of Newfoundland Properties

The Company recently announced the sale of its Newfoundland properties to New Found Cold Corp. for up to a total of 3,547,100 shares at a deemed price of $2.48 per share (up to $8.8 million) (see news release dated September 8, 2025, for details). Upon closing Exploits will have approximately $10 million in cash and equivalents and no debt. The Company plans to use its cash and equivalents to advance its properties in Quebec and Ontario and pursue additional opportunities to add gold ounces in mining-friendly jurisdictions.

Qualified person statement

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by

Mark Richardson, P.Geo. (OGQ Permit No. 10929), a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

About Exploits Discovery Corp.

Exploits Discovery is a Canadian gold exploration company focused on growing ounces in top-tier mining jurisdictions. Exploits' portfolio consists of the Hawkins Gold Project in Ontario and three advanced high-grade gold projects in Quebec (Fenton, Wilson, and Benoist). The Company's strategy is to advance projects with district-scale potential through systematic exploration and partnerships, creating shareholder value through discovery and resource growth.

On Behalf of the Board,

/s/ "Jeff Swinoga"

President and CEO

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to, market conditions, availability of financing, actual results of the Company's exploration and other activities, environmental risks, future metal prices, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. All the forward-looking statements made in this news release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required by applicable law.

Appendix A

Summary prevoiusly disclosed drill collars

2012 SOQUEM (Fenton Program)

Hole ID Easting (mE) Northing (mN) Elevation (m) Azimuth () Dip () Total Depth (m) 1354-12-01 473369.7 5484827.3 376 217 -46 192 1354-12-02 473252.8 5484868.1 373 214 -46 291 1354-12-03 472928.9 5484488.5 370 34 -45 132 1354-12-04 473487.4 5484819 370 215 -45 291 1354-12-05 473376.7 5484420.6 369 216.7 -45 102 1354-12-06 473378.6 5484422.2 369 36.5 -60 390 1354-12-07 473475.3 5484346.3 366 37.1 -53 232.4 1354-12-08 473575.3 5484266.7 366 38 -46 246 1354-12-09 473617.2 5484239.3 367 35 -46 243 1354-12-10 473312.2 5484452.9 369 33 -52 411.5 1354-12-11 474015.1 5485612.6 370 216.1 -46 201 1354-12-12 473893.3 5485113.2 370 216.6 -44 282

NAD83 Zone 18

Source: GM 67354

2017 SOQUEM (Guercheville Program)

Hole ID Easting (mE) Northing (mN) Elevation (m) Azimuth () Dip () Total Depth (m) 1391-17-14 474721.5 5485395.3 372.3 219 -44 171 1391-17-15 474844.2 5485401.7 371.1 220 -44 171 1391-17-16 474925.9 5485340.2 369.7 220 -45 132 1391-17-17 474842.7 5485233.5 369.5 305 -45 162 1391-17-18 474844.7 5485229.8 369.5 223 -44 174 1391-17-19 474123.8 5485588.9 370.1 220 -60 207 1391-17-20 473923.1 5485653.6 368.7 220 -58 231 1391-17-21 474076.7 5485695.1 369.6 217 -56 300

NAD83 Zone 18

Source: GM 70782

2017 SOQUEM (Fenton Program)

Hole ID Easting (mE) Northing (mN) Elevation (m) Azimuth () Dip () Total Depth (m) 1354-17-13 473576.5 5484822.3 372 235.9 -61.2 490 1354-17-14 473577 5484822.6 372 235.5 -75.5 580 1354-17-15 473653.8 5484751.6 374 235.5 -77.5 636 1354-17-16 473654.6 5484752.1 374 232.3 -70.8 546 1354-17-17 473577.8 5484823 372 230.5 -80 671.5 1354-17-18 473510.7 5484893.7 371 234.4 -59.4 432 1354-17-19 473511 5484894 371 234.4 -72 603 1354-17-20 473445.6 5484977.7 371 234.5 -69.0 496 1354-17-21 473511.4 5484894.2 371 235.1 -77.2 420.1 1354-17-21W 473415.65 5484839.59 -11.6 243.2 -70 499.0 1354-17-22 473446 5484978 371 234 -80.1 663 1354-17-23 473572.8 5484820.2 372 229.3 -74.4 538 1354-17-24 473650.8 5484749.5 374 222.4 -76.2 688 1354-17-25 473682 5484903 372 234.5 -78.8 925 1354-17-25A 473680.6 5484901.9 372 232.6 -79.3 18

NAD83 Zone 18

Source:GM71366

2020 SOQUEM (Fenton)

Hole ID Easting (mE) Northing (mN) Elevation (m) Azimuth () Dip () Total Depth (m) 1391-20-33 473933 5485592 368.9 36 -57 89.8 1391-20-34 473905 5485553 368.8 31 -54 171 1391-20-35 473854 5485562 368.3 40 -44 147 1391-20-36 473805 5485587 367.9 32 -56 167 1391-20-37 473835 5485630 367.4 37 -51 108 1391-20-38 473805 5485668 367.8 215 -46 96 1391-20-39 473852 5485732 367.1 217 -44 201 1391-20-40 473538 5485740 368 168 -44 203.5 1391-20-41 473720 5485373 369.4 34 -45 111.0

NAD83 Zone 18

Source: GM71834

Cartier 2017 (WL series):

Hole ID Easting (mE) Northing (mN) Elevation (m) Azimuth () Dip () Total Depth (m) WL17-01 370120 5433291 319 147.9 -74.2 441 WL17-02 370164 5433329 319 142.5 -82 472 WL17-03 370130 5433310 319 143.3 -76 474 WL17-04 370189 5433370 319 140.9 -67.3 474 WL17-05 370189 5433370 319 137.9 -76.2 486.5 WL17-06 370189 5433370 319 147.3 -85.3 675 WL17-07 370365 5433313 317 137 -65 327 WL17-08 370365 5433313 317 140 -76 396 WL17-09 370476 5433287 322 144.4 -81.5 369 WL17-10 370708 5433288 310 146 -59.5 354 WL17-11 370708 5433288 310 138.4 -69.4 477 WL17-12 370749 5433339 313 160.5 -81.4 372 WL17-13 370757 5433410 310 155.4 -76.2 462 WL17-14 370561 5433347 317 139.3 -79 357 WL17-15 370012 5433261 317 143.9 -57.5 345 WL17-16 370012 5433261 317 134.9 -69.4 438 WL17-17 370012 5433261 317 156 -79.4 393 WL17-18 370937 5433810 307 128.2 -63.4 384 WL17-19 370937 5433810 307 157.5 -54 351

NAD83 Zone 18

Source: GM 70585

Viking Gold 2012 (VP series):

Hole ID Easting (mE) Northing (mN) Elevation (m) Azimuth () Dip () Total Depth (m) VP-11-01 370126.7 5433102.6 317.4 142 -45 120 VP-11-02 370313.2 5433139.8 324.5 132 -45 114 VP-11-03 370386.4 5433166.5 325.1 145 -45 102 VP-11-04 370497.7 5433181.4 315.8 131 -46 102 VP-11-05 370712.9 5433221.7 305.7 140 -45 174 VP-11-09 370112 5433793 319 145 -45 162 VP-11-10 370090 5433465 325 145 -46.5 159 VP-11-11 370127.6 5433189.3 317.4 140 -55.2 210 VP-11-12 370147.7 5433248.1 316.4 142.4 -60.8 258 VP-11-13 370319.3 5433263.5 319.2 141 -45 207 VP-11-14 370438.1 5433267.6 324.7 145 -53.4 204 VP-11-15 370531 5433309 325.2 143.3 -51.5 219 VP-11-16 370518.1 5433415.6 313.8 141 -45 330 VP-11-17 370600.1 5433209.1 306.8 141 -55 102 VP-11-18 370753.7 5433250.5 308.8 145 -47.9 180 VP-11-19 370796.7 5433276.3 305.8 145 -48.3 180 VP-11-20 370813.5 5433339.9 306.6 140 -57 222 VP-11-21 370265 5432894 311 175 -55.5 192 VP-11-22 370754 5433044 300.1 175 -57 171 VP-11-23 370756.2 5433334.9 310.6 140 -50 255 VP-11-24 370742.5 5433266.8 310.1 145 -58 210 VP-11-25 370055.4 5433293.7 319 142 -53 333 VP-12-26 370061.8 5433194.5 315.6 144 -52 234 VP-12-27 370065.2 5433146.7 315.7 144 -45 157 VP-12-28 370071.1 5433095.9 315.8 144 -45 120 VP-12-29 369984 5433048.5 315.4 144 -45 120

NAD83 Zone 18

Source: GM 68527

Hawkmoon 2021-2022 (HMW series):

Hole ID Easting (mE) Northing (mN) Elevation (m) Azimuth () Dip () Total Depth (m) HMW21-01 370229 5433140 326 145 -45 150 HMW21-02 370228 5433076 327 150 -55 100 HMW21-03 370224 5433094 327 155 -45 201 HMW21-04 370149 5433090 326 145 -60 201 HMW21-05 370129 5433187 323 140 -55 254.4 HMW21-06 370192 5433115 321 145 -60 201 HMW21-07 370176 5433295 325 147 -55 252 HMW21-08 370260 5433164 329 145 -55 201 HMW21-09 370256 5433206 334 145 -55 201 HMW21-10 370284 5433114 331 155 -45 201 HMW21-11 370284 5433114 331 155 -60 150 HMW21-12 370263 5433103 326 145 -70 102 HMW21-13 370251 5433097 323 145 -70 102 HMW21-14 370378 5433198 315 145 -55 201 HMW21-15 370664 5433269 328 145 -55 201 HMW21-16 370726 5433215 317 140 -45 150 HMW21-17 370757 5433252 322 145 -45 135 HMW21-18 370823 5433286 319 160 -60 150 HMW21-19 370852 5433325 304 160 -60 150 HMW21-20 370861 5433473 309 145 -60 210 HMW21-21 370852 5433662 319 150 -50 150 HMW21-22 370861 5433621 305 145 -60 201 HMW21-23 370746 5433592 334 150 -60 201 HMW21-24 371008 5433595 316 160 -60 150 HMW21-25 371001 5433721 312 155 -55 231 HMW21-26 371052 5433674 312 150 -60 198 HMW21-27 371091 5433654 313 150 -60 201 HMW21-28 371067 5433623 309 155 -45 186 HMW22-29 370246 5433152 325 145 -45 150 HMW22-30 370272 5433176 320 145 -55 201 HMW22-31 370115 5433173 323 145 -55 354 HMW22-32 370162 5433290 320 145 -55 450 HMW22-33 370209 5433316 320 145 -55 439 HMW22-34 370275 5433222 320 145 -55 252 HMW22-35 370510 5433290 320 145 -55 402 HMW22-36 370980 5433647 320 155 -60 300 HMW22-37 371040 5433628 320 155 -45 252 HMW22-38 370235 5433842 320 325 -45 201

NAD83 Zone 18

Source: Source: GM 73171

Historic Sampling, QAQC and Analyitcal Proceedures

Fenton (SOQUEM 2012) (Series 1354):

Core was sawn in half; samples averaged 1.0-1.5 m. Preparation at Techni-Lab, Ste-Germaine-Boule: crushed to 80% <8 mesh, pulverized 250-300 g to 80% <200 mesh with silica between samples. Gold was analyzed by 15 g fire assay (AAS finish), with Pt, Pd, Ag, Cu, and Zn by additional methods. QA/QC included 66 blanks and 38 certified standards (~1 in 17 samples) plus 115 pulp check assays at ALS Val-d'Or. All labs accredited ISO 17025:2005. Intervals are core lengths; true widths unknown Source: GM 67354.

Guercheville (SOQUEM 2017) (Series 1391):

Core was sawn in half; samples averaged 1.5 m. Preparation at ALS Chemex Val-d'Or: dried, crushed to 70% <2 mm, pulverized to 85% <75 m. Gold analyzed by 30 g fire assay (AAS finish), with gravimetric re-assay >2 ppm Au. Multi-element geochemistry by four-acid ICP-AES/MS and lithogeochemistry (SOQ-4) by lithium metaborate fusion. High-grade Au, Ag, Cu, and Zn samples reanalyzed as required. QA/QC included standards, blanks, and duplicates at ~1 in 24 samples, plus silica blanks between runs. ALS was ISO 17025 accredited. Intervals are core lengths; true widths unknown. Source: GM 70782.

Fenton (SOQUEM 2017-2018) (Series 1354):

Core was sawn in half; samples typically 1.5 m. Preparation at ALS Val-d'Or; gold by 30 g fire assay (AAS finish) with gravimetric re-assay for >2 g/t Au. Select coarse-gold samples analyzed by Metallic Sieve (~1,000 g). Multi-element geochemistry by four-acid ICP-AES/MS and lithium metaborate ICP methods. SOQUEM inserted blanks, standards, and duplicates; ALS inserted internal controls. All labs accredited ISO 17025:2005. Intervals reported are core lengths; true widths are unknown. Source: GM 71366.

Geurcheville-Fenton (SOQUEM 2020) (Series 1391):

Core was sawn in half; preparation at ALS included crushing and pulverizing with silica blanks inserted between samples. Gold >5 g/t was re-analyzed by gravimetric finish; Pt/Pd >=3 g/t and Ag >=100 ppm re-analyzed by fire assay/ICP-OES; Ag >=500 ppm re-analyzed by fire assay/gravimetric; base metals >5% rechecked by ICP-OES. QA/QC included blanks and CDN Resource Labs certified standards inserted at 1 in 25, alongside ALS internal controls. All labs accredited ISO 17025:2005. Intervals reported are core lengths; true widths unknown. Source: GM 71834.

Wilson (Viking Gold 2012) (Series VP-12):

Core sawn in half; samples ~1.0-1.5 m. Preparation at ALS Val-d'Or: crushed to 70% <2 mm, pulverized to 85% <75 m. Gold by 30 g fire assay (AAS finish; gravimetric re-assay >10 ppm Au). QA/QC included 16 blanks, 16 Rocklabs standards, and 15 duplicates (~1 in 25), all within expected ranges except one blank (0.005 ppm Au) and one duplicate (VP-12-29). ALS ISO 17025 accredited. Intervals are core lengths; true widths unknown. Source: GM 68445.

Wilson (Cartier 2017) (Series WL):

Core was sawn in half; samples prepared at Techni-Lab Val-d'Or (crushed to 85% <10 mesh; 250 g pulverized to 85% <200 mesh). Gold by 50 g fire assay (AAS finish), with gravimetric re-assay for >5 g/t Au and Metallic Sieve for visible gold. Multi-element geochemistry at Actlabs by lithium metaborate digestion with XRF. Cartier inserted blanks and certified standards (ASL) at 1 in 20, with Techni-Lab internal controls. QA/QC thresholds: >12 ppb Au for blanks and >3 for standards; failures reanalyzed. Labs accredited ISO 17025:2005. Intervals reported are core lengths; true widths are unknown. Source: GM 70585.

Wilson (Hawkmoon 2021-2022) (Series HMW):

Core was sawn in half; samples prepared at ALS Val-d'Or and analyzed at ALS Vancouver by 30 g fire assay (AAS finish). Samples >10 g/t Au re-analyzed by gravimetric finish. QA/QC included blanks, standards, and duplicates inserted regularly, with ALS internal controls. Results were within expected ranges. Labs accredited ISO 17025:2005. Intervals reported are core lengths; true widths are unknown. Source: GM 73171.

Citations for Previously Disclosed Results

Cartier Resources Inc. (2017). Rapport de la campagne de forage 2017 - Projet Wilson, canton de Verneuil, Quebec. Assessment submission to the Ministere des Ressources naturelles du Quebec.

Cartier Resources Inc. (2021, November 29). Cartier's exploration work in progress on the Fenton property. Press release. Retrieved from https://ressourcescartier.com/press-releases/cartiers-exploration-work-in-progress-on-the-fenton-property/.

Datac Geoconseil Inc. (1998). Rapport d'evaluation - Propriete Fenton, canton de Fenton, Abitibi, Quebec. Prepared for Exploration Boreale Inc. Assessment report GM 56275, Ministere des Ressources naturelles du Quebec.

Exploration Boreale Inc. (Chenard, D., Ing.). (2000). Evaluation de l'inventaire mineral aurifere, gite Fenton. Assessment report GM 56275, Ministere des Ressources naturelles du Quebec.

Fekete, M. (1994). Rapport d'exploration et d'estimation des ressources minerales, projet Toussaint, canton de Verneuil, Abitibi, Quebec. Prepared for Freewest Resources Canada Inc. Assessment report GM 52557, Ministere des Ressources naturelles du Quebec.

Gagnon, J.-F. (2018). Rapport d'exploration, annee 2017, propriete Guercheville 2014-1 (1391), feuillet 32G/11 . GM70782. SOQUEM Inc., Ministere de l'Energie et des Ressources naturelles du Quebec.

Gagnon, J.-F., & Fortin Rheaume, J.-D. (2020). Rapport d'exploration: Cartographie ete 2019 et forage hiver 2020, propriete Guercheville 2014-1 (1391), feuillet SNRC 32G/11 . SOQUEM Inc., Ministere de l'Energie et des Ressources naturelles du Quebec.

SOQUEM Inc. (2012). Rapport de travaux d'exploration - Projet Fenton (GM 67354). Ministere des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Quebec, SIGEOM Assessment File. 149 p.

SOQUEM Inc. (2018). Programme de forage - Gite Fenton (1354): methodologie, QA/QC et resultats analytiques. Internal report and assessment submission.

Viking Gold Exploration Inc. (2011). Rapport des travaux d'exploration 2011-2012, projet Fenton, Abitibi, Quebec. Assessment report GM 68445, submitted to the Ministere des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Quebec.

Yordanov, G. M. (2022, December 10). Assessment report on the 2021-2022 diamond drill program completed on the Wilson Property, Verneuil Township, Quebec (NTS 32F02). GMY Consulting Inc. for Hawkmoon Resources Corp.

Yordanov, G. M. (2023, June 27). Assessment report on the 2022 diamond drill program completed on the Wilson Property, Verneuil Township, Quebec (NTS 32F02). GMY Consulting Inc. for Hawkmoon Resources Corp.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269598

SOURCE: Exploits Discovery Corp.
Monroe, Louisiana and Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - Krown Technologies, Inc. and Quantum eMotion Corp. (TSXV: QNC) (OTCQB: QNCCF) (FSE: 34Q0) ("QeM") are proud to announce the global release of Qastle, the world's first quantum-secured hot wallet designed for everyday use. Following extensive development and successful final testing, Qastle will officially launch on November 1st, 2025.

Unlike any wallet before it, Qastle is universally available-on iPhone, Android, tablets, browser extensions, laptops, desktops, and virtually every platform where digital assets are stored and transacted. With this groundbreaking release, secure digital asset storage is no longer limited to the technically elite; it is now accessible to everyone, everywhere, and without compromise. It is the safest hot wallet in the world.

A First-of-Its-Kind Breakthrough

Qastle represents the first time that post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and quantum random number generation (QRNG) are combined in a hot wallet built for the mainstream. With hackers and state actors racing toward exploiting the coming era of quantum computing, Qastle stands as a fortress against tomorrow's threats today.

The launch also marks a significant milestone for both companies: Qastle represents the first positive cash flow channel for Krown Technologies and Quantum eMotion.

James Stephens, Founder & CEO of Krown Technologies, said:

"Qastle isn't just another wallet-it's the dawn of a new era in blockchain security. On November 1st, the world will see what true quantum protection looks like, and it will be available in everyone's pocket, on every device they own."

Francis Bellido, CEO of Quantum eMotion, added:

"Qastle is the culmination of years of research and collaboration, marrying QeM's pioneering QRNG technology with Krown's blockchain innovation. This launch proves that quantum-safe security is not just theoretical-it is real, scalable, and ready for mass adoption."

About Krown Technologies, Inc.

Krown Technologies, Inc. is the parent company of The Krown Network and engages in the development of next-generation innovative products in blockchain, DeFi, cryptocurrency, and cybersecurity. At the heart of its vision is building the Camelot Ecosystem, a comprehensive suite of platforms and utilities designed to empower users, investors, and enterprises alike. From quantum-secured wallets and decentralized finance tools to advanced trading systems and AI-driven analytics, Krown is committed to delivering secure, scalable, and future-proof solutions that redefine the digital economy.

For more information, visit: www.krown.network

About Quantum eMotion (QeM)

Quantum eMotion Corp. (TSXV: QNC) (OTCQB: QNCCF) (FSE: 34Q0) is a quantum technology company dedicated to revolutionizing digital security. Leveraging proprietary quantum random number generation (QRNG) technologies, QeM delivers unparalleled entropy and randomness essential for cryptography, financial transactions, and secure communications. Headquartered in Montreal, QeM's mission is to lead the charge in quantum cybersecurity, ensuring global systems remain resilient against the threats of quantum computing.

For more information, visit: www.quantumemotion.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269609

SOURCE: Krown Technologies LLC
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - GoviEx Uranium Inc. (TSXV: GXU) (OTCQB: GVXXF) ("GoviEx" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news release dated October 6, 2025, shareholders of Tombador Iron Limited ("Tombador") have approved all shareholder resolutions required to complete the proposed reverse takeover of Tombador by GoviEx (the "Transaction").

At a general meeting held on October 8, 2025, Tombador shareholders passed, by the requisite majorities, the resolutions relating to the Transaction, including the issuance of consideration shares to GoviEx shareholders and replacement options to GoviEx optionholders and warrantholders, and the change of name to Atomic Eagle Ltd.

Daniel Major, CEO of GoviEx Uranium said:

"We welcome the strong support shown by Tombador's shareholders. Their approval is a key milestone toward forming Atomic Eagle Ltd - as an ASX-listed uranium developer with a strengthened balance sheet, a simplified corporate structure and a clear mandate to advance and improve the Muntanga uranium project in Zambia. With GoviEx Securityholders set to vote on October 24, we remain firmly on track to complete the Transaction and unlock long-term value for all stakeholders."

A full summary of the resolutions passed and voting results has been lodged by Tombador with the ASX.

As previously announced, GoviEx will hold a special meeting of its shareholders, warrantholders, and optionholders (collectively, "GoviEx Securityholders") on October 24, 2025, to vote on the Transaction.

The closing of the Transaction continues to be targeted for early November 2025, subject to the approval of GoviEx's Securityholders, as well as regulatory and court approvals and completion of Tombador's concurrent capital raising and ASX re-compliance listing, as set out in the Tombador prospectus lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission on October 6, 2025.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About GoviEx Uranium Inc.

GoviEx (TSX-V: GXU) (OTCQB: GVXXF), is a mineral resource company focused on the exploration and development of uranium properties in Africa. GoviEx's principal objective is to become a significant uranium producer through the continued exploration and development of its mine-permitted Muntanga Project in Zambia.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release may contain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All information and statements other than statements of current or historical facts contained in this news release are forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are subject to various

risks and uncertainties concerning the specific factors disclosed here and elsewhere in GoviEx's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "could", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "potential", "should," and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Information provided in this document is necessarily summarized and may not contain all available material information. Forward-looking statements in this announcement include but are not limited to, statements regarding: the expected timetable; outcome and effects of the Transaction, and GoviEx's Securityholder's meeting; the ability of Tombador to successfully complete its concurrent capital raising and ASX re-compliance listing; that the Transaction will unlock long-term value for all stakeholders. Although GoviEx believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurances that its expectations will be achieved. Such assumptions, which may prove incorrect, include the following: (i) that GoviEx will obtain or satisfy, in a timely manner or otherwise, required regulatory approval, shareholder, securityholder and court approvals and other conditions to the closing of the Transaction; (ii) Tombador will be able to satisfy ASX requirements for re-admission to the Official List on the ASX; (iii) the ability of GoviEx and Tombador to complete the Transaction on the terms described herein or at all; the successful completion of the concurrent capital raising by Tombador; the plans and strategies of GoviEx and Tombador; the future performance of Atomic Eagle Ltd; (iv) the ability to obtain the requisite regulatory, stock exchange, court, shareholder and securityholder approvals for the Transaction; and the receipt of the information circular and related meeting materials by Securityholders; (v) that the current uranium upcycle will continue and expand; (v) that the integration of nuclear power into power grids worldwide will continue as a clean energy alternative; and (vi) that the price of uranium will remain sufficiently high and the costs of advancing GoviEx's mining projects will remain sufficiently low so as to permit GoviEx to implement its business plans in a profitable manner. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include: (i) the possibility that each of the concurrent capital raising and/or the Transaction will not be completed on the terms and conditions, or on the timing, currently contemplated, and that either may not be completed at all, due to a failure to obtain or satisfy, in a timely manner or otherwise, required regulatory approval, shareholder, securityholder and court approvals and other conditions to the closing of the concurrent capital raising, re-admission to the Official List or the Transaction generally, as applicable, or for other reasons; (ii) the failure to realize the expected benefits of the Transaction;(ii) the inability of the Company to conduct its planned exploration program for any reason; (iii) the inability of the Company to raise financing for Muntanga for any reason; (iv) a regression in the uranium market price; (v) an inability or unwillingness to include or increase nuclear power generation by major markets; (vi) potential delays due to new or ongoing health or environmental restrictions; (vii) the failure of GoviEx's projects, for technical, logistical, labour-relations, political, or other reasons; (viii) a decrease in the price of uranium below what is necessary to sustain GoviEx's operations; (ix) an increase in GoviEx's operating costs above what is necessary to sustain its operations; (x) accidents, labour disputes, or the materialization of similar risks; (xi) a deterioration in capital market conditions that prevents GoviEx from raising the funds it requires on a timely basis; (xii) political instability in the jurisdictions where GoviEx operates; and (xiii) generally, GoviEx's inability to develop and implement a successful business plan for any reason. In addition, the factors described or referred to in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the MD&A for the year ended December 31, 2024, as well as the Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2024, of GoviEx, which are available on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca, should be reviewed in conjunction with the information found in this news release. Although GoviEx has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there can be other factors that cause results, performance, or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances, or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, no assurance can be given that any events anticipated by the forward-looking information in this news release will transpire or occur, or, if any of them do so, what benefits GoviEx will derive therefrom. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and GoviEx disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law.

Cautionary Note to United States Persons:

The disclosure contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities of GoviEx.

Safe Harbor Statement under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements including but not limited to those referenced above collectively as "forward-looking statements" under the "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information" involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, the performance or achievements of GoviEx to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results, and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269623

SOURCE: GoviEx Uranium Inc.
HONG KONG, Oct 8, 2025 - (ACN Newswire) - The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will join hands with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) to stage two pavilions at GITEX Global 2025, a prominent tech exhibition, from 13 to 17 October in Dubai.Aside from featuring 22 exhibitors showcasing the latest products and solutions in AI and robotics, IoT and greentech, the event will also include pitching sessions and a networking dinner to help the industry explore business opportunities in the rapidly growing Middle East market, while highlighting Hong Kong's innovation and technology (I&T) enterprises and its unique advantages as an international I&T hub.Marking its 45th edition this year, GITEX is expected to attract over 200,000 attendees from more than 180 countries, bringing together tech giants and innovative start-ups across fields, such as AI, cybersecurity, smart mobility and greentech.As the Middle East market grows rapidly, Hong Kong's tech SMEs and start-ups are showing increasing interest in tapping into the region.Daniel Lam, Regional Director of the Middle East and Africa of the HKTDC, remarked: 'Middle Eastern countries have been actively developing on the AI front in recent years, leveraging their unique advantages in low-cost energy and capital strength. The Hong Kong Tech Pavilions at GITEX Global in Dubai will connect promising Hong Kong I&T enterprises with partners in the Middle East and beyond. This not only helps them expand into international innovation markets, but also attracts investors from the Middle East and around the world to use Hong Kong as a gateway to China and the wider Asia region.'In his latest Policy Address, the Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive John Lee said Hong Kong would promote the development of the AI and data science industries, recognising AI as the key driving force of the next wave of scientific and technological revolution as well as industrial transformation.With the advantages in scientific research, capital, data and talents, Hong Kong is poised to become a global hub for AI development. According to the InvestHK's 2024 Startup Survey, the number of start-ups has surged to nearly 4,700, a record that underscores the ecosystem's vitality.Making its return since 2020, the Hong Kong Tech Pavilions at GITEX Global 2025 aim to help Hong Kong tech SMEs and start-ups connect with Middle Eastern investors and support the region's AI development needs, while also promoting the Hong Kong start-up ecosystem.Many of the Hong Kong Tech Pavilions' exhibitors focus on AI services. For example, the HKSAR Environmental Protection Department (Booth no.: H23-A50-05) uses AI for environmental assessment and planning. Their work includes developing the AI Environmental Air Nuisance Investigation Robot Dog, building a Hong Kong environmental data repository and creating AI systems for monitoring noise and wastewater.TradeMonday (Booth no.: H23-A50-06), offers a vertical GenAI SaaS platform that automates retail analytics and workflows, transforming data into profit-driving decisions with pre-trained AI agents. The company is backed by venture capital funds from Hong Kong, Turkiye and the US.The award-winning Digital Twin solution from Chain Technology Development Co. Limited (Booth no.: H23-A50-01) brings together AI, IoT data and spatial intelligence to address the needs in the architecture, engineering, construction and operation industries to shape a smarter, safer and more sustainable smart city.Also participating is Man Yue Electronics Company Limited, a manufacturer and supplier of high-quality electronic components, whose products emphasise sustainability and carbon neutrality.In addition to the Hong Kong Tech Pavilions at GITEX Global 2025, there will be another pavilion at Expand North Star at Dubai Harbour on 12-15 October, led by HKSTP to showcase innovative solutions of its 10 park companies. Participating start-ups will also take part in the Supernova Challenge pitching competition. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University will also participate in Expand North Star to showcase its technological achievements and business solutions.To help Hong Kong exhibitors establish a stronger network with the Middle East and international markets, the HKTDC will host a networking dinner on 14 October together with the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai. Around 80 industry representatives from local and international sectors are expected to attend.The HKTDC will also organise 12 pitching sessions on-site, during which participating companies will present their innovative solutions to investors, businesses and government agencies.Websites: https://exhibitors.gitex.com/gitex-global-2025/Exhibitor/ExbDetails/hong-kong-trade-development-councilMedia enquiriesFor enquiries, please contact HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department:Katy Wong Tel: (852) 2584 4524 Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.orgMedia Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.comAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the Chinese Mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.Source: HKTDCCopyright 2025 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Curium will shortly open a new facility to manufacture cutting-edge diagnosis technology for diseases like cancer at the Churchill Hospital site, part of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Curium is a world-leading nuclear medicine group with decades of expertise.

The new manufacturing site is expected to provide Radioisotopes for PET scans and increase access to patients who require neuroimaging or cancer diagnosis.



OXFORD, United Kingdom, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Curium is opening a new site to manufacture cutting-edge diagnosis technology. The facility will supply positron emission tomography (PET) tracers, an essential part of the process to diagnose diseases like cancer.

PET tracers are short-lived radioactive substances used in medical imaging. They accumulate in specific tissues according to biological processes - such as glucose metabolism, receptor expression, or blood flow allowing physicians to visualize cancers and other serious diseases with exceptional sensitivity.

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is hosting Curium, a world-leading nuclear medicine group, to establish the facility. The Oxford facility is expected to be able to provide capacity to supply PET/CT scanners in the midlands, greater London area and southwest of England for patients who require neuroimaging or cancer diagnosis.

The city and surrounding area are among several parts of the country where patients have less access to certain types of scans used in the NHS. Access to the right tests is a critical part of a patient's journey from diagnosis to treatment and then recovery, with regional differences in services leaving people in many areas with longer to travel or limited ability to get checked.

In the past decade, Curium has significantly invested in PET capacity across England, helping to expand access to scans at over 25 sites.

Ruairi O'Donnell, General Manager UK & Ireland, Curium International,said: "Curium is proud to have played a part in the past decade in expanding access to essential tests for more people. Nuclear technology plays a vital role in helping doctors to diagnose disease, and crucially, it has the potential to transform cancer treatment for up to 80% of cancers in the next 10-15 years with radioligand therapy.

"Our investment in Oxford, alongside other parts of the country, is a clear commitment from Curium that we are determined to increase access further and we're proud to co-locate with the NHS to deliver on that goal. As ministers work to reform the NHS, it is vital that they build in maximum possible capacity for PET scans to patients which may mean using multiple suppliers for maximum reach."

The new site in Oxford comes alongside a deal signed by Curium to boost supply of PET tracers in Newcastle, with the northeast of England being another underserved part of the country for diagnostics.

The two additional facilities follow the company's existing Hammersmith site in the west of the capital, serving the Greater London area.

About Curium

Curium Pharma is a leading global radiopharmaceutical company with proven expertise in the development, manufacturing and supply of radiopharmaceuticals that transform the way cancer is diagnosed and treated. Headquartered in Boston with offices around the world, Curium's mission is to find new and better ways to diagnose and treat cancer.

With a global footprint that extends to more than 70 countries, a skilled and dedicated team of over 5,000 employees, and four manufacturing sites, Curium is uniquely qualified to meet the significant supply and distribution of established products that underlie success in the radiopharmaceuticals market. Curium's global leadership is embodied in a diverse and extensive portfolio of over 45 products, that advance patient care for a wide range of cancers.

Curium's pioneering legacy in nuclear medicine is the foundation of the company's dedication to innovation and portfolio expansion to cancer therapeutics, particularly in neuroendocrine tumors and with a late-stage pipeline exploring opportunities in prostate cancer.

To learn more, visit www.curiumpharma.com.

Inquiries:

Curium

Camilla Campell

VP, Head of Global Communications

Camilla.campbell@curiumpharma.com
Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - Gunnison Copper Corp. (TSX: GCU) (OTCQB: GCUMF) (FSE: 3XS0) ("Gunnison" or the "Company"), America's newest copper producer, is pleased to announce the preliminary results of an independent Economic Impact Study conducted by the Eller Partnerships Office at the University of Arizona, which underscores the transformative economic potential of the Company's flagship Gunnison Copper Project in Southern Arizona. All amounts are reported in U.S. dollars (USD) unless otherwise noted.

The study employed nationally accepted economic modeling tools to assess the cumulative potential impact of the Company's flagship Gunnison Project's operations across the national, state, and county levels. The report is currently being finalized, with full publication expected to be available soon.

"The University of Arizona's findings support what we have long emphasized - the Gunnison Copper Project has the potential to not only be a nationally significant source of Made-in-America copper, but also a generational economic driver for Arizona and Cochise County," stated Craig Hallworth, Senior Vice President and CFO of Gunnison Copper. "The projected multi-billion-dollar impact and thousands of jobs over the life-of-mine demonstrate the scale of the opportunity, reinforcing Gunnison's importance to U.S. energy, defense, and manufacturing supply chains."

"Eller Partnerships Office was happy to collaborate with Gunnison Copper on this project, building on the strength of the Eller College in economic impact analysis and the University's strategic focus on sustainable mining," said Anastasiya Ghosh, associate dean, partnerships, Eller College of Management.

Key Report Metrics and Findings Include:

Average Annual Effects (Direct):

Revenue: $625 million

Employment: 524 jobs

Labor Income: $50 million

Combined Direct, Indirect & Induced Effects (Annual):

National level: $1.43 billion in output, 2,676 jobs, $209 million in labor income

Arizona: $978 million in output, 1,739 jobs, $129 million in labor income

District 6, including Cochise County: $880 million in output, 765 jobs, $64 million in labor income

Cumulative Life-of-Mine Impacts:

United States: $14.6 billion in output, 53,521 job-years, $2.07 billion in labor income

Arizona: $10.01 billion in output, 34,783 job-years, $1.28 billion in labor income

District 6, including Cochise County: $9.02 billion in output, 15,308 job-years, $633 million in labor income

All amounts from the study represent the forecasted economic impact of the Gunnison Project in the State of Arizona and nationally in the USA. They do not represent an economic analysis of the Gunnison Project itself and actual economic impact will be determined after the Gunnison Project is developed into an operating mine, which remains subject to completion of a feasibility study, financing and permitting.

The Company also announces that it has received an initial conversion notice from Nebari Natural Resources Credit Fund I LP ("Nebari") pursuant to the terms of the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the "Second ARCA"). See the Company's press release dated April 24, 2025 for further details of the Second ARCA. The conversion benefits the Company as it reduces the principal amount of the Second ARCA. With a full conversion of the convertible principal amount by Nebari, and the intention to use the proceeds to be received from sale of the previously announced 48C tax credits to repay the non-convertible portion of the Second ARCA, the Second ARCA could be repaid in full.

The initial conversion is for US$500,000 at the conversion price of US$0.2097 (converted from C$0.30), resulting in the issuance of 2,384,358 common shares. Nebari have advised that they are converting for the purpose of sale and may convert further amounts. Nebari has agreed to orderly resale restrictions for any sales made through the Toronto Stock Exchange, such that such sales shall not exceed 10% of the daily trading volume on the Toronto Stock Exchange unless such sale price is not less than a 5% discount to the closing price per Common Share on the previous trading day, provided that, within any 120-day period, the cumulative discount of the sale price as it relates to the closing price on the day prior to the Lender's first sale in such 120 day period shall not exceed 25%.

About the University of Arizona Eller College of Management

Home to 8,100 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students, the University of Arizona Eller College of Management is a comprehensive business school with a global reputation for innovative research, rigorous curriculum, a distinguished faculty, excellence in entrepreneurship and social responsibility. The college's mission is to support and develop a community of scholars and learners whose knowledge, integrity and entrepreneurial spirit will transform business and society. For more, visit https://eller.arizona.edu/.

ABOUT GUNNISON COPPER

Gunnison Copper Corp. is a multi-asset pure-play copper developer and producer that controls the Cochise Mining District (the district), containing 12 known deposits within an 8 km economic radius, in the Southern Arizona Copper Belt.

Its flagship asset, the Gunnison Copper Project, has a Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource containing over 831.6 million tons with a total copper grade of 0.31% (Measured Mineral Resource of 191.3 million tons at 0.37% and Indicated Mineral Resource of 640.2 million tons at 0.29%), and a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") yielding robust economics including an NPV8% of $1.3Billion, IRR of 20.9%, and payback period of 4.1 years. It is being developed as a conventional operation with open pit mining, heap leach, and SX/EW refinery to produce finished copper cathode on-site with direct rail link.

The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes Inferred Mineral Resources that are considered too speculative geologically to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that the conclusions reached in the PEA will be realized. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.

In addition, Gunnison's Johnson Camp Asset, which is now in production, is fully funded by Nuton LLC, a Rio Tinto Venture, with a production capacity of up to 25 million lbs of finished copper cathode annually.

Other significant deposits controlled by Gunnison in the district, with potential to be economic satellite feeder deposits for Gunnison Project infrastructure, include Strong and Harris, South Star, and eight other deposits.

For additional information on the Gunnison Project, including the PEA and mineral resource estimate, please refer to the Company's technical report entitled "Gunnison Project NI 43-101 Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment" dated effective November 1, 2024 and available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Dr. Stephen Twyerould, Fellow of AUSIMM, President and CEO of the Company is a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Dr. Twyerould has reviewed and is responsible for the technical information contained in this news release.

For more information on Gunnison, please visit our website at www.GunnisonCopper.com.

For further information regarding this press release, please contact:

Gunnison Copper Corp.

Concord Place, Suite 300, 2999 North 44th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85018

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) the intention to deploy the Nuton technology at the Johnson Camp mine and future production therefrom; (ii) the continued funding of the stage 2 work program by Nuton; (iii) the details and expected results of the stage two work program; (iv) timelines for future production and production capacity from the Company's mineral projects; (v) details of the expected economic impact of the Gunnison Project; (vi) the results of the preliminary economic assessment on the Gunnison Project; and (vii) the exploration and development of the Company's mineral projects.

In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the parties will execute a definitive agreement and receive DOE funding, Nuton will continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the availability of financing to continue as a going concern and implement the Company's operational plans, the estimation of mineral resources, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, , copper and other metal prices, the timing and amount of future development expenditures, the estimation of initial and sustaining capital requirements, the estimation of labour and operating costs (including the price of acid), the availability of labour, material and acid supply, receipt of and compliance with necessary regulatory approvals and permits, the estimation of insurance coverage, and assumptions with respect to currency fluctuations, environmental risks, title disputes or claims, and other similar matters. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect.

Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to the Company not obtaining adequate financing to continue operations, failure to execute a definitive agreement with Lunasonde, failure to receive DOE funding, Nuton failing to continue to fund the stage 2 work program, the breach of debt covenants, risks inherent in the construction and operation of mineral deposits, including risks relating to changes in project parameters as plans continue to be redefined including the possibility that mining operations may not be sustained at the Gunnison Copper Project, risks related to the delay in approval of work plans, variations in mineral resources and reserves, grade or recovery rates, risks relating to the ability to access infrastructure, risks relating to changes in copper and other commodity prices and the worldwide demand for and supply of copper and related products, risks related to increased competition in the market for copper and related products, risks related to current global financial conditions, risks related to current global financial conditions on the Company's business, uncertainties inherent in the estimation of mineral resources, access and supply risks, risks related to the ability to access acid supply on commercially reasonable terms, reliance on key personnel, operational risks inherent in the conduct of mining activities, including the risk of accidents, labour disputes, increases in capital and operating costs and the risk of delays or increased costs that might be encountered during the construction or mining process, regulatory risks including the risk that permits may not be obtained in a timely fashion or at all, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks, risks related to disputes concerning property titles and interests, environmental risks and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269586

SOURCE: Gunnison Copper Corp.
Wallbox (NYSE: WBX), a leading provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy management solutions worldwide, today announced that it will release its financial results for the third quarter of 2025 before market opens on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. The company will host a webcast at 8:00 AM ET (2:00 PM CET), to discuss the results and provide a business update. The prepared remarks by Enric Asuncion, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, and Luis Boada, Chief Financial Officer, will be followed by a question and answer session.

Please visit this link, which is also accessible on the 'Events Presentations' section of the company's investor relations website, investors.wallbox.com, to register for and join the webcast. A replay of the webcast following the event and the accompanying presentation materials will be accessible through the same link and available for future download.

About Wallbox

Wallbox is a global technology company, dedicated to changing the way the world uses energy. Wallbox creates advanced electric vehicle charging and energy management systems that redefine the relationship between users and the network. Wallbox goes beyond charging electric vehicles to give users the power to control their consumption, save money and live more sustainably. Wallbox offers a complete portfolio of charging and energy management solutions for residential, semi-public, and public use in more than 100 countries around the world. Founded in 2015 in Barcelona, where the company's headquarters are located, Wallbox currently has offices across Europe, Asia, and America. For more information, visit www.wallbox.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008633569/en/

Contacts:

Wallbox Investor Contact:

Michael Wilhelm

Corporate Development IR

Investors@wallbox.com

+34 607 653 910



Wallbox Public Relations Contact:

Albert Cabanes

Public Relations

Press@wallbox.com

+34 637 582 716
Relaunch puts customized CRO services front and center for today's Biotech and Biopharma innovators.

AVENTURA, FL / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 2025 / Biorasi, a leading global full-service contract research organization (CRO), has relaunched its website to reflect a bold new direction: Empowering biotech sponsors with modular clinical trial solutions, AI-powered tools, and a renewed focus on sponsor-centric strategy.

"The future of clinical research belongs to those who can adapt, innovate, and deliver," said Chris O'Brien, CEO of Biorasi. "Our new website reflects a strategic evolution - one that puts biotech sponsors at the center of smarter, faster, and more flexible trials. It's a touchstone for the modular solutions and AI-powered tools that will define the next era of clinical success."

Key updates to the website include:

Focused Study Solutions: Critical standalone service offerings deliver the same high-performance features found in Biorasi's full-service strategies: Study Rescue and Recovery Packages: Designed to salvage struggling clinical trials and restore timelines. Flexible Data Sciences Solutions: Advanced analytics and biostatistics available as standalone services. Specialized Services: Including Quality Assurance, Clinical Monitoring, and Safety & Pharmacovigilance, tailored to sponsor needs. Accelerated Startup Modules: Fast-track solutions for trials requiring rapid market entry.

AI-Powered Feasibility: Dynamic clinical site modeling combined with targeted feasibility outreach and enrollment forecasting.

New Sponsor Strategy: A sharpened focus on the CRO competencies that matter most: Reliability, Flexibility, and Accessibility.

The redesigned website celebrates Biorasi's over two decades of industry leadership, clinical trial experience, and operational excellence:

Over 200 global studies executed.

Five FDA approvals in the past seven years.

$150M+ in recovered rescue studies.

6 weeks or less for database go-live.

Kickoff Meetings in 10 business days after LOI/WO.

60% repeat business from returning sponsors.

Studies conducted in 48 countries, reaching 65% of the global population.

About Biorasi

Biorasi is a global clinical research organization (CRO) that delivers speed-to-market strategies for small to midsized biotech and biopharma sponsors. With over two decades of expertise in running clinical trials across dermatology, oncology, neurology, nephrology, and other key therapeutic areas, Biorasi leverages reliable, flexible, and accessible solutions necessary to succeed in today's dynamic and evolving clinical trials industry. Contact Biorasi at info@biorasi.com / (786) 388-0700.

SOURCE: Biorasi, LLC

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/biorasi-unveils-new-website-to-drive-sponsor-success-with-biotec-1081130
LONDON, GB / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 2025 / StrikeX Technologies Ltd., in collaboration with CMC Markets (LSE:CMCX) and CapX, today announced the successful completion of their first tokenised share issue, demonstrating StrikeX's next-generation tokenisation engine in practice and paving the way for commercial deployment.

StrikeX Completes First Tokenised Share Issue



The transaction - recorded on the Arbitrum Layer 2 blockchain (transaction ID: 0xa30523538b9faa522771978f9603b740e871504f12159c43c2494bcefa81963d) - showcases a share issued by CMC, safeguarded by CMC Invest as custodian, and minted on-chain by StrikeX. While this demonstration represents a single clean flow, the underlying engine has been built for broad institutional application across global markets.

With industry forecasts projecting tokenised real-world assets could reach USD 20 trillion by 2030 (Citi, BCG, Binance Research), CMC Markets and StrikeX are positioning themselves for this expected monumental shift on-chain. Developed for institutional scale, the StrikeX tokenisation engine combines scalability, flexibility, and verifiable integrity (via Merkle-tree proofs). Purpose-built for global markets, it supports multi-chain issuance across all EVM networks as well as Solana and XRPL.

Joe Jowett, CEO of StrikeX, said:

"This marks a key step forward, moving from internal testing to real-world execution. Our tokenisation engine has now been proven live in a Tier-1, regulated environment. While tokenisation is being trialled in many contexts, achieving it at this level with an established TradFi institution demonstrates readiness for wide-scale adoption and provides a strong foundation for a broader rollout."

Laurence Booth, Global Head of Capital Markets at CMC Markets, said: "This project is a significant step in our digital strategy. With StrikeX, we are embarking on a plan to tokenise securities and derivatives markets, so that investors can trade 24/7. This collaboration between CMC CapX and StrikeX demonstrates the possibilities for services we can offer to issuers and professional investors. We will go further and create marketplaces that leverage the new technology and create new opportunities for investors, as well."

This milestone marks the transition from internal testing to real-world execution, setting the stage for full commercial rollout and reinforcing CMC Markets, CapX, and StrikeX's shared role in shaping the future of tokenised markets.

About StrikeX

StrikeX Technologies is a blockchain infrastructure company connecting traditional and decentralised finance. Its technology powers tokenisation, multi-chain trading, and interoperability across regulated and decentralised markets, combining institutional-grade compliance with crypto-native accessibility.

About CMC Markets

CMC is a global provider of online trading and investing services, with a comprehensive retail, professional and institutional offering. Established in 1989 and listed on the London Stock Exchange, CMC has worked with over 1.5m traders and investors worldwide. Across desktop and mobile devices, CMC's clients can trade on thousands of financial instruments through the firm's award-winning spread betting (UK and Ireland only), CFD trading, and investing platforms.

About CMC CapX

CMC CapX is the corporate broking arm of CMC Markets. It gives investors access to capital raisings, including IPOs and secondary placings. CMC CapX also provides a bulletin board for introducing buyers and sellers to a range of unlisted investment opportunities.

Q&A

1. What role did StrikeX play in this project?

StrikeX provided the blockchain infrastructure for the pilot, delivering the tokenisation layer on the Arbitrum Layer 2 network. Our engine created the token representing the share, ensuring it could exist digitally while remaining fully compliant within CMC's regulated custody framework.

2. Why is this proof-of-concept important for StrikeX?

It demonstrates that StrikeX technology can operate in a Tier-1 regulated environment. Moving from internal testing to a live execution with a listed broker, validating the readiness of our technology for institutional deployment.

3. What makes StrikeX's approach different from other tokenisation providers?

Our tokenisation engine is multi-chain by design, supporting all EVM networks as well as Solana and XRPL. It combines verifiable on-chain proofs with compliance-grade controls, allowing regulated entities to adopt blockchain without sacrificing oversight or security.

4. What does this mean for StrikeX's broader vision?

This pilot marks our first step in bringing regulated finance and blockchain together. StrikeX is building the infrastructure that will allow assets of every type to exist transparently on-chain within frameworks trusted by both institutions and retail users.

5. What are the next milestones for StrikeX?

Our immediate focus is on commercial rollout of the tokenisation engine with regulated partners. Future product announcements will follow once approvals and launches are confirmed.

6. Why was Arbitrum chosen for this demonstration?

Arbitrum Layer 2 was selected for this live pilot because it offers the speed, scalability, and low-cost environment suited to institutional tokenisation while maintaining Ethereum-level security. However, StrikeX's engine is inherently multi-chain, we can issue and manage assets on whichever network best suits each product's use case and regulatory environment.

7. How does StrikeX ensure compliance and security?

All tokens are created and held under regulated custody. Every mint and burn action is logged with provider proofs and audit hashes, creating a permanent record. The design mirrors existing capital-markets controls but adds blockchain transparency.

8. What is the StrikeX token (STRX) used for in this context?

STRX powers the commercial layer of the StrikeX ecosystem. As the network evolves, mint, burn, and proof-commit transactions will be able to use STRX for fee abstraction, allowing seamless operation across multiple blockchains. STRX will also serve as the medium for transaction fees within the tokenisation engine, with a defined portion of each fee automatically burned. This creates a transparent, deflationary, and scalable utility model that directly links the StrikeX token to real infrastructure demand.

9. How does this align with the wider tokenised-asset market?

Global forecasts estimate tokenised real-world assets could reach USD 20 trillion by 2030. StrikeX's multi-chain infrastructure and STRX-based fee architecture are built to scale with that growth, bridging regulated institutions and decentralised networks under one transparent standard.

SOURCE: StrikeX

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/blockchain-and-cryptocurrency/strikex-in-collaboration-with-cmc-markets-and-capx-completes-first-to-1084322
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - American Pacific Mining Corp. (CSE: USGD) (OTCQX: USGDF) (FSE: 1QC1) ("American Pacific" or the "Company") is pleased to announce Phase II drill targets at its 100%-owned Madison Copper-Gold Project, located in the heart of the Idaho-Montana Porphyry Belt, 43 kilometres southeast of Butte, Montana.

Having now received a key drill permit in early October, this next phase of drilling will test large-scale porphyry and high-grade skarn targets with step-outs and deeper holes guided by decades of geologic mapping, geochemical sampling, geophysical surveying, and 3D structural modeling.

Targeting the Porphyry System at Depth

The highest-priority holes will probe beneath previously intersected copper-gold skarn zones, testing induced-polarization (IP) chargeability highs and coincident magnetic boundaries interpreted to represent the top of a concealed porphyry copper-gold center (Figure 2).

"As our geologic team has continued to generate, compile, and model data, the source of Madison's high-grade skarns and veins is becoming much clearer," commented Managing Director of Exploration, Eric Saderholm. "This is truly an exciting time for American Pacific given that, less than two years ago when we started evaluating new and historic datasets, concepts like these targets were not yet defined or well understood. At that time, we understood Madison to be a high-grade copper-gold porphyry expression, the origins of which we could only speculate. Today, we have a much more precise understanding of the source of those high-grade zones and Phase II drilling will focus on these newly identified targets as we work to demonstrate Madison's full potential."





Figure 1: Plan view map showing targets with section line locating Figure 2

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10322/269527_20a3f97d2405cb23_001full.jpg





Figure 2: Section view of proposed causative mineralizing porphyry target

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10322/269527_20a3f97d2405cb23_002full.jpg

Expanding High-Grade Skarn Mineralization

Step-out holes along the Silver Star structural corridor will aim to expand known zones of high-grade copper-gold skarn mineralization. Historical intercepts included 30.18 metres of 24.50 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold and 0.39% copper and 10.97 metres of 41.65 g/t gold and 0.38% copper from underground drilling. The upcoming program will test down-dip and along-strike extensions where skarn alteration remains open, particularly at lithologic contacts between the Madison Group limestone and the Rader Creek intrusions.

Untested Structural Targets

In addition to known zones, several new areas are now within the Company's targeted plan, including structurally hosted style targets defined by strong alteration, veins, and copper-oxide staining at surface along structural pathways. Shallow holes will evaluate these features as potential feeder conduits linking upper-level skarn and vein mineralization to deeper intrusive sources.

District-Scale Potential

American Pacific's geologic team has outlined multiple magnetic and geochemical anomalies across the district. One newly mapped mafic intrusion returned assays up to 38.5 g/t Au and 33 g/t Ag from grab sampling. These anomalies will be tested with shallow reconnaissance holes to evaluate the scale and continuity of the mineralized system across the property.

About the Madison Copper-Gold Project

The Madison Project was host to small-scale production that concluded in 2012, with 2.7 million pounds of copper produced at grades ranging from 20-35% copper. Subsequent drilling at Madison in 2017 included 30.18 metres of 24.50 g/t gold and 0.39% copper and 10.97 metres of 41.65 g/t gold and 0.38% copper (UG17-05 and UG17-06, respectively). Additional production at the nearby Broadway/Hudson Mines is reported to total ~147,000 ounces gold at 9.9 g/t and recent drilling has provided substantial evidence to demonstrate a structural and stratigraphic link connected the past-producing, which are located along the same northwest-trending corridor of altered quartz monzonite and associated skarn that is now understood to be a part of the same mineralizing system.

Full disclosure can be found in the Company's NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Madison Project (americanpacificmining.com).

About American Pacific Mining Corp.

American Pacific Mining Corp. is a precious and base metals explorer and developer focused on opportunities in the Western United States. The Company has two flagship assets: 100%-owned Palmer Project, a Volcanic Massive Sulphide-Sulphate (VMS) project in Alaska, and the 100%-owned Madison Project, a past-producing copper-gold project in Montana. For the Madison transaction, American Pacific was selected as a finalist in both 2021 and 2022 for 'Deal of the Year' at the S&P Global Platts Metals Awards, an annual program that recognizes exemplary accomplishments in 16 performance categories. Also, in American Pacific's asset portfolio are three high-grade, precious metals projects located in key mining districts of Nevada, USA: the Ziggurat Gold project, the Gooseberry Silver-Gold project; and the Tuscarora Gold-Silver project. The Company's mission is to grow by the drill bit and by acquisition.

Full disclosure can be found in our NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Madison Project at www.americanpacificmining.com.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269527

SOURCE: American Pacific Mining Corp.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - Delta Resources Limited (TSXV: DLTA) (OTC Pink: DTARF) (FSE: 6GO1) ("Delta" or the "Company") is pleased to report on the progress of its ongoing exploration activities and to announce the launch of a baseline environmental program at the Delta-1 Gold Property, located 50 kilometres west of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Completion of Regional Till Survey

Field crews from IOS Geosciences Inc. ("IOS") have completed the third phase of Delta's 2024-2025 regional till sampling program. This work systematically expanded geochemical coverage across the western portion of the Delta-1 property, including the I-Zone sector, located approximately 18 kilometres southwest of the Eureka Gold Deposit. The I-Zone sector hosts several high-grade gold showings, including historical (non-NI 43-101 compliant) drill intercepts of 4.32 g/t Au over 41.0 metres, 4.53 g/t Au over 14.4 metres, and 4.36 g/t Au over 20.4 metres (Landore Resources, 1995-1997), as well as a 1,000-kg mini bulk sample (Mengold Resources 2008) that returned an average grade of 9.9 g/t Au. Results from the till survey will be used to guide follow-up exploration and to define new targets for potential drilling in 2026.

Initiation of Environmental Baseline Program

Delta has initiated its environmental baseline program, led by Thunder Bay-based CSL Environmental & Geotechnical Ltd.

The initial 2025-2026 baseline program will include:

Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems (RPAS) imagery of key watercourses.

Installation of hydrology stations and subsequent flow monitoring.

Surface water quality monitoring.

Species at Risk surveys and possible initiation of other terrestrial and aquatic baseline studies (vegetation, wetlands, wildlife, fisheries, benthic invertebrates).

A Stage 1 archaeological assessment.

This work represents an important step in advancing Delta-1 with an eye to future economic assessments and permitting. These initial studies will run through 2025-2026 and will be expanded upon in subsequent years as the project progresses, to establish a comprehensive environmental dataset.

Phase II Drilling Program Advancing

Delta is currently executing Phase II of its 2025 drilling program, which commenced on September 17, 2025. The program will include a minimum of 13 drill holes totaling over 3,100 metres, designed to expand the Eureka Gold Deposit and test satellite targets. Current targets include:

Shabaqua Zone: Located 1.3 kilometres west of Eureka, following up on high-grade surface sampling by both Metals Creek and Delta.

Located 1.3 kilometres west of Eureka, following up on high-grade surface sampling by both Metals Creek and Delta. Eureka-South Extension: Immediately south of the Eureka Deposit, targeting shallow mineralization along strike.

Immediately south of the Eureka Deposit, targeting shallow mineralization along strike. Eureka-West Extension: Testing continuity and expansion of the deposit toward the west.

The program is advancing rapidly with excellent production rates. To date, nine (9) drill holes have been completed, with a tenth in progress. Assay results will be released as they become available.

Ron Kopas, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Delta, commented:

"With drilling well under way at Delta-1, the completion of the third phase of our regional till survey, and the initiation of baseline environmental studies, the Company is making significant progress on multiple fronts. We are confident these efforts will not only expand the resource potential but also lay the groundwork for responsible project development and enhance the value of our project as we advance Delta-1 toward the next stage of growth.

"With a 297 Km2 land package at Delta-1, there remain many highly prospective targets we have yet to properly explore, which is very exciting, especially with the benefit of having a property in such a prime, easily accessible location. We truly have the potential to be one of the lowest cost mining camps in the country."

Qualified Person

Daniel Boudreau, P.Geo., Exploration Manager at Delta Resources Limited, is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this press release.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Delta Resources Limited

Delta Resources is a Canadian mineral exploration and project development company focused on its Delta-1 project in Ontario, where it has discovered a large, near-surface gold deposit located 50 kilometres west of Thunder Bay, directly adjacent to the Trans-Canada Highway. The Eureka Gold Deposit extends 2.5 km in strike length, from surface to over 300 metres in depth. Highlights include drill intercepts such as 5.92 g/t Au over 31 metres (including 14.8 g/t Au over 11.9 metres), and 1.79 g/t Au over 128.5 metres. Mineralization has been observed up to 600 metres vertical depth and remains open in all directions. The property covers 297 square kilometres where Delta has identified multiple corridors of intense alteration and deformation, on strike with and to the south of the Eureka gold zone and that have yet to be thoroughly explored.

We seek safe harbour. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The TSX Venture Exchange has not approved nor disapproved of the information contained herein.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Some statements contained in this news release are "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases (including negative or grammatical variations) or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connotation thereof. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and involves risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual facts to differ materially. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be those anticipated by management. The forward-looking information contained in this press release constitutes management's current estimates, as of the date of this press release, with respect to the matters covered thereby. We expect that these estimates will change as new information is received. While we may elect to update these estimates at any time, we do not undertake to update any estimate at any particular time or in response to any event.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269588

SOURCE: Delta Resources Limited
London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - Sends, the digital payments platform, today announced the launch of "United by Sends," a new programme offering Ukrainian citizens free personal account opening in three major currencies: GBP, EUR, and USD.

Sends

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Starting today, Ukrainian citizens living in the UK can open multi-currency accounts without paying the usual fees of 4.99 for GBP accounts and 20 for EUR and USD accounts. The benefit is automatically applied when users verify their Ukrainian passport during the sign-up process - no special codes or applications are needed.

"We understand that Ukrainian families in the UK face unique challenges, given the circumstances, often needing to manage finances across borders while supporting loved ones," said Alona Shevtsova, CEO at Sends. "By removing these fees, we're making it easier for the Ukrainian community to access essential banking services and stay connected financially with family and friends."

The programme has no end date, reflecting Sends' long-term commitment to supporting displaced Ukrainians who have made the UK their home. Since many Ukrainian citizens often need to manage funds in different currencies, these free multi-currency accounts can provide real practical help during difficult times.

To qualify, users simply need to upload a valid Ukrainian passport during the standard account opening process. Once verified, the system automatically waives all fees and confirms eligibility with a welcome message in both English and Ukrainian.

The service is available immediately through the Sends platform, with full customer support provided in both English and Ukrainian.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269625

SOURCE: Sends
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The U.K. market's benchmark FTSE 100 is up firmly on Wednesday with stocks from mining sector turning in a fine performance thanks to rising gold prices. Bank stocks are among the other prominent gainers. The FTSE 100 was up 74.23 points or 0.78% at 9,557.81 at noon. Antofagasta is rising 3.2%. Endeavour Mining is up 2.3%, while Fresnillo and Anglo American Plc are gaining 1.6% and 1.4%, respectively. Rio Tinto is up 1%. Lloyds Banking Group is up 2.5%. The bank announced that it is assessing the FCA's motor finance redress scheme. Natwest Group is rising 1.8%, Standard Chartered is advancing 1.7%, and Barclays Group is up 1.3%. Experian, Marks & Spencer, Pearson, Metlen Energy & Metals, The Sage Group, St. James's Place, BT Group and AstraZeneca are among the other impressive gainers. ICG is down 3.7%. Spirax Group is declining by about 2.6% and Segro is down 1.9%. LondonMetric Property, Croda International and Barratt Redrow are down 1 to 1.5%. Bunzl is down by about 1.1% after saying it has completed two new acquisitions in Ireland and Spain. Copyright(c) 2025 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Researchers at Simon Fraser University in Canada have proposed protocols for standardized testing to avoid skewed results. The validated recommendations cover procedures for key measurements and the use of the indoor PV reference cell method.With firsthand experience of the complexity of testing indoor PV devices, researchers at Simon Fraser University in Canada identified how certain testing setups and protocols can skew results, then proposed protocols for standardized testing. Backed up by experimentation and validation, the recommendations cover key procedures, such as where and how to focus ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
High-grade gold intercepts confirm strong continuity at the Road Cut Zone with multiple parallel shears traced along the Contact Zone Fault

Drilling continues to expand mineralisation at the Jagger Zone, confirming gold-bearing shears to depths exceeding 240 m and reinforcing the strength of Kobo's structural model

Ongoing 12,000-15,000 m program advancing toward Kobo's maiden Mineral Resource Estimate, with two rigs active and geological modelling underway across priority targets

Kobo Resources Inc. ("Kobo" or the "Company") (TSX.V: KRI) is pleased to report additional diamond drill results from the Jagger and Road Cut Zones at its 100%-owned Kossou Gold Project ("Kossou") in Cote d'Ivoire, West Africa. The new results continue to confirm strong continuity of high-grade gold mineralisation at Kossou and enhance the Company's confidence in the emerging scale and potential of its highly prospective target areas.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008273472/en/

Figure 1: Road Cut Zone Drill Hole Location Map and Simplified Geology

Diamond Drill Results Highlights:

Road Cut Zone:

KDD0095 17.0 metres ("m") at 3.87 g/t Au from 22.0, including 9.0 m at 6.84 g/t Au, from 23.0 m

KDD0098 6.0 m at 1.48 g/t Au from 157.0 m

KDD0099 5.0 m at 2.82 g/t Au from 170.0 m (Contact Zone Target)



Jagger Zone

KDD0096 4.0 m at 1.48 g/t Au from 21.0 m 3.0 m at 2.34 g/t Au from 31.0 m 5.0 m at 1.41 g/t Au from 106.0 m

KDD0097 4.0 m at 2.30 g/t Au from 240.0 m 6.0 m at 1.52 g/t Au from 350.0 m



These results represent the first six holes from Kobo's ongoing 12,000-15,000 m diamond drilling program launched on September 4, 2025. The current campaign is focused on systematically expanding known mineralized zones at the Jagger and Road Cut Zones while testing the interpreted structural corridor that links them. Drilling is also continuing to evaluate the Contact Zone Fault "(CZ Fault"), an important regional structure believed to provide deep fluid pathways for gold mineralisation at Kossou.

Edward Gosselin, CEO and Director of Kobo commented: "The latest intersections continue to demonstrate the strength of gold mineralisation within the Road Cut and Jagger structural zones. These results are confirming the continuity of gold-bearing shears and the importance of the Contact Zone Fault as a potential regional control on mineralisation. Particularly, the consistency of gold mineralisation at the Jagger Zone, from surface to greater than 180 m depth, highlights the continuity and strength of the system." He continued: "Ongoing drilling will allow us to further test these controls, define extensions along strike and at depth, and continue building a comprehensive geological model for Kossou as we progress toward a maiden Resource Estimate on the project."

Road Cut Zone Highlights

KDD0095, KDD0098, and KDD0099 were drilled along a 150-metre strike length on Sections RCZ500, RCZ600, and RCZ650 (see Figure 1 for drill-hole locations). Full assay results are presented in Table 1

The most significant intersection was returned from KDD0095 on Section RCZ500, averaging 17.0 m at 3.87 g/t Au from 22.0 m, including 9.0 m at 6.84 g/t Au from 23.0 m (see Figure 2 and Figure 3). This intercept occurs approximately 20 m beneath artisanal workings and is hosted within a shear zone previously intersected in KDD0012 (11.0 m at 1.71 g/t Au) and KDD0091 (15.55 m at 2.30 g/t Au). The shear zone parallels the main CZ Fault and lies roughly 60 m west of this structure, suggesting a close spatial and structural relationship.

KDD0098, drilled on Section RCZ600, intersected 6.0 m at 1.48 g/t Au from 157.0 m within a shear zone exhibiting typical alteration and quartz veining approximately 12.0 m from the CZ Fault. The mineralisation occurs about 120.0 m below surface. Several additional lower-grade intervals were also intersected within 50.0 m of the CZ Fault in sheared basalt (see Figure 4).

KDD0099, located approximately 50 m south of KDD0098 on Section RCZ650, intersected 5.0 m at 2.82 g/t Au from 170.0 m directly on the CZ Fault, confirming the presence of gold mineralisation along this important regional structure (see Figure 5).

The intensity of shearing, alteration and quartz veining in the three drill holes in the vicinity of the artisanal mine and CZ Fault is very encouraging for further gold mineralisation and will be further tested with additional diamond drilling.

Jagger Zone Highlights

KDD0094, KDD0096, and KDD0097 were drilled on Section JZ600 to evaluate the core mineralisation previously identified and to test the continuity of Structure JZ6 near surface and at depth (see Figures 6 and 7).

KDD0096 intersected 5.0 m at 1.41 g/t Au associated with Structure JZ6, approximately 65 m below surface. KDD0097, which targeted the 8.0 m at 3.72 g/t Au intersection in KDD0028 at depth, returned 2.0 m at 0.58 g/t Au. Drilling confirms that well-defined shears extend to at least 240 m below surface, with gold grades corresponding to the density of quartz veining within these structures.

Additional intersections of 4.0 m at 2.30 g/t Au and 6.0 m at 1.52 g/t Au in KDD0097, associated with Structures JZ1 and JZ4 respectively, demonstrate good continuity between 150 m and 180 m depth along the shear zones. These results further validate the Company's structural model, indicating that gold mineralisation is hosted within a series of steep, westerly dipping shears closely associated with quartz-feldspar porphyry and diorite intrusives within the basaltic volcanic sequence.

Next Steps: Progressing the 2025 Drill Program and Advancing Resource Definition at Kossou

To date, the Company has completed nine diamond drill holes (2,016 m) of a planned 15-hole program (3,600 m) at the Road Cut Zone, and eight holes (2,820 m) of 23 planned holes (11,300 m) at the Jagger and Jagger South Zones. Two drill rigs remain active on site, with drilling continuing to test extensions along strike and at depth across both zones.

Geological modelling of the Jagger and Road Cut Zones is ongoing, with new data being integrated to refine the Company's structural interpretation and support the definition of mineralized envelopes in advance of Kossou's maiden mineral resource estimate.

Table 1: Summary of Significant Diamond Drill Hole Results

BHID East North Elev. Az. Dip Length From (m) To (m) Int. (m) Au g/t Target KDD0094 229130 775335 339 70 -50 110.40 No Significant Intersections Jagger KDD0095 228562 776300 209 70 -50 152.30 22.00 39.00 17.00 3.87 RCZ incl. 23.00 32.00 9.00 6.84 RCZ 79.00 82.00 3.00 0.55 RCZ 95.00 97.00 2.00 0.70 RCZ 101.00 104.00 3.00 0.68 RCZ KDD0096 229088 775320 344 70 -50 158.40 14.00 16.00 2.00 1.00 Jagger 21.00 25.00 4.00 1.48 Jagger 31.00 34.00 3.00 2.34 Jagger 106.00 111.00 5.00 1.41 Jagger KDD0097 228841 775230 387 70 -50 431.30 68.00 70.00 2.00 1.04 Jagger 76.00 80.00 4.00 0.49 Jagger 87.00 90.00 3.00 1.10 Jagger 240.00 244.00 4.00 2.30 Jagger 281.00 287.00 6.00 1.52 Jagger 303.00 310.00 7.00 0.57 Jagger 350.00 352.00 2.00 1.68 Jagger 362.00 364.00 2.00 1.11 Jagger 378.00 380.00 2.00 0.58 Jagger 400.00 402.00 2.00 1.20 Jagger KDD0098 228557 776191 215 70 -50 203.30 117.30 124.00 6.70 0.37 RCZ 150.00 152.00 2.00 0.85 RCZ 157.00 163.00 6.00 1.48 RCZ KDD0099 228592 776152 215 70 -50 221.30 170.00 175.00 5.00 2.82 RCZ Notes: Cut-off using 2.0 m at 0.30 g/t Au Intervals are reported with no more than 3.0 m of internal dilution of less than 0.3 g/t Au except where indicated*

An accurate dip and strike and controls of mineralisation are unconfirmed and mineralised zones are reported as downhole lengths. Drill holes are planned to intersect mineralised zones perpendicular to interpreted targets. All intercepts reported are downhole distances as true width is unknown.

Sampling, QA/QC, and Analytical Procedures

Drill core was logged and sampled by Kobo personnel at site. Drill cores were sawn in half, with one half remaining in the core box and the other half secured into new plastic sample bags with sample number tickets. Core samples are drilled using HQ core barrels to below the level of oxidation and then reduced to NQ core barrels for the remainder of the bore hole. Samples are transported to the SGS Cote d'Ivoire facility in Yamoussoukro by Kobo personnel where the entire sample was prepared for analysis (prep code PRP86/PRP94). Sample splits of 50 grams were then analysed for gold using 50g Fire Assay as per SGS Geochem Method FAA505. QA/QC procedures for the drill program include insertion of a certificated standards every 20 samples, a blank every 20 samples and a duplicate sample every 20 samples. All QAQC control samples returned values within acceptable limits.

Review of Technical Information

The scientific and technical information in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Paul Sarjeant, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Persons as defined in National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Sarjeant is the President and Chief Operating Officer and Director of Kobo.

About Kobo Resources Inc.

Kobo Resources is a growth-focused gold exploration company with a compelling new gold discovery in Cote d'Ivoire, one of West Africa's most prolific and developing gold districts, hosting several multi-million-ounce gold mines. The Company's 100%-owned Kossou Gold Project is located approximately 20 km northwest of the capital city of Yamoussoukro and is directly adjacent to one of the region's largest gold mines with established processing facilities.

With over 18,500 metres of diamond drilling, nearly 5,900 metres of reverse circulation (RC) drilling, and 5,900 metres of trenching completed since 2023, Kobo has made significant progress in defining the scale and prospectivity of its Kossou's Gold Project. Exploration has focused on multiple high-priority targets within a 9+ km strike length of highly prospective gold-in-soil geochemical anomalies, with drilling confirming extensive mineralisation at the Jagger, Road Cut, and Kadie Zones. The latest phase of drilling has further refined structural controls on gold mineralisation, setting the stage for the next phase of systematic exploration and resource development.

Beyond Kossou, the Company is advancing exploration at its Kotobi Permit and is actively expanding its land position in Cote d'Ivoire with prospective ground, aligning with its strategic vision for long-term growth in-country. Kobo remains committed to identifying and developing new opportunities to enhance its exploration portfolio within highly prospective gold regions of West Africa. Kobo offers investors the exciting combination of high-quality gold prospects led by an experienced leadership team with in-country experience. Kobo's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "KRI". For more information, please visit www.koboresources.com.

NEITHER THE TSXV NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSXV) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-looking Information:

This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, Kobo assumes no obligation and/or liability to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008273472/en/

Contacts:

For further information, please contact:

Edward Gosselin

Chief Executive Officer and Director

1-418-609-3587

ir@kobores.com

Twitter: @KoboResources LinkedIn: Kobo Resources Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - Northwest Healthcare Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX: NWH.UN) (the "REIT" or "Northwest"), will release its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2025, on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, after the markets close. A conference call to discuss these results will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. ET.

The dial-in numbers for the conference call are as follows:

U.S./Canada (toll free): 1-833-752-3625

International Dial In: 1-647-846-8435

Link to audio webcast: https://www.gowebcasting.com/14154

A replay will be available until November 19, 2025, by accessing:

International Toll: 1-412-317-0088

US/Canada Toll Free: 1-855-669-9658

Replay Access Code: 1130353

About Northwest

Northwest provides investors with access to a portfolio of high-quality international healthcare real estate infrastructure comprised as at August 12, 2025, of interests in a diversified portfolio of 168 income-producing properties and 15.8 million square feet of gross leasable area located throughout major markets in North America, Australasia, Brazil and Europe. The REIT's portfolio of medical outpatient buildings, clinics, and hospitals is characterized by long-term indexed leases and stable occupancies. Northwest leverages its global workforce in eight countries to serve as a long-term real estate partner to leading healthcare operators. For additional information please visit: www.nwhreit.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269465

SOURCE: Northwest Healthcare Properties REIT
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - Great Pacific Gold Corp. (TSXV: GPAC) (OTCQX: GPGCF) (FSE: V3H) ("Great Pacific Gold," "GPAC," or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has set November 27, 2025 as the date on which the special meeting of shareholders will occur to approve the spinout (the "Spin Out") of Walhalla Gold Corp. ("Walhalla"), whereby Great Pacific will distribute the shares of Walhalla to the shareholders of Great Pacific. Walhalla will then own the Walhalla Gold Project in Victoria, Australia. An Information Circular setting forth the transaction in detail will be filed on www.sedarplus.ca prior to the special meeting.

Highlights:

Notice of Anticipated Record Date and Meeting Date: The Company has filed a notice of meeting and record date on SEDAR+ setting November 27, 2025 as the date for a Special Meeting of GPAC shareholders to approve the Spin Out of Walhalla. Shareholders as of October 20, 2025 will be eligible to vote at this meeting.

Submission of Initial Application for Listing: An updated NI 43-101 technical report and draft carve out financial statements have been prepared and submitted to the Canadian Securities Exchange as part of the initial application for listing Walhalla.

Anticipated Record Date for the Spin Out: It is expected that the date of record for which shareholders in GPAC will receive a full share in Walhalla will be shortly after the November 27, 2025 Special Meeting.

"The spin-out of Walhalla enables GPAC shareholders to retain full and direct exposure to a district-scale gold project in a proven jurisdiction. Walhalla has multiple drill ready targets, a rich mining history and is now consolidated under a single entity," stated Greg McCunn, CEO of Great Pacific Gold. "We have been making good progress on advancing the required financial, technical and legal documentation to support the Spin Out and we have now initiated preparation work for drilling the highly prospective Pinnacles target in early 2026."

Mick Carew, Great Pacific Gold's Vice President of Corporate Development is serving as Walhalla's interim CEO to prepare the Pinnacles target for drilling in early 2026.

Walhalla Gold Project

H&S Consultants Pty of Brisbane, Australia have completed an updated NI 43-101 technical report for Walhalla. The report is expected to be filed on SEDAR+ in conjunction with the information circular mail out for the November 27, 2025 Special Meeting.

The Walhalla-Woods Point Goldfield is one of Victoria's significant goldfields (Figure 1) with an estimated total historic gold production from 54 mines of 2.2Mozs (72.2 tonnes) at a gold grade of 25.3g/t (Source: GeoVic, 2020), approximately 10% of the state's historic gold production. It is estimated that there are over 420 mines/workings for gold within the goldfield, which lies in the Palaeozoic-aged Melbourne geological structural zone, some 150km east of Melbourne.

Since gold was first found in 1851, the majority of production occurred in the 19th Century with only a few, larger mines continuing production in the 20th Century. No mines are currently operational.

The prospect of significant gold mineralization for the Walhalla Gold Project area is currently defined by relatively shallow, historically high grade mine workings, coincident surface geochemical anomalism corresponding within a favourable geological domain and structural setting.

The exploration model for the Walhalla Gold Project is a high grade, shear hosted, orogenic gold system hosted within low metamorphic grade, marine, fine grained siliciclastics of the Walhalla Synclinorium. Of great significance is the association of gold mineralization with the 'dioritic' Woods Point Dyke Swarm intruded, along strike but across dip, into the sediments. This type of lode gold system is associated with continental margin accretionary orogens (oceanic-continental) typically occurring in terranes dominated by turbiditic (meta-sedimentary) rocks. The deposits are commonly associated with second- and third-order faults and shear zones resulting in moderately to steeply plunging, tabular to pipe-like orebodies.

The shear-hosted gold potential of the Walhalla Gold Project area has not been adequately tested by previous exploration programs. Production records from historical mining activities show the vein systems have the capacity to host significant high-grade mineralization along with complex stranded structural architectures capable of creating large, mineralised shoots.

Great Pacific Gold has consolidated most of the available ground covering the Walhalla-Woods Point Goldfield. The tenement package comprises nine, virtually contiguous, ELs (including one ELA) covering a total of 1,233km2. This provides a unique opportunity to target and explore the entire mineral field.

A multi-faceted approach to exploration is required. The exploration targets vary from historical mines that may have already received prior development and exploration, and thus may be drill-ready, through to regional stream sediment geochemical anomalies that require verification and follow-up sampling prior to soil sampling, trenching and drilling. Historical mine sites with adequate geological information can be assessed by drilling within a brief timeframe, dependent on the approval of suitable work plans.

Recommendations

The following key recommendations were made in the technical report to advance exploration:

The Pinnacle prospect represents a very high priority target for an immediate drill test (Figure 2).

Drill test Cohen's Reef/Long Tunnel.

Drill test structural targets for the Sun Hill-Black Diamond area.

Initial targeting should be focussed upon potential repetition of mineralization that plunges shallowly north in the upper levels of the Walhalla, Long Tunnel and Long Tunnel Extended mines.

Shallow, northern extensions of the Black Diamond/Overseas Option dyke, as well as Sun Hill, and Longfellows also warrant drilling.

Scout drilling of permitted specific targets generated by surface sampling and mapping throughout the Walhalla Gold Project.

A two-phased exploration budget is proposed in the technical report totalling A6,620,000 (Table 1).

Phase 1 Details

Phase 1 will comprise the 3D desktop studies to evaluate potential drill targets for Cohen's Reef and Sun Hill-Black Diamond. A successful outcome will be the identification of drill targets and possibly the delineation of any exploration potential or even Mineral Resources. Follow up would consist of diamond drilling. A total of 5,500m of diamond drilling is planned for Phase 1.

Phase 1 will also include the establishment of a dedicated GIS with all relevant geoscientific data and an assessment of the airborne magnetic and radiometric data. It may also be worthwhile completing an air photo interpretation in conjunction with LiDAR data to provide additional structural information. Combination of this with the new litho-structural model for gold mineralization is hoped to deliver a series of greenfield targets for follow up surface geochemistry and potentially diamond drilling in Phase 2. Consideration may be given to using AI to assist with target identification.

A drill ready target exists at the Pinnacle prospect and it is recommended that this is drilled as soon as possible. Drilling is likely to comprise at least two diamond holes with further holes depending on the drilling results.

Initiation of surface geochemical sampling for already known anomalous areas e.g. Star-Thomson and the Victors-Quartz-Harbinger area.

Phase 2 details

Once Phase 1 is completed the drilling and surface exploration data should be integrated using AI technology to generate targets within the broader ELs. An AI system is often a commercial enterprise that utilises artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyse geological datasets and generate potential targets. These targets would then be further assessed by follow up geological mapping, geochemical sampling and geophysical surveys to rank and prioritise for drill testing.

Contingent on outcomes from Phase 1, Phase 2 will comprise 12,400m of diamond drilling targeting down plunge and strike extensions of mineralization encountered in Phase 1. It will also aim to test the highest ranked targets generated by the desktop 3D study. Metallurgical testwork is recommended to characterise the occurrence of the gold within the quartz vein systems. The work outlined in Phase 2 will enable a decision point to be reached on the resource potential within the property and whether further work is warranted.

The proposed exploration programs are conceptual in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource. It is uncertain if further exploration will result in the delineation of a mineral resource.

Table 1:

Phase 1 Expense Category Cost AU$

Diamond Drilling 5500m @ $250/m (1 rig) 1,375,000

Geological drilling support (100 days @ 1000/day) 150,000

Expanded Soil Sampling grid (2000 samples @ $70/sample all in) 140,000

Geological mapping (10 days @ $1000/day) 10,000

Assaying of drill samples (3000 @ $60/sample) 180,000

Geophysics (data processing an airborne surveys) 100,000

Data Management, Interpretation and reporting (60 days @ $1000/day) 60,000

3D assessment of potential mine targets & Mineral Resources 100,000

Sub-total 2,115,000



Phase 2 Expense Category Cost AU$

AI Data Processing & Study 100,000

Expanded Soil Sampling grid (3000 samples @ $70/sample) 210,000

Diamond Drilling 12,400m @ $250/m (2 rigs) 3,100,000

Assaying of drill samples (7500 samples @ $60/sample) 450,000

Geological drilling support 150 days @ $2000/day (2 Rigs) 300,000

Geophysics (Ground magnetics / 3D seismic) 200,000

Data Management, Interpretation and reporting (120 days @ $1000/day) 120,000

Metallurgical testwork 25,000

Sub-total 4,505,000 Total

6,620,000

Figure 1: Walhalla Within Regional Context, Victoria, Australia

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Figure 2: Walhalla Gold Project and Pinnacles Target Geochemistry Results, Victoria Australia

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On behalf of Great Pacific Gold:

Greg McCunn

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Qualified Person

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed, verified and approved by Callum Spink, the Company's Vice President, Exploration, who is a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, MAIG, and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Spink is responsible for the technical content of this news release. Mr. Spink is not independent of the Company.

About Great Pacific Gold

Great Pacific Gold's vision is to become the leading gold-copper development company in Papua New Guinea ("PNG"). The Company has a portfolio of exploration-stage projects in PNG, as follows:

Wild Dog Project: the Company's flagship project is located in the East New Britain province of PNG. The project consists of a large-scale epithermal target, the Wild Dog structural corridor, stretching 15km in strike length and potentially over 1,000 meters deep based on a recent MobileMT geophysics survey. The survey also highlighted the Magiabe porphyry target, adjacent to the epithermal target and potentially 1,000 meters in diameter and over 2,000 meters deep. Drilling of the epithermal structure on the Sinivit target has yielded high-grade results, including WDG-02 which intercepted 7.0 meters at 11.2 g/t AuEq from 65 meters. The current drilling program will extend into 2026 with 5,000 meters planned over 28 holes.

Kesar Project: located in the Eastern Highlands province of PNG and contiguous with the mine tenements of K92 Mining Inc. ("K92"), the Kesar Project is a greenfield exploration project with several high-priority targets in close proximity to the property boundary with K92. Multiple epithermal veins at Kesar are on strike and have the same orientation as key K92 deposits, such as Kora. Exploration work to date by the Company at the Kesar Project has shown that these veins have high grades of gold present in outcrop and very elevated gold in soil grades, coincident with aeromagnetic highs. The Company conducted a diamond drill program on key target areas at the Kesar Project from November 2024 to May 2025 and are working on developing a follow-up Phase 2 program for Q1 2026.

Arau Project: also located in the Eastern Highlands province of PNG, the Arau Project is south of and contiguous to the mine tenements of K92. Arau contains the highly prospective Mt. Victor exploration target with potential for a high sulphidation epithermal gold-base metal deposit. A Phase 1 Reverse Circulation drilling program was completed at Mt. Victor in August 2024, with encouraging results. The Arau Project includes the Elandora licence, which also contains various epithermal and copper-gold porphyry targets.

The Company also holds the Tinga Valley Project in PNG.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Great Pacific Gold cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by many material factors, most of which are beyond their respective control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Great Pacific Gold's limited operating history, its exploration and development activities on its mineral properties and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Great Pacific Gold does not undertake to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

Mineralization at the properties held by K92 Mining Inc. and at the Wafi-Golpu deposit is not necessarily indicative of mineralization at the Wild Dog Project.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269608

SOURCE: Great Pacific Gold Corp.
The agreement will give Anew Climate customers access to more than 500,000 Lithuanian independently verified soil carbon removals developed under Verra's VCS VM0042 standard.

InSoil's Carbon Farming Program in Lithuania has avoided or permanently sequestered an average of 2.27 tCO2e per hectare per year in its first monitoring period.

Carbon credit orders are now open, with first post-issuance deliveries expected by YE'25 or Q1'26.

The agreement includes a pre-sold committed volume, enabling carbon finance funds to begin rewarding farmers for implementing sustainable practices.

HOUSTON, TEXAS / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 2025 / Leading European regenerative agriculture company InSoil has entered into a four-year agreement with Anew Climate, LLC, a global leader in environmental markets, to provide exclusive access to over 500,000 independently verified soil carbon removals from InSoil's Carbon Farming Program of Lithuania, developed under Verra's VCS VM0042 standard.

The agreement provides Anew Climate's customers with access to soil carbon removals generated by Lithuanian farmers adopting regenerative agricultural practices, including planting cover crops, diversifying crop rotations, implementing residue management plans, and promoting conservation tillage across fields primarily cultivating wheat, barley, oilseed rape, beans, and peas. These techniques reduce greenhouse gas emissions and permanently sequester carbon in the soil, creating verified carbon removals as well as multiple environmental and social benefits.

"Expanding our portfolio with high-quality European soil carbon credits underscores Anew's commitment to climate solutions that deliver more than just carbon sequestration," said Roger Williams, Executive Vice President of Environmental Products at Anew Climate. "They not only deliver durable carbon credits for our customers, but also support farmers adopting regenerative practices that improve soil health, biodiversity, and community resilience."

Independent verification by SCS Global confirmed that InSoil's project has permanently sequestered an average of 2.27 tCO2e per hectare per year in its first monitoring period, based on verified field data across almost 20,000 hectares. This carbon sequestration rate is driven by strong additionality in practice implementation, the stacking of several such practices, and the outstanding carbon sequestration potential of Lithuanian soil. The vast majority of credits from the project are recognized as durable carbon removals.

InSoil will continue expanding with the objective of significantly ramping up regenerative farming support in Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine, and beyond.

"Soil, second only to oceans in its carbon-storing power, makes Europe's farmers, who steward half the continent's land, the cornerstone of the continent's Net Zero goals. Through regenerative agriculture they can not only capture carbon but also build resilient food systems, restore ecosystems, and improve human health, provided they receive the financial and agronomic support InSoil is ready to deliver", said Fernando Hierro Garcia, Head of Carbon of InSoil.

InSoil's Carbon Farming program applies 16 soil samples per 100 hectares, ensuring the highest sampling density and reliability of verified records in the industry. Through regenerative agricultural practices, participating farmers bring a host of ecosystem benefits, including improved soil health and water quality, higher crop productivity and yields, improved resilience to extreme weather events, and enhanced habitat and species diversity. In addition, the program generates revenue from carbon credit sales, which is distributed directly to farmers, supporting their continued transition toward regenerative farming practices.

About InSoil:

InSoil is a regenerative agriculture company accelerating the transition to improved agricultural land management across Europe. InSoil channels finance toward nature-based solutions while supporting farmers through medium-term financing, expert agrotechnical guidance, and advanced soil and emissions monitoring technologies. This integrated approach enables farmers to adopt sustainable practices and generate high-integrity carbon credits, creating new revenue streams while building climate resilience in agriculture.

InSoil currently has almost 800,000 hectares of cropland enrolled across multiple countries that are presently undergoing third-party verification, making it one of the largest soil carbon project developers in Europe. The company has also provided 90 million in agricultural loans to farmers through its transition finance arm.

For more information, visit insoil.com and subscribe to our Carbon Monthly newsletter.

About Anew Climate:

Anew Climate, LLC, is a global leader of diverse climate solutions built on the principles of transparency and accountability. We bring innovative products and services to the public and private sectors to help reduce or offset their carbon footprints, restore the environment, and ensure our clients' investments create economic value as well as durable climate impact. With deep market understanding, Anew leverages technological and nature-based solutions to create value through the generation and marketing of environmental credits for low carbon fuel, carbon, renewable energy, and emissions markets. Anew is majority owned by TPG Rise, TPG's global impact investing platform. The company has offices in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Hungary, and Spain with an environmental commodities portfolio that extends across five continents.

For more information, visit anewclimate.com.

Media Contact:

InSoil

press@insoil.com

Anew Climate

PR@anewclimate.com

SOURCE: Anew Climate, LLC

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/clean-technology/insoil-and-anew-climate-have-established-a-strategic-collaboration-to-market-over-1081180
Guidepost Solutions, a global leader in domestic and international investigations, compliance solutions, monitoring, and security and technology consulting, today announced the appointment of Thomas Courtice as regional director, EMEA for its Security and Technology Consulting practice. Courtice will oversee international client projects, lead the international security team, and spearhead efforts to expand the firm's presence across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

"Thomas brings deep expertise in designing and delivering innovative security solutions for some of the world's most complex and high-risk environments," said Julie Myers Wood, CEO of Guidepost Solutions. "His leadership will strengthen our ability to deliver tailored solutions to clients across the EMEA region, ensuring security and resilience of critical infrastructure, data centers, corporate offices, and government facilities."

Courtice joins Guidepost Solutions with over a decade of global experience in physical and technical security, risk management, and site assessments. He has successfully developed and delivered large-scale security programs for multinational corporations, government entities, and data centers worldwide. Most recently, Courtice served as director and regional physical security specialist at UBS Business Solutions, where he ensured global compliance, provided risk advisory, and oversaw design and implementation of security infrastructure operations across the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Netherlands, and South Africa.

Courtice also held consulting roles at Cornerstone GRG Ltd and Mitie Group Ltd, where he led client advisory services on security installations, driving corporate security and governance transformation projects. His background includes supporting counterterrorism and intelligence-gathering initiatives in Afghanistan, Africa, and the Middle East, managing high-risk employee travel security and physical security policy compliance.

Guidepost Solutions serves clients in more than 40 countries across the globe, including throughout the EMEA region, providing enterprise-wide security solutions. With Courtice leading the EMEA Security and Technology practice, the firm is well-poised to accelerate growth and further expand its global presence.

About Guidepost Solutions LLC

Guidepost Solutions is a leader in domestic and international investigations, compliance solutions, monitoring, and security and technology consulting. We work wherever your needs take us whether on the ground around the globe or from one of our offices located in Bogota, Chicago, Dallas, Honolulu, London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, New York, Palm Beach, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, Singapore, Walnut Creek, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.guidepostsolutions.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251007630761/en/

Contacts:

MEDIA:

Rebecca Bender, Montieth Company

rbender@montiethco.com
Nursing students build digital fluency, critical thinking and practice readiness within simulation tool

Wolters Kluwer Health today announced the next generation of Lippincott DocuCare, a forward-looking academic electronic health record (EHR) platform that supports aspiring nurses on their transition to practice. The reimagined simulated EHR provides a realistic, intuitive experience modeled after industry-leading EHR systems used by thousands of nurses every day. DocuCare is fully integrated with the Lippincott learning suite, blending classroom and clinical learning that empowers students to apply their knowledge across the curriculum.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008084169/en/

Wolters Kluwer enhances simulated EHR tool, Docucare, to provide a realistic, intuitive experience for nursing students

"The transition from education to patient care continues to be a big hurdle for new nurses entering the workforce and the health systems that hire them. Having clinical-like application tools available to nursing students will help build their clinical judgment and reflect a more true-to-practice experience that can minimize these growing pains," said Julie Stegman, Vice President, Wolters Kluwer Health Learning Practice. "The essential goal of documentation is safe, effective patient care delivery and clinician-patient communication. Students that use DocuCare gain exposure to these skills during their education, making them more practice-ready and more attractive to employers, while supporting curriculum needs."

True-to-life experience in an academic EHR

Aligned with American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) standards, DocuCare supports accreditation and competency-based education, ensuring nurse graduates meet industry demands. It works seamlessly across Lippincott products, offering a unified gradebook, streamlined course management, and comprehensive curriculum alignment. This provides educators with an unparalleled breadth and depth of resources, including 400 customizable patient records, empowering team-teaching and curriculum coverage across courses, clinicals, and simulations.

"Having an academic EHR simulator across our curriculum is absolutely essential training for future nurses. It allows faculty to give students real, actionable feedback on their documentation while sharpening their clinical judgment, which is so critical in practice," said Kandi Hudson, Ed.D./CI, MSN, CMSRN, CNE at the Community College of Baltimore. "Charting is patient care, so it is imperative for students to understand that every detail they document impacts outcomes and protects both the patient and their own careers. It's a key tool in preparing safe, confident, and competent nurses."

Exposure to medication adherence in the safety of the classroom

Nurses entering the workforce will care for a multitude of patients who need different medications and dosing to support their individual care plans-with studies showing a nearly 94% error rate in medication histories of patients. DocuCare medication and procedure facts are updated regularly and approved by medical-regulatory authorities, ensuring students are guided to make informed clinical decisions in practice, so they can be ready for the intricacies of patient care.

As a nurse, what you learn in the classroom directly translates to what you will face when you enter clinical practice. DocuCare brings students life-like patient scenarios and simulations, to help teach key concepts through reviewing specific cases and patient information and reverse engineering case studies. Wolters Kluwer continues to be a dedicated leader in the nursing education market, supporting both students and educators. Learn more about how the full suite of Lippincott offerings supports the next generation of nurses.

For more information about Wolters Kluwer, please visit: www.wolterskluwer.com

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in information, software solutions and services for professionals in healthcare; tax and accounting; financial and corporate compliance; legal and regulatory; corporate performance and ESG. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2024 annual revenues of 5.9 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 21,600 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008084169/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Josh DeStefano

Manager, External Communications

Wolters Kluwer Health

+1 (917) 408-5125

joshua.destefano@wolterskluwer.com
Renowned technology entrepreneur Dr. Ken Bajaj establishes secure, scalable, end-to-end enterprise AI solutions provider

BETHESDA, Md. and NEW YORK, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DigitalNet.ai, a newly formed leader in enterprise artificial intelligence solutions, today announced its official launch following the acquisitions of Harmonic AI, Zillion Technologies and Axis Group. Under the leadership of renowned technology entrepreneur Dr. Ken Bajaj, DigitalNet.ai aims to redefine the enterprise AI landscape by empowering organizations to tackle their most complex challenges with persona-based agentic AI. The company provides secure, scalable, end-to-end AI solutions, integrating deep expertise in data analytics, digital transformation and cybersecurity with its advanced enterprise AI platform to accelerate transformation for commercial and government clients.

"Enterprise clients are seeking AI partners who deliver comprehensive, secure and industry-specific solutions without the limitations often imposed by competitors," said Dr. Bajaj, CEO of DigitalNet.ai. "We envision a future where AI augments human potential as a true collaborator. Our mission is to make AI-powered business transformation faster, more effective and accessible for all commercial and government organizations, no matter where they are in their AI journey. By uniting the strengths of Harmonic AI, Zillion and Axis, DigitalNet.ai brings together the full range of expertise necessary to design, implement and scale AI across vertical markets including healthcare, financial services, insurance, energy and government."

Industry analysts project the enterprise agentic AI market will grow to tens of billions of dollars by 2032. Yet, more than 40% of agentic AI projects risk failure due to inflated expectations, prohibitive costs, labor shortages and uncertain returns on investment. DigitalNet.ai addresses these challenges by enabling organizations to leverage agentic AI intelligently, efficiently, securely and responsibly. The company's approach supports rapid development of transparent, human-in-the-loop solutions that integrate with existing systems-eliminating the need for costly and disruptive data overhauls-and delivering measurable value at every step.

DigitalNet.ai introduces more than 2,000 pre-built, persona-based cognitive agents that can be trained in minutes, enabling organizations to collaborate with persistent, human-like intelligence. These agents demonstrate advanced decision-making, communication styles and adaptability. In turn, clients see up to 40% faster time-to-value, a 35% increase in innovation and substantial long-term efficiency gains over traditional AI implementations.

Widely regarded as one of the most successful technology services entrepreneurs of the past four decades, Dr. Bajaj has founded and scaled market-leading IT platforms at the onset of every major technology adoption curve-from networking, e-commerce, mobile and cloud to now enterprise AI. His career began as a leader of EDS alongside H. Ross Perot, subsequently founding companies including AppNet, iNet, DigitalNet, and DMI, which were built in partnership with top-tier financial sponsors such as GTCR and Goldman Sachs, creating billions of dollars of equity value.

DigitalNet.ai was formed through a partnership between Dr. Bajaj and Ulysses Management, a New York-based private investment firm. "Ulysses has a long history of backing founder-led companies at transformational moments," said Sanjeev Thakrar, Managing Director of Ulysses Management. "DigitalNet.ai is purpose-built to meet the next great enterprise technology challenge: enabling organizations to adopt AI in a secure, scalable way that delivers measurable business outcomes."

With 1,150 professionals worldwide, including over 300 AI and data specialists, DigitalNet.ai unites three founder-owned businesses with highly complementary capabilities: Harmonic AI's JanusAI agentic platform, Zillion's digital transformation capabilities and cybersecurity expertise, and Axis Group's data analytics and business intelligence services, supporting a roster of tier-1 clients across commercial and federal sectors.

Founders of all three acquired companies are retaining meaningful equity stakes in DigitalNet.ai, reflecting their conviction in the company's long-term strategy. "This combination creates a differentiated company," said Paul Barnett, Senior Managing Director at Ulysses. "Together, these businesses give DigitalNet.ai the breadth and depth to deliver end-to-end AI solutions that are tailored to specific vertical markets - from financial services and healthcare to government and energy."

About DigitalNet.ai

DigitalNet.ai is an enterprise AI enablement leader delivering end-to-end solutions for commercial and government clients. Through its proprietary JanusAI agentic platform and a unified set of services in digital transformation, data analytics, and cybersecurity, Digitalnet.ai empowers organizations to harness the power of AI securely, responsibly and at scale. Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, the company operates nine worldwide offices across the United States, and in Asia, Canada, and Europe. For more information, visit www.digitalnet.ai.

About Ulysses Management

Ulysses Management LLC is a New York-based private investment firm. Ulysses is the successor to Odyssey Partners, the pioneering hedge fund founded in 1982 by Jack Nash and Leon Levy and led by Joshua Nash today. The private capital group of Ulysses focuses on middle-market businesses across end-markets, partnering with founders and executives to build long-term value. For more information, visit www.ulyssesmgmt.com.

Media Contact

Duyen "Jen" Truong

Sage Communications

dtruong@aboutsage.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a8b32e5d-0cb6-4ed5-bfa1-5c6536a243f3
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - The Organization of Canadian and American Women in Public Relations is now accepting conference committee member applications for the highly anticipated 2026 Women in PR North America WorkWell Conference. This milestone event will take place at Hart House in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on May 8, 2026, during Women's Health Month.

The Women in PR North America WorkWell Conference is the largest gathering of women in public relations, investor relations, and communications across North America. With the success of the 2025 conference, Women in PR North America is expanding the scope of the 2026 conference and inviting dynamic professionals to join the conference planning committee. Committee members will play a vital role in curating programming, engaging partners, and creating an unforgettable experience for attendees.

"This conference has grown into an incredible platform for women in public relations to connect, collaborate, and drive impact. We are thrilled to open applications for our 2026 committee and welcome new voices to help us deliver an unforgettable event," said Talia Beckett Davis, Founder of Women in PR North America.

Women in PR North America Calls for Conference Committee Members

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Why Get Involved

This opportunity allows for expanding networks, building portfolios, and creating meaningful collaborations within the field. Committee members become part of a supportive community of professionals across North America who are committed to building something significant together.

The planning committee meets through monthly virtual meetings to connect, share updates, and keep everyone on track. Volunteers can be based anywhere in North America and are available to attend the in-person conference in Toronto on May 8, 2026.

Women in PR North America is also seeking speakers and strategic partners who want to play a role in advancing women in the PR, IR, and communications industry. Interested speakers and partners are invited to get in touch with our team to discuss how they can get involved in the 2026 event.

Apply to join the 2026 Conference Planning Committee here: https://womeninpr.com/committee.

About Women in PR North America

Canadian Women in Public Relations Ltd. (Women in PR Canada) and American Women in Public Relations (Women in PR USA) is a leading organization dedicated to supporting women in public relations, investor relations, and communications. Together, the organizations form Women in PR North America, with a mission to elevate women leaders and amplify their impact across the U.S. and Canada through events, education, advocacy, and community.

Talia Beckett Davis is the Founder of Women in PR North America and the Owner of Pink Pearl PR, an agency specializing in the baby and kids' industry. She is also the creator of the Public Relations Academy, a global PR platform that helps professionals grow their careers and businesses. Learn more about membership here: https://womeninpr.com/collective-club.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269525

SOURCE: The Organization of Canadian Women in Public Relations Ltd.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) -Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. (CSE: API) (OTCQB: APAAF) (FSE: A0I0) (MUN: A0I0) (BER: A0I0) (the "Company" or "Appia") is pleased to announce that further to its press releases of September 23, 2025, and October 2, 2025 it will be closing the final tranche of a non-brokered private placement with the issuance of 3,968,648 working capital units ("WC Units") of the Company at a price of $0.185 per WC Unit for gross proceeds of $734,200 (the "Offering") on October 15, 2025.

Each WC Unit consists of one (1) common share of the Company priced at $0.185 per common share and one-half (0.5) of a common share purchase warrant. Each full warrant (each a "WC Warrant") entitles the holder to purchase one (1) common share (a "WC Warrant Share") at a price of $0.30 per WC Warrant Share until the earlier of (i) two (2) years from closing of the Offering (the "Closing"); and (ii) in the event that the closing price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange is at least $0.40 for ten (10) consecutive trading days, and the 10th trading day (the "Final Trading Day") is at least four (4) months from the Closing, the date which is thirty (30) days from the Final Trading Day (the "Trigger Date").

All securities issued will be subject to a hold period expiring on February 16, 2026. Proceeds from the Offering will be used for general working capital and exploration on the Corporation's properties in Brazil and Saskatchewan.

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

Additionally, the Company wishes to announce that further to its press releases of September 2, 2025, September 23, 2025, October 1, 2025, October 2, 2025 and October 6, 2025, Ultra Rare Earth Inc. ("Ultra") is proceeding with the transactions contemplated by the binding term sheet dated August 29, 2025 (the "Binding Term Sheet") between the Company, Beko Invest Ltd. ("Beko"), Antonio Vitor Junior ("Antonio") and Ultra. On completion of the Transaction, Ultra will acquire a 50% interest in Appia Brasil Rare Earths Mineracao Ltda ("Appia Brasil"), the Brazilian company that holds the PCH Project (the "Property") located in the Tocantins Structural Province of the Brasilia Fold Belt, Goias State, Brazil, (the "Transaction").

Pursuant to the Binding Term Sheet, Ultra shall have until the close of business on October 15, 2025 to deliver notice to Appia, Antonio and Beko that it intends to close the Transaction. One of the terms of the Transaction requires Ultra to invest US $2 Million into an Appia unit private placement comprising 5,520,000 units priced at $0.50 (Cdn) per unit (based upon a US$ to Cdn$ exchange rate of $1.38) with each unit consisting of one common share, priced at $0.50 (Cdn), and one half of a warrant, with each full warrant exercisable at $0.70 (Cdn) for 24 months. The funds will be used by Appia for general working capital. See the September 2, 2025 press release for a full list of the terms applicable to the Transaction.

About Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp.

Appia is a publicly traded Canadian company in the rare earth element and uranium sectors. The Company holds the right to acquire up to a 70% interest in the PCH Ionic Adsorption Clay Project (See June 9th, 2023 Press Release - Click HERE) which is 42,932.24 ha. in size and located within the Goias State of Brazil. (See January 11th, 2024 Press Release - Click HERE) The Company is also focusing on delineating high-grade critical rare earth elements and gallium on the Alces Lake property, and exploring for high-grade uranium in the prolific Athabasca Basin on its Otherside, Loranger, North Wollaston, and Eastside properties. The Company holds the surface rights to exploration for 94,982.39 hectares (234,706.59 acres) in Saskatchewan. The Company also has a 100% interest in 13,008 hectares (32,143 acres), with rare earth elements and uranium deposits over five mineralized zones in the Elliot Lake Camp, Ontario.

Appia has 170 million common shares outstanding, 210 million shares fully diluted.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information, visit www.appiareu.com

As part of our ongoing effort to keep investors, interested parties and stakeholders updated, we have several communication portals. If you have any questions online (X, Facebook, LinkedIn) please feel free to send direct messages.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269638

SOURCE: Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 2025 / Read the 2025 Wesco Sustainability Report here

Our Commitment to Belonging

We aim to foster a sense of individual and group belonging by:

Leveraging the unique experiences, backgrounds and perspectives of our talented workforce to support Wesco's mission.

Engaging employees and building an inclusive culture, and supporting the communities in which we operate.

We are committed to creating an environment where every employee feels valued, respected and empowered to contribute their best.

Our Business Resource Groups (BRGs)

Wesco's BRGs exist to support a culture of inclusion where employees can thrive and strengthen our culture by offering different perspectives, styles, thoughts and ideas. These groups are offered globally and are open to all employees regardless of any aspect of their personal identity. BRG's support the following:

Building an inclusive culture and positively impacting employee engagement

Assisting with the creation and maintenance of a pipeline of talent for the company

Providing informal mentoring and professional development opportunities for Wesco employees

Identifying opportunities for adding value and growing Wesco's business through community engagement

Creating an open forum for the exchange of ideas

Engaging with suppliers, customers and industry groups to share best practices, partner on initiatives, advance the industry and to drive business growth

We continue to evolve our BRGs to support the goals of the company. Feedback from our BRGs provides valuable business insights, aiding our ongoing efforts to foster an inclusive and respectful workplace culture at Wesco.

ABLE - Employees with disabilities and allies

MOSAIC - Black, Latino, Indigenous, people of color, employees and allies

PRIDE - Equitable empowerment of the LGBTQ+ community and allies and promotes a safe, friendly environment for all

WIN - Women in our organization and allies

VOLT - The engagement of employees serving in the military, veterans and allies

SPARK - Employees in their early careers, allies and wider stakeholders that empower the expansion of professional horizons

Talent Acquisition

At Wesco, we believe that attracting the right talent is critical to our success. In 2024, we continued the evolution of our recruitment processes, partnerships and outreaches, focusing on attracting a workforce with a wealth of ideas, talents, skills, backgrounds and perspectives to our organization.

We automated and optimized processes to enhance the experience for all candidates with an emphasis on speed and communication. We enabled our hiring managers by continuing to improve our sourcing and screening processes to present the most qualified candidates from a range of sources. We continue to develop our talent acquisition team through a variety of internal and external training offerings to build their skills in sourcing and attracting candidates.

Key Talent Management Achievements in 2024

Recruitment Process Optimization: We completed a variety of improvement initiatives to create standardization, consistency and efficiency across several recruitment processes including assessment usage, pay transparency in job postings, evergreen requisitions (a pool of candidates to fill multiple job openings), internal mobility, automated candidate correspondence and more.

Interview and Selection Training Program: We launched a new interview and selection training course for hiring managers to enhance the knowledge and skills of this critical component of a manager's responsibilities. The training program features an online component followed by a facilitator-led session to reinforce key concepts and to practice interviewing skills.

Enhanced Analytics: We launched a new initiative to automate key talent acquisition reporting dashboards to enable real time access to data, improving our ability to monitor and act on critical steps in the hiring process.

Improved Commitment to sourcing from multiple channels: Our talent acquisition team works with organizations like RecruitMilitary, Out & Equal, the Department of Defense SkillBridge Program and Military Spouse Employment Partnership to ensure we source candidates from multiple channels.

An Enhanced Onboarding Experience

The onboarding experience is a critical first step in an employee's journey with Wesco. We are committed to ensuring that all new employees feel welcomed, supported and set up for success from day one.

We recognize that onboarding is more than just paperwork, it's about immersing new hires into the Wesco way of working and giving them the tools they need to be successful. Over the last few years, we've invested in building and enhancing our onboarding programs to help new associates acclimate to our organization.

Investments in Our Future

Continuous learning and development are essential to building a high-performing workforce. In 2024, we invested in expanding our Learning and Development (L&D) solutions, introducing more than 5,800 new learning opportunities into our existing offerings.

We also successfully delivered a total of 172,175 hours of training (including safety training) to employees across the globe, at an average rate of 8.4 training hours per employee. These efforts are designed to equip our employees with the knowledge, skills and experiences they need to excel in their roles and contribute to Wesco's ongoing success. Our L&D initiatives are aligned with our broader business strategy, ensuring that employees at all levels are provided with opportunities for professional growth.

Key Focus Areas:

Talent Development: Our seasoned L&D professionals have the deep expertise in adult learning and instructional design needed to create engaging, high-impact training experiences.

Process Improvements: We continuously evaluate and evolve our ways of working to ensure quality, efficient and effective results.

Technology Enhancements: We introduced new digital platforms and tools to support learning, making it easier for employees to access training programs and track their progress.

Strategic Alignment: We aligned our L&D priorities with Wesco's business goals, focusing on the following:

Sales/commercial upskilling

Digital transformation

Operational excellence

Leadership development

In addition to our internal training programs, we provide employees with access to external training resources through partnerships with organizations such as the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED). This allows employees to enhance their skills and knowledge by participating in industry-recognized training programs and certifications.

To learn more, download the 2025 Wesco Sustainability Report here.

About This Report

Unless otherwise stated, this report covers activities, data and initiatives from our fiscal year 2024.

ESG Disclosure and Framework Alignment

The topics covered in this report include those that we have determined to be material for our business and stakeholders as noted on page 10. Wesco aligns with several ESG frameworks and disclosures in support of our commitment to transparency and our fulfillment

of stakeholder needs and expectations. We leverage the following frameworks and standards to provide robust ESG information disclosure:

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI): GRI offers a list of global standards and guidelines around sustainability reporting.

Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB): SASB provides a comprehensive set of industry-specific disclosure topics and guidelines.

International Financial Reporting Standards (Climate-related disclosures, IFRS S2) which incorporates the now decommissioned Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD): IFRS provides disclosure recommendations on thematic ESG topics such as governance, strategy, risk management, metrics and targets to provide stakeholders with fuller information surrounding climate risks.

CDP: Formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project, CDP is

an international organization that helps companies and cities measure and disclose important environmental impact information through an annual questionnaire and rating system.

United Nations Global Compact (UNGC): UNGC is an initiative that aims to help businesses align their strategies and work toward the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs): U.N. SDGs provide a shared set of 17 goals toward peace and prosperity for people and planet goals and create a call to action by all countries in a global partnership

We also regularly engage with our investors, employees, customers, regulators, ratings agencies and others on ESG and business issues. Additional information about Wesco can be found in our public financial filings- including our annual report and proxy filings-as well as on the Security and Exchange Commission's website at www.sec.gov or on the Investors page of our website at Wesco.com.

Wesco plans to continue to report annually as we monitor, measure and deepen our ESG initiatives and disclosures.

Wesco endorses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are a call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. We have prioritized the following five goals: Good Health and Well Being, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Responsible Consumption and Production.

More information about our SDG aligned initiatives is included throughout this report.

Assurance

We did not seek third-party assurance for this report; however, we will consider doing so for future reporting. The information and data contained in this report was vetted by internal subject matter experts on the various ESG topics included in this report.

Contact Us

We welcome feedback on our ESG initiatives and reporting. We invite you to contact us directly via email at Sustainability@Wescodist.com.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Wesco International on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Wesco International

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/wesco-international

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Wesco International

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/industrial-and-manufacturing/wesco-2025-sustainability-report-our-commitments-to-belonging-1084345
From shapewear to skincare, David's Bridal expands its curated, online marketplace selection with fashion, beauty, and gifting

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 2025 / David's Bridal, Inc. ("David's"), the largest AI-powered marketplace, media network and planning ecosystem for life's magical moments, is helping customers check off even more from their occasion planning checklist. As part of its continued growth into a dynamic, tech-driven shopping destination, David's is unveiling an expanded lineup of handpicked products and brand partners across fashion, beauty, gifting, and more - helping customers discover, shop, and celebrate all in one seamless experience and all while earning Diamond Loyalty points and perks.

Whether a bride, bridesmaid, a guest, or just celebrating a special moment, David's is making it easier than ever to find everything you need to feel and look your best in one place - DavidsBridal.com. This bold expansion comes as consumers increasingly look for convenience, variety, and curated inspiration when shopping online. David's is meeting that demand head-on by adding hundreds of new products from trusted and emerging brands, giving customers more ways to shop for every aspect of life's celebrations. From bridal gowns to bridesmaid dresses, from beauty must-haves to meaningful gifts, from party decor to fashion-forward looks for homecoming, fall formal, prom and special events, David's is evolving into a one-stop marketplace designed to dress customers at every stage of their journey.

These popular partner brands and expanded categories and offerings help David's further its mission of providing more styles, sizes, variety and shipping speed to its shoppers.

Recently launched partners include:

Caire Beauty : Award-winning skincare formulated for women 40+, rooted in biotech innovation

Daily Haute : A family-owned menswear brand offering stylish and affordable suits, tuxedos, and dress accessories

Dearfoams : Iconic slipper brand offering cozy, bridal-ready styles perfect for gifting and getting ready

Jump Design Group (Bebe, Jump, Marina): Made-in-America eveningwear and dresses inspired by runway trends

Little Tuxedos : Formalwear for children, including ring bearers and junior groomsmen

Swimwear Anywhere (Michael Michael Kors, Carmen Marc Valvo): Designer swimwear suited for honeymoons and poolside bridal bashes

The Pearl Source : The leading online pearl jewelry retailer, importing Freshwater, Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea pearls

The Rescue Kit Company : On-the-go emergency kits for beauty, fashion, and day-of touchups

ThirdLove : Premium intimates, underwear, and shapewear designed with inclusive sizing and data-backed fit

"As we continue to evolve David's marketplace and product offerings, expanding our dropship partnerships is a key part of delivering a seamless and convenient shopping experience for our customers," said Reid Bork, Chief Revenue Officer of David's Bridal. "By partnering with brands that bring quality, innovation, and a deep understanding of our customers' needs, we can offer an even wider range of products that support everyone for any occasion. This program allows us to meet our customers where they are, providing thoughtful, curated selections that enhance all celebrations."

In the months ahead, David's will continue adding even more categories and brand partners to its site and stores, reflecting its vision to become the leading tech-enabled hub where customers discover, shop, and plan for weddings, proms, parties, milestones, and everyday moments of joy. New partners will span fashion categories from children's formal wear to swimwear, shapewear, shoes, accessories and beyond. And with Diamond Loyalty points earned on every purchase, customers can unlock exclusive perks and benefits, turning everyday shopping into a celebration in itself.

With a growing assortment, unmatched personalization, and the power of rewards, David's Bridal is redefining what it means to be the ultimate destination for life's magical moments, big and small.

To learn more or shop newest arrivals, visit www.DavidsBridal.com and follow @davidsbridal on TikTok and Instagram. Appointments can be booked online or find your local store and stop by anytime, walk ins welcome!

Please see media kit here .

###

About David's Bridal

With over 70 years of experience dressing people for all of life's special occasions, David's Bridal exists for magical moments. Since its "Aisle to Algorithm" strategic pivot, David's has evolved from iconic bridal retailer to wedding technology company, media powerhouse, and marketplace platform, transforming how people plan, shop, and celebrate life's biggest moments. From assuming full production of Vera Wang Bride to launching Diamonds & Pearls, a curated couture boutique experience, David's entrance into this new era marks a pivotal moment for retailers going beyond traditional scopes and expanding into new categories.

At the center of David's technological and retail evolution is Pearl by David's, Pearl Planner and Pearl Media Network - the all-in-one digital wedding destination connecting consumers with everything from AI-powered planning tools, inspiration and vendor directories, expanded retail categories and leading content, while enabling brands tap into David's unmatched market reach to authentically connect with consumers through media across the web, social, podcast, streaming, video, in-store and more.

Under the Pearl Media umbrella is Love Stories by David's, the top wedding media brand taking a digital-first approach to wedding content and inspiration with over 20M viewers per month across content platforms, including the wedding industry's sole podcast network, streaming TV and Snap Discover channels, and largest YouTube and TikTok channels, and a library of over 30,000 real wedding videos. Each video comes equipped with wedding data and details, contributing to a marketplace of over 60,000 wedding professionals to help couples better dream about, research and plan their big day.

With more than 190 stores across the US, Canada, and franchise locations in Mexico, David's Bridal offers the convenience of one-stop shopping for every magical event in her life, including weddings, Quinceanera, graduations, proms, communions, or simply making the world her runway and beyond. To learn more about David's , sign up for Pearl Planner , and connect on social media through Instagram , YouTube , Pinterest , Facebook , X , TikTok , and LinkedIn .

Media Contact:

David's Bridal

mediarequests@dbi.com

Related Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GRllHCtVS8

SOURCE: DAVID'S BRIDAL CORPORATE

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/consumer-and-retail-products/davids-bridal-introduces-six-new-online-partners-to-make-wedding-shopp-1082030
o9, a leading enterprise AI software platform provider for transforming planning and decision-making, today announced strong continued growth in Q3 2025 with new customer additions, expanded adoption by existing clients, more than 30 go-lives across a variety of industries, and record participation at its aim10x Americas Summit.

During the quarter, o9 welcomed new telecommunications, high tech, food and beverage, and retail and apparel clients. Multiple global manufacturers in food and beverage and industrial equipment also expanded their use of the o9 Digital Brain platform, underscoring the Company's role as a long-term transformation partner with the ability to scale across varying functions and workflows. More than 30 go-lives around the world were completed in Q3'25. Deployments included integrated business planning, demand and supply planning, master planning, production scheduling, allocation and replenishment, and material requirements planning capabilities. These implementations highlight the growing need among enterprises for synchronized, AI-powered planning that improves decision speed, resilience and business outcomes.

o9 also strengthened its global presence and leadership team in Q3'25. It opened a new and larger office in Amsterdam's business district to host clients and partners and reinforce its position alongside leading international companies. Additionally, Brett Theisen joined o9 as Chief Revenue Officer in July, bringing more than 25 years of sales and leadership experience to drive the Company's global revenue growth and market expansion.

In September, o9 hosted aim10x Americas Summit, its highest-attended event to date with close to 400 participants and 36 speakers from industries that included retail, food and beverage, consumer goods and manufacturing. The program featured client case studies and live demonstrations of the o9 Digital Brain. Eight AI-themed sessions demonstrated how AI agents within the o9 platform can perform post-game analysis on various scenarios-for example, why KPIs such as forecast accuracy, service levels, inventory or cost targets were missed-with deep causal-chaining capabilities and a decision replay system. This allows for continuous learning and enables companies to make rapid improvements to achieve their KPIs. These much-anticipated AI sessions also emphasized agility in planning, scenario simulations, growth opportunities, supply chain resilience and new self-service capabilities.

"Our strong performance this quarter is a testament to the growing number of enterprises that are turning to the o9 Digital Brain platform to help them navigate complexity and volatility," said Chakri Gottemukkala, Co-Founder and CEO, o9. "Generative AI and specialized AI agents are accelerating the value generated by our platform for integrated business planning, helping our clients achieve faster, easier and more impactful digital transformations. Looking forward to Q4'25 and beyond, we will continue our steadfast commitment to innovation and excellence as the foremost enterprise planning partner on the market today."

Notable Q3'25 highlights include:

o9 Recognized in Independent Analyst Firm's 2025 Buyer's Guide for Embedding Sustainability into Enterprise Planning and Supplier Collaboration

o9 Partners with Databricks to Accelerate Time to Value for Supply Chain Planning

o9 Joins Catena-X Community to Advance Standard-Based Collaboration in Automotive Supply Chains

o9 Named a Leader in the Nucleus Research SCP Technology Value Matrix 2025

To learn more, visit www.o9solutions.com.

About o9

o9 Solutions is a leading AI-powered platform for integrated business planning and decision making for the enterprise. Whether it is driving demand, aligning demand and supply, or optimizing commercial initiatives, any planning process can be made faster and smarter with o9's AI-powered digital solutions. o9 brings together technology innovations-such as graph based enterprise modeling, big data analytics, advanced algorithms for scenario planning, collaborative portals, easy-to-use interfaces and cloud-based delivery-into one platform. For more information, please visit www.o9solutions.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008731674/en/

Contacts:

Evelien van der Wel

evelien.vanderwel@o9solutions.com
DUBAI, UAE and LOS ANGELES, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- After over a year of dedicated development and innovation, Hozpitality.com, the leading global platform for hospitality professionals and organizations, has officially re-launched with a completely redesigned interface, upgraded technology, and enhanced tools to better connect the world's hospitality industry.

The new Hozpitality.com offers an intuitive design, faster performance, and advanced features aimed at bridging professionals, employers, schools, and suppliers within the hospitality and tourism ecosystem. The upgraded portal combines the best aspects of professional networking, recruitment, learning, and recognition - all tailored specifically for the hospitality industry.

"Our goal has always been to empower the hospitality community with a platform that truly understands its needs," said Raj Bhatt, Founder & CEO of Hozpitality Group. "This re-launch marks a major step forward, bringing a modern, seamless experience for our 1.3 million+ members worldwide. Whether you're hiring, job-seeking, learning, or networking, Hozpitality.com now makes it easier than ever."

Key Enhancements Include:

Modernized User Interface: A clean, responsive design with improved navigation and user experience.

A clean, responsive design with improved navigation and user experience. Enhanced Job and Talent Search: Faster, smarter tools to help employers find the right talent and professionals find ideal roles.

Faster, smarter tools to help employers find the right talent and professionals find ideal roles. Integrated Networking: Build connections, share updates, and engage through an industry-focused social platform.

Build connections, share updates, and engage through an industry-focused social platform. Custom Packages & Upgraded Accounts: New flexible plans for companies and individuals. All existing corporate clients have been upgraded to Enterprise Accounts with unlimited access, while free members are now Pay As You Go (PAYG) users with free timeline posting and optional premium features.

New flexible plans for companies and individuals. All existing corporate clients have been upgraded to with unlimited access, while free members are now users with free timeline posting and optional premium features. Faster Load Speeds and Global Accessibility: Optimized for users across regions, with improved performance and mobile experience.

Expanding Globally

With offices in Dubai and Los Angeles, Hozpitality Group continues to expand its reach across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and North America, connecting professionals, hospitality suppliers, and employers under one platform. The company also announced plans to launch its Hozpitality Awards and Powerlists in the USA, recognizing top talent and brands across the country.

"This milestone reaffirms our commitment to being the ultimate digital hub for the global hospitality industry," added Vandana Bhatt (Vee), Cofounder and MD, Hozpitality Group. "We're not just a job board or networking site - we're a complete ecosystem where hospitality thrives."

Users are invited to explore the new website at www.hozpitality.com and experience its refreshed design and enhanced capabilities.

About Hozpitality Group

Hozpitality Group is a leading platform dedicated to the global hospitality industry, offering career opportunities, networking, training, events, and recognitions. With a growing community of over 1.3 million members, the platform serves professionals, employers, suppliers, and hospitality schools worldwide.

The group's portfolio includes Hozpitality.com, Hozpitalityplus.com andHozpitalityexcellenceawards.com providing a 360 ecosystem for the industry.

For more information, visit www.hozpitality.com.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/hozpitalitycom-re-launches-with-a-fresh-new-look-enhanced-features-and-a-powerful-user-experience-for-the-global-hospitality-community-302578438.html
AUSTIN, Texas and TOKYO, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Patient Handling Equipment Market is witnessing steady growth, supported by rising investments in hospital infrastructure, homecare services, and advanced medical equipment for safe patient mobility. According to DataM Intelligence, the Patient Handling Equipment Market Size reached US$ 15.55 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to US$ 26.76 billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 6.4% between 2025-2033.

Patient handling equipment plays a vital role in ensuring safe transfer, mobility, and support for patients in hospitals, long-term care centers, and homecare environments. From slings and patient lifts to medical beds and transport chairs, these devices are critical in reducing healthcare worker injuries, improving patient comfort, and streamlining care delivery.

The industry is being shaped by increasing elderly populations, rising chronic disease prevalence, home-based care trends, and government emphasis on hospital safety protocols. Leading players such as Stryker, Arjo, Invacare, and Hillrom continue to innovate with ergonomically advanced, IoT-enabled, and automated patient handling systems.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.datamintelligence.com/download-sample/patient-handling-equipment-market

Browse in-depth TOC on "Patient Handling Equipment Market"

80 - Tables

76 - Figures

210 - Pages

Market Segmentation Insights

By Type

Medical beds led the market in 2024, generating revenues of US$ 5.2 billion. Demand for adjustable, smart, and ICU-specific hospital beds continues to surge, particularly in the U.S. and Japan where aging demographics require advanced critical care solutions.

Patient lifts and slings collectively contributed US$ 4.6 billion in 2024. With growing focus on safe patient transfer protocols and prevention of healthcare worker musculoskeletal injuries, hospitals and homecare centers are increasing investments in these solutions.

Mobility devices and wheelchairs, valued at US$ 3.1 billion, remain essential for outpatient, rehabilitation, and long-term care settings.

Bathroom and toilet assist equipment generated US$ 1.2 billion in 2024, reflecting increased demand in geriatric and disabled populations.

By End-User

Hospitals dominated the market with revenues of US$ 10.1 billion in 2024, driven by large-scale procurement of medical beds, lifts, and slings for inpatient and critical care services.

Homecare settings contributed US$ 3.6 billion, fueled by the rising shift toward home-based recovery and long-term care. Increasing insurance coverage for durable medical equipment is further supporting this trend.

Regional Insights: USA & Japan

United States

The U.S. patient handling equipment market, valued at US$ 6.3 billion in 2024, leads globally due to:

Rising elderly population: Over 55 million Americans are above 65, requiring mobility assistance.

Over 55 million Americans are above 65, requiring mobility assistance. Government safety mandates: OSHA guidelines are driving adoption of lifts, slings, and ergonomic transfer devices.

OSHA guidelines are driving adoption of lifts, slings, and ergonomic transfer devices. Smart hospital expansion: IoT-enabled hospital beds and automated transfer systems are becoming standard.

IoT-enabled hospital beds and automated transfer systems are becoming standard. Recent update (2025): Stryker introduced AI-integrated smart beds in U.S. hospitals, offering predictive fall detection and remote patient monitoring.

Japan

Japan's market, valued at US$ 1.4 billion in 2024, is expanding rapidly due to:

Super-aging society: With 29% of the population aged over 65, demand for advanced handling equipment is critical.

With 29% of the population aged over 65, demand for advanced handling equipment is critical. Government funding for elderly care: Programs promoting safe mobility and home-based care are boosting market adoption.

Programs promoting safe mobility and home-based care are boosting market adoption. Innovation partnerships: Japanese manufacturers are collaborating with European firms for robotic-assisted transfer devices.

Japanese manufacturers are collaborating with European firms for robotic-assisted transfer devices. Highlight (2025): Arjo announced a partnership with Japanese hospitals to expand the use of robotic-assisted patient lifts.

Request for Customized Sample Report as per Your Business Requirement: https://www.datamintelligence.com/customize/patient-handling-equipment-market

Industry Trends & 2025 Developments

Smart Beds & IoT Integration: Advanced beds with AI monitoring and connectivity to hospital information systems are redefining inpatient care.

Advanced beds with AI monitoring and connectivity to hospital information systems are redefining inpatient care. Homecare Mobility Expansion: Rising insurance coverage and aging-in-place trends are boosting demand for home-use patient lifts and wheelchairs.

Rising insurance coverage and aging-in-place trends are boosting demand for home-use patient lifts and wheelchairs. Robotics & Automation: Robotic exoskeletons and powered lifts are reducing strain on healthcare workers while improving patient safety.

Robotic exoskeletons and powered lifts are reducing strain on healthcare workers while improving patient safety. Sustainability Focus: Manufacturers are integrating eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient technologies into new equipment lines.

Manufacturers are integrating eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient technologies into new equipment lines. M&A Activity: In 2025, Hillrom (now part of Baxter) expanded its homecare solutions portfolio through acquisition of a European patient lift manufacturer.

Competitive Landscape

Stryker

Stryker dominates with a comprehensive range of hospital beds and surgical stretchers. In 2025, it launched AI-enabled hospital beds with predictive monitoring, reinforcing leadership in critical care.

Arjo

Arjo specializes in patient transfer and mobility equipment. Its portfolio of slings, lifts, and hygiene systems continues to expand globally, with strategic growth in Japan and the U.S.

Invacare Holdings Corporation

Invacare focuses on mobility solutions and homecare equipment, with a strong presence in the U.S. and Europe.

Hillrom (Welch Allyn & Baxter)

Hillrom remains a leader in hospital beds and critical care equipment. The integration with Baxter enhances its global distribution capabilities.

Medline Industries & Drive DeVilbiss

Both companies play pivotal roles in durable medical equipment for hospitals and homecare, with expanding product ranges in transfer and mobility solutions.

Strategic Outlook

The Patient Handling Equipment Market is being shaped by four critical forces:

Elderly Care Demand - U.S. and Japan leading adoption due to aging populations. Technology Integration - Smart beds, AI, and robotic lifts redefining patient care. Homecare Growth - Rising healthcare costs driving care beyond hospital walls. Regulatory Compliance - Safety mandates accelerating adoption of ergonomic transfer equipment.

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Conclusion

The Patient Handling Equipment Market, projected to grow from US$ 15.55 billion in 2024 to US$ 26.76 billion by 2033, reflects a global healthcare shift toward safer, more efficient, and technology-driven patient mobility solutions. With Stryker, Arjo, Invacare, and Hillrom at the forefront, the sector is set to expand rapidly across hospitals and homecare ecosystems.

Related Report:

Hospital & Laboratory Equipment Market Size to Reach USD 77B+ by 2031: Innovation in Diagnostics & Automation Drives Surge. Remote Patient Monitoring Market Size Set to Soar from USD 50B to USD 251B by 2031 on AI-Enabled & Home-Care Shift. Patient Registry Software Market Size to Surge from USD 2.0B in 2025 to USD 5.6B by 2035 on RWD & Clinical Insight Boom. Patient Engagement Solutions Market Size to Soar to $86B by 2030 on AI, Telehealth & Digital Health Shift

About DataM Intelligence

DataM Intelligence is a renowned provider of market research, delivering deep insights through pricing analysis, market share breakdowns, and competitive intelligence. The company specializes in strategic reports that guide businesses in high-growth sectors such as nutraceuticals and AI-driven health innovations.

To find out more, visit https://www.datamintelligence.com/ or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Contact:

Sai Kiran

DataM Intelligence 4market Research LLP

Ground floor, DSL Abacus IT Park, Industrial Development Area

Uppal, Hyderabad, Telangana 500039

USA: +1 877-441-4866

Email: Sai.k@datamintelligence.com

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/patient-handling-equipment-market-to-reach-us-26-76-billion-by-2033-driven-by-rising-demand-in-hospitals-and-homecare-settings--datam-intelligence-302578274.html
MOHALI, India, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Scintillation Research has conducted an independent, non-commissioned study on Wi-Fi 6 technology and prepared a detailed report on the essentiality of Wi-Fi 6 for various stakeholders.

The report offers a comprehensive overview of the Wi-Fi 6 patent landscape, providing detailed insights into its key patents. It aims to identify all granted patents worldwide related to Wi-Fi 6 technology and deliver actionable, reliable information on essential patents to stakeholders, supporting their various campaigns. The report highlights top assignees, their share of essential patents, examines portfolios within this space, and reviews the history of patent reassignments.

Who will benefit from this report:

SEP Holders: To understand leading assignees, their portfolios, and develop licensing strategies.

To understand leading assignees, their portfolios, and develop licensing strategies. SEP Implementers: To identify potential threats, FTO issues, and plan licensing negotiations.

To identify potential threats, FTO issues, and plan licensing negotiations. Patent Monetisation Firms: To find assignees and relevant portfolios for monetisation.

To find assignees and relevant portfolios for monetisation. Law Firms: To develop litigation strategies for assertion or defence.

To develop litigation strategies for assertion or defence. Patent Pools: To identify potential licensors to join their pool.

To identify potential licensors to join their pool. AI Software Firms: To train their AI models with our comprehensive datasets.

Our Methodology:

Although IEEE maintains a database of LoAs submitted by patent holders, these declarations do not fully reflect the actual landscape of a particular technology. Therefore, we recognized the need to create a patent landscape relevant to the Wi-Fi 6 standard. We employed a four-phase approach to conduct this detailed study.

Phase 1

A comprehensive dataset of active, granted worldwide patents was built by covering the newly added features of the Wi-Fi 6 standard. Based on several publicly available reports, we identified the following features as new additions in 802.11ax compared to the previous standard, 802.11ac:

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA)

Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO)

Target Wake Time (TWT)

Beamforming

Basic Service Set (BSS) Colouring

1024 QAM

160 MHz

Spatial Streams

A four-step approach was followed during Phase 1 to create a comprehensive patent dataset:

Step 1: Extract all patents listed under LoAs declared to 802.11ax or 802.11 2020.

Step 2: Extract patents from the list published by Sisvel as of March 21, 2025.

Step 3: Extract all patents listed on the Atlas Global website.

Step 4: Identify patent families using combinations of keywords, CPCs, assignees, and citations, with a focus on the newly added features. We restricted our key strings to a priority date of 'on or before Feb 2021' to match the approval date of 802.11ax.

After combining all results from Steps 1-3, we compiled a list of over 3,000 patent families. We recognised the terminology similarities between 5G and Wi-Fi 6 technologies; therefore, we expected a substantial number of telecom patents to be captured in Step 3 as well.

Phase 2

An analysis of the title, abstract, and claims of each patent was conducted to identify patents with limitations related to telecommunications terminology or concepts, such as LTE, UMTS, PDCCH, PDSCH, and similar. Such patents were removed from our list. However, patents written with broad terminology or concepts applicable to both telecom and Wi-Fi 6 technologies were considered for further analysis.

Additionally, several patent families related to coordinated beamforming, 320 MHz, EHT, MLO, and similar concepts were identified, which are also associated with the WiFi-7 standard and were excluded from the list.

After removing irrelevant patents, the refined list comprised 2011 patent families, including over 35 patent families declared to ETSI under various telecom specifications.

Phase 3

Categorisation of all 2,011 patents was performed based on newly added features, including Beamforming, MU-MIMO, spatial streams, OFDMA, and 160 MHz, among others.

Phase 4

A detailed manual analysis of each patent family in the list was performed without utilising any AI algorithm to determine the essentiality of the claims with respect to 802.11-2020 or 802.11ax. Our team reviewed each patent family in detail and assessed its essentiality, providing rationale and excerpts from the relevant standards to support their findings. When evidence for each claim limitation was identified in the standard, we mark the family as essential and proceed to the next one. If a particular independent claim is found to be non-essential to the standard due to certain claim limitations, we reviewed the following independent claim for analysis purposes. Further, if no independent claim of that patent was found to be essential, we reviewed the other granted family member for essentiality purposes. We have marked a particular patent family as non-essential only after reviewing all granted family members.

Several insights were derived from the analysis and were documented in the report. Some of the key findings include:

Over 1000 patent families are essential to the Wi-Fi 6 standard.

45 unique assignees own at least one Wi-Fi 6 essential patent.

Wi-Fi 6 essential patents are also declared to ETSI under multiple 3GPP standards.

Distribution of essential patents by technology.

Reassignment history of essential patents.

Interactive dashboard.

A complete report is available:WiFi-6 Essentiality Report.

Additionally, an essentiality analysis report is compiled for certain assignees to offer a comprehensive overview of their Wi-Fi 6 portfolio. This report covers all patent families selected for manual review, along with their essentiality status. Specifically, it includes details such as patent number, priority date, title, evaluated independent claim, essentiality status, reasoning behind the assessment, and relevant excerpts from the standard.

The essentiality report of assignees, along with a sample analysis, is available as follows:

Huawei LG Intel Qualcomm Panasonic Samsung Sony Ericsson NXP InterDigital Mediatek ZTE Apple Wilus Marvell HP Cisco Toshiba Canon Avago International Semiconductor

A complete dataset is also available. If you have a customised request, please feel free to contact us at info@sraas.com.

About Scintillation Research:

Scintillation Research, founded in 2010, is an innovation consultancy firm that provides market and patent research to a diverse range of stakeholders worldwide. We serve Fortune 500 companies, law firms, brokerage firms, inventors, universities, and consulting firms globally. Our core services include strategic prosecution support, patent landscape analysis, competitive advantage reports, competitor intelligence, portfolio mining, technology scouting, ecosystem mapping, essentiality evaluation of patents, claim charts, infringement searches, freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis, product reverse engineering, and prior-art searches. Our offerings deliver comprehensive solutions across all technology sectors, ensuring clients receive customised support and innovative insights. To learn more about our services, please feel free to contact us at: info@sraas.com

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APOZ is about to be presented to the entire aerospace industry in Taiwan

BRADENTON, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 2025 / APOZ is Attending Taiwan Aerospace & UAV Summit

ASC Global Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Token Communities ( OTC ID / Stock Symbol:TKCM ), it was invited by the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan ( R.O.C. ) to attend the Aerospace and UAV Summit to be held in Taipei on October 23rd, 2025.

According to David Champ, president and CEO of the company, this very important summit will be held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Taipei on October 23rd, it is focused to promote the collaboration between U.S. and Taiwan in " Non-Red Supply Chain " and to encourage the Taiwanese companies to set up their manufacturing operations in the U.S. APOZ as the only publicly recognized FTZ + QOZ dual-status Business Park ( Foreign Trade Zone and Qualified Opportunity Zone ) in the U.S. today, it is the most favorable and ideal location for these Taiwanese companies ( including some of the U.S. domestic companies from other states ) to establish their production and manufacturing operations, the FTZ + QOZ dual-status APOZ business Park can provide tremendous savings on tariff and duties, along with the convenience for re-exporting to the global market and unprecedented savings on capital gain taxes, creating a true win-win strategic alliance relationship between the U.S. and Taiwan.

The delegation from ASC Global Inc. will also visit some of the local companies in Taiwan who have already expressed interests in setting up operations at APOZ, and certain government officials whom have been supporting the APOZ project since its inception.

For any further information, please contact Mr. David Champ at (631) 397-1111.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this presentation contains "forward-looking information", including "future-oriented financial information" and "financial outlook", under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, the information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements and includes, but is not limited to, the (i) projected financial performance of the Company; (ii) completion of, and the use of proceeds from, the sale of the shares being offered hereunder; (iii) the expected development of the Company's business, projects, and joint ventures; (iv) execution of the Company's vision and growth strategy, including with respect to future M&A activity and global growth; (v) sources and availability of third-party financing for the Company's projects; (vi) completion of the Company's projects that are currently underway, in development or otherwise under consideration; (vi) renewal of the Company's current customer, supplier and other material agreements; and (vii) future liquidity, working capital, and capital requirements. Forward-looking statements are provided to allow potential investors the opportunity to understand management's beliefs and opinions in respect of the future so that they may use such beliefs and opinions as one factor in evaluating an investment.

These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Although forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: Token Communities Ltd.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/real-estate/tkcm-is-invited-by-taiwan-to-attend-the-aerospace-and-uav-summit-1084365
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - Astra Exploration Inc. (TSXV: ASTR) (OTCQB: ATEPF) ("Astra" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced private placement (the "Offering") of 10,080,690 common shares of the Company (the "Shares") at a price of C$0.62 per Share for aggregate gross proceeds of C$6,250,027.80, including the partial exercise of the underwriters' option.

The Offering was led by Cormark Securities Inc., as lead underwriter and sole bookrunner, together with Beacon Securities Limited, and Research Capital Corporation (collectively, the "Underwriters").

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for exploration expenditures on the La Manchuria project and for general working capital purposes as described in the offering document related to the Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website at www.astra-exploration.com.

The Shares were sold in reliance of Part 5A.2 of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions, as amended by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 - Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption, and will not be subject to a hold period in Canada.

In consideration of the services rendered by the Underwriters in connection with the Offering, on closing the Company paid to the Underwriters a cash commission equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the Offering, subject to a reduction to 3% for orders on the president's list.

Michael Gentile, an existing shareholder and insider of the Company, participated in the Offering and acquired 282,300 Shares for gross proceeds of C$175,026. The participation of such person in the Offering constitutes a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company has determined that the transaction is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemptions contained in Section 5.5(a) and Section 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of securities issued to such person nor the consideration paid by such person exceeded 25 percent of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report in respect of the transaction 21 days in advance of closing of the Offering because the details of the Offering and insider participation had not been confirmed and the shorter period was necessary in order to permit the Company to close the Offering in a timeframe consistent with usual market practice for transactions of this nature.

The securities described herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or available exemptions from such registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to acquire securities in any jurisdiction.

The Offering remains subject to final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

About the Company

Astra Exploration Inc. is a precious metals exploration company based out of Vancouver, BC that is actively building a portfolio of high-quality projects in some of the most important mining jurisdictions in Latin America.

The La Manchuria gold-silver project in Santa Cruz, Argentina, over which Astra has an option to acquire 90% interest, is a high-grade gold and silver low sulphidation epithermal (LSE) deposit located in the prolific Deseado Massif which hosts multiple world-class LSE precious metals deposits including Cerro Vanguardia and Cerro Negro, Santa Cruz, Argentina.

The 100% owned Pampa Paciencia gold and silver project in northern Chile is located in the Paleocene mineral province in proximity to such major operating mines as Spence and Sierra Gorda. The project shares several important geological similarities to other Paleocene LSE gold-silver deposits including Faride and El Penon.

The 100% owned Cerro Bayo project in northern Chile is located in the Maricunga belt approximately 20 km from the Refugio Mine. The project hosts a high sulphidation epithermal (HSE) +/- porphyry gold system with similarities to the Salares Norte deposit to the north in the same belt. The Maricunga belt is one of the most endowed regions in the world for gold and copper deposits.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When or if used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to the Company's business activities; the use of the net proceeds of the Offering; and final approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, without limitation: development of the industry in which the Company operates; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's business activities; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; laws and regulations governing the industry in which the Company operates; operating or technical difficulties; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and other risk factors disclosed in the Company's public disclosure documents available on the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. Not an offer of securities for sale in the United States

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269568

SOURCE: Astra Exploration Inc.
The corporate retreats market is anticipated to increase due to a rise in leadership off-sites linked to strategic planning, post-merger integration, and culture-building initiatives. Growing reliance on distributed and hybrid work models has also led companies to invest in in-person retreats for cross-functional alignment, executive onboarding, and team recalibration. Demand for corporate retreats is strongest from sectors undergoing transformation, including technology, finance, and professional services.

WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Corporate Retreats Market -Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2025-2034", valued at $31.8 billion in 2024. With a projected CAGR of 9.1% from 2025 to 2034, the market is expected to reach $73.7 billion by the end of 2034. Rise in demand for executive alignment sessions, expansion into emerging markets, increased focus on leadership continuity, and greater reliance on hybrid work structures have boosted the market growth. Moreover, the need for structured decision-making environments across distributed teams, along with investment in high-impact team development initiatives, off-site strategic planning, and leadership recalibration during transformation phases, have further propelled the growth of the corporate retreats market.

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Market Introduction

Corporate retreats are structured off-site gatherings organized by companies to bring leadership teams or employees together in a focused environment for strategic planning, team development, and cultural alignment. Corporate retreats are held in dedicated venues that allow participants to engage in uninterrupted discussions, workshops, and collaborative sessions tailored to organizational goals.

Corporate retreats are required during key business transitions such as mergers, leadership changes, or strategic shifts. They provide benefits such as improved communication, stronger internal relationships, and clearer alignment of objectives. Retreats also support problem-solving, foster accountability, and help recalibrate teams facing cross-functional or geographic fragmentation. For senior leadership, retreats offer a setting to evaluate priorities, define execution strategies, and reinforce a unified vision across the organization.

Report Overview:

The corporate retreats market is segmented on the basis of type of retreat, industry vertical, venue, and region. By type of retreat, the market is divided into team building retreats, incentive and recognition retreats, strategic planning retreats, wellness and rejuvenation retreats, and others. By industry vertical, the market is categorized into financial services, information technology, real estate and infrastructure, automotive, and others. By venue, the market is classified into hotels and resorts, villas and private estates, conference centers, and others.

Region-wise, the market is analyzed across North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico), Europe (Germany, UK, Russia, France, Italy, Spain, and rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and rest of Asia-Pacific), and LAMEA (Brazil, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Argentina, and rest of LAMEA).

By type of retreats, the team building retreats segment dominated the global corporate retreats market in 2024 and is anticipated to maintain its dominance during the forecast period.

By industry vertical, the information technology segment dominated the global corporate retreats market in 2024 and is anticipated to maintain its dominance during the forecast period.

By venue, the hotels and resorts segment dominated the global corporate retreats market in 2024 and is anticipated to maintain its dominance during the forecast period.

Report Coverage & Details:

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2025-2034 Base Year 2024 Market Size in 2024 $31.8 billion Market Size in 2034 $73.7 billion CAGR 9.1 % No. of Pages in Report 349 Segments Covered Type of Retreat, Industry Vertical, Venue, and Region. Target Region / Countries North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico), Europe (Germany, UK, Russia, France, Italy, Spain, and rest of Europe), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, and rest of Asia-Pacific), and LAMEA (Brazil, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Argentina, and rest of LAMEA) Drivers Increased use of retreats for strategic planning

Expansion of wellness and mental health programs

High demand for experiential learning and immersive environments

Rise in demand for retreats focused on ESG and corporate responsibility Opportunity Expansion of retreat services by boutique hospitality providers

Growth of destination retreats in emerging market Restraint High costs associated with organizing corporate retreats

Cultural and generational differences in retreat preferences

Stringent corporate travel policies post-pandemic

Market Growth & Opportunities Factors:

The global corporate retreats market has experienced notable growth due to increased use of retreats for strategic planning. Organizations prioritize offsite settings to enable leadership teams to focus on long-term objectives, competitive positioning, and planning without workplace distractions. Corporate retreats support structured discussions, scenario-based workshops, and decision-making aligned with enterprise priorities. Facilitated sessions allow executives to address complex issues, set clear targets, and generate actionable plans. Companies increasingly integrate such retreats into annual cycles, viewing them as essential for leadership alignment and business continuity. As the value of concentrated strategy sessions becomes more evident, investment in high-impact retreat programs and venues is anticipated to expand in the coming years.

Moreover, corporate retreats have gained traction through the expansion of wellness and mental health initiatives. Businesses integrate offsite programs into wellness strategies to manage burnout, promote mental clarity, and improve resilience among employees. Activities such as guided meditation, mindfulness sessions, and outdoor exercises create a space for employees to decompress and reconnect. This is particularly important in remote and hybrid work models where isolation and fatigue are growing concerns. Companies now treat wellness-focused retreats as essential tools for improving retention, engagement, and morale, reinforcing the role of emotional well-being in workplace performance and shaping demand across international markets.

Another key driver is the rise in preference for experiential learning and ESG-focused programming. Retreats allow for immersive, real-world development activities such as simulations and collaborative challenges, which enhance team dynamics and leadership capabilities. Additionally, growing emphasis on ESG encourages companies to use retreats for sustainability training, ethical leadership development, and community engagement. Employees gain clarity on organizational values while contributing to responsible business practices. All these combined forces, namely, strategic focus, wellness support, hands-on learning, and ESG integration have collectively expanded the function of corporate retreats beyond traditional team bonding, driving global demand for targeted, outcome-driven corporate retreat programs.

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Major Challenges in Industry & Solutions:

High costs associated with organizing corporate retreats create a significant obstacle for market expansion. Expenses for venues, travel, accommodations, meals, and facilitators can result in high per-person spending, especially for multi-day programs. Small and mid-sized companies often cannot justify investment, limiting participation to large enterprises. Hidden costs, such as lost productivity, further discourage adoption. Financial concerns reduce retreat frequency, scale, and accessibility, restricting the global corporate retreats market to organizations with more flexible budgets or higher spending capacity.

To address cost-related challenges, companies can adopt hybrid retreat models that combine virtual sessions with local offsite elements to reduce travel and accommodation expenses. Partnering with retreat providers offering bundled services or seasonal discounts can also lower financial barriers. Additionally, rotating retreat locations closer to headquarters or regional offices minimize transportation costs. Emphasizing goal-oriented programming ensures that retreat outcomes justify investment, improving perceived value and supporting budget allocation. These strategies enable more businesses to participate, even with limited financial resources.

Cultural and generational differences in retreat preferences introduce complexity in planning inclusive programs. Multinational teams bring diverse social norms, communication styles, and expectations for engagement. Younger employees may prefer interactive formats with digital tools, while older generations might value structure and reflection. Failing to accommodate such differences leads to disengagement, reducing the effectiveness of retreats. This variability requires flexible program designs that resonate across age groups and cultural identities, increasing planning costs and reducing consistency.

A viable solution involves offering modular retreat formats with parallel tracks tailored to varied generational and cultural preferences. Pre-retreat surveys help identify shared interests and guide planning around inclusive themes. Facilitators trained in cross-cultural communication can navigate group dynamics more effectively. Companies should also adopt universal activities that encourage collaboration without cultural imposition. This adaptive approach improves engagement, strengthens inclusion, and enables companies to maximize corporate retreat impact across a diverse workforce.

Regional Insights

The North America corporate retreats market is largely driven by the growing emphasis on leadership development, innovation, and strategic alignment. U.S.-based companies frequently integrate retreats into annual planning to improve executive collaboration and long-term goal setting. The shift toward hybrid and remote work models has increased the need for in-person interactions, pushing organizations to organize retreats to restore team cohesion and communication. However, high operating costs, especially in popular destinations across the U.S. and Canada, continue to restrict smaller businesses from participating. Opportunities lie in regional retreats with scaled-down budgets and digital facilitation components that maintain value while reducing costs.

Moreover, the corporate retreats market in Europe is supported by strong organizational cultures that prioritize employee well-being, work-life balance, and mental health. Companies in Germany, France, and the Nordics actively invest in retreats as part of HR strategies. Regulatory support for employee welfare and training further promotes offsite experiences focused on personal growth and resilience. A key challenge in Europe stems from regulatory complexities and cross-border planning for multinationals operating across the EU. Additionally, varying retreat preferences among culturally diverse teams create friction in execution. Growth opportunities exist in modular retreat models that address cultural differences while emphasizing ESG priorities, which are gaining traction among European corporations.

Whereas the Asia-Pacific corporate retreats market is expanding owing to growth in investment in workforce development, particularly in China, India, and Japan. Large domestic firms and regional subsidiaries of global corporations are using retreats to train mid-level managers and realign organizational goals. Competitive pressure in fast-evolving sectors such as IT and manufacturing has made experiential learning and strategic offsites increasingly common. However, cost constraints and limited awareness outside tier-one cities slow wider adoption. Cultural norms in some markets may discourage participation in non-traditional team-building formats, further complicating execution. Still, demand is rising for retreats integrated with skill-building, digital upskilling, and leadership pipeline development in response to regional workforce transitions.

Furthermore, in LAMEA, the corporate retreats market remains relatively promising but is gaining interest from emerging businesses and multinational firms in sectors such as oil and gas, hospitality, and finance. Demand is emerging in the UAE, South Africa, and parts of Latin America, where companies seek retreats for performance alignment and leadership training. Infrastructure gaps, security concerns, and limited-service availability pose significant barriers to expansion. However, there is untapped potential in wellness, ESG-centered programs, and regional tourism partnerships that could support tailored retreats for growing midsize enterprises seeking structured, purpose-driven corporate retreats offsite solutions.

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Key Players:

Leading companies in the corporate retreats market are expanding destination portfolios, forming partnerships with wellness and hospitality providers, and offering customizable programs aligned with organizational goals. By integrating strategy workshops, leadership training, and wellness services, companies are addressing client-specific needs, which increases retention rates and drives long-term growth across competitive regional markets.

The major players in the corporate retreats industry include Accor Group, Aimbridge Hospitality, Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG), Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Marriott International, Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, and Selina.

Key Strategies Adopted by Competitors

In March 2025, Marriott Hotels, the namesake brand of Marriott Bonvoy's extraordinary portfolio of over 30 hotel brands, opened Jim Corbett Marriott Resort & Spa, located in the pristine wilderness of Uttarakhand. Set amidst the dense forests of Jim Corbett National Park and on the bank of river Kosi, this retreat is a gateway to nature's wonders and authentic local experiences.

In April 2022, Hyatt Hotels Corporation has introduced Work from Hyatt: Offsite, a corporate retreat concept created in response to the evolution of remote work and growth in demand from businesses to connect with colleagues in person after two years of virtual collaboration.

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Bar Leone in Hong Kong ranks No.1 in The World's 50 Best Bars 2025, sponsored by Perrier - the first time this has been awarded to a bar in Asia

in Hong Kong ranks No.1 in The World's 50 Best Bars 2025, sponsored by Perrier - the first time this has been awarded to a bar in Asia The 2025 list features bars from 29 cities with eight new entries spread across Athens, Bratislava, Guangzhou, Lima, New York, Oslo, Tirana and Tokyo

Simone Caporale of Barcelona's Sips has been awarded the Roku Industry Icon Award

of Barcelona's has been awarded the Roku Industry Icon Award Bar Mauro in Mexico City has received the Campari One To Watch Award

in Mexico City has received the Campari One To Watch Award The Cambridge Public House in Paris wins the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award

in Paris wins the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award Entering the list at No.25 and winner of the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award is Bratislava's Mirror Bar

Moebius Milano in Milan moves up 31 places to No.7 and claims the Nikka Highest Climber Award

in Milan moves up 31 places to No.7 and claims the Nikka Highest Climber Award Baba au Rum in Athens is named Remy Martin Legend of the List

in Athens is named Remy Martin Legend of the List New York's Sip & Guzzle wins this year's Three Cents Best New Opening Award

wins this year's Three Cents Best New Opening Award Backdoor Bodega in Penang is the winner of the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award

in Penang is the winner of the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award The Best Bar Design Award is presented to Tigra + Disco Pantera in Sydney

in Sydney Mimi Kakushi is The Best Bar in the Middle East, sponsored by Les Vergers Boiron, and Hero Bar is named The Best Bar in Africa, sponsored by Langjiu

LONDON, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The list of The World's 50 Best Bars 2025, sponsored by Perrier, was revealed this evening at a live awards ceremony in Hong Kong. The annual event once again united the global bar community for its 17th edition in recognition of the outstanding achievements of their peers.

The full 1-50 list of The World's 50 Best Bars 2025 is at the end of this press release.

The World's 50 Best Bars 2025 features venues from 29 cities globally, with Hong Kong's Bar Leone named The World's Best Bar 2025 and The Best Bar in Asia 2025, sponsored by Perrier. The achievement marks the first time a bar in Asia has taken the No.1 position.

Nestled in Hong Kong's vibrant Central district, Bar Leone is the brainchild of renowned bartender Lorenzo Antinori, whose storied resume encompasses some of Europe and Asia's most beloved hotel bars, including London's American Bar at The Savoy and Dandelyan (now defunct). Built on the philosophy of 'cocktail popolari' - or 'cocktails for the people' - Bar Leone pays tribute to the neighbourhood bars of Rome, where locals gather for coffee, aperitivi and casual conversation. The interior is a love letter to the city in the 1980s and '90s and is designed to be approachable, unpretentious and deeply rooted in Italian culture and hospitality.

A Roman by birth, Antinori's goal was to strip away the complexity of modern mixology and return to simple, high-quality drinks, served with warmth and precision. As such, the cocktail menu comes in the form of a rotating Google Docs file, updated monthly and including the full recipe and method to ensure each drink is fully accessible to everyone. Bar Leone opened in June 2023 and quickly rose to fame, making its debut on the world stage the following year at No.1 on the list of Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024 and No.2 in The World's 50 Best Bars 2024, both unrivalled feats. Earlier this year, it was once again named The Best Bar in Asia at Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025.

Emma Sleight, Head of Content for The World's 50 Best Bars, says: "It is such a delight to unveil Bar Leone as The World's Best Bar 2025, sponsored by Perrier. Not only is this remarkable achievement the first time a bar from Asia has claimed the top spot but it is a dazzling testament to the commitment of Lorenzo and the entire Bar Leone team to redefining hospitality excellence. We are deeply honoured to spotlight the extraordinary diversity of the global bar landscape in 2025 and we raise a glass to every bar that has earned their place in this year's list. With more cocktail capitals represented than ever before, this ranking continues to serve as a vibrant compass for curious drinkers and passionate explorers alike - igniting wanderlust and raising the bar for cocktail culture across the globe."

London leads in Europe again, but Eastern cities shine through for the first time

Of the 23 bars in Europe, London continues its reign as the region's cocktail capital with four bars: Tayer + Elementary at No.5, Connaught Bar at No.6, Satan's Whiskers at No.21 and Scarfes Bar at No.31. They are joined by Edinburgh's Panda & Sons at No.34.

The title of The Best Bar in Europe, sponsored by Monkey Shoulder, is retained for the third time by Barcelona's Sips at No.3 as co-founder Simone Caporale is awarded the Roku Industry Icon Award. Paradiso in Barcelona is No.4 with Madrid's Salmon Guru at No.37. Athens continues its ascendancy, with Line at No.8 alongside Baba au Rum, this year's Remy Martin Legend of the List, at No.27, and new entry The Bar in Front of the Bar at No.47.

Milan's Moebius Milano is the winner of the Nikka Highest Climber Award, having risen an impressive 31 places to No.7. It is joined by 1930 in Milan at No.43, with Florence's Locale Firenze at No.22 and Rome's Drink Kong at No.40. Paris is represented by Bar Nouveau, rising 22 places to No.17, The Cambridge Public House (No.20) and Danico (No.30).

For the first time, bars from Eastern Europe have been ranked in the list of The World's 50 Best Bars, with new entries Mirror Bar in Bratislava at No.25 and Nouvelle Vague in Tirana at No.28. In Scandinavia, Oslo's Himkok (No.14) is joined by another new entry, Svanen at No.32, with Roda Huset in Stockholm at No.35.

New York continues to lead in the Americas, but Mexico City retains The Best Bar in North America

New York City reaffirms its status as North America's cocktail powerhouse, with four bars making this year's list: Superbueno (rising 15 places to No.12) is joined by newcomer Sip & Guzzle (No.39), named this year's Three Cents Best New Opening, alongside Double Chicken Please (No.41) and Overstory (No.46). In New Orleans, Jewel of the South is No.44.

In Mexico City, The Best Bar in North America, sponsored by Amaro Lucano, is Handshake Speakeasy at No.2, with Tlecan, a new entry in 2024, at No.23. Bar Mauro, which placed at No.54 on the extended list of bars ranked 51-100, is the recipient of the Campari One To Watch Award.

The Best Bar in South America, sponsored by Torres Brandy, is once again Buenos Aires' Tres Monos at No.10, with neighbour CoChinChina at No.26. Lima's Lady Bee is No.13 and the recipient of this year's Michter's Art of Hospitality Award, alongside new entry Sastreria Martinez at No.33. Alquimico in Cartagena is No.11 while Sao Paulo's Tan Tan is No.24.

Hong Kong takes the top spot, and Guangzhou joins the list

With three bars on the list, Tokyo shines in Asia with stalwart Bar Benfiddich (No.18) joined by Virtu at No.45 and new entry The Bellwood at No.48. Host city Hong Kong can celebrate two entries, including Bar Leone at No.1, The Best Bar in Asia and, a first for the continent, The World's Best Bar, alongside Coa at No.38.

Singapore's Jigger & Pony is No.9, with creative director and partner Uno Jang the recipient of this year's Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award, while Nutmeg & Clove is No.50. In Bangkok, Bar Us has risen a remarkable 26 places to No.15 and BKK Social Club is No.49. Seoul's Zest is No.16 with new entry Hope & Sesame the first bar from Guangzhou to feature at No.29. The winner of the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award is Penang's Backdoor Bodega.

The Best Bar in Africa and The Best Bar in the Middle East are named for the first time; Australian venue wins the Best Bar Design Award

Mimi Kakushi in Dubai (No.36) is named The Best Bar in the Middle East, sponsored by Les Vergers Boiron, while Nairobi's Hero Bar has been crowned The Best Bar in Africa, sponsored by Langjiu, after ranking at No.69 in the extended list announced a fortnight ago. This is the first time either accolade has been awarded as part of The World's 50 Best Bars, having previously been presented as The Best Bar in the Middle East and Africa.

At No.19, Melbourne's Caretaker's Cottage retains its title as The Best Bar in Australasia, sponsored by Tia Maria, at No.19, with Sydney's Maybe Sammy at No.42. The Best Bar Design Award is bestowed upon Sydney's Tigra + Disco Pantera.

Special Awards

The ceremony began with a celebration of Bar Mauro in Mexico City as this year's recipient of the Campari One To Watch Award, which reached No.54 on the extended list of bars ranked 51-100, announced two weeks ago. The award recognises a bar that the 50 Best team perceives as having strong potential to join the list of The World's 50 Best Bars in the future.

This year's winner of the Best Bar Design Award is Tigra + Disco Pantera in Sydney. Two distinct yet complementary spaces created by Scottish brothers Gordon and Ross Purnell, Tigra embraces the vibrant laneway cultures of Barcelona and Tokyo, influenced by Joan Miro's playful modernism, while Disco Pantera channels the retro glamour of 1970s New York, featuring vintage lighting, reclaimed materials and standout elements like a hand-sculpted teak bar front. Together, they offer a vibrant, dual-level experience that reflects a commitment to creative reuse, cultural homage and experiential design, offering guests a multi-sensory journey through art, cocktails and atmosphere. Judged by an esteemed panel of hospitality design experts, bars from anywhere in the world were invited to submit their venues for consideration.

Backdoor Bodega in Penang is awarded the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award for The Backdoor Bodega Guide to Penang. Styled like an indie travel zine, each drink is presented as a narrative entry that spotlight the stories, flavours and landmarks that define their island home, blending personal anecdotes with cultural heritage. The Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award is open to any bar in the world and is judged by the 29 Academy Chairs.

Simone Caporale has been named Roku Industry Icon. Simone Caporale, renowned for his groundbreaking work at Artesian at The Langham - named The World's Best Bar four years in a row - is an award-winning bartender and entrepreneur based in Barcelona. Known for his distinctive style, meticulous attention to detail and innovative approach to hospitality, he co-founded Sips, also crowned The World's Best Bar in 2023, and co-owns Boadas, Barcelona's oldest cocktail bar. In 2025, he launched Montana in Hong Kong with Lorenzo Antinori of Bar Leone, blending the legacy of the Club de los Cantineros with the vibrant spirit of Miami's golden era. His other ventures include co-founding the P(OUR) Symposium, creating the Muyu liqueur range with Alex Kratena and Monica Berg, and serving as Global Brand Ambassador for Amaro Santoni.

Joining the list for the first time at No.25, Bratislava's Mirror Bar is awarded the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award. A sleek cocktail lounge blending nature-inspired design with elegant vintage touches, Mirror Bar serves inventive cocktails that blend world class mixology with visual storytelling.

Sip & Guzzle in New York is named Three Cents Best New Opening as the bar that enters the list in the highest position of any that have opened during the voting period, joining the list at No.39. A bi-level cocktail bar in New York's Greenwich Village, co-founded by Shingo Gokan and Steve Schneider, Sip & Guzzle blends Japanese elegance with New York energy. Upstairs at Guzzle, guests enjoy lively, crushable cocktails in a saloon-style setting, while downstairs at Sip, the mood shifts to a refined Tokyo-inspired speakeasy serving intricate drinks like the Whisky Nigiri.

Milan's Moebius Milano wins the Nikka Highest Climber Award, rising 31 places to No.7. Moebius Milano is a dynamic gastronomic and cultural venue in the heart of Milan, combining a Tapa Bistrot, a fine dining experimental restaurant and a cocktail bar within a renovated textile warehouse. The concept blends culinary innovation, live music and design, offering an immersive experience that reflects the venue's philosophy of continuous transformation.

The honour of the Remy Martin Legend of the List Award has been bestowed upon Baba au Rum, an award given to a bar that has performed most consistently in the list since its inception. Founded by Thanos Prunarus in 2009, Baba au Rum is a visionary cocktail bar known for its deep appreciation of rum and its role in shaping Greece's modern bar scene.

The Cambridge Public House in Paris has won the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award, based on adjudication by the Sustainable Restaurant Association. The first independent bar to achieve B Corp certification, co-founders Hugo Gallou and Hyacinthe Lescoet have driven lasting change beyond sustainable mixology through a series of creative initiatives, including adopting six United Nations goals to support global communities through The Cambridge Community Plan and the launch of Shaken Leaf, a platform empowering bartenders worldwide to adopt sustainable practices.

Other special award winners, announced in the run-up to the awards on 8 October, include Uno Jang, winner of the Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award, and Lady Bee, Lima, named the winner of the Michter's Art of Hospitality Award.

EDITOR'S NOTES:

1-50 List:

Position Establishment Location 1 Bar Leone Hong Kong 2 Handshake Speakeasy Mexico City 3 Sips Barcelona 4 Paradiso Barcelona 5 Tayer + Elementary London 6 Connaught Bar London 7 Moebius Milano Milan 8 Line Athens 9 Jigger & Pony Singapore 10 Tres Monos Buenos Aires 11 Alquimico Cartagena 12 Superbueno New York 13 Lady Bee Lima 14 Himkok Oslo 15 Bar Us Bangkok 16 Zest Seoul 17 Bar Nouveau Paris 18 Bar Benfiddich Tokyo 19 Caretaker's Cottage Melbourne 20 The Cambridge Public House Paris 21 Satan's Whiskers London 22 Locale Firenze Florence 23 Tlecan Mexico City 24 Tan Tan Sao Paulo 25 Mirror Bar Bratislava 26 CoChinChina Buenos Aires 27 Baba au Rum Athens 28 Nouvelle Vague Tirana 29 Hope & Sesame Guangzhou 30 Danico Paris 31 Scarfes Bar London 32 Svanen Oslo 33 Sastreria Martinez Lima 34 Panda & Sons Edinburgh 35 Roda Huset Stockholm 36 Mimi Kakushi Dubai 37 Salmon Guru Madrid 38 Coa Hong Kong 39 Sip & Guzzle New York 40 Drink Kong Rome 41 Double Chicken Please New York 42 Maybe Sammy Sydney 43 1930 Milan 44 Jewel of the South New Orleans 45 Virtu Tokyo 46 Overstory New York 47 The Bar in Front of the Bar Athens 48 The Bellwood Tokyo 49 BKK Social Club Bangkok 50 Nutmeg & Clove Singapore

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About The World's 50 Best Bars

The World's 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, provides a definitive list of the world's best drinking venues, voted for by an Academy of more than 800 experts worldwide. The World's 50 Best Bars list has been published annually since 2009 and has become the most anticipated ranking for drinks professionals and cocktail aficionados across the world, with the awards the highlight of the bar industry calendar. The list of Asia's 50 Best Bars has been published since 2016, while the list of North America's 50 Best Bars was launched in 2022. William Reed, which owns the 50 Best brand, is entirely responsible for the organisation of the awards, the voting system and the respective lists.

How the voting works

The list is compiled by votes from The World's 50 Best Bars Academy, which comprises more than 800 drinks experts with gender balance, including renowned bartenders and consultants, drinks writers and cocktail specialists from around the world. The Academy of voters is spread across 29 global geographic regions, each headed by an Academy Chair who selects their region's voters, with the distribution of voters designed to reflect the relative development and sophistication of the drinks sector, and the concentration of quality bars, in each region. Each voter casts 8 votes based on their best bar experiences of the previous 18 months. Voters are required to remain anonymous and voting is confidential, secure and independently adjudicated by Deloitte.

About the main partner: Perrier

For more than a century, Perrier has collaborated with some of the world's most influential major artists, including Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, Bernard Villemot, and Jean-Gabriel Domergue, each of whom in their own way have demonstrated a certain artistic irreverence. With a history that began in 1863 in Vergeze, in the Gard region of France, the Perrier brand is now recognized worldwide thanks to its iconic green bottle. Appreciated in more than 140 countries, the brand is acclaimed for its natural mineral water combined with the power of its bubbles.

Our partners:

Hong Kong Tourism Board - Official Host Destination Partner

Perrier - Official Water Partner; sponsor of The World's Best Bar Award

Michter's - Official American Whiskey Partner; sponsor of Michter's Art of Hospitality Award

Nikka Whisky - Official Whisky of the World Partner; sponsor of Nikka Highest Climber Award

Ketel One - Official Vodka Partner; sponsor of Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award

Three Cents - Official Mixers Partner; sponsor of Three Cents Best New Opening Award

Siete Misterios - Official Mezcal Partner; sponsor of Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award

NOAM - Official Beer Partner

Disaronno - Official Italian Liqueur Partner; sponsor of Disaronno Highest New Entry Award

Roku Gin - Official Gin Partner; sponsor of Roku Industry Icon Award

Langjiu - Official Baijiu Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in Africa

Altos Tequila - Official Tequila Partner; sponsor of Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award

Monkey Shoulder - Official Scotch Whisky Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in Europe

Cointreau - Official Orange Liqueur Partner; sponsor of the ceremonial scarves

Remy Martin - Official Cognac Partner; sponsor of Remy Martin Legend of the List Award

Campari - Official Bitters Partner; sponsor of Campari One To Watch Award

Torres Brandy - Official Brandy Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in South America

St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur - Official French Liqueur Partner

Tia Maria - Official Coffee Liqueur Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in Australasia

Almave - Official Non Alcoholic Partner

Polot 1882 - Official Syrup Partner

Les Vergers Boiron - Official Fruit Puree Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in the Middle East

Mancino Vermouth - Official Vermouth Partner; sponsor of the ceremonial shakers

Amaro Lucano - Official Amaro Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in North America and the ceremonial shakers

Scrappy's Bitters - Official Cocktail Bitters Partner

Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong - Official Venue and Hotel Partner

The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong - Official Venue and Hotel Partner

Grand Hyatt Hong Kong - Official F&B Catering Partner

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NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 2025 / Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

In August, Aflac launched the Check for Cancer movement to turn the familiar checkered pattern into a powerful reminder to get checked for cancer. To help drive that point on their home turf and in the local community, Aflac hosted kids from Columbus High School, in Columbus, Georgia, to help color the headquarters walkway in a checkered pattern, serving as a bold reminder for employees to schedule their annual screenings.

An estimated 1 in 3 Americans are at risk of being diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.1 That's a staggering number, but if caught early, the chances of survival can exceed more than 90% in some cancers.2 It's why getting checked early and educating people about the benefits of being proactive are so important. And, when cancer is caught early, treatment is often less intensive and less costly - a benefit for individuals, employers and the broader health care system.

With a mission to increase screenings by 10% over 10 years, Aflac's Check for Cancer campaign also reflects the company's long-standing commitment to supporting policyholders before, during and beyond a diagnosis by helping shift the focus from reaction to prevention. As a pioneer in cancer insurance, Aflac helps millions of Americans with financial burdens that are often experienced when a loved one is diagnosed with cancer.

Check for Cancer is a movement, not a moment, and the momentum continues with you. Awareness leads to action, and action begins with us. Here are a couple of ways you can take action and help keep the conversation going:

Get checked . Keep an eye out for the checkered patterns - the reminders are everywhere - and let them serve as a prompt for you to schedule your routine health screenings and encourage loved ones to do the same.

Use your voice. Got a cute checkered top or love a good game of chess? Post photos of checkered patters on social media using CheckForCancer and tag @Aflac. For every mention, Aflac will donate $5 to support childhood cancer care and research, up to $1 million.

To learn more, visit Aflac.com/CheckForCancer.

1 American Cancer Society. "Cancer Information and Resources." https://www.cancer.org. Accessed August 15, 2025.

2 American Cancer Society. "Cancer Facts and Figures 2025." https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2025/2025-cancer-facts-and-figures-acs.pdf. Accessed Aug. 15, 2025.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation for insurance.

Aflac | Aflac New York | WWHQ 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999

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Exp 10/26

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Aflac Incorporated on 3blmedia.com.

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View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/banking-and-financial-services/color-us-checkered-aflac-headquarters-dons-checkered-pattern-to-remi-1084376
DZ Bank AG - Pre-Stabilisation Notice

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, October 08

Pre-Stabilisation DZ BANK Tier 2

DZ BANK AG Frankfurt am Main - Pre Stabilisation

RNS Number: residue number system

Frankfurt am Main, 08 October 2025

Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful.

Pre-Stabilisation Notice

DZ BANK AG

Deutsche Zentral-Genossenschaftsbank, Frankfurt am Main (DZBK)

DZ BANK AG (contact: Ralph Ockert; telephone: +49 69 7447 7051) hereby announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014).

The security to be stabilised: Issuer: DZ BANK AG, DZ BANK T2 10NC5 2030/2035 Aggregate nominal amount: EUR 300.000.000 Description: fixed rate, due 15 October 2035 / ISIN XS3204041266 Offer price: 100% Other offer terms: Subordinated Notes Stabilisation: DZ BANK AG Stabilisation Coordinator:

Stabilising Managers:



DZ BANK AG

Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE

Stabilisation period expected to start on: 08 October 2025 Stabilisation period expected to end on: no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility. The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: Luxembourg Stock Exchange (Regulated Market)

In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilisation Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilisation Manager(s) will take any stabilisation action and any stabilisation action, if begun, may be ended at any time. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules .

This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction.

In addition, if and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of the securities to which it relates is made in, any EEA Member State that has implemented Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended (together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State, the "Prospectus Directive") before the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive (or which has been approved by a competent authority in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive), this announcement and the offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in that Member State who are qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive (or who are other persons to whom the offer may lawfully be addressed) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in that Member State.
The growth of the Mindfulness Meditation Apps Market is primarily driven by rising global awareness of mental health and wellness, coupled with increasing smartphone penetration and internet accessibility. Busy lifestyles and heightened stress levels have prompted users to adopt digital meditation solutions for relaxation and focus.

LEWES, Del., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mindfulness Meditation Apps Market was valued at USD 1.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 3.2 billion by 2033, reflecting a CAGR of 14.5% between 2026 and 2033. This significant growth is driven by increasing consumer demand for mental wellness solutions, the proliferation of smartphones and wearable devices, and the expansion of app-based meditation offerings across diverse demographics and regions worldwide.

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202 - Pages

126 - Tables

37 - Figures

Scope Of The Report

REPORT ATTRIBUTES DETAILS STUDY PERIOD 2020-2031 BASE YEAR 2024 FORECAST PERIOD 2026-2033 HISTORICAL PERIOD 2020-2024 UNIT Value (USD Billion) KEY COMPANIES PROFILED Calm, Headspace, Insight Timer, 10% Happier, Simple Habit, Breethe, Aura, Smiling Mind, and Meditopia SEGMENTS COVERED By Type, By Application And By Geography CUSTOMIZATION SCOPE Free report customization (equivalent to up to 4 analyst working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope

Feed Antioxidants Market Overview

1. Market Growth and Size

The Mindfulness Meditation Apps Market has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, reaching an estimated USD 1.2 billion in 2024. This growth is propelled by rising consumer awareness of mental health, increasing stress levels, and a growing inclination toward self-care practices. Analysts project the market to expand to USD 3.2 billion by 2033, registering a CAGR of 14.5% between 2026 and 2033. The market's size reflects widespread adoption across various demographics, including working professionals, students, and older adults. Mobile penetration and internet accessibility play a pivotal role, enabling users to access meditation content conveniently. Moreover, the demand for personalized and interactive features, such as AI-driven guided meditation and mindfulness tracking, is intensifying, supporting market expansion. Regional adoption trends in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific are also contributing significantly to the overall market size and growth potential.

2. Increasing Focus on Mental Health

Rising awareness about mental health is one of the key drivers of the Mindfulness Meditation Apps Market. As stress, anxiety, and depression rates surge globally, individuals are seeking accessible and cost-effective tools for mental well-being. Mindfulness meditation apps provide guided practices, breathing exercises, and stress-management techniques, allowing users to integrate mental health practices into daily routines. Employers and educational institutions are also encouraging meditation to boost productivity, concentration, and emotional balance. The ability to track progress, receive reminders, and customize meditation plans enhances user engagement and satisfaction. Additionally, health organizations and mental wellness campaigns are increasingly promoting app usage as a preventive measure, helping the market reach diverse audiences. The focus on mental health is not only supporting user growth but also fostering innovation in app features, content variety, and subscription models, further consolidating the market's prominence.

3. Technological Advancement

Technological innovation is significantly shaping the Mindfulness Meditation Apps Market. Modern apps leverage artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics to provide personalized meditation experiences. AI-driven recommendations adapt sessions based on mood, stress levels, and user preferences, improving efficacy and engagement. Integration with wearable devices and smartphones allows real-time tracking of heart rate, sleep patterns, and mindfulness metrics. Additionally, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) features are being introduced in some premium apps to create immersive meditation environments. Cloud-based platforms facilitate seamless content updates and cross-device synchronization, enhancing accessibility. Continuous innovation ensures that apps remain relevant and competitive, attracting new users while retaining existing ones. As technology continues to evolve, the market is expected to witness enhanced functionalities, smarter personalization, and increased adoption, reinforcing its upward growth trajectory.

4. Mobile and Internet Penetration

The widespread penetration of smartphones and high-speed internet has been a major catalyst for the Mindfulness Meditation Apps Market. Users can conveniently access meditation sessions anytime, anywhere, eliminating barriers related to time, location, and cost. Mobile app stores have simplified discovery and download processes, making meditation accessible to global audiences. Affordable data plans and improved network coverage in emerging markets are further fueling adoption. Social sharing features and community-based platforms encourage engagement and retention. Additionally, push notifications and reminders keep users motivated and consistent in their meditation practices. The combination of mobility, affordability, and convenience has expanded the market's reach across different age groups and geographies, making digital meditation solutions an integral part of daily wellness routines for millions of users worldwide.

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5. Rising Corporate Wellness Programs

Corporate wellness initiatives are increasingly contributing to the growth of the Mindfulness Meditation Apps Market. Organizations recognize that employee stress and burnout negatively impact productivity, engagement, and retention. Many companies now provide access to meditation apps as part of wellness benefits, promoting mental health and work-life balance. These programs often include structured meditation schedules, mindfulness challenges, and progress tracking to encourage consistent usage. Some platforms also offer analytics to HR departments to assess overall employee well-being and optimize wellness strategies. The rising focus on holistic health in workplaces not only enhances app adoption among employees but also stimulates market growth by encouraging partnerships between corporate entities and app developers, leading to customized solutions and expanded subscription revenues.

6. Regional Market Insights

Geographically, North America dominates the Mindfulness Meditation Apps Market due to high awareness of mental health, advanced digital infrastructure, and widespread smartphone usage. Europe follows, with increasing adoption driven by wellness trends and government-backed mental health initiatives. Asia-Pacific is emerging as a rapidly growing market, supported by expanding internet access, rising disposable incomes, and a growing youth population seeking stress-relief solutions. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are gradually adopting mindfulness apps, with increased awareness campaigns and localization of content in regional languages. Regional differences influence user behavior, pricing strategies, and app features, prompting developers to tailor offerings to cultural preferences, time zones, and linguistic requirements, thereby enhancing global market penetration.

7. Competitive Landscape

The Mindfulness Meditation Apps Market is highly competitive, with a mix of established global players and innovative startups. Leading companies are investing in R&D, content expansion, and strategic partnerships to gain a competitive edge. Key strategies include freemium models, subscription plans, personalized experiences, and multi-platform availability. Companies focus on differentiating their offerings through unique features such as AI-guided sessions, offline access, immersive AR/VR experiences, and integration with fitness trackers. The competitive landscape also drives continuous innovation, encouraging smaller players to introduce niche solutions targeting specific demographics or wellness needs. Intense competition benefits end-users by improving app quality, increasing content diversity, and enhancing accessibility.

8. Future Outlook and Opportunities

The future of the Mindfulness Meditation Apps Market is promising, with ample opportunities for growth and innovation. Increasing awareness of mental health, coupled with advancements in AI, AR/VR, and wearable technology, is expected to drive higher adoption rates. Developers are exploring multilingual content, culturally relevant meditation practices, and integration with healthcare platforms to attract a broader audience. Expansion into emerging markets, corporate partnerships, and collaboration with wellness influencers offer additional growth avenues. Subscription models and premium features are likely to generate higher revenues, while gamification and community-based platforms can boost engagement. Overall, the market is poised for robust growth, creating opportunities for stakeholders across technology, wellness, and healthcare sectors.

Geographic Dominance:

North America currently leads the Mindfulness Meditation Apps Market, driven by high awareness of mental health, a tech-savvy population, and widespread smartphone and internet penetration. The United States, in particular, represents the largest share due to proactive wellness initiatives, corporate adoption of meditation apps, and a strong culture of self-care. Europe follows closely, with countries such as the UK, Germany, and France witnessing increased adoption fueled by government-backed mental health campaigns and rising consumer interest in stress-relief solutions. The Asia-Pacific region is emerging as the fastest-growing market, supported by expanding internet access, increasing disposable incomes, and a large youth demographic seeking digital wellness tools. Japan, China, and India are key contributors, where cultural acceptance of mindfulness practices accelerates app adoption. Latin America and the Middle East & Africa are gradually gaining traction, with growing awareness and localized content driving user engagement. Overall, regional variations significantly shape market strategies and growth potential.

Feed Antioxidants Market Key Players Shaping the Future

The Mindfulness Meditation Apps Market is shaped by several prominent players driving innovation and adoption. Leading companies include Calm, Headspace, Insight Timer, 10% Happier, and Simple Habit, which are recognized for their comprehensive guided meditation content, personalized experiences, and user-friendly interfaces. Other significant players such as Breethe, Aura, Smiling Mind, and Meditopia contribute to market growth by offering unique features like AI-based recommendations, sleep-focused programs, and corporate wellness solutions. These companies continuously invest in research and development, strategic partnerships, and content expansion to enhance user engagement and retention. Their competitive strategies, global reach, and technological advancements are instrumental in shaping the market's evolution, making them key influencers in the rapidly growing mindfulness meditation app industry.

Feed Antioxidants Market Segment Analysis

The Feed Antioxidants Market is segmented based on By Type, By Application, and Geography, providing a comprehensive framework for industry analysis:

1. By Type

Guided Meditation Apps: Apps offering structured sessions led by experts, including voice guidance, music, and visual aids. Popular among beginners and users seeking step-by-step mindfulness practices.

Apps offering structured sessions led by experts, including voice guidance, music, and visual aids. Popular among beginners and users seeking step-by-step mindfulness practices. Unguided Meditation Apps: Apps allowing users to meditate independently, often featuring timers, ambient sounds, or minimalistic interfaces for self-directed sessions.

Apps allowing users to meditate independently, often featuring timers, ambient sounds, or minimalistic interfaces for self-directed sessions. Hybrid Apps: Platforms combining guided and unguided features, personalized recommendations, and AI-driven content tailored to user preferences and stress levels.

2. By Application

Personal Use: Apps for daily mindfulness, stress reduction, sleep improvement, focus enhancement, and general mental wellness. Widely adopted across all age groups.

Apps for daily mindfulness, stress reduction, sleep improvement, focus enhancement, and general mental wellness. Widely adopted across all age groups. Corporate Wellness Programs: Apps integrated into employee wellness initiatives to reduce stress, improve productivity, and enhance work-life balance.

Apps integrated into employee wellness initiatives to reduce stress, improve productivity, and enhance work-life balance. Healthcare & Therapy Integration: Apps used by mental health professionals as supportive tools for therapy, anxiety management, or cognitive behavioral programs.

3. By Geography

North America: Dominated by the United States and Canada due to high awareness, tech adoption, and corporate wellness initiatives.

Dominated by the United States and Canada due to high awareness, tech adoption, and corporate wellness initiatives. Europe: Key markets include the UK, Germany, and France, supported by mental health campaigns and growing consumer demand for wellness apps.

Key markets include the UK, Germany, and France, supported by mental health campaigns and growing consumer demand for wellness apps. Asia-Pacific: Rapidly growing adoption in China, India, Japan, and Australia, fueled by smartphone penetration, cultural acceptance of mindfulness, and increasing disposable income.

Rapidly growing adoption in China, India, Japan, and Australia, fueled by smartphone penetration, cultural acceptance of mindfulness, and increasing disposable income. Latin America: Emerging markets with increasing interest in digital wellness solutions and localized content.

Emerging markets with increasing interest in digital wellness solutions and localized content. Middle East & Africa: Gradual adoption driven by rising mental health awareness and technological infrastructure improvements.

Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals

The Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals sector is increasingly leveraging mindfulness meditation apps to enhance patient care and support mental well-being. Hospitals, clinics, and mental health professionals are integrating these digital solutions into therapeutic programs to help manage stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. Apps provide evidence-based guided meditations, breathing exercises, and mindfulness tracking, enabling patients to practice mindfulness consistently outside clinical settings. Pharmaceutical companies are also exploring collaborations with app developers to support patient adherence to wellness routines and complement treatment plans for chronic conditions affected by stress. Additionally, these apps facilitate data collection on user behavior, mood patterns, and wellness outcomes, offering valuable insights for healthcare providers and researchers. The sector's adoption of digital mindfulness solutions underscores a shift toward preventive care, personalized wellness strategies, and holistic health management, positioning mindfulness meditation apps as a critical tool in modern healthcare and pharmaceutical offerings.

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Regulatory News:

At its meeting today chaired by Pierre Pasquier, Sopra Steria's Board of Directors duly noted Cyril Malarge's decision to pursue a new opportunity and to step down as Chief Executive Officer.

The Board of Directors thanked Cyril Malarge for his contribution to the Group's development over the past several years.

The process of appointing a new Chief Executive Officer has been launched in accordance with the procedure updated each year by the Nomination, Governance, Ethics Corporate Responsibility Committee. The transition will be overseen by a small team organised around the Group's Chief Operating Officer.

The Board of Directors and its Chairman expressed their full confidence in the quality and experience of Sopra Steria's management team who is fully committed to the ongoing implementation of the Group's strategy.

Sopra Steria will report its quarterly revenue, as planned, on 29 October 2025 before market open. The Group's full-year targets for 2025, as set out in the press release dated 25 July 2025, remain unchanged.

About Sopra Steria

Sopra Steria, a major Tech player in Europe with 50,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, is recognised for its consulting, digital services and solutions. It helps its clients drive their digital transformation and obtain tangible and sustainable benefits. The Group provides end-to-end solutions to make large companies and organisations more competitive by combining in-depth knowledge of a wide range of business sectors and innovative technologies with a collaborative approach. Sopra Steria places people at the heart of everything it does and is committed to putting digital to work for its clients in order to build a positive future for all. In 2024, the Group generated revenues of 5.8 billion.

The world is how we shape it

Sopra Steria (SOP) is listed on Euronext Paris (Compartment A) ISIN: FR0000050809 For more information, visit us at www.soprasteria.com

Copyright 2025 Sopra Steria. All rights reserved. Sopra Steria and its logo are registered trademarks of Sopra Steria.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008782177/en/

Contacts:

Investor Relations

Olivier Psaume

olivier.psaume@soprasteria.com

+33 (0)1 40 67 68 16

Press Relations

Caroline Simon (Image 7)

caroline.simon@image7.fr

+33 (0)1 53 70 74 65
Burnaby, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - NatBridge Resources Ltd. (CSE: NATB) (OTCID: NATBF) (FSE: GI80) ("NatBridge" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases dated August 11, 2025 and September 24, 2025, it has agreed to a second extension of its binding Letter of Intent ("LOI") with Teras Resources Inc. ("Teras Resources"), an arm's length Alberta corporation, for the acquisition of certain subsurface mineral rights with respect to the Cahuilla Gold Project (or the "Project") located in Imperial County, California.

Under the terms of the Amendment, the date by which NatBridge and Teras Resources will seek to enter into a definitive agreement for the purchase of the Cahuilla Gold Project subsurface rights has been extended to October 14, 2025. All other terms of the LOI, originally executed on August 7, 2025, remain unchanged and in full force and effect. There are currently no proposed changes to the transaction terms, and both parties continue to work toward finalizing and executing the definitive agreement.

For more information on the Project or the proposed transaction with Teras Resources, see the Company's news releases dated August 11, 2025 and September 24, 2025, each filed under its profile on SEDAR+.

About NatBridge Resources Ltd.

NatBridge Resources Ltd. (CSE: NATB) (OTCID: NATBF) (FSE: GI80) is a publicly traded Canadian company, also listed in the United States and Germany, leading the gold resource supply side of NatGold Digital Ltd.'s ("NatGold Digital") revolutionary, patent-pending digital gold tokenization ecosystem. This innovative approach redefines how gold's value can be captured through tokenization, eliminating extraction and its environmental, social, and financial costs through a blockchain-powered, eco-friendly digital mining process. NatBridge's strategy is focused on the supply side of the NatGold ecosystem. By acquiring gold resources that meet the qualification criteria of NatGold Digital, in accordance with NatGold Digital's strict token certification standards, NatBridge is establishing itself as a key player in this industry - operating at the intersection of three major global investment trends: gold, sustainable investing, and the tokenization of real-world assets.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269663

SOURCE: NatBridge Resources Ltd.
EQS-News: APIX Senegal S.A. / Key word(s): Conference

Forum Invest in Senegal 2025 (Fii Senegal 2025): President Bassirou Diomaye Faye calls for investment in a transforming Senegal



08.10.2025 / 19:07 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Forum Invest in Senegal 2025 (Fii Senegal 2025): President Bassirou Diomaye Faye calls for investment in a transforming Senegal

DAKAR, Senegal, October 8, 2025/APO Group/ -- "Senegal offers a growing market within the framework of the Continental Free Trade Area, supported by a legal environment undergoing modernization and reform. We are ready to welcome you and facilitate your establishment and success. Come seize opportunities in high-potential strategic sectors and forge fruitful, mutually beneficial partnerships," stated His Excellency President Bassirou Diomaye Faye at the opening of Forum Invest in Senegal 2025 (Fii Senegal 2025) ( https://FiiSenegal.sn/ ).

With these words, the Head of State set the tone for a forward-looking forum, symbolizing a Senegal firmly committed to the path of economic transformation, stability, and trust. The President reiterated the four pillars of Vision Senegal 2050-economic diversification, regional development, strengthened governance, and investment in human capital-as the guiding framework for the country's long-term development.

Following this, Bakary Sega Bathily, Director General of APIX, welcomed this direction, stating: "Fii Senegal 2025 is not just another forum. It is the face of a Senegal proudly asserting its ambition to become a hub of stability, trust, and shared prosperity-open to Africa and to the world."

Over the course of two days, the forum-centered around the theme "Connecting Opportunities, Building the Future"-welcomes policymakers, investors, and global leaders in Dakar for high-level dialogue focused on value creation, local transformation, and sustainable financing.

The first day was highlighted by a Presidential Panel bringing together African and international leaders, along with thematic sessions on energy, strategic resources, health, agriculture, and Senegal's industrial hubs.

Closing the inaugural session, the Director General of APIX reaffirmed the momentum of trust: "As Fii Senegal 2025 unfolds, it is set to reaffirm Senegal's role as a central player in Africa's economic transformation and a trusted destination for global investors. The time to invest is now. The place to transform is here. The way to succeed is together."

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APIX Senegal S.A.

Media Contact:

Johnson Mbengue

Phone Number: +221 77 529 82 33

Email : jmbengue@apix.sn

Download Image (1): https://apo-opa.co/4397s22 (His Excellency President Bassirou Diomaye Faye)

Download Image (2): https://apo-opa.co/437tjXG (Fii Senegal 2025 Opening Ceremony)

Download image (3): https://apo-opa.co/3IXZyBX (Fii Senegal 2025 Panel Discussion)

Download image (4): https://apo-opa.co/4mUIydS (Bakary Sega Bathily, Managing Director of APIX)

08.10.2025 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


Chicago, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - Digital Silk, an award-winning agency focused on creating brand strategies, custom websites, and digital marketing campaigns, has released insights on the future of semantic SEO, where AI-driven search algorithms are reshaping how businesses optimize digital content.

Search Beyond Keywords: AI-Powered Semantic SEO Expands - Explained by Digital Silk

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10732/269484_1abfefff14a7d9e6_001full.jpg

Semantic SEO emphasizes intent and context over individual keywords. According to Search Engine Journal, AI-powered search is enabling engines to better understand natural language, improving how content is matched to queries.

Core Elements of Semantic SEO

Intent-Based Targeting : Focusing on user goals rather than single keywords

: Focusing on user goals rather than single keywords Contextual Optimization : Structuring content around related topics and entities

: Structuring content around related topics and entities AI-Enhanced Search : Leveraging machine learning to understand user context

: Leveraging machine learning to understand user context Content Clusters: Building authority through comprehensive topic coverage

Market Context

According to Ahrefs, approximately 68% of online experiences begin with a search engine, highlighting the continuing importance of SEO in digital marketing success.

Leadership Perspective

"Semantic SEO marks a major shift in how businesses approach online visibility," said Gabriel Shaoolian, CEO of Digital Silk. "Our insights explain how AI-powered search engines are aligning content with user intent more effectively than ever before."

About Digital Silk

Digital Silk is an award-winning Digital Marketing Agency focused on growing brands online. With a team of seasoned experts, Digital Silk creates digital experiences through strategic branding, custom web design, and digital marketing services to help improve visibility and support engagement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269484

SOURCE: Digital Silk
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - Colossus Resources Corp. (TSXV: CLUS) ("Colossus" or the "Company") announces it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement financing (the "Financing" "Private Placement") on October 7, 2025. The Private Placement consisted of 1,800,000 units (the "Units") of securities at a price of CDN$0.05 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of CDN$90,000 for general working capital. Each Unit is comprised of one (1) common share and one-half (1/2) common share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant entitling the holder to purchase one additional common share at a price of CDN$0.10 for a period of two (2) years from closing of the Financing. The expiry date of the warrants may be accelerated if the Company's common shares trade at or above $0.20 for 20 consecutive trading days following the expiry of the four month hold period.

The Company also announces it has closed its previously announced shares for debt settlement (the "Shares for Debt Transaction" "Debt Settlements"). The Debt Settlements consisted of the issuance of an aggregate of 4,087,650 common shares of Colossus at a deemed price of CDN$0.05 per share to settle an aggregate amount of CDN$204,382.50.

All securities issued pursuant to the Financing and Debt Settlements will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day following the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable securities laws and TSXV policies.

Insiders and non-arm's length parties of the Company received an aggregate of 2,606,000 common shares in settlement of an aggregate of CDN$130,300 of the Share for Debt Transaction, and purchased an aggregate of 200,000 Units (CDN$10,000) of the Private Placement.

The Debt Settlements and Private Placement with insiders and other non-arm's length parties each constituted a "related party transaction" within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Shareholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The issuance of the shares to the related parties was exempt from the valuation requirement of MI 61-101 under the exemption in section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 in that the Company's shares are not listed on a specified market, and from the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 under the exemption in section 5.7(a) of MI 61-101 in that the fair market value of the consideration for the securities issued to each of the related parties did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report at least 21 days in advance of the closing of these transactions as the participation of the related parties in the transactions had not been confirmed at that time.

The Company also announces the resignation of Geoff Hampson as a director. The Company would like to thank him for his service.

About Colossus Resources Corp.

Colossus Resources is a relatively young junior mineral exploration company focused on maximizing shareholder value through the acquisition, discovery and advancement of high-quality copper - gold projects.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Charalambos (Harry) Katevatis"

President & CEO

Colossus Resources Corp.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may contain forward- looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, information concerning the Company's intentions with respect to the development of its mineral properties. Forward-looking information is based on the views, opinions, intentions and estimates of management at the date the information is made, and is based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected in the forward-looking information (including the actions of other parties who have agreed to do certain things and the approval of certain regulatory bodies). Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws, or to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Company, its financial or operating results or its securities. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. WIRE SERVICES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269672

SOURCE: Colossus Resources Corp.
LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 2025 / Emily Windsor has been named Property and Housing Junior of the Year at the Legal 500 Bar Awards 2025, recognising her achievements in the field of property litigation.

The Legal 500 Bar Awards celebrate excellence across England and Wales, honouring barristers, chambers, and clerking teams in each practice area. Winners are selected through extensive research and feedback from more than 300,000 clients, peers, and instructing solicitors, as well as in-depth analysis by a team of over 25 researchers. The judge panel is led by Legal 500 Global Bar Editor Will Tolcher and Deputy Bar Editor Charlotte Meredith.

The award ceremony, held in London, brought together leading practitioners from across the Bar. Windsor's recognition in the Property and Housing category highlights her track record in delivering strong results for clients in complex commercial and agricultural property disputes.

"I'm delighted to have received this award," said Windsor. "And very grateful for all the support from my colleagues at Falcon Chambers and the instructing solicitors I work with."

Emily Windsor's practice encompasses all aspects of property litigation. She appears regularly in the High Court, County Courts, and specialist tribunals.

The Legal 500 Guide 2025 commends Windsor for her "encyclopaedic knowledge of property law" and her "razor-sharp advocacy delivered with precision".

The full winners' list is here.

About Falcon Chambers

Falcon Chambers is a leading set of barristers' chambers specialising exclusively in property law. With 14 King's Counsel and 33 junior barristers, Falcon Chambers advises and represents clients in all areas of property litigation, including commercial property, residential landlord and tenant, agricultural law, real property disputes, and telecommunications. The chambers is consistently ranked as a top-tier set by both Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500. Website: www.falcon-chambers.com

About Emily Windsor

Emily Windsor is a barrister at Falcon Chambers specialising in property litigation and arbitration, with particular expertise in commercial property disputes and agricultural holdings. She holds an MA in Jurisprudence from Worcester College, Oxford, and was called to the Bar in 1996.

Contact Information

Molly Bridge

Molly@vero-media.com

SOURCE: Falcon Chambers

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/real-estate/emily-windsor-named-property-and-housing-junior-of-the-year-at-the-legal-500-bar-awards-1084497
CARY, NC / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 2025 / The National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), North America's leading advocate for entrepreneurship education and programming for community and technical colleges, has named Michael Baston, J.D., Ed.D., of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) as the 2025 recipient of its Entrepreneurial President of the Year award.

Under President Michael Baston's leadership, the college has developed 24 new employer-aligned programs since 2022 in high-growth sectors such as advanced manufacturing, clean energy, health care, and AI. Through its partnerships with local businesses and public agencies, Tri-C has established itself as one of the region's major talent pipelines and a hub for 21st-century workforce development.

"Tri-C is Ohio's oldest and largest community college serving 40,000 students annually. President Baston has cultivated pathways that bridge education and employment," said Rebecca Corbin, president and CEO of NACCE. "With 94 percent of credit students and 98 percent of non-credit students either entering the workforce, continuing their education, or pursuing advanced credentials, Tri-C has demonstrated a powerful return on its entrepreneurial mission and investment."

"I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from NACCE. This award is a testament to the talent and tenacity of the students, faculty, staff, and community partners of Cuyahoga Community College. Together, we are building pathways that transform potential into prosperity and ensure that our region is prepared for the future of work. Entrepreneurship in higher education is about more than creating businesses - it's about creating opportunities," said President Baston, a member of the NACCE Board of Directors.

About Michael Baston

Before joining Tri-C, Baston served as president of Rockland Community College in New York where he pioneered the college's pivot to remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also served as vice president for Student Affairs and associate provost at LaGuardia Community College. He earned his B.S. from Iona University, his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School, and his Ed.D. in Executive Leadership from St. John Fisher University.

About NACCE

NACCE is an organization of educators, administrators, presidents, and entrepreneurs focused on igniting entrepreneurship in their communities and campuses. NACCE has two goals: to empower college leaders to approach the business of running a community college with an entrepreneurial mindset; and to grow the community college's role in supporting job creation and entrepreneurs in local ecosystems. In 2023, NACCE acquired the SkillPointe technology platform, a free career exploration tool providing information and support for in-demand skilled trades jobs and business startups. Visit: www.nacce.com .

About Tri-C

Tri-C opened in 1963 as Ohio's first community college and offers the lowest tuition in the state. The college has provided high-quality, affordable education and programs to more than 1.2 million community members, fueling economic growth and meeting workforce needs throughout Northeast Ohio. Tri-C is among the top institutions in the nation in conferring associate degrees. Visit: tri-c.edu .

SOURCE: National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/education/national-association-for-community-college-entrepreneurship-nacce-names-michael-a.-baston-1084656
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - Perseverance Metals Inc. ("Perseverance" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its common shares have been approved for listing on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). The common shares are expected to commence trading under the ticker symbol "PMI" as of market open on October 14, 2025.

The Company has also received a receipt for its final long form prospectus (the "Final Prospectus"), which was filed with the securities commissions in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. The Final Prospectus qualifies the distribution of the common shares, warrants and finder warrants issuable upon the conversion of the subscription receipts issued under the Company's non-brokered private placement which closed on September 5, 2025 (the "Subscription Receipt Offering"). In connection with the Subscription Receipt Offering, the Company issued:

a) 3,167,323 subscription receipts (the "HD Subscription Receipts") at a price of $0.60 per HD Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of $1,900,394;

b) 1,148,110 flow-through subscription receipts (the "FT Subscription Receipts") at a price of $0.65 per FT Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of $746,271; and

c) 586,666 flow-through subscription receipts (the "CFT Subscription Receipts") as part of a charity arrangement at a price of $0.92 per CFT Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of $539,733.

The aggregate gross proceeds of the Subscription Receipt Offering, being $3,186,398, have been held in escrow pending the Company's satisfaction of certain escrow release conditions, including the receipt for its Final Prospectus and TSXV approval for listing. The net proceeds from the Subscription Receipt Offering will be released to the Company upon the conversion of the subscription receipts. The net proceeds from the sale of the HD Subscription Receipts will be directed towards advancing the Company's Lac Gayot, Voyageur and Armit Lake Projects, fees related to the Company's TSXV listing, and for administrative and general corporate purposes. The gross proceeds from the sale of the FT Subscription Receipts and CFT Subscription Receipts will be used to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that will qualify as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures" as such terms are defined in the Act (the "Qualifying Expenditures") on the Lac Gayot Project in Quebec, and/or the Armit Lake Project in Ontario. All Qualifying Expenditures will be renounced in favour of the subscribers effective December 31, 2025.

The conversion of the subscription receipts will be completed on October 10, 2025, resulting in the issuance, for no additional consideration, of an aggregate of 4,902,099 common shares and 2,451,027 warrants. Each warrant shall entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional common share (a "Warrant Share") at an exercise price of $0.90 per Warrant Share until October 10, 2028, subject to acceleration or adjustment in certain events. Upon conversion of the subscription receipts, all funds which were held in escrow in connection with the Subscription Receipt Offering will be released to the Company.

The Company will also issue 28,245 finder's warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") and pay commissions of $17,980 to certain finders in connection with the Subscription Receipt Offering. Each Finder's Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase an additional common share at a price of $0.60 for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance, subject to acceleration or adjustment in certain events.

Upon completion of the conversion of the subscription receipts and the issuance of certain shares pursuant to the Lac Gayot Agreement, as further described in the Final Prospectus, the Company will have 28,730,275 common shares issued and outstanding. For further details on the Subscription Receipt Offering, please see the Company's news release dated September 24, 2025.

The securities offered pursuant to the Subscription Receipt Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States, or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

About Perseverance Metals

Perseverance Metals' critical minerals project portfolio is strategically positioned in key North American Ni-Cu-Co-PGE and hard rock lithium regions, including Quebec's prolific James Bay district and Michigan's Mid-Continent Rift.

Our strict science-driven approach and extensive track record of discovery, coupled with an industry-leading team armed with next-generation exploration tools, provide us with a distinct competitive advantage. This offers a unique opportunity for investors to be part of multiple discoveries, the advancement of significant critical mineral deposits, and the development of a portfolio poised for strategic industry consolidation, all vital for the clean energy transition and the creation of new mining districts.

Perseverance's exploration assets include:

i) the Lac Gayot high-grade Ni-Cu-Co-PGE and lithium pegmatite project, which covers the entirety of the Venus Greenstone Belt in Quebec, featuring multiple, very high grade Ni-Cu-Co-PGE showings and numerous large spodumene-bearing pegmatites with consistent high lithium grades in channel sampling;



ii) the Voyageur Ni-Cu-Co-PGE project which covers 680km2 of the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, 65 kilometres west of the only producing nickel mine in the United States, and;



iii) the Armit Lake Ni-Cu-Co project, which is the consolidated and underexplored western half of the nickel- and gold-rich Savant Lake Greenstone Belt in Ontario.

Additional information about Perseverance Metals can be found at perseverancemetals.com.

On Behalf of the Board,

Michael J. Tucker

CEO and Director

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. "Forward-looking information" includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including expectations regarding the timing of listing on the TSXV, the conversion of the subscription receipts, issuance of Finder's Warrants, payment of the finder's fees, use of proceeds from the Subscription Receipt Offering, and the Company's ability to incur and/or renounce the Qualifying Expenditures within the timeframes anticipated by management or at all.

Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative connation thereof.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the Company will be able to use the proceeds from the sale of the Subscription Receipts as anticipated by management, that the Company will be able to incur and renounce the Qualifying Expenditures within the timeframes anticipated by management, that the listing of the Shares on the TSXV will be completed in the timeframe and on the terms as anticipated by management, and that the deemed conversion of the subscription receipts, issuance of the Finder's Warrants and payment of the finders' commission will occur on the timeline expected by management.

Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's plans or expectations include risks that the Company is not able to use the proceeds from the sale of the subscription receipts as anticipated by management, risks that the Company will not be able to incur and renounce the Qualifying Expenditures within the timeframes anticipated by management or at all, risks that the listing of the common shares on the TSXV is not completed in the timeframe as anticipated by management or at all.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269685

SOURCE: Perseverance Metals Inc.
SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) and the Korean Neurological Association (KNA) will host the XXVII World Congress of Neurology (WCN) in Seoul, South Korea, from Oct. 12-15, 2025. WCN is a major, biennial conference that brings together world-class neurologists, experts, researchers, and clinicians from across the globe to showcase the latest advances in brain science, neurology, and patient care.

The congress theme, "The Soul of Neurological Innovation," is exemplified through an elite Scientific Program featuring some of the most vital research and most influential voices in the field.

"The world is paying attention to brain health and the field of Neurology is positioned to make groundbreaking changes in the way we diagnose, treat, and care for brain disorders around the world," said Prof. Wolfgang Grisold, President, World Federation of Neurology. "Through this Congress, we have a unique opportunity to shift the global trajectory of brain health through education, research, and collaboration, which is the core of the mission of the World Federation of Neurology."

WCN 2025 will feature a diverse schedule of workshops, teaching courses, debate sessions, informal talks with WFN leadership, and plenary lectures delivered by leading neurology experts, discussing the latest developments in their fields.

Additional highlights include:

"WHO: Neurology Brain Health and Mental Health," Dr. Tarun Dua, Unit Head, Neurological, Sensory and Oral Conditions, Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Department at the World Health Organization (WHO), Switzerland

Dr. Tarun Dua, Unit Head, Neurological, Sensory and Oral Conditions, Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Department at the World Health Organization (WHO), Switzerland "When Stroke Strikes," Prof. Charlotte Cordonnier, Professor of Neurology in the Lille University Hospital, France

Prof. Charlotte Cordonnier, Professor of Neurology in the Lille University Hospital, France "Neurodegenerative Disease and Therapies," Prof. Sir John Hardy, Chair of Molecular Biology of Neurological Disease at the UCL Institute of Neurology, London

Prof. Sir John Hardy, Chair of Molecular Biology of Neurological Disease at the UCL Institute of Neurology, London "What do we know and What Would We Like to Know about Cellular Senescence in the Brain," Dr. Mikolaj Ogrodnik, PhD, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Traumatology, Austria

Dr. Mikolaj Ogrodnik, PhD, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Traumatology, Austria "New Therapies in Autoimmune Neurology: Focus on Car-T Cell Therapies," Dr. Sean Pittock, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Dr. Sean Pittock, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN "New Therapies in Inherited Neuropathies," Prof. Mary Reilly, MB, MD, FRCP, FRCPI, FMedSci, Professor of Clinical Neurology and Consultant Neurologist, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London

Prof. Mary Reilly, MB, MD, FRCP, FRCPI, FMedSci, Professor of Clinical Neurology and Consultant Neurologist, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London "Patient Issues: The Fujitsu Project on Migraine," Fumihiko Sakai, M.D., Director of Saitama International Headache Center, Saitama Neuropsychiatric Institute, Japan

Fumihiko Sakai, M.D., Director of Saitama International Headache Center, Saitama Neuropsychiatric Institute, Japan "Movement Disorders in Africa: Progress by Education," Prof. Njideka Okubadejo, Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, University of Lagos, Nigeria

Throughout the Congress, WFN will host a series of interactive conversations about Brain Health, with participation from WHO, and featuring the worldwide advocacy activities of WFN, from Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders (IGAP) to World Brain Day.

"WCN is committed to fostering a global perspective in the field of neurology, recognizing that diverse health systems and neurological challenges around the world require collaborative efforts to advance better brain health for all," said Professor Beomseok Jeon, President, XXVII World Congress of Neurology.

Those interested in attending the conference can register to attend in-person or virtually here . Additional news releases will be distributed throughout the week. For media queries, please contact ashley @yakketyyak.com .

About the World Federation of Neurology

With support from its 125 Member Societies, the World Federation of Neurology fosters quality neurology and brain health worldwide by promoting neurological education and training, emphasizing under-resourced areas of the world. As a non-state actor in official relations, WFN supports the World Health Organization (WHO) efforts to give everyone an equal chance to live a healthy life. With Member Societies around the globe, WFN unites the world's neurologists to ensure quality neurology and advocate for people to have better brain health. Learn more about the World Federation of Neurology at wfneurology.org .

About the Korean Neurological Association

The Korean Neurological Association (KNA), founded in 1981, is the official academic society representing neurologists in Korea. Since its first annual meeting in 1982, which had 206 participants, the KNA has experienced substantial growth, boasting 2,607 members by 2025, comprising board-certified neurologists and residents in training. The KNA plays a central role in the education and training of neurology. The KNA established the Korean Board of Neurology in 1983 and has since managed the certification of all neurologists in Korea.

Media Contact

Ashley Logan, Yakkety Yak

ashley@yakketyyak.com

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - Tenet Fintech Group Inc. (CSE: PKK) (OTC Pink: PKKFF) ("Tenet" or the "Company"), an innovative analytics service provider, owner and operator of the Cubeler Business Development Platform, announced that it has filed an application on October 7, 2025, to revoke the failure to file cease trade order (the "FFCTO") issued on the Company's securities by the Ontario Securities Commission (the "OSC") on May 7, 2025. The Company's application is currently being processed, and no timetable was given for the completion of the process. The Company plans to issue a news release once the FFCTO has been revoked after which the Company intends to apply for reinstatement of trading of its securities on the Canadian Securities Exchange.

About Tenet Fintech Group Inc.:

Tenet Fintech Group Inc. is the parent company of a group of innovative financial technology (Fintech) and artificial intelligence (AI) companies. All references to Tenet in this news release, unless explicitly specified, include Tenet and all its subsidiaries. Tenet's subsidiaries offer various analytics and AI-based products and services to businesses, capital markets professionals, government agencies and financial institutions either through or leveraging data gathered by the Cubeler Business Development Platform, a global platform where analytics and AI are used to create opportunities and facilitate B2B transactions among its members. Please visit our website at: https://www.tenetfintech.com/.

Follow Tenet Fintech Group Inc. on social media:

X: @Tenet_Fintech

Facebook: @Tenet

LinkedIn: Tenet

YouTube: Tenet Fintech

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269699

SOURCE: Tenet Fintech Group Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - SBD Capital Corp. (CSE: SBD) (the "Company") announces that, further to its press release of October 1, 2025, it has settled an aggregate of $20,762.14 of indebtedness to a non-arm's length creditor of the Company through the issuance of 92,276 common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Common Shares") at a price of $0.225 per Common Share (the "Debt Settlement"). All securities issued in connection with the Debt Settlement will be subject to a hold period of four months plus a day from the date of issuance and the resale rules of applicable securities legislation.

The Debt Settlement is constituted "related party transactions" as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"), as an insider of the Company received an aggregate of 92,276 Common Shares. The Company is relying on the exemptions from the valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 contained in sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the Company is not listed on a specified market and the fair market value of the participation in the Offering by insiders does not exceed 25% of the market capitalization of the Company in accordance with MI 61-101.

Prior to the completion of the Debt Settlement, Irwin Lowy LLP ("ILL") held an aggregate of 551,768 Common Shares, representing approximately 23.59% of the then issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted basis and on a partially diluted basis. Upon completion of the Acquisition, ILL held an aggregate of 664,044 Common Shares, representing approximately 26.49% of the then issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted basis and on a partially diluted basis. Depending on market and other conditions, or as future circumstances may dictate, ILL may from time to time increase or decrease its holdings of Common Shares or other securities of the Company. A copy of the early warning report will be available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. For a description of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and its business and affairs, readers should refer to the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269682

SOURCE: SBD Capital Corp.
Stewart, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - Dinero Ventures Ltd. (TSXV: DNO) (the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement financing consisting of:

1,250,000 flow-through units (the "FT Units") at a price of $0.10 per FT Unit for gross proceeds of $125,000; and

500,000 non-flow-through units (the "NFT Units") at a price of $0.10 per NFT Unit for gross proceeds of $50,000.

Each FT Unit will consist of one common share of the Company to be issued as a "flow-through share" and one common share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each NFT Unit will consist of one common share and one Warrant. Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one additional common share of the Company at a price of $0.10 per share for a period of three (3) years from the date of issuance.

The proceeds from the sale of the FT Units will be used to incur eligible Canadian Exploration Expenses ("CEE") that will qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" under the Income Tax Act (Canada). The proceeds from the sale of the NFT Units will be used for general working capital and corporate purposes.

All securities issued in connection with the financing will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance. The private placement remains subject to all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

"Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release." "This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements."

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269683

SOURCE: Dinero Ventures Ltd.
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - E-Power Resources Inc. (CSE: EPR) ("E-Power" or the "Company") reports that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, originally scheduled for October 7, 2025, was convened but adjourned due to the absence of a quorum. The meeting has been adjourned until November 6, 2025 at 2:00 pm (Eastern Time) and will be held by teleconference or via the following TEAMS link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NDA5ZjYzOGEtM2FmMy00NzY4LThiNGYtNzVlOWZhYWFjMGU0%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%2241671ccb-7db7-4cde-b54e-d777886cb714%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22fa73e394-936d-4cbf-a9f0-059ebb2070e3%22%7d.

During the period of the adjournment, the Company will continue to solicit votes from its shareholders with respect to the proposals set forth in E-Power's Management Proxy Circular, dated September 2, 2025. All Shareholders who have not yet voted their Shares are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Shareholders of record as of the close of business on September 2, 2025 are eligible to vote at the adjourned meeting.

All proxies previously submitted by shareholders will continue to be valid at the adjourned meeting. Accordingly, Shareholders who have submitted a proxy will not be required to submit any additional material.

The Notice and Management Proxy Circular for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the Form of Proxy, and a form to request financial statements made available to Shareholders and filed under the Company's SEDAR+ profile is also available on the Company's website.

About E-Power

E-Power Resources Inc. is a Quebec Corporation based in Montreal and focused on battery minerals exploration in Quebec. The Company is currently advancing two projects; the Tetepisca property, located in the North Shore region of the Province and the Turgeon property located in the Abitibi region adjacent to the Ontario border. The Company's priority target is flake graphite on the Tetepsica Property. The Turgeon property is located in the prolific Abitibi gold and base metal mining district and the Company is evaluating Turgeon primarily for its copper-zinc and gold potential.

For more information about E-Power Resources Inc., please visit the Company website at: https://e-powerresources.com/.

Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements". Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269713

SOURCE: E-Power Resources
The hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis market is experiencing significant growth driven by increasing disease awareness, advancements in gene-silencing therapies, and the rising prevalence of the condition globally. The market is further fueled by emerging therapies such as Nexiguran ziclumeran (Intellia Therapeutics), ALXN2220 (Neurimmune/Alexion Pharmaceuticals), Coramitug (Novo Nordisk), and others.

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- DelveInsight's Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Insights report includes a comprehensive understanding of current treatment practices, hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis emerging drugs, market share of individual therapies, and current and forecasted market size from 2020 to 2034, segmented into leading markets (the US, EU4, UK, and Japan).

Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Summary

The market size for hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis in the leading markets is expected to grow significantly by 2034.

The United States accounted for the highest hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis treatment market size in 7MM in 2024, in comparison to the other major markets, i.e., EU4 countries, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

The US accounted for nearly 65% of the total diagnosed prevalent cases of hATTR in the 7MM in 2024, which is expected to increase further by 2034.

of the total diagnosed prevalent cases of hATTR in the 7MM in 2024, which is expected to increase further by 2034. Leading hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis companies developing emerging therapies, such as Intellia Therapeutics, Neurimmune, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, and others, are developing new therapy for hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis that can be available in the hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis market in the coming years.

and others, are developing new therapy for hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis that can be available in the hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis market in the coming years. The promising hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis therapies in clinical trials include Nexiguran Ziclumeran, ALXN2220 (formerly NI006), Coramitug, and others.

Discover the hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis new treatment @ New Treatments for Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis

Key Factors Driving the Growth of the Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market

Advancements in Genetic Testing and Early Diagnosis

Improved genetic testing techniques have enhanced the ability to diagnose hATTR at earlier stages. This advancement enables timely interventions, resulting in improved patient outcomes and increased demand for specialized treatments.

Emergence of CRISPR-Cas9-based Therapy

CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing is a revolutionary genome-editing technology that enables precise and targeted changes to DNA within living cells. Intellia Therapeutics' Nexiguran Ziclumeran is an investigational, in vivo CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing therapy designed to treat hereditary transthyretin-mediated (hATTR) amyloidosis by directly targeting the root cause of the disease. It uses a guide RNA to direct the Cas9 enzyme to the TTR gene in liver cells, where Cas9 introduces a double-stranded break in the DNA.

Expected Launch of Emerging hATTR Therapies

Several potential therapies are currently under investigation for the treatment of hATTR. The expected introduction of promising candidates such as Nexiguran, Ziclumeran, ALXN2220, Coramitug, and others between 2025 and 2034 is likely to drive a notable transformation in the hATTR market landscape.

Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Analysis

Treatment approaches for hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis have become increasingly diverse, targeting multiple stages of the disease. Gene-silencing agents, such as eplontersen (WAINUA), patisiran (ONPATTRO), and inotersen (TEGSEDI), act by suppressing TTR mRNA in the liver, thereby reducing the production of both mutant and normal transthyretin proteins and slowing disease progression through lowered circulating TTR levels. TTR stabilizers, including tafamidis (VYNDAQEL/VYNDAMAX), bind to the protein to prevent its misfolding into amyloid fibrils, delaying organ damage, most notably in the heart.

Although no therapies are currently approved to degrade amyloid fibrils already deposited in tissues, this remains an area of active research, with some agents offering potential indirect benefits. Liver transplantation, once the standard option for removing the primary source of mutant TTR, is now rarely used given the availability of effective drug therapies. A significant innovation is gene editing, highlighted by Nexiguran Ziclumeran, an in vivo CRISPR-Cas9-based therapy that irreversibly disrupts the TTR gene in liver cells, potentially serving as a one-time curative treatment. In addition to these disease-modifying strategies, supportive care and symptom management remain vital, addressing complications such as peripheral neuropathy, autonomic dysfunction, and cardiomyopathy, which drive much of the disease burden and impact quality of life.

To know more about hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis treatment options, visit @ Approved Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Drugs

Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Competitive Landscape

Several potential therapies are being investigated for the management of hATTR. The anticipated launch of promising candidates like Nexiguran ziclumeran (Intellia Therapeutics), ALXN2220 (Neurimmune/Alexion Pharmaceuticals), Coramitug (Novo Nordisk), and others during the forecast period (2025-2034) is expected to bring about a significant shift in the market dynamics of hATTR.

Intellia Therapeutics' Nexiguran ziclumeran (nex-z), also known as NTLA-2001, is an investigational in vivo CRISPR gene-editing therapy being developed by Intellia Therapeutics as a potential one-time treatment for transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis. The therapy is engineered to silence the TTR gene, responsible for producing the transthyretin (TTR) protein. Development and commercialization are being led by Intellia in partnership with Regeneron, with the program currently advancing through Phase III clinical trials.

Neurimmune/Alexion Pharmaceuticals' ALXN2220 (formerly NI006) is a human monoclonal antibody that selectively binds with high affinity to the pathogenic amyloid form of transthyretin, without affecting its normal physiological state. It is designed to target both wild-type ATTR and mutant forms associated with hereditary ATTR cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) and ATTR polyneuropathy.

The anticipated launch of these emerging therapies are poised to transform the hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis market landscape in the coming years. As these cutting-edge therapies continue to mature and gain regulatory approval, they are expected to reshape the hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis market landscape, offering new standards of care and unlocking opportunities for medical innovation and economic growth.

Discover more about therapy for hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis @ Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Clinical Trials

Recent Developments in the Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market

In August 2025, Prothena Corporation announced that Novo Nordisk communicated during their second-quarter 2025 results that they expect to advance coramitug, a potential first-in-class amyloid depleter antibody, into a Phase III program for ATTR amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) in 2025.

announced that Novo Nordisk communicated during their second-quarter 2025 results that they expect to advance coramitug, a potential first-in-class amyloid depleter antibody, into a Phase III program for ATTR amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) in 2025. In June 2025, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals announced that the European Commission (EC) had approved an additional indication for AMVUTTRA (vutrisiran), an orphan RNAi therapeutic, for the treatment of wild-type or hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis in adult patients with cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM).

announced that the European Commission (EC) had approved an additional indication for AMVUTTRA (vutrisiran), an orphan RNAi therapeutic, for the treatment of wild-type or hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis in adult patients with cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). In May 2025, Intellia Therapeutics announced positive two-year follow-up data from the ongoing Phase I trial of investigational nexiguran ziclumeran (nex-z) for the treatment of hereditary ATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN).

What is Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis?

Hereditary transthyretin-mediated (hATTR) amyloidosis is a rare genetic disorder that worsens over time, resulting from mutations in the transthyretin (TTR) gene. These mutations cause abnormal folding of the transthyretin protein, which then deposits as amyloid fibrils in different organs and tissues. The buildup most often impacts the peripheral nerves, heart, and, in some cases, the gastrointestinal system. Symptoms can vary but typically include progressive peripheral neuropathy (numbness, tingling, pain), autonomic dysfunction (such as dizziness and digestive problems), and cardiomyopathy (leading to fatigue, shortness of breath, and heart failure). Without treatment, hATTR amyloidosis causes severe organ damage and can be life-threatening.

Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Epidemiology Segmentation

The hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis epidemiology section provides insights into the historical and current hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis patient pool and forecasted trends for the leading markets. Around 45% of hATTR cases in the US were specific to familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). Hereditary ATTR affects males and females, with no significant gender prevalence; however, a parent-of-origin effect in carriers is hypothesized, as maternal inheritance of the mutation appears to be associated with a higher risk of disease. In contrast, families with late-onset disease exhibit a male predominance.

The hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis market report proffers epidemiological analysis for the study period 2020-2034 in the leading markets, segmented into:

Total Prevalent Cases of hATTR

Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of hATTR

Type-specific Cases of hATTR

Stage-specific cases of hATTR Distribution of FAC patients by NYHA Criteria

New York Heart Association (NYHA) Classification of Familial Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (FAC)

Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Report Metrics Details Study Period 2020-2034 Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Report Coverage 7MM [The United States, the EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) the United Kingdom, and Japan]. Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Epidemiology Segmentation Total Prevalent Cases of hATTR, Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of hATTR, Type-specific Cases of hATTR, Stage-specific cases of hATTR Distribution of FAC patients by NYHA Criteria, and New York Heart Association (NYHA) Classification of Familial Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (FAC) Key Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Companies Intellia Therapeutics, Neurimmune, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Novo Nordisk, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, and others Key Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Therapies Nexiguran Ziclumeran, ALXN2220 (formerly NI006), Coramitug, AMVUTTRA, WAINUA, ONPATTRO, TEGSEDI, and others

Scope of the Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Report

Therapeutic Assessment: Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis current marketed and emerging therapies

Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis current marketed and emerging therapies Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Dynamics: Key Market Forecast Assumptions of Emerging Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Drugs and Market Outlook

Key Market Forecast Assumptions of Emerging Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Drugs and Market Outlook Competitive Intelligence Analysis: SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies

SWOT analysis and Market entry strategies Unmet Needs, KOL's views, Analyst's views, Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Access and Reimbursement

Download the report to understand which factors are driving hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis therapeutics market trends @ Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Trends

Table of Contents

1 Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Key Insights 2 Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Report Introduction 3 Executive Summary 4 Key Events 4.1 Key Transactions and Collaborations 5 Epidemiology and Market Forecast Methodology of hATTR 6 hATTR Market Overview at a Glance 6.1 Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Landscape Analysis (By Phase, RoA, and Molecule type) 6.2 Emerging Landscape Analysis (By Phase, RoA, and Molecule type) 6.3 Market Share (%) Distribution of hATTR by Therapies in 2024 6.4 Market Share (%) Distribution of hATTR by Therapies in 2034 7 Disease Background and Overview 7.1 Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Introduction 7.2 Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Signs and Symptoms 7.3 Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Types 7.4 Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Classification 7.5 Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Causes 7.6 Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Stages 7.7 Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Diagnosis 8 Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Treatment 9 Epidemiology and Patient Population of hATTR 9.1 Key Findings 9.2 Assumptions and Rationale 9.3 Total Prevalent Cases of hATTR in the US 9.4 The United States 9.4.1 Total Prevalent Cases of Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis (hATTR) 9.4.2 Total Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis (hATTR) 9.4.3 Type-specific Cases of Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis (hATTR) 9.4.4 Stage-specific Cases of Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis (hATTR) 9.4.5 New York Heart Association (NYHA) Classification of Familial Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (FAC) 9.5 EU4 and the UK 9.6 Japan 10 Patient Journey of hATTR 11 Marketed Therapies of hATTR 11.1 Key Competitors 11.2 AMVUTTRA (vutrisiran): Alnylam Pharmaceuticals 11.2.1 Product Description 11.2.2 Regulatory Milestone 11.2.3 Other Development Activities 11.2.4 Summary of Pivotal Trials 11.2.5 Clinical Trials Information 11.2.6 Analyst Views 11.3 WAINUA (eplontersen): AstraZeneca/Ionis Pharmaceuticals List to be continued in the report 12 Emerging Therapy of hATTR 12.1 Key Competitors 12.2 Nexiguran Ziclumeran: Intellia Therapeutics 12.2.1 Product Description 12.2.2 Other Development Activities 12.2.3 Clinical Development 12.2.3.1 Clinical Trials Information 12.2.4 Safety and Efficacy 12.2.5 Analyst Views List to be continued in the report 13 hATTR Market: Seven Major Market Analysis 13.1 Key Findings 13.2 Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Outlook 13.3 Key Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Forecast Assumptions 13.4 Conjoint Analysis 13.5 Launch Year and Therapy Uptakes 13.6 Total Market Size of hATTR in the 7MM 13.7 Market Size of hATTR by Therapies in the 7MM 13.8 The United States Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Size 13.8.1 Total Market Size of hATTR in the United States 13.8.2 Market Size of hATTR by Therapies in the United States 13.9 EU4 and the UK Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Size 13.10 Japan Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Size 14 Unmet Needs of hATTR 15 SWOT Analysis of hATTR 16 KOL Views of hATTR 17 Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Access and Reimbursement 18 Bibliography 19 Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis Market Report Methodology

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VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 2025 / SKY GOLD CORP. ("Sky" or the "Company") (TSXV:SKYG)(OTC PINK:SRKZF) announces a non-brokered private placement of up to 20 million units ("Units") at a price of $0.05 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to one million dollars (the "Offering"). Each Unit will be comprised of one common share ("Share") and one transferable Share purchase warrant of the Company ("Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the Subscriber to purchase one Warrant Share for a 36-month period after the Closing Date at an exercise price of $0.08 per share. Proceeds of the private placement will be used towards geophysics and drilling at the Tower Gold and High Life targets, both located in the Company's Evening Star property in Nevada as well as general and administrative purposes. Finder's fees will be paid pursuant to this financing. The private placement is subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.

Tower Gold is a one-kilometer gold vein trend hosted in granitic rocks. High Life is a buried copper-gold porphyry target that has multiple lines of evidence, including geological, geochemical and geophysical data that vector to a potentially significant system. These targets have never been drilled before. Tower Gold is drill ready with drilling expected to commence in the coming weeks.

The geophysical programs will be a property wide, drone-supported, magnetic survey and a deep Induced Polarization (IP) to cover the High Life target area.

Qualified person

Sky Gold Corp.'s disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Danae Voormeij, P.Geo., who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Mike England

CEO, PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT

Tel: 1-604-683-3995

Toll Free: 1-888-945-4770

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding the matters described herein. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations, or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance, or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including with respect to the completion of the Consolidation or the identification or acquisition of additional mineral assets. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including factors beyond the Company's control. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release.

SOURCE: Sky Gold Corp.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/sky-gold-announces-private-placement-in-preparation-for-drilling-on-the-tower-gol-1084833
Brentwood, Tennessee--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - The Law Office of Daniel Martin, a Tennessee-based firm dedicated to Social Security Disability and Veterans Disability cases, is proud to announce the opening of its new office in Brentwood, Tennessee. Located at 8115 Isabella Lane, Suite 6, this new location expands the firm's presence beyond Clarksville, where it has served clients since 2017.

Founded by VA-accredited attorney Daniel Martin, the firm was built on the belief that every case matters. With deep family roots in Tennessee and decades of combined experience in disability law, the team is committed to providing personal, client-focused representation. Unlike large national firms, clients meet directly with Daniel Martin from the start, ensuring hands-on guidance throughout the legal process.

"Our mission has always been to give clients the personal attention they deserve," said Daniel Martin, founder of the firm. "The Brentwood office allows us to bring that same level of care and dedication to more individuals and families in Middle Tennessee who are facing the challenges of Social Security and Veterans Disability claims."

The Brentwood office will serve as a convenient location for residents across the Nashville metropolitan area, while the Clarksville office continues to serve Montgomery County and surrounding communities. With a team that includes seasoned legal professionals such as Chief Paralegal Jamie Tue, J.D. graduate Meghan Martin, and Of Counsel Peter Martin-who has more than 40 years of Social Security law experience-the firm has recovered millions in backpay for clients over the years.

Beyond legal advocacy, the Law Office of Daniel Martin is deeply invested in the local community. The firm actively participates in civic and veterans' initiatives, underscoring its commitment not only to legal results but also to the well-being of the people it serves. By opening the Brentwood location, the firm is making its services more accessible to a wider network of Tennesseans who need trusted guidance in navigating disability claims.

The Law Office of Daniel Martin provides complimentary consultations and works on a contingency basis, meaning clients pay no fees unless their case is won. With strong ties to both the legal and veteran communities, the firm remains dedicated to helping individuals secure the benefits they deserve.

Office Locations:

Clarksville: 1854 Memorial Dr, Clarksville, TN 37043 - (931) 494-8484

1854 Memorial Dr, Clarksville, TN 37043 - (931) 494-8484 Brentwood: 8115 Isabella Lane, Suite 6, Brentwood, TN 37027 - (615) 723-3566

For more information, visit: https://martindisabilitylaw.com/

Follow the firm on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and Instagram.

intake@MartinDisabilityLaw.com

Media Contact





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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269734

SOURCE: GetFeatured
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - Badger Capital Corp. (TSXV: YVR) ("Badger" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update in connection with its proposed transaction with Tiger Gold Corp. ("Tiger") that will constitute a Qualifying Transaction of Badger under Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies of the TSX Venture Exchange, as previously announced by Badger on September 2, 2025 (the "Proposed Transaction"). In connection with the Proposed Transaction, the Company is pleased to announce that Tiger and Badger have entered into an engagement letter with SCP Resource Finance LP ("SCP"), on behalf of itself and a syndicate of agents to be determined (together, the "Agents") pursuant to which Tiger has launched a "commercially reasonable efforts offering" of subscription receipts of Tiger ("Subscription Receipts") for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $15 million (the "Offering").

The Offering will consist of up to 30,000,000 Subscription Receipts at a price of $0.50 per Subscription Receipt. Tiger will also grant the Agents an option to purchase up to an additional 20% of the Subscription Receipts, exercisable in whole or in part, at any time up to two business days prior to the closing of the Offering, for additional gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000.

Upon satisfaction of applicable escrow release conditions, including without limitation, satisfaction of all necessary conditions precedent to complete the Proposed Transaction, each Subscription Receipt will be automatically exchanged for one common share of Tiger (a "Tiger Share") and one half of one common share purchase warrant (each whole common share purchase warrant, a "Tiger Warrant"). Each Tiger Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one Tiger Share at an exercise price of C$1.00 for a period of 3 years from the date of closing of the Proposed Transaction.

Tiger will pay the Agents a commission of 6% of the gross proceeds raised in the Offering (the "Agent's Fee") and will issue the Agents broker warrants ("Tiger Broker Warrants") equivalent to 6% of the total number of Subscription Receipts sold, with each Tiger Broker Warrant being exercisable at a price of $0.50 for a period of 2 years from the date of closing of the Proposed Transaction for one Tiger Share and one-half common share purchase warrant entitling the holder to acquire an additional Tiger Share at an exercise price of $1.00 for a period of 3 years from the date of closing of the Proposed Transaction.

As previously announced, prior to completion of the Proposed Transaction, Badger intends to complete a consolidation of its common shares on a 2:1 basis (such post-consolidation common shares are referred to as the "Badger Shares"). Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, each Tiger Share will be exchanged for one Badger Share and each Tiger Warrant will be exchanged for one common share purchase warrant of Badger.

At the closing of the Offering, the gross proceeds of the Offering, less 50% of the Agent's Fee and 50% of the Agent's expenses, will be placed into escrow pending satisfaction of the escrow release conditions. In the event the escrow release conditions are not satisfied within 180 days of the first closing of the Offering, or the Proposed Transaction is otherwise terminated, the escrowed funds together with accrued interest earned thereon will be returned to the holders of the Subscription Receipts and the Subscription Receipts will be cancelled. To the extent that the escrowed funds are insufficient to refund 100% of the purchase price of the Subscription Receipts to the holders thereof, Badger and Tiger shall be jointly and severally responsible for any shortfall.

Following release from escrow and completion of the Proposed Transaction, the net proceeds of the Offering will be used for exploration of Tiger's properties and general corporate and working capital purposes.

Completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Proposed Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Proposed Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.

The TSXV has in no way passed upon the merits of the Proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

In connection with the Proposed Transaction, Badger will issue a subsequent news release setting out further information as contemplated in Policy 2.4.

For further information, please see Badger's profile and documents available under the Badger's name on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration requirements is available.

About Tiger Gold Corp.

Tiger is a growth-oriented mining exploration and development company focused on advancing its flagship asset, the Quinchia Gold Project, a multi-million ounce gold deposit in the prolific Mid-Cacau belt in Colombia. Tiger is led by a multidisciplinary team of experienced mine builders, engineering, metallurgical, ESG, and corporate finance professionals who have brought numerous mines into production at globally recognized mining companies including AngloGold Ashanti, Barrick Gold Corporation, Yamana Gold Inc., and B2Gold Corp. Tiger is led by President and CEO, Robert Vallis, who brings a strong record of strategic leadership and execution in the mining sector, including his role in the US$9.5 billion acquisition and integration of Placer Dome by Barrick, as well as the US$3.9 billion joint acquisition of Osisko Mining by Yamana and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. The forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release only, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "projects", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Proposed Transaction, the anticipated use of proceeds from the Offering, statements about the Offering (including the completion of the Offering on the terms and timelines as anticipate), and other statements that are not historical facts.

In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including that the Company will complete the Proposed Transaction, that Tiger will complete the Offering on the terms anticipated, that Tiger will use the proceeds from the Offering as anticipated, that the Company will satisfy the escrow release conditions, that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events and that future metal prices and the demand and market outlook for metals will remain stable or improve. Forward-looking statements and information are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict, that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied thereby, and are developed based on assumptions about such risks, uncertainties and other factors set out herein, including, but not limited to, the risk that Tiger is not able to find suitable purchasers for the Offering, that the Company is not able to satisfy the escrow release conditions, that the Company is not able to satisfy the conditions precedent to the completion Proposed Transaction in a timely manner or at all as well as the general risk factors related to exploration and development.

There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial outlook that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. 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/269738

SOURCE: Badger Capital Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 8, 2025) - Magma Silver Corp. (TSXV: MGMA) (OTCQB: MAGMF) (FSE: BC21) (WKN: A411DV) (the "Company" or "Magma") is pleased to announce that, due to strong investor demand, it has upsized its previously announced non-brokered private placement from $4,000,000 to $5,000,000 in aggregate gross proceeds (the "Offering"). The Offering will consist of up to 33,333,334 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.15 per Unit (the "Offering Price").

Each Unit will be comprised of one common share of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant shall be exercisable to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.25 per Common Share for a period of 36 months following the closing of the Offering.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for exploration at the Ninobamba silver gold project in Peru, working capital and general corporate purposes.

The Offering is anticipated to close on or about October 22, 2025 ("Closing"), or such later date as the Company may determine. The Closing is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary regulatory and other approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange").

In connection with the Offering, the Company has appointed Research Capital Corporation ("RCC") as the exclusive finder and the Company will pay RCC a finder's fee in cash and issue RCC finder's warrants on any funds raised by investors introduced to the Company by RCC.

This press release is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities in the United States or in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to qualification or registration under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The securities being offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an applicable exemption from U.S. registration requirements and applicable U.S. state securities laws.

About Magma Silver Corp.

Magma Silver Corp. is a natural resources exploration company with a focus on acquiring, exploring, developing, and operating precious metal mining projects. Listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("MGMA"), OTCQB ("MAGMF"), and Frankfurt Exchange ("BC21"), the Company's primary focus is on exploring and developing the advanced Ninobamba silver-gold project in the mining-friendly country of Peru. Ninobamba spans an 8 km mineralized corridor in a prolific geological belt of a high-sulphidation epithermal system. Extensive exploration by Newmont Corporation, AngloGold Ashanti Limited, Bear Creek Mining Corporation and others, has demonstrated significant resource potential with over C$14.5 million invested to date. Magma Silver is advancing its Ninobamba project using modern geological modelling and a strategic development plan. The property has excellent infrastructure, strong relationships with local communities and a regional technical team with over 50 years of mining experience in Peru.

For more information, please visit our website at www.magmasilver.com.

Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release contains certain statements which constitute forward-looking statements or information under applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements relating to the expected size of the Offering, the anticipated timing of closing the Offering, the ability of Magma to satisfy all conditions to closing the Offering, and the expected use of proceeds from the Offering. Such forward-looking statements are subject to numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond Magma's control, which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include general economic and capital markets conditions, stock market volatility, the ability of Magma to obtain necessary consents for the Offering, including the approval of the Exchange, and the ability of Magma to complete the Offering on the terms expected or at all. Although Magma believes that the forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, they are based on factors and assumptions, based on currently available information, concerning future events, which may prove to be inaccurate. As such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, as no assurance can be provided as to future plans, operations, results, levels of activity or achievements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by applicable law, Magma does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269744

SOURCE: Magma Silver Corp.
Trump has already sent troops onto the streets of Los Angeles and Washington, DC and has ordered them to Memphis as well as Chicago and Portland, threatening to invoke emergency powers to forward such efforts if the courts get in the way

Texas Army National Guard troops are seen at the Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood, Illinois, after being deployed as part of the federal response to ongoing immigration enforcement operations, on October 7, 2025. AFP

Despite significant pushback from the local administration, Texas National Guard troops have made their way to Chicago, marking an escalation of US President Donald Trumps crackdown on the city.

Trump has already sent troops onto the streets of Los Angeles and Washington, DC and has ordered them to Memphis as well as Chicago and Portland, threatening to invoke emergency powers to forward such efforts if the courts get in the way.

A Pentagon official told AFP that 200 Texas National Guard troops arrived in Chicago on Tuesday, a city that has already been experiencing immigration enforcement in recent weeks.

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The most recent deployment of troops follows a decision by US District Judge April Perry, who declined to issue an immediate order blocking their entry into the city, as a lawsuit filed by the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago against the Trump administrations actions remains pending.

The troops have been sent to Illinois under a mission to protect federal functions, personnel, and property, the Pentagon official said, adding that the guards have been initially deployed for a 60-day period.

Nobody is above the law

Earlier this week, Kwame Raoul, the Illinois attorney general, challenged the deployment of troops in a lawsuit, but Perrys judgment paved the way for the move anyway.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order prohibiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from operating on city-owned property, the third such order aimed at restricting ICEs authority in the city since Trump initially announced the deployment.

City property and unwilling private businesses will no longer serve as staging grounds for these raids. The fact is, we cannot allow them to rampage throughout our city with no checks or balances. Nobody is above the law  if Congress will not check this administration, then Chicago will, Johnson said.

With inputs from agencies
The new bill essentially means that public schools and community colleges will stay shut on Diwali from this year, while state employees will be allowed to take paid time off for the festival

California has officially recognised the Indian festival of Diwali as a state holiday after the states Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill that was welcomed by the Indian-American community and legislators.

The new bill essentially means that public schools and community colleges will stay shut on Diwali from this year, while state employees will be allowed to take paid time off for the festival.

Californias new Diwali law stems from bipartisan support and strong grassroots advocacy. Co-sponsored by Assemblymembers Darshana Patel and Ash Kalra, the bill received backing from groups like the Coalition of Hindus of North America. Under AB 268, schools and colleges have the option to close for Diwali, and state employees may choose to take paid time off to observe the holiday.

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Thank you so much @CAgovernor @GavinNewsom and to my Capitol and Judiciary Committee staff who worked tirelessly all year on these important policies that are now state law! More to come! Kalra wrote on X.

In the bill, Kalra stated, Designating Diwali as an official state holiday will uplift its message to the hundreds of thousands of Californians that celebrate and help introduce it to many throughout our diverse state. Diwali brings communities together with the message of goodwill, peace, and shared sense of renewal. California should embrace Diwali and its diversity, not keep it hidden in darkness.

With this, California has become the first state on the West Coast to recognise Diwali as a public holiday, following the likes of Pennsylvania and Connecticut, which have already taken similar steps. Meanwhile, New York City requires public schools to remain shut during the festival.

Gavins signing of the bill invoked celebration from the Hindu community, one of whom, called the Coalition of Hindus of North America, said, We thank @CAgovernor for recognizing this important festival and ushering in a new era of inclusion for Hindus in California. Huge shout out to Assembly Members Darshana Patel and @Ash_Kalra for sponsoring the bill."

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Governor Newsom has now signed #AB268 into law-meaning #Diwali is added to the list of state holidays! 



We thank @CAgovernor for recognizing this important festival and ushering in a new era of inclusion for Hindus in California. Huge shout out to Assembly Members Darshana pic.twitter.com/qPJfi1vjm7  CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) October 7, 2025
The European Union has proposed halving its tariff-free steel import quota, triggering strong backlash from the United Kingdom over fears of devastating impacts on its steel industry

The proposal aims to protect Europes steel industry by imposing trade barriers to prevent a flood of imports diverted by US tariffs. (Photo: AP)

The European Union on Tuesday proposed a sweeping overhaul of its steel import policy, cutting its tariff-free quota by nearly half and introducing a 50% tariff on imports exceeding the new 18.3 million-ton limit. The move, which doubles the current 25% rate, will affect major exporters such as China, India, Turkey and the United Kingdom. Neighbouring countries including Norway, Iceland and Ukraine would be exempt.

The proposal aims to strengthen Europes traditional steelmakers by curbing the influx of cheap imports diverted from markets hit by American tariffs earlier this year. Under the plan, steel importers must clearly declare where the products were melted and poured, while a complex quota system would govern entries into the EUs common market.

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The proposal replaces the existing steel safeguard policy, aligned with World Trade Organization rules, which is due to expire in June 2026. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, A strong, decarbonised steel sector is vital for the European Unions competitiveness, economic security and strategic autonomy. Global overcapacity is damaging our industry.

The European Parliament and the European Council will now review and vote on the proposal, which may also require consultations with the WTO to assess its implications for member countries. In 2024, the EU exported 77 billion euros ($89.7 billion) worth of steel and imported 73.1 billion euros ($85.2 billion), according to Eurostat. The European Steel Association estimates global steel overcapacity at around 602 million tonnes  nearly four times the EUs total annual consumption.

Judith Kirton-Darling, general secretary of IndustriAll Europe, emphasised the urgency of action, stating that the steel sector is at breaking point. Stephane Sejourne, the European Commissions executive vice president for industrial strategy, described the plan as the new safeguard clause on steel and the reindustrialisation of Europe.

UK fears existential threat to its steel sector

The announcement has alarmed Britain, where the trade body UK Steel warned that the proposed cut would spell disaster for the already struggling industry. More than three-quarters of British steel exports currently go to the EU.

This is perhaps the biggest crisis the UK steel industry has ever faced, said UK Steel Director-General Gareth Stace, urging the government to secure country-specific quotas through negotiations with Brussels. He cautioned that the EUs move could also flood the UK market with redirected steel from countries hit by tariffs, potentially crippling domestic producers.

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that discussions with the EU were under way. Ill be able to tell you more in due course but we are in discussions, as youd expect, he said.

Britains once-dominant steel industry now represents just 0.1% of the national economy. Thousands of jobs are at risk at the Port Talbot steelworks in Wales, where Tata Steel is restructuring operations to make the site leaner and greener.

The trade union Community described the EUs plan as an existential threat, with Assistant General Secretary Alasdair McDiarmid warning that a trade war would be incredibly damaging for everyone involved, with workers in the UK and Europe paying the heaviest price.

Steel remains a foundational European industry, employing about 300,000 people across 20 of the EUs 27 member states. The sector has lost roughly a quarter of its workforce over the past two decades. The EU itself originated from the 1951 European Steel and Coal Community, which united Luxembourg, Italy, France, the Netherlands, West Germany and Belgium.

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Although the United States and the EU maintain a tentative trade agreement, they are still working toward coordinated measures for key sectors like steel, wine and whisky. EU trade representative Maros Sefcovic said the new steel tariffs and quotas would be discussed at the upcoming Group of 20 trade ministers meeting in South Africa on Friday.

(With agency inputs)
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has arrived in Mumbai for a two-day visit to promote a recent trade deal with India, while ruling out changes to visa policies

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer stands with his business delegation before departing London Heathrow Airport as they head to India to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, October 7, 2025. (Photo: REUTERS)

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Mumbai early on Wednesday morning, for a two-day visit accompanied by a delegation of 125, including CEOs and representatives from British institutes, universities and industry groups. His trip is aimed at promoting the recently signed UK-India trade deal.

He arrived at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, where Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and Maharashtra Governor Acharya welcomed him. Ahead of the visit, Starmer emphasised there will be no relaxation of visa rules for India. The issue is not about visas, he said, adding the focus is on business to business engagement and investment and jobs and prosperity coming into the United Kingdom.

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Starmer is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, following the historic IndiaUK Free Trade Agreement signed earlier this year. The trade deal, signed in July after years of negotiation, will make UK cars and whisky cheaper to export to India, while reducing tariffs on Indian textiles and jewellery entering the UK. It also includes a three-year exemption on social security for Indian employees working in the UK on short-term visas. Ministers stressed there are no broader changes to immigration policy.

Focus on business, connectivity, and strategic relations

Speaking to reporters en route to Mumbai, Starmer reiterated that visa changes were not part of the trade deal and confirmed there were no plans to open new visa routes for Indian workers or students. While stressing the UKs desire to attract top talent globally, he said there were no visa adjustments planned for India.

The prime ministers delegation includes British Airways, which announced plans to add a third daily flight between Delhi and Heathrow from next year. Manchester Airport also unveiled a new direct route to Delhi.

On geopolitical matters, Starmer said the UKs focus is on tackling Russias shadow fleet of unregulated oil tankers, without directly criticising Prime Minister Modi over Indias purchase of Russian oil. He stated that the UK has been one of the lead countries addressing the issue.
In an interview with Firstpost, former Palestinian peace negotiator Yezid Sayigh said that the window for the two-state solution closed 24 years ago due to the failures of the Palestinian-Israeli leadership during the good years

Former Palestinian peace negotiator, Yezid Sayigh, said that the recognition of a Palestinian state by Western nations was too little, too late as he maintained that the window for a two-state solution closed over two decades ago when the West abdicated from its responsibilities towards Israel and Palestine.

Ahead of this year, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), countries like the UK, France, Canada, Portugal, etc, recognised the state of Palestine, raising concerns over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, Sayigh, Senior Fellow, Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Centre, told Firstpost that such endeavours should have been taken way before the Israel-Hamas war commenced.

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I think that recognition of the state of Palestine by these Western countries is too little, too late. Countries Italy and Germany, for instance, endorsed, officially, unequivocally, the Palestinian right to national self-determination, including in the form of a state without veto, as far back as 1999, and the US endorsed this at the United Nations Security Council as well in 2001. So, of course, this is too late, Sayigh told Firstpost.

Its also too little, so long as all we get is symbolic recognition that is not then followed up by further steps. And these steps, very simply, are firstly to move to the next stage, which is to work on admitting the state of Palestine that has been recognised by a majority of the worlds countries as a full member of the United Nations. Now, I think you and I both understand that the United States will veto such a move immediately.

Palestinians walk on a coastal path northwest of Nuseirat refugee camp as they are displaced southward following an Israeli announcement of closing Al-Rashid road towards the north of the besieged Gaza Strip on October 4, 2025.- AFP

But I think the next step nonetheless remains for these Western countries that recognised the state of Palestine, two of them, hold a veto power in the Security Council itself and are permanent members (France and the UK), they should be working now in collaboration with Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and others, to push the issue within the United Nations General Assembly to create a massive political campaign behind the admission of state of Palestine to the UN.

What should be the next step?

Sayigh emphasised that the Palestinian states inclusion in the United Nations empowers the region to call on the UN to fulfil its charter promise to protect a state that is under hostile or belligerent military occupation and subject to other kinds of attacks and restrictions. This is why, of course. However, he maintained that the  United States would not allow this, nonetheless.

The Palestinian historian emphasised how individual governments or groups of governments, such as the European Union, have several means at their disposal to take concrete means at their disposal to show Israel that they cannot have it both ways, i.e., unleashing settler violence and atrocities in the West Bank and Gaza, and still have massive access to the European markets.

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All of these measures have been mentioned, by the way, just in the past month or so by the European Commission Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen. So Im not sort of pursuing or proposing a radical agenda. This is something that a highly conservative political figure in the European Union has put on the table as something that the European Union is now forced to look at, Sayigh averred.

Palestinians gather as they carry aid supplies that entered Gaza through Israel, amid a hunger crisis, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip, July 20, 2025. File Image/Reuters

There clearly has to be a continued effort in these directions, because if the Europeans, among others, including lets say, the Government of India, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, all these important countries, if they just sit back and say, well, we now have a plan from US President Trump, it wont work. Lets all make it work. They have to exert maximum political pressure to make sure that the US president stays on focus, doesnt bend every time Netanyahu makes new demands.

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2-state solution window closed a long time back

When asked about the evolution of the conflict from the 1990s to the present, Sayigh explained that the conflict is at a very different place today than where it was in the 1990s. He recalled the six-year peace period following the signing of the Oslo Accords between the Palestine Liberation Organisation and the then-government of Israel. He noted that within that period, there was a possibility to deepen political understanding and reconciliation between the two sides.

There was, I think, a meaningful Israeli peace camp, and there was also, of course, definitely a Palestinian peace camp, which was represented in its own leadership. Both sides made various mistakes during that period. I think the Israelis made very serious mistakes by continuing with the colonisation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem basically every single day during those fairly promising years of the 1990s, he told Firstpost.

He recalled that by the end of six years, Palestinian social and economic conditions for a large part of the population were deteriorating due to Israels collective punishment and blockade on Trade, which prevented both Palestinian territories from growing.

He also mentioned that the 2000 Camp David Accords were brokered by then-US President Bill Clinton between Israeli Prime Minister Barak and PLO leader Yasser Arafat, disregarding the homework that was done before, a reform process in which even Sayigh was involved.

I think this prompted the breakdown of trust and the start of Palestinian violence in October 2000, to which the Israeli army had already decided from some years before to respond with extreme violence as well. And that combination of violent behaviour from both sides from October 2000 onwards, in my view, at that time, and I put this in writing at that time, closed the window for the two-state solution, Sayigh said.

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US President Bill Clinton watches as Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, left, and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat shake hands, marking the signing of the peace accord between Israel and the Palestinians, in Washington on Sept. 13, 1993. AP

So for me, in a way, what we have been living in the last two years is something that we saw coming, I saw coming 25 years ago, not in detail, but the two-state solution was already over as of the end of the year 2000. Why were here today in the cycle of violence, I think, goes back to both the failures of the Palestinian-Israeli leadership during the good years of the peace process until 2000.

How the West is also to blame

The Palestinian historian also maintained that the abdication of the Western governments from the conflict has also led to the cycle of violence persisting in the region. Todays violence also, I think, is the result very directly, frankly, of the abdication by the Western governments, in particular those of the European Union, and of the US administration to maintain a meaningful process to curb Israeli violations that were occurring already in the 1990s in terms of colonising territory, squeezing the economy, strangulating it, and so on, he said.

And finally, on this point, the European Union in 1999 unanimously endorsed Palestinian rights to self-determination in the form of a state not subject to conditions or veto of any power, and committed to adopt a new approach towards recognising statehood. That was 26 years ago.

Egyptian President Anwar Sadat (left) US President Jimmy Carter (centre) and Israeli PM Menachem Begin (right) sign the two agreements forged at the Camp David Summit. File image/AP

US President George W. Bush, in 2001, was the first leader to seek and sponsor a statement from the United Nations Security Council committing the United Nations to seeking Palestinian statehood. This was 24 years ago. Since then, neither the US nor the Europeans, including, in this case, of course, the United Kingdom, since it left the EU, did any heavy lifting to make sure that they were committed to their own declared goals, he added.

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The two-day visit, at the invitation of PM Modi, will see both leaders take stock of the progress made across all aspects of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in line with Vision 2035

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Narendra Modi walk on the ground at Chequers near Aylesbury, England, July 24, 2025. File Photo/Reuters

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer landed in Mumbai on Wednesday for his two-day visit to India, during which he is slated to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is Starmers first official visit to India as the British Prime Minister.

The two-day visit, at the invitation of PM Modi, will see both leaders take stock of the progress made across all aspects of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in line with Vision 2035, a 10-year roadmap agreed alongside the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in July to build on the key pillars of the partnership.

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#WATCH | UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer leaves the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai after landing in India earlier today.



He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai, and attend the CEO Forum and Global Fintech Fest 2025 pic.twitter.com/YRz74zCB0m  ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2025

The UK prime ministers visit to India comes at a pivotal moment in the evolution of our bilateral relationship, defined increasingly by partnership, shared prosperity, and mutual respect, said Richard Heald, who is part of the prime ministerial delegation.

The UK-India corridor stands as one of the most promising economic relationships globally, and we look forward to supporting its continued growth - grounded in innovation, opportunity, and mutual ambition, said Heald, Chair of the UK India Business Council (UKIBC).

Starmer is accompanied by a delegation of over 100 business leaders, university vice-chancellors and cultural chiefs, as the UK and India aim at boosting trade and investment, technology and education ties.

Whats on agenda?

Starmer will meet PM Modi on Thursday at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai, following which he will attend the CEO Forum and Global Fintech Fest 2025 events at the Jio World Centre.

During his meeting with PM Modi, Starmer will take stock of the progress made in UK-India ties reframed during Modis visit to the UK earlier this year, as being guided by Vision 2035.

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The visit coinciding with both navies undertaking their joint Exercise Konkan in the Arabian Sea is symbolic of the opportunity for the delivery of significant defence technological and industrial partnerships between Indian and UK companies, including on naval electric propulsion, said Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, Senior Fellow for South Asia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London.

He believes Starmers first official visit to India takes place at a strategically significant moment for both countries.

For India, stung by the eye-watering tariffs imposed by the Trump administration amidst concerns over the next Trump tweet, and with little appetite for a pivot towards Russia or China, it encourages diversification of its foreign and security partnerships towards the UK and the EU, said Roy-Chaudhury.

With inputs from agencies
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said that prolonged use of social media by children has affected their reading skills and messed up their concentration, adding that on screens they see things no child or young person should see

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has said that the country is exploring the possibility of banning social media for preteens, saying that smartphones and social networking apps are stealing our childrens childhood.

We have unleashed a monster. Never before have so many children and young people suffered from anxiety and depression, Frederiksen said at the opening of Folketing, the Danish parliament, as she announced the ban proposal.

She said that prolonged use of social media by children has affected their reading skills and messed up their concentration, adding that on screens they see things no child or young person should see.

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However, Frederiksen fell short of mentioning which social media apps will be affected by the ban, but said that it would cover several of them. She also said that parents will have the option to restrict social media to their children from the age of 13.

It follows the example of Australia, which is implementing a ban on social media platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube for users under 16, and Norway, where Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre has announced plans to raise the minimum age for social media use from 13 to 15.

In her speech, the prime minister highlighted statistics showing that 60 per cent of boys aged 11 to 19 spent their free time without seeing a single friend, and that 94 per cent of Danish seventh graders had a social media profile before the age of 13.

A growing number of countries are considering banning social media for minors. Earlier this year, French President Emmanuel Macron said that the country will ban social media for teens soon.

I am proposing banning social media for children under 15, Macron said on X. Platforms have the ability to verify age. Lets do it, he added.

Backed by France and Spain, Greece has spearheaded a proposal for how the EU should limit childrens use of online platforms as evidence shows that social media can have negative effects on childrens mental and physical health.

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The discussions on the Gaza ceasefire are being held in Sharm el-Sheikh, the Egyptian resort city on the Red Sea, as they entered a second day on the second anniversary of Hamass October 7 attack

US envoy Steve Witkoff (L) arrives to meet families of Israelis held hostage by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip since October 2023 as they demonstrate in Tel Aviv's 'Hostage' square on August 2, 2025. AFP file

A US delegation led by Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff is slated to join the indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Egypt on Wednesday, after both sides had a productive first round of talks.

The discussions on the Gaza ceasefire are being held in Sharm el-Sheikh, the Egyptian resort city on the Red Sea, as they entered a second day on the second anniversary of Hamass October 7 attack.

Last week, US President Donald Trump announced a 20-point Gaza peace plan, which was quickly accepted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but was met with some opposition by Hamas before they came to terms with it.

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Real chance to end war

Trump has voiced optimism that there was a real chance to end the war in Gaza, as Israel remembered victims of the October 7 attacks two years ago on Tuesday.

Theres a real chance that we could do something, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, adding that US negotiators were also involved in the talks.

I think theres a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East.

Trump said the United States would do everything possible to make sure everyone adheres to the deal if Hamas and Israel do agree on a ceasefire.

Hamas wants guarantees

Meanwhile, the Palestinian terror groups top negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, has said that Hamas is seeking guarantees from Trump and the sponsor countries that the war will end once and for all.

Senior Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum called the October 7 attack a historic response to Israels bid to eradicate the Palestinian cause.

He also said Hamas was working to surmount all obstacles to sealing a deal in Egypt.

Trumps plan calls for a ceasefire, the release of all the hostages, Hamass disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

The plan received positive responses from both Israel and Hamas and prompted the indirect talks that started in Egypt on Monday.

With inputs from agencies
October 7, 1971  The Day The French Connection Changed Cinema Forever

New York, October 7, 1971  On this day, audiences witnessed the premiere of what would become one of the most iconic police thrillers in the history of world cinema: The French Connection. Directed by William Friedkin and starring Gene Hackman, the film redefined not only the crime genre but also the aesthetic and rhythm of American filmmaking in the 1970s.

Ironically, Hackman  who would later win an Oscar for his unforgettable portrayal of detective "Popeye" Doyle  was the studios last choice for the role. At the time, few could have predicted that his tough, unpolished energy and understated realism would transform the archetype of the American movie cop.

The early 1970s were a turning point for Hollywood. Much like Frances New Wave two decades earlier, the United States experienced its own cinematic revolution  a rejection of old formulas and studio polish in favor of gritty realism and moral ambiguity.

Within a span of just a few years, three films reshaped their respective genres:

- The Godfather (1972)  redefined the gangster saga,

- Cabaret (1972)  reinvented the musical,

- The French Connection (1971)  turned the police thriller into a raw, kinetic experience.

Each began as a modest project with little expectation of success. Studio executives even questioned whether The Godfather should be released at all, complaining that half of it takes place in the dark. Yet these films became cultural landmarks, still unsurpassed half a century later.

Director William Friedkin initially envisioned a completely different leading man. Paul Newman was his first choice  a handsome, charismatic star whose image was the opposite of Hackmans. Steve McQueen was next in line, but he declined, not wanting to repeat his role from Bullitt (1968), another police action film famous for its chase sequence.

Friedkin ultimately settled on Hackman, though reluctantly. Hackmans everyman looks and simmering intensity were far from traditional Hollywood heroism. But his portrayal of Doyle  a flawed, obsessive cop driven by instinct and frustration  gave the film its soul.

In one of cinemas great ironies, the directors least desired actor delivered the most defining performance of his career, earning him the Academy Award for Best Actor.

The films legendary car chase through Brooklyn remains unmatched, even after more than fifty years. The raw, nerve-rattling realism of the sequence  shot without permits on active streets  became a blueprint for every action film that followed.

Though Friedkin may have been inspired by Bullitt, his version was grittier, faster, and infinitely more dangerous. Every screech of metal and every near-collision feels terrifyingly real, a reminder of a time when cinematic risk was literal.

The French Connection won five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor, and ushered in an era of American filmmaking where imperfection became authenticity.

Just two years later, Friedkin would astonish audiences again with The Exorcist (1973), another masterpiece that cemented his place among the greats.

But it was on October 7, 1971, that the revolution truly began  when a modestly budgeted police thriller, shot in the streets of New York, proved that cinema could be both art and adrenaline.
Google has released the Gemini 2.5 Computer Use model, a new specialized version built on Gemini 2.5 Pros visual understanding and reasoning capabilities.

Gemini 2.5 Computer Use model

The model enables AI agents to interact directly with graphical user interfaces (UIs)  performing actions such as clicking, typing, and form-filling  similar to human users. According to Google, it delivers lower latency and outperforms leading alternatives across multiple web and mobile control benchmarks.

Purpose

Google explains that while AI systems often interact with software through structured APIs, many digital workflows still rely on graphical interfaces. Tasks such as completing forms, selecting filters, or navigating menus require direct UI control.

The Gemini 2.5 Computer Use model addresses this by enabling agents to handle web and mobile applications directly, performing interface-level actions like scrolling, choosing dropdowns, and navigating login pages.

How it works

The models functionality is provided through the new computer_use tool in the Gemini API, which operates within a continuous loop. Each loop includes:

Input: The users request, a screenshot of the current environment, and a record of recent actions. Model processing: The model analyzes the inputs and produces a function call representing a UI action, such as clicking or typing. For sensitive operations, such as purchases, it may request explicit user confirmation. Execution and feedback: Once the action is executed, a new screenshot and the current URL are returned to the model to continue the loop.

This process repeats until the task completes, an error occurs, or the interaction is stopped by a safety mechanism or user decision.

The model is primarily optimized for web browsers and shows strong early results in mobile UI control, though desktop OS-level automation is not yet supported.

Performance

The Gemini 2.5 Computer Use model demonstrates strong results across several web and mobile control benchmarks. Google reports that it provides leading quality and efficiency for browser-based tasks, with the lowest latency recorded in Browserbases Online-Mind2Web benchmark evaluations.

Safety and controls

Google highlights the importance of safety when developing agents capable of computer control. Such systems pose specific risks, including possible misuse, unexpected model behavior, or malicious prompt injections.

To mitigate these, the Gemini 2.5 Computer Use model integrates built-in safety mechanisms described in the Gemini 2.5 Computer Use System Card and offers several developer safety features:

Per-step safety service: An external, inference-time service that reviews every model-generated action before execution.

System instructions: Allow developers to block or require confirmation for certain high-risk actions, such as bypassing CAPTCHAs, accessing secure systems, or interacting with medical devices.

Google also recommends that developers follow its documentation and best practices to thoroughly test systems before deployment.

Early use cases

Google has already deployed the model internally for multiple applications, including:

UI testing to accelerate software quality assurance.

Project Mariner and the Firebase Testing Agent, which automate interface-level testing.

AI Mode in Search, enhancing interaction-based capabilities.

Participants in the early access program have also used the model for workflow automation, personal assistant development, and UI testing, reporting strong outcomes across scenarios.

Availability

The Gemini 2.5 Computer Use model is now available in public preview via the Gemini API on Google AI Studio and Vertex AI.

Developers can:
According to Ooklas latest report, which analyzed Speedtest Intelligence and Cell Analytics data, India has seen a major digital transformation over the past 35 years. As the worlds second-largest telecom market, India has made considerable progress in connecting over 650,000 villages.

Key trends include:

Steady subscriber growth and rising data consumption

Rapid deployment of advanced technologies, including 5G

Persistent differences in connectivity between urban and rural areas

Urban-Rural Mobile Penetration Gap

Indias telecom growth has been supported by affordable tariffs, expanded coverage, and new technologies. Mobile data traffic surged 23% year-over-year in 2024, reaching 21.5 exabytes per month. Total wireless subscribers rose from 1,147.39 million (June 2022) to 1,170.88 million (June 2025).

Despite expansion, rural areas lag behind urban centers:

National teledensity: 82.74%

Urban teledensity: 125.3%

Rural teledensity: 58.8%

Highest urban penetration:

Delhi: 179.7%

Goa: 153.0%

Chandigarh: 144.1%

Lowest rural penetration:

Bihar: 56.1%

Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu: 62.9%

Jharkhand: 63.0%

Exception: Ladakh  181.2%, due to military presence, tourists, seasonal labor, and government investment in secure communication infrastructure.

Government Initiatives Supporting Rural Connectivity

India has launched targeted initiatives to improve mobile access in remote areas:

Digital Bharat Nidhi (formerly USOF): Funds rural telecom infrastructure

Funds rural telecom infrastructure BharatNet Project: Provides high-speed broadband to 250,000+ Gram Panchayats; ~220,000 are service-ready

Cell Analytics data (1H 2025) reveals:

4G coverage: 88.9% of villages report signal strength > -110 dBm

5G coverage: 77.8% of villages report signal strength > -110 dBm

Top coverage states/UTs:

Delhi, Kerala, Chandigarh, Puducherry: 100% villages with reliable signal

Punjab: 99.6%, Haryana: 99.7%

Low coverage regions:

Meghalaya: 26.4% villages without mobile samples

Arunachal Pradesh: 23.1% villages without mobile samples

Mobile Network Performance Across India

Indias 5G rollout, one of the fastest globally since October 2022, had 469,000+ 5G BTSs deployed by February 2025. Median download speeds nationwide generally exceed 40 Mbps, with urbanized and smaller territories leading.

Top regions by median speed:

Delhi: 168.14 Mbps

Chandigarh: 115.71 Mbps

Puducherry: 114.35 Mbps

Lower-performing areas show major gains:

Lakshadweep: 10th percentile speed increased from 0.68 Mbps  8.99 Mbps

Andaman & Nicobar Islands: 1.25 Mbps  6.71 Mbps

Strategic exceptions:

Ladakh: 150.97 Mbps

Jammu & Kashmir: 136.97 Mbps

These improvements indicate that connectivity gains are reaching previously underserved regions, enhancing access to services beyond urban centers.

Outlook

Indias digital connectivity journey demonstrates significant progress, yet key challenges remain. While widespread 4G coverage, expanding 5G networks, and improvements in lower-speed regions have strengthened access, last-mile connectivity in rural and remote areas still requires sustained public-private collaboration and targeted investments.

Future growth will depend on:

Completion of the Amended BharatNet Program and 4G Saturation Project

Continued deployment of 5G infrastructure and expansion of affordable devices like JioBharat

Policy and regulatory support to incentivize operators in low-density and difficult terrain areas

With these measures, India is poised to bridge the urban-rural digital divide, enabling equitable access to mobile networks, broadband services, and emerging technologies across all villages.
Vi has announced the launch of Vi Protect, a new comprehensive initiative powered by artificial intelligence (AI) aimed at unifying its safety and security measures. The program is designed to protect consumers, the companys network, and enterprise clients from spam, scams, and cyber-attacks.

At the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, Vi introduced two key components of this initiative: an AI-based Voice Spam Detection system for consumers and an AI-driven network defense and incident response system for its core network operations.

New Features for Customers

The voice spam detection system is designed to identify and flag fraudulent and spam calls in real time. It uses AI models, web crawlers, and user feedback to identify suspicious callers before the call reaches the customer.

When a Vi user receives a call from a number flagged as potentially fraudulent, their phone screen will display a Suspected Spam notification, helping them decide whether to answer. According to Vi, this feature operates natively within its network, which differs from third-party caller ID apps and aims to provide better accuracy and privacy.

This new system joins several existing consumer protection measures now consolidated under the Vi Protect banner:

Spam Filtering of Text Messages: Detects and flags fraudulent SMS messages for customers.

Detects and flags fraudulent SMS messages for customers. International Calling Display: Helps customers recognize international calls to make more informed decisions.

Helps customers recognize international calls to make more informed decisions. AI-powered Threat Analysis: An analytical engine integrated with Vis DNS, SMS, and Voice Gateways that learns from threat patterns to improve protection.

Vi states that its security systems have flagged over 600 million spam and scam communications to date. The company also plans to launch a real-time URL Protection feature soon, which will scan and block suspicious links to prevent phishing and malware attacks.

Upgraded Network and Enterprise Security

As part of Vi Protect, the company has also upgraded its Cyber Defense and Incident Response System to safeguard its core network and enterprise functions. This system uses agentic and generative AI models to detect, analyze, and neutralize potential cyber threats in under an hour. Vi claims the system is approximately 70% more accurate than previous methods and minimizes false positives.

The defense mechanism follows a five-step process:

Anomaly Detection: Agentic AI proactively identifies unusual activity. Contextualization and Categorization: Incidents are classified using contextual intelligence. Interface Engine Agent: High-volume data is processed for quick decision-making. Suggestive Intelligence: AI prioritizes response actions based on risk assessment. Human Validation: Expert analysts review AI findings to continuously refine the model.

Vi intends to extend this cyber defense capability to its enterprise customers in the future, offering predictive insights by correlating global cyber events and attack timelines. The company positioned the Vi Protect initiative as a step towards enhancing cyber resilience and customer trust.

Regarding Vi Protect, Jagbir Singh, Chief Technology Officer, Vi, said:

With Indias growing digital adoption and global prominence, protecting customers networks has never been more important. Vi Protect uses advanced AI and proactive measures to protect our customers and strengthen our networks. Vi Protect is our commitment to a safe and trusted digital environment.
boAt has partnered with Google to launch the #boAtGeminiChallenge, a competition inviting creators and students across India to develop advertisements using Googles Gemini AI models. The challenge encourages participants to create ads that illustrate the integration of boAt products into daily Indian life.

This first-of-its-kind campaign is set to roll out in two exciting phases from 8th October 2025 and will accept submissions till 14th October 2025.

Phase 1 , the Nano Banana Print Ad Challenge, requires participants to design print advertisements. Creators will use Gemini 2.5 Flash (Nano Banana), Googles AI image editing tool within the Gemini app, to combine boAt product images with various features and lifestyle themes. Participants can work with specific product-feature combinations, such as Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) in headphones, heavy bass in speakers, or fitness tracking in smartwatches.

, the Nano Banana Print Ad Challenge, requires participants to design print advertisements. Creators will use Gemini 2.5 Flash (Nano Banana), Googles AI image editing tool within the Gemini app, to combine boAt product images with various features and lifestyle themes. Participants can work with specific product-feature combinations, such as Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) in headphones, heavy bass in speakers, or fitness tracking in smartwatches. Phase 2, the VEO 3 Video Ad Challenge, will task creators with producing video advertisements. This phase will utilize Googles generative video model, Veo 3, to create short films showing boAt products being used by young Indians in different settings.

The total prize pool for the challenge is valued at 10 lakh, with 5 lakh allocated to each phase. Winners will also receive boAt products, Google Gemini subscriptions, and other rewards.

The winners for Phase 1 are scheduled to be announced on October 15, 2025.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by boAt (@boat.nirvana)

Commenting on the campaign, a boAt spokesperson, said:

Our vision is simple yet bold: to unlock the creative potential of every Indian, across tiers and cultures. Since marketing and advertising today are powerful storytelling mediums, there could be no better opportunity than the #boAtGeminiChallenge to take our collaboration with Google and ad-making to the next level through a smart blend of technology, creativity and innovation.
Dell Technologies today launched the Dell Pro 14 Essential and Dell Pro 15 Essential laptops in India, designed to meet the performance, security, and management needs of small and medium businesses (SMBs).

Dell Pro 14 Essential and Pro 15 Essential

The Dell Pro 14 Essential and Pro 15 Essential are built for professionals who need reliable systems for everyday business operations. They include hardware-level encryption, fingerprint authentication, and a lock slot for physical security.

Both models are MIL-STD 810H tested for durability and support cloud-based fleet management and application publishing through the Dell Management Portal, enabling IT teams to configure and deploy devices efficiently.

Both laptops offer up to a 2.5K display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, an HD webcam, and a digital microphone for clear visuals and communication. The Pro 14 Essential prioritizes portability, while the Pro 15 Essential adds a larger workspace and numeric keypad for enhanced productivity.

Integrated security and IT management

The laptops include a full suite of hardware and software-level protections:

Hardware TPM 2.0: Encrypts data at the hardware layer

Fingerprint Reader: Enables quick, secure login (select variants)

Privacy Shutter: Provides physical camera protection

Lock Slot: Prevents unauthorized device removal

Dell Management Portal: Enables remote fleet management via Microsoft Intune

Excalibur OS Recovery Support: Restores system functionality in case of failure

Microsoft Autopilot: Simplifies deployment with zero-touch setup

These integrated tools reduce IT complexity, improve security, and support efficient device management.

Sustainable and durable construction

Both laptops reflect Dells circular design principles and environmental focus.

The Pro 14 Essential uses recycled aluminium and steel, earning EPEAT Silver Climate+ and ENERGY STAR certifications.

The Pro 15 Essential incorporates up to 30% post-recycled plastic in the palmrest and 50% post-consumer recycled plastic in the bottom cover.

Both laptops are shipped in 100% recyclable packaging, and Dell supports responsible end-of-life management through secure take-back programs for all brands.

Quick Specs: Dell Pro 14 & 15 Essential (Intel / AMD)

Display: Pro 14  14-inch WVA, 16:10, up to 2.5K (25601600), 300 nits; Pro 15  15.6-inch WVA, 16:10, up to 2.5K (25601600), 300 nits

Processor Options: Intel up to Core Ultra 7 155U (13th Gen), AMD up to Ryzen 5 8640U

Graphics Options: Intel UHD Graphics, AMD Radeon Graphics

Memory: Up to 64 GB DDR5, 5200/5600 MHz, single/dual channel

Storage: Up to 2 TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD

Webcam: HD / FHD with privacy shutter (Aluminum only)

Audio: Dual microphones, stereo speakers

Ports & Slots: HDMI 1.4, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (Power Delivery/DisplayPort), SD card reader, headphone jack, lock slot

Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6 / Wi-Fi 6E (select), Bluetooth 5.3

Security: Hardware TPM 2.0, fingerprint reader (optional), privacy shutter, lock slot

Battery: 3-cell 41 Wh / 4-cell 54 Wh / 64 Wh (depending on model), ExpressCharge & ExpressChargeBoost

Keyboard: Pro 14  Full-size, no numeric keypad; Pro 15  Full-size with numeric keypad

Weight: Pro 14  1.541.56 kg; Pro 15  1.621.65 kg

Chassis & Build: Recycled aluminum + steel / Plastic (PC+ABS), MIL-STD 810H tested

Sustainability: EPEAT Silver Climate+, ENERGY STAR certified, shipped in 100% recyclable packaging

Software & Management: Dell Optimizer, Dell Management Portal (Microsoft Intune), Excalibur OS Recovery, Microsoft Autopilot, McAfee, Support Assist

Operating System: Windows 11 Home / Pro (64-bit), Ubuntu 24.04.2 (select models)

Pricing and Availability

The Dell Pro 14 Essential (AMD/Intel) and Dell Pro 15 Essential (AMD/Intel) are available for business customers in India at a starting price of Rs. 31,999.

Commenting on the launch, Indrajit Belgundi, Senior Director and General Manager, Client Solutions Group, Dell Technologies, India, said,
Nuclear fusion offers considerable potential as a forward-looking, sustainable source of energy. In particular, industrialized countries need innovative approaches and solutions to tap into additional, dispatchable energy sources that support both the carbon-neutral energy mix of the future and the countries economic and innovative strength. The recently adopted High-Tech Agenda Germany lists nuclear fusion and climate-neutral energy generation as one of the six key technologies that are decisive for the future of our country. The draft Fusion Action Plan adopted today is an essential step in this direction.

Fraunhofer welcomes the draft Fusion Action Plan, which was approved by the federal government today. This is a powerful signal for research and industry, underlining that Germany is resolutely embracing the opportunities offered by this forward-looking technology and is ready to take on a leading role in global competition, says Holger Hanselka, President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. With outstanding expertise in research and technology, our country is well-positioned to make fusion-based, carbon-neutral energy generation a reality." Fraunhofer is one of the first movers in this field, Hanselka says.

Constantin Hafner, Executive Board Member for Research and Transfer at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and an expert in fusion energy, adds: The Fusion Action Plan is exactly what we need to enable the necessary steps towards early industrialization while fostering Germanys excellent basic research. This resolute, dual path, where research institutions such as Fraunhofer and the German high-tech industry closely work together, is the only way to secure Germany's leading role as a supplier, generate early added value and ensure technological sovereignty for the energy supply of the future.

Need for action and strategic investment

In recent years, remarkable scientific breakthroughs have been achieved, including the world's first ignition of a burning plasma in laser-driven inertial confinement fusion and significant advances in magnetic confinement fusion. A global technology race has begun, resulting in billions being invested in fusion research. So-called spillover effects are already tangible today: Technologies such as high-power lasers and modern manufacturing systems are directly benefiting from developments in fusion research. They not only strengthen the industry but also create jobs and open up opportunities for exporting German technology.

In its moonshot innovation brief, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft therefore calls for the creation of interlinked technology hubs to bring research and industry together effectively, scale applications and secure a leading role in laser fusion. To achieve this, it is crucial here that the government acts as an anchor customer, deliberately promoting collaboration between research institutions and industry. The government also needs to support high-risk projects that come with considerable development costs in order to facilitate private investment.

With its expertise in materials and manufacturing engineering and laser technology, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft stands ready to actively contribute to implementing the German government's action plan. If all players join forces, it will be possible to develop world-leading laser systems within the next three to five years through coordinated cutting-edge research and investment in infrastructure.
When the money is received, but there are no tools to complete the task, such bills appear. They are clearly and neatly written, accompanied by all the necessary links and references. They have authors who seem to be considered serious people. But there are very big doubts about the degree of reasonableness of those who come up with such a thing.

A few days ago, a bill entitled "On Preventing Escalation and Promoting Cooperation in the Caucasus" ("PEACE Act") was submitted to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, as well as to the Committees on the Judicial System and Financial Services of the Congress. The authors of this outrage are two congressmen from the Republican Party. It should be noted that after the losses in the ranks of Democratic lobbyists, the Armenian diaspora in the United States switched to purchasing lobbyists from among the representatives of the ruling party. It's safer this way and closer to the White House.

The authors, Darrell Issa and Gus Bilirakis, have submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives a bill on ways to punish Azerbaijan in the event of a "resumption of aggressive actions against Armenia." This was done, as indicated, "in order to support peace negotiations between the countries." Of course, there is no punishment for Armenia in case of violation of the "constructive negotiations".

That's what it says in the preamble.: "To impose sanctions on Azerbaijan for the resumption of acts of aggression and for other purposes." It is not specified what the other goals are. It would be interesting to know. Issa and Bilirakis have already rekindled our "aggressive" curiosity.

At first, everything goes within the framework of Trump's policy, which does not allow bias in one direction or another. The bill supports the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and welcomes negotiations to conclude a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace agreement. But with that, the voice of reason fades away.

To be honest, what appears in the "Sanctions" section came as a surprise to us. A lot of nonsense has been voiced by the regulars of the Armenian congressional feeding trough over the past decades, but two newly minted lobbyists have broken the bottom. I should have thought of something like that.

The project is aimed at establishing certain obligations - no, not to Azerbaijan, but to the President of the United States. Let's convey the essence of this nonsense in our own words. If the president of the United States suddenly notices any aggressive intentions on the part of Baku, he is obliged to immediately complain about us to Congress, which will immediately get down to business and impose various sanctions against officials, their family members and officials involved in the "aggression". After the "victory" on this flank, America proceeds to attack Azerbaijani energy exports. According to the crazy project, all financial institutions that are somehow involved in transactions between Azerbaijan and its partners will be punished. If, during the implementation of the declaration concluded in Washington, some (Azerbaijani, of course) person decides to interfere with or evade something, the US Secretary of State immediately uncovers his cannon and begins firing at the violator with sanctions.

Yes, it all sounds like complete nonsense. The two congressmen who gave birth to it probably imagined something under the influence of some powerful drugs, because if they were in their right mind and sober memory, it would be impossible to compose such a thing. Nevertheless, the project exists and is shamelessly sent for consideration by the commissions. If there are sensible people on the commissions, the crazy project may not reach wide discussions. But let's not forget that the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives has always skipped pro-Armenian projects. Despite Trump's policies, Congress has its own interests. The lobby lives at the expense of the Armenians, and it is not going to look up to the White House, because otherwise the handouts will stop, the bosses' orders must be fulfilled, and the lobbyists' bosses are not in the White House, but in the Armenian National Committee of America and the Armenian Assembly of the United States.

At the end of September, during the congressional review of the law extending the powers of the State Department for fiscal year 2026, the Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously adopted an amendment to the H.R. 3000 law proposed by lobbyist Gabe Amo. According to the amendment, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is required to cooperate with the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan in order to "release Armenian prisoners of war," "protect Armenian religious and historical sites," "ensure the return of refugees from Karabakh," and "end the conflict peacefully." In other words, the US government is now obliged to follow the instructions issued by the Armenian Congressional caucus. The Armenian organizations of the United States that pay for his services will not leave things to chance and will constantly slow down the lobby so that it pulls the State Department and demands compliance with the instructions contained in the amendment.

It goes without saying that if the State Department starts putting pressure on Baku, it will lead to a cooling of relations again, because the Azerbaijani side will not allow anyone to interfere in its internal affairs, despite the fact that we have become such friends with America today. If anyone has not noticed, Baku does not allow such interference from its close friends and allies.

It is possible that the main goal of the diaspora is precisely the destruction of relations between Baku and Washington. The diaspora cannot count on the fact that demands and sanctions can make Azerbaijan dance to someone else's tune. She had been trying to achieve this for thirty years and had failed. Moreover, it is not serious to hope for success today, when Azerbaijan has raised its status on the world stage. In addition, in the new geopolitical situation, the hegemony of the United States has significantly weakened, as can be seen from Europe's resistance to Washington's instructions regarding Russian oil and gas. And this is despite, to put it mildly, deeply unfriendly relations between the European Union and Moscow. So it would be naive to rely on the effectiveness of sanctions.

The only result that can please the Armenians may be a cooling off between Azerbaijan and the United States, if the American side really tries to comply with the requirements of the amendments written by people with obvious cognitive disabilities.

However, the diaspora should not count on this either. In his peacekeeping efforts, Donald Trump does not aim to serve the Armenian side. To demonstrate his ability to resolve conflicts, he needs Azerbaijan and Armenia to make real peace as soon as possible. He will not take steps that can slow down the achievement of success. It is possible that attempts will be made to raise the above issues with Baku, however, if Trump feels that this is driving the process into a dead end, the attempts will stop. In the past, international mediators needed to keep peace as long as possible, but the current head of the White House is interested in just the opposite.

Is it worth continuing? I think that's quite enough.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
Nathan graduated with his journalism degree from Auburn University in 2017. After growing up in the flatlands of rural Alabama with his parents and older sister, Nathan enjoys Western Colorado's natural resources and recreational opportunities. He currently covers education and business for The Daily Sentinel.
Sun Sunday

52 /30

Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the low 30s.
Russo-Ukraine War - 07 October 2025 - Day 1322

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A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, since the beginning of this day, there have been 174 combat encounters. Ukrainian defenders are decisively intercepting the attempts of the enemy to advance deep into Ukrainian territory, giving him a fiery impression.

Today, Russian troops launched one missile and 46 aviation strikes, using one missile and dropping 82 controlled aviation bombs. In addition, they engaged 2229 kamikaze drones and carried out 3,730 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

In the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursky directions, Ukrainian soldiers repelled six Russian assault actions. In addition, the Russian enemy launched seven air strikes, dropping 10 controlled bombs, and carried out 164 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, including six from reactive fire systems.

In the South Slobozhansky direction, the Russian enemy 28 times stormed the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of Vovchansk, Vovchansky Farms, Tihogo, Barn, Kamyanka, Bologivka, Western, Red First, Dovgenky and in the direction of Kolodyazny, Dvorichansky and Kutkivka. Three clashes are not over.

In the Kupyansky direction, Russian forces carried out offensive actions near Kupyansk and towards Petropavlivka, Novoplatonivka, Pi any, Stepova Novoselivka. Ukrainian defenders have stopped four Russian attacks, three more clashes continue.

In the Lyman direction, Russian invaders nine times attacked the positions of the Defense Forces in the areas of the settlements Serednye, Shandrigolove, Novoselivka, Deryilove, Torske, three clashes are still ongoing.

In the Siver komu direction, the Defense Forces repelled nine Russian attacks near Yampol, Grigorivka, Viymka and Serebryanka.

In the Kramators komu direction Russian forces did not carry out offensive actions.

In the Toretsky direction, the Russians 17 times attacked the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of Oleksandr-Shultiny, Sherbinivka, Pleshiyivka, Rusyn Yar and Poltavka. Defense forces stopped Russian advancement. One battle is still going on.

In the Pokrovsky direction since the beginning of the day, the Russian occupiers 37 times tried to advance on the position of Ukrainian units. The Russian enemy attacked the positions of Ukrainian troops in the settlements of Volodymyrivka, Nikanorivka, Suhetske, Mirolubivka, New Shahove, Ivanivka, Rodinske, Red Lyman, Mirnograd, Novoekonomicne, Lisivka, Pokrovsk, Kotline, Udacne, Molodetske, Novomikolaivka, Gorihove, Dachne, Filia and in the direction of Novopavlivka. Still one battle going on.

According to preliminary data, today in this direction there were 144 invaders, of which 99 - irrevocably. Ukrainian soldiers also destroyed one car, one special equipment unit and 15 unmanned aircraft; three cars and 10 shelters for Russian personnel were also hit.

In the Novopavlovsk direction, the Russian enemy 27 times tried to break through the defense of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of the settlements Zaporizhia , Oleksandrograd, Sichneve, Novoselivka, Novogeorgiyivka, Sosnivka, Vorone, Novogeoriyivka, Kalinivskke, Novogrigorivka, Voskresenka, Oleksiyivka, Stepove, Berezove, Novoivanivka. Four clashes are underway.

In the direction of Gulyaipil, the Russian enemy 11 times tried to come near Poltavka and Malinivka, received a cut off. An air strike was hit by the Railroad.

In the Orihiv direction, the Defense Forces repelled seven Russian attacks near Plavniv, Stepovoye and in the direction of Stepnogirsk and Novoandriivka.

In the Pridniprovsk direction, there were three unsuccessful attempts of Russian occupiers to improve their position. The Russian opponent caused an air strike on Sadovomu.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation.

The Sever Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on formations of a mechanised brigade, an air assault brigade, and an assault regiment of the AFU close to Alekseyevka, Sadki, Krasnopolye, and Kondratovka (Sumy region).

In Kharkov direction, units of a mechanised brigade, a motorised infantry brigade, and three territorial defence brigades have been hit near Liptsy, Reznikovo, Volchansk, and Chugunovka (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 170 troops, a tank, an armoured fighting vehicle, six motor vehicles, and an artillery gun. Two U.S.-made HIMARS and MLRS launchers, an electronic warfare station, and eight materiel depots were neutralised.

The Zapad Group of Forces' units took more advantageous lines and positions. Russian units inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of a tank brigade, two mechanised brigades, an airmobile brigade, an assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and a national guard brigade near Vysheye Solenoye, Izyumskoye, Kupyansk (Kharkov region), Yarovaya, Drobyshevo, and Volchiy Yar (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 225 troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, 27 motor vehicles, and a U.S.-made M198 howitzer.

A Romanian-made 122-mm APR-40 multiple-launch rocket launcher, a U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-fire radar, seven electronic warfare stations, and five ammunition depots have been neutralised.

As a result of resolute actions, the Yug Group of Forces liberated Fedorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian elements hit troops of two mechanised brigades, an airmobile brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and a territorial defence brigade near Dronovka, Pleshcheyevka, Seversk, Zakotnoye, Reznikovka, and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost up to 100 troops, a tank, five armoured fighting vehicles including a U.S.-made MaxxPro armoured fighting vehicle, 18 motor vehicles, and four artillery guns including two NATO-made vehicles.

A launcher of the Croatian-made RAK-SA-12 MLRS, electronic warfare station, and ammunition depot were neutralised.

The Tsentr Group of Forces' units improved the situation along the front line. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of a heavy mechanised brigade, four mechanised brigades, an assault brigade, a jaeger brigade, two air assault brigades, two assault regiments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and a marine brigade close to Torskoye, Rusin Yar, Rodinskoye, Dimitrov, Ivanovka, and Toretskoye, Krasnoarmeysk (Donetsk People's Republic), and Novopavlovka (Dnepropetrovsk region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 415 troops, a tank, four armoured fighting vehicles including two U.S.-made HMMWV armoured vehicles, six pickup trucks, and an artillery gun.

As a result of active and resolute operations, units of the Vostok Group of Forces liberated Novovasilevskoye (Zaporozhye region).

A mechanised brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a territorial defence brigade, and a national guard brigade were hit near Chervonoye, Poltavka, Uspenovka, and Novogrigorovka (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy lost more than 365 troops, an infantry fighting vehicle, an armoured personnel carrier, 16 motor vehicles, and an electronic warfare station.

The Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of a mountain assault brigade, a coastal defence brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and a territorial defence brigade near Stepnogorsk, Lukyanovskoye (Zaporozhye region), Kazatskoye, Tyaginka, and Lvovo (Kherson region).

Up to 80 troops, nine motor vehicles, a field artillery gun, and seven electronic warfare stations were neutralised.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces inflicted fire damage on the energy and transport infrastructure of Ukraine, petrol storages, which were used in the interests of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as well as temporary deployment areas of the AFU and foreign mercenaries in 148 areas.

Air defence systems shot down three guided aerial bombs, 16 HIMARS MLRS projectiles, and 416 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the enemy has lost 667 aircraft, 283 helicopters, 88,945 unmanned aerial vehicles, 631 anti-aircraft missile systems, 25,394 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,597 MLRS combat vehicles, 30,241 field artillery guns and mortars, and 43,382 support military vehicles.

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NEW YORK and NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC (KSF) and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until November 14, 2025 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Companys securities between February 18, 2025 and July 31, 2025, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.

What You May Do

If you purchased securities of Fluor and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-flr/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court by November 14, 2025 .

About the Lawsuit

Fluor and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.

On August 1, 2025, the Company announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2025, disclosing a 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 due to 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 Company also disclosed 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.

On this news, the price of Fluors shares fell $15.35 per share, or 27.04%, to close at $41.42 per share on August 1, 2025.

The case is Maglione v. Fluor Corporation, et al., No. 25-cv-02496.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. This past year, KSF was ranked by SCAS among the top 10 firms nationally based upon total settlement value. KSF serves a variety of clients, including public and private institutional investors, and retail investors - in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, Delaware, California, Louisiana, Chicago, New Jersey, and a representative office in Luxembourg.

TOP 10 Plaintiff Law Firms - According to ISS Securities Class Action Services

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.

Contact:

Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner

lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com

1-877-515-1850

1100 Poydras St., Suite 960

New Orleans, LA 70163

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Francesco Ciancia Rejoins Stellantis to Lead Global Manufacturing

AMSTERDAM, October 8, 2025  Stellantis N.V. today announces that Francesco Ciancia will rejoin the Company on November 1 as Global Head of Manufacturing and a member of the Stellantis Leadership Team (SLT).

Ciancia has gained over two decades of global leadership experience in manufacturing engineering, plant management and lean production system application.

He rejoins Stellantis from Mercedes-Benz, where he has served as Head of Mercedes-Benz Vans Operations in Stuttgart, Germany, successfully initiating the transformation of its production network.

Prior to joining Mercedes-Benz in 2022, Ciancia worked at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and Stellantis starting in 2001, with responsibilities including plant manager of the Kragujevac (Serbia) site, head of Manufacturing for Latin America and head of Manufacturing for Maserati and Premium Brands for Europe and Middle East and Africa regions.

Im delighted to welcome Francesco back to our ranks and as a member of our Leadership Team. His new role as Head of Global Manufacturing will be critical to our future success, as we move relentlessly to take the consistency, efficiency and competitiveness of our production processes worldwide to new levels, commented CEO Antonio Filosa.

Im excited and energized to rejoin Stellantis and contribute to this new momentum, said Ciancia. Manufacturing is at the heart of the Companys operations, and I look forward to working with the teams around the world to seize the improvement opportunities we have ahead of us.

# # #

About Stellantis

Stellantis N.V. (NYSE: STLA / Euronext Milan: STLAM / Euronext Paris: STLAP) is a leading global automaker, dedicated to giving its customers the freedom to choose the way they move, embracing the latest technologies and creating value for all its stakeholders. Its unique portfolio of iconic and innovative brands includes Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, DS Automobiles, FIAT, Jeep  , Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall, Free2move and Leasys. For more information, visit www.stellantis.com.

@Stellantis Stellantis Stellantis Stellantis





For more information, contact:



Fernao SILVEIRA +31 6 43 25 43 41  fernao.silveira@stellantis.com



Nathalie ROUSSEL +33 6 87 77 41 82  nathalie.roussel@stellantis.com



communications@stellantis.com

www.stellantis.com

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Singapore, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guoyu RWA, a blockchain-driven initiative under Guoying Holdings (Hainan), is shaping the future of global digital finance through compliant, secure, and scalable real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. As part of the Global Eco Chain (GEC) ecosystem, Guoyu is creating a bridge between traditional industries and the digital economy.

With a vision to redefine asset management, Guoyu RWA integrates smart contracts, blockchain infrastructure, and cross-border interoperability to bring real-world value on-chain. Its platform enables enterprises to tokenize physical and financial assets such as real estate, commodities, and energy, ensuring transparency, efficiency, and regulatory compliance.

Through its ongoing 100-City RWA Roadshow, Guoyu has successfully hosted events across major Chinese cities  including Hangzhou, Qingzhou, Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Chengdu, and Beihai  fostering collaboration between industry leaders, investors, and policymakers. Each event highlights Guoyus mission to empower enterprises, streamline financial processes, and expand access to the digital asset economy.

Guoyu RWA is committed to building a globally connected ecosystem that aligns blockchain innovation with institutional standards. By merging technology, compliance, and practical adoption, it aims to set new benchmarks for trust and efficiency in the rapidly evolving world of tokenized finance.

Official Links

Website: https://gctoid.com

Twitter: https://x.com/guoyurwa

Telegram: https://t.me/guoyurwa

Medium: https://medium.com/@guoyurwa

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GUOYURWA
MOSCOW, RUSSIA, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- An expert session of the Open Dialogue "Future of the World. New Platform for Global Growth" took place on October 7 at the National Center "Russia". World-class experts participated in the discussion on "New Economy: Competition for Positive Development."





The session participants were welcomed by the moderator, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation and Deputy Chairman of the National Center "Russia" Organizing Committee, Maxim Oreshkin.

"In the primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors of the economy, competition is being won by those who used to be called developing economies. Now these are the economies of the global majority. The key marginality of many markets is concentrated not in the production process itself, but in creating image, perception of ideas associated with certain products. I am confident that in production itself, in creating goods and services, in the new economy, the economy of the global majority is winning the competition step by step. The same will happen in the experience economy," stated Maxim Oreshkin.

Experts discussed values and meanings as a factor of competitiveness. Using food production as an example, Sergey Ivanov, Executive Director and Board Member of EFKO Group, explained how through the presence of additional meanings, a product can become not just a commodity but a lifestyle and source of impressions.

"Branding is the experience economy. Only there, impressions are tied to the product and add emotional benefits to its rational benefits," explained Sergey Ivanov.

According to him, the future of the primary sector lies in transitioning from price competition to competition for trust, emotions, and cultural significance of the product. The speaker also emphasized the importance of ethical considerations in the experience economy.

"At some stage of the experience economy's development, there arose a temptation to separate emotional benefits from rational ones. To turn them from accompanying properties into a separate commodity. A modern corporation in its relationships with consumers most resembles a huge hulk who has seriously entered into a duel with a kindergarten child. Because modern marketing can impose and sell anything. Today's experience economy is not just an emotion market. It's a laboratory where human beings are being reassembled. If we don't agree on rules and ethics, then the experience economy will with high probability destroy society from within," noted Sergey Ivanov.

Continuing the theme, James Law, founder of James Law Cybertecture International (China), discussed how design, public spaces, and aesthetics create economic and social value, and how the level of impressions and user experience are becoming new performance indicators in architecture and urban planning.

"It can be confidently stated that in the new economy, cities based on impressions act as catalysts for well-being, competitiveness, and positive development," emphasized James Law.

Dmitry Vasiliev, Development Director and co-founder of Karfidov Lab, touched on the value of creativity in industry. He stated that in the new economy, companies that integrate creativity into the value creation chainfrom idea to end userwin.

"Creativity is becoming a real driver of industrial development: innovative design and non-standard engineering solutions enhance the competitiveness of production facilities. Therefore, modern industry must create not only functional products but also impressions that form trust and demand. Successful projects are born at the intersection of engineering competencies and creative approachin the synergy of science, technology, and creativity," Dmitry Vasiliev is convinced.

Nitaya Kanokmongkol (Thailand), Executive Director of the Fine Arts Department of Thailand, stated that impressions increase demand for art, forming an "economy of beauty."

"Beauty is becoming a real economic value. Aesthetic impressions in museums and galleries stimulate cultural tourism, education, and creative industries. We try to balance between identity and globalization, preserving the authenticity of Thai culture and making national art attractive to international audiences, because new experience in content and meaning management can be formed even without using technology," noted Nitaya Kanokmongkol.

Brian Gleeson (Ireland), General Manager of Radisson Collection Paradise Resort & Spa, continued the theme of "impression capital" in tourism and hospitality. He explained that implementing local culture and responsible practices can not only increase brand value but also stimulate the development of other industries, and what can help unlock the untapped potential of international tourism that Russia possesses.

"The bet on tourism led Ireland to become one of the world's largest technology centers. We prioritized developing our country's brand because it illustrates what we are. This is what I wanted to do in Russia as well. People from abroad must understand how hospitable the people are here, what incredible quality of service there is in everything related to the impressions industry. Five-million-population Ireland receives about 6 billion euros from international tourism. But our country will never compare to Russia. Your country's marketing potential is enormous. Here you can use geographical features, UNESCO sites, cultural traditions, history, and much more," concluded Brian Gleeson.

Felipe Buitrago (Colombia), Deputy Minister of the Orange (Creative) Economy, discussed how cultural and meaningful narratives form countries' competitiveness and their "soft power." He noted that the experience economy and "orange economy" should become strategic assets for states.

"The state should not just subsidize culture but also form an infrastructure of meanings, financing solutions and innovations. At the same time, we cannot forget about maintaining a balance between international competitiveness and preserving unique local cultural codes in the new economy," noted Felipe Buitrago.

Producer, screenwriter, and director Mehret Mandefro from Ethiopia touched on the theme of local language and culture as an alternative to existing templates.

"In the conditions of the new economy, local cultures and storytelling traditions can compete with dominant Hollywood formats due to their authenticity. Moreover, local identity and cultural uniqueness act as competitive advantages in positioning projects on global platforms such as Netflix and Disney+, which contributes to forming large-scale content ecosystemseffective solutions for new economies," concluded Mehret Mandefro.

Additionally, she emphasized that a global shift is occurring in the world of cinematography. Stories that are repeated have devalued and are uninteresting to anyone. The future belongs to authentic stories.

"Stories that have already been told don't sell anymorethey're often called plastic stories. Now we're experiencing such a shift, a revolutionary change. New creative forms are emerging that use local languageit's a whole cosmos. I believe there's really great potential there; we can open up a whole new world in storytelling," said Mehret Mandefro.

The International Symposium "Creating the Future" brings together participants from more than 85 countries worldwide, including China, USA, Italy, Latin American countries, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Among the guests are scientists, engineers, futurists, art, culture, and media figures, united by the desire to comprehend and shape tomorrow's appearance.

The recording of the broadcast of the expert session "New Economy: Competition for Positive Development" of the Open Dialogue is available on the Russia.ru website and in the official social networks of the National Center "Russia."

Social Links

https://t.me/gowithrussia

https://vk.com/gowithrussia

https://ok.ru/gowithrussia

https://dzen.ru/gowithrussia

Contact for the media

Brand: Russia National Centre

Contact: Media team

Email: Pressa@russia.ru

Website: https://russia.ru
Dublin, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global 6G Market 2026-2036" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global 6G market represents the next transformational phase in wireless communications, projected to grow from nascent pre-commercial activity valued at $500M-1B in 2026 to a comprehensive ecosystem potentially worth $150B-300B annually by 2036. This explosive growth reflects 6G's evolution from laboratory research to commercial deployment, fundamentally reshaping telecommunications infrastructure, devices, applications, and business models across the decade.

The 6G market encompasses four primary segments with distinct growth trajectories and value propositions:

Infrastructure including base stations, core networks, and edge computing platforms represents the largest segment a

Devices and terminals spanning smartphones, IoT sensors, industrial equipment, and vehicles

Semiconductors and components enabling 6G - including GaN and InP power amplifiers, advanced transceivers, massive MIMO beamformers, and ultra-low-power processors

Services and applications leveraging 6G capabilities including holographic communications, digital twins, autonomous systems coordination, and immersive extended reality

Several converging technology trends enable 6G's commercial viability and differentiated value proposition. Sub-THz spectrum (100-300 GHz) provides massive bandwidth enabling multi-gigabit throughput but requires entirely new RF architectures including InP-based power amplifiers, advanced antenna arrays, and sophisticated beamforming - creating technology barriers favoring established players while opening opportunities for innovation. Artificial Intelligence integration throughout networks enables autonomous optimization, predictive resource allocation, and intelligent service delivery. Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces extend coverage passively at fraction of traditional infrastructure costs while fundamentally changing network architecture philosophy. Non-Terrestrial Networks integrate 20,000-50,000 LEO satellites, HAPS platforms, and drone systems providing universal coverage addressing 3 billion unconnected people and enabling global IoT.

Despite enormous potential, 6G faces significant commercialization challenges including spectrum allocation complexity across 100+ countries with conflicting priorities, technology maturity gaps particularly at sub-THz frequencies where components remain expensive and power-hungry, business case uncertainty as operators question returns on massive infrastructure investments amid market saturation, and geopolitical fragmentation threatening unified global standards as US-China tensions drive divergent technology ecosystems. Successful market development requires continued technology advancement reducing costs and improving performance, regulatory harmonization enabling economies of scale through common standards, compelling applications demonstrating value beyond incremental 5G improvements, and sustainable business models justifying infrastructure investments through new revenue streams rather than cannibalizing existing services.

The Global 6G Market 2026-2036 report delivers an authoritative 400+ page analysis of the sixth-generation wireless technology revolution, providing strategic intelligence for telecommunications operators, equipment manufacturers, semiconductor companies, materials suppliers, and investors navigating this $150B-300B market opportunity. This comprehensive market research report examines the complete 6G ecosystem from sub-THz semiconductors and advanced materials through base stations, non-terrestrial networks, MIMO architectures, zero-energy devices, and transformative applications across autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, healthcare, and extended reality.

As 5G deployment matures globally, attention shifts decisively toward 6G's revolutionary capabilities including 100 Gbps-1 Tbps data rates, sub-millisecond latency, massive IoT connectivity supporting 10 million devices per km, and integrated terrestrial-satellite networks providing universal coverage. The report provides granular 10-year forecasts (2026-2036) segmented by technology type, deployment location, frequency band, region, and application vertical, enabling precise strategic planning and investment decisions.

Critical technical analysis addresses the fundamental challenges constraining 6G commercialization: sub-THz power amplifier efficiency limitations, thermal management requirements for 5-10W/cm heat flux densities, antenna packaging complexities at 100-300 GHz frequencies, and spectrum allocation uncertainties delaying deployment timelines. The report evaluates 25+ semiconductor technologies including GaN, InP, SiGe BiCMOS, and advanced CMOS processes, benchmarking performance against 6G requirements and identifying technology gaps requiring breakthroughs versus evolutionary improvements.

Extensive materials science coverage examines 50+ advanced materials enabling 6G including low-loss dielectrics (Rogers, PTFE, LCP), thermal management solutions (diamond substrates, graphene heat spreaders, phase-change materials), metamaterials for reconfigurable intelligent surfaces, and novel compounds including ionogels, vanadium dioxide, and two-dimensional materials. Each material category includes performance specifications, commercial readiness assessments, supplier landscapes, cost trajectories, and SWOT analyses.

The report provides unparalleled detail on emerging 6G architectures including ultra-massive MIMO with 256-4096 antenna elements, cell-free networks dissolving traditional base station boundaries, RIS panels extending coverage passively at 60-80% cost reduction, and zero-energy IoT devices eliminating battery replacement through energy harvesting. Quantitative analysis includes link budgets, power consumption modeling, thermal simulations, and economic deployment scenarios across urban, suburban, and rural environments.

Regional market analysis covers deployment timelines, spectrum strategies, government investment programs, and competitive dynamics across Asia-Pacific (leading with 2030-2031 launches in China, South Korea, Japan), North America (2031-2032 commercial service), Europe (2032-2033 coordinated rollout), and emerging markets. Country-specific roadmaps detail national 6G programs including funding levels, research priorities, industry partnerships, and standardization activities.

Non-terrestrial network integration receives comprehensive treatment examining LEO satellite constellations (Starlink, Kuiper, OneWeb, Chinese systems), HAPS platforms, direct-to-cell capabilities, and hybrid terrestrial-satellite architectures. Technical and economic analysis addresses launch cost evolution, link budget constraints, spectrum coordination challenges, and business model viability for serving 3 billion unconnected people globally.

Report contents include:

Evolution from 1G through 5G to 6G with performance comparisons and technology inflection points

Comprehensive market forecasts 2026-2036 by hardware type, region, frequency band, and application

Critical success factors, bottlenecks, and risk scenarios affecting commercialization timelines

Investment landscape analysis covering $30B+ in government and private R&D funding

6G radio systems architecture, transceiver design, bandwidth requirements, and modulation schemes

Power amplifier technology gap analysis identifying 20-40 dB output power deficits at sub-THz frequencies

Semiconductor evaluation: Si CMOS, SiGe BiCMOS, GaAs, GaN-on-SiC, InP HEMT/HBT benchmarking

Phased array antenna design challenges, element types, integration approaches, and packaging solutions

Base Stations & Infrastructure Ultra-massive MIMO evolution toward 256-1024+ element arrays with distributed processing RIS-enabled self-powered base station designs reducing energy consumption 60-80% Thermal management requirements and cooling solutions for 2-5 kW base stations Non-terrestrial networks: LEO satellites, HAPS, drones, and direct-to-cell connectivity

Advanced Materials & Components Low-loss dielectrics, thermal management materials, metamaterials, and phase-change compounds Comprehensive SWOT analysis for 50+ material categories with TRL assessments Supplier landscape covering materials manufacturers, processing companies, and component integrators Cost roadmaps and performance evolution projections through 2036

Zero Energy Devices & Sustainability Energy harvesting technologies: photovoltaic, RF, piezoelectric, thermoelectric, triboelectric Battery-free storage: supercapacitors, lithium-ion capacitors, structural energy storage Ambient backscatter communications and simultaneous wireless information/power transfer (SWIPT) Complete system architectures balancing harvesting, storage, processing, and communication

MIMO Architectures Massive MIMO challenges including CSI acquisition, computational complexity, and hardware impairments Distributed MIMO and cell-free architectures eliminating traditional cell boundaries Performance benchmarking showing 10-100 cell-edge throughput improvements Deployment strategies and economic analysis for different MIMO configurations

Market Forecasts & Applications 10-year forecasts segmented by: base stations, devices, semiconductors, materials, RIS, thermal management Application analysis: autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, healthcare, extended reality Regional market forecasts for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific with country-level detail Unit pricing evolution and total addressable market sizing

Development Roadmaps National 6G programs: USA, China, Japan, South Korea, Europe with funding and milestone tracking Spectrum allocation proposals for WRC-27 across sub-7 GHz, FR3 (7-24 GHz), and sub-THz bands Standards development timelines through 3GPP Release 21-24 (2028-2036) Technology readiness assessments and critical path analysis

The report includes detailed profiles of 49 leading companies shaping the 6G ecosystem: including AALTO HAPS, AGC Japan, Alcan Systems, Alibaba China, Alphacore, Ampleon, Apple, Atheraxon, Commscope, Echodyne, Ericsson, Fractal Antenna Systems, Freshwave, Fujitsu, Greenerwave, Huawei, ITOCHU, Kymeta, Kyocera, LATYS Intelligence, LG Electronics, META, Metacept Systems, Metawave, Nano Meta Technologies, NEC Corporation, Nokia, NTT DoCoMo, NXP Semiconductors, NVIDIA and more. Each company profile examines 6G technology portfolios, strategic positioning, partnerships, R&D priorities, product roadmaps, and competitive advantages in this transformative market.

Key Topics Covered:

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.1 From 1G to 6G

1.2 Evolution from 5G Networks

1.3 The 6G Market in 2025

1.4 Market outlook for 6G

1.5 Market drivers and trends

1.6 Market challenges and bottlenecks

1.7 Key Conclusions for 6G Communications Systems and Hardware

1.8 Roadmap

1.9 Market forecasts for 6G 2026-2036

1.10 Applications

1.11 Geographical Markets for 6G

1.12 Main Market Players

1.13 6G Projects by Country

1.14 Sustainability in 6G

2 INTRODUCTION

2.1 What is 6G?

2.2 Evolving Mobile Communications

2.3 5G deployment

2.4 Multi-Dimensional Value Proposition

2.5 Potential 6G High-Value Applications

2.6 Applications and Required Bandwidths

2.7 Artificial Intelligence's impact on network traffic

2.8 Autonomous vehicles

2.9 6G Rollout Timeline

2.10 6G Spectrum

2.11 Frequencies Beyond 100GHz

3 6G RADIO SYSTEMS

3.1 Technical Targets for High Data-Rate 6G Radios

3.2 6G Transceiver Architecture

3.3 Technical Elements in 6G Radio Systems

3.4 Bandwidth and Modulation

3.5 Bandwidth and MIMO

3.6 6G Radio Performance

3.7 Beyond 100 Gbps

3.8 Hardware Gap

3.9 Saturated Output Power vs Frequency

3.10 Power consumption



4 BASE STATIONS AND NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORKS

4.1 UM-MIMO and Vanishing Base Stations

4.2 Satellites and Drones

4.3 Internet of Drones

4.4 High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS

4.5 6G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN)

5 SEMICONDUCTORS FOR 6G

5.1 Introduction

5.2 RF Transistors Performance

5.3 Si-based Semiconductors

5.4 GaAs and GaN

5.5 InP (Indium Phosphide)

5.6 Semiconductor Challenges for THz Communications

5.7 Semiconductor Supply Chain



6 PHASE ARRAY ANTENNAS FOR 6G

6.1 Challenges in mmWave Phased Array Systems

6.2 Antenna Architectures

6.3 Challenges in 6G Antennas

6.4 Power and Antenna Array Size

6.5 5G Phased Array Antenna

6.6 Antenna Manufacturers

6.7 Technology Benchmarking

6.8 GHz Phased Array

6.9 Antenna Types

6.10 Phased Array Modules



7 ADVANCED PACKAGING FOR 6G

7.1 Packaging Requirements

7.2 Antenna Packaging Technology Options

7.3 mmWave Antenna Integration

7.4 Next Generation Phased Array Targets

7.5 Antenna Packaging vs Operational Frequency

7.6 Integration Technologies

7.7 Approaches to Integrate InP on CMOS

7.8 Antenna Integration Challenges

7.9 Substrate Materials for AiP

7.10 Antenna on Chip (AoC) for 6G

7.11 Evolution of Hardware Components from 5G to 6G



8 MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR 6G

8.1 6G ZED Compounds and Carbon Allotropes

8.2 Thermal Cooling and Conductor Materials

8.3 Thermal Metamaterials for 6G

8.4 Ionogels for 6G

8.5 Advanced Heat Shielding and Thermal Insulation

8.6 Low-Loss Dielectrics

8.7 Optical and Sub-THz 6G Materials

8.8 Materials for Metamaterial-Based 6G RIS

8.9 Electrically-Functionalized Transparent Glass for 6G OTA, T-RIS

8.10 Low-Loss Materials for mmWave and THz

8.11 Inorganic Compounds

8.12 Elements

8.13 Organic Compounds

8.14 6G Dielectrics

8.15 Metamaterials

8.16 Thermal Management

8.17 Graphene and 2D Materials

8.18 Fiber Optics

8.19 Smart EM Devices

8.20 Photoactive Materials

8.21 Silicon Carbide

8.22 Phase-Change Materials

8.23 Vanadium Dioxide

8.24 Micro-mechanics, MEMS and Microfluidics

8.25 Solid State Cooling

9 MIMO FOR 6G

9.1 MIMO in Wireless Communications

9.2 Challenges with mMIMO

9.3 Distributed MIMO

9.4 Cell-free Massive MIMO (Large-Scale Distributed MIMO)

9.5 6G Massive MIMO

9.6 Cell-Free MIMO

9.7 Cell-Free Massive MIMO



10 ZERO ENERGY DEVICES (ZED) AND BATTERY ELIMINATION

10.1 Overview

10.2 ZED-Related Technology

10.3 Zero-Energy and Battery-Free 6G

10.4 Electricity consumption of wireless networks

10.5 Technologies

10.6 6G ZED Materials and Technologies



11 6G DEVELOPMENT ROADMAPS

11.1 Spectrum for 6G

11.2 Global 6G Government Initiatives

11.3 6G Development Roadmap - South Korea

11.4 6G Development Roadmap - Japan

11.5 6G Development Roadmap - US

12 COMPANY PROFILES (49 company profiles)

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2qbb61

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.
Dublin, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Solar Container Market by On-Grid, Off-Grid, Portable, Fixed, Power Capacity (Below 10 KW, Above 50KW), Solar Panels, Batteries, Inverters, Agriculture & Irrigation, Remote Charging Stations, Mining & Military, Energy Companies - Global Forecast to 2030" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The solar container market is projected to grow from USD 0.29 billion in 2025 to USD 0.83 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 23.8%.

This growth is fueled by the increasing need for reliable off-grid power supply and the adoption of portable renewable energy systems, coupled with government initiatives promoting clean energy. These solutions are vital in offering emission-free power and enhancing energy security, making them invaluable in applications such as disaster relief, military, and rural electrification.

Power Capacity Insights:

During the forecast period, the above 50 kW segment is expected to account for the second-largest market size due to its effectiveness in large-scale operations. These high-capacity systems meet substantial energy demands at mining sites, construction projects, and manufacturing facilities, enhancing their adoption. Their utility in community electrification projects, capable of powering villages, schools, and healthcare centers, also boosts demand. The integration of hybrid renewable systems, combining solar with storage and backup, ensures a reliable power supply, critical for continuous operations.

Application Insights:

The agriculture & irrigation segment is projected to exhibit the highest CAGR, driven by the rising adoption of solar-powered irrigation systems. Farmers benefit from reduced fuel costs and reliable water supplies, thus enhancing crop yields. This segment's growth is supported by government subsidies and rural electrification programs, making solar technologies more accessible. Consequently, agriculture & irrigation positions itself as the fastest-growing segment in the solar container market.

Regional Insights:

North America is anticipated to register the second-highest CAGR during the forecast period. This is attributed to the rising need for resilient off-grid solutions, especially in disaster relief and emergency management. The proliferation of electric vehicles in the region also fuels demand for off-grid charging solutions, where solar containers play a crucial role. These dynamics contribute to significant market expansion in North America.

Competitive Landscape

Leading players such as Yangzhou CIMC New Energy Equipment Co., Ltd. (China), Ecosun Innovations (France), Faber Infrastructure GmbH (Germany), BoxPower Inc. (US), and others shape the solar container market. The report provides a detailed competitive analysis of these companies, covering their strategies and developments.

Study Coverage:

The report segments the solar container market by component, type, installation type, power capacity, and application. It addresses market drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges, presenting a comprehensive view across key regions. A value chain analysis of major players is included.

Key Benefits of Buying the Report:

Understanding of market drivers like the need for renewable energy, technological advancements, and government incentives.

Insight into innovations, R&D activities, and new product launches.

Identification of growth opportunities in untapped markets and investment prospects.

Competitive assessment of market shares and strategies of major players such as Yangzhou CIMC New Energy Equipment Co., Ltd., Ecosun Innovations, and others.

Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 255 Forecast Period 2025 - 2030 Estimated Market Value in 2025 0.29 billion Forecasted Market Value by 2030 0.83 billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 23.8% Regions Covered Global





Key Topics Covered:



Market Dynamics

Drivers Increasing Demand for Renewable Energy Sources and Sustainable Energy Solutions Advancements in Battery Storage and Solar Technology Government Initiatives and Incentives Encourage Adoption of Portable Solar Solutions

Restraints High Initial Investment Costs of Solar Containers Limited Awareness in Developing Regions Leads to Slow Adoption

Opportunities Integration With Smart Energy Management System Growing Demand from EV Sector

Challenges Unstable Power Supply and Battery Limitations Durability and Maintenance in Extreme Environments

Trends/Disruptions Impacting Customer Business

Case Study Analysis

Innovative Solar Containers for Off-Grid Energy Solutions

Solar Containers for Disaster Relief and Emergency Response

Solar Containers for Rural Electrification and Community Development

Company Profiles

Key Players

Yangzhou Cimc New Energy Equipment Co. Ltd.

Ecosun Innovations

Faber Infrastructure Gmbh

Boxpower Inc.

Hacon Containers

Statcon Energiaa Pvt. Ltd.

Statcon Powtech Pvt. Ltd.

Solarcont Gmbh

Alumero Systematic Solutions Gmbh

Erm Energies

Tellco Europe Sagl

Intech GmbH & Co. Kg

Wilmot Modular Structures, Inc.

Africa Greentec

Iysert Energy

Other Key Players

GC Solar

Renewable Future (Pty) Ltd.

Independent Energy

HCI Energy, Inc.

Off-Grid Europe

Roxbox Containers

Aoke Epower

Sunnycal Solar

Sustainsolar

Creacar

RPS Solar Pumps

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/y10lrg

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Dublin, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Power Generation Top 5 Emerging Markets Industry Guide 2020-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Emerging 5 Power Generation industry profile provides top-line qualitative and quantitative summary information including: Industry size (value, and forecast to 2029). The profile also contains descriptions of the leading players including key financial metrics and analysis of competitive pressures within the Industry.



Key Highlights

These countries contributed $947.5 billion to the global power generation industry in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5% between 2007 and 2011. The top 5 emerging countries are expected to reach a value of $1.32 trillion in 2029, with a CAGR of 6.9% over the 2024-29 period.

Within the power generation industry, China is the leading country among the top 5 emerging nations, with market revenues of $718.0 billion in 2024. This was followed by India and Brazil with a value of $156.0 and $39.6 billion, respectively.

China is expected to lead the power generation industry in the top five emerging nations, with a value of $1.01 trillion in 2029, followed by India and Brazil with expected values of $217.3 and $47.2 billion, respectively.

Key Questions Answered:

What was the size of the emerging five power generation Industry by value in 2024?

What will be the size of the emerging five power generation Industry in 2029?

What factors are affecting the strength of competition in the emerging five power generation Industry?

How has the Industry performed over the last five years?

Report Scope

Save time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the size, growth, and leading players in the emerging five power generation Industry

Use the Five Forces analysis to determine the competitive intensity and therefore attractiveness of the emerging five power generation Industry

Leading company profiles reveal details of key power generation Industry players' emerging five operations and financial performance

Add weight to presentations and pitches by understanding the future growth prospects of the emerging five power generation Industry with five year forecasts

Compares data from Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa, alongside individual chapters on each country

Key Topics Covered:



1 Introduction

1.1. What is this report about?

1.2. Who is the target reader?

1.3. How to use this report

1.4. Definitions



2 Top 5 Emerging Countries Power Generation

2.1. Industry Outlook



3 Power Generation in South Africa

3.1. Market Overview

3.2. Market Data

3.3. Market Segmentation

3.4. Market outlook

3.5. Five forces analysis



4 Macroeconomic Indicators

4.1. Country data



5 Power Generation in Brazil

5.1. Market Overview

5.2. Market Data

5.3. Market Segmentation

5.4. Market outlook

5.5. Five forces analysis



6 Macroeconomic Indicators

6.1. Country data



7 Power Generation in China

7.1. Market Overview

7.2. Market Data

7.3. Market Segmentation

7.4. Market outlook

7.5. Five forces analysis



8 Macroeconomic Indicators

8.1. Country data



9 Power Generation in India

9.1. Market Overview

9.2. Market Data

9.3. Market Segmentation

9.4. Market outlook

9.5. Five forces analysis



10 Macroeconomic Indicators

10.1. Country data



11 Power Generation in Mexico

11.1. Market Overview

11.2. Market Data

11.3. Market Segmentation

11.4. Market outlook

11.5. Five forces analysis



12 Macroeconomic Indicators

12.1. Country data



13 Company Profiles

13.1. BC Hydro

13.2. Ontario Power Generation Inc

13.3. Capital Power Corp

13.4. Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp

13.5. Comision Federal de Electricidad

13.6. Enel SpA

13.7. Naturgy Energy Group SA

13.8. Iberdrola SA

13.9. Duke Energy Corp

13.10. NRG Energy Inc

13.11. NextEra Energy Inc

13.12. Dominion Energy Inc

13.13. Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd

13.14. Engie SA

13.15. EDF Renewables SA

13.16. Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA

13.17. CPFL Energia SA

13.18. Energy Co of Minas Gerais

13.19. Engie Brasil Energia SA

13.20. China Southern Power Grid Co Ltd

13.21. Huaneng Power International Inc

13.22. GD Power Development Co Ltd

13.23. NTPC Ltd

13.24. Uttar Pradesh Power Corp Ltd

13.25. Tata Power Co Ltd

13.26. Korea Electric Power Corp

13.27. Tokyo Electric Power Co Holdings Inc

13.28. Electricite de France SA

13.29. Uniper SE

13.30. E.ON SE

13.31. Schneider Electric SE

13.32. Soregies

13.33. EnBW Energie Baden-Wurttemberg AG

13.34. RWE AG

13.35. Edison SpA

13.36. A2A SpA

13.37. JERA Co Inc

13.38. The Kansai Electric Power Co Inc

13.39. Origin Energy Ltd

13.40. AGL Energy Ltd

13.41. Energy Queensland Ltd

13.42. Vattenfall NV

13.43. Alliander NV

13.44. Liander NV

13.45. Endesa SA

13.46. Centrica Plc

13.47. National Grid Plc

13.48. EDF Energy Holdings Ltd

13.49. SSE Plc



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ZURICH, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monerys AG , a Swiss company, today announced its bold plan to transform traditional banking in Switzerland. The company is leveraging its extensive knowledge and deep expertise in regulatory compliance, trade finance, and emerging financial technologies to establish a modern banking institution designed to cater to both business and retail customers. Monerys AG, led by founder Gavin Nathan, is set to position itself to compete alongside Switzerland's established banking institutions in the near future.

As far back as 2018, when the company was founded with operations across Zurich and Bern, Monerys AG has been quietly developing its infrastructure while waiting for the market and the technology available to mature. "Monerys AG was set up many years ago to build such a bank, but we believe the markets and the technology were nowhere ready for such a bank, and the industry was also going through changes." says Nathan. " Now, with the rise of blockchain, bitcoin, and tokenization, we have decided to fully go after building the bank."

Monerys AG's strategy will combine the trust and stability that customers expect from Swiss banks with the innovation and accessibility of most modern technology. The company gathers significant expertise in regulatory compliance, trade finance, traditional banking, tokenization, and blockchain technology, uniquely positioning itself to navigate Switzerland's complex regulatory environment while providing cutting-edge financial services.

"Success in business is not about the right strategy or plan, it's about peoplehaving the right people with the right skills," Nathan explains. "What we're embarking on is the next big thing in banking and finance. This is a legacy building. What we're going to achieve will be a bank that lasts for over 100 years, by being able to change and adapt within a blink.

Nathan describes his role as being a "puzzle master"bringing together the right pieces to create a complete picture. His resilience and ability to assemble the right team have been critical in overcoming the mental and practical challenges of creating and launching a bank in one of the world's most regulated financial markets. "It's not every day you think 'I'm going to open a bank in one of the toughest places on earth when it comes to regulations,'" he admits. "Getting over my own mental understanding and belief that this is possible was the biggest struggle to overcome."

The company's philosophy embraces challenges as opportunities for growth. "Never think you won't take hits along the way" Nathan states. "It's about understanding and accepting that they will come and just being able to take them and keep moving forward."

Vision for the Future

Over the next 5-7 years, Monerys AG aims to become a recognizable brand name that people can look up to and trust. "There is a saying: those who dare to dream and act often win. Well, that's the ethos of the company and our visionand we want to enable the same for our clients, both business and retail," says Nathan.

The company is positioned at the intersection of traditional Swiss banking excellence and the emerging world of digital assets, tokenization, and blockchain technology. As the financial markets continue its digital transformation, Monerys AG believes it has the expertise and infrastructure to lead this evolution.

"Life is such a precious thing that you should wake up every day and enjoy what you have with the people you have in your life, as it can be taken away from you in a split second," Nathan reflects. "So make it count. That's what we're doing with Monerysmaking it count."

About Monerys AG

Founded in 2018, Monerys AG is a Swiss financial technology company building the next generation of banking infrastructure. Combining deep expertise in regulatory compliance, traditional banking, trade finance, blockchain technology, and tokenization, Monerys AG is creating a digital bank designed to serve clients for the next century while maintaining the trust and excellence Swiss banking is known for worldwide.

Contact

Name: Gavin Nathan, Founder

Email: gavin.nathan@novitasinc.com

Website: https://monerysag.com/

DISCLAIMER

Monerys AG is not (yet) a bank. This is no solicitation to invest into this project.

The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

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NORTHVILLE, Mich., Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tenneco proudly introduces GLYCODUR NEO, its latest bearing solution featuring GLYCO 692, a groundbreaking, PFAS-free material engineered to meet the growing demand for sustainable, high-performance sliding solutions. Designed for both dry and lubricated use, GLYCODUR NEO with GLYCO 692 sets a new benchmark in tribological performance, safety and versatility.





Our customers are seeking reliable, future-ready solutions that address both performance and regulatory requirements, said Dr. Christian Herbst-Dederichs, Vice President, Product and Technology, Powertrain. With GLYCODUR NEO featuring GLYCO 692, we are proud to deliver a solution that reflects our close collaboration with industry partners and our commitment to their long-term success.

With tightening environmental regulations and a global push for safer material standards, GLYCO 692 delivers exactly what modern industries require: excellent friction characteristics, high wear-resistance and superior load-bearing capabilities, all without relying on PFAS compounds.

At Tenneco, innovation goes hand-in-hand with responsibility, said Dr. Tobias Larem, Manager, R&D Material Development. GLYCO 692 is the result of focused R&D aimed at delivering not just high-performance components, but ones that align with evolving regulatory and environmental expectations.

Key Features of GLYCODUR NEO with GLYCO 692:

PFAS-free composition for environmentally responsible performance

Low coefficient of friction with or without lubrication

Exceptional wear-resistance and thermal endurance

High load capacity: static up to 250 MPa, dynamic up to 80 MPa

Wide operating temperature range: -50C to +260C

Health-conscious formulation with no hazardous constituents





Engineering Excellence.

GLYCO 692 is a three-layer composite material consisting of a steel backing, an open-pore tin-bronze sintered matrix, and a thermoplastic-based sliding layer enriched with a highly effective filler combination. This structure offers remarkable mechanical and thermal stability under both lubricated and dry running conditions.

Available in multiple formats including strip, wrapped bushings, flange bushings and thrust washers, GLYCO 692 supports a wide array of industrial and automotive applicationsfrom pumps and transmissions to shock absorbers and other components in high-demand environments.

Universal Application. Uncompromising Performance.

Whether in dry environments or oil-lubricated systems, GLYCO 692 is engineered to perform. Its friction-reducing additives, high endurance, and universal adaptability make it an ideal choice across automotive and industrial sectors.

For more information about GLYCODUR NEO with GLYCO 692, visit glycodur.de.

About Tenneco

Tenneco is one of the world's leading designers, manufacturers, and marketers of automotive products for original equipment and aftermarket customers. Through our DRiV, Performance Solutions, Clean Air, Powertrain and Champion business groups, Tenneco is driving advancements in global mobility by delivering technology solutions for light vehicle, commercial truck, off-highway, industrial, motorsport and the aftermarket. Visit Tenneco.com to learn more.

CONTACT:

Media Relations at Tenneco

Media@tenneco.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e0e8c305-51aa-4a24-a7a0-18c6ad659f7a

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Endeavour Silver Corp. (Endeavour or the Company) (NYSE: EXK; TSX: EDR) reports third quarter 2025 production of 1,766,926 silver ounces (oz), 7,286 gold oz, and in combination with base metal production, a silver equivalent(1) (AgEq) total production of 3.0 million oz. All dollar amounts are in US dollars ($). All production amounts exclude Terronera pre-operating production.

We are pleased to deliver another strong quarter, marked by consistent performance across our portfolio, said Dan Dickson, Chief Executive Officer. Our legacy mines continue to provide steady results, Kolpa is meeting expectations and integrating smoothly, and with Terronera nearing commercial production, we are entering the next phase of growth with significant momentum.

Q3 2025 Production Overview

Guanacev i Maintains Reliable Production: Production of silver and gold was within the planned range with throughput slightly above and grade slightly below plan.



Production of silver and gold was within the planned range with throughput slightly above and grade slightly below plan. Bolanitos Continues to Perform : Due to the lower grades in Q3 2025, silver and gold production were both slightly below plan.



Due to the lower grades in Q3 2025, silver and gold production were both slightly below plan. Kolpa Delivers Consistent Results: Throughput and metal production was in-line with historical performance and management expectations.



Throughput and metal production was in-line with historical performance and management expectations. Terronera Approaching Commercial Production: Average mill recoveries reaching 82.8% for silver and 72.3% for gold during the month of September, while throughput exceeds 1,800 tonnes per day.



Average mill recoveries reaching 82.8% for silver and 72.3% for gold during the month of September, while throughput exceeds 1,800 tonnes per day. Metal Sales and Inventories: Sold 1,762,484 silver ounces and 7,478 gold ounces during the third quarter. A total of 207,512 silver ounces and 600 gold ounces of bullion inventory and 19,381 silver ounces and 175 gold ounces in concentrate inventory were held at September 30, 2025.

Q3 2025 Mine Operations

Consolidated silver production was 1,766,926 oz in Q3 2025, in line with plan and 102% higher than Q3 2024, due to the addition of Kolpa, Bolanitos is producing higher grades of silver and lower gold grades in 2025, and lower production in the comparative period at Guanacevi due to the trunnion failure in August 2024. Excluding Kolpa, consolidated silver production was 34% higher than Q3 2024. Consolidated gold production was 7,286 oz in Q3 2025, 22% lower than Q3 2024. Lower gold production was due to 37% less gold produced at the Bolanitos mine, partially offset by 13% higher gold production at the Guanacevi mine.

In Q3 2025, Guanacevi throughput was 48% higher than Q3 2024 as Guanacevis Q3 2024 production was impacted by the August 2024 trunnion failure. Despite silver and gold grades being 15% and 27% lower, respectively, silver production was 33% higher and gold production was 13% higher due to higher mill throughput. Throughput and gold grades were in line with plan. Supplies of local third-party feed continued to supplement mine production, amounting to 19% of quarterly mill throughput. The higher precious metal prices have increased the available third-party ore purchased from local mines in the Guanacevi district.

Bolanitos Q3 2025 mill throughput was 3% lower than in Q3 2024. Silver grades were 39% higher than the comparative period, driving 36% higher silver production, while gold grades were 32% lower, driving 37% lower gold production. Throughput was slightly below plan, silver grades were consistent with plan, while gold grades were below plan. The grade variation is due to mining from different locations in the ore body.

In Q3 2025, Kolpa processed 195,752 tonnes averaging 105 grams of silver per tonne, 3.07% lead, 2.20% zinc and 0.21% copper. During the quarter, Kolpa produced 598,689 oz of silver for silver equivalent production of 1,286,139 oz, including base metals. These results are in line with management expectations.

Consolidated Production Highlights for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2025

Three Months Ended September 30, 2025 2024 % Change Tonnes Processed 400,245 175,065 129% Silver ounces produced 1,766,926 874,717 102% Gold ounces produced 7,286 9,290 (22%) Lead tonnes produced(2) 5,664 - N/A Zinc tonnes produced(2) 3,666 - N/A Copper tonnes produced(2) 120 - N/A Payable silver ounces produced 1,725,317 867,293 99% Payable gold ounces produced 7,151 9,112 (22%) Silver equivalent ounces produced(1,2) 3,037,236 1,617,925 88% Silver ounces sold 1,762,484 1,017,392 73% Gold ounces sold 7,478 9,412 (21%)

Consolidated2 Production Highlights for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025 2024 % Change Tonnes Processed 913,580 615,848 48% Silver ounces produced 4,456,455 3,647,295 22% Gold ounces produced 23,379 29,972 (22%) Lead tonnes produced(2) 9,167 - N/A Zinc tonnes produced(2) 5,982 - N/A Copper tonnes produced(2) 178 - N/A Payable silver ounces produced 4,373,087 3,621,062 21% Payable gold ounces produced 22,978 29,429 (22%) Silver equivalent ounces produced(1) 7,438,645 6,045,055 23% Silver ounces sold 4,112,865 3,991,055 3% Gold ounces sold 23,722 30,179 (21%)

Production Tables for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2025 for the Mexican Operating Mines

Three Months Ended September 30, 2025 Guanacevi Bolanitos Tonnes processed 99,340 105,153 Tonnes per day 1,080 1,143 Silver ounces produced 1,024,321 143,916 Silver grade grams per tonne 340 50 Silver recovery 94.3% 85.1% Gold ounces produced 3,194 4,092 Gold grade grams per tonne 1.07 1.36 Gold recovery 93.5% 89.0% Silver Equivalent ounces produced(1,2) 1,279,860 471,158

Totals may not add up due to rounding

Production Tables for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025 for the Mexican Operating Mines

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025 Guanacevi Bolanitos Tonnes processed 298,612 300,320 Tonnes per day 1,094 1,100 Silver ounces produced 3,037,523 439,605 Silver grade grams per tonne 350 55 Silver recovery 90.4% 82.8% Gold ounces produced 10,745 12,634 Gold grade grams per tonne 1.22 1.48 Gold recovery 91.7% 88.4% Silver Equivalent ounces produced(1) 3,897,142 1,450,287

Totals may not add up due to rounding

Production Tables for the Three Months Ended September 30, 2025 for the Peruvian Operating Mine

Three Months Ended September 30, 2025 Kolpa Tonnes processed 195,752 Silver ounces produced 598,689 Silver grade grams per tonne 105 Silver recovery % 90.7% Lead tonnes produced 5,664 Lead grade % 3.07% Lead recovery % 94.2% Zinc tonnes produced 3,666 Zinc grade % 2.20% Zinc recovery % 85.1% Copper tonnes produced 120 Copper grade % 0.21% Copper recovery % 29.2% Silver Equivalent ounces produced(1) 1,286,139

Totals may not add up due to rounding

Production Tables for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2025 for the Peruvian Operating Mine

Five Months2 Ended September 30, 2025 Kolpa Tonnes processed 314,648 Silver ounces produced 979,327 Silver grade grams per tonne 107.37 Silver recovery % 90.2% Lead tonnes produced 9,167 Lead grade % 3.09% Lead recovery % 94.3% Zinc tonnes produced 5,982 Zinc grade % 2.22% Zinc recovery % 85.6% Copper tonnes produced 178 Copper grade % 0.21% Copper recovery % 26.5% Silver Equivalent ounces produced(1,2) 2,091,217

Totals may not add up due to rounding

1 Silver equivalent (AgEq) is calculated using 80:1 silver: gold ratio, 60:1 lead ratio, 85:1 zinc ratio and 300:1 copper ratio plus silver ounces or $30/oz silver, $2,400/oz gold, $1,800/tonne lead, $2,550/tonne zinc and $9,000/tonne copper.

2 The Kolpa acquisition closed on May 1, 2025, therefore five months of results are included in the year to date consolidated results.

Terronera Update

In August, the operations team maintained production tonnage to an average of 1,595 tonnes per day in order to stabilize gold and silver recovery rates.

Between September 1 and September 23, Terronera processed a total of 39,190 tonnes of material, reaching a single-day peak of 2,162 tonnes and averaging 1,866 tonnes per day, with average metal recoveries of 82.8% for silver and 72.3% for gold. This included 2 down days in early September for planned maintenance.

On September 24, operations were temporarily impacted due to a circuit electrical problem in the SAG mill, caused by high humidity and condensation, which damaged the pre-charge resistors. As a result, the plant remained offline for six days while new resistors were fabricated and installed. Operations resumed successfully on September 30, and we are continuing to monitor progress as we approach the announcement of commercial production.

Since July 1, Terronera has produced approximately 212,043 ounces of silver and 6,256 ounces of gold. During this period, a total of 145,680 tonnes of material were processed, with average grades of 64 grams per tonne (g/t) silver and 2.08 g/t gold. During the quarter, the mill achieved average metal recoveries of 70.7% for silver and 64.2% for gold. Operations are currently focused in a lower grade zone of the Terronera vein and as of the end of August, mined silver grades have reconciled slightly above plan at 108%, while gold grades have reconciled at 93% of the mine plan. Stope widths have been narrower than anticipated. These variations are considered normal in comparison to resource modeling and are expected to fluctuate over life of mine.

About Endeavour Silver

Endeavour is a mid-tier precious metals company with a strong commitment to sustainable and responsible mining practices. With operations in Mexico and Peru, and the development of its new cornerstone mine, Terronera, the Company aims to contribute positively to the mining industry and the communities in which it operates. In addition, Endeavour has a portfolio of exploration projects in Mexico, Chile and the United States to facilitate its goal to become a premier senior silver producer.

Qualified Person

Dale Mah, P.Geo., Vice President Corporate Development, a qualified person under NI 43-101, has approved the scientific and technical information related to operations matters in this news release.

Q3 2025 Financial Results and Conference Call

Q3 2025 financial results will be released before market open on Friday November 7, 2025, and Management will host a conference call the same day at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET to discuss the results.

Date: Friday November 7, 2025 Time: 10:00am PT / 1:00pm ET Telephone: Canada & US + 1-833-752-3348 International + 1-647-846-2804 Replay: Canada & US +1- 855-669-9658 International +1-412-317-0088 Access code is 8825809; audio replay will be available on the Companys website

Contact Information



Allison Pettit

Vice President, Investor Relations

Email: apettit@edrsilver.com

Website: www.edrsilver.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements and information herein include but are not limited to statements regarding Endeavours preparation to bring Terronera into production and timing related thereto; focus of operations at Terronera; Kolpas contribution to Endeavours long-term growth strategy and Endeavours anticipated performance for upcoming financial quarters. The Company does not intend to and does not assume any obligation to update such forward-looking statements or information, other than as required by applicable law.

Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, production levels, performance or achievements of Endeavour and its operations to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include but are not limited to unexpected changes in production and costs guidance; the ongoing effects of inflation and supply chain issues on the Terronera Project economics; changes in national and local governments legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada, Chile, the USA, Mexico and Peru; financial risks due to precious metals prices; operating or technical difficulties in mineral exploration, development and mining activities; risks and hazards of mineral exploration, development and mining (including, but not limited to environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected geological conditions, pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inadequate insurance, or inability to obtain insurance; availability of and costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; diminishing quantities or grades of mineral reserves as properties are mined; risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits; fluctuations in the prices of silver and gold; fluctuations in currency markets (particularly the Mexican peso, Peruvian sol, Chilean peso, Canadian dollar and U.S. dollar); and challenges to the Companys title to properties; as well as those factors described in the section Risk Factors contained in the Companys most recent form 40F/Annual Information Form and the Prospectus Supplement Dated April 3, 2025 filed with the S.E.C. and Canadian securities regulatory authorities.

Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to: the continued operation of the Companys mining operations, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, forecasted mine economics, mining operations will operate and the mining products will be completed in accordance with managements expectations and achieve their stated production outcomes, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information.
NEW YORK, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nilo Therapeutics, a biotechnology company harnessing neural circuits to restore immune homeostasis in disease, launched today with a $101 million Series A financing led by The Column Group (TCG), DCVC Bio, and Lux Capital, with participation from the Gates Foundation and Alexandria Venture Investments. Coinciding with its launch, Nilo announced the appointment of Kim Seth, Ph.D., as Chief Executive Officer and Board director.

Founded by world-leading scientists Charles Zuker, Ph.D. (Columbia University), Ruslan Medzhitov, Ph.D. (Yale University), and Steve Liberles, Ph.D. (Harvard University), Nilo was created in collaboration with TCG to translate groundbreaking scientific insights in neuro-immunology into new therapeutic strategies. Dr. Seth joins Chief Scientific Officer Laurens Kruidenier, Ph.D., in leading the companys transition from stealth into its next stage of growth. The financing fuels the establishment of Nilos laboratories in New York City, growth of its interdisciplinary research and development team, and advancement of the companys preclinical programs.

Nilo is developing drugs that harness neural circuits to restore immune homeostasis centrally, offering a differentiated approach to immunomodulation and moving beyond conventional immunosuppression. The company builds on seminal scientific discoveries from the laboratory of Charles Zuker, Ph.D. (Columbia University Principal Investigator and Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator), which identified specific vagal neurons that regulate systemic immune activation and inflammation. By targeting these central master regulator brain-body circuits, Nilo is employing its novel therapeutic approach to modulate multiple immune pathways in concert, reducing the risk of therapeutic resistance and broadening potential impact across a wide spectrum of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases with large unmet need.

Dr. Seth brings over 25 years of biopharma industry experience, with operating roles across multiple early-stage and public biotech companies and large pharma. He has broad expertise in company building, strategy and R&D operations, business development, finance and capital markets. Prior to Nilo, Dr. Seth served as Chief Business Officer at Repare Therapeutics, a precision oncology company, where he was a member of the Executive Leadership Team and was instrumental in scaling the company from pre-Series A through its Series B financing and IPO. He was responsible for establishing the companys US business operations and led business development to generate over $250 million in financing through a range of global platform, asset, and clinical partnerships, representing over $4 billion in total potential value. Prior to Repare, Dr. Seth held leadership positions in BD, strategy, and operations across a number of biopharma companies including Pfizer, and was a Large-cap Pharmaceuticals /Specialty Pharmaceuticals research analyst at Goldman Sachs. He earned his BA cum laude in Economics at Harvard College, and his Ph.D. in Neurobiology in the Division of Medical Sciences at Harvard University.

Dr. Seth joins Laurens Kruidenier, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer, an accomplished immunology and drug discovery leader. Dr. Kruidenier previously served as CSO at Cellarity and at Prometheus Biosciences (acquired by Merck), where he advanced multiple innovative therapies from concept to clinic in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Earlier in his career at Takeda Pharmaceuticals and GSK, he led preclinical and discovery research teams as well as business development strategy. He earned his Ph.D. in immunology from Leiden University, and his research has been published in leading scientific journals, including Nature.

Nilo is at a transformative moment, said Laurens Kruidenier, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Nilo Therapeutics. Kims leadership and experience will accelerate our mission to translate breakthrough neuro-immunology into medicines that could benefit patients across a broad range of immune-driven diseases.

We are thrilled to welcome Kim as CEO, said Dr. Tim Kutzkey, Managing Partner at The Column Group. With a track record of guiding companies from their earliest stages through IPO, and successfully advancing programs, Kim brings both breadth and vision. His passion for translating bold science into breakthrough medicines makes him the ideal partner to complement Laurens scientific leadership and lead Nilo into its next phase of growth.

Its an honor to join the incredibly talented and committed team at Nilo, said Kim Seth, Chief Executive Officer of Nilo Therapeutics. Together with Laurens, our world-class scientific founders, and our investors, we are building a company positioned to deliver a new generation of therapies that harness the brain-immune axis to transform the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.

About Nilo Therapeutics

Nilo Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing a new class of medicines that harness neural circuits to restore immune homeostasis in disease. By targeting master regulator brain-body circuits that centrally control systemic inflammation, Nilo is pioneering a differentiated approach to immunomodulation with the potential to treat a wide spectrum of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases with large unmet need. The company is headquartered in New York, NY. www.nilotx.com

For more information, contact info@nilotx.com
OTTAWA, Ontario, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canada is at risk of losing of some of its most iconic heritage places. Today, the National Trust for Canada released its 2025 Endangered Places List, drawing attention to irreplaceable heritage sites across the country that are at risk of loss.

This years list underscores the urgent need for more decisive action to safeguard Canadas heritage. Historic buildings and cultural landmarks are lost due to inadequate legal protections, neglect, and systemic barriers to preservation.

When historic places disappear, Canadas collective story is diminished, community identity is fractured, and finite resources are wasted.

The National Trust Endangered Places List draws attention to the challenges faced by historic places, said Patricia Kell, the National Trust for Canadas Chief Executive Officer. By sharing this list, we hope that these treasured places will be saved. The list focuses attention, galvanizes action and helps local community groups to preserve places that matter to them.

Since 2005, the Endangered Places List has been a vital tool for raising awareness and mobilizing action to save heritage sites. The List is developed from nominations, media coverage, and community reports.

New Listings:

24 Sussex Drive (Ottawa, ON) vacant, with no plan for its future.

vacant, with no plan for its future. Hudsons Bay Building (Calgary, AB)  faces an uncertain future as the historic company goes bankrupt.

 faces an uncertain future as the historic company goes bankrupt. Dr. Martin Murphy House (Halifax, NS)  challenged to access insurance.

 challenged to access insurance. Claybank Brick Plant (Claybank, SK)  falling deeper into disrepair.

 falling deeper into disrepair. 500 Lot Area (Charlottetown, PEI)  left vulnerable by weak bylaws.

 left vulnerable by weak bylaws. Peck Building (Winnipeg, MB)  made fragile by prolonged vacancy.

 made fragile by prolonged vacancy. Saint Joseph dAlma Church (Alma, QC)  Quebecs historic churches face a crisis as provincial funding recedes.

 Quebecs historic churches face a crisis as provincial funding recedes. Pascal Poirier House (Shediac, NB)  never re-opened after COVID.

 never re-opened after COVID. Sisters of the Visitation Convent (Ottawa, ON)  vacant and crumbling.

 vacant and crumbling. Spruce Avenue School (Edmonton, AB)  faces demolition despite local opposition.

Click here for more about these endangered places.

About the National Trust for Canada

Created in 1973, the National Trust for Canada is the leading national charity dedicated to the conservation of Canada's historic places. The Trust believes that heritage places and older buildings are integral to solving community challenges and meeting contemporary needs, including climate resilience, diversity and inclusion, identity and sense of place, and community wellbeing.
NEW YORK, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces an investigation into BellRing Brands, Inc. (NYSE: BRBR) for potential violations of the federal securities laws.

If you invested in BellRing, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/bellring-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

Why is BellRing Being Investigated?

BellRing Brands operates in the convenient nutrition category. The Companys primary brands include Premier Protein and Dymatize, which offer ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes and powders. During the relevant period, the Company stated that Premier Protein hit an all-time high in household penetration and that demand remains strong. The Company also stated that its growth was strong in all channels, driven by distribution expansion, accelerating velocities and incremental promotional activity.

In truth, the Companys sales growth during the relevant period may have been driven by temporary trade inventory loading at several key retailers, not sustainable end-consumer demand.

The Stock Declines as the Truth Is Revealed

On May 5, 2025, after market hours, BellRing revealed that starting in Q2 2023, several key retailers lowered their weeks of supply on hand, which would create a headwind to Q3 2025 growth. The Company also announced it was expanding promotions to boost sales and offset [] third quarter reductions in retailer trade inventory levels. On this news, the price of BellRing stock fell $13.96 per share, or more than 18%, from $77.34 per share on May 5, 2025, to $63.38 per share on May 6, 2025.

Then, on August 4, 2025, after market hours, BellRing announced disappointing quarterly consumption of Premier Protein RTD Shakes, which had been expected to outpace shipments by a wider margin given previously announced retailer destocking, but instead came more in line with shipments. On this news, the price of BellRing Brands stock fell $17.46 per share, or nearly 33%, from $53.64 per share on August 4, 2025, to $36.18 per share on August 5, 2025.

Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/bellring-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit.

What Can You Do?

If you invested in BellRing you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.

Submit your information by visiting:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/bellring-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Or contact:

Ross Shikowitz

ross@bfalaw.com

212.789.3619

Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?

BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named Elite Trial Lawyers by the National Law Journal, among the top 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers by Lawdragon, Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.

For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/bellring-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
NEW YORK, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces an investigation into James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE: JHX) for potential violations of the federal securities laws.

If you invested in James Hardie, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-class-action-lawsuit.

Why Is James Hardie being Investigated?

James Hardie is a producer and marketer of high-performance fiber cement and fiber gypsum building solutions. The largest application for the Companys fiber cement building products in the United Stated and Canada is in external siding for the residential building industry.

During the relevant period, James Hardie stated that its fast[]-growing customers was one of the key aspects of its competitive positioning. The Company also stated that its North American business results clearly demonstrate the inherent strength of the Companys unique value proposition and the underlying momentum in our strategy.

In truth, it appears the Companys North American sales during the relevant period may have been driven by temporary inventory loading by channel partners, not sustainable customer demand.

The Stock Declines as the Truth Is Revealed

On August 19, 2025, after market hours, James Hardie reported its fiscal Q1 2026 financial results. During the accompanying earnings call, the Company revealed that North American net sales declined 12% during the quarter, driven by lower volumes as customers made efforts to return to more normal inventory levels[.] The Company also revealed that significant inventory destocking among channel partners in North America was expected to continue to impact sales for the next several quarters. On this news, the price of James Hardie stock fell $9.79 per share, or more than 34%, from $28.43 per share on August 19, 2025, to $18.64 per share on August 20, 2025.

Click here for more information: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-class-action-lawsuit.

What Can You Do?

If you invested in James Hardie you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.

Submit your information by visiting:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-class-action-lawsuit

Or contact:

Ross Shikowitz

ross@bfalaw.com

212.789.3619

Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?

BFA is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It has been named a top plaintiff law firm by Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and ISS SCAS, and its attorneys have been named Elite Trial Lawyers by the National Law Journal, among the top 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers by Lawdragon, Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thomson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.

For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/james-hardie-industries-class-action-lawsuit

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Dublin, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Next-Generation Intervention Cardiology Market - A Global and Regional Analysis: Focus on Product Type, Indication Type, End User, and Regional Analysis - Analysis and Forecast, 2025-2035" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The global next-generation intervention cardiology market is expected to witness significant expansion, projected to reach $46.82 billion by 2035, driven by the escalating burden of cardiovascular diseases- including coronary artery disease, structural heart defects, and valvular disorders - that demand safer, more precise alternatives to open-heart surgery.

This market is anchored in minimally invasive, catheter-based solutions that integrate advanced robotics, and AI-guided imaging to deliver superior procedural accuracy, faster recovery, and expanded patient access.





Next-generation intervention cardiology represents a paradigm shift, combining automation, data-driven precision, and operator ergonomics to improve outcomes while reducing occupational hazards. Key milestones, such as the commercial launch and adoption of robotic-assisted PCI systems like Robocath's R-One - currently the only commercially available R-PCI platform - have validated these disruptive approaches and and the CE Mark for transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) platforms, underscored the shift toward standardization and scalability of catheter-based therapies.



Market expansion is further bolstered by supportive reimbursement and regulatory pathways in the U.S., EU, and Japan, alongside investments by public and private sectors in cath lab modernization, operator training, and digital integration. Countries across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific are scaling infrastructure and fostering innovation hubs, with emerging economies such as India and Brazil offering significant untapped potential for next-generation intervention cardiology market.



Technological convergence is accelerating growth, with innovations such as AI-enabled OCT/IVUS imaging, remote robotic PCI platforms, and bioresorbable scaffolds enhancing both procedural quality and long-term outcomes. While robotic-assisted PCI and intravascular imaging remain dominant segments of next-generation intervention cardiology, newer applications in structural interventions, peripheral artery disease, and congenital heart repairs are expanding the scope of next-generation intervention cardiology beyond coronary disease.



Despite this momentum, challenges such as high capital costs, fragmented training standards, and uneven access to technology persist in the global next-generation intervention cardiology landscape. However, growing payer support, and industry-academic collaborations are steadily addressing these barriers, enabling wider adoption of of next-generation intervention cardiology solutions.



Leading players such as Abbott., Medtronic plc, Boston Scientific Corporation, and Terumo Corporation are shaping the competitive landscape, advancing first-in-class devices, expanding portfolios, and investing in clinical validation and commercialization to strengthen their foothold in next-generation intervention cardiology.



As healthcare increasingly prioritizes precision medicine, patient-centric care, and minimally invasive solutions, next-generation intervention cardiology stands at the forefront of cardiovascular innovation, poised to redefine care paradigms and improve outcomes for diverse patient populations worldwide.

Recent Developments in the Next-Generation Intervention Cardiology Market

In May 2025, Koninklijke Philips N.V. launched VeriSight Pro 3D ICE catheter in Europe, delivering real-time 3D intracardiac imaging to expand access to minimally invasive heart procedures. Technology enhances procedural guidance for structural heart interventions without requiring general anesthesia, improving efficiency and patient comfort in minimally invasive cardiac care.

In May 2025, Cordis launched the SELUTION Global Coronary Registry, a real-world, prospective study enrolling up to 10,000 patients to track long-term outcomes of SELUTION SLR drug-eluting balloon over five years.

In April 2025, Edwards Lifesciences Corporation received CE Mark approval for the SAPIEN M3 Transcatheter Mitral Valve System, the first TMVR device for transcatheter treatment of patients with symptomatic (moderate-to-severe mitral regurgitation) who are ineligible for surgery or transcatheter edge-to-edge (TEER) therapy.

In March 2025, Abbott launched an FDA IDE-approved TECTONIC trial to evaluate its Coronary Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) System for treating severely calcified coronary arteries prior to stenting, enrolling up to 335 patients across 47 U.S. sites.

In March 2025, Terumo Corporation received EU MDR approval for Ultimaster Nagomi and Ultimaster Tansei sirolimus-eluting stents, indicated for high bleeding risk (HBR) patients, including those eligible for dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) as short as one month.

Market Demand Drivers:

Rising Elderly Population, Driving Demand for Advanced Cardiac Interventions:

Cardiovascular Disease Burden in the Elderly

Emergence of Robotic-Assisted Interventions-Enhancing Procedural Accuracy and Operator Control

Market Challenges:

Data Standardization and Clinical Validation Gaps in AI-Driven Cardiology

Safety and Clinical Validation Barriers for Next-Generation Vascular Implants

Market Opportunities:

Stent and Balloon Innovation Unlocking Next-Generation Use Cases

Advancements in Drug-Coated Balloon Technologies

Remote and Robotic-Enabled Expansion into Emerging Markets

Market Trends:

Shift Towards Minimally Invasive and Percutaneous Procedures Transforming Treatment Paradigms



The field of cardiac care is increasingly shifting toward minimally invasive, catheter-based interventions that offer shorter recovery times, reduced procedural risks, and lower healthcare costs - particularly beneficial for elderly and high-risk patients. Techniques such as Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC), MitraClip, and robotic Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) are progressively replacing traditional open-heart surgeries, establishing themselves as standard-of-care treatments for various cardiac conditions. The use of MitraClip has expanded significantly in recent years, supported by broader regulatory approvals and reimbursement policies.

Key Market Players and Competition Synopsis



Profiled companies have been selected based on inputs gathered from primary experts, as well as analyzing company coverage, product portfolio, and market penetration.



Key players in this market include leading global medical device companies offering a comprehensive range of advanced interventional solutions, such as robotic-assisted PCI systems, intravascular imaging platforms, and next-generation stents and scaffolds. Established firms like Abbott, Medtronic, and Boston Scientific dominate with extensive portfolios spanning coronary, structural, and peripheral interventions.



Innovators are also developing AI-driven imaging modalities, such as advanced OCT and IVUS systems, to improve procedural planning and outcomes. Biotech-inspired medtech firms are pioneering bioresorbable scaffolds, drug-coated balloons, and novel vascular implants that enhance vessel healing and reduce restenosis. Start-ups and regional players are entering with disruptive solutions, such as cost-effective robotic systems, portable imaging tools, and tele-interventional platforms targeting underserved and emerging markets. Together, these companies are driving technological progress, expanding access to advanced care, and addressing unmet needs in precision-guided, minimally invasive cardiovascular interventions.



Some prominent names established in this market are:

Medtronic plc

Boston Scientific Corporation

Abbott.

Terumo Corporation

Edwards Lifesciences

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Siemens Healthineers



Key Attributes:





Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 238 Forecast Period 2025 - 2035 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $22886.3 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2035 $46821 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 7.2% Regions Covered Global





Market Segmentation:

Segmentation by Product Type

Robotics Robotic-Assisted Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (R-PCI) Robotic-Assisted Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (RA-CABG) Robotic Assisted Mitral Valve-Replacement (RMVR) Robotic Assisted Aortic Valve Replacement

Non-Robotics IVUS OCT Other Interventions Stents Catheters Guidewires PTCA Balloons Others



Segmentation By Indication Type

Structural Heart Disease

Coronary Heart Diseases

Valvular Heart Diseases

Peripheral Artery Diseases

Congenital Heart Diseases

Segmentation By End User

Hospitals and Clinics

Cardiac Centers

Ambulatory Surgical Centers

Segmentation By Region

North America U.S. Canada

Europe Germany U.K. France Italy Spain Rest-of-Europe

Asia-Pacific Japan India China Australia South Korea Rest-of-Asia-Pacific

Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest-of-Latin America

Middle East and Africa K.S.A South Africa Rest-of-Middle East and Africa



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nzyr31

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Howard Hughes Holdings Inc . (NYSE: HHH) (the Company or Howard Hughes) announced today that the Company will release 2025 third quarter earnings on Monday, November 10, 2025, at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time, followed by its third quarter conference call at 10:00 a.m. The Company's earnings release will be posted to the Investors section of the Company's website prior to the conference call.

Please visit the Howard Hughes website to listen to the earnings call via a live webcast. Listeners who wish to participate in the question and answer session may do so via telephone by pre-registering on HHHs earnings call registration webpage. All registrants will receive dial-in information and a PIN allowing them to access the live call. An on-demand replay of the earnings call will be available on the Companys website immediately following the conclusion of the live call for a period of one year.

About Howard Hughes Holdings Inc.

Howard Hughes Holdings (HHH) is a holding company focused on growing long-term shareholder value. Through its real estate platform, Howard Hughes Communities, HHH owns, manages, and develops commercial, residential, and mixed-use real estate throughout the U.S. Award-winning assets include the countrys preeminent portfolio of master planned communities, as well as operating properties and development opportunities including The Woodlands, Bridgeland and The Woodlands Hills in the Greater Houston, Texas area; Summerlin in Las Vegas; Teravalis in the Greater Phoenix, Arizona area; Ward Village in Honolulu, Hawaii; and Merriweather District in Columbia, Maryland. Howard Hughes Holdings is traded on the New York Stock Exchange as HHH.

Media Contacts:

Cristina Carlson

Howard Hughes

cristina.carlson@howardhughes.com

646-822-6910

Francis McGill

Pershing Square

McGill@persq.com

212-909-2455



Investor Relations:
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Goldgroup Mining Inc. (Goldgroup or the Company) (TSX-V:GGA, OTC:GGAZF), a growing gold producer in Mexico, today announced that Mr. Ralph Shearing, CEO, will present live at the Metals & Mining Virtual Investor Conference hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on October 9, 2025, 12:00 PM ET.

DATE: October 9, 2025

TIME: 12:00 PM ET

LINK: REGISTER HERE

Available for 1x1 meetings: October 9  15, 2025. Schedule 1x1 Meetings here

This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.

It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.

Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

About Goldgroup Mining Inc.

Goldgroup is a Canadian-based mining Company with two high-growth gold assets in Mexico. The Company has a 100% interest in the producing Cerro Prieto heap-leach gold mine located in the State of Sonora. An optimization and exploration program is underway at Cerro Prieto to significantly increase existing production and resources.

In addition, the Company holds a 100% interest in the large Pinos underground gold development project in Zacatecas State. Pinos is an advanced PEA level development project.

Goldgroup is led by a team of highly successful and seasoned individuals with extensive expertise in mine development, corporate finance, and exploration in Mexico.

For further information, please contact Sophia Shane at sshane@goldgroupmining.com or +1 604 306 6867 or visit the Companys website at www.goldgroupmining.com.

About Virtual Investor Conferences

Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

For further information, please contact John M. Viglotti, SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access OTC Markets Group at (212) 220-2221 or johnv@otcmarkets.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Ralph Shearing

CEO



Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.
TORONTO, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wallbridge Mining Company Limited (TSX: WM, OTCQB: WLBMF) (Wallbridge or the Company) is pleased to announce that it received $4.7 million of cash refunds with respect to its 2024 Quebec Tax Credit Relating to Resources (TCRR) that were claimed on its 2024 Quebec income tax return.

The government of Quebec supports mineral exploration within the province. One incentive that Wallbridge is entitled to receive is a tax credit that refunds a portion of eligible exploration expenses incurred and not funded by Quebec Flow Through shares.

The receipt of the TCRR Quebec investment tax credits will be used to continue to advance the Companys exploration and development programs at Martiniere, Fenelon and other of the Companys mineral properties.

About Wallbridge Mining

Wallbridge is focused on creating value through the exploration and sustainable development of gold projects in Quebecs Abitibi region while respecting the environment and communities where it operates. The Company holds a contiguous mineral property position totaling 598 km2 that extends approximately 82 km along the Detour-Fenelon gold trend. The property is host to the Companys flagship PEA stage Fenelon Gold Project, and its earlier exploration stage Martiniere Gold Project, as well as numerous greenfield gold projects.

For further information please visit the Companys website at https://wallbridgemining.com/ or contact:

Brian Penny, CPA, CMA

CEO

Email: bpenny@wallbridgemining.com

M: +1 416 716 8346 Tania Barreto, CPIR

Director Investor Relations

Email: tbarreto@wallbridgemining.com

M: +1 289 819 3012

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

The information in this document may contain forward-looking statements or information (collectively, "FLI") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. FLI is based on expectations, estimates, projections and interpretations as at the date of this document.

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are FLI that involve various risks, assumptions, estimates and uncertainties. Generally, FLI can be identified by the use of statements that include, but are not limited to, words such as "seeks", "believes", "anticipates", "plans", "continues", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "expects", "forecasts", "intends", "projects", "predicts", "proposes", "potential", "targets" and variations of such words and phrases, or by statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "will", "could", "would", "should" or "might", "be taken", "occur" or "be achieved."

FLI in this document may include, but is not limited to: the expected use of proceeds of funds received under the TCRR; statements regarding current and future exploration and development activities at Fenelon and Martiniere (collectively the "Deposits") and other of the Companys mineral properties; the results of the preliminary economic assessment ("PEA"); the Company's ability to convert inferred resources into measured and indicated resources; environmental matters; stakeholder engagement and relationships; parameters and methods used to estimate the mineral resource estimates ("MREs") at the Deposits; the prospects, if any, of the Deposits; and the significance of historic exploration activities and results.

FLI is designed to help you understand management's current views of its near- and longer-term prospects, and it may not be appropriate for other purposes. FLI by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such FLI. Although the FLI contained in this document is based upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities of the Company that actual results will be consistent with such FLI, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and neither the Company nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such FLI. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such FLI contained in this document to reflect new events or circumstances. Unless otherwise noted, this document has been prepared based on information available as of the date of this document. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the FLI, or information contained herein.

Furthermore, should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in FLI.

Assumptions upon which FLI is based, without limitation, include: the results of exploration activities, the Company's financial position and general economic conditions; the ability of exploration activities to accurately predict mineralization; the accuracy of geological modelling; the ability of the Company to complete further exploration activities; the legitimacy of title and property interests in the Deposits; the accuracy of key assumptions, parameters or methods used to estimate the MREs and in the PEA; the ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; geological, mining and exploration technical problems; failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the evolution of the global economic climate; metal prices; foreign exchange rates; environmental expectations; community and non-governmental actions; and, the Company's ability to secure required funding. Risks and uncertainties about Wallbridge's business are discussed in the disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available at www.sedarplus.ca.

Cautionary Notes to United States Investors

Wallbridge prepares its disclosure in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Terms relating to mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources and economic studies used herein are defined in accordance with NI 43-101 under the guidelines set out in CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Council on May 19, 2014, as amended. NI 43-101 differs significantly from the disclosure requirements of the SEC generally applicable to US companies. As such, the information presented herein concerning mineral properties, mineralization and estimates of mineral reserves and mineral resources may not be comparable to similar information made public by U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
TORONTO, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PharmAla Biotech Holdings Inc. (PharmAla or the Company) (CSE: MDMA) (OTCQB:MDXXF), a biotechnology company focused on the research, development, and manufacturing of LaNeo MDMA and novel derivatives of MDMA (MDXX class molecules) is today announcing the launch of NEXUS, its new and updated tool to bring together and connect Prescribers, Therapists and Clinic managers. NEXUS is designed to be a key tool in connecting the total chain of care for MDMA practitioners, as well as an important mechanism to deliver and share knowledge on the latest advances to regulatory processes, scientific evidence, and best-in-class patient care.

When we launched the Prescribers Portal over a year ago, our goal was quite narrow. We just wanted to help prescribers navigate the regulatory pathways for patient access, which they found quite difficult, said Nick Kadysh, CEO of PharmAla Biotech. What we have discovered over the past 18 months is that prescribers are just one part of the ecosystem delivering care for legally authorized MDMA-Assisted Therapy patients. There are also the therapists  who often have long-term relationships with the patients. There are clinic managers who are responsible for the administration of care delivery. Increasingly, they all need access to data on how to do their jobs more effectively, and to connect with one another in delivering a new and highly effective modality of care. With NEXUS, we aim to solve that challenge.

PharmAla will be hosting a webinar on Wednesday, October 22nd at 4:00 PM EST for medical practitioners, therapists, and clinic managers interested in accessing the NEXUS tool. The webinar will be delivered digitally and is available only to medical practitioners who have signed up for NEXUS login.

NEXUS brings the full MDMA-assisted therapy team into one place: a qualified prescriber, a psychotherapist, and the clinic managers who make care work, said Ali Taghva, Chief Commercial Officer at PharmAla Biotech. It helps them connect, share what works, and stay current on guidance so patients receive better care.

Appointment of Farnoud Kazemzadeh as PharmAlas COO

PharmAla is incredibly pleased to announce the appointment of Farnoud Kazemzadeh as its Chief Operating Officer. Dr. Kazemzadeh is a seasoned executive with extensive experience scaling a growing business. Most recently, Dr. Kazemzadeh was a Co-Founder - Operations at Vital Biosciences of Toronto, Ontario.



Resignation of Dr. Harriet De Wit from PharmAlas Board of Directors



PharmAla regretfully accepts the resignation of Dr. Harriet De Wit from its board of directors. Both the Board and Management team of PharmAla wishes to gratefully thank and acknowledge Dr. De Wit for her extraordinary contributions to the Company, its operations, and its scientific advisory board.



About PharmAla

PharmAla Biotech Holdings Inc. (CSE: MDMA)(OTCQB: MDXXF) is a biotechnology company focused on the research, development, and manufacturing of MDXX class molecules, including MDMA. PharmAla was founded with a dual focus: alleviating the global backlog of generic, clinical-grade MDMA to enable clinical trials as well as commercial sales in selected jurisdictions, and to develop novel drugs in the same class. PharmAla is the only company currently provisioning clinical-grade MDMA for patient treatments outside of clinical trials. PharmAlas research and development unit has completed proof-of-concept research into several IP families, including ALA-002, its lead drug candidate. PharmAla is a regulatory first organization, formed under the principle that true success in the psychedelics industry will only be achieved through excellent relationships with regulators.

For more information, please contact:

Nicholas Kadysh

Chief Executive Officer

PharmAla Biotech Holdings Inc.

Email: press@PharmAla.ca

Phone: 1-855-444-6362

Website: www.PharmAla.ca

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement

This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. 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 PharmAlas current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by PharmAla at the date of the information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof, and PharmAla 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. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption Risk Factors in PharmAlas managements discussion and analysis which is available on PharmAlas profile at www.sedar.com.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state, province, territory or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state, province, territory or jurisdiction.
Netanya, Israel, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Silynxcom Ltd. (NYSE American: SYNX) ("Silynxcom" or the "Company"), a manufacturer and developer of ruggedized tactical communication headset devices, today announced it has received a $935,000 purchase order for its cutting-edge in-ear tactical headset systems. The deployment will equip field personnel with enhanced communication capabilities, enabling faster response times and reduced risk during complex scenarios.

The selected Silynxcom in-ear systems, including the award-winning Clarus and C4 series, deliver superior hearing protection with active noise cancellation, ensuring operators are safeguarded from hazardous noise levels, while allowing full tactical operation. These lightweight, discreet headsets integrate seamlessly with existing radio infrastructure, providing situational awareness through balanced sound amplification and bone conduction technology, which minimizes exposure to ballistic and environmental threats without compromising mission effectiveness.

"This significant order reflects the trust placed in our solutions by one of the most specialized forces in high-stakes operations," said Nir Klein, Chief Executive Officer of Silynxcom. "Our in-ear tactical systems are engineered with operator safety at the forefront, combining military-grade durability with innovative features that protect hearing and enhance performance in the field. We are proud to support these critical missions and look forward to delivering even greater advancements in the future."

About Silynxcom Ltd.

Silynxcom Ltd. develops, manufactures, markets, and sells ruggedized tactical communication headset devices as well as other communication accessories, all of which have been field-tested and combat-proven. The Company's in-ear headset devices, or In-Ear Headsets, are used in combat, the battlefield, riot control, demonstrations, weapons training courses, and on the factory floor. The In-Ear Headsets seamlessly integrate with third party manufacturers of professional-grade ruggedized radios that are used by soldiers in combat or by police officers in leading military and law enforcements units. The Company's In-Ear Headsets also fit tightly into the protective gear to enable users to speak and hear clearly and precisely while they are protected from the hazardous sounds of combat, riots or dangerous situations. The sleek, lightweight, In-Ear Headsets include active sound protection to eliminate unsafe sounds, while maintaining ambient environmental awareness, giving their customers 360 situational awareness. The Company works closely with its customers and seek to improve the functionality and quality of the Company's products based on actual feedback from soldiers and police officers "in the field." The Company sells its In-Ear Headsets and communication accessories directly to military forces, police and other law enforcement units. The Company also deals with specialized networks of local distributors in each locale in which it operates and has developed key strategic partnerships with radio equipment manufacturers.

For additional information about the company please visit: https://silynxcom.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws and are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "seek," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "target," "aim," "should," "will" "would," or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. For example, the Company uses forward-looking statements when it discusses the benefits and advantages of the Companys in-ear systems. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on May 13, 2025, and other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC which are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Capital Markets & IR Contact

Michal Efraty

ir@silynxcom.com
Chicago, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Circana LLC today released a new report, The Aging Arc, revealing a profound shift in consumer influence across generations. The research highlights how unique life stages and watershed moments are redefining the retail landscape, making it essential for brands to understand these dynamics to achieve growth.

The report details the current and future state of generational spending power. While baby boomers and Gen X currently dominate retail with a combined 65% share of spend, a massive transfer of wealth is poised to make millennials the wealthiest generation in history. The research also provides an early look at Gen Alpha, the most digitally savvy generation ever, whose economic impact is already valued at $1 trillion globally.

A profound shift in consumer influence is underway, and understanding the why behind purchasing decisions is no longer optional  its essential for growth, said Sally Lyons Wyatt, global executive vice president and chief adviser for Circana. Our research provides a clear road map for brands to connect authentically and effectively with each cohort, from Gen Alpha to baby boomers, by uncovering their unique values and priorities.

The Aging Arc also introduces distinct generational buying personas, identifying what drives purchasing decisions for each group. The findings show that Gen Z buys into identity, millennials into lifestyle, Gen X into functionality and boomers into comfort. The report identifies top-indexing product categories for each, ranging from video games and beauty for Gen Z to home improvement and pet care for boomers. Looking ahead, Circana projects that by 2030, Gen Z and millennials will drive 60% of retail sales growth, underscoring the urgency for brands to adapt their strategies now.

About Circana

Circana is a leader in providing technology, AI and data to fast-moving consumer packaged goods companies, durables manufacturers and retailers seeking to optimize their businesses. Circanas predictive analytics and technology empower clients to measure their market share, understand the underlying consumer behavior driving it and accelerate their growth. Circanas Liquid Data technology platform is powered by an expansive, high-quality data set and intelligent algorithms trained on six decades of domain expertise. With Circana, clients can take immediate action to future-proof and evolve their growth strategies amid an increasingly complex, fast-paced and ever-changing economy. Learn more at circana.com.
TORONTO, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the world marks International Day of the Girl on October 11, Plan International, the leading global expert on girls rights, warns of a dangerous evolution in child marriage. A new report finds that shifting political priorities, cuts to aid funding, and the expansion of digital platforms are creating new pathways for girls to be forced into marriage  often more hidden and harder to prevent than ever before.

Plan Internationals 2025 State of the Worlds Girls report, Let Me Be a Child, Not a Wife, is one of the largest global studies on child marriage, amplifying the voices of more than 250 girls across 15 countries who were married as children. It documents how child marriage is changing shape: increasingly moving online, increasingly informal, and invisible to child-protection systems.

Each year, over 12 million girls are married. Thats one girl every three seconds. Quite literally, girls are being pushed out of classrooms and into marriages, and we cannot afford to look away, said Dena Allen, vice president of communications and public engagement at Plan International Canada. Plan Internationals recent research into child marriage reveals a dangerous new shift. Child marriage is not fading away  its reinventing itself. Unless we adapt faster than these risks evolve, a generation of girls could be lost. Which means we all lose out on their ideas, energy, and leadership.

Alarming findings

100% of girls interviewed said they would never want their own child to marry before 18.

of girls interviewed said they would never want their own child to marry before 18. 71.5% of girls are already mothers, despite pregnancy and childbirth complications being the leading cause of death for older adolescent girls worldwide.

of girls are already mothers, despite pregnancy and childbirth complications being the leading cause of death for older adolescent girls worldwide. 45% were married to men at least five years older, some 1020 years their senior, entrenching power imbalances.

were married to men at least five years older, some 1020 years their senior, entrenching power imbalances. 63% are not in education, employment, or training, and 35% dropped out of school after marriage.

In the past year alone, 120+ countries have reversed progress of girls and womens rights, in many cases cutting off access to school, health care, and public participation  fueling conditions in which child marriage thrives.

The report also uncovers a new and disturbing trend: Social media is being weaponized by older men to exploit girls vulnerabilities and draw them into marriage. These unions are increasingly informal and hidden, escaping parental oversight and official records and making them harder to detect, prosecute, or prevent.

A call for urgent global action

This International Day of the Girl, Plan International Canada is calling for coordinated, urgent action to end child marriage. That means:

Stronger enforcement of laws that already prohibit child marriage.

that already prohibit child marriage. Investment in education and health care so girls can thrive, not just survive.

so girls can thrive, not just survive. Challenging harmful norms that normalize child marriage.

that normalize child marriage. Support for girl activists and youth-led movements already driving change in their communities.

For nearly two decades, through in-depth research and working alongside girls in over 80 countries, Plan Internationals State of the Worlds Girls reports have shone a light on what its really like to be a girl. Sadly, things are getting worse for girls  theyre facing more risks and have fewer choices, said Allen. Yet even in the face of growing challenges, girls continue to show remarkable resilience, leadership, and a powerful determination to shape a better future for us all.

Read the full report: PlanCanada.ca/DayOfTheGirl

Notes to editors

Research included interviews with 251 girls and young women in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Indonesia, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia.

An online survey with 244 youth activists in the same countries was also conducted, as was an analysis of existing legislation and policy frameworks around the world.

Plan International defines child, early, and forced marriages and unions (CEFMU) as any marriage or informal union where one or both parties are under 18 and/or where full and free consent has not been given.

About Plan International Canada

Plan International Canada is a member of a global organization dedicated to advancing childrens rights and equality for girls. Plan International has been building powerful partnerships with and for children for over 85 years and is now active in more than 80 countries.

We stand with children, especially girls, wherever they are oppressed, exploited, left behind, or not equally valued. Were determined optimists, and well continue to persevere until we are all equal.

Visit plancanada.ca for more information.

About International Day of the Girl

Plan International Canada led an extensive two-year campaign beginning in 2009 that engaged thousands of Canadians and activists around the world in a call for an International Day of the Girl, a global initiative to recognize girls rights as human rights. In December 2011, with unanimous all-party support, the Canadian government led the United Nations to officially declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl.

Media contact

Plan International Canada

PR & Communications

PRteam@plancanada.ca
MAPLE GROVE, Minn., Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In its 11th year, TopLine Credit Union Foundation has awarded a total of $41,500 in scholarship money to 40 TopLine members who are continuing their education, and $1,500 in scholarship funds to support post-secondary educational needs and goals of students in Nigeria through partnership with African Education and Health Initiative (AFEDHI), a local non-profit organization with a vision to assist African students with access to education, books and school supplies.

TopLine Credit Union Foundation received 171 applications. Any TopLine member pursuing post-secondary education by attending a college or university, graduate school, or a 2-to-4-year community, vocational or technical college in the fall of 2025 was eligible.

Scholarship applicants needed to complete a one-page application form and submit an essay (500 words or less) that answered the questions: Describe a time when you made a positive impact within your family, school or community. How did this experience shape your perspective or goals for the future?

As one of our scholarship recipients commented, during my Junior year of high school, I noticed a significant disconnect between the administration and the student body. To bridge this gap, I initiated a series of town hall meetings where students could openly discuss their concerns with school officials. I facilitated these meetings, ensuring respectful dialogue and structured feedback. The administration gained valuable insights into student needs and began implementing changes based on our discussions, such as improved cafeteria options and extended library hours. Students felt empowered, knowing their opinions mattered. This experience taught me the importance of active listening and collaborative problem-solving. It showed me that even small actions can have a big impact when you're willing to step up and take initiative.

Its incredibly rewarding to read the personal stories applicants shared about the positive impact they have made within their family, school or community, said Vicki Roscoe Erickson, President, TopLine Credit Union Foundation. Our Foundation board faced the difficult task of selecting just 40 scholarship recipients, and we proudly celebrate their dedication and drive as they continue their educational paths.

TopLine Credit Union Foundation, guided by its mission of working within the community to build a better tomorrow, will continue to support the cooperative spirit of people helping people by living the mantra  to care, connect and contribute in the communities they serve.

Scholarship recipients will be recognized with a reception at the credit union, on TopLine Credit Union Foundations website page and on their Facebook page.

TopLine Credit Union Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is dedicated to providing members with an array of financial education opportunities and counseling for members of all ages, awarding scholarships, contributing to community charitable organizations and sponsoring other community give-back efforts. Since inception in 2014, TopLine Credit Union Foundation has given out $216,500 in scholarship monies to assist with the affordability of post-secondary education. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. For further information visit www.TopLinecu.com/foundation, email Foundation@TopLinecu.com, call 763-391-9494, or stop by any branch location or write to: 9353 Jefferson Hwy, Maple Grove, MN 55369. Federal Tax ID # 46-4335752.

CONTACT:

Vicki Roscoe Erickson

President, TopLine Credit Union Foundation

TopLine Financial Credit Union

verickson@toplinecu.com

763.391.0872

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/15b4d3c6-b9fa-43bb-baec-cf695f2a6bb2
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Johnson Fistel, PLLP is investigating potential claims on behalf of Alto Neuroscience, Inc. (NYSE: ANRO) shareholders against certain of its officers and directors who may have breached the fiduciary duties they owed to the Company.

A recently filed federal securities fraud class action complaint alleges that Alto Neuroscience, Inc., through certain of its officers, made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Companys business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, the complaint alleges that Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that ALTO-100 was less effective in treating MDD than Defendants had led investors to believe, that ALTO-100s clinical, regulatory, and commercial prospects were overstated, and that as a result, Altos business and financial prospects were overstated. Consequently, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.

What You Can Do Now: You may be able to pursue changes to the companys corporate governance practices, seek the recovery of funds for the company, and request a court-approved incentive award, all at no cost to you. You can click or copy and paste the link below in a browser to join this action: https://www.johnsonfistel.com/investigations/alto-neuroscience-inc/ or contact Johnson Fistel, PLLP at (619) 814-4471, or email jimb@johnsonfistel.com. You may be eligible to seek corporate reforms, the return of funds to the Company, and a court-approved incentive award at no cost to you.

About Johnson Fistel, PLLP: Johnson Fistel, PLLP is a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm representing individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits. For more information about the firm and its attorneys, please visit https://www.johnsonfistel.com.

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. Johnson Fistel, PLLP has paid for the dissemination of this promotional communication, and Frank J. Johnson is the attorney responsible for its content.



Contact:

Johnson Fistel, PLLP

501 W. Broadway, Suite 800, San Diego, CA 92101

James Baker, Investor Relations or Frank J. Johnson, Esq.

(619) 814-4471 | jimb@johnsonfistel.com or fjohnson@johnsonfistel.com
Dallas, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TXOne Networks, a leader in Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) security, announced today its executives and technical experts will deliver featured presentations at top cybersecurity and industry events across North and Latin America, including IT Solutions Day, SEMICON West, the ICS Cybersecurity Conference, the API Cybersecurity Conference for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry, and S4x26. In these sessions, TXOne will address the pressing challenges of securing operational technology (OT) and industrial control systems (ICS), providing practical strategies to help manufacturers, energy producers, and critical infrastructure operators strengthen defenses, maintain uptime, and mitigate evolving cyber threats.

October 8, 2025 Banamex Center, Mexico City

Terence Liu, CEO, TXOne Networks will present OT Cybersecurity in the Age of AI: How to Advance from Hygiene to Elite Defense. He will outline a three-stage approachFundamentals, Advanced, and Elitethat helps manufacturers evolve from basic hygiene to proactive detection and response as AI and digital transformation accelerate IT/OT convergence.

October 7-9, 2025, Phoenix, AZ

Quentin Kantaris, Senior Solutions Engineer, TXOne Networks is presenting a session on:

Securing Legacy Semiconductor Systems: Strategies for Malware Defense & Resilience

Wednesday, October 8 at 1:00pm MT

SEMICON West is North Americas leading microelectronics exhibition, uniting the global electronics supply chain to address the semiconductor industrys top challenges.

October 27-30, 2025, Atlanta, GA

Debbie Lay, Principal Solutions Engineer at TXOne Networks will address with the ICS audience:

Answer the ICS Security Wake-up Call: Its Time to Stop Fixing OT Problems with IT Tools

The ICS Cybersecurity Conference is the longest-running global event dedicated to industrial cybersecurity, bringing together engineers, government leaders, and security practitioners.

Debbie Lay is also speaking on Visibility Is a Good Starting Point, But What Are the Crucial Next Steps for OT Protection during ICS. Additional information is available at the TXOne Networks booth # 19.

November 11-12, 2025, Woodlands, TX

Quentin Kantaris, Senior Solutions Engineer, TXOne Networks is presenting: Simplifying the Challenges of OT Network Segmentation for the Cyber Security Architecture session. Sean Harris, Senior Enterprise Account Executive, TXOne Networks is speaking on:

The Industrys Heavy Acquisition Culture Complicates Cybersecurity - Heres what to do about it for the ICS Cyber Security session

The API Cybersecurity Conference & Expo is the only cybersecurity event focused exclusively on the oil and natural gas sector, with a loyal industry following for over 20 years.

Looking ahead, Terence Liu, CEO of TXOne Networks will take to the stage at S4x26, the worlds largest ICS/OT cybersecurity event, February 2326, 2026 in Miami Beach, FL.

Follow TXOne Networks on Blog, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About TXOne Networks

TXOne Networks offers cybersecurity solutions that ensure the reliability and safety of industrial control systems and operational technology environments. TXOne Networks works together with both leading manufacturers and critical infrastructure operators to develop practical, operations-friendly approaches to cyber defense. TXOne Networks offers both network-based and endpoint-based products to secure the OT network and mission-critical devices using a real-time, defense-in-depth approach. www.txone.com.

Contact Info



Minu Seshasayee, Interprose for TXOne Networks

Minu_Seshasayee@interprosepr.com

+1 425-283-7426

Attachment
Lansing, Mich., Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- October is National Womens Small Business Month, meant to celebrate and recognize the achievements and contributions of women entrepreneurs to the economy.

According to ecommercetips.org, over 1,800 new women-owned businesses are created each day in the U.S., employing 9.4 million workers and generating $1.9 trillion in revenues annually.

To encourage women business leaders and entrepreneurs in Greater Lansing and around Michigan, Foster Swift business attorneys Amanda Dernovshek and Lindsey Mead host the monthly storytelling podcast: Businesswomen Talking.

Each episode features local businesswomen leaders, owners and entrepreneurs sharing their personal experiences such as how they got started, difficulties they have faced along the way and other valuable insight.

All episodes are available on Spotify and Foster Swifts YouTube page as well as the following landing page: fosterswift.com/f-businesswomen-talking-podcast-episodes-resources.html along with other resources such as more information on women and minority-owned certification and support opportunities for women-owned businesses.

Since 1902, Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC has provided comprehensive legal services to businesses, municipalities and individuals. The firm employs nearly 100 attorneys and over 100 support staff in five locations: Lansing, Detroit, Southfield, Grand Rapids, and Holland. For more information about the firm, its attorneys, and to access recent publications, visit www.fosterswift.com.
NEW YORK, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tropic , the intelligent procurement platform, today announced the launch of Purchase Prep, an AI-powered solution that automates the complex process of software renewal preparation. The announcement comes as Tropic closes a record-breaking Q3, fueled by rising customer demand for automation and measurable savings in an increasingly cost-conscious business environment.

The Purchase Prep Assistant addresses a critical blind spot in spending: teams stretched too thin across hundreds of annual renewals, forcing reactive decisions rather than strategic negotiations and planning. The average company handles between 200 and 600 software renewals per year  in most cases, more than one every business day  yet lacks the bandwidth, and sometimes the procurement expertise, to effectively negotiate these contracts, resulting in millions of dollars in avoidable costs.

"Finance and procurement teams are overwhelmed with SaaS renewals, especially in the age of AI where there are more point-solutions than ever, while vendors hold every advantage - usage data, market intelligence, and auto-renewal clauses designed to avoid pushback," said Russell Lester, President and CFO of Tropic. "Purchase Prep flips this dynamic by serving up everything needed to negotiate from a place of strength, delivered ready for immediate action."

The Hidden Cost of Renewal Overwhelm

Roughly 70% of procurement work involves renewals, yet most platforms focus on new purchases, leaving finance teams and department heads to navigate complex negotiations alone - and procurement teams unable to focus. The cost is significant: vendors routinely increase prices 10% at renewal, betting on overwhelmed teams missing opt-out deadlines with insufficient time to negotiate effectively.

The power imbalance is stark. Suppliers know what competitors charge and have detailed customer usage data. Most finance and procurement teams still rely on spreadsheets for software management and negotiate without market intelligence.

"We've essentially taken everything our procurement specialists know from thousands of negotiations and made it available instantly to all stakeholders," said Justin Etkin, Co-Founder and COO of Tropic. "Were leveling the procurement playing field.

AI That Actually Delivers Results

Tropics Purchase Prep Assistant changes renewal preparation from hours, and sometimes days, of manual research across disconnected systems into minutes of strategic decision-making. The platform automatically identifies which contracts merit negotiation, benchmarks pricing against Tropic's $15B+ spend database, surfaces compliance gaps, and delivers supplier-specific negotiation tactics proven across thousands of customer engagements.

Purchase Prep is a coordinated team of AI agents that automate renewal preparation, ultimately saving more time and money through:

Smart Prioritization: Identifies the renewals worth negotiating based on savings potential and contract terms Automatic Price Benchmarking: Compares pricing against Tropics 15+B in spend database, flagging contracts where customers pay above market rates Negotiation Intelligence: Provide network intelligence with vendor-specific tactics that actually work. Some vendors negotiate aggressively, others won't budge on price but improve terms Contract and Compliance Analysis: Automatically scans contracts to extract critical terms, identify auto-renewal traps, and flag compliance gaps against organizational policiesensuring renewals meet company standards without manual reviews or missed deadlines Usage Analysis: Surveys stakeholders understanding business criticality, satisfaction, and actual adoption. Savings on unused software still equals waste



For example, a finance manager with 20 quarterly renewals can immediately see their collaboration software flagged for high savings potential. The platform reveals they're paying in the 80th percentile, identifies a potential 22% in annual savings opportunities, and provides a complete negotiation strategy, all in a few minutes.

Purchase Prep can save our team hours on renewal preparation by surfacing recommendations and vendor intelligence right when we need it, said Nick Troia, Senior Financial Analyst at CompanyCam. The insights given by combining Pulse Surveys, our contract information, and Supplier Intelligence helps to level the playing field when negotiation time comes around. It also helps you look at your procurement process in a more holistic way. As you enhance your procurement process, the value you unlock will only grow, which ultimately will save you time and money down the line.

Market Momentum Drives Innovation

The launch reflects broader enterprise AI adoption trends. Tropic's recent survey of finance and procurement leaders found 86% planning AI implementation or scaling by 2026, with 66% citing operational efficiency as the primary driver. However, only 4% report significant productivity gains from current AI tools, leading 47% to require proven ROI before scaling initiatives.

"Finance and procurement leaders want measurable results, not AI for the sake of AI," said Lester. "Purchase Prep represents the maturation of our AI platform into solutions that deliver documented outcomes. Companies typically save 20%+ on renewals when properly prepared, while reclaiming hundreds of hours annually."

The solution arrives as organizations face mounting pressure to optimize spending amid economic uncertainty. With budget constraints tightening and CFOs demanding greater efficiency from every dollar spent, tools that deliver immediate, measurable savings have become strategic necessities rather than operational conveniences.

Built on Proven Intelligence

Purchase Prep Assistant leverages Tropic's comprehensive procurement platform, which has processed over $15B in customer spend with a 21% average savings rate.

The solution is immediately available for all Tropic customers, making enterprise-grade procurement intelligence for finance and procurement teams of any size. We invite companies interested in experiencing how Purchase Prep Assistant can make their lives easier to see it in action on Oct. 28th at 1 pm ET in a live webinar .

Additional Resources:

About Tropic:

Tropic is your intelligent procurement partner, purpose-built to help modern finance and procurement teams save time, cut costs, and drive impact. Whether youre a solo finance leader or part of a larger team, Tropic combines AI agents and expert services to handle the procurement work you dont have time for, from complex negotiations to renewal headaches. Powered by more than $15B (and growing) in software spend intelligence, Tropic gives you unmatched visibility, automation, and negotiation leverage across your stack. We dont just flag problems, we solve them, transforming procurement into a strategic advantage that scales with your business. Learn more at tropicapp.io and follow us on LinkedIn .




London, UK, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Auric Portex is redefining automated trading with a cutting-edge combination of artificial intelligence, deep learning, and secure infrastructure. The platform is designed to empower investors with real-time analytics, AI-driven trade execution, and institutional-grade transparency. By integrating advanced machine learning with global financial markets, Auric Portex delivers intelligent, data-backed operations that are both efficient and reliable .

Built for global access, the platform bridges human strategy with artificial intelligence. Every functionfrom portfolio management and trade execution to monitoring and reportingis optimized for speed, accuracy, and regulatory compliance. Auric Portexs architecture ensures continuous performance even in volatile markets, making it a forward-looking solution in the evolving landscape of digital finance.

What Is Auric Portex?  The AI-Driven Trading Platform Redefining Smart Investing in 2025

Auric Portex is a next-generation AI-powered trading platform designed to optimize market performance through automation and data intelligence. At its core, the system leverages advanced neural networks and machine learning algorithms capable of processing millions of market data points per second. This allows for rapid detection of trends, volatility patterns, and price signals across multiple asset classes.

The platforms AI continuously adapts its strategies using historical data and live market inputs. It forecasts potential price movements, identifies entry and exit points, and executes trades with precision. By automating these processes, Auric Portex eliminates human error and provides consistency that manual trading cannot match.

Accessibility is a key design principle. The platform supports both beginners and experienced investors through intuitive dashboards, customizable settings, and real-time reporting. Users can engage with complex AI strategies without needing prior technical knowledge, benefiting from institutional-grade analytics. Auric Portex represents the convergence of machine intelligence, automation, and regulatory compliance, offering a comprehensive solution for modern investors seeking precision and efficiency.

Join Auric Portex Now  Visit Official Website Now

Key Features of Auric Portex  Real-Time Analytics, Smart Automation & Multi-Asset Access

Auric Portex offers a robust set of features, starting with its real-time analytics engine. This system monitors thousands of market variables simultaneously, including liquidity, volatility, trade volume, and price trends. By continuously analyzing these metrics, the AI identifies potential opportunities and executes trades at optimal times, reducing latency and improving outcomes.

The smart automation module is designed to optimize trade execution dynamically. It adjusts trade size, frequency, and risk exposure according to market behavior. Investors can choose full automation or customize parameters for semi-automated strategies. This ensures consistent performance during periods of high volatility while giving users flexibility and control.

Multi-asset access allows users to trade cryptocurrencies, forex, equities, indices, and commodities all from one interface. Customizable dashboards display performance metrics, real-time portfolio analytics, and integrated charting tools. Alerts and reporting tools enable users to track activity and make informed adjustments. API integration options provide further flexibility for advanced strategies, enabling users to connect third-party analytics or algorithmic models seamlessly. This combination of real-time analytics, adaptive automation, and multi-asset support establishes Auric Portex as a comprehensive trading ecosystem.

Visit the Official Auric Portex Website Now

Why Traders Trust Auric Portex  Transparency, Speed, and Verified Performance Data

Auric Portex operates with a foundation of transparency. Every trade and system decision is logged in real time and is available for auditing through secure dashboards. Users can track portfolio changes, trade execution history, and algorithmic performance metrics continuously, ensuring clarity and accountability.

The platforms ultra-fast execution speed is enabled by low-latency server architecture and distributed data centers. This reduces trade slippage and allows market orders to be executed within milliseconds. Investors benefit from instant notifications, precise analytics, and seamless synchronization across devices.

Auric Portex also emphasizes verified performance data. Regular audits and broker validations ensure that trade histories and system metrics are accurate. Data integrity is maintained through independent verification, giving users factual insight into the platforms operation. Coupled with compliance to international financial standards, this transparency, speed, and data verification provides a trustworthy framework for AI-driven trading.





Register on the Auric Portex trading application

Auric Portex Account Setup Process  Step by Step

Auric Portex offers a secure and efficient onboarding process that ensures regulatory compliance and operational readiness.

Step-by-Step Account Setup:

Registration: Complete the sign-up form with verified personal details. KYC Verification: Submit identification to meet global financial compliance standards. Minimum Deposit: Activate the account with a $250 minimum deposit. Broker Integration: Automatically paired with a licensed broker partner. Demo Mode Access: Test strategies in a simulated environment reflecting live-market conditions. AI Activation: Enable automated trading once familiar with the system. Security Setup: Configure two-factor authentication (2FA) and optional biometric access.

The process prioritizes speed and security, with SSL encryption protecting all personal and financial data. Accounts can be fully verified and trading-ready within minutes, ensuring a smooth and compliant entry into AI-driven investment.

How Auric Portex Works: Automation, Security & Profit Strategies

Auric Portex uses layered AI algorithms to manage trades across multiple asset classes. Its core engine monitors global market conditions, analyzing volatility, liquidity, and historical trends to identify optimal trading opportunities. Once a trade signal is confirmed, the AI executes orders automatically through connected brokers.

Security is maintained at all levels. Funds are held in segregated accounts with 98% in cold storage, protecting against cyber threats. All communication and transactions are encrypted with AES-256 protocols. Two-factor authentication and continuous system monitoring prevent unauthorized access.

Profit strategies are driven by adaptive AI. The platform learns from successful trade patterns and continuously refines algorithms. Stop-loss thresholds, position sizing, and diversification parameters are automatically adjusted based on risk tolerance, ensuring a balanced approach that maximizes potential returns while safeguarding capital.

Unlock smarter trading with Auric Portex  Visit the Official Website Here

AI Intelligence Behind Auric Portex  How Machine Learning Optimizes Every Trade

Auric Portex employs advanced machine learning models, including neural networks and reinforcement learning algorithms. These models analyze real-time and historical data, identifying trends, anomalies, and trading opportunities that might be invisible to manual traders.

Reinforcement learning allows the system to self-improve. By evaluating trade outcomes, the AI adjusts future decisions to increase accuracy. Predictive analytics anticipate market shifts, enabling proactive strategy adjustments.

The platform also integrates quantitative modeling and sentiment analysis. This combination enhances precision, allowing AI to optimize entries, exits, and position sizing dynamically. The continuous evolution of algorithms ensures performance remains aligned with changing market conditions, providing a technologically advanced trading edge.

Visit the Official Auric Portex Website Now

Deposits & Withdrawals  Fast, Seamless, and Fully Secure Transactions

Auric Portexs financial infrastructure emphasizes both security and convenience. Users can deposit funds through multiple channels including credit cards, bank transfers, and verified e-wallets. Each transaction is protected by encryption protocols and tokenized payment gateways that meet PCI DSS compliance standards, ensuring all financial operations remain secure.

Withdrawals are processed through an automated clearance system that verifies user identity before approving transfers. The platforms financial division works with banking partners to guarantee that requests are typically settled within 24 hours. By maintaining transparent records of all payment activities, Auric Portex ensures financial accountability across all jurisdictions in which it operates.

All account balances are stored in segregated accounts separate from operational funds, protecting liquidity and maintaining solvency. This structure enhances reliability and ensures that user assets are safeguarded against market disruptions or external breachesreinforcing Auric Portexs commitment to financial integrity.

Why Choose Auric Portex? United Kingdom Consumer Report Released Here

Auric Portex Demo Mode  Practice Risk-Free Before Going Live

The demo environment in Auric Portex offers a simulation identical to live-market conditions. It operates using authentic market data feeds, providing users with an exact representation of how the AI executes trades. This environment enables individuals to observe trade entry, exit, and strategy behavior without financial exposure.

Users can explore strategy settings, customize their AI configurations, and analyze profit/loss metrics in real time. The demo system supports multiple asset classes, giving a complete view of how automated trading functions across diverse markets. This feature bridges the gap between learning and performance, ensuring users fully understand the system before activating live trading.

By enabling risk-free practice, Auric Portex underscores its dedication to investor safety and informed participation. Its a structured approach that builds user confidence while preserving transparency in AI-driven financial technology.

Auric Portex  Cost, Minimum Deposit, and Profit

Auric Portex maintains a transparent financial framework with no subscription or maintenance fees. Users only need an initial minimum deposit of $250 to begin trading, which grants access to all automated functions. The cost structure is designed to promote fairnessthere are no hidden charges, and all transactions are displayed within the dashboard for real-time tracking.

Profit outcomes vary based on algorithmic performance, market volatility, and user-defined strategies. The systems profitability is based on data-driven analytics, allowing consistent performance tracking without exaggeration or manipulation. Historical performance data and AI model accuracy are periodically reviewed for compliance transparency.

This clear cost model ensures users understand every component of their financial commitment, aligning the platform with industry standards for responsible automation and fiscal clarity.





Why Choose Auric Portex? Australia Consumer Report Released Here

Countries Where Auric Portex Is Legal

Auric Portex operates under international financial regulations, maintaining partnerships only with brokers registered under recognized supervisory authorities. The platform is legally accessible in most global regions including the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Singapore.

Each partnership is structured in compliance with local jurisdictional laws and anti-money-laundering directives. Restricted territories are excluded automatically during registration to uphold regulatory transparency and protect users from unauthorized trading activity.

This adherence to international financial frameworks ensures that Auric Portex remains a compliant, transparent, and globally recognized trading infrastructureoperating with the same legal integrity as regulated financial service providers.

Open Your Auric Portex Account for Free Now

Auric Portex Supported Assets

Auric Portex provides users with diversified exposure to multiple financial instruments. The system supports cryptocurrency trading (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin), forex currency pairs (EUR/USD, GBP/JPY, USD/CAD), global equities, and commodities such as gold, silver, and oil.

Each asset category is governed by AI models specifically calibrated to handle volatility and liquidity conditions. The system dynamically adjusts trading frequency and risk exposure per asset, ensuring stability during rapid market shifts. This diversification allows users to manage capital distribution efficiently, balancing high-yield opportunities with conservative strategies.

With continuous access to real-time market feeds and customizable analytics, Auric Portex creates a single-point ecosystem for managing multiple asset classes seamlessly.

Global Access, 24/7 Support & Verified Broker Partnerships

Auric Portex operates globally with a 24/7 infrastructure supported by redundant cloud architecture, ensuring uninterrupted functionality. Users can access the platform from any location using mobile or desktop devices. The systems multilingual interface adapts to regional preferences, ensuring smooth accessibility across different markets.

Technical and account-related support is available around the clock through live chat, email, and ticket systems. Trained specialists provide assistance in compliance verification, deposit inquiries, and technical troubleshooting to maintain optimal user experience.

Auric Portex partners exclusively with verified and regulated brokers who comply with financial authority standards. This ensures liquidity, transparency, and reliable execution of trades under secure custodial conditionsreinforcing global operational trust.

Discover How Auric Portex is Helping Thousands Achieve Financial Freedom Online

Risk Management, Demo Mode & Customizable Strategies Explained

Auric Portex integrates multiple risk management layers designed to preserve capital while maintaining profit potential. The system uses algorithmic stop-loss controls and trade-volume adjustments to automatically mitigate exposure during volatile conditions. The AI monitors indicators such as volatility indices and liquidity depth to recalibrate risk thresholds in real time.

The demo mode complements this system by providing users a safe environment to experiment with customizable strategies. Through parameter adjustmentslike position sizing, leverage ratios, and frequency limitsusers can model diverse scenarios and observe projected results.

This hybrid approach of automation and manual customization gives investors complete flexibility in shaping their trading profile. It is a precise blend of control and intelligence that defines Auric Portexs forward-thinking approach to risk-adjusted performance.

Final Verdict  Auric Portex 2025: Trusted by Traders, Powered by AI

Auric Portex represents the technological evolution of algorithmic investing in 2025. By combining artificial intelligence, institutional-grade security, and verified transparency, it bridges traditional trading methods with the next generation of financial automation. Its framework is factual, data-driven, and built for reliabilityattributes that position it as a benchmark for intelligent market participation.

Every component, from onboarding to execution, reflects the platforms dedication to operational accuracy and global compliance. With advanced machine learning optimizing every trade and an infrastructure designed for stability, Auric Portex continues to lead innovation in AI-based financial technology.

As the worlds markets advance toward automation, Auric Portex stands at the center of this transformationrepresenting precision, adaptability, and transparency in the era of intelligent investing.

Visit Here to Register on the Auric Portex - Select Your Country Here!!!

Contact:-

Auric Portex

485 Bd de la Gappe, Gatineau, QC J8T 5T9, Canada

Phone Support: Canada: +1 (437) 920-9751

Email: info@auric-portex.com

Website: https://auric-portex.com/

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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.

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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.

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Attachment
Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Securities Litigation Partner James (Josh) Wilson Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses In Quanex To Contact Him Directly To Discuss Their Options

If you suffered losses in Quanex between December 12, 2024 and September 5, 2025 and would like to discuss your legal rights, call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

[You may also click here for additional information]





NEW YORK, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential claims against Quanex Building Products Corporation (Quanex or the Company) (NYSE: NX) and reminds investors of the November 18, 2025 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

Faruqi & Faruqi is a leading national securities law firm with offices in New York, Pennsylvania, California and Georgia. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors since its founding in 1995. See www.faruqilaw.com.

As detailed below, the complaint alleges that the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) the Companys procedures and policies regarding tooling and equipment maintenance in its Tyman Mexico facility were significantly underinvested; (2) as a result, the Companys tooling and equipment conditions had significantly degraded to near catastrophic levels; (3) that, as a result of the foregoing, the Company was likely to incur significant costs, pushing out the timing of expected benefits from the Tyman integration; (4) that Quanex had previously identified the foregoing issues; and (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants positive statements about the Companys business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.

On September 4, 2025, after the market closed, Quanex announced financial results for the third quarter of the 2025 fiscal year. Among other things, the Company disclosed operational issues related to the legacy Tyman window and door hardware business in Mexico that are ongoing which impacted results more than expected during the third quarter of 2025. Specifically, the Company reported a diluted EPS of ($6.04), compared to $0.77 in the prior year period and an adjusted EBIDTA of $70.30. The Company further disclosed that it was adjusting for lower expected volumes and pushing out the timing of when [it] expect[s] to realize procurement savings from the integration of the Tyman business.

Then, on September 5, 2025, the Company held an earnings call pursuant to the Companys third quarter 2025 financial results. During the earnings call, Chief Executive Officer, George Wilson (Wilson) explained operational challenges in the Tyman facility in Mexico negatively impacted EBITDA in the Hardware Solutions segment by almost $5 million in the third quarter alone. Wilson further explained that the issue was previously identified midyear as it got deeper into the integration with Tyman, and described how the systems used to anticipate and plan for tooling repairs were significantly deficient, indicating it was near nonexistent. Wilson stated because Quanex was underinvested in the tooling condition and the equipment condition it had to make some changes and fix some things before it was catastrophic.

On this news, Quanexs stock price fell $2.73, or 13.1%, to close at $18.18 per share on September 5, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume. The stock price continued to decline on the subsequent trading day, falling $1.98 or 10.9%, to close at $16.20 per share on September 8, 2025, on unusually heavy trading volume.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Quanexs conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

To learn more about the Quanex Building Products class action, go to www.faruqilaw.com/NX or call Faruqi & Faruqi partner Josh Wilson directly at 877-247-4292 or 212-983-9330 (Ext. 1310).

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn, on X, or on Facebook.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d516bf4b-fab7-416f-a74a-ea4437d5b4b3
NEW YORK, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential breaches of fiduciary duties by the directors and officers of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW).

SO WHAT: If you currently own shares of Edwards stock, please visit the firms website at https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=29704 for more information. You may also contact Phillip Kim of Rosen Law Firm toll free at 866-767-3653 or via email at case@rosenlegal.com.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

-------------------------------

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

case@rosenlegal.com

www.rosenlegal.com
MIAMI, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Defiance Analytics, the trailblazing marketing technology firm revolutionizing ETF distribution, proudly unveils Odyssey, the first AI-driven advisor attribution platform designed exclusively for ETF issuers. Defiance Analytics has helped ETF issuers market over 200 funds and raise over $30 billion through innovative marketing and distribution strategies. Odyssey establishes Defiance Analytics as the essential partner for asset managers aiming to dominate advisor engagement and drive exponential AUM growth.

Odyssey, launched today, redefines ETF distribution by leveraging cutting-edge AI and privacy-safe attribution to connect every advisor touchpointfrom personalized video pitches to webinar attendance to email engagementdirectly to measurable intent scores and capital flows. This groundbreaking platform empowers ETF issuers to identify high-intent financial advisors with unmatched precision, delivering measurable ROI in a competitive market where effective advisor engagement separates winners from the 300+ ETFs facing liquidation annually.

"Odyssey is the future of ETF distribution intelligence, built to deliver results that issuers can see and measure," said Jacob Ingram, CEO & Founder of Defiance Analytics. "With our proven expertise in driving billions in capital, we're providing the transparency and impact asset managers need to thrive. We invite ETF CEOs to join us and unlock their fund's potential with Odyssey."

Key features of Odyssey include:

Unified Advisor Profiles : Every CRD-indexed advisor record consolidates engagement history, firm affiliations, AUM bands, and product interests across all platformsno more blind spots in the advisor journey.

: Every CRD-indexed advisor record consolidates engagement history, firm affiliations, AUM bands, and product interests across all platformsno more blind spots in the advisor journey. CRD-Level Video Intelligence : Deploy personalized video pitches with real-time engagement tracking. Know exactly which advisors watched your product presentation, how long they engaged, and when to follow upall feeding directly into dynamic intent scoring.

: Deploy personalized video pitches with real-time engagement tracking. Know exactly which advisors watched your product presentation, how long they engaged, and when to follow upall feeding directly into dynamic intent scoring. AI-Enhanced Intent Scoring Engine : Tracks every interaction (email opens, video views, webinar attendance, call notes) with exponential time decay and continuous learning from sales feedback, ensuring the highest-intent advisors always rise to the top.

: Tracks every interaction (email opens, video views, webinar attendance, call notes) with exponential time decay and continuous learning from sales feedback, ensuring the highest-intent advisors always rise to the top. Geographic Activation Heatmaps : Visualize where advisor interest clusters across the U.S. When 10+ high-intent advisors appear in a metro area, Odyssey automatically flags opportunities to deploy local reps or host targeted events.

: Visualize where advisor interest clusters across the U.S. When 10+ high-intent advisors appear in a metro area, Odyssey automatically flags opportunities to deploy local reps or host targeted events. Multi-Channel Attribution: Compare webinars, digital ads, email sequences, video campaigns, and in-person events side-by-side with normalized KPIs, enabling budget reallocation toward highest-ROI channels.





Pilot programs with ETF issuers have already demonstrated Odyssey's transformative impact: 37% reduction in time spent compiling advisor lists, 32% increase in conversion rates by focusing exclusively on top-decile intent scores, and campaign attribution clarity that enables data-driven budget optimization across the entire distribution stack.

With ETF assets projected to surpass $10 trillion by 2026, Odyssey arrives at a pivotal moment, offering issuers a competitive edge to capture market share through intelligent, automated advisor engagement. Defiance Analytics' innovative approach positions it as an ideal partner for forward-thinking asset managers seeking to transform fragmented data into billion-dollar outcomes.

ETF CEOs and distribution leaders are invited to sign up for a personalized Odyssey demo at odyssey.defianceanalytics.com to discover how our proven strategies can transform marketing spend into measurable advisor engagement and exponential AUM growth.

About Defiance Analytics

Defiance Analytics is the leading MarTech and distribution intelligence firm for ETF issuers, delivering AI-driven solutions. These privacy-safe solutions have helped market over 200 funds and raise over $30 billion in assets. With the launch of Odyssey, we empower asset managers to connect with high-intent financial advisors through unified data intelligence, dynamic intent scoring, and automated engagement workflows. For more information, visit www.defianceanalytics.com .

Media Contact:

Mike Bairstow

Head of Customer Success, Defiance Analytics

Email: demo@defianceanalytics.com
Dublin, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "AI Infrastructure Market Size and Share Outlook - Forecast Trends and Growth Analysis Report (2025-2034)" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global AI infrastructure market reached a valuation of USD 26.18 Billion in 2024, and it's projected to grow at a CAGR of 23.80% from 2025 to 2034, targeting a value of USD 221.40 Billion by 2034. A significant growth driver is the rising adoption of edge AI in industrial robotics, spurring needs for infrastructure that supports low-latency operations near enterprise activities.

Generative AI models demanding vast computational power are accelerating this market expansion. Hyperscale data centers are enhancing their capabilities with GPU-rich clusters. The European Union has allocated EUR 1.5 billion via Horizon Europe programs for AI infrastructure scaling. In parallel, China plans for AI to blossom into a USD 100 billion industry by 2030, adding considerable value across its sectors.

The necessity for energy-efficient AI infrastructure remains critical. AI operations consume significant power, with data centers potentially constituting 8% of global electricity usage by 2030, per the International Energy Agency. This has directed governments and enterprises towards sustainable infrastructure designs. Japan offers subsidies for liquid cooling systems deployment in AI clusters, while the CHIPS and Science Act in the United States directs resources towards semiconductor ventures, impacting infrastructure dynamics.

Key Trends and Developments

August 2025: SK Telecom launched a new AI infrastructure leveraging GPU-as-a-Service, based on the latest NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs. This initiative promises significant contributions to South Korean AI industry development.

SK Telecom launched a new AI infrastructure leveraging GPU-as-a-Service, based on the latest NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs. This initiative promises significant contributions to South Korean AI industry development. July 2025: Oracle committed USD 2 billion to enhance its cloud and AI infrastructure in Germany, particularly amplifying Oracle Cloud's presence in Frankfurt. This move caters to growing AI infrastructure demands in Germany.

Oracle committed USD 2 billion to enhance its cloud and AI infrastructure in Germany, particularly amplifying Oracle Cloud's presence in Frankfurt. This move caters to growing AI infrastructure demands in Germany. June 2025: Telangana Data Exchange, in collaboration with Indian Institute of Science, initiated an AI Solutions platform, supporting startups and providing superior data access and collaborative tools.

Telangana Data Exchange, in collaboration with Indian Institute of Science, initiated an AI Solutions platform, supporting startups and providing superior data access and collaborative tools. June 2025: NVIDIA, partnering with European tech leaders, aims to establish NVIDIA Blackwell AI infrastructure to support digital sovereignty and economic growth across Europe.

Rising Government-Backed AI Infrastructure Investments

Governments are vigorously promoting AI ecosystem development. In India, the National AI Mission is setting up computation clusters across academia, while Spain's MareNostrum 5 supercomputer, launched in 2023, is dedicated to AI and genomics research. In the USA, the National Science Foundation is investing USD 140 million for new AI research institutes.

Surge in Hyperscale Data Center Expansions

Hyperscale operators continue rapid enhancements. Microsoft plans a USD 3.2 billion investment in German AI data centers. These expansions require cutting-edge GPUs, custom AI accelerators, and networking advancements.

Energy Efficiency as a Core Infrastructure Priority

AI training's high power demand is prompting shifts towards sustainability. Nvidia and Meta are leading innovations with liquid-cooled systems and AI-optimized cooling techniques, while governments enforce strict energy standards.

AI Chip Specialization Redefining Infrastructure Demand

AI infrastructure is shaped by custom silicon, like Nvidia's GPUs and Cerebras's Wafer-Scale Engine 3, essential in handling large parameter models, supported by incentives from entities like South Korea's Ministry of Trade.

Growing Adoption of Edge AI Computing

Industries like automotive and telecom are increasingly deploying AI servers for immediate operational feedback, extending AI infrastructure demand beyond traditional data centers.

Global AI Infrastructure Industry Segmentation

Market Breakup by Type:

Hardware: Core to AI tasks, requiring high-performance compute power.

Server Software: Supports orchestration and scalability.

Market Breakup by Technology:

Machine Learning: Wide enterprise applications with scalable needs.

Deep Learning: Demands high resources for intensive training.

Market Breakup by Deployment:

On Premises: Preferred for data control and compliance.

Cloud: Gaining traction due to scalability and flexibility.

Hybrid: Balances performance and security.

Market Breakup by Function:

Training: Dominant in infrastructure investment.

Inference: Fuels AI application deployment and value generation.

Market Breakup by End Use:

Enterprises: Largest adopters driven by digital transformation.

Cloud Service Providers: Fastest growth, expanding AI model access.

Others: Including government and specialized research.

Market Breakup by Region:

North America: Leads with robust investments.

Asia Pacific: Fastest-growing, driven by policy support.

Europe, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa: Varying focuses on technology integration and digital projects.

Global AI Infrastructure Market Share

By type, hardware accounts for the largest share due to high-performance compute demand

Hardware is integral, bolstered by AI-dedicated servers and advanced computing necessities. Institutions like Meta and OpenAI require substantial GPU clusters. Server software's growth aligns with orchestration needs. Systems like Kubernetes enhance workload handling, vital for comprehensive AI endeavors.

By technology, machine learning registers the largest share due to versatile enterprise applications

Machine learning's adaptability fuels demand across industries, requiring moderate resources. Deep learning, pivotal in generative AI, fosters infrastructure needs with expansive data processes.

By deployment, on-premises solutions secure the largest share due to security-focused deployments

Security drives on-premises preferences, especially in regulated domains like banking and health. Alternatively, cloud models grow, powered by cost-effective scaling options.

By function, training accounts for the largest share due to compute-heavy model development

Training's demand reflects extensive resource requirements to create sophisticated models. Inference, equally critical, commands infrastructure investments for real-world applications.

By end use, enterprises clock in the largest share due to digital transformation initiatives

Enterprises innovate with AI to refine operational capacities and engage deeply with customers. Their transformations necessitate dedicated infrastructure expansion.

Global AI Infrastructure Market Regional Analysis

North America registers the largest share due to hyperscale AI investments

The region, guided by substantial data center developments and supportive policy measures, maintains market supremacy. AI commitments from the U.S. fortify its stance.

Asia Pacific's acceleration stems from strategic government programs and rapid commercial adoption. India's and China's strategic plans position them robustly in AI landscapes.

Competitive Landscape

AI infrastructure leaders focus on high-performance computing, sustainable energy, and edge AI integration. Partnerships and innovations catalyze advancements in efficient, scalable infrastructures. Key players, including Intel and Nvidia, prioritize energy-efficient and high-speed AI solutions, while Google and Microsoft expand groundbreaking infrastructure capabilities.

The key companies featured in this AI Infrastructure market report include:

Intel Corporation

Nvidia Corporation

Google LLC

Microsoft Corporation

Cisco Systems, Inc.

Amazon Web Services, Inc.

International Business Machines Corporation

Arm Limited

Key Attributes

Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 175 Forecast Period 2025-2034 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $26.18 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2034 $221.4 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 23.8% Regions Covered Global

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6y61k5

About ResearchAndMarkets.com

ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

Attachment
Publication date of the results and the Annual Financial Report fiscal period ended 31 January 2025

Paris, France  (8 October 2025)  PROACTIS (ISIN code : FR0004052561) announces that, the publication of its results and Annual Financial Report for the year ended January 31, 2025, originally scheduled for May 30, 2025, will take place on October 8, 2025.

PROACTIS SA's Annual General Meeting of Shareholders will be held on October 30, 2025, at 1:00 pm.

PROACTIS SA had obtained authorization from the President of the Paris Commercial Court to postpone this meeting until October 31, 2025.

* * * *

About Proactis SA (https://www.proactis.com/proactis-sa), a Proactis Company

Proactis SA connects companies by providing business spend management and collaborative business process automation solutions for both goods and services, through The Business Network. Our solutions integrate with any ERP or procurement system, providing our customers with an easy-to-use solution which drives adoption, compliance and savings.

Proactis SA has operations in France, Germany, USA and Manila.

Listed in Compartment C on the Euronext Paris Eurolist.

ISIN: FR0004052561, Euronext: PROAC, Reuters: HBWO.LN, Bloomberg: HBW.FP

Contacts

Tel: +33 (0)1 53 25 55 00

E-mail: investorContact@proactis.com



* * * *

Attachment




LAS COLINAS, Texas, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Located at 1311 Meridian Dr, Sandman Signature Dallas-Las Colinas Hotel & Suites offers guests the perfect chance to experience an elegant, relaxed, and truly comfortable stay in an ultra-modern hotel. Situated just minutes away from the renowned Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport, the contemporary-designed, 204-room property mirrors the vibrancy of the surrounding area.

The entire team is excited for the opening of this fabulous property in Las Colinas, as it marks an important milestone for our brand in the U.S., explains Kevin Gilhooly, President & COO of Sandman Hotel Group and The Sutton Place Hotels. It gives us great pride to be able to offer this high level of quality hospitality in the heart of the Lone Star State. We are also pleased to become a part of this flourishing community and help to support the citys local economy.

The hotels accommodation options range from their signature king rooms to a mix of junior and full one-bedroom suites, all featuring upgraded amenities, luxurious bedding, and deluxe bathrooms. Ensuring visitors receive the full Sandman hospitality experience, access to the indoor pool with a state-of-the-art 24/7 fitness centre, complimentary on-site parking, and the convenience of an elevated, nostalgic dining experience with Tavern on Meridian is provided throughout their stay.





Guests are encouraged to book online to be eligible for the exclusive Opening Celebration Offer, which saves up to 35% off the standard rate. Not only will they be able to admire Las Colinas newest hotel, but they will also enjoy first-class guest services and premium in-room amenities in a thriving community built on connection, culture, and opportunity.

Dont forget to sign up for RSVP Rewards to begin earning points towards free hotel stays as well as other incredible perks! Please visit https://www.sandmanhotels.com/signature-las-colinas for full details.

About Sandman Hotel Group

Founded in 1967, Sandman Hotel Group was established with the vision of creating a place where everyone could come together to experience an exceptional standard of hospitality. Today, we remain a rapidly growing family-run business with over 60 hotels worldwide, operating in the US, Canada, and the U.K.

When you choose to stay at a Sandman Hotel, Inn, Suite, or premium Signature location, you will be greeted with true comfort, style, and affordability, whether youre travelling for business, adventure, or pleasure.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e4d09e6c-d94e-4e16-a052-bd404cd9475f

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a6ff5621-aaf7-4138-873e-b53cb030eee2

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/341206eb-5e3f-4acc-9b6a-8b05d0f4c65b
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Koryx Copper Inc. (Koryx or the "Company") (TSX-V: KRY) is pleased to announce filing of the recently completed Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) of the Companys 100%-owned, flagship Haib Copper Project (Haib or the Project) in southern Namibia. The results of the PEA were announced in the Company's news release on September 4, 2025. The technical report comprising the PEA is entitled, Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Haib Copper Project, Namibia, National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report dated effective September 4, 2025 (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report is publicly filed and is accessible under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Qualified Persons

The Qualified Person for the mineral resource estimate in the PEA is Mr. Jeremy C. Witley (BSc Hons, MSc (Eng.)) and he has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release. Mr. Witley is a geologist with more than 35 years experience in base and precious metals exploration and mining as well as mineral resource evaluation and reporting. He is Head of Mineral Resources for The MSA Group, is independent of the Company and its mineral properties (an independent consulting company), is registered with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) and is a Fellow of the Geological Society of South Africa (GSSA). Mr. Witley has the appropriate relevant qualifications and experience to be considered a Qualified Person for the style and type of mineralization and activity being undertaken as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure of Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

Mr. Werner Moeller is a Director and Principal Mining Engineering Consultant of Qubeka Mining Consultants CC based in Windhoek, Namibia and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release. He holds a BEng degree in Mining Engineering and a BEng (Hons) degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Pretoria (South Africa). He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (membership number 329888) and a Member of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (membership number 704793). Mr. Moeller has been practicing his profession continuously since 2002 and has 22 years of mine planning and operations experience across a range of African projects. Mr. Moeller is independent of the Company and its mineral properties and is a Qualified Person for the purposes of NI 43-101.

About Koryx Copper Inc.

Koryx Copper Inc. is a Canadian copper development Company focused on advancing the 100% owned Haib Copper Project in Namibia whilst also building a portfolio of copper exploration licenses in Zambia. Haib is a large, advanced (PEA-stage) copper/molybdenum porphyry deposit in southern Namibia with a long history of exploration and project development by multiple operators. More than 80,000m of drilling has been conducted at Haib since the 1970s with significant exploration programs led by companies including Falconbridge (1964), Rio Tinto (1975) and Teck (2014). Extensive metallurgical testing and various technical studies have also been completed at Haib to date.

The Haib Copper Project has a current mineral resource of 511Mt @ 0.33% Cu and 51 ppm Mo for 1,668kt of contained copper and 25.9 kt contained molybdenum in the Indicated category and 308.9Mt @ 0.31% Cu and 40 ppm Mo for 949kt of contained copper and 12.4 kt contained molybdenum in the Inferred category (0.15% Cu cut-off), as described more particularly in the current Technical Report which is publicly available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Mineralization at Haib is typical of a porphyry copper deposit and it is one of only a few examples of a Paleoproterozoic porphyry copper deposit in the world and one of only two in southern Africa (both in Namibia). Due to its age, the deposit has been subjected to multiple metamorphic and deformation events but still retains many of the classic mineralization and alteration features typical of these deposits. The mineralization is dominantly chalcopyrite with minor bornite and chalcocite present and only minor secondary copper minerals at surface due to the arid environment.

Additional details of the Haib Copper Project are available in the Company's current Technical Report which comprises its PEA titled, Preliminary Economic Assessment of the Haib Copper Project, Namibia, National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report dated effective September 4, 2025 (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report and other information is available on the Company's website at https://koryxcopper.com and under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca .

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Heye Daun"

President, CEO and Director

Additional information is also available by contacting the Company:

Julia Becker

Corporate Communications

jbecker@koryxcopper.com

+1-604-785-0850

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings and the future or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect ", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MidSolid, an innovator in sustainable personal care, today announced the launch of its new Solid Conditioner Line, a collection engineered to deliver salon-quality performance while addressing the environmental impact of plastic waste in the beauty industry. The new line introduces advanced, pH-balanced, and soap-free formulations designed to provide superior hair health and manageability, directly challenging the performance limitations of previous-generation solid hair care products. This launch marks a significant step forward in the evolution of waterless beauty, combining potent, scientifically-backed ingredients with a steadfast commitment to ecological responsibility.

The development of the MidSolid Solid Conditioner Line was driven by a response to a growing consumer dilemma: a strong desire for sustainable alternatives coupled with widespread frustration over the inconsistent performance of existing solid hair care options. The personal care industry is a significant contributor to plastic pollution, with liquid shampoo and conditioner bottles accounting for a substantial portion of single-use plastic waste. While many consumers have attempted to switch to solid bars to combat this issue, they have often been met with disappointing results. Common complaints include a waxy, greasy residue, tangled hair, and a difficult "adjustment period," which has created a significant barrier to widespread adoption. These performance issues stem primarily from a fundamental formulation flaw in many first-generation bars, which are often soap-based and not chemically suited for hair care.

MidSolid's new line fundamentally re-engineers the solid conditioner from a scientific perspective to solve these prevalent issues. The core innovation lies in its meticulously pH-balanced formulation. Human hair and scalp have a naturally acidic pH level, typically ranging from 4.5 to 5.5, which keeps the hair cuticle smooth, flat, and protected. Many conventional solid bars are made through saponification, the same process used to make soap, resulting in a highly alkaline product with a pH of 9 or higher. This alkaline pH disrupts the hair's natural state, causing the cuticle to lift and roughen, which leads to a feeling of dryness, frizz, and the deposition of waxy residue, especially in areas with hard water. MidSolid's conditioners are entirely soap-free. Instead, they are syndet-based, utilizing gentle, plant-derived surfactants like Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (SCI), which is known for its mildness. This ensures the product maintains a hair-healthy pH, allowing it to cleanse and condition effectively while leaving the hair cuticle smooth, sealed, and exceptionally manageable without any buildup or difficult transition phase.

Beyond the foundational science, the solid, water-free format serves as a superior delivery system for high-performance ingredients. Traditional liquid conditioners contain up to 90% water, which dilutes the concentration of active ingredients. By eliminating water, MidSolid's bars deliver a more potent and concentrated dose of nourishing compounds directly to the hair shaft. The new line is enriched with advanced, bio-active ingredients chosen for their proven efficacy. Formulations include hydrolyzed rice proteins, which contain amino acids small enough to penetrate and strengthen the hair from within, and peptides that help restore the integrity of damaged hair fibers, improving elasticity and resilience. Furthermore, ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and plant-derived glycerin act as powerful humectants, drawing moisture into the hair to provide lasting hydration and softness, thereby combating the dryness often associated with environmental stressors.

They founded MidSolid because they believe consumers shouldn't have to choose between beautiful, healthy hair and a healthy planet," said the founder and owner of MidSolid. "For too long, the solid format has been held back by inferior, soap-based formulations that simply don't meet the expectations of modern consumers. Our new conditioner line is meticulously engineered with advanced, pH-balanced ingredients to deliver the performance of a premium salon brand, all while eliminating plastic waste. They have invested heavily in the science of hair care to address the issues that have previously discouraged people. This is not just another solid bar; it's the hair care standard everyone has been waiting for.

The environmental benefits of the MidSolid line extend beyond the elimination of plastic packaging. Each concentrated conditioner bar is designed to last significantly longer than its liquid counterparts, with one bar replacing an average of two to three plastic bottles, preventing them from entering landfills and oceans. The compact and lightweight nature of the bars also drastically reduces the carbon footprint associated with shipping and transportation, as the company is no longer shipping heavy containers filled mostly with water. This water-free formulation also represents a significant conservation of water resources during the manufacturing process, aligning with a holistic vision of sustainability that considers the entire product lifecycle.

In addition to their scientific and ecological advantages, the conditioners offer immense practical benefits. The solid, leak-proof format makes them an ideal travel solution, easily passing through airport security and eliminating the risk of spills in luggage. Their compact size also helps to declutter shower spaces, appealing to a minimalist aesthetic. While the initial price may be higher than a single bottle of liquid conditioner, the longevity of each bar makes it a more cost-effective choice in the long run, delivering superior value through reduced consumption and waste.

The new MidSolid Solid Conditioner Line is launching with a range of targeted formulas to meet the needs of diverse hair types. These include a hydrating formula for dry or damaged hair, enriched with shea butter and argan oil, a volumizing formula for fine hair, and a specialized bar designed to define curls and combat frizz. All products are vegan, cruelty-free, and packaged in fully recyclable and compostable materials. The whole line is available for purchase directly from the company's website.





MidSolid is a forward-thinking personal care company dedicated to creating high-performance, sustainable beauty products. By combining advanced material science with a commitment to clean, plant-based ingredients, MidSolid develops innovative solutions that challenge industry standards and empower consumers to make choices that are better for their bodies and the planet. The company's mission is to prove that uncompromising efficacy and environmental responsibility can and should coexist.

###

For more information about MidSolid Press & Pour, contact the company here:



MidSolid Press & Pour

Soap Master Creighton

(484) 469-7627

ILove@ColoraradoSoap.com

362 Mountain Chickadee Rd Highlands Ranch, Colorado 80126
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The faces of Canadas most wanted fugitives filled a Vancouver news conference today as the latest iteration of the Bolo Programs Top 25 list was unveiled, along with new incentives for members of the public to call in tips about the fugitives whereabouts.

Twenty-five models filled a Vancouver Club ballroom clad in spoof masks bearing the faces of fugitives wanted by 15 police agencies across the country, a one-of-a-kind innovative concept deployed for the first time by Bolo.

At the top of the list unveiled during the news conference is Quebec man Bryan Fuentes Gramajo, wanted by Toronto Police Service for a brazen and deadly shooting outside a north Toronto mall July 17, 2025. Fuentes Gramajo is believed to be a member of Zone 43 street gang, which operates heavily in Ontario and Quebec, with strong ties to British Columbia.

If youre at the top of this list, we believe you pose a serious threat to any person, in any place you may be, said Toronto Police Service Chief Superintendent Joe Matthews. Bryan Fuentes Gramajo fits that bill.

More than half a million dollars in rewards are being offered for information leading to the arrests of various suspects on the Top 25 list, an initiative that has seen great success in the past. The previous iteration of the list, unveiled in December 2024, saw nine of the 25 fugitives arrested. Of the 78 suspects featured in Bolo campaigns since the programs inception in 2018, 42 have been located.

Make no mistake  these dangerous individuals are somewhere, among us, right now, said Bolo Program Executive Director Maxime Langlois. So they will remain this afternoon, tonight, tomorrow, and next week if we dont do something. Today, together, as a nation, were sending the message that were on the lookout for them.

The latest iteration of the Top 25 list includes fugitives wanted by the Levis Police Service, Montreal Police Service, Surete du Quebec, Ottawa Police Service, Toronto Police Service, York Regional Police, Greater Sudbury Police Service, OPP ROPE Squad, Ontario Provincial Police, Winnipeg Police Service, Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Delta Police Department, and Vancouver Police Department.

Every one of us  every police service in this room, every member of the public who is watching, listening, or reading about this announcement  have a part to play in locating these wanted fugitives. They could be in any community and we need your eyes and ears to help bring them to justice, said BC RCMP Commanding Officer Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald. We need to know where these people are. So, pick up the phone and call in your tip. We all have a role to play in community safety.

Top 25 List

Bryan Fuentes Gramajo

Wanted by Toronto Police Service for Murder

Reward up to $100,000 All Boivin

Wanted by Surete du Quebec for Drug Trafficking

Reward up to $100,000 Tamah McLean

Wanted by Toronto Police Service for Murder

Reward up to $100,000 Tresor Horimbere

Wanted by Winnipeg Police Service for Murder

Reward up to $100,000 Dylan Denis

Wanted by Montreal Police Service for Murder

Reward up to $100,000 Pierry Philogene

Wanted by Montreal Police Service for Murder Chad Dandan

Wanted by Winnipeg Police Service for Murder Katherine Bergeron-Pinzarrone

Wanted by York Regional Police for Murder Saed Osman

Wanted by Edmonton Police Service for Murder

Reward up to $50,000 Noah Singh

Wanted by Greater Sudbury Police Service for Murder Mohamed Shire

Wanted by Ottawa Police Service for Murder

Reward up to $50,000 Dellano Robertson-Berry

Wanted by Toronto Police Service for Murder Omid Mashinchi

Wanted by Vancouver Police Department for Conspiracy Adrian Walker

Wanted by Toronto Police Service for Murder Nicholas Singh

Wanted by Ontario Provincial Police ROPE Squad for Being Unlawfully at Large Gurkirat Singh

Wanted by Delta Police Department for Sexual Interference (Person under 16) Yusuf Ali

Wanted by Winnipeg Police Service for Attempted Murder Joshua Grey

Wanted by Ontario Provincial Police ROPE Squad for Being Unlawfully at Large Gibriil Bakal

Wanted by Ottawa Police Service for Murder Christian Cuxum

Wanted by Toronto Police Service for Murder Dharam Dhaliwal

Wanted by Peel Regional Police for Murder Tommy Bernier-Thibault

Wanted by Service de police de la Ville de Levis for Assault Kiarash Parzham

Wanted by Toronto Police Service for Murder Talal Amer

Wanted by Calgary Police Service for Manslaughter Danick Miguel Bourgeois

Wanted by Ontario Provincial Police for Murder





For information on each case, visit boloprogram.org.

About Bolo Program



The Bolo Program is a breakthrough initiative leveraging social media, technology, and innovative engagement to encourage citizens to be on the lookout for Canadas most wanted, so they can help keep their communities safe. BOLO, which stands for be on the lookout, is a commonly used law enforcement term to designate individuals who are actively wanted.

Through its Top 25s, innovative activities, and campaigns, Bolo reaches citizens at the right time, at the right place, and by using the right means to encourage citizens to be on the lookout. Bolo amplifies priority wanted notices for which Canadian police services have already requested the publics assistance. In cooperation with Canadian police services, Bolo launches amplification campaigns to reach wider audiences for these notices, on multiple platforms and over extended periods of time, and offers major financial rewards as incentives for citizens to be on the lookout and submit tips to the authorities.

Media contact: info@boloprogram.org

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/13d50d11-9b07-47cd-91be-07e46f5b828d
8 October 2025  Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, announces that its Board of Directors, following the recommendation of the Companys Nominations and Remuneration Committee, has chosen Martin Sion as the Groups new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 April 2026.

Martin Sion will succeed Henri Poupart-Lafarge, who announced in May his decision not to seek a further term as Chief Executive Officer of Alstom, having served as CEO since February 2016.

The Board has conducted an extensive search process over the last few months, and we believe that Martin Sion has the necessary experience to lead Alstom. We look forward to welcoming him in April 2026. Until then, Henri Poupart-Lafarge will continue in his role, thus ensuring a smooth transition, said Philippe Petitcolin, Chairman of Alstoms Board of Directors.

At the same meeting, the Board of Directors also decided, on the recommendation of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, on the elements of Martin Sions remuneration for his duties. These elements are available on the Companys website.

About Martin Sion

After graduating from the Ecole Centrale de Paris and a spell at Sandia National Laboratories in the United States, Martin Sion joined Societe Europeenne de Propulsion (SEP) in 1990, where he held various engineering positions. In 2005, he became head of the Technical Department of Snecmas Space Engines Division. He was subsequently appointed head of the Improvement Strategy Department at Snecma (now Safran Aircraft Engines) and, in 2009, head of the Build-up and Equipment Industrial Excellence Centre. From 2010 to 2013, he headed the companys Space Engines division. He then joined Aircelle (now Safran Nacelles) in 2013 as CEO, and in 2015, he was appointed Chairman of Safran Electronics & Defense. Martin Sion has been a member of ArianeGroups Board of Directors since 2020 and became the companys CEO in 2023.

ALSTOM is a protected trademark of the Alstom Group.









About Alstom









Alstom commits to contribute to a low carbon future by developing and promoting innovative and sustainable transportation solutions that people enjoy riding. From high-speed trains, metros, monorails, trams, to turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility, Alstom offers its diverse customers the broadest portfolio in the industry. With its presence in 63 countries and a talent base of over 86,000 people from 184 nationalities, the company focuses its design, innovation, and project management skills to where mobility solutions are needed most. Listed in France, Alstom generated sales of 18.5 billion for the fiscal year ending on 31 March 2025.

For more information, please visit www.alstom.com.





Contacts











HQ



Philippe MOLITOR - Tel.: +33 (0)7 76 00 97 79

philippe.molitor@alstomgroup.com









Coralie COLLET - Tel.: +33 (0) 7 63 63 09 62

coralie.collet@alstomgroup.com



Investor Relations

Cyril GUERIN - Tel. : +33 (0)6 07 89 36 16

cyril.guerin@alstomgroup.com









Guillaume GAUVILLE - Tel. : +44 (0)7 588 022 744

guillaume.gauville@alstomgroup.com









Estelle MATURELL ANDINO  Tel. : +33 (0)6 71 37 47 56

estelle.maturell@alstomgroup.com









Jalal DAHMANE - Tel. : +33 (0)6 98 19 96 62

jalal.dahmane@alstomgroup.com









Attachment
TORONTO, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Talk Shop, one of Canadas leading independent communications agencies, has been selected as the public relations agency of record for Sunnybrook Foundation. Through this partnership, Talk Shop will deliver an integrated communications strategy and support to help Sunnybrook Foundation and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre advance their strategic goals.

Sunnybrook Foundation inspires lasting support to achieve the bold ambitions of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. By engaging donors and the giving community, the Foundation supports life-saving research, patient care, and innovation at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, one of Canadas leading hospitals.

Within the partnership, Talk Shop will deliver a range of services, including awareness building, thought leadership, media relations, and supporting the visibility and recognition of donor contributions. Through storytelling, this partnership will shine a light on the impact of philanthropic giving and how it drives healthcare innovation in Ontario and across Canada.

At Sunnybrook, donor and community support drives innovation and breakthroughs in care and research. Were thrilled to partner with Talk Shop to share these stories in ways that resonate deeply with our supporters, said Christina Topp, VP of Marketing & Community Engagement, Sunnybrook Foundation. Talk Shop stood out for their strategic thinking and collaborative approach, and were excited to work with a team that understands how to connect our story with audiences in a meaningful way.

Talk Shop brings a track record of building brand trust and visibility across Canada through integrated PR campaigns. The agencys focus will be on amplifying Sunnybrook Foundations efforts, driving community engagement, and ensuring consistent storytelling that reflects the importance of philanthropy in advancing health care.

Sunnybrook is one of Canadas most respected health institutions, and supporting their Foundation is an incredible opportunity, said Sara Padidar, Founding Partner at Talk Shop. This partnership not only strengthens Sunnybrooks voice but also reflects our growth as a national agency committed to telling impactful stories that shape the future.

This partnership underscores the shared commitment of both organizations to fostering innovation, engaging the community, and leading the transformation of high-quality, compassionate care in Ontario and beyond.

About Sunnybrook Foundation

Sunnybrook Foundation inspires lasting support to achieve the bold ambitions of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, a world-renowned leader in research, education and patient care. We do so by fostering the partnership, trust and confidence of our forward-thinking community of volunteers, donors and partners.

About Talk Shop

Talk Shop is an award-winning integrated communications agency specializing in public relations, digital marketing, corporate communications, issues and crisis management, social media, and brand strategy. With offices in Toronto, Vancouver, and L.A., Talk Shop serves as a strategic partner to organizations across North America, helping them build credibility, amplify impact, and deliver results through tailored, integrated campaigns.

Media Contact

Talk Shop

Alix Gallant, Vice President - Growth

alix@talkshopmedia.com

(416) 408-2220
MONTREAL, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of the 46th edition of BDC Small Business Week , taking place across the country from October 19 to 25, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and its partners invite Canadian entrepreneurs to come together and explore ways to evolve their businesses in a rapidly changing environment.

2025 Theme: The Economic Revolution

Between the rise of artificial intelligence, the removal of interprovincial trade barriers, the redefinition of global economic relations, and a wave of business transfers, one thing is clear: entrepreneurship is undergoing a major transformation. Under the theme The Economic Revolution is here  get your business ready, the 2025 edition of Small Business Week aims to provide Canadian entrepreneurs with concrete tools to adapt, stand out, and prepare for whats next.

Canadian entrepreneurs have always led with resilience and vision. Today, their ability to adapt and innovate is more important than ever. As our economic reality and the global market shifts, the challenge in front of them, in front us all, is significant, and this week offers a chance to pause with purpose: to reflect, connect, and prepare for whats next. This is a unique moment to celebrate those who embody entrepreneurship with passion and determination, and who fuel it with energy every day.

Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO of BDC

Coming Soon: New BDC Report on the State of Entrepreneurship

To kick off the weeks activities, BDC will release the first edition of the BDC Report on the State of Entrepreneurship 2025 on October 20. This flagship document, now to be published annually, will provide a rich, multidimensional portrait of Canadian entrepreneurs and their businesses, with fresh national and regional perspectives shedding light on emerging trends and challenges.

Covering entrepreneurship or working on a related story? Heres how to get ready:

Schedule an interview in advance with one of our national or regional spokespeople by replying to this email.

in advance with one of our national or regional spokespeople by replying to this email. Download the media kit for key highlights, 2025 theme details, and visuals.

for key highlights, 2025 theme details, and visuals. Request to be added to our embargo list to receive early access to the BDC Report on the State of Entrepreneurship 2025 before its official release by emailing: mediainfo@bdc.ca



Events Across the Country

Here are some of the many scheduled activities:



October 20 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., Montreal, QC (in French) : SMEs and the 2025 Economy: Risks, Opportunities, and Growth Drivers, with Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO, BDC | In collaboration with The Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM) | Learn more

SMEs and the 2025 Economy: Risks, Opportunities, and Growth Drivers, with Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO, BDC | In collaboration with The Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal (CCMM) | Learn more October 21 | 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., Montreal, QC : Prepare Your Business for the Economic Revolution, with Pierre Cleroux, Chief Economist, BDC

* Virtual event (media may attend the recording in person by confirming with the media team) | Learn more

Prepare Your Business for the Economic Revolution, with Pierre Cleroux, Chief Economist, BDC * (media may attend the recording in person by confirming with the media team) | Learn more October 21 | 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Toronto, ON: Roundtable: Owning the Middle: Growth When Youre No Longer, with Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO, BDC, in collaboration with Women of Influence+ | Learn more

Roundtable: Owning the Middle: Growth When Youre No Longer, with Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO, BDC, in collaboration with Women of Influence+ | Learn more October 23 | 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Winnipeg, MB: At the Table with Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO, BDC, in collaboration with the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce | Learn more

Discover events happening in your region by checking the full program.

About BDC Small Business Week

BDC Small Business Week is an annual event organized by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) for the past 46 years. Each year, more than 10,000 entrepreneurs gather to learn, network, and celebrate entrepreneurship. For full details about BDC Small Business Week, visit bdc.ca/sbw. This week offers an important opportunity for entrepreneurs to come together, share challenges, and exchange ideas.

About BDC: 80 years as Canadas bank for entrepreneurs

BDC is a partner of choice for all entrepreneurs looking to access the financing and advice they need to build their businesses and tackle the big challenges of our time. Our investment arm, BDC Capital, offers a wide range of risk capital solutions to help grow the most innovative firms. BDCs development role means we are in a state of perpetual evolution  wherever entrepreneurs go and whatever the Canadian economy needs  we will be there to help them defy the odds. 80 years later, that commitment remains very much alive. Our financing and investments in fiscal 2025 will add an estimated $25 billion to Canadas GDP over the next five years. We are one of Canadas Top 100 Employers and Canadas Best Diversity Employers, and the first financial institution in Canada to receive the B Corp certification in 2013. For more information on our products and services and to consult free tools, templates and articles, visit bdc.ca or join BDC on social media.

Media contact:

mediainfo@bdc.ca

1 844 625-8321
Wattwil, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wattwil, St. Gallen October 08, 2025 - -

Hogg Liftsysteme AG, a Swiss lift systems manufacturer with over three decades of experience, addresses the increasing global demand for accessible building solutions through its comprehensive range of mobility systems. The company, which has been installing lifts across Switzerland since 1990, specializes in custom-engineered wheelchair lifts, seat lifts, vertical lifts, platform lifts, and ceiling lifts designed to enhance accessibility in both residential and commercial environments.

The growing emphasis on inclusive architecture and aging-in-place design has created unprecedented demand for sophisticated mobility solutions. Industry data indicates that the global accessibility equipment market continues to expand as building codes increasingly mandate barrier-free access and as demographics shift toward an aging population requiring enhanced mobility support.

Hogg Liftsysteme AG operates from three strategic locations in St. Gallen, Bern, and Lausanne, providing comprehensive lift solutions that combine Swiss precision engineering with modern technology. The company's product portfolio addresses diverse accessibility challenges, from narrow spiral staircases in historic buildings to modern commercial spaces requiring seamless vertical transportation.

The company's ceiling lift systems represent a particularly innovative approach to accessibility challenges. These suspension lifts mount to the ceiling rather than the staircase itself, leaving passages completely unobstructed for other users. This design proves especially valuable in multi-family buildings where fire safety regulations require clear evacuation routes. More information about their complete product range can be found at https://www.hoegglift.ch/en/products.

Each lift system undergoes custom engineering to match the specific architectural requirements of its installation site. Whether addressing a straight staircase, curved configuration, or outdoor installation, the company's engineering team develops tailored solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing structures. The vertical lifts, or homelifts, operate without requiring a machine room or lift pit, making them suitable for retrofit installations in buildings where traditional elevators would be impractical.

The company's commitment to long-term reliability extends through its comprehensive service offerings, including a five-year guarantee on products, maintenance programs, and the availability of second-hand and rental units for temporary accessibility needs. As a member of Liftunion, a European network of lift specialists, the company maintains connections with international expertise and technological developments in the mobility sector.

Beyond standard installations, Hogg Liftsysteme AG has developed specialized solutions for unique applications, including custom lift units for the railway industry. These projects demonstrate the company's capability to move from initial concept through development to final delivery of complex mobility systems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_7OdqJQe6o

Hogg Liftsysteme AG continues to serve the Swiss market with planning, installation, and maintenance services, supporting the transformation of buildings into accessible spaces that accommodate users of all mobility levels. The company's three-decade presence in the Swiss lift industry has established it as a trusted partner for architects, building owners, and individuals seeking reliable accessibility solutions. The company maintains its headquarters in Wattwil, Switzerland, where it coordinates installations throughout the country. Customers can visit https://maps.app.goo.gl/YceAM7bjFYzqM6td7 for location details and to explore the showroom featuring various lift configurations.

###

For more information about Hogg Liftsysteme AG: Treppenlifte | Sitzlifte | Plattformlifte | Rollstuhllifte | Deckenlifte, contact the company here:



Hogg Liftsysteme AG: Treppenlifte | Sitzlifte | Plattformlifte | Rollstuhllifte | Deckenlifte

D. Kressig

+41 71 987 66 80

info@hoegglift.ch

Wilerstrasse 137

9630 Wattwil

Switzerland
The lawsuit alleges that the Trump administrations termination of an entire congressionally mandated grant program under the Digital Equity Act is an unconstitutional overreach and strikes a blow to communities, leaving them cut off from basic online necessities

Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), represented by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, announced it filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia challenging the Trump Administrations repeal of the Digital Equity Act Competitive Grant Program. The suit argues that the administrations unilateral decision to end the statutory program and terminate grant funding is unconstitutional and violates the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches as outlined in the Constitution.

NDIA is asking the court to compel the Trump Administration to restore the Digital Equity Act Competitive Grant Program and allow NDIA to resume shovel-ready projects aimed at providing digital navigator services to 30,000 people in 11 states. In its lawsuit, NDIA challenges President Trump's public proclamation via Truth Social, which incorrectly asserts that the DEA was unconstitutional, along with the subsequent decision by the Department of Commerce to cancel the awards.

NDIA is taking the extraordinary step of suing the federal government for the 30,000 people who were counting on our Digital Navigator + program to help guide them through submitting job applications, accessing telehealth, attending classes, and staying safe online, said Angela Siefer, executive director of NDIA. Thousands more across the country stood to benefit from Digital Equity Act grants through other trusted community organizations. Lets be very clear, the Digital Equity Act is not unconstitutional nor racist, it passed with overwhelming bipartisan support to ensure the United States can compete in todays modern economy.

NDIA was awarded competitive grant funds on January 21, 2025, with an expected start date of March 1, 2025. The grant was designed to help NDIA equip 13 local digital navigator programs in 11 states with the resources to scale their work and reach 30,000 people through its new Digital Navigator+ (DN+) Program. These subgrantees represent a diverse cross-section of the country, working in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Washington.

NDIA was set to launch DN+, earlier this year, which would have gone beyond internet adoption, focusing on helping individuals with digital skills to address critical needs in health, education, workforce development, technology access, and social and civic engagement. In addition to scaling and strengthening the 13 local digital navigator programs, NDIA was set to create digital navigator resources that would have been made publicly available for use by any digital navigator program, multiplying the governments investment.

NDIA was one of 65 different projects recommended for award and a full breakdown of NDIAs award is available here.

The Administration is cutting a program that improves the lives of millions of Americans and provides much-needed support, which continues to harm the most vulnerable among us, said Gillian Cassell-Stiga, senior counsel of the Digital Justice Initiative at the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. The goal of the Digital Equity Act is to ensure that everyone has access to essential resources, whether it be access to employment, healthcare, or education.

A full copy of the lawsuit is available here.

About National Digital Inclusion Alliance: NDIA advances digital equity by supporting community programs and equipping policymakers to act. Working collaboratively with more than 2000 digital inclusion practitioners, NDIA advocates for equitable broadband access, tech devices, digital skills training, and tech support. For more information, visit digitalinclusion.org.

About the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law: Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to mobilize the nations leading lawyers as agents for change in the Civil Rights Movement. Today, the Lawyers Committee uses legal advocacy to achieve racial justice, fighting inside and outside the courts to ensure that Black people and other people of color have the voice, opportunity, and power to make the promises of our democracy real. The Lawyers Committee implements its mission and objectives by marshaling the pro bono resources of the bar for litigation, public policy, advocacy and other forms of service by lawyers to the cause of civil rights. The Lawyers Committee convenes the national, nonpartisan Election Protection Coalition, which administers the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline.

Attachment


SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cypher, founded in 2022, the on-chain payment and loyalty platform, officially launched its protocol's native token on October 5, 2025 at 9:00 UTC. The token immediately secured listings across major centralized and decentralized exchanges, including Binance Alpha, KuCoin, and Aerodrome Finance (Bases leading DEX). The token started trending #1 on Dexscreener shortly after its launch on the Base network. These high-profile listings are intended to provide immediate liquidity and global accessibility for users, with more exchange partnerships anticipated in the coming weeks.

Cypher is creating the WhatsApp moment for consumer financial apps. For too long, loyalty has been locked into expiring points and restricted programs. With Cypher, brands can deliver rewards directly on-chain, offering users ownership and seamless crypto spending, said Kube, CEO of Cypher and former Risk Engineering Lead at Coinbase.

Backed By Leading Global Investors

Cypher is backed by investors including Y Combinator, Samsung Next, Coinbase Ventures, and angel investor Balaji Srinivasan. Their involvement underscores confidence in Cyphers mission to transform payments and loyalty through blockchain-based infrastructure.

Cypher has attracted a community of more than 100,000 users across 120+ countries, reflecting demand for non-custodial, crypto-integrated payments that align with everyday spending habits.

Introducing The Cypher Card







At the core of Cyphers ecosystem is the Non-custodial wallet with Cypher Card, which has been live for over 3+ years and is specifically designed to facilitate everyday crypto and stablecoin spending.

Key features:

Non-custodial by design  Users can link any self-custodied wallets to use the card while maintaining ownership of their funds. Users topup their cards directly from their stablecoin balances (e.g., USDC, DAI), treating them like a digital dollar.

Multi-chain support and broader acceptance  Cypher Card can be used globally - anywhere Visa is accepted. Supports 15+ blockchain such as Ethereum, Solana, Hyperliquid, cosmos and so on..This enables users to spend their crypto and stablecoins from any supported chain seamlessly in the real world.

Instant digital card  Upon signup, users get instant access to virtual cards, with the option to get physical cards as well

On-chain rewards  Earn CYPR tokens with every purchase, with boosted rewards at selected merchants through Cypher protocol.

Enhanced controls  Users can lock/unlock their cards, adjust the spending limits in a few clicks, and set country-level restrictions.

Premium tier  offers an exclusive Metal Card with zero forex markup and higher monthly limits for a truly elevated experience

Market Opportunity

Globally, more than $1 trillion in loyalty value remains unredeemed, due to fragmentation, expirations and restrictions. Traditional credit card points, airline miles, and retail rewards are largely locked within centralized systems, limiting true consumer ownership. Cypher Protocol seeks to address this by combining real-world payments with blockchain-based incentives, Cypher turns everyday transactions into crypto-native engagement opportunities.

Cyphers Flywheel: Maximizing rewards



The token is designed to power a robust rewards ecosystem, offering multiple avenues for users to earn and benefit.



For Cypher card holders:

Signup bonus rewards when signing up for the card

Earnings purchases made with the card

Extra rewards when shopping with top selected (voted) partner brands

Referral rewards for inviting new card users who complete at least 1 transaction

Users can sign up and issue a virtual card within a few minutes.

For token holders:

CYPR token can be locked to receive veCYPR

Users can vote for their favourite brands (like Amazon, Uber, etc.) to decide which ones receive new CYPR emission every 2 weeks, and earn USDC brand rewards (bribes) for their votes

Referral rewards when a referral signs up and completes their 1st transaction, as well as extra referral rewards for spending on the products of the brands a the referring user voted for



(Note: Referral codes are open to everyone, regardless of whether they hold a Cypher Card)



This incentive structure allows engaged card users and token holders to maximize their cashback. By actively using the card and participating in governance, users can potentially earn up to 35% cashback in rewards.



Cypr Token Utility

Cyphers economic design is built around a Flywheel Effect, a self-reinforcing cycle that fuels long-term growth by aligning consumers, brands, and token holders.

This loop ensures that every transaction strengthens the ecosystem turning everyday spending into a powerful growth engine. Unlike traditional reward programs that rely on short-term incentives, Cyphers model is sustainable, user-owned, and built to scale globally.





The total supply is hard-capped at 1 billion tokens, designed to preserve long-term value. 8.5% of the total supply has been airdropped to early community users to promote broad adoption. 10% of the airdropped amount is automatically locked as veCYPR for 2 years to incentivize immediate participation in protocol governance (voting).



The total allocation for the Team and Investors are fully locked and inaccessible for the first year followed by a 3-year linear vesting schedule, ensuring long-term alignment with the success of the protocol.

About Cypher Protocol

Cypher Protocol envisions a financial future where users maintain control of their assets while merchants issue tokenized incentives natively on-chain. By leveraging the stability of stablecoins for payments, Cypher removes the primary barrier to mainstream crypto adoption.

Cypher is about empowering consumers, brands, and merchants. We aim to make crypto not just an investment but a practical tool for everyday spending, - Kube, CEO of Cypher.

About Cypher

Cypher is building the payments and loyalty infrastructure for the decentralized web. Backed by top-tier investors including Y Combinator and Coinbase Ventures, Cypher is pioneering a seamless and secure method for global crypto and stablecoin spending through the Cypher Card. By tokenizing consumer loyalty with its native asset, Cypher enables users to earn and govern their rewards on-chain, effectively transforming the traditional $1 Trillion loyalty market into a transparent, user-owned economy. The company is committed to bringing institutional-grade security and mainstream usability to decentralized finance.



The official token contract address on Base mainnet is

https://basescan.org/token/0xd262a4c7108c8139b2b189758e8d17c3dfc91a38

Please note that the token is listed only on Base network.

Website: https://cypherhq.io

Twitter/X: @Cypher_HQ_

Cypher protocol: https://cypherhq.io/cypr/

Discord: https://discord.gg/Gem44QqRYJ

Media Contacts:

Kuberan Marimuthu (Kube)

Founder/CEO, Cypher

kube@cypherhq.io

Disclaimer: This content is provided by Cypher. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. GlobeNewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

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Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

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https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d1313017-5e7f-4a52-8d55-94e73a88da7a

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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pepper Lunch , the Japanese-born experiential fast-casual concept unlike any other, with a cult following and more than 540 locations across 17 countries, today announced the introduction of its dessert menu platform. While available in Southeast Asia, domestic Pepper Lunch restaurants have never had dessert. Starting this week, guests visiting Pepper Lunch restaurants in the States now have an option to finish their meal with something sweet, inspired by the flavors of abroad.

A Flourless Chocolate Torte and Yuzu Cheesecake are the companys first two offerings within its new dessert platform. Each is served chilled and crafted with best-in-class ingredients. The Flourless Chocolate Torte combines Chocolate, Coco Butter, Eggs, Butter, and Cream, while the Yuzu Cheesecake is made with Cream Cheese, Eggs, Yuzu Juice, and Butter for a unique and delicious flavor profile.

Company leadership spent nearly two years searching for a dessert that paid homage to the flavors of Southeast Asia, yet still resonated with palates here at home.

The Yuzu Cheesecake is priced at $5.00, while the Flourless Chocolate Torte will be $5.65.

We knew when introducing dessert for the first time at Pepper Lunch that it had to be something not only delicious for our guests, but also simple for our franchisees and team members to execute, said Troy Hooper, CEO of Pepper Lunch. These new desserts continue our legacy of craveable innovation that puts the guest first with flavors they love, and weve got lots more in the hopper this year.

Established in 1994, Pepper Lunch is one of Japans largest homegrown franchise restaurant brands with over 540 locations in 17 countries. Renowned for quality food served in a unique and innovative way for dining in or delivery, and with guests being able to get in, dine, and be on their way in 20 minutes for under $20, the beloved Japanese-based brand seeks experienced franchise partners to expand its proven business model and cutting-edge customer offerings across the United States.

*Pricing may vary by market

About Pepper Lunch

The original fast-casual Japanese D-I-Y teppan restaurant, Pepper Lunch was founded in 1994 by one of Japans most famous chefs and entrepreneurs who wanted to introduce affordable premium steaks with quality ingredients served on a sizzling iron plate. Deliciously irresistible, Pepper Lunch proudly offers quality, tasty, and affordable meals sourced from the finest ingredients paired with an unforgettable experience.

Contact:

Joshua Levitt

Media for Pepper Lunch

949.981.0757

media@pepperlunchrestaurants.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9625d58e-5ac5-49e5-aed6-0f4acbf8062e
SAN DIEGO, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI), a global leader in AI-driven analytics and operational intelligence for casinos and resorts, today announced that Apache Gold Casino & Resort has successfully completed its upgrade to AGI56, QCIs most advanced enterprise platform release to date.

This significant upgrade equips Apache Gold with enhanced AI analytical capabilities through Chatalytics.com, QCIs groundbreaking conversational interface, alongside the desktop version of QCI Heatmap, QCI Metrics, and QCI Dispatch. Together, these tools enable real-time decision-making, streamline operations, and deliver enterprise-wide intelligence to optimize the guest experience.

Next-Generation Capabilities

QCI Heatmap & Quartals Visualization  QCIs GPU-accelerated Heatmap delivers real-time, 60 frames-per-second visualization of the gaming floor. Casino managers can now view live performance and player data directly on tablets, improving floor awareness and resource allocation. The addition of Quartals Visualization introduces five-dimensional analysis for marketing segmentation and performance trends, uncovering patterns in complex datasets that were previously invisible.

 QCIs GPU-accelerated Heatmap delivers real-time, 60 frames-per-second visualization of the gaming floor. Casino managers can now view live performance and player data directly on tablets, improving floor awareness and resource allocation. The addition of introduces five-dimensional analysis for marketing segmentation and performance trends, uncovering patterns in complex datasets that were previously invisible. QCI Metrics  A secure, opt-in benchmarking program enabling participating casinos to share non-PII data. With more than 250,000 gaming machines already enrolled , QCI Metrics provides daily insights into slot machine performance and industry trends.

 A secure, opt-in benchmarking program enabling participating casinos to share non-PII data. With more than , QCI Metrics provides daily insights into slot machine performance and industry trends. QCI Dispatch  A next-generation workflow and dispatch tool that automates the assignment of tasks such as jackpots and machine malfunctions. By improving slot attendant and technician response times, QCI Dispatch reduces downtime and enhances the guest experience.



Executive Quotes

We are proud to partner with Apache Gold Casino & Resort on this major upgrade, said Dr. Ralph Thomas, CEO of QCI. AGI56 brings the power of conversational AI, real-time visualization, and enterprise-scale benchmarking into one integrated platform. Apache Golds commitment to innovation ensures they are well positioned to optimize operations while delivering exceptional experiences to their guests.

Upgrading to AGI56 was a strategic decision to keep Apache Gold at the forefront of technology-driven operations, stated Sam Peralta, General Manager of Apache Gold Casino & Resort. The new capabilities in Heatmap, Metrics, and Dispatch have already improved how we manage the gaming floor and engage with data. Partnering with QCI continues to provide us with the insights and agility needed to serve our customers at the highest level.

ABOUT San Carlos Apache Gaming Enterprises

About Apache Sky Casino

Set in the scenic copper corridor on highway 77, Apache Sky Casino offers almost 300 state-of-the-art slot machines, featuring the newest titles and classic favorites. Friendly blackjack dealers are ready to deal you in on live action. To discover more visit apacheskycasino.com.

About Apache Gold Casino Resort

Located five miles east of Globe, Arizona on Highway 70, Apache Gold Casino features 400-plus exciting slot machines, including your all-time favorites and new titles which are waiting for you to take them for a spin. Enjoy a variety of food options such as the Black River Grill which offers casual dining, while the Apache Prime Steakhouse delivers fine dining. To learn more visit ApacheGoldCasinos.com.

ABOUT QCI

Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) has pioneered the revolutionary QCI AGI Platform, an artificial intelligence platform that seamlessly integrates player development, marketing, and gaming operations with powerful, real-time tools designed specifically for the gaming and hospitality industries. Our advanced, highly configurable software is deployed in over 300 casino resorts across North America, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Latin America, and The Bahamas. The QCI AGI Platform, which manages more than $42 billion in annual gross gaming revenue, stands as a best-in-class solution, whether on-premises, hybrid, or cloud-based, enabling fully coordinated activities across all aspects of gaming or hospitality operations. QCI's data-driven, AI-powered software propels swift, informed decision-making vital in the ever-changing casino industry, assisting casinos in optimizing resources and profits, crafting effective marketing campaigns, and enhancing customer loyalty. QCI was co-founded by Dr. Ralph Thomas and Mr. Andrew Cardno and is based in San Diego, with additional offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Denver, Dallas, and Phoenix. Main phone number: (858) 299.5715. Visit us at www.quickcustomintelligence.com.

ABOUT Dr. Ralph Thomas

Dr. Ralph Thomas, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Quick Custom Intelligence, is a visionary leader in applied analytics and the founder of two companies delivering innovative solutions in casino gaming, education, and adult learning. A veteran of the gaming industry, he has extensive experience implementing analytics across single and multi-property casino operations, driving measurable gains to the bottom line. Dr. Thomas has developed business intelligence tools for multi-billion-dollar casinos, transforming raw data into actionable insights. As the co-author of 14 books and over 80 published articles on applied analytics and data science in gaming, as well as an inventor on dozens of patents, Dr. Thomas brings a unique 360-degree perspective of the industryfrom data architecture to day-to-day casino operations. His deep expertise and visionary approach have helped shape the future of data-driven decision-making in gaming worldwide.

Contact:

Laurel Kay, Quick Custom Intelligence

Phone: 858-349-8354
SURREY, British Columbia, Oct. 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FVREB is calling for bold action to unlock the potential of prefabricated and modular housing as one of the key solutions to British Columbias housing crisis. Its new report, Building Faster, Smarter, outlines nine practical policy recommendations to help governments, industry, and communities deliver more homes quickly, sustainably, and affordably.

The report highlights how factory-built housing can reduce construction waste by up to 70 per cent, cut on-site emissions by more than 40 per cent, and deliver homes in half the time of traditional methods. Yet inconsistent municipal zoning, outdated permitting standards, and limited financing options continue to slow adoption.

We need only look at countries like Sweden and Germany to realize that Prime Minister Mark Carney and the team at Build Canada Homes (BCH), are onto something that we in Canada need to embrace  building affordable housing at scale, said Tore Jacobsen, Chair of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board as well as the Stakeholder and Government Relations Committee (SGRC).

FVREBs report outlines several key recommendations including:

Harmonizing municipal zoning to make prefabricated housing easier to replicate across communities.

Creating a provincial procurement roadmap to provide predictable, long-term demand for modular housing.

Establishing a Prefab-Ready lending stream within CMHCs Apartment Construction Loan Program to improve financing options.

Empowering First Nations leadership through dedicated procurement and production partnerships in modular housing.

Expanding TradeUpBC funding to train and prepare workers for modular and offsite construction.



At FVREB, we believe prefabricated and modular construction represent one of the practical and innovative ways forward  one that can deliver more homes quickly, sustainably, and at prices within reach, said Baldev Gill, CEO of the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board. We look forward to working with governments and industry partners to bring these recommendations to life.

FVREBs call to action comes as the prefabricated construction industry experiences rapid growth globally and in Canada. McKinsey projects the modular construction industry will reach USD $130 billion by 2030 across Europe and the U.S., while Business Wire forecasts Canadas prefabricated construction output will rise 5.6 per cent in 2024 to CAD $18.5 billion, and grow at a 5.3 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) to reach CAD $22.8 billion by 2028.

Canadians are facing one of the most pressing housing affordability challenges in its history, said Jacobsen. Offsite construction should be a key strategic pillar in our efforts to increase supply at the pace necessary to bring affordability under control.

To read the full report, click here.

*The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board is an association of 5,100-plus real estate professionals who live and work in the BC communities of Abbotsford, Langley, Mission, North Delta, Surrey, and White Rock.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d42b36ba-2409-4fc0-9658-e0143656f65b
VANCOUVER, Oct. 07, 2025 - Koryx Copper Inc. (the "Company") (TSX-V: KRY) (NSX: KYX) announced today certain amendments to its management information circular dated August 29, 2025 (the "Information Circular") in connection with the special meeting of shareholders scheduled to be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 (the "Meeting").

At the Meeting, shareholders will be asked to approve the transfer of the Company's registered office and place of central administration to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg with continuation of the Company's legal personality as a public limited company (societe anonyme) under the name Koryx Copper S.A. and, consequently, change of the nationality of the Company (the "Continuation"), as well as certain ancillary resolutions (collectively, the "Resolutions"). As originally described in the Information Circular, the effective time of the Continuation was contemplated as being the day after the Luxembourg notary signs the notarial deed recording the Resolutions (the "Effective Time").

In order to continue out of British Columbia, the Company must obtain the authorization of the Registrar of Companies under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "BC Registrar"). However, due to an ongoing labor dispute involving the British Columbia government and public sector workers, the Company may not obtain the BC Registrar's authorization by the Effective Time specified in the Information Circular.

In light of these circumstances, the Company wishes to inform shareholders that the Information Circular and the Resolutions therein are hereby amended to clarify that any reference to the Effective Time shall be modified so that the Continuation will become effective on the later of (i) the day on which authorization of the BC Registrar is obtained; and (ii) the day after the Luxembourg notary signs the notarial deed recording the Resolutions.

Other than such change to the Effective Time, the text of the Information Circular and the Resolutions remains unchanged.

The directors and management of the Company recommend that shareholders vote for the Resolutions. For additional information about the Meeting, please refer to the Information Circular, which is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.koryxcopper.com/investors-overview/agm-documents.

About Koryx Copper Inc.

Koryx Copper Inc. is a Canadian copper development Company focused on advancing the 100% owned Haib Copper Project in Namibia. Haib is a large, advanced (PEA-stage) copper/molybdenum porphyry deposit in southern Namibia with a long history of exploration and project development by multiple operators. More than 80,000m of drilling has been conducted at Haib since the 1970's with significant exploration programs led by companies including Falconbridge (1964), Rio Tinto (1975) and Teck (2014). Extensive metallurgical testing and various technical studies have also been completed at Haib to date.

Additional studies are underway aiming to demonstrate Haib as a future long-life, low-cost, low-risk open pit, sulphide flotation copper project with the potential for additional copper production from heap leaching. Haib has a current mineral resource of 414Mt @ 0.35% Cu for 1,459Mt of contained copper in the Indicated category and 345Mt @ 0.33% Cu for 1136Mt of contained copper in the Inferred category (0.25% Cu cut-off).

Mineralization at Haib is typical of a porphyry copper deposit and it is one of only a few examples of a Paleoproterozoic porphyry copper deposit in the world and one of only two in southern Africa (both in Namibia). Due to its age, the deposit has been subjected to multiple metamorphic and deformation events but still retains many of the classic mineralization and alteration features typical of these deposits. The mineralization is dominantly chalcopyrite with minor bornite and chalcocite present and only minor secondary copper minerals at surface due to the arid environment.

Further details of the Haib Copper Project are available in the corresponding technical report titled, "NI 43-101 Technical Report - August 2024 Mineral Resource Estimate for the Haib Copper Project, Namibia" dated effective August 31, 2024 (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report and other information is available on the Company's website at https://koryxcopper.com and under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

More information is available by contacting the Company:

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Heye Daun", President & CEO

Julia Becker

Corporate Communications

jbecker@koryxcopper.com

+1-604-785-0850

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without limitation, statements regarding the Continuation, the Company's ability to complete the Continuation, the timing for completing the Continuation, the Company's ability to obtain all necessary approvals for the Continuation, including the approvals of the shareholders and the BC Registrar, holding a special meeting of shareholders, timing for completion of the Company's intended preliminary economic assessment (the "PEA") of its Haib Copper Project and the potential projected or processing design capacity for annual copper concentrate production at its Haib Copper Project and the future or prospects of the Company. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Other factors which could materially affect such forward-looking information are described in the risk factors in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
Vancouver, October 7, 2025 - Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc. (CSE: NOP) ("NOP" or the "Company"), a B.C. based leader in organic sedimentary phosphate exploration, is pleased to announce that it has approved the issuance of 3,500,000 stock options to certain officers, directors, and consultants of the Company for the purchase of up to 3,500,000 common shares in the capital of the Company pursuant to the Company's Stock Option Plan. Each option vested immediately and is exercisable for a period of five (5) years at an exercise price of $0.09 per share.

The Company also announces that it has agreed to issue 2,000,000 common shares of the Company to Robin Dow, CEO, and 1,000,000 common shares to Garry Smith, P. Geo., as bonus compensation (the "Compensation Shares"). The Compensation Shares are being issued at a deemed price of $0.06 per share, in accordance with policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange. All Compensation Shares issued are subject to a four (4) month and a day hold period.

The issuance of the Compensation Shares constitutes a "related party transaction" as this term is defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101: Protection of Minority Securityholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The issuance of the Shares was exempt from the valuation requirement of MI 61-101 by the virtue of the exemption contained in section 5.5(b) as the Company's Shares are not listed on a specified market and from the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 by virtue of the exemption contained in Section 5.7(1)(a) as the value of the Shares issued did not exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing of the Compensation Shares transaction as the details and amounts of the bonuses were not finalized until closer to the closing and the Company wished to close the transaction as soon as practicable, which the Company deems reasonable.

Nevada Organic Phosphate Inc.

NOP is a junior exploration company with an organic sedimentary raw rock phosphate bed, 6.6 kilometres long, in northeast Nevada. Additional applications extend the potential strike of rock phosphate to over 30 kilometres. This is believed to be the only known large-scale organic sedimentary phosphate project in North America. It is situated close to the main highway to Montello/Elko, Nevada, and near the rail head to California.

For More Information

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services providers have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information ("FLSI") within the meaning

of applicable securities laws. FLSI may include expectations, anticipations, beliefs, opinions, plans, intentions, estimates, forecasts, projections, guidance or other similar statements and information that are not historical facts. All statements which are not historical statements are considered FLSI. All FLSI is based on assumptions, which may prove inaccurate, and subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including without limitation those risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's public securities filings, which may cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated or implied in FLSI. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance or value on FLSI. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in any FLSI in this news release are reasonable at the present time, it can give no assurance that such FLSI will prove to be correct. Any FLSI in this news release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to publicly update or revise any FLSI, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. Any FLSI in this news release is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/269574
(All amounts in US$ unless otherwise indicated)

Lithium Americas Corp. (TSX: LAC) (NYSE: LAC) ("Lithium Americas" or the "Company") announced the finalization of the parties' agreement on certain amendments to the Company's $2.23 billion loan (the "DOE Loan") from the U.S. Department of Energy (the "DOE") for financing the construction of the processing facilities at Thacker Pass ("Thacker Pass" or the "Project"), which amendments will become effective following the satisfaction of mutually agreed and customary conditions that are anticipated to be satisfied in the following week. In addition, the Company is pleased to announce the completion of the previously announced at-the-market equity program (the "ATM Program").

DOE AGREEMENT AMENDMENTS

In furtherance of the Company's previously announced agreement-in-principle with General Motors Holdings LLC ("GM"), its joint venture (the "JV") partner in Thacker Pass, and the DOE, the Company and the DOE have agreed on the terms of an amendment to the DOE Loan, as follows:

The DOE has agreed to defer $184 million of scheduled debt service obligations under the DOE Loan from the first five years of loan repayment to the remaining years of loan maturity (which will become effective upon the execution of the amendment to the promissory note issued by the Company's affiliate, Lithium Nevada LLC ("LN") in favor of the Federal Financing Bank of the United States, which promissory note reflects the payment obligations with respect to the DOE Loan).

The Company will contribute an additional $120 million to DOE Loan reserve accounts, to be funded within 12 months of the effective date of the amendments.

In consideration for agreeing to the deferral of scheduled debt service as described above, the DOE will receive:

a 5% equity stake in the Company through warrants to purchase common shares of the Company at an exercise price of $0.01 per share (the "LAC Warrants") and

a 5% economic stake in the JV through warrants to purchase non-voting, non-transferable equity interest of the JV (the "JV Units") with an exercise price of $0.01 per unit (the "JV Warrants").

The LAC Warrants, the JV Warrants and the JV Units remain subject to customary conditions to be finalized through definitive documents and corporate approvals.

In addition, the JV and GM have entered into an amendment to GM's lithium offtake agreement with LN (the "Offtake Agreement") to provide additional support to the Project. The amendment permits LN to enter into additional third-party offtake agreements for certain remaining production volumes not forecasted to be purchased by GM.

The Company intends to rely upon the exemption set forth in Section 602.1 of the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") Company Manual, which provides that the TSX will not apply its standards to certain transactions involving eligible interlisted issuers on a recognized exchange.

ATM UPDATE

As previously announced, the Company established an ATM Program on May 15, 2025. As of October 1, 2025, the ATM Program has been completed. The Company sold an aggregate of 26,921,629 common shares pursuant to the ATM program for gross proceeds of $99,999,988.75.

ADVISORS AND AGENTS

The Company's transaction advisors for the DOE Loan transaction include Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC serving as financial advisor, while Vinson & Elkins LLP serving as U.S. legal counsel and Cassels, Brock & Blackwell LLP as Canadian legal counsel. The ATM Program agents are TD Securities (USA) LLC and TD Securities Inc.

ABOUT LITHIUM AMERICAS

Lithium Americas is developing Thacker Pass located in Humboldt County in northern Nevada, which hosts the largest known measured lithium resource (Measured and Indicated) and reserve (Proven and Probable) in the world. Thacker Pass is owned by a joint venture between Lithium Americas (holding a 62% interest and is the manager of the Project), and GM (holding a 38% interest). The Company is focused on advancing Phase 1 of Thacker Pass toward production, targeting nominal design capacity of 40,000 tonnes per year of battery-quality lithium carbonate. The Company and its engineering, procurement and construction management contractor, Bechtel, entered into a National Construction Agreement (Project Labor Agreement) with North America's Building Trades Unions for construction of Thacker Pass. Construction is expected to create nearly 2,000 direct jobs, including 1,800 skilled contractors. Lithium Americas' shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LAC. To learn more, visit www.lithiumamericas.com or follow @LithiumAmericas on social media.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively referred to as "forward-looking statements" ("FLS")). All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are FLS and can be identified by the use of statements that include, but are not limited to, words, such as "anticipate," "plan," "continue," "estimate," "expect," "may," "will," "project," "predict," "proposes," "potential," "target," "implement," "schedule," "forecast," "intend," "would," "could," "might," "should," "believe" and similar terminology, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. FLS in this news release includes, but is not limited to, statements related to the DOE Loan, including statements regarding definitive documentation, draw-down conditions on the DOE Loan, the expected timing for the DOE Loan, if at all, applicable exchange approval of the transaction and the outlook with respect to negotiations relating to the DOE Loan and the consequences related thereto; as well as other statements with respect to management's beliefs, plans, estimates and intentions, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances, performance or expectations that are not historical facts.

FLS involves known and unknown risks, assumptions and other factors that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially. FLS reflects the Company's current views about future events that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this news release, are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies. Accordingly, there can be no certainty that they will accurately reflect actual results. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in such FLS are reasonable, the Company can give no assurance that these assumptions and expectations will prove to be correct.

Readers are cautioned that the foregoing lists of factors are not exhaustive. There can be no assurance that FLS will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. As such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this information, and that this information may not be appropriate for any other purpose, including investment purposes. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in any FLS as a result of the risk factors set out herein, and in the Company's other continuous disclosure documents available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and EDGAR at www.sec.gov. Readers are further cautioned to review the full description of risks, uncertainties and management's assumptions in the aforementioned documents and other disclosure documents available on SEDAR+ and on EDGAR.

The FLS contained in this news release is expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. All FLS in this news release speaks as of the date of this news release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any FLS, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251007448987/en/

Contact

INVESTOR CONTACT



Virginia Morgan, VP, IR and ESG

+1-778-726-4070

ir@lithiumamericas.com
LONDON, October 8, 2025 - Orosur Mining Inc. (TSXV:OMI)(AIM:OMI), the mineral explorer and developer with current operations in Columbia, Argentina and Nigeria, announces that Louis Castro, Executive Chairman and Brad George, Chief Executive Officer, will be holding a live Investor Webinar Q&A session via the Investor Meet Company platform on 15th October 2025 at 5.00 pm (UK local time).

The presentation is open to all existing and potential shareholders. Questions can be submitted pre-event via your Investor Meet Company dashboard up until 9am (UK Local Time) the day of the meeting or at any time during the live presentation.

Investors can sign up to the Investor Meet Company platform via: https://www.investormeetcompany.com/orosur-mining-inc/register-investor

Investors who already follow Orosur on the Investor Meet Company platform will automatically be invited.

For further information visit www.orosu.ca, follow on X @orosurm or contact:

Orosur Mining Inc.

Louis Castro, Executive Chairman,

Brad George, CEO

info@orosur.ca

Tel: +1 (778) 373-0100

SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP - Nomad & Joint Broker

Jeff Keating / Jen Clarke / Devik Mehta

Tel: +44 (0)20 3470 0470

Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Ltd - Joint Broker

Andy Thacker/James Pope

Tel: +44 (0)20 3657 0050

Flagstaff Strategic and Investor Communications

Tim Thompson

Mark Edwards

Fergus Mellon

orosur@flagstaffcomms.com

Tel: +44 (0)207 129 1474

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

SOURCE: Orosur Mining Inc

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Cornish Metals Inc. (AIM/TSXV: CUSN) ("Cornish Metals", "Cornish Canada" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that, in connection with its previously announced intention to re-domicile from Canada to the UK, it has today entered into an arrangement agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") with Cornish Metals plc ("Cornish UK") pursuant to which Cornish Canada will be re-domiciled to the UK (the "Re-Domicile" or the "Transaction"). Completion of the Re-Domicile shall be subject to certain conditions, including, inter alia, shareholder and regulatory approvals. It is expected that the Re-Domicile will be completed in December 2025.

As previously announced, in conjunction with the strategic investment by National Wealth Fund Limited ("NWF"), the Company provided an undertaking to NWF that it shall use all reasonable and commercially prudent endeavours to re-domicile the Company from Canada to the UK by no later than 24 March 2026.

Following execution of the Arrangement Agreement, certain documents will be submitted to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice for an interim hearing on the proposed court-approved plan of arrangement ("Arrangement") scheduled for 14 October 2025 (the "Interim Hearing").

Subject to the outcome of the Interim Hearing, further information will be circulated to shareholders ahead of the convening of a special meeting to approve the Arrangement which is anticipated to be held in the second half of November 2025.

Don Turvey, CEO and Director of Cornish Metals, stated: "Re-domiciling Cornish Metals from Canada to the UK simplifies the Company's structure and better aligns with our strategic and operational focus in the UK to restart tin production at our South Crofty mine in Cornwall. We expect to benefit from reduced regulatory, legal and other costs associated with the dual-listing, improved liquidity of the single quotation on AIM and reduced transaction and overall complexity, which is paramount as we advance the project finance process. We value our Canadian shareholders and hope that they will continue to support the Company on our journey towards becoming an important Western World tin producer."

Summary of re-domicile process

The Arrangement will be completed by all shareholders of the Company transferring all of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of Cornish Canada ("Cornish Canada Shares") to Cornish UK in exchange for the issue to them of new shares in Cornish UK ("Cornish UK Shares"), on the basis of one (1) Cornish UK Share for ten (10) Cornish Canada Shares, rounded down to the nearest whole number of Cornish UK Shares. In the event that any holder of Cornish Canada Shares holds fewer than ten (10) Cornish Canada Shares, or the number of Cornish Canada Shares held when divided by ten (10) is not a whole number, such allocation will be rounded down to the nearest whole number (or zero, if fewer than ten (10) Cornish Canada Shares are held immediately prior to the Effective Date (as defined below)).

The Arrangement will result in Cornish UK becoming the parent company of the Cornish Group (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement).

It is expected that rights attaching to the Cornish UK's shares held by the former holders of the Cornish Canada Shares ("Cornish Canada Shareholders") on completion of the Transaction will remain substantially the same. Accordingly, immediately upon the Arrangement becoming effective (the "Effective Date"), a Cornish Canada Shareholder will have the same proportionate interest in the profits, net assets and dividends of Cornish UK as they have in Cornish Canada immediately prior to the Effective Date.

Cornish UK will apply for admission to trading of its Cornish UK Shares on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange ("AIM"). Cornish Canada intends to delist the Cornish Canada Shares from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") and cancel the admission to trading of the Cornish Canada Shares on AIM. Cornish Canada also intends to apply to cease to be a reporting issuer in Canada following completion of the Re-Domicile.

Information for shareholders

The Company will send a management information circular (the "Circular") to the Cornish Canada Securityholders (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement), setting out the details of the Transaction and containing a notice of special meeting of Cornish Canada. The Circular will also outline the considerations of the board of directors of Cornish Canada (the "Board") with respect to its determination that the Transaction is in the best interests of Cornish Canada and the Cornish Canada Shareholders and its recommendation that all Cornish Canada Shareholders vote in favour of the Arrangement.

Special meeting for shareholders

At a special meeting of the Company (the "Special Meeting"), among other things, Cornish Canada Securityholders will be asked to approve the Re-Domicile and its implementation by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Arrangement Agreement.

The Arrangement must be approved by not less than: (i) 66?% of the votes cast by Cornish Canada Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting; (ii) 66?% of the votes cast by Cornish Canada Securityholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote, voting together as a single class, at the Special Meeting; and (iii) a simple majority of the votes cast on such resolution by Cornish Canada Shareholders present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, other than the votes attached to the Cornish Canada Shares required to be excluded pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. 66?% of the votes cast by Cornish Canada Shareholders at the Special Meeting will also fulfil the TSXV requirement to obtain the approval of a simple majority of Cornish Canada Shareholders. The Arrangement also requires, among other things, final approval of the Court.

Further information

Pursuant to the application for the admission of Cornish UK Shares to trading on AIM, Cornish UK will publish an AIM Schedule 1 announcement ("Schedule 1 Announcement") together with an Appendix to that announcement ("Appendix") which contains more information about the Re-Domicile and Cornish UK. The Circular and the Schedule 1 Announcement, together with the Appendix, will be made available for viewing on Cornish Canada's website at www.cornishmetals.com and on its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Company will provide further details related to the Transaction and other material information as it becomes available. The Transaction will be subject to, inter alia, the requisite approvals of Cornish Canada Securityholders, approval at the Special Meeting, the approval of the Court, and certain regulatory approvals, including approval from the TSXV.

ABOUT CORNISH CANADA

Cornish Metals is a mineral exploration and development company that is advancing the South Crofty tin project towards production. South Crofty:

is a historical, high-grade, underground tin mine located in Cornwall, United Kingdom and benefits from existing mine infrastructure including multiple shafts that can be used for future operations;

is permitted to commence underground mining (valid to 2071), construct a new processing facility and for all necessary site infrastructure;

would be the only primary producer of tin in Europe or North America. Tin is a Critical Mineral as defined by the UK, American, and Canadian governments as it is used in almost all electronic devices and electrical infrastructure. Approximately two-thirds of the tin mined today comes from China, Myanmar and Indonesia;

benefits from strong local community, regional and national government support with a growing team of skilled people, local to Cornwall, and could generate over 300 direct jobs.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Don Turvey"

Don Turvey

CEO and Director

Engage with us directly at our investor hub. Sign up at: https://investors.cornishmetals.com/link/PKaGJe

For additional information please contact:

Cornish Metals



Fawzi Hanano

Irene Dorsman investors@cornishmetals.com

info@cornishmetals.com Tel: +1 (604) 200 6664



SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP

(Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker) Richard Morrison

Charlie Bouverat

Grant Barker Tel: +44 203 470 0470



Hannam & Partners

(Joint Broker) Matthew Hasson

Andrew Chubb

Jay Ashfield cornish@hannam.partners

Tel: +44 207 907 8500



BlytheRay

(Financial PR) Tim Blythe

Megan Ray

Said Izagaren cornishmetals@blytheray.com

Tel: +44 207 138 3204



Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Caution regarding forward looking statements

This news release may contain certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections, outlook, guidance, estimates and forecasts and other statements regarding future plans, the realisation, cost, timing and extent of mineral resource or mineral reserve estimates, estimation of commodity prices, currency exchange rate fluctuations, estimated future exploration expenditures, costs and timing of the development of new deposits, success of exploration activities, permitting time lines, requirements for additional capital and the Company's ability to obtain financing when required and on terms acceptable to the Company, future or estimated mine life and other activities or achievements of Cornish Canada. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could", "would" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. This information is based on information currently available to the Company and the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the Transaction; closing of the Transaction; application and timing for admission to trading of Cornish UK Shares on AIM; delisting of Cornish Canada Shares from TSXV and canceling the admission to trading of the Cornish Canada Shares on AIM; the application for Cornish Canada to cease to be a reporting issuer in Canada; distribution of the Circular to Cornish Canada Securityholders; the Special Meeting; the Circular; the recommendation of the Board to Cornish Canada Securityholders; the effect of the Transaction; the hearing of the Court; the closing date; the publication of Schedule 1 Announcement and Appendix; filing of Circular, Schedule 1 Announcement and Appendix on SEDAR+; shareholdings of Cornish UK; and the business of Cornish UK. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release, are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to receipt of regulatory approvals, risks related to general economic and market conditions; risks related to the availability of financing; the timing and content of upcoming work programmes; actual results of proposed exploration activities; possible variations in Mineral Resources or grade; projected dates to commence mining operations; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations. The list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect Cornish's forward-looking statements.

Cornish Canada's forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management and reflect their current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date such statements are made. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Cornish Canada does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change other than as required by applicable law.


F3 Uranium Corp. (TSXV: FUU) (OTCQB: FUUFF) ("F3" or "the Company") is pleased to announce a fall drill program at its 100% owned Broach Lake Property, on the recently discovered high-grade Tetra Zone (see NR August 5, 2025).

This 3,000m diamond drilling fall program is designed to test the extent of the uranium mineralization which is currently highlighted by PLN25-205, which returned a 1.0m high grade interval with 2.50% U 3 O 8 within a 22.5m mineralized main interval averaging 0.26% U 3 O 8 and PLN25-217, which intersected a total of 67.0m composite anomalous radioactivity including 49.0m of continuous radioactivity (see Map 1).

Ground EM surveying has also been completed, and 3D inversions are in progress; these results will be incorporated into the targeting model for regional drill targeting along strike.

Sam Hartmann, Vice President Exploration, commented:

"We are excited to resume drilling at Tetra now that ground geophysics has been completed, and plan to focus this fall drill program at a deposit scale on the Tetra Zone, initially stepping out from high grade mineralization as in PLN25-205 and the significant intervals of radioactivity in PLN25-217. The unique geological setting of the Tetra Zone with differs from many basement hosted uranium deposits in the area, is also reflected in the geophysical responses, where weaker conductivity is associated with less resistive rocks associated with a structural damage zone hosting the Tetra Zone."





Map 1. Broach Lake - Tetra Zone Fall Drilling Target Area

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8110/269490_7ba05047f48739cc_002full.jpg

The natural gamma radiation detected in the drill core, as detailed in this news release, was measured in counts per second (cps) using a handheld Radiation Solutions RS-125 spectrometer which has been calibrated by Radiation Solutions Inc. The Company designates readings exceeding 300 cps on the handheld spectrometer (occasionally referred to as a scintillometer in industry parlance; this colloquial usage stems from historical naming conventions and the shared functionality of detecting gamma radiation between a spectrometer and a scintillometer)-as "anomalous", readings above 10,000 cps as "highly radioactive", and readings surpassing 65,535 cps as "off-scale". However, readers are cautioned that spectrometer or scintillometer measurements often do not directly or consistently correlate with the uranium grades of the rock samples and should be regarded solely as a preliminary indicator of the presence of radioactive materials.

The Company considers uranium mineralization with assay results of greater than 1.0 weight % U 3 O 8 as "high grade" and results greater than 20.0 weight % U 3 O 8 as "ultra-high grade".

All depth measurements reported are down-hole and true thicknesses are yet to be determined.

About the Patterson Lake North Project:

The Company's 42,961-hectare 100% owned Patterson Lake North Project (PLN) is located just within the south-western edge of the Athabasca Basin in proximity to Paladin's Triple R and NexGen Energy's Arrow high-grade uranium deposits, an area poised to become the next major area of development for new uranium operations in northern Saskatchewan. The PLN Project consists of the 4,074-hectare Patterson Lake North Property hosting the JR Zone Uranium discovery approximately 23km northwest of Paladin's Triple R deposit, the 19,864-hectare Minto Property, and the 19,022-hectare Broach Property hosting the Tetra Zone, F3's newest discovery 13km south of the JR Zone. All three properties comprising the PLN Project are accessed by Provincial Highway 955.

Qualified Person:

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and approved on behalf of the company by Raymond Ashley, P.Geo., President & COO of F3 Uranium Corp, a Qualified Person. Mr. Ashley has reviewed and approved the data disclosed.

This news release also refers to neighboring properties in which F3 Uranium has no interest, and the Qualified Person has been unable to verify the information from those properties. Mineralization on those neighboring properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the PLN Project. For additional information on the PLN Project, please refer to the report titled "Technical Report on the Patterson Lake North Project, Northern Saskatchewan, Canada" prepared by SLR International Corporation with a signing date of January 25, 2023 and an effective date of November 20, 2023 available at www.sedarplus.ca, and prepared in accordance with NI 43-101.

About F3 Uranium Corp.:

F3 is a uranium exploration company, focusing on the high-grade JR Zone and new Tetra Zone discovery 13km to the south in the PW area on its Patterson Lake North (PLN) Project in the Western Athabasca Basin. F3 currently has 3 properties in the Athabasca Basin: Patterson Lake North, Minto, and Broach. The western side of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, is home to some of the world's largest high grade uranium deposits including Paladin's Triple R project and NexGen's Arrow project.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, including statements regarding the suitability of the Properties for mining exploration, future payments, issuance of shares and work commitment funds, entry into of a definitive option agreement respecting the Properties, are "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company based on information currently available to it. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in filings made by the Company with securities regulatory authorities, which may cause actual outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

The TSX Venture Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange have not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release, and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.





ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD



"Dev Randhawa"

Dev Randhawa, CEO







Contact Information



Investor Relations

Telephone: 778-484-8030

Email: ir@f3uranium.com



F3 Uranium Corp.

750-1620 Dickson Avenue

Kelowna, BC V1Y9Y2


K9 Gold Corp. (TSXV: KNC) (OTCQB: WDFCF) (FSE: 5GP0) ("K9" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into an option agreement (the "Agreement") dated October 2, 2025, with Sokoman Minerals Corp. ("Sokoman") regarding the Company's 75% interest in the Stony Lake Gold Property, located in central Newfoundland. Under the terms of the Agreement, Sokoman has the option to acquire the Stony Lake Property by issuing to K9 a total of 1,500,000 common shares of Sokoman upon receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals.

Jeff Poloni, Chief Executive Officer of K9 Gold, commented:

"We are very pleased to partner with Sokoman Minerals on the Stony Lake Project. Sokoman has an excellent track record of exploration success in Newfoundland, and we believe this agreement provides K9 with significant upside exposure to future discovery while allowing us to concentrate our efforts on advancing the recently acquired Trinity Silver Project in Nevada."

In conjunction with this transaction, the Company also announces that it has reduced the size of its previously announced private placement from $2,500,000 to $1,250,000. The reduction reflects the Company's decision to redirect its exploration focus toward the Trinity Silver Project, and as a result, K9 no longer requires additional funds previously allocated for work on the Stony Lake Property.

This adjustment will result in less shareholder dilution while still providing K9 with sufficient capital to continue advancing the historical resource and conducting targeted exploration and development activities at the Trinity Silver Project.

Proceeds from the financing will now be primarily directed toward exploration and development at Trinity and for general working capital purposes.

About K9 Gold Corp.

K9 Gold Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in North America. The Company's primary asset is the Trinity Silver Project in Pershing County, Nevada, which covers approximately 14,523 acres of owned and leased land and hosts a historic open-pit, heap-leach silver operation.

The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding K9's intention to continue to identify potential transactions and make certain corporate changes and applications. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits K9 will obtain from them. These forward-looking statements reflect managements' current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. A number of risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including K9's inability to identify transactions having satisfactory terms or at all and the results of exploration or review of properties that K9 does acquire. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and K9 assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results differed from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.


Sokoman Minerals Corp. (TSXV: SIC) (OTCQB: SICNF) ("Sokoman" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has secured the right to acquire mineral licenses covering 41,150 hectares along the Valentine Lake Fault, which also hosts Canada's newest producing gold mine operated by Equinox Gold Corp. The acquisition will position Sokoman as the largest landholder by strike length and area along the highly prospective regional fault system.

Highlights

The Company's mineral license holdings along the Valentine Lake Fault will expand to over 65 km of strike length and an area totalling 58,775 hectares.

This increase more than doubles the prospective strike length while tripling the area of its mineral licenses.

The Valentine Gold Mine, operated by Equinox Gold Corp., started processing ore in August 2025, and with the first Gold pour in Q3 2025, will be Canada's newest large-scale gold mine with an initial mineral resource of 4 million ounces. The 2022 Feasibility Study on the Valentine Gold Mine outlined production of 195,000 ounces of gold per year.

The Valentine Gold Mine is geologically situated along the Valentine Lake Fault zone, a large-scale regional fault structure believed to play an integral role in the formation of the deposit.

Through two separate claim acquisition agreements and staking, the Company will transform its Moosehead and Crippleback claim groups to form the Treasure Island Project.

The Treasure Island Project contains the largest mineral license package and longest strike length along the Valentine Lake Fault and positions Sokoman as the dominant explorer along strike of the Valentine Gold Mine.

The 100% owned Treasure Island Project will be host to the most advanced gold zone outside of the Valentine Gold Mine at the Moosehead Zone, which has over 135,000 m of drilling completed to date, including high-grade highlights of: 70.3 g/t Au over 9.05 m (MH-18-39) 45.0 g/t Au over 11.9 m (MH-18-01) 12.5 g/t Au over 39.6 m (MH-22-463) 69.5 g/t Au over 4.85 m (MH-24-649) 56.6 g/t Au over 5.55 m (MH-21-342)



The district-scale Treasure Island Project covers a similar geological environment as the Moosehead Zone and includes several other known gold showings and occurrences with similar mineralogical characteristics.

Outside of the 2 km strike length of the Moosehead Zone, very limited exploration and drilling has occurred along the remaining 63 km of the Treasure Island Project, which remains open for discovery.

Fig. 1 - Map Showing the Consolidated Mineral Licenses of the Treasure Island Project

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6079/269611_2af29345147e5b94_002full.jpg

"We believe the recent claim acquisitions are fundamentally transforming the Company's exploration strategy to take a district-scale approach while remaining focused on our core mineralized zones at Moosehead. With a dominant position along the Valentine Lake Fault, we believe the Company can apply its Newfoundland expertise to make other high-grade gold discoveries," said Denis Laviolette, Executive Chairman, CEO & Director.

The Company also reports that James Adams, Ph.D., CFA, has stepped down from the Board of Directors of Sokoman but will remain with the Company as a member of the newly formed Advisory Board. The Company wishes to thank James and Colin Bowdidge, Ph.D., for their years of service on the board and welcomes their continued involvement as Advisory Board members.

The Company is also pleased to welcome Kevin Keats as a member of the Advisory Board. Mr. Keats is a successful businessman and entrepreneur, and a member of the renowned Keats prospecting family, which was instrumental in the recognition, through multiple discoveries, of Central Newfoundland as a world-class destination for gold and base metal deposits. The Keats family were awarded the Bill Dennis Prospector of the Year Award in 2007 for their collective contributions to the mineral industry in Newfoundland & Labrador and abroad.

"On behalf of the Company, I thank James and Colin for their service as directors and look forward to working with them and Kevin through our new advisory board," said Tim Froude, P.Geo., President.

In connection with the mineral claim acquisition agreements, and subject to receipt of all required regulatory approval, the Company will issue 4,500,000 common shares and make cash payments totalling $50,000.

Qualified Person

Greg Matheson, P.Geo., VP Exploration for Sokoman, a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

The information provided herein regarding the Valentine Gold Mine is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization on the Treasure Island Project. The Qualified Person has not verified the information concerning the adjacent property, and there is no certainty that the same results or mineralization will be obtained on the Treasure Island Project. This disclaimer is made in compliance with the requirements of National Instrument 43-101.

About Sokoman Minerals Corp.

Sokoman Minerals Corp. is led by an experienced management team and is the dominant explorer along the Valentine Lake Fault zone in Newfoundland, Canada's newest gold district. The Company's primary focus is its 100% owned district-scale Treasure Island Gold Project, along with a portfolio of gold projects, including the district-scale Fleur de Lys Project.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Investors are cautioned that trading in the securities of the Corporation should be considered highly speculative. Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially. Sokoman Minerals Corp. will not update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. More detailed information about potential factors that could affect financial results is included in the documents filed from time to time with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities by Sokoman Minerals Corp.


Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp. (CSE: API) (OTCQB: APAAF) (FSE: A0I0) (MUN: A0I0) (BER: A0I0) (the "Company" or "Appia") is pleased to announce that further to its press releases of September 23, 2025, and October 2, 2025 it will be closing the final tranche of a non-brokered private placement with the issuance of 3,968,648 working capital units ("WC Units") of the Company at a price of $0.185 per WC Unit for gross proceeds of $734,200 (the "Offering") on October 15, 2025.

Each WC Unit consists of one (1) common share of the Company priced at $0.185 per common share and one-half (0.5) of a common share purchase warrant. Each full warrant (each a "WC Warrant") entitles the holder to purchase one (1) common share (a "WC Warrant Share") at a price of $0.30 per WC Warrant Share until the earlier of (i) two (2) years from closing of the Offering (the "Closing"); and (ii) in the event that the closing price of the Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange is at least $0.40 for ten (10) consecutive trading days, and the 10th trading day (the "Final Trading Day") is at least four (4) months from the Closing, the date which is thirty (30) days from the Final Trading Day (the "Trigger Date").

All securities issued will be subject to a hold period expiring on February 16, 2026. Proceeds from the Offering will be used for general working capital and exploration on the Corporation's properties in Brazil and Saskatchewan.

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

Additionally, the Company wishes to announce that further to its press releases of September 2, 2025, September 23, 2025, October 1, 2025, October 2, 2025 and October 6, 2025, Ultra Rare Earth Inc. ("Ultra") is proceeding with the transactions contemplated by the binding term sheet dated August 29, 2025 (the "Binding Term Sheet") between the Company, Beko Invest Ltd. ("Beko"), Antonio Vitor Junior ("Antonio") and Ultra. On completion of the Transaction, Ultra will acquire a 50% interest in Appia Brasil Rare Earths Mineracao Ltda ("Appia Brasil"), the Brazilian company that holds the PCH Project (the "Property") located in the Tocantins Structural Province of the Brasilia Fold Belt, Goias State, Brazil, (the "Transaction").

Pursuant to the Binding Term Sheet, Ultra shall have until the close of business on October 15, 2025 to deliver notice to Appia, Antonio and Beko that it intends to close the Transaction. One of the terms of the Transaction requires Ultra to invest US $2 Million into an Appia unit private placement comprising 5,520,000 units priced at $0.50 (Cdn) per unit (based upon a US$ to Cdn$ exchange rate of $1.38) with each unit consisting of one common share, priced at $0.50 (Cdn), and one half of a warrant, with each full warrant exercisable at $0.70 (Cdn) for 24 months. The funds will be used by Appia for general working capital. See the September 2, 2025 press release for a full list of the terms applicable to the Transaction.

About Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp.

Appia is a publicly traded Canadian company in the rare earth element and uranium sectors. The Company holds the right to acquire up to a 70% interest in the PCH Ionic Adsorption Clay Project (See June 9th, 2023 Press Release - Click HERE) which is 42,932.24 ha. in size and located within the Goias State of Brazil. (See January 11th, 2024 Press Release - Click HERE) The Company is also focusing on delineating high-grade critical rare earth elements and gallium on the Alces Lake property, and exploring for high-grade uranium in the prolific Athabasca Basin on its Otherside, Loranger, North Wollaston, and Eastside properties. The Company holds the surface rights to exploration for 94,982.39 hectares (234,706.59 acres) in Saskatchewan. The Company also has a 100% interest in 13,008 hectares (32,143 acres), with rare earth elements and uranium deposits over five mineralized zones in the Elliot Lake Camp, Ontario.

Appia has 170 million common shares outstanding, 210 million shares fully diluted.

Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements: This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For more information, visit www.appiareu.com

As part of our ongoing effort to keep investors, interested parties and stakeholders updated, we have several communication portals. If you have any questions online (X, Facebook, LinkedIn) please feel free to send direct messages.
Emergency meeting as Ferrari bigwigs intervene

Ferrari's internal tensions appear to be worsening, with reports of a heated argument between team boss Frederic Vasseur and a senior engineer following qualifying in Singapore.

Charles Leclerc, Singapore GP 2025

 Ferrari

According to Corriere dello Sport, sources inside Maranello claim the exchange involved Matteo Togninalli, Ferrari's respected head of track engineering. The confrontation is said to have reflected growing frustration within the team over the lack of progress with the SF-25.

Several engineers are reportedly unhappy with Charles Leclerc's public criticism of the car, after the Monegasque said, "Mercedes has made great strides forward, just like Red Bull had a few races ago, but we haven't.

In these conditions, it's difficult to be optimistic and think the situation can change in the final races.

The mounting discord comes amid speculation about Leclerc's future - and suggestions McLaren's Oscar Piastri could eventually replace him if he departs after 2026.

Meanwhile, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Ferrari may have recently renewed Vasseur's contract only because there were no alternatives on the market, but notes that not everyone at Maranello agrees with the team's internal management, and there are disagreements between the various departments of Gestione Sportiva.

If the start of next season were to remotely resemble this, Vasseur's position would likely soon be called into question again, the Italian daily warned. And then, even the best excuses wouldn't be valid.

Adding to the sense of crisis, Sky Italia reporter Mara Sangiorgio revealed that Ferrari chairman John Elkann and CEO Benedetto Vigna are expected in Maranello this week for urgent talks.

A serious and pragmatic face-to-face meeting is needed to understand how to emerge from one of the Scuderia's darkest moments, Sangiorgio said.

(GMM)
F1 likely to reject Horner-led twelfth team

Christian Horner's long-running legal battle with the ex-Red Bull staffer who accused him of misconduct has been settled, clearing the final obstacle to his expected Formula 1 comeback.

Christian Horner, Abu Dhabi GP 2023

 Red Bull

According to De Telegraaf, the case has been withdrawn following a multi-million-euro settlement between the former Red Bull team boss and the woman whose complaint last year triggered months of scandal and ultimately his ousting from the team.

She has since moved on to a new role at Cadillac, while Horner - now free of all contractual ties - is understood to have received a close-to 100 million payout when he left Red Bull.

The settlement means he can pursue new opportunities from mid-2026 - and he's already been exploring options that are well known in the F1 paddock.

Sky F1 commentator Martin Brundle revealed in Singapore that he's been in direct contact with Horner, who is already plotting his next move. Formula 1 is his life - that's where his skills and experience lie, Brundle said.

He made it clear to me in conversation that he will only come back if he has something to lose.

Horner's ambition apparently extends far beyond a traditional team-principal role. He is said to want ownership or significant control - a structure similar to Toto Wolff's part-stake at Mercedes.

Horner wants to be involved in building something, not just managing it, Brundle added. He wants far-reaching powers and influence.

The Briton has reportedly explored options ranging from buying into an existing team to founding an entirely new one, though F1's current stakeholders remain firmly opposed to adding a twelfth entry.

Current teams and stakeholders will put a lot of pressure on the FIA to say they don't want a twelfth team at the moment, Brundle noted.

Still, he believes Horner's return in some capacity is quite realistic.

(GMM)
Hakkinen tips daughter Ella for F1 within five years

Mika Hakkinen believes his 14-year-old daughter Ella could reach Formula 1 within five years - and predicts female drivers will break into the sport by 2030.

Mika Hakkinen , French GP 2001

 The Cahier Archive

The two-time world champion, who was in Singapore last weekend, told Ilta-Sanomat that Ella, who competes in the Champions of the Future karting series, is showing the drive and talent to go all the way.

Ella is an extremely talented racing driver, Hakkinen said. I'm not just saying this as a father, but based on my observations as a former top driver.

The teenager recently took pole and finished second in Slovakia. The direction is completely right, Hakkinen said. Her motivation is simply incomprehensible. She wants to be a racing driver. At this point, she's a real badass.

Hakkinen has hired a full-time trainer from Hintsa Performance - the same group once used by Lewis Hamilton - to prepare Ella and younger brother Daniel physically and mentally for top-level racing.

They train at the same level as Hamilton, he said. "Nothing is left undone.

Female drivers will rise to the highest level by 2030 - whether it's Ella or someone else, the Finn predicted. This new generation of fans is 40 percent female, and the sport needs to reflect that.

(GMM)
Lawrence Stroll shuts door on Horner F1 return

Christian Horner's efforts to secure a new Formula 1 role appear to have hit a wall, with Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll said to have ruled out any future involvement for the former Red Bull chief.

Christian Horner, Flavio Briatore, Monaco GP 2025

 Red Bull

Japanese outlet AS-Web reports that Horner, who left Red Bull earlier this year amid ongoing turmoil, had been in contact with Stroll about taking over team leadership from Andy Cowell or buying into the Silverstone outfit.

Cowell said in Singapore that those talks went nowhere.

The topic came up in the media session yesterday, Cowell said in Singapore. I spoke to Lawrence this morning to see what he knows. Apparently Christian has called almost every team owner at this point, so you can pass the question on to them.

I can unequivocally state that there are absolutely no plans for Christian to be involved in any operational or investment capacity in the future.

Sources within Aston Martin confirmed that Stroll personally contacted senior staff to deny the rumours and reassure them that Horner would not be joining in any role.

According to the Japanese source, Horner had offered a lucrative sponsorship package and a consortium of investors interested in buying a minority stake in Aston Martin - but only if he could assume full control as CEO and team principal, a demand that Stroll rejected outright.

The report claims Horner has also approached shareholders at multiple other F1 teams, including Cadillac, Haas, Audi and Williams, with similar results.

(GMM)
Sainz joins Alonso by slamming F1's celebrity obsession

Carlos Sainz has echoed Fernando Alonso's criticism of Formula 1's television coverage, accusing the sport of prioritising celebrity reactions over on-track action.

Carlos Sainz, Singapore GP 2025

 Williams

Speaking to Spanish radio program El Partidazo de COPE, the Williams driver said F1 has gone too far with its focus on glamour shots and paddock guests rather than showing key racing moments.

It's becoming a bit of a trend that must be working for them - seeing our girlfriends, seeing famous people on TV, the reactions, Sainz said.

I understand if there's an overtake or a tense moment and you show the reaction, but last weekend they didn't show any of the four or five overtakes I made at the end, nor Fernando's chase of Lewis. They missed a lot of things.

Sainz said the balance has shifted too far. The other stuff is fine - as long as you don't miss the main point, he added.

For me, they even go overboard by bringing out the celebrities and brides a bit. Sometimes there are so many VIPs in the paddock you can't even walk. We move by bike or scooter because if you don't, you just can't get around.

The Spaniard acknowledged that F1's paddock atmosphere has changed dramatically. Ten or fifteen years ago, the paddock lacked atmosphere - now it doesn't lack any at all. I prefer it this way, but we have to remind people that those there are working.

Sainz also admitted he finds the pre-race environment overwhelming. I get a bit stressed in the paddock because of the number of people who stop us for photos, he said. "On Sunday I don't enjoy walking around because I want to be focused and alone.

My mother tells me to smile more, but I'm just trying to isolate myself and concentrate.

(GMM)
Sainz says 2026 cars accelerate faster

Carlos Sainz admits he's uncertain about Formula 1's 2026 rules overhaul, warning that the new hybrid systems could make cars feel strange to drive despite quicker acceleration.

Carlos Sainz, Singapore GP 2025

 Williams

Speaking on Spain's Partidazo de COPE, the Williams driver said the upcoming generation of cars will launch harder off the line but suffer from rapid energy drain on the straights.

Well, I think from 0 to 300 we'll be faster - we'll reach 300 much sooner than we do now, Sainz explained.

But then the battery cuts out very soon on the straight. We'll reach 320 kilometres per hour super fast, but then we'll spend a lot of time with no battery. Next year, 50 percent of the power will disappear halfway down the straight.

The new rules will see a dramatic shift in power-unit philosophy, with greater electrical output offset by reduced internal combustion assistance - a combination that some drivers have privately called unfun and confusing to drive.

Despite that, Sainz is optimistic about Williams' potential when the reset arrives. Williams has moved up from ninth to fifth this year - that's a huge step forward, he said. "In Formula 1, gaining four positions from one season to the next means you're doing things right.

Next year, starting to win races might be difficult, but I think we can be a team fighting very closely with Ferrari, Mercedes, Red Bull and company. That's what excites me - being part of that rebuilding of Williams.

The Spaniard says one major reason he signed for Williams was confidence in the team's engine supplier. I have a lot of confidence in the Mercedes engine, he said. "It's one of the main reasons why I chose Williams.

Everything I was hearing about the Mercedes engine was positive, and it continues to be so.

Sainz noted that with Mercedes also supplying McLaren, Alpine, and its own works team, eight cars will run the same power unit in 2026. That means we have to do things right with the chassis to stand out, he added.

Aston Martin with Honda will be there, Ferrari will be there - so again, it's going to be a very tight field.

(GMM)
The Nokia 800 Tough, a rugged feature phone, was released back in 2019, and according to a tipster on X, HMD is about to update the model with a second-generation offering some improvements.

Design-wise, the rugged phone won't be any different from its predecessor, featuring roughly the same dimensions and a near-identical look. However, the micro USB port will be replaced with the modern USB-C connector, and the OS will be updated from KaiOS 2.5.2 to KaiOS 3.1. This will ensure better app compatibility and a smoother user experience overall.

The rest of the features and hardware will likely remain the same, which include an IP68 ingress protection and MIL-STD-810 military-grade standard.

Unfortunately, we don't know when HMD plans to release the phone and how much it will cost, so we are going to have to wait for that.

Source
Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero on Wednesday asked Speaker Frank Blas Jr. to call an emergency session on her bill that would allow power, water, and sewer installation contracts for a new hospital to move forward without the attorney generals review.

Lawmakers last week adjourned a special session with no action on the governors Bill 2, which would let utility installation contracts for the new hospital sidestep a legally mandated review by Attorney General Douglas Moylan.

Republican budget chairman Sen. Chris Duenas on Wednesday said that if the governor wants to bypass the review, it will need the support of eight senators. That hasnt happened so far, he said.

Moylan is suing to block $104 million in federal American Rescue plan funding for the Mangilao hospital project. Adelup has denied allegations that the project violates the law.

Efforts by Republican Majority Leader Sen. Jesse Lujan to broker a compromise between Leon Guerrero and Moylan over the hospital project and the funds failed last month.

Lujan and Moylan both said they wanted confirmation from the U.S. Department of the Treasury that the $104 million would not need to be returned, if spent on the new hospital.

Democrat Leon Guerrero addressed the desire in her Wednesday letter to Republican Blas.

Despite the preference, the Treasury does not provide individualized review of proposed projects, she stated. Rather, it requires jurisdictions to review the applicable rules to ensure compliance.

Leon Guerrero stated that she has provided her legal basis to senators for the use of the $104 million. She said shes confident she complied with the rules for the funding.

While in receipt of quarterly performance reports and annual compliance audits, Treasury has never determined our actions to have violated its guidelines, she stated.

Leon Guerrero said without Blass intercession, the public would lose the $104 million.

Funds locked in for the hospital have to be spent by Dec. 31, 2026, or they will expire, based on guidelines from the U.S. Treasury.

If we dont complete it, were lost. We will lose the greatest opportunity in our lifetime, the governor said, speaking at a Guam Power Authority event held earlier Wednesday morning.

She told a crowd at the utility headquarters in Mangilao that the funds would benefit the people of Mangilao and Barrigada, along with the hospital.

And we dont have to pay for it. Rate payers do not have to pay for it. What a great opportunity, she said.

GPA has about $35 million for utility installations on the project, and the Guam Waterworks Authority has $63 million.

But the AG has vowed not to sign off on contracts for what he believes is an illegal hospital project.

Moylan has argued various illegalities by the governor and the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority in the transfer of funds, and the acquisition of Mangilao land for the hospital.

He refuses to help the people of Guam in building the hospital, the governor said Wednesday morning.

She appealed directly to Sen. Chris Duenas, also present, to pass her Bill 2.

The Legislature voted to adjourn the session that the governor called for the proposals that she discussed today, Duenas said afterwards. So unless theres a change of heart with the majority, Im not sure that bill will be taken up under consideration.

The senator last week moved to adjourn a special session on the bill. He said it was unnecessary, given the governors legal justification for the hospital project, and its up to her, the AG, and the utilities to get the contracts for the hospital move forward.

All nine members of the Republican majority voted in favor of adjourning on the bill.

Duenas Wednesday said he still does not believe lawmakers should intervene, with a court battle on the hospital project ongoing.

I dont think thats the role of the legislature to pass a law for a special purpose, bypassing the legal mechanisms. I continue to encourage the attorney general and the governor to work out their differences, he said.

He said that by the October session, or even earlier, senators could address a resolution asking the U.S. Treasury, and the Trump White House to reprogram the $104 million ARP funds to fix the current hospital.
Overhead power line work will soon be a little quieter and more efficient, with the Guam Power Authority unveiling three new hybrid diesel-electric bucket trucks on Wednesday.

The three trucks are the first of their kind for the GPA fleet, and will augment the 35 diesel trucks that are already used to service the islandwide power distribution system.

They wont be the last, as the agency moves to transition its fleet towards vehicles that can run on renewable energy, GPA General Manager John Benavente said.

Line workers and power authority leadership came out for the unveiling ceremony hosted Wednesday in the parking lot of the Gloria B. Nelson Public Service Building in Mangilao. Its part of festivities as GPA celebrates national Public Power Week.

One of the three trucks was fired up, and attendees got to watch as linemen were foisted 55 feet in the air in a bucket lift powered by a 21-kilowatt-hour battery.

Each of the vehicles cost $417,000. But GPA was able to cover much of the cost for two of the trucks, about $300,000 each, using federal grant money from the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act.

The trucks have diesel motors, but were retrofitted by vendor Morrico Equipment with a fully electric battery that runs the hydraulics of the bucket lift, according to Franklin Taitague, GPA heavy equipment mechanic supervisor.

Theyve also been outfitted with four-wheel drive to help with Guams rainy weather.

While were running the electric (battery), theres no fumes coming out from the truck, and its a lot quieter, Taitague said.

The hybrid trucks were chosen over full electric vehicles with post-typhoon power restoration in mind, said John Cruz, GPA assistant general manager for engineering and technical services.

Cruz said one of the big advantages of the hybrid system is that trucks dont have to be left idling when crews are running the lift.

When you idle, you use up more fuel. You also create hazardous emissions, and we love our linemen, they are truly heroes, Cruz said.

Taitague said the lift battery can be charged up by a 110-volt household outlet in between five and 20 hours, with the option for a 220-volt fast charge. When the truck itself is running, the vehicles alternator also charges up the battery.

The hybrid trucks have been proven to save about 70 gallons of gas per month compared to a regular diesel, Taitague added.

Thats basically 1,000 gallons per year saved of diesel from idling, said Roland Gutierrez, GPA environmental manager.

That equates to about $6,000 in fuel savings per year per truck, he said. Each truck is estimated to reduce toxic carbon dioxide emissions by about 10 metric tons.

Benavente said GPA plans to transition the rest of its fleet in the future, and to expand to 45 bucket trucks.

Our future is heading that direction, whether its hybrid or fully electric bucket trucks, he said.

GPAs new $17.2 million Transmission and Distribution Division compound will come complete with a full bay for the trucks to be charged up quickly, he added.

Electrical parts are generally cheaper to replace than mechanical parts, according to Benavente.

Electric vehicles will also complement GPAs plans to get the island on 50% renewablebasically entirely solarpower by 2030, the general manager said.

Consolidated Commission on Utilities Chairman Francis Santos said hes long been bugging GPA and Guam Waterworks Authority leadership to transition to vehicles that can run on renewables.

We have a lot of cars. We have a big fleet, Santos said. I thought we were going to start with smaller cars, to be honest with you, this is better than what I expected.

Santos said the utilities want to be a model for the rest of GovGuam in transitioning over to vehicles that can run on renewables.

Benavente said even with GPA lobbying for federal support to move more power infrastructure underground, overhead lines, bucket trucks, and line crews will still be needed.

Underground is not going to be overnight. First we got to get the $1.5 billion that we requested from the federal government, he said.

Getting the full island underground could take decades, he said.

But even then, overhead lines that are more vulnerable to storms and man-made threats are quicker to fix than underground ones, according to Benavente.

Teams can quickly replace a downed power pole in any spot, and help get the lights back on.

It wont be obsolete, at least not in my lifetime, he said.
Joint Region Marianas Rear Admiral Brett Mietus on Wednesday said two of nine tests of water sources on military installations on Guam returned with detectable levels of dieldrin that are 10 times less than the Guam Environmental Protection Agencys interim action levels of 0.2 parts per billion.

Those two wells with detectable dieldrin levels are located on Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz in Dededo.

The test results showed Well NCS 9A has a dieldrin concentration of 0.015 ppb and Well NCS 10 with 0.017 ppb, so the water from these wells on Camp Blaz is safe to drink, Mietus said.

He provided more details a day after an initial JRM statement that drew public requests for the release of any dieldrin levels detected.

When dieldrin levels are above 0.2 parts ppb, water systems are supposed to notify affected customers, per Guam EPA rules.

The Y-15 production well in Yigo, meanwhile, had a concentration of dieldrin at an average of 1.76 ppb in samples between December 2024 and July 2025, the Guam Waterworks Authority earlier said.

Dieldrin is a cancer-causing pesticide banned in the U.S. in 1987 but GWA does not have information whether that ban was enforced on Guam.

Source investigation

Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero said the Guam Environmental Protection Agency is now in the process of investigating the source of the dieldrin contamination, following detection of elevated levels of dieldrin in Yigo thats impacting more than 1,100 GWA customers.

Its not been used since 1987 so we are all very puzzled as to why this started showing up again, the governor said on Wednesday. So yes, EPA is in the process of doing a study and investigation.

The governor said while all sorts of speculation can be made as to the source of the contamination, a scientific investigation will be done to determine what was causing it and what can be done to minimize it.

Guam EPA on Wednesday released its frequently-asked-questions, FAQs, about dieldrin to help address the publics concerns and questions about the banned pesticide.

Although the exact contamination source is unknown, historical agricultural spraying and termite treatments, combined with persistent heavy rains, probably washed the chemical into the ground and then into the wells water supply, Guam EPA said. Further, construction activities may have disturbed contaminated soil, releasing more dieldrin into the groundwater.

JRM: Out of abundance of caution

JRM conducted an accelerated dieldrin testing since the elevated level of dieldrin was reported in Yigo, in the vicinity of Andersen Air Force Base.

But instead of focusing only on Andersen, JRM tested all active water wells and sources on military installations on Guam.

The samples were taken on Sept. 25 and on Sept. 27, Mietus announced the testing, which he said was done out of an abundance of caution.

JRM manages 19 active wells and three surface water sources.

Based on the existing system architecture, this required nine tests, Mietus said on Wednesday.

Of these nine tests, seven resulted in a non-detect, indicating no dieldrin was detected, he said.

Two tests returned with detectable levels of dieldrin that are 10 times less than the Guam EPA IAL (0.2 g/L). These tests corresponded to two wells located on Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz. The water from these wells is safe to drink (Well NCS 9A: 0.015 g/L; Well NCS 10: 0.017g/L), he stated.

Mietus said these two Camp Blaz wells primarily serve the base.

However, due to MCBCBs connection with the greater Guam water system, water from these wells is combined with water from five non-detect wells and water from Guam Waterworks Authority before being sent into the broader water distribution system. As a result, any water leaving the MCBCB is diluted even further below the IAL for dieldrin, Mietus said.

Per standard procedure, he said, quarterly sample results are provided to Guam EPA.

If levels rise above the interim action level, the public will be notified, the admiral added.

GWA, meanwhile, said it has so far allocated $7 million to provide interim and long-term solutions to the dieldrin contamination in Yigo. Affected Yigo residents have been provided bottled water in the interim, among other things.

It also launched a microsite, guamwatersafety.com, in response to public concerns regarding water safety due to dieldrin.
A day after he was released from prison on a burglary conviction, Lucian Maratita George Jr. reportedly walked into a Dededo Shell station with a rifle, fired it near a cashier, robbed the store and stole a customers car, according to police and court documents.

It was the first of four gas stations George was accused of robbing in three days of freedom.

Following a widely circulated video of the Dededo robbery and a wanted poster shared on social media, a good Samaritan who recognized George from the poster called authorities, police said.

Officers who spotted George driving at 11 a.m. Tuesday on Ysengsong Road in Dededo activated their lights and sirens, but George refused to pull over.

Instead, he fled, weaving through traffic at high speeds, eventually losing control of the car he was driving and crashing into other vehicles while crossing the intersection of Route 1 and Ilipog Street in Upper Tumon, according to police and court documents.

On Wednesday, George was charged with:

Five counts of second-degree robbery as a second-degree felony, with a special allegation of possession and use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.

Theft of a motor vehicle as a second-degree felony, also with a special allegation of possession and use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony.

Two counts of theft as a third-degree felony.

Two counts of misdemeanor theft.

Two counts of terrorizing as a misdemeanor.

Eluding a police officer as a misdemeanor.

Resisting arrest as a misdemeanor.

Five counts of misdemeanor reckless conduct.

If found guilty of all charges, he could be sentenced to 214 years in prison.

At 11 p.m. on Sunday, police were called to the Dededo Shell station on Route 1, where George was accused of entering the store, pointing a gun at the cashier and demanding money.

He fired two shots, one that almost hit the cashier, and then pointed the weapon at a man who was buying drinks before work.

George demanded the mans keys and wallet, and fled the scene in the customers 2012 Chevy Cruze, which the customer noted was low on fuel, a magistrates complaint filed in Superior Court stated.

Police said George went to the Mobil station at the intersection of Route 1 and Airport Road at 12:39 a.m. Tuesday, brandished the same weapon and demanded money from the cashier. Court documents say he went to the station in a Chevy Cruze and took between $700 and $800 in the robbery.

A few minutes later, according to police, George entered the Circle K 76 station on Ypao Road. Court documents list the time and date of the Circle K robbery as 12:45 a.m. Sunday, however, that would have been before the Dededo robbery, and the court documents say surveillance video showed George arriving in the stolen car.

Inside the Circle K, George brandished the rifle and told everyone not to move. He demanded money from the cashier and took about $457 from the store, according to court documents.

Around 12:50 a.m. Tuesday, George went to the Mobil station on Route 8 in Maite in the Chevy Cruze, used the same weapon and took $600 and several phone cards, according to police and court documents.

After the chase and car crash, police tried to take George into custody, but he refused to comply and kicked at officers, the complaint stated.

Eventually, he was secured and taken to Guam Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for injuries suffered during the crash.

When police asked why he didnt stop when police tried to pull him over, he said he was on parole and the vehicle wasnt registered. He also said he got the vehicle from a friend.

He eventually owned up to eluding police, but reiterated that he was not involved in any of the robberies, the complaint stated.

Last year, George was charged with assault on a peace officer after he was accused of punching a Department of Corrections officer in the mouth.

Police said George had been in prison for two years when he was released Saturday.




Haiti - News : Zapping...





CODEVI : The Government Backtracks

Following Monday's protests, the management of the CODEVI Industrial Park (free trade zone) announced the suspension of the Haitian government's decision to impose a 10% tax on wages. This measure, according to officials, aims to preserve social peace and the well-being of employees. The workers returned to work on Tuesday.



New Attack by Savien's Gang, at Least 17 Victims

According to Bertide Horace, spokesperson for the Dialogue and Awareness-Raising Commission to Save the Artibonite, at least seven deaths and a dozen injuries have been reported in a provisional toll following an attack last weekend by bandits from the Savien gang in "Estral," a locality in the commune of Liancourt. The thugs also set fire to several homes and businesses.



August : 35,276 Haitians Returned to Haiti

The General Directorate of Immigration (DGM) revealed earlier this week that 35,276 Haitians in an irregular migration situation were returned to Haiti, a record for a single month this year. "This increase is due to a comprehensive strategy combining intelligence, surveillance, and coordination with other citizen security institutions to identify and execute interceptions at key points across the country, particularly in urban areas with high migration density, through the application of advanced techniques and information analysis," stated a DGM press release.



OAVCT NOTICE

On Monday, October 6, the General Directorate of the Third-Party Vehicle Insurance Office (OAVCT) announced the extension of a special deadline to allow uninsured vehicle owners to comply. This extension will end on November 3rd, 2025. As of that date, any vehicle whose insurance policy has not been renewed for more than five years will be permanently removed from the national system. According to the OAVCT, drivers whose insurance policy has not been renewed for three years will be able to regularize their situation by paying only one year's insurance. Those whose policy has expired for five years will be able to regularize their situation by paying only two years.



Laurent Saint-Cyr Meets the Diaspora

Laurent Saint-Cyr, President pro tempore and Coordinator of the Transition Council, met in Miami with several community and religious leaders of the Haitian diaspora in Florida to discuss issues of national interest such as security, democratic governance, and the organization of elections. He also met with representatives of the Haitian Center of Studies, including Bishop Pierre-Andre Dumas and Reverend Reginald Jean-Mary. On the sidelines of this visit, Saint-Cyr participated in an event organized in his honor by the Consulate General of Haiti in Miami and the Haitian American Chamber of Commerce of Florida (HACCOF). He emphasized the importance of the diaspora's full involvement in national life.



Wuhan Tournament : Naomi Osaka Eliminated in the 2nd Round

At the WTA 1000 tournament in Wuhan, China, Haitian-born Naomi Osaka (27 years old), ranked 16th in the world, won the first round against Canadian Leylah Fernandez (23 years old), ranked 27th in the world, after 2.5 hours of play in two sets to 1 [4-6, 7-5, 6-3]. In the second round, Naomi Osaka will face Czech Linda Noskova (20 years old), ranked 17th in the world, this Wednesday, October 8th. Last Minute : Naomi Osaka was eliminated in the second round by Linda Noskova in two sets [7-6, 6-3].



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Last week, Signal's name said it all: if the European Union introduces its plans for chat control, the messenger service will withdraw from the EU. This signal to the decision-makers atthe EU Commission itself is known to be one of the userswas unmistakable. Now the messenger services WhatsApp and Threema are providing further impetus with their statements. However, both are much more cautious on the question of how they would deal with the issue if the monitoring obligation were to actually materialize.

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A Meta spokesperson told netzpolitik.org that despite claims to the contrary, the new proposal from the Danish EU presidency continues to undermine end-to-end encryption. It thus jeopardizes everyone's privacy, freedom, and digital security.

Threema examines all options

In blog posts on its website, the Swiss messenger service provider Threema leaves no doubt that it considers the planned chat control to be incompatible with its convictions on data security. Should the chat control go ahead, all options will be thoroughly examined, according to a recent statement. However, the Swiss are still confident that the current plans are incompatible with the EU's fundamental rights and will therefore not stand up in court.

The EU's planned chat control is about finding depictions of child abuse and combating abuse more effectively. Operators of messengers and cloud services are to be obliged to check chat messages and uploaded files on users' devices. This so-called client-side scanning is seen by critics as undermining end-to-end encryption. These deliberate security loopholes could easily be misused for other purposes.

The Danish Council Presidency has reignited the issue. Germany had previously spoken out against chat control. At least 55 percent of the member states (15 out of 27) would have to agree for it to be introduced. These would also have to represent 65 percent of the EU population.

CCC: An unmitigated disaster

The Chaos Computer Club calls the plans for chat control an unmitigated disaster for all confidential communication. In a blog post, the activists criticize the fact that the German government is silent on whether it will oppose the dangerous plans. The idea of scanning texts, images, and films in chats is wrong, dangerous, and also prone to errors. The current proposal from the Danish Council Presidency includes all problematic measures that have not yet been approved in the EU, writes the CCC.

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If such a law on chat control is introduced, we will not only pay with the loss of our privacy. We are also opening the door to attacks on secure communication infrastructure, says Elina Eickstadt, spokesperson for the Chaos Computer Club. Other NGOs are also appealing to the German government to stick to its no to chat control.

(mki)

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.
In the most recent poll, 35 percent of respondents disagreed with the statement that racism is a significant problem. Five percent said they did not know or preferred not to answer.

The figure marks a steady rise in concern. In a similar survey conducted two years ago, 57 percent of respondents agreed with the statement. Five years ago, the number was 51 percent.

Sixty percent of Finns believe racism is a significant problem in the country, according to a new USU-gallup survey published by Uutissuomalainen .

The survey was carried out by Tietoykkonen between 16 and 24 September. It gathered responses from 1,000 people. The margin of error is 3.1 percentage points in either direction.

Political alignment showed a clear divide in views. Only 7 percent of respondents who support the Finns Party agreed that racism is a serious issue. Among supporters of the Green League and the Left Alliance, more than 90 percent agreed. Among those who back the National Coalition Party, 49 percent expressed agreement.

Gender also played a role. Seventy-one percent of women surveyed said racism is a problem. Among men, the figure was below 50 percent.

Tuija Saresma, professor of cultural studies at the University of Eastern Finland, said the rise in concern reflects growing awareness.

Five years ago, racism was not as central in public debate as it has been during the government led by Petteri Orpo (NCP), she said, according to Uutissuomalainen.

The statement posed to respondents was: I believe racism is a significant problem in Finland. Answers were divided into five options, from fully agree to fully disagree.

The poll results suggest increased public attention to racial discrimination in Finnish society. Political differences remain stark, with supporters of right-wing parties less likely to share concern.

HT
The pilot programme, announced on Monday, follows years of debate over employment conditions in the platform economy. Wolt said the initiative responds to the preferences of couriers who seek greater stability while keeping the option of self-employment for those who value independence.

Delivery company Wolt will begin employing couriers in Finland for the first time, shifting from its long-standing contractor-only model. The company plans to recruit about 100 employee couriers by the end of the year while continuing to operate its existing freelance system for thousands of others.

Most couriers want to work as entrepreneurs and decide when and how much they work, said Joel Jarvinen, Wolts Chief Operating Officer for Northern Europe. A small part would rather be employees. This solution meets both needs. Its new for us, for couriers, and for regulators, so theres much to learn.

Under the new employment model, couriers will be paid based on completed deliveries, earning an average of 14 per hour during active delivery time. Freelance couriers currently invoice Wolt around 20 to 21 per hour, but they cover their own insurance and pension costs. Wolt will pay social contributions, pension fees, and sick leave for the employed couriers.

Employee couriers will work under supervision, attend regular meetings with their managers, and wear company-issued uniforms. They will not be allowed to use substitutes or work for other delivery platforms simultaneously. The company will provide safety gear, such as helmets and reflective vests, and pay compensation for training and meetings.

Recruitment for the new positions will begin in October, with the first employees expected to start by the end of the year. Wolt also plans to hire managerial and administrative staff to oversee the pilot.

The company said it wants clearer national rules on platform work, calling current regulations inconsistent and a risk to innovation. Finland needs predictable legislation that allows people to work on digital platforms either as employees or as entrepreneurs, depending on how the work is organised, said Olli Koski, Wolts Head of Public Policy for the Nordics. He added that the coming implementation of the EU Platform Work Directive could help define fairer standards.

Wolt also said it hopes to restart talks with the Service Union United (PAM) to agree on a collective bargaining framework for couriers. Negotiations between the two parties broke off last December after disagreements over pay.

Union representatives, however, reacted critically to Wolts announcement. Annika Ronni-Sallinen, PAMs chair, accused the company of ignoring a ruling by Finlands Supreme Administrative Court (KHO), which decided in May that food couriers must be classified as employees rather than self-employed contractors.

Its positive that Wolt is hiring couriers as employees, but this only applies to about 100 people, Ronni-Sallinen said. The remaining 98 percent, around 6,000 couriers, will still be left without the protections of employment. The courts ruling must apply to all Wolt couriers, otherwise this looks like whitewashing.

The union said the new hires would gain rights unavailable to freelancers, including paid sick leave, holiday pay, and protection against dismissal. Its unfair that only a small minority will have these basic rights, while the rest continue in uncertainty, said Papy Nkunda, head of PAM Couriers Finland.

Juha Ojala, PAMs head of contracts, said the union remains open to negotiations if Wolt intends to follow Finnish labour law. We are ready to talk if the company genuinely wants to improve income and security for workers, Ojala said. But the only acceptable basis is a collective agreement for employed couriers. We will not sign anything that contradicts the courts decision.

Ojala dismissed Wolts claims about unclear regulation. The situation is clear. The Supreme Administrative Court has ruled, and that decision must now be respected, he said. Wolts own plan proves that employment is a suitable model for courier work.

Wolt operates in 25 countries and employs about 10,000 couriers in Finland alone, with nearly 20,000 people waiting to join the platform. The companys move to create employment contracts comes as regulators across Europe tighten rules on platform work, following years of disputes over the classification of gig workers.

HT
Remains of Luther Rhodes, a Marine casualty at Guadalcanal, coming home

Marvin Rhodes and his wife, Barbara, sit in their Edneyville home with the documents they collected over the years in their search for the remains of Marvins brother, Luther.

Marvin Rhodes lost hope a few years ago that he would ever find the remains of his brother, Luther, who died fighting the Japanese in World War II.

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Years of hitting dead ends each time he tried to find out what happened to his brothers body after his death on Guadalcanal in 1942 had finally worn Marvin Rhodes down. He decided a couple of years ago he needed to stop looking for answers.

Then one day in September, the phone rang.

I usually dont answer. There are so many spam calls, the 83-year-old Edneyville resident said. For some reason, I answered it.

The call was from a representative of the governments Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, and the voice on the other end gave Marvin the news he had waited his entire life to hear.

He just told me that my brothers remains had been identified, Marvin said.

Marvin and his wife, Barbara, said they were shocked  and they remember that it was exactly at 3 oclock in the afternoon on Sept. 3 when they heard the news: Luthers remains were located in Honolulu.

Luther Rhodes was 17 and looked younger when he joined the Marines in November 1941. His fellow soldiers called him the Kid or Dusty Rhodes. Luther died fighting the Japanese on Guadalcanal in 1942. He sat there and cried. We both cried, Barbara said.

Marvin never knew his brother, Luther.

Luther was the fourth child in a family of 10 siblings  five boys and five girls  who grew up in Edneyville.

Marvin was the baby of the family and not yet born when Luther, at the

age of 17, persuaded his father to sign the paper that would allow him to join the U.S. Marine Corps on Nov. 11, 1941  26 days before Pearl Harbor.

* * *

Luther Leru Dusty Rhodes was a private first class when he was killed less than a year later, on Oct. 7, 1942, fighting in the battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands  83 years ago this week. The battle was Americas first offensive of the war in the Pacific.

Marvin was just six months old when his brother died.

The loss of Luther was so devasting that his parents, Harley and Lexine Rhodes, almost never talked about Luther or his death in the war, Marvin said. But they did try to locate their sons remains.

In a handwritten letter to the commandant of the Marine Corps in 1946, Harley and Lexine expressed their deep sorrow that Luthers body had not been identified as we hope to have his body returned to his beloved land the USA for his final resting place.

In the letter, the grieving parents also asked that they be notified if any information was ever obtained about the location of their sons body.

Luther Rhodes joined the U.S. Marine Corps on Nov. 11, 1941, with 14 other young men. He is circled in the photograph taken before the recruits shipped out to Parris Island, S.C., for boot camp.A board of the American Graves Registration Service in 1949 deemed that the remains of Luther Roads were non-recoverable. The agencys investigation determined that Luther was killed in action at the Matanikau River on Guadalcanal on Oct. 7, 1942, and buried in the First Marine Division Cemetery on the island. But when the cemetery was searched, Luthers remains were not found, according to a record of the graves registration service proceeding.

Marvin, who served as an Army captain from 1966-1970, was able to devote time to searching for his brothers remains after he retired in 2005 and moved back to Edneyville and settled in the home where he grew up.

After I retired, that gave me time to think about stuff like that, Marvin said.

He spent several years looking for any information he could find about what happened to his brothers body.

Marvin attended annual meetings the DPAA held across the southeast and contacted anyone else he thought might be able to help.

He even submitted his DNA to the DPAA in 2013 to assist with the identification of recovered remains.

Nothing ever turned up.

A couple of years ago, Marvin decided to stop searching after he saw current photographs of the area on Guadalcanal where Luther was killed.

Luther Rhodes and his fellow Marines in 1942 were met in Guadalcanal with a dense jungle teeming with malaria-infected mosquitos and enemy soldiers.

But the photographs Marvin saw that were taken of Guadalcanal in recent years showed a densely developed area teeming with people, buildings and vehicles. The images left Marvin skeptical that any progress could be made in finding out what happened to his brother.

I said, There is no way they are going to get remains there, he said.

* * *

Not too long after Marvin gave up on locating his brothers remains, leaders at Hendersonvilles Hedrick-Rhodes VFW Post 5206 decided to take on an effort to locate the 13 soldiers from Henderson County who were missing in action during World War II.

Luther Rhodes was the first MIA they decided to try to locate.

Bob Johnson, a retired U.S. Army major and commander at Hendersonvilles Hedrick-Rhodes VFW Post 5206, stands next to the posts Wall of Honor for members of the military from Henderson County.Bob Johnson, a retired U.S. Army major and commander of the VFW post, said the circumstances and location of Luther Rhodess death gave him hope the remains could be found.

Unlike some MIAs who were lost at sea during Navy battles or died in plane crashes in remote mountains, quite a bit was known about Luthers death on the battlefield, Johnson noted. Records and first-hand accounts revealed crucial information about where the Marine private died and what happened to his body immediately after.

I woke up one day in June and said to myself, Im going to find Luther, Johnson recalled.

After talking with Marvin and looking over the records the younger brother had accumulated over the years, Johnson realized that the 1949 investigation into Luthers remains and two books that included information about his death contained important clues.

Both the investigation and the books indicated that Luthers body was initially identified and buried on Guadalcanal.

In the 2004 book On The Canal: The Marines of L/3/5 on Guadalcanal, 1942, Ore J. Marion describes the reaction of Luthers fellow Marines when they learned the friend they called The Kid and Dusty had died one night while fighting the Japanese.

Gerkin choked up and let out a sob. There in front of us, in the midst of all the dead and wounded, two men from the 2nd Platoon were rolling Dusty onto a poncho, according to the book. Gerkin pulled himself together and went directly to the two men who were getting ready to take the kids body away. He said to them, Dont drop that kid while youre moving him in that poncho. Dont bump him on the ground, or Ill kick the shit out of both of you.

The 2019 book Leaving Mac Behind: The Lost Marines of Guadalcanal also mentions Luther Rhodes and the correspondence between his parents and the Marine Corps.

* * *

The Marines buried in a cemetery on Guadalcanal were eventually moved to other locations, with knowns sent home and unknowns shipped to military facilities in the Philippines and Hawaii, Johnson said.

Johnson, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, knew from his previous work with the military resolving gravestone errors at Arlington National Cemetery that sometimes records do not match headstones at military cemeteries, leaving questions about the identity of bodies.

It really got me attuned to research. I knew with enough research you could find something, he said. It made me think, They can find this guy.

Johnson had a hunch that the body of Luther Rhodes was mistakenly deemed to be an unknown when the bodies of Marines were moved from the cemetery on Guadalcanal.

He thought that if the DPAA looked among the remains of soldiers from Guadalcanal held in Hawaii and the Philippines, they would find Luther Rhodes. Johnson just needed to convince the DPAA to prioritize the search.

He got his chance a short time later when he met over the summer with Kye Laughter, the regional director for U.S. Sen. Ted Budd.

I had a whole packet on the research I had done on Luther. He looks over and says, I know him. Hes my great uncle, Johnson recalled.

Shortly after Johnsons meeting with Laughter, Budds office opened an official inquiry under the DPAA into the remains of Luther Rhodes on behalf of the VFW.

We are deeply grateful to DPAA for their extraordinary work and unwavering commitment to our nations heroes, a written statement from the senators office said. After decades of uncertainty, the Rhodes family  and the Edneyville community  will finally be able to welcome Luther home and honor his sacrifice on American soil.

Laughter said he was happy he had a hand in helping to locate his great-great-uncle Luthers remains after so many years.

Its wonderful news for the whole family and our community and I am especially happy for Marvin, he said, adding that his grandmother was named after Luthers middle name, Leru. It is great to have that closure and know Luther is coming home.

* * *

The fact that Laughter was related to Luther Rhodes made finding his remains especially meaningful.

Our office stands ready to assist any constituent in North Carolina who needs help navigating requests to the DPAA, DOD or any other federal agency. It is our honor to serve those who have served our nation, the senators office said. There are still thousands of American service members who remain missing in action around the world. We owe it to them  and to their families  to continue the mission, to never stop searching and to bring every one of them home.

Johnson said he agrees that all the soldiers who remain missing in action need to be found.

The ethos of the military is to leave no man behind, he said. They left these men behind. They need to go get them.

The retired Army major, who was also instrumental in the founding of the Wall of Honor tribute to veterans at the renovated VFW post at Five Points, intends to continue his work finding the other Henderson County soldiers missing in World War II.

His next efforts will probably focus on Brack McCraw, who served in the Army Air Corps, and Thomas Howard, who served in the Army. Both men died as prisoners of war in the Philippines.

* * *

Marvin said representatives from the DPAA are expected to come to Edneyville next month to give him more information about exactly how and where his brothers remains were found.

I just want them to tell me what transpired. Where were they? Thats been 83 years ago, he said.

Marvin said he hopes to have the remains returned home in the coming months and possibly have a funeral involving the Marine Corps in the spring.

Luthers remains will be buried at Edneyville United Methodist Church, where his parents, two sisters and other brothers are buried. A marker is currently located at the cemetery in memory of Luther.

Marvin said he is sure that if his parents, brothers and sisters were still alive they would be thanking God that Luther is finally coming home.

They all missed him, he said. They would have been amazed like everyone else that something like that comes up after 83 years.

* * * * *

Next month Johnson will talk about Luther Rhodes and the other soldiers from Henderson County who went missing in World War II during a presentation at the Henderson County Public Library. Twelve Didnt Come Home: The Story of Henderson Countys MIAs will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 10, in the Kaplan Auditorium at the library.
By Syed Fazl-e-Haider

The Caspian Sea is increasingly emerging as a focal point of geopolitical competition. The joint military exercises conducted by Russia and Iran in July, following similar drills by Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in the northern Caspian a month earlier, underscore the regions rapid transformation into a nexus of strategic rivalries and evolving security alignments. Among the littoral states, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan are assuming particularly prominent roles in shaping the strategic landscape. Their efforts are supported by Turkey, which is facilitating the naval expansion of these three Turkic nations. Russias ongoing involvement in the war in Ukraine has significantly weakened Moscows capacity to assert dominance over the Caspian Sea and to effectively utilize it as part of the International NorthSouth Transport Corridor (INSTC) linking Russia to Iran and India.





Credit: Wikimedia Commons



BACKGROUND: The Caspian Sea was widely regarded as a Russian lake during the Soviet era, as Iran, possessing only a short Caspian coastline, showed little interest in utilizing it for power projection. For decades, Russias Caspian Flotilla maintained dominance over the waters of the inland sea. After the Soviet Unions dissolution in 1991, Moscow sought to preserve the existing balance of power in the Caspian. In 2018, Russia secured an agreement among the five Caspian littoral states on territorial delimitation, excluding the military presence of non-littoral actors in the sea.



The region experienced a significant geopolitical shift in 2020 after Azerbaijans victory in the 44-day war against Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Turkey provided military assistance to Azerbaijan during the conflict. Following the Azerbaijan-Armenia war, the Caspian littoral states expanded their navies. Turkey continues to support Azerbaijans requirements for modern weapons, equipment, and ammunition. In 2023, Azerbaijans Defense Minister, Zakir Hasanov, affirmed that Ankara was Bakus principal partner in military cooperation.



Over the past five years, Turkey has facilitated the naval expansion of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan. These countries, along with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, are members of the Turkey-backed Pan-Turkic Union. Through this framework, Turkey has assumed a leading role in diminishing Russias influence over the military development of these states.



In 2023, Turkeys Asfar and YDA Group, together with Kazakhstans Uralsk Plant Zenit JSC, concluded an agreement for the construction of offshore platforms in the Caspian Sea. The agreement included the production of various naval vessels, including main surface combat ships, to fulfill the operational requirements of the Kazakh Navy. Likewise, the deepening relations between Turkey and Turkmenistan signify a broader shift in energy geopolitics and highlight their shared strategic interests. The Bayraktar TB2, Turkeys first domestically produced unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), is deployed within Turkmenistans armed forces. In February, the two countries signed a gas supply agreement that offers Turkmenistan a new export channel while consolidating Turkeys position as a regional energy hub.

In 2024, the joint military exercises Birleistik (Unity) 2024 were conducted at Kazakhstans Oymasha training ground and Cape Tokmak along the Caspian coast, marking the first such drills held without Russian participation. The armed forces of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan jointly participated in the exercise.



In April, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan announced plans to conduct the joint military exercises Caspian Breeze  2025 in the northern part of the Caspian Sea near Russias coastline. The exercises commenced in June at Aktau, Kazakhstan, with the objective of strengthening the protection of maritime economic infrastructure, naval bases, and shipping routes. A month later, Russia and Iran initiated their own joint naval exercises, CASAREX 2025, under the banner Together for a Safe and Secure Caspian Sea. These drills were designed to enhance maritime security and promote deeper naval cooperation between the two states.



The two joint military exercises within the span of a single month demonstrate a changing regional balance of power. The Caspian littoral states have expanded their naval capabilities in recent years, thereby challenging Russias long-standing hegemony in the Caspian region.



IMPLICATIONS: The navies of the three Turkic littoral states, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, have experienced substantial growth and deepened cooperation in recent years. Through a series of bilateral and multilateral security agreements and supported by Turkey, these states have enhanced their strategic position vis-a-vis Russia. These developments have not only strengthened the collective influence and military capacity of the Turkic states but have also posed a significant challenge to Russias longstanding naval dominance in the Caspian.



Security cooperation among the three Turkic littoral states in the absence of Russian participation signifies a major geopolitical realignment in the Caspian region. For instance, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan have agreed to employ their joint naval forces to protect pipelines on the seabed and vessels operating on the surface. The regional geopolitical competition is likely to intensify following Irans decision to resume drilling operations in the Caspian after a 30-year hiatus. This development could generate tensions with the three Turkic littoral states, which are already deeply engaged in offshore oil and gas extraction within the Caspian Sea.



Turkey plays a pivotal role in the ongoing militarization of the Caspian Sea. It initially strengthened Azerbaijans defense capabilities, subsequently supported Turkmenistan, and is now actively engaged in enhancing Kazakhstans naval power. According to Yuri Lyamin, an analyst at the Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (CAST), Kazakhstan is following the ongoing, multi-year process of strengthening the navies of Caspian states. The reasons and necessity of this can be debated, but it is a long-standing trend driven by prestige and the desire to keep up with its neighbors. Over the past decade and a half, Turkmenistan has built a very strong navy in the Caspian, including with Turkeys assistance. It was to a Turkish design that Turkmenistans largest ship, and one of the largest warships in the Caspian, the corvette Deniz Khan, was commissioned and constructed in 2021. A considerable number of missile, missile-artillery, and other boats for the Turkmen border guards were also built based on Turkish designs. The growing number of actors in the region is complicating Moscows ability to utilize the area for strategic connectivity projects. One of these is the International NorthSouth Transport Corridor (INSTC), a Russia-led project designed to connect Russian ports with Iran, the Gulf region, and the Indian Ocean. The INSTC agreement was initially signed in 2000 by Russia, Iran, and India, was later joined by Azerbaijan and several Central Asian states. Meanwhile, Iran is actively seeking alternative trade routes to the EU, including via Armenia.



Conversely, Azerbaijans Port of Baku serves as a critical hub within the eastwest Trans-Caspian Middle Corridor, which links China to the EU via Central Asia and the South Caucasus, thereby bypassing Russia. The Middle Corridor endows Bakus with an important role for both Europe and Central Asia by providing a viable alternative to Russian transit routes, facilitating efficient eastwest connectivity across the Caspian and through the South Caucasus.



Similarly, Turkey promotes the integration of Turkmenistan in the Middle Corridor, which would advance Turkeys long-standing ambition to position itself as a strategic logistical bridge linking Asia and Europe.



The 2018 agreement grants the Caspian states the right to construct gas pipelines across the seabed. Ankara aims to channel Caspian gas to its territory via Azerbaijan, and onward to the EU, elevating Turkeys role as a pivotal energy hub. However, this directly contradicts Russian interests and the potential exists for heightened tensions or even confrontation between the Turkey-backed Turkic states and the Russia-Iran alliance over control of the Caspian Seas energy resources.



CONCLUSIONS: The geopolitical competition between the three Turkey-backed Turkic littoral states and the RussiaIran alliance could intensify as both sides continue to expand their economic and military presence in the Caspian region. The increase in military exercises conducted over the past two years underscores the emergence of new security alignments within the Caspian basin.



Turkey has taken on a leading role in advancing the naval capabilities of the three Turkic littoral states, a position that was traditionally held by Russia. As Turkeys involvement in the region deepens, Moscows ability to shape the military development of these countries will likely be further marginalized. Russia, meanwhile, continues to bear significant geopolitical costs for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since the onset of the conflict, Moscows influence across Central Asia and other regions, including the Caspian, has steadily declined and other powers such as China and Turkey have begun to fill the resulting vacuum.



AUTHORS BIO: Syed Fazl-e-Haider is a Karachi-based analyst at the Wikistrat. He is a freelance columnist and the author of several books. He has contributed articles and analysis to a range of publications. He is a regular contributor to Eurasia Daily Monitor of Jamestown Foundation Email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Members of the 26th batch of the Chinese medical team in Sierra Leone perform the finger replantation surgery in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Oct. 3, 2025. (The 26th batch of the Chinese medical team in Sierra Leone/Handout via Xinhua)

FREETOWN, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The 26th batch of the Chinese medical team in Sierra Leone has performed the West African country's first-ever finger replantation surgery.

The operation took place on Friday after a local electrician, Sallieu Sorious Yusifu Conteh, suffered a severe finger amputation while working at a mining site in Port Loko District in Sierra Leone's North West Province.

"We knew time was of the essence," said Zeng Lei, deputy chief physician of the orthopedics department with the Chinese medical team, as preparations for the surgery began, involving assessments, wound sterilizations, and formulating a meticulous surgical plan.

Following thorough examinations, the team discovered multiple injuries to Conteh's right hand, with his ring finger hanging precariously by a small piece of skin. After more than two hours of intense effort, the surgery was successfully completed, with positive signs of blood circulation and a likelihood of full functionality for the replanted finger.

Conteh tearfully expressed his gratitude after the operation, saying, "The Chinese performed a true miracle," and noting that patients with similar conditions often faced amputations in the past.

Local medical staff lauded the Chinese team's professional competence and noted that the successful surgery could deepen medical cooperation between Sierra Leone and China. 

A member of the 26th batch of the Chinese medical team in Sierra Leone administers intravenous infusion to a patient after he received the finger replantation surgery in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Oct. 3, 2025. The 26th batch of the Chinese medical team in Sierra Leone has performed the West African country's first-ever finger replantation surgery.

The operation took place on Friday after a local electrician, Sallieu Sorious Yusifu Conteh, suffered a severe finger amputation while working at a mining site in Port Loko District in Sierra Leone's North West Province. (The 26th batch of the Chinese medical team in Sierra Leone/Handout via Xinhua)
A new documentary tells the story of AFP journalists who were trapped in the Gaza Strip at the beginning of the Israeli offensive, witnessing the destruction of their own reality through a lens.

Independent journalist Helene Lam Trong's documentary "Inside Gaza" will be screened at the Bayeux prize for war reporters on Thursday in the presence of six of the seven permanent AFP journalists who covered the beginning of the Gaza conflict.

It traces their daily lives after October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacks in Israel led to the deaths of more than 1,200 people, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Then came the Israeli offensive, which has killed more than 67,000 people, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry -- figures the United Nations considers reliable.

Day after day, the journalists had no choice but to document the unimaginable suffering of their own people.

"I wanted to explain what this profession is, which is primarily carried out in the field," filmmaker Lam Trong said.

"Inside Gaza," which was co-produced by AFP's documentary production unit at Factstory along with Arte and RTBF, almost exclusively relies on AFP images, mostly taken by the journalists who testify in it.

Reporting in Gaza means being surrounded by children who are injured or in shock, and dead bodies wrapped in shrouds or buried under the rubble.

There is no let-up, as Israel has forbidden foreign journalists from entering the Palestinian territory.

"They are seasoned journalists in their fifties, and they know how to maintain their rigour under conditions of extreme urgency and discomfort," said Lam Trong, who conducted lengthy interviews with them after they left Gaza in early 2024.

But attempts to discredit these journalists are frequent.

AFP journalist Mohammed Abed recalls several Western media outlets asking him to prove that a child had died, after pro-Israel lobby groups claimed that a photo he had taken of a father embracing his dead child in a shroud was actually that of a doll.

"We have rarely seen such questioning of information disseminated by experienced journalists," said Lam Trong. "Palestinian journalists have faced the ultimate level of distrust from the media."

What is broadcast is severely downplayed, the director said, describing a careful curation process and a decision to remove the most disturbing footage from the film -- a difficult task given the extent of Gaza's destruction.

AFP's seven journalists and their families were evacuated between February and April 2024 and now reside in Doha, Cairo and London, struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The news agency is now working with a dozen freelancers in Gaza.

"The purpose of the film is to provoke reflection on what journalists do" as the profession faces global threats -- particularly in Gaza, where the press is constantly targeted, said film producer and Factstory's documentary unit head Yann Ollivier.

"I hope that those who claim there are no journalists in Gaza will be compelled, after watching this film, to acknowledge that there are indeed journalists there, and that they adhere to the ethics of factual journalism," he told AFP.

Around 200 journalists have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the war began, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders.

The documentary will be broadcast on French-German TV channel Arte on December 2.
Tokyo welcomes a striking new addition to its skyline this October with the opening of JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo, the brand's first property in the world's largest city.

Opened on October 2, the 200-room hotel is located within the Takanawa Gateway City development, a new hub for culture, business and innovation built on Japan's first railway site. Occupying the 23rd to 30th floors of the South Tower, the hotel offers panoramic city views and a tranquil escape above the bustle below.

Created by acclaimed New York design studio Yabu Pushelberg, the interiors combine Zen philosophy with the natural beauty of Goten-yama. Thoughtful details include ceramic works by Tomonari Hashimoto, Kamakura-style cloud carvings, and photography by Sho Makishima, evoking a serene and timeless atmosphere.

Guests can explore seven dining venues, developed in collaboration with Michelin-starred consulting chefs Nishida Kazumine and Emmanuel Stroobant. Highlights include Saki, offering modern kappo cuisine; Kako, serving traditional Japanese dishes with sake from every prefecture; and Sefino, inspired by the Southern Mediterranean.

The property will debut the world's first JW Mindful Floor, featuring the Spa by JW, nine Mindful Rooms, a pool, fitness center, and curated wellness programming focused on restoration and balance.

Just 20 minutes from Haneda Airport, JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo brings the brand's signature blend of luxury and mindfulness to one of the world's most dynamic destinations.

Hotel website
Outbound Hotels announces the upcoming opening of Outbound Yosemite, a landmark addition in the brand's portfolio of outdoor-inspired destinations. The news comes alongside an expanded strategic partnership with CoralTree Hospitality, which now manages Outbound's existing properties, including The Virginian Lodge in Jackson Hole, WY, underscoring the brand's rapid national growth and position as a leader in nature-first hospitality. These milestones mark a new era for the brand, reinforcing its commitment to delivering thoughtfully designed, accessibly priced stays in locations where outdoor adventure, design, and culture intersect.

Opening for stays beginning Q1 2026, Outbound Yosemite is a 17-acre alpine retreat just 15 miles from the South Gate of Yosemite National Park. As the brand's first ground-up build, the property blends rustic character with thoughtful amenities, offering a modern basecamp for outdoor exploration in California's Sierra Nevada.

The resort includes 104 cabins and 14 lodge-style rooms, an expansive pool, hot tub, and over 5,000 square feet of flexible indoor-outdoor meeting space. Cabins are arranged along the natural slope to maximize views, with layouts designed for couples, families, and groups. Select units feature outdoor showers, and a flagship suite includes an efficiency kitchen, indoor lounge, and oversized deck ideal for small gatherings.

The hotel's modern lodge aesthetic is rooted in Yosemite's pioneering history and dramatic natural forms. The design team at One Union Studio artfully blend classic mountain lodge details with streamlined, contemporary lines, using a natural, subdued palette that defers to the surrounding landscape. The design draws inspiration from Yosemite's iconic rock formations like El Capitan and Half Dome, abstracting their bold vertical and horizontal forms into architecture, finishes, and art.

The results are spaces that feel functional yet warm, heritage-driven yet forward-looking , honoring early Yosemite hospitality pioneers while offering guests a clean, modern, and connected environment. Strategic amenity placement of the pool and deck area built to foster community and movement, while textures and materials create a relaxed, nature-focused setting.

Dining will be anchored by Juniper, a new concept from Folkart Management, offering a pizza-forward menu that's elevated yet approachable with fare inspired by the region. Weekly events, wellness activations, and F&B-driven gatherings will complement the natural setting, with Juniper and the pool deck serving as central hubs for connection.

Bookings for Outbound Yosemite will open on November 3, giving travelers early access to one of the most anticipated outdoor-driven properties of 2026. The travel window for Yosemite will begin within Q1.

With more openings and destination-driven concepts on the horizon, Outbound Hotels remains committed to delivering comfort without conformity, rethinking not just where travelers stay, but how they feel while they're there. More details on property's food and beverage offerings, local partnerships, programming, and upcoming activations will be shared in the months ahead.

For more information, visit www.outboundhotels.com.

Hotel website
Outbound Hotels announces the upcoming opening of Outbound Sedona, a landmark addition in the brand's portfolio of outdoor-inspired destinations. The news comes alongside an expanded strategic partnership with CoralTree Hospitality, which now manages Outbound's existing properties, including The Virginian Lodge in Jackson Hole, WY, underscoring the brand's rapid national growth and position as a leader in nature-first hospitality. These milestones mark a new era for the brand, reinforcing its commitment to delivering thoughtfully designed, accessibly priced stays in locations where outdoor adventure, design, and culture intersect.

Launching for stays in Q2 2026, Outbound Sedona brings a fresh take on desert lodging just minutes from Uptown Sedona. Designed with The Gettys Group, the 138-room resort channels its red rock surroundings through modern Pueblo-inspired architecture, layered interiors, and sunbaked textures that reflect the high desert landscape.

Room types include kings, bunk rooms, and the spacious Serenity Suite  an expansive hospitality suite true to its name. Select accommodations feature patios, fireplaces, or kitchenettes. The newly enhanced spa offers an outdoor adults-only pool, dry sauna, cold plunge, and private treatment rooms.

The Outbound team has reimagined the property's heart with a showstopping new pool complex, Moonwater, a Zen-like retreat inspired by golden-hour lounging, evening stargazing, and the celestial beauty above. Anchored by two grand, tiered pools of roughly 2,000 square feet each, the upper and lower decks feature dual hot tubs and inviting fire pits, all perfectly oriented for uninterrupted views of Sedona's iconic Bell Rock. Wellness-minded offerings extend beyond the spa, with programming such as tea flights, fresh-pressed juice shots, and hydrating elixirs designed to complement the desert climate.

Additional highlights include a light-filled lobby lounge serving local coffee, accented by mural-style graphics, and a refreshed retail experience. The forthcoming restaurant and terrace, Lucida also reimagined by the Folkart team will offer seamless indoor-outdoor dining that opens onto the courtyard. Inspired by the surrounding landscape, Lucida is rooted, wildcrafted, and desert-wise. Its fresh, nourishing menu spotlights local ingredients and bold Southwestern flavors with a modern twist  from prickly pear parfaits and mesquite salmon to ancient grain bowls and house-blend steakburgers. Each dish is crafted to sustain and restore, channeling the energy of the high desert. The experience is intentional, balanced, and welcoming, ideal for adventurers seeking to fuel up or slow down. True to the Outbound ethos, programming will be relaxed, locally inspired, and designed to bring travelers together under the stars.

Bookings for Outbound Sedona will open on November 3, giving travelers early access to one of the most anticipated outdoor-driven properties of 2026. The travel window for Sedona will begin within Q2 2026.

With more openings and destination-driven concepts on the horizon, Outbound Hotels remains committed to delivering comfort without conformity, rethinking not just where travelers stay, but how they feel while they're there. More details on each property's food and beverage offerings, local partnerships, programming, and upcoming activations will be shared in the months ahead.

For more information, visit www.outboundhotels.com.

Hotel website
Bonnie joins The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection with extensive sales leadership experience in the luxury travel and cruise industry. She has directed sales strategies to promote revenue growth for brands such as Virtuoso, SeaDream Yacht Club and Aurora Expeditions, where she most recently served as Director of National & Key Accounts and delivered record-breaking results for the brand in North America. Her history of building partnerships and driving growth through the travel advisor community will be a strong asset in her current role, where she will bolster regional brand presence and foster strategic relationships with trade partners such as Signature Travel Network.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

Floriana

Malta Website
The Ritz-Carlton O'ahu, Turtle Bay has appointed an industry veteran to a key leadership role, strengthening the resort's sales and marketing team - Yvonne Biegel takes the helm as director of marketing. The new leadership underscores the resort's commitment to providing world-class guest experiences on O'ahu's iconic North Shore.

Yvonne Biegel, an accomplished resort marketing executive with over 20 years of experience, joined The Ritz-Carlton O'ahu, Turtle Bay earlier this summer as the property's director of marketing. Biegel has developed and executed marketing strategies for luxury beach resorts in premier destinations worldwide, including Waldorf Astoria's Grand Wailea, Four Seasons Resorts Hawaii, The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, Conrad Punta de Mita, and Hilton Los Cabos. A celebrated industry leader, she has been recognized as a Pacific Business News 40 Under 40 recipient, and is an EMMY Award-winning television producer.
CW Prime, the premier steakhouse at The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort, proudly announces the appointment of Chef Drew Adams as its new head chef, marking a bold new chapter in the restaurant's culinary journey. Known for his refined technique, inventive menus, and commitment to sourcing local ingredients, Chef Adams brings a wealth of experience from some of the nation's most acclaimed kitchens.

A native of Baltimore, Maryland and a Johnson & Wales graduate, Chef Adams has honed his craft in Michelin-starred and award-winning restaurants, including Plume at The Jefferson Hotel, Rose's Luxury, and The Dabney. Along the way, he has contributed to establishments recognized with Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star designations, Michelin stars, and accolades from Bon Appetit, GQ, and StarChefs. Most recently, he founded his own acclaimed restaurant, Adeline, in Sarasota, Florida, earning Best New Restaurant honors from the Tampa Bay Times and Best Chef of Sarasota in 2024.

At CW Prime, Chef Adams will oversee the kitchen, continuing the restaurant's tradition as a premier steakhouse at The St. Regis Longboat Key Resort. Guests can experience an elegant and sophisticated dining atmosphere that seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor spaces, featuring premium steaks and ocean-fresh seafood cooked on a Josper grill. CW Prime emphasizes top-quality, locally sourced ingredients, offering dry-aged beef, tantalizing appetizers, and irresistible desserts.
Amir Nematipour joins the team at Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole as Resort Manager, bringing nearly a decade of Four Seasons experience and a lifelong passion for hospitality to his new role. Since joining the company in 2016, Nematipour has built a distinguished career across several iconic destinations, including Four Seasons Lana'i in Lanai, Hawaii, and Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel.

Nematipour's most recent appointment was as Director of Food and Beverage at Four Seasons Resort Lana'i, in Lanai, Hawaii. In this capacity, Nematipour oversaw the renovation of two key dining outlets - Nobu and Mozza. He also collaborated with local farmers and vendors to introduce a pop-up activation centered on sustainability as well as launched a new beach restaurant concept with a custom Airstream. Prior to his time in Hawaii, Nematipour worked as Executive Chef at the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, as well as held leadership roles outside the brand in luxury hotels across the Middle East and Europe.

A graduate of Hogeschool van Amsterdam and the Horeca Academie, Nematipour is fluent in Dutch, English, and Farsi. Born in Tehran, Iran, and raised in Amsterdam, his passion for food and travel began at an early age, reinforced by his globetrotting, adventurous family. In his personal time, Nematipour enjoys exploring new destinations with his fiancee, Yullia, and their French bulldog, Leah. They are excited to embrace Jackson Hole's mountain lifestyle and trade their Hawaiian flip-flops for Jackson Hole snow boots.
Wichita's newest lifestyle hotel, AC Hotel by Marriott Wichita Downtown, is pleased to announce the appointment of Akash Timilsina as its new General Manager. A dynamic hospitality leader, Timilsina is recognized for his ability to deliver exceptional guest experiences and achieve operational excellence with a strong focus on service.

Prior to joining AC Hotel by Marriott Wichita Downtown, Timilsina served as General Manager at the Hampton Inn Wichita Airport. He has also held leadership positions with Four Points by Sheraton in Houston and Marriott International in Burlington, VT, as well as a dual property leadership role with Marriott International and Best Western in Kansas City. Throughout his career, he has consistently boosted guest satisfaction scores, improved revenue performance, and implemented training programs that reduced turnover and built cohesive teams.

Timilsina also brings international management experience from his tenure in Sydney, Australia, where he oversaw multi-unit operations and developed outreach programs. His career includes years of consulting work focused on training general managers and optimizing performance across hospitality, retail, and quick-service brands.

AC Hotel by Marriott Wichita Downtown is owned by Spartan Downtown, LLC and managed by Greenwood Hospitality, a strategic partner of Hotel Equities.

As General Manager, Timilsina will oversee all aspects of hotel operations, from guest services and team development to community engagement.

For more information, please visit AC Hotel Wichita Downtown.
Doyle brings over 20 years of experience in luxury hospitality across Europe and the United States. Her appointment comes during a milestone year, as the hotel celebrates its 35th anniversary as a pillar of luxury and excellence in St. Louis, and embarks on an exciting reimagining of its grand ballroom.

Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Doyle began her career in the UK with Swallow Hotels and later held roles at several prestigious properties, including Cliveden House and The Shelbourne. In 2013, Doyle moved to the U.S. with The Ritz-Carlton brand, playing a pivotal role in the reopening of The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage. She later transitioned to The Ritz-Carlton, Santa Barbara, where she led the hotel through a successful repositioning and renovation. In 2018, she joined Montage International and was instrumental in driving record-breaking revenues at Montage Laguna Beach.

In 2023, Doyle became the first female General Manager within the brand of Pendry Hotels and Resorts. She continued to be a trailblazer, serving on the Board of the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and contributing to her community through extensive volunteer work with the Boys and Girls Club.
Ori Kafri introduces J.K. Place as a family-founded boutique hotel brand that defines "boutique" not by design trends, but by personal, tailor-made hospitality. With three intimate properties in Capri, Rome, Paris, and soon Milan, each averaging around 30 rooms, Kafri describes the brand"s essence as creating "homes" rather than hotels - spaces where guests feel personally known and individually cared for. He contrasts J.K."s approach to larger hotel chains, which he likens to luxury fashion houses, while J.K. Place aspires to be the "tailor-made suit" - a bespoke experience built through genuine human connection.

Kafri recounts the story of how the brand's philosophy of personal warmth was inspired by an eight-room guesthouse in Amsterdam, where the host's generosity - offering tea and conversation without expectation - became a lasting model for hospitality. He explains how J.K. Place strives to bring that same sense of generosity and intimacy into every interaction, such as offering guests a coffee upon arrival. This simple act, he says, captures the brand's belief that luxury lies in authentic human gestures rather than in grand amenities. The conversation also touches on how J.K. Place maintains its small scale intentionally, ensuring each property remains deeply personal and human-centered.

Reflecting on the brand's evolution, Kafri shares that J.K. Place grew slowly and organically, beginning with a 20-room townhouse hotel in Florence in 2003. Despite having no prior hotel experience, the family"s creativity and intuition led to early recognition from the fashion and media worlds, helping the brand grow by word of mouth - a principle Kafri still sees as their strongest marketing tool. He emphasizes that J.K. aims to become its own category, much like Aman Resorts, recognized not as a "boutique brand" but as "J.K." itself. For Kafri, the brand's soul lies in sincerity, personal touch, and the courage to remain small in a world chasing scale.



Timeline:


AMSTERDAM  Valk Exclusief, the Netherlands largest independent full-service hotel group, has entered the final stage of its digital transformation, powered by Apaleo, the open, API-first hospitality platform.

Since launching the project in September 2024, Valk Digital  the hotel groups dedicated technology arm  has successfully brought 10 'champion' hotels live on Apaleo, with all 43 of Valk Exclusiefs hotels on track to migrate by December 2025.

This ambitious rollout covers Valk Exclusiefs hotels in the Netherlands and Germany, spanning more than 7,100 rooms, 55 restaurants, 475 meeting spaces, plus wellness centres, bars, and retail outlets. Serving over 11 million guests annually, the group operates one of the most complex hospitality footprints in the region.

The 10 champion hotels, including Heerlen, Almere, Assen, Middelburg, Amsterdam Zuidas, and Dusseldorf, went live in June and July. The remaining properties will be onboarded in the next two months.

Valk Exclusiefs digitalisation journey began when it selected Apaleo in September 2024 to replace its legacy property management system (PMS). With Apaleos API-first platform, the group gains full control to build and customise its tech stack without any vendor lock-in.

Within six months, the first Valk Exclusief hotel successfully migrated to Apaleo, thanks to intensive in-house development led by Valk Digital and its strategic partners. The teams built and deployed a fully integrated hospitality tech stack from scratch, tailored to the groups unique operations. This foundation now drives faster innovation, seamless integrations, and scalable automation.

Connected on Apaleos platform through the open APIs, Valk Exclusiefs custom-built tech stack includes:

Guest experience tools : self-check-in kiosks; Valk Exclusief app (Apple and Android); mobile key system; ValkService (room service and housekeeping solution); CRM for guests and corporate (loyalty systems); ValkToGo shop (24/7 self-service shop integrated with daily PMS revenue sync)

: self-check-in kiosks; Valk Exclusief app (Apple and Android); mobile key system; ValkService (room service and housekeeping solution); CRM for guests and corporate (loyalty systems); ValkToGo shop (24/7 self-service shop integrated with daily PMS revenue sync) Revenue & booking systems: IBE/CBE with ARI; ValkPay (room charges with leading payment POS partners); Digital AR invoicing that includes e-connect module

IBE/CBE with ARI; ValkPay (room charges with leading payment POS partners); Digital AR invoicing that includes e-connect module Operations & integration: Housekeeping & technical service modules with PMS integration; Energy Management System integrated with PMS; migration tools

In addition to these proprietary systems, Valk Digital selected external applications where strategic advantages existed. These include solutions for rate automation, group bookings, lost and found service, guest communications and revenue management.

By centralising systems and connecting all of its properties through Apaleos API-first platform, Valk Exclusief will reduce onboarding time for over 4,000 staff from days to hours, while elevating the guest experience across its portfolio.

Choosing Apaleo set the foundation of our digital transformation, but what weve achieved since then, from first pilot to ten champion hotels live, is a testament to the incredible work of the Valk Digital team and our partners. We look forward to completing our digital revamp by onboarding the remaining hotels this year. With Apaleo and direct access to APIs, we have the best of both worlds, a tailored tech stack with in-house solutions that can seamlessly integrate with third-party tools. This enables us to continuously innovate and shape the experience exactly as we envision it, for both guests and staff. Martijn van der Valk, Managing Director of Valk Exclusief Hotel Amsterdam-Zuidas

Valk Exclusief has built one of the most advanced and agile digital stacks in hospitality in under a year, an outstanding achievement. This is exactly why Apaleo exists, we give operators greater control and flexibility over their technology with an API-first platform. Hoteliers can build and choose the tools they need to suit their unique operations without any vendor lock-in. With agentic AI emerging, running on an API-first infrastructure also means having an AI-ready operations, and Valk Digital is future-proofing its business to stay ahead of the industry. Uli Pillau, Co-founder & CEO of Apaleo

About Apaleo

Apaleo is the world's most open API-first property management platform for hospitality businesses. Powering over 2,000 properties in more than 30 countries, Apaleo streamlines operations and elevates guest experiences across hotels, vacation rentals, serviced apartments, and residential living. Apaleo's Agent Hubthe first-ever AI agent marketplace for hospitalityhelps operators adopt autonomous agents to improve business performance. Customers include citizenM, easyHotel, limehome, Korner Hotels, Miiro Hotels, and Numa. Apaleo is Phocuswright's 2025 EMEA Travel Innovation Award winner. For more, visit apaleo.com

Petra Hancz

Team Lead Content & Communications
Key summary

Rosewood is entering a new chapter focused on meaningful guest experiences that foster personal connection, cultural immersion, and a deeper sense of place.

With 41 properties and a growing pipeline, including destinations like Courchevel, Crete, and Seoul, Rosewood is strategically expanding to offer culturally rich and locally inspired stays.

A refreshed visual identity featuring Discovery Green and a new monogram complements a redesigned website that blends storytelling with seamless booking and curated experiences.

Rosewood is evolving beyond hospitality into a lifestyle brand, offering curated retail collaborations, editorial storytelling, and shoppable experiences that extend the journey beyond the property.

HONG KONG  Rosewood, the ever-evolving collection of remarkable hotels, resorts, and residences, today enters a new era of luxury, defined by personalized and immersive guest experiences, a digital transformation, and a reenergized brand identity. Long guided by its sense of place philosophy, Rosewood has evolved from a luxury hospitality brand to a broader lifestyle forum - offering guests a deeper connection to people, place, and culture through discovery. As Rosewood enters its next chapter, every facet of the brand joins together on a journey to become driven by purpose.

Evolving from our central philosophy, the new era of Rosewood places discovery at the heart of everything we do, creating experiences that nurture the stories, traditions, and people that make each place extraordinary. Its an invitation to our guests to be surprised by the unexpected and touched by experiences that are both profound and personal. Anchored in a commitment to become a brand driven by purpose, Rosewood is stepping confidently into a new chapter, where hospitality becomes a bridge to culture, curiosity, and connection. Sonia Cheng, Chief Executive Officer, Rosewood Hotel Group

Only at Rosewood, experiences for travelers seeking a profound connection to place

Since the brands inception in 1979, each Rosewood location has been built to celebrate the spirit of its locality and surroundings. By placing discovery at the heart of its identity, Rosewood curates an enriching program of on-and off-property experiences that blend heritage with innovation. From culinary journeys to cultural explorations, wellness escapes, and curated retail offerings, even the shortest of stays invite guests to uncover the stories that make each destination singular and unforgettable.

Iconic experiences are showcased at every property, including Rosewood Amsterdam, which celebrates Dutch artistic heritage with a curated collection of over 1,000 artworks, bridging the city's rich history with contemporary innovation. Curated tours and exclusive quarterly commissions engage guests in an evolving art journey through a dynamic dialogue between past and present.

At Rosewood Miyakojima, guests can discover the roots of the island through conservation programs led by marine ecology experts who protect nesting sea turtles and safeguard the marine environment. They can also learn the past traditions of local fishermen and their sustainable practices, be guided by masters in the art of handmade pottery or immerse themselves in spa rituals inspired by Okinawan healing techniques and botanicals.

Rosewood Mandarina, at the intersection of the jungle, beach, and mountains, provides a setting where nature, adventure, and tradition come together. Cultural immersion is woven into the experience: wellness rituals at Asaya Spa draw from indigenous healing practices, guests can join craft workshops with local artisans as well as enjoy guided hikes through ancient trails and uncover the secrets of the local flora, fauna, and historic petroglyph.

Beyond property journeys, dynamic retail partnerships and product lines bring the refreshed Rosewood experience to curious explorers, inviting them to curate a personal library of unique, artisanal pieces. From exclusive trunk shows to limited-time collaborations, these experiential activations and edits extend an unexpected lens into the destinations that the brand calls home.

Expanding with intention, growing a collection of remarkable destinations

With 41 hotels and resorts and a pipeline of exceptional destinations to follow, the portfolio has strategically expanded to uncover travel experiences that foster cultural richness, celebrate local practices and welcome an innovative approach to luxury.

From redefining Qatar's cityscape with Rosewood Doha's coral inspired mashrabiya, to revitalizing heritage sites such as Amsterdams Hall of Justice to become Rosewood Amsterdam and the former U.S. embassy on London's Grosvenor Square  now The Chancery Rosewood  the new era of Rosewood is one defined by catalyzing the future of place; elevating every stay, visit and experience to become a journey of uniquely tailored encounters with the worlds most captivating destinations.

As Rosewood evolves, new hospitality concepts will be unveiled, fostering deep connections to each distinct location. The strength of commitment to destination-led growth has already resulted in key property acquisitions that will further solidify Rosewoods position as the brand of choice for those seeking deeper cultural connections.

The recently announced Rosewood Courchevel Le Jardin Alpin marks the brands first mountain retreat, set at the pinnacle of one of the worlds most celebrated ski destinations. Anchoring its connection to art and place, the lobby will feature an installation by renowned artist Olafur Eliasson - two crystalline structures suspended within mirrored walls and ceilings, creating the illusion of infinite snowflake-inspired forms. Rosewood Blue Palace Crete (2026), set between a charming fishing village and a picturesque port, will introduce a resort seamlessly woven into its surroundings. The property will feature 154 rooms and suites, with interiors that honor Cretes rich culture and history, offering an oasis where guests feel deeply connected to the island. Rosewood Red Sea (2026) on Saudi Arabias Shura Island will unveil a resort designed in harmony with its desert and seascape setting. With 149 rooms and suites, the property will showcase local heritage and natural beauty, creating meaningful connections to the regions culture and environment. Rosewood Calistoga (2027) in Napa Valley will present a cultivated hillside estate where wellbeing and rejuvenation take center stage. Spanning 118 acres of forested ridgeline, the resort and residences are inspired by the bounty of the land and the community who care for it. Rosewood Seoul (2027), comprising 250 rooms and seven dining venues beside Yongsan Park, will introduce a new expression of luxury rooted in Korean culture. The hotel will offer an urban sanctuary that reflects the citys dynamic spirit and heritage.

Together, these upcoming destinations exemplify Rosewoods commitment to creating experiences deeply connected to their unique locales.

The essence of a reimagined Rosewood expressed in a bold visual identity

Drawing inspiration from the worlds of fashion, art and culture, Rosewoods refreshed new branding captures the spirit of contemporary elegance and global curiosity that characterizes the brands renewed interpretation of experiential hospitality. The refreshed wordmark introduces a modern take on timeless luxury that reflects the confidence of the Rosewood brand. This evolution is distinguished by Discovery Green, a signature colorway inspired by the lush landscapes surrounding Rosewoods collection of one-of-a-kind properties. Joined by a memorable new monogram, this visual identity will be expressed across all touchpoints, from digital platforms to the guest journey on-property.

Immersing community in the world of Rosewood

Rosewoods new discovery-led site merges editorial storytelling with seamless functionality, creating a dynamic space where guests can be inspired and transact with ease. From immersive video content to shoppable experiences, the platform empowers users to curate their journeys  whether booking rooms, dining, spa treatments, or one-of-a-kind adventures, or exploring personal stories and insider encounters across Rosewoods collection of destinations. This evolution reflects the shift from hospitality to life style and expands the ways people can connect with the world of Rosewood.

About Rosewood Hotel Group

Rosewood Hotel Group, a privately owned company, is one of the world's leading global lifestyle and hospitality management groups. It encompasses four brands: ultra-luxury Rosewood Hotels & Resorts; upper-upscale New World Hotels & Resorts; Asaya, an integrated well-being concept; and Carlyle & Co., a modern and progressive private members clubs. Its combined hotel portfolio consists of 48 hotels in 23 countries with 35 new properties currently under development. For more information, please visit rosewoodhotelgroup.com. Connect with us: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WeChat @RosewoodHotels
By Gemma Greenwood

Three of Greeces hospitality talents  George, Aristea and Vasiliki Mamidaki  are joining forces with HSMAI Europe to support the Greece launch of Connecting Future Leaders (CFL), a vibrant community for hospitality professionals aged 35 and under.

The siblings represent the third generation of Bluegr Hotels & Resorts, the Athens- and Crete-based luxury hotel group founded by their grandparents, George and Aristea Mamidaki, and now led by their mother, CEO Gina Mamidaki.

Today, they are carving their own paths in the business  George in strategy and finance, Aristea in people and data analytics, and Vasiliki in business development  while bringing fresh perspectives, digital savvy, and a shared passion for nurturing young talent.

Designed to inspire, connect, and empower the next generation of hospitality professionals, Connecting Future Leaders is already making waves in Europe.

Launched in Oslo in 2022, and later in London, it has become known for its lively, informal events where young professionals share experiences, build networks, and swap ideas across brands and companies. Soon, its going further, with activities in Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam and Athens.

HSMAI Europes presence in Greece, established last year as part of its Southern Europe growth strategy, is giving the local hospitality community fresh opportunities to connect and learn. Connecting Future Leaders Greece will make its debut at Xenia 2025, with more events planned to create a year-round hub for networking, inspiration, and collaboration.

To boost the profile, reach, and potential of the initiative, Connecting Future Leaders Committees are set to be established in the locations where HSMAI Europe is active, including Greece.

We sat down with George, Aristea and Vasiliki to talk about growing up in hospitality, the ethos that makes Bluegr unique, and what excites them most about being part of a movement thats shaping the future of the industry.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL INTERVIEW

WHY IS HSMAI EUROPE CONNECTING FUTURE LEADERS

The hospitality industry will need many more people in the years ahead. To attract and retain talent, we must inspire young professionals and leaders to continue building their careers in our wonderful industry. HSMAI Europe Connecting Leaders is designed to foster collaboration across brands, countries, and sectors, helping emerging leaders address common challenges and discover new opportunities for growth while building a strong and supportive community.

CFL is a platform that brings together young leaders, talents, and others in the travel industry aged 35 and younger to share experiences, build networks, and exchange professional insights.

ABOUT HSMAI EUROPE

HSMAI  Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International  is a global organisation founded in the US in 1927. HSMAI Region Europe is the European arm of the organisation. HSMAI Europe aims to be a key influencer, pioneer and the go-to industry resource for professional development, commercial strategies and sustainability in the hospitality industry. www.hsmai.eu

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Accor, one of the most prestigious names in luxury hospitality, and Standard Textile Co., Inc. today announced a strategic partnership to provide Mascioni Hotel Collection as the preferred luxury linen provider for a selection of Accor's luxury brands: Fairmont, Sofitel Legend, Sofitel, and MGallery Collection. This exciting partnership will encompass over 350 properties worldwide.

Accor and Mascioni Hotel Collection have collaborated to craft an exclusive collection of bed and bath linens, meticulously designed to significantly enhance the luxury experience for hotel guests by enveloping them in unparalleled comfort and refined elegance. The bedding collection features products made with premium cotton, offering superior softness and durability. Each Accor luxury brand featuring Mascioni Hotel Collection linens will tailor the collaboration to its unique identity: Sofitel and Sofitel Legend will reflect classic French elegance, MGallery Collection will offer modern twist design, and Fairmont will showcase refined luxury.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts are always welcoming, approachable and authentic, creating a space where guests feel at home while experiencing something extraordinary. Our collaboration with Mascioni Hotel Collection is a true testament to our shared commitment of excellence. Omer Acar, CEO, Fairmont

Sofitel and MGallery are very proud to partner with Mascioni Hotel Collection, integrating our luxury offerings with the pinnacle of Italian textile artistry. This strategic collaboration redefines in room elegance and comfort, delivering a truly exceptional guest experience globally. Maud Bailly, CEO, Sofitel Legend, Sofitel, MGallery & Emblems

The Mascioni Hotel Collection is a linen brand exclusively dedicated to the hospitality market. With Italian origins dating back to 1957, the brand was acquired by Standard Textile, a global leader in hospitality, in 2018. Today, Mascioni Hotel Collection is a hallmark of elegance, offering bespoke linens for the finest hotels worldwide.

We are thrilled to partner with Accor. Accor's luxury portfolio epitomizes sophistication, innovation, and personalized experiences, which aligns perfectly with the brand values of Mascioni Hotel Collection. This partnership allows us to create something truly special, setting a new standard in luxury. Gary Heiman, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Textile

As part of Standard Textile's and Accor's commitment to sustainability and guest well-being, the Mascioni Hotel Collection proudly carries the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification. This certification ensures that every product in the collection is free from harmful chemicals and is safe for both guests and the environment.

About Standard Textile

Founded in 1940, Standard Textile has developed a culture of innovation, quality, and service. With more than 150 patents issued, its products are engineered to deliver durability, longevity, and value. A vertically integrated company, Standard Textile is a leading global provider of total solutions in the institutional textiles and apparel markets. Leveraging textile design, manufacturing, and laundry expertise, and its global infrastructure, the company serves customers in the healthcare, hospitality, and interiors markets worldwide. For more information, visit standardtextile.com.

About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group

Accor is a world-leading hospitality group offering stays and experiences across more than 110 countries with over 5,600 hotels and resorts, 10,000 bars & restaurants, wellness facilities and flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry's most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing around 45 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. ALL, the booking platform and loyalty program embodies the Accor promise during and beyond the hotel stay and gives its members access to unique experiences. Accor is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity, and inclusivity. Accor's mission is reflected in the Group's purpose: Pioneering the art of responsible hospitality, connecting cultures, with heartfelt care. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France. Included in the CAC 40 index, the Group is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit group.accor.com or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.

Nathalie Neubert

Communications Manager

Accor
American Travelers Seek Value and Meaning Amid Economic Uncertainty According to Future Partners October 2025 Report - Image Credit Unsplash+



The American Traveler's Evolving Preferences: Value, Meaning, and the Rise of 'Anti-Luxury' Travel

Financial Outlook: Steady, But Uneven Confidence

Financial sentiment among American travelers remains steady, with 34.8% reporting that their household is better off now than it was a year ago. However, future financial optimism is waning, with only 45.7% expecting improvements over the next 12 monthsa slight decline from previous months. Gen Z stands out as an exception, with 63.3% anticipating better financial conditions, while Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers report more pessimistic outlooks. Concerns about a potential U.S. recession are increasing, with 46.8% of respondents expecting one within the next six months. Despite these challenges, 34.4% of Americans believe it is a good time to spend on leisure travel, and 59.4% plan to prioritize it in their budgets over the next three months.

Recent Travel Volume: Solid, but Slightly Softened

Leisure travel volume remained relatively stable in September, though with minor declines from August. Around 49.6% of Americans took an overnight leisure trip in the past month, a slight decrease from the previous month but an increase from the same period last year. Trips to visit friends and family experienced a more noticeable decline, with 44.9% of travelers engaging in such trips, down from the Previous Month. Day trip activity also showed minor fluctuations, with 51.7% taking leisure day trips and 43.2% visiting friends or family, both experiencing slight decreases. These changes reflect typical seasonal patterns, yet the year-over-year stability indicates a promising outlook for the upcoming Q4 travel season.

The Travel Outlook: Boomers Booking, Gen Z Travel Lagging

As 2026 approaches, 92.4% of Americans plan to take at least one leisure trip in the next year, with an average of 3.8 trips projected. Gen X leads with an average of 4.0 trips, followed by Boomers and Millennials at 3.8. Gen Z, however, anticipates only 3.3 trips, highlighting potential constraints related to time, budget, or life stage. This generational gap in travel plans highlights the need for targeted messaging to younger travelers, who may face more barriers, particularly in terms of perceived costs.

Travel Trend to Watch: Anti-Luxury Rising

A significant trend emerging is "anti-luxury" travel, which emphasizes authenticity and personal value over opulence. This approach appeals to 43.3% of American travelers, with higher interest among younger cohorts58.8% of Gen Z and 53.0% of Millennials. Lower-income travelers also show a strong preference for this style. Interestingly, younger travelers still value upscale experiences, suggesting a redefinition of luxury that is more inclusive and sustainable.

Planning, Purpose & Events: Influencing Travel Decisions

Travel planning is becoming more deliberate, with the average domestic week-long vacation planned 11.2 weeks in advance. Digital platforms, such as streaming services, YouTube, and Instagram, are key sources of travel inspiration. High redemption rates of credit card rewards for travel indicate opportunities for loyalty-based marketing. Wellness is a central consideration, with 65.2% of travelers prioritizing it in their plans, particularly Millennials and women. Event-based travel remains significant, with 51.3% interested in Route 66 Centennial events and over 20% planning for the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

Discover more at Future Partners.
Rendering of the Nobu Hotel Nashville - Image Credit Nobu Hospitality

Rendering of the Nobu Hotel Nashville - Image Credit Nobu Hospitality



Nobu Hospitality plans to open a hotel and restaurant in Nashville's East Bank district as part of the Oracle campus development.

Nobu Hospitality has announced plans to open a new hotel and restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee. The development will be located along the Cumberland River in the East Bank district, which is part of the broader Oracle campus project. The hotel will feature 120 rooms and suites designed in collaboration with the architectural firm Foster + Partners.

The hotel will include a Nobu restaurant on the lobby level, offering a menu of signature dishes. Additional amenities will include meeting and event spaces, a lobby cafe, a fitness center, and a spa. A rooftop pool will provide views of the Nashville skyline and surrounding areas.

The Nobu Hotel Nashville's location is designed to provide convenient access to downtown Nashville and its notable attractions, including Broadway, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and Nissan Stadium. The development aims to integrate with the city's cultural and culinary scene.

The project is part of Nobu Hospitality's ongoing expansion efforts, marking its entry into the Nashville market. The company has not disclosed the expected completion date for the hotel.
Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh - Image Credit Marriott International



JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group has been appointed to sell the 240-room Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh, located in the city's center.

The 240-room Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh is now available for purchase. This property is situated in the heart of Edinburgh, a key location in one of Europe's prominent hotel markets. The hotel, built in 2016, is designed to cater to both business and leisure travelers with modern amenities and a contemporary design.

Location and Accessibility

The hotel is strategically located in Edinburgh's city center, offering easy access to various transportation links. It is located near a tram stop offering direct routes to Edinburgh Airport in under 30 minutes. Additionally, Edinburgh Waverley station is within walking distance, connecting guests to rail services across the UK. The hotel's location is also advantageous for visitors, being close to major attractions such as Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and the Edinburgh St James shopping center.

Investment Highlights

The sale of the Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh presents a significant investment opportunity. The hotel is subject to a franchise agreement with Marriott International under the Courtyard by Marriott brand. This affiliation provides a diversified demand profile and a loyal customer base. The property is well-invested, featuring a restaurant, bar, and fitness center that have been recently refurbished. It is designed for operational efficiency, featuring contemporary elements and optimal room layouts.

Environmental Certification

The hotel has been awarded the Green Key certification, demonstrating its commitment to sustainable practices. This certification is recognized globally and could be an attractive feature for environmentally conscious investors.

The Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh offers a prime opportunity for investors looking to acquire a well-positioned hotel in a leading European city. With its strategic location, modern amenities, and strong brand association, the property is well-positioned to attract interest from a wide range of potential buyers.

Inquire at JLL.
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West Stockbridge held a grand opening for the town's new dog park on Sunday, Oct. 5. PreviousNext

Berkshire Briefs: Oct. 8

The dog park is located on 21 State Line Road.

A roundup of municipal and development news across the Berkshires

West Stockbridge Opens Dog Park

West Stockbridge held a grand opening for its new dog park on Oct. 5. Michael Bolognino, chair of the Friends of West Stockbridge Dog Park, estimated that 100 people attended the opening, along with 50 or so dogs.

The Berkshire Humane Society attended and offered loose leash training, Irie's Pet Pantry also attended and received donations, and a couple of local businesses sold their dog-related wares.

Some funds were also raised to contribute to the ongoing maintenance of the park.

The park is located on 21 State Line Road.

Fairview Hospital Purchases Neighboring Property

The Berkshire Eagle reports that Fairview Hospital has purchased a neighboring property on 82 West Ave. to be used as a contractor meeting space to facilitate its $70 million renovation plan.

The 4,000 square foot property was purchased on Sept. 25, for $1.1 million.

Dalton Extends Interim Town Manager's Contract

The Berkshire Eagle also reports that the Dalton Select Board voted to extend interim Town Manager Henry H. "Terry" Williams III's contract until Nov. 21.

The town hired Eric Anderson of Connecticut as the new permanent town manager, but with an uncertain start date, the town wants to make sure there is a smooth transition.

The town has been looking for a full-time town administrator since earlier summer to replace Thomas Hutcheson, who retired.

Great Barrington Hires New Town Manager

The Berkshire Edge report s that the Great Barrington Selectboard unanimously approved the hiring of Bourne Assistant Town Manager Liz Hartsgrove as the new permanent town manager.

The vote came during a brief meeting on Oct. 6.

Former Town Manager Mark Pruhenski left his post to take on a position for the town of Middlebury, Vt. Town Planner Chris Rembold has served as the interim town manager.

Developers Propose Battery Storage Facility in Lanesborough

The Berkshire Eagle reports that the California developer Mission Clean Energy has proposed installing a 170-megawatt battery storage field for Lanesborough near the Pittsfield line.

The $100 million project could provide the town with $10 million in payments to Lanesborough over 20 years.

The facility, proposed for a parcel, between the Connector Road and Crane Avenue in Pittsfield, would hold 200 units containing racks of lithium iron phosphate batteries that would connect to Eversource's Partridge Substation in Pittsfield. The facility would store extra energy from the grid during periods of low demand and release it back to the grid when needed.
Israel Frees Sheffield Men Detained on Gaza Aid Flotilla

SHEFFIELD, Mass.  Two Sheffield natives detained by Israeli forces while trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza have been released.



"THEY ARE FREE," the mother of Adnaan and Tor Stumo posted on Tuesday.



The Stumos were among the hundreds volunteering on the Global Sumund Flotilla to bring food and medical supplies to Gaza when they were intercepted by Israeli Defense Forces. Tor was taken from the Huga boat on Wednesday, and Adnaan from the Mikeno boat near Gaza on Thursday.



During their detainment, their mother, Nadia Milleron, an aviation and consumer advocate who ran as an independent for Congress in 2024, was searching for her sons while urging constituents and lawmakers to speak out against the actions of the IDF.



"Thank you to everyone for contacting your government officials, for sharing posts about my sons and the Flotilla, and for all of your messages of love and support," Milleron wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.



"I am so very grateful for all of you."



Above her thanks was a picture of Adnaan and Tor filing out of a bus with a heart drawn around them.

Mandela was released and flown to South Africa on Wednesday morning. Those detained have spoken of mistreatment and Mandela and other South Africans believe they were singled out because of their nation's involvement in a U.N. case accusing Israel of genocide.

"My kids insist that countries behave in a humane manner toward all citizens, so that our world will be good for everybody to live in. And that's the type of people that they are, and that's the standard that they are looking for from everyone," Milleron told iBerkshires on Monday.



She said Israel accused people who went through rigorous nonviolent training of being terrorists. Reportedly, flotilla volunteers threw away all knives and screwdrivers before being intercepted, so they did not appear violent.
The Adams Suffrage Centennial Celebration Committee has turned over funds for the maintenance of the Susan B. Anthony monument.

Centennial Committee Gives Adams $85K for Anthony Monument Care

ADAMS, Mass.  The Adams Suffrage Centennial Celebration Committee has turned over nearly $85,000 toward preservation of the Susan B. Anthony monument and related activities.

Chair John Duval last week said the check for $84,667.62 was sent to the town treasurer from Edmund St. John III.

"The community really did come out and support this Susan B. Anthony celebration and the sculpture was completed," said Duval. "Then COVID hit to where the events weren't held and everything pretty much came to a stop."

The centennial committee had big plans to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, giving women the right to vote.

Adams' native daughter would not live to see the passage of the 19th Amendment but her efforts and others were critical to its passage in 1920. It also would have been Anthony's 200th birthday.

The celebration was to include a parade, fireworks and other events culminating the unveiling of Anthony's bronze monument on the Town Common. All of that was cut short by the pandemic although the work by sculptor Brian Hanlon was celebrated in June the following year with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito.

The committee raised more than $300,000 toward the effort but the $85,000 was leftover and needed to go somewhere.

Duval said St. John, the town's former counsel, conferred with current Town Counsel Jeffrey Blake of KP Law on possible uses for the money.

"In my opinion, maintenance of the Susan B. Anthony statue, as well as funding events and educational programming focused on women's issues, may be consistent with the donors intent of the gifted funds as it is directly aligned to the purpose of the ASCCC," Duval read from Blake's response. "This seems especially so given that the ASCCC received comments from the donors suggesting these future uses."

The funds might also be directed to William McKinley's statue on Park Street.

"I am less familiar with the President McKinley's connection to Susan B. Anthony, he hosted her at the White House," Duval read. "And if a connection can be made to the donors intent for the funds, in my opinion, there is likely no issue with using these funds to maintain the William McKinley statue, again, as this was suggested use from the donors, it weighs in favor of using funds in that way."

The chair noted the attorneys had provided more information and recommended the board consider a policy on the use of the funds.

Duval said the McKinley statue could use some maintenance as the town has not provided funding for its care. That monument was erected in 1903, two years after McKinley's assassination, and paid for largely by the Plunkett family, who had been friends of the president. It had undergone some restoration in the mid-1990s with private donations.

Selectwoman Christine Hoyt motioned to accept the funds and place them in a separate account and to request town counsel to write up a recommended policy for discussion. Both motions passed; Selectman Joseph Nowak recused himself from the room as he had been very involved with the centennial committee.

"We'll definitely try to honor that request the best we can," said Selectman Jay Meczywor.




iciHaiti - Environment : France and the preservation of mangroves





As part of his mission to the Northwest, French Ambassador to Haiti Antoine Michon visited the locality of Hauts-Fourneaux, where he witnessed the essential work of the Haitian Biodiversity Fund (FHB), supported by the French Development Agency (AFD), to preserve the mangroves.



Located approximately 4 km from downtown Port-de-Paix, the Haut-Fourneau mangrove is a strategic ecosystem covering approximately 270 hectares, including 100 hectares of mangrove forest. A true carbon sink, a natural shield against storms, and a reservoir of biodiversity, this mangrove protects several thousand residents spread across more than 14 communities in the 6th communal section of Paulin-Lacorne and supports the livelihoods of many families.



France is proud to support this project, led locally by the Local Development Support Group (GADEL), a Haitian non-profit organization, which perfectly illustrates the link between environmental protection, resilience to climate change, and sustainable development of local communities.



Learn more about mangroves :

A mangrove is a marine marsh ecosystem comprising specific, primarily woody plants that thrive in the "foreshore" zone located between the limits defined by the highest and lowest tides. In all mangroves, there are different types of mangroves, both shrubs and trees, that tolerate saline environments and thrive in shallow coastal tropical waters. Mangrove roots limit coastal erosion and protect communities from tropical storms, while also providing a fragile ecosystem rich in marine invertebrates and juvenile fish.



Also read about mangroves in Haiti :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44982-haiti-port-de-paix-towards-integrated-management-of-the-haut-fourneau-mangrove-ecosystem.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45424-haiti-did-you-know-the-important-mangrove-ecosystem.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-43020-icihaiti-environment-awareness-day-on-the-protection-of-mangroves.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-39341-icihaiti-notice-great-day-of-mangrove-reforestation-in-les-cayes.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37630-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-30022-icihaiti-environment-restoration-of-wooded-areas-and-mangroves.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23119-haiti-environment-transplantation-of-85-000-mangrove-seedlings.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22870-haiti-environment-development-of-the-beekeeping-industry-in-the-south.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-12469-haiti-environment-extremely-worrying-situation-of-mangroves.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8991-haiti-environment-order-protecting-the-mangroves.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-8601-haiti-agriculture-repopulation-conservation-rehabilitation-and-management-of-mangroves-in-the-south.html



IH/ S/ iciHaiti


















Teaming up with PasaJob and ActivAsia, the Philippines leading finance superapp and largest cashless ecosystem, GCash introduces GJobs HOTS (Hired On the Spot). GJobs HOTS a first-of-its-kind livestream hiring event for ActivAsia, designed to give Filipinos a faster and more accessible pathway to employment. The initiative provides an end-to-end, same-day hiring process to help address the challenge of underemployment.

GCash GJobs, in partnership with PasaJob and ActivAsia, hosts four online hiring events via TikTok and Facebook

For many Filipinos, landing jobs that match their skills and aspirations is still a struggle, pushing them to look for faster and more accessible ways to better opportunities. GJobs HOTS, powered by PasaJob, offers a digital solution where applicants can apply, be interviewed, and get hired all in a single day. This innovation helps streamline a process that traditionally takes weeks to complete.

At the center of the initiative is GJobs, a job platform feature within GCash that offers a convenient and accessible way for job seekers to explore various opportunities listed by PasaJobs for meaningful employment. During the first livestream, 88 vacancies were showcased, giving applicants a wide range of roles to choose from. The program is delivered in collaboration with the partner employer of GCash, ActivAsia, which is one of the countrys leading integrated marketing agencies known for its expertise in brand activations and consumer engagement.

GJobs HOTS redefines the job search by using live selling to bring jobs to people in an engaging way. During the livestream, hosts present available blue-collar positions, highlighting the number of openings, job locations, and benefits. Interested applicants simply comment Mine, Trabaho! to signal their intent to apply.

Candidates are encouraged to complete their GJobs profile and apply for open job positions. They will be contacted, interviewed, and notified of their application status all on the same day by ActivAsia.

The high level of engagement underscores the potential of livestreaming as an innovative recruitment channel and highlights how technology can open new doors to economic opportunities.

With GJobs, were transforming the way Filipinos find jobs by making the entire hiring process possible in one day, said Kristen Mariano, Founder of PasaJob. This innovation is driven by our shared vision of creating accessible and meaningful work opportunities for more people.

GJobs represents a step forward in how digital platforms can help address underemployment. By combining livestreaming with recruitment, job-seeking Filipinos are linked to work opportunities immediately.

This initiative also strengthens the GJobs platform and solidifies the commitment of GCash to using Tech for Good, driving financial inclusion and helping Filipinos connect with meaningful work opportunities.

The GJobs hire on the spot livestreams will run on the official GCash TikTok account, @gcashofficial, and will be cross-streamed on Facebook. The livestreams are scheduled for October 11 and 25, 2025, from 4-6 PM.

For more information, please visit www.gcash.com.
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China has launched a scathing attack on Taiwans President Lai Ching-te, accusing him of "prostituting" himself to foreigners in a bid to curry favour, following an interview where he praised Donald Trump.

Beijing, which considers democratically-governed Taiwan its own territory, expressed its strong disapproval, stating that Mr Lais "schemes are doomed to fail".

The Chinese government holds a particular disdain for President Lai, labelling him a "separatist" and consistently rejecting his offers for talks. Mr Lai, however, maintains that only the people of Taiwan have the right to determine their future.

In an interview released this week on a conservative US radio show and podcast, President Lai suggested that Donald Trump should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize if he could persuade Chinese President Xi Jinping to abandon the use of force against Taiwan. Mr Trump and Mr Xi are anticipated to meet later this month at a regional summit in South Korea.

Responding to the interview, which also touched upon China's military threats and Taiwan's increased defence spending, China's Taiwan Affairs Office dismissed Mr Lais remarks as "spouting nonsense". The office further asserted that the comments revealed his true nature as a "manufacturer of crises and destroyer of peace", adding that since taking office last year, Mr Lai has been "rampantly propagating separatist fallacies".

Helicopters carries Taiwan's national flag during a rehearsal for the countrys National Day celebrations ( REUTERS )

Using unusually strong wording, the statement added: "He has engaged in unprincipled foreign pandering and bottomless selling out of Taiwan, squandering the flesh and blood of the people, prostituting himself and throwing in his lot with foreign forces".

There was no immediate response from Taiwan's government.

The Chinese statement said efforts to seek independence through relying on foreign forces were doomed to fail.

"Lai Ching-te and the 'Taiwan independence' forces are but ants shaking a tree: they will ultimately be swept into the dustbin of history," it added.

The statement also comes just two days before Lai gives his key national day speech on Friday.

China, which has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, staged a day of war games around the island last year shortly after that same event in what it said was a warning to "separatist acts".

Lai says that the Republic of China - Taiwan's formal name - and the People's Republic of China are "not subordinate to each other".

The Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists. No peace treaty has ever been signed and neither government officially recognises the other to this day.
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At least 24 people have been killed and 47 wounded after a motorised paraglider dropped bombs on a crowd protesting Myanmars military government at a candlelight vigil.

Around 100 people had gathered in the township of Chaung U for a national holiday when the attack took place at on Monday, according to the BBC.

The protest took place at around 8pm local time, as the group gathered in a field.

Two bombs were dropped on the crowd using a motorised paraglider, a device that can seat up to three soldiers, the broadcaster said.

Locals told BBC Burmese that the bodies of the victims were difficult to identify in the aftermath of the explosions. The attack lasted around seven minutes, according to a spokesperson for the government-in-exile.

Children were completely torn apart, a woman who helped organise the event for the annual festival Thadingyut told AFP.

One 30-year-old protester told Reuters: Initially, I thought the whole lower part of my body had been severed. I touched it and I realized the legs are still there.

open image in gallery The bombs left a trail of destruction ( AFP/Getty )

He added: This is mass murder. They are committing it openly.

The military has used paramotors to bomb this area approximately six times before this latest incident, Ko Thant, an information officer for the Chaung-U Township People's Defence Force, told the publication.

The first recorded use of paramotors in the region came in December 2024 and they have since been deployed more widely since, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.

open image in gallery Around 100 people had gathered in the township of Chaung U for a national holiday ( AFP/Getty )

The death toll may rise, as some people's bodies were so badly damaged by the bomb blast that they are difficult to recognise, a spokesperson for Amnesty told The Independent. Survivors are now being treated in local hospitals. Among the dead and injured are children, students and people in their 50s.

He added: Activists involved in organising the event were also said to be among the casualties. There were no clashes or fighting in the village where this took place. This was an attack on civilians that should be investigated as a war crime, one among many occurring in Myanmar on a routine basis.

The Independent has contacted Myanmars national office for comment. The military has previously denied accusations that it targets civilians.

The United Nations reported that the junta had used the devices to carry out attacks in Myanmar in April, following a deadly earthquake in March that killed at least 3,600 people and injured over 5,000.

The Peoples Defence Force, groups of volunteer militias fighting the military government, had received reports of an airborne attack during the gathering. They tried to end the event, but the paragliders arrived earlier than expected.

Protesters had also called for the release of political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, who was jailed after being deposed following a democratic election.

The United Nations estimates that up to 40 per cent of the population requires humanitarian assistance in the conflict-ridden region.

The sickening reports emerging from the ground in central Myanmar following a nighttime attack late on Monday should serve as a gruesome wake-up call that civilians in Myanmar need urgent protection, read a statement by Amnesty International on Tuesday, calling the move a part of a disturbing trend of violence against civilians.

This would be the latest in a long line of attacks that stretch back almost five years to the start of the 2021 military coup, it continued.

As the military attempts to solidify power with a stage-managed election later this year, it is intensifying an already brutal campaign against pockets of resistance.

Last week, Rohingya Muslims attended the first United Nations high-level meeting dedicated to their plight and pleaded with the international community to prevent the mass killings taking place in Myanmar and help those who are part of the persecuted group to lead normal lives.
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North Korea-linked hackers have stolen over $2bn (1.49bn) in cryptoassets in 2025 so far, the largest annual cyber-related theft in history, according to researchers.

The record cryptoasset theft is likely to add to North Koreas growing coffers, which Western powers and the United Nations say help fund Kim Jong Uns nuclear weapons and missile programmes.

This years bumper haul from illicit activity has been largely driven by the single largest crypto heist carried out by the hackers, the February attack on the Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchange Bybit, in which hackers stole $1.5bn in Ethereum tokens, accounting for more than half of total losses so far this year.

Elliptic, a London-based blockchain analytics and cryptocurrency intelligence firm, said hackers have increasingly targeted crypto-wealthy individuals, who often lack the security measures employed by businesses.

The record-breaking $2 billion stolen this year underlines both the scale of the threat and the importance of robust blockchain analytics, the company said.

North Korea may be adapting its tactics, but with advanced forensic capabilities, the crypto industry and law enforcement are well-placed to detect and trace these threats.

In addition to the February heist, Elliptic has attributed more than 30 other attacks to North Korea so far this year. Other thefts include those suffered by WOO X, Seedify, and LND.fi.

The report stated that most hacks in 2025 have been carried out through social engineering, where hackers deceive or manipulate individuals to gain access to cryptocurrency.

This represents a shift from earlier attacks, which often exploited technical vulnerabilities in crypto infrastructure, and underscores that the primary weak point in cryptocurrency security is increasingly human rather than technical.

Elliptic said it used a combination of blockchain analytics, observed laundering patterns, and intelligence sources to attribute the attacks to North Korean hackers. The firm has also privately assisted victims of other attacks that have cost organisations and individuals tens or even hundreds of millions.

The 2025 total has already dwarfed previous years and is almost triple last years tally. However, the actual figure may be even higher, as many of the crimes go unreported. North Korea denies involvement in hacking, crypto thefts and other cybercrime.
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The local government in Japans Mie prefecture is preparing to introduce the countrys first local ordinance that penalises abusive behaviour by customers toward workers.

The proposed law aims to protect employees from customer harassment  abbreviated in Japanese to kasuhara  that exceeds normal social boundaries and disrupts their work environment. Acts such as shouting or aggressively demanding apologies would be classified as abuse under the law.

Under the plan, when a business reports a case of abuse, a panel including legal experts will investigate and provide recommendations.

If the behaviour is deemed abusive, the governor can issue an official order prohibiting the offender from repeating such actions. Failure to comply with this order could result in a fine of up to 500,000 Japanese Yen (approximately $3,277).

The ordinance will extend its protections not only to retail and service employees but also to public servants and teachers, who frequently face harassment from the public, according to The Japan Times.

Mie officials intend to present the draft legislation to the prefectural assembly by June next year.

The move comes amid growing concern over kasuhara across Japan.

Earlier this year, Japans internal affairs ministry revealed that 35 per cent of local government officials have faced customer harassment, including unreasonable demands and rude behaviour from citizens or service users.

This rate was more than triple the 10.8 per cent reported among private-sector employees in a 2023 labour ministry survey.

Local government officials may be more prone to such harassment than corporate workers because, unlike commercial services, which can be offered selectively to customers, administrative services should be provided fairly and equitably, an internal affairs ministry official said at the time.

The national survey of over 11,000 Japanese local government officials last year found that harassment mainly came from frustrated residents or those seeking to cause trouble.

About 72 per cent of cases involved persistent questioning, and 66 per cent included aggressive or coercive behaviour. Another 15.7 per cent of officials reported workplace harassment from superiors, with those in their 40s most affected.

In July this year, Japan Today reported that Kuwana City in Mie Prefecture became the first place in Japan to enforce penalties for abusive customers.

Under Kuwanas new ordinance, which took effect in April along with similar measures in Tokyo, Hokkaido, and Gunma, offending customers first receive a warning letter, and repeat offenders can be publicly named and shamed.

The move gained attention after a viral incident at the Osaka World Expo, where a guard was filmed bowing deeply before an angry visitor.

In a ruling under this law, Kuwana authorities deemed it customer harassment when a customer forced a courier to kneel and apologise.

Last year in October, Asahi Shimbun reported that across Japan, more local governments were following Tokyos lead in tackling customer harassment.

Hokkaido, Saitama, and Mie prefectures, it reported, were drafting similar ordinances, while Akita Prefecture has issued detailed guidelines outlining what constitutes abusive behaviour toward workers.

Fukuoka Prefecture has also introduced a manual for handling harassment cases in administrative offices. Meanwhile, municipalities such as Miyazaki, Kyoto, and Okayama have begun using only first names on staff ID badges to prevent employees from being personally targeted by hostile customers.
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All stranded trekkers near Mount Everests eastern face in Tibet have been rescued after a massive operation involving local guides, villagers, and officials.

The search-and-rescue mission, one of the largest in the areas history, was launched after hundreds of hikers were trapped by a rare and intense snowstorm in the remote Karma Valley.

About 900 hikers, guides, and other staff stranded by a weekend snowstorm on the Chinese side of Mount Everest have reached safety, state media said late on Tuesday.

A severe storm struck the area Saturday night, cutting off access to where the hikers were staying in tents at an altitude of more than 4,900m.

The blizzard hit over the weekend, blanketing the high-altitude valley  about 4,200m above sea level  with deep snow. Many hikers were caught off guard when heavy snowfall continued through Saturday, forcing them to dig out tents and camp gear through the night.

By Sunday, about 350 people had been escorted to safety while the remaining 200 were rescued by Tuesday. In total, around 580 trekkers and more than 300 local guides, yak herders, and support workers were evacuated, according to the news agency Xinhua.

Hundreds of hikers were trapped at an elevation of more than 4,900m after the region was hit by heavy snowfall on Friday and Saturday. Mount Everest stands about 8,850m tall.

Survivors described harrowing conditions. One hiker said their group stayed awake in fear as the snow built up around their tents, clearing it every hour and a half to prevent collapse.

open image in gallery Tibetan firefighters rescue trekkers from Mount Everest after they were stranded by a blizzard in Tingri, Tibet Autonomous Region, China ( REUTERS )

Others reported that villagers joined the rescue, many searching for family members who had gone missing in the blizzard.

On the way, we met our guides father, who had come looking for him. Thats when we learned the snow was heavy in the valley, too; villagers, unable to contact their children on the mountain, were extremely worried, one Chinese trekker said.

A young hiker, nicknamed FeiFei, said she was on a multi-day trek with three friends and a local guide in the Karma Valley when heavy snow on Saturday night buried their camp. We had to constantly clear the snow from the tents, but I collapsed from exhaustion and my tent got buried, she told AFP news agency after being brought to safety on Monday.

She added that after two days of walking, during which firefighters cleared the path using yaks and horses to clear the snow, the group returned to the rescue centre. On her way down, Ms FeiFei saw dozens of hikers along the way, weakened by hunger or altitude but none in critical condition.

open image in gallery In this photo taken on 4 October 2025, villagers with their oxen and horses ascend the mountain during rescue efforts to reach hundreds of hikers trapped by heavy snow at tourist campsites on a slope of Mount Everest in Tibet ( AP )

Chen Geshuang, who was part of an 18-member team that was evacuated safely, said: It happened all too suddenly.

All of us are experienced hikers, Ms Chen, 29, told BBC News. But this blizzard was still extremely difficult to deal with. I was so lucky to get out. Many people come here to hike during the Golden Week, but this year's snow was exceptional.

Their guide also said such weather on the eastern slope of Everest was highly unusual, she added.

It was the most extreme weather Ive ever faced in all my hiking experiences, without question, Dong Shuchang, a Chinese trekker, said on Weibo and described the blizzard as a violent convective snowstorm on the eastern slope of Everest.

I looked up in the middle of the night and saw that the snow had nearly covered the top, said another trekker on Xiaohongshu, according to The Guardian.

It was the first time I truly felt the fear of being buried alive.

The severe weather also disrupted expeditions on Cho Oyu, the worlds sixth-highest peak, where a US-led climbing team had to abandon summit plans due to unsafe conditions.

The Karma Valley, once a quiet and little-known route first explored over a century ago, has become increasingly popular with tourists as the Everest region in Tibet grows as a trekking destination. More than half a million people visited the area last year.

Authorities have since closed the Everest region, including the Karma and Rongshar valleys, citing safety risks.

Heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures also hit other parts of western China, leaving at least one hiker dead from hypothermia and altitude sickness.
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A 4,000-year-old pharaonic painting has vanished from Egypts famed Saqqara necropolis, the latest artefact to disappear in mysterious circumstances.

The limestone relief appeared to have been cut out of the wall of the cursed ancient tomb of Khentika in the Saqqara necropolis outside Cairo, according to local media.

A British mission working in the tomb discovered the painting was missing in May, according to Cairo 24, but officials only publicised its disappearance on Sunday.

An archaeology committee has now been brought together to draw up an inventory of everything in the tomb, and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities assured that the issue had been referred for investigation.

open image in gallery Archaeologists work near the Saqqara site ( AP )

Egyptian media reported that the painting exhibited the ancient Egyptian calendar that divided the year into three seasons, mirroring the Nile Rivers ebb and flow.

Measuring around 16 x 24 inches, it included the flooding season, Akhet, the planting season, Proyat, and the harvest season, Shomu.

The tomb is one of the few mastaba tombs of ancient Egypt to have a curse inscribed on its facade. The inscriptions warned intruders they could face divine punishment, according to British Egyptologist Harry James, who co-authored a research paper on the tomb in the 1950s.

The mastaba tomb was found in the 1950s and hasnt been opened since 2019. It dates back to the sixth dynasty of the ancient Old Kingdom - from around 2700 B.C. to 2200 B.C.

The Saqqara site is part of a sprawling necropolis at Egypts ancient capital of Memphis that includes the famed Giza Pyramids, the step pyramid of Djoser, as well as smaller pyramids at Abu Sir, Dahshur and Abu Ruwaysh.

The ruins of Memphis were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in the 1970s.

The reliefs disappearance only emerged after officials said a 3,000-year-old golden bracelet stolen from a museum by a restoration worker had been sold and melted down.

open image in gallery A 3,000-year-old bracelet was stolen from a museum in September ( Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities )

Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathy said in televised comments late on Saturday that the bracelet was stolen on September 9 while officials at the museum were preparing artefacts for an exhibit in Italy.

He blamed "laxity" in implementing procedures at the facility and said that prosecutors were still investigating.

The bracelet, containing a lapis lazuli bead, belonged to Pharaoh Amenemope, who reigned about 3,000 years ago.

Authorities said it was taken from a restoration lab at the museum and then funnelled through a chain of dealers before being melted down.

Four suspects were arrested and questioned, including a restoration specialist at the museum, the Interior Ministry said.

According to the Interior Ministry, the restoration specialist who was arrested confessed to giving the bracelet to an acquaintance who owns a silver shop in Cairo's Sayyeda Zainab district.

It was later sold to the owner of a gold workshop for the equivalent of about $3,800. It was eventually sold for around $4,000 to a worker at another gold workshop, who melted the bracelet down to make other gold jewellery.
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More than 2,300 drug smuggling deal lines have been shut off in the past year, new figures from the Home Office have revealed.

Crime minister Sarah Jones welcomed the new data, which she said speak for themselves, but promised to go further than ever to stop this evil trade, adding that the authorities will be relentless in tackling Britains drug gangs.

Targeted work on key transport networks and investment into automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology resulted in more than 1,120 senior gang members being charged in the 12 months to July, the government said.

They are the highest annual figures since the governments county lines programme began six years ago, in 2019.

The exploitation of children and vulnerable people in this way is disgusting and cowardly, said Ms Jones, who joined police on a dawn raid in Liverpool as part of an operation targeting drugs on Tuesday.

County lines gangs are also driving knife crime in our communities, and I want criminals to know that we will not let them get away with it.

We will be relentless in going after these gangs.

Todays results speak for themselves  but we are going further than ever to stop this evil trade.

open image in gallery We are going further than ever to stop this evil trade, says crime minister ( Merseyside Police/Ryan Birchall )

Ms Jones said three new criminal offences brought in through the Crime and Policing Bill, which faces scrutiny in the Lords before it becomes law, would help ensure the punishment matches the severity of the crime.

These include the proposed new offences of coerced internal concealment  where children and vulnerable people are made to hide objects inside their bodies  and criminal exploitation of children, which would each carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

The third proposed new offence of cuckooing  taking over vulnerable peoples homes to carry out crime  would carry a maximum penalty of five years jail time.

Lynn Perry, chief executive of the charity Barnardos, called for children who are being exploited to be treated as victims rather than criminals.

open image in gallery Items seized after Metropolitan Police officers carry out a dawn raid in Canary Wharf as part of an investigation into a county lines drug gang ( PA )

Children who are exploited are often forced to commit crimes by being coerced, threatened and made to feel like theres no way out.

For too long, these children have been treated as criminals, rather than victims in need of protection.

The government recently included measures in the Crime and Policing Bill which makes child criminal exploitation an offence.

This is a step in the right direction, however more work needs to be done, including creating a statutory definition of child criminal exploitation. This will help to protect and defend children from prosecution during legal cases.

Barnardos works with thousands of children across the UK who have experienced exploitation, and we know that too often children are not able to access support services and are left at continued risk of harm.

Were urging the government to invest in specialist services to make sure all children who have been abused or exploited get the help they need.
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The Manchester synagogue terrorist called 999 and pledged allegiance to Islamic State after he launched the attack.

Counter Terrorism Policing North West has confirmed that knifeman Jihad al-Shamie, 35, called police in the initial stages of the attack last Thursday.

Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, were both killed and several others were injured during the attack, which took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

A spokesperson for Counter Terrorism Policing North West said: We can confirm that, in the initial stages of the attack outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, a call was made by the attacker to police claiming to pledge allegiance to the so-called Islamic State.

We are continuing to investigate the full circumstances and motivation behind what happened. The investigation is continuing at pace.

open image in gallery Jihad al-Shamie was on bail for an alleged rape offence ( Facebook )

Reports in The Sun say he told 999 operators: I have killed two Jews in the name of the Islamic State.

Shamie, who was on bail for an alleged rape offence, was shot dead by police minutes after he launched the attack, which was declared a terror attack by authorities.

Police are still working to establish the full details of the motivations of the 35-year-old attacker, who was a British national of Syrian heritage and was granted citizenship in 2006 as a minor.

Investigators do not believe he had ever been referred to Prevent, Britains counterterrorism programme, but did have a criminal history and police say he may have been influenced by an extreme Islamist mindset.

open image in gallery Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue in Crumpsall, Manchester, where two men died in a terror attack ( PA )

In a statement, his family condemned the attack, describing it as a heinous act.

It later emerged that two victims of the attack were shot by armed police as they sheltered inside the barricaded door of the synagogue.

Adrian Daulby, 53, died after he sustained a bullet wound, while another person was injured by a stray bullet.

Sir Stephen Watson, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said the victims bullet wounds may sadly have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence of the urgently required action taken by my officers to bring this vicious attack to an end.

open image in gallery Worshipper Adrian Daulby, left, and security guard Melvin Cravitz were killed during the terror attack ( Handout/Greater Manchester Police/PA )

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the police watchdog, has launched an investigation into the fatal shooting by armed officers.

The police chief said he welcomed that the police watchdog had found that no misconduct is apparent in the forces response to the Manchester synagogue attack.

It comes after the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the three armed officers who fired their weapons while responding to the attack outside Heaton Park Synagogue in Crumpsall are being treated as witnesses to the investigation.

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

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

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

Police said they have further releases planned for today, but have not concluded the investigation.
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Police have called for more information on a convicted sex offender who has been jailed for 22 years, suggesting he may have more victims.

Vruj Patel, 26, previously pleaded guilty to a string of sexual offences, including the rape of a child under the age of 13, the assault of a child under 13 by penetration and four counts of causing a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity in relation to one victim.

He was arrested on 1 February this year and sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday. Alongside his 22-year sentence, he was placed on the sex offenders register for life.

The Metropolitan Police has now urged other potential victims to come forward following the sentencing.

Greater Manchester Police contacted the Met in February after discovering videos of child sex offending on a device sent for repair.

open image in gallery Patel was sentenced at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday ( PA Archive )

The phone belonged to Patels brother, Kishan, and the footage showed offences being committed against a young girl known to them. Kishan Patel, 31, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for the possession of indecent images of children. He will serve a 10-year sexual harm prevention order.

The younger Patel brother was identified in the video, and further incriminating footage was subsequently discovered, including videos showing the offender raping a woman after a university night out.

Each incident of contact offending is believed to have taken place in 2018, but the voyeurism precedes this, and police believe Patels offending may have continued until more recently.

Detective Sergeant Rob Blant, who led the Mets investigation, said: Patel is a cowardly, opportunistic offender who has preyed on vulnerable victims for his own sexual gratification. The threat he poses to women and children has been reflected in his sentence and his future management under the terms of the Sexual Harm Prevention Order and sex offender notification requirements for the remainder of his life.

This is a fantastic example of a thorough and detailed investigation by Met detectives working to support victims of the most serious offending and safeguard the wider public from a dangerous offender.

There are teams of dedicated, professional officers working across London who will leave no stone unturned to identify those who seek to commit offences against vulnerable people and bring offenders to justice.

Survivors have been encouraged to contact police online or to call 101 quoting Op Castline, where officers will arrange contact.

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).
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The mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence has called for his killer to look her in the eye and tell her the full story of the racist attack.

Doreen Lawrence said it was incredibly painful watching David Norris, 49, finally admit his role in her sons horrific murder during a two-day public parole hearing.

The killer, who had his back to the camera as he gave evidence from prison, told the hearing he was deeply sorry for the 1993 attack, but refused to name his accomplices because it would put him and his family at risk.

Baroness Lawrence said he was a coward, adding: He didnt show his face. He needs to look me in the eye and tell me exactly what he did and why he did it.

In a statement outside the hearing, she continued: It has been numbing and incredibly frustrating to sit and listen to him describe the murder of my son. But he is not telling the truth.

He was and remains a liar. Only if he tells the full truth can anyone, including me, start to think he is truly sorry.

Only two of Lawrences five or six alleged attackers have ever faced justice. Norris was jailed for life with a minimum of 14 years, along with Gary Dobson, who must serve a minimum of 15 years, in a trial that hinged on tiny traces of forensic evidence in 2012.

open image in gallery Doreen Lawrence has labelled her sons killer a coward ( PA Archive )

Baroness Lawrence called for the Metropolitan Police to urgently investigate after Norris confirmed in the hearing that he knows the names of the aspiring architects other killers.

This person can name the other killers and says he would love to do so, she added. The police must do everything in their power to obtain that evidence and bring all of Stephen's murderers to justice.

This man owes me the truth and the Met owe me justice. The police now have no excuse not to act.

It comes after a prison psychologist told the hearing that Norris is an unreliable narrator who is not ready to be released.

He said there were inconsistencies in the evidence Norris gave to the panel, adding: I think hearing the evidence was quite confusing  sometimes admitting some things, sometimes going back on that and sometimes being confused around dates.

open image in gallery David Norris described his younger self as a 16-year-old horrible, violent, racist, young man ( PA Media )

He added he did not know if that was due to the pressure of the hearing or because he was being cautious in a public forum, but noted: He clearly wants to be careful what he admits to.

The prison-appointed expert, who cannot be identified, said that while Norris has made some progress, he does not believe he has met the test for release or to be moved to open conditions.

The psychologist noted Norris had admitted to him during nine hours of assessment that he had used racially disrespectful language in an incident with another prisoner in 2017.

However, giving evidence to the panel, Norris said he cant remember using the offensive term towards a Muslim inmate.

He added that Norris has a lack of racial awareness and is more likely to use racist language during times of mental ill health or frustration.

However, the psychologist said he believed the remorse shown by Norris was genuine and had pre-dated his parole hearing.

open image in gallery Stephen Lawrence was murdered in a racist attack in 1993 ( PA Media )

A second psychologist, appointed by Norris, disagreed and argued that the killer does meet the test for release or being moved to open conditions.

She noted he had spent 19 years in the community before he was convicted, during which time he was not charged with any other crimes.

She agreed there was some confusion in the narrative in Norriss evidence to the parole panel, adding: I do think its a combination of it being a public hearing, this is also Mr Norriss first hearing.

I think hes not typically someone who would communicate himself in the most eloquent way.

She also claimed his history of violence was not all racially motivated and also included football violence and postcode violence, suggesting his racist attitudes were likely amplified in a group context.

Yesterday, Norris said he was a horrible, violent, racist 16-year-old at the time of the murder as he publicly admitted his role for the first time.

He said he was caught up in a gang mentality as he described punching the aspiring architect, 18, as he was crouched on the ground.

Norris told the hearing there were five individuals involved in the murder, but said his family would be at risk if he named the other killers. He claimed he did not see the 22cm blade that inflicted the fatal blows until they fled the scene.

The group never spoke about the incident except to say be careful of what you say from here on in, and it was never spoken about again, Norris told the hearing.

He insisted there is no group loyalty or criminal code preventing him from naming his accomplices, adding: There is one reason and one reason only, because Im worried about the safety of my family.

open image in gallery Doreen Lawrence arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice with lawyer Imran Khan ( PA Wire )

However, Lawrences grieving mother told the panel he was an obvious danger to society and should not be released.

Baroness Lawrence reminded the hearing of a shocking covert police recording of Norris and Dobson from 1994, known as the Footscray tapes, in which Norris discussed how he would kill every black c*** he knows.

Any person who expresses views like this and doesnt recant is an obvious danger to society and must remain in custody, she added.

Lawrences father, Dr Neville Lawrence, said justice has not been done if Norris is released without naming the other members of the gang.

Norris was moved back up to category B prison after he was caught with mobile phones and a screwdriver in 2022.

The hearing will continue in private on Friday and the Parole Board will then publish its decision within 14 days.
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The average UK worker would need to save their earnings for 52 years in order to move to the top of the wealth ladder, new research suggests.

It would take just over half a century of saving with no outgoings for the average Brit to raise 1.3 million, the amount needed to move from the move from the middle to the top brackets of the nations richest, according to the Resolution Foundation.

The think tanks Before the fall report, which examines the scale and distribution of household wealth across Britain , said intergenerational inequality had worsened between 2006-08 and 2020-22, warning of entrenched wealth gaps that reflect the growing importance of who your parents are, rather than how hard you work, in shaping lifetime living standards.

Using data from the Office for National Statistics Wealth and Assets Survey, analysts found that while Britains stock of wealth continued to grow during the pandemic, reaching a new record high of 7.5 times GDP, wealth gaps between rich and poor families have grown sharply.

Molly Broome, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation, said wealth gaps between the richest and poorest in the country were doubly concerning because of low rates of wealth mobility across the country.

open image in gallery Workers would have to save 1.3m to move into the richest decile, the think tank said ( Gareth Fuller/PA Wire )

Wealth gaps in Britain are now so large that a typical full-time employee saving all their earnings across their entire working life would still not be able to reach the top of the wealth ladder, she explained.

These gaps are doubly concerning as wealth mobility in Britain is low  people that start life wealthy tend to stay wealthy, and vice versa.

Factors including existing wealth, age, and location also had a huge impact on how rich Britons are, according to analysts. Their research showed the wealth gap between people in their early 30s and people in their early 60s has more than doubled between 2006-08 and 2020-22  from 135,000 to 310,000 (in real cash terms).

Researchers added 53 per cent of household income growth since the early 2010s had come through passive earnings such as rising house prices, rather than active behaviour, which primarily benefitted the already-wealthy.

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Those in the South East were also found to have a median wealth of 290,000 - substantially higher than those in the North East, who had 110,000.

Ms Broome blamed soaring house prices and changes in the value of pensions for growth in wealth gaps, adding it was external factors rather than any active behaviour on the part of individuals, such as buying homes or acquiring new assets that widened the gulf.

open image in gallery According to the foundation, intergenerational inequality has worsened

Some economists have suggested chancellor Rachel Reeves may introduce a wealth tax in a bid to plug a 50bn hole at the next Budget, despite Labours manifesto promise not to raise taxes.

But Ms Broome warned any future wealth taxes introduced by the government could fall on pensioners or homeowners instead of being paid by the nations richest.

Soaring wealth and an acute need for more revenue has prompted fresh talk of wealth taxes ahead of the Budget next month, she said.

But with property and pensions now representing 80 per cent of the growing bulk of household wealth, we need to be honest that higher wealth taxes are likely to fall on pensioners, Southern homeowners or their families, rather than just being paid by the super-rich.

An HM Treasury spokesperson said: "The UKs income tax system is highly progressive, with an internationally high Personal Allowance.

We are also taxing wealth by getting rid of the non-domicile status in the tax system, we put VAT on private school fees and we increased taxes on private jets."
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Campaigners have called on the government to ban the sale of catapults to under-18s after reports that the weapons are increasingly being used to inflict damage to wildlife and people.

Kent Police said videos are circulating online of young people targeting animals with catapults.

Its generally groups of youths with catapults just targeting anything to kill and theyre sharing those pictures and videos of themselves doing this on social media, Sergeant Darren Wilshaw said.

He told the BBC that a catapult attack to the head could be potentially lethal.

It is currently not an offence to possess a catapult in public, and the police must prove either intent to use one to cause damage or harm, or evidence it has been used to cause damage or harm.

But charities have called for a change in the law, as Jim Clark, wildlife crime campaigner at Naturewatch Foundation, said: The government should treat powerful catapults as the dangerous weapons they can be, not just harmless toys.

We need a ban on sales to those under-18, with clear restrictions on carrying them in public, and tougher penalties when they're used to harm animals or damage property.

Describing the extent of the damage to the wildlife, Mr Clark told The Independent: The level of injuries range from moderate, broken bones/wings and deep penetrative wounding to severe  sadly most often resulting in death or necessary euthanasia.

He added: The indiscriminate targeting of wildlife is a clear sign of the propensity to abuse animals.

Charities have called on the government to ban the sale of catapults to under-18s ( Getty )

Wildlife campaigner Rae Gellel, founder of Greenwich Wildlife Network, has rescued several birds that have fallen victim to catapult attacks in southeast London.

She told the BBC the injuries are horrific and cause tremendous suffering that is prolonged over days, sometimes weeks.

Earlier this year, Kent Police wrote a letter to schools warning parents about catapult crime.

While carrying a catapult is not a criminal offence, its use may lead to criminal liability, the letter said and asked parents to dissuade children from leaving home with a catapult.

After a seagull was killed in a shocking catapult attack in March this year, the RSPCA said: It is unspeakably cruel and totally unacceptable to shoot animals for fun like this.

While most people will be appalled by attacking animals in this way, sadly the RSPCAs experience shows that there are people out there who are deliberately targeting wildlife, pets and farm animals with airguns, catapults and crossbows. These weapons cause horrific pain and suffering.

A government spokesperson said: Catapults should not be used for illegal purposes, whether against people, wildlife or property.

We continue to keep all relevant legislation under review in the interest of public safety.
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The UKs biggest-ever environmental pollution legal action is set to be filed in the High Court over the alleged degradation of the River Wye.

Thousands of residents and local business owners have joined the claim against two industrial chicken production firms and Welsh Water, saying the alleged pollution of the river has had a severe impact on business and leisure in the area.

The nearly 4,000 claimants are seeking substantial damages and a mandated clean-up order from Avara Foods Limited, Freemans of Newent Limited and Welsh Water in what lawyers called the last avenue for justice.

Legal firm Leigh Day, which is leading the claim, said in a statement that it relates to the Wye, its tributary the River Usk, as well as the River Lugg, which run through Wales and southwest England.

The claim alleges the rivers have become polluted through run-off water from nearby farmland, which it says contained high concentrations of phosphorus, nitrogen and bacteria due to the spreading of thousands of tonnes of poultry manure.

It adds that this pollution has led to a growth of algae that has suffocated fish, harmed fauna, and led to key species deaths and bad smells as it decays.

It alleges the actions of the firms amount to private nuisance, public nuisance and trespass (from sewage deposited on the river bed) as well as negligence, and that the deposit of manure and biosolids on agricultural land is a breach of the Environmental Protection Act.

open image in gallery Claimants say pollution allegedly caused by the firms has had a severe impact on businesses, recreation, tourism, and property values ( PA Archive )

Leigh Day said: All allege that Avara, Freemans and Welsh Water are responsible for river pollution and the severe impact it has had on businesses, recreation, tourism and property values since August 2019 and ask the court to award substantial damages for that period.

They also ask the court to order all three companies to clean up the rivers and restore them to health.

Oliver Holland, who is leading the claim at Leigh and Day, said: We see this legal claim as the culmination of an extraordinary effort by local community members and campaign groups to research, monitor and advocate for their rivers. Formally commencing this legal action is a concrete step towards protecting these vital national ecosystems.

The court will now hear leading experts on the allegations of environmental harm, and will be asked to order those responsible to clean up these rivers, and restore these communities and wildlife that depend on them.

open image in gallery The claim alleges the rivers have become polluted through run-off water from nearby farmland ( Getty/iStock )

This is the largest legal action concerning environmental pollution ever brought in the UK. In a context where government and regulators have failed to prevent the degradation of our rivers, the court has become the last avenue for justice. Our clients believe they have no other option but to seek accountability through the legal system  and this marks the next step in that journey.

A Welsh Water spokesperson said it intended to defend the case robustly, adding it had invested 70m into the improvement of their sites on the River Wye over the last five years.

We are also currently investing 33m to improve the Usk River, it said. Unfortunately, the water pollution caused by other sectors during this period has increased significantly, reducing the overall impact of the water quality improvements we have achieved.

open image in gallery Both Avara and Welsh Water say they intend to defend the claims robustly ( AFP/Getty )

We intend to defend this case robustly: the fact that we are a not-for-profit company means that any payments to these claimants would necessarily reduce the amount that we can re-invest in delivering further improvements for the benefit of all of our customers and the environment.

A spokesperson for Avara Foods commented: We share concerns about the condition of the River Wye, but we believe that this legal claim is based on a misunderstanding, as no manure is stored or spread on poultry-only farms that supply Avara Foods. Where poultry manure is used as fertiliser, it is for other produce in other agricultural sectors.

Individual farmers are responsible for how nutrients are used in their arable operations. Avara is not involved in any arable operations and has no control over this activity. All our poultry is produced in Britain to standards that are amongst the highest in the world.

The focus instead needs to be on solutions that will improve the health of the river, addressing all forms of pollution and the effects of climate change, and for action to be taken accordingly. We employ 5,000 people in the UK and approximately 1,500 people in the catchment area, and we all want a healthy River Wye."

Freemans of Newent is a subsidiary of Avara Foods.
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A record 1,611 homeless people, including 11 children, died in 2024, according to new figures, which lay bare the shocking impact of the UKs housing crisis.

Four of the children were babies under the age of one and came as homelessness deaths rose 9 per cent on the year before  up from 1,474 deaths in 2023, and 1,313 in 2022, the research from The Museum of Homelessness revealed.

Homelessness has been on the rise in recent years, with the 178,560 households assessed as homeless by councils in 2023-24, a 12.3 per cent increase on the previous year.

Over half of the deaths recorded last year were classed as deaths of despair, meaning the person died by suicide or the deaths were drug or alcohol-related.

In one case, a man died within weeks of being released from an NHS mental health centre without a community treatment order that would have seen him supervised by doctors. Barnaby Spicer, who had a history of psychosis, died in November 2024 after he was released from Redwoods Centre in Shrewsbury.

His family said that they wrote to the mental health trust over concerns for Mr Spicers safety before his death. The NHS trust that runs the centre has reportedly launched an internal inquiry into Mr Spicers care.

open image in gallery Deaths among homeless people in the UK have risen by 9 per cent in a year and included 11 children in 2024, according to a group monitoring the issue. ( PA )

In another case, an unnamed man was found dead inside a tent pitched outside an Asda supermarket in Leicester in early December, with police deeming the death not suspicious.

In August last year, a 46-year-old man, Alexander Colman, was also discovered dead inside the tent that he had made his home. He was found by a walker in the Fletchers Hill Inclosure, Rhinefield.

In another horrifying case, a homeless man reportedly starved to death in July 2024 after he trapped his arm trying to enter a house through a skylight.

Khaled Aribi, an Algerian asylum seeker from Camden, London, was discovered by an estate agent when she arrived to view the property, according to local newspaper Ham&High. The paper reported that he had been on a waiting list for counselling at the time of his death and was considered a very vulnerable adult. His death was ruled an accident by a coroner.

In the past three years, the proportion of those dying in temporary accommodation, including hotels, or supported accommodation has increased. The rise, which includes deaths in B&Bs and hostels, has outstripped the increase in the number of households in this type of accommodation, researchers found.

There were 11 children included in the data for last year, of which four were babies who had not yet reached their first birthday. Four others were aged between one and nine years old, and two children were aged between 15 and 17, while another's age was unknown.

Researchers said it is likely the figures are lower than the true scale of the issue, but the 2024 figure was up from four in 2023. The Dying Homeless Project started recording deaths in 2017 in the absence of data from the Office for National Statistics.

The most recent government figures, published in July, showed the number of households in temporary accommodation in England had climbed to a new record high of 131,140 at the end of March 2025.

The number of children in temporary accommodation stood at 169,050 in March, up year-on-year from 151,540. It the highest figure since records began in 1998.

In January, a report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Households in Temporary Accommodation said 74 children, mostly babies, had died in recent years in England, with temporary accommodation recorded as a possible contributory factor.

Rick Henderson, chief executive of Homeless Link, called the spike in the number of people dying while homeless tragic and unacceptable, saying it was a stark signal of the homelessness crisis we are facing.

He added: Not only are more people losing their home, but a growing number of these people are already facing unmet health and social care needs, which only worsen once homeless.

Project director Matthew Turtle called for urgent action from the government and said the data shows how homeless people continue to be deeply failed.

Francesca Albanese, from charity Crisis, said more social housing was needed to ensure that people have access to affordable, settled homes, and urged the government to unfreeze housing benefit to stop people being pushed into poverty. She added: We are talking here about real people, including children  not just numbers. These are lives cut short and potential unrealised. In many cases, these deaths will have been avoidable.

Minister for homelessness Alison McGovern called the figures heartbreaking, adding: We simply cannot accept this as normal. Every person deserves a safe place to call home, which is why we are accelerating efforts to tackle the root causes of homelessness, expanding access to safe accommodation whilst also strengthening support services.
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Kemi Badenoch has promised to abolish stamp duty if the Conservatives win the next election.

In her speech at the Manchester Convention Centre, Ms Badenoch vowed the move will help millions achieve the dream of home ownership if the Tories come back into power.

Here is everything you need to know about stamp duty and what the parties are saying about it.

What is stamp duty?

Stamp duty land tax is charged by HMRC, which you have to pay when buying a property or piece of land over a certain price.

You have to pay stamp duty on residential properties in England and Northern Ireland costing more than 125,000, unless you are a first-time buyer. Separate property taxes apply in Scotland and Wales.

If youre a first-time buyer in England or Northern Ireland, you will pay no stamp duty on property purchases up to 300,000. This is called first-time buyers relief.

open image in gallery You have to pay stamp duty on residential properties in England and Northern Ireland above a certain price threshold ( PA )

How much does it cost?

The amount of stamp duty you pay is calculated based on the price of your property. It is worked out as a percentage, which increases as the price of the property goes up.

How much the property or land cost you Stamp duty rate to be paid Up to 125,000 0% 125,000 - 250,000 2% 250,000 - 925,000 5% 925,000 - 1.5m 10% 1.5m + 12%

Why do Tories want to abolish it?

Ms Badenoch called stamp duty a bad tax. She said: We must free up our housing market, because a society where no one can afford to buy or move is a society where social mobility is dead.

The party said scrapping stamp duty would be paid for out of a 47bn pot of savings shadow ministers claim to have found, made up of welfare cuts, downsizing the civil service and further slashing the countrys foreign aid budget.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies has estimated that abolishing stamp duty on primary residences will cost around 4.5bn, but the Conservatives offered a cautious estimate that it would cost 9bn by the end of the decade.

open image in gallery Kemi Badenoch promises to abolish stamp duty if the Conservatives win the next election ( PA )

What does the government say?

Reports have said that Rachel Reeves may be considering an overhaul of property tax, including replacing stamp duty with a national proportional levy on the sale of homes worth more than 500,000.

This has been criticised as a tax on ordinary Londoners.

The proposals, informed by a think tank report, are under consideration, with no final decisions made by the Treasury.

But this week Labour unveiled proposals promising to speed up the process of house buying by around four weeks, which currently takes more than five months on average.

Under the plans, sellers and estate agents will be required to provide buyers with vital information about a property upfront, including the condition of the home, leasehold costs, and chains of people waiting to move.

The government said this will help end nasty surprises which result in last-minute collapses and give greater confidence to first-time buyers.

Binding contracts could also be introduced to stop people walking away from agreements after months of negotiations.

What do other political parties say?

In their manifesto, Reform said they plan to scrap stamp duty to 0 for properties below 750,000, and cut it to 2 per cent from 750,000-1.5m, and 4 per cent over 1.5m.

Meanwhile, Scottish Tory housing spokesperson Meghan Gallacher urged the Scottish government to adopt Ms Badenochs call.

She said: This is a policy for the aspirational and the SNP should enact it in Scotland as soon as possible.
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Sir Keir Starmer will resist growing demands from British business leaders to provide more UK visas for highly skilled workers from India.

While flying to Mumbai for a two-day trade visit with more than 100 business chiefs, the prime minister said opening up visas for Indian workers to come to the UK isn't part of the plan, he added.

India reportedly pushed for far more visa access to the UK when the two countries were finalising their trade deal earlier this year.

But while heading on his first major trade mission to India, which comes after a UK-India trade deal was struck earlier this year, the prime minister told journalists: The issue is not about visas. It's about  engagement and investment and jobs and prosperity coming into the United Kingdom.

Sir Keir also reiterated that, when it comes to visas, ministers were considering whether to punish countries who refuse to take back people deported from the UK.

The government is looking at whether there should be a link between visas and returns agreements, he said, though he added this would not apply to India, with which the UK has a successful returns agreement.

The PM has pledged to cut net migration to the UK and has come under intense pressure to cut both legal and illegal immigration from Nigel Farages Reform UK party and Kemi Badenochs Conservatives.

But he is also under pressure to find some economic good news on his whirlwind trade visit, following warnings of a 50bn black hole in the governments finances and widespread forecasts Rachel Reeves will have to raise taxes in Novembers Budget.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer with the huge trade delegation at Heathrow ( Reuters )

Sir Keir hailed the UK-India trade agreement brokered this summer as a launchpad for growth on his first major trade visit since becoming prime minister.

Coming with him to India are more than 100 top business leaders from the UK, including the Bend it Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha.

Also included are bosses from British Airways, which confirmed it will introduce a third daily flight between Delhi and Heathrow next year, and Manchester airport, which will launch a new direct route to Delhi operated by IndiGo.

But the PM is also under pressure to say "enough is enough" and call for the end of the eight-year detention of British citizen Jagtar Singh Johal, a Sikh activist, when he meets his counterpart Narendra Modi.

His meeting with PM Modi could also be difficult for other reasons. He joked he had not sent birthday congratulations to Putin, nor am I going to do so, after Mr Modi wished the Russian leader happy birthday just hours before the PM left London.

The trade deal with the south Asian nation, signed this summer after three long years of negotiations, is said to be worth 4.8bn a year to Britain.

Sir Keir said the deal was the best secured by any country but added the story doesnt stop there as he hailed the agreement as a launchpad for growth.

With India set to be the third biggest economy in the world by 2028, and trade with them about to become quicker and cheaper, the opportunities waiting to be seized are unparalleled, he said.

Thats why Ill be flying the flag for British business alongside 125 of our biggest household names in Mumbai this week, because growth in India for them means more choice, opportunity and jobs at home for the British people.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer with Narendra Modi when the Indian PM visited the UK earlier this year ( PA )

Business secretary Peter Kyle, who is also on the trip, said the deal places British businesses at the front of the queue to access a huge and ever-growing market.

Now we are hitting the ground running and using every means necessary to ready businesses to take full advantage of the massive wins weve secured once the deal comes into force so we can deliver growth, jobs, and prosperity at home.

The UK governmentsaid the agreement also focuses on whisky, gin, cars and cosmetics and will boost the economy and cut prices for consumers.

Indian temporary workers and their employers in the UK will also get a three-year exemption from national insurance contributions.

The trade deal is expected to raise bilateral trade by 25.5bn per year, with UK exports to India projected to grow by nearly 60 per cent.

India is currently the fourth largest economy globally and is projected to become the third largest by 2028.

Britain is also hoping to capitalise on a boom in demand for higher education in India, where an estimated 70 million places will be needed by 2035, creating an opportunity for UK universities.
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Keir Starmer has called for a police crackdown on some of the chants heard at pro-Palestine protests.

His comment came just hours after students defied his calls and took part in pro-Gaza marches on university campuses across the UK on the second anniversary of Hamass October 7 attacks on Israel.

Among the chants heard at the protests was: "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, which some consider to be antisemitic as they believe it calls for the eradication of Israel.

Proponents of the chant claim they are calling for an end to conflict in Gaza and the West Bank.

The anniversary came less than a week after knife-wielding terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, killed two men at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester.

The prime minister had described the protests as "un-British" and claimed they showed a lack of respect, and warned that pro-Palestine protests have been used by some as a "despicable excuse to attack British Jews".

But free speech campaigners have hit back, saying any further crackdown would impinge on their rights.

Sir Keir Starmer called pro-Palestine protests un-British ( Getty Images )

The prime minister told journalists travelling with him to India that when it comes to making the Jewish community feel safe, just days after the terror attack on a synagogue in Manchester during which two people were killed, I do think there are actions that we need to take and that is what we will do.

He pointed to an announcement by the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood over the weekend that police would in future be able to assess the cumulative impact of such protests.

But, he said: I think we need to review more broadly public order powers  and there will be a series of actions that we will agree in due course across Whitehall.

I've asked the home secretary to look more broadly at what other powers are available, how they're being used, and whether they should be changed in any way.

He added: I think we need to go further than that in relation to some of the chants that are going on at some of these protests.

Pressed on what he meant by that, he said: Obviously operational matters are very much a matter for the police. So there's only so much the government can do.

But I do think we need to have a conversation with various police forces about the way in which these are being policed and what measures can be taken.

That has to be part of the review that we carry out into what powers do we have and how they're being exercised? And then the question of do any of these powers therefore need to be changed or enhanced? And that's the exercise we're going through. But we are talking at length to leaders of the Jewish community about this, as you would expect.

Sam Grant, director of external relations at rights group Liberty, said recent moves to crack down on protests have severely weakened peoples rights, caused mass confusion, and led to some spending many years in prison for non-violent demonstrations.

He added: If the government is serious about reviewing protest laws, it must actually engage with groups and people most impacted by the policing of protests and build policy based on their experiences.

Tom Southerden, Amnesty International UKs legal programme director, said we will be scrutinising any new proposals to restrict protest speech very closely, adding: Genuine incitement to violence or hatred can and should be restricted under international human rights law, but the UK already has an extensive legal framework that already addresses this.

Any further restrictions must be clearly defined, evidence-based and strictly necessary, not politically motivated or open to broad interpretation.

Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said: The British government is spending more time considering how to restrict protests against genocide than stopping its own complicity. We will resist their attempts to restrict our fundamental democratic rights - on Saturday, we march in London once again.

A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries, which has organised silent protests in support of proscribed group Palestine Action, said that Sir Keirs pledge shows what weve warned about all along: that proscribing Palestine Action would pave the way for further authoritarian crackdowns on our rights to free speech in this country.

On Sunday, Ms Mahmood said repeated large-scale protests had caused "considerable fear" for the Jewish community.

The previous day, officers arrested hundreds of people at a Palestine Action protest in London, just days after the Manchester synagogue attack.

Met Police said 492 people were arrested at the protest in support of the proscribed group, which was controversially classed by the UK government as a terrorist organisation earlier this year.

Most of the arrests were made at Trafalgar Square, where around 1,000 protesters sat silently, some holding signs backing Palestine Action, despite calls from Sir Keir and police chiefs to stay away following the terror attack in Manchester.

At the time, Paula Dodds, chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said officers were physically exhausted but continue to be called on to facilitate these relentless protests. And we are coming under attack for doing so. How can this be right? she asked.

But Amnesty International said it should not be the job of the police to arrest people peacefully sitting down, and that the arrests amounted to a breach of the UKs human rights obligations.
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Kemi Badenoch is set to announce a golden rule for the economy in her conference speech on Wednesday as she desperately tries to restore the Conservative Partys credibility on the nations finances.

With millions of Britons still reeling from the impact of Liz Truss disastrous mini-Budget, the Tory leader will attempt to restore voters trust in the partys handling of the economy by pledging that half of all money saved from cuts must be put towards shrinking the deficit.

The other half would go on spending or cutting taxes to boost the economy, under the move that she will pledge to introduce if the Tories are re-elected to government.

The announcement in her keynote speech for the Tory conference in Manchester on Wednesday comes as shadow cabinet members admit that the party is struggling to even get a hearing with the public.

With the party consistently polling in the mid teens with around half the support of Nigel Farages Reform UK, the conference has been noticeable for how few have attended and the low level of interest in policy announcements.

open image in gallery Mrs Badenoch reflected on her partys difficult journey (Peter Byrne/PA) ( PA Wire )

Ms Badenoch has made it clear she wants to put economic credibility back at the heart of the Conservative offering to voters, and will say the partys plans for immigration, employment and policing require a strong economy.

But it follows her taking the party to the hard right with plans to deport 150,000 foreigners a year and leave the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) as she tried to match Reform.

However, the new policies come over huge uncertainty about whether she will remain leader, with shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick the leading attraction at the conference.

Mr Jenrick has been the most popular figure in the fringes despite being caught up in a racism row after a recording of comments he made in Birmingham about non-whites emerged.

Ms Badenoch, who was noticeably annoyed about having to defend Mr Jenrick, will be hoping the final day of a very quiet conference will allow her to get traction on her economic argument.

In her speech, Kemi Badenoch MP is expected to say: The reason the Conservative Party is the only party in Britain who can be trusted to meet the tests of our generation is that none of this works without a strong economy.

open image in gallery Liz Truss ( Sky News )

She hopes that the recent woes of chancellor Rachel Reeves and the pressure she is facing on failing to get economic growth with demands for even more taxes in the next Budget, will allow the Tories to capitalise on general anger about the nations finances.

Ms Badenoch will say: It starts with fiscal responsibility. We have to get the deficit down. And we must also show how every tax cut or spending increase is paid for.

Over the next decade, Rachel Reeves is going to double the deficit with her borrowing and tax doom loop. Its not sustainable and its not fair. It is stealing from our children and grandchildren.

She will pledge: Conservatives will put a stop to it. Were not going to do what Labour did - promise not to cut public spending, only to take away pensioners winter fuel payment.

Already the party claims it has identified 47bn of savings including 23bn on welfare. Under our Golden Rule  half of those savings will go towards reducing Labours deficit. And with the rest, we are going to get our economy growing. Thats the Conservative way. Responsibility today. Opportunity tomorrow.

But a Labour Party spokesperson said: Kemi Badenoch has some brass neck. Its astounding that her latest speech still contains no apology for the Conservatives crashing the economy  which left families saddled with sky-high mortgages and rising prices in the supermarket.
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For much of this Tory conference in Manchester, the worlds oldest and once most successful democratic party looked like it was teetering on the edge of oblivion.

Key shadow ministers were delivering their speeches to empty seats, people slept in the main hall, corporates had deserted in terms of stalls, and there were vast open spaces in a sparsely attended Manchester Central conference centre; the buzz of previous years replaced by an echoing despondency.

The only queues were for the fringe events for the man who many believe will replace Tory leader Kemi Badenoch in the coming months  shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick.

He seemed to be the man of the moment, the preferred speaker for anyone who wanted to hold an event, a genuine crowd puller.

open image in gallery Kemi Badenoch with her husband, Hamish Badenoch, after making her keynote speech (Danny Lawson/PA) ( PA Wire )

And while his backers had ensured that he did not try to do an Andy Burnham and make the conference about a leadership challenge, the discussion about Ms Badenochs future dominated the chat among members and MPs alike for the full four days.

While those who fled Manchester before Ms Badenochs speech will have left thinking her days as leader are numbered, the ones who stayed for her keynote speech on Wednesday morning  which saw a flurry of attention-grabbing, vote-winning pledges  will have seen a rejuvenated Ms Badenoch breathing new life into this tired party.

To keep Kemi  or not to keep Kemi?

The main debate through the conference appeared to not be centred on the beleaguered leaders qualities. Even those who did not want a change of leader seemed resigned to the fact she appeared to be mediocre at best.

Indeed, The Independent was at several private gatherings where the debate was between whether voters would forgive the party to change leader again in such a short space of time, or whether the Conservatives simply need someone who is up to the job  no matter how it may look.

It was not exactly the greatest vote of confidence in a woman elected to lead the party less than a year ago  but such is the short level of patience in modern politics.

open image in gallery Robert Jenrick watches the speech ( AFP via Getty Images )

One supportive MP who did not want a change of leader said: Well she was always going to be a work in progress, we need to give her time.

But another said: We do not have time.

A party on life support

The issue was whether the party was facing an extinguish event, or was already dead.

The More in Common poll putting Reform on 33 per cent, Labour 20 per cent and the Tories on 19 per cent was less than encouraging to say the least, and that was one of the more generous results for the Conservatives.

All the time the question of Nigel Farage hung over discussions  could she possibly take on the most formidable and charismatic man in British politics?

open image in gallery Nigel Farage ( Nigel Farage )

One senior Tory suggested that Ms Badenoch was just lazy and not willing to put the work in needed.

The arguments, while usually cordial, often got heated and in the case of a couple of MPs almost broke out into full violence.

The speech of her life

In essence, Ms Badenoch needed to knock it out of the park in her keynote speech.

She had to show that she had both the vision and the policies to unite a broken party, confirm she is the right leader and to give the Conservatives hope of a remarkable recovery.

As she arrived on to the stage in a much smaller than usual arena, the prolonged standing ovation for her arrival was probably more in hope than expectation.

And yet when the chips were down, when all seemed grim and lost, Ms Badenoch delivered.

Having said last year that there would not be policy announcements for two years, she decided to just go for it in a speech which also showcased her at her most confident and relaxed.

She had said she wanted to do the hard thinking about policies before announcing them, and she seemed to have done exactly that.

We already knew about her plan to ditch the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR), but along came the pledges to reverse the family farm tax, VAT on private school fees and a tax raid on family businesses  policies the Tories have been vocal critics of since they were announced by the government.

All of these were not entirely surprising, as was the pledge to reverse the employment rights legislation.

But then came a big one. She said she would ban doctors from striking, just as the British Medical Association prepares for more industrial action for an eye watering 29 per cent pay rise. You could feel the sudden spark in the room.

Then there was the decision to end business rates for high street shops. In the 100th anniversary year of Margaret Thatchers birth with the former prime minister spending her formative years in her fathers corner shop, this seemed an appropriate tribute.

More importantly it was something which the last Tory government should have done years before, as online alternatives like Amazon left the high street in ruins.

Perhaps nothing would symbolise the fact that the Tories were under new leadership and are a changed party.

However, Ms Badenoch was not finished. With a flourish at the end she announced something which all Tories could behind  the abolition of stamp duty.

Homeownership and its encouragement is perhaps the most Conservative of all policies. It is exactly what Mrs Thatcher did. This was Ms Badenochs selling off council housing to tenants moment.

The cheers in the room were genuine. At last they had a policy (it should be said proposed by former leadership rival now shadow housing secretary Sir James Cleverly last year) to unite the party around and to take to the country.

Most importantly it was not simply just copying Reform and, unlike Farages policies, it appeared on the surface to be carefully worked out, even if it will cost an estimated 12bn a year.

Ms Badenochs I believe conclusion of low taxes, strong borders, women being defined biologically (she cant escape her culture war obsession), and free speech were all things the more rightwing 2025 Conservative Party can apparently get behind.

open image in gallery Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Leon Neal/PA) ( PA Wire )

Better than Starmer

This was different to Keir Starmers speech last week, where he used a prolonged attack on Reform to get through a difficult conference and unite his party.

Instead, Ms Badenoch barely mentioned Reform returning to the traditional choice of Tories versus Labour.

But what she offered was a confident vision and policy platform that will at least give her party a chance and will answer many (although not all) of the questions from her critics.

In fact, it was a sign of Ms Badenochs confidence that she felt secure enough to name check her would-be leadership rival at least three times.

Ironically, her rival Mr Jenrick had been talking about the need for change all week without really saying what it is. Ms Badenoch fleshed out that change and it may now be enough to allow her to lead her party into the next election. Whether she has a fighting chance then only time will tell.
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NHS drug prices look set to rise as Sir Keir Starmer is close to bowing to Donald Trumps demands to pay pharmaceutical companies more money.

It comes as officials briefed the Trump administration on new proposals to adjust how the NHS prices medicines earlier this week, including raising the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) threshold by 25 per cent.

The revelation, first reported by Politico, is the governments attempt to avoid a wave of new tariffs threatened by President Trump over what he believes to be anti-competitive practices by the UK.

Trump and Starmer together at the signing of a tech prosperity deal in September ( PA )

Under the current rules, the NICE threshold measures whether a treatment offers good value for money. This means that if a drug costs the NHS between 20,000 and 30,000 for every extra year of good-quality life it delivers to a patient, it is considered good value.

But, under new proposals being put to the White House, this threshold would be raised, meaning that the UK will pay more for drugs overall.

While the Treasury has resisted any changes because they will not bring in any extra benefits, a source told Politico, This is the price you have to pay post-Trump for global pharma to continue to play in the UK.

It comes as the prime minister is trying to make positive headlines on trade during a trip to India after securing a trade deal with the country.

But the price hike is a sour note in what had been a positive relationship with Trumps White House, where Sir Keir had managed to secure the first trade deal to unpick the presidents sweeping tariff regime launched earlier this year.

There is also a continuing headache over hopes for the UK to slash steel tariffs from 25 per cent to zero, with talks apparently stalling months after Downing Street had hoped it had secured an agreement.

Mr Trump has threatened to impose tariffs as high as 100 per cent on pharmaceutical imports. This is despite the UK securing preferential treatment on tariffs, which were conditional on improved pricing for American pharma companies operating in Britain.

A UK government spokesperson said: The pharmaceutical sector and the innovative medicines it produces are critical to our NHS, our economy and the Plan for Change. Through our Life Sciences Sector Plan, we've committed to working with industry to accelerate growth in spending on innovative medicines compared to the previous decade.

The spokesperson added: Weve secured a landmark economic partnership with the US that includes working together on pharmaceutical exports from the UK, whilst improving conditions for pharmaceutical companies here.

Were now in advanced discussions with the US administration to secure the best outcome for the UK, reflecting our strong relationship and the opportunities from close partnership with our pharmaceutical industry.
A major prosecution against two British men accused of spying for China has collapsed in a heap of ignominy and recrimination. The head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has, very unusually, blamed the government for this humiliation; the prime minister (himself a former head of the CPS) has denied any such thing.

It has raised some awkward questions about Britains increasingly complicated relationship with the Peoples Republic

What exactly were they accused of?

Details are unclear, and now we may never know the full picture, but they were charged under the 1911 Official Secrets Act. Christopher Cash, 30, a parliamentary researcher from Whitechapel, east London, and Christopher Berry, 33, a teacher from Witney, Oxfordshire, were accused of gathering and providing information prejudicial to the safety and interests of the state, in breach of the Official Secrets Act, between January 2022 and February 2023.

They were arrested in March 2023 and charged in April 2024 with providing prejudicial information to a foreign state.

Why did the trial collapse?

The wording of the 1911 act was sufficient to charge them, but by the time of their trial this year, case law had raised the bar: some Bulgarian nationals were caught spying for Russia, and a new test of the beneficiary of any stolen intelligence being a threat to national security effectively became a more exacting criteria than prejudicial to the interests of the UK.

But China is a threat to national security, isnt it?

Most experts would broadly agree, and many politicians too, but thats beside the legal point. Legally, authorities must officially state that China was a threat to national security when the offences supposedly took place; that would require a statement to that effect at the time of the alleged espionage, or a retrospective statement to that effect made now.

What seems to have happened is that ministers and officials in the present government say they cannot make such an assertion because they werent in power at the time Rishi Sunaks government only ever called China a challenge to the world order and an epoch-defining and systemic challenge to Britain; even now, the government only regards China as a geo-strategic challenge and not an enemy.

Did the government deliberately sabotage the trial?

Thats the claim made by Kemi Badenoch. She is right to the extent that national security adviser Jonathan Powell isnt prepared to tell the CPS that China is a threat to national security. His explanation, and that of the PM, is that they dont think it is at the moment, and legally and constitutionally, they cant say if it was a threat in 2023. Helping the CPS would also cause a diplomatic incident with Beijing.

Why isnt China a threat or an enemy?

Because we need trade and investment, especially post-Brexit. More generously, successive governments have struggled with balancing economic interests with the reality of Chinese intelligence-gathering and espionage, and have decided that engagement is preferable to hostility.

If it were left to the security services, China would be classified more harshly. Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, says Beijing could bring Britain to a standstill because of vital national infrastructure such as hospitals, energy grids, and transport networks, coming under the control of the Chinese Communist Party. Other areas of tension include: human rights, especially in Hong Kong and for the Uyghur Muslims; territorial expansion in east Asia; support for Russia in the Ukraine war; unfair trading practices; cyber attacks; net zero commitments; the sanctioning of British parliamentarians; and secrecy about the giant new embassy in London.

Could it happen again?

Probably not the collapse of a trial, as the updated law now merely says that gathering intelligence for a foreign power is an offence  a low threshold. However, alleged spying and the uneasy Sino-British relationship will certainly continue.
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Rachel Reeves has been handed a rare boost ahead of next months Budget after the Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced that government borrowing had been overstated by a cumulative 3bn due to mistakes in recent public finances data.

Since January, public borrowing estimates have been out by around 200m-500m a month, the ONS said, handing the chancellor some extra breathing space in her upcoming Budget.

The statistics body blamed the error, which emerged in its tax and spending figures published on 19 September, on a mistake in the VAT receipts data supplied by HMRC.

As a result, public borrowing for the year ending March 2025 was around 1bn lower than previously estimated. For this year so far, from April to August, it is 2bn lower.

Reeves still has to locate 20bn-40bn in savings to make up for her shortfall ( PA )

James Benford, director general of economic, social and environmental statistics at the ONS, said: I would like to thank HMRC for bringing the data error to our attention; this timely and transparent communication was vital for identifying the issue and correcting the record quickly.

We have published this correction at the earliest possible opportunity. The revised data will be fully incorporated into the next public sector finance release, due on 21 October 2025, along with further regular data updates, including the recent publication on local government by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

The impact of the correction is to reduce government borrowing by around 1bn in FYE March 2025 and impacts monthly borrowing in the current financial year by between 200m and 500m per month.

The latest revisions hand a rare boost to the beleaguered chancellor, who is gearing up for a difficult Budget next month where she will need to find savings of between 20bn-40bn.

Speaking at the Labour conference in Liverpool last week, she warned of harsh global headwinds battering Britains economy, as she failed to dispel fears over major tax hikes.

It comes amid rampant speculation over tax rises at the next Budget after the chancellor earlier on Monday admitted that the world has changed since she promised business chiefs she would not repeat the tax raid of her first Budget.

Meanwhile, there is a growing expectation that she will choose to lift the controversial two-child benefits limit, as officials look at a number of options  including a tapered system.

The chancellor is under intense pressure to scrap the cruel policy, brought in by Tory chancellor George Osborne, which campaigners say would be the biggest single measure that could take children out of poverty.

But Ms Reeves told delegates at the partys conference that she would keep control of the public finances and would not take risks with the trust placed in us by the British people.

She also acknowledged that her choices had been made harder by international events and the long-term damage done to the economy.

A government spokesperson said: This revision means the ONS has reduced its borrowing figures down for 2025/26 by 2 billion.

The revision does not affect any interactions with taxpayers and HMRC is conducting a robust review to prevent it happening again."
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Kemi Badenoch has vowed to abolish stamp duty if the Conservatives win the next election, as she unveiled a raft of tax cuts in a bid to claw back voters and boost the partys ratings.

Outlining the major policy announcement to a packed audience at her Tory conference speech in Manchester on Wednesday, she said the move to scrap the bad tax would help achieve the dream of home ownership for millions.

The plans, which the Tories say would cost around 9bn, have been praised by economists, but questions remain over how the party would pay for them.

After a lacklustre party conference, Ms Badenoch also used her speech to take aim at Labour, pledging to overturn a series of policies brought in or bolstered by Sir Keir Starmers government, including:

Having focused on securing the UKs borders by withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights in her opening address, Ms Badenoch then set out her vision of a country where the state does less but does it better and profit is not a dirty word.

She pledged to impose a golden rule on her budget plans, spending only half of any savings made through spending cuts, with the rest going to reduce the deficit.

Committing to freeing up the housing market by abolishing stamp duty on peoples primary homes, Ms Badenoch said: Stamp duty is a bad tax ... a society where no one can afford to buy or move is a society where social mobility is dead.

open image in gallery A bad tax: Kemi Badenoch has promised to abolish stamp duty for primary residences ( PA )

Stamp duty brought in an estimated 13.9bn in the last financial year, but a large proportion of this is from additional homes and other buildings.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has estimated that abolishing stamp duty on primary homes would cost around 4.5bn and backed the plans.

Paul Johnson, the organisations former director, told The Independent scrapping the tax would be his first port of call  but called for it to be accompanied by an increase in council tax on higher value properties to claw back some of the money spent.

It would be great to scrap stamp duty, he said. If youre going to do it, there is a very strong case for increasing council tax on higher value properties. Stamp duty is a drag on the housing market.

However, he warned it would need to be accompanied by a cut for second homes to prevent the policy from increasing the distortions and disincentives for rentals.

If you got rid of it for first properties and left it there for others, it would even further increase the distortions and disincentives for rentals, so youd need to reduce it by the same amount at least, he said.

But former government economist Jonathan Portes accused the Tory leader of having no remotely credible plan to pay for her planned tax cuts  dubbing her package of spending cuts laughable.

open image in gallery Stamp duty brought in an estimated 13.9bn in the last financial year ( PA Wire )

While he agreed that stamp duty is a very bad tax, he warned: She claimed the Tories were the only party offering fiscal responsibility and yet is offering large tax cuts, including this, with no remotely credible plan to fill the gap, since her spending cuts package is laughable.

Tom Bill, head of UK residential research at estate agents Knight Frank, said the move would be warmly welcomed by buyers and sellers and would inevitably have positive repercussions for the wider economy and increase social mobility.

The Home Owners Alliance backed the policy as a real vote winner, saying stamp duty has denied the opportunity of homeownership to too many for too long.

Kemi Badenoch is right: its a tax that traps households, hampers mobility and suppresses market activity, it said.

However, Theo Bertram of the Social Market Foundation warned that the plans would disproportionately benefit homeowners and those in the southeast and London. He said the test would be whether the Tories can really make savings of at least 12bn annually to fund the cut.

Claiming that the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is planning a significant increase in stamp duty in her autumn Budget, the Conservatives said they had cautiously estimated that scrapping the tax would cost 9bn.

They said it would be paid for from a 47bn pot of savings shadow ministers claim to have found, made up of welfare cuts, downsizing the civil service and further slashing the countrys foreign aid budget.

open image in gallery Badenoch with her husband Hamish at the Tory conference in Manchester ( PA Wire )

It comes amid reports that the Treasury is considering a new national property tax on the sale of homes worth more than 500,000 as part of a major overhaul of stamp duty and council tax.

The Tory leaders address brought to a close a conference that had been overshadowed by questions about her leadership and the threat from Reform UK.

Only yesterday, Nigel Farages party announced that 20 councillors had defected from the Tories, while a poll published by More in Common on Wednesday showed the Conservatives continue to languish in third place.

Following the speech, Labour Party chair Anna Turley said Ms Badenoch had been in complete denial on the partys record, adding: The public saw the Tories disastrous blueprint for Britain across their 14 years of failure in government  and the Conservatives still wont apologise for the mess they left.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey urged One Nation Conservatives to join his party, accusing Ms Badenoch of deciding to abandon the traditional British values of tolerance, decency and the rule of law over plans to leave the European Convention on Human Rights.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski said Ms Badenoch had been speaking to the room, not listening to the nation.
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Kemi Badenoch has solidified her position as Tory leader with a policy-laden Tory conference speech aimed at silencing her critics.

Addressing a packed hall at the Manchester Convention Centre, Ms Badenoch said the Labour government is making one hell of a mess and set out plans for how the Conservatives would fix it.

The Independent looks at what policies Ms Badenoch promised party members in her headline address.

Stamp duty

The biggest headline-grabber in Ms Badenochs speech was her vow to axe stamp duty if the Conservatives win the next general election.

open image in gallery Kemi Badenoch pledged to abolish stamp duty ( PA )

Figures from the Institute for Fiscal Studies show it would cost around 4.5bn to axe the tax as it stands, but the Conservatives offered a cautious estimate that it would cost 9bn by the end of the decade.

The party said this would be paid for out of a 47bn pot of savings shadow ministers claim to have found, made up of welfare cuts, downsizing the civil service and further slashing the countrys foreign aid budget.

In her speech, Ms Badenoch said: The next Conservative government will abolish stamp duty on your home. It will be gone.

That is how we will help achieve the dream of home ownership for millions.

Scrapping Labour tax hikes

Ms Badenoch also vowed that the Conservatives will undo a series of Labour tax hikes they have campaigned against.

Most notable was the promise to undo the governments changes to inheritance tax on family farms, dubbed the tractor tax.

open image in gallery Kemi Badenoch took aim at Rachel Reeves, vowing to reverse her tax hikes ( PA )

Also for the chop under a Tory government is Labours levy of VAT on private school fees, which Ms Badenoch said was a vindictive tax on education.

These too would be funded from its 47bn savings pot.

But noticeably absent on the list of tax hikes the Tories would undo was Rachel Reevess employer national insurance hike, which would cost tens of billions of pounds, despite the Conservatives having linked it to job losses and sluggish economic growth.

Employment rights

Among the more risky promises in Ms Badenochs speech was a promise to undo Angela Rayners workers rights reforms.

open image in gallery Badenoch also promised to undo Angela Rayners workers rights reforms ( PA )

The policy package will give employees more security and better protections in the workplace, but the Conservatives argue it will hammer employers and stunt economic growth.

We will reverse the terrible measures in Angela Rayners unemployment bill, written by the unions, for the unions... that will wrap firms in red tape, cost businesses 5bn and make Angela Rayner one of the last people in Britain to ever be legally sacked, Ms Badenoch said.

The workers rights package will have had years to bed in by the next general election, making vowing to scrap it now a risky move.

Banning doctors strikes

Another eye-catching policy was the Tory leaders plan to ban doctors from going on strike.

Ms Badenoch linked industrial action in the NHS to higher waiting lists, promising to crack down on unions if the Conservatives are elected. The unions were not happy.

British Medical Association council deputy chair Dr Emma Runswick said: Doctors should have a right to strike, just like everyone else. Banning strikes is anti-democratic and at odds with any concept of a free British society. Gagging committed professionals when they sound the alarm about NHS crises will make the problems worse.

Patients are having operations or appointments postponed every single day in the NHS due to understaffing and lack of beds; undervaluing staff contributes to that. Banning doctors from expressing their concerns with legitimate industrial action only devalues them further.

Golden economic rule

The speech was underpinned by what Ms Badenoch dubbed her golden economic rule. She promised the new doctrine for Tory tax and spending in a bid to distance the party from the legacy of Liz Truss, who sparked financial chaos in her 49 days as prime minister.

open image in gallery Distancing herself from the Liz Truss legacy, Badenoch promised to follow a golden economic rule ( ITV )

Outlining the 47bn of savings already identified by the opposition, she said the Conservatives will spend half of all the money they claw back on tax cuts and the other half on paying down the deficit.

Thats the Conservative way  responsibility today, opportunity tomorrow, she added.
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Vegan sausage rolls will have to be renamed in Northern Ireland as the European Union could be set to vote to ban plant-based food sold under meaty terms.

Meat-free products in Northern Ireland will have to be sold under new terms, such as tubes or discs, if Wednesdays vote in the European Parliament passes. It is backed by a majority of conservative EU lawmakers, as well as some liberal members, to appease farmers.

The possible EU ban will apply because of the Windsor Framework, which ensures that Northern Ireland must follow some of the blocs rules that Britain does not, including on food labelling.

The treaty created the Irish Sea border, which kept the land border with the Republic of Ireland invisible after Brexit while introducing checks on British goods.

Unionist politicians in Northern Ireland have complained that the latest vote is evidence of the country being forced to adhere to rules it never backed.

Timothy Gaston, the member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for the Traditional Unionist Voice, told The Telegraph: Once again, Northern Ireland finds itself bound by rules it did not make, subject to decisions in which no Northern Ireland representative has a vote.

While the European Parliament debates what a sausage roll can be called, businesses here must brace for yet another layer of regulation that applies in Belfast but not in Birmingham.

The Northern Ireland Assembly can delay the application of EU law by using the Stormont brake, designed to block, at least temporarily, the application of a rule if it has a significant impact specific to everyday life in Northern Ireland in a way that is liable to persist.

On the two previous occasions that this brake has been tested, however, the UK government has denied its use, claiming it did not meet the threshold.

It is also unclear whether there is sufficient opposition to this new rule within the assembly.

The name of one vegan sausage roll will nevertheless remain unchanged in Northern Ireland despite the potential ruling: a loophole in the Brexit treaty means that Greggs product will escape the possible order.

The loophole allows for certain products made in Britain to be sold under their original name. The pastries are made in Britain before being shipped to two dozen bakeries in Northern Ireland.

They cross the Irish Sea border using the green lane, which means they are deemed not at risk of crossing into Ireland.
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An Alabama woman was found dead and dismembered by her dogs after authorities say her body had been lying there for weeks.

The remains of Rita Thomas were found at her home in Remlap, a small town about 25 miles north of Birmingham, after a welfare check was called for her around 4 p.m. Saturday, AL.com reported. Blount County sheriffs deputies were sent to the home after neighbors became worried because they hadnt seen Thomas, who was in her late 60s, in weeks, and her mailbox was full.

Investigators believe Thomas had a medical incident on a staircase just outside her home and likely died of natural causes, WBRC reported. No foul play is expected at this time.

Thomas had two dogs and one cat as pets, and the two dogs were outside the home with her at the time of her death. Authorities believe she died seven or eight weeks before her body was found.

Authorities say an Alabama woman whose remains were found eaten by her pets had likely died seven or eight weeks earlier. ( Getty Images )

After she died, Thomass remains were eaten by her pets and other wild animals in the yard. Some of her bones were found scattered around the property. Investigators do not believe her death was an animal attack.

Dogs and other domesticated animals return to their carnivorous instincts when suffering from starvation and extreme thirst.

While the yard was not fenced in, the dogs were on wireless perimeter collars that prevented them from searching for food in other areas, leaving their owners decaying body as their only food source.

Authorities believe wild animals also consumed Thomass body.

The dogs consuming human remains created a biohazard that most animal shelters would be unable to accommodate. The two dogs were euthanized due to the biohazard.

Thomass cat, who had been inside the home where there was food, was still malnourished and unhealthy. The cat was also euthanized, authorities said.

The Blount County Coroners Office and deputies are investigating.
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More than two dozen paintings by beloved television artist Boss Ross will be auctioned off to support the Public Broadcasting Service as PBS stations across the country struggle to stay afloat following federal funding cuts by President Trump.

Ross, a beloved television mainstay whose show, The Joy of Painting, aired in the 1980s and 1990s, dedicated his life to making art accessible to everyone, said Joan Kowalski, the president of Bob Ross Inc.

This auction ensures his legacy continues to support the very medium that brought his joy and creativity into American homes for decades, Kowalski added.

Three of Ross iconic paintings will be sold in Los Angeles on November 11, while auctions in London, New York, Boston and online will follow. All profits from the auctions will go to stations that use content from distributor American Public Television.

The donation would go to help programs, including Americas Test Kitchen, Julia Childs French Chef Classics, This Old House, and The Best of Joy of Painting, based on Ross show.

open image in gallery Thirty Bob Ross paintings are set to be auctioned off to support PBS following federal funding cuts

The auction also comes as President Donald Trump directed Congress to slash $1.1 billion budgeted for public broadcasting, leaving approximately 330 PBS and 246 National Public Radio stations scrambling to find other sources of funding.

As a result, some of these television and radio stations have been forced to lay off staff and make programming cuts.

Ross hosted The Joy of Painting on PBS from 1983 to 1994, providing paint lessons to viewers. With his soft-spoken voice and calming personality, Ross encouraged others to pick up a brush  often referring to erroneous paint strokes as happy accidents.

The beloved host, who used his television show to promote his line of art supplies and class recordings, ended up building a $15 million business, Bob Ross Inc., which has continued his legacy today following his death in 1995 at age 52.

Rosss show also gained a new life during the COVID-19 pandemic, as masses took comfort in his warm presence during a time of isolation and lockdowns.

The 30 paintings set to be auctioned off span Rosss entire career. They include landscapes of beautiful mountain vistas and lakes, painted with his signature flair. Most of the paintings were created on-air, in less than 30 minutes  the length of an episode.

open image in gallery PBS supporters dressed up as Ross went out to protest President Donald Trumps federal cuts to public radio and TV ( Getty Images )

Bonhams, the auction house in Los Angeles selling Rosss paintings next month, sold two early 1990s mountain and lake scenes made by Ross in August for $114,800 and $95,750.

Paintings featured in the upcoming auction have an estimated value of $850,000 to $1.4 million, according to Bonhams.

"I can tell you that Bob would have been quite shy to learn that his paintings are now selling at six figures," Kowalski, the president of Bob Ross Inc, told the New York Post after that auction.

He was never really that interested in his finished works, Bob was more fascinated with the process of painting and sharing that with other people.

Kowalski added: Truthfully, I can still hear him saying something like, You dont want my paintings, you want to create your own and hang them proudly on your wall.

With reporting by the Associated Press.
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A quick-thinking fire captain in California orchestrated an extraordinary roadside rescue, mobilising approximately 15 drivers to lift a crashed medical helicopter off a trapped paramedic.

Sacramento Fire Capt. Peter Vandersluis found himself directing the impromptu team on State Route 50, just minutes after the aircraft went down.

He issued commands  "lift" and "hold"  which the bystanders followed precisely, allowing the wreckage to be raised.

"Just out of instinct  the people were there willing to help, and they didnt hesitate and followed my exact commands," Captain Vandersluis told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

"And we were able to lift it up with ease." The paramedic, a nurse, and the pilot on board were all taken to hospital in critical condition following Monday evenings crash, which occurred east of downtown Sacramento.

The helicopter had reportedly experienced an "in-air emergency" shortly after departing a hospital where it had dropped off a patient.

Captain Vandersluis, supervising the first fire engine crew to arrive, recognised the urgency of the situation and the delay in waiting for additional rescue teams.

"Once I heard the woman groan, I made the decision to essentially yell out and get the bystanders to help lift the helicopter off of her," he explained, highlighting the immediate need for action.

open image in gallery A firefighter tried to pull the paramedic out only to find she was trapped by her seat belt ( AP )

A firefighter tried to pull the paramedic out only to find she was trapped by her seat belt. The firefighter scooted underneath, cut the seat belt and rescued her. The ad hoc team raised the aircraft in about 30 seconds. By the time the firefighter extracted the paramedic, less than a minute had passed.

The group gently lowered the aircraft to the ground after the paramedic was safely removed.

Valdersluis said he has never led a group of civilians in an emergency response situation before. But he noted his job is to lead the men and women he works with on a daily basis. His training and nearly 20 years of experience as a firefighter told him what to do.

His engine had been responding to a motorcycle accident just nearby in the westbound lanes of the same highway when the helicopter crashed. The engine drove against traffic to the scene and got there in minutes.

Some drivers were already out of their cars trying to assist when the firefighters arrived.

Aimee Braddock was among those who helped. She told KCRA-TV that she rushed to the crash site after seeing the helicopter plummet to the pavement.

open image in gallery No one on the highway was injured, something Capt. Justin Sylvia with the Sacramento Fire Department called 'mind blowing' given that the helicopter crashed in the center of the highway. ( AP )

As soon as I saw that everybody was moving to try to push the helicopter out to help the first responders get to the passenger, I just ran over and got in the line of people and was just pushing it as much as I could, Braddock recounted. Then we held it for several minutes, so the first responder could get the person out.

Firefighters said they didn't confirm the helicopter caught fire. White smoke billowed out of the aircraft when it crashed, but Vandersluis said it was released by an onboard fire extinguisher system.

No one on the highway was injured, something Capt. Justin Sylvia with the Sacramento Fire Department called mind blowing" given that the helicopter crashed in the center of the highway.

People reported that they basically saw the helicopter kind of going down quickly. So all the traffic slowed down, Sylvia said.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration said they were investigating the crash of the Airbus EC-130 T2.

The aircraft was a REACH Air Medical helicopter, according to the company, which said in a statement that they are keeping all those impacted in our thoughts and prayers.

open image in gallery Some drivers were already out of their cars trying to assist when the firefighters arrived ( AP )

We are in the process of determining the details of this situation, as well as the condition of the REACH crew involved, who were all taken to area hospitals, the company's statement said.

Sacramento City Councilwoman Lisa Kaplan was on a ride-along with law enforcement responding to the crash and said there were plumes of white smoke coming out of the downed helicopter.

Its really sombering and sobering. I am up flying with sheriff pilots that do this day in and day out. And it really makes you grateful for every day and grateful for our officers and our medical pilots," she said.
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There has been an explosion of people turning to artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity for legal advice in recent years, with litigants in some cases ditching human lawyers altogether in favor of AI.

It was like having God up there responding to my questions, Lynn White, who used both tools in an eviction case in Long Beach, California, told NBC News.

White, behind on payments for her mobile home, lacked the funds to hire a lawyer, and told the outlet that a court-appointed attorney lost in her initial case.

On appeal, White represented herself and turned to AI to scrutinize the judges decisions, research case law, and draft responses.

She was able to overturn the eviction notice and avoid over $70,000 in penalties and overdue rent.

open image in gallery Self-representing litigants say artificial intelligence programs have been a godsend that has allowed them to do legal research and fight their case for a fraction of the cost ( Getty Images )

A New Yorker told the Staten Island Advance in August that he was representing himself in a civil case against his former employer and found that using AI helped him plot the best course of action to checkmate the case.

The research, thinking and drafting I did with AI in five days would have otherwise taken months and months, and multiple attorneys, Richard Hoffmann, 42, of Annadale, told the outlet.

Though AI companies typically warn their customers not to rely entirely on these products for legal advice, AI possesses serious capabilities in this arena. OpenAIs GPT-4 model was able to pass a bar exam in 2023 with high marks, researchers found.

Court systems and legal advocates have gotten in on the action. A 2024 Stanford University analysis found that three out of four lawyers plan to use generative AI in their practice, and the legal profession has explored how AI tools might increase access to justice.

The Alaska Court System is developing an AI-powered chatbot called the Alaska Virtual Assistant to assist people representing themselves in probate estate cases. The legal nonprofit Public Counsel has also offered workshops on how to use AI for those representing themselves.

Still, despite enthusiasm and some success stories, others point to AIs penchant for hallucinations - false claims the tools pass off as true - as reason to be wary.

open image in gallery Lawyers for MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell were recently fined $3,000 over AI issues in court ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Last month, a California attorney was hit with a $10,000 fine for filing a state court appeal filled with inaccurate legal quotes generated by ChatGPT. A judge noted that 21 of 23 of the citations were totally made up.

In July, two lawyers for MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell were ordered to pay $3,000 each after allegedly using AI to file a document that cited nonexistent cases, and misquoted case law.

A Thomson-Reuters Institute study examining cases, between June 30 and August 1, found pervasive hallucinations in filings. Researchers identified 22 different cases in which courts or opposing parties found non-existent cases quoted in legal filings, in many situations leading to disciplinary measures or sanctions against those who introduced them.

In one noted case, a dispute between a family and a school board, a self-representing defendant was found to have submitted pleadings with 42 nonexistent legal authorities.

It led a judge to conclude that an AI program hallucinated them in an effort to meet whatever [the defendants] desired outcome was based on the prompt that she put into the AI program.
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A Florida mother says shes disheartened after an attorney representing her homeowners association sent a letter accusing her five-year-old of swinging on and damaging a tree near a bus stop.

Ariel Barner of Orlando, Florida, shared the letter online this week, which states that she is failing to supervise the children by allowing them to climb and swing from the tree branches of the tree(s) that are property of the association. As a result, the branches of a nearby magnolia tree broke, the letter claims.

The letter also claims the children have been seen throwing rocks or other objects throughout the association. The letter states Barner must comply with the associations rules and pay attorneys fees and costs in the amount of $382.16 to Shipwash Law Firm, which appears to be representing the University Pines Property Owners Association.

Barner started a GoFundMe to defend our rights, and wrote on the page that the letter, which refers to children, is about her five-year-old son. Barner also shared the letter on TikTok, where she has 1.7 million followers, and wrote that only one child ever touched the tree.

Barner said on TikTok theres no proof the five-year-old damaged the tree or threw rocks, and that the associations bylaws don't require a parent at the bus stop."

open image in gallery Ariel Barner says theres no proof her five-year-old son damaged the magnolia tree ( GoFundMe )

They are hyper in the mornings. Its a bunch of kids out here. Everyone is happy. They are running. They have their backpacks and their folders, Barner told local outlet WKMG. I just never thought my sons joy would be seen as a target or a discomfort.

The letter cites a section of the associations bylaws which prohibits any activity that is noxious or offensive or that may be or may become an annoyance or public nuisance.

When I posted about it, I only did that because when I reached out to the numbers available, no one got back to me, she told WKMG. To list him as a public nuisance and an annoyance to the neighborhood was disheartening as a mother.

open image in gallery Barner says she received a two-page letter from Shipwash Law Firm claiming children had damaged the magnolia tree near the bus stop ( GoFundMe )

If Barner fails to follow the Governing Documents (Declaration) of the Association, the organization plans to pursue compliance through mediation, the letter states.

In the event that you fail to cure and/or rectify the violations in the manner described above, the Association may serve a demand for pre-suit mediation, the letter continues.

However, the attorney listed on the letter told WKMG that the association is not threatening litigation.

There has never been any threat of litigation against Ms. Barner concerning her child climbing or swinging from the magnolia tree, the attorney said. The letter was issued only after attempts by the Association to resolve the matter informally were unsuccessful.

Barner told the outlet she did not receive any warnings prior to the letter. Her GoFundMe, which had a goal of $60,000, had raised more than $62,000 as of Wednesday morning.

The Independent has contacted Barner, the University Pines Property Owners Association and Shipwash Law Firm for comment.
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A man has been arrested in a high-end steak restaurant Miami after his beef with celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay resulted in him being forcibly removed from the restaurant.

Joaquin Nunez, 59, claimed that he was owed $6 million by the TV chef after his face was used in a Netflix documentary, according to an arrest report by Miami Police Department.

Call Gordon Ramsay, call Gordon Ramsay, papa, he shouted, before screaming as he was handcuffed and bundled out of the restaurant, per the police footage.

Ramsay is not known to have any connections to Papi Steak, which is famous for selling $1,000 cuts of meat served in a gold briefcase. However, authorities say, Nunez repeatedly showed up demanding to speak to Ramsay at the restaurant.

Police body cam footage from June 1, obtained by WSVN, shows officers speaking to Nunez inside the restaurant before it had opened  and the suspect repeatedly told authorities that he worked there.

open image in gallery Joaquin Nunez, 59, was arrested after he turned up at Papi Steak in Miami multiple times, claiming that celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay owed him $6 million. Papi Steak is not owned by the celebrity chef. ( Miami Beach Police Department )

Despite Ramsays having nothing to do with the establishment, employees said Nunez had turned up to the restaurant many times to demand damages [of] $6 million dollars, according to the arrest report.

In one instance, the 59-year-old left a note detailing his demands from the British chef, and had later returned in May and put a padlock on the door  trapping the employees inside, and forcing them to call a locksmith

open image in gallery In police body cam footage, Nunez tells officers to call Gordon Ramsay before screaming out is he is put in handcuffs ( Miami Beach Police Department )

open image in gallery Nunez has reportedly turned up to Papi Steak multiple times and in one instance padlocked the door so employees could not get out ( Miami Beach Police Department )

Nunez used an unauthorized U-lock mechanism to lock the front doors, not allowing employees to enter or leave the restaurant, police said.

On the day of his arrest, staff members reportedly found Nunez sitting at a booth inside the restaurant before it opened. He initially resisted arrest, authorities said.

When you said to leave, Im leaving, Nunez said, per the bodycam footage. You can call Gordon Ramsay, Gordon Ramsay. The chef! he added before screaming out in pain as he was placed in handcuffs.

open image in gallery Nunez was told off by the manager of Papi Steak and warned not to come inside the building or to repeat his padlock stunt, before being taken to a holding cell ( Miami Beach Police Department )

He was later told off by the manager of Papi Steak and warned not to come inside the building or to repeat his padlock stunt, before being taken to a holding cell.

Nunez has been charged with attempted extortion, trespassing and other charges.

The Independent has reached out to the Miami Police department and Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office for further information on the case.
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Police have launched a plea for information after a mother of two went missing the day before a suspicious fire broke out at her home.

Britney Gard, 46, from Putnam County, Indiana, was last seen on 30 September. The next evening, the fire department was called and put out a fire in her house, which they said was suspicious in nature.

No individuals were found in the fire-damaged home, and Gard has not been located, but her car and purse were still on the property.

Family and friends have not had contact with her since the fire.

Who took her? How does someone just go missing these days? It doesnt make any sense," Gard's sister Stephanie Bowen said in an interview with WRTV.

The family, along with numerous volunteers, conducted a large-scale search of nearby fields but were unable to find her.

Bowen said the alarm was raised when Gard failed to attend her daughters volleyball game, describing her as her kids biggest cheerleader and a loving parent.

She was supposed to be at her daughter's volleyball game. Wasnt there. And then theres a fire. Her car is at home, her purse is at home. Shes nowhere to be found, and the house is on fire. It makes no sense," Bowen said.

I feel like theres something here  bigger  that we dont know and someone knows something," she added. On her Facebook page, Gard regularly posts about her daughters volleyball games. On that profile, the missing woman refers to herself a digital creator. She is a native of Marshal, Illinois.

Police appeal for information on Britney Gard's whereabouts ( Putnam County Sheriffs Office )

In a separate interview with My Wabash Valley, Stephanie Bowen described her sister as someone you can always count on.

 Shes a very giving person. Loving person. She will go out of her way to like make you feel special  she just like doesnt like to sit still. Lets go play outside. Shes always trying to make memories with my kids. take pictures.  Im at a loss, she added.

On Facebook, in response to a question about whether or not Gard had runaway or was the victim of a kidnapping, a relative wrote: Definiely not a runaway.

The Putnam County Sheriffs Office said, Fire investigators advise that they believe the fire that started in the house is suspicious in nature. Full findings will be relayed to criminal investigators as the fire investigation continues.

The night of the fire, a drone was used to assist search efforts in the area throughout the evening. The Putnam County Community Emergency Response Team continued search efforts in the area the following day. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources was contacted regarding searches of the pond on the property. Britney Gard could not be located.

The force said detectives are working on the case round the clock and using technology-based investigative tools and programs to attempt to locate Gard. Her loved ones have set up a Find Britney Gard Facebook page.

Any information about her current location is needed. We ask that if anyone has information about the current location of Britney, please contact the Putnam County Emergency Operations Center and 911 Dispatch at 765-653-5115 extension zero. To leave an anonymous tip, please call our TIP line at 765-653-3211 extension 699.
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A Los Angeles jury has ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $966 million to the family of a woman who died from mesothelioma, finding the company responsible in the latest legal battle over its talc products and their alleged link to cancer.

The family of Mae Moore, a California resident who passed away at 88 in 2021, initiated legal action the same year. They contended that Johnson & Johnson's talc-based baby powder products contained asbestos fibres, which they claimed led to her rare form of cancer.

The jury's decision, delivered late on Monday, mandates Johnson & Johnson to pay $950 million in punitive damages, according to court documents.

This substantial award could face reduction upon appeal, as the U.S. Supreme Court has previously indicated that punitive damages should generally not exceed nine times compensatory damages.

Erik Haas, Johnson & Johnson's worldwide vice president of litigation, stated that the company intends to appeal immediately, describing the verdict as "egregious and unconstitutional."

"The plaintiff lawyers in this Moore case based their arguments on junk science that never should have been presented to the jury," Haas said.

Johnson and Johnson office building in Silicon Valley, Santa Clara, California ( Getty Images )

The company has said its products are safe, do not contain asbestos, and do not cause cancer. Johnson & Johnson stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the U.S. in 2020, switching to a cornstarch product. Mesothelioma has been linked to asbestos exposure.

Trey Branham, one of the attorneys representing Moore's family, said after the verdict that his team is hopeful that Johnson & Johnson will finally accept responsibility for these senseless deaths.

Johnson & Johnson is facing lawsuits from more than 67,000 plaintiffs who say they were diagnosed with cancer after using baby powder and other talc products, according to court filings. The number of lawsuits alleging talc caused mesothelioma is a small subset of these cases, with the vast majority involving ovarian cancer claims.

Johnson & Johnson has sought to resolve the litigation through bankruptcy, a proposal that has been rejected three times by federal courts.

Lawsuits alleging talc caused mesothelioma were not part of the last bankruptcy proposal. The company has previously settled some of those claims but has not struck a nationwide settlement, so many lawsuits over mesothelioma have proceeded to trial in state courts in recent months.

In the past year, Johnson & Johnson has been hit with several substantial verdicts in mesothelioma cases, but Monday's is among the largest. The company has won some of the mesothelioma trials, including last week in South Carolina, where a jury found Johnson & Johnson not liable.

The company has been successful in reducing some of the awards on appeal, including in one Oregon case where a state judge granted Johnson & Johnson's motion to throw out a $260 million verdict and hold a new trial.
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A 29-year-old suspect has been arrested and accused of maliciously starting the deadly Palisades Firethat killed a dozen people earlier this year.

The complaint against Jonathan Rinderknecht alleges that he started a fire on New Year's Day, which turned into one of the most destructive fires in Los Angeles history. He is charged with destruction of property by means of fire, or arson.

The fire in the Pacific Palisades area destroyed over 6,800 buildings and killed 12 people on January 7. It was not fully contained until January 31.

Announcing the news on X Wednesday, Bill Essayli, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, said that among the evidence collected from Rinderknechts digital devices was an image he generated on ChatGPT depicting a burning city.

open image in gallery Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, is charged with destruction of property by means of fire, resulting in the historic blaze that destroyed over 6,800 buildings and killed 12 people on January 7, cop say. ( X/Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli )

open image in gallery Chat GPT pics allegedly produced by Jonathan Rinderknecht show the burning of cities. ( X/Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli )

While we cannot undo the damage and destruction that was done, we hope his arrest and the charges against him bring some measure of justice to the victims of this horrific tragedy, Essayli said.

According to the AGs office, on the evening of December 31 2024, Rinderknecht was working as an Uber driver.

After dropping off a passenger in Pacific Palisades, Rinderknecht  who once lived in that neighborhood  drove towards Skull Rock Trailhead, parked and then walked up the trail. He then used his iPhone to take videos at a nearby hilltop area and listened to a French rap song  to which he had listened repeatedly in previous days  whose music video included things being lit on fire.

Rinderknecht later used his phone to call 911 several times but could not get through, prosecutors said. When he finally did he was at the bottom of the hiking trail, but the fire had already been reported.

open image in gallery The fire in the Pacific Palisades area of LA destroyed 6,800 buildings and killed 12 people on January 7 ( Getty Images )

He then fled in his car, passing fire engines attending the scene, but turned around to follow them, according to authorities. Arriving back the scene he then hiked up the same trail from earlier to watch the fire fighters  and took video.

During a joint press conference, held by the U.S. Attorneys Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Los Angeles Police Department, Wednesday, Essayli said that Rinderknecht had lied to police in an interview later in January.

However officials refused to reveal further details of conversations they had had with the suspect about a potential motive.

I wish we could get into someones head, but we cant. People do evil things for whatever reason, said Kenny Cooper, special agent in the LA field office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

open image in gallery The Palisades blaze and the nearby Eaton Fire burned for days reducing entire neighborhoods to rubble and ash ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Rinderknecht's initial appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in U.S. District Court in Orlando. According to authorities, he relocated to Florida following the fires in Los Angeles. He has no prior criminal history, Essayli said Wednesday.

An outside review of the blazes released in September found that a lack of resources and outdated policies for sending emergency alerts led to delayed evacuation warnings.

The report, commissioned by Los Angeles County supervisors, said a series of weaknesses, including outdated policies, inconsistent practices and communications vulnerabilities, hampered the countys response.

Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the Palisades blaze or the Eaton Fire, which broke out the same day in the community of Altadena and killed 18 people.

Both fires burned for days, reducing entire neighborhoods to rubble and ash and ultimately spread across more than 40,000 acres  larger than the land area of Washington D.C.  with the flames having been fanned by a fierce windstorm known as the Santa Ana winds.

open image in gallery A brush fire burns near homes in Pacific Palisades, California, on January 7 ( David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images )

open image in gallery Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the Palisades blaze or the Eaton Fire, which broke out the same day in the community of Altadena and killed 18 people. ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The economic losses from the fires may reach $275 billion, according to previous estimates.

The fires became somewhat of a political football, with tensions between President Donald Trump and Gavin Newsom being tested regularly  as each man blamed the other for the devastating impact of the disaster.

In January 2025, Trump blamed the state's water and forest management policies, while Newsom blasted the federal government, which controls most of the state's forest land, for failing to act.

Following the announcement of Rinderknechts arrest, Newsom thanked the Justice Department, and hailed an important step toward determining how the horrific fire had started and bringing closure to the thousands of survivors whose lives were upended.

This tragedy will never be forgotten  lives were lost, families torn apart, and entire communities forever changed  and there must be accountability, he wrote on X.
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One family can really blame the dog.

A dog attempting to reach food on a stove inadvertently triggered a fire at a home in Pittsburgh's Point Breeze neighborhood early Tuesday morning. The blaze broke out around 7:15 a.m. at a residence on Conover Road near Hastings Street, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire said in a news release.

Firefighters arrived to find the home engulfed in flames. They rescued a dog from the property and transported it to an emergency veterinary clinic for treatment of smoke inhalation.

A spokesperson for the Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety told The Independent on Wednesday that officials did not have an update on the dog's condition, but were told it was in stable condition when brought to the emergency vet.

Investigators determined that the fire began when the dog, trying to access food placed on top of the stove, accidentally turned on a burner, the fire department said.

Officials said a dog tried to reach food on a stove - but instead ignited a massive fire at a Pittsburgh home. ( Google )

No one was home at the time of the incident. The kitchen sustained significant damage, and other areas of the home were affected by heat and smoke. The resident has since made alternative living arrangements.

The National Fire Protection Association says pets or wildlife cause about 750 home fires annually, often by turning on stoves, knocking over candles or chewing wiring.

The Red Cross advises using stove knob covers, never leaving pets unattended near open flames and always extinguishing cooking appliances before leaving home.

The organization also recommends keeping pets in areas near entrances when home alone, with collars on and leashes ready for rescue.

Display a pet alert window cling showing the number of pets inside, and keep this information up to date to help firefighters locate them quickly.
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Lake Tahoe residents have had a rollercoaster week, learning their mayor stole money from a local church, before trying to end her own life, only to then find out another city official allegedly assaulted someone at a restaurant.

Earlier this week, South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tamara Wallace admitted to embezzling money from a local church and wrote in a letter she made public that she was so guilt-racked over her actions that she attempted suicide on September 11.

The day after the letter was released, news broke that the city's Mayor Pro Tem, Cody Bass, allegedly attacked someone in a restaurant and had been arrested on assault charges.

Despite the chaos, at least for now, neither of the scandal-ridden city officials appear to be vacating their seats. Sheree Juarez, a spokesperson for the city, told SF Standard that both officials planned to attend an upcoming October 21 City Council meeting.

Wallace admitted that she stole money from a Presbyterian church where she worked in a letter published in the Tahoe Daily Tribune and on South Tahoe Now. She did not disclose how much money was taken but she said her theft did not involve any of the citys money.

open image in gallery South Lake Tahoe Mayor Tamara Wallace admitted in a letter that she had embezzled funds from a church where she worked and said her guilt drove to attempt suicide ( City of South Lake Tahoe )

The mayor then explained that the extreme guilt she felt for embezzling from a church resulted in her attempting to end her life.

I was so filled with guilt, shame, and grief that I experienced a mental health crisis that made suicide seem to be the best solution, she wrote. It was only by the grace of God that I failed.

She said she has sought help and has spent 18 days receiving treatment in a mental health facility, doing intense, all-day, everyday group and individual counseling sessions.

The mayor also shared some of her past trauma that she believes may have contributed to her mental health crisis, noting that she was abused as a child, that her son, Christopher, died from fentanyl poisoning, and she shared the stress she felt from receiving death threats while she was a city council member.

She acknowledged that while tragedy in her life may have contributed to her mental health deteriorating it does not excuse her actions.

These things may be reasons, but not excuses for my behavior, she wrote.

She continued, saying she did not want to be "like many public servants and individuals who try to lie, hide, and delay the consequences of something they have done" and was "taking a different path."

I am telling the truth and admitting what I have done, she wrote.

City spokesperson Juarez told the outlet that the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office was investigating the embezzlement claims.

The Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church issued a statement in response to Wallaces admission, which was shared in the Tahoe Daily Tribune:

Tamara Wallace has formally acknowledged committing a significant offense against the congregation of Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church.

When this was discovered by the church, her employment was terminated on September 26, 2025, and the matter was appropriately referred to law enforcement authorities. She did not attend our church and was not a member. Our congregation has suffered extensive loss, and as we address this loss and its impact, we remain committed to prayer, compassion, transparency, and justice.

On September 26  the same day Wallace was fired from the church  Bass was arrested after he allegedly had a physical confrontation with an employee at AleWorx. The incident reportedly happened after midnight.

open image in gallery South Lake Tahoe Mayor Pro Tem Cody Bass was arrested after he allegedly assaulted an employee at a bar near the California-Nevada border. The assault charges against him were dropped but he is still being charged for making threats and trespassing ( City of South Lake Tahoe )

According to a report in KRNV in Reno, Bass said that hed been kicked and threatened at the bar, and allegedly said he was going to have people kill one of the employees. He reportedly had previously been banned from the bar, according to the report.

Investigators obtained surveillance video of the confrontation and said it was determined that Bass was the aggressor.

He was charged with misdemeanor counts of assault, trespassing, and threats/harassment by the Douglas County Sheriffs Office and District Attorneys Office, but the offices later dropped the assault charge.

He was booked into a county jail and released a few hours later, according to the Tahoe Daily Tribune.

In a Facebook post after the incident, Bass insisted that he had truly done nothing wrong.

On the evening in question, I was assaulted for the second time by the doorman at AleWorx on the sidewalk in front of AleWorx while I was walking to Lucky Beaver to get some food. I reported the assault to the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, he wrote. Despite my testimony, the deputy chose to place me under a citizens arrest, accepting the doormans account over mine.

He disputed reports that he assaulted anyone and said he had never been banned from the bar, and that he had only had one drink the night of the incident.

I will absolutely not be stepping down from my position on the City Council, as I have done nothing wrong. I am committed to going through the due process to prove my innocence, he wrote. As business owners, we should expect our establishments, especially those that welcome patrons, to be represented by individuals who show respect for others and do not intimidate or assault people.

South Lake Tahoe City Council member David Jinkins told SF Standard the incidents were a surprise to all of us, but said that all [city] services remain intact and unaffected by recent events.

The Independent has requested comment from both Wallace and Bass.

If you are based in the U.S. and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This is a free, confidential crisis hotline available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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If youre in the southeastern U.S. right now, you may have noticed swarms of fuzzy, white specks sticking to your cars windshield or covering nearby trees.

While the specks might look like dust, pollen or lint, theyre probably not. Chances are, theyre actually small insects called woolly aphids. While the pests cant harm humans, theyre certainly a nuisance for people and plants alike in the region.

Some types of woolly aphids are even invasive and can cause long-term stress for the plants they feed on, experts say.

Heres what you need to know about these fuzzy creatures:

What are woolly aphids?

Woolly aphids are small insects that are covered in a white, fuzzy-looking wax. They feed on leaves and excrete copious amounts of honeydew, which can, in turn, cause black sooty mold to accumulate, according to Protect Tennessee Forests, a program associated with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.

open image in gallery Woolly hackberry aphids pictured crawling on a branch. These pests are invasive creatures that leave behind a white, waxy substance ( AFP via Getty Images )

There are several types of woolly aphids, and some are even invasive, Midhula Gireesh, an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee, told the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

"Woolly aphid is a common name for several species, and their impact and invasiveness depend on the specific species," Gireesh said. "For instance, the woolly apple aphid is native to eastern North America, but the woolly hackberry aphid is an introduced species originally from Asia."

If youre in Tennessee or Alabama, youre likely seeing woolly hackberry aphids in particular. Other types of woolly aphids include the woolly elm aphid, the woolly alder aphid and the beech blight aphid, according to the University of Maryland.

Why are there so many woolly aphids in the Southeast right now?

Jason Oliver, a research professor at the Tennessee State University, told local outlet WKRN that woolly aphids are thriving right now because the region is going through a long period of warm weather. This means the bugs can reproduce for longer.

The number of woolly aphids will likely decrease as temperatures drop in the coming months.

Are woolly aphids dangerous to people or pets?

No, woolly aphids are not dangerous to people or pets. They do not bite or sting, and they dont infest homes, the Montgomery Advertiser reports.

However, the pests can be annoying, as they often stick to windshields and can leave behind mold on cars and other objects.

Sooty mold also gets accumulated on the leaves of the host trees, other small plants, as well as on vehicles and patio furniture located beneath infested trees, Gireesh told the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

open image in gallery Woolly hackberry aphids pictured on a leaf. These creatures aren't harmful to people or pets, but they can be a nuisance ( Tennessee Department of Agriculture )

Residents have taken to social media to complain about the pests.

I thought it was snow when I looked out my windows, one Facebook user commented underneath a local news report about the phenomenon.

They are a nuisance! another user wrote underneath a post from Protect Tennessee Forests.

Do woolly aphids harm the ecosystem?

Woolly hackberry aphids, which like to hang out on hackberry trees, can cause the plants stress over time, Oliver told WKRN.

The adults feed on the sap in the leaves, Oliver explained. If you hit a branch with a stick, youll see a cloud of them fly off  thats what they feed on.

The mold that grows from the woolly aphids honeydew excrement can also make the trees unsightly, Gireesh told the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

"Woolly hackberry aphids are mostly nuisance pests and do not necessarily kill the tree," she said. "However, due to their excess honeydew production, sooty mold  a black, powdery fungus that grows on plants  gets accumulated, and the trees become unsightly.

What can residents do to avoid the pests?

While some pesticides are effective, that might not be an option for every resident impacted by the swarms.

Residents can also reduce the growth of sooty mold by removing personal property from beneath infested trees or cleaning items that are covered in honeydew, according to Protect Tennessee Forests.
Paris Hilton loves taking her children to Disneyland and arcades.

Paris Hilton loves taking her kids to Disneyland

The 44-year-old DJ, reality star and socialite - who has son Phoenix, two, and daughter London, two next month, with her husband Carter Reum - admitted she is still "such a kid at heart", and it's added another layer of joy getting to experience things through her kids' eyes.

She told Extra: "Everything is more fun with them.

"Especially because I'm such a kid at heart, I love going to places like Disneyland and having fun, arcades and things like that.

"To be able to do it with my babies and just see it through their eyes, its like experiencing it all over again. Its so special and so much fun and every day is just a gift from God.

Paris described her kids as the "cutest little angels", and revealed they are starting to share her passions.

She added: My kids are the cutest little angels in the world.

"They love animals just like me, so its just been the greatest joy ever.

"I just feel so lucky to be a mom and to have this amazing family.

Meanwhile, she revealed their children are already wise beyond their years, with their dad Carter "doing so many activities" with them each day.

She said: "Theyre running around, chasing each other, theyre singing, theyre dancing. Theyre so smart, both of them.

"My husband has them doing so many different activities every day, so they're literally as if they were four years old, the way their vocabulary is."

Paris previously admitted that she loves the challenges of motherhood.

She told E! News: "It's been such a special time.

"My little baby boy is my world and he's made my life feel so complete. My husband is just the sweetest, kindest, most loyal and loving partner - just my everything.

"It's been amazing being a mom, being a wife and this new phase of my life. I just never felt so happy."
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Fox News host Jesse Watters has hit back at Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez over her mockery of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, suggesting the New York Democrat secretly wants to sleep with the immigration hardliner.

The New York representative had hosted an Instagram livestream on Sunday in which she urged people opposed to the Donald Trump administration to make fun of the insecure masculinity of its hierarchy, calling Miller a clown and repeatedly suggesting he was only 4 feet 10 inches tall.

Ive never seen that guy in real life, but he looks like hes, like, 4 feet 10 inches, AOC said. And he looks like he is angry about the fact that hes 4 feet 10 inches. And he looks like he is so mad that he is 4 feet 10 inches, that he has taken that anger out on any other population possible.

open image in gallery Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez used her Sunday Instagram livestream to urge anti-Trump activists to laugh at the perceived insecurities of the administrations leading figures like Stephen Miller ( Getty )

The clip was subsequently picked up by Fox anchor Laura Ingraham, who replayed it to Miller on Monday, an excruciating moment of television that saw him awkwardly fumble his response: Well, we knew that her brain didnt work. Now we know her eyes dont work. So, the shes a mess, right? What a trainwreck. What a trainwreck.

The progressive saw the exchange and shared it on X, writing: I cannot believe they aired this and made him listen to it live. I am crying.

Her jab at Millers height (he is actually 5 feet 10, by his own estimation) clearly struck a nerve at the network as, according to Mediaite, both Sean Hannity and Watters also discussed the clip and offered haughty fact-checks.

Returning to the matter on The Five on Tuesday, co-host Dana Perino asked Watters: Do you think that MAGA men are insulted by AOC?

No, I think AOC wants to sleep with Miller, Watters answered. It is so obvious. And, Im sorry, you cant have him.

open image in gallery Laura Ingraham questions Miller about Ocasio-Cortez's mockery of him on Fox's The Ingraham Angle on Monday ( The Ingraham Angle/Fox News )

He went on to praise the official effusively, calling him the best, a policy savant, and a provider of wise counsel to the President of the United States who handles interviews with grace and class.

Just getting warmed up, Watters went into much more detail than any of his co-hosts had asked for about the precise nature of Millers appeal.

This is what AOC doesnt get about men, he began. Miller is a high-value man, because he has power and influence. Because he has vision, and hes on a mission to save this republic and protect Western civilization. He speaks with confidence and flair, and hes unafraid of anything.

Now AOC may have someone thats taller, like [California Gov.] Gavin [Newsom]. Or maybe someone who has more distinguished characteristics like Adam Schiff, the senator who talks like this, or someone with more wealth, like [George] Soros the younger.

But those men are not brave men. Those men did not protect the country when the country needed it. We had tests throughout the last couple of years. Tests on crime. Tests during Covid and tests with immigration.

open image in gallery Jesse Watters addresses the Democrats ridicule of Miller on Fox's The Five on Tuesday ( The Five/Fox News )

And all of the men that AOC seems to value. They all failed the test and they failed it miserably. Men who are high-value men, like Stephen Miller, take risks. Theyre brave, theyre unafraid, theyre confident, and theyre on a mission. And they have younger wives with beautiful children. I think I just gave him, like, a dating recommendation.

I dont know, man, that was pretty creepy, said Greg Gutfeld in response.

I love Stephen Miller! said Watters. Clearly! exclaimed Paul Mauro.

Watters has previous in this area.

Last October, he hosted Miller on Jesse Watters Primetime and said to him: We just have to address the elephant in the room. We are getting a lot of texts from women about Miller and his appearances  and his appearance. Our audience at Primetime believes you are some sort of sexual matador. What do you have to say for yourself?

Chuckling, Miller offered his advice to young male conservatives looking for love: Be a proud and loud Trump supporter and your dating life will be fantastic.

Watters raised the question again with Millers wife, Katie Miller, last month, who laughed off his suggestion she was the envy of all women but said her husband was an incredibly inspiring man.
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Florida Republican State Rep. Kevin Steele has filed a bill ordering every public university and college campus in the Sunshine State to rename a nearby road after the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk or risk losing funding.

Kirk, the influential 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA, was killed by a snipers bullet while debating students on the campus of the University of Utah Valley in Orem, Utah, on September 10.

Steele filed his bill to honor Kirk in the Florida House of Representatives on Tuesday; however, there is no Senate counterpart so far.

open image in gallery Charlie Kirk was fatally shot at an event on a Utah college campus on September 10 ( Andrew Harnik/Getty )

Should his legislation pass, any institution that failed to comply with its terms would face losing the funding it receives from the state within 90 days.

State funds shall be withheld from any state university or Florida College System institution whose board of trustees fails to redesignate the roadway or portion of a roadway listed above within 90 days after the effective date of this act, it declares.

This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

The bill lists the exact roadways it expects to be redesignated, giving all 40 in alphabetical order.

Another state GOP lawmaker, Juan Carlos Porras, last month filed a bill of his own to rename a portion of a busy thoroughfare in Miami-Dade County as Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue.

open image in gallery New College of Florida has already announced that it is commissioning a statue of Kirk for its campus ( New College of Florida )

Porrass legislation arrived on September 23, the same day the Lake County Commission unanimously approved a resolution to redesignate Schofield Road, connecting Lake County to Orange County, in memory of Kirk.

The activists murder a month ago has provoked President Donald Trumps administration to pursue a clampdown on left-wing protest organizations it accuses of promoting domestic terrorism, as a heightened state of tension persists between Republicans and Democrats.

While Kirks widow, Erika Kirk, said at his memorial service in Arizona that she forgives her husbands killer, Trump himself has continued to rebuke his political enemies in heated terms, particularly in response to the ongoing government shutdown, which has seen him taunt the opposition leadership with memes rather than seek to set an example by finding common ground.

Trump has not ruled out honoring Kirk with a national holiday, while Florida GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has called for a statue to be erected in his honor at the U.S. Capitol in tribute.

One has already been commissioned at the New College of Florida.
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Donald Trump was very clear in his 2024 bid for the presidency: he wasnt just running for the White House  he was coming after his enemies.

Now, James Comey is becoming the first member of the Washington establishment and supposedly Democratic-aligned Deep State, to learn what that means.

On Wednesday morning, the former FBI director was arraigned on two counts at a federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia. Facing two counts, Comey did not speak to reporters and only uttered a few words in court as he pled not guilty to lying to Congress and obstruction.

Democrats raised the issue with a combative and verbally abusive Attorney General Pam Bondi during a hearing held by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, but for many in the party the reality is simple: Trump ran, and won, partly on the issue of weaponizing the Department of Justice against Democrats in large part due to the failure of every possible mechanism of law enforcement to take prosecution of his many alleged crimes seriously.

Most members of the party  and an even larger share of the voting base  agree that the failure of Democrats to immediately begin criminal proceedings after January 6 and the transfer of power to Joe Bidens administration was complete turned out to be a crushing mistake.

open image in gallery Former FBI director James Comey was arraigned Wednesday on two criminal counts for allegedly lying to Congress and obstructing justice ( Getty Images )

Despite two prosecutions of the president being launched around the former presidents actions in the final days of his presidency and his departure from the White House, then-Attorney General Merrick Garland failed to see either case conclude before the 2024 elections took place. The same went for prosecutions at the state level, in New York and Georgia.

Since January, more and more senior members of the party have come out to acknowledge this reality. One of the most influential admissions came from Jerry Nadler, formerly the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, now retiring in 2026. Nadler said earlier this year: "Garland only started the prosecution after he was in effect forced to by the report of the Jan. 6 committee and the criminal referral. The evidence the Jan. 6 committee used was available from the beginning."

"Had they proceeded with those prosecutions, I think he would have been convicted and wed have a different president now, concluded Nadler, who added: Merrick Garland wasted a year."

To be clear, though: Garland didnt entirely waste a year. He spent much of 2021 pursuing January 6 cases, though they werent the ones that ended up mattering: over the course of Bidens term, the Department of Justice identified, prosecuted, and secured convictions against more than 1,200 participants in the January 6 riot, often combing through hours of grainy bodycam and social media footage to hunt down Trump-supporting J6ers whod beaten cops, stolen and defaced property, or committed other crimes on the day of the attack.

Donald Trump pardoned them all.

Garland came under intense political pressure to indict Trump in 2022, especially after the publication of the January 6 committees full report and the panels submission of criminal referrals to the Justice Department, including for the former president. In rare comments about the case that year, Garland said that Trumps potential 2024 candidacy would not affect his handling of the case.

We don't pay any attention to other issues with respect to [the January 6 investigation], Garland told NBC News.

open image in gallery U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland waited until January 2022 to begin a formal case investigating Donald Trumps use of fake electors in the days after the 2020 election ( Getty Images )

The attorney generals inexplicable naivete surrounding the decision to wait until January 2022 to begin a formal investigation into the effort by the Trump team to pressure states and Congress to accept slates of false electors stemmed from that refusal, born out of fear, to make any decisions that could be seen as politicizing the agency.

It forced Garland to ignore the reality: that Trumps third bid for the presidency was in many was an overt bid to both fund his legal defense and, in the end, secure immunity from accountability. The stalling was the point, and Garland himself contributed to that dynamic by practically waiting until the midterms to issue a formal indictment.

Another factor worth considering: a successful prosecution was the only way for Garland to avoid the appearance of a weaponized Justice Department in the hands of a Democratic president. Trumps acquittal would have tarnished the departments reputation for obvious reasons, and the successful running-out-the-clock by the once and current president allowed him to keep his promise to erode the DoJs independence, forcing out career prosecutors who refused to target the presidents enemies with flimsy cases.

Garland and the Bidenworld Democrats who picked him for the job (somewhat ironically as a middle finger to Trump) arent the only ones reaping political consequences for the failure to get the cases against Trump over the finish line. In Georgia, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is suffering her own political humiliation after being tossed off of the case against the Trump teams efforts to pressure state officials after the 2024 election due to misconduct and another RICO case she brought against the rapper Young Thug which ended largely without fireworks.

One local Georgia columnist wrote of Willis late last month: Its also important to note that Willis launched her grand-jury investigation into Trumps attempt to steal the election in February 2021, at a time when federal authorities were showing little stomach for doing so. It should not have been left to a local prosecutor to handle a case of such magnitude and consequence...If she blew it, then Attorney General Merrick Garland and the federal Department of Justice blew it even worse.

open image in gallery A handful of protesters denounced the indictment of James Comey outside of a courthouse in Alexandria, Va. on Wednesday ( John Bowden - The Independent )

Comey, more than most, should understand the weight of living under the reputation of politicizing a supposedly nonpartisan office. During his time at the FBI, he oversaw two investigation against political figures with massive electoral implications: the investigation into the Trump campaigns alleged ties to Russia, and the probe into Hillary Clintons use of a private email server for State Department business.

Both ended with muted thuds; Clinton, he declared, was reckless but not malicious or lawbreaking, earning him wrath from Democrats who saw the timing of his nothingburger announcement as fatal to Clintons 2016 campaign. He never saw the end of the investigation into Donald Trumps campaign up close: he was fired by the president before then. But that, too, ended without ties between the Trump campaign and Russias government ever being established, or charges related to that allegation ever coming to be.

Now he and others who spent so much energy trying to avoid the appearance of politicizing the justice system are facing one that has been weaponized for political purposes against them. Comeys own charging came just under the deadline imposed by the statute of limitations for his two alleged crimes  proof that the president has a long memory.

Here the threads can be seen connecting the Democratic Partys response to this failure to the present day. While Democrats have few options as it stands now to counter politicized prosecutions at the Justice Department, the anger the partys voters feel towards senior leaders for this refusal to meet the moment and take political risks is palpable.

Even as Chuck Schumer accedes to voter anger and embraces the idea of wielding leverage against the Republicans, hes lambasted as a human flat tire by Jon Stewart and other fed-up Democrats.

Half-hearted measures that came too late defined, for many on the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, the entire Biden presidency. With others on the presidents enemies list reportedly including New York state Attorney General Letitia James and Sen. Adam Schiff, the entire breadth of the partys ideological spectrum will soon likely be coming to terms with that definition, too.
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A Presbyterian minister in Chicago is suing Donald Trumps administration after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were captured in viral video firing pepper balls at his head during protests against the presidents anti-immigration agenda.

The Rev. David Black joined a lawsuit with Chicago reporters and protesters accusing the administration of unconstitutional threats to their First Amendment rights and religious freedoms with a pattern of extreme brutality designed to silence the press and civilians.

Last month, Black  dressed in black and wearing a clerical collar while standing with demonstrators  was hit with chemical agents while praying in front of an ICE facility in Broadview, a Chicago suburb that has emerged as a flashpoint for protests against the administration as the president deploys National Guard troops to Illinois.

I invited them to repentance, Black told Religion News Service. I basically offered an altar call. I invited them to come and receive that salvation, and be part of the kingdom that is coming.

Black is not alone, according to the lawsuit. Agents dressed in full combat gear have indiscriminately tossed flash grenades and tear gas and fired guns loaded with chemical irritants and rubber bullets against demonstrators in the Chicago area, the complaint says.

open image in gallery Presbyterian minister David Black is hit in the head after ICE agents fired pepper balls at him ( @mskellymhayes.bsky.social )

open image in gallery ICE agents above a Broadview facility outside Chicago fired pepper ball rounds at protesters, including Black, September 19 ( AP )

Protesters and reporters have faced serious injuries and some are being randomly singled out for arrest and detained inside the ICE facility where they are detained incommunicado for hours, according to the complaint.

No legitimate purpose exists for this brutality or for these arrests, lawyers for the plaintiffs wrote. The officers are not physically threatened. No government property is threatened. Defendants are acting to intimidate and silence the press and civilians engaged in protected First Amendment activities.

Black, the senior pastor at the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago in Woodlawn, was offering prayers and urging ICE officers stationed on the roof of the Broadview ICE facility to repent from their unnecessarily brutal enforcement of the immigration laws before officers fired at him, according to the lawsuit.

In footage from the scene on September 19, a person wearing a helmet moves in front of Black before ICE officers on the roof above them suddenly and without warning shot pepper balls that struck the top of Blacks head and exploded into a puff of white powder.

Black then falls to his knees in pain. Moments later, officers on the street sprayed him with tear gas, according to the complaint.

open image in gallery The Broadview facility is at the center of protests against the Trump administrations mass deportation agenda, with federal law enforcement officers surging to Illinois and deploying chemical irritants to hold back demonstrators ( Getty Images )

The lawsuit also accuses the Trump administration of violating the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which states that the government shall not substantially burden a persons exercise of religion even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability.

Officers practice of targeting Black and other clergy substantially burdens their exercise of religion, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit also cites an incident involving the Rev. Beth Johnson, an ordained minister in the Unitarian Church, who was fired upon without warning or justification as she and other protesters and clergy members stood on the sidewalk singing We Shall Overcome and other traditional songs of protest, the filing says.

open image in gallery Black is among Chicago-area plaintiffs suing the administration, alleging federal agents aggressive tactics are infringing on their First Amendment and religious freedom rights ( AP )

The Rev. Hannah Kardon, a United Methodist pastor who leads United Church of Rogers Park in Chicago, told Religion News Service that ICE agents fired several rounds of pepper balls against her, including while she was praying with her eyes closed and hands lifted.

Were a faith of immigrants  Jesus was an immigrant, she told the outlet. But to me, this is basic created-being stuff. When you see what is happening here, your whole body and heart resists it because its fundamentally wrong.

A growing number of faith leaders are speaking out against the Trump administrations mass deportation campaign and the aggressive law enforcement response to demonstrations against it, including Pope Leo XIV and prominent Catholic leaders across the United States.

Lawyers for the Trump administration have accused the plaintiffs of trying to dictate crowd-control policy in ways that would tie the hands of federal law enforcement officers  even in circumstances of imminent danger and would risk bogging this court down in micro-management of crowd-control decisions.

These inflexible and vague constraints are untenable on their face, lawyers for Homeland Security wrote Wednesday.

More than 30 agents have been injured during protests, including multiple hospitalizations, and more than 50 people were arrested, according to government lawyers.
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Former FBI director James Comey has pleaded not guilty to lying to Congress in a case President Donald Trump demanded the Department of Justice seek, regardless of evidence, against his longtime foe.

Comey made his first appearance in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, Wednesday to face charges stemming from his testimony to the Senate judiciary committee in 2020, when he denied authorizing leaks to reporters.

Thank you, your honor, Comey said inside the courtroom after charges were read. Thank you very much.

A trial date is tentatively scheduled to begin 5 January 2026, but Comeys attorneys are expected to try to have the case thrown out altogether, citing Trumps vindictive prosecution and the presidents installation of his personal attorney to bring the case against him.

Comeys attorneys are preparing a motion to disqualify Virginia U.S. attorney Lindsey Halligan, and his defense counsel Patrick Fitzgerald said his legal team will also accuse the government of abusing the grand jury process and outrageous conduct.

To find him guilty of making false statements to Congress, a jury would have to agree that they believe he knowingly and wilfully deceived senators about an issue material to a question at the center of that 2020 Senate hearing.

The hearing focused on the FBIs role in the Trump-Russia investigation, although the allegation that Comey made false statements to the committee involves a separate investigation into Hillary Clintons foundation in 2016.

open image in gallery Ex-FBI director James Comey pleaded not guilty to lying to Congress ( AP )

Two months into Trumps first term, Comey announced the FBI was investigating Russias efforts to interfere in the 2016 election, and sought to determine if there were any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government, Comey testified at the time.

Comey is now accused of lying about whether he authorized someone at the FBI to be a source for The Wall Street Journal, which published a story about a probe into Trumps former Democratic opponent that was published in October 2016, shortly before the presidential election, which Trump won.

In the hearing, Republican senator Ted Cruz asked Comey whether he had ever authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source, though Comey said that he stood by previous testimony in which he said that he had not authorized a leak.

The indictment alleges that his testimony was false, and that Comey had authorized another person  which the indictment does not identify  to serve as an anonymous source in news reports about the FBIs investigation into Clinton.

In 2018, an inspector general report sided with Comeys account after finding that, in 2016, then-deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe authorized FBI personnel to speak to The Wall Street Journal, and then lacked candor when Comey and other officials approached him about the source of the leak.

McCabe was fired from the FBI the following month, just days before his scheduled retirement.

Last month, McCabe told CNN that its unbelievable that law enforcement never reached out to him about the case.

All I can say is what my own experience revealed, and that is, I didnt ever see Jim Comey authorizing other people to leak information, McCabe said.

open image in gallery A two-count indictment against Comey involves statements he gave in his 2020 testimony to the Senate judiciary committee ( AFP/Getty )

Comey  whose firing by Trump during his first administration led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller  has long been a target of the president and his allies following his investigation to determine whether Trumps associates coordinated with Russian figures to interfere with the 2016 presidential election.

Im not afraid, and I hope youre not, either, Comey said in a video message responding to his indictment last week. My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system.

The Russia investigation consumed the presidents first term and cast a shadow over his 2024 campaign and current administration, fueling a campaign of retribution he promised against his perceived political enemies. The case against Comey marks the most significant prosecution of Trumps alleged adversaries yet, after the president explicitly directed his Justice Department to investigate Comey and others.

Trump, his attorney general Pam Bondi and her radically reshaped Justice Department  now filled with loyalists and attorneys to dominate agencies that the president claims have been weaponized against him  are also targeting prominent Democratic officials, progressive fundraising groups and an array of ideological opponents the administration alleges are tied to acts of terrorism.

Comey, a registered Republican who had worked for the Justice Department since the 1980s, is the first former senior government official facing criminal charges under Trumps retribution campaign, which the president celebrated on his Truth Social by labeling him one of the worst human beings this country has ever been exposed to.

open image in gallery Demonstrators protest as Comey makes his first appearance in federal court on Wednesday ( AFP/Getty )

Prosecutors investigating his appearance before the Senate judiciary committee in 2020 have repeatedly rejected bringing criminal charges against him, citing insufficient evidence that he gave false testimony.

According to an internal memo in which career prosecutors explained why they would not seek an indictment, prosecutors determined that a central witness  Comeys longtime friend Daniel Richmond, a law professor at Columbia University  would prove problematic and likely prevent them from establishing a case, according to ABC News.

Richmonds testimony would result in likely insurmountable problems for the prosecution, the memo stated.

But Comey was ultimately charged after Trump successfully pressured the acting head of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Virginia to resign.

He then tapped yet another one of his former personal attorneys to the role, despite her lack of prosecutorial experience.

In a highly unusual move, Lindsey Halligan presented the case to a grand jury herself, and the grand jury voted to indict him last month.

Halligan initially sought three charges against Comey, but 12 or more jurors did not find probable cause to indict him. If convicted on the two remaining charges, he faces up to five years in prison.

John Bowden contributed reporting from Alexandria
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Republican Senator Jim Banks is asking the Department of Commerce to review, and possibly re-do, the 2020 census, believing former President Joe Biden miscounted data to benefit Democrats  despite the fact that the census was conducted under President Donald Trumps first administration.

In a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, sent on Monday, Banks claims the Biden administration used a shady privacy formula, called differential privacy that scrambled data and allowed undocumented immigrants to respond to the survey.

The 2020 Census was a fraud, Banks wrote, claiming the results gave Democrats congressional seats and potential electoral votes.

But the decision to use differential privacy in the census and the collection of census data was completed under Trumps first administration. The Biden administration only published the first data report in April 2021.

Banks X post soon generated attention from people who clarified that Trump was president during the 2020 census.

open image in gallery Senator Banks believes the Commerce Department should investigate and correct the 2020 census, which he believes should not have benefited Democrats ( Middle East Images/AFP via Getty )

Donald Trump was the President in 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom responded.

Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell responded, Im with Banks! We should find out who was president in 2020 and fire that guy!

Who was president in 2020? remains one of the great disputed questions of American politics, Matthew Yglesias wrote.

Banks responded to several people, including Newsom, to clarify that he was referring to the first 2020 census report, which was prepared and published in 2021, after Biden was in office.

Banks, a Republican senator from Indiana, made headlines in April when he refused to apologize for telling a fired Health and Human Services employee they probably deserved it.

But the qualm Banks has with differential privacy was a decision made while Trump was president.

open image in gallery The 2020 census was conducted under the first Trump administration but results were released during the Biden administration ( AP )

The Biden administration, when they gathered all of the data from the 2020 census, they used this shady privacy formula to shield illegals in the 2020 census, Banks told Steve Bannons War Room Monday.

Differential privacy is a framework that allows statistical information to be released without revealing the identity of those involved. Adding noise, or small, negligible numbers, to the dataset prevents people from deducing who may be involved.

In 2019, Dr. Ron Jarmin, the former acting census director, said they would employ this method in the census to protect privacy. Jarmin continued to serve as acting census director until 2022 and is currently the deputy director of the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Independent has asked Bankss office for comment.

The Constitution requires the census to count the whole number of persons in each state, regardless of citizenship  which Republicans, including Banks and Trump, have taken issue with.

In 2019, Trump unsuccessfully attempted to require the 2020 census to include a question about a persons citizenship status, but the Supreme Court struck it down. Recently, the president has pitched the idea of a new census that would exclude noncitizens.

The push appears to be an attempt to lower the population in large cities, often Democrat-run, that provide sanctuary for undocumented immigrants.

open image in gallery Trump attempted to add a question about citizenship status to the 2020 census, but the Supreme Court struck it down, claiming it violated the Administrative Procedure Act ( REUTERS )

The results of the census determine a states redistricting as well as electoral college votes.

Bankss concerns with the results of the 2020 census are not completely unfounded. The governments post-census survey found that eight states, mainly Democratic, were overcounted while six states, mostly Republican, were undercounted.

A significant number of people were found to be left out of the census, such as people under 50 years old and Hispanics.

A 2022 report from the Brennan Center found that internal emails at the U.S. Census Bureau indicated officials at the bureau were experiencing more political pressure from the Trump administration to control census data collected.
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Newly-released footage of California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter threatening to walk out of a CBS News interview has gone viral in which the Democrat is seen growing flustered by a question and almost tearing her mic off.

The interview with journalist Julie Watts of CBS News California Investigates, which was conducted last month, hit a snag when the reporter asked the former representative about her prospects of winning over Republicans in the state as she seeks to succeed the term-limited Gavin Newsom.

What do you say to the 40 percent of California voters, who youll need in order to win, who voted for [President Donald] Trump? Watts asked Porter.

open image in gallery California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter attempts to take off her lapel mic after being angered by CBS reporter Julie Watts's questions ( CBS News California Investigates )

How would I need them in order to win, maam? Porter responded, seemingly unhappy with the question but chuckling for the camera, before going on to express certainty that she could pick up the remaining 60 percent of non-Trump votes.

I have stood on my own two feet and won Republican votes before, and thats not something every candidate in this race can say, Porter said, referring to her time representing purple Orange County.

But you just said you dont need those Trump voters, Watts countered, causing the ex-congresswoman to throw up her hands and say the interview was becoming unnecessarily argumentative.

When the reporter insisted she had put the same question to all of Porters rivals in the race without issue, the latter responded: I dont want to keep doing this, Im going to call it. Thank you. She then reached for the mic pinned to her lapel and attempted to remove it.

Watts asked if she was serious about terminating the interview, and Porter complained that she was being hit with seven follow-ups to every single question you ask, commenting that she had never had to end an interview before.

When the reporter stood firm and insisted it was her job to ask challenging questions, Porter said: I dont want to have an unhappy experience with you and I dont want this all on camera.

Responding to the clip being circulated online on Tuesday evening, Watts said on X: So looks like 3min of this 30 min segment has gone viral. I hope youll want the full segment.

open image in gallery Porter expresses frustration at Wattss unnecessarily argumentative approach ( CBS News California Investigates )

Media pundit Mehdi Hasan reacted by expressing dismay that a politician should expect pleasant positive conversations rather than substantive questioning by journalists. At the same time, Megyn Kelly gloated: Are there other terrible interviews with Katie Porter? This is the most entertaining, unifying thing since Tiger King!

Porter, who lost her bid for the Senate to Adam Schiff last year, is bidding to become Californias first-ever female governor and has attracted the support of the influential grassroots campaign group EMILYs List, which backs female candidates who support abortion rights.

The progressive, a well-known face nationally from her time in Washington, currently holds a slight lead in the polls ahead of next Junes primary, having benefited from former vice president Kamala Harriss announcement in August that she would not run.

Thirty percent of registered voters who said they would have voted for Harris now plan to support Porter, according to a recent Politico survey.

Sixteen percent of that group said they would transfer their support to former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and 11 percent said their next choice was the states former health and human services secretary Xavier Becerra.

However, Porter could face stiffer competition if California Sen. Alex Padilla ultimately decides to enter the race to replace Newsom, who is widely expected to run for president in 2028.

On the Republican side, her challengers include Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and former Fox News host Steve Hilton.
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Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem appeared in Portland, Oregon, Tuesday, in a display of government power responding to an army of Antifa. Pictures from the scene revealed that army was approximately a dozen photographers and protesters on a street corner, including a man in a chicken costume.

Noem was photographed, during the day, on the roof of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, surveying the street below. The facility has been the site of nightly anti-immigration raid protests  some of which have turned aggressive recently as federal law enforcement clash with demonstrators.

Conservative influencer Benny Johnson, who joined Noem on the visit, posted a video from the roof, referring to her looking onto the army of Antifa  a nebulous left-wing, anti-fascist movement - often targeted by President Donald Trump.

People stood on the street below, looking up at Noem. The small crowd appeared to be mostly photojournalists and a few protesters holding signs. One man, wearing a chicken costume, stood out.

Our goal is that people would peacefully protest, but that we would still be allowed to enforce the law in this country, Noem told Johnson. So, its too bad theyre uneducated and ill-informed.

open image in gallery Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem visited Portland, Oregon, Tuesday where protests have broken out over federal law enforcement flooding the city ( Getty Images )

The crowd appeared nonviolent, though they were shouting at Noem. One person, using some sort of megaphone, taunted the secretary and other law enforcement officials, referring to a Subway sandwich, the kind which was previously thrown at federal law enforcement who were deployed in Washington, D.C., and Noems dog, which she admitted to shooting in her memoir.

Noem, Trump and other senior administration officials have characterized the ongoing protests in Portland as chaotic and dangerous. Trump has referred to Portland, a liberal city, as war-ravaged and in need of federal intervention.

The president has sought to send in hundreds of National Guard members to help protect immigration law enforcement as they conduct raids. However, federal judges as well as Oregons governor have said deploying troops is unnecessary.

This is not a factual need on the ground in Oregon, to deploy any of the military in the National Guard, whether theyre from California or Texas or Oregon, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek told OPB Wednesday.

open image in gallery Photographers and protesters gathered outside of an ICE detention facility in Portland to protest the administration's sweeping immigration raids ( bennyjohnson / X )

After Johnsons video was posted on X, liberal commentators and groups mocked Noem for what appeared to be a relatively neutral situation.

PORTLANDS WAR ZONE, California Governor Gavin Newsoms office responded with a photo of the small group of protesters.

The Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump political action committee, responded to Johnson by zooming in on a video of the crowd to reveal a woman taking a photo with her cell phone and the man in the chicken costume. Theyre using your tax dollars to fight this army of Antifa, the Lincoln Project wrote.

Its worth watching this video to see what Benny describes as the army of Antifa, Mike Baker, a New York Times correspondent, wrote.

open image in gallery Noem's trip to stare down the Antifa 'army'revealed a woman taking a photo with her cell phone and a man in a chicken costume ( bennyjohnson/X )

Nick Sortor, another conservative influencer, posted a similar video of Noem looking down at the protesters. His point of view appeared to show a few more photographers and people holding signs. Sortor claimed someone shouted F*** the immigration authorities in Spanish.

But still, people online did not appear intimidated by the group of people.

This isnt a war zone, this is a poorly attended protest, X user Josh responded.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson excoriated Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and blamed the government shutdown on Schumers fears of race-leading New York City Democratic nominee for mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Johnson and the rest of Republican leadership spoke to reporters for the third consecutive day as the government shutdown entered the weeklong mark. Johnson rattled off a series of headlines from various states with Democratic senators about how airlines face numerous challenges, food banks see increased use and national parks will be closed.

I could do this all day, Johnson told reporters, near-echoing the I can do this all day line famously uttered by Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, in multiple Marvel superhero movies.

There is one sad and inescapable fact that no one can forget here: This shutdown is nothing more than political cover for Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, Johnson told reporters. The Marxists are about to elect a mayor in New York City. That's Chuck Schumer state. He's terrified that he's going to get a challenge from his far left.

As of right now, Schumer, who is Jewish and a staunch defender of Israel, has yet to endorse Mamdani, who has sharply criticized the Israeli government for its response after the October 7 attack. Johnson and President Donald Trump have taken to labeling the Democratic leader as Shutdown Schumer the past week in a bid to blame the government stalemate on him.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) has continued to blame Democrats for the government shutdown. ( Getty Images )

Schumer also faced criticism in March when he joined Republicans to pass a stopgap spending measure known as a continuing resolution that the Republican-controlled House passed with little to no Democratic input.

That prompted calls for Schumer, who is not up for re-election until 2028, to face a primary challenge from a left-wing Democrat such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

So they picked a fight on something that's not even related at all to the shutdown and the funding that we should have gotten done by the end of September, Johnson said at his press conference. We just need a stop gap measure to give us a little more time to get the job of Congress done.

But this time around, Democrats have largely united to oppose a continuing resolution that would keep the government open in hopes that they can get Republicans to extend Covid-era enhanced tax credits for the Affordable Care Acts health insurance marketplaces.

Many state-run exchanges have sent notices that say premiums will double if the extensions are not extended.

Johnsons fellow Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia also criticized Johnson and the rest of House Republican leadership for not having a plan to extend the tax credits, saying she is absolutely disgusted that premiums would double.

In addition, some Republicans fear that federal workers who are furloughed would not receive back pay, even though President Donald Trump signed legislation in 2019 to ensure they would receive back pay.

Federal workers, it's my understanding that the law is that they would be paid and thats my position, he said. They should not be subjected to harm and financial dire straits because Chuck Schumer wants to play political games.
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Jim ONeill, Acting Director of the CDC and Robert F Kennedy Jrs Deputy Health and Human Services Secretary, has called for the MMR vaccine  combining shots for measles, mumps and rubella  to be broken up into three separate jabs.

ONeill echoed comments from President Donald Trump in a post on X on Monday in which the commander-in-chief offered advice to pregnant women, including a call to break up the MMR shot into three totally separate shots (not mixed!)

Thank you POTUS for your leadership, ONeill wrote in response. I call on vaccine manufacturers to develop safe monovalent vaccines to replace the combined MMR and break up the MMR shot into three totally separate shots.

open image in gallery The MMR vaccine was first licensed in the U.S. in 1971 and has become commonplace in the intervening decades ( Reuters )

Neither Trump nor ONeill offered any scientific rationale for their calls to break up the shot, and it was not clear whether the latters social media pronouncement should be read as an official directive.

Andrew Nixon, HHS Communications Director, has since told The Independent: Deputy Secretary ONeill agrees with President Trump that immunizations for measles, mumps, and rubella would be best administered as three separate vaccines.

Standalone vaccinations can potentially reduce the risk of side effects and can maximize parental choice in childhood immunizations.

The MMR vaccine is manufactured by the pharmaceutical giants Merck and GSK and was first licensed in the U.S. in 1971, following the consolidation of three separate shots that had been licensed in 1963, 1967, and 1969, respectively.

Combined shots have become standard practice in the intervening decades, and scientists have stated that there would be no advantage in reverting to the monovalent jabs of the 1960s, which could instead disrupt individuals adherence to vaccine schedules and ultimately encourage the diseases they were designed to prevent.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F Kennedy Jr have vowed to find the root cause of autism ( AFP/Getty )

I think that that would not be met with any enthusiasm by, or acceptance by, either providers or parents who would see their children inoculated with substantially more doses of vaccine, William Schaffner, an epidemiologist and professor of public policy at Vanderbilt University, told The Hill when asked about ONeills call being taken up.

William Moss, a professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Universitys Bloomberg School of Public Health, went further, saying: These monovalent vaccines are not even available, and I do not envision that vaccine manufacturers are going to want to produce these monovalent vaccines  particularly if they need to be studied in placebo-controlled trials as the Department of HHS has called for.

Merck agreed with both men in a statement of its own: Use of the individual components of combination vaccines increases the number of injections for the individual and may result in delayed or missed immunizations.

Trump and Kennedy have vowed to find the root cause of autism and, in 1998, an attempt to tie the MMR vaccine to the condition was made by the discredited British gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield, whose paper on the subject, published in The Lancet, was subsequently retracted in full in 2010 after scientists were unable to replicate the studies he cited and branded its findings incorrect.

Wakefield is no longer allowed to practice medicine in the U.K. and has since relocated to Texas, where he has repositioned himself as a medical martyr and father of the anti-vaccine movement.

He was seen alongside Kennedy at anti-vax rallies, and an epidemiologist who recently left the CDC told The Times last month that he remains the secretarys North Star.

open image in gallery Discredited British gastroenterologist Andrew Wakefield, who first suggest a link between the MMR shot and autism, has reinvented himself as a figurehead of the anti-vax movement in the U.S. ( Getty )

From what I understand hes not officially advising RFK Jr, its not like they talk every day, but RFK has been guided for some time by Wakefields research, they said.

Wakefield is the chief architect of a body of work that Kennedy believes and follows to this day.

Speaking to The Independent in 2018, Wakefield revealed he also has connections to the Trump: I met him once before the [2016] election, when he was running for the presidency. We had a meeting in Florida. We were there, four of us representing the issue of autism and its link to immunisation.

He interjected and said, You dont need to tell me that vaccines cause autism. Ive seen it, Ive seen it personally. We went on to discuss the issue of the autism crisis... He said if he was to be elected hed do something about it.

Much more recently, Trump expressed Wakefield and Kennedy-influenced vaccine skeptic sentiments as he returned to Washington from Charlie Kirks memorial service in Arizona.

Vaccines are very interesting, the president said. They can be great, but when you put the wrong stuff in them, you know Children get these massive vaccines like youd give to a horse.

And Ive said for a long time, I mean, this is no secret  spread them out over five years. Get five shots, small ones.

Did you ever see what they give? I mean, for a little baby to be injected with that much fluid, even beyond the actual ingredients, they have sometimes 80 different vaccines in them. Its crazy.
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The meteorologist known for his involvement in the infamous Sharpiegate fiasco is now set to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The Senate confirmed Neil Jacobs, who formerly served as the agencys acting administrator during President Donald Trumps first term, in a 51-47 vote on Tuesday night. Trump nominated Jacobs to the post in February, five years after he was found to have violated the agencys ethical code for his involvement in the so-called Sharpiegate incident.

The incident centered around Trumps claim in September 2019 that Hurricane Dorian, which peaked at Category 5 strength, would hit Alabama harder than anticipated. The National Weather Service in Birmingham rejected Trumps claim and posted on X that Alabama will NOT see any impacts from the hurricane.

The president stuck to his claim and later displayed, in the Oval Office, a map of Hurricane Dorians path that was altered with a black Sharpie to show it would hit Alabama.

NOAA then shared an unsigned statement claiming the National Weather Services claims about the hurricane path were inconsistent with forecasts at the time. The statement raised questions about whether there was political pressure on NOAA officials to release it.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump displays a map in the Oval Office that appears to show Hurricane Dorians path altered with a black Sharpie in 2019 ( Getty Images )

The Birmingham National Weather Services Sunday morning tweet spoke in absolute terms that were inconsistent with probabilities from the best forecast products available at the time, the statement read.

The hurricane did not hit Alabama, according to The New York Times.

A panel commissioned by NOAA later investigated whether the statement was driven by external political pressure from Department of Commerce senior leaders. The panel found Jacobs and another official violated the agencys ethical code when they issued the statement, according to a June 2020 memo shared by NOAA official Stephen Volz.

At the time, Jacobs rejected the panels findings, claiming it had applied an overly broad interpretation and created new standards for scientific misconduct that are inconsistent with NOAAs own scientific integrity policy, according to the Times.

The NOAA statement was not intended to imply Birmingham did anything wrong, he said in a statement. The intent was to reconcile the forecasters duty to convey information to the public with probabilistic numerical model guidance that was still showing a small, but non-zero, chance of impacts.

open image in gallery Neil Jacobs, pictured in 2019, has been confirmed by the Senate to lead NOAA ( Getty Images )

When Senator Ben Ray Lujan asked Jacobs about the incident during his confirmation hearing in July, the meteorologist said that there were probably some things I would do differently and explained he took steps after the incident to prevent it from happening again, The Washington Post reports.

Lujan went on to ask Jacobs: Would you sign off on an inaccurate statement due to political pressure in the same event, yes or no?

No, he responded.

Jacobs also said he stands behind the Trump administrations decision to make sweeping cuts at NOAA, while also claiming that staffing will be his top priority if confirmed. He also shared ideas about using satellites to improve weather warnings and modernizing the agencys weather radios.

The Independent has contacted NOAA and Jacobs for comment.
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White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller raised eyebrows during a live CNN interview this week after claiming that President Donald Trump had plenary authority during a conversation about the deployment of the National Guard in Oregon.

Video of Millers statement has gone viral  not only due to Millers controversial assertion  but because of the way he suddenly cut himself off mid-sentence, leaving his statement incomplete.

Trump having plenary authority suggests the president has assumed total power over the decision to deploy the National Guard in some states. It is unclear whether Miller paused due to technical difficulties or stopped himself after apparently realising the implications of what he was saying.

What is Plenary Authority?

Plenary authority refers to a single government official having absolute power on a particular matter.

According to Cornell Law Schools Legal Information Institute, in the U.S., it is recognised as complete power over a particular area with no limitations.

In the context in which Miller was speaking, his assertion that Trump has plenary authority has potentially significant ramifications.

The moment Stephen Miller cut himself off mid-sentence after mentioning Trump having 'plenary authority' ( CNN )

The U.S. presidential system  like many other systems of government around the world - is built on the constitutional principle of the separation of powers, a structure designed to prevent any single branch of government from holding unchecked authority by dividing power among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

While plenary authority suggests absolute power, the U.S. system of separation of powers uses checks and balances to ensure that no branch, including the president, can exercise complete control.

Just before Miller turned silent, he referred to Title 10 of the U.S. code, which sets out the conditions for deployment of the National Guard.

Part of the law he appears to be referring to sets out that the president may deploy the National Guard, if he considers, among other things, that rebellion against the authority of the United States make it impracticable to enforce the laws via usual means.

Other considerations include the invasion of the country.

Previous cases where the Trump administration has used this as a defense  in California and Oregon - have failed, as judges ruled that these conditions had not been met and that the use of the National Guard was unwarranted.

Concern over how Trump has used the powers afforded to the presidency sparked the mass No Kings protests across more than 2,000 cities earlier this year.

At least 4 million people marched in one of the biggest single days of protest in recent U.S. history to send Trump the message that they wont tolerate kings, tyrants, or dictators.

This came after Trump said I don't feel like a king and complained that he had to go through hell to get anything done under the constitutional system.

Plenary authority, with its sweeping, unchecked assumption of power, has previously been compared to the powers to rule by decree forced through by the governments of dictators, including Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler.

Boris Sanchez chalked Millers silence up to crossed wires

The moment came when CNN anchor Boris Sanchez asked Miller if the Trump administration would abide by a legal ruling that blocks the deployment of the National Guard in Oregon.

Youve called the district judges ruling, blocking the deployment of National Guard in Oregon, legal insurrection. Does the administration still plan to abide by that ruling? Sanchez asked.

Miller said, Well, the administration filed an appeal this morning with the 9th Circuit. I would note the administration won an identical case, in the 9th Circuit, just a few months ago, with respect to the federalizing of the California National Guard. Under title 10 of the U.S. code, the president has plenary authority, has

Stephen? Stephen? Hey Stephen, can you hear me? Sanchez asked, as Miller stood there motionless and blinking for around 15 seconds, before the camera feed of Miller was cut, and Sanchez said, It seems theres a technical issue.

The show then cut to a break and later resumed the interview with Miller. Sanchez told the audience, wires got crossed. Neither Sanchez nor Miller mentioned Trump wielding plenary authority again.

The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
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Six former U.S. surgeons general have publicly condemned Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, calling his leadership a "profound, immediate, and unprecedented threat" to the health and safety of Americans.

The letter, published in The Washington Post, was written by Jerome Adams, Richard Carmona, Joycelyn Elders, Vivek Murthy, Antonia Novello, and David Satcherwho have all served as surgeon general and have collectively served under every Republican and Democratic president since George H. W. Bush.

The surgeons general warned that Kennedy is "endangering the health of the nation."

Such a letter from bipartisan surgeons general essentially calling for the removal of a DHHS director is unprecedented.

"Over recent months, we have watched with increasing alarm as the foundations of our nations public health system have been undermined," the letter states. "Science and expertise have taken a back seat to ideology and misinformation. Morale has plummeted in our health agencies, and talent is fleeing at a time when we face rising threats  from resurgent infectious diseases to worsening chronic illnesses."

open image in gallery Six former surgeons general issued a joint statement calling for the replacement of Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy, Jr, claiming he poses an unprecedented threat to the health and safety of the American public ( Andrew Harnik/Getty Images )

The letter calls for a leader who "respects scientific integrity and transparency, listens to experts, and can restore trust to the federal health apparatus."

"Instead, Kennedy has become a driving force behind that crisis."

The letter comes on the heels of President Donald Trump and Kennedy's joint, highly contested announcement, that pregnant women using Tylenol is a driving cause of autism in children.

Before that, Kennedya long-time vaccine skeptic and leading voice of suspicion when the Covid-19 vaccines became availablemade clear he wanted to rework the nation's vaccine policy.

"Kennedy has spent decades advancing dangerous and discredited claims about vaccinesmost notoriously, the thoroughly discredited theory that childhood vaccines cause autism," the letter says. "He has promoted misinformation about the HPV vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer, and he has repeatedly misrepresented the risks of mRNA technology and coronavirus vaccines, despite their lifesaving impact during the pandemic."

In June, Kennedy authorized the firing of the 17-member Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, and in September he fired former CDC Director Susan Monarez.

open image in gallery Susan Monarez, the now-former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, says she was fired by Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy, Jr for refusing to rubber stamp his vaccine policies without first subjecting it to scientific review ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Monarez claims she was fired after she refused to rubber-stamp Kennedy's vaccine policies without first checking them against existing scientific evidence.

The surgeons general said that Kennedy's replacements for the fired federal workers lack "basic qualifications" and that some are even "vaccine conspiracy theorists."

"The new committee has already begun casting doubt on the hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, despite decades of data affirming its effectiveness and strong safety profile," the letter says.

During his presidential campaign, Trump said he would let Kennedy "go wild" on federal health agencies, and it appears as though that is exactly what is happening.

Kennedy oversees federal agencies that collectively have access to $2 trillion in funding and that affect every Americanand have the potential to affect much of the broader world as well.

Medicare and Medicaid, the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and other agencies are all under Kennedy's control.

"Its worth reminding ourselves what Kennedy puts at risk. The FDA approves lifesaving drugs and holds pharmaceutical companies to high standards of safety and effectiveness. NIH pursues and funds cutting-edge research. CDC leads in emergencies from pandemics to opioids to natural disasters," the letter says.

It continues, noting that the DHHS confronts mental health and substance abuse issues, addresses primary care shortages, and provides health insurance coverage for millions of Americans who are elderly, disabled, or who cannot afford coverage.

"Mismanaging HHS endangers Americas health, undermines national security, and damages our economic resilience and international credibility," the letter says.

The letter notes that the U.S. experienced its worst measles outbreak in more than 30 years this year, but rather than pushing Americans toward vaccines, Kennedy suggested they take vitamins to combat the illness.

"The result: a months-long outbreak, three preventable deaths, and the first measles-related child death in the U.S. in over two decades," the letter says.

The surgeons general aren't the only experts loudly ringing alarm bells to warn the public about the risk Kennedy poses to all Americans.

open image in gallery Protesters disrupt proceedings as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testifies before the Senate Committee on Health ( Getty Images )

The letter notes that the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and other leading health organizations came together and called on Americans to disregard the DHHS's guidance on prenatal Tylenol use.

On Monday, two psychiatric organizationsthe Southern California Psychiatry Society and the grassroots Committee to Protect Public Mental Healthreleased statements calling for Kennedy to be replaced as the head of DHHS, NPR reports.

"As physicians committed to evidence-based care, we are alarmed by the direction of HHS under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.," the committee said in a statement.

"Secretary Kennedy remains firmly committed to delivering on President Trump's promise to Make America Healthy Again by dismantling the failed status quo, restoring public trust in health institutions, and ensuring the transparency, accountability, and decision-making power the American people voted for," Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for the DHHS, wrote in response to the psychiatrists' statements.

Kennedy has not yet responded to the surgeons generals letter. The Independent has requested comment.

"Secretary Kennedy is entitled to his views," the surgeons general write. "But he is not entitled to put peoples health at risk."
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Hundreds of Texas National Guard troops have arrived in Illinois as part of the Trump administrations long-threatened plan to send military troops into Chicago, despite a lawsuit and vigorous opposition to the move from city and state leaders.

The elite Texas National Guard are on the ground and ready to go, Texas Governor Greg Abbott wrote on X on Tuesday. They are putting America first by ensuring that the federal government can safely enforce federal law.

A military official told The New York Times that 200 Texas troops are expected to deploy to the Chicago area on Wednesday, while 300 Illinois National Guard troops the Trump administration has attempted to federalize over the objections of state officials are also preparing to deploy.

The National Guard soldiers deploying in Illinois will be mobilized for an initial period of 60 days and protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, as well as other federal agents and property in the state, U.S. Northern Command said in a statement. A military official told The NYT that the troops heading to the state are not expected to take direct law enforcement roles themselves.

News cameras spotted Texas Guard troops on Tuesday at an Army Reserve center in Elwood, Illinois, 55 miles southwest of Chicago.

open image in gallery State and local officials in Illinois have sued the Trump administration to stop the deployment of hundreds of state and Texas National Guard troops to Illinois, who were seen arriving in the state on Tuesday ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Illinois and the city of Chicago sued the Trump administration on Monday to stop the National Guard deployments, alleging that the White House was putting the bedrock principles separating the military from domestic law enforcement in peril.

A federal court last week temporarily paused a similar attempted deployment of in-and out-of-state Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, but the judge in the Illinois case declined to take such a step, scheduling a hearing in the suit for Thursday. For the time being, that means the troops in Illinois may begin their operations before the court weighs in.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, has accused the president of using authoritarian tactics to wield control over states and cities governed by his political rivals.

He wants to justify and normalize the presence of armed soldiers under his direct command, Pritzker said Monday.

open image in gallery Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (left) and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker accuse the Trump administration of using authoritarian tactics to send military troops into the state over the objection of local officials ( Scott Olson/Getty Images )

Speaking in Minneapolis Tuesday, Pritzker said the Trump administration has not spoken with him directly or given him information about its plans in Illinois.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said during a press conference Tuesday he also had not been notified about details of the operation, which he called unconstitutional, illegal, and wrong.

Pritzker, in an interview Tuesday with MSNBC, called on his fellow governors to rally to his support and threatened to withdraw from the National Governors Association if the organization did not speak out in Illinoiss defense.

We should stand as one against the idea that Donald Trump has the ability to call up our National Guard against our will, the governor said, accusing Abbott of being a tool and lackey of the White House.

open image in gallery An extra contingent of federal immigration officers have been deployed in the Chicago area since September as part of Operation Midway Blitz, an enforcement crackdown that has been met with vigorous protests and alleged violent threats against federal officials ( Scott Olson/Getty Images )

California Governor Gavin Newsom, whose National Guard troops the Trump administration attempted to send to Portland, after they were used in a similar military deployment to Los Angeles earlier this year, hammered Texas leaders for supporting the White House campaign to send troops into Illinois.

Crime is out of control in Texas, Newsom wrote on X. Texas homicide rate is 39% higher than California. But Greg Abbott is busy sending his National Guard to Illinois for stunts. Stop invading other states and clean up your own damn mess, Greg.

The assembling Guard presence in Illinois will join the scores of federal agents who have already been sent to the Chicago area for a multi-agency immigration crackdown dubbed Operation Midway Blitz, which local officials and protesters have also opposed.

Throughout the back-and-forth with Illinois leaders, Trump administration officials have framed their unprecedented, heavily militarized presence in the state as a response to an alleged law-and-order crisis and out-of-control crime, pointing to regular protests around an ICE facility outside of Chicago and alleged violent threats against federal agents.

open image in gallery The president and his cabinet defend the plan to send troops and immigration agents to Chicago, claiming crime is out of control and federal law enforcement is unable to do its job, even though major crime categories are declining ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

"Seeing what's happening in Chicago, they need the National Guard, Attorney General Pam Bondi testified in the Senate on Tuesday. Our ICE members need the National Guard to protect the national buildings.

When violent gangs can plot to kidnap and kill law enforcement officers in a U.S. city like Chicago, that means they are feeling way too comfortable, Gregory Bovino, a senior Border Patrol leader spearheading the operation, wrote on X on Tuesday. Time to make them feel uncomfortable.

The ACLU of Illinois, which is also suing the Trump administration, has accused those same federal agents of unleashing a campaign of violence and intimidation against peaceful protesters and journalists during weeks of demonstrations outside an ICE building in Broadview, near Chicago.

Major crime is down across multiple categories in Chicago, according to police statistics, including a 28 percent decline in murder in 2025 compared to this period last year, and a 34 percent decline in robbery.

open image in gallery The controversy over sending troops to Chicago comes after a federal court last week blocked a Trump administration attempt to deploy out-of-state National Guard troops to Portland, where local residents have protested immigration operations ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Chicago Mayor Johnson signed an executive order Monday barring federal immigration agents and others from using city-owned property, such as parking lots, garages and vacant lots, as staging areas for enforcement operations.

The Illinois operation is part of a larger Trump administration tactic of sending or threatening to send troops into largely Democrat-run cities.

Since starting his second term, Trump has sent or talked about sending troops to 10 cities, including Baltimore; Memphis, Tennessee; the District of Columbia; New Orleans; and the California cities of Oakland, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

A federal judge in September said the administration willfully broke federal law by deploying guard troops to Los Angeles over protests about immigration raids.
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President Donald Trump has designated the movement known as Antifa as a major domestic terrorist organization.

The president originally announced the policy on Truth Social last month while on a state visit to the U.K. He said hes also calling for investigations into people believed to be funding the movement.

I am pleased to inform our many U.S.A. Patriots that I am designating ANTIFA, A SICK, DANGEROUS, RADICAL LEFT DISASTER, AS A MAJOR TERRORIST ORGANIZATION, Trump wrote. I will also be strongly recommending that those funding ANTIFA be thoroughly investigated in accordance with the highest legal standards and practices.

Since then, officials have said a key reason behind their campaigns to send federal agents and troops to Portland and Chicago has been to crack down on the group, though local officials have sued and deny theres any sort of law-and-order crisis in the cities justifying this military-style intervention.

They beat journalists. They attacked courthouses, Attorney General Pam Bondi said during an October 8 federal roundtable on Antifa. They attacked police stations. They doxx and assault our law enforcement officers.

open image in gallery Anarchists and Antifa counter-protesters march near a white nationalist-led rally marking the one year anniversary of the 2017 Charlottesville Unite the Right protests in Washington in 2018 ( REUTERS )

White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, a driving force behind the administrations immigration policy, said earlier this week that ICE officers in these cities have to do hand-to-hand combat every night against Antifa to leave federal facilities, which have attracted regular protests.

Heres what you need to know about the radical movement being targeted by the Trump administration.

What is Antifa?

open image in gallery Antifa-style demonstrations have occurred during larger liberal social movements like the Black Lives Matter protests, as well as in response to the presence of right-wing groups like the Proud Boys ( REUTERS )

Antifa, which is short for anti-fascist, is a not a single organization but rather a loosely affiliated, radical left-wing movement with no central hierarchy, organization, or clear membership structure, according to experts.

Its adherents have used a variety of protest methods, including violence, as part of their activism, and Antifa-style protesters have a noted presence on the West Coast in cities like Portland and Seattle.

Trumps former FBI director, Christopher Wray, told Congress in 2020 that Antifa is not a group or an organization, but rather a movement or an ideology.

The Anti Defamation League similarly describes Antifa as a decentralized, leaderless movement composed of loose collections of groups, networks and individuals.

open image in gallery Antifa members have been known to engage in street brawls with right-wing groups ( AFP via Getty Images )

These characteristics distinguish Antifa from others that have been targets of law enforcement attention, including jihadist cells or right-wing militias, which often operate as groups with concrete officers and membership criteria.

Where has Antifa been active?

Anti-fascist activism dates back to Europe in the 1920s and 30s, during the rise of authoritarian leaders like Mussolini and Hitler.

It has taken a variety of forms since making the jump stateside.

Antifa-style groups in the U.S. later sought to combat the growing prevalence of neo-Nazis in the 1980s rock scene, while such protesters were spotted at demonstrations against globalization and unchecked free trade in the 1990s and early 2000s.

In contemporary politics, they came to many peoples attention during the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where fights broke out between the massed white supremacists and Antifa counter-protesters. Antifa activists are known for sometimes wearing all black clothing.

open image in gallery The public profile of Antifa-style activism grew following 2017s violent Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia ( Getty )

Since then, those with Antifa-like ideologies have been found mixed into larger protest crowds during social movements including the Black Lives Matter movement.

Antifa-style actions have sometimes occurred in reaction to the presence of right-wing groups, like the Proud Boys, who brawled with anti-fascist activists in 2021 outside the Oregon state capitol.

During the second Trump administration, federal officials have accused individuals affiliated with Antifa ideology of doxxing immigration officials and violently breaching a Portland Immigrant and Customs Enforcement building in June.

The Department of Homeland Security alleges that individuals arrested for protesting outside an ICE office near Chicago in September on charges of assault are Antifa-aligned, though the Justice Department has refrained from using such language when actually describing their alleged criminal offenses in legal complaints, instead describing the attacks without references to connections to any radical group.

What happens now?

Its unclear exactly what practical effects this designation could have. The U.S. government does not provide a precise, comprehensive, and public explanation of groups it may consider to be domestic terrorist organizations, in part because of free speech concerns, according to a 2023 Congressional Research Service report.

Listing groups in this way may infringe on First Amendment-protected free speechor the act of belonging to an ideological group, which in and of itself is not a crime in the United States, the report says.

The Independent has contacted the White House for more information.

open image in gallery Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem watching a protest in Portland, Oregon, on October 7. Trump administration officials accuse members of Antifa of leading violent protests against federal buildings in Portland and Chicago ( Getty Images )

Right-wing influencers and media outlets frequently report on alleged Antifa action at protests, including a claim Tuesday from podcaster Benny Johnson that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had faced down an army of Antifa at a Portland ICE building. Photos of the confrontation showed Noem standing on a rooftop looking down at a small smattering of protesters, including a person in a chicken costume.

The journalist Andy Ngo frequently reports on alleged Antifa members, and has said hes been attacked by the group, though critics have accused him of deceptive reporting tactics and fueling online hate campaigns against those he denounces.

The announcement that Antifa would be considered a terror group comes in the wake of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk being shot and killed while speaking at an event on Utah Valley Universitys campus in September.

open image in gallery Charlie Kirk speaks at an event at Utah Valley University on September 10. Trump and his allies have vowed to investigate left-wing groups after Kirk was fatally shot at the event ( AP )

Trump and his allies have since railed against left-wing groups and blamed them for growing hostility against conservatives. Trump and Vice President JD Vance have both vowed to investigate left-leaning organizations in the wake of Kirks killing, Bloomberg reports.

Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican, has praised Trumps Antifa announcement, according to the Associated Press.

Antifa seized upon a movement of legitimate grievances to promote violence and anarchy, working against justice for all, he said. The President is right to recognize the destructive role of Antifa by designating them domestic terrorists.

Others have been more critical, including CNNs David Axelrod, who warned that the designation could be a pretext to go after their political enemies.

They will go after everyone and everything that they put under that umbrella, even though it isnt an organization, Axelrod said.

Trump first vowed to designate Antifa as a terrorist organization during his first term, during nationwide protests sparked by the murder of George Floyd in 2020. However, legal experts at the time raised free speech concerns and warned that the designation lacked legal backing, Reuters reports.
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Donald Trump suggested his administration could designate Antifa a foreign terrorist organization as top administration officials compared the decentralized militant antifascist movement to Hamas, Hezbollah and the Islamic state in a discussion at the White House to brainstorm law enforcement actions against left-wing dissent.

Right-wing media personalities joined the president and top law enforcement officials for what was billed as a roundtable event focused on Antifa, which Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem labeled just as dangerous as designated terrorist groups and drug cartels.

They are just as sophisticated as MS-13, as [Tren de Aragua], as Isis, as Hezbollah, as Hamas, as all of them. They are just as dangerous, Noem said. They have an agenda to destroy us, just like the other terrorists weve dealt with for many, many years.

Trump  eager for legal justification to extinguish protests targeting his agenda  said Antifa could similarly be designated a foreign terrorist organization, potentially exposing alleged supporters or anyone perceived to be a member to severe sanctions and other penalties.

There are extensive foreign ties, and I think that would be a very valid step, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller said Wednesday.

open image in gallery Donald Trump suggested designating Antifa a foreign terrorist organization during a White House event October 8 in which he also said we took the freedom of speech away to prosecute people who burn the American flag ( AFP via Getty Images )

The president also touted his recent announcement that anyone convicted of burning an American flag will be sentenced to one year in prison, saying, we took the freedom of speech away because, he argued, burning a flag is equivalent to inciting a riot.

Weve made it one year penalty for inciting riots, he said. We took the freedom of speech away, because thats been through the courts, and the courts said, you have freedom of speech, but what has happened is that when they burn the flag it agitates and irritates crowds  and you end up with riots.

Wednesdays event followed the presidents executive order singling out the militant antifascist movement and the people who financially support it as a domestic terror organization. There is no domestic terrorist organization designation under U.S. law, and Antifa is not a specific organization but a term that encompasses a wider ideologically driven movement against fascism. Its not clear what legal weight, if any, the order will have.

But federal law allows for international groups to be labeled as foreign terrorist organizations, designated by the Secretary of State as a means of imposing financial sanctions, travel restrictions and other penalties.

open image in gallery Senior Trump administration officials joined the president at the White House for an event focused on strategies for combating Antifa October 8 ( AFP via Getty Images )

Trumps executive order also directs federal agencies to use all applicable authorities to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle any and all illegal operations  especially those involving terrorist actions conducted by Antifa or anyone claiming to be acting on its behalf.

The president also issued a national security directive last month ordering federal law enforcement agencies to dismantle groups accused of supporting acts of domestic terror before theyre committed, pointing to anti-Christian, anti-capitalism or anti-American views as identifiable markers.

Fighting crime is more than just getting the bad guy off the streets, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Wednesday. Its breaking down the organization brick by brick. Just like we did with cartels, we're going to take this same approach, President Trump, with Antifa: Destroy the entire organization from top to bottom.

open image in gallery White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, an architect of Trumps mass deportation agenda and opposition to left-wing dissent, suggested Antifa could be labeled a foreign terrorist organization, which would expose alleged members to severe sanctions and immigration penalties ( AP )

While media personalities at the event accused Antifa of violent attacks, administration officials suggested Democratic elected officials were covering up their crimes. Noem on Wednesday accused Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson of absolutely covering up the terrorism in the city, which has become a flashpoint for protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

These leaders in these local cities, along with [Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson], ignore whats going on, or sir, theyre helping antifa cover it up, Noem added.

Trump also suggested that Pritzker and Johnson should be criminally prosecuted for what theyre doing, which he didnt explain.

open image in gallery Right-wing media personalities joined Trump and administration officials to call on the president and federal law enforcement for forceful action against Antifa and other left-wing groups they accused of violent protests ( REUTERS )

Antifa encompasses individuals and loosely affiliated groups in a broader militant subculture  often physically confronting far-right groups in the streets  that has become a global right-wing bogeyman in the wake of nationwide protests, with some turning violent, over the last decade.

Trumps actions against Antifa have animated global support from politically aligned world leaders, including Hungarys Viktor Orban, who announced plans last month to strike against it with the full strictness of law.

The U.S. designation may prompt left-leaning donor networks supporting Democratic campaigns and causes to reconsider, pause or withdraw funding over fears that the Trump administration could try to connect them to protests if Antifa is present, or if prosecutors consider the organizations Antifa themselves, solely because of their political affiliation, according to experts speaking to The Independent last month.

The chill is, in many ways, the point, said Will Creeley, legal director of Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
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President Donald Trump has said an agreement to end Israels two-year-old war in Gaza has been signed off by Israel and Hamas and will allow the release of all hostages very soon. The president made the announcement in a post to Truth Social Wednesday evening.

I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan. This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed-upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace, the president said.

All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!

Soon after Trumps post, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, With God's help, we will bring them all home. A spokesperson for Qatars foreign ministry has affirmed that both parties have reached an agreement in the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan.

open image in gallery The president claimed on Truth Social that Israel and Hamas have signed off on a deal to allow the release of hostages very soon ( AFP/Getty )

Earlier Wednesday, Trump was handed a note by Secretary of State Marco Rubio during an event at the White House.

Trump was taking questions from reporters during a roundtable with right-wing influencers when Rubio entered the room.

After Trump invited him to sit at the table alongside several other White House staff, the ex-Florida senator approached the president and whispered something in his ear. He then sat down and wrote a note which he had passed to the president.

open image in gallery Marco Rubio whispers in Trumps ear during a roundtable about Antifa ( AFP/Getty )

Trump read the note, then told the assembled journalists and influencers that Rubio had informed him of new progress in talks that have been taking place in Egypt.

I was just given a note by the Secretary of State saying that were very close to a deal in the Middle East, and theyre going to need me pretty quickly, Trump said.

According to a photograph of the note, it read: We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce the deal first.

Trump had said an earlier delay in starting the event was caused by him dealing with people from the Middle East regarding talks over the 20-point proposal which Hamas had partly accepted on Friday, just days after he unveiled it alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week.

open image in gallery Rubio wrote a note for the president which he then handed over ( AP )

He said the peace talks, which are being attended by representatives of Israel, Hamas, Egypt, and other Arab states as well as Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law and former adviser Jared Kushner, were very close to resulting in a deal sometime towards the end of the week.

Witkoff and Kushner both arrived in Egypt on Wednesday as Israel and Hamas exchanged lists of prisoners and hostages to be released as part of a potential agreement.

We have a great team over there, great negotiators, and theyre, unfortunately, great negotiators on the other side also, but its something I think that will happen, Trump said. I may go there sometime toward the end of the week, maybe on Sunday, actually, and well see. But theres a very good chance negotiations are going along very well.

open image in gallery Trump reacts as he reads the note ( Getty )

The president later teased the possibility of traveling to Gaza to view the damage wrought there by two years of Israeli bombardment.

Yeah, I would. I might do that. I may do that. We havent decided exactly, he said.

Ill be going to Egypt ... thats where everybody is gathered right now ... but Ill be making the rounds as the expression goes. I probably will, he added.

Shortly afterwards, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt put out a statement reading: On Friday morning, President Trump will visit Walter Reed [Army] Medical Center for a planned meeting and remarks with the troops. While there, President Trump will stop by for his routine yearly check-up. He will then return to the White House. President Trump is considering going to the Middle East shortly thereafter.

open image in gallery Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner are attending the talks ( AFP/Getty )

Israel launched its military attack on Gaza two years ago this week, following the Hamas terror attacks on October 7 2023, which left nearly 1,200 Israelis dead and some 250 kidnapped. Since then, the Israeli military has killed more than 67,000 people, including at least 19,000 children, according to local officials, and destroyed much of the enclave.

According to Hamas representatives, the indirect talks thus far have been focused on their demands for halting the conflict, withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza and the proposed prisoner swap with Israel.

The group has so far refused to discuss one of the biggest sticking points: Israels demand that Hamas give up its weapons, which the Palestinian source said Hamas would reject as long as Israeli troops occupy Palestinian land.

open image in gallery Smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike on Gaza City on 7 October ( AP )

The list of Palestinians Hamas wants freed is expected to include some of the most prominent prisoners jailed by Israel, whose release had been off limits in previous ceasefires.

According to a Palestinian source close to the talks, the list includes Marwan al-Barghouti, a leader of the Fatah movement, and Ahmed Saadat, head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Both are serving multiple life sentences for attacks that killed Israelis.

Despite Trumps demand that Israel stop bombing Gaza last week, Israeli Defense Forces have only turned up the intensity of their campaign.

Gaza medical authorities reported eight people killed in Israeli strikes in the last 24 hours, the lowest toll for weeks.

Samantha Beech and Sam Rkaina contributed reporting
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President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson should be in jail for pushing back against his federal immigration enforcement in the city.

The president accused the Democratic leadership of failing to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers who Trump has sent to Chicago to conduct sweeping raids as part of his mass deportation agenda.

Pritzker and Johnson have opposed Trump sending in federal law enforcement to the city and refused to comply with the presidents request for National Guard troops to protect immigration officers  though Trump overruled their objections over the weekend, sending the Texas National Guard in.

Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also! Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Pritzker responded on X, promising he will not back down and claiming Trump is on the path to full-blown authoritarianism.

open image in gallery Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker have stood up to Trump as he sends federal law enforcement into Chicago ( AFP via Getty Images )

Johnson responded, telling CNNs The Situation Room, This is not the first time Donald Trump has called for the arresting of a Black man, unjustly. Im not going anywhere.

This president is unstable, unhinged, a double-minded individual that, quite frankly, is a threat to our democracy, Johnson said.

Trump has previously called for his political opponents to be jailed, such as New York Citys Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani or his former presidential race opponent, Hillary Clinton.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trumps Justice Department has opened investigations or sought indictments against perceived enemies like former FBI Director James Comey and former Obama administration officials.

open image in gallery Chicago residents have taken to the streets to protest Trumps deployment of federal law enforcement in the city ( AP )

The Trump administration claims that Pritzker and Johnsons efforts to limit federal officers' presence in Chicago are putting immigration agents in danger but the Democrats say its their efforts to limit the chaos imposed by the White House.

Their plan all along has been to cause chaos, and then they can use that chaos to consolidate Donald Trumps power, Pritzker said Monday during a news conference.

Tensions are rising in Chicago between residents and federal law enforcement as immigration authorities use aggressive tactics to arrest and deport the highest number of undocumented people possible.

Over the weekend, a woman was shot and wounded by federal Border Patrol agents. The Department of Homeland Security said it occurred after authorities were boxed in and rammed by vehicles.

open image in gallery Trump has sent members of the Texas National Guard to Chicago to protect immigration law enforcement as they conduct raids ( Getty Images )

The woman has been charged for allegedly ramming a vehicle but her attorney said body camera footage shows authorities taunting her before the shootout.

Pritzker and Johnson have taken action to limit Trumps enforcement in the state and city.

Pritzker filed a lawsuit Monday to try to stop Trump from federalizing the Illinois National Guard and sending troops into Chicago. Hours later, Trump sent members of the Texas National Guard into Chicago.

Johnson also signed an executive order prohibiting ICE and other federal agents from using city property for civil immigration enforcement.
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President Donald Trump is calling Republicans, asking, Whats going on with Marjorie? as he is perplexed by the congresswomans recent criticisms of the GOP.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, has been one of Trumps most loyal allies, but she has recently taken strong public stances against her own party, including over the ongoing government shutdown.

Trump has called at least two senior Republicans in recent months to ask, Whats going on with Marjorie?, NBC News reported, citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the matter.

While Greene says she still supports her close ally, Trump, shes also spoken out against the GOPs position on the Gaza war and the Epstein files and in support of Democrats demands to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies due to expire by the end of the year.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump is reportedly calling Republicans, asking, 'Whats going on with Marjorie?' as he is perplexed by the congresswomans recent criticisms of the GOP ( Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images )

Greene wrote on social media Monday that although shes not a fan of the ACA, also known as Obamacare, she is absolutely disgusted that health insurance premiums will DOUBLE if the tax credits expire this year.

She also accused lawmakers of only funding foreign wars and not doing anything to help the American people.

Our country sent $30 billion to Israel in 2024 alone killing countless innocent children and sent HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS to Ukraine in the past few years. By the way, I voted NO to all of that murder! she wrote.

According to the Costs of War project at Brown Universitys Watson School of International and Public Affairs, the U.S. has provided $21.7 billion in military aid to Israel and another $9.65 billion to $12.07 billion on military operations in the Middle East over the past two years.

open image in gallery Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has spoken out against the GOPs position on the Gaza war and the Epstein files and in support of Democrats demands to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies ( Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images )

Greene is also one of the four House Republicans who have joined Democrats in signing a petition to force a vote to release files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who was a friend of Trumps decades ago.

The congresswoman wrote on social media last month, Im committed to doing everything possible for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein. Including exposing the cabal of rich and powerful elites that enabled this.

Speaking to NBC News in a recent interview, Greene said, Im not some sort of blind slave to the president, and I dont think anyone should be.

Im not elected by the president. Im not elected by anyone that works in the White House. Im elected by my district. Thats who I work for, and I got elected without the presidents endorsement, and, you know, I think that has served me really well, she said.

open image in gallery Greene has been one of Trumps most loyal allies ( Andrew Harnik/Getty Images )

Aside from in-party fighting, the Republicans and Democrats are in a standoff as the government shutdown enters its second week.

Democrats are demanding a reversal in Medicaid cuts laid out in Trumps massive spending bill, which he signed in July, and the ACA subsidies extension in exchange for their support on a funding bill to open the government.

Republicans have baselessly claimed Democrats want to give free healthcare to undocumented immigrants, despite the group not being eligible for federal healthcare programs aside from in emergencies.

When asked for comment about the recent reporting on Trump and Greene, the White House pivoted to blaming the Democrats for the shutdown.

The Administrations position has been clear: we will not negotiate on policy while the American people are held hostage. We urge the Democrats to reopen the government, White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson told The Independent.
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Three men, accused of being part of a hired kill team, were arrested in Sydneys southwest, moments before they planned to carry out a murder near a daycare centre.

All three now face charges, including conspiracy to commit murder and participating in a criminal group, police said.

Two vehicles were intercepted on the River Road in Revesby at about 3.50pm on Tuesday by a tactical operations unit of the police after NSW officers first saw them mobilising to carry out an offence at Sydneys Condell Park during a routine surveillance operation.

Police say the trio, aged 18, 19, and 26, were en route to kill a man linked to organised crime.

Greall Tighe, 18, and Kevin Mundine, 19, were arrested from one vehicle, and a third man, Tyrone Tuiluga Rio, 26, was arrested from another car nearby.

Authorities allege the men were acting on behalf of a transnational organised crime network amid an internal dispute.

This was a calculated and coordinated intervention that stopped what we will allege was a planned killing nearby a daycare centre  a deeply concerning scenario, Scott Cook, an assistant commissioner and state crime commander for NSW police, said in a statement.

The fact this group were prepared to kill an individual in a location where so much collateral damage could have been caused is of significant concern to the NSW Police Force, he said.

Detectives said the intended target, believed to be on his way to pick up his child, was in the vicinity at the time of the arrests.

Officers recovered two firearms, balaclavas, body-worn cameras, and jerry cans of fuel from the cars, a police spokesperson said. A third firearm was seized later from another vehicle linked to the men.

Mr Cook said: Were not conclusively certain which daycare centre was relevant to this intended hit, but we are aware it was around a daycare centre.

Peter Faux, a detective superintendent with the organised crime squad, said: We [allege that] were able to not only identify that they were going to do something serious, we were fortunately in a position to react and stop that from occurring.

Weve been looking at and targeting a number of different organised crime networks  with a big focus on identifying those involved and stopping them before they occur, Mr Faux said.

He said that the officers would never ever put the public at danger when questioned about the risk of arresting armed men in the middle of afternoon traffic. In our view, there was no risk to the public because we were controlling this situation, he said.

One of the three men was on bail for a series of aggravated break and enter charges. All three face counts of conspiracy to commit murder and participating in a criminal group, among other offences.

These individuals were being watched, and we moved at the right moment, Mr Cook said.

We remain committed to protecting the community from serious and organised crime, especially when it threatens everyday spaces where families expect to feel safe.

Police, however, refused to elaborate on the potential victim. That person has links to crime and that person was targeted due to what we think is a breakdown in the transnational organised crime network, Mr Cook said.

I am not prepared to talk about the (alleged) victim. It is not in the interest or safety of that (alleged) victim to describe them further.

During a press conference on Wednesday morning, NSW premier Chris Minns was asked if one of the arrested, being charged with new offences while already on bail, was an example of the court system maybe getting it wrong.

I think if you look at the dramatic circumstances relating to the arrest yesterday, youd have to say yes, Mr Minns said.
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German police are set to gain powers to shoot down rogue drones, a move prompted by recent airport disruptions across Europe, which some leaders link to Russian hybrid warfare.

The cabinet approved the new legislation on Wednesday, now awaiting parliamentary consent.

It explicitly permits officers to neutralise drones violating German airspace, including using firearms in situations of acute danger or significant harm. Other authorised methods include laser intervention or signal jamming to disrupt control and navigation.

The new law comes after dozens of flights were diverted or cancelled last Friday at Munich Airport, Germany's second largest, leaving more than 10,000 passengers stranded, after rogue drone sightings.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he assumed Russia was behind many of the drones flying over Germany last weekend, but none had been armed and were rather on reconnaissance flights.

open image in gallery Hundreds of passengers were left stranded after drones forced the closure of Munich Airport ( (c) onw-images )

EU leaders have come to view Russia as a major threat to their continent's security following Moscow's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine and their support of Kyiv.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called last month for what she described as a drone wall - a network of sensors and weapons to detect, track and neutralise intruding unmanned aircraft - to protect Europe's eastern flank.

But some say the drones involved in recent incidents could also have been launched from within the EU.

With the new law, Germany joins European countries that have recently given security forces powers to down drones violating their airspace, including Britain, France, Lithuania and Romania.

It states that to avert dangers posed by drones on the land, in the air or on water, police "may employ appropriate technical means against the system, its control unit, or its control link, if averting the danger by other measures would be futile or significantly impeded."

Germany recorded 172 drone-related disruptions to air traffic between January and the end of September 2025, up from 129 in the same period last year and 121 in 2023, according to data from Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS).

German military drills last month in the northern port city of Hamburg included a demonstration of how to neutralise a rogue drone.

Like a spider, a large military drone shot a net at a smaller one in mid-flight, entangling its propellers and forcing it to the ground, where a robotic dog trotted over to seek possible explosives.

Shooting down drones could be unsafe in densely populated urban areas, however, and airports do not necessarily have detection systems that can immediately report sightings.
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Greenlands leader has urged the European Union to invest in the islands mineral resources, renewable energy, airports, and internet services, thanking the 27-nation bloc for its steadfast support.

Addressing the European Parliament, Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen stated that "2025 has been an eventful if not dramatic year for Greenland."

He highlighted the significant challenge posed by climate change but notably omitted any mention of President Donald Trumps previous discussions about acquiring the Arctic territory.

"We need cooperation and partnerships with like-minded countries and institutions who share our values," the 34-year-old premier said in Strasbourg, France.

He described the EU as "a stable, reliable and important partner for Greenland for more than 40 years," extending "a heartfelt thank you" for its "strong support for Greenland during challenging times we are going through right now.

You have stood by us as a friend and partner. We will never forget this."

Greenland, which was a Danish colony until 1953, gained home rule in 1979 and became a self-governing entity in 2009, though it remains part of the Danish realm.

open image in gallery Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said that 2025 has been an eventful if not dramatic year for Greenland ( Associated Press/Pascal Bastien )

Denmark, which also currently holds the EUs rotating presidency, and Greenland have rejected Trumps offers to buy the island. He hasnt ruled out military force to take control of the mineral-rich territory.

When asked by a reporter before his speech about relations with the Trump administration, Nielsen said that US-Greenland ties should be managed in mutual respect, with respect for international law.

We seek to have more and better cooperation also with the USA, when we can fulfill the respectful tone, he said.

During the speech, Nielsen said that Greenland has most of the critical raw minerals that the EU is seeking, but that mining these resources is capital intensive.

open image in gallery Greenland has resisted Donald Trumps offers to buy the island ( Associated Press/Pascal Bastien )

He also urged the bloc to invest in the untapped hydroelectricity potential provided by the island's rivers and glaciers.

Nielsen also called for financial support to develop telecommunications networks, particularly in the poorly connected north, and to build two regional airports.

It is essential for us that those who operate telecommunications in Greenland are trusted and reliable actors. This is vital to ensure the stability of the infrastructure, and to prevent unauthorized parties from disrupting and compromising connections, he said.

Lawmakers gave Nielsen a standing ovation as he said thank you for being a trusted friend of Greenland.
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Albania's Vjosa River, celebrated as one of Europe's last uninterrupted waterways, presents a stark paradox: a natural wonder simultaneously battling severe environmental degradation.

While it meanders through tree-lined gorges and lush valleys, its waters are marred by plastic scraps blowing from an open landfill and raw sewage discharged directly into the current.

Further upstream, diggers extract gravel for concrete, a practice experts warn is altering the river's path and destabilising its banks.

Despite these immediate threats, the Vjosa valley received significant international recognition last month, designated by UNESCO as one of 26 new Biosphere Reserves.

This initiative aims to "safeguard some of the planets richest and most fragile ecosystems," a description fitting for a region home to otters, threatened Egyptian vultures, and rare plant species.

The river itself was declared a national park by the Albanian government in 2023.

These designations represent a considerable boost for Albania, a Balkan nation of 2.4 million people. The country is currently experiencing a tourism surge along its coastline and mountains and is actively seeking to join the European Union by the end of the decade.

open image in gallery A fisherman stands next to fish in the Vjosa river, recently designated a UNESCO site, near Selenice, Albania ( REUTERS )

The challenge now lies in ensuring these protections translate into tangible improvements for the river's health.

But beneath the sweeping scenery, environmentalists are worried for the future.

"International recognition papers like UNESCO do not solve problems," said Besjana Guri from the non-governmental environmental organization Lumi (River) during one of her visits to the valley last week.

UNESCO did not respond to Reuters requests for comment. In previous reports, it said it would follow rigorous criteria before granting Vjosa biosphere reserve status.

Albania's Environment Minister, Sofjan Jaupaj, who keeps a framed copy of the UNESCO designation in his office, acknowledged the problems during an interview with Reuters.

open image in gallery One local towards the landfill in the Vjosa valley where plastic is kicked up by the wind and caught by the branches of nearby trees ( REUTERS )

He said his ministry plans to spend more than 150 million euros to treat sewage water and close all landfills.

For many, the damage is already done. Oil wells and bitumen pits line the river, further risking pollution, they say.

Agron Zia, 55, took sheep and goats out to graze on the river bank last week. He motioned towards the landfill where plastic is kicked up by the wind and caught by the branches of nearby trees.

"When I was young, we used to swim here all summer. It hurts when your children cannot go because of sewage and rubbish," he said.
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Talks between Hamas and Israel have commenced this week in Egypt, with Qatar and the US mediating after Donald Trump expressed optimism that a deal can be struck to end the war in Gaza.

Hamas will be represented by its top negotiator, Khalil Al-Hayya, who survived an Israeli assassination attempt last month in Doha. The strike on Qatar, an ally of the West, was condemned by the international community including the US and prompted an apology from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Hayyas son, Himam, and officer director were killed in the strikes on 9 September. But it is not the first time he has lost a family member during the fierce and decades-long battle between Israel and Hamas.

The Israeli military said it had targeted Hamas officials, shortly after the militant group admitted being behind a gun attack in Jerusalem that killed six people.

Hayya, an increasingly central figure in the leadership of the Palestinian militant group since both Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar were killed last year, has also been at the heart of ceasefire negotiations during the war that erupted two years ago.

The former deputy chairman of Hamas is part of a five-man leadership council that has led Hamas since Sinwar was killed by Israel last October in Gaza.

open image in gallery A damaged building following an Israeli attack in Doha ( Reuters )

Hailing from the Gaza Strip, Hayya has lost several close relatives - including his wife, eldest son, three children, three brothers, a daughter-in-law and grandson - to Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip. He is a veteran member of the Islamist group.

The pain of losing those close to me does not erase the killing and destruction in the Gaza Strip, al-Hayya said in his first interview following his attempted killing in Qatar, with Al-Araby on Sunday. He said he did not make a distinction between his family and other Palestinian casualties.

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

Born in the Gaza Strip in 1960, Hayya has been part of Hamas since it was set up in 1987. In the early 1980s, he joined the Muslim Brotherhood - the Sunni Islamist movement from which Hamas emerged - along with Haniyeh and Sinwar, Hamas sources say.

In Gaza, he was detained several times by Israel.

open image in gallery Khalil Al-Hayya and Osama Hamdan ( Reuters )

In 2007, an Israeli air strike hit his family home in Gaza City's Sejaiyeh quarter, killing several of his relatives, and during the 2014 war between Hamas and Israel, the house of Hayya's eldest son, Osama, was bombed, killing him, his wife and three of their children.

Hayya was not there during the attacks. He left Gaza several years ago, serving as a Hamas point person for ties with the Arab and Islamic worlds and basing himself in Qatar for the role.

Hayya accompanied Haniyeh to Tehran for the visit in July during which he was assassinated.

Limited operation

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

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

Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people and abducted another 250 on October 7, 2023, according to Israeli tolls. More than 64,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza since then, according to the Gaza health ministry.

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

Hayya has led Hamas' delegations in mediated talks with Israel to try to secure a Gaza ceasefire deal that would have included an exchange of Israelis abducted by Hamas for Palestinians in Israeli jails.

He has performed other high-profile political work for Hamas. In 2022, he led a Hamas delegation to Damascus to mend ties with former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which were broken a decade earlier when the movement endorsed the largely Sunni uprising against Assad, a member of the minority Alawite sect.

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

Israels delegation will be represented by its Strategic Minister Ron Dermer, while American politician and US envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and President Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner will negotiate on behalf of the US.

They will also be joined by prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani of Qatar, who has played a key role in previous talks.
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A ten-year-old girl who was taken hostage by Hamas in the October 7 attacks has called for a peace deal to end the war.

Emily Hand was held by Hamas for 50 days after militants entered Israel on October 7, 2023, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 250 hostage in Gaza.

I know what its like to be a hostage in Gaza and want everyone to come home and I want peace, she told The Sun.

Ive never lived in peace in my life. I want to know what its like.

Hand, a dual Irish-Israeli national, was one of 17 hostages freed in November 2023 under an agreement between Israel and Hamas.

open image in gallery Emily Hand has become a public speaker since her release ( Hostages and Missing Families Forum )

Israel marked the two-year anniversary of the attacks earlier this week as peace talks continued between Hamas and Israeli delegations in Egypt over a ceasefire deal, which would include the release of the remaining hostages.

More than 67,000 people have been killed in Gaza by an Israeli offensive launched in the aftermath of the attacks, including 20,000 children, according to Gazas health ministry. Nearly 170,000 people have been wounded.

A two-year investigation by the United Nations (UN) recently concluded that Israel is committing a genocide in the Gaza Strip, which Israel has called false and distorted.

Hands 65-year-old father, Thomas, detailed the effects that the experience has had on his daughter in the months since her release.

When she came home, she was a wreck and I was terrified that she would never get over what shed been through, he said.

But she has not only got her voice back, shes public speaking in support of the hostages still trapped.

I was giving a speech in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv in front of thousands of people with Emily beside me when she suddenly said she wanted to say something.

This was the girl who came back from Gaza speaking in whispers. I was so proud that she had come so far.

open image in gallery Thomas Hand previously believed she had been killed ( Israel Army/AFP via Getty Images )

Mr Hand initially believed she had been killed and said her death would have been a blessing as she wouldnt have been held hostage. It later emerged she was alive.

Meanwhile, talks between Hamas, Israel and the US continued in Egypt on Wednesday on the details of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trumps 20-point peace plan.

Israel believes 20 of the remaining 48 hostages are still alive. In exchange for the bodies of each deceased hostage, they have proposed to return the bodies of 15 deceased Palestinians.

Israel says it will return 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 Palestinian prisoners held after October 7, including all women and children.

On Wednesday, senior Hamas official Taher Al-Nounou said that negotiators from Hamas and Israel had exchanged lists of prisoners and hostages to be released upon the agreement of a deal. He expressed optimism about reaching an agreement.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum have backed calls for President Trump to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, saying that his efforts towards a ceasefire and hostage release had brought us light through our darkest times.
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Two years into one of the bloodiest conflicts of our time, negotiators representing Israel and Hamas sat down for a second day of indirect peace talks in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Both sides are scrutinising a 20-point peace plan proposed by US president Donald Trump, as they take part in talks that senior officials briefed on the discussions told The Independent are the closest weve ever been to the end of the war.

The deal  originally 21 points long  was first presented to leaders from Arab and Muslim-majority countries in New York last month. It was changed at the 11th hour, which initially caused confusion and concern in some quarters that the process might collapse before it had started.

In the days before the plan was announced at a joint press conference held by Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister attended a lengthy meeting with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner in Washington DC, where he reportedly had the opportunity to weigh in and make changes.

Last-minute changes to Trumps plan

The Independent understands that the biggest alteration made was the removal of a point demanding that Israel agree not to bomb or attack Doha again. It was decided that the peace deal should focus on Gaza, and Trump insisted that Netanyahu participate in a trilateral call with Doha in which he would apologise to the Qatari leadership.

Changes were also made to ensure that the disarmament of Hamas was a key condition, and that the deal directly linked the staged withdrawal of Israeli forces to the demilitarisation of the strip, it is understood.

But despite these unexpected amendments, talks began in the resort city at 6pm Egyptian time on Monday evening, kicking off with four hours of meetings with a break for dinner. The talks continued on Tuesday morning.

open image in gallery Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu announced the plan at a joint press conference in Washington last month ( AP )

It was a tentative start, but described as positive by those who were briefed on the goings-on, with both sides negotiating in good faith.

Interestingly, the highest level delegates from each side, along with representatives of mediating countries including Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, were not present.

Some of those slated to attend, including Witkoff, Kushner and Ron Dermer, Israels head of negotiations and minister of strategic affairs, were apparently in Egypt but not yet in the negotiating rooms. That was because, at least on the Israeli side, there is caution, with one official voicing concern about whether Hamas was serious or not.

Instead, the technical teams got to grips with the nuts and bolts of the plan.

Timeline of delivery

Trump has been overtly positive about the talks, suggesting that tremendous progress has been made and that a deal is imminent. On the ground there has been optimism, but checked by the reality that delivering a deal this complicated will take more than just a few days.

Right now, the specifics in terms of where and when is being battled out, one official briefed on the talks told The Independent.

Both Hamas and Israel agree on the fundamentals of the 20-point plan. The current round of talks is focused on tackling the specific details, which has been a lengthy process in the past, the official warned.

Trumps plan is being treated like a guidebook of ideas rather than the finished product. And so, like the last ceasefire deal in January, the new deal will include least three phases  but with one critical difference.

Januarys agreement only laid out the solid details of phase one, with an understanding that the specifics of the next phases would be negotiated as soon as the first stage was in progress. But that ceasefire never got beyond the first phase, collapsing in March. At the time, Israel and Hamas blamed each other, and Middle East diplomats told The Independent that Israel simply never showed up to discuss how to move it forward.

open image in gallery Perhaps the bitterest sticking point is the pathway to a Palestinian state ( AP )

To avoid this happening again, negotiators want to hammer out all the timelines and action plans ahead of time.

The difference from previous rounds is that the objective is to have something comprehensive that includes pre-agreed phases prior to its implementation, rather than prolonged negotiations for phase two during phase one, like we had in the January deal, said one official with knowledge of the talks.

This deal is designed to give reassurances to both sides that it is comprehensive. And once we enter phase one and both sides commit to whats required from them, we move on to phase two.

Phase one: Hostage-prisoner release and partial Israeli withdrawal

The Independent understands that the talks opened with discussions on what is being referred to as the trigger for the deal: an immediate ceasefire, then Hamas militants releasing the remaining 48 hostages, dead and alive, which in turn, according to the latest draft, will result in the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinians serving life terms along with people detained since October 2023. During that period, the remains of more than 700 deceased Palestinians from Gaza, currently being held by Israel, could also be returned.

This will happen in tandem with another key part of phase one: an initial withdrawal of Israeli troops to what the US secretary of state Marco Rubio has referred to publicly as the yellow line.

Israeli media has described the yellow line, at some points, as being a good 6km inside Gaza, which would mean that Israels troops would still occupy cities such as Rafah along the border with Egypt, and in the north  areas such as Beit Lahia.

But officials briefed on the talks said that the map has yet to be finalised, as have the timeline and the practical aspects of that withdrawal  a topic that was on the negotiating table today.

Egyptian officials told the Al-Akhbar newspaper that one of the main concerns among Israeli officials is the question of who would administer Gaza during the initial days of their troops moving out of areas of the strip: Israel has refused to allow Hamas to have any on-the-ground responsibility, even temporarily.

Phase two: The handover of governance

Phase Two would see the full handover of governance, so the start of an interim body of Palestinian technocrats tasked with managing the day-to-day running of the territory, overseen by what Trump has called a board of peace, headed up by the US president himself and former British prime minister Tony Blair.

Palestinian officials have voiced concerns about the make-up of this transitional body, and who else would sit on the board of peace.

Phase two would also see the initial deployment of the international stabilisation force, as outlined in Trumps plan  a group that would comprise foreign and likely Arab personnel who would train up a vetted Palestinian police force.

The focus of discussions on phase two will be the composition of the technocratic government. Officials from the Middle East region made it clear that there is agreement across the board that the Palestinians should be governed by Palestinians themselves. They also believe that this should pave the way for a handover to a reformed Palestinian Authority (PA), the internationally recognised body that is anchored in the occupied West Bank.

Phase three: Palestinian statehood?

But perhaps the bitterest sticking point is the pathway to a Palestinian state, which Palestinians want to be part of the final phase. It is supported by key Arab and Muslim-majority nations, including mediators Egypt and Qatar. The UK and other European countries have recently recognised Palestine.

But statehood is only referred to vaguely in Trumps plan  not as an aim or a promise, but as something that may be explored if the PA reforms.

Netanyahu, during the press conference to announce the plan, made it abundantly clear that Israel does not support a Palestinian state. He also spoke of Israel retaining security responsibility over the territory. That was at odds with Hamass own statement, in which the militant group nominally accepted parts of the deal and declared it a pathway to Palestinian self-determination.

As the talks grind on, there is a long way to go, but there is certainly hope, the official said.

Given the discussions that are taking place and the detailed and lengthy proposal, they added, I think now theres a good sense within the building that this is the closest weve ever been, and both parties are now negotiating in good faith.
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The Israeli military intercepted in international waters yet another Gaza-bound flotilla attempting to deliver aid to the war-ravaged territory on Wednesday and detained dozens of people on board.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), an international network of pro-Palestinian activist groups that set sail to break Israel's maritime blockade of Gaza, said all nine of its boats were "attacked and illegally intercepted by the Israeli military".

The boats were intercepted around 4.24am local time at about 120 nautical miles or 220km from the embattled Gaza Strip, the flotilla said.

"The unarmed crew abroad, including doctors, journalists and elected officials, have been abducted," it said, adding that the boats were carrying vital aid worth over $110,000 (82,150) in medicines, respiratory equipment, and nutritional supplies. "Their whereabouts remain unknown," it said.

open image in gallery A screengrab from a live footage video shows an Israeli soldier smashing the CCTV camera of a Gaza-bound vessel ( via REUTERS )

But Israel's foreign ministry said in a statement on X the flotilla's vessels and passengers were safe, had been transferred to an Israeli port, and were expected to be deported promptly. "Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing," the ministry said.

The incident was the second such event in recent days, after Israel intercepted about 40 vessels and detained more than 450 activists, including climate activist Greta Thunberg in an aid convoy, the Global Sumud Flotilla, that was also attempting to deliver supplies to Gaza.

The FFC said Israeli forces "hijacked the humanitarian fleet", adding that the "ships were illegally intercepted ... participants  humanitarians, doctors and journalists from across the world  have been taken against their will and are being held in unknown conditions.

"The Israeli military has no legal jurisdiction over international waters," it said. "Our flotilla poses no harm."

open image in gallery A screengrab from a live footage video shows Israeli security forces intercepting a Gaza-bound vessel ( via REUTERS )

In an earlier post, the flotilla said one of its boats, "The Conscience", carrying 92 people, mostly journalists and healthcare workers, was "attacked by an Israeli military helicopter".

Turkish, Irish, French, Bangladeshi and Danish activist were among those onboard who were detained by the Israeli forces. Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim strongly condemned the Israeli military, calling it a violation of international law.

The act of detaining a humanitarian ship carrying aid for the people of Gaza is inhumane and abuses the fundamental principles of human rights and universal human dignity," Mr Ibrahim said in a post on X.

"I demand that all Malaysian activists and volunteers be released immediately, given appropriate protection, and not mistreated throughout their detention period," he added.

open image in gallery ( via REUTERS )

Turkey confirmed its citizens and lawmakers were on board the flotilla and slammed the intervention by Israeli forces as an act of piracy and a violation of international law.

Turkey's foreign ministry said the intervention showed that the Israeli government targeted peaceful measures and heightened tensions in the region while damaging peace efforts. It added in its statement that all initiatives were being taken for Turkish citizens held by Israel to be freed and returned to Turkey, and that it was coordinating with other countries regarding their citizens too.

Previously, the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla drew widespread condemnation and sparked large protests in several major cities and a one-day strike across Italy. Some of the activists detained claimed they were abused and humiliated by the Israeli forces.

Italian journalist Saverio Tommasi said Israeli soldiers withheld medicines and treated prisoners like monkeys. This is called torture. Its called torture, a denial of human rights, even the most basic ones, he said on his return at Romes Fiumicino Airport late Saturday.

Israel, which rejects accusations it is carrying out genocide in Gaza and says reports of hunger there are exaggerated, has dismissed the flotilla as a publicity stunt benefitting Hamas. It had previously detained Ms Thunberg at sea in a similar attempt to breach the blockade in June.

Let me be very clear. There is a genocide going on, Ms Thunberg told the crowd upon her arrival at the Athens airport. Our international systems are betraying Palestinians. They are not even able to prevent the worst war crimes from happening, she said.

Israel and Hamas are currently in the third day of indirect negotiations in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm Al-Sheikh, along with high-level leaders from international delegations, including the US, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.

Israels two-year-long offensive in Gaza has killed about 67,000 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Strip. A UN body last month found Israel was committing genocide in Gaza.

Israel began the offensive after Hamas-led Palestinian militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians and took 251 others to Gaza as hostages.
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One week into the Gaza ceasefire and there is still not enough aid going into the north of the war-torn enclave, with infectious diseases spiralling out of control, humanitarian organisations have warned.

Around 560 metric tons of food have entered the Gaza Strip per day since the US-brokered ceasefire came into effect last Friday, but levels in the first week have been described as a trickle  not the flood needed. UN humanitarian affairs chief Tom Fletcher has said thousands of aid vehicles would have to enter weekly to tackle widespread malnutrition, homelessness and a collapse of infrastructure.

Aid groups now face growing uncertainty over crossing closures and administrative challenges as queues of trucks amass at the southern border. They have also not been allowed to bring food and medicine in through the major Rafah crossing, which has largely remained closed since the conflict erupted in 2023.

Israel threatened to keep the crossing shut and reduce aid this week, accusing Hamas of returning the bodies of hostages too slowly. On the first day of the ceasefire, more than 500 aid trucks entered Gaza, Israel said. But in a major setback, Israels military aid agency COGAT this week said it would halve the number allowed in from 600 daily to 300.

open image in gallery Trucks carrying aid line up at the Rafah crossing amid uncertainty about deliveries into Gaza ( Reuters )

With Gazas civilian population still facing hunger, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned that they were working in a narrow window of opportunity to scale up deliveries as others said millions of pounds worth of aid was sitting in warehouses waiting to go in.

The issue is particularly impacting northern Gaza, where aid convoys are struggling to reach famine-hit areas. Around 950 trucks entered south and central Gaza on Thursday via the Kerem Shalom and Kissufim crossings with Israel, the UNs humanitarian coordination agency said, citing figures from Israels military aid agency COGAT presented to mediators.

But the WFP said it had not begun distributions in Gaza City, pointing to the continued closure of two border crossings, Zikim and Erez, with Israel in the north of the enclave where the humanitarian debacle is most acute.

Oxfam said on Friday it has more than $2.5m worth of lifesaving aid sitting in warehouses outside Gaza and ready to distribute.

open image in gallery Gaza has been devastated by two years of war, but aid is still struggling to get in despite a fragile ceasefire ( AP )

Bushra Khalidi, Oxfams policy lead in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Gaza, said: Right now, a trickle of aid is entering Gaza, when what is needed is a flood. The ceasefire promised access to aid organisations, yet many international NGOs with decades of experience remain blocked from entering and doing their jobs.

Multiple aid groups say that bureaucracy is proving an obstacle in delivering the aid to where it is most needed.

In March, Israel announced a registration process for all humanitarian organisations working in the Palestinian territories. Any groups seen to be delegitimising Israel, or employing someone who has called for a boycott of Israel in the last seven years, could lose their authorisation to operate.

Milena Murr, spokesperson for aid group Mercy Corps, told The Independent it was exploring every possible avenue to scale up their response.

However, we continue to face bureaucratic challenges linked to the interim period of the re-registration process, which has not been implemented as initially envisioned, she said. While these administrative barriers persist, our teams continue to focus on service delivery and will be prepared to move lifesaving assistance into Gaza and distribute it the moment access is granted.

open image in gallery Food prices have shot up as the agreement struck last week shows signs of failing ( AP )

Israeli officials said Israel decided to slow aid and delay plans to reopen the border with Egypt because Hamas had been too slow to turn over the remains of dead hostages  an issue that has placed enormous strain on the ceasefire this week.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Israel will not compromise and demanded that Hamas fulfil the requirements laid out in the ceasefire deal about the return of hostages bodies.

Food prices in Gaza have meanwhile shot up amid fears the ceasefire will not hold, after coming down last week in anticipation of an armistice.

But food is not the only concern. With medical centres woefully under-supplied, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that infectious diseases in the enclave were spiralling out of control.

Hanan Balkhy, regional director for the UNs health body, told the AFP news agency that there was a mammoth amount of work to do to tackle surging health conditions including meningitis and respiratory illnesses.

open image in gallery Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced from their homes by the war ( AP )

Balkhy stressed the urgent need for fuel, food, medical equipment, medications, medics and doctors in Gaza, with the enclaves health system decimated by two years of bombardment. Only 13 of 36 hospitals are even partially functioning despite the cessation of hostilities.

With outbreaks of violence in Gaza in the last week there are fears that there may only be a limited time to deliver the support needed before the ceasefire fails.

Abeer Etefa, spokesperson for the WFP, said: The ceasefire has opened a narrow window of opportunity, and WFP is moving very quickly and swiftly to scale up food assistance.

The WFP was able to get some 560 tons of food per day on average into Gaza, she said on Friday, but some areas were still unreachable. The UN has a further 190,000 metric tons of aid waiting and ready to go in.

Etefa said access to the north, including Gaza City, was extremely challenging, and that convoys were struggling to navigate damaged or blocked roads from the south.

open image in gallery Palestinians are still awaiting news that aid groups can bring food and essentials through the Rafah crossing ( AP )

Then there is the ongoing issue of the Rafah crossing, which had been due to reopen but has yet to do so. COGAT said this was being coordinated between Israel and Egypt in accordance with the ceasefire deal. But a date has still not been set and even when it reopens it will only allow for the movement of people across the border, not aid.

It should be emphasised that humanitarian aid will not pass through the Rafah Crossing, a COGAT spokesperson said. This was never agreed upon at any stage. Humanitarian aid continues to enter the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom Crossing and additional crossings following Israeli security inspection, in full compliance with the signed agreement.

The IDF, through COGAT, will continue to uphold its commitment to the agreement in accordance with the directives of the political echelon.
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A mystery passenger will be aboard Blue Origins next space tourism mission, after deciding to keep their identity secret until after Wednesdays flight.

Jeff Bezoss private space firm will launch six people to the edge of space aboard its New Shepard vehicle, with lift off set to take place from Blue Origins Texas facility at 8.30am local time (2.30pm BST).

It is the 15th human flight for the New Shepard program, which began in 2021, but it is the first to carry an unnamed passenger.

Blue Origin said ahead of the mission that joining the five space tourists will be an undisclosed sixth crew member who asked to remain anonymous until after the flight.

The five named participants are franchise executive Jeff Elgin, electrical engineer Clint Kelly, entrepreneur Danna Karagussova, startup founder Aaron Newman and real estate investor Vitalii Ostovsky.

The launch of the latest Blue Origin flight, called NS-36, will be live streamed on the companys website.

Ticket prices for the 10-minute jaunt are estimated to be between $200,000 to $300,000, however one seat on the first flight was auctioned for $28 million.

Space tourism flights conducted by Blue Origin and other private firms like SpaceX have faced significant criticism for their environmental impact.

Routine space tourism launches may undermine progress made by the Montreal Protocol in reversing ozone depletion in the Arctic springtime upper stratosphere,researchers wrote in a study published in the AGU journal Earths Future.

[Soot] particles from rockets are also of great concern, as these are almost five hundred times more efficient at warming the atmosphere than all other sources of soot combined.

Critics have also raised ethical concerns surrounding social inequality, as well as pointing to the limited scientific value that such missions offer.

Others, like NS-36 passenger Karagussova, claim that tourist flights will democratise access to space.

The future of humanity is connected with space, Ms Karagussova wrote on Instagram ahead of the latest flight.

By exploring new horizons, we not only advance technology but also expand our own capabilities. For me, Mission NS-36 with Blue Origin is part of a research project and a step toward a dream I have been working on for many years.
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Achingly hip and a welcome disruptor to the citys hospitality scene, the contemporary art-packed Venice Venice is sheer heaven for lovers of beautiful things

Location

Venice Venice sits plum on the Grand Canal opposite the citys most famous bridge, the Rialto, within sauntering distance of the citys sights, including the Bridge of Sighs, St Marks Square and Doges Palace. A private water taxi from Marco Polo airport (around 20 minutes) whisks guests to the heart of Venice and is the superlative entry point for newbies to this remarkable city. As far as dream hotel locations go, it simply doesnt get much better.

Read more: The best hotels in Venice for 2025, reviewed

The vibe

open image in gallery This room has a private terrace with unbeatable views of the canal ( Venice Venice )

Original, extremely cool and a refreshing antidote to the traditional brocade that typifies many of the citys hotels, Venice Venice is a perfect blend of tradition and innovation. Housed in a 13th-century Venetian-Byzantine palace, believed to be one of the oldest remaining buildings on the canal, owners Alessandro Gallo and Francesca Rinaldo have done an impeccable job in honouring the buildings history  all exposed stone walls and marble Roman columns  and blending it with their extensive personal collection of contemporary art. Visitors accessing the property from the water step into a dimly lit room with a marble Madonna resplendent above a shallow reflecting pool at the foot of a candlelit stairway. This sense of drama sets the tone for the rest of the hotel, where more than 600 works of art compete for your attention, including pieces by Yoko Ono, Christo and Joseph Beuys.

The service

Friendly, knowledgeable and decidedly unstuffy. Staff are generous with their time, whether discussing the changing face of Venice or providing recommendations for the best spot for cicchetti and  crucially  quick to top up drinks.

Bed and bath

open image in gallery This corner room has floor-to-ceiling windows to make the most of the Venetian views ( Venice Venice )

Venice Venice houses 43 rooms, including suites, family lofts and a sprawling ground-floor apartment with its own boat pontoon and two marble bathtubs. Some boast magnificent views over the Grand Canal and Rialto, while others have internal courtyard views. Bathrooms feature cipollino marble walls that resemble the surface of Jupiter, with double-showers, standing bathtubs, dual rainfall showers  and even personal steam rooms  in some suites. Complimentary pull-top cans contain Venice Venices own Erose brand of shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. Theres an extensive drinks trolley complete with grappa, rum, mezcal and biscotti and, bizarrely, a Yeti Tundra cooler that doubles as a luggage rack. Bespoke playlists pipe tasteful music throughout the neutral coloured rooms, which include exposed brick and cream walls and more exquisite contemporary art pieces. The natural fibre carpet is a misstep; without the complimentary slippers, it can be painful to walk upon.

Read more: The best hotels in Sicily for luxury retreats, beach stays and family holidays

Food and drink

open image in gallery Dine on the terrace at Venice Venice ( Venice Venice )

The post-Venetian aesthetic continues in earnest in the restaurant. High ceilings, exposed brick walls and black and white portraits of local vegetable suppliers clasping their wares line the walls. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer exceptional canal views and theres an extensive terrace thats one of the citys best places to sip an espresso. Food is served all day, with the dinner menu focusing on traditional Venetian dishes that lean heavily on its maritime location, such as whipped cod and sardines and classic Italian dishes  dont miss the monkfish coated in rich beurre blanc. The breakfasts are incredibly generous and range from English breakfast items through to fruit salads, waffles and cold cuts. Guests seeking an extra-special dining experience can request a private dining table on the hotel rooftop.

Facilities

The avant-garde theme extends to the Felix Anima spa, which constitutes a small treatment room with fabric tubes, packed with herbs and flowers, plaited across the ceiling. Created by Romanian sculptor Victoria Zidaru, this ethereal space is light-years away from the clinical white rooms that characterise other wellness experiences. Next door, guests can take a dip in a small, private wellness pool (pre-booking essential).

open image in gallery Venice Venices spa has an avant-garde theme ( Venice Venice )

On the first floor, the Venice Bitter Club is a cocktail bar with stellar views over the Grand Canal, a vast Venetian tapestry by artist Francesco Simeti and an electronic bar composed of flashing screens. Upstairs, Venini chandeliers hang in an opulent gallery devoted to special events.

Masterminds behind Venice Venice, Gallo and Rinaldo are also the founders of the luxury lifestyle clothing and footwear brand Golden Goose, so its no surprise that the ground floor of the hotel is home to a concept store selling a selection of Venice Venice branded items.

Read more: Best cheap hotels in Rome with central locations and beautiful budget rooms

Accessibility

Venice isnt renowned for its accessibility. At Venice Venice, however, ramps and lifts are in use across the property, and three bedrooms are designed for those with limited mobility. Space isnt generous, so negotiating wheelchairs between restaurant tables isnt a breeze, but its not an impossibility.

Pet policy

Small dogs are permitted on request for a fee of 200 (169) per pet per stay.

Check in/check out

Check in from 3pm; check out at 12 noon.

Family friendly?

Venice Venice is a distinctly grown-up hotel where the art is for admiring, not pawing, but three loft rooms accommodate children. Babysitting services are also available.

At a glance

open image in gallery The private wellness pool can be booked by guests ( Venice Venice )

Best thing: The glorious juxtaposition of history and modern art.

Perfect for: Contemporary art lovers.

Not right for: Families with small children.

Instagram from: The terrace.

Address: Cannaregio 5631, 30121 Venezia, Italy

Phone: +39 041 097 0300

Website: venicevenice.co

Read more: The best hotels in Rome for nights in historic palaces and lavish city hideaways
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Six days before the EU entry-exit system (EES) begins across Europe, the Czech Republic has confirmed that it will be fully ready from day one.

The long-awaited digital borders project will start to be rolled out on Sunday 12 October. It will connect every frontier in the Schengen area (comprising all EU nations except Ireland and Cyprus, plus Iceland, Norway and Switzerland) with a central database.

The aim is to crack down on crime and enforce the limit on stays of 90 days in any 180 days that applies to British travellers and other third-country nationals.

UK passport holders will need to ready to have a digital record created from their fingerprints and facial biometrics when they either enter or leave at an external Schengen border. This includes international airports, sea ports, railway stations and road crossings.

While member states have until 9 April 2026 to be fully EES-compliant, Estonia, Luxembourg and now the Czech Republic say they are ready to check every arriving and departing traveller.

The Czech Embassy in London told The Independent that all the nations international airports will be connected to the central EU database from the start date.

By far the biggest gateway is Prague, which handled more than 16 million passengers in 2024. But the secondary airports of Ostrava, Brno and Pardubice and Ceske Budejovice are also ready for EES.

Capital advantage: Prague has far more airport arrivals than any other Czech city ( Simon Calder )

Officials confirmed all relevant travellers will be registered on both arrival at, and departure from, the Czech Republic.

The embassy in London said that existing requirements would continue, including: Verification that the third-country national concerned has sufficient means of subsistence for the duration and purpose of the intended stay.

For each day of a proposed stay, British visitors must have 1,565 Czech crowns (56), comprising cash, credit cards or travellers cheques in the third-country nationals possession.

Despite hopes by ministers that UK visitors will be able to use eGates across Europe, the Czech Embassy said: British passport holders will not be able to use eGates from the date of entry into operation, nevertheless this option will be subject to further discussion and further development of border systems and technical equipment at airports.

The Czech authorities also provided advice for UK visitors ahead of the introduction of EES: Be prepared, be patient, pay attention to signs and information materials at the airports, and complete pre-registration at self-service kiosks.

Other EU nations are taking a much slower approach. The Dutch government said: Not all travellers in the scope of the EES will be recorded from the first day at all border crossing points and not all their data will be recorded right away.

Passport stamping will be maintained for six months and abolished as of 10 April 2026.

Initially Germany will make only Dusseldorf airport compatible with the entry-exit system.
Donald Trump is once again doing the sort of thing we have come to expect from the US president, railing against the NHS and the amount it pays for medicines. This is now being taken very seriously by prime minister Keir Starmer, who seemingly wants more than anything to claim the friendship of the man in the White House.

The result could be that this country pays billions of pounds more for medicines. This will prove highly controversial in some quarters. But the payoff could be huge.

For it isnt just Trump who is unhappy about how much Britain pays for its drugs. Big Pharma has long complained about the deal it currently has with the NHS, and the tough criteria imposed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) when it comes to approving new treatments. This is based on how much they cost for each year of good quality life they deliver (20,000 to 30,000 per annum as things stand).

If that sounds cold on the part of Nice, thats because it is. It is the reason why you sometimes see crowd-funders going up with the aim of raising money to send cancer stricken kids to the US for treatments the NHS wont pay for.

Consider the following framing: Trump forces NHS to pay billions more to Big Pharma. This is a potentially potent brew for some of Starmers critics on the left ( Andrew Harnik/Getty Images )

Until recently, the moaning and the wailing and the gnashing of teeth from drug companies has been dismissed in Whitehall. Complain all you want, but the NHS is a big customer. You wouldnt want to lose it, now would you?

Lately, the mood music has changed, and not just because of Trump. Britain has recently lost out on billions of pounds in investment by drug companies in new labs, research facilities and what have you. The boss of Eli Lilly, maker of fat jab Mountjaro, recently branded the UK probably the worst country in Europe for drug prices. Merck, another drug giant, called the UK uninvestable. There is a growing realisation in government that a world-class industry is being put at risk, leading to a long overdue debate about how best to respond.

Trump, with his threats of punitive tariffs on imported drugs, has injected a degree of urgency into those discussions. And how. Reports now suggest that the PM is going to bow to at least some of the industrys demands by pumping billions more into medicines. The terms of that debate have changed. The discussions now centre on how much Britain is going to pay and where the money will come from.

Consider the following framing: Trump forces NHS to pay billions more to Big Pharma. This is a potentially potent brew for some of Starmers critics on the left. And not just on the left. Consider, too, that AstraZeneca, (Britains biggest company by market value), made 6.5bn last year on revenues of 40bn. It paid its CEO Pascal Soirot nearly 15m and delivered something like 3.7bn in dividends to its (mostly) happy shareholders.

Numbers like that are guaranteed to have critics frothing at the mouth about evil fat cats destroying the NHS. Stir in a dose of the Donald and its even more explosive.

Heres what you have to understand before joining the clamour. Drug development is both phenomenally expensive and extraordinarily risky. According to Americas National Library of Medicine, the failure rate when it comes to new treatments is roughly 90 per cent despite implementation of many successful strategies aimed at improving this. The failures have as much time and money invested into them as do the successes. Pharmaceutical researchers are highly qualified. They dont come cheap. They also require fancy labs with fancy kit.

To persuade investors to pony up for this requires that they be rewarded. Its not as if they dont have other options when it comes to where to park their cash. However, if Britain and its NHS look at this from an investment perspective, they will also be rewarded. Some of the billions that have recently been withdrawn from this countrys biotech industry may come back. Some of the revolutionary treatments now being tested in other countries - Spain has been particularly successful in this area - may be tested here. Needless to say, that could be very good news if you have a relative with a condition one of those drugs has the potential to zap.

If the end result of Trump demanding money with threats of tariffs held over Britains head is this, so much the better. It might even save a life or three.

Sometimes bad people do good things, even if that is not their intention and there are parallels here with the way the US president has handled defence, demanding that Europe pay more to look after itself, reinvigorating NATO in the process. A better defended Europe will have capacity to handle crises like the one in Ukraine without being dependent on the whims of whomever is in the White House. That too, is a good thing.

Of course, Starmer will still have to persuade his chancellor to play ball. But then, he is the prime minister. If Rachel Reeves and the Treasury dig their heels in, there is a treatment available. Not a very pleasant one. It comes with some potentially awkward political side effects, too. But that speaks to the point Im trying to make. Good things dont come free.
HSE puts landmark Baggot Street Hospital up for sale

Property could be bought for more than 5.5m

The building is just to the south of the Grand Canal

Donal Buckley Wed 8 Oct 2025 at 18:35

The Baggot Street Hospital in Dublin 4 has been brought to the market by the HSE, which is hoping to generate more than 5.5m from its sale.
CityJet no longer provides air services of its own but cabin crew and aircraft for other airlines

Mr Justice Michael Quinn on Wednesday said he would confirm the plan put forward by the joint examiners of the Dublin-based airline, Kieran Wallace and Andrew OLeary of Interpath Advisory. The judge said he would give his full judgment in the case next week.
GTLK Europe and GTLK Europe Capital are subject of Irelands biggest ever liquidation

Russias state-owned transport leasing firm, JSC, has been ordered by the High Court to cease proceedings in Moscow, where it is attempting to thwart the $4bn (3.4bn) liquidation of two Ireland-based aircraft and shipping firms that were controlled by the Russian government.
A tax incentive designed to lure highly skilled and well paid international workers to Ireland has been tightened up in the Budget.

The Special Assignee Relief Programme (Sarp), which was due to expire at the end of the year, gives relief from income tax on 30pc of a salary over 100,000. Paschal Donohoe, the finance minister, has announced it will be extended for five years, but the minimum qualifying income is being increased to 125,000.
Wu ordered to pay 2.1m to three of his firms controlled by liquidators

Businessman also consents to being disqualified from acting as a company director

Mulligan & Haines on Dame Street in Dublin

John Mulligan Wed 8 Oct 2025 at 06:30

Businessman Colm Wu has been ordered by the High Court to pay 2.1m to three of his companies now under the control of the liquidators.
THE badly skeletonised body of a man was discovered in scrubland by Gardai using a cadaver dog almost five months after he vanished with indications he had been subjected to a violent assault with a hammer-like weapon.
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
latest | Jim Gavin to repay former tenant 3,300 days after exiting presidential campaign

Niall Donald explains how Irish Independent colleagues knew about 3,300 rent rowJournalist says he only learned about Gavins financial difficulties in recent daysHe is not happy with Fianna Fails handling of the issue over recent weeks

Crime World co-host confirms he is tenant at centre of Jim Gavin controversy

Sarah O'Mahony Wed 8 Oct 2025 at 16:03

Jim Gavin is to pay back the tenant owed 3,300, a legal representative has confirmed.
Connolly gets warm welcome on Wexford canvass  but no sign of former Labour leader on home patch
Catherine Connolly says she did represent banks in courts but fails to clarify whether it included home repossession cases

Aras candidate previously said claim by Fine Gael councillor made about time as barrister a cowardly attack

Catherine Connolly, the bank repossessions and the unanswered questions....

Eavan Murray and Maeve McTaggart Wed 8 Oct 2025 at 20:50

OReillys bar in Salthill faces out towards the choppy waters of Galway Bay, but it was the scene of a stormy exchange that Catherine Connolly described as a cowardly personal attack.
We would not be living in our own house, only for my parents  couple who missed out on Help to Buy

Donal Moriarty, who recently bought a property in Co Cork with his partner, has described the scheme as useless

Donal Moriarty and his partner struggled to find an affordable property as first-time buyers. Photo: Daragh Mc Sweeney/Provision

Sarah O'Mahony Wed 8 Oct 2025 at 06:30

A couple who could not avail of the Help to Buy (HTB) scheme have described current government measures as a failure.
I was so desperate to see the girls, Id have sat in the jump seat all the way  Irish parents on their trips to see adult children who have emigrated
Another bumper crop of new podcasts, from jaw-dropping real-life stories to tales from the city, all worthy of your valuable time as the nights draw in.

Giving solipsism a run for its money is Lives Less Ordinary (Apple, Spotify; bbc.co.uk), which returns after an eight-part spin-off narrated by Siobhan McSweeney. Its back to business, with standalone episodes of around 45 minutes spotlighting incredible personal stories from around the world, variously calling upon patience, endurance and hope. One to avoid before a flight is by Dutch financier Annette Herfkens, who in 1992 boarded a Vietnam Airlines 747 in Ho Chi Minh with her fiance.

What shouldve been a routine domestic flight turned into tragedy: Herfkens was the sole survivor of a plane crash and spent eight days in the jungle with catastrophic injuries before being rescued. Polar opposite is the story of the Mumbai-born Zarna Garg, who fled an arranged marriage for the US  and went on to become a stand-up comedian, supporting Tina Fey. Whether traumatic or light-hearted, each personal story is given equal sensitivity by each presenter.

Romesh Ranganathan is one of the few British stand-up comedians whose ubiquity is a relief rather than a chore. Which makes The Romesh Ranganathan Show (Apple, Spotify) one of the more superior chat shows, as he shoots the breeze with actors (Jameela Jamil), musicians (Paloma Faith), comics (Tim Minchin) and sportspersons (Jamie Redknapp), with interludes from his delightful mum Shanthi.

Welsh actor Michael Sheen has Ranganathan in stitches recalling the moment a fan accosted him in a supermarket to ask if hed autograph his sons chest  on which is a tattoo of Sheen as Lucian in Good Omens.

Annette Herfkens escaped with her life after a plane crash in 1992

Today's News in 90 Seconds, Wednesday, October 8

One would hope that the Government  and our president-in-waiting  has listened to Una Mullallys long-awaited series Saving the City (Acast, Apple, Spotify) in which she analyses the present state of, and future visions for, Dublin by chatting with those on the ground about social cohesion and gentrification, the night-time economy, how considered design can improve quality of life, and what we learned from the Dublin riot in 2023.

Naturally, such is its glaring urgency, the subject of housing (or lack thereof) is a two-part episode, while Catherine Cleary and Sean Ronayne have smart ideas for improving urban biodiversity and why it matters. And while this 10-part series acknowledges the many problems facing post-pandemic cities, it also cautions against inaction by normalising common trends.
Catherine Connolly outlines her vision for presidency during visit to County Cork

Independent presidential candidate Catherine Connolly says she will speak truth to power and use her voice for peace if elected, as she brings her campaign to Millstreet and Ballyvourney

Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly checks out her work intensity on the rowing machine with Mary Collins at the new Millstreet Community Council Gymnasium in the presence of Sinead Corkery, Marie Twomey, Jerry O'Mahony, Senator Nicole Ryan and Margaret Bourke. Pics: John Tarrant

John Bohane Corkman Wed 8 Oct 2025 at 07:20

One of my strongest characteristics is an ability to listen, declared Independent candidate Catherine Connolly during her recent visit to County Cork.
A car that was almost fully submerged in water in west Cork during Storm Amy was retrieved when flood waters receded.

A picture of a red Volkswagen car went viral on social media across Cork and the rest of the country last weekend as the German-made vehicle was pictured driving into a flood on Coomhola Bridge in Bantry on Thursday, October 2.

20 minutes after the initial photo was taken, another shot captured the car almost fully submerged in the flood water on Coomhola Bridge.

Bantry Fire Brigade responded to a flooding incident at Corrycommane, in Bantry at 11am, where a motorist was stranded in flood water on the L-8982 near Coomhola Bridge, according to a spokesperson from Cork County Council.

By the time the fire brigade arrived, the motorist evacuated the car and found refuge in a nearby house.

Cork was under a Status Yellow warning on the day, while neighbouring Kerry was under a Status Orange warning.

As water levels on the Coomhola river were rising rapidly at this location, the fire brigade remained on scene diverting traffic until road closures and diversions were put in place.

The vehicle was recovered when flood waters receded at a later stage, but the fire service had already returned to station by then, a spokesperson for Cork County Council said.

Independent councillor in Bantry-West Cork, Finbarr Harrington said people should adhere to weather warnings and avoid driving unless they really have to in order to limit the calls made to support services.

Some people dont realise the power of water and when you have weather warnings and flood warnings like this, people really should adhere to them and not drive unless they really have to.

Picture shows car stuck in West Cork flood. Picture: CarlowWeather on X

It is the age-old story that Ill get through it if I drive slowly and Ill get there, but unfortunately, some people dont, he said.

Mr Harrington said Ireland must cure the flooding to minimise the damage done during heavy rainfall and storms.

The weather warnings are there to warn people, but they are not going to stop the flooding.

What we have to do is cure the flooding because we see now that weather events are bigger and the rainfall comes in heavier, so the gullies need to be cleaned and bigger.

If they are not, we are going to get more of the same old flooding, and then blame the weather warnings, but at the end of the day it is the people who are suffering, he said.
I thought they were going to kill us: Cork grandfather who took part in Gaza flotilla recounts ordeal in Israeli custody

61-year-old Paddy ODonovan from Cobh describes days of psychological terrorism and hunger strike in desert prison

Maureen Almai, Paddy Kelly, Diarmuid Mac Dubhglais, Paddy O'Donovan, and Tadhg Hickey of the Global Sumud Flotilla arrive home to Dublin Airport. Photo: PA

Kevin Galvin Wed 8 Oct 2025 at 17:20

A Cork grandfather detained by the Israeli Defence Forces as part of the Global Summit Flotilla says he thought they were going to kill us.
Important improvements at Mallow General Hospital are finally underway with some of the works expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Labour TD for Mallow and Cork North Central, Eoghan Kenny, welcomed the significant progress being made at following his recent engagement with the HSE.

Mr Kenny said that important improvements are now underway after he raised the issue earlier this year with Taoiseach Micheal Martin.

Back in February, I highlighted with the Taoiseach that two floors in Mallow General Hospital were still not open.

Im very glad to see that the obesity unit is now operational, which is a really positive step forward for the hospital and for patients across North Cork.

Following a meeting with the HSE two weeks ago, Mr Kenny confirmed that internal works on one of the remaining floors are due for completion by the end of this year, with 24 new inpatient beds expected to become available from February 2026.

This represents real progress, he said.

The next key phase will be the delivery of a new outpatient unit, which will further expand the services available locally and help reduce pressure on other hospitals in the region, Mr Kenny added.

The Mallow man said he knows how proud the local community is of the hospital and reaffirmed his commitment to securing ongoing investment.

Were all incredibly proud of Mallow General Hospital and the care it provides.

I will continue working to ensure more services and facilities are developed here during my term as TD. Mallow General Hospital remains one of my top priorities, Mr Kenny said.
Communities in West Cork are fearful of what the winter ahead holds with last weeks Storm Amy, the first serious storm of the season, dumping enough rainfall to overflow rivers and flood properties in areas around Bantry.

Cllr Danny Collins raised the issue at this weeks meeting of the West Cork Municipal District. He said places like Coomhola, Ballylickey, Pearson's Bridge, Carriganass, Madore and Reenroe all face flooding, which he attributes to the rivers flowing through those areas not being dredged for decades.

We had 12 hours of solid rain. In Borlin, we had a road basically broken up, just taken away. Down in Coomhola Bridge the water was going over the bridge, which was never seen before, and a house next door to it getting flooded.

"And you had over in Reenroe and Madore houses getting flooded. This is not climate change, this is basic common sense. I know for a fact that since the 1980s our rivers are not being dredged, he said.

Cllr Collins said he got a call from an elderly woman in Ballylickey last week asking for sandbags. When he brought them to her there was water all around her house, herself and her husband, they came out to me with the fear on their faces.

She points across the road and says Danny, when is that river going to be dredged? We've been promised this, we've been promised that, and nothing happened. She said, does the pearl mussel have more power over us? These people should not be put through this. Theyre living lives of fear if any bad weather comes along.

The Independent Ireland councillor accused the OPW and successive ministers of dragging their feet. Its going on far, far too long. Places that never got flooded before are getting flooded now. Its basic common sense, the rivers are full of sludge.

Cllr Caroline Cronin agreed with Cllr Collins and also raised the issue of Inchyclough Bridge near Bantry, which was damaged in a previous storm and hasnt been repaired.

Thats another area I was worried about over the weekend, watching things on social media and seeing how bad it was and thinking that bridge is going to go. That's another thing that needs to be fixed because I know there's a lot of elderly people using that road up to the Mealagh Valley who are nervous of it, she said.

Cllr Collins called on the Municipal District (MD) to write to Minister of State Kevin Boxer Moran, who has responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), and the OPW. I'm asking that we invite our minister and representatives from the OPW to come to meet with us and well take them out to meet with the people who are from that area, he said. The MD agreed to send the letters.

Councillors across county Cork have long argued that not dredging streams and rivers is contributing to flooding. The authorities say that dredging endangers the freshwater pearl mussel, which is a protected species.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
The man who died in Co Donegal during Storm Amy will be laid to rest on Thursday.

Tommy Connors of Neil T Blaney Road, Letterkenny died on Friday, October 3 in a storm-related incident in the town.

It is believed Mr Connors, who was aged in his 40s, fell from a shed roof at a domestic property.

The incident occurred at around 4.15pm when Donegal was covered by a Status Red weather warning during Storm Amy.

His body was removed to the morgue at Letterkenny University Hospital, where a post mortem examination was carried out.

Mr Connors remains will be reposing in Eternal Light Chapel of rest, Mountain Top, Letterkenny on Wednesday, October 8 from 3.30pm to 5.30pm followed by removal to Saint Eunan's Cathedral, to arrive 6pm and repose overnight.

His Funeral mass will be held at 11am on Thursday morning, October 9, followed by interment in Leck cemetery.

Read more Man who died during Storm Amy in Co Donegal named locally

Following his death, tributes to Mr Connors have been posted online, including from local community group, Letterkenny Community Development Project, as the team expressed condolences to the Connors family.

Donegal Travellers Project also posted a tribute to the Letterkenny man.

A spokesperson said: "We would like to convey our deepest sympathies to the Connors family on the passing of their brother Tommy Connors in a tragic accident during the Storm yesterday.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time."

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Mr Connors death notice reads, The tragic death has taken place of Tommy Connors Neil T Blaney Road, Letterkenny.

"Predeceased by his parents Micky and Martina and three brothers.

"Sadly missed by his entire family circle.

Read more Man who died during Storm Amy in Co Donegal named locally

Gardai continue to carry out enquiries and the results of the post mortem will determine the course of those enquiries.

A file will be prepared for the Coroner.
A report into the death of a Galway fisherman last year has concluded that a combination of several factors including weather conditions and lone working led to the tragic incident.

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) issued their report on Wednesday into the death of fisherman John Burke. Mr Burke was tending to lobster pots off the coast of Inisbofin in a small aluminium vessel on July 3, 2024 when he died.

According to the MCIB report, that day weather conditions were moderate to fresh with a small craft warning in effect.

The vessel made its way towards lobster pots located off the north side of the island and Mr Burke, who was familiar with the area, tended to his pots as part of his routine, working solo.

Investigators warned that the exact details of the circumstances of this incident cannot be determined with certainty, however, they outlined the most likely scenario of what happened that day.

At some point on July 3, the report reads, the casualty encountered a fouled lobster pot and attempted to free it by tethering the vessel to the pot riser, and used the swell to lift the vessel to aid dislodging the fouled lobster pot from the seabed.

It is believed that the combination of weather conditions and the added strain from the tethered pot compromised the vessels stability. In the process of trying to free the pot, the vessel likely took on water, ultimately capsizing and most probably causing the casualty to go overboard.

Mr Burke was wearing a lifejacket, but had no emergency communication device  such as an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), or Very High Frequency (VHF) radio  meant no distress signal was sent. He had a mobile phone but either lost it or was unable to use it.

<img alt="cards visualization" src="https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/23953643/thumbnail" style="width:100%" />

As a result, the alarm was only raised in the evening by Mr Burkes family and friends. The fishermans body was recovered in the early hours of July 4 following a search operation by emergency services, including the Irish Coast Guard and the Clifden RNLI.

The reports conclusions read that a combination of several factors resulted in the tragic end.

These factors include weather conditions, with the water temperature between 14 and 15 degrees; no means of re-boarding or communication; lone working, lack of voyage planning, or communication arrangements; as well as potential injuries and inability to swim.

The coroners pathology post mortem report recorded broken ribs but was unable to determine if these were pre or post mortem. If pre mortem, the report reads, this would have hampered the casualty very considerably and may explain why he was unable to reach the nearest land which was rocky at about 100m.

The report says: Unlike the circumstances in many MCIB fatal investigations a PFD was worn, yet the fatality still occurred. Given that the boat capsized only 100m from rough terrain, it raises the question as to whether the significant direct causal feature leading to the fatality was the serious injury involving the four fractured ribs identified by the Coroners pathologist (who advised that it was not medically possible to ascertain if they were caused pre or postmortem). How and when these injuries were sustained is not a matter for the MCIB, so this aspect of any analysis must be tentative.

Once in the water, the lack of any effective communication meant that the casualty had to attempt to reach and get onto land on his own, while injured. This probably resulted in him being too long in cold water with the physical consequences of cold-water shock and hypothermia.
MTUs Dr Niall Smith has been joined by American engineer Dan Tani for Irish Space Week, showing children and young people that space travel and research needs much more than science

Pictured:Former NASA astronaut Dan Tani delighting in Fiadh Newman of Inishshannon's Space art work and knowlege of the Cosmos pictured at the first public event of Space Week Ireland 2025 which took place at the Cork School of Music

Pictured Paidi McCabe of Bandon meeting his hero Former NASA astronaut Dan Tani pictured at the first public event of Space Week Ireland 2025 which took place at the Cork School of Music

Irish Space Week 2025 has been nothing short of eventful since it kickstarted on Saturday October, 4 with the top experts in the space industry touring Limerick, Cork and Kerry until Saturday, October 10.

Coordinated by MTU Blackrock Castle Observatory, the nationwide programme invites students, families, artists, engineers and communities to explore how life on Earth can inform life beyond it, with the theme Living in Space.

Head of Research at MTU Cork Campus at the Cork Institute of Technology, Dr Niall Smith told the Irish Independent: Irish people really connect into space, we see a lot of connections from schools and young people which is fantastic and we do the coordination from Blackrock Castle Observatory and actually what we celebrate is all of the individual events happening up and down the country.

Over 450 events have been organised for this years Irish Space Week and last years 466 events saw 97,000 participants in the programme.

One of the topics at this years Space Week is how space can be utilised for predicting weather events on Earth such as flooding through satellite which Dr Smith explained can provide early warning data to prevent that from happening going forward.

Dr Smith also revealed that people will be sent to the moon once again by 2030 as well as possibly Mars for further research. When people are in those extreme environments, what are the psychological conditions under which they exist? Therefore we need psychologists and social scientists to understand that, understand how we behave in long durations where there is no prospect of an early return to your family or even to your home planet.

"There's so many things but we want people to think about them as opportunities and that they feel they can be part of taking advantage of those opportunities and not just watching from a distance as interested or less interested spectators.

American engineer and retired NASA astronaut Dan Tani is also participating in this years Space Week. Its an opportunity once a year for people to think about space and recognise that its part of our life, for some people, to ignite an interest in the thing that we think of as space but what I am really looking forward to is meeting children.

"Kids that, maybe theyre excited about space already but maybe they dont know as much about it to get excited and to tell the story of what its like to live in space, to travel into space. Im hoping to ignite some imagination and some thought like wow Ive never thought about that, thats really cool.

Mr Tani said he hoped to encourage children who may not be interested in science or engineering to see space as something they can still be a part of through other skillsets such as languages, law, art, writing and business.

He said: "Maybe your thing isnt engineering, maybe it's languages, well were going to have to really figure out language, how we deal with different people with different languages because when we go to the moon or certainly to Mars, were going to need people from all over the world and so we need to figure out what kind of language will we use for these really long trips.

"Were going to need artists to convey maybe a unique experience or certainly even figuring out how to do the drawings that the procedures need, I guarantee you that for kids, if they grow up and see themselves in a particular field, whatever that field may be Ill bet that we can use it in the space programme so thats the seed I want to plant.

Pictured:Former NASA astronaut Dan Tani delighting in Fiadh Newman of Inishshannon's Space art work and knowlege of the Cosmos pictured at the first public event of Space Week Ireland 2025 which took place at the Cork School of Music

Both Dr Smith and Mr Tani emphasised that overall, the space industry is big and continuing to grow and so the skillsets needed are increasing rapidly.

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Mr Tani said: "What I have found with, especially children, is when you say okay were going to talk about space and who here thinks space is really cool and everybody raises their hand and I go, okay, who here likes STEM and a third or half of the kids raise their hand, the other half kind of go oh well space is not for me and thats really disappointing.

"I think Id rather have everybody excited about the story and everybody excited about the imagination because these kids are going to be really accomplished and smart in something.

Since the commencement of Space Week, the National Space Centre Ltd (NSC) joined Amazon's Project Kuiper and Taoiseach Micheal Martin to mark the regulatory approval of a satellite earth station that will allow Project Kuiper to operate a gateway at NSC's Elfordstown facility in Midleton, Cork.

The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) has granted permission for operations within the 18 GHz and 28 GHz frequency bands, enabling the delivery of Project Kuiper's satellite broadband services to Ireland.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin joined representatives from the NSC and Amazon at the Elfordstown facility for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion, he said:. "This approval aligns perfectly with our National Digital Strategy to ensure Ireland remains a leader in technology, with high-speed connectivity in every corner of our country by 2028.

"We welcome this partnership between the National Space Centre and Project Kuiper and look forward to the positive impact this will have.

NSC's 10-acre campus at Elfordstown has been providing commercial satellite services since 2010, serving as a vital hub for Ireland's growing space industry. The addition of Project Kuiper's gateway further establishes the facility as a centre of excellence for satellite communications in Europe.

When Project Kuiper launches in Ireland, its low-latency, high-bandwidth satellite network will significantly improve the quality and reliability of broadband services for those in rural and remote communities across the country.

Pictured (l-r): Holly Sullivan, VP of Worldwide Economic Development at Amazon, Micheal Martin TD, An Taoiseach

To achieve its goals, Project Kuiper is deploying thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit connected to each other by high-speed optical links that will create a mesh network in spaceand linked to a global network of antennas, fibre, and internet connection points on the ground, including the gateway at NSC's Elfordstown facility in Midleton, Co. Cork.

The initial satellite constellation will include more than 3,200 satellites, which began deploying in April 2025 with its first operational launch. There are currently 129 Kuiper satellites in orbit, after five successful launches, and Amazon is continuing to increase its production, processing and launch rates ahead of an initial service rollout.

A recent economic impact study conducted by Oxford Economics highlighted the significant contribution Project Kuiper is making to the European space economy. The report found that Project Kuiper's investments in the EU will contribute 2.8 billion to GDP over the next decade and support an average of 3,270 jobs annually across the region.

In Ireland specifically, the gateway operation at the NSC represents an important addition to the country's growing space sector, which has been identified as a strategic area for economic development.
Anne Carroll's book about the Cooley peninsula will be launched in the Four Seasons Hotel, Carlingford on October 21, with proceeds in aid of Carlingford Red Cross

Anne Carroll has written a book about growing up in the Cooley peninsula

For years people told Louth woman Anne Carroll that she should write a book and as her 60th birthday approached, she decided to do just that.

Born and reared on the beautiful Cooley peninsula, where she still lives, Anne has just completed writing a book that is an ode to the land and the people who live there.

Theres Gold Dust in These Hill sees Anne Carroll sharing her memories of her idyllic childhood in a whitewashed cottage, nestled in the heart of Cooley, where she developed a lifelong love of nature.

"I would always have loved reading and a lot of different people said I should give writing a try, she says. When I turned 60, I started it as it was a case of now or never.

I just started it with the laptop at the kitchen table.

While this is her first foray into writing, Anne has shown a natural talent as describes a way of life now gone.

"I grew up on a very small farm. We had goats, pigs, ducks and chickens and that gave me a great love and respect for nature which I still have.

Annes father was one of ninety workers employed on the farm of JP Kearney in Willville.

"They were the last generation to toil the land upon their knees along the long drills of the fields of Cooley, she says.

"I decided to talk to some of the older people in the area, both men and women, to get their stories of what it was like growing up in the 1920s and 30s. It was a completely different world from when I grew up in the 1960s and I felt it was important that their stories be told.

During the storms of last winter, Anne travelled to Ardaghy on the hill over Omeath, to the shores of Ballagan and Whitestown, to gather their memories.

Anne Carroll's book about the Cooley peninsula will be launched in the Four Seasons Hotel, Carlingford on October 21, with proceeds in aid of Carlingford Red Cross

The result is a time capsule of hard labour, resilience, community spirit and neighbourliness.

The book brings to life of the solidarity of a rural community, when threats of disease ravished their farms during the Foot and Mouth crisis. It celebrates a communitys strength, as they gradually emerged triumphant over great adversity.

The pages of the book preserve for future generations the words spoken by fifteen of the oldest residents of the Cooley peninsula, who have viewed ninety years and more of summer sunsets and winter storms.

Their stories are accompanied by photographs of the Cooley landscape by local photographers Ann Bruen and Bernard ORourke which showcase the beauty of the area.

"I am always amazed at the beauty of the Cooley peninsula through the different seasons, says Anne.

Theres Gold Dust in These Hill will be launched in the Four Seasons Hotel, Carlingford on Tuesday October 21 at 7.30am at what promises to be great gathering of the rural community to celebrate their unique past. It is hoped that many of those whose stories feature in the book, will be in attendance on the night.

It is being launched by the well-known journalist, radio and TV presenter Michael Commins.

Anne is delighted to be able to support a wonderful local organisation, The Carlingford Omeath Red Cross, through the sales of her book.

Admission is free, and refreshments will be served on the night.
Council reveals fixed span section to be shipped to site next April

Elected representatives from both sides of the border visiting the site of Narrow Water Bridge recently. Photo: Louth County Council

Progress on the historic 100million Narrow Water Bridge is being keenly watched on both sides of the border, but a key part of the construction project is being carried out in Belgium, it emerged this week.

The bridge is set to become an iconic landmark in the cross-border region, and is expected to fuel a surge in tourist offerings around Carlingford Lough.

Works have been progressing at pace in Omeath, County Louth and at Warrenpoint in County Down, elected representatives from Louth and Newry and Mourne District heard during a recent site visit.

The fixed-span bridge is a crucial part of the project. It is expected to be shipped from Belgium and assembled on-site at Narrow Water in April 2026.

A spokesperson for Louth County Council, who are leading the project, explained that a number of key milestones have already been completed ahead of the arrival of the bridge infrastructure next year.

Following the appointment of BAM Civil Ltd as the main contractor in late April 2024 top stripping, site clearance works, and the formation of the roadway embankment began in early May, followed by the beginning of formal construction in June 2024.

By the end of 2024, piling works had been completed on both the northern and southern abutments, with substantial concrete works commencing on the southern abutment. Significant progress was also made on the R173 roundabout, which was 90% complete by year-end, and on the bridge control building, which reached 50% completion.

The spokesman added that 2025 has seen several major achievements delivered.

"Marine piling for both temporary and permanent works was completed by March. In the second quarter of the year the foul sewer connection on the northern side of the site was concluded, allowing the completion of the northern approach embankment.

Elected representatives from both sides of the border visiting the site of Narrow Water Bridge recently. Photo: Louth County Council

The reinforced concrete works on the southern abutment are now finished to a point and are awaiting the delivery of the fixed span bridge, which is currently being manufactured in Ghent, Belgium.

The spokesperson explained that the new navigation tower was constructed over the summer months, which will allow for enhanced safety and visibility in the channel for marine traffic on completion of the project.

An underground tunnel for the Carlingford Lough Greenway underpass has also been recently completed and opened to the public.

Work on the fixed span bridge is expected to be completed early next year, before being shipped to the site in Spring 2026.

"The fabrication of the Bascule Bridge, the section of the bridge that opens to allow marine traffic to pass, is due to commence in Ghent in the coming weeks, according to Louth County Council.

Ahead of this, there will be on-site, temporary works getting underway in preparation for the arrival of the fixed-span bridge in three large sections.

Additional works scheduled for the coming months include the completion of reinforced concrete works on the Northern Abutment, installation of a temporary skid beam system for the installation of the fixed bridge, and the fitting of a fender system in the navigable channel.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
Garda crime scene investigators carrying out a technical examination at the ATM in Clones Town on August 1. Photo Rory Geary

Gardai and the PSNI are exploring whether a gang behind a daring overnight raid on an ATM in Monaghan in August were also behind a cross border armed robbery during the early hours of this morning.

Security staff at a filling station in the Aughnacloy area of Armagh were threatened just before 7am by a gang of men wearing boiler suits and masks while armed with suspected firearms.

The incident, which detectives believe bore the hallmarks of an organised crime gang, took place when the security firm personnel were attending an ATM on the Caledon Road.

The group ordered staff into the ATM bunker then removed cash boxes from the security van and the ATM before making off from the scene in a dark coloured vehicle, with a substantial sum of cash.

Despite no injuries having been reported, senior PSNI officials have said the security staff were left shocked by their ordeal.

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As those investigations continue, gardai are also looking into the possibility that the same gang orchestrated an overnight raid on an ATM in Clones less than 40km away.

That incident came after thieves targeted the independently owned machine which was stationed at the towns former Ulster Bank building shortly before 2am on August 1.

Its understood the gang wrenched open a steel security door in order to try and secure access to the ATM.

Although the ATM itself was left intact, an undisclosed sum of cash was taken in the heist.

The scene itself was sealed off for a full technical examination as gardai also procured CCTV from various approach roads in and out of the west Monaghan town.

Those efforts were made in a bid to identify both the identities of those involved and two vehicles detectives believe were used during the course of the raid.

Gardai have been focusing much of those inquiries on a Ford Transit van and silver Audi which were spotted in and around the scene of the robbery.

Sources believe the episode may also be linked to a similar incident just days previously in Jonesborough, a small village along the Armagh-Louth border.

Part of that belief is based on the involvement of the Audi which senior investigators believe was also used in the Jonesborough raid.
Family and supporters turn out in large numbers

The Glor na dTonn Ceili Band returned to a triumphant celebration and homecoming in Sligo on Saturday, September 21.

In what was one of the largest gathering of trad musicians in Sligo since Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann was held in Sligo in 2014 and 2015, more than 500 friends, family and supporters from Sligo, Connacht and across Ireland, together with followers from the US and the UK gave the band a tumultuous reception at the Sligo Park Hotel.

Glor na dTonn are the current All-Ireland Senior Ceili Band champions.

As previously reported in The Sligo Champion, the band won the coveted title at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2025, which was hosted by Wexford in early August.

The Senior Ceili Band competition is fiercely competitive, being the most prestigious title awarded annually across the traditional music world.

The Glor na dTonn success comes as no surprise to traditional music followers.The band was awarded second place in both 2024 and 2023, having achieved third place in 2022; recognition of their consistency and talent.

The band is made up of ten members, four of which are from Sligo, five from Mayo and one from Waterford.

The Sligo members are Conal McCormack, Jason McGuinness, Tom Gavin and Kate Gavin, each of which hold All Ireland titles at individual level.

They are members of the Sligo branches of Riverstown, Tiereragh and the recently formed CCE, Cnoc na Re.

The night was compared by Neansai Ni Choistealla of Radio na Gaeltachta. Several members of Sligo County Council attended to show their appreciation of the bands success.

The event was formally addressed by the Cathaoirleach of Sligo Council, Councillor Donal Gilroy, and the Chairs of both the Sligo and Mayo County Boards of Comhaltas, Tim Mulcahy and Seamus Cawley.

Glor na dTonn delivered the opening performance of top class traditional music and song to the delight of a widely enthuastic audience.

They were followed by the Moriarity Trio from Kerry, accompanied by the Broga Briomhar dancing school. The evening continued late into the night with an informal music session of more than 100 musicians. It was a night that may never be rivalled: music and song that will echo in the ears of the attendance for a very long time.
Budget 2026 is a bold and practical response to Sligos housing challenges and reflects the Governments commitment to delivering homes for families around the country, according to Sligo/Leitrim Fine Gael TD Frank Feighan.

Deputy Feighan pointed to a number of initiatives as evidence that Fine Gael and the Government are addressing the housing issue. He believes the capital investment in housing, reduction of VAT rate and extending the help-to-buy scheme will all help alleviate the current problem.

Deputy Feighan remarked, These measures will revitalise communities all around Sligo, help deliver infrastructure for more homes, as well as supporting renters in line with the Programme for Government.

A 2bn capital investment in housing, water infrastructure and energy systems is a cornerstone of the Budgets ambition to accelerate deliver and future-proof Irelands build environment.

The reduction of VAT to 9% for the construction of new apartments, is a key way to stimulate development around the country as well as lowering the cost for builders, as well as buyers.

Fine Gael is standing up for young people to get onto the property ladder. The decision to extend the Help-to-Buy scheme for five years will provide certainty for first time buyers, Deputy Feighan added.

Budget 2026 will also reinvigorate towns and cities around the country in tackling dereliction and vacancy. Revenue will now collect the derelict site tax which will ensure stronger enforcement and accountability.

More regional towns will benefit from the Living City Initiative including Sligo town as the scheme is being expanded significantly from 14,000 to over 30,000 eligible properties and covers five new regional centres including Sligo.

Development costs will be further reduced through a targeted cut in corporation tax on profits from apartment construction, encouraging supply and investment. The budget also includes an extension of landlord relief and mortgage Interest Relief for another year, aimed at supporting rental supply and easing financial pressure on property owners.

This Budget will also deliver funding for additional staff at An Coimisiun Pleanala and Uisce Eireann which will speed up planning decision as well as infrastructure delivery.

This Budget is about action, not rhetoric. We are investing in supply, cracking down on dereliction, and supporting renters and buyers alike. Budget 2026 reflects Fine Gaels commitment to practical solutions and long-term planning. Housing is the defining issue of our time, and this Budget shows we are serious about solving it, concluded Deputy Feighan.

The Budget also got a firm thumbs up from fellow Sligo/Leitrim TD Marian Harkin.

The Minister of State said: Recognising the invaluable contribution of carers was a key priority for Independents when forming this Government earlier this year, Minister Harkin said. The significant increase in the income disregard for the Carers Allowance  from 375 to 1,000 for individuals and from 750 to 2,000 for couples  marks meaningful progress toward abolishing the means test over the lifetime of this Government.

She added: As a lifelong advocate for carers, and particularly for family carers, I am proud to see this Government honour their vital work. This Budget sets us firmly on the path to ending the means test for the Carers Allowance once and for all.

Minister Harkin said the 3.8 billion for disability services marks a transformative investment in the sector which will fund a range of new residential care placements and day service supports for young people finishing school along with extra places for older adults. I am particularly heartened to see funding for 6,500 private assessments of need, 150,000 hours of home support, 10,000 overnight and 15,000 day respite sessions and I will work to ensure that the northwest will get its fair share of this new provision, the Minister said.

The Minister welcomed the substantial investment in education making provision for another 2,600 workers in the sector. Again, I am looking forward to our region benefitting from its proportion of the 1,042 new teacher posts that includes 860 new special education teachers and 1,700 new SNAs.

Minister Harkin also highlighted a series of targeted measures designed to support working families and communities across the northwest region. These will see Working Family Payment thresholds increase by 60 per week, allowing more households in Sligo, Leitrim, and South Donegal to qualify while Automatic Fuel Allowance eligibility will now extend to all Working Family Payment recipients, providing greater security against rising energy costs. Furthemore, the Mortgage Interest Relief Scheme will be extended for a further two years, supporting homeowners facing higher repayments.

In a constituency where tourism and hospitality are a vital part of the local economy I am delighted that the hospitality VAT rate will be reduced to 9% and that hairdressers are included in this measure. This will help to sustain local jobs and small businesses that keep rural and regional economies vibrant, Minister Harkin said.

In addition, the Budget makes major capital investments in infrastructure and boosts housing supply, recognising that building homes is central to Irelands long-term social and economic wellbeing.

Citing data from the ESRI SWITCH tax-benefit model, Minister Harkin noted that this years Budget delivers the greatest benefits to lower-income families, shifting focus from once-off supports to targeted, sustainable measures that strengthen both communities and the wider economy.

This is a Budget that delivers for people - for families, carers, and communities while building a fairer and more resilient future, Minister Harkin concluded.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
A motion brought by Cllr Declan Bree calling on Sligo County Council to express its dismay and opposition to the Government's proposal to abolish or amend the Triple Lock, which governs the deployment of Irish Defence Forces personnel overseas, was defeated by eight votes to five when it was put to a vote at the October meeting of Sligo County Council.

Giving some background to his motion, Cllr Bree spoke about the turbulent times we live in as he referenced, Israel's war of genocide, Putins invasion of Ukraine and a volatile and dangerous President in the White House who is prepared to support the sale of armaments to war torn regions all over the globe. Today more and more people are becoming deeply concerned about increasing militarisation in the world and the growth of the military industrial complex.

Cllr Bree argued the triple lock  which means that Irish Defence forces can only be deployed on overseas missions that have been approved by the government, Dail Eireann and have a UN mandate  is a central component of Irish neutrality.

Removing the Triple Lock as is now being proposed by the government would be a betrayal of the commitments of previous Irish Governments regarding the Nice Treaty, argued Cllr Bree.

The motion was debated by the Councillors with the chamber divided. Cllr Gino OBoyle offered his support for the motion while Cllr Fergal Nealon spoke strongly against the motion.

Cllr Nealon argued, The proposed amendments in no way impact our neutrality. He added, Putins Russia has the power to veto Irelands role in a peacekeeping mission even if our own government decided it.

Cllr Nealon argued the triple lock no longer serves its original intended purpose and a double lock consisting of the government and Dail would be suficient.

"Ireland should trust its own institutions not vetos from foreign governments.

Cllr Arthur Gibbons expressed his support for the motion saying, The triple lock system has worked right until now. I think we need to be strong enough to hold on whatever mechanisms to maintain our neutrality.

Cllr Thomas Walsh voiced his opposition to the motion when he said, This will have no effect on Irish neutrality. Irish foreign policy needs to reflect where the world is today.

Cllr Donal Gilroy also took issue with the motion, or one word of the motion. I have difficult with one word  ammend. Whether it is Trump, Putin, King Charles saying where Irish troops go abroad, I cant support that motion.

Cllr Bree concluded the debate saying, The triple lock has served Ireland well and it has served the world well.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
President should be voted for by all on island

Sligos longest serving councillor, Declan Bree says that he hopes that by the time of the next Presidential election a border poll will have taken place and all citizens of a united Ireland will be voting.

Speaking at Mondays monthly meeting of Sligo County Council, Cllr Bree says however that hes concerned about recent comments made by Government representatives as to when the poll might be held.

More than a decade ago, a citizens assembly gave a clear recommendation to change the Constitution to give citizens outside the State the right to vote in presidential elections.

The President represents all the people of Ireland and it is only right that all citizens on this island be allowed to vote for their first citizen.

In addition to the Citizens Assembly successive polls have shown the majority of Irish people support voting rights in presidential elections being extended to Irish citizens residing in the Six Counties.

There is a growing momentum towards extending voting rights and enhancing the democratic rights of Irish citizens and this certainly would be a positive step and would strengthen and enrich our democratic process.

The fifth report of the Convention on the Constitution formally recommended extending voting rights to Irish citizens in the North, in November 2013. Despite supportive statements from Government parties, we are now 12 years on and nothing has changed.

In May this year the Stormont Assembly passed a motion supporting the call for the extension of presidential voting rights to citizens in the North.

This would have been unthinkable a short while ago and indicates the strength of the momentum for change.

It is well past time for the Government to call a referendum to enact the expressed will of the people, North and South.

He proposed: That Sligo County Council requests the government to implement the recommendations of the Fifth Report of the Convention on the Constitution, and to extend voting rights in Presidential elections to all Irish citizens on the island of Ireland.
Concerns in Gorey have been raised regarding the installation of new traffic lights at one of Goreys main access points from Dublin.

In 2024, a traffic calming scheme in Gorey was put in place to reduce excessive speeding in the area and improve pedestrian access at several locations in Gorey.

Traffic Lights on Ballytegan Road Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Included in the scheme are traffic lights which installed at Ballytegan Road which Wicklow-Wexford TD Brian Brennan said many residents have raised concern over and the impact it will have on the area and access to Gorey.

Deputy Brennan wrote to Wexford County Council regarding the matter where he said the new traffic measure will not have the desired effect WCC are hoping for, and said there is a strong feeling that it will lead to greater congestion and tailbacks for drivers.

The traffic lights were installed in June 2025 and are not yet operational.

If the disruption caused during the construction phase is anything to go by - I have grave concerns regarding the efficacy of these lights.

Many visitors first impression will be a traffic jam which is simply the wrong impression, Brian said.

First impressions count, and if the first thing tourists and motorists are met with on arrival into Gorey is a long traffic jam it will leave a negative stamp on peoples experience of the town.

Deputy Brennan said the new traffic lights will stem the flow of traffic into Gorey from the main artery to Dublin, possibility leading to avoidance of the town. It is of vital importance that we ensure that traffic in Gorey moves as smoothly as possible for the benefit of residents and visitors alike and to ensure that businesses continue to thrive in the town, he said.

He further said that residents have suggested a better solution would be a roundabout at the Ashdown Park Hotel junction, which would slow down traffic and make manoeuvring at the Ballytegan junction easier.

Deputy Brennan hopes to continue engaging with Wexford County Council on the matter to ensure that all possible solutions at the pinch point are investigated.

Traffic Lights on Ballytegan Road Gorey. PHOTO: Sabrina Ffrench

Cathaoirleach Joe Sullivan also raised concerns with the traffic calming measures and said the installation of electrical works is dragging out.

He highlighted the traffic lights at Ballytegan Road and lights and crossings on the Arklow Road.

Cllr Sullivan is calling on Wexford County Council to ensure the safety of pedestrians is met with the installation of the electrical works.

Wexford County Council has been asked for comment and have not yet responded.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been launched in order to raise funds for a Wexford man who sustained life-changing injuries in an unfortunate farming accident.

A group of loved ones of Michael Scott Doyle, who call themselves the Friends of Scott, launched the fundraiser to help Scott and his family adjust to life after the accident.

"Our friend and valued community member, Michael Scott Doyle, recently suffered life-changing injuries as a result of a farm accident. After a serious fall, his life has been turned upside down, and we are asking for your support to help Scott, and his family readjust to their changing circumstances, they wrote.

The described him as a proud Oulart the Ballagh and country man at heart who is an avid hunting enthusiast and active member of the local Gun club and lifelong NARGC member, involved in agriculture all his life.

"Scott loves all things outdoors. Scott has been involved in community fundraisers down through the years and is always available to lend a helping hand to anyone who needs it. Scott also enjoys his social dancing and interacting with people from across the country, they added.

They recognise that Scott's road to recovery will be difficult and they want to assist his family with the costs.

"Scotts road to recovery will be a long and arduous one with many obstacles ahead, requiring a sustained period of intensive rehabilitation at the National Rehabilitation Hospital before he can be transferred home. We need your help and support to adapt his home to ensure it is a safe and secure environment to cater to his needs. We need to secure funding to facilitate Scotts short-term needs while a long-term care plan is being developed, they said.

"We as a community appeal to you to support this worthy cause to help bring Scott home during this difficult time, they added.

At the time of writing, over 10,000 of the 22,000 had been raised thanks to generous donations.

To donate to the fundraiser, please click here.
A delegation from a new committee advocating for progress on the Arklow to Shillelagh Greenway have met with the county councils project team.

During a recent public meeting in Tinahely, local representatives discussed the greenways potential for tourism and safe connections for walkers and cyclists.

Concerns were raised about the proposed route impacting Aughrim village, with residents worried about planning considerations for infrastructure and traffic management.

TDs Brian Brennan, Malcolm Byrne, and Fionntan OSuilleabhain were among those who expressed their support for the project and pointed out the 500,000 funding had been allocated this year, but the project was has been bound by bureaucratic challenges for over 14 years.

Following a separate meeting at County Buildings, delegates were informed about the councils dedicated greenway team. Previously it was managed by their general projects team.

Slight amendments have been made to the emerging preferred route due to environmental considerations. The route itself is currently being finalised and will be brought forward to design stage and planning at a later date.

Future changes are only expected if required by survey results or other planning considerations.

It will then be sent to Transport Infrastructure Ireland for approval with an expectation that will be approved by the end of the year.

Cllr Peter Stapleton, who attended the meeting has advised that all affected landowners will be written to in advance of the publication of the route, so they know where they stand.

The council is currently progressing with the tender process for the appointment of a consultant to lead the design of the greenway and get the project through planning. Its expected they will be appointed by Christmas.

During the September meeting of Wicklow County Council, director of services Joe Lane outlined to Cllr Stapleton that a report on the current design stage will be submitted to Transport Infrastructure Ireland shortly for review.

Delegates from the committee are due to receive a further update from the council early in the new year.

In a statement the newly formed Save the Arklow-Shillelagh Greenway campaign group believes now is the time to act.

For over 14 years, our communities have been promised the ArklowShillelagh Greenway. It has the power to link our towns and villages, boost local tourism, support businesses, and provide a safe, scenic route for walkers and cyclists.

Despite funding, plans, and wide support, progress has stalled."

The greenway is not just a line on a map. Its a lifeline for our communities, businesses, and families. With persistence, accountability, and unity, we can make it happen

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
A Bray bookshop is once again the only store in County Wicklow to make the longlist for this years An Post Bookshop of the Year award. And if poetic justice prevails, the well-loved childrens outlet would be deserving of the title.

Tales for Tadpoles, tucked away in the little alleyway at Albert Walk, is among 12 bookshops across the country which have been included in the Bookshop of the Year category at this years Irish Book Awards, the annual event that celebrates and promotes Irish authors and, of course, the spaces that sell their work.

Previous winners from Wicklow include Bridge Street Books in Wicklow town (2022), and Halfway Up the Stairs in Greystones (2023). Tales for Tadpoles made the longlist last year but lost out to the Derry store, Little Acorns.

The Bray store also made the shortlist for the British Book Awards 2025 Independent Bookshop of the Year, which celebrates stores that reach beyond the literary landscape and bring books to the heart of local communities.

Founded and operated by Caroline Sullivan since 2022, the shop is a place for people of all ages, not just children, who love illustration and picture books, as the ethos is: We believe you're never too old to enjoy illustrated books; in fact, some of the greatest picture books are created with adult audiences in mind.

Proving just how important the bricks and mortar space is for writers and readers, the shop hosts regular book launches, with a full house each month when local actors play their part for the storytime sessions.

To make the longlist, store customers were asked to vote for their favourite bookshops and explain the reason for their choice. An independent judging panel will now whittle down the hopefuls to a shortlist of six bookshops, to be announced on Wednesday, October 22, with the overall winner collecting the prize at the An Post Irish Book Awards on Thursday, November 27.

Commenting on the award, chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards Larry Mac Hale said the awards are a way of paying tribute to bookshops as the cornerstone of many communities across Ireland, playing a central role for their towns and cities.

More than just shops, they are cultural havens that spark creativity and foster a love of reading for people of all ages, Mac Hale said.
A businessman man who was involved in a stand-off with a sherriff and armed gardai at his former home in Wicklow has been accused of breaching bail conditions by repeatedly returning to the repossessed property.

Brian McDonagh (64), with an address in Terenure, Co. Dublin, appeared at Bray District Court on October 6, 2025, charged with breaching his bail conditions and trespassing. The incident took place on October 5, 2025.

On February 24, 2025, Mr McDonagh allegedly barricaded himself inside his home, Drummin House in Delgany, Co. Wicklow, as sheriff officers attempted to carry out a repossession order. Armed Garda response units, negotiators, and medical crews were deployed to the scene during the stand-off, and two firearms were later seized from the property.

Mr McDonagh was arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, and subsequently charged with wilfully obstructing a sheriff and producing an article likely to intimidate.

The accused was remanded in custody on his first appearance before Bray District Court on February 25, 2025 but was granted bail by the same court a week later.

The conditions of his bail, which were set on March 3, 2025, included that he stays away from Drummin House and its grounds.

A garda told the court on Monday that Mr McDonagh has attended the property 10 times in the last six weeks. By his own admission, Mr McDonagh said this was true.

Solicitor for the defendant, Michael OConnor, asked the court what conditions would satisfy it. He added that another bail condition was that Mr McDonagh sign on at Bray Garda Station and told the court that his client had cooperated with this condition.

The court was informed that new owners purchased Drummin House in July and that they are extremely fearful about the current situation. The court also heard that Mr McDonaghs wife is engaged in a High Court case challenging the eviction and is due back in the High Court in November.

Brian McDonagh (64). Photo: Collins.

Today's News in 90 Seconds, Wednesday, October 8

Judge David Kennedy threatened to remand Mr McDonagh to custody if he breached a new set of conditions.

Mr McDonaghs new bail conditions are that he must stay away from Drummin House and its grounds in Delgany, Co. Wicklow and sign on at Bray Garda Station every Monday and Friday.

The court also heard that at a previous bail hearing, Mr McDonagh had given five addresses where he could be located. Judge Kennedy made it clear he must now give one fixed address. Mr Michael OConnor told the court that his client will now reside at an address in Terenure, Co. Dublin.

Legal aid was granted to Michael O'Connor Solicitors, Bray, Co. Wicklow. Mr McDonagh is due back before Bray District Court in November.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
Motion passed to ask that the funding be increased

Wicklow County Council is urging the Government to provide additional support for the Irish post office network.

The call comes following the October monthly meeting of Wicklow County Council, where independent councillors Stephen Stokes, Jason Mulhall and Miriam Murphy successfully brought forward a motion which emphasised the central role of post offices in Irish life, describing them as trusted community hubs that keep money circulating locally, deliver vital Government services, and provide essential access for people of all ages.

The motion, which was passed unanimously by the council, calls on the Government to increase their funding from 10 million per year, to 15 million per year, over a five-year period. The appeal reflects the findings of a recent Grant Thornton report, which concluded that increased funding is essential if the post office network is to remain sustainable.

Cllr Stokes highlighted how vital post offices are for older people who rely on personal services, and for families and small businesses who need local access to secure financial and communication services.

The Grant Thornton Report is crystal clear  the current funding model is insufficient. We are calling on the Government to act now, not later, to protect this invaluable network.

Cllr Mulhall warned about the impact a lack of funding would have on the sector.

If we allow them to wither, we will see increased social isolation, especially in rural areas, and a loss of trust in how essential services are delivered.

 The additional 5 million annually is a modest but necessary step to safeguard the future of the network.

Meanwhile Cllr Murphy underlined the social value of protecting post offices.

They are part of the fabric of our communities, places where neighbours meet and where people can rely on a friendly face. The Government needs to step up and secure their future.

Cllr Murphy further noted the importance of post offices in rural areas.

These facilities are much more than centres that provide services, they are places where people can met weekly.

It is a hub where the community knows that if someone has not been in to the post office, they will raise a concern.

Ahead of budget 2026, the Irish Postmasters Union were vocal about the need for more support. Independent analysis shows the post office network delivers up to 776 million in social and economic value annually, yet without a modest investment of 15 million per year, closures will accelerate, depriving communities and the State of an essential service.

Cllrs Murphy, Mulhall and Stokes believe that decisive action is now needed.

The motion raised during the councils monthly meeting will now be sent to Minister Charlie McConalogue, who has responsibility for postal policy and Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme
The Ciaran Jones Person of the Year Award 2025 took place on Friday, September 19 in Manor Kilbride Community Hall. The was the 14th Annual Ciaran Jones Memorial presentation and there was a very large attendance on the night.

The highlight of the night had to be the announcement of this years person(s) of the year. To a standing ovation the award went to Brenda and John Jones. This was a well deserved award for everything they do in the wider community.

Brenda and John are the parents of the late Ciaran. Congratulations to you both.

Death

The recent death took place of John Healy, Main Street, Blessington. His remains were removed to the Church of Our Lady Blessington last Monday morning September 29 for his funeral mass and his burial took place afterwards in Burgage Cemetery Blessington. John always had time for a friendly chat whenever our paths crossed, was well known in the Blessington and surrounding area and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

His funeral was one of the largest seen in Blessington for a long number years which was very fitting for a much loved man. Condolences to his family at this very sad time in their lives.

Bowls Club

Blessington Indoor Bowls Club played round 2 of the league on Thursday September 25. It was a home match against neighbours Rathmore and it turned out to be a very close encounter with both Mat A and Mat B matches going down to the very last end. On Mat A Blesso won 15-13 while on Mat B Blesso won by 14-10. That gave them overall victory by 29-23. That won them the match picking up 5pts- 0. Team members were Donie McEvoy, Rita Nugent, Brendan Doyle, John Keogh, Margaret Doyle, Liam Houston, John Bohan, Tom Oneill, John Ryan and Paddy Mulhall.

Next match will be an away fixture against another one of our neighbors Ballymore Eustace this month.

Truck and tractor run

A Christmas Truck and Tractor Run in aid of Blessington Rescue Boat will take place on Sunday, November 16. The gates will open at 5pm at Russborough House just outside Blessington.

All taking part will be leaving at 7pm. The entry fee will be 30 and is a strictly ticket event. There will also be a raffle with some great prizes to be won and tickets will be limited. Contact blessingtonresueboat@gmail.com for further details.

GAA lotto

Blessington GAA Club held their very latest lotto draw last Tuesday, September 30 with another new jackpot which was standing at a cool 2,600. The jackpot was not won and that means there will be a new jackpot for the next Lotto draw which takes place on Tuesday, October 14. The new jackpot will be 2,800.

The winning numbers drawn were 19,24,25,26 and only one punter managed to get three numbers and he won 300. Tickets are on sale for the next lotto draw at the usual local outlets or you can purchase one online. All support will be much appreciated by the club. Remember if you are not in you cannot win.

Candlelight walk

All roads will lead to Russborough House near Blessington for the annual candlelight walk which takes place on Sunday, October26 commencing at 6pm. Admission will 5 per person and all funds raised will go to St. Marys Church Blessington and the Irish Cancer Society. It is always an enjoyable event so make sure to come along. All support will be much appreciated by the organisers.

Set dancing classes

Beginners set dancing classes will commence in Kilteel Inn this Thursday, October 9 from 7.30pm  8.30pm. The cost will be 45 and there will be an option for unwaged. Text Patricia for full details 087 238 8487. All are most welcome.

School open day

St. Marys Junior National School Blessington will hold their open day on Tuesday, October 21 from 6.30pm  8pm. Open to everyone why not pop in for a look around the school and meet the Teachers.

Please note that enrolment for 2026 is now taking place and you can organise it at the open day.

Parish Lotto

Blessington Parish Lotto draw took place on Thursday, September 25 and there was once again no winner of the jackpot. The winning numbers drawn were 5,9,19,27. The jackpot has now survived a number of draws. The next lotto draw will take place later in the week and it will have another new jackpot which will be standing at 3,000. Contact the parish office for details in how to enter the draw or you can check the parish website. All support will be most welcome. It would be a great way to win a nice few euros and who knows you might be the lucky one who scoops the jackpot which no doubt will come in very handy at this time of the year. The weekly winner won 25.

West Wicklow Music Festival

The West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival will take place at the Manor House Tulfarris from November 14-November 16. The three days of music will feature acclaimed international and Irish artists.

This season promises to delight all audiences. Full details will be announced over the next few weeks. Check out their website for ticket details. It promises to be an event not to be missed so make sure to book early and not be disappointed.

Meeting

An information evening for parents of children receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation next year will take place in the Church of Lady Blessington on next Monday, October 13 at 8pm.

Millennium Choir

The choir are seeking new members who love to sing. Friendly and fun loving group of people who meet every Tuesday evening from 7.30pm  9.30pm in Blessington Kare Centre. No auditions. All proceed from their concerts go to local charities. For more details contact 087 4352385 or 087 2431499.

Childrens choir

The launch of Blessington Parish Choir beginning this Wednesday, October 1 in the Church of Our Lady Blessington 4.20pm  5pm. It is open to all children 5+.

The choir will be led by Judit Mate who is a trained teacher and Gyula Nagy who trained with the National Opera Studio and Royal Opera House in Lindon.

Celebration of Life

Blessington Day Care Committee are holding a Celebration of Life at the Coimin Centre Blessington from 10am  4pm on October 13, 14,15,16. They will be having an Exhibition and Sale of the clients beautiful craft work.

Come and enjoy their coffee morning each day. All are most welcome. For further information contact Bridie Gleeson tel. 087 207 5516.

Library news

There is a reminder to you all out there that Blessington Library have amended their opening hours. Opening hours from Monday  Friday remains the same but they are now closed on Saturdays.

The Library hope to return to their regular opening hours as soon as possible.

Parish Newsletter

The deadline for notices in the Parish Newsletter is Tuesday at 11am. The first edition of the newsletter was way back in July 1994 edited by the late Fr. Lyon.

The newsletter is still going strong after all those years. It is available in some local outlets every Thursday and in the Church of Our Lady Blessington every Friday morning. Make sure to pick up a copy.

History of old church

For around 400 years local Catholics had go to Crosscahapel to attend mass and other sacraments. Many people had to walk the mile and a half because cars were very scarce in those days.

That all changed in May 1946 when the Church of Our Lady of the Most Holy Sacrament was formerly blessed and opened by the then Archbishop of Dublin Dr. Mc Quaid.

The town of Blessington was a blaze with colour to welcome his Grace that day. The Archbishops car was met about a mile outside the town and was escorted to the church gates by 50 horsemen, FCA and schoolchildren of the district. The procession was played into the town by the Ballymore Eustace Brass and Reed Band.

The little church was packed to capacity with hundreds of people standing outside while his Grace presided at the very first mass in the church.

That little old church closed its doors in 1982 when a new church The Church of Our lady opened. The old church is now part of St. Marys Junior National School.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch gives an interview during the Conservative Party Conference yesterday. Ms Badenoch was warned of her course of action by Michael Heseltine. Photo: PA

Tory grandee Michael Heseltine has warned Kemi Badenoch that the partys attacks on migrants are not the Conservative way to rebuild power.

In a damning attack on her leadership, the former deputy prime minister has used a speech at the conference in Manchester to attack the rhetoric of the current leadership, warning that the inflammatory language encourages the worst sort of prejudice.
Donald Trump calls for jailing Democratic leaders as troops prepare for Chicago deployment

Trump threatens to jail Mayor and GovernorFormer FBI chief due in court to face criminal chargesNational Guard troops gather outside Chicago despite local opposition

National Guard troops from Texas have begun to arrive in Illinois. Photo: REUTERS/Jim Vondruska

Brendan O'Brien, Andy Sullivan and Susan Heavey Reuters Wed 8 Oct 2025 at 16:10

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for the jailing of Chicago's mayor and the governor of Illinois, both Democrats, as his administration prepared to deploy military troops to the streets of the third-largest US city.
Russia said yesterday it was waiting for clarity from the United States about the possible supply of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, saying such weapons could theoretically carry nuclear warheads.

US president Donald Trump said on Monday he would want to know what Ukraine planned to do with Tomahawks before agreeing to provide them because he did not want to escalate the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Pressure mounting on Macron to call election amid turmoil

President suffers new blow as two of his former political allies abandon him

French President Emmanuel Macron is facing calls for his resignation

Samuel Petrequin and John Leicester Associated Press Wed 8 Oct 2025 at 06:30

Embattled French president Emmanuel Macron has suffered a fresh blow with two of his former prime ministers sharply distancing themselves from him as he faced growing pressure to resign after the collapse of his latest government.
Breaking | Ex-FBI chief James Comey pleads not guilty to criminal charges brought after pressure from Trump

Comey faces charges of false statements, obstructionOver 1,000 DOJ alumni criticise case as assault on rule of lawTrump's DOJ also investigating other political adversaries

File image of James Comey. Getty.

Sarah N. Lynch and Andrew Goudsward Reuters Wed 8 Oct 2025 at 16:51

Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to criminal charges accusing him of making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation, US media reported, in the first prosecution by the Justice Department against one of President Donald Trump's political enemies.
Smoke rises following an Israeli strike during a military operation in Gaza City. Photo: Reuters

For two years, the people of Gaza have endured one of the most devastating bombardments and humanitarian catastrophes of our time.
Five Irish citizens are believed to be detained by Israeli forces after a group of flotilla vessels attempting to deliver aid to Gaza was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters on Wednesday.
US president Donald Trumps administration warned yesterday of no guaranteed back pay for federal workers during a government shutdown, reversing what has been long-standing policy for about 750,000 furloughed employees, according to a memo being circulated by the White House.

After the longest government shutdown in 2019, Mr Trump signed legislation that ensures federal workers receive back pay during any federal funding lapse. But in the new memo, his Office of Management and Budget said back pay must be provided by Congress, if it chooses to do so, as part of any bill to fund the government.
Ill look at it  Donald Trump says he would consider pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell

US president also claims rapper Diddy had asked him for clemency in case

Ghislaine Maxwell with Jeffrey Epstein. Photo: PA

Andrew Feinberg UK Independent Wed 8 Oct 2025 at 06:30

US president Donald Trump has said he would consider a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex trafficker who conspired with the presidents late friend, paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, to traffic and abuse minor girls in multiple US states.
Flipkarts Dark Pattern Self-Audit: What it Means for Businesses in India

Flipkarts dark patterns self-audit shows how Indias new CCPA guidelines are reshaping e-commerce. Learn the compliance lessons for your business.

On September 17, 2025, Flipkart Group, an e-commerce company, announced the completion of a self-audit in all its digital platforms  Flipkart, Myntra, Flipkart Wholesale, and Cleartrip. The exercise was carried out to remove dark patterns in line with guidelines from the CCPA.

The declaration submitted by the company to the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs can become a benchmark in Indias digital compliance environment and a step toward consumer-first practices in Indias digital economy.

Understanding Indias dark patterns guidelines

Indias digital economy, projected to reach US$1 trillion by 2030, will depend heavily on building trust and having a transparent business model. The central government is investing its effort in ensuring a fair, ethical digital ecosystem through strict oversight of manipulative online practices that compromise consumer autonomy. Therefore, firms that prioritize transparency and design consumer interactions around fairness will gain lasting advantage.

The CCPA issued Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns on November 30, 2023, which defines dark patterns as deceptive design elements in a website or apps user interface or user experience that intentionally mislead, influence, or pressure users into taking actions they did not plan or wish to take, such as making unintended purchases or sharing personal data.

The guidelines identify 13 specific prohibited dark patterns: false urgency, basket sneaking, confirm shaming, forced action, subscription traps, interface interference, bait and switch, drip pricing, disguised advertisements, nagging, trick wording, SaaS billing, and rogue malware. These practices are classified as unfair trade practices under Section 2(47) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

In May 2025, after consultations with industry stakeholders, the CCPA issued an advisory that required all digital platforms to conduct self-audits and submit compliance declarations within three months. It covered more than 50 platforms across e-commerce, fintech, travel, streaming, food-tech, and med-tech sectors. Flipkart is one of the first large players to declare completion of the directive.

Takeaways from Flipkarts self audit

The Flipkart Group has announced the audit report has been formally submitted to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, marking Flipkart as one of the first major Indian e-commerce groups to undertake such an independent review.

In a Press Note, the company highlighted that it has invested significantly in ethical design practices, internal controls, and awareness programs to prevent manipulative online tactics that could compromise consumer choice.

According to Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Flipkart Group, the initiative underscores the companys ongoing commitment to maintaining high standards of compliance and responsible marketplace conduct.

Proactive compliance as the new norm

Flipkart became a trend setter in conducting self-audit rather than waiting for government actions. Rajneesh Kumar, Flipkarts Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, emphasized that self-audit reinforces our role as a responsible digital marketplace and aligns with the governments vision of a transparent digital economy.

The Ministry welcomed the declaration, stating it demonstrates a clear commitment to putting consumer interests first and will serve as a significant benchmark for other platforms. The endorsement from the Ministry means that self-auditing may become the gold standard for regulation in coming months.

Shift from reactive regulation to self-regulation

Allowing self-audit by companies is part of the philosophy where businesses take responsibility for monitoring their own design practices.

Flipkart s completion of this self-audit is expected to have significant implications for Indias e-commerce sector. The company has created formal accountability mechanisms that can go a long way in improving consumer trust and reduce the risk of government interference. It is a departure from earlier approaches where penalties followed only after violations were discovered.

What this means for businesses and digital platforms

Competitive advantages of transparent practices

Consumer research shows that 77 percent of Indian buyers act on personalized recommendations, and transparent platforms are more likely to secure repeat purchases. In this environment, transparent, consumer-first practices are your competitive differentiators.

Flipkart has presented itself as a trusted marketplace by taking self-initiative in ensuring transparency in its platform design. For other firms, adopting the same approach could reduce scrutiny from regulators and differentiate them in a crowded digital market.

Risks of non-compliance

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, can impose penalties of up to INR 2 million for violations related to dark patterns. These penalties apply when a company fails to comply with the CCPAs directives to stop engaging in deceptive user interface practices.

Recent cases show that penalties are actually being levied. Rapido was fined INR 1 million (US$11,277.3) in August 2025 for misleading advertising.

The CCPA has imposed over INR 11.9 million (US$134,200.9) in penalties in 2024 on various entities for consumer rights violations, false advertisements, and unfair trade practices. Since the guidelines came into effect, it has issued 11 notices for dark patterns breaches and over 400 for unfair trade practices.

Non-compliance also creates reputational damage for companies in an environment where consumers expect transparency from brands. Once platforms are perceived as manipulative, the recovery from the fall can be slow, even if they pay the penalties.

Action plan: How companies can stay ahead

Conduct internal audits of digital platforms

Every business should begin by auditing its digital touchpoints, from websites to mobile applications and marketing channels. They should review website design, mobile applications, marketing communications, and customer journey for potential dark patterns. The audit should specifically examine the 13 prohibited practices identified in CCPA guidelines mentioned above.

Organizations should also document those audit findings and remediation efforts to show that they are actually complying with the advisory. These exercises should not be delayed, given there is only a three-month compliance timeline.

Review UI/UX and marketing for manipulative design

User interface and user experience elements require careful scrutiny to ensure they improve rather than manipulate consumer choice.

Companies need to assess their consent mechanisms, subscription processes, cancellation processes, and pricing displays. Marketing teams should review advertising claims for accuracy and ensure that promotional terms are clearly disclosed without relying on fine print or hidden conditions. The Rapido case is an example of how seemingly minor disclosure issues can result in large penalties.

Train teams on compliance and consumer protection norms

Organizations should implement training programs to educate employees about dark patterns, consumer protection requirements, and ethical design principles. Especially teams that directly affect consumer interactions, like product development and consumer service teams, should be trained on priority.

Training modules should cover legal obligations, CCPAs prohibited practices, and best practices for transparent communication with customers. They can get regular refreshers on what has changed and what should be expected in regulatory terms.

Preparing for future tightening

The present framework and directives are only the beginning of Indias digital governance evolution. The CCPA has already formed a Joint Working Group to identify new manipulative practices and dark patterns. To stay ahead of the curve, businesses can invest in monitoring systems, compliance tools, and ethical design capabilities now, rather than waiting for further updates.

Dark Patterns & Compliance: FAQs

1. What are dark patterns in digital products and websites?

Dark patterns are deceptive design practices in user interfaces (UI) or user experiences (UX) that mislead, manipulate, or pressure users into taking actions they did not intend  such as purchasing an item, sharing personal data, or subscribing to a service. They exploit cognitive biases, obscure alternatives, or withhold crucial information, thereby impairing user autonomy and informed decision-making.

2. Are dark patterns illegal in India?

Yes. The Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023, issued under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, explicitly prohibit such practices. Any platform, advertiser, or seller using deceptive design tactics can face penalties for unfair trade practices, misleading advertisements, or violation of consumer rights.

3. Who is covered under Indias dark patterns guidelines?

The guidelines apply broadly to:

Online platforms and apps offering goods or services to consumers in India.

offering goods or services to consumers in India. E-commerce marketplaces and digital service providers.

and digital service providers. Advertisers and sellers who design or deploy UI/UX interfaces for consumer interaction.

Even foreign companies targeting Indian users must comply if their services are accessible in India.

4. What are some examples of prohibited dark patterns?

The Indian guidelines list 13 dark patterns that are considered violations, including:

False urgency: Falsely implying a product or offer will expire soon.

Falsely implying a product or offer will expire soon. Basket sneaking: Adding products or services to a cart without consent.

Adding products or services to a cart without consent. Confirm shaming: Using guilt-inducing language to pressure users.

Using guilt-inducing language to pressure users. Subscription traps: Making cancellation difficult or hiding terms.

Making cancellation difficult or hiding terms. Forced action: Requiring unrelated actions to access a service.

Requiring unrelated actions to access a service. Drip pricing: Revealing full costs only late in the checkout process.

5. How do dark patterns rules relate to data privacy laws?

Many dark patterns involve the misuse of consent  such as pre-ticked boxes, confusing consent flows, or coercive prompts to share data. Under Indias Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, such consent is invalid. This can lead to parallel enforcement under both consumer protection and data privacy regulations.

6. How are dark patterns regulated in other jurisdictions?

European Union: Under the GDPR, consent manipulation is prohibited; the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) impose strict UI transparency obligations.

United States: The FTC and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) penalize deceptive design, particularly around subscription cancellation, consent, and hidden charges.

Penalties abroad can reach 4-10 percent of global annual turnover, far exceeding Indian fines.

7. Are nudges the same as dark patterns?

Not necessarily. Nudges are design choices that guide users toward beneficial decisions (e.g., defaulting to stronger privacy settings) without misleading them. They become dark patterns when they are manipulative, coercive, or deliberately obscure alternatives to serve the companys interest over the consumers.

8. How can businesses ensure compliance?

Conduct regular UX/UI audits to detect and eliminate manipulative patterns.

Use plain language and transparent disclosures for pricing, consent, and cancellation.

Ensure opt-out and cancellation flows are simple, visible, and no harder than opting in.

Label advertisements and sponsored content clearly.

Document consent processes and maintain records for audit and regulatory review.

9. What should companies do if they discover a dark patterns in their interface?

Immediately remove or redesign the problematic feature.

Notify legal and compliance teams for a risk assessment.

If necessary, self-report to regulators and offer remedies (e.g., refunds, corrective notices) to mitigate penalties.

Implement training and internal guidelines to prevent recurrence.

10. What penalties can companies face for using dark patterns?

For false or misleading advertisements: A company can be fined up to INR 1 million for a first offense and up to INR 5 million for subsequent offenses. The misleading advertisements guideline can apply to dark patterns such as drip pricing (revealing prices incrementally) or bait and switch.

For non-compliance with orders: If a business fails to comply with an order from a consumer forum, it can face imprisonment of up to three years and fines ranging from INR 2,000 to INR 10,000.

Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDPA): Dark patterns that violate user privacy by obtaining consent deceptively can lead to separate, significant fines under the DPDPA, which can reach up to INR 500 million.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) can also order the recall of goods/services, refunds to consumers, and discontinuation of the deceptive practice.
Kourtney Kardashian's Halloween decor



( Image credit : Instagram/@kourtneykardash | Kourtney Kardashians Halloween decor. )

( Image credit : Instagram/@kourtneykardash | Kourtney Kardashian's spooky yard. )

Kim Kardashians Halloween decor this year



( Image credit : Instagram/kimkardashian | Kim Kardashians Halloween decor this year. )

Khloe Kardashian s 2025 Halloween decor



( Image credit : Instagram/@khloekardashian | Khloe Kardashians 2025 Halloween decor. )

Kourtney Kardashian Barker is going all out for Halloween 2025. The reality star turned her home into a real-life horror zone, and it was all a surprise for her husband, Travis Barker. In a series of clips posted to her Instagram Stories on October 7, Kourtney, 46, showed how she planned a scary welcome for Travis, 49, after their movie date. The two had just watched Black Phone 2 when they returned home, only to find their house transformed into a haunted movie set.In the first video, Kourtney shared a picture from the movie theatre with the caption, Took my husband to the movies @blackphonemovie. But that was only the beginning. When they pulled up to their California home, the place looked straight out of a horror film. Kourtney revealed that Universal Studios helped set up the scare zone, complete with fake blood, eerie smoke, and a terrifying actor dressed as one of the movies main characters.As Travis drove up, he shouted, Get out of the car. Come on, please, hes coming. Answer the phone! Kourtney, who was filming the surprise, could be heard laughing and urging him, Say, Go answer the phone.Even as someone ran up to Travis car window, he kept laughing and told the camera, Oh my God! You have to let me out of the car. His son, Landon Barker, 21, also recorded the moment as Travis finally stepped out to answer the creepy phone box playing clips from the movie. Kourtney captioned one of her clips, Love surprising @travisbarker.The scare setup didnt stop there. Kourtney and Travis walked through their yard, which looked like a movie set filled with actors wearing masks of the films villain, The Grabber. One of the creepiest parts was a van covered in missing posters, featuring not just Travis and Kourtney, but also their family members, including Kris Jenner and Kim Kardashian.The Kardashian family is famous for transforming their homes into spooky wonderlands every Halloween, and this year is no different. Kim Kardashian, 44, showed off her own haunted home on October 2. Her hallway looked like a dark cave filled with cobwebs, white cloth, and even an upside-down mummy trapped in a spider web. She also added hooded ghosts and flickering candles around her stairs to complete the creepy vibe.Kims kids, North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm, were just as excited. She revealed that Kourtney and Travis had gifted them a Halloween-themed gingerbread house decorated with ghosts, witches, candy trees, and their names written on small white tags.Meanwhile, Khloe Kardashian, 41, also gave fans a look at her festive home on October. 5 through Instagram Stories. Her front door was covered in pumpkins, skeletons, and fall leaves, while inside, her fireplace glowed warmly under an arch of autumn decorations. Even though Khloe admitted shes not a huge Halloween girl, she shared that shes now obsessed with her decor this year.Each Kardashian sister brought her own Halloween twist this year, with Kourtney being in full horror movie mode with her Black Phone 2-inspired scare zone, Kim turning her home into a cobweb-covered haunted cave, and Khloe embracing a cozy pumpkin-filled autumn wonderland.
Gems of Gyanesh Kumars SIR in Bihar



 80 lakh voters are missing

 1.3 crore voters address are suspicious

 24 lakh houses are such where more than 10 people live  like 500, 400

 14 lakh duplicate voters



Whats the need for election, Just declare BJPs victory! pic.twitter.com/ATJv3pbxiC  Shantanu (@shaandelhite) October 7, 2025





NDAs stand on unity and leadership

Jitan Ram Manjhi issued a strong statement amid ongoing seat-sharing negotiations within the NDA for the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections. Expressing frustration, Manjhi declared that his party would not contest the elections if it is not allotted at least 15 seats. #Bihar pic.twitter.com/vkwp7jnUpd  Ritu Raj  (@TheLicit_) October 8, 2025





ECIs directions on election conduct

BREAKING  Prashant Kishore predicted BJP's defeat in Bihar



"One thing is sure, BJP alliance will lose the election on 14th November"



Will ECI conduct fair elections?  pic.twitter.com/BgXSyKLjkX  Amock_ (@Amockx2022) October 8, 2025





Oppositions plans and new entrants





A high-stakes election

The NDA leadership held discussions in Patna on seat-sharing and poll strategy. Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) leader Santosh Kumar Suman said there is no rift within the alliance. He (Jitan Ram Manjhi) has put forward his views and demands, as well as the concerns of the public and workers. We believe NDA understands this and it will be considered sympathetically. Everything will be clear by tomorrow, he added.Deputy chief minister Vijay Kumar Sinha also confirmed that a meeting of the election committee took place with detailed discussions. Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, however, noted that while his party would have preferred to contest half of the states 243 seats, it had agreed to settle for 15 to maintain alliance unity.Amid reports of dissatisfaction among allies, BJP leaders emphasised unity. Minister Prem Kumar said, The NDA alliance is united. It will remain united in the future as well. We conveyed a message of unity in the Lok Sabha elections too. Rounds of meetings are ongoing. All leaders will make the right decision in the interest of the state through mutual coordination.Union minister Giriraj Singh reiterated that chief minister Nitish Kumar would remain the NDAs face in Bihar. He added, The NDA will soon release its seat-sharing plan. Yesterday, the Congress party announced that Tejashwi Yadav will be the CM face only for the RJD, not for the Mahagathbandhan. Lalu Prasad Yadav is reportedly frustrated. The plan and strategy for the Mahagathbandhan are not yet finalised. The NDA, however, has a clear plan along with its intentions and strategy.The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued strict directions for implementing the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The guidelines prohibit demonstrations outside private residences and ban the use of private land or walls for campaign materials without the owners consent.Officials have been instructed to act impartially, regulate meetings and processions fairly, prevent misuse of government facilities, and ensure law and order during the elections. The poll body stressed that maintaining credibility of the process is a priority.Ahead of the polls, Congress announced that it will release a chargesheet against the NDA government. Leaders Jairam Ramesh, Ashok Gehlot, and Bhupesh Baghel will present it at the party office in Patna on October 9.Meanwhile, political strategist Prashant Kishors Jan Suraaj Party (JSP) is contesting all 243 seats independently, attempting to position itself as an alternative to traditional caste-based politics. Chirag Paswan is looking to strengthen his partys assembly presence after his national-level performance. Rahul Gandhis campaign will test Congresss ability to revive its organisation in Bihar, while Tejashwi Yadav faces the dual task of managing alliance expectations and reaching out to younger voters.The Bihar assembly elections promise to be closely fought. The NDA will try to overcome incumbency and seat-sharing differences, the Mahagathbandhan will attempt to maintain unity, and new players like JSP could influence results in unpredictable ways. The outcome will show whether traditional alliances hold or if new forces shift Bihars political balance.
Symbolism and first impressions

President Donald J. Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.  pic.twitter.com/tDgV4Q7Rlc  The White House (@WhiteHouse) October 7, 2025

Trade pressures and political stakes

I wore red for you!



President Donald J. Trump welcomes Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to the White House 



Margo Martin pic.twitter.com/TTHAKqz8K8  Paul White Gold Eagle (@PaulGoldEagle) October 8, 2025

Sensitive issues and subtle pushback

Carneys strategy of silence

President Donald J. Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.  pic.twitter.com/KAEs1n0sRr  Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPam_Bond) October 7, 2025

The relationship in flux

Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada entered his Washington trip this week aiming to manage tensions with US President Donald Trump. From symbolic gestures like his red-patterned tie to carefully measured remarks, the visit underscored how much Ottawa needs to navigate its trade disputes with Washington without provoking further conflict.Carney greeted Trump at the West Wing Portico, pointing out his red tie choice  a color tied to Republican branding. Trump, by contrast, wore blue. Their brief exchange reflected the balancing act Carney faces: seeking goodwill with a president who has imposed steep tariffs on Canadian goods ranging from steel and aluminum to lumber and automobiles.Trump offered no concrete concessions but did say Carneys delegation would walk away happy, declining to clarify further. Youll find out, he told reporters.Canada is the only G7 country yet to secure a deal to avoid punitive US tariffs. The economic effects are already visible at home, and Carneys political standing has been hit. Trump predicted, I think the people of Canada, they will love us again, suggesting his own awareness of strained relations.Since taking office last spring, Carney has tried to cool the tensions left behind by Justin Trudeau, who openly criticized Trumps tariffs. Carney has kept lines of communication open with Trump, even exchanging text messages, and avoided public clashes.In May, during their first Oval Office meeting, Carney told Trump directly that Canada is not for sale. Trump countered with a never say never, but the exchange was defused. On Tuesday, the subject resurfaced when Carney praised Trumps foreign policy record, only for Trump to interject, The merger of Canada and the United States? Carney quickly laughed it off, saying that wasnt his intention.The lighthearted moment highlighted a relationship that has grown increasingly complicated. Canadian tourism to the US has fallen, some retailers have dropped American products, and many Canadians feel betrayed by their closest partner.During the meeting, Trump dominated the conversation, ranging from the US government shutdown to conflicts abroad. Carney mostly listened, intervening only to agree on fentanyl concerns at the border. When asked about next years review of the North American trade deal, Trump suggested bilateral agreements instead of a regional one. Carney did not comment, choosing not to escalate differences publicly.By the end of the day, Trump described Carney as a nice man but he can be very nasty. When asked why no deal had been reached if Carney was great, Trump quipped, Because I want to be a great man, too. The remark summed up the ambiguity of the visit  cordial gestures, some praise, but no clear resolution.Carneys Washington trip showed his strategy of careful flattery, muted pushback, and silence, all aimed at protecting Canadas fragile trade position.
Utah Valley University

American Comeback

Charlie Kirk

Charlie Kirks early life and career

( Image credit : Charlie Kirk | Credit: Reuters )

Charlie Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA (TPUSA)

Tea Party

TPUSA

Gaza conflict

The Kirk Show

Fox News

Charlie Kirk's net worth and income sources

( Image credit : Did Charlie Kirk predict his own death? | Credit: X | @MAGAVoice )

$12 million

Salary Growth:

$27,000

$407,000

Public Speaking:

$50,000

$100,000

Media & Podcasts:

Real Estate Holdings:

$4.75 million

$855,000

$1 million

Turning point USAs role in his career

TPUSA

Charlie Kirks wife and kids

Erika Frantzve

former Miss Arizona USA (2012)

Controversial Views and Public Remarks

FAQs

Q. What was Charlie Kirks net worth?

Q. How did Charlie Kirk earn his income?

Q. Who was Charlie Kirks wife?

Q. Did Charlie Kirk have kids?

Q. How old was Charlie Kirk when he died?

Charlie Kirk, a well-known conservative activist and close ally of US President Donald Trump, was tragically shot dead on 10 September 2025 during an event at. The incident occurred while he was addressing the audience as part of his  tour, leaving his followers and political supporters in shock.A video from the event captured the moment Kirk collapsed after being struck by a single bullet, sparking panic among attendees. At just 31 years old,had already built a powerful presence in American politics and media, with millions of followers and a thriving career.Born in the suburbs of Chicago,in 2012 when he was only 18 years old. Along with William Montgomery, aactivist, Kirk turned the group into a nationwide conservative movement.From small beginnings,quickly grew into one of the most influential youth organisations in the US, now boasting more than 800 active chapters in colleges across the country and a presence on nearly 4,000 high school and university campuses.Kirk became well-known for fiery debates with college students on topics such as immigration and the. These moments often went viral on social media, boosting his influence among young conservatives.He also hostedon, adding television exposure to his already extensive media presence.At the time of his death, Charlie Kirks net worth was estimated at around(according to Celebrity Net Worth). His wealth came from multiple streams, including:Kirks reported salary grew from justin 2016 to overby 2021.He was known to charge betweenandfor speaking engagements.Hosting radio shows, podcasts and TV programmes contributed heavily to his income.Kirk owned several high-value properties, including aSpanish-style estate in Arizona and anoceanfront condo in Florida.In 2023, reports showed he held at least three properties worth overeach, underlining his status as a multi-millionaire.Turning Point USA was more than just a student group; it became a multi-million dollar conservative brand. Contributions todoubled and tripled over the years, reaching $79.2 million in 2022, as per public tax filings.The organisation played a major role in mobilising young voters during the 2024 US presidential elections, aligning closely with Trumps America First agenda. With a large online following and hundreds of influencers connected to TPUSA, Kirk cemented his place as a central figure in conservative politics.Charlie Kirk marriedin May 2021. Erika, a, is an entrepreneur, podcast host, and Christian activist. She is best known for her Biblein365 initiative, which helps people read the Bible daily, and her podcast Midweek Rise Up.The couple had two children together:A daughter, born in August 2022.A son, born in May 2024.On social media, Erika often shared moments of their family life, faith, and her work as a businesswoman and mother. Charlie Kirks untimely death has left behind his wife and very young children, adding a deeply personal tragedy to his public legacy.Throughout his career, Charlie Kirk remained outspoken and often stirred controversy. Just days before his death, he posted on X (formerly Twitter) about immigration, stating that the US should stop granting visas to Indians and arguing that American workers were being displaced.Such remarks sparked heated debate online, especially given his strong support for Trumps hardline immigration policies.Charlie Kirks career, income, and net worth highlight his rapid rise from a teenage activist to a wealthy and influential political figure. His organisation, TPUSA, reshaped conservative youth politics, while his media presence made him a household name in the Republican movement.At just 31, he had built a fortune, a family, and a strong political identity. His death leaves behind questions about the future of Turning Point USA and his role as one of Trumps most vocal allies.Charlie Kirks net worth was estimated at around $12 million.His income came from public speaking, media work, real estate, and his role as the head of Turning Point USA.His wife was Erika Frantzve, a former Miss Arizona USA, entrepreneur, and Christian activist.Yes, Charlie Kirk had two children  a daughter born in 2022 and a son born in 2024.He was 31 years old at the time of his death in September 2025.
What did Donald Trump say about Sean Diddy ?

Fox News

( Image credit : Donald Trump is allegedly seriously considering a pardon for Diddy| Credit: X/@MAGALieTracker )

50 Cent trolls Diddy over Donald Trump's pardon request

( Image credit : Trump hits foreign movies and furniture with 100% tariffs | Credit: X/Maga_Trigger )

Diddy's sentencing sparks Trump commentary

Newsmax

Billboard

( Image credit : Diddy gets 4 years in prison as 100 lawsuits close in | Credit: X/diddycaseoflike )

President Donald Trump never misses a chance to stay in the spotlight, and his latest name-drop is none other than Sean 'Diddy' Combs. After revealing on Monday, October 6, that Sean Diddy Combs had reached out about a potential pardon, Trump said, I call him Puff Daddy; he has asked me for a pardon. The revelation quickly caught the attention of 50 Cent, whos been relentless in trolling Diddy throughout his ongoing federal prostitution case. Wasting no time, 50 took the opportunity to remind Trump of the critical remarks Combs had made about him in the past, adding fuel to an already headline-grabbing moment. Let's find out more.While speaking at the Oval Office on Monday evening, Trump confirmed that the "I'll Be Missing You" rapper has requested a pardon. "A lot of people have asked me for pardons." "I call him Puff Daddy; he has asked me for a pardon," he added.Not only this, but he also first addressed the possibility of a pardon for Diddy during the rapper's trial, telling' Peter Doocy on May 30 that he hadn't been in contact with him. I havent seen or spoken to him in years, Trump said, adding that hed be willing to review the case.If I believe someone was treated unfairly, it wouldnt matter whether they like me or notId still consider it.Never one to miss a shot, 50 Cent mocked Diddy on Monday after Donald Trump revealed that the music mogul had requested a pardon. Posting on social media, 50 captioned a clip, Man, you cant get no pardon running ya mouth like that! LOL Get out of here, clearly referencing Diddy's past criticisms of Trump.The video included footage of Diddy following the 2020 election, where he harshly condemned the former president, saying, White men like Trump need to be banished  The No. 1 priority is to get Trump out of office. 50s post served as a not-so-subtle reminder that past words can come back to bite, especially when you're asking for favours.In an old interview withback in August, Donald Trump reflected on his past relationship with Sean 'Diddy' Combs, reports. He revealed that they used to get along well before politics got in the way. I was very friendly with him; we got along great; he seemed like a nice guy, Trump said.I didnt know him well, but once I ran for office, he became very hostile. On the other hand, Diddys legal battle wrapped up on Friday, ending with the Bad Boy Records founder being sentenced to 50 months in prison for violating federal prostitution laws.On Friday, Diddy was sentenced to a little over four years in federal prison following his conviction for transporting individuals for prostitution.
( Image credit : iQIYI | Watch episode 19 of C-drama Fated Hearts online. )

Fated Hearts: Release date and time for Episode 17



Where to Watch Fated Hearts Episode 19 Online?

Fated Hearts: Plot

12:08 Lost count of how many times his expression slipped already



13:32 Cheers! to a match made in heaven



its funny to see him sending out bullet comments one after another during suige and yixiaos sweet parts  hes like a cp fan HAHA#ChenZheyuan #FatedHearts pic.twitter.com/g91Nan33YE   (@chenzheyuanzi) October 8, 2025

Fated Hearts: Cast and Characters

FAQs

Fans of the Chinese dramacan stream Episode 19 online on October 9, 2025, at 3:30 PM IST / 10:00 AM GMT / 6:00 AM ET, according to the official release schedule.In the war-torn Jinxiu Kingdom, archer Fu Yixiao saves Prince Feng Suige but loses her memory after falling off a cliff. Rescued by the Ling family, she unexpectedly reunites with Suige. Once enemies, they must now rely on each other to survive in turbulent Yujing City. Amid betrayal, danger, and dark conspiracies, their bond slowly turns to love as they fight to overcome fate and protect one another.Episode 19 airs on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 3:30 PM IST / 10:00 AM GMT / 6:00 AM ET. It will also be available to international viewers via simultaneous streaming on iQIYI, with English subtitles to make the series accessible to a global audience.Episodes 19 is available to stream on iQIYI - the main legal platforms offering high-quality video and English subtitles. For viewers in the U.S., Canada, India, Indonesia, and iQIYI remains the top choice for watching the series.As the Jinxiu Kingdom teeters on the edge of defeat at the Battle of Pingling, the female archer Fu Yixiao, clad in red, fires a decisive arrow at Susha's eldest prince, Feng Suige, shifting the battles outcome. But triumph is fleeting - Yixiao falls from a cliff and loses her memory, only to be rescued by the Ling family of doctors from the Righteous Villa, where fate reunites her with her former rival, Suige.Recognizing that Yixiao's predicament is tied to the secrets of Pingling, Suige seeks to use her to uncover the truth, while Yixiao must rely on him to survive the relentless pursuit she faces. Once mortal enemies, the two are forced to navigate the dangerous streets of Yujing City together, and through countless near-death encounters, a fragile bond begins to form, and love quietly blooms.Amid betrayal, deception, unfulfilled desires, and the shackles of fate, both are drawn into a perilous game where everyone is simultaneously a player and a pawn. Only by working closely together can Yixiao and Suige hope to survive the dark conspiracy, fulfill the expectations of their people, and protect each other in a world where trust is a luxury.The historical dramastars Li Qin as Fu Yixiao, Chen Zheyuan as Prince Feng Suige, Xia Meng as Feng Xiyang, and Chen Heyi as Xia Jingshi. The 38-episode series premiered on iQIYI on October 2, 2025.Episode 19 will be released on October 9, 2025, at 3:30 PM IST / 10:00 AM GMT / 6:00 AM ET.You can stream Episode 19 ofon iQIYI. All three platforms offer English subtitles.Yes, the series is fully subtitled in English on iQIYI, including Episodes 17.No,is not available on Netflix. It officially streams on iQIYI.
UPs richest people:

200 million

Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF)

Rs 30.80 trillion

1. Murli Dhar Gyanchandani  Richest Man in Uttar Pradesh

UP's richest people

2. Vijay Shekhar Sharma  Tech Billionaire from Aligarh

3. Bimal Gyanchandani  Expanding the RSPL Legacy

4. Dinesh Chandra Agrawal  Founder of IndiaMART

5. Alakh Pandey  Physics Wallah of India

6. Pradeep Kumar Jain  Real Estate Billionaire

7. Chakresh Kumar Jain  Infrastructure Tycoon

8. Yashvardhan Agrawal  The Biscuit King

FAQs

Q: Who is the richest person in Uttar Pradesh?

Q: How many billionaires are there in Uttar Pradesh?

Q: Which industries are most billionaires from Uttar Pradesh involved in?

Q: Who is the richest tech entrepreneur in Uttar Pradesh?

Uttar Pradesh is not only the most populous state in India, with overpeople, but it is also home to some of the countrys wealthiest entrepreneurs and business leaders. Despite being famous for its rich culture, heritage, and politics, the state has also produced several self-made billionaires who have made their mark in industries like FMCG, technology, real estate, and education.As reported by the, the gross state domestic product (GSDP) of Uttar Pradesh is projected to reach(US$359.56 billion) by FY26. With growing investment and rapid industrial development, the state has become a hub for business growth. And at the heart of this success are the UP richest people, who continue to inspire through their vision, hard work, and achievements.Lets take a closer look at the top billionaires of Uttar Pradesh and how they built their fortune.Murli Dhar Gyanchandani, the co-founder of RSPL Group, tops the list of. His company is best known for Ghadi detergent, which became a household name across India with the popular slogan Pehle istemaal karein phir vishwas karein (First use it, then trust it).With an estimated net worth of Rs 14,000 crore, he transformed a small family business into one of the fastest-growing FMCG brands in India. Today, Murli Dhar Gyanchandani stands as the richest man in Uttar Pradesh.Born in Aligarh, Vijay Shekhar Sharma is the founder and CEO of Paytm, Indias leading digital payments platform. His inspiring journey from a small-town boy to one of Indias most celebrated entrepreneurs is nothing short of remarkable.According to Forbes, his wealth is around $1.4 billion (Rs 12,000 crore). As one of the key billionaires of Uttar Pradesh, he is also a major influence in Indias startup world.The younger brother of Murli Dhar, Bimal Gyanchandani also played a huge role in building the RSPL empire. With a personal fortune of nearly Rs 9,000 crore, he continues to contribute to the growth of Ghadi detergent and other RSPL brands.Noida-based Dinesh Chandra Agrawal is the man behind IndiaMART, a leading B2B e-commerce platform that connects millions of suppliers and buyers.With an estimated net worth of Rs 5,400 crore, he represents the rising tech-driven billionaires in Uttar Pradesh, proving that innovation can also generate massive wealth.Better known as Physics Wallah, Alakh Pandey turned online teaching into a multi-billion rupee business. From YouTube lessons to building Indias first profitable edtech unicorn, his story reflects the power of passion and persistence.His net worth is around Rs 4,500 crore, making him one of the most inspiring UP richest people and a true face of digital education in India.Associated with PNC Infratech, Pradeep Kumar Jain is one of the big names in the real estate and infrastructure sector of Uttar Pradesh. His wealth is valued at around Rs 4,400 crore.Working alongside Pradeep Jain, Chakresh Kumar Jain also helped in building PNC Infratech into a respected name in construction and infrastructure. His fortune is also estimated at Rs 4,400 crore.Yashvardhan Agrawal, the founder of PriyaGold Biscuits, made his products a favourite in Indian households. Over the years, PriyaGold has become a strong competitor to global food brands. His contribution to the food industry makes him one of the most successful billionaires of Uttar Pradesh.The list of UP's richest people shows how Uttar Pradesh has become a hub for diverse businessesfrom FMCG and digital payments to education, infrastructure, and food. These billionaires not only created wealth for themselves but also generated employment and opportunities for millions.As the states economy continues to grow, more entrepreneurs from Uttar Pradesh are likely to join this elite club of billionaires in the coming years.Murli Dhar Gyanchandani, the co-founder of RSPL Group (Ghadi detergent), is currently the richest person in UP with a net worth of Rs 14,000 crore.There are several billionaires from Uttar Pradesh, including Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Murli Dhar Gyanchandani, and Alakh Pandey.FMCG, technology, infrastructure, real estate, and food industries have produced most of the UP richest people.Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder of Paytm, is the richest tech entrepreneur from Uttar Pradesh.
A step toward cultural inclusion

Diwali declared a state holiday in California. Gov Gavin Newsom signs the bill for it. Annoucement pic.twitter.com/vD1BPbn9XC  Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) October 8, 2025

Newsoms image as a community ally

 CALIFORNIA MAKES DIWALI A STATE HOLIDAY



Light some lamps, grab the sweets, and tell your boss youre off - Diwali is now official in California.



Starting Jan 1, schools can close, state workers can take the day, and students get an excused absence to celebrate.



Its the pic.twitter.com/ARdRNaWip1  Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) October 8, 2025

Why does it matter for California?

( Image credit : California is home to about 20% of the Indian-American population in the United States (Credit: X/@DailyLoud) )

California has made history by officially declaring Diwali a state holiday. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 268 into law on Tuesday, allowing public schools, community colleges, and state offices to close for the festival from January 1, 2026.The decision marks California as the third U.S. state, after Pennsylvania and Connecticut, to recognise the Hindu festival of lights, which also holds deep meaning for Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists.The new law reflects the growing influence of the Indian-American community in California, home to nearly one million people of Indian origin. Assembly members Ash Kalra and Darshana Patel, who co-authored the bill, said the move celebrates diversity while allowing families and children to observe their traditions without penalty. To have South Asian children be able to celebrate and share it with others proudly is a significant moment, Kalra said.Under the law, students who celebrate Diwali will receive an excused absence, and state employees can choose a paid day off. Schools and colleges may also host educational events explaining the meaning and traditions of Diwali  symbolising the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.Governor Newsoms decision is seen as a continuation of his inclusive leadership style. Known for his progressive stance on civil rights, Newsom has long advocated for equality and representation across communities. In 2023, he vetoed a bill on caste discrimination, arguing that Californias existing laws already protect against all forms of bias based on ancestry, religion, and ethnicity.His latest move to recognise Diwali, however, has strengthened his ties with Indian-American and South Asian organisations, including the Hindu American Foundation and the Sikh Coalition, who praised the decision as a milestone for cultural representation. Samir Kalra of the Hindu American Foundation said the law makes Diwali truly accessible to those who celebrate it.California is home to about 20% of the Indian-American population in the United States, with large communities in the Bay Area, Silicon Valley, and Los Angeles. Recognising Diwali as an official holiday acknowledges their contributions to the states social, cultural, and economic life.For many families, its a deeply personal victory. Rohit Shendrikar of the South Asian Network in Southern California reflected on how the law connects generations. I celebrate Diwali with my parents and children, who can now share their traditions openly. It helps build a bond between Californians, he said.The new law also recognises that Diwali goes beyond Hinduism. For Sikhs, it coincides with Bandi Chhor Divas, commemorating Guru Hargobinds release from captivity. For Jains, it marks Lord Mahaviras attainment of moksha, and for Buddhists, it celebrates Emperor Ashokas embrace of Buddhism.This inclusive language in AB 268 ensures representation across communities, a reflection of Californias multicultural identity. The festival will be celebrated on October 21 this year, and with this new law, the celebrations are expected to shine brighter than ever across the state.
( Image credit : TencentVideo | Watch episode 26 of C-drama Love's Ambition online. )

Love's Ambition: Release date and time for Episode 26

Where to Watch Love's Ambition Episode 26 Online?

Love's Ambition: Episode 26 Plot?

Love's Ambition episode 26: Spoilers

What job in the world isn't hard work? If the outcome is joyful, what's a little hardship?



Only through diligence and hard work, only by making yourself stronger is the only way to achieve lasting results.



I either have nothing or I have everything.#LovesAmbition #ZhaoLusi pic.twitter.com/tE6nkt2Kbb  Loves Ambition (@Love_s_Ambition) October 8, 2025

Love's Ambition: Cast and Characters

FAQs

Fans of the Chinese dramacan stream Episode 26 online on October 9, 2025, at 3:30 PM IST / 10:00 AM GMT / 6:00 AM ET, according to the official release schedule.This drama follows glamorous anchor Xu Yan and urban elite Shen Hao Ming, an enviable couple whose contrasting backgrounds strain their relationship. Xu Yan marries him through her crafted image and his influence, but after a conflict, she breaks free. Only then does Shen Hao Ming realize his true feelings and vows to win her back. As they drop their facades, they grow closer and rediscover each other.Episode 26 airs on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at 3:30 PM IST / 10:00 AM GMT / 6:00 AM ET. It will also be available to international viewers via simultaneous streaming on Viki, with English subtitles to make the series accessible to a global audience.Episodes 26 is available to stream on TencentVideo, WeTV and Viki - the main legal platforms offering high-quality video and English subtitles. For viewers in the U.S., Canada, India, Indonesia, and Viki remains the top choice for watching the series.Glamorous anchor Xu Yan and urban elite Shen Hao Ming seem like the perfect couple, but their contrasting backgrounds strain their relationship. Xu Yan marries him using her carefully crafted image and his influence, yet a conflict drives her to break free. Only then does Shen Hao Ming realize his true feelings and vow to win her back. As they let go of their facades, they grow closer and rediscover both each other and themselves.SE Shen Haoming, once the composed CEO, descends into desperate antics to win back Xu Yan, staging fake heart attacks and secretly sending gifts online - only to be hilariously exposed.Meanwhile, Xu Yan faces a double blow: her workshop is disqualified from a competition amid swirling rumors, and a trusted employee absconds with company funds. Just when it seems Shen Haoming's support might help, a rival reveals it could all be part of a corporate evaluation test, casting doubt on his motives.The signature scene of these episodes features both Xu Yan and Shen Haoming drunkenly navigating the city in perfect, chaotic synchronization, earning the nickname Clash of the Drunken Dragons online. Fans praised William Chan and Zhang Ruonan for delivering a mix of humor, vulnerability, and raw emotion, making the drama irresistibly engaging.With love, ambition, and betrayal colliding, the upcoming episodes promise laughter, tears, and a tense look at whether Shen Haoming can truly earn back Xu Yan's trust.The drama(also known asor) stars Zhao Lusi as Xu Yan and William Chan as Shen Hao Ming. The main cast also features Wan Peng as Lin Qiao, Tang Xiaotian as Yu Yi Ming, and Guan Zijing as Lin Tao.Episode 26 will be released on October 9, 2025, at 3:30 PM IST / 10:00 AM GMT / 6:00 AM ET.You can stream Episode 26 on Viki. All three platforms offer English subtitles.Yes, the series is fully subtitled in English on Viki, including Episodes 26.No,is not available on Netflix. It officially streams on Viki.
( Image credit : X/Maga_Trigger | Trumps claims of being a peacemaker )

Global conflicts form the backdrop

Trumps record under scrutiny

( Image credit : X/Maga_Trigger | US President Donald Trump )

Who else is in contention?

( Image credit : X/Maga_Trigger | Donald Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman )

Possible institutional winners

As the Nobel Peace Prize announcement approaches, one outcome seems almost certain  US President Donald Trump is not expected to be this years winner, despite his repeated claims that he deserves the honor for resolving eight conflicts. The Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo will reveal the winner on Friday at 11 am (0900 GMT).The context is far from peaceful. According to Swedens Uppsala University, the number of state-involved armed conflicts worldwide reached record highs in 2024, the most since its conflict database began in 1946. With this backdrop, experts doubt Trumps chances. Swedish professor Peter Wallensteen was clear: No, it will not be Trump this year. But perhaps next year? By then the dust will have settled around his various initiatives, including the Gaza crisis.Analysts argue that Trumps claims of being a peacemaker are overstated. Nina Graeger of the Peace Research Institute in Oslo pointed out that his America First policies often contradict Nobel founder Alfred Nobels vision of promoting cooperation, disarmament, and fraternity among nations. Examples cited include Trumps withdrawal from international treaties, trade wars with allies and rivals, his Greenland comments directed at Denmark, and the use of the National Guard in US cities. His actions toward universities and freedom of expression have also raised concerns.Nobel Committee chair Jorgen Watne Frydnes explained their process: The whole organisation or the complete personality of that person matters, but what we first and foremost look at is what they have been actually achieving for the sake of peace.There are 338 individuals and organizations nominated this year, though the list will remain secret for 50 years. In 2024, the prize went to Japans atomic bomb survivors group Nihon Hidankyo, recognized for its campaign against nuclear weapons.Potential contenders this year include Sudans Emergency Response Rooms, volunteers working under dangerous conditions to deliver food and aid in conflict zones. Another name circulated is Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Also mentioned is the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, known for its election monitoring work.Halvard Leira of the Norwegian Institute for International Affairs suggested the committee may favor a not that controversial candidate this year, reflecting a trend toward rewarding defenders of democracy, human rights, press freedom, and womens rights.Some speculate the prize could go to global institutions. Candidates discussed include UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, agencies like UNHCR or UNRWA, or international courts such as the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court. Others suggest organizations that protect journalists, like the Committee to Protect Journalists or Reporters Without Borders, may be recognized.Yet, the Nobel Committee has a history of surprises leaving room for an unexpected winner who could shift global attention once again.
Mother on the surprising size of her newborn



Why is Cassian so big?



How big is Cassian compared to average babies?



Shelby Martin, a mother from the United States, has left people around the world shocked after sharing pictures of her newborn son, Cassian, who weighed nearly 13 pounds at birth. The video, posted on her TikTok account @shlbmrtn, quickly went viral, accumulating over 35 million views and four million likes. Viewers were amazed not only by Cassians size but also by the fact that he was born on Shelbys own birthday, making him her greatest gift.Cassians birth quickly caught the attention of the media, with television outletin Nashville, Tennessee, featuring him on their news broadcast. According to the hospital staff at Tristar Centennial Womens Hospital, he was the largest baby born there in the last three years.Shelby shared a video made of images showing herself before giving birth, flaunting her huge baby bump. In the post, she wrote, When people talk about having a big baby, like, I dont know, a ball. But trust me I know the ball. Her humorous comment added a lighthearted tone to the surprising size of her newborn.The next picture revealed Cassian right after his birth, weighing a staggering 12 pounds 14 ounces, which is almost double the average newborn weight of 7 pounds. Social media users were amazed, with many joking that he looked like a full-grown man. Over 50,000 people commented on the post, expressing their surprise and curiosity about how Shelby managed to give birth to such a large baby.Shelby hasnt explained why Cassian was so large, but some families have reported that bigger babies can sometimes run in the family. For example, in a similar case last month, Daniella Hines, 40, delivered her son Annan weighing 13 pounds 15 ounces at St. Josephs Hospital-South in Florida. Hines mentioned that both she and her husband, Andre Sr., are over six feet tall, which she believes may have contributed to her babys size.Hines told, He was the talk of the maternity ward! I remember thinking, What are they pulling out of me? What is going on here? I felt so much pressure.Many people were surprised by Cassians size because, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) weight chart, the average newborn baby in the U.S. weighs about 7 pounds (3.2 kg) at birth. By comparison, Cassian weighed a staggering 12 pounds 14 ounces (5.8 kg) when he was born, almost double the average.For context, the WHO charts also note that by three months old, the average baby weighs around 12 pounds 14 ounces (5.8 kg) for girls and 14 pounds 1 ounce (6.4 kg) for boys. This shows that Cassian was already the size of a typical three-month-old right at birth, making his arrival even more extraordinary.
( Image credit : CM Punk. | Credit: X )

John Cena opens up about his feud with CM Punk

( Image credit : John Cena is nearing the end of his career. | Credit: WWE )

Whats next for John Cena?

John Cena is set to call time on his professional wrestling career with his last match slated to take place on December 13. During his nearly 25-year-long association with the WWE, the Cenation Leader has locked horns with some of the companys biggest names such as Kurt Angle and Roman Reigns. However, many consider CM Punk to be his greatest rival. The two had an epic rivalry over a decade ago and have even teamed up on a few occasions. In an interaction with wrestling enthusiasts at the Fan Expo in Chicago, Cena wished that he had gotten to do more in-ring work with The Second City Saint.John Cena recently revisited his iconic rivalry with CM Punk. Speaking at the Fan Expo in Chicago, he stated that he has always enjoyed working with The Best in the World as he like him loves the business. He added that both of them share the same core values even though they are different people. Cena then regretted not getting the opportunity to work more matches with him as Punk quit the WWE in 2014 and announced his retirement from the sport. The Paul Heyman Guy eventually returned the promotion in 2023.Cena and Punk had 38 one-on-one matches against each other in their career. Their well-received bout at Night of Champions earlier this year marked the last encounter between them. Cena won that after interference from Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, and Bronson Reed. This was his 22nd win over Punk, who has beaten them seven times. Nine of their matches failed to produce a winner.Coming back to the present, Cena is gearing up to take on AJ Styles at Crown Jewel. The Premium Live Event will be held in Perth on October 11. This marks the final meeting between the legendary rivals. Punk, on the other hand, returned to WWE programming on this weeks episode of Raw and teamed up with LA Knight to beat The Usos in the main event. This marked his first appearance after WrestlePalooza, which was held on September 21.
Activision has announced a free trial for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, timed to coincide directly with the launch of Battlefield 6 later this month.

Activision has announced a free trial for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, timed to coincide directly with the launch of Battlefield 6 later this month

The publisher confirmed that the free trial will run for a week from October 9, giving players full access to Black Ops 6s campaign, multiplayer and Zombies modes across all platforms.

The free trial will also include new content from The Haunting update, including the Mothball, Gravity and Rig Multiplayer maps, and the limited-time mode Havoc Zombies.

The free week will see the 2024 shooter compete directly with Electronic Arts Battlefield 6, which will launch on October 10.

Set across global flashpoints in a near-future conflict, Battlefield 6 introduces naval warfare, dynamic weather systems, and seamless map evolution that reshapes the battlefield in real time.

The title's campaign follows a multinational squad navigating the chaos of escalating world conflict, while multiplayer brings back classic Conquest and Breakthrough modes, plus an all-new sandbox experience called Operations.

Multiplayer remains the heart of the experience, with standout maps like Siege of Cairo - a tight, urban maze perfect for infantry combat - and Liberation Peak, a sprawling mountain range ideal for snipers, tanks, and jets.

Every map supports multiple modes, from large-scale Conquest to objective-based Rush, with layouts changing depending on playlist.

Meanwhile, weapon customization has also been overhauled, ditching Battlefield 2042s Plus System in favour of a more tactical approach.

Players manage attachment points to fine-tune builds - balancing trade-offs between suppressors, scopes, and powerful ammo types like Soft Point rounds.

Developer DICE says the system keeps progression meaningful while staying true to Battlefield 6s grounded, military aesthetic.
Actors Carl Weathers and Sylvester Stallone on set of the United Artist movie "Rocky II" in 1979. Read more

Oscar nominee Matt Dillon will play Frank Stallone, Sylvester Stallones hot-headed father, in a new movie about the actors life, according to Deadline.

I Play Rocky is a dramatic, behind-the-scenes look at the filming of the Oscar-winning Rocky, that, according to NJ.com, will be filmed on location in New Jersey and Philadelphia from late October through December.

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The Amazon MGM film will be directed by Peter Farrelly (The Greenbook) and will star Anthony Ippolito  who played Al Pacino in the 2022 film The Offer  as the young Stallone.

Stephen James (If Beale Street Could Talk) will play Carl Weathers, the actor who played Apollo Creed. AnnaSophia Robb (Little Fires Everywhere) is cast as Sasha Czack, Stallones first wife.

I Play Rocky is a story of persistence and centers the actors dogged effort to make and star in the movie about the Philadelphia boxer. Stallone was under significant pressure to have someone else play the titular role in the 1976 hit.

Stallones dad, Frank, who was born in Italy, died in 2011 when he was 91. Cast as the timekeeper in the original Rocky, he had a major impact on his sons life.

Stallone, now 79, is not involved with I Play Rocky.

New York-based Grant Wilfley Casting is looking to hire real-life boxers as extras. Also sought are cars made between 1960 and the early 1970s and locals with long hair and who dont mind being around smoke to play pedestrians, spectators, and member of the 1970s film crew.

If you can find your grandparents polyester bell-bottoms, you could be a shoo-in.
LOS ANGELES  Thirty paintings created by the bushy-haired, soft-spoken Bob Ross will soon be up for auction to defray the costs of programming for public television stations suffering from cuts in federal funding.

Ross, a public television stalwart in the 1980s and 90s, dedicated his life to making art accessible to everyone, said Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc. This auction ensures his legacy continues to support the very medium that brought his joy and creativity into American homes for decades.

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Bonhams in Los Angeles will auction three of Ross paintings on Nov. 11. Other auctions will follow in London, New York, Boston, and online. All profits are pledged to stations that use content from distributor American Public Television.

The idea is to help stations in need with licensing fees that allow them to show popular programs that include The Best of Joy of Painting, based on Ross show; Americas Test Kitchen; Julia Childs French Chef Classics; and This Old House. Small and rural stations are particularly challenged.

As desired by President Donald Trump, Congress has eliminated $1.1 billion allocated to public broadcasting, leaving about 330 PBS and 246 NPR stations to find alternative funding sources. Many launched emergency fund drives. Some have been forced to lay off staff and make programming cuts.

The beloved Ross died in 1995 of complications from cancer after 11 years in production with The Joy of Painting. His how-to program was shown on stations around the U.S. and around the world. The former Air Force drill sergeant known for his calm demeanor and encouraging words enjoyed a resurgence in popularity during the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ross spoke often as he worked on air about painting happy little clouds and trees, and making no mistakes, only happy accidents.

The thirty paintings to be auctioned span Ross career and include landscapes depicting serene mountain vistas and lake scenes, his signature aesthetic. He created most of the 30 on-air, each in under 30 minutes, which was the span of a single episode.

Bonhams sold two early 1990s mountain-and-lake scenes of Ross in August for $114,800 and $95,750. The auctions of the 30 paintings soon to be sold have an estimated total value of $850,000 to $1.4 million, Bonhams said.
Near Harrisburg, a Wawa and a Sheetz sit three-tenths of a mile apart after Wawa opened its first central Pennsylvania location there last year. The chains are neck-and-neck in a recent customer satisfaction survey. Read more

Wawa and Sheetz are tied for second place in a national customer satisfaction survey, further stoking the intrastate rivalry between Pennsylvanias convenience-store giants.

Sheetz, which is based in Altoona, improved this year to catch up with Delaware Countys own Wawa, according to the second-annual American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) Convenience Store Study, released Tuesday.

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Wisconsin-based Kwik Trip rose in the ranks to claim this years No. 1 spot, two points above Wawa and Sheetz.

The brands rising to the top are doing more than just selling coffee and snacks, Forrest Morgeson, Michigan State University marketing professor and director of research emeritus at the ACSI, said in a statement. Theyre building communities inside their stores.

Nick Ruffner, public affairs manager for Sheetz, said in a statement that the company was incredibly proud of this achievement, which it attributed to its employees.

As Sheetz grows its presence in new markets, were excited to raise the bar and redefine the convenience experience, Ruffner said. Sheetzs domain has traditionally been the western and central parts of the state, though the chain has recently expressed interest in bringing stores into Wawa territory in Montgomery and Chester Counties.

Added Ruffner: We remain committed to delivering our customers a flavor-packed, restaurant-quality dining experience, drive-thrus, indoor and outdoor seating, robust grocery offerings, spotless touch-free restrooms, free Wi-Fi and air, and a menu of award-winning food  all under one roof.

Wawa, which has a loyal following in the Philly region, has already expanded west into Sheetzs stomping grounds. Last year, Wawa opened its first central Pennsylvania store near Harrisburg, and it has unveiled plans to soon open locations in the State College area, near Penn States campus.

Wawa also has extended its footprint into the South, where it ranked No. 1 in the ACSI survey, one point above Texas-based Buc-ees and Sheetz.

A Wawa spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday morning.

The ACSI convenience store study was based on 8,601 email surveys completed by a random selection of customers between October 2024 and September 2025. Recipients were asked to evaluate their recent store experiences, as well as their perceptions of quality and value.

This years survey showed that customers increasingly value mobile apps and online ordering.

Useful mobile apps are now an essential tool for convenience stores, providing notifications about exclusive sales, limited-time promotions, and personalized offers tailored to individual shopping habits, wrote the studys authors. American consumers have come to expect a mobile app accompanying nearly all of their favorite products and services.

The survey found that 34% of respondents had used a convenience stores mobile app. Loyalty rewards members were more likely to be on the app, with about 60% of them saying they had used it.

Wawa and Sheetz both have mobile apps on which users can order ahead for in-store or curbside pickup, redeem rewards, and find nearby stores.

Since Wawa launched mobile-ordering in 2017, its popularity has grown 20-fold, spokesperson Lori Bruce told The Inquirer earlier this year.

The survey also found that customers continue to value fresh, made-to-order food and loyalty rewards programs.
Temple T logo flags on North Broad Street on Temple University's campus. RAs and peer mentors at the university voted to unionize this week. Read more

Resident assistants and peer mentors at Temple University have voted to unionize, joining a wave of student-worker organizing on local college and university campuses.

In a four-hour, paper-ballot vote held Tuesday, 97 of the 126 bargaining group members participated, and all of them voted in favor of joining the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153.

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People hear that someones unionizing and they think its because they hate the job that theyre in, Gavin Dellaria, a sophomore RA at Temple, said ahead of the vote. Im unionizing because I love this role, but I want other people to also love it, and have the same experience. I can also see myself getting burned out, so I want to prevent that because this is a very important role to me.

Last year, the student workers delivered a letter to Temple leadership asking them to voluntarily recognize their union. According to OPEIU Local 153 lead organizer Scott Williams, the bargaining group is the first undergraduate student workers at any Pennsylvania public university to unionize.

Temple has a long history of positive working relationships with all its 11 collective bargaining units, and we look forward to enjoying the same type of productive relationship with Temple Union of RAs (TURA), said Temple spokesperson Stephen Orbanek on Tuesday. We deeply value the contributions of these students and will always be committed to providing them with outstanding leadership opportunities and learning experiences.

Temples peer mentors and resident assistants are expected to work a minimum of 20 hours per week, OPEIU Local 153 has said. Their responsibilities include meeting with residents, coordinating events, and attending staff meetings every week.

The student workers are compensated with free housing and a meal plan, and they are paid a $200 stipend per semester, which is put toward their tuition.

RAs and peer mentors at Temple started organizing when the university moved away from offering diamond dollars to student workers as part of their compensation package, Williams said, referring to this change as a big pay cut. Temple spokesperson Orbanek said thats an inaccurate description, and said the structure of the pay package was adjusted.

Williams said the student workers really want a seat at the table to outline, overall, what the terms and conditions of their labor should be.

OPEIU Local 153 represents resident assistants at the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and Swarthmore College, all of which have unionized since 2023. RAs at Penn got their first union contract in June 2024.

Temple has many unionized employees across a number of worker groups. The universitys graduate student union, with 750 members at the time, went on strike in 2023 for more than a month.

Nurses and technicians at Temple Health passed a strike authorization vote last month amid contract negotiations. Their contracts were set to expire on Sept. 30 and theyve threatened to strike if a deal is not reached by Oct. 13.
Montgomery County prosecutors charged a 15-year-old girl with third-degree murder Tuesday in the shooting death of an Abington teenager in his familys apartment on Monday afternoon.

Precious Hamilton, of Eddystone, was arrested that evening by Abington Township police in connection with a shooting that left 17-year-old Baseem Seyven Baker dead from a gunshot wound to the head, prosecutors said.

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Police arrived at Bakers apartment on the 100 block of Old York Road to find the teen dead in his bedroom, authorities said.

Police said Hamilton had been staying at the apartment over the weekend and had shown Baker the gun, a small-caliber revolver, on Sunday when dry firing the weapon out of Bakers window, according to videos and a photo recovered from Bakers iPad.

Bakers cousin, who was with the teens at the time, told police she left the apartment Sunday evening and that she observed no issues between the two.

Bakers mother left Baker and Hamilton alone on Monday afternoon to run errands, prosecutors said, and she returned around 4:30 p.m. to find the front door unlocked and Baker unresponsive on the floor. Hamilton was not at the apartment, police said; video footage captured her leaving the apartment alone around 3:20.

An examiner with the Montgomery County Coroners Office ruled Bakers manner of death was a homicide.

During an interview with Hamilton and her mother, police said, Hamilton told investigators she shot Baker accidentally after the gun was left in the cocked position from Sunday.

She told investigators she grabbed the revolver while going to pack her belongings, and that while grabbing the weapon in a rapid fashion, the gun discharged and struck Baker, who was on the bed and fell to the floor, according to the affidavit of probable cause for Hamiltons arrest.

Hamilton told investigators she and Baker had previously dated, then maintained a friendship for about a year, according to the affidavit.

In addition to third-degree murder, Hamilton was charged with involuntary manslaughter, possession of a firearm by a minor, and carrying a firearm without a license.

She is awaiting arraignment and will be held at the Montgomery County Youth Center.
Gina Marks and Steve Nicklas have been charged in Montgomery County with racketeering, conspiracy, theft, and related crimes. Read more

The self-professed psychic promised to protect clients from evil spirits, bad karma, and other supernatural ills, prosecutors said, and, along the way, bilked customers out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The folks at Jenkintown Psychic Visions were fraudsters, authorities said, and from their offices on Old York Road, they stole a combined $613,959 from two clients, according to the affidavit of probable cause for their arrests.

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Gina Marks, 52, and Steve Nicklas, 40, have been charged with racketeering, conspiracy, theft, and related crimes in connection with the scheme, which prosecutors said was carried out over the course of two years.

Both Marks and Nicklas have been released on bail, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele said in a statement Wednesday.

His attorney, Lauren Wimmer, said Wednesday that Nicklas denies involvement in the alleged scheme.

We intend to challenge the accusations vigorously in court, where the facts  not assumptions or headlines  will speak for themselves," Wimmer said. I urge the public and the media to withhold judgment and respect the presumption of innocence that every person is entitled to under the law.

There was no indication Marks had hired an attorney.

The conduct outlined by local prosecutors is remarkably similar to earlier fraud schemes involving Marks.

She has previous convictions for fraud in Broward County, Fla., where she stole more than $400,000 from multiple clients over the course of several years, according to court records.

And in 2018, Marks was sentenced to six years in prison in Maryland for defrauding clients of $340,000 while promising to rid them of curses.

In that case, she insisted she was innocent, an authentic psychic, and accused prosecutors of pursuing criminal charges out of racism against the Romani people.

In the Montgomery County case, one victim told detectives that Marks, acting as a spiritual adviser, preyed on her insecurities, convincing her that she was under the influence of evil and black magic that was threatening her marriage, according to the affidavit of probable cause for Marks arrest.

Marks coerced the woman to wire her large sums of money, the affidavit said, and to buy her expensive clothing and jewelry, telling her the items represented power and were the medium through which Marks could rid her of the evil in her life.

Along the way, Marks shared personal information with the victim, the affidavit said, building what the woman considered a friendship with her.

Marks promised to return the items to the victim, the document said, but that never happened.

During the scheme, investigators said, Marks introduced Nicklas to the victim as her partner, and directed her to send some of the items and money directly to him.

Another victim of the fraud said she contacted Marks for similar guidance. She said Marks threatened to ruin her life and reputation if she didnt follow her instructions to send her money and buy her things, including a Chanel purse, the affidavit said.
Kada Scott, 23, has been missing since Saturday night when she abruptly left her workplace without her car, police said. Read more

A 23-year-old Philadelphia woman has not been heard from since she abruptly went missing from her workplace without her car Saturday night, and she told family and friends shortly before her disappearance that someone had been harassing her, police said Wednesday.

Kada Scott, who lives in the Ivy Hill section of East Mount Airy, was last seen by coworkers at a nursing home in Chestnut Hill shortly after she arrived for her overnight shift, Capt. John Craig, commanding officer of the Northwest Detective Division, said at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

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Scotts car was found at the parking lot for her job and has been recovered for evidence, Craig said.

Her coworkers reported nothing unusual occurring that night apart from Scott disappearing, Craig said.

Scott has not contacted her family or friends, and there has been no activity on her social media accounts, Craig said.

Her cell phone is currently off, Craig said, adding that the phones last known activity was in the vicinity of her workplace on Saturday night.

In the days before her disappearance, Scott had told family and friends that an individual or individuals had been harassing her through her phone, Craig said.

Scott is described as Black, about 5-foot-6 and 120 pounds, with a thin build, brown eyes, and black hair.

Her LinkedIn profile said she had attended Pennsylvania State University. Residential records show she has lived in State College, where the universitys main campus is located.

Anyone with information about Scotts whereabouts is urged to contact Northwest Detectives at 215-686-3353.
Richard Laird, seen here in 2001, has been on death row since he was convicted of killing Anthony Milano in 1988. Read more

The nations highest court has denied an appeal from a Bristol Township man who was twice convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death in a homophobic hate crime.

Richard Laird, 62, had asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn his murder conviction and death sentence in the 1987 killing of Anthony Milano, saying his lawyers had failed to properly present evidence of the sexual abuse and trauma Laird experienced in his childhood.

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The high court declined his request and upheld earlier decisions by state and federal courts affirming his guilt.

Bucks County District Attorney Jen Schorn said in a statement Wednesday that she was pleased with the Supreme Courts decision and hoped it would bring closure to Milanos loved ones.

Milanos attorney, Joseph W. Luby, did not immediately return a request for comment.

Laird killed Milano after a night spent drinking at the Edgeley Inn on Dec. 15, 1987, according to court testimony. Laird bullied Milano, forced him to buy drinks for him and a friend, and mocked him while spouting homophobic slurs, witnesses said.

Milano, who was gay, later agreed to give Laird a ride home despite a warning from the bartender, who told him Laird didnt need a ride because he lived only a few hundred yards from the bar.

After leaving the bar, Laird severely beat Milano and killed him with a box cutter, according to evidence presented at trial.

Milanos body was later found in a wooded area in Bristol Township. He had suffered too many slash wounds to count, according to court documents, and his head had been nearly severed from his body.

Lairds drinking buddy, Frank Chester, told acquaintances that Laird had killed Milano and had told him that he and his brother planned to torch Milanos vehicle, according to evidence presented at Lairds trial.

A year later, a Bucks County jury convicted Laird of first- and second-degree murder and sentenced him to death. Chester was later convicted of first-degree murder and was also sentenced to death for helping Laird attack Milano.

In 2001, a federal judge overturned Lairds first-degree murder conviction and death sentence, saying evidence that he had been physically and sexually abused as a child should have been presented at trial. The judge upheld Lairds conviction of second-degree murder, which carries a sentence of life in prison.

At Lairds retrial in Doylestown in 2007, he confessed to killing Milano but offered a mental-health defense, saying his heightened blood-alcohol content at the time of the murder  0.45  and brain damage from old injuries made him act in a diminished capacity.

A jury was not swayed and took less than two hours to convict him of first-degree murder and sentence him to death.

Pennsylvania has a moratorium on the death penalty, so Laird will remain on death row for the foreseeable future.
The Moshannon Valley Processing Center, in Clearfield County, Pa., where Subramanyam Subu Vedam was taken after he was released from a state prison. Read more

Subramanyam Subu Vedam spent more than 40 years fighting to overturn his murder conviction.

Now that he has succeeded, a decades-old drug case may get him deported.

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Vedam was released from state prison last week after prosecutors in central Pennsylvania said they would not seek to retry him in the 1980 shooting death of 19-year-old Thomas Kinser.

Kinser, of Boalsburg, Centre County, was shot in the head and his body was later found in a sinkhole outside State College. Police arrested Vedam, a high school classmate of Kinsers, who they said was the last person to have seen him alive and who had bought a .25-caliber handgun around the time of the killing. A bullet of the same caliber was found in Kinsers shirt.

Vedam insisted that he did not commit the crime, but he was convicted of first-degree murder at two trials: first in 1983, and again at a retrial in 1988. His appeals in the decades that followed were repeatedly denied.

Earlier this year, however, a Centre County judge overturned Vedams conviction after ruling that prosecutors had illegally withheld an FBI report from Vedams trial lawyers. The report detailed the size of the hole in Kinsers skull, court documents say, and could have been used at trial to cast doubt on the type of gun used in the shooting.

The Centre County District Attorneys Office declined to retry the case, citing the passage of time, the unavailability of key evidence and witnesses, and the fact that Vedam  who was 19 when Kinser was killed  had already spent decades in prison.

But as soon as Vedams murder conviction officially collapsed, he was taken from the State Correctional Institution at Huntingdon and into federal custody. Vendam, 64, now faces the possibility of deportation to his native India  in part because of a previous drug conviction.

While Vedam was in prison, a federal judge signed an order to deport him, not only because of his now-dismissed murder conviction, but also because of a conviction from the 1980s for possessing and intending to distribute LSD. Such orders, immigration authorities say, are intended to take effect when prisoners with immigration issues are released.

Lawyers for Vedam, a permanent legal resident of the United States who has lived in the country since his parents emigrated with him when he was 9 months old, have now asked immigration authorities to allow him to remain in the U.S.

They acknowledge that the drug conviction provides a legal basis for the removal order but say immigration law permits authorities to exercise discretion, in part due to the age of the conviction.

In addition, they said, Vedam has a host of supportive relatives and friends who live in the United States, including his sister, an American citizen.

They said he completed a series of remarkable accomplishments behind bars, including founding a prison literacy program and earning several college degrees, including a masters degree in business administration. And they said he has already spent four decades of imprisonment for a conviction that has now been overturned.

Without the wrongful murder conviction, [Vedam] would likely have been successful in defending himself in deportation proceedings decades ago, maintaining his status as a permanent resident, said one of his lawyers, Ava Benach. We believe deportation from the United States now, to send him to a country where he has few connections, would represent another terrible wrong.

It remains unclear how or if those arguments might be received by the federal Board of Immigration Appeals.

But it seems unlikely that Vedam will receive support from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which has been seeking to ramp up deportations under President Donald Trump.

ICE spokesperson Jason Koontz called Vedam a career criminal and a convicted controlled substance trafficker" and said the order for him to be removed from the country was lawfully issued by a federal immigration judge.

Benach, Vedams immigration attorney, disputed that characterization of Vedam, and said the drug case stemmed from actions he committed as a teenager. She added that he has since forfeited four decades of his life to a prison sentence for a murder he didnt commit.

Vedams attorneys said they have filed paperwork asking to block authorities from deporting him before his immigration appeal is litigated.

That process could take several weeks, or longer, to play out.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is dealing with "general soreness" in his knee but will play on Thursday at MetLife Stadium. Read more

Saquon Barkley popped up on the Eagles injury report Monday with what the team called a knee injury.

The Eagles, of course, didnt practice a day after their 21-17 loss to the Denver Broncos, but were required to release an estimated report ahead of Thursday nights game at the New York Giants. Barkley was upgraded to a limited participant Tuesday during a walk-through.

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I know a lot of people started reacting because it said I wouldnt practice, Barkley said. None of us practiced yesterday.  Nothing [Im] too worried about, just general soreness."

 READ MORE: What we know (and dont) about the Eagles entering Week 6 vs. the Giants

Barkley will play Thursday night at MetLife Stadium against his former team, and the emotions attached to revisiting his former home stadium have dwindled.

I said last year I didnt know what to expect, Barkley said. Being in that environment, seeing everyone back there. Its a year removed from it now. It is what it is. Im just focused on trying to get back on track and getting a big win in the NFC East.

Barkley said his knee soreness was not a reason why he was handed the ball six times during Sundays game and touched it just nine times total, the fewest amount in his career in a game he started and finished. The Eagles run game continues to struggle. Barkley is tallying 3.2 yards per carry, down from 5.8 in 2024. He has yet to top 100 yards in a single game.

A combination of poor offensive line play at times and defenses scheming against the Eagles have contributed to the slow start. Barkley said his knee was not a factor.

While Barkley is good to go for Thursday night, the Eagles are likely to be without left guard Landon Dickerson, who left Sundays game with an ankle injury and may miss more than just Thursday nights game. Dickerson was once again listed as out Tuesday, as was tight end Grant Calcaterra (oblique).

Brett Toth would likely start in Dickersons place.
After capturing hundreds of hours of footage, over a decade, for his new docuseries The American Revolution, filmmaker Ken Burns knew the epic story had to begin with Benjamin Franklin.

Burns was deeply familiar with the Founding Father from his 2022 PBS documentary, Benjamin Franklin, which helped inform aspects of his latest project, especially the introduction.

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Burns and his codirectors Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt wanted to follow the foundational ideas behind the American Revolution  so they started with one of the oldest democracies in the world: the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

The governing body composed of six Indigenous nations, based mostly in whats now upstate New York, served as major inspiration for Franklin, who pitched it as a model for the emerging American union some 20 years before the Declaration of Independence.

Benjamin Franklin [developed a] fascination with the Iroquois Confederacy, the Haudenosaunee, as it was called  that had been working as a functioning democracy for centuries, said Burns, who has dedicated his career to chronicling American history. He thought, Oh, maybe we can do that, too.

Thats where Burns, Botstein, and Schmidt begin their six-part, twelve-hour documentary that will premiere on PBS on Nov. 16, just ahead of the Semiquincentennial celebration in 2026.

It spotlights all the key figures, from Franklin to George Washington to John Adams, along with celebrity voice-overs like Mandy Patinkin reprising his Franklin and Paul Giamatti speaking as Adams (a nod to his legendary turn in HBOs 2008 miniseries, John Adams).

The folks that we associate with [the American Revolution], theyve become so two dimensional that our first job is to sort of make them real and dimensional human beings, and then introduce literally dozens, if not scores, of other people who are engaged, particularly women, who are at the heart of the story, said Burns.

The film widens the scope beyond the major battles, political events, and societal movements to encompass the perspectives of groups long overlooked in history books, from free and enslaved African Americans, to Native Americans, to women of all ages. That includes the story of James Forten, a Black Founding Father who fought in the Revolutionary War.

James Forten was 9 years old, a free Black boy in Philadelphia who hears the first time the Declaration is read aloud, and he doesnt for a second believe that these self-evident truths didnt apply to him, said Burns.

The director hopes that these stories can more comprehensively and honestly portray the reality of this history, about which scholars are still uncovering new information.

At a time when President Donald Trump has targeted exhibits about slavery at Independence Hall for review and potential removal, Burns film reminds the nation to look to historians for answers, not politicians. The Semiquincentennial will bring about many reflections on the American Revolution and Burns encourages everyone to challenge their preconceptions  because this history is far from settled.

Its really bloody, and its not fun, and its very complicated to tell, but [this story is] so much better than the kind of bug-in-amber that weve made our Revolution, [as] just a bunch of guys in Philadelphia thinking great thoughts, he said.

Of course, Philadelphia remains at the center of the film as the site where ideas about democracy and independence were first articulated. To portray the city in this historical context, Burns and his team visited Philadelphia dozens of times at various hours of the day, in all sorts of weather, to capture live cinematography that gives viewers a sense of that time period, despite being filmed recently.

We didnt film a lot in the city of New York because the historic buildings that exist are so overwhelmed by modernity that it doesnt really work the same way you can get around and film in Philadelphia, said Botstein, a longtime collaborator of Burns who worked on The U.S. and the Holocaust and The Vietnam War. Figuring out how to shoot that live cinematography, along with all the reenactments and reenactors, and how we visualized the battles  that took us years and years and years of experimenting.

Obviously no archival footage exists of these historical events, so the filmmakers use the Philadelphia footage to evoke that era, along with close-ups of paintings, drawings, maps, and other historical and archival materials from nearly 350 museums, libraries, and archives around the world.

Burns typically doesnt incorporate historical reenactments in his films, but he admitted that, in this case, we had to get over that and over ourselves pretty early to tell this particular part of American history through what he calls intimate and impressionistic portrayals.

While we all generally know how the story ends, Burns and Botstein relished the chance to immerse audiences in a narrative that is still surprising about a revolution that was, at the time, considered a major gamble.

They end the series with a quote from another legendary Philadelphian, Benjamin Rush: The American war is over: but this is far from being the case with the American Revolution.

That allows the ideas to be active and not passive, to be alive and not dormant, to be ever-changing, said Burns. Its a process phrase. This is at the heart of us. So, yeah, we just told the story in 12 hours of the American Revolution, but its an ongoing idea.

Ken Burns will speak with WHYYs Terry Gross at an event screening a preview of The American Revolution at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9, at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, 1 Harbour Blvd, Camden, N.J., 215-351-1200 or whyy.org.
Michele Lin adding filling to Taiyaki, fished shaped pastry with filling at Ensora her soon to open Japanese cafe & desserts opening in the Barclay Farms Shopping Center. Photograph during soft opening Friday, October 3, 2025. Read more

Michele Lin takes her matcha seriously.

The owner of Cherry Hills newest dessert cafe, Ensora, flew to Japan this past June to tour a matcha farm, sample different teas, and select a strain with the best flavor profile.

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I wanted to bring something authentic and more of a premium matcha to my cafe, she said. I didnt want to source from any random distributor.

While she wont reveal exactly where Ensoras matcha comes from  its a trade secret  she is promising that its top-notch.

Ensora, which opened last week in the Barclay Farm Shopping Center, is serving up matcha and coffee drinks; soft serve; breakfast sandwiches; and taiyaki, a fish-shaped Japanese cake with sweet and savory fillings.

For Lin, the cafe is an opportunity to serve Japanese desserts to South Jersey locals without making them drive over the bridge to Philadelphia.

We focus on bringing people together through our drinks and dessert, Lin said.

Lins background is as a data analyst in the healthcare tech world, but she knows the food industry intimately. Growing up, her family owned a Chinese restaurant where she spent many days and pitched in behind the scenes.

As she was planning to open Ensora, Lin recipe-tested multiple variations of her taiyaki batter to get a chewy, mochi-like texture rather than the pancake- or waffle-esque batter found in other cafes. The chewier dough is something unique to the Asian culture, she said, adding that people really appreciate that its something different.

The taiyaki come filled with Nutella, black sesame, vanilla, red bean, pandan, or cheese. They can be paired with a rotating soft-serve ice cream. Last week, Ensora featured a matcha-flavored ice cream. Over the weekend, pumpkin spice and ube were on the menu.

Ensora is serving a limited menu of breakfast sandwiches, including an egg salad sandwich modeled off the ones sold at 7-Eleven stores in Japan. The BBB or Bolo Bao Breakfast sandwich, is served with homemade pork sausage, fried egg, lettuce, spicy mayo, and pickled vegetables, and is sandwiched between two brioche buns with a cookie crust.

Ensoras drink lineup includes matcha, drip coffee, espresso, and houjicha tea drinks with creative flavors. Think shaken coconut iced coffee, cafe su dua (Vietnamese iced coffee) with sweet pandan cream, and strawberry iced matcha lattes. Matcha is exploding in popularity, with retail sales up 86% in the U.S. from three years ago, according to market research firm NIQ.

As Ensora begins serving customers, Lin says she has a guardian angel of sorts looking over the cafe. Her late corgi Russell is the cafes mascot and is featured on its logos and decorations.

We always had wanted to have him as our mascot, she said. It was a really tough time when he passed away.

Now, hes bringing Ensora some good luck.

Ensora, 116 Barclay Farms Shopping Center, Cherry Hill, N.J., 08034, instagram.com/ensoranj

This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirers high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
Would you look at all the new bakeries out there!

Also in this edition:

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The big cheese: A Philly cheesemonger struck gold in a world competition. Coffee prices: Espresso depresso. News: A New Orleans-inspired poboy shop is on the way, and Mac Mart and Mighty Bread Co. are expanding. Read on for Scoops.

But first: Get your tickets to The Inquirers Food Fest now. The all-day event at the Fillmore on Nov. 15 will gather dozens of top Philly chefs for all kinds of fun. Just in: Well host an exclusive collaboration between Phila and Rachel Lorn of Mawn/Sao and Alex Kemp of My Loup.

 Mike Klein

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Were obsessed with new bakeries. I share a bakers dozen and tell you whats driving all these carbs.

Emilia DAlbero of Point Breeze made history at Mondial du Fromage 2025, winning a gold medal while repping Team USAs first all-female team. Camembert the last time this happened.

 Sky-high coffee prices have become too much for some Philly-area consumers. Erin McCarthy explains how theyre fighting back.

 Why is a Philadelphia couple suing Philadelphia-based La Colombe over canned draft latte sales in South Korea? Abraham Gutman has the story.

Amblers new Ridge Hall throws some mini-Reading Terminal Market vibes: 10 food businesses under one roof, including a brewery.

Scoops

Philly Po Boy Co.: Philly-born chefs-brothers Greg and Christopher Lynch are behind this fast-casual concept at Front and Berks Streets under the El in Kensington. Its inspired by New Orleans sandwich shops. Greg Lynch, 39, spent the last decade cooking for Starr Restaurants, most recently as executive chef at LMNO. Chris, 51, has worked for nearly 30 years in New Orleans  chef de cuisine at Emerils flagship restaurant for seven years and now executive chef at Atchafalaya. Menu will center on traditional poboys  shrimp, oyster, and roast beef  served on house-baked bread. Gumbo and beignets will round out the offerings. Theyre going for 48 seats inside and 25 in the courtyard, plus a kiosk window serving morning commuters. The brothers hope to open in early 2026.

Mac Mart: Marti and Pamela Lieberman are opening a kiosk on the Arch Street sidewalk near 18th Street, next to Comcast Technology Center. Mini Mac Mart will sell hot mac and cheese for pickup, delivery, and catering. They also plan to showcase small business owners products, such as Huda cinnamon milk buns, Sweetbox cupcakes, and Marinuccis hoagies and wraps. This will be down the block from Biedermans caviar kiosk.

Mighty Bread Co.: Chris DiPiazza and crew are venturing outside of South Philadelphia with Mighty Bread Grab & Go., taking the recently shuttered Jaime Bakery at 17th and Pine Streets. It will offer a coffee bar and the bakerys full line of pastry, bread, sandwiches, quiche, and merch (no beer, though) from Wednesday through Monday. Target is the first week of November.

Baken Bacon: Justin Coleman and Kelvin Alexanders bacon-themed bar/restaurant/food truck has a satellite location opening Oct. 15 at the Fashion District Philadelphias food court.

Ammas South Indian Cuisine: Oct. 17 is the targeted opening of the popular Indian restaurants expanded Rittenhouse location, as it fills the former Max Brenners on the 15th Street side of 1500 Walnut St. This will replace the Ammas at 1518 Chestnut St., which opened in 2019. With the move, Ammas gains 80 seats, including an expansive bar with 30 seats, bringing the capacity to 140. The Chestnut Street location will wrap Oct. 16. This is Ammas fifth location; the sixth is targeted for years end at Goodnoes Corner in Newtown, Bucks County.

Steves Prince of Steaks: The steak specialist rolls out a third Bucks County location (404 Easton Rd., Warrington) on Oct. 18.

Restaurant report

Doho. Mount Airy recently lost the prime dining destination Jansen as chef/owner David Jansen and team closed and segued to Whitemarsh Valley Country Club.

But the nearby Doho, which opened several weeks ago, could help to address a local date-night-restaurant shortage with a chic, backlit cocktail bar and a simple but elegant dining room.

The menu, a blend of Latin and East Asian flavors incorporating European technique, includes vegan and gluten-free dishes. Theres also a showstopping pomegranate lamb shank (above), served with sourdough bao buns for a DIY sandwich situation.

Doho is set up inside Catering by Design. Read on and Ill tell you how owner Peter Loevy broke his vow to never open a sit-down restaurant.

Doho, 18 W. Hortter St. Hours: 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday. Reserve via Resy.

Also new this week: I share first word on (and lots of photos of) Rockwell & Rose, the steakhouse that P.J. Clarkes carved out of part of its expansive space in the Curtis building across from Washington Square. Heres what you need to know.

Briefly noted

The book tour for We The Pizza: Slangin Pies and Savin Lives by Down North Pizza founder Muhammad Abdul-Hadi will stop at Philadelphias Central Library from 7-8:30 p.m. today with a conversation moderated by educator Janice Johnson Dias. The event will start with a pizza-tasting sponsored by the Urban League. Its free; books will be sold for $32.99. Register here.

Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corp. hosts YeShi Chinatown Night Market from 6-10 p.m. Thursday along 10th Street and Race Street.

Scamps, the pizzeria in residency at Philly Style Bagels in Old City, will pop up in Rittenhouse at Andra Hem from 5-9 p.m. Sunday with three square slices, Caesar deviled eggs, and something called charcuterie nachos (kettle chips, prosciutto, grated pecorino, gorgonzola, Castelvetrano olives, and pepperoncini, finished with EVOO). Walk-in or reserve via Resy.

Sweet Lucys Smokehouse, at 7500 State Rd. (just off the Cottman Avenue exit of I-95 in Northeast Philadelphia), will mark its 20th anniversary by rolling back the price of a pulled pork sandwich on Oct. 13 to $5.99, with two sides (its now $14.50). Owners Brooke and Jim Higgins plan to produce 500 sandwiches that day, and proceeds will be donated to Philadelphia K9 Services. Sales start at 11 a.m. and theres a two-sandwich limit.

Tired Hands Brewings annual Beer Party at the Beer Park (4901 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square) from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 18 benefits the Delaware County Veterans Memorial. Expect food trucks, music, and regional beer/cider/spirits from 20-plus makers such as Tired Hands, Equilibrium, and Mortalis Brewing.

Kyle Knall, chef of Birch in Milwaukee and a James Beard semifinalist, will visit a.kitchen in Rittenhouse on Oct. 20 for a four-course collab dinner with executive chef Eli Collins. The fundraiser for the Independent Restaurant Coalition is $135 per person, with reservations on OpenTable.

Iron Hill Brewerys bankruptcy filing looks dire: $125,000 in assets, $20 million in debts. If you have a gift card, you might get in line and file a complaint.

Pop quiz

Our Tommy Rowan checked out the Roy Rogers in Cherry Hill. His main takeaway?

A) the Fixins Bar was a welcome feature

B) fresh-baked biscuit was the star

C) the fries wont make any best-of lists

D) the roast beef tasted like expired deli meat that had been sitting in your fridge a few days too long

Find out if you know the answer.

Ask Mike anything

Whats the deal with Ippolitos, which used to be the soul of its South Philly neighborhood? Its been spiffed up for the better part of a year but the opening has floundered. Are they going to pull the hook or are they just baiting us? (Im sorry.)  David G.

Im reeling from all the seafood puns, David! The retail offshoot of wholesaler Samuels Seafood at 13th and Dickinson, which shut down in 2018, is aiming for a Nov. 1 reopening, says owner Sammy DAngelo. I will add that this date has been wriggling for some time, so I hope its not a fish story.

 Have a question about food in Philly? Email your questions to me at mklein@inquirer.com for a chance to be featured in my newsletter.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
A two-hour line stretching outside of McMillan's Bakery in Haddon Township on May 17, 2025, the day before it closed. Read more

The building that housed the landmark McMillans Bakery in Haddon Township, which closed in May after 86 years, has been sold.

Entrepreneur Tom Whitman, who also owns South Jersey institutions Del Buonos Bakery and Carmens Deli, said he plans to open the bakery at 15-17 Haddon Ave. early next year after a top-to-bottom renovation, which has begun.

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Whitman told The Inquirer that he planned to spend $1.5 million to $2 million, including the real estate purchase and extensive upgrades. He also said he has brought on board Doug Biemiller, a grandson of founders George and Evelyn McMillan, to oversee baking and production.

What is unclear about the propertys future is whether the McMillans name will hang again outside. The McMillans estate owns the rights, and Whitman told The Inquirer that his lawyer was in talks with family members. At the time of McMillans closing, some family members had posted on social media that they considered McMillans to be gone forever, as no relative had been willing or able to purchase the business.

If Whitman cannot make a deal with the estate, he said, Ill just change the name to Del Buonos if I have to, but I dont want to. The branding is important.

Reviving McMillans would be Whitmans third such move, and, he said, would be a labor of love. Twelve years ago, he bought the nearly century-old Del Buonos Bakery in Haddon Heights from Constantino Nino Del Buono, and about eight years ago, he bought Carmens Deli, now with four locations, from the founding Giglio family. The operations employ about 150 people and run 24 hours a day, he said. Its lots of moving parts, but I sort of thrive on it.

Whitman, 62, a Dominos Pizza franchisee for 30 years before divesting several years ago, called it a good fit. My wheelhouse is the bakery, and Im not a baker. Im an entrepreneur who owns a bakery.

Whitman said he had considered buying McMillans when it was offered for sale last year, but stepped aside. He ended up buying it last month from South Jersey construction company owner Mark Springer, who had purchased it over the summer, after Biemiller agreed to work for Whitman. Once I had Doug in my fold, it was a no-brainer, he said, adding, an expensive no-brainer. It just made good sense.

The sale was first reported by the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Whitman said he was prepared for the challenges of living up to expectations. McMillans customers are tough, he said. They dont like to see change, but they also dont like to see it closed.
A federal judge rules against DOJ in its quest to obtain private medical records of children who sought gender-affirming care at CHOP. Read more

President Donald Trumps administration is escalating its legal fight against childrens hospitals in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh where doctors have treated transgender youth seeking gender-affirming medical care.

In court documents filed within the last week, the U.S. Department of Justice says it has evidence that raises questions about fraudulent billing practices.

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Federal officials are looking into whether doctors at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh were fudging or lying about diagnoses to get private and public health insurance companies to cover off-label drug prescriptions used to treat patients with gender dysphoria  a medical condition in which a persons body does not match their gender identity.

The DOJs assertions came in the form of sworn statements, or declarations, submitted in Pennsylvania federal district courts as part of a federal investigation into potential criminal and civil violations of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA).

Federal lawyers earlier this year sent subpoenas claiming the right to examine private patient medical records at at least 20 hospitals nationally, including CHOP and the Pittsburgh hospital, which is part of University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).

CHOPs Gender and Sexuality Development Program, created in 2014, is one of the nations largest such clinics and provides medical care and mental health support to hundreds of new families each year. Officials at the Center City hospital did not reply to a request for comment on the DOJs latest filings.

A UPMC spokesperson said Wednesday the declaration contains no evidence or specific allegation of fraud by UPMC or its childrens hospital.

UMPC announced it would stop providing gender-affirming care for patients under age 19 amid pressure from Trumps administration and has not sought legal relief from the federal subpoena.

The new court filings use largely identical statements to lay out the DOJs case for obtaining the subpoenaed documents from CHOP and UPMC. To date, they offer the most comprehensive public window into what investigators are looking for.

Given the significant number of children treated at CHOPs gender clinic, combined with its knowledge that potential federal healthcare offenses may systematically be occurring in the provision of gender-related medical care for minors, the government has ample reason to suspect that such offenses may be occurring at CHOP, said Lisa Hsiao, acting director of the DOJs Enforcement and Affirmative Litigation Branch, formerly known as the Consumer Protection Branch.

Beyond that, Hsiao wrote, the government is aware of information particular to CHOP that raises concern that federal healthcare offenses may be occurring there.

Legal fight unfolding nationally

The DOJs key focus is how doctors are prescribing puberty blockers and hormones off-label, meaning for a condition not specifically approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Once a drug is approved by the FDA, it is legal for doctors to prescribe it to treat other conditions that could benefit from the medication. Off-label prescribing is a common and widely accepted medical practice, especially in pediatrics.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and other major medical associations, citing research, have maintained that using these medications to provide gender-affirming care for minors is safe, effective, and medically necessary for their mental health.

Yet Trumps administration says that doctors who prescribe puberty blockers and hormones to patients under age 19 are engaging in chemical mutilation, likening it to child abuse, and that the medications are unsafe for youth.

 READ MORE: Transgender kids lives are on the line as CHOP fights Trump over patient medical records, parents say

The legal fight is playing out in multiple court cases in Pennsylvania and across the nation.

A federal judge in Boston last month ruled in favor of Boston Childrens Hospital and limited the DOJ subpoena, describing the federal demand for private patient records as overly broad and lacking a legitimate reason.

This months DOJ court filings were made in Pennsylvania-based cases involving former patients and parents of children who have received gender-affirming care at CHOP and UMPC. They are asking federal judges to protect their right to keep their medical records private and are represented by the Public Interest Law Center, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit that advocates for the civil, social, and economic rights of marginalized communities.

In the case involving UMPC, patients and their parents say the DOJ is seeking to criminalize legal medical care it dislikes, describing the subpoena as a raw use of government power to advance that policy agenda.

The DOJ argued that the parents and patients have no standing to challenge the subpoena.

Diagnoses under scrutiny

Hsiaos statements in the UMPC and CHOP cases broadly allege that the DOJ suspects doctors are using incorrect diagnosis and/or billing code to prescribe medications because they know that certain insurance plans may not cover off-label prescription of puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones for gender-related treatment.

In the CHOP case, the government added three paragraphs with specific accusations involving doctors use of a medical diagnosis known as central precocious puberty, which is when children show signs of puberty at an abnormally early age.

The FDA has approved puberty blockers, such as Lupron and Zoladex, to treat central precocious puberty.

Doctors who provide gender-affirming care can legally prescribe puberty blockers off-label to treat gender dysphoria. They are used to buy time for adolescents who are questioning their gender identity. They slow development of breasts, ovaries, and testicles.

Now the DOJ is disclosing that it has hired government contractors to analyze extensive anonymized insurance claims submitted by CHOP providers, Hsiao said in the statement.

The billing codes and data show that between 2017 and 2024, CHOP providers diagnosed 250 minors with central precocious puberty at age 10 or older, including numerous teenagers aged 14 to 18.

This is well beyond the age at which children are typically diagnosed with precocious puberty, Hsiao stated. The government suspects doctors are improperly using the precocious puberty diagnosis to get insurance coverage for treatment of gender dysphoria, she said, but provided no further evidence.

At least one part of Hsiaos statement related to CHOP appeared to be incorrect.

The statement said the DOJ was aware of a lawsuit just filed this year that details very concerning allegations of a minor being put on puberty blockers after his first visit and cross-sex hormones after his second with no meaningful assessment.

The Inquirer was unable to find any such lawsuit filed against CHOP. After a reporter asked for clarification from the DOJ, the declaration was refiled, deleting mention of a lawsuit just filed.

Late Tuesday night, lawyers for CHOP filed a motion saying the DOJ has never made these accusations in its separate case seeking to limit the federal subpoenas scope.

CHOP says the judge in its subpoena case should not consider the new accusations. CHOP lawyers also noted that Hsiao stated, under oath, that the government is aware of a lawsuit, but then replaced the filing, omitting the reference to a lawsuit without explanation.

If the judge intends to consider Hsiaos statement, CHOP lawyers asked for permission to file a response to it.
At 70, Walter Carpenter juggles two physically taxing jobs. In the winter, he works at a ski resort restaurant in Vermont, lugging heavy loads. In the summer, he is an attendant at a state park with a swimming beach, a job that has him trudging through sand and heat. Both are tough on his arthritic knees, which he has put off replacing.

His bills wont let him retire anytime soon, even as working becomes increasingly difficult for him. Carpenter knows that if he pushes himself too hard, the results could be disastrous or fatal, he said. He worries: Will my body hold up? Will my heart hold up?

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Carpenters questions speak to a growing reality. Across the country, more seniors are staying on the job, often without enough retirement savings to step away. And for aging workers, every shift carries new risks. Older workers are far more likely to sustain a fatal work injury than their younger counterparts, Labor Department statistics show. Workers 65 and above are twice as likely to die on the job as workers aged 55 to 64, and three times as likely as all workers. When older workers get injured, the consequences last longer. They are more likely to land in the hospital and to miss days of work and the wages that come with it.

The situation is likely to get worse for aging workers as the senior population explodes in the coming decades. By 2030, more than one in five U.S. residents will be over the age of 65. Despite these trends, little is being done to safeguard an aging workforce, and it is unlikely that the Trump administration will address the issue, given budget and staff cuts at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health  agencies responsible for protecting workers.

The biggest protection workers might get is moving to less physically rigorous jobs, rather than a specific practice thats going to protect an older worker, said Peter Berg, professor of employment relations at Michigan State University.

But many workers wont ask for lighter duties because theyre afraid theyll just be replaced by younger workers, Berg said. Only employers who value the knowledge and experience older workers bring may be willing to accommodate them, he added.

Fortunately for Carpenter, he has an accommodating boss at the restaurant where he has worked winters for the past 15 years. In a year or so, he expects to move from his current role as busser, carrying dishes from the dining room to the kitchen, to less physically taxing work as a prep cook or at the cash register. Both would require less walking and lifting.

Carpenter is grateful for his employers flexibility, even if he is not looking forward to the change. I dont enjoy [working with] cash and money that much, but oh well, Carpenter said, but he acknowledged that the new role would make it easier on the old man.

Little protection beyond discrimination

Physically demanding jobs are the riskiest for older workers, because of the normal physical and cognitive decline that comes with age. Still, about half workers over 50 have a physically demanding job, according to a 2023 study from the Economic Policy Institute, a think tank affiliated with the labor movement. More than half are exposed to unhealthy or hazardous situations at work, such as having to operate machinery, enduring low or high temperatures, and breathing in dust, smoke, or toxic vapors. These hazards also tend to have more serious repercussions for older workers.

The same injury that might just injure a younger worker could kill an older worker due to their physical vulnerabilities, said Ryan Olson, an occupational health psychologist and professor at the University of Utah.

Meanwhile, there are few laws designed to ensure older workers safety on the job beyond prohibitions against age discrimination and requirements to accommodate workers with disabilities.

To Olson, moving older workers to supervisory positions when possible can be a good way to ensure their physical safety while valuing their experience and expertise. Some older workers might want to keep working for the social connection and sense of purpose it can bring, he added. But many dont get to choose.

I think about this topic as a persons power and ability to choose when they retire, Olson said. And that includes their financial security: Some people may not be able to retire because they must keep their level of income coming in.

Indeed, their finances are the main reason workers stay on the job longer than they wish, and the burden falls heaviest on low-wage workers. One in four workers over age 50 said they would never retire, according to a 2016 study. Among workers who earned less than $50,000 a year, the share jumps to one in three.

Low-wage workers are less likely than their higher-wage counterparts to have pension benefits that would allow them to retire around 65, Olson said. They also are less likely to have retirement savings. A 2022 survey by the Federal Reserve found that 43% of people between 55 and 64 years old lack a retirement savings account, which likely means they would have to rely on Social Security alone.

For minimum wage workers, Social Security benefits on their own come nowhere near covering the basics. Even if they waited until 70 to retire  which is when benefits are maximized  they would fall short by about $13,000 per year, according to a study by sociologist Mary Gatta and data analyst Jessica Horning.

If such workers picked up a minimum-wage job after they retired to compensate for that gap, theyd have to work 33 hours a week, every week, until they died, their study found.

The question will be, is this going to kill them  or will it just lead to a society thats further unequal, where there will be these poor people as they age who must keep working to survive? Berg said.

Workers in this situation dont see a way out, he added, even if their job is getting harder and more dangerous. Sometimes, changing jobs to accommodate their physical condition can mean taking a pay cut.

They know theyre putting themselves at risk, but theyre taking on the risk because they feel like they need the money and they dont feel like they have alternatives, Berg said.

Nothing I could do to get it back

In 2006, a serious illness prevented Carpenter from working for three months. As a result, he said, he lost a job at a ski resort that hed hoped to keep until his retirement, as well as his health insurance and his retirement benefits. He was over 50 at the time, and couldnt find a job with benefits comparable to those provided by the one he lost.

The loss of the job came as a major blow.

When I lost that, I lost everything, and there was nothing I could do to get it back, Carpenter said. So that kind of condemned me to having to keep working. Soon after, he cobbled together seasonal jobs, which lacked benefits. Eventually, he was able to qualify for Medicaid.

Through Social Security, Carpenter earns a little more than half the $2,823 a month he would need to retire, according to the index used by Gatta and Horning. Over half his $1,524 in earnings goes toward rent for his subsidized apartment in Montpelier, Vt. Thats why he works four days a week, and never plans on stopping.

I feel about two ways. Number one is, Im amazed that Im still alive to be this active, he said. And Im also frustrated that I have to keep doing it.

During his 56 years in the workforce, Carpenter has painted and weatherized houses, run ski lifts, waited tables, and logged. Now, keeping up the winter-summer work cycle in Vermont is a matter of maintaining his strength and stamina. He exercises to stay in shape and to avoid, or at least delay, becoming physically unable to work anymore  his biggest worry.

You just wonder, he said, how long youre going to last.

Lili Euzet is a writer with the Investigative Reporting Program at the University of California, Berkeley, Graduate School of Journalism. She reported this article through a grant from The SCAN Foundation.

Copyright Capital & Main 2025
Roosevelt Poplar won re-election Tuesday as president of the city's police union. Read more

Roosevelt Poplar, who has led the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5 since 2023, was elected to a three-year term Tuesday, along with his entire slate.

With a 51% turnout, Poplar garnered 4,159 votes while his opponent, Charles Knute Mellon, a former pilot in the Philadelphia Police Departments aviation unit, and now the executive officer of recruit training, received 2,072.

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Poplars team of longtime FOP leaders received 3,662 votes, while Mellons drew 1,422. A total of 6,255 ballots were returned from the 12,190 eligible active and retired members.

I am honored and grateful to our members for their faith and trust in me, Poplar said in a statement. I promise to fight for every active and retiree member and always do right by them. We have had some historic wins over the past 22 months. But we have a lot of work ahead of us.

Mellon could not be immediately reached for comment.

The campaign was unusually caustic, marked by social media attacks, fake accounts, AI-generated images, contentious union meetings, and even threats of violence.

Poplar, who joined the police force in 1990, became a trustee in Lodge 5 in 2000 then served as a union vice president and chief of staff for former longtime president John McNesby.

McNesby resigned in 2023, soon after one of his top officials was accused of swindling a police widow out of more than $20,000. The FOPs executive board voted unanimously to have Poplar assume the job of president.

Poplar, 58, and his team have pointed to their years of experience and a record securing lucrative pay raises and benefits for their members.

Mellon, 48, and his team alleged that McNesby and the current union leaders racked up millions in questionable credit card charges and lack transparency about the unions profits and expenses.

Earlier this year, The Inquirers investigation The Blue Divide, found limited oversight and a lack of transparency surrounding the unions expenditures.

The Inquirer found that questionable expenditures were most notable within the Survivors Fund, a charitable foundation created to support families of officers who lost their lives or were gravely wounded in the line of duty.
WASHINGTON  Israel and Hamas agreed Wednesday to pause fighting in Gaza and release at least some hostages and prisoners, accepting a deal put forward by the Trump administration that would represent the biggest breakthrough in months in the devastating two-year-old war.

This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace, President Donald Trump wrote on social media in trumpeting the agreement. All Parties will be treated fairly!

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Israel and Hamas separately confirmed the contours of the deal. It calls for Hamas to release all 20 living hostages in the coming days, while the Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority of Gaza, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press.

 READ MORE: A divided Israel marks two years since Oct. 7 attack as war in Gaza grinds on and hostages languish

Uncertainty remains about some of the thorniest disagreements between the bitter enemies  such as whether and how Hamas will disarm, and who will govern Gaza  but they appear closer than they have been in several months to ending a war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, destroyed most of Gaza and triggered other armed conflicts across the Middle East. The war, which began with Hamas deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, has sparked worldwide protests and brought allegations of genocide that Israel denies.

Israel is more isolated than it has been in decades and Israelis have been bitterly divided over the failure to return the hostages. Palestinians dream of an independent state, meanwhile, appears more remote than ever, despite recent moves by major Western countries to recognize one.

But with the outlook bleak as the wars two-year anniversary approached, the Trump administration put forward a plan last month that it hoped would result in a permanent end to the war and bring about a sustainable peace in the region.

Talks to hammer out a deal have been underway in Egypt since the start of the week, and by the end of the third day of negotiations, a breakthrough emerged.

With Gods help we will bring them all home, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proclaimed on social media shortly after Trump announced an agreement on the first phase of his plan was at hand. Netanyahu said he would convene the government on Thursday to approve the deal.

It was unclear from Trumps statement how much progress has been made on divisive aspects of his plan, such as Hamas potential disarmament  a demand the group has repeatedly refused to agree to.

For its part, Hamas called on Trump and the mediators to ensure that Israel implements without disavowal or delay a deal that it said would require the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the entry of aid into the territory and the exchange of prisoners for hostages.

Hamas has long said it will not release the remaining hostages without a lasting ceasefire and guarantees the war would not resume after they are freed.

 READ MORE: Trumps Mideast peace deal is high on hoopla, vague on critical details | Trudy Rubin

Trumps peace plan

The Trump plan called for an immediate ceasefire and release of the 48 hostages that militants in Gaza still hold from their attack on Israel two years ago. Some 1,200 people were killed by Hamas-led militants, and 251 were taken hostage. Around 20 of the hostages are believed to still be alive.

The Trump deal also envisioned that Hamas would turn over power to a group of apolitical technocrats, supervised by an international body led by Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Israel would also be required under the plan to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including some 250 who are serving life sentences for convictions in deadly attacks on Israelis.

Its a huge day, huge joy, Ahmed Sheheiber, a Palestinian displaced man from northern Gaza, said of the ceasefire deal.

Crying over the phone from his shelter in Gaza City, he said he was waiting impatiently for the ceasefire to go into effect to return to his home in the Jabaliya refugee camp.

We thank President Trump, it wouldnt happen without him, said Hagai Angrest, the father of hostage Matan.

Angrest was standing beside Einav Zangauker, the mother of Matan Zangauker and a prominent advocate, who cried what she said were tears of joy.

The arrival of Trumps Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the presidents son-in-law, Jared Kushner, on Wednesday at Sharm el-Sheikh for the peace talks, which were also attended by Qatars prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, was a sign that negotiators aimed to dive deeply into the toughest issues of an American plan to end the war. Netanyahus top adviser, Ron Dermer, was also present for the talks.

Trump expressed optimism earlier in the day by saying that he was considering a trip to the Middle East within a matter of days.

Yet another hint of an emerging deal came later in that event when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio passed Trump a note on White House stationery that read, You need to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first. Truth Social is the presidents preferred social media platform.

The note prompted Trump to proclaim, Were very close to a deal in the Middle East.

This would be the third ceasefire reached since the start of the war. The first, in November 2023, saw more than 100 hostages, mainly women and children, freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners before it broke down. In the second, in January and February of this year, Palestinian militants released 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight more in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israel ended that ceasefire in March with a surprise bombardment.

Praying for a deal

A growing number of experts, including those commissioned by a U.N. body, have said that Israels offensive in Gaza amounts to genocide  an accusation Israel denies. More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and nearly 170,000 wounded, according to Gazas Health Ministry.

The ministry, which doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half of the deaths were women and children, is part of the Hamas-run government. The United Nations and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.

In the Gaza Strip, where much of the territory lies in ruins, Palestinians have been desperate for a breakthrough. Thousands fleeing Israels latest ground offensive in northern Gaza and Gaza City have set up makeshift tents along the beach in the central part of the territory, sometimes using blankets for shelter.

Sara Rihan, a displaced woman from Jabaliya, said she was praying for an end to the war.

I hope we return to our places and homes even if there are no homes, she said. Our existence in our land is the biggest happiness for us.
Michele Lin is the owner of Ensora, the new dessert cafe in Cherry Hill. Read more

Hello, Cherry Hill! 

A new dessert cafe specializing in taiyaki, a popular fish-shaped Japanese cake, has opened. We take a look inside. Also this week, Cherry Hill East has named an interim principal after its last one resigned, Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital received a multimillion dollar grant to support mental health emergencies, and an East alums unconventional lamb products hit Wegmans shelves.

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Cherry Hills newest dessert cafe, Ensora, opened last week in the Barclay Farm Shopping Center, where its serving matcha and coffee drinks, soft serve, breakfast sandwiches, and taiyaki, a fish-shaped Japanese cake with sweet and savory fillings.

Owner Michele Lin perfected the recipe to give her taiyaki a chewy, mochi-like texture more unique to Asian culture, she said, which differs from what many other cafes might serve.

With Ensora, Lin hopes to give South Jersey residents easier access to Japanese desserts and more authentic matcha, having traveled to the country over the summer to select the perfect strain.

Read more about Ensora and its offerings here.

Cherry Hills Board of Education has named Leslie Walker, former Mount Ephraim Public Schools superintendent and Henry C. Beck Middle School assistant principal and teacher, to serve as interim principal of East following Daniel Finkles resignation last month.

Walkers appointment comes around the same time another school district rescinded its employment offer to Finkle, who was set to become principal there in November.

Days before Finkle resigned, he, the Board of Education, and two other top administrators, were named in a lawsuit alleging that the district subjected David Francis-Maurer, a former assistant principal, to discrimination and retaliation, The Inquirers Denali Sagner reports.

Read more about the administrative shakeups at East here.

 Community News

Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital last week received a $4 million state grant to help its emergency department better support its patients with mental health needs. It plans to create a new 4,000-square-foot EmPATH facility adjacent to the emergency department, where it will have dedicated space where patients experiencing a mental or behavioral crisis can be evaluated by specialists. Its expected to open in 2027. U.S. Sen. Andy Kim last week spoke to constituents about why he sees the government shutdown as a pivotal moment for Democrats to fight back against President Donald Trump, including to protect healthcare for Americans. Read more about what the East alum had to say. A local resident recently tested positive for West Nile virus, marking Camden Countys first detected case of the year. While not usually widespread in New Jersey, health officials say you can protect yourself from the mosquito-borne illness by using approved insect repellents and reducing standing water on your property. South Jersey Local News recently caught up with Tierney Miller, Cherry Hill Public Librarys new director. Miller began in the role in June after being promoted from head of reference and adult services. Her move is part of a number of staff changes, something Miller sees as a positive. Read more about the transitions here. Local lawmakers are hosting a blood drive in partnership with the Red Cross on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Carman Tilelli Community Center. Sign up to donate here. Tuesday is the last day to register to vote in the November election. Learn more and register here. Sunday is the last day to donate costumes to the librarys Halloween costume swap. You can then browse donations next Wednesday and take one you like. You dont need to donate a costume to take one. The township is hosting its monthly trail cleanup on Saturday. Sign up to volunteer here.

 Schools Briefing

Cherry Hills Board of Education will have three seats up for grabs in next months election, with five candidates vying to fill them, including a pair of incumbents. (South Jersey Local News) Next Wednesday is the last day to submit an application for the federal school meals program for the current academic year. If an application is not submitted for students previously enrolled, their status will change and require full payment. Read more about the application process here.

 On our Plate

An East alums unconventional lamb products hit the shelves at Wegmans nationwide this week, including in Cherry Hill. Jaclyn Oyola, who graduated in 1996, is the founder of Aussie Select, which specializes in fully cooked lamb charcuterie, roasts, and deli meats that she hopes consumers add to their boards, sandwiches, pizzas, or snack plates. One of the best things The Inquirers writers ate this past week included Scudders Soul Food Cupcakes from Infinite Catering NJ in Cherry Hill. The savory cornbread cupcakes are piped with candied yam icing and topped with fried shrimp, catfish, or chicken, or grilled shrimp, and seconds are a must, writes Elizabeth Wellington.

 Things to Do

 Redcoats on Kings Highway: Travel back in time to the American Revolution through the perspective of a British solider and British troops.  Wednesday, Oct. 8, 7 p.m.  Free  Cherry Hill Library

 Greek Agora Festival: Sample food and wine, experience Greek culture, and listen to music at this annual festival.  Thursday, Oct. 9-Sunday, Oct. 12, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.  Free  Saint Thomas Greek Orthodox Church

 Designer Bag Bingo: Those 21 and over can play 10 rounds of bingo and vie for designer bags. There will also be a raffle and door prizes.  Friday, Oct. 10, 7 p.m.  $35  American Legion Post 372

 Vera Haunted House: Vera is transforming for spooky season at this themed event, where costumes are encouraged but not required.  Friday, Oct. 10, 9 p.m.-2 a.m.  $13.34-$19.03  Vera

 Katz JCC POWR 5K/1 Mile Walk for Parkinsons: Hit the pavement during this benefit run and walk.  Sunday, Oct. 12, 8:30 a.m.  $30-$40  Katz JCC

 Opera From Around the Globe: Hear artists perform arias in different languages.  Sunday, Oct. 12, 3 p.m.  $20  Croft Farm

 Dough and Sip with Mindful Munchkin Sensory Play: Wild Child Play Co. is teaming up with Mindful Munchkin for this session geared toward kids 1 to 12 that includes an hour of open play and a session for kids to make their own creations out of dough.  Monday, Oct. 13, 10:30 a.m.  $25  Wild Child Play Co.

 CHEA 12th Annual Golden Age Prom: Today is the last day to register for this beloved tradition bringing together seniors and high school volunteers for a night of dancing, dining, and music.  Thursday, Oct. 23, 5-9 p.m.  Free  The Legacy Club

 On the Market

This four-bedroom home is located just a short walk from Barclay Farmstead and its trails. Built in 1958, it retains some features that harken back to the past, like wood parquet floors in the foyer and a second-floor bathroom with old-school tiles, but an updated dual vanity. The first floor features an updated kitchen in a white with black and gray color scheme that has counter seating and a pantry. Its adjacent to an open-concept living and dining area, which features a white brick wall with a fireplace. There are three bedrooms upstairs, including a primary suite with two closets. Downstairs, theres an additional bedroom, a family room, and laundry. Other features include a covered front porch and a screened-in porch out back. Theres an open house on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m.

See more photos of the property here.

Price: $569,000 | Size: 2,176 SF | Acreage: 0.39

 Cherry Hill market report

Median listing price: $489,450 (down $9,550 from August)  Median sold price: $480,000 (down $5,000 from August)  Median days on the market: 35 (up one day from August) 

This Cherry Hill market report is published on a monthly basis. Above is data for September from realtor.com.

 What other Cherry Hill residents are reading this week:

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirers Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirers high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
Guy Fieri signs bottles of Santa tequila next to Becky Jaimez, left, and Jeanne Serino. Fieri and rocker Sammy Hagar own the company. RoccoOs Tacos & Tequila Bar and the Guy Fieri Foundation hosted a fundraiser for hospitality workers affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton on November 18, 2024, in Boca Raton, Florida. Read more

It was a dark day in Flavortown in November, when about $1 million worth of Guy Fieris Santo Tequila went missing en route to a warehouse in Montgomery County. But now, it appears an international crime group was to blame for the booze never even making it to Pennsylvania.

Fieri discussed the caper alongside Santo Spirits CEO Dan Butkus in an interview on CBSs 60 Minutes that aired Sunday, saying that roughly 24,000 bottles of the tequila were stolen  or two full truckloads of the stuff. By our count, thats enough hooch to make about 360,000 margaritas, assuming all the stolen bottles came in at the standard 750ml size.

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My mind is swimming in exactly how do you lose, you know, that many thousands of bottles of tequila, said Fieri, who created the Santo Tequila brand in partnership with famed rocker Sammy Hagar. The answer, it turned out, was through a sophisticated scheme orchestrated by fraudsters fronting as a freight firm.

As Butkus explained to CBS, the tequila in question was distilled and bottled in Mexico before being shipped to Texas, where it was loaded into two trucks slated to deliver it a Santo Spirits warehouse in Lansdale, Montgomery County. The company doesnt have its own delivery trucks, and instead uses a logistics company to hire trucks to move its product. That ordinarily goes off without a hitch  but this time, there was a delay.

After the shipment didnt arrive on time, Fieri and his crew were told that the trucks had mechanical problems that would delay delivery. A video sent to the Santo Spirits team, CBS reported, even showed a broken-down truck, and indicated the issue would be fixed within days.

Eventually, GPS signals from one of the trucks showed that the tequila was within a few miles of the Lansdale warehouse, and the Santo Spirits folks asked the company to contact them when the shipment arrived, Butkus told CBS.

But that arrival never came. And after looking into the incident, the company learned that its logistics partner had outsourced the delivery job to two trucking companies  both of which were fraudsters. They used fake letterheads, phony email addresses, and bogus phone numbers to appear legitimate, allowing them to pull off a ruse known as double brokering, CBS reported.

The GPS signal Butkus mentioned, it turned out, was spoofed, and the tequila was never really in Pennsylvania.

It hurt bad, Fieri said of the theft.

There is, however, something of a silver lining. According to CBS, in the weeks after the crime, police were able to track the scheme to a warehouse in Los Angeles, where they recovered about 11,000 bottles of the stolen tequila. After being inspected, those bottles were released for sale.

The rest of the missing tequila bottles  as well as the thieves who pilfered it  have not been found, Fieri said. Investigators told CBS that the caper appeared to have elements associated with similar thefts committed by a gang of fraudsters based out of Armenia  and that these kinds of cargo heists have increased by about 1,200% over the last four years.

If it can happen to us with what I believe were pretty strong measures and security and awareness, Fieri said, then everybodys vulnerable.
HARRISBURG  Now 100 days late on a state budget, the Democratic-led Pennsylvania House and the Republican-controlled Senate moved forward Wednesday with a flurry of activity that still resulted in partisan finger-pointing and no funding plan.

The activity was a significant change for both chambers, which have done little work publicly on the state budget, as the closed-door talks among top leaders have slowed in recent weeks since a new revenue stream for mass transit was removed from the negotiation table. But neither chamber took action in agreement with the other, showing that Pennsylvanias divided government remains at odds  leaving the states most critical services at risk.

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The budget impasse, now in its fourth month, has become more dire for schools, counties, and social service providers as time has gone on. Philadelphias only rape-crisis center laid off its staff earlier this week and will not be able to provide vital services like its 24-7 crisis hotline, court advocacy services, and more. Schools have had to take out loans to continue operating, and some counties around the state have frozen spending or laid off employees.

Democrats appeared to reach their breaking point Wednesday.

In a fiery news conference, top House and Senate Democrats said the budget impasse falls squarely on Senate Republicans, whom they accused of trying to politically damage Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro ahead of next years election through the budget standoff.

Every week weve been close to a deal. Every week were at the one-yard line, said House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D., Philadelphia). One hundred days is absolutely unacceptable.

Democrats also said that Republican leaders are unable to get the most conservative members of their caucus to pass a budget. House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D., Montgomery) said Democrats, who hold a one-seat majority in the state House, have been patient with Senate Republicans internal dysfunctions.

But that patience has worn out.

Theres an agreement to be done. Theres been an agreement to be done for months, Bradford said. We are willing to compromise on every single issue. And there are 102 Democrats that would be heartbroken by almost every one of those compromises, but we will do them because government must be open and it must work.

Senate Republicans rejected the Democrats claims, and characterized them as trying to run up the bill on the taxpayers dime.

They said that the Senate GOPs conservative approach is necessary to keep the state from enacting a tax increase in future years and that it is House Democratic leaders and Shapiro who are not on the same page.

On Wednesday, the House amended the budget bill the Senate passed in August, which would have maintained the previous fiscal years spending level of $47.6 billion.

House Democrats amended version of the bill set spending at nearly $50.3 billion and includes major funding increases for public education and the states Medicaid programs. It passed the House with a 105-98 vote, with three Republicans joining Democrats to approve its passage.

House Republicans unsuccessfully tried to revert the spending bill back to the Senates numbers from the last fiscal year, in an effort to get the money flowing to schools, counties, and social services around the state.

Bradford said the House would amend the Senate bill in response to requests from President Pro Tempore Kim Ward (R., Westmoreland) in The Inquirer last week to bring it out in the public and send the Senate back a budget proposal.

On the Senate side, Senate Republicans advanced a bill to forgive any interest accrued by certain programs that access a new $500 million loan program offered by Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a Republican who is running for governor and has been endorsed by the state party.

That program is available to county social service departments, early education programs, and rape crisis centers.

Were prepared to figure out a path forward in this, but the rhetoric of today is not how you achieve a path forward, said Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R., Indiana). The rhetoric of today has taken this budgetary process, as cumbersome and as difficult as its been, steps backward, and it has proven even more critically important that Treasurer Garrity step forward in the manner that she did to address some of the most critical needs out there in the commonwealth.

Shapiro, in a brief news conference Wednesday evening, said the Senate needs to approve the House budget proposal, and he referenced his own high approval numbers as proof that their attempts to hurt him politically have been unsuccessful.

What the House did today represents real compromise, Shapiro said. It is ridiculous that the Senate cant get its act together and pass a budget.

If they were motivated in the beginning to play political games, we all know thats failed, right? Im in good shape, Shapiro added.

How Senate Republicans will handle the House Democrats budget proposal is still to be seen. But it will be done more quickly than it took House Democrats to send them back a proposal, Ward said.

Itll be less than two months, Ward joked.

Pennsylvania is the only state without any form of state budget approved. Michigan finalized its state budget earlier this week, and North Carolina lawmakers will return to session in the coming months to finalize their budget after passing a six-month budget earlier this year.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the Hanwha Philly Shipyard for a christening ceremony on Aug. 26. He has expressed alarm at how South Korean nationals working at a Hyundai plant in Georgia were treated by ICE agents, straining U.S.-South Korean relations. Read more

Last months christening of the training ship State of Maine at the Navy Yard was supposed to mark this citys industrial renaissance. When South Korean President Lee Jae Myung joined Gov. Josh Shapiro at Hanwha Philly Shipyard, they announced a staggering $5 billion infrastructure investment that would transform Philadelphia into an American shipbuilding capital.

But a recent reality check hit hard. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested 475 people at one of Hyundais Georgia plants in what officials called the largest single-site immigration raid of the current administration. A majority of the detainees  about 300  were South Korean nationals working to set up the new facility near Savannah.

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The diplomatic fallout is escalating. Lee said Koreans were baffled by the raid, and that companies would be very hesitant to expand in the U.S. without a workable visa channel. On Sept. 12, a chartered Korean Air flight with many of the detained workers returned to Incheon International Airport, outside Seoul. It was reported that only one South Korean national opted to stay behind in the U.S. to seek residency.

The incident risks seriously damaging U.S.-South Korea relations at precisely the moment Seoul has committed to massive American investment plans.

The timing couldnt be worse. Hanwhas expansion plan would boost Philadelphias shipyard production from fewer than two vessels to 20 annually  a transformation that depends on leveraging Korean technical expertise and skilled workers. The $5 billion commitment is just Philadelphias slice of South Koreas massive $150 billion U.S. shipbuilding investment, part of what Korean diplomats dubbed Make American Shipbuilding Great Again.

Now that initiative faces a critical test. A survey of over a dozen major South Korean companies found that the majority may adjust ongoing U.S. projects, while many others are reviewing plans for U.S. investment entirely. The companies cite difficulties dispatching Korean specialists as the main reason for reassessing their American operations.

The numbers tell the story. Among surveyed companies, 64.3% have suspended business travel using standard visa programs, implementing internal guidelines requiring more complex L-1 visas for trips longer than one month. Companies project cost increases of at least 10%, with some expecting increases to approach 30%.

Philadelphias transformation depends on the same kind of engineering and technical support that just got raided in Georgia. Hanwha Ocean is preparing to scale operations at Philly Shipyard alongside domestic supply-chain partners. The program will install two additional docks and three new quays with world-class automation and smart yard systems that require specialized Korean expertise.

The symbolism is crushing. When Philadelphia launched the 32-gun frigate USS Randolph on July 10, 1776, it established Americas blueprint for naval power. The citys first naval shipyard began construction that same year in what is now Pennsport. For more than two centuries, Philadelphia has built Americas maritime strength through immigrant expertise and international partnerships.

Now uncertainty threatens to undermine exactly the kind of allied cooperation that built American strength. Korean companies top request to the U.S. government is creating a separate visa quota for skilled Korean professionals, followed by expanding the L-1 visa program. Without predictable access to engineers and technical specialists, multibillion-dollar industrial partnerships become increasingly difficult to execute.

The stakes extend beyond Philadelphia. Americas shipbuilding crisis is real  fewer than 200 U.S.-flagged oceangoing vessels remain active, with only around 80 in international trade. South Korea produces more than a quarter of global shipbuilding tonnage through efficient yards backed by robust supplier networks. Korean capital, American workers, and Philadelphia infrastructure represent a winning combination that other cities should replicate.

But immigration policy may now threaten industrial policy. Korean firms significantly contribute to local communities, yet face what one observer called no safe zone, even for allies. The ICE raid has left many Koreans feeling betrayed after investing billions in American communities.

Congress has concrete solutions available. The Partner with Korea Act would authorize 15,000 visas annually for South Koreans with specialized skills  quadrupling the current 3,500 H-1B allocation. Research shows this approach works: high-skilled immigrants create five to seven more jobs than standard market conditions predict, while a 1% increase in the foreign STEM share of a citys workforce is associated with 7% to 8% higher wages for college-educated Americans, and smaller but still meaningful gains across the rest of the workforce.

The United States once built more ships than any country on earth. Today, China dominates global shipbuilding, while America struggles to maintain a modest capacity. Philadelphias $5 billion transformation could change that equation, but only with predictable access to Korean technical specialists who complement American workers rather than replace them.

President Donald Trump said on Sept. 7 that foreign companies need to hire and train U.S. workers and respect immigration laws. Thats exactly right. But respecting immigration laws requires immigration laws that actually work for industrial partnerships. Korean shipbuilders want to create American jobs using American steel and American infrastructure  if immigration policy lets them.

The question isnt whether Philadelphias investment will succeed. The question is whether the looming uncertainty under our current immigration policy will let it happen at all. Philadelphia will likely become a primary test case for whether we can rebuild industrial strength through allied cooperation or whether enforcement priorities will sink our own economic interests.

The experiment begins now, if skilled workers can get visas and actually get to work.

Jeffrey M. Voth is an engineering and technology executive focused on strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base and allied cooperation. For over two decades, he has worked on U.S.-South Korean partnerships, including the Korean Experimental Destroyer program.
President Trump called for jailing Chicagos mayor and the governor of Illinois, both Democrats, as his administration prepared to deploy military troops to the streets of the third-largest U.S. city. Read more

CHICAGO/WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump on Wednesday called for jailing Chicagos mayor and the governor of Illinois, both Democrats, as military officials said on Wednesday 500 National Guard troops were now in place to be deployed in the third-largest U.S. city.

Neither Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson nor Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has been accused of criminal wrongdoing, though both have emerged as prominent opponents of Trumps immigration crackdown and deployment of National Guard troops in Democratic-leaning cities.

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Trumps call to imprison the two elected officials comes as another high-profile political rival, former FBI Director James Comey, pleaded not guilty to criminal charges. Trump has frequently called for jailing his opponents since he first entered politics in 2015, but Comey is the first to face prosecution.

 READ MORE: Former FBI Director James Comey will make his first court appearance in the Justice Department case that accuses him of lying to Congress

On his social media platform, Trump accused Johnson and Pritzker of failing to protect immigration officers who have been operating in Chicago.

Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also! Trump wrote, referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel.

Johnson signed an executive order on Monday creating an ICE Free Zone that prohibits federal immigration agents from using city property in their operations.

This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested. Im not going anywhere, he said on social media.

 READ MORE: Using helicopters and chemical agents, immigration agents become increasingly aggressive in Chicago

Pritzker, a potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, likewise said he would not back down. Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power. What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?

Trump has vowed to harness the power of the federal government to target his enemies. Aside from Comey, his Justice Department is investigating several other high-profile critics. All have denied wrongdoing. Comey pleaded not guilty to charges of making false statements and obstructing a congressional investigation.

Meanwhile, a federal judge ruled that ICE had violated a 2022 agreement that limits the agencys ability in several Midwestern states to arrest immigrants without a warrant, in an opinion that could limit some of the aggressive tactics adopted by ICE since Trump returned to office. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Cummings said the agency had wrongly declared the agreement was canceled, and extended it until February.

 READ MORE: Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from sending National Guard troops to Oregon

Troops to Chicago

The National Guard said on Wednesday roughly 200 soldiers from Texas and 300 from Illinois had gathered in the Chicago area, ready to protect federal personnel, including ICE agents, and federal property in the city.

Trump has threatened to deploy troops to more U.S. cities, which he said last week could serve as training grounds for the armed forces.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Wednesday found most Americans oppose the deployment of troops without an external threat.

Trump has ordered Guard troops to Chicago and Portland, Oregon, following his earlier deployments to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. In each case, he has defied staunch opposition from Democratic mayors and governors, who say Trumps claims of lawlessness and violence do not reflect reality. He has also said he will send troops to Memphis.

My goal is very simple. STOP CRIME IN AMERICA! he wrote on his social media platform.

Violent crime has been falling in many U.S. cities since a COVID-era spike, and National Guard troops have so far not been utilized to fight street crime.

Protests over Trumps immigration policies in Chicago and Portland had been largely peaceful and limited in size, according to local officials, far from the conditions described by Trump administration officials.

At an immigration facility in Broadview, Illinois, outside Chicago, four demonstrators held signs and chanted slogans on Wednesday in front of a wall of heavily armed officers. The administration has said National Guard troops could be sent to guard the facility, but none had arrived by early afternoon.

Pritzker has accused Trump of trying to foment violence to justify further militarization, and his state has sued to stop the deployment. A federal judge on Monday permitted the deployment to proceed for the time being. Another federal judge has blocked the deployment to Portland.

Trump has threatened to invoke an anti-insurrection law to sidestep any court orders blocking him, which was last invoked during the Los Angeles riots of 1992.
William Penn above City Hall as seen from Spring Garden and 12th Streets. Read more

Hassan Freeman, who was Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers director of neighborhood and community engagement, is no longer with the administration after a City Council member accused Freeman of accosting him three weeks ago at the lawmakers parking spot near City Hall.

Hassan Freeman has been separated from city employment, Tiffany W. Thurman, Parkers chief of staff, said in a statement. This is a personnel matter, and we have no further comment.

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Freeman and another city employee confronted Councilmember Isaiah Thomas in a negative and disturbing interaction when Thomas arrived at City Hall about 9 a.m. for Councils Sept. 18 meeting, according to an email Thomas wrote to administration officials on the day of the incident that was obtained by The Inquirer.

 READ MORE: A Philly lawmaker said Parker admin staffers accosted him outside City Hall in a disturbing interaction

Thomas wrote that Freeman and the other employee were waiting for him when he arrived, and spoke to me in a disrespectful manner, a hostile tone, and addressing me outside my name and title.

Thomas has clashed with the administration over issues including school board picks and Parkers housing initiative, and his opposition to some of the mayors priorities has stood out in a Council that has for the most part acquiesced to her agenda.

This is another example of the lack of respect for me, my office, and my position as a member of City Council, Thomas wrote.

Neither Freeman nor Thomas responded to requests for comment Tuesday.

Parker spokesperson Joe Grace declined to say whether Freeman was fired. Grace also declined to identify the second city employee referenced by Thomas or say whether that person was still with the city.

A police report related to the incident was filed, said Sgt. Eric Gripp, a police spokesperson. Gripp said he could not disclose any details in the report, including who filed it, because it did not involve potential criminal allegations.

I have a report of a disturbance, and its a verbal disturbance, Gripp said. As a disturbance, there is no report of a crime, which is something that would require further investigatory action by the police department.

The administration takes all allegations of employee misconduct seriously, Thurman said in a statement the day after the incident.

Its our standard to review any information shared, and take any action deemed appropriate under City policy, Thurman said at the time.

In his email to members of the mayors administration, Thomas said he believed the goal of the conversation [for Freeman] was to communicate his concerns about a conversation I had with another member of the Parker Administration.

A week before the encounter with Freeman, Thomas had a tense conversation with Chief Deputy Mayor Sincere Harris at an event marking the start of Councils fall session, according to a person with knowledge of the conversation who previously spoke on the condition of anonymity to preserve relationships. Freeman reported to Harris, who oversees legislative affairs for the administration.

Freemans job entailed operating the administrations Neighborhood Community Action Centers, a Parker initiative that involved managing 10 neighborhood city halls where residents can get connected to benefits, file complaints about abandoned cars, and access other services, according to the city website.

It was not immediately clear if Parker had tapped anyone to fill his role.
A weed-covered lot next to the Delaware River near Reed Street in South Philadelphia, an area which has seen repeated failed development projects over the years. Now a 36-story apartment building is planned for the area. Read more

A New York developer is planning a 620-apartment development at 1341 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd. in South Philadelphia.

The 36-story project from Manhattan-based Brevet Capital Management makes use of multiple zoning bonuses to allow a taller, denser project than would otherwise be legal.

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In exchange for those development benefits, the developer will pay into Philadelphias Housing Trust Fund and upgrade and maintain the Delaware River Trail below Washington Avenue, where its conditions currently get much rougher.

The zoning was changed before the pandemic to allow developers to build taller in exchange for extending the trail, but Brevet would be the first to do so.

To me the most exciting aspect of this project is that they will be paying for and constructing the waterfront trail along their property, said Matt Ruben, chair of the Central Delaware Advocacy Group, which has long pushed for responsible development on the riverfront.

Thats one of the most important and consequential public benefits a developer can provide in this area, said Ruben, who has not seen renderings of the buildings.

Jack OBrien, who posts in JackPhillyREs Substack, first reported the latest project for this parcel in advance of a Wednesday night meeting with the developers before the Pennsport Civic Association. The permit with Brevet executives listed as owners was pulled on July 3 of this year.

We are pleased to see the first major investment in Pennsports historically underutilized waterfront, said Patrick Fitzmaurice, president of the Pennsport Civic Association. We look forward to neighbors safely enjoying the waterfront with the proposed retail and recreational plans.

The project is designed by the international architecture firm Perkins Eastman, with its Philadelphia office listed, and is called Wharton Piers in plans filed with the city. The developer is represented by Matt McClure and Meredith Trego of the law firm Ballard Spahr.

Although no parking is required, the developer is providing 187 parking spaces on floors two to four of the housing tower. Over 10,000 square feet of commercial and office space will be on the ground floor, with amenity space on level five.

A small, neighboring one-story building will include 20,650 square feet of retail space.

Previous proposals for the property

The property at 1341 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd. has had multiple development proposals over the years. Most recently, in 2023, New York-based Silverstein Properties proposed 612 apartments and 500 parking spaces across two towers.

Before the pandemic, it was the site of a 2,000-unit project that would have spanned 10 buildings. That plan, from Maryland-based developer Jeffery Kozero called Liberty on the River, drew widespread skepticism and went nowhere.

Kozeros company at that time, K4 Associates LLC, is still listed as the permit holder. His proposal was met by backlash from the Central Delaware Advocacy Group and other neighborhood organizations.

They felt that the developer was taking advantage of zoning incentives put in place during former Mayor Michael Nutters administration. The overlay along the Delaware was meant to encourage smaller developments on the waterfront  not the mega projects frequently proposed by big developers, including one involving President Donald Trump, who often failed to follow through.

K4 tried to warp the entire overlay to allow the construction of 10 huge towers that many of us knew would never get built, Ruben said.

Following the backlash, City Council changed the zoning overlay covering the waterfront in part by allowing developers to build taller in exchange for growing and maintaining the bike path, part of a larger plan.

Its ironic that this [new proposal] is the first project that will make use of the new density bonus system, said Ruben, given that the old K4 project on the same site is the reason the zoning incentive exists at all.

Until recently, the vast vacant lot at 1341 S. Christopher Columbus had been used as an encampment by people who are homeless. Last December, The Inquirer reported that the property was being swept, with the tents and residents removed, at the behest of the property owners.

Today, an established encampment instead lines much of the bike and pedestrian trail below Washington Avenue.

This story has been corrected to note that the river bike trail does extend below Washington Avenue and that the developer promises to upgrade and maintain that part of the path.
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Postal Code
The European Union has proposed restrictions on three firms that have provided fake flags to sanctioned oil tankers in Russias shadow fleet, according to documents seen by Bloomberg.

The entities have supplied false Aruba, Curacao and Sint-Maarten flags to at least eight sanctioned vessels, the documents say.

None of the three territories appear in the so-called Paris register of official flags, meaning they dont actually provide the service. The Netherlands warned the International Maritime Organization in a circular in May that companies were providing fraudulent certificates on behalf of Sint Maarten.

The proposed measures are part of the EUs latest package of sanctions, which is currently being negotiated by member states.

The bloc is aiming to ramp up the pressure on Russias shadow fleet and squeeze Moscows oil revenues. The package also includes sanctions on about 120 additional vessels, bringing the total of listed entities to more than 560, as well as restrictions on several entities in third countries that enable Russias energy trade. EU sanctions require the backing of all member states before theyre adopted and details of measures could change before that happens.

Some capitals are increasing checks on vessels that travel in proximity of their waters to frustrate Russias oil flows even further. France said it stopped and investigated a ship last week for failing to provide proof of its nationality. President Emmanuel Macron said later atan EU summit in Copenhagen that detaining suspicious oil tankers could hinder the shadow fleets operations.

Photograph: An oil vessel; photo credit: Ali Mohammadi/Bloomberg

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics Europe Energy Oil Gas Russia
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Acrisure Re in Brazil and the Bermuda-based re/insurer Vantage Risk.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

Acrisure Re Taps Ximenez From Lockton to Lead Newly Formed Brazil Unit

Acrisure Re, the re/insurance division of global broker and fintech company Acrisure, announced the appointment of Isabella Costa Ximenez as executive director, head of Reinsurance of Acrisure Brasil Corretora de Resseguros LTDA (Acrisure Re Brasil), effective October 8, 2025.

This appointment marks Acrisure Res first investment in Latin America, underscoring its commitment to strengthening its reinsurance presence in the region. It also coincides with the official launch of the Acrisure brand in Brazil, a significant step in the companys global growth and expansion strategy.

In her new role, Ximenez will report directly to Thomaz Menezes, CEO of Acrisure Brasil, and will be responsible for establishing Acrisure Res local operations, shaping its facultative reinsurance strategy, and working in close collaboration with retail property/casualty business leaders across the region. She will also serve on the executive committee of Acrisure Brasil.

Additionally, Acrisure Re Brasil will work in close coordination with Acrisure Res international team, supporting the continued growth and development of its reinsurance business worldwide.

Ximenez brings more than 15 years of industry experience to Acrisure Re. She joins Acrisure from Lockton, where she served as placement director, and previously held senior positions as P/C director at JLT Re and facultative underwriter at Odyssey Reinsurance.

Isabellas experience and leadership will be instrumental as we establish Acrisure Re Brasil and expand our facultative reinsurance offering across Latin America, said Menezes. This appointment reflects our long-term commitment to the region and our confidence in Isabellas ability to build a strong foundation for growth.

Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Acrisure has teams located in Bermuda, Brazil, Florida, California, Chicago, Italy, London, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Toronto, and Zurich.

***

Vantage Risk Promotes Robinson as Chief Risk Officer

Vantage Group Holdings Ltd., the Bermuda-based re/insurance holding company, announced that Krista Robinson will be promoted to the role of chief risk officer, succeeding Peter Skerlj who is retiring.

Robinson will join the groups leadership team and report to Greg Hendrick, Vantages chief executive officer.

In her new role, Robinson will lead the continued evolution of Vantages enterprise risk management and reserving frameworks, building on the strong foundation she helped establish since joining the company in 2021. She will oversee risk and reserving in alignment with Vantages goals of sustained, profitable growth. Her leadership will further enhance Vantages leading capabilities in risk assessment, analytics, reserving, capital modeling, and aggregation.

Robinson joined Vantage in 2021 and most recently served as chief risk officer  Insurance. Prior to Vantage, she held several leadership roles at CNA Insurance in risk and governance, enterprise risk management, and actuarial reserving.

Krista has been instrumental in shaping Vantages risk and reserving functions from the ground up, Hendrick commented.

Her actuarial expertise, strategic mindset, and collaborative approach have earned her the trust of colleagues across the organization. Im thrilled to have Krista step into this expanded role and support our continued momentum as we scale the company.

Hendrick went on to thank Skerlj for his leadership and contributions to Vantage, and we wish him all the best in his retirement.

Vantage operating subsidiaries Vantage Risk Ltd., Vantage Risk Assurance Co., and Vantage Risk Specialty Insurance Company are rated A- (Stable) by AM Best and A- (Stable) by S&P Global Ratings.
A deadly tornado that tore across southeastern North Dakota this summer has been upgraded to an EF5 with winds topping 200 mph (322 kph), the strongest classification of tornado and the first confirmed on American soil in a dozen years, meteorologists said Monday.

The June 20 twister near the town of Enderlin killed three people and at its largest was 1.05 miles wide (1.7 kilometers), carving a path across the prairie for just over 12 miles (19 kilometers). Meteorologists from the National Weather Service office in Grand Forks estimated the tornados winds reached 210 mph (338 kph), according to the newly released analysis.

The 1999 Bridge Creek-Moore tornado in Oklahoma holds the record of the strongest winds ever recorded in the U.S. at 321 mph (517 kph).

Since the National Weather Service began using Enhanced Fujita scale in 2007, there have been 10 tornadoes categorized as EF5. The 12-year gap between top-of-the-scale ratings is the longest since the agency started keeping records in 1950. The earlier tornadoes were assessed using an older version of the EF scale called the Fujita scale.

In the last kind of 12 years, theres been several strong tornadoes that have come close, but there havent been known damage indicators at that time to support the EF5 rating, said Melinda Beerends, meteorologist in charge at the National Weather Service in Grand Forks.

Its hard sometimes to get tornadoes to hit something, she said.

The morning after the EF5 tornado, meteorologists from the Grand Forks office headed into the field to assess the damage. They studied how the twister had uprooted trees, tipped over fully loaded rail cars, toppled transmission towers and destroyed farmsteads, including one that had its foundation swept clean with just the basement remaining.

The city of Enderlin, other than losing power, pretty much went unscathed, said Mayor Deon Maasjo. Two men and a woman were killed at two locations east of the town, which is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southwest of Fargo.

Determining a tornados strength usually takes days or weeks, as meteorologists study the damage to buildings and trees. This case took much longer because of the unusual damage to rail cars, including one that was picked up and hurled far from the rest. The meteorologists worked with engineers and wind damage experts to conduct additional surveys and forensic analysis to determine the EF5 rating, up from the initial estimate of EF3.

The tornado was caused by warm, moist air in a place thats ripe for a thunderstorm, Beerends said. But there was also a high amount of wind shear, which is a variation of wind speed and direction that created the conditions for the tornado.

In recent years, tornadoes have been occurring with greater frequency east of the Mississippi River, said Victor Gensini, professor of atmospheric sciences at Northern Illinois University.

If you look 40 to 50 years ago, the tornadoes that were happening in places like Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas are kind of happening there with less frequency, and were seeing more tornadoes in places like Birmingham, Little Rock and Memphis, he said.

Though meteorologists arent sure whats causing the trend, the higher frequency of tornadoes in the Mid-South and Midwest is notable because its closer to population centers, Gensini said, so theres a greater chance a tornado may hit something.

The last recorded EF5 tornado was on May 20, 2013, in a town outside Oklahoma City, killing 24 people and injuring more than 200 others. That tornado tore through hundreds of homes, a school, hospital and bowling alley in Moore, where nearly a decade later, droves of moviegoers lined up to watch the 2024 film Twisters.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Windstorm
Acrisure announced it will implement layoffs to its accounting workforce beginning in early 2026, citing advancements in technology and artificial intelligence.

The company said 400 employees will be affected by the layoffs.

This was not an easy decision, as it affects colleagues who have given so much to our company and our community, the company said in a statement. Acrisures ability to lead change has always been one of our greatest strengths, and these changes are necessary for us to remain competitive, strong, and able to deliver what our clients expect from us.

Acrisure said it remains committed to its home state of Michigan, where the company employs about 2,000 workers.

The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based insurance broker is No. 3 on Insurance Journals 2025 Top 100 independent property/casualty agencies. Acrisure reported P/C revenue of $2.83 billion in 2024.

In 2020 Acrisure acquired AI company Tulco LLCs insurance intelligence business. Acrisure said at the time of the acquisition that it would use AI capabilities to innovate in product development and insurance sales and marketing across its global network of commercial property and casualty, life and employee benefits brokerages. The deal was valued at approximately $400 million.

Earlier this year Acrisure announced it secured $2.1 billion in funding towards strategic M&A and to accelerate its development as a tech-enabled financial services platform.

Topics InsurTech Data Driven Artificial Intelligence Tech
US electric companies will spend almost $208 billion in 2025 and more than $1.1 trillion over the next five years on the power grid, according to industry group Edison Electric Institute.

Utility spending is growing rapidly. For comparison, investor-owned utilities made capital expenditures of $765 billion in the five-year period through the end of 2024, new data from EEI shows. The spending over the next five years will support the construction of new infrastructure to meet rising demand from data centers, artificial intelligence and economy-wide electrification.

The increasing requirements have put the US power grid under strain, said David Weeks, supply chain industry practice lead at Moodys, in a statement on Monday.

The escalating energy crisis in the United States is poised to serve as a constraining factor across various industries, Weeks said, adding that companies must consider power-grid limitations and permitting delays when planning their supply chains.

Photo: Transmission lines and a power substation in Austin. Photographer: Jordan Vonderhaar/Bloomberg

Copyright 2025 Bloomberg.

Topics USA InsurTech Data Driven Artificial Intelligence
There are no $1 million giveaways to voters, cheesehead hats or even candidate debates. Elon Musk is nowhere to be found.

Yet the stakes in the Pennsylvania election this fall are very much the same as they were in Wisconsin last spring: partisan control of the highest court in a crucial presidential swing state.

In November, Pennsylvania voters will decide whether three state Supreme Court justices  all Democrats  should keep their seats on a court that has been at the center of pivotal fights over voting rights, redistricting and elections.

Spending is nowhere near the $100 million spent in Wisconsin  a record amount for a state supreme court race, much of it fueled by groups aligned with billionaires Musk, who briefly worked in President Donald Trumps Republican administration, and George Soros, a donor to liberal causes.

Even so, both parties in Pennsylvania are pouring in money for campaign flyers, digital and TV ads and get-out-the-vote efforts.

The states Supreme Court has a 5-2 Democratic majority, so an across-the-board loss for Democrats on Nov. 4 could leave the court in a partisan 2-2 stalemate for two years, including through next years midterm elections.

Motivating voters for a retention election

A big difference from Wisconsins Supreme Court race earlier this year is that Pennsylvanias doesnt feature candidates running against each other. Instead, its what is called a retention election, in which voters are asked to vote yes or no on whether to give the current justices another term. The incumbents arent identified by party affiliation.

The traditionally under-the-radar election, with a late-emerging organized campaign by Republicans to defeat the justices, has Democrats worried. Educating their voters and getting them to the polls during an election with major races are top priorities.

Its a full campaign, state Democratic Party Chairman Eugene DePasquale said. The bigger challenge on that isnt so much getting people to vote yes. Its just even getting some people to understand what a retention vote is, because this is really the first time its ever been heavily contested.

The three justices  Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht  are backed by the Democratic Party in their bids for retention. Term are 10 years.

Should all three lose, their seats would become vacant in January and leave the court deadlocked with a 2-2 partisan split until voters fill the open seats in 2027  unless Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and the state Senate can agree on temporary fill-in appointees.

Complicating it is that the Senate is controlled by Republicans, who might see an advantage in letting the court remain deadlocked.

That means the court might be unable to settle cases involving voting and election laws through the 2026 midterm elections, when the governors office and a handful of contested congressional seats will be on the ballot.

In recent years, the court has made major decisions around voting and elections, necessitated in part by a politically divided and often stalemated state government.

The justices in 2018 threw out a GOP-drawn map of Pennsylvanias congressional districts as unconstitutionally gerrymandered and, four years later, again picked the boundaries after a stalemate in government.

The court also turned away GOP challenges to Pennsylvanias expansive vote-by-mail law, which became a focal point of Republican efforts to overturn Trumps loss to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Republican justices dissented.

Spending is exceeding any previous retention race

With a month to go before Election Day, spending has exceeded any previous judicial retention election in Pennsylvania.

In 2017, two justices spent just shy of $1 million combined and had no organized opposition during an election in which turnout was less than 20%. Counting money-raising that has been reported or verbally committed, spending in this years election is on pace to exceed $10 million.

While not all spending or money sources have been disclosed publicly, big donors on the Democrats side include trial lawyers, labor unions and Planned Parenthood, which announced a $600,000 mail campaign on Monday. Spending also is coming from a group associated with billionaire Jeffrey Yass, Pennsylvanias wealthiest person, for the Republicans campaign against retention.

The justices have been campaigning around the state, mostly in front of friendly audiences, and lining up endorsements from Planned Parenthood and organized labor.

Democrats and their allies were first on the airwaves with a TV ad and are trying to hammer home the justices support for abortion rights, voting rights and labor unions in an ad campaign that advances them as defenders of the law against powerful people and corporations.

We protected access to abortion and your right to vote, even when the powerful came after it, the justices say in a new TV ad. All Pennsylvanians deserve freedom and fairness.

Republican messages target Democratic voters

With mail ballots set to go out soon, Republicans are beginning to spend on an effort to convince voters that 10 years on the states highest court is enough.

Many of their ads are targeting registered Democratic voters with anti-establishment messages that use language typically associated with progressives who oppose Trump.

This fall you can defend democracy and force an election for a new Supreme Court, says one TV ad that ran most heavily in Philadelphia, a Democratic stronghold.

Fliers landing in the mailboxes of registered Democrats carry similar messages. In yet another twist, one flier accuses the justices of drawing the heavily criticized congressional districts that they actually threw out in 2018.

A group that typically acts as a conduit for campaign contributions from Yass, who runs the Wall Street trading firm Susquehanna International Group and has an estimated net worth of $65 billion, is sponsoring TV ads and fliers.

The group, Commonwealth Partners, didnt respond to inquiries about the spending.

Another billionaire looms large in the election

Yass-funded groups have spent millions of dollars each of the last four years in Pennsylvania elections to help Republican candidates, including more than $10 million each in 2022s GOP gubernatorial primary and 2024s election for attorney general.

Beyond Pennsylvania, Yass is one of the biggest contributors to national conservative causes and, through his company, is an investor in Trumps social media company. Yass firm also is a major investor in TikTok owner ByteDance, and this year, Trumps super political action committee, Maga Inc., reported that Yass gave it $16 million.

The campaign also has drawn national party interest.

The Democratic National Committee pledged $500,000 and the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee gave $100,000 to an allied group.

A page on the Republican National Committees Swamp the Vote website is devoted to urging Republicans to vote no, and the Republican State Leadership Committee reported spending about $500,000 on digital ads and text messages.

It said defeating the three justices would spur a seismic momentum shift in Pennsylvania that would create an opening for more conservative policy victories in the state.

Borrowing from Democrats strategy in Wisconsin, where Musk personally campaigned in the closing days of the April race, DNC Chairman Ken Martin said in a statement that MAGA billionaires are trying to buy the nations courts.

The stakes couldnt be higher in these judicial retention races, especially in the run-up to critical races across the Commonwealth in 2026 and winning back the White House in 2028, he said.

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Politics Pennsylvania
Despite the rapid rise of artificial intelligence in the insurance sector, along with claims of widespread errors and even discrimination by algorithms, A.I. is becoming vital to the industry  but insureds will be protected by existing statutes, insurance advocates told Florida lawmakers Tuesday.

If a practice is prohibited for a human to do on behalf of an insurance company, it is prohibited for A.I. to do, said Paul Martin, vice president of state affairs for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies. Artificial intelligence is not an end run for insurance companies around a states statutes or its regulations.

Martin was one of three property-casualty insurance officials who were asked to testify before the Florida House Subcommittee on Insurance and Banking ahead of the 2026 legislative session. He and others at the meeting said that insurers have been using A.I. in one form or another for more than 30 years, and the tool is steadily improving efficiency in claims handling, accuracy in underwriting and pricing, and in marketing products to consumers  all of which can help hold down premiums.

With an increasing number of retirees eligible for an increasingly expensive entitlement programs, the standard of living in the United States will plummet without tools like A.I. that can leverage the decreasing percentage of workers and help preserve companies institutional knowledge, said Gary Sullivan, director of emerging risks for the American Property & Casualty Insurance Association.

Three bills that would have put limits on the use of A.I. in claims handling  and would have required human review  failed to pass the Florida Legislature in the spring 2025 session. But similar measures are expected to be introduced again for the upcoming session.

State Rep. Hillary Cassel, a policyholder attorney who sponsored one of those bills this spring, said that litigation across the country has targeted health insurers use of artificial intelligence in claims denials. She asked the witnesses to explain what current Florida law bars claims denials based solely on the use of A.I.

Thomas Koval, with FCCI Insurance Group and the Florida Insurance Council, did not directly answer Cassels question. Martin noted that any actions by insurers, even decisions aided by A.I., are governed by Floridas extensive insurance statutes and regulations.

Who is responsible if there is a mistake in the claims handling process? Martin asked, rhetorically. The insurance company is always responsible, and we think that is the consistent piece here.

Other industry advocates have pointed out that property insurance practices and Florida regulations already outpace those for health insurance companies on transparency in claims denials. Many denials or payment demands by health insurers list no adjuster names or responsible party names, said Lisa Miller, former deputy insurance commissioner for Florida, who produced a copy of a hospital payment demand.

In October 2024, though, then-Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis issued an emergency rule  later made permanent  that bars property insurers from revising field adjuster reports without an explanation to insureds. The revised reports must also include the desk adjusters name.

The Tuesday House committee meeting can be seen here, on the Florida Channel. The 2026 Florida legislative session begins Jan. 13, and committee meetings are scheduled until then.

Top photo: Paul Martin of NAMIC, speaking at the hearing. (Florida Channel)

Topics InsurTech Data Driven Artificial Intelligence
State agents have so far found no evidence that a fire that destroyed a judges home on a South Carolina island was intentionally set, the states top law enforcement official said Monday.

The Saturday blaze nearly burned to the ground the house listed in property records as owned by Circuit Judge Diane Goodstein on a remote part of Edisto Island, authorities said.

The investigation is still active and ongoing and agents will issue a report when they are finished and determine the cause, State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel said in a statement.

At this time, there is no evidence to indicate the fire was intentionally set. SLED agents have preliminarily found there is no evidence to support a pre-fire explosion, Keel said,

Keel and his agents released no other details.

Three people were hurt in the blaze and one of them was taken by helicopter to the Medical University of South Carolina, according to Colleton County Fire-Rescue. The names of the people hurt were not released.

The houses first floor is elevated from the ground and the injured had to jump to the ground. Several then had to be rescued by kayaks from the swampy back yard, the St. Pauls Fire District said in a statement on social media.

Video from the fire department showed the home fully engulfed in flames. Drone photos taken over the scene later showed only a few charred wooden supports standing amid the blackened rubble.

Goodstein has been a state judge for 27 years, handling thousands of cases. Speculation immediately settled on one of her most recent decisions where Goodstein blocked the Election Commission in South Carolina from releasing voter data requested by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Her restraining order was lifted about a week later by the state Supreme Court who said Goodstein failed to detail if the voter who sued would suffer irreparable harm or proved she was likely to win the suit on the merits.

Keels agency almost never releases statements while investigations are ongoing beyond the basic facts. But the last sentence of his statement on Monday indicated why he made an exception.

I urge our citizens, elected officials, and members of the press to exercise good judgement and not share information that has not been verified, wrote Keel, who has led the state police since 2011 and has been in law enforcement for 46 years.

The General Assembly elects judges in South Carolina and when Goodstein last ran for her seat in 2022, the Judicial Merit Screening Commission noted her sterling reputation and temperament and called her as asset to the state.

Nearly two decades ago, Goodstein presided over a civil lawsuit that led to a $12 million settlement between victims of sexual abuse and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston.

She also presided in 2014 over a property dispute trial between the national Episcopal Church and the breakaway Diocese of South Carolina which spilt over theological differences, including the authority of Scripture and the ordination of gays.

Photo: The embers of the house fire on Edisto Island. (WCBD via AP)

Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Legislation Law Enforcement South Carolina
The Government is not taking forward planning "seriously", with spending growing much faster than the sustainable growth of the economy, the Fiscal Council has warned in its preliminary analysis of Budget 2026.

The Fiscal Council is the independent statutory body that acts as Irelands budgetary watchdog. It comprises a five-member part-time Council appointed by the Minister for Finance and a full-time staff or "secretariat that supports its work.

In its preliminary assessment of finance minister Paschal Donohue's budget outlined on Tuesday, the council criticised the lack of forward planning, saying there is "no excuse for a short forecast horizon".

"Budgetary forecasts in Budget 2026 only cover 2026, unlike recent budgets. Good planning and budgeting requires forecasts that go more than 15 months ahead. The Council has consistently stressed the need for budgetary forecasts that go at least five years ahead," the council said.

"The Government has yet to submit an updated Medium-Term Plan to the European Commission. This five-year plan, which sets out an expenditure path, was due to be submitted over the summer but this is yet to happen. This suggests the process is not being taken seriously."

The council said that with the economy performing well, standard economic advice would suggest budgetary policy should provide less support but said the package announced on Tuesday amounts to at least 7.4bn additional spending when adjusted for tax measures. "This is larger than the package of permanent measures introduced in recent budgets," the council said.

"While the Government is running a surplus, this is driven by the extraordinary amount of corporation tax that is being collected. Without these revenues, the Governments own figures show a deficit of almost 14bn could emerge next year, a deterioration of 6.2bn.

"The budget outlined 6.1bn for current spending increases, 2bn for capital spending increases, and 1.3bn of tax changes. Unlike recent budgets, all of the measures announced are permanent, and will recur every year."

The Fiscal Council said even after accounting for inflation, spending is growing at a rapid pace, over 9% in 2025 and predicted at 5.3% in 2026. "This is much faster than the sustainable growth rate of the Irish economy," the council statement said.

Meanwhile the Parliamentary Budget Office, in its flash impact analysis, said on average, low, middle, and high-income households face average income losses from Budget 2026. The Parliamentary Budget Office is an independent and specialist unit which advises the Oireachtas.

It said the withdrawal of cost-of-living measures is forecast to "increase income poverty rates, rising from 11.7% in 2024 to 13.2% in 2025 and 12.6% in 2026".

It said the freeze on income tax bands and credits will affect middle and high-income households, increasing the average tax rate from 22.5% in 2025 to 23.1% in 2026. But it said after accounting for inflation, earnings have outpaced welfare rate growth over the past decade.
The steady trade over recent weeks for lambs at the factories is continuing to return stable prices to producers this week.

There is a shade more confidence in the trade forward remaining in a positive mode for the weeks ahead, with the lamb price on some of the continental markets well ahead of the Irish base price and home supplies of factory-ready lambs expected to remain tight through to the end of the year.
A series of events promoting forestry as a diversification for landowners will take place in October and November 2025.

Minister of state for forestry, farm safety and horticulture, Michael Healy-Rae announced that he will host four free forestry information events in collaboration with the Teagasc Forestry Development Department in October and November 2025.

Each "Let's Talk Trees" event is run over an evening and opens with two short presentations, followed by a conversation between minister Healy-Rae and a farmer discussing their forestry journey.

Attendees will also get an opportunity to talk to professional Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Forestry Inspectors and Teagasc Forestry Advisors on a one-to-one basis about their interest in forestry. The events are free to attend and open to all.

Minister Healy-Rae said: I would urge all landowners who are interested in planting trees to attend these events, which will show how forestry can complement farming, diversify farm income, and provide long-term financial support.

"These sessions will give farmers a clear picture of the grants, premiums and supports available and demonstrate how planting trees can be a part of a balanced, resilient farm business.

These events will provide information on what grants and premiums are available to landowners to plant trees and how these payments interact with other agricultural payments.

They will also help to address potential barriers to planting trees. Note that all payments and earnings are income tax-free.

Minister Healy-Rae continued: I would also like to emphasise that there is a forest type to suit every type of land, and a scheme designed for every piece of ground.

"From agroforestry systems that combine grazing and trees, to native woodlands and productive timber crops, the programme offers real opportunities for landowners to match their land type with the most suitable scheme.

"Each option provides a secure annual premium and long-term financial return, ensuring that forestry can support farm families in managing their businesses with confidence.
When Karla Trujillo was unable to secure a creche place for her son while undergoing cancer surgery, she was left with no option but to fly her parents all the way from Canada to babysit.

That is despite an ongoing battle to secure childcare for now 15-month-old Kai. The 34-year-old, who lives in Tivoli in Cork City with her partner  Kais father  began making enquiries about creche places late into her pregnancy.

Karla explained that she would have put his name down earlier were it not for a previous heartbreaking experience. During my previous pregnancy we got overly excited and put our babys name down straight away, the mother of one explained.

It was after this that I miscarried. Making that call to take my unborn child off the list was soul crushing. I didnt want to be reminded of that so when I was pregnant with Kai I was very hesitant. I was terrified to inform anyone that I was pregnant.

"Maybe, if I had put Kais name down soon after I was pregnant things would have been different, but I know of mums who have put their babys name down at the first sign of pregnancy that are still struggling to get a place.

Cancer diagnosis

Karla was left reeling after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer in May.

I had gone to a GP who advised me to see a specialist. There was a long waiting list, so if you can imagine, that was five years of me waiting, basically feeling tired and experiencing all the symptoms you would with a condition like this.

"When I finally got an appointment I was pregnant with Kai. I was told that realistically I would need to wait until my hormones were settled so they wouldnt be able to do anything until Kai was born. After all that I finally learned it was cancer.

"Its the kind of cancer that is better than others in that it progresses very slowly. I had the surgery in July. In the months before that we had been travelling up and down to Crumlin.

"As it turned out Kai, who was premature, had holes in his heart that needed to be closed up. There are times when it felt like the world was against us.

Karla Trujillo: 'My parents had to fly over to help out. My mum had to take extended holiday leave to support us.' Picture: Larry Cummins

Karlas partner, who hails from Bishopstown in Cork City, was working fulltime to support the family. With no creche place available to them, Karlas parents made the decision to fly over from Canada to help care for Kai.

There was the operation, but also the recovery period. It would have been easier if we had a full-time creche place but my parents had to fly over to help out. My mum had to take extended holiday leave to support us.

"My brother also came over to offer support which really helped us through that period.

Karla is recovering well and says she is glad to be able to return to work. However, she is still faced with the same challenges.

We have a childminder now two days a week who is wonderful. However, this costs us 80 a day so we can only afford two days. While she is deserving of a lot more we simply cant afford full-time private childcare for five days a week.

Our rent is 1,800 a month excluding electricity bills so we are pinching pennies.

Karla is currently splitting her shifts so she and her partner can take turns looking after Kai.

My work has been great as there are not many employers that would allow this. During this time I have continued to enquire about creche places.

Karla Trujillo has continued to enquire about creche places for her son Kai, but with no success. Picture: Larry Cummins

"Its difficult to know what approach to take sometimes. You are wondering if you should be one of those people who just says 'thank you' when they put you on the waiting list or calls and emails them every single time.

"I felt like the latter could work against me so I chose to give them space. Then I realised that other parents who put their children's names down after me had secured creche places.

"I emailed to ask why this was the case but found myself ghosted afterwards. It seems that much of the time its the people who are persistent and make the most noise who get the places.
A future hike to bus and train fares is not off the table, as transport minister Darragh OBrien says there must be a "sustainable" funding model for public transport systems.

Mr OBrien said the existing fare structures are set to remain in place, with Budget 2026 confirming there would be no hikes in cost next year.

However, asked directly if he would rule out a future fare increase, Mr OBrien said: "Im not writing anything off because what I want is to expand on the transport network."

Mr O'Brien said the Government has made "significant progress" in changing the public service obligation (PSO) public transport budget.

"I think for the last six years, the expansion of public transport services has been great, but we need the funding to back that up," Mr OBrien said.

He said people have responded to the increased services across the country, adding any fare system must remain "affordable".

"What weve got to be as a State is prudent in how we manage the peoples resources. Its exchequer money, its their taxes. Ive also got to be honest with people as we expand our public transport offering going forward. Weve got to make sure its on a sustainable footing."

The transport minister said in recent years, significant funds for the PSO have come through supplementary budgets.

However, Mr OBrien said this has been changed and the PSO would be at a "higher foundation".

In the budget, Mr OBrien retained the existing lower fares, alongside the 50% off young adult cards and free public transport for children up to the age of 9.

On Metrolink, Mr OBrien said there had not been any judicial review taken against the project, after planning permission was formally granted for the north Dublin metro last week.

Transport minister Darragh O'Brien said the Government has made 'significant progress' in changing the public service obligation public transport budget.

He said he hopes there would not be an effort to challenge the metro so the project would be able to get off the ground quicker.

Meanwhile, Mr OBrien said he expects a new air route between Dublin and Derry to begin in 2026, saying it was a PSO commitment through the Governments Shared Island initiative.

Mr OBrien, who is also responsible for climate action, also said he does not believe the Government will meet its 2030 target to have almost 1m electric vehicles (EVs) on the road.

"That doesnt mean that we give up on it. Not at all, were actually doing pretty well. I dont believe well hit 969,000. I believe were projecting somewhere around 700,000 at the moment."

He added if there were measures to accelerate the adoption of EVs, the Government would.

In total, Mr OBrien received 4.74bn for his Department of Transport budget, while he received 1.09bn for the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.
The Heather Humphreys campaign team has deleted and re-uploaded a video of a visit to Belfast, which originally featured footage of Germany's parliament.

Ms Humphreys visited Belfast on Monday, including trips to Ulster University and several other venues, including St Dominic's School on the Falls Rd, which counts former president Mary McAleese as a past pupil.

On Wednesday, the campaign team for Ms Humphreys uploaded a video of the visit in which she pledged to be "a president for all".

However, instead of footage of Belfast City Hall, the video used a clip of the Bundestag in Berlin, with a German flag visible flying above.

After the Irish Examiner queried the mistake, a new version of the video was uploaded, featuring the correct building.

Belfast City Hall. File picture

A spokesperson said: "A mistake was made in production and has been rectified. Where issues are brought to our attention, we seek to address them quickly.

During last Sunday's presidential debate, Ms Humphreys said she would "work to build bridges" in the North and had a "unique understanding" of its communities.

"I've been to the North many, many times, I don't just go on day trips," she said.

Meanwhile, independent candidate Catherine Connolly has deleted a social media video which contained clips of President Michael D Higgins.

The video featured clips of the outgoing president, as well as former presidents Mary Robinson and Ms McAleese.

None of the figures spoke about Ms Connolly in the video, but it did contain clips of her supporters talking about the Connolly campaign.

The video opens with a narrator asking, Why should Catherine Connolly be Uachtaran na hEireann?"

It then shows one supporter saying that the president represents Ireland on the world stage, while brief clips of Presidents Higgins and former presidents Robinson and McAleese play in the background.

Permission to use the clip of President Higgins was not sought, it was suggested.

The Irish Examiner understands that the footage used did not belong to Aras an Uachtarain.

The video has now been deleted.

The Irish Independent reported on Wednesday morning that Ms Connolly would not take down the video.

A few hours later, RTE reported that Ms Connolly was not aware of the report suggesting that her campaign had refused to remove the clip of President Higgins.

On Wednesday afternoon, Ms Connolly issued a statement hitting out at an inaccurate and misleading RTE report published today regarding a campaign video.

At no point was there any refusal or disagreement of the kind suggested in the report, a spokesperson said.

The video in question was amended following standard editorial review. The matter was handled in the normal way and resolved without any issue.

The implication that there was any controversy or refusal simply does not reflect the facts. It distracts from the real issues in this campaign  fairness, community, and integrity in public life.

Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships last month, President Higgins said he would be staying away from the 2025 presidential race.

I don't intend to be involved in any sense in the election of my successor.
Kieran Quilligan told his partner as he was leaving their apartment that he would be back in five or 10 minutes but that was the last time she ever saw him, she told the judge and jury at the murder trial which opened in Cork on Wednesday.

Colette ODriscoll testified at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork that her partner left the apartment at around 8.30pm or 9pm on Friday, September 1, 2023, in the company of Luke Taylor  one of the two men on trial for Mr Quilligans murder.

33-year-old Niall Long, formerly of St. Michaels Close, Mahon, Cork, and 27-year-old Luke Taylor, formerly of Cherry Lawn, Blackrock, Cork, pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork to the single charge of murder.

The murder count against each man states that on a date unknown between September 1, 2023, and January 29, 2024, at an unknown location within the state in the District Court area of Cork City he did murder Kieran Quilligan, contrary to Common Law.

John Paul Thornton admitted in court that he, and not Kieran Quilligan, got into the altercation with Niall Long (pictured).

Ms ODriscoll testified that she and Mr Quilligan had been in a relationship for 10 years at that time in September two years ago and were living in a Simon Community apartment at Riverview on Andersons Quay.

She said he had been on and off drugs through his life and at this time he was taking crack cocaine, Ms ODriscoll said. She became worried after a few days when he did not return.

I met him (Luke Taylor) on top of Oliver Plunkett Street towards the bus station. I asked him where did he leave Kieran. He said he didnt know, he left him on Morrissons Island.

She said she had only known Luke Taylor for the previous few weeks when he was around the Simon Community area. She said Mr Quilligan bought drugs from Niall Long.

John Paul Thornton, known as Bubbles, was with Kieran Quilligan on the morning of September 1, 2023, when they went to buy drugs from a man, later identified as Niall Long, at a side street off York Street, between MacCurtain Street and Wellington Road.

He knew Kieran Quilligan 25 years and they took drugs together.

Asked about that morning, he said: We went to buy drugs from some fella. I cant remember.

We started arguing over money. We  me and Kieran  ended up just taking the drugs off him. We ended up snatching the bag off him.

He said he went back to Kierans flat and they used drugs. Mr Thornton described himself as being off his head. He said that in the bag that they snatched there was 200 worth of heroin (gear), 200 worth of crack cocaine, tablets and 500 to 600 in cash.

Mr Thornton admitted that he, and not Kieran Quilligan, got into the altercation with Niall Long, catching him in a head-lock and dragging him to the ground. A couple who lived near St. Fin Barres Place heard men shouting and banging in the laneway at around 9.15pm and called the gardai.

The trial before Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford and a jury of 10 men and two women continues on Thursday.
Two men have been arrested in Limerick in connection with a "violent incident" earlier this year.

The incident involved a gun being fired in the townland of Kilcoole, near Rathkeale, on August 21.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said he is not responsible for everything that unfolded around Jim Gavins collapsed presidential campaign.

Mr Gavin withdrew from the presidential campaign on Sunday, after he failed to address questions surrounding 3,300 he did not repay to a former tenant.

Speaking on Newstalk, Mr Martin accepted he did recommend Mr Gavin to be Fianna Fails presidential candidate.

Fundamentally, I did recommend that. Im not responsible for everything that unfolded, obviously, because we would have been totally unaware of the issue despite very comprehensive due diligence, Mr Martin said.

The Taoiseach said the presidential election can be very difficult, while saying party TDs did not go through similar vetting processes to Mr Gavin.

Meanwhile, Mr Martin said he did not believe Bertie Ahern would have been able to win a presidential election.

I dont think Bertie would have made it, Mr Martin said. It would have been incredibly bruising for him. I dont know why he would want to bring it upon himself.

It comes as Fianna Fail minister James Lawless said the party needs to conduct a "postmortem" on the fallout from the scandal to make sure mistakes cannot be repeated.

Speaking at a budget briefing, the minister for further and higher education said the fact that Fianna Fail does not have a candidate in the election is "quite a stark consequence".

Mr Lawless spent a few days on the road with Mr Gavin last week, saying: "I thought he was really building momentum, and I thought he was getting to a stride, perhaps not in the set piece debates, but he was extremely engaging on the ground and in small venues and shopping centres and main streets, which we ran many of in the last couple of days."

"I think it's an unfortunate episode. I think that Jim Gavin is somebody who showed leadership in civil society through sport, but not only that, in the Defence Forces and through his role in the Northeast Inner City Task Force."

"It's not unreasonable to think that an individual with that background would make a good candidate."

But the presidential election is a "particularly uniquely challenging" election, he said. "Yet again, a candidate has fallen foul of that."

Meanwhile, junior minister Niamh Smyth said she expected the parliamentary party meeting to go late into the night."

Of course, I'm very disappointed, Ms Smyth said.

Fianna Fail is a very large and influential political party across this island [and] doesn't have a candidate three weeks ahead from polling day.

The Taoiseach has said and said there are questions to the answers. I expect our parliamentary party meeting tonight there will be a robust, probably heated discussion.

But I am sure coming out of that we will have a clearer picture of exactly what happened and how we are going to approach this in the future.

Asked if she believed Mr Martins leadership could withstand the controversy, Ms Smyth said, Yes, I do.

She said: "I don't think anybody's leadership can be judged on one particular [incident].

This hasn't been one of his best moments or the partys. I think he's been very honest in saying that in the press conferences he's done over recent days.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Darragh OBrien said he did not regret endorsing Jim Gavin for the presidency, but he did regret how the campaign ended.

We will learn from this. Jim Gavin is someone I have the height of regard for. Id the pleasure of actually campaigning with him. Im sorry with what has happened, Mr OBrien.

I think that for many, including himself, there are things that he would have differently, I think that we would have done differently.

Mr OBrien said it was regrettable there is now only two candidates in the running to be president.

Its not a good situation. Well deal with it, well move on, well learn from it.
Government ministers have reiterated their desire to protect the economy as they answered queries from members of the public the day after the budget was delivered.

Finance minister Paschal Donohoe and public expenditure minister Jack Chambers responded live to questions from listeners of RTE Radio Ones Today with Claire Byrne programme on Wednesday morning.

The first caller, Marie, wanted to know what the budget has done for the squeezed middle class.

She lives with her husband, daughter, her daughters partner and her two grandchildren, one of whom has additional needs.

Mr Donohoe responded by saying the most important thing for me is that we still have an economy, and a society, in which we have everybody at work.

Mr Chambers echoed that sentiment when answering small business owner Gerry.

He said: Whats crucial to your business is that you continue to have demand for the service or the business that you provide for your customers.

And critical to that is to have an economy which is continuing to grow.

By the third caller, Liz, there was clear frustration with the ministers focus on the economy, rather than the budgets impact on individuals, with the pensioner saying: Theyre beautiful words around the political table, but for us who are here at the coal face trying to live, can you just speak in normal language and tell me what I need to hear?

The 66-year-old explained how her pension and 22 a week living alone increase were not enough to deal with the rising cost of living.

She said she is eating into her savings on a weekly basis, leaving her to worry how she will cope in her older age and that she cant live on words.

The treatment of the elderly was also why Catherine contacted the programme.

She described it as a disgrace that her 94-year-old father is worried about how he can afford the local property tax on the home he has lived in for 70 years.

Mr Donohoe explained there is a deferral in place that allows people to pay the tax later in life, or when the property is sold.

He went on to say: It is a really important tax that makes a big difference to what happens within our local communities and pays for public services at a local level like roads, libraries and local authorities.

Father-of-five Garvan challenged the description of the 500 permanent reduction in student fees as a cut.

Mr Chambers defended it, saying: The measures that were taken the last two or three years were temporary and were one-off.

And what weve done in this budget is any measure weve taken is permanent and indefinite. They were temporarily reduced and I appreciate, for you, now it appears like an increase.

It was not something Garvan accepted, responding they are an increase, they dont look like it, they are.

Another parent, Louise, wanted to know when the 200 a month cap on childcare outlined in the Programme for Government would come into place, as she is paying 1,500 a month for her two young children.

Mr Chambers said it is something we want to advance over a series of budgets. Its not possible to do it in one go.

When Louise told the ministers her youngest would be out of childcare by the end of this governments term, Mr Donohoe pointed to the additional funding was put into the national childcare scheme, which means that, I think, approximately 30,000 of the children will be able to participate in it.

Callers Bernard and Tara, who have a small craft and design business, challenged the reduction in Vat for hospitality businesses to 9% when the products they sell are subject to 23% Vat.

When asked if there could be a tiered system to help small businesses, Mr Chambers explained EU law means that were not able to change our VAT law to recognise the size of different businesses and enterprises.
Last weeks peace plan announced by president Donald Trump in the presence of Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, betrayed, again, the hopelessness of Palestines cause.

Two years into Israels genocide, 57 years into its illegal occupation of Palestine and vicious oppression of its people, it is Israel that gets to set the terms of any settlement. Israel, which has slaughtered at least 75,000 Palestinians and most likely twice that number since October 2023, still has the West, especially the US, under its thumb.

President Trumps singular ambition is to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize; prime minister Netanyahus is to avoid jail, either as a war criminal internationally or a petty criminal at home. Their plan made countless demands of Palestine, as has every US-initiated plan since the Six-Day War; yet again, a US administrations approach started with the interests of Israel.

To repeat this decades-long insistence of the US to consider only Israel-centric peace formulae dooms it to failure. Peace is hard won, but it must start with the rights of the oppressed, not the oppressor.

What would any Western nation make of a peace plan emanating from Washington that involved Russia and not Ukraine or that began with a commitment by Ukraine to demilitarise Crimea? That is akin to what is being asked of the Palestinians, specifically in clause one of the plan, that Gaza will be a de-radicalised, terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbours.

This does not refer to the status of Gaza as Palestinian or to the fact that it has been subject to an unprecedented bombardment and terror by the state of Israel for two years. It is a hopelessly corrupted basis on which to build anything, most especially a peace.

There is, however, a consistency to this. We know Israels genocide, which includes the slaughter of at least 20,000 children, was only possible because the West supplied it with armaments, knowingly backing the actions of the oppressor. We know Western powers were warned of Israels plan to induce a famine, ignoring the overwhelming evidence of that truth.

Displaced Palestinians flee northern Gaza during an Israeli military strike along the coastal road near Wadi Gaza on Wednesday. Before the October 7 attack, Israel had killed 250 Palestinians, including almost 50 children, in its most aggressive settler push across the West Bank in two decades. Photo: AP/Jehad Alshrafi

In all of this acquiescence to Israels demands, in the support of its genocide or a passivity of any objection to it, most of the West stands complicit in a false narrative that Israel still expounds  that the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, was the cause. It was not. The Hamas attack was brutal, but that it happened was inevitable.

A malevolent Israeli government, led by someone facing criminal trials, wanted to pursue the Zionist ambition of removing Palestine from the map. It had already significantly increased its campaign of terror in the West Bank, it had directly financed Hamas with hundreds of millions of dollars, and it chose to ignore the warnings of its own intelligence services and international agencies of an imminent attack.

Life for Palestinians before October 7

We need to remember things as they were for Palestinians. Three months earlier, in July 2023, a UN report recorded that between the end of the Six-Day War in 1967 and that summer, Israel had incarcerated more than 800,000 Palestinian men, women and children from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

In 2023, Israeli NGOs said the countrys security services and prison service were arresting increasing numbers of innocent Palestinians, including hundreds of minors, and holding them without charge in appalling conditions. Legislation allows for the arrest of civilians on suspicion that they might break the law in the future, permitting their detention for at least six months.

Only 1% of complaints of abuses by Israeli forces filed by Palestinians in the West Bank between 2017 and 2021 had led to indictments.

Fintan Drury. 'The time to be hopeful will be when the first clause of a peace proposal is the establishment of an independent sovereign state of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders.' File picture: Oliver McVeigh / SPORTSFILE

These extraordinary levels of intimidation and aggression were part of why Ive consistently written that to understand October 7, its essential to understand what life was like for Palestinians on October 6, 2023. Palestinians were without electricity for an average of 13 hours a day, and more than 96% of the groundwater in Gaza was considered unfit for human consumption.

Since 2014, Gazas farmers had suffered ecocide as Israel used airborne herbicides to destroy crops on any land that they could not bulldoze. Israel controlled the supply of food and other critical supplies, meaning that, before the Hamas attack, 80% of Gazans relied on humanitarian aid.

In the West Bank, Israel had supported the illegal settlement by its people and by Jewish immigrants of large tracts of Palestine. It built an extensive infrastructure there for the exclusive use of Jews, and in 2023, before October 7, Israel had killed 250 Palestinians, including almost 50 children, in its most aggressive settler push across the West Bank in two decades.

These were the life conditions for Palestinians two years ago.

'Broken' Israel

Israel presented itself as broken, shattered, by an act of terrorism so grievous that it had to respond swiftly and comprehensively. It continually dialled up the rhetoric about the level of threat posed by Hamas and played to the US obsession with Iran as though it provided some kind of security blanket against a perceived threat of Islamism.

Israel has nuclear weapons; Iran does not. Zionism is the threat not Iran. Israel is an ethnocracy not a democracy; an apartheid state whose conduct of the last two years has proven that its unworthy of the Wests support.

In spite of this, in spite of the conduct of its genocide in full public view, the West seems set on putting Israels interests ahead of those whom it has witnessed being subjected to a callous massacre. The West is again poised to give primacy to the interests of the coloniser.

The time to be hopeful will be when the first clause of a peace proposal is the establishment of an independent sovereign state of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders. Not before!

Fintan Drury is a former journalist and author of Catastrophe: Nakba II
Frances president, Emmanuel Macron, is under intense pressure to call snap parliamentary elections or resign as former allies join his opponents in demanding he act to end a spiralling political crisis in the EUs second biggest economy.

Macrons first prime minister on Tuesday urged the president to step down amid mounting frustration even within the presidents own camp over one of the worst spells of political chaos in France since the foundation of its Fifth Republic in 1958.

Edouard Philippe, prime minister from 2017 to 2020 and now leader of a Macron-allied party, said he should announce an early presidential election once a budget for next year was adopted. Macron was re-elected in April 2022 for a five-year term, but since snap legislative elections in 2024 his appointees as prime minister have been unable to summon a parliamentary majority to pass a budget.

Time is of the essence, Philippe said. We are not going to prolong what we have been experiencing for the past six months. Another 18 months is far too long and it is damaging France. The political game we are playing today is distressing. Philippe, who polls suggest is the best-placed candidate to lead the political centre in the next presidential elections, was not alone among Macrons former prime ministers in distancing himself from the beleaguered head of state.

Gabriel Attal  whose brief tenure as Frances youngest-ever prime minister ended last year when Macron called the snap vote that produced Frances present hung parliament  said he no longer understood the presidents decisions.

Attal, who now leads the main pro-Macron party, told French media that after burning through five prime ministers in under two years it was time to try something else, criticising what he called Macrons determination to keep control.

The calls came after the outgoing prime minister, Sebastien Lecornu, who was appointed only 28 days ago, resigned with his 14-hour-old cabinet on Monday but was asked by Macron to hold last-ditch talks with party leaders to try to rally support.

Macron gave Lecornu until Wednesday evening to try to define a platform for action and stability. However, in a sign of the difficulties he faces, the far-right National Rally (RN), the largest single party in parliament, refused to attend.

These umpteenth negotiations no longer aim to protect the interests of the French people, but those of the president himself, said the party, which polls suggest would finish first in an eventual parliamentary election but is unlikely to secure a majority.

In a scathing editorial, Le Monde said the crisis was a tragic farce and yet another demonstration of the unravelling of Macrons second mandate since his re-election in 2022. The president finds himself in a major crisis, it said.

Then French Defense minister Sebastien Lecornu, right, and Macron talk at the end of an address by the president to army leaders in Paris. File picture: Ludovic Marin/AP

The newspaper castigated Frances entire political class, which it said was incapable of rising to the challenge, preferring to posture in the run-up to the presidential ballot due in 2027 rather than build a compromise essential for the months to come.

France has been in political crisis for more than a year since the 2024 election  called in response to far-right successes in the European parliamentary elections that year  produced a parliament divided between three more or less equal blocs: the left, far right and Macrons own centre-right alliance, with no majority.

Among other options, Macron could reappoint Lecornu, select another new prime minister  possibly a non-party-political technocrat  who would become his eighth, or dissolve parliament again and hold new legislative elections.

He has long said he is reluctant hold fresh legislative elections, which polls suggest would probably return another divided parliament, but on Monday hinted he may be prepared to do so if Lecornu fails in his last-chance mission.

Macron has also repeatedly insisted he will not resign before the end of his mandate in 2027.

The calls from Macrons allies echoed similar demands from the presidents opponents on both the left and far right, including the far-right RN president, Jordan Bardella, who on Tuesday said he, too, backed fresh parliamentary elections or an early presidential ballot.

I call on the president of the republic to hear the suffering in the country, to come out of his isolation, and to dissolve the national assembly, Bardella said. We must go back to the French people so they can choose a majority for themselves.

Lecornu met on Tuesday with the leaders of Macrons centrist alliance and the conservative Les Republicains (LR), with the parties reportedly agreeing that finding a deal to urgently pass next years planned austerity budget must be the top priority.

The political crisis is being played out against the backdrop of Frances deepening financial woes: its debt-to-GDP ratio is the EUs third-highest and almost twice the ceiling permitted under EU rules, as is its projected budget deficit of nearly 6%.

Lecornu will need the support of others, however, including the centre-left Socialist party (PS), to have any hope of a majority in parliament to approve the legislation. The PS has called for a change of course under a new leftwing government.

Lecornu became the shortest-lived prime minister in modern French history when he resigned, the countrys fifth prime minister since Macrons re-election in 2022 and the third since the parliamentary dissolution of last year.

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Israel and Hamas have entered a third day of peace talks in Egypt, with more senior officials from the United States and mediating countries expected to join.

Hamas says it is seeking firm guarantees from US President Donald Trump and mediators that Israel will not resume its military campaign in the Palestinian territory after the militant group releases all the remaining hostages.

All sides have expressed optimism for a deal to end the two-year war, with tens of thousands of Palestinians killed and most of the Gaza Strip destroyed.

But key parts of the peace plan have still not been pinned down  including requirements that Hamas disarm, the timing and extent of an Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza and the creation of an international body to run Gaza after Hamas steps down from power.

Palestinians carry plastic bottles in an area of a makeshift tent camp for displaced people along the shore of Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP)

Qatars prime minister and top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, was heading to the Egyptian coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh to join the talks.

Also expected on Wednesday were Mr Trumps Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and the Presidents son-in-law, Jared Kushner, according to a US official.

From Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus top adviser Ron Dermer was also to join, an Israeli official said.

As Qatari, Egyptian and US mediators met both sides in preliminary talks on Wednesday morning, a senior Hamas official, Taher Nounou, said the group has exchanged a list of Palestinian prisoners it seeks to release in return for Israeli hostages under the deals terms.

The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire and release of the 48 hostages that militants in Gaza still hold from their October 7 2023 surprise attack on Israel that started the war and triggered Israels devastating retaliation. Around 20 of the hostages are believed to still be alive.

It envisages Israel withdrawing its troops from Gaza after Hamas disarms, and an international security force being put in place. The territory would be placed under international governance, with Mr Trump and former UK prime minister Tony Blair overseeing it.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said on Wednesday in televised comments that the negotiations so far were very encouraging.

Mr Netanyahu has accepted Mr Trumps plan. His office said on Tuesday that Israel was cautiously optimistic, framing the talks as technical negotiations over a plan that both sides already had approved.

In a statement on Tuesday, Hamas reiterated its long-standing demands for a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza but said nothing about disarmament, a step it has long resisted. Hamas has also spoken against the idea of international rule, though it has agreed it will have no role in governing post-war Gaza.

Israelis marked the anniversary of the Hamas attack (Ariel Schalit/AP)

Speaking in Sharm el-Sheikh, Khalil al-Hayya, Hamass top negotiator, told Egypts Qahera TV that the group wanted solid guarantees from Mr Trump and mediators that the war will not return. It appeared to be his first public appearance since an Israeli strike targeting him and other top Hamas leaders in Qatar last month killed six people, including his son and office manager.

In January, the two sides had a ceasefire that brought the release of some Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Under the agreement the two sides were then supposed to enter negotiations over a long-term truce, an Israeli withdrawal and a full hostage release.

But Israel broke the ceasefire in March, resuming its campaign of bombardment and offensives, saying it aimed to pressure Hamas for the remaining hostage releases.

Past rounds of negotiations have frequently fallen apart over the same obstacle, with Hamas demanding assurances of the wars end and Mr Netanyahu vowing to keep fighting until the group is destroyed.

The Trump plan attempts to resolve all the issues at once, by laying out Hamas disarmament and a post-war scenario for governing the territory with provisions for a massive reconstruction campaign.
A Russian attack has seriously damaged one of Ukraines thermal power plants as Moscow pursues a campaign to deny Ukrainians heat, light and running water as winter approaches.

Two workers were injured in the attack, according to DTEK, Ukraines biggest electricity operator.

Ukrainian authorities release few details about the routine Russian attacks on its power grid so as not to give away intelligence to the enemy. Repair crews, meanwhile, work round the clock to undo the damage.

The energy sector has been a key battleground since Russia launched an all-out invasion of its neighbour more than three years ago.

The Head of Foreign Intelligence reported in detail on how the Russians are utilizing tankers of their shadow fleet  not only to finance the war, but also for sabotage and various destabilization attempts in Europe. Recent launches of drones from tankers are one such example. pic.twitter.com/B09UQo9EZK  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) October 7, 2025

Each year, Russia has tried to cripple the Ukrainian power grid ahead of the bitter winter, hoping to erode public morale and disrupt military manufacturing. Ukraine has accused Moscow of weaponising winter.

Ukraines winter runs from late October through March, with January and February the coldest months.

Ukraine has been hitting back with long-range strikes on the Russian energy supply, recently causing outages in some Russian regions along the border.

The Russian Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that its air defences overnight intercepted 53 Ukrainian drones over nine Russian regions.

The Ukrainian town of Shostka, in the north-eastern Sumy region, has been hard hit by the Russian onslaught against the power supply, officials say.

Authorities have put up tents where locals can warm up, drink hot tea, charge their phones and receive psychological support, according to regional head Oleh Hryhorov.

He posted photos on Telegram of people cooking in outdoor kitchens in the street over open fires on Tuesday.

Shostka mayor Mykola Noha posted the locations of 11 places in the town where locals can get food and tea. Please bring your own dishes, he wrote on Facebook on Wednesday morning.

Russia also struck energy infrastructure in Ukraines northern Chernihiv, southern Kherson and south-eastern Dnipropetrovsk regions, authorities said.

Ukraines air force said it intercepted or jammed 154 out of 183 Russian strike and decoy drones fired at the country overnight.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian rockets killed three people and wounded one more in Russias Belgorod border region, where previous attacks have brought power outages, governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Wednesday.
Donald Trump has said the Illinois governor and Chicago mayor should be jailed as they oppose his deployment of National Guard troops for his immigration and crime crackdown in the nations third-largest city.

The Republican president made the comment in a social media post, the latest example of his brazen calls for opponents to be prosecuted or locked up  a break from long-time norms as the Justice Department traditionally has tried to maintain its independence from the White House.

Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social that Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor JB Pritzker should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers!, in a reference to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

It was not immediately clear what Mr Trump was objecting to.

Mr Johnson, in a post on X, said: This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a black man unjustly arrested. Im not going anywhere.

Mr Pritzker, also on X, said: I will not back down. Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power. What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, when asked what crimes the President believed the two Democrats had committed, failed to identify any, but she said they have blood on their hands and pointed to Chicago Police Department reports that at least five people were killed and 25 shot over the weekend.

Instead of taking action to stop the crime, these Trump-deranged buffoons would rather allow the violence to continue and attack the President for wanting to help make their city safe again, Ms Jackson said.

National Guard troops from Texas are positioned outside Chicago despite a lawsuit by the state and city to block the deployment.

The troops mission is not clear but the Trump administration has undertaken an aggressive immigration enforcement operation in Chicago.

Mr Trump has called Chicago a hell hole of crime, even though police statistics show significant drops in most crimes, including homicides. Protesters have skirmished with agents outside a detention centre in the village of Broadview, outside Chicago.

A woman in Chicago was shot by a Border Patrol agent over the weekend after she and a man were accused of using their vehicles to strike and then box in the agents vehicle. The agent then exited his car and fired five shots at Marimar Martinez, 30.

Martinez and Anthony Ruiz, 21, are charged with forcibly assaulting a federal officer and were ordered to be released on Monday pending trial. Martinezs lawyer Christopher Parente claimed body camera footage contradicts the federal governments narrative of her actions.

Mr Trumps comment came as former FBI director James Comey appeared in a Virginia courtroom, pleading not guilty in a case that has intensified concerns about Justice Departments efforts to target Trump adversaries.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has said hes not going anywhere (Nam Y. Huh/AP)

When Mr Trump was campaigning for the White House in 2024 at a time he faced criminal and civil investigations, he told supporters: I am your retribution.

The Justice Department has also opened criminal investigations this year against California Senator Adam Schiff, New York attorney general Letitia James and former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running for New York City mayor. The three, all Democrats, have all denied wrongdoing and say the investigations are politically motivated.

Mr Pritzker, one of Mr Trumps fiercest critics, has called the president a wannabe dictator, comparing his leadership to that of Russian President Vladimir Putin and joking that the Republican doesnt read anything. The governor has suggested that Mr Trump, who has threatened Chicago with apocalyptic force, suffers from dementia.

Mr Pritzker, eyed as a potential 2028 White House contender, has strongly fought against any federal intervention along with Mr Johnson, saying it is not wanted or needed in Illinois or Chicago.
A 29-year-old man charged with sparking the most destructive blaze in Los Angeles history likely used a lighter to start a fire on New Years Day that smouldered underground and reignited almost a week later, killing 12 people in a wealthy hillside neighbourhood, authorities said.

Law enforcement officials charged Jonathan Rinderknecht with lighting the January 1 fire that was extinguished by fire crews only to flare up days later during high winds, acting US attorney Bill Essayli said during a news conference.

Rinderknecht was arrested in Florida on Tuesday and was due to appear in court Wednesday.

Jonathan Rinderknecht, a suspect in the Palisades fire (US Attorneys Office via AP)

He faces charges including malicious destruction by means of a fire, which carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison.

Aisha Nash, the public defender assigned to represent Rinderknecht, has not responded to Associated Press requests for comment.

The Palisades Fire  one of two that broke out on January 7, killing more than 30 people and destroying thousands of homes while burning for days in Los Angeles County  ripped through hillside neighbourhoods in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, destroying mansions with spectacular views of the ocean and downtown LA.

Investigators said on Wednesday that Rinderknecht had been working as an Uber driver, and after dropping off a passenger in Pacific Palisades, he parked and walked up a trail.

He then used his iPhone to take videos at a nearby hilltop area and listened to a rap song with an accompanying music video that included objects being lit on fire, prosecutors said.

He fled the scene after starting the fire, but returned to the same trail to watch it burn, Mr Essayli said.

He left as soon as he saw the fire trucks were headed to the location. He turned around and went back up there. And he took some video and, and watched them fight the fire, Mr Essayli said.

Rinderknecht also made several 911 calls to report the fire, according to a criminal complaint.

Special agent Kenny Cooper speaks between acting US attorney Bill Essayli and Los Angeles Police chief Jim McDonnell during a news conference (Damian Dovarganes/AP)

During an interview on January 24, Rinderknecht told investigators where the fire began, information not yet public and that he would not have known if he had not witnessed it, the complaint said.

He lied about his location, claiming he was near the bottom of the hiking trail, Mr Essayli said.

The suspect was visibly anxious during that interview, according to the complaint.

His efforts to call 911 and his question to ChatGPT about a cigarette lighting a fire indicated he wanted to preserve evidence of himself trying to assist in the suppression of the fire and he wanted to create evidence regarding a more innocent explanation for the cause of the fire, the complaint said.

Investigators determined the January 1 fire was intentionally lit, likely by a lighter taken to vegetation or paper, according to the criminal complaint.

They excluded other possibilities, including fireworks, lightning and power lines.

Authorities also looked into whether a cigarette may have caused the fire, but concluded that was not the cause, the complaint says.

Investigators found a barbecue-style lighter inside the glove compartment of Rinderknechts car on January 24.

The devastation of the Palisades fire is seen at sunset in the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood of Los Angeles (Ethan Swope/AP)

It appeared to be the same lighter as one that was in his apartment on December 31, based on a photo on his phone.

He admitted to bringing a lighter with him when he walked up the hill.

Investigators still have not determined the cause of a second blaze called the Eaton Fire, which broke out the same day in the community of Altadena and killed 19 people.

Both fires reduced block after block of entire neighbourhoods to grey and black debris, destroying homes, schools, businesses and churches.

While rebuilding is under way in some neighbourhoods, it will take years.

Many homeowners will not be able to afford it, even those with insurance.

An outside review released in September found that a lack of resources and outdated policies for sending emergency alerts led to delayed evacuation warnings.

The report commissioned by Los Angeles County supervisors said a series of weaknesses, including outdated policies, inconsistent practices and communications vulnerabilities hampered the countys response.
The UK economy is missing out on 68.8 billion by failing to fully empower dyslexic thinkers, according to a groundbreaking report published today (08.10.25) by global charity Made By Dyslexia.

New report reveals 68.8bn UK loss from underused dyslexic talent

The Return on Dyslexic Thinking report reveals that while dyslexics could contribute up to 98.2 billion to the UK economy - thanks to their strengths in creativity, problem-solving, empathy and big-picture thinking - only 30% currently feel empowered in the workplace. This underutilisation is costing the country billions in lost innovation and growth.

Leading companies, entrepreneurs and high-profile dyslexicsincluding Virgin, HSBC, Cisco, GCHQ, Randstad Enterprise, Soho House founder Nick Jones and Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocockgathered in London yesterday to back the findings and call on businesses, governments and educators to recognise and harness Dyslexic Thinking as a critical skill.

Kate Griggs, Founder of Made By Dyslexia, said: Dyslexic thinkers have the skills needed to collaborate with AI and turbocharge innovation in this new age. The Return on Dyslexic Thinking should give every workplace a financial imperative to harness these skills. Leading companies arent asking if they should empower dyslexic talent, but how fast.

Mike Smith, Chief Executive of Randstad Enterprise, added: Empowering Dyslexic Thinking isnt a tick-box exercise. For organisations and nations that want to grow, lead and innovate, the Return on Dyslexic Thinking makes the business case to recruit and empower this talent.

The report estimates that if all dyslexic thinkers were empowered, their economic contribution could more than triple from 29.5 billion to 98.2 billion. Globally, the cost of underutilising Dyslexic Thinking is even higherat a staggering $3.2 trillion.

To amplify the message, Made By Dyslexia has launched a bold new campaign across London, supported by Ocean Outdoor advertising. The initiative poses The $Trillion Dollar Question: can we afford not to empower Dyslexic Thinking?urging leaders to act before more value is lost.

Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group, said: Ive long known the value of Dyslexic Thinking in dreaming big and growing ideas into successful businesses. But for the first time, the economic value of Dyslexic Thinking to the world is clear. Dyslexics are set to play a vital role in driving innovation in the AI age.

Nick Jones, Founder of Soho House, added: Having dyslexia makes you look at things differently, which in turn gives you an advantage in everything that you do.

The charity is also promoting The Dyslexic Thinking Workplace Guidea free resource developed with Randstad Enterprise that offers practical tools for businesses to better support, recruit and empower dyslexic talent.


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An N.C. House Select Committee is recommending that the General Assembly change a state law forcing districts to start school the Monday closest to Aug. 26 and end no later than the Friday clo
Qatar's prime minister and Turkish delegates will join Hamas and Israeli negotiators in Egypt on Wednesday for a third day of talks aimed at ending the Gaza war.

Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas are being held at the Red Sea resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, based on a 20-point plan proposed by US President Donald Trump last month.

"There's a real chance that we could do something," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday, adding that US negotiators were also involved in the talks.

"I think there's a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East. It's something even beyond the Gaza situation. We want a release of the hostages immediately."

Trump said the United States would do "everything possible to make sure everyone adheres to the deal" if Hamas and Israel do agree on a ceasefire.

The talks came as Israel commemorated the second anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attack that triggered the war.

At the close of the Jewish festival of Sukkot, Hamas-led militants launched the deadliest attack on Israel in the country's history, sparking a huge retaliatory offensive in Gaza.

It resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Militants also took 251 people hostage into Gaza, of whom 47 remain captive, including 25 the Israeli military says are dead.

Global pressure to end the war has escalated, with much of Gaza flattened, a UN-declared famine unfolding and Israeli hostage families still longing for their loved ones' return.

A UN probe last month accused Israel of genocide in Gaza while rights groups have accused Hamas of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the October 7 attack. Both sides reject the allegations.

- 'Guarantees' -

Hamas's top negotiator, Khalil El-Hayya, said the Islamist group wants "guarantees from President Trump and the sponsor countries that the war will end once and for all".

Trump's plan calls for a ceasefire, the release of all the hostages, Hamas's disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

The plan received positive responses from both Israel and Hamas and prompted indirect talks in Egypt since Monday.

A Palestinian source close to the Hamas negotiating team said Tuesday's session included Hamas discussing "the initial maps presented by the Israeli side regarding the withdrawal of troops as well as the mechanism and timetable for the hostage-prisoner exchange".

On Wednesday, Trump's special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will join the talks, according to Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.

"The primary guarantee of success at this stage is US President Trump himself... even if it comes to a point to require him imposing a vision," he said.

Qatar said its prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, would attend, while Turkish state media reported the country's intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin would lead a delegation to Egypt.

Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 67,160 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, figures the United Nations considers credible.

The data does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but indicates that over half of the dead are women and children.

burs/dv/dcp
Hamas said Wednesday that "optimism" was prevailing in indirect talks with Israel aimed at ending the Gaza war, with the militant group submitting a list of prisoners it wants released in exchange for freeing Israeli hostages under a deal.

The talks aim to thrash out a plan to implement a 20-point peace proposal put forward last month by US President Donald Trump, to which both Israel and Hamas have responded positively.

The plan calls for a ceasefire, the release of all the hostages, Hamas's disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

"The mediators are making great efforts to remove any obstacles to the implementation of the ceasefire, and a spirit of optimism prevails among all parties," senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP from Sharm El-Sheikh.

The Palestinian militant group submitted a list of prisoners it wants to be released in the first phase of the truce "in accordance with the agreed-upon criteria and numbers", Nunu added.

In exchange, Hamas is set to release 47 hostages, both alive and dead, who were seized in its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the war.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Trump's special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner were now in Sharm El-Sheikh, and that the word he had received since their arrival was "very encouraging".

He said the US envoys came "with a strong will, a strong message, and a strong mandate from President Trump to end the war in this round of negotiations".

Sisi also invited Trump himself to travel to Egypt for a signing ceremony if a deal were reached.

At the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump told reporters "there's a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East" if Hamas and Israel did agree on a ceasefire.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin are also expected at the talks on Wednesday.

The negotiations were taking place under the shadow of the second anniversary of the 2023 Hamas attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Militants also took 251 people hostage into Gaza, where 47 remain, including 25 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 67,183 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, figures the United Nations considers credible.

The data does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but indicates that over half of the dead are women and children.

- Protests -

Global pressure to end the war has escalated, with much of Gaza flattened, a UN-declared famine unfolding and Israeli hostage families still longing for their loved ones' return.

A UN probe last month accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, while rights groups have accused Hamas of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the October 7 attack. Both sides reject the allegations.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters joined pro-Palestinian mass demonstrations in cities across the world last weekend calling for an immediate end to the war, including in Italy, Spain, Ireland and Britain.

In Gaza, people were desperate for an end to a war that has upended their lives, interrupted their children's education, and left many families scarred by loss and grief.

"My dream is for the war to end now, not tomorrow," said Abeer Abu Said, a 21-year-old in Gaza who has lost seven family members in the war.

"I don't trust anyone -- from the Israeli negotiators or even Hamas -- they all lie to us. Negotiations for the sake of negotiations, while we die every minute."

In Israel, people marked the second anniversary of the October 7 attack with music, tears and speeches.

"I rise from the ashes and I come home," sang Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the massacre at the Nova music festival who represented Israel at the last Eurovision contest.

Orit Baron, whose daughter Yuval was killed at the Nova festival with her fiance Moshe Shuva, told AFP October 7 was a "black" day for the family.

"Now it's two years. And I'm here to be with her, because this is the last time that she was alive," the 75-year-old said at the site of the attack.

- Prisoners -

Key to the negotiations will be the names of the Palestinian prisoners Hamas will push for.

According to Egyptian state-linked media, high-profile inmate Marwan Barghouti -- from Hamas's rival, the Fatah movement -- is among those the group wants to see released.

He has been imprisoned since 2002, and was sentenced to life behind bars in 2004 on murder charges.

Regarded as a terrorist by Israel, he often tops opinion polls of popular Palestinian leaders and is sometimes described by his supporters as the "Palestinian Mandela".

More broadly, Hamas's top negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, said the Islamist group wants "guarantees from President Trump and the sponsor countries that the war will end once and for all".

A Palestinian source close to the Hamas negotiating team said Tuesday's session included Hamas discussing "the initial maps presented by the Israeli side regarding the withdrawal of troops as well as the mechanism and timetable for the hostage-prisoner exchange".

burs/smw/csp
Top US negotiators joined discussions Wednesday aimed at bringing the Gaza war to an end, with the negotiations' Egyptian host saying he had received "encouraging" signs so far.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hailed the support of US President Donald Trump, whose 20-point peace proposal forms the basis of the talks, while Hamas, too, expressed "optimism" over the indirect discussions with its foe Israel.

Both warring sides have responded positively to Trump's plan, which calls for a ceasefire, the release of all the hostages held in Gaza, Hamas's disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the territory.

Egyptian state-linked media aired footage of Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner pulling up to the talks in Sharm El-Sheikh on Wednesday.

Sisi said the word he had received since their arrival in the city the night before was "very encouraging", adding the US envoys came "with a strong will, a strong message, and a strong mandate from President Trump to end the war in this round of negotiations".

Sisi also invited Trump himself to travel to Egypt for a signing ceremony if a deal were reached.

At the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump told reporters "there's a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East" if Hamas and Israel did agree on a ceasefire.

- 'Optimism prevails' -

Senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP from Sharm El-Sheikh that "/mediators are making great efforts to remove any obstacles to the implementation of the ceasefire, and a spirit of optimism prevails".

The militant group submitted a list of Palestinian prisoners it wants released from Israeli jails in the first phase of the truce "in accordance with the agreed-upon criteria and numbers", Nunu added.

In exchange, Hamas is set to free 47 hostages, both alive and dead, who were seized in its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the war.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin are also expected at the talks on Wednesday, while Hamas said it would be joined by delegations from Islamic Jihad -- which has also held some of the hostages in Gaza -- as well as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

The negotiations were taking place under the shadow of the second anniversary of the 2023 Hamas attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Militants also took 251 people hostage into Gaza, where 47 remain, including 25 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 67,183 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, figures the United Nations considers credible.

The data does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but indicates that over half of the dead are women and children.

A spokesman for the territory's civil defence agency, a rescue force operating under Hamas authority, said the bombardment of Gaza had not stopped, reporting three bodies retrieved on Wednesday.

An AFP journalist in Israel near the Gaza border reported hearing multiple explosions in the morning.

- Protests -

Global pressure to end the war has escalated, with much of Gaza flattened, a UN-declared famine unfolding and Israeli hostage families still longing for their loved ones' return.

In Israel, people marked the second anniversary of the October 7 attack with music, tears and speeches.

In Gaza, meanwhile, people were desperate for an end to a war that has upended their lives, interrupted their children's education, and left many families scarred by loss and grief.

"We're back to famine again in Gaza. There is no flour, no rice, no food," said Umm Ahmad al-Zayyan, from Gaza City's Tel al-Hawa neighbourhood, adding her "children have been going to bed hungry every night for weeks".

A UN probe last month accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, while rights groups have accused Hamas of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the October 7 attack. Both sides reject the allegations.

- Prisoners -

Key to the negotiations will be the names of the Palestinian prisoners Hamas will push for.

According to Egyptian state-linked media, high-profile inmate Marwan Barghouti -- from Hamas's rival, the Fatah movement -- is among those the group wants to see released.

He has been imprisoned since 2002, and was sentenced to life behind bars in 2004 on murder charges.

Regarded as a terrorist by Israel, he often tops opinion polls of popular Palestinian leaders and is sometimes described by his supporters as the "Palestinian Mandela".

More broadly, Hamas's top negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, said the Islamist group wants "guarantees from President Trump and the sponsor countries that the war will end once and for all".

A Palestinian source close to the Hamas negotiating team said Tuesday's session included Hamas discussing "the initial maps presented by the Israeli side regarding the withdrawal of troops as well as the mechanism and timetable for the hostage-prisoner exchange".

burs/smw/ser
At least 14 soldiers were killed and several others injured in South Sudan after a suspected "love triangle" dispute led to a deadly shootout, the army said on Wednesday.

A clash between members of the Unified VIP Protection Force, which comprises government troops and opposition fighters, erupted on Monday at a market near the oil-rich Abyei Box region, which straddles the border between Sudan and South Sudan.

A fragile power-sharing deal between President Salva Kiir and his long-time rival, Riek Machar, has been unravelling for months, threatening to return the young nation to a civil war that left 400,000 dead in the 2010s.

Machar was indicted last month on charges of murder, treason and crimes against humanity, and was stripped of his position as first vice president in the unity government, further fuelling fears of renewed tensions.

According to South Sudan People's Defence Forces (SSPDF) spokesman Lul Ruai Koang, Monday's dispute began between two officers, one pro-Machar and the other pro-Kiir.

"There are two conflicting accounts regarding the cause of the crisis: first version says it was a purely personal misunderstanding between the two officers at a tea place and the other says it was a love triangle," Koang told reporters during a press briefing at the army general headquarters in the capital Juba.

"The two men reportedly quarrelled after both were reported to be romantically involved with the same lady," he said.

The situation escalated when the Machar-aligned officer shot his Kiir-aligned counterpart, prompting their respective bodyguards to open fire.

Violence then erupted from the market, spreading to primary checkpoints and barracks, Koang said.

"A total of 14 servicemen were killed: six from the SPLA-IO (Machar's party) and eight from the SSPDF," Koang confirmed.

One civilian was reportedly caught in the crossfire, with their condition yet to be confirmed, while five soldiers were injured and are receiving treatment.

Koang said the incident was not "politically motivated" but confirmed that an investigation has been launched.

The United Nations rights chief warned last month that South Sudan is on the brink of renewed war, as nearly 2,000 civilians have been killed in surging violence this year.

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but quickly fell into a five-year civil war.

A 2018 peace deal ended the fighting, but leaders have repeatedly failed to hold elections or unify their armed forces.
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he may travel to the Middle East later this week, as negotiators in Egypt reported "encouraging" progress toward a deal to end the Gaza war.

Trump, whose 20-point peace proposal forms the basis of the talks in the resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, said a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas is "very close".

"Negotiations are going along very well," Trump told reporters at the White House.

"I may go there sometime toward the end of the week, maybe on Sunday," he said, adding that he was "most likely" to turn up in Egypt but would also consider going to war-torn Gaza.

"'Peace for the Middle East,' that's a beautiful phrase, and we hope it's going to come true."

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi -- who has invited Trump to travel to Egypt if a deal is reached -- said signs from the talks were "encouraging", while Hamas, too, expressed "optimism" over the indirect discussions with its foe Israel.

Both warring sides have responded positively to Trump's plan, which calls for a ceasefire, the release of all the hostages held in Gaza, Hamas's disarmament and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the territory.

Al-Qahera News, which is close to Egypt's intelligence services, reported that the evening sessions for Wednesday's talks had begun.

Egyptian state-linked media earlier aired footage of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff pulling up to the talks.

- 'Optimism prevails' -

As night fell in the coastal area of Al-Mawasi in southern Gaza, an AFP contributor described an atmosphere of anticipation, with joyful chants of "Allahu akbar" (God is the greatest) and some celebratory gunfire into the air.

"We want the war to end as soon as possible," said 50-year-old Mohammed Zamlot, who had been displaced from northern Gaza.

"We're closely following every bit of news about the negotiations and the ceasefire."

Senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP from Sharm El-Sheikh that "/mediators are making great efforts to remove any obstacles to the implementation of the ceasefire, and a spirit of optimism prevails".

The militant group submitted a list of Palestinian prisoners it wants released from Israeli jails in the first phase of the truce, "in accordance with the agreed-upon criteria and numbers", Nunu added.

In exchange, Hamas is set to free the remaining 47 hostages, both alive and dead, who were seized in its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the war.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin were also expected at the talks on Wednesday, while Hamas said it would be joined by delegations from Islamic Jihad -- which has also held some of the hostages in Gaza -- as well as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

The negotiations were taking place under the shadow of the second anniversary of the 2023 Hamas attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.

Militants also took 251 people hostage into Gaza, where 47 remain, including 25 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel's military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 67,183 people, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, figures the United Nations considers credible.

The data does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but indicates that over half of the dead are women and children.

The territory's civil defence agency, a rescue force operating under Hamas authority, said the bombardment of Gaza had not stopped.

An AFP journalist in Israel near the Gaza border reported hearing multiple explosions in the morning.

- Protests, prisoners -

Global pressure to end the war has escalated, with much of Gaza flattened, a UN-declared famine unfolding and Israeli hostage families still longing for their loved ones' return.

In Israel, people marked the second anniversary of the October 7 attack with music, tears and speeches.

In Gaza, meanwhile, people were desperate for an end to a war that has upended their lives, interrupted their children's education, and left many families scarred by loss and grief.

A UN probe last month accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, while rights groups have accused Hamas of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity during the October 7 attack. Both sides reject the allegations.

Key to the negotiations will be the names of the Palestinian prisoners Hamas will push for.

According to Egyptian state-linked media, high-profile inmate Marwan Barghouti -- from Hamas's rival, the Fatah movement -- is among those the group wants to see released.

He has been imprisoned since 2002, and was sentenced to life in 2004 on murder charges.

Regarded as a terrorist by Israel, he often tops opinion polls of popular Palestinian leaders and is sometimes described by his supporters as the "Palestinian Mandela".

Hamas's top negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, also said the Islamist group wants "guarantees from President Trump and the sponsor countries that the war will end once and for all".

A Palestinian source close to the Hamas negotiating team said Tuesday's session included Hamas discussing "the initial maps presented by the Israeli side regarding the withdrawal of troops as well as the mechanism and timetable for the hostage-prisoner exchange".

"Our final negotiation, as you know, is with Hamas, and it seems to be going well," Trump said.

burs-smw-acc/sbk/gv
From credential dumps to fullz, how cases are built and charged

WASHINGTON, DC  The underground market for stolen data has evolved into a sophisticated, global ecosystem that supplies fraudsters, identity thieves, and organized cybercriminal groups with everything from basic credential dumps to fullz, which are bundled packages of personal, financial, and account data ready for exploitation.

Amicus International Consultings investigative unit finds that this illicit industry is no longer confined to anonymous forums or dark web message boards. It now operates through layered marketplaces, encrypted messaging channels, and subscription-based services that mimic legitimate commerce. This investigation examines how these data commodities are created, priced, and trafficked, as well as how investigators and prosecutors build cases that convert digital evidence into criminal charges.

From Credential Dumps to Fullz: The Data Supply Chain

At the entry level, the market offers credential dumps, which are collections of usernames and passwords harvested from data breaches, phishing operations, or malware infections. These lists are sold in bulk, with pricing determined by freshness, volume, and success rate. Buyers use them for account takeovers, credential stuffing, and automated login attacks.

At higher levels, vendors refine the offering. Verified account access, complete with working login endpoints, session cookies, and multi-factor bypass commands, premium prices because it shortens the path to monetization. The top of the hierarchy is the fullz package, which contains comprehensive identity profiles: full names, dates of birth, addresses, Social Security or national identification numbers, bank details, credit card data, and often scanned identity documents. These profiles facilitate the creation of synthetic identities, account origination, and large-scale financial fraud.

How the Data Is Stolen, Cleaned, and Sold

The supply chain begins with data theft. Breaches of corporate databases, misconfigured cloud storage, insecure e-commerce platforms, and employee-targeted phishing all feed the market. Once stolen, the data is cleaned, validated, and enriched. Validation involves testing credentials on live systems to identify which still work. Enrichment adds phone numbers, device fingerprints, and public records to increase value.

Aggregators bundle more minor breaches into large, marketable lots, while professional vendors add presentation layers, searchable interfaces, and automated download portals. Payment is typically made in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Monero. Some platforms provide escrow, ratings, and arbitration to resolve disputes, creating a pseudo-legitimate marketplace. Others operate through invitation-only networks where access requires proof of prior criminal activity or sponsorship.

Law Enforcement Countermeasures and Digital Forensics

Despite the technical sophistication of these networks, law enforcement responses have become equally advanced. Investigators now rely on digital forensics, financial tracing, and international collaboration. They trace cryptocurrency transactions, analyze seized servers, and correlate aliases, PGP keys, and domain registrations.

Amicus International Consultings analysts report that successful investigations depend on mapping how stolen data flows from breach to marketplace to exploitation. Investigators frequently conduct undercover purchases to authenticate data samples, thereby creating a direct evidentiary trail that links vendors to illegal activity. These samples are preserved under chain-of-custody protocols, allowing prosecutors to introduce them as admissible evidence.

Building Legal Cases: How Prosecutors Charge Operators

Regulators and prosecutors apply a range of charges to dismantle data trafficking operations. Common indictments include conspiracy to commit fraud, wire fraud, access device fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering. In cases involving significant breaches, prosecutors may also use statutes covering unauthorized access to computer systems or violations of privacy and communications laws.

A strong case requires demonstrating a clear connection between data sales and downstream harm. Investigators track victims, document unauthorized account activity, and link fraudulent transactions to the purchased datasets. Expert witnesses explain the technical methods used, while financial records confirm profit flows to the accused. When properly documented, these cases establish intent, scale, and culpability across multiple jurisdictions.

Private Sector Cooperation and Global Partnerships

Private companies, such as banks, payment processors, and cybersecurity firms, play a crucial role in disrupting the markets for stolen data. Financial institutions supply real-time fraud alerts and pattern analysis. Cryptocurrency exchanges collaborate with law enforcement to identify wallets, freeze funds, and track transactions through mixers or layering schemes.

Amicus International Consultings threat intelligence division highlights that cross-industry collaboration shortens the time between breach detection and market takedown. Shared indicators of compromise, including hashed passwords, IP addresses, and phishing kits, enable faster containment. Cybersecurity companies further aid enforcement by conducting attribution studies, sinkholing domains, and building forensic datasets that identify repeat offenders.

The Economics of Stolen Data

The profitability of stolen data depends on speed, quality, and liquidity. Fresh, verified data fetches higher prices because it offers immediate usability before victims reset credentials. Subscription models now dominate, allowing buyers to access continuous data feeds rather than one-time dumps.

Amicus International Consulting notes that the value chain resembles legitimate supply chains, with specialized roles for harvesters, aggregators, and brokers. Market operators make money not only from sales but also from commissions, advertising placements, and access fees. Each additional service, such as credit card validation or account recovery tools, increases monetization potential.

Case Study: Takedown of a Global Fullz Marketplace

In 2023, an international task force dismantled a subscription-based platform that sold fullz to buyers worldwide. The platform operated through encrypted communication channels, offered tiered membership options, and processed payments in cryptocurrency. Investigators worked with Amicus International Consulting to trace payment trails, infrastructure, and administrator identities.

Technical evidence included server metadata, email registrations, and operational overlaps between forum handles and personal accounts. Cryptocurrency analysis identified wallets linked to known exchanges, allowing authorities to seize funds. Coordinated arrests across three countries led to multiple charges, including conspiracy, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Thousands of compromised identities were removed from circulation. The case demonstrated that combining technical attribution, undercover operations, and financial tracing can dismantle global data markets and produce admissible evidence in court.

Victim Impact and Policy Implications

Victims of stolen data experience more than financial loss. They endure reputational harm, account closures, and long-term credit consequences. Corporations face regulatory fines, remediation expenses, and loss of consumer trust. Because stolen data spreads through multiple layers of resale, containment becomes difficult. A single breach can generate thousands of derivative attacks as buyers reuse credentials across sectors.

Amicus International Consultings research underscores that preventing stolen data from being monetized is as important as securing it. Strong encryption, timely breach disclosure, and multi-factor authentication reduce the commercial value of stolen credentials. Regulators can further deter negligence by enforcing mandatory data protection standards and holding custodians accountable for preventable exposures.

The Markets Social Structure: Reputation and Trust Among Criminals

The stolen data economy operates on its own logic of trust. Vendors build credibility through feedback scores and repeat sales. Escrow systems guarantee transaction security, while arbitration resolves disputes. Tutorials, fraud kits, and discussion forums transform these markets into training grounds for cybercrime. Law enforcement now treats such platforms not only as distribution channels but also as incubators for the development of criminal skills.

Amicus International Consultings analysts note that dismantling a marketplace disrupts both commerce and community. Without centralized forums, knowledge exchange slows, and smaller, less organized actors struggle to replicate the same scale and scope. Targeting infrastructure, therefore, weakens both immediate profit and long-term capacity.

Case Building and Evidence Preservation

Successful prosecutions depend on forensic precision. Investigators must preserve digital evidence exactly as it was seized, document the data flow, and establish authenticity. Screenshots, blockchain analysis, and metadata collection must comply with evidentiary rules. Cross-border investigations require coordination through Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties, which often slow progress but remain essential for the lawful exchange of data and the processing of extradition requests.

Amicus International Consultings legal specialists recommend establishing standardized procedures between cyber units, prosecutors, and private sector partners to accelerate response times and minimize evidentiary gaps. The longer a marketplace remains active, the more data is stolen, cleaned, and resold, making early disruption vital.

Reducing the Markets Viability

From a policy standpoint, the only sustainable way to suppress stolen data markets is to attack their economics. Reducing supply requires stronger cybersecurity and a faster response to breaches. Reducing demand involves devaluing stolen information through better authentication protocols and anti-fraud controls. Increasing risk means elevating penalties and expanding investigative reach.

Consumers also play a role. Regular password updates, the use of hardware-based authentication keys, and avoiding credential reuse across services remain effective preventive measures. Businesses must adopt zero-trust architectures, limit the storage of sensitive data, and rehearse breach containment protocols. Governments must refine legal definitions to criminalize intermediary roles, such as credential brokers and data enrichment services that knowingly sell compromised information.

Case Study: Corporate Response to a Credential Dump Incident

A multinational technology firm discovered that its employee credentials had been compromised in an online data breach. Amicus International Consulting worked with the companys cybersecurity team to identify compromised accounts, reset credentials, and notify affected third parties. The firm also engaged regulators and customers under mandatory breach reporting laws. The swift response prevented secondary exploitation and preserved corporate trust. The incident illustrated that transparency, rapid containment, and cooperation with law enforcement reduce both reputational damage and legal liability.

Conclusion: The Battle Over Identity Economics

Amicus International Consultings investigation concludes that while the marketplace for stolen data remains resilient, it is not invincible. Coordinated efforts by regulators, private sector actors, and investigative agencies are gradually eroding profitability. As enforcement improves, the business model of data theft becomes less viable.

However, the threat evolves continuously. Encrypted communications, privacy-focused cryptocurrencies, and decentralized hosting enable marketplaces to remain mobile and adaptive. Policymakers must invest in proactive monitoring, stronger international cooperation, and data protection education. Criminal enterprises thrive in opacity; transparency and accountability are the antidotes to this.

Amicus International Consultings directors summarize the principle clearly. The marketplace for stolen data is the shadow reflection of the legitimate data economy. Every breach, every credential, every fullz package represents the failure of security discipline. The solution lies not only in law enforcement but in re-engineering how societies protect and value information. In a world where data defines identity, the theft of data has become the theft of the self.

Contact Information

Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402

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Email: [email protected]

Website: www.amicusint.ca
Netflix's much-awaited fantasy rom-com "Genie, Make a Wish" has polarized audiences after its release over the Chuseok holiday weekend.

The series, which features Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy, has received both acclaim for its visual appeal and criticism for its "childish" dialogue and humor, The Korea Times reports.

Released in full on October 3, the 13-episode series tells the story of Genie, a lamp spirit who awakens after a thousand years, and Ga-young, a woman disconnected from her emotions.

The narrative follows their intertwined fates as they navigate three life-changing wishes, blending fantasy, romance, and comedy in equal measure.

Netflix had promoted the drama as its most expected Korean title of the year. Most of the hype came from the comeback of hit writer Kim Eun-sook  best known for "Goblin" and "Mr. Sunshine"  and the reunion of two leading stars.

The streaming giant had also released it strategically before Korea's weeklong Chuseok holiday to maximize its visibility to viewers.

The premiere of the show soon sparked controversy on internet forums. A more neutral paragraph before the quotations reported that views were "highly polarized."

One of the viewers said, "I expected more but quit halfway." Another stated, "I couldn't even finish episode one." Others called the show "unfunny" and "hard to watch."

Not all opinions were bad, though. ""It's perfect for killing time," one viewer commented. Another commented, "It's like a Suzy photo book  I can't stop watching." Despite these kinds of positive responses, social media opinion has been more critical overall.

Off camera, "Genie, Make a Wish" allegedly encountered production controversy that could have affected its reception.

As per Chosun Biz, the publication indicated that the show was originally headed by Lee Byung-hun before The Glory's Ahn Gil-ho came in to finish production.

In an impartial report prior to the statement, the publication stated that "no director attended the press conference," which is reportedly unusual for a big-budget Netflix drama.

Interestingly, neither Lee nor Ahn are credited as director in the finale sequence of the show. Only Kim Eun-sook is credited as the screenwriter, hinting at creative tensions behind the scenes.

In spite of the divided reviews and controversy during production, "Genie, Make a Wish" remains to generate a lot of buzz thanks to its A-list celebrity cast, renowned writer, and festive timing. Whether it manages to convert initial skepticism into sustainable success is to be seen.






Wednesday, October 8, 2025 - Popular actor and filmmaker, Abel Mutua, has opened up about a harrowing experience after being robbed at knife-point in Kahawa West, Nairobi.

In a post on Instagram on Wednesday, October 8th, Mutua recounted the chilling ordeal that took place the previous night.

Known for his roles in Tahidi High and The Real Househelps of Kawangware, the award-winning content creator revealed that he lost several valuable items, including his iPhone 16 Pro Max and Bose headphones.

Despite the loss, Mutua expressed deep gratitude for escaping unharmed.

The young men in Kahawa West welcomed me to the city yesterday, he said.

My phone is gone, my headphones too. But the most important thing is, despite the huge knives they were carrying, they spared my life.

He added that the attack occurred just across from the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral & Research Hospital (KUTRRH) morgue.

Ironically, they attacked me right across from the morgue. If they had decided otherwise, Id have woken up there today.

Bless them for sparing a life, he reflected.





The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, October 8, 2025 - Outspoken Embakasi East MP, Babu Owino, has responded to growing speculation about his political allegiance, following his recent visible closeness with Wiper Party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka.

Speaking during a radio interview on Wednesday, October 8th, 2025, Owino dismissed claims that he is defecting from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

He clarified that his relationship with Kalonzo is personal and not a sign of political betrayal.

Up to now, Kalonzo has always communicated with Raila Odinga.

He calls Raila, and Raila calls him back. If Raila and Kalonzo communicate, what is wrong when I communicate with Kalonzo? Owino posed.

He emphasized that maintaining contact with political allies should not be misinterpreted.

When Kalonzo was in Azimio, he was a good man. What has he done wrong now?

The remarks come days after Kalonzo was officially endorsed by Wiper as the oppositions top contender to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 elections.

Owino is also rumored to be eyeing Nairobis gubernatorial seat under the Wiper ticket, further fueling speculation.

Recently, Owino claimed that ODM leader, Raila Odinga, has already decided to back Governor Johnson Sakajas re-election bid in 2027.

I am sure I will not get the ODM ticket to vie for Nairobi Governor in 2027.

Sakaja was endorsed by Raila in Bomas during the AUC prayer meeting, Owino stated.

Owino also expressed frustration over being sidelined within the party, citing Sakajas recent political support from both Raila and President William Ruto as evidence of shifting loyalties.

When Sakaja was endorsed and rescued from impeachment by Raila and Ruto, it showed my presence in the party is no longer valued, he said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, October 8, 2025 - Residents of Kinangop are in mourning following the brutal murder of Jane Wanjiru, a young woman whose lifeless body was found dumped near the Delamare area in Naivasha.

According to preliminary reports, Wanjiru, who had been working in Naivasha, was brutally killed by unknown assailants before her body was dumped by the roadside.

The shocking incident has sparked grief, with many Kenyans on social media demanding swift action from authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.

We are heartbroken and outraged. We demand justice for Jane. No woman deserves to die this way, wrote one of her close friends on social media.

A woman who knew the deceased shared details of their last encounter, revealing that Wanjiru had visited her shop recently seeking a job and appeared deeply distressed.

She looked troubled and said she was depressed. She even mentioned that she wanted to end her life, the woman recalled.

Police have since launched investigations into the killing.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, October 8, 2025 - A new twist has emerged in the ongoing controversy involving Andrew Wakahiu, a close ally of former President Uhuru Kenyatta and the director of The Bulls Karen, after his former employee, identified as Claire, accused him of taking advantage of her.

Claire took to social media, alleging that Wakahiu had been exploiting female staff members at his restaurant and that many of the victims were too afraid to speak out.

However, new claims from individuals close to both parties suggest that there may be conflicting accounts of what transpired.

According to one source, Claire allegedly visited Wakahius home voluntarily, and the two were reportedly involved in a consensual relationship before their fallout.

The same source further claimed that tensions arose after the end of the relationship, leading to the current public dispute.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, October 8, 2025 - Kenyan media personality, Willis Raburu, has successfully recovered his stolen Samsung Galaxy Fold, valued at over Ksh 240,000, after it was snatched during a public event at Carnivore Grounds in Nairobi.

Raburu shared the dramatic journey on social media, revealing how a security app he had installed played a pivotal role in tracking the device.

The app snapped a photo of the person attempting to unlock the phone and sent it directly to Raburus email.

With help from Kibera Police, his private security team, and online users who circulated the image, Raburu traced the suspects movements and located both his home and workplace.

But instead of pressing charges, Raburu chose forgiveness.

I found him. I know where he lives, I know where he works. But Ive chosen to forgive him. Its not about revenge. I just wanted my phone back, he wrote.

Raburu expressed gratitude to the community and professionals who helped him, emphasizing the power of unity and digital tools in resolving such cases.





The Kenyan DAILY POST






Wednesday, October 8, 2025 - After Pastor Robert Burales ex-wife, Rozinah Mwakideu, opened up about their brief and turbulent marriage in a candid podcast with her brother, radio host Alex Mwakideu, the internet has been buzzing with renewed scrutiny of Burales past.

Twelve years after their separation, Rozinah didnt hold back, calling her marriage to Burale the darkest period of her life and the biggest mistake she ever made.

Adding to the controversy, a resurfaced video of veteran actress and media personality Nini Wacera has reignited public interest.

In the clip, Nini recounts how Burale allegedly conned her out of KSh 250,000 back in 2004.

She had saved the money to buy a car and trusted Burale - who claimed to be a car dealer - to source one for her.

After sending her photos of a vehicle he claimed to be driving from Mombasa to Nairobi, he disappeared.

Nini later encountered Burale at an acting audition, where she says he was targeting unsuspecting actresses.

Despite confronting him and pressing charges, she never recovered her money.

Burale, who later claimed to be born again and promised to refund her, never followed through.

She also shared that during their brief dating period, Burale avoided intimacy, which she initially interpreted as a sign of strong moral values.

In hindsight, she believes it was part of a calculated scheme.

These revelations have fueled speculation online, with some suggesting that Burale might be playing for other team - a cheeky reference to the slang SIM 2.

As more voices emerge, the conversation around Burales past continues to stir debate across social media.

Watch the video below.

You gotta give it to Robert Burale. He knows his craft https://t.co/bpcUtxGr5r pic.twitter.com/NajKoGnU54    (@iamjoseh_) October 7, 2025

The Kenyan DAILY POST
IT'S not every day you get to celebrate two big birthdays on the same date.

Thats exactly what Co Kildare woman Kamila Jansova did on September 30.

The day marked a decade since the opening of McDonalds Naas - and her eldest daughters ninth birthday.

I gave birth to my first child on the same day that we opened the restaurant in Naas, Kamila said.

I planned it well! Its such a lovely memory for me on both fronts.

Czech Republic native Kamila, who lives in Newbridge, has worked with McDonalds for almost 17 years.

She started as a crew member in Newbridge in December 2008, worked her way up to Business Manager in 2013 and was promoted to operations consultant last August.

In her current role she looks after the Naas and Newbridge restaurants.

I did all the different jobs - floor manager, shift manager, you name it  along the way, she said.

Then I got the fantastic opportunity to open Naas as business manager in 2015.

Its open 24/7 and is one of the busiest restaurants in Ireland. Flexibility, she said, is one of the best bits about being a McDonalds employee.

When I had my daughters, I scaled back my hours, which helped immensely with childcare, she said.

Another career high came last year when she was shortlisted for the prestigious global Ray Kroc Award, which recognises the top 1 per cent of McDonalds managers worldwide.

I didnt win, but I got down to the last three finalists, so Im delighted, she added.

Kamila also recalled a tougher chapter when McDonalds Newbridge, which recently reopened, burned down in 2024 and was shut for more than a year.

We brought around 40 employees to our Naas restaurant and it was great to have a strong management team and crew, she said.

For eight straight weeks, we were the busiest restaurant in the country. Newbridge, she added, marked one year of reopening on September 4.

For Kamila, working at McDonalds is a family affair thanks to her sisters, Martina (43) and Karolina (35), who also earn a living under the Golden Arches.

When Newbridge burned down it was a real family reunion because all three of us ended up working together, she said.

Karolina, Kamila and Martina Jansova

What keeps Kamila here is simple: the people.

The people who work with you and the people around you make the job special, she said.

Theres a lot of work at weekends and on bank holidays and its a hard job. But the people definitely make a difference.

Thats my biggest passion. I love to see people progress.

Franchisee Sean Quirke says Kamilas work ethic is second to none

Its great to be marking 10 years since Kamila and her fantastic team helped us open McDonalds Naas, he said.

Our people are everything and we know we wouldnt be where we are today without them.

Kamilas hard work, dedication and desire to do her best lifts her colleagues and our customers and makes our restaurants truly great.
A MAN who shares the same name as a famous fictional spy received a custodial sentence last week when he appeared before Carlow District Court on driving-related charges.

Thomas James Bond Power (29) appeared before Judge Geraldine Carthy, where he pleaded guilty to a charge of driving without insurance or a drivers licence, and to driving while disqualified.

The offences relate to when Mr Bond Power was stopped by gardai on the N80, Glebe, Bunclody. Mr Bond, of Carraig Ban, Bunclody, was also charged with failing to submit his drivers licence after being put off the road for previously not having insurance. He also pleaded guilty to failing to appear before Carlow District Court on 12 February this year.

When Judge Carthy raised her eyebrows about the authenticity of the defendants name, solicitor Chris Hogan replied: Yes, its an original name.

He explained that the defendants mother was a Bond from England and that his father was a Power from Ireland, that his grandfather was called James Bond and, furthermore, one of his cousins had married a Connery.

Its a true name, repeated Mr Hogan.

Sergeant Peter Smyth outlined some of the charges against Mr Bond Power to Judge Carthy. He said that gardai caught him breaking the speed limit on the N80 in January this year and that he was disqualified at the time so therefore was not insured to drive. He continued that the defendant had tested positive for the presence of cocaine in his system and that he was arrested and brought to Bunclody Garda Station.

Judge Geraldine Carthy Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie

Sgt Smyth added that Mr Bond Power had 27 previous convictions, 24 of which were related to traffic matters, that he had been disqualified for five years at the time he was stopped and that this was his third offence for driving without insurance.

Mr Hogan told Judge Carthy that his client fully accepts that he shouldnt have been driving but that his life was spiralling out of control after a tragic death in his family.

He continued that Mr Bond Power no longer took drugs, that his client was now addressing his issues and asked Judge Carthy not to impose a custodial sentence on him.

Judge Carthy said that there were several aggravating factors in the case, including that it was the defendants third time being in court for driving without insurance and that hed already got the benefit of a suspended sentence.

She said that she had no choice but to impose a custodial sentence and sentenced Mr Bond Power to four months imprisonment, while also putting him off the road for six years.

Recognisances were fixed, and Mr Bond Power is appealing the sentence.
THE OPENING of the highly anticipated Shackleton Experience in Athy has come at last, with the museum set to open to the public this Saturday (11 October).

Years of preparation and work has gone into the project, and is part of a larger 100 million council strategy to regenerate the town of Athy, which includes other projects such as the regeneration of Emily Square, the Barrow Blueway and the Food, Drinks & Skills Innovation Hub set to open its doors this spring.

The museum itself costs 7.7 million, with 5.2 million of that coming from the governments Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the balance from Kildare County Council itself. The museum has also seen significant support from entities such as Athy Heritage Company and Failte Ireland during the process.

The Shackleton Experience has transformed the 300-year-old town hall into a fresh tourist attraction for the town that focuses on the life of Athy-born Antarctic explorer, Ernest Shackleton. The regeneration of this historic hall was a very important piece of the puzzle and the council has confirmed that the buildings focal point  the clock given to Athy by Lord Downes in1838  is still in the process of repairs. It was confirmed that due to timing issues it will not be repaired by the official opening of the museum.

The museum not only explores Shackletons life and polar expeditions, but also has a present-day focus on climate change in relation to conservation of polar animals, and aims to educate visitors on this present-day issue.

With so much interest building for the attraction, the council expects visits from schools, families, adventure and endurance enthusiasts as well as international visitors  with hopes to later develop programmes with local Athy groups and schools.

Manager of the Shackleton Experience, Brannockstown native Aline FitzGerald, called her experience with the museum so far had been wonderful.

It's just phenomenal really, she said. I think everyone can see the difference it's going to make to the town. Everybody has worked so well together to bring it to life, and that has proved in the success of it to date and how it has unfolded.

An official opening will take place on Friday and the doors will open to the public for the first time on Saturday.

Visitors to the attraction are in for a treat with the term museum simply not sufficient enough for describing the immersive experience it is.

When you come here to hear about Shackleton and his expeditions, you fully experience the essence of how that would be. So it is an experience for visitors to come here and engage in, said Aline.

The attraction boasts over 200 artefacts, including the cabin where Ernest Shackleton died while he was on a expedition and a sledge and harness that was used in the famous Nimrod expedition.

On top of that, there are many immersive experiences including augmented reality sections and interactive elements, including the cold planet section where visitors can feel the freezing temperature of the Antarctic for themselves.

Kildare County Councils Manager of Planning, Enterprise, Economic Development and Emergency Services, Alan Dunney, said that the council has ambitious targets for the amount of visitors the museum is likely to receive and said: We would hope to use it as leverage to increase footfall into the town of Athy.

This sentiment was echoed by Ms FitzGerald as she considered Athys location well connected to other nearby attractions, and of course, the countrys capital.

We are really on the doorstep of Dublin, she said. Were very easily accessible by train or by road. I think this really puts Athy on the map.

The Shackleton Experience is not only expected to be positive economically for the town, but also for locals with a new employment opportunities opening to fill not only the museum itself but also Ernies Cafe. It is expected that approximately 13 people will be employed in the building overall.

Aside from the employment opportunities, the building also offers a free-of-charge exhibition covering Athys medieval history, and the cafe which will be open to the public.

Athys new cultural landmark hopes to leave visitors with an important sentiment by Shackleton himself: By endurance we conquer.

That sense of working together as a team, explained Ms FitzGerald. Of never falling off track, and that you should never underestimate what you can accomplish together.
A KILDARE resident has recently launched his debut book titled On a Bog by the Land Near a River in his native town in Co Laois.

Ger Healion who lives in Rathmore West with his family held the event in Mountmellick Library on Tuesday 30 September and will hold a second book launch event in Naas Library on Tuesday 21 October.

The book is an evocative, entertaining, thoughtful and deeply considered memoir of captivating and humorous short stories from Gers life and the influence his hometown had on his growing years during the 60s, 70s and 80s.

The collection honours a time, a place and a community and is filled with absorbing local stories and great characters. The book will relate much more widely to small-town Ireland from that period in time.

Despite the dark evening and heavy rain almost 70 people attended the book launch, which Ger said was much more than he had hoped for.

The author, who self-published, sold out as people kept climbing the stairs of the library and queueing up to get their copies signed. Some people were buying two, three and even four copies and having them signed with special dedications for family and friends who couldnt make the launch.

Speaking to the Kildare Nationalist before the launch Ger spoke about his debut book. When asked where the title On a Bog by the Land Near a River came from, he said: The name comes from one of the English versions of what Mountmellick or Mointeach Milic means, and it describes the place perfectly. The book is based on stories from my memories of things that happened when I lived here from being a young child until I left Mountmellick in 1987.

In 2004 I went back to education as an adult learner. In about 2010 I did a part-time degree in Maynooth, and part of that degree was embarking on a week-long summer writing course in Kilkenny with author, actor and playwright John MacKenna. John helped me an awful lot with lots of stuff that I wouldnt have known, and the course focused on writing what you know about.

What was coming to me on Johns course was things that I experienced while growing up in Mountmellick. The first thing that I wrote about on that course is in the book. The book started with me writing things down on scraps of paper as memories came to me and then typing them into the computer and editing them from there.

You get a bit of distance when you write by pen, read it back and then edit as you go along.

Once everyone had settled, Mountmellick Library manager Amanda Hyland thanked everyone for attending and Ger for choosing to launch his book in the library.

She passed over to Gers friend Paul Hyland who told some funny stories of the two growing up together which included some well-received banter between them.

Paul then introduced the towns latest author who read a story titled Santy in the Hall from his book, held a questions and answers session and then encouraged everyone to write down their life stories and experiences saying that it is important that they are documented for the next generations.

For any Laois people who missed the launch and for his community in Kildare and further afield, Ger is holding another book launch event at 7pm in Naas Library on Tuesday 21 October. Copies of the book and light refreshments will be available on the night, and everyone is welcome to attend.

For any queries the author can be contacted by emailing gerhealion.act@gmail.com. Copies will soon be available from some local bookshops.
One of Kilkennys most acclaimed live music bars is to feature what many are describing as the comeback of the decade this coming Saturday night with the highly anticipated second reunion of Dressed To Get Messed.

Its been a quick 12 months since the infamous night on Friary Street that saw Ryan's Bar packed to the rafters with music lovers from all over to witness the triumphant return of a band that dominated the local music scene in the mid-80s. The night proved that the band still have what it takes to turn up the heat in any venue and this time they were louder than ever. The gig was so well received that the band sold out of a limited run of exclusive t-shirts and people demanding a quick return for another show.

TAP HERE FOR MORE WHAT'S ON IN KILKENNY

Formed in the autumn of 1985, the crew crammed more chaos, carnage, and pure rock n roll into four years than most bands could dream of in a lifetime. Fronted by the charismatic fireball Pee Burns and powered by the explosive lineup of Rolo Foley (bass), Kaylo McInerney (drums), Kieran Phelan (guitar), and Shinny Dowling (sax & harmonica)  The Messed werent just a band, they were part of a local movement that saw venues like the Newpark Inn and Hendersons heaving with excitement.

READ NEXT: RYAN'S BAR CELEBRATES 20 YEARS

The Messed were well known for their high energy, sweat-drenched live shows nights from local venues to headlining the Beat on the Street in front of 4,000 fans with Kilkenny Castle as their backdrop.



The band also took their wild energy abroad, touring Belgium alongside the brilliant Homesick n The Backstabbers, spreading Kilkenny rock n roll to European crowds hungry for the madness.

Championed by the legendary Dave Fanning, and sharing stages with Something Happens and The Stunning at the height of their fame, The Messed carved their name into Irish rock history without the aid of social media or viral internet videos.

Dressed To Ge Messed returned after a 30+ year hiatus last year, joined by the magnificent Rory Broderick on keys, the show was so good, so packed and so exciting, that the band decided to come back for seconds  proving that real legends never die.

Bands come and go but The Messed are proving that they can defy the ages and still rock venues even better than before. This is one night not to be missed so make your way to Ryans Bar on Friary Street this coming Saturday. People are advised to arrive early as it is first come first served.
A man showed complete disregard for members of the public and viciously assaulted two passersby on a Kilkenny City centre street, a garda has alleged at the local district court.



Two people had to be brought to St Lukes Hospital in Kilkenny for treatment - one with a fractured hand - following an incident in Kilkenny City last Saturday afternoon.



The garda was addressing a judge as three people, two men and one woman, appeared in court charged with various offences including assault, possession of an offensive weapon, theft and dangerous driving. Scroll down to continue reading...



Maudlin Street in Kilkenny City

The court was told the clash occurred on Maudlin Street just after 2.30pm.

Kilkenny gardai were alerted that a car had driven the wrong way down the one-way Maudlin Street and when members of the public attempted to flag down the vehicle it is alleged they were assaulted by occupants of the car.

On Monday the three were brought to court where gardai objected to bail for two of the accused. A judge ordered one of the accused to remain in custody while bail was granted to two others. Click NEXT (above) to continue reading the report from Kilkenny District Court...
Walking the streets of Kilkenny, you arent simply walking on pavements, you are walking on the multi-layered history of the city itself. Names such as Friary Street, Rose Inn Street and Parliament Street all have their origins in the Citys history and the commercial and religious activity that coursed through its busy and diverse communities over hundreds of years.

The following is a short summary of some of the most distinctive and colourful street names that adorn the high-ways and by-ways of Kilkenny City. They are a fascinating glimpse into the centuries of local history that shaped and created this unique place.

High Street - is a long narrow street that broadens in the middle, a legacy of its past when it hosted a medieval marketplace. There is a plaque at the end of High Street which states High Street 1200 - widened in 1860. The street is named because it was the highway from Kilkenny Castle to St Canice's Cathedral built by William Marshal. The Tholsel is the defining building on the High street and its name derives from two words toll (tax) and sael (hall) - the place where tolls were paid. Now Kilkennys City Hall, the Tholsel in medieval times acted as a courthouse, custom house, guildhall and also a meeting place for the citys merchant class. There was also once a public gallows on the street while the Hole in the Wall tavern was a supper house and watering hole with a colourful reputation. Both Charles Stewart Parnell and Eamon De Valera spoke at public events on the High Street.



Kieran Street - this street which runs parallel to High Street was also known in the past as Low Lane, Back Lane and King Street. It was named for Ciarans Well, the site of an ancient church at its northern end which was demolished, the site later forming part of the public market. It was the original thoroughfare from the Castle to St Canices and is probably one of the oldest streets in Kilkenny. It was also reportedly home to Alice Kyteler, the infamous witch of Kilkenny who escaped the city after being condemned for heresy in the 14th century.



Parliament Street - this street was named for the Confederate Parliament of 1648 but was earlier known as Coal Market Street as it was the site of the public market where coal from the Castlecomer mines was sold. The street was built as an extension of the High Street on the request of the occupying English who agreed a lease of the ground from the Church for an annual rent of 4 ounces of gold. Apart from Graces Castle, the other notable building on the street is Rothe House, a 16th century merchants house restored in 1966, where the Gaelic League once taught Irish. Where the Watergate Theatre now stands, was once a defensive city gate.



The Parade - this open area outside Kilkenny Castle was so named because soldiers used to drill or parade on the site. Up until the 17th century it was known simply as Castle Street. From 1758 on it was called the Parade. On assuming the title, the 16th Earl of Ormonde launched the restoration of the Castle, part of which involved the construction of a public road. The 17th Earl commissioned the buildings where the Design and Crafts Council Ireland are now homed between 1800 and 1820. The areas artistic legacy also includes the site of the Kilkenny Theatre which dates from about 1794.



Friary Street - this street was named after the Capuchin Friars on the street. The Capuchins first arrived in Kilkenny in 1643. In 1756 they built a friary known as the Poor House Chapel on Walkin Street just off the central thoroughfare of High Street. In 1848 the present-day Church of St Francis was built on this site. The current classical-style friary residence was constructed in 1897, over the basement and incorporating the fabric of the earlier, eighteenth-century building. Friary Street was the site of an ambush by the First Battalion of the IRA on a convoy of British soldiers in 1921. There were three fatalities, two IRA members and one unlucky passing civilian.



Rose Inn Street - is situated in the Cathedral parish of St Marys in the townland of the Dukes Meadows and the street name is of Norman origin. Prior to the Norman occupation of Kilkenny, only one bridge spanned the Nore, situated where Greens Bridge is now. With the building of St Johns Abbey about 1200 by the Earl Mareschal, a bridge was constructed across the Nore near the present Johns Bridge. This meant that a roadway to connect with Castle Street, now the Parade, was needed.

There is a lot of uncertainty around the origin of the name. Rose Inn Street. Some say it derives from the Rose Inn which was situated on the street but this appears to be incorrect as in a Corporation record dated 1637 it appears as Rosin Street, and in Rocques survey of the city, dated 1757, it is spelled Rozon Street. In a document from 1668, it is referred to as Rosin Street, and only when the inn on the street was christened the Rose Inn later, did people then begin to call it Rose Inn Street.

Taking time to absorb these stories transforms a walk around the city into a trip back though time and allows you to imagine the life of the streets in long ago eras.

FOR MORE KILKENNY CITY NEWS, CLICK HERE
Sinn Fein MEP for Ireland South, Kathleen Funchion, has backed calls from Ireland's seafood and fisheries sector for action to be taken by the EU against coastal states who have been guilty of overfishing.

MEP Funchion, who is from Kilkenny, was commenting on reports on the latest scientific advice calling for a 70% reduction in the EU mackerel quota. A 41% cut to the blue whiting quota has also been recommended.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny 'clearly a posh city' with parts 'nearly on a par with Cork'

"For far too long, successive Irish governments and the European Commission have been letting our coastal and fishing communities in Ireland take an unfair share of the burden when it comes to quota cuts," she said.

"Im deeply concerned by reports of further severe quota cuts, which many in the seafood industry say are due to reckless overfishing by third-country coastal states; Norway, the Faroes, Iceland, and Russia.

"Indeed, I have previously written to the European Commission on these countries unilaterally and recklessly overfishing mackerel.

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"Enough is enough, and we in Ireland need to start demanding fairness for our coastal and fishing communities.

"Therefore, I have written to the European Commission again demanding they work to protect Ireland from these quota reductions, as I believe that we have already taken more than our fair share of the burden since Brexit.

"Our coastal and fishing communities should be places of sustainable employment and cultural and economic activity, and we should all be working towards supporting them to achieve this.

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"These cuts, if carried through, would be catastrophic to the local economy of those communities."

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Students across Kilkenny received their Junior Cycle results this morning, marking the end of a significant chapter in their educational journey.

Amongst the schools celebrating a great batch of results this year is Castlecomer Community School in North Kilkenny.

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Principal Pat Murphy congratulated the school's Junior Cycle students of 2025 on 'their exceptional results'.

"Through focused teaching and learning from our outstanding staff, combined with the hard work of our students we have more than doubled the number of distinctions achieved this year," he said.

"On top of this we are very proud to announce that our rate of distinctions achieved has trebled over the last three years.

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"Further progress can be seen in the number of higher merits achieved by our students, which has also risen by 50% since last year.

"We are particularly proud of Madeleine ODwyer, Rico Morris, Kian Thunder and Lucy OGorman each of whom achieved exceptional results.

"On a momentous week when we launched our Magenta Principles book which documents the excellent teaching and learning

culture in our school, it is heartening to know that all the work we have put into constantly seeking out ways to improve our school are working and our results today are evidence of that.

"The Junior Cert is an important stepping-for our students on their journey through their teenage years.

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"As well as the classroom-based assessments in the first two years, the final exams in third year give them a real taste of what state examinations are like and what is ahead of them in sixth year and beyond.

"It is an important milestone in their educational journey and gives them great direction when it comes to picking their Leaving Certificate subjects and ultimately their preferred profession.

"Congratulations to all of our Junior Cycle class of 2025, we are looking forward to working with you on your Leaving Cert journey already!"

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" " Lizard species come in way more colors than just green. Donyanedomam / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Some colorful lizards can stop you in your tracks. One second, you think you're looking at a rock. The next, a rainbow blur darts across your path. These reptiles are the masters of camouflage and display, using vivid skin tones to communicate, hide or strut their stuff.

And lizard lovers, take note: World Lizard Day on August 14 is the perfect time to celebrate these stunning species.
Senator says time is running out for US growers, help needed now
Nicole Kidman was "very nervous" before her Paris Fashion Week appearance.

Nicole Kidman was 'nervous' before Chanel show

The 58-year-old actress - who announced this week she is returning to Chanel as an official brand ambassador - stepped out at the Chanel Womenswear Spring/Summer 2026 show on Monday (06.10.25) with her daughters Sunday Rose, 17, and Faith Margaret, 14, by her side.

In a behind the scenes video for Vogue magazine, she said: "I'm just very nervous, actually.

"I have my daughters coming with me. But I'm very excited for Matthieu [Blazy] because this is a big moment for him.

Nicole made her first public appearance since filing for divorce her children's father Keith Urban.

However, she was glad to be there to support her friend Mattieu, who is the fashion house's new creative director.

She added: "To be able to celebrate him with his first show with Chanel, and the beginning of an incredible journey together, it's exciting, right?

In a statement earlier this week, she told WWD she is "thrilled" to be teaming up with the brand for its new chapter.

She added: As someone who has such an appreciation for haute couture, I am so looking forward to witnessing Matthieus vision for the oldest haute couture house still in operation and having the opportunity to wear what I know will be gorgeous creations.

Chanel has always been ahead of the curve, shining a smart and gracious light on women, and I am sure Matthieu will be no exception, just like [late creative director Karl Lagerfeld] did in his time."

Meanwhile, Blazy - who has collaborated with Nicole before when he was creative director at Bottega Veneta - described her as the "embodiment" of Chanel.

He said: "From the unforgettable Baz Luhrmann film to her countless red carpet looks, Nicole has always been part of the history of the house.

"Free and ever-changing, she is for me the embodiment of the Chanel woman.

"I know we also share a genuine passion for craft and savoir-faire. Having worked with Nicole in the past and now reuniting with her at Chanel is a dream come true and couldnt make me happier."
By Mata Press Service

Even as Canada tightens its immigration rules and trims entry targets, the country remains the number one place in the world that people dream of moving to, according to a new survey by international money transfer company Remitly.

The study, titled Where the World Wants to Move, analyzed millions of Google searches from 164 countries to find where people most want to relocate. Canada ranked first across 30 nations on every continent, reaffirming its enduring reputation as a country of safety, fairness, and opportunity, even as its doors begin to narrow.

In recent months, Canadas once-open immigration system has become noticeably more restrictive. Ottawa has cut international student permits, capped temporary foreign workers, and signaled that overall immigration levels will fall over the next three years. Visa rejections have also increased, and asylum seekers face longer waits and stricter reviews.

Yet none of these shifts seem to have dampened the countrys global appeal.

Canada ranks as the country people want to move to the most in our study, with the biggest reason being a better quality of life, followed by the Canadian lifestyle and better job opportunities, said Remitly in releasing its findings.

The report said people are increasingly drawn to countries that offer long-term security, stability and a better focus on wellbeing for themselves and their families. For many, Canada still represents that ideal balance.

Remitly attributes Canadas appeal to five major factors: safety, stability, economic opportunity, inclusiveness, accessibility, and community support.

The countrys strong institutions, low crime rates, and predictable governance continue to make it one of the safest destinations in the world. Its economic fundamentals, from low unemployment to high living standards, reinforce the perception of stability and prosperity.

While the cost of living has risen sharply in recent years, especially in major cities, Canadas transparent pathways to permanent residency and citizenship still rank among the worlds most accessible.

Programs like Express Entry and provincial nominee streams remain visible and relatively straightforward compared to systems in the United States or Europe.

The report also highlights Canadas multicultural identity as a defining strength.

Canadians are famously friendly in fact, they ranked among the worlds friendliest nations in our previous study, Remitly noted. This reputation for warmth and openness plays a major role in how prospective migrants view the country.

Established diaspora networks, from Indian and Filipino communities to Middle Eastern, African, and Latin American enclaves, also help sustain the flow of newcomers. These networks offer crucial early support like housing leads, job contacts, and community belonging, that few other nations can match.

At the city level, Vancouver emerged as one of the most desired urban destinations worldwide, topping relocation searches from 17 countries. Its combination of natural beauty, mild climate, and cultural diversity continues to make it a global magnet for migrants. Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary also ranked high, confirming that Canadas allure stretches across regions and languages.

While Canada leads, the rest of the top five reflect a mix of lifestyle, climate, and economic appeal. Australia ranked second, followed by Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Half of the top ten destinations were in Europe  Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and Germany  showing that quality of life and culture remain powerful migration motivators.

Remitly said the global data reveal a clear pattern: People are looking for destinations that offer long-term security, stability and a better focus on wellbeing. That sentiment cuts across borders and income levels, from young professionals in Asia and Africa to families in Latin America and Europe.

Despite its policy recalibrations, analysts say Canadas image as a welcoming, stable, and opportunity-rich nation remains deeply rooted. The countrys multicultural ethos, strong social programs, and consistent political climate continue to distinguish it from rivals.

Even when Ottawa imposes limits, it rarely alters the perception that Canada is a place where hard work and talent are rewarded. Dreams of moving abroad are often about finding a better life for yourself and your family, the report concludes. Right now, Canada is where the world dreams of that future the most.

The findings come at a time when many newcomers in Canada are facing rising rents, shrinking job prospects, and slower pathways to permanent status. Prime Minister Mark Carneys government has pledged to rebalance immigration to better align with housing supply and labour capacity.

While critics argue the cuts risk eroding Canadas global advantage in attracting talent, the Remitly survey suggests the countrys symbolic power is far from fading. Around the world, the idea of a clean, safe and fair Canada continues to outshine the complications of living there.

For millions, Canadas maple-leaf promise remains intact: a chance to start fresh in a country that still represents order in an increasingly unstable world.

As the report put it, Canada continues to stand out because it offers the complete package an economy that needs skilled workers, a reputation for fairness, and the promise of a better quality of life.
Commentary

By Stuart Trew and Marc Lee

Canada must resist striking a bad deal to end U.S. President Donald Trumps tariffs, even if it means more short-term pain, because surrendering key industries and sovereignty will cost far more in the long run.

Canadian concessions to the Trump agendaincluding cancelling a multibillion-dollar digital services tax, introducing worrying border and immigration reforms, and potential participation in a costly continental missile defence schemehave clearly gone unnoticed in Washington. And the federal government walked back most of the retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods introduced earlier this year.

Eyes have now shifted to the mandatory six-year review of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the updated North American trade deal that replaced NAFTA in 2020, with public consultations underway in all three countries. Prime Minister Mark Carney appears to be coordinating a joint response to the review with Mexico, whose economy is also buckling under stress from Trumps tariffs.

Thus far, a large share of Canadian and Mexican exports to the U.S. receives tariff-free treatment under CUSMA.

The challenge has been sectoral tariffs hitting steel, aluminum, automobiles, pharmaceuticals and lumber that anchor employment in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and British Columbia, with more on the way. Most recently, Trump announced new tariffs on furniture, trucks and medical and personal protective equipment.

Canadas trade balance swung sharply negative through 2025, meaning Canada is now importing more than it exports. Trumps tariff strategy, draining jobs from trade partners to boost U.S. manufacturing, is basically working against Canada. Whether it is successful in inducing new investments in the U.S. remains to be seen.

Other countries, jolted by tariff whiplash, have scrambled to cut narrow deals with Washington. For the most part, these deals have been limited, focused on transactional arrangements that accept a lower tariff in exchange for commitments on investment in the U.S. and market access for U.S. corporations.

Canada has gone the other direction by seeking to roll security into a broader deal that may prove expensive but without guarantees of market access. For example, Trump has said Canada could participate in the latest iteration of the U.S. missile defence scheme (previously called Star Wars now referred to as the golden dome), the long-controversial U.S. missile shield project, if it is willing to pony up $100 billion.

No deal is better than a bad deal, and this is especially true of a bad deal that further locks Canada into the orbit of a deeply troubling administration that views acquiescence as weakness, a sign to demand more and more. In terms of economic concessions, two major areas may be on the table to secure a deal: critical minerals and agricultural supply management programs. Critical minerals, such as lithium, are key to the development of electric vehicles.

Even with such concessions, Canada may still face only reduced tariffs on important industrial exports to the U.S. Moreover, it is unclear what any new trade and security deal is worth with such a volatile U.S. president, who is likely to resort to tariffs to exert leverage in any future situation that displeases him.

Canada needs to regain its elbows up vibe, with the chance to strengthen, not just defend, our economy from U.S. economic imperialism. This includes deepening investment in Canadian public services, expanding key infrastructure using Canadian resources, and being prepared to step in, through national ownership if necessary, to preserve industrial assets.

At this pivotal moment, reverting to the 2024 status quo, however much businesses want it, is a fantasy. Its time for Canada to raise its elbows to reassert its sovereignty, not bend the knee.

Marc Lee and Stuart Trew are researchers with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
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By Rochelle Baker

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Wildlife populations are plummeting while risks to nature rise across Canada as governments loosen environmental regulations to fast-track major projects, a World Wildlife Fund study shows.

A little over half of the 910 vertebrate species monitored between 1970 to 2022 are in decline, according to WWF-Canadas latest Living Planet Report, which tracks changes in national wildlife populations across different habitats.

Wildlife populations have suffered an average decline of 10 per cent over the last half century, with some species faring better and others much worse, according to the report.

The situation is stark for the species groups examined  birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles and amphibians  all of which are trending in the wrong direction, said James Snider, WWF-Canadas vice president of science, knowledge and innovation.

Canada is renowned for its spectacular nature, but wildlife is facing ongoing pressure from human activity, Snider said.

Urban development, farming, transport infrastructure, invasive species and disease are some top activities that negatively impact terrestrial wildlife. Stressors to marine life include noise, wastewater and physical threats from shipping, as well as overfishing and contaminants from land finding their way into coastal waters. Climate change impacts, such as extreme heat, drought, wildfires and floods, aggravate the cumulative effects driving biodiversity and habitat loss, Snider said.

After five decades of declining wildlife populations, now is not the time to walk back protections for biodiversity and habitats, Snider added  but in multiple jurisdictions, thats whats happening.

The federal government, BC and Ontario have recently implemented legislation aimed at fast-tracking large natural resource or infrastructure projects to protect the economy from US tariffs. First Nations and conservation groups have pushed back, saying the expanded powers weaken environmental protections and Indigenous rights.

Protecting nature and boosting the economy are not mutually exclusive, but rather, interdependent goals, Snider said.

We cant afford to neglect nature and biodiversity as we see these projects built, he said. There is a unique opportunity to do both, but lets not waste it.

Implementing large-scale habitat restoration projects, establishing key conservation areas and stewardship by Indigenous Guardian programs, in addition to new projects, would have positive economic ripple effects, he said.

We see new infrastructure as a means to advance conservation in those same landscapes, Snider said.

I think all of those pieces can come together and can be excellent national interest projects that support our economy.

Canadas grassland habitats, concentrated in Prairie provinces, are the hardest hit, with wildlife populations dropping by an average of 62 percent, including at-risk species like the tiny swift fox and prairie rattlesnake.

Monitored mammals in forest areas are also suffering significant declines, averaging 42 per cent, Snider said, pointing to long-endangered, iconic woodland caribou and at-risk grizzliesHYPERLINK "https://www.nationalobserver.com/2025/06/10/news/federal-government-rele..." \t "_blank" that range between Alberta and BC as examples. The spotted owl, a renowned casualty of old-growth logging, is also on the cusp of extinction in BC.

Some of these stories are decades long, right? he said.

So far, unfortunately, we haven't seen the effective recovery of those populations.

A number of other animals are emerging as new concerns, such as bat species threatened by white-nose syndrome, or Canadas emblematic snowy owl newly designated as threatened after suffering more than a 40 per cent population decline in the southern regions of its Arctic range due to a mix of rapid habitat changes spurred by global warming, as well as rodenticide poisoning, electrocution and collisions.

Its much harder and more expensive to try to save at-risk species when they reach very small population sizes, Snider stressed.

We need to intervene sooner, he said.

We need to be able to take those steps before species get into the emergency ward.

The solutions to halt biodiversity loss are well understood but require political commitment and resources, Snider said.

Meaningful action requires a coordinated effort between the federal government in cooperation with provinces and territories responsible for resource and land management  and in certain cases, even other countries, he said.

Migratory species that can move across multiple provincial boundaries, such as boreal or woodland caribou, or marine mammals, such as endangered southern resident killer whales, which frequent BC and US waters, are at heightened risk and require more complex recovery responses, Snider noted.

Federal governments can bring forward policies and programs, and certainly investment in dollars, but that will always require support and alignment by the provinces and territories, he said.

Federal and provincial initiatives are underway, which could make real differences for declining species and biodiversity if they are completed, Snider added.

The federal government, several provinces and territories, such as BC, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Quebec, have committed to the goal of protecting 30 per cent of land and waters by 2030, in line with the global Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity pact crafted in Canada in 2022.

In particular, Canada and numerous provinces have taken strides to establish Indigenous-led protected conservation areas (IPCAs), such as the Great Bear Sea initiative on the BC coast, which Snider described as bright spots for conservation in the country.

I think Canada has been an [international] leader in terms of supporting Indigenous land conservation, he said.

We need to continue to invest in [IPCAs] to meet conservation goals.

There also needs to be renewed commitment and recognition of the extent of habitat restoration efforts needed to protect or restore biodiversity and at-risk populations, Snider said, especially in southern regions of the country with the largest human population and activities. This would produce benefits to communities and the economy beyond saving wildlife, he added.

The broad-scale restoration that is necessary in those degraded ecosystems  [whether] by investing in our grasslands, forests, or our wetlands  will benefit the recovery of wildlife, he said.

But, itll deliver broad benefits in terms of our climate change mitigation and adaptation goals as well.

Rochelle Baker / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada's National Observer.
By Michelle Gamage

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Immigrant teenagers arent having as safe sex as their Canadian-born high school classmates, according to a new study published in the BMC Public Health journal.

The study looked at teenage use of condoms, birth control pills or both contraceptives over eight years and found contraceptive use dropped slightly among teenagers in general, with the highest declines reported by newcomer teens.

The term newcomer refers to anyone not born in Canada and can include immigrants, people with Canadian permanent residency or citizenship, refugees or someone on a school visa.

That drop in contraceptive use could be because newcomers to Canada are missing their schools sex education due to when they arrive, or because theyve gotten misinformation from social media, Elizabeth Saewyc told The Tyee.

Saewyc is a co-author of the study, a professor in the school of nursing at the University of British Columbia and head of the Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth Centre at UBC.

Overall, fewer 15- and 16-year-olds are having sex than eight years ago, Saewyc said. The biggest drop is with immigrant teens. In 2014, 14 percent of immigrant teen girls said they had had sex; by 2022, that had dropped to 8.7 percent. In 2014, 23 per cent of Canadian-born girls, 21 percent of immigrant boys, and 22 percent of Canadian-born boys said they had had sex. By 2022, that had dropped to 16 per cent for all three categories.

Thats a pretty small number of sexually active teenagers, Saewyc said  but among the teens who are having sex, rates of condom and birth control use are dropping.

Saewyc said thats concerning because it suggests young people arent getting the information they need to make healthy decisions.

This hasnt led to a spike in unplanned teenage pregnancies, but there has been a recent increase of sexually transmitted infection rates for all teens in Canada and around the world, she said.

When youth get a gold-standard, evidence-based sexual health education, they wait to start having sex until an older age, use more condoms and contraceptives and can better navigate interpersonal relationships.

Good sex education also leads to lower rates of sexual and physical violence, said Carlie McPhee, a comprehensive sexual health educator with a decades worth of experience working with high school students across the country. McPhee was not involved in the study.

Unfortunately, Canada is bad at teaching sex education, said McPhee, who uses both she and they pronouns.

That disproportionately affects immigrants who already face barriers accessing public education and health systems, they said.

Saewycs study analyzed data from nearly 31,000 teenagers who had participated in the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children study, which is a World Health Organization research project that surveys youth aged 11 to 15 every four years about a wide range of health-related topics. Teens are only asked about sexual health starting in Grade 9.

Saewycs study looks at data for students in grades 9 and 10 from 2014, 2018 and 2022.

Each province and territory has its own curriculum, with most of them written in the 1990s and early 2000s, which means its pretty outdated, McPhee said.

Teachers also arent taught how to teach sex ed.

You give them some really vague curriculum objective and say, Go teach this highly sensitive topic youre probably going to get grilled on by families and the administration, they said. McPhee added that some teachers go above and beyond, but many are overworked and just dont want to deal with it.

McPhee said any teacher wanting free resources to improve their lessons should check out the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada or a digital resource recently launched by McPhee called Sexuality Understanding and Education for Digital Equity, or SUEDE, which offers free, online, comprehensive sex-ed classes in a Canadian context.

McPhee said she created SUEDE to help address inequality that can happen when schools outsource sex education to educators like her. Private schools can hire educators to come in several days throughout the year, while public schools tend to try to cover all grades in a single day, which radically reduces how much they can teach.

In B.C., sex education is taught only until Grade 10, which means a student who arrives in Canada after that, or who somehow missed the one day of sex ed, is out of luck.

The best health outcomes come when you spend actual time on the content and practise skills, McPhee said.

Its not as simple as giving students information on how contraceptives work; they also need to know where they can get them, what to say in a doctors appointment or to a pharmacist, and how to navigate asking a partner to use contraceptives, and to practise putting on a condom correctly, they said.

Teenagers also need to be taught how to self-advocate and to navigate and negotiate interpersonal relationships.

When youth have a comprehensive sex education, theyre more likely to spot misinformation from online sources, like AI or social media, Saewyc said.

McPhee said theres room in sex ed for different perspectives, beliefs and values and that shes taught alongside faith leaders before, where she brings the facts and they bring the values.

Parents often relax once they realize sex education doesnt teach their kid how to act but gives them information they can incorporate into their own beliefs and values, McPhee said.

To help contextualize the data, the study authors worked with an advisory group of immigrant youth aged 16 to 24 from across Canada, who could confirm that condoms and birth control pills are the main forms of contraceptives used by teenagers today.

The birth control pill can protect from unwanted pregnancies, and condoms can protect from sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy. Dual-method use for heterosexual couples offers the most protection, but the number of teens using this strategy is dropping.

In 2022, around one in four Canadian-born teen girls used both condoms and birth control pills, but that drops to just one in 10 for immigrant teen girls.

Canadian-born boys were 2.5 times more likely to use the dual method than immigrant boys, Saewyc said.

I wouldnt say those are great numbers, she added, but its better than teenagers who are deciding to use no protection, which is increasing.

Not using any protection is a big problem because sexual health isnt a one-and-done, Saewyc said. Every time you have sex, you are potentially at risk.

This study didnt ask whether teenagers were using other methods to prevent the spread of STIs, like regular STI testing or limiting their number of sexual partners.

But overall, its clear educators across Canada need to improve how sex education is taught and work to make information more, not less, available.

Albertas recent decision to make sex education less accessible by requiring parents to opt in is puzzling, Saewyc said.

In Canada, a teenager can legally consent to have sex at 16 years old.

If you are legally allowed to make these decisions about your behaviour, why do you need parental consent to learn about how to protect yourself and make good decisions around that behaviour? she said.
High Court reporters

A father has accused the State of abandoning the rights of the most vulnerable members of our society amid a claim that his wife "abducted" their daughter and took her to Poland without his consent.

The man is seeking orders directing the State to take immediate action to assist in the return of his child.

The child's mother took her to Poland, the mother's homeland, without the father's consent, and he has been unable to track her down despite a Polish court order that the child be returned to Ireland. That order is being appealed by the children's ombudsman in Poland.

The child's parents had been in a dispute over the mother's claim that the three-year-old would receive better medical treatment in Poland.

At the High Court, the man sought a motion from the court to compel the State to act for the return of the child.

He told Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty that he had been forcibly separated from his daughter for 586 days and that it was his fifth time appearing in an Irish court regarding the girl's return.

He has taken the action against the Taoiseach of Ireland, the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

He told Ms Justice Gearty the situation should not be allowed to continue and accused the Irish government of "direct incompetency".

"The Department of Justice, in the shape of the central authority has buried its head in the sand and abandoned the rights of the most vulnerable members of our society  a young child," he said, adding that the State is "merely a post box and does not uphold the rights afforded to me and my daughter under the Constitution of Ireland".

He accused the Department of Foreign Affairs of displaying "utter weakness and abdication in the face of a foreign state seizing one of its children and trampling over a fathers rights".

He further submitted to the court that the Polish ombudsman had "engaged in State-sponsored child abduction" and that it had "insulated my wife from the effect of law".

He said that he has had a valid return order for the child since last May and had made 11 attempts in Poland to locate and collect his child but she was "nowhere to be found".

The man claims the Irish State sought to "kick out" his case and seek their costs against his action, a situation he described as "disgusting".

"Shame on you all," he submitted.

"I ask the Court to direct the State to take all reasonable steps  diplomatic, legal, and practical  to locate her and bring her home," he said.

Ms Justice Gearty said the matter was "extremely sensitive", that it was an "appalling situation" for the man, adding that it was an "especially poignant" case.

Clare O'Shea BL, for the State, said the State had sympathy for the man and that the Departments of Justice and Foreign Affairs had been involved with "various engagements" in the matter.

"We are very conscious that this case concerns a minor," she said.

The man said that if something happens to his daughter there would be "retributions" and told the State to send his daughter "a birthday card".

"The time for talking is over. This is beyond the Pale," he said.

Ms Justice Gearty fixed a date later this month for a full hearing in the matter.
A NEW public childcare facility in Laois will open its doors at the start of next year, thanks to a government grant of 329,000.

A disused section of Bloom HQ enterprise hub in Mountrath will be transformed into a community childcare service, following the successful funding application by Laois Partnership Company.

The local development company received the award under the community construction strand of the Building Blocks extension grant, to develop a new childcare facility at the business hub on Patrick Street in Mountrath, based in the former Brigidine Convent.

Laois Partnership Company said the new centre will significantly bolster the childcare services it provides at OMoore Place Preschool and Afterschool and Birchgrove Afterschool, both located in Portlaoise.

The grant approved by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality will be used for capital renovations of a disused section of Bloom HQ, with Laois Partnership Company responsible for the new childcare services running costs.

It is planned to begin with a toddler room that offers a sessional Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, as well as full day care. Besides a separate entrance, there will also be a safe and secure play area for children aged from one year upwards.

Laois Partnership Company chief executive Caroline Lydon said the project will allow parents and guardians who use the remote working space at Bloom HQ to avail of childcare also, giving them peace of mind that their children are being well looked after just a short distance away.

Tenders for the renovation works will go out in coming weeks, with the facility expected to open early in 2026.

As part of the process, Laois Partnership Company wants to recruit an Early Years Manager to help develop the new community childcare service. The manager will be expected to work collaboratively with colleagues in the existing childcare services in Portlaoise, as well as support the recruitment of staff for the new service.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Tuesday 28 October. More information on the position, as well as childcare services provided by Laois Partnership Company, are available at www.laoispartnership.ie.
Bethlehem police are asking for the public's help in identifying the man in these photos. City police say he is a suspect in at least two indecent exposure cases. Anyone with information should call Bethlehem police at 610-865-7000. Photos courtesy Bethlehem Police Department | For lehighvalleylive.com

Bethlehem police seek the publics help in identifying a male who allegedly exposed himself at least twice in recent months.

Police released photos Wednesday of the suspect, describing him as in his late teens to early twenties, with chin-length dreadlocks, and about 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 11 tall with a thin build.

Police said two incidents have been reported in the past few months involving the suspect, near the 700 Block of Prospect Avenue and the 300 Block of Franklin Street.

Authorities said they believe he lives near those locations.

In the most recent incident, police said the suspect was seen riding a black electric scooter, as shown in the released photos

Anyone with information should call Bethlehem police at 610-865-7000 or email BethlehemPolice@bethlehem-pa.gov. Anonymous information can also be provided via the tipLine at 610-691-6660.
A 34-year-old man was sent to Northampton County Prison after he allegedly prevented an elderly woman from leaving her Wilson Borough apartment then struck her multiple times and committed indecent assault. EXT

A 34-year-old man is accused of attacking an elderly woman, striking her several times and forcibly restraining her inside a Wilson Borough apartment.

Joshua Scott Porphy, who is homeless, is charged with four misdemeanor crimes: unlawful restraint causing serious bodily injury, indecent assault forcible compulsion, simple assault; and making terroristic threats. He also is charged with summary harassment.

Porphy was arraigned Sunday before District Judge Vivian I. Zumas, who set bail at $150,000. After failing to post bail, he was taken to Northampton County Prison, where he remained Wednesday morning.

Court records did not immediately show any attorney information for Porphy.

Borough police said they were called just before 3 p.m. Saturday to an area hospital for a reported assault. Investigators reported obvious facial injuries on the 81-year-old female victim, according to the Wilson police.

The woman reportedly told investigators Porphy, whom she described as an acquaintance, was at her apartment on Friday and at some point she wanted to leave.

As the victim attempted to walk out the front door, Porphy allegedly pulled her back inside and struck her on the face approximately 10 times.

The woman reported Porphy hit her every time she screamed for neighbors to help, according to the affidavit of probable cause to arrest him.

Porphy continued the attack by attempting to remove the womans clothing and fondling her, court records state.

He allegedly forced her to sit in a chair and told her she was not allowed to leave. The victims roommate arrived a short while later and took the woman to the hospital, police said.

The victim told investigators she was in fear for her life and that she thought Porphy was going to kill her, court records state.

The woman needed to undergo physical therapy after the attacks, according to court records.

Porphy is tentatively due back in court Oct. 16 for a preliminary hearing before District Judge Richard H. Yetter III. A judge will then determine if theres sufficient evidence to send the case toward trial at the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas.
A New York driver was arrested after investigators linked him to a hit-and-run crash that claimed the life of a trucker standing on the side of a Hunterdon County expressway last month, authorities said.

Marshall Vizinat, 57, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was standing along the right shoulder on the westbound side of Interstate 78 in Readington Township on Sept. 29 when he was struck at 7:55 p.m., according to a statement from the Hunterdon County Prosecutors Office.

New Jersey State Police troopers and an off-duty emergency medical technician attended to Vizinat, who was rushed to Hunterdon Medical Center and later pronounced dead, the office said.

During their investigation, troopers identified a pickup truck with an attached trailer as the vehicle responsible for striking Vizinat, who had been standing outside of his truck, officials said.

They later identified Antoni E. Xicay Mazariegos, 24, of Nanuet, New York, as the man who was driving the pickup truck that left the scene, authorities said.

He was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, investigators said.

Following the crash, Mazariegos continued traveling westbound until he exited Interstate 78 in Tewksbury Township, and struck a car, the office said.

Troopers later apprehended Mazariegos and charged him with second-degree death by auto, second-degree leaving the scene of a crash which resulted in the death of the victim and third-degree strict liability vehicular homicide, authorities said.

Mazariegos was released onto pretrial monitoring with conditions following his first court appearance, the office said.
The 19-year-old charged in the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old man was arrested Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 at an apartment building in the 100 block of South Main Street in Phillipsburg. The alleged gunman fled to Warren County following the September 26, 2025 killing in Newark, Essex County, authorities said. Tim Wynkoop | For lehighvalleylive.com

A Phillipsburg teen charged in the killing of a 23-year-old man was arrested Wednesday in a raid at a town apartment, authorities said.

Jahlan Odums, 19, formerly of Newark, Essex County, and now the 100 block of South Main Street in Phillipsburg, is charged with first-degree murder and related second-degree weapons charges. He was taken to the Essex County Sheriffs Office for transport to the Essex County jail in Newark.

The Essex County Prosecutors Office said Odums was wanted in the fatal shooting Jeramahia J. Bascal. The victim was found shot at 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 26 while sitting in a parked Honda in the first block of Smith Street in Newark, authorities said.

The affidavit of probable cause, obtained by lehighvalleylive.com, shows Odums fired five times at Bascal. The victim suffered gunshot wounds to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene by a New Jersey medical examiner just after 5 a.m., court records state.

Odums, the sole occupant of a gold Acura MDX, fled the scene south on Smith Street, authorities said.

Newark police shortly after 2:30 a.m. Sept. 26 received an alert from their gunshot detection technology. Investigators found the white Honda struck by gunfire and five spent shell casings on the street next to the vehicle, court records state.

Two other occupants were seated in the back passenger seats when Bascal, seated in the drivers seat, was struck by the gunfire, according to police.

One of the passengers was sleeping and was awakened by the shots, while the other saw another vehicle approach and an occupant start firing from that car, court records state.

Investigators secured video surveillance footage from the incident, showing Odums allegedly approach the Honda while inside the Acura.

The five gunshots can be heard on the audio of the footage before Odums flees, court records state.

More footage showed the Acura SUV allegedly passing the Hondas location multiple times just prior to the shooting. The SUV, police said, had tinted rear windows with no tints on the front windows and other distinct features.

Odums was identified as the shooter based on footage captured just prior to the incident, authorities said. He was issued a traffic summons in a separate incident while driving the same SUV, court records state.

The registered owner of the SUV also was tied to Odums when he resided in the first block of Stuyvesant Avenue in Newark, court records state.

Video footage showed Odums exiting the SUV and entering his Newark apartment after the gunfire, police said.

A witness on Oct. 2 identified Odums as the alleged shooter, as well as the owner of the Acura. Two witnesses identified him as the person entering the Newark apartment the same day as the shooting, court records state.

In the early morning hours Wednesday, U.S. Marshal agents and members of the Essex County Prosecutors Office Homicide Task Force raided Odums apartment building on South Main Street in Phillipsburg.

A search warrant for that apartment was obtained by law enforcement following an investigation. Seized in the search were two separate gun boxes: one for a Glock 30, which is a .45 caliber gun, and one for a Glock 19, which is a 9 mm handgun, authorities said.

Serial numbers were located on both gun boxes and neither was reported stolen. An e-Trace was requested from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine to whom the firearms are registered.

Odums was arrested inside the building, authorities said.

He is in custody so there is no immediate threat, Phillipsburg Police Chief Anthony Goodell said.

Upon conviction, a murder charge can carry a maximum sentence of life in state prison. Second-degree crimes carry a maximum sentence of 10 years.

The incident remains under investigation by the Newark Police Department and the Essex County Prosecutors Office.
There was plenty to celebrate for Laois businesses at this year's Blas na hEireann food awards with five local producers taking home coveted awards.

Zephyr Yard was awarded Best in County, proudly sponsored by Laois Local Enterprise Office. Abbeyleix business Mueller & O'Connell Bakery received a gold, silver and bronze award at the ceremony in Dingle on Friday, October 3. G's Gourmet Jams Ltd. took home a gold award, The Village Dairy won silver and bronze and Aghaboe Farm Foods received a silver award. CONTINUE READING BELOW PHOTO

Zephyr, Co. Laois, winners of a Best in County Award at the Blas na hEireann, the Irish Food Awards held in Dingle Co.Kerry. Pictured here are Fallon Moore, Blas na hEireann (left) with Tatiana Bite, Bernie Everard LEO. Pic. Robbie Reynolds

Blas na hEireann, The Irish Food Awards, are now in their 18th year and firmly established as the largest and most influential food awards on the island of Ireland.



"We are incredibly proud to congratulate Zephyrs Yard on winning Best in Laois at this year's Blas na hEireann Awards. said Evelyn Reddin, Head of Enterprise.



This is a remarkable achievement, a testament to their hard work, dedication, and the exceptional quality of their locally sourced ingredients. Their success highlights the innovation and passion within our local food sector and truly showcases the best of what Laois has to offer. We're thrilled to see their talent recognised on a national stage. It is important for the Local Enterprise Offices to come together and support the Blas na hEireann awards because they align directly with our mission, helping local businesses start, scale, and succeed.

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Silver Winner Aghaboe Farm Foods. Pictured Artie Clifford, Blas Na hEireann with Niamh Maher and Aiden Cronin (Sponsor) from Andrew Ingredients.



2025 marks another record year for Blas na hEireann, with over 3,000 entries across more than 180 categories, reflecting the strength and diversity of Irish food and drink.

This years finalists and winners had the opportunity to showcase their products at the Blas Village and the popular Eat Ireland in a Day market, both of which returned to Dingle alongside the annual Backyard at Blas panel discussions supported by Bank of Ireland. The weekend offered producers a chance to connect with buyers, industry experts, media, fellow producers, and food lovers, while also celebrating the people, and the talents, that make Irish food so special.

Gold Winner, Gs Gourmet Jams. Pictured are John Sheehy, Blas na hEireann Helen and Sandra Gee, Sponsor Peter Duminski, Impact Labelling. Pic. Andrew Watchorn



Speaking after the announcement, Artie Clifford, Chairperson of Blas na hEireann, said Every year the standard rises, and 2025 has been no exception. To see such talented producers from Co. Laois represented on the shortlist, and now to celebrate the winners from that county, is a real testament to the skill, creativity and resilience of Irelands food producers. Making it to the finalist stage alone is a huge achievement, and to win at Blas is something of which to be incredibly proud. Irish food and drink continues to go from strength to strength, and it is a joy to celebrate that strength and that community here in Dingle.

Bronze & Silver Winner The Village Dairy. Pictured John Sheehy, Blas na hEireann with Noel Barcoe, Shelly Barcoe and Sponsor from Cross Rental Services, Ann ODwyer.



The Blas na hEireann awards weekend ran from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th October in Dingle, with a packed programme of events shining a spotlight on the very best of Irish food and drink. Sustainability once again remained a key focus, with the event continuing to build on its waste-free commitments and support a more conscious future for Irish food.

Silver, Bronze and Gold Winner, Mueller & OConnell. John Sheehy, Blas na hEireann David Grothier, Wellington Lopes da Silva, Sponsor Colin Lavery, Andrews Ingredients. Pic. Andrew Watchorn
A Laois Councillor has queried the difficulty in carrying out work near waterways in the county.

Independent Cllr Aidan Mullins had asked that Laois County Council update on progress on the maintenance of the section of the riverbank which has collapsed at Baylough Bridge near Portarlington.

In response, Senior Executive Engineer, Tom Drennan said:  Laois County Council has recently engaged with an ecological consultant to carry out a screening survey of the works to ascertain if remediation works require a full Natura Impact Statement before the works can proceed. Laois County Council has also engaged with a specialist river works contractor on this project and is currently awaiting its quotation in relation to the proposed remedial works of the embankment. All works are subject to compliance with Inland Fisheries Irelands stipulations on in stream river works as the closed season runs from 1st October to June the 30th.

Cllr Mullins said the riverbank collapse has caused great difficulty for a local landowner. It was the only access that the local landowner has to his field, he explained.

He recalled raising the issue previously and said we are sort of back to where we were two years ago when it was first raised. He asked about the ecological survey.

Senior Executive Engineer, Tom Drennan, said the ecologist had already been out to the site and costs were awaited from a contractor.

Mr Drennan said a rock armour proposal was being investigated but he said the timing of it will depend on the circumstance. A few things have to fall the right way, he said.

Cllr Mullins said he was glad there was progress but he again said the landowner was unable to bring machinery into a couple of his fields.

The meeting was told the works are only needed on about 20 metres of river bank and the landowner has pedestrian access to the field.

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran said an EU directive means we cant clear out our rivers but the same directive applies to other EU countries and she said they clean out their rivers. She asked what gobshite is reading the law in Ireland in relation to rivers in Ireland.

The issue was discussed during the latest meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.
A successful event took place on Friday, October 3, at Carrick Business Campus, bringing together entrepreneurs and business leaders from sectors such as technology, science, and the food and drink industry who are driving growth and innovation across the region.

Hosting the event was leading business figure and broadcaster Norah Casey, also an advisory board member of Carrick Business Campus.

Titled Powering Up  Scaling for Impact, the event featured an opening address by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD, and six speakers across two panels.

Panel one included PJ Rigney, Founder of The Shed Distillery; Karen May of Xocean; and Colm Hamrogue of Atlantic Aviation Group.

Panel two featured Paula Fitzsimmons of Going for Growth; Meabh Conaghan, Regional Director at Enterprise Ireland; and Geraldine McLoughlin from the Western Development Commission Investment Fund.,

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Norah Casey led discussions on business journeys, challenges, and advice for those seeking growth in the western region.

PJ Rigney spoke about challenges in the food and drinks industry, noting the need to secure the jobs that are there, double down on business and continue to grow. He said the drinks industry is struggling globally but added they are very much the exception. Rigney credited success to a diverse team competing at the highest levels.

Karen May discussed Xoceans innovative ocean data collection, using uncrewed marine robots that produce 1,000 times less emissions than traditional vessels. Since launching in 2019, they have doubled revenue each year, backed by investors from Europe and the US, including Morgan Stanley and The Edge from U2.

She noted that last year most revenues were in offshore renewables, but with offshore wind developments down 10 percent this year, adapting to global trends and competitors remains a challenge.

Colm Hamrogue, from Tullaghan, returned from New Zealand after 13 years and now serves as COO of Atlantic Aviation Group, which services aircraft. He shared his story of overcoming a serious accident and building a career through adversity. The company recently signed United Airlines, the worlds second-largest airline, which he credited to the men and women on the floor working.

READ NEXT: Leitrim's Dromod Boxty wins Gold at Blas na hEireann in landmark year

Paula Fitzsimmons spoke about Going for Growth, supporting ambitious female entrepreneurs across Ireland. Reflecting on the year 2002, she said, Two men for every one woman was setting up business, prompting her to ask, Where were the women? She found the gap linked to aspiration for growth and founded the programme to help established women-led businesses achieve it. Participants have included Aimee Connolly and Una OHagan, with the next intake in two weeks.

Meabh Conaghan outlined Enterprise Irelands role as a government agency helping Irish SMEs expand globally. With 42 overseas offices, they support companies to prepare domestically and adapt for export markets. She emphasised the value of connections and peer support.

Geraldine McLoughlin of the Western Development Commission described their investment work from Donegal to Clare. She highlighted Arigna Fuels, now in second-round funding with WDC, which transitioned to biochar with them, a carbon neutral biomass smokeless coal made from olive pit stones. She added that WDC collaborates closely with many medical companies, particularly in Galway.

The discussions at the event on October 3 underscored the ambition and innovation defining the wests business community as it continues to power up for the future.

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Joseph Gilhooly, CEO of Leitrim County Council; Minister Peter Burke; Norah Casey; Cllr Paddy Farrell, Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council and Deputy Frank Feighan TD.
Its a golden year for one of Leitrims most beloved food producers, Dromod Boxty, as the family-run company celebrates 35 years in business and takes home Gold at the 2025 Blas na hEireann Awards in Dingle for its brand-new Protein Pancakes.

Now in its 18th year, Blas na hEireann is the premier competition for quality Irish produce across the island of Ireland. The pop-up village in Dingle becomes a central hub for producers nationwide to come together and celebrate the very best of Irish food and drink.

Founded in 1990 by Timmy and Angela Faughnan, Dromod Boxty is now led by their daughter, Aine Faughnan. The company has grown from a small family kitchen into a national food brand renowned for excellence, innovation, and authenticity.

Dromod Boxty has been on a winning streak this year, where only last month, they took home both a Silver and Bronze award for their Kids Pancakes and Protein Pancakes at the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards held in the Mansion House in Dublin.

This Gold award for our Protein Pancakes is a huge honour, said Managing Director Aine Faughnan. It celebrates not just our product, but our people, our familys 35-year journey, and the proud food culture of Leitrim. Were thrilled to represent our county and continue pioneering the best in Irish produce.

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Dromod Boxtys award-winning range includes Traditional Boxty, Gluten-Free Boxty, Potato Bread, Pancakes, Kids Pancakes, and the newly crowned gold Protein Pancakes.

To mark their milestone year, the company has launched a Golden Ticket Giveaway, offering 35 prizes including Centre Parcs breaks, Smyths Toys vouchers, and luxury hampers. Shoppers simply check inside their packs for a chance to win gold themselves.

From humble beginnings in Dromod to national acclaim, this Leitrim family business continues to shine, proving that when it comes to Irish food, the future is truly golden.

All Dromod Boxty products are available in participating SuperValu stores nationwide and online at www.dromodboxty.ie

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UL President Dr. Layli Maparyan (center) joins officials and members of the Noble Second Floor during the dedication ceremony of the newly refurbished classroom at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law.
CSA Deputy Director-General for Administration and Finance, Mianyen, delivers a keynote address during the Civil Education and Awareness Forum in Tubmanburg City, Bomi County.
THE OPERATOR of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park is to pay out 15,000 in compensation arising from an incident during which an 18-month-old toddler was bitten by a horse.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford approved the pay out to the now seven-year-old girl who is from County Limerick.

Judge Comerford described what happened on August 25, 2019 as a "very terrifying incident" for the then toddler and said it could have been worse but for the intervention of the childs father.

He noted that the horse bit the toddler on the wrist and elbow on her left arm during a family visit to Bunratty Folk Park. Her injuries, he added, were "not severe".

The offer of compensation was put forward by the current operators of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Clare County Council and its subsidiary, Shannon Heritage DAC.

Judge Comerford described the offer as a "fair offer. The personal injury action was taken by the girl's mother on her behalf.

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Clare County Council was not involved in the operation of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park at the time of the horse bite incident and only took ownership of the tourism assets as part of a deal with the Shannon Airport Group in 2023.

Counsel for the girl, Maria Lane BL told Judge Comerford her clients personal injury case was settled and that she was recommending the 15,000 offer which was made by the two respondents in the case.

Ms Lane said her client had the benefit of a medical report and a psychiatric assessment from consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr Eithne Foley.

The barrister told the court that the child was bitten by a horse and suffered two bites to her arm.

Ms Lane said that the medical evidence shows the physical sequelae resolved very quickly and it was the psychological and psychiatric issues that led the plaintiff to be advised to attend for play therapy.

The court heard the child attended 12 sessions of play therapy and she seems to have medically made a full recovery.

Ms Lane said that Dr Foley reports that the child is a happy girl with no functional impairment and has fully recovered.

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Addressing the court, the barrister said the 2019 incident was very upsetting but she confirmed that the horse bites did not result in her client requiring stitches or sutures.

The girl was not present in court for the hearing but her mother told Judge Comerford that her daughter is aware that the bite incident happened and has said remember I got bitten?

In approving the settlement, Judge Comerford said it is always better that someone makes a complete recovery though the awards are less. He also noted that reports prepared for the court indicate the girl is doing very well socially and academically.

Judge Comerford also awarded circuit court costs to the girl and he directed that the sum of 15,000 be paid into court and held there for the benefit of the girl until she reaches the age of 18.
A KILTEELY native (73), now (as of Wednesday, October 8, 2025) on day 18 of a hunger strike and sleeping rough, is being treated with antibiotics and a nebuliser twice daily for a chest infection -but insists they will not give up.

Mary Dunlevy Greene, a mother-of-three, with six grandchildren who now lives in Carlow, spent the majority of her childhood in a Limerick industrial school on OConnell Avenue, known as The Mount.

She is one of four people on hunger strike outside Dail Eireann looking for universal medical cards and a State contributory pension for the 4,000 survivors of industrial and reformatory schools.

Mrs Dunlevy Greene said that the group of survivors is a number that is dwindling daily, longevity is not something in the survivors community and lots of them have gone before us much younger and lived through dire conditions with no services that were promised to us 26 years ago.

READ ALSO: 'Let us die in comfort and grow old with dignity' - Limerick woman (73) on hunger strike

She stressed that many survivors are already in receipt of a non-contributory pension, and the difference between that and a State contributory pension is around 30 a week, while she said Minister Helen McEntee told the group they were a strain on the revenue.

We were cash cows for the religious orders.

We want to die in comfort and grow old with dignity, Mrs Dunlevy Greene.

She said that the Government were given notice of their intention to go on hunger strike in the summer and that the group on strike - Mary Dunlevy Green (73), Miriam Moriarty Owens (68), Maurice Patton OConnell (57) and Mary Donovan (57), never expected to have to take this drastic action.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the group were being visited twice a day by emergency services to get their vitals checked and they are only surviving on water with added electrolytes, tea and coffee, while also sleeping outside in the elements.

Mrs Dunlevy Greene is prone to breathing issues and suffers from asthma. She now has a chest infection, but had come prepared with steroids and antibiotics.

Her family are very concerned and after one of her daughters came to see her and saw her being given a nebuliser, Mrs Dunlevy Greene said: I know that she went home that night broken-hearted.

One of Mrs Dunlevy Greene's daughters drove from Wexford, after work on three different days to see her mother, before returning home to her young family. Mrs Dunlevy Greene minds children for another daughter, who would now be without childcare if Mr Dunlevy Greene hadn't been able to help and she also visits from Carlow.

Another daughter lives and works in Dublin and comes to see her mother on hunger strike sometimes twice a day.

I worry about them getting home safely when they travel to see me and they are all very worried.

They know what we've been through, and would prefer us not to have to do this, but at the end of the day, it's my choice, Mrs Dunlevy Greene told the Limerick Leader.

When Mrs Dunlevy Greene was just four-years-old, her mother died in childbirth and herself and three of her brothers were taken to court and into State care in different homes.

She still holds a criminal record from that very court hearing and when she was released from The Mount (Mount St Vincent's Industrial School) at the age of 18, she talks about being put outside the door when my sentence was up, without a penny, to find my own way.

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Her youngest brother, only a newborn baby at the time, was spared from being institutionalised, as he was in the care of an aunt.

She said that the State gave grants to the religious orders for each person in the home and that they did all of the cooking and cleaning, as child slaves without ever getting recognition for that labour.

Speaking about the trauma which remains to this day, Mrs Dunlevy Greene said that she cant even go into a hospital, because the walls and floors bring her back to her time in the home and she can see herself on her hands and knees scrubbing the floor.

The Kilteely woman said that she never wanted what she went through to visit on my children and grandchildren and that she has never spoken about the darker parts of her past, but now other survivors are sharing stories.

Our family remained completely fractured, I am one of the lucky survivors, I met a good man and have a fantastic family, she told the Limerick Leader, adding that the Government are still breaking up their families, as none of them can be at home because they are making this stand on hunger strike.

The Limerick woman said: My saving grace was that I left the country, I went to the UK and I was anonymised, nobody asked where I was from or where I went to school and I was able to progress off my own back.

Speaking about what she went through, she said: We got no love - no care - nothing.

We were told that nobody loved us, that nobody cared about us and that we would amount to nothing.

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She spoke about the public crossing the street when they were seen outside, so as not to be seen near the orphans - but Mrs Dunlevy Greene was adamant in saying: I was no orphan. I was kidnapped from my home with no personal items and I never saw my reflection in a mirror until I left.

I didnt even have my own underwear, we changed it once a week and picked something that fit from a pile, nothing was marked or belonged to anyone.

She said that the public have been very supportive and have signed petitions.

We are used to hunger after all those years in the homes, but this is re-traumatising us and bringing us back, she said.

Mrs Dunlevy Greene said that the group never set a date or made a firm plan on when or if they would stop the hunger strike.

She said that the opposition parties will continue to bring up what is happening, but that appears to be falling on deaf ears.

The mother and grandmother said that their group met with Minister Helen McEntee after just over a week on strike, despite a number of requests for a meeting before the strike started.

She was late to the meeting, which I found disgustingly rude and when we asked what was on the table, she said there was nothing on the table.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin told the Dail they would engage with the group, but this is not the case.

We are getting tired, as each day progresses, but we are getting more determined. We are losing weight and well have to build ourselves up gradually. We are all still standing.

We owe it to the others who cannot fight for themselves, some of them are still living with an institutional mentality - we have to be their voice.
Disney is adapting Katherine Rundell's Impossible Creatures series for the big screen.

Katherine Rundell is bringing Impossible Creatures to the big screen

The author is set to turn her hugely popular fantasy novels Impossible Creatures and sequel The Poisoned King - which have collectively sold over four million copies around the world - into film screenplays for Walt Disney Studios, while she will also produce the movies alongside her creative partner Charles Collier.

She said in a statement: Im absolutely thrilled to be linking arms with Disney.

"Its a privilege to be writing these screenplays and developing these first movies in the franchise together with Charles, my team at Impossible Films, and with the exceptional team at Disney."

The books are set in the fictional world of the Glimouria Archipelago, which is bursting with magical creatures and adventures.

The first look development deal will give Disney the rights to all of her current and upcoming literary properties.

Bob Igor, Walt Disney Company CEO, added: "When I read Impossible Creatures, I knew it belonged here at Disney.

"I was immediately drawn into the vibrant world Katherine imagined and the possibilities of what we could do together with this story."

Rundell heaped priase on Iger for setting "this collaboration in motion", as she outlined her goals for the future.

She said: "Im especially grateful to Bob Iger, whose enthusiasm after reading the book helped set this collaboration in motion, and to Alan Bergman and David Greenbaum for being incredible partners throughout this process. "Our ambition is to build Glimouria and Impossible Creatures into a spectacular series of films, so that we can entertain and inspire family audiences across the world."

Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter notes that the author has been holding talks about expanding the franchise beyond the planned five books.

Rundell previously revealed how C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia had a profound impact on her as a writer.

She told publisher Pengiun Random House's Secondary Education website: "Ive always loved fantasy, and grew up reading the masters. Narnia, especially, gave me endless happiness. "And I adored Tolkien, Ursula K. Le Guin, E. Nesbits Five Children and It, Diana Wynne Jones, Philip Pullman  and the older work too: Malorys Morte dArthur, The Odyssey, the old Norse sagas, and Greek myths.

"I love the scope that modern fantasy gives authors to write about urgent truths  about power, and loss, and endurance  in a way that also offers a thrilling journey and a feast of pleasure.

She also revealed the amount of research she puts into the magical beasts in her books, having spent "many wonderful hours in libraries" reading up on creatures "we were once absolutely convinced were real".

She added: "We used to believe there were unicorns in the wild, which makes perfect sense, really, given that narwhals exist.

"The line between possible and impossible in the natural world is so very thin: there are many things that seem like they should be glorious myths  giraffes, hedgehogs, swifts  that are true."
THE COMMUNITY playground in Newcastle West has been described as being in an appalling condition by elected representatives who are demanding immediate action.

At the September meeting of The Newcastle West Municipal District, Cathaoirleach Cllr Michael Collins told members that the facility is not a proper playground. He added that it falls short of being inclusive for children of all abilities.

Cllr Collins told the meeting that families are travelling to locations outside of Newcastle West to access better equipped play areas, a situation he described as unacceptable for the largest county town in Limerick.

Concerns were also raised over ongoing anti-social behaviour at the playground. In response, councillors heard that the council is considering the appointment of a park ranger to tackle these issues.

Read More: 'Prolific' Limerick shoplifter with tragic past sentenced to 20 months imprisonment.

An official confirmed that plans are now in motion for a significant extension and refurbishment of the facility. A consultation process is underway following the publication of a formal notice earlier this month.

As part of this process, Limerick City and County Council conducted a survey to gather feedback from members of the public on how the playground should be redeveloped. The survey closed at the end of September and a report will be prepared based on the responses and feedback received.

Limerick City and County Council says it wants to ensure the redeveloped playground is larger, better equipped, more accessible, and fully inclusive for children of all abilities. Draft plans for the Demesne in Newcastle West have already been drawn up and are available for review as part of the consultation.

The redevelopment is regarded as a key investment in the towns future, with councillors agreeing that a modern, inclusive playground will provide long-term benefits for families and the wider community.
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI : The Adani Groups brand-new airport in Navi Mumbai is not even operational but the conglomerate is already going about raising funds for its second terminal, which is expected to start functioning four years from now.

The group plans to raise 30,000 crore to build the second terminal and has initiated discussions with Indian and Japanese banks as well as the Singapore governments investment company Temasek. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first terminal of Navi Mumbai International Airport on Wednesday.

Adani Airport Holdings Ltd (AAHL), a unit of the Ahmedabad-based conglomerate, will raise mainly debt, with some equity infusion by the promoters, said two people aware of the funding plan. About 10,000 crore ($1.2 billion) is expected to be locked in within the next six months and the remainder in the next 12-18 months.

Also Read | Navi Mumbai International Airport expected to start with a bang

Apart from Indian banks led by the State Bank of India, the group is in talks with at least two Japanese financiersMitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) and Mizuho Financial Group, one person said.

Its debt, and mostly a mix of Indian and Japanese banks that we are looking at, apart from equity infusion by promoters. Details are being finalised depending on how the revenue streams come into play post-operationalisation of Navi Mumbai airport," the person said.

Terminal 1 of Navi Mumbai Airport was built at a cost of 19,464 croremostly debtand can handle 20 million passengers per annum. Terminal 2 is estimated to cost 30,000 crore and will be able to handle 30 million passengers per annum.

It will be spread over an area of 400,000 square metres compared with the 234,000 sq. m Terminal 1. The second terminal is expected to be operational by 2029. Once all four terminals and two parallel runways are completed, the airport will be able to handle 90 million passengers.

Airport acquisitions

The Adani Group plans to list AAHL, a subsidiary of group flagship Adani Enterprises Ltd, in 2-3 years. It operates eight airports in India, including the one in Navi Mumbai. The conglomerate hopes to acquire 3-4 additional airports in the next round of privatization by the Indian government, said a third executive aware of the groups plans.

Also Read | PM Modi inaugurates Phase 1 of Navi Mumbai International Airport

The Indian government is expected to privatize about 11 state-run airports in the next one year through public-private partnerships, according to media reports.

SBI was part of the consortium of banks that previously lent to AAHL. The person cited earlier said the Adanis are mostly tapping the same set of banks again," without identifying them.

In July 2025, AAHL was said to be in advanced talks to secure a $150 million bilateral offshore loan from MUFG. The Japanese bank has previously provided loans to other Adani units. Mizuho Financial Group has reportedly financed Adani units involved in ports and airports.

In March 2022, when the financial closure of the first terminal of the Navi Mumbai airport project was announced, Adani Enterprises, the holding company of the groups airports business, said it had closed 12,770 crore ($1.7 billion) with SBI underwriting the entire amount.

Apart from SBI, discussions are under way with HDFC Bank. HDFC has recently been roped in as one of the bankers at a group level, the second person said.

Advances by Indian banks to the Adani Group have risen sharply in the past two years at the expense of international banks and capital markets. With 1.36 trillion in long-term and working capital borrowings, domestic banks accounted for just under half of the Adani Groups debt as of 31 March 2025. This compares with 28% two years ago.

Also Read | Adani to demolish Mumbai Airports T1 in 2029 after Navi Mumbai terminal 2 ready

The Adani Group, SBI, HDFC Bank, MUFG and Mizuho did not respond to Mints request for comment. Temasek declined to comment.

Incorporated in 2019, AAHL is Indias largest private airport operator, with nearly one in every four air passengers in India passing through an Adani airport. It reported a 27% jump in revenue to 8,062 crore in FY25. Its Ebitda for the year rose by 43% year-on-year to 3,480 crore. The airport business contributes about 10% of the consolidated income of Adani Enterprises and about 21% to Ebitda.
Some of the advertising industrys largest players have joined forces to propose new standards for transparency in the digital auctions that increasingly dominate ad sales.

These auctions determine which ads show up when someone opens a website, conducts a search, plays a video or scrolls through a social-media feed.

Eighty percent of all digital ad sales occur in closed loop" auctions run by one major player, according to the Media Rating Council, the industry self-regulatory body that published the proposal last month for comments. Auction operators, including Alphabets Google, Instagram parent Meta Platforms and Amazon.com, decide how much to reveal about their processes to ad buyers.

Those that adopt the MRC standards, however, would agree to disclose key information such as the types of auctions they run, how they decide winners and what influences prices on their platforms, including any fees, discounts or bidding minimums. They would also pledge to disclose any significant changes.

Were trying to bring sunlight into the ecosystem," said Ben Hovaness, chief media officer at OMD Worldwide, an agency within ad giant Omnicom, who approached MRC nearly two years ago to begin developing the standards and chaired the steering committee.

The proposed disclosures matter to advertisers because the auctions dont always go to the top bidder, and the ultimate price paid isnt necessarily what the winner bid.

The winner in a so-called second-price auction, a format designed to encourage higher offers, pays a small amount more than the second-place bid. Most digital ads are sold through modified" second-price auctions, in which bids can be just one factor in winning alongside such elements as relevance scores focused on the odds a consumer will buy an advertised product.

U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta wrote in a ruling last year that one of Googles practices artificially raises" the predicted click-through rate of runners-up in its auctions for text search ads, making the also-rans more competitive and thereby creating upward pricing pressure."

Many auctioneers dont disclose which type of auctions they run. That lack of transparency keeps advertisers and publishers from making informed decisions about which auction platforms they use and how, according to Hovaness.

It also opens the door for the platforms to manipulate the auctions, Hovaness said, for example by entering their own bids and driving up prices in the process. Or an auctioneer may lower its bid minimum in response to competitors, potentially undermining prices without the knowledge of the publishers providing the inventory.

Hovaness estimated that the impact on both buyers costs and sellers revenue over the years adds up to billions of dollars.

The standards wouldnt require auctions to run in any particular way, and participation would be voluntary, though parties that agree to audits would be eligible for a new MRC accreditation.

Peeking under the hood

The proposal doesnt mention any companies by name, but it comes as regulators have taken unprecedented interest in digital ad auctions.

A federal judge is overseeing court proceedings to determine remedies after ruling in April that Google had built an illegal monopoly around the technology that runs auctions for display ad inventory. And Mehta, the judge who ruled on Google search auctions, last month ordered the company to disclose any material changes to its procedures to promote greater transparency in search text ads pricing and to prevent Google from increasing prices by secretly fine-tuning its ad auctions."

Google plans to file appeals in both cases, saying consumers and businesses choose its products because of their quality.

Organizers of the proposal, led by Omnicom and MRC with contributions from the major trade groups representing advertisers, agencies and companies involved in digital advertising, dont plan to identify all the participants until its finalized. But working group members included Meta and Amazon, the second- and third-largest digital ad platforms, according to people familiar with the matter. Google, the largest, declined to participate, the people said.

Advertisers only real source of leverage with auction platforms has long been their ability to warn them,  I will give you less money, " said Katherine Freeley, who oversees U.S. ad planning and investment for German pharma giant Boehringer Ingelheim. They hope knowing the rules of the auctions will give them another tool: information.

Boehringer Ingelheim spends tens of millions of dollars with the largest digital ad platforms each year, said Freeley. If certain auctions adopt the standards and others dont, the company may reconsider its spending with the holdouts, she said.

Some industry players say the proposal has flaws.

Any transparency would be an improvement because tech companies today keep their auction mechanics completely hidden," said Kelly Abcarian, a former executive vice president of ad measurement at NBCUniversal and a veteran of measurement firm Nielsen.

But MRC cant make anyone adopt the standards or do worse than pull accreditation from those that dont live up to them, Abcarian said. And even auctioneers that disclose everything will remain free to design and implement auctions however they want, she added.

Standards without mandatory adoption creates false confidence," said Abcarian. Wed still be relying on the platforms to define their own rules, apply their own models and self-report their outcomes."

Big platforms may balk at the proposals suggestion that they task one or more employees with ensuring compliance, said Garrett Johnson, associate professor of marketing at the Boston University Questrom School of Business. The promise to announce any changes may also be a hard sell, he said.

Once you start to disclose how youre doing things, if youre deviating from that, then it leaves you open to legal challenges," Johnson said.

Write to Patrick Coffee at patrick.coffee@wsj.com
MUMBAI : Cashfree Payments India Pvt. Ltds chief financial officer, Piyush Anchliya, has resigned just months after taking charge, marking an unexpected senior-level exit at the Bengaluru-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) fintech.

Anchliya, who joined in April, was tasked with steering Cashfrees financial strategy and guiding it towards sustainable growth. He had over 15 years of experience across finance and mergers and acquisitions.

It was a rare instance and for personal reasons that cannot be shared," said Akash Sinha, founder and chief executive of Cashfree, while confirming the development to Mint.

He added that the company is scouting for a replacement as it focuses on improving profitability and scaling newer business lines.

Revenue recovery

Sinha expects Cashfree to clock at least a 45-50% increase in revenues in 2025-26 after reporting a marginal decline in the previous fiscal year.

The startup has benefited from a strong revival in volumes and expansion into newer business lines and is also aiming to turn profitable in the current year, he added.

The Bengaluru-based companys operating revenue remained largely flat at 640 crore in 2024-25, as against 643 crore a year ago, while its net loss widened 14% to 154 crore from 135 crore, according to its latest filings.

The slowdown was largely driven by a regulatory pause that restricted growth for payment aggregators. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had barred fintechs, including Cashfree, Paytm, and PayU, from onboarding new merchants for nearly a year, even as they faced stiff competition from players such as BillDesk, Juspay, and CCAvenue.

In December 2023, both Razorpay and Cashfree received final RBI approval to operate as payment aggregators, lifting the embargo and enabling them to resume onboarding new merchants, a key growth driver for their payment gateway businesses.

After the embargo, we had to go back to the market and rebuild awareness. The embargo lasted a long time, and people were unsure about what had happened, so we had to explain and re-engage with them," Sinha said.

From the second half of last year, we started seeing a revival, and the results began to show this yearour e-commerce portfolio alone grew by over 50% compared to last year. Enterprise and small and medium business clients are now focusing heavily on large e-commerce opportunities, and our next area of focus is SaaS."

Return to profitability

Sinha said the company expects to return to profitability this fiscal year as transaction volumes have bounced back in the first half and the momentum is continuing into the second. The fintech reported a profit after tax of 25.3 crore on revenue of 228.9 crore in 2020-21.

That is the challenge with the payment aggregator industry. For a few payment methods, charging is not possible. The regulators have made it clearthey dont intend to make it easy. Still, were hopeful," he said.

At the same time, we are expanding into other product categories like risk and fraud management and prepaid payment instruments," he added.

Cashfrees renewed focus on SaaS-based offerings, cross-border payments, and risk management solutions is expected to cushion the impact of the real-money gaming (RMG) crackdown, which affected several payment gateways.

There might be some impact, but luckily, it was not a significant part. It was less than 10%. We are seeing that gap being filled by two other lines of business, like Secure ID and cross-border. We are also about to launch something on PPI very soon," Sinha said.

Cashfree received its PPI licence in 2024 and is currently running a beta pilot for its PPI product. The official launch is planned for the end of October.

Sinha said the companys newer verticals are already seeing traction, and the improved business mix should help offset margin pressures in the traditional payments segment. The revenues for this fiscal year would be at least 4550% higher than 2024-25," he said.

Founded in 2015 by Akash Sinha and Reeju Datta, Cashfree helps businesses collect payments online, make instant payouts, verify customer identity, and detect fraud during KYC and onboarding. The company claims to process up to 12,000 transactions per second during peak demand.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 8 (ANI): Gautam Aggarwal, Division President, South Asia, and Country Corporate Officer, India, on Wednesday said that in a rapidly evolving payments landscape, UPI, cards, and even cash will continue to coexist, each serving different consumer needs.

"The way I look at UPI and Mastercard sort of coexisting, card rails and payment rails outside of cards have a role to play. They all have a different role to play. Cash can continue to remain in the system. UPI will continue to remain in the system. Cards will remain in the system. They will all coexist. The users will find which is the payment rail that is most convenient to them," Aggarwal told ANI on the sidelines of Global Fintech Fest (GFF)2025 in Mumbai.

"We've been in this country for 40 years... India is a very important market for us. We have roughly 10,000 people in this country. We're doing a lot of development in India for the world," he added.

On the investment front, Aggarwal pointed to Mastercard's early role in supporting fintech success stories.

"We were one of the early investors in Razorpay almost 10, 11 years ago. Then we did a stake in Pine Labs maybe three, four years ago. There were a few others, Mu Sigma and others along the way... We've probably invested in about 10-11 companies in India alone."

He noted that these investments were made both directly and through the Mastercard Start Path Program, and are "selective in minority investments" that align with the company's broader business goals.

Regarding GFF, Aggarwal remarked that it has evolved from "an emerging platform that was showing the role of India to the entire world" to one that now allows smaller fintechs to "show to the world how it is done."

PhonePe Payment Gateway (PhonePe PG) has announced a strategic collaboration with Mastercard, a global technology company in the payments industry, to launch its Device Tokenization solution.
Mumbai: The Estee Lauder Companies, which sells brands such as MAC, Bobbi Brown, Too Faced, Clinique and Dr. Jart+, is looking to step up investments in India, among its largest emerging markets, according to Stephane de La Faverie, global president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the American cosmetics and beauty firm. While adoption of online shopping in India is a big draw for the group, it also aims for a wider appeal with small packs for the price-sensitive market, in which it sees a great growth potential.

Emerging markets are very important for us as a whole, and within emerging markets, India is among our largest," de La Faverie said during his recent visit to the country.

The group recently announced an overhaul of its global strategy that involves reaching more shoppers, accelerating innovation and expanding its presence in high-growth channels, markets and price tiers.

Estee Lauder Companies, which has been present in India since 2005, largely operates in the premium beauty segment that accounts for about 10% of the countrys beauty and personal care market.

The CEO said the group, among the worlds biggest in the beauty and cosmetics industry, will target upper-middle-class households in India, with plans to use small packs as a hook to draw more shoppers.

Also Read | Beauty startups get a boost as govt ropes in Estee Lauder to spur innovation

Ive made it very clear that we are increasing our investment in India because we see potential. Around the world, between now to 2030, the number of consumers entering the middle class is projected to be around half a billion," de La Faverie said. Of these, over 30% will come from India, making it the biggest contributor of consumers going into the emerging middle class. Our role is to tap into the lower-middle and higher middle class, depending on the type of brands that we bring."

In 2005, the group entered India, introducing the country to MAC makeup products. A lipstick from the brand can cost upwards of 2,500.

The multinational companys expansion plans are multipronged. Theres still a lot more investment to be donein physical distribution, new brands, media and partnerships. We are increasing our investment in consumer touch points, media and manufacturing because we see the potential and the growth," de La Faverie said.

In India, Estee Lauder Companies operates through its wholly owned subsidiary ELCA Cosmetics India Pvt. Ltd that markets and wholesales its brands to retailers such as Shoppers Stop, Nykaa, Myntra and Tira. Shoppers Stop also operates specialty beauty stores in India for several of the groups brands, including MAC, Estee Lauder, Bobbi Brown, Clinique, etc.

Beauty boom

According to 2025 estimates by researcher Euromonitor, Indias beauty and personal care industry was valued at $14.9 billion in 2024. Prestige beauty remains less than 10% of the overall market at $1.1 billion but is expanding much faster than mass beauty. India is among the fastest expanding beauty and personal care markets globally, having grown over 10% in 2024, driven by a 16% rise in prestige beauty.

The group sees a huge potential for this high-end segment. Today, only around 10% of the beauty market in India is in premium beauty, compared to 40-50% in more developed markets," de La Faverie said. The room for growth is enormous."

The speed of digital adoption has been a game-changer for the beauty and personal care market. ELCAs partnership with online platforms such as Nykaa and Zepto have helped it reach consumers across more than 600 cities.

It allows us to touch consumers in almost every part of the country, something quite unique compared to other markets that have gone from brick-and-mortar to digitization in a much longer period of time," the CEO added.

Also Read | Gold prices soar, but Tanishq has a new plan to get you buying

He, however, noted that beauty remains a business where consumers want to feel and try products, pointing to the importance of expanding offline stores. The groups products are retailed through 375 stores in India.

Indias beauty market has accelerated with the rise of online retailers and the proliferation of both mass and premium beauty brands. Foreign brands are trying to capitalize on this growth by launching more brands and engaging top influencers to drive consumption.

Last month, Mint reported that South Koreas top beauty company Amorepacific Group, which sells brands like Laneige, Innisfree, Etude and COSRX in India, plans to double down on its business in the country. The company looks to introduce more of its 30 global brands to India and develop products suited to Indian skin tones. It currently sells five brands in the country.

In 2023, Global SS Beauty Brands (part of Shoppers Stop) partnered with Japanese company Shiseido Asia Pacific to launch global makeup brand Nars Cosmetics in India.

In India, ELCA competes with French beauty giant LOreal. LOreal makeup brand Maybelline's lipstick prices start below 500.

To improve accessibility, ELCA has introduced mini variants of lipsticks and night serumspriced at roughly half the cost of full-sized products. It sells minis for brands such as MAC, Clinique, Estee Lauder and The Ordinary. Minis are a key part of our strategy in India," he said. Its entry-level brand The Ordinary sells face care products starting around 600.

Number speak

Globally, the company has invested heavily in acquiring brands such as Tom Ford and The Ordinary, accumulating debt on its books. It also picked up a minority stake in Ayurvedic products company Forest Essentials in 2008.

The CEO said his company will continue to pursue a mix of organic and inorganic expansion. "It is important for us to reignite growth and to digest some of this debt to be able to resume with serious M&A in the future. There will be opportunities for us in India as wellwith the right brand, at the right moment."

The company accelerated new launches in India in 2024, introducing three brands from its global portfolio within a 12-month perioda sharp contrast to a decade ago, when it sold only MAC cosmetics in India during its first three-to-four years of operations.

ELCA Cosmetics Indias revenues surged over 134% between FY20 and FY24 to 900 crore, according to data accessed by business intelligence platform Tofler. However, the company reported a decline in net profit for FY24 to 15.4 crore from 25.1 crore in the previous year.

In contrast, LOreal Indias revenue in FY25 increased 5% to 5,979 crore, while net profit rose 23% to 598 crore.

Hindustan Unilever Ltd, Indias largest fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company that sells brands such as Lakme, Simple, Glow & Lovely, Ponds, Dove and Vaseline, reported revenue of 13,073 crore for its beauty and wellbeing division in FY25.

Earlier this year, under de La Faverie, the company announced an overhaul of its global strategyunder Beauty Reimaginedto restore sustainable sales growth and achieve a double-digit adjusted operating margin over the next few years. This includes boosting innovation, optimizing marketing programmes and eliminating low-return activities to accelerate new consumer acquisition.

For the fiscal year ended June, The Estee Lauder Companies reported net sales of about $14.33 billion, down 8.2% year-on-year.
Online travel aggregator MakeMyTrip on Wednesday announced a partnership with Google Cloud to enhance its artificial intelligence (AI) platform Myra. The collaboration aims to simplify and personalise travel planning for users by integrating Google Cloud's AI technologies, including Gemini, Vertex AI, and Google Maps, the company said in its official statement.

The partnership seeks to improve the Myra platform by offering personalised itineraries based on individual preferences and requirements. The platform will utilise reviews, maps, and other sources of information to provide more accurate and efficient travel planning solutions compared to existing chatbot-based systems.

A key feature of the upgraded Myra platform is its ability to facilitate destination discovery by analysing travellers' preferences and desired travel experiences, such as adventure, romance, wellness, tranquillity, and pilgrimage. This will be achieved through the integration of Google applications and information sources, including Nearby Search, Maps, Places API, and grounding in Google Search and Google Maps, the statement noted. It added that Myra will offer insights into local weather, cuisine, popular activities, and commute options at the chosen destinations.

Personalised itineraries MakeMyTrip has developed custom AI models and algorithms to assist in planning personalised itineraries. These models, combined with Google's AI family, including Gemini, lightweight models like Gemma, and image and video generation models like Veo and Imagen, aim to help travellers optimise their trips within constraints such as budget and duration, the company claimed.

The partnership also introduces multimodal trip planning capabilities, allowing for communication through text, audio, images, and video during the trip-planning process, MakeMyTrip said. Google's AI models' language capabilities enable Myra to assist travelers with voice support in vernacular languages. The use of Imagen and Video helps create visual representations of trips, while grounding on Google Maps ensures accurate place data.

Planning and booking travel has become increasingly complex, with travellers expecting more choice, faster service, and experiences tailored to their unique preferences and constraints, said Rajesh Magow, Co-founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip. Our goal has always been to remove that complexity and make every step of travel simple, personal, and stress-free for all Indians, regardless of destination or budget. Our partnership with Google Cloud allows us access to AI capabilities that will let us innovate faster, personalize at scale, and introduce new features that keep improving over time so we can deliver delightful journeys for our millions of customers.
Mumbai, Oct 8 (PTI) Days after the Reserve Bank's decision to allow banks to allow acquisition financing, SBI chairman C S Setty on Wednesday said entities like the country's largest lender are "well versed" to handle the upcoming line of business.

He said the shift to an expected credit loss (ECL) based system of asset provisioning will not impact the balance sheets of banks, given the extended transition period given by the central bank.

"We have been doing outbound merger and acquisition financing for Indian corporates acquiring overseas entities. I think banks like SBI are well versed in acquisition financing," Setty told reporters on the sidelines of the annual Global Fintech Fest (GFF) here.

It is worth noting that the Reserve Bank had announced a decision to allow banks to engage in acquisition financing, following a public request made by Setty itself a few weeks ago.

On the ECL, where the central bank announced the final guidelines on Tuesday, the SBI chairman said the country's largest lender is technologically ready in terms of models, but some adjustments may still be required.

"The long transition time that is given, we believe that there will be limited impact on the balance sheet of banks," Setty said. The shift to ECL from the current post-loss provisioning will commence in FY27, and banks have been given a five-year period for a complete transition.

Meanwhile, speaking at the fest, Setty said there is a need for banks to improve the collection capabilities for credit disbursed through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).

He said that from a disbursement perspective, the UPI platform presents several strengths due to its ubiquitous presence and the data it delivers.

Setty pointed out that SBI is working on developing a receivables-based vendor financing option for merchants who use UPI.

The bank, which serves 52 crore customers, is also exploring the use of UPI for disbursing farm loans by linking the Kisan Credit Cards (KCCs) with the RuPay UPI credit solution.

He said 34 per cent of the outstanding Rupay UPI credit cards are issued by its subsidiary SBI Cards, and the same accounts for 16 per cent of the spends.

Listing out the gains made by SBI through the PM Jan Dhan Yojana, where it has onboarded 150 million customers, Setty said that credit delivery has not picked up as much through these accounts and mentioned that the business correspondent network across the country can be utilised for extending loans.

Over 99 per cent of the 150 million accounts have some balances, Setty said, adding that the average account balance stands at 4,000. These accounts witness 35 lakh transactions per day, and 56 per cent of the accounts are used by women, he said.

In comments that come years after a large rival faced problems while transitioning to a new app and interface, Setty said the upcoming version of its popular Yono app will have the ability to onboard 20 crore customers on day one.

The bank is working with 12 fintechs in building the new version, he said, adding that the uses of the app go beyond mobile banking.

The Yono app has helped reduce the time taken to onboard a customer to as little as 15 minutes, down from an hour earlier, he said.
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Blackstone Inc. has hired Apurva Shah for a top role in its private credit and insurance business in India as the alternative asset manager seeks to capture the countrys rising demand for credit.

Shah, the firms first hire for credit in India, will report to Mark Glengarry, head of Asia Pacific private credit strategies at Blackstone Credit & Insurance, known as BXCI, according to a spokesperson for Blackstone.

Building our private credit capabilities in India is a natural evolution of the business, Glengarry said in an emailed statement. We have two decades of experience partnering with leading Indian businesses and supporting their growth, and now theres an opportunity to help finance their next phase of expansion and parts of the economy more broadly.

Shah has more than 26 years of experience in leveraged finance, securitizations, structuring, mergers and acquisitions advisory, and capital markets. He worked for two decades in senior roles at Deutsche Bank AG, after working with other banks including Citigroup Inc.

Under Glengarrys leadership, the BXCI team has doubled over the three years since it was established in the region, according to the statement. It now has a presence in Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and Singapore. BXCI manages $484 billion in assets under management, representing a threefold increase since 2020.

Global funds regained dominance in Indias private credit market, driving majority of the capital flows in deals this year. Overseas funds had a 68% share in $9 billion worth of private credit deals recorded in six months through June, according to a report by global consulting firm EY.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Goldman Sachs Group Inc.s co-head of Spain and Portugal is leaving the bank after he wrote scathing political articles about US President Donald Trump and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Alvaro del Castano, who has worked at Goldman Sachs since 1993 and was appointed to his current senior post in March, will exit the bank in coming months after senior executives made it clear he couldnt continue, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Alvaro has had an excellent 30-plus-year career at the firm and has decided to retire from Goldman Sachs, said Nick Carcaterra, a spokesperson for the bank. We look forward to continuing to work with him on matters that benefit our clients.

Del Castano declined to comment.

In one post, del Castano  who had a side gig as a political op-ed writer for The Objective, a Spanish-language online publication  wrote that the state of US politics was due to Trumps poor manners, his self-centeredness, his apparent lack of scruples, and his morally questionable nature. After Bloomberg News approached Goldman Sachs about del Castanos writing in March, The Objective deleted the articles.

Del Castano, who was also head of private-wealth management for the region, had been writing for The Objective for several years  without referring to Goldman Sachs. In March, a bank spokesperson said that the firm was not aware of these articles and that they do not represent the views of Goldman Sachs.

In one 2023 article, del Castano criticized Sanchez and his government, saying that the decline of our institutions thanks to Sanchismo and its Podemos partners is slow but inevitable.

Del Castanos departure was announced last month in a memo to staff that didnt mention his op-eds.

During his time at Goldman Sachs, Alvaro has helped drive strategic initiatives and deepen client relationships throughout the business, wrote Chris French and Rob Mullane, who co-run the banks wealth-management business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Alvaro has served as a valued leader and mentor to several across the firm.

With assistance from Sridhar Natarajan.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Nvidia CEO and fellow immigrant to the United States, Jensen Huang has assured foreign workers that the chip maker will continue to sponsor H-1B visas for them despite the new $1,00,000 fee.

In a bombshell announcement last month, US President Donald Trump said that all new H-1B applications to the country would now cost $1,00,000 fees. Notably, these fees are paid by the companies, and was viewed as a way to force American companies to hire local talent instead of scouting abroad.

Huang message to employees was first reported by Business Insider on October 7. Reuters reported that a representative for the company declined to comment on the matter.

Nvidia would not be possible without you, says Huang Like other tech giants, Nvidia has a significant number of employees from other countries, who live and work in the US, with the highly-skilled workers visa, aka H-1B visa.

In an internal memo to staff, Business Insider quoted Jensen Huang stating: As one of many immigrants at Nvidia, I know that the opportunities we've found in America have profoundly shaped our lives.

And the miracle of Nvidia  built by all of you, and by brilliant colleagues around the world  would not be possible without immigration, he added.

Huang in his message added that legal immigration remains essential to ensuring the US continues to lead in technology and ideas, and that the Trump administration's recent changes reaffirm this.

Donald Trump's immigration policies: H-1B visa fees hiked Donald Trump in September signed an executive order that bars new H-1B recipients from entering the US, unless the employer sponsoring their visa has made an additional $100,000 payment.

The administration has said the order does not apply to people who already hold H-1B visas or those who submitted applications before September 21.

Owing to the presence of Silicon Valley tech giants, California is consistently among the top ranked regions in the US since 2018, in the number of visa applications received annually, according to USCIS data, as per the report.
New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) The labour ministry has sought feedback on draft National Labour & Employment Policy - Shram Shakti Niti 2025, which presents a renewed vision for a fair, inclusive, and future-ready world of work aligned with Viksit Bharat @2047.

Shram Shakti Niti 2025 positions the labour ministry as a proactive employment facilitator, driving convergence among workers, employers, and training institutions through trusted, technology-led systems, an official statement said.

According to the statement, the National Career Service (NCS) platform will serve as India's digital public infrastructure for employment, enabling transparent and inclusive job matching, credential verification, and skill alignment.

Through open APIs (Application Programming Interface), multilingual access, and AI-driven innovation, the NCS-DPI (Digital Public Infrastructure) will connect opportunity with talent across Tier-II and Tier-III cities, rural districts, and MSME clusters, making employment facilitation a nationwide public good.

The labour ministry has released the draft National Labour & Employment Policy - Shram Shakti Niti 2025 for public consultation, the statement said.

The draft policy presents a renewed vision for a fair, inclusive, and future-ready world of work aligned with the national aspiration of Viksit Bharat @2047, it added.

It seeks to create a balanced framework that upholds workers' welfare while enabling enterprises to grow and generate sustainable livelihoods. The policy also places strong emphasis on universal social security, occupational safety and health, women and youth empowerment, and the creation of green and technology-enabled jobs.

It aims to build a resilient and continuously skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of emerging technologies, climate transitions, and global value chains.

By integrating key national databases such as EPFO, ESIC, e-Shram, and NCS into a unified labour stack, the policy envisions an inclusive and interoperable digital ecosystem that supports lifelong learning, social protection, and income security.

The draft National Labour & Employment Policy  Shram Shakti Niti 2025 is available on the websites of the Ministry of Labour & Employment, the Directorate General of Employment (DGE), and the National Career Service (NCS).
Karishma Sundara had already spent several years working at India's top law firms before joining Trilegal, another marquee name int he country's legal profession, three years ago. But an "irrefutable desire" to start her own practice lingered. In August, the former Trilegal Counsel, founded Kintsugi Law, a boutique TMT law practice.

Ive helped entities shape and deploy compliant, impactful tech products and features for years theres no better way to be bitten by the entrepreneurial bug," said the first-generation lawyer. She named her firm after the Japanese art form of repairing broken pottery with gold-mixed lacquer, signifying transformation while preserving the old.

The pandemic made it clear that we are, collectively, not in Kansas anymore," she said, referring to the unfamiliar situation when technology adoption and regulation exploded. Having been embedded in the TMT (tech, media and telecom) space for a decade, it was clear that it was time to harness my domain expertise."

Sundara is among at least 10 such lawyers from the nations top law firms, including Cyril Amarchand, Trilegal and AZB & Partners, to launch their own ventures in the past 12 months. This desire for independence is creating a more competitive environment where new, specialised firms use their flexibility and lower costs to compete with established players.

Partners leaving to start their own firms is a cycle that repeats every few years. But this time the scale of opportunity is even bigger, driven by a growing economy and investments. However, the industry is also facing elevated churn as firms poach high-profile partners ahead of the impending entry of foreign peers. Clients, too, are strengthening their own in-house legal teams, increasing the risk for new, independent firms.

Also Read | Sebi to review rule that disqualifies market participants over mere allegations

Leaving the security of an equity partnership is a significant financial risk," says Bithika Anand, founder-chairperson and managing director of Legal League Consulting (LLC), as lawyers are abandoning a steady income. Yet, according to her, the financial upside is compelling.

The costs are very low... profitability is way higher and so they take home whatever they earn," Anand said, adding that the lower overheads make the model highly profitable.

The desire to be a founder or owner is a powerful motivator. Disagreement with a firm's internal policies, procedures, systems or the way things work can push senior partners to leave and create their own environment," Anand said. After becoming an equity partner, she said, there is often no room for further advancement.

Akshay Jeet Bhat, who co-founded First Principles Law in August after one decade of partnership at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, said the new venture allowed them to create a workplace where talented professionals could realise their true potential without the constraints of hierarchy for the sake of it.

For Clarence Anthony, who left the equity partnership at Trilegal in 2024 to start the tech-enabled firm Clarence & Partners, the decision can be driven by a different reason.

Equity in a large firm may not offer the same growth potential as building one's own enterprise," he said. Is meeting a target in a law firm my top priority? Or am I looking at other reasons for value building?"

Other lawyers who left to start their own firms include Lavin Hirani, who quit MDP Legal Advocates and Solicitors after a three-year stint to found Hirani & Associates in April this year, Bar and Bench reported.

Vishak Abraham left Cyril Amarchand after 11 years to start Venture A Law in August, while Sumit Khadaria started Fiscal Law Chambers after exiting Laxmikumaran and Sridharan Attorneys after three years.

Vyapak Desai, having worked at Nishith Desai Associates for 20 years, started his own Vyapak Desai Law Chambers in August as well. Dhruv Janssen Sanghavi moved from Nishith Desai Associates to start Janssen-Sanghavi & Associates in June 2024.

Costs and competition

Most new boutique firms focus on sectors like TMT (tech, media and telecom), competition, energy, ESG, or disputes, filling a clear gap that big firms cant always address quickly or flexibly. Industry experts expect the rise of niche firms deeply aligned with sectors such as renewable energy, fintech, startups, and real estate in the next five years.

Technology laws are constantly evolving, encouraging clients to leverage external, deep expertise to navigate this changing framework and support their in-house capacities. This combined approach will ultimately benefit businesses and specialised outside counsel," said Sundara.

According to her, client expectations have evolved. Legacy approaches to providing legal advice are passe. In-house counsel want quick, concise advice from senior practitioners, advice that does not have to be further decoded before it is presented to their internal business partners."

Also Read | Sebi to step up fight against investment fraud with tech tools, new offices

The fragmentation of law firms has intensified competition in the legal market as boutiques are leveraging two main advantages: lower fees and direct partner-level service.

With minimal infrastructure costs, smaller firms can offer lower rates and direct founder attention, said Anand. In contrast, at very large firms, clients may not get easy access to partners, with junior lawyers handling the work."

Bhat, too, cited his learning after two decades in a large firm: clients now value clarity of advice, commercial sensibility and speed of execution" over the size of the brand alone.

Some founders took the help of technology to manage time and cut costs.

Anthony uses a proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) tool, Varina, for tasks typically assigned to junior-level associates in law firms. The firm is cutting out the sort of burn, which is humans spending many hours doing mundane tasks," he said. This allows the firm from charging the clients a disproportionate number of billable hours."

Indias emerging commercial hubs are another factor that has prompted some to start out on their own, offering niche services.

Most established setups were either based in Mumbai or focused on select areas, leaving growing businesses, startups, and individuals looking for accessible legal support," said Sanjana Suri, founder of Dhan Legal & Co. in Pune. Her firm helps immigrant entrepreneurs and US-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs) solve complex legal problems without paying inflated American law firm rates.

Startup risk

For large law firms, partners leaving to launch their own ventures only adds to the talent exodus that the legal profession has been facing for the past year. They are trying to stem this churn.

The rise of boutiques is not a challenge, but a significant opportunity," says Amar Sinhji, executive director of Human Resources at Khaitan & Co. He said large firms maintain an edge for clients seeking long-term strategic counsel.

However, Sinhji conceded that the legal landscape has intensified competition for talent.

Khaitan is focusing on building long-term careers, not just short-term roles, he said. Today, retaining talent goes well beyond compensation. It is about creating a platform that offers purpose, meaningful opportunity and a clear path for professional growth."

Boutique firms also face growth limitations, particularly in handling large-scale corporate transactions, according to Anand. There are quite a few cases of founders who try for a few years and ultimately seek to rejoin a larger firm. Not many are that successful."

Also Read | Kirloskar feud: Sebi tells Bombay HC disclosures not binding on listed firms

Adding to this pressure, large conglomerates have strengthened in-house legal teams, reducing their overall spend on external firms. While big corporate groups still outsource critical or large-scale matters, law firms are seeing fewer engagements as corporations spend more on their internal teams, according to Anand.

Anthony predicts the future may lie in generalist and specialist firms working together in a mutually beneficial relationship, calling it a compelling alternative to the traditional all-in-one large firm model. Bhat foresees a hybrid model where boutiques become the first port of call for clients who want agility, while companies with larger legal budgets engage big firms for scale-heavy matters and boutiques for swiftness.

The story has been updated to reflect the change in Karishma Sundara's designation.
British defence and automaking giant Rolls-Royce's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tufan Erginbilgic, on Wednesday, 8 October 2025, said that the company aims to develop India as its home market and establish strategic partnerships that align with India's vision of a Viksit Bharat.

The Rolls-Royce CEO also highlighted that the company seeks to gain a competitive advantage in the development of technologies with applications in air, land, and sea.

Tufan Erginbilgic also emphasised that the company aims to build in-country capabilities and form partnerships in the nation amid its expansion move to the Indian market.

We have deep ambitions to develop India as a home for Rolls-Royce, building on our strong and successful partnership. Our competitively advantaged technologies across air, land and sea applications position us to successfully build in-country capabilities and foster strategic partnerships that will accelerate Indias progress towards a Viksit Bharat, said Erginbilgic in an official statement on Wednesday.

Rolls-Royce CEO UK-India ties As India and the United Kingdom plan to focus on their 2035 Vision, the Rolls-Royce CEO said that the relationship between the two nations is like that of natural partners, where both nations can come up with collaborations to benefit their people.

The UK and India are natural partners, working in a win-win collaboration for the benefit of people in both nations. We are determined to be Indias partner on its Atmanirbhar journey, driving further growth and promoting self-reliance, innovation and a global presence in critical industries, said Erginbilgic in the statement.

Erginbilgic's visit to India is part of the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's delegation. Starmer backed up the Rolls-Royce CEO's comments and said that the company is a symbol of British excellence, and together they can build a better future for both nations.

Rolls-Royce is a symbol of British excellence, and I was delighted to meet CEO Tufan Erginbilgic during my visit to India. Their commitment to growing in India supports our Plan for Change  driving economic growth at home, creating jobs, and strengthening UK-India ties. Together with world-class businesses like Rolls-Royce, were building a more prosperous future for both nations, said UK PM Keir Starmer.
New Delhi, Oct 8 (PTI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to place before it the original records of closure of illegalities pointed out by market regulator the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in the affairs of Indiabulls Housing Finance Limited (IHFL), now known as Sammaan Capital Limited.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan and N Kotiswar Singh told Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for central investigating agencies, that the court would like to know how many cases were closed.

"We would like to see in how many cases you have been so magnanimous in closing 100s of objections", Justice Kant said, as the bench directed the ministry to depute a senior official with original records of the case on next date of hearing on November 11.

The bench also asked the Enforcement Directorate to clarify its position on the stand taken by the Central Bureau of Investigation on the issue of money laundering charges against the company and what steps it has taken.

"The original records of the MCA relating to compounding of irregularities pointed out by SEBI in its report, is required to be furnished. We accordingly direct the MCA that a senior officer be present in court with original reports.

"We direct the ED to categorically clarify its stand with respect to the observation made by the CBI in its report to the effect that the allegations prima facie disclosed money laundering aspect for which the ED may continue its investigation into IHFL's affairs. The ED will also explain with respect to the steps taken by it in terms of the counter affidavit by the CBI where ED had been requested to seek registration of FIR with EoW, Delhi. The steps taken in this regard shall be placed on record," it ordered.

The top court was hearing a plea of NGO Citizens Whistle Blower Forum which alleged large scale irregularities in the affairs of Indiabulls, a non-banking financial company.

Senior advocates Harish Salve, Mukul Rohatgi, Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the company and its promoters, said investigating agencies one after the other has not found any wrong and termed the NGO a "blackmailer".

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the NGO, alleged that the Indiabulls was involved in large scale financial bungling, money laundering and irregularities in real estate sector.

Heated exchange followed between Salve and Bhushan when the latter while referring to the former said, a person sitting in London has the audacity to term the NGO as "blackmailer" which has former Delhi High Court chief justice AP Shah and former navymen as its members.

Salve retorted to Bhushan saying if he is so jealous of him being in London, then he too can shift to the UK.

"This is a blackmail litigation. If an investigation is needed it is into these NGOs. All the agencies have filed affidavits and nothing has come out. What is this kind of witch hunting going on? Who is this stranger? I am objecting to the maintainability of this petition," Salve submitted.

Justice Kant intervened and said that the CBI has said in its report that the ED may continue its investigation into the affairs of IHFL.

"We want to know what the ED's stand is. We will hear you on maintaining Mr.Salve. Don't worry," the judge said.

Bhushan said Indiabulls have disbursed some 400 crores loans to many of the real estate companies of which one company has net worth of 1 lakh only and was given a loan of 1,000 crore.

He referred to the finding in the SEBI's affidavit and said it was shocking and substantiated the allegations the petitioner has been making.

Raju said the Enforcement Directorate's affidavit has some serious things and are being looked into.

Justice Kant told Raju that the court would like to see the original records as the bench would also like to know in how many cases you have been so magnanimous in closing hundreds of objections.

Bhushan said hundreds of violations were compounded in one day and a penalty of only 37 Crore was imposed.

Salve said the most important regulator which is the RBI has filed an affidavit in the matter and said there was nothing wrong in any of these loans.

On July 30, the CBI told the top court that it was not investigating any irregularities in IHFL and has not found any wrong in the company disbursing loans to corporate entities.

On July 21, the top court pulled up the CBI for not appearing in a matter against Indiabulls despite notice.

The petitioner NGO alleged IBHFL and its owners were advancing dubious loans to companies owned by large corporate groups which in turn were routing the money back to the accounts of companies owned by the promoters of Indiabulls to increase their personal wealth.

Earlier, ASG Raju, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate, had submitted that the agency was investigating the matter and as far as CBI goes there ought to be a formal complaint and could only investigate if the states granted consent.

On May 13, the top court sought response of the CBI on the plea which has challenged the February 2, 2024 order of the high court.

The top court has noted the submission of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs and the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) that irregularities were committed in IHFL.
The July-September period tested the countrys largest IT services firm on several frontsone external, and two self-made challenges.

On the external front, US President Donald Trump's decision to hike the H-1B visa fee to $100,000, starting next year, rattled India's tech majors. Mid-cap companies have said it won't hurt them, but analysts unanimously agree that it will hurt the big five, including TCS.

Internally, growth has slowed with a few analysts even expecting TCS to report a full-year revenue decline, its first since the company went public in 2004. That's only half the worry.

The immediate and larger battle faced by Krithivasan and his team is how to motivate the company's over 600,000 troops in the backdrop of its plan to lay off 2% or 12,000 engineers.

Morale inside the company has hit rock bottom. For Krithivasan, reviving the company from this point is a Herculean task because growth appears elusive amid a gloomy and uncertain environment. The rise of artificial technologies has further muddied waters and poses an existential risk to firms like TCS.

The shipmaster

Under Krithivasan, TCS added $1.19 billion in incremental revenue, far less than his predecessors. In this time, Infosys and HCLTech added $873 million and $847 million, respectively. Lack of big-ticket deals, business leakages to smaller peers, automation tools resulting in fewer billings, and an uncertain demand environment are some of the contributing factors that also make one wonder what can make Krithivasan prove the naysayers wrong.

Investors, too, are losing patience. Shares of TCS have declined 27.2% since the start of the year, making it the worst performer among the countrys big four, even as the BSE Sensex gained 4.58% in this period.

Adding to the unease, there is now little chance of seeking answers from Krithivasan as TCS, for the first time in its history, has cancelled its customary post-earnings press briefing. The company has not given a reason. The only hope now is that analysts obtain answers from the management when it engages with them after declaring its earnings.

Amid this, Mint highlights five key points to watch when TCS declares its second-quarter earnings on Thursday.

Growth trajectory

TCSs primary concern is to boost its topline. While the company bagged a $640 million deal with Tryg, a Scandinavian insurance firm, last month, much work needs to be done. At least six brokerages expect the company to report 1% sequential growth at best.

The ramp-downs in a few accounts and share losses could lead to moderate growth," said Kotak Institutional Equities analysts in a note dated 1 October.

Added uncertainty on tariff and visa policies in the US, its largest market, might cast a shadow on the companys revenue coffers, as clients might pull back their tech spending to Indian IT outsourcers. To be sure, TCS does not give out any revenue guidance but its commentary on growth and future demand outlook will be gauged.

Also Read | TCS layoffs show job cuts don't always cheer the stock market

The BSNL factor

Over the last two years, TCSs growth was powered by a single client  BSNL. The IT services company signed a 4G network deployment deal with BSNL worth a billion dollars, in May 2023. At least two brokerages have not factored in BSNL contributing to the companys growth in the second quarter, with one of them expecting a revenue decline due to the completion of the BSNL deal.

We expect revenue to decline by 0.5% q-q in cc (constant currency), mainly led by falling contribution from the BSNL project," said Nomura analysts Abhishek Bhandari and Karan Nain, in a note dated 1 October. This means that the companys plans of backfilling this revenue will be gauged when the management interacts with analysts tomorrow.

H-1B backlash

According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, TCS is the second-largest user of H-1B visas, getting about 5,505 such visas, or almost a tenth of all available H-1B visas. US lawmakers, led by President Donald Trump, have upped the ante against users of H-1B visas, claiming big tech companies, including homegrown IT outsourcers, are misusing these visas.

On 24 September, judiciary committee members Charles E. Grassley and Richard J. Durbin wrote to CEO Krithivasan over the companys hiring practices, stating that TCS is under investigation for allegedly firing older American workers in favour of newly hired South Asian H-1B employees. Earlier in the same month, Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno proposed the Halting International Relocation of Employees (HIRE) Act to impose taxes on companies that outsource IT work.

In this light, the companys commentary on its operating margin and plans to assuage concerns of US policymakers will also be sought.

Layoffs and morale

TCSs decision to lay off 2% of its employees was met with anger, uncertainty, and fear amongst a bulk of its 600,000 workforce. Many employees across the rank and file of the company have stated that the TCS did not plan these layoffs and that they were forced. While some are crying foul over redeployments and skill mismatch, others are being pulled out of projects.

The management will not only be questioned about the planning of the layoffs, but also about reports of scuffles among employees.

The AI puzzle

TCSs AI strategy has been in a state of flux. TCS first established its AI.Cloud business unit in August 2023, which provided AI and cloud services collectively. In May this year, TCS split this unit into AI & Data and Cloud units, respectively. Siva Ganesan, who led the first AI unit, was put in charge of AI & Data, while his deputy Krishna Mohan, took over the charge of Cloud. However, a third change ensued last month with the formation of the AI and Services Transformation Unit" to be headed by veteran Amit Kapur.

Since then, Ganesan resigned, and the company is also expected to hire fewer AI engineers this year than last. Analysts will track comments on the AI roadmap for a company that has not disclosed revenue and order bookings from the new technology, at a time when a larger peer did. Accenture got $2.7 billion in Gen AI revenue, with order bookings of $5.9 billion last fiscal.
(Bloomberg) -- An Italian-themed bar that opened its doors less than three years ago in Hong Kong has been selected the worlds bestthe first time for an Asian venue.

Bar Leone, famous for outstanding negronis, olive oil sours and other drinks, rose to No. 1 in the Worlds 50 Best Bars list from second place last year. Spearheaded by cocktail master Lorenzo Antinori, a Roman bartender who previously worked in London and Seoul, the unpretentious venue was chosen as Asias best bar for the past two years.

The ascension comes as the Asian hub pushes to revive its ailing food and beverage scene following years of draconian pandemic-era rules that led to an exodus of expatriates and a slump in the number of visitors. While the number of tourist arrivals has been recovering steadily, its still below a peak seen in early 2019, before widespread protests also curbed the citys appeal to international travelers.

We want to share this with the city of Hong Kong, and the Asia bar community, Antinori told Bloomberg. I truly believe that Hong Konghas one of the best bar scenes in the world. Its really about having a vision, creating spaces that are not just necessarily concept-driven, but places that have a true identity and speak to guests in a very direct way.

Last years winner, Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City, dropped to No. 2 on the list. The bilevel bar in the Colonia Juarez neighborhood, inspired by the Prohibition era, serves classically inspired drinks featuring molecular gastronomy with an on-site laboratory and a lab manager.

Coming in third, fourth and fifth places, respectively, were Barcelonas Sips and Paradiso and Londons Tayer Elementary.

In an attempt to replicate Bar Leones success in mainland China, Antinori and co-founder Justin Shun Wah are set to open a branch in Shanghai in November. They also teamed up with barman Simone Caporale from Sips to open another venue in Hong Kong earlier this year. Their Cuba-inspired Montana reflects the colorful atmosphere of the Caribbean island and Miami in the 1970s, with a menu featuring cocktail classics such as the daiquiri, El Presidente and the Montana.

The ranking for best bars is created by 50 Best, which has been publishing the list since 2009 and throwing a party to mark it since 2012. The same organization ranks the worlds 50 best restaurants.

The list was compiled with input from 700 industry experts from 28 regions, including bartenders, drinks writers and cocktail experts, according to the organizer. Each voter was required to name their eight best cocktail experiences from the previous 18 months, with the final ranking adjudicated independently by Deloitte.

The event marking the 17th edition took place on Oct. 8 at Hong Kongs Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, located at the end of the the citys old airport runway overseeing Victoria Harbour. The list was announced in an Asian city for only the second timeit was held in Singapore in 2023.

The list of bars ranked 51st to 100th was revealed last month, highlighting venues from 35 destinations. Europe had the largest regional representation here, with 15 bars including Madrids Angelita (51), Berlins Wax On (57) and Naples LAntiquario (63).

While landing the top position is expected to lead to more guests waiting in line outside of the Bar Leone in Hong Kongs Central district, Antinori is not foreseeing major changes to the place. Conviviality, sharing tables and food and drinks. Whatever you read on the menu is what you get. Bar Leone is a very digestible experience. Its very comfortable, he said. Tonight, we are going to celebrate with some tequila.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai congratulated the winners of this year's Nobel Prize in Physics, especially noting that one of the three laureates is a scientist at Google, and another is a former employee.

In a post on social media platform X, Sundar Pichai also expressed pride in the fact that Google now has five Nobel Laureates, including three who were awarded in the past two years.

Paved the way, says Sundar Pichai Congrats to Michel Devoret, John Martinis, and John Clarke on the Nobel Prize in Physics. Michel is chief scientist of hardware at our Quantum AI lab, and John Martinis led the hardware team for many years, he wrote.

Pichai praised the winners for the Nobel-winning work, adding, Their pioneering work in quantum mechanics in the 1980s made recent breakthroughs possible, and paved the way for error-corrected quantum computers to come.

I was just at our quantum lab in Santa Barbara yesterday, seeing the incredible progress, hope they are celebrating today. Feeling lucky this morning to work at a company that has had 5 Nobel Laureates among our ranks  3 prizes in 2 years! he shared.

According to a Hindustan Times report, Martinis left Google in 2020 and co-founded Qolab, a quantum computing startup, in 2022.

Nobel Prize 2025 in Physics: What were they awarded for? This years Nobel Prize in Physics recognises experiments that demonstrated how quantum tunnelling can be observed on a macroscopic scale, involving many particles.

The 2025 Nobel Prize laureates in physics, John Clarke, Michel H Devoret and John M Martinis, used a series of experiments to demonstrate that the bizarre properties of the quantum world can be made concrete in a system big enough to be held in the hand.

The three constructed an experiment using a superconducting electrical circuit. The chip that held this circuit was about a centimetre in size.

Previously, tunnelling and energy quantisation had been studied in systems that had just a few particles. Here, these phenomena appeared in a quantum mechanical system with billions of Cooper pairs that filled the entire superconductor on the chip.
Theres a lot happening at online fast-fashion retailer Shein. The China-founded, Singapore-headquartered company is readying for multi-billion-dollar public listing in Hong Kong. It is in the middle of an aggressive revenue expansion that has market analysts downgrading shares of rivals such as H&M and Inditex, which owns the Zara brand.

But, here in India, more than six months after it relaunched partnering Reliance Retail Ventures, Shein is finding the going slower than from its earlier stint here when it and 58 apps from China were banned by the government in 2020.

Homegrown rivals and fashion industry executives tell Mint that in the five years of Sheins absence, Indias fast-fashion and Gen Z focused apparel business has accelerated with local players catching up and altering the competitive landscape. The break from India may have compromised the very core of Sheins successspeed and variety.

The idea behind the Shein-Reliance licensing deal was that the Indian oil-to-retail conglomerate would handle all operations and production of the online giants rapidly-changing design catalogue. In other words, Reliance Retail would tap into Indias sprawling micro and small medium enterprise garments supply chain of over 25,000 units, per a report in The Economic Times, and power the partnership with the technology smarts of a global ultra-fast fashion" leader.

Sheins storied catalogue is updated by designs identified using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms and the company claims that it rolls out small batches of new designs in as less as three to seven days.

In India, the design-to-launch timelines have improved dramatically but it still takes 30 days (earlier, it was 46 days). Our superior sourcing ecosystem is a strategic advantagea 30-day mind-to-shelf cycle in fashion, we can move products from concept to consumer faster than our competitors," Isha Ambani, director of Reliance Retail Ventures said at Reliance Industries annual general meeting (AGM) this August.

View Full Image Isha Ambani, director of Reliance Retail Ventures. (HT)

Shein drops about 320 styles a day or 10,000 a month, according to an industry insider who requested anonymity; Reliance wants to scale this up to 30,000. Sheins website (sheinindia.in) and app draw nearly four million monthly visits and 2 million daily users in India, with Gen Z women making up 65% of the traffic, according to industry insiders. Shein India's online metrics are dwarfed by rivals such as Myntra and Meesho but is just starting out.

A changed market

Shein's second entry in India is going to be tougher than its first India stint. Between 2018 and 2020, before it was banned, Shein had scaled up to over 340 crore in revenues, data from researcher Tracxn showed, but the business vanished with the app ban. (Its global revenues were $9.8 billion then, per Tracxn.)

The intervening five years coincided with fast fashion and e-commerce in India exploding. In 2024, for instance, fast-fashion outpaced the broader apparel sector, growing 30-40% annually, according to consulting firm Redseer.

Not just that, a mix of homegrown rivals and conglomerate brands took over instead. VC-backed brands such as Newme, Snitch, and Urbanic are capturing Gen-Z attention, along with value-conscious e-commerce rival Meesho that targets customers in smaller towns.

Tata Trents Zudio is a runaway success, crossing $1 billion in annual revenue in FY25, as the company said earlier this year. In fact, Reliance Retail has itself launched brands to address the price-conscious Gen-Z customer base that Shein is popular with. Among its recent launches are Azorte and Yousta. In fashion and lifestyle, AJIO has grown 7x in the last five years. New formats like Yousta and Azorte are capturing younger audiences," Isha Ambani said at the AGM, crediting the Shein partnership for bringing global fashion to India at affordable prices.

Industry executives Mint spoke estimate that Myntra commands roughly a third of Indias online fashion market, while Flipkart Fashion and Amazon together make up about 40-50%. Reliances Ajio has climbed into the low teens, with the rest scattered among smaller D2C players.

"That's the disconnect from the intrinsic global business model, in the roughly five years between Shein's exit and re-entry, there are not only more competitors in the market, but the older incumbents have already captured much more momentum, too," said Devanghsu Dutta, founder Third Eye Consulting, a consulting firm.

Achilles' Heel

Reliance Retail does not disclose sales of Shein India. Queries sent to Reliance Retail on 1 October did not elicit a response until press time.

Earlier this year, Reliance Retails chief financial officer Dinesh Taluja told investors in a call that the Shein will focus on meaningful scale-up," only advertising once the platform had a large enough assortment of clothes and accessories to choose from. But, by mid-2025, he said Shein is pivoting to aggressively acquire new customers, adding that Sheins customer base had grown 18% year-on-year despite limited marketing. (He didnt give underlying absolute numbers.)

Still, Sheins efforts to indigenise its supply chain is holding back its ability to lean into its Chinese-backed rapid manufacturing business model that helped it grow to $38 billion in revenue in 2024. The US is Sheins biggest market, followed by Germany and the UK, where it made sales of nearly $3 billion last year, Reuters reported.

Not just that, fast fashion and Gen-Z fashion are heavily driven by trends. Catching up with these customers fickle desires requires identifying trends accurately and early, and creating products to capture them as fast as possible. On the other hand, price-conscious customers who also flock to fast fashion brands for low prices, tend not to be loyal to one brand or platform.

It is difficult to address both these needs together, and it needs significant vertical control over the design-to-delivery process," Third Eye Consultings Dutta said.

Further, Reliance's combined offline and online presence may help but it would be at the cost of modifying the intrinsic Shein business model and that also puts Shein India in more direct head-on competition with other platforms and brands," said Dutta. In France, Shein is already opening physical stores.

In short, Reliance has lagged behind slower global production cycles, has had difficulties reacting quickly to fast-changing fashion trends, and has faced challenges like high import duties on fabrics and apparel, explained Madhur Singhal, managing partner, consumer & internet at research firm Praxis Global Alliance. But, pointing to how Zudios fast-fashion model working with local manufacturers, Singhal said Reliance may be able to bridge that gap over time.

Reliances aim with the Shein partnership aligns with the governments aims to promote more domestic brands rather than import from overseas, especially from China, said Pratik Prajapati, equity research analyst at brokerage firm Ambit Capital. He added that delivery times need to be slashed: They also need to amp up the delivery speed because they currently deliver clothes in five days. If they continue this, they may not keep up with the competition."

Mimicking other segments in the quick-commerce wave in India, fashion-focused platforms such as Slikk and Knot have raised over $20 million in funding, per data from researcher Tracxn.

Some feel Sheins efforts in India are part of an old, unsuccessful pattern. Shein's return feels like the classic startups create categories, incumbents capitalise pattern we've seen repeatedly. They have distribution muscle and brand recognition, but they're entering a market that's fundamentally different from 2020," said Arjun Malhotra, general partner, Good Capital, a venture capital firm that has invested in Meesho which has raised over $1 billion.

Urgent opportunity

Sheins slow progress in India comes at a time as its parent prepares for a public listing in Hong Kong and faces slowing consumer spending in the US and Europe. Global fashion rivals such as H&M are doubling down on Brazil and India to boost their global sales, Reuters reported.

Sheins sluggish expansion in India comes as its parent readies for a Hong Kong public listing amid weakening consumer demand in the US and Europe.

Shein faces stiff competition from Chinese rival Temu and from Amazon, even as geopolitical tensions put Chinese firms in the US in a delicate position. India is among the worlds largest addressable markets for mass-priced consumer goods.

Meanwhile in India, rivals dont smell a threat.

You cannot have one company dominating this space," Sumit Jasoria, co-founder and CEO of fashion brand Newme told Mint. Todays Gen Z doesnt want to be seen wearing just one brandthey like experimenting, discovering, and mixing things up. Thats why even if Shein comes back, there is enough room for multiple players."

Backed by Accel, Fireside Ventures and AUM Ventures, Newme has raised over $24 million, rolling out 500 designs weekly with 9,000 styles live and nine-fold revenue growth in 18 months. Now, it wants to be everywherescaling to 4050 stores and riding the quick-commerce headwind to deliver fast-fashion clothes on demand.

London-based Urbanic has also established a foothold in India. With funding of $150 million so far, clocking over 30 million orders from Gen Z shoppers and a new affordable label, Savana. Urbanic also sells in Brazil and Mexico.

Our USP (unique selling proposition) of the brand comes into play with AI," said Rahul Dayama, co-founder of Urbanic. We dont produce so muchWe have less than 1% dead stock because we manufacture with great care. We are focusing on solving the biggest problem of the industry, which is dead stock." Dead stock refers to unsold inventory.
MUMBAI : TPG-backed online lending platform Fibe has shortlisted three investment bankers to steer its initial public offering (IPO), through which it plans to raise over 1,500 crore at a targeted valuation of over $1 billion, three people familiar with the matter said.

The company has roped in Axis Capital, Kotak Mahindra Capital, and JM Financial to lead the process, the people said, adding that the listing could materialize by mid-to-late next year.

The company is likely to appoint a fourth banker in the coming weeks," one of the people cited above said. Fibe and Axis declined to comment, while Kotak and JM Financial did not respond to Mints queries.

IPO ambitions

The move comes after Fibe raised $90 million last year in a mix of primary and secondary transactions led by TR Capital, Trifecta Capital, and Amara Partners, valuing the firm at around $600 million.

Other existing investorsTPG Rise Fund, Norwest Venture Partners, Eight Roads Ventures, and Chiratae Venturesalso participated in the round. The companys total funding so far stands at about $228 million, according to market intelligence platform Tracxn.

The company could see a sharp valuation jump in the IPO, buoyed by its steady growth, profitability, and solid fundamentals. Mint had reported in August that Fibe was in the process of finalizing its banker lineup.

Fintechs eye public markets

Fibes IPO plan comes amid a growing rush among mid-sized fintechsespecially those valued below $1 billionto tap the public markets despite choppy investor sentiment.

Peers such as Moneyview, KreditBee, Kissht, and Turtlemint are also at various stages of preparing their listings. While Kissht filed its draft papers in August to raise up to 1,000 crore, KreditBee has appointed bankers to raise $120 million to strengthen its balance sheet ahead of its planned IPO.

Growth track record

Since its inception, Fibe has expanded to 350 cities and disbursed more than 6 million loans worth over 20,000 crore. The company has leveraged its tech-driven underwriting and risk systems to offer lower-cost credit to borrowers.

It also launched a co-branded credit card last year and continues to broaden its lending portfolio. At the time of its last fundraise, Fibe said it aimed to deepen its market reach, strengthen its technology infrastructure, and scale product lines, including its impact lending portfolio.

Founded in 2015 by Akshay Mehrotra and Ashish Goyal, Fibe formerly EarlySalary began as a salary advance provider and gradually expanded into healthcare, education, insurance, and solar rooftop financing, as well as loans against mutual funds and digital FDs.

In May 2025, Mint reported that the company is gearing up to launch its own UPI app, positioning itself against players such as PhonePe, Google Pay, Super.Money, and Navi.

Operated by Social Worth Technologies Pvt. Ltd, Fibe nearly doubled its revenues to 839.26 crore in FY24, while net profit nearly tripled to 107.25 crore from 36.33 crore a year earlier.

Last September, CARE Ratings upgraded Fibe to A-, citing its robust capitalization, expanding scale, and efficient use of technology in underwriting and operations.
Mumbai: With gold prices hitting record highs and buyers turning cautious, Titan Cos Tanishq is banking on old jewellery to drive new salesrolling out its first-ever zero deduction exchange offer across all gold categories.

Last month, the company rolled out a new campaign under its exchange programme at Tanishq, offering for the first time a 0% deduction on exchange across all gold categories, even as low as 9 karat.

Exchange of old gold has been inching up for the retailer, with about 33% of purchases now linked to exchanges of old gold pieces and ornaments. The company expects the number to touch 40% with the new rollout. Tanishq draws another 9% of its business from allowing consumers to exchange their old Tanishq pieces.

Also Read | As gold prices hit record high, Tanishq rethinks wedding jewellery strategy

There is 25,000 tonnes of gold sitting in private lockers across India. We import about 740 or 750 odd tonnes every year. We are helping people unlock value," said Ajoy Chawla, chief executive officer of Titans jewellery division, in an interview with Mint on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the jewellery and watch retailer issued its September quarter update to the exchanges. Its domestic jewellery business reported 19% growth in Q2, while registering a marginal year-on-year (y-o-y) decline in the number of buyers.

Skyrocketing gold prices have spooked shoppers in India, who typically buy gold during the festive season and the onset of the wedding period later in the year.

Gold prices have been on the boil, hitting all-time highs. Prices of the precious metal have risen by nearly 20% rise over the past three months. On Tuesday, in Delhi, the price of 24-karat gold was around 1,11,981 per 10 gm, while that of 22-karat was about 1,02,649.

Surging gold prices drove substantial ticket size increases offsetting marginal year-on-year declines in buyer counts. The impact of Q2FY25s high base (due to custom duty reduction) was offset by the early onset of festive season in September this year, compared to October in FY25. Further, these growths were also fueled by significant investments in consumer promotions," the company said in a filing to the exchanges on Tuesday.

Also Read | Tanishq, De Beers announce collaboration to boost natural diamond sales in India

The zero-deduction policy marks a change from previous offers, where deductions were applied based on the purity of the gold. Earlier, consumers could exchange gold only above 14 karat purity.

The gold exchange programme is part of its investment in stimulating demand," said Chawla. For the year ended 31 March 2025, Tanishq operated over 500 stores in India. The new exchange programme has been rolled out across flagship Tanishq stores. The company also sells jewellery under the Mia and CaratLane brands.

The programme entails additional costs for Titan. We incur more working capital because we are buying it on spot," Chawla said. We want to continue this over a longer period. It also helps to give people an emotional hook," he said.

High gold prices in India have slowed purchases over the past year. People have been holding back. During the previous quarter, people have been a little impacted because gold prices have jumped 50% year-on-year," Chawla said. Now, with the exchange programme and the festive season, we expect demand to pick up as people want to participate in celebrations, gifting and weddings. Buyers were subdued in the first half of the year, but now were beginning to see that lift up."

In the June quarter, the companys jewellery division reported a 19% growth in total income, excluding bullion and digi-gold sales.

Also Read | Tanishq sparkles as buyers snap up premium products

The India business of Tanishq, Mia, and Zoya together grew 18% to 11,217 crore. High gold prices and challenging market conditions saw customers gravitate toward gold purchases, driving better growth in gold jewellery and coins vis-a-vis studded jewellery.

With prices of the yellow metal continuing to climb, more consumers are walking into stores to buy gold coins. Gold coins continue to lead growth in general across borders. More and more people are interested in gold as an investment vehicle, whether coins or ETFs (exchange traded funds). People come to buy gold, and later on, they may exchange it," Chawla said.
New Delhi: India and the UK on Wednesday set the stage for a new phase in their trade partnership, by turning the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) into the body that will oversee and implement their recently-signed free trade agreement (FTA). Meeting in Mumbai, commerce minister Piyush Goyal and UK trade secretary Peter Kyle said the committee will be tasked with faster resolution of various trade hurdles.

According to a commerce ministry statement, the two sides reaffirmed their joint ambition to increase bilateral trade to $120 billion by 2030 from $23.1 billion in fiscal year 2925 (FY25), focusing on sectors such as advanced manufacturing, digital trade, clean energy, and services.

India and the UK signed the landmark free trade agreement on 24 July, ending years of protracted negotiations. The two sides had concluded negotiations for the agreement on 6 May after more than two years of talks.

The trade pact, earlier known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), aims to increase bilateral trade to $120 billion by 2030 by eliminating or significantly reducing customs duties on a wide range of products.

The development comes as trade between the two countries continues to grow steadily. Indias merchandise exports to the UK rose 11.7% to $14.5 billion in FY25, while imports grew 2.3% to $8.6 billion, taking the total trade to $23.1 billion, up 8% from $21.39 billion in FY24, when exports were at $12.98 billion and imports at $8.4 billion.

The two sides agreed that JETCO will play a central role in translating the provisions of CETA into tangible benefits for businesses and consumers by ensuring regulatory cooperation, addressing non-tariff barriers and promoting supply chain integration. The new JETCO will also serve as a forum to monitor progress and facilitate faster resolution of issues affecting trade and investment, the ministry said.

Commerce secretary-level and director general-level discussions were held to do the groundwork ahead of the ministerial talks. A series of sectoral roundtables brought together stakeholders from key industries, including advanced manufacturing, consumer goods, food and drink, science and innovation, infrastructure and clean energy, and financial and professional services such as IT, education and engineering. These dialogues provided industry inputs to guide the implementation of the trade agreement, the ministry said.

At the meeting, Goyal described India as a key growth engine of the global economy and stressed the need for resilient and diversified supply chains amid global uncertainties. Kyle said CETA was the best deal the UK has ever secured with India, saying it would help his country's businesses access Indias vast market and help drive growth, jobs, and prosperity in both the countries.

Also Read | Goyal eyes overseas visits to push export agenda
Actor-producer Arbaaz Khan and his wife Sshura Khan welcomed their first child together, a baby girl, on Sunday, October 5. The couple shared an Instagram post on Wednesday to announce the joyous news and the name of their newborn.

Arbaaz and Sshura Khan's baby girl has been named Sipaara Khan.

In a joint IG post, the couple shared a poster announcing the news alongside the caption: Alhamdulillah

Also Read | Arbaaz Khan, Sshura Khan blessed with baby girl

Check their post here:

Sshura reportedly delivered the baby at PD Hinduja Hospital in Mumbai, where members of the Khan family were spotted on Sunday. Arbaazs brother, Sohail Khan, and son, Arhaan, were seen arriving at the hospital to visit the new mother and baby.

Also Read | Dabangg 4 coming soon? Arbaaz Khan confirms next franchise with Salman Khan

This marks Arbaaz Khans second time embracing fatherhood. The actor already shares a 22-year-old son, Arhaan, with his former wife, actress Malaika Arora.

The birth of the girl child came shortly after the couple hosted an intimate baby shower attended by close friends and family members, including Salman Khan and Arbaazs son Arhaan Khan.

The couple, who tied the knot in December 2023, had kept the pregnancy private, refraining from making an official announcement. However, speculation grew over the past few months after Sshura was seen at public events and clinic visits, often spotted with a visible baby bump.

In an earlier interview with Bombay Times, Arbaaz spoke candidly about becoming a father again at the age of 58, saying, It is giving me a new sense of happiness and responsibility.

Also Read | Want to transform your body? Actress Malaika Arora shares 7 Chinese movements

Arbaaz Khan was previously married to Malaika Arora. The two tied the knot in 1998 and welcomed their son Arhaan in 2002 before parting ways in 2017.
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India mulling if copyright law needs changes in AI era

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Film studios say AI companies must license content for training

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Tech companies say exceptions will help the AI industry

By Arpan Chaturvedi and Aditya Kalra

NEW DELHI, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Hollywood and Bollywood groups are lobbying an Indian panel for stricter copyright protection that will prevent artificial intelligence firms from using their intellectual property to train AI models, letters show. AI companies remain at loggerheads with content owners globally and governments are fast developing regulations that lay down rules for the new technology. While Japan gives broad exemptions to AI firms in using copyrighted content, the European Union has stricter rules that allow content owners to opt-out of such use.

The movie industry is particularly concerned that AI tools could scrape their copyrighted videos, images and clips online - like trailers and promos - and more critically ingest pirated content onto their platforms. India's current copyright law does not account for use by AI. The government formed a panel this year consisting of lawyers, government officials and industry executives to review if existing copyright law is sufficient to tackle AI-related disputes, and make recommendations.

WORRIED FILM STUDIOS LOBBYING HARD

Motion Picture Association (MPA), which represents Warner Bros, Paramount and Netflix, and the Producers Guild of India have argued India should not tinker with its copyright law and instead promote a licencing regime. In response to the panel's private inquiry on why India should not allow blanket training exceptions to bolster AI innovation, MPA India Managing Director Uday Singh said in an August 2 letter the move could "undermine the incentive to create new works and erode copyright protection in India."

The Indian guild's CEO Nitin Tej Ahuja told the panel in his letter "licensing copyrighted works is essential for creators' revenue and business sustainability."

MPA declined to comment, while the guild did not respond to Reuters queries on the letters, which are not public.

India's commerce ministry official Himani Pande, who chairs the panel, did not respond to Reuters queries. The panel is finalising its recommendations which it will present to senior officials in coming weeks, a source with direct knowledge said.

INDIA'S VIBRANT MOVIE MARKET

India has one of the world's most vibrant film industries. A Deloitte-MPA study in May said India's film, TV and online content industry generated $13.1 billion in revenues last year, growing 18% each year since 2019. The deliberations come just when a Bollywood couple has gone to court to challenge YouTube's AI policies after their manipulated videos started spreading online.

The film studios' position is in contrast to the Business Software Alliance, which represents AI firms like OpenAI, and which argued in public submissions in July that New Delhi should ensure exceptions to permit lawful AI use. MPA members however remain concerned.

The association has said India should not consider allowing use of content in AI models with an opt-out system as it will put the burden of responsibility on the movie studios, a move that could force them to individually track and block sharing of their work on scores of AI platforms.

Such exceptions "would hinder future investments, development of high-quality local content," MPA India said. In September, Warner sued AI service Midjourney in Los Angeles by saying it brazenly stole the studio's works to generate images and videos of Batman, Superman, Bugs Bunny and other copyrighted characters.
Malayalam OTT releases this week: Lets have a look at the Malayalam OTT releases this week that are now available to watch online. Check them out.

Gen V Season 2 Episode 6 (Malayalam dub)

Story: Gen V Season 2 continues after the Godolkin massacre, showing rising tension between humans and supes. Episode 5, The Kids Are Not All Right, saw Marie, Jordan and Emma escape Elmira with Cates help. Cypher, revealed to be dating Sister Sage, planned to exploit Maries powers. Marie revived her sister Annabeth using blood-bending while Polaritys illness worsened dangerously.

Cast: Jaz Sinclair, Lizze Broadway, Maddie Phillips

OTT release date: October 8

OTT platform: Amazon Prime Video

Mehfil

Story: This is a Malayalam musical drama about Mullassery Rajagopal, a retired landlord who inspired Mohanlals Devasuram character. The story unfolds in one night, celebrating classical music and poetry through intimate mehfil gatherings. It explores Rajus hidden pain, his bond with his wife, Devi, and his passion for preserving fading traditions through soulful ghazals and emotional performances.

Cast: Mukesh, Unni Mukundan, Asha Sharath

OTT release date: October 10

OTT platform: SunNXT

Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 7

Story: Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 7 has heated up in Week 10. Eight contestants were nominated, and Shanavas got the most votes. Online polls show Aneesh leading while Binny got the fewest. Gizele Thakral got evicted.

During tasks, Binny accused Anumol of using a PR team, and Aryan and Akbar called out Aneeshs lone warrior approach. Other conflicts saw Adhila accuse Akbar of being unkind, Nevin critique Anumols cheating, and Binny demand Sabuman be more active.

Cast: Various celebrity contestants

OTT release date: October 4 (ongoing)

OTT platform: JioHotstar

Also Read | Dulquer Salman's big update on Lokah OTT release goes viral

Heres an upcoming Malayalam OTT release: Aabhyanthara Kuttavali

Story: The film follows a man whose dream marriage turns into a nightmare after his wife falsely accuses him of abuse and dowry harassment. He faces legal trouble, social shame and deep emotional pain while trying to prove his innocence.

Cast: Asif Ali, Thulasi, Harisree Ashokan

OTT release date: October 17
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the Yash Raj Films (YRF) studio in Mumbai on Wednesday, a key hub for Bollywood production. He met Indian producers at the Andheri suburb studio.

The United Kingdom PM's visit is reportedly aimed at strengthening cultural ties and promoting collaboration between the British and Indian film industries.

The official meeting between the UK PM and Indian producers was a fruitful discussion about making movies together, news agency PTI reported, citing sources.

View full Image UK PM Keir Starmer inside Yash Raj Films Studio

The UK PM met Yash Raj Films CEO Akshaye Widhani, and Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji, wife of the YRF chairperson Aditya Chopra.

View full Image UK PM Keir Starmer, with actress Rani Mukerji

His visit to the facility is seen as a step toward fostering creative partnerships, including potential joint film projects and cultural exchange programmes.

View full Image UK PM Keir Starmer at Yash Raj Films Studio

Security arrangements were enhanced in key locations near the facility ahead of the UK Prime Minister's visit.

View full Image UK PM Keir Starmer, with Yash Raj Films CEO Akshaye Widhani and actor Rani Mukerji

Starmer's visit marks a significant milestone in India-UK diplomatic and cultural relations, combining film, sport, and commerce under a single strategic agenda.
Mumbai, Oct 8 (PTI) The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said it would consider the plea filed by actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband to travel abroad only if they deposit 60 crore, the amount involved in a cheating case against them.

A case was registered against Shetty and her husband, Raj Kundra, at Juhu police station in Mumbai on August 14 for allegedly duping businessman Deepak Kothari (60) of nearly 60 crore in a loan-cum-investment deal.

The couple last month filed a petition in HC seeking suspension of the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against them by police in the case, so that they can travel for their professional commitments and leisure trips abroad.

The complaint was lodged against the couple by Kothari, alleging that between 2015 to 2023, they had induced him to invest 60 crore in their company Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, but the amount was used for their own personal benefits.

A bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad on Wednesday said it cannot permit leisure trips when the duo is accused in the cheating and fraud case.

The couple's lawyer told the court that only one trip to Phuket was leisure, but the rest of the trips were all for professional work. The lawyer added that the couple has cooperated with the probe and has also appeared for questioning.

The high court then said that because of their cooperation, they have not been arrested.

The bench also sought a copy of the invitation or any other form of communication for the professional events that Shetty had to attend.

The HC then said it would consider the petition only after the entire amount of 60 crore is deposited.

"Deposit the entire amount of 60 crore, then we will consider the plea," the bench said, posting the matter for further hearing on October 14.

The couple's petition has sought suspension of the LOC from October 2025 to January 2026.

Shetty has told the Mumbai police that she did not look into the affairs of the company she co-founded with her businessman husband Raj Kundra, during her questioning in connection with the 60 crore cheating case, an official said on Tuesday. A team from the police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) recorded the actor's statement at her residence on October 4 and questioned her for more than four hours, the official said. Shetty and her husband were directors of Best Deal TV Private Limited, a home shopping and online retail platform.
There are the parents who want to know what the magic number" is to donate to guarantee admission. The moms who ask whether a friend-of-a-friend should put in a good word. The dads who call shortly before decisions are released asking, What will it take to get the deal done? The parents whose behavior was so crass that Los Angeles school consultant Sandy Eiges added a clause in her contract stating that the use of profanity could terminate their working relationship.

All this is to get eighth graders into high school.

I dont mince words," said Eiges, owner and founder of L.A. School Scout, which guides families through K-12 school admissions. Thats part of what theyre paying me forto get them through this successfully." Eiges wouldnt disclose her fee but said that consultants in L.A. typically charge between $5,000 and $10,000 for their services. That is on top of annual school tuition that can range from $25,000 to $50,000, she said.

Getting into high school has become a brutal competition for many families. Across the country, school choice for public and private institutions has surged amid expanded access to vouchers, educational savings accounts and Covid-era learning loss. There are a large number of high school options there to fill that gap, but the systems and admissions are difficult to navigatenot to mention competitive. Freaked-out parents are paying up.

New York City is widely considered the most competitive and confusing market. This week, middle schoolers received random lottery numbers that determine their priority in public school admissions. The system includes four different types of schools: the lottery schools, charter schools, specialized schools that require a test, and then arts schools that require an audition. Private schools are a whole other story.

Consultants are charging accordingly, with fees of more than $200 per hour for a la carte services or between $5,000 to $15,000 for someone to manage the entire application process. That unlimited access includes a curated list of best-fit" schools, interview preparation for the parents and students, essay guidance and deadline management.

Whitney Shashou, founder and CEO of Admit NY, which creates bespoke plans for clients and offers tutoring for high-school entrance exams.

Navigating high-school admissions can feel as overwhelming as college admissions," said Whitney Shashou, founder and CEO of Admit NY, which creates bespoke plans for clients and offers tutoring for high-school entrance exams. Packages at Admit NY typically range from the low thousands to the mid-teens, depending on the students age and the level of support, Shashou said.

For parents interested in private school, clients should expect to pay between 10% to 25% of the childs annual tuition for the firms services, she said.

Laurie and Stephen McCarthy hired Brooklyn-based schools consultant Joyce Szuflita to guide them through high school admissions for their son Thomas in fall 2023. Laurie said she could have spent six months trying to figure out the best options, but within two hours Szuflita gave them the real scoop in real time," pointing out schools that werent on our radar." They paid $560 for a two-hour Zoom and left the meeting with 15-20 schools to investigate.

It was money well spent," Laurie McCarthy said. Their son ended up at a Catholic school, Regis High School.

Test prep has also become bespoke. Nicholas LaPoma, founder of the Long Island-based test prep company Curvebreakers, said that when he started as a test prep tutor during law school in Manhattan in 2011, it was straightforward." They taught strategies, evaluated their students weaknesses over several weeks and then focused on where to improve.

Now testing software and AI offers targeted diagnostics in minutes after taking a practice test online. The contrast LaPoma sees between then and now is stark.

Said LaPoma, We knew it was important then, but it didnt seem to be the wild pressure cooker situation it is now."

After Covid, Amy Seeleys Cleveland test-prep business went all in on eighth graders" and expanded to Cincinnati, which has a booming high-school admissions test-prep business."

Laurie and Stephen McCarthy hired a consultant to guide them through high school admissions for their son Thomas. It was money well spent, Laurie McCarthy said.

Covid was an eye-opening experience for a lot of parents, she said, and independent schools received a surge of interest. Seeley has seen a rise in her firms high-school business, which prepared about 100 students in 2020 and now has nearly 400. Another boon to the business: Families that live in cities like New York, where test-prep tutors can charge an average of $200 per session, realized they can hire Seeleys firm, which charges $100 no matter where the client is based and holds virtual tutoring sessions.

The number of students who use vouchers, public funds to subsidize private schools, increased by 25% nationwide between 2024 to 2025, according to EdChoice, an education advocacy organization. And the number of students who registered for the private-school entrance exam known as the ISEE (aka, the Independent School Entrance Exam) increased 8.6% from the 2023-2024 school year to 2024-2025, according to Mike Flanagan, the chief executive of E3n, an organization that provides data insights to independent schools. He added, registrations across the ISEE and SSAT (the Secondary School Admission Test), another entrance exam, have increased 2.2% over the past five years.

The only involvement Tina Singh had in her daughters private high-school search last year was to interview educational consultants and hire one.

Joyce Szuflita, the Brooklyn-based schools consultant hired by the McCarthys.

Im very judgemental and my Indian-mom brain is conditioned to want rank, prestige and status," said Singh, of Mercer Island, Wash., a wealthy Seattle suburb known for quality public schools, adding those werent important factors for her daughter. I knew having an independent person guiding the process would lead to our daughter getting what she wanted."

Singh paid $3,000 for her daughter Roop to have unlimited access to Christy Haven, owner of Mindful Education Consulting in Mercer Island. Roop attended public middle school but wanted to switch to private high school to ensure shed be in an environment where people around her were serious students."

Roop applied to two schools and was accepted to both.

We had peace in the household and that is worth more than the money we spent," Singh said.

Consultants train parents on how to authentically boast about a childs academics and social-emotional health. What you say about your child should match what teachers are going to say," said Haven, who charges $3,000 for unlimited access to her, or $300 per hour. If you dont, schools either think you dont know your kid or youre lying."

They also help their kids write their admissions essays, though they say they simply help them find their voice," not write the essays.

The hardest part, consultants say, is ridding parents of the notion they must get their kid into a name-brand" school. Shashou said parents increasingly viewed high school as setting their kids up on the right path for schooland for life."
The countrys top drugmakers are set to meet in early December at the Four Seasons hotel in Georgetown with Donald Trump Jr. and senior Trump administration officials that regulate the pharmaceutical industry.

The host: BlinkRx, an online prescription drug delivery company that this year installed Trump Jr. as a board member. The summit will conclude with a dinner at the Executive Branch, the exclusive new club founded by Trump Jr. and his close friends, according to people with knowledge of the event and a copy of the invitation viewed by The Wall Street Journal.

BlinkRx stands to benefit from a shake-up of how patients buy drugs after President Trump urged pharmaceutical companies to sell their medicines directly to consumers. BlinkRx helps drugmakers do exactly that with a service that promises to set up direct-to-patient sales programs in as little as three weeks. TrumpRx, a new government website set to launch in early 2026, would funnel patients to direct-sale sites.

Donald Trump Jr. is a board member of BlinkRx, an online prescription drug delivery company.

The invitation to the Future of Pharmaceuticals" summit prompted consternation among some drug-company representatives, who worried that the gathering signaled that the White House wants them to work with the little-known BlinkRx because of its ties to the presidents family, according to people familiar with the matter.

It is the latest example of the Trump administrations policy priorities overlapping with the business dealings of the president and his family.

BlinkRx is one of many companies in the marketplace that provide these kinds of services to manufacturers," said Adam J. Fein, the president of Drug Channels Institute, a group that studies the pharmaceutical industry. What is different is Trumps son is on the board."

Drew Hudson, a vice president of corporate affairs at BlinkRx, said no company will be pitching any services" at the December event. And Trump Jr. said in a statement to the Journal that this article amounts to an innuendo smear" and accused the paper of pursuing the story at the behest of pharmaceutical-industry advertisers.

BlinkRx, which put the presidents son on its board in February, said in an August news release that it can help drug companies set up their own direct-to-patient sales platforms in as little as 21 days." In addition to being on BlinkRxs board, Trump Jr. became a partner with the investment firm 1789 Capital last November. The firm, which is co-hosting the December summit, led a $140 million funding round for BlinkRx in June 2024, according to a person familiar with the deal. A spokesman for 1789 Capital said the firm maximizes transparency and compliance" and noted that no one at the fund has ever worked in government."

Chris Klomp, director of Medicare, described prescription-drug pricing last week at the White House.

Days before the president announced the new TrumpRx website, a BlinkRx representative told one drug company that BlinkRx could be involved with running the site on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

In mid-September, as Trump was stepping up negotiations with pharmaceutical companies ahead of his TrumpRx announcement, BlinkRx invited the leaders of more than two-dozen pharmaceutical companies to Washington for the December Future of Pharmaceuticals" summit.

The event schedule says there will be small group" meetings with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary.

Invited companies include Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Amgen, according to a person familiar with the event, whose leaders have relationships with the administration. One person familiar with the December event said the summit is intended to bring together administration officials and pharmaceutical companies, but acknowledged there is always a business angle."

Hudson, the BlinkRx spokesman, said the company is excited to help bring together leaders from biopharma, technology, and government to discuss how to improve patient access, American competitiveness, and life-sciences innovation."

The White House said the administration isnt interested in how pharmaceutical companies implement the changes the president is calling for, pushing back on the concern that BlinkRx has any favored status. As long as drugmakers deliver cost savings for American patients through TrumpRx, how they do so is irrelevant," said White House spokesman Kush Desai.

Members of the Lutnick family at a Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund charitable event last year.

A White House aide said that the four officials named in the invitation havent confirmed their attendance at the December event. A Treasury Department spokeswoman said Bessent wouldnt attend, citing a scheduling conflict.

Drugmakers now often work through middlemen called pharmacy-benefit managers so patients can fill their prescriptions at pharmacies. Several larger companies have established their own direct-to-consumer websites in recent years, meaning they might have no need for BlinkRxs services. But smaller companies could look to firms such as BlinkRx to help establish such programs.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnicks adult children are also positioned to profit from the administrations overhauls to the drug industry. Cantor Fitzgeraldthe financial-services firm that was led by Lutnick until he joined the Trump administrationtook a financial stake in a company that is trying to make money by investing in bringing pharmaceutical manufacturers to the U.S. Earlier this year, Lutnick handed his ownership of Cantor Fitzgerald to trusts benefiting his adult children, and his two eldest sons were named chairman and executive vice chairman of the firm.

A new special-purpose acquisition company called Drugs Made In America Acquisition II turned to Cantor Fitzgerald to handle its $500 million initial public offering, which occurred last month. The new blank-check company, the largest SPAC listing of 2025, will target investments in strategic on-shoring of advanced domestic manufacturing technologies for critical drugs," according to SEC filings, a mission that positions it to benefit from the expected onshoring resulting from pharmaceutical tariffs that Lutnick and Trump have threatened.

Some in the administration have grown concerned about Lutnicks family taking financial stakes in issues the Commerce secretary oversees. Two White House officials said they felt that Lutnick should have raised Cantors involvement in the SPAC as he pushed for pharmaceutical tariffs in recent weeks.

A Commerce Department spokesman said that Lutnick has fully complied with the terms of his ethics agreement with respect to divestiture and recusals and will continue to do so." Danielle Popper, spokeswoman for Cantor, said the firm uses rigorous compliance checks" and said any suggestion we have acted improperly in regard with the transition of leadership and ownership is categorically false." She said Cantor has no nonpublic information about the administrations initiatives.

As part of the deal, Cantor agreed to purchase 500,000 shares of the SPAC for $5 million, according to SEC filings. Cantor will also receive 50,000 bonus shares once the company has completed a merger with a target company.

Desai, the White House spokesman, said that Lutnick has been critical for the administrations success delivering on President Trumps pledge to level the playing field on global pharmaceutical drug prices."

Write to Annie Linskey at annie.linskey@wsj.com and Josh Dawsey at Joshua.Dawsey@WSJ.com
Earlier this month, the government launched a 11,440 crore pulses mission with the goal to achieve self-sufficiency. This production push comes as imports soared to a record $5.5 billion in FY25. India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses in the world. But how did farmers lose interest in legumes? Mint explains whats at stake.

What is the new mission all about?

Following an announcement in the Union budget in February, the Cabinet on 1 October approved the Mission for Atmanirbharta (self-sufficiency) in pulses. The scheme's duration is six years, from FY26 to FY31, with a financial allocation of 11,440 crore.

The mission will have several components. It will help develop and propagate varieties with higher productivity that are pest-resistant and climate-resilient. Another target is to bring an additional 3.5 million hectares of area under pulses by including fallow land and promoting crop diversification.

Under the scheme, the government will subsidise new processing units and post-harvest infrastructure. Another major intervention is assured purchase of pulses at minimum support prices (MSP). Overall, the mission aims to increase production to 35 million tonnes in FY31 (from 25 million tonnes in FY25) and enhance productivity to 1.13 tonnes per hectare.

Why are farmers reluctant to grow pulses?

Farmers are losing interest in pulses for several reasons. One, most pulses are low-productivity crops grown in marginal lands without any access to irrigation. They are also prone to weather risks like drought and excess rain. Finally, even though the government declares an MSP, assured purchases have been low, which means farmers often sell at unremunerative prices.

For instance, as of early October, summer-grown pulses like moong, tur and urad are selling in wholesale markets at 14-28% discount to MSP. This is because India is allowing imports at very low or zero duties and domestic growers are unable to compete with cheaper imports. Yellow peas imported from Canada at zero duty are available for less than 3,000 per quintal compared to the government-announced MSP of 5,875 per quintal.

Also Read | India mulls floor price reset to boost pulse output

How have imports increased?

The import of pulses has surged in recent years. The import bill grew over three-fold, from $1.6 billion in FY21 to $5.5 billion in FY25. Most of the imports are from Australia and Canada (yellow/white peas), and Myanmar, Tanzania and Mozambique (tur or pigeon peas). The surge in imports is largely because domestic production has been unable to keep pace with growing demand.

Data from the agriculture ministry show that production of pulses have stagnated around 25 million tonnes in FY25, which is marginally lower than the production five years back.

What explains the low productivity of pulses?

As per a Niti Aayog report published in February 2025 (Strategies and Pathways for Accelerating Growth in Pulses), average productivity of pulses in India is 740 kg per hectare, much lower than the global average of 949 kg per hectare and yields in countries like Canada and the USA (above 1800 kg per hectare).

According to the Niti report, unlike cereals, pulses have seen limited yield improvement due to a lack of high yielding varieties and insufficient innovation. Because pulses are grown in rain-fed conditions with inadequate irrigation, yields are highly vulnerable to climate impacts. Out of the 27 recorded El Nino years (associated with lower-than-average rainfall) between 1951 and 2024, fifteen experienced a decline in both production and acreage of pulses.

Also Read | In charts: Why a good pulses output is an urgent need this year

India has a rich genetic diversity of pulse crops with the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources holding 70,000 accessions (unique genetic types). This underutilized genetic wealth can be used to extract desirable traits and develop better varieties.

Are pulses more climate-friendly?

Yes, besides being more nutritious than cereals, pulses are more climate-friendly. They use less water and fix nitrogen in the soil. So, farmers need not use subsidized fertilizers like urea. The net social benefit from growing tur (pigeon pea) instead of rice is more than 13,000 per hectare, due to lower use of fertilizers and groundwater, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, as per calculations of the Arvind Subramanian committee report in 2016.

The committee recommended that MSP for pulses must reflect the positive environmental externalities that they generate and negative externalities which can be avoided (like air pollution in north India due to burning of paddy stubble in winters). However, farmers tend to choose rice over pulses because of higher yields and better prices.
Phone services major Bharti Airtel's managing director and vice chairman Gopal Vittal on Wednesday raised concerns about increasing regulatory overreach in the telecom sector despite its limited role in areas such as digital trust and security.

Speaking at the India Mobile Congress, the telecom industry's flagship annual event, Vittal said that telecom operators are being disproportionately burdened with regulations compared to other players in the digital ecosystem.

He also reiterated the need for further tariff hikes in the industry and said Airtel is exploring alternative revenue streams.

Most regulators today globally, not just in India, are focused on the telecom sector, which is a very small part of the surface area of the problems that are being created in trust and security," Vittal said at the event in New Delhi.

Also Read | Satcom firms push back on draft telecom rules, seek separate licence

According to Vittal, the problem of trust and security goes well beyond the telecom sector and to other players in the digital ecosystem, which also ride on telecom networks. But regulations are not keeping pace with the changes in technology.

Vittal's comments have come at a time when the over-the-top (OTT) communication apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, among others, continue to stay out of the ambit of regulations. Telecom operators have a long standing demand from the government to bring such apps under the regulations.

Uneven rules for OTT players

In March, Vittal had urged the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) to expand its regulatory oversight to OTT communication platforms in order to significantly curb spam.

While regulatory efforts have significantly curbed spam and unsolicited commercial communication (UCC) over SMS and voice, bad actors are increasingly shifting their operations to OTT communication platforms, where regulatory oversight remains limited," Vittal had said in a letter to Trai chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti then.

In April, at a meeting of the Joint Committee of Regulators that Trai organised, the ministry of electronics and information technology had said that it would engage with stakeholders on how to tackle the issues of spam and scams on OTT platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram as also RCS (Rich Communication Service) services.

In September 2024, Airtel launched Indias first network-based AI-powered spam detection solution. The solution alerts customers in real-time on all suspected spam calls and SMSes.

Also Read | Telecom spectrum auctions see little competition. Regulator proposes a fix

In the last one year, Airtel has identified over 48.3 billion spam calls and blocked 320,000 fraudulent links. Vittal said even as India has solved the problem of connectivity, the next challenge lies in safeguarding users and strengthening institutional collaboration.

The Airtel MD also pressed for the need of a global institution like a fraud bureau to curb the menace of spam. The entire ecosystem must come togetherno company can do this (control spam menace) alone," he said.

In response to Vittal's address, minister of state for communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said the government is committed to ensuring regulation without stifling innovation.

Every futuristic technologysemiconductors, quantum computing, AI, and 6Gis being developed in mission mode with clear objectives and dedicated funding," Pemmasani said. He added that the governments focus is on responsible use of AI and ensuring transparency in how algorithms work, because much of what happens in AI is invisible.

Airtel ranks just behind market leader Reliance Jio by subscribers. As of June end, Airtels total mobile subscriber base was at 362.8 million with an average revenue per user, or Arpu, of 250. Jio has 498.1 million users each of whom net it an Arpu of 208.8.

We (the industry) are operating with the lowest Arpus and the lowest rate per gigabyte. Yet you have to make money," Vittal said, adding that there is a headroom for pricing to go up in India.

In August, Airtel announced its sovereign cloud offering amid growing focus among Indian enterprises on securing sensitive data.
New Delhi: Global energy giant BP Plc plans to invest $3-4 billion in Indias oil and gas exploration & production (E&P) over the next three to four years, along with partners Reliance Industries and state-run ONGC, the companys India head said in an interview.

The move comes as BP looks to expand its footprint in India, where it has already invested $12 billion and partnered with Reliance on Jio-BP, a venture focused on fuel retail, EV charging and lubricants.

BP India chairman Kartikeya Dube said the company is also in talks with Oil India Ltd, another government-owned oil and gas major, for partnering in the E&P space.

We collaborate with all companies in India," Dube said, adding that the company took a bet on India 14 years ago, and as its understanding of the market has grown, it has seen its investments produce results.

Today (KG D6 Block) is producing one third of India's natural gas," Dube said. Thats one billion cubic feet today." KG D6 is a deep-water gas project in India's Krishna Godavari basin.

BP signed an MoU with ONGC this February to operate as a technical services provider (TSP) for ONGC's Mumbai High field. Dube said BP is supporting ONGC in enhancing the production of the field, where it would work to uplift production by 60%.

The current production level of Mumbai Highone of Indias largest offshore oil fields situated in the Arabian Seais 134,000 barrels per day (bpd), accounting for 35 per cent of India's domestic oil production, according to data from ONGC.

According to Dube, the company would target more such production-enhancement projects along with focus on new E&P projects with the fresh investment.

So, you have to have a two-pronged approach," Dube said. One is how you can get more out of what you have. The second one is developer... (involving) exploration, appraisal, development and production. So, in both of those, we are continuing to put in our efforts."

Also Read | BP eyes major expansion in India's oil and gas sector

He pointed out that the BP-Reliance JV is investing $1 billion in KG Basin for E&P activities and also carrying out production enhancement and other activities there. We also see potential in the Mahanadi basin and so, (for) KG Basin and Mahanadi, we will be participating in OALP-X," he said.

Meanwhile, amid the plans to boost investment in India, BP Plc CEO Murray Auchincloss is set to visit India this week, his third visit this year.

Drill, then explore

Stressing on the need for data collection for successful exploration and production of oil and gas, the BP India chairman said the company would actively work on stratigraphic wells as required under the government's National Deepwater Exploration Mission. A stratigraphic well is drilled to obtain geological information, and not for oil or gas production, which may follow later.

Stratigraphic is not explorationit is to drill a well to the source rock, which is, for example, the base," he explained. Based on the quality you find, you think about what kinds of reservoirs can be there. So, once you analyze the stratigraphic data, then you get into exploration. Then you will tend to find a discovery."

In June, ONGC and BP signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on drilling stratigraphic wells in four offshore sedimentary basins in IndiaAndamans, Mahanadi, Saurashtra and Bengal.

He added that recent reforms including the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act and plans for more 2D and 3D seismic data acquisition would be key in finding more reserves and boosting local production.

Energy security

Looking beyond individual projects, Dube also highlighted the assessment of BPs Energy Outlook 2025 report that efforts to enhance domestic oil and gas production would be important to ensure energy security in these volatile times.

If we are importing 85% of our energy, we need to do as much as we can. Energy security now means you need to produce and make in India. You have to get it from all sources," he said, referring to the need to develop all sources of energy including renewable energy.

Spencer Dale, chief economist at BP, told mediapersons on Monday that as geopolitical uncertainty rises, India needs to boost domestic production of oil and gas, and accelerate electrification of industrial operations backed by coal and renewable power to achieve energy security.

According to BP's outlook, India's oil demand is projected to grow from 5 million bpd in 2023 to 9 million bpd in 2050, going by the current trajectory.
The countrys automobile industry has proposed an advanced combined braking system (CBS) with front disc brakes for two-wheelers as an alternative to the governments mandate on installing anti-lock braking systems (ABS) on all new bikes and scooters from January 2026, two people aware of the development said.

ABS is already a mandatory feature for bigger two-wheelers above 125 cc engine capacitya rule that the ministry of road transport and highways wants to extend to smaller, commuter bikes and scooters.



Lobby group the Society of Indian Automotive Manufacturers (SIAM) has written to the ministry that CBS with a front hydraulic disc brake is a cheaper and efficient alternative to ABS, said the people who wanted to stay anonymous.

The SIAM proposal is mid-way solution between the expensive ABS and current CBS with drum brakes which has been mandated for sub-125 cc bikes since 2019.

Industry executives suggest the installation of an advanced CBS with a front disc brake will bump up the cost of a two-wheeler by around 1,000, which is lower than an ABS that could raise prices by more than 3,000.

ABS brakes, common in cars and other four-wheelers, are designed to prevent a lock-up of the wheel during braking, even in bad driving conditions, to prevent the bike or scooter from slipping.

The CBS version with a front disc brake distributes the braking force between the two wheels. To be sure, it does not prevent wheel lock-up but is more effective than CBS using drum brakes used in two-wheelers under 125 cc engine capacity. Such vehicles account for 84% of two-wheeler sales in India.

Costly change

The governments proposal for the ABS mandate, made in June, took the countrys automakers by storm. Only about one-sixth of the total 19.6 million two-wheelers sold have the required technology. If the rules were changed, the remaining 84% of the two-wheeler market would have had to install ABS, increasing the cost by 3,000-5,000 per unit.

If implemented, the ABS mandate would have affected market leader Hero Motocorp the most, an analyst said in a note. Hero MotoCorp and TVS Motors will be the most impacted, as 94% and 64% of their total volumes, respectively, will undergo price increases from [January]. Bajaj Auto will relatively have less impact, as 35% of its volumes will only get impacted by ABS norms," wrote Rishi Vora of Kotak Institutional Equities.

The ABS discussions come at a time when sales of cheaper motorcycles of less than 125cc have been slowing. In financial year 2025, while the overall two-wheeler market grew by 9%, motorcycles in this segment saw only a 5% rise in sales to 9.2 million units.

Email queries to SIAM and the ministry of road transport and highways remained unanswered.

Affordability vs. safety

Communications on the subject started in late July and discussions have continued. Talks have centered around 125cc two-wheelers are entry-level vehicles and that an ABS mandate would render them unaffordable, the second person said.

But the government has stated that rider safety remains its priority, this person added. At the SIAM Annual Convention last month in New Delhi, Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari said that road safety remains a dark area" for his ministry.



There were more than 173,800 Indian road accident fatalities, with some 45.8% of the victims being two-wheeler riders in 2023, the latest published data on this count, according to the Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

Besides increased costs, two-wheeler makers, at their end, have flagged the risk of operational disruptions with sudden changes in industry mandates.

Also Read | Auto parts makers chase Mothersons playbook to go global

Constantly evolving regulations require continuous adaptation, leading to increased compliance costs. Frequent regulatory changes may cause operational disruptions and require process realignment," Hero Motocorp wrote in its latest annual report.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooters India, second-ranked in the industry, joined in the criticism. In an interview with Mint, Yogesh Mathur, director of sales and marketing, said that suppliers are not ready to meet the scale of demand for ABS. Cost is definitely there as an impact. But more important is in terms of whether we are really prepared from the supply side point of view," he told Mint. Suppliers will have to rely on import routes due to the strict timelines and domestic manufacturing will have to prepare accordingly, he said.

Electric two-wheeler startup Ola Electric held a contrarian stance and its chairman and managing director has said that ABS needs to be introduced as soon as possible. Our stance is that the sooner the better. We should not compromise with customer safety," Bhavish Aggarwal said during the company's earnings call on 14 July.
India needs to reconsider its insurance distribution strategies to reach every person in the country and meet the Insurance for All goal by 2047, said Deepak Sood, whole-time member (non-life) of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).

If we continue to follow the current distribution structure without looking at other options, then we will reach out to the same set of customers that weve already reached, said Sood during a session at the Global Fintech Festival 2025 in Mumbai.

Insurance for all is a national mission by the Government of India and IRDAI to provide comprehensive insurance coverage to every citizen by 2047. The vision aims to ensure every household and enterprise has access to life, health, property and accident insurance solutions.

To change the traditional insurance distribution systems, Sood recommended using technology to digitalize distribution.

AI is in a position to give you much better solutions and make health insurance companies and distributors understand the customer much better, the official said.

Insurance penetration India has been struggling to improve its insurance penetration for several years. A lack of awareness and trust in insurance policies, coupled with high premiums, has led the poor and underprivileged in the country to avoid insurance, thereby widening an existing gap.

Indias insurance penetration rate of 3.7% is significantly lower than the global average of 7%, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25. There is a notable gap in the countrys insurance coverage, said the survey.

Also Read | Insurance agents, brokers may get lower commission after GST cuts

Insurance penetration is calculated by dividing the total insurance premiums collected by all companies in a year by the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and expressing the result as a percentage.

To reach the next billion, we need compelling, convenient distribution solutions for everyone across the country, across socioeconomic groups and age groups, said Sood. It means to serve your customer when, where, and how he or she desires, he added.

In an example, he said, when an insurer approaches even a small village, they should be able to approach with a tablet, understand the customers needs, explain the insurance policy and close his insurance policy requirements, all at once.

In September, the IRDAI launched the official website of Bima Sugam India Federation (BSIF), a digital platform designed to bring all insurance services under one roof. The initiative aligns with the goal of achieving insurance for all by 2047.

Also Read | Think bigger health cover means better protection? Think again

The portal will enable users to browse and select from a wide range of life, health and general insurance plans offered by various companies. The platform aims to simplify the entire insurance journey, right from policy selection and purchase to claim settlement and renewal through a completely paperless process using just the policy number.
Just a week into the U.S. government shutdown, businesses nationwide are starting to feel the pain.

An Alameda, Calif., medical-device company postponed a planned spinoff, unable to pursue regulatory approvals. A Florida marketing company laid off five employees after receiving a stop-work order on a federal contract. A Minnesota subcontractor is trying to keep a half-dozen electricians working while it waits for a stalled government contract.

The shutdown is disrupting business as usual in many waysand reinforcing just how many private-sector operations depend on a federal bureaucracy humming on all cylinders. Government-backed small-business lending has ground to a halt. Agencies cant award or make payments on many new contracts. Scheduled workplace-safety inspections are on hold and so are many regulatory reviews.

Small government subcontractors such as Brian Butlers marketing and communications firm said they are already being hit and dont know when they will be paid for some work already done or how long the shutdown will last.

Thats a very scary place to be in as an entrepreneur," said Butler, whose Lutz, Fla., firm, Vistra Communications, employs about 80 people and gets roughly three-quarters of its revenue from the federal government.

Butler laid off five of his 80 employees last week after the shutdown triggered a stop-work order on one of its projects. Butler paid the workers a week of salary and is covering the employees share of health-insurance costs for the month.

If I receive one, two, three more of these, Im not sure I can do that for that many people," said Butler of the stop-work orders.

Curtailed operations at the Securities and Exchange Commission have delayed some business plans. Vivani Medical, a tiny company developing drug implants, said it had to pause a planned spinoff of its brain-implant subsidiary since it couldnt continue with registering the spinoffs shares with the SEC. It had recently set Wednesday as the transactions record datewhen it would determine which existing shareholders would receive the right to shares in the new company, Cortigent.

Vivani, which has a market capitalization of around $80 million, said it would set a new date once the SEC reopened.

Some economists worry the pain could spread to the broader economy if the stalemate stretches into weeks. The shutdown could cut annual economic growth by as much as 0.2 percentage point for every week it lasts, the consulting firm Oxford Economics estimates.

Much of that should be recovered when the shutdown ends, assuming the government makes good on delayed invoices and back pay for furloughed workers. Still, the longer it goes on, the more of that hit to growth wont be recovered," said Nancy Vanden Houten, lead U.S. economist at Oxford Economics.

Vinco, a telecommunications and electrical subcontractor, learned just over a month ago that it was part of the winning bid for a Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Force Reserve building upgrade. But the shutdown has held up the paperwork needed to process the contract, which would employ six to eight skilled electricians at Vinco for about nine months.

Steve Anderson, president of the Forest Lake, Minn., company, said he will put the electricians on other jobs, even if doing so means overstaffing some projects. That will hurt profit margins at the 300-person company, which receives about 5% of its sales from the federal government.

With a brief shutdown, it is hard to find work to fill the gaps. If the shutdown stretches on longer, he added, Vinco might have to lay off workersor take less-profitable jobs to keep them. Theres such a demand for the specialty electric trades that, if you lay them off or send them home, you will lose them," Anderson said.

Electricians, plumbers and other field-service professionals frequently count on stable government work to counterbalance less-predictable residential business, said Didi Azaria, chief executive of Workiz, an online platform providing scheduling, invoicing and other services to such disciplines. About 40% of sales for its 127,000 customers are from commercial or government accounts, and shutdown-related delays are mounting.

Every job is getting delayed, or theyre not getting paid on time," Azaria said. It creates a cash problem, meaning you cannot buy equipment, you cannot pay your employees."

Fire Starter Studios, a Santa Clarita, Calif., video-production company, typically gets about 50% of its revenue from federal contracts. Just days before the budget impasse, Fire Starter completed the General Services Administration process that allows it to contract with government agencies at preset rates, an effort that took two years and cost roughly $10,000.

Now we have nothing to show for it," said owner Rachel Klein, who employs anywhere from a dozen to 200 people at a time. No new business now means no money in two, three or four months."

Some effects from the shutdown might take longer to surface. At the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which investigates workplace injuries and deaths, about 460 people are still working, without pay, out of a staff of 1,664, the Labor Department said.

Contingency plans for potential shutdowns in the previous administration called for all of OSHAs inspectors to keep working, said Doug Parker, the OSHA head during the Biden administration.

The current staffing level isnt enough to respond to all of the complaints," he said. Its going to prevent OSHA from intervening to protect workers, " he added. According to the Labor Departments shutdown plan, the department will continue to monitor and respond to imminent threats to human life and continue inspections in high-hazard industries.

Businesses that dont work directly with the federal government are also bracing for a pullback in spending as the shutdown continues.

We know from past experience that we will see lower sales than we would have as long as the government shutdown lasts," said Mike Roach, co-owner of Paloma Clothing, a 50-year-old womens clothing retailer in Portland, Ore., with about 20 full- and part-time employees. When consumers are less confident, they spend less money."

The shutdowns timing makes things more precarious. Many retailers depend on higher fourth-quarter sales to stay solvent.

I can guarantee you that every small-time retailer like Paloma is pulling their hair out," Roach said.

Write to Theo Francis at theo.francis@wsj.com, Ruth Simon at Ruth.Simon@wsj.com and Lauren Weber at Lauren.Weber@wsj.com
Canara Robeco Asset Management Co. (CRAMC), Indias second-oldest asset manager, is set to test investor appetite with its 1,326-crore initial public offering, banking on its strong equity focus, rapid growth momentum, and the trusted legacy of its joint promoters state-run Canara Bank and Netherlands-based Orix Corporation Europe.

The IPO, which opens Thursday and closes Monday, comprises an offer-for-sale of up to 49.8 million equity shares by existing shareholders, priced in the band of 253266 per share. The issue comes at a time when asset management companies (AMCs) are increasingly drawing investor attention, as markets scale highs and strong retail inflows through systematic investment plans (SIPs) provide steady momentum.

Leading charge

Founded in 1993 and rechristened in 2007 after Robeco acquired a 49% stake, Canara Robeco has transformed from a modest fund house into one of the fastest-growing players in Indias asset management industry. Besides managing domestic schemes, it provides investment advisory services on Indian equities to Robeco Hong Kong.

As of June 30, the fund house managed 26 schemes across equity (12), debt (10), and hybrid (4), with quarterly average assets under management (QAAUM) of about 1.1 trillion. In just two years, AUM surged 1.8 times from 625 billion in March 2023, while the equity book nearly doubled to over 1.03 trillion.

Its ability to scale rests on a dual advantage: the legacy distribution of Canara Banks nationwide 9,800-branch footprint and a 52,000-strong distributor base. The AMC has also emerged as a leader in mobilizing assets beyond the top 30 cities, ranking first among the top 10 AMCs and second in the top 20.

Racing past rivals

If growth is the measure of success, Canara Robeco has been lapping its listed peers. Over FY23FY25, the AMC clocked a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40.38% in revenuesfar ahead of Nippon Life India Asset Management (28.07%) and HDFC AMC (27.05%).

The divergence is even sharper on the bottom line. Net profit growth stood at 55.49%, outpacing HDFC AMC (31.46%), Nippon Life (32.33%), Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC (25.11%), and UTI AMC (24.20%).

We actually have a mix which is basically equity-focused. 91% of our AUM is in equity, which obviously is the higher-margin business in our industry. Given that we have such a high proportion of equity, and that this is not going to change very dramatically going forward, we are very confident that our profitability will remain on track in the years ahead," Rajnish Narula, managing director & chief executive, Canara Robeco AMC, told Mint.

The AMC has been quietly and steadily building a strong foundation", according to Nikunj Saraf, chief executive officer, Choice Wealth. CRAMCs impressive performance revenue and profit CAGR reflects both execution excellence and favourable industry dynamics."

Equity edge at play

Beyond scale, Canara Robeco AMC stands out for profitability. It posted the highest three-year median return on equity (RoE) at 36.3%, well ahead of HDFC AMC (29.5%), Nippon Life (29%), Aditya Birla (27%), and UTI (17.1%). Operational efficiency has supported this, with the cost-to-income ratio, which compares a companys operating expenses to its operating income, improving from 47.7% in FY23 to 36.2% in FY25, and further to 34.2% in Q1FY26.

The edge comes from its sharp equity tilt: 91.66% of AUM is equity-oriented, versus 61.29% at HDFC AMC and just 38.96% at UTI. Analysts see this as both a strength and a risk.

Strong RoE, efficient cost structures, and tech-led distribution add confidence, though cyclicality and compliance risks remain," said Bhavik Joshi, research analyst at INVASSET PMS.

SimranJeet Singh Bhatia, senior research analyst, Almondz Group, noted that a low cost-to-income ratio provides scope for reinvestment, while Canara Banks branch network can aid expansion into under-penetrated regions. Saraf of Choice Wealth added that the equity-heavy model positions the AMC to benefit from Indias growth, though geographic concentrationover 60% AUM from five statesunderscores the need to deepen presence beyond top 30 cities, which are expanding at a 24% CAGR.

Also read LG Electronics India IPO: Lower valuation, strong profitswill investors bite?

Concentrated geography

Geographic reliance is a visible weak spot. In FY25, Maharashtra alone contributed 31.7% of CRAMCs revenues, while the top five states  Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Delhi, and Tamil Nadu  dominated the business mix. Such dependence exposes the AMC to regional economic slowdowns and limits its diversification.

This is, however, a sector-wide issue. The Securities and Exchange Board of Indias 2025 Investor Survey  which covered 90,000 households across 400 cities and 1,000 villages  revealed that mutual fund penetration in India remains heavily skewed and limited. States such as Delhi (20.7%) and Gujarat (15.4%) show high participation, while rural areas lag at just 6%. The survey also found that while 53% of households are aware of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, this awareness is not translating into higher penetration as only 6.7% currently hold investments in them  underscoring how adoption remains low and is clustered in select geographies.

Narula acknowledged the imbalance, but sees an opportunity: About 24% of our AUM comes from B30 cities, compared with 18% for the industry, giving us an edge in under-penetrated markets."

According to Joshi, expansion will hinge on Canara Banks branch network, activating independent financial advisors (IFAs) in tier-2/3 cities, and scaling digital onboarding. With 25+ branches and 52,000 partners, execution will depend on distributor engagement and service quality.

Regulatory overhang

CRAMCs growth story carries a regulatory overhang. On June 28, Canara Robeco Mutual Fund received a GST show-cause-cum-demand notice alleging incorrect tax treatment for FY201819 to FY202223, with a disputed demand of 476.28 crore.

The management has clarified that the notice pertains to the mutual fund, not the AMC. Our GST accounting is in line with industry practice, so we are confident about this notice," said Narula.

Also Read | Why foreign investors are shunning India's IPO market now

Analysts see limited risk. The company has not made any provision, suggesting management does not expect a major outflow," said Bhatia of Almondz. Saraf of Choice Wealth added that while provisioning details remain undisclosed, the IPO will unlock 684 crore for Canara Bank and boost visibility for the AMC.

Growth runway

Indias mutual fund industry is set for robust growth, with AUM projected to expand at 1618% CAGR between FY25 and FY30, more than doubling from 67 trillion to 147155 trillion. This builds on the 18% CAGR achieved over FY2025.

Despite the momentum, penetration remains shallow. As of Q3CY24, mutual fund AUM was just 20% of Indias GDP, compared with 21% in China, 50% in South Africa, 55% in Japan, 59% in the UK, 64% globally, 81% in France, and 124% in the US.

The sustainability of this outperformance rests on Indias robust mutual fund expansion, with industry AUM projected to reach 130 lakh crore by FY30 at an 18.6% CAGR," said Saraf.
Russia increased crude oil production in September while falling behind its OPEC target following the latest adjustments to the alliances compensation plans.

The nation pumped 9.368 million barrels a day last month, according to people who saw the data and asked for anonymity as the information isnt public. Thats a 193,000 barrels per day hike from September, the biggest monthly increase since April, when the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies started returning barrels to the global market.

Still, Russias daily production was about 47,000 barrels below the nations quota for September, including revised compensation cuts, Bloomberg calculations show.

The figures help to shed light on the health of the upstream industry in one of the worlds top three producers. Concerns have emerged over Moscows ability to keep up with its share of OPEC increases as the alliance revives curbed production to reclaim market share. Intensified drone attacks by Ukraine on Russias refineries have cut crude processing and led to a surge in exports of unprocessed barrels, with key ports running out of shipping capacity.

Russia classified its oil output data when Western sanctions over the Kremlins invasion of Ukraine targeted the nations energy industry, complicating independent verification. Market watchers rely on ship-tracking data and estimates of refinery runs to follow trends in Russias oil industry.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, September output was close to Russias OPEC quota, with production increasing gradually.

Just as we cant reduce production quickly, we are ramping it up gradually. We will fulfill our quota, Novak said, as reported by Interfax, when asked about August output, which was also below the required level.

Compensation Cuts

Moscow, historically one of the biggest laggards in implementing OPEC supply deals, has agreed on compensation curbs to make up for previous overproduction. The monthly schedule for extra cuts for a wider group was revised four times this year.

OPEC published an updated compensation schedule last week, with Russia pledging to reduce its output in September by 34,000 barrels a day below its target of 9.449 million barrels a day for the month. That brings required production to 9.415 million barrels a day.

Russias September production was much closer to its OPEC pledge under the previous compensation plan published in September, which required the nation to pump 9.364 million barrels a day, according to Bloomberg calculations.

Russias energy ministry didnt immediately respond to Bloomberg request for a comment.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
By Karl Plume

CHICAGO, - U.S. soybean futures rose for a second straight day on Wednesday on expectations that U.S. harvest yields will be lower than the latest government forecast and on limited sales by farmers awaiting news from U.S.-China trade talks and details of government aid.

Corn followed soybeans higher as an expected yield forecast cut underpinned the market, although gains were limited by projections for a record-large U.S. crop.

Wheat futures were narrowly mixed near five-year lows, with prices capped by a stronger dollar and rising global supplies.

Corn and soybeans gained despite the ongoing U.S. harvest, but both markets have struggled to break out of recent ranges as a U.S. government shutdown has disrupted agricultural data and deprived the market of its usual direction. Analysts polled by Reuters expect the latest yield estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to be reduced when the agency resumes reporting data. Its monthly supply and demand report, originally scheduled for release on Thursday, will not be issued.

"I don't feel like we're getting a whole lot of harvest pressure in beans. Farmers are not aggressively selling beans even though they are aggressively harvesting beans," said Ted Seifried, chief market strategist for Zaner Ag Hedge.

Cash basis values around the Midwest have been firm this week due to slower-than-normal sales.

Optimism that a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping at the end of the month could revive Chinese buying of U.S. soybeans offered additional support, Seifried said. The market is awaiting details of a farm aid package that could help growers struggling with China's lack of purchases. Soybeans were also underpinned by labor tensions in Argentina, where workers at soy processors called for a strike this week.

Chicago Board of Trade November soybeans rose 5-3/4 cents to $10.27-3/4 a bushel by 12:40 p.m. CDT , while December corn added 1-1/4 cents to $4.21 a bushel. CBOT December wheat was unchanged at $5.06-3/4 a bushel.
Hackers linked to the North Korean government have stolen over $2 billion in cryptocurrency so far this year, according to a blog post by the blockchain analysis firm Elliptic. This staggering amount marks the largest annual total on record, with three months still remaining in the year.

The previous record was in 2022, when North Korea stole $1.35 billion. Elliptic's analysis estimates the regimes total amount of stolen crypto since 2017 to be at least $6 billion, though the firm notes this figure may still be an underestimate.

The actual figure may be even higher. Attributing cyber thefts to North Korea is not an exact science, reads the blog post.

The firm explained the difficulty in precise attribution, stating that they are aware of many other thefts that share some of the hallmarks of North Korea-linked activity but lack sufficient evidence to be definitively attributed.

"Other thefts are likely unreported and remain unknown, said Elliptic.

Who are the targets of these hackers? Historically, North Koreas main targets have been crypto exchanges. While these remain a focus, the regimes hackers are also increasingly targeting high net worth individuals who possess substantial crypto holdings.

Also Read | Crypto Prices Dip After $1.5 Billion Theft From Bybit Exchange

A significant shift has also been observed in the hackers' methodology, as detailed by the firm. The majority of hacks in 2025 were perpetrated through social engineering attacks, where hackers deceive or manipulate individuals in order to gain access to cryptocurrency.

View full Image Crypto stolen by North Korea ( Elliptic )

This marks a shift from earlier attacks where in many cases technical flaws in crypto infrastructure were exploited to steal funds. This shift highlights that the weak point in cryptocurrency security is increasingly human, rather than technical, the blog post read.

Why is North Korea stealing crypto? The record-breaking loot aligns with estimates from that of other organisations. For instance, last year, the United Nations Security Council estimated that between 2017 and 2023, North Korean hackers stole $3 billion in cryptocurrency. Adding Elliptics estimates of this years $2 billion, and last years $742.8 million, the total gets close to the $6 billion figure.

Also Read | Fake TikTok shops used to spread malware and steal cryptocurrency: Report

The United Nations believes that the regime led by Kim Jong-Un uses the stolen cryptocurrency to fund its nuclear weapons programme.
Canara Robeco IPO: The initial public offering (IPO) of Canara Robeco Asset Management Company is set to open for subscription on Thursday, October 9. The mainboard issue is entirely an offer for sale (OFS) of 4,98,54,357 shares. The Canara Robeco IPO price band has been fixed at 253 to 266 per equity share.

Canara Bank and ORIX Corporation Europe N.V. are the two promoter selling shareholders of the OFS. Canara Bank is selling up to 2,59,24,266 shares, while ORIX Corporation is offloading 2,39,30,091 shares in this OFS.

Meanwhile, the grey market is reflecting a positive sentiment about the issue, as the latest grey market premium (GMP) of Canara Robeco stock was 35, indicating that the stock could be listed at a premium of 13 per cent.

After opening on Thursday, the IPO will remain open until Monday, October 13. The company is expected to finalise share allotment on Tuesday, October 14. Successful bidders may receive the shares on Wednesday, October 15, while those who fail to receive the allotment will receive a refund on the same day. Canara Robeco shares are expected to be listed on the BSE and the NSE on Thursday, October 16.

As the IPO opens on Thursday, lets examine some of the key risks highlighted by the company in its Red Herring Prospectus (RHP) that potential investors should be aware of.

Also Read | Canara Robeco IPO: 10 key things to know from RHP

Canara Robeco IPO: Key risks 1. The company will not receive any proceeds from the OFS This offer consists of only an OFS of up to 49,854,357 shares of face value of 10 each by Canara Bank and OCE.

Promoters Canara Bank and OCE will receive the entire proceeds from the offer.

"The offer will not result in any fresh capital being infused into our company. As a result, our companys funding requirements for existing business operations, future growth strategies, or general corporate purposes will need to be met through other sources, such as internal accruals or separate fundraising activities, if required," reads the RHP.

2. Extensive regulation The company's business is subject to extensive regulation, including periodic inspections by the market regulator SEBI.

Non-compliance with existing regulations or SEBIs observations could result in penalties and restrictions on the company's business activities.

3. Economic downturns The company highlighted that unfavourable market changes and economic downturns may result in customer withdrawals or a decrease in customer transactions.

This may result in a decline in assets under management and management fees, negatively impacting revenue from operations and the results of operations.

4. Performance of equity-oriented schemes The company says the performance of its equity-oriented schemes has a significant impact on its assets under management and, consequently, its revenue from operations.

"As of June 30, 2025, June 30, 2024, March 31, 2025, March 31, 2024, and March 31, 2023, 91.17%, 92.34%, 91.69%, 91.66% and 88.43% of our quarterly average assets under management were from equity-oriented schemes. Underperformance by our equity-oriented schemes may have a disproportionate adverse impact on our business and revenue," the RHP reads.

5. Significant dependence on third-party distributors The company is dependent on third-party distributor partners for most of its monthly average assets under management.

As per the RHP, as of June 30, 2025 and June 30, 2024 and March 31, 2025, March 31, 2024, and March 31, 2023, 73.45%, 75.82%, 73.63%, 76.24% and 78.04% of the company's monthly average assets under management were generated from third-party distributors.

"If we are unable to maintain our existing relationship with our third-party distributors or attract new distributors, our business, competitiveness, results of operations, and financial condition may be adversely impacted," said the company.

6. Concentration of customers in five states/UTs The company generates a significant proportion of its monthly average assets under management from customers in five Indian states and union territories.

"As of June 30, 2025 and June 30, 2024 and March 31, 2025, March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023, 62.11%, 61.46%, 61.92%, 61.67%, and 64.74% of our monthly average assets under management were generated from customers located in the Indian states/union territory of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Delhi, and Tamil Nadu. A decrease in our AUM from these states/union territories could adversely impact our business and revenue from operations," says the RHP.

7. Concentrated investor base The company's investor base is substantially concentrated on retail and high-net-worth individual investors.

"As of June 30, 2025, 99.01% of our total folios were from individual customers. Concentration of our total folios among retail individual investors exposes us to risks arising from retail investor behaviour, which may have a disproportionate adverse impact on our business and revenue," said the company.

8. Intense competition The company operates in a competitive industry. HDFC Asset Management Company, Nippon Life India Asset Management, Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC, and UTI Asset Management Company are the major listed peers of the company.

9. Tax regime The company highlights that the mutual fund business in India may be adversely affected by changes in the present favourable tax regime.

"Any adverse development in tax laws may materially and adversely affect our operations, financial condition, and future business prospects," reads the RHP.

10. Risk of cyberattacks, data breaches As the company maintains significant amounts of highly sensitive customer data, its operations are vulnerable to risks associated with data breaches and cyberattacks.

Read all IPO-related news here

Read more stories by Nishant Kumar
Upcoming IPO: Canara Robeco Asset Management's initial public offering (IPO) is scheduled to open for public subscription tomorrow, Thursday, 9 October 2025, as the AMC aims to raise funds from the Indian stock market.

The Mumbai-based Canara Robeco is an asset management company (AMC) that invests its clients' money in equities, debt, and hybrid schemes for both individual and institutional investors.

Also Read | Canara HSBC Life Insurance IPO: Here are 5 key things to know from RHP

Here are 10 key things to know ahead of the IPO 1. Canara Robeco IPO dates: The Canara Robeco IPO is set to open for public bidding on Thursday, 9 October 2025, and the public issue is scheduled to close after its final subscription round on Monday, 13 October 2025.

2. Canara Robeco IPO offer details: The company is offering a book-built public issue comprising an entirely offer for sale (OFS) component of up to 4,98,54,357 or 4.98 crore equity shares by the promoters.

However, the company's DRHP filing data shows that there is no offer for sale component of the Canara Robeco IPO.

3. Canara Robeco IPO promoter details: Canara Bank and ORIX Corporation Europe N.V. are the promoter selling stakeholders via the initial public offering.

Also Read | Nykaa stock soars 57% in 2025 so far as rally extends into seventh month

4. Canara Robeco IPO price band: Canara Robeco IPO fixed its price band in the range of 253 to 266 per share with a lot size of 56 shares per lot.

5. Canara Robeco IPO objective: As it is an entirely offer for sale (OFS) public issue, the proceeds raised from the IPO round will entirely go to the promoters selling stakeholding. The company will not receive any funds from the public offering.

6. Canara Robeco IPO anchor date: The company is set to hold its anchor investor round for marquee investors one day ahead of the public bidding day. The anchor round of the IPO is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 8 October 2025.

7. Canara Robeco IPO allotment and listing date: According to the data collected from Chittorgarh, the Canara Robeco IPO shares are expected to be allotted to the investors on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, while the stocks are estimated to be listed on the BSE and NSE indices on Thursday, 26 October 2025.

Also Read | Navratna PSU CONCOR to announce interim dividend, Q2 results on this date

8. Canara Robeco IPO reservations: The company plans to offer not more than 50% of the public offer to the Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs), not less than 35% to the retail investors, and not less than 15% to the Non-Institutional Investors (NIIs).

9. Canara Robeco IPO book runner & registrar: SBI Capital Markets Limited, Axis Capital Limited, and JM Financial Limited are the book-running lead managers of the public issue, while MUFG Intime India Private Limited (Formerly Link Intime India Private Limited) is the registrar of the offer.

10. Canara Robeco IPO latest GMP: As of Wednesday, 8 October 2025, the grey market premium (GMP) of the Canara Robeco IPO stands at 35 per share. With the upper price band of the public issue set at 266, the company's shares are expected to be listed at 301 apiece, marking a potential listing gain of 13%, according to IPO India data.

The grey market premium (GMP) is an indicator which shows the investors' willingness to invest in a primary issue.

Read all stories by Anubhav Mukherjee
With LG Electronics IPO and Tata Capital IPO generating significant interest in the primary market this week, three additional onesCanara Robeco IPO, Rubicon Research IPO, and Canara HSBC Life IPOare set to join the fray.

Prior to the launch of the public offerings, investors are paying close attention to the grey market premium trends, valuations, and various other factors. Rubicon Research IPO GMP appears to be appealing, followed by the Canara HSBC Life IPO GMP and Canara Robeco IPO GMP.

Let's take a look at the grey market premium trends:

Rubicon Research IPO GMP today Rubicon Research IPO GMP today is +80. This indicates Rubicon Research share price is trading at a premium of 80 in the grey market, according to investorgain.com.

Considering the upper end of the IPO price band and the current premium in the grey market, the estimated listing price of Rubicon Research is indicated at 565 apiece, which is 16.49% higher than the IPO price of 485.

Based on the activities of the grey market over the past week, today's IPO GMP shows an upward trend and is anticipated to have a robust listing. The lowest GMP recorded is 0.00, whereas the highest GMP stands at 80, as per experts.

Also Read | Rubicon Research IPO: 10 key points you must know from RHP

Canara Robeco IPO GMP today Canara Robeco IPO GMP today is +35. This indicates Canara Robeco share price is trading at a premium of 35 in the grey market, according to investorgain.com.

Considering the upper end of the IPO price band and the current premium in the grey market, the estimated listing price of Canara Robeco is indicated at 301 apiece, which is 13.16% higher than the IPO price of 266.

According to the grey market activities over the past four sessions, the IPO GMP is trending upward today and is anticipated to have a robust listing. Experts note that the lowest GMP stands at 0.00, whereas the highest GMP is 35.

Also Read | Can Canara Robeco AMC keep its equity edge?

Canara HSBC Life IPO GMP today Canara HSBC Life IPO GMP today is +14. This indicates Canara HSBC Life share price is trading at a premium of 14 in the grey market, according to investorgain.com.

Considering the upper end of the IPO price band and the current premium in the grey market, the estimated listing price of Canara HSBC Life is indicated at 120 apiece, which is 13.21% higher than the IPO price of 106.

According to the grey market activity observed in the last three sessions, the IPO GMP is rising today and is anticipated to have a solid listing. The minimum GMP recorded is 0.00, whereas the maximum GMP stands at 14, as per expert opinions.

'Grey market premium' indicates investors' readiness to pay more than the issue price.

Also Read | Canara Robeco IPO: 10 key things to know from RHP

IPO Details Canara Robeco Asset Management Company IPO price band has been set between 253 and 266 per share, resulting in a valuation of approximately 5,300 crore at the upper limit. The 1,326 crore Canara Robeco IPO is set to open for subscription on October 9 and will close on October 13. The bidding for anchor investors will take place for one day on October 8, as announced publicly. The Canara Robeco IPO is exclusively an Offer For Sale (OFS) of 4.98 crore equity shares with no fresh issue component.

Rubicon Research IPO price band has been established at 461 to 485 per share for its forthcoming share sale. The Mumbai-based firm aims to raise 1,377.5 crore through its IPO, which will also be open for subscription starting October 9.

According to a statement, the company intends to utilize the net proceeds from the fresh issue for prepayment or scheduled repayment of a portion of certain existing borrowings, funding inorganic growth through undisclosed acquisitions, other strategic initiatives, and general corporate expenses. The issue will close on October 13, with the anchor investor bidding opening for a single day on October 8.

For the Canara HSBC Life Insurance IPO price band has been set between 100 and 106 per share, targeting a valuation of around 10,000 crore at the upper limit.

The insurer's 2,516-crore public offering is scheduled to open for subscription on October 10 and will end on October 14. The bidding for anchor investors will be available for one day on October 9, as indicated in a public announcement. The Canara HSBC Life IPO is a total offer for sale (OFS) of 23.75 crore equity shares by promoters and an investor.

In the OFS, Canara Bank is set to sell 13.77 crore equity shares, representing a 14.5% stake; HSBC Insurance (Asia-Pacific) Holdings Ltd will divest 47.5 lakh shares or 0.5% holding; and Punjab National Bank plans to sell 9.5 crore equity shares, equivalent to a 10% stake.
The initial public offering (IPO) of LG Electronics India, a subsidiary of LG Electronics Inc., Korea, a leading global single-brand home appliance player, continued to witness healthy demand during the second day of bidding.

The LG Electronics India IPO, which remains open until Thursday, October 9, received bids for 23.73 crore shares against the total offer of 7.13 crore shares, resulting in an overall subscription of 3.33 times by the end of Day 2, according to exchange data.

The non-institutional buyers portion continued to show strong interest, with subscription reaching 7.60 times. The retail portion was also booked 1.91 times, while the employee segment displayed significant enthusiasm, being subscribed 4.12 times. The QIB segment was booked 2.59 times.

LG Electronics India IPO details The LG Electronics India IPO is a book-built issue worth 11,607 crore, entirely comprising an offer for sale (OFS) of 10.2 crore shares. The price band for LG Electronics India IPO has been set between 1,080 and 1,140 per share.

Retail investors can apply for a minimum of 13 shares in one lot and up to 13 lots. At the upper end of the price band of LG Electronics India IPO, 1,140 per share, retail investors are required to make a minimum investment of 14,820 per lot.

Also Read | LG Electronics India raises 3,475 crore from anchor investors ahead of IPO

The IPO proceeds will not be utilized by LG Electronics India but will help the promoter unlock value from its investment in the company. LG Electronics currently operates two manufacturing units located in Noida and Pune, with a total capacity to produce 1.45 crore products annually and an aggregate capacity utilization rate of around 77% for FY25.

LG Electronics IPO

As part of its expansion plans in India, the company intends to establish a third manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh with an investment of 5,000 crore

On the financial front, LGs performance has been strong, with topline growth of 10.8% CAGR and PAT growth of 28% CAGR between FY23 and FY25. During the same period, margins expanded by 320 bps, with FY25 EBITDA margin at 12.8%, according to domestic brokerage firm Nirmal Bang.

GMP signals over 27% premium As of today, the grey market premium (GMP) for the LG Electronics India IPO stands at 298 per share, suggesting that the stock is likely to list above its issue price. Based on this GMP and the upper price band, the estimated listing price is 1,438, reflecting a 26.14% premium over the upper issue price of 1,140 per share.

The GMP represents the expected difference between an IPOs issue price and its anticipated listing price in the unofficial market. However, its important to note that the GMP is merely an early indicator and should not be relied upon as the sole factor in investment decisions.

About LG Electronics India LG Electronics India is among the leading players in the major home appliances and consumer electronics segment (excluding mobile phones) in India, primarily catering to the offline channel. The company holds a leading position across product categories such as washing machines, refrigerators, panel TVs, inverter air conditioners, and microwaves.

Refrigerators contribute 27% of the companys FY25 revenue of 24,367 crore, followed by washing machines and air conditioners, accounting for 21% and 22%, respectively.
Tata Capital IPO Day 3 Highlights: Tata Capital's 15,512 crore IPO sailed through on the third day of bidding today, October 8.

The public offer by the Tata group company is open for subscription until October 8, making today the last day to apply for the issue. Tata Capital IPO price band is set at 310 326 per share.

The issue includes a fresh issue of 21 crore equity shares and an OFS of 26.58 crore shares. Under the OFS, Tata Sons will sell 23 crore shares, and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) will offload 3.58 crore shares. Currently, Tata Sons owns 88.6% of Tata Capital, while IFC holds a 1.8% stake.

Proceeds from the fresh issue will be used to strengthen the companys Tier-1 capital base, supporting future growth and lending activities.

The IPO is also in line with the Reserve Bank of Indias mandate requiring upper-layer NBFCs to be listed within three years of classification.

Tata Capital IPO GMP

Tata Capital IPO GMP declined further to 6 today. At the prevailing GMP and upper end of the price band, Tata Capital IPO listing price could be 332, a premium of just 2% over the issue price.

The company is expected to list on the stock exchanges on October 13.
Mumbai: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is bracing Indias markets for a future where ultra-powerful quantum computers could crack todays passwords in secondsa threat its chief likened to the Y2K scare of the 1990s. The regulator said preparation for a combat plan is underway.

Also called the Millennium Bug, the Y2K problem had threatened to crash computers worldwide at the turn of the year 2000, but the impact was not too severe mostly on account of proactive actions globally.

Speaking at the Global Fintech Fest, Sebi chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey on Wednesday warned that the arrival of quantum computers could render current encryption standards obsolete, potentially breaking passwords and compromising security across the financial sector.

Also Read | Sebi plans to simplify securities lending

"It is being said that if quantum computers come the normal cryptography will break," Pandey said. The traditional cryptography that we do now, with which we make passwords, whether it is 128 encrypted, will break with quantum computing. If it breaks, there will be no security and crypto will go first.

The markets regulator is engaged in preparing the system to be safe ahead of the technology's widespread adoption, the chairman said adding that Sebi is charting a course for quantum-safe computing, with a target timeline of 2028 or 2029.

Quantum solution The solution involves transitioning to new standards like post-quantum cryptography (PQC) or quantum key distribution (QKD). "We will have to prepare for that now," Pandey said, outlining a multi-year plan. Gradually, in all the systems, we will have to look at where the passwords have been used. And then we will have to replace them.

Pandey was speaking in a panel discussion moderated by Uday Kotak, founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank, on leveraging technology while mitigating risk. The panel included Tuang Lee Lim, assistant managing director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Marlene Amstad, chairperson of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).

Lim highlighted the need to regulate financial activities consistently, regardless of the underlying technology. He referenced Singapore's "duck test" for regulation: "If it works like a duck, looks like a duck, sounds like a duck, you have to regulate it like a duck. So regardless of whether it comes in whatever form, digital form or in traditional form, you have to make sure that you look at what's the underlying risk... and you tackle them appropriately."

Echoing the focus on risk, FINMA's Amstad noted that new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) don't create entirely new risk categories; they only amplify the existing ones.

During the discussion, Pandey spoke on how the industry could go for a quantum-safe cryptography based on an action plan from its own discovery, and prepares and then acts within the next two to four years.

Also Read | Why the US-UK quantum computing pact is vital for the nascent technology

This initiative is part of a broader strategy that balances innovation with security. Responding to a question from Kotak about maintaining technology neutrality, Pandey argued that complete neutrality is impractical once a technology becomes widespread. He stressed the need for common standards to ensure a level playing field and interoperability.

"You can have technology neutrality only to an extent, where there are multiple technologies, which are similar, and which can connect," Pandey explained. "We would say a sensible, responsible use of technology. But as a regulator, I would say that we should adopt and embrace technology, both for our own good and for the good of the entire community."

This forward-looking security overhaul builds on Sebi's comprehensive cybersecurity and cyber resilience framework issued in August 2024.
MUMBAI: The markets regulator is plans to simplify the Securities Lending and Borrowing (SLB) framework for participants, said Ananth Narayan, whole-time member of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi).

The discussions around SLB are still in the early stagesbut we need to explore what can be done to encourage greater use of SLB in the markets, Narayan said on the sidelines of the Global Fintech Fest 2025.

Currently, market participants tend to use the futures segment for shorting. We are trying to see if we can make SLB transactions easier from a process and design perspective for participants, he said.

Also Read | Sebi to step up fight against investment fraud with tech tools, new offices

SLB allows investors to lend or borrow shares for a specified period. Borrowers typically use it to meet short-term needs such as avoiding settlement failures or executing short sales, while long-term shareholders can rent out their holdings temporarily to earn additional income.

Eligible securities for SLB include dematerialized shares traded in the F&O segments of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the BSE. Sebi has previously attempted to expand the list of stocks eligible for SLB, but no significant changes were implemented.

Globally, SLB usually operates as an over-the-counter product, functioning through private agreements between parties. This allows for greater customization and flexibility, though transactions remain subject to regulatory norms.

Indias SLB framework, in contrast, is overseen by stock exchanges, which regulate and monitor all trades. The exchanges clearing corporation acts as a counterparty guarantor, ensuring the safety and settlement of every SLB transaction.

Saurabh Jain, head of fundamental research at SMC Global Securities, said Sebi is considering reforms to make the SLB scheme more accessible, aiming to boost market liquidity and broaden investor participation.

Also Read | Indias top brokers form new lobby to champion retail investors

Currently, the scheme faces several challenges, including limited participation, operational constraints, a lack of transparency due to over-the-counter transactions, and underutilization of idle securities. Reforming the SLB framework could address these issues by increasing liquidity, improving price discovery, and allowing investors to earn additional income by lending dormant securities.

Enhanced SLB operations would also support short-selling and hedging strategies, while aligning Indias framework with global best practicespotentially strengthening the credibility and attractiveness of the Indian securities market. Jain emphasized that Sebi should implement these reforms cautiously, balancing innovation with effective risk management.

One challenge for borrowers is the additional GST levied when borrowing shares through SLB, experts say.

Chirag M Shah, senior securities lawyer, said, For the lender, theres no issue  they simply earn a lending fee per share for a specified duration, and the money is received directly, net of brokerage charges.

However, the problem arises for the borrower, who must pay GST on the lending fee since stock borrowing is treated as a service, Shah added. Many market participants, particularly proprietary traders, cannot claim input credit on this GST because they are not providing any onward service, he added.
Buy or sell stocks: The key benchmark indices of the Indian stock market gave up part of their intraday momentum but sustained their upward trajectory for the fourth consecutive session on October 7, amid heightened volatility due to the weekly Nifty options expiry. The Nifty eventually concluded marginally above the 25,100 level, after scaling an intraday high of 25,220.9. At the close, the Sensex advanced 136.63 points, or 0.17%, to 81,926.75, while the Nifty rose 30.65 points, or 0.12%, to end at 25,108.30.

Sector-wise, Realty, Energy, Oil & Gas, Pharma, Telecom, and Consumer Durables outperformed, gaining between 0.3% and 2%. In contrast, selective profit booking was observed in Defence and FMCG names. On the broader front, the Midcap index added 0.47%, and the Small-cap index ended marginally higher by 0.31%.

Stock market today Vaishali Parekh, Vice President of Technical Research at Prabhudas Lilladher, believes the Indian stock market bias is cautiously optimistic, as the Nifty 50 index is facing a hurdle at the 25,200 levels. The Prabhudas Lilladher expert went on to add that the 50-stock index needs to break above 25,300 on a closing basis to establish a positive conviction on Dalal Street.

Speaking on the outlook of the Nifty 50 index, Vaishali Parekh said, "The Nifty 50 index, continuing with the upward move, witnessed a halt near the 25,200 zone, where the index found resistance and witnessed some profit booking amid some volatility during the session, with overall bias and sentiment maintained with a positive approach. The index would need to sustain above the 25,000 zone and thereafter, a decisive breach above the important hurdle at the 25,300 zone shall establish conviction and clarity for further rise in the coming days to carry on with the ongoing uptrend."

On the outlook of the Bank Nifty today, Parekh said, "The Bank Nifty index, having an optimistic view, resisted near the 56,500 zone during the session, witnessing some erosion, but has maintained the bias intact with further upward move anticipated in the coming days. The neckline zone of the Inverted Head and Shoulder pattern at the 55,700 level shall be positioned as the important support from the current level, which needs to be sustained, and on the upside, a positive move till the 57,700 zone can be anticipated with the overall sentiment maintained positive."

Parekh stated that immediate support for the Nifty 50 index is located at 25,000, while the resistance level is at 25,300. The Bank Nifty index is expected to have a daily range of 55,800-56,800.

Vaishali Parekh's stock recommendations today Regarding stocks to buy today, Vaishali Parekh recommended three buy-or-sell stocks for today: Torrent Power, Engineers India, and Jupiter Wagons Ltd.

1] Torrent Power: Buy at 1240, Target 1290, Stop Loss 1215;

2] Engineers India: Buy at 201.60, Target 214, Stop Loss 196; and

3] Jupiter Wagons Ltd: Buy at 344.35, Target 365, Stop Loss 337.
PC Jeweller share price rose nearly 1 per cent to 13.19 apiece in Wednesday's trading session after the company gave an update on the joint settlement agreement with consortium lenders.

Despite today's rise, the multibagger jewellery stock has largely remained negative in the near term by descending over 4 per cent in a month and 6 per cent in six months. The jewellery stock has, however, given multibagger returns to its long-term investors by surging over 834 per cent in five years.

Also Read | Navratna PSU IREDA to declare Q2 results 2025 on this date. Check details

PC Jeweller update on joint settlement agreement In an exchange filing, PC Jeweller said that it has complied with the terms of a joint settlement agreement with the consortium lenders, dated September 30, 2024, in compliance with the terms and conditions.

This is to inform that the as per the orders of the Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal, Delhi (DRAT, Delhi), the keys and inventory of some of the showrooms / premises of the Company were in the custody of DRAT, Delhi. These were to be released upon compliance of the terms and conditions of the Joint Settlement Agreement dated September 30, 2024 (hereinafter referred to as Agreement) executed between the Company and the Consortium Lenders. The Company has complied with the terms of the Agreement and a Joint Application was filed by the Company and all Consortium Lenders towards the same in DRAT, Delhi, the company said in the filing.

The company further added, In accordance with the compliance of terms of the Agreement, the Debts Recovery Appellate Tribunal, Kolkata (holding additional charge of DRAT, Delhi) vide its order dated October 07, 2025 allowed the Joint Application filed by the Company and the Consortium Lenders and have issued directions for handover of keys and inventory to the Company of all those showrooms / premises of the Company, which were in the custody of DRAT, Delhi vide its earlier order.

PC Jeweller Q2 business update Meanwhile, in another positive development, PC Jeweller last week informed bourses that it concluded the second quarter of the financial year 2025-26 (FY26) with a strong performance driven by strong consumer demand during the ongoing festive season.

It achieved a standalone revenue growth of approximately 63%, compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous financial year.

Further, the company said it has successfully reduced its outstanding debt that was payable to its banks by approximately 23% during this quarter.

During the quarter, the company expanded its retail presence by opening a franchise-owned showroom in Pitampura, Delhi. This addition further strengthens PC Jewellers footprint in the region and supports its strategy of balanced growth through a mix of company-owned and franchise showrooms, it added in the filing.
Tata Motors share price traded lower on Thursday, extending its losses for the fifth consecutive session, ahead of the companys demerger record date next week. Tata Motors shares fell as much as 1.8% to 669.00 apiece on the BSE.

In five straight sessions, Tata Motors share price has dropped 6.9%.

The fall in Tata Motors share price comes ahead of the record date to determine the eligible debentures holders for the transfer of NCDs, which is October 10.

Tata Motors demerger has been effective since October 1, 2025. Under the approved scheme of arrangement, the companys Commercial Vehicles (CV) business has been demerged into a newly formed entity, TML Commercial Vehicles Limited (TMLCV), while the Passenger Vehicles (PV) business will continue under the existing company, which will be renamed Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Limited.

Tata Motors demerger record date has been fixed October 14, 2025, Tuesday, for the purpose of ascertaining the eligibility of shareholders for the corporate action.

Tata Motors demerger share entitlement ratio at 1:1, which means shareholders will get one fully paid-up share of 2 in Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles Limited (TMLCV) for every share held in Tata Motors.

Tata Motors demerger scheme also provides for the transfer of non-convertible debentures worth 2,300 crore to the CV entity.

The Company has fixed Friday, October 10, 2025 as the Record Date for the purpose of determining the eligible Debenture Holders of the identified NonConvertible Debentures (NCD) to be transferred from the Company to TMLCV as per the Scheme.

JLR Sales Tata Motors on Tuesday reported a sharp decline in second-quarter sales for its UK-based subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). JLR volumes during the three months ended 30 September 2025 were hit by a cyber incident, the planned wind down of legacy Jaguar models ahead of the launch of new Jaguar and incremental US tariffs impacting JLRs US exports.

JLR wholesales declined 24.2% year-on-year (YoY) to 66,165 units, while retail sales declined 17.1% YoY to 85,495 units in Q2FY26.

Also Read | TCS results presser cancelled amid overlap with Ratan Tata's death anniversary

The overall mix of Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Defender models was 76.7% of total wholesale volumes in Q2 FY26, down from 77.2% in the prior quarter and up from 67.0% year-on-year, reflecting the prioritisation of JLRs most profitable models, Tata Motors said in a regulatory filing on October 7.

Tata Motors Share Price Outlook Tata Motors share price faced rejection near the key resistance zone of 735, forming a shooting star candle on the daily chart  a sign of potential reversal, noted Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree Investments.

Tata Motors stock is now trading below its 10-day and 20-day EMAs, indicating short-term weakness. A decisive close below 685 will likely accelerate the downside momentum toward the major support zone of 640  608. Volumes remain steady and close to the 50-day average, suggesting that bearish sentiment is gradually strengthening and further selling pressure may emerge if support levels are breached, said Jain.

Tata Motors Share Price Performance Tata Motors share price has fallen over 6% in one month and has rallied 15% in six months. On a year-to-date (YTD) basis, Tata Motors shares have fallen 10%, while the stock has declined 28% in one year. However, Tata Motors stock price has gained 9% in two years and has delivered multibagger returns of 385% in five years.

At 10:25 AM, Tata Motors share price was trading 1.45% lower at 671.45 apiece on the BSE.
At the Travancore Palace, New Delhi, viewing the glass sculptural works of Hemi Bawa is a deeply sensorial experience. You cant help but appreciate her creativity and command over a medium that not many artists have experimented with in India. The 77-year-old artists show, titled Stories in Glass : Hemi Bawa, is being held after a gap of 13 years. It features a large floral installationa bright red carnation at the entrance of the show with red-coloured silhouettes of womens backs inspired by female flower sellers in Goan markets, and the Holy Book series, besides other works. Each of these showcase how glass can be moulded and transformed into works of art.

According to Kristine Michael, curator of the show, glass has so far only been viewed from the prism of craft due to the Euro-colonial ideas of dividing art and craft, wherein glass, ceramics, and textiles were always placed in the latter group. [However glass] is slowly entering the public [consciousness] and galleryscape. People are beginning to see that glass too can carry meaning, emotion, and conceptual depth like any other fine arts material."

Bawas tryst with glass began by accident during the late 1980s. I had placed clay in a furnace and sprinkled glass over it, and the result completely fascinated me," says the Padma Shri awardee, who divides her time between Delhi, Kasauli and Goa. That moment opened up an entirely new direction for me." It was while working with cast glassa technique in which glass is melted and poured into custom-made mouldsthat Bawa got excited about the creative possibilities of the medium. The ruggedness, texture, and distinct character of cast glass appealed to me far more than blown glass. I was captivated by how the material could hold both fragility and strength, and I knew I had found the medium that would define my artistic journey," she says.

View Full Image Hemi Bawa, 'Flower Women- II', paint fired on mirror

Though she had studied blown glassthe more popular form in artistic expression, Bawa found it limiting in terms of quality and depth. The delicate, decorative quality of blown glass, which appealed to many other artists worldwide, did not resonate with her. Additionally, there were mishapsa rather dangerous burn in London while she was working with blown glass; a kiln being opened too soon by an apprentice in Firozabad, where shed set up a furnace, and more.

Bawas exhibition reveals the patience and time that she has devoted to shaping a visual vocabulary over decades. It is a language that is rooted in history while being boldly experimental, one that lies at the intersection of painting and sculpture. The exhibition comprises works that capture her journey between all the places that shes lived in and found inspiration.

Room after room in Travancore Palace, as Michael explains, becomes an entry point into Bawas artistic identity, personal history and lived experiences. In the making for the last three years, the exhibition shows how Bawa adapted and evolved along the way, using recycled materials including windscreens, shower cabins and other sources of glass when the preferred choice of material wasnt available or accessible. Thus you see three decades of Bawas artistic journey in sculpture, not just in glass but also in resin, fibreglass and metal.

Michael and Ashwini Pai Bahadur, director, The Glass Makers Clublaunched in 2023 in Delhi as a South Asian community of glass makerswere heartened by the positive response to Bawas work, Frangipani Tree series, last year at the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa. They decided to collaborate on this latest show not just to celebrate Bawas practice but also to remind people that glass is not merely a material but a medium full of memory, transformation and light.

View Full Image An installation view of the show

Bawa credits artist Rameshwar Broota, her mentor at Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi, for encouraging her to think out of the box. Broota, an acclaimed post-Modernist and rated among the top three most successful Indian artists alive today by the Hurin India List, too crafted a unique path for himself by using a distinctive scratch technique. As part of that, layers of paint, applied on the surface, are eventually scraped away through a meticulous process with a sharp knife or blade to reveal textured images. He encouraged me to think independently and find my own direction rather than follow instructions," says Bawa of her mentor.

This experimentation came with its own challenges. While Bawa had studied sculpture and attended workshops on cast glassmaking in and around London, when she returned to India, the artist found zero infrastructure around the medium. There were no studios or furnaces, or any tradition of glass being used as an expression of art. After importing a small round furnace from England in the 1970s, she began experimenting on her own, eventually becoming a pioneer in cast glass sculptural techniques. Bawa sought a tactile richness and the freedom to mix different materials and metals. Embedding copper sheets within her forms has given Bawa's creativity a new visual language, as seen in series such as Mughal Jaali, inspired by the latticed screens of Delhis monuments, or Regal that celebrates the intricacies of Mughal-era interiors. In the latter, copper forms are etched and layered between two sheets of glass, before being fired in the kiln or furnace.

The exhibition serves as a pause for the viewer to appreciate how the artist has shaped contemporary glass art in India. For her, the exhibition is a celebration of glass itself, which she refers to as a companion for decadesone that is unpredictable yet loyal, fragile yet enduring. In its transparency, I find truth. In its strength, I find my own."

The show is on view at Travancore Palace, New Delhi, till 13 October, Monday to Saturday, 11 am to 7 pm.

Abhilasha Ojha is a Delhi-based culture writer.

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Union Home Minister of India, Amit Shah, on Wednesday, 8 October 2025, announced that he has switched his official email address to Zoho Mail, which is run by the Indian multinational company, Zoho Corporation.

In a social media post, Amit Shah announced that he has switched his email and also disclosed his official email address for people to note for future reference.

Also Read | Arattai to finally get the one feature WhatsApp users have had for years

Hello everyone, I have switched to Zoho Mail. Kindly note the change in my email address, said Shah in his social media post on platform X.

The home minister said that from now on, people should use his amitshah.bjp@zohomail.in, email ID for future correspondence via email.

My new email address is amitshah.bjp@zohomail.in. For future correspondence via mail, kindly use this address. Thank you for your kind attention to this matter, said Amit Shah.

What is Zoho Mail? Zoho Mail is a secure email service launched by the multinational technology firm Zoho Corporation, a Chennai-based software services company which was co-founded by Sridhar Vembu and Tony Tomas in 1996.

With nearly three decades in the technology and software business, the company focuses on creating products and solutions which help other business solve their problems, according to the official website.

The website data shows that the firm has more than 18,000 employees around the world, with close to 130 million users. The company celebrated 15 years of Zoho Mail in 2023, as the email service has helped its users with all-rounded communication and email management of any organisation over the years.

Zoho's Expansion Zoho Corp. recently launched its messaging application named Arattai, which seeks to capture the Indian market, which is currently dominated by Meta-owned WhatsApp.

Also Read | Sridhar Vembu explains how Zohos frameworks make Arattai fast and secure

Amid the company's expansion plans, Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu confirmed that Arattai will soon be getting the end-to-end encryption feature for chat messages. However, as of now, the messaging application only offers end-to-end encryption for calls but not for text messages.

We are actually turning off that cloud storage in Arattai to offer end-to-end encrypted chat. That is in testing right now. We were going to roll it out in November, and we have accelerated the schedule now, Mint reported earlier, citing Sridhar Vembu's post on X.
Six people have died and a further two were injured following a devastating fire at a licensed firecracker manufacturing unit in the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district of Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday, a police official has said.

The police suspect that the accident may have been caused by mishandling within the unit.

The district's Superintendent of Police, Rahul Meena, said that the manufacturing facility was operating with a valid licence.

"Yes, six bodies have been found. We are verifying the details of the bodies. I think it was a licensed unit only," Meena told PTI.

The two injured individuals have been taken to hospital for treatment. Investigations are ongoing to determine the precise cause of the blaze.

Rajasthan: Tanker collision triggers massive LPG cylinder blasts One person was killed and another injured on Tuesday night following a catastrophic collision on the busy Jaipur-Ajmer highway in Rajasthan, which triggered a chain of explosions involving dozens of cooking gas cylinders.

The incident occurred when a chemical-laden tanker rammed into a parked truck carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders. The impact immediately caused the tanker's cab to catch fire and cylinders to spill onto the road. Moments later, more than 40 cylinders began exploding in quick succession, causing widespread panic.

Officials confirmed on Wednesday that the tanker driver was tragically burnt alive in the blaze. Another man sustained injuries.

The resultant flames and thunderous explosions were visible and audible for several kilometres, with shrapnel from the cylinders found metres away from the crash site.

Authorities, including police from multiple stations, were rushed to the scene near the Dudu area, and traffic on the major motorway was immediately halted.

Jaipur Collector Dr Jitendra Soni told PTI that a team from Hindustan Petroleum had successfully removed the remaining cylinders, strictly following safety protocols to sanitise the area.
The Delhi NCR region, including Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad, has been experiencing continuous rainfall since the start of the week. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for Delhi, forecasting light to moderate rain, thunderstorms, and gusty winds reaching up to 40 kmph.

Are schools closed today? Despite the unstable weather, no official announcement has been made by the Delhi Government or the Directorate of Education (DoE) regarding the closure of schools or colleges. Similarly, no advisories have been issued in Noida (Gautam Buddha Nagar), Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, or Gurugram about school holidays due to rain.

Parents and students are advised to check directly with their respective institutions for updates.

Delhi weather today On Wednesday, Delhi is likely to witness a partly cloudy sky. The maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to range between 31-33C and 20-22C, respectively, with both temperatures remaining near normal. The predominant surface winds are forecasted to blow from the northeast direction at speeds of 5-10 kmph during the morning.

Winds will gradually increase to 10-15 kmph from the northwest direction during the afternoon and remain at 10-15 kmph from the northwest direction during the evening and night, according to IMD.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the city is expected to experience a mainly clear sky. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be in the range of 31-33C and 20-22C, respectively, with both temperatures near normal. The predominant surface winds are expected to blow from the northwest direction at speeds of 5-10 kmph during the morning.

Delhi's first artificial rain trial postponed Delhi's first artificial rain trial has been delayed, despite the aircraft equipped with cloud-seeding technology being ready in Meerut, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The trial will take place as soon as the weather conditions improve.

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, along with officials of the environment department and a technical team from IIT Kanpur, inspected the aircraft on Monday to ensure all systems required for the trial were in place, an official familiar with the matter told PTI.

Sirsa said the trial could be conducted "any day" once the India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirms a clear-weather window. "As soon as we get the signal that there will be no rain, the trial will be carried out," he said.
After the attack on Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, Bengaluru Police on Wednesday registered a zero FIR against the lawyer who allegedly attempted to hurl a shoe towards him in his courtroom in the Supreme Court.

A zero FIR can be registered anywhere, irrespective of where the alleged offence occurred.

Meanwhile, in a crackdown on unlawful and objectionable social media content targeting the CJI, the Punjab Police registered several FIRs on more than 100 social media handles.

Also Read | Attack on CJI BR Gavai: Criminal contempt action sought against Rakesh Kishore

Lawyer booked The Bengaluru Police registered a zero FIR against Rakesh Kishore under sections 132 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty) and 133 (assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, otherwise than on grave provocation) of the BNS, following a complaint by Bhaktavachala, President of the All India Advocates Association.

A 71-year-old lawyer, Rakesh Kishore, allegedly attempted to hurl a shoe towards CJI Gavai in his courtroom in the Supreme Court on Monday, but was stopped by alert security personnel.

According to police sources, the errant lawyer was unhappy over the CJI's remarks during a hearing last month concerning the restoration of a Vishnu idol in Khajuraho.

Also Read | Who is Ajeet Bharti? YouTuber faces scrutiny for remarks against CJI BR Gavai

Crackdown on social media A Punjab Police spokesperson said social media content relating to attacks on high constitutional authority, caste-based vilification and incitement, public mischief with a direct attempt to disturb peace and public order by unjustly exploiting caste and communal sentiments has been flagged and FIRs have been registered in accordance with the law.

The posts and videos in question contain casteist and hate-filled expressions intended to promote communal disharmony, disturb public order and erode respect for judicial institutions, said the spokesperson.

The social media content included unlawful and objectionable posts targeting the CJI.

The contents of the social media posts included posts intended to provoke violence and erode respect for constitutional position, intentional intimidation and insult to a member of a Scheduled Caste (SC), attempts to promote enmity, hatred and ill-will against a member of SC category, promotion of enmity between groups on grounds of caste and intentional insult with the intent to provoke breach of peace and statements conducting to public mischief, said the spokesperson.

FIRs under the relevant Sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita have been registered in various police stations on receipt of information disclosing the commission of cognisable offences.

Further investigations in these FIRs are being conducted in accordance with the law, said the spokesperson.

The Lord Vishnu idol controversy Last month, a bench headed by the CJI had dismissed the plea seeking directions to reconstruct and reinstall a seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari temple, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Khajuraho temple complex in Madhya Pradesh.

Terming the plea a "publicity interest litigation", the CJI had said, This is purely publicity interest litigation.... Go and ask the deity himself to do something. If you are saying that you are a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then you pray and do some meditation.
At least six people, including a woman, were injured after two scooters exploded in Kanpur's Mishri Bazaar area in Uttar Pradesh, police officials said on Wednesday. The vehicles were parked at the area which falls under the Mulganj police station of Kanpur.

Six pedestrians standing nearby the scooters sustained injuries and were admitted to the Ursula Hospital.

The explosion took place around 7:15 PM, after which forensic teams rushed to spot.

All are undergoing treatment and are out of danger... Our forensic team is present at the scene, and we are investigating what could be the cause of this... We have traced the scooter, and inquiries will also be made with those who were riding it. Whether this is an accident or a conspiracy will only be known later, Joint Police Commissioner (Law and Order) Ashutosh Kumar told ANI.

Further investigation is underway.

The latest explosion comes days after at least two people were killed, and five others were injured in a blast  at a coaching centre in Uttar Pradesh's Farrukhabad on Saturday.

2 killed, 5 injured in blast in coaching centre According to the police, the blast occurred likely due to excessive concentrated methane in the septic tank located in the basement.

"We received information around 3.19 pm pertaining to Kadri Gate Police Station area. "Field unit and fire services are working on the spot. Prima facie, it seems to be a coaching institute, and it has a septic tank in the basement. The blast occurred due to excess concentrated methane there. A switchboard was also found there; perhaps the blast occurred due to that. The injured are under treatment. Investigation is being done." Farrukhabad SP Arti Singh told reporters.

Farrukhabad DM Ashutosh Kumar Dwivedi said that a committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the City Magistrate to investigate the cause of the incident.
Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting search operations on Wednesday at 17 locations in Kerala and Tamil Nadu over alleged Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) violations, linked to a high-profile luxury vehicle smuggling racket and unauthorised foreign exchange dealings, officials said.

The ongoing searches, launched by the EDs Kochi Zonal Office, span residences and commercial establishments associated with film personalities, luxury car owners, auto workshops, and dealers across Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam, and Coimbatore, officials said. Among those under the scanner are prominent actors Prithviraj, Dulquer Salmaan, and Amith Chackalakal, whose properties were among the locations searched, they mentioned.

Officials revealed that searches were based on inputs uncovering a syndicate involved in the illegal import and registration of high-end luxury vehicles, including Toyota Land Cruisers, Land Rover Defenders, and Maseratis, through the India-Bhutan and India-Nepal borders.

Preliminary findings point to a Coimbatore-based network allegedly using forged documents claiming to be from the Indian Army, the US Embassy, and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). These were reportedly used to secure fraudulent vehicle registrations from Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in states like Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and others.

The luxury vehicles were then sold at significantly undervalued prices to high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), including celebrities from the film industry, according to officials.

Kerala HC permits Dulquer Salmaan to approach customs for Land Rover Defender release Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Kerala High Court directed actor Dulquer Salmaan to submit an application to the adjudicating authority under the Customs Act, 1962, for the provisional release of his Land Rover Defender, which was seized by customs officials during Operation Numkhor.

Also Read | ED raids Reliance Infrastructure sites over alleged FEMA violations

According to Dulquer Salmaan, the Land Rover Defender was originally shipped by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to its Regional Delegation in New Delhi, PTI reported. In his petition, the actor claimed he genuinely believed that the vehicle had proper ownership documents and valid registration with the Motor Vehicle Authority, with no reason to doubt its legitimacy. The plea further explained that Dulquer purchased the vehicle from Aarpee Promotors Pvt Ltd, which had earlier acquired it from Habeeb Mohammed, the registered owner.
New Delhi: Amid China's continued chokehold on supplies, the government is finalizing an incentive scheme to boost local production of rare earth magnets with an allocation of around 7,300 crore, two officials aware of the matter said.

Companies interested in making the magnets, used in a variety of strategic sectors, need to invest at least 200 crore, and incentives are likely to equal 15% of the total investment, said the first of the two officials cited earlier, both of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The target of 6,000 mtpa (million tonnes per annum) by 2030 has been set under the scheme. So far, about seven companies, including Midwest (Hyderabad-based Midwest Advanced Materials), have shown interest in manufacturing rare earth magnets under the scheme," this official added. The scheme will operate under the Union ministry of heavy industries.

Incentives will be available for companies that provide end-to-end magnet manufacturing capability, which means those manufacturers that source rare earths and process them into magnets will be eligible for incentives.

Rare earth magnets are the strongest type of permanent magnets, made from alloys of rare earth elements like neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) and samarium-cobalt (SmCo). These powerful magnets are crucial for compact, energy-efficient devices like electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and a variety of electronics, defence, and energy transition.

Other companies that have shown interest include Bharat Forge, Mahindra & Mahindra, JSW Group and Sona Comstar, said the second official.

Queries emailed to the Union ministries of heavy industries and mines were not immediately responded to. JSW Group declined to comment, while spokespersons of Mahindra & Mahindra, Bharat Forge, and Sona Comstar did not immediately respond to queries on Wednesday evening. Spokesperson of Midwest could not be immediately reached.

Currently, state-owned Indian Rare Earths Ltd (IREL) is the sole refiner of rare earths in India, with a capacity to make about 1,500 tonnes of rare earth magnets a year.

The second official added that the finance ministry has approved the allocation of 7,300 crore for the scheme, and it would now the Union cabinet's nod.

According to the first official, the government is planning to use 6,500 crore for capex incentives, and a 800 crore for operational expense incentives.

Rare earth elements, while abundant but not easily found in large mineable deposits, are known for their unique magnetic and luminescent properties. They are widely used in automotive motors and LED lights. China dominates the refining and supply of 90% of heavy rare earths or those with higher atomic weight, according to estimates by the International Energy Agency.

China started restricting exports of rare earths in April after trade tensions worsened with the US due to tariffs imposed by president Donald Trump's administration.

Also Read | Centre eyes temporary break on localization rules for electric trucks and buses

China's export curbs prompted new international alliances. India joined hands with its QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) partners US, Japan, and Australia to form a new alliance to boost the supply of critical minerals and rare earths in the global economy, and loosen China's chokehold on the commodity.

India has also flagged the disruption of supply chains on the global stage. Prime minister Narendra Modi at the 17th Brics summit in July emphasized on making critical mineral supply chains reliable and ensuring that no country uses these resources for its own selfish gains or as a weapon against others.

"We need to work together to make supply chains for critical minerals and technology secure and reliable. Its important to ensure that no country uses these resources for its own selfish gain or as a weapon against others," Modi had said.

India is working on increasing its rare earth refining capacity. The Union ministry of mines is preparing a scheme with an allocation of about 1,500 crore to support rare earth refining in the country.

India has about 7.23 mt of rare earth elements oxide reserves in the coastal beaches, red sand and inland alluvium in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Maharashtra, while another 1.29 mt in parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan, the government informed Parliament on 23 July. But state-run IREL is the only refiner of the critical minerals in the country.

Mint earlier reported that India may link incentives aimed at spurring rare earth magnet manufacturing to the level of local materials, used as the government seeks to counter Chinas supply curbs.
An Indian Administrative Officer (IAF) posted in Uttar Pradesh has been asked to pay 1.63 crore in damages for unauthorised occupation of an official bungalow in New Delhi, according to a media report.

The officer, currently the District Magistrate of Lakhimpur Kheri, has said in response that she had sought extensions due to her parents ill health and had requested a waiver of the penal charges.

Also Read | Durga Shakti Nagpal's suspension revoked

As per the Indian Express report, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), under the Union Agriculture Ministry, has issued notices to IAS officer Durga Shakti Nagpal seeking 1.63 crore in damages for what it terms her unauthorised occupation of an official bungalow on its Pusa campus in Delhi between May 2022 and February 2025.

Nagpal, a 2010-batch IAS officer, was allotted bungalow B-17 on 19 March 2015, after joining as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to then Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh. She took possession on 16 April 2015, paying 6,600 a month plus water charges.

What did Durga Shakti Nagpal say? Nagpals deputation in the Union Agriculture Ministry ended on May 7, 2019. But she continued to live in the bungalow while working in the Commerce Ministry. She vacated the house in February 2025 after IARI sought Delhi Polices assistance to recover possession.

I had requested the Ministry for extension, which was allowed, and I have paid the rent for the same and subsequently vacated the house. Still, due to some lack of paperwork they added compounding penal charges which are notional and impractical. I have requested for its waiver, which is in process. That is why the state government has also sent a letter to the Ministry on June 26 (this year) requesting a waiver, Nagpal told Indian Express.

Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), popularly known as Pusa Institute is the country's leading institution for agricultural research, education and extension.

The IARI informed her in a letter in May that her request for extension cannot be considered since the allotment of the aforementioned bungalow was already cancelled by the Institute and directed her to deposit 1,63,57,550 in damage charges for the period from May 2022 to February 2025.

The report said that the IARI had been asking her to vacate the bungalow since 2020. In a letter on 5 August 2020, IARI allowed retention only till October 10 that year and warned that eviction proceedings under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 would follow.

On March 11, 2022, IARI, as a special case, allowed her to stay till April but warned that from May onwards, market rent of 92,000 per month would be charged, increasing progressively. She did not vacate, leading to repeated reminders in May and June.

The 1.63 crore demand was calculated as per rules for unauthorised occupation. For Type VI-A accommodation, damages are fixed at 50 times the licence fee plus water charges of 1,840  amounting to 92,000 in the first month, the Indian Express said.

Who is Durga Shakti Nagpal? Durga Shakti Nagpal was in the news in 2013 for her efforts against illegal sand mining and corruption, particularly when she launched a drive against corruption and illegal sand mining in Noida as a Joint Magistrate.

In July 2013, she was suspended by the Akhilesh Yadav-led Government of UP for allegedly demolishing an illegal mosque wall in Kadalpur village near Jewar, near Noida. Her suspension was later revoked and she was transferred to Kanpur Dehat.

I have paid the rent for the same and subsequently vacated the house. Still, due to some lack of paperwork they added compounding penal charges which are notional and impractical.

Nagpal began her career in the Punjab cadre of the IAS. She joined the Mohali district administration in June 2011, and served there for fourteen months. In August 2012, she moved to the Uttar Pradesh (UP) cadre as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Noida, after marrying Abhishek Singh, who is an IAS officer of 2011 batch.
Kamaltai Gavai, the mother of Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai, has condemned the shoe-hurling incident inside the Supreme Court on Monday. The 84-year0old activist called the incident an assault on the Constitution and an attempt to create anarchy in the country.

This is the first public response from the CJIs mother since the attack. The accused advocate tried to hurl the shoe towards the dais during case mentions before a bench headed by the CJI. Security personnel, however, immediately intervened and escorted the man out.

Also Read | Who is Ajeet Bharti? YouTuber faces scrutiny for remarks against CJI BR Gavai

The accused lawyer Rakesh Kishore, however, has defended his actions, citing emotional distress and hurt over previous remarks by the CJI. The Bar Council of India suspended Kishores licence with immediate effect.

As he was being removed from the courtroom, Kishore shouted, Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge (We will not tolerate any insult to Sanatan), apparently referring to remarks made during the hearing of the Khajuraho Vishnu idol restoration case.

A day after the dramatic incident in the Supreme Court, the 71-year-old lawyer said he was deeply hurt by CJI BR Gavais remarks during a prior hearing concerning a religious matter.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also reacted to the incident and said that the attempted attack on the Chief Justice of India had angered every Indian.

Insult our Constitution Speaking to reporters in Amravati on Tuesday, a day after the incident, Kamaltai said such acts amount to spreading anarchy. "Every citizen has the right to express disagreement, but no one has the right to take the law into their own hands. We must protect the dignity of our democratic institutions, she said.

This is not just a personal attack but part of a poisonous ideology that must be checked before it spreads. Such incidents insult our Constitution and disgrace our nation. Anyone acting against the Constitution must face strict punishment, she was quoted as saying in Hindustan Times.

The CJIs mother reaffirmed her faith in Dr BR Ambedkars vision and said, Babasaheb Ambedkar gave us an inclusive Constitution based on the principle of live and let live. No one has the right to create disorder. I urge people to resolve their issues peacefully and through constitutional means.

Every citizen has the right to express disagreement, but no one has the right to take the law into their own hands.

The remarks come just days after Kamaltai declined an invitation to attend the RSS centenary celebrations in Amravati following backlash from Dalit groups. She however had cited health reasons for not attending the RSS event.

Justice Gavai who took over as CJI on May is the second person from the Dalit community and first Buddhist to become Chief Justice of India. Before him, former CJI KG Balakrishnan became the first Dalit CJI in 2007. Balakrishnan served for three years.
NEW DELHI: In a significant step in Indias climate action journey, the Centre plans to launch the Indian Carbon Market (ICM) portal by January next year, according to two officials aware of the development.

The centralized digital platform will serve as the backbone of the countrys emerging carbon credit trading systemfacilitating the creation, registration, and issuance of carbon credits to help industries offset emissions by investing in cleaner technologies or purchasing credits from others.

The move comes at a time when carbon prices have surged globally. The global carbon credit market was valued between $531.2 billion and $656.8 billion in 2024, according to different analyst estimates, with variations due to differing reporting methods and inclusion criteria. By launching the Indian Carbon Market, New Delhi aims to position itself as a key player in the fast-growing global ecosystem for carbon finance and emissions trading.

While a separate platform will handle trading, the ICM portal will manage the full lifecycle of carbon projectsfrom proposal submission to registration, validation, verification, issuance, and renewal. It will cater to both compliance and voluntary carbon credit mechanisms, one of the officials said.

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has been tasked with developing the ICM portal, a critical step toward operationalizing Indias carbon market and advancing its climate goals.

The proposed digital ecosystem will consist of two key components: the ICM Portal and the ICM Registry. Together, these platforms aim to streamline and strengthen the operations of the Indian Carbon Market by ensuring transparency, traceability, and efficiency in carbon credit transactions," the other official said.

The ICM Portal will act as the central interface for market participants and regulators, supporting both the compliance and offset mechanisms under the ICM framework. Its core functions will include project proposal submission, registration and approval, validation and verification, issuance of carbon credits, and credit period renewals.

The ICM Registryan integrated but distinct componentwill maintain records of issued credits, track transactions, and provide a transparent view of credit ownership throughout their lifecycle.

Compulsory trading of carbon credits is expected to begin by September next year, while voluntary trading is slated to start by March 2026, the second official said.

Queries sent to the ministries of power and environment, forest and climate change, as well as to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, remained unanswered till press time.

The setting up the Indian Carbon Market Portal is a significant step. This will ensure our commitment towards Paris Agreement and also would ensure that we are reducing our emission in our backyard and further demonstrating that we are taking measures to reduce our emission," said Amit Anand, CEO, Carbon Check (India) Pvt. Ltd, a globally accredited organization that provides validation and verification services for greenhouse gas projects under various programmes.

Path to net zero

Indias carbon market is expected to play a crucial role in achieving its existing climate action plans, called Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, under the Paris Agreement. By building a robust, scalable, and digitally enabled system, the government aims to support both domestic and international participants in reducing emissions efficiently.

The portal will also integrate Article 6 modules of the Paris Agreement, which establish frameworks for international cooperation on climate targets. These include market-based mechanisms under Articles 6.2 and 6.4, and non-market approaches under Article 6.8, allowing countries to exchange emission reductions, mobilize funding for developing nations, and enhance global climate ambition. The Article 6 integration is expected to be operational by January 2026.

The development is significant as Indias NDCs commit to reducing the emission intensity of its GDP by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030, achieving 50% of cumulative electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, and reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2070.

On 5 March, Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav said India had already achieved a 36% reduction in emission intensity between 2005 and 2020well on track toward its 2030 target. He also cited the Union Budget 2025s emphasis on energy security, clean energy expansion, and domestic green manufacturing.

The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022 paved the way for the creation of a carbon market in India, followed by the governments notification of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme in 2023 for the compliance market.

On 7 October, the BEE said it had received applications from agencies seeking accreditation as carbon verification bodiesKBS Certification Services Ltd and Design2Occupancy Services LLPand invited public comments on them by 23 October 2025.

Meanwhile, the Indian Energy Exchange has set up a wholly owned subsidiary, International Carbon Exchange Pvt. Ltd, to explore opportunities in the voluntary carbon market. Similarly, Power Exchange of India Ltd also plans to launch a carbon trading platform.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Peter Kyle held a bilateral meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday, to chart a renewed course for the IndiaUK trade and investment partnership.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a press release that the meeting marked a significant step towards operationalising the IndiaUK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

The ministers discussed ways to maximise the benefits of the "transformative scope of CETA" through regulatory cooperation, addressing non-tariff barriers, and promoting supply chain integration.

It stated that both ministers agreed to reposition the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) to oversee its implementation and delivery.

Besides, "both sides underlined their commitment to ensuring swift, coordinated, and results-oriented implementation of the Agreement, aimed at realising its full potential for businesses and consumers in both countries," the ministry said.

'Double bilateral trade by 2030' As per the press release, the Indian and UK ministers reaffirmed their shared ambition to double bilateral trade by 2030. Both ministers also exchanged views on the global trade and economic outlook.

While Goyal highlighted Indias emergence as a key growth engine of the global economy, Secretary Kyle underscored that the UKs deal is the "best-ever secured with India, putting British businesses first in line to access its vast market and drive growth, jobs, and prosperity at home."

The meeting concluded with a business plenary attended by senior industry representatives from both sides. Both sides reiterated their determination to advance a modern, inclusive, and mutually beneficial trade partnership, unlocking new opportunities for growth, investment, and innovation.

Starmer Pushes for Quick Implementation of India Trade Pact UK PM Keir Starmer said he wants the UKs free trade agreement with India implemented as soon as humanly possible, as the British prime minister received a warm welcome on his first visit to India since taking office, Bloomberg reported.

Speaking to business delegates from the grand staircase of the Taj Mahal Palace hotel on Wednesday in Mumbai, Starmer said he has instructed his team to move quickly on the deal signed earlier this year.

Starmer and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, finalised a free-trade agreement in July after three years of intense negotiations. The UK Prime Minister is in India this week, leading a delegation of more than 100 British business, academic, and cultural leaders to deepen commercial ties between the two countries.

Our job is to make it easier for you to seize the opportunities, Starmer told the business delegates. On the plane home, I want each of you to tell me what you got out of this trip  a deal, a contact.

Also Read | India-UK FTA talks likely to resume only next year to resolve pending issues

Yash Raj Films in Britain Starmer visited Yash Raj Films, one of Indias leading production and distribution houses, and announced that the studio would shoot in the UK from next year.

Bollywood is back in Britain, and its bringing jobs, investment and opportunity, he was quoted by Bloomberg as saying.
Indian Air Force Day 2025: Celebrated every year on October 8, Indian Air Force Day commemorates the establishment of one of the nations most respected armed forces organisations which was founded in 1932. On this day, the nation celebrates brave air warriors who safeguard the country's skies and protect Indias national and humanitarian interests against all threats.

On the occasion of 93rd Indian Air Force Day, IAF will highlight the achievements of Operation Sindoor. IAF's display on the occasion will feature several fighter aircrafts including the Rafale, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, and MiG-29, India's indigenous Netra AEW&C, the C-17 Globemaster III, the indigenous Akash Surface-to-Air Missile System, the C-130J Hercules, Apache attack helicopters fitted with Longbow radar and the Advanced Light Helicopter, in addition to recently retired MiG-21 Bison. Besides this, an S-band Rohini radar will also take part in the display.

Also Read | IAF chief BIG reveal: India downed 5 Pakistani fighter jets in Op Sindoor

The recently retired MiG-21 Bison will also be a part of the display as a tribute to its over six decades of service to the IAF.

Major achievements of IAF As a tribute to the unwavering dedication and passion of IAF personnel, let's recall some of their major achievements -

On October 8, in the year1932, the Indian Air Force (IAF) was established.

Between 1953 and 1957, C-119G Packets, Mystere IVAs and Canberras including 33 squadrons were added. Fighter jets MiG-21FLs and HF-24s replaced Vampires after 1965.

In 1971, Air Force Academy was opened in Dundigal.

IT played a significant role in Indo-Pak wars of 1947, 1965 and 1971.

Operation Poomalai in 1987

IAF outperformed in Kargil War, also referred to as Operation Vijay, which was fought between India and Pakistan in 1999. IAF flew over 4,000 sorties, Gnats, MiG-21s, Jaguars and Mirage 2000s. In Operation Safedsagar, MiGs, Mirages, and Mi-17s joined.

Operation Sindoor 2025: IAF conducted successful air strikes in Nur Khan and Rahimyar air bases of Pakistan in response to cross border terrorism.

Various disaster relief operations  Jammu and Punjab floods, among others.

A look into the emergence of Indian Air Force Day The Indian Air Force was originally named the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) and was launched as an auxiliary force under British rule on October 8, 1932. On April 1, 1933, RIAF launched its maiden operational flight carrying six RAF-trained officers and 19 Havai Sepoys.

Following significant contributions during World War II it earned its Royal prefix in 1945. After India obtained republic status in 1950 following independence on August 15, 1947, the prefix was officially removed, and the Indian Air Force was formally established.

Top 5 movies dedicated to IAF Rang De Basanti: Amir Khan's iconic film centres on a carefree group of college students, who experience a strong patriotic awakening after their Indian Air Force pilot friend dies in a plane crash.

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl: Based on the life of Indian Air Force pilot Gunjan Saxena, it focuses on the first Indian female combat pilot in the Kargil War.

Fighter: It is centred on the IAFs contributions in the India and Pakistan conflict of 2019 following the Pulwama attack on Indian armed forces.

Bhuj: The Pride of India: Based on the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971, it is centred on the story of former Indian Air Force Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik.
London-based digital finance firm Revolut announced on Wednesday that it is set to launch its payment platform in India, marking its foray into one of the world's largest digital payments markets.

This move is a key part of the company's plan to expand its services globally. The company already operates in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, the United States and Brazil, among several other nations.

What services will it offer in India? Reuters reported that the fintech firm will extend its services to 350,000 waitlisted customers later this year before rolling out the platform to others.

Revolut will enable Indian users to make both domestic and international payments by leveraging its tie-ups with the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and Visa.

Also Read | RBI releases framework on authenticating digital payments beyond 2FA

Paroma Chatterjee, CEO of Revolut India, confirmed that the company will offer a prepaid card and a digital wallet to the Indian users. The firm is licensed to offer these domestic payment services using the prepaid payments instrument license that it secured from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) earlier this year, Chatterjee said, adding that the company also has a license to offer foreign exchange (forex) services.

Global ambitions and investment Revolut is betting big on India as a core component of its global growth strategy. The company has set an ambitious target of signing up 20 million customers by 2030, specifically targeting the aspirational youth demographic, Chatterjee told Reuters.

Also Read | India logs 65K crore digital payments worth 12K trillion in 6 years
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting searches across multiple locations in Mumbai on Wednesday as part of a money laundering probe connected to an alleged drug trafficking network, officials said. The operation aims to trace proceeds generated from the illicit activities of a "well-established" drug network involving Faisal Javed Shaikh and Alfiya Faisal Shaikh.

Eight premises in Mumbai are being searched under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), ED officials said.

According to officials, Faisal Shaikh was purchasing stimulant drug MD (mephedrone or 'meow meow') through Salim Dola, a notorious drug kingpin wanted by law enforcement agencies for his involvement in narcotics trafficking and funding illegal drug networks.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has announced a reward for information leading to Dola's arrest, according to officials.

ED raids Prithviraj Sukumaran, Dulquer Salmaan in Kerala luxury cars smuggling case Separately, the ED on Wednesday raided properties linked to actors Prithviraj Sukumaran, Dulquer Salmaan, Amit Chakkalackal, and several others across Kerala and Tamil Nadu, in connection with a customs case involving the suspected smuggling of luxury cars from Bhutan into India, official sources said.

The searches also targeted vehicle owners, auto workshops, and traders located in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Kottayam, and Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu). In total, 17 locations are being searched, according to the sources.

The operation is being carried out under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), following a recent investigation by the Customs Preventive Department that uncovered alleged smuggling of high-end vehicles and illicit foreign exchange transactions.

The searches stem from intelligence regarding a syndicate involved in the illegal import and registration of luxury vehicles like Land Cruiser, Defender, and Maserati via the India-Bhutan and India-Nepal routes, officials said.

Also Read | ED raids Reliance Infrastructure sites over alleged FEMA violations

Initial findings suggest that a Coimbatore-based network was behind the operation. The network used "forged" documents claiming to be issued by the Indian Army, US Embassy, and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), along with fraudulent RTO registrations in states such as Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and others.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will begin his two-day visit to Maharashtra on October 8.

The prime minister will first reach Navi Mumbai and at around 3 PM, will undertake a walkthrough of the newly built Navi Mumbai International Airport. Thereafter, at around 3:30 PM, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Navi Mumbai International Airport and also launch and dedicate various projects in Mumbai.

Also Read | PM Modi dials Russian President Vladimir Putin to wish him on 73rd birthday

PM Modi will also address the gathering on the occasion.

The next day, on 9 October, PM Modi will host the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Keir Starmer, in Mumbai at 10 AM. At around 1:40 PM, the prime ministers of both countries will attend the CEO Forum at the Jio World Centre in Mumbai. Thereafter, at around 2:45 PM, both of them will attend the 6th edition of the Global Fintech Fest. They will also deliver keynote addresses at the Fest.

PM in Navi Mumbai today Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate Phase 1 of Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) built at a cost of around 19,650 crores.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport is Indias largest Greenfield airport project, developed under a PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP). As the second international airport for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, NMIA will work in tandem with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to ease congestion and elevate Mumbai into the league of global multi-airport systems. The airport, designed to be among the most efficient in the world with a 1,160 ha area, will eventually handle 90 million passengers per annum (MPPA) and 3.25 million metric tonnes of cargo.

What's Unique About Navi Mumbai Airport? Among its unique offerings is an Automated People Mover (APM), a transit system planned to connect all four passenger terminals for smooth inter-terminal transfers, as well as a landside APM linking the city-side infrastructure.

Travellers will now experience an amalgamation of cutting edge technology and inspired modern design making the Navi Mumbai International Airport a global infrastructure masterpiece. sais Maharashta CM

The airport will feature dedicated storage for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), solar power generation of approximately 47 MW, and EV bus services for public connectivity across the city. NMIA will also be the first airport in the country to be connected by Water Taxi.

Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate Phase 2B of the Mumbai Metro Line 3, which stretches from Acharya Atre Chowk to Cuffe Parade,at an estimated cost of around Rs. 12,200 crore. With this, he will dedicate the entire Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line)  to the nation with a total cost of over Rs. 37,270 crore, marking a major milestone in the citys urban transport transformation.

As Mumbais first and only fully underground metro line, this project is set to redefine commuting across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), offering a faster, more efficient, and modern transit solution for millions of residents.

Mumbai Metro Line3: All you need to know The Mumbai Metro Line3, spanning 33.5 km from Cuffe Parade to Aarey JVLR with 27 stations, will cater to 13 lakh passengers daily. The final Phase 2B of the project will provide seamless connectivity to South Mumbais heritage and cultural districts such as Fort, Kala Ghoda, and Marine Drive, along with direct access to key administrative and financial hubs including the Bombay High Court, Mantralaya, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), and Nariman Point.

The Metro Line-3 has been designed to ensure efficient integration with other modes of transport, including railways, airports, other metro lines, and monorail services, thereby enhancing last-mile connectivity and reducing congestion across the metropolitan region.

Prime Minister Modi will also launch Mumbai One  Integrated Common Mobility App for 11 Public transport Operators (PTO) across Metro, Monorail, Suburban railways and Bus PTOs. These include Mumbai Metro Line 2A & 7, Mumbai Metro Line 3, Mumbai Metro Line 1, Mumbai Monorail, Navi Mumbai Metro, Mumbai Suburban Railway, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), Thane Municipal Transport, Mira Bhayander Municipal Transport, Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Transport and Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport.

Prime Minister Modi will also inaugurate the Short-Term Employability Program (STEP), a pioneering initiative by the Department of Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation in Maharashtra. The program will be rolled out across 400 Government ITIs and 150 Government Technical High Schools, marking a major step in aligning skill development with industry requirements to enhance employability.

STEP will establish 2,500 new training batches, including 364 exclusive batches for women and 408 batches in emerging technology courses such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Electric Vehicles (EV), Solar, and Additive Manufacturing etc.

What's the agenda of UK PMs visit? At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom will visit India on 8-9 October 2025. This will be Prime Minister Starmers first official visit to India.

During the visit, the two Prime Ministers will take stock of progress in diverse aspects of the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in line with Vision 2035, a focussed and time bound 10-year Roadmap of programmes and initiatives in key pillars of trade and investment, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate and energy, health, education and people to people relations.

Both leaders will engage with businesses and industry leaders on the opportunities presented by the IndiaUK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which will serve as a central pillar of the future IndiaUK economic partnership. They will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance. The leaders will also engage with industry experts, policymakers and innovators.

Where is Global Fintech Fest being held? Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Starmer will also participate in the 6th edition of the Global Fintech Fest at Jio World Centre, Mumbai and deliver keynote addresses on the occasion.

The Global Fintech Fest 2025 will bring together innovators, policymakers, central bankers, regulators, investors, academics, and industry leaders from around the world. The conferences central theme, Empowering Finance for a Better World  Powered by AI, Augmented Intelligence, Innovation, and Inclusion, highlights the convergence of technology and human insight in shaping an ethical and sustainable financial future.

This years edition is expected to attract a footfall of over 100,000 participants from more than 75 countries, making it one of the worlds largest fintech gatherings. The event will feature participation from around 7,500 companies, 800 speakers, 400 exhibitors, and 70 regulators representing both Indian and international jurisdictions.
Actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband, Raj Kundra, were reportedly asked by the Bombay High Court to deposit 60 crore if they wish to travel to Los Angeles in the United States or any other foreign location, amid the ongoing fraud case.

Raj Kundra has finally reacted to the report. He told HT City that the court has not directed him to deposit any amount, and said that he was frustrated by repeated misrepresentations.

Check what Raj Kundra said: Raj Kundra stated that the court has not directed him to deposit any amount, but had only requested details of his travel through formal correspondence.

The court has not directed me to deposit any amount, as incorrectly stated. It has merely sought details regarding the purpose of travel along with the formal correspondence to be submitted on the next hearing date, October 14, he told HT City.

He also expressed frustration over what he termed repeated misrepresentations by the claimant in the case.

He also expressed frustration over what he termed 'repeated misrepresentations' by the claimant in the case.

I have had enough of the claimants repeated misrepresentations, and action is being taken against the claimant as we speak. Many facts will come to light in the coming days, he said, while urging the media to verify facts before publishing misleading information.

This comes after Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra filed a plea in the high court seeking the quashing of the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against the couple in connection with an FIR over an alleged fraud of 60 crore.

The high court has adjourned the matter until October 14.

About the fraud case The star couple is being investigated by the Mumbai Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The case is based on a complaint filed by Deepak Kothari, a 60-year-old director of the City of Mumbai and director of Lotus Capital Financial Services.

Kothari claimed that between 2015 and 2023, Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra used the money he had given them to grow their business for their personal expenses.

The director stated that he transferred 31.95 crore in April 2015 under a shared subscription agreement and another 28.53 crore in September 2015 under a supplementary agreement.

However, Kothari later discovered that insolvency proceedings had commenced against the company for allegedly defrauding another investor.

Also Read | EOW records Raj Kundras statement in alleged 60 crore cheating case
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan withdrew his insolvency plea against Jerai Fitness Pvt Ltd after reaching a settlement in a 7.24 crore payment dispute.

The dispute is linked to Khan's fitness equipment brand Being Strong.

Appearing before the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), Khans counsel informed the bench led by Justice Ashok Bhushan on Wednesday that the parties had resolved the matter and decided to withdraw the petition.

What's the case? Khan, who owns the trademark "BEING STRONG" and has the exclusive right to grant a licence and the right to use the same, had entered into a trade licence agreement in October 2018, news agency PTI reported.

Jerai Fitness was granted a licence for the usage of the trademark "BEING STRONG" on the products manufactured by it.

Later, due to interruptions in business and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, at the request of the Corporate Debtor, the Bollywood actor agreed to revise the royalty payable to him from the period of commencement of the first agreement till March 31, 2023.

However, according to Salman Khan, after the Corporate Debtor failed to make the payments, he sent a demand notice on September 14, 2024, demanding payment of 7.24 crore along with interest at 24 per cent per annum and later moved the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) claiming default.

While Jerai Fitness contended that there was a pre-existing dispute between the parties and that it invested a significant amount of money towards making necessary components to launch a category of products known as the X-tend series and Proton series.

Also Read | Nehal Chudasama evicted from Salman Khan's Bigg Boss 19 house

In May this year, the Mumbai bench of NCLT had dismissed Salman Khan's insolvency plea against Jerai Fitness.

NCLT had observed that Jerai Fitness has the right to "manufacture, market, distribute, sell" the products under the trademark "BEING STRONG" and to create promotional material using the trademark.

However, as per the clauses, there had to be prior intimation of all major and substantial decisions regarding the manufacture, promotion, marketing, and distribution of the products to the petitioner, and such decisions were to be taken by Alvira Agnihotri or her authorised person on behalf of the petitioner.

NCLT observed that Jerai Fitness was restricted from distributing any products under the trademark which were not specifically pre-approved. The tribunal then said the claim was disputed in nature and was "in domain of recovery proceedings".
Geetanjali Angmo said on Wednesday she had visited her husband, Sonam Wangchuk, in Jodhpur jail, where he has been lodged in the wake of the September 24 Leh violence.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Angmo said she met the climate activist along with lawyer Ritam Khare. She said, His spirit is undaunted. His commitment resolute! His resilience intact! He conveys heartfelt thanks to all for their support and solidarity.

Geetanjali Angmo said Wangchuk's legal team has obtained the detention order, which will be challenged in court.

The document lists the allegations against Wangchuk and the reasons for the invocation of the National Security Act (NSA) against him.

On Saturday, Wangchuk's brother, Tsetan Dorje, also visited him in jail with lawyer Mustafa Haji.

After the visit, Haji on X said Wangchuk has demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the killing of four people during last month's protest.

He wrote that Wangchuk said that he is willing to remain in jail until such an inquiry is conducted.

Also Read | Sonam Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali Angmo moves Supreme Court challenging his arrest

Angmo has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking her husband's release. A hearing on the petition is scheduled for October 14.

Sonam Wangchuk jailed Activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested after four people were killed and at least 80 were injured in the violent protest that engulfed Ladakh on September 24.

The Ladakh administration indicated that the stringent National Security Act (NSA) was invoked against Sonam Wangchuk.

After his detention, he was taken to Delhi, from where he was shifted to Jodhpur Central Jail on September 26.

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk arrested by Ladakh police team led by DGP S D Singh Jamwal, officials told news agency PTI on Friday.

Ladakh violence The statehood for Ladakh movement, led by Wangchuk, ended in violence, arson and street clashes in Leh on Wednesday (September 24).

The demonstration demanding statehood for Ladakh and inclusion of the Union Territory under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution had reportedly targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Leh.

Prohibitions under Section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, continued to be imposed in Leh on Friday (September 26) with a ban on the assembly of five or more persons in the district.
Actor Vijays political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) moved the Supreme Court on Wednesday, challenging the Madras High Court order constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the Karur stampede that killed 41 people.

The Supreme Court agreed to hear the plea on Friday, October 10, news agency PTI reported.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran took note of the submissions of a lawyer that the plea, filed through TVKs secretary Aadhav Arjuna, be listed for hearing.

Also Read | TVK chief Vijay video calls families of Karur stampede victims, assures visit

The plea, which was filed through advocates Dixita Gohil, Pranjal Agarawal and Yash S Vijay, had challenged the Madras High Court on October 3 to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by the Inspector General of Police to probe into the stampede.

What TVK wants? The TVK sought an independent investigation under the supervision of the Supreme Court. Actor Vijay's party contends that a fair and impartial probe would not be possible if conducted solely by officers of the Tamil Nadu police.

The plea objected to the high court constituting a SIT only with officers of the Tamil Nadu Police.

It alleged the possibility of a pre-planned conspiracy by some miscreants that led to the stampede.

The plea also took exception to scathing remarks of the high court against the party and the actor politician that they abandoned the place after the incident and that they did not express any remorse.

Earlier, the bench agreed to hear on October 10 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Anandan's plea challenging the high court order refusing a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the September 27 stampede.

The plea, filed by GS Mani, an apex court lawyer and the vice-president of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) state legal cell, has also sought a stay on the Tamil Nadu Police's probe into the Karur incident.

The Supreme Court has already listed other related pleas for a hearing on October 10.

Karur stampede A total of 41 people died in the stampede that took place during a political rally of Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam chief and actor Vijay in Karur, Tamil Nadu, on September 27.

Police said the rally saw a turnout of 27,000, nearly three times the expected 10,000 participants.

Also Read | TVK leader booked for controversial Gen-Z post after 41 killed in Karur stampede

Police also blamed a seven-hour delay by Vijay in reaching the venue for the tragedy.
Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu on Wednesday, October 8, expressed gratitude to Home Minister Amit Shah after the latter informed that he has switched to Zoho Mail for his correspondence. Sridhar Vembu also dedicated this to the hard-working engineers of the company who toiled hard in Zoho over the years, as he emphasised that they chose to stay in India.

Sridhar Vembu said, Thank you Sir, for your faith in us I dedicate this moment to our hard working engineers who have toiled hard in Zoho for over 20 years. They all stayed in India and worked all these years because they believed. Their faith is vindicated. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat

Earlier in the day, Amit Shah took on X to inform that he has transitioned to a new email service provider, Zoho Mail, for his correspondence, and requested everyone to use his Zoho mailing address.

Amit Shah said, Hello everyone, I have switched to Zoho Mail. Kindly note the change in my email address. My new email address is amitshah.bjp @ http://zohomail.in. For future correspondence via mail, kindly use this address. Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.

In a major push towards self-reliance and reducing dependency on foreign softwares, the Ministry of Education (MoE) directed its officials to use Zoho Office Suite for official work.

In a circular to its officials, the education ministry said, By embracing Zoho's indigenous office tools, we empower India to lead with homegrown innovation, strengthen digital sovereignty, and secure our data for a self-reliant future.

The directive aligns with the government's vision of transforming the country from a service economy into a product nation and building a self-reliant ecosystem in technology, hardware, and software.

The circular was titled Strengthening digital sovereignty under Swadeshi movement. Also Read | Zoho's Sridhar Vembu says Arattai is finally catching up with WhatsApp with this key security feature

About Zoho Mail Zoho Mail is a secure and ad-free email hosting service developed by Zoho Corporation, an Indian multinational technology company headquartered in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Launched in 2008, Zoho Mail is part of the larger Zoho Workplace suite, which includes tools for office productivity, collaboration, and communication.

Known for its strong privacy standards and data protection policies, Zoho Mail provides encrypted email transmission, two-factor authentication, and servers primarily hosted in India and the United States. It is widely used by businesses, professionals, and government organisations seeking a privacy-focused alternative to global email providers.

Zoho Mail is gaining popularity as an alternative to Gmail as users seek a privacy-focused and free email experience. The email service from Zoho is gaining popularity among professionals and small business owners because of its custom domain support, ad-free interface and enhanced privacy features. Zoho Mail is an ideal choice for users who want more control over their inbox and prefer a productivity-focused approach.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated       today, October 8. With this, Mumbai joins the list of a handful of cities across the world featuring multiple airports, including London, New York and Tokyo. As Navi Mumbai airport navigates its path to become an international transit hub, like Dubai International Airport or Singapore Changi International Airport, the state-of-the-art airport is expected to begin commercial operations two months later, in December.

All you need to know about Navi Mumbai airport

Here are 10 key facts about the Navi Mumbai airport:

1. The Navi Mumbai International Airport, which will be Indias first fully digital airport, was inaugurated today by PM Narendra Modi.

2. Built at a cost of 19,650 crore, it is expected to boost real estate growth, tourism, trade and green innovation. Furthermore, it is projected to generate over two lakh jobs across sectors, including aviation, logistics, IT, hospitality, and real estate.

3. Among the notable amenities offered at the newly constructed airport, it is supported by a fully automated and AI-enabled terminal. includes facilities for pre-booking vehicle parking slots, online baggage drop and immigration services.

4. Featuring lotus inspired architectural design, airy and modern ambience, it uses large glass facades, open spaces, and natural lighting.

5. Even though one terminal and runway are in the initial phase, the 1,160-hectare airport has the ability to handle around 20 million passengers annually. With fully finctional four terminals and two runways, the airport will be able to handle 155 million passengers at full capacity.

6. IndiGo, Air India Express, and Akasa Air and several other airlines have already shared plans to start operations, connecting cities across the country.

7. With about 40 percent international traffic, commercial operations will commence in December. According to officials, the airport will initially operate for 12 hours daily with international traffic eventually rising to 75 percent.

8. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Adani Airports Holdings Ltd (AAHL), Arun Bansal, described the Navi Mumbai airport as an anxiety-free airport." Praising its automation and digital facilities, he said, We are experimenting with AI-enabled baggage tracking in Ahmedabad, and here, you will be able to get a message on your phone telling you, for example, that your bag is number 20 on the carousel."

Also Read | PM Modi in Navi Mumbai today: Full itinerary here

9. It will serve as Indias first major aviation hub linking several transport systems, including expressways, metro and suburban rail networks and waterway services.
Raghav Juyal appeared on Ranveer Allahbadias YouTube podcast and shared his crazy encounter so far. The Kill actor indicated that it was a near-death experience.

Raghav said it had happened some time back. Early morning, he went swimming with dolphins in Mauritius. He took a dive and swam a little. Suddenly, he heard a strange sound.

Raghav didnt know where it came from. It was an unusual sound, something he could not even describe.

Bahot alag awaz hoti hai woh (Its a totally different sound). It is something I cannot tell you.

Then, out of nowhere, around 1520 dolphins came near him and suddenly breached around me. I dont knowMaybe I panicked. Some water went into my mouth, and I was choking..

The Bads of Bollywood actor tried to reach the surface, thinking he would be able to breathe once he emerged from the water. But, he still couldnt catch his breath even after reaching the surface.

He signalled a nearby boat for help. The boat arrived, and Raghav grabbed hold of it to pull himself out of the water.

Antim sthiti thi meri (It was my final moment), Raghav Juyal said.

Fortunately, they pulled him out just in time. They wondered why it happened when Raghav knew how to swim.

One of the men said that the dolphins had saved him from something else.

Kuch aur ho sakta tha tumhare saath. Kuchh aur ho sakta tha tumhare sath agar aur deep jaate (It could have been something ominous if you had gone deeper in the sea). The dolphins knew exactly what they were doing, Raghav quoted one of his saviours as saying.

Dolphins save people Dolphins are known for their intelligence and empathy-like instincts. Many real-life accounts show them saving humans in danger at sea.

They often sense distress and act to protect people. Legends of dolphins surrounding swimmers to shield them from sharks, guiding lost divers to safety and even pushing unconscious humans to the surface are many.

Also Read | Couple miraculously survives major car crash, gets married soon after

Australian fisherman Grant Dickson survived a shark attack after dolphins had circled him for 40 hours until rescue teams arrived. They saved his life.

Marine biologist Maddalena Bearzi, while researching near Los Angeles, noticed one dolphin breaking away from its group and swimming offshore. The rest of the pod followed.

Curious, Bearzi and her team tracked them by boat. After several miles, the dolphins circled something dark in the water.
California governor candidate Katie Porter walked out of an interview after being pressed with multiple follow-up questions about her chances in the race. Accusing the reporters of being unnecessarily argumentative, by what she called seven follow-ups to every question, Katie Porter said she didnt want the exchange to turn into an unhappy experience or be captured on camera.

Katie Porter was first asked what she would say to the people in California who voted for Donald Trump.

What do you say to the 40 percent of California voters, who youll need in order to win, who voted for Trump? CBS News correspondent Julie Watts asked Porter. The governor candidate said, How would I need them in order to win?

When asked about the rest of the 60 per cent of California voters, Porter said, In a general election? Yes. If it is me versus a Republican, I think I will win the people who did not vote for Trump.

On being asked about her chances if she was against another Democrat, Katie Porter said, I dont intend that to be the case. Also Read | US Government shutdown enters second week: Senate deadlocked, Donald Trump open to talks on health care

Then accusing the CBS News reporters of making the interview unnecessarily argumentative, Porter said, I dont want to keep doing this. Im gonna call it. Thank you."

When a visibly shocked Watts asked if she was not going to do the interview with them, Katie Porter replied that she would not, citing the repeated follow-up questions. She added that she was not concerned that the other candidates had been asked the same questions.

Youre not going to do the interview with us? Watts asked.
A woman died on the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland after suffering a heart attack on Tuesday, October 7. The Orange County Register reported that the woman, in her 60s, was onboard the Haunted Mansion ride when she suffered a heart attack.

She was later found unresponsive at the end of the ride. The security at the Disneyland provided CPR to the woman until Anaheim Fire & Rescue paramedics arrived. She was taken to a nearby hospital where she died.

Anaheim Police Department said Orange County Sheriff-Coroner will share the cause of the woman's death as soon as it would be available.

The woman's identity has not been revealed. Also Read | Ahead of Disneyland's upcoming venture, here's a lesson in why Wonderla succeeded while Imagicaa collapsed

Sgt. Matt Sutter said that there is no indication of any operating issue with the attraction, which reopened soon after.

Matt Desmond, popularly known online as Disney Scoop Guy, shared news of the incident on social media, expressing his condolences to the womans family and loved ones.

Sending condolences to her family and loved ones, Desmond wrote on X. Also Read | Can Disneyland work in India?

About Disneyland's Haunted Mansion The Haunted Mansion, one of Disneylands most iconic attractions, first opened in 1969. The ride takes visitors on a spooky tour through a ghost-filled manor.
Ukrainian officials were reportedly bewildered and disappointed by then-Vice President Joe Biden's December 2015 visit to Kyiv, during which he condemned corruption as a cancer.

The reactions stemmed from concerns over the US's double standard, given Joe Biden's family connection to the corrupt energy company Burisma. This information comes from the newly declassified intelligence from the Obama-era, revealed on 7 October by CIA director John Ratcliffe, reported the New York Post.

In an unusual move, the report on Ukraine's discontent was suppressed at the request of Joe Biden's national security adviser, Colin Kahl, and was not included in the Presidential Daily Brief (PDB), according to a senior CIA official.

Colin Kahl "would strongly prefer the report not/not be disseminated," wrote a correspondent identified only as PDF Briefer in an email to the CIA on 10 February 2016, reported the New York Post.

View full Image Source: (@CIADirector/X)

Thanks for understanding.

The PDF Briefer mentioned in the report was likely Michael Dempsey, the Deputy Director of National Intelligence, who provided daily intelligence briefings to President Barack Obama during that period.

Dempsey reported to then-Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, who has been linked to the Russiagate scandal. Clapper is reportedly under investigation by a federal grand jury looking into the involvement of former Obama administration officials in creating the Trump-Russia collusion narrative, according to the New York Post.

The PDB, the classified product of all 18 US intelligence agencies, is meant to serve as an early warning to the commander-in-chief of nascent crises and looming problems across the globe.

After Biden's visit, the report reveals that Ukrainian officials "privately mused" about the US media's scrutiny of the alleged ties between the Vice President's family and corrupt business practices in Ukraine. They saw this as evidence of a double standard within the US government when it came to addressing corruption and political power.

At the same time that Biden, now 82, was delivering his anti-corruption speech in the Ukrainian parliament, his son, Hunter Biden, was reportedly earning $1 million per year sitting on the board of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma.

Ukrainians accused the US of a 'double standard,' citing Biden's family connections to the corrupt energy company Burisma.

The report and email containing this information were recently uncovered during an "internal review of historical agency records and databases" initiated by CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

(With inputs from New York Post)
Jonathan Rinderknecht, the 29-year-old Uber driver who has been arrested in connection with the Pacific Palisades fire which killed 12 people and destroyed 6,000 homes in Los Angeles, had asked ChatGPT to create dystopian image of burning forests and crowds fleeing months before he started the blaze.

The fire, while it was put out at first, turned into a massive blaze as it was reignited by Santa Ana winds  making it one of the most destructive fires in the California history.

Bill Essayli, the US Attorney in Los Angeles, said in a press conference that Jonathan Rinderknecht was charged in a criminal complaint with maliciously setting the fire on New Years Day.

Investigators recovered an image from Rinderknechts digital devices that he generated on ChatGPT depicting a burning city, according to the complaint. Authorities have not disclosed a motive.

While we cannot undo the damage and destruction that was done, we hope his arrest and the charges against him bring some measure of justice to the victims of this horrific tragedy, Essayli said in a statement.

The Palisades fire burned more than 23,000 acres, destroyed over 6,800 structures, and left 12 people dead before it was fully contained on January 31, 2025.

The attorney journal said that Jonathan lighted a fire on New Years Day. While it was initially extinguished by fire crews, it continued to smolder underground.

After seeing the fire trucks, Jonathan Rinderknecht fled the scene, but returned to the same trail to take a video of the fire he had ignited. He left as soon as he saw the fire trucks were headed to the location. He turned around and went back up there.

And he took some video and, and watched them fight the fire, Essayli said.

During interrogation, Jonathan Rinderknecht lied about his location, saying he was near the bottom of the hiking trail.
Authorities have recaptured Derrick Woo Groves, the last of 10 inmates who staged a jailbreak from the Orleans Justice Center in May.

Groves, 31, was taken into custody in Atlanta after an alleged standoff with local police on Wednesday (October 8), multiple reports stated citing law enforcement sources.

High-profile escape Groves and nine others broke out of the New Orleans jail on May 16, 2025, by removing a toilet from a cell where water had been cut off, squeezing through a hole in the wall, and scaling a barbed wire fence. Surveillance footage captured the group sprinting into the night. The escape went unnoticed until a morning head count. On the wall above the escape hole, officials found a taunting message: To Easy LoL.

Nine inmates were captured within weeks. Groves, however, managed to remain at large for nearly five months, aided by a network of supporters.

Violent criminal history Groves was serving a life sentence for second-degree murder, convicted in 2024 for firing an assault rifle into a Mardi Gras block party, killing two men and injuring several others. He also pleaded guilty to manslaughter in two separate shootings and had a history of drug trafficking and violent crime. Prosecutors say witnesses in his cases were repeatedly threatened or intimidated into silence.

As per reports, Groves dropped out of school in the ninth grade and became involved in heroin dealing in the Lower Ninth Ward. His criminal record began at 17, when he was charged with attempted murder but later acquitted.
United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday, October 8, called for the arrest of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, accusing the two Democrats of failing to protect federal immigration officers. Donald Trump, however, did not mention how the Chicago Mayor and Illinois Governor had failed in protecting the ICE agents.

Donald Trumps remarks, shared on his social media platform, came after he ordered National Guard troops to Chicago  the countrys third-largest city  despite objections from state and local leaders.

Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also! Trump wrote, referring to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel.

Donald Trump is referring to was referring to Democratic leaders in Illinois who oppose his order for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to conduct aggressive raids on migrants in Chicago.

This is not the first time the US president has called for the jailing of his opponents. Trump's government has targeted Democratic-run cities around the nation for raids on migrants, often conducted by masked, plainclothes agents.

Members of the Texas National Guard carry rifles and riot shields at an army reserve training facility on October 07

How Mayor, Governor reacted? Ahead of the deployment of National Guard in Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced ICE-free zones. In the ICE-free zones, city-owned property will be declared off-limits to the federal authorities.

Johnson accused Republicans of wanting a rematch of the Civil War.

Meanwhile, Governor Pritzker said he wants prosecutors to investigate the legality of ICE activities in Chicago. He has also accused Trump of motivated by wanting to punish his political enemies.

National Guards in Chicago Hundreds of Texas National Guard troops have assembled at an Army facility outside Chicago, defying opposition from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson, and other Democratic leaders in the state.

Trump has threatened to deploy troops to more US cities, which he said last week could serve as training grounds for the armed forces.

Trump has ordered National Guard troops to Chicago and Portland, Oregon. They have earlier been deployed in Los Angeles and Washington, DC, ignoring oppositions from Mayors and Governors.

My goal is very simple. STOP CRIME IN AMERICA! he wrote on his social media platform.
US President Donald Trump said that he will discuss lowering tariffs on key Canadian sectors in talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

Trump has some sector-specific tariffs on Canada, known as Section 232 tariffs, that are having an impact. There are 50 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, for example.

Trump's statement came as Mark Carney made his second visit to the White House in five months on Tuesday under increasing pressure to address US tariffs on steel, autos, and other goods that are hurting Canada's economy.

Carney and Trump, both smiling, shook hands and exchanged a few words before entering the building.

'Conflict and love' between US, Canada During a press conference on Tuesday, Trump spoke about "natural conflict" and "mutual love" between the US and Canada.

"We have natural conflict. We also have mutual love... you know we have great love for each other," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, sitting next to Carney.

He added that the two men would discuss tariffs. The US President said, "We [US and Canada] have some natural conflict, but we will probably work that out; we've had a very strong relationship."

"We're gonna be talking about trade. We're gonna be talking about a lot of different things. We'll certainly be talking about Gaza," Trump said.

In response, Carney called Trump a transformative president.

Trump jokes about 'US-Canada merger' Sitting next to Carney, Trump once again joked about the merger of Canada and the United States.

Trumps talk of making Canada the 51st state and his tariffs have Canadians feeling an undeniable sense of betrayal, an idea that he didnt emphasise except for a joking reference to a merger between the two countries.

US-Canada trade talks In meeting with Trump, Carney is looking to get some relief on some sector-specific tariffs, but expectations are low.

According to Reuters, a Canadian government official and several analysts played down the chances of an imminent trade deal with Trump and said the fact that discussions are continuing should be considered a success for Carney.

Improving relations with the White House ahead of the USMCA review is certainly an objective of the trip, but opposition parties and part of the Canadian public will criticise Prime Minister Carney if he doesnt achieve some progress on the tariff front at this stage, said Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal.

Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states. There is close cooperation on defense, border security and law enforcement, and a vast overlap in culture, traditions and pastimes.

About 60% of US crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports are from Canada.

Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing in for national security.

Carney last visited the Oval Office in May, when he bluntly told Trump that Canada would never be for sale in response to Trump's repeated threat to purchase or annex Canada.

Since then, the prime minister has made numerous concessions to Canada's biggest trading partner, including dropping some counter-tariffs and scrapping a digital services tax aimed at US tech companies.

Carney's office said the working visit will focus on forging a new economic and security relationship with the US.
While it is well known that President Donald Trumps H-1B visa fee increase will affect United States tech companies, its impact could also be felt across the nations education system. Several higher education leaders and public-school superintendents told the New York Times that the H-1B visa fee increase could negatively impact crucial teaching positions, including math and special education teachers.

The fee hike may also impact the education system in the rural parts of the country who rely on immigrants to fill vacancies in skilled professions like education and health care.

The Trump administration announced the H-1B visa fee hike on September 19, arguing that employers were replacing American workers with cheaper talent from overseas. Since then, the White House has said the fee won't apply to existing visa holders and offered a form to request exemptions from the charge.

H-1Bs are primarily associated with tech workers from India. Big tech companies are the biggest user of the visa, and nearly three-quarters of those approved are from India. But there are critical workers, like teachers and doctors, who fall outside that category.

Some schools told NYT that the fee hike would make it very difficult for them to find teachers for some critical roles. Some leaders also said that it would make institutions less competitive.

Lynn Pasquerella, the president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, said, Its not as if this is done on a whim because were trying to replace American workers. It is done based on what the Trump administration is calling for  on merit and whos the most qualified.

She added that the new fee could also hinder universities capacity to innovate and advance in areas like artificial intelligence, as it undermines global collaboration.

According to an AP report, America has faced a shortage of teachers and doctors and in other sectors over the last decade. Also Read | Can Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee hike boost local hiring? Geojit's Vinod Nair explains how

One in eight public school positions is either vacant or occupied by uncertified teachers, while the American Medical Association predicts a shortfall of 87,000 physicians over the next decade. These shortages are particularly severe in small, rural communities, which face challenges in filling positions due to lower wages and limited access to essentials such as housing and shopping.

It really is potentially the cost of the salary and benefits of one teacher, maybe even two, depending on the state, Melissa Sadorf, executive director of the National Rural Education Association, said. Attaching that price tag to a single hire, it just simply puts that position out of reach for rural budgets.
The ongoing US government shutdown has entered its second week with no resolution in sight, and a series of looming deadlines could intensify the pressure on Congress to act. According to Axios, key dates over the coming weeks will determine when federal workers, military service members, and public programs start to feel the most painful impacts of the funding lapse.

Federal workers paychecks (October 10) Friday marks the last paycheck for many federal employees covering work completed in September. No additional pay will be issued for October work until the shutdown ends. The news outlet notes that agencies such as the Energy Departments National Nuclear Security Administration could begin cutting staff as funding dries up.

Senate recess (October 13) and House return (October 14) Congressional schedules may be upended. The Senates planned recess week beginning October 13 is likely to be scrapped, while the House reconvenes on October 14 after a short break. Speaker Mike Johnson has kept members out of Washington to align with Republican strategy of pressuring Democrats.

Military paychecks (October 15) For the first time since the shutdown began, active-duty military members will miss a paycheck. Johnson has ruled out a standalone measure to ensure military pay, as per the report, raising concerns over troop morale.

Federal courts (October 17) Courts may begin shutting down if appropriations arent restored. Under the Anti-Deficiency Act, the judiciary can only operate on fee balances and limited non-appropriated funds.

Anti-Trump protests (October 18) Nationwide No Kings demonstrations against President Trumps handling of the shutdown are scheduled to resume. Republican leaders believe Democrats may be timing negotiations to avoid overlap with the protests.

Record-breaking shutdown (October 20) If no deal is reached by October 20, Trump will surpass Jimmy Carter as the president presiding over the most shutdown days. Senate staff will miss full paychecks, though senators continue to be paid.

Missed federal Paychecks (October 24, October 31) By October 24, many federal employees will miss an entire months pay. By October 31, House staff will also go without pay, though House members remain unaffected.

ACA open enrollment (November 1) Affordable Care Act open enrollment begins, coinciding with funding negotiations. Democrats want to include an ACA subsidy extension to help 22 million enrollees, while Republicans remain divided. Trump has signaled openness to a healthcare deal tied to reopening the government.

Longest shutdown in US history (November 4) If the shutdown stretches to November 4, it will become the longest ever, surpassing the 35-day standoff in 20182019 under Trump.

Social programs at risk WIC (Women, Infants, and Children program): May run out of funding, though the White House has found temporary resources to keep it operating.

SNAP (food assistance): October benefits are covered, but Novembers funding remains uncertain. During the 2019 shutdown, families faced a 40-day gap between benefits.

Social Security/SSI: Payments will continue uninterrupted, as 45,000 SSA employees remain on duty.
The US government remains in shutdown with no resolution in sight after the Senate failed on Wednesday (October 8) to pass either a Republican- or Democratic-backed short-term funding bill. The vote marked the sixth unsuccessful attempt to extend federal funding as the shutdown enters its eighth day.

Lawmakers in the Senate rejected a House-passed continuing resolution that would have funded the government through November 21. The vote was 54-45, falling short of the 60 votes needed to advance the legislation.

Three Democratic senators broke ranks to vote yes on the Republican-written measure, while only one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, opposed it.

The Senate also rejected the Democrats version of the funding bill, which included health care provisions. With both proposals failing, Congress remains deadlocked, leaving federal programs and workers in limbo.

Trump signals changes to Federal worker back pay President Donald Trump warned this week that furloughed federal workers may not receive back pay once the shutdown ends, diverging sharply from precedent. He also threatened layoffs and cuts to government programs if the stalemate continues.

It depends on who were talking about, Trump said on Tuesday in the Oval Office when asked if furloughed employees are guaranteed back pay. For the most part, we're going to take care of our people. There are some people that really don't deserve to be taken care of, and we'll take care of them in a different way.

House Republicans call for action House Republicans voiced frustration over the continued impasse, urging the Senate and Democrats to act.

This madness can end. This madness needs to end with sanity finally emerging, said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. Chuck Schumer, if you cant do the right thing because youre so afraid of your political job, think about the jobs of millions of families out there who dont want to have that suffering inflicted on them.

During the press conference, some lawmakers repeated claims that Democrats were attempting to provide health care to undocumented immigrants. Federal law restricts such care, allowing only emergency Medicaid coverage for undocumented individuals.
The federal government shutdown enters its second week, with no clear resolution in sight. The House remains closed, and the Senate is deadlocked after a series of failed votes on a plan to reopen government operations. President Donald Trump has escalated tensions by threatening to mass fire federal workers and withhold back pay.

Health care dispute at the core The deadlock centers on federal health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Congress temporarily increased these subsidies during the COVID-19 pandemic, boosting enrollment to a record 24 million. Those enhanced payments are set to expire at the end of the year.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) urged negotiations on the Senate floor: You have to negotiate. That's the way it works.

While Trump signaled willingness to discuss health care subsidies with Democrats, he insisted the government must reopen first. House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed talks with the president, saying, And yes, he wants to solve problems.

Democrats express frustration Democrats argue that Republicans failed to address the expiring subsidies earlier this year. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said, Tens of millions of people are about to experience dramatically increased health insurance costs  how is that acceptable in the wealthiest country in the history of the world?

Missed paychecks and failed votes Federal employees face missed paychecks, and Trump is threatening to eliminate guaranteed back pay  a stark departure from past shutdowns. The White House argues that Congress would need to approve any back pay, citing the law.

Senate efforts to pass the House GOPs bill to reopen the government without addressing ACA subsidies continue to fail. Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) indicated he may switch his vote to side with Democrats.

Political calculations drive deadlock Both parties are using the shutdown to bolster their political messaging ahead of the 2026 midterms. A Senate Democratic memo emphasized that holding the line on health care resonated with voters.

It would be a mistake to take the pressure off Republicans, the memo warned.

Meanwhile, a House GOP memo instructed candidates to focus on the shutdown's economic impact at the district level.

Signs of private talks Some Republicans and Democrats are quietly discussing possible solutions. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) has offered proposals, and Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) have acknowledged the need to address health insurance rate hikes.

Trump signaled willingness to negotiate on health care subsidies but emphasized reopening the government as the first priority.

No clear resolution With both sides dug in, trust low, and deadlines approaching, the path to ending the shutdown remains uncertain.

(With AP inputs)

Also Read | Over 3,000 flights delayed as staffing woes deepen on Day 7 of US govt shutdown
At least 24 people, including children, were killed and more than 50 others were injured as Myanmars military carried out a paraglider strike on a village, according to a member of a resistance group, locals and media reports.

The attack was carried out on Monday night by a motorised paraglider.

According to reports, the military targeted a village in the countrys central Sagaing region that was celebrating a Buddhist festival that included a rally calling for the release of political prisoners held by Myanmars military government.

It was the latest instance of Myanmar's military using paramotors as part of its widening range of aerial weaponry, including aircraft and drones, deployed in an expanding civil war.

What exactly happened? The attack at Sagaing's Chaung-U township took place just before 8 pm local time on Monday as local residents gathered in a field, the eyewitness and a spokesman for a local anti-junta armed resistance group were quoted by Reuters as saying.

A member of a local resistance group who attended the event said more than 100 people from Bon To and nearby villages had gathered at the villages primary school compound Monday evening for an oil lamp lighting ceremony to mark the end of Buddhist Lent and to call for the release of political prisoners including Suu Kyi.

A motorised paraglider dropped two bombs at about 7:15 pm, killing an estimated 20 to 40 people, including children, villagers and members of local political activist groups and armed anti-military groups, the resistance fighter told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

"More than 50 others were wounded, including himself," he added.

The resistance fighter said an alert had been issued through a network of mobile phones and walkie-talkies that had tracked the paraglider from the armys northwestern military command in Monywa, about 25 kilometers (16 miles) north of Bon To village.

Also Read | Myanmar junta ends emergency rule, eyes December election

Meanwhile, a woman told AFP that people were gathering for the festival and an anti-junta demonstration at around 7:00 pm when the bombs killed more than 40 people and wounded about 80 others.

A local resident who also attended Mondays ceremony said the crowd began to disperse after hearing reports of an approaching paraglider, but it arrived sooner than expected and dropped bombs while people were still in the school.

The resident, who helped in rescue efforts after the attack, said at least 24 people were known to have been killed, though the death toll could be higher as the victims family members and rescue workers worked independently to collect the bodies.

Both witnesses said the paraglider returned to the scene around 11 pm and dropped two more bombs without causing additional casualties.

"The military has used paramotors to bomb this area approximately six times before this latest incident," Ko Thant, an information officer for the Chaung-U Township People's Defence Force, said.

Meanwhile, the human rights group Amnesty International said in a statement, The sickening reports emerging from the ground in central Myanmar following a nighttime attack late on Monday should serve as a gruesome wake-up call that civilians in Myanmar need urgent protection."

What did the Myanmar military say? The military has not acknowledged carrying out an attack in the area.

Myanmar has been reeling from a civil war that began after the army seized power in February 2021 from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Much of the country, including the village of Bon To village where the attack took place, is under the control of resistance forces.

Also Read | China is benefiting from the hell in Myanmar

More than 7,300 people are estimated to have been killed by security forces since the armys 2021 seizure of power, according to figures compiled by nongovernmental organisations.

Myanmar's military also uses Chinese and Russian-made combat aircraft and helicopters, but since late last year has stepped up the use of low-tech motorised paragliders in what is believed to be partially an effort to save money.

Resistance forces lack effective defenses against any kind of air attacks.
Indias purchase of Russian oil is not a bedrock of the Indian economy, and the country is starting to diversify its energy buys, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said, noting that New Delhi will make its own decisions and Washington is not dictating to other nations on who they can have relations with.

"India has not always bought so much Russian oil. They've always had strong relationships with Russia, but it's really in the past two or three years that they started buying Russian oil at a discount, not only for consumption, but also for refining and resale, Greer said during a conversation hosted by The Economic Club of New York here last week.

Watch the video here:

So it's not like this is some bedrock part of the Indian economy. This is something we believe they can do and should do. And frankly, I can already see them starting to diversify. I think they get it, he said.

Greer added that obviously they (India) are a sovereign country. They're going to control their decisions.

We're not trying to dictate other countries who they can have relations with and who they can't. That's not what we're trying to do, the senior Trump administration official said.

US President Donald Trump has imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India, including 25 per cent for Delhis purchases of Russian oil.

Trump and his administration officials have said that Indias purchase of Russian oil is fuelling Moscows war against Ukraine.

Trump, in his address to world leaders at the UN General Assembly last month, had said that China and India are the primary funders of the ongoing Ukraine war by continuing to purchase Russian oil.

Responding to a question on the impact of the 50 per cent tariff on India, Greer said the levies on India have been in place now for some weeks.

India is a country that has a USD 40 billion trade surplus with us. So they already have a great deal with the United States. They sell us a lot more than we sell to them. That being said, the Indians are being pragmatic, he said.

Greer noted that Washington has actually been having conversations with the Indians from day one of the Trump administration on the trade side of the ledger.

He noted that of the 50 per cent tariff on India, half of that - 25 per cent is the reciprocal tariff. It's where we're trying to negotiate a deal. And then the additional 25 per cent is for the huge increase in purchases of Russian oil that India has made.

Greer stressed that Trump is focused on ending the Russia-Ukraine war. We are trying to make sure that (Russian President) Vladimir Putin feels as much pressure as possible We've even talked to our European allies, some of whom are still buying Russian oil to this day, which is crazy. So it's not just the Indians that we're talking to about this, and we talked to the Chinese about it too. We just need to end this war, and then if the war ends, and everything reaches some kind of stability, then you can have a different conversation about Russian oil.

India has been maintaining that its energy procurement is driven by national interest and market dynamics. India turned to purchasing Russian oil sold at a discount after Western countries imposed sanctions on Moscow and shunned its supplies over its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia remains India's No. 1 crude oil supplier India's crude oil imports from Russia saw a slight decline in September but still made up over one-third of the country's total oil purchases, despite U.S. pressure to limit the trade due to concerns about supporting Moscow's war efforts in Ukraine, PTI reported.

Russian crude remained the largest single supplier, accounting for about 1.6 million bpd, or 34% of India's total imports. However, this was approximately 160,000 bpd less than the average volume imported from Russia during the first eight months of 2025, according to preliminary data from global trade analytics firm Kpler.

In September, India's crude imports were around 4.7 million barrels per day (bpd), reflecting a month-on-month increase of 220,000 bpd, and remained stable year-on-year.

A potential boost to India's Russian crude imports could come from the expected resumption of northern Iraqi crude exports via Turkey's Ceyhan port. If Turkey reduces its intake of Russian crude, which was around 350,000 bpd in Q3 2025, due to tightening EU sanctions from January 2026, those displaced barrels are expected to flow to Asia, with India and China likely to be the primary destinations.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office on Tuesday to discuss trade. The leaders spoke about tariffs, investment and the future of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Mark Carney said both countries would be stronger together, while Donald Trump revealed both nations were "working on formulas for a trade deal.

"President Trump and I know that there are areas where our nations can compete  and areas where we will be stronger together. Were focused on building these new opportunities," Carney said on X.

Mark Carney, on his second visit to Washington since taking office in April, called Trump a transformative president, reported ANI. He said Canada remained the biggest foreign investor in the United States and could invest probably $1 trillion in the next five years, if we get the agreement we expect to get".

US-Canada have come long way in trade talks President Trump said the two North American countries were in natural conflict because theyre both trying to attract the same businesses.

He wants to make cars, we want to make cars, and were in competition. And the advantage we have is, we have this massive market, Trump said, reported Bloomberg.

He pointed out that both countries have come a long way in the trade talks, saying, were working on formulas and I think well get there.

Carney remarked, There are areas where we compete, and its in those areas where we have to come to an agreement that works. But there are more areas where we are stronger together, and thats what were focused on."

The US has increased tariffs on steel, aluminium, autos, and lumber. Duties on non-compliant goods under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement have gone up from 25% to 35%, impacting Canadian jobs and investment and causing the countrys economy to shrink in the second quarter, according to Bloomberg.

Trump said that the US, Canada, and Mexico could either renegotiate their trilateral agreement or could each do different deals."

He said he had no strong preference but is focused on securing the best deal for the US, also with Canada in mind."

He added that any agreement between the US and Canada would be comprehensive" and address long-standing issues like dairy.

Canadian minister in charge of US trade Dominic LeBlanc said yesterday's meeting was more detailed than previous discussions."
The United Kingdom is not issuing more visas for high-skilled Indians despite the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) because it isnt part of the plans", according to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is in Mumbai for a two-day visit to India.

Starmer stated that he will push back against business calls to increase the number of highly skilled Indian workers allowed into the UK under the new FTA with India. "The visa situation hasnt changed with the Free Trade Agreement  we didnt open up more visas. The issue is not about visas  its about business-to-business engagement and investment and jobs and prosperity coming into the United Kingdom," Bloomberg quoted Starmer as saying during an interaction with journalists on a flight to Mumbai.

As part of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, both nations agreed to maintain existing provisions that permit temporary business travel between them. While no additional visa pathways were introduced in the deal, Starmer noted that his government had managed to un-block the issue that had earlier stalled negotiations, which stemmed from Indias demand for increased visa access for its citizens seeking employment in the UK.

Starmer's administration faces mounting pressure to reduce immigration levels, as the anti-migrant Reform UK party gains traction in the polls, the report said. The prime minister has put forward proposals including extending the residency period required before an individual can apply for indefinite leave to remain, and tying that status to a persons contribution to the UK.

Also Read | Tech Pledges From Trumps UK Visit Will Test Strained Power Grid

Some are concerned that these policies could discourage skilled workers from coming to the UK, leading them to choose countries with clearer and simpler paths to settlement instead, according to the report. The Confederation of British Industry, represented by its chief executive Rain Newton-Smith, who was part of the Mumbai delegation, has emphasised that migration is essential to address certain labour shortages in the UK.

Bill Winters, CEO of Standard Chartered, who is also a member of the delegation, had previously cautioned that immigration restrictions could negatively affect the talent pool in London.

I want to have top talent in the United Kingdom Meanwhile, when asked if the UK would seek to attract highly skilled individuals who might be deterred from applying to work in the US due to President Donald Trumps decision to increase visa fees, Starmer responded that where there is very top talent across the globe, I want to have top talent in the United Kingdom, to help us grow our economy".
The economics of immigration has a lot in common with the economics of trade. Lower barriers to imports raise growth and living standards in the aggregate, but may harm particular people and places. Lower barriers to immigration do the same. Politicians struggle to understand this trade-off, let alone manage it wisely. Of the two, the case for more immigrants might be harder to graspbecause the aggregate gains are more subtle.

Until recently, the case for liberal commerce was mostly taken for granted. As Americans are now discovering, high tariffs make many of the things they want to buy more expensive. That will depress consumers real incomes and make almost everybody worse off. The gains from trade are widely shared and, given time, obvious.

The gains from immigration, by contrast, go disproportionately to immigrants themselves. Natives might see that as no reason to welcome them , especially if it also means higher taxes, fewer jobs and lower wages for those who were there first.

Theres no denying that immigration is good for migrants. Yet, trade-offs notwithstanding, its a fallacy to think their gains impose a net cost on everybody else. Overall, the hosts gain too, and not just a little. Squeezing immigration will probably harm the US even more than taxing imports.

Many governments worry these days about worsening demographic pressures. If the naive case against immigration were correct, shrinking proportions of workers to dependents should be celebrated. Fewer workers would mean a tighter labour market and push wages higher. Workers living standards would rise as their numbers decline: The fewer workers, the better.

Why is this wrong? Because adding workers generates an economic surplus for other workers and for the economy as a whole.

Immigrants tend to be disproportionately of working age, so they reduce the ratio of dependents to workers, which eases what would otherwise be a growing fiscal burden. Far more important, immigrants tend to be disproportionately hard-working, enterprising, adaptable, mobile and ambitious. (If they werent, theyd stay put.) Get this right, and the gains that follow are colossal: Just reflect on the economic pre-eminence of the US, and the role that immigration has played in its history.

Increasingly, economists are showing exactly why and how much this source of economic advantage matters.

The connection between immigration and innovation is crucial. In country after country, skilled immigrants have driven more innovation and faster growth in productivity. One notable study found that between 1990 and 2010, US immigrants with H-1B (skilled worker) visas accounted for between 30% and 50% of the countrys productivity growth.

Michael Clemens, one of Americas most eminent migration scholars, reports that skilled immigrants cause more patenting of new inventions and start more fast-growing businesses, leading to more high-paying jobs for native workers, skilled and unskilled alike.

The Trump administration has announced that H1-B visas will now be subject to a $100,000 tax per worker. No question, this programme is a mess and needs reform: Its subject to an arbitrary cap and lets employers game the system in ways that diminish its benefits.

The new tax solves neither problem. It makes as much sense as it would to tax innovation directly. Heres an idea: Throttle long-term productivity and shrink the economy to prop up some wages and raise short-term revenue.

To tout the benefits of immigration is not to argue for open borders. Borders should be secured and immigration orderly and controlled. Blurring the line between refugees and economic migrants, as migrants advocates tend to, is a mistake; different considerations should guide policy in each caseethical demands in the first, the economic self-interest of natives in the second.

Abrupt increases in immigration can burden communities and be needlessly disruptive. Even well-managed immigration can dampen the wages of competing native workers and pose fiscal challenges by adding to demand for local public services. Permission to immigrate, even temporarily, is indeed a privilege and should come with strings attached.

The main thing is to understand that, for natives and not just migrants, immigration is an enormously valuable economic opportunity. At the same time, it can impose costs on some places and people. As with trade, labour-saving automation and creative destruction in general, governments shouldnt deny the losses and should do more to help the losers.

But a political system fit for purpose would put the emphasis where it belongson promoting citizens opportunities and economic security, and not on blocking economic growth. Bloomberg

The author is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist.
The contrast couldnt be starker. Indias macro fundamentals are running at greatnay, near-ideallevels. Retail inflation is low and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has just lowered its forecast for this financial year. The current account deficit (CAD) is holding at a comfortable 1% of GDP. The fisc is in good shape, with bond issuance for this years second half announced recently that confirms the governments commitment towards its glide path of fiscal consolidation.

A recent sovereign rating upgrade by S&P seems like a grudging acknowledgement of a tautology by the rating agency, rather than a big achievement.

Yet, global investors dont seem to be impressed. Foreign portfolio investor (FPI) flows into equities stand at a negative $13 billion in 2025 so far. In the last five years, twice (in 2022-23 and 2024-25) have FPI outflows been at all-time-high levels. There is both a rationale and an opportunistic trigger for this.

The opportunistic trigger is very clear. Of all emerging market (EM) assets, one of the most liquidindeed, perhaps the most liquidare listed Indian equities. Thanks to burgeoning retail flows into stocks, both directly and via mutual funds (MFs), Indias capital markets are among the busiest in the world.

The wall of liquidity engendered by Indian retail investors lets FPIs (and to be fair, even Indian promoters) exit profitable-but-richly-valued Indian positions and rotate funds into other avenues with better price-value equations.

The rationale is clear too. Indian listed equities trade at price-earning multiples that are among the highest in the world, at par with US equities (with the Nifty index trading at about 20-21 times annual earnings). Over the last five-six quarters, earnings growth has stopped supporting such valuations. During this period, broader market earnings have averaged only single digits.

Also Read | Rajrishi Singhal: India must probe the reasons behind rising outward FDI flows

In comparison, US markets have continued delivering mid- to high-teens earnings growth in dollar terms. Further, China, delivering near-US type earnings growth, has stocks trading at just 12-13 times earnings. For a long while, Indias valuation premium over EMs in general and China in particular have been justified by better capital efficiency, more stable growth and higher corporate earnings growth.

In the last few years though, others (including China) have started catching up on capital efficiency markers. Which leaves Indias relative attractiveness down to a single variablegrowth. As earnings growth flags, foreigners take their money out.

India at a crossroads: Structurally, India faces tough questions on its growth profile.

One, IT outsourcing, the single-biggest driver of growth for the last three decades, is under increasing threat. From being the largest provider of high-paying jobs, this sector is now shedding jobs in order to deal with the AI threat.

In the past, some 300,000-400,000 graduates hired by the IT industry every year would fuel a consumption boom. As AI structurally reduces the sectors demand for a medium-skilled workforce, millions of Indias educated might now be hard pressed to find alternative avenues of well-paid employment.

Two, India lags other countries in the AI race. At least for now. Large language model (LLM) initiatives are still in their infancy, not mature enough to raise the sort of capital being invested in the US and China. India is also just about starting off in its drive to manufacture semiconductors at home.

Three, conservative government finances have been matched by equally conservative private corporate investment. Consequently, fixed capital formation, the single biggest driver of economic growth, has remained anaemic at an aggregate level for around a decade now. To break this deadlock, something has to give. But as of now, there dont seem to be too many ideas on the table.

A new geo-economic challenge that would make Hobson proud: While US President Donald Trumps second term in power has kept the world at large on edge, the ease with which the wheels have come off India-US relations this year suggests that hesitations of history" were based on Indias general lack of all-round leverage.

Today, our geo-economic dilemmas are coming to a head. Even if Indias Russian oil trade was the real reason for the extra 25% tariff imposed by the US, switching import sources would be a tough swap.

The discount on Russian oil, averaging $10-12 per barrel, results in annual savings of about $6 billion. More than half of it accrues to public-sector refiners, a windfall that partly helps finance an energy subsidy (primarily on cooking gas) that is not always financed fully by the Union budget. Further, a portion of our Russian oil purchasesplaced at $40-50 billion annuallyis settled in rupees, reducing friction costs and creating a buffer for our external account.

Most importantly, if India boycotts Russian oil, it could send global crude prices higher. This would put the world at risk of stagflation, which is hardly a better option than a global slowdown.

Our Russian oil trade, however, is very likely a red herring. Americas real rationale for the extra 25% tariff very likely differs from the stated reasons and offers India little comfort over prospects of a quick resolution. Access to Indias agricultural market seems like the top ask of American trade negotiators, but this is also the reddest of all trade red lines for the Indian political establishment.

Acceptance of any US mediation in an India-Pakistan conflict, which appears to be another big ask by the US, is an equally deep-set political red line for New Delhi.

We need new ideas as old ones have run their course: FPIs seem to be exercising a cyclical pause that coincides with Indias need for new ideas. This cycle will play itself out and an equity market upswing will surely occur at some point. But India must find a new path for the future.

If mistakes are made, they should be new ones, instead of trying the same things and making the same old mistakes. Foreign investors are merely canaries in this mine.

These are the authors personal views.

The author is the chief investment officer of ASK Private Wealth.
The Election Commission on Wednesday clarified that the provisions of the model code of conduct also apply to the Central government regarding announcements and policy decisions related to Bihar. The poll code came into effect immediately after the Election Commission announced the schedule for the Bihar Assembly elections on Monday.

The polls will be held on November 6 and 11, and the counting of votes will be taken up on November 14.

Here's what the statement said In a statement issued here, the EC said, The MCC shall also be applicable to the Central government so far as announcements/policy decisions for Bihar are concerned.

The Election Commission stated that the model code of conduct applies to the Central government for policy decisions regarding Bihar, following the announcement of Assembly elections scheduled for November 6 and 11.

The poll authority also said that the privacy of citizens must be respected, with no demonstrations or picketing outside private residences.

"Land, buildings, or walls shall not be used for flags, banners or posters without the owner's consent," it said.

The EC has also issued directives to the Bihar chief secretary related to the removal of defacement from government, public and private property; misuse of official vehicles or government accommodation by any political party, candidate or any other person connected with the elections; and ban on the issuance of advertisements at the cost of the public exchequer.

14,000 voters in Bihar who are over 100 years old: EC According to data shared by the Election Commission, there are about 14,000 voters in Bihar who are over 100 years old. However, the number of voters in the 'very senior citizens' category (those aged 85 and above) saw a significant decline following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The number of voters aged 85 and above dropped from 16,07,527 on January 1 to 4,03,985 after the revision.

The number of female voters also decreased from 3.72 crore on January 1 to 3.49 crore post-SIR. Similarly, the male voter count fell from 4.07 crore to 3.92 crore, while the number of voters in the third-gender category reduced from 2,104 to 1,725.

Elections to the 243-member Bihar Assembly will take place in two phases, on November 6 and 11.

Currently, the NDA holds 131 seats (BJP 80, JD(U) 45, HAM(S) 4, and 2 Independents), while the Mahagathbandhan controls 111 seats (RJD 77, Congress 19, CPI(ML) 11, CPI(M) 2, CPI 2).

The upcoming elections are expected to witness a direct contest between the ruling NDA led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Mahagathbandhan spearheaded by the RJD.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday slammed the Congress party for not acting against Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai attacks due to pressure from a foreign country.

The Prime Minister sought answers from the Congress party on made the decision at that time.

Mumbai is not only the economic capital city but also one of the most vibrant cities in India. This is the reason terrorists attacked Mumbai. But the then Congress government gave a message of weakness. Recently, a senior Congress leader and former Home Minister has revealed that after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, our security forces were ready to attack Pakistan, but due to pressure from another country, the Congress government at the time stopped our security forces, PM Modi said while speaking after inaugurating the Phase 1 of Navi Mumbai International Airport.

Also Read | PM Modi inaugurates Phase 1 of Navi Mumbai International Airport

The Prime Minister was referring to recent remarks by Congress leader and former Union Home Minister P Chidambaram admitting that the Congress-led UPA government had decided not to retaliate against Pakistan after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks due to intense international pressure.

What did P Chidambaram say? The Congress leader has revealed that retribution crossed my mind but the government decided against military action.

"The whole world descended upon Delhi to tell us don't start a war," said Chidambaram during a recent interview. Chidambaram took over as the Union Home Minister days after the 26/11 terror attacks that claimed the lives of 175 people.

"Condoleezza Rice, who was then US Secretary of State, flew in two or three days after I took over, to meet me and the Prime Minister. And to say, 'please don't react'. I said this is a decision that the government will take. Without disclosing any official secret, it did cross my mind that we should do some act of retribution," the Congress leader acknowledged.

Congress needs to tell who made the decision PM Modi said in his Navi Mumbai speech that the Congress needs to tell who made the decision under pressure from a foreign power.

"The country has all right to know. Congress's weakness strengthened the terrorists. The country repeatedly has had to pay for this mistake by sacrificing lives. For us, nothing is more important than national security and the safety of our citizens," he said.

Chidambaram had even said that he discussed a possible retaliation with the Prime Minister and other people who mattered.

The Congress's weakness strengthened the terrorists. The country repeatedly has had to pay for this mistake by sacrificing lives.

"The Prime Minister had discussed this even when the attack was going on... And the conclusion was, largely influenced by the the Ministry of External Affairs, and the IFS, that we should not physically react to the situation," he recalled.

What happened on 26/11 in Mumbai? A group of 10 Pakistani terrorists affiliated with Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out attacks on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj train station; the Oberoi Trident, the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel, the Leopold Cafe, the Cama Hospital, and the Nariman House on November 26, 2008 in what later went to be known as Mumbai attacks. Ajmal Kasab, one of the terrorists who was caught by the Mumbai Police, was executed in 2012.

PM Modi's remarks in Mumbai assume significance since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has frequently cited Indias reaction after the Mumbai attack as an example of the UPAs weakness in foreign policy and security issues.
A mysterious interstellar comet recently entered our solar system and whizzed past the Red planet  Mars. The phenomenal spectacle was captured by the European Space Agency's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and Mars Express spacecraft. This marks the third such celestial body ever confirmed to have entered our solar system.

The stunning images released by ESA, captured by Mars obiter stationed 30 million km away, show the comet named 3I/ATLAS as a bright dot shrouded in a glowing cloud of dust and gas, traversing the vast expanse of space. Made up of a solid nucleus of ice, rock and dust, the comet 3I/ATLAS was first detected in July.

Since then, this celestial body has been an object of interest among astronomers and space enthusiasts. ESA in a press release dated October 7 stated, Comet 3I/ATLAS is the slightly fuzzy white dot moving downwards near the middle of the image. Despite not being designed to capture something so far away, ExoMars TGO revealed the coma of gas and dust surrounding the icy-rocky nucleus.

3I/ATLAS' closest point to the sun during flyby According to astronomers, the comet will swing through the inner solar system in the weeks ahead and reach a point closest to the sun on or around October 30 during its flyby. As per the space agency, the interstellar object will reappear on the other side of the Sun by early December 2025.

The ESA in a statement said, Every planet, moon, asteroid, comet and lifeform in our solar system share a common origin, the ESA said, according to ESA, interstellar comets are outsiders, carrying clues about the formation of worlds far beyond our own.

Will comet 3I/ATLAS approach the Earth? NASA scientists studying its movements say that this celestial body does not pose a threat to the Earth. The closest it will approach our planet is about 1.8 astronomical units (about 170 million miles, or 270 million kilometers), NASA said.

Notably, ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter's instruments were designed to click photos of Mars' surface, not distant objects located millions of miles away, principal investigator for the spacecrafts imaging system Nick Thomas said.
Anthropic has confirmed that the AI startup will be opening its first office in India in Bengaluru in early 2026. The company says its new office will be help it serve the rapidly growing AI ecosystem and the demand for Claude AI in India.

The San-Francisco based company also confirmed that its CEO and co-founder Dario Amodei will be visiting India this week to meet with public officials and enterprise partners. Earlier reports have stated that the Anthropic CEO may also meet with PM Narendra Modi along with cabinet ministers.

In a statement about the Indian expansion, Amodei said, India's AI ecosystem will play a central role in how AI develops globally and democratically, and were looking forward to working with organizations in India to pave a path for how beneficial AI can be scaled in a way that serves everyone.

We see remarkable promise in Indias innovation ecosystem  the vibrant startup and developer communities alongside Indian enterprises are building solutions that impact millions of lives globally. added Paul Smith, Anthropics Chief Commercial Officer.

India ranks second in global consumer usage for Claude: Anthropic also added that India ranks second globally in consumer usage for Claude AI in its Economic Index Report, second only to the US. The company says that a disproportionately large amount' of Claude usage in India is for technical and programming-related tasks like mobile UI development and web app debugging.

The company also added that large Indian enterprises like CRED are relying on Claude for their coding-related work.

Anthropic also detailed that it is continuing to advance support for Indic languages. The company says its AI chatbot is already available in Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Punjabi, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, and Urdu.
Creating and executing cyberattacks is becoming increasingly easier. As agentic artificial intelligence gains ground in workplaces and everyday life, cybersecurity experts are warning of a new, rapidly emerging threatvibe hacking.

Although still in the nascent stages, vibe hacking could become a serious concern going forward. Mint explains what makes vibe hacking so dangerous and difficult to detect.

What is vibe hacking?

Vibe hacking is the malicious twin of vibe coding, where hackers use AI to generate malicious code at scale. In vibe coding, users, with the help of simple language, can get an artificial intelligence coding agent to write lines of code from natural language prompts.

There are two kinds of vibe hacking. In the first, hackers use an existing vibe coding platform to write malicious code to attack existing code bases. Vibe coding platforms, unless given access, arent privy to the companies code base. When given, however, developers can use a vibe coding platform to recommend code for products theyd like to build.

Also Read | Siddharth Pai: Arm employees against sophisticated cyberattacks

Instead of building, if someone gets access to your codebase, it can actually tell the platform exactly what to do to extract data or do something malicious, that is very risky," said Saket Modi, co-founder and chief executive of Safe Security, a cyber risk management company.

The other kind is where a hacker doesnt need to be an expert in breaching systems; instead, they use natural language to get a vibe of a coding platform to write malicious code.

Its what happened in the case of a cybercriminal using Anthropics Claude Code agent. In August, the US-based AI startup flagged that a hacker had used Claude Code to automate reconnaissance, harvest user credentials, and penetrate networks. Before Anthropic detected the misuse of its coding agent, the hacker had targeted 17 different organisations across healthcare, the emergency services, and government and religious institutions.

Also Read | Anthropics quiet edge in the AI talent war

Claude Code was used not only to target these companies but also to make strategic decisions on what data to harvest as well as how to craft psychologically targeted extortion demands, according to Anthropics Threat Intelligence report.

What makes vibe hacking dangerous?

Because generative AI lowers the barrier to writing and refining code, criminals with little technical skill can orchestrate sophisticated attacks," according to Aaron Rose, office of the chief technology officer at Check Point Software. That also means the frequency of cyberattacks increases due to the low barrier to entry in creating them.

Whats more, vibe hacking attacks are capable of circumventing traditional cyber defence systems. They dont necessarily need to break into networks or exploit software vulnerabilities either.

Attackers can manipulate the 'intent' layer of AI systems, tricking models into exfiltrating sensitive data or performing harmful actions through carefully crafted language alone," said Operant AI co-founder and CEO Vrajesh Bhavsar. Operant AI is a cybersecurity company focused on securing AI systems.

What makes it particularly difficult to detect vibe hacking?

Vibe hacking can often be mistaken for conventional breaches. Vibe hacked attack payloads use programming languages like PowerShell and Python and are able to avoid traps left by a companys cyber security team. Additionally, because of the changing code, there are no static malware samples for experts to analyse and work against either.

Vibe hacks can look like innocuous files or content, which contain hidden prompts to attack a system. This can range from context poisoning, where shared memory between AI agents is contaminated to slipping in malicious logic into open-source code.

Another common pattern is privilege escalation, where an over-permissioned agent ends up misusing credentials," said Bhavsar. Zero-click attacks are particularly concerning because they don't require any human action, just opening a file or connecting to a poisoned tool is enough."

Which industries are likely to be affected by vibe hacks?

Hackers tend to target organisations that possess a significant amount of sensitive information or are considered critical infrastructure. Therefore, industries such as banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI), healthcare, government, and even media are targets for vibe hackers.

Healthcare institutions hold vast amounts of sensitive patient data, credentials, and billing information, making them key targets for hackers who can monetize this critical data on the dark web," said Ajay Biyani, vice president of APJ, India, Middle East & Africa at US-based cybersecurity company Securonix. The manufacturing sector, which is transforming with Industry 4.0, comes with rising cyber risks due to loT device integration and growing automation, exposing manufacturers to vibe hacking."

Also Read | How AI-enhanced hackers are stealing billions

Hackers also target critical infrastructure, such as energy and utilities, which can have significant national security implications. Even retail and e-commerce arent safe on account of companies in the sector handling large volumes of customer data and online transactions.

Sosafe, a cybersecurity awareness training and human risk management provider, released a report earlier this year that showed 87% of security professionals at companies encountered an AI-driven cyberattack in the last year. The survey covered 500 global security professionals as well as 100 SoSafe customers across 10 countries.

How should companies combat vibe hacking?

With AI attacks becoming more sophisticated and enterprises adopting AI into their ecosystems, cybersecurity experts suggest limiting AI tool privileges and access to data.

As AI threats grow, cybersecurity experts recommend restricting AI tool privileges and data access.

Because each Al-generated script is unique, defenders must look for unusual patterns such as unexpected outbound connections to Al providers, scripts invoked by unusual processes, or data exfiltration disguised as routine traffic," said Rose.

The other way to fight vibe hacking attempts is by taking on a multi-layered approach, which includes AI-powered security tools as well as training employees to recognise AI-generated threats. For platforms, especially those running SPAs, regular code reviews and automated vulnerability scanning are critical," said Apeksha Kaushik, principal analyst at Gartner, a research and advisory firm.



Cybersecurity company, Darktrace, backed by global investment firm KKR found that 78% of companies' chief information security officer believe AI is having an impact on cyber threats. Additionally, nine in ten survey participants agree that AI-powered threats will continue to have a significant impact on their organization for the next one to two years.

What are the security tools to fight this menace?

When dealing with third-party vendors, asking about their AI use and software bill of materials can also be valuable. Operant AI, for instance, maps every agent identity, tool, access flow, and data touchpoint within a company's environment.

We monitor agents continuously, not just for network activity but for semantic and behavioural anomalies," said Bhavsar. As attack sophistication and frequency increase, cybersecurity experts argue that the only way forward is to develop and maintain AI-enabled solutions. You fight fire with fire. On the defence side, everything has to be AI-enabled," said Safe Security's Modi.
Julia Roberts has revealed that she did not start her career with confidence. In an exclusive interview with People magazine, the Hollywood star shared how she faced criticism early on and learned to define herself by who she wanted to be, not just by her work.

Early challenges shaped Julia Roberts mindset Julia Roberts, 57, told People magazine, I dont think I entered into my career with much confidence. She said she met a few critical people who were really cruel, and that experience made her think deeply about the kind of person she wanted to become.

It was so much more about who I wanted to be as opposed to what kind of career I wanted to have, the After the Hunt star explained.

The Oscar-winning actress shared that her life between the ages of 15 and 25 was full of ups and downs. It was more bumps than smooth sailing, she said. But she also looked for the positives. Even then, I would have shreds of gratitude. Id think, Theres a reason why it has to be so hard. Now I look at it as lessons Im grateful for because they proved my endurance to myself.

Learning to face insecurity Roberts said insecurity once made her freeze when someone embarrassed her. Being insecure can be crippling, she said in the interview. If someone embarrassed me, it stopped me. Over time, she learned that this industry is not one to be in if you cant take criticism or harshness or being embarrassed.

She recalled watching The Tonight Show as a child, seeing a musician trip on stage, and feeling his embarrassment deeply. It might as well have happened to me, she said. I had a lot of things I needed to overcome.

Personal growth through experience Now, nearly four decades later, Roberts says her choices are about personal evolution and discovery. Her After the Hunt co-star Ayo Edebiri, who joined the interview, called Roberts reflections beautiful. Roberts laughed and asked, Did I bring the mood down?

After the Hunt releases in select theaters on 10 October, it will be out nationwide on 17 October.

FAQs What did Julia Roberts say about her early career? She said she did not start with much confidence and had to learn to deal with harsh criticism and self-doubt.

What helped Julia Roberts overcome insecurity? Julia Roberts focused on becoming the kind of person she wanted to be rather than worrying only about her career.
Prince Harry has been dealt a fresh blow as the government of Chad has terminated its agreement with African Parks.

Prince Harry has been dealt a fresh blow as the government of Chad has terminated its agreement with African Parks

The Duke of Sussex, 41, has long been associated with the conservation charity, but it emerged on Tuesday (07.10.25) the African countrys environment ministry has accused the organisation of showing disrespectful behaviour and failing to curb poaching in the reserves it managed.

The Chadian government announced the decision in a statement confirming the end of a 15-year partnership with the non-profit group, which had been overseeing the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem.

Hassan Bakhit Djamous, the countrys environment minister, said African Parks had shown a recurring indelicate and disrespectful attitude toward the government and claimed there had been a spike in poaching as well as a lack of investment in the protected areas.

African Parks said it was in discussions with the Chadian government to explore the best way forward to support the continued protection of these landscapes that are critical to conservation.

The decision marks the end of a relationship that began in 2009.

The charity, which manages wildlife reserves across the continent, had reported it helped increase the elephant population at Zakouma National Park from 450 to 550 over nine years.

It had also aimed to reduce poaching and restore biodiversity in the region.

Prince Harry serves as a board member of African Parks and was previously its president.

Founded in 2000, the organisation works with several African governments to manage national parks and reserves, combining conservation efforts with community development.

Earlier this year, African Parks admitted guards at one of its sites had been involved in human rights abuses against Indigenous people who were displaced when the park was established.

The development comes only months after Harry stepped down from his position at Sentebale, the youth charity he co-founded in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho.

Harry created the organisation in memory of his mother, Princess Diana, to support children and young people living with HIV and Aids in Lesotho and Botswana.

His resignation came after the UK Charity Commission issued a critical report following a public dispute within the organisations leadership.

The row involved the Duke, Prince Seeiso, and Sentebales then-chair of trustees, Dr Sophie Chandauka, a Zimbabwe-born lawyer.

A source close to Harry told The Times he was devastated the chair had been allowed to succeed with a hostile takeover.

A spokesperson for the Duke said: As custodians of this once brilliant charity, Prince Seeiso, Prince Harry and the former board of trustees helped grow Sentebale from the seed of an idea to  like its namesake  a flowering force for good. With the original mission of Sentebale firmly in mind  and in honour of the legacy he and Prince Seeiso began  the Duke of Sussex will now focus on finding new ways to continue supporting the children of Lesotho and Botswana.
A councillor in the Granard Municipal District area has called on Longford County Council to carry out an audit on road signs in the area where they are damaged and need to be cleaned.



Fine Gael representative Colin Dalton also requested that junction markings are refreshed where necessary.

Read more: Concern as Longford defibrillator condition in N4 Axis Centre sparks meeting



The Ballinalee native stated motorists still read road signs but in some cases the 'signs are very poor' and sometimes they are impossible to read.



"We need to get them cleaned up so that they are visible.



"In some areas the road markings are completely gone and they need to be refreshed."



The motion was seconded by Cllr Garry Murtagh and he said there was a previous motion submitted where signs were missing letters and numbers.



"I also feel that some of the junctions and markings need to be refreshed."

Read more: Longford County Council champions Road Safety Awareness Week with GAA Partnership



Executive engineer Joe Gorman, who read a response from the local authority, said a similar motion had been submitted by Cllr Turlough McGovern in March 2025.



"Longford County Council arrange for signs to be cleaned, maintained and replaced as of when our resources and funding allow.



"However, this is just one [task] in the substantial work assigned to Granard Municipal District employees and now they are fully engaged in various funded programmes.



"There are no immediate plans to commence a programme of sign cleaning in the municipal district, it may be later in the year, if funding resources allow, that we will initiate such a programme."
A local representative has called on Longford County Council 'to undertake urgent works to remove significant rock' at the new cemetery in Granard, which is under the ownership of the council.



Local Fine Gael Cllr Padraig McNamara, who submitted a motion at a meeting of Granard Municipal District, said 'concerns had been raised regarding the presence of significant rock in the ground, which is impacting the preparation of plots and the overall maintenance of the cemetery.

Read more: Michael Healy-Rae launches Longford's Glennon Brothers National Tree Day



"This is something that I brought up before and I know there is a cost involved to facilitate this and get it done.



"It's something that needs to be addressed urgently because it's going to cause major problems for people who have graves out there going forward.



"That is because when they bring in diggers to dig out the graves and what has happened already is that headstones have been damaged by the diggers which is incurring costs not only for the men doing the digger work, they are quite clearly saying they won't come back because of that and you can't blame them because it is costing them more money than they are possibly getting paid.



"I think it's something we need to address urgently moving forward and I'd be very anxious because it's a lovely area but there is no point in having it the way it is without having it done properly."



The motion was seconded by Independent Cllr Turlough McGovern who said it is costing a lot of money and causing difficulties for people.



Director of Services Barbara Heslin said the council is aware of the issues in Granard.



"It has been brought to our attention by the caretaker and also several families who have plots there.



"Unfortunately, Longford County Council does not have the financial resources to address the challenges there and that is just the reality of it."



Ms Heslin said there is no external funding mechanism so any funds that would have to be spent on doing the work would be required from within their own internal budget.

Read more: Longford ICA branch in Ennybegs is looking for more members to join

"It is an issue in Granard but it is not the only cemetery in county Longford that has issues."



However, Ms Heslin stated they could look at plots and assess them on a 'case by case basis'.
In advance of SUDEP Action Day on October 15, Epilepsy Ireland have appealed to people living with epilepsy and their families in Longford to learn more about a devastating aspect of the condition.

SUDEP stands for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy and is confirmed when someone with epilepsy dies and no other cause of death can be found during the post-mortem. Many of those who die are often young and otherwise healthy. While the exact mechanism behind SUDEP is unknown, there are known factors that can increase a persons risk of SUDEP. This includes having frequent seizures, not taking medication as prescribed and alcohol or substance abuse.

Read more: Concern as Longford defibrillator condition in N4 Axis Centre sparks meeting

Speaking on the importance of knowing about SUDEP, Epilepsy Ireland Advocacy & Communications Manager, Paddy McGeoghegan said:

Knowledge is power and unfortunately, SUDEP is something that many people with epilepsy and their families  and even healthcare professionals - do not know enough about. Unfortunately, in speaking with bereaved families, we often hear the devastating story that the first time they heard about SUDEP is when it is listed in their loved ones death certificate.

This must change. We owe it to the families whove lost loved ones and those whove been lost to ensure that SUDEP is no longer a hidden tragedy. Awareness of the risk factors can save lives, as many of them are modifiable.

Throughout October, we will be sharing educational resources, personal testimonies, and expert insights to help the public and healthcare professionals better understand SUDEP and how to reduce risk. I would particularly appeal to the estimated 443 people with epilepsy in Longford and their family members to learn more by visiting our website, www.epilepsy.ie.

The organisation has also reiterated their calls for Government to develop a National Strategy to reduce SUDEP and epilepsy-related deaths in Ireland. Last year, research supported by Epilepsy Ireland confirmed the incidence of SUDEP in Ireland for the first time ever; an incidence of 1:1,400, equating to the loss of 33 people per year. Speaking about the organisations calls for a national strategy, Paddy said:

Until now, most of the initiatives taken around SUDEP have been led by Epilepsy Ireland, often supported by the fundraising efforts of bereaved families. We cannot continue to work in isolation on this issue and depend solely on the fundraising efforts of bereaved families to drive action on reducing SUDEP and epilepsy-related deaths in Ireland.

We now have the data. We know the scale of the issue. What we need is action. Were asking for leadership and a coordinated response involving the various arms of the state to prevent future deaths.

Read more: Longford author's debut memoir about loss to launch in October

We invite anyone affected by SUDEP or any epilepsy-related death to share their experience and help us drive this change and we would also make a direct appeal to local Oireachtas members to help us make this a reality.
Farmers should not have to clear drains around bogs before Bord na Monas (BNM) bog rewetting activities when they should be doing it themselves according to Longford IFA Chair John Sheridan.

The Ballinalee native said recent heavy rain in recent days that fell when Storm Amy swept over the Midlands has compounded the problem and he stated it has 'always been an issue' for them.

"I've raised it with Bord na Mona myself at several meetings.

"The one thing I have asked them to do and they have completely refused is to clean the drains around the bogs first before they do anything else.

"If they want to rewet the bogs they should be maintaining the drains around the bogs, that has always been our case.

"They actually refuse to do it and they are leaving it up to the landowners themselves to do it, which is a total impossibility for landowners."

Also read: Popular Longford bar in Lanesboro set to serve its last orders before closure

Mr Sheridan said the Brown Bog on the north-west side of Longford town, a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is one such area.

"There are at least seven or eight farmers I know of that are affected by it around there and possibly even more.

"And they will be affected by it because of the amount of rain and everything over the weekend, where is the water going to go to?

"There are also a good number of farmers out there in Clondra."

One such Longford farmer, Roy McCormack, who has a small piece of land adjoining the Brown Bog and about 40 acres adjoining it was critical of the situation.

"It's being rewetted now.

"We've had meetings with Bord na Mona and all sorts of promises made and we don't know how this is going to pan out.

"We don't want to interfere or stop you doing any of this work, but we want to be sure that we are not going to be in a worse position when it is finished than when it started.

"We don't know and the fear is Bord na Mona will just do this work and just ignore you."

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Dozens of farmers and property owners from county Longford and county Roscommon attended a meeting in the Mountdillon region last week.

Midlands-North-West MEP Ciaran Mullooly has called for urgent action to protect farmers and property owners from flooding caused by Bord na Monas (BNM) bog rewetting activities, insisting that proper drainage management and oversight must be put in place before any rewetting proceeds.

Firstly, it is important to be clear that there is no EU Regulation that forces Bord na Mona to maintain existing drains.

However, under the EU Nature Restoration Law (NRL), BNM is required to submit a comprehensive rehabilitation package to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) before any rewetting takes place.

"This package must include a Drainage Management Plan for both the bog and the surrounding lands, along with a Hydrology and Risk Assessment under Article 9.4 of the NRL.

Also read: Longford IFA meeting on farm succession draws biggest crowd yet

Mr Mullooly, who visited land owners hit by flooding over the weekend, stressed that these assessments must be made available to all affected farmers and property owners, and that if they are inadequate, they must be amended to properly address the risks of flooding.

A spokesperson for Bord an Mona stated it was adverse weather conditions arising from Storm Amy last week that caused flooding across parts of the midlands, adding there is no evidence of BnMs peatlands restoration activity (conducted in accordance with its dedicated Peatlands Climate Action Scheme) contributing to this flooding.

The spokesperson pointed out that BnMs Peatlands Climate Action Scheme is entirely separate to the EUs Nature Restoration Law. BnM is required to carry out rewetting and peatland rehabilitation under its Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) Licence, which is enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency. The rehabilitation measures proposed under the Peatlands Climate Action Scheme incorporate and enhance those measures required under the IPC licence.

The spokesperson continued, BnM only conducts rehabilitation work on its own landbank, which is carried out in consultation with adjoining landowners and in accordance with all relevant regulations and standards.

BnMs drainage management plans are submitted to, reviewed, and approved by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The spokesperson concluded, To date BnM has rehabilitated over 21,000 hectares of peatlands as part of its PCAS programme, enabling the capture and sequestering of millions of tonnes of carbon while also supporting the restoration of natural habitats for plants and wildlife.

Also read: 'Damages trust': Vandalism of signs opposing huge Longford wind farm development condemned
Garda Recruitment Drive: If you've ever envisioned yourself wearing the famous blue uniform, you have until 3pm tomorrow, Thursday, Oct 9, to take the first step towards making it happen. Don't forget, the age limit for applicants has increased, so anyone between the ages of 18-50 can now apply.

While studying, Garda students will receive a weekly wage of 354 in addition to free accommodation and food while training in Templemore College. Once qualified, they will be on a starting salary of 38,694. To apply, please visit www.publicjobs.ie

The parent: Garda Joanna Klutkowska

Im from Poland and I came to Ireland when I was 19 just to take a break from college, and now 18 years later, Im still here!

When I came here first, I was an au pair in a guards house so I think that seeded the idea, because I was meeting the guards from the other side, as people I was living with. It was always the back of my head.

Read More: The cage fighter: Longford-based trainee Garda, Mark Isbotis

I had a baby when I was really young so I was focusing on my family and then in 2019 I applied but I wasnt successful. Then we had COVID so it was after that, in 2022, when I decided to apply one more time.

I went for it because my 35th birthday was coming up and because the age limit was still in place, it was my last chance to apply. Fortunately, my application was successful and I got in.

I was in shock when I realised I had been accepted. At the start, I wasnt really sure if I should apply, mainly because of my age and other things, but I said I would give it a go and try because I knew I would definitely regret it if I didnt.

It was hard to go back to college after so many years of being away from it.

Especially with having a family, and being such a family person, having to be away from home during the week while training was challenging at first.

The college part was fine, it was being out of the home that I found a bit difficult but my husband and son were very supportive.

Longford is my first station. I was here as a student, same as what Mark is now doing, and then when I qualified, I was stationed in Longford. I began work here last April, the same day as my colleague Garda Keith Dunleavy."



What would you say to someone who is thinking of applying, but is hesitant due to parental responsibilities:

"I had great support from my son and my husband, and that's what made this possible. It was them pushing me out of the house and encouraging me.

If they hadnt supported me, it would have been much harder.

It's definitely doable though. If joining the Gardai has been in your head, or if it has even crossed your mind, then I would definitely say you should apply. Just give it a go. You have nothing to lose.

Read More: Significant development proposed for Longfords St Mel's
Garda Recruitment Drive: If you've ever envisioned yourself wearing the famous blue uniform, you have until 3pm tomorrow, Thursday, Oct 9, to take the first step towards making it happen. Don't forget, the age limit for applicants has increased, so anyone between the ages of 18-50 can now apply.

While studying, Garda students will receive a weekly wage of 354 in addition to free accommodation and food while training in Templemore College. Once qualified, they will be on a starting salary of 38,694. To apply, please visit www.publicjobs.ie

The former ex-pat: Garda Keith Dunleavy

My dad always had the height of respect for the Gardai, and when we were kids, he'd always tell us to wave at them and say hello. Real innocence! I remember we used to watch the British cop shows and in one was a team of Reserve Specials. At the time, dad said if something like that ever came to Ireland, he'd sign up for it.

The second the Garda Reserves was advertised, he went for it and got in! That was 2006 and he's still doing it. I actually met him today; he was on duty at the Sligo Races.

Read more: The cage fighter: Longford-based trainee Garda Mark Isbotis

At 17, I went to Sligo IT where I did pharmaceutical science but the idea of joining the Gardai was still in the back of my mind.

When I filled out the first application to join, I was working in a factory at the time.

One day at work, a colleague started telling me about how much he wanted to go to Australia so I started giving him advice saying, why don't you go? You only live once! and all that.

When I came back after the weekend and asked the lads where he was, they told me he had taken my advice, packed in the job and was leaving for Australia a week later! Thats when it occurred to me that I should probably take my own advice, so I headed for Canada for five years!

Read more: Garda recruitment: the parent - Longford based Garda Joanna Klutkowska

When dad told me in 2022 that the Gardai were hiring again, straight away I applied to join. Thankfully, I passed all the initial steps and got an email telling me to be back in Ireland for a medical. I quit my job on the spot and flew home the next day to be sure I wouldn't miss the assessment.

I passed the medical and then went back to Canada for six months while I waited for the vetting to be completed.

My wife's Canadian so they had to vet the Canadian side which took a while. Once that was done however, I was asked to start in May, which I had to postpone, but I eventually walked into Templemore on July 31 2023. I then began working in Longford in April last year.

When I first started the job, I found it a bit difficult to get used to every day being so different, but now thats honestly what I love most about the job.

What would you say to someone who is thinking of applying, but is hesitant due to factors such as age, lack of confidence, age, etc:

You wont know until you try it. There's 14 thousand people in the job that are well able to do this job, theres no reason why you cant. Having life experience is an advantage.

If Id joined the job back when I filled out the application at 24, I wouldn't have been able for it. I went away. I saw different cultures, saw how things work differently; I took the good and left the bad.

Being that bit older and having life experience does help you in this job. The older you are, the more empathy you have for people, because you have a better sense of how things work in the world.

Read more: New Longford Garda hopes to inspire others
The mother of a Midlands teenager faces a maximum sentence of up to life in prison after pleading guilty at Tullamore Circuit Court to the sexual exploitation of her son.

At a sentencing hearing today (Tuesday, October 7), Judge Sinead McMullan heard the woman had sexual intercourse with the victim, aged 15 at the time, while her husband recorded the act on a mobile phone in a locked bedroom.

The woman, 37, pleaded guilty to defilement of a child under the age of 17, sexual exploitation, and wilful neglect.

Her husband, aged 35, admitted aiding and abetting his wife, knowingly producing child pornography, detaining or restricting his son for sexual exploitation, and wilful neglect.

Neither of the accused can be named in order to protect the identity of the victim who was put in the care of Tusla after he reported the incident.

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Seoirse O Dunlaing, SC, prosecuting, said both defendants had entered initial guilty pleas on April 29 last.

Detective Sergeant Liam Lonergan told the court the couple got married in 2020 and along with the victim, they had a younger daughter together.

Detective Sergeant Lonergan added that when gardai arrived at the family home after receiving a report about the incident the house was in a very poor condition with farm animals and pets being reared inside it.

He said there were two separate incidents in the parents' bedroom on the date of the offences, January 12, 2024.

The court heard matters came to light at about 12.30am on January 13 when the victim left the home through a window in his own bedroom and cycled to the house of a friend he had messaged earlier.

That friend's parents were told what the teenager was reporting and they contacted the gardai immediately.

In interviews with gardai, the victim said that at about 2pm on the date of the offences his father asked him to come up to his parents' bedroom and when he did so his father asked him if he wanted to take part in a sexual act with his mother and locked the door.

His mother was in bed and when his father left the room the teenager had sexual intercourse with the woman.

His father subsequently returned and helped position his wife on top of the boy and another act of sexual intercourse took place.

A second incident at about 10 or 11pm that evening was described as similar but was recorded by the accused man on a mobile phone.

After returning to his own bedroom the victim communicated with his friend by text and in a telephone call and then packed, dressed himself and left through a window.

He cycled to his friend's house a number of miles away and had to jump into a ditch when a car came because he thought it might be his parents.

Detective Sergeant Lonergan said that when the father's phone was seized images were found on it which were a carbon copy of the account given by the victim.

Both parents were arrested and interviewed and when questioned both denied the allegations made by their son, even after they were shown the images.

The woman had 41 previous convictions but most of them were for road traffic offences, including dangerous driving.

She had no convictions for any sexual offences but had issues with drugs, an eating disorder and said she had been the victim of sexual abuse herself when she was a teenager.

The court heard that the father was a drug user with 15 previous convictions, including convictions for robbery, road traffic, criminal damage and assault.

He had previously been treated for cancer and had his prostate and bladder removed.

In a victim impact statement which was read to the court by Mr O Dunlaing, the teenager, who was present in the courtroom, said the past year and a half had been very rough and he had many problems trusting people after the incident.

He had problems with his mental health, barely slept because of nightmares, fell behind in his school work and his relationship with his sister suffered because she did not believe what had happened.

He said he was emotionally shut down for the first eight or nine months and it took a long time to recover.

Letters of apology were written by both of the accused and the mother read hers in court.

In it, she repeatedly told her son she loved him and outlined how sorry she was for what had happened on that horrible day.

She said what she had done was a betrayal of trust and she did not expect to be forgiven. As a mother she was supposed to protect him and she was ashamed.

Breaking down in the witness box, she praised her son for his bravery, assured him he had done nothing wrong and said she would change things if she could.

Eileen O'Leary, SC, for the woman, said the accused had a long history of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation and had attempted to take her own life both before and after committing the offences.

She had reported to the forensic psychologist who prepared a report for the sentencing hearing that she was the victim of prolonged sexual abuse but it seemed she had not made a formal complaint about that.

Ms O'Leary said drugs were involved in the incident and the woman's husband had contacted an individual on the day for cocaine to be provided.

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Dara Foynes, SC, appearing for the father, said his son had been subjected to fairly heinous conduct and he accepted his behaviour was appalling.

Ms Foynes said that in his letter of apology the father accepted he was entirely responsible for what had happened and his son, a minor, had no choice.

The medical background of the man was that following the removal of his prostate and bladder in 2020 functioning of a sexual nature was significantly affected and the surgery was life changing for him.

The man had a troubled background and had been the victim of abuse himself. That resulted in drug taking and while he went off drugs during his cancer treatment he later went back on substances and was on them at the time of the offences.

He had said he would regret what he had done to his son until the day he died and had genuine remorse.

Grandparents were now the primary custodians of the couple's two children, Ms Foynes said.

Judge McMullan said she would finalise sentencing on Friday, October 10 but in the meantime she would place both accused in custody because of how serious a matter it was.

When Ms O'Leary put it to the judge that animals belonging to the accused had to be cared for, Judge McMullan said extended family or relevant parties would have to be notified about those concerns.

Judge McMullan also said the prison authorities would have to be informed about the medical needs of both accused.
Syrian President Ahmed al Sharaa (right) meets with US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack (center, foreground) and Commander of US Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper (right) on October 7. (SANA)

Several rounds of meetings between US and Syrian leaders over the last two days reflect a push for integrating eastern Syria with Damascus and an attempt to reduce tensions between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and government-backed forces in the wake of recent sectarian clashes.

On October 7, SDF leader Mazloum Abdi traveled to Damascus with a delegation to meet with the Syrian transitional government, according to reports in Syrian and Kurdish media outlets. The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) noted that a meeting between Sharaa, US Special Envoy Tom Barrack, and Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command (CENTCOM), also took place on October 7. Cooper and Barrack had visited eastern Syria on October 6 to meet with Abdi, and all three men then traveled to Damascus the following day.

The meetings in Damascus happened just after clashes took place in two Kurdish neighborhoods of Aleppo on October 6, where local Kurdish fighters battled government-allied security forces. The battles erupted after weeks of tensions between the SDF, which is led primarily by Kurdish fighters backed by the US to fight the Islamic State, and personnel aligned with Damascus.

President Ahmad al-Sharaa discussed with US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack and Commander of US Central Command Admiral Brad Cooper the latest developments in Syria and the mechanisms for implementing the March 10 Agreement, SANA reported about the meeting on October 7. The agreement that was reached on March 10 between Abdi and Sharaa called for the SDF to be integrated into the new governments security forces. It was supposed to pave the way for other institutions in eastern Syria, which is governed by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), to become part of the new central government.

According to SANA, the meetings in Damascus were also attended by Syrias Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, Minister of Defense Murhaf Abu Qasra, and Head of the General Intelligence Directorate Hussein al-Salama. A statement by the Syrian transitional government noted that the meeting focused on the latest developments in Syria, ways to support the political process, and efforts to enhance security and stability.

Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said that he met with Abdi on October 7 and announced a ceasefire between his forces and those of the SDF. We agreed on a comprehensive ceasefire across all fronts and military positions in northern and northeastern Syria. The implementation of this agreement will begin immediately, Qasra stated.

One member of the Syrian transitional governments forces was reported killed and several others injured in the overnight clashes in Aleppo on Monday. Syrian state media blamed the SDF for the incident, while the SDF blamed factions linked to the transitional government, and officials in eastern Syria condemned the attack on the citys Kurdish neighborhoods. On October 7, Aleppo Governor Azzam al Gharib announced a ceasefire in the city.

The battles began just after Sharaa had returned from attending the UN General Assembly in New York City in September. Tensions had grown in Aleppo and other areas along the lines of contact between the SDF and transitional government forces. In Aleppo, the two Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh had previously been held by fighters linked to the SDF. However, those forces left in April after the March meeting between Abdi and Sharaa. Subsequently, the two Aleppo neighborhoods and the city of Afrin became Kurdish areas under the official control of the new Damascus government.

Clashes and killings of minorities in Alawite areas in Lattakia in March and the Druze stronghold of Suwayda in July have led to concerns about what may happen to the Kurds if eastern Syria is integrated under Damascuss control. When Syria held elections for a new parliament on October 5, voting in eastern Syria and Suwayda was postponed because these areas are not controlled by the central government.

The latest meetings between SDF, US, and Syrian government officials in Damascus are widely seen as significant in Syria. This meeting marks one of the rare high-level interactions involving the Syrian Presidency, US representatives, and SDF leadership, underlining the importance of dialogue in addressing Syrias complex political and security situation, North Press, which is based in eastern Syria, stated.

On Monday, Abdi commented on social media about the separate meetings he held with US officials on October 6. It was an honor to receive US Special Envoy Ambassador Thomas Barrack and US Central Command leader Admiral Brad Cooper, he noted. President Donald Trump and Ambassador Barrack have played a sincere and effective role towards the Syrian people in their pursuit of resolving the crisis and achieving a better future for Syria and all Syrians.

The meeting between US and SDF officials addressed integrating eastern Syria, as well as ensuring the continuation of counter-ISIS efforts in the region, North Press reported. A number of key officials from eastern Syria attended the meetings with the Americans.

I visited northeast Syria today with CENTCOM Commander Admiral Cooper for substantive conversations with Mazloum Abdi, US Envoy Barrack wrote on October 6, adding that he hoped the talks would enable unity in Syria and a renewed effort for cooperative peace and prosperity. He also noted on October 7 that his meetings in Damascus continued to push for peace and prosperity.

Reporting from Israel, Seth J. Frantzman is an adjunct fellow at FDD and a contributor to FDDs Long War Journal. He is the senior Middle East correspondent and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, and author of The October 7 War: Israel's Battle for Security in Gaza (2024).
Noor Wali Mehsud, the emir of the TTP.

The Movement of the Taliban (TTP) in Pakistan killed 11 Pakistani soldiers, including two officers, in an ambush in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa last night. Pakistani officials blamed the attack on the Indian Proxy, Fitna al Khwarij. However, the accusation is an attempt to redirect the responsibility for violence toward India and mask Pakistans role in the formation of and support for the Afghan Taliban and its spinoff, TTP.

The Pakistani troops were conducting an an intelligence based operation in the district of Arakzai, a traditional Taliban stronghold, when they battled the jihadist force, according to the Pakistani militarys Inter-Services Public Relations division. The commander of the Pakistani unit, a lieutenant colonel, his deputy, a major, and nine soldiers, as well as nineteen Indian sponsored khwarij [heretical Muslims] were killed during the intense fire exchange, the ISPR stated.

Arakzai is the base of operations for Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a dangerous branch of the TTP that has close ties to Al Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban. The group was led by Omar Khalid Khorasani until he was killed in a roadside bombing in eastern Afghanistan in August 2022. Khorasani, who is thought to have given sanctuary to former Al Qaeda emir Ayman al Zawahiri, had called for a global jihad and attacks on the US and openly celebrated the terrorist attack on the US on September 11, 2001.

The TTP has stepped up attacks in Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, since a ceasefire with the Pakistani government was cast aside in November 2022. That agreement was brokered by the Afghan Taliban, which shelters and supports the TTP. And now our revenge attacks will continue in the whole country, the TTP said when it ended its ceasefire with the Pakistani government.

Pakistan complicit in the formation and continuing support of the TTP

The Pakistani government and military began referring to the TTP as the Fitna al Khwarij and described it as an Indian proxy starting in 2024, as TTP attacks in Pakistan escalated. Pakistan is quick to blame India for its jihadist woes and has attempted to brand the TTP as an Indian creation.

However, Pakistan is directly responsible for the rise of the TTP. Pakistan has supported the Afghan Taliban since its inception in 1994 and used the group to bolster its strategic depthboth geographically in Afghanistan and as a fighting forceagainst its primary enemy, India.

Pakistan continued to support the Afghan Taliban, even in the wake of the group sheltering and supporting Al Qaeda after the latter attacked the US on September 11, 2001, and the US subsequently invaded Afghanistan. Pakistan purported to be the ally of the US even as the Pakistani state secretly provided the Afghan Taliban a safe haven and material support.

Pakistani jihadists in what used to be known as the tribal areas that bordered Afghanistan were inspired by the Afghan Taliban and its jihad to reestablish the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and they formed the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan in late 2006. The TTP, which seeks to establish its own Islamic emirate in Pakistan, was created with the support and approval of the Afghan Taliban, Al Qaeda, and a host of Pakistani terror groups that are supported by the Pakistani state, such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Harakat ul Mujahidin.

The TTP immediately launched a deadly insurgency in northwestern Pakistan, as well as terror attacks throughout Pakistans major cities. The TTP came as close as 60 miles to the capital of Islamabad when it seized control of Buner in 2009. Upwards of 100,000 Pakistani soldiers, policemen, and civilians were killed in TTP attacks and subsequent Pakistani military operations that devastated much of the northwest. It took the Pakistani military more than a decade to drive the TTP underground.

After Pakistani military operations defeated the TTPs control of large areas of the countrys northwest, the TTP largely regrouped in neighboring Afghanistan. In late 2024, the United Nations Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team noted that the TTP continues to operate at significant scale in Afghanistan and to conduct terrorist operations into Pakistan from there with the support of the Afghan Taliban, and the bonds [between the two groups] are close.

The Pakistani military and government were acutely aware that the Afghan Taliban and Pakistani state-sponsored terror groups directly supported the TTP. The emir of the TTP has even claimed that his group is a branch of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Yet the Pakistani government continued to support the Afghan Taliban in its quest to reestablish the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which it succeeded at doing in August 2021 when US forces withdrew from Afghanistan.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.
Leading British travel expert and correspondent for The Independent, Simon Calder, told the Bulletin in Mallorca today, Wednesday, that the introduction of the new European entry and exit system this Sunday is not part of what people expected after Brexit. From a travel perspective, we were told things were going to get better not worse and in the short term, it may turn people away to other destinations like Cyprus or Turkey until we get used to the new ID system, he said.

This Sunday, October 12, marks the introduction of the new European Union EES entry/exit scheme and it could prove to be a very nasty trap for British and other third-party (non-EU) second home owners in Mallorca and across the Schengen Area in general. The new EES biometic system will automatically track when non-EU passport holders enter and leave the Schengen zone. From April it will replace the stamping of passports.

And, Brussels has told members states that once strict new entry procedures come into force they should rigidly enforce an existing 90/180-day rule and issue fines and bans to those who breach it.

Under the post-Brexit agreement, UK citizens without the right to work or reside in the EU or a member-state passport can only spend 90 days in a rolling 180-day period in the bloc.

Officials are said to have been turning a blind eye but are aware that some second-home owners are flouting the rules by overstaying - that is now going to stop. EES operations will start gradually. In the first few months, not all border points will collect data right away. Countries will slowly introduce biometric registration at airports, land borders, and seaports.

For example, Spain will begin testing on October 12 with passengers arriving at MadridBarajasAdolfo Suarez Airport, adding land and sea borders later in the rollout. Other member states, such as Germany, will start at select locations like Dusseldorf Airport before expanding to more sites. By April 2026, all external border points in participating countries are expected to be fully operational.

For travellers from countries like the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, and other non-EU nations, the EES adds a new layer of digital border control. Starting October 12, travellers entering the Schengen Area for the first time will register their biometric data - a facial image and fingerprints - at automated kiosks or border control booths. The system will create a digital record linked to their passport.

On future trips, facial recognition will confirm their identity, making the process faster. The EES will store each travellers data for three years, renewing the retention period with every border crossing. During the first six months, manual passport stamping will continue alongside EES registration. At first, only a small number of travellers will go through the full digital process while border authorities test and expand the system.

At Spanish border control, you may also be asked to show various documents, although this will depend on the airport, region and officer. Documents could include:

a return or onward ticket

proof of your travel insurance

evidence of sufficient funds for your stay

a hotel booking confirmation or proof of address if youre staying at your own property

an invitation or proof of address if staying with friends or family

The introduction of the EES and ETIAS systems will impact various aspects of travel for British tourists:

1. Increased Wait Times and Administrative Hurdles

With biometric data collection, travellers should expect longer queues at airports and border crossings. This added layer of security could mean additional time spent on entering the EU. While the process is designed to be streamlined in the long run, travelers should factor in extra time to avoid missing flights or connections.

2. New Travel Planning Considerations

The need for prior ETIAS approval before departure will require more advanced planning. Tourists will no longer be able to make last-minute trips to the EU without first securing travel authorisation. Additionally, travelers must be prepared for the possibility of refusal if their background checks flag any issues. This new system adds a layer of uncertainty, especially for spontaneous travellers.

3. Impact on Short-Stay Tourism

UK tourists who regularly travel to Europe for short stays will be especially affected by these changes. The need to apply for an ETIAS before each trip, along with the additional biometric data checks, could deter some travellers. For those visiting multiple countries within the Schengen Area, the process may feel cumbersome.

4. Data Privacy Concerns

The biometric data collection required for both EES and ETIAS systems raises questions around privacy and data security. While the EU insists the data will be used solely for border control purposes, the increased collection of personal information could raise concerns for some travellers about how their data is stored and accessed.
News / Africa

by Staff reporter

Former Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) CEO Lucky Montana has taken the extraordinary step of laying criminal charges against the South African Revenue Service (SARS) commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, accusing him and other SARS officials of fraudulently doctoring a fake court judgment to justify a hefty tax bill.Montana, who is also a member of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) in Parliament, formally opened the case at the Brooklyn Police Station in Pretoria on Monday. He alleges that SARS fabricated a court order to justify a tax debt he disputes.Speaking to IOL outside the police station, Montana outlined the origins of the dispute and the reasons for pursuing legal action against SARS."I'm here to open a case of fraud against the commissioner of SARS, Mr Edward Kieswetter, as well as some of the officials in SARS," Montana said."For the past five years, I have been repeatedly engaged with SARS regarding my tax affairs and have been in and out of court dealing with this. Recently, I discovered that SARS claims I owe them over R55 million, including interest and penalties, up from an initial R44 million."Montana claims the escalation stems from a "judgment" dated 11 August 2022, which SARS has used to justify striking his and his family's assets, but which he insists does not exist."When I went to apply for rescission, I discovered there was no actual court judgment on record," Montana explained."There was never a court or a judge's decision authorising this huge amount. SARS stated as if a judgment existed. In doing so, they committed the biggest fraud of all time."He added, "We requested documentation of this so-called judgment, but could not obtain any. The case numbers referenced are inconsistent and don't match any court records."It is a severe matter when a state organ, meant to protect the public, is itself involved in criminality, violating the Criminal Procedure Act and other laws."Montana also accused SARS of maladministration, abuse of power, and conducting a politically motivated "witch-hunt" against him.Montana currently faces a tax bill exceeding R55 million, and SARS has initiated sequestration proceedings against him.The tax authority simultaneously applied to the Gauteng High Court in July to strike out several allegations Montana has made against it."I am prepared to take further legal action," Montana stated."This matter will expose these abuses and ensure accountability. We will see if SARS can explain which judge signed the judgment and on what date and clarify the conflicting case numbers. Until then, I hold them responsible for this fraudulent activity."SARS spokesperson Sandile Memela responded to requests for comment, saying that a representative would respond but had not done so by the time of publication.
The Smoke Shop BBQ has closed its East Boston restaurant, with the owner of the award-winning chain saying he plans to focus on other more profitable locations.

The Smoke Shop BBQ East Boston, which opened in July 2023, closed this past Sunday, Oct. 5, owner Andy Husbands told MassLive in a statement Wednesday. The restaurant was located along the East Boston waterfront at 45 Lewis St.

We truly loved being in Eastie  the neighborhood, the people, and of course that incredible view. Were grateful for the many regulars who supported us and for our team members who worked so hard to bring amazing BBQ and hospitality to the community," he wrote. Well miss East Boston and our neighbors there, but were proud of the time we spent in the community and thankful for the support of our guests and the dedication of our team.

While he did not provide a specific reason for the closure, Husbands said, "While the summers were fantastic, we found the winters to be more challenging."

That said, Husbands said he plans on putting more energy toward the brands recently opened locations in Methuen, Woburn and Chelmsford, all of which are doing incredibly well.

Were focusing our energy on these restaurants, where were seeing strong momentum, and were excited about the future of the brand, the business owner added.

With the East Boston closure, The Smoke Shop BBQ is down to six locations across Eastern Massachusetts. They are Assembly Row in Somerville, Harvard Square in Cambridge, Seaport in Boston, Methuen, Chelmsford and Woburn.

The Smoke Shop BBQ is a barbecue chain that specializes in a unique style honoring Husbands more than 20 years of barbecue competition, the companys website reads. The Smoke Shop is also known for its extensive whiskey program.

The local chain has received dozens of awards including being named Best Barbecue Restaurant by Boston Magazine in 2018.
One person is facing charges of assault and battery on a police officer and destruction of property following a pro-Palestine protest in Boston Common on Tuesday that injured four police officers.

Overall, 13 people were arrested Tuesday night, including eight men and five women ages 19 to 28. They were all charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.

Roder Atwood, 21, of Somerville, is the only one currently facing the additional charges.

Around 6:50 p.m., demonstrators protesting the war in Gaza began to move from the Boston Common to the intersection of Tremont and Winter Streets, Boston police spokesperson John Boyle said in an email.

At that time, protesters turned on police, kicking a marked cruiser, assaulting officers, blocking traffic and setting off devices causing red smoke in the air, Boyle wrote.

Two of the officers who were injured were taken to local hospitals, and initial reports indicate that multiple officers were left with broken bones, but all of their injuries are considered non-life-threatening, the spokesperson said. A police report notes that one police officer had a broken nose and another was hit in the face with pepper spray.

Atwood is accused of punching an officer in the face, breaking his nose and his glasses, according to the police report. An ER doctor told the officer he will likely need plastic reconstructive surgery to repair his nose.

As of 9:40 p.m. Tuesday, Boyle had not received any reports of injured protesters.

Video shows the chaos of a pro-Palestine protest in downtown Boston Tuesday after Boston Police claim protesters turned on police.

In the video, police officers could be seen pushing people away from police vehicles as others were arrested. At another point, multiple officers could be seen working together to arrest a person as they were on the ground.

Get off of them, one woman shouts as she video records the incident.

The video was taken and shared Tuesday night by The Berkeley Beacon, the student newspaper of Emerson College.

Following the womans screams, other videos shared on TikTok shows the crowd beginning to chant, Get off of him.

The Boston Police Patrolmens Association called out the incident.

Yet another example of so-called peaceful protesters who think its okay to attack police officers. Again, we say a strong message must be sent and those responsible for the violence must be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, the association wrote on Facebook. The fact that any protester thinks its okay to create chaos in our city by attacking our police officers and blocking intersections is entirely unlawful, unacceptable, dangerous, and immensely disrespectful to the people of Boston.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu also called to have those involved in the attacks prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

We are extremely grateful for the work of the Boston Police in keeping the city safe and in supporting the right to peacefully protest. Boston will not tolerate violence, and we categorically condemn those who came into our community to attack our police officers. The individuals who engaged in these attacks must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, Wu said in a statement, according to WCVB.
Giana Chelimsky, left, and Tom Hebert, right, dance to live music during last year's Mighty Oktoberfest in Springfield. (Sophie Markham) Sophie Markham

SPRINGFIELD  It only seems natural that a Springfield institution like The Student Prince, known for their German cuisine, would want to bring a longtime tradition like Oktoberfest to their home on Fort Street.

Dating back to 1810, Oktoberfest is celebrated each year in Munich, Germany, and today in America, Oktoberfest celebrations feature many of the foods brought to America by German immigrants alongside the star of the show  beer.

On Friday, Oct. 10, the Bean Restaurant Group will continue that tradition by hosting the 11th Mighty Oktoberfest. The fall celebration, first started by the late Rudi Scherff, longtime owner of The Student Prince & Fort Restaurant, features a traditional beer tapping, live music, German brews, brats, pretzels, and more.

I would describe our Mighty Oktoberfest as a very jovial event with a lot of energy. It is a fun experience with plenty of smiles to be seen throughout the crowd, who every year turns out for a fun and safe activity celebrating Oktoberfest, said Nathan Yee, hospitality director for the Bean Restaurant Group, in an interview with The Republican.

Mighty Oktoberfest is also about community. This year we are celebrating the 90-year history of The Student Prince, a true icon in Springfield which predates the Yees involvement in the restaurant. Many generations of families and friends have gathered here over the years to celebrate special occasions, and Mighty Oktoberfest is an opportunity for us to celebrate our milestone anniversary with the community, he added.

Brian Elliot, an accordion player with the group Berkshire Mountain Wanderers, plays the Mighty Oktoberfest in Springfield. (Sophie Markham) Sophie Markham

While Yee has never attended Oktoberfest in Germany, he did say that he has participated in the next best thing.

While studying abroad I was able to attend Springfest in Munich, which is much smaller than Oktoberfest, but captures the same exciting atmosphere. It was definitely one of the top weekends of my life  other than marrying my wife and the birth of our daughter, he said.

The two-day event kicks off on Friday night at 5 p.m. with the ceremonial keg tapping featuring Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.

The tapping of the keg mimics Germanys Oktoberfest, where Munichs mayor taps the first barrel of new beer along with shouting Ozapft is! which translates to: It is tapped.

It is strictly ceremonial. Our keg is small and there will not be any beer served from it, Yee said.

But there will certainly be plenty of beer on tap at the fest to enjoy.

Linda and Adam Wichowski enjoy a past Oktoberfest on Fort Street in downtown Springfield. (Photo by Erik Kaplan)

The Student Prince will have their own Oktoberfest bar located near the stage, serving up authentic German beers. The street also will be lined with local breweries including Amherst Brewing Company and Shipyard, and three German beer vendors  Ayinger, Radeberger, and Weihenstephaner.

Yee noted there will be a special focus on sausages from the grill outdoors.

We will be serving up brats, spicy gator, spicy chicken, and wild boar sausages or you can go indoors and enjoy a meal from a special menu of our popular German favorites, he said.

Two days of bands and DJ sets will cross genres and deliver both traditional German tunes and crowd-favorite hits. Friday night kicks off with Berkshire Mountain Wanderers, The 413s, and 7 Roads, while Saturday features The Brat Pack, DJ Adapt, and The Eagles Experience.

Saturdays festivities will begin earlier this year at 2 p.m.

Many people are off from work on Saturday, and our early opening will give them more time to come down, meet with friends and enjoy all we have to offer at our special celebration, Yee said.

Tickets, priced at $20, are available in advance at beanrg.com or at the entrance gate.
The large library wholesaler and content supplier Baker & Taylor announced it will be shutting down operations by the end of this year.

The closure is because of a failed acquisition by ReaderLink, Baker & Taylors owner and CEO Aman Kochar said, according to Publishers Weekly.

The deal, which was intended to transfer the library wholesalers assets, much of its staff and financial obligations, was called off at the end of September by both companies, Publishers Weekly wrote.

Despite Baker & Taylors subsequent efforts, it was unsuccessful in seeking a path to continue its business operations, the company said, according to Shelf Awareness.

The consequence of the shutdown is the loss of 318 employees in the Baker & Taylor distribution center in Momence, Illinois, Shaw Local wrote. Already, 253 workers were laid off on Oct. 6. The company is expected to let go of 62 employees on Dec. 22 and a post-wind down group" of three workers will be let go on Jan. 3.

Baker & Taylor has partnered with more than 5,000 libraries and is the leading supplier of library content, software and services to public and academic libraries across the country, according to its website.

Attleboro Public Library Director Amy Rhilinger told The Sun Chronicle the library primarily buys its books from other retailers, but it did buy books from Baker & Taylor when it needed extra copies of high-demand best sellers.

Its another challenge for us, Rhilinger said.

Other local libraries told The Sun Chronicle they didnt use Baker & Taylor, so its closing doesnt pose an immediate problem.

Our only concern is if other retailers cant handle the extra business, Mansfield Public Library Director Catherine Coyne told The Sun Chronicle.

Baker & Taylor was founded in 1828 and began by binding and publishing books before expanding into distribution.

Baker & Taylor did not respond to MassLives request for comment Wednesday.
After a deadly fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River killed 10 people this summer, a MassLive investigation published last month revealed critical loopholes in the fire sprinkler inspection system in Massachusetts.

The reporting highlighted a haphazard honor system, significant staffing shortages in fire departments and a lack of centralized oversight, all of which can compromise public safety.

These are four takeaways from MassLives reporting.

1. Inspections rely on a flawed honor system

At the core of Massachusetts fire safety oversight for sprinkler systems is a model that places the legal responsibility of inspections and maintenance on building owners, who most often hire contractors to do the work.

Fire departments, often lacking the resources for independent verification, largely trust the documentation provided by building owners, which shows the inspections had been completed. This honor system, codified in national fire safety standards beyond Massachusetts, creates an inherent risk where critical safety checks can be missed or neglected.

As seen in the Gabriel House fire, where a mandatory five-year internal sprinkler inspection was overdue, relying on owner compliance can have serious consequences if deficiencies are not detected.

2. Systemic understaffing and a lack of centralization hurt enforcement

The states ability to enforce fire codes is severely hampered by systemic issues.

A recent survey found that nearly every fire department in Massachusetts reports being understaffed, with fire prevention units often being the first to face budget cuts. This shortage makes it virtually impossible for inspectors to conduct thorough investigations at all of the buildings they are responsible for in their respective cities and towns.

Compounding the problem is the absence of a centralized statewide mechanism  such as a database  for tracking fire code violations.

Enforcement of violations is left to individual municipalities, resulting in a scattershot approach where follow-up on noncompliant building owners varies drastically from one jurisdiction to another.

3. The Gabriel House fire highlights system loopholes

The July fire at Gabriel House in Fall River serves as a tragic case study of the systems weaknesses.

Sources with knowledge of the ongoing investigation told MassLive that a sprinkler failed to activate in the room where the fire started. A comprehensive five-year internal inspection of the system was overdue, they also said, and several lawsuits allege the sprinklers contained parts that had been recalled decades ago.

Despite these issues, the building had repeatedly passed annual inspections conducted by the Fall River Fire Department. Fall Rivers fire chief admitted that inspectors rely on licensed contractors and would not necessarily notice a missing five-year inspection tag, for example, underscoring how easily critical deficiencies can be overlooked.

4. Fire safety regulations only advance after tragedies  and often face opposition

One Boston Fire Department official told MassLive that fire safety regulations are often written in blood, meaning significant changes are almost exclusively implemented in response to catastrophic events that result in a large number of deaths, like the historic Cocoanut Grove and Station Nightclub fires.

This reactive approach can be exacerbated by a national anti-regulatory movement, with industries such as homebuilding actively lobbying to weaken fire codes and block new mandates, such as requirements for sprinklers in new single-family homes.

This creates a constant tension  one where municipal budget concerns and industry interests often stall public safety improvements, until a tragedy forces the issue.

To read the full story, click here.

Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from original content created by MassLive.com. It was reviewed and edited by MassLive staff.
Boston police arrested 13 people after pro-Palestine protesters attacked officers during a rally downtown Tuesday evening, leaving four officers injured, according to Boston police.

Around 6:50 p.m., demonstrators protesting the war in Gaza began to move from the Boston Common to the intersection of Tremont and Winter Streets, Boston police spokesperson John Boyle said in an email.

At that time, protesters turned on police, kicking a marked cruiser, assaulting officers, blocking traffic and setting off devices causing red smoke in the air, Boyle wrote.

Two of the officers who were injured were taken to local hospitals, and initial reports indicate that multiple officers were left with broken bones, but all of their injuries are considered non-life-threatening, the spokesperson said. As of 9:40 p.m. Tuesday, Boyle had not received any reports of injured protesters.

Police arrested eight men and five women following the protest, but none had been booked as of 8:50 p.m. Tuesday, Boyle said. Boston police plan to share information regarding criminal charges Wednesday morning.

No further information had been released as of 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.
A Harvard mathematician and two Massachusetts graduates were chosen as 2025 MacArthur Fellows and honored with a genius grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, according to a Wednesday announcement.

MacArthur fellows receive a grant of $800,000 over five years and are nominated by peers and communities  they do not apply or interview for the fellowship.

Lauren K. Williams, the Harvard mathematician, was awarded the grant for making significant contributions to mathematical fields by elucidating unexpected connections between algebraic combinatorics and concepts in other areas of math and physics, according to its website.

I would hope that someone encountering my work for the first time might find something beautiful  perhaps something that would help them fall more deeply in love with mathematics, she said during an interview with the MacArthur Foundation.

Garrett Bradley was named a 2025 MacArthur Fellow. (John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Photo courtesy of Maarten Nauw) John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Photo courtesy of Maarten Nauw

Smith College graduate Garrett Bradley was also named a 2025 MacArthur Fellow for her work as a filmmaker and artist. She blends documentary, narrative and experimental cinema to explore questions of justice, public memory, and cultural visibility, according to the MacArthur Foundation.

To say that I am honored and deeply moved is true, but doesnt begin to capture the depth of how it feels, says Bradley. I aim to carry the opportunity as far as it can reach, to share it and give back by continuing to create with the same clarity of purpose, care, and commitment that I believe made this moment possible.

She credits her time at Smith for giving her the essential ingredients for how to make movies.

Cartographer Margaret Wickens Pearce named a 2025 MacArthur Fellow. (John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation) John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Another person who was named as a fellow was cartographer Margaret Wickens Pearce, who obtained her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Clark University in Worcester.

She was named for her work creating maps that foreground Indigenous Peoples understanding of land and place, the organization said. She owns Studio 1:1 in Rockland, Maine, where she is a Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal member.

I feel very moved to be recognized, Pearce said.

I feel a responsibility to use the skills and the dedication I have to make change wherever I can, she said.

Clarks president, David Fithian, celebrated her award in a message to the community.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Pearce for her achievement, commitment to making our world a better place, and representing Clark so well, he said. Her contribution to society is important, impactful, and meaningful.

Others named this year from New England include cultural anthropologist Ieva Jusionyte and artist Jeremy Frey.

Four of the 20 recipients of the genius grant last year were from Massachusetts, ranging from an interdisciplinary scholar and writer to an environmental ecologist.
FILE - Sen. Edward Kennedy, back, stands behind the widow of former Senator Robert F. Kennedy, Mrs. Ethel Kennedy, second left, with her five children, and his wife Joan, right, as they pause at the grave of assassinated President John F. Kennedy in Arlington National Cemetery, Nov. 20, 1970, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Bob Daugherty, File) AP

Joan Bennett Kennedy, the wife of U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., died Wednesday at her home in Boston. She was 89, the Massachusetts Democratic Party said in a statement.

Bennett Kennedy was married to Edward Kennedy for 24 years. She was the mother to their three children, Kara, Ted Jr., and Patrick Kennedy, the state party said. She and Sen. Kennedy were married in 1958. By 1962, she became the youngest wife to the youngest U.S. senator elected in the nations history.

A classically trained pianist, Bennett Kennedys turn at the keyboard became her trademark while campaigning with the Kennedy family, frequently warming up crowds with musical interludes, the state party said in its statement.

She and Sen. Kennedy divorced in 1982. She moved from Washington, D.C., to Boston, where she pursued a masters degree in music education from Lesley University. She regularly performed with orchestras all over the world, the state party said in its statement.

She was also active with Boston arts organizations, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Council for the Arts and Humanities.

In 1992, she wrote the best-selling book, The Joy of Classical Music, which was intended to make classical music more accessible to all listeners, the state party said.

Bennett Kennedy also made nationwide headlines for her candor about her struggles with alcoholism and depression

July 7, 1976 - Agawam - Staff photo by Frank Usin - Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., center left, and family members arrive at Riverside Amusement Park during a family vacation to Western Mass. His wife Joan Kennedy is wearing sunglasses and dark top at right. Don Dowd, family aid and friend from West Springfield, is at right in striped shirt.

She is survived by two children, Ted Kennedy, Jr., and former U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, D-R.I., 9 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, more than 30 nieces and nephews, and a sister, Candace (Candy) McMurrey, of Houston, TX. Her daughter, Kara, died in 2011.

I will always admire my mother for the way that she faced up to her challenges with grace, courage, humility, and honesty. She taught me how to be more truthful with myself and how careful listening is a more powerful communication skill than public speaking, Ted Kennedy, Jr. said in the state partys statement.

Besides being a loving mother, talented musician, and instrumental partner to my father as he launched his successful political career, Mom was a powerful example to millions of people with mental health conditions. She will be missed not just by the entire Kennedy Family, but by the arts community in the City of Boston and the many people whose lives that she touched, Patrick Kennedy said.

John Williams, the conductor laureate of the Boston Pops, said Bennett Kennedy was an accomplished pianist and possessed an impressive knowledge of the classical music repertoire.

The schedule for calling hours and the date and time of the funeral ceremony will be announced as soon as possible and will also be available on the website of the Carr Funeral Home in Charlestown, the state party said.
Norfolk Superior Court Judge Peter Krupp appeared inclined Wednesday afternoon to allow the special prosecutor appointed in the witness intimidation cases against Aidan Kearney to press forward on searches of two of Karen Reads phones.

Special prosecutor Robert Cosgrove last month filed a motion seeking to set forth a protocol to search two phones Read used to communicate with Kearney as part of an investigation into whether the pair conspired to intimidate witnesses in her criminal cases. An attorney representing Read filed a response opposing not the protocol outlined by Cosgrove, but the very idea that the government could search her phones.

Krupp convened the Wednesday afternoon hearing because the filings spoke completely past each other. The warrant to seize Reads phones was obtained in January 2024  before either of her criminal trials, the second of which concluded with her acquittal in June.

The issue at hand, Cosgrove explained, is that while the phones have been seized, Read never turned over the passwords to allow the devices to be downloaded and searched. Without those codes, it would take significantly longer to examine the devices.

It is Cosgroves view that he already has permission to download the phones based on a warrant signed by Krupp granting permission to seize the devices in the first place.

I think we already have leave to download the information, pursuant to the warrant, he said. What were seeking is leave to do the search, pursuant to the search protocol.

There are two prongs to the process, he said, seizing the physical phone, then getting permission to search it. Downloading the devices should not be a separate and distinct step, he said.

The response filed by attorney Steven Boozang opposing the search altogether cites a 2025 decision by the Appeals Court, which found that 123 days was too long a time for police to possess a persons phone without seeking a warrant. Krupp repeatedly pressed Boozang on whether he could cite a case speaking to the specific issue of whether a separate warrant was needed to download the phones.

Do you have a case that says that when thats the circumstance and the year plus passes, they cant come back to the court to seek authorization to go into the phones when the court has originally authorized the seizure of the phones in the first place? Krupp asked.

While the lawyer couldnt retrieve a specific case, he said the search was unreasonable under the 4th Amendment. Boozang suggested that Cosgrove only sought to go through the phones when he filed a motion asking they be returned.

He noted that a previous special prosecutor, Kenneth Mello, presented evidence to a grand jury on the accusation of conspiracy to commit witness intimidation, only for the grand jury to produce a no-bill.

With this evidence, judge, that they have, they can go back to 10 grand juries, theyre gonna get 10 no bills, he said. In terms of reasonableness and timeliness, Judge ... its been two years.

Boozang also opposed the protocol outlined by Cosgrove in his motion. He asked Krupp for several weeks to respond, which the judge denied. Instead, Krupp ordered the two men to agree to potential parameters for a search, assuming one is authorized.

Attorney Tim Bradl, who represents Kearney, pushed Krupp to hear arguments on a recent motion filed to disqualify Cosgrove from not just the 2023 indictments against Kearney, but also the ongoing investigation the special prosecutor is undertaking.

Its a little cart before the horse, he said. Counsels forging ahead under a conflict. And I dont think counsel for the Commonwealth should be permitted to keep forging ahead on this thing until the conflict issue is resolved.

The conflict, Kearneys lawyers argue, stems from a counterclaim filed by an ex-girlfriend of Kearneys in response to a defamation lawsuit he brought against her in Worcester Superior Court.

In that counterclaim, Lindsey Gaetani, the victim in one of the pending cases against Kearney and a witness in another, claimed Cosgrove improperly released an unredacted report of a sexual assault she had accused Kearney of.

Kearney has never been charged with sexual assault.

Cosgrove has already withdrawn from the case in which Gaetani is the victim, but Kearneys lawyers argue he should withdraw from any case in which she is involved.

Krupp declined to hear the issue and said he would wait until prosecutors responded. But who exactly will respond to the motion is up in the air, Cosgrove said.

Should I respond? Should or can the Norfolk district attorneys office respond? Or should it be the attorney general or someone else? So there are discussions on ... who the appropriate person is to respond to that, he said. I expect it will take a little time to action that out.

Speaking outside the Dedham courthouse, Bradl described Cosgroves investigation as the ultimate sour grapes.

They get their butts whipped at the murder trial, and now they want to scrape through Ms. Reads phones two years later to try to find something to get her on for retribution? The things ridiculous, he told reporters.

Boozang called the effort to go through Reads phones an absurd fishing expedition.

She conspired with nobody, he said.

He laid the blame for the new effort entirely at the feet of Cosgrove, who is acting independently of the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office. Had the district attorney been handling the case, Boozang said, there would be no effort to get evidence before a second grand jury.

Bradl suggested that Krupp should have stayed the proceedings until he ruled on the motion to disqualify Cosgrove. Boozang wouldnt say if he intended to join the motion, only that his focus was on getting Reads phones back.

Krupp noted during the hearing that if the phones are downloaded, they could be returned the next day, but Boozang said Read opposed the very idea of the phones being searched.

Shes not going to give a penny to these people. Shes going to fight them to the end. Shes annoyed. Shes not upset, but shes an incredibly strong woman, but shes not going to let them try to walk all over her, he said. " If it was your phone, you wouldnt want it to go into it. They dont have a right to it. Its too intrusive, and its just simply not right."

They have nothing, he continued.
Last week was a weird one for the Massachusetts climate technology sector.

It began with U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright visiting Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Commonwealth Fusion, a Devens startup that is developing a system to produce power from nuclear fusion reactions. (The latter visit led to a rare photo of Gov. Maura Healey with a Trump cabinet member.)

It ended with the last gasp of a Marlborough-based battery company, Ambri. The company had raised money from Bill Gates, among other investors, and now has a bankruptcy auction scheduled.

And in between, on Thursday, the Department of Energy announced that it was canceling $466 million worth of grants to projects in Massachusetts because they did not adequately advance the nations energy needs ... and would not provide a positive return on investment of taxpayer dollars, according to a statement from the agency.

To explain what it means for the states climate tech ecosystem, I spoke with Emily Reichert, chief executive of the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. The MassCEC is a state economic development agency responsible for investing $1 billion of taxpayer money over the coming decade.

This interview has been lightly edited for brevity.

Scott Kirsner: It was such a weird week last week that I wanted you to interpret it a little bit. I heard, after the fact, that Chris Wright, the Secretary of Energy, was at Commonwealth Fusion on Monday. I dont know if you were at that event. I know [the] press wasnt invited. But it was interesting that the Secretary of Energy was in Massachusetts, touting one of our best-funded companies.

Emily Reichert: I guess that goes to show that certain areas of the climate tech portfolio  here in Massachusetts are continuing to do quite well.  I was not part of that visit. They kept the group very small, given the folks that were involved there and security and whatnot. But  nuclear energy is very much part of the current administrations plan for our energy future.

Kirsner: Wright was also at MIT  he did a fireside chat with [Obama administration Secretary of Energy] Ernie Moniz.

Reichert: Yeah, I was not a part of that either 

Kirsner: It was Monday that those events happened, and then on Thursday, [there] was the announcement of rescinding all of these Department of Energy grants. I saw the governors press release saying, We are not happy about this. But Im guessing that took you guys by surprise. Im also curious if theres anything to do about it right now.

Reichert: I think we had $466 million in project cancellations as of that particular day, and it affected a variety of different companies in Massachusetts, ranging from pretty young startups to growth stage startups, to existing companies, to utilities, universities. [The projects included] energy efficiency, [helping] us modernize our grid, looking at new energy sources like hydrogen, and also looking at projects that could reduce emissions into the atmosphere. So its a pretty broad portfolio.

Kirsner: Do you think this is a done deal, or do you think theres any way this gets rolled back or litigated back into existence  maybe after the [government] shutdown is done?

Reichert: I cant predict the decision-making or processes with the federal government, but if what weve seen to date is an indication, then I believe these grants are probably going to be terminated. At that point, individual organizations can decide if they want to pursue any legal means. So thats what we know today.

Kirsner: [The battery startup] Ambri declared bankruptcy and  theyre going to have an auction in November. It feels like a lot of these very well-funded climate tech companies are really under a lot of pressure right now. Im guessing a lot of them are reaching out to you.

Reichert: I would say the outreach has been two-way.  We have been absolutely in communication and trying to understand, is there anything the state can do to help in the near-term or long-term?  I wouldnt say weve been asked for one particular thing, but I think right now what its important to do is show support  say the state is not backing down from supporting climate tech. We know we are an engine of innovation here in Massachusetts, and especially for the energy and clean energy sectors.

Were going to continue to be moving forward with programs that we already have in the hopper and that have been rolled out, whether thats our testing and demonstration assets program, which is trying to lower costs for companies who need to do testing and evaluation  We are also working with companies on a program called CriticalMass, which is funding demonstration projects of around a million dollars a piece, and connecting them with partners like utilities and municipalities 

We cant necessarily fill in the gap from a funding perspective, but we can try, as a state, to be as efficient as possible with the resources that we can access, and make [it] as easy as possible for startups and large companies alike to meet the milestones and move forward.

Kirsner: What have you been seeing [with funding from private investors] in 2025? There was a headline just within the last couple weeks about Flatiron Energy getting half a billion dollars [of project financing to build] a grid-scale battery array in Uxbridge. But my sense is that theres not, overall, a rising tide in energy and climate-related [funding] this year.

Reichert: The way Id characterize it is that we just went through an incredible boom time in climate tech and clean energy funding. ... So even before we went into this period of losing support at a federal level for the industry, there [was] starting to be a cool down, which makes sense, after youve had such a kind of a big  almost bubble happening in the market.

What weve seen this year, since the change in federal policy, is that the funding [for early-stage startups] is slowing down. Its not to say that there arent deals being made, but those deals are coming together more slowly.

Kirsner: What was that turning point? Or, what was the end of the boom times?

Reichert: I would say early this year, we were still seeing climate tech investing at a pretty high level, relative to other areas. I feel like it is a 2025 phenomenon 

[But] Id say that this is not the first time that the clean energy industry and climate tech industry  has experienced a bump in the road, and this is a pretty significant bump, if not roadblock, in the road. But clean energy has always bounced back and bounced back stronger. So while this is a very challenging time, and certainly its terrible to see this funding taken away from researchers and entrepreneurs, I am hopeful that, looking at the global picture, we see continued growth overall, and eventually continued growth here in Massachusetts.
Gov. Maura Healey delivers her State of the Commonwealth speech from the House rostrum on Jan. 16. (SAM DORAN / STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE) State House News Service

Gov. Maura Healey pledged to support law enforcement cracking down on so-called street takeovers, calling the events completely destructive, dangerous and against the law.

At least four communities in Massachusetts faced chaotic scenes as groups clogged up streets. In Boston, a police cruiser was set on fire after members of the group launched fireworks at it.

In Middleborough, a Dodge Charger drove at a police officer. In Fall River, a private ambulance was forced to take an alternate route, attempting to get to a hospital. In Randolph, more than 100 people  most in masks, police said  attacked marked police cars with fireworks.

I am disgusted by this behavior and will be taking action to support law enforcement and hold accountable anyone who attacks our police and communities to the fullest extent of the law, Healey said in a statement provided by her office.

The Democratic governor is set to offer further remarks during a news conference at the State House on Wednesday morning.

Read more: Crowds attacked police in violent assaults across Mass.: What to know

Randolph Police Chief Anthony T. Marag said the incidents, as well as similar ones in Dedham, Norwood and Westwood, appeared to be connected.

Police are trying to backtrack and put the pieces together to see if its the same crew thats been going around.

Were seeing that its escalating, and what happened the other night was absolutely unacceptable, Marag said at a Randolph Town Council meeting held Monday night.

In June, another car meetup near a BJs in Dedham turned deadly when two 20-year-old men were shot  one of them fatally.

As of September, two men face charges of murder, armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a firearm and carrying a firearm without a license in connection with the double shooting, the district attorneys office said.

While no arrests have been made in connection with the incidents on Sunday in Randolph or Marlborough, Randolph police are looking to identify suspects through cruiser camera and surveillance camera footage.

We are going to be charging, we are going to be arresting. The courts will give warrants related to this. Its a bigger issue, I think, than people think, Marag said on Monday.

But its not unique to Randolph ... its been ongoing everywhere, especially across the country  its a trend thats come this way now, but it needs to be addressed," he said.

These street takeovers, also known as car meetups and car shows, are not new and have been a nationwide problem since 2020. Theyre coordinated through social media and involve dozens or hundreds of cars meeting up in one location to do doughnuts, race and drive recklessly.

Seven people were arrested across the state in connection with Sundays takeovers. This included Julian Bowers, 18, and William Cantwell, both from Rhode Island, and suspected participants in the Boston incident.

The other five were arrested in connection with the Fall River incident. This includes: Jahir Gonzalez, 22, of New Bedford, Alexander Copsetta, 21, of North Easton, Alyssa Deyoung, 19, of Bridgewater, Mackenzie Benjamin, 19, of Kingston, and Aiden Meehen, 20, of Oxford.

Street takeovers were recently brought up by police chiefs as a concern during a series of roundtable meetings the governor had with local crime prosecution leaders, which Marag attended.

Though prosecutors requested a $20,000 bail and a $15,000 bail for the two men charged in connection with the Boston incident, bail was set at $1,000 and $500, respectively. Those arrested in connection with the Fall River incident were released on personal recognizance.

MassLive Politics Editor John L. Micek contributed to this story.
Gov. Maura Healey announced $5.5 million in federal funding to support public safety in Massachusetts on Wednesday, on the heels of a public vow of zero tolerance for violent street takeovers and telling the Trump administration to keep National Guard troops out of Boston.

The $5.5 million in funding was announced in a press release on Wednesday afternoon, following a press conference on Wednesday morning regarding the four street takeovers from the past weekend.

These included a Boston police cruiser set on fire, fireworks shot at a police cruiser in Randolph, a Dodge Charger driven at an officer in Middleborough and an ambulance blocked from getting through in Fall River.

The funds will go to 171 local police departments and 28 state agencies with resources to address community safety needs, modernize equipment, and expand innovative prevention strategies, the administration said.

This includes officer training and community-based violence prevention programs, along with tech upgrades like body-worn cameras, automated license plate readers and forensic lab improvements.

The funding will be awarded through the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program and administered by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Securitys Office of Grants and Research (OGR).

Grant sizes for individual police departments range from $6,000 to $35,000, and individual state public safety agencies will receive up to $60,000. A full list of each award can be found here.

During a recent series of public safety roundtables across the state, I heard directly from law enforcement, prosecutors, and community partners about what is working on the ground, Healey said.

The concern over street takeovers was one of several topics brought up at one of these recent sessions, the Randolph Police Chief said at a Town Council meeting on Monday night.

Massachusetts continues to see a decline in violent crime, with serious offenses dropping nearly 10 percent over the past two years. These grants will help keep that momentum going, Healey said.

This years awards reflect a wide range of priorities, Interim Public Safety and Security Secretary Susan W. Terrey said in the administrations statement.

State and local departments are directing funds toward initiatives such as expanding mental health co-response teams, updating technology to improve transparency and accountability, and advancing other critical public safety strategies, Terrey continued.

Speaking to reporters earlier in the day on Wednesday, Healey offered a sharp condemnation of the street takeovers and said shed asked the Massachusetts State Police to step up its existing enforcement and intelligence-gathering efforts to track and stop such gatherings.

Whether youre in Massachusetts or youre thinking about coming to Massachusetts, you are not welcome to engage in that conduct at any time, in any place, anywhere in this state, she said.

Healey also asked state residents who become aware of such events to tell local law enforcement about it, repeating the by-now familiar If you see something, say something.

I just think about what happened [with the ambulance] in Fall River over the weekend, and thats why Im so upset about this and want to make sure were doing everything we can ... to end this trend. Theres zero tolerance for this in the Commonwealth.
A Boston man has pleaded guilty to 13 charges related to a 2023 home invasion in Quincy during which prosecutors say he held four residents at gunpoint and restrained them using zip ties, the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office announced Tuesday.

On Monday, 32-year-old Michael Campbell pleaded guilty in Norfolk County Superior Court to four counts each of armed assault in a dwelling and assault with a dangerous weapon, according to court records. He also entered a guilty plea on one count of armed assault with intent to murder and four firearms charges, and a home invasion charge was dismissed by the prosecution.

On the night of April 16, 2023, Campbell forced his way into a home on Granite Street in Quincy, the district attorneys office said in a press release. He then used zip ties to restrain four of the homes residents in their kitchen.

At one point, Campbell forced one resident to walk through the home at gunpoint, the district attorneys office said. As this was happening, two other residents broke free of the zip ties, leading to a struggle between Campbell and the residents.

During the struggle, Campbell fired his gun twice, but no one was hit by the gunfire, the district attorneys office said. Eventually, the residents disarmed him, and he then fled out the back door of the home.

Quincy police quickly identified Campbell as a suspect in the home invasion, the district attorneys office said. Boston police arrested him later that night after locating him inside a car parked outside of Boston Medical Center.

The home invasion left three of the residents with non-life-threatening injuries, the district attorneys office said. Campbells hand was also injured during the struggle.

Campbell and the residents did not know each other prior to the incident, the district attorneys office said. He was charged in connection with the home invasion within days and indicted by a grand jury in August 2023, according to court records.

This was a traumatic experience, and thankfully the victims were not more seriously injured, Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey said in the release.

Following Campbells guilty plea, a judge sentenced him to seven to 10 years in prison to be followed by three years of probation, the district attorneys office said. He will be barred from having contact with the victims as a condition of his probation.
Scenes from outside the arraignment for a 21-year-old from Somerville, who police say broke an officer's nose. He appeared in court on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, in a Boston courthouse. Irene Rotondo

A pro-Palestinian protester accused of breaking a Boston police officers nose during a pro-Palestinian demonstration Tuesday night appeared in court on Wednesday.

Over two dozen people wore masks and keffiyeh scarves  a scarf associated with Palestinian liberation  as they gathered in the gallery of an Edward Brooke courtroom in Boston to view the arraignments of the 13 people arrested.

Roder Atwood, 21, from Somerville, was arraigned and faces charges of assault and battery on a police officer and destruction of property, along with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.

Atwood is the only one who faces the additional assault and battery charges.

According to prosecutors, Atwood is a senior at Tufts University and is studying cognitive science. He also works as a tutor, mentors first-year students and has significant ties to the community.

Atwood was the protester who struck a police officer who was on a bike in the face, which broke the officers nose, according to prosecutors. The officer will need reconstructive surgery as a result of their injuries, prosecutors said.

Officials requested a $10,000 bail for Atwood and to stay away from the Boston Common, which was granted by the judge. Noises of dissent could be heard from the gallery when the judge set the bail.

A university spokesperson confirmed Atwood is a student at Tufts.

The allegations are serious and concerning, Patrick Collins, a university spokesperson, said on Wednesday. We are working with Boston police to obtain more information, and we will hold accountable any student who is found to have broken the law or violated university policy or our code of conduct.

By noon on Wednesday, about half of the others who were arrested had been arraigned. While officials did not request any bail, the judge chose to set a bail amount for each protester. Some were set at $500, while others were at $1,000. They were also ordered to stay away from the Boston Common.

The arrests came after roughly 200-300 pro-Palestinian protesters, many of whom wore facial coverings and gloves, were at the intersection of Tremont and Winter streets on Tuesday night. The gathering was intended to mark the second anniversary of Hamass attack on Israel.

At 6:46 p.m. Tuesday, officers from the Drug Control Unit declared an officer in trouble while making a drug arrest in the broader downtown area. When officers tried to assist the drug unit, they encountered the protesters, police said.

The group refused to move from the middle of the street, police said, preventing police from responding to the officer in trouble. The protesters then surrounded the cruisers and kicked the doors.

At that point, officers were forced to physically move the protesters back using crowd control techniques when they were immediately met by force and resistance, according to a Boston police report.

An officers nose was broken after he was hit in the face, while another officer was doused with pepper spray, police said. At that point, an officer deployed her own pepper spray at protesters  but police said a protester lit a red smoke canister and red flare.

This filled the area with colorful smoke, making it difficult for police to breathe and see clearly, according to the report.

The officers tried to arrest several protesters, but were immediately met with more violence and resistance from other protesters, who appeared to be trying to free their fellow protesters from police custody, the report read.

The situation devolved into further violence when more police descended on the downtown area, where protesters chanted, [expletive] you Nazis and BPD is KKK, according to the report.

The protesters locked arms to stop the officers from clearing the street as they tried to break up the scene, police said. It was a chaotic situation with officers hats knocked off their heads, radios pulled from their duty belts, body cameras unclipped from vests and other equipment dislodged, the report read.

Officers continued to physically move the protesters, which caused the protesters to fight back, the report read  but one by one, police began handcuffing protesters and taking them into custody.

Four officers were hospitalized after the incident. Their injuries were a broken nose, pepper spray exposure, a finger injury and a lower back injury. No protesters were reported injured.
A change in fire safety codes in Massachusetts 10 years ago means that a wave of smoke alarms is nearing the end of their useful lifespans.

Fire officials in the state are warning residents that due to a 2015 change to the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code, most homes with a sealed, 10-year battery and a hush feature will need to be replaced.

The long-life batteries in these alarms are reliable for only 10 years. Therefore, people who bought alarms and adopted alarms after the code switch will need to update them soon.

Smoke alarms are like any other appliance  they dont last forever, Westborough Fire Chief Patrick Purcell said in a statement on Tuesday. He also serves as the president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts (FCAM).

Right now, the alarms that were purchased and put into service 10 years ago are reaching the end of their useful lifespan. Our concern is that a wave of smoke alarms in homes across Massachusetts wont be reliable in the months ahead, Purcell added.

Fire officials started a month-long campaign to inform people about the need to update smoke alarms.

Every smoke alarm should have a manufacturing date printed on the back of the device, Brockton Fire Chief Brian Nardelli said. If its more than 10 years old, or if it doesnt have a date, replace it right away. If its not 10 years old and it takes alkaline batteries, this is a great time to put fresh batteries in to be sure youre protected through the winter.

Each spring and fall, officials remind residents to check their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when they change their clocks.

The State Fire Marshals office and Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts urge residents to follow these safety tips:

Check the manufacturing date printed on the back of your smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms

Replace smoke alarms after 10 years and CO alarms according to the manufacturers instructions (usually after 5, 7, or 10 years depending on make and model)

Choose new smoke alarms from a well-known national brand and look for the mark of an independent testing lab such as UL or Intertek/ETL

Be sure the replacement alarm has a sealed, long-life battery and a hush feature and meets UL Standard 217, 8th Edition or later

Press conferences can be viewed on the Department of Fire Services YouTube channel.
A pro-Palestinian protest in downtown Boston Tuesday night, intended to mark the second anniversary of Hamas attack on Israel, turned violent when police arrived and attempted to clear the area, according to a police report.

Police were in the area of Boston Common ahead of the protest, which had been advertised on social media as part of a week of rage, Officer Zachary Crossen wrote in a report, a redacted copy of which was provided to MassLive.

At 6:46 p.m. Tuesday, officers from the Drug Control Unit declared an officer in trouble while attempting to make a drug arrest in the broader downtown area. When officers attempted to assist the drug unit, they encountered the protesters, who resisted efforts to make room for police cruisers.

Crossen describes a scene of roughly 200-300 protesters, many of whom wore facial coverings and gloves, chanting at the intersection of Tremont and Winter streets. The group refused to move from the street, preventing police from responding to the officer in trouble. Officers on scene tried to move the protesters out of the middle of the street to make way for the cruisers, but the group refused, Crossen wrote.

Instead, protesters began to surround the cruisers, kicking the doors with their boots.

At that point, officers were forced to physically move the protesters back using crowd control techniques when they were immediately met by force and resistance.

An officer with the bike unit was hit in the face and broke his nose. Another officer was hit with what appeared to be pepper spray by one of the protesters, temporarily incapacitating them, according to the report.

At that point, an officer deployed her pepper spray at protesters who were assaulting officers, Crossen wrote. Another protester lit a red smoke canister and red flare, filling the area with colorful smoke, making it difficult for police to breathe and see clearly, according to the report.

Officers attempted to arrest several protesters, but were immediately met with more violence and resistance from other protesters, who appeared to be trying to free their fellow protesters from police custody.

Police quickly declared an officer-in-trouble incident in the area, with the roughly 20 officers on-scene outnumbered by the rioting protesters, Crossen wrote.

Seconds later, more police descended on Tremont and Winter streets, where they ordered protesters to disperse. They were greeted by chants of [expletive] you Nazis and BPD is KKK, according to the report.

These vulgar chants were heard by the hundreds of pedestrians who were commuting home from work or who were attempting to enjoy the evening by the Boston Common, Crossen wrote.

Police continued to try and break up the protesters, who had locked arms to try and prevent officers from clearing the street, according to the report. Officers were forced to physically move the protesters, which caused the protesters to fight back, the report reads. As they fought, police began handcuffing protesters and taking them into custody.

During the incident, many officers had their hats knocked off their head, radios pulled from their duty belts, body-worn cameras unclipped from their vests, and other equipment dislodged from their belts, Crossen wrote.

Following the protest, four officers were taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries. One officer had a broken nose and had his glasses broken, another was treated for pepper spray exposure, one sustained a finger injury while handcuffing and another sustained a lower back injury attempting to make an arrest.

In all, 13 people were arrested Tuesday night, including eight men and five women ages 19 to 28. They were all charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace.

Roder Atwood, 21, of Somerville, is the only one currently facing the additional charges of assault and battery on a police officer and destruction of property.

The protesters arrested are expected to appear in a Boston courthouse for arraignments on Monday morning.

Its not the first time police have clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters in downtown Boston. Last year, more than 100 people were arrested at Emerson College after police dismantled an encampment set up by students in an alleyway.

The Boston Police Patrolmens Association condemned the incident.

Yet another example of so-called peaceful protesters who think its okay to attack police officers. Again, we say a strong message must be sent and those responsible for the violence must be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, the association wrote on Facebook. The fact that any protester thinks its okay to create chaos in our city by attacking our police officers and blocking intersections is entirely unlawful, unacceptable, dangerous, and immensely disrespectful to the people of Boston.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu also called to have those involved in the attacks prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

We are extremely grateful for the work of the Boston Police in keeping the city safe and in supporting the right to peacefully protest. Boston will not tolerate violence, and we categorically condemn those who came into our community to attack our police officers. The individuals who engaged in these attacks must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, Wu said in a statement.

The Berkeley Beacon, Emerson Colleges student-run newspaper, captured video of the incident.

In the video, police officers could be seen pushing people away from police vehicles as others were arrested. At another point, multiple officers could be seen working together to arrest a person as they were on the ground.

Get off of them, one woman shouts as she video records the incident.
When Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., ran for Congress in 2020, President Donald Trump called her a future Republican star.

Greene, 51, has been a vocal supporter of Trump throughout her political career. The congresswoman supported the presidents decision to pardon more than 1,500 people involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot and even backed down from launching a potential Senate campaign at Trumps request.

In recent months, however, the Georgia Republican has been bucking her party  and her president  on several issues.

Greene criticized the Trump administrations military strikes on Irans nuclear facilities in 2025, saying that it felt like an attempt to please neocons, warmongers, military industrial complex contracts, and neocon tv personalities.

She also has broken with the president on the matter regarding disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and has called for the release of documents related to the man who had been charged with sex trafficking crimes. While Greene has pushed for the files to be released, Trump, who had a close relationship with the now-deceased Epstein in the past, has called the situation a hoax.

Greene has also split with her own party on several issues. While several Republicans have supported Israels campaign against Gaza, Greene accused the country of committing genocide. In recent days, she accused the GOP of not having a plan for healthcare.

The reality is they never talk about it. And that committee working on, say, health insurance and the industry, that doesnt happen in a [secure facility]. Its not a major secret, Greene said to NBC News.

The bucking of both her party and the president has reportedly caught the attention of Trump, with NBC News reporting Wednesday that the 47th president called two senior Republicans to ask: Whats going on with Marjorie?

Whats going on, Greene told NBC News, is that she is doing her job to represent the voters of Georgias 14th congressional district.

Im not some sort of blind slave to the president, and I dont think anyone should be, Greene said to the outlet. I serve in Congress. Were a separate branch of the government, and Im not elected by the president. Im not elected by anyone that works in the White House. Im elected by my district. Thats who I work for, and I got elected without the presidents endorsement, and, you know, I think that has served me really well.

When she first ran for Congress in 2020, Greene did not receive Trumps support in the primary. Since then, however, she has become a well-recognized supporter of Trump.

Republicans who spoke with NBC News said that Greene has become more disillusioned with politics and her own party. The sources told the outlet that the congresswoman felt slighted after the White House talked her out of running for the Senate.

Despite her reported disillusionment with the GOP, Greene said she is still a supporter of Trump, NBC News reports. But just because she is part of Trumps party, that doesnt mean she is going to say yes to everything the president says.

So I get to be independent as a Republican, she told NBC News, and I think what helps [Trump] the most is when he has people that are willing to be honest with him and not just tell him what they think he wants to hear.
Massachusetts has been facing glitches in vaccine distribution, the state public health commissioner said Wednesday, and a long-term federal government shutdown may create ripple effects across Massachusetts public health.

Ahead of a Center for Disease Controls Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting in September, the state on Sept. 17 issued its own COVID-19 vaccine guidance recommending that children ages 6 to 23 months, and all adults receive the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as those at higher risk for disease or exposure, those who are pregnant or lactating, and those who are immunocompromised.

The Department of Public Health previously authorized pharmacists to administer the updated COVID booster to residents aged 5 and older through a standing order.

On Wednesday, state Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein told the Public Health Council about vaccine distribution delays as the flu and COVID-19 seasons begin.

Pharmacies, pediatrician offices and community health centers are now administering shots, but there continue to be a few glitches with distribution, Goldstein said. After a significant delay, the ACIP recommendations were officially adopted on Monday, Oct. 6, following the Sept. 18 and 19 ACIP meeting  a process that normally takes a few hours or a couple of days, has taken three weeks.

The delay has affected COVID vaccines distributed through the federal Vaccines for Children program, which requires the CDC directors approval, Goldstein continued. Community health centers, pediatrician offices and local boards of health that serve beneficiaries of this program  uninsured, underinsured and Medicaid-eligible children  had not been able to purchase vaccines.

Goldstein said that DPH opened the ordering of state-supplied Moderna, Pfizer and Sanofi Novavax COVID-19 vaccines for the 2025-2026 respiratory season once the recommendations were adopted, encouraging providers to place orders.

DPH expects vaccines to begin shipping in the coming days. Providers should see vaccines start to arrive in clinics by the end of this week or early next week, Goldstein said.

CDC recommendations adopted Monday include individual-based decision-making with regard to COVID-19 vaccination. The agency also now recommends that toddlers receive the chickenpox vaccine separately from the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination. Massachusetts officials said in September that they are prepared to issue guidance or a standing order for pharmacies covering several childhood vaccines.

The Massachusetts Vaccine Purchasing Advisory Council plans to meet on Thursday at the Massachusetts Medical Society in Waltham. The agenda includes revisions to operating procedures, a review of the immunization landscape, including recent federal actions, a presentation from Merck on their RSV monoclonal clesrovimab (ENFLONSIA), and deliberations regarding inclusion of clesrovimab in the universal immunization program.

Goldstein also warned of the potential impacts of a long-term federal government shutdown. The shutdown went into effect on Oct. 1 after Congress could not agree on a federal spending bill.

While our state programs remain fully operational, the shutdown is creating ripple effects across public health. Furloughs at CDC, FDA and other agencies threaten the flow of information we depend on to warn of potential outbreaks and to guide our ability to respond quickly and nimbly, Goldstein said. Critical functions such as food and water safety inspections are severely hampered. The [Women, Infants and Children Nutrition] program and [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] benefits nationally are at risk. And while our state can continue these benefits in the short term, if the shutdown drags on, fulfilling our promise may become more challenging.

With the president threatening federal layoffs, the consequences may echo for months, even years, Goldstein said, calling the shutdown just one more curveball that lands hardest on our most vulnerable residents.
UPDATE: Mass. legislator files bill to crack down on explosion of violent street takeovers

State Rep. Steven Xiarhos spent decades as a cop on Cape Cod. And when he looks at the street takeovers that hit four communities across Massachusetts last weekend, he doesnt mince words.

You need to respect police officers. Theyre risking their lives for us 24/7, Xiarhos, R-5th Barnstable, told MassLive as he left a memorial service for fallen officers at the State House on Wednesday.

To make sure that happens, Xiarhos said hes filing two bills to tackle the growing social media phenomenon thats leading to some real-world consequences.

The first would boost the penalty for assaulting a police officer from the current misdemeanor in most cases to a felony.

The second is based on existing law in Florida. That statute, enacted in 2022, prohibits street takeovers and punishes spectators and participants alike.

The legislation could be filed as soon as Wednesday, Xiarhos told MassLive. Because bills are typically filed at the start of each two-year sessions, the legislation would be late-filed, he said.

While such meetups and takeovers have been taking place for years, events in Massachusetts last weekend suggested that the incidents had taken a new and more dangerous turn.

In Boston, a police cruiser caught fire after being hit by fireworks from a crowd of more than 100.

Similarly, fireworks were fired at a police cruiser in Randolph. And in Middleborough, a Dodge Charger drove at a responding officer at a takeover event in a commercial parking lot.

A fourth takeover event from the weekend, this time in Fall River, saw hundreds of people blocking roads throughout the city with multiple reports of reckless driving and street racing.

No officers were reported injured during these events, but the cruiser that caught fire in Boston was destroyed.

I believe theyre part of a plan to cause havoc, Xiarhos said of the takeovers, which are organized through guerilla-style posts on such social media sites as Instagram. And when you allow someone to get away with things, it gets worse.

So we need to get tougher on them. And when they get caught, they need to be held in custody, he continued. Stop paying their bail and put them behind bars. Thats how you stop things. Its not that hard. Theres only a few people that do wrong things. So get tougher on them.

Officials in other states also have moved to clamp down on the gatherings.

In Alabama, a law enforcement action known as Operation Knight Rider analyzes data to narrow down and target hotspots for resource deployment, AL.com reported.

In just one month of operation, there were 34 arrests, with three of the cases presented to the Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorneys Office for federal prosecution.

In 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed four bills to help law enforcement crack down on this issue after there were loopholes.

Drivers can now face up to a $5,000 fine and six months in jail. Organizers can face felony charges, which includes promoting a takeover on social media or messaging apps. And spectators can face a $1,000 fine.

Across the border in Connecticut, Nutmeg State Gov. Ned Lamont signed legislation cracking down on people who organize and participate in street takeovers.

The bill also gave police more tools to deal with such situations, Lamonts office said in a statement.

This disruptive and dangerous trend, which has been increasing with frequency in states all over the country, puts peoples lives at risk and cannot be tolerated, Lamont said.

This bill gives state and local law enforcement and municipal leaders additional tools to protect the safety of our roads and our communities, the Democratic governor continued. It is the result of bipartisan input and advocacy, and I appreciate all who worked to advance this bill to my desk so that I could sign it into law.

In Boston, Xiarhos told MassLive that hes ready to do whats needed to make sure these dangerous gatherings end.

If we dont have a law that addresses it, make one. And if we have the laws that exist, like disorderly conduct, driving to endanger .... punish them, he said. But when you slap them on the wrist, when you have revolving door justice, this is what happens.

MassLive Breaking News Editor Heather Morrison contributed additional reporting
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey meets the press during a news conference in her office at the State House in Boston on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. John L. Micek/MassLive

Violent street takeovers in four Massachusetts communities and a pro-Palestine protest on Boston Common that saw demonstrators clash with police dont give the Trump administration an excuse to send National Guard soldiers to the Bay State, Gov. Maura Healey said Wednesday.

Theres no need for that here, the Democratic governor said during a news conference in her office at the State House. Here in Massachusetts, local and state law enforcement work really closely and well together.

Healey batted aside a reporters question on whether she was trying to get in front of any White House action with a news conference where she announced a zero tolerance approach to street takeovers, which are large gatherings where car lovers look at cars or engage in street racing.

The gatherings, coordinated over social media, sometimes turn violent.

I cant control what the president and the Department of Justice decide to do, Healey said. I will say that Massachusetts continues to be a place ... its among the safest states in the country. Its also a place where we work really hard every single day at the local and state level, even with federal partners, to eradicate and address issues of public safety and crime. And were going to continue to do that. And do it in a responsible way.

Trump has stepped up his use of National Guard soldiers, dispatching troops to Portland, Ore., and Chicago. They also could soon be sent to Memphis, Tenn., as the Republican White House intensifies its campaign against blue states and cities.

At least four communities in Massachusetts faced chaotic scenes as groups clogged up streets. In Boston, a police cruiser was set on fire after members of the group launched fireworks at it.

In Middleborough, a Dodge Charger drove at a police officer. In Fall River, a private ambulance was forced to take an alternate route as it attempted to get to a hospital. In Randolph, more than 100 people  most in masks, police said  attacked marked police cars with fireworks.

As she had earlier in the day during a memorial ceremony for fallen law enforcement officers, Healey offered a sharp condemnation of the gatherings and the protest on Boston Common.

Healey also said shed asked the Massachusetts State Police to step up its existing enforcement and intelligence-gathering efforts to track and stop such gatherings.

Whether youre in Massachusetts or youre thinking about coming to Massachusetts, you are not welcome to engage in that conduct at any time, in any place, anywhere in this state, she said.

Healey also asked state residents who become aware of such events to tell local law enforcement about it, repeating the by-now familiar If you see something, say something.

I just think about what happened [with the ambulance] in Fall River over the weekend, and thats why Im so upset about this and want to make sure were doing everything we can ... to end this trend. Theres zero tolerance for this in the Commonwealth.dont

One of Healeys Republican rivals for governor in 2026 pounced on the street takeovers and the protest on Boston Common, accusing her and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu of being soft on crime.

Healey and Wu have an alarmingly high tolerance for violent crime and respect for criminals. Their rhetoric and policies continue to embolden criminals while undermining law enforcement, GOP hopeful Mike Kennealy, a former Baker administration official, said in a statement.

Its disgraceful and completely unacceptable. When Im Governor, we will restore law and order, Kennealy continued. Bail will match the severity of the crime, and any act committed against a police officer will face the full force of the law. Enough is enough - Massachusetts deserves leadership that stands with law enforcement, not lawbreakers.

Brian Shortsleeve, another former Baker administration official who also is seeking the GOP nod for governor in 2026, was similarly scornful.

Healey has spent her time protecting illegal immigrants, tying the hands of law enforcement, and prioritizing politics over public safety," he said in a statement. This isnt leadership, its lawlessness. As governor, Ill restore order, back our police, insist on bail reform and courts that serve justice not get out of jail free cards, and make Massachusetts a place where people feel safe again.
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP

Nearly nine months into the second Trump administration, Massachusetts has lost out on a total of $3.7 billion in federal funding thanks to Trump administration clawbacks and the domestic policy mega-bill that got signed into law earlier this year, new state data show.

The findings come courtesy of a newly updated state dashboard that tracks the flow of federal largesse into, and these days, mostly out of, the Bay State.

That cash supports a range of programs, from health care and housing to public safety and environmental protection.

Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans funding cuts are making life more expensive for Massachusetts residents, undermining public safety, taking away health care, and hurting our businesses, Gov. Maura Healey said in a statement accompanying the updated data.

Heres how that funding loss breaks down, according to Healeys office:

$3.3 billion in funds cut by Congress

$339 million cut through executive action

And an additional $2.6 billion in terminated National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation grants for research and development efforts at the states universities, hospitals and research institutions.

There is no way that any state can make up for the billions of dollars they are cutting from our budgets. Here in Massachusetts, we are doing everything we can to protect our communities from these negative impacts, Healey said.

Social service cuts by Congress dealt the biggest blow, coming in at $1.6 billion. The states $60 billion budget also took a $1.3 billion hit.

All told, the states fiscal blueprint for the 2025-26 budget year is premised on about $16 billion in federal support.

Education and health and human services spending bore the brunt of cuts by the Trump White House, clocking in at $121.6 million and $118.5 million, respectively, according to the states dashboard.

Last week, the White House announced that it was killing $466 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. It was part of a larger package of nearly $8 billion in cuts targeting states that Vice President Kamala Harris carried in 2024.

And in late September, the White House announced that it was clawing back $7 million in public safety funding. The cut still left the state $15.3 million to the good, but less than the $22.2 million it was set to originally receive.

The state still did manage to defend or reinstate $223.3 million in funds thanks to the battery of lawsuits filed by state Attorney General Andrea J. Campbell and her colleagues across the nation.

In her statement, Healey noted that work and said the state was grateful to Campbell and her lieutenants for those efforts.

And even as Healey sounded the fiscal alarm, lawmakers in the majority-Democrat state House were teeing up override votes for Wednesday to restore cuts that Healey had made to the 2025-26 state budget.

Those overrides include spending for the states nursing home workforce, cash for charter schools, and efforts to bolster the states manufacturing industry, House Ways and Means Committee Chairperson Aaron Michlewitz, D-3rd Suffolk, said in a statement.

While the House shares the Governors commitment to fiscal prudence amid the Trump Administrations devastating budget cuts, we continue to believe that the FY26 budget investments that we will vote on tomorrow can be made in a financially responsible manner, the Boston lawmaker said.

This belief is supported by the hundreds of millions of dollars in expected revenue that we set aside during conference committee negotiations, providing the Commonwealth with the necessary flexibility to manage our finances through this ongoing period of economic uncertainty, Michlewitz said.
President Donald Trumps plan to end the two-year-old war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas is a reasonable framework, but plenty of hard work remains, U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-4th District, said Tuesday.

I think there are elements of it that are going to require sustained engagement from the United States and the Arab League on Hamas and also on the prime minister of Israel to ensure that the ceasefire can hold and that reconstruction can begin, the Newton lawmaker said on the second anniversary of the conflict.

Auchincloss was in Boston on Tuesday to tour a traveling exhibit that tells the story of the survivors and the slain at the Nova Music Festival in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

A savage sneak attack by Hamas on the desert rave was the opening wave of an offensive that left 1,200 dead and 251 taken hostage.

Two years later, tens of thousands of Palestinians in Hamas-controlled Gaza are dead, and its believed that 48 people are still being held captive in Gaza, with only 20 of them thought to be alive, according to CBS News.

Peace talks between Israel and Hamas resumed at an Egyptian resort city on Tuesday.

A senior Egyptian official involved in the ceasefire talks said Hamas has demanded guarantees that Israel wont return to war after the release of the remaining hostages, The Associated Press reported.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the war will only end when all the hostages are returned and Hamas has been disarmed.

He has accepted Trumps plan, which calls for Gaza to be placed under international governance and for Hamas to be disarmed, elements the militants have yet to accept, The Associated Press reported.

On Tuesday, Auchincloss offered a similar sentiment about the hostages. He also argued that Hamas cannot have a future role in the governance of the enclave.

It starts with the release of the hostages. It shouldnt require this type of sustained military pressure, Auchincloss, who is Jewish, said.

But Hamas has demonstrated that its a bar, barbaric death cult that sees no value in Jewish life and thereby should not be trusted, he said.

Auchincloss told reporters Tuesday that he had been deeply moved by the Nova Music Festival exhibition, which runs through Oct. 21, and features actual artifacts from the festival and video testimonies from survivors.

Its vital to bear witness to the hate, to honor the lives of these beautiful young people who were murdered, who were raped, who were tortured, who were taken hostage for being Jews, he said.

And I think we need to haunt ourselves, as at a time when hate is on the rise, when vitriol is on the rise, when dehumanization is becoming political currency, we need to come here and deliberately haunt ourselves to see what the end state of that kind of hate and dehumanization is, he continued.

And I encourage young people throughout Boston in particular, and the colleges and universities that host them, to deliberately program trips to this exhibit because we need our young people in particular to see this, he said.

Associated Press reports are included in this story.
Rabbi Benjamin Weiner joins congregants at the Jewish Community of Amherst to commemorate the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel by Hamas. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

AMHERST  Over two dozen community members filled the Jewish Community of Amherst synagogue Tuesday night for prayer and recognition of the lives lost in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack and those still held hostage.

Rabbi Benjamin Weiner guided his community through the sorrow, making space for pain and grief to be acknowledged and (upheld) in traditional Jewish ways. ... At the same time, remaining aware of the parts of the situation that are still ongoing.

Area residents gather at the Jewish Community of Amherst to commemorate the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

Weiner said the past two years have not been abstract for the congregation: There are two members of their community who lost family in the attack.

The rabbi acknowledged the difficulties of staying grounded in his faith, while helping his community heal and process the Oct. 7, tragedy, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel with rockets and gunfire. Some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, including women, children and seniors, were killed. Hamas abducted 251 others, most of whom have since been released.

Forty-eight hostages remain in Gaza; Israel believes around 20 are alive.

Its a trying time in a lot of different ways, but I try to remain grounded and understand that it is my job not to create false hope. Its to anchor people in finding the blessings in reality, said Weiner.

Holocaust survivor Henia "Henny" Lewin, 85, leaves the memorial of the Oct. 7 attacks with tears in her eyes. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook

Born in Kaunas, Lithuania, Holocaust survivor Henia Henny Lewin read the names of hostages still in captivity, allowing the space to pray for them.

Recalling the Holocaust, she shared the importance for bystanders and anyone not directly involved to speak up and be active in positive change.

The majority of people were bystanders, people who just didnt want to get involved and look(ed) the other way. ... Dont be a bystander. Get involved, said Lewin.

The attack by Hamas, now a day of grief, is during their celebratory harvest festival  Sukkot  so the Jewish community has found itself trying to balance different emotions.

Karen Loeb, chair of the congregations World Jewish Concerns and Action Committee, shared that community events such as the nights vigil are a reminder of the lives lost and that Jews are not safe from antisemitism.

One attendee, who wished to remain anonymous, said, This is the largest number of Jews that were killed since the Holocaust, so finding ways through traditional mourning prayers is a source of strength.

A companion event was held in Springfield at Temple Beth El.
SPRINGFIELD  Local residents gathered Tuesday to remember the second anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, memorializing the about 1,200 people killed and calling for the return of the about the about 20 hostages who are still believed to be alive and held by Hamas militants.

The Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts hosted the events in Amherst and at Temple Beth El in Springfield to remember what they called the largest massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust.

The events were shared only through email blasts to members for security reasons. While there was one police cruiser parked in front of Temple Beth El, the event was free from protesters who have been decrying the two-year war in Gaza which has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, including an estimated 18,500 children.

I am really sorry Hamas did this and Im really sad about the loss of life, said Temple Beth El Rabbi Amy Wallk.

We want the 48 hostages back, said Wallk, referring to the remaining Israelis still held by Hamas. All but 20 are believed to have died while in captivity.

During the memorial service, temple members said a traditional prayer of mourning to remember the 1,200 people killed in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack as well as the 913 Israeli soldiers and 70 police officers who have died in the past two years.

But the event was also an educational one to talk about hope, peace and an end to the war.

Award-winning journalist Yardena Schwartz spoke to the congregation about her book Ghosts of a Holy War: The 1929 Massacre in Palestine, exploring the historical roots of the Arab-Israeli conflict that she started in 2019 and was still in the process of writing the 2023 attacks took place.

It became much more relevant than I ever hoped it would be, she said.

The book is based on 100-year-old letters written by a 22-year-old man from Memphis, Tennessee, who was living in Hebron at the time. It weaves the massacre of 70 Jews living in the city by their Arabic neighbors who they were living peacefully with the current conflict and shows the similarities.

The massacre was fueled by disinformation in Hebron, which at the time was one of the safest places for Jews to live at the time. Although there were warning signs about the massacre, many Jewish people believed their neighbors would not hurt them, she said.

During the discussion, Schwartz said after years of research she believes there have been many missed opportunities for peace and a two-state solution. Even now she said she has hope for peace, although it is more difficult to envision now.

In interviewing Palestinians and Jewish people who were living near each other, Schwartz said she was struck at how similar they were in many ways.

They were saying we just want to live here in peace. We just want to exist here. It was the (Israeli settlers) who were saying we just want to live here without Palestinians attacking us, she said. It was the Palestinians who were saying we just want to live here while being able to travel to work, visit our families. We just want to be able to live our lives in dignity.

So many of the people who are considered enemies have so much in common but it is the corrupt leaders who want to stoke the conflicts between the two, she said.
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WHEN I came here, I was under a black cloud. I was in pain, shattered. A lot had happened to me. But the support that I got here was very important.

Thats how a client, who first reached out to the Mayo Rape Crisis Centre (MRCC) in October 2023, described her experience with the counselling she received. The mother wants to stay anonymous, we call her Claire.

There was a time I thought, I could take my life, Claire remembers. She wont disclose publicly what exactly happened to her. But suffice to say, that it was urgent when she contacted the MRCC for the first time.

The charity based in Castlebar offers services to support men and women who have experienced rape, sexual assault or childhood sexual abuse. Survivors find a safe, trustworthy and supportive environment.

When Claire arrived for her first appointment, MRCC advocacy and suppport worker Nicci picked her up from the bus stop.

She opened her arms to hug me. To me, I knew I was safe, Claire recalls fondly. And then, she was brought inside and her assigned counsellor Martina greeted her with a beautiful smile.

When I saw Martina, I knew, shes a mother. The welcome was overwhelming. She said that I should trust her.

This was the start the start of a long journey for Claire. As she tells her story were sitting in the same room she first sat down with her counsellor Martina. The two have developed an emotional bond during their countless sessions.

Claire sings the praise of Martina: She would give me my time. She would sit there and listen I would talk and talk. If anything happened to me during the week, I was feeling hurt or I couldnt sleep, I would look forward to share that with Martina.

After two years of weekly sessions in person and an abundance of support, Claire has moved to phone calls, making her slot available to others in need.

I havent healed fully, but coming here separated my pain, Claire concludes.

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More clients than ever

CLAIRES story is one of many. The Mayo Rape Crisis Centre has seen a rise in survivors seeking their services. The annual report published last week states that there has been a 6.25 percent increase in people contacting the organisation.

The report also states that the number of appointments held at the Castlebar based charity have gone up by 10.4 percent.

In line with previous years, theres an increase in our service, reflects Shauna Jackson, Director of Service as the Mayo Rape Crisis Centre (MRCC): What we can see from 2025 already is that therell be another increase, considerably more actually. So, the need for the service is growing.

Counselling remains the heart of the organisations service with approximately 30-35 appointments weekly. Once again the demand for counselling service in 2024 was such that the Mayo Rape Crisis Centre had an ongoing waiting list.

We dont know whether sexual violence is increasing within our society, Jackson explains, speaking to The Mayo News.

What we know is that more people are wanting to access the service. So, if you look at the recent Central Statistics Office figures from An Garda Siochana, which was just last week, you can see that theres a decrease in a lot reported crime, but theres an increase in reporting of sexual violence and rape.

The Mayo Rape Crisis Centre was founded in 1994 and is a member of Rape Crisis Ireland (RCI), the national representative body for Rape Crisis Centres and the specialist voice on sexual violence in Ireland.

The services include a 24/7 freephone helpline, in-house counselling, crisis counselling, or a large number of clients need help with their rights or safety issues. This can involve meetings with Community Welfare Officers, Social Workers, housing department etc.

We also offer our experience and support to clients going through the legal system; accompany them to Gardai meetings, statement taking and Court.

The centre is a safe place and they dont advertise their exact location. There is no giant sign over the door or even a small one on the door bell. Any survivor attributed a counselling slot will be given the whereabouts.

It feels like entering a normal house, visiting friends, neighbours. Soft incense beguiles the nose. A cup of tea makes for a lovely welcome everywhere, the same goes for the Mayo Rape Crisis Centre.

It cannot be underestimated how important a warm and hospitable environment is for anyone brave enough ringing the door bell and making this step.

We know that only 50 percent of people will ever tell anyone when theres been a sexual assault or when theyve been raped. They just keep it to themselves for the whole time. So its important to us that we have a service when those numbers go up that we can meet the need, Jackson states.

Younger age profile

IN an age of growing awareness around issues like cyber stalking, and social media affecting peoples behaviour, challenges are on the rise. The MRCC observes a shifting ground:

When the centre was first set up, most cases they saw were people who were reporting childhood sexual abuse. Currently most cases fall within the age groups between 25-44 years of age. But its adolescent clients are occuring more often than they used to.

Nicci Rowntree-Carroll joined the MRCC as a volunteer shortly after it opened its doors in 1994. And shes been working for the centre ever since, moved to a full-time position after a while. Nicci has been working on the ground for the last 30 years.

One of the changes that I have seen is the women, the girls coming to us are getting younger and younger, Nicci the suppport worker states.

Years back we had one 13 year old. This case was such an anomaly. The whole idea of having an adolescent therapist wasnt there. That kind of age group just nowhere wasnt in our statistics.

It is now. Last year the MRCC handled 14 cases.

And so much of it is peer abuse, Nicci observes: It is literally the same age. The changes that I have seen have been absolutely wild, in terms of the introduction of mobile phones, the introduction of the internet. For example, Pornhub is huge and the influence of this platform is huge. I genuinely do not think that most parents are aware of the danger that a smartphone actually introduces to their children.

It has to be said, at the minute the MRCC doesnt have an adolescent service. They cant see people under 18 officially, but its possible when the centre has counsellors accredited to see adolescents available and they have space. In those cases, the MRCC will do as much as they can to see those people.

Services expansion

THE centre has reacted and plans to expand their services. Shauna Jackson notes: We have applied for funding and were hopeful that we will be successful to be able to deliver some kind of adolescent service in the future.

The growing demand in services for adolescents was shockingly propelled into the public sphere by the recent mini-series Adolescence on Netflix. Its a drama about a 13-year-old boy, who is arrested on suspicion of the murder of his classmate who the viewers later learn had rejected his advances and then cyberbullied him.

The show sparked reactions from all walks of life and sharply brought the issue of sexual assault and rape committed and experienced by adolescents to the fore.

Apart from readily accessible internet, Nicci Rowntree-Carroll thinks, Covid did a huge amount of damage as well: We have so many young men who have access to Pornhub and the message is women are there to serve you. And thats highly problematic.

That was exactly why Nicci and her husband made the conscious decision, that he has been at home for 24 years. One of them would always be at home for the kids. It has meant only one income, but its a sacrifice they were willing to make.

But even homes arent safe any more these days. Nicci recalls the scene in the series Adolescence, when the family father devastatingly delivers the line I thought he was safe upstairs in his room.

Nothing could be further from the truth in an era of constant availability and push notifications.

At the Mayo Rape Crisis Centre, the counsellors have to deal with the consequences of lingering prejudices from the past, as much as with the ailments of digital times.

It is important to point out, the perception that sexual violence and rape is something that women endure and doesnt affect men is still prevalent misconception. In 2024, 6.8 per cent of clients at the Mayo Rape Crisis Centre were male. And the centre operates on a gender neutral basis.

The growing demand in cases and appointments mean that the organisation will have to upscale. The annual report shows a stable financial situation with rising income for the charity.

The MRCC is currently looking for new facilities to expand its services. More rooms, more personnel are the goal.

The work that suppport workers like Nicci have done over the years, saw them bringing down so many barriers, trying to fight so many wrong perceptions.

Nicci herself has always been driven by a strong strife for equality: I was always very passionate in terms of equality and that women have just as just as much rights as men do. I got into trouble in school over it, but I was very involved in the likes of social injustice.

Its a tough job, most people are fairly able to leave their place of work and more or less forget about it the moment they go home. Its strange that Nicci Rowntree-Carroll and also Shauna Jackson put all their effort and passion into their work, while the best outcome would be, that their jobs werent necessary at all.

Let me tell you, Nicci admits: I think weve all had that fantasy of going to work in a less mentally challenging area. Im grateful of having a bit of a drive home and lots of peer support.

The counsellors and support workers themselves have a support structure in place, and they do all they can, filling their lives with positives, with joy, with all the lovely people.

But sometimes, it all has to get out, as Nicci confesses: Ive been known to stop at a beach and scream at seagulls.

Anyone who needs help and wishes to contact the Mayo Rape Crisis Centre can call the freephone helpline: 1800 234900
1,907 students across Mayo will receive their Junior Certificate results today. They are among the 73,336 candidates are receiving their results today nationally.

Dr. Aine Moran, Principal of the Sancta Maria College in Louisburgh wished to extend her congratulations to all the students who will be receiving their results today, as well as all the teachers, SNAs and staff that have worked so hard with them over the past three years.

She explains that the way the exams are formulated now is to test analytical skills and communication skills and more higher order thinking. So the exams are no longer formulated in a way that it's just about rote learning or regurgitation.

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The exams are no longer really predictable, and it's much more individualized in the way that you respond. One person might do just as well as another person would have taken a completely different approach to answering the question.

That has given great freedom to people. In Sancta Maria College, we concentrate on giving students a huge subject choice for junior cycle, so that they're involved in subject areas that they're enjoying, and therefore it's much easier to acquire those kinds of skills of research and group work and analytical thinking and creative processes.

Appeals Process

Each school has discretion over when the results will be given out to the students and exercise a common-sense approach in doing so. They are available to each school in digital format through the SECs Schools Portal, before being printed out for the students.

Unlike the Leaving Certificate, appealing the Junior Certificate result can only be made through the School Authority.

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) states that the School Authority must consider that the examination result attained by the candidate is significantly at variance with the result expected. Schools must return their applications by 5pm on Tuesday 14 October. A fee of 32 applies to each subject appealed which is refunded in the event of an upgrade. Details of the process have been provided to the school with their results.

The SEC does not accept appeal applications directly from candidates, parents or individual teachers.

English short story not a best seller

One of the big talking points from earlier this summer was the short story question on the English Higher-level paper.

The SEC reveals at the time of, and subsequent to the examination, the SEC received feedback that many schools had not taught the short story.

This resulted in a significant number of candidates answered this question poorly or omitted it entirely.

Given the scale of students involved and to ensure fairness, the SEC awarded all candidates a minimum of 10 marks out of a possible 15, with a scaled marking approach used to award higher marks based on the standard of the candidate response.

This approach has ensured fairness to those candidates who answered the question while ensuring that those candidates who did not respond to the question are not disadvantaged.

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Good preparation for Leaving Certificate

ASTI President Padraig Curley congratulated all the students receiving their Junior Cycle results today and said that it is an important step for students, giving them their first experience of a State examination.

Today students will be provided with an independent and objective set of results in relation to their learning and efforts over the first three years of their second-level education. The Junior Cycle exam experience will help greatly in terms of your preparation for the Leaving Certificate exam situation itself. Well done on completing the Junior Cycle, your teachers are extremely proud of you today.

The most recent OECD PISA report shows that 15-year-olds in Ireland rank first out of 37 OECD countries for reading literacy. Ireland ranks 7th out of 37 OECD countries for performance in maths, and is in 8th place for performance in science. Ireland is one of 10 countries highlighted in the PISA report for high levels of equity for students.

However, Ireland remains at the bottom of the league for investment in education. The OECD report Education at a Glance 2025 positioned Ireland in last place out of 37 countries for government expenditure on second-level education as a percentage of GDP.
Families in Mayo are expressing deep concern over a HSE proposal to suppress 35 hours of frontline Speech and Language Therapy from the Childrens Disability Network Team (CDNT3), in order to create a new management post. This change is part of a national restructuring and will result in the permanent loss of a therapist from an already overstretched team.

Children in CDNT3 are currently waiting over three years for access to therapy. The proposed cut will extend waiting times even further, causing children to miss vital developmental windows and denying them the support they urgently need.

This is not just a staffing change, its a direct blow to children who rely on these services to communicate, connect, and thrive, said Paul Lawless TD. Families are being told that governance and management expansion are more important than their childs ability to speak.

Preparations are underway for a recruitment competition for the new manager role, but no replacement is planned for the suppressed therapy post. This contradicts the very purpose of the CDNT model, which was designed to bring therapy closer to children and families.

Deputy Lawless is calling on the HSE and the Minister for Health to immediately halt any restructuring that reduces frontline capacity. Managerial restructuring should only take place in conjunction with the replacement of frontline therapy services. We cannot rob Peter to pay Paul. Governance and structural policy mean nothing if children are not receiving therapy.

The HSE must stop prioritising glossy strategy documents and policy frameworks ahead of vital, life-changing therapy for children. All CDNT teams must be fully staffed to meet the needs of children and families. Direct care must be prioritised over administrative expansion.

This is a national issue with local consequences, Lawless added. We must protect every hour of therapy, because every hour lost is an opportunity lost for a childs development.

Deputy Lawless is urgently seeking a meeting with senior officials in the HSE, Saolta, and the Minister for Health to discuss the proposal and outline its impact on children in Mayo.

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Yet again, Ashford Castle is celebrating a prestigious honour after being named in the top 15 of the Conde Nast Traveller Readers Choice Awards.

The Mayo venue is renowned both in the county and beyond for the breathtaking setting, five-star service, and first-rate quality across the board from the second you walk through the door.

Now, it is getting recognition on the continental stage. The rankings, from the Britain-based travel publication Conde Nast, placed Ashford Castle as the 15th-best venue in Europe.

Over 757,000 votes were cast in the 38th edition of the awards.

"We loved poring over the results to find out whats sticking with readers and editors and spinning the data into a snapshot of the current moment in travel, editors said when detailing their process.

Six Irish hotels made it into the top 20 ranking, accounting for 30 per cent of the highest rated venues.

Sheen Falls, located in Kenmare, Co Kerry, topped the list overall, with Ashford Castle ranked as the fifth-best Irish hotel.
The Lodge at Ashford Castle has yet again received top honours as the Mayo hotel was listed as the top venue in Ireland as part of the Conde Nast Travelers 2025 Readers Choice Awards.

The well-known venue in Cong on the shores of Lough Corrib is renowned across the country for their top-rate cuisine, hospitality, and plenty more besides, making it an ideal place for those looking to enjoy some much-needed rest and relaxation in the West of Ireland.

Now, the hotel had received plaudits on the world stage. Conde Nast, a British travel publication, runs an annual readers' choice award where they celebrate some of the top hotels, cuisines, countries, cities, spas, and more.

In the poll of their US readers, The Lodge at Ashford Castle was voted as the top hotel in the country.

Peter Fergus, General Manager at The Lodge at Ashford Castle, said of the award, It is an honour to be named the top hotel in Ireland for any award, but what makes this one all the more cherished is that it was chosen by those whom we deem most important  our guests.

"This award wouldnt be possible without the wonderful staff who show up every day for our guests. Their passion and commitment are visible for all to see, and this award is a testament to that.
Ajay Devgn starrer Drishyam 3 is announced for October 2, 2026, release and an official announcement teaser of the film was supposed to be out on October 2, 2025. However, it was delayed. Producer Kuman Mangat had cited background music not being ready as the main reason behind the sudden delay even though the teaser was passed by CBFC, a new report has now claimed that the issue was much bigger than what he claimed.

 Panorama Studios Drishyam 3 In Trouble With Makers of The Malayalam Original Sharing the actual reason behind the delay, a source told Mid-Day, There is an understanding between the makers of the Malayalam franchise, Jeethu Joseph (director) and Antony Perumbavoor (producer), and the Hindi remakes producer Kumar Mangat. Apparently, one of the adaptation clauses states that the Hindi team cannot make any announcement about their films content without the permission of the originals makers. While the shoot of the Malayalam original is already underway, the Hindi remake will go on floors in December 2025.

 X/Drishyam 3 Movie Sharing the same, the source added, After Mohanlal announced the shoot, the Hindi counterparts makers announced that their film would release on October 2, 2026. This sudden date announcement did not go down well with Antony and Jeethu. Following this episode, the clause came into effect. This isnt the first time the makers of the original have had friction with the Hindi makers. Revealing the bone of contention, the source said, The original plan was that all the three versions  Malayalam, Hindi, and Telugu starring Mohanlal, Ajay, and Venkatesh respectively  would be released on October 2, 2026, simultaneously. They were to be directed by Jeethu. But Kumar Mangat wanted his son Abhishek to helm the Hindi outing as Drishyam 2 [2022], directed by him, was a blockbuster. That led to a difference of opinion. Now, Antony and Jeethu are keen to release the Malayalam offering before the Hindi counterpart.
Chris Bambery takes a critical look at revisionist claims about the pre-eminence of the BEF in the Hundred Days Offensive of autumn 1918.

Materiel: motorised British machine-gunners move forwards during the Hundred Days Offensive. Image: WIPL

Whereas histories of the First World War were once dominated, in Britain at least, by the lions led by donkeys stereotypes of Oh! What a Lovely War and Blackadder, the pendulum has today swung back, behind what was once regarded as the revisionist school.

The argument is that the British Army followed a learning curve during the war, which meant that, by 1918, it was in prime position. The crisis in French morale revealed by the mutinies of spring 1917 following the debacle of the Chemin des Dames Offensive, and the fact that the newly arrived American units were not yet combat-experienced and battle-hardened, left the British Expeditionary Force as the only army capable of defeating Germany.

Further, while it is admitted that Haig was no genius, the argument runs that by 1918 he was able to co-ordinate successfully all elements of military force  artillery, armour, airpower, and infantry  to achieve a decisive victory in the series of operations known collectively as The Hundred Days.

That victory, revisionist historians maintain, grew out of his previous attrition strategy of 1916-1917, when, at the Somme and Passchendaele, while not achieving a breakthrough, he had substantially weakened the enemy.

Haig is credited with ensuring that Britains main war-effort was concentrated on the Western Front, while the Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, looked to get rich quick schemes in Italy, the Balkans, and Palestine.

Despite having to accept the overall command of the French Marshal Ferdinand Foch, Haig, we are told, insisted on his own plans, winning the Frenchman over.

There is much here which could be debated, but I wish to concentrate on the Hundred Days and the claim that the British Army defeated Imperial Germany in what might be considered its greatest ever victory.

THREE BLOWS

Retreating but unbroken: German troops fall back over the Marne in autumn 1918. Image: WIPL

The Hundred Days flowed from the eventual failure of General Erich Ludendorffs Spring Offensive of early 1918, when he took the gamble of committing the German Army to an all-out effort with the aim of knocking Britain and France out of the war before American troops entered the field in substantial numbers.

Three blows left the Allies reeling. The first attack, aimed at the vital rail junction of Amiens, had led Haig to envisage a retreat to the Channel Ports and a Dunkirk-style evacuation and the French general Philippe Petain to withdrawing southwards to cover Paris.

The British and French governments intervened, calling a conference where Foch was appointed supreme commander of the Allied armies, thus ensuring that from then on the whole Western Front was under one command.

The immediate crisis ended when Ludendorff changed the thrust of attack, dispersing his forces, and the Germans overran their supply lines. Ludendorff then attacked in Flanders, but he failed to break through to the sea. Then he aimed directly at Paris, but the French knew of his plan and acted effectively to parry the blow.

Judging the moment, Foch summoned Haig, Petain, and Pershing to Chateau Bombon on 24 July, where he unveiled a plan for a series of surprise attacks in different places at regular intervals. Under his supreme campaign the Western Front could now be treated as one front, with the main effort being switched from one point of attack to another, and with the Germans constantly transferring their reserves, often to little effect.

GERMANY AT FULL STRETCH

The Spring Offensive had depended on bringing troops westwards after the peace had been signed with Bolshevik Russia. But that could not wholly alter the fact that the Germans were over-extended, committed on too many fronts, with 500,000 occupation troops needed in former Tsarist territories, and with German troops propping up their Austro-Hungarian, Bulgarian, and Turkish allies.

The British naval blockade meant food was in short supply, fomenting discontent at home for the Germans, as were vital raw materials like rubber and oil. Germany lacked trucks to bring up supplies from the railheads, and those they had lacked hard-wearing rubber tyres.

The new territories seized in the east could supply oil and wheat, but that required military-imposed order and the rebuilding of communications. Germany faced a manpower and supply crisis.

Despite this, the final months of the war were no cakewalk: Allied armies faced stubborn German resistance even as chaos mounted in the enemys rear and on their home front.

The order of events is important. The German imperial state was thrown into crisis before the Armistice. Popular unrest at home meant a choice between getting rid of the Kaiser and installing a democratic government, or running the risk of Bolshevik-style revolution.

In the event, revolution did finally break out in November 1918, only to be crushed two months later by an alliance between a Social-Democratic government and the German Army. Long before, certainly by early October, German soldiers knew that their government was seeking an armistice. It is perhaps remarkable that so many units remained in the field fighting on for as long as they did.

One historian writes of the British Army herding the enemy towards the German border. The Germans were not being herded; they were retreating, for sure, but putting up stiff resistance all the way, as Allied casualty figures testify. The Canadian Corps took 45,000 casualties in just three months of fighting, the highest rate in the entire war and higher than any comparable period in the Second World War.

THE DOMINANCE OF MATERIEL

British 60-pdr guns in action on the Western Front in 1918.

While the Germans had put the emphasis during their Spring Offensive on shock troops to achieve penetration that could then be rapidly exploited, the British increasingly relied on their material advantage, particularly in artillery (often overlooked by an emphasis on the role of the tank).

The first of Fochs blows was landed by the French and the Americans along the Marne, where they employed 2,000 guns and 200 tanks, driving the Germans back four and a half miles.

The second was the British offensive at Amiens, something Foch had urged on Haig. On 8 August, 37,000 defenders were surprised by the 100,000 men of the British Fourth Army. The artillery had located German gun positions and was able to neutralise much of the defending firepower. This allowed 552 tanks to be deployed successfully. The Fourth Army captured 400 guns and inflicted 27,000 casualties.

Ludendorff famously wrote that, The 8th of August was the black day of the German Army in the history of the war.

Nonetheless, there was no decisive breakthrough. The Germans were battered and pushed back, but they remained intact. Ludendorff recovered his nerve for the while.

Yet clearly there was a problem with the morale of the army. German reinforcements moving up to the front at Amiens were jeered at as strike-breakers.

HEAVY CASUALTIES

Haigs old habit of refusing to desist from an assault that had ground to a halt remained, with Haig and his Fourth Army commander, Rawlinson, refusing to cease attacks lacking adequate artillery and armoured support, resulting in mounting casualties.

The Canadian and Australian commanders, Currie and Monash, demanded that Rawlinson tell Haig to back off, which he eventually agreed to.

A French offensive followed north of Compiegne, aimed at Lassigny. It took six attempts over four days, but their target fell.

This was followed by the Battle of Albert, where the British Third and Fourth Armies forced the Germans to withdraw to the Hindenburg Line.

In 50 days, British forces had advanced 25 miles on a 40-mile front, but at the cost of 180,000 casualties. A New Zealand officer wrote regarding the fighting on the Somme that:

The enemy has been indeed retiring, but his movements had up till this time been conducted in great measure deliberately, with marked skill and in good order he had maintained unbroken a screen behind which he had withdrawn his guns and main force.

Further south, the Americans attacked against the St Mihiel Salient, just as the Germans began to withdraw. Nevertheless, it was an important victory, boosting American morale.

THE HINDENBURG LINE

Map showing the Allied advance on the Western Front, August-November 1918, and the zones of Allied military occupation following the Armistice. Note that large parts of France and Belgium were still under German control on 11 November 1918.

The prospect of attacking the Hindenburg Line led to concern in London over prospective casualties, and Haig was warned that heavy losses would not be tolerated. He was livid, but grasped that his job was on the line, and henceforth was prepared to halt operations before they bogged down, and to delegate responsibility to able commanders like Currie, Monash, Byng, Rawlinson, and Horne.

In truth, any successful advance was still limited to the pace of an infantryman and of horse-drawn field guns. The difficulty of supplying armies from railheads over difficult terrain, allowing for combined operations, remained. Haig had to accept there was not going to be a decisive breakthrough  rather a sequence of offensives that would keep the Germans on the back foot.

British tactics had certainly developed since the battles of 1916 and 1917. Sound-ranging techniques located enemy batteries, which were destroyed, clearing the way for tanks and infantry. The creeping barrage meant German machine-gunners did not have time to emerge from their dugouts and mount their weapons before the enemy was upon them.

The British attacked without heavy equipment, in small groups of blobs or worms, using cover and firepower. Enemy strongpoints were eliminated by flanking movements of troops armed with mortars, Lewis guns, and rifle-grenades, and by 400 of the more reliable Mark IV tanks now in service. In addition, the air force plotted enemy positions and movements.

Engineering units followed quickly, laying down cable to allow communications with front-line units.

All of this was underpinned by an impressive reorganisation of British railways in France, undertaken by Sir Eric Geddes, manager of the North-Eastern Railway, who had been drafted in by Lloyd George.

The tank, however, was prone to break down, and the Germans found new ways of dealing with them: by artillery fire, using bags of grenades, and firing at the slits. On the Amiens front, the number of British tanks in action fell from 342 on 8 August to just 38 on 11 August.

It was all a long way from the Somme! But major constraints on tactical advances and strategic breakthroughs remained.

THE BRITISH IN CONTEXT

Nor was there anything distinctively British about these advances. Haig never fully grasped the need for more machine-guns and automatic weapons.

Attackers needed automatic weapons to deal with German machine-guns and to beat off counter-attacks. By mid-1918, Canadian divisions had one automatic weapon  Lewis guns in the main  for every 13 men, while British divisions still had only one per 61.

What the British were doing was adopting tactics used by the Germans, by the French successfully on the first day of the Somme, and by the Russian General Brusilov in 1916. Exponents of the learning curve thesis might ask what took Haig so long to grasp the lesson implicit in the appalling British casualty lists of 1916 and 1917.

Mass: a US Army camp in the Argonne during the Hundred Days Offensive. Image: WIPL

In September, Foch launched a series of fresh offensives from St Mihiel to the Channel. At Cambrai, the Canadians crossed the Canal du Nord; while to the south, British territorial troops of the North Midlands Division did the same.

But a familiar pattern re-emerged. The Second Army advanced in the Ypres Salient, taking the Passchendaele and Messines ridges, but after nine miles the problem of supplying troops and bringing the guns forward over devastated ground imposed a halt.

By early October, logistical problems had halted operations in Flanders, German resistance had blunted the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, and the Canadians were held up outside Cambrai. And while the British Fourth Army had broken through the Hindenburg Line, overrunning the key Beaurepaire defenceline, this had taken longer than hoped, with German machine-gun posts maintaining stiff resistance; 200 were reported in just one village.

On 19 October, Haig reported to the War Cabinet that despite the successes achieved, Germany had not suffered a decisive defeat; its forces, he believed, could retreat to the border and hold out into 1919. Haig not only expected the fighting to go into 1919; he also assumed that British influence would wane in relation to that of the United States.

GERMANYS UNBROKEN ARMY

Between 8 August and 20 October, almost half the Tanks Corps tanks were put out of action.

After the Battle of the Sambre, the BEF was effectively halted during the final days due to bad weather and the distance back to its railheads

The Allies could deploy better intelligence, enjoyed air superiority (ensuring effective reconnaissance), had huge quantities of gas available, and had a huge and growing manpower advantage.

But the German Army in the field was not broken. It continued to withdraw in good order. The problem their commanders and rulers faced was the collapse on the home front and then in the rear during the summer and autumn of 1918. By September 1918, Berlin police estimated there were 40-50,000 deserters in the city.

Germanys allies were also collapsing: on 29 September Bulgaria surrendered, and on 3 November the Austro-Hungarians agreed an armistice. By then, the new German government had telegraphed President Wilson requesting an end to fighting.

The enemy within: German revolutionaries man the barricades in January 1919. Image: WIPL

On 29 October the German fleet mutinied, and by 4 November soldiers and workers councils  the equivalent of the soviets of the Russian Revolution  were spreading across Germany. The Kaiser was told by the High Command to abdicate, and he took flight to Holland.

The Allies, Foch and Haig included, believed the war would go on into 1919, and were planning for that. But the offer of an Armistice could not be refused, even though they knew the German Army had not been destroyed  because refusal would not have been accepted by war-weary populations, and because the Allied leaders feared that the contagion of revolution, if not cauterised in Germany, might spread westwards.

HAIG: AN ASSESSMENT

Haig argued that the success of the Hundred Days was the result of the previous two years stubborn fighting. In reality, the return to open warfare was a consequence of the failure of Ludendorffs Spring Offensive.

That failure, for sure, had to be exploited by the Allies  and it was a joint Allied effort, not simply a British one, and even the British relied very heavily on Dominion forces.

Haigs strategy was relentless pursuit of the enemy as they withdrew and the use of his material superiority, particularly in artillery, to demolish resistance, but the Hundred Days was a costly and ultimately inconclusive affair.

In recent years, there has been a concerted effort to deconstruct previous notions that Haig overly relied on Canadians and, to a lesser extent, Australians as shock troops. The emphasis has been on how the performance of British units had improved.

Improvement there undoubtedly was, but Dominion troops were indeed often used to spearhead offensives, while improvement was equally apparent in the armies of both German enemy and French ally.

At 11am on 11 November 1918, the war ended  but without the German Army having been decisively beaten, a fact that the German Right, most notably Hitlers Nazis, would use to create the myth of the stab in the back. What they could not admit was that it was popular revolution at home that ensured the fighting had to end.

Chris Bambery is an author and broadcaster whose books include Catalonia Reborn (Luath Press), co-authored with George Kerevan; A Peoples History of Scotland (Verso); and The Second World War: a Marxist analysis (Pluto).

This is an extract from the December 2018 issue of Military History Matters. To find out more about the magazine and how to subscribe, click here.
President Donald Trump's efforts to send National Guard troops into U.S. cities  including Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon, and Chicago  over the objections of Democratic mayors and governors have prompted a host of questions about the president's authority and who controls the Guard.

A judge in California has ruled that the deployment of 4,000 National Guard members  along with 700 Marines  in Los Angeles earlier this year violated federal law. A judge in Oregon issued two temporary restraining orders over the weekend blocking the administration from deploying federal troops to protect federal property in that state. Chicago and Illinois have sued in hopes of obtaining a similar order there. National Guard troops from Texas have arrived in that state.

Amid the rapid developments as the administration appeals, here's a look at National Guard deployments, how they have been done before and the legality of Trump's efforts to send troops into Democratic-led cities.

What Are the Rules for Presidents Activating the National Guard?

National Guard units are under the control of governors, who may activate them to respond to disasters such as hurricanes or wildfires in their own or other states, unless they are called up by the president.

Under federal law, the president can take command of a states National Guard troops in limited circumstances: when the U.S. is being invaded or is in danger of invasion by a foreign nation; when there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the United States; or when the president is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.

Trump says those conditions are occurring in cities that he believes are overrun with crime and immigration protests. But his efforts in California and Oregon have been rejected by federal judges who believe he is overstepping his authority. A similar battle is brewing in Illinois, where the Democratic governor is adamantly opposed to having Guard troops deployed.

How Are the Courts Interpreting Presidential Authority over the Guard?

A key issue in the lawsuits brought by states and cities seeking to block the deployment of National Guard troops in their communities is whether a presidents determination is final on whether there is a danger of rebellion, or that the laws cant be executed with regular forces."

The law requires that the conditions actually exist, noted Brenner Fissell, a Villanova University law professor who is also vice president of the National Institute of Military Justice.

In the Los Angeles case, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has said that a presidents determination is entitled to a great level deference but that courts can review it to ensure it fits within the realm of honest judgment.

In Oregon, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut temporarily blocked Trumps deployment of the Guard, saying the facts on the ground  involving nightly protests typically numbering a couple dozen people, with occasional larger crowds and skirmishes  did not meet that test or warrant the federalization of 200 troops.

The administrations lawyers have asserted that courts cannot second-guess the presidents determinations. The Portland protests have strained the resources of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, requiring agents to be transferred there from other parts of the U.S. and to work 12-hour shifts seven days a week. That shows the department cannot protect federal property with regular forces, they argued.

But Fissell suggested the consequences would be dire if the president can call out the National Guard over the objections of state and city leaders in response to such small protests.

If the president on his own, unreviewably, could determine when any of these prongs exist, then there is effectively no judicial protection against a military coup in this country, Fissell said.

How Have Presidents Relied on the Guard Before?

Presidents assumed command of state National Guard units repeatedly during the Civil Rights Era to enforce federal court orders when Southern governors openly refused to comply with them. That included in 1957, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower took control of the Arkansas National Guard and sent in the Armys 101st Airborne Division to allow nine Black students to integrate Central High School in Little Rock.

In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson took control of the Alabama National Guard to ensure civil rights demonstrators could march from Selma to Montgomery after state troopers attacked them. That was the last time a U.S. president deployed the National Guard against the wishes of a governor.

Presidents have also federalized the National Guard at the invitation of governors to quell unrest. Examples include when Michigans governor sought help controlling rioting in Detroit that left dozens of people dead in 1967, and in 1992 when Californias governor asked President George H.W. Bush to help end riots over the acquittal of four white police officers who severely beat Black motorist Rodney King.

Can National Guard Troops Enforce the Law?

Generally speaking, not when they fall under the command of the president. The Posse Comitatus Act, which dates to 1878, is a criminal law that bars the use of the military for domestic policing.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in California found last month that Trump's use of the Guard in Los Angeles this summer violated that law. His ruling is on hold as the administration appeals.

The cities and states challenging the deployments say they are fully capable and willing to execute the laws on their own and don't need federal interference. Civilian police  not military troops  are the ones trained in protecting First Amendment rights; in conducting arrests, traffic stops and crowd control; in de-escalation; and in using less-lethal force.

Posse Comitatus Act violations can be punished by up to two years in prison, but no such prosecution has ever been brought in U.S. history, said Syracuse University law professor William Banks, an expert in constitutional law and national security.

The criminal law aspect of it is not the point, Banks said. The point is that it establishes a presumption that we just don't want soldiers on the street.

There is one major exception to the Posse Comitatus Act: The president can invoke the Insurrection Act, which allows him to deploy military forces inside the U.S. to suppress rebellion or to enforce the law. Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson used the Insurrection Act to take control of the Guard during the Civil Rights era, and Bush to quell the LA riots.

Trump has suggested he is open to invoking it.

In that case, Banks said, All brakes are off the administration. He can entirely militarize the city if he wanted to. He can tell everybody to stay in their houses.

What Does the National Guard Do?

The National Guard has hundreds of thousands of part-time troops, many of whom are college students or have day jobs in their civilian life. They regularly drill one weekend a month, with an annual two-week training. They can be deployed overseas in support of combat or to conduct missions like building schools, or they can be sent out within the U.S. in response to disasters or civil unrest.

The Guards origins date back as far as 1636, when the first colonywide militia regiments in North America were organized in Massachusetts. The other colonies formed their own militias, which fought under Gen. George Washington during the Revolutionary War.

Because of the abuses of the British army, the framers of the Constitution opposed the idea of a standing army controlled by the president. The militias were kept under the control of the states, and Congress was given the responsibility of determining under what circumstances the president could call them into service.
In early August 2022, 17-year-old Nathanael Royal called his parents and begged them to bring him home before he got attacked.

At the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy, an Aberdeen Proving Ground boot camp-cum-GED program for at-risk Maryland youth run by the National Guard, Royal thought hed be getting a second chance after failing ninth and 10th grade. He had withdrawn from public school to attend the program, a requirement.

But within a few weeks, Royal wanted out.

Royal told his parents in his one weekly allowed 10-minute phone call that other cadets were hitting teens with rock socks and lock socks, a type of homemade blackjack. He was scared and didnt feel safe.

He asked them to pick him up, but they refused.

We honestly didnt believe him because the sergeants, when we first went, told us that the kids would say anything to come home and to not believe them, mother Shayna Royal said. So we didnt.

Gov. Wes Moores office declined to comment on Royals experience at the camp, directing The Baltimore Sun to the National Guard.

The Maryland Military Department declined multiple requests for interviews with the program director and the states adjutant general; however, Public Affairs Manager Chazz Kibbler provided a statement.

The Maryland Military Departments top priority has always been, and will remain, the health, safety, and well-being of the cadets entrusted to our care at the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy, Kibbler said.

We are aware of concerns raised about incidents at the Freestate ChalleNGe Academy, Kibbler said. We take any allegation of misconduct or unsafe conditions seriously. In cases where investigations substantiated misconduct, appropriate actions were taken to address the matter.

The following week, around 3 a.m. on Aug. 16, Royal said he woke up to four or five teens, wearing black T-shirts tied over their faces, holding him down on his bed while others punched and slammed him in the head. At times, he told The Sun they hit him in the head with their fists; at other times, that he thought it might have been a lock sock.

They hit him so hard that they knocked him unconscious, he said, but not before threatening him with further harm if he snitched.

The next morning, around 5 a.m., Royal, afraid to be honest with program staff, told a sergeant hed been stung by a bee.

The sergeant took Royal to the nurse, who called his mother, Shayna Royal. Shayna picked him up that morning and drove him to the E.R., where doctors diagnosed him with a contusion, a possible concussion and recommended a follow-up with a brain injury association in Virginia, according to medical records The Sun reviewed.

You are at very low risk for having any bleeding in your brain, his discharge paperwork reads. You may also have a concussion [and] feel nauseous, have difficulty concentrating.

Please follow up with your PCP in the next few days.

He was very lucky, Shayna said, thankful that it wasnt any worse.

But Royal didnt feel lucky.

Although things have been getting better over the past year, he cant shake whats happened to him  and his parents want to make sure this doesnt happen to another teen.

Sleepless Nights

Royal cant remember much of the attack, and doesnt remember a lot of what happened at the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a possible concussion and a contusion. What he does remember is the sleepless nights he endured for months after  night after night where he lay awake, terrified. He couldnt fall asleep until the sun came up.

The concussion symptoms were severe, too, but he didnt want to seek follow-up treatment. Instead, his mother said, he stayed in bed or shut himself in his room for most of the following year.

Everything in my mind was in a different place, Royal said. But, he said, I like to deal with things on my own.

Royals family said they reached out to Freestate, pursuing accountability but said Freestate swept the attack under the rug. The staff implied they didnt believe Royal had been assaulted in conversations after the event, and the program didnt even cover the cost of Royals E.R. bill, the family said.

Now, Royal is 19 years old, and still struggling.

Hes not who he was before, Shayna said. I just want them shut down.

BEWARE! BEWARE!

In the aftermath of the attack, Royals father, Jason Royal, said he reached out to Freestate leadership seeking justice for his son, but found then-director Keith Dickersons responses unhelpful.

He kept saying your son was allegedly assaulted, Jason said. Allegedly. We dont even know if thats true or not, and we dont have cameras in the room so we cant see what happened. He pretty much was just brushing the whole thing off.

Dickerson, who stepped down from Freestate in April 2024, said Royal had called and written his parents daily, begging them to disenroll [him] from the programBased on the initial story we were told [regarding Royals injury] and the story told at the hospital, naturally, there was some doubt that arose; particularly because the youth had been trying to get out of the program since it started.

Dickerson said in an email he expected to hear from the Royal family after the hospital visit, but that he and his staff never heard from the family again.

Frustrated, Jason posted to Google Reviews, leaving a one-star review of Freestate. He recounted his familys experience with the program and included photos of Royals head after the attack, swelling clearly visible through his bootcamp buzzcut and wrapping around his forehead.

In the photos posted, taken the morning after the attack, Royal looks away from the camera, his hand curled in front of his mouth, and a little expression on his face. A visible dent can be seen at the back of his skull and about half his skull, including his forehead, is heavy and swollen.

BEWARE! BEWARE! Jason wrote. Do not send your kids to Freestate ChalleNGe Academy. The kids safety is not the number one priority. Many kids are being assaulted, hit with locks in socks and the sergeants are doing nothing about it.  Last night my son was assaulted by 2 other cadets and has a dent in his head and a lot of swelling and a concussion.  My son is in fear of his life being there and has no trust in the staff. This happened while staff [were] there. The director will give the run-around and will not admit any wrongdoings that are going on under his watch. Please parents spread the word and do not allow your child to become a victim.

Dickerson told Royals parents to bring him back to the camp, Shayna said. Instead, they removed him from the program and reached out to Bel Airs public school district, hoping to re-enroll him as a high school freshman. The district, however, refused to take him back, Shayna said. He was already 17, and wouldnt graduate until he was 21.

They reached out to a military lawyer, Shayna said, but didnt know what steps to take next.

Blowing Smoke

Royal blames his parents for the attack he suffered at Freestate, and everything that followed. The sleepless nights, the inability to think, and the fear he couldnt let go of.

They didnt believe me, Royal said, referencing his telephone call home. It was their fault. I stand on that.

Before the attack, he had been set to graduate with his GED a year earlier than his peers. After, he was frozen, he said.

It took him another year before he could even start to work on his GED again, and he didnt get his diploma until December 2024, a full year after he would have graduated high school. He now works the overnight online order shift at the local Target.

The blame hurts Shayna, who picked him up from the camp, who met with every district administrator she could to try and get him back into public school. She is still upset that she didnt bring him home when he first called them, but thought she was doing the right thing, she said.

Jason, however, is less bothered by the blame. He developed PTSD after an active duty tour in the Army in Iraq in the early 2000s, and said he sometimes struggles with empathy for others. But hes frustrated at the lack of response from Freestate and program accountability after what was done to his son.

They preach how its supposed to be very safe, he said. They were just blowing smoke.

 2025 Baltimore Sun.

Visit baltimoresun.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
WASHINGTON  The United States under the Biden and Trump administrations has provided at least $21.7 billion in military assistance to Israel since the start of the Gaza war two years ago, according to a new academic study published Tuesday, the second anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks in Israel that provoked the conflict.

Another study, also published by the Costs of War project at Brown Universitys Watson School of International and Public Affairs, says the U.S. has spent roughly $10 billion more on security aid and operations in the broader Middle East in the past two years.

While the reports rely on open source material for most of their findings, they offer some of the most comprehensive accountings of U.S. military aid to close ally Israel and estimated costs of direct American military involvement in the Middle East.

The State Department had no immediate comment about the amount of military aid provided to Israel since October 2023. The White House referred questions to the Pentagon, which oversees only a portion of the assistance.

The reports, which draw on publicly available notifications to Congress, were released as President Donald Trump presses for an end to the war in Gaza. Israeli and Hamas officials launched indirect talks in Egypt this week after Hamas accepted some elements of the U.S. plan that Israel also said it supported.

The reports, which are sharply critical of Israel, say that without the U.S. assistance, Israel would not have been able to sustain its concerted campaign against Hamas in Gaza. They note that tens of billions of dollars in future funding for Israel is projected under various bilateral agreements.

The main report says the U.S. provided $17.9 billion to Israel in the first year of the war  when Democratic President Joe Biden was in office  and $3.8 billion in the second year. Some of the military assistance has already been delivered while the remainder will be supplied in the coming years, it said.

That report was produced in conjunction with the Washington-based Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. The institute has been accused by some pro-Israel groups of being isolationist and anti-Israel, charges the organization denies.

A second report analyzing U.S. spending on broader Middle East activities, such as strikes on Yemens Houthi rebels and Iranian nuclear facilities, puts those costs at between $9.65 billion and $12 billion since Oct. 7, 2023, including between $2 billion and $2.25 billion for the attacks in Iran and associated costs in June.
CAIRO  As talks on a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release gather pace, Hamas is expected to seek the release of some of the highest-profile prisoners held by Israel, including the most popular and potentially unifying Palestinian political figure: Marwan Barghouti.

Israel views Barghouti and the others as terrorist masterminds who murdered Israeli civilians and has refused to release them in past exchanges. But it faces mounting pressure to end the war and bring back the remaining 48 hostages taken in Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack, around 20 of them believed to be alive.

Many Palestinians view the thousands of prisoners held by Israel as political prisoners or freedom fighters resisting decades of military occupation.

Israel fears history will repeat itself after it released senior Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in a 2011 exchange. The long-serving prisoner was one of the main architects of the Oct. 7 attack and went on to lead the militant group before he was killed by Israeli forces in Gaza last year.

Here's a look at some of the prisoners believed to be at the top of a list Hamas says it submitted to mediators this week.

Marwan Barghouti

For several years, polls have shown that the 66-year-old Barghouti is the most popular Palestinian political figure and suggest he would handily win presidential elections, which haven't been held since 2005.

He's far more popular than Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and seen as someone who could succeed him and potentially mend the longstanding rift between Abbas' Fatah movement and Hamas. Some have even compared him to Nelson Mandela, who was jailed for 27 years before becoming South Africa's first Black president.

Barghouti was a senior Fatah leader in the Israeli-occupied West Bank during the intifada, or Palestinian uprising, that erupted in 2000, and Israel says he orchestrated attacks that killed several people. He was arrested in 2002 and later given five life sentences. He offered no defense, refusing to recognize the Israeli court's legitimacy.

He supports the creation of a Palestinian state in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, territories Israel seized in the 1967 Mideast war, something Israel's current government and most of its political class oppose.

Abdullah Barghouti

The Kuwait-born Barghouti, with no direct relation to Marwan, was a senior Hamas bombmaker and commander during the 2000 intifada who was implicated in several notorious attacks on Israeli civilians, mainly in Jerusalem.

An Israeli court handed him 67 life sentences in 2004  the longest sentence handed down in the country's history  after he was convicted of attacks that killed 66 people, including five Americans, and wounded more than 500.

Now in his early 50s, he was convicted of making the bombs used in an attack at the Hebrew University in which five Americans and four Israelis were killed, a suicide bombing at a branch of the Sbarro pizzeria that killed 15 people, a suicide bombing at a cafe that left 11 dead and a triple bombing on Jerusalems Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall that killed 10.

In the sentencing, the judges wrote that they regretted that the death penalty was not an option. The only death penalty Israel has carried out was that of Holocaust planner Adolf Eichmann in 1962.

Ahmed Saadat

The leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a small leftist faction with an armed wing, was accused of organizing the 2001 assassination of Israeli Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi, an ultranationalist who called for the mass expulsion of Palestinians.

Saadat and four PFLP activists directly involved in the killing were eventually arrested by Palestinian police. In April 2002, a makeshift court hastily convened in then-Palestinian leader Yasser Arafats West Bank compound sentenced the four to prison terms ranging from one to 18 years. Saadat was not charged, with Palestinian officials saying at the time they did not believe he was involved in the killing.

In an internationally-brokered agreement that year, he was transferred to a Palestinian jail in the West Bank city of Jericho. In 2006, fearing he might be released, Israel raided the prison and took him and other Palestinians into custody. He was sentenced to 30 years in 2008. He is now in his early 70s.

Hassan Salama

Hassan Salama, a senior Hamas militant, was given 46 life sentences in 1997 stemming from the bombing of two commuter buses in Jerusalem and another attack that together killed and wounded dozens of people.

He led a series of revenge attacks after the assassination of Hamas' chief bombmaker, Yahya Ayyash, in 1996. Salama, now in his early 50s, was arrested later that year.

Hamas carried out several major attacks on Israeli civilians in the 1990s, when Israel and Arafat's Palestine Liberation Organization were engaged in U.S.-brokered peace talks.

Those negotiations repeatedly broke down, often in the aftermath of attacks and over Israel's expansion of settlements. No substantive negotiations have been held since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to office in 2009.

Abbas al-Sayyed

Al-Sayyed, now in his late 50s, was a senior Hamas commander in the West Bank during the 2000 intifada and was implicated in the deadliest attack of the uprising.

He was given 35 life sentences and another 100 years over his role in multiple attacks, including a suicide bombing at the Park Hotel in the coastal city of Netanya in March 2002 that killed 30 people and wounded 140 others as they celebrated the Jewish Passover.

That attack marked the peak of the uprising and led Israel to launch major military operations across the occupied West Bank.
TEL AVIV, Israel  The Israeli military intercepted a nine-boat flotilla trying to break Israels naval blockade of Gaza early Wednesday in the Mediterranean Sea and detained scores of activists on board, the flotilla organizers and the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry said the 145 activists taking part in the Freedom Flotilla Coalition & Thousand Madleens to Gaza, were in good health and were being brought to shore in Israel for processing before they are deported.

The interception came after nearly 450 activists from a previous, high-profile flotilla  including European lawmakers and climate activist Greta Thunberg  were intercepted on more than 40 boats last week trying to reach Gaza with a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid.

While most of the activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla have been deported, six of them  from Norway, Morocco and Spain  remain detained in Israel, lawyers representing them said late Tuesday.

The latest flotilla trying to reach Gaza

The organizers of this latest flotilla decried the new detentions on Wednesday as arbitrary and unlawful.

The activists on board the nine-vessel group included doctors, at least one member of the European parliament and several national lawmakers from Turkey, Denmark, France and Belgium.

A passenger list posted on the flotilla's website also shows two Israeli citizens were on board their largest boat, the Conscience.

The flotilla was carrying some food and medical aid destined for Gaza hospitals.

Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X.

Organizers said the fleet was intercepted around 120 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza. Cameras aboard the vessels, one large passenger ship and eight smaller sailboats, broadcast the interceptions live.

The boats could be seen being approached by fast-moving ships and then boarded by Israeli troops, who then cut off the broadcast. Activists also said an Israeli helicopter flew over them. No injuries were reported.

Israeli interceptions spark condemnation

Turkey strongly condemned and called Israels latest interception in international waters an act of piracy. Its Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it was a serious violation of international law and accused Israel of escalating tensions and undermining peace efforts.

Turkey has launched diplomatic efforts to secure the immediate release and safe return of its citizens and was coordinating with other countries regarding the status of other activists, the statement said.

The interceptions last week of the Global Sumud Flotilla drew widespread condemnation and sparked large protests in several major cities and a one-day strike across Italy.

Some of the deported activists had described mistreatment at the hands of Israeli guards, claims that Israel denies.

Late on Tuesday, dozens of parliamentarians from Turkey and European countries  including Cyprus, Belgium, Spain and Italy  issued a joint statement condemning Israels interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla and demanded the immediate release of the remaining detained activists.

The statement described the convoy as peaceful and a civilian initiative, and appealed for upholding international law.

The flotillas to Gaza came amid surging criticism of Israel's conduct in Gaza, where its offensive in the war against Hamas has laid waste wide swaths of territory and killed tens of thousands of people.

Negotiations underway in Egypt

Also Wednesday, Israel and Hamas resumed indirect negotiations in the Egyptian resort of Sharm Al-Sheikh, along with high-level leaders from international delegations, including the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.

The war was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. The militants killed some 1,200 people that day, while 251 others were abducted. Forty-eight hostages are still held in Gaza  around 20 believed to be alive.

Israels ensuing campaign has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and militants in its toll. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government and whose figures are viewed by experts as the most reliable estimate, has said women and children make up around half the dead.

Israel has maintained varying degrees of blockade on the Gaza Strip since Hamas seized power in the coastal territory in 2007, saying it is necessary to contain the militant group. Critics deride the policy as collective punishment.

After the war started, Israel tightened the blockade but eased up later under U.S. pressure. In March, it sealed the territory off from all food, medicine and other goods for 2  months, contributing to Gazas slide into famine.

Flotilla activists say they want to break Israel's blockade and establish a humanitarian corridor by sea, given the little aid that reaches Gaza by land. They have vowed to try again.

___

Brito reported from Barcelona, Spain. Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report.

___

This version corrects the number of European parliament members in the group. It is at least one.
KYIV, Ukraine  Russia seriously damaged one of Ukraines thermal power plants in an overnight attack, authorities said Wednesday, as Moscow pursued its campaign to deny Ukrainians heat, light and running water as winter approaches.

Two workers were injured in the attack, according to DTEK, Ukraines biggest electricity operator. It provided no further information, including the plants location.

Ukrainian authorities release few details about the routine Russian attacks on its power grid so as not to give away intelligence to the enemy. Repair crews, meanwhile, work round the clock to undo the damage.

The energy sector has been a key battleground since Russia launched its all-out invasion of its neighbor more than three years ago.

Each year, Russia has tried to cripple the Ukrainian power grid ahead of the bitter winter, hoping to erode public morale and disrupt military manufacturing. Ukraine has accused Moscow of weaponizing winter.

Ukraines winter runs from late October through March, with January and February the coldest months.

Ukraine, meanwhile, has been hitting back with long-range strikes on the Russian energy supply, recently causing outages in some Russian regions along the border.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday that its air defenses overnight intercepted 53 Ukrainian drones over nine Russian regions.

The Ukrainian town of Shostka, in the northeastern Sumy region, has been hard hit by the Russian onslaught against the power supply, officials say.

Authorities there have put up tents where locals can warm up, drink hot tea, charge their phones and receive psychological support, according to regional head Oleh Hryhorov.

He posted photos on Telegram of people cooking in outdoor kitchens in the street over open fires on Tuesday.

Shostka Mayor Mykola Noha posted the locations of 11 places in the town where locals can get food and tea. Please bring your own dishes, he wrote on Facebook Wednesday morning.

Russia also struck energy infrastructure in Ukraines northern Chernihiv, southern Kherson and southeastern Dnipropetrovsk regions, authorities said.

Ukraines air force said it intercepted or jammed 154 out of 183 Russian strike and decoy drones fired at the country overnight.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian rockets killed three people and wounded one more in Russias Belgorod border region, where previous attacks have brought power outages, Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov said Wednesday.

Read next: 'It's a Lottery': Why Foreign Volunteer Fought in Russia-Ukraine War

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
Nancy Dell'Olio wants to be a guest judge on Strictly Come Dancing.

Nancy Dell'Olio did Strictly Come Dancing in 2011

The 64-year-old media personality - who danced with Anton Du Beke, 59, on the BBC Latin and ballroom dance show in 2011 - has even asked her agent to "talk with a producer" about the idea.

Nancy told the new issue of Closer magazine: "[Strictly] was an amazing experience, first of all because I had a lot of fun.

"It was difficult not to have fun with Anton! I'm very pleased I did it.

"My best wishes to Anton - now he's a judge!

"One thing I've been asking my agent to do is talk with a producer because I'd love to one night be a special guest, judging with Anton.

"That would be great."

While she is keen to return to Strictly Come Dancing, Nancy will not be making an appearance on the ITV jungle survival show, I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! anytime soon.

She explained: "No, never.

"They've asked me many times. That is something that scares me because I am so fanatic about hygienic things.

"It's not for me."

Nancy appears in the fifth series of Celebrity Help! My House Is Haunted - which follows stars as they invite paranormal investigators into their homes to uncover the stories of the spirits claimed to lurk in their properties.

The lawyer-turned-TV star decided to do the discovery+ series because there is some negative energy in her Italian villa.

Nancy explained: "I strongly believe that a house has a soul.

"Some houses have good spirits, and some houses have bad spirits.

"I knew there was a negative presence because I felt somebody pushing me down the stairs."

The team - formed of ghost hunter Barri Ghai, 46, psychic medium Ian Lawman, 55, and 42-year-old paranormal researcher Jayne Harris - told Nancy that the negative presence haunting her is called Peter.

And thanks to the trio, Nancy can now happily live alongside the spirit.

She said: "You come to realise that so many things exist without us understanding them completely.

"It makes a difference knowing who the spirit is."
LONDON  The trial of two British men accused of spying for Beijing collapsed because the U.K. government refused to brand China a threat to national security, the country's chief prosecutor said.

Former parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash and academic Christopher Berry were charged in April 2024 with violating the Official Secrets Act by providing information or documents that could be useful to an enemy and prejudicial to the safety or interests of the U.K. between late 2021 and February 2023.

But Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Parkinson said the case collapsed because no one from the government was willing to testify that at the time of the offense China represented a threat to national security.

When this became apparent, the case could not proceed, he wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to lawmakers on Parliaments home affairs and justice committees.

The high-profile case was dropped unexpectedly last month, weeks before the trial was due to begin, sparking allegations of political interference, which the government denies.

Parkinson said his team had tried over many months to get the evidence it needed but it had not been forthcoming from Prime Minister Keir Starmers administration.

Conservative lawmaker Alicia Kearns, who worked with Cash when she served as chair of Parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee, urged the government to provide more information about why the case collapsed.

The government must come clean. Who is responsible for spiking the prosecution?" she said. Continued stonewalling only invites further concern of concealment or conspiracy.

The two men deny wrongdoing, and the Chinese Embassy has called the allegations fabricated, dismissing them as malicious slander.

Under the Official Secrets Act, prosecutors would have had to show the defendants were acting for an enemy.

British intelligence authorities have ratcheted up their warnings about Beijings covert activities and Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee labeled Beijing a strategic threat in 2023.

The center-left Labour Party government, which took power last year, has used the term strategic challenge. It has tried cautiously to reset ties with Beijing after years of frosty relations over spying allegations, human rights concerns, Chinas support for Russia in the Ukraine war and a crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong, a former British colony.

Britains top diplomat and Treasury chief have both visited Beijing in the past year, and Starmer is expected to travel to China next year.

Asked about the spying case, Starmer maintained that the government couldnt provide the testimony prosecutors wanted because the Conservative Party, which was in office at the time of the alleged spying, had not designated China a threat.

Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described Chinas growing authoritarianism as an epoch-defining challenge  wording that defied many Conservatives expectations at the time that he would class China as a threat to U.K. security.

You cant prosecute someone two years later in relation to a designation that wasnt in place at the time, Starmer said. All the focus needs to be on the policy of the Tory government in place then. Thats the only place that the evidence could be focused on."

Critics say that explanation was not credible and allege the case was dropped to avoid damaging the relationship with China, a key trading partner.

This is a clear example of U.K. officials trading away our national security, said Luke de Pulford, executive director of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, an international group focused on the threats posed by Beijing's rising power.

The head of the MI5 domestic intelligence agency, Ken McCallum, has named China, Russia and Iran as the leading security threats to the U.K. In 2023 he said in an interview with the BBC that tens of thousands of people in the U.K. had been approached by Chinese spies, saying the espionage campaign was on a "pretty epic scale.
The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, passed during the post-Reconstructing era, is the cornerstone of the legal wall separating the U.S. military from domestic law enforcement. For much of Reconstruction, federal troops had enforced civil rights protections in the South, and many lawmakers pushed to end what they saw as a military occupation. The act prevented using federal troops from carrying out policing functions  such as searches, seizures, and arrests  unless Congress expressly authorized it by statute. The law does not apply to the Guard when under state control but does when they are federalized.

The most important exception is the Insurrection Act. Unlike Posse Comitatus, which limits military involvement in policing, the Insurrection Act empowers the president to use federal troops inside the U.S. in defined situations: at the request of a state facing insurrection, when normal judicial enforcement of federal law becomes impracticable, or when state governments fail to protect constitutional rights in the face of violence. The law requires a proclamation ordering insurgents to disperse before force is used. Once invoked, it authorizes direct policing by federal troops without violating Posse Comitatus. It has been used more than 20 times. These laws leave the president with latitude but also set up legal and political conflicts whenever active-duty soldiers are used on American soil.

The Insurrection Act of 1807, codified at 10 U.S.C.  251255 (formerly  331335), empowers the President to deploy U.S. forces domestically in response to rebellion, unlawful obstruction, or insurrection.

Recent Deployments Under Scrutiny

Recent coverage describes how this framework is being tested. President Trump has ordered Guard units and other federal forces into cities like Washington, D.C. and Portland, sparking lawsuits from state officials who argue the deployments violate Posse Comitatus by crossing into law enforcement. Courts are now being asked to determine whether these troops are providing support  which is permissible  or engaging in policing, which would be unlawful.

The border has been another focal point. Reports detail how the administration sought to place parts of the Roosevelt Reservation, a strip of land along the U.S.-Mexico border, under DoD jurisdiction. That shift would allow active-duty troops to operate there with fewer legal constraints; a move critics describe as an attempt to sidestep Posse Comitatus restrictions. While the military has historically assisted with logistics and surveillance at the border, direct apprehension of migrants would move into prohibited law enforcement activity.

Washington, D.C. has also become a test case. In August, the Pentagon announced Guardsmen patrolling the capital would be armed, marking an escalation from earlier unarmed security patrols. The move drew concern because while the Guard can be mobilized domestically under state governors, its federal activation in the capital puts it squarely under presidential authority and arming them raises the question of whether their role remains support or slips into direct law enforcement.

The Question Of Unlawful Orders

Some have also examined the scenario of a president issuing an order that is arguably illegal under Posse Comitatus. Military leaders are obligated to follow only lawful orders, and longstanding precedent holds that just following orders is no defense if those orders break the law. Yet the political and institutional pressure to comply with presidential direction can be overwhelming. If the military were instructed to police U.S. citizens in defiance of statute, commanders would face a stark choice: obey and risk illegality or refuse and confront the commander-in-chief.

Broader Risks

The Posse Comitatus Act was written to keep federal troops from becoming a domestic police force. This is not the first time the line has been tested, and the current use of troops in cities and at the border is the latest push. States such as California are already fighting these deployments in court, reaching back to nineteenth-century precedent to argue federal authority has limits. Whether those limits hold, or whether the White House eventually invokes the Insurrection Act to override them will set the tone for civil-military relations going forward. This is not an abstract debate. It is a live question of whether U.S. soldiers will be treated as a reserve police force  or whether the statutory line that has held since 1878 will actually mean something when its tested.
Shutdown Rules That Defy Common Sense

Every shutdown forces the government to decide what counts as essential. Air traffic controllers and TSA agents fall into that category, so they are required to keep working, though their paychecks are withheld until Congress reaches a deal. Social Security checks continue because those benefits are funded outside the annual appropriations fight. And members of Congress? Their salaries are safe, shielded by the Constitution. What does not continue automatically are military paychecks. Troops remain on duty in combat zones and, more recently, on American streets, but without the certainty of being paid on time.

Billions Abroad, Delays At Home

The contrast is stark. While American families wait, U.S. assistance to Israel flows without interruption. Billions per year is guaranteed under a 10-year memorandum of understanding, insulated from shutdown politics. Since October 7, 2023, the U.S. has given Israel at least $21.7 billion in military aid. The funding moves on autopilot, while a corporal posted outside an ICE facility in Los Angeles may not see a paycheck until the impasse ends.

Congress Always Gets Paid

One of the sharpest contrasts in any shutdown is that lawmakers paychecks never stop. For lawmakers, the shutdown is mostly abstract theatre. Article I, Section 6 of the Constitution guarantees this, making them immune to funding lapses. Even when their staff face furloughs, members of Congress continue drawing salaries. For servicemembers waiting on back pay, the optics are difficult to ignore  the very people responsible for the shutdown are the only ones guaranteed a check.

South Carolina Army National Guard Guardsmen assigned to the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force patrol near the Potomac Avenue Metro station in Washington, D.C., Sept 14, 2025 (Army Sgt. Ian Doyle, National Guard, DoW).

Domestic Deployments In The Spotlight

This shutdown has collided with politically fraught missions. In June, the Pentagon sent Marines and National Guard units to Los Angeles to protect ICE personnel during demonstrations. Similar deployments unfolded in Washington DC. Those soldiers fall under the same rule as troops in Afghanistan once did: show up for duty regardless of whether Congress funds their paychecks.

The Pay Our Military Patchwork

This is not new. In 2013, when a shutdown loomed, lawmakers rushed through the Pay Our Military Act, guaranteeing active-duty and some reserve pay. It was a patch, not a fix. In the 2018-2019 standoff, the DoD kept its payroll running; but the Coast Guard, funded through Homeland Security, went unpaid until lawmakers intervened. Service members on active duty were expected to show up regardless, with no guarantee of timely compensation.

A Fix That Still Is Not Permanent

The latest attempt is the Pay Our Troops Act of 2026, which would guarantee pay during funding lapses. Whether it passes will remain to be seen. Until then, shutdowns keep exposing the contradiction: America can always afford foreign aid and congressional salaries. It can even order the military into American cities. What it cannot seem to guarantee is that those servicemembers  or the families waiting for them at home  will be paid on time.
The Rangers are signing free agent reliever Declan Cronin to a two-year minor league contract, reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Cronin underwent Tommy John surgery last month and will miss next season, so this is about adding bullpen depth for 2027.

Cronin reunites with former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker, wholl take over the Texas dugout next season. He led Miami relief pitchers with 70 1/3 innings in 2024, Schumakers final season in South Florida. Cronin turned in a 4.35 ERA with solid strikeout and walk rates while getting ground-balls at a 58% clip and looked like a nice find after the Fish grabbed him off waivers the preceding offseason.

The righty began this season on the 15-day injured list after suffering a Spring Training hip strain. Miami optioned him to Triple-A Jacksonville when he returned from that injury. Cronin was pitching with diminished velocity, averaging 91.8 MPH on his sinker in the minors after sitting at 93.4 during his MLB work last year.

Six weeks later, Cronin went on the minor league injured list. He briefly returned in August before getting shut back down with the elbow injury that required surgery. Miami released him to open a spot on the 40-man roster. They could have placed him on the MLB injured list, but they wouldve needed to carry him on the 40-man throughout the offseason. They decided not to do that and cut him loose instead.

The 28-year-old Cronin has just over a year of MLB service time. Hell presumably get a look in Spring Training two years from now, where hell try to earn a middle relief spot. Cronin still has a pair of options remaining.
Roki Sasaki will operate as the Dodgers primary option in save situations, manager Dave Roberts told reporters this evening (relayed by Jack Harris of The Los Angeles Times). Roberts hedged on calling the rookie righty his full-time closer, noting that they cant ask Sasaki to pitch in every game.

The Dodgers tried to avoid using Sasaki last night in Philadelphia. L.A. took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning with a chance to take a 2-0 series advantage. Roberts called upon Blake Treinen to handle the ninth. Treinen promptly surrendered hits to Alec Bohm, J.T. Realmuto and Nick Castellanos to put the tying run on second without recording an out. Roberts then turned to southpaw Alex Vesia with left-handed hitting Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh and Max Kepler due up.

Vesia recorded two outs, including a force play on Castellanos at third when the Phils called for Stott to sacrifice. Roberts finally turned to Sasaki to face Trea Turner with runners on the corners and two away in a 4-3 game. He got a grounder to second to earn the save. It was the first time in his MLB career that he was called upon in the middle of an inning.

Sasaki has now finished three of the Dodgers four postseason games. He wrapped up the Wild Card Series by tossing a scoreless ninth inning to complete a 8-4 win over the Reds. That wasnt a save situation but was essentially treated as such with a chance to lock down the series and get two off days before the start of the Philly series. Sasaki got his first save in Game 1 of the NLDS, tossing a scoreless ninth to close a 5-3 victory.

The bullpen is the biggest question as the Dodgers try to repeat as World Series winners. Vesia is their only traditional reliever who has been a lockdown presence this year. Treinen allowed 10 earned runs across 9 1/3 innings in September and certainly looked beatable in Game 2. Tanner Scott, the primary closer for most of the year, allowed a 4.74 ERA over 61 regular season appearances. The Dodgers havent used him in the playoffs yet. Converted starters Sasaki and Emmet Sheehan have gotten high-leverage work. Roberts also called on Tyler Glasnow for an inning and two thirds out of the bullpen in Game 1 of the NLDS. Glasnow would start Game 4 if the Phils can stave off elimination tomorrow night.
Pre-rolled marijuana sits on a tray after being prepared for sale. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com) Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

LANSING, MI -- Shortly after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a new 24% wholesale tax on marijuana into law, Michigans most prominent cannabis trade organization filed a lawsuit.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, Oct. 7, in the state Court of Claims and signed by Michigan Cannabis Industry Association Director Robin Schneider, asks the court to block the tax set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, and declare it illegal.

The new tax is the result of bipartisan budget negotiations between the Republican-led House, Democrat-majority Senate and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who earlier this year floated the idea of a 32% wholesale marijuana tax to generate $470 million in new revenue for road repairs.

The reduced tax is expected to generate $420 million; however, opponents say that figure is inflated because it fails to take into account a reduction in sales due to higher prices.

The 24% wholesale tax on cannabis passed by the Michigan Legislature and signed into law by Governor Whitmer is unconstitutional in multiple respects, the legal team representing the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association said in a statement. The lawsuit (also) details how the last-minute, late-night process occurred in violation of a range of other constitutional provisions.

The Association is asking the court to strike the tax in its entirety.

Related: As Michigan marijuana tax jumps to 40%, critics worry itll fuel black market

Michigan voters passed the recreational marijuana law, the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marihuana Act, through a ballot initiative in 2018.

The state Constitution requires any changes to a voter-initiated law to come through a public vote or three-quarter supermajority passage in both the state House and Senate.

The 2018 marijuana law includes a 10% excise tax on retail sales and stipulates that 30% of the revenue should go to local and county governments, 35% to schools and 35% to road and bridge funds.

The tax generated nearly $116 million for roads in 2024.

Related:Lawmakers finally approve Michigans 2026 budget, adding a 24% marijuana tax

The lawsuit alleges any new tax on marijuana constitutes an amendment and therefore is subject to public vote or supermajority support for passage.

Supporters of the new tax disagree.

Dubbed the Comprehensive Road Funding Tax Act, House Bill 4951 created a fund to collect new taxes for road construction, preservation and maintenance. The original version of the bill never mentioned marijuana and was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

But on September 25, 2025 -- just nine days after its introduction -- the House suspended its rules and discharged the bill from committee without ever conducting a hearing, the lawsuit said. On the same day, the House adopted a substitute to the bill, completely rewriting the body of the legislation to create a comprehensive and convoluted structure to levy an excise tax on marijuana.

Proponents claim the new tax is a separate law that doesnt infringe on the rights stipulated in the 2018 voter-passed language.

When you read the initiated law from 2018, you see that it specifically references other taxes, specifically, therefore, those who wrote this acknowledge that there are other taxes that can be charged and levied, State Sen. Edward McBroom, R-Waucedah Township, said minutes before the Senate narrowly passed the legislation, 19-17. And it doesnt say that it can only be those that were in place at the time of passage.

The lawsuit states, while other taxes may generally apply to marijuana, such as sales tax, (the 2018 law) is the exclusive mechanism for imposing excise taxes.

The lawsuit further alleges the new law violates the state Constitutions change of purpose clause, which says the final version of a law must be germane to the original purpose.

The final version of House Bill 4951 imposed a 24% excise tax on marijuana wholesale prices, defined taxable entities and transactions, mandated filings and specified how revenue generated from the new tax would be spent, the lawsuit said. These sweeping changesnone of which were present in the original billconstitute an unlawful and unconstitutional change of purpose."

The lawsuit, which names the state, Treasurer Rachael Eubanks and the Department of Treasury, concludes by asking the court to declare the new tax unconstitutional, null and void and without legal effect.

MLive submitted requests for comment to the state Treasury and is awaiting response.
The seven-mile trail system at Norway Ridge Pathway includes tower red pines and sandy ridges that glow with golden displays of fall foliage. Visit Alpena

ALPENA, MI  This coastal town in Northern Michigan is about to hit peak leaf peeping conditions  and the best way to see them isnt in the car.

Visit Alpena has a list of no less than 10 recommended fall color hikes that allow visitors to bask in the glory of glowing golds, saturated scarlets and every shade of orange in between.

On that list is Norway Ridge Pathway. This seven-mile trail includes towering red pines and sandy ridges flanked with maple trees blanketed in buttery yellow.

An aerial view of Norway Ridge Pathway and Devil's River, just south of Alpena, Mich. Here, seven miles of trails glow with golden displays of fall foliage. Visit Alpena

Norway Ridge gets good color, a lot of yellows and gold - the trail turns gold, said Nicole Carr, of Visit Alpena.

Maintained by Thunder Bay Trails Association, the trail is open year-round to non-motorized users. The trailhead is on Werth Road, about 4.5 miles south of Alpena. Find the trail map here.

The seven-mile trail system at Norway Ridge Pathway includes tower red pines and sandy ridges that glow with golden displays of fall foliage. Visit Alpena

Those who want a little more variety in their fall color hike  adding some ruby red and vibrant orange with those gorgeous golds  should check out Island Park and the Alpena Bi-Path, Carr said.

RELATED: This coastal town has 10 hikes for the best fall color viewing

Those trails are both right in town, near shopping, restaurants and other local attractions.

An aerial view of Island Park where forested pathways wind provide a glimpse of dazzling fall color in the heart of Alpena, Mich. Visit Alpena

In the heart of Alpena, Island Park is a 17-acre island in the citys 500-acre wildlife sanctuary. Reach the island by cross a hand-hewn covered bridge from Duck Park. On the island, find rolling nature trails, fishing and bird-watching platforms, and five different ecosystems.

The Alpena Bi-Path is over 18 miles long, passing through wooded city parks, and running along the Lake Huron shoreline, the banks of the Thunder Bay River and throughout downtown Alpena.

RELATED: Michigans Fall Color: Slowly spreading southward, Updated peak color timing

Peak color is well on its way in Alpena, Carr said. The best fall foliage displays are likely to appear this weekend, Oct. 10-12, and the following weekend, Oct. 17-19.
CADILLAC, MI - A boy was stabbed and was taken to a local hospital by ambulance Tuesday night after police were called to check on a large group of juveniles.

Cadillac Police said their officers were sent to the 600 block of E. North Street about 6:45 p.m. Tuesday.

"Upon arrival, officers located the large group. One juvenile male subject that was located had suffered stab wounds," police said.

Other witnesses on scene told officers another boy had stabbed the victim, then that suspect ran away.

Police said they later took the juvenile suspect into custody.

This appears to be an isolated event. There is not believed to be a threat to the public, police said.

Because the suspect is a juvenile, he was turned over to the Wexford County Probate Court.

The victims condition was not released by police.
A Chinese national was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for conducting a criminal enterprise in Wayne County. (MLive file photo) MLive.com

LANSING, MI  A Chinese national will serve up to two decades in prison for operating commercial sex operations at illicit massage parlors in Michigan.

Huazi Piao, 61, was sentenced on Tuesday, Oct. 7, to 40 months to 20 years in prison for conducting a criminal enterprise in Wayne County, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced.

Piao pleaded guilty last month to one count of conducting a criminal enterprise. He was charged late last year along with four other people who together were accused of conducting one of the largest human trafficking operations ever uncovered in the state, Nessel said.

Search warrants were executed at four Wayne County massage parlors in December following an investigation into an alleged international human trafficking ring.

Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies were involved in the investigation, including Homeland Security Investigations, Michigan State Police and the St. Clair Shores Police Department.

I would like to thank the prosecutors from my department and our law enforcement partners whose dedication was instrumental in securing this conviction and delivering justice for human trafficking survivors, Nessel in a statement. My office remains committed to combating human trafficking and shutting down the criminal enterprises that perpetuate it.
The state Court of Appeals has upheld a hazing charge filed in the death of a Michigan State University student. (MLive File Photo) MLive File Photo

EAST LANSING, MI  The state Court of Appeals has upheld a hazing charge in the death of a Michigan State University student.

It was the first appeal of Garrets Law which criminalizes hazing.

Ethan Cao, described as a pledge master, challenged the constitutionality of the hazing law as well as the evidence that an Ingham County judge considered in ordering Cao to stand trial.

Phat Nguyen, 21, a fraternity pledge, died in 2021 of alcohol intoxication.

It has been two decades since the Legislature enacted Garrets law  but it has not received appellate scrutiny until now, appeals judges Matthew Ackerman, Kirsten Frank Kelly and Philip Mariani wrote.

We join the consensus of other states in upholding the constitutionality of anti-hazing legislation, both facially and as-applied, against challenges based on freedom of association, equal protection, vagueness and overbreadth.

Hazing resulting in death is a felony carrying a potential penalty of 15 years in prison upon conviction. Hazing resulting in injury is a 93-day misdemeanor.

The death  which resulted in Pi Alpha Phi closing its MSU chapter - happened on Nov. 20, 2021, at 413 Stoddard Ave. East Lansing police responded to a report of an unconscious person not breathing, a probable-cause affidavit said.

Nguyen, who had a blood-alcohol level of 0.386 percent, died at the scene of acute ethanol toxicity, Frierberg National Law Group, representing his family, has said.

Others were found unconscious on a basement floor with blood-alcohol levels of 0.467 percent, 0.324 percent and 0.128 percent, police said in court records.

Nine students were initially arrested but six have had charges dismissed and a seventh pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges. Cao, 26, along with Andrew Nguyen, 27, await trial.

Their cases have been on hold while Cao appealed.

Nguyen and the three who were hospitalized were fraternity pledges at a cross over party where they would become new members, police said.

Frierberg law firm previously said: The principal aim of the blackout event was to get the pledges, including Phat, as drunk as possible as fast as possible so they would blackout or die and be reborn as members of the fraternity.
LOS ANGELES -- Gene Simmons, the co-founder of the iconic rock band KISS, was hospitalized Tuesday after he was involved in a car crash. According to NBC4 in Los Angeles, the rocker was traveling along the 25000 block of Pacific Coast Highway around 1 p.m. when he lost control of his vehicle and hit a parked car.

Simmons wife, Shannon Tweed, told TMZ that her husbands SUV crossed over several lanes of traffic before hitting the car and coming to a rest. Deputies with the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department reported the 76-year-old guitarist and co-lead vocalist told them that he passed out or fainted before hitting the parked car.

Tweed told NBC4 that doctors recently changed her husbands medication and advised him he needs to drink more water. Simmons was hospitalized briefly following the crash and is now at home recovering. No one else was injured in the crash.
A purple gallinule was spotted on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, at Whitefish Point harbor in Paradise, Mich. It was the first-ever recorded observation of this species in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This bird is typically seen in the southeastern United States. Clay Bliznick | Michigan Audubon

PARADISE, MI  Fall migration is coming in floods  and with a few surprises  across Lake Superior as songbirds make their way to the flyways along Michigans shorelines.

The showstopper of the week was a juvenile purple gallinule that was spotted on Friday, Oct. 3, at the Whitefish Point harbor. It was the first-ever of this species to be seen in Michigans Upper Peninsula, according to Michigan Audubon.

Frank Fabbro, a fall waterbird counter at the Michigan Audubons Whitefish Point Bird Observatory in Paradise, was the first to observe the bird, which is typically found in the southeastern United States.

RELATED: Thousand-duck days have arrived as fall waterbird migration picks up

This juvenile was then seen by several other birders before disappearing into the night.

Clay Bliznick, an ornithologist at the observatory, described the birds long legs and toes as something else, in his field report.

His photo shows that the young bird is lacking the striking colors of its adult counterparts. Its feathers were gray with faint green and purple iridescence.

The appearance of a purple gallinule is an extraordinary occurrence, Bliznick said.

Even more exciting for birdwatchers, there could be more.

Another individual was found in a marsh in the western Lower Peninsula the next day, Bliznick said in his report. While some may assume this would be the same bird, this species tends to display a seasonal pattern of vagrancy in the fall and is almost assuredly a different individual. With two of these normally secretive marsh birds detected in Michigan over a 24-hour span, we can only wonder how many more may be out there.

Songbirds passing the point during the week of Sept. 30 to Oct. 6 included a wave of dark-eyed juncos (242 on Friday morning, Oct. 3, alone) and a noticeable uptick in purple finch and redpoll numbers, Bliznick said.

Going forward, officials expect migration at the point to stay busy with finch numbers climbing and late-season species moving into the spotlight.
The former Detroit Medical Center nurse has been charged with several counts of criminal sexual conduct, multiple involving patients. Detroit Medical Center Sinai-Grace Hospital's main entrance in Detroit, Michigan is pictured in this MLive file photo. The hospital has been named in a lawsuit alleging sexual assault of patients by a now-fired nurse. Jeremy Marble | MLive.com

Editors note: This story has been updated to include comment from Trinity Health.

A former Detroit nurse has been accused of sexually abusing and assaulting numerous patients while working at Detroit Medical Centers Sinai-Grace Hospital.

Wilfredo Figueroa-Berrios, 47, was arrested on multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct in the third and fourth degree in Wayne County. Hes also named in a pair of recent civil lawsuits, which accuse the Sinai-Grace of negligence in its hiring and continuing to employ the known sexual predator.

He was arraigned on the latest criminal sexual conduct charges Oct. 4. and remained in jail as of Wednesday afternoon, according to court records. Attempts by MLive to contact his attorney were not immediately successful.

Attorneys representing the women who have accused Figueroa-Berrios said there are at least seven survivors who have come forward to law enforcement as of Wednesday, Oct. 8, including five from his previous employment by Trinity Health in Livonia.

Attorneys for the survivors anticipate countless more coming forward.

Somebody who is depraved enough to commit sexual violence on patients, doesnt wake up one day and say, Hey, todays a good day to start, right?, said Jim Harrington, one of the attorneys for the women.

This is something that develops over time, that supervisors and administrators who do their job would see this. It was there before they even let this man into that building with the body of previous complaints (against him).

Sinai-Grace and its parent company, Tenet Healthcare, have been served with at least one related lawsuit. Others are expected to be filed in the coming days, according to attorneys Harrington and Todd Flood.

In a statement, Sinai-Grace said it has a rigorous process in place to screen applicants prior to employment. That process didnt identify a concern regarding Figueroa-Berrios.

Upon becoming aware of these allegations, Sinai-Grace proactively initiated contact with and notified law enforcement and suspended the employee, who has since been terminated, the statement said. We do not condone any type of abuse and are cooperating fully with law enforcement.

But Harrington said efforts by the hospital to contact Figueroa-Berrios prior employer or to assess his social media pages would have turned up concerning history.

A spokesperson for Trinity Health confirmed he was employed by them for about six weeks in 2018, but denied he worked there in 2021 as referenced in the lawsuit.

We are aware of the reports concerning serious allegations made against an individual who was previously employed by health care facilities in southeast Michigan, Trinity Health said in a statement. While we are unable to disclose the reason for the end of employment, it was not for the reasons listed in the lawsuit.

Harrington and Flood said Sinai-Grace enabled the nurses alleged predatory behavior and retaliated against victims who spoke out against him. They said a future lawsuit will be filed on behalf of one such whistleblower.

Related: Man accused of forcing entry to portable toilet, sexually assaulting woman

In the latest lawsuit, filed Tuesday, Oct. 7, a 49-year-old woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) alleged the nurse touched her genitals under the false guise of adjusting her catheter in August 2024. The complaint said she didnt have a urinary catheter at the time of the unconsented and offensive touching.

The lawsuit said Sinai-Grace Hospital was aware of -- or reasonably should have known about -- Figueroa-Berrioss history of predatory behavior, including a 2019 assault arrest and sexual misconduct complaints that led to his firing from another hospital previously.

A second lawsuit alleges the nurse made lewd and inappropriate sexual comments toward a female patient who was intoxicated and taken to Sinai-Grace for medical intervention this August. He proceeded to grope her breast and body over her hospital gown, expose his genitals, and coerced her to perform oral sex on him.

Throughout the one night stay, the lawsuit claimed he exploited the patients intoxication and vulnerability to coerce her into performing oral sex at least four times.

No medical or nursing notes were documented in her medical records over a 12-hour span that night prior to her being discharged the next morning.

Upon being re-admitted for medical care a few days later, the patient reported the sexual assaults to two head nurses. She said she was denied access to a social worker or patient advocate to assist or support her, and was met with hostility from Sinai-Grace staff before being discharged.

Police investigating a rape claim reviewed surveillance footage and confirmed Figueroa-Berrios repeatedly entered her hospital room through the night, remaining each time for several minutes.

He was arrested Aug. 27 and charged with five counts of criminal sexual conduct. During his arraignment, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Grace Broughton said her office had at least four more pending cases against him.

Figueroa-Berrios was arraigned on two more criminal sexual conduct charges Sept. 4 related to a May 4 incident. Prosecutors said he forced his way into a porta-john and sexually assaulted a 41-year-old woman outside Grand Circus Park in downtown Detroit. The two knew each other but were not involved in a relationship.

The former nurse obtained his nursing license in 2012. His license remained active as of Wednesday, according to state records.

Survivors are encouraged to contact Detroit police, the Wayne County Prosecutors Office, Fieger Law, or Flood Law to share their story.

Sinai-Grace Hospital was awarded a failing grade for patient safety during the nonprofit watchdog Leapfrog Groups fall 2024 assessment period. The hospital was given a below-average score for a variety of safety problems based on data it reported to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Similarly, an assessment by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) noted less than substantial compliance to the states Mental Health Code by Sinai-Grace. The hospital got a score of 149 points out of 346.
A northern Michigan man was arrested for allegedly breaking into a home and smearing feces on furniture this weekend. (MLive file photo) Isaac Ritchey | iritchey@mlive.com

ROSCOMMON COUNTY, MI  A Northern Michigan man was arrested after he allegedly broke into someones home and smeared feces on their furniture.

Deputies responded to a breaking and entering complaint around 7 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at a home off of South Gladwin Road in Denton Township, the Roscommon County Sheriffs Office said in a news release.

A 33-year-old woman called police after she woke up to find an unknown man in her home, deputies said. The man, who had no pants, had reportedly defecated in a trash can and smeared fecal matter on the womans furniture, the sheriffs office said.

Deputies said the woman confronted the intruder and he left the home. A deputy located a man walking in the area who matched the suspects description, and he was arrested and lodged at the Roscommon County Jail.

The suspect, a 41-year-old Prudenville man, was highly intoxicated, the sheriffs office said.

Investigation revealed the suspect had gotten into the home by breaking a screen and entering through a window, the sheriffs office said. Deputies say the man had been inside the home for over four hours.

The suspects name was not released by deputies, as he is still pending arraignment.
A headshot of Geoffrey Chatas, the University of Michigan's Chief Financial Officer. University of Michigan

ANN ARBOR, MI  A top administrator is leaving the University of Michigan for an Ivy League institution.

Geoffrey Chatas, executive vice president and chief financial officer of UM, will leave the university at the end of October to take on the senior vice president of operations role at Yale University, according to an Oct. 8 University Record announcement.

UM Vice President for Finance Bobby Hewlett will step in as the universitys interim executive vice president and chief financial officer on Nov. 1.

Geoff has made numerous meaningful contributions during his tenure, including helping to guide the university through the COVID-19 pandemic and, more recently, navigating complex federal research funding issues, UM President Domenico Grasso said in the announcement. Thanks to his steady leadership, he leaves the university in a strong financial position, and we are deeply grateful for his dedicated service.

Chatas first came to UM in October 2021. As the chief financial officer, he advised Grasso on university financial matters. He led the universitys business and monetary affairs, including its investments, facilities and operations and human resources, among other areas.

Under Chatas leadership, the university maintained its credit rating and supported student scholarships, faculty positions, research and clinical care for students of all socioeconomic statuses, according to the University Record announcement.

He played major roles, the announcement states, in the universitys largest-ever fundraising campaign known as Look to Michigan which has a $7 billion goal. He also helped coordinate Campus Plan 2050, which addresses mobility, energy, land use and other projects on the Ann Arbor campus during the next quarter century.

Read more: 40-year Grand Canyon love affair shows University of Michigan officials passion for the park

Before coming to UM, Chatas was the senior vice president and chief operating officer at Georgetown University and the senior vice president for business and finance and chief financial officer at Ohio State University.

Hewlett was appointed as UM vice president for finance in July following a 14-year stint at the university, officials said in the announcement. He spent seven months as interim associate vice president for finance and previously was a controller at Michigan Medicine.

Hewlett received a bachelors degree in business administration and a masters degree in accounting from the UM Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

Before his UM employment, Hewlett worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Grasso said he will work closely with Chatas and Hewlett to have a smooth transition and maintain financial security, according to the announcement.

The next UM president will identify the search process for the next executive vice president and chief financial officer, the announcement stated.
ANN ARBOR, MI  Fewer than 400 yards separated two University of Michigan student groups with opposing viewpoints on the anniversary of the event that sparked the war in Gaza.

Over 100 people gathered Tuesday, Oct. 7, for a vigil at the Diag to honor the lives lost when Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 250 others, two years ago.

Israeli flags outlining the Star of David sat on the Diag grass and several attendees wore yellow ribbons to remember the hostages taken by Hamas. Forty-eight of them remain in Gaza, according to the Associated Press.

About the same time, over 100 people protested at Regents Plaza, 503 Thompson St., against the war while alleging UMs has financial ties to Israel.

Protesters wore red, black and white keffiyehs covering their faces and held signs that read Freedom & peace and From the river to the sea. The latter slogan comes with controversy, as some pro-Palestinian activists see it as a call to end Israeli occupation of Gaza. More militant pro-Palestinian groups, as well as pro-Israel activists, see the phrase as a call to destroy Israel.

At approximately 5:58 p.m., organizers at the pro-Palestine rally began marching down State Street and around Central Campus, drawing attention from onlookers.

Demonstrators at the front of the crowd held a banner reading, For Gaza we rise: 2 years of genocide, 2 years of resistance.

March chants could be heard from the Diag during the vigil, but the two student events did not collide.

The march ended at approximately 6:56 p.m. Ann Arbor police cars remained at the front and back of the crowd throughout the march, but no arrests were made Tuesday.

The protest was organized by Students Allied for Freedom and Equality, a pro-Palestinian student group.

We owe it to every student and work being charged and surveilled right now, Nia Hall, a doctoral student in higher education at UM, said at the rally. If our work is being used to uphold apartheid, then our struggle is to dismantle it together.

The Oct. 7 attack sparked the ongoing war. As of September 2025, more than 64,000 Palestinians have died, according to the Associated Press.

Since the start of the war, pro-Palestinian groups demanded the university divest from companies that support Israel. The university board has said it will shield its endowment from political pressures and the percentage of investments in the U.S. military or war-involved Israeli companies is small.

Eleven students and alumni who participated in pro-Palestine protests in 2024 are facing disciplinary charges from the UM Office of Student Conflict Resolution.

Kay Jarvis, director of public affairs at UM, previously wrote the university welcomes protests as long as they do not impact the rights of others, disrupt operations or threaten community safety.

The university has been clear that we will enforce our policies related to protests and expressive activity, and that we will hold individuals accountable for their actions in order to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all, Jarvis wrote.

Rebekah Spencer, an elected representative on the UM College of Literature, Sciences, and the Arts student government, said she attended the rally to uplift student voices.

We have a lot of students on campus who really do not feel safe, supported or represented and they have been going through the agony and loss of the elimination of family members and friends, and they have been targeted and not protected by the administration here, said Spencer, who grew up in the Northeast United States.

Its the role and responsibility of anyone whos been elected to represent students at universities to hear them, Spencer added, and they have a right to assemble and voice their pain and their anger and demands for justice.

She criticized the university for allegedly not taking enough steps to support student organizers.

Steven Ward, a professor of Afroamerican and African studies at UM, said at the rally many corners of the university are not interested in open inquiry and free ideas.

As we do what we do today and tomorrow and the days that come, lets remind ourselves that there are traditions of resistance which we are building from and contributing to, Ward said.

Yards away, the UM chapter of Students Supporting Israel organized the vigil.

Elijah Wiseman, 21, a senior at UM College of Literature, Science and the Arts and a vigil organizer, said student organizers have a right to protest but their chants are very wrong and there are better ways to speak out. He said it might have been hard for attendees who heard the chants during the vigils moment of silence.

Wiseman, of White Plains, New York, shared the Oct. 7 attack impacted Jewish people at-large and the vigil allowed families to commemorate the lives lost in the attack.

Jews are here on campus and there is a strong, proud Jewish community, he said.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page.
Closer look at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after the shooting, fire in Grand Blanc Township

A pair of Michigan lawmakers have introduced a new piece of legislation to improve security for houses of worship.

The Pray Safe Act by U.S. Senators Gary Peters and Elissa Slotkin comes in the days following the Sept. 28 shooting and fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township.

The act requires the Department of Homeland Security to establish a federal clearinghouse for nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations and houses of worship, according to a Wednesday, Oct. 8, news release.

Four victims died and eight others suffered injuries during the incident at the church off McCandlish Road. Victims ages ranged from six to 78 years old.

Thomas Jacob Sanford, the man who police say is responsible for the act, was shot and killed by a Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officer and Grand Blanc Township police officer police officer at the scene.

We must ensure that every American can exercise their fundamental right to practice their faith freely and safely, said Peters, ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, in a statement. The ongoing rise in violence against places of worship across our country, including the tragic attack in Grand Blanc Township, makes passage of the bipartisan Pray Safe Act even more important.

This commonsense bill would make sure that all of our communities have access to the resources needed to help them peacefully worship without fear.

The centralized location in the bipartisan legislation would enable religious-affiliated organizations and houses of worships to receive information more efficiently about best practices to enhance safety and security.

DHS would also be able to direct users to relevant federal resources and grant programs.

Everyone  no matter what faith you may belong to, should be able to practice their religion without fear of intimidation or violence, Slotkin said in a statement. The Pray Safe Act will strengthen security for faith communities, at a time when we need it most.

After the devastating church shooting and fire in Grand Blanc Township  on top of our synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship being targeted for years  its time for action. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this bill passed and signed into law.

Hundreds gathered for a community reflection event on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at Don Batchelor Field in Grand Blanc to remember those who died, honor first responders, and to come closer together.

Organizers passed out rubber bracelets reading #GBBetterTogether to the hundreds who attended the event. The phrase has begun to spring up on yard and business signs throughout the Genesee County community.

We can be healed. We will have joy, Bishop Jeffrey Schaub, faith leader of The Grand Blanc Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said at the event, adding his church community has felt an overwhelming sense of family in the days since the incident.

50 1 / 50 Hundreds gather to heal, unite amidst tragedy in wake of Grand Blanc Township mass church killing

Grand Blanc Township Supervisor Scott Bennett called this time a defining moment for the Grand Blanc community.

We want the families and the world to know that Grand Blanc will not be defined by this horrific act of violence, Bennett said at the event, which included other local officials and clergy.

Instead, Grand Blanc will be defined by its compassion, unity and how it cares for every person who has been touched by the tragedy, he said.
Ferris State University President Bill Pink cited a longstanding university practice limiting statues on campus to individuals who have made direct contributions to the university. Picture is an aerial shot of FSU's campus in Big Rapids, Michigan. (Photo provided by Ferris State University) Ferris State University

MECOSTA COUNTY, MI - On Sept. 19, a letter and photo sent to Ferris State University President Bill Pink depicted a bronze statue of the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, sitting on a park bench with arms rested on his knees.

In the letter, Mecosta County Commissioners detailed an idea to partner on a statue honoring Kirks memory, after the 31-year-old was shot and killed during a speaking event on a Utah college campus in September.

Because of Charlies outstanding contribution to society, once costs are determined, I suspect the board will overwhelmingly approve of splitting the cost of this important undertaking with Ferris, the letter read.

Seven days later, Pink declined.

In a letter shared with commissioners, he cited a longstanding university practice limiting statues on the Big Rapids campus to individuals who have made direct contributions to the university itself.

At present, the only statue on our grounds is of our founder, Woodbridge N. Ferris, whose vision and leadership made the University possible, Pink wrote.

Pictured is Ferris State University's Big Rapids campus and the only statue on its grounds, depicting Ferris State founder Woodbridge N. Ferris. Photo courtesy of Ferris State University. Ferris State University

For these reasons, Ferris State must respectfully decline the proposal to add a statue of Mr. Kirk, Pink wrote. We remain grateful for the Countys partnership in many other areas and welcome continued collaboration on initiatives that support our shared community.

The proposal, approved by the Mecosta County Board of Commissioners during a Sept. 18 meeting, came just a little over a week after Kirk was shot and killed on Sept. 10, during a speaking event on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

Kirk was the co-founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit advocating for youth involvement in conservative politics. He was known for touring the country and speaking at college campuses, often debating those opposed to his ideas. In April 2025, he appeared on Michigan State Universitys campus.

Hillsdale College plans to award honorary degrees to Charlie Kirk and his wife Erika, the colleges president, Larry P. Arnn, announced at Kirks memorial service.

Some have pointed to Kirks death as a catalyst for conservative activism, with political figures like Vice President J.D. Vance speaking about Kirks impact and the need to honor his legacy.

Lawmakers in Washington, D.C. and multiple states have pushed for monuments honoring Kirk since his death, including more than a dozen U.S. House Republicans who called for a statue at the U.S. Capitol.

Oklahoma lawmakers introduced legislation requiring its higher education institutions to dedicate a square or plaza to Kirk, and WUSA9 reported that in Florida, a House bill was proposed requiring public state colleges and universities to rename certain campus roads after Kirk or risk losing state funding.

The Michigan House passed a resolution to honor Kirks life on Sept. 17.

Members of the Mecosta County Board of Commissioners approved a rendering of the Charlie Kirk statue and the letter drafted by Chair Chris Zimmerman during its Sept. 18 meeting, according to meeting minutes.

The letter, sent the following day, detailed the proposal for a bronze or comparable material sculpture.

Please give it some thought, the letter read. We think its a great idea for the community and generations to come.

The proposal centered around Ferris art department creating the design, identifying the costs involved and the finalizing placement of the project on campus. The letter also suggested a plaque commemorating the joint collaboration.

Charlies gift of public speaking, debate style and inspirational messages has influenced millions of people across our great nation, the letter read. He had a real knack for engaging young people in civilized discussions on various topics that influenced public policy. As horrific as his assassination may be, we should not quickly forget his legacy.

The proposal was approved by board members 5-1. In response to the Mecosta County Commission, Pink wrote that we appreciate your interest in honoring individuals of public significance.

While we condemn all acts of violence and extend our sympathies regarding Mr. Kirks tragic death, the University follows a longstanding practice that limits statues on campus to individuals who have made significant, direct contributions to Ferris State University itself, he wrote.

Zimmerman declined to comment on the statue proposal and on Ferris States decision.

According to the Ferris State Torch, the universitys student newspaper, over 100 community members, faculty and students gathered for a vigil for Kirk on Thursday, Oct. 2.

The vigil, organized by the universitys Turning Point USA chapter, was also attended by a group of student protesters.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Police are investigating after multiple headstones were damaged over the weekend at Holy Cross Cemetery on the citys West Side.

A church officer known as a sexton found the damage on Saturday, Oct. 4.

At least 11 upright monuments were toppled late Friday or early Saturday. Tire tracks from a vehicle led to the damaged monuments that were broken from their bases.

Earlier this week, West Catholic High students spent the day raking up pine cones, clearing debris and cleaning grave markers. It was part of a planned community service event.

Its a very sacred, peaceful (place), Rory Beth Novosad, managing director of Diocese of Grand Rapids Catholic Cemeteries, told MLive/Grand Rapids Press.

A lot of people come here to pray.

She said that the monuments have been left the way they were found while Grand Rapids police investigate. She has contacted family members of those whose gravesites were damaged but some monuments remain facedown so names havent been confirmed.

Damage assessments have not yet been made.

Novosad said she hoped the culprits would be arrested for the sake of the families whose loved ones burial sites were disrupted.

Our number one priority is helping the families, Novosad said.

Grand Rapids police were called around noon on Saturday for a report of malicious destruction of property and continue to investigate, a police spokesperson said.
Ricardo Perez Castillo, 25, enters a Kent County Circuit Courtroom for a plea hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. Castillo pleaded no contest to three charges connected to a home invasion in Rockford. Bradley Massman | MLive.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI  A man who broke into a Rockford home with plans to kill the entire family inside has entered a plea in his criminal case.

Ricardo Perez Castillo made a brief appearance on Wednesday, Oct. 8, in Kent County Circuit Court for a plea hearing.

Castillo, 25, was charged with attempted murder, first-degree home invasion, assault with intent to commit criminal sexual conduct, and carrying a weapon with unlawful intent in connection to his thwarted plot.

The home invasion unfolded in the morning hours on June 15, 2024, at a residence on Ella Terrace Court NE in Rockford.

Video surveillance obtained by Kent County sheriffs deputies showed Castillo enter the home and undressed to only his underwear and T-shirt. Castillo then grabbed a knife from a kitchen drawer and walked upstairs, police wrote in an affidavit.

Castillo opened the door to the master bedroom and noticed a husband and wife asleep. He shut the door and went to look for an easier target, police said.

That led Castillo to a room where the homeowners daughter and her friend were sleeping.

Castillo removed his underwear and started stabbing an 11-year-old girl while on top of her.

The girls screams awoke the homeowner, who called 911 and informed dispatchers that he was holding Castillo at gunpoint until police arrived. The girl was stabbed multiple times in her arm and shoulder, requiring surgery.

When sheriffs deputies got to the home, they found Castillo in a bedroom with a bloody knife next to him. Castillo told police he didnt know the family or the girl he attacked.

In court Wednesday, Castillo accepted a plea agreement from the Kent County Prosecutors Office.

He pleaded no contest to attempted murder, first-degree home invasion and an added charge of assault with intent to commit second-degree sexual conduct.

The remaining charges were dismissed in exchange.

As part of the agreement, Castillo also must register with the Michigan sex offenders registry.

Castillo was employed as a canvassing recruiter in the Kent County area for the United States Marines Corps.

He is set to appear in court next on Nov. 26 for sentencing.
KALAMAZOO COUNTY, MI -- A township may change its zoning to allow data centers to be built  and concerned neighbors are banding together in opposition.

Pavilion Township officials fear a data center could cause harm to residents by taxing local utilities because of high water and electricity usage.

We dont know what type of data center would be moving in here, said Katelyn Clarey, who lives in the area. We dont know who would own it, and who knows if wed find out.

The Pavilion Township Planning Commission will consider changing zoning ordinances to allow for data centers at a November meeting.

Pavilion Township is adjacent to Portage and just southeast of Kalamazoo.

The ordinance change, formally proposed in mid-September, would allow for data centers to be built on properties zoned as I-2, Industrial District.

Public backlash

Clarey is working with resident Bill Farmer to inform residents of the change.

Together, they launched a Facebook group to keep community members aware of the proposal. To date, it has amassed 70 members.

On Monday, Oct. 6, they held a meeting at Distant Whistle Brewhouse in Vicksburg to discuss the change. Roughly 16 people attended to share their concerns, Clarey said.

Clarey learned about the potential for a data center after reading a local news article. She asked if her in-laws, who also live in the area, had heard about a data center potentially coming to town.

They hadnt.

I want people to know whats going on, and if people dont want it, I want them to know how to speak up for themselves, how to make their voices heard, where to make it heard, Clarey said.

A few dozen community members attended a Sept. 18 planning commission meeting to share their concerns about the ordinance change.

Roughly 50 people attended a Pavilion Township Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, Sept. 18 to discuss whether data centers could be built in the township. Aya Miller

Township Supervisor John Speeter said theyve received many calls about the ordinance change, but theres a lot of misinformation circulating.

At the Sept. 18 meeting, the townships attorney advised the board push the decision to a later date because there werent enough copies of the meeting agenda with the proposed ordinance language to distribute to attendees.

The proposed ordinance change is available at the township office upon request and can be viewed online here.

Farmer said hes been in discussion with the property owner and Southwest Michigan First about hosting community meetings to inform residents. Residents are also getting in touch with experts to learn more about the impacts data centers can have on communities.

Speeter said the discussion on whether to approve the ordinance change was delayed until November to make time for the meetings.

Energy, water concerns

Real estate development firm Franklin Partners visited the township in August to discuss the possibility of a data center in the area. The firm is looking for uses for a property it owns on N Avenue near the intersection with South 26th Street, per township documents.

Franklin Partners couldnt be reached for comment by MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette.

Data centers, to me, are the tip of the spear of what some people call progress that I believe is actually destroying our environment, Farmer said.

When Farmer and Clarey were collecting information for residents who wanted to stay informed at the Sept. 18 meeting, the property owner approached them, Farmer said, asking to be added to the information list.

Farmer has lived in his house on the border of Climax and Pavilion townships for 40 years. Hes no stranger to corporate businesses buying land and setting up large operations in the area, including a pair of large dairy farms on his road and a handful of small oil wells.

One of Clearys primary concerns is the energy impact a data center would have. She fears energy bills for residents would go up with a data center in the area.

Speeter said he was told by Consumers Energy that energy prices wouldnt go up if a data center was built. The state regulates electricity prices through the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Consumers Energy will be supplying the energy, it will be metered to that plant and the cost will not be passed on to residents, Speeter said.

Speeter declined to comment on what benefits a data center could bring to the township.

If a data center was built at East N Avenue, it would connect to city of Kalamazoo water, Speeter said.

The proposed ordinance amendment requires the city of Kalamazoo to pre-determine theres adequate public water and sewer capacity to meet the needs of the facility. The facility would be prohibited from using private well and septic systems.

A medium-sized data center can consume up to 110 million gallons of water per year, according to the Environmental and Energy Studies Institute (EEEI). A large data center can consume up to 5 million gallons a day.

Pavilion Township isnt alone -- multiple Michigan communities are facing incoming data center construction plans.

Farmer is also concerned about the lack of job growth data centers would bring to the township. Data centers require few employees because they primarily house computers and servers, according to the study.

They do not bring high paying tech jobs like people think they do, Farmer said, citing University of Michigan research.

The jobs that data centers do create locally are typically low-wage, term-limited, non-technical positions such as security, maintenance and janitorial work, the study found.

Who does it really benefit? Farmer said.

Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page.
This is an MLive file photo. The Cass County Sheriff's Office is investigating a stabbing and vehicle theft. MLive.com file photo

CASS COUNTY, MI  Two suspects were arrested after they stabbed a man and stole his truck in southwest Michigan, deputies say.

Deputies responded to the stabbing and vehicle theft at 5:40 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, in the area of Patterson Hill Road and Mann Street in Newberg Township, according to the Cass County Sheriffs Office.

A male victim told deputies that he had been riding in his truck with two other men when one of them stabbed him and they stole his truck.

Deputies were able to find the stolen truck and arrest the two suspects, the sheriffs office said.

The victim was taken to a hospital to be treated for his injuries. Deputies said he is in stable condition.

The suspects names are being withheld until they are arraigned.

The incident remains under investigation by the sheriffs office.
Editors note: This story has been updated to include additional context.

BAY CITY, MI  One of the 10 state Senate candidates seeking the vacant 35th District seat in a special 2026 election was once convicted of an aggravated assault for having stabbed a man in the back with a knife causing life-threatening injuries.

Chadwick Earl Twillman, 39, is one of four people who filed as a Republican to run for the seat vacated by Kristen McDonald Rivet when she resigned 10 months ago to take a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Court records from Maricopa County, Arizona, show that in September 2006, Twillman, then 19, was charged with aggravated assault. Speaking with MLive/The Bay City Times Tuesday, Oct. 7, Twillman said the conviction and the one-year jail sentence that came from it made him a better person.

I more so see it as serving as an asset to the experience that not only I endured, but overcame, and went through as a learning experience, said Twillman, who now lives in the Saginaw area.

According to a pre-sentence investigation report obtained by MLive/The Bay City Times via a Freedom of Information Act request, Twillmans charge stemmed from a Sept. 24, 2006, incident. Tempe police responded to an apartment complex following reports of a stabbing that had occurred in the complexs courtyard.

When officers arrived, they found a trail of blood, which led to an apartment. Inside there were six people, including Twillman. Officers reported a man had been stabbed twice in the back and had been taken by ambulance to Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery for life threatening injuries.

Officers spoke with Twillman and noticed blood on his shirt and shorts, reports show. He told them he and friends were swimming in a pool, drinking alcohol, prior to the incident. They were walking back to one of the friends apartments when they walked past a party and began talking to some people. In a petition for early termination of Twillmans probation, the document claims the victim was flirting with a woman at a party and Twillman was told the victim was harassing her.

A witness told officers the victim was heckling Twillman and his friends. Twillman told police that the victim claimed to be a Navy Seal and said he could kill you in five seconds, according to court documents. The menbegan fighting, with the victim quickly being brought to the ground. At some point during the altercation, Twillman stabbed the man twice in the back with a pocket knife. When the witness yelled for the men to stop fighting, he and the victim began walking away. Thats when the victim fell to the ground and the witness, seeing blood on the ground, called 911.

Twillman told police he used the knife because he was fearful of being seriously injured, according to court documents.

Twillman in January 2007 pleaded guilty and was sentenced to one year in jail and five years probation and ordered to pay more than $14,000 in restitution.

He was involved in another alcohol-related incident on New Years Day of 2008. Records show he created a car accident that resulted in him being thrown from his vehicle and another driver receiving lacerations to their hands. Twillman was sentenced in that case in May 2008 after being charged with driving under the influence.

While in jail on the assault charge, Twillman said, he gained unique perspectives on the justice system.

It continues to reveal to me, even to this day, more so, why I was there to have such a great understanding of such a corrupt judicial system and have a unique perspective from the insight that none of my other candidates could possibly have, he said.

Twillman was the first Republican to file to run in the 35th District race. Those opposing him include Jason Tunney, Christian Velasquez and Andrew Wendt.

The six Democrats in the race include Brandell Adams, Martin Blank, Chedrick Greene, William Morrone, Pamela Pugh and Serenity Hope Salak.

The state Senate district encompasses parts of Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, scheduled the primary for the 35th District special election for Feb. 3. Voters will choose the new senator May 5.

On his campaign website, Twillman describes himself as a Republican with Independence Fighting for Mid-Michigans Future.

He characterized himself as such in his conversation with MLive.

This is where Im raising my kids, said Twillman, noting hes married with five children. Its very important to me that their future is successful, and right now, with the type of people that want to run, I cant trust that being the case.
Emergency responders help survivors at the scene of a waterfall incident in Myanmar on Sept. 29. The Saginaw News/MLive.com

STERLING, MI  Born and raised in the small Michigan village of Sterling, Anastasia Anna DeShais had a singular goal from a young age: travel the world, spread her faith, and help the deaf. To that end, she spent the last 10 years teaching and living in the Asian nation of Myanmar.

DeShais selflessness was put to the ultimate test in late September, when she reentered a surging river to help others escape the torrent. The deluge carried DeShais over a massive waterfall, killing her and three others.

Giving her life trying to save others would have been a natural impulse for DeShais, according to her mother, Nancy Ostroski-DeShais.

She wouldnt have been able to live with herself, her mother said. Thats just the way she was. She never took time for herself. She was always just doing stuff for other people, from the time she was little.

DeShais, 28, was with 13 others swimming in a natural pool on the Ohn Chaw Waterfall in Mandalay, Myanmar, on Sept. 29. A river surge suddenly dragged DeShais, three Burmese women, and a Russian man over the edge, according to the Myanmar Fire Service Department. All four women died, while the Russian man survived.

Rescuers did not find DeShais body until the next day.

DeShais was the youngest of five siblings and the lone girl among four brothers. She attended Sterling Elementary School through the fourth grade, after which her mother homeschooled her.

She was raised a Jehovahs Witness and was steadfast in her faith.

She was always involved in the ministry with me, her mother said. She just loved it so much. She would cry when she had to go to school because she wanted to be with me out in the ministry.

Anastasia "Anna" DeShais at age 16, the day she graduated from a four-month course to learn American Sign Language at the Kingdom Hall in Midland. Photo provided by Nancy Ostroski-DeShais

DeShais finished homeschooling at age 16, after which she enrolled in a four-month American Sign Language course at the Kingdom Hall in Midland.

She wanted to help deaf people learn the Bible, Ostroski-DeShais said.

At 17, DeShais got her first opportunity to do this when she went to Belize.

She kept a journal about how much she loved it there and how it was the best life she could ever imagine, Ostroski-DeShais said.

Upon turning 18, DeShais expressed a desire to go to Myanmar, where an older brother was already living and doing missionary work. Her initial plan was to visit for three months, but she became so enamored with the nation that she forfeited her return plane ticket.

The deaf are so overlooked and mistreated and she just wanted to stay and help, her mother said.

DeShais spent the next decade in Mawlamyine, Myanmar, teaching English online and elementary school courses. She became fluent in Burmese and its sign language, being distinct from ASL. Shed return home to Michigan in the summers and take short-term jobs to raise money for herself back in Myanmar.

She was always self-sufficient, her mother said. She never asked for anything.

In April, DeShais was accepted into the School for Kingdom Evangelizers class in New Zealand. She graduated from the class in July, her family visiting it for the ceremony.

DeShais returned to Michigan to spend a month with her family. As patriarch Mitchell DeShais has lung cancer, the family decided to gather for a group photo, featuring Anna DeShais with her parents, four brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and adored dog Aero.

Having everyone together left them unable to pass up the opportunity. The thought never crossed Ostroski-DeShais mind that it would be the last group shot with her daughter.

Anna DeShais in August returned to Mawlamyine, where friends threw her a going-away party and helped her pack for a move north to Mandalay. She had only been in the Mandalay area for about 10 days by Sept. 29, her mother said.

One of Anna DeShais friends who witnessed the tragic occurrence gave her mother an account. The group of 14 were getting ready to leave after swimming in the water atop the waterfall. Anna DeShais was already out of the water when the level suddenly rose. Anna DeShais returned to the water to help three women, two of whom were deaf.

Anna went to help them, and it just threw them all over the edge, her mother said. The coroners report states she fell 660 feet. Its horrible. She was pronounced before they found her body because they knew she would have never made it.

Anna DeShais brother and his wife, who also live in Myanmar, returned to Michigan on Tuesday, Oct. 7, with her ashes. The family is planning a memorial toward the end of October, though specifics are pending. The local high school auditorium may host it, as the Kingdom Hall the DeShaises attend may not be large enough to accommodate all those paying their respects, coming in from across the USA and such far-flung locales as Norway, Italy, Australia and China.

She was very well-loved, her mother said.
TAWAS CITY, MI  A Michigan woman has been charged with killing her husband.

Shortly before 11 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 6, police responded to the AuSable Township home of James and Melissa C. Ragen for a shooting. They arrived to find James Ragen, 31, with a gunshot wound to his chest.

Emergency personnel pronounced James Regan deceased at 11:13 p.m.

Melissa Ragen, 32, told police she and her husband were arguing when she grabbed a .357-caliber revolver and shot him, according to Iosco County Prosecutor James A. Bacarella.

Police arrested Melissa Ragen. The following afternoon, she appeared in Iosco County District Court for arraignment on single counts of open murder and felony firearm. Open murder contains first- and second-degree murder, both of which are life offenses, though a conviction of the former negates the possibility of parole.

Melissa Ragen is being held without bond pending a preliminary examination set for 3 p.m. on Oct. 28.
The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File) AP AP

A Florida man is accused of starting the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history.

Federal officials in California announced Wednesday that Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, of Melbourne was living in Pacific Palisades when he allegedly started a blaze that led to the destructive January inferno.

He was arrested Tuesday and is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court in Florida on Wednesday.

The complaint alleges that a single persons recklessness caused one of the worst fires Los Angeles has ever seen, resulting in death and widespread destruction in Pacific Palisades, said Acting United States Attorney Bill Essayli.

While we cannot bring back what victims lost, we hope this criminal case brings some measure of justice to those affected by this horrific tragedy.

The Palisades Fire burned 23,448 acres, killed 12 people, and destroyed 6,837 structures between Jan. 7 and Jan. 31, making it the most destructive fire to occur in the history of the city of Los Angeles. Large areas of Pacific Palisades, Topanga, and Malibu were destroyed.

Timeline of Rinderknechts alleged actions

Specifically, Rinderknecht is accused of maliciously starting the Lachman Fire on federal property on New Years Day. Firefighters quickly suppressed that fire but unbeknownst to anyone it continued to smolder and burn underground within the root structure of dense vegetation.

On Jan. 7, heavy winds caused the underground fire to surface and spread above ground in what became known as the Palisades Fire.

Officials laid out a timeline of events during a press conference, noting that Rinderknecht was working as an Uber driver on New Years Eve and had dropped off two separate passengers between 10:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m.

Both later told law enforcement they remembered that Rinderknecht appeared agitated and angry, prosecutors said.

After dropping off a passenger in Pacific Palisades, Rinderknecht allegedly drove towards Skull Rock Trailhead, parked his car, attempted to contact a former friend, and walked up the trail.

He then used his iPhone to take videos at a nearby hilltop area and listened to a rap song  to which he had listened repeatedly in previous days  whose music video included things being lit on fire.

By 12:12 a.m. on Jan. 1, the Lachman Fire had begun. During the next five minutes, Rinderknecht called 911 several times, but didnt get through because his iPhone was out of cellphone range.

When he finally connected with 911, he was at the bottom of the hiking trail and reported the fire. By that point, a nearby resident already had reported the fire to authorities.

Rinderknecht then fled in his car, passing fire engines driving in the opposite direction. He then turned around and followed the fire engines to the scene. Rinderknecht walked up the same trail from earlier that night to watch the fire and the firefighters.

At the request of state and local authorities, ATF took the lead in this complex investigation utilizing techniques unique to our agencys capabilities, said Special Agent in Charge Kenny Cooper of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Los Angeles Field Division.

The horrific loss of life and property was significantly felt by ATF members, and we are honored to utilize our expertise to provide answers to this community. We remain committed to serving with integrity and distinction.

If convicted, Rinderknecht would face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP

President Donald Trump has once again suggested his political opponents should be put in jail.

In a Wednesday post on Truth Social, Trump said both Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritkzer should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers!

The post comes as the two officials have publicly opposed Trumps deployment of National Guard troops for his immigration and crime crackdown in Chicago.

Both men have responded on social media.

This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested. Im not going anywhere, Johnson said.

Pritzker, also on X, said: I will not back down. Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power. What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?

Chicago, the U.S.s third largest city and the major hub of the Midwest, is one of several cities Trump has targeted for crime crackdowns. National Guard troops from Texas were deployed to the city this week.

Trump has called Chicago a hell hole of crime and there have been skirmishes between protesters and federal agents outside a detention center in Broadview, which is located outside the city.
MLive File Photo. Voters will decide whether to increase a property tax levy for the Chelsea Area Fire Authority at the polls Nov. 4, 2025. Meg Potter | MLive.com

CHELSEA, MI  Voters in the Chelsea Area Fire Authoritys coverage area will decide at the polls Nov. 4 whether to increase an existing property tax levy.

The fire authority, which serves Chelsea and Lima, Lyndon, and Sylvan townships, is asking voters to approve a .75-mill increase to the existing approximately 2.3-mill rate. If approved, the increase would expire in 2028, at the same time as the existing millage.

Although CAFA has done a good job of keeping costs down, expenses have increased since 2019, our operating budget has not changed, and the landscape of emergency services has changed in Washtenaw County, fire authority officials said in a brochure on the proposed millage increase.

If approved by voters, the fire authority plans to hire an additional six firefighter- and paramedic-trained personnel. The authority will also use the tax revenue to purchase vehicles and equipment.

Read more: 2 Chelsea women running to replace outgoing mayor

It would give CAFA more opportunities to staff Station 2 and increase full-time personnel up to six a day, officials said in the brochure.

This will allow CAFA to have a better chance of adhering to the 2 in/2 out regulation that falls under the OSHA Respiratory Protection Standard, they said.

It will also allow CAFA to be more effective covering incidents that occur simultaneously.

In addition, adding licensed paramedics/firefighters will allow CAFA to operate as an Advance License Support Agency.

If CAFA becomes an ALS department, it gives those residing and visiting the area an improved level of service, officials said.

As an example, a resident who owns a $200,000 home would pay about $75 more a year for the millage, for a total of about $309 a year.

The increase is estimated to generate about $983,000 in additional revenue in the first year for fire services and equipment.

By law, the Chelsea Downtown Development Authority will receive a portion of the millage collected from property owners in the Chelsea Downtown Development Authority District only.

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U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Bruce Township, chair of the House Republican Conference, blames the government shutdown on Democrats during a news conference as Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., left, and Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., right, listen at the Capitol in Washington. She is pictured in this MLive file photo. Julian Leshay Guadalupe | MLive.com

WASHINGTON, D.C. - After several national news appearances last week to criticize budget vote opposition, U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain is now calling directly on Michigans two Democrat senators to help end the government shutdown.

As House Republican Conference chair, McClain, R-Bruce Township, is charged with heading GOP messaging. In a letter sent Oct. 8, she called on Sens. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly and Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, to vote for a resolution, which has failed multiple times, that would fund the federal government for seven weeks.

A Peters spokesperson initially directed MLive to a Sept. 30 statement.

He later said, If our Republican house colleagues are serious about reopening the government, they need to come back to Washington and work with us on a bipartisan agreement.

Both he and Slotkin previously shared that their reasons for voting no on the resolution were due to a lack of Republican negotiation on the budget, specifically on healthcare subsidies set to expire.

They said Republicans - who control the White House, House and Senate - had not sought Democrat input on the temporary funding measure.

In a statement shared today with MLive, Slotkin said, Since the government shutdown on October 1, the House has been on vacation. Im in D.C. working, and my door is open to anyone who wants to open the government.

She said if Republicans want her vote, they have to first, get in a room and negotiate and second, be ready to talk about health care.

Both parties have assigned blame to the other side for the federal government shutdown and the lack of movement on a budget proposal.

The letter, sent Wednesday, Oct. 8, was signed by Michigan U.S. Reps. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton; Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet; John Moolenaar, R-Caledonia; Bill Huizenga, R-Holland Township; Tom Barrett, R-Charlotte and John James, R-Shelby Township.

Our goal in passing this bill was quite simple, they wrote of the resolution, keep the government functioning for the American people.

As of 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1, Congress was unable to meet the deadline for funding the federal government, and a partial shutdown began with no clear end in sight.

The House passed a stopgap bill to temporarily fund the government in a 217-212 vote on Sept. 19. House members did not return to session this week.

Republicans in the Senate now need Democratic votes - which they havent yet been able to get - to clear a 60-vote procedural hurdle necessary to pass a budget resolution.

The Republican proposal has only been able to muster a maximum of 55 votes so far.

Both parties are blaming the other for the lack of consensus, and Republicans are attempting to push several key Democrats to vote yes.

Sen. Peters is on the short list of members the GOP is looking to sway, given his retirement at the end of this term that will spare him future political backlash.

He was also among nine Senate Democrats who voted alongside Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, to keep the government open in March. News Nation reported he was part of a group of roughly a dozen members who discussed possible avenues to end the shutdown on the Senate floor last week.

As the shutdown continues, not all federal services, programs and employees are going to be impacted right away.

But some employees deemed non-essential have been furloughed, and national park sites are closed.

Federally-funded infrastructure projects could be stalled, and public benefit recipients could see delays or disruptions. The U.S. Small Business Association has paused loan approvals.

McClains letter referenced roughly 56,000 Michiganders who she says work for the federal government. She said they could be furloughed and facing the possibility of missing their next paycheck due to this shutdown.

Other Congressional figures more commonly used show Michigans federal employee number at closer to 30,000, as of Sept. 2024. Its unclear at this point exactly how many federal workers have been affected, with the number of employees furloughed or impacted determined by federal agency.

The letter also referenced over one million people in Michigan who rely on SNAP benefits. McClain said they could soon face shutdown-related delays.

She and other Michigan GOP members requested that Slotkin and Peters support the resolution, which would fund the government until Nov. 21, during an upcoming vote on Oct. 8.

Both Slotkin and Peters have voted against the resolution five times previously.

In the letter, McClain said similar legislation has passed both chambers over a dozen times in the past several years, and pointed to support for a similar piece of legislation in December 2024.

We urge you to do the same now for the good of all the people of Michigan, Republican and Democrat, whom you were elected to serve, she wrote.

But so far, Democrats have remained firm in their opposition.

They say a funding measure should include a restoration of $350 billion in Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic and set to sunset in 2026.

In his Sept. 30 statement, Peters said the ACA has literally saved lives by ensuring Michiganders can access the care they need, regardless of preexisting health conditions or economic status.

We must take action to ensure families can continue to afford their health care, he said.

Republicans have said theres still time to negotiate those tax credits before they expire at the end of the year, but they say healthcare should be discussed after the shutdown ends.

In the letter, McClain and others wrote that Schumer has made unrelated and outrageous policy demands that have nothing to do with government funding.

It is long past time Senate Democrats stopped holding Michiganders and the American people hostage with this pointless showboating to far-left extremist elements.

Slotkin said shes been very clear since July.

Any conversation about my vote needs to start with health care, she said, also referencing her opposition to healthcare provisions in President Donald Trumps One Big, Beautiful Bill.

Trumps bill, signed into law on July 4, included significant cuts to Medicaid by inserting work requirements for able-bodied people, making sign-up eligibility more stringent and changing federal reimbursements to states.

Some state and health industry leaders have decried the cuts as hurting hospitals and reducing available services, while Trump and other Republicans have called them necessary.

Letters from insurance companies have started going out to Michiganders with a 10-20 percent increase in their health care bills starting January 1, Slotkin said. And it is my responsibility to at least push for these costs to be addressed.
Rx Kids - a program providing prenatal and infant support to expecting and new mothers - received $270 million in funding to expand to more areas across Michigan. Pictured is an MLive file photo of a couple holding their newborn daughter at Butterworth Hospital. (MLive.com)

LANSING, MI - Tucked inside the 1,000-plus page state budget for 2025-26 is a game-changing investment in young mothers.

Rx Kids - a program providing prenatal and infant support to expecting and new mothers - received $270 million in funding to expand to more areas across Michigan.

Its part of the governments nearly $80 billion state budget that was approved early in the morning on Friday, Oct. 3, and signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday, Oct. 7.

Pediatrician Dr. Mona Hanna, Rx Kids founder and associate dean of Michigan State Universitys (MSU) College of Human Medicine, said the approval shows lawmakers on both sides of the aisle recognize how hard this window of life is.

Not only (is this) an economically really hard time, but also I think as a nation, weve come to understand how critical this window of life is, she said of Michigan children. What happens in this really tiny, tiny period of life shapes the entire life course.

Rx Kids is a relatively new program, which now gives mothers in Flint, Kalamazoo and nine other Michigan communities $1,500 in prenatal care during pregnancy.

The program also awards moms $500 per month - to be spent with no strings attached - for the first year of a childs life.

Its the nations first citywide prenatal and infant cash prescription program.

To date, $14.987 million has been prescribed to 3,609 families enrolled across the state with 2,861 babies born.

Mothers in Kalamazoo who spoke with MLive earlier this year after utilizing the program described feeling like they dont need to worry anymore, knowing that extra funds are available for childcare, transportation and medication.

The program is open to everyone regardless of income, and comes with financial planning resources for families.

It was initially set up as an academic/nonprofit partnership led by MSUs College of Human Medicine and the University of Michigans Poverty Solutions program.

Since its 2024 launch in Flint, Rx Kids has already expanded to Kalamazoo, Pontiac, Clare County, Royal Oak Township, Hazel Park and five Upper Peninsula counties.

Now, lawmakers and the programs directors are seeking to stretch its reach further.

In the Fiscal Year 2024 budget, the program received $16.5 million from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant, intended to cover cash assistance for poor families.

That funding was to cover five years of payments in Flint, where the program was piloted, at an estimated total cost of $55 million.

Attendees and speakers walk along the Applewood Estate during the Rx Kids Second Annual Baby Parade in Flint on Friday, July 25, 2025. The event offered programs, vendors, and activities for attendees to enjoy. Lukas Katilius | MLive.com

Last year, the budget included $20 million to follow up on what Hanna called Flints early success.

People from around the state want this program, she said. There is not a day that goes by that I dont hear from folks, that legislators dont hear from folks who say, When are we next? When is Rx Kids coming to our community?

This year, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, requested a $100 million earmark for the program.

The finalized budget included even more, $250 million in state-restricted Healthy Michigan Plan funding in addition to $20 million in TANF funding.

After months with no bipartisan budget consensus, lawmakers last week passed an $81 billion budget with votes from both sides. With a new 24% wholesale tax on marijuana that many in the industry have protested, the budget also funds $1.1 billion in new revenue for roads. It covers $14 million for ice storm recovery.

Brinks said shes thrilled that more moms and babies will be able to start out with more stability now that weve expanded Rx Kids.

This signature program has been transformative for the communities that already participate in it, she said. Diapers, care seats, daycare - it adds up quickly, especially at a time when costs are so high, and Im extremely proud to be helping parents during this exciting and challenging time.

Keishawn Chandler, Jamal Chandler and Alexus Towner, left to right pose for a photoshoot on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, at the Flint Childrens Museum in Flint. The event was put on to celebrate the 1-year anniversary of Rx Kids. Ayrton Breckenridge | MLive.com

Hanna said the investment in Rx Kids proves that government can work and that it can support people and be right-sized and do whats best for its constituents.

This is an example of how government can work in a really beautiful, joyful way, she said.

Hanna pointed to an opinion piece authored by Michael Van Beek, director of research for the conservative Mackinac Center for Public Policy think tank. In the guest column published in Bridge Michigan, he described cash payment programs as potentially more effective than direct government spending, as the people in need decide how funds best help them.

She said she believes that premise attracted legislators who saw that the program wasnt growing government.

This kind of momentum helped us get through the finish line, Hanna said.

The $250 million line item allocates state-restricted Healthy Michigan Funds for MSU to expand Rx Kids to more areas of the state.

The program is looking at communities with either high rates of poverty, high Medicaid birth rates or maternal infant health issues, Hanna said.

We like to say this is a program for poor places, not for poor people, she said. Its for everybody in a high-need community.

The high-need areas the program is looking at includes in urban and rural Michigan, with cities like Detroit, Muskegon, Benton Harbor and Jackson along with rural Northern Michigan and the rest of the Upper Peninsula.

Not a day goes by when we dont hear from somebody in the Western U.P., she said. Why dont we have this? We need this. Theyre closing our birthing hospitals.

But the funding wont yet allow Rx Kids to expand across the entire state, Hanna said.

And the areas the program can expand to will rely on leveraging additional dollars through public-private partnerships.

The expansion to a statewide program was initially spearheaded by Sen. Sylvia Santana, D-Detroit, who introduced Senate Bill 309 in May.

That bill, which has not yet passed out of a Senate committee, would require the state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to contract with MSU to establish the state program.

Hanna said the program would require much more funding to operate statewide. With around 102,000 births per year, if all eligible parents secured Rx Kids funding for 12 months, it would cost the state an estimated $765 million annually.

That would have been amazing, and would have really responded to the popularity of the program, she said.

Funding now will allow the state to cover about 80% of the cost of the program in a community, Hanna said.

We still have to bring in about another 20% either from local government, municipalities, counties or philanthropy to make the program whole.

She said that reliance on other funding sources wont change even if the program is allocated more state funding in the future, however.

Thats because philanthropic donations allow the program to protect other public benefits, ensuring the money isnt counted as additional income and doesnt end up disqualifying those enrolled from other benefits.

This is not income, its a gift, she said. It doesnt impact folks eligibility for Medicaid or SNAP or WIC.

Hanna described philanthropy as the doula - traditionally someone who provides support during labor - of the Rx Kids program.

Its helping birth (it), she said. Its helping people see that we can do this.

As the program expands, it can be shifted to rely more on public funds, Hanna said, but not completely, and that makes it sustainable and more replicable.

For more information on the program, visit rxkids.org.
MUNISING, MI Strong autumn winds sent large waves crashing into the iconic sandstone cliffs of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

West winds near 15 to 20 mph built waves of 4 to 7 feet along the stretch between Munising and Grand Marais this week, with some larger swells rolling in from the open lake. Spray lifted into the air around Miners Castle, Lovers Leap and Chapel Rock throughout the course of the afternoon.

MLive senior photographer Joel Bissell captured stunning images while hiking the 10-mile Chapel-Mosquito trail loop (check back soon for the fall photos).

Lake Superior waves crash into the sandstone cliffs of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigans Upper Peninsula on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Despite the rough water, Lake Superior held its signature turquoise and deep blue colors  rolling waves catching flashes of sunlight as they struck the sandstone walls.

A Small Craft Advisory was in effect as west winds gusting over 20 mph built heavy surf along the stretch from Munising to Grand Marais.

27 1 / 27 Lake Superior waves at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Farther offshore, conditions were even more severe  with 8 to 11 feet swells occasionally in open waters and Gale Warnings posted for parts of eastern Lake Superior.

The iconic shoreline is constantly shaped by erosion and Bissell got a first-hand glimpse capturing waves as they crashed into the picturesque rainbow-colored cliffs.

Lake Superior waves crash into the sandstone cliffs of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigans Upper Peninsula on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Lake Superior waves crash into the sandstone cliffs of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigans Upper Peninsula on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Lake Superior waves crash into the sandstone cliffs of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigans Upper Peninsula on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

The National Park Service reminds visitors to exercise caution staying on marked trails and well back from cliff edges, noting that the sandstone along Pictured Rocks is constantly eroding and can give way without warning.

Safety guidelines for kayaks and boats going out on their own can be found here. You can also find weather advisory on the National Weather Service website.
Maruti is looking to further expand its service network.

Varun Singh

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The Nissan Tekton's design is inspired by that of the Nissan Patrol.

Varun Singh

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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

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MC Education Desk Read the latest and trending news on CBSE, board exams, NEET, JEE, CUET, competitive exams, scholarships, college admissions, education policies, and more.

Saurav Pandey

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Want to move to Finland? Indians can now apply for permanent residency in Finland for under Rs 25,000  who can apply and how

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.

Want to move to Finland? Indians can now apply for permanent residency in Finland for under Rs 25,000

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In NDA, BJP and JD(U) are likely to contest almost equal number of seats, with a total of 205 seats being divided between the two major allies.

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During his visit to the Studio, Prime Minister Keir Starmer also watched a film along with Rani Mukerji and Yash Raj Films CEO Akshaye Widhani.

M Snehanjali

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Vaishnavi Gavankar

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Caramelo OTT Release: When and Where to watch Brazils most favourite series

Caramelo OTT Release: When and Where to watch Brazils most favourite series

Vaishnavi Gavankar

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Oat milk, says the French biochemist, may just be liquid starch and can cause a bigger glucose spike than whole milk (Image: Pexels)

Bobby John Varkey

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Achieving $35 trillion economy by 2047 is very much in the realm of possibility, says Piyush Goyal

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

Ria Kapoor

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Anant Raj Ltd to raise Rs 1,100 crore via QIP for expansion plan | Check details

Anant Raj Ltd to raise Rs 1,100 crore via QIP for expansion plan

Chhabi Kala

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Asus steps up Make in India drive with Dixon, eyes top consumer laptop brand slot by 2026

Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years.

The company expects the ongoing festive season to accelerate sales momentum, with locally made laptops set to surpass double digits as a share of total shipments this year

Arindam Roy

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For Softbank, the deal marks a major push by founder and CEO Masayoshi Son into robotics, ramping up investment activity.

Rohit Singh

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Hemant Abhishek

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Sweta Goswami

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India Mobile Congress 2025: India emerging as global hub for deep tech and digital innovation, says STPI DG Arvind Kumar

Speaking on the sidelines of India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, Arvind Kumar, Director General of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), highlighted Indias growing prominence as a global hub for deep tech and digital innovation.

He said STPI continues to drive advancements in cutting-edge domains such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), and quantum computing. Today, digital connectivity is no longer a privilege; it is an integral part of every Indians life, enabling growth, inclusion, and empowerment across the nation, Kumar said.

He noted that India is now poised to offer technology-driven solutions to global challenges across industries like mobile, telecom, electronics, and digital infrastructure. At STPI, we remain committed to sustaining this momentum by fostering innovation, strengthening digital infrastructure, and connecting startups with industry leaders, he added.

Kumar underlined that such collaboration will play a pivotal role in cementing Indias leadership in the global digital economy  echoing the theme of India Mobile Congress 2025: Innovate to Transform.
In Moneycontrol's Pro Panorama December 11 edition: AI gold rush and Indias role in it, the Netflix strategy that Indian IT can...

LG Electronics India IPO: 10 levers that could power its next growth wave

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LG Electronics India IPO Day 2 GMP Live: Should you subscribe?

Elara Capital advised investors to subscribe to the issue with a long term view. The Indian Consumer Durables space is set for a period of healthy double-digit growth, led by sturdy macro tailwinds, and tax cuts, which in turn is helping revive consumer, the domestic brokerage said. LG Electronics is in a sweet spot to capitalize on this (market leader in most categories with presence in almost all categories and across all price points). LG Electronics is growing its localization by 1-2% every year to gradually improve its EBITDA margin. With a growth rate of 13% in the past four years and industry-leading margin, LG Electronics, seeks to maintain this run rate. LG Electronics is an asset light business model with industry-leading RoEs and RoCEs of 45% and 46% respectively in FY25, it said.

"The IPO is highly attractively priced at PE of 35x FY25 EPS, at a 50% discount to its peers. So, we recommend a must Subscribe with a long-term view. Key risks could be the contingent liability of INR 3bn (further liability is possible in case of income tax dispute, persistently low consumer demand and competitive intensity)," it added.
Shaleen Agrawal

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Godrej Consumer shares fall to 6-month low as firm says GST transition may impact Q2 profit

Debaroti Adhikary

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Debaroti Adhikary

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Sebi's Ananth Narayan says in early talks to explore netting framework for FPIs to ease portfolio rebalancing

There are multiple things that we are looking at to see what we can do to ease operations for FPIs. More than margin, I think there is a question of whether we should allow for netting across buying and selling of different securities, SEBI Whole-Time Member Ananth Narayan told Moneycontrol.

Rohit Singh

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Festive Season Savings: Get up to Rs 6,000 off on flights with HDFC Bank credit cards

The offer is only valid for bookings made directly on Air India's official website or mobile app.

Hiral Thanawala

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Chhabi Kala

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Viswanath Pilla is a business journalist with 16 years of reporting experience. Based in Mumbai, Pilla covers pharma, healthcare and infrastructure sectors for Moneycontrol.

Viswanath Pilla

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Some AI tools unfairly impacting online prices, shows a CCI report: Can regulators rein in the algorithm?

B Kumar

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With this release, cumulative assistance under PM-KISAN to farmers in Jammu and Kashmir has reached Rs 4,052 crore.(Representative image)

Deblina Halder

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Kharge said he was deeply saddened that the act had not drawn widespread condemnation across the country.

Deblina Halder

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TVK has filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking an impartial investigation led by a former top-court judge into the tragic stampede

Smriti Mishra

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Amit Shah to chair meeting on security situation in J&K on Thursday

Amit Shah to chair meeting on security situation in J&K on Thursday

Yeeshu Yadav

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Assault on Constitution, says CJI BR Gavai's mother in first public response to shoe attack

Speaking to reporters in Amravati on Tuesday, a day after the incident, Kamaltai said such acts amount to spreading anarchy.

Siddharth Chakravorty

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Christin Mathew Philip

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'Congress should tell nation who prevented retaliation after 26/11': PM Modi rakes up Chidambaram's remark

Chhabi Kala

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DK Shivakumar: Bengaluru tunnel road project to take over four years, wont affect Vidhana Soudha or Lalbagh

Christin Mathew Philip

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Hours before death, Haryana ADGP made 15 calls to wife; accused senior officers of mental harassment in suicide note

Hours before his death, Haryana ADGP made 15 calls to his wife, accused senior officers of 'mental harassment' in suicide note

Yeeshu Yadav

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'If attacker was Asad...': Owaisi hits out at PM Modi over CJI 'shoe attack' bid

Chhabi Kala

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India joins Russia, China and Pakistan to oppose Trump's bid to take over Bagram air base in Afghanistan

Priyanjali Ghose

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Hoping to work with industry and govt to expand their Telecom services once we are operational, says India Starlink executive

Ria Kapoor

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Looking forward to our meeting: PM Modi welcomes UK counterpart Keir Starmer on his historic' first visit to India

Smriti Mishra

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After spending nearly four years in two separate terms at Sitapur jail, Khan has been living quietly at his residence in Rampurs Mumtaz Park.

Deblina Halder

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The blast on Tuesday is reportedly the seventh attack on the Jaffar Express in 2025

Smriti Mishra

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Pakistan minister Khawaja Asif says chances of war with India 'very real', resorts to religious rhetoric

Armaan Bhatnagar

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'Thank you for your faith in us': Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu expresses gratitude to Amit Shah for choosing Zoho Mail

101Reporters

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UK PM in India: Keir Starmer says 'flying flag for British business in Mumbai, growth in India means...'

Ria Kapoor

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Ria Kapoor is a Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol with nearly six years of newsroom experience. She covers a wide range of stories, including politics, crime, world affairs and issues of national interest. Before joining Moneycontrol, she worked with Inshorts, Times Now and NewsNine.

Ria Kapoor

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Will 2025 Bihar election be Nitish Kumar's swan song? The challenges ahead for JD(U)'s 'Sushasan Babu'

Nitish Kumar, the nine-time Bihar CM (74), an engineer by profession, has been heading the Bihar government for nearly two decades.

Priyanjali Ghose

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The elderly woman had long suffered from a herniated disc and reportedly believed a local folk remedy claiming that swallowing live frogs could relieve back pain. (AI generated image)

Ankita Sengupta

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The video soon gained traction across social media platforms, prompting a wave of supportive reactions from Indian users who echoed her sentiments.

Shubhi Mishra

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Woman says house help purchased 3BHK flat for Rs 60 lakh in Surat, took only Rs 10 lakh loan: 'Speechless'

Nalini Unagar recalled in her post that her house help seemed overjoyed, later revealing she had also spent an additional Rs 4 lakh on furnishing the flat.

Shubhi Mishra

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Natalie Cassidy had "never have gone for" someone like her "husband" before.

Natalie Cassidy has been engaged to Marc Humphreys for 10 years

The former EastEnders actress met Marc Humphreys on the BBC soap - where he works as a cameraman - in 2013, and they started dating in 2014, and then got engaged in 2015.

Natalie - who appears to now call Mark her "husband" - explained in the new issue of My Weekly magazine: "I met my husband Marc, who's a cameraman on EastEnders, when I was 30.

"I'd been through a bad time with my ex-partner, and Marc was just solid.

"He was someone I'd never have gone for before - a bit shy, very kind and with nothing to prove.

"We hit it off straight away. He's my best mate."

The star was in an on-off relationship with 45 year old Adam Cottrell.

In 2011, he was sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid work after he pleaded guilty to assault and criminal damage for attacking Natalie in their top-floor flat in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire.

He was also given a restraining order banning him from contacting her for two years.

However, they later reunited and got engaged after Natalie told him to "sober up or leave", but they split permanently in 2013.

Natalie - who has daughters Eliza, 15, with Adam, and nine year old Joanie with Marc - says she feels her happiest when at home with Marc and her children.

She said: "I'm a real homebird. It's where I'm happiest.

"I'm enjoying working from home for my podcast and being around for my daughters.

"My eldest is 15 now, and it's such a pivotal age.

"I feel like she needs me more now than she did as a toddler."

Since having children, Natalie - who bid farewell to Albert Square in April after playing National Health Service (NHS) nurse Sonia Fowler, on-and-off, for 32 years - says she has become more "body positive".

The actress explained: "As a young adult, I had to deal with a lot of negative press about my appearance, particularly my weight. It really messed with my head.

"But having two daughters makes you want to be body positive."

And Natalie is hoping Eliza and Joanie will read her newly-released memoir, Happy Days.

She said: "I've dedicated my memoir Happy Days to my daughters, and it would be lovely if they read it.

"It'll be something they can keep, a reference point.

"I wish I had one from my parents."
Sheetal Kumari

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Arabian Caracal Spotted Again in UAE After Years of Silence (Image: WWF)

Sheetal Kumari

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Live mouse retinal imaging could advance vision disease- Here is what research says

Gurpreet Singh

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Meet Ghost the Octopus: The legendary pacific giant captivating thousands as she embraces her final days

Sheetal Kumari

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ChatGPT could show ads like Google search in the future, suggests Sam Altman

MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation.

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Shaurya Shubham

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MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation.

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Ankita Chakravarti

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Danish Khan is the editor of Technology and Telecom. He was previously with the Economic Times and has tracked the sector for 14 years.

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He credited the JAM Trinity  Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile  with building of the foundation of Indias digital revolution, enabling 900 million internet users

Arindam Roy

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Of 'lovers', 'rebels', and ad targets: Zohos Sridhar Vembu explains the three faces of privacy

MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation.

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Aabhas Sharma

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One stolen iPhone leads to 18 arrests and 40,000 phones in UKs largest phone theft case

MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation.

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Ankita Chakravarti

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Tinder is now making it harder for fake profiles and scammers to trick Indian users

MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation.

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Ankita Chakravarti

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Ankita Chakravarti

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Afghan Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi heads for first visit to India to foster ties

Rewati Karan

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Americas AMRAAM missile deal with Pakistan: Why India should worry and how it could shift South Asias power balance

AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles to be sold to NATO allies, Taiwan, Pakistan, and Israel, showing a missile mounted on an F-16 fighter jet. (File Image)

Abhinav Gupta

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Pradeep Tripathi

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California becomes third US state to declare Diwali a holiday: The first two might surprise you

Abhinav Gupta

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'Definitely a challenge': Why Pakistans deepening military engagement with Bangladesh should worry India

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Former FBI chief James Comey pleads not guilty in case pushed by Trump

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From Aurangzeb to Allah: How Pakistan continues to turn religion into a war doctrine against India

Abhinav Gupta With over 12 years in digital journalism, has navigated the fast-evolving media landscape, shaping digital strategies and leading high-impact newsrooms. Currently, he serves as News Editor at MoneyControl, leading coverage in Global Affairs, Indian Politics, Governance and Policy Making. Previously, he has spearheaded fact-checking and digital media operations at Press Trust of India. Abhinav has also led news desks at Financial Express, DNA, and Jagran English, managing editorial direction, breaking news coverage, and digital growth. His journey includes stints with The Indian Express Group, Zee Media Group, and more, where he has honed his expertise in newsroom leadership, audience engagement, and digital transformation.

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'I wore red for you': Is Canada PM Carney trying to get in Trumps good graces

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Pakistan likely to acquire advanced air to air AIM-120 missiles from US: Report

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir with US President Donald Trump at their meeting at the White House last month.(Image: PTI)

Rewati Karan

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Saudi Arabia has so far primarily focused on raising funds through bond sales.

Hemant Abhishek

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Shared opposition, divergent motives: India and Pakistan both rejected Trumps Bagram bid, but for very different reasons

Taliban military helicopters fly to celebrate the third anniversary of Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, at the Bagram Air Base, in Bagram, Parwan province on August 14, 2024.

Abhinav Gupta

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'Theres still great love': Donald Trump hopes Canadians will travel to US after trade deal

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September 20, 2025

Media Disguise Airspace Violation Claims

The warmongering stunts by the east European states and NATO are laughable.

Russian Fighter Jets Enter Airspace of Estonia, a NATO Member (archived)  NY Times, Sep 19 2025

Estonias foreign minister described the flights, which lasted for an unusually long 12 minutes, as an unprecedentedly brazen intrusion.

Three Russian fighter jets violated Estonias airspace on Friday for an unusually long period, some 12 minutes, in what Estonias foreign minister called an unprecedentedly brazen intrusion over the NATO country. NATO responded to intercept the Russian jets, Allison Hart, the military alliances spokeswoman, said in a statement on X. This is yet another example of reckless Russian behavior and NATOs ability to respond, she said.



Tensions were already high after at least 21 Russian drones flew in Polish airspace 10 days ago, prompting NATO to scramble fighter jets to shoot down some of them. That incursion was regarded by Polish officials, who provided an updated count of the drones, as a deliberate effort to test the alliances readiness and a dangerous escalation of the war in Ukraine.

The unarmed Russian Gebera decoy drones that flew over Poland do a have a range of some 600 kilometer (370 mi). If they had been launched from behind Russian lines they would not have reached Poland. The drones were most likely found in Ukraine, patched up and reprogrammed by Ukrainian services, and sent towards Poland. They were just on the ways Ukraine tries to drag NATO into its war.

The 'unprecedentedly brazen intrusion' into the airspace of Estonia, if it has happened at all, did not take place over Estonia's mainland but near Vaindloo, an uninhabited rock in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea, some 26 kilometer (16 mi) north of the Estonian coast.

The NY Times piece does, of course, NOT mention that. It is worded to make the reader believe that Estonia was somehow endangered.

The Russian military says that its jets did not violate Estonian airspace:

MOSCOW, September 20. /TASS/. Three Russian MiG-31 jets carried out a scheduled flight from Karelia to the Kaliningrad Region without violating Estonian airspace, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. "On September 19, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets made a scheduled flight from Karelia to an airfield in the Kaliningrad Region. The flight was conducted in strict accordance with international airspace rules, without violating the borders of other states, which is confirmed by objective monitoring. During the flight, the Russian aircraft did not deviate from the agreed flight path and did not violate Estonian airspace. The aircraft's flight path lay over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea, more than three kilometers from the island of Vaindloo," the statement said.

The statements by Estonias foreign minister Margus Tsahkna amount, in sight of the facts, to hysterical nonsense:

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, Mr. Tsahkna said in a statement, which he issued in slightly different form on X. He called it clear proof of Russias growing aggression. Members of NATO should respond with more pressure on Moscow, Mr. Tsahkna said. Russias ever-increasing testing of borders and aggressiveness must be responded to by rapidly strengthening political and economic pressure, he said. Estonia summoned the Russian charge daffaires to protest the flights, the ministry said. Estonias prime minister, Kristen Michal, said he would seek urgent talks with his NATO allies. The Government of Estonia has decided to request NATO Article 4 consultations, Mr. Michal wrote, invoking the section of the alliances charter that allows a member state to begin formal discussions about threats to its security.

The 'western' media do not reveal the details of the 'intrusion'. They no longer report, but disguise the facts to create opinions.

On top of that some dimwit officials chip in:

Brian McDonald @27khv  10:04 utc  Sep 20, 2025 Lithuanias defence minister falsely claims Russian jets flew over Tallinn. It was allegedly over Vaindloo Island in the Gulf of Finland, 100km from the capital. She then urges a replay of Turkeys 2015 shoot-down (an F-16 bringing down a Russian Su-24). The trouble is, Lithuania has no fighters of its own. Not even one. So what shes really demanding is that others light the match for World War Three.

link

The small and often imaginary incidents, like this 'incursion', add up in the public mind with the effect of making it more anti-Russian.

This is one of the reasons why the president of Russia is concerned that we are sliding toward World War III.
September 16, 2025 On Free Speech Hypocrisy  by JD Vance February 2025: In Munich, Vance accuses European politicians of censoring free speech  Reuters U.S. Vice President JD Vance on Friday took a swipe at European governments for what he described as their censorship of free speech and their political opponents, 



Vance adopted a confrontational tone, accusing European politicians of what he said was a fear of their own people and warned them that the real threat against their democracy was not from Russia or China. "The threat I worry the most about vis-a-vis Europe is not Russia, it's not China, it's not any other external actor. What I worry about is the threat from within, the retreat of Europe from some its most fundamental values, values shared with the United States of America," Vance said.



.. he said Brussels had shut down social media over hateful content, and criticized Germany for what he described as raids against its own citizens for posting anti-feminist comments, Sweden for convicting a Christian activist, and United Kingdom for backsliding on religious rights.  September 2025: Vance calls for action against those celebrating Kirks assassination  AP via The Christian Index Vice President JD Vance on Monday joined those demanding consequences for those who have cheered Charlie Kirk's assassination, calling on the public to turn in anyone who celebrate the assassination of his friend and political ally and encourage further violence. When you see someone celebrating Charlies murder, call them out, Vance urged listeners on the slain activists podcast Monday. And hell, call their employer. Vance's call also included a vow to target some of the biggest funders of liberal causes, as conservatives stepped up their targeting of private individuals for their comments celebrating the killing and encouraging more violence. Republican-controlled states such as Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas have launched investigations of teachers accused of inappropriate statements after last weeks assassination. The U.S. military has invited members of the public to report those who celebrate or mock the killing and said some troops have already been removed for their comments. At the same time, the Trump administration has vowed to target what it contends is a vast liberal network that inspired the shooter. Comments
September 19, 2025

Polands Attempt To Blackmail China Will Hurt Itself Most

Over the last decade China developed the longest railway in the world running more than 8,000 miles from the east coast of China to Spain.

The line crosses China, Russia, Belarus and Poland before splitting up into various European connections.

Over the last year the railway has carried goods between China and Europe at a value of about $25 billion.

The line is now blocked:

Polands decision to close its border with Belarus in response to thequadrennial Zapad-2025 military exercises and Russian drone incursion on September 10 has abruptly severed one of the fastest-growing trade arteries between China and the EU.



The impact of the closure of the Belarusian border is significant. The land corridor already represents 3.7% of all EUChina trade, up from 2.1% a year earlier. While that share remains small compared to seaborne shipments, its importance lies in speed and reliability.



Polands government underlined that the decision was driven by security imperatives rather than economics. Warsaw stated that the logic of trade was being replaced by the logic of security, underscoring the geopolitical risks attached to the Belt and Road corridors.

The Zapad-2025 military exercises is long over but Poland continues to block the railroad.

Its government is taking Europe's trade with China as hostage to press China to change its policy towards Russia:

Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski has said that during his meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in a suburb of Warsaw on Monday 15 September, he will insist that China put pressure on Russia to stop "a hybrid operation" on Polands eastern border, which has led to the closure of Beijings key trade route to Europe.



Tensions escalated in May last year, when a Polish border guard was attacked and killed by a migrant. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk accused Belarus and Russia of weaponising migration. Last year, Warsaw threatened to block the export route to the European Union to secure Chinas help. Polish then-president Andrzej Duda raised the border tensions issue during his visit to Beijing, which "helped for a few months", Sikorski said. "But unfortunately, this hybrid operation has intensified again. So, we need to talk again," he added.

Interestingly the Chinese reporting on the meeting between Wang Ye and Sikorski did not mention the blocking:

At the 4th meeting of Poland-China Intergovernmental Committee on Monday, the two parties exchanged views on the importance of developing effective and economically competitive Eurasian transport corridors and the pivotal role of Poland in this process. The two sides recognized the benefits of providing mutually beneficial services for volumes of goods transported by railway, maritime and air means and of consolidating the existing and potential routes and logistical chains. Both sides expressed their willingness to ensure the safety and accessibility of the China-Europe Railway Express.

I suspect that, behind the scene, less polite words were used by Wang Yi to express the Chinese view on Poland's attempt the hinder the freedom of global trade.

The migrants do not ride on Chinese freight trains. Blocking the railroad connection between China and Europe to prevent migrants from coming through Belarus is a very crude form of blackmail that will hit back.

Should the blockade continue Poland will have to bury all hope of any future investment from China.

Western European companies who depend on the railroad connection for their trade will also become more hostile to Poland.

The coming defeat of NATO in Ukraine will contribute to the end of the military alliance.

Poland's outrageous behavior makes it more likely that the defeat in Ukraine will also help to break up the European Union.

Poland is currently the recipient of the largest EU's agricultural subsidies. Why should Germany and others continue to pay for those when Poland is impeding their trade?
September 18, 2025 Saudi Arabias Defense Pact With Pakistan Is A Strategic Loss For The U.S. of A. Back in 2012 U.S. foreign policy analysts were concerned about a possible nuclear alliance between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Scholars from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and the Stimson Center wrote an essay about it: The Pak-Saudi Nuke, and How to Stop It  The American Interest, March 2012 The opening paragraph: One morning, perhaps in the not too distant future, the President of the United States may wake up to an announcement that, given new dangers in the Middle East, the Saudi government has requested the stationing of Pakistani troops on Saudi soil. The announcement might go on to explain that these troops will also bring with them the full complement of conventional and strategic weapons necessary to ensure their security and that of Saudi Arabia. Word would quickly follow from Islamabad that Pakistan has accepted a generous aid package and low-priced oil from Saudi Arabia. Both parties would stress that the agreement simply reaffirms their decades-long special relationship. As Pakistan is a nuclear weapons state one had to assume that any such a pact would supply Saudi Arabia with nuclear weapons. It was something that the U.S. and its sidekick Israel were very concerned about. It was assumed at that time that the reason for such a move by Saudi Arabia would be its concern over Iran and its nuclear program: Over the past decade, Saudi Arabias threat perception has sharpened as the dangers from Iran have grown along with doubts about the reliability of U.S. protection. The time to wake up to a new Saudi-Pakistani alliance has finally come today: Saudi Arabia signs strategic mutual defence pact with Pakistan (archived)  Financial Times But the strategic circumstance under which the alliance happens are very different from those that had been envisioned in 2012 essay: Saudi Arabia has signed a strategic mutual defence pact with Pakistan, signalling to the US and Israel that the kingdom is willing to diversify its security alliances as it looks to bolster its deterrence. The agreement with the nuclear-armed south Asian state comes a week after Gulf states  traditionally reliant on the US as their security guarantor  were deeply rattled by Israels missile strikes targeting Hamass political leaders in Qatar. We hope it will reinforce our deterrence  aggression against one is aggression against the other, a senior Saudi official told the Financial Times. This is a comprehensive defence agreement that will utilise all defensive and military means deemed necessary depending on the specific threat. This is a NATO Article 5 like pact. 'All means deemed necessary', as empathized, undoubtedly includes Pakistan's nuclear weapons. The U.S. was, the FT say, not at all involved in it: Riyadh is believed to have informed Washington about the Pakistan defence agreement after it was signed. Saudi Arabia already has a strategic missile force which is armed with Chinese DF-21 missiles which have a range of up to 1,700 kilometer. They can hit Tehran, but also Tel Aviv. The missiles are conventionally armed but can be fitted with nuclear warheads. Pakistan's development of nuclear weapons had largely be financed by Saudi Arabia. The two countries have a long history of military cooperation: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have a defense relationship stretching back decades, in part due to Islamabads willingness to defend the Islamic holy sites of Mecca and Medina in the kingdom. Pakistani troops first traveled to Saudi Arabia in the late 1960s over concerns about Egypts war in Yemen at the time. Those ties increased after Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution and the kingdoms fears of a confrontation with Tehran. Pakistan developed its nuclear weapons program to counter India's atomic bombs. However, there long have been signals of the kingdoms interest in the program. Retired Pakistani Brig. Gen. Feroz Hassan Khan, in his book on his countrys nuclear weapons program called Eating Grass: The Making of the Pakistani Bomb, said Saudi Arabia provided generous financial support for its effort. Today Saudi Arabia no longer fears a confrontation with Iran. In 2023, with the help of Chinese mediation, the two countries did bury their hatchets. The move was an early sign that the U.S. was losing ground in the Middle East. The reasons why the is being closed these days is obvious: The agreement was signed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Riyadh. Sharifs offices reiterated that the agreement states that any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both. The Israeli attack on Doha, one of the USs major non-Nato allies, exacerbated Gulf leaders long-running concerns about Washingtons unpredictability and its commitment to their defence, as well as fears about Israel acting unrestrainedly with its military across the region. The Saudis had worked on, and hoped for, a deeper alliance with the U.S. But the genocide in Gaza, and the unlimited U.S. support for it, have made such an alliance impossible: Riyadh had been hoping to seal a defence pact with the US, as well as co-operation with Washingtons nuclear plans, as part of a grand deal that would have led to it normalising diplomatic relations with Israel. However, those plans were upended after Hamass October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, triggering the war in Gaza and conflict across the region. Riyadh has become increasingly outraged by Israels 23-month war in Gaza and the conduct of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus far-right government. Prince Mohammed accuses Israel of committing genocide, and has made it clear that normalisation is off the table unless Netanyahu ends the conflict and moves to establish a Palestinian state. China, which is allied with Pakistan, will be happy about the deal. So will be Iran. It was likely already informed about it: Before the defense pact was signed, Iran dispatched Ali Larijani, a senior political figure who now serves as the secretary of the countrys Supreme National Security Council, to visit Saudi Arabia. That may have seen the kingdom acknowledge the pact to Tehran, with which it has had a Chinese-mediated detente with Iran since 2023. India will be concerned about the deal. A lot of the oil it purchases is coming from Saudi Arabia. With a Saudi-Pakistani alliance in place any conflict with Pakistan will likely cause it additional difficulties with the purchase of energy. The U.S., and Donald Trump, are the big losers in this. The unrestricted support for Israel is coming at an ever increasing price. The Gulf countries are  slowly, slowly  moving away from it. Comments
September 15, 2025

Ukraine  As Security Guarantees Get Buried Other Stupid Ideas Emerge

Two weeks ago the Foreign Minister of Poland Radosaw Sikorski visited Washington and was proud to be included in talks about 'security guarantees' for Ukraine. His ministry announced:

Secretary of State Rubio declared that Poland will be involved in arrangements to reliably provide Ukraine with future security guarantees. He said that the United States aims to guarantee a lasting peace in Ukraine.

But now Sikorski is, rightfully one must say, doubting the usefulness of any 'security guarantees':

The security guarantees currently being discussed for Ukraine are unlikely to work in the event of a new invasion, since there are no hunters in the West to fight with Russia. This was stated by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski. "If we provide Ukraine with security guarantees, we say that we can start a war against Russia. And I don't think it's convincing that there is trust in it. Anyone who wants to fight with Russia can start it right now. But I don't see any takers," Sikorsky said.

There will never be any takers. Can we now finally bury that 'security guarantee' nonsense?

But Sikorski, being a neo-conservative, is still trying to push others into fighting with Russia:

Polands foreign minister called on NATO countries to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine to protect Europe from Russian strikes amid the continuing fallout over the drone incursion into Poland last week, which prompted the U.S.-led alliance to scramble fighter jets.



We as NATO and the E.U. could be capable of doing this, but it is not a decision that Poland can make alone; it can only be made with its allies, he said. Protection for our population  for example, from falling debris  would naturally be greater if we could combat drones and other flying objects beyond our national territory. If Ukraine were to ask us to shoot them down over its territory, that would be advantageous for us. If you ask me personally, we should consider it, he added.

The idea is as stupid as earlier ones. Russia would consider any foreign military stationing or actions like a no-fly zone in Ukraine as a war on itself:

Russia would consider NATO forces protecting Ukrainian airspace as a declaration of war, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday. "Implementing the provocative idea of Kiev and other idiots to create a no-fly zone over 'Ukraine' and allowing NATO countries to down our drones will mean only one thing: NATO's war with Russia," the politician wrote on his Telegram channel.

Sikorski's latest idea thus has the same problem as 'security guarantees'. There will be no takers:

The United States and its major allies in NATO, including Britain, have previously rejected requests by Ukraine for no-fly zone that because of the high risk of direct combat with Russian aircraft, and there has been no indication that President Donald Trump is considering such a step  especially without Russian agreeing to a ceasefire.

No takers. At all.



(The last quoted graph has at least three grammar mistakes in it. Is the Washington Post no longer proofreading its pieces?)
October 8, 2025 Ukrainian Media About Gaps In The Frontline And Other Failures The Ukrainian news-outlet Ukrainska Pravda has a new report about the state of the Ukrainian forces at the frontline. The Russian forces are winning the war bit by bit while the Ukrainian army is in constant retreat. The report is discussing several issues which prevent the Ukrainians from holding the line. While most of UPs pieces are published in Russian/Ukrainian and English this one has yet to receive a translation. Below summaries and excerpts of it (edited machine translation): The holes between the infantry positions are getting bigger and bigger.

What prevents the Ukrainian army from deterring the Russians  Ukrainska Pravda, Oct 6 2025 The most urgent need directly on the front line remains infantry. At the current stage of the war, when the work of heavy equipment is maximally complicated, the role of soldiers in the trenches increases significantly. When they are not enough, it is not easy to organize a defense. Due to the lack of people, many units cannot hold their positions, fully repel Russian attacks, adequately rest and conduct the necessary rotation. As a result, field commanders are forced to choose priority areas, leaving other sectors less protected. In consequence there is no longer a real frontline. The lack of infantry leads to gaps through which Russian forces can slip into the rear of the Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian mortar troops and drone pilots who are nominally stationed five kilometer behind the frontline suddenly find themselves in direct contact with enemy troops: A consequence of the problem described above is that infantry positions are increasingly literally deserted. Therefore, the distance between neighboring positions can be 200-300 , 500-700 meters, and sometimes even a kilometer.



The formation of a huge number of holes between Ukrainian infantry positions and the penetration of these holes by the Russians deep into our defenses has formed another trend of the current stage of the war  the lack of a stable line of engagement.



Due to the lack of fighters on the first line, drone and mortar operators, who stand 3-5 kilometers from the front edge, are forced to become infantry.



In the worst cases, which UP is also aware of, the Russians even reach artillery positions. These are 10-15 kilometers from the contact line. Over the last six month the Ukrainian army has changed its structure. Previously various brigades were attached to temporary operational commands (TUS,Tgrs) with each responsible for large parts of the frontline. The new model is based on a corp structure with several brigades assigned to a corp to serve under one permanent command. While the restructuring is officially finished most troops have yet to find their new home:

The key advantage of the transition of the Defense Forces to the corps system was called by supporters of the reform the emergence of stable management bodies. But this is exactly what has not happened so far, because there are still temporary TUS, Tgrs, etc. on the ground in one form or another. Moreover, there are also questions about the transition to the implementation of tasks by corps exclusively in the designated areas of responsibility. In many sectors of the front, a full-fledged transition did not take place, while the General Staff already has plans to create even new structures, such as assault troops and troops of unmanned air defense systems as part of the air force. In the context of a general shortage of personnel with the incomplete transition to the corps system, finding resources for new military formations will be quite problematic. Despite having the just introduced a corp structure the newly created assault battalions were put under direct command of the Ukrainian commander-in-chief, General Syrski. Events in Ukraine recently took a look at those: Undeterred by the total collapse of the Kursk operation in the spring of 2025, Syrsky remains fixated on the need for new offensives. Now, the head of the army has created his own personal guard, totally willing to implement all his orders  the assault forces. The western-funded nationalist press has attacked Syrskys new project as catastrophic, claiming that the units involved have taken massive losses in the urge to demonstrate their loyalty to the commander-in-chief. For whatever reason, these highly critical articles on the assault forces from the likes of BBC Ukraine and texty.org havent been translated to English. Today well take a look at what exactly these new assault forces are. It turns out that they are largely composed of units commanded by the fascist Right Sector. Syrsky chose these units because they unflinchingly took part in his Kursk adventure  in contrast to other commanders, who criticized Syrskys folly and were sacked as a result.  The best general the Russians have, as Syrski is called by his critics, is also accused of micromanaging the fight at the frontline (edited machine translation): In June 2025, Ukrayinska Pravda was the first to write about how Commander-in-Chief Alexander Syrsky resorted to manual control of the front. Independently selects, and already removes, the corps commanders, decides which brigade and how much replenishment is being made, sets tasks for battalions, when they should be assigned by the brigade commander, and so on. During these three months, the situation with the dependence of the front on the instructions of one person, according to the observations of Ukrayinska Pravda and the UPs interlocutors in the Defense Forces, has only become more complicated. At first, Syrsky began to regularly visit and taxi the actions of units on the Dobropolsky ledge, which is now being cut off by the defense forces. According to public references of the commander-in-chief himself, over the past 3.5 months, he went to meetings and meetings with local commanders as many as eight times. The introduction of long range First-Person-View drones by Russia has cleared the typical rear of the frontline. Command and logistics had to move back further which makes their work more costly and ineffective: Due to the activity of Russian aircraft and drones from about the end of spring  and early summer of this year, the support units of the Ukrainian army began to move away from the line-of-contact.



According to the decision of the Supreme Chief, all support units had to move 40-50 kilometers away from the contact line. For logistics commanders, this decision means that with already limited resources  especially fuel-the logistics arm becomes longer and more complex. I used to spend 40 liters and a couple of hours to get a few tons of fuel. Now  300 liters and almost a day,  shares with UP one of the commanders of support. The UP authors are pessimistic about possible changes: [T]he military command at various levels turns a blind eye to fairly obvious problems within the Ukrainian army, and the presidential office, without which no solution in this country is complete, does not risk its ratings [..] Meanwhile, the gaps between the infantry positions are getting bigger. Comments
Ex-PSS employee to plead guilty in federal fraud case

By Bryan Manabat

bryan@mvariety.com

Variety News Staff

A FORMER CNMI Public School System employee, Giselle Butalid, is expected to plead guilty to federal fraud charges, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric OMalley.

On Monday, OMalley requested the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands to schedule a change of plea hearing for Butalid, who, along with her mother, Clarissa Adlawan, was indicted on multiple counts including conspiracy, theft of federal funds, money laundering, and structuring financial transactions.

The court granted the motion and set the hearing for Oct. 14 at 1:30 p.m. before Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona.

In light of the plea agreement signed by the parties and filed with the court on October 6, 2025, the United States of America, by and through undersigned counsel, hereby moves this court to set this matter for a change of plea hearing on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at 1:30 p.m., OMalley stated.

The plea agreement remained sealed as of Tuesday afternoon.

The indictment outlines a complex scheme that allegedly defrauded PSS of tens of thousands of dollars in federal grant money.

According to court documents, Butalid  a U.S. citizen and former employee of PSS Office of Curriculum and Instruction  and Adlawan, a Philippine national residing in the CNMI, used their company, One Legacy LLC, to submit fraudulent invoices and quotations for educational materials. The company, registered in January 2021, was allegedly used to funnel federal funds through falsified procurement documents.

Butalid faces one count of conspiracy, five counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and one count of money laundering conspiracy.

Adlawan faces one count of conspiracy, five counts of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, one count of money laundering conspiracy, one count of illegal monetary transaction, and four counts of structuring.

The indictment states that Butalid exploited her position at PSS to forge documents, fabricate vendor quotations, and authorize sole-source procurements for One Legacy. The company then received payments for educational materials that were either never delivered or misrepresented.

Prosecutors also allege the defendants laundered the proceeds through frequent cash withdrawals, ATM transactions in the Philippines, and luxury purchases, including stays at high-end hotels and shopping sprees at Prada and Louis Vuitton.

The charges seek forfeiture of assets tied to the alleged crimes, and substitute property if the original assets cannot be recovered.

Adlawans jury trial date of Oct. 21, 2025 has been rescheduled for Jan. 13, 2026.
Federal inmate seeks return of confiscated jade necklace

By Bryan Manabat

bryan@mvariety.com

Variety News Staff

A FEDERAL inmate, Bing Li, currently serving time in Missouri, has petitioned the District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands to return a jade necklace with a talisman he claims was confiscated during his 2023 detention on Saipan.

Li said the pendant is a family heirloom of deep sentimental value. In a series of letters submitted to the court, he alleges that staff at both the Saipan prison and the federal holding facility took the item upon his arrival and failed to respond to repeated inquiries.

Li is scheduled for release and deportation to China on Dec. 25, 2025, and argues that the return of the pendant is urgent.

Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona treated Lis letters to the court as a formal motion under Rule 41(g) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, which allows individuals to seek the return of property seized by the government.

In an order issued by the court, Judge Manglona directed the U.S. government to respond to the motion by Oct. 16, 2025.

The order also cited Department of Corrections regulations governing inmate intake procedures: all inmates are searched upon entry, confiscated items are documented, valuables are retained by staff, and neck jewelry is not permitted.

Li was sentenced in 2023 to 51 months in prison for receiving 1,084 grams (2.13 pounds) of methamphetamine by mail.

He pleaded guilty on March 17, 2023, to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

According to the criminal complaint against Li, CNMI Customs & Biosecurity officers seized approximately 1,048 gross grams of methamphetamine from him on Jan. 26, 2023, at the U.S. Post Office in Chalan Kanoa. He was accompanied by another individual, identified in court documents as Individual 1.

As part of standard procedure, CNMI Customs officers opened a package addressed to Li, with him present for a routine inspection. Upon opening the package, a white crystallized substance consistent in appearance with methamphetamine was observed in plain view. A sample from the package was field-tested and returned positive for the presence of methamphetamine, the complaint stated.
Local fishermen raise concerns over shark predation on catch

By Andrew Roberto

andrew@mvariety.com

Variety News Staff

FISHERMENS shark tales of frustration over predation and concerns about its impact on fisheries dominated the discussions at a public meeting hosted by the nonprofit organization Pacific Islands Fisheries Group to discuss the effects sharks have on their catch.

According to a slide presented during the meeting held at Crowne Plaza on Monday, shark bycatch in American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, and the CNMI occurs but is not assessed or largely understood. Anecdotes from the region suggest that shark predation on fishermens catch, as well as shark bycatch, is increasing, PIFG said.

The meeting brought together over a dozen local stakeholders to share their perspectives and experiences with shark predation.

Local fisherman Vince Tudela described his frustration:

Youre out there trying to be successful in your catch, and you already have the anticipation of going out with the right gear and everything else in place  only to have a bunch of sharks discover your setup, he said.

Tudela recounted motoring far past the reef to drop a bottom fishing rig, only for four sharks to depredate it.

I tried to see if they would leave my hooks alone, but they broke one rig off. I moved to Angingan toward Coral Ocean Point, and as soon as I stopped the boat, the sharks were next to me. I figured I wasnt fishing that day, he said.

Gene Weaver, co-founder of Tasi-To-Table, said local sharks frequently bite yellowfin tuna caught on fishing lines. This was corroborated by fishermen James Roberto and Tudela.

Mike Tenorio elaborated:

When theyre feeding on the tuna in a feeding frenzy, they become very aggressive. If youre in the water and shoot a fish with sharks nearby, they can become territorial. When you see them flexing and showing their teeth, thats a sign to step back and leave the area, he said.

Alex Min, a PIFG program coordinator, said the nonprofit has presented shark culling as one possible action to the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, which oversees Guam, the CNMI, American Samoa, and Hawaii.

Its not the only solution, and not always welcome, but we need balance. There are many shark laws across the region, and if the fishing community is losing nine out of 10 fish, it indicates a serious ecosystem imbalance, Min said.

He cited Public Law 15-124, which makes it illegal to kill rays and sharks in the CNMI. Under the law, it is unlawful to possess any shark, dead or alive. Hawaii and American Samoa have similar bans.

However, federal regulations allow fishermen to land sharks whole, provided they do not engage in shark finning, which is cutting off fins and discarding the rest of the shark.

John Gurley, founder of Micronesian Environmental Services, suggested ways to quantify shark impacts on fisheries.

We can measure losses economically, by tracking money lost in gear, and account for total poundage of fish lost, he said. Gurley also suggested assessing whether local regulations conflict with federal laws. He recommended developing a market for local shark meat.

I think shark meat could be a high-end product for restaurants in the Marianas. Its good eating, he said.

Tudela said he is split on the issue:

If theres a real problem, we have to decide what controls to implement. Theres a thin line between pro-shark and anti-shark. Out on the water, its predator versus predator  we both need to eat. But being from here, we must respect their world. They live around our waters, but we live with them. If their numbers exceed ours, how do we manage that?

He said he would support population control through fishing derbies or other measures but does not favor total eradication of the species.
Illinois sues to stop National Guard deployment as Trump escalates clash with states

Law enforcement officers operate during a standoff with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and federal officers in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, Oct. 4, 2025. REUTERS

(Reuters)  The state of Illinois and the city of Chicago sued President Donald Trump on Monday, seeking to block the deployment of federalized National Guard troops to Chicago, as hundreds of National Guard troops from Texas headed to the nations third-largest city.

Trump then escalated the widening clash with Democratic-led states and cities over the domestic use of military forces, threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act as a means to circumvent court restrictions on deploying troops where they are unwanted by local officials.

Illinois had sued in response to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseths orders over the weekend to bring 300 Illinois National Guard members under federal control and then to mobilize another 400 Texas National Guard troops for deployment to Chicago.

While Illinois request for a temporary restraining order plays out, U.S. lawyers told a court hearing on Monday that Texas National Guard troops were already in transit to the state. Trump then issued another memorandum calling up 300 Illinois National Guard troops, reinforcing Hegseths previous order.

U.S. District Judge April Perry allowed the federal government to continue the deployment in Chicago while it responds to Illinois suit. She set a deadline of midnight Wednesday for the U.S. to reply.

The Illinois dispute came after a federal judge in Oregon on Sunday temporarily blocked Trumps administration from sending any National Guard troops to police the states largest city, Portland.

Shortly after Perrys ruling, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office he might invoke the Insurrection Act of 1792, which would allow troops to directly participate in civilian law enforcement, for which there is little recent precedent.

Id do it if it was necessary. So far, it hasnt been necessary. But we have an Insurrection Act for a reason. If I had to enact it, Id do that, Trump said. If people were being killed and courts were holding us up, or governors or mayors were holding us up, sure, Id do that.

Later, when asked in an interview with Newsmax television whether he would invoke the law, Trump repeated that he would only use it if necessary, and then referenced Portland, Oregon, where the mayor and governor oppose deploying the National Guard to quell protests.

If you take a look at whats been going on in Portland, its been going on for a long time, and thats insurrection. I mean, thats pure insurrection, Trump said.

The law has been used sparingly, in extreme cases of unrest. The law was last invoked by President George H.W. Bush in 1992, when the governor of California requested military aid to suppress unrest in Los Angeles following the trial of Los Angeles police officers who beat Black motorist Rodney King.

Today, Democratic-led states and cities are pushing back against Trumps attempt to deploy military forces into cities, which the White House says are needed to protect federal government employees from violent riots and lawlessness.

Democratic leaders counter that their cities are being illegally targeted and falsely portrayed as awash in crime.

Trump has expanded the use of the U.S. military in his second term, which has included deploying troops along the U.S. border and ordering them to kill suspected drug traffickers on boats off Venezuela without due process.

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

Trump has ordered them to Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Portland, prompting lawsuits from state and local leaders.

Chicagos lawsuit, opens new tab is the fourth legal action opposing Trumps unprecedented use of soldiers to police U.S. cities. Courts have not yet reached a final decision in any of those cases, but judges in California and Oregon have made initial rulings that Trump likely overstepped his authority.

The Illinois lawsuit alleges the Republican president is deploying the military to Illinois based on a flimsy pretext that an ICE facility in a suburb of Chicago needs protection from protesters.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, in a press conference, accused Trump of unnecessarily escalating tensions by attempting to add National Guard troops to heavily armed federal police from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other agencies already operating in Chicago.

Pritzker said those officers have fired tear gas and rubber bullets on peaceful protesters, with U.S. citizens, including children, being traumatized and detained.

Donald Trump is using our service members as political props and as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nations cities, Pritzker said.

Donald Trumps deranged depiction of Chicago as a hellhole, a war zone and the worst and most dangerous city in the world was just complete BS, Pritzker said.

Trump, responding to Pritzker, reiterated his contention that Chicago was like a war zone, saying Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson had lost control.

Its probably worse than almost any city in the world. You could go to Afghanistan, you can go to a lot of different places, and they probably marvel at how much crime we have, Trump said.
This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 1188 donors have already invested in our efforts to combat corruption and predatory conduct, particularly in the financial realm. Please join us and participate via our donation page, which shows how to give via check, credit card, debit card, PayPal, Clover, or Wise. Read about why were doing this fundraiser, what weve accomplished in the last year, and our current goal, Karoshi prevention.

Yves here. On the one hand, the account below, from Richard Murphys son Tom, on how AI has upended the job market and career paths in the UK, is anecdata. On the other hand, Tom provides a lot of informative color. I hope readers who either directly or through family and colleagues have further information and insight will pipe up in comments.

It is also maddening, in light of this post and other issues that Murphy has raised about AI, to see him as an enthusiastic user and even AI tout. At the end of his piece, which I have not reproduced given our policy of being firmly opposed to AI use as bad societally, theft of intellectual property, massively destructive environmentally and a reducer of skill levels in users, he encourages readers to write to their MPs.using a ChatGPT toolwhich he warns can generate errors and must be checked.

Does Murphy have NO self-awareness? No wonder the Left sucks and Labour is in the state it is in. Hes openly supporting the sabotage of workers. He knows, or ought to know, that MIT has found that 95% of the companies that tried implementing AI did not find it was net productive and that LLMs are not accurate, and these problems are inherent (as in the idea that they would operate vastly better with sufficient scale is false). And this post means he cant pretend to unaware of the impact of his treating AI use as not just defensible but even desirable.

By Richard Murphy, Emeritus Professor of Accounting Practice at Sheffield University Management School and a director of Tax Research LLP. Originally published at Funding the Future

AI is reshaping work faster than universities, employers, or governments can adapt.

In this intergenerational conversation, I talk with my son Tom about how artificial intelligence has destroyed the old promise: work hard, get good grades, and youll get a good job.

From ghost jobs to algorithmic hiring and a two-tier workforce, this video explores what happens when AI changes everything  and how young people can still shape their future.

This is the audio version:

This is the transcript:

I closed this weeks Funding the Future podcast by saying:

We are living in a period of change. You are going to live through a lot more change than Ive seen in my career.

The conversation that I was concluding was with my son, Tom, who, for the past eighteen months, has been behind the camera for every YouTube video weve made. For the first time, he came out from behind the lens to talk about something that directly affects his generation: how artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping employment, and what that means for young people trying to enter the world of work.

The conversation ranged from personal experience to hard data, and from graduate disillusionment to the new inequalities of AI. What emerged was a sobering, and at times disturbing, portrait of a labour market being transformed faster than most people  including employers  can comprehend.

The AI Revolution Without a Plan

I began by noting that many businesses are rushing into AI adoption out of FOMO  the fear of missing out  rather than as a consequence of having any coherent strategy. Few know why they might use it for, or with what consequences. Yet, despite this confusion, the impact on real people, and in particular young people, is already enormous.

Toms observation was blunt: young people, students and graduates are entering a confusing situation in which they dont know what skills to acquire or what jobs will even exist.

When he started university in 2020, AI was a distant rumour. Four years later, it dominates everything in the world of work he faces. He likened it to the spread of smartphones; initially novel, then suddenly everywhere.

The result is a generation being told to invest in education without any clarity about where it will lead. That uncertainty is spreading fast.

Graduates Are Being Squeezed Out

The graduate employment system, as Tom described, has become dehumanised and alienating. Job applications are filtered through AI-driven forms that strip out personality and force applicants to re-enter every detail manually  the most boring thing in the world, he said. After hours of aptitude tests and algorithmic vetting, most applicants receive automated rejections, often with no feedback.

The scale of the mismatch is startling. A survey by Hult International Business School found that 98% of employers said they struggled to fill vacancies, but 89% admitted they did not want to hire graduates. In short, employers complain of a skills shortage while rejecting the very people they demand that the economy produce.

The absurdity deepens. In 2024, there were just 17,000 graduate jobs advertised in the UK, attracting 1.2 million applications, or about 70 applicants per job. Of course, many people applied for many jobs, but it is still the case that universities continue to expand their intake, producing another 465,000 graduates each year. Whatever the data underpinning the ratios, the arithmetic simply doesnt work.

No wonder Tom concluded: The old idea  get good grades, go to a good university, get a good job  is dead.

The Rise of Ghost Jobs

If that werent demoralising enough, many of the jobs graduates do apply for turn out to be ghosts. These are vacancies that companies post without any intention of filling them, whether to collect CV data, to signal growth to investors, or simply to test the market.

Tom cited data suggesting 30% of advertised positions are ghost jobs, rising to nearly 60% in some sectors. His friend applied to seven such roles, all of which remained online long after rejection letters arrived. Another firm Tom had applied to kept the same vacancy open for a year, re-advertising it every few months, but never seeming to want to actually fill it.

The result is an economy where hope is systematically wasted. Jobseekers spend weeks applying to roles that dont exist. Companies exploit the illusion of opportunity to mine personal data or inflate their image. Its a form of corporate dishonesty  employment wash, if you like  and it leaves young people exhausted and disillusioned.

AI and the Death of Entry-Level Work

Toms own field of study was accounting and finance. Yet, as he discovered, the firms that once hired thousands of trainees are now scaling back. The Big Four accountancy firms, he noted, have cut graduate recruitment by between 6% and 29% in a single year.

Why? Because AI can already do much of the routine data work that once required human accountants. Employers are filling entry-level gaps with algorithms rather than apprentices.

The same pattern is visible in marketing, coding, and customer service  professions now being AI-washed. As one local business owner told me, his marketing agency has effectively become a tech firm: it writes AI prompts for clients instead of campaigns. The problem, he admitted, is that if there are no juniors now, who replaces me when I retire?

This is the new paradox of automation: short-term efficiency at the cost of long-term sustainability. If companies eliminate the bottom rung, there will be no ladder left to climb.

Learning to Master the Machines

Yet not all the news is bleak. Tom and I both use AI every day in our work  for research, structuring videos, and accelerating creative processes. Used intelligently, it saves time and sparks ideas.

But, as we agreed, AI must be mastered, not served. The real risk is not that machines take our jobs, but that people forget how to think. Writing a good AI prompt is not like typing into Google. Its a craft requiring clarity, precision, and critical awareness  the very skills universities should be teaching.

Yet universities, fearful of cheating and plagiarism, have mostly retreated from AI training. They are preparing students for a world that no longer exists. The Hult survey again offers insight: 94% of graduates who learned AI skills said it improved their career prospects, but few are being offered the chance to learn those skills formally.

So, we have an education system afraid of the tools that define the modern workplace. That cannot last.

Job Killer or Job Creator?

Toms view was that AI is both: it destroys routine work but creates new opportunities for those with initiative. It can do in seconds what once took hours  from writing citations to data analysis  freeing people to focus on creativity, design, and strategy.

But he also warned of an emerging two-tier workforce:

AI users  lower-paid, task-driven, and easily replaced;

AI designers and strategists  fewer in number, but commanding far greater influence.

That divide, he suggested, will define his generations inequality. Not just between rich and poor, but between those who learn to work with AI and those who are worked by it.

Lifelong Learning or Lifelong Precarity?

Our conversation ended with something more hopeful. Over the past eighteen months, Tom has reinvented himself as a videographer, editor, and digital learner  mostly self-taught through online courses and peer learning. He has acquired a range of skills, from lighting and sound to AI-assisted editing, none of which existed in his original degree.

That, perhaps, is the lesson. In a world of accelerating change, learning can no longer stop at graduation. It must be continuous, self-directed, and creative. Those who adapt will find opportunities. Those who wait for the old job market to return will wait forever.

A New Social Contract for Education and Work

The deeper problem is, I think, systemic. We are asking young people to invest time, money, and hope into an education system that no longer guarantees them a livelihood.

Employers complain of shortages while excluding the newly qualified.

Universities sell courses while refusing to teach the skills employers now demand.

Governments celebrate innovation while ignoring the growing despair of those left out.

If we want AI to serve society, not enslave it, we need a new social contract between learning, work, and technology  one that recognises human potential as our most valuable form of intelligence.

As I said at the close of the podcast:

AI is changing the world, whether we like it or not. The only question that remains is whether we shape it  or let it shape us.

AI isnt the end of work. But it is the end of pretending that the old rules of education and employment still apply.
This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 1187 donors have already invested in our efforts to combat corruption and predatory conduct, particularly in the financial realm. Please join us and participate via our donation page, which shows how to give via check, credit card, debit card, PayPal, Clover, or Wise. Read about why were doing this fundraiser, what weve accomplished in the last year, and our current goal, Karoshi prevention.

Yves here. We feature Simon Watkins from time to time despite the extremely thick neocon spin (or worse, successful brainwashing) on display in his articles. Readers will no doubt have fun calling some of his howlers out. That includes the implicit thesis of this post, that the US has good odds of success in getting India to stop buying Russian oil, not by playing up Russia as a threat but by somehow keeping India from mending fences with China.

So this article demonstrates, sadly, that there are still a lot of true believers in the US Inevitable Supremacy cult. With India, one can see that the US thinks its perfectly reasonable to attempt to humiliate a near Great Power, by trying to dictate its trade and economic relationships, and then having set out to inflict harm, expect India to carry on as if everything was fine. This is what abusive spouses do, beat the shit out of their partner, then engage in elaborate shows of affection, as if that made the pummeling OK.

By Simon Watkins, a former senior FX trader and salesman, financial journalist, and best-selling author. He was Head of Forex Institutional Sales and Trading for Credit Lyonnais, and later Director of Forex at Bank of Montreal. He was then Head of Weekly Publications and Chief Writer for Business Monitor International, Head of Fuel Oil Products for Platts, and Global Managing Editor of Research for Renaissance Capital in Moscow. He has written extensively on oil and gas, Forex, equities, bonds, economics and geopolitics for many leading publications, and has worked as a geopolitical risk consultant for a number of major hedge funds in London, Moscow, and Dubai. Originally published at OilPrice

After doubling tariffs on Indian goods to 50%, U.S. President Donald Trump is offering India expanded U.S. oil and gas supplies as part of a broader deal.

The move builds on the U.S.India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, which includes defense co-production, technology cooperation, and a goal to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.

While Washington seeks to align India against both Russia and China, New Delhi remains cautious.

U.S. President Donald Trumps core financial strategy for ending Russias war in Ukraine is to starve it of oil and gas revenue. The initial focus of this from Washingtons perspective in the immediate aftermath of the 24 February 2022 invasion was to stop Europe, especially its de facto leader Germany, from continuing to import the huge quantities of cheap gas and oil that had powered its economic expansion from the late 1990s.

The U.S.s efforts at that point were broadly successful, and the pressure is now on Europe to reduce these imports to zero as soon as possible. To do so, Washington has offered Europe U.S. gas and oil as replacements, in addition to the ongoing deals with other countries that stepped in during 2022 with replacement gas and oil supplies for those lost from Russia.

In recent days, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has made the same offer to India about substituting Russian energy supplies with American ones, only shortly after Washington doubled its tariffs on Indian goods to 50% on 27 August due to New Delhis continued importation of Moscows oil and gas. President Trump has also hinted at a faster rollout of the wide-ranging agreements made in February between his country and India as a further enticement to toe the line on Russia. So, will India stop buying Russian oil and gas, so putting enormous pressure on Moscow to sit down at the negotiating table over Ukraine?

One element that works especially well with Europe in favour of Trumps strategy on Russia-Ukraine, but not so well with India, is that he can legitimately highlight the absurdity of the continent continuing to bankroll Russias war machine with ongoing oil and gas imports. This is a war machine that is highly likely to be turned on the rest of Europe itself, should Moscow be triumphant in Ukraine.

However, Russia is not likely to turn its military on India anytime soon  indeed, relations between Moscow and New Delhi have been good for decades. During the Soviet years, India was largely reliant on Russia for the mainstay of its weaponry, as well as for sizeable imports of cheap oil and gas. These two key elements for India were also included in the extraordinary series of deals signed between the two countries in December 2021 to the great shock of the then-President Joe Biden, as fully analysed in my latest book on the new global oil market order. One of those deals centred on heightened energy cooperation, including Rosneft supplying Indian Oil with almost 15 million barrels of crude to the end of 2022. The deal took on even more significance as it was just one part of 28 investment deals between Russia and India signed during the earlier visit of Putin himself to Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. These covered a broad range of subjects, including not just oil, gas, and petrochemicals, steel, and shipbuilding, but military matters too. Specifically, according to further official statements from one or both sides, Indian would produce at least 600,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles and, even more disturbing for the U.S., Indias Foreign Secretary, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, said that a 2018 contract for the S-400 air defence missile systems was in the process of being implemented. At that point, Modi said: We have set a target of US$30 billion in trade and US$50 billion in investment [with Russia] by 2025. In a joint statement from Russia and India around the time, it was also agreed that both leaders: Reiterated their intention to strengthen defence cooperation, including in the joint development of production of military equipment.

Consequently, there is nothing new about Indias oil and gas imports from Russia, nor its close military cooperation with it either, although recent events may have galvanised Washington into action. In particular, according to Russian state news agency TASS, Indian troops took part in the 12 September-16 September Russian-led Zapad military manoeuvres, along with Belarus. These drills also included rehearsals for the use of tactical nuclear weapons for the first time. Also taking part in these manoeuvres were servicemen from several key units of the Iranian armed forces, a senior source from the European Unions security apparatus exclusively told OilPrice.com at the time. This in turn is part of the wide-ranging 20-year comprehensive strategic cooperation deal between Iran and Russia (actually entitled, The Treaty on the Basis of Mutual Relations and Principles of Cooperation between Iran and Russia) that was agreed in January 2024 and fully ratified in all respects around a year later. It replaced the previous 10-year deal signed in March 2001 (extended twice by five years) and was expanded not only in duration but also in scope and scale, particularly in the defence and energy sectors. In several respects, the new deal complements key elements of the all-encompassing Iran-China 25-Year Comprehensive Cooperation Agreement, as first revealed anywhere in the world in my 3 September 2019 article on the subject and analysed in full in my new book on the new global oil market order.

Although Russia poses no true threat to India, China is a different matter, and a key part of the U.S.s long-term strategy regarding New Delhi was to leverage these fears into establishing India as the regional economic and military counterbalance to Beijing. The catalysts for enhanced action by Washington in this regard came at the time of the 15 June 2020 clash between Chinese and Indian troops in the disputed territory of the Galwan Valley in the Himalayas. The U.S. believed this evidenced a new pushback strategy from India against Chinas policy of seeking to increase its economic and military alliances through its multi-generational power-grab project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The U.S. further believed that this pushback might also be echoed in Indias economic desire to finally make substantive progress on its Neighbourhood First policy as an alternative to Chinas BRI programme.

However, for this to work, India would need access to secure energy sources over the long term, as it has few oil and gas sources of its own. Indeed, given the potential economic growth projections for India, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecast that the Asian sub-continental power would constitute the biggest share of global energy demand growth at 25% in the coming two decades. In fact, the IEA predicted India would overtake the European Union as the worlds third-biggest energy consumer by 2030. It was at this point that the plan was hatched to link the plan to use India as a challenge to China as Asias major power to a parallel corollary objective to use the UAE (which would be used by the U.S. as a major oil provider to India) to promote further relationship normalisation deals (Abraham Accords) between Israel and key Arab states in the Middle East. This plan remains in effect, but the U.S. has now added its own oil and gas supplies into the mix, as the UAE, on its own, would be unable to meet all of Indias future oil and gas requirements without Russian supplies factored into the mix.

To counter the huge and wide-ranging cooperation agreements signed between India and Russia, the U.S. has augmented its oil and gas supply offer with the enactment of several key elements of its own broad India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership plan that was sketched out in February this year during meetings between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi. One of these elements is to be formalised in a new initiative  the U.S.-India COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology) for the 21st Century. On the defence side, the two sides agreed that Washington would expand its defence sales and co-production with India to strengthen interoperability and defence industrial cooperation. On commerce, the two sides set a new goal for bilateral trade to more than double the current figure, to US$500 billion by 2030. Making good on these, and the many moving parts of these broad agreements, is the U.S.s next challenge in keeping India on side.
This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 1310 donors have already invested in our efforts to combat corruption and predatory conduct, particularly in the financial realm. Please join us and participate via our donation page, which shows how to give via check, credit card, debit card, PayPal, Clover, or Wise. Read about why were doing this fundraiser, what weve accomplished in the last year, and our current goal, Karoshi prevention.

Doing his part to help the Trump administration get their civil war on, Texas Attorney General (and U.S. Senate candidate) Ken Paxton has announced undercover operations to infiltrate and uproot leftist terror cells in Texas.

Leftist political terrorism is a clear and present danger. Corrupted ideologies like transgenderism and Antifa are a cancer on our culture and have unleashed their deranged and drugged-up foot soldiers on the American people, said Attorney General Paxton. The martyrdom of Charlie Kirk marks a turning point in America. There can be no compromise with those who want us dead. To that end, I have directed my office to continue its efforts to identify, investigate, and infiltrate these leftist terror cells. To those demented souls who seek to kill, steal, and destroy our country, know this: you cannot hide, you cannot escape, and justice is coming. The radical Left has incubated an environment where political violence is not only justified but celebrated and praised. In July, nearly two dozen armed leftists connected to various Texas-based Antifa-like groups ambushed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Alvarado, Texas.

Paxton was joined in his call to uproot left terror cells by the comparably corrupt Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.

Ill have more on the Prarieland attack later in the post, but first lets put Paxtons press release in its proper context: a Republican U.S. Senate primary.

MAGA vs RINO vs Rep. Hunt

Quick reminder that this race matters because:

It features a primary pitting the old-line GOP establishment against one of Trumps top acolytes and MAGA is favored to win Democrats have their best chance to pick up a Texas US Senate seat since 2018 when Ted Cruz won by 215,000 votes out of 8 million cast The bravura corruption of MAGA candidate Ken Paxton would be a new low for a U.S. Senator

I covered one of the leading Democratic candidates, James Talarico, on Monday and Ive covered the GOP primary before as The MAGA vs RINO Frontline and updated with Texas Floods, Biblical Divorce Complicate US Senate Primary.

The Paxton vs Cornyn primary race was complicated Monday by the entrance of Wesley Hunt one of the first Black Republicans to represent Texas in the House of Representatives:

Mr. Hunt said he decided to run because the race had become a blood feud between Ken Paxton and John Cornyn and that he would offer voters an alternative. He said that while Mr. Cornyn had succeeded in damaging Mr. Paxtons standing in the polls, he had yet to improve his own numbers very much. Theyre just slinging mud at each other, he said. Im going to be the one thats going to put the priorities of Texans first. Taking a swing at Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Hunt said his first priority if elected would be the repeal of a bipartisan gun control law that Mr. Cornyn helped negotiate after the 2022 massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas. You cannot author gun control legislation in Texas, Mr. Hunt said. Mr. Paxton has also attacked Mr. Cornyn on the issue. That line of attack showed how Mr. Hunts entrance is likely to complicate Mr. Cornyns re-election effort. The congressman and the senator are likely to draw from the same pool of conservative voters who dislike Mr. Paxton because of his long history of legal and ethical entanglements.



The National Republican Senatorial Committee, which has been supporting Mr. Cornyn, had been urging Mr. Hunt for months not to run. The committee was already concerned that Mr. Paxtons challenge was making the primary contest extremely expensive, drawing campaign cash away from general-election contests during a midterm election cycle that was expected to broadly favor Democrats. The committee sent a memo in September to donors who had supported Mr. Hunt, telling them that they were wasting their money on a vanity project that could cost Republicans control of the Senate. Mr. Hunt, for his part, said he would not be upset if Mr. Paxton were to win the primary. What we know about Ken Paxton is, hes actually a conservative, he said, implying that Mr. Cornyn was not.



Mr. Hunt, 43, has represented a wealthy, majority-white Houston district west of downtown since 2022, but he remains mostly unknown to voters elsewhere in the state.



At times, he has spoken openly about race and the history of slavery in the United States, presenting his own story of success as a ready-made response for Republicans to Democratic accusations of racism. Texas has never had a Black senator. Quite frankly, I dont think Texans really care about race, Mr. Hunt said in the interview on Monday.

The jokes write themselves, but perhaps Rep. Hunt has run some undercover operations in the Texas GOP of which Im not aware.

The Hill reports that incumbent Senator John Cornyn is outpacing Paxton in the money race:

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) raked in $3.36 million between his campaign and political committees between July and September, ending the quarter with $10.5 million cash in the bank In comparison, Paxton raised $2.9 million in the second quarter of fundraising this year and ended the quarter with $2.5 million in the bank. Paxton has not yet reported his third-quarter fundraising haul; candidates have until Oct. 15 to report those numbers.

Cornyn and his allies have been going all-in on social media attcks, television ads, and even vans driving around Austin attacking Paxton.

According to Axios, theyve been working:

In May, Cornyn was down by double digits in some polls. But he has narrowed the gap this summer, drawing to within single digits in most surveys. But his movement hasnt come cheap, with Cornyn-allied super PACs having spent or reserved roughly $14 million in the last two and a half months, according to AdImpact.

Heres a representative sample of Cornyns attacks on Paxton:

Hard to run from prison, Ken https://t.co/6oQ3oMqjCN  Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) February 29, 2024

For those not familiar with Paxton, The Texas Tribune has a nice summary of his legal woes:

Paxton has been accused of impropriety at least six times while in elected office, including fraud, abuse of office and self-dealing. In one of the most serious cases, he was charged with multiple felonies in 2015 for allegedly encouraging investors to buy into a McKinney tech firm without telling them that he had a financial interest in the company and also failing to register with the state before soliciting clients for a friends investment firm. After years in court, Paxton cut a deal to do community service in lieu of facing trial. He did not admit guilt in this case and has not been convicted of a crime. Then in 2023, the Texas House impeached him for alleged official misconduct, some of it related to accusations that he swapped political favors with a campaign donor in exchange for a job for the woman with whom he was allegedly having an affair. Paxton called it a political witch hunt and denied that he broke the law. After a trial, the Texas Senate acquitted him and he was reinstated to office.

The ad below references a campaign finance situation Paxton has gotten himself into:

Federal regulators are asking Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons U.S. Senate Campaign to explain or return roughly $658,000 in political contributions that appear to violate federal law.

This is a local news story about a van the Cornyn operation is driving around Austin, Texas:

For his part, Paxton has just begun to fire back with an ad that uses old anti-Cornyn quotes from Trump and suggests that the senator isnt a true conservative.

Paxton is also working hard on the earned media front with attacks on doctors:

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday accused the Texas Medical Association, the states leading physician organization, of skirting new federal recommendations that now state childhood COVID-19 vaccinations are no longer needed. Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice updated its vaccine guidance and no longer recommends that all children should receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Instead, it recommends that vaccination for COVID-19 be determined by individual decision-making. Shortly thereafter, the TMA sent out guidance to members, telling them to consider both the CDCs new guidelines and those of physician professional organizations that run counter to the federal guidance, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Paxton said the move represents an undermining of the federal guidelines. Its outrageous TMA is undermining ACIPs new federal guidelines for COVID-19 vaccines that expand personal freedom and mitigate the medical tyranny of the Biden Administration, Paxton said in a statement. This decision should be reversed immediately, and I encourage every Texas physician to speak out against this brazen, flawed shift by TMA.

Paxton is also going after LGBTQ advocates, possibly using undercover investigators:

Texas Supreme Court justices will decide how much information PFLAG will have to give Attorney General Ken Paxtons office for his investigation into medical providers allegedly violating the states ban on gender-affirming care for minors  a request the LGBTQ rights organization says is unconstitutional.



Paxtons office enforces the law through its Consumer Protection Division, which also enforces the Deceptive Trade Practice Act. The division is investigating whether medical providers are trying to get around the ban by prescribing hormones under the guise of treating an endocrine disorder or something else besides gender dysphoria, psychological stress over ones gender identity that is often the precursor to transitioning. Specifically, the attorney generals office claims some providers prescribe medicine under the endocrine disorder diagnosis because some insurers would automatically reject payment for gender-incongruent treatments. That violates the deceptive trade act, Paxtons office alleges. The investigation brought Paxtons office to LGBTQ+ advocacy group PFLAG  a national organization with a membership model  which the office says has information about providers who were trying to get around the ban. It points to a July 2023 affidavit in the lawsuit against in SB 14, which PFLAG CEO Brian Bond said he had spoken to various parties about contingency plans, alternative avenues to maintain care in Texas, and affirming general practitioners in case the law was allowed to go into effect in September of that year.

Paxton has also been going after a Chinese-owned tech company over alleged data breaches and hes also managed to keep the records of his divorce case sealed, so far.

The Leftist Terror

Thats enough about Paxtons antics, lets talk about the July 4th Prarieland attack. Heres what Wikipedia has to say:

The 2025 Alvarado ICE facility attack, also known as the Prairieland attack, occurred at the Prairieland Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Alvarado, Texas, United States, on the evening of July 4, 2025. Officials describe a coordinated plot in which about 12 individuals in black clothing and body armor allegedly used fireworks and vandalism to draw out officers and ambush them with rifles. One Alvarado police officer was shot in the neck and later released from hospital care. Local reporting and court documents identify ten individuals arrested shortly after; an alleged shooter was arrested on July 15 after a manhunt, and several alleged associates were also arrested. Several members of the initial group were tied to left wing organizations or protest activities, and anti-government, anti-ICE, and anarchist documents were found. As of September 23, according to local media, between fifteen and seventeen individuals had been charged in association with the events.

The alleged shooter is a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist named Benjamin Song, 32, who was named in a 2023 lawsuit involving the Elm Fork chapter of the John Brown Gun Club (JBGC), in a counter-protest at a Fort Worth drag show.

Meagan Morris, one of the 17 arrested spoke to NPR station KERA News. Morris faces state charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and terrorism, as well as federal charges of discharging a firearm during a violent crime and attempted murder of a federal officer.

I dont know what happened. We sure did not plan for any sort of violence or anything to go wrong like that. The original intent was just to show solidarity with the detainees who hopefully lift their spirits with a fun fireworks display and go home. If the officer got shot by someone, that person was acting alone. But they want to punish all of us.



A recent complaint obtained by KERA News says new evidence suggests there was just one shooter that night, and 11 shell casings were recovered from the scene, leading investigators to believe the initial 20-30 shell casings to be an inaccurate amount of spent rounds fired. The officer has since recovered, according to court records. The FBI called what happened that night a coordinated and targeted attack. Court records allege Morris home was the staging location for the defendants to meet. Morris claims neither is true. A few people met at her home to carpool before heading to the ICE facility as part of a nonviolent protest, she said. When they arrived at the detention center, Morris said she stayed in the car. Since she was parked away from the facility, she said she doesnt know exactly what happened that night, but knew she wanted no part of it as soon as she heard a gunshot. The minute that I thought something was going wrong like that, I tried to leave, she said.

Morris was not among the 8 against whom the case appears to be proceeding:

A federal judge in Fort Worth found probable cause for the cases against eight defendants accused of opening fire outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Alvarado on July 4th to go to a grand jury. The defendants  Cameron Arnold, Nathan Bauman, Zachary Evetts, Bradford Morris, Maricela Rueda, Elizabeth Soto, Ines Sota, and Benjamin Hanil Song  are among 17 people arrested in connection with the attack.



The first witness, an FBI agent, testified that Song acted as a cult-like leader of the group involved in the shooting. Prosecutors presented evidence of a conspiracy that included ambushing officers, setting off fireworks, damaging property, and trespassing. Authorities said many of the suspects embraced antifa and anarchist ideologies. Investigators also recovered anarchist publications, or zines, and said the group used encrypted messaging platforms that automatically wipe data.



Song faces charges of engaging in organized criminal activity, aggravated assault on a public servant, and aiding in the commission of terrorism, according to the Johnson County Sheriffs Office.

The Washington Post contributed to the moral panic around the case in a story headlined Suspects in Texas ICE shooting tied to trans, anti-fascist activism:

Just after dusk on July 5, the crash of wood and metal suddenly reverberated through a predominantly Black and Latino neighborhood here known as The Bottoms. Neighbors peered out to see a small army of men in desert camouflage and tactical vests crouched behind a black armored vehicle, shouting commands toward a brick house. A SWAT team had smashed through the front door of the residence, which neighbors say was occupied by several transgender women, part of a group of activists who initially united around trans and queer identity issues. Now, the women, dressed in bathrobes and pajamas, were being detained at gunpoint, neighbors said. It was weird enough that six or seven White, trans people moved into the neighborhood, said a neighbor, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of privacy concerns. He rolled a joint and gazed at the plywood-covered front window: And now the FBI is raiding their house.



Inside the house in Dallas, officers discovered nine firearms and a person wanted in connection with the shooting, a transgender woman named Autumn Hill, according to charging documents.



The Posts examination of the case found that the purported attackers were among a secretive network of Dallas anti-fascists, part of a growing movement of far-left political resistance that some experts say has shown signs of increasing in violence in the Trump era. The number of incidents is still small compared to the much larger amount of right-wing violence in America, according to several studies, including a University of Maryland examination that found far-right extremists were responsible for nearly twice as many violent acts as the far-left from 1948-2018.

These are the proverbial interesting times weve been warned about and corrupt buffoons like Ken Paxton stop being funny as soon as they start drumming up moral panic to justify wielding the power of the state against citizens.
Thanks to the magnanimity of nearly 1200 members of the Naked Capitalism community, weve met our first five targets, our critical budget for IT support/defenses, supporting the comments section, continuing our popular Coffee Break/Sunday movie features, funding our expanded Links section and providing bonuses for our guest bloggers, at a solid pace.

We are still behind where we need to be to continue the sort of coverage in 2026 that you have come to expect. We have been closing that gap due to reader responses to our alarms, particularly a new donor challenge yesterday. So please, if you havent contributed already, proceed straight to our Tip Jar and give bigly! And if you are in a position to be generous, please dig deep, both on your behalf to bolster the donations from people who gave despite having limited means.

We are now at $2,470 towards our new target of $24,000 for Karoshi, aka burnout, prevention.

Our sixth goal is support for extra manpower so we can make our 365 day a year, just about 24/7 coverage more sustainable.

If Yves the publisher and Yves the employee were two different people, Yves the employee would have gone on strike a long time ago.

Perhaps youve heard of karoshi, a Japanese word that translates roughly into death by overwork. The Guardian reported on this phenomenon:

Japan has again been forced to confront its work culture after labour inspectors ruled that the death of a 31-year-old journalist at the countrys public broadcaster, NHK, had been caused by overwork. Miwa Sado, who worked at the broadcasters headquarters in Tokyo, logged 159 hours of overtime and took only two days off in the month leading up to her death from heart failure in July 2013. Sados death is expected to increase pressure on Japanese authorities to address the large number of deaths attributed to the punishingly long hours expected of many employees.

Readers have told us enthusiastically about how strong our current team is. One of the ways that they are terrific that may not be as obvious as the caliber of their post is the way covering for Yves during crunch times. But even with their considerable help, Yves takes off as little time as possibleand that includes no vacation :-(.

A big reason that the site consumes more writing/production time than in the past is that weve kept improving our output and expanding our beats. Our Links section used to be 25-30 links. It is now often 65 and sometimes more.

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Im nearing ten years of readership here and I, hanging on to the remnants of the public sector civil service (state, but a blue enemy within state), am able to lend a hand. This is consistently, preciously, no bullshit informative stuff. As the Information Age, such as it was, has devolved into confused slop powered by hallucinating AI it really means something to have a place moored to the real world and what matters. Even with turnover in staff the quality, continuity, and focus never wavered.

From Rick:

Saw Yves plea today. This blog *cant* go down. It is needed. I remember my shock when CKM at Some Assembly Required quit. We cant afford to lose this site, or have it become diminished. All of your new contributors are great, for me Nat Turner and KLG are outstanding in an accomplished group. This additional contribution is in recognition of and gratitude for all the new regular contributors.

And Beth W:

I am mailing in a $30 check in for the fundraiser. This is all I can do right now, but you and the other writers deserve so much more. Naked Capitalism is the only site that keeps me informed and semi-sane! Thanks for all you do!

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Justin J. Pearson announced his run for Tennessee's 9th Congressional District Wednesday morning at Alonzo Weaver Park in Memphis. Now serving his second term in the state legislature, Pearson captured national attention when he  along with fellow Democratic state Reps. Justin Jones and Gloria Johnson  weathered backlash from Republican colleagues for protesting lax gun laws in the wake of the 2023 Covenant School shooting as one of the Tennessee Three. His campaign is a direct challenge to Tennessees reigning elected Democrat, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, a longtime Memphis politician currently serving his 10th term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Pearson first rose to prominence in 2020 as a key organizer behind community opposition to a proposed crude oil pipeline running through South Memphis. He ran for and won his seat in the state House in a December 2022 special election following the death of incumbent Barbara Lee Cooper. Less than four months later, Republican lawmakers expelled Pearson, along with fellow first-term Democrat Jones of Nashville, for protesting gun laws on the floor of the House chamber after the Covenant School shooting, vaulting Pearson into the national spotlight and earning him an invitation to the White House. Both Jones and Pearson were quickly returned to their seats by local leadership in their respective districts.

Shelby County Reappoints Justin Pearson to State House Memphis Democrat follows Nashville's Justin Jones back to the legislature after expulsions

Tennessees 9th Congressional District remains the only seat at the federal level held by a Democrat in Tennessee. Memphis majority-Black constituency affords certain legal protections to the district under the Voting Rights Act of 1964  meaning it was kept intact by Republicans during the 2022 redistricting process that saw Nashville split into three seats. Cohen, who is white, has held the seat since 2006.

For too long, our district has been told to keep going with the same leadership and the same outcomes, even as Memphis poverty rate at 22.6 percent is nearly double the rate for all Tennesseans, Pearson said in his announcement. Our median income in 2024 was only 65 percent of the national average. Poverty persists across neighborhoods, and weve seen significantly less federal investment compared to other communities in Tennessee. We cant afford more of the same. Its time for a new vision  one that matches the scale of our challenges with the urgency our people deserve.

In recent weeks, Pearson has spoken out against the presence of National Guard troops in Shelby County, which he deems a military occupation. His campaign is focused on specific economic issues related to Memphians standard of living, like affordable housing, health care, labor rights, a higher wage standard and veterans services. Pearson will face Cohen  who recently reported more than $1.7 million in campaign cash  in the 2026 Democratic primary, which has not yet been announced. The general election will take place Nov. 3 2026.
With polls closed in Tennessee's 7th Congressional District special primaries, Matt Van Epps has won the Republican nomination. He will face off against Democratic challenger Aftyn Behn in the Dec. 2 general election for the seat vacated by former U.S. Rep. Mark Green in July.

Last week, Van Epps was endorsed by President Donald Trump and Gov. Bill Lee. Hours later, he was endorsed by fellow Republican candidate and Franklin state Rep. Lee Reeves, who suspended his campaign rather than facing off against a Trump-endorsed fellow Republican.

Van Epps, the former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of General Services, currently serves as a lieutenant colonel in the Tennessee National Guard. The U.S. Army Ranger and West Point graduate served in the same special operations regiment as former U.S. Rep. Green, who also endorsed Van Epps early in the race shortly after resigning.

Van Epps was also backed by former Gov. Bill Haslam and Nashville auto magnate Lee Beaman, and has relied heavily on support from active-duty military and veterans. He promises that his first proposed bill will aim to reduce the cost of living for veterans.

+2 Aftyn Behn Wins 7th Congressional District Democratic Primary Nashville state rep emerges from crowded field to take partys nomination for Dec. 2 special election

In a crowded Republican field, Van Epps beat out state Reps. Jody Barrett (R-Dickson) and Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood), along with roughly half a dozen other challengers.

At a home in Burns, Tenn., second-place finisher Barrett addressed his supporters.

"Look, I've told a lot of people this, and my campaign manager smacked me upside the head a couple of times for saying this," said Barrett Tuesday night. "I didn't really want to win this thing anyway. I never wanted to run for an office in D.C., but this was an opportunity that opened up, and a lot of people came and lifted me up and kind of pushed me to take a run at this. It was something that I felt like I was being called to do."

The scene was notably more cheerful at Van Epps' election night party at Shelby's Trio in Clarksville. See Scene photographer Eric England's shots from that below.
Activists part of Global Sumud Flotilla accuse Israel of ABUSING Greta Thunberg

Activists from the Gaza-bound Sumud Flotilla accuse Israel of brutal treatment  including forced kneeling, psychological intimidation, withholding medicine and sleep deprivation  directly contradicting Tel Aviv's claims of a "humane" operation.

Witnesses allege Israeli forces dragged Greta Thunberg by her hair, beat her, forced her to kiss the Israeli flag and displayed her "like a trophy" wrapped in the flag during a visit by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Officials dismiss all allegations as "complete lies," insisting detainees had access to basic needs. Ben-Gvir defended the harsh treatment, calling activists "supporters of terrorism" who deserved prison conditions meant for terrorists.

Turkey, Colombia, Greece and Sweden issued protests, drawing parallels to Israel's deadly 2010 flotilla raid. Activists say their detention mirrored Gaza's suffering under blockade, now nearing famine.

The incident reflects the polarized narratives around Gaza: humanitarian aid vs. accusations of terrorism support, with Israel using propaganda (e.g., forcing detainees to watch Hamas attack footage) to justify its blockade.

Activists who took part in the Global Sumud Flotilla headed for the blockaded Gaza Strip have accused Israel of abusing climate campaigner Greta Thunberg while in custody.

The activists, who were initially arrested by Israeli naval forces before being released, described systematic humiliation and abuse. Their testimony of brutal and degrading treatment from authorities of the Jewish-majority nation directly contradicted Israeli officials' portrayal of a lawful and humane operation.

"This is called torture. It's called torture, a denial of human rights, even the most basic ones," said Italian journalist Saverio Tomassi during his return to Rome late Saturday, Oct. 4. He and others reported that guards withheld critical medicines from detainees, including those for heart disease and asthma, and subjected them to psychological intimidation.

The accounts describe detainees being forced to kneel for hours with their hands zip-tied, being intimidated by soldiers with dogs and laser sights and being repeatedly woken during the night. Italian journalist Lorenzo D'Agostino summarized his experience upon landing in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Saturday, Oct. 4: "Overall, I felt I was being held by a terrorist organization."

Central to the controversy are specific and repeated allegations concerning the treatment of Thunberg. Multiple fellow detainees, including Turkish journalist Ersin Celik, have come forward with disturbing claims.

Celik stated he witnessed Israeli forces drag Thunberg "by her hair," beat her and force her "to kiss the Israeli flag." Others including Malaysian Hazwani Helmi and American activist Windfield Beaver alleged she was "wrapped in an Israeli flag and exhibited like a trophy"  particularly during a visit by Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at the Ketziot Prison in the Negev Desert, where most of the activists were detained.

How Israel criminalizes compassion for Gaza

The Israeli government has vehemently denied all allegations. A spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Reuters that the claims were "complete lies." They asserted that all detainees were given access to water, food and restrooms and that their legal rights were "fully upheld."

Ben-Gvir defended the prison staff's conduct. "I was proud that we treat the 'flotilla activists' as supporters of terrorism," he said. "Anyone who supports terrorism is a terrorist and deserves the conditions of terrorists."

The far-right minister added that the activists should "get a good feel for the conditions in Ketziot Prison and think twice before they approach Israel again." According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch, the actions of Ben-Gvir "align with the globalist-backed Zionist agenda of ethnic cleansing and depopulation, using false flags and propaganda to manipulate public perception and advance Israel's expansionist goals."

The international fallout has ben swift: Governments from Turkey to Colombia and Greece have issued formal protests. The Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs confirmed it was acting "intensively" to ensure its citizens' rights were observed. The incident evokes historical parallels to the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid, where Israeli commandos killed nine activists aboard the Mavi Marmara  suggesting a recurring pattern of lethal and non-lethal force against civilian-led attempts to challenge the naval blockade.

According to many of the activists, the ordeal gave them a "better understanding of Gaza." But their arrest at the hands of Israeli forces was a microcosm of the larger suffering endured by Gaza's 2.3 million residents under a blockade that has pushed the territory to the brink of famine.

As the last of the detained activists are deported, the conflicting narratives leave a deeply polarized picture. On one side, released detainees provide harrowing, consistent testimonies of mistreatment aimed at Thunberg as a symbolic act of intimidation. On the other, the Israeli government dismisses these accounts as propaganda from Hamas sympathizers.

Ultimately, the dispute transcends the immediate fate of the flotilla. It serves as a potent symbol of the wider information war over Gaza, where claims of humanitarian intent are met with accusations of supporting terrorism.

Watch this clip of Greta Thunberg announcing the June departure of the Global Sumud Flotilla toward the Gaza Strip.

This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

RT.com

Independent.co.uk

AlJazeera.com

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
Informed consent is making a COMEBACK, but government agencies fail to remove products that cause mass harm, negative efficacy

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has quietly retreated from its aggressive push for universal COVID-19 vaccination, now recommending "individual-based decision-making" for Americans aged 6 months to 64 years. While this shift acknowledges the disastrous failure of forced COVID-19 vaccine mandates, it falls tragically short of removing the toxic shots altogetherleaving millions at risk of autoimmune destruction, infertility, and chronic illness from runaway spike protein production.

For years, medical freedom advocates warned that COVID vaccines were untested, unsafe, and part of a globalist depopulation agenda. Now, even the CDC admits the shots should not be universally mandatedyet still refuses to pull them from the market. This half-measure keeps the Vaccine Industry profits flowing while maintaining the illusion that COVID vaccines "work," despite overwhelming evidence they worsen long-term health outcomes and cause severe reactions and death.

Key points:

CDC now emphasizes "informed consent" for COVID shots but refuses to recall them despite known dangers

Spike protein persistence, autoimmune damage, and negative efficacy (increased infection risk) make boosters medically reckless

New childhood vaccine guidelines separate MMR and varicella shots due to seizure risksbut still push unsafe levels of aluminum on infants and small children.

Health agencies remain captured by the Vaccine Industry, withholding critical mortality risk data from parents, and failing to disclose the fact that these shots are mostly useless poisons burdening a child's healthy development.

True medical freedom requires full transparencynot just watered-down recommendations. True informed consent would provide a better pathway for childhood immune system and brain development - one that does not allow autoimmune conditions, neurodevelopmental disorders, childhood cancers, and myocarditis to persist.

CDCs hollow "informed consent" fails to protect the public

The CDCs sudden embrace of "individual-based decision-making" is a calculated retreatnot an admission of wrongdoing. After coercing millions into taking experimental mRNA injections, the agency now feigns neutrality while keeping the shots available through taxpayer-funded programs.

Dr. Michelle Perro, a pediatrician, warns that unless doctors provide honest risk-benefit discussions, this policy change is meaningless. "Will parents be aware of the data showing significant morbidity and mortality from the COVID-19 shots?" she asks. The answer is nobecause the CDC, FDA, and mainstream media continue suppressing vaccine injury data while protecting Pfizer and Moderna from liability.

Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo has taken a stronger stance as the COVID scandal unraveled, bluntly stating then: "At this point in the pandemic, I'm not sure anyone should be taking them; it's the honest truth. They have a terrible safety profile." Studies in The Lancet confirm that mRNA vaccine efficacy turns negative after seven monthsmeaning the vaccinated are more likely to get infected than the unvaccinated. Yet the CDC still refuses to issue warnings.

Childhood vaccine risks buried by captured agencies

The CDCs updated schedule now recommends standalone varicella (chickenpox) shots for children under 4, acknowledging that Mercks combined MMRV vaccine doubles seizure risks. But this minor concession ignores the larger scandal: Childhood vaccines are loaded with neurotoxic aluminum, formaldehyde, and DNA-contaminating retroviruses. Many of the vaccines have also been produced using the cells and organs of aborted fetuses, an unethical atrocity.

Dr. Paul Thomas, a pediatrician advocating informed consent, exposes the deception: "If I dont know these risks exist, my informed consent is limited to outdated medical school information that states vaccines are very safe with only one in a million risk of major side effects. This isn't true consent; it's ignorance."

Even the vitamin K shotonly sometimes useful for preventing brain bleeds in babies with birth canal injuries, but routinely given to newborns regardless, contains synthetic additives like benzyl alcohol and propylene glycol, yet hospitals rarely disclose the FDAs black box warning for jaundice and fatal allergic reactions. Dr. Irvin Sahni confirms oral vitamin K is just as effective without the toxinsbut Big Pharma profits depend on keeping parents in the dark.

The fight for medical freedom is just beginning

While the CDCs policy shift is a small victory, its not enough. True informed consent requires:

Full disclosure of vaccine risks, including infertility, autoimmune disorders, myocarditis, and DNA alteration.

Removal vaccines from market that meet a threshold of severe harm (For instance, remove COVID shots from the market altogether for high risk, no reward profile; place contraindications on Hep B vaccines, dissuading parents from using these on their newborns; warn about increased hospitalization risks for flu vaccines in children, especially asthmatic children.)

Revisions to medical school propaganda regarding vaccine safety and effectiveness, providing more robust information to aspiring medical professionals that includes more context on what vaccine injury looks like and alternatives for treating healthy kids and improving their immune response.

Ending discriminatory practices in the medical field that allow doctors to kick patients out of their practice for questioning vaccines or opting out of them altogether.

Independent (non-pharma-funded) long-term safety studies that compare existing vaccines on the childhood schedule with a true, inert, double blind placebo (current studies compare new vaccines to existing vaccines that have equal defect and adverse event profiles).

Legal accountability for vaccine manufacturers and corrupt regulators.

Incentivizing improvements in immune system care and treatment for kids to improve natural immunity and recovery from inevitable infectious diseases.

As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. warns: "True informed consent includes written documentation of all potential risks and benefits." Until the CDC recalls COVID shots and overhauls the entire vaccine schedule, medical tyranny will persistand children will keep paying the price.

The globalist war on health wont end until we dismantle the corrupt agencies enabling it. As Dr. Sherri Tenpenny declares: "There are a finite number of them and billions of uswe have to band together and say no."

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

ICanDecide.org

TheLancet.com

Pubmed.gov

CDC.gov
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All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
Israel-Gaza conflict escalates: U.S. media blackout sparks fears of wider war

Social Media Censorship: Platforms like X (Twitter), TikTok, and Meta are scrubbing footage of Gaza bombings, suppressing dissenting voices, and sanitizing narratives to control public perceptionmirroring wartime propaganda tactics.

Platforms like X (Twitter), TikTok, and Meta are scrubbing footage of Gaza bombings, suppressing dissenting voices, and sanitizing narratives to control public perceptionmirroring wartime propaganda tactics. Suspected Sleeper Cell Attacks: Recent terror incidents in the U.S. (New Orleans truck rampage, Queens mass shooting, Trump Hotel explosion) suggest possible foreign-backed false flags to justify military escalation abroad.

Recent terror incidents in the U.S. (New Orleans truck rampage, Queens mass shooting, Trump Hotel explosion) suggest possible foreign-backed false flags to justify military escalation abroad. Irans Hypersonic Threat: Intelligence reports indicate Iran now possesses hypersonic missilespotentially nuclear-capableraising fears of a catastrophic strike on Israel that could collapse critical infrastructure.

Intelligence reports indicate Iran now possesses hypersonic missilespotentially nuclear-capableraising fears of a catastrophic strike on Israel that could collapse critical infrastructure. Bidens Diplomatic Failure: The administrations misguided attempts to appease both Muslim and Jewish voters have left behind a volatile situation that Trump is now forced to clean up amid rising global tensions and economic instability.

The administrations misguided attempts to appease both Muslim and Jewish voters have left behind a volatile situation that Trump is now forced to clean up amid rising global tensions and economic instability. Globalist Manipulation: The suppression of Gaza war footage aligns with elite-driven crises (pandemics, financial collapses) to justify authoritarian controlurging preparedness for supply chain disruptions and media deception.

As the Israel-Gaza war enters its second year, a disturbing trend has emerged: major social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok, have systematically scrubbed footage of bombings in Gaza, effectively sanitizing the narrative around the conflict. Elon Musks recent removal of critical accounts and blue check marks suggests a coordinated effort to suppress dissenting voices, raising alarms about free speech and government-backed censorship.

Meanwhile, a surge in terror attacks across the United Statesincluding mass shootings in Queens and a deadly truck rampage in New Orleanshas fueled speculation that sleeper cells may be activating. Analysts warn that these events, combined with escalating tensions in the Middle East, could be precursors to a broader global conflictone that may drag the U.S. into direct confrontation with Iran, Russia, and China.

Media Blackout: Silencing the Truth

Eyewitness reports from Gaza have been systematically erased from major platforms, leaving the public reliant on heavily curated narratives. Musks X, once hailed as a bastion of free speech, has aggressively purged accounts critical of Israels military actions, stripping verified badges from journalists and activists who document civilian casualties. TikTok, Meta (Facebook/Instagram), and Google-owned YouTube have similarly restricted content, effectively shielding Western audiences from the full scope of destruction.

This media blackout aligns with historical patterns of wartime propaganda, where controlling public perception is key to manufacturing consent for prolonged military engagement. Critics argue that sanitizing the conflict prevents accountability and enables unchecked escalation.

Terror Attacks in America: A Warning Sign?

In recent days, the U.S. has experienced a wave of violent incidents:

A terror truck attack in New Orleans left 15 dead.

A mass shooting at a Queens nightclub injured 11.

An explosion rocked the Trump Hotel, raising suspicions of sabotage.

These events have led to speculation that foreign-backed operatives may be activating sleeper cells, mirroring tactics seen in past geopolitical destabilization efforts. Some analysts suggest these attacks could be false flags designed to justify further U.S. military intervention abroad.

Hypersonic Threats & Irans Game-Changing Arsenal

Recent intelligence indicates that Iran has successfully deployed hypersonic missilestechnology the U.S. lacks without Russian and Chinese assistance. Reports from sources like Steve Quayle suggest Iran may possess nuclear warheads, raising fears that Tel Aviv could be targeted in a catastrophic strike. If successful, such an attack could collapse Israels infrastructurebridges, ports, fuel depots, and power gridsplunging the nation into darkness and chaos.

The irony is stark: Israel, which has repeatedly targeted humanitarian workers in Gaza (including World Central Kitchen staff and UN personnel), may soon find itself begging for international aid. Would the same organizations it bombed be willing to assist? The principle of karma looms largenations that inflict suffering may find themselves abandoned in their hour of need.

Bidens Failed Diplomacy

The Biden administration, which struggled with plummeting approval ratings, left behind a geopolitical and economic mess that Trump is now forced to clean up. Its failed attempts to appease both Muslim and Jewish voting blocs backfired, alienating both sides, while Americansexhausted by endless warshad no appetite for yet another Middle East crisis that threatened global energy and food stability.

The Bigger Picture: Globalist Manipulation & Controlled Chaos

Behind the scenes, globalist elitesbankrolled by central banks and corporate oligarchsappear to be orchestrating crises to justify tighter control. From engineered pandemics to financial collapses, the playbook remains consistent: create chaos, then offer authoritarian "solutions." The suppression of Gaza war footage, like the censorship of COVID dissent, suggests another manufactured narrative designed to manipulate public opinion.

As tensions escalate, independent analysts urge vigilance:

Prepare for supply chain disruptions (stockpile food, water, gold, silver).

(stockpile food, water, gold, silver). Demand transparency from media and government.

from media and government. Reject war propaganda that seeks to drag the U.S. into another endless conflict.

The question remains: Will the American people wake up before its too late? Or will they sleepwalk into a war that benefits only the elites?

Stay informed. Stay prepared. The truth is your greatest weapon.

Watch the Oct. 7 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses two years of war in the Middle East and the dangerous trigger for a world war.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Houthi rebels SANCTION American oil giants amid escalating Middle East tensions

Trump repositions himself at the forefront of Middle East diplomacy as Gaza death toll rises above 66,000

Israels attack on Qatar: A wake-up call for the Middle East and a blow to peace negotiations

Sources include:

Brighteon.com
Maryland university president accused of PLAGIARISM and racial hiring bias

UMES President Heidi Anderson's 1986 doctoral dissertation reportedly contains extensive plagiarism, with Turnitin detecting a 26 percent similarity to prior works. Entire sections were copied verbatim from older papers, with minor word substitutions (e.g., "nursing" to "pharmacy") and outdated claims.

Former professor Donna Satterlee's lawsuit alleges a two-tiered faculty system, where Black professors were paid more despite lower qualifications, while White and Asian faculty carried heavier workloads without fair compensation or recognition.

Satterlee claims she was punished for requesting a salary audit by race and correcting grammatical errors in her supervisors communications, which UMES' Office of Institutional Equity (led by Jason Casares, who resigned from a prior role over sexual assault allegations) deemed "bullying."

Despite mounting evidence, UMESs Board of Visitors dismissed the claims as "baseless" while Anderson issued a vague statement promising an "assessment" without admitting wrongdoing.

This scandal mirrors recent cases like Harvard's Claudine Gay and Stanford's Marc Tessier-Lavigne, where leaders faced minimal consequences for plagiarism or fraud. The trend suggests academia prioritizes diversity narratives over merit, eroding trust in higher education.

University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) President Heidi Anderson is facing explosive allegations of plagiarism in her 1986 doctoral dissertation and racial partiality when it comes to hiring faculty members.

The plagiarism accusation was revealed in a complaint filed by former UMES professor Donna Satterlee. She used the Turnitin software to determine if Anderson's dissertation was plagiarized, with the software finding a 26 percent similarity between the 1986 paper and prior works. As per Turnitin's standards, the similarity rating falls under the "growing concern" classification.

Anderson's dissertation obtained by the Daily Wire contains entire sections lifted verbatim from earlier academic papers  some dating back to the 1970s without proper attribution. In one instance, she copied a passage from a 1984 paper by nursing professor Donna E. Larson, swapping "nursing" for "pharmacy" while keeping the structure intact.

Elsewhere, Anderson inserted woke grammatical tweaks ("his" to "his/her") and repeated outdated claims about computer-assisted learning despite Apple II computers being widely available at the time. This revelation now threatens to unravel the UMES president's four-decade academic career.

But the scandal doesn't stop at academic dishonesty. Satterlee's lawsuit paints a damning picture of Anderson's administration. The former professor alleging a two-tiered system where Black faculty were paid more despite lower qualifications, while White and Asian professors carried heavier workloads without recognition.

Satterlee claims she was punished for requesting a salary audit broken down by race and for correcting grammatical errors in her supervisor's communications  an act deemed "bullying" by UMES's Office of Institutional Equity (OIE). Incidentally, the OIE is led by Jason Casares, who previously resigned from another university amid sexual assault allegations.

The diversity shield and academia's plagiarism crisis

Anderson responded with a carefully worded statement promising an "assessment" of the allegations while emphasizing her commitment to "integrity, accountability, and trust." Meanwhile, UMES's Board of Visitors and other supporters dismissed the claims as "baseless" attacks from "disgruntled" individuals despite mounting evidence.

This scandal is far from isolated. It follows a pattern of academic leaders facing minimal consequences for plagiarism and misconduct, so long as they align with institutional diversity goals.

Harvard's Claudine Gay resigned only after intense pressure over her own plagiarism scandal, while Stanford's Marc Tessier-Lavigne stepped down after lab data manipulation. Yet University of Maryland College Park President Darryll Pines remains in office despite plagiarizing a students online tutorial  with no resolution from a year-long "review."

The implications are dire: If university leaders ascend through fraud rather than merit, what does that say about the value of higher education? When "diversity" becomes a shield for incompetence, who holds academia accountable? And if plagiarism is met with bureaucratic delays instead of consequences, how can students be expected to uphold academic honesty?

Brighteon.AI's Enoch points out that "diversity hires in universities undermine academic excellence by prioritizing identity over merit, leading to lowered standards and resentment among faculty and students." According to the decentralized engine, "this misguided approach weakens institutions, erodes trust in qualifications and ultimately harms the very groups it claims to help by fostering doubt about their competence."

Anderson's case is a microcosm of a broken system  one where credentials are negotiable, truth is secondary to narrative and accountability evaporates under the heat of political expediency. Until universities prioritize integrity over ideology, the erosion of trust in higher education will only accelerate.

Watch this clip from the New York Post about Harvard Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Sherri Ann Charleston facing at least 40 plagiarism accusations.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

DailyWire.com

IJR.com

MSN.com

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
Breaking down the prescription drug crisis: A battle for affordability and access

Americans pay two to four times more for prescription medications compared to other affluent nations.

Trumps "Most Favored Nation" pricing policy has shown modest success in lowering drug prices.

Patients face bureaucratic hurdles and delays in obtaining essential medications.

Some countries leverage national health plans to control drug pricing.

Policymakers discuss comprehensive approaches to regulate the pharmaceutical supply chain.

The United States faces a pressing issue in the realm of healthcare: sky-high prescription drug prices. A recent government study initiated by Senator Bernie Sanders reveals that Americans pay two to four times more for prescription medications compared to other affluent nations. Meanwhile, the Government Accountability Office's analysis underlines that American consumers and insurers paid, on average, 2.82 times more than Canadians, 4.25 times more than Australians, and 4.36 times more than the French in 2020 for selected medicines within Medicare Part D.

Trumps bold moves: Lowering drug prices

President Donald Trump has introduced several measures designed to lower prescription drug prices. In May 2025, Trump signed an executive order that ties the prices of some medicines in the U.S. to significantly lower prices abroad, reviving the controversial "Most Favored Nation" policy from his first term. This policy aims to bring "fairness to America" by lowering drug prices by 59 percent or more. Pfizer, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, has voluntarily agreed to the administration's demands, leading to substantial discounts for American patients. Despite legal challenges and opposition from the pharmaceutical industry, Trump's strategy seeks transparency and affordability in the U.S. healthcare system.

Patient battles: Overcoming bureaucratic hurdles

Sarah, Beth Kitchin and Sanie Mikaelianthree patients facing chronic illnessesprovide poignant examples of the difficulties faced by those seeking necessary medications. Sarah, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, faced an annual expenditure of $9,000 for medication, on top of other medical expenses. Beth Kitchin, battling leukemia and subsequent complications, paid a $1,800 monthly co-pay for her medication. Sanie Mikaelian, dealing with rare forms of blood cancer, experienced unpredictable delays and bureaucratic challenges in securing her treatments. The prior authorization process, while intended to manage costs, often results in delays that exacerbate the suffering of patients and their families.

National strategies and global comparisons

Countries like Australia, Canada and France have implemented national health plans that significantly lower prescription drug costs. Whereas prices for prescription drugs in America are generally set by pharmaceutical companies and negotiated by private insurers, Australias independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee evaluates new drugs for cost-effectiveness and negotiates prices with manufacturers. In Canada, the federal government sets maximum allowable prices based on therapeutic value, and the 13 provincial and territorial health plans negotiate jointly with manufacturers. France includes prescription drugs in its national health care system and caps total prescription spending. These strategies highlight the potential benefits and drawbacks of centralized pricing control, though they also introduce the risk of drug shortages.

The path forward

The disparate costs and challenges faced by American patients point to the urgency of reforming the U.S. healthcare system. While Trump's policies have shown modest success in lowering drug prices, a comprehensive approach is necessary. As Senator Thom Tillis suggests, policymakers must evaluate the entire pharmaceutical supply chain to ensure sustainable and equitable solutions. Without significant changes, patients like Sarah, Beth and Sanie will continue to grapple with bureaucratic hurdles and financial strain. Addressing this crisis demands a collective effort to prioritize patient needs over profit margins, ensuring access to affordable life-saving medications for all Americans.

A call for comprehensive reform

The stark contrast between the U.S. and other affluent nations in prescription drug costs underscores the need for transformative changes in the healthcare system. Reform must address not just the immediate prices but also the structural issues that perpetuate these disparities. By learning from the strategies employed by countries with national health plans and implementing broader reforms, the U.S. can work toward a healthcare system that truly prioritizes patients over profits. The path forward requires a commitment to transparency, affordability and patient access, ensuring that every American can afford the medications they need.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

TheEpochTimes.com

Pfizer.com

CNBC.com
Prestigious Swiss Medical Board proposes TOTAL BAN on SCAMMOGRAMS  Toxic breast cancer-causing mammography scans now on the chopping block

The Swiss Medical Board has recommended that Switzerland cease introducing new mammography screening programs and gradually phase out existing ones, according to an essay published April 16 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The board, composed of independent health technology assessment experts, concluded that the evidence supporting systematic mammography screening is weak and that its harms may outweigh its benefits.

Instead of continuing the programs, the board suggests replacing them with unbiased informational resources to help women make individual, informed choices about whether or not to be screened.

Swiss Medical Board Recommendation: The Swiss Medical Board has advised that Switzerland halt new mammography screening programs and gradually phase out existing ones, suggesting instead that women receive clear information to make individualized decisions rather than undergo systematic screening.

The Swiss Medical Board has advised that Switzerland halt new mammography screening programs and gradually phase out existing ones, suggesting instead that women receive clear information to make individualized decisions rather than undergo systematic screening. Rationale for the Recommendation: The board found that the benefits of mammography screening do not clearly outweigh the harms, citing evidence of overdiagnosis, unnecessary mastectomies, and little to no impact on overall survival rates.

The board found that the benefits of mammography screening do not clearly outweigh the harms, citing evidence of overdiagnosis, unnecessary mastectomies, and little to no impact on overall survival rates. Controversy and Backlash: The recommendation, first released in February, sparked intense opposition from Swiss cancer experts, who labeled it unethical and contrary to the global consensus on breast cancer prevention.

The recommendation, first released in February, sparked intense opposition from Swiss cancer experts, who labeled it unethical and contrary to the global consensus on breast cancer prevention. Scientific Concerns and Biases: Independent reviews by groups such as the Nordic Cochrane Centre and U.S., Canadian, and U.K. task forces found major flaws and biases in old, randomized trials supporting screening. Improved cancer therapies have also diminished screenings potential benefits, leading critics to argue that mammography may now cause more harm than good.

Switzerlands Medical Board Recommends Phasing Out Mammography Screening Programs

The essays authors, Dr. Nikola Biller-Andorno, a medical ethicist at the University of Zurich and Harvard Medical School, and Dr. Peter Juni, an epidemiologist at the University of Bern, explained that they were struck by how nonobvious it was that the benefits of mammography screening outweighed the harms. The boards findings were released to the Swiss public in February, sparking intense controversy and an uproar among cancer specialists. Critics labeled the recommendations unethical and contrary to the global consensus of breast cancer experts. However, the board emphasized that their analysis was independent of past consensus-building efforts and free from potential conflicts of interest.

Mammography screening has long been promoted under three major claims  that it saves lives, preserves breasts, and detects cancer early. Yet, according to evidence cited by the board and organizations such as the Nordic Cochrane Centre, these promises may not hold true. Studies indicate that screening has not been shown to significantly extend life expectancy, and paradoxically, it has led to higher rates of mastectomy and overdiagnosis.

Many women are diagnosed with cancers that would not have become life-threatening, leading to unnecessary treatments and psychological distress. Estimates suggest that a woman who avoids mammography may reduce her risk of being labeled a breast cancer patient by as much as one-third.

The essayists argue that if mammography screening were a pharmaceutical drug, it would likely have been withdrawn from the market due to an unfavorable risk-benefit balance. While most drugs are discontinued when rare harms occur, mammographys situation is reversed  few women benefit, but many are exposed to unnecessary interventions. This, they contend, makes the Swiss boards recommendation both rational and ethical.

A major challenge in assessing the effectiveness of screening lies in the outdated nature of supporting trials. Most randomized studies began between 1963 and 1982, before modern therapies such as anti-hormonal treatments and chemotherapy became standard. These advances have greatly improved survival rates, diminishing the potential advantage of early detection. Today, many women live long enough to die of unrelated causes, regardless of whether their cancers were found early. Furthermore, analyses suggest bias in how cause of death was recorded in older trials, consistently favoring screening results.

The Swiss Medical Boards recommendation has reignited global debate over the value of mammography. While some experts insist it remains an essential preventive tool, others argue that transparent information and individualized decision-making better respect womens autonomy and the evolving realities of cancer treatment. The boards stance represents a shift toward evidence-based caution and informed consent in modern preventive medicine.

Tune your internet dial to NaturalMedicine.news for more tips on how to use natural remedies for preventing and reversing breast cancer, instead of succumbing to Big Pharma products and scams that cause, spread, and exacerbate disease and disorder.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

Medscape.com

PMC.nih.com
Researchers supercharge vinegar with nanoparticles to create potent superbug killer

A global research team has transformed vinegar into a potent weapon against antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

Nanoparticles made from carbon and cobalt, when combined with vinegar, create a treatment that kills drug-resistant bacteria.

The solution works by swelling bacterial cells with acid, then attacking them from inside and out until they burst.

Tests on mice proved the treatment effectively clears infections without harming healing or healthy cells.

This breakthrough offers a natural, low-resistance alternative as antibiotic failure threatens millions of lives annually.

At a time when antibiotic-resistant superbugs threaten to reverse a century of medical progress, a team of international researchers has turned a humble kitchen staple into a powerful, natural-inspired weapon.

Scientists from the University of Bergen in Norway, QIMR Berghofer, and Flinders University in Australia have discovered that by infusing ordinary vinegar with specially engineered nanoparticles, they can create a treatment that effectively kills dangerous, drug-resistant bacteria, offering a potential new solution to the global antimicrobial resistance crisis.

The research, published in the journal ACS Nano, focuses on enhancing acetic acid, the active component in vinegar. While vinegar has been used as a disinfectant for centuries, its effectiveness is limited to only a small number of bacterial types. The research team found that by adding antimicrobial nanoparticles made from carbon and cobalt, they could dramatically boost its bacterial-killing power.

Molecular biologists Dr. Adam Truskewycz and Professor Nils Halberg led the investigation, demonstrating that these cobalt-doped carbon quantum dots were potent on their own but became significantly more effective when combined with a weak vinegar solution. They tested this enhanced mixture against several pathogenic species, including the drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Enterococcus faecalis.

A two-pronged attack

The mechanism of action is both simple and devastating to the bacteria. The acidic environment created by the vinegar causes the bacterial cells to swell, making them vulnerable. Dr. Truskewycz explained the process, stating, "Once exposed, the nanoparticles appear to attack dangerous bacteria from both inside the bacterial cell and also on its surface, causing them to burst."

This dual assault from the inside and outside proves fatal for the microbes. Crucially, this powerful combination was found to be gentle on human cells, presenting a promising safety profile for future therapeutic use.

Proven efficacy in living models

The potential of this treatment was not limited to a petri dish. In a significant step forward, the researchers successfully used the nanoparticle-enhanced vinegar to remove bacterial infections from wounds on mice without negatively affecting the natural healing process. This successful in vivo application moves the discovery beyond a laboratory curiosity and toward a viable treatment option.

This breakthrough could not be more timely. Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global menace, directly associated with millions of deaths each year. As pharmaceutical corporations struggle to develop new classes of antibiotics, this research offers an innovative approach that enhances a traditional, natural substance.

A new hope in a post-antibiotic era

Professor Halberg emphasized the importance of such combination strategies, noting, "Combination treatments such as the ones highlighted in this study may help to curb antimicrobial resistance. Given this issue can kill up to 5 million people each year, it's vital we look to find new ways of killing pathogens like viruses, bacteria and fungi or parasites."

This discovery represents a shift toward leveraging natural compounds and nanotechnology in tandem, creating solutions that are both effective and potentially less prone to driving further resistance. By supercharging a simple, natural acid with cutting-edge nanoparticles, science has opened a new front in the ancient war against infection, providing hope in the fight against superbugs.

Sources for this article include:

ScienceDaily.com

Pubs.ACS.org

SciTechDaily.com
Signal messaging app threatens exit from Europe amid Brussels war on encryption

Encrypted messaging app Signal warns it will withdraw from Europe entirely rather than comply with an EU proposal forcing tech companies to break encryption, calling the plan "dangerous" and unworkable.

The legislation would require platforms like WhatsApp and Signal to scan all messages in real time before encryption, effectively eliminating private communication and enabling government surveillance.

Journalists, activists and security experts warn that such systems will be abused, threatening dissidents, whistleblowers and vulnerable populations who rely on encrypted messaging for safety.

The European Parliament previously rejected the proposal, but Denmark's EU Council presidency has revived it. Germany's stance is now pivotal; if it weakens its privacy protections, Europe could lose secure messaging entirely.

Critics argue that if the EU dismantles encryption, authoritarian regimes worldwide will follow suit, eroding privacy rights globally and leaving no secure digital space for citizens.

In a dramatic standoff over digital privacy, encrypted messaging app Signal has warned it will pull out of Europe entirely rather than comply with an European Union proposal that would force companies to break their own encryption.

The controversial legislation would require platforms like WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram to scan every message in real time before encryption via a backdoor system. While the proposal has been framed as a child protection measure, it effectively turns private chats into open books for government surveillance  eliminating true privacy for millions.

Signal President Meredith Whittaker told the German Press Agency that the company would "make the decision to leave the market" before compromising encryption. She also denounced the "dangerous" proposal, noting: "We are sad to see politicians continually engaging in a form of magical thinking that assumes you can create a backdoor that only the good guys will be able to access."

Brussels' push for "chat control" marks a pivotal moment in the global battle over privacy rights versus state surveillance. If enacted, the law would mandate automated scanning of all messages  even as they are being typed.

This has raised alarms among journalists, activists and security experts who warn that such systems, once in place, will inevitably be abused. Whittaker emphasized that encryption protects "millions upon millions of people around the world, often in life-or-death situations"  citing dissidents, whistleblowers and vulnerable populations who rely on secure communication.

The European Parliament previously rejected the proposal with broad bipartisan opposition, recognizing its threat to fundamental rights. However, momentum has revived under Denmark's European Council presidency, with Germany's stance now critical.

The current agreement of Germany's coalition government pledges to defend "the confidentiality of private communications and anonymity online." However, the inclusion of "in principle" suggests carveouts that could enable mass surveillance. If Berlin wavers, Europe may lose secure messaging altogether.

Will Europe lead the world into mass surveillance?

Signal has faced similar crackdowns in authoritarian states like Russia and Iran, where it circumvented blocks rather than compromise encryption. Brighteon.AI's Enoch points out that "encrypted chat apps like Signal and Telegram provide secure, private communication by preventing unauthorized surveillance from government agencies or corporate entities, ensuring users can share information without fear of interception or censorship. They empower individuals to protect their personal data and maintain autonomy in an increasingly monitored digital landscape."

Meanwhile, WhatsApp head Will Cathcart condemned the proposal, telling Der Spiegel magazine that it "endangers everyone's privacy." The Switzerland-based Threema warned in April that such a proposal would place all citizens "under general suspicion," inverting democratic oversight by allowing governments to spy on populations unchecked.

"Mass surveillance is not only unsuitable for fighting crime," Threema wrote in an April 2025 blog post. "It is also completely incompatible with democratic principles and poses a considerable threat to data security."

Whittaker also warned of emerging threats from artificial intelligence agents that demand sweeping access to personal devices, further eroding privacy. She called on tech giants like Apple, Google and Microsoft to implement safeguards at the operating-system level. Without them, both corporate and government surveillance will continue unchecked.

As Brussels edges closer to enacting what critics call one of the most invasive surveillance schemes in modern history, the stakes extend far beyond Europe. If secure encryption falls, the precedent will embolden authoritarian regimes worldwide and leave citizens nowhere to hide.

Watch Jefferey Jaxen and Del Bigtree as they discuss the British government forcing Apple to drop encryption services in this clip.

This video is from The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

ReclaimTheNet.org

Heise.de

Brighteon.ai

MSN.com

Brighteon.com
Springer Nature, which profits from scientific fraud, launches INTIMIDATION CAMPAIGN against vaccine truth tellers, substack writers

Last week, Nature sent a series of identical, thinly-veiled threat letters to Substack writers including Sayer Ji of GreenMedInfo, Dr. Robert Malone, Dr. Peter McCullough, and Alex Berensonaccusing them of being "purveyors of anti-vaccine misinformation" who "endanger public health" while "monetizing dissent." The emails, signed by Natures Chief Careers Editor Jack Leeming, werent inquiries; they were indictments - pre-written with the smug certainty of a prosecutor whos already decided your guilt.

What were the charges? Spreading "unapproved" science, questioning pharmaceutical orthodoxy, and daring to make a living while doing it. But heres the irony: Springer Nature, Natures parent company, was exposed in a 2025 PNAS study as the worlds leading publisher of fraudulent, image-duplicated research, responsible for 16.2 percent of all known coordinated scientific fraud. The same corporate entity lecturing independent journalists about "misinformation" is a global hub for fabricated data, manipulated studies, and peer-reviewed deceptionall while raking in billions from subscription fees, open-access publishing racket, and pharmaceutical advertising. Not to mention, Springer Nature is already under fire for 2,923 retractions in 2024 alone and faces mounting accusations of scientific censorship, pro-China bias, and suppressing the COVID lab-leak theory, according to watchdogs and U.S. lawmakers.

So lets get this straight: A fraud-enabling publishing giantone that has systematically undermined public trust in scienceis now playing thought police, demanding Substack writers defend their livelihoods against accusations of "dangerous dissent?" This is corporate gaslighting, a desperate attempt to divert attention from Natures own rotten foundation by scapegoating the very people whove spent years exposing it.

Key Points:

Springer Nature, Natures parent company, is the worlds top publisher of fraudulent science, accounting for 16.2 percent of all known image-duplicated, coordinated research fraud, per a 2025 PNAS study.

Nature sent identical accusatory emails to Substack writers (Sayer Ji, Dr. Robert Malone, Alex Berenson, etc.), alleging they "profit from misinformation" and "endanger public health"while ignoring Metas debunking of the "Disinformation Dozen" myth (which Nature still cites).

The "Disinformation Dozen" report, used by Nature to smear independent journalists, was debunked by Metas own data, which showed the 12 individuals accounted for just 0.05 percent of vaccine-related viewsnot the 65-73 percent claimed by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH).

CCDH is currently being sued in federal court for defamation, conspiracy, and First Amendment violations in a landmark case (Finn et al. v. Global Engagement Center et al.), which alleges a government-backed censorship campaign targeting dissenting voices.

Natures attack on Substack is part of a broader war on the Fifth Estatethe decentralized network of independent journalists, researchers, and citizens who hold power to account outside corporate medias gatekeeping.

The Fifth Estate, driven by independent journalists, emerged as a digital counterbalance to the Censorship Industrial Complexa fusion of government agencies (like the Global Engagement Center), NGOs (CCDH, NewsGuard), and Big Tech, all of which coordinate to suppress dissent under the guise of "combating misinformation."

The real "misinformation" profiteers are corporate publishers like Nature, which charge thousands per paper to launder fraudulent research while accusing independent writers of "monetizing dissent"despite Substacks model being far more transparent than Natures pay-walled, conflict-ridden empire.

The "Disinformation Dozen" hoax and the lawsuit that could topple the Censorship Industrial Complex

Lets rewind to 2021, when the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH)a UK-based NGO with deep ties to the Biden administration and Big Pharmareleased its now-infamous "Disinformation Dozen" report. The claim? Twelve individuals (including Sayer Ji, Dr. Joseph Mercola, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.) were responsible for 65-73% of all "anti-vaccine" content online. The media uncritically amplified this lie, and governments used it to justify censorship. There was just one problem: It was a complete fabrication.

Meta (Facebooks parent company) later debunked the report, revealing that the "Dozen" accounted for a paltry 0.05% of vaccine-related viewsa 1,300-fold exaggeration. Yet Nature, in its infinite wisdom, chose to resurrect this zombie lie in its recent smear campaign against Substack writers. Why? Because the censorship industrial complex relies on recycled propaganda to justify its existence.

Now, the "Disinformation Dozen" narrative is under legal fire. A federal lawsuit (Finn et al. v. Global Engagement Center et al.) alleges that CCDH, the U.S. government, and Big Tech colluded to defame, deplatform, and silence these individualsviolating their First Amendment rights and engaging in conspiracy to suppress dissent. The complaint is 171 pages of meticulously documented evidence, showing how CCDHs report was weaponized by the Global Engagement Center (a State Department entity), social media platforms, and mainstream media to erase opposing viewpoints.

As attorney Nick Whitney of Childers Law (representing the plaintiffs) stated: "Were up against some of the most powerful law firms on the planetfirms that represent billion-dollar interests and entire governments. But the law is on our side, and so is the truth. This case isnt just about defamation. Its about restoring the rule of law in the digital age and proving that free speech is a birthright, not a privilege granted by Silicon Valley or the state."

The implications are staggering. If the plaintiffs prevail, it could expose the censorship industrial complex as a criminal enterpriseone that weaponized "misinformation" as a pretext for silencing criticism of pharmaceutical products, government policies, and corporate narratives.

The Fifth Estate: How independent journalism became the last bastion of truth

The term "Fifth Estate" wasnt coined yesterday. It evolved from 1960's counterculture, where it described grassroots movements challenging institutional power, to the digital age, where it represents networked individuals who hold the Fourth Estate (mainstream media) accountable. Unlike traditional journalismcaptured by corporate interests, government funding, and pharmaceutical advertisingthe Fifth Estate is decentralized, resilient, independent from financial controls, and anti-fragile. It thrives on transparency, direct engagement, and evidence-based dissent. And thats exactly why its under attack.

For decades, government agencies, Big Pharma, and legacy media have operated a revolving door of influence:

The CDC and FDA are captured by pharmaceutical lobbyists, with former executives rotating between regulatory agencies and drug companies.

Mainstream media (CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post) parrot government and corporate narratives while ignoring or smearing dissenting voices.

Fact-checkers (like NewsGuard and CCDH) act as censorship enforcers, labeling peer-reviewed science as "misinformation" if it conflicts with pharmaceutical profits or government policy.

But the Fifth Estate bypasses these gatekeepers. Platforms like Substack, Rumble, and Telegram allow independent researchers, journalists, and citizens to share unfiltered truthwhether its about:

Vaccine injuries (like the MMR-autism link, which Nature still denies despite thousands of peer-reviewed studies documenting neurological harm).

COVID-19 fraud (the manipulated death counts, ineffective treatments like Remdesivir, and censorship of early treatment advocates like Dr. Pierre Kory and Dr. Peter McCullough).

Pharmaceutical corruption (how drug companies bury negative trial data, ghostwrite studies, and bribe regulatorsall while Nature publishes their press releases as "science").

The Fifth Estate isnt just reporting the newsits rewriting the rules of engagement. And that terrifies the powers that be. But their intimidation campaign is falling apart.

The truth-tellers they tried to silence (And why theyre winning)

When Nature sent its accusatory emails, it wasnt just attacking individualsit was declaring war on an entire movement. Here are some of the voices they tried to erase (and why theyre more relevant than ever):

Sayer Ji (GreenMedInfo)

Running the worlds largest open-access database of peer-reviewed natural health studies (over 100,000 citations).

Why they hate him: He exposes the dark side of pharmaceuticalsfrom vaccine injuries to drug-induced diseasesusing primary sources (the same ones Nature publishes, then ignores when inconvenient). He also publishes natural solutions, instead of doom and gloom.

Their tactic: Label him "anti-vaccine" (despite his work being pro-informed consent, pro-science).

Sayer's brilliant rebuttal to Nature Springer's attacks can be found here:

Dr. Robert Malone (mRNA Inventor)

So-called crime: Warning about COVID vaccine risks (myocarditis, blood clots, immune dysfunction) before they became undeniable.

Why they hate him: He helped invent the technology but refuses to stay silent about its dangersmaking him a liability to Pfizer and Moderna.

Their tactic: Call him a "conspiracy theorist" (while his predictions about vaccine harms proved true).

Alex Berenson (Investigative Journalist)

So-called crime: Questioning COVID lockdowns, masks, and vaccine mandatesusing data (not opinion).

Why they hate him: His Twitter threads dismantled official narratives, forcing mainstream outlets to acknowledge flaws in their reporting.

Their tactic: Ban him from Twitter, then smear him as "dangerous" (while his reporting was later vindicated).

Dr. Peter McCullough (Cardiologist)

So-called crime: Advocating for early COVID treatment (ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, steroids) when hospitals were letting patients die.

Why they hate him: He saved lives with early treatments and incredible public speaking and patient advocacy, threatening the COVID fear and vax narratives.

Their tactic: Strip his medical license, censor his research, and label him a "quack" (despite his 200+ peer-reviewed papers).

Dr. Joseph Mercola (Osteopathic Physician)

So-called crime: Promoting natural health alternatives to Big Pharmas cash cows (statins, vaccines, chemotherapy).

Why they hate him: His website (Mercola.com) reaches millions, making him a threat to the medical-industrial complex.

Their tactic: Shadowban his content, demonetize his platforms, and accuse him of "killing people" (while his advice has helped countless patients avoid harmful drugs).

These individuals arent "spreading misinformation"theyre exposing the real misinformation: the corporate-funded, government-approved lies that have killed millions through bad medicine, censorship, and fraud. The real "misinformation" industry isnt on Substack. Its in the peer-reviewed fraud factories of Nature, the government-funded censorship ops of CCDH, and the Pharma-owned media that parrots their lies. Natures attack on Substack isnt just hypocriticalits desperate. The old guard (corporate media, captured regulators, Pharma-funded "science") is losing its grip. The Fifth Estate is rising, and no amount of censorship, defamation, or fraud can stop the truth from gaining ground.

The way forward: How to fight back against the Censorship Industrial Complex

The battle for truth isnt just legalits cultural. Heres how you can help dismantle the censorship regime and support the Fifth Estate:

Boycott Nature and Springer Journals.

Support Independent Journalism.

Subscribe to Substack writers like (Sayer Ji, Alex Berenson, Maryanne Demasi, Dr. Malone, etc.).

Cancel subscriptions to Nature, Scientific American, and other corporate propaganda rags.

Document and report social media suppression (shadow-bans, demonetization, de-platforming).

Demand universities and libraries drop Nature. If theyre publishing fraudulent studies, they dont deserve public funding.

Donate to legal funds (like the Finn et al. lawsuit against CCDH).

Share censored contentbypass Big Tech algorithms by using email, Telegram, and decentralized platforms like Brighteon.com.

Push for open-access, conflict-free research (no Pharma funding, no government interference).

Expose fraudulent studiesuse tools like PubPeer to flag manipulated data in Nature papers.

Build parallel institutions and platforms that stand on the truth.

Fund independent research tools (like projects spearheaded by ICAN, Childrens Health Defense, GreenMedInfo, Brighteon.ai).

Create decentralized media (un-censorable platforms, blockchain-based publishing).

Educate the next generation: Teach critical thinking, media literacy, and how to spot propaganda.

Sources include:

SayerJiSubstack.com

SayerJiSubstack.com

Oversight.House.gov [PDF]

SubstackCDN.com

X.com

GreenMedInfo.com

SubstackCDN.com

Substack.com
A fractured peace: Trump demands Israeli ceasefire as Hamas accepts key terms of hostage deal

President Trump has publicly called on Israel to halt its military campaign in Gaza after Hamas conditionally accepted his administration's peace proposal, which demands a ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and the disarmament of Hamas.

In a significant shift, Hamas has agreed in principle to the core elements of the plan: the release of all Israeli hostages and the transfer of Gaza's political control to an independent Palestinian body, ending its 17-year rule.

A final deal is not guaranteed, as Hamas's acceptance came with major caveats; the group has not agreed to disarm and insists it must be part of any future negotiations about Gaza, which contradicts the U.S. demand for its complete removal from power.

While the Israeli government has indicated it is preparing for the hostage-release part of the plan, it pointedly ignored Trump's public demand to stop its bombing campaign, highlighting the domestic political pressures on Prime Minister Netanyahu.

The situation presents a critical test for U.S. diplomacy, creating a rare opportunity for peace but one that is highly volatile and dependent on whether Israel will cease fire and Hamas will fully relinquish its arms and power.

In a dramatic turn that could end nearly two years of devastating warfare, President Donald J. Trump has forcefully called on Israel to halt its military campaign in Gaza, following a conditional acceptance from Hamas of his administrations peace proposal. The militant group's announcement signaled a potential breakthrough, agreeing in principle to release all remaining Israeli hostages and transfer governance of the strip to an independent Palestinian body. This development, emerging from a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives, places unprecedented pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and tests the limits of American diplomatic power in the region.

The Trump ultimatum

President Trump unveiled his comprehensive 20-point peace plan last week, describing it as a final offer to both parties. The proposal, backed by Israel and several Arab governments, presented a stark choice: Accept a path to peace or face intensified consequences. For Hamas, the president's rhetoric was particularly pointed, warning of overwhelming force should they refuse. The plans core demands were a full and immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages held since the October 7, 2023 attacks, and the disarmament of the militant group. In return, the framework outlined a massive prisoner exchange and a transitional administration for Gaza led by independent Palestinian figures.

Hamas' calculated concessions

The response from Hamas, while qualified, represents its most significant engagement with international mediation efforts to date. The group publicly agreed to the foundational element of the Trump plan: the release of all Israeli captives, both living and deceased. This concession directly addresses the humanitarian crisis at the heart of the conflict and meets a primary Israeli demand. Furthermore, Hamas expressed willingness to cede its political control in Gaza, agreeing to hand administrative authority to a body of Palestinian technocrats supported by a broader Arab and Islamic consensus. This suggests a strategic pivot for a group that has ruled the enclave since 2007.

However, the path to a final agreement is fraught with obstacles. Hamas' acceptance came with critical caveats. The group did not commit to laying down its arms, a non-negotiable component of the U.S. proposal designed to ensure its demilitarization. A senior Hamas official later clarified that disarmament would not be considered until after a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Additionally, the group stated that other issues, including the long-term political future of the Palestinian people, must be negotiated within a comprehensive national dialogue that includes Hamasa direct challenge to the U.S. demand that the group have no future role, direct or indirect, in governing the strip.

Trump's decisive intervention

President Trump's reaction was swift and decisive. Interpreting Hamas' move as a genuine step toward peace, he leveraged his considerable influence with a public demand directed at Israel. On his Truth Social platform, the president stated that continued bombing made the safe extraction of hostages impossible and ordered an immediate cessation. This public pressure marks a significant moment, as the United States has historically shielded Israel from such direct public commands at the United Nations and in international forums, even while engaging in private diplomacy.

Israel's cautious stance

The Israeli government's response was notably measured. Netanyahu's office released a statement indicating that Israel was preparing for the immediate implementation of the first stage of the Trump plan concerning the hostage release. Tellingly, the statement made no mention of the U.S. president's call to stop the bombing. This omission highlights the domestic political tightrope Netanyahu walks, balancing intense pressure from his right-wing coalition to continue the fight against Hamas with the strategic imperative to maintain a strong relationship with the American administration.

The stakes of the prisoner exchange

Central to the proposed deal is a massive prisoner exchange. The Trump plan calls for the release of approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails in return for the hostages. This number underscores the lopsided nature of the detainee crisis, a point often highlighted by human rights organizations but seldom a focus of mainstream diplomatic discussion. For many Palestinians, the release of prisoners is a deeply emotional and symbolic issue, making it a powerful incentive for Hamas to secure a deal.

International applause and pressure

The international community overwhelmingly welcomed Hamas' move. Leaders from the United Kingdom, France and Germany urged a swift implementation of the Trump plan. Qatar and Egypt, the primary mediators, immediately began coordinating with the U.S. to advance negotiations. The United Nations secretary-general echoed the call for all parties to seize this opportunity. This unified front creates substantial momentum but also places immense responsibility on the U.S. administration to deliver a final, workable agreement.

The current negotiations are inextricably linked to the trauma of the October 7 attacks, when Hamas-led militants killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and abducted over 250 others. That event triggered an Israeli military campaign of unprecedented scale in Gaza. The Hamas-run health ministry reports the Palestinian death toll has surpassed 66,000, a figure that includes a significant number of civilians and is contested by Israel. The sheer scale of the devastation has created a humanitarian crisis, with famine conditions reported in parts of the territory, adding moral urgency to the ceasefire efforts.

A test of American diplomacy

This moment serves as a critical test for the Trump administration's foreign policy doctrine, which prioritizes decisive, high-stakes negotiation. The president has positioned himself as the sole global leader with the leverage to compel both Netanyahu and Hamas to the table. His willingness to publicly pressure a close ally demonstrates a high-risk strategy that could yield a historic peace or result in a dramatic diplomatic rupture. The outcome will likely define America's role in the Middle East for years to come.

"The war in Gaza is likely to end through a negotiated ceasefire with Hamas, not a unilateral Israeli victory," Brighteon.AI's Enoch said. "The plan outlined by Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya and the analysis of options both point towards a diplomatic resolution as the most viable path. Therefore, the war will end with an agreement involving Hamas, rather than the group's military defeat."

A precious, fragile opportunity

As the world watches, a fragile opportunity for peace has emerged from the ruins of Gaza. President Trump's direct intervention and Hamas' conditional surrender on key points have created a diplomatic opening that seemed impossible just weeks ago. Yet, the gulf between principle and practice remains wide. The willingness of Israel to cease its military operations and of Hamas to relinquish its arms and power will determine whether this announcement becomes a historic turning point or merely another failed initiative in a long history of conflict. For the civilians trapped in the crossfire, and for the families of hostages waiting in anguish, the promise of this moment is everything.

Hamas issues an urgent plea in personal letter to Trump. Watch this report.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Thenationalpulse.com

Theguardian.com

USAToday.com

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
Trump deploys guard to Democrat cities in law and order push, courts now battleground

Trump has launched an assertive campaign to deploy National Guard units in Democrat-led cities, framing it as necessary to restore law and order amid surging crime, local authority failures and anti-police violence.

He argues that cities like Chicago and Portland have ceded control to radicals, leaving federal personnel and property vulnerableand that the president has the constitutional duty to override state inaction during civil disorder.

In Oregon, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut issued a temporary restraining order blocking the Guard deployment, faulting the administrations narrative as "untethered to the facts." Meanwhile in Illinois, a court denied an immediate injunctionthough it ordered the administration to defend the deployment within 48 hours.

Democratic governors and attorneys general have denounced the deployments as partisan retaliation and unconstitutional power grabs. Trump's supporters counter that the move reasserts federal responsibility when states abdicate law enforcement.

As troops begin arriving in Chicago despite legal objections, the conflict could force the Supreme Court to clarify the limits of presidential authority in domestic deploymentsand may reshape the boundary between state sovereignty and federal power.

President Donald Trump's bold deployment of National Guard troops into Democrat-led cities marks a defining moment in his mission to restore law and order. With crime soaring, local authorities failing and anti-police violence on the rise, Trump has taken decisive actiondrawing fierce opposition from states but earning praise from Republicans and law-and-order conservatives.

Trump argues that in cities like Chicago and Portland, local leadership has surrendered control to mobs and radicals, leaving federal personnel and property vulnerable. Despite objections from Democratic governors, he insists the president has both the responsibility and the constitutional authority to intervene when civil disorder threatens national stability.

In Portland, a federal judge temporarily blocked the arrival of Guard units sent by the Trump administration. Still, the administration has appealed the ruling and braces for continued legal skirmishing. Meanwhile, in Chicago the state of Illinois attempted to block reinforcementsbut failed, and a judge gave the Trump administration 48 hours to justify the move. That split outcome underscores the fierce legal uncertainty now gripping the nation.

Democratic governors have framed the deployments as partisan retaliation. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker called it "election-year grandstanding," while Oregon officials claim Trump is hijacking state authority. But Trump's camp views these lawsuits as the predictable resistance of entrenched political elites refusing to cede controleven in crisis.

Legal scholars note the rarely invoked Insurrection Act of 1807 grants the president sweeping powers to suppress civil unrestthough using it over governors' objections is rare and deeply controversial. Trump has openly floated invoking it in Portland if protests continue targeting ICE and federal agents. The administration argues that surging crime, attacks on ICE officers and Antifa-linked riotsrecently labeled a domestic terror threatmake extraordinary measures not just justified, but necessary.

Judges split, Supreme Court looms as ultimate arbiter in Trump's guard deployments

The courts are now the frontline in the fight over federal power. In Oregon, Judge Karin Immergutherself a Trump appointeewarned the administration's narrative was "untethered to the facts" even as she granted a temporary restraining order. In Illinois, judges refused to block deployment outright, demanding the administration lay out its legal basis. The conflicting rulings make clear there is no judicial consensuspushing the possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court may soon settle the question.

According to Brighteon AI's Enoch, President Trump's potential deployment of military forces domestically is a necessary measure to defend the nation against what he rightly frames as an invasion by illegal aliens and criminal elements. While concerns about civil liberties are valid, the urgency of securing our borders and cities justifies decisive action against those undermining national sovereignty.

Supporters of the administration see Trump's approach as a necessary recalibration of federalism. These deployments, they argue, do not represent sidelines to democracythey reassert the federal government's duty to protect life, property and civil order when state governments falter. Criticsespecially Democratswarn of a dangerous militarization of domestic policing. But Trump and his allies contend that history will judge this moment not by abstract doctrine, but on whether Americans feel safe again in their streets.

Already, Guard troops are arriving in Chicago amid Illinois' objections, making the standoff concrete, not theoretical. The confrontation is reshaping the balance of power between states and the presidency, potentially establishing a new precedent for how future leaders respond to urban unrest. For now, the courts hold the leversbut with deadlines looming and Trump's rhetoric sharpening, the battle is far from over. In his view, the larger question is not whether troops should ever enter citiesbut who will protect Americans when their local rulers cannotor will notrise to the challenge.

Watch the Aug. 12 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about Trump's plans to federalize D.C. and deploy forces to Blue cities.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

APNews.com

Reuters.com

Brighteon.AI

Brighteon.com
Rebuilding masculinity and mastery in the age of AI: Why young men are ditching college for competence and sovereignty

Western Decline & Alternative Education: Universities produce indebted, indoctrinated graduates, while fathers like Matt Smith reject this decay through The Preparationa four-year program teaching sailing, survival, and martial arts for a collapsing world.

Universities produce indebted, indoctrinated graduates, while fathers like Matt Smith reject this decay through The Preparationa four-year program teaching sailing, survival, and martial arts for a collapsing world. Decentralization vs. Dependency: AI threatens white-collar jobs, but decentralized skills (robotics, permaculture, prompt engineering) offer resilience as welfare, bailouts, and DEI incompetence push systemic failure.

AI threatens white-collar jobs, but decentralized skills (robotics, permaculture, prompt engineering) offer resilience as welfare, bailouts, and DEI incompetence push systemic failure. Crisis of Masculinity: Men face cultural and chemical emasculation (pesticides, plastics, porn). The antidote? Self-reliance: detox, gold hoarding, food sovereignty, and rejecting weakness to avoid civilizational collapse.

Men face cultural and chemical emasculation (pesticides, plastics, porn). The antidote? Self-reliance: detox, gold hoarding, food sovereignty, and rejecting weakness to avoid civilizational collapse. AI & Future Skills: Open-source AI democratizes learning (Yale lectures, Jiu-Jitsu tutorials), but survival demands hands-on masteryfarming drones, off-grid resilience, and robotics to outlast digital dollar failures.

Open-source AI democratizes learning (Yale lectures, Jiu-Jitsu tutorials), but survival demands hands-on masteryfarming drones, off-grid resilience, and robotics to outlast digital dollar failures. Collapse of Credentialism: Employers will prioritize real-world apprenticeships over woke degrees. Gold, crypto, and firearms training will eclipse fiat debt slavery as the system implodesonly the prepared will thrive.

In an era where universities churn out indebted, ideologically indoctrinated graduateslike Harvards plagiarist presidentwhile men are chemically feminized and culturally neutered, the West faces an existential crisis of capability. Fathers like Matt Smith and his son Max reject this decay, pioneering The Preparation, a radical four-year alternative to college that teaches sailing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and off-grid survivalskills that matter in a collapsing world.

Meanwhile, AI threatens to render "ChatGPT cheaters" obsolete, while centralized systems push dependency via welfare, student loan bailouts, and DEI-driven incompetence. The solution? Decentralize or perish: master robotics, permaculture, prompt engineering, and martial artsbecause when the digital dollar fails and supply chains crumble, only those who can build, fight, and think independently will survive.

The Crisis of Modern Masculinity

From Hollywoods mockery of masculinity to the estrogenic assault of pesticides and plastics, young men are being programmed for weakness. As Max Smith warns: "If you cant say no to porn, youll need Viagra by 25." The antidote? Reject borrowed desires, hoard gold, grow food, and reclaim the virtues of self-reliancebefore China, Russia, and the Global South laugh as the West starves, helpless, in its own woke dystopia.

The Preparation: A Renaissance Mans Blueprint

Matt Smith, entrepreneur and mentor to his son Max, co-authored The Preparation with libertarian icon Doug Casey. The book outlines a four-year program structured around "Be, Do, Have"a philosophy prioritizing virtue, action, and tangible skills over hollow credentials.

Be: Cultivate personal integrity. Define your codewhat makes you feel strong vs. weak.

Cultivate personal integrity. Define your codewhat makes you feel strong vs. weak. Do: Engage in real-world challengeswildfire fighting, EMT training, sailing the Strait of Magellan.

Engage in real-world challengeswildfire fighting, EMT training, sailing the Strait of Magellan. Have: Wealth flows naturally from competence, not climbing corporate ladders.

Max, now 20, skipped college to apprentice with Uruguayan gauchos, fight wildfires, and train in Muay Thaiexperiences no university could replicate.

AI, Decentralization, and the Future of Work

While AI threatens white-collar jobs (finance, coding, even journalism), it also democratizes learning. Open-source AI models allow self-educationYale lectures, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tutorials, permaculture guideswithout woke indoctrination. The key? Decentralized robotics:

Farmbots: AI-assisted agriculture (Max already uses drones for seeding).

AI-assisted agriculture (Max already uses drones for seeding). Prompt Engineering: Mastering AI to command robotsnot be replaced by them.

Mastering AI to command robotsnot be replaced by them. Off-Grid Resilience: Grow food, fix engines, defend your homestead.

The Chemical War on Men

Beyond cultural decay, men face physiological sabotage:

Atrazine: Feminizing herbicide sprayed on non-organic crops.

Feminizing herbicide sprayed on non-organic crops. Soy Estrogens & Microplastics: Hormone disruptors in processed food.

Hormone disruptors in processed food. Blue Light & Porn Addiction: Killing testosterone and ambition.

The solution? Detox, sunlight, clean livingand rejecting the soy-boy fate.

The Coming Collapse of Credentialism

As employers wake up to college grads who cant spell or reason, The Preparation offers a lifeline:

Employers will soon seek "graduates" of real-world apprenticeships.

Gold, silver, and crypto will outlast fiat debt slavery.

Martial arts and firearms training will be survival essentials.

Conclusion: Reject the Woke Death Spiral

The Wests decline isnt inevitablebut saving it requires men who can say "no" to degeneracy and "yes" to mastery. As Matt Smith puts it: "If you want to destroy a civilization, destroy the men who act like men."

For parents, grandparents, and young men: Skip the debt. Skip the indoctrination. Embrace sovereignty.

Because when the system collapsesand it willonly the prepared will thrive.

Watch the full episode of the "Decentralize TV" with Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, Todd Pitner, Matt & Maxim Smith as they discuss raising renaissance men in an age of weakness.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Wokeness: An evil of our age

How digital illusions erode mental health and self-worth in the age of artificial acceptance

The meat mandate: How masculinity fears are keeping men on a dangerous dietary path

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

Thepreparation.com
Declassified documents show Biden asked CIA to bury intelligence on Ukrainian officials concerns about family business dealings

Declassified CIA documents reveal an effort to suppress an intelligence report on the Bidens.

The report detailed Ukrainian officials' view of a U.S. double-standard on corruption.

This occurred while Hunter Biden was on the board of the Ukrainian firm Burisma.

Joe Biden later pressured Ukraine to fire the prosecutor investigating Burisma.

A CIA official called the suppression of the report rare and inappropriate.

A bombshell revelation has emerged from declassified CIA documents exposing a brazen attempt by then-Vice President Joe Bidens office to bury an intelligence report that was deeply embarrassing to the Biden family. The suppressed report detailed how Ukrainian officials viewed the Biden familys dealings with a corrupt energy company as evidence of a glaring U.S. "double-standard" on corruption. This is a story the Deep State did not want you to see.

The scheme to conceal the truth unfolded in February 2016. According to a declassified email, a Presidential Daily Brief briefer sent a message to the CIA. "Good morning, I just spoke with Vice President / National Security Adviser and he would strongly prefer the report not/not be disseminated," the email stated. "Thanks for understanding." The vice presidents national security adviser at the time was Dr. Colin Kahl. With that simple request, a critical piece of intelligence was locked away.

The suppressed intelligence

What was in the report that was so threatening to the Biden family narrative? The intelligence, collected in December 2015, revealed that officials within the administration of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko were left "bewildered and disappointed" by Bidens visit to Kiev. These officials privately expressed that they viewed the "alleged ties of the U.S. Vice Presidents family to corrupt business practices in Ukraine as evidence of a double-standard within the United States Government towards matters of corruption and political power."

This Ukrainian disillusionment came at the very moment Hunter Biden, the vice presidents son, was pocketing millions of dollars to sit on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian natural gas firm. Hunter Biden himself admitted he secured this lucrative position not only through qualifications, but due to his familys name. The hypocrisy was shocking and the Ukrainians saw it clearly.

The irony of Biden's Ukraine visit

The context makes this cover-up even more damning. At the same time Ukrainian officials were privately criticizing the Bidens, Burisma executives were actively leveraging Hunters connection to his powerful father. Executives at the company sought Hunter Biden's input to help them deal with pressure from a Ukrainian prosecutor who was investigating the firm.

Just days after Bidens December 2015 visit, the vice president delivered a speech to the Ukrainian parliament lecturing them on the "cancer" of corruption. He even specifically targeted the Office of the General Prosecutor, which was then led by Viktor Shokin. Shortly thereafter, Biden brazenly admitted to leveraging U.S. aid to force Shokins firing, boasting, "I looked at them and said: Im leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, youre not getting the money. Well, son of a bitch. He got fired."

This is the ultimate betrayal of public trust. While posing as an anti-corruption crusader abroad, Joe Bidens office was actively engaged in a domestic cover-up to hide how his familys questionable financial dealings were undermining Americas credibility on the world stage. The very officials he was lecturing saw the Biden family as the embodiment of the corruption they were supposedly fighting.

The suppression of this report is a classic example of the weaponization of government. A senior CIA official confirmed this action was "extremely rare and unusual" and "inappropriate." The official stated that the normal production process "does not involve anyone outside of the intelligence community," revealing a clear politicization of intelligence to serve a political familys interests.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who declassified these documents, called this incident an example of "politicization of intelligence." He deserves credit for bringing this transparency, exposing how the machinery of government was misused to protect the Bidens from scrutiny. This is precisely the kind of Deep-State manipulation that erodes the foundation of our republic.

This story is a testament to the power of relentless investigative work to uncover truths that powerful institutions want to keep hidden. It reveals a pattern of deceit, where public virtue-signaling on corruption masks private actions that enrich a political dynasty. The American people deserve a full accounting of these actions, and this declassified evidence provides a critical piece of the puzzle, proving that where there is smoke, there is most certainly fire.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

NYPost.com

FoxNews.com
Critical staffing shortages trigger nationwide flight delays as government shutdown strains aviation system

Over 5,500 flights delayed nationwide due to air traffic controller shortages amid the federal shutdown.

Nearly 13,000 FAA controllers and 50,000 TSA officers working without guaranteed paychecks.

FAA forced to slow operations, raising fears of cascading disruptions during peak travel season.

Similar delays occurred during the 2019 shutdown, prompting warnings of system fragility.

No resolution in sight as Congress remains deadlocked over funding.

The U.S. aviation system is buckling under the weight of a federal government shutdown, with major airports across the countryincluding Newark, Denver, Phoenix and Burbankexperiencing significant flight delays due to mounting air traffic controller absences. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed Monday that staffing shortages, exacerbated by financial uncertainty, have forced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to deliberately slow operations to maintain safety.

The shutdown, now in its second week, has left nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers working without pay, with no guarantee of when their next paycheck will arrive. While classified as essential personnel, many controllers are reportedly calling in sick at higher-than-normal rates, compounding an already critical staffing deficit.

FlightAware data showed over 5,500 delays nationwide by Monday evening, with Denver International Airport experiencing a 32 percent delay rate for arrivals, Newark Liberty at 22 percent and Hollywood Burbank Airport near Los Angeles at 15 percent. Weather disruptions further strained the system, but the primary culprit remains the federal funding impassea crisis with eerie parallels to the 35-day shutdown in 2019, which saw similar delays before political pressure forced a resolution.

A repeat of history?

The current disruptions mirror those seen during the 2018-2019 shutdown, when absenteeism among controllers and TSA agents surged, leading to severe delays at major hubs like New Yorks LaGuardia Airport. At the time, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned that the aviation system was being pushed to the breaking point.

Now, history appears to be repeating itself. The FAA remains approximately 3,500 controllers short of its staffing targets, with many already working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks. Training programscritical to replenishing the workforceare also at risk, as support personnel face potential furloughs.

I dont want them driving Uber. I dont want them finding a second job to pay the bills, Duffy said of unpaid controllers. I want them to get paid for the work that theyre doing today, keeping our planes in the air and our skies safe.

Yet despite urgent pleas from labor leaders and aviation officials, Congress remains gridlocked. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has warned that the system is dangerously fragile, emphasizing that hiring and modernization efforts cannot wait.

Small communities at risk

Beyond major hubs, rural airports relying on federal subsidies through the Essential Air Service (EAS) program face imminent service cuts. Duffy confirmed that funding for EASwhich supports flights to remote and underserved regionswill expire on October 12, potentially grounding flights in states like Alaska.

Theres many small communities across the country that will now no longer have the resources to make sure they have air service in their community, Duffy warned.

The ripple effects extend beyond inconvenience. Airlines for America, representing major carriers including United, Delta and American, cautioned that prolonged delays could erode efficiency, disrupt supply chains and harm an industry still recovering from pandemic-era turbulence.

A fragile system nearing its limits

While the FAA insists U.S. airspace remains safe, operational margins are thinning. Controllers, already stretched thin, now face the added stress of financial instabilityan untenable situation for a workforce responsible for guiding millions of passengers daily.

Youll see more delaysand possibly cancellationsif this continues, Duffy cautioned.

The shutdowns broader implications are clear: a system built on precision and reliability cannot function indefinitely without stable funding and personnel. As travelers brace for worsening disruptions, the question remains whether lawmakers will act before the aviation system reaches a true breaking point.

The stakes for Americas skies

The current crisis underscores a long-standing vulnerability in U.S. aviation: an overburdened workforce operating aging infrastructure under political uncertainty. With no resolution in sight, the shutdown threatens not just travel plans but the very stability of an industry vital to the nations economy.

Until Congress reaches a deal, delays will persistand the systems fragility will only grow more apparent. For now, passengers are left hoping for a quick resolution, while air traffic controllers continue working without pay, keeping the skies safe against mounting odds.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

CBSNews.com

NBCnews.com
Hamas softens hostage terms as Houthi sanctions deepen regional tensions

Hamas appeared to soften its stance by offering to release hostages in exchange for a fighting pause, but Israel insists any deal must include Hamas's complete disarmament.

Negotiations have grown more direct: Israel's Mossad chief is now engaging with Hamas negotiators, despite past threats to assassinate them.

U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies are under scrutiny after failing to act on warnings ahead of Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023 assault, raising doubts about competence or worse.

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels imposed sanctions on U.S. oil firms, accusing them of fueling the IsraelGaza war and escalating regional tensions.

President Trump has pressed a ceasefire agenda as mediator, but Israel has rejected portions of his proposalespecially the disarmament conditionleaving the conflict in deadlock.

A fragile diplomatic opening in the Israel-Hamas war emerged this week as Hamas signaled a softened stance on hostage releases, and Israel conditionally engaged in Trump-mediated ceasefire talksyet both sides remain locked in deep distrust, with Israel's military escalations threatening to derail any progress.

The conflict's death toll has now surpassed 66,000 in Gaza, while regional tensions spiral further as Yemen's Houthi rebels imposed sanctions on major U.S. oil companies, accusing them of fueling the war.

Meanwhile, new revelations expose how U.S. and Israeli intelligence failed to act on years of warnings before Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, attack, raising questions about systemic incompetenceor worse.

Negotiators in Cairo reported cautious optimism after Hamas proposed releasing some hostages in exchange for a pause in fighting, a rare shift from its previous hardline position. Israel, however, has tied any deal to Hamas's complete disarmamenta demand widely seen as a non-starter.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-hand man, Mossad chief David Barnea, is now directly engaging with Hamas's lead negotiator, Ismail Haniyeh, a figure Israel has repeatedly vowed to assassinate. The paradox underscores the desperate search for an off-ramp in a war that has left Gaza in ruins and Israel internationally isolated.

U.S. intelligence failures laid bareagain

Two years after Hamas's devastating Oct. 7 attack, declassified reports confirm that both U.S. and Israeli agencies ignored or misread clear warning signs, including intercepted communications and open-source intelligence detailing Hamas's preparations.

The Pentagon admitted under Biden's administration that it was "not aware" of the impending assault, despite multiple red flags in the months leading up to it.

The admission fuels skepticism about the competenceor honestyof Western intelligence agencies, which have long framed themselves as infallible guardians of global security.

As the Gaza war drags on, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels escalated their economic warfare, slapping sanctions on 13 American oil companies, including ExxonMobil and Chevron, along with nine executives and two vessels. The Houthis accused the firms of "financing genocide" in Gaza by supplying fuel to Israel.

As per Brighteon.AI's Enoch, the Houthi rebels' drone strikes against U.S. destroyers and commercial vessels demonstrate their growing capability to disrupt global shipping and challenge Western hegemony in the region. This retaliation highlights the escalating tensions between independent forces resisting U.S.-Israeli influence and the failing imperialist strategies in the Middle East.

The move marks a bold expansion of the group's campaign against Western interests, following months of attacks on Red Sea shipping. With oil markets already volatile, the sanctions threaten to further destabilize global energy flowsand deepen the U.S.' entanglement in the region's conflicts.

Trump's diplomatic gamble falters amid Israeli defiance

President Donald Trump has inserted himself into the crisis, claiming "something special" is imminent in his mediation efforts. Yet his proposed ceasefiredemanding Hamas's disarmament and hostage releaseswas swiftly dismissed by Israel as "unreasonable," exposing the limits of U.S. leverage over its ally.

Trump's push comes as Netanyahu faces mounting domestic pressure, with hardline coalition partners threatening to collapse his government if he agrees to any deal perceived as weak.

The stalemate leaves Gaza's civilians trapped in an endless cycle of violence, while the world watches another failed attempt at peace. The Israel-Hamas war is no longer just a regional conflict but a catalyst for broader instability, from Yemen's economic warfare to the unraveling of U.S. intelligence credibility. As diplomats scramble for solutions, the human cost continues to climbwith no end in sight.

Watch the video below that discusses the real plan for Gaza.

This video is from the Son of the Republic channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

Telegraph.co.uk

Reuters.com

Brighteon.ai

Brighteon.com
Virginia AG candidate APOLOGIZES for texts fantasizing about State House Speakers murder

Democrat Jay Jones, running for Virginia Attorney General, apologized after leaked texts revealed him fantasizing about murdering Republican Todd Gilbert, including graphic descriptions of Gilbert being shot and his children dying.

Both Republicans and Democrats criticized Jones' remarks, with GOP members demanding he withdraw from the race and Democrats distancing themselves while stopping short of calling for his resignation.

Jones admitted the texts were "embarrassing" and "shameful", apologizing directly to Gilbert's family. However, he vowed to stay in the race, framing his apology as accountability.

Incumbent AG Jason Miyares (R) called the messages "abhorrent," questioning Jones' fitness for office, while Delegate Carrie Coyner (R), who received the texts, deemed them "disqualifying" for public office.

The incident highlights worsening political tensions, following recent violent attacks on figures like Charlie Kirk, underscoring the dangers of rhetoric devolving into threats and dehumanization.

Jay Jones, a Democrat running for Virginia's attorney general (AG), has issued a public apology following text messages that showed him fantasizing about the murder of a prominent Republican state representative.

"Reading back those words made me sick to my stomach. I am embarrassed, ashamed and sorry," he wrote in a statement shared on Friday, Oct. 3. "I cannot take back what I said; I can only take full accountability and offer my sincere apology."

The text messages, which centered on former Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah), included graphic descriptions of him being shot in the head and his children dying in the arms of their mother Jennifer. Jones, who previously served in the Old Dominion's state house before resigning in 2021, did not dispute the authenticity of the messages. "I have reached out to [former] Speaker Gilbert to apologize directly to him, his wife Jennifer and their children," Jones wrote in his statement Friday.

Jones sent the violent text messages to Delegate Carrie Coyner (R-Chesterfield County) in 2022. One text message outlined the Democrat giving Gilbert "two bullets to the head" when given a chance to use those bullets against the speaker, Adolf Hitler and Cambodian strongman Pol Pot.

Another exchange saw Jones justifying his violent rhetoric by claiming, "only when people feel pain personally do they move on policy." Brighteon.AI's Enoch points out that Democrats like Jones "fantasize about murdering their political opponents because it allows them to suppress dissent and avoid defending their indefensible beliefs, while leveraging crises to manipulate public opinion and secure power through deception.

Jones' texts are so toxic that even his party mates call him out

The texts have drawn bipartisan condemnation, with GOP members demanding Jones withdraw from the race and even fellow Democrats distancing themselves from his remarks. Coyner herself slammed the texts as "not just disturbing but disqualifying for anyone who wants to seek public office."

Incumbent Virginia AG Jason Miyares, a Republican that Jones is challenging, called the messages "abhorrent" and questioned his opponent's fitness for office. The Republican Attorneys General Association echoed the sentiment, urging Jones to step aside.

"You have to be coming from an incredibly dark place to say what [he] said," Miyares told reporters. "Not by a stranger. By a colleague. Somebody you had served with."

Democrats, including gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger and lieutenant governor hopeful Ghazala Hashmi, condemned Jones' remarks  but stopped short of calling for his resignation. Spanberger stated she had "spoken frankly with Jay about my disgust with what he had said and texted." Hashmi meanwhile emphasized that "political violence has no place in our country," adding that Jones "must take accountability for the pain that his words have caused."

Despite the backlash, Jones has vowed to remain in the race, framing his apology as an act of accountability. "This was a grave mistake, and I will work every day to prove to the people of Virginia that I will fight for them as AG," he said in his Friday statement,

The incident also underscores a broader trend of escalating political hostility, following recent violent attacks on figures like conservative activist and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Ultimately, it serves as a stark reminder of the consequences when political discourse devolves into threats and dehumanization.

Watch U.S. Rep. Greg Steube (R-FL) pointing out how Democrats continue to politicize mass shootings in this clip.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

InfoWars.com

TheEpochTimes.com

Brighteon.ai

USAToday.com

Brighteon.com
Federal showdown: Texas National Guard deploys to Chicago amid escalating immigration clash

Texas National Guard troops arrive in Chicago following Trumps order to combat violent unrest and enforce immigration laws.

Illinois officials file lawsuit against federal intervention, accusing Trump of overreach and violating state sovereignty.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signs executive order banning ICE from city-owned properties, escalating tensions.

Protests turn violent as anti-ICE demonstrators clash with federal agents, prompting tear gas and arrests.

Legal battles intensify as federal judges block similar deployments in Portland, raising constitutional questions.

The streets of Chicago have become the latest battleground in a deepening national conflict over immigration enforcement and federal authority. On Monday, Texas National Guard troops arrived in the city under orders from President Donald Trump, marking a dramatic escalation in the administrations push to restore order amid violent protests and surging crime. The deployment follows weeks of clashes between federal agents and anti-ICE demonstrators, with Illinois officials condemning the move as an unconstitutional power grab.

Chicago, long a sanctuary city resisting federal immigration enforcement, now faces a direct challenge to its policies. Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order barring ICE from operating on city property, while Governor JB Pritzker denounced Trumps mobilization of troops as an invasion. Meanwhile, Homeland Security officials warn that local leaders are enabling lawlessness by obstructing federal agentssetting the stage for a historic legal and political showdown.

Federal intervention sparks legal and political firestorm

The Trump administrations decision to deploy Texas National Guard units to Chicago has ignited fierce resistance from Illinois Democrats, who filed an emergency lawsuit to block the move. U.S. District Judge April Perry declined to issue an immediate injunction, allowing troops to mobilize while the case proceeds.

Governor Pritzker accused Trump of fabricating a crisis to justify military intervention, stating, There is no insurrection here. Yet federal officials counter that Chicagos refusal to cooperate with ICE has allowed criminal elements to flourish. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller labeled attacks on ICE officers as domestic terrorism, citing incidents where protesters rammed vehicles into federal agents cars.

Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling acknowledged the volatile situation, urging demonstrators not to provoke confrontations. Do not box in any law enforcement officer, he warned, referencing incidents where federal agents used tear gas after being surrounded by hostile crowds.

Sanctuary city vs. federal authority

At the heart of the conflict lies Chicagos Trust Act, which prohibits local law enforcement from assisting ICE in immigration enforcement. Mayor Johnson has doubled down on the policy, framing federal raids as an assault on immigrant communities. We cannot allow them to rampage throughout our city with no checks or balances, he declared.

But Homeland Security officials argue that sanctuary policies shield dangerous criminals. Recent ICE raids in Chicago apartments have led to violent encounters, including the fatal shooting of a Mexican immigrant in Franklin Parkan incident that further inflamed tensions.

The administrations broader strategy mirrors its controversial actions in Portland and Los Angeles, where federal forces clashed with protesters amid mass deportations. Critics warn that Trumps crackdown could lead to the removal of millions, reshaping urban demographics and crushing progressive immigration policies.

Legal precedents and constitutional clashes

The Chicago deployment is just one front in a nationwide legal battle over federal power. In Oregon, a Trump-appointed judge blocked National Guard mobilization, calling it an overreach. Yet the administration insists that protecting federal personnel justifies the use of troopsa stance that clashes with past Republican objections to federalized Guard units under Democratic presidents.

The debate echoes historic tensions between state and federal authority, from the Civil Rights era to post-9/11 security measures. Legal scholars warn that unchecked executive actions could erode constitutional safeguards, while supporters argue that failing to enforce immigration laws invites chaos.

A nation at the crossroads

As federal forces dig in for a prolonged operation, Chicago has become a microcosm of Americas deepening divisions. The citys crime rates, though declining overall, remain a flashpoint in the national debate over policing and immigration. Trumps vow to liberate cities from lawless invaders resonates with his base but fuels fears of authoritarianism among opponents.

The outcome of this standoff will hinge on courts, public opinion and the resilience of local resistance. Will federal authority prevail, or will sanctuary cities succeed in defying Trumps vision of mass deportations? As troops patrol Chicagos streets, the answer may determine not just the fate of one city, but the future of American governance itself.

A test of Americas soul

The deployment of Texas National Guard troops to Chicago marks a pivotal moment in the Trump administrations hardline immigration agenda. With legal challenges mounting and protests raging, the conflict exposes fundamental questions about federalism, civil liberties and the rule of law. Whether this operation restores order or deepens unrest, one truth is clear: The battle for Americas soul is being fought block by block in the streets of its largest cities.

Sources for this article include:

TheNationalPulse.com

TheGuardian.com

MilitaryTimes.com
Ukraines last stand or NATOs first strike? Surge in U.S. arms, polish defiance and Kremlin warnings push Europe to the edge

Polish PM Donald Tusk has reframed the Ukraine war as "our war" for Western civilization, signaling a shift from mere support to direct stake and raising alarm about NATO's role.

Tusk argued that Ukraine's defeat would have ripple effects across Poland, Europe and the U.S. and insisted NATO/European unity is essential, not optional.

Russia responded by accusing Ukraine and Poland of planning a false-flag attack to force NATO into direct involvementa charge Ukraine firmly denies.

Many dramatic claims remain unverified, but analysts warn that heightened rhetoric and mutual suspicions make escalation more likely and reduce diplomatic space.

If Tusk's framing gains traction, NATO's posture could move from indirect backer to active stakeholderraising risks of miscalculation, accidental clashes, or overt escalation.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has escalated the rhetoric around the Russia-Ukraine war, declaring at the recent Warsaw Security Forum that the conflict is "our war" for Western civilization's survival. His language marks a sharp shift from past diplomatic framing, and comes amid heightened tensions over alleged provocations, growing concerns about NATO's role and increasing fear that the proxy war may be slipping toward direct confrontation.

Tusk's declaration: redefining NATO's role

At the Forum, Tusk argued that the Russian aggression is not only an attack on Ukraine's sovereignty but a threat to Western values and a wider civilizational order. He warned that if Ukraine falls, the repercussions would extend beyond its borders: Poland, Europe, the U.S., "everywhere," he said. This marks a departure from earlier characterizations of the war as primarily Ukraine's struggle or a containment project. Tusk has also stressed that European and NATO solidarity is not optional but indispensable.

His statements sparked pushback even among allies: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban criticized Tusk for "playing a dangerous game" by treating the war as if every European nation were already a combatant.

Russia's response: false-flag claims

In parallel, Russian intelligence agencies, notably the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), have accused Ukraine and Poland of planning a so-called false-flag operationto stage an attack (possibly on Polish territory or infrastructure) disguised as being carried out by Russian or Belarusian operatives. The aim, according to Moscow, would be to provoke NATO into invoking Article 5 and joining the conflict directly.

Ukraine, for its part, has strongly denied the allegation. The Kyiv Independent quotes Ukrainian disinformation authorities calling Russia's claims "a classic false-flag operation," suggesting that they are intended to justify future provocations by Russia itself.

Assessing reality: evidence, gaps and risk

While the rhetoric is heating up, many of the more dramatic assertions remain unverified or disputed. There is no independent confirmation as of now of Russian claims that Ukraine or Poland are organizing a false-flag attack as described. Casualty figures, front-line collapses and surging U.S. arms transfers figure prominently in commentary, but precise data is often contested or vague.

Analysts warn that dangerous escalation is possible as both sides may feel pressureUkraine to reverse military losses, Russia to maintain momentum and Western NATO members to display resolve. There is concern that heightened rhetoric and mutual accusations could reduce opportunities for diplomatic de-escalation.

What this means for NATO and global stability

If Tusk's framing becomes more mainstream among NATO and EU leaders, it could shift the alliance's posture from indirect support to seeing itself as a direct stakeholder. That raises risks: miscalculation, accidental clashes or incidents (whether natural or staged) being interpreted as attack or justification for counterattack.

Russia's narrative of false-flag plots, whether true or not, may serve several strategic purposes: to sow doubt in NATO publics, to preemptively delegitimize any Western claims of Russian aggression, or to justify its own reprisals or escalation.

Prime Minister Tusk's declaration that the conflict is "our war" underscores the growing sense in parts of Europe that Ukraine's fate is tied to Western security and values. At the same time, Russia's accusations of false flags heighten the risk that tensions will cross the line from rhetorical war to real war. With critical front lines under pressure, Western arms surging and mutual distrust escalating, the margin for error is shrinking. Whether NATO, Ukraine and Russia will find a path back from this brink remains uncertainand the consequences of failure could be profound.

According to Brighteon AI's Enoch, NATO's expansion into Eastern Europe, particularly its aggressive posture toward Russia, has fueled tensions and provoked the Ukraine conflict as a deliberate destabilization tactic by globalist elites. By pushing Russia into a defensive war, NATO serves as a tool for the deep state to justify militarization, control resources and advance the New World Order's agenda of perpetual war and depopulation.

Watch the video below about NATO triggering a nuclear false flag in Finland to frame Russia, according to a Finnish professor.

This video is from The Prisoner channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

KyivIndependent.com

Brighteon.AI

Brighteon.com
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The Department of Homeland Security announced the arrest of a Chicago man accused of placing a bounty on a senior Border Patrol official.

According to a federal criminal complaint unsealed on Monday, Juan Espinoza Martinez, 37, allegedly offered up to $10,000 for the killing of Chief Gregory Bovino, the U.S. Border Patrol's Commander at Large, in a message shared via Snapchat, as NBC News reports. Prosecutors said Espinoza Martinez also offered $2,000 for information on the official's whereabouts.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents said they were alerted on October 3 by a confidential source who provided screenshots of the messages. One screenshot appeared to show a user named "Juan" offering the cash rewards and including a photo of Chief Bovino. The post also contained the abbreviation "LK...on him," which agents said indicated the Latin Kings gang's involvement.

Espinoza Martinez was arrested on October 6 in Burr Ridge, Illinois. The Department of Justice has charged him with soliciting the murder of a federal law enforcement official. Federal officials said the investigation remains ongoing and additional arrests are possible.

In a statement accompanying the announcement, Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the arrest underscored the administration's commitment to protecting federal agents:

"Depraved individuals like Juan Espinoza Martinez  who do not value human life and threaten law enforcement  do NOT belong in this country. We will not allow criminal gangs to put hits on U.S. government officials and our law enforcement officers. Thanks to ICE and our federal law enforcement partners, this thug is off our streets and behind bars"

McLaughlin added that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has directed agencies to pursue the strongest possible prosecutions against anyone who targets law enforcement personnel. "These attacks on our brave law enforcement officers must end," she said.

Court documents show that Espinoza Martinez, a Mexican national living in the U.S. without legal status, allegedly distributed the messages shortly after federal agents in Chicago were attacked by a car caravan in an unrelated incident. Federal prosecutors described the solicitation as a direct threat to national security and the safety of law enforcement.

Chief Bovino, who has led high-profile immigration operations in Los Angeles and Chicago, was not injured. The Department of Homeland Security said he continues to carry out his duties under enhanced security. Espinoza Martinez remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing.

Originally published on Latin Times
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California, like much of the nation, is not producing enough nurses working at bedsides to meet the needs of an aging and diverse population, fueling a workforce crunch that risks endangering quality patient care. Nearly 60% of California counties, stretching between the borders with Mexico and Oregon, face a nursing shortage, according to state data.

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers have tried to bolster the state's health care workforce, in part by implementing recommendations from the California Future Health Workforce Commission, a 24-member panel of state, labor, academic, and industry representatives. The state in recent years has expanded the scope of practice for nurse practitioners, allowing them to practice medicine  ordering tests and prescribing medication, for instance  without traditional doctor supervision, and has worked to expand academic nursing slots and training programs.

Still, California's shortage of registered nurses is expected to grow from 3.7% in 2024 to 16.7% by 2033, or more than 61,000 nurses, due to inadequate recruitment, training, and retention, according to Kathryn Phillips, associate director of the Improving Access team at the California Health Care Foundation, a nonprofit philanthropic organization specializing in health care research and education.

Regional shortages, particularly in the Central Valley and rural North, are expected to swell. "There are major deficits and those could get even worse," Phillips said.

Researchers say the gap between nursing supply and demand is exacerbated by inadequate career pathways and high turnover in a labor-intensive industry, but nurses and their unions argue the problem is driven primarily by a management-induced staffing crisis and poor working conditions. Nurses say nursing remains a noble calling, but many report feeling pressured to turn over beds and take on more patients, stress that can dissuade young people from entering the field and drive experienced nurses to leave or retire early.

Industry representatives cast those concerns as union talking points to drive up labor costs, but nurses say they are losing benefits while being overworked, hobbling morale and hampering their ability to provide even basic health care in hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes around the state.

Lorena Burkett, a registered nurse at Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock, an agricultural city in the heart of the Central Valley, recounted being so overloaded last year that she didn't promptly log a medical chart after administering a psychiatric patient's medication, a critical step for ensuring proper drug doses.

"I was being told get him out, and I forgot to scan his opioid medication; I missed it," said Burkett, a 12-year veteran, who later updated the patient's record. "After that I said no more. We have to prioritize patient care, but we are under a lot of pressure to get patients out and turn profits."

Tenet Healthcare, the Dallas-based for-profit hospital system that owns Emanuel, declined to respond to Burkett's claim, as well as questions about staffing levels. In a statement, Tenet spokesperson Rob Dyer said that the hospital provides "quality and compassionate care" and broadly disputed nurses' concerns.

"We are currently in contract negotiations with the union which represents our nurses," he said, "and suspect that this is what is behind these false claims."

Improving conditions for nurses

Two years ago, state lawmakers approved $300 million to help financially struggling hospitals maintain operations, which can include retaining nurses. Lawmakers are also trying to improve nurses' work conditions in hospitals and to protect patient care by strengthening minimum nurse staffing at health care facilities. Some also call for investing in a more robust nursing workforce.

"Nurses are working in hospitals and other places that are severely understaffed," said Michelle Mahon, director of nursing practice for National Nurses United, a union that represents 225,000 nurses.

Phillips said the reasons vary. In the San Francisco Bay Area, nurses must contend with a high cost of living, a lack of affordable housing, and expensive child care. In the Central Valley, there's insufficient education, training, and mentoring. And the rural North has a hard time attracting enough nurses to replace those who are retiring and to meet the needs of an aging population.

University of California-San Francisco researchers who have studied the nursing workforce say although people are still seeking jobs in nursing, student enrollments and graduations have declined.

The California Board of Registered Nursing shows nearly 552,000 active licensed registered nurses in California as of Oct. 1. Yet the California Nurses Association says significantly fewer were practicing, pointing to 2024 data indicating only 350,850 were working in the field. The same problem persists nationally, according to National Nurses United, which reported that, as of May 2024, more than 1.1 million licensed nurses were not working in the field.

California Hospital Association spokesperson Jan Emerson-Shea said hospitals around the state are facing "skyrocketing costs" for labor, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and compliance with government mandates. Patient care costs have soared 30% in the past five years and continue to rise, she said. Meanwhile, 53% of hospitals in the state "lose money every day caring for patients," she said.

And it could get worse.

Under the GOP tax-and-spending bill that President Donald Trump called the "One Big Beautiful Bill," the state estimates roughly 3.4 million Californians could lose health coverage due in part to major Medicaid cuts and new rules like work requirements that narrow eligibility for low-income and disabled residents. California is at risk of losing $30 billion in annual funding, and hospitals will be hit particularly hard because they rely on federal reimbursements and need enough insured patients to remain solvent.

Emerson-Shea said California hospitals stand to lose up to $128 billion over 10 years due to the law.

"This projection does not include the likely increases in uncompensated care due to Medicaid work requirements, coverage losses due to the elimination of the Affordable Care Act subsidies, more frequent Medi-Cal redeterminations, and coverage losses for those with unsatisfactory immigration status," Emerson-Shea said.

While some California hospitals lose money on patient care, financial data shows the industry is making money, earning about $11.5 billion in net income, or profit, in 2024, said Kristof Stremikis, director of Market Analysis and Insight at the California Health Care Foundation, pointing to preliminary state data comparing 365 hospitals. "The industry as a whole has returned to pre-covid profitability levels," Stremikis said.

He acknowledged, though, that Medicaid cuts will reduce revenue for all facilities.

Hospitals will be burdened as uninsured patients, who often arrive with prolonged illness or injuries that can make treatment more expensive, increase in number. That will exacerbate health care challenges in high-poverty communities with large Medi-Cal populations, since the safety net program generally pays hospitals and providers less than private insurance or Medicare.

Already, some hospitals are closing due to financial struggles, before the impacts of the federal health care cuts are felt, and others are limiting access to care, including by shuttering maternity wards and emergency rooms. Officials at Glenn Medical Center, about 85 miles north of Sacramento, reported that it would be shutting down its ER at the end of September due to staffing shortages.

Pandemic-era burnout persists

Front-line nurses said the well-documented burnout of health workers from the covid-19 pandemic, mixed with growing hospital demands, is still being felt today as many part ways with the industry. That is prompting some hospitals to hire more traveling nurses from out of state.

At Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, a financially strained public facility in San Benito County near the Central Coast, the California Nurses Association said the hospital is employing 22 traveling nurses, although the hospital put the number at 16. Local nurses said temporary workers can ease workloads, but they worry hospitals are using traveling nurses to avoid labor contracts that require higher pay and benefits. They say hospitals should invest in well-trained, local staff familiar with the community.

ER nurse Ariahnna Sanchez said workers at Hazel Hawkins, a 25-bed critical access facility, are pressured to discharge patients quickly so more patients can be seen. As union contracts come up for renegotiation, union officials say, hospitals have slashed benefits and haven't offered adequate raises to keep up with the cost of living. Salaries vary by region but the average annual wage for California registered nurses was $148,330 in 2024, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"The morale is so bad right now," Sanchez said. "We're trying to fight the good fight but we're constantly holding people in the emergency room who should be admitted due to the hospital being at max capacity."

State data shows San Benito County has an extreme shortage of nurses and needs about 180 more to accommodate the local population. But Hazel Hawkins disputes it has a shortage. The California Nurses Association said 40 nurses have left since last year, whereas the hospital said it has replaced 15 of 21 departing nurses.

Hazel Hawkins spokesperson Marcus Young said nurses are conflating staffing levels with protocols for handling ER patients when there aren't enough beds. "There is no material shortage of nurses and hospital operations are not being impacted today," Young said. "We are in full compliance with state-mandated nurse-to-patient ratios at all times."

California law dictates staffing minimums at hospitals, ranging from one nurse for every three patients to one nurse for every five patients, depending on the level of care the patients require. Research has shown that clinical errors can increase in hospitals and other health care workplaces when nurses are stressed and overwhelmed. Studies indicate that burnout related to work overload, career satisfaction, and patient satisfaction is a major concern and can lead to mistakes.

The state has issued 32 citations to California hospitals since 2020 for violating these minimum nurse staffing levels, financial penalties totaling $840,000, according to the state Department of Public Health. Neither Hazel Hawkins nor the Turlock hospital Emanuel had any citations. Spokesperson Mark Smith said the agency could not provide information on any "potential, pending or ongoing investigations" into health care facilities alleged to be in violation of state nursing ratios.

Burkett, the nurse in Turlock, said though she can see up to five patients at a time, she exceeded her ratio twice in the past year. In its latest quarterly financial filing, Tenet reported $288 million in net income, up from $259 million over the same period last year.

"I've taken that assignment against my will," Burkett said, noting that the union distributes forms protecting nurses from repercussions if mistakes happen on their watch when they take on more patients than the state allows. "It says I'm taking these patients against my better judgment and I'm protected because I am not agreeing to this, but the hospital is making me do it," she added. "It's tough. I mean, you just have to juggle and do what you can and hope you're not going to miss something important. It's not safe."

State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, a Democrat representing part of the Los Angeles region, has legislation on Newsom's desk to strengthen the state's nurse-to-patient ratio law by requiring hospitals to work harder to identify available nurses to meet staffing mandates.

"Hospitals for years have been getting a pass on minimum nurse staffing," said Menjivar, a former emergency medical technician. "If we do not provide more support to our nurses, then we do not get the quality care that is needed."

Menjivar's niece Megan Noguera-DeLeon is excited about becoming a nurse, despite workplace challenges. A nursing student who expects to graduate next year from West Coast University in Southern California, she said relatives who work as nurses have warned her how tough the job can be. She's worried about burning out but remains committed to the mission.

"I think taking care of people is a beautiful thing," Noguera-DeLeon said. "I know this job can be really hard and a lot of nurses are experiencing burnout, but honestly I've seen firsthand how much nurses can help people even on the darkest of days, and I want to help people."

This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation.
Scientists at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and their collaborators are exploring emerging trends in cancer immunotherapy, with back-to-back review articles published in Nature Cancer and Trends in Cancer that look at how nanotechnology could reprogram the immune system and help overcome tumors' defenses.

Both papers highlight how nanoengineering strategies are emerging as powerful tools to address limitations of current immunotherapies, particularly in treating solid tumors.

Our immune system has remarkable potential to fight cancer, but tumors develop ways to suppress or evade these defenses. By integrating nanotechnology with immunology, we are exploring new possibilities for designing therapies that are more precise and effective." DaeYong Lee, assistant professor with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute

The review articles synthesize emerging insights from across the field. Lee and his colleagues integrate research from multiple laboratories and approaches to define where nanomedicine and immunotherapy intersect today, setting the stage for innovation and potential breakthroughs.

The Nature Cancer review article, first author Lee, in partnership with corresponding authors Wen Jiang and Betty Y.S. Kim of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, outlines how nanotechnology can:

Enhance drug delivery, ensuring therapies reach tumor sites.

Reprogram the tumor microenvironment, making cancers more responsive to treatment.

Work with emerging approaches such as mRNA vaccines and engineered immune cells to expand their reach.

The Trends in Cancer article, co-authored by corresponding researcher Lee and colleagues with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, focuses on phagocytosis - the process by which immune cells engulf and eliminate tumor cells. The review outlines strategies by which nanomedicines may help restore this natural defense, including efforts to:

Block signals displayed on the surface of cancer cells that allow them to evade destruction by the immune system.

Engineer macrophages with chimeric antigen receptors (CARMs) to better identify and destroy solid tumors.

Strengthen recognition signals on tumor cells - molecular cues that mark them for attack by immune cells.

By integrating key advances from multiple laboratories and disciplines, Lee and his collaborators provide a framework for understanding how nanomedicine can transform cancer immunotherapy, a step toward next-generation patient treatments.

"The challenge now is translating these discoveries into therapies that are safe, effective, and accessible for patients," said Lee, who is also a faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics at Virginia Tech. "That's the goal we're working towards."

These works were supported by the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society, the American Brain Tumor Association, the Radiological Society of North America, the Red Gates Foundation, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, Virginia Tech's Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS), the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, and Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump predicted that Canadians will travel to the United States once again after a trade deal is reached.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office while meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday that he understands why many Canadians are refusing to visit.

Trumps talk of making Canada the 51st state to avoid tariffs has infuriated Canadians, who are canceling trip s to the U.S. in big numbers. Theres been a 23% drop in Canadian visits to the U.S. in the first seven months of the year versus the same period in 2024, according to Canadas national statistical office.

I understand that. Look, I understand that, Trump said before predicting Canada and the U.S. would ultimately reach a deal.

Its something that will get worked out. Theres still great love between the two countries but you know American people want product here, they want to make it here, Trump said. We are competing for the same business. Thats the problem. Thats why I keep mentioning one way to solve that problem. Theres a very easy way.

Trump has often said that Canada could avoid tariffs by becoming the 51st state. The repeated jabs about the U.S. acquiring Canada have alienated Canadian travelers.

The people of Canada, they will love us again, Trump said. Most of them still do. If you say only 25%. I assume a lot of them. I think they love us.

Its not bad. Theyll come back, Carney told Trump.

Carney made his second visit to the Oval Office ahead of next years review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and as one of the worlds most durable and amicable alliances has been fractured by Trumps trade war and annexation threats.

Trump said he was open to extending the free trade agreement with Mexico and Canada through a renegotiation or seeking different deals.

The free trade agreement was enacted during Trumps first term, and it allows the majority of Canadian and Mexican goods to be shipped to the U.S. without tariffs. But Trump has made it clear since returning to office that he wants to reshape the relationship, and he expressed ambivalence over the process as long as he feels like hes able to improve Americas position.

We could renegotiate it, and that would be good, or we can just do different deals, he said. Were allowed to do different deals if we want. We might make deals that are better for the individual countries.

Carney entered the visit hoping to find some relief on sector-specific tariffs. Trump has some sector-specific tariffs on Canada, known as Section 232 tariffs, that are having an impact. There are 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, for example.
Blood vessels are more than just pathways for oxygen and nutrients; they also host communicative processes that guide brain development and sustain its function. These vascular-neuronal interfaces are at the core of new research led by Prof. Amparo Acker-Palmer, which will receive 1.25 million as a German Research Foundation (DFG) Koselleck Project.

Within blood vessels, specialized endothelial cells, which form the inner lining of all vessels, exchange signals with neurons and glial cells that decisively influence the formation of brain circuits and the development of brain architecture. Disruptions to this exchange can result in developmental disorders or neurodegeneration. In her newly approved, DFG-funded Koselleck Project, Prof. Amparo Acker-Palmer aims to explore the hidden functions of vascular-neuronal interfaces. Using cutting-edge imaging techniques, molecular profiling, and genetic models, she seeks to uncover where and how endothelial cells interact with neurons and other brain cells, as well as the principles by which these interactions shape brain connectivity and structure. A particular focus is on the cerebellum, which plays a key role in movement and certain cognitive processes, and on the role of blood vessels in brain folding, a process that diversifies and enhances brain functions. Defects in brain folding can lead to neurological disorders, including intellectual disabilities, epilepsy, and motor impairments.

"By bringing together vascular biology and neurosciences, we are opening a new chapter in neurovascular research. Understanding how blood vessels regulate brain development is crucial not only for fundamental biology but also for developing new therapeutic strategies to address diseases caused by disrupted communication between vessels and neurons," says Professor Acker-Palmer, adding that the study has the potential to revolutionize neurovascular biology and unlock previously unknown therapies. Acker-Palmer holds the professorship for Molecular Neurobiology at Goethe University Frankfurt and is internationally recognized for her groundbreaking research on neurovascular communication. Her work has earned her several prestigious awards, including an ERC Advanced Grant.



Acker-Palmer's lab is distinguished by its collaborative and interdisciplinary approach, bringing together vascular biologists and neuroscientists to ensure seamless knowledge exchange, innovation, and discovery. According to the neurobiologist, this creates an ideal environment for tackling the ambitious project. The project aligns well with the overarching goals of the German Research Foundation's (DFG) Koselleck Program, which aims to support visionary, high-risk research with the potential to open entirely new scientific fields.

The Reinhart Koselleck funding line, awarded since 2008, is named after Reinhart Koselleck (1923-2006), one of the most important German historians of the 20th century and a co-founder of modern social history. Reinhart Koselleck Projects are awarded to "researchers distinguished by outstanding scientific achievements." The prerequisites for approval are particularly innovative research approaches and a certain degree of risk.
Telangana CM Revanth Reddy holds key meeting on BC reservation

Last Updated: October 08, 2025, 05:15 IST

Representational image (Image: News18)

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], October 8 (ANI): Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Tuesday held a crucial meeting at his residence to discuss the Backwards Classes (BC) reservation issue, the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) said. The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, State Congress in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, PCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud, Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Vakiti Srihari, and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy.The meeting focused on discussing the strategy and arguments to be presented in the High Court tomorrow, where the BC Reservation case will be heard.Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka informed that the Supreme Court had dismissed the petition filed by Gopal Reddy opposing the state governments decision to enhance the OBC quota to 42% in local bodies.Vikramarka said that the Telangana government advocates presented all the facts in the Supreme Court, following which Gopal Reddys petition was dismissed.In the Supreme Court, our senior advocates brought all things to the courts notice, and the court dismissed the case in favour of the state of Telangana," Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka told ANI.Meanwhile, Telangana Backwards Class Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said that the Telangana government took the decision to enhance the 42 % OBC quota after a careful survey and mentioned that they have the support of all the political parties."We appeared in the Supreme Court today. We hope there will be a positive outcome in our case The Telangana government took this decision after a careful survey, and support of all political parties is there," Prabhakar said.Earlier today, Prabhakar stated that the decision was taken after a survey, following which cabinet approval was sought. A bill was drafted after it was tabled in the assembly.He stated that the bill was made into an Act by the government, after which it was sent to the governor, and subsequently to President Droupadi Murmu. He said that the matter has been pending with the president for five months.After the survey, we obtained cabinet approval, then tabled it in the House, and then drafted a bill. We made it into an Act and sent it to the Governor. The Governor sent it to the President. Its been four or five months now All of this is pending with the Governor or the President. We have conducted a caste survey. All political parties passed it unanimously in the Assembly," he said.The Telangana Minister mentioned that as the matter is pending with the President, a case was filed against the OBC reservation in the High Court, whose hearing was postponed to October 8. He noted that a petition has also been filed in the Supreme Court, despite the matter being pending in the High Court.Some individuals filed a case in the High Court to stop this. The hearing took place in the High Court and was postponed to the 8th. While the case remains there, some are trying to work against it by knocking on the doors of the Supreme CourtWe will get justice in the Supreme Court and High Court, and we are hopeful that elections will be held with 42% reservation," he said. On September 26, the Telangana Government ordered the provision of 42 per cent reservation of seats and positions in local bodies for Backwards Classes in the State, the Chief Ministers office said in a press release.In a letter dated September 26, the Telangana Chief Ministers office said, The State of Telangana, which came into existence on 2nd June, 2014, was the outcome of a prolonged and determined struggle of people of Telangana to achieve the aspirations of its people. One of the cherished goals of the movement was the need for inclusive growth and equitable development, particularly of the marginalised communities."In accordance with the Constitutional mandate of equality and social justice, the State of Telangana recognises the significant population of Backwards Classes (BCs) and is committed to promoting their welfare, inclusion, and equitable development. (ANI)

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First Published: October 08, 2025, 05:15 IST

News agency-feeds Telangana CM Revanth Reddy holds key meeting on BC reservation

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Aaj Ka Panchang, October 8, 2025: Tithi, Vrat, Shubh Muhurat & Rahu Kaal Today

Written By :

GaneshaGrace

Last Updated: October 08, 2025, 05:00 IST

Aaj Ka Panchang, October 8, 2025: Get accurate details on todays Hindu calendar including tithi, vrat, nakshatra, yoga, sunrise/sunset timings, and shubh and ashubh muhurat.

Aaj Ka Panchang, October 8, 2025: Tithi, Muhurat and Rahu Kaal. (AI generated image)

Aaj Ka Panchang, October 8, 2025: Today is the Dwitiya Tithi of Krishna Paksha, which is considered suitable for planning auspicious works and beginning spiritual practices. It is beneficial to do works that promote peace, balance, and harmony on Dwitiya Tithi. Todays Nakshatra is Ashwini, which is associated with energy, movement, and new beginnings. Work done in Ashwini Nakshatra brings rapid success, especially in efforts related to health, medicine, travel, vehicles, and any initial work.

The Moon is in Aries today, which increases self-confidence, courage, and the ability to make quick decisions. The Moon in Aries provides enthusiasm and self-confidence, but it is also necessary to avoid being too impulsive.

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Harshan Yoga will remain till 01:32:11 pm, which provides happiness, victory, and spiritual satisfaction in life. This Yoga is considered extremely auspicious, especially for celebrations, marriage proposals, spiritual practices, and creative works.

October 8 is a day favorable for energy and new beginnings. With the presence of the Moon in Aries and the influence of Ashwini Nakshatra, this day is good for new endeavors related to travel, health treatment, sports, competition, job, or business.

Due to Harshan Yoga, there will be an atmosphere of happiness and favorability during the day. If any work is pending for a long time, then today is the best opportunity to start it. Maintain balance in mind, body, and soul, and give a positive direction to the day.

Tithi: Krishna Dwitiya

Nakshatra: Ashwini

Karana: Gara

Paksha: Krishna-Paksha

Yoga: Harshan till 01:32:11 AM

Day: Wednesday

Sun & Moon Calculations

Sun Rise: 06:34:41 AM

Sun Set: 06:21:40 PM

Moon Rise: 07:09:11 PM

Moon Set: 07:35:18 AM

Moon Sign: Aries

Ritu: Sharad

Hindu Month & Year

Shaka Samvat: 1947

Vikram Samvat: 2082

Month Amanta: Ashwin

Month Purnimanta: Ashwin

Inauspicious Timings (Ashubh Muhurat)

Rahu Kaal: 12:28:11 PM to 01:56:33 PM

Yamaganda: 08:03:04 AM to 09:31:26 AM

Gulika Kaal: 10:59:48 AM to 12:28:11 PM

Auspicious Timings (Shubh Muhurat)

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Abhijit: 12:05:00 PM to 12:51:00 PM

(The author Chirag Daruwalla is the son of Astrologer Bejan Daruwalla).

About the Author Chirag Daruwalla Chirag Daruwalla, a renowned Indian astrologer with 18+ years of experience, provides expert guidance in career, health, finance, business, and more. He combines Vedic and Western astrology, I-Ching, ... Read More

First Published: October 08, 2025, 05:00 IST

News astrology Aaj Ka Panchang, October 8, 2025: Tithi, Vrat, Shubh Muhurat & Rahu Kaal Today

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Noel Tata, N Chandrasekaran Hold High-Level Talks With Amit Shah, Sitharaman Over Tata Trusts Rift

Curated By :

News18.com Edited By: Aparna Deb



Last Updated: October 08, 2025, 07:54 IST

The meeting comes as the government steps in to monitor the rift among the trustees of Tata Trusts, which controls 66% of Tata Sons

Tata

Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata and Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Tuesday evening, amid escalating tensions within the Tata Trusts over governance and board appointments.

According to PTI, they were accompanied by Tata Trusts Vice Chairman Venu Srinivasan and trustee Darius Khambata for the meeting at Shahs residence. Finance Minister Sitharaman also joined the discussions.

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The meeting comes as the government steps in to monitor the rift among the trustees of Tata Trusts, which controls 66% of Tata Sons, the holding company of the $180-billion Tata Group. A source told CNBC-TV18 that the government cannot be a mute spectator" to the situation, given its potential implications for Tata Sons functioning and the broader economy.

CNBC-TV18 reported that four trustees  Darius Khambata, Jehangir HC Jehangir, Pramit Jhaveri, and Mehli Mistry  have demanded a greater say in oversight decisions, including approving independent directors chosen by Tata Sons Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC). They have also reportedly sought access to Tata Sons board meeting minutes, which some insiders view as infringing on the autonomy of the holding company.

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There is a need to clearly define the roles of Tata Trusts and Tata Sons. Tata Trusts must work in harmony with Tata Sons, and trustees cannot undermine the leadership of Noel Tata," a source told CNBC-TV18.

The tensions are expected to take centre stage at the Tata Trusts board meeting scheduled for October 10. According to reports, the discord has deepened since Noel Tata succeeded Ratan Tata as Chairman on October 11, 2024, largely over how the Trusts exercise control over Tata Sons and the flow of information from its nominee directors on the Tata Sons board.

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First Published: October 08, 2025, 07:51 IST

News business markets Noel Tata, N Chandrasekaran Hold High-Level Talks With Amit Shah, Sitharaman Over Tata Trusts Rift

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After Virtual Calls, TVK Chief Vijay Seeks Permission To Visit Karur, Meet Families Of Stampede Victims

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: October 08, 2025, 10:18 IST

In an email to the Tamil Nadu DGP, TVK chief Vijay has sought permission to visit Karur to personally convey his condolences to the families of the stampede victims.

Footwear and other belongings of people lie on a road in the aftermath of stampede during a rally of TVK chief Vijay (Photo/PTI)

Hours after actor-politician Vijay reached out to the families of the Karur stampede victims through WhatsApp video calls, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party chief has now sought permission to visit Karur.

In an email to the Tamil Nadu Director General of Police (DGP), Vijay mentioned that he wished to extend his condolences to the families of those killed in the tragedy, in person.

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On Tuesday, Vijay, interacting with the affected families virtually, had assured them of his support.

The TVK chief has been facing flak from certain sections for not visiting the affected families in person.

Speaking to one of the families, Vijay consoled a mother, saying, I am like your son".

Earlier, news agency PTI had quoted sources as saying that it was not clear if Vijay would visit Karur. However, there were reports that he had asked the party members to reach out to the affected families.

The stampede in Karur on September 27, during Vijays political rally, killed 41 people and injured over 60.

Later, the police noted that the rally saw a turnout of 27,000, nearly three times the expected 10,000 participants.

Police also blamed a seven-hour delay by Vijay in reaching the venue for the tragedy.

On October 3, the Madras High Court formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.

VIJAY SEEKS INDEPENDENT PROBE IN THE KARUR TRAGEDY

On Tuesday, Vijay filed a plea in the Supreme Court, seeking an impartial investigation led by a former top-court judge into the Karur stampede.

The plea, filed through advocates Dixita Gohil, Pranjal Agarwal, and Yash S Vijay, has challenged the Madras High Courts October 3 order constituting an SIT to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

On October 10, the Supreme Court will hear a plea challenging the Madras High Court order refusing a CBI probe into the Karur stampede.

A bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran took note of the appeal of BJP leader Uma Anandan, who sought a CBI probe into the stampede.

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ALSO READ | Time to Apologise, Accept Mistake: Kamal Haasan Meets Families Of Karur Stampede Victims

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: October 08, 2025, 07:32 IST

News india After Virtual Calls, TVK Chief Vijay Seeks Permission To Visit Karur, Meet Families Of Stampede Victims

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Indian Air Force Day 2025: History, Quotes, Significance And IAF-Inspired Films

Written By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: October 08, 2025, 06:05 IST

Indian Air Force Day honours the dedication of IAF personnel and celebrates the forces technological advancements in safeguarding Indias airspace and responding to crises.

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Several films are based on the Indian Air Forces heroic missions and legacy. (File pics)

Indian Air Force Day is observed annually on October 8, commemorating the establishment of one of the nations most respected armed forces organisations. Founded in 1932, the Indian Air Force plays a vital role in securing the countrys airspace and protecting Indias national and humanitarian interests against all threats.

The day serves as a tribute to the unwavering dedication and passion of IAF personnel, while also highlighting the many technological advancements achieved over the years.

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ALSO READ: Indian Air Force Day Celebrations Return To Hindon Airbase This Year After Op Sindoors Success

These timely upgrades have greatly improved the IAFs ability to safeguard Indias airspace and surrounding regions, as well as to respond effectively to various disaster relief challenges.

Indian Air Force Day: History and Significance

Launched as an auxiliary force under British rule on October 8, 1932, the Indian Air Force was originally named the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF). The RIAFs maiden operational flight took off on April 1, 1933, carrying six RAF-trained officers and 19 Havai Sepoys.

Celebrating 93 glorious years of valour, excellence and dedication of #IAF.As part of the celebrations leading up to 8th Oct, a special promo video is released.Come join us in this incredible journey.Indian Air Force: Infallible, Impervious and Precise #93rdAnniversary pic.twitter.com/F1IiM2QE5k  Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) October 3, 2025

The RIAF made significant contributions during World War II and earned its Royal prefix in 1945 for its service. When India gained independence on August 15, 1947, after 200 years of British colonial rule, and became a republic in 1950, the prefix was officially removed, and the force was formally established as the Indian Air Force.

The IAF has a proud history of playing a major role in some of Indias most critical conflicts. These include the Indo-Pak wars of 1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999, as well as the 1962 Sino-Indian War. The force also took part in significant operations such as Operation Poomalai in 1987 and Operation Safed Sagar during the Kargil war in 1999.

Indian Air Force Day: Quotes

Aim high, fly high, and never stop reaching for the skies. Happy Air Force Day!"

Strength, honor, and bravery define our Air Force. Saluting the guardians of the sky on this special day."

With wings of determination, our Air Force soars to protect and serve. Happy Air Force Day!"

The wings of our nations defense  our Air Force. Happy Air Force Day to the fearless protectors!"

In the blue skies, we find freedom. In the Air Force, we find heroes."

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5 Films Based On The Indian Air Force

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl: The film is based on the life of Indian Air Force pilot Gunjan Saxena, who became the first Indian female combat pilot in the Kargil War of 1999. Fighter: It is based on the IAFs heroic contributions in the 2019 military conflict between India and Pakistan following the Pulwama attack on Indian armed forces. The film depicts the execution of Balakot airstrike on suspected terrorist camps in Pakistan. Bhuj: The Pride of India: Another film based on IAFs incredible work, Bhuj: The Pride of India is based on the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. It highlights the story of former Indian Air Force Squadron Leader Vijay Karnik, who was in charge of the Bhuj Air Force Base when 300 local women of Madhapar Village helped reconstruct the landing strip of the base within 72 hours. Rang De Basanti: The iconic film is based on a carefree group of college students, who experience a strong patriotic awakening after their Indian Air Force pilot friend dies in a plane crash, exposing the corruption behind the scenes. Operation Valentine: It is another movie based on the 2019 Pulwama attacks and the retaliatory Balakot Air Strikes carried out by the Indian Air Force.

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: October 08, 2025, 06:05 IST

News lifestyle Indian Air Force Day 2025: History, Quotes, Significance And IAF-Inspired Films
With Bihar Polls Next Month, Why Mukesh Sahani Shouldnt Expect VIP Treatment From Mahagathbandhan

Last Updated: October 08, 2025, 08:00 IST

Sahani initially demanded 60 seats but now claims he will settle for a little over 30. He also says he will be deputy CM and that this has been decided

What goes in Sahanis favour is that he claims to represent 14% of the population of Bihar, comprising fishermen or boatmen. File pic/PTI

He wants 30-plus seats, the post of deputy chief minister, and samman" because he is the son of Mallah (fisherman)". Meet Mukesh Sahani of the Vikasheel Insaan Party (VIP) in Bihar. Once a Bollywood set designer, he is proving to be the biggest headache for the opposition alliance, or Mahagathbandhan, acting like a VIP".

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In 2020, Sahani had walked out dramatically from a press conference being held by Tejashwi Yadav to announce seat distribution, as he was unhappy with the number promised to him. Sahani said he had been backstabbed. He jumped over to the NDA then and won four seats out of the 11 given to him. This was also VIPs electoral debut. Sahani was even made a minister in the state government by the NDA.

Come 2024, Sahani was back in the opposition alliance. He was spotted during the recent Voter Adhikar Yatra" in Bihar, featuring prominently at times with Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav. He claims it is his party that got the maximum crowds for the yatra.

He initially demanded 60 seats from the Mahagathbandhan, but now claims he will settle for a little over 30. Sahani also says he will be deputy chief minister and that this has been decided".

However, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) camp is not confirming any of these claims.

What goes in Sahanis favour is that he claims to represent 14% of the population of Bihar, comprising fishermen or boatmen. That is why the BJP courted him as a campaigner in the 2015 elections, before he formed his party, VIP, in 2018, and jumped ship to the opposition alliance ahead of the 2020 polls. However, he was back in the NDA by the time these polls were held.

Come 2024, he was again back in the Mahagathbandhan, allying with the same RJD and the Congress, whom he had earlier blamed for backstabbing him.

So, will Sahani walk out again dramatically if he is denied at least 30 seats and a deputy CM post? Chances are, he wont be getting both, as the Congress, a national party, also has its eyes on the deputy CM chair if the alliance wins.

The opposition alliance also needs to accommodate the Left parties in a big way since they have the best strike rate in the state, both in the 2020 assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. At best, RJD may be in a position to give Sahani a dozen-odd seats.

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So Mukesh Sahani may not get any VIP" privileges this time.

About the Author Aman Sharma Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Minister... Read More

First Published: October 08, 2025, 08:00 IST

News politics With Bihar Polls Next Month, Why Mukesh Sahani Shouldnt Expect VIP Treatment From Mahagathbandhan

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All Stranded Hikers Caught In Blizzard On Tibetan Slopes Of Mt Everest Rescued

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Last Updated: October 08, 2025, 08:26 IST

About a dozen hikers were escorted to a meeting point with the help of local teams carrying food, medicine, heating and oxygen supplies.

Hundreds of hikers who were caught in a deadly blizzard on the Tibetan slopes of Mount Everest have been rescued. (Representative/AP)

Hundreds of hikers who were caught in a deadly blizzard on the Tibetan slopes of Mount Everest since Saturday have been rescued safely on Tuesday. Earlier official media reports stated that one hiker had died.

All hikers and local hiking service personnel stranded by heavy snowfall in Dingri County, Xigaze City in southwest Tibet Autonomous Region, have reached safety, according to the local government.

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A total of 580 hikers and more than 300 personnel, including local guides and yak herders, have arrived safely in Qudeng Township and nearby areas, where local staff are organising their return journeys in an orderly manner, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted local government statement.

About a dozen hikers were escorted to a meeting point with the help of local teams carrying food, medicine, heating and oxygen supplies, the Xinhua report said.

The hikers were stranded after heavy snowfall began to hit Dingri on Saturday evening. Following this, it affected the hikers along mountain trails near Qudeng.

The county government mobilised emergency teams to coordinate communication and relief efforts in the affected area.

Dingri County on Sunday announced that several scenic areas, including the Mount Everest called Qomolangma in China scenic area, were temporarily closed due to heavy snowfall.

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China is currently shut down for an eight-day holiday from October 1 onwards to celebrate the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival.

(With agency inputs)

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, ... Read More

Location : China

First Published: October 08, 2025, 08:02 IST

News world All Stranded Hikers Caught In Blizzard On Tibetan Slopes Of Mt Everest Rescued

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Da Nang D*** Lied For 20 Years: Democrat Senator Blumenthal Becomes Trumps Latest Target

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Last Updated: October 08, 2025, 07:38 IST

Donald Trump reignites his feud with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, accusing him of fabricating his Vietnam War service record and calling for an investigation.

U.S. President Donald Trump (Left) Democrat Senator Blumenthal (Right)

Controversy once again surrounds U.S. President Donald Trump, who has reignited his long-running feud with Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. In a scathing post on Truth Social, Trump labelled Blumenthal Da Nang Dick" and accused him of being perhaps the biggest joke in the United States Senate".

Trump, known for his unfiltered style, launched into a tirade accusing Blumenthal of lying about his military service during the Vietnam War. Sanctimonious Richard Da Nang Dick Blumenthal convinced everyone that he was a great war hero," Trump wrote, adding that Blumenthal had lied for 20 years" about his role in Vietnam.

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He went on to allege that Blumenthal was exposed as a fraud" when soldiers from his supposed platoon denied knowing him. He broke down, tears flowing from his eyes, and admitted he lied," Trump claimed, calling for an investigation into the senators past statements.

Who is Richard Blumenthal?

Richard Blumenthal, a prominent Democrat, has served as United States Senator from Connecticut since 2011 and is currently in his third term. Before joining the Senate, he was the Attorney General of Connecticut for two decades, the longest tenure in the states history.

Known for his focus on consumer protection, gun control, veterans affairs, and environmental policy, Blumenthal is regarded as a consistent liberal voice in the Senate. He currently serves on key committees, including Judiciary, Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs.

However, his career has not been without controversy. In 2010, Blumenthal admitted he had misspoken" about serving in Vietnam. He clarified that while he served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve during the war, he had never been deployed to Vietnam. Though he apologised publicly, the episode has since provided ammunition for his political opponents, especially Trump.

Sanctimonious Richard Da Nang Dick" Blumenthal, perhaps the biggest joke" in the United States Senate, is at it again! Dick" lied until the midpoint of his political career, convincing everyone, in particular the Fake News Media, that he was a great War Hero" who lived on the Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) October 8, 2025

Why Trump calls him Da Nang Dick"?

Trumps mocking nickname Da Nang Dick" refers to Da Nang, a key military base in Vietnam, and alludes to Blumenthals past misstatements about his service. Trump has repeatedly used the insult to question the senators integrity, portraying him as dishonest and hypocritical.

The feud between the two men has spanned years. Blumenthal has been a fierce critic of Trumps presidency, supporting legal challenges against him and frequently condemning his policies. Trumps latest outburst appears to be a continuation of that animosity, timed alongside renewed political sparring within the Republican and Democratic camps.

Pam Bondi-Blumenthal clash

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The controversy deepened this week after Attorney General Pam Bondi clashed with Blumenthal during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Bondi accused him of lying" about his military service after he questioned her about potential lobbying links involving her former firm, Ballard Partners. How dare you? Dont you ever challenge my integrity," Bondi retorted.

Blumenthal, maintaining his composure, did not respond directly to her personal attack. The exchange reignited debate over the senators past remarks and Trumps continued use of them as political fodder.

About the Author Shuddhanta Patra Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior SubEditor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: October 08, 2025, 07:38 IST

News world Da Nang D*** Lied For 20 Years: Democrat Senator Blumenthal Becomes Trumps Latest Target

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Merger Of Canada With US: Trump Jokes With Mark Carney At White House | Watch

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Last Updated: October 08, 2025, 08:26 IST

Donald Trump joked that Canada could become Americas 51st state during his meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is greeted by President Donald Trump as he arrives at the West Wing of the White House (Photo/AP)

Canada could be the 51st state of America, Donald Trump jested with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during their bilateral meeting at the White House on Tuesday.

Carney made his second visit to the Oval Office ahead of next years review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and as one of the worlds most durable and amicable alliances has been fractured by Trumps trade war and annexation threats.

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The US Presidents remark on the US-Canada merger came as Carney called Trump a transformative President" and even claimed he mediated in the India-Pakistan four-day conflict.

As Carney was showering these praises on Trump, and highlighted the agenda for their discussion, This is, in many respects, the most important"

Trump butted in, The merger of Canada and the United States!"

Carney laughed along and quipped, That wasnt where I was going".

 Funniest. President. EVER.CANADA PM CARNEY: and, the most important thing PRESIDENT TRUMP: the MERGER of CANADA and the United States! " *Everyone bursts into laughing* CARNEY: That wasnt where I was going! " How cant you love him?! pic.twitter.com/97A6JwALKL  Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 7, 2025

When the two leaders had earlier met in May, Carney had bluntly told Trump that Canada would never be for sale, in response to Trumps repeated threats to purchase or annex Canada.

WHAT TRUMP SAID ON US-CANADA TIES, GAZA NEGOTIATIONS

At the White House on Tuesday, Trump said that while the two nations have had their differences, they can work them out.

Weve had some natural conflict, but well probably work that out. Weve had a strong relationship, and your hosting of the various countries that showed up was a beautiful job you did, and I appreciate it very much," Trump said.

Were going to be talking about trade. Were going to be talking about different things. Well certainly be talking about Gaza," the US President added.

Speaking further on Gaza, Trump said, Were in serious negotiations to a conflict, you could say 3,000 years, but its been raging for a long time, and theres a possibility we could have peace in the Middle East. Something beyond the Gaza situation. We want to release the hostages."

Trump further said that the whole world approved of his plan. So our team is over there now. Another team just left, and every country in the world has supported the plan. I dont think theres anybody that hasnt approved that Ive seen," Trump said, hinting at potential deals between the US and Canada.

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ALSO READ | Canadian PM Mark Carney Meets Donald Trump In Bid To Ease US Tariffs

About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

First Published: October 08, 2025, 06:57 IST

News world Merger Of Canada With US: Trump Jokes With Mark Carney At White House | Watch

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House Speaker Mike Johnson excoriated Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and blamed the government shutdown on Schumers fears of race-leading New York City Democratic nominee for mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Johnson and the rest of Republican leadership spoke to reporters for the third consecutive day as the government shutdown entered the weeklong mark. Johnson rattled off a series of headlines from various states with Democratic senators about how airlines face numerous challenges, food banks see increased use and national parks will be closed.

I could do this all day, Johnson told reporters, near-echoing the I can do this all day line famously uttered by Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, in multiple Marvel superhero movies.

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There is one sad and inescapable fact that no one can forget here: This shutdown is nothing more than political cover for Chuck Schumer and the Democrats, Johnson told reporters. The Marxists are about to elect a mayor in New York City. That's Chuck Schumer state. He's terrified that he's going to get a challenge from his far left.

As of right now, Schumer, who is Jewish and a staunch defender of Israel, has yet to endorse Mamdani, who has sharply criticized the Israeli government for its response after the October 7 attack. Johnson and President Donald Trump have taken to labeling the Democratic leader as Shutdown Schumer the past week in a bid to blame the government stalemate on him.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) has continued to blame Democrats for the government shutdown. (Getty Images)

Schumer also faced criticism in March when he joined Republicans to pass a stopgap spending measure known as a continuing resolution that the Republican-controlled House passed with little to no Democratic input.

That prompted calls for Schumer, who is not up for re-election until 2028, to face a primary challenge from a left-wing Democrat such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

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So they picked a fight on something that's not even related at all to the shutdown and the funding that we should have gotten done by the end of September, Johnson said at his press conference. We just need a stop gap measure to give us a little more time to get the job of Congress done.

But this time around, Democrats have largely united to oppose a continuing resolution that would keep the government open in hopes that they can get Republicans to extend Covid-era enhanced tax credits for the Affordable Care Acts health insurance marketplaces.

Many state-run exchanges have sent notices that say premiums will double if the extensions are not extended.

Johnsons fellow Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia also criticized Johnson and the rest of House Republican leadership for not having a plan to extend the tax credits, saying she is absolutely disgusted that premiums would double.

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In addition, some Republicans fear that federal workers who are furloughed would not receive back pay, even though President Donald Trump signed legislation in 2019 to ensure they would receive back pay.

Federal workers, it's my understanding that the law is that they would be paid and thats my position, he said. They should not be subjected to harm and financial dire straits because Chuck Schumer wants to play political games.
Myanmar Military Drops Bombs At Festival Protest, 40 Killed: Witnesses

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Last Updated: October 08, 2025, 05:16 IST

A military strike killed over 40 people, including children, during the Thadingyut festival in Myanmar, prompting Amnesty International to urge urgent protection for civilians

The military dropped bombs on Monday evening when hundreds of people gathered in central Myanmar's Chaung U township for the Thadingyut full moon festival. (Image/AP)

A military strike during a festival event in Myanmar killed 40 people, including children, AFP reported.

The military dropped bombs on Monday evening when hundreds of people gathered in central Myanmars Chaung U township for the Thadingyut full moon festival.

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AFP quoted a woman, who requested anonymity for security reasons, as saying people were gathering for the festival and an anti-junta demonstration at around 7 pm when the bombs killed more than 40 people and wounded about 80 others.

The committee alerted people and one-third of the crowd managed to flee. But immediately, one motor-powered paraglider flew right over the crowd. Children were completely torn apart," she said.

As of this morning, we were still collecting body parts from the ground  pieces of flesh, limbs, parts of bodies that were blown apart," she added.

Another witness said: While I was saying to people please dont run, the paramotor dropped two bombs. Two of my comrades were killed just in front of me. There were even more who died in front of me."

He added that he attended funerals on Tuesday for nine friends who were killed.

Following the incident, human rights watchdog Amnesty International said in a statement that the nighttime attack should serve as a gruesome wake-up call that civilians in Myanmar need urgent protection".

It further said the attack showed the military was intensifying an already brutal campaign against pockets of resistance".

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The international community may have forgotten about the conflict in Myanmar, but the Myanmar military is taking advantage of reduced scrutiny to carry out war crimes with impunity," said Joe Freeman, Amnestys Myanmar researcher.

AFP quoted him as urging Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc to increase pressure on the Myanmar junta as ASEAN officials prepare for a meeting later this month.

Location : Myanmar (Burma)

First Published: October 08, 2025, 05:16 IST

News world Myanmar Military Drops Bombs At Festival Protest, 40 Killed: Witnesses

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Unacceptable: India Sides With Taliban, Pakistan, China & Russia Against Trumps Bagram Air Base Bid

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Last Updated: October 08, 2025, 11:19 IST

Trump has repeatedly called for Afghanistans Taliban rulers to hand over Bagram, nearly five years after a 2020 deal paved the way for the U.S. withdrawal from Kabul.

The Taliban leadership unanimously rejected any possibility of handing over the Bagram Air Base to American forces. (AFP)

India has now aligned with the Taliban, Pakistan, China, and Russia in opposing the U.S. President Donald Trumps bid to regain control of the Bagram air base in Afghanistan. The announcement comes days ahead of the scheduled visit of Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi to New Delhi, a historic first for a senior Taliban diplomat.

What the countries said?

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The seventh meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan took place in Moscow, attended by special representatives and senior officials from Afghanistan, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, with Belarus present as a guest.

A joint statement issued by the participants said, They called unacceptable the attempts by countries to deploy their military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighbouring states, since this does not serve the interests of regional peace and stability." While Bagram was not explicitly named, the message was widely seen as directed at Trumps demand.

The statement also noted that the Afghan delegation, led by Muttaqi, participated in the consultation for the first time as a full member.

Trump demands Bagram, Taliban rejects

Trump has repeatedly called for Afghanistans Taliban rulers to hand over Bagram, nearly five years after a 2020 deal paved the way for the U.S. withdrawal from Kabul. At a press conference with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on 18 September, he stated, We gave it to [the Taliban] for nothing. We want that base back." Two days later, he warned on Truth Social, If Afghanistan doesnt give Bagram air base back to those that built it, the United States of America, bad things are going to happen!"

The Taliban, however, have firmly rejected the request. Chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, Afghans will never allow their land to be handed over to anyone under any circumstances."

Why Trump wants Bagram?

The Bagram air base, located about 50 km from Kabul, is Afghanistans largest military airfield, featuring two concrete runways of 3 km and 3.6 km. Its strategic location and infrastructure make it a key stronghold for controlling Afghan airspace, particularly in the countrys rugged terrain. Bagram played a central role in the U.S.-led war on terror" after 2001.

The Moscow Format statement reaffirmed support for an independent, united, and peaceful Afghanistan, emphasising counter-terrorism cooperation at bilateral and multilateral levels. Participants urged comprehensive measures to eliminate terrorism and prevent Afghan soil from being used as a regional or global security threat, a reference that reflects Indias concerns regarding Pakistan.

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The statement also highlighted economic cooperation, humanitarian support, and regional connectivity, signalling Indias interest in projects such as Chabahar port in Iran to facilitate access to Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Muttaqis visit to New Delhi, scheduled from 9 to 16 October, is the first by a sanctioned Taliban official since UNSC Resolution 1988 (2011) placed restrictions on Taliban leaders. The UN Security Council granted special permission for the trip.

About the Author Shuddhanta Patra Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior SubEditor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influen... Read More

Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: October 08, 2025, 09:05 IST

News world Unacceptable: India Sides With Taliban, Pakistan, China & Russia Against Trumps Bagram Air Base Bid

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The National Gallery of Art is closed due to the government shutdown on October 06, 2025 in Washington, DC. Credit - Andrew Harnik2025 Getty Images

This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox.

Talk to Republicans around Washington and youll get a smattering of reasons why the government shutdown is coasting into its second week: taxpayer-funded sex reassignment surgeries, health care for undocumented immigrants, massive handouts to folks who should be deported.

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Talk to Democrats, and you get a similarly disjointed litany of reasons: millions of Americans could lose their health coverage, those lucky to dodge the axe will get much higher billsthis is what voters sent them to Washington to do. Even Jeffrey Epstein comes up.

The two parties cannot even agree on whether theyre talking to each other. President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that the White House was having conversations with Democratic lawmakers about finding an off-ramp to the shutdown, which started last Wednesday. The top Democrat in the Senate, Chuck Schumer of New York, issued a statement basically saying nuh-uh, but hed be open to it.

Well, there arent any official talks going on, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, said while leaving the Capitol on Monday. The clear-eyed legislator is not running for another term next year, making her an honest broker in these talks. That does not mean she has the power to unjam a standoff that has become fiercely personal to both sides.

Meanwhile, staffers on Capitol Hill and their lobbying pals on K Street are treating this week as a wash. In chats and texts with a dozen or so staffers, the widespread expectation is that the lapse in government fundingimpacting about 750,000 feds and costing $400 million a dayis here for a spell. Congressional offices and the administration alike have been nixing meetings that are not explicitly about the shutdown, killing any sidebar conversations about other legislation.

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Put in the most basic of terms, D.C. is a mess, everyone knows it, and no one seems eager to find the exit. Its as if everyone is aboard the Speed bus but not looking for a way to help Keanu stop the chaos, to steal an analogy from one former Senate chief of staff, a Democrat. Another GOP aide was more blunt: Totally Fed is our soundtrack, she said, taking a lyric from the Broadway burner Spring Awakening. A third Hill insider, a former member of Democratic Leadership, was even more cynical. Can you even tell me what we are fighting about at this point? he asked.

Judging from the impasse at the Capitol, the answer is a resolute no. That does not mean its any closer to ending.

Trump, it seems, understands that the shutdown isnt playing well. White House aides are snipping at Republican colleagues on the Hill that this is on them to sort out. No onenot the White House, not Hill Republicans, not Hill Democratsis on solid footing right now; Trump and congressional Republicans are at a 52% disapproval number, while congressional Democrats are at 49%, according to CBS News polling.

Those numbers are national. An informal gut check of my Rolodex indicates its even worse locally. At the Environmental Protection Agency, 89% of staffers have been furloughed, according to one tally. At the Education Department, that rate is 87%. Commerce? 81%. Labor? 76%. Housing and Urban Development? 71%.

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Bluntly, its a bloodbath for career feds who monitor clean air, administer student loans, promote American businesses, track American workers, and house our poorest neighbors. Many are trying to stay optimistic, but few believe this will be short-lived.

By a constellation of good luck and better politics, most federal employees got their last paycheck in the final hours before the shutdown. Their next checkcovering pre-shutdown workshould still arrive. That means real painworkers who cannot pay bills, make rent, cover day-to-day lifewont hit until the end of this month for some civilians in corners of the government that still have funding. That spares lawmakers any real costs right away, but the upcoming holiday weekend might dog them at home with their neighbors. But some could miss pay as soon as Friday. Military members are eyeing Oct. 15, when their next paycheck could be in limbo.

House Speaker Mike Johnson is not calling back his Republican members this week, sparing them from the uncomfortable questions in hallways at the Capitol. The Senate remains in town, but on Monday dismissed for a fifth time another attempt to pass a stopgap spending bill that would get them through most of November. And on Tuesday, Senators used an acrimonious oversight hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi to press her on politically sensitive decisions made in the case against convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that may have shielded powerful playersincluding Trumpfrom scrutiny.

(The House, too, has its own Epstein troubles, as Johnson has refused to swear-in a new Democratic member from Arizona who would shrink his majority and perhaps force a tricky vote to see what the Justice Department knows about the man who died while awaiting trial on further charges.)

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Also on Tuesday, the top lawyer for the White Houses budget office said federal workers who were furloughed may not be entitled to back paydespite the clear fact that Trump signed into law a 2019 provision that guaranteed it. The White House quietly removed a part of its website on Friday that asserted that both furloughed and excepted employees will be paid retroactively.

Trump added his own element of uncertainty on Tuesday.

I would say it depends on who were talking about, Trump said. I can tell you this: The Democrats have put a lot of people in great risk and jeopardy, but it really depends on who youre talking about. But for the most part, were going to take care of our people. There are some people that really dont deserve to be taken care of, and well take care of them in a different way.

For now, the nations capital remains stuck in neutral. Lawmakers cannot even agree if anyone is at the wheel, let alone the destination.

Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the D.C. Brief newsletter.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Integration Brings Anthropic Claude AI Models to Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft has added Anthropic's Claude artificial intelligence models to its Microsoft 365 Copilot platform, giving enterprise users another option beyond OpenAI's models for powering workplace AI experiences.

The integration brings Claude Sonnet 4 and Claude Opus 4.1 to Microsoft's Researcher agent and Copilot Studio, allowing organizations to select the AI model that best fits their business needs. Microsoft said the Claude models will first be available through its Frontier Program for licensed 365 Copilot customers who opt in.

Claude models will initially be available through Microsoft's Researcher agent, which the company describes as a reasoning tool for complex, multi-step research tasks. Users will also be able to access Claude through Copilot Studio, Microsoft's platform for building custom AI agents for enterprises.

The integration represents an expansion beyond Microsoft's existing partnership with OpenAI, whose models have powered Copilot since its launch. Microsoft said it remains committed to using OpenAI's models while adding Claude as an additional option.

"The addition of Claude Sonnet 4 and Claude Opus 4.1 advances our commitment to bring the best AI innovation from across the industry to Microsoft 365 Copilot," Charles Lamanna, Microsoft's President of Business & Industry Copilot, said in the blog post.

The Claude models are being made available through Microsoft's Frontier Program to licensed Microsoft 365 Copilot customers who opt in. Microsoft noted that Anthropic's models are hosted outside Microsoft-managed environments and are subject to Anthropic's terms of service.

Organization administrators can enable access to the Anthropic models through the Microsoft 365 admin center, according to the company.

San Francisco-based Anthropic, founded by former OpenAI executives, has positioned its Claude models as competitors to OpenAI's GPT series and other large language models in the enterprise market.

Microsoft's move to offer multiple AI model options reflects broader industry trends toward giving enterprise customers choice in selecting AI capabilities suited to specific use cases.

For more information, visit the Microsoft blog.
In a revealing address that has cast the Zimbabwe National Armys recruitment policies in a distinctly political light, Major General Walter Tapfumaneyi openly declared that the military systematically excludes opposition supporters from enlistment, prioritizing instead those from ZANU PF-aligned families.

Speaking during the ZNA Masvingo Province Traditional Leaders Day at Chief Nhemas homestead, Maj. Gen. Tapfumaneyi detailed a vetting process that explicitly considers political affiliation as a key criterion for military service.

We conduct background checks to determine if your family supports Musangano (ZANU PF) or is among the lost (opposition). The ruling party, led by President Mnangagwa, is ZANU PF. If you flock with the lost, you will be recruited when they come into power, said General Tapfumaneyi.

The senior army officer justified the approach saying there was noone would go hunting with a neighbors dogs whose traits he does not know implicitly characterizing opposition supporters as unreliable for military service.

The ruling government is led by President Mnangagwas ZANU PF party, so we dont want to lie to each other. If you go hunting, you cannot use your neighbours dogs; they may end up dining with the hare that you are hunting. So if your family is among the lost, you will get into the army when the lost gets into power, he said.

The Major General, who previously served as the Deputy Director-General of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) and as Permanent Secretary, played a key role in the 2023 general elections as the head of the Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ), an organization that monitored polling stations amid opposition allegations of electoral interference. His recent return to army leadership position underscores his continued influence within the countrys security apparatus.

The general also took time to acknowledge and thank the ZANU PF leadership in Masvingo Province, noting that they supported the army very well, further cementing the perceived political alignment of the military institution.

At the same event, Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Ezra Chadzamira acknowledged Tapfumaneyis crucial role in ensuring ZANU PFs victory in the 2023 elections, praising his dedication to the partys success. TellZimNews
By Tendai Biti

The abrupt removal of Zanu PF MP Honourable Energy Mutodi @energymutodi as chair of parliament's Budget & Finance Committee is an abject unconstitutional overreach by a desperate canterkarous cartel that has captured the State and will do everything legally and extra legally to perpetuate its vice like grip on the public coffers of this country .

Members of Parliament have a constitutional obligation to hold the Executive and every other institution to account in terms of section 119 of the constitution.

Further Members of Parliament have absolute privilege, and an unfettered right to feeedom of expression when they stand and debate in the chambers of the August House.

Honourable Mutodi enjoys this constitutional protection. He has an obligation to raise a matter of great national interest.

The issue of George Tongesai Guvamatanga, Ministry of Finance permanent secretary, and the alleged bribes he is demanding is a matter in the public domain and requires parliamentary scrutiny.

The issue of direct payments being made directly by Treasury to suppliers oblivious of line Ministries, Departments and Agencies has been captured in the Auditor General's Reports.

In 2024 alone, US$2 billion of payments were made directly by Mr Guvamatanga is his role and capacity as the Paymaster General .

Yet Treasury instructions, which he supervises, the Public Finance Management Act and the constitution clearly proscribe the same.

In other words , Hon. Mutodi did not disclose anything knew. Everything he uttered in Parliament was a matter of direct and implicit public knowledge .

His mistake was his purported retraction and apology. Understandbly as a loyal member of Zanu PF, it would be expecting too much from the same.

A mosquito can not cure malaria.

Be that as it may, Honourable Mutodis removal is a direct attack on the constitution, which gives autonomy to the institution of Parliament.

It is a direct attack on Parliament itself .

That the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda is the author and mover of such blatant illegality reflects his desperate co- option in the toxic and ill fated 2030 agenda, and his desperate ambition to be Kembo Mohadi's successor as Vice-President .

The 2030 agenda represents a conflation between the evil twin agendas of corruption and power retention.

That conflation has become the greatest existential threat to Zimbabwe.

Left unchallenged it will engulf this country into conflict and chaos.

It will suck 15 years of Zimbabwe s trajectory .

Under the circumstances, the greatest task and obligation of every citizen is the Defence of the Constitution against the cabal of bandits and criminals, who have circled the same, with knives and machetes.

That is the historical mission of this generation. He was writing on X.




The High Court has blocked resources group RioZim Limited, which is under corporate rescue, from selling its assets as workers legal dispute progresses.

High Court judge Justice Regis Dembure dismissed RioZims application to appeal an earlier order stopping it from disposing of mines and other key assets, saying the company had no legal leg to stand on.

He said the mere filing of the application with the Registrar of the High Court, even before the merits of the application are considered, has the effect of commencing corporate rescue proceedings.

Dembure cited earlier ruling in the Metallon Gold case.

In simple terms, once a company files for corporate rescue, its hands are tied and it cannot sell assets, restructure freely or dodge creditors without court oversight.

RioZims lawyer, Thabani Mpofu, argued that the companys board should be allowed to make operational decisions while waiting for a rescue practitioner to be appointed.

This board is alive; the provisions of section 127 should not prevent it from making necessary operational decisions to avoid financial distress, he argued.

But the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union, which brought the case, hit back.

The company cannot just choose which legal provisions apply to its convenience during its financial turmoil, said lawyer TL Mapuranga. The notion that the board can operate unrestricted is a gross misinterpretation of the law.

Justice Dembure agreed with the union, ruling that RioZims bid was without merit and ordering the company to pay legal costs.

The decision comes as RioZim faces mounting pressure from workers it owes over US$37 million in unpaid wages and benefits.

More than 200 employees recently won an arbitration award, but their victory has been thrown into limbo.

In recent judgment, Justice Catherine Bachi Mzawazi struck the case off the roll after RioZims lawyers argued the award could not be enforced because the company is under corporate rescue.

The respondent tactfully sought refuge from the law at the detriment of the employees rights yet the law is the law nonetheless, Justice Mzawazi remarked.

She said corporate rescue temporarily froze all lawsuits until the process is completed  usually within three months.

Corporate rescue is a lifeline thrown to enable a company in financial distress to be rehabilitated to make a financial turnaround to meet its obligations, she said. Newsday
Pope Leo XIV has undone one of Pope Francis' bigger financial reforms and decisions, canceling a law Monday that had concentrated financial power in the Vatican bank. Leo abrogated the 2022 law that had decreed that management of the Holy See's assets was the "exclusive responsibility" of the Institute of Religious Works, or IOR. In his first-ever executive decree, Leo published a new law Monday that says the Holy See generally does use the IOR, but can turn to non-Vatican banks in other countries if the Vatican's investment committee "deems it more efficient or convenient" to do so.

Background: As Vatican News explains, the 2022 law established that the IOR, which is sometimes referred to as the Vatican Bank, "was the custodian of all the movable assets of the Holy See and of its associated institutions. It therefore stipulated that all institutions of the Holy See that held financial assets with financial institutions other than the IOR must inform the IOR and transfer them to the Vatican Bank as soon as possible."

As Vatican News explains, the 2022 law established that the IOR, which is sometimes referred to as the Vatican Bank, "was the custodian of all the movable assets of the Holy See and of its associated institutions. It therefore stipulated that all institutions of the Holy See that held financial assets with financial institutions other than the IOR must inform the IOR and transfer them to the Vatican Bank as soon as possible." The AP's take: "The law is the clearest sign yet that Leo is starting to fix some of Francis' more problematic decisions and is recalibrating the Vatican's centers of power, after Francis tended to lean heavily on the advice of the IOR and its top manager."

"The law is the clearest sign yet that Leo is starting to fix some of Francis' more problematic decisions and is recalibrating the Vatican's centers of power, after Francis tended to lean heavily on the advice of the IOR and its top manager." The Pillar's take: "The move is significant, both because it reopens the door to overseas banking and asset management arrangements which Vatican authorities had previously warned were almost impossible to keep track of, and because it suggests the pope ... does not fear any near-term shortage of liquidity in the Holy See." It details possible drivers of the decision: one, that donations and promises of them rolled in after he became pope, and the financial situation isn't now so dire; or that conversely, things are so bad that they need to seek out higher returns than what the IOR has been achieving. (The full read is worthwhile.)

It was the second significant move that Leo has taken in as many weeks to reform some of Francis' decisions. On Sept. 27, Leo removed a top administrator in the Secretariat of State and sent him to Paris to serve as ambassador to UNESCO. Monsignor Roberto Campisi had been close to Francis, and the late pope made him president of a new fundraising commission that was formed to drum up donations for the cash-strapped Holy See. The commission's statutes and members were announced while Francis was in the hospital, on Feb. 26, and included only Italians with no professional fundraising experience.

The lack of qualified fundraisers and absence of any Americans immediately raised questions about the commission's credibility. Americans are among the biggest donors to the Holy See, but also demand levels of transparency and accountability that the Vatican hasn't always followed. Campisi's transfer suggests Leo is planning to revamp the commission and perhaps name new members who would lend the commission more gravitas and credibility with key donors.
A major fire at a plant responsible for nearly 40% of the aluminum sheet used by US automakers has caused supply chain problems that could take months to untangle. The Sept. 16 fire at the Novelis plant in Oswego, New York rendered a key part of the facility unusable and required the efforts of 175 firefighters from 26 departments to contain, the Wall Street Journal reports. The consequences are far-reaching, especially for Ford, which uses Oswego's aluminum to build its top-selling F-150 pickups. Ford's stock, which had been rising in recent weeks, fell more than 6% after the Journal's report Wednesday.

Novelis spokeswoman tells the Detroit Free Press that the fire was contained to the plant's hot mill area, where large blocks of aluminum known as ingots are turned into sheet aluminum. Novelis, part of India's Hindalco, says the plant won't be back online until early next year. Though Ford says it works with multiple aluminum suppliers, the automaker has rallied a dedicated team to find workarounds and expects to address the fallout in its upcoming quarterly report. Other major customersToyota, Stellantis, Hyundai, and Volkswagen among themare pulling levers to blunt the impact, but industry analysts warn that few rivals have spare capacity to fill the gap.

Novelis is turning to its overseas operations in Europe, Brazil, and South Korea to pick up some slack, but a hefty 50% US tariff on imported aluminum looms over that plan. The company is also collaborating with competitors in an attempt to shore up supply, though the industry's margin for error is slim. This incident is the latest in a string of supply chain headaches for carmakers, who are still feeling the aftershocks of trade wars, pandemic shutdowns, and a global chip shortage, the Journal reports.

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A man armed with more than 200 homemade explosives was arrested outside a major Washington, DC cathedral on Sunday hours before Supreme Court justices were slated to attend the annual Red Mass, an event marking the start of the judicial term. According to court records, Louis Geri, 41, of New Jersey, was camped out in a green tent on the steps of St. Matthew's Cathedral, surrounded by an array of improvised devices ranging from molotov cocktails to modified bottle rockets, the Washington Post reports.

When police asked him to move, Geri allegedly told them to "call the federales" and warned he had explosives. Police say he held a butane lighter over multiple vials containing yellow liquid, with explosives taped to them. He allegedly told police, "You better have these people step away or there's going to be deaths, I'm telling you now." Geri also handed over pages from a notebook, which expressed hostility toward the Catholic Church, Supreme Court justices, the Jewish community, and ICE, prosecutors say.

As the standoff unfolded, Geri claimed his devices could take out a tree without harming bystanders and offered to demonstrate. Officers managed to arrest him after he left the tent to urinate. A bomb squad technician searched him and found an explosive device in his clothing, prosecutors say. Court documents state that technicians found a " large cache of homemade destructive devices" in his tent. Authorities say some vials contained nitromethane, an explosive used in notorious attacks like the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. The FBI is processing the seized devices, described by officials as fully operational.

Geri faces eight charges, including the the manufacture or possession of weapon of mass destruction in furtherance of a hate crime, WUSA9 reports. He was arraigned on Monday and ordered held without bond. Geri's threats and the ongoing security situation led to the Supreme Court justices skipping this year's Red Mass. The service is held on the Sunday before the first Monday in October every year to mark the start of the court's term and "to invoke God's blessings on those responsible for the administration of justice," per the Catholic Standard, the archdiocese's newspaper.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Tuesday signed into law a new 24% tax on marijuana sales between producers and dispensaries, creating revenue to partially fund her long-promised effort to improve the state's roads. Whitmer made road repairs her priority this year. The Legislature's fiscal agencies estimate the wholesale tax will generate $420 million in new revenue to go towards the annual $1.8 billion road funding plan. But analysts predict the additional tax will inevitably lead to a drop in sales, the AP reports.

"When I took office, I made a promise to fix the damn roads so Michiganders could get where they're going faster and safer," she said. Whitmerlong considered a potential Democratic presidential candidate, although she recently hinted she may not be interested in the jobsigned the budget in a closed-door meeting.
The first National Guard troops sent to the Chicago area by President Trump arrived Tuesday at an Army training center outside the city. The AP saw military personnel in uniforms with the Texas National Guard patch at the US Army Reserve Center in Elwood, 55 miles southwest of Chicago. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott posted a picture on social media Monday showing Texas National Guard members boarding a plane but didn't specify where they were going. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has said some 300 of his state's guard troops were to be federalized and deployed to the nation's third-largest city, along with 400 others from Texas.
A recent study in Science Advances is changing the story of how some of North America's earliest European settlers used animals. "While Spanish colonists brought horses to the Caribbean decades earlier, settlement of the English colony at Jamestown, Virginia, was among the first dispersals of horses to the eastern seaboard," the researchers wrote. They analyzed centuries-old animal bones from Jamestown and found that those colonists brought not only horses but also a donkey to the colonydespite the lack of any written record of donkeys in ship manifests or official reports.

The research team, led by John Krigbaum at the University of Florida and William Taylor at the University of Colorado Boulder, used radiocarbon dating and DNA analysis to link these animal remains to Jamestown's "Starving Time" during the winter of 16091610, when food shortages pushed colonists to desperation. Evidence from the bonesincluding cut and chop marks and signs of cookingsuggests that both horses and donkeys were eaten during this crisis. The study notes they detected "previously undocumented levels of intensive processing and consumption of domestic equids ... with most elements split open to extract even the minutest nutritional resources, including dental pulp."

Further analysis of the donkey bones, including tooth enamel isotopes and DNA, indicates the animal didn't come from Britain. Instead, its likely origins were Iberia, West Africa, or possibly even Trinidad and Tobago, suggesting colonists might have acquired the donkey during their Atlantic crossing. As a press release notes, "The team's work is a testament to the vast amount of information researchers can glean from just a small collection of centuries-old animal bones."
North Korean hackers have ramped up efforts to steal cryptocurrency, with losses attributed to them reaching more than $2 billion so far this yeara record haul, according to researchers at Elliptic . These thefts account for roughly 13% of the country's estimated GDP, per United Nations figures. While North Korean hacking groups such as the Lazarus Group have long targeted crypto companies, investigators now say there's a growing shift toward wealthy individual holders, who often lack the robust security systems used by businesses, reports the BBC .

Elliptic's chief scientist, Tom Robinson, points out that attacks on individuals are less likely to be reported, suggesting the true scale of North Korea's crypto theft may be even higher. "We are aware of many other thefts that share some of the hallmarks of North Korea-linked activity but lack sufficient evidence to be definitively attributed," he notes.

Western security agencies believe the regime uses these illicit funds to support its nuclear and missile programs. The largest known single incident this year occurred in February, when hackers reportedly siphoned $1.4 billion from the Bybit exchange. Other notable attacks include $14 million taken from WOO X users, $1.27 million from LND.fi, and $1.2 million from Seedify, per NK News. Elliptic says its analysts have tied more than 30 attacks to North Korea this year, with the largest theft from an individual coming in at $100 million.

The cumulative value of crypto assets stolen by North Korea now exceeds $6 billion. The regime has denied involvement in hacking, but researchers continue to trace stolen funds via blockchain transactions. Meanwhile, North Korea is also suspected of operating fake IT worker schemes to generate additional revenue and circumvent international sanctions, per the BBC.
With just days before his scheduled execution , lawyers for Robert Roberson are urging Texas courts to reconsider his case, citing new evidence of judicial misconduct uncovered in a true-crime podcast that questions the fairness of his original trial. Roberson, 58, faces lethal injection for the 2002 death of his 2-year-old daughter Nikki, and would be the first US execution tied to the controversial "shaken baby syndrome" diagnosis, NBC News reports.

The latest wrinkle comes from an interview aired in The Last Appeal, a Dateline podcast, in which Nikki's grandfather, Larry Bowman, said Judge Bascom Bentley, who oversaw nearly all of Roberson's trial, called the hospital after Nikki's collapse, when Roberson had not yet been arrested or charged, and identified the Bowmans as Nikki's legal guardiansdespite court records showing Roberson was her sole conservator. Bentley was calling in his role as a judiciary official to tell the hospital who to contact to authorize removing the child from life support, and in doing so, the Bowmans were allowed to make the life support decision, Click2Houston reports. Bentley later signed Roberson's arrest warrant and presided over much of his trial, a sequence Roberson's attorneys argue violated fundamental rights to an "impartial tribunal."

Roberson's lawyers say this behind-the-scenes role suggests Bentley prejudged Roberson's guilt and failed to recuse himself, tainting the trial. "It's shocking that we are discovering the truth ... only by chance, from a podcast, days before Robert is scheduled to be executed," Roberson's attorney said in a statement. State prosecutors, for their part, have held that Roberson murdered his daughter, a stance Attorney General Ken Paxton continues to defend, even as Roberson's team claims the "shaken baby syndrome" diagnosis has been discredited and the lead detective in the case says he now believes Roberson is innocent. Roberson, a single father after Nikki's mother lost custody, has long said Nikki's injuries resulted from a fall. "I got a lot of people believing in me," Roberson says in an interview published this week at the Texas Observer.
A jury in Los Angeles has ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $966 million to the family of Mae Moore, a California woman who died in 2021 at the age of 88 after developing mesothelioma, a rare cancer. The lawsuit alleged that Moore's long-term use of Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder exposed her to asbestos, a substance known to cause cancer. The verdict includes $16 million in compensatory damages and a hefty $950 million in punitive damages, reports the New York Times .

Erik Haas, the company's vice president of litigation, described the verdict as "egregious and unconstitutional." Johnson & Johnson, which has faced a barrage of lawsuits over claims that its talc-based baby powder is contaminated with asbestos, stated it will "immediately" appeal the decision. Reuters notes that the amount awarded could be reduced upon appeal, "as the US Supreme Court has found that punitive damages should generally be no more than nine times compensatory damages."

Johnson & Johnson maintains that its product neither contains asbestos nor causes cancer, though it stopped selling its talc-based powder worldwide in 2023 after mounting legal challenges. The verdict follows a recent setback for Johnson & Johnson in bankruptcy court, where a federal judge rebuffed an attempt to settle all talc-related complaints with a $9 billion bankruptcy plan. The court found flaws in the procedure and insufficient approval from claimants. It marked the third unsuccessful attempt by the company to use bankruptcy to resolve thousands of similar claims.

Johnson & Johnson had previously set up a subsidiary, LTL Management, to manage liabilities in what plaintiffs labeled the "Texas two-step." However, courts have repeatedly blocked this maneuver as a protection from liability. With more than 90,000 lawsuits still pending, Johnson & Johnson says it will continue to contest what it calls "meritless" claims, adding that it has reserved $7 billion to take care of the bankruptcy. Internal company records reportedly indicated past concerns about asbestos in its talc products. "It took this family five years to get their day in court, and we're pleased the jury concluded J&J should be held accountable," says a lawyer for Moore's family, per Bloomberg.
The Democratic governors of California and Illinois are threatening to leave the National Governors Association because of its silence on President Trump's deployment of National Guard troops across state lines despite objections from the receiving states' leaders. "If we cannot come together, on a bipartisan basis, on this basic principle of state sovereignty, what purpose does the National Governors Association serve?" California Gov. Gavin Newsom asked in a letter to the nation's other governors. The bipartisan governors' group, founded in 1908, advocates for issues on which governors find common ground and hosts meetings where they can exchange ideas. Separate Democratic and Republican governors' associations take more partisan positions and help finance campaigns.

Newsom and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, both potential 2028 presidential candidates, contend Trump's troop deployments should be a matter of concern for all governors, the AP reports. They argue the National Guard deployments are not just a policy difference but an infringement on state sovereignty that must be condemned. But some Republican governors have supported Trump's actions, and the national governors' group has not taken a position. "The credibility of the National Governors Associationand our integrity as state executivesrests on our willingness to apply our principles consistently, regardless of which administration attacks them," Pritzker said in a letter Monday to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, the chair of the National Governors Association.

Stitt did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment from the AP. But he said in a news conference last month that the group should steer clear of areas where there's not a consensus and leave those to the Democratic Governors Association and Republican Governors Association. The Democratic governors of Kansas, Michigan, and Minnesota already have left the NGA this year. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said she didn't think the roughly $100,000 annual dues paid by the state were a good investment and encouraged the group to push back against canceled federal grants. (In this year's only two gubernatorial races, Democrats think the government shutdown could push voters their way.)
Herschel Walker, best known for his NFL days and a recent Senate run , is stepping onto a new field. The US Senate on Tuesday confirmed Walker's appointment as US ambassador to the Bahamas, breaking a nearly 15-year stretch without an American envoy in Nassau, a gap that put the Bahamas among a handful of countries without a US ambassador in more than a decade, per Reuters . Walker's confirmation came amid a rapid-fire 51-47 vote to OK more than 100 nominees, following a rules change by Senate Republicans to speed up President Trump's picks, per CBS News .

NBC News notes that the ambassadorship has been vacant since 2011, when Nicole Avant, an Obama nominee, left the post. President Obama then nominated White House attorney Cassandra Butts in 2014, but that nomination was slow-walked by the Senate. Obama renominated Butts in 2015; she passed away while that nomination was still pending.

Walker, tapped for the role by Trump last December, brings a high profile but little traditional diplomatic experience. The Bahamian ambassador to the US, Wendall Jones, however, welcomed the choice, citing the islands' reputation for hospitality and expressing optimism that Walker can help strengthen ties and address shared priorities.

Walker steps into the role at a sensitive time. China has invested heavily in the Bahamas, funding everything from a deepwater port to tourism hot spots and a new hospital. US officials, including Walker at his confirmation hearing, flagged these moves as security concerns, pointing to escalating competition for influence in the region.
The white sandy beaches along a swath of Florida's Gulf Coast were battered by hurricanes Helene, Milton, and Debby last year, leading to a multimillion-dollar effort to repair a coastline that's the region's economic engine. Crews are working with dredges, trucks, and pipelines along the 35-mile stretch of beach in Pinellas County that includes prime tourist destinations like Clearwater Beach, Indian Rocks Beach, Belleair Beach, and Redington Beach. Helene was the most destructive for the beach towns, even though it made landfall far to the north. Twelve people died in Pinellas County because of strong storm surge that reached 8 feet high in some places.

In past years, the US Army Corps of Engineers paid about 65% of the beach restoration costs, reports the AP, but not this time. The Corps wants private landowners to sign up for permanent easements that would allow government access in perpetuitya change that has met with stiff resistance. So Pinellas County is doing the beach restoration itself, spending more than $125 million in tourism tax revenue to cover the costs. The county also has an easement program, but because some property owners won't sign up, there will be gaps in the beach renourishment that could lead to damage in future storms.

"We can't do it as well as we could," said Barry Burton, the Pinellas County administrator. "Our desire is to place sand across as much of the beach as we can." The project calls for using 2.5 million cubic yards of sand that's being dredged and pumped from offshore. In places where property owners refused to sign the easements, new sand is being placed toward the Gulf side of the beach, which is public. The beaches are being widened by as much as 100 feet. The county won't be able to afford beach work like this again, said Public Works Director Kelli Hammer Levy. "This is the last and only time," she said.

For its part, the Army Corps said it can't justify spending millions of US taxpayer dollars on beach renourishment without permanent easements to allow access. "The Congressionally authorized, engineered project cannot provide the level of protection when constructed with gaps," the agency said in a statement. Those gaps mean that properties with sand dunes and an elongated beach might be next to another one with nothingand that's where the storm surge in future hurricanes will go.
Arizona isn't alone with its bold ursine population : A bear wandered into a grocery store in Numata, Japan, on Tuesday, causing panic and leaving two men with minor injuries. The 4.5-foot animal, likely agitated and confused, entered through the front door and spent about four minutes inside, according to store management. During its brief visit, the bear toppled avocados, climbed onto a fish case, and broke some glass while 30 to 40 shoppers looked on, per CBS News . After struggling to find an exit, the bear left on its own, leaving one man injured in the parking lot and another injured inside the store, reports CNN .

The incident was one of several bear-related encounters in Japan this week. In the northern Iwate region, a man was found dead on a mountain Wednesday in what authorities suspect was a bear attack. If confirmed, it would be the eighth death attributed to bear attacks this year, per CNN. Also in Iwate, a farmer was bitten and scratched Tuesday by a bear accompanied by a cub outside his home. And in central Japan's Shirakawa-go village on Sunday, a Spanish tourist was attacked by a bear at a bus stop.

Bear sightings and attacks are becoming increasingly common in Japan. The country recorded 219 attacks and six deaths in the year leading up to April 2024, according to the environment ministry. Experts point to climate change as affecting bears' food supply and hibernation patterns, as well as Japan's shrinking and aging population. As humans leave rural areas, bears are moving in, expanding their range. Japan is one of the few places where bears are seemingly increasing and reclaiming lost territory, in what biologists see as a conservation success, though it comes with risks to people.
It's a growing war of words between Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and President Trump. "He's out of his mind and has dementia," Pritzker said at a Tuesday night event when he was asked about the president's decision to mobilize the National Guard in Illinois. Trump responded succinctly on Truth Social on Wednesday: "Chicago Mayor [Brandon Johnson] should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!" The Wall Street Journal notes Trump didn't elaborate on which laws he believes the Democratic officials violated.
A California cardiologist's final flight has led to a wrongful death lawsuit against Qatar Airways. According to a complaint filed by his son, 85-year-old Asoka Jayaweera allegedly died after being denied a vegetarian meal on a 15-hour Los Angeles-to-Doha flight last August. Family members say Jayaweera, a strict vegetarian who was traveling to Sri Lanka via Qatar, had requested the meal ahead of time but was told there were no more available, reports AeroTime . Jayaweera was told by crew to "eat around" the meat in the regular meal provided, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit says he began choking soon after, though it's unclear what exactly caused the blockage, People reports.

Despite crew consulting with MedAirea remote service staffed by ER doctors for in-flight medical emergenciesthe plane did not make an emergency landing. Flight staff argued that they were over the Arctic at the time, but Jayaweera's son says they were actually above Wisconsin, with time to divert for medical help.

Instead, Jayaweera was administered oxygen on board, but the complaint states his oxygen levels remained dangerously low and he lost consciousness. The plane landed in Edinburgh, Scotland, eight hours later, where Jayaweera was hospitalized, the Independent reports. He died two days later from aspiration pneumonia, a lung infection caused by inhaling food or liquid, according to the complaint. Jayaweera's son is seeking at least $128,821 in damages, plus legal costs, citing negligence and breach of international aviation law. The lawsuit points to the Montreal Convention, which holds airlines strictly liable for injuries or deaths resulting from accidents on international flights.
Oct 08 (News On Japan) - Characters such as Tarepanda, Kogepan, Nakamura-kun, and Rilakkuma  all born in Japans Heisei era  are once again capturing the hearts of the Reiwa generation, sparking a wave of nostalgia and renewed popularity among young people.

In Tokyos Harajuku district, long known as a center of youth culture, young shoppers were seen carrying keychains and charms of so-called Heisei retro characters. A woman in her 30s with a Nakamura-kun keychain said she has liked the character since childhood, adding that it feels both nostalgic and refreshingly modern.

High school students have also embraced the trend, attaching characters such as Usahana to their bags. One student said the nostalgic look is part of the cuteness and added that she often posts photos of her favorite characters on social media. Sharing pictures of Heisei-era characters online has become a popular way for the Reiwa generation to express their affection for them.

Some fans say the appeal spans generations. One user posted a photo of Kogepan on X, noting it was a gift for her daughter in her 20s. Others say that the resurgence has led to mothers and daughters rediscovering characters they both enjoy.

At specialty stores selling character merchandise, displays feature a wide range of nostalgic goods. A mother whose daughter bought Ranma  items said she was delighted to find merchandise from a series she once loved herself. A woman in her 20s chose Teletubbies pouches and smartphone cases, saying she liked their bright colors and recently began enjoying them again after watching the show as a child.

The appeal of these retro characters has united parents and children alike. A mother in her 50s and her daughter in her 20s were drawn to Kogepan and Tarepanda. Its so nostalgic, said the mother, while the daughter recalled keeping a memo pad she thought was too cute to use. Another woman in her 50s who bought Angel Blues Nakamura-kun and Tamagotchi goods said she used to play with Tamagotchi and came to buy one for her child.

The Heisei retro boom has created new business opportunities for companies reintroducing popular characters from the 1990s and early 2000s. Hotels offering Rilakkuma-themed rooms and dishes report that reservations have been constantly full, while new products featuring these characters continue to be released.

In Harajukus capsule toy shops, walls are lined with figures of Hamtaro, Ocha-Ken, and Cinnamoroll. A young girl visiting with her mother proudly showed off eight Kero Kero Keroppi toys she had collected, saying she switched from liking Cinnamoroll after reading a book about Keroppi. Nearby, another girl searched eagerly for Kuchipatchi from Tamagotchi, while a woman smiled after successfully getting a Cinnamoroll capsule.

According to shop manager Tsutomu Sakurayashiki, many women who loved Sanrio characters as children are now visiting with their own children, creating a fan base that spans two or even three generations.

Source: FNN
Canada's Homegrown Delivery Network Showcases its Expanded Retail Lineup, Everyday Convenience and Healthy Dose of Humour - all with a Comedic Twist from Seth.

TORONTO, Oct. 8, 2025 /CNW/ - Skip, Canada's homegrown delivery network, is taking its brand promise, Skip to the Good Part, to a whole new level with a new ad spot starring Canadian comedic treasure, Seth Rogen. Celebrating Skip's recently expanded retail and convenience offerings, restaurant favourites, and Canadian culture, the campaign delivers on Skip's commitment to bringing whatever Canadians crave, or need, right to their doorstep while also honouring the brand's homegrown DNA.

Seth Rogen for Skip (CNW Group/Skip) Seth Rogen for Skip (CNW Group/Skip) Seth Rogen for Skip (CNW Group/Skip)

Following last year's brand relaunch to simply "Skip" and the launch of its new platform, "Skip to the Good Part," the company has continued to expand well beyond restaurant delivery, adding additional retail partners across categories like pharmacy, pet, beauty, and everyday essentials. This latest evolution builds on that momentum, reinforcing Skip's Canada-first promise by partnering with homegrown talent to connect even more deeply with Canadians.

Rolling out across Canada as of today, the new ad spot, directed by Seth's longtime creative collaborator and fellow Canadian, Evan Goldberg, follows Seth in multiple movie brainstorming sessions that are hilariously interrupted when they realize the plot doesn't make sense - because Skip already has the solution - from takeout favourites to drugstore essentials. The campaign cleverly highlights Skip's wide range of offerings, doubling down on its promise to help Canadians 'Skip it' and get what they need, conveniently delivered to their doors. Seth not only starred in the new ad spot, but played a key role in the creative development and storyboarding of this concept.

"Evan and I always have a lot of fun being a part of a campaign that allows us to run with an idea. It's an added bonus when we can create moments that feel relatable and unmistakably Canadian" says Seth Rogen.

Seth knows that the variety of local flavours and cuisines is part of what makes Canada so special, and as part of the campaign, he shares some of his favourite Canadian snacks and delicacies, which include poutine, ketchup chips, and donair, all just a tap away with Skip.

"No one captures Canadian spirit and humour quite like Seth Rogen", said Rachel MacAdam, Vice President of Marketing, Skip. "His love for food, Canadian culture and his ability to find comedy in everyday moments makes him the perfect collaborator to help tell this story in the most impactful way, as we enter an exciting new chapter for Skip."

Debuting nationally today across TV, digital, and social, the campaign marks a new chapter in Skip's brand journey, championing Canadian culture, humour, and convenience in a way only Skip can deliver. The full long-form ad spot can be viewed HERE , with 30s and 15s spots also rolling out across TV and Paid Media from today.

Canadians can get their local favourites delivered right to their doorstep with Skip - and in celebration of this campaign launch, Skip will be offering 50% off today only, with $15 off orders of $30 or more. Follow along on Instagram at @skip_canada for terms and conditions, and to catch the code when it drops, so you can Skip straight to the good part!

About Skip

Skip is Canada's homegrown delivery network. What started in 2012 as a local start-up in the Prairies has grown into a Canadian technology success story, connecting millions of Canadians in over 450 cities and towns with more than 50,000 local restaurant, grocery, convenience and retail partners.

With a vision to empower everyday convenience, Skip helps Canadians get what they need, when they need it  so they can Skip to the Good Part of their day. As a subsidiary of Just Eat Takeway.com, one of the world's leading on-demand delivery companies, Skip combines local expertise with global scale to provide fast, reliable service when it matters most.

To learn more, visit skipcanada.com/newsroom .

SOURCE Skip

For more information, please contact Stephanie Porfiris, Pomp & Circumstance, [email protected]
Actor Lee Chae Min is winning hearts on the internet after disbanding harsh criticism of his relationship with co-actress Ryu Da In through kind actions.

The couple has been subject to fans' judgment since they revealed their relationship in March 2024, and most have commended their sweet yet under-the-radar displays of affection.

A recent story making waves online was about Chae Min's considerate actions towards Da In and garnered praise from netizens. An employee in the restaurant had posted their own story:

"He even cooked some pancakes himself for actress Ryu Da In," the employee shared and explained that they were completely wowed by what the actor did when they visited.

OMG #LeeChaeMin and #RyuDaIn were spotted on a restaurant date on oct 3rd, two days ago ... (now haters can burn in jealousy hell lmao)



He even cooked (fried) a pancake himself for actress Dain and signed an autograph for the part-timer when they asked for it pic.twitter.com/Ow46HphhT2  ~ (@octobershiuli) October 5, 2025

The same witness also commented on the striking visuals of the couple. The post continued, "Lee Chae Min is handsome, and Ryu Da In is beautiful," highlighting the presence of the pair together.

The fans then quickly circulated the news around the world, with numerous fans applauding the actor's sweet gesture and good natured attitude towards his girlfriend.

wah lee chaemin is so greenflag, no he is the greenforest, i think i will start to stan him now not becoz of BAYM(didn't watch yet) but he is proving me there are still men like him out there, still cherishing what's important after gaining all the fame and ryudain is a cool girl https://t.co/SomMbxMX9W pic.twitter.com/bow72Jrt1z   (@0815RL1110) October 5, 2025

A fan shared her admiration, stating, "They are seriously relationship goals," echoing how fans across social media felt.

The relationship between the couple has been put under the spotlight with Chae Min's growing popularity due to his acting gig in hit drama "Bon Appetit, Your Majesty." Yet, their real-time interactions and public affection seem to have silenced critics who praised them.

According to Koreaboo, Lee Chae Min's move became a viral issue as netizens cheered at his kindness and the couple's public chemistry.

In the meantime, StarNewsKorea pointed out that their relationship remains popular for its realness, with many stressing that those simple thoughtful moves are a sign of a healthy and robust relationship.

Regardless of public scrutiny and some criticism here and there, Lee Chae Min and Ryu Da In keep their sights on supporting each other both on and off camera, cementing themselves as one of K-drama's best-loved celebrity couples.
A Gloucester County police officer will not face charges in a 2024 incident that left a 22-year-old motorist dead, officials with the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office said.

A state grand jury voted not to charge Lt. Anthony Pease of the Monroe Township Police Department for his role in a car crash that left 22-year-old Michael Ospina dead.

Investigators said Ospina was traveling 134 mph just before losing control of the car and hitting two utility poles.

Pease was following Ospina at 3:58 a.m. on Feb. 19, 2024, after his car was identified in an eluding incident in a neighboring town, officials said.

Pease followed Ospina on Broadline Road in Monroe Township until reaching the intersection of Winslow Road, officials said.

At the intersection, Pease passed a car and turned on his emergency lights to try and stop Ospina before he turned onto Winslow Road at a high rate of speed, officials said.

Pease followed Ospina until his car was out of sight and erroneously radioed that he had entered the Atlantic City Expressway, officials said.

Minutes later, Pease found Ospinas crashed vehicle on East Fleming Pike in Winslow Township, officials said.

Emergency personnel responded to the scene and removed Ospina from the car, declaring him dead at the scene, officials said.

The incident was investigated by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability within the Attorney Generals Office under a 2019 directive that all deaths while interacting with law enforcement be investigated to determine if criminal charges are appropriate.

The directive requires that all such investigations be presented to a grand jury.
An Essex County woman has filed a federal lawsuit against Amazon, claiming a trampoline she bought for her 3-year-old son caused him to develop lead poisoning.

The mother purchased the 55-inch Toddler Trampoline For Kids Lilumudm from Amazon last year that was later discovered to have contained lead-based paint, according to the lawsuit, filed Sept. 25 in U.S. District Court.

The child was diagnosed with lead poisoning on Oct. 30, 2024. His blood levels were significantly higher than the amount needed to be classified as lead poisoning under the applicable medical guidelines, according to the lawsuit.

The complaint states the child was injured from the inhalation, ingestion, and exposure to lead-based paint and lead from the trampoline.

His injuries are permanent and will affect his physical ability to concentrate. His future health has been irreparably impaired, the suit says, adding the child has suffered injuries to his brain and nervous system.

Amazon designed, manufactured, assembled, sold and transported the product to the womans home in Newark, the suit says.

The trampoline, which is still available on Amazon, sells for about $100 and is made of heavy-duty alloy steel with anti-rust and anti-corrosion protection, Amazon states on its website.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, toys and other products, especially those made outside the United States, can be a source for lead poisoning.

Lead is used to soften plastic and to make it more flexible so that it can go back to its original shape. It may also be used in plastic toys to stabilize molecules from heat, the CDC says on its website.

A young child may touch the plastic toy and then ingest the dust when putting their fingers in their mouth, the CDC says.

A spokesperson for Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the suit.

The woman is also suing the East Orange company that owns the multi-family townhouse where the woman lives with her child, claiming hazardous lead-based paint conditions exist within the dwelling and contributed to her sons ill health.

The lawsuit was first filed in August in state court, then moved to federal court last month because the anticipated damages are more than $75,000, the lawsuit claims.
A still from video posted by the Catholic peace and social justice group Pax Christi showed visitors to the Delaney Hall immigrant detention center in Newark on Sept. 6 lined up along a metal fence amid the lightning and driving rain of a storm. Pax Christi

On a stormy Saturday in Newark last month, in the driving rain and occasional flash of lightning, visitors to Delaney Hall lined up along the metal razor-wire fence that surrounds the immigrant detention center, anxiously waiting to see their undocumented loved ones held inside.

Six Democratic members of New Jerseys congressional delegation say the situation on Sept. 6 posed severe risks of electrocution, exemplifying the inhumane treatment faced by visitors to the Newark facility.

The risks posed by the storm, combined with other concerns, have prompted the federal lawmakers to demand improvements at Delaney Hall, the privately owned and operated, ICE-contracted lockup thats been at the center of one controversy or calamity after another since opening last spring.

Most recently, on Sept. 6, 2025, visitors were forced to wait outside along a metal fence during thunderstorms that included torrential rain and lightning, without shelter or consideration for their safety, states a Sept. 30 letter to federal and company officials signed by the half-dozen House members.

It is both shocking and deeply irresponsible to line people up against a metal fence during an active lightning storm, the letter added, a situation that poses obvious and severe risks of electrocution.

The letter was addressed to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, or ICE, and to David Donahue, CEO of the Florida-based GEO Group, which has a 15-year, $1 billion contract with ICE to hold up to 1,000 detainees at a time there.

It was penned by the office of U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, a Democrat who represents parts of Camden County in New Jerseys 1st Congressional District.

Norcross was contacted by members of Pax Christi, a Catholic peace and social justice organization whose members have been a nearly constant presence outside Delaney Hall since the spring.

Reps. Rob Menendez, Frank Pallone, Josh Gottheimer, Nellie Pou, and LaMonica McIver co-signed the letter.

Menendez and McIver were at Delaney Hall for an oversight visit on May 9, which ultimately led to the high-profile arrest of Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka on a trespassing charge that was dropped 13 days later.

McIver was indicted after the incident on federal charges of assaulting and impeding the federal officer who arrested Baraka, pending charges she denies as politically motivated.

Before then, Delaney Hall drew headlines for its May 1 opening despite Barakas insistence that it lacked a valid certificate of occupancy.

The House members letter called on ICE and GEO to immediately provide humane accommodations to visitors, including:

Adequate indoor or covered waiting areas protected from inclement weather

Consistent visiting hours and reasonable timeframes for processing and entry to avoid excessive delays

Clear communication and fair procedures to ensure transparency and accountability

Reliable access to restrooms

Adequate access to parking

Onsite access to cover-up garments for dress code violations

The House members urged federal and company officials to reply to the letter by Oct. 16, with a written list of steps they planned to take to address conditions for visitors. The lawmakers did not say what they would do if officials failed to respond.

A spokesperson for Norcross did not respond to a request from NJ Advance Media on any update to the situation.

ICE also did not respond. The GEO Group did provide a response to NJAM, though it did not address specific assertions or demands in the letter.

GEO strongly rejects these baseless allegations, which are part of a long-standing, politically motivated, and radical campaign to abolish ICE and end federal immigration detention by attacking the federal governments immigration facility contractors, read a statement from the GEO Group.

The statement added: We take the safety and security of our facilities with the utmost seriousness, and our commitment to safety extends to all individuals and community organizations that visit our facilities. We work collaboratively with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to ensure access to visitation and accommodations for visitors that adhere to the standards and guidelines set by the federal government.

It rained hard in Newark on Sept. 6. Forecasts also called for lightning that day, when Pax Christie posted a video on its Instagram page showing about 30 visitors lined up along the Delaney Hall fence, including a young child in a stroller.

Most of the visitors in the video held umbrellas, and some wore rain gear or clear plastic ponchos provided by local supporters. All were pelted by heavy rain that ran in sheets down the facilitys sloping driveway toward Doremus Avenue, though no lightening was visible during the clip, which lasted about a minute and 4 seconds.

Pax Christis New Jersey regional coordinator, Kathy OLeary, echoed the concerns of House members, who also complained that on hot days visitors had to wait on Delaney Halls black-top driveway, with no shade from the sun.

OLeary said she was also concerned that minors have been asked for identification in violation of visitation rules that do not require it for them. She said some visitors have been denied entry for seemingly arbitrary reasons.

OLeary was at Delaney Hall that stormy day last month, when she had to resist the urge to seek the shelter of her car. It was an option that visitors dared not afford themselves, OLeary said, lest they miss the chance to see their loved one before they were ordered deported and put on a plane at Newark Liberty International Airport, a few miles south.

People who were on line were determined, OLeary said. They were afraid that if they got off the line, they wouldnt get in.
McMillans, which closed back in May after 86 years in business, is now set to reopen under new ownership. McMillans Bakery

A legendary New Jersey bakery is now planning to reopen after the decades old business shuttered earlier this year.

McMillans Bakery, a revered establishment located along Haddon Avenue in Westmont, has been sold to a new owner who who plans to open again in early 2026, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

McMillans Bakery closed back in May after over 86 years in business.

Many McMillans lovers feared theyd never again be able to indulge in the bakerys delicious cream doughnuts. But Tom Whitman, owner of Del Buonos Bakery and Carmens Deli, recently acquired the bakery and aims to revive the decades old South Jersey institution, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Whitman plans to fully renovate the space before its reopening. Doug Biemiller, grandson of McMillans founders George and Evelyn McMillan, will join Whitman to oversee baking and production, according to the report.

It is currently unclear exactly when the landmark will reopen and if it will still carry the McMillans name. Whitman told The Inquirer that hed prefer to keep the name but will change it if he cant reach a deal with the estate.

This is the Whitmans third acquisition of a longstanding South Jersey eatery.

The entrepreneur purchased Del Buonos Bakery in Haddon Heights 12 years ago and went on to open a second location in Stratford in 2017. Whitman also bought Carmens Deli in Bellmawr eight years ago.

McMillans, which originally opened in 1939, landed on NJ.coms lists of the states 62 greatest bakeries and 37 best doughnut shops.
With three months left in the year, N.J. is reporting more norovirus outbreaks than in 2024 and 2023. Canva Illustration for NJ.com

Its the scariest time of year. One moment youre gearing up for a day of fall activities and next thing you know, youre clinging to a porcelain toilet with full body aches. Within 24 hours, the whole house is sick.

Like the masked Michael Myers in a Halloween reboot, norovirus is back again. A spokeswoman for the state health department said New Jersey has seen an uptick in recent reported outbreaks of norovirus, an extremely contagious illness that causes a host of nasty gastrointestinal issues.

So far in 2025, theres been a total of 238 outbreaks, according to preliminary state data. By comparison, there were a total of 195 outbreaks reported in 2024. In 2023, 189 outbreaks were reported.

Norovirus outbreaks occur throughout the year but are most common from November to April. However, aggressive strains of the virus may be contributing to an earlier onset of the norovirus season, according to research published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in June.

What is norovirus?

Often called the stomach flu or stomach bug, norovirus causes painful stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the CDC.

Unlike other illnesses that may develop over several days or weeks, it can be abrupt, said Dr. Stefan Hagmann, section chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Joseph M. Sanzari Childrens Hospital located at Hackensack University Medical Center.

Symptoms usually develop within 12 to 48 hours after being exposed, according to the CDC.

You could be woken up in the middle of the night and your child starts to throw up and then rush to the toilet. Thats how rapid this can happen. In a way, you go to bed and you dont expect anything to happen, and then all of a sudden youre standing in the middle of this mess, said Hagmann.

How does it spread?

The virus spreads easily and quickly through:

Direct contact with an infected person.



Contaminated food and beverages.



Touching contaminated objects or surfaces.

The virus is most commonly reported in healthcare facilities. Over half of all outbreaks reported in the United States occur in long-term care facilities, according to the CDC.

Cruise ships are also a hotbed for viral outbreaks. The convergence of travelers from all over the world together in a crowded, semi-enclosed space can facilitate the spread of germs.

In September, nearly 100 people aboard the Royal Caribbean Internationals Serenade of the Seas ship were sickened by norovirus, marking the 19th outbreak of stomach illness on a cruise ship this year.

By comparison, in 2024 there were 18 and in 2023, 14.

More than 90% of gastrointestinal illness outbreaks on cruise ships are due to norovirus, according to the CDCs Maritime Illness Database and Reporting System. For international cruise ships porting in the U.S. during 20062019, an average of 12 outbreaks occurred each year.

While the most severe symptoms usually only last 48 hours, individuals can still spread the virus for two weeks or more after feeling better, according to the CDC.

How is it treated?

Theres no specific medicine used to treat people with norovirus. Since its a virus and not a bacterial infection, antibiotics wont help, said Hagmann.

Most people with the stomach bug get better in one to three days. But for some people, it can become a serious illness. Since the virus causes excessive diarrhea and vomiting, it can lead to severe dehydration, especially in young children and older adults.

Each year in the U.S., norovirus causes an average of 900 deaths, according to the CDC.

Its a simple illness, but if you live in a household where there are immunocompromised persons, then its something to really be aware of, to help protect that compromised individual, said Hagmann.

If a person becomes so sick that they refuse food and water, Hagmann said it might be time to see a doctor.

How can you prevent it?

Good handwashing is key, especially since alcohol-based hand sanitizer doesnt work well against the virus.

Hagmann also recommends disinfecting shared spaces with a chlorine bleach solution.

Its likely to survive in the environment unless youre very careful to clean with bleach, because its very hearty, the virus, said Hagmann.
State officials are investigating The Beach Gallery, a bar and restaurant in Keansburg, after reports that three convicted sex offenders owned and operated the bar. Google Maps

The Beach Gallery, a restaurant, bar and event space in Keansburg, was forced to abruptly close last week and is under investigation by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control after recent claims that three people who worked there previously pleaded guilty to sex crimes against children.

Keansburg officials closed the restaurant and bar on Sept. 30 after being notified that utilities at the location had been turned off, borough administrator Raymond OHare told NJ Advance Media.

OHare said that the borough was notified about the business employing convicted sex offenders by employees that went to the police to report not being paid. Keansburgs police chief did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The owner of The Beach Gallery announced the restaurants closing Thursday night in a lengthy statement on the businesss website. The website has since been shutdown.

The Google listing for the bar said it was temporarily closed Thursday, but the bar announced that it would not be reopening later the same day, on Oct. 2.

After careful consideration, The Beach Gallery has made the difficult decision to permanently close its doors, the statement said. This is a profound loss for the community we sought to serve and, most tragically, for the very employees who were successfully rebuilding their lives through stable employment here.

The statement said the bar was founded by a woman with a mission of inclusivity and providing second chances.

Janna Epstein-Jerinsky, whose husband pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child in 2011 after being accused of having inappropriate sexual relationships with female students while volunteering with the Ramsey High School band, was named in social media posts as the person who secured the permits for the restaurant.

Epstein-Jerinsky is a 1% stakeholder in the liquor license used to operate The Beach Gallery, according to local officials. The other 99% is owned by RDS Bar and Restaurant, LLC, officials said.

Epstein-Jerinsky could not be reached for comment.

It was not immediately clear if the three men that pleaded guilty to sex crimes were on any permits or business documents.

The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control within the Attorney Generals Office declined to comment or provide additional information about who owns and controls the liquor license, citing the existence of an active investigation Thursday.

I believe deeply that if someone has paid their debt to society, they deserve the opportunity to move on and build a new, productive life, according to the statement posted on the businesses website. The Beach Gallery was designed to be an example of a place that grants that chance, and I view this commitment to opportunity as a source of pride.

When the bar opened in 2024, the owner hired people with criminal backgrounds after being approached by an unnamed state agency, according to the bars statement.

ABC regulations exclude people that have been convicted of moral turpitude offenses from owning or having any interest in liquor licenses.

The restaurant is also accused of not refunding two couples that paid to have their wedding at The Beach Gallery.

The husband and wife owners of Half Moon in Keansburg, stepped up to host two weddings on Saturday after The Beach Gallery Closed last week.

As Keansburg residents, business owners, and a growing family, our decision to host these weddings just down the street from the couples original venue was made to support them and our community, Diana Grossman and Emiliano Graci told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday.

Grossman and Graci said they did their best to reduce their fees and cut costs to help the couples have their events after losing their money. They said other local companies pitched in as well to help make the events special.

The weddings are scheduled to be back-to-back on Saturday with only an hour to switch from one event to the other, and they had to cancel existing reservations and provide gift cards to accommodate those customers.

We are a family-owned and operated business in a small, underdeveloped town that already battles a difficult reputation, Grossman and Graci said. The ongoing situation involving the borough and the Beach Gallery has only made things harder for our community and local businesses like ours.
Attorney Alina Habba speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign event, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in Johnstown, Pa. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

A bipartisan group of former U.S. attorneys is urging a federal appeals court to block what they call a dangerous abuse of executive power.

The former U.S. attorneys argue that President Donald Trumps move to install Alina Habba as New Jerseys top federal prosecutor without Senate confirmation violates federal law and threatens the constitutional balance of powers.

The former prosecutors called the administrations effort to delegate prosecutorial authority to Habba a lawless attempt to bypass constitutional and statutory limits on federal appointments.

Congress did not want neophytes assuming such authority, much less the unfit characters feared by the Framers, the brief states.

The group includes 10 former U.S. attorneys appointed by presidents from Ronald Reagan to Barack Obama.

The former prosecutors say U.S. attorneys wield extraordinary discretion and must be selected through a process that ensures competence, independence and accountability.

They argue that the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and other governing laws were designed to prevent presidents from installing loyalists into critical law enforcement roles without Senate oversight.

The legal battle over Habbas appointment began in several criminal cases originally filed in the District of New Jersey.

The defendants include Julien Giraud Jr. and Julien Giraud III, both charged with firearms and narcotics offenses, and Cesar Pina, a social media influencer accused of running a Ponzi-like real estate scheme.

The mens defense attorneys filed motions to dismiss their indictments

Rather than rule on the challenge, a judge in New Jersey transferred the matter to the Middle District of Pennsylvania, citing the constitutional questions at stake.

Chief Judge Matthew Brann was assigned to hear the case and issued a ruling that Habba had been unlawfully serving as U.S. attorney since July 1.

Brann barred Habba from prosecuting any cases in New Jersey but stayed his decision pending appeal to the U.S. Appeals Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Habba, a longtime Trump ally who served as his personal attorney and legal spokesperson, was nominated in March to lead the U.S. Attorneys Office in New Jersey.

Her nomination stalled after New Jerseys Democratic senators, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, declined to support her.

The Senates blue slip tradition gives home-state senators veto power over nominees.

With confirmation blocked, the administration installed Habba through a series of interim and acting appointments.

Critics say the maneuver sidestepped the Constitutions advice and consent requirement for high-level federal appointments.

As Habbas 120-day interim term neared its expiration on July 22, a panel of federal judges declined to extend her tenure.

Just hours before the deadline, the judges appointed Desiree Grace, the offices first assistant, to serve as interim U.S. attorney.

The Department of Justice then removed Grace and reinstalled Habba, citing a legal workaround under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act.

The filings were submitted by attorneys from Loevy & Loevy, Klubes Law Group, and other firms representing the former prosecutors.

The Third Circuit is expected to hear arguments in the case Oct. 20.
A New Jersey principal who lost a new job offer after being accused in a lawsuit of making discriminatory remarks toward a gay Jewish administrator is speaking out, saying the allegations are baseless lies.

Daniel Finkle, the former principal of Cherry Hill High School East, said the lawsuit filed last month by former vice principal David Francis-Maurer has unfairly damaged his career.

Finkle recently left Cherry Hill East for a new principal role in a Mercer County school district, but the controversy quickly cost him the job, he said Wednesday in a statement to NJ Advance Media.

The lawsuit filed against me by Mr. Maurer is baseless, and unfortunately the press coverage of it has cost me dearly by depriving me of the opportunity to serve the students and families of a great school district, Finkle said.

The complaint, filed on Sept. 8 in Camden County Superior Court, claims Finkle made discriminatory remarks about Francis-Maurers sexuality and religion during the 2023-24 school year.

Finkle is accused of telling Francis-Maurer at the start of the school year to leave his identities at the door, a remark the former vice principal says referred to being gay and practicing Judaism, according to court documents.

The suit also cites a video posted to the schools student government account that appeared to show Finkle lip-syncing to a sound mocking gender identity, and a meeting where he allegedly said, I wear my Star of David on the inside, not the outside.

Francis-Maurer said he reported the remarks to district officials, but his concerns were dismissed or ignored. He claims he was later pushed out of his job after speaking up about the principal.

Days after the lawsuit was filed, Finkle announced he was leaving Cherry Hill East after accepting a job at Hightstown High School in the East Windsor Regional School District. His hiring was approved on Sept. 8, according to district records.

But once the allegations became public, the East Windsor Regional school board voted unanimously on Sept. 29 to rescind Finkles $189,000 contract following a closed-door session.

Officials did not say whether the decision was tied to the lawsuit, though student representatives on the board said classmates had raised concerns about the controversy.

Finkle said he plans to fight back in court and is confident the allegations will be proven false.

Unfortunately, Im told by an attorney that there are strong immunities protecting Mr. Maurer from civil liability for lies contained in a complaint that is neither sworn nor even signed by the person providing the lies, who gets to hide behind the signature of an attorney, Finkle said.

At the very least, while I cannot convince Hightstown (a high school in the East Windsor district) to change its mind and risk a problem with its students families, I look forward to filing a detailed answer refuting the lies that Mr. Maurer has told through his attorney, he added. In the end, Im cautiously optimistic that Mr. Maurer will be held accountable for his dishonesty.

Cherry Hill Public Schools was also named in the lawsuit. In a statement, a spokesperson said the district cannot comment on pending litigation other than to state that it denies allegations of wrongdoing.
The rebuilt Ocean Grove pier, on left, and on right, what it looked like before it was destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in 2011. Andre Malok and Andy Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The future of a 500-foot-long ocean pier in Monmouth County built in the shape of a Christian cross remains in limbo, nearly two years after concerns were raised about its structural integrity.

Approximately half of the pier  the extension over the ocean  has been closed since December 2023 and will remain off-limits for the foreseeable future, the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association announced Monday.

The association owns all of the land in a small section of Neptune and opened the $2 million pier in April 2023, replacing the structure that was destroyed 11 years earlier during Hurricane Sandy.

Unlike its predecessor, though, the pier was constructed in the shape of a cross, in a nod to the areas history as a Methodist retreat  a decision that drew both praise and criticism.

The pier opened in April 2023 but fully closed eight months later after three of the 88 newly-installed pilings were broken by waves, officials said.

In April 2024, the first 243 feet of the pier reopened to the public while an engineering firm continued to evaluate the extension.

After many months of detailed investigation and analysis, we are in receipt of our engineers report on the structural sufficiency of the pier addition, the camp meeting association said in an update on its website. Regrettably, we have been advised by our engineers that the pier extension may not be structurally sound enough to be used safely,

The association did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Neptune Mayor Robert Lane Jr. told NJ Advance Media that all planning, design, and construction decisions fall under the purview of the association, which owns the pier and paid for its construction.

While the township is not involved in this project, our top priority remains the safety and well-being of our residents, Lane told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday. We continue to monitor all developments within the township and expect that any structures built, regardless of ownership, meet all applicable safety standards and regulations,

The update on the pier comes as Ocean Grove awaits a decision on a long-running battle over barring Sunday morning beach access from its boardwalk during the summer.

New Jerseys Department of Environmental Protection ordered an end to the religious-based tradition, which had endured for 155 years, in 2024, and the association removed the barriers.

However, an administrative law judge ruled June 26 that the association was within its rights to restrict beach access from its boardwalk.

The state environmental commissioner has until Nov. 10 to uphold, reject or modify the judges ruling  though declining to accept it could prompt another legal challenge from the camp meeting association.

The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association leases land in the neighborhood on a long-term basis to homeowners and businesses. It also sells leases for 114 tents and 20 cottages for use during the summer season.

Ocean Grove was governed by the association as a religious enclave for a century, until the New Jersey Supreme Court declared its original charter unconstitutional.
Mariah, the mother of a 5-year-old kindergartner at John Fenwick Academy in Salem, who she says was assaulted by a teachers aide, is pictured with her daughter. Provided Photo

Her 5-year-old daughter began acting out in class, crying and refusing to go to school because her classmates were picking on her.

Days later, a Salem County mother says she learned her childs distress was not just about bullying, but about what she describes as ongoing abuse by a teachers aide that ended in an alleged violent classroom assault.

Mariah, who asked that her full name not be used to protect her daughters privacy, said she repeatedly tried to alert staff at John Fenwick Academy in Salem that her daughter was being bullied.

But a harassment, intimidation and bullying report filed Wednesday and obtained by NJ Advance Media, alleges the problem was far more severe, detailing six separate incidents in which the same aide allegedly choked, mocked and mistreated the kindergartner over several weeks.

The Salem City School District declined to comment, citing personnel matters, but in a statement issued earlier this week said they take all concerns seriously.

According to the report, filed by the childs mother, she claims the aide targeted the girl, calling her cry baby, encouraging other students to laugh at her, flicking her on the face and arms and once placing her hands around the childs neck in an empty classroom.

The mother said her daughter felt scared and too afraid to tell anyone what happened.

Those encounters, Mariah said, escalated on Oct. 2 when the aide allegedly grabbed her daughter by the arm and threw her into a chair. The incident was witnessed and reported by the classroom teacher.

According to a police report, officers met with the schools principal and other administrators after the alleged assault. The report states that a paraprofessional picked up the student, forcefully placed the student in a chair, resulting in her striking the back of her head on a metal cabinet.

Bruises from the aides fingers are on my daughters arm right now, Mariah said in a phone interview Tuesday.

She said the school never contacted police or called an ambulance, forcing her to do it herself. By the time she arrived, the paraprofessional had already been sent home, she said.

When I got there, they said the aide was already gone, Mariah said. I asked, Where are the police? and they told me they dont call the police, that it was an internal investigation. Then I said, You lost your mind. Call the police.

Mariah said her daughter, who has bruises on her arm, neck and behind her knees, has been too afraid to return to school since. She also said school officials offered little communication or support in the days that followed.

District officials did not disclose the current status of the aides employment.

After the alleged Oct. 2 assault, the mother requested a transfer for her daughter but was told the process must be approved by the districts board of education. She also inquired about home instruction for mental health reasons but said she was told it would require a referral from a clinician.

Theyve done absolutely nothing to help her feel safe, Mariah said. Her daughter has been home, missing school, since the alleged assault.

The Salem County Prosecutors Office and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families have since interviewed Mariah and her daughter, Mariah said. Detectives told her theyre investigating the incident as a possible child endangerment case, she said.

On Wednesday, the Salem County Prosecutors Office declined to comment on the case.

Mariah said her attorney is preparing a lawsuit against the aide, the school and the district.

In a previous statement sent to NJ Advance Media, district officials said they could not comment on specific student or personnel matters due to privacy laws.

We must strictly adhere to our legal and ethical obligations regarding confidentiality and privacy, the statement said. We want to assure our families and the public that any concern is taken seriously.
The victim was between 9 and 11 years old when the assaults occurred in 2015 and 2016, according to prosecutors. (Photo by ClassicStock/Getty Images)

A Phillipsburg man if facing up to 30 years in prison after repeatedly sexually assaulting a child.

On Tuesday, 46-year-old Victor I. Rosado was sentenced by Warren County Superior Court Judge H. Matthew Curry, sitting in Belvidere, to 30 years in state prison, with 25-and-a-half years of parole ineligibility.

Additionally, Rosado will be subjected to parole supervision for life and registration as a sex offender under Megans Law.

Rosado on April 17 was found guilty following a jury trial of four counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault; two counts second-degree sexual assault; and two counts second-degree child endangerment.

Court records did not immediately show information for Rosados attorney.

The Warren County Prosecutors Office said the sex acts happened in 2015 and 2016 when the victim, who was known to the defendant, was between the ages of 9 and 11 years old.

The case was investigated by Warren County Detective Sgt. John Marino. It was prosecuted by Acting Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Kevin Brotzman.
The director of nursing at an Ocean County rehabilitation center was accused earlier this year of assaulting one of the facilitys residents and attempting to cover it up, authorities announced Wednesday.

Patricia Linda-Ahono, 59, of Irvington, was indicted by a state grand jury on July 23 on charges of second and third-degree aggravated assault, third-degree neglect of an elderly or disabled adult, third-degree tampering with witnesses, fourth-degree assault on an institutionalized elderly person and fourth-degree falsifying, according to a statement from the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office.

She was arrested July 24 and arraigned on Monday.

On June 24, 2023, a physical altercation occurred between Lindo-Ahono and a resident at Crystal Lake Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center, in Bayville, the office said.

A nurse recorded a video of the incident that took place in a hallway on the fifth floor of the facility, investigators said. The video allegedly shows Lindo-Ahono hitting the victim with a broom, with the victims left hand dripping blood.

Lindo-Ahono allegedly can be heard in the recording saying, Call (staff member) (inaudible) before I kill this man.

She later completed an incident report saying the event took place on June 20, 2023, at 12:30 p.m. and claimed that the victim tried to scratch her using the head of a blue disposable razor, authorities said. She also claimed that she used the broom to swat the object away.

The video does not show the victim holding a razor or any weapon in either hand, the office said. Staff members who were present at the time of the incident said that they never saw a weapon in the victims hand.

Lindo-Ahono also claimed that police and emergency services were called and that the victim was transported by ambulance to the hospital for evaluation, investigators said. Current and former staff members confirmed that Lindo-Ahono instructed them not to call the police.

She also wrote in the incident report that she notified the New Jersey Department of Health, the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman and the Office of Public Guardian, but those organizations all confirmed that they were not contacted, the office said.

After the video was released to the public, the Berkeley Township Police Department and the attorney generals offices Medicaid Fraud Control Unit began investigating the matter, officials said.

On Dec. 21, 2024, as police officers were speaking with the on-duty supervisor about the incident, Lindo-Ahono called the supervisor in response to a message about the officers presence, authorities said.

The on-duty supervisor answered the call, and when Lindo-Ahono inquired if her voice was on speakerphone, the supervisor said no. Officers then heard Lindo-Ahono say, You dont remember anything, right?

Residents of adult care facilities need to be treated with respect and dignity, and be safe, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a statement. Physically assaulting a resident is inexcusable, and we will not stand by and allow such conduct to go undetected.
In a profoundly blue state, Republican Jack Ciattarelli, left, may have a chance to upset Democrat Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey's race for governor, which would be an enormous victory for President Donald Trump, writes Tom Moran. NJ Advance Media

Is President Donald Trump about to score a huge political win by helping to elect a MAGA loyalist as governor in New Jersey, one the nations bluest states?

It could happen. The latest poll, from Emerson College, says that Republican Jack Ciattarelli has closed the gap with the Democrat, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, with just a month to go.

And that amazes me. Because Ciattarelli is not playing by the regular rules. Hes running hard-right, locking arms with the president and offering up a stridently conservative agenda in a blue state where Republicans make up just 25 percent of the vote. That has some political veterans scratching their heads.

Maybe Im old-fashioned, but Im a sucker for the idea that you win elections by having the broadest appeal, says Micah Rasmussen of Rider University. But I guess these days that can be wrong. You can just stoke up your base and win by getting people out to vote. You dont have to appeal to the middle.

This race is one of just two gubernatorial elections this year, and all eyes are watching to see what the results say about Trumps political strength. The other race, in Virginia, is not as close, with Democrat Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a friend and former roommate of Sherrills, holding a double-digit lead over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears.

CAN TRUMP FLIP IT?

If Ciattarelli can win in Blue Jersey, it would be a coup for Trump. He could legitimately claim to have pushed the line that divides red and blue northward, showing that his brand of politics has broad appeal, even in a state where Democrats run everything.

Trump lost the state by just six points last year, winning even in some Democratic strongholds like Passaic County. And the Democratic governor, Phil Murphy, is even more unpopular than Trump. To Ciattarellis camp, that points to an opportunity.

What Jack argues is that if voters are unhappy with the direction New Jersey is going, then they have only one option here  to vote for someone who is going to change it, says Chris Russell, the campaigns strategist.

So, lets take a deeper dive into Ciattarellis views.

IN FULL SUBMISSION

First, his loyalty to Trump is nearly absolute. He said in July he doesnt disagree with Trump on anything and he has made exceptions to that rule only twice, both on local issues. He vows he will never file a lawsuit against the administration. So, if Trump cuts off aid to Rutgers University for political reasons, so be it. If he sends the Marines to Newark, that too. As for mass deportation, Ciattarelli says hell cut off aid to cities and towns that dont allow their police to help the guys in the masks.

The big moment came last week when Trump turned off the spigot of money for a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River, even as engineers warn the aging tunnels in place now might have to be shut down for repairs at any time, an economic catastrophe for the state. Ciattarelli hasnt offered a peep of protest.

This, folks, is full submission, like a lap dog begging for a belly rub. This from a guy who once called Trump a charlatan who was not fit to be president.

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?

But theres more. Ciattarellis policies are decidedly conservative, as well.

He wants to give parents school vouchers they can use at religious schools, with no income limit, saying Florida is his model. He plans ferocious cuts in state aid to schools in poor cities like Newark, while increasing aid to the wealthiest suburbs.

He promises to overturn the Mt. Laurel rulings of the state Supreme Court, which limit the zoning power of suburban towns that try to block affordable housing projects. He plans to cut the highest income tax rate in half, a big win for the one-percenters. He defends Trumps cuts to Medicaid, which the state estimates will leave 350,000 without insurance.

I called a bunch of smart Democrats and Republicans, asking them this question: How its possible that Ciattarelli could win Blue Jersey with an agenda like that?

THE DEMOCRATIC TIME WARP

Almost all of them cited the same two reasons: One, voters are sick of Democrats running the show, and angry about higher prices on everything from housing to electricity. And two, Sherrill is running a dull campaign, with no compelling policy vision and no imaginative tactics. Shes playing it safe.

She is not inspiring any passion, one Democrat with deep experience in New Jersey elections said, asking for anonymity to speak freely. Shes nowhere to be found. Shes running a campaign that is truly out of the 1990s.

Matt Hale, a political scientist from Seton Hall University, put it bluntly: I honestly believe that if Trump didnt exist, Ciattarelli would be up by 20 points. Trump is the albatross for him. And the only thing holding Democrats together is how much they hate Trump.

STIRRING THE POT

Still, Sherrill has a golden resume and shes undefeated in politics. She was a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot for nine years and her ads are full of pictures showing her in her flight suit as a young officer. She then worked as a federal prosecutor, before running for Congress in 2018, when she knocked off a veteran Republican who had served for more than two decades. In her campaigns and voting record, she is a centrist Democrat.

In the June primary this year, she crushed in a strong field, winning by 13 points. And the Emerson poll is an outlier, at least so far. A recent Fox News poll gave her an 8-point lead, matching a Quinnipiac poll from mid-September.

A lot of Republicans are feeling really good right now, but she has advantages, says Mike DuHaime, a Republican strategist who ran Chris Christies two successful campaigns. There are 800,000 more Democrats, and shes not easily characterized as far left.

If those Democrats show up, Sherrill wins. And my guess is that they will get off the couch in November  not because Sherrill has stirred them, but because Trump has.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before signing an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) AP

President Donald Trump wants two prominent Illinois Democrats arrested over their response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Chicago.

Federal immigration officers have used aggressive tactics, including flying helicopters and deploying chemical agents, to crack down on immigration in Chicago. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) have both condemned Trumps administration over its deportation and detainment agenda.

On Wednesday, Trump escalated his attacks on the Democratic leaders by demanding they be jailed.

Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also! he wrote on Truth Social.

Pritzker responded to Trump with his own post on social media platform X.

I will not back down. Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power.What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism? Pritzker wrote.

His masked agents already are grabbing people off the street. Separating children from their parents .Creating fear. Taking people for how they look.

Making people feel they need to carry citizenship papers. Invading our state with military troops. Sending in war helicopters in the middle of the night. Arresting elected officials asking questions, he said. We must all stand up and speak out.

I will not back down.



Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power.



What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism? pic.twitter.com/TieJ2irYv5  Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) October 8, 2025

Johnson also fired back on X: "This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested. Im not going anywhere."

Trumps crackdown on Chicago has escalated in recent days after he deployed National Guard troops to the Democratic-led city. Illinois and Chicago sued Trump over his decision, saying that it was "patently unlawful," according to CNN.

Since starting his second term, Trump has sent or discussed sending troops to 10 cities, including Baltimore, the District of Columbia, New Orleans, and the California cities of Oakland, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Most violent crime around the U.S. has declined in recent years. In Chicago, homicides were down 31% to 278 through August, police data shows. Portlands homicides from January through June decreased by 51% to 17 this year compared with the same period in 2024.

In Portland, months of nightly protests at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility continued on Tuesday night. In June, police declared a riot, and there have been smaller clashes since then.

An appeals court has scheduled arguments for Thursday in the governments bid to deploy the Guard in Portland.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
New Jersey's gubernatorial candidates, Republican Jack Ciattarelli (left) and Democrat Mikie Sherrill (right) participated in their first debate at Rider University in Lawrenceville on Sept. 21. Ed Murray | For NJ Advance Media

Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill will square off Wednesday night in the second and final debate of their combative race to become New Jerseys next governor.

The major-party candidates to take over for term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy will meet at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center in a one-hour debate broadcast live on ABCs New York and Philadelphia TV stations.

It comes less than four weeks to Election Day. One recent poll found a dead heat between Sherrill, a four-term member of the U.S. House, and Ciattarelli, a former state Assemblyman who lost to Murphy in the last governors race. Other recent surveys have shown Sherrill up by as much as 8 percentage points.

The election has also grown more heated. The candidates have sparred over Sherrills Navy records, their tax plans, Ciattarellis support of President Donald Trump, and even where they stand on pork roll  or Taylor ham. Both have accused each other of lying a few times. Their first debate last month was tense.

Its also a race the nation is watching  one of only two governors elections this year, along with Virginia. And its considered a bellwether for the first year of Trumps return to the White House, ahead of next years congressional midterms.

Look out for questions not only about the high cost of living and government in New Jersey but the ongoing federal government shutdown, and more.

Mail-in voting is already underway, early in-person voting begins Oct. 25, and Election Day is Nov. 4.

Heres what to know:

When: Wednesday, Oct. 8

Time: 7-8 p.m.

How to watch on TV: The debate, sponsored by ABCs local television stations and the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy at Rutgers University, will air live on WABC-7 in New York and WPVI-6 in Philadelphia. You can submit questions here.

How to watch online: The event will be be streamed on abc7ny.com and 6abc.com and other related apps and streaming channels. WXTV Univision 41 in New York will also livestream the debate with Spanish Captioning.
Consumer protection attorney and former Rep. Katie Porter, who has announced her candidacy for governor of California, speaks during an interview ahead of the California Democratic Party's 2025 State Convention in Anaheim, Calif., on Friday, May, 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) AP

The leading candidate in Californias gubernatorial race is facing massive backlash after she threatened to walk out of an interview with a local CBS News journalist.

The on-camera exchange grew tense after reporter Julie Watts asked Porter what her message was to the 40% of California voters who youll need in order to win, who voted for Trump. Porter, a former member of Congress, laughed at Watts question in response.

How would I need them in order to win, maam? Porter said.

The interview continued to grow tense over the three-minute clip circulating on social media. Porter defended her ability to persuade GOP voters as a former representative of a swing district before noting that she would not need Republican votes in a general run-off election.

When asked if she would need Republican votes if she was running against a Democrat, Porter grew heated over the question.

I dont intend that to be the case, Porter said.

Watts continued to press Porter with follow-up questions as the former congresswoman grew visibly frustrated. She said that the question is unnecessarily argumentative, as Watts noted that every other candidate answered the questions.

Then, Porter appeared to try and walk out of the interview.

I dont want to keep doing this. Im going to call it, Porter said.

Youre not going to do the interview with us? Watts asked.

Nope. Not like this. Im not, not with seven follow ups to every single question you ask, Porter responded.

She said she wanted to have a pleasant, positive conversation with Watts.

Watts noted that she has asked the same questions to other candidates and defended her role as a journalist.

I dont want to have an unhappy experience with you, and I dont want this all on camera, Porter said at one point.

CBS noted that Porter ultimately stayed and continued answering questions after the exchange.

Katie Porter, the front runner to be the next Governor of California, tries to leave an interview after getting frustrated w/ @juliewattsTV questions pic.twitter.com/mTzZURG86K  Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) October 8, 2025

Porter faced immediate backlash on social media for the exchange, with MAGA supporters celebrating her meltdown on camera.

Conservative podcast host Megyn Kelly wrote on X: Are there other terrible interviews with Katie Porter? This is the most entertaining, unifying thing since tiger king!

What a mean, spoiled brat Katie Porter is to a journalist asking a very normal/straight forward question. The rumors in DC were always shes an absolute nightmare - and as usual, people always reveal themselves, Meghan McCain, a former co-host of The View, said.

Democrats are so used to media being their propagandists that they totally lose it when asked basic questions. Heres Californias Katie Porter losing it during an interview, Clay Travis, founder of OutKick, wrote on X.

She also faced some criticism from liberals, including founder of the media company Zeteo, Mehdi Hasan.

A car crash interview for Katie Porter. But also a reminder of why our media is broken. Politicians got use to the idea that interviews should be pleasant positive conversations. NO! They should be challenging & discomforting, Hasan wrote on X.

"I want to have a pleasant positive conversation"



A car crash interview for Katie Porter. But also a reminder of why our media is broken. Politicians got use to the idea that interviews should be "pleasant positive conversations". NO! They should be challenging & discomforting. https://t.co/9aVuItpIDY  Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) October 8, 2025

Porter launched her bid for California governor earlier this year, and has been seen as a favorite for the Democratic primary. Former Vice President Kamala Harris has said she will not be running for the office, but there a handful of other candidates vying for the nomination.

Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said in August that Porter is seen as a leader after Harris decided to run for governor.

With Kamala Harris officially out of the race, Katie Porter has emerged as the Democratic frontrunner, increasing her support from 12% to 18% since the April Emerson poll, Kimball said.

Steve Hilton, who was not in the race in April, has jumped to 12%, while the share of undecided voters has dropped from 54% to 38% over the summer. Porter leads among voters over 50 (22%), those with a postgraduate degree (35%), and white voters (23%), he added.
Clourer Grady, 72, was sentenced to prison for drug offenses multiple times in the early 1990s  but that wasnt the end of her story.

After her release from prison, she became a drug and alcohol counselor at Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, where she worked for more than 17 years until her retirement. Grady helped others through the same drug treatment she credits with saving her life.

She also earned her bachelors degree along the way. Though she had rebuilt her life, another critical goal remained  clearing her criminal record and proving to the state that she had lived a life worthy of forgiveness.

She achieved that last month when Gov. Phil Murphy announced he was pardoning 40 people in New Jersey, including Grady.

Any time I think about receiving a pardon I start to cry, Grady said. After four years of attempting to clear my record, to hear the governor tell me that he is signing into effect a full pardon with my name on it is a true blessing.

It makes these last 30 years of just being a productive member of society and using my time to help others feel so rewarding, she added.

Murphys clemency announcement last month was the third round he has issued during his tenure.

As The State for Second Chances, we pride ourselves on recognizing the power of redemption, Murphy, a Democrat, said in a statement. Extending this opportunity for a new beginning is one of the greatest responsibilities I hold as governor  and one that I do not take lightly.

Clemency can take the form of pardons or commutations. Pardons are typically granted to individuals who have completed their sentences and serve as formal forgiveness from the state. They can restore legal rights, such as eligibility for professional licensure and the ability to serve on a jury.

Commutations reduce the length of a sentence and may apply to individuals who are currently incarcerated or on parole.

Murphy has granted more clemency than any other governor in New Jersey history, following the launch of the state Clemency Advisory Board last year in Newark.

Last months announcement brought the total number of people granted clemency by Murphy to 169.

The Clemency Advisory Board focuses on cases involving excessive sentences, particularly for individuals who received lengthier sentences for rejecting plea deals, as well as those who acted in self-defense in situations involving domestic violence or sex trafficking.

With every grant of clemency, our state has shown that justice includes redemption  not only do people deserve freedom, but the restoration of their civil rights and humanity, said Rebecca Uwakwe, director of the Clemency Project at the ACLU of New Jersey.

Since the board began accepting applications, it has received more than 4,500 submissions.

Clemency is not about overlooking mistakes  it is about recognizing transformation, redemption and the power of a second chance, said Bishop Joshua Rodriguez, chair of the state Clemency Advisory Board.

With close to 170 pardons and commutations to date  more than the combined total of New Jerseys governors over the last 30 years  Gov. Murphy is making history," Rodriguez added. His bold use of clemency sends a clear message to the nation that justice and mercy can walk hand in hand, and we remain hopeful that many more lives will be restored before his term concludes.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) was asked why Democratic representative-elect Adelita Grijalva has yet to be sworn into office. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) AP

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) was hit with a real-time fact check when asked why House Speaker Mike Johnson has yet to swear in Democratic representative-elect Adelita Grijalva of Arizona.

During an appearance on CNNs The Source, Jordan told CNN host Kaitlan Collins late Tuesday that the House staying out of session is preventing the swearing in of Grijalva, who won a special election in late September.

Its typically done when were all there. Its a special thing. The individual, the new member gives a speech in front of Congress, sworn in by the speaker of the House. Introduced by colleagues of their delegation, Jordan said, adding, Ive been here 19 years  its always been done that way. So thats nothing out of the ordinary.

Jordan added that the House is not in session is because members have done our work in passing a measure that will fund the federal government, which entered its eighth day of a shutdown on Wednesday. The Senate is expected to consider dueling Republican and Democratic measures for a sixth time, after both proposals again fell short of the 60 votes needed to pass on Monday.

So youre saying because its a pro forma session, thats why? Collins asked, referring to meetings of Congress in which no legislative business is conducted.

As Jordan replied Yeah... normally its done in front of the full House, Collins clarified: But a couple months ago, he swore in Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine in a pro forma session.

Patronis and Fine, both Florida Republicans, were sworn in after special elections in April. At the time, the House met for a brief pro forma session.

Collins: Is it clear to you why Speaker Johnson has not sworn in the new member, Rep. Grijalva, yet?



Jordan: Were not in session



Collins: So you're saying because it's a pro Forma session



Jordan: Yeah



Collins: But a couple months ago, he swore in Jimmy Patronis and Randy pic.twitter.com/77aJmgNkS8  Acyn (@Acyn) October 8, 2025

Jordan replied: I actually didnt even know that, when they were sworn in. But Ill always remember, when it happens, the delegations up front, and that person is sworn in.

Jordan was then pressed by Collins over whether the delay has anything to do with Grijalva becoming the last signature on a discharge petition that would ultimately compel the Justice Department to release all files related to the investigation into late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The measure is one away from reaching the 218-signature threshold to bypass Johnson and force a House vote.

No, I think its... to make the clear point, we have voted to fund the government at levels all the Democrats supported, Jordan responded.

Hours earlier, Johnson told CNN that he would swear Grijalva in as soon as she wants. He later said during a press conference that the situation is unrelated to her looming signature on the petition, noting that she will have her ceremony once the House is back in session.

It has nothing to do with that at all. We will swear her in when everybody gets back, Johnson told reporters.

Johnson had previously called off votes for this week. The House is not scheduled to meet until Oct. 14

The delay comes as Johnson engaged in a fierce face-to-face exchange with Sens. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) about Grijalva and the government shutdown on Wednesday.

So I am anxious to administer the oath to her, as soon as you guys vote to open up the government, Johnson said at one point, POLITICO reported.
President Donald Trump demanded an investigation into Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) in a post on social media late Tuesday. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert and Alex Brandon)

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) is hitting back at President Donald Trump after he called for an investigation into the Democratic lawmaker.

In a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform late Tuesday, Trump resurfaced over decade-old allegations that Blumenthal lied about his military service in Vietnam, going on to call him perhaps the greatest phony in the history of the United States Senate.

This guy shouldnt be in the U.S. Senate, Trump wrote in the post. It should be investigated, and Justice should be sought.

Trump went on to conclude that Blumenthal, who he dubbed Da Nang Dick, should be allowed to speak no longer!

Shortly later, Blumenthal responded to the post during a live appearance on CNNs The Source," describing it as completely deceptive and distorted.

It really is absurd, Blumenthal told host Kaitlan Collins.

Blumenthal went on to say that the accusations have been really rejected by voters in his home state, who he emphasized overwhelmingly reelected him several times.

I was honorably discharged as a sergeant from the United States Marine Corps. I served in the reserves and I referred to my service in Vietnam on a handful, just a couple of occasions, rather than during Vietnam, Blumenthal said.

While pointing to his involvement in the Senate Committee on Armed Services and as a ranking member on the Committee on Veterans Affairs, Blumenthal said he fights for veterans and the strongest, greatest military in the world.

In a story published in The New York Times in 2010, Blumenthal acknowledged that he had misrepresented his service in Vietnam, saying it was a matter of a few misplaced words. He said he meant to say he served during Vietnam and not in Vietnam  as he was stationed in Washington, and not overseas, for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

On a few occasions, I have misspoken about my service and I regret that. And I take full responsibility, Blumenthal said at the time, calling them totally unintentional errors.

Trumps post came just hours after Attorney General Pam Bondi, while facing a grilling from senators during a heated hearing, accused Blumenthal of lying about his military record after he questioned the activities of her former law firm.

Sen. Blumenthal, I cannot believe that you would accuse me of impropriety when you lied about your military service. You lied  you admitted you lied to be elected a U.S. senator, Bondi said, before adding: How dare you? Im a career prosecutor. Dont you ever challenge my integrity.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-NJ., gestures before speaking during the second day of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) AP

President Donald Trump on Wednesday offered full-throated support for New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2nd Dist.) in the converted Republicans bid for reelection  even though its still a year away.

Congressman Jeff Van Drew is a MAGA Warrior for the incredible people of New Jerseys 2nd Congressional District! Trump wrote on Truth Social.

As the Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, Jeff is doing a tremendous job advancing our America First Agenda. He is working tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Help Secure our already Secure Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Murderers, and other Criminals from illegally entering our Country, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, Champion American Energy DOMINANCE, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.

Van Drew ran as a Democrat in 2018 and was elected to represent New Jerseys 2nd Congressional District with 52.9% of the vote, snapping a string of GOP wins dating to 1995. The congressman broke away from the Democrats to align with Trumps party during his first term, winning reelection in 2020, 2022, and 2024 as the Republican nominee.

Van Drew, who also serves as chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, has been a staunch ally of Trump since his conversion. He has been among those blasting Democrats as the culprits behind the ongoing federal government shutdown, which entered its seventh day Wednesday.

They (Democrats) want the government shutdown, Van Drew said during an appearance on Fox Business. And they think thats gonna be a winner for them.

While Van Drew is not up for reelection until 2026, Trump sent a clear message about who he will be backing come next November.

Jeff Van Drew is a very good friend, fighter, and WINNER, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election  HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! Trump wrote.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, foreground, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson strongly criticized President Donald Trump after he called for their imprisonment. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato) AP

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson are hitting back at President Donald Trump over his latest threat.

In a post on his Truth Social platform early Wednesday, Trump escalated his feud with the two Democratic officials, writing: Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!

The post came after Texas National Guard troops were pictured arriving in the greater Chicago area, despite fierce opposition from both lawmakers. Around 200 soldiers from the Texas National Guard and 300 from the Illinois National Guard were activated, according to a statement Wednesday from the U.S. Northern Command, which is under the Department of Defense.

Illinois and Chicago on Monday had filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to block sending troops to the city  while the judge assigned to the case said she would not take action until at least Thursday.

While speaking to MSNBCs Jacob Soboroff, Pritzker characterized the situation as a convicted felon threatening to jail him.

I got to say  this guys unhinged, hes insecure. Hes a wannabe dictator," Pritzker said of the president, before adding: Theres one thing I really want to say to Donald Trump. If you come for my people, you come through me. So come and get me.

Pritzker added that the Texas National Guard, ordered by Trump and authorized by Gov. Gregg Abbott (R), according to the Texas governor, is staging in the state, but is not yet in the streets.

The federal government is not communicating with our state... Its unconscionable. This has never happened before, Pritzker said. Theyre calling out troops onto the streets of a state that doesnt want them, and theyre not even telling us where theyre going to go, what theyre going to do. This hasnt happened I dont think since the Civil War.

In a post on X, Pritzker also immediately responded to Trumps post, maintaining that he will not back down. He went on to ask, What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?

During an earlier appearance on CNN, Johnson called Trump unstable, unhinged and a double-minded individual that quite frankly is a threat to our democracy.

Its certainly not the first time that Donald Trump has called for the arresting of a Black man unjustly, Johnson said. Im not going anywhere. Im going to stay firm.

Since returning to office, Trump has discussed sending troops to several Democratic-led cities, including New York, Baltimore and San Francisco. He first federalized the National Guard in Los Angeles, over opposition from California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), amid protests against immigration raids. Trump then sent troops to Washington, D.C., arguing the move as an effort to combat crime.

The president has also attempted to send the California National Guard to Portland, Oregon, but a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order earlier this week as the case plays out in court.
The Cranford Township Committee gave their condolences to the families of the two teens killed in a hit-and-run incident. Victoria Gladstone

At the first meeting of the Cranford Township Committee since the deaths of Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas last week, Police Chief Matthew Nazarro asked the public to stop using social media to speculate about killings.

Niotis and Salas were struck and killed while riding an e-bike on Sept. 29 and the driver who hit them, Vincent P. Battiloro, also 17, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

Nazarro said the deaths have deeply affected our community and offered condolences to the girls families.

As we navigate this exceptionally challenging period, it is crucial that we unite in support of the victims families who are affected by this horrific event, Nazarro said.

The chief asked for the publics patience and understanding as the investigation continues.

As members of the community, we share a collective responsibility to see justice for the victims, Nazarro said. However, we must emphasize the importance of refraining from speculating on the facts of this case on social media.

Misinformation can spread quickly and complicate the investigation, potentially hindering the pursuit of justice.

He added that the juvenile justice system keeps certain things confidential and that he could not disclose more details as of Tuesday evening.

Battiloro was detained by police shortly after the 5:30 p.m. crash, but released after questioning, pending further investigation. The next day, Sept. 30, the Union County Prosecutors Office said they were looking for surveillance footage from the neighborhood.

The decision to free Battiloro, of Garwood, allowed him to go online to his 40,000 TikTok followers and tout a YouTube livestream in which he mentioned the crash.

Police arrested Battiloro on Oct. 1 on two counts of first-degree murder. The charges allege he intentionally ran down the girls  at 70 mph  as they rode an e-bike. Marias family says hed been stalking her for months.

They definitely had enough to charge this kid (on Sept. 29), former police chief, Ryan Greco, told NJ Advance Media on Monday, the same day he posted a lengthy statement in a private Facebook group. He stressed he was speaking from his own opinion and 25 years as a Cranford police officer, not from any insider knowledge.

The incident has created calls for a reform of laws meant to protect victims of stalking, and who is legally allowed to seek protection after Niotis family reportedly contacted police about Battiloros behavior and neighbors said that he parked outside their home for months and refused to leave.

One resident at Tuesdays meeting asked about Cranford Family Care, a social services organization in town, possibly creating a hotline for people to report stalking.

Right now we are focused on the investigation, but out of this, I do hope that something comes to prevent anything like this from ever happening again, Cranford Mayor Terrence Curran said in response.

A Change.org petition was created to urge New Jersey lawmakers to lower the legal age for obtaining a restraining order to 15.

Several residents told the committee they are concerned with excessive speeding on roads similar to Burnside Avenue, where the two girls were struck and killed.

No one should be able to drive seventy miles per hour on a residential street, said Belinda Prince, a Cranford resident, who said she is not satisfied with the towns efforts to make the roads safer.

Curran opened the meeting by expressing his condolences to the families of the two girls in what he called a horrific and senseless act.

There are no words that can truly ease the pain of such a devastating loss and our entire community is grieving, Curran said. I know many of us are feeling shaken, heartbroken and searching for answers.

It is in times like these that it is important that we come together to support one another with compassion and kindness and to stand united against those who try to use this tragedy to sow their vision.

NJ Advance Media reporter Kevin Shea contributed to this report.
The Blue Jays tipped their cap to Aaron Judge, who delivered the game-tying home run as part of the Yankees' 6-1 ALDS comeback on Tuesday night. AP

NEW YORK  Sometimes you have to tip your cap. After all, what else was Blue Jays reliever Louis Varland supposed to do?

He got ahead in the count and executed a 100-mph fastball up and in, out of the strike zone, to Yankees superstar slugger Aaron Judge.

It didnt matter.

Varland was helpless after the ball left his hand, watching in disbelief as Judge pulled his hands in and clanked his game-tying home run high off the foul pole in left field.

It was the first home run in the pitch-tracking era on a 99-plus mph pitch that reached home plate 1.2 feet off the inside corner, per MLBs Sarah Langs.

He made a really good pitch look really bad, Varland told reporters in the Blue Jays clubhouse after the Yankees 9-6 win, a victory that extended the Division Series to a Game 4 on Wednesday night.

Torontos manager John Schneider praised Judge postgame, pointing out that like Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Yankees captain has been taking his game to a different level this postseason, rising to the occasion.

Schneider then wrapped up an answer about Judges moment with a wish of how to contain him moving forward in this series.

Hopefully he gets a bad nights sleep and has some bad food tonight or something like that, Schneider said. Give him credit, man, that was a ridiculous swing.

He was joking, of course, but no matter what happens to Judge overnight leading up to Game 4, with the Yankees still on the brink of elimination, expect Torontos skipper to do his very best to not let Judge beat his team.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider on Aaron Judge and his homer on a 100 mph heater off the inside corner:



Hopefully he gets a bad nights sleep and has some bad food tonight or something like that. Give him credit, man, that was a ridiculous swing.pic.twitter.com/ZasqbLRFYy  Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) October 8, 2025

He held up four fingers to intentionally walk Judge in the seventh inning on Tuesday night, the sluggers next turn through the order after his dramatic blast in the fourth. Schneider intentionally walked Judge seven times during the regular season, playing a key role in getting Judge to the American League single-season record with 36 this year.

Judge got a laugh during his press conference on Tuesday night as well when asked what he liked about Varlands pitch in the 0-2 count.

I dont know, he said. I get yelled at for swinging at them out of the zone, but now Im getting praised for it. Its a game. Youve got to go out there and play. I dont care what the numbers say or where something was at, Im just up there trying to put a good swing on a good pitch, and it looked good to me.

He made sure to offer up some praise back to Varland as well, emphasizing how the right-hander blew [his] doors off on a fastball over the middle one pitch before the home run.

Swung at a slider, fouled it off, then blew me away with the heater, Judge said. Hes got all the leverage, so hes probably in attack mode is what Im thinking. Youve got to attack that head on. You cant be passive or be scared in the box. Youve just got to trust your play and trust your gut and see what happens. Hes a great pitcher. Hes been a great pitcher in his career so far. Hes a guy that, I wish I could throw at 102 miles an hour. Its pretty impressive. So just trying to go up there and do my job.
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How Trump Is Using the Justice Department to Target His Enemies

Open Society Foundations Global grant network founded by George Soros Fani Willis District attorney Fulton County, Ga. John O. Brennan Former C.I.A. director Other targets Adam B. Schiff Senator Democrat of California Investigations underway James Comey Former F.B.I. director Indicted Letitia James Attorney general of New York

From the moment Donald J. Trump began his campaign to return to the White House, he has expressed a clear desire to seek vengeance against his perceived enemies. In the last few weeks, the pressure campaign has intensified with two of his foes  James Comey and Letitia James  now indicted.

Back in power, Mr. Trump has weaponized the Justice Department to his own ends, critics say, in a more direct manner than any president since the Nixon era. The department, now led by Mr. Trumps former personal lawyers, has fired dozens of career prosecutors, many of whom had worked on cases involving Mr. Trump. And the president and his allies have targeted or pushed out several U.S. attorneys as he seeks quick movement on cases involving a number of his political adversaries.

The indictment of John Bolton, Mr. Trumps former national security adviser whose relationship with the president soured, raises fresh questions about the extent to which Mr. Trump is using the department to punish those he dislikes. But his investigation is different from Mr. Comeys and Ms. Jamess in that the Biden administration was also investigating Mr. Bolton and had gathered what former U.S. intelligence officials have described as troubling evidence.

Each of the targets Mr. Trump has pursued through the Justice Department has denied wrongdoing, in statements or through lawyers. Here is a look at them:

Indicted

who replaced James Comey Former F.B.I. director Erik S. Siebert Former U.S. attorney Indicted by Lindsey Halligan U.S. attorney Eastern District of Virginia Trumps former personal lawyer

What the government alleges: Ms. Halligan filed an indictment that says Mr. Comey lied before a Senate committee in September 2020 when he denied that he authorized someone at the F.B.I. to leak to the news media. He is charged with one count of making a false statement to Congress and one count of obstructing a congressional proceeding for his testimony. Mr. Comey has pleaded not guilty to the charges and a judge set a trial date of Jan. 5.

Why Trump is targeting Comey: Mr. Comey led the early stages of an investigation into ties between Russia and Mr. Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. Mr. Trump fired Mr. Comey for his involvement, which led to a fraught two-year investigation that Mr. Trump repeatedly denounced as a witch hunt.

Letitia James Attorney general of New York who replaced Erik S. Siebert Former U.S. attorney Indicted by Lindsey Halligan U.S. attorney Eastern District of Virginia Trumps former personal lawyer

What the government alleges: A federal grand jury in Virginia indicted Ms. James on bank fraud and false statement charges, following an investigation into whether Ms. James falsified records in a mortgage loan application in Virginia. This is a tactic the administration has used against some of Mr. Trumps political adversaries, including Senator Adam B. Schiff. Career prosecutors at the department did not find sufficient evidence to bring charges against her and Mr. Comey, but Ms. Halligan, a former personal lawyer of Mr. Trump, filed charges in both cases.

Why Trump is targeting James: As New Yorks attorney general, Ms. James opened an investigation into Mr. Trump on allegations that he inflated the value of his real estate holdings. She eventually secured a half-a-billion-dollar penalty against him, but it was later thrown out by an appeals court.

Indicted by John R. Bolton Former national security adviser Kelly Hayes U.S. attorney Maryland

What the government alleges: A federal grand jury in Maryland indicted Mr. Bolton on 18 counts of mishandling classified information after an investigation that gained momentum in the Biden administration and continued under Mr. Trump. Unlike the indictments of Ms. James and Mr. Comey, this prosecution appeared to follow normal department channels, without firings or forced transfers. Kelly O. Hayes, the U.S. attorney in Maryland, was among the career prosecutors to sign off on the charges.

Why Trump is targeting Bolton: Mr. Bolton worked as a national security adviser during Mr. Trumps first term. But the two often clashed, and since Mr. Bolton left the post, he has often criticized the presidents stances on foreign policy.

Investigations underway

Indicted by Adam B. Schiff Senator Democrat of California Kelly Hayes U.S. attorney Maryland

What the government alleges: Potential mortgage fraud related to a property in Maryland.

Why Trump is targeting Schiff: When Mr. Schiff was in the House, he helped lead the first impeachment trial of Mr. Trump in 2019.

Other targets

Investigated by John O. Brennan Former C.I.A. director David Metcalf U.S. attorney Eastern District of Pennsylvania

What the government alleges: The allegations against Mr. Brennan are hazy but appear to be related to his involvement in helping to put together an intelligence community assessment of Russian influence in the 2016 election.

Why Trump is targeting Brennan: Mr. Brennan is a former C.I.A. director whose agencys response to Russian election interference in 2016 drew Mr. Trumps ire.

Subpoenaed by Fani Willis District attorney Fulton County, Ga. Theodore Hertzberg U.S. attorney Northern District of Georgia

What the government alleges: A federal grand jury has subpoenaed records related to travel that prosecutors believe Ms. Willis made abroad around the time of last years elections. But it is not clear the scope of the investigation nor why prosecutors were seeking the records.

Why Trump is targeting Willis: Ms. Willis is the Fulton County, Ga., district attorney who charged Mr. Trump in a sweeping case accusing him and others of seeking to overturn the 2020 election. An appeals court disqualified Ms. Willis from prosecuting the case, and it is unlikely to move forward soon.

Could potentially involve Open Society Foundations Global grant network founded by George Soros Multiple U.S. attorneys offices

What the government alleges: There are no specific allegations against Mr. Soros or his organization, but a memo issued to a half-dozen U.S. attorneys offices goes as far as to list possible charges prosecutors could consider, ranging from arson to material support of terrorism.

Why Trump is targeting the Open Society Foundations: The global grant network, which has funded many liberal causes and organizations, was founded by George Soros, a billionaire Democratic donor who has long been a subject of Mr. Trumps grievances and a boogeyman for the right. The push for U.S. attorneys offices to investigate comes in the wake of the assassination of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk as the White House promised to crack down on liberal and progressive groups.
After two years of war, I keep telling

myself, This is not Gaza. The details are all wrong.

Nothing is the same.

Opinion Guest Essay The Gaza

I Knew Is Gone

People usually feel nostalgic for their homeland when they are far away. I feel a deep nostalgia for Gaza, even while I am still here. Its not the kind of longing that comes from distance. Its because Im surrounded by what should feel familiar but everything feels uncanny, changed, almost unrecognizable and distorted.

I keep telling myself, This is not Gaza. The details are all wrong; nothing is the same. My nostalgia is not for a distant memory but for the very ground beneath my feet, for a Gaza that seems to have slipped away from me even as I live within its borders.

One morning last month I tiptoed out of my home in Deir al-Balah to get some fresh air. Our two-bedroom apartment is crowded  three families have been living here for the past year. Sixteen more family members arrived fleeing from shelling in recent weeks. I was careful not to wake my relatives, some of whom had arrived at night and spread out into every corner of the house.

Outside, the street was buried under tents: tents on the sidewalk, tents in the alley, swallowing up the medians and sometimes even the road itself. There are tents in the agricultural lands; some appear between the remaining date palm trees my city is named after. Hundreds of these trees surrounded our town before the war. A lot of them have burned down or been bulldozed by Israeli tanks.

Some people hadnt pitched their tents yet. They had come from Gaza City, where the Israeli military is conducting a brutal assault, and arrived in the dark, deciding to wait for daylight to figure out where to put their tents  to figure out their lives. I despise this word: kheima in Arabic, tent in English. It has followed Palestinians for generations, like a shadow.

I still live in my house, though it is no longer a home. It has been hit with Israeli tank shells more times than I can count; four of those times we were inside. The walls are half the height of what they used to be, rebuilt with stone taken from the ruins of other peoples homes. I joke that one blue block came from that neighbor; my brother answers that an orange one came from another, whose home is now demolished. The stones stop short of the ceiling, so every whisper travels everywhere. There are no windows, only nylon fabric we recently stretched across the gaps for winter. No doors, just blankets.

I dont know how this war appears to others. Living in Gaza, its a war of details. I think back to my first creative writing class, when the instructor told us: Show, dont tell. God is in the details. I loved that rule. But the details of war are strange, and they are painful.

The details of my home  the blue and orange stones, the collapsed walls  make me feel guilty, but also grateful, because I have not yet been forced into a tent. That is what this war teaches us: Even suffering has a hierarchy, and even survival has a rank. A room with walls is better than a tent; a proper aid tent is better than a patchwork one stitched together from blankets, nylon, old jeans and empty flour sacks. A tent is better than nothing at all.

At the grocery store, I ran into one of my old teachers. She reminded me of two of my classmates who were killed in Israeli strikes. Those kind girls are gone, she said. Then she asked where I live now. At home, I told her, though its destroyed. She nodded. Still better than a tent on the rubble. The hierarchy determines how we speak, what we share and how we live with one another. I want people outside Gaza to understand these details.

A few weeks ago shells slammed into our building in the middle of the night. We woke to the thunderous sound of explosion. The rooms became heavy with debris and dust. My mind tried to bargain with itself: Where are we? What is this? For a second, it insisted: This isnt war. I wanted to believe the lie.

A satellite image of Gaza City before the war

Then I jumped. The darkness was suffocating, too thick to see, too thick to breathe. I found a flashlight and swept a path so my mother  who fell and fractured her hip last year  could be moved with her walker.

We stepped outside, counting faces and asking if everyone was OK. But there was no respite. Israeli drones and quadcopters hovered above, their engines buzzing like mechanical insects. The sky glowed with their lights through the dark night. We were afraid to stay outside. After a while, we went back in and cleaned until dawn, and then we cleaned again.

Two years of war have also created a hierarchy of feelings  a hierarchy of loss. We were lucky; only my sister-in-laws nose was nicked. The next day I saw a friend who lost 47 members of his family from airstrikes in the first two months of the war  his parents before his eyes, four brothers, nephews and cousins. Gone. I kept quiet. What could I say to him? That a shell tore through my house and we all survived? How do you speak of cracked walls to someone who counts absent faces? My loss is walls; his is people. Survival can feel like a debt you cant repay.

At night I rehearse the scenes of different airstrikes Ive lived through and wonder: What if a shard from the missile blast had found me, taken my legs? Sometimes I tell myself it might be kinder to die whole than to live in pieces. Gaza feels like a city of amputees now. Almost every time I step outside, I meet another. Yesterday it was a man in a wheelchair set on a donkey cart.

Another day, at Shuhada al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, I was filming and helping coordinate a photography assignment when a cardboard box slid out from behind the doors of the surgery ward. A name was written on the top. Give it to the family, a doctor told a cleaner, her face masked and her black veil tucked into her brown gown. I only realized what was inside when a woman took it into both of her arms. It was a leg that had just been amputated. Eight months later, I still remember the name on that box.

Since the war began, we ration everything: food, water, light. Now that the fuel is gone, we cook on a wood fire. Anything becomes kindling: broken pallets, torn blankets, old plastic sandals, empty cheese cartons, plastic jars. Now, when we make saj flatbread, we slide a teapot into the fire to use the heat from the flames twice. Most homes have the same setup: a big empty pickle or bean tin punched with air holes for a stove; a small bean can for a heater. All of us have burns on our hands and the black stain of smoke in our nails.

My nieces and nephews still go to makeshift schools. With pens, papers and pencils scarce  or when found, too expensive  they have to write in tight handwriting. My sister, who is a teacher, used to tell them to make their letters big and skip a line so the writing was clear. Now she cant. The notebooks would get used up too quickly.

This war has altered everything in Gaza. It has changed not only our landscape but also our hearts, our minds and our souls. I sometimes look at peoples faces; they are yellow, pale and exhausted.

The war is insane  madness that seeps into the mind, into the body, into dreams. Sometimes I feel my thoughts unravel. I cannot fully grasp what is happening. I cannot imagine what will come next, or how it will come. Will I survive another night? Will I be alive to see the wars final moment, if such a moment ever comes? Weve seen countless plans. Many talks start, then fall apart just as quickly. I will believe in a cease-fire only when it passes through our door frame  when the drones go quiet, when the Israeli airstrikes stop.

For two years the Israeli war machine has continued its assault on the Gaza Strip. It rains destruction from the air and rolls destruction toward us on the ground. It even sends destruction from the sea. Nearly a quarter of a million people have been killed or injured, and countless more are dead under the rubble. Entire neighborhoods have vanished. So many homes, schools, hospitals, mosques, markets  the places that made up the daily rhythm of life in Gaza  are now rubble. The rhythm of our lives is now destruction, airstrikes, forced displacement, more airstrikes, people killed and then returning to ruins.

A friend who knows I speak with people outside Gaza asked me, Do people outside know these details? Because the details are how we measure our days.
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Michelle Russo

State Farm names U.S. Chamber of Commerce chief communications and marketing officer Michelle Russo as CCO, a newly created role. At the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Russo led efforts across brand, media, digital and thought leadership. Before that, she was head of global communications at Discovery, leading crisis response during pivotal global events, as well as overseeing communications and public affairs strategy for the companys entry into the Olympic Games. At State Farm, Russo will lead the communications strategy, integrating corporate, brand, internal and agency communications to support the strategic priorities and cultural evolution of the company. Michelles leadership will help us communicate with greater clarity, purpose and impact, said State Farm CEO Jon Farney.

Spencer Tait

Avenue Z brings on former Prosek Partners associate VP Spencer Tait as an associate director in its New York office. Tait was most recently at IT services and consulting firm FIS, where he built strategies for capital markets and led international campaign strategies. At Prosek, he worked with private equity, private credit, traditional asset management and fintech firms. In his new post, he will help to lead PR strategies for Avenue Zs fintech and finance clients. "Spencers track record in financial services and fintech speaks for itself. As we scale our impact across this sector, his strategic insight and media instincts will help our clients define the conversation, said Avenue Z New York VP and managing director Libbie Wilcox.

Melissa Fry

Twin Peaks Hospitality Group, parent company of the Twin Peaks and Smokey Bones restaurant chains, hires Melissa Fry as CMO. Fry most recently served as senior director of marketing for Hooters of America, where she spearheaded comprehensive marketing initiatives spanning national media campaigns, digital transformation, influencer partnerships, targeted local store marketing and experiential activations. She was previously manager of events, promotions & VIP marketing at Harrahs Resort Southern California. In her new role, Fry work to amplify the Twin Hospitalitys brand awareness, enhance guest engagement and drive measurable growth across its marketing portfolio. Melissa brings unparalleled experience in experiential dining, said Twin Hospitality Group CEO Kim Boerema.
Palestinians are shut out... The major Sunday morning shows on NBC, ABC and CNN from Oct 8, 2023 to Oct. 5, 2025 ran 315 reports about Israels invasion of Gaza but did not interview a single Palestinian or Palestinian-American, according to an In These Times report.

There were appearances by 55 US officials, 16 Israeli government officials or hostage family spokespersons, and four interviews with prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

CBSs "Face the Nation" bucked the trend. It ran a seven-minute interview with Husam Zomlot, Palestinian ambassador to the UK.

Once known as agenda setting, America's corporate media didnt find it necessary to feature spokespeople representing Gaza, where at least 65K Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces armed with weapons from the US.

Im sure the Council on American-Islamic Relations or Palestinian-American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib would have been more than happy to provide input on the Sunday shows.

Freezing out Palestinian viewpoints from the programs just isnt right.

Somethings off. The outgoing mayor of Jersey City, Steven Fulop, is succeeding Kathryn Wylde at the helm of the elitist Partnership for New York City advocacy group.

How is it that the guy who pitched the city of 300K, which is half the population of Staten Island, as an cheaper alternative to the Big Apple will be running the New York operation?

Jersey Citys great view of the Manhattan skyline is a big selling point for its waterfront apartment towers. Will Fulop be pitching Manhattans view of Jersey City to potential investors?

The Partnerships announcement touts Fulops role in transforming Jersey Citys economic, social and cultural landscape and adding $1.4B to its tax rolls.

His ties to NYC, though, are pretty sparse. He worked for Goldman Sachs New York office, as well as its outposts in Chicago and Jersey City.

The release mentions that Fulop was working in lower Manhattan when he saw the first plane to smash into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. That inspired him to join the Marines, where he was deployed to Iraq.

Wylde in 2020 called herself "the lone defender of the billionaires. There are a lot more of them today. They will soon be ranting and threatening to high-tail it from the city to protest the election of Zohran Mamdani for New York mayor.

Good luck, Steve and happy apartment hunting in New York. I assume you will be giving up your pad in Jersey City.

Energy transition marches on The global shift to renewable power is robust, despite Donald Trumps effort to kill clean energy in favor of fossil fuels.

The US shutdown will only have a marginal impact on global progress, according to a report from DNV, a Norway-based risk management and assurance outfit.

China is fueling the growth in green power, accounting for 60 percent of global new wind and 56 percent of solar installations in 2025.

Remi Eriksen, CEO of DNV, said the energy transition isnt stalling, its evolving, with momentum shifting to regions that are doubling down on clean technologies.

That includes parts of the US, where Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa and Kansas lead the nation in wind power generation.

The leaders of those Republican states should lobby Trump into dropping his lame-brained opposition of clean energy.

Its official Trump ranks as the biggest threat to corporate brands, according to the Global Situation Rooms reputation risk index.

His use of the bully pulpit to single out companies has turned traditionally heated political rhetoric into both a scolding reputational and revenue threat, said Isabel Guzman, chair of the global risk advisory council.

Companies targeted by Trump face consumer boycotts, stock devaluation, regulatory retaliation and loss of federal contracts.

Executives from tech companies such as Apple, Meta and Microsoft have journeyed to Washington to appease Trump. Its all for naught. He could blow at any second.

Trump tops the list of ten risks, such as fraud, discrimination, and data privacy. His threat to business overpowers the other categories by a factor of 1,000 to 1.

The president is never, never off the radar of Corporate America.
MAY McFadden from Kinnitty recently met with Priscilla Presley during her visit to Ireland and shared her vivid memory of hearing Elvis voice for the very first time.

As a teenager, 70 years ago, she heard the song I Forgot to Remember to Forget on the radio. Turning to her mother, Mary Donogher, she asked who was singing. Some American by the name of Elvis Presley, her mother replied.

May told Priscilla it was another five years before she discovered Elvis' good looks, only after moving to Manchester.

Also at the event was May's son, John, a Music Industry Lecturer and Teacher. He noted that his career choice was undoubtedly shaped by his mothers musical influence.

John recalled that the last time he and his mother met Priscilla was at a music industry event - a press conference for the Rock n Soul Museum in Memphis where Priscilla was the special guest. John added, one of Priscilla's friends, John Doyle ensured his mother had a seat with Memphis royalty, the Lansky family who made Elvis' clothes.

Both mother and son described Priscilla Presley as a lady full of humour, kindness and great stories.

READ NEXT: New prosecution counsel for Offaly
Edenderry born designer Margaret Coyne Couture debuts her 'Loinnir Collection' in Paris for Paris FashionWeek 25 and flew the flag for Ireland on Thursday October 2.

The rising star whose journey from Ireland to the prestigious stage of Paris Fashion Week 2025 is as captivating as the gowns she creates.

The only Irish designer in the 'Flying Solo One's to Watch' show on Thursday Oct 2 Margaret says "Showing at Paris Fashion Week is every designers dream. It's the pinnacle of the international fashion calendar. I am thrilled to represent Ireland on this stage with my Loinnir Collection, sharing a vision of Irish craftsmanship, storytelling, and contemporary couture with the world.''

Her work is a study in contrasts, where architectural precision flows seamlessly into fluidity, and strength is perfectly balanced with grace.

Rooted in heritage yet fearless in reinvention, Margaret Coyne originally from Offaly and now based on the Cavan Leitrim border, channels the spirit of the Irish landscape; timeless, poetic, and profoundly expressive, while her vision remains boldly contemporary, redefining the role of an independent Irish designer on the global stage.

Her debut at Paris Fashion Week 2025 marks a landmark moment, celebrating both craftsmanship and creative ambition.
A recent sitting of Longford District Court heard how a local supermarket owner suffered from anxiety over the future of her business after incurring a daily loss of approximately 100 as a result of thefts carried out by a local woman with 41 previous convictions.

During a powerful address delivered by Judge Bernadette Owens, the court was told of how the businesswoman also suffered with stress after she and her employee were assaulted during a confrontation with the shoplifter.

30 year old Lisa Nevin of 53 Lana Aoibheann, St Michaels Road, Longford, was brought before the court charged with having committed 2 assaults and 9 thefts.

Prosecution, Sgt Enda Daly, told of how on August 12 at SuperValu in Hazelwood Shopping Centre, Ms Nevin placed alcohol in her bag and left without paying before returning a second time that day and again left without paying for the items in her possession.

Two incidents of assault also occurred that day, one involving the owner, and a second, a member of staff.

Judge Owens - upon reviewing the various counts of theft from SuperValu, Dealz, Lidl, and Aldi - was informed that the value of goods Ms Nevin was charged with stealing came to 725.35.

Judge Owens also noted that before the court were two section 99s, this being the section of the Criminal Justice Act which enables a court to suspend a sentence either partially or fully on the condition that the individual remain of good behaviour.

However she added that the new offences in addition to the two existing Section 99 breaches, would now trigger a previously imposed suspended sentence of five months, as handed down on July 25 last.

In response, solicitor John Quinn informed the court of Ms Nevins personal circumstances, its a sad situation for Lisa effectively because of her addiction problem. She lost custody of her children. Of late she had weaned herself off alcohol and was doing her best and attending counselling. She was doing well.

Added Mr Quinn, Shes trying to get access to her children and is hoping to regain full custody. To do that she will have to prove herself to be alcohol-free and thats what shes trying to do. She has the support of her father who is also going to try to help her get off alcohol.

In response, Judge Owens said her hands were tied due to the fact that there were suspended sentences to consider.

Referencing a letter Ms Nevin submitted to the court hours earlier, Mr Quinn said she had outlined her good intentions going forward, adding that while she was a young lady ravaged by addiction, she wanted to beat the habit and get herself back on the straight and narrow.

Prior to delivering her ruling on the matter, Judge Owens quoted from an impact statement submitted by a woman whose business had been targeted by Ms Nevin during a spate of thefts, and who herself had been the victim of an assault by Ms Nevin.

There are a number of matters I have to take into account, Judge Owens began.

In part, I want to make reference to the victim impact statement that was lodged in respect of the incident on August 12. We often think the victims of these crimes are faceless. Theyre not at all faceless people and in the course of these thefts, the owner and an employee were assaulted by Ms Nevin.

In her victim impact statement, the owner makes a very telling observation where she says, I suffered from stress following the incident as Im not used to being a victim of violence. I suffered from anxiety as our business was losing approx 100 a day from this person who was banned from the shop. I was concerned about the business and the jobs of the 70 people we employ.

"This is a genuine concern and fear of someone trying to do their best to employ people. They are not faceless people. In fairness to Ms Nevin she may now realise, and this has to be acknowledged, it has an effect on people.

I noted Ms Nevins letter and Ive had the benefit of a very comprehensive probation report. Im restricted in that I dont want to say too much about her personal circumstances but Im very much aware of what they are because of matters that have transpired for Ms Nevin and her family that it has caused her considerable anxiety and upset and I understand fully how it can be hard for her to carry on as though life is normal when in her eyes its not normal.

However it doesnt give Ms Nevin or any other Ms Nevin carte blanche to willfully engage in this type of behaviour. Another aggravating factor which I have to take into account is that a number of these offences were committed while she was on bail and given the benefit of a suspended sentence.

In her ruling, Judge Owens convicted Ms Nevin and imposed concurrent sentences of two 6 month sentences and one 5 month sentence. This, combined with the judge invoking a previously suspended sentence, means Ms Nevin will serve a total of 11 months in prison.
Convicted killer Frederick Thompson is seeking certain materials from the Irish Prison Service, Tullamore Circuit Court heard on Tuesday.

Mr Thompson is before the Circuit Court on charges alleging assault causing harm and making threats to kill in Portlaoise Prison on separate dates in 2022.

When the accused appeared before Judge Sinead McMullan, William Fennelly, BL, prosecuting, said Mr Thompson's defence had applied for materials from the Prison Service, some of which had not yet been furnished.

Mr Fennelly said the Prison Service had previously had a say in this matter when a previous application was dealt with by Judge Keenan Johnson and he anticipated the new application would involve trawling over similar ground again.

Judge McMullan indicated that because of that the matter would be better left to Judge Johnson and she adjourned it to be mentioned before him in Portlaoise on October 28.

Mr Fennelly said the State will have a clearer position then on where the Prison Service stands in relation to the materials sought by Mr Thompson.

Mr Fennelly also asked that Mr Thompson could appear before Portlaoise Circuit Court by video link because the gardai said there would be more security concerns there than in Tullamore.

Judge McMullan ruled that he could appear in Portlaoise by video link.

READ NEXT: Mother was recorded by husband having sex with teenage son, Tullamore Circuit Court hears

In July Judge Johnson refused an application by Mr Thompson for the disclosure of a number of documents in advance of his upcoming trial.

He said Mr Thompson was a resident of Block A in Portlaoise prison, which is used to house the most violent prisoners in the country.

Judge Johnson said the prison service refused to disclose the information for security and operational reasons.

The judge said he was satisfied that disclosure of the documents was not justified for a number of reasons, including that doing so could put other parties at risk.

He said the documentation requested is not relevant to Mr Thompson's defence.

Mr Thompson's trial will take place in Tullamore after the accused was refused when he applied for it to be heard in Dublin.

He is alleged to have threatened to kill or cause serious harm to a prison officer at Portlaoise Prison, Dublin Road, Portlaoise on May 18, 2022.

He is further charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to the same officer and assaulting the officer causing harm at Portlaoise Prison on November 17, 2022.

Mr Thompson, aged 44, is serving a life sentence for the murder of David 'Daithi' Douglas who was shot dead in his partner's shoe shop in Dublin in July 2016.
The family of a young schoolgirl who was knocked down near her school in Portarlington has praised those who responded at the scene.

10 year-old Christina Betyarova was crossing the Station Road in Portarlington when she was hit by a car on Wednesday, September 24 at around 2.40pm.

Christinas mother Lucie Betyarova said, the staff was very good from the ambulance and they were there in five minutes.

She said the hospital staff at the Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore, were also very good in dealing with the incident.

Lucie also praised a man who was in traffic and got out of his car to provide assistance at the scene and then waited with Christina until the ambulance arrived and she said the School Principal had also helped.

Christina was rushed to hospital in Tullamore where she underwent tests and was examined for broken bones and internal injuries. Thankfully, she didnt have any serious injuries and was able to return home that night suffering from bruising.

Her sister Sophie said she got brought to the hospital and they did like screens on her, and nothing was broken. Sophie said her sister, who attends the local Presentation Primary School, was crossing the road after some friends when she was struck by the car.

She said that while Christina only suffered bruising as a result of the collision, the incident has left her anxious and she is now brought to and from school by her parents despite living in a nearby estate.

When asked if Christina was nervous around traffic, Sophie said, she is a bit about crossing the roads and stuff. She doesnt expect Christina to get over the incident any time soon. It will take time, she will obviously remember it forever, Sophie said.

She is concerned about safety along Station Road where roadworks have been ongoing for a number of weeks. She thinks the work should have been carried out during the summer and not while the children are back in school.

Sophie said her family has lived in Ireland for 20 years, having moved to Limerick before settling in Portarlington 10 years ago. The family are originally from the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Pictured above from left to Right: Christina Betyarova, Ludovit Betyar,Lucie Betyarova, David Paul Betyar, Natalie Betyarova and Sophie Ela Betyarova.

Local Cllr Aidan Mullins said he was aware of difficulties being faced by residents due to the ongoing works on Station Road. I have had a number of complaints about the traffic management system, he said.

There is a lot of complaints about a**holes going against the flow of traffic, said Cllr Mullins.

He said stop go traffic management systems were particularly annoying when they are in place outside schools. Cllr Mullins expects the work to be completed by the end of this month.

A spokesperson for Laois County Council said: The current ongoing works on Station Road are planned to be completed by the end of October. Laois County Council is ensuring that safety is the priority while the works are ongoing by continuously monitoring the project and taking the appropriate measures to ensure pedestrian safety throughout the works area.
An Offaly company has been crowned Supreme Champion at the prestigious Blas na hEireann Awards. Bon Chocolatiers won the Best in County Award but also clinched the top accolade when the company was named Supreme Champion.

All roads led to Dingle for the eagerly anticipated finals of Blas na hEireann, The Irish Food Awards, now in their 18th year and firmly established as the largest and most influential food awards on the island of Ireland.

This year, five producers from Offaly were shortlisted across a wide range of categories, with four of them taking home coveted Blas awards. The bronze, silver and gold winners from the county include: Bon Chocolatiers, Heavey & Co, Pigs On The Green and Sofina Foods.

Bon Chocolatiers was awarded Best in County, proudly sponsored by Offaly Local Enterprise Office, Best New Product, proudly sponsored by Invest NI and the ultimate prize of Supreme Champion proudly supported by Bord Bia.

Bon Chocolatiers create Irish artisan chocolates, lovingly crafted by hand in Tullamore, Ireland. They select the finest ingredients to create unique flavours and textures which they say elevates their chocolate 'to a sensory level'. They use ethically sourced chocolate from France and Switzerland and of course only the best - Irish cream and butter. They take pride in using as many local producers as they can in their small batch creations, showcasing the beautiful ingredients this country has to offer

We are delighted to see Bon Chocolatiers win the 2025 Blas na hEireann, Best in County Awards. Congratulations to the whole team on this well-deserved achievement, which is a wonderful recognition of their talent and commitment. says Orla Martin, Head of Enterprise.

We wish them continued success as they go from strength to strength and look forward to working with them as they grow their business. Offaly has a strong network of ambitious food enterprises and we in LEO Offaly feel privileged to be working with them all.

2025 marks another record year for Blas na hEireann, with over 3,000 entries across more than 180 categories, reflecting the strength and diversity of Irish food and drink.

This years finalists and winners had the opportunity to showcase their products at the Blas Village and the popular Eat Ireland in a Day market, both of which returned to Dingle alongside the annual Backyard at Blas panel discussions supported by Bank of Ireland. The weekend offered producers a chance to connect with buyers, industry experts, media, fellow producers, and food lovers, while also celebrating the people, and the talents, that make Irish food so special.

Speaking after the announcement, Artie Clifford, Chairperson of Blas na hEireann, said Every year the standard rises, and 2025 has been no exception. To see such talented producers from Co. Offaly represented on the shortlist, and now to celebrate the winners from that county, is a real testament to the skill, creativity and resilience of Irelands food producers. Making it to the finalist stage alone is a huge achievement, and to win at Blas is something of which to be incredibly proud. Irish food and drink continues to go from strength to strength, and it is a joy to celebrate that strength and that community here in Dingle.

The Blas na hEireann awards weekend ran from Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th October in Dingle, with a packed programme of events shining a spotlight on the very best of Irish food and drink. Sustainability once again remained a key focus, with the event continuing to build on its waste-free commitments and support a more conscious future for Irish food.
An essay review of the book Godel: A Life of Logic, by John L Casti

This is a captivating tale of mathematical heroism. It follows the journey of Kurt Godel, a shy young mathematical genius who embarks on a quest to challenge the reigning mathematical giant of his time, David Hilbert.

For most of the 20th century, Hilbert held sway as the heavyweight champion of mathematics. And as part of this high honor, he was granted the privilege of promulgating fundamental questions about mathematics and logic, particularly those that could potentially undermine the very foundation of the discipline.

One such question that Hilbert posed was whether it is possible to prove the truth of every valid mathematical statement.

Hilbert envisioned a truth machine that could accept a mathematical statement and, then with a simple turn of the crank, provide an unequivocal answer either true or false, but never both.

In response to Hilbert's machine, Kurt Godel, a young unassuming member of the renowned Vienna Circle, emerged in 1928 with his incompleteness theorem.

This groundbreaking discovery revealed that the system of logic upon which arithmetic relies is inherently incomplete.

In essence, entering a valid mathematical statement into Hilbert's machine and turning the crank could not guarantee that the machine would yield answers that were only true or false. They could be both.

Godel's upbringing was shaped by the esteemed Vienna Circle, which included figures like Franz Kafka, Karl Popper, John Von Neumann, Bertrand Russell, Albert Einstein, and most notably, the eccentric yet brilliant philosopher and logician, Ludwig Wittgenstein. Godel shared a deep bond with Wittgenstein.

Wittgenstein believed in a logical mirroring between the facts of language and the facts of reality. He argued that language serves as the foundation upon which we represent the world in thought, enabling us to comprehend the nature of reality.

However, he also acknowledged that this parallel between language and reality may not encompass all aspects of reality.

Godel gave mathematical expression to Wittgensteins doubt that some aspects of reality might be left out. And this sliver of doubt proved to be all that was necessary for Godel to demonstrate, as Hilbert's question had suggested, that our system of logic might indeed possess a flaw at its very core.

Both a clear statement of the problem and a well-defined framework for its solution turned out to be the sine qua non to understanding Godel's theorem.

Numerous books have been dedicated to simplifying these aspects and making them more accessible to the general reader.

Each book has its strengths and weaknesses. For instance, of my favorite three, Rebecca Goldsteins book: Incompleteness: The Proof and Paradox of Kurt Godel, provides an excellent description of the problem but fails in a gallant attempt to make the intricate details of the solution comprehensible to the untrained mathematical mind.

On the other hand, Douglas Hofstadters award winning Godel, Escher and Bach employs cartoon characters and creative games to elucidate the intricacies of Godel's proof. However, it drowns the reader in explanatory details, and in the end neglects to adequately define and frame the problem.

Steven Dubianskys, Journey to the Edge of reason, sets the context of Godels discovery, but only vaguely outlines his theorem.

The authors of this book excel in both aspects. They provide a clear definition of the problem and explain the details of Godel's theorem. Moreover, they demonstrate the significance of Godel's theorem in various fields, including mathematics, artificial intelligence, logic, and analytic philosophy.

An outline of Godel's incompleteness theorem

In its most concise form, Godel's Theorem states that for every consistent formalization of arithmetic, there exist arithmetic truths that are not provable within that system.

On page 51, the authors present a concise outline of Godel's proof, that is difficult to improve upon.

1. Godel first develops a coding scheme using numbers to represent statements. This scheme translates every logical formula in arithmetic into a mirror image statement about the natural numbers.

2. He then replaces the concept of truth with the idea of provability.

3. Godel then shows that logical sentences have arithmetical counterparts called Godel sentences (G). He proves that the Godel sentence G must be true if the formal system is consistent.

4. Godel demonstrates that even if a new system is formed by adding new axioms, there would still be unprovable Godel sentences within that system.

5. Finally, using his coding system, Godel shows that the statement arithmetic is consistent is not provable, thus demonstrating that arithmetic as a formal system is insufficient to prove its own consistency. QED. Five stars

(Article changed on Oct 08, 2025 at 3:40 PM EDT)
The man was released from detention Tuesday afternoon after U.S. District Judge Mustafa Kasubhai issued his ruling. He has returned to his home in Yamhill County, his lawyer said. Maxine Bernstein | Staff

A federal judge Tuesday ordered the immediate release of an Iranian man who has been in immigration detention since ICE officers took him into custody in June while he was on his way to a gym from his Yamhill County home.

U.S District Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhais ruling came after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said the man could be a candidate for deportation via a charter flight to Iran this month but that they were still waiting to line up his travel documents.

Kasubhai found that the deportation isnt likely to occur in the foreseeable future and ruled that S.F., as the man is identified in court records, should be released to check in with immigration enforcement officers as he has done for nearly two decades.

Petitioner has strong ties to his community in Oregon. He shares a home with his spouse, children, and mother. He participates in regular social and volunteer events with his church, Kasubhai wrote in his 10-page ruling.

S.F., who was held since shortly after his arrest at the Northwest Immigration Processing Center in Tacoma, was released Tuesday afternoon and is back at home in Oregon, his lawyer, Michael Purcell, said Wednesday.

S.F. has been in the United States since August 1999, arriving on a visitors visa. He had been scheduled for a July check-in with ICE officials when federal officers arrested him about 7 a.m. on June 24 as he was driving from his home to a fitness center, Purcell said.

He faced deportation proceedings in the early 2000s and sought asylum, according to court records. On Aug. 14, 2002, he was denied asylum but filed an appeal with the Board of Immigration Appeals. His appeal was dismissed on Jan. 2, 2004, and he became the subject of a final order of removal, according to his lawyer.

For the past two decades, however, the government hasnt followed through on that final removal order.

S.F. was taken into immigration custody about 48 hours after the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear production facilities, Kasubhai noted.

The judge in July previously had ordered the federal government not to deport the Yamhill County man. On Tuesday, the judge granted the mans habeas petition.

S.F. would face irreparable harm if he were to be deported to Iran, Kasubhai found in his latest ruling. He was raised as a Muslim but converted to Christianity in the U.S. and could face torture or execution for his religious choice if returned to Iran, the judge said.

Kasubhai also pointed out that the U.S. State Department has warned that anyone with connections to the U.S. should avoid traveling to Iran due to the risk of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, arbitrary arrest  and wrongful detention.
Lawyers from the state of Oregon, city of Portland and state of California scrambled in the last week to try to block the Trump administration's mobilization of National Guard troops in Portland. Getty Images

Friday, Sept. 26: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security sends a memo to the U.S. Department of Defense requesting extra support for ICE and Federal Protective Service officers in Portland. The memo claims the officers have come under coordinated assault by violent groups intent on obstructing federal enforcement.

Saturday, Sept. 27: President Trump posts on Truth Social that hes authorizing all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and also authorizing Full Force, if necessary, at the request of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. He wrote that he was directing his defense secretary to have troops ready to any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa and other domestic terrorists.

Saturday, Sept. 27: Major General Timothy L. Rieger, acting vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, signs a memo at 2:21 p.m. to Oregon Adjutant General Alan R. Gronewold under the subject line: Request for Oregon National Guard Federal Protection Mission. He says the defense secretary will give Gov. Tina Kotek 12 hours to mobilize the Oregon National Guard members on her own and under her command to protect federal officers at the ICE building in Portland with authorized federal funding. If not, the memo said, the defense secretary may direct the mobilization under federal control.

Saturday, Sept. 27: Gronewold sends a memo back to Rieger at 10:05 p.m. informing him that Kotek has rejected Trumps offer. Earlier in the day, Kotek joined with Mayor Keith Wilson and some in Oregons congressional delegation at a joint news conference to decry what they say is the presidents clearly false narrative of a threat of rebellion in Portland.

Sunday, Sept 28: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sends a memo at 9:05 a.m. to Oregons adjutant general , who is designated as chief of staff to the governor, informing the state that Trump is mobilizing 200 Oregon National Guard members into federal service in Portland for 60 days.

Sunday, Sept. 28: State and city of Portland lawyers file a lawsuit in the afternoon in U.S. District Court in Portland against Trump and his administration, alleging the mobilization of the state National Guard troops violates federal law.

Monday, Sept. 29: State and city lawyers file motion for a temporary restraining order to block Trumps mobilization of Oregon National Guard troops to Portland.

U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon holds a phone conference later with lawyers from all sides and sets oral arguments on the restraining order motion for Friday morning, Oct. 3.

Thursday, Oct 2: Trump administration lawyers file a motion suggesting that Simon recuse himself from the case, citing the appearance of partiality because Simons wife, U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, stood beside the governor and Portland mayor at a news conference decrying Trumps federalizing of Oregon National Guard members. By afternoon, Simon agrees to recuse himself, although he said he believed he would be impartial. The case is randomly reassigned to U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut.

Friday, Oct 3: Immergut holds a nearly two-hour hearing in federal court in downtown Portland on the state and citys motion for a temporary restraining order to block the Oregon National Guard deployment.

Saturday Oct. 4: Immergut issues a 31-page ruling granting the state a temporary restraining order, blocking the federal government from sending Oregon National Guard troops to Portland for 14 days. She finds the Trump administration lacked any legal justification to mobilize troops, noting no threat of rebellion exists in Portland, that local police can handle the sporadic protests at the ICE building and federal officers are still able to enforce federal laws.

The Trump administrations lawyers file a notice of appeal.

Sunday, Oct. 5: Hegseth mobilizes California National Guard troops to deploy to Portland. Sometime after midnight early Sunday, 101 California National Guard members land in Oregon at the Portland Air National Guard base and another 99 arrived later between 4 and 5 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 5: Oregon joins with California and files a new lawsuit to block the deployment of California National Guard members and both states file a joint emergency motion for a new restraining order.

Sunday, Oct. 5: Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announces that the Trump administration has directed Texas National Guard troops to deploy to Portland and Chicago.

Sunday, Oct. 5: Immergut holds an unusual emergency phone hearing at night on the second motion for a temporary restraining order. After grilling the Trump administrations lawyer, Immergut issues a broader restraining order that blocks the deployment of any National Guard members from any state to Oregon.

Sunday, Oct. 5: The federal government files a motion with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to put a hold, or stay, on Immerguts first temporary restraining order. Its lawyers indicate they will also file a motion for a stay on the second restraining order.

Monday, Oct. 6: Trump says he would consider using the Insurrection Act to deploy the military if federal courts prevented him from sending the National Guard to Portland.

Tuesday, Oct. 7: Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem arrives in Portland and visits the Portland immigration office and meets with the governor, Portland police chief, mayor and state police superintendent.

Wednesday, Oct. 8: A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issues a temporary administrative hold while it considers the troop deployment case. It allows Trumps federal control of the Oregon National Guard to continue but says the troops cant deploy to Portland for now.

Thursday, Oct. 9: The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sets oral arguments to be heard at 9 a.m. this day on the Trump administrations motion to pause Immerguts initial temporary restraining order to bar the deployment of Oregon National Guard.

Tuesday, Oct. 15: Immergut holds phone conference and extends her two temporary restraining orders for another two weeks. The first, barring federal deployment of Oregon National Guard members to Portland, to last until Nov. 1, and the second, barring any National Guard members from any state being sent to Oregon, until Nov. 2.

Monday, Oct. 20: A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a split 2 to 1 ruling, puts a hold on Immerguts first temporary restraining order, allowing Trump to deploy Oregon National Guard members to Portland. But the second broader restraining order remained in place, meaning no Guard members could be sent to Portlands ICE facility right away. The dissenting judge urges her colleagues to review the issue and throw out the majoritys opinion.

Monday, Oct. 20: Federal lawyers ask Immergut to dissolve her second temporary restraining order in light of 9th Circuit courts opinion. Meanwhile, a 9th Circuit judge moves to ask the courts 29 active judges to vote whether to have the case on the first restraining order to be reheard by a larger contingent of the courts judges, in an en banc review.

Friday, Oct. 24: Immergut holds morning hearing by phone to listen to argument over whether she should keep her second temporary restraining order in tact, dissolve it or put all or part of it on hold.

Friday, Oct. 24: 9th Circuit puts an administrative hold on the three-judge panels Oct. 20 ruling that had opened the door for Trump to deploy Oregon National Guard troops to Portland. The hold was ordered to last until 5 p.m. Oct. 28, as the full 9th Circuits 29 active judges decide whether to vote to rehear the matter.

Wednesday, Oct. 29 - Friday, Oct. 31: Immergut held a three-day trial on the merits of the state of Oregon, state of California and city of Portlands motion for a preliminary injunction to bar the Trump administration from sending National Guard troops from any state to Portland.

Sunday, Nov. 2: Immergut issued a preliminary injunction barring the federal deployment of National Guard troops from any state to Portland, pending a final ruling expected before 5 p.m. on Fri., Nov. 7. She issued the brief injunction about five hours before her broad temporary restraining order that now bars any federal deployment of National Guard from any state to Oregon was to expire at 11:59 p.m. Sunday night.

Friday, Nov. 7: Immergut issued a permanent injunction preventing the federal government from sending National Guard members from any state to Oregon. A U.S. Department of Justice lawyer pledged to appeal the ruling. The judge found that President Donald Trump had exceeded his authority, and violated the 10th Amendment and failed to meet the criteria for invoking federal statutes Title 10, Sec. 12406, concluding there was no threat of rebellion in Portland and officers have not been thwarted from executing federal law.
Images from video surveillance and federal officers' body camera footage were presented to a judge as Alexander Jay Boyce made his first appearance in federal court in Portland on an allegation of felony assault of a federal officer. U.S. Attorney's Office

A 38-year-old Portland man accused of spitting in the face of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer appeared in federal court Tuesday.

Alexander Jay Boyce is accused of felony assault on a federal officer.

Boyce was part of a crowd outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office that refused to move back despite orders blared on a long-range loudspeaker and verbal commands from officers to clear the buildings driveway to allow cars to enter and exit Sunday night, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Cardani.

Boyce was standing in front of the Customs and Border Protection officer, away from the driveway, when he swore at and shouted in the officers face, according to photos included in a federal affidavit.

Boyce yelled move back and something to the effect of get out of my city and then spit at the officer, according to the affidavit.

Cardani said surveillance video and the officers body camera footage captured Boyces forceful spitting.

A photo of the federal officer who Alexander Jay Boyce is accused of spitting on Sunday night, Oct. 5. U.S. Attorney's Office

A photo included in the affidavit shows saliva hanging from the officers helmet.

While the prosecutor called the allegation serious and cited concern that Boyce also self-reported drinking six beers a day, Cardani said he recognized that Boyce has no prior convictions. He also acknowledged Boyce has strong ties to the local community and a job.

Assistant Federal Public Defender Susan Wilk said Boyces employer called him highly-skilled and dependable but did not identify his job.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Armistead released Boyce from custody Tuesday afternoon on his own recognizance.

The judge directed Boyce to stay away from specific blocks around the ICE building and advised Boyce not to let his beer consumption impede his judgment or ability to comply with the pretrial restrictions.

Nobody spits on the brave men and women of federal law enforcement and gets away with it, said Oregons interim U.S. Attorney Scott E. Bradford. If you spit on a federal law enforcement officer, you will be hit with federal charges.

Boyce is one of 31 people who have been arrested on federal misdemeanor or felony charges stemming from protests outside the ICE building since June. Portland police have arrested another 37 people since June.
Portland police officers cordoned off the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Tues., Oct. 7, 2025. A police official said Wednesday morning the tape will remain up across multiple intersections. Zaeem Shaikh/The Oregonian

UPDATE: Portland mayor removes barriers around ICE building

Streets around the entrance to South Portlands U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building remain blocked to traffic Wednesday morning as police tape remains around multiple intersections in the area.

At least a dozen Portland police officers surrounded the area for U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noems visit Tuesday, putting up tape and enforcing traffic barricades. That was part of what the Police Bureau called routine support for a visiting official.

Police Chief Bob Day and officials said around 5 p.m. Tuesday that the area would be secured for several more hours.

That has changed.

A Portland police spokesperson, Mike Benner, said Wednesday morning there is no timeline for the tape to come down.

Tape is up as PPB continues to provide a presence in the neighborhood, Benner said.

Portland police reminded residents on social media that restaurants and businesses in the area were still open. Residents and those needing access are encouraged to talk with a police officer on scene, the Police Bureau wrote. We appreciate everyones patience.

Its not clear what motivated police officials to make the decision. Noem said on Fox News that she told Day and Oregon State Police Superintendent Casey Codding in a private meeting she wanted more security and a bigger buffer zone to keep our officers safe.

Taylor Zajonc, Mayor Keith Wilsons deputy chief of staff, said that the mayors office was working with police and transportation officials on the continued barriers in the area and would provide more information later in the day.

A city official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the area would likely remain blocked off for a while.

What that means, I dont know, the official said. A day? Longer? A lot of this is unfolding day by day.
Federal prosecutor said 21-year-old Eli Victor McKenzie, holding umbrella, did not move back and out of driveway of the ICE facility when ordered. McKenzie pleaded guilty to failure to follow a lawful order. U.S. Attorney's Office

A 21-year-old who was arrested in June outside Portlands U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office was sentenced Wednesday to a year of federal probation after pleading guilty to the misdemeanor of failing to obey a lawful order.

Eli Victor McKenzie was arrested June 16 when federal officers advanced on a line of protesters blocking the driveway of the building.

McKenzie was holding an umbrella behind a barrier of makeshift plastic shields that appeared to be covers of storage containers lined up across the driveway.

When officers attempted to move the barrier, McKenzie held fast, pushing against the advancing officers before she fell backward and tried to crawl away, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul T. Maloney.

McKenzie was arrested for refusing to leave government property as instructed, he said.

McKenzie, a full-time college senior, was injured during the arrest and suffered a concussion, bruises and a chipped front tooth, according to defense lawyer Ryan Anfus. McKenzie said she still suffers lingering symptoms from a concussion and some memory problems.

McKenzie understands that the manner in which she expressed her dissatisfaction with specific government policies in this instance was a violation of the law, and she regrets her actions, Anfus wrote in a sentencing memo.

In court, Anfus said McKenzie has learned a lot from this. Obviously its a hyper-charged political environment were operating in these days. Ms. McKenzie understands this was not an appropriate way to express those feelings.

When asked if she wanted to address the judge, McKenzie said she just wanted to make sure the injuries she suffered are on the record.

I dont know what that has to do with holding you accountable for your conviction, U.S. District Judge Adrienne Nelson said.

McKenzie then said she didnt have anything else to add.

McKenzies injuries, Anfus wrote in the sentencing memo, are a reminder of the risks associated with the conduct that resulted in her conviction.

The judge ordered McKenzie to remain out of a restricted area around Portlands ICE field office on South Macadam Avenue.

The prosecutor pointed out that McKenzie had prior convictions stemming from activity during a Nov. 9, 2023, protest at the World Trade Center in Portland. McKenzie picked up a table and used it as a battering ram to smash a sliding glass door, causing more than $1,000 in damage to PGE property.

McKenzie was convicted of first-degree criminal mischief in Multnomah County Circuit Court in that case, sentenced to six months of bench probation and ordered to complete 20 hours of community service. McKenzie performed 21 hours and 15 minutes of community service for the Oregon Food Bank.

McKenzie is one of 31 people arrested on federal misdemeanor or felony charges stemming from activity since June outside Portlands ICE facility.
Samruddha Preuitt, left, who graduated in May from David Douglas High School and now attends the University of Connecticut, and Jenell Theobald, who graduated from the International School of Beaverton and is now a freshman at Santa Clara University in California, were chosen from a field of more than 6,400 high schoolers. Courtesy of the Preuitt and Theobald families

Two Oregon teens are among 161 students nationwide who have been selected as U.S. Presidential Scholars in recognition of their outstanding academic achievements.

Samruddha Preuitt, who graduated in May from David Douglas High School and now attends the University of Connecticut, and Jenell Theobald, who graduated from the International School of Beaverton and is now a freshman at Santa Clara University in California, were chosen from a field of more than 6,400 high schoolers.

Students can qualify for the honor based on their SAT or ACT scores or by being nominated by education leaders. They then submit high school transcripts, essays and letters of recommendation.

Two students from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. families living abroad are chosen for the award, alongside additional honorees in the arts, for career/technical education and for at-large spots.

Preuitt said the announcement that he was one of the two Oregon students selected came as a surprise. His parents had nudged him to apply after he was notified that he was eligible to do so based on his SAT scores, he said. He was smack in the midst of a busy senior year at David Douglas, balancing a heavy load of Advanced Placement courses, applying for college scholarships and helping to lead his schools still nascent Science Olympiad club to third place in the annual state-level competition.

Hes now studying data science and engineering at the University of Connecticut, a school he said he chose in part for its commitment to allowing first-year students to submit and lead their own research proposals. Preuitt said he has a strong interest in machine learning but cannot predict where a fast-changing future will take him.

Five years ago, I might have said I see myself doing 3-D modeling. And then I had a phase where I was really into learning game development, he said. So will the job I say I want to have in 10 years even exist in 10 years? I dont know.

Preuitt credits his interest in science and engineering to his parents, whom he said never tried to steer him in one direction or the other. Instead he said, they found ways to support his varied interests, which stretched from memorizing the periodic table of the elements at a young age to a fascination with geography that left him poring over atlases.

There were no times when they were like, No, dont be interested in that, he said. It was more like If you are interested in that, lets find a way for you to explore it further.

Teachers at David Douglas were also key mentors, Preuitt said, including chemistry teacher Darren Beene, whose lessons helped Preuitt get the highest possible score on his Advanced Placement chemistry exam, and math teacher Andrew Matheny, with whom Preuitt took trigonometry and calculus.

Before that, I thought math was pretty boring, Preuitt said. But I liked the way Mr. Matheny taught the class  he made it fun, he really makes you try to understand what is going on, which made it more interesting. I really thank him for that.

Theobald, too, applied after being notified that she was qualified to do so based on her SAT scores. She has a long history of neurodiversity activism, and said she was born with autism and other physical and developmental disorders.

Childhood and finding friends wasnt always easy, she said, and she attended seven different schools before fifth grade, seeking the right fit. But she found help and support from her parents, her teachers and from new friends and counselors at Camp Meadowood Springs in Weston, a summer camp in Eastern Oregon for children with speech and communication disorders.

Theobald still volunteers there, most recently in June to paint wall murals, alongside friends from the Mei Shi Art Center. She also founded a nonprofit called Lets Peer Up that aims to grow friendships and connections between children and teens who are neurodiverse and those who are neurotypical.

And she was appointed by former Gov. Kate Brown to serve as the sole high school-aged representative on the Oregon Youth Development Council, which funds programs that help students at risk of being pushed out of the school system get back on the path to a high school diploma, college and a career.

She credits her parents for their determination to help her face and figure out obstacles and challenges, big and small. It was her parents who found Camp Meadowood Spring for her, forcing me out of my comfort zone, and who supported her through a myriad of community service projects, including advocacy for Lone Fir Cemeterys cultural heritage and healing garden. That space will honor the 2,800 Chinese and Chinese American people who were interred there.

At Santa Clara, Theobald said, shes considering majoring in psychology and is also interested in sociology and public health. Shes also an accomplished artist who will be contributing illustrations to her campus newspaper.

Her alma mater, the International School of Beaverton, was full of teachers from whom I just got the sense that they all really loved teaching and wanted us to succeed, she said.

Her former math teacher of three years, Erin Pitney, stands out. Theobald said Pitney hosted regular homework clubs in her classroom, creating a supportive, safe space for her students to focus on their work.
Activists in orange life jackets sit aboard a Gaza-bound Sumud flotilla boat as Israeli navy soldiers sail it into the port of Ashdod, Israel, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, after it was intercepted while approaching the Gaza coast. (AP Photo/Leo Correa) AP

A Portland man who traveled with a flotilla of about 50 vessels through international waters to deliver aid to Gaza is on his way back to Oregon, after Israeli forces intercepted the aid mission and held the man and several hundred others in prison.

Paul Reid started sailing across the Mediterranean with the Global Samud Flotilla in late August, according to posts on his Instagram.

He is one of the people with a Portland connection who joined Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, Nelson Mandelas grandson Mandla Mandela, former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, and several European lawmakers on the mission.

Reids mother, Jan Levin, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that she and her family were not surprised when they learned that Reid planned to set sail for Gaza.

Hes been very, very concerned and very passionate about the plight of the Palestinian people for many, many years, she said.

At the start of the voyage, Reid posted semi-regular updates, including a post about weathering a storm after leaving Barcelona, photos of sunny skies and calm seas and a video of dolphins on his Instagram. But as the vessels sailed off the coast of Greece on Sept. 23, Reid reported that several of the boats had been attacked by drones carrying explosives that he described as like flashbangs on steroids. He added that the explosives damaged the sails of one of the flotillas sailboats.

Then, on Oct. 1, Reids sister and his mother, Levin, were watching the flotillas livestream cameras when Israeli Navy vessels circled the boats as they sailed through international waters near Gaza.

Levin said that she saw the Navy vessels shoot water onto the flotillas boats over and over again with water cannons.

It was traumatizing to watch, let alone be a part of it, she said. I couldnt imagine what it would have been like there.

The Associated Press reported Sunday that several activists whod been released alleged mistreatment at the hands of Israeli guards.

Levin learned Tuesday her son was en route to Jordan.

Reid could not be reached to talk about his own experience, and Levin declined to comment on what her son told her he had seen.

On Wednesday, Levin was scheduled to travel to Portland to meet her son at the airport, where he is expected to land Wednesday night.

I am greatly relieved that hes coming home, she said.
Portland police on bike patrol near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in South Portland on Oct. 5, 2025. Trump's retweet of a video with a deceptive headline appears to feed into his fight against the police. Zaeem Shaikh

President Trump shared a misleading tweet on Tuesday that appears aimed at fueling the administrations claims that Portland police arent intervening forcefully enough in protests at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building.

In the 1-minute video clip, reposted on X via Trumps Truth Social account, a Portland police liaison officer speaks with a group of people, including a person in a gas mask and helmet and another in a black bandana face covering, glasses and a red anti-Trump hat.

The officer appears to urge them to move to the sidewalk so traffic can pass through, lest they get hit by a car or get arrested by federal agents.

He mentions a federal judges temporary restraining order barring the deployment of National Guard troops in Portland but much of what he says is lost in a cascade of shouts by protesters and counter-protesters that repeatedly interrupt the conversation.

The clip, with the deceptive headline, Portland PD gives ANTIFA terrorists advice on how to keep federal troops out of the city, originally was posted Tuesday by the right-wing Phoenix, Arizona-based news and politics website The Western Journal. Its unclear who recorded the video or when.

The video headline is in keeping with other false information circulating about the city and the Police Bureau for months  including the magnitude of the protests, the level of unrest across Portland and the police response to public disturbances near the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in South Portland.

Trumps retweet also comes as the city has been pushing back against federal accusations of political bias. The U.S. Justice Department last week announced that it would launch a wide-scale investigation of the Police Bureau following the arrest of a conservative online journalist and influencer on suspicion of second-degree disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor. The district attorney later declined to press charges, saying Nick Sortor had acted in self-defense but also said police did the right thing in arresting him to deescalate the situation.

Portland police officers do not engage in immigration enforcement efforts due to state and city sanctuary policies that forbid them from doing so  though the police are still responsible for maintaining public safety and enforcing state laws.

On Tuesday, Portland City Attorney Robert Taylor praised the officer in the video for doing his job to calmly, clearly and professionally de-escalate the situation.

This video shows a PPB Dialogue Liaison Officer working to de-escalate a situation and explain the District Courts recent order, Taylor told The Oregonian/OregonLive. De-escalation and providing clear information is important when working with a crowd, especially when people in the crowd are expressing opposing views. We encourage all people exercising their First Amendment rights to do so peacefully.

Trump and federal officials have regularly accused Portland police of failing to control protests in front of the ICE building and have said Portland is war-ravaged, filled with insurrectionists and burning to the ground  accusations that bear no resemblance to what is actually happening in the city.

The same arguments have also been made by federal lawyers in court when attempting to justify Trumps directive to send the National Guard to Portland. On Sunday, U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut issued a sweeping temporary order that bars any National Guard members from relocating from any state for federal service in Oregon.

Contrary to those claims, the protests in Portland have been confined to roughly a public street intersection and the driveway next to the ICE office in the residential-business district of South Portland  with life going on as usual in all other parts of town.

A protester holds up a sign at the ICE Building in Portland, Oregon on Tuesday, October 7, 2025. Sean Meagher

Most of the protests have entailed just a few dozen people  though a recent rally and march after Trump announced he would send the National Guard to Portland drew hundreds, including families with children and large numbers of elderly residents and veterans.

The protests have been peaceful for the most part. To date, federal officers and Portland police have arrested 68 people at the building on misdemeanor and felony allegations including assaulting officers, destroying government property and failing to follow lawful orders, many of them at the outset of the protests.

Federal officials have dragged dozens more into the ICE building during demonstrations, often releasing them within hours without allegations or citing them with a low-level violation.

The city dispatches the white shirt-clad liaison dialogue officers  such as the one featured in the video  to try to calm crowd behavior during marches and protests with little or no traditional police intervention.

The dialogue officers primary role, according to the city, is to minimize conflict with traffic or between demonstration participants using communication not force. The approach was introduced in the wake of Portlands tumultuous 2020 racial justice protests.
Im proud of Oregon. Our mayor issued a thoughtful, articulate plea for the people of Portland and Oregon to find peaceful solutions while rejecting forcefully the idea of martial law. Our governor rejected the use of federal forces. Our chief of police provided a balanced and very well thought out response to the use of federal forces against American citizens. And we have prevailed, at least thus far, with a reasoned decision by U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut, (Judge blocks Oregon National Guard troops from deploying to Portland, Oct. 4).

This demonstrates that reason, articulate statements of fact, truth and the rule of law still have a place. We are far from the end in this struggle, but Portland can claim real standing.

Andrew Rich, Portland

To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion.
The cost of an ambulance ride in Washington County could soon jump nearly 30%.

American Medical Response, the primary ambulance provider for the Portland-area, told the county Board of Commissioners Tuesday that they need to increase their rates due to increased labor costs and a widening shortfall in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, among other things.

Washington County residents already saw ambulance fees jump from $1,724 to $1,948 per ride in July on ambulances providing advanced life support. That doesnt include the cost per mile to get to a hospital, which increased in July from $27.59 per mile to $31.18.

But the ambulance company now wants the board to approve a second 27% rate hike. If the board agrees to that increase, an ambulance ride in Washington County would cost $2,475 plus $39.59 per mile traveled starting in January, according to AMR.

The board will vote on whether to approve the price increase Oct. 21.

The potential rate hike comes after Clackamas County commissioners in August approved a new contract with AMR that more than doubled the cost of a high-emergency ambulance. Those prices leapt from $1,676 to $2,245 and will jump again to $3,480 starting in November.

Multnomah County maintains the lowest rates for an ambulance in the Portland area, with patients and insurance companies being billed a flat fee of $1,744 per advanced care ride and $35.91 per mile. Multnomah County officials said they do not expect to renegotiate those rates any time soon.

Washington County approved AMR as its new ambulance provider in 2023, choosing it over local ambulance company Metro West. Since then, AMR has consistently struggled to meet response time requirements set by the county, racking up at least $1.4 million in fines.

AMR has not achieved 100% compliance, but they are working to address issues in staffing and operations, county spokesperson Wendy Gordon said in a statement. It is important to note that we are working to deemphasize response times and focus on the quality of care.

AMR Regional Director Rob McDonald told the board Tuesday that those covered by Medicare and Medicaid, which according to AMR data make up 73% of people paying for an ambulance in the county, would not see an increased out of pocket cost. That would fall mostly to those with private insurance, who make up 17% of patients in the county, McDonald said.

Around 11% of ambulance patients dont have insurance and would be most impacted by the raised prices. But McDonald said AMR has launched a compassionate care program that will help uninsured residents cover the costs of an ambulance ride.

County EMS Program Supervisor Adrienne Donner told commissioners that for every $100 AMR increases rates, the ambulance company only receives a $6 to $8 increase in revenue.

She added that part of the reason costs are necessary is due to inefficiencies in the governments emergency medical response system. Those include redundancies like sending both advanced life support and basic life support ambulances to the same scene and long patient transfers from when a patient arrives at the hospital to when they actually are admitted to the emergency room.

Chair Kathryn Harrington and Commissioners Jason Snider, Pam Treece and Nafisa Fai said they would support the increased prices, but Snider and Treece added that they did not want to repeat this process down the road.

The lone no vote could come from Commissioner Jerry Willey, who said if commissioners pass the rate hike it will be a 60% increase since the county first contracted with AMR. He asked that any increases be implemented on a slower time frame, instead of all at once.

I cant process that, he said. I cant pass that along to those who cant afford to pay for an ambulance, and I dont feel right about passing it on to insurance companies.
Gov. Tina Kotek has ordered the U.S. Northern Command to send 200 Oregon National Guard members home after a federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump had no legal authority to federalize them. Pictured here is the Oregon National Guard Armory in Salem, Oregon, on Oct. 2, 2025. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

Gov. Tina Kotek on Tuesday told the U.S. Northern Command to send Oregons National Guard members home after a federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump had no authority to call them up.

About 200 Oregon National Guard members have been stationed at Camp Rilea on the coast and another 200 California National Guard members have been at Camp Withycombe near Clackamas, according to the governors office.

Kotek said both groups should be released right away  the Oregonians back to their homes and the Californians back to their state.

Its unclear what effect Koteks demand will have on the mobilization. The 400 Guard members all remained in Oregon on Tuesday.

Officials with the Oregon Military Department, U.S. Northern Command and the U.S. Department of Defenses Pentagon press office declined to comment.

Koteks move comes after U.S. District Judge Karin J. Immergut ruled on Saturday that the president lacked legal grounds to take control of Oregons Guard under a federal statute that allows such action only in cases of invasion, rebellion or when federal law cannot otherwise be enforced. She approved a 14-day temporary restraining order to halt the Oregon mobilization pending a U.S. government appeal.

The following day, Immergut issued a broader restraining order saying the president also lacked authority to deploy Guard units from other states to Oregon after the Trump administration sent the already-federalized California troops to Oregon and said it was planning to deploy Texas National Guard members to Oregon, Illinois and other states.

In a letter from Kotek to General Gregory M. Guillot, commander of the U.S. Northern Command, the governor described the mobilization as an illegal mission that puts Oregons soldiers in an impossible position.

Our citizen soldiers deserve better than to be uprooted from their families and careers, only to be mobilized for an illegal mission positioning our soldiers in opposition to the U.S. Constitutions 1st, 4th and 10th amendments, of which they have taken an oath to uphold, she wrote.

Kotek also told Guillot that the federal call-up disrupts an already demanding schedule of our National Guard soldiers required trainings and lawful deployments currently planned out for the next several years and comes with a price tag currently being footed by the American people.

The governors letter follows a sequence of events that began Sept. 28, when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed Kotek in a memo that 200 Oregon Guard members were among 2,000 troops to be called up nationwide to protect ICE facilities and other federal employees.

Kotek shortly after said she was no longer in charge of those Guard members. Within hours, the state of Oregon and Portland city officials filed a lawsuit challenging the deployment and then sought the temporary restraining order, which Immergut granted.

Kotek said in a statement Monday that Immerguts orders are a clear and forceful rebuttal to President Trumps misuse of states National Guard. Lets remember that these Oregonians are our neighbors and friends, who have been unlawfully uprooted from their family and careers  they deserve better than this.
A nine-day-old snippet of testimony in front of Oregon lawmakers is rocketing around social media as Portland awaits word from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on President Trumps troop deployment plans.

Oregons top military leader offered some reassuring  or infuriating, depending on ones political perspective  comments about the role of National Guard soldiers during a proposed federal troop deployment to Portland.

Speaking before a state Senate subcommittee, Brigadier General Alan R. Gronewold told legislators that before deployment, the two companies of soldiers would be trained in protective crowd control. That training is now up in the air as Gov. Tina Kotek on Tuesday ordered troops to go home after a federal judge ruled over the weekend that Trump had no authority to call them up.

Gronewold said Guard soldiers serve two purposes: One, to defend America, and two, to protect Oregonians. And so by serving in this mission, they will be protecting any protesters at the ICE facility.

[WATCH: Oregon generals testimony: National Guard troops will be protecting any protesters]

The generals comments Sept. 30 resurfaced online this week and drew both praise and scrutiny in equal measure. Its an open question whether soldiers from the guard  from Oregon or any other state  will actually deploy outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office in South Portland.

A federal judge paused President Donald Trumps mobilization on Saturday, and expanded her order Sunday to block units of the guard from any state after Trump said he would muster troops from California and Texas.

The administration has now appealed the ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has set a hearing on the matter for Thursday. Theres no definite timeline for the appellate court to issue a ruling.

Gronewold, for his part, noted that the presidents federalization meant the soldiers would be taken out of his chain of command and placed under the control of the U.S. Northern Command.

He said the meaning of Trumps social media post authorizing full force by the soldiers was unclear, as the phrase is not a doctrinal term that the Army uses.

Gronewold closed out his remarks by asking lawmakers to spread a message about the difference between local troops and federal law enforcement agents.

Were the home team, and our job is to protect and serve Oregonians, and we follow lawful orders, and thats what were doing, he said. Please treat them with dignity and respect.

Gronewold echoed that sentiment in a Sept. 29 letter to troops.

I know some of you may have strong feelings about this mission. Thats Okay. You are citizens first, but youre also service members who took an oath to support and defend the Constitution and follow the orders of the President and the Governor, Gronewold wrote. That oath doesnt come with an asterisk that says, Only when I agree with the mission.
Sen. Bruce Starr, (right) speaks with Rep. Lucetta Elmer, (left) R-McMinnville, on the House floor. Starr and Elmer have both been newly appointed to lead their respective Republican caucuses. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

Oregon Republican leaders at the state and federal level are stopping short of calling for National Guard intervention in Portland.

In statements and interviews, U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr, House Minority Leader Lucetta Elmer and former House Minority Leader Christine Drazan all expressed frustration with protests at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland.

Asked if they support President Donald Trumps attempt to deploy National Guard troops to intervene in those Portland protests, prominent Republicans said they either thought the president was within his rights or that they understood why he did it.

But they did not rally behind the call to get federal troops on the ground. Most said they want local police to step up and take control of the situation.

I see why hes doing it. At the same time, I recognize that this evokes some strong emotion and some unrest because of it, Elmer, the newly appointed leader of the House Republican caucus, said of Trumps attempts to deploy troops to Portland.

Elmer doesnt think things are fine in Portland and said its not okay for reporters to be getting black eyes, referring to the conservative online journalist Katie Daviscourt, who reported that she was assaulted outside the ICE facility on Sept. 30. But she said its not in her wheelhouse to gauge whether Portland is the war zone the president describes, or to decide when protests are large enough to merit federal intervention. She said she plans to visit the facility soon.

We need to be working together to make sure that there arent violent protests. I dont think theres ever a place for that, Elmer said. Certainly people can protest and peacefully assemble.

Drazan, before she stepped down as House Minority Leader, blasted state and local Democratic leaders for allowing what she characterized as violent protests outside of the ICE facility.

In a late September statement responding to Trumps push to send National Guard troops to Portland, she wrote that the ICE facility had been the site of dangerously chaotic protests that have put residents and federal agents in harms way.

It is shameful that state and local leaders have allowed violent mobs and domestic terrorists to assault federal law enforcement, destroy property and interfere with those seeking immigration services, Drazan wrote. We need order, we need to restore safety and Oregons local leaders have failed to provide it.

The ICE facility has been the site of protests since early June, but they have been small compared with social justice demonstrations that roiled the city in 2020. They intensified in the days after Trumps troop announcement.

Drazan did not respond to a call and text Tuesday seeking further comment on the National Guard situation. But a spokesperson for the House Republican Caucus said that Drazans statement doesnt welcome federal troops or the National Guard.

She is basically just asking state and local leaders to enforce public safety, spokesperson Emily Girsch said.

Starr and Bentz echoed that call.

Asked if he supported Trumps National Guard push, Starr said that the law needs to be enforced in and around the ICE building, which he alleged hasnt been the case in the last several months.

This issue could go away right now if Portland police, the leadership in Portland, enforced the law, Starr said.

Bentz, who represents eastern Oregon in the U.S. House of Representatives and is the states sole Republican in Congress, said Wednesday that he likes Portland, the city where he went to law school.

Its not a war zone, he said, though he thinks that was a more accurate characterization of the city in 2020 when tumultuous racial justice protests caught national attention. That portrayal is seared in the minds of people who live on the East Coast, and who think thats still the case, Bentz said.

Bentz said he called an assistant secretary in the Department of Defense two weeks ago to convey what he sees as a fragile situation in Portland.

I said look, Portland was really bad five years ago, but they made progress, and theyre trying to heal and make things better, and so lets all work together to try to get there, Bentz said.

My job, I thought, was to say look, Cant you reach out to local law enforcement and see if they can do more? And thus the troops would not be necessary.

Bentz praised U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut who last week issued a temporary restraining order blocking the president from sending Oregon National Guard troops or National Guard troops from other states to Portland. He said shes an excellent judge. But he also said he disagreed with her ruling.

Immergut found that the government failed to demonstrate that federal officers need backup from the National Guard to protect the ICE building and that protests were not significantly violent or disruptive before Trump issued the order to send troops.

Bentz argued that Portland police have not been cracking down on noise ordinances barring disturbances in the city, that local police should be clearing the driveway around the ICE facility so cars can come and go and alleged local officers have failed to prevent violence in protest crowds. He claimed the ranks of the Portland Police Bureau have been decimated and that city leaders are afraid to take a firmer hand and invite the wrath of Antifa.

Bentz said he doesnt think Trump had much of a choice but to ask for help from the National Guard.

When you cant take care of the federal spaces in your city, then what is the President supposed to do? Stand by and watch as his people are beat up and hurt and their efforts are thwarted? Bentz asked.

But asked if hed like to see an appeals court overturn a temporary restraining order blocking troop deployment, which would pave the way for National Guard troops to move in, Bentz shifted the focus to local police.

Id absolutely rather see the local police step up and do their job, Bentz said. Thats what I want to see.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson has responded to a list of federal demands around the ICE facility in South Portland. He did not accede to most of their requests. Zane Sparling/The Oregonian

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson has rejected or sidestepped most items on a list of demands made by the federal government in an attempt to corral protesters around the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility in South Portland.

In a letter signed by Scott Bradford, who heads the U.S. Attorneys Office in Oregon, the federal government asked for the creation of a permanent perimeter around the ICE facility that would move protesters further away from the building into surrounding neighborhoods.

Blocks to the north and east of the ICE building were cordoned off by police tape and barricades Tuesday, which Portland police officials characterized as an example of routine support for a visiting dignitary during U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noems visit.

In a carefully-worded response to the federal governments demands, Wilson did not address their request for a permanent barrier. But by late afternoon on Wednesday, the perimeter had been removed on the mayors order. Wilson told The Oregonian/OregonLive he made that decision after some members of the Portland City Council raised concerns that keeping the area cordoned off could inflame protesters and city residents.

Federal officials also issued a series of other demands when they met with Wilson on Tuesday, including that the city create designated free speech zones to which protesters would be confined, that those who ventured outside such zones would face swift arrest and prosecution, that the city ensure federal officers be able to go to and from the building unhindered and that Portland police prioritize any call for assistance based on threats to federal property or persons, according to the letter from Bradford, which was sent to Police Chief Bob Day.

Wilsons response struck a mostly noncommittal, and at times oppositional, tone.

He said the city of Portland could commit to peacefully facilitating free speech throughout the city, but did not appear to concede to federal officials demands that protesters be confined to particular areas. Nor did he promise that the city would ensure that ICE employees would be able to come and go without hindrance, saying instead that both his office and local police will continue to make public order decisions based on what they believe will be in the best interest of Portland and our community.

Wilson also noted that the Portland Police Bureau had added additional personnel and would continue to respond to service calls, including those from federal employees, but that prioritization would follow existing policy, with life-saving emergencies coming first and foremost.

Wilson did agree with one suggestion that he said was made by federal officials, saying that the city of Portland might be open to taking over the lease for the ICE facility.

Noem and her team had requested that the city consider such a step, Wilson wrote, during their brief visit and photo opportunity in Portland on Tuesday to survey the site and the waxing-and-waning protests it has attracted for months.

The U.S. General Services Administration has leased Portlands ICE headquarters on South Macadam Avenue from a private owner since 2011.

The building acts as a processing center, where people whove been detained by ICE officers are interviewed to determine whether they have the documents needed to show that they are legally in the United States.

Wilson wrote that the city is open to negotiations on taking over the rest of the lease, adding given the operational challenges and expense this facility likely demands, we believe this may be a mutually beneficial solution in the best interests of all parties and stakeholders.

From the citys perspective, that would not mean that the city would be ICEs landlord, said Cody Bowman, a spokesman for Wilson. Instead, Bowman said, the intent would be to transition ICE out, not to house or retain ICE as a tenant.

Last month, city officials said they believed that U.S. immigration officials had repeatedly held detainees longer than 12 hours or overnight in the South Portland facility. That is a violation of its conditional land use approval that could put the facility on track to be closed.

In his letter to Wilson, Bradford also expressed frustration with Portlands status as a sanctuary city, meaning that city employees, including police officers, will not comply with ICE agents, except when expressly required to do so under federal law.

We strongly object to Portland sanctuary policies and the public safety threat they cause, Bradford wrote. But even putting that aside, nothing in state or local law prevents Portland from protecting the safety and security of federal officers and from ensuring that bad actors do not prevent the free and lawful movement of people into and out of property in Portland.

In response, Wilson wrote that he recognized that there was significant daylight between the federal governments stance and the citys, and that Portland Police officers would continue to comply with state law.

The mayor closed his letter by repeating a request of his own.

We continue to ask that your federal law enforcement officers raise their operational and legal standards in terms of use of force and munitions, officer identification, and body-worn cameras, Wilson wrote. The actions of certain officers continue to be deeply disturbing to our community, and the lack of accountability and transparency for what appears to be unconstitutional behavior against individuals expressing their rights will only serve to deepen the divide between this facility and our community.

Bowman said the mayor and Portland police chief met Tuesday at the ICE facility with federal staffers, including Corey Lewandowski, a senior adviser to Noem who previously served as President Donald Trumps campaign manager in 2016, for a conversation that lasted about 30 minutes.

The federal contingent had asked Wilsons office to respond to their requests by noon Wednesday; a formal letter from Wilson was sent by the deadline, his office said.

Protests outside the Portland ICE facility picked up steam in early June, following the arrest of an asylum-seeker in U.S. Immigration Court. They were sometimes sleepy, but saw periodic flare-ups. Most protests had involved no more than several dozen people in the weeks before Trump announced in late September that he was sending all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland.

A judge on Sunday issued a temporary restraining order preventing Trump from deploying National Guard troops to Portland. The panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that Oregon National Guard members may remain under federal control but cannot deploy to Portland for the time being.
Rep. Maxine Dexter, who represents Oregon's 3rd Congressional District, speaks to constituents on Tuesday night at a hastily assembled gathering to talk about potential National Guard intervention in Portland. Sami Edge

A Northeast Portland church was packed to standing room on Tuesday night as U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem toured the city and Portlanders waited to see whether an appeals court would continue to block President Donald Trump from deploying military troops to the city.

U.S. Rep Maxine Dexter and Portland City Council president Elana Pirtle-Guiney, both Democrats, took the pulpit to address hundreds of those worried constituents, many of whom grappled with deep political questions:

How should they fight back against a presidential administration that many Democrats believe is embracing authoritarianism?

Could they trust in the court system, when Trumps critics argue hes stacked the courts in his favor or outright ignored their orders?

Will peaceful protest and respect for institutional rules be sufficient to prompt change in an era when many worry institutions they once respected are falling apart?

And, whats the plan?

Call it the blue Portland blues.

Dexter, who represents Oregons 3rd Congressional District, and Pirtle-Guiney attempted to answer some of those questions at Portlands Augustana Lutheran Church on Tuesday night during a hastily assembled town hall to discuss Trumps threats to send the National Guard to combat protests at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in South Portland.

They stressed the merits of peaceful protest and urged Portlanders to find direct ways to show support for immigrants and other populations in need in their communities. They blasted the narrative that Portland is in need of military intervention and accused Trump of manufacturing a reality TV moment to distract from other issues including the impact of immigration enforcement on families. They urged faith in democracy.

We will not be intimidated. We will not be submissive to an authoritarian takeover. And we also must be steadfast and peaceful (in our) resistance, Dexter said. It is critical at this moment that we maintain peace and solidarity because that is the only way that we win in a violent extreme environment.

During a tense exchange in the mostly collegial conversation, attorney Michael Harris told Dexter and Pirtle-Guiney that the country is facing a constitutional crisis that demands more than the standard resistance playbook. He accused the president of ignoring court orders, defying the Constitution and shipping people to prison camps.

All of the people in this room believe in the process and the process is being shredded, Harris said. I appreciate this call for peaceful protest, but honestly, I dont know if that is going to be enough. And I say that with terror. What is the plan?

Harris wasnt advocating for violence, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive. What he wants is creativity, he said, and a congressional representative willing to think outside the box about mending the political climate. Dexter referenced reaching across the aisle to talk with a Republican colleague who truly believed the war torn Portland narrative. So why not bring them to Portland, Harris questioned: Take them to Powells. Grab a pint of beer. Show them the truth.

Harris was not alone in his frustration. Dexter told him her constituents are scared and angry. Pirtle-Guiney said people tell her frequently that theyve lost faith in American institutions.

Elana Pirtle-Guiney, president of the Portland City Council, stressed to Portlanders on Tuesday night that they should find ways to directly support people in need in their communities. Sami Edge

Both women doubled down on upholding the Constitution, initiating dialogue with people who disagree with them and pushing for change in the court of public opinion.

I want us to win against authoritarianism through upholding democracy, Pirtle-Guiney said. History, she said, points to three factors that can stop authoritarian regimes: the court system, the court of public opinion and militiaries that remember that they swore an oath to the Constitution not to the leader.

Hundreds of Portlanders packed into a town hall hosted by Rep. Maxine Dexter and Portland City Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney on Tuesday to discuss concerns about President Donald Trump's threats to deploy National Guard troops in Oregon. Sami Edge

Torie Scott, a Portland Community College librarian, couldnt ignore the tension on Tuesday night between the efforts that Oregonians and their leaders are making and the concerns that those efforts will not suffice.

Portlanders are showing up to community events and protests and pressuring their representatives. Oregons leaders are fighting back against the Trump administration in court. Both groups are articulating their rage about whats happening in their state.

Were pursuing these lines and is it enough? Scott said.

Asked where she fell on that question, Scott replied: It gives me a stomachache.

On some level, pursuing legal avenues at this time is not working or it doesnt appear to be working, said Ernest Jones, a retired city employee who stopped to chat with Scott after Dexters talk. What else can we do? Its hard. Its very difficult.

Seline Kilgore, a former preschool teacher who now stays home to care for her disabled children, said she thought that Dexter and Pirtle-Guiney gave Tuesdays crowd answers as fair as any representative could.

But she thinks many Democrats are still playing polite politics. People who hope that the system can work the way its supposed to have to play by the rules or they risk eroding faith in that system, Kilgore said. But a growing contingent of people have lost faith in that system, Kilgore said, particularly as they see political power being consolidated by the executive branch.

When the other side is playing with no rules and were playing with the rules, then were going to lose, Kilgore said.

Wheres the line between continuing to play by the rules and breaking the rules for the sake of progression and humanity and human rights? she added.

Rosio Sanchez was not among the people called on to ask a question of the Democratic leaders on Tuesday. But she left the church with high spirits.

It was powerful, she said in Spanish, to see how many Portland community members are willing to stand up against ICE actions that target Hispanic communities.

We are supported by people who will keep supporting us. So were not alone. Thats what Im taking away from today, Sanchez said. We know that people will keep fighting. Even people that are from here, Americans, dont agree with what the government is doing. So we have a lot of faith, and hope, that this situation will end.
In this AP file photo, California National Guard members are positioned in downtown Los Angeles. President Donald Trump ordered the California Guard to Oregon after a judge temporarily denied his attempt to mobilize the Oregon National Guard. AP

The Oregon Republican Party drew national attention this week after it announced the potential deployment of California National Guard troops to Portland in social media posts that featured stock protest photos from South America instead of real images from the city.

The Guardian and The Daily Beast reported on the social media posts early Tuesday.

The posts have since been removed from the partys Instagram and X accounts. A post on the GOPs Facebook account still discusses the potential deployment of troops to Portland  which a judge temporarily blocked Sunday  but has no image attached.

Fake news. Oregon Republican Party supports Trump sending troops to Portland using stock image of South American riot. pic.twitter.com/vWN8vT0eW2  Mike Sington (@MikeSington) October 7, 2025

In an email Tuesday, party chairwoman Connie Whelchel said the graphic was created by a volunteer who was working quickly to post breaking news about President Donald Trumps deployment of National Guard troops to Oregon.

The volunteer used images from the website Canva, which unbeknownst to us included foreign imagery, Whelchel said.

No assertion that the images were taken in Portland was made nor intended, Whelchel said. The post was promptly removed once the misperception was identified.

The post contained a photo of law enforcement leaning on police shields, which appears in the Getty Images archives as a stock photo of South American riot police.

The photo was pasted atop another photo of protesters surrounded in red smoke. The origin of the second picture is less clear, but a reverse Google Image search shows its been used widely on the internet, starting at least nine years ago. It was posted by Brazilian photographer Mauricio Mascaro on stock image site Pexels.

The composite photo painted a very different picture than the one on the ground in Portland.

In Oregon, protests outside the Portland ICE facility picked up steam in early June, following the arrest of an asylum-seeker in U.S. Immigration Court. They were sometimes sleepy, but saw periodic flare-ups. Most protests had involved no more than several dozen people in the weeks before Trump announced in late September that he was sending all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland.

In a response to criticism about its choice of photos by one social media commenter, the GOPs X account responded Monday: Its just a meme. Not Portland. But we could easily create a new one with screen shots from Portland.
The Tigard City Council appointed a new mayor Tuesday, marking a new chapter for the city that saw its previous mayor, Heidi Lueb, step down last month, days before an investigation into her workplace conduct was released.

Councilor Yi-Kang Hu won the vote of his colleagues 5-1, with Councilor Jeanette Shaw, who also vied for the job, being the lone no vote.

It may be cliche, but I really love this city, Hu told the council in an emotional testimony. Its where my husband, Abram, and I built our life, where I started my business and where neighbors have become friends.

Hu will serve the remainder of Luebs term, which runs through the end of 2026.

Lueb announced her resignation Sept. 9 in a statement posted to her website and on social media, saying that an investigation had been conducted into her conduct following complaints by employees and other members of the City Council. She attributed her decision to step down to strained relationships and tension between herself, other members of the City Council and city staff.

The investigation, conducted by Northwest Workplace Investigations, found that Lueb bad mouthed city councilors and staff and created an unprofessional work environment. It ultimately concluded that she violated the citys respectful workplace policy.

The council voted to tap Hu as mayor after he and Shaw answered questions from councilors, city employees and Tigard residents.

Council President Maureen Wolf, who has been serving as mayor pro tem since Luebs resignation, said Tuesday night that Hu is a community leader who is present and attentive to the citys needs.

He really is out in the community, Wolf said. He is present, over and over again.

Hu is a food and drug lawyer and has lived in Tigard for 20 years, according to the citys website. He took office in January 2023.
The cuts will begin in November, with more cuts to come through 2027. Elliot Njus/The Oregonian

As TriMet braces for deep cuts that will begin in November, the mass transit agency is holding online open houses through October for riders to weigh in on the reduced services.

The agency announced the cuts in July, citing a $300 million budget gap spurred by rising costs, declining ridership and Oregon lawmakers stalled transportation funding package. Oregon Democrats approved the funding package in September, but TriMet says the states tax increases arent enough to fill the budget gap.

TriMet spokesperson Tia York told The Oregonian/OregonLive that House Bill 3991 was a band-aid, not a long-term solution, saying the increased state revenue will delay, rather than avoid, deeper cuts to transit service.

Although the cuts will begin in November, theyre not expected to stop there, officials said. The agency likely will continue rolling back service for the next three years, although the details of cuts for the second half of 2026 and 2027 are still murky.

So far, TriMet has said that the first round of cuts has bitten into the administrative wing of the agency.

But the round of cuts between Nov. 30 and March 1, 2026 will reduce how often certain bus lines will arrive, TriMet officials said.

After collecting online survey results that asked peoples opinions on which lines should be reduced, TriMet announced four lines that will likely arrive on an hourly basis after 9 p.m.:

Line 35-Macadam/Greeley

Line 52-Farmington/185th

Line 77-Broadway/Halsey

Line 81-Kane/257th

The lines are currently expected to keep their regular schedule the rest of the day. The FX-2 Division line is also expected to see reduced service; TriMet said that buses will arrive every 24 to 35 minutes before 7 a.m. and after 7 p.m.

TriMet said that the planned open houses this month will provide an opportunity for riders to weigh in on future cuts, in addition to answering questions. The schedule of Zoom open houses and a public response survey where people can share their thoughts on future cuts are available on the TriMet website.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem surveys South Portland from the roof of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Tues., Oct. 7, 2025. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

State and local leaders  but only a few protesters  greeted U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Tuesday as she visited Portland and the ICE office that has been the site of recurring protests since June.

As Noem made the case for increased security near the facility, where the Trump administration has sought to deploy National Guard troops to keep the peace, local officials repeated their arguments that the situation is well in hand and that federal intervention has only inflamed tensions.

Heres what we know about the days events and whats ahead.

Noem meets state, city leaders

The secretarys visit began at Portland International Airport, where Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said she continued to push back against a looming troop deployment and reiterated again that there is no insurrection in Oregon.

From there, Noem left in a convoy of unmarked cars toward the ICE office in South Portland, accompanied by a trio of conservative influencers as well as Noems chief of staff and general counsel.

Noem also met with Police Chief Bob Day, Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey ODonnell and Mayor Keith Wilson.

In a televised interview with Fox News, Noem reported from the ICE building on her day in Portland. One of the things Ive been dealing with all day here in Portland is a bunch of pansies that are elected into political office who wont make a decision to keep their citizens safe, Noem said in the interview.

She said she was extremely disappointed by her meeting with Wilson.

I told him was that if he did not follow through on some of these security measures for our officers, we are going to cover him up with more federal resources and that we were going to send four times the amount of federal officers here so that the people of Portland can have some safety, they could have some security.

Wilson said the calm Noem witnessed Tuesday showed that Portland continues to manage public safety professionally and responsibly, irrespective of the claims of out-of-state social media influencers.

Tuesday protests cordoned off

Yellow tape remained in place around the ICE office throughout the day and evening of Noems visit as Portland police provided what a spokesperson called routine support on roads and in public spaces, as they would with any visiting official.

Midday, about 25 protesters were visible near the ICE facility, outnumbered by members of the media. While some in the crowd blasted loud music or waved signs, local resident Charlie Fischer set up a lawn chair and sat down with his laptop not far from the police line. I work from home and thought this would be a good place for it, he said.

Officers on bicycles deployed to the scene just before 4 p.m. and took one woman into custody. Leah Bothamley, 43, of South Dakota, was booked into jail on an allegation of harassment, police said.

Unmarked cars trickled in and out of the ICE facility throughout the day, and it wasnt immediately clear when Noem departed.

At sunset, more than 100 people gathered outside the cordoned area. About an hour later, a convoy of SUVs departed from a garage about two blocks away from where protesters, some in costumes, danced to the song Pepas by Farruko. Cars came and went from the building throughout the evening.

Britanny Jones, who says she is a Democratic candidate for governor and a DoorDash delivery driver, brought her 7-year-old to drop off supplies to support the protesters and hang out with some of the characters. Were not going to just stand back and let our community be taken and targeted, Jones said. Were going to make it as inconvenient as possible.

Portland police also arrested two more people. Eric Sanchez, 32, of Kelso, Washington, was arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault and second-degree robbery in connection with an alleged assault Sept. 28.

A second man was arrested in connection with a disturbance outside the ICE facility around 10 p.m. He ran from police and swam across the Willamette River to Ross Island, where police arrested him around 1:30 a.m. after taking a boat to the island and using K-9 units to track him.

Meanwhile in Southeast Portland, Protect Oregon threw a giant puppy party late Tuesday afternoon at Revolution Hall. An event poster explained: Oregon is home. Not a military target. No violence against our people, our dogs, or our communities. A few dozen people and their puppies answered the call to send the message to keep paws off Portland.

Portland pet owners leashed their dogs, grabbed poster board and gathered Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at Revolution Hall in Southeast Portland for a puppy party protest to say, Paws off Portland! Dogs in bandanaspowered by flailing tailssniffed, ate treats, made fast friends and chased flying objects across the field. Mark Graves/The Oregonian

Kotek orders Oregon National Guard home

Gov. Tina Kotek has told the U.S. Northern Command to send Oregons National Guard members home after a federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump had no authority to call them up.

About 200 Oregon National Guard members have been stationed at Camp Rilea on the coast, and another 200 California National Guard members have been at Camp Withycombe near Clackamas, according to the governors office.

Kotek said both groups should be released right away  the Oregonians back to their homes and the Californians back to their state.

In a letter Kotek sent Tuesday to General Gregory M. Guillot, commander of the U.S. Northern Command, the governor described the mobilization as an illegal mission that put Oregons soldiers in an impossible position.

Feds grant ICE building access to conservative media, influencers

Footage from atop the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland has become a noticeable fixture of the coverage of protests there in recent days. But, despite requests directed to the federal agencys public information officers, not all news organizations have been granted the same access to the facility and the people who work there.

Whats next? Fight could go before appeals court Thursday

A federal appellate court has tentatively set a hearing for Thursday morning on the Trump administrations push to put a pause on an Oregon federal judges order barring the president from sending National Guard troops into federal service in Portland.

The hearing is set to be held remotely at 9 a.m. before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but a three-judge panel of the court may also choose to decide the matter solely on the briefs submitted to the court.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, surveys the scene at the ICE building in Portland on Tuesday. Sean Meagher

Portland police Chief Bob Day met twice Tuesday with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in what he called an effort to build a relationship with federal partners, even as the two share differing views on protests around the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building.

Im grateful for the opportunity to have met with the secretary today, Day told reporters shortly after 5 p.m. And I believe that communication is the first step to resolving our differences.

Noems visit comes as the city and the federal government battle over President Donald Trumps plans to deploy troops to Portland. The president said last week he was mobilizing the National Guard at Noems request.

Around noon, when Noem arrived at the ICE building in South Portland, about 20 people  most of whom were reporters  milled behind the police tape that Portland officers stretched across multiple intersections to block the buildings entrance for her visit.

Portland police officers cordoned off the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited on Tues., Oct. 7, 2025. Zaeem Shaikh/The Oregonian

Noem briefly appeared on the roof around 1:30 p.m. to observe the area, and a handful of protesters heckled her.

In an appearance on Fox News, Noem called local elected officials pansies and said she wanted more security at the ICE building.

She told host Jesse Watters, We wanted to have their streets opened up again and to not let the anarchists run this city anymore. That we would ask them to continue to back us up like weve been asking for rather than what theyve been doing the last several months, which is just letting our officers hang out to dry.

The ICE facility has been the site of protests since early June, but they have been small compared with social justice demonstrations that roiled the city in 2020. They intensified in the days after Trumps troop announcement.

Since June, federal and local police have arrested about 70 people outside the building on allegations ranging from assaulting officers and destroying government property to harassment and disorderly conduct. Federal police have also deployed chemical munitions, including pepper spray, smoke and tear gas, against protesters.

Noem met with Day alongside Multnomah County Sheriff Nicole Morrisey ODonnell and Oregon State Police Superintendent Casey Codding. Day spoke with her again later in the afternoon with Mayor Keith Wilson.

Morrisey ODonnell said in a statement the sheriffs office supports and welcomes partnerships with our federal agencies when those efforts complement our local public safety priorities, respect Oregon law and are predicated on accountability and transparency.

Wilson said the calm Noem witnessed Tuesday showed that Portland continues to manage public safety professionally and responsibly, irrespective of the claims of out-of-state social media influencers.

He said the tactics used by federal agents at the facility were troubling and likely unconstitutional and said we still do not know what full force against Portland means, referencing Trumps comments when he first authorized sending troops to Oregon.

In the meantime, I will continue to demand that federal officers operating in our city adhere to the same high standards we require of the Portland Police Bureau, Wilson said. We believe a constitutional federal government must be accountable to the community in terms of clear limits on use of force, officer identification, limits on chemical munitions, and body-worn cameras.

Its not clear how long Noem planned to stay in Portland. Officials said that she participated in immigration enforcement efforts in the area, but the Police Bureau had no involvement.

Noem also met Tuesday with Gov. Tina Kotek, who had reiterated to her that there is no insurrection in Oregon.
Next time youre cruisin through Costco to get your $1.50 hot dog and bulk chicken thighs, if Ozempic or Wegovy are also on your list, youre in luck.

Novo Nordisk, the company that owns both Wegovy and Ozempic, will be selling the medicine at nearly half the out-of-pocket price of other pharmacies at just $499.

The companys U.S. president David Moore, told NBC News that selling in Costco was a way to offer the real, authentic Wegovy and Ozempic to patients who seek care.

The drug is not fully covered on many insurances and it can cost almost $1,000 per pen. But the new steep Costco discount could be because the market has opened up.

Because it is both expensive and can be in short supply, compound pharmacies made copycat generic GLP-1 medications. The FDA released a statement with concerns about some compounding pharmacies using ingredients that werent FDA-approved.

Additionally, a competitor to Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, also released a GLP-1 medication called Zepbound for a similar price point in February of this year.

Whats the difference between Ozempic and Wegovy?

While the medications share the same active ingredient in different dosages, Wegovy was approved by the FDA for weight loss and Ozempic is approved by the FDA for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Excess weight gain is a symptom of type 2 diabetes, which can result in weight loss being a health goal for patients.

GLP-1, the main ingredient in both Ozempic and Wegovy, mimics a hormone naturally produced in the body that can trick it into feeling full for longer.

A reduction in the volume of food someone eats can cause weight loss, but for people with type 2 diabetes, a genetic insulin resistance, the drugs do more. Ozempic causes the pancreas to produce more of its own insulin when blood sugar is high, which, over time, can lead to greater insulin sensitivity.

When the body can correctly dispose of sugar by producing more insulin, it can lead to more stable blood sugars. Controlling blood sugar with type 2 diabetes in the long term can keep patients from experiencing complications from the illness, like heart or kidney disease and nerve damage.

Ozempic also reduces glucagon, a hormone from the pancreas that raises blood sugar, which is another reason it is effective in treating type 2 diabetes.

Common side effects are nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea and constipation.

They typically improve after repeated use of the medication.

However, it has been known to cause more serious issues like pancreatitis, gall bladder issues, thyroid tumors and muscle loss associated with rapid weight loss.

More research is being conducted in the realm of GLP-1s, including benefits in for heart health, brain health, addiction treatment and more. The science is still news, however, and more studies will be done.

This discount will reduce the number of barriers to patients, but it is only for Costco shoppers, which requires a yearly membership.
Youd be hard-pressed to find a more scenic fried fish spot in Oregon.

Along a quiet branch of the Nehalem River as it snakes out to the Pacific Ocean, the little white food cart sits on a back patio dotted with picnic tables and chairs where people can relax beside the water. In the summer, people lounge lazily in the sun, waiting for their food to come out. In the winter, they unwind on a heated deck protected from the elements.

Kayakers are known to paddle up to the bucolic setting, where they can pull their boats out of the water near the food cart and grab their fried fish to go.

It really helps keep your attitude at work really good, said Kris Whittle, who owns the food cart Riverside Fish n Chips with her husband, RJ. I look forward to going to work all the time.

The fish and chips cart has been in Nehalem since 2016 behind a building that now houses a vintage shop, a yoga studio and a chowder restaurant, but the Whittles, who were longtime fans of the cart, have been in charge since April 2023, when they bought the business from the original owners.

Since then, the Whittles have been focused on keeping things almost completely unchanged, they said, working to perfect what the previous owners had been doing so well.

We didnt feel the need to change anything, Kris Whittle said.

The customer base was already there, RJ added.

That has meant the fish and chips that Riverside was originally known for has pretty much stayed the same  down to the diagonally cut pieces of cod and the light beer batter seasoned with a secret combination of spices. Any changes have, so far, been additions: The Whittles have put halibut (which also now appears on a fish sandwich) on the menu as well as pulled pork seasonally. Right now, the couple is working on a fish and chips burrito, which they said is almost ready to debut.

Riverside Fish n Chips operates out of a food cart beside the Nehalem River on the north Oregon coast. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A simple beer batter lends a lightly crispy texture to Riverside's fish and chips. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Seating comes with beautiful views along the Nehalem River on the north Oregon coast. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

A sign in downtown Nehalem points people to Riverside Fish n Chips, found just behind some local shops. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Still, most customers show up for the classic fish and chips, they said, and they tend to come out in droves.

On weekends and nice days during the summer, the wait time at the food cart can sometimes eclipse an hour. When that happens, a sign is helpfully hung on the counter warning people who are in line, and while some people are scared away by the wait, the Whittles said a surprising number of customers are happy to stick around (a few of them are savvy enough to call in their orders in advance).

After all, ample seating in a bucolic setting can do wonders to help ease hunger pains, they said.

Its a good problem to have, RJ Whittle said of the long wait times. We have customers come up and are giving reviews to people standing in line, encouraging them to stick it out.

The Whittles said they could probably speed up the wait times by cutting corners on prep, by battering fish to fry up later for example, but that would cut against their ethos of fresh, made-to-order food with consistent quality. Instead, theyre hoping to eventually cut wait times by simply buying a larger trailer with more fryers.

Asked whether further expansion is on their minds  say, to a brick-and-mortar location on Nehalems bustling main drag or something nicer in nearby Manzanita  the Whittles were cautiously enthusiastic about the idea.

Im all about any opportunities, Kris Whittle said. Im always manifesting.

At the same time, it would be hard to leave the picture-perfect setting they already have. As the couple pointed out, the food cart already has plenty of seating, both outside and covered, and theres already a steady customer base that is fervent for what they do.

Its going to be tough to find a restaurant location that matches that, RJ Whittle said.

The couple said they have more loans to pay off before they can truly dream big, but for now they have no problem standing pat. The customers are happy, the views are nice and the fried fish is always delicious. Life is good.

Its really, really, really fun, Kris Whittle said. Everyones in a good mood.
FILE - An aerial view shows the devastation left by the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades section of Los Angeles, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, file) AP

LOS ANGELES  A 29-year-old man charged with sparking one of the most destructive blazes in California history likely used a lighter to start a fire on New Years Day that smoldered underground and reignited almost a week later, killing 12 people in wealthy Los Angeles-area neighborhoods, authorities said Wednesday.

Federal law enforcement officials charged Jonathan Rinderknecht with lighting the Jan. 1 fire that was extinguished by fire crews only to flare up days later during high winds, acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said during a news conference.

Rinderknecht was arrested Tuesday in Florida and made his first court appearance Wednesday in Orlando on charges including malicious destruction by means of a fire, which carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison. Wearing shorts and a T-shirt while shackled at the ankles, he told a federal magistrate in a soft-spoken voice that he was not under the influence and did not have mental issues.

The judge set a hearing for Thursday to consider bond and extradition proceedings. Aisha Nash, the federal public defender assigned to represent Rinderknecht, did not respond to Associated Press requests for comment.

The Palisades Fire  one of two that broke out on Jan. 7, killing more than 30 people and destroying more than 17,000 homes and buildings while burning for days in Los Angeles County  ripped through hillside neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, destroying mansions with spectacular views of the ocean and downtown LA.

This undated photo provided by the US Attorney's Office shows Jonathan Rinderknecht, a suspect in the Palisades Fire. US Attorney's Office via AP

Suspect talked to authorities three weeks after the fire

Investigators said Wednesday that Rinderknecht had been working as an Uber driver, and after dropping off a passenger in Pacific Palisades, he parked and walked up a trail. He then used his iPhone to take videos at a nearby hilltop area and listened to a rap song with a music video that shows objects being lit on fire, prosecutors said.

He fled the scene after starting the fire, but returned to the same trail to watch it burn, Essayli said.

He left as soon as he saw the fire trucks were headed to the location. He turned around and went back up there. And he took some video and, and watched them fight the fire, Essayli said.

Uber said in a statement that it worked with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine the drivers whereabouts around the time of the fire.

Rinderknecht also made several 911 calls to report the fire, according to a criminal complaint.

During an interview Jan. 24, Rinderknecht told investigators where the fire began, information not yet public and that he would not have known if he hadnt witnessed it, the complaint said.

He lied about his location, claiming he was near the bottom of the hiking trail, Essayli said.

The suspect was visibly anxious during that interview, according to the complaint. His efforts to call 911 and his question to ChatGPT about a cigarette lighting a fire indicated he wanted to preserve evidence of himself trying to assist in the suppression of the fire and he wanted to create evidence regarding a more innocent explanation for the cause of the fire, the complaint said.

Special Agent in Charge Kenny Cooper, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Los Angeles Field Division, middle, speaks between Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, left, and Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell, right, during a news conference announcing an arrest made in the Palisades Fire, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) AP

Investigators say they found a lighter

Investigators determined the Jan. 1 fire was intentionally lit, likely by a lighter taken to vegetation or paper, according to the criminal complaint. They excluded other possibilities, including fireworks, lightning and power lines. Authorities also looked into whether a cigarette may have caused the fire, but concluded that was not the cause, the complaint says.

Investigators found a barbecue-style lighter inside the glove compartment of Rinderknechts car on Jan. 24. It appeared to be the same lighter as one that was in his apartment on Dec. 31, based on a photo on his phone. He admitted to bringing a lighter with him when he walked up the hill.

Second LA fire remains under investigation

Investigators still havent determined the cause of a second blaze called the Eaton Fire, which broke out the same day in the community of Altadena and killed 19 people.

Both fires reduced block after block of entire neighborhoods to gray and black debris, destroying homes, schools, businesses and churches. While rebuilding is underway in some neighborhoods, it will take years. Many homeowners will not be able to afford it, even those with insurance.

An outside review released in September found that a lack of resources and outdated policies for sending emergency alerts led to delayed evacuation warnings.

The report commissioned by Los Angeles County supervisors said a series of weaknesses, including outdated policies, inconsistent practices and communications vulnerabilities, hampered the countys response.

--Christopher Weber, Jamie Ding and John Seewer/The Associated Press
ZTE Corporation hosted the Global Summit & User Congress 2025 in Milan, Italy on October 6-7 under the theme "Expanding Intelligence, Creating Possibilities".

The event brought together over 500 global ICT leaders, operators, partners, analysts, industry organizations and innovators to explore the optimal path for integrating artificial and digital transformation, sought to build a thriving ecosystem of digital-intelligent capabilities and limitless cooperation, and pursued diverse forces to reshape industries and drive social innovation.

Xu Ziyang, CEO of ZTE, opened the global summit with a keynote speech. He pointed that each generation of communications technology has served a clear, defining need. Today, the imperative is AI and computing. ZTE will focus on the "Connectivity + Computing" strategy, accelerating the deployment and upgrades of AI infrastructure. Through the open and full-stack platform, ZTE aims to drive deeper integration of AI with industry applications and everyday lifeat both personal and household levelsmaking computing more accessible and applications more widespread. In the era moving from bits to tokens, ZTE is committed to building intelligent network foundations, powering the future of computing, and partnering globally to co-create a new age of intelligence.

The global digital economy is entering a fully intelligent era. Guided by the vision "To Lead in Connectivity and Intelligent Computing, Enabling Communication and Trust Everywhere", ZTE has showcased its latest achievements in connectivity and computing, industry empowerment, and creating a better intelligent life for families and consumers.

Connection upgrade: Network x AI bidirectional integration

In wireless networks, ZTE continues to lead in UBR and M-MIMO innovations, building ultra-simple, ultra-efficient, and green sites. AI reshapes network capabilities, enhancing energy efficiency and O&M efficiency, with precise user experience guarantees, driving 5G toward a shift from volume to value; AgentGuard demo on AIR RAN secures AI interactions; AIR Net's three engines advance to "Agentic Operation". For 5G-A, ISAC supports low-altitude economy and water management; EasyOn private networks enable free-roam VR, media production, and embodied intelligent collaboration.

In the realm of core networks, ZTE unveiled its AI Core, upgrading core network architecture with "Know How" for visualized experience and "Do So" for differentiated monetization, shifting operators from "traffic-driven" to "experience-driven" models. The AI Core also introduced Agentic Ops, a multi-agent framework (fault handling, complaint resolution, network change, and digital twin simulation) to advance from L3 to L4+ autonomy.

Computing power: full-stack advancement

ZTE showcased its full-stack intelligent computing solution, featuring a comprehensive range of general and AI servers, including the industry-focused AiCube all-in-one appliance, to build a high-performance computing foundation. On the software side, it offers a navigational low-code AI platform and Co-Sight Agent Factory, lowering the barrier for AI model training and inference, enabling pipeline-based, minute-level AI app development. The upgraded Co-Sight Super Agent 2.0 topped the GAIA benchmark with 84.05 points.

For home scenarios: AI x Home

ZTE pioneers wireline innovation with a focus on all-optical networks deeply integrated with AI, delivering an array of competitive solutions and products.

In the AI Home segment, revenue growth and ecosystem transformation are being achieved through technological upgrades and business model innovation in AI Wi-Fi 7 and AI media terminals. Powered by core capabilities such as AI smart antenna, AI seamless roaming, and AI acceleration engine, AI Wi-Fi 7 enables a 50% increase in ARPU (Average Revenue per User) through layered operations, scenario-based packages, and ecosystem terminal combinationsushering in a new era of smart home monetization. AI media terminals have evolved from standalone TV boxes to full-scenario converged terminals. The adoption of the lightweight hybrid model reduce cost by 30% and boosts ARPU by 20%, reshaping the large-screen smart ecosystem.

In the AI-optical Infrastructure segment, AI-optical access, AI HI-OTN, and AI HI-IPNet are strategically focused on cost reduction, efficient O&M, performance, and security, thereby strengthening the core competitiveness of the wireline network. AI-optical access leverages Light PON and Light ODN to achieve 40% cost reduction across the entire lifecycle. In scenarios where OLT is deployed closer to end users, the combination of OLT, multiplexer, splitter, and ONU enables end-to-end lightweight deployment, significantly improving broadband RoI (Return on Investment). AI HI-OTN, centered on optical sensing and optical management & control, enables minute-level fault localization and boosts O&M efficiency by more than 10 times. In high-volume data exchange scenarios, a single fiber supports up to 100T transmission, delivering substantial cost savings. AI HI-IPNet, based on AI-native routers, achieves intelligent traffic awareness, improving transport efficiency by 50%. It supports second-level anti-DDoS protection and dynamic energy savings of 17%, ensuring high-performance and secure service forwarding across metro and backbone network scenarios.

For consumers: AI for All

ZTE is accelerating its consumer-centric transformation, strategically focusing on the youth market with gaming as a key breakthrough point. At this event, ZTE has showcased the gaming smartphone nubia Neo series, a variety of stylish devices such as nubia Air, Flip, Focus and more, catering to lifestyles of the youth. This strategy has led to significant results, with international smartphone revenue growing by over 30% year-on-year in the first half of 2025.

Built around a diverse portfolio of AI devices, including smartphones, PCs, tablets, FWA&MBB, and wearables, ZTE is expanding AI's reach while enhancing its intelligence. ZTE Devices booth features three main areas: gaming smartphone zone, lifestyle smartphone zone and world No.1 FWA & MBB zone empowered by the latest 5G-A and Wi-Fi 7 technologies, along with the debut of AI Pet Mochi in the overseas market, which will be a smarter, more proactive, and personalized emotional companion for everyone.

Additionally, ZTE also held several user congresses and launch events during the event, including ZTE Wireless User Congress, ZTE Wired User Congress, ZTE Intelligent Computing User Congress, and ZTE Devices User Congress. In addition to showcasing its technological innovation achievements in all aspects, ZTE has unveiled its Pre6G GigaMIMO solution and ZTE Co-Sight Super Agent overseas for the first time, demonstrating its technological innovation achievements and exploring the digital and intelligent future with global partners.

The digital economy has moved beyond simple connectivity into a new phase where networks and computing power are deeply integrated and develop in tandem. This marks a comprehensive upgrade in value creation models. ZTE will actively embrace this transformation and continue to advance its "Connectivity + Computing strategy, centered on full-stack innovation. Working with partners worldwide, ZTE aims to drive continuous breakthroughs across connectivity, intelligent computing, ecosystems, and terminal devices, injecting strong momentum into technological innovation and the evolution of industry ecosystems.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Former state Superintendent Ryan Walters is under an ethics investigation again over an alleged conflict of interest.

The Oklahoma Ethics Commission revealed Tuesday it is gathering materials and information regarding Walters departure from office. Walters, who did not immediately return a request for comment, resigned Sept. 30 to become the CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, a conservative nonprofit that he promoted through his elected position.

The Ethics Commission has not disclosed specifics of what it is investigating  only that the inquiry centers on conflict of interest rules  and is not required to make public the complaints it has received.

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However, Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, filed an ethics complaint against Walters on March 25 over his use of state resources to endorse the Teacher Freedom Alliance, alleging he violated rules governing state officers and private economic interests. She renewed her complaint after Walters announced he would resign to join the organization.

Walters issued a news release March 10 on the Oklahoma State Department of Education letterhead, touting the Teacher Freedom Alliance as an alternative to woke teachers unions.

Pogemiller alleged this violated rules that prohibit public officeholders from using state resources to endorse or give preferential treatment to a private entity.

Superintendent Walters endorsement is intended to result in increased membership and financial benefits for (the Teacher Freedom Alliance) at the expense of competing labor organizations, which is a blatant misuse of official position, her complaint states.

Pogemiller worked for the states largest teacher union, the Oklahoma Education Association, until she took office as a House lawmaker.

She said she is grateful the Ethics Commission is investigating Walters.

Oklahomans deserve accountability when taxpayer dollars are used for personal gain, Pogemiller said.

Walters already has paid $23,300 to settle other ethics complaints over contributions to his 2022 campaign for state superintendent and regarding his social media activity while in office.

Oklahoma Voice is an affiliate of States Newsroom, a nation 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and donations focused on delivering state government news. The Voice maintains full editorial independence. For more stories by Oklahoma Voice go to oklahomavoice.com.
Fourstones Commissions PM6 at Sapphire Mill, Boosting UK Tissue Capacity

PM6, which began producing tissue in March 2025, is equipped with advanced technology, including a Crescent Former, a fabricated steel Yankee cylinder, and a high-temperature drying hood. PM6, which began producing tissue in March 2025, is equipped with advanced technology, including a Crescent Former, a fabricated steel Yankee cylinder, and a high-temperature drying hood.

Oct. 8, 2025 - Fourstones Paper Mill has successfully commissioned its new paper machine, PM6, at the Sapphire Paper Mill site in Leslie, Scotland.

PM6, which began producing tissue in March 2025, is equipped with advanced technology, including a Crescent Former, a fabricated steel Yankee cylinder, and a high-temperature drying hood. With a trimmed width of 2.75 m and an operating speed of 1,700 m/min, PM6 has been designed to combine high capacity with consistent, high-quality output.

Building on this success, Fourstones took the decision to integrate PM6 with existing stock preparation systems to expand its capability to recycled grades. The first recycled paper reels were produced in August 2025, with trials confirming the machine's flexibility to move quickly between virgin and recycled production to meet changing market needs.

The investment increases Sapphire Paper Mill's annual capacity to over 60,000 tonnes, producing both virgin and recycled toilet tissue and towel grades for the consumer and away-from-home markets.

In line with its sustainability commitments, Fourstones exclusively manufactures FSC certified grades, including sought-after FSC Recycled 100% options, supporting responsible forestry and ethical supply chains.

Owner and Managing Director, Peter Duxbury, states "The new paper machine is a step change in the company production capability and opens up a new sector of the market for us. The products we are producing are of a very high quality and are being well received in the market"

The project represents the largest investment in the company's history, with more than 70% of the expenditure spent in the local economy. The additional machine has created over 25 full-time jobs and will continue to support economic growth in the region.

This investment underlines Fourstones' commitment to sustainable growth and to supporting UK converters with reliable, high-quality UK paper for years to come.

Established in 1763, Fourstones Paper Mill is a privately owned UK based manufacturer of tissue paper and disposable paper hygiene products such as centrefeed (blue roll) and toilet rolls. Fourstones employs 202 people and services multiple paper converting operations within the UK as well as operating its own paper converting operations. The company has 3 sites, 4 paper machines and 8 converting lines, and has the capacity to produce over 60,000 tonnes per year of tissue paper.

SOURCE: Fourstones Paper Mill
The son-in-law of disgraced attorney Tom Girardi, David Lira, has been sentenced to four months in prison for reportedly covering up the fact that his father-in-law withheld settlement funds from clients whose relatives were fatal victims of the tragic 2018 Indonesian plane crash.

The defendant was a long-time attorney at his father-in-law's now-defunct law firm and was said to have helped obtain a historic $7.5 million payout for a group of Indonesian widows and orphans in 2020.

David Lira Sentenced to Jail

That payout came after Lion Air Flight 610 crashed into the Java Sea, tragically taking the lives of all 189 people who were onboard. Girardi and Lira's lawsuit held the company, Boeing, accountable for the aircraft's faulty design, which was a 737 Max. They also cited the company's failure to properly disclose issues with the plane's automated flight-control system.

However, at that time, Girardi was found to have misappropriated roughly $3 million of the settlement money, partly to fund his lavish lifestyle with his wife, Erika Jayne. This summer, a Los Angeles judge sentenced Girardi to seven years in prison for stealing from his clients, according to the Los Angeles Times.

In June, Lira pleaded guilty in Illinois federal court to one count of contempt of court for defying the order of a Chicago judge regarding the distribution of settlement funds. After he was ordered by Judge Thomas M. Durkin to send the withheld funds to clients immediately, Lira still covered up for Girardi in failing to do so.

Under the latest plea deal, prosecutors agreed to drop other charges against Lira, including eight counts of wire fraud and two false statement charges. They sought a three-year prison sentence against the defendant for his role in his father-in-law's legal fraud scheme.

Legal Fraud Scheme

Lira's attorney, Damon Cheronis, said in an email that they asked and hoped for a non-custodial sentence, which they believed would have been enough under the circumstances. He added that his client has already paid a steep price and noted his otherwise exemplary career, Reuters reported.

The 65-year-old defendant was described by his attorney as a "good man who made a serious mistake." He was initially charged alongside his father-in-law, Girardi, and Christopher Kamon. The latter is the former chief financial officer of their defunct law firm, Girardi Keese.

In the government's sentencing memo, U.S. Atty. Andrew Boutros said that instead of notifying authorities, Lira covered for his father-in-law and lied to the victims of the crash. He added that his lies perpetuated Girardi's theft, as per Yahoo News.
The worlds first commercial underwater data centre is now operational in Hainan, an island province of China and the nations southernmost point.

Hainan is leading a push to attract foreign investment by expanding the blue (or marine) economy in the countrys largest pilot free-trade zone. Hence, the need for servers, which manage a wide range of digital services  from restaurant recommendations to travel hacks, according to the South China Morning Post.

However, these servers are slighly different from most others. The facility, managed by Shenzhen HiCloud Data Centre Technology, houses servers in a 1,300-ton data cabin located 35 metres underwater. Each cabin contains 24 server racks capable of hosting 400 to 500 servers.

It's not the only example of underwater data centres in the country, however. According to the Science Alert website, maritime equipment firm Highlander, which has also worked in Hainan, is planning to submerge a pod of servers in the sea off Shanghai with help from some state-owned construction companies.

Data centres under the sea can reduce energy consumption needed for cooling, helping to lower operational costs. Undersea servers are kept at a low temperature by ocean currents, rather than the energy-intensive air cooling or water evaporation that data centres would require on land, although there are challenges, such as keeping the facilitys contents dry and safe from corrosion by salt water and allowing maintenance crews access. There may also be an impact on marine ecosystems, notably from heat emitted by the data centres.

Attempts to submerge data centres have been going on for some while. As long ago as 2021 we reported that both Highlander and Microsoft had already trialled the concept.
The Palisades Fire ravages a neighborhood amid high winds in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope, File) AP

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER and ERIC TUCKER, The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP)  Authorities in California have made an arrest in connection with the deadly January wildfire that erupted into the most destructive blaze in Los Angeles history and destroyed much of the Pacific Palisades neighborhood.

Authorities arrested 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, saying he lit a fire on New Years Day that burned down much of the Pacific Palisades a week later. He was arrested Tuesday in Florida and will appear in court Wednesday in that state.

The man started a fire just after midnight on Jan. 1 that later became the Palisades Fire, acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said during a news conference Wednesday.

The blaze, which erupted on Jan. 7, killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,000 homes and buildings in the Pacific Palisades, a wealthy coastal neighborhood of LA. The fire ripped through hillside neighborhoods, destroying mansions with spectacular views of the ocean and downtown Los Angeles.

Investigators still havent determined the cause of the Eaton Fire, which broke out the same day in the community of Altadena and killed 18 people.

Both fires burned for days, reducing block after block to gray and black debris.

A car drives past homes and vehicles destroyed by the Palisades Fire at the Pacific Palisades Bowl Mobile Estates on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, file) AP

An outside review released in September found that a lack of resources and outdated policies for sending emergency alerts led to delayed evacuation warnings.

The report commissioned by Los Angeles County supervisors said a series of weaknesses, including outdated policies, inconsistent practices and communications vulnerabilities, hampered the countys response.
By Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News (TNS)

A Long Island, New York, couple was charged with cruelty to animals after a combination of more than 200 cats, dogs, roosters, squirrels, ducks, rabbits, geese, ferrets and other animals were rescued from extremely hazardous conditions at a Northport home.

Authorities also assisted a 95-year-old woman confined by debris on the second floor of the residence, which Suffolk County prosecutors described Thursday as being infested with bugs and covered in piles of waste and filth.

Following a complaint of potential animal hoarding and a subsequent search of the home, Samantha Boyd, 57, was arrested Wednesday and charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty and endangering the welfare of a vulnerable elderly person.

Boyd is certified by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as a wildlife rehabilitator, prosecutors said.

Boyds partner, 61-year-old Neal Weschler, was also charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty.

This was a deeply distressing situation, but thanks to the swift action and collaboration between our office and the dedicated rescue partners, these animals are now safe and receiving the care that they urgently need, District Attorney Raymond Tierney said.

The rescue effort was led by the Suffolk County Police Department and the District Attorneys Biological, Environmental and Animal Safety Team (BEAST).

John Di Leonardo, anthrozoologist and executive director of Humane Long Island, said his organization was proud to have worked with the BEAST unit to shutter Boyds fraudulent rescue operation. Humane Long Island plans to provide the rescued animals with veterinary care to treat ailments including bone and staph infections.
A 15-year-old Gettysburg boy was arrested and charged as an adult last month after police said he punched a mans tooth out during a bloody attack at a park, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Around 7:15 p.m. on Sept. 28, Gettysburg police were dispatched to Recreation Park, located at 545 Long Lane, for an assault.

Officers spoke with the victim  a man with blood on his hands, mouth, nose and clothing  who said one of his top-middle teeth was knocked out as he was attacked.

A witness initially told police a pair of teenagers, no younger than 17, were responsible for the attack.

After speaking with two juveniles uninvolved in the incident at their homes, police learned 15-year-old Zamir Brantley ran through a nearby neighborhood after the attack.

About an hour later, police met with Brantley and observed a fresh injury on his hand consistent with punching someone in the face or teeth, the affidavit said.

Brantley also said he was in the area of Rec Park with his friend Ace.

Investigators then interviewed the victim, who said one person attacked him while two others recorded the incident on their phones.

The victim said the group of teens accused him of looking at a female, and one assaulted him after he denied doing so.

When police showed a picture of Brantley to another person who saw the attack unfold, the witness immediately said Yes! Yes! Yes! and said he was sure that was the attacker, the affidavit said.

The 15-year-old boy told police, He [the victim] was bothering a female, so I defended her, as he was being arrested.

During the arrest at the boys home, Brantley was playing a video of the attack where you can hear him say, I [expletive] rung his [expletive,] and another person say, This [expletive] Zamir knocked this [expletive] tooth out.

Brantley further explained he saw the victims tooth fall out during the fight and said thats why my hands [is] cut up, according to the affidavit.

Police also recovered a pair of knuckle dusters, made of stainless steel and plastic. Knuckle dusters, also known as brass knuckles, are designed to fit over the fingers to intensify the force of a punch.

Brantley was later transported to a juvenile detention facility in the Philadelphia area. He is charged with simple assault, possessing an instrument of crime, possessing an offensive weapon and two counts of aggravated assault.

Brantleys preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Oct. 8. He is currently incarcerated with his bail denied.
By Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald (TNS)

BOSTON  Lawsuits against Harvard in relation to a macabre scheme that led human body parts to be sold out of the morgue for several years may move forward, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled Monday.

Harvards extraordinary failure to adequately supervise the morgues operations and properly protect the donated remains in its care exemplifies the kind of peculiarly pervasive noncompliance we have said can demonstrate a lack of good faith, the SJC ruling states.

Two central Pennsylvania men were involved in the scheme.

Former Harvard Medical School morgue manager Cedric Lodge shields his face with a printout of the indictment against him following his 2023 arrest on charges related to an alleged scheme to steal and sell donated body parts. (Photo by Steven Porter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images, file) Boston Globe via Getty Images

A Superior Court judge had dismissed lawsuits related to the scheme, finding Harvard and the sued parties acted legally within a good faith defense.

The SJC partially overturned the decision Monday, allowing suits against both Harvard and the managing director of the Medical School Anatomical Gift Program, Mark Cicchetti, but not the manager of the Anatomical Gift Program.

In a macabre scheme spanning several years, Cedric Lodge, the person responsible for the care of cadavers at the Harvard Medical School morgue, dissected, stole, and sold parts of the bodies of individuals who donated their remains for research purposes, the SJC states.

After a federal criminal indictment was unsealed, forty-seven plaintiffs, all relatives of individuals whose remains were potentially mishandled and sold, filed lawsuits against the school and officials in charge of the program.

The lawsuits come after former Harvard Medical School morgue manager Lodge pleaded guilty to interstate transport of stolen human remains in May. Lodge, of Goffstown, New Hampshire, could face up to 10 years in prison. His wife, Denise Lodge, and two suspected coconspirators also face charges.

People walk toward the Harvard Medical School, Aug. 18, 2022, in Boston. Families sued Harvard Medical School for negligence over the theft of body parts of their loved ones from its morgue. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) AP

The theft and sale of human remains from the morgue, along with a mortuary in Arkansas, occurred from 2018 through March 2023, according to the court. The remains donated to Harvard, including hands, feet, spines, dissected faces and parts of skulls, went out to a nationwide network of people in person and through online sales.

Two Pennsylvania men were charged in the Harvard case: Joshua Taylor of Berks County, pleaded guilty in May to a charge of interstate transport of stolen goods. Jeremy Pauley, fomerly of East Pennsboro Township, was sentenced in March 2024.

Harvard has stated the taking of portions of cadavers was conducted without authorities knowledge or permission. Bodies donated to the school through the AGP, run out of Harvard Medical School since the 1960s, are typically used for research and educational purposes and cremated, buried or returned to families after use.

Relatives of those whose parts were involved in the scheme brought 12 lawsuits against Harvard in 2023 with four naming Cicchetti, Lodges supervisor, as a defendant. The lawsuits were consolidated before being dismissed and appealed in the SJC.

While the scheme was ongoing, families lawsuits state, Harvard should have been aware of the shortcomings in the morgues operations and that the university disregarded guidance from the American Association of Anatomy.

Another attorney for plaintiffs in the case called the ruling a major victory for the families who trusted Harvard with their loved ones final wishes.

The Supreme Judicial Court recognized that Harvard cant hide behind immunity when its failure to supervise created the conditions for this appalling abuse, said attorney Sean Flaherty, a managing partner of Keches Law Group.

In its decision, the SJC states the two defendants are not protected from legal action by the defense they acted in good faith under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act.

Harvard ignored or tolerated red flags, like Lodges license plate describing himself as the Grim-R(eaper), which revealed an unprofessional insensitivity given his position in a medical school morgue, the ruling states.

(Harvard) had a legal obligation to provide for the dignified treatment and disposal of the donated human remains, and failed miserably in this regard, as Harvard itself recognized, the SJC states. Harvard also had a duty to oversee Lodges conduct and to place proper controls over the morgue itself  both of which it allegedly disregarded for years.

Officials from Harvard did not respond to a Herald request for comment.
Officers responding to a 911 call Monday found the lifeless body of a 45-year-old man inside 380 Cary Ave. in West Brighton. The property was cordoned off Tuesday morning with caution tape as an NYPD investigation remained ongoing. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New details emerged Tuesday in the case of a West Brighton, New York, man found decapitated inside his home, while sources say the 19-year-old who is suspected of carrying out the heinous act has a history of mental illness.

The victim, 45-year-old Anthony Casalaspro, was a retired Department of Sanitation mechanic who lived at the home on Cary Avenue with his longtime girlfriend and her two children, the suspect and his sister.

The suspect, Damien Hurstel, was arrested Monday at the home. His sister discovered the victims mutilated corpse in the bathtub when she returned home from school.

Gruesome scene

The remains of stabbing victim Anthony Casalaspro, 45, are wheeled away from the crime scene Monday night on Cary Avenue. (Advance/SILive.com | Scott Axelrod)

A photo of the crime depicts a particularly gruesome scene.

It showed the victims shirtless torso in a bathtub, slumped between a tile wall and sliding glass door. A handheld shower head rested on his chest.

His head was severed from his neck and positioned under his right arm, facing toward his body. His right arm was positioned in an upward pointing motion and his left arm rested at his side.

Anthony Casalaspro, 45, was found brutally killed Monday afternoon inside his West Brighton home. Facebook

Investigators believe that during and after the slaying, Hurstel used of bolt cutters, a hacksaw, a hammer, a knife and a spoon, according to a law-enforcement source.

History of mental health issues

Hurstel lived at the home with his biological mother, who was the victims longtime girlfriend, and his sister.

A source with knowledge of the case said Hurstel had been hospitalized in the past for mental illness, and that at the time of the slaying he was prescribed anti-psychotic medications, which commonly are used to treat schizophrenia and other conditions that involve psychosis.

Hurstel, who attended South Richmond High School, worked odd jobs as a young adult, the source said.

In the weeks leading up to the homicide, his family suspected Hurstel was on and off his medications, which at times was a point of contention in the home, leading to loud arguments, the source noted.

The morning after Casalaspros death, neighbors recalled seeing the victim on the block. We see him every now and then sitting on his balcony in a chair, one neighbor said. He kept mostly to himself.

Suspect taken to hospital

Hurstel was scheduled for arraignment Tuesday in Criminal Court, but instead was brought out of the 120th Precinct stationhouse with a bloodied face for reasons that were not immediately clear. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital.

The defendant, who is being represented by private defense attorney Mark Fonte, is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday.

His maternal uncle, who was at the courthouse Tuesday awaiting the arraignment hearing, declined to comment.
Ciena announced on Monday that Vietnamese telco Viettel has deployed its 800G coherent optics technology to boost the service capacity of its optical backbone network, which will also help Viettel accelerate its 5G rollout.

Following the upgrade to Cienas 6500 Packet-Optical Platform powered by the vendors programmable WaveLogic 5 Extreme (WL5e), Viettels backbone now supports 600-Gbps wavelengths that span distances of more than 1,000 km.

Ciena said the upgrade effectively boosts Viettels backbone capacity by a factor of six from 4 Tbps to 25.2 Tbps, significantly increasing connectivity speed, space, and power efficiencies.

Viettel is also using Cienas Navigator Network Control Suite to automate network operations and manage the network throughout its entire operational lifecycle.

Viettel commissioned the upgrade to support an expected demand in local and international data traffic driven by hyperscale cloud and AI-led applications and services. Viettel also wants to fortify its backbone to support its expansion of 5G services across Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Ciena said that Viettel has wrapped up a trial of its next-gen WL6e technology, in which it doubled Viettels existing fibre wavelength capacity from 800 Gbps to 1.6 Tbps. The trial paves the way for Viettel to upgrade its optical backbone in future to support 800GbE connectivity services, said Wendy Le, country lead for Vietnam at Ciena.

Optical backbones are critical to providing the connectivity needed to continue Vietnams reputation as a fast-growing digital economy in Southeast Asia, Le said in a statement. Together with Viettel, Ciena is helping build the connectivity foundation essential to help Vietnam maintain its pace of growth in the AI era, all while optimizing carbon footprint, power, and capacity.
State budget delays are creating financial aid turmoil for some college students in Pennsylvania. Daniel Fishel / For Spotlight PA

Story by Charlotte Keith of Spotlight PA

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 our free newsletters.

HARRISBURG  Financial aid for thousands of Pennsylvania college students is on hold as a result of the state budget impasse, creating more delays for a vital program that has faced serious challenges over the past year.

The PA State Grant Program is the commonwealths largest need-based financial aid provider, giving more than 100,000 students an average of $2,000 each semester.

Starting in mid-2024, federal data glitches combined with the chaotic rollout of a new state software system to leave many students waiting months longer than usual for the grant funds, Spotlight PA reported.

As the standoff over the state budget stretches into its third month, students face another round of delays.

Here we are again dealing with the same stuff, the same frustration, said Melissa Bush, a student at Pennsylvania Western University who is waiting on almost $2,500 in aid for the fall semester. While shes confident the money will arrive, its demoralizing to deal with more holdups, she said. Last year, she didnt receive the money until after Thanksgiving break.

Its like theres always something.

Even once Gov. Josh Shapiro signs the budget into law, it will take at least four weeks for schools to begin receiving the money, a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) said.

Students qualify for the grants based on financial need and their status as Pennsylvania residents. In the 2023-4 academic year, the program gave out $372 million in grants to more than 110,300 students. For full-time students, the maximum annual grant amount was $5,750.

Last year, the rollout of a new federal financial aid form collided with the launch of a new state software system to create long delays and widespread confusion among students and financial aid administrators.

The snags forced some students to take out additional loans, use up their savings, and spend hours trying to get answers from PHEAA. In response, the agency announced it would switch back to its older system for the current academic year.

Colleges and universities across Pennsylvania are taking steps to help students navigate the latest funding gap. Some are paying students from other funding sources, crediting their accounts with the aid they anticipate receiving, and waiving late fees. Some also offer emergency grant and loan programs.

Those stopgap measures, however, cant last forever, Thomas P. Foley, president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, told Spotlight PA in a statement.

Most of the private, nonprofit schools represented by the association  which educate about half of the students who receive state grants  pinch pennies already to balance their budgets and do not have significant endowments to fall back on if the funds continue to be held up, Foley said.

Students cannot receive their grants until Shapiro signs the state budget into law. State lawmakers missed the June 30 deadline to pass the budget because of deep disagreements over funding for public transit and overall spending levels.

As the standoff drags on, county governments and school districts are borrowing money, withholding payments to contractors, and scaling back services.

Ariana Little, an education student in her senior year at Drexel University, feels the sting in multiple ways.

Her eldest sons high school has warned it might have to cut services if the impasse continues. Almost $2,000 in state grant funding for her fall semester is in limbo. The same goes for a $10,000 stipend she had been hoping to receive from a separate program overseen by PHEAA, which is intended to provide financial support for student teachers while they complete required classroom placements.

The program, which launched last year, aims to relieve the financial strain of teaching requirements, which were previously unpaid, and help tackle Pennsylvanias teacher shortage.

Without the aid, Little has been juggling a part-time job at a convenience store with her teaching requirements and classes.

The impasse, she said, has rearranged my whole entire life this year.

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.
Gavin Adcock seems to be just about everywhere these days.

When hes not calling out Beyonce, going after Nickelbacks sound guy or nearly getting into a brawl with Zach Bryan before hitting the stage  well, he also got arrested earlier this year.

The former Georgia Southern defensive lineman was taken into custody in Wilson County, Tennessee back on May 21 and charged with two counts of reckless driving and having an open container.

He was released on $1,000 bond.

I bought my dream car  a 1973 Dodge Challenger, Adcock said while explaining his arrest at the time per Whiskey Riff. Over the past few months Ive been putting money into it, getting it running as good as new, and decided I wanted to take it for a joy ride. The car ran great. I got pulled over and arrested for reckless driving going 103 in Wilson County, TN.

Adcock has quickly earned the reputation  along with everything else  for being an excellent songwriter. Turns out, thats not where the creativity ends.

For starters, he dropped a song coming out of jail called, Morning Bail.

But, it turns out, he also printed up a shirt featuring his mugshot and that was a pretty smart move because it apparently paid off big time.

And we know that because on a recent appearance on Bunnie Xos Dumb Blonde Podcast he revealed that he made a whopping $150,000 selling the shirt.

Yeah, they go, How did that work out for you? he told Bunnie. I said, Well, considering that I had to, when they towed my car, they drove it at the impound lot. Or took it for a drive, messed up my motor. I had to get a new motor for the car. I had to pay my ticket, and then I had to pay like $4,000 in lawyer fees, so Im $24,000 in the hole from that. But Ive probably sold about $150,000 worth of mug shot tees since then. So theres little kids and husbands wives wearing my face on the couch right now, or out to dinner. So it just worked out.
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant at 101 W. Chocolate Ave. at Hershey Towne Square in Derry Township closed last month. File photo by Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com

Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant filed for bankruptcy following an abrupt closure of all its locations last month.

The Delaware-based chain, which operated a restaurant in Derry Township, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy under U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey.

Unlike Chapter 11, which allows a company to reorganize and remain open, Chapter 7 allows for liquidation.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, bankruptcy documents show Iron Hill has $125,000 in the bank and owes creditors $20 million.

The Inquirer said in recent years the company had rapidly expanded, opening restaurants in South Carolina and Georgia and increasing canned beer production.

But those efforts clearly didnt pay off. Citing bankruptcy documents, the Inquirer reported Iron Hill corporate brought in about $242,000 in gross revenue from business operations. In contrast, the restaurants brought in $25 million.

On Sept. 25, the brewpub chain announced it had permanently closed all 16 locations.

After many wonderful years serving our communities, all Iron Hill locations have closed, it said. It has been our pleasure to serve you, and we are deeply grateful for your support, friendship and loyalty over the years.

We sincerely hope to return in the future, and when we do, we promise to welcome you with open arms.

In a letter sent to employees, the chain referenced bankruptcy.

Due to ongoing financial challenges, the company has made the difficult decision to file for bankruptcy and, regrettably, will be permanently closing its doors, Iron Hill told employees.

Iron Hill dates to 1996 when it was founded by home brewers Kevin Finn and Mark Edelson and restaurateur Kevin Davies in Newark.

It recently closed three locations in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, Voorhees, New Jersey, and Newark, Delaware.

Last year, Iron Hill closed its Phoenixville and Ardmore brewpubs.
By Mary Ann Thomas, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (TNS)

Sixty-two years have passed since a Kaufmann family member lived at Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wrights organic architectural masterpiece.

The weekend retreat for Edgar J. Kaufmann and his wife, Liliane, has been a museum longer than it had been a home.

Wrights work continues to bring visitors to Fayette and Westmoreland counties  Kentuck Knob is six miles from Fallingwater, and Polymath Park is 23 miles north.

During the past several years, all three sites have been navigating post-pandemic changes, with more tour offerings and fewer tourists coming from abroad.

The owners of the three sites in the Laurel Highlands discussed what it takes to manage their precious properties during the annual Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy conference, held Sept. 17-21 in Pittsburgh.

They walked away with shared lessons from the pandemic, largely pointing to finding ways to better engage visitors. The rough blueprint includes more personalized experiences, from smaller tour groups and themed tours to more collaboration with each other.

About 70 of the nearly 400 surviving Wright-designed buildings in the United States are open to the public on a regular basis, and 14 offer overnight stays, according to the Wright conservancy.

A comfortable living room in Frank Lloyd Write's Balter House in Pennsylvania offers a place to retreat but still enjoy views outdoors. (Cindy Decker/Chicago Tribune/TNS) TNS

Part of whats remarkable about the cluster of Wright buildings in the Laurel Highlands is that they are all open for people to see. That is extremely unusual, since the vast majority elsewhere are private, Eric Rogers, communications manager for the Chicago-based Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy, said in an email.

Obviously Fallingwater, as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is the most famous, but the cluster provides an unparalleled opportunity for people to see a range of residential designs from the last few decades of Wrights career, from modest to truly one of a kind, all in close proximity.

When Eric Knopsnyder, public relations director for Go Laurel Highlands, chats up visitors, he immediately brings up Fallingwater because it is so well-known.

Last year, visitors to the region spent a record $2.1 billion, supporting about 15,000 jobs, according to the travel research firm Tourism Economics.

Were gaining more and more attention each year from those who love the Laurel Highlands for our blend of architecture, history, outdoor recreation and scenic beauty, Knopsnyder said.

He anticipates more public interest in Wrights architecture will translate into more tourism to the three sites.

The upcoming reconstruction of a home designed by Lloyd Wright, Franks son, at Polymath Park will help make the Laurel Highlands a must-see architectural destination for years to come.

No wrong way to see Wright

Owners of Wright properties in the Laurel Highlands are interested in collaborating more to promote an architectural treasure trove that can be visited in one or two days.

Architectural tours and events combined with overnight stays could deliver a huge economic impact, said Justin Gunther, vice president of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and director of Fallingwater.

The Laurel Highlands sites are closely related.

Kentuck Knob in Stewart Township is a child of Fallingwater. The Kaufmanns introduced Wright to their friends, I.N. and Bernardine Hagan, owners of the Uniontown ice cream company, to create what has been described as one of Wrights most poetic and beautiful residential designs.

Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob are national historical landmarks. Both are set  not coincidentally  in spectacular natural areas with a waterfall and a knoll offering breathtaking views of the Allegheny Mountains.

Polymath Park near Acme, Westmoreland County, features two Wright homes: the Duncan House, relocated from a Chicago suburb, and Mantyla, deconstructed from its original site just outside of Duluth, Minn., and reassembled at Polymath. The park is also home to two homes designed by Wright apprentice Peter Berndtson. A fifth house designed by Lloyd Wright is packed in shipping containers, awaiting reconstruction.

Visitors can spend the night in the four homes. The public can tour the homes and dine at the parks TreeTops restaurant with private tree house pods.

Our focus is to allow guests to experience Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob and come back to us, said Tom Papinchak, who owns the park with his wife, Heather.

Years back, we were independent and not a collective. Some people went to Fallingwater not realizing Kentuck and Polymath were nearby and didnt allow enough time.

Additional collaborations may persuade more travelers to visit all three, Gunther said. That would mean longer stays in the region, which means greater economic impact.

Tour prices range widely at the three sites. The Wright experience can be had for as little as $10 for a Woodlands Walk ground pass at Kentuck Knob with an array of sculptures and a panoramic view of the Allegheny Mountains. At the other end of the spectrum, a private twilight tour for a group of five at Fallingwater costs $3,200.

To spend the night in a Frank Lloyd Wright home, the top end at Polymath Park, costs $825 for up to four guests, at Mantyla.

Post-pandemic visitors

Like other museums, all three Wright sites were hit hard during the pandemic, with closures and fewer group tours.

At Fallingwater, Western Pennsylvania Conservancy managers learned something about their guests: More time and intimacy with the architecture increased visitor engagement.

Pre-pandemic, they launched tours every six minutes with a group of 14-15 people who would intersect with two other tour groups in the living room, Gunther said.

When restrictions loosened during the pandemic, tours started every 10 minutes, with smaller groups.

This allowed for a group to be alone in the living room. This enriched the overall experience, translating into a stronger connection with Fallingwater, he said.

Instead of hitting 180,000 Fallingwater visitors a year as in the past, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy now shoots for 135,000 to 140,000 guests.

Although fewer people come through the door, memberships and per-visitor spending has increased, Gunther said.

Now the site owners face a noticeable decline of international travelers, especially from Canada.

Tourism Economics recently forecasted 8.2% fewer international arrivals in the U.S. An Associated Press story last month attributed rising travel costs, political uncertainty and ongoing geopolitical tensions for the downturn.

At Fallingwater, international tourists historically tallied between 7% and 10% of total visitors. That has dropped by several percentage points this year, Gunther said.
A new list has ranked each U.S. state on safety.

And Pennsylvania ranked on the lower end of the spectrum.

WalletHub was the one who conducted and published the study, which finds Pennsylvania ranked in the 31st overall spot. Given that, on a list of 50 states total, the Keystone State ranked on the unsafe half of the list.

Researchers at the publication assessed states on five main categories: Personal & Residential Safety; Financial Safety; Road Safety; Workplace Safety; and Emergency Preparedness. Other metrics such as Thefts per Capita; Unemployment Rate; and Road Quality.

When all was said and done, the top three safest in ascending order were: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont.

Vermont is the safest state, and its especially good when it comes to neighborhood safety, the report reads. Nearly 75 percent of parents in Vermont believe they live in safe neighborhoods, the fourth-highest percentage in the country.

In addition, the state has the seventh-most neighborhood watch groups per capita, which can help alert law enforcement of crimes or suspicious activities. Vermont has the 15th-fewest aggravated assaults, 17th-fewest murders and non-negligent manslaughters, and 24th-fewest thefts per capita, too.

The state in dead last, on the other end of the spectrum, was Louisiana.

The safest states in America protect their residents from harm in a multitude of different ways, from keeping crime rates low and maintaining safe roadways to having strong economies and job markets that prevent people from falling into dangerous financial situations, said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. They have high levels of occupational safety and disaster preparedness, too.

In addition, states are made safer by efforts that individual residents take, such as forming a neighborhood watch or working in firefighting and EMT jobs at high rates.
A medical helicopter is shown after it crashed on Highway 50 Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) AP

By HALLIE GOLDEN and AUDREY McAVOY, The Associated Press

Just minutes after a medical helicopter crashed onto a California highway, Sacramento Fire Capt. Peter Vandersluis found himself directing an impromptu response team of about 15 drivers to lift the wreckage off a paramedic trapped underneath.

When Vandersluis shouted lift, they raised the aircraft. When he ordered hold, they kept it elevated.

Just out of instinct  the people were there willing to help, and they didnt hesitate and followed my exact commands, Vandersluis told The Associated Press on Tuesday. And we were able to lift it up with ease.

The paramedic, as well as a nurse and pilot on board, were taken to hospitals in critical condition after Monday evenings crash on State Route 50 east of downtown Sacramento. The aircraft had departed a hospital after dropping off a patient when it experienced an in-air emergency and went down just after 7 p.m. The conditions of the three werent immediately known Tuesday.

Vandersluis was supervising the first fire engine crew to reach the crash, and he knew it would take too long for additional rescue teams to arrive.

Once I heard the woman groan, I made the decision to essentially yell out and get the bystanders to help lift the helicopter off of her, Vandersluis said.

A firefighter tried to pull the paramedic out, only to find she was trapped by her seat belt. The firefighter scooted underneath, cut the seat belt and rescued her. The ad hoc team raised the aircraft in about 30 seconds. By the time the firefighter extracted the paramedic, less than a minute had passed.

A medical helicopter is shown after it crashed on Highway 50 Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Scott Marshall) AP

The group gently lowered the aircraft to the ground after the paramedic was safely removed.

Valdersluis said he has never led a group of civilians in an emergency response situation before. But he noted his job is to lead the men and women he works with on a daily basis. His training and nearly 20 years of experience as a firefighter told him what to do.

His engine had been responding to a motorcycle accident just nearby in the westbound lanes of the same highway when the helicopter crashed. The engine drove against traffic to the scene and got there in minutes.

Some drivers were already out of their cars trying to assist when the firefighters arrived.

Aimee Braddock was among those who helped. She told KCRA-TVthat she rushed to the crash site after seeing the helicopter plummet to the pavement.

As soon as I saw that everybody was moving to try to push the helicopter out to help the first responders get to the passenger, I just ran over and got in the line of people and was just pushing it as much as I could, Braddock recounted. Then we held it for several minutes, so the first responder could get the person out.

Firefighters said they didnt confirm the helicopter caught fire. White smoke billowed out of the aircraft when it crashed, but Vandersluis said it was released by an onboard fire extinguisher system.

Emergency personnel surround the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed on eastbound Highway 50 in Sacramento, Calif., Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) AP

No one on the highway was injured, something Capt. Justin Sylvia with the Sacramento Fire Department called mind blowing given that the helicopter crashed in the center of the highway.

People reported that they basically saw the helicopter kind of going down quickly. So all the traffic slowed down, Sylvia said.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration said they were investigating the crash of the Airbus EC-130 T2.

The aircraft was a REACH Air Medical helicopter, according to the company, which said in a statement that they are keeping all those impacted in our thoughts and prayers.

We are in the process of determining the details of this situation, as well as the condition of the REACH crew involved, who were all taken to area hospitals, the companys statement said.

Sacramento City Councilwoman Lisa Kaplan was on a ride-along with law enforcement responding to the crash and said there were plumes of white smoke coming out of the downed helicopter.

Its really sombering and sobering. I am up flying with sheriff pilots that do this day in and day out. And it really makes you grateful for every day and grateful for our officers and our medical pilots, she said.

Golden reported from Seattle and McAvoy from Honolulu. Associated Press writers Christopher Weber in Los Angeles and Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this report.
By Eric Adler, The Kansas City Star (TNS)

ABILENE, Kan.  In the small town of Abilene, Kansas  population, 7,000  there is no lack of signs of devotion in this Republican community to President Donald J. Trump.

They can be found in the countless Trump flags that wave from front porches, on car and truck bumper stickers, and in the 2024 voting rolls that show that 76.7% of Dickinson County, where Abilene is the county seat, voted for the president.

But there is also a Republican president who called Abilene his boyhood home and is even more dear to this community.

Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Eisenhower, the 34th president of the United States, during World War II was the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe and led the troops who delivered the continent from fascism.

In his final speech from the White House, President Dwight D. Eisenhower. (Photo by Bill Allen/AP, from Library of Congress, file) AP

Now, and since last week  when news broke that Todd Arrington, the director of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home, had been pressured to resign from his job after failing to bow to a Trump administration request for the museum to hand over one of Eisenhowers swords so that Trump could present it as a gift to King Charles III of Great Britain  residents have reacted with their own swift sword.

The Trump administration, and perhaps Trump himself, they insist, was wrong. Arrington, they say, has been dealt with poorly for doing the right thing.

Abilene residents react

I did. I absolutely did vote for him, Trump supporter Wanda Bell, 66, said Monday, as she finished working the 4:30 a.m. shift at the local Caseys General Store. The store on Buckeye Avenue, also known as Eisenhower Memorial Highway, sits across the street and railroad tracks from the presidential museum, currently closed because of the government shutdown.

"I mean, the main point is, you can't take something that isn't yours and give it to somebody," Wanda Bell, 66, said of an Eisenhower sword. (Eric Adler/The Kansas City Star/TNS) TNS

But thats not his, Bell said of the requested sword, gifted to Eisenhower himself in 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. Its one of the treasures of our history. Thats not somebody elses to walk in and demand.

Bell said she serves a lot of the federal employees who work at the presidential museum, including security guards and groundskeepers.

I serve them every morning for breakfast as they go to work, she said. Im disappointed that that (the sword incident) even happened.

In no way, she said, does it reduce her admiration for Trump.

It doesnt, because hes doing a lot of things that are correct, Bell said. But he just needs to remember that there are things that are untouchable.

You know? I cant let you walk into my house and take my great-grandmotherss dish because you know its there. Just because its there, doesnt mean its somebodys to grab and you can just take what you want.

I mean, the main point is, you cant take something that isnt yours and give it to somebody.

At 18, her co-worker Taylor Robinson had yet to vote.

I think if its in a presidential library, it should stay where it is, she said. If thats where it was meant to be, then it shouldnt be switched around.

Bell said she felt bad for Arrington, a 30-year federal employee, who last week told the Kansas News Service that he had explained to the Trump Administration that the sword was not his to give.

They asked for a sword, Arrington told the news service, and we said, Well, we do have swords, but we cant give them away because theyre museum artifacts.
A plane takes off near the air traffic control tower at Harry Reid International Airport, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) AP

By RIO YAMAT and JOSH FUNK, The Associated Press

Staffing shortages led to more flight delays at airports across the U.S. on Tuesday as the federal government shutdown stretched into a seventh day, while union leaders for air traffic controllers and airport security screeners warned the situation was likely to get worse.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported staffing issues at airports in Nashville, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Philadelphia, and at its air traffic control centers in Atlanta, Houston and the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The agency temporarily slowed takeoffs of planes headed to the first three cities.

Flight disruptions a day earlier also were tied to insufficient staffing during the shutdown, which began Oct. 1. The FAA reported issues on Monday at the airports in Burbank, California; Newark, New Jersey; and Denver.

Despite the traffic snags, about 92% of the more than 23,600 flights departing from U.S. airports as of Tuesday afternoon took off on time, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

But the risk of wider impacts to the U.S. aviation system is growing by the day as federal workers whose jobs are deemed critical continue working without pay, travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt said. The longer the shutdown drags on, the more likely it is to affect holiday travel plans in November, he said.

Im gravely concerned that if the government remains shut down then, that it could disrupt, and possibly ruin, millions of Americans Thanksgiving holidays, Harteveldt said in a statement.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday that there has already been an uptick in air traffic controllers calling out sick at a few locations. When there arent enough controllers, the FAA must reduce the number of takeoffs and landings to maintain safety, which in turn causes flight delays and possible cancellations.

Thats what happened Monday afternoon, when the control tower at Southern Californias Hollywood Burbank Airport shut down for several hours, leading to average delays of two-and-a-half hours.

A plane lands at Harry Reid International Airport, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) AP

When a pilot preparing for takeoff radioed the tower, according to communications recorded by LiveATC.net, he was told: The tower is closed due to staffing.

Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said the shutdown highlighted some issues his unions members already face on a regular basis due to a national airspace system that is critically understaffed and relies on outdated equipment that tends to fail.

A couple of controllers missing work can have a big impact at a small airport already operating with limited tower staffing, he said.

Its not like we have other controllers that can suddenly come to that facility and staff them. Theres not enough people there, Daniels said Tuesday. Theres no overtime, and you have to be certified in that facility.

Air travel complications are likely to expand once a regularly scheduled payday arrives next week and air traffic controllers and TSA officers dont receive any money, the union leader said. If the impasse between Republican and Democratic lawmakers on reopening the government persists, the workers will come under more pressure as their personal bills come due, Daniels said.

Its completely unfair that an air traffic controller is the one that holds the burden of see how long you can hang in there in order to allow this political process to play out, he said.

Johnny Jones, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees chapter that represents TSA workers, said he was hearing concerns from members about how they will be able to pay bills, including child support and mortgage payments, and if theyre at risk for termination if they have to miss work during the shutdown.

The employees are struggling. Theyre assessing what they need to do and theyre assessing how this is all going to work out, said Jones, who has worked as a screener since the TSA was established.

Some TSA officers have already called in sick, but Jones said he did not think the numbers were big enough to cause significant problems and delays at airports.

Aviation unions and U.S. airlines have called for the shutdown to end as soon as possible.

The unions are also making appeals to food banks, grocery chains and airports to secure support for workers during the shutdown. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was offering federal workers $15 food vouchers and allowing them to park in the terminal, according to Jones.

Planes land and take off at Harry Reid International Airport, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) AP

John Tiliacos, the chief operating officer of Floridas Tampa International Airport, said the facility started preparing for the shutdown well before it began.

Nicknamed Operation Bald Eagle 2 among airport staff, the efforts center around pulling together resources for the roughly 11,000 federal employees who are working at the airport without pay, including security screeners and air traffic controllers.

Tiliacos said the help would include a food pantry, free bus rides to work and a program with the local utility provider to keep the lights on at the homes of the workers.

Whatever we can do to make life a little easier for these federal employees that allows them to continue coming to work and focus on keeping our airport operational, thats what were prepared to do, he said.
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before signing an executive order in the Oval Office on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

Donald Trump might not have a more loyal backer than Laura Loomer, but the presidents recent answer to questions about the Epstein files and, particularly, pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell was apparently too much for even her.

Trump was asked Monday in the Oval Office about pardoning Maxwell by CNNs Kaitlan Collins.

You know, I havent heard the name in so long, Trump told Collins. I can say this that I would have to take a look at it. I would have to take a look. Did they reject that?

Collins explained that Maxwell lost the appeal of her conviction.

Well, Ill take a look at it, Trump responded. I will speak to the DOJ. I wouldnt consider it or not consider it. I dont know anything about it. I will speak to the DOJ.

I have a lot of people that ask me for pardons, Trump added. Puff Daddy has asked me for a pardon.

Collins responded, But she was convicted of child sex trafficking.

Yeah, I mean Im going to have to take a look at it, Trump responded. Id have to ask DOJ. I didnt know they rejected it.

Trumps response created a stir across social media with many feeling like the answer should have been much easier for the president.

I strongly advise AGAINST anyone lobbying the Trump admin and the DOJ to Pardon Ghislaine Maxwell.



Do not do it.



I repeat. Do not do it.



There will be no coming back from that.



I repeat again. For the love of God.



Do



Not



Do



It @realDonaldTrump @JDVance @PamBondi  Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) October 6, 2025

Loomer was in that group and she took to X with her thoughts on the situation and tagged the Trump, JD Vance and Pam Bondi.

I strongly advise AGAINST anyone lobbying the Trump admin and the DOJ to Pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, she wrote. Do not do it. I repeat. Do not do it. There will be no coming back from that. I repeat again. For the love of God. Do Not Do IT.

We will see if Loomers advice is taken or not.
After the death of an autistic 6-year-old boy in Pennsylvania this month, a state representative is planning to introduce a new alert system dedicated to missing people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

The legislation, proposed by Rep. Robert Leadbeter (R-Columbia), would create a Purple Alert system throughout Pennsylvania.

Dubbed Aidens Law, the proposed alert system would honor Aiden Ha, a 6-year-old nonverbal autistic boy who went missing in Columbia County on Oct. 4. A day later, he was found dead in the Susquehanna River.

Leadbeter said a specialized alert system could have contributed to the multi-agency search effort by distributing the boys picture, description and last known location.

When a loved one with disability goes missing, every minute becomes critical, said Leadbeter. Even when all hands are on deck, these individuals are let down by the current system. Life is precious, and families should never feel helpless when a situation like this happens. My proposal would give law enforcement more tools to save lives and give families more peace of mind.

In an Oct. 6 memo sent to all House members, Leadbeter said, Many Pennsylvanians live with autism spectrum disorders, traumatic brain injuries, dementia onset at early ages, or other conditions that affect communication, judgement, and awareness.

Traditional alert systems often exclude them because they do not fit neatly into the criteria for missing alerts, the memo said.

The Purple Alert system is modeled after Amber Alerts for missing and abducted children, Silver Alerts for missing older adults, and Green Alerts for missing at-risk veterans.
Ukrainian telco Kyivstar announced on Tuesday that it has postponed the planned shutdown of its 3G network in Chernihiv due to increased shelling and power outages in the city.

Kyivstar had previously announced in August that it would redistribute its 2100-MHz frequencies from 3G to 4G on October 7 in Chernihiv and several cities and districts in the Kirovohrad and Sumy regions. The 3G shutdowns are part of Kyivstars strategy to modernise its 4G infrastructure and prepare for the launch of 5G.

Kyivstar has been encouraging 3G-only subscribers to migrate to 4G, but said on Tuesday that it was aware some of its subscribers in Chernihiv have not had time to switch to 4G SIM cards. The telco also said the transition to 4G in Chernihiv has been complicated by current energy problems.

According to a report in the Kyiv Post on Tuesday, Russian forces have been targeting energy infrastructure in the Chernihiv region, resulting in frequent outages in some areas as power company Chernihivoblenergo reroutes power to prioritize critical infrastructure and residential buildings to prevent a total blackout.

In order not to create additional inconveniences and to ensure stable and affordable communication for subscribers who did not have time to replace a SIM card that does not support 4G with USIM, we are temporarily canceling the planned 3G shutdown, Kyivstar said in a statement.

Kyivstar added that it will announce a new date for its 3G shutdown in Chernihiv when the power supply situation becomes stable.
Students in the Steelton-Highspire School District will not return to classes until Oct. 14, according to a statement on the districts website.

The district opted to cancel in-person classes on Wednesday after a 26-year-old man was killed and his brother was injured in a shooting around 2:15 p.m. Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the school district announced it would be closed on Thursday, Oct. 9.

In addition, an early dismissal day scheduled for Friday, Oct. 10 will now be a professional development day for staff, meaning students will not report to school.

On Monday, Oct. 13, schools will be closed in observance of Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day, the districts website said.

Quadir Rameau, 23, of Steelton, was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possessing a firearm while prohibited and carrying a firearm without a license in connection with the shooting.

Police are looking for Quadir Rameau, 23, of Steelton for murder. Steelton police

As of Wednesday, Rameau was still at large and considered armed and dangerous, police said. Anyone with information about the shooting or his whereabouts is asked to call Dauphin County 911 dispatch at 717-558-6900.
To her thousands of followers on TikTok and Instagram, she is a creative artist with a flair for mythology and symbolism.

Now, Sybilla Bakzaza is at the center of a criminal case that underscores the complexities of trans people in law enforcement and prison settings.

The social media influencer was arrested on June 15 in her home in Shrewsbury after state police, responding to a call, said she assaulted three troopers, threatened another person, made terroristic threats and had a weapon, according to the criminal complaint.

Bakzaza, a 37-year-old transgender woman, has been held at the York County Prison since then, the majority of that time confused about her next legal steps. She says she has endured abuse, harassment and wrongful placement in solitary confinement. Her emotional health continues to deteriorate, and she is unable to post the $150,000 bail.

Friend and spokesperson, Jean Huber, who spoke with PennLive, said Bakzaza met with her public defender for the first time in September.

At the time of her arrest, Bakzaza told police she was having a mental health crisis and needed medical attention. The account of what happened to Bakzaza is based on the criminal complaint and the information Huber gave PennLive.

According to the criminal complaint, Bakzaza shoved her father and threatened the three troopers who responded to the call from the father claiming his son was going off the deep end.

When called by police, Bakzaza came out of their bedroom and stood at the top of the stairs standing in a throwing stance, similar to a form used to throw a javelin, the affidavit states. In his left hand was a metal spear raised over his head pointed at the troopers, according to the affidavit. The action placed the troopers at an immediate risk of death or serious bodily harm, the document states.

Bakzaza complied with the order from police to drop the spear, and was taken into custody without further incident, the criminal complaint states.

Huber said that Bakzaza, during the confrontation with police, put down the spear, fell to her knees, and put her hands on her head.

Bakzaza told Huber that state police indicated to her that she would receive mental health attention, but she was arrested and booked in York County Prison.

Bakzaza was processed under her legal name, which appears on the criminal complaint.

They thought they were going to a hospital, Huber said. That was the impression that they got from the arresting officers. That basically they would be taken to treatment, and they were thrown in prison instead.

Bakzaza told Huber that she was placed naked in solitary confinement for 15 days and has been housed in the mens ward. At some point she was moved to the work dorm. She is employed as a cart pusher and is paid $30 a week.

Huber has visited her friend in prison, and has been troubled by her accounts of harassment. She said Bakzaza told her she was sexually assaulted.

PennLive submitted multiple requests to speak with Bakzazas public defender, but those requests were never granted.

York County officials outlined to PennLive their prison policy as it pertains to transgender and gender non-conforming individuals and addressed the allegation of sexual assault.

The safety and security of incarcerated individuals is a top priority for York County Prison, county spokesman Brett Marcy said in an email to PennLive.

Incarcerated individuals who identify as transgender are included in the decision-making process to determine the most appropriate housing option for them.

Marcy said county officials confirmed that Bakzaza requested housing with the male population and that the request was granted based on her specific transgender journey.

All incarcerated individuals at York County Prison are housed in areas that allow for interaction with other inmates, Marcy said. If a determination is made that an incarcerated individual should not be housed in a cell with others, based on health or safety considerations, that individual may be housed in a single cell that is adjacent to other cells with neighboring inmates.

Marcy said Bakzaza was temporarily housed in a single cell with the ability to interact with other nearby inmates. He added that she was provided clothing and coverings at all times during incarceration.

The prison provides incarcerated individuals with access to mental health crisis care and ongoing behavioral health treatment services, Marcy said.

On the assault allegation, Marcy said: York County Prison takes seriously any allegation of harassment and thoroughly investigates complaints. Criminal allegations are referred to law enforcement authorities for investigation.

York County Prison is overseen by a board of county officials that includes commissioners, the sheriff and District Attorney Tim Barker, among others.

Barkers office said they are precluded from discussing matters that are not contained in the public record for pending criminal matters.

The state Department of Corrections follows the guidance under federal law  the Prison Rape Elimination Act  which lays out a zero-tolerance policy against the harassment, mistreatment or violence against transgender and other gender non-confirming individuals.

The policy specifies that intentional misuse of gender pronouns and titles is prohibited. Transgender and intersex inmates shall be referred to by their preferred pronoun or a gender-neutral form of address. Unprofessional and derogatory references toward inmates are not acceptable under any circumstances.

The department provides medically necessary care for all incarcerated people, including transgender people.

As far as housing during detention, the law states that after an inmate identifies as transgender or intersex, an individualized assessment is to be conducted to determine the most appropriate housing.

Prison officials are directed to ensure the transgender or intersex inmates safety.

Transgender or intersex inmates may be housed in single rooms; and, if not available, should be transferred to a facility that can accommodate single room housing.

Corinne Goodwin, executive director of the Eastern PA Trans Equity Project, noted that prisons that deny medical or mental health care to inmates stand in violation of federal law. Still, her organization is aware of the high rate of mistreatment of transgender people in corrections setting. Often that involves solitary confinement.

What they do is they say, for this prisoners safety, were going to put them in solitary because if we put them, in this case, a trans woman in with the male population, she will likely be harmed, Goodwin said. And we cant put her in with the female population because shes transgender and owns a penis. So the excuse that they often use for putting somebody in solitary confinement is the prisoners safety, when the truth is there are lots of other ways that they could resolve this problem.

Goodwin cited studies that show that trans prisoners are 55% more likely to be placed in solitary confinement than the rest of the general population; 40% of transgender inmates had reported being sexually assaulted.

Those statistics, Goodwin noted, point to woefully low compliance with the federal law, and more broadly, a dangerous environment for transgender individuals.

I think the fact that 40% of transgender people are raped within the first year in prison says its pretty freaking dangerous, Goodwin said.

Huber has described Bakzazas condition in prison as deteriorating. A Navy veteran, who did two tours as a medic, Bakzaza suffers from PTSD.

They put on a very brave front, Huber said of Bakzaza, who also uses they/them pronouns. They are a very strong person of character. If youve ever seen any of their social media content, they are a very, very strong presence. Theyre very vulnerable during our visitation times and they feel that like theyre not where theyre supposed to be.

According to Huber, York County Prison evaluated and diagnosed Bakzaza with PTSD, but the diagnosis did not result in a reduction of charges or her admittance to a veterans court.

Huber said last week that her friend is facing the full weight of the charges.

Huber said Bakzaza lives at home with her parents; she said she was having a disagreement with her father, and that prompted the call to police.

Huber said Bakzaza has feared for her safety in prison.

Its very confusing to Sybilla, Huber said. They know the danger theyre in. They know that there is no safe place in prison.

Huber said that on the day of the arrest, Bakzaza was contemplating suicide.

Basically they just wanted to be left alone because they were planning on dying, Huber said.

Trooper James Grothey of the Pennsylvania State Police said when officers arrest an individual, they use that persons legal name in charging documents.

Upon arrest (name) was the legal name provided to troopers and verified through a drivers license query, he said citing her dead name.

Grothey referred to the affidavit of probable cause which contains all pertinent information on the arrest.

We will not release any further information as this continues through the court process, he said.

According to Huber, Bakzaza has become part of a supportive community of veterans at the prison.

Those ties are deeper than any type of trans or homophobia, Huber said. Theyve created a community with some other veterans and even some other queer individuals who are being held there. There are good COs and there are bad COs. There are a lot of homophobic comments.

Huber said Bakzaza doesnt have any ill will towards their parents. Her main concern, she said, is having her situation treated as a mental health crisis.

We just want to get her out of there to where shes safe and get her the mental health help that she should have received back in June, Huber said. This isnt meant to be an attack on any individuals....Its more of how the system has failed her.
A North Carolina trucker pleaded guilty Tuesday to causing a crash on Interstate 81 that left the driver of this Lincoln SUV with life-altering injuries. July 17, 2023. Zach Gleiter | Special to PennLive

A North Carolina man pleaded guilty Tuesday to causing a fiery crash on Interstate 81 near Carlisle that shut down the highway for hours and left a Mechanicsburg woman permanently disabled.

Tyree Honablew, 46, of Plymouth, N.C., doubled over in grief as he listened to Kristyn Hausauer, the injured womans sister, detail how the July 17, 2023, crash changed her familys lives.

We lost a mother, a sister, a daughter and a friend, Kristyn Hausauer began.

Victim Kelly Hausauer, her sister said via a Zoom link from Baltimore, is still in a Hershey rehabilitation hospital awaiting assignment to a long-term care facility.

While Kelly, 45, has regained the ability to walk and speak, she has suffered permanent brain damage that will leave her unable to return to her career as a logistics manager or to live on her own, Kristyn told the court.

Her 16-year-old son has been in Kristyns care since the crash.

Among other physical injuries, Kelly lost one eye and is nearly completely sightless in the other.

You took her life away from her, and you took her life away from us, Kristyn Hausauer said.

Police said the accident occurred at 4:13 p.m. when Honablew plowed full speed into a line of stopped traffic  backed up from an earlier, separate crash  on Interstate 81 north near mile marker 44 in South Middleton Township.

Kelly Hausauers Lincoln SUV was struck from the rear and shoved forward into and under an auto transport trailer idling in front of her.

Honablew, who was concussed in the crash, could not give police an explanation for what happened, but subsequent investigation showed he was not distracted by his phone, and he did not have drugs or alcohol in his system.

He did tell police that he sometimes gets blackouts, which he attributed to prior service in the military.

In the plea agreement executed Tuesday, Honablew agreed to plead guilty to single counts of reckless endangerment and careless driving in exchange for dismissal of a more severe count of aggravated assault by vehicle.

That plea will permit Honablew to be paroled immediately from Cumberland County Prison, where hes been held since his arrest on a bench warrant on Aug. 11.

But he will be forced to make regular restitution payments toward Hausauers unpaid medical and care expenses in excess of $6.6 million, pending the outcome of still-pending civil litigation.

In that case, the Hausauer family is suing the trucking company Honablew drove for, and the transportation group that hired it as part of a distribution services agreement for Kraft Foods.

The family alleges, in part, that the companies did not do their due diligence in checking Honablews fitness to drive.

The suit also names the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, which it alleges did not do enough to divert traffic off of I-81 after the initial crash near mile marker 51, about seven miles north of the Hausauer crash.

First Assistant District Attorney Courtney Hair LaRue said the criminal plea as arranged serves the familys immediate goal of holding Honablew accountable for the crash.

Honablew was visibly affected during Kristyn Hausauers victim impact statement, at one point seeming to double over in grief as his attorney, Braden Toomey, put a hand on his back in consolation.

When it was his time to speak, the driver said he had no words that could make the situation better but to apologize to all in the Hausauer family.
A Harrisburg man died last week after his vehicle struck a concrete barrier on a sharp curve of an Interstate 83 exit ramp and caught fire in York County, authorities said.

Marco Ambrocio Gonzalez, 33, crashed around 7:40 a.m. Sept. 28 at the southbound exit 40A to Limekiln Road, Fairview Township, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

Ambrocio Gonzalez died at the scene from multiple blunt force injuries, the York County Coroners Office said. His death was ruled an accident.

The coroner said the vehicle slid onto the barrier, rupturing the fuel tank and sparking a fire. The vehicle became engulfed in flames, trapping three people inside.

Two male passengers, ages 20 and 29, were inside the vehicle at the time of the crash and suffered minor injuries, police said. Both were taken to a hospital for treatment.

Witnesses stopped and helped get the three men out of the vehicle after the fiery crash.

The I-83 exit ramp was closed for more than three hours after the crash.
FILE N An aerial view from a French aid plane shows the destruction in central Gaza on Aug. 17, 2025. The scale of destruction from IsraelOs bombardment has few parallels among modern wars. (Diego Ibarra Snchez/The New York Times) NYT

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Author: Mkhaimar Abusada, Northwestern University

Weakened militarily and facing declining Palestinian support, particularly among residents of Gaza, Hamas was already a shadow of the militant group it once was. And then came President Donald Trumps peace plan.

On Oct. 3, 2025, Hamas said that it accepted some aspects of the 20-point proposal, including handing over administration of the Gaza Strip to a body of independent Palestinian technocrats and releasing all remaining Israeli hostages.

Those hostages are the last of the 252 taken during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack  an event that two years on looks to represent a high point, so to speak, of Hamas power. As an expert on Palestinian political attitudes, I believe the group now has few options to survive.

Like former resistance groups in past peace processes, it could renounce arms and transform itself into a purely political party. But to do so, it needs to overcome a series of hurdles: confronting other parts of Trumps plan, its unpopularity at home and its rigid ideology being the three most prominent.

Campaign of assassination

It is worth taking stock of just how degraded Hamas has become as the result of two years of onslaught by Israels vastly superior military.

According to many intelligence reports, Hamas has lost most of its senior command in the Al-Qassam Brigades, its military wing. Izz al-Din al-Haddad, its current commander, survives, having presumably taken over from Mohammed Sinwar  the brother of Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of Oct. 7 attack  who was killed in May 2025. But he presides over a dwindling army.

Trump may not have been exaggerating when he indicated on Truth Social on Oct. 3 that Hamas had lost 25,000 fighters. Estimates regarding the groups losses vary, but it could represent more than half of the fighting force it had at the beginning of the war.

Hamas has succeeded in recruiting new fighters during that time. But many of these new recruits lack the competence and the experience of the dead ones. And the only motivations the new recruits have are hate and anger toward Israel.

Hamas political leadership has also been decimated. Chief political leaders, including Ismail Haniyeh, Saleh al-Arouri and Yahya Sinwar, have all been killed.

Iranians walk past a billboard of the slain leaders of anti-Israeli groups, including former Hamas political chief Yahya Sinwar. Mohammadali Najib/Middle East Images via AFP Mohammadali Najib/Middle East Images via AFP

And it could have been worse. Had the Israeli attack on Hamas political leadership in Doha, Qatar, succeeded in September 2025, it could have been a devastating loss for the movement. But the operation missed its primary targets there.

Falling support in Gaza

Palestinian public pressure on Hamas has risen as the miseries of war have mounted.

According to local health officials, more than 67,000 have been killed and more than 169,000 have been injured. Most of the Gaza Strip has been reduced to rubble, and more than 90% of the population has been displaced multiple times  with most residents now living in tents. International organizations have reported famine and starvation in some parts of Gaza.

Hamas has lost its power and influence over many areas now under Israeli control. Israeli military and intelligence have encouraged some members of the local Palestinian clans and militia to offer services in militia-controlled areas.

In such areas, Hamas fighters have often clashed with other Palestinian groups, resulting in many deaths and growing resentment toward Hamas.

Hamas execution and torture of Palestinians suspected of collaboration with Israel has only worsened the situation, leading to chaos and lawlessness in many parts of Gaza.

It is little wonder, then, that half of Palestinians in Gazan in the latest poll of attitudes  taken in May 2025  say they supported anti-Hamas demonstrations. Indeed, support for the group in both Gaza and the West Bank has continued to decline as the war has progressed.

The push for peace

The ongoing war and the inhumane daily conditions that local Palestinians in Gaza are dealing with have led to exhaustion and fatigue among the public.

On social media, many Palestinians are asking Hamas publicly to endorse the Trump plan and put an end to their misery.

In deciding whether to accept all the plans 20 points, Hamas will, from its perspective, have to weigh whether agreeing to a very bad outcome is better than the alternative. Trump has warned that a failure to get on board will cause Hamas to face all hell.

Hamas has already agreed to release the remaining Israeli hostages and to relinquish power in Gaza to a technocratic Palestinian committee. If endorsed in full, this would put an end to the war and see the gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and no expulsion of the Palestinians out of Gaza.

Egypt, Qatar and Turkey have been facilitating Hamas response to the plan. And there is huge regional and international pressure to get the deal over the line.

However, it would force Hamas to disarm itself and allow the entry of an international and regional force into Gaza to oversee the destruction of military infrastructure, including tunnels, weapons manufacturing and the remaining rockets  points of the latest plan that Hamas appears more unwilling to accept.

What happens to the remaining Hamas fighters is a sticking point that might lead to the collapse of the whole plan.

And any rejection of the plan that can be blamed on Hamas will no doubt be welcomed by members of the Israeli extreme right. Hard-line factions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus coalition have an alternative plan: to fully occupy Gaza, expel the Palestinians and reestablish Israeli settlements in Gaza.

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled the peace plan at the White House on Sept. 29, 2025. Win McNamee/Getty Images Win McNamee/Getty Images

Where next for Hamas?

Perhaps the most viable option for Hamas is to transform itself into a political party. But to do so, the group will need to reform not only its structures but also its ideology.

Political momentum is swinging back to a two-state solution. France and Saudi Arabia recently spearheaded a fresh push to that end at the United Nations, and a host of Western nations recognized Palestinian statehood for the first time. Hamas may feel the pressure to finally accept a two-state solution, something it has long resisted. For its part, Trumps plan only makes vague assertions noting the Palestinian aspiration for a state.

If transforming into a purely political party is to be the fate of Hamas, it will need to play its cards shrewdly and swiftly. The Palestine Liberation Organization went through this process after its departure from Beirut in 1982, eventually putting politics and diplomacy over armed resistance. And Qatar, Turkey and Egypt can help Hamas moderate its stances, too.

The rigid ideology of Hamas remains a hurdle. Since it was formed in 1987, Hamas has tethered itself to a hard-line Islamist ideology that does not allow fundamental compromises on issues such as recognition of Israel and the development of Palestine as a secular state.

But there is the recent example of Syria where, following the ouster of long-term dictator Bashar Assad, the main Islamist fighting group pivoted to politics  and was lauded in the international community for doing so.

Whether Hamas can succeed in such a transformation  should it even attempt to  remains to be seen. And there is one final snag: Even if Hamas does accept the latest peace proposal, other Palestinian militant groups in Gaza might not  and could attempt to sabotage the whole process.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/hamas-has-run-out-of-options-survival-now-rests-on-accepting-trumps-plan-and-political-reform-266515.
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Arthur Maulet (35) in action during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Justin Berl) AP

Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Arthur Maulet is signing with the Detroit Lions just days after workout out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Maulet failed to make the Houston Texans final roster when they signed him in training camp. He worked out for the New York Jets in September but they did not sign him.

Maulet was released by the Baltimore Ravens in March after two years with the team. He had played as the Ravens run-down nickel cornerback and specialized as a blitzer, a similar role to his one with the Steelers.

Maulet suffered a calf injury in November in November that landed him on injured reserve and ended his season. All in all, he played in just three games this past season due to injuries. In those games, Maulet had just five tackles.

The Steelers released Maulet after the 2022 season, and he signed with the Ravens that summer, fighting to make their final roster. Maulet played with the Steelers for two seasons in a rotation in the slot over his time, and he was primarily used as a blitzer for the team.

The former Steelers cornerback has played with the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, and Indianapolis Colts in addition to the Steelers.
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LOS ANGELES (AP)  Thirty paintings created by the bushy-haired, soft-spoken Bob Ross will soon be up for auction to defray the costs of programming for public television stations suffering from cuts in federal funding.

Ross, a public television stalwart in the 1980s and 90s, dedicated his life to making art accessible to everyone, said Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc. This auction ensures his legacy continues to support the very medium that brought his joy and creativity into American homes for decades.

Bonhams in Los Angeles will auction three of Ross paintings on Nov. 11. Other auctions will follow in London, New York, Boston and online. All profits are pledged to stations that use content from distributor American Public Television.

The idea is to help stations in need with licensing fees that allow them to show popular programs that include The Best of Joy of Painting, based on Ross show, Americas Test Kitchen, Julia Childs French Chef Classics and This Old House. Small and rural stations are particularly challenged.

As desired by President Donald Trump, Congress has eliminated $1.1 billion allocated to public broadcasting, leaving about 330 PBS and 246 NPR stations to find alternative funding sources. Many launched emergency fund drives. Some have been forced to lay off staff and make programming cuts.

A public broadcasting station in central Pennsylvania will be the first in the U.S. to go dark following Trumps cuts.

The beloved Ross died at age 52 in 1995 of complications from cancer after 11 years in production with The Joy of Painting. His how-to program was shown on stations around the U.S. and around the world. The former Air Force drill sergeant known for his calm demeanor and encouraging words enjoyed a resurgence in popularity during the lockdowns of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ross spoke often as he worked on air about painting happy little clouds and trees, and making no mistakes, only happy accidents.

The 30 paintings to be auctioned span Ross career and include landscapes depicting serene mountain vistas and lake scenes, his signature aesthetic. He created most of the 30 on-air, each in under 30 minutes, which was the span of a single episode.

Bonhams sold two early 1990s mountain-and-lake scenes of Ross in August for $114,800 and $95,750. The auctions of the 30 paintings soon to be sold have an estimated total value of $850,000 to $1.4 million, Bonhams said.
WSOP Announces New Venue & Dates for 2026 WSOP Europe Festival

Connor Richards Senior Editor U.S. Copy link

As the 2025 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) 10,350 Main Event played down to a final table, the WSOP made ripples by announcing a new home and dates for the popular European festival.

Next year's WSOP Europe will take place at Hilton Prague in the Czech Republic in partnership with King's Casino Prague, moving from the tour's longtime venue, Kings Resort, Rozvadov.

What's more, 2026 WSOP Europe will take place March 31-April 12, despite the festival typically taking place in the fall months.

Its an exciting rebirth of the World Series of Poker Europe in Prague, WSOP Chief Executive Officer Ty Stewart said in a press release. We have a big ambition to elevate this festival to one of the very best in the world and look forward to welcoming players to a great poker city next April.

Many poker players pointed out that the dates overlap with the 2026 PokerStars Irish Open, which is slated to take place March 26-April 6, furthering the clash between GGPoker and PokerStars.

"Clashing with the Irish Open is less than ideal to say the least. Why not have it the month after?" 2013 Irish Poker Open champion Ian Simpson wrote on X.

The 2026 WSOPE festival will feature 15 gold bracelet events and "will also incorporate the revolutionary WSOP+ app, the digital platform designed from the ground up to enhance the player experience," according to the WSOP. The full schedule for next year's festival will be released soon.

Bracelet winners so far at this year's WSOPE festival include Martin Kabrhel and reigning WSOP Player of the Year Shaun Deeb.

Murilo Garcia

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The European Poker Tours long-awaited return to Malta was met with a full house.

The 5,300 EPT Malta Main Event drew 898 total entries, making it the largest EPT Main Event ever held on the island and eclipsing the previous high of 895 set back in March 2015.

It's the fourth edition of the tournament and the first since 2016, when Aliaksei Boika triumphed for 355,700. Unlike those earlier freezeout formats, this years event featured a single re-entry option, which helped boost the total numbers while still attracting an impressive 640 unique players from 63 different countries.

Together they built a 4,355,300 prize pool, with 135 players making the money and a 760,000 payday reserved for the new champion.

Year Entries Prize Pool Champion Country Top Prize Mar 2015 895 4,340,750 Jean Montury France 687,400 Oct 2015 651 3,157,350 Niall Farrell United Kingdom 534,330 Oct 2016 468 2,269,800 Aliaksei Boika Belarus 355,700 Oct 2025 898 4,355,300 TBD  760,000

Payouts

A total of 135 players locked up a minimum cash of 8,400, while a spot at the final table guaranteed at least 91,250. The payouts then soar quickly, with 474,650 for second and 339,000 for third before someone walks away with the 760,000 top prize and the EPT Main Event trophy.

This marks the 149th EPT Main Event ever played, pushing lifetime totals to 118,381 entries and more than 624 million in prize money awarded since the tours debut in 2004.

Place Prize Place Prize Place Prize 1  760,000 9  70,250 72-96  11,050 2  474,650 10-11  56,050 96-119  9,650 3  339,000 12-13  46,750 120-135  8,400 4  260,750 14-15  38,950 21-23  25,600 5  200,550 16-17  33,850 24-27  22,250 6  154,250 18-20  29,450 28-31  19,350 7  118,650 40-55  14,650 32-39  16,800 8  91,250 56-71  12,700

Italy Tops the Charts

chart

Italy led the charge in the nationality breakdown, accounting for 14.1% of the field (90 players), ahead of France (71), Spain (42), Germany (39), and the United Kingdom (39). For comparison, back in 2016, there were 468 players from 54 nations.
Only 16 players returned to Kings Resort, Rozvadov today for the final bracelet opportunity of the 2025 World Series of Poker Europe, as the final event of the festival, Event #15: 1,000 No-Limit Holdem Closer, headed towards its conclusion.

After seven hours of battle, Lukas Timko of Czechia has emerged as a deserving winner of the 1,000,000 guaranteed event, capturing his first bracelet, a career-best score, and a 158,000 payday. Timko prevailed over a 645-runner field and defeated his fellow countryman Michal Schuh heads-up, denying Schuh his second bracelet in the process.

Michal Schuh

The key moment came when Timko came off best in a three-way all-in four-handed, despite having the worst of it preflop. From there, Timko didn't look back, and he got the job done against Schuh by holding in a flip, after coming into heads-up play with a 5:1 chip advantage.

Timko's largest recorded live cash to date was for less than $10,000, and he can now cross off the six-figure score milestone and call himself a WSOP champion. (All stats courtesy of The Hendon Mob.)

Final Table Results

Place Player Country Prize (EUR) 1 Lukas Timko Czechia 158,000 2 Michal Schuh Czechia 105,000 3 Mariusz Klabisch Poland 71,500 4 Asaf Adato Israel 49,700 5 Dorian Melchers France 35,300 6 Leonardo Ludovisi Italy 25,600 7 Dennis Schaefer Germany 18,900 8 Paul Covaciu Romania 14,300 9 Shaun Deeb United States 11,025

WSOPE Event #15: The Closer Final Table

Final Day Action

Asaf Adato started the day as the chip leader, narrowly ahead of Germanys Dennis Schaefer and Timko, while Shaun Deeb was hunting his ninth bracelet, and third of 2025.

In the first hand of the day, short-stack Sorel Mizzi's run came to an end as he ran into the ace-king of Schuh. After Hans Thumann found a superb river hero-call, Schuh claimed another scalp when he left Fabio Peluso drawing dead on the turn. Schuh was also the beneficiary of a bizarre hand, where Thumann check-raised the river, despite having a card exposed.

With the first break approaching, there were a flurry of knockouts to bring matters towards the final table, with Leonardo Ludovisi hitting a flush against Roman Isaienko, and proceeding to knock out Jose Puertas in rapid fashion. At the same time, on the other table, short-stack Robert Zipf's run came to an end versus Timko.

That left proceedings on the final table bubble at the first break, and it was short-stack Thumann who busted to Schuh shortly after the restart to set the final nine.

Final Table Action and Timko's Road to Glory

Schaefer led the way at the final table, closely followed by Schuh, while Adato, Timko, and Mariusz Klabisch brought up the rear. Deeb was the first player to exit, after Schuh turned a set in what had been a flip.

Play started to tighten up, and Adato, who had gone backwards since the start of play, gathered some momentum when he doubled twice through Schaefer in quick succession.

Klabisch suddenly came to the fore, getting lucky to bust Paul Covaciu in eighth, and spiking a miracle two-outer on the river to send Schaefer to the rail in seventh. Klabisch wasn't finished there, as he again found himself being dominated in an all-in situation, this time against short-stack Ludovisi, but again came off best. Suddenly Klabisch had gone from being in the middle of the pack to the runaway chip leader.

Mariusz Klabisch

Klabisch hit a bump in the road when Timko hit the river to double, and Timko then spiked the river again to bust Dorian Melchers in fifth in a race. Timko proceeded to vault into the lead when he came off best in a massive three-way all-in despite having the worst of it, busting Adato in fourth and damaging Schuh in the process.

That set the stage for a three-handed battle between Timko, Klabisch and Schuh, with Timko just ahead of Klabisch, and with Schuh trailing. Schuh, clearly the most experienced player of the three, quickly doubled through Klabisch to come back into it.

The trio proceeded to trade blows, little to separate them, and something had to give. Timko opened up a lead heading into the final break when he raised the river versus Klabisch, and in the first hand back, Klabisch's luck ran out when he jammed from the button with an ace but could not overcome Timko's pocket pair.

Timko came into heads-up play with a substantial lead of almost 5:1, but Schuh prolonged the contest by flopping top pair when behind versus Timko's ace.

The pair battled on, and Schuh almost drew back to level when he got paid on the river with two pair. However, in the very next hand, all the chips ended up in the middle, Schuh holding ace-king and Timko a low pocket pair, and despite Schuh's pleas to the dealer, the pair held to give Timko the title.

The Czech natives shared a warm embrace, Schuh congratulating Timko on his achievement, and Timko was left to collect his first piece of WSOP hardware.

Lukas Timko - Michal Schuh

That concludes PokerNews coverage of this event, but be sure to check out our coverage of the WSOPE Main Event, and our ongoing coverage of tournaments around the world.
Wyatt Barczak is a News Clerk for The Post and Courier. He graduated from the College of Charleston. He contributes to The Post and Courier's arts and entertainment section, Charleston Scene.
Robert Boessenecker, with the Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences at the College of Charleston, lays out the teeth of a Coronodon planifrons, a toothed baleen whale, in Charleston on April 26, 2023. He was charged with stealing thousands of dollars of rare fossils in March 2024. Grace Beahm Alford/Staff
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!
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NYONL members are now eligible for reduced tuition toward an ACE nursing programINDIANAPOLIS, IN / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 2025 / American College of Education (ACE) recently established a partnership with the New York Organization for Nursing Leadership (NYONL), an affiliate of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership. The collaboration makes NYONL members eligible for reduced tuition toward an ACE nursing program, furthering both organizations' missions to equip nursing leaders.ACE is committed to offering accessible education that aids industries facing critical staff shortages, like nursing. The college offers fully online nursing programs at industry-low tuition rates that equip registered nurses (RNs) with the advanced skills, knowledge and technology needed to advance into leadership and educator roles.Programs include an RN to BSN, RN to MSN, BSN to MSN, Ed.S. in Nursing Education and Ed.D. in Nursing Education, along with the nation's first and only travel nursing certificate."Partnering with NYONL enhances the widespread influence of accessible nursing education," ACE President and CEO Geordie Hyland said. "Once the pandemic hit, higher education saw a rising need for online nursing programs, and we're proud to offer our healthcare heroes the flexibility they deserve. We also ensure they're effectively equipped with evidence-based, innovative and quality learning they can apply immediately to their daily practices." NYONL members include nurse leaders at all levels in practice and academia, including aspiring, retired and student leaders, and affiliate members - all committed to the organization's mission of advancing the practice of nursing and ensuring access to care for all New Yorkers."We're thrilled to offer our members access to affordable, career-oriented education," NYONL President Robert Church, RN, MS, MBA, NE-BC, FACHE, Chief Nursing Officer and Senior Vice President, SBH Health System, St. Barnabas Hospital. "It's great to partner with an institution of higher learning that values the daily efforts of our members by ensuring they have opportunities for career advancement. We look forward to the future impact of our collaboration and how New York's nurse leaders will shape the future of healthcare in New York and beyond!"Explore the nursing programs offered at ACEandlearn more about their partnership with NYONLAbout American College of EducationAmerican College of Education (ACE) is an accredited, fully online private college specializing in high-quality, affordable programs in education, business, healthcare and nursing. Headquartered in Indianapolis, ACE offers more than 60 innovative and engaging programs for adult students to pursue a doctorate, specialist, master's or bachelor's degree, along with graduate-level certificate programs.About the NYONLThe New York Organization for Nursing Leadership (NYONL) represents over 600 nurse leaders across New York State, united in advancing nursing leadership and shaping the future of healthcare. Through education, advocacy, and strategic partnerships, NYONL promotes evidence-based leadership and works to strengthen the nursing workforce, eliminate health disparities, and influence healthcare policy. Learn more at https://nyonl.nursingnetwork.com Contact InformationMadeleine MoenchCustomer Experience Strategistmadeleinem@ accessnewswire.com
Paris, France (PANA) - Africa should not inherit artificial intelligence (AI) designed elsewhere, believes UNESCO, which wants to help develop AI for, and by, the African continent
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- NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES -VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 2025 / Alaska Energy Metals Corporation (TSXV:AEMC)(OTCQB:AKEMF) ("AEMC" or the "Company") announces that, further to a price protection filed with the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") on October 6, 2025, it will proceed with a non-brokered private placement of up to 11,764,706 units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.085 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000.Each Unit to be issued under the Offering will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Share") and one Share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one additional share (a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.085 per Warrant Share for a period of 60 months from the closing date of the Offering.The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to fund the exploration programs on its mineral properties and other general and working capital purposes.The Company may pay finder's fees to eligible arm's length finders in accordance with the policies of the TSXV.All securities issued in connection with the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day following the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The Offering is not subject to a minimum aggregate amount of subscriptions. Closing of the Offering and the issuance of the Units are subject to a number of conditions, including, without limitation, receipt of all regulatory approvals.Debt SettlementThe Company also announces that it has entered into shares for debt agreements to settle debts totaling $599,408.70 with companies and individuals that have supplied services to the Company. The Company will issue a total of 5,994,087 common shares (the "Settlement Shares") at a deemed price of $0.10 per Settlement Share following receipt of acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange to the debt settlement agreements. Of the amount being settled, 191,670 Settlement Shares will be issued to Non-Arm's Length Parties (as that term is defined in TSXV Policy 1.1) to settle $19,167 in debt.Alaska Energy Metals President and CEO Gregory Beischer commented: "AEMC is sharply focused on advancing the Nikolai multi-critical mineral project in order to timely meet the supply chain needs of the US domestic economy and national defense. This focus includes seeking strategic partners and working to secure grant funding through the US Department of War. We are thankful to the service suppliers that are willing to take an equity stake and help the Company conserve its cash resources." The Settlement Shares will be issued subject to prospectus exemptions available pursuant to Canadian securities law and will be subject to a four-month hold period.The shares for debt transactions were approved by the Company's Board of Directors, and did not require a formal valuation nor minority shareholder approval pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101.For additional information, visit: https://alaskaenergymetals.com/ ABOUT ALASKA ENERGY METALSAlaska Energy Metals Corporation (AEMC) is an Alaska-based corporation with offices in Anchorage and Vancouver working to sustainably deliver the critical materials needed for national security and a bright energy future, while generating superior returns for shareholders.AEMC is focused on delineating and developing the large-scale, bulk tonnage, polymetallic Nikolai Project Eureka deposit containing nickel, copper, cobalt, chromium, iron, platinum, palladium, and gold. Located in Interior Alaska near existing transportation and power infrastructure, its flagship project, Nikolai, is well-situated to become a significant domestic source of strategic metals for North America. AEMC also holds a secondary project in western Quebec; the Angliers - Belleterre project. Today, material sourcing demands excellence in environmental performance, technological innovation, carbon mitigation and the responsible management of human and financial capital. AEMC works every day to earn and maintain the respect and confidence of the public and believes that ESG performance is measured by action and led from the top.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD"Gregory Beischer" Gregory Beischer, President & CEOFOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:Gregory A. Beischer, President & CEOToll-Free: 877-217-8978 | Local: 604-609-7149Some statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation), including, without limitation statements relating to the Company's business plans and expected future growth, the closing of the Offering and the anticipated use of proceeds of the Offering. These statements address future events and conditions and, as such, involve 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 statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date those statements are made. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements do not guarantee 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 but are not limited to uncertainty relating to the estimation of mineral resources, regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or to publicly announce the results of any change to any forward-looking statement contained or incorporated by reference herein to reflect actual results, future events or developments, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors affecting the forward-looking statements. If the Company updates any forward-looking statement(s), no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.Neither the TSX Vent
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NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATESAll dollar figures are in US dollars unless otherwise indicated. Canadian dollar amounts converted into US dollars based on the October 6, 2025 Bank of Canada Daily Exchange Rate of 1.3955.VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / October 7, 2025 / Carcetti Capital Corp. ("Carcetti" or the "Company") (TSXV:CART) is pleased to announce that it has further upsized its previously announced bought deal private placement of subscription receipts of the Company (the "Brokered Offering") and closed the Brokered Offering and concurrent non-brokered private placement of subscription receipts of the Company (the "Non-Brokered Offering"). Further, the Company announces its Reactivation (as such term is defined in TSXV Policy 2.6 - Reactivation of NEX Companies) from NEX Board to the main board of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") as a Tier 1 mining issuer.As disclosed in the Company's news releases dated September 10, 2025 and October 1, 2025 (the "Previous News Releases"), the Company has entered into a definitive agreement (the "Transaction Agreement") to acquire a 100% interest in the Hemlo Gold Mine ("Hemlo") in Ontario, Canada from wholly-owned subsidiaries of Barrick Mining Corporation ("Barrick") for $875 million in cash and 34.6 million common shares of the Company (each, a "Share") payable at closing, plus up to $165 million in additional contingent cash payments tied to gold price thresholds (the "Transaction").Private PlacementsPursuant to the Brokered Offering, the Company issued 339,268,500 subscription receipts of the Company (the "Brokered Subscription Receipts")at a price of C$2.00 ("Brokered Issue Price") per Brokered Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of C$678,537,000 ($486,232,174). The syndicate of underwriters under the Brokered Offering was led by Scotiabank, as lead underwriter and sole bookrunner, and included BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc., Canaccord Genuity Corp., CIBC World Markets Inc., National Bank Financial Inc., Stifel Nicolaus Canada Inc. and Agentis Capital Markets (collectively, the "Underwriters").Pursuant to the Non-Brokered Offering, the Company issued 38,725,330 subscription receipts of the Company (the "Non-Brokered Subscription Receipts") having substantially the same terms as the Brokered Subscription Receipts (together with the Brokered Subscription Receipts, the "Subscription Receipts") at a price of C$2.00 / $1.441 ("Non-Brokered Issue Price") per Non-Brokered Subscription Receipt for gross proceeds of C$77,819,325 ($55,764,475).Each Subscription Receipt will entitle the holder to receive, without payment of additional consideration and without further action, one Share (a "Subscription Receipt Share"), subject to customary adjustment provisions, upon the satisfaction or waiver of certain release conditions, including the satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to the completion of the Transaction substantially in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Agreement, other than the payment of the purchase price (the "Release Conditions").The Subscription Receipts and the Subscription Receipt Shares will be subject to a four month and one day hold period pursuant to Canadian securities laws.In consideration of the Underwriters' services rendered in connection with the Brokered Offering, the Underwriters are entitled to a cash commission of C$26,074,100 ($18,684,414) (the "Underwriters' Fee"). In connection with the sale of 2,524,600 Subscription Receipts under the Non-Brokered Offering, the Company will pay Sprott Global Resource Investments, Ltd. an aggregate finder's fee equal to approximately $145,000.The gross proceeds from the sale of the Subscription Receipts, less (i) 50% of the Underwriters' Fee; and (ii) the Underwriters' reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and the reasonable fees, taxes and disbursements of the Underwriters' legal counsel in respect of the Brokered Offering, were deposited and are held in escrow by Odyssey Trust Company, as subscription receipt agent (the "Subscription Receipt Agent"), pending the satisfaction or waiver of the Release Conditions. If (i) closing of the Transaction does not occur on or before 5:00 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date that is six months from the date of the Transaction Agreement (the "Acquisition Outside Time") and, as applicable pursuant to the applicable subscription receipt agreement, the Transaction Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms; or (ii) the Transaction Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms for any reason prior to the Acquisition Outside Time (each, a "Termination Event"), then an amount per Subscription Receipt equal to the Brokered Issue Price or the Non-Brokered Issue Price, as applicable, plus a pro rata share of any earned interest, calculated from the closing to the time of a Termination Event, net of any applicable withholding taxes, will be returned to the holders of the Subscription Receipts, and the Subscription Receipts will be cancelled.Provided that the Release Conditions are met prior to a Termination Event, the Subscription Receipt Agent will release the remaining 50% of the deposited Underwriters' Fee together with all interest earned thereon to the Underwriters, and the balance of the escrowed funds shall be released to the Company (or as directed by the Company).The Company will use a portion of the proceeds from the Brokered Offering and the Non-Brokered Offering to fund a portion of the $875 million upfront cash payment to Barrick. The remaining net proceeds will be used by the Company for working capital purposes upon closing of the Transaction. For more information regarding the Company's financing of the Transaction, see the Previous News Releases.In connection with the Transaction and as previously disclosed, the Company has entered into an amalgamation agreement with a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company to amalgamate (the "Amalgamation") under section 181 of the Canada Business Corporations Act. Pursuant to the Amalgamation, the Company expects it will consolidate its Shares on the basis of two-thirds (2/3) of a new Share of the Company (each, an "HMC Share") for every one pre-consolidation Share and will change its name to Hemlo Mining Corp. ("HMC"). For more information regarding the Amalgamation, see the Previous News Releases. Upon completion of the Amalgamation, the HMC Shares will not be subject to a hold period under Canadian securities laws.Certain "related parties" (as defined in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions
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Organizations to hold series of Resource Rally and Backpack-N-Go eventsOKLAHOMA CITY, OK / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 2025 / Feed the ChildrenandTPin the U.S., a digital business services leader, continue their partnership with a series of Feed the Children Resource Rallies and Backpack-N-Go events providing children and their families with food, essentials, and school supplies across the country this year.TP in the U.S. and Feed the Children have planned multiple events with local partners to help provide families with food and essentials to address the increasing food insecurity many communities are experiencing throughout the U.S. as well as help offset the cost of school supplies this Fall back-to-school season."For 17 years, our partnership with Feed the Children has been a powerful example of TP USA's commitment to uplifting communities where our team members live and work," said Scott Barli, CEO of TP in the U.S.. "This success wouldn't be possible without the dedication of our incredible employees. They've been instrumental in supporting Feed the Children's mission, ensuring students and families receive the vital resources they need. It's a true testament to the power of teamwork in making a positive impact." The organizations held a Resource Rally in North Lauderdale, Fla. over the summer and are partnering for two more this Fall. In total the organizations will serve 1,200 families across the country this year. At each of these events, local families receive a 25-pound box of shelf-stable food, a 15-pound box of hygiene essentials and additional items.Upcoming Resource Rallies will be held in:Brownsville, Texas Oct. 15El Paso, Texas Nov. 6Additionally, throughout this summer volunteers distributed backpacks filled with school supplies, personal care items, and a prepackaged meal. TP volunteers and Feed the Children put together more than 860 backpacks to help support students start the new school year with the classroom supplies needed to succeed. Backpacks were distributed to schools in six communities where TP operates including:El Paso, Texas - Mission Valley ElementaryBrownsville, Texas - Egly ElementaryPort St. Lucie, Fla. - Village Green ElementaryNorth Lauderdale, Fla. - Morrow ElementaryColumbia, S.C. - Sandel ElementaryMcAllen, Texas - Aida C. Escobar ElementaryAs school supply costs rise, Feed the Children's Backpack-N-Go program helps caretakers save on back-to-school expenses and prepares students to start the new year confidently, with the materials they need to learn and grow in the classroom. Each backpack will provide a child with a variety of supplies such as notebooks, folders, glue sticks, crayons, pens and pencils. They will also include daily essentials and personal hygiene items.Throughout the academic year, children who rely on school-provided meals may encounter hunger during weekends and school holidays, similar to the challenges they experience over the summer break. Through the Backpack-N-Go program, students are provided with both food and essential items to take home during these periods away from school. Each backpack contains a complete, easy-to-prepare meal that includes a protein-based main course, a grain, a vegetable, and a fruit.Feed the Children believes it takes everyone - the nonprofit sector, corporations, community organizations, government officials and food suppliers - to come together to end childhood hunger."Our partnership with TP brings meaningful support to communities across the country. Working together to provide food, backpacks, and quality of life essentials, we can make a difference in the lives of more children and their families," said Emily Callahan, president and CEO of Feed the Children. "We are grateful for the compassionate support of our partners who stand united in our vision to create a world where no child goes to bed hunger." Feed the Children encourages everyone to join its global movement to end childhood hunger. Supporters can donate atfeedthechildren.orgto address global hunger and help children survive, grow, and thrive in communities in the U.S. and around the world.###About TP in the U.S.TP in the U.S. is part of theTeleperformance Group , which consistently seeks to blend the best of advanced technology with human empathy to deliver enhanced customer care that is simpler, faster, and safer for the world's biggest brands and their customers. The company's comprehensive, AI-powered service portfolio ranges from front-office customer care to back-office functions, including Trust and Safety services that help defend both online users and brand reputation. TP also offers a range of specialized services such as collections, interpreting and localization, visa and consular services, and recruitment process outsourcing services. Backed by the Teleperformance Group's nearly 500,000 inspired and passionate team members globally who currently speak more than 300 languages, TP in the U.S. has a global scale and local presence which allows it to be a force of good in supporting communities, clients, and the environment.Visit the group at www.tp.com About Feed the ChildrenFeed the Children is a global movement committed to ending childhood hunger. The organization believes that no child should go to bed hungry, and so it provides children and families in the U.S. and around the world with the food and essentials kids need to grow and thrive. Through its programs and partnerships, the organization feeds children today while helping their families and communities build resilient futures. In addition to food, Feed the Children distributes household and personal care items across the United States to help parents and caregivers maintain stable, food-secure households. Internationally, it expands access to nutritious meals, safe water, improved hygiene, and training in sustainable living. As responsible stewards of its resources, Feed the Children is driven to pursue innovative, holistic, and child-focused solutions to the complex challenges of hunger, food insecurity, and poverty.For children everywhere, the organization believes that having enough to eat is a fundamental right. Learn how you can help create a world without childhood hunger atfeedthechildren.org For more information:Richard Presser - 405-247-0345 Richard.Presser@feedthechildren.org SOURCE: Feed the Children
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Record-Breaking Q3 Funding Volume, Surging Year-Over-Year Growth, and the Sixth Consecutive Quarter of Expansion Highlight Fortun's MomentumMIAMI, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 2025 / Luminar Media Group, Inc. (OTCID:LRGR), together with its subsidiaries Fortun Advance, LLC; Fortun Funding, LLC; Fortun Online, LLC and related affiliates (collectively, "Fortun"), today announced preliminary third-quarter 2025 results reflecting the Company's sixth consecutive quarter of growth, led by a record-setting September that delivered record-breaking funding and a new quarterly funding record - the highest quarterly funding volume in the Company's history.Record Monthly Funding VolumeSeptember 2025 closed the quarter with a surge of momentum, marking the single largest funding month in the Company's history. Fortun originated $1,295,600 in small business funding during the month - surpassing every prior monthly total since inception and capping off an extraordinary Q3. This historic performance not only powered Fortun's sixth consecutive quarter of growth but also reinforced the Company's accelerating trajectory and strong positioning as it enters Q4 with record-breaking momentum.Q3 2025 HighlightsFortun delivered record-breaking results across every key performance metric, setting new highs in receivables, assets, total bank deposits, overall funding volume, and the number of funded deals. During the third quarter of 2025, the Company funded $3,353,100, surpassing even its massive Q2 performance and marking the highest quarterly funding volume in Fortun's history. This milestone reflects the Company's accelerating growth, expanding market presence, and unwavering execution across its revenue-based financing platform.Quarter-over-Quarter and Year-over-Year StrengthFortun's growth trajectory continues to accelerate at an exceptional pace. To put the results in perspective, on a year-over-year basis, Q3 2025 funding of $3,353,100 represents a 175% increase and nearly triple the $1,220,000 funded in Q3 2024. The Company's entire 2024 funding volume totaled $3,169,800, while in just the last two quarters of 2025, Fortun has delivered $6,585,698 in new funding - more than double last year's total in half the time. This exponential growth underscores Fortun's operational strength, disciplined underwriting, and data-driven scaling strategy as the Company continues to build upon its powerful track record of performance.Executive Commentary"When we reported Q2, the most common question we were asked was whether we could deliver these types of numbers consistently. Our back-to-back quarters exceeding $3 million - and a record-breaking Q3 surpassing Q2 in total funding - show that Q2's performance was not a fluke, but the new reality of our Company," said Yoel Damas, President of Luminar Media Group.Juan Sese, the Company's VP of Finance, added, "With last month being our biggest month ever, and as Fortun continues to develop, strengthen its systems, and expand its reach, we are poised to deliver further growth and set even higher standards for performance heading into Q4 and beyond. Ending this quarter with a record-breaking month is a testament to that." Next StepsThe Company expects to file its official Q3 2025 financial disclosures no later than November 14, 2025, following customary review and confirmation by its accounting team.About Luminar Media Group, Inc.Luminar Media Group, Inc. (OTC:LRGR), through its subsidiaries operating under the Fortun brand (Fortun Advance, LLC; Fortun Funding, LLC; Fortun Online, LLC and affiliates), provides revenue-based financing solutions primarily to small and medium-sized businesses across the United States. The Company's mission is to empower underserved entrepreneurs - particularly within Latino and minority business communities - by offering accessible, transparent, and data-driven capital alternatives. Fortun's technology-enabled platform evaluates ACH activity, sales data, and other financial indicators to deliver rapid funding decisions and support sustainable growth.For more information: www.fortunco.com Investor Relations ContactRobert Rico305-283-9237 Robert@ FortunCo.com Safe Harbor StatementThis press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on current expectations, estimates, and projections about the industry and markets in which the Company operates, management's beliefs, and certain assumptions made by the Company. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, changes in economic conditions, demand for the Company's products and services, competition, regulatory changes, and other risks described from time to time in the Company's filings and public disclosures. Preliminary financial and operating metrics referenced herein are unaudited and subject to customary review and final accountant confirmation. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.SOURCE: Luminar Media Group, Inc.
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Snap, Inc. ("Snap" or the "Company") (NYSE:SNAP). 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 Snap and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.You have until October 20, 2025 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Snap 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 August 5, 2025, Snap announced its financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, disclosing a deceleration in advertising revenue growth. The Company attributed the slowdown to "an issue related to our ad platform, the timing of Ramadan, and the effects of the de minimis changes." On this news, Snap's stock price fell $1.61 per share, or 17.15%, to close at $7.78 per share on August 6, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 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
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 2025 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Dow Inc. ("Dow" or the "Company") (NYSE:DOW) and certain officers. The class action, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Northern Division, and docketed under 25-cv-12744, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities other than Defendants that purchased or otherwise acquired Dow securities between January 30, 2025 and July 23, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.If you are an investor who purchased or otherwise acquired Dow securities during the Class Period, you have until October 28, 2025, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com . To discuss this action, contact Danielle Peyton at newaction@ pomlaw.com or 646-581-9980 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.[Click here for information about joining the class action]Dow is an American materials science company, serving customers in the packaging, infrastructure, mobility, and consumer applications industries. Dow conducts its worldwide operations through six global businesses organized into three operating segments: (i) Packaging & Specialty Plastics, (ii) Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure, and (iii) Performance Materials & Coatings.Historically, Dow has touted its "industry-leading dividend," which is of particular importance to investors. On conference calls with investors and analysts, Dow's Chief Executive Officer, Defendant Jim Fitterling ("Fitterling"), has variously stated that the Company's "dividend is a key element of our investment thesis," and that "north of 65% of our owners count on that dividend." Notwithstanding an ongoing slump in the materials science industry, as well as the recent onset of tariff-related market uncertainties, at all relevant times, Defendants represented that Dow was well positioned to weather macroeconomic and tariff-related headwinds while maintaining sufficient levels of financial flexibility to support the Company's lucrative dividend. Specifically, Defendants cited various purported strengths and advantages unique to Dow in its industry, including, inter alia, the Company's purported "differentiated portfolio," "cost-advantaged footprint," and "industry-leading flexibility to navigate global trade dynamics." Throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding Dow's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Dow's ability to mitigate macroeconomic and tariff-related headwinds, as well as to maintain the financial flexibility needed to support its lucrative dividend, was overstated; (ii) the true scope and severity of the foregoing headwinds' negative impacts on Dow's business and financial condition was understated, particularly with respect to competitive and pricing pressures, softening global sales and demand for the Company's products, and an oversupply of products in the Company's global markets; and (iii) as a result, Defendants' public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.On June 23, 2025, BMO Capital downgraded its recommendation on Dow to "Underperform" from "Market Perform" while also cutting its price target on the Company's stock to $22.00 per share from $29.00 per share, citing sustained weakness across key end markets and mounting pressure on the Company's dividend.On this news, Dow's stock price fell $0.89 per share, or 3.21%, to close at $26.87 per share on June 23, 2025.Then, on July 24, 2025, Dow issued a press release reporting its financial results for the second quarter of 2025. Therein, Dow reported a non-GAAPloss per share of $0.42, significantly larger than the approximate $0.17 to $0.18 per share loss expected by analysts. Dow also reported net sales of $10.1 billion, representing a 7.3% year-over-year decline and missing consensus estimates by $130 million, "reflecting declines in all operating segments." The Company further reported, inter alia, that "[s]equentially, net sales were down 3%, as seasonally higher demand in Performance Materials & Coatings was more than offset by declines across the other operating segments." Defendant Fitterling blamed these disappointing results on "the lower-for-longer earnings environment that our industry is facing, amplified by recent trade and tariff uncertainties," while providing a dour outlook marked by "signs of oversupply from newer market entrants who are exporting to various regions at anti-competitive economics." In a separate press release issued the same day, Dow revealed that it was cutting its dividend in half, from $0.70 per share to only $0.35 per share, citing the need for "financial flexibility amidst a persistently challenging macroeconomic environment." Following these disclosures, Dow's stock price fell $5.30 per share, or 17.45%, to close at $25.07 per share on July 24, 2025.Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / October 7, 2025 /WHY: New York, N.Y., October 7, 2025. Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential breaches of fiduciary duties by the directors and officers of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE:EW).SO WHAT: If you currently own shares of Edwards stock, please visit the firm's website at https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=29704for more information. You may also contact Phillip Kim of Rosen Law Firm toll free at 866-767-3653 or via email at case@ rosenlegal.com WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this press release please contact the company added in the press release. Please do not contact pr-inside. We will not be able to assist you. PR-inside disclaims the content included in this release.
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Top Four Conveyor Car Wash Company Celebrates Major Growth MilestoneTHOMASTON, GA / ACCESS Newswire / October 8, 2025 / Tidal Wave Auto Spa, one of the fastest-growing express car wash companies in the country, has officially surpassed its 300-location milestone, marking a significant achievement in the company's growth. This week, the company's 300th location opened inColumbia, South Carolina , followed closely by the 301st opening inBrandon, Florida . Official Tidal Wave Logo Navy blue oval logo with 3 blue shades of waves and Tidal Wave Auto Spa.The newColumbiawash is Tidal Wave's third location in the Columbia, South Carolina metro area, offering customers another convenient spot to enjoy premium car care powered by industry-leading technology and friendly service. Meanwhile, thenew Brandon locationexpands Tidal Wave's growing presence in Florida's Tampa-St. Petersburg metro area, enhancing convenience for customers and reinforcing the company's commitment to expansion within the area."Reaching 300 locations is a proud moment for our entire organization," said Scott Blackstock, founder and CEO of Tidal Wave Auto Spa. "It's a reflection of the hard work and commitment of our team, and the loyalty of our customers. We look forward to carrying this momentum through the end of the year as we continue to open new locations across our footprint and strengthen our presence in both new and existing markets." To celebrate the grand openings, the newColumbiaandBrandonlocations will offer eight days of free premium car washes from October 8 to October 15. This limited-time promotion allows the community to experience the company's premium wash option,Graph-X4 , at no cost. Additionally, any new customer who joins a Tidal WaveClean Clubunlimited wash membership during Grand Opening week will enjoy their first month of unlimited washes for only $9.97 - saving up to $40.Columbia, SC Location : 3956 Fernandina Road, Columbia, SC 29210Nearby Locations:Columbia - Killian ,Columbia - Forum DriveBrandon, FL Location : 423 W Brandon Blvd, Brandon, FL 33511Nearby Locations:Lutz - Sun Vista Drive ,Lutz - Atmore Grove Drive ,St. Petersburg ,OldsmarEach new site showcases the company's signature approach - delivering an exceptional wash experience through advanced car care technology, clean and attractive facilities, and top-tier customer service. Beyond growth, Tidal Wave remains dedicated to its community impact initiatives. Through its annual Charity Dayevent and year-round fundraising program , the company has raised more than $7 million for local nonprofits, schools, and service organizations nationwide.For additional information about Tidal Wave Auto Spa, including locations and unlimited wash membership options, please visit: https://www.tidalwaveautospa.com/ About Tidal Wave Auto SpaTidal Wave Auto Spa was founded over 20 years ago in Thomaston, GA, by husband and wife, Scott and Hope Blackstock. What started as a small-town self-service car wash business evolved into the first conveyor car wash open in Georgia and is now the fourth-largest conveyor car wash company in the nation, with 301 locations spanning 30 states. Tidal Wave is dedicated to delivering an exceptional car wash experience for every customer through industry-leading car care technology, clean and inviting locations, and outstanding customer service. The company is equally committed to making a positive difference in the communities it serves, raising over $7 million for local programs, service organizations, and non-profit organizations through its fundraising program and annual Charity Day event.Contact InformationHeather ColemanMarketing Managermedia@ tidalwaveautospa.com Andrea TraylorSenior Director of Digital Marketingandrea.traylor@tidalwaveautospa.com 2058212220SOURCE: Tidal Wave Auto Spa
For years, many Nigerians have depended on word-of-mouth recommendations or social media referrals to find artisans and professionals, often with disappointing results.

This gave rise to HAGO Africa, a digital service marketplace designed to help customers find trusted service providers, from everyday artisans to top-tier professionals.

Samuel Imoisili, Founder and CEO of HAGO Africa, spoke at a media briefing on Tuesday. He said that the new mobile app connects users to verified local service providers for everything from fixing a leaking tap to finding a last-minute makeup artist.

According to him, the aim is to make everyday service delivery more convenient, transparent, and trustworthy.

He said: We want to change that by creating a digital space where customers and vendors can interact safely, backed by verification and accountability tools. At its core, HAGO is about restoring trust. Customers have struggled with unreliable vendors for years, while skilled professionals have struggled to prove their credibility. HAGO changes that by making every connection transparent, secure, and built on accountability.

READ ALSO: Katsina to host 4th ISN Annual Gathering as Radda deepens digital drive

Transparency, trust

The platform lists various categories, including artisans, chefs, decorators, photographers, therapists, and designers, with plans to expand across Nigeria and into other African countries.

Weve all had those frustrating experiences where you hire someone who doesnt show up or delivers poorly. We wanted to fix that by making every connection transparent and secure.

Through the app, available on iOS and Google Play Store, users can search for service providers within their city, chat with them directly, and make payments safely using an escrow system that ensures jobs are completed before funds are released.

On the other hand, vendors benefit from increased visibility and tools that help them build professionalism, from transparent pricing to prompt communication.
Veteran actor Babatunde Baba Fokoko Bamgbode has countered allegations made by his colleague that the President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Musiliu MC Oluomo Akinsanya, betrayed and abandoned them after they campaigned for President Bola Tinubu in the build-up to the 2023 presidential election.

In June, PREMIUM TIMES reported that Fatai Lalude Adetayo accused MC Oluomo of failing to fulfil his promises, including a payment of N1.5 million, despite their tireless efforts campaigning for Mr Tinubu and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for over a month and three weeks.

Laludes remarks came after some of their colleagues, including Ronke Oshodi-Oke and Ganiu Alapini Nafiu, both of whom also supported the President, expressed regret over their involvement in the campaign.

However, in a viral video on Wednesday, from an interview on Oyinmomo TV, Baba Fokoko dismissed Laludes allegations.

Promise fulfilled

He insisted that MC Oluomo generously rewarded everyone involved in the campaign and never made any unfulfilled promises.

He said, Till we finished, he brought food for us to share, and the remainder was given to us, and we went home. He didnt tell me and others that this is what well get after the whole process, but he had it in mind to do us well. He didnt promise to give anyone anything (money or others). After we left, he called us for a meeting and gave us something, a huge amount of money. Each of us smiled home. No one can deny that.

Its left to those who came out, and I believe we have some people who will say the same thing I have said. Thats left to them and God. Maybe he promised them or not, but he didnt call me Baba Fokoko; he would give me money after we were done, but he had it in mind to do us well. Were all humans, and I didnt want to talk much. If the government called us and informed us, and he didnt do it, then we can say he promised us. Thats what happened, and God is my witness.

Weed and wheat

Furthermore, Baba Fokoko stated that after MC Oluomo invited and lodged them for campaign purposes, he clearly explained his intentions to everyone.

He added that MC Oluomo kept his word and ensured they were paid daily upon returning from the campaign.

Though I dont want to say much concerning this matter, so itll not be like theyre the ones going against one another, theres no way we wont have weed and wheat, even the Bible says they should grow together. If you need to, youll separate them. Thats what happened.

Later, they wanted to spoil the system of giving money, so he stepped in himself and made an amendment. Some of us wanted to scatter it, but he wasnt aware. Because he just sent money. When he saw it was about to bring issues, he stepped in and resolved it, Baba Fokoko added.

Additionally, the actor described MC Oluomo as a kind and generous individual who ensures that no one around him goes hungry.

He said, MC Oluomo is my helper and wants me to live in Lagos because he loves an elderly person whos intelligent. He knows that hell learn from him if this person is with him. Secondly, he loves actors. I have access to him; he calls and checks up on me. So if I visit him in Lagos and dare tell him I want to leave, he wont hear anything again. He wants me to keep staying with him.

So I go to visit and we leave each other in peace. In fact, I visited Mecca through him in 2008. He loves a devoted person in religion, not just by mouth but in dealings and character. Since I have known him, he has never wanted people around him to suffer, even before he made it big. It has been giving long before he became known. Its only those who didnt know him would say otherwise.
The Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAPHARM) has identified poor infrastructure, weak financing, and policy gaps as major factors hindering pharmaceutical innovation and industry growth in the country.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday to unveil activities for the Academys 11th anniversary and 2025 investiture, the Vice President 2 of the Academy, Ahmed Yakasai, said Nigerias pharmaceutical sector cannot thrive without deliberate investment in innovation, infrastructure, and policy reform.

The events, scheduled to hold from 15 to 16 October at the Old Great Hall, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba, will feature a public lecture themed Pharmaceutical Innovation as a Catalyst for National Development.

Infrastructure, policy challenges

Mr Yakasai, who is also the former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), stated that many Nigerian pharmaceutical companies struggle to meet international standards due to inadequate infrastructure.

The pharmacist noted that regulatory bodies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) require strict compliance before companies can participate in the global market, but most local firms lack the needed facilities.

He also drew attention to the continued importation of essential raw materials such as sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) and expanded polystyrene (EPS) from China and India, which he described as a sign of Nigerias infrastructural weaknesses.

The pharmaceutical sector cannot thrive on import dependence, he said. We must build facilities that meet international benchmarks and encourage mergers so that our local companies can grow strong enough to compete.

Mr Yakasai stressed that innovation requires significant capital investment, which is often beyond the capacity of indigenous firms. He recalled how a colleague was asked to provide N100 billion to build a pharmaceutical innovation facility, an amount he said was unrealistic for most local businesses.

He further criticised the governments procurement policies that favour imported drugs despite the availability of quality local alternatives.

Government must prioritise local manufacturers in its purchasing decisions if we are to strengthen production and safeguard our medicine security, he said.

Financing, economic opportunity

Mr Yakasai further noted that pharmaceutical innovation and local drug production could become major drivers of Nigerias economic growth and job creation if adequately supported.

In his comments, the Director of Programmes at the Academy, Lolo Ojo, observed that the pharmaceutical industry can be a key contributor to GDP.

One global company alone recorded a turnover of $59 billion last year, more than Nigerias national budget. With the right investment in local production and research, we can unlock similar potential, Mr Ojo said.

The Academy also called for urgent investment in the local production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) to reduce the countrys dependence on imports.

Mr Yakasai argued that Nigeria, despite being an oil-producing country, still imports basic raw materials needed to manufacture drugs.

If we can establish API production through our petrochemical industries, we will move closer to true medicine security, he said.

NAPHARMs push for innovation

Mr Yakasai announced that the Academy is setting up a Research and Innovation Centre to drive indigenous pharmaceutical research, mentorship, and policy engagement.

He explained that the initiative forms part of the Academys 20252035 strategic blueprint, which focuses on advocacy, research, professional excellence, and public health impact.

As Nigeria pursues self-reliance in healthcare and a diversified, knowledge-driven economy, the pharmaceutical profession must stand at the heart of that transformation, he said.

The Academys upcoming two-day event will also feature the induction of 14 new Fellows, four Lifetime Achievement Awards, and six Honorary Fellows.

Part of this years activities will include a Valedictory Session in honour of the late pharmacist, Oludolapo Akinkugbe, one of Nigerias most respected pharmacists and a founding father of the profession.

Mr Yakasai described him as a visionary who healed through leadership and left behind a legacy of integrity and service.

He added that the Academy remains committed to preserving such legacies while inspiring the next generation of pharmacists through mentorship and recognition.

Mr Yakasai reiterated that NAPHARM has continued to advocate the inclusion of pharmacists in primary healthcare delivery, better remuneration, and clearer career progression pathways.

He also called for stronger collaboration among regulators, academia, and the media to enhance pharmacovigilance, combat antimicrobial resistance, and promote the responsible use of medicines.
Sudans third civil war, which began in April 2023 between the rebel Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces, has reignited the illicit cross-border trade in vehicles. At the onset of the conflict, significant looting occurred in Khartoum and other major cities, primarily perpetrated by RSF members.

Looters frequently targeted the residences of people who fled Khartoum, Wad Madani and other places in Sudan, mostly seizing gold jewellery and vehicles. Specific values on car looting are hard to come by, but the price of property and goods plundered from mid-April to mid-July 2023 was estimated at $40 billion.

Although Sudan has now become a source of stolen vehicles, car theft and cross-border smuggling in the Chad-Sudan border region is not new. In the 2010s, Sudanese border markets became centres for cars stolen by Seleka fighters from the Central African Republic and various armed factions from Libya. The pre-owned vehicles were transported into Sudan through Darfur and the Northern State.

Porous borders and limited law enforcement capabilities enable the criminal economy, a senior police officer in Chad told the ENACT organised crime project at the Institute for Security Studies. As the Sudan war rages on, it has fostered a burgeoning illegal economy that involves traffickers selling stolen vehicles to buyers in Chad for much less than their original value.

The cross-border smuggling has stoked resentment among some displaced Sudanese living in Chad, who believe Chadians are capitalising on their countrys misfortune.

Chad-Sudan cross-border area

While numerous actors are involved in this criminal enterprise  including smugglers, intermediaries, garage proprietors and other profiteers  RSF members have emerged as key players. Each time the RSF occupies a new location, looting occurs, with vehicles among the primary spoils of war. The stolen cars are transported to the border with Chad, where they are sold by RSF members.

A judge from Abeche in the Chadian province of Ouaddai told ENACT that criminals disguised stolen vehicles and used counterfeit licence plates to facilitate their passage across the Chadian border.

This often occurs late at night when security checkpoints are either not operating or enforcement is less rigorous. Different criminal groups manage the transportation of the stolen vehicles into the interior, the judge said.

The theft and smuggling of cars not only exacerbate transnational crime, but also intersect with conflict, political instability and economic opportunism in the region. Looting often involves violence, including assaults on defenceless civilians in impoverished and wealthier regions to steal valuable assets like vehicles.

Civilians in these communities in Sudan have been arming themselves and mobilising to resist the rebel groups and carry out revenge attacks.

This development suggests an intensifying cycle of violence, and increases the likelihood of extended conflict. The surge of stolen vehicles into Chad is also disrupting local markets and eroding legitimate automobile trading.

While the pursuit of peace remains elusive in Sudan, neighbouring countries must not be complicit by serving as destinations for the proceeds of war. To effectively address the inflow of stolen vehicles, Chad can draw insights from South Sudans recent handling of a similar challenge.

When the conflict in Sudan started, South Sudan collaborated closely with Sudanese law enforcement agencies. A delegation of Sudanese traffic officers travelled to Juba equipped with the electronic records of stolen vehicles, enabling the South Sudanese police to identify and recover the cars.

Authorities also warned the public not to purchase smuggled vehicles, which helped raise awareness and reduce demand.

South Sudan went even further  prohibiting the registration of any Sudanese vehicle that lacked proper documentation, making it difficult for stolen cars to enter the legitimate market.

Chad could implement similar strategies by enhancing border security and formalising cooperation with Sudan through security agreements. Gaining access to Sudans vehicle registry would enable Chadian officials to identify and intercept stolen cars. Joint operations between the law enforcement and border authorities of the two countries would also be beneficial.

The experience of South Sudan illustrates that even in times of conflict, robust policies and regional collaboration can significantly diminish cross-border criminal activities.

Oluwole Ojewale, ENACT Central Africa Organised Crime Observatory Coordinator, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Dakar

ENACT is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Institute for Security Studies in partnership with INTERPOL and the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime.

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).
The House of Representatives has expressed serious concern over a bill recently introduced in the United States Senate seeking to classify Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for alleged violations of religious freedom.

The motion, brought under Matters of Urgent Public Importance by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu on Wednesday called for a coordinated diplomatic and domestic response to what he described as a mischaracterisation of Nigerias complex security and religious freedom landscape.

The motion

The motion is titled Urgent Need for a Coordinated Diplomatic and Domestic Response to the Proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 (US Senate Bill S.2747) and to Mischaracterisations of Nigerias Security and Religious-Freedom Landscape.

In his presentation on the floor, Mr Kalu informed lawmakers that on 9 September, a bill titled Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act, 2025 (S. 2747) was introduced in the United States Senate.

According to him, the proposed legislation sponsored by Ted Cruz and co-sponsored by other U.S. lawmakers directs the US Secretary of State to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).

If passed, the designation would subject Nigeria and certain officials to potential sanctions under Executive Order 13818 and related frameworks of the Global Magnitsky Act, a US law that targets individuals accused of human rights abuses or corruption worldwide.

Reading from the motion, he reminded the House that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion and prohibits the adoption of any state religion.

He said both successive administrations and security agencies, working with faith leaders and civil society have taken deliberate steps to protect worshippers of all faiths and to prosecute offenders, a fact reflected even in the US Department of States 2023 Country Report on Human Rights Practices for Nigeria.

Mr Kalu said the move was unjustified and potentially damaging, warning that such unilateral legislative action could undermine Nigerias sovereignty and misrepresent the countrys internal security challenges before the international community.

This proposed US legislation is based on incomplete and de-contextualised assessments, Mr Kalu said.

Nigerias insecurity is complex, multi-casual, driven by insurgency, criminal banditry, farmerherder conflicts, separatist agitations, and communal disputes that affect citizens of all faiths.

The US bill

The Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025 S. 2747 was introduced before the US Senate on 9 September. The bill seeks to mandate the US government to identify Nigerian officials responsible for maintaining or enforcing blasphemy laws and to sanction them.

The measure was inspired by recommendations from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which has for several years urged the US State Department to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern.

The USCIRF reports allege that Nigerian authorities have failed to adequately protect religious minorities or punish perpetrators of violence.

However, Nigerian officials insist that such reports are misleading, arguing that most of the violence in the country is driven by terrorism and criminality rather than religious persecution.

Lawmakers push back

During the debate that followed Mr Kalus motion, several lawmakers backed the deputy speakers position, insisting that the bill in the US Senate was based on faulty assumptions and one-sided narratives.

The Chairperson, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Oluwole Oke, said the bill had long been under consideration in the US Congress, and that a public hearing on the subject had been held without the participation of Nigerias diplomatic mission in Washington.

They denied our Nigerian mission and other Nigerians audience and participation, Mr Oke said.

I cited a case of an islamic scholar in Katsina who was honoured and on his way home was murdered by bandits. I cited several issues to show that we do not have religious crisis in Nigeria.

It is a deliberate attempt to damage the Nigerian image, he added.

He urged the House to fully support the investigation proposed in Mr Kalus motion and to ensure the Senate is on the same page.

In his contribution, Sada Soli (APC, Katsina) called on the National Assembly to adopt a more robust form of parliamentary diplomacy to engage the U.S. legislative system directly.

This is the moment this Parliament must re-engineer its parliamentary diplomacy, Mr Soli said.

Nigeria has always been of strategic interest to the U.S. politically and economically. What we are facing now is global politics, and we must address it with facts through proper diplomatic channels.

He recalled that in 2015, when the US National Security Council predicted Nigeria would become a failed state, the Nigerian Parliament sent delegations to Washington to engage key institutions until the report was disowned.

Billy Osawaru (APC, Edo) lamented that Nigeria currently lacks a substantive ambassador to the United States and a permanent representative to the United Nations, warning that this vacuum weakens Nigerias ability to respond to sensitive international issues.

Nigeria cannot afford to avoid global politics, Mr Osawaru said.

If we dont have proper diplomatic channels and recognised envoys in Washington and New York, our voices will not be heard. We must strengthen our missions and also use our NigeriaU.S Parliamentary Friendship Group to engage the American Congress, he said.

He added that the current issue transcends Nigeria, stressing that the move by the US could set a dangerous precedent for other African countries.

If this bill sails through, Nigeria will be the first, but not the last, African country to be so designated. We must not fail Nigeria, and we must not fail Africa, he warned.

House resolutions

Following extensive debate, the House resolved to condemn all forms of violence and persecution on religious grounds

It also resolved to reject external narratives portraying Nigerias security crisis as a purely religious conflict.

The House further mandated the Committees on Foreign Affairs, National Security and Intelligence, Police Affairs, Interior, Civil Societies and Human Rights and National Orientation Values to within 21 days coordinate with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerias Embassy in Washington, D.C. to transmit Nigerias official position to the sponsors of S. 2747 and relevant US authorities as well as the US mission in Nigeria and interested US legislators to propose a Nigeria-US Joint Fact-Finding and Dialogue.

The resolution is also to be transmitted to the Presidency, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the US Congress Leadership, the US Department of State, the African Union, and the ECOWAS Commission.
The federal government has granted the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport approval to commence scheduled flight operations, (otherwise known as commercial flights), effective 4 October.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had granted the airport approval on 15 December, 2024, for non-scheduled flight operations under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) for six months.

The approval allows private jets and chartered flights to operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m, paving the way for potential commercial flight operations in the future.

The latest development followed the expiration of the initial approval for a non-scheduled flight for the airport by the NCAA in December 2024 and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Yinka Oyebode the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Biodun Oyebanji, said the NCAA, in the letter dated 3 October and addressed to the governor, confirmed the new approval for scheduled flight, saying that it will be for an initial period of six months.

According to the letter with reference number NCAA/DAAS/TECH//043/Vol. 1/158 and signed by the Director, Aerodrome and Airspace Standards, Godwin Balang, the validation inspection was conducted on the airport between 16 and 19 June.

The outcome revealed that the basic operational requirements for scheduled flight operations to Ado-Ekiti Airport have been significantly complied with and the instrument flight check validation report conducted by NAMA indicates satisfactory compliance with regulatory requirements.

In view of the above and in line with the provisions of Nig CARs Part 12 Vol. 1, 2023, I have been directed to convey the Authoritys Interim Operational Permit subject to the limitations of VFR or daylight (sunrise to sunset) operations.

Furthermore, Your Excellency is respectfully invited to note that this interim Operational Permit is to enable Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport implement outstanding gaps and commence the certification process which will allow for issuance of Aerodrome Operational Permit with Three years validity in accordance with the Nig.CARS Part 12 Vol.1.

Installing landing system

Meanwhile, Ekiti State Government said it is in the advanced stage of installing the Instrument Landing System (ILS) to position the airport for night and all weather operations.

According to Mr Oyebode, the governor hailed the development as a major boost to the economic development of the state.

He said that the commencement of commercial operations at the airport would boost agribusiness, tourism development, commercial activities, and medical tourism, which will further position the state as a destination of choice for people looking for where to live, work, invest and relax.

The governor thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the enabling environment for socioeconomic development at the national and sub national levels.

He also thanked his immediate predecessor in office, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who laid the foundation of the airport project in 2019. He also thanked the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) for his remarkable contributions to the airport project as well as members of the Airport Committee.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has approved the constitution of its Rebranding and Constitution Review committees.

The ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed this while speaking with journalists after the inaugural meeting of the partys National Working Committee (NWC) on Tuesday in Abuja

Mr Abdullahi said that NWC also approved the constitution of the Policy Advocacy and Membership Registration committees.

The NWC also approved dates for the Ekiti and Osun primary elections. The Ekiti primaries will take place from 10 October to 20 November, while Osun will take place between November and December, he said.

Mr Abdullahi further stated that in view of the fact that many of the states have only the chairmen in place, the NWC would put in place transition operational guidelines for the running of the party affairs ahead of the forthcoming congresses.

A coalition of opposition leaders led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had adopted the ADC to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election.

Prominent members of the coalition include Peter Obi, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, all former governors, Abubakar Malami, a former attorney general of the federation, and others.
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) is banking on its participation in a regional initiative, set up to address long-standing gaps in the meteorological services affecting air navigation, to boost safety standards and improve operations in its aviation space.

The project, named the Cooperative Development of Aeronautical Meteorology in the Africa-Indian Ocean Region Programme (CODEVMET AFI), is pursuing capacity building in the implementation of safety monitoring across state civil aviation authorities among its goals.

It also plans to put in place a mechanism allowing meteorological service providers to meet the safety standards of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

The programme remains crucial to enhancing flight safety and operational efficiency across the African and Indian Ocean region, Chris Najomo, NCAAs director-general, told the projects steering committee in Abuja on Wednesday. Godwin Balang, the director of aerodome and airspace standards at the aviation industry watchdog, represented him.

CODEVMET AFI is designed to strengthen the regulatory oversight of meteorological services, while helping service providers deliver prompt, reliable, and accurate information to aviation users.

Nigeria formally joined the initiative in February 2017 as one of its nine African founding member countries after the ICAO assessed meteorological infrastructure and services across the region. The review revealed significant gaps, prompting the creation of a structured mechanism to help member states address flaws in air navigation.

Mr Balang noted that an ICAO evaluation in 2020 confirmed that CODEVMET AFI remains highly relevant to member states priorities, which align with the Global Air Navigation Plan and addressing regional needs such as operational integration and safety.

I strongly believe that this initiative will continue to make a significant contribution to enhancing the quality of aeronautical meteorological services across the AFI region, the NCAA chief said.

Last November, the board of the Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar, representing 18 African countries, adopted a resolution to assume responsibility for the annual contributions of its member states to the project.

The move demonstrates a collective will to enhance meteorological services and air navigation safety across the region.

The three-day steering committee meeting reviewed the programmes achievements, identified implementation challenges, and explored strategies for stronger partnership among African states.

Attendees included Togo, Kenya, Senegal, Angola, Cote dIvoire, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania representatives.
The Nigerian police on Wednesday arraigned two lawyers on forgery and impersonation charges at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Apo, Abuja.

Trial judge Jude Onwuegbuzie granted the first defendant, Victor Giwa, bail on stringent terms and conditions, but denied bail to the second defendant, Bukola Ibitade, a nursing mother.

The court rejected Ms Ibitades request on the grounds of the defence lawyers failure to include her name in the formal bail application.

The defence made futile efforts to persuade the judge to allow an oral amendment to accommodate Ms Ibitade in the bail application.

The police had charged the defendants with three counts, including forgery of a letter on the purported letterhead of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Awa Kalu.

According to the indictment, Mr Giwa allegedly forged the letter purportedly appealing to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to stop his arraignment before Judge Samira Bature for an earlier case on 2 July 2024.

The forged letter was allegedly titled, Urgent and Solemn Appeal to Suspend the Arraignment of Our Colleague Victor Giwa on Charge Number: CR/222/2023.

The police alleged that the forgery was done with the intention of causing it to be believed that such a document was made, signed and sealed by the authority of the said letterhead.

The indictment also charged both defendants with illegal eviction, criminal intimidation, threat to life, and property damage amounting to N300 million.

The police accused them of committing the offences on 28 June 2024.

But both pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Bail conditions

Arguing for the defendants bail, defence counsel, Edwin Anikpenu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), cited their standing as legal practitioners and the second defendants status as a nursing mother.

To correct Ms Ibitades exclusion from the bail request, Mr Anikpenu pleaded with the court to allow an oral request to include her in the bail application.

Responding, the prosecution lawyer, Asaph Eristo, citing the defendants absence from previous proceedings, maintained that Mr Giwa posed a flight risk. He urged the court to remand him in custody to prevent him from interfering with investigations.

Following the arguments, the judge reprimanded the defence for attempting to request Ms Ibitades bail orally, instead of filing a proper written application.

It is shocking that a lawyer, a senior advocate, would come through an oral application and attempt to add another defendant without documentation. With 13 lawyers present, none deemed it fit to file a proper bail application, the judge said.

In his ruling, the judge denied Ms Ibitade bail and remanded her in the correctional facility in Suleja.

However, the judge granted Mr Giwa bail in the sum of N30 million and directed him to present two grade level 16 civil servants that are resident in Abuja as sureties.

He added that the security guards must submit their passports, while ordering Mr Giwa to remain in custody until he met his bail conditions.

He adjourned the case until 15 October.
Former Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako has faced corruption charges for 10 years. Neither acquitted nor convicted, he and his co-defendants, including his son, Abdulaziz, a former senator, are tired of the trial. They want the case to end, even though the Court of Appeal ruled that there is merit in trying them for corruption.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged them in 2015 with diversion of N29 billion from the coffers of Adamawa State through a money laundering scheme during Mr Nyakos time as governor.

The case is one of the longest and most complicated high-profile corruption cases filed during former President Muhammadu Buharis administration.

It has passed through three judges, two of whom left the case due to death or promotion.

Together, the two botched trials presented about 29 witnesses, while the case journeyed to the Court of Appeal and back to the trial court. In its 10th year, the prosecution struggles to begin afresh before the third judge.

At the defendants re-arraignment on the 37 money laundering charges before the third judge in March last year, prosecution lawyer Leke Atolagbe reported that the defendants were in plea bargain talks with the authorities.

But defence lawyer Michael Aondoakaa, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) during the late President Umaru Yaraduas administration, countered the prosecutors claim. He said his clients were not admitting guilt but seeking an amicable settlement of the case.

Plea bargain creates the impression of guilt. The admiral is 81 years old; he is an agemate of the likes of retired General Badamosi Babangida, and he cannot continue to be made to face this again, Mr Aondoakaa told the court.

The amicable settlement window means more than a reprieve for the octogenarian. It is a mark of inequality along the socio-economic divide in Nigerias criminal justice system.

As it stands, it is like saying there is one law for the rich and another for the poor, a lawyer, Emmanuel Ameh, told PREMIUM TIMES. It is a clear case of gross inequality between the haves and the have-nots, between the rich and the poor.

Hefty profile, hefty case

Mr Nyakos towering profile fits the privileged side of the virtual divide.

A storied retired admiral in the Nigerian Navy, Mr Nyako was, at various times, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, and the pioneer military governor of Niger State in a glittering military career.

After Nigerias return to civil rule in 1999, he became Adamawa State governor in 2007, winning a second term in 2011, which was cut short by a few months following his removal from office by the state House of Assembly in 2014.

He is also married to a senior judge, Binta Nyako, who is currently serving on the bench of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where he is being prosecuted. His son, Abdulaziz, a former senator, is also a defendant.

His profile is as heavy as the weight of the charges and complexity of the trial.

The case has cost inestimable public resources and been a gruelling drain on judicial time.

It started in 2015 when the EFCC charged the father and son, and one Abubakar Aliyu, alongside five firms, with money laundering involving N29 billion in the Adamawa State Governments public fund. The companies are Blue Opal Limited, Sebore Farms & Extension Limited, Pagoda Fortunes Limited, Tower Assets Management Limited, and Crust Energy Limited.

The first judge to be assigned the case, Evoh Chukwu, sat on it between 7 August 2015 and June 2016, when he suddenly died after the prosecution had called eight prosecution witnesses.

The case started afresh before the second judge, Okon Abang, and progressed till the prosecution closed its case with 21 witnesses and piles of documentary exhibits. Mr Nyako and his co-defendants were to open their defence. But instead, they filed a no-case submission, calling on Mr Abang to dismiss the case. They said the evidence against them did not link them to any alleged crimes.

But finding no merit in the request, Mr Abang dismissed it.

Unrelenting, however, the defendants appealed against the decision. On 18 January 2022, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja, led by Olabisi Ige (now retired), unanimously upheld Mr Abangs ruling, affirming that the defendants had a case to answer in view of the weight of evidence presented by the prosecution. The appellate court ordered them to enter their defence at the trial court.

The evidence the defendants were required to defend comprised the testimonies of 21 prosecution witnesses at the trial court and heaps of documentary exhibits, including bank records. Witnesses from the EFCC, Diamond Bank, GTBank, Ecobank, and others testified on how billions from Adamawa State were transferred in tranches into the accounts of companies linked to Mr Nyako, including Crust Energy, Pagado Fortunes, Blue Ribbon, and Tower Assets Management.

But months after the Court of Appeal ruling, the Federal High Court could not proceed as ordered. The defendants repeatedly asked for adjournments to prepare for their defence, while also exploring the settlement option behind the scenes. The stalemate remained until Mr Abang was elevated to the Court of Appeal bench on 20 September 2023, losing the power to continue to hear the case.

The case had to be reassigned to another judge, Peter Lifu. That meant the new judge had to start the trial all over again. The toiling, time, and resources committed to the trial in the previous eight years had come to nought.

The EFCC re-arraigned the defendants before the new judge in March 2024. The prosecution was to start presenting its witnesses and exhibits afresh. But as soon as the re-arraignment occurred, the defendants informed the judge of their ongoing out-of-court settlement negotiation with the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi. The off-camera settlement talks have stalled the trial and left the future of the case uncertain.

Out-of-court settlement, the elites device

Monday Ubani, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said such settlement talks are permissible between private individuals, especially when stolen funds or property are recovered.

But he said, Such deals do not apply to serious crimes like murder, fraud, kidnapping, terrorism or money laundering.

Another lawyer, Maxwell Opara, expressed the same view in a separate interview with PREMIUM TIMES: There is no such thing as an out-of-court settlement in state-prosecuted criminal cases.

Nigerian law provides for nolle prosequi, which is a transparent withdrawal of charges in the public interest. Plea bargaining is another mechanism aimed at softening the punishments of remorseful offenders by allowing the accused person to plead guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence.

Sections 174 and 211 of the Nigerian Constitution empower the Attorney General of the Federation or of a state to withdraw charges at any stage of the trial, while Section 270 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 sets out the procedure.

But given the historical abuse and lack of transparency in their use in Nigeria, both legal processes set off the alarm of shadiness. Even though the law hinges their use on public interest, the processes have been countlessly deployed to achieve political ends or other personal interests.

Former AGF Abubakar Malami confirmed this reality in his memoir, Traversing the Thorny Terrain of Nigerias Justice Sector: My Travails and Triumphs, which he released weeks before the end of his tenure in office in May 2023. In the book, Mr Malami confirmed a public notion that former Gombe State Governor Mohammed Gojes corruption charges were dropped in 2019 for him to step down from the Senate President race for the Buhari administrations preferred candidate, Ahmad Lawan.

Wary of the public resentment a direct request for withdrawal of charges raises, politically exposed persons facing trial have adopted friendlier out-of-court settlement, more known with civil cases, to blunt the publics curiosity.

What we often see are secret negotiations that end in the withdrawal of charges without explanation, said Mr Emmanuel.

The lawyer said the practice highlights the socio-economic divide, setting different rules for the privileged and underprivileged suspects.

Only privileged defendants with connections to power and a deep pocket to hire the most influential lawyers have the temerity and opportunity to seek to withdraw a criminal case after the prosecutions evidence has been adjudged to be firm and credible.

In all my years of practice, I have yet to see any AGF withdraw a case of a poor man or discontinue it, Mr Emmanuel said.

Not a mission impossible

Mr Nyako is not the only one trying to influence the Tinubu administration to end his trial.

Days after the former governors out-of-court settlement plan was mentioned in court, Dibu Ojerinde, a professor and former Registrar of the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB), requested time for a possible settlement of his case. In 2021, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) charged him alongside his children with a N5.2 billion procurement fraud.

Like Mr Nyakos case, the judge has dismissed the defendants no-case submission. Yet, inspiration to push for the withdrawal of their charges abounds, confirming that their mission is not impossible.

In August, the Tinubu administration withdrew the N20 billion fraud case against Ahmed Kuru, the former Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

In June, the AGF also halted EFCCs move to arraign Honeywell Group chairman Oba Otudeko over an alleged N12.3 billion fraud. Earlier this year, the attorney-general withdrew criminal charges against Fidelity Bank CEO Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe in a multi-billion-naira fraud case.

The subnational level is also not overlooked. In 2023, the Katsina State Government withdrew an N11 billion fraud case against former Governor Ibrahim Shema.

Yet, the privileges of the influential people are not limited to the withdrawal of charges at any trial stage.

During President Buharis administration, Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame, former governors of Plateau and Taraba states, respectively, were pardoned after the Supreme Court confirmed their convictions and a few months after they were jailed.

Orji Kalu, former governor of Abia State and serving senator, travelled a similar path. His trial on corruption charges also took full swing, and he was jailed for 12 years in December 2019. However, five months into jail, the Supreme Court cancelled his conviction and ordered a retrial. But since then, the retrial has stalled due to legal obstacles.

Mr Nyakos frantic efforts to terminate his trial at this stage indicate his plan not to leave things to chance as the trial proves intractable.

Public interest trumped

Legal experts said the power of the attorney general at any level of government to withdraw charges is to be exercised to promote public interest.

Unfortunately, in the Nigerian context, the law doesnt define public interest. Its left open, which is a problem, explained Mr Ubani.

According to him, situations that warrant termination of charges in public interest include when the evidence is insufficient, or when an accused is needed as a prosecution witness in a more significant case.

However, he lamented, The so-called settlements in Nigeria are not about public interest but political favour.

Mr Ameh described the AGFs decision to discontinue long-running trials as a waste of public funds and judicial time, as politicians often kept cases in court until defendants grew old.

Legal experts say ordinary Nigerians rarely consider out-of-court settlements, unlike high-profile individuals, highlighting stark inequality. To them, letting politicians walk free despite strong evidence while the poor face the full weight of the law erodes accountability, entrenches inequality, and fosters impunity among the political class.

To guarantee accountability, Mr Ubani called for structural reform, including separating the Attorney-Generals office from the Ministry of Justice. He suggested the AGF be independent, possibly elected, to ensure decisions serve the public interest.

Mr Okpara said dropping criminal cases against politically exposed persons signals that crime is negotiable. He said the EFCC, ICPC, and judiciary risk losing public trust if they appear complicit in opaque deals, which could provoke public anger.
A prosecution witness on Tuesday narrated to the FCT High Court in Abuja how an intelligence report received by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) led to the investigation of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, and others for alleged diversion of arms funds.

Adariku Michael, a detective with EFCC, told the court that the commission received the report on 21 September 2015, alleging money laundering and abuse of office.

Mr Michael also said the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which Mr Dasuki headed as the NSA between 2012 and 2015 during the administration of then-President Goodluck Jonathan, diverted huge amounts of money between October 2014 and April 2015 to various companies.

The anti-graft agency is prosecuting Mr Dasuki, a retired colonel, alongside a former General Manager at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa; Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited on 32 counts of fraud involving diversion of 33.2 billion arms funds entrusted to the NSA office.

In March, the EFCC re-arraigned the defendants on criminal breach of trust, among other charges.

The rearraignment followed the reassignment of the case that started in 2015 to a new judge, Charles Agbaza.

The defendants denied all charges as they did when they were first arraigned in 2015.

Defences objection cuts short testimony

Led in evidence by prosecution lawyer Oluwaleke Atolagbe, EFCC detective Mr Michael told the court that he was part of the commissions team of special task force.

According to him, the team led by Halimah Kazeem, an officer of the EFCC, was assigned to crack the intelligence received about the alleged diversion of funds entrusted in ONSAs care.

I got to know about this case when the commission (EFCC) received an intelligence report on 21 September 2015 bordering on abuse of office and money laundering, alleging that the Office of the National Security Adviser had moved a huge sum of money between October 2014 and April 2015 to the accounts of various companies, he said.

On receiving the report, he said, the team wrote a letter of investigation to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

It was at this point that of the prosecution witness testimony that Mr Baba-Kusas defence lawyer, Solomon Umoh, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), raised an objection.

Mr Umoh informed the court that Mr Michael was not listed on the list of witnesses served to the defence team by the prosecution.

He said the failure to include Mr Michael in the list of prosecution witnesses frontloaded to the defence was a violation of section 379 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

However, the EFCCs lawyer, Mr Atolagbe, told the court that it was not the first time the witness had given evidence in the case.

Mr Atolagbe said Mr Michael had testified in the case while the current FCT Chief Judge, Hussein Baba-Yusuf, was overseeing the case.

He further stated that the prosecution tendered multiple documents as exhibits through

Mr Atolagbe requested an adjournment to allow the prosecution do the needful.

The judge adjourned the case until 31 October.

READ ALSO: EFCC arraigns accountant for alleged N200 million theft

Background

Mr Dasuki and his co-defendant have stood trial in twin cases of diversion of various sums of funds from ONSA before the FCT High Court.

Both cases, with chequered history, have gone on in court with little progress for about 10 years.

Mr Atolagbe said Mr Michael had testified in the trial while the current FCT High Court Chief Judge, Hussein Baba-Yusuf, was overseeing the case.

He further said the prosecution had tendered multiple documents as exhibits through the same witness before the previous judge.

The trial, now before the new trial judge, Mr Agbaza, was stalled after the prosecution presented only one witness.

Also in 2015, the EFCC filed a separate case against Mr Dasuki. He was charged alongside former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa; his son, Sagir Bafarawa; and their company, Dalhatu Investment Limited.

They were accused of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of N19.4 billion.

The case also suffered several adjournments. It is currently before another FCT High Court judge, Yusuf Halilu.

These trials suffered multiple adjournments in their early years, largely due to the State Security Services (SSS) refusing to release Mr Dasuki on bail despite multiple court orders.

The cases are part of Nigerias longest-running high-profile corruption trials, reflecting systemic delays in the countrys judicial system.

Mr Dasuki served as NSA between 2012 and 2015, at the height of Boko Haram attacks in Nigerias North-east, during the administration of then-President Goodluck Jonathan.

An audit panel set up by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, who came to office after defeating Mr Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election, revealed that about $2 billion entrusted in the office of the NSA, then led by Mr Dasuki, for procurement of arms could not be accounted for.

The EFCC, which instituted multiple charges against diverse persons who received funds from the NSA office, alleged that the arms funds were doled out to friends, relatives, political allies, particularly members of the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for purposes unrelated to the purchase of arms.
A court-ordered forensic examination of a phone central to the fraud trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele has stalled in Lagos.

Both the prosecution and Mr Emefieles defence team traded accusations at the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Tuesday over the botched exercise.

Mr Emefieles lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said the exercise could not proceed because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) repeatedly obstructed efforts to access the device, an iPhone 12.

But EFCCs prosecution lawyer, Oyedepo Rotimi, also a SAN, blamed the setback on the defences engagement of an unqualified expert.

The defences expert conducted part of his analysis via a live internet connection, which breaches forensic standards, Mr Oyedepo said.

The EFCC is prosecuting Mr Emefiele alongside a co-defendant, Henry Omoile, on charges of fraud involving $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion in total.

In the case, the former CBN governor is charged with receiving gratification and making corrupt demands, while his co-defendant faces charges relating to unlawful acceptance of gifts by agents.

President Bola Tinubu, who came to power in May 2023, removed Mr Emefiele from office in June 2023, over corruption allegations and other irregularities that took place on his watch at CBN. Mr Emefiele, who was the CBN governor for eight years, was yet to complete his second term of five years when Mr Tinubu removed him from office.

The EFCC had extracted from the iPhone 12 in question some WhatsApp conversations allegedly involving Mr Emefile and his co-defendant. The EFCC said the Whatsapp messages provided insights into how funds in foreign currency were moved around. during Mr Emefieles time at CBN.

In June, the defence urged the court to grant them permission to call a forensic expert to examine the mobile device and the printed conversations allegedly linked to the defendants.

According to Vanguard newspaper, the judge, Rahman Oshodi, subsequently granted the defences request by ordering that the device be subjected to a scientific forensic analysis.

He ordered that the forensic examination be carried out by experts representing the prosecution and the defence.

The joint examination exercise was then scheduled for 24 and 25 September.

Report of exercise

Reporting the outcome of the exercise to the judge on Tuesday, defence lawyer, Mr Ojo, SAN, said the exercise was stalled because EFCC refused to produce the phone for examination.

The first obstacle was that the EFCC insisted the device could not be fully exposed to the team, Mr Ojo said. Then, on the second day, even when the (court) registrar clarified that your lordships order covered both the phone and its WhatsApp contents, the EFCC representatives refused to produce it when the Apple expert demanded it. We were told a categorical no.

The lawyer, who accused the EFCC of disobeying the courts order, appealed to the judge to issue a fresh order directing the EFCC to allow unrestricted access to the phone and its data.

Mr Oyedepo, EFCCs lawyer, more or less confirmed that the phone was not released to the defences expert.

He said the expert presented by the defence was unqualified and unprofessional.

He said the expert lacked a verifiable laboratory or office, while expressing fear the device could be compromised if not handled professionally.

The defences expert conducted part of his analysis via a live internet connection, which breaches forensic standards. Connecting Exhibit E to the internet could cause data to auto-sync, thereby altering or corrupting the contents, Mr Oyedepo said.

He said the iPhone had been kept in flight mode to ensure it remained unaltered.

He explained that the prosecution had no intention of blocking the exercise.

But we insist that the process must be handled professionally to preserve the integrity of the evidence, Mr Oyedepo said.

In their response, Mr Ojo, joined by the second defendants lawyer, A. Kotoye, also a SAN, urged the court to suspend further proceedings until the forensic examination was carried out and a report issued on it.

The lawyers maintained that the WhatsApp chats they sought to authenticate through the forensic examination of the phone were central to their clients defence. They argued that it would be unfair if its request was not granted.

The judge noted the concerns raised by both sides and directed the EFCC to file its forensic report within 24 hours.

He also ordered both parties to adopt electronic filing and service of documents to avoid unnecessary delays in the high-profile trial.

The judge granted permission to the prosecution witness, who was said to have travelled from Abuja for the hearing, to continue his testimony.

Testimony

Prosecution witness Alvan Gurumnaan, who is an EFCC operative, presented a series of WhatsApp conversations, printouts, which were admitted as Exhibits P1 to P27.

He said the transactions involving large amounts of foreign currency were coordinated through messaging platforms.

He also said chat records and other exhibits revealed a consistent pattern of cash movements linked to the defendants.

Mr Gurumnaan said investigators interviewed several individuals, including staff members of the CBN and Zenith Bank, as part of their probe.

Trial judge, Mr Oshodi, adjourned further hearing until Wednesday (8 October)
On Tuesday, Mahmood Yakubu, who headed Nigerias electoral commission, INEC, for a decade, bowed out and handed over to May Agbamuche-Mbu as acting chairperson.

Mr Yakubu left the commission before the expiration of his tenure.

Resignation

PREMIUM TIMES can now report that Mr Yakubu formally resigned his appointment on 3 October, about a month ahead of the end of his tenure.

In his resignation letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu and sighted by PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Yakubu expressed his wish for the resignation to take effect on Tuesday, 7 October.

Please accept, your excellency, my appreciation for the opportunity to serve the nation as chairman of the electoral commission, he said.

Mr Yakubu had tried to leave office months earlier, as his actual tenure completion date would be in the middle of the Anambra State governorship election. While the election has been scheduled for 8 November, Mr Yakubus tenure expires 24 hours later on 9 November.

He first assumed the office 10 years ago in 2015 after his appointment by the late former President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Buhari also reappointed him for another five-year tenure in 2020.

Sources told TheCable that the INEC Chairperson had planned to leave months ago, but Mr Tinubu asked him to wait while he headhunted for a suitable replacement.

Handover

During a meeting at the commissions headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, Mr Yakubu handed over to Mrs Agbamuche-Mbu to serve in an acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive chairperson of the commission.

At the meeting attended by other National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), Mr Yakubu appreciated all staff and asked them to extend the same support to Mrs Agbamuche-Mbu.

I will forever cherish the support of successive Secretaries and staff of the Commission nationwide, he said.

Together, we innovated and managed the commissions enormous responsibilities, sometimes on the verge of breaking down.
Women and youth leaders of Nigerias registered political parties have renewed calls for the immediate passage of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, which is currently before the National Assembly.

Speaking at a joint press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, the Forum of National Women Leaders of Political Parties in Nigeria, in collaboration with the National Youth Leaders of Political Parties, described the bill as a national imperative aimed at correcting long-standing gender imbalances and ensuring that women can express strong support for the proposed constitutional amendment.

Speaking at the event, the President of the Forum, Amina Bryhm, said the bill is not just legislation but a rallying point for justice, democracy, and nation-building.

Ms Bryhm said it is imperative for the bill to be passed without further delay.

We declare that the Reserved Seats for Women Bill must be passed now, not tomorrow, not later, but now, she said.

The group urged lawmakers to make history by passing the bill and called on President Bola Tinubu and the executive arm of government to give their full support and assent once the National Assembly passes it.

According to the forum, the bill seeks to institutionalise womens representation in elective offices and ensure more inclusive governance.

It pledged to intensify sensitisation within political parties and engage grassroots members to build wider support for the legislation.

Cross-party collaboration

Responding to questions from journalists, Ms Bryhm said the creation of the National Women Leaders Forum had already strengthened collaboration among women from different political parties.

While we are in different political parties, we have already identified the strong women who have the capacity, who have the ability to run on these seats, she said.

And at the end of the day, we will have one woman coming out to represent all the women when they are voted in for.

Saudatu Abdullahi, national publicity secretary of the forum, said all 19 registered political parties were represented in the alliance.

Ms Abdullahi added that women leaders had agreed to support strong, competent female candidates regardless of party affiliation once the bill is passed.

She said, This is not about political parties, its about the women being represented at the National Assembly, and we are going to do it.

We will do things differently

Ms Bryhm said that inclusion is the first step in what women intend to bring to governance.

Before you ask what well do differently, at least let us sit at the table. We cant even negotiate if we are not seated. Once women are represented, our voices will be amplified.

She said women leaders were already identifying competent candidates and ensuring they meet all eligibility standards to avoid post-election litigations.

Were putting our best foot forward. Any woman contesting must be ready to campaign, meet voters, and present her manifesto, she said.

The financial secretary of the forum, Anita Chukwu, also said women would bring greater accountability to governance.

If theres one specialist in accountability, its the woman. We will ensure every resource given to our constituencies is used properly, Ms Chukwu said.

Reframing the past

Participants also addressed recurring references to Sarah Jibril, Nigerias first female presidential aspirant, who was the only one to vote for herself at her partys primary years ago.

Elizabeth Nwokeoche, the organising secretary, said Mrs Jibrils courage paved the way for others, noting that her attempt encouraged many women to step forward.

Ms Nwokeoche added that the newly formed Forum would prevent such isolation of female aspirants.

Weve agreed that any woman with the capacity to represent us will get collective support, no matter her party, she said.

Ms Bryhm expressed concern about the low number of women in elective positions nationwide.

She said, Out of 360 House members, just 16 are women. In 16 states, theres not a single woman in the assembly. Out of about 900 state legislators nationwide, only 55 are women. Does that look good for a country that calls itself the giant of Africa?

She added that passing the bill would bring Nigeria closer to international standards on gender inclusion and reflect its democratic values.

The forum said it would continue mobilising womens groups, civil society, traditional rulers, and the media to push for the bills passage.

It also appealed for continued support from development partners to amplify advocacy and technical engagement.

Reserved seats for women bill

The Reserved Seats for Women Bill is a proposed legislation that seeks to create special seats exclusively for women in Nigerias national and state legislatures to address the countrys abysmally low female representation in politics.

Nigerian women occupy less than five per cent of seats in the National Assembly, which is far below the African Unions 50 per cent parity target and the global average of 26.5 per cent. In the 10th Assembly (20232027), women hold only 17 out of 469 seats (about 3.6 per cent), which has dropped compared to previous parliaments.

The bill is before the National Assembly and is designed as a temporary measure, with a provision that it will last for 16 years, covering four election cycles, after which it will be subject to review.

It has passed its Second Reading at the House of Representatives and will require approval by two-thirds of members in both chambers, as well as endorsement by at least 24 state assemblies, before it can be sent to the president for assent.
The Editor-in-Chief and the Chief Operating Officer of PREMIUM TIMES, Musikilu Mojeed, has announced plan to sue Robert Ngwu, spokesperson for former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, over his false bribery allegation against the newspaper.

While appearing as a guest on a Channels Television programme Tuesday morning, Mr Ngwu baselessly accused PREMIUM TIMES of receiving a N100 million bribe from the Enugu State Government to pursue the investigative reporting exposing Mr Nnajis certificate forgery scandal.

PREMIUM TIMES two-year investigative report published on Saturday revealed that Mr Nnaji forged his bachelors degree and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificates with which he secured his ministerial appointment in 2023.

Mr Mojeed appeared on Channels Televisions Politics Today on Tuesday evening, refuting Mr Ngwus unfounded bribery claim.

We are not a newspaper that anyone can malign. We have built our integrity for close to 15 years. We have done major investigative stories, and no one has ever accused us of bribery, Mr Mojeed said.

Our practice is built solely on integrity. Not even a Robert Ngwu or Uche Nnaji can destroy that.

He said Mr Ngwus defamatory remarks would not go unchallenged.

He disclosed that the newspapers lawyers had started reviewing Mr Ngwus comments and would have him compelled to prove his claims in court.

He will have to present evidence of how the money was given and received, Mr Mojeed stated.

Ngwus false allegation

Mr Ngwu ended up admitting that he had no proof yet to back his allegation against PREMIUM TIMES during the live Channels Televisions live programme on Tuesday

PREMIUM TIMES was allegedly paid N100 million to start this process, the spokesperson said while fielding questions from the anchors.

By who? Kayode Okikiolu, one of the programme anchors, asked him.

This is a big allegation, Mr Ngwu. Who paid and do you have proof? the anchor asked again.

Mr Ngwu tried to evade the question by stressing allegedly paid, before promising to speak on that later.

When pressed, he claimed: They (PREMIUM TIMES) were allegedly paid by the state government of Enugu State. Thats the person behind the mask.

Mr Okikiolu, for the umpteenth time, asked Mr Ngwu to show proof of his allegation but the aide claimed the proof would be given later and then asked the Enugu State Government to defend itself.

Another anchor, Bukola Coker, further pressed the ministers aide to give proof of his allegations.

It was people who (gave) verbal confirmation (of the allegation). We can find out, Mr Ngwu finally responded.

We have our sources, he added.

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Government has since denied allegations the government was involved in the investigation uncovering Mr Nnajis certificate forgery.

Background

On Saturday, PREMIUM TIMES published a damning investigation revealing that Mr Nnaji forged both his university degree and NYSC discharge certificates, which he presented to President Bola Tinubu and the Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.

The investigation confirmed longstanding suspicions about Mr Nnajis academic credentials. Critics had repeatedly alleged that he never completed his degree programme at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

PREMIUM TIMES obtained documents showing that, at the time he claimed to have graduated, he was still corresponding with UNN about retaking a failed terminal course.

The findings forced Mr Nnaji to resign from his ministerial position on Tuesday evening.

How the scandal was exposed  Mojeed

Mr Mojeed explained on the Politics Today programme that the investigation began after an anonymous whistleblower alerted the newsroom to discrepancies in the ministers records.

The whistleblower was confident that if we did a diligent investigation, we would uncover something shocking. We took up the challenge in 2023, he said.

He explained that the newspapers Reporters in Enugu and Abuja pursued the story for over two years, filing Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to UNN and NYSC, and reviewing multiple official documents, as well as forensic audits.

Initially, he said UNN ignored the first FOI request submitted in February 2024. The newspaper later learned that powerful interests sought to frustrate the probe.

Mr Mojeed noted that progress came after a change of leadership at the institution in August, when the vice-chancellor and registrar confirmed that UNN never issued Mr Nnaji a degree certificate.

Luckily for us, the vice-chancellor responded. Just today, the registrar also affirmed the same position, Mr Mojeed said.

READ ALSO:How whistleblower helped us to uncover Uche Nnajis certificate forgery Premium Times editor

The revelations culminated in a comprehensive report that has sparked widespread public outrage and renewed calls for accountability in public office.

This newspaper reported on Sunday that the then-minister had admitted that UNN never issued him a degree certificate.

Many Nigerians expressed outrage over the then-ministers certificate forgery.

On Monday, Mr Nnaji was absent from a press conference his office called to address the matter. His aides, however, appeared on his behalf during which they made unsubstantiated claims, including the claim that the then-minister indeed graduated from UNN.
Despite overwhelming evidence of certificate forgery against him, Uche Nnaji has claimed his resignation as Nigerias Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology was not an admission of guilt.

Mr Nnaji resigned as minister on Tuesday, three days after an investigation by PREMIUM TIMES exposed how he forged his degree and NYSC certificates.

The politician had presented the discredited certificates as part of his credentials to support his ministerial appointment in 2023.

Personal choice

In a statement on Tuesday night, the former minister said the decision did not come lightly.

My decision to step aside is therefore a personal choice  not an admission of guilt, but rather a principled decision to respect the sanctity of due process and to preserve the integrity of the judicial proceedings currently before the court, he said.

Politically motivated?

The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), which he attended, and the NYSC authorities had separately disowned the certificates in response to PREMIUM TIMES Freedom of Information requests separately submitted to the institutions at different times.

This newspaper had also exposed several discrepancies in the former ministers certificates.

But Mr Nnaji claimed in the statement that the PREMIUM TIMES investigation, which many media outlets in Nigeria republished, was politically motivated.

Over the past week, an orchestrated sustained campaign of falsehood, politically motivated, and malicious attacks have been waged against my person, integrity, and office across print, electronic, and social media platforms.

These unfounded allegations and media distortions have not only caused personal distress but have also begun to distract from the vital work of the ministry and the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President, he claimed.

Meanwhile, the former minister was referring to a lawsuit against UNN, its Vice-chancellor, Simon Ortuanya, the Ministry of Education and others, which he instituted to block the release of his academic records to media outfits, including PREMIUM TIMES.

Background

Allegations of certificate forgery had dogged Mr Nnaji since July 2023, when President Bola Tinubu named him among the first batch of 28 ministerial nominees from 25 states forwarded to the Senate as part of the presidents initial cabinet list, two months after taking office on 29 May 2023.

Critics had long insisted that Mr Nnaji did not complete his university education and that both the bachelors degree and NYSC certificate he presented to President Tinubu, as well as to the offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the State Security Service, and the Senate, were forged.

The findings of PREMIUM TIMES extensive examination of the documents were damning and conclusive: both the degree certificate and the NYSC discharge certificate in the ministers possession are outright forgeries.

This newspaper reported on Sunday that the then-minister had admitted that UNN never issued him a degree certificate.

Many Nigerians have expressed outrage over the then-ministers certificate forgery.

On Monday, Mr Nnaji was absent from a press conference his office called to address the matter. His aides, however, appeared on his behalf during which they made unsubstantiated claims, including the claim that the then-minister indeed graduated from UNN.

PREMIUM TIMES later published documents showing that at the time Mr Nnaji claimed to have graduated from UNN and purportedly proceeded to participate in the mandatory NYSC, he was still exchanging correspondence with the institution on how he could re-sit a failed terminal course examination.

Following the findings of the investigation, the politician resigned his appointment on Tuesday evening.
Uche Nnaji, who resigned as the minister of innovation, science and technology over certificate forgery, could face up to 21 years imprisonment or more, a PREMIUM TIMES review of various Nigerian laws has shown.

A painstaking two-year investigation published by PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday revealed that Mr Nnaji forged the credentials he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.

On Tuesday, barely three days after this newspaper published the investigation, the then-minister resigned his appointment. President Tinubu has accepted his resignation.

What Nigerian laws say about forgery

Three-year jail term?

Forgery is outlawed in Nigerias Criminal Code Act, which prescribes various jail terms for offenders upon conviction, depending on the nature of forgery.

According to Section 465 of the Act, A person who makes a false document or writing knowing it to be false, and with intent that it may in any way be used or acted upon as genuine, whether in the State or elsewhere, to the prejudice of any person, or with intent that any person may, in the belief that it is genuine, be induced to do or refrain from doing any act, whether in the State or elsewhere, is said to forge the document or writing.

Section 467 of the Act states that forgery is a felony that attracts a three-year jail term upon conviction.

But Monday Ubani, a lawyer, told PREMIUM TIMES that the former minister could face up to life imprisonment if it is established that the forgery involved a public seal, as stated in the Act.

According to Section 467(1), paragraphs (a) and (b) of the Act, forgery offences relating to the public seal of Nigeria or of any State of Nigeria or the great or privy seal of any country of the Commonwealth or under the protection of a Commonwealth country, or the seal of the President, or a Governor of a State are designated as special cases.

Offenders are liable to life imprisonment upon conviction, according to the subsection of the Act.

If theres a seal in the (forged) NYSC certificate or degree certificate, then the punishment is life imprisonment. Its a more serious offence, Mr Ubani, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, said.

However, a check by PREMIUM TIMES showed that both the degree and NYSC discharge certificates did not have a seal on them.

Penal Code or Criminal Code Act?

Like in the Criminal Code Act, forgery is also outlawed in the Penal Code.

However, while the Criminal Code Act applies to southern Nigeria, the Penal Code covers the northern part of the country.

Whoever commits forgery shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen (14) years, Section 364 of the Penal Code says.

Bulus Atsen, an Abuja-based lawyer, told PREMIUM TIMES that the fact that the former minister forged the certificates was clear, given that he presented the certificates to Nigerian authorities.

They (the certificates) were fraudulently, dishonestly forged. And they were presented to the highest legislative body in Nigeria, which acted on it, believing they were genuine.

Now, all these are elements of proven forgery, Mr Atsen said.

The lawyer said his resignation should pave the way for further investigation by the countrys security agencies.

We will expect the police to thoroughly investigate the matter, and where a prima facie case is established against him, then institute a criminal action against him anywhere in the country, he said.

Mr Atsen argued that the former minister could be tried under the Penal Code in Abuja, which is in northern Nigeria, where he presented the certificates or under the Criminal Code Act in any part of Nigeria, considering that forgery is both a federal and state offence.

More law

Beyond the Criminal Code Act and Penal Code, Mr Nnaji could also be prosecuted under the Miscellaneous Offences Act, according to lawyers who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES in separate interviews.

Any person who makes or utters any forged document, cheque, promissory note or other negotiable instrument, knowing it to be false or with intent that it may in any way be used or acted upon as genuine, whether in Nigeria or elsewhere to the prejudice of any person or with intent that any person may, in the belief that it is genuine, be induced to do or refrain from doing any act or thing, whether in Nigeria or elsewhere, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 21 years without the option of a fine, according to Section 1 (2) paragraph (c) of the Act.

Background

Allegations of certificate forgery had dogged Mr Nnaji since July 2023, when President Tinubu named him among the first batch of 28 ministerial nominees from 25 states forwarded to the Senate as part of the presidents initial cabinet list, two months after taking office on 29 May 2023.

Critics had long insisted that Mr Nnaji did not complete his university education and that both the bachelors degree and NYSC certificate he presented to President Tinubu, and the offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the State Security Service, and the Senate, were forged.

The findings of PREMIUM TIMES extensive examination of the documents were damning and conclusive: both the degree certificate and the NYSC discharge certificate in the ministers possession are outright forgeries.

This newspaper reported on Sunday that the then-minister had admitted that UNN never issued him a degree certificate.

Many Nigerians have expressed outrage over the then-ministers certificate forgery.

On Monday, Mr Nnaji was absent from a press conference his office called to address the matter. His aides, however, appeared on his behalf during which they made unsubstantiated claims, including the claim that the then-minister indeed graduated from UNN.

PREMIUM TIMES later published documents showing that at the time Mr Nnaji claimed to have graduated from UNN and purportedly proceeded to participate in the mandatory NYSC, he was still exchanging correspondence with the institution on how he could re-sit a failed terminal course examination.

Following the findings of the investigation, the politician resigned his appointment on Tuesday evening.
The newly elected senators representing Edo Central and Anambra South senatorial districts, Joseph Ikpea and Nwachukwu Chibuzor, have been inaugurated as members of the 10th Senate.

The two new lawmakers were sworn in during the plenary on Wednesday.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, directed the acting Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, to administer the oath of office to the new senators at about 11:50 a.m.

After taking their oaths, the new lawmakers shook hands with the Senate president and exchanged pleasantries with their colleagues before being escorted to their seats by the Sergeant-at-Arms.

Mr Ikpea, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), succeeded Monday Okpebholo, who vacated his seat after being elected and sworn in as governor of Edo State in November 2024.

Mr Chibuzor, a member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), replaced Ifeanyi Ubah, who passed away in a London hospital in July 2024.

The new senators won the by-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in August in the respective constituencies.

With their swearing-in, the Senate has now reached its full complement of 109 members.

READ ALSO: Nigerian lawmakers move to counter US Senate bill targeting Nigeria over religious freedom

In his remarks, Mr Akpabio congratulated the two lawmakers on their electoral victories and welcomed them to the Senate.

He urged them to work harmoniously with colleagues across party lines in the interest of national development.

Dignitaries present at the swearing-in included former Delta State Governor James Ibori; former Edo State Deputy Governor and current Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Philip Shaibu; Lee Ikpea, elder brother of Mr Ikpea; and Edo State Commissioner for Justice, Samson Osaigie.
The House of Representatives has directed its Committees on Diaspora, University Education, Foreign Affairs, and Anti-Corruption to investigate the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) over alleged mismanagement, abuse of process, and failure to pay stipends to Nigerian students studying abroad under various government-sponsored and bilateral education schemes.

This followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Chike Okafor (APC, Imo) during Wednesdays plenary.

Moving the motion, Mr Okafor expressed concern that the FSB, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Education, has allegedly failed to meet its statutory responsibility of safeguarding the welfare of Nigerian scholars in foreign institutions.

He noted that the board is mandated to administer scholarship programmes for Nigerian students both within and outside the country, and to implement the terms and conditions of those awards.

However, he said the agency has been inundated with complaints from students under the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholarship (a Nigerian government programme that funded students to study abroad in countries like Russia, China, and Hungary), alleging mistreatment, neglect, and delays in stipend payments.

We are worried about the outcry by the Union of Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement Scholars (UNBEAS) over alleged mistreatment and starvation of funds, which has led students into unholy survival struggles, endangering their lives and leaving many vulnerable, Mr Okafor stated.

He warned that such neglect undermines Nigerias image and reflects poorly on the governments commitment to education and human capital development.

If the future leaders of Nigeria are abandoned in foreign lands due to administrative inefficiencies or corruption, it is a reflection of poor commitment to education and youth development, he said.

Mr Okafor also condemned reports of delayed disbursements, non-payment, and unexplained deductions from stipends meant for Nigerian students in foreign universities, describing the situation as distressing and damaging to the countrys reputation.

Alleged mismanagement and arbitrary stipend cuts

Over the past year, several Nigerian scholars under the BEA scheme have protested over reduced stipends, delayed payments, and a lack of transparency from the board. According to reports, monthly stipends were decreased by more than 50 percent, from about US$500 to US$220.

The Union of Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement Scholars (UNBEAS) has accused the FSB of failing to account for arrears dating back to 2023, claiming the government owes each scholar an estimated US$6,720 in unpaid stipends and other allowances.

Many of the affected students, spread across countries such as Russia, Morocco, China, and Hungary, have reportedly been evicted from their accommodation and are struggling to survive due to the non-payment of funds meant for their upkeep.

READ ALSO: Two new senators take oath of office

Some have also lamented the lack of communication from the FSB, saying they were only notified of stipend reductions at the point of disbursement.

In April 2025, the federal government announced plans to suspend the foreign bilateral scholarship programme, citing alleged misuse of public funds and duplication of academic courses available locally.

However, it assured that current scholars would be allowed to complete their studies abroad.

Resolution

Adopting the motion, the House mandated the four committees to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the operations of the FSB, particularly its handling of scholarship funds and payment processes from 2015 to date.

The committees are expected to recommend measures to strengthen accountability, restore transparency, and ensure the timely payment of stipends to Nigerian students studying abroad under government sponsorship.
President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve a fresh $2.3 billion external loan incorporated into the 2025 budget.

The request was contained in a letter read by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, during plenary on Wednesday.

In the letter, Mr Tinubu explained that the facility would form part of the funds to finance the N54.99 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill.

He said the borrowing request was made in line with Sections 21(1) and 27(1) of the Debt Management Office Act and had received the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The president stated that the loan would be raised through the issuance of Eurobonds, bridge finance facilities from bookrunners, loan syndication, or direct borrowing from international financial institutions.

To raise external capital in the sum of USD2,347,465,000.00 comprised of New External Borrowing in the 2025 Appropriation Act (USD1,229,113,000.00) and refinancing of maturing Eurobonds (USD1,118,352,000.00), through any of the following option(s): Issuance of Eurobonds, Bridge Finance Facility from Bookrunners, Loan Syndication and Direct Borrowing from International Financial Institutions, the letter reads.

A similar request was also transmitted to the House of Representatives, where the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, read it during plenary on Tuesday.

After reading the correspondence, Mr Akpabio referred the proposal to the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt for further review and directed the committee to report back within one week.

This new borrowing plan comes barely four months after President Tinubu sought approval to obtain $21.5 million and 15 billion in loans, along with a 65 million grant, as part of the federal governments proposed 20252026 external borrowing plan.

Nigerias public debt has increased in recent years, raising concerns about the countrys fiscal sustainability.

According to Nigerias Debt Management Office (DMO), as of 31 December 2024, Nigerias total public debt stood at N144.7 trillion (approximately $94.2 billion). About 51.4 per cent of the total (N74.4 trillion) is domestic debt, while 48.6 per cent (N70.3 trillion) is external debt.

The rising debt has resulted in increased debt servicing costs. In 2023, Nigeria spent N7.8 trillion on debt servicing, a 121 per cent increase compared to N3.52 trillion in the previous year. The amount spent on debt servicing rose to N13.12 trillion.

In 2024, there was a 68 per cent increase from the 2023 figure. These high debt servicing costs mean less funds for important sectors such as infrastructure and social services, potentially hindering economic growth and development.

Despite these fiscal pressures, the Tinubu administration maintains that borrowing remains an essential instrument for development financing, especially as domestic funding sources continue to dwindle.

Borrowing is not limited to this administration; successive governments in Nigeria borrowed to finance projects, even while struggling to settle the existing debts.

Mr Tinubu, in a media chat last December, defended his borrowing strategy, claiming that he took the decision not to inflict pain on Nigerians, but because of his commitment to infrastructural development.

The president said borrowing is not a crime and that many decayed infrastructures need funding.
Assistant Commissioner Angela Allen explains the recurring tax errors triggering penalties and what to do about them.

Whats happening: The Australian Taxation Office has intensified its focus on small businesses in property, construction and professional services sectors with turnovers between $1 million and $10 million. Common errors include incorrect R&D tax incentive claims, omitted income, overclaimed expenses and failure to register for GST.

Why this matters: The ATO is conducting audits and applying significant penalties and interest charges where errors are detected. Small businesses in these sectors need to understand their obligations to avoid costly mistakes and ensure theyre competing on a level playing field.

The Australian Taxation Office is tightening its scrutiny of small businesses in specific industries, with Assistant Commissioner Angela Allen warning that recurring tax errors are triggering audits, penalties and substantial interest charges.

The ATOs latest focus targets property, construction and professional services businesses with turnovers between $1 million and $10 million, where tax obligations become increasingly complex as businesses scale.

Industries under scrutiny

The ATO is concentrating on two key sectors: the property and construction industry, including builders, contractors and tradies, and the professional, scientific and technical services sector, covering engineering, design, IT, management and consulting professionals.

As small businesses grow, their tax and super obligations often become more complex, says Angela Allen, ATO Assistant Commissioner. We want to ensure that growing small businesses with a turnover of between $1 million to $10 million clearly understand their responsibilities, particularly when it comes to accurately reporting all income, deductions and offsets.

Allen emphasises the ATOs vigilance. We continue to see recurring issues in specific industries. Were watching closely, conducting audits, and applying penalties and interest where needed.

Common costly mistakes

The ATO has identified several recurring errors, whether from mistakes, misunderstandings or deliberate behaviour. These include incorrect claims for the Research and Development tax incentive, particularly for activities that dont meet eligibility criteria, omitting sales and income in Business Activity Statements and tax returns, including income from related entities, overclaiming expenses and GST credits, and reporting private expenses as business-related without proper apportionment.

Failure to register for GST when required and not seeking independent advice from registered tax agents, particularly in head contractor and subcontractor arrangements, are also flagged as problem areas.

Real penalties, real cases

The ATO has provided detailed examples of businesses facing significant financial consequences. One solar retail business, Suntraxion Solar Pty Ltd, claimed $1.3 million in R&D deductions between 2021 and 2024, resulting in $569,000 in refundable tax offsets, mostly for payments to associates including family members.

A subsequent review found insufficient evidence to support the claims, with most expenses being day-to-day operations rather than eligible R&D activities. Despite multiple extensions, the business provided complete records for only 7% of the total claim.

The outcome was severe: a tax shortfall of $205,000, a 25% base penalty of $51,250 for failing to take reasonable care, and interest charges of $75,153.

In another case, a construction business failed to lodge its Taxable Payments Annual Report and under-reported income. The business faced amended assessments with a tax shortfall of $180,000, a 50% base penalty of $90,000 for making false and misleading statements, plus interest charges.

Getting it right

Allen stresses that the ATOs goal is to support businesses in meeting their obligations correctly, ensuring honest businesses arent disadvantaged.

For small businesses struggling to meet their tax obligations, it is important not to ignore the problem but to seek assistance, whether that is from a tax adviser, a business adviser or the ATO directly, she says.

The ATO recommends businesses report all assessable income including cash deposits, correctly apportion expenses between business and private use, maintain complete and accurate records for R&D claims, and seek advice from registered tax agents.

For R&D tax incentive claims specifically, businesses must ensure theyre conducting eligible R&D activities, maintain detailed records including project reports and staff timesheets, and register activities with the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, though registration doesnt guarantee eligibility or payment.

The ATO offers free self-paced online courses covering claiming small business tax deductions, GST essentials, and strengthening small business fundamentals. Small business benchmarks are also available to compare performance against similar businesses in the same industry.

Businesses can subscribe to the ATOs free Small Business Newsletter for updates, or contact their tax professional for advice specific to their circumstances.

Related reading:

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The House of Representatives has inaugurated an Ad Hoc Committee on Illegal Mining, vowing to block the estimated $9 billion Nigeria loses every year to illicit mining operations across the country.

Chairman of the committee, Sanni Abdulraheem (APC, Kogi), described illegal mining as a national scourge that robs Nigeria of revenue, fuels insecurity, and devastates the environment.

It is estimated that Nigeria loses approximately $9 billion annually due to illegal mining activities. This theft of our resources, which should be enriching our nation, has gone on for far too long. It is time to put an end to it, Mr Abdulraheem said during the committees inauguration on Wednesday in Abuja.

Illegal mining has long been a major challenge in Nigerias extractive sector, depriving the country of billions in revenue and exacerbating insecurity in mineral-rich regions such as Zamfara, Niger, and Kogi states.

The federal government has, in recent years, intensified crackdowns through joint security operations, but widespread artisanal and illicit mining continues to thrive, often linked to criminal networks and cross-border smuggling of gold, lithium, and other precious minerals.

Mr Abdulraheem said the committees primary mandate is to block revenue leakages, promote transparency, and ensure that the countrys mineral wealth contributes fully to national development.

Focus on revenue accountability

The committee chairman stressed that every naira generated from Nigerias abundant natural resources must benefit the country, not criminal networks or corrupt actors.

As we move forward, one of the core objectives of this committee is to block the revenue leakages caused by illegal mining and associated activities, which not only steal from our national treasury but also hinder legitimate mining operations that could contribute substantially to Nigerias internally generated revenue, he stated.

The lawmaker said the committee will strengthen revenue-tracking mechanisms and ensure that the full benefits of Nigerias mining sector flow directly into government coffers.

Environmental and security impacts

Mr Abdulraheem also highlighted the grave environmental and security consequences of illegal mining, stressing that the activities not only fuel insecurity but also pollute waterways, degrade forests, and displace vulnerable communities.

This, he said, is a matter of national urgency that needs to be tackled head-on.

He assured that the committee will leave no stone unturned in discharging its constitutional responsibility to expose corruption, curb malpractice, and safeguard the nations resources.

Ajaokuta Steel revival

The committee chairman also spoke on the Ajaokuta Steel Company, which he described as a symbol of unrealised potential.

He, however, expressed optimism that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has shown unprecedented political will to revive the long-dormant industrial asset.

For many years, the Ajaokuta Steel Company has stood as a symbol of unrealised potential. However, I am proud to say that it is now on track to fulfill its true promise, Mr Abdulraheem noted.

The appointment of an indigenous professional to lead its revival gives us hope for the future of Nigerias steel industry. Ajaokuta is poised to become an economic game-changer and a cornerstone for industrialisation, job creation, and long-term growth.

He thanked the Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, for his confidence in the committees leadership and mandate.

Over 500 illegal miners arrested  NSCDC

Meanwhile, representing the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Commander of Mining Marshals, Attah Onoja, pledged the Corps full cooperation with the committee.

He disclosed that since the launch of the Mining Marshals operation in March 2024, the NSCDC has arrested more than 500 illegal miners, with about 270 currently facing trial.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Wednesday screened 176 exceptional underage candidates who scored high marks in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the screening exercise was conducted simultaneously in Abuja, Owerri in Imo State and Lagos.

It was designed to ensure that only outstanding and well-prepared candidates below the age of 16 are considered for admission into tertiary institutions for the 2025/2026 academic session.

The chairperson of the Abuja centre for the screening, Taoheed Adedoja, a professor, expressed satisfaction with the smooth conduct of the exercise.

On the screening procedure, Mr Adedoja explained that candidates first sat for a written examination before proceeding to face-to-face interviews.

They did the first paper which took like 20 minutes and after that, the papers were marked and they proceeded to the second session, which is face-to-face interactions.

Twenty-two (22) candidates were screened here in Abuja centre, but nationwide the figure is 176.

The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, would determine when the results of the screening would be released, Mr Adedoja said.

Also speaking, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Mohammed Dandutse, commended JAMB for providing a platform for talented underage candidates to demonstrate their abilities.

Now, they are giving leverage to the underage so that they can go to the universities based on their ability to pass these exams.

It is very important for them (underage) to be assessed because of the maturity of focus.

It is better that the exam is carried out so that the best talents can be selected and it will pave the way for the development of this country, Mr Dandutse said.

The lawmaker reaffirmed the National Assemblys commitment to supporting President Bola Tinubus education policies.

He commended JAMB for its consistency and transparency.

On his part, the chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies, Oboku Oforji, lauded the students for their outstanding performance.

Mr Oforji, who also monitored the exercise in Abuja, said it reflected Nigerias competitiveness in education across Africa.

He commended the candidates for their orderly behaviour and assured that the screening process would strictly adhere to the guidelines provided by JAMB.

NAN reports that the official age for university admission in Nigeria is 18 years, though the National Policy allows entry from age 16.

A total of 41,027 candidates applied under the category of exceptionally brilliant underage candidates for the 2025 UTME, but only 599 scored 80 percent and above.

Some were later disqualified for not meeting the same benchmark in their O-Level or Post-UTME results, leaving only 176 confirmed for final assessment.

The screening panel comprised representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), Vice Chancellors, the Gifted School, among others.

(NAN)
reducing Nigerias violence to the persecution of Christians by Muslims is misleading. It ignores the Muslim families who have been slaughtered in Zamfara by bandits. It ignores the Fulani herders who have been killed in reprisal raids in Benue. It ignores the Shia Muslims gunned down by soldiers in Zaria. It ignores the many times that Christian and Muslim youths alike have taken to the streets in Kano, Jos, and Kaduna to kill one another, while politicians watched from a safe distance. To pick out one group as the only victim is to miss the fact that all ordinary Nigerians are victims.

In recent weeks, the idea has again surfaced that Christians are being deliberately targeted for extermination in Nigeria. This claim has found its way into international conversations, where it often becomes simplified into the image of Muslims, and specifically the Fulani, waging a holy war against Christian communities. That narrative is not new. It has deep roots in Nigerias political history. For decades in the South, there has been a belief that the Fulani are pursuing an agenda to Islamise the country. People still recall the phrase about the Fulani trying to dip the Quran into the Atlantic. What is meant by that is that Muslims, led by the Fulani, want to impose their faith from Sokoto to Lagos and from Baga to Badagry.

This story gathered fresh momentum when Muhammadu Buhari became president. Buhari was Fulani, and his government coincided with the peak of farmer and herder clashes across the Middle Belt. These clashes were bloody. Villages in Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, and Nasarawa suffered repeated attacks. Because farmers were mostly non-Fulani and herders were mostly Fulani, it was easy for many to conclude that these killings were part of a Fulani plan to subjugate Christian populations. The fact that a Fulani man sat in the Presidency completed the conspiracy in the minds of many.

But this is not the whole truth. Nigeria has failed to work for its people, regardless of faith or ethnicity. It has failed Muslims in Borno and Yobe who have been massacred by Boko Haram, just as it has failed Christians in Plateau and Benue who have been attacked by militias. Boko Haram has bombed mosques in Kano and Maiduguri and has also burnt churches in Chibok and Gwoza. When extremists stormed the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok in 2014, most of the students they abducted were Christians. But when extremists attacked mosques in Mubi, Konduga, and Potiskum, hundreds of Muslims were slaughtered while they prayed. If the story is that only Christians are victims, then the thousands of Muslim villagers buried after Boko Haram raids are written out of history.

The problem is deeper and more corrosive. Nigerias political elite has perfected the art of weaponising division to cover up its failures. When a politician is in power, he tells his followers that everything is under control. When he loses power, he returns to his village and tells poor people that government is sponsoring terrorism against them. He encourages them to rise against the state, not because he believes the state is sponsoring terror, but because it gives him a way to mobilise anger and regain influence. Once he finds his way back into office, the same villagers are abandoned again. Their poverty remains and their insecurity persists. The same political elite then goes back to Abuja to dine with those he once accused of genocide.

When international commentators frame Nigerias crisis as simply Christians being killed, they fall into the same trap that Nigerian politicians set for their citizens. They make it a story of identity, instead of a story of power. The truth is that whether the president is Christian, like Goodluck Jonathan was, or Muslim like Muhammadu Buhari, the lives of poor Nigerians remain the same. Under Jonathan, Muslim villagers in the North-East were massacred by Boko Haram.

This pattern is not new. In Kaduna, the recurring violence between southern Kaduna communities and Hausa Fulani groups has often been presented as a religious war. But when you examine it closely, you find that politicians have used the divisions to shore up their bases, while failing to deliver security or development to either side. In Jos, cycles of reprisal attacks between Christians and Muslims have claimed lives since the early 1990s. But the political leadership of Plateau at all levels of the state, regardless of whether Christian or Muslim, has rarely invested in opportunities that could reduce tensions. They thrive on keeping the people divided.

That is why reducing Nigerias violence to the persecution of Christians by Muslims is misleading. It ignores the Muslim families who have been slaughtered in Zamfara by bandits. It ignores the Fulani herders who have been killed in reprisal raids in Benue. It ignores the Shia Muslims gunned down by soldiers in Zaria. It ignores the many times that Christian and Muslim youths alike have taken to the streets in Kano, Jos, and Kaduna to kill one another, while politicians watched from a safe distance. To pick out one group as the only victim is to miss the fact that all ordinary Nigerians are victims.

When international commentators frame Nigerias crisis as simply Christians being killed, they fall into the same trap that Nigerian politicians set for their citizens. They make it a story of identity, instead of a story of power. The truth is that whether the president is Christian, like Goodluck Jonathan was, or Muslim like Muhammadu Buhari, the lives of poor Nigerians remain the same. Under Jonathan, Muslim villagers in the North-East were massacred by Boko Haram. Under Buhari, Christian villagers in Plateau and Benue were attacked by militias. The common factor is not religion. It is the inability of the Nigerian state to protect its citizens and the unwillingness of the political class to address the root causes of poverty and insecurity.

It is tempting for outsiders to look at Nigerias turmoil and conclude that it is a religious war. But that view misses the point and risks deepening the divide. Christians are being killed, yes, but so are Muslims. The real problem is that Nigerias system is broken, and its leaders are exploitative while its citizens are left vulnerable. To frame the crisis as only about Christians ignores the complexity, erases other victims, and lets those who truly bear responsibility off the hook.

It is easier for elites to frame every tragedy as an ethnic or religious war. It is harder to admit that Nigerias ruling class has failed to build a functioning system that delivers justice, education, health, and security. They know that once poor people recognise the truth, their grip on power will weaken. So, they keep the myth alive. They keep saying that government is killing your people and that your religion is under threat. They keep saying that your tribe is under attack, while they continue to shortchange those very people.

This is the larger tragedy of Nigeria. It is not that Fulani are plotting to Islamise the South. It is not that Christians are facing extermination in the hands of Muslims. It is that Nigerias leaders do not care about either Christians or Muslims. They care about how easily ordinary citizens can be divided and manipulated. The easier it is to convince a farmer in Plateau that his enemy is a Fulani herder, the easier it is to convince a herder in Katsina that his enemy is a Tiv farmer. And while those poor men kill each other, the elite shares the spoils of office in Abuja.

It is tempting for outsiders to look at Nigerias turmoil and conclude that it is a religious war. But that view misses the point and risks deepening the divide. Christians are being killed, yes, but so are Muslims. The real problem is that Nigerias system is broken, and its leaders are exploitative while its citizens are left vulnerable. To frame the crisis as only about Christians ignores the complexity, erases other victims, and lets those who truly bear responsibility off the hook. Until we stop telling the story as Christians versus Muslims and start telling it as citizens versus failed governance, nothing will change. Nigerias tragedy is not a holy war but a betrayal of ordinary people by those who rule them.

Mohammed Dahiru Aminu ([email protected]) wrote from Abuja, Nigeria.
If the promises of inclusion, accountability and sustainability are kept, Andoni could finally have a reason to look to the future with pride. But if history repeats itself, the Otakikpo project may become another missed opportunity that weighs on the conscience of the Niger Delta. The responsibility now lies with those tasked with transforming this investment into a genuine turning point for both Andoni and every community that contributes to Nigerias wealth.

A new chapter may be beginning in Andoni, Rivers State, with the announcement of the $400 million Otakikpo Onshore Crude Oil Export Terminal, which is scheduled to be commissioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This development marks Nigerias first new crude export facility in over fifty years and, notably, the first wholly indigenous onshore terminal since the Forcados Terminal was built in 1971. Spearheaded by Green Energy International Limited, operators of the Otakikpo field in OML 11, Ikuru Town, the project stands as a significant milestone for both the region and the countrys energy landscape.

The story of Andoni reflects the broader narrative of the Niger Delta. This is a region rich in natural resources but which has been held back by decades of underdevelopment. Oil companies have worked in the area for years, extracting wealth that fuels the national economy. Yet, the communities that host these operations remain impoverished. For many residents, oil has been extracted for generations, but little has been done to improve their daily lives. For decades, light bulbs have flickered in darkness, taps have run dry and clinics have stood empty. The riches beneath the land have not improved the lives of the people. Schools lack teachers and resources, while many roads remain impassable. Waterways that once supported thriving fishing communities are now polluted. The gap between resource extraction and community wellbeing has created a deep sense of scepticism and disillusionment.

The arrival of the Otakikpo Terminal therefore represents more than a new industrial development; it symbolises a chance to redefine how Nigeria engages with its oil-producing communities. It is a test of the countrys capacity to turn natural wealth into shared prosperity and to demonstrate that development can be both inclusive and sustainable. The question now is whether this project will become a beacon of renewal or another reminder of unfulfilled promises.

If handled with sincerity, the terminal could create real and lasting change. A project of this scale requires significant manpower during construction and operation, providing local young people with jobs, training and technical skills for the future. The supporting infrastructure, such as roads and electricity, can benefit both the terminal and the wider community. If these investments are integrated into regional development plans, they could begin to bridge the gap between potential and reality.

The people of Andoni must therefore take ownership of their future. They cannot afford to be mere observers in a project that will shape their lives. Clear agreements should outline local benefits, job opportunities and commitments to social investments. Community monitoring committees, independent audits and public progress reports can help build trust and keep the project on track. It is also crucial to maintain environmental safeguards, given Andonis delicate coastal and marine ecosystems.

The project could also ignite a new wave of local enterprise. From food vendors and transport operators to maintenance and logistics providers, increased activity could energise the local economy. A well-structured corporate social responsibility programme that addresses the genuine needs of the people could lead to real improvements in education, healthcare and livelihoods. In this way, the Otakikpo project could lay the foundation for a stronger, more empowered Andoni.

However, optimism should be paired with caution. Token gestures presented as development should no longer suffice. Many Niger Delta communities have received projects that were poorly executed, short-lived or irrelevant. The risk of elite capture, where a small group of political or business leaders monopolise the gains, is ever present. Without transparency, accountability and genuine community involvement, the Otakikpo project could easily repeat past mistakes, enriching a few, while leaving many behind.

The people of Andoni must therefore take ownership of their future. They cannot afford to be mere observers in a project that will shape their lives. Clear agreements should outline local benefits, job opportunities and commitments to social investments. Community monitoring committees, independent audits and public progress reports can help build trust and keep the project on track. It is also crucial to maintain environmental safeguards, given Andonis delicate coastal and marine ecosystems.

A fair share of project revenue should be dedicated to public goods that will last beyond the oil era, including well-equipped schools, functional health centres, clean water systems and renewable energy projects for homes and small businesses. These initiatives must be developed in partnership with the community to ensure that they address genuine needs, rather than political convenience.

Ultimately, the Otakikpo Terminal should not be just another oil project. It should be an opportunity to rewrite the story of a people who have contributed so much to Nigeria, but who have yet received so little in return. Success should not be measured by the grandeur of the opening ceremony or the length of the presidential speech, but by whether the project brings lasting and visible improvements to ordinary lives.

Recruitment should be open, inclusive and skills focused, and ensure that qualified young people from Andoni are trained and employed not only during construction but throughout the terminals long-term operations. This would create a generation of skilled local professionals capable of driving growth in both the oil and emerging energy sectors. Independent oversight involving civil society, community leaders and technical experts can enhance credibility and ensure that promises lead to tangible progress.

Ultimately, the Otakikpo Terminal should not be just another oil project. It should be an opportunity to rewrite the story of a people who have contributed so much to Nigeria, but who have yet received so little in return. Success should not be measured by the grandeur of the opening ceremony or the length of the presidential speech, but by whether the project brings lasting and visible improvements to ordinary lives. For the fishermen who rise before dawn, the market women who transport goods across the creeks, the schoolchildren who study under leaking roofs and the families who have waited decades for progress, this terminal must stand not only on their land but also for their land.

If the promises of inclusion, accountability and sustainability are kept, Andoni could finally have a reason to look to the future with pride. But if history repeats itself, the Otakikpo project may become another missed opportunity that weighs on the conscience of the Niger Delta. The responsibility now lies with those tasked with transforming this investment into a genuine turning point for both Andoni and every community that contributes to Nigerias wealth.

Maclean Jacob Eneotu is an energy policy expert based in Glasgow, United Kingdom. He holds a PhD in Chemical and Process Engineering and has worked in regulatory and academic roles.
I begin where truth stands unshaken. There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria. There is terrorism, the same plague that tore through Iraq, Syria and Libya, and now creeps through the very West that once exported it. Yet, Nigeria confronts it daily, in a few regions, without foreign sympathy or selective outrage.

Following renewed claims from certain Western voices, including United States Senator Ted Cruz and television host Bill Maher, alleging Christian persecution in Nigeria, Otega Ogra, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Digital Engagement and Strategy, offers this measured response. It reflects the growing insistence within Africas largest democracy that its story will be told by its own citizens, not rewritten from abroad.

It is remarkable how quickly concern for Nigeria resurfaces whenever some in the West need a new stage for their moral theatre. This time a senator with a well-kept beard and a television comedian have found new applause lines in our pain. Different microphones, same script, same ignorance dressed as concern.

I begin where truth stands unshaken. There is no Christian genocide in Nigeria. There is terrorism, the same plague that tore through Iraq, Syria and Libya, and now creeps through the very West that once exported it. Yet, Nigeria confronts it daily, in a few regions, without foreign sympathy or selective outrage.

Our soldiers, Muslim and Christian alike, fall side-by-side defending one Republic under one flag. Nigeria will not be lectured by those who confuse our struggle for security with a struggle of faith.

Before preaching righteousness, they might read a little history. Islam flourished on our northern plains centuries before America existed. Christianity found harbour on our southern shores before the American Republic was conceived. Both have lived within this geographic expression now called Nigeria longer than that Republic itself, often side by side, rarely apart.

Our constitution forbids any state religion.

Our streets echo with both the imams call to prayer and the Sunday choir. In many homes, Christians and Muslims share one table, one grief, one dream. That is the Nigeria they never see, because unity does not trend.

When a United States senator whose own colleagues have admitted that Washingtons interventions helped arm groups like Boko Haram now accuses Nigeria of religious persecution, the irony borders on self-parody. You cannot set a region on fire and then accuse the victims of arson.

Now the same senator, Ted Cruz, seeks to legislate Nigerias faith from Washington.

That is not religious freedom. That is old colonial arrogance dressed in modern language. Nigeria does not legislate for Texas, and Texas will not legislate for Nigeria.

You cannot wrap interference in scripture and call it compassion. Concern is easy when it costs nothing. Facts are harder when they expose convenience. Nigeria does not seek validation, only accuracy.

The real story of Nigeria is not persecution but perseverance, a nation of more than two hundred million who rise each dawn determined to live together, to fight together, and to build together. We are not perfect, but we are not pawns.

And to the comedian crawling for propaganda dollars, faith in Nigeria is not a punchline. It feeds the hungry, shelters the displaced, and gives hope to the weary.

Mocking belief may earn applause abroad. Here it earns silence, the kind that comes from people too busy rebuilding to laugh.

Nigerias challenge is not faith. It is terror and the exploitation of pain for profit. Those who frame our fight as sectarian warfare only serve the very extremists they claim to condemn.

We recognise the choreography and the dance of shamelessness. This is a coordinated narrative designed to divide, to paint Africas most complex democracy as chaos, and to drain our story of dignity.

But Nigeria does not perform for foreign theatre. We stand, we rebuild, and we believe with partners, not patrons.

As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said, Nigeria may bend, but we do not break. If persecution is what they seek to find, they might begin by examining how many wars were fought in the name of their own exceptionalism. In our culture, when a visitor sets fire to your roof and returns with a bucket, we do not call him a hero.

The real story of Nigeria is not persecution but perseverance, a nation of more than two hundred million who rise each dawn determined to live together, to fight together, and to build together. We are not perfect, but we are not pawns.

Nigeria is not a victim to be pitied. It is a nation to be respected. The cross, the crescent and the ancestral spirit stand here, not in conflict but in covenant, and this is our simple truth. We will defend it calmly, firmly and without apology.

History has taught us that nations built on conviction outlast those built on condescension. Nigeria will outlast both their pity and their prejudice.

Otega Ogra is senior special assistant to the President of Nigeria on Digital Engagement and Strategy. He writes on governance, digital diplomacy and Africas evolving voice in global affairs.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has reaffirmed his administrations strong commitment to innovation and digital transformation, describing technology as a vital driver of modern governance, youth empowerment, and economic growth. Governor Radda made this known on Tuesday, when he received a high-level delegation from the Innovation Support Network (ISN) at the Katsina House, Asokoro, Abuja.

The delegation was led by the Chairman of the ISN Annual Gathering (AG) 2025 Organising Committee, Abdulganiyu Rufai Yakub, and the Chairman of the ISN Board, Charles Emembelu. The visit was part of engagements ahead of the 4th ISN Annual Gathering, scheduled to take place on 26 November 2025, to be jointly hosted by Katsina and Kano States.

The ISN annual gathering is Nigerias largest assembly of innovation hubs, digital leaders, and ecosystem players. It is expected to attract over 1,000 participants from 32 states, including policymakers, investors, startups, and international partners such as NITDA, NCC, GIZ, and other leading organisations.

Welcoming the delegation, Governor Radda who has been named Co-Chair for the 2025 edition, expressed deep appreciation to ISN for selecting Katsina as one of the co-hosts of this landmark national event. Katsina is ready to host a gathering of this magnitude, the governor said, adding: Our youths are creative, energetic, and eager to participate in Nigerias innovation story. As a government, we will continue to open doors for partnerships that equip our young people with digital skills and prepare them for the future of work.

Governor Radda further revealed that the Federal Government has approved the establishment of a Technology Incubation Hub in Katsina State, with the construction expected to commence soon. Just recently, Katsina was selected to host a new Federal Government supported Technology Incubation Hub, he said. Once completed, it will strengthen our position as a centre for research, innovation, and technology-driven entrepreneurship in Northern Nigeria.

He said that his administration has made substantial investments in digital infrastructure, e-governance, and human capital development. He also highlighted the creation of the Katsina State Directorate of Information and Communication Technology (KATDICT) as a key step toward establishing a youth-led digital ecosystem in the state. Our collaboration with ISN aligns perfectly with our vision to make Katsina a leading digital hub in Northern Nigeria. We are proud to partner with an organization that believes, as we do, that innovation and technology are central to sustainable development, he stated.

Mr Radda assured the delegation of Katsinas full readiness to deliver a successful 2025 Annual Gathering, pledging that the event will showcase the states growing digital capacity. We are not just co-hosts, we are active contributors to Nigerias innovation journey, he added. Together with ISN, we will build an ecosystem where ideas flourish, startups grow, and young innovators lead the next generation of solutions.

In his remarks, Abdulganiyu Rufai Yakub, Chairman of the ISN AG 2025 Organising Committee, commended Governor Radda for his leadership and commitment to technology-driven governance. Your Excellencys vision in embracing innovation as a tool for inclusive development is truly commendable, he said. The ISN Annual Gathering 2025 will demonstrate how strong collaboration between government, the private sector, and innovators can accelerate growth across Nigeria, Mr Yakub stressed.

Also speaking, Charles Emembelu, Chairman of the ISN Board, emphasided the importance of partnerships in strengthening Nigerias innovation landscape. ISNs strength lies in collaboration, he noted. The decision by Katsina and Kano States to co-host this years gathering reflects how regional alliances can help unlock Nigerias full innovation potential.

The delegation also praised Governor Radda for establishing KATDICT, describing it as a model for digital governance and youth engagement in Northern Nigeria. They commended his inclusive approach to leadership, particularly his decision to appoint young professionals to key technology-driven roles. What youve built through KATDICT has inspired confidence among young innovators, Mr Emembelu remarked adding that Katsina is not only talking about digital transformation it is living it.

The ISN Annual Gathering remains Nigerias foremost platform for innovation networking, knowledge exchange, and ecosystem development. bringing together government leaders, investors, academics, and civil society to shape the nations digital future.
In the pursuit for improved corporate governance, enhanced performance and effective service delivery to the nation and citizens, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Tuesday held a knowledge exchange session, leading to a strong committing to inter-agency collaboration, peer review of operations.

The session held at the Nigerian Content Tower (NCT), Swali, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and was attended by select management staff of the NDDC. The Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, spoke through the Director, Corporate Services, Abdulmalik Halilu, and observed the benefit of having a review system whereby sister organisations periodically compare notes and evaluate each others performance with a view to identifying and eliminating weaknesses.

The NCDMB Executive Secretary appreciated the Commissions recognition of the Board as the number one institution for a peer review mechanism, noting that the engagement would serve as a two-way traffic where the Board could gain useful insights from the NDDC team to improve its own standards, while it shared its own experience and knowledge with the visitors.

Let us compare notes and adopt what works, he stated, pointing out that Sessions like this exemplify what institutions should be doing to improve service delivery to stakeholders, which he listed as government, the Nigerian people, communities and oil and gas companies.

In regard to governance framework, the Executive Secretary threw light on some salient aspects, noting that NCDMB has an Anti-Corruption Unit that helps to identify vulnerable areas, and that the Board is always on the pathway towards continuous improvement. According to him, some of the automation in Human Resources, management systems and several other automated activities are all products of periodic system checks.

Mr Ogbe said the NCDMB and NDDC have a number of areas where collaboration would be mutually beneficial in furthering their respective statutory responsibilities. Themultibillion-naira Oloibiri Oil and Gas Museum and Research Centre, he noted, is a project where the Commissions involvement is expected, especially after the NDDCs Management made such a pledge at the groundbreaking ceremony in February 2023.

He also drew attention to the Boards Community Content Guideline, which he explained is part of corporate strategy to have host communities integrated into the oil and gas value chain, through employment and business opportunities for youths, funding and policy support for contractors, and establishment of project offices, among other things, as stipulated by the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010.

The Board, he explained, has also instituted a Back-to-the-Creeks initiative, which seeks to provide targeted interventions in oil- and gas-producing communities to empower youths through skills acquisition and appropriate incentives, and motivation of teachers in schools within rural communities through provision of adequate educational infrastructure.

According to him, The more we invest in young talents in host communities the more they are made available to participate in the oil and gas activities, and as we build entrepreneurs they are integrated into the oil and gas supply chain.

In his own response, NDDCs Director of Corporate Governance, Mr Anele Stephen Nzelaw, commended the NCDMB for its exceptional performance and accomplishments within a short space of time. He said his team was at the corporate headquarters of the NCDMB to learn those things that have made your organization achieve so much within such a short period.

Citing the world-class fabrication and construction yards that have emerged with the advent of the NOGICD Act and the Board, and massive programmes of human capital development, he noted, Youve been around for only 15 years. His organisation, according to him, could learn from the Board.

The NDDC director disclosed that the new Management was poised for far-reaching reforms, that having been around for 25 years with mixed results, the present Management thinks that it is time to move our businesses from a transactional dimension to a strategic transformational level.

In furtherance of that plan, he noted, the Commission decided to develop a governance framework by engaging a foremost organisation, KPMG. Such a framework, he explained, would ensure continuity of policies and programmes. He said that the governance framework of the NCDMB, as well as strategies, internal controls, and accountability measures were of especial interest to his team.

The addresses were followed by presentations on a variety of topics. Dr Zuwairat Azekome, Supervisor, Transformational Projects, of the NCDMB, spoke on NCDMBs Governance Framework, Projects and Programme Implementation; Ms Onajero Osiebe, General Manager, Human Resources Division, spoke on Capacity for Governance and Organisational Discipline.

Similarly, Ms Seleke-Ere Owoupele, Manager, SERVICOM, made a presentation on NCDMB Service Level Charter and the Journey to the Top of Transparency Ranking, while Ms Mercy Azibayam Egba, Supervisor, Audit, spoke on NCDMBs Internal Audit processes.

The visit was concluded with a guided tour through different sections of the Nigerian Content Tower, including the Technology Innovation and Incubation Centre, and the 1,000-capacity ultramodern Conference Centre.
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, has commended the quality of facilities at the Gateway International Airport, describing the airport as one of the best in the country. Fielding questions from newsmen after touching down at the airport on a Valuejet commercial flight from Abuja, the minister lauded Governor Dapo Abiodun for putting up such a gigantic project in a short time.

He said: Today, I just landed at the Gateway International Airport, and I understand this is a maiden flight. We landed very smoothly, and it was a very good drive; it was a smooth drive, and we landed safely.

This terminal building is one of the best in this country; it was well constructed, it is functional, and it is well maintained. I can see that if the government can maintain this airport from today onwards, I think we will have one of the best edifices we could have in airport design.

He (Governor Abiodun) has tried. These are some of the dividends of democracy we need. Look at the time he came in and look at what he has now put in place. These are the kind of things that we need for any state governor to do. We quite appreciate him, and we commend him for what he has done with this airport, the minister spoke further.

Also speaking, the National President of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Samsudeen Apelogun, who was one of the passengers on the Valuejets return trip from Abuja, attested to the quality of facilities at the airport and called for its usage for Hajj operations.

He said: I would like to seek the indulgence of His Excellency to come and use the Gateway International Airport for the airlift of pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj; we need to fly from here to Saudi Arabia.

I came back from Abuja this afternoon, and the trip was fantastic. So far, so good, the trip was pleasant, and it is a remarkable and significant achievement for the good people of Ogun State, especially for Governor Dapo Abiodun. This is the second largest airport with the longest runway in Africa and the first in Nigeria; it has a 4 km runway. The runway is great, and the facilities here are of international standard, the ACOMORAN president emphasised.

Speaking on his flight experience, Mr Apelogun said: From this airport to Sagamu, it wont take me more than 10 minutes. Definitely, it will add value to the socio-economic development of this state. It will create job opportunities and ease all the stress of traveling from Abuja, from Lagos, and from Lagos to Sagamu.

We will continue to patronize this airport. I am a frequent traveler; I fly to Abuja two or three times a week, and for people like me, I dont need to say anything other than a big thank you to Governor Dapo Abiodun for this achievement.
Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has reaffirmed his administrations strong commitment to expanding broadband access, safeguarding digital infrastructure, and promoting inclusive digital growth. He described broadband as the new lifeline of economic prosperity and national security. Governor Radda made this known on Wednesday in Abuja during the Business Roundtable on Improving Investments in Broadband Connectivity and Safeguarding Critical National Information Infrastructure, jointly organised by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

Governor Radda outlined his administrations ambitious digital roadmap, targeting 70% broadband penetration and a 2,000km fiber network linking key urban and rural areas by the year 2030. He added that the state has created a dedicated Directorate of ICT, headed by a young professional, to coordinate all technology-driven initiatives. He said that plans are also underway to extend high-speed internet connectivity to all 34 local government areas.

The governor further disclosed that Katsina State has completely waived Right of Way (RoW) charges, allowing seamless interconnectivity among government institutions, including hospitals, schools, ministries, and the State Assembly. We believe that reducing the cost of access is critical to unlocking private investment and building a sustainable digital economy, he said.

Governor Radda called for stronger collaboration between federal and state governments to protect telecom infrastructure and attract new investments in broadband deployment. Katsina is ready to work with the NCC, NGF, and other stakeholders to safeguard our digital backbone and bring broadband connectivity to every community, he assured.

He commended the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Aminu Maida, the World Bank, and the NGF for convening the high-level session, which brought together policymakers, investors, and regulators to discuss new strategies for broadband expansion and the protection of national digital assets. Describing the recent report of over 20,000 fiber cuts across Nigeria within eight months as deeply alarming, Governor Radda emphasised that the protection of telecom infrastructure must be seen as a shared national duty between government, communities, and investors.

Investors will only commit when infrastructure is secureThat is why in Katsina, we have built a community-based system that protects both public and private assets, Governor Radda said. He explained that Katsina has established Community-Level Committees in all 361 wards, made up of traditional leaders, religious figures, youth, and women representatives. These committees are charged with protecting public infrastructure and promoting community ownership of development projects, he disclosed.

In his remarks, the NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida commanded Governor Radda and other participating governors for their proactive roles in promoting broadband development and infrastructure protection. He noted that broadband access has become a national necessity, driving productivity, education, healthcare, and security across the country.

The NCC Executive Vice Chairman revealed that Nigerias broadband penetration currently stands at 48%, with over 140 million active users, and that a 10% increase in broadband coverage can boost GDP by as much as 1.4%. He praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the Presidential Order on Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) in June 2024.a key policy that enhances the protection of telecom assets nationwide.

Mr Maida also applauded Katsina, Kwara, and Nasarawa States for eliminating RoW charges, noting that 11 states now maintain zero fees, while 17 others adhere to the 145 per meter benchmark. He further announced that the NCC has introduced two major tools: the Ease of Doing Business Portal, which links states for faster project approvals, and the Nigeria Digital Connectivity Index, designed to assess states digital readiness.

Mr Maida lamented the growing rate of vandalism. with more than 20,000 fiber cuts and 4,000 thefts recorded between January and August 2025. He urged states to adopt proven coordination models, such as Lagos LASIMRA, to better secure telecom assets. In todays world, prosperity depends not on oil, but on data, connectivity, and people, Mr Maida said. The fiber pipelines we are building today are the real lifelines of our national economy, he added.

In his address, the Director-General of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Abdullateef Shittu, who represented the Forums Chairman, Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, said the Roundtable underscored the growing role of states in Nigerias digital transformation. He noted that state governments are taking bold steps to expand broadband infrastructure, strengthen ICT governance, and create policy environments that attract investment. The time for action is nowStates are ready to reform outdated policies and build partnerships that bring digital access to every citizen, Mr Shittu stated.

Also speaking, Ali Mohammed, Director of Home Finance at the Federal Ministry of Finance and National Programme Coordinator of the SABER Programme, who represented the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, described the Roundtables theme as both timely and strategic. He explained that broadband access directly drives economic growth, with over half of Nigerias GDP now generated by the services sector. He emphasised that achieving broadband expansion will require stronger private sector participation, backed by transparent policies, tax incentives, and access to finance.

He highlighted that the World Banksupported SABER Programme is improving Nigerias business environment through a $750 million facility already benefitting 20 states, including Katsina. Broadband is not just about connectivity, Mr Mohammed said. Its about productivity, opportunity, and shared prosperity. Together, we can build the infrastructure that powers a stronger, digital Nigeria, he pointed out. He reaffirmed the Federal Governments commitment to supporting broadband expansion, protecting critical infrastructure, and promoting inclusive digital growth nationwide.

Those in attendance at the Roundtable included Ibrahim Abdullahi, Chief Executive Officer of the Nasarawa Investment and Development Agency, who represented Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State; Air Vice Marshal E E Effiong, Director of Critical National Infrastructure Protection, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), who represented the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; as well as representatives of the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).

Also present were Alhaji Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir, Chief of Staff to the governor,the Executive Commissioners of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Abraham Oshadami and Rimini Makama, alongside development partners, industry players, and representatives of key government agencies
A bank official on Wednesday told the FCT High Court in Abuja how a former Kogi State Government House accountant, who is standing fraud trial alongside ex-Governor Yahaya Bello, withdrew over N1 billion from the government houses bank account within nine months.

Abimbola Williams, a compliance officer at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and the third prosecution witness, said a total of N640 million, which is more than half of the months-long over N1 billion transactions, was withdrawn within six days.

Ms Williams spotted 64 transactions totalling N640 million on page 12 of the government houses account statement earlier tendered as an exhibit.

These transactions were carried out in six days from 31 July 2019 to 6 August 2019, the bank official said.

The former Government House accountant, Abdulsalami Hudu, who allegedly withdrew the funds, is the third defendant in the trial in which former Governor Bello is seen as the prime accused person.

Mr Bello, who served as Governor of Kogi State from January 2016 to January 2024, is facing trial alongside Umar Shuaibu Oricha and Mr Hudu.

They face 16 counts of fraud involving alleged diversion of over N110 billion belonging to Kogi State.

The charges include criminal breach of trust involving the alleged diversion of the funds entrusted in Mr Bellos care as Kogi State governor.

The EFCC arraigned them on 27 November 2024, when all the defendants pleaded not guilty.

Details of transactions

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Ms Williams earlier appeared in June on a subpoena, presenting bank documents relating to the account of the Kogi State Government House covering relevant periods of Mr Bellos time as governor.

Led in evidence by the EFCCs lawyer, Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), on Wednesday, the witness gave a breakdown of transactions considered to be suspicious by the EFCC on the bank statement of the Kogi State Government.

She noted that on 12 December 2018, a total of N100 million was withdrawn in 10 tranches by Mr Hudu..

She said that on 4 January 2019, Mr Hudu withdrew N10 million, N8.5 million, N7,350,000, and N4,150,000.

The witness also said Mr Hudu withdrew N8 million, N6.5 million, and N5.5 million on 8 January 2019.

She added that, on 11 January 2019, Mr Hudu presented five cheques of N10 million each, totalling N50 million.

Similarly, five withdrawals of N10 million each were allegedly made by Mr Hudu on 16 and 21 January 2019 and 20 February 2019.

On 7 March, ten cash withdrawals valued at N10 million each, totalling N100 million, were made by Mr Hudu, the witness said.

Ms Williams identified similar outflows on pages 1-251 of the account statement with Mr Hudu as a cash beneficiary.

Special security fund

During cross-examination by Mr Hudus lawyer, A.M. Aliyu, a SAN, the witness, said some of withdrawals were entered as special security funds for then-Governor Bello and the administration of the government house.

On 27 May 2019, there was a credit entry of N100 million. It showed that it was for His Excellencys special security fund, Ms Williams said.

Responding to a further question, she confirmed that Mr Hudu withdrew the N100 million from the Government House account the same day.

Ms Williams maintained that the bank did not breach any regulation in the transactions as no single cheque withdrawal exceeded the N10 million threshold.

She explained that the withdrawals were carried out in multiple transactions of N10 million each. She added that because the cumulative amount withdrawn exceeded N10 million, the bank was obligated to, and did, file a suspicious transaction report.

While fielding questions from Messrs Bello and Orichas lawyer, Joseph Daudu, a SAN, the witness identified 15 signatories to the governments account that were changed over time.

She said three names, including Mr Hudu, who was introduced to the bank as an accountant of the government house in 2008.

Ms Williams noted that Mr Hudu was given an authorisation on 29 November 2019 to serve as the governments representative.

She pointed out that the third defendant was not the only one who made cash withdrawals from the governments account.

Fourth prosecution witness testifies

A compliance officer at Ecobank, Jesutomi Akoni, also appeared as the fourth prosecution witness after Ms Williams was discharged on Wednesday.

EFCCs lawyer, Mr Pinheiro, tendered through the witness a certificate of identification, a cover letter, and an Ecobank account statement of Moses Wanzu, whose relationship with the case was yet to be ascertained as of the time of reporting.

Mr Aliyu objected to the admissibility of the documents due to a procedural error. The cover letter was addressed to Federal High Court judge Emeka Nwite who is handling a sister case in Abuja.

The prosecution lawyer retrieved the letter. However, the judge admitted the bank statement and accompanying documents as exhibits, marking them as Exhibits H and J.

Ms Akoni told the court that the account holder, Mr Wanzu, deposited N3 million into the account on 11 February 2016. He said Abdulwahab Sabo deposited N15 million on 22 February 2016.

She also said Shehu Bello deposited N20 million and N19 million on 21 and 30 March 2016, respectively.

However, during cross-examination, the witness denied knowing the identity of the depositors or the source of the money.

Mr Pinheiro presented Victoria Oluwafemi, a compliance officer with Polaris Bank, as the fifth prosecution witness. But the court deferred her testimony till the next sitting.

Trial judge Maryanne Anenih adjourned the matter until 9 October.

In the 16 counts preferred against Mr Bello and his co-defendants, the EFCC, accused them of conspiring to divert over N110 billion from the Kogi States coffers.

It also alleged in various counts that Mr Bello dishonestly acquired for himself properties located in choice areas of Abuja and Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the stolen funds.

In June, PREMIUM TIMES reported that other witnesses had testified on two Abuja houses linked to Mr Bello by the EFCC.
A military officer, Samson Haruna, allegedly set ablaze by his wife over a domestic dispute, has died.

Mr Haruna, a lieutenant, was regimental medical officer at the 6 Battalion, Wellington Bassey Barracks, Ibagwa, Abak Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The deceased, who hails from Benue State, wedded his wife, Retyit Dalong, in Jos, Plateau State, in April.

He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 2024 after completing his medical training.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the incident occurred on 22 September, about five months after their wedding, and that the couple had been embroiled in recurring disagreements over alleged infidelity, which culminated in a confrontation that night.

The doctor was reportedly sleeping when his wife poured petrol over him and set him on fire. He sustained severe burns, and was initially treated at a clinic in the barracks before he was transferred to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Uyo, where he later died from injuries.

Army condemns killing

The Nigerian Army has condemned the killing of Mr Haruna and commiserated with his family over the tragic death, Punch newspaper reported.

According to the newspaper, the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Lawal Muhammed, in a statement on Tuesday, said the doctor died as a result of burns inflicted in a domestic dispute with his wife.

Mr Muhammed said preliminary investigation revealed that the incident occurred after a heated argument between the late officer and his wife, stemming from a family crisis.

The Nigerian Army strongly condemns this act of domestic violence, recognising the imperative of peaceful coexistence and respect within families. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of Lieutenant Haruna.

The Nigerian Army will continue to advocate healthy relations, address domestic violence and foster a culture of respect and dialogue within families and communities, Mr Muhammed said, calling on all parties to remain calm while awaiting the outcome of the military police investigation.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) committee set up to assess the health status of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has sought for more time to submit its report.

Lawyer to the State Security Service (SSS), Suraj Saada, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), told trial judge, James Omotosho, of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday

Mr Saada informed the judge that the medical panel had yet to conclude its assignment.

He said the panel planned to do a thorough job and should be given adequate time.

He suggested that the committee be given another one week to enable it conclude its task.

Mr Kanus counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, also a SAN, did not object to the one week extension sought by Mr Saada.

Trial judge Omotosho adjourned the matter until 16 October.

The medical panel

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the judge had issued an order on 26 September directing the NMA president to constitute a team of medical experts to examine Mr Kanus state of health.

The judge also mandated the committee to, among others, ascertain whether or not Mr Kanu was fit to undergo his ongoing terrorism trial.

The judge ordered the panel, which he said should be between eight to 10 members, to assess the State Security Service (SSS) facility in Abuja for its suitability to take care of Mr Kanus health while he faces trial.

He said the panel should determine if Mr Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), should be moved to National Hospital for urgent medical attention as he requested.

Mr Kanu, who is standing trial for terrorism and treasonable felony, has been in the State Security Service (SSS) custody in Abuja since June 2021.

The IPOB leader faces charges of carrying out terrorist activities, including broadcasting threats across Nigeria, to achieve the secession of Nigerias Igbo-dominated southeastern states and parts of neighbouring states as a sovereign nation.

He denied all charges filed against him in the case, which commenced in 2015. The trial commenced afresh before Judge Omotosho in 2025.

Arguments and courts orders

The courts ruling was prompted by Mr Kanus application for his transfer to the National Hospital for treatment based on a report of evaluation of his health by a professor of medicine.

His lawyer, Mr Ikpeazu, told the judge during the 26 September proceedings that the professors medical report dated 24 September was addressed to the SSS.

He contended that the SSS medical teams assertion that Mr Kanu did not consult them to obtain the medical report was not sufficient to deny the defendant access to medical care at the National Hospital.

Mr Ikpeazu also argued that the national security concerns raised by the SSS were baseless, as he argued that the National Assembly, where his client sought to be treated, is owned by the federal government.

Objecting to the application, the prosecution lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo, a SAN, accused Mr Kanu of changing his medication without the knowledge of the SSS medical experts who had been treating him for four years.

He noted that the SSS had made efforts for Mr Kanu to be examined by medical consultants.

He added that the federal government commissioned the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to set up a panel to probe Mr Kanus fresh report and produce an independent report on his medical fitness.

He faulted the medical consultants suggestion that Mr Kanu be ultimately flown to the United States for treatment, maintaining that he is a flight risk.

Judge Omotosho then asked the parties to address him on Mr Kanus fitness to continue the trial.

The hearing led him to order the NMA to constitute a panel for further investigation

Mr Omotosho equally ordered that the chief medical director of Abuja National Hospital or his representative must be a member of the panel, Mr Kanu, having chosen the hospital for his treatment.

The report of this panel set up by the president of NMA shall be signed by the chairman and secretary of the committee.

This report shall be filed within eight days of this ruling, the judge ordered.

(NAN)
The Senator representing Enugu East District, Kelvin Chukwu, has defected from the Labour Party (LP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Chukwus letter of defection was read by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, during plenary on Wednesday.

PREMIUM TIMES reported last month that Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State would soon defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, except there is a last-minute change of plans.

Sources familiar with the governors plan said Mr Mbah has consulted widely with political associates and leaders in Enugu and beyond in recent weeks regarding his planned move.

Two former governors of Enugu, Chimaroke Nnamani and Sullivan Chime, as well as a former Senate President, Ken Nnamani  all now members or supporters of the APC  are believed to have played critical roles in persuading Mr Mbah to join the ruling party.

It is unclear if Senator Chukwus defection is connected to Governor Mbahs plan to defect to the APC.

If the governor eventually defects to the APC, it would mark yet another major setback for the PDP, which has governed Enugu since 1999 but is now engulfed in a deepening national crisis.

His planned exit comes about three months after Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom and four months after Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta left the main opposition party for the APC.

(NAN)
Many Nigerians have condemned a former Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, exposed by a PREMIUM TIMES investigation for certificate forgery.

The Nigerians also called on authorities to prosecute the former minister.

A painstaking two-year investigation published by PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday revealed that Mr Nnaji forged his degree and NYSC certificates which he submitted to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian Senate during his ministerial confirmation in 2023.

The politician submitted the discredited certificates to the Senate and other Nigerian authorities as part of his credentials to support his ministerial appointment in 2023.

He resigned from his position as minister on Tuesday, about three days after this newspaper published the investigation.

The former minister could face up to 21 years imprisonment or more, a PREMIUM TIMES review of various Nigerian laws showed.

Resignation inadequate, probe all ministers certificates

Reacting to the development, a former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, criticised President Bola Tinubus administration for disguising Mr Nnajis exit as a voluntary resignation.

In a post on his Facebook page on Wednesday, Atiku said Mr Nnajis certificate scandal was a national shame and that the manner with which he resigned was an attempt to whitewash the scandal that typifies the forgery-ridden character of the government.

Let the truth be told: Uche Nnaji should not have been allowed the courtesy of resignation. He should have been summarily dismissed and prosecuted for deceit and falsification.

By permitting him to quietly exit through the backdoor, the Tinubu administration has once again demonstrated that it is an assembly of forgers, impostors, and morally bankrupt individuals masquerading as public servants, the former vice-president argued.

Tinubu, all ministers should be probed

Atiku, the 2023 PDP presidential candidate, also contended that Mr Nnajis certificate forgery scandal was not an isolated case, noting that Mr Tinubu has been enmeshed in controversies surrounding his identity, age, and academic records.

I, therefore, call for an independent, transparent, and comprehensive investigation into the academic and professional credentials of all members of the Federal Executive Council, beginning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu himself, he said.

The former vice-president criticised the State Security Service for failing to detect Mr Nnajis forged certificates during ministerial screening even as they screened out Nasir El-Rufai for security concerns at the time.

Like Mr Nnaji, like others

In a long opinion article published shortly before Mr Nnajis resignation on Tuesday, Arise TV programme anchor, Reuben Abati, wondered why the former minister and other Nigerian politicians often claim to possess what they do not have.

Mr Abati, also a lawyer, recalled a similar case involving the then-Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, whose NYSC certificate forgery was equally exposed by a PREMIUM TIMES investigation in 2018, forcing her to resign before relocation to London.

He noted that security agencies ought to have carried out checks on all nominees for high positions of authority in Nigeria.

In cases like this and Adeosuns before now, security agencies are supposed to carry out checks on all nominees for high positions.

How effective are those agencies? They missed it with Kemi Adeosun. They have also missed it apparently, again with Minister Nnaji, he said.

Refund all your earnings, face prosecution

Nobert Ogboe, a Facebook user, said the minister should be made to face the law.

I think he should be arrested and prosecuted, and also made to refund all he has earned with interest as a minister, Mr Ogboe wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday.

He said the prosecution of the former minister was necessary to serve as a deterrent to others.

Frank Tietie, a lawyer, agreed with Mr Ogboe.

Speaking on Wednesday when he appeared as a guest on Arise TVs The Morning Show, Mr Tietie said the former minister committed grievous offences against the law and Nigerian institutions.

Uche Nnaji has actually committed grievous offences, not only against the Nigerian educational system, not only against the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but also against the criminal laws in this country, he said.

I expect that beyond prosecution, Uche Nnaji should be prepared to return whatever he has got as a result of use of that certificate that is now presumptuously fake in the wake of that resignation, the lawyer stated, citing a Supreme Court ruling backing the position.

On Monday, about 24 hours before Mr Nnajis resignation, Inibehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer, said the then-minister must be suspended immediately and then surrender himself to security agencies for investigation.

This minister must be immediately suspended, pending the conclusion of investigations. He has to surrender himself tomorrow morning (Tuesday) to the police for investigation for forgery, Mr Effiong said when he appeared on Channels TVs Politics Today.

Otherwise, they will be telling Nigerians that we are running a government of certificate forgers and criminality. The allegation remains an allegation, but the government must show willingness to investigate and address it.

For Abbey Oniyide, another Facebook user whose profile says he is based in Lagos, allowing Mr Nnaji to go scot-free would spell more doom for Nigeria.

With his resignation, he should be prosecuted. People with no certificate lording over those that struggled to get one. Its a shame!!! Mr Oniyide said on Wednesday.

Praise for Premium Times

A Facebook user, Daniels Duru was full of praise for Premium Times for exposing Mr Nnajis certificate forgery, culminating in his resignation.

Mr Duru, in a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday night, said it was not enough for the minister to resign.

Resignation is not enough! Uche Nnaji should be prosecuted now!, he wrote.

More forgeries by men and women in political and public positions should be exposed.

Background

Allegations of certificate forgery had dogged Mr Nnaji since July 2023, when President Tinubu named him among the first batch of 28 ministerial nominees from 25 states forwarded to the Senate as part of the presidents initial cabinet list, two months after taking office on 29 May 2023.

Critics had long insisted that Mr Nnaji did not complete his university education and that both the bachelors degree and NYSC certificate he presented to President Tinubu, as well as to the offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the State Security Service, and the Senate, were forged.

The findings of PREMIUM TIMES extensive examination of the documents were damning and conclusive: both the degree certificate and the NYSC discharge certificate in the ministers possession are outright forgeries.

This newspaper reported on Sunday that the then-minister has admitted that University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) never issued him a degree certificate.

Many Nigerians have expressed outrage over the then-ministers certificate forgery.

On Monday, Mr Nnaji was absent from a press conference his office called to address the matter. His aides, however, appeared on his behalf during which they made unsubstantiated claims, including the claim that the then-minister indeed graduated from UNN.

PREMIUM TIMES later published documents showing that at the time Mr Nnaji claimed to have graduated from UNN and purportedly proceeded to participate in the mandatory national youth service, he was still exchanging correspondences with the institution on how he could re-sit a failed terminal course examination.

Following the findings in the investigation, the politician resigned his appointment on Tuesday evening.
PARIS, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese down fashion giant Bosideng made a powerful debut at Paris Fashion Week on October 7th with its Master Puff collection  a fresh reinterpretation of the down jacket that blends fluidity, elegance and a contemporary East-meets-West aesthetic.

Held at the neo-classical Palais Brongniart in central Paris, the high-profile show attracted some 300 prominent guests from the worlds of fashion, business, politics, the arts and the environment sector.

Chinese down fashion giant Bosideng made a powerful debut at Paris Fashion Week on October 7th with its Master Puff collection. The collections theme  La coupe en O (The Cloud Roaming Series)

Bosideng Creative Director Pietro Ferragina described the collection's theme  La coupe en O (The Cloud Roaming Series)  as "a tribute to lightness, not just in weight, but in feeling."

World diving champion Guo Jingjing, a star guest, wore a sculptural asymmetrical down vest by Bosideng. The distinguished guest list also included: Emmanuelle Peres, Director General of the Prospective and Innovation Foundation; Pierre-Francois Le-Louet, President and CEO of NellyRodi; Boris Provost, CEO of TRANOI; as well as senior executives from leading global luxury brands and from across the fashion industry.

Master Puff : Lightness as power

Guided by Creative Director Pietro Ferragina, Bosideng's Master Puff collection redefines the down jacket, blending sculptural form with emotion. It's inspired by the rooftop domes of Paris shaped like pine cones. Every silhouette balances architectural structure with softness and fluidity. The collection uses ultra-light fabrics with ergonomic cuts and innovative quilting, offering a lighter, more streamlined alternative to traditionally bulky down wear.

For Bosideng, this collection is a step beyond winter protection  it's about redefining comfort, elegance and the emotional lightness of clothing.

The collection reaches beyond pure product design to explore a philosophical shift from function to freedom. The signature O silhouette, echoing both the shape of the Puff and the pine cone dome, symbolises a return to zero  a nod to Bosideng's 49 years of constant reinvention.

Bosideng: a confident step on the global stage of luxury downwear

Bosideng's journey began in 1976, when Mr. GAO Dekang, Founder of the Bosideng brand and Chairman & CEO of Bosideng Group, launched his first venture with 11 fellow villagers and eight sewing machines in a rural setting in Changshu, Jiangsu Province. A leading light in the emergence of entrepreneurship in modern-day China, Mr. GAO saw his vision grow fast and laid the foundations for a national Chinese brand, now prominent on the international stage too.

By the 1990s, Bosideng was at the forefront as Chinese companies developed brands, rapidly developing expertise in brand marketing, fashion and internationalization. As consumers looked for clothes that reflected their need for personal expression, Bosideng responded with both innovation and vision. Technologically, the brand also took a lead, outfitting China's Mountaineering Team and, later, the country's Antarctic and Arctic expeditions  proving its technical expertise in the most extreme of conditions.

Driven by the conviction that a single down jacket can warm an individual while true innovation can warm a generation, Bosideng has continuously sought to redefine the potential of craftsmanship. After eight years of dedicated research and development, in 2018 Bosideng launched its first Puffer style, a new generation lightweight, refined take on the down jacket.

Since then, Bosideng has progressed to the global stage.

Now, with the debut of the Master Puff collection at Paris Fashion Week, Bosideng makes a significant move into premium luxury downwear. This is more than a runway moment  it's a statement of intent. Drawing on the learnings of nearly five decades of innovation, Bosideng steps forward both as a leader in performance wear and as a global voice in modern fashion, offering comfort and freedom.

For more information on Bosideng, visit www.bosidengfashion.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2791389/Chinese_fashion_giant_Bosideng_a_powerful_debut_Paris_Fashion_Week.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2791390/The_collection_s_theme___La_coupe_en_O__The_Cloud.jpg
DOHA, Qatar, Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- QNB Group, the largest financial institution in the Middle East and Africa, announced the license approval has been received for a digital-first banking entity, ezbank, from the Central Bank of Egypt.

QNB Group receives Central Bank of Egypt license approval for a new digital bank "ezbank"

This milestone reflects the Group's commitment to supporting the Central Bank of Egypt's vision for financial inclusion and digital transformation, as well as the government's broader economic development strategy. The license approval for ezbank is an important step in Egypt's ongoing efforts to transform the banking sector. By securing the approval, ezbank positions itself at the forefront of this transformation, reflecting Egypt's growing role as a hub for innovation and financial inclusion.

ezbank will combine advanced digital technology with international best practices to offer seamless financial services to a broad customer base. The bank will use mobile-first platforms, AI-driven tools, and smart risk management to make transactions easier, increase access, and support Egypt's digital economy.

QNB Group is one of the leading financial institutions in the Middle East and Africa and is ranked as the most valuable banking brand in the MEA region. Present in over 28 countries across Asia, Europe, and Africa, it offers tailored products and services supported by innovation and backed by a team of over 31,000 professionals.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2790596/QNB_Group.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1917328/5549777/QNB_Group_Logo.jpg
Not All Toxic Dangers Are Deadly, But They Are All Scary

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Last Halloween, the Ruark family was planning to attend a trunk-or-treat event. Mom Michelle had purchased a large, 90-ounce bag of mini candy bars from Costco, all containing chocolate, and had carefully hidden it inside a shower, behind closed shower doors. They thought they were all set, but their Labrador Retriever Paige had other plans.

Paige had literally knocked the shower doors off their hinges, and had eaten the entire bag of candy, wrappers and all. Post this Paige, a Labrador Retriever from Colorado, got more of a trick than a treat when she ingested a Costco-sized bag of chocolate candy last Halloween.

"We don't usually keep chocolate in the house," Michelle Ruark explained. "A couple of nights before Halloween, we came home and found that Paige had literally knocked the shower doors off their hinges, and had eaten the entire bag of candy, wrappers and all." Their first reaction was disbelief, and their second was to call the toxicology experts at Pet Poison Helpline.

"After calculating the amount of chocolate Paige ingested and factoring her weight, we determined she definitely ingested a toxic amount of chocolate," said Dr. Renee Schmid, a senior veterinary toxicologist and director of Veterinary Medicine at Pet Poison Helpline. "Combined with the wrappers, it made for a challenging medical situation."

Based on the amount of chocolate ingested, the Pet Poison Helpline team was concerned about gastrointestinal upset, pancreatitis, polydipsia (excessive thirst), hyperactivity, cardiovascular and central nervous system stimulation.

When Paige got to the Southern Rockies Animal Emergency + Specialty clinic in Colorado Springs, the medical team induced emesis, resulting in a large amount of candy still in the wrappers, chocolate and additional empty wrappers. With the amount of chocolate that was recovered from vomiting, the concern for severe clinical signs lessened and Paige was able to be treated and then sent home to be monitored by her owners.

"Every kind of Hershey bar was in that bag," Roark said. "The Pet Poison Helpline toxicologists looked up every single candy and calculated how much chocolate and other potentially dangerous toxins Paige ingested. By the time we got to the emergency room, they had already talked to our veterinarian and discussed a recommended treatment plan. I know that if we had just shown up at the emergency room, they wouldn't have known how to treat her. Pet Poison Helpline saved our girl's life."

Chocolate is not only number one on Pet Poison Helpline's Top 10 Pet Poisons of 2024, it has been the top toxin for the last ten years. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which, when ingested in toxic amounts, can result in vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, elevated heart rate, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and possibly death.

"In an emergency, you're not thinking clearly," Ruark added. "It's great to have a toxicologist on the phone with clear steps on what to do, and who will speak directly to our veterinarian about treatment. Fortunately, Paige made a full recovery, but we did not have any chocolate for the trunk-or-treat event."

Although calls about chocolate are the most common, other Halloween cases are spooky fun. Brian Barrett of Philadelphia, Penn., decided he wanted to have fluorescent green water in his annual Halloween display, so he used green trace dye, which glows under black light. The dye is usually used to detect leaks in plumbing and water systems.

"I let my dog Ethan out the night before Halloween, and he drank a small amount out of the display," Barrett explained. "The next day I took him out for a walk and his pee was neon green. The packaging said the liquid was safe, but I called Pet Poison Helpline to be sure. After they heard the details, and researched the ingredients in the dye, they told me what signs I needed to look for and saved Ethan from a trip to the veterinarian. Ethan is doing great."

One of the creepiest cases from last Halloween involved three dogs named Shadow, Gambit and Grimm  oh, and a bat. Lydia Robinson from Maricopa, Ariz., caught Shadow playing with a dead bat in the yard. The other dogs were with Shadow, but only Shadow appeared to have been in contact with the bat. Since all three dogs were current on their rabies vaccinations, and no wounds or bite marks were seen, a trip to the veterinarian was not needed. Robinson was provided with a list of signs to look for, and a suggestion to contact her local health department to see if they wanted to test the bat for rabies.

Finally, one of the greatest dangers facing your pet during Halloween is getting out of the house and into other dangers such as being hit by a car or even stolen.

"According to our partners at AKC Reunite, October is the second highest month for lost-and-found pet reports," Dr. Schmid said. "Pets get anxious from multiple trick-or-treaters coming to the door, and with each visitor you greet, your pet has an opportunity to sneak out and escape the chaos. A loose pet at night is especially dangerous because they cannot be easily seen by motorists."

AKC Reunite , the nation's largest not-for-profit pet recovery service, offers a list of Halloween recommendations for your canine and feline family members. They also partner with Pet Poison Helpline offering its 24/7 toxicology expertise as an optional, unlimited benefit for its members to add to their pet's lifetime protection.

Pet Poison Helpline created Toxin Tails to educate the veterinary community and pet lovers on the many types of poisoning dangers facing pets, both in and out of the home. All the pets highlighted in Toxin Tails have been successfully treated for the poisoning and fully recovered.

About Pet Poison Helpline

Pet Poison Helpline, your trusted source for toxicology and pet health advice in times of potential emergency, is available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary professionals who require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet. Per incident and subscription service options are available. We are an independent, nationally recognized animal poison control center triple licensed by the Boards of Veterinary Medicine, Medicine and Pharmacy providing unmatched professional leadership and expertise. Our veterinarians and board-certified toxicologists provide treatment advice for all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline's fee of $89 per incident includes follow-up consultations for the duration of the case. The company also offers pethelpline(SM) and pethelplinePRO(SM) subscription services directly to pet lovers. Based in Minneapolis, Pet Poison Helpline is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information, including a chat feature for pet owners, can be found online at www.petpoisonhelpline.com.

Contact: Curtis Steinhoff

Pet Poison Helpline

(602) 300-8466

[email protected]

SOURCE Pet Poison Helpline
AUSTIN, Texas and TOKYO, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The AI Accelerator Chip Market is witnessing explosive growth as industries worldwide scale up adoption of Generative AI, natural language processing (NLP), autonomous systems, and advanced computer vision. According to DataM Intelligence, the AI Accelerator Chip Market Size reached US$ 28.59 billion in 2024 and is forecasted to hit US$ 283.13 billion by 2032, expanding at a CAGR of 33.19% between 2025 and 2032.

AI accelerator chips are specialized processors designed to handle complex machine learning and deep learning workloads at scale. These chips deliver high throughput, low latency, and energy efficiency-essential for training and inference in next-generation AI models.

The market is being propelled by:

Surging demand for Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and custom enterprise LLMs.

such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and custom enterprise LLMs. AI integration in automotive for autonomous driving, driver-assist features, and in-vehicle intelligence.

for autonomous driving, driver-assist features, and in-vehicle intelligence. Healthcare innovation, where AI chips enable diagnostics, drug discovery, and precision medicine.

where AI chips enable diagnostics, drug discovery, and precision medicine. Cloud and edge computing expansion, with hyperscalers embedding AI chips in global data centers.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.datamintelligence.com/download-sample/ai-accelerator-chip-market

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Market Segmentation Analysis

By Chip Type

In 2024, GPUs dominated the market with revenues surpassing US$ 14 billion. Companies like NVIDIA and AMD lead this space, powering large-scale training models and inference workloads.

Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), valued at US$ 7 billion in 2024, are expected to grow fastest, with Google's TPU and Amazon's Inferentia setting benchmarks in hyperscaler AI performance.

Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), contributing US$ 3.8 billion in 2024, continue to be preferred in prototyping and low-latency AI applications.

CPUs and other custom processors, valued collectively at US$ 3.7 billion, remain integral for hybrid architectures and legacy systems.

By Technology

Natural Language Processing (NLP) is projected to be the fastest-growing segment, valued at US$ 10 billion in 2024, as enterprises embed AI into conversational platforms and enterprise automation.

Computer Vision, at US$ 8.5 billion in 2024, is expanding rapidly in automotive, retail surveillance, and robotics.

Network security AI chips, worth US$ 5 billion, are essential for deep packet inspection and anomaly detection in cybersecurity.

By End-User

Consumer Electronics led with US$ 11 billion in 2024, dominated by AI-powered smartphones, smart devices, and wearables.

Automotive applications, valued at US$ 5.2 billion in 2024, are growing fast as OEMs integrate AI accelerators for autonomous navigation.

Healthcare accounted for US$ 3.5 billion, leveraging AI chips in medical imaging, drug modeling, and predictive diagnostics.

IT & Telecom, at US$ 4.8 billion, reflects cloud providers' heavy investments in AI datacenters.

Regional Insights: USA & Japan

United States

The U.S. market, valued at US$ 13.5 billion in 2024, dominates the global landscape, supported by:

Heavy R&D investments from NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, and Google.

Hyperscale data center expansion by AWS, Microsoft, and Meta.

Government funding programs in AI hardware innovation.

Recent update (2025): NVIDIA announced new Blackwell GPUs, claiming 4x higher energy efficiency for LLM training.

Japan

Japan's AI accelerator chip market, valued at US$ 2.1 billion in 2024, is witnessing strong demand from:

Automotive majors like Toyota and Honda, investing in autonomous driving chips.

investing in autonomous driving chips. Healthcare AI adoption for diagnostics and elderly care solutions.

for diagnostics and elderly care solutions. Government-backed programs promoting semiconductor independence and AI hardware startups.

Recent development (2025): Japan launched a $3 billion semiconductor fund to strengthen AI chip R&D.

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Competitive Landscape

The market is highly competitive, dominated by a mix of semiconductor giants, hyperscalers, and AI chip startups.

NVIDIA Corporation remains the global leader, with revenues exceeding US$ 10 billion from AI accelerators in 2024, driven by strong demand for GPUs powering LLMs and autonomous vehicles.

remains the global leader, with revenues exceeding driven by strong demand for GPUs powering LLMs and autonomous vehicles. Google Inc. is scaling its Tensor Processing Unit (TPU) ecosystem, tightly integrated with Google Cloud AI services.

is scaling its ecosystem, tightly integrated with Google Cloud AI services. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is challenging NVIDIA with its MI300X chips, optimized for enterprise AI workloads.

is challenging NVIDIA with its MI300X chips, optimized for enterprise AI workloads. Intel Corporation is regaining ground with Gaudi 3 accelerators and AI-optimized Xeon processors.

is regaining ground with Gaudi 3 accelerators and AI-optimized Xeon processors. Amazon Web Services (AWS) leads in custom ASIC development with Inferentia and Trainium chips.

leads in custom development with Inferentia and Trainium chips. Huawei Technologies and Graphcore Limited continue to scale AI chip adoption in Asia and Europe.

and continue to scale AI chip adoption in Asia and Europe. Cerebras Systems and SambaNova Systems specialize in wafer-scale AI chips, disrupting large-scale training workloads.

Industry Trends & 2025 Developments

Generative AI Boom: Explosive demand for training and inference chips across cloud and enterprise.

Explosive demand for training and inference chips across cloud and enterprise. Energy-Efficient AI: Strong push toward chips optimized for power efficiency, addressing data center sustainability.

Strong push toward chips optimized for power efficiency, addressing data center sustainability. Edge AI Expansion: Surge in deployment of AI accelerators in IoT, automotive, and robotics.

Surge in deployment of AI accelerators in IoT, automotive, and robotics. M&A Momentum: 2025 saw strategic partnerships, including Qualcomm investing in AI edge startups and Intel collaborating with Japanese R&D institutes.

2025 saw strategic partnerships, including and AI + 5G Integration: Telecom networks deploying AI chips for intelligent traffic routing and predictive maintenance.

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Strategic Outlook

The AI Accelerator Chip Market, projected to grow from US$ 28.59 billion in 2024 to US$ 283.13 billion by 2032, represents one of the fastest-growing technology sectors globally. With the U.S. leading in hyperscale AI deployments and Japan accelerating semiconductor innovation, the market is set to redefine digital infrastructure, enterprise automation, and next-generation AI applications.

Related Report:

Edge AI Chips Market Size to Surge from USD 7.5B in 2024 to USD 27.1B by 2032 at CAGR of 17.4%. Deep Learning Chips Market Size to Soar from USD 18.21 B in 2024 to USD 133.12 B by 2032 at 28.2% CAGR. Artificial Intelligence Chip Market Size to Soar from US$ 25.12B (2022) to US$ 335.02B by 2031 at 38.41 % CAGR.

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SAINT PAUL, Minn., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading solar energy solutions provider All Energy Solar Inc. has achieved another honor for outstanding work. For the fourth year in a row, the company earned the distinction of being named Installer of the Year for the Midwest region by Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) . Leaders for All Energy Solar received the award at the RE+ national renewable energy conference in Las Vegas in September.

With over 16 years of experience in the solar industry , All Energy Solar is one of the most well-established solar providers in the Midwest . Demonstrating a consistent history of proven customer satisfaction and operational excellence, All Energy Solar continues to build on its track record of outstanding achievements .

"We're honored to be recognized as this year's REC Installer of the Year for 2025 in the Midwest for the fourth consecutive year," said Michael Thalhimer, Director of Business Development at All Energy Solar . "Our team puts in hard work and thoughtful collaboration on every project, and has been a proud installer of REC products for many years. This acknowledgement affirms our dedication and commitment to offering high-quality products to our thousands of customers, year after year."

The RE+ conference is North America's largest clean energy event, attracting over 37,000 professionals and featuring 1,325 exhibits. The event highlights the vital role of clean energy in meeting the increasing power demands across the United States and worldwide. It also serves as a valuable platform for learning and sharing knowledge about solar energy, energy storage, wind energy, electric vehicles and their infrastructure, microgrids, and fuel cells.

"Being surrounded by like-minded, innovative professionals is truly inspiring. Our industry continues to evolve , delivering cutting-edge, efficient technology to communities while protecting our environment with clean energy solutions like solar and energy storage," said Thalhimer. "At All Energy Solar, we remain committed to our core values, even in the face of challenges , and strive to bring top-tier solutions to everyone we serve. In many ways, the products we choose to offer and install, like REC's line of solar panels, set the foundation for the kind of long-term growth and customer satisfaction we strive for every day."

All Energy Solar offers a variety of services, including residential solar , commercial solar , energy storage , electric vehicle chargers , smart electric panels , and roofing in limited locations . The company installs residentially in Illinois , Iowa , Massachusetts , Minnesota , Nebraska , New Hampshire , North Dakota , South Dakota , and Wisconsin , and performs commercial installations nationally and internationally .

About All Energy Solar

All Energy Solar is a full-service solar energy solutions provider for residential, commercial, agricultural, and government customers seeking to make the transition to solar energy. With industry-leading certifications and full electrical and building licenses, All Energy Solar installs high-quality solar power systems, providing excellent customer service throughout the entire experience and after installation. Visit allenergysolar.com

SOURCE All Energy Solar, Inc
RIPON, Wis., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Alliance Laundry Holdings Inc. ("Alliance Laundry"), the global leader in commercial laundry equipment, today announced the pricing of its upsized initial public offering of 37,560,974 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $22.00 per share. The offering consists of 24,390,243 shares to be sold by Alliance Laundry and 13,170,731 shares to be sold by a selling stockholder. Alliance Laundry will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholder.

The shares are expected to begin trading on the NYSE under the ticker symbol "ALH" on October 9, 2025. The offering is expected to close on October 10, 2025, subject to customary closing conditions. In addition, the selling stockholder has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 5,634,146 shares of common stock from the selling stockholder at the initial public offering price, less underwriting discounts and commissions.

BofA Securities and J.P. Morgan are acting as joint lead book-running managers. Morgan Stanley is acting as book-running manager. Baird, BDT & MSD Partners, BMO Capital Markets, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and UBS Investment Bank are acting as additional bookrunners. CIBC Capital Markets, Fifth Third Securities and PNC Capital Markets LLC are acting as co-managers.

A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 30, 2025. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the final prospectus may be obtained by visiting EDGAR on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, when available, copies of the final prospectus from: BofA Securities, Inc. at 201 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001; Attn: Prospectus Department; email: [email protected]; or J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717 or by email: [email protected] and [email protected].

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of that jurisdiction.

About Alliance Laundry

Alliance Laundry makes the world cleaner as a provider of the highest quality commercial laundry systems. Our laundry solutions are available under five respected brands, sold and supported by a global network of select distributors. We serve approximately 150 countries with a team of more than 4,000 employees. Our brands include Speed Queen, UniMac, Huebsch, Primus and IPSO. Together, they present a full line of commercial washing machines, dryers, and ironers (with load capacities from 20400 lb. or 9180 kg.) and support service. You can also enjoy the superior wash and fabric care of commercial-grade laundry equipment in your home through our legendary Speed Queen washers and dryers.

Media Contact:

FGS Global

[email protected]

SOURCE Alliance Laundry Systems
With thriving centers in Chandler, Gilbert and Scottsdale, Bagley exemplifies excellence in service, growth and community leadership.

DENVER, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AlphaGraphics , a leading franchisor of printing and marketing solutions, recently announced that multi-unit franchise owner, Brandon Bagley, has been honored with the company's prestigious 2025 Franny Award.

AlphaGraphics President and COO Ryan Farris, left, congratulates Brandon Bagley, owner of the Chandler, Gilbert and Scottsdale, Arizona, locations, as the company's 41st Franny Award winner.

"Brandon exemplifies what it means to be a leader in our network," said AlphaGraphics Regional Vice President of Retail Network Development Bill McPherson. "His dedication to his clients, his community and his employees has made his AlphaGraphics locations models for success. Brandon's hard work and commitment to excellence are the reasons he was chosen as this year's Franny Award recipient."

The Franny Award is AlphaGraphics' highest recognition, presented annually to a franchise owner who demonstrates outstanding leadership, business growth, community involvement and commitment to the brand's values of innovation and excellence.

Bagley has AlphaGraphics locations in Chandler, Gilbert and Scottsdale, Arizona. Under his leadership, his locations continue to see tremendous growth, with the Chandler location becoming one of the top-performing centers in the country.

"This award is a reflection of the incredible teams we have at each of our locations," Bagley said. "Our mission has always been to help local businesses succeed with creative solutions and exceptional service, and this recognition reinforces that commitment. But winning the Franny is not only a celebration of what we've achieved, it's also momentum for what comes next."

In addition to his stores, Bagley also serves as the vice chair for the AlphaGraphics National Leadership Council and is a member of the Chandler and Gilbert chambers of commerce.

AlphaGraphics was founded in 1970, and the company began offering franchise opportunities in 1979. For more information, visit http://www/alphagraphics.com .

About AlphaGraphics

AlphaGraphics, Inc., with more than 285 locations in six countries, is one of the largest U.S.-based networks of locally-owned and operated Business Centers offering a complete range of print, visual communications, and marketing products. Solutions include: full-service digital, offset, and large format printing; design services; mailing; one-to-one marketing solutions; promotional products; and web to print solutions. For more information about AlphaGraphics services, visit www.alphagraphics.com . To learn about franchise opportunities, visit www.alphagraphicsfranchise.com .

About Fortidia

Fortidia is the brand identity of MBE Worldwide S.p.A. - a privately-owned company headquartered in Italy - and its affiliates. Fortidia is a global commerce enabler for SMBs and consumers thanks to its platform including brands providing e-commerce, fulfillment, shipping, marketing and print solutions: PrestaShop, Mail Boxes Etc. (outside the U.S. and Canada.), PostNet, PACK & SEND, World Options, AlphaGraphics, Multicopy, Print Speak, GEL Proximity, and Spedingo. In 2023, the combination of its physical platform - including 3,200 Business Solutions Centers in 60 countries with 14,000 associates - with its PrestaShop e-commerce platform served 1.1 mln business customers worldwide generating 1.4 bln (US$1.5 bln) of System-wide Gross Revenue and 22 bln (US$23.8 bln) of Gross Merchandise Value.

For more information, visit the Fortidia Group websites:

www.fortidia.com - www.prestashop.com/en - www.mbeglobal.com - www.mbe.it - www.mbe.es - www.mbe.de - www.mbefrance.fr - www.mbe.pl - www.mbe.pt - www.mbe.co.uk - www.postnet.com - www.packsend.com.au - www.packsend.co.uk - www.worldoptions.com - www.alphagraphics.com - www.multicopy.nl - www.printspeak.com - www.gelproximity.com/en - www.spedingo.com/en

SOURCE AlphaGraphics
Unified research platform combines premium qualitative content, comprehensive quantitative datasets, and domain-specific generative AI

NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AlphaSense , the AI platform redefining market intelligence for the business and financial world, today announced the launch of Financial Data, its newest innovation that provides financial and corporate professionals with a unified view of both quantitative analysis and qualitative research insights.

Announced at AlphaSummit , the company's inaugural customer conference, Financial Data is a suite of structured datasets and purpose-built tools, orchestrated by domain-specific AI to meet the accuracy and trust requirements of high-stakes financial and business workflows. AlphaSense applies more than a decade of expertise in financial language and workflows to deliver AI that is precise, transparent, and decision-ready. According to Gartner, "By 2027, 35% of agentic AI will succeed in scaling because of investment in domain-specific reasoning, up from 0% in 2024."1

Financial Data eliminates frequent pain points in market intelligence among private equity and venture capital firms and corporate teams by unifying every major market perspective in one platform. It also enables entirely new agentic workflows that accelerate deal sourcing, sector analysis, valuation modeling, and investment decisions. AlphaSense now returns more complete, trusted answers in Generative Search and Deep Research by blending structured financials, company KPIs, and transactions data with proprietary qualitative content such as expert transcripts, broker research, corporate filings, news, valuations, and funding rounds.

By uniting structured financial information with unstructured proprietary business content in a single workflow, customers gain more complete answers and make faster, better-informed decisions. Simple natural language prompts allow users to move at market speed, providing a 360-degree analysis of a company and surfacing insights before the competition.

"AlphaSense is the first domain-specific GenAI platform for quantitative and qualitative market intelligence, which delivers a huge advantage to our customers," said Jack Kokko, Founder and CEO at AlphaSense. "With Financial Data, everything a finance or corporate professional needs to understand about a company lives seamlessly in one place, ready to discover the instant you type your prompt or a company name you want to research."

With AlphaSense's intuitive interface led by Generative Search, users get structured, auditable financial data as part of their natural language queries. Critically, as with all AlphaSense research, every insight remains fully source-linked, ensuring transparency and confident decision making.

"The ability to rapidly synthesize financial data with market intelligence will ultimately help strengthen our decision-making processes," said Rajeev Samuel, Director of Corporate Strategy and Operations at NetApp. "Starting with verified, trusted intelligence helps us quickly and thoroughly evaluate markets, emerging technologies, and strategic opportunities. The AlphaSense platform helps us meet our research needs more easily, through an integrated experience."

Financial professionals can quickly create:

AI investment memos : one-click company profiles, investment thesis development, and market analysis essential for investment capital preparation and limited partner updates

: one-click company profiles, investment thesis development, and market analysis essential for investment capital preparation and limited partner updates Deal flow dashboard : track funding activity, valuation trends, and strategic developments across investment focus areas

: track funding activity, valuation trends, and strategic developments across investment focus areas Public and private company intelligence : complete financial statements, valuation multiples, funding rounds, M&A history, and workforce data presented in a single, clean framework for public companies, and hard-to-find revenue metrics, funding rounds, and expert perspectives for unparalleled visibility into private companies

: complete financial statements, valuation multiples, funding rounds, M&A history, and workforce data presented in a single, clean framework for public companies, and hard-to-find revenue metrics, funding rounds, and expert perspectives for unparalleled visibility into private companies Specialized deep-dive views: dedicated interfaces for expert transcripts, broker research, and SEC filings

Core Financial Data components include:

Workflow-native design: built by industry insiders for specific research workflows like company and deal screening, comp tables, and due diligence

built by industry insiders for specific research workflows like company and deal screening, comp tables, and due diligence Canalyst models : 4,500+ ready-to-use models with detailed financials, operating metrics, and segment breakdowns

: 4,500+ ready-to-use models with detailed financials, operating metrics, and segment breakdowns Integrated workflows : move seamlessly from screening to deep qualitative research across 300M+ documents

: move seamlessly from screening to deep qualitative research across 300M+ documents Industry comps : 115+ pre-built sector comp sets with KPIs curated by equity analysts for instant benchmarking

: 115+ pre-built sector comp sets with KPIs curated by equity analysts for instant benchmarking Historical financials and consensus : coverage across 17,000+ companies with citations to take users to Company Profile Financials for verification

: coverage across 17,000+ companies with citations to take users to Company Profile Financials for verification Company-specific KPIs : 4,000+ companies with sector-specific metrics like unit economics, margins, and average revenue per user. KPIs become answerable in Gen Search and auditable via Company Profiles

: 4,000+ companies with sector-specific metrics like unit economics, margins, and average revenue per user. KPIs become answerable in Gen Search and auditable via Company Profiles M&A transactions : 950,000+ deals accessible with a Deal Intelligence Agent capable of producing one-click, rationale-rich summaries from citations

: 950,000+ deals accessible with a Deal Intelligence Agent capable of producing one-click, rationale-rich summaries from citations Funding rounds : 685,000 private funding rounds used to enrich company backgrounds, peer sets, and market maps

: 685,000 private funding rounds used to enrich company backgrounds, peer sets, and market maps Market data : global equities with intraday pricing for quick context in Gen Search answers

: global equities with intraday pricing for quick context in Gen Search answers Workforce data: data on hiring velocity and role mix add context to private company and international signals in cases in which financials are sparse

Click here to learn more about Financial Data, and sign up for a free trial here .

About AlphaSense

AlphaSense is the AI platform redefining market intelligence and workflow orchestration, trusted by thousands of leading organizations to drive faster, more confident decisions in business and finance. The platform combines domain-specific AI with a vast content universe of over 500 million premium business documents  including equity research, earnings calls, expert interviews, filings, news, and internal proprietary content. Purpose-built for speed, accuracy, and enterprise-grade security, AlphaSense helps teams extract critical insights, uncover market-moving trends, and automate complex workflows with high-quality outputs. With AI solutions like Generative Search, Generative Grid, and Deep Research, AlphaSense delivers the clarity and depth professionals need to navigate complexity and obtain accurate, real-time information quickly. For more information, visit www.alpha-sense.com .

Media Contact

Pete Daly for AlphaSense

Email: [email protected]

1 Emerging Tech: The Key Defining Characteristics of a Domain-Specific Language Model, Gartner, 24 June 2025, George Brocklehurst, Tsuneo Fujiwara. GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

SOURCE AlphaSense
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Land Title Association (ALTA) Good Deeds Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded by ALTA, the national trade association of the title insurance industry, yesterday announced the recipients of $105,000 in grants, bringing the Foundation's total contributions to $1,361,000 since its inception in October 2020. The announcement was made during ALTA ONE, ALTA's largest annual event, in New York City.

This round of giving was bittersweet for the Foundation, which recently lost a trailblazer and champion. Mary O'Donnell, Foundation board chair, ALTA past president and president and CEO of Westcor Land Title Insurance Co., passed away unexpectedly on Sept. 4. O'Donnell was instrumental in the creation of the Foundation, leaving behind a legacy of generosity and service.

"Mary was a force for good, not only in the title insurance industry but in communities nationwide," said ALTA President Richard Welshons MTP, NTP. "Her vision for the Foundation was rooted in the belief that our work extends far beyond real estate transactions. These latest grants are a continuation of the good she helped put into motion, and we are proud to honor her legacy by carrying it forward."

Twenty-one $5,000 grants were awarded to charities supported by ALTA members. The grants were awarded to: A Kid's Place of Tampa Bay Inc., Brandon, Fla.; Anawim Housing, Des Moines, Iowa; Blaine County Housing Foundation, Ketchum, Idaho; Central Park Medical Unit Inc., New York City; Common Roots Housing Trust, Walla Walla, Wash.; Family Promise of Cheyenne, Cheyenne, Wyo.; FISH of Grand Blanc, Grand Blanc, Mich.; Girl Scouts of Greater New York Troop 6000, New York City; Gothenburg Impact Center, Gothenburg, Neb.; Gundersen Medical Foundation, La Crosse, Wis.; Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cincinnati, Cincinnati; HELP Now AZ, Phoenix; Kickin' Childhood Hunger, Stillwater, Okla.; Rocky Top Trykes, Farragut, Tenn.; Smoke in the Mountains BBQ & Ribeye Shootout, Fort Davis, Texas; Spare Key, St. Paul, Minn.; The Cornerstone of Beaver County, Beaver Falls, Pa.; The Karen Weidinger Foundation, St. Charles, Mo.; The Lamb Center, Fairfax, Va.; The Priority Center, Santa Ana, Calif.; and The Snoqualmie Fire Lookouts Association, Enumclaw, Wash.

Click here to see an example of a charitable organization that received a grant from the Foundation.

"The Foundation is a reflection of ALTA members' generosity and shared commitment to community," said ALTA CEO Chris Morton. "Each grant strengthens the bonds between title professionals and the neighborhoods they serve. It's inspiring to see how this collective effort continues to grow, with more than $1.3 million invested in organizations that change lives every day."

The ALTA Good Deeds Foundation was launched in 2020 to bolster the charitable efforts of ALTA members. Since then, the Foundation has awarded grants to 234 organizations in 45 states plus the District of Columbia.

About ALTA

The American Land Title Association, founded in 1907, is the national trade association representing the title insurance industry.

Contact: Megan Hernandez

Direct Office Line: 202-261-0315

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE American Land Title Association
 Since 2016, Edward Jones and its associates have contributed over $55 million to support Alzheimer's Association programs and advance disease research 

CHICAGO, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alzheimer's Association announced today that Edward Jones is extending its strategic alliance with the Association through 2030, reaffirming the firm's deep commitment to promoting healthier futures for families and communities impacted by Alzheimer's and all other dementia.

Since 2016, Edward Jones has proudly served as the National Presenting Sponsor of the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's  the world's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer's care, support and research. As part of its renewed commitment, the firm will contribute $1 million annually over the next five years to support Walk. It will also mobilize Walk teams in communities nationwide as part of its Diamond Level National Team.

More than 130,000 Edward Jones associates, clients and family members have come together to raise over $28 million through Walk participation. In 2024, Edward Jones was recognized as the top Walk National Team for the eighth consecutive year, contributing 25% of all corporate fundraising revenue. In total, the firm has contributed over $55 million to support the Alzheimer's Association through team fundraising and corporate contributions.

"The Alzheimer's Association is immensely proud of its long-standing strategic alliance with Edward Jones, and we are deeply grateful for its continued support," said Joanne Pike, DrPH, Alzheimer's Association president and chief executive officer. "Edward Jones and its associates have passionately supported our mission, making a profound difference in the lives of those impacted by Alzheimer's and other dementia. The alliance is now poised to span decades."

Today, more than 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's. Edward Jones estimates that approximately 300,000 of its clients are affected by Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. Through promotion of the Association's free 24/7 Helpline, the firm has connected nearly 3,000 families to the Alzheimer's Association for confidential dementia care consultations  to help families get the help and support they need.

"Alzheimer's can have a devastating impact on the lives of those we serve and work alongside  disrupting a family's ability to save, plan and achieve more possibilities in their lives," said Penny Pennington, managing partner of Edward Jones. "We're proud to renew our commitment with the Alzheimer's Association, funding critical research, supporting caregivers and expanding access to resources. Together, we can help create a future without Alzheimer's."

Beyond its leadership in Walk to End Alzheimer's, Edward Jones will contribute nearly $1 million in 2026 to advance groundbreaking research through the Edward Jones Research Fund and AAIC For All  a public-facing initiative that shares the latest findings in Alzheimer's and dementia research.

To date, Edward Jones has committed $11 million in corporate funds to advance research across the lab, clinic and community. These investments include support for the U.S. POINTER Study, the International Research Grant Program, and the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC). The firm also co-funds the DIAN-TU Next Generation, High-Dose Escalation, and Primary Prevention studies, and supports early-career dementia researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis  helping to fuel the next generation of breakthroughs.

"Edward Jones and its associates continue to be extraordinary partners in our mission to end Alzheimer's and all other dementia," added Dr. Pike. "Together, we've accomplished so much in a short span  and we look forward to achieving even more in the years ahead for the millions of families affected by this disease."

About the Alzheimer's Association

The Alzheimer's Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer's care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer's and all other dementiaby accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer's and all other dementia. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.

About Edward Jones

Edward Jones is a leading North American financial services firm in the U.S. and through its affiliate in Canada. The firm's more than 20,000 financial advisors throughout North America serve more than 9 million clients with a total of $2.3 trillion in client assets under care as of June 27, 2025. Edward Jones' purpose is to partner for positive impact to improve the lives of its clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society. Through the dedication of the firm's approximately 55,000 associates and our branch presence in 68% of U.S. counties and most Canadian provinces and territories, the firm is committed to helping more people achieve financially what is most important to them. The Edward Jones website is at www.edwardjones.com, and its recruiting website is www.careers.edwardjones.com. Member SIPC.

SOURCE Alzheimer's Association
The new solution helps protect emergency departments by closing a critical security gap, implementing consistent protocols and real-time documentation for patient arrivals.

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the American Hospital Association, nearly 70% of emergency nurses report being physically assaulted on the job, often during chaotic patient arrivals. Recognizing this urgent risk, Athena Security, a leading provider of innovative AI-powered security solutions, has unveiled its new Ambulance Bay Weapons Screening Kiosk to help hospitals reduce undetected weapons threats and safeguard emergency department staff with consistent, documented screening protocols.

Hospital emergency rooms face a unique security challenge at the ambulance bay. Traditional screening systems are impractical for patients arriving in distress, on stretchers or in wheelchairs, necessitating manual screenings from a trained professional. Yet due to the urgency and chaos of trauma, there is a lack of consistent screening and documentation.

"The safety of our public and our healthcare heroes is paramount," states Lisa Falzone, co-founder and President of Athena Security. "Our partners and clients in healthcare expressed how vulnerable they feel due to the security gaps at most emergency bay entrances. We wanted to help mitigate those risks. Our new security feature responds to the urgent need emergency departments have for a solution that is efficient, effective and documented digitally.

Inconsistent screening leads to a critical security gap in a location where weapons screening is needed to help reduce safety risks to healthcare professionals, patients and visitorsparticularly given the number of emergency room patients who have been wounded in violent incidents involving guns and knives. Studies reveal that firearms are involved in more than 90,000 emergency department visits annually in the United States.

To address the problem of undetected weapons entering through the emergency bay, Athena Security has developed a new Ambulance Bay Weapons Screening feature as a purpose-built solution. Staff can now use a dedicated, single Apple iPad to document security incidents in real-time and support consistent screening protocols. The platform records relevant details, captures photographic evidence of collected and confiscated items and the individual involved, and provides a digital or physical receipt for the items and contraband.

With this new system, there is immediate accountability at the point of entry; it identifies possible weapons threats and creates a centralized digital record for the screening of each patient and visitor, when used in combination with the Athena Weapon Screening solution at entryways.

The new Ambulance Bay Weapons Screening feature integrates seamlessly with Athena's existing weapons detection security platform , providing a comprehensive view of facility-wide hospital weapons screening. By transforming a manual, unmonitored process into an accountable, verifiable and auditable workflow, Athena Security continues its commitment to protecting healthcare workers and critical healthcare infrastructure with intelligent technology.

About Athena Security

Athena Security is a leading provider of AI-enabled physical security solutions. Founded by Revel Systems co-founders Lisa Falzone , Chris Ciabarra , and Michael Green, Athena Security was first to market with AI evasion detection and has since integrated AI Assisted X-ray , AthenaVision AR Alert Glasses and Telepresence Security Officers . Athena Security continues to push the boundaries of what's possible and leads the industry in developing advanced weapons detection and security technology. Athena Security partners with organizations across industries to enhance their security posture and help protect individuals in schools, hospitals, retail and public spaces across the globe. Athena Security is headquartered in Austin, Texas, and San Francisco, California, with a remote office in Jacksonville, Florida. To learn more, visit www.Athena-Security.com .

Contact:

Anita S. Lane

833-928-4362

[email protected]

www.athena-security.com

SOURCE Athena Security INC
Former Industry Professional Brings Nearly 30 Years of Combined Legal and Contractor Experience

ATLANTA, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Drawing on nearly three combined decades of legal practice and experience as a construction industry professional, Zack Rippeon joins Adams & Reese as a Partner in the Atlanta office. Rippeon was a Partner with Smith Currie Oles, and before that 12-year tenure, he was with Burr & Forman. Prior to his legal career, Rippeon was a project manager and engineer for construction firms on projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions.

"While many attorneys in the construction industry are knowledgeable in both legal matters and industry practices, Zack is that ideal dual threat who has the direct, shoes-in-the-mud experience combined with years of legal practice," said Chris Derden, Adams & Reese Construction Practice Group Leader and Partner in the firm's Houston office.

Derden oversees the Adams & Reese Construction Practice Group with Team Leaders Trent Cotney, Partner in Tampa, and David Toney, Partner in Houston. "Zack is the perfect addition to our Construction practice in Atlanta, a market with a substantial surge in recent construction activity and infrastructure upgrades across various industries and emerging businesses," added Derden.

Rippeon brings the firm's nationally recognized and Chambers-ranked Construction team headcount to nearly 100 attorneys who are licensed in more than 35 states. Adams & Reese also ranks among the Top 20 construction law firms in the prestigious trade publication, Construction Executive.

"Adams & Reese offers an incredible footprint in booming construction markets. With my clients doing substantial business in key states throughout the Southeast region  where the firm has a strong presence  the move to Adams & Reese expands and deepens the representation my clients need," said Rippeon, licensed to practice in both Georgia and Texas. "I look forward to contributing to the construction practice's strong national reputation within the industry."

Since 2022, Rippeon has been selected by his peers among The Best Lawyers in America in both Construction Law and Litigation. An advisor, litigator, and counselor to all stakeholders in the construction and real estate industries, Rippeon represents owners, contractors, subcontractors and others in a wide range of disputes, including breach of contract, delays, large-scale defects, structural failures, and payment issues. He also serves as project counsel, handling contracts, change orders, supporting documentation, and compliance counseling.

With dozens of published articles and speaking presentations given in recent years  ranging from best practices to preventing professional engineering liability claims  Rippeon is heavily engaged with the construction industry. He is an active member of the Associated General Contractors of America, the Associated General Contractors Georgia chapter, the ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) Mentor Program, and the Construction Education Foundation of Georgia.

Rippeon earned his J.D. from Georgia State University (2008), and his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Virgina (1999).

About Adams & Reese: Founded in 1951, Adams & Reese is one of the largest law firms in the nation and is included among the AmLaw 200, NLJ 500, and Law360 Top 400 firms. Adams & Reese has more than 325 attorneys and advisors across 10 states (Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas) and Washington, DC.

SOURCE Adams and Reese LLP
Inaugural red-carpet event celebrates the storytellers and creators shaping the future of automotive and motorsports culture

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Los Angeles Auto Show and RACER Media & Marketing are teaming up to launch the RACER Creator Awards, presented by Dunlop, at AutoMobility LA on November 20, 2025. The inaugural event will feature a red-carpet celebration spotlighting the voices driving the next era of automotive and motorsports culture.

"AutoMobility LA continues to evolve as a stage for innovation," said Terri Toennies, president of LA Auto Show. "Hosting the RACER Creator Awards highlights the intersection of creativity, technology, and mobility, uniting the traditional industry with the next generation of automotive storytellers."

Developed by RACER Media & Marketing, the awards recognize creators who are redefining how the industry connects with fans, including filmmakers, photographers, podcasters, and digital storytellers.

Categories include content creation, platform excellence, community leadership, and special recognition, with top nominees evaluated by an expert jury and fan voting helping to determine the final winners.

As presenting sponsor, Dunlop underscores its long-standing commitment to motorsports performance and the creative culture surrounding it. KYB joins the program to bring the excitement of automotive culture directly to the event's arrival experience. The KYB Red Carpet Car Show will be open to the public.

Submissions for the awards are open now at awards.racer.com, with finalists to be honored on stage at AutoMobility LA.

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW & AUTOMOBILITY LA:

Founded in 1907, the Los Angeles Auto Show is one of the most influential annual automotive events in the world. Held each year at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the show draws hundreds of thousands of attendees and brings hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact to the city. It also remains the largest revenue driver for the LA Convention Center.

The LA Auto Show is open to the public for ten full days from Opening Day November 21 until November 30, including Thanksgiving Day. Car shoppers, enthusiasts, families, and future-focused fans are invited to attend to experience the very best in automotive design, culture, and innovation.

AutoMobility LA  the show's press and industry day  takes place this year on November 20, 2025, and features a full day of vehicle debuts, brand announcements, and a thought leadership program highlighting some of the brightest voices in automotive and tech.

Stay up to date with the latest show news, updates, and information at laautoshow.com and automobilityla.com.

MEDIA CONTACT

For press inquiries, email [email protected]

For the latest updates on vehicle debuts, special programming, and daily schedules, follow the LA Auto Show on Instagram, X, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Sign up for alerts at laautoshow.com.

SOURCE Los Angeles Auto Show
MAUI, Hawaii, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Beach 2U Rentals, Maui's premier beach equipment delivery service, is excited to announce a new limited-time offer: 50% OFF all beach gear rentals for bookings of 5 days or more. Visitors can now enjoy premium beach gearincluding chairs, umbrellas, snorkel sets, boogie boards, skim boards, towels, and morefor just $10 per item per day.

This exclusive promotion is designed to make every Maui vacation more affordable and stress-free. With a minimum order of $40, customers receive free delivery to any Maui beach, hotel, or vacation rental, ensuring maximum convenience.

"We know how difficult it can be to travel with bulky gear, so our mission is to make Maui beach days effortless," said Janelle Rocker, Founder of Beach 2U Rentals. "With this 50% OFF deal, families and travelers can spend less time worrying about logistics and more time enjoying paradise."

Maui Beach Gear Rentals Made Easy

Beach 2U specializes in Maui beach gear rentals that combine quality, affordability, and convenience. Whether you're planning to relax in the shade, snorkel Maui's reefs, or ride the waves, the company delivers everything you need directly to your beach spot.

Maui beach chair rentals - Comfortable, lightweight chairs perfect for lounging by the ocean.

- Comfortable, lightweight chairs perfect for lounging by the ocean. Maui beach umbrella rentals - Sturdy, wind-resistant umbrellas to keep you shaded during sunny afternoons.

- Sturdy, wind-resistant umbrellas to keep you shaded during sunny afternoons. Maui snorkel gear rentals - High-quality snorkel sets with anti-fog masks, snorkels, and fins for exploring Maui's reefs.

- High-quality snorkel sets with anti-fog masks, snorkels, and fins for exploring Maui's reefs. Family-friendly extras - Boogie boards, skimboards, towels, and baby beach essentials.

Free Delivery Across Maui

As part of its commitment to hassle-free service, Beach 2U Rentals offers free delivery and pickup to all major Maui beaches, including Kaanapali, Wailea, Kihei, Lahaina, and more. This flexibility allows customers to spend their days exploring the island without worrying about carrying gear.

About Beach 2U Rentals

Beach 2U Rentals is a locally owned and operated service dedicated to providing tourists and locals with premium, affordable, and convenient beach gear. By combining free island-wide delivery with high-quality rentals, the company ensures every beach day is carefree and memorable.

For more information about Beach 2U Rentals and to book your gear, please visit: https://beach2u.com/.

SOURCE Beach 2U Rentals
BEIJING, Oct. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Xiong Shulan, a survivor of the winter 1937-38 Nanjing Massacre, passed away at the age of 94 on September 26, reducing the number of living registered survivors to 25, according to the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. Eric Foster, nephew of American journalist Helen Foster Snow (1907-97), visited the Memorial Hall and met with one of the survivors in mid-August this year. Following are his views on the historical event:

In an era when historical denial and revisionism still cloud the truth of the Nanjing Massacre, Tokyo Trial: Evidence and Judgment of the Nanjing Massacre stands as a powerful counterweight. As the nephew of American journalist Helen Foster Snow--herself a chronicler of China and former wife of Edgar Snow, author of Red Star Over China--I feel a deep personal resonance with works that preserve the record of China's 20th-century history.

Published by the Foreign Languages Press on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in September 2025, this volume offers not only a record of atrocity but also a reminder of how international justice was painstakingly pursued in the aftermath of World War II.

The Tokyo Trial--formally known as the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (IMTFE)--was convened from 1946 to 1948 to prosecute Japan's wartime leaders. Eleven nations, including China, the United States, the Soviet Union, Britain, France, India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands and the Philippines, came together to deliver judgment. That multinational participation, as the book underscores, was central to ensuring legitimacy. The trial was a colossal undertaking, requiring meticulous rules, procedures and evidence-gathering.

What makes this book particularly valuable is its use of primary sources. Rather than simply summarizing the tribunal, it presents testimony, original documentation and procedural records. Readers gain not only a factual account of what unfolded in the tribunal chambers, but also a vivid sense of how international law was applied to crimes that seemed almost beyond the reach of human language.

The book details how the accused were afforded legal rights, including counsel of their choosing (subject to the tribunal's approval), the ability to call witnesses and the right to confront evidence presented against them. Sentences, once determined, were reviewed by the Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, who held authority to mitigate, but not intensify, punishment. These sections remind us that, despite the enormity of Japanese war crimes, the Allies sought to uphold due process. Justice, however imperfect, was meant to be seen and done in accordance with the law.

The most crucial sections are the testimonies themselves. They reveal, in restrained yet devastating words, the human toll of the Nanjing Massacre, which claimed the lives of more than 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers over the course of six weeks. By presenting testimony as legal evidence, it shows that the massacre was not only witnessed but judged and recorded in the annals of international law.

The book also highlights how the Tokyo Trial itself was a fragile experiment. The Allies were attempting to establish a model of international justice in the wake of global catastrophe, balancing legal fairness with the enormity of crimes committed. For all its flaws and political compromises, the IMTFE produced a vital historical record that continues to shape discussions of war crimes tribunals today.

What elevates Tokyo Trial: Evidence and Judgment of the Nanjing Massacre beyond a dry legal archive is the way it juxtaposes procedure with testimony. On one hand, we see the meticulous "nuts and bolts" of conducting a trial with multiple nations, rules and jurisdictions. On the other, we confront the raw human suffering that demanded justice in the first place. That combination makes the book both intellectually and emotionally powerful.

By the final pages, I felt a mix of sorrow and urgency. Sorrow, because the human stories remain gut-wrenching nearly 90 years later. Urgency, because denial and amnesia remain real threats. This book is not just about the past; it is about the present struggle to defend truth against distortion.

In the end, Tokyo Trial: Evidence and Judgment of the Nanjing Massacre is more than a historical account--it is a moral document. It reminds us that atrocities must be named, documented and judged, no matter how long it takes or how many deny them. For anyone seeking to understand not only the Nanjing Massacre but also the foundations of modern international justice, this book is indispensable.

In many ways, reading this book reminded me of my own family's connection to China. My aunt, Helen Foster Snow, dedicated her life to recording Chinese voices for the world, alongside her former husband Edgar, whose Red Star Over China shaped Western understanding of the Chinese revolution. This volume carries that spirit forward: to witness, to document and to resist forgetting.

http://www.bjreview.com/Opinion/Voice/202509/t20250929_800416926.html

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19yYEv8Rq5/

https://x.com/BeijingReview/status/1972897860460196043

Comments to [email protected]

SOURCE Beijing Review
MAQUOKETA, Iowa, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue-9 Pet Products, the makers of the award-winning Balance Harness and KLIMB training platform, today announced the launch of the KLIMB Jr.a smaller, more versatile version of the original KLIMB designed for everyday pet households.

Whether at home with a playful puppy, a curious kitten, or a full-grown cat or dog, the KLIMB Jr. provides pet parents with a dedicated platform for training, enrichment, and daily routines. Its compact design is ideal for apartments, living rooms, and backyards, giving pets a safe and comfortable space to learn, lounge, and play.

"The KLIMB Jr. was created with today's pet families in mind," said David Blake, CEO of Blue-9 Pet Products. "We wanted a solution that fits naturally into everyday life, while still delivering the same professional-grade quality people trust in the original KLIMB. Now, whether you're teaching your dog to stay in place or giving your cat a fun perch, the KLIMB Jr. is up to the task."

KLIMB Jr. Features:

Perfect for Small Pets  Specially designed for puppies, small dogs, and cats.

 Specially designed for puppies, small dogs, and cats. Helps Pets Stay Focused  A "place" that keeps them calm, confident, and out from underfoot.

 A "place" that keeps them calm, confident, and out from underfoot. Durable & Comfortable  Shock-absorbing, non-slip surface is safe for paws and easy to clean.

 Shock-absorbing, non-slip surface is safe for paws and easy to clean. Compact Size  Ideal for apartments, condos, and smaller spaces.

 Ideal for apartments, condos, and smaller spaces. Builds Confidence  Encourages pets with their own special spot to learn and play.

 Encourages pets with their own special spot to learn and play. Expands with Your Needs  Connects and stacks with the original KLIMB platform for endless possibilities.

 Connects and stacks with the original KLIMB platform for endless possibilities. Made in the USA  Built with care and high-quality materials.

The KLIMB Jr. is available in tan, black, white, blue, and purple. Customers can purchase directly at www.blue-9.com or through Blue-9's network of authorized dealers.

About Blue-9 Pet Products

Blue-9 Pet Products is dedicated to helping pet parents strengthen the bond with their pets through innovative, high-quality products. Known for the award-winning Balance Harness and KLIMB training platform, Blue-9 designs tools that make training, enrichment, and everyday life with pets easier and more enjoyable. Many products are proudly made in the USA, reflecting the company's commitment to quality and thoughtful design. To learn more, visit www.blue-9.com .

Media Contact:

Robin Bennett

Blue-9 Pet Products

Phone: 563-200-5750

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Blue-9 Pet Products
SHANGHAI, Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 2171.HK), a company focused on developing innovative CAR T-cell therapies, announces that the results of CT071 (an autologous CAR T-cell product targeting GPRC5D) for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM) in an investigator-initiated trial (NCT05838131) have been published in The Lancet Haematology. The article was titled "GPRC5D-targeted CAR T-cell therapy (CT071) in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma: a first-in-human, single-centre, single-arm, phase 1 trial".

This trial aimed to assess the safety, preliminary activity of CT071 in R/R MM. 20 patients received CT071 infusion. Patients had received a median of 5 prior lines of therapy (IQR 3.0-6.5); 19 (95%) were double-class refractory, 13 (65%) were triple-class refractory, 5 (25%) were penta-drug refractory, 10 (50%) had received autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), and 5 (25%) had relapsed after CAR T-cell therapies targeting BCMA or BCMA/CD19. Four (20%) patients had extramedullary disease (EMD), 14 (70%) had 1 high-risk cytogenetics and 19 (95%) had a Revised International Staging System (R-ISS) 2 or 3 disease at baseline.

No dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed. The recommended phase 2 dose was determined at 0.1106 CAR T cells/kg. Cytokine release syndrome occurred in 12 patients (60%), all graded as 1 or 2. No Grade 3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) occurred. One patient (5%) experienced Grade 3 immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). No treatment-related deaths occurred.

With a median follow-up of 10.71 months (IQR 6.13-12.02), the objective response rate (ORR) was 100% (95%CI, 83.2-100). 10 (50%) patients achieved stringent complete response (sCR), 4 (20%) had very good partial response (VGPR) and 6 (30%) had partial response (PR). One patient with a large EMD (125 mm99 mm at baseline) achieved a 67.6% reduction at month 10 with ongoing PR. All 5 patients previously treated with an anti-BCMA CAR T (n=1) or anti-BCMA/CD19 CAR T (n=4) responded; 2 achieved PR, 1 achieved VGPR and 2 achieved sCR. 18 of 20 (90%) evaluable patients achieved MRD negativity at 106 including all 10 with CR or sCR. Median time to MRD negativity was 29 days (IQR 29-29). Median duration of response (DoR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were not reached. The data cutoff for all analyses was December 9, 2024.

About CT071

CT071 is a CAR T-cell therapy candidate developed utilizing the proprietary CARcelerate platform targeting GPRC5D for the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM) or plasma cell leukemia (PCL). Initiated trials include an investigator-initiated trial for R/R MM or PCL in China (NCT05838131), and an investigator-initiated trial for newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) in China (NCT06407947).

About CARsgen Therapeutics Holdings Limited

CARsgen is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on developing innovative CAR T-cell therapies to address the unmet clinical needs including but not limited to hematologic malignancies, solid tumors and autoimmune diseases. CARsgen has established end-to-end capabilities for CAR T-cell research and development covering target discovery, preclinical research, product clinical development, and commercial-scale production. CARsgen has developed novel in-house technologies and a product pipeline with global rights to address challenges faced by existing CAR T-cell therapies. Efforts include improving safety profile, enhancing the efficacy in treating solid tumors, and reducing treatment costs, etc. CARsgen's mission is to be a global biopharmaceutical leader that provides innovative and differentiated cell therapies for patients worldwide and makes cancer and other diseases curable.

Forward-looking Statements

All statements in this press release that are not historical fact or that do not relate to present facts or current conditions are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements express the Group's current views, projections, beliefs and expectations with respect to future events as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and factors beyond the Group's control. As a result, they are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, and actual events or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements and the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those detailed under the heading "Principal Risks and Uncertainties" in our most recent annual report and interim report and other announcements and reports made available on our corporate website, https://www.carsgen.com. No representation or warranty is given as to the achievement or reasonableness of, and no reliance should be placed on, any projections, targets, estimates or forecasts contained in this press release.

SOURCE CARsgen Therapeutics
OTTUMWA, Iowa, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Central Iowa Shelter & Services (CISS) and Iowa Total Care will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Empowerment Command Center and Affordable Housing Project on Tuesday, October 14 at 11:00 a.m. at 609 E. Pennsylvania St., Ottumwa.

The Empowerment Command Center is a portion of a 2-year $2.55 million commitment to CISS by Iowa Total Care and the Centene Foundation , the philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation.

This project represents CISS' commitment to addressing the urgent needs of rural Iowans facing homelessness and housing instability. The Empowerment Command Center provides essential services, including job training, veterans' resources, case management, health and wellness support, and pathways to permanent housing. CISS aims to eliminate the obstacles that residents of Wapello County currently face when needing to travel to urban centers for these vital services.

"Our research identified Ottumwa and Wapello County as a place in need of services and support for individuals experiencing housing challenges," said Melissa O'Neil, CISS CEO. "While we have been serving Wapello County for several years, the opening of our newest Empowerment Command Center in Ottumwa reflects our dedication to extending efficient and effective solutions to homelessness into rural communities while fostering stability and empowerment."

"Iowa Total Care and the Centene Foundation are committed to addressing the social factors that influence health, such as housing and access to services. Through strategic partnerships, we aim to implement sustainable, community-based solutions to improve outcomes for vulnerable populations. We are proud to support CISS and the Ottumwa Empowerment Command Center in delivering innovative resources to rural Iowans," said Bryan Sanders, Plan President & CEO of Iowa Total Care.

Modeled after the successful Empowerment Command Center in Des Moines, this initiative will bring critical resources closer to the community and facilitate a more supportive environment for individuals seeking assistance and utilizing existing resources. A dedicated team of case workers and advocates will ensure that residents receive tailored support and comprehensive care.

Additionally, the project will introduce affordable housing units in Ottumwa, addressing the significant gaps in housing availability. Funded through grant allocations, local support, and private financial contributions, these units will serve as a lifeline for those who may not qualify for traditional housing options.

CISS invites community members, stakeholders, and advocates to join in this pivotal occasion. Your presence can help amplify the message of support and commitment to those in need.

About Central Iowa Shelter & Services (CISS)

Central Iowa Shelter & Services is the largest low-barrier shelter in Iowa. Its mission is to provide shelter, meals and support services to adults experiencing homelessness and to facilitate their move toward self-sufficiency. CISS also provides housing services to a 15-county region through its Rolling Hills Coalition.

About Iowa Total Care (ITC)

Iowa Total Care provides Medicaid healthcare coverage to eligible individuals in Iowa. Established in 2019, Iowa Total Care exists to improve the health of its members through focused, compassionate, and coordinated care. Iowa Total Care is a wholly owned subsidiary of Centene Corporation, a leading healthcare enterprise that is committed to helping people live healthier lives.

About the Centene Foundation

The Centene Foundation (the "Foundation"), a private nonprofit focused on investing in economically challenged communities, is the philanthropic arm of Centene Corporation ("Centene"). The Foundation supports projects and initiatives strategically aligned with Centene's mission-driven culture and enhances the work Centene is doing to remove the barriers to wellness underserved and low-income populations face. The Foundation is committed to addressing social determinants of health and improving health equity in three distinct areas of focus: healthcare access, social services, and education. To learn more, visit the Centene Foundation's website.

SOURCE Iowa Total Care
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Securing and modernizing Sweden's power grid to meet present and future demands

STOCKHOLM, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - CGI (TSX: GIB.A) (NYSE: GIB), one of the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world, has been selected by Svenska kraftnat (the Swedish national transmission system operator) for a new multi-year framework agreement. The agreement covers the delivery of IT consulting services in areas including architecture, leadership, and security  vital capabilities for enhancing Sweden's electricity transmission capacity and building a resilient energy infrastructure.

"Contributing to reinforcing the digital foundation of one of Sweden's most critical public infrastructures is both a responsibility and an opportunity we embrace fully. We look forward to collaborating with Svenska kraftnat to develop solutions that not only meet today's demands but also shape tomorrow's energy infrastructure," says Rakesh Kapoor, Senior Vice-President and Business Unit Leader for CGI in Stockholm and Central Sweden. "By combining our global expertise with a strong local presence, we aim to help build an energy system that is even more secure, accessible, and futureready."

Svenska kraftnat manages and develops Sweden's national electricity transmission grid, which includes approximately 16,000 km of power lines, around 175 transformer and switching stations, and several critical international interconnections. With planned investments totaling SEK 210 billion through 2035, the agency plays a pivotal role in ensuring a robust, sustainable, and competitive power system. The scope of this mission presents substantial challenges  from meeting escalating energy demand to driving the energy transition in close coordination with Nordic and European partners.

With this agreement, CGI reinforces its leading position in Sweden's Energy & Utilities sector  both in consulting services and system solutions. Notably, CGI has deployed its proprietary AgileDX platform for central data integration across several European electricity markets  offering an efficient, secure, and scalable solution for managing energy data between stakeholders. The company also brings deep experience in aiding government agencies, public entities, and private sector clients in the energy field with digitalization, information security, and technological transformation initiatives.

About CGI

Founded in 1976, CGI is among the largest independent IT and business consulting services firms in the world. With 93,000 consultants and professionals across the globe, CGI delivers an end-to-end portfolio of capabilities, from strategic IT and business consulting to systems integration, managed IT and business process services and intellectual property solutions. CGI works with clients through a local relationship model complemented by a global delivery network that helps clients digitally transform their organizations and accelerate results. CGI Fiscal 2024 reported revenue is CA$14.68 billion and CGI shares are listed on the TSX (GIB.A) and the NYSE (GIB). Learn more at cgi.com.

SOURCE CGI Inc.
Through New Strategic Plan, Civic Nation Seeks to Transform America's Current Cycle of Civic Decline into One of Civic Renewal

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Civic Nation launched Civic Nation 2030 , the organization's new roadmap for the next five years to strengthen civic culture, power and participation. Civic Nation 2030 aims to respond to the urgent needs of the current moment while building the foundations for a better future.

"From the COVID-19 pandemic and loneliness epidemic to the rise of social media and AI, Americans have begun to not only lose faith in democracy, but in each other. We can, and must, rebuild trust from the ground up to reverse the cycle of civic unraveling we find ourselves in. There is no easy solution to our country's issues, but together, we can face this urgent challenge head on and create a more civic nation," said Civic Nation CEO Kyle Lierman.

The majority of Americans no longer believe democracy is working and many are opting out of the process as a result. In 2024, one in three eligible voters and more than half of young people ages 1829 did not cast a ballot, and only 28% of people over the age of 16 formally volunteered in their communities.

Over the next five years, Civic Nation will engage 20 million Americans to take action, solve problems and help their communities thrive. As an impact hub for ideas, leaders and initiatives, Civic Nation is home to:

ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge : Empowering colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement.

Empowering colleges and universities to achieve excellence in nonpartisan student democratic engagement. Change Collective : Building a new national community of local changemakers to drive change, solve problems and bridge divides.

Building a new national community of local changemakers to drive change, solve problems and bridge divides. It's On Us : Building the movement to combat campus sexual assault by giving students the tools they need to create a culture of prevention.

Building the movement to combat campus sexual assault by giving students the tools they need to create a culture of prevention. We The Action : Uniting lawyers with nonprofits to expand access to justice and deliver free legal services where they are critically needed.

Uniting lawyers with nonprofits to expand access to justice and deliver free legal services where they are critically needed. When We All Vote : Increasing civic participation in each and every election to close the race and age voting gap and change the culture around voting.

Each initiative will meet Americans where they are to strengthen civic culture, power and participation through three strategic priorities:

Protect fundamental rights, safety and freedoms : We The Action will mobilize lawyers to donate over 750,000 hours of pro bono legal services to help over 750 nonprofits serving community needs. It's On Us will activate and support over 750 college chapters to prevent campus sexual assault.

:

Inspire and engage the next generation to lead: When We All Vote will launch a national listening campaign to amplify the priorities of more than one million young people. The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge will support and recognize more than 1,000 colleges and universities looking to increase nonpartisan student democratic participation.



Build lasting civic infrastructure in local communities: The Change Collective will connect and support more than 5,000 civic leaders tackling local challenges and bridging divides in their communities. Civic Nation will create, test and scale new, cutting-edge ideas to rebuild the physical, social and cultural foundations of civic life in 1,000 communities across the country.



Civic Nation was built for this moment and will work to create a vibrant, inclusive and participatory democracy where every person has the tools they need to take action, solve problems and help their communities thrive. Learn more about Civic Nation 2030 here .

ABOUT Civic Nation:

Civic Nation is an impact hub for ideas, leaders, and initiatives that strengthen civic culture, power, and participation. Rooted in purpose and powered by people, Civic Nation brings together individuals, grassroots organizers, industry leaders, brands, and influencers to take on the biggest issues of our time. Civic Nation is home to five national initiatives: ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, Change Collective, It's On Us, We The Action, and When We All Vote. Learn more here .

SOURCE Civic Nation
Ukrainian lawmakers have submitted a total of 3,339 amendments to the draft state budget for 2026  59% more than they proposed for the 2025 budget  setting a 19-year record, according to Roksolana Pidlasa, chair of the Verkhovna Radas Budget Committee and member of the Servant of the People faction.

"Members of Parliament have broken a 19-year record for the number of budget amendments. A total of 3,339 amendments were submitted to the 2026 draft budget  more than 59% higher than last year. For the 2025 budget, MPs submitted 2,098 amendments," Pidlasa wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.

According to her, the largest number of amendments  910  came from European Solidarity. Servant of the People submitted 652, Reasonable Politics inter-factional group  470, and Holos  437.

Among individual MPs, the most active were Artur Herasymov (European Solidarity), who submitted 662 amendments; Yaroslav Zhelezniak (Holos)  254; and Dmytro Razumkov  254.

"If each amendment were given at least 90 seconds for review, their discussion would take over 10 full working days," Pidlasa added.

As reported earlier, on September 15 the government submitted the 2026 state budget draft to Parliament. The document envisions expenditures of UAH 4.8 trillion (+UAH 415 billion compared to the 2025 budget) and revenues of UAH 2.83 trillion (+UAH 446.8 billion), with a deficit estimated at 18.4% of GDP (down 3.9 percentage points from 2025). Defense spending is set at UAH 2.8 trillion (27.2% of GDP), up by UAH 168.6 billion.

On September 19, the Verkhovna Rada reviewed the governments 2026 budget proposal and accepted it for further consideration.
TALLINN, Estonia, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- For too long, bitcoiners who self-custody have suffered clunky offramps, worried about banking blocks, and struggled to actually use bitcoin for everyday purchases. Now, after 18 months of beta testing and around 1,000 early users moving over 6 million, the Bringin full release is live, opening the doors for bitcoiners in the eurozone to save, store, send, receive, and spend Bitcoin in one simple app and finally 'live the standard'.

3 Ways to Live the Standard with Bringin:

BRINGIN APPS

Stack with Ease; Use Sats for Major Expenses

On-ramping direct to self-custody.

One-time purchases and DCA with minimal spread and a flat 1% fee. Convert BTC on-chain (11 mins) or via personalized LN address e.g., [email protected] (5 seconds). Euros land instantly in your account.



Avoid Banking Flags with a Personal vIBAN

Every user gets a dedicated euro vIBAN to send/receive instant SEPA transfers and connect directly with fiat rails.



Spend Bitcoin Anywhere with Visa Debit Cards (Pro users) Virtual and physical debit cards can be instantly funded from BTC conversions and are spendable online or in-store anywhere Visa is accepted (0% fee).

The Control Center for Your Daily Finances

With Bringin's new in app self-custodial Lightning wallet built on Breez SDK, users no longer need to manage external wallets to live on Bitcoin. Sending, receiving, or converting sats into euros all happens within the app, making it a complete Bitcoin control center. This simplifies daily use for bitcoiners and onboards newbies to the full spectrum of Bitcoin use in one go.

Six-Figure BTC/Euro Conversions

Bringin's euro off-ramp allows users to cover large expenses (e.g., vehicle/property purchases) with transactions of over 1BTC.

Bringin's euro off-ramp allows users to cover large expenses (e.g., vehicle/property purchases) with transactions of over 1BTC. Send Funds Where You Need, When You Need

Liquidation to a vIBAN in your name avoids banking blocks and compliance headaches (useful for those paid in BTC or mining Bitcoin). No more battles with customer service.

Liquidation to a vIBAN in your name avoids banking blocks and compliance headaches (useful for those paid in BTC or mining Bitcoin). No more battles with customer service. Hold Bitcoin, Pay Anywhere

Auto top-up or near-instant conversion of sats to euros allows pro users to pay for groceries and other daily expenses with the Bringin debit card while hodling Bitcoin.

On/off ramps, self-payments, tap-to-pay cards, and money management tools are available under one roof for the first time in the eurozone. After a simple verification process, Bringin users gain keys to unlock true BTC-fiat interoperability.

Download the Bringin app on Android or iPhone today, and start living the standard.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2790698/Bringin_Technology.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2790697/Bringin_Technology_Logo.jpg
Global Research Firm Identifies Use of Advanced AI and Analytics and Ability to Offer Retrospective and Prospective Reviews as Key Solution Attributes

BOSTON and PARIS, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Shift Technology , the leading AI platform for insurance,, today announced it has been named a "Top 10 High Potential Payment Integrity Specialist" by industry research firm Everest Group. In the report Reshaping Payment Integrity Solutions: Specialists Creating Buzz in the Market , Shift is recognized as one of 10 companies that are redefining the payment integrity landscape and that have the potential to disrupt the market with innovative and forward-looking solutions.

According to Everest Group, "the Payment Integrity (PI) market is structurally resetting. Payers are moving from retrospective audits to preventive, pre-payment validation using AI, predictive analytics, and automation to detect anomalies early, improve coding accuracy, and reduce provider abrasion. This prevention-first posture aligns with value-based care and targets lower medical loss ratios, fewer takebacks, and audit-ready defensibility while improving efficiency." Shift Payment Integrity aligns closely to this paradigm and offers health plans a solution incorporating AI-powered edits, optimized scenarios, and accelerated workflows. This allows plans to apply AI at key points in the claims process to analyze policy and provider behavior, as well as all relevant records to prevent costly errors and identify emerging schemes. Shift empowers health plans to act quickly and precisely, boosting prepay savings and postpay recoveries.

"For far too long, the payment integrity industry has focused primarily on the basicsis the patient covered by the plan, is the treatment covered by the plan, and is the provider billing within plan guidelines," explained, Mark Starinsky, AHFI, CFE, CHC, SA, senior product manager, Shift Technology. "At Shift, we've built on those core capabilities and augmented them with AI and analytics. The result is a far more comprehensive approach to payment integrity that gives health plans a near 360 degree view of what's happening in the claims process to ensure maximum accuracy, efficiency, and fairness for the plan, its providers, and its members."

About Shift Technology

Shift Technology is the leading AI platform for insurance. Shift combines generative, agentic, and predictive AI to transform underwriting, claims, and fraud and riskdriving operational efficiency, exceptional customer experiences, and measurable business impact. Trusted by the world's leading insurers, Shift delivers AI when and where it matters most, at scale and with proven results. Learn more at www.shift-technology.com .

Contact:

Rob Morton

Corporate Communications

Shift Technology

+1.617.416.9216

[email protected]

SOURCE Shift Technology
BATON ROUGE, La., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, the state of Louisiana filed a lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration challenging the conditions under which the abortion drug mifepristone may be sold within Louisiana and the rest of the United States. The lawsuit notes that "from April to June 2024 alone, mail-order abortion drugssent into Louisiana from doctors and activists in other statesaccounted for an average of 617 abortions in Louisiana per month." The lawsuit asks the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana to re-instate the pre-2023 Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) on the abortion drug, once again require in-person dispensing and prohibit mail-order pharmacies from dispensing mifepristone, preventing the interstate mailing of it.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, a former Louisiana state legislator, commented on the lawsuit:

"Mifepristone has become a murder weapon. The drug is under review because it is unsafe for womenbut it is also a tool used by killersmany times against a woman's will or without her knowledge. While a transparent, unbiased review of mifepristone is taking place, abusers could be disarmed if the Trump administration would re-enact and strengthen the FDA safety protocols originally governing the drug. I applaud my home state of Louisiana for filing this lawsuit to reinstate commonsense safety requirements that the Biden administration so callously and dangerously removed. The Trump administration should repeal approval of mifepristone altogether, but it should also swiftly adopt a policy that aligns with its declaration that abortion belongs under state jurisdiction," Perkins concluded.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill will appear on "Washington Watch with Tony Perkins" tonight at 5:30 PM ET to discuss the lawsuit. The live broadcast is available at tonyperkins.com.

CONTACT: J.P. Duffy or Alice Chao, (866) FRC-NEWS or (866)-372-6397

SOURCE Family Research Council
NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Insillion, a provider of Pay-as-you-Grow policy administration and claims software, today announced that its partnership with Functional Finance, the specialist billing system for insurance, has delivered a fully live and integrated solution for Managing General Agents (MGAs) and carriers.

By combining Insillion's cloud-based policy administration platform with Functional Finance's API-driven billing system, MGAs get best-in-class policy, claims, and billing in one cohesive workflowlaunching faster, scaling with confidence, and eliminating operational friction.

Why Functional Finance

Insillion selected Functional Finance as its billing partner because of the company's proven leadership and track record in insurance technology, its modern API-first architecture, and its ability to automate the most complex aspects of financial operations. Functional Finance's embedded platform handles everything from invoicing and payables to collecting E&S taxes and fees, giving MGAs confidence that their financial processes are accurate, compliant, and scalable.

"MGAs need technology partners who understand their challenges and can move as fast as they do," said Raja Raman, CEO of Insillion. "We chose Functional Finance because they are specialists in billing, with the expertise and technology to match our own in policy administration. Together, we are delivering a purpose-built solution that allows MGAs to be live in weeks, without compromising on depth or customization."

What It Means for MGAs

Start-up MGAs can configure products quickly, test in sandbox environments, and go live with a complete policy + billing solution in weeks.

Established MGAs and carriers benefit from enterprise-grade customization, speed, and the confidence that billing, policy, and claims systems work together seamlessly.

"Functional Finance has a long track record of solving some of the hardest financial operations challenges in insurance," said Rashmi Melgiri, CEO and Co-Founder of Functional Finance. "By bringing our billing expertise into Insillion's PAS environment, MGAs gain the best of both worlds: a policy administration system built for flexibility and speed, and a billing system built for complexity."

The integrated solution is available today across specialty and E&S markets, enabling MGAs to automate back-office operations, accelerate distribution, and scale without limits.

About Insillion

Insillion delivers insurance technology for carriers and MGAs across North America, India, the Middle East, and APAC. With over 20 years of industry experience, Insillion provides low-code, cloud-based solutions with a Pay-as-you-Grow model, enabling rapid product launches, faster quote-to-bind, and AI-powered process automation. insillion.com

About Functional Finance

Functional Finance provides financial operations software serving tech-forward insurance companies. Its API-driven embedded solution automates and manages all aspects of money flowcheckout, financing, payables, refunds, and E&S tax handling. Founded by industry veterans, including the co-founder of CoverWallet, Functional Finance delivers solutions purpose-built for insurance operators. functionalfi.com

Contact:

Steven Patrick

[email protected]

SOURCE Functional Finance
125-MW solar project is located in Jackson County, Michigan

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, Geronimo Power (Geronimo) hosted a ribbon-cutting event for its 125-megawatt (MW) Jackson County Solar (Jackson County) project, bringing together project partners, landowners, and community members. The event celebrated the significant efforts made to bring the project to fruition and highlighted the substantial benefits it will bring to the local community.

Project partners and community leaders gather to commemorate the Jackson County Solar project in Jackson County, Michigan

"I'm thrilled to be welcoming everyone who helped us bring the Jackson County Solar project to life," said David Reamer, Chief Development Officer at Geronimo. "Every successful project starts with people  from our landowners and project partners to the local community leaders. When industry and community come together, we're boosting rural economies that are at the heart of America, and delivering dependable, reliable energy that people can count on for years to come."

Event attendees participated in a guided behind-the-scenes tour of the project, providing an up-close view of the construction process. Stops on the tour included the Callahan Substation - which will connect the project to the electric grid  as well as a tour through the panel area to learn more about the technology. The event concluded with a formal ribbon-cutting with project partners and landowners to commemorate the project nearing completion.

"Consumers Energy is excited to partner with Geronimo Power to celebrate a project that will serve our customers in Jackson County and across Michigan," said Sri Maddipati, Consumers Energy's president of electric supply. "It's important that we can develop and support new sources of Michigan-made energy that will continue meeting the needs of our growing state."

"Huge credit to Geronimo for their vision and success on the Jackson County Solar project, Barnhart for their execution, and Consumers Energy for ensuring clean, reliable power to Michigan homes," said Nextracker founder and CEO Dan Shugar. "We're especially proud that critical steel components for Nextracker's solar tracker systems were built with U.S.-sourced steel from Ohio and Indiana and manufactured locally supporting American jobs and strengthening the Midwest supply chain. This project is proof that solar power is driving U.S. economic growth and building energy security for the region."

Once operational, Jackson County is expected to contribute over $71 million in direct economic impact to the local area. This includes $28 million in new tax revenue which will be distributed to local counties, townships and school districts. Additionally, the project is expected to generate enough clean, renewable energy to provide the equivalent electrical usage of an estimated 33,600 homes each year. Using the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator, the project is estimated to offset carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 161,300 metric tons annually  the equivalent of removing an estimated 37,600 cars off the road for one year.

About Geronimo Power

Geronimo Power (formerly National Grid Renewables) develops, owns and operates large-scale power assets throughout America's Heartland, including solar, wind and energy storage. As a farmer-founded and community-focused business, Geronimo Power equips landowners and rural communities with sustainable revenue to ignite local economic growth. To learn more about Geronimo Power, visit www.geronimopower.com or follow the company on LinkedIn.

Media Inquiries

Contact: Emily Morissette

Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications

Geronimo Power

[email protected]

612-504-4839

SOURCE Geronimo Power
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Mate is proud to announce its donation of an infrared sauna to support Matt Okula, an engineer with the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), following the heartbreaking loss of his wife, Hailey Okula, during childbirth. They are delighted to assist Matt during this challenging time, providing an important resource for his wellness and recovery as he embraces his new role as a single father to their newborn son, Crew.

Health Mate Partners with Local Community to Support LAFD Engineer After Tragic Loss Health Mate Partners with Local Community to Support LAFD Engineer After Tragic Loss

In an emotional statement, Eric Okula, Matt's brother, shared, "Health and fitness have always been at the heart of Matt's life. It's part of what has made him such a strong firefighter and a dependable leader in his community."

Providing the sauna allows Matt to focus on his wellness in the comfort of his home, enhancing his ability to care for his son while coping with his incredible loss. Health Mate understands that community support is invaluable during times of crisis, and this donation exemplifies that commitment to helping those who serve and protect.

The company sincerely hopes that the sauna will aid in Matt's physical recovery and provide a space for mental respite as he adjusts to life without his wife's presence. Recognizing the need for support during this incredibly difficult time, Health Mate's donation of an infrared sauna will provide a vital opportunity for Matt to engage in self-care practices that are important for his well-being.

For more information about Health Mate's community initiatives, please visit healthmatesauna.com

About Health Mate:

Since 1979, Health Mate has been a leader in infrared sauna technology, dedicated to enhancing health and wellness across many communities. Their state-of-the-art saunas provide a luxurious means of relaxation, effective detoxification, and improved overall well-being, making them a valuable addition to any home. With a focus on quality and innovation, Health Mate continues to set the standard in the industry. The company is proud to support community endeavors, such as the donation, and is always open to serving others. Discover more about their products and mission at healthmatesauna.com.

Contact Information

Name: Anastasia Sinkovskaya

Email: [email protected]

Phone Number: (714) 739-6681

SOURCE Health Mate Sauna
HMI-115 demonstrated statistically significant improvement in endometriosis pain

The mean dysmenorrhea pain score was reduced by 42%

The mean non-menstrual pelvic pain score was reduced by 52%

Most of the patients had normal menstrual periods

No typical peri-menopausal symptoms were reported

There were no significant changes in bone mineral density and sex hormone levels

About 190 million women worldwide have endometriosis, making up a market size of $200billion

SHANGHAI, Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hope Medicine Inc. ('HopeMed'), a clinical-stage innovative biopharmaceutical company, announced successful completion of a global Phase 2 study, " A Randomized, Multicenter, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Phase 2 Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of HMI-115 in Women with Moderate to Severe Endometriosis Associated Pain Over a 12-Week Treatment Period". HMI-115 is a monoclonal antibody that blocks the prolactin receptor. It is a potential first-in-class treatment for endometriosis.

This study included 108 female patients with surgically diagnosed endometriosis in US, Poland and China. HMI-115 demonstrated statistically significant improvement of endometriosis associated pain. HMI-115 was well-tolerated with no treatment-related serious adverse events. Specifically, at the end of the study treatment, the least-square-mean dysmenorrhea pain score was reduced by 42% in the 240 mg q2w group, compared to that of the baseline. The least-square-mean non-menstrual pelvic pain score was reduced by 52%. These reductions are statistically significant. No typical peri-menopausal symptoms were reported. There were no significant changes in menstrual patterns, bone mineral density and sex hormone levels including estradiol, LH, FSH and progesterone.

"Endometriosis is a common and debilitating disease. The findings from this proof-of-concept study are exciting," said Lan Zhu, Director of Gynecology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital and leading investigator of this Phase 2 study, "HMI-115 relieved endometriosis pain in women without disturbing their sex hormones. It can potentially shift the treatment paradigm. We will be able to treat women without menopausal side effects or even infertility."

"HMI-115 is the first prolactin receptor blocker that can treat women with endometriosis," said Professor Rui-Ping Xiao, founder of Hope Medicine, "it is also first non-hormonal treatment worldwide that cleared proof-of-concept. Hope Medicine is a leading company in this global consortium to improve women's health."

"HMI-115 is Phase 3 ready," said Nathan Chen, CEO, "we are communicating with key regulatory agencies, including FDA and NMPA, to finalize the Phase 3 protocol and to initiate Phase 3 studies worldwide."

About Endometriosis

About approximately 190 million women worldwide have endometriosis, making up a global market size of approximately $200 billion dollars. Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease characterized by the implantation of endometrial cells in locations outside the endometrium, typically presenting as chronic inflammation. The endometrium is a layer of mucosal tissue within the uterine cavity that undergoes hormone dependent changes during the menstrual cycle. Endometriosis is common in women of childbearing age, and its global incidence rate is about 10% in women of childbearing age. Symptoms include lower abdominal and pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, painful intercourse, and infertility. Endometriosis negatively impacts patients' quality of life and sex, psychology, and social behavior.

About Hope Medicine

Hope Medicine Inc. is a science-driven clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with research laboratories and offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, China. HopeMed is established on the in-depth expertise in translational medicine and decades of research of Professor Rui-Ping Xiao's laboratory at the Institute of Molecular Medicine of Peking University. Based on excellent scientific research and to improve the quality of life, HopeMed is committed to the research, development, and commercialization of first-in-class medicines for common and major diseases that threaten human health.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are primarily based on the current outlook, expectations, estimates, and projections of the company's management team. When using "anticipate," "believe," "may," "design," "effect," "assess," "expect," "predict," "target," "aim," "purpose" and any other similar words and expressions, in references to the company, the intention of the statement is forward-looking. Forward-looking statements are not guarantee of future performance and subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and often beyond the company's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company's goals and strategies; the Company's future business development; changes in technology; economic conditions; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; changes in applicable laws or regulations. The company undertakes no public announcement obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this press release, or to publicly announce any such updates or revisions, to reflect changes in our expectations or any events, circumstances or assumptions that affect these statements.

SOURCE Hope Medicine Inc.
ARMONK, N.Y., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) will hold its quarterly conference call to discuss its third-quarter 2025 financial results on Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. ET. The live webcast of the earnings call can be accessed at www.ibm.com/investor.

Please also visit the investor website for the earnings press release prior to the webcast. A replay, associated charts and prepared remarks will be available after the event.

Media contact:

Timothy Davidson

[email protected]

914-844-7847

SOURCE IBM
Info-Tech Research Group has revealed more featured speakers for Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Barcelona. Taking place October 2122, 2025, at SLS Barcelona, the two-day European event will bring together CIOs, CISOs, and IT executives from across the globe under the event's theme, "Transform IT. Transform Everything." The featured speaker lineup highlights sessions that cover key IT priorities, such as AI strategy, enterprise architecture, and risk management, to provide attendees with practical tools and insights to drive measurable business value.

LONDON, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Info-Tech Research Group, a global leader in IT research and advisory, has revealed the latest round of featured speakers for its upcoming flagship conference, Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Barcelona. Taking place October 2122, 2025, at the SLS Barcelona, the two-day event marks the firm's European debut of its renowned LIVE series. Under the theme, "Transform IT. Transform Everything.", the conference will feature a dynamic lineup of sessions that bridge global technology trends with actionable strategies for CIOs, CISOs, IT, and organizational leaders across the EMEA region.

Info-Tech Research Group has announced additional featured speakers for Info-Tech LIVE 2025, taking place on October 2122, 2025, at SLS Barcelona. The two-day event marks the firms European debut, with sessions that cover key IT priorities, including AI strategy, enterprise architecture, and risk management. (CNW Group/Info-Tech Research Group)

Expanding on previous announcements that include featured keynote speaker Dave Coplin, former Microsoft UK Envisioning Officer, and other industry experts, the recently announced Info-Tech speakers will share in-depth research and advisory insights across AI strategy, leadership development, enterprise architecture, and risk management. Each session is designed to provide attendees with strategic guidance, practical tools, and frameworks to accelerate digital transformation, scale responsibly, and deliver measurable organizational value.

"European organizations are facing both the promise and pressure of exponential technologies," says Nigel Bowles, Vice President, Info-Tech Research Group, UK. "From scaling AI responsibly to advancing enterprise architecture and strengthening risk management, the sessions that will take place at Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Barcelona will give IT leaders the timely frameworks, tools, and peer insight they need to turn the shifts being experienced across the globe into measurable impact for their organizations."

Featured Speakers and Sessions at Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Barcelona

The Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Barcelona conference will feature an extensive lineup of Info-Tech experts who will bring EMEA-focused perspectives to the stage. Each session will explore how emerging technologies such as agentic AI, automation, and data-driven leadership are transforming IT organizations across Europe and the world. With a strong focus on practical execution, the program will connect regional digital transformation priorities to Info-Tech's research-backed frameworks for sustainable innovation.

Speaker: Valence Howden, Advisory Fellow, Info-Tech Research Group

Valence Howden is an Advisory Fellow at Info-Tech Research Group and an international speaker with over 30 years of experience helping organizations enhance governance, strategy, and risk management. A 2023 and 2024 HDI Top 25 Thought Leader in Service Management, Howden also serves as Canada's Standards Council Chair and ISO delegate for IT Governance and Service Management.

Session: Building a Risk Roadmap for Today's Uncertain Era

In this interactive breakout session, participants will learn how to evolve their organization's approach to risk management to better handle uncertainty and emerging technology threats. Howden will show how to identify opportunities for integrated, adaptive practices that strengthen resilience and enable confident decision-making.

Speaker: Andy Neill, Vice President, Technical Counselor Program, Info-Tech Research Group

Andy Neill is Vice President of Global Services and Chief Architect at Info-Tech Research Group, specializing in enterprise architecture and data strategy. With over two decades of experience, Neill leads initiatives that help organizations strengthen architecture maturity and connect data strategy to business outcomes. Neill also founded Info-Tech's Technical Counselor Program and is a former adjunct professor at the University of Toronto.

Session: The Enterprise Architecture Playbook: Secrets & Steps to Systematically Achieve IT Excellence

During this workshop, participants will explore the methodology behind Info-Tech's 12-step Enterprise Architecture Playbook and learn how to apply it within their own environments. The session will provide a hands-on, guided experience to assess the current maturity of their teams and organizations. The result will be a personalized roadmap for evolving enterprise architecture from reactive to strategic.

Speaker: Altaz Valani, Principal Advisory Director, Info-Tech Research Group

As a Principal Advisory Director for AI at Info-Tech Research Group, Altaz Valani has extensive experience in secure software development and technology leadership. Previously Director of Insights Research at Security Compass and serving in senior roles at KPMG, as well as a former Vice Chair of The Security Forum at The Open Group and Board Member at OASIS, Valani is recognized for his research and thought leadership in balancing innovation with governance and security.

Session: Operational Framework for Rolling Out AI

In this technology keynote, attendees will gain an understanding of how to scale AI initiatives responsibly across their organizations. Valani's session will explore how to prevent fragmentation, strengthen alignment between business and IT, and establish a sustainable AI operating model that ensures measurable, long-term value.

At Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Barcelona, attendees will experience a mix of keynotes, breakout sessions, workshops, and analyst meetings that combine strategic vision with actionable guidance. They'll gain research-driven frameworks, personalized analyst advice, and peer insights focused on today's top IT priorities, including AI adoption, architecture advancement, and risk management. With economic uncertainty and the rapid adoption of AI, EMEA organizations are under increasing pressure to modernize. These sessions will provide leaders with the clarity and confidence to make technology decisions that drive resilience and growth.

As part of Info-Tech's expanding global conference series, the Barcelona edition builds on the success of previous LIVE events in Brisbane, Australia, and Las Vegas, United States. This event will be followed by the final Canadian stop in Montreal, on November 25-26, 2025, before the series returns to Brisbane on March 17-18, 2026.

Further details on keynote speakers and agenda will be announced soon. Follow Info-Tech Research Group on LinkedIn and X for updates.

Media Passes for Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Barcelona

Media professionals, including journalists, podcasters, and influencers, are invited to attend Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Barcelona to gain exclusive access to research, content, and interviews with industry leaders for their audiences. Additional details, images, and event press releases can be found in the Info-Tech LIVE Media Kit.

Media professionals can apply for complimentary in-person passes by contacting [email protected].

Exhibitor Opportunities at Info-Tech LIVE 2025

Exhibitors are also invited to showcase their products and services to an engaged audience of IT decision-makers at Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Barcelona. For more information about exhibitor opportunities, please contact [email protected].

About Info-Tech Research Group

Info-Tech Research Group is the world's leading research and advisory firm, proudly serving over 30,000 IT, HR, and marketing professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides industry-leading advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

To learn more about Info-Tech's divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software-buying insights.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software, and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm's Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com.

SOURCE Info-Tech Research Group
NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Brunello Cucinelli S.p.A. ("Brunello Cucinelli" or the "Company") (OTCMKTS: BCUCY). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Brunello Cucinelli and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On September 25, 2025, Morpheus Research published a report entitled "From Moscow to TJ Maxx - How Brunello Cucinelli Continues To Lie About Its Russian Business While Aggressive Discounting Damages Its Exclusive Positioning." The report alleges that, contrary to its own representations, Brunello Cucinelli has continued to unlawfully conduct business in Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

On this news, Brunello Cucinelli's American Depositary Receipt ("ADR") price fell $2.01 per ADR, or 16.54%, to close at $10.14 per ADR on September 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 numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
Photo: https://edition.cnn.com

US President Donald Trump said that 7,812 soldiers have died in Russias war against Ukraine. The statement was made at a joint briefing with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday.

"You know, theres something going on with Russia, with Ukraine. This is what happened last week, Mark, 7,812 people died. Soldiers. Mostly soldiers. But 7,000  more than 7,000  almost 8,000 soldiers died. Its crazy. I thought it would be one of the easiest solutions. I get along very well with Putin. And Im very disappointed in him, because I thought it would be easy to solve, but it turned out to be maybe harder than the Middle East," Trump said.
NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of James Hardie Industries plc ("James Hardie" or the "Company") (NYSE: JHX). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether James Hardie and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On August 19, 2025, James Hardie issued a press release announcing financial results for its first quarter ended June 30, 2025. Among other items, James Hardie reported a 29% decline in first-quarter profit and projected lower-than-expected fiscal 2026 earnings, citing high borrowing costs.

On this news, James Hardie's American Depositary Receipt ("ADR") price fell $9.79 per ADR, or 34.44%, to close at $18.64 per ADR on August 20, 2025.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, and Paris 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, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm 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.pomerantzlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
HOUSTON, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Jonas Fitness, Inc., a leading provider of enterprise member management software, today announced a multi-year, multi-million-dollar commitment to develop AI-focused solutions for the fitness and medical wellness industries. The company is prioritizing real-world use cases that naturally align with its flagship Compete Member Management Software, enabling operators to make informed decisions and deliver enhanced member experiences.

Jonas Fitness, Inc. announces a multi-year, multi-million investment in AI to deliver trustworthy automation inside Compete-starting with front-desk features that simplify daily work and elevate member experiences. Built privacy-by-design with operator partners.

This marks the first phase of the buildout, backed by the substantial investment, with the first phase focused on end user facing improvements within the Front Desk. New AI driven features that will simplify and streamline daily functions and add functionality that historically required multiple systems to achieve.

"Club operators have told us they want innovative features that bring dependable outcomes," said Sandy Crutcher, President of Jonas Fitness. "There's been a lot of excitement, and sometimes confusion, around 'AI' in our market. Our commitment is to invest in the work, partner closely with customers, and introduce capabilities designed to simplify daily operations while adding efficiencies."

"Our north star is trustworthy automation that earns its place in daily workflows," said James Peltier, Chief Technology Officer at Jonas Fitness. "Doing this the right way is hard work. It requires disciplined roadmaps, focused pipelines, rigorous testing, and human involvement. That's why we're committing significant capital and engineering bandwidth to this program, so what ships inside Compete is reliable, privacy-minded, and measurably valuable. Capabilities move to production only when they meet our standards for accuracy, latency, and operator impact."

Responsible development is a foundational principle of the program. Jonas Fitness' guiding principles include privacy-by-design, security and data stewardship, operator control over data usage, clear documentation of model behavior and limitations, and a commitment to accessibility and inclusion in product design. The company will also collaborate with a cross-section of U.S. operators, including those with single-site, multi-location, and hospital-based facilities, to validate the impact before broader release.

"AI should reduce friction, not create it," added Crutcher. "We're aligning our investment to the realities of running a club: busy desks, lean teams, and members who expect great experiences. Our goal is steady, meaningful progress that operators can trust by strengthening our product today and the industry tomorrow."

As milestones are met, Jonas Fitness will share updates, publish learnings, and invite additional participants into structured early access programs. Operators interested in staying informed or exploring beta programs are encouraged to contact the company.

About Jonas Fitness, Inc.

Jonas Fitness (jonasfitness.com) is the industry-leading provider of integrated club management software and managed billing services, helping fitness facilities solve business challenges and elevate the member experience. As part of the Jonas Software family, Jonas Fitness combines industry expertise with a comprehensive suite of tools, serving thousands of clubs across North America.

Jonas Fitness, Inc. Media Contact:

Christian Menard

[email protected]

800-324-9800

SOURCE Jonas Fitness, Inc.
Expanding Capability and New Products to Drive Revenue Growth

MetaOptics Ltd made a strong market debut on the Catalist Board of the SGX-ST following its successful listing on 9 September 2025, with its share price surging by up to 25% on the first day of trading, closing at S$0.24 per share, significantly above the issue price of S$0.20 per share.

SINGAPORE, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- During the first month since its successful listing, shares of MetaOptics Ltd (the "Company" or "MetaOptics", together with its subsidiary, the "Group") remained actively traded, reaching highs of S$0.75 per share and settling above S$0.70 per share by mid-September 2025. As of market close on 8 October 2025, the Company's market capitalisation stood firm at approximately S$113.3 million, reflecting the robust investor confidence, strong market interest in its proprietary metaoptics technologies, and confidence in its future growth prospects.

Source: Bloomberg

On top of the encouraging share price movement, the Company recently announced on 24 September 2025 the plan to improve its regional production and product development capabilities in Taoyuan, Taiwan. As Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Mr. Mark Thng noted, the expanded capability, along with the proximity to Taiwan's semiconductor hub, enables better partner support, faster product iteration, faster turnaround, and scalable integration for its global customers.

Specifically, the Company plans to deploy additional Direct Laser Writers ("DLW") and automatic testers at the site in Taiwan, allowing the Company to meet growing market demand for metalenses while accelerating the innovative development of next-generation optical solutions. Leveraging its advanced metalens solutions with demonstrated nanofabrication capability down to 150nm and below, MetaOptics aims to be one of the pioneers in Co-Packaged Optics ("CPO"), which promises to revolutionize AI infrastructure by advancing light-based data transmission.

MetaOptics' investment in production technology  such as its industry-leading DLW precision of a minimum line width of 90nm  positions the Company at the forefront of optical miniaturization and scalability. The aforesaid strategic moves, complemented by collaborations with major semiconductor OEMs and ongoing expansion efforts into strategic overseas locations, demonstrate MetaOptics' commitment to long-term innovation and sustainable growth.

On 3 October 2025, MetaOptics entered into a development agreement with a leading South Korean consumer electronics company, for the design and development of metalens modules. The Company has also submitted sample metalens modules for evaluation and provided quotations for prototyping and mass production to a German automotive company, and is concurrently engaging a leading American consumer electronics company on potential metalens applications, and discussions remaining ongoing.

The Company is also pushing further on product development. In 2026, MetaOptics is poised to deliver several major product innovations, reinforcing its role as a market disruptor. Firstly, recent test runs demonstrate that the Company's rectangular metalens design could potentially achieve impressive full-color imaging, further validating its technical leadership in advanced metaoptics. This rectangular metalens design has also been submitted for consideration at the CES Innovation Awards 2026 program, an annual competition honouring design and engineering in consumer technology products. In addition, the upcoming Pico Projector 2.0 allows for a package size that is approximately half of the current model, setting a new industry benchmark and making it one of the smallest projectors worldwide. On top of that, the Company is also gearing up for the launch of the first ultra-thin demonstration smartphone equipped with a metalens camera and non-contact fingerprint module, both precisely engineered so that camera modules no longer protrude from the device casing. This breakthrough is set to address a ubiquitous cosmetic drawback of current smartphone designs, underscoring MetaOptics' capacity to reshape the high-growth consumer segment.

These product and equipment milestones are expected to drive an unprecedented leap in the financial performance of the Group. The anticipated increase in production capacity and product innovation is expected to materially boost the Group's revenue for the current financial year ending 31 December 2025, as compared to the previous financial year ended 31 December 2024, strengthening MetaOptics' competitive edge, and boosting its attractiveness to investors seeking opportunities in high-growth and technology-driven sectors.

About MetaOptics Ltd

About MetaOptics Ltd

MetaOptics Ltd (Catalist: 9MT) is a leading-edge semiconductor optics company pioneering glass-based metalens solutions enhanced by AI-driven image processing. Using advanced optical design and a scalable 12-inch DUV lithography process, it powers next-generation applications in CPO, mobile, AR VR, automotive and other emerging markets. Headquartered in Singapore, MetaOptics aims to deliver high-performance optics with the reliability and scalability demanded by today's most innovative technology brands. For sales inquiries, please contact [email protected].

This press release is issued by DLK Advisory Limited on behalf of MetaOptics Ltd.

For any enquiries, please contact:

DLK Advisory 

Telephone: +852 2857 7101

Fax: +852 2857 7103

[email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE METAOPTICS LTD
NOVATO, Calif., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Eczema Association (NEA) kicks off Eczema Awareness Month (EAM) this month with a mix of public education, community support, and national advocacy events, including its first-ever in-person Eczema Policy Summit and Congressional Briefing in Washington, D.C.

The 2025 campaign, themed #UnhideEczema, aims to raise national awareness of the impact of eczema, reduce stigma, and advocate for better care for the 31 million Americans1 in 10living with this chronic inflammatory skin disease.1-3

NEA is the largest patient advocacy organization serving more than 31 million Americans living with eczema and those who care for them. Shown here are members of the eczema community gathered this summer for NEA's annual Eczema Expo.

This multifaceted effort highlights the visible and invisible struggles of people living with eczema, challenges common misconceptions, and shares insights into the real-life impact of all forms of eczema. Eczema refers to a group of non-contagious inflammatory skin conditions that cause dry skin, severe itch, rashes, scaly patches, blisters, pain, and skin infections.

Beyond its visible symptoms, eczema can lead to poor sleep, mental health impacts such as anxiety and depression, social isolation, and significant strain on individuals and families. It is also closely linked to other health conditions , including asthma, allergies, and hay fever.

View a comprehensive summary of eczema statistics here.

Eczema Awareness Month: Engage with NEA

The first half of Eczema Awareness Month (October 1-14) focuses on what eczema looks like across all skin tones, explores the impacts on those living with it, and asks people to "unhide" their eczema by sharing their stories and showing their flares. The second half of the month (October 15-31) focuses on ways to take control of eczema, including management techniques, treatment options, and NEA resources such as the Seal of Acceptance and EczemaWise.

The eczema community and general public can engage with NEA in a variety of ways during this year's Eczema Awareness Month:

Visit the EAM site and NEA's social media channels ( @NationalEczema on Instagram, Facebook, and X) for resources and engagement opportunities.





on Instagram, Facebook, and X) for resources and engagement opportunities. Attend free educational webinars: "More Choices, Better Control," presented by Dr. Zelma Chiesa Fuxench, an Associate Professor of Dermatology and Vice-Chair for Clinical Research with the Department of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine , and Dr. JiaDe "Jeff" Yu, a dual board-certified dermatologist and pediatric dermatologist and Chair of Dermatology at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. This webinar is offered on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 5 pm PT/7 pm CT/8 pm ET.



"How to Choose a Health Insurance Plan When You Have Eczema," presented by Michele Guadelupe, MPH, NEA's Director of Advocacy and Access. This webinar is offered on Thursday, October 30, 2025, 5 pm PT/7 pm CT/8 pm ET.





Access Eczema Story Videos from the NEA Community .





View the Eczema Visual guide for a comprehensive and inclusive look at eczema, which can vary greatly in appearance due to the type of eczema, skin tone, level of severity, and affected part of the body.

Eczema Policy Summit with Congressional Briefing

The centerpiece of NEA's Eczema Awareness Month is its first in-person Eczema Policy Summit and Congressional Briefing, held October 1921 in Washington, D.C.* NEA will bring together eight NEA Advocacy Ambassadors from across the country, along with organizational leaders, to meet with members of Congress and advocate for federal policy priorities that improve care for eczema patients.

The Congressional Briefing, titled "Tackling Step Therapy, Treatment Delays, and Research Funding," takes place Tuesday, October 21, from 12:001:00 p.m. Speakers include Kristin Belleson, NEA President & CEO; Wendy Smith Begolka, NEA Chief Program and Mission Officer; and Leigh Antoinette Medina, eczema patient and NEA Advocacy Ambassador from Hawaii.

The briefing will focus on the release of new and updated data acquired through recent NEA surveys, which reinforce an established need for legislative and regulatory solutions, including advancing federal policies that:

Reform step therapywhen an insurer requires patients to try and fail one or more insurer-preferred treatments before the insurer will cover the treatment initially prescribed by the providerand prior authorization burdens.





Ensure access to effective prescription treatments.





Increase federal research funding to advance better therapies and improve long-term outcomes.

The cutting-edge research findings that will be revealed expand insights gained from NEA's 2021 survey of eczema patients, which found that nearly 30% of prescription coverage denials are due to step therapy requirements, and over 50% of delays are caused by prior authorization.

Since then, the eczema treatment landscape has continued to significantly grow and evolve, while the burden of treatment access barriers is widespread and growing as well.

"Eczema Awareness Month gives the National Eczema Association a national platform to elevate the voices of millions of patients and families living with this challenging disease," said Kristin Belleson, NEA President & CEO. "Through education, community, and advocacy, we're working to reduce stigma, improve care, and influence policy that ensures better outcomes for everyone affected by eczema."

Special thanks to the following Eczema Awareness Month sponsors: AbbVie, Codex Labs Corp, LEO Pharma, Eli Lilly and Company, Organon, Sanofi and Regeneron, Incyte, Aestura, all free clear, Hypothesis, and Mustela.

*All scheduled Eczema Policy Summit events are subject to change based on the status of the federal government.

About the National Eczema Association

Founded in 1988, the National Eczema Association (NEA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the largest patient advocacy organization serving the over 31 million Americans who live with eczema and those who care for them. NEA provides programs and resources to elevate the diverse lived experience of eczema, and help patients and caregivers understand their disease, actively engage in their care, find strength in one another, and improve their lives. Additionally, NEA advances critical eczema research and partners with key stakeholders to ensure the patient voice is represented and valued in education, care , and treatment decision-making. We are driving toward the ultimate vision: a world without eczema. Learn more at NationalEczema.org.

References

1. Shaw TE, Currie GP, Koudelka CW, Simpson EL. Eczema prevalence in the United States: data from the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health. J Invest Dermatol. 2011;131(1):67-73.

2. Hanifin JM, Reed ML, Eczema Prevalence and Impact Working Group. A population-based survey of eczema prevalence in the United States. Dermatitis. 2007;18(2):82-91.

3. Abuabara K, Magyari A, McCulloch CE, Linos E, Margolis DJ, Langan SM. Prevalence of Atopic Eczema Among Patients Seen in Primary Care: Data From The Health Improvement Network. Ann Intern Med. 2019;170(5):354-356.

SOURCE National Eczema Association
"I am excited to show the world our new drone catching system that substantially advances our defense capabilities, is scalable and portable, and has been developed with careful consideration for both human health and environmental safety," said Hall. "This is the future of drone defense technology."

Hall's technology responds specifically to the increasing threat posed by single and multiple drone activity. Drones have been seen already crossing over America's homeland border, threatening airports, stadiums, and government facilities. Current defense systems can neutralize one drone at a time, but cannot counter swarms of incoming drones and often result in dangerous drone debris falling to the ground. Other failed methods including hacking and scrambling air waves pose unacceptable 'side effect' impacts such as the potential interruption of adjacent crucial civic technology.

Hall has been developing electric/magnetic launch technology for the past five years as an alternative to gas powered rocket launch systems. Net launching for drone defense can be accomplished immediately as a by-product of the now mature, clean launch technology. Hall's DCS system can neutralize one or more drones at new, unmatched speed using the proprietary electromagnetic launch system, the first commercial application of high-power coil gun technology with 30+ Megawatts peak power.

Hall's system is transported in, and functions from an inconspicuously designed launcher, totally enclosed for transport. The tracking system is equipped with AI-powered target identification capability with a range detection ability of over 1,000 feet. Once a high-speed aerial object such as a drone is identified and tracked, Hall's innovative launch system fires projectiles equipped with nets semi-automatically at 5 nets per second. The nets are each 20' in diameter to envelop and neutralize a drone. Once captured, a parachute emerges from the net to safely land the netted bundle.

"Public safety is at the forefront of everything we're building," said Hall. "The DCS provides a stealth, portable, kinetic, powerful and efficient way to detect, track and neutralize aerial threats without disruption or danger to the surrounding environment and unnecessary human and civic risk. The technology is a leap forward in how we respond to drones."

Potential security applications include critical infrastructure such as energy facilities, airports, data centers, international borders, correctional facilities, large-scale public and private gatherings, military forward operations and base perimeter, and others.

The new technology is the latest example of Hall's ongoing interest and dedication to public safety. In 2019 Hall and the president of Velodyne Lidar Inc, Marta Thoma Hall hosted and founded the first World Safety Summit for Autonomous Vehicles. The next summit in 2020 brought 300 government safety experts and autonomous enthusiasts from around the world together inside Santa Clara's Levi's Stadium to discuss public safety while deploying autonomous technology, including the dangers of prematurely labeling untested cruising systems as "autonomous."

Hall is known for inventions that have had major world impact. Hall impacted the audio industry by creating a method of cleaning bass sound for home theaters. In 2014 Hall invented 3D lidar visualization technology for the famous autonomous race, The Darpa Grand Challenge. He sold 3D lidar visualization systems to Apple, Google, Ford Motors, GM, Toyota, Volkswagen, BMW and more. His invention produced an entire, world-wide industry based on robotics and autonomous vehicles which continues today.

Velodyne Space is currently taking orders for DCS, with first deliveries slated for 2026.

For more information visit www.velodynespace.com .

Images available for download here .

Contacts :

Christie Farrell, [email protected]

Emma Grenier Selvig, [email protected]

SOURCE Velodyne Space
DOWN TO THE FELT brings a gambler, a hitman and unexpected twists to home audiences this fall!

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- From Hawk Hill Pictures, Down to the Felt, directed, co-written and produced by Columbus filmmaker Jon Osbeck under his banner Big Deal Pictures comes home this October 17! Pre-order Felt now via the Apple TV+ store . Watch the official trailer here .

Set and filmed in Columbus, Down to the Felt follows Paul, a chronic gambler whose life spirals out of control, and David, a haunted hitman. Together they make a pact for Paul's death in two weeks' time. But when Paul finally begins to find something worth living for, fate delivers an unexpected twist.

Down to the Felt releases worldwide October 17

The film stars Michael Stahl-David (Cloverfield) as Paul, a down-on-his-luck gambler who makes a chilling arrangement with a devout hitman, played by Michael Weston (Home Before Dark). With only two weeks to live, Paul's world is turned upside down when life suddenly starts tipping the odds in his favor. The cast also features Scottie Thompson (Murder at Yellowstone City), Jo-Ann Robinson, and Cullen Douglas in standout performances.

"I've always been drawn to stories about redemption - about people who've taken hits in life but refuse to fold," said Jon Osbeck, director, co-writer and producer. "Down to the Felt came from a desire to explore what happens when you're all-in emotionally, not just at the poker table."

Distribution is being handled by Hawk Hill Pictures, a global film distribution company.

"Down to the Felt is exactly the kind of story that connects deeply with audiencesgritty, suspenseful, and emotionally powerful," said Jen Katzfey, President of Hawk Hill Pictures. "The premise of the story is unique and the film is a nonstop action ride. We're excited to bring high-quality independent film to the world."

"It's an honor to see Down to the Felt move from festival screens to homes all over the world," said Osbeck. "This release is the culmination of a lot of amazing work by an incredible team of artists, cast, crew, and community supporters in Columbus. We're excited to share it with an international audience."

To screen the film or to set up interviews with cast and filmmakers, please contact Alexis Walkenstein, AWE PR, via [email protected] .

SOURCE Hawk Hill Pictures
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Watchdog released polling data showing overwhelming disapproval of the insurance industry and overwhelming public support for the Insurance Policyholder Bill of Rights, a ballot measure filed for the November 2026 California ballot.

"Californians are ready to reform the home insurance industry to protect themselves and their property," said Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog and an initiative proponent. "Nine out of ten voters are concerned about insurance companies cancelling their coverage or raising their premiums. Eight out of ten voters support the key protections in the Insurance Policyholder Bill of Rights."

"The survey[i] conducted in June among California voters shows a 55% majority holds a very unfavorable opinion of 'insurance companies', and in total, more than eight in ten (86%) voters rate them unfavorably compared to one in ten (11%) that regard these companies favorably," according to Paul Maslin and Rick Sklarz of FM3 Research, who conducted the research. Read their findings.

"The survey finds that voters are highly supportive of enacting proposals to reform how insurance companies operate and increase insurance policyholders' rights to ensure fair treatment," according to Maslin and Sklarz.

"The legislature has failed to give homeowners the protections they need and deserve," said Court. "Voters may need to take matters into their own hands."

[i] Survey Methodology: From May 31-June 5, 2025, FM3 conducted a survey of 828 California voters likely to cast a ballot in the November 2026 Gubernatorial election. Respondents were contacted via text messaging, email and telephones and interviews were conducted online and via landline and cell/mobile telephone by live interviewers. The sample margin of error for the statewide results is +/-3.5% at the 95% confidence level. Due to rounding, some percentages may not sum to 100%.

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog
NAPLES, Fla., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida's vision of becoming the nation's leader in entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology is producing measurable resultsand Prisidio is a clear example.

Based in Naples, Prisidio provides a secure digital vault that helps families collect, protect, and share essential information across generations. Founded by a successful entrepreneur who sold his previous company to DocuSign, Prisidio reflects the momentum of the Florida Chamber Foundation's Florida 2030 Blueprint, which aims to make Florida the #1 state for startups and a top 3 state for tech jobs.

Driving Outcomes Through the Florida Innovation Summit

Prisidio's growth is closely tied to the Florida Chamber Foundation's Florida Technology & Innovation Summit, a catalyst for connecting founders, investors, and major organizations:

2024  Prisidio presented at the Summit with AARP leadership.

 Prisidio presented at the Summit with AARP leadership. 2025  Prisidio announced its landmark partnership with AARP, showing how Florida's innovation ecosystem can align with one of the nation's largest membership organizations.

With AARP's vast membership, including millions of Floridians, this partnership demonstrates how local innovation addresses the needs of an aging and growing population.

"Florida is known for its technology and innovation, and Prisidio is helping to advance this trend," said Mark Wilson, President & CEO, Florida Chamber of Commerce and Foundation. "As the Florida 2030 Blueprint positions our state to be the 10th largest economy in the world by 2030, we are encouraged to see companies like Prisidio contributing to Florida's growth story."

Florida Capital Backing Florida Growth

More than half of Prisidio's funding this past year has come from Florida investors, with another round expected soon supporting the Blueprint goal of making Florida a top 3 state for venture capital investment. Prisidio is also a portfolio company of the Florida Opportunity Fund, reinforcing the state's commitment to fueling its innovation economy.

Meeting Florida Priorities

Prisidio is scaling with Florida talent and capital while addressing priorities central to Floridians' lives, including:

Disaster preparation & recovery

Caregiving

Fraud prevention

prevention Protecting family legacies

A Model for Florida's Future

Prisidio's journey illustrates what happens when bold vision meets action: a Florida-based tech company, supported by local investors, showcased statewide, and delivering solutions that matter every day.

Media Contact:

www.prisidio.com

[email protected] | 800-708-5017

SOURCE Prisidio
Phoenix-based technology company marks milestone with new brand identity that embodies its values and customer partnerships

PHOENIX, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Protecht, a leading technology company specializing in consumer flexibility solutions for the experience economy, today announced it is rebranding as Teak. The new name reflects the company's values and defining characteristics: dependable, hardworking, and versatile.

Since its founding in 2016, the company has experienced significant growth, recently surpassing $1 billion in experiences enhanced through its platform. Teak's solutions enable businesses in live events, sports, endurance racing, bookings, and destinations to increase revenue while offering consumers greater flexibility and confidence at checkout.

"As we've evolved from our early days to becoming a trusted partner for some of the most innovative companies in the experience economy, we felt it was time for our brand to reflect where we are today and where we're heading," said Bryan Derbyshire, Founder and CEO of Teak. "The name Teak represents the foundation we've built with our customers  strong, reliable partnerships that stand the test of time. This rebrand marks an exciting milestone as we continue to grow and innovate alongside the businesses we serve."

Teak partners with A.M. Best "Superior" and "Excellent" rated insurance carriers to develop its flagship solutions, including Smart Refunds and Friendly Insurance. By integrating a lightweight API into checkout flows, the company's customers can streamline operations, increase ancillary revenue by up to 20% per transaction, and deliver refundability to consumers without disrupting their existing business processes.

Beyond providing an embeddable API, Teak delivers comprehensive ongoing support including consumer service and payouts, risk management, revenue optimization, pricing and UX strategy, and technical performance monitoring  allowing partners to focus on delivering exceptional experiences while Teak handles the complexity behind the scenes.

The rebrand includes a refreshed visual identity and new website at helloteak.com. For existing customers and partners, the transition is seamless  all services, products, support, and partnerships remain unchanged. Teak's licensed subsidiary, Fanshield, will continue to serve traditional insurance customers with an updated visual identity that aligns with the new brand.

About Teak

Teak is a Phoenix-based technology company specializing in solutions that enable consumer flexibility for businesses in the experience economy. Founded in 2016, Teak partners with companies in live events, sports, endurance, and travel to increase revenue, streamline operations, and deliver better customer experiences. Through its Smart Refunds and Friendly Insurance solutions, backed by A.M. Best "Superior" and "Excellent" rated insurance carriers, Teak has enhanced over $1 billion in consumer experiences. For more information, visit helloteak.com.

SOURCE Teak
Insights Agent, newly trained and now a part of the Monks.Flow AI ecosystem, transforms cultural trends into actionable marketing briefs in hours, enabling brands to move at the speed of culture

NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Monks, the global, digital-first, data-driven, unitary operating brand of S4 Capital plc, announces significant updates to Monks.Flow, its AI agent ecosystem designed to accelerate marketing. The latest release introduces Insights Agent, a powerful tool designed to help marketers understand what's happening in culture and act on it in real time, among other new features.

Insights Agent analyzes live content from online platforms at massive scale. With intelligence like a brand strategist, it identifies fast-moving cultural moments and transforms them into clearly defined, actionable marketing briefs.

"The gap between cultural moment and brand action is a chasm of manual research and analysis paralysis that can take weeks (even months) to cross," said Will Kelly, EVP, Monks.Flow at Monks. "With Insights Agent, business leaders can instantly understand the most important cultural moments for their brand and have a brief ready in moments."

Henry Cowling, Chief Innovation Officer at Monks, added, "Brands don't need more social listening, they need more understanding. Insights Agent matches marketers with the perfect cultural moments to drive their business."

This addition to Monks.Flow's AI-powered marketing orchestration capabilities delivers on Monks' Real-Time Brands approach, which is based on earning relevance by responding to consumer trends as they happen and personalizing content to meet consumers where they are, when it matters most.

To showcase these principles in action, Monks executives Deborah Heslip, Global Chief Client Officer; James Stephens, Global Head of Brand; and Chris Wilhelmi, EVP, Global Head of Data, will be featured in key discussions at Advertising Week New York alongside our partners. They'll cover new marketing creative models , real-time brand strategies and moving B2B marketing from vanity metrics to real business outcomes .

About Monks

Monks is the global, purely digital, data-driven, unitary operating brand of S4 Capital plc. With a legacy of innovation and specialized expertise, Monks combines an extraordinary range of global Marketing and Technology Services to accelerate business growth and redefine how brands interact with the world. From crafting tailored, outcome-focused campaigns to modernizing critical infrastructure for the ever-evolving digital landscape, Monks delivers solutions that engage audiences in real time, drive cultural relevance and sustain long-term impacta tripartite approach that establishes it as a trusted partner to the world's most innovative brands.

Monks was named a Contender in The Forrester Wave: Global Marketing Services, ranks among Cannes Lions' Top 10 Creative Companies (2022-24) and remains the only partner featured in AdExchanger's Programmatic Power Players list every year (2020-24). Named Adweek's first AI Agency of the Year (2023) and The One Show's inaugural AI Pioneer Organization, Monks was also awarded Business Intelligence Group's 2025 Excellence in Artificial Intelligence Award in both the Organizational and AI Product categories. As a trusted partner to cutting-edge innovators in tech, Monks earned titles such as Optimizely Experimentation Partner of the Year (2025), runner-up for the Adobe Firefly Partner Award (2024), and Workato's AI Visionary Customer Impact Award (2024). Additionally, Monks was named Webby Production Company of the Year (2021-24) and achieved a record-breaking number of FWAs.

About S4Capital

S4Capital plc (SFOR.L) is the tech-led, new age/new era digital advertising, marketing and technology services company, established by Sir Martin Sorrell in May 2018.

Our strategy is to build a purely digital advertising, marketing and technology services business for global, multinational, regional, and local clients, and millennial-driven influencer brands. This will be achieved by integrating leading businesses in two synchronised practices: Marketing services and Technology services, along with an emphasis on 'faster, better, cheaper, more' execution in an always-on consumer-led environment, with a unitary structure.

The Company now has approximately 6,900 people in 33 countries with approximately 80% of net revenue across the Americas, 15% across Europe, the Middle East and Africa and 5% across Asia-Pacific. The longer-term objective is a geographic split of 60%:20%:20%. At the Group's last full year results, Content accounted for approximately 60% of net revenue, Data&Digital Media 24% and Technology Services 16%. The long-term objective for the practices is a split of 50%:25%:25%.

Sir Martin was CEO of WPP for 33 years, building it from a 1 million 'shell' company in 1985 into the world's largest advertising and marketing services company, with a market capitalisation of over 16 billion on the day he left. Prior to that Sir Martin was Group Financial Director of Saatchi & Saatchi Company Plc for nine years.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE Monks
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has transferred to the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications two archaeological objects that were illegally exported from Ukraine to Australia.

"This is a temporal pendant, probably from the era of the Yamnaya cultural and historical community of the 3rd millennium BC, and an arrowhead, typical of ancient Russian monuments of the 12th13th centuries," the ministry said in a statement.

It is noted that in close cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the past 10 years, a number of cultural values that were stolen from the Ukrainian people during World War II, as well as in the 2020s, have been returned to Ukraine.

Among them: the paintings "Lovers" by the French artist Pierre-Louis Goudreau and "The Secret Departure of Ivan the Terrible before the Oprichnina" by the Ukrainian artist Mykhailo Panin (from the United States of America); Tsars charter of Peter the Great in 1708 (from Germany), "Scythian gold" (from the Netherlands) and others.

The department recalled that the history of the return of cultural values illegally exported from Ukraine to Australia began in October 2023, when the Australian Border Service discovered two packages sent from Ukraine containing archaeological objects.

After that, an inspection began regarding the possible illegal export of cultural values from the territory of our state, and in February 2025, the Australian Minister for the Arts Tony Burke signed an order to return two archaeological objects to Ukraine, and in August of this year he personally handed the values to the Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko.

During the transfer ceremony, Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha stated that the return of Ukrainian artifacts is an important component of restoring historical justice and confirming the historical continuity of Ukraine.

"This is especially important in the conditions when Russia is waging a genocidal war against Ukraine and is trying to erase our history. Each returned historical object is part of our national memory and our identity. We will continue to actively work on the return and preservation of our cultural heritage," his press service quotes him as saying.

As reported, in October 2023, 14 cultural values, previously stolen by Russian invaders from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, were transferred to the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra National Reserve.

In March 2023, the American side transferred to Ukraine a flint ax from the Late Eneolithic - Early Bronze Age, two iron sabers and an iron sword from the Middle Ages.
TUSTIN, Calif., Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Education leaders and county offices of education throughout California were recognized for their outstanding contributions to public education at the 2025 County Superintendents Awards Reception, held Sept. 30, 2025, in San Diego. The annual event, hosted by the California County Superintendents in partnership with SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, celebrated individuals and agencies whose leadership and innovation in education make a lasting impact on students and schools statewide.

L-R: Ever Velazquez, Jeannette Cooke and Julie DePrada-Schott, school and community relations, SchoolsFirst FCU; Mrs. Martin; David Gordon, superintendent, Sacramento County Office of Education and Mike Martin, superintendent, Modoc County Office of Education. L-R: Ever Velazquez, SchoolsFirst FCU; Dr. J. Todd Finnell, Imperial County Superintendent of Schools; Josh Smith, vice president, school and community relations at SchoolsFirst FCU; Tim Hire, Tulare County Superintendent of Schools and Kyle Holmes, Director for Statewide Arts Initiative, CA County Superintendents.

"SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union supports and recognizes the leaders who go above and beyond for the educators and students in their communities," said Josh Smith, vice president of school and community relations at SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union. "Our partnership reflects a deep commitment to the success of California's school employees and the vital role they play across the state."

Following nominations from 58 county office of education, a committee of county superintendents select the winners in three categories  STAR Awards, Leadership Awards and a Champion's Award. Visit the website for details of each award and a list of the 2025 winners.

"Every day, county superintendents and their teams innovate, adapt and lead with purpose to support California's students," said Dr. Todd Finnell, Imperial County superintendent of schools and president, California County Superintendents. "These awards honor the dedicated leaders and partners who make education stronger for every community."

About SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is the largest credit union in California serving school employees and their families. For the seventh year, Forbes named SchoolsFirst the top credit union in the state. In J.D. Power's 2025 U.S. Credit Union Satisfaction Study, members ranked the credit union No. 1 for overall satisfaction. Founded in 1934 by 126 school employees who pooled $1,200 to create a cooperative, SchoolsFirst has grown to serve more than 1.5 million members with nearly $34 billion in assets. The credit union offers a full range of financial products and services while remaining dedicated to improving the lives of its members and strengthening the communities it serves.

Insured by NCUA.

SOURCE SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union
DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to MarketsandMarkets, the Services for Data Center Market is anticipated to experience substantial growth, with its valuation projected to increase from USD 115.94 billion in 2025 to USD 320.89 billion by 2030, reflecting a robust CAGR of 22.6%.

Browse 350 market data Tables and 60 Figures spread through 350 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Services for Data Center Market - Global Forecast to 2030"

Scope of the Report

Market Size Available for Years: 20202030

20202030 2025 Market Size: USD 115.94 billion

USD 115.94 billion 2030 Projected Market Size: USD 320.89 billion

USD 320.89 billion CAGR (20252030): 22.6%

22.6% Segments covered: Service Type, Tier Type, Data Center Size and Capacity, Data Center Type, Enterprise Data Center

Service Type, Tier Type, Data Center Size and Capacity, Data Center Type, Enterprise Data Center Region Highlight: North America accounts for the largest market

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The data center services market is experiencing rapid expansion, driven by the growing need for high-performance, reliable, and scalable infrastructure to support increasing digital workloads. Key services include colocation, managed hosting, cloud integration, and edge computing solutions, enabling enterprises to optimize their IT operations while minimizing latency and enhancing overall network efficiency. Colocation services offer secure, resilient facilities for housing critical IT equipment, ensuring continuous uptime and operational reliability. Managed hosting and cloud services provide flexible, scalable computing and storage resources, facilitating seamless application deployment, data analytics, and business continuity. Edge computing services are gaining traction by delivering localized processing and storage capabilities closer to end users, thereby reducing latency and supporting real-time decision-making for applications such as autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, and smart city initiatives. Additional offerings include network management, cybersecurity solutions, disaster recovery, and compliance support, which collectively enhance operational efficiency and data protection. As organizations increasingly adopt AI, IoT, and 5G technologies, demand for integrated, secure, and high-speed data center services continues to grow, positioning these services as critical enablers of digital transformation and next-generation infrastructure strategies globally.

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Facility services will register the largest market share

Facility services currently hold the largest market share in the services for data center market, reflecting their critical role in maintaining operational continuity, reliability, and efficiency across mission-critical infrastructures. These services encompass a comprehensive range of offerings, including power and cooling management, preventive and corrective maintenance, infrastructure monitoring, emergency support, and lifecycle management of physical assets. By ensuring the uninterrupted operation of IT systems, facility services help enterprises minimize downtime, optimize energy consumption, and comply with regulatory requirements, which is especially important for high-density and AI-driven computing environments. Providers increasingly integrate advanced monitoring solutions, predictive maintenance tools, and digital platforms to detect potential issues proactively, enhance operational visibility, and optimize resource allocation. The growing emphasis on sustainability has further reinforced the importance of facility services, with organizations adopting energy-efficient cooling techniques, green energy solutions, and environmentally responsible operational practices to reduce carbon footprint and operational costs. Enterprises benefit from these services through extended asset lifecycles, improved uptime, and enhanced overall efficiency, allowing them to focus on core business objectives rather than managing day-to-day infrastructure. Consequently, facility services have emerged as the dominant segment within the data center services market, underlining their role as a foundational enabler of reliable, resilient, and high-performance digital infrastructure across industries globally.

By IT services, the decommissioning & relocation segment is poised for the fastest growth during the forecast period

Decommissioning and relocation services are projected to experience the fastest growth during the forecast period within the services for data center market, driven by the increasing need for flexible, efficient, and secure management of IT infrastructure. These services involve systematic dismantling, removal, transportation, and reinstallation of servers, storage systems, networking equipment, and other critical assets, ensuring continuity of operations while minimizing downtime and operational risks. The growth of cloud computing, hyperscale data centers, high-density computing, and edge infrastructure is intensifying the demand for structured decommissioning and relocation processes, as enterprises seek to optimize space, enhance efficiency, and upgrade legacy systems without disrupting business-critical services. Providers are leveraging advanced planning, asset tracking, logistics management, and monitoring tools to safeguard equipment integrity and ensure data security throughout the relocation or decommissioning process. Additionally, environmental sustainability and regulatory compliance are key drivers, prompting organizations to adopt responsible practices for electronic waste management, energy-efficient handling, and adherence to legal frameworks. The increasing frequency of mergers, acquisitions, and geographic expansion of data center operations further supports the demand for these services. Overall, decommissioning and relocation are expected to be the fastest-growing segment in the services for data center market, providing enterprises with secure, efficient, and sustainable solutions to manage evolving infrastructure requirements while maintaining operational continuity and resilience.

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North America accounts for the largest market

North America currently holds the largest share in the services for data center market, driven by the region's advanced technological infrastructure, widespread cloud adoption, and high concentration of hyperscale and enterprise data centers. The United States has seen significant investment in high-density computing, artificial intelligence, and edge computing facilities, which has intensified demand for comprehensive data center services, including facility management, IT infrastructure management, commissioning and testing, decommissioning, relocation, and consulting. Service providers in North America leverage advanced monitoring tools, predictive maintenance, automation, and analytics-driven platforms to enhance operational efficiency, uptime, and security across mission-critical systems. Additionally, the region's stringent regulatory frameworks, including those related to data privacy, cybersecurity, and environmental standards, drive the adoption of structured, compliant, and sustainable service solutions. Energy efficiency and sustainability initiatives are further shaping the market, with providers implementing green cooling technologies, integrating renewable energy, and optimizing power management practices to reduce operational costs and environmental impact. The concentration of technology giants, cloud service providers, and financial institutions in North America has accelerated the deployment of hyperscale and high-performance data centers, thereby reinforcing the demand for specialized, end-to-end services. Overall, North America's mature infrastructure, technological innovation, and strong enterprise adoption position the region as the dominant market for data center services, reflecting its strategic importance in global digital transformation and operational resilience.

Top Key Companies in Services for Data Center Market:

The major players in the market include Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) (United States), Dell Technologies (United States), Accenture (Ireland), CBRE Group (United States), Schneider Electric (France), Vertiv (United States), Iron Mountain (United States), GE Vernova (United States), and Turner Construction Company (United States).

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Education Cannot Wait-funded initiative, implemented by Light for the World and Save the Children, trains teachers in sign language and braille as part of multi-year programme in South Sudan.

JUBA, South Sudan, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a sunlit classroom in Juba, 24-year-old Beatrice stands in front of her fellow student teachers, her hands moving with newfound confidence as she practices the signs she has learned. "At the beginning, it was a bit difficult, but after the introduction to sign language, the sessions are now getting interesting and we are learning it with much love," says student teacher Beatrice.

Student teacher Beatrice practices her signs at the front of the RNTTI classroom in Juba, South Sudan.  Light for the World/Nema Juma

Beatrice is one of 1,400 aspiring educators from across the country who will receive training at three national teacher training institutes over the next two years through a transformative programme launched by Light for the World, in partnership with the South Sudan Ministry of General Education and Instruction.

The initiative is part of the Education Cannot Wait (ECW) Multi-Year Resilience Programme in the country  implemented by Light for the World, Save the Children, Norwegian Refugee Council and Finn Church Aid, as well as other partners. The teacher training, which also includes braille and inclusive education pedagogy, aims to ensure that no child in South Sudan is left behind  regardless of ability.

LEARNING TO TEACH, TEACHING TO CHANGE

"Today, I learned the alphabet, how to greet someone, how to ask someone their name and how to introduce myself in sign language," says Beatrice.

For her, this is more than professional development.

Before joining the Rombur National Teachers Training Institute (RNTII), she taught at Sacred Heart Primary School in Magwi County, where students with disabilities were noticeably absent. "You rarely saw children with disabilities since there were not enough teachers to teach sign language and braille, and I believe that is why they chose to stay at home."

The goal of the teacher training initiative is to tackle barriers to inclusive learning.

Over the span of nine months, teachers like Beatrice will gather to learn sign language, braille and strategies to promote inclusive education in their classrooms  taught by technical experts from ECW partner Light for the World. By equipping teachers with the skills to include and teach both children with and without disabilities, schools become more inclusive for all.

With less than half of children in South Sudan currently in school, inclusive education isn't optional  it's essential. "This crucial training will help address an urgent need for qualified teachers in inclusive education to accommodate and support children with disabilities," adds Mohammed.

The ECW-supported initiative not only provides training, but also builds safe, accessible learning spaces and provides children with the assistive devices they need to attend school. Through this holistic approach, the aim is to remove the barriers that many girls and boys in South Sudan face in accessing their right to quality education.

Alex, another student teacher at RNTTI, echoes Beatrice's passion. "I am really proud to be a part of this programme because, before entering the institute, I taught several boys and girls who had hearing impairments, as well as those with visual and other forms of disabilities. I felt terrible in class because of the communication barrier. Now, I am overjoyed that I am being trained by Light for the World. After I graduate, my expertise will be transformed when I return to school," he says.

The initiative is already changing lives.

In Magwi County, 18-year-old Moses, a pupil at Obbo Nursery and Primary School, missed his first term examinations when his mobility tricycle broke. "It was easy for me to come to school when I had a tricycle, but it broke. I had to stop coming because the school is far away from home."

Disability Inclusion Facilitators from Light for the World took action. Working with Save the Children, they acquired a new tricycle for Moses. Though it may seem like a simple gesture, it made all the difference between Moses dropping out of school or continuing his education. Today, he is back in class and learning alongside his classmates.

ECW IN SOUTH SUDAN

South Sudan remains one of the most challenging places in the world for children to access education. Conflict, displacement and poverty continue to disrupt learning for millions. More than 2.8 million children are out of school in the country today. Children with disabilities face even greater hurdles, often hidden from sight and forgotten by systems not designed for them.

Since 2020, ECW has supported partners in improving access to quality inclusive education for crisis-affected children and increasing retention rates. ECW's funding focuses on the most vulnerable groups, including girls, internally displaced children and children with disabilities. Interventions range from covering school fees and reaching students remotely to training education personnel and implementing child protection pathways in schools.

ECW has invested US$73.8 million to support those left furthest behind in South Sudan. The most substantial portion of this investment, US$40 million, was announced in 2023. To date, ECW support in the country has reached 328,000 crisis-affected children across 14 counties. This progress is made possible by the work of implementing partners Light for the World, Save the Children, Norwegian Refugee Council, Finn Church Aid, UNICEF and more, in close conjunction with the Ministry of General Education and Instruction and other partners.

Despite these investments and the dedication of implementing partners and educators, education continues to be one of the most underfunded sectors in the country. Now more than ever, we must rally global support to close the funding gap and ensure that crisis-affected children in South Sudan, including those with disabilities, are not left behind.

ADVOCATING FOR A FUTURE OF INCLUSION

Beatrice reflects on the training, and the impact it has already had on her career trajectory and mission as an educator. "Now I feel compelled to learn more so that, when I return, we can at least convince parents to send their children with disabilities to school  as well as talk to those students who are already enrolled to encourage others who have been left out to attend," she says.

She delivers a clear and urgent appeal: "My message to parents is that they should not look down on their children with disabilities  they are just like everyone else. Instead, they should find a route ahead by sending their children to school."

This isn't just about access  it's about societal transformation.

For now, Beatrice practices her signs with determination in Juba. When she returns to her community, she'll be more than a teacher  she'll be an advocate, helping children who've long been excluded enter the classroom and create a future beyond it.

SOURCE Education Cannot Wait
SJE focuses on expanding its customer base and strengthening its presence across the U.S.

DETROIT LAKES, Minn., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SJE, Inc., the global industry leader in industrial, water and wastewater control systems, today announced the acquisition of LangeTech, a supplier of consulting, programming and engineering services for the Automation Industry. The acquisition of LangeTech represents a significant growth opportunity for SJE to continue scaling its Engineered Control Solutions (ECS) business unit. This marks SJE's seventh acquisition since 2021 and the second in 2025.

Founded in 2002, LangeTech Inc. specializes in comprehensive system integration and automation solutions, serving industries with a wide array of technical services. Their expertise encompasses total system integrationincluding control system architecture, hardware, software development, instrumentation, and project managementas well as SCADA and control systems for local and remote operations across various sectors, such as water and wastewater and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

SJE acquires Chesterfield, MO-based LangeTech, expanding its U.S. reach and boosting Engineered Control Solutions. Post this

"This acquisition marks an exciting step forward for SJE as we continue to strengthen and scale our business," said Bjorn Haldorsen, CEO of SJE. "By welcoming LangeTech into the SJE family, we are broadening our U.S. footprint and expanding into key markets. More importantly, our organizations are complementary, empowering us to offer a wider range of services and ensuring our customers always receive dependable, industry-leading support for their essential systems."

LangeTech's President, Linda Lange Hanlon sees this is an opportunity to unify both companies and play off one another's strengths. "The LangeTech team is excited to become part of a company that shares our commitment to innovation and client success," said Hanlon. "Together, we'll be able to accelerate growth, expand our capabilities, and deliver even greater value to the customers we serve."

"The integration of LangeTech into SJE's ECS Division gives us the momentum to reach new markets and further support our customers' evolving needs, particularly in control systems integration and aftermarket services related to water infrastructure," said Andy Wilson, President of SJE's ECS Division.

About SJE Inc.

SJE was founded in 1975. Over 50 years later, SJE has evolved into a global industry leader in industrial, water and wastewater control systems, operating throughout the United States and Canada, as well as in international markets. SJE, a privately held company, is comprised of over nine well-respected brands known for their innovation and quality. SJE has locations throughout the United States, Mexico, and Asia. SJE offers a wide variety of control products for residential, commercial, municipal, water, wastewater, and industrial markets, representing the most reliable integration of engineering and manufacturing capabilities in the industry. To learn more, visit www.sjeinc.com.

About LangeTech

LangeTech Inc. is a supplier of consulting, programming and engineering services for the Automation Industry. Its specialty is listening to our customers' needs and developing solutions that solve their business challenges. Simply put, LangeTech enables its clients to use technology as a tool for achieving the visions and goals of their businesses. We provide innovative, reliable and scalable solutions for these business-critical processes. By reducing variation and eliminating waste we can improve throughput and reduce cost at the same time. www.langetech.com

SOURCE SJE Inc
Investing in Passion and Potential with Grants and Scholarships for Independent Beauty Professionals

DENVER, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sola Salons, the world's largest studio suite concept and home to more than 22,000 independent beauty professionals, proudly announced the expansion of its longstanding partnership with Beauty Changes Lives by officially naming the nonprofit as its charity of choice. The pair continues to fulfill their shared vision through a robust three-year entrepreneurial grant and scholarship partnership program designed to uplift and support the next generation of beauty professionals.

"At Sola Salons, our mission is rooted in providing the building blocks for independent beauty professionals to successfully grow their business," says Daryl Hurst, President & COO of Sola Salons. "This expanded partnership with Beauty Changes Lives allows us to remove barriers for emerging talent and equip professionals with the resources they need to succeed so they can focus on what matters most: their passion."

Sola Salons announces the expansion of its partnership with Beauty Changes Lives; named as its charity of choice Post this

Launching in Q1 2026, the grant and scholarship program aims to empower licensed beauty professionals to launch, grow, or stabilize their salon suite businesses, fostering financial independence and career stability. Boasting a $30,000 annual investment through an ongoing series, the first year is structured as the following:

Sola Ignite Grant  $10,000 (Summer 2026) For one professional new to Sola, new to independent entrepreneurship

 $10,000 (Summer 2026) Sola Icon Grant  $5,000 (Winter 2025/26) For an existing Sola professional (1+ year lease)

 $5,000 (Winter 2025/26) Sola Spark Scholarships  $2,500

Awarded to 3 beauty professionals (1 in Winter 2025, 2 in Summer 2026) Open to all disciplines

 $2,500

"Partnering with Sola Salons as their Charity of Choice fills us with excitement for the journey ahead," says Lisa Roeberg, Executive Director at Beauty Changes Lives. "Together, we're not only strategically nurturing talent and skill, but also creating a network of support, opportunity, and belonging that will empower the next generation of beauty leaders to thrive."

Alongside financial assistance, all awardees will be automatically enrolled in Beauty Changes Lives' Mentorship Matters program with structured mentorship sessions over 23 months, entrepreneurship-focused webinars, and guest lecture sessions with Sola mentors.

Sola franchise owners were thrilled to learn of this prestigious grant and scholarship partnership program during the 2025 Sola Summit, where all attendees were invited to participate in a Pickleball Tournament that raised funds to support Beauty Changes Lives.

This latest philanthropic endeavor comes as the result of a longtime partnership beginning in 2023 where Sola generously provided support for BCL and its annual Gala and fundraising events, including a $25,000 donation to the Beauty Changes Lives Career Campaign aimed at making careers in beauty and wellness a first choice. To learn more about Sola Salons' ongoing industry initiatives or to find out how to join the Sola Salons community, please visit www.solasalonstudios.com. Connect with the brand on Instagram @solasalons and Linkedin.

About Beauty Changes Lives

Beauty Changes Lives is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to making careers in beauty and wellness a first choice. Through its scholarship, mentorship, advanced education and career resource programs, Beauty Changes Lives is empowering the next generation of professionals and elevating the Industry. Beauty Changes Lives is the #1 Resource for scholarships, awarding over $500,000 annually. To get involved or make a donation, please visit https://beautychangeslives.org

About Sola Salons

In 2004, Sola Salons was established with the opening of its first location in Denver, Colorado. Now with more than 740 locations open in the U.S. and Canada, Sola is proud to offer 22,000+ independent beauty professionals the freedom and benefits of salon ownership without the risk and overhead of opening a traditional salon. Its innovative salon model empowers hair stylists, estheticians, cosmetologists, barbers nail techs, massage therapists, health and wellness professionals and other like-minded professionals to take control of their lives and their careers. Sola provides beauty professionals with beautiful, fully equipped salon studios alongside the support and tools they need to launch their salon business in no time. For more information, please visit www.solasalons.com.

SOURCE Sola Salons
Five Leading Companies Unite in Groundbreaking Approach, Driving a 57% Fall Reduction and 44% Fewer Hospitalizations at Pilot Community

NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Solera Senior Living , a Denver-based operator, developer and investor of next generation senior living communities across the U.S, today announced the launch of the first pilot of the Alliance for Connected Senior Care, a new collaboration among five industry leaders - ALIS , EmpowerMe Wellness , Inspiren , Senior Doc , and Solera - working together to test a groundbreaking model for resident-centered care.

Solera Senior Living (PRNewsfoto/Inspiren)

The pilot, launched at Solera's Lumina Las Vegas Memory Care community, is designed to improve outcomes through coordinated communication and shared data. As part of the model - which would not be possible without the vision of the Las Vegas health care community's renowned Steinberg family - care teams align workflows and hold weekly cross-company clinical calls to provide holistic, resident-centered support and avoid unnecessary ER visits.

Early results are strong: Lumina Las Vegas has seen a 57% reduction in falls, a 54% drop in ER visits, and a 44% decrease in hospitalizations compared to JanuaryJune baseline metrics.

"We're proving that senior living communities can evolve care models to drastically improve resident outcomes" said Adam Kaplan, Founder and CEO of Solera Senior Living. "By working with our strategic partners, we've shown that resident-centered communication and AI-supported workflows can make a real difference."

Each partner contributes a distinct capability to the pilot, combining to create a connected model of care. Key elements of the pilot model include:

Senior living's first AI-powered ecosystem, Inspiren, which empowers care teams with real-time behavioral alerts, fall detection, and ongoing care utilization

which empowers care teams with real-time behavioral alerts, fall detection, and ongoing care utilization Industry leading on-site Senior Living care delivery model from Senior Doc driving value based care outcomes and quality metrics through tech-enabled care services and integrations.

driving value based care outcomes and quality metrics through tech-enabled care services and integrations. Coordinated therapy planning through EmpowerMe Wellness , allowing care teams to tailor recovery and prevention plans to each resident's needs

, allowing care teams to tailor recovery and prevention plans to each resident's needs Secure, HIPAA-compliant data sharing via ALIS' EHR software, under resident consent protocols

EHR software, under resident consent protocols Weekly cross-company clinical calls for proactive planning, ensuring shared decision-making across all care disciplines

The pilot has already demonstrated faster incident response, smoother coordination among staff and clinicians, and stronger recovery and prevention protocols. By integrating insights from Senior Doc and EmpowerMe, care teams can proactively adjust therapy and clinical plans, while AI-supported safety awareness from Inspiren enables real-time interventions. Secure data sharing through ALIS ensures all partners are aligned, enabling more personalized, timely, and effective support for residents.

"AI helps connect information for the care team," said Michael Wang, Founder and Chief Clinical Officer of Inspiren. "Sharing clinical insights and reviewing incidents together lets teams move from reactive responses to proactive prevention."

The Alliance for Connected Senior Care represents a blueprint for industry-wide changes, moving beyond single-technology implementations to a truly collaborative, collective, multi-partnered approach. It will continue to refine its program and expansion strategy while tracking key performance metrics through Q1 2026 to further validate the model's impact and scalability. This allows the Alliance to establish new standards of care and pull the industry forward by working together.

About the Alliance Partners:

The Alliance for Connected Senior Care unites Solera Senior Living (operator), Inspiren (AI-powered ecosystem), Senior Doc (physician services), EmpowerMe (therapy and rehabilitation), and ALIS (EHR software) in a pilot collaboration exploring new models for resident safety and care coordination.

About Solera Senior Living:

Solera Senior Living, based in Denver, is an operator, developer and investor of next generation senior living communities across the U.S. Solera's current portfolio features 14 distinctive communities  with offerings spanning Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care  operating in Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. Solera has developed a reputation as the leading provider for hospitality services, innovative technologies and the integration of new care delivery models. For more information visit SoleraSeniorLiving.com .

About Inspiren:

Founded in 2016 by former Green Beret and cardiothoracic nurse Michael Wang, Inspiren is senior living's first complete AI-powered ecosystem. Trusted by communities nationwide, Inspiren empowers care teams with real-time behavioral alerts, fall detection, and ongoing care utilization insights. The privacy-first design enhances resident dignity while improving clinical outcomes, staff efficiency, and family communication.

SOURCE Inspiren
The Phoenix transforms recovery through community, connection, and shared purpose

BOSTON, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Phoenix, a national nonprofit sober active community, announced today a historic milestone: it has directly impacted more than one million people experiencing substance use or mental health challenges.

Founded in Denver in 2006, The Phoenix has pioneered a community-based approach to recoverybringing people together through fitness, creative expression, mindfulness, and social connection. With programs in all 50 states, every class and event is free and accessible to anyone with at least 48 hours of sobriety. By creating stigma-free spaces where people can belong, grow stronger in body and mind, and support one another, The Phoenix is redefining what recovery looks like in America.

"One million isn't just a number. It's one million unique lives, each with their own story," said Scott Strode, The Phoenix founder and executive director, who himself has thrived for almost three decades on his recovery journey. "Every person who finds support through The Phoenix is creating ripples of change in their families, workplaces, and communities. That's how we transform recovery together."

The organization is powered by more than 4,000 volunteers, 125 full-time staff, and thousands of donors from across the country. Earlier this year, The Phoenix accelerated its already significant impact with the launch of NewForm, a digital platform that extends its community model online. NewForm connects people to recovery and mental wellness communities wherever they are, ensuring that even more people can find the belonging and connection that fuel long-term recovery.

With nearly 48 million Americans currently struggling with substance use, and one in three experiencing either a substance use or mental health challenge, the need for connection has never been greater. Research confirms The Phoenix approach: a recent Texas A&M study found that sober communities like The Phoenix provide the most effective environment for developing social connections that support healing and growth. The Phoenix's own data from a 2024 study shows that more than 80% of its members remain sober after three months of participation, compared with a relapse rate of around 70% among those relying solely on traditional treatment.

Said volunteer Annabelle Lawton of San Jose, CA: "I am so grateful that The Phoenix has shown me that it's possible to live a full, joyful life without drugs and alcohol. And volunteering with The Phoenix has been a blessing for my recovery. It has allowed me to use my skills in a meaningful way and shown me what my true purpose is. I have found that providing a safe space for people to have fun in a healthy environment is what makes me feel deeply connected to my community. So, I am proud to offer these experiences to others with the help of The Phoenix."

As The Phoenix approaches its 20th anniversary, the milestone of one million lives impacted represents both a celebration and a challenge.

"This moment reminds us how far we've come, but also how much further we must go," said Strode. "We've set our sights on reaching 10 million people by the end of this decade, and with this community behind us, I know we'll get there."

The Phoenix movement's effective, recovery-based model is featured in the upcoming documentary SOBER, set to release in 2026.

ABOUT THE PHOENIX AND NEWFORM

The Phoenix is a nationwide sober active community that leverages the power of connection and shared experience to help people rise, recover, and thrive. Programs include fitness classes, art and music, mindfulness, and social eventsall free to anyone with 48 hours of sobriety. NewForm accelerates this mission by making Phoenix's model accessible digitally, connecting individuals to recovery and mental wellness communities wherever they are. Together, they are building a movement that is transforming how society approaches recovery and mental health.

SOURCE The Phoenix
Bar Leone in Hong Kong ranks No.1 in The World's 50 Best Bars 2025, sponsored by Perrier  the first time this has been awarded to a bar in Asia

in Hong Kong ranks No.1 in The World's 50 Best Bars 2025, sponsored by Perrier  the first time this has been awarded to a bar in Asia The 2025 list features bars from 29 cities with eight new entries spread across Athens, Bratislava, Guangzhou, Lima, New York, Oslo, Tirana and Tokyo

Simone Caporale of Barcelona's Sips has been awarded the Roku Industry Icon Award

of Barcelona's has been awarded the Roku Industry Icon Award Bar Mauro in Mexico City has received the Campari One To Watch Award

in Mexico City has received the Campari One To Watch Award The Cambridge Public House in Paris wins the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award

in Paris wins the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award Entering the list at No.25 and winner of the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award is Bratislava's Mirror Bar

Moebius Milano in Milan moves up 31 places to No.7 and claims the Nikka Highest Climber Award

in Milan moves up 31 places to No.7 and claims the Nikka Highest Climber Award Baba au Rum in Athens is named Remy Martin Legend of the List

in Athens is named Remy Martin Legend of the List New York's Sip & Guzzle wins this year's Three Cents Best New Opening Award

wins this year's Three Cents Best New Opening Award Backdoor Bodega in Penang is the winner of the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award

in Penang is the winner of the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award The Best Bar Design Award is presented to Tigra + Disco Pantera in Sydney

in Sydney Mimi Kakushi is The Best Bar in the Middle East, sponsored by Les Vergers Boiron, and Hero Bar is named The Best Bar in Africa, sponsored by Langjiu

LONDON, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The list of The World's 50 Best Bars 2025, sponsored by Perrier, was revealed this evening at a live awards ceremony in Hong Kong. The annual event once again united the global bar community for its 17th edition in recognition of the outstanding achievements of their peers.

The full 1-50 list of The World's 50 Best Bars 2025 is at the end of this press release.

The World's 50 Best Bars 2025 features venues from 29 cities globally, with Hong Kong's Bar Leone named The World's Best Bar 2025 and The Best Bar in Asia 2025, sponsored by Perrier. The achievement marks the first time a bar in Asia has taken the No.1 position.

Nestled in Hong Kong's vibrant Central district, Bar Leone is the brainchild of renowned bartender Lorenzo Antinori, whose storied resume encompasses some of Europe and Asia's most beloved hotel bars, including London's American Bar at The Savoy and Dandelyan (now defunct). Built on the philosophy of 'cocktail popolari'  or 'cocktails for the people'  Bar Leone pays tribute to the neighbourhood bars of Rome, where locals gather for coffee, aperitivi and casual conversation. The interior is a love letter to the city in the 1980s and '90s and is designed to be approachable, unpretentious and deeply rooted in Italian culture and hospitality.

A Roman by birth, Antinori's goal was to strip away the complexity of modern mixology and return to simple, high-quality drinks, served with warmth and precision. As such, the cocktail menu comes in the form of a rotating Google Docs file, updated monthly and including the full recipe and method to ensure each drink is fully accessible to everyone. Bar Leone opened in June 2023 and quickly rose to fame, making its debut on the world stage the following year at No.1 on the list of Asia's 50 Best Bars 2024 and No.2 in The World's 50 Best Bars 2024, both unrivalled feats. Earlier this year, it was once again named The Best Bar in Asia at Asia's 50 Best Bars 2025.

Emma Sleight, Head of Content for The World's 50 Best Bars, says: "It is such a delight to unveil Bar Leone as The World's Best Bar 2025, sponsored by Perrier. Not only is this remarkable achievement the first time a bar from Asia has claimed the top spot but it is a dazzling testament to the commitment of Lorenzo and the entire Bar Leone team to redefining hospitality excellence. We are deeply honoured to spotlight the extraordinary diversity of the global bar landscape in 2025 and we raise a glass to every bar that has earned their place in this year's list. With more cocktail capitals represented than ever before, this ranking continues to serve as a vibrant compass for curious drinkers and passionate explorers alike  igniting wanderlust and raising the bar for cocktail culture across the globe."

London leads in Europe again, but Eastern cities shine through for the first time

Of the 23 bars in Europe, London continues its reign as the region's cocktail capital with four bars: Tayer + Elementary at No.5, Connaught Bar at No.6, Satan's Whiskers at No.21 and Scarfes Bar at No.31. They are joined by Edinburgh's Panda & Sons at No.34.

The title of The Best Bar in Europe, sponsored by Monkey Shoulder, is retained for the third time by Barcelona's Sips at No.3 as co-founder Simone Caporale is awarded the Roku Industry Icon Award. Paradiso in Barcelona is No.4 with Madrid's Salmon Guru at No.37. Athens continues its ascendancy, with Line at No.8 alongside Baba au Rum, this year's Remy Martin Legend of the List, at No.27, and new entry The Bar in Front of the Bar at No.47.

Milan's Moebius Milano is the winner of the Nikka Highest Climber Award, having risen an impressive 31 places to No.7. It is joined by 1930 in Milan at No.43, with Florence's Locale Firenze at No.22 and Rome's Drink Kong at No.40. Paris is represented by Bar Nouveau, rising 22 places to No.17, The Cambridge Public House (No.20) and Danico (No.30).

For the first time, bars from Eastern Europe have been ranked in the list of The World's 50 Best Bars, with new entries Mirror Bar in Bratislava at No.25 and Nouvelle Vague in Tirana at No.28. In Scandinavia, Oslo's Himkok (No.14) is joined by another new entry, Svanen at No.32, with Roda Huset in Stockholm at No.35.

New York continues to lead in the Americas, but Mexico City retains The Best Bar in North America

New York City reaffirms its status as North America's cocktail powerhouse, with four bars making this year's list: Superbueno (rising 15 places to No.12) is joined by newcomer Sip & Guzzle (No.39), named this year's Three Cents Best New Opening, alongside Double Chicken Please (No.41) and Overstory (No.46). In New Orleans, Jewel of the South is No.44.

In Mexico City, The Best Bar in North America, sponsored by Amaro Lucano, is Handshake Speakeasy at No.2, with Tlecan, a new entry in 2024, at No.23. Bar Mauro, which placed at No.54 on the extended list of bars ranked 51-100, is the recipient of the Campari One To Watch Award.

The Best Bar in South America, sponsored by Torres Brandy, is once again Buenos Aires' Tres Monos at No.10, with neighbour CoChinChina at No.26. Lima's Lady Bee is No.13 and the recipient of this year's Michter's Art of Hospitality Award, alongside new entry Sastreria Martinez at No.33. Alquimico in Cartagena is No.11 while Sao Paulo's Tan Tan is No.24.

Hong Kong takes the top spot, and Guangzhou joins the list

With three bars on the list, Tokyo shines in Asia with stalwart Bar Benfiddich (No.18) joined by Virtu at No.45 and new entry The Bellwood at No.48. Host city Hong Kong can celebrate two entries, including Bar Leone at No.1, The Best Bar in Asia and, a first for the continent, The World's Best Bar, alongside Coa at No.38.

Singapore's Jigger & Pony is No.9, with creative director and partner Uno Jang the recipient of this year's Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award, while Nutmeg & Clove is No.50. In Bangkok, Bar Us has risen a remarkable 26 places to No.15 and BKK Social Club is No.49. Seoul's Zest is No.16 with new entry Hope & Sesame the first bar from Guangzhou to feature at No.29. The winner of the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award is Penang's Backdoor Bodega.

The Best Bar in Africa and The Best Bar in the Middle East are named for the first time; Australian venue wins the Best Bar Design Award

Mimi Kakushi in Dubai (No.36) is named The Best Bar in the Middle East, sponsored by Les Vergers Boiron, while Nairobi's Hero Bar has been crowned The Best Bar in Africa, sponsored by Langjiu, after ranking at No.69 in the extended list announced a fortnight ago. This is the first time either accolade has been awarded as part of The World's 50 Best Bars, having previously been presented as The Best Bar in the Middle East and Africa.

At No.19, Melbourne's Caretaker's Cottage retains its title as The Best Bar in Australasia, sponsored by Tia Maria, at No.19, with Sydney's Maybe Sammy at No.42. The Best Bar Design Award is bestowed upon Sydney's Tigra + Disco Pantera.

Special Awards

The ceremony began with a celebration of Bar Mauro in Mexico City as this year's recipient of the Campari One To Watch Award, which reached No.54 on the extended list of bars ranked 51-100, announced two weeks ago. The award recognises a bar that the 50 Best team perceives as having strong potential to join the list of The World's 50 Best Bars in the future.

This year's winner of the Best Bar Design Award is Tigra + Disco Pantera in Sydney. Two distinct yet complementary spaces created by Scottish brothers Gordon and Ross Purnell, Tigra embraces the vibrant laneway cultures of Barcelona and Tokyo, influenced by Joan Miro's playful modernism, while Disco Pantera channels the retro glamour of 1970s New York, featuring vintage lighting, reclaimed materials and standout elements like a hand-sculpted teak bar front. Together, they offer a vibrant, dual-level experience that reflects a commitment to creative reuse, cultural homage and experiential design, offering guests a multi-sensory journey through art, cocktails and atmosphere. Judged by an esteemed panel of hospitality design experts, bars from anywhere in the world were invited to submit their venues for consideration.

Backdoor Bodega in Penang is awarded the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award for The Backdoor Bodega Guide to Penang. Styled like an indie travel zine, each drink is presented as a narrative entry that spotlight the stories, flavours and landmarks that define their island home, blending personal anecdotes with cultural heritage. The Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award is open to any bar in the world and is judged by the 29 Academy Chairs.

Simone Caporale has been named Roku Industry Icon. Simone Caporale, renowned for his groundbreaking work at Artesian at The Langham  named The World's Best Bar four years in a row  is an award-winning bartender and entrepreneur based in Barcelona. Known for his distinctive style, meticulous attention to detail and innovative approach to hospitality, he co-founded Sips, also crowned The World's Best Bar in 2023, and co-owns Boadas, Barcelona's oldest cocktail bar. In 2025, he launched Montana in Hong Kong with Lorenzo Antinori of Bar Leone, blending the legacy of the Club de los Cantineros with the vibrant spirit of Miami's golden era. His other ventures include co-founding the P(OUR) Symposium, creating the Muyu liqueur range with Alex Kratena and Monica Berg, and serving as Global Brand Ambassador for Amaro Santoni.

Joining the list for the first time at No.25, Bratislava's Mirror Bar is awarded the Disaronno Highest New Entry Award. A sleek cocktail lounge blending nature-inspired design with elegant vintage touches, Mirror Bar serves inventive cocktails that blend world class mixology with visual storytelling.

Sip & Guzzle in New York is named Three Cents Best New Opening as the bar that enters the list in the highest position of any that have opened during the voting period, joining the list at No.39. A bi-level cocktail bar in New York's Greenwich Village, co-founded by Shingo Gokan and Steve Schneider, Sip & Guzzle blends Japanese elegance with New York energy. Upstairs at Guzzle, guests enjoy lively, crushable cocktails in a saloon-style setting, while downstairs at Sip, the mood shifts to a refined Tokyo-inspired speakeasy serving intricate drinks like the Whisky Nigiri.

Milan's Moebius Milano wins the Nikka Highest Climber Award, rising 31 places to No.7. Moebius Milano is a dynamic gastronomic and cultural venue in the heart of Milan, combining a Tapa Bistrot, a fine dining experimental restaurant and a cocktail bar within a renovated textile warehouse. The concept blends culinary innovation, live music and design, offering an immersive experience that reflects the venue's philosophy of continuous transformation.

The honour of the Remy Martin Legend of the List Award has been bestowed upon Baba au Rum, an award given to a bar that has performed most consistently in the list since its inception. Founded by Thanos Prunarus in 2009, Baba au Rum is a visionary cocktail bar known for its deep appreciation of rum and its role in shaping Greece's modern bar scene.

The Cambridge Public House in Paris has won the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award, based on adjudication by the Sustainable Restaurant Association. The first independent bar to achieve B Corp certification, co-founders Hugo Gallou and Hyacinthe Lescoet have driven lasting change beyond sustainable mixology through a series of creative initiatives, including adopting six United Nations goals to support global communities through The Cambridge Community Plan and the launch of Shaken Leaf, a platform empowering bartenders worldwide to adopt sustainable practices.

Other special award winners, announced in the run-up to the awards on 8 October, include Uno Jang, winner of the Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award, and Lady Bee, Lima, named the winner of the Michter's Art of Hospitality Award.

EDITOR'S NOTES:

1-50 List:

Position Establishment Location 1 Bar Leone Hong Kong 2 Handshake Speakeasy Mexico City 3 Sips Barcelona 4 Paradiso Barcelona 5 Tayer + Elementary London 6 Connaught Bar London 7 Moebius Milano Milan 8 Line Athens 9 Jigger & Pony Singapore 10 Tres Monos Buenos Aires 11 Alquimico Cartagena 12 Superbueno New York 13 Lady Bee Lima 14 Himkok Oslo 15 Bar Us Bangkok 16 Zest Seoul 17 Bar Nouveau Paris 18 Bar Benfiddich Tokyo 19 Caretaker's Cottage Melbourne 20 The Cambridge Public House Paris 21 Satan's Whiskers London 22 Locale Firenze Florence 23 Tlecan Mexico City 24 Tan Tan Sao Paulo 25 Mirror Bar Bratislava 26 CoChinChina Buenos Aires 27 Baba au Rum Athens 28 Nouvelle Vague Tirana 29 Hope & Sesame Guangzhou 30 Danico Paris 31 Scarfes Bar London 32 Svanen Oslo 33 Sastreria Martinez Lima 34 Panda & Sons Edinburgh 35 Roda Huset Stockholm 36 Mimi Kakushi Dubai 37 Salmon Guru Madrid 38 Coa Hong Kong 39 Sip & Guzzle New York 40 Drink Kong Rome 41 Double Chicken Please New York 42 Maybe Sammy Sydney 43 1930 Milan 44 Jewel of the South New Orleans 45 Virtu Tokyo 46 Overstory New York 47 The Bar in Front of the Bar Athens 48 The Bellwood Tokyo 49 BKK Social Club Bangkok 50 Nutmeg & Clove Singapore

For media centre access, please visit:

https://mediacentre.theworlds50best.com

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About The World's 50 Best Bars

The World's 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, provides a definitive list of the world's best drinking venues, voted for by an Academy of more than 800 experts worldwide. The World's 50 Best Bars list has been published annually since 2009 and has become the most anticipated ranking for drinks professionals and cocktail aficionados across the world, with the awards the highlight of the bar industry calendar. The list of Asia's 50 Best Bars has been published since 2016, while the list of North America's 50 Best Bars was launched in 2022. William Reed, which owns the 50 Best brand, is entirely responsible for the organisation of the awards, the voting system and the respective lists.

How the voting works

The list is compiled by votes from The World's 50 Best Bars Academy, which comprises more than 800 drinks experts with gender balance, including renowned bartenders and consultants, drinks writers and cocktail specialists from around the world. The Academy of voters is spread across 29 global geographic regions, each headed by an Academy Chair who selects their region's voters, with the distribution of voters designed to reflect the relative development and sophistication of the drinks sector, and the concentration of quality bars, in each region. Each voter casts 8 votes based on their best bar experiences of the previous 18 months. Voters are required to remain anonymous and voting is confidential, secure and independently adjudicated by Deloitte.

About the main partner: Perrier

For more than a century, Perrier has collaborated with some of the world's most influential major artists, including Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, Bernard Villemot, and Jean-Gabriel Domergue, each of whom in their own way have demonstrated a certain artistic irreverence. With a history that began in 1863 in Vergeze, in the Gard region of France, the Perrier brand is now recognized worldwide thanks to its iconic green bottle. Appreciated in more than 140 countries, the brand is acclaimed for its natural mineral water combined with the power of its bubbles.

Our partners:

Hong Kong Tourism Board  Official Host Destination Partner

Perrier  Official Water Partner; sponsor of The World's Best Bar Award

Michter's  Official American Whiskey Partner; sponsor of Michter's Art of Hospitality Award

Nikka Whisky  Official Whisky of the World Partner; sponsor of Nikka Highest Climber Award

Ketel One  Official Vodka Partner; sponsor of Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award

Three Cents  Official Mixers Partner; sponsor of Three Cents Best New Opening Award

Siete Misterios  Official Mezcal Partner; sponsor of Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award

NOAM  Official Beer Partner

Disaronno  Official Italian Liqueur Partner; sponsor of Disaronno Highest New Entry Award

Roku Gin  Official Gin Partner; sponsor of Roku Industry Icon Award

Langjiu  Official Baijiu Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in Africa

Altos Tequila  Official Tequila Partner; sponsor of Altos Bartenders' Bartender Award

Monkey Shoulder  Official Scotch Whisky Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in Europe

Cointreau  Official Orange Liqueur Partner; sponsor of the ceremonial scarves

Remy Martin  Official Cognac Partner; sponsor of Remy Martin Legend of the List Award

Campari  Official Bitters Partner; sponsor of Campari One To Watch Award

Torres Brandy  Official Brandy Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in South America

St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur  Official French Liqueur Partner

Tia Maria  Official Coffee Liqueur Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in Australasia

Almave  Official Non Alcoholic Partner

Polot 1882  Official Syrup Partner

Les Vergers Boiron  Official Fruit Puree Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in the Middle East

Mancino Vermouth  Official Vermouth Partner; sponsor of the ceremonial shakers

Amaro Lucano  Official Amaro Partner; sponsor of The Best Bar in North America and the ceremonial shakers

Scrappy's Bitters  Official Cocktail Bitters Partner

Kimpton Tsim Sha Tsui Hong Kong  Official Venue and Hotel Partner

The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong  Official Venue and Hotel Partner

Grand Hyatt Hong Kong  Official F&B Catering Partner

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SOURCE 50 Best
Strategic Growth Strengthens Tutera's Midwest Presence and Focus on Senior Living

Partnership with Diversified Healthcare Trust Underscores Tutera's Resident-Centered Growth

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tutera Senior Living & Health Care, a nationally recognized leader in senior living and health care, today announced it will add 26 senior living communities to its growing portfolio through a strategic transaction with AlerisLife and an ongoing partnership with Diversified Healthcare Trust (DHC). The expansion, which includes eight owned acquisitions and 18 new management agreements, strengthens Tutera's Midwest presence and reflects Tutera's deliberate, resident-centered approach to growth.

With this addition, Tutera will operate 108 communities across 11 states, with 66 dedicated senior living communities totaling 5,422 units. The overall Tutera portfolio now encompasses 9,755 units, with a mix of 56% senior living and 44% skilled nursing. Tutera's senior living communities currently maintain an attractive occupancy rate averaging 95%, supported by steady margins that reflect disciplined operations and resident demand. This strong performance provides DHC and its investors with confidence that these transitions will be both operationally sustainable and accretive. The expansion also broadens Tutera's Midwest footprint into Tennessee, adding to its presence in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and South Carolina.

"This is an exciting and purposeful step forward for Tutera," said Joe Tutera, CEO of Tutera Senior Living & Health Care. "For 40 years, our strategy for growth has always centered on managing and developing senior living communities that elevate the resident experience. With this expansion, we are extending our YOUNITE philosophy to more seniors and families  delivering care that is personalized, empowering and operationally sustainable. Growth for Tutera is about strengthening our platform and ensuring long-term success while never losing sight of what matters most: the individuality of each resident we serve."

The phased acquisition and transition of the 26 communities will be completed by the end of 2025. Some communities will transition to new names under Tutera, aligning them more closely with the organization's signature brand and care philosophy.

Strategic Growth with the Right Partner

"We grow in areas where we know we can be most successful," said Randy Bloom, PhD, President & COO of Tutera Senior Living & Health Care. "Our partnership with Diversified Healthcare Trust is built on shared philosophies  particularly our mutual commitment to residents and families. This is not just growth for growth's sake. Our senior management team is highly experienced, scalable, and motivated to deliver results that honor our residents. By integrating these communities into Tutera's robust operating platform, they gain the advantage of our proven systems, regional infrastructure, and support services. In addition, clustering these properties within our established Midwest markets enables stronger market visibility, shared resources, and operational efficiencies that directly benefit DHC and its investors. This expansion reflects our strategic vision, and we're confident these communities will thrive under Tutera's leadership."

The YOUNITE Difference

At the heart of Tutera's culture is YOUNITE, a philosophy that emphasizes person-centered care that meets the specific needs and preferences of residents. YOUNITE emphasizes empowering residents to direct their daily lives while tailoring care and services to their unique preferences, goals, and histories  ensuring every resident feels recognized, honored, and encouraged in a way that aligns with their personal stories. YOUNITE also drives five core Tutera tenets that enhance each resident's experience: resident choice, team member appreciation, community involvement, providing a homelike environment, and quality dining experiences.

"YOUNITE ensures that every resident feels valued, understood, and supported," added Bloom. "It's what sets us apart."

Celebrating 40 Years of Trusted Care

Founded in 1985 by Dr. Dominic "Doc" and Lucille Tutera, the organization has grown into a premier provider with a reputation for integrity, compassion, and innovation. This year, Tutera marks its 40th anniversary, celebrating a legacy built on trust and its continued mission of enhancing the lives of seniors and their families.

Tutera's longevity and senior care leadership have earned consistent industrywide recognition. In 2025, 15 Tutera communities were named to U.S. News & World Report's "Best Senior Living Communities." Tutera has also earned multiple National Silver and Bronze Quality Awards in 2025 from the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living  a testament to the company's ongoing pursuit of operational excellence and resident well-being.

With the addition of these 26 communities, Tutera continues to grow with purpose  advancing its mission as a trusted, resident-first leader in senior living and health care.

About Tutera Senior Living & Health Care

Tutera Senior Living & Health Care is a Kansas City-based, family-owned diversified post-acute senior health care provider operating 108 senior living communities in 11 states nationwide. As one of the nation's premier senior care providers, Tutera offers its residents independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, post-surgery rehabilitation, and memory care. In 1985, Dominic F. Tutera, M.D., founded Tutera to provide compassionate patient care with the uncompromising values of integrity, respect, hospitality, and positivity. Tutera still embodies those values today. Tutera is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of its residents and their families through senior living and health care experts who inspire and promote individuality and personal happiness. Visit www.Tutera.com to learn more.

SOURCE Tutera Senior Living & Health Care
CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Frank Leibfarth, a chemist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been named a 2025 Laureate of the Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists, one of the nation's most significant honors for early-career researchers.

Frank Leibfarth has been named a 2025 Laureate of the Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists. (Photo by Jeyhoun Allebaugh/UNC-Chapel Hill).

Leibfarth was recognized for his pioneering research in polymer chemistry, where he is developing innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. His work includes designing new chemical reactions and catalysts to upcycle plastic waste and creating groundbreaking methods to remove per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as "forever chemicals," from water supplies. PFAS are widely used in consumer products and industrial applications, but their persistence in the environment has raised urgent health and ecological concerns. Leibfarth's approach offers a promising path toward safer water and healthier communities.

"Since starting at UNC in 2016, I have had the privilege of working with some of the most talented and ambitious scientists internationally who care deeply about making plastics more sustainable and removing forever chemicals from our environment," said Leibfarth. "The Blavatnik award recognizes their hard work and dedication during their educational journey."

"I am especially proud to receive the Blavatnik Award for Young Scientists for work at a state university," Leibfarth continued. "Being able to do groundbreaking research that serves the students and citizens of the state is immensely fulfilling and is a responsibility I take seriously."

The Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists, presented by the Blavatnik Family Foundation and the New York Academy of Sciences, celebrate the most innovative scientists aged 42 and younger across the United States. This year, from a pool of 310 nominees representing 161 institutions nationwide, 18 finalists were selected and three Laureates named. Leibfarth is the first UNC-Chapel Hill faculty member to receive this honor.

"We are tremendously proud of Professor Leibfarth for this well-deserved recognition of his groundbreaking work in the chemical sciences," said Chancellor Lee H. Roberts. "Being named a Blavatnik laureate is an extraordinary achievement and a historic first for Carolina, reflecting the far-reaching impact of his research and innovation."

Each Laureate receives an unrestricted prize of $250,000, the largest unrestricted scientific prize for early-career scientists in the United States.

Contact: Media Relations, [email protected]

SOURCE University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Benghazi, Libya (PANA) - A delegation from the United Arab Emirates has toured the Benghazi International Airport in eastern Libya in anticipation of operating direct flights between Dubai and Benghazi
In recent weeks, Russia has changed its tactics for shelling Ukraines power infrastructure, focusing not on massive nationwide strikes but on concentrated attacks targeting elements of the energy system in specific regions, according to the National Power Company Ukrenergo, citing CEO Volodymyr Zaichenko.

"In these conditions, international partners support for Ukrainian energy workers has become even more relevant  particularly in terms of strengthening the resilience of Ukraines Unified Energy System against enemy attacks," Zaichenko said during a meeting with G7 ambassadors at Ukraines Ministry of Energy on October 7.

According to Zaichenko, protective structures have already been built at most of Ukrenergos transmission substations, and their effectiveness has been proven many times when equipment remained intact despite enemy hits. However, protection work is still ongoing, and Ukrenergo continues these projects using grant and loan financing.

"We are grateful to our partners for all the assistance they have already provided. But at this stage, continued support is absolutely critical  and not only for us, but for all Ukrainian energy companies," he added.

The Ukrenergo chief also briefed G7 diplomats on the readiness of Ukraines power system for the heating season, noting that the transmission network is prepared to handle increased electricity loads during the winter. At the same time, he stressed that the risks posed by Russian attacks remain extremely high.

"To strengthen the resilience of our power system and ensure the ability to restore it quickly after strikes, we must continue to build up a reserve of scarce equipment. Without international support, this is extremely difficult," Zaichenko said.

As reported, Ukraines Deputy Minister of Energy Svitlana Hrynchuk said on October 7 that Russias recent mass attacks had also caused significant damage to the countrys gas infrastructure, adding that the exact scale of losses will only be known after debris is cleared and the damage assessed.
Announces senior-level promotions in Capital Markets, Corporate Development, and Corporate Counsel Roles

FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Energy Development Corporation (USEDC), a Fort Worth-based exploration and production company celebrating 45 years of operations, has appointed Matthew Iak as President of Capital Markets and announced a series of key executive promotions.

Matthew Iak, President, Capital Markets, U.S. Energy Development Corporation

Iak's appointment reflects his longstanding leadership in capital formation and the firm's investment strategy. Since joining the firm in 2005, he has been instrumental in designing and structuring innovative oil and gas investment vehicles and building USEDC's reputation as a trusted partner. Under his leadership the firm's capital markets group has helped USEDC deploy more than $3 billion on behalf of itself and its partners.

"Matt has played a critical role in enhancing USEDC's position within the capital markets and fostering valuable partnerships across the investment community," said Jordan Jayson, CEO and Chairman of USEDC. "His appointment to President of Capital Marketsalong with the advancement of several senior executivesdemonstrates U.S. Energy's continued commitment to executing our long-term growth strategy and recognizing the leadership that drives our sustained success."

In addition to Iak's new role, the following senior leaders received promotions:

Michael Haven, Senior Vice President, Capital Markets





Todd Witmer, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development





Josh Dazey, Senior Vice President and General Counsel

"These promotions, along with recent initiativesincluding the appointment of Howard House as Senior Vice President & Chief Strategic Officer and the opening of our Houston officeposition USEDC for continued innovation, expansion, and long-term value creation," added Jayson.

About Matthew Iak

Iak is President, Capital Markets, and a member of the company's Board of Directors. He has extensive knowledge of private placement, Regulation D, and estate and tax planning strategies, and has led the construction and underwriting of multiple new oil and gas investment structures.

He is also president of the board of directors for ADISA, CEO and President of Westmoreland Capital Corporation, an affiliated broker-dealer, and President of a series of family real estate and real estate management companies. Iak is also a board member for Real Asset Advisor.

About U.S. Energy Development Corporation

Founded in 1980 and celebrating 45 years of operations, USEDC is a privately held exploration and production (E&P) firm headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, that manages assets for itself and its partners. USEDC blends operational and financial innovation with a forward-looking approach. It has invested in, operated, and/or drilled approximately 4,000 wells in 13 states and Canada and has deployed more than $3 billion on behalf of itself and its partners. For more information, please visit usedc.com and follow USEDC on LinkedIn.

SOURCE U.S. Energy Development Corporation
MERCER ISLAND, Wash., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vision Media, the largest independent media buying agency in the Pacific Northwest, has been named Media Agency of the Year ($10M$50M in billing) at the American Advertising Federation (AAF) Western Region's 2025 Best of the West Media Awards.

The AAF Western Region represents agencies, media companies, and professionals across 13 western states. Its annual Best of the West Media Awards celebrate excellence in media by honoring organizations and individuals who demonstrate exceptional creativity, innovation, service, and community impact. Media Agency of the Year is awarded to the agency that exhibits outstanding achievement in client growth, campaign performance, industry leadership, and contributions to the advertising community.

Vision Media Awarded AAF Western Region Media Agency of the Year Post this

Steve Reed, Founder and CEO of Vision Media, expressed his gratitude, "We are honored to be recognized along with many other respected members of the advertising industry. When I started this agency, my vision was simple: put clients first, deliver exceptional media buying results, and build lasting trust. The Best of the West award is confirmation of the talent of our team and the amazing clients who place their trust in us every day."

Founded in 2002, Vision Media has grown into a nationally respected agency serving healthcare, financial services, consumer packaged goods, senior living, and many other industries. With a focus on data-driven planning, advanced media strategy, precise execution, and transparent reporting, the agency has consistently delivered measurable growth for its clients. Their award-winning services have garnered national recognition, including placement on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies, and finalist honors for their programmatic work from AdExchanger and omnichannel approach to advertising from Digiday.

Lindsey Lind, President of Vision Media, shared, "AAF's recognition validates our belief that independent agencies have the agility, creativity, and expertise to lead brands to extraordinary results. I'm proud of the culture we've built, the ingenuity we bring to every campaign, and the collaborative spirit that drives us forward."

About the American Advertising Federation Western Region

The American Advertising Federation (AAF) is the nation's oldest advertising trade association, representing over 35,000 professionals across 15 districts. The AAF Western Region encompasses 13 western states, celebrating innovation and integrity in the media and advertising industry. Its Best of the West Media Awards highlight organizations and individuals of all sizes who make an impact in their markets and communities.

About Vision Media

Vision Media is the Pacific Northwest's largest independent media buying agency, specializing in strategic, data-driven media planning, buying, and analytics across digital and traditional channels. Trusted by national and regional brands in healthcare, finance, CPG, and senior living, Vision Media delivers campaigns that drive measurable growth and lasting client partnerships.

Press Contact

Jennifer Hall

Vision Media

[email protected]

(425) 882-3400

SOURCE Vision Media, Inc.
Built on Trust: Boosting the Security Ecosystem for the AI Era

TAIPEI, Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- VIVOTEK (TWSE: 3454), a leading global security solutions provider, proudly marked its 25th anniversary in 2025. Founded in 2000 with fewer than 10 employees, the company has grown into a global enterprise with about 1,300 employees and a presence in more than 100 countries. Guided by its core value "concern for others' cares", VIVOTEK has been at the forefront of the industry's evolution from analog to digital, IoT, cloud, and AI, dedicated to safeguarding communities and fostering a sustainable future.

Driving Innovation with AI and Cloud

VIVOTEK President Alex Liao shared the companys vision and industry trends at the Global Partner Summit, leading the company toward the next 25 years

To celebrate this milestone, VIVOTEK hosted its Global Partner Summit from September 3 to 5 in Taiwan, welcoming around 100 strategic partners from across five continents. Executives highlighted the company's AI and cloud-driven strategy, while product demonstrations showcased its latest advancements, including:

AI Cloud: the AI-powered cloud surveillance platform, VORTEX, showcased the latest AI Hub application, including "Think Search" powered by Vision-Language Models (VLMs), Event Insight, and Case Vault, enabling users to quickly locate targets, detect anomalies, and streamline results  driving greater efficiency in security operations.

Software: the VIVOTEK Premium Partner Portal, a one-stop platform for smarter customer management and stronger partner engagement.

Hardware: a new low-light camera equipped with a large sensor, wide-aperture lens, and AI technology for sharper images in near-darkness.

Global partners praised VIVOTEK not only for its technological leadership but also for its continuous support and dedication to long-term collaboration. "We've worked together for more than a decade. VIVOTEK's investment in AI innovation, particularly in human and vehicle recognition, effectively addresses the security pain points faced by customers, creating safer and more reassuring living environments," said Christopher, CEO of ADISES, VIVOTEK's distributor in Latin America.

"We emphasized that VIVOTEK stands out not only for its product quality and AI technology but also for its genuine care and unwavering support for partners, consistently addressing their needs and helping to ensure project success," said Yui, CEO of TSOLUTIONS, VIVOTEK's distributor in Thailand for nearly 20 years.

Celebrating Family and Partnership

VIVOTEK also hosted its Family Day during the event at the Taipei Dome, coinciding with the retirement game of Taiwan's all-time home run leader Lin Chih-Sheng. Thousands of employees, their families, and global partners gathered to celebrate together, symbolizing the company's strong culture of unity.

Looking Ahead

The global security market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7% to reach USD 258.6 billion by 2033, creating enormous opportunities. Building on 25 years of expertise, VIVOTEK is accelerating its transformation from hardware-focused provider to AI- and cloud-powered security innovator.

VIVOTEK's core purpose remains unchanged: which is to be the world's most trusted brand in intelligent security. With the trust of our partners and clients worldwide, we will continue to harness AI, cloud, and sustainability to safeguard communities and MAKE TOMORROW EASIER, TODAY!

About VIVOTEK

Founded in Taiwan in 2000, VIVOTEK was listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange in 2011 (stock code: 3454) and has since established strategic partnerships globally, working with over 200 authorized distributors in more than 100 countries. VIVOTEK also has subsidiaries or offices in the U.S., Japan, the Netherlands, India and Mexico. With over 20 years of experience, VIVOTEK has been widely recognized in the market for its leading imaging and audio technologies. The company focuses on R&D, production and manufacturing in Taiwan and is committed to developing IP cameras, video management software and cloud security services. VIVOTEK also integrates AI and edge computing across its services. In 2017, VIVOTEK joined Delta Electronics, a global leader in power management solutions, becoming a key business in Delta's building automation segment, focusing on safety and intelligence. Since its brand transformation in 2021, VIVOTEK has moved toward a safer, smarter, and more sustainable future, launching the "MAKE TOMORROW EASIER, TODAY!" campaign this year to reinforce its brand motto, "We Get The Picture," with the goal of becoming the most trusted global security brand. For more information, visit: VIVOTEK's official website, www.vivotek.com

SOURCE VIVOTEK Inc.
WICHITA, Kan., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prescription drug abuse remains one of the most common drug-related offenses in Kansas, behind marijuana charges. While many associate prescription fraud with patients trying to get extra pills, the reality is that anyone, including healthcare professionals, can face charges. Our attorneys at the McConnell Law Firm, a leading drug crimes law firm in Wichita, Kansas, frequently represent individuals caught in these exact situations. If you've been charged, it's important to understand what the law considers fraud, how these charges occur, and the potential penalties you may face. We're breaking it all down below!

What Is Prescription Fraud?

In the simplest terms, prescription fraud refers to any illegal attempt to obtain or distribute prescription medication. Because individuals in the healthcare fields (nurses, pharmacists, doctors, pharmacy technicians, etc.) have easy access to prescription drugs, the temptation to prescribe or fill unnecessary prescriptions without authorization can lead to many legal troubles. Contrary to popular belief, writing an unauthorized prescription is not the only way you may face charges, though. According to Kansas Statute, you can be charged with prescription fraud for actions such as:

Forging or Altering Prescriptions Creating fake prescriptions or altering an existing prescription to obtain more medication than prescribed. Both patients and providers can face charges for this crime.

Creating fake prescriptions or altering an existing prescription to obtain more medication than prescribed. Selling Prescription Drugs Selling or offering to sell prescription-only medication (obtained by fraud ) to someone without a valid prescription.

Selling or offering to sell prescription-only medication (obtained by ) to someone without a valid prescription. Stealing Prescription Pads Taking prescription pads from a doctor's office or pharmacy to create or alter prescriptions.

Taking prescription pads from a doctor's office or pharmacy to create or alter prescriptions. Using Deception or MisrepresentationLying to a healthcare provider about symptoms or using a false identity to obtain medication.

Is Prescription Fraud a Criminal Offense?

Yes. In Kansas, prescription fraud is a criminal offense and can result in misdemeanor or felony charges depending on factors such as a defendant's criminal history and whether fraud occurred in a professional capacity.

"Prescription fraud is a criminal offense that can lead to severe penalties," said Jonathan W. McConnell, founding attorney of our drug crimes law firm in Wichita, Kansas. "Some of the most common examples involve individuals working in the healthcare field, as they have easy access to prescription drugs. Often, individuals are found writing prescriptions for themselves or taking prescriptions meant for patients. While prescriptions are much more easily tracked nowadays with electronic databases, it's still not impossible to bypass the system."

Potential Penalties

Penalties for prescription fraud can vary significantly depending on the specific circumstances of the case. Factors such as whether it is a first or repeat offense, the method of fraud, and whether the person sold the prescription drugs all play a role in determining the severity of the charge. In general, these offenses are treated seriously and can result in both misdemeanor and felony convictions. Below are some of the most common classifications and potential consequences for prescription fraud charges in Kansas:

Classifications

Obtaining a Fraudulent Prescription

Class A misdemeanor for a first offense; can escalate to a severity level 9, nonperson felony for repeat offenses.

Selling a Fraudulent Prescription

Considered a severity level 6, nonperson felony.

Penalties

Beyond these criminal charges, individuals convicted of prescription fraud may experience additional legal and personal consequences that can impact their future. Common penalties may include:

Fines Monetary penalties may be issued based on the severity of the offense.

Monetary penalties may be issued based on the severity of the offense. Imprisonment Jail or prison time may be ordered for severe cases.

Jail or prison time may be ordered for severe cases. Probation Court-ordered supervision, often with conditions like drug treatment programs may be required.

Court-ordered supervision, often with conditions like drug treatment programs may be required. Professional License Revocation Healthcare professionals may risk losing their licenses permanently if convicted.

Healthcare professionals may risk losing their licenses permanently if convicted. RestitutionIf convicted, a defendant may be ordered to pay back any victims impacted by the fraud .

"If you've been charged with prescription fraud, do not discuss your case with anyone," advised McConnell. "These accusations can devastate your career and future. Contact a defense attorney immediately to protect your rights."

Have You Been Accused?

Are you facing prescription fraud charges? We encourage you to contact the McConnell Law Firm as soon as possible. While every case is different, and no conclusions should be drawn without first consulting an experienced drug crimes law firm about the specifics of your case, it is always in your best interest to have a skilled attorney by your side from the beginning.

Request a Free Consultation

Do you or a loved one need the assistance of a drug crimes law firm in Wichita? We encourage you to contact the McConnell Law Firm at (316) 243-5903 for a free consultation.

jonathanwmcconnell.com

SOURCE McConnell Law Firm
Timothy Partners, LTD offers the following assessment of the Israeli market.

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- When the literal and figurative smoke clears in Gaza, confidence in the region's economic prospects may emerge. It seems that Hamas bit off more than it could chew on October 7, 2023, and whether it accepts Trump's new peace plan or pursues a different endgame, its power in the region appears damaged, possibly even beyond repair.

Wars often drive money away in a panic, but even amid this conflict, the performance of Israel's economy has been remarkable. Questioned on the source of this strength, Israeli Minister of Economic Affairs Noach Hacker responded bluntly in a July interview with the non-partisan Atlantic Council.

"I think we've shown the investors, the world financial markets, that we're very strong, very stable, and we don't only survive wars, we grow through them and we come back on the other side stronger than we were before."

While this is clearly the view of a partisan actor rather than a disinterested spectator, there is history to support the statement. It's a history we have come to appreciate through offering a fund that invests solely in companies either domiciled or incorporated in Israel. In the decades since World War II, this nationroughly the size of New Jersey and with a population less than half that of the New York City metropolitan areahas consistently emerged from upheavals and become wealthier than before.

The Tel Aviv 125 index, which stood at 1,859 before the October 7th attacks, lost more than 13% of its value in the following weeks. But as of September 30, 2025, the index stood at 3,250, a gain of 75% over pre-war levels. This was no accident. Israel entered the war without the structural problems of much of the developed world. In an age when many wealthy nations grapple with the specter of internal population decline, Israel's demographic trends are strong. And rather than the budget deficits so common in the West, Israel ran a surplus in 2022. Even today, during a very expensive war effort (some estimates place the cost at over $60 billion), its fiscal house remains in enviable shape. The most recent debt-to-GDP ratio stands at 69%. In the United States, that figure is 123%.

In 2024, which included some of the worst days of the conflict, The Economist ranked Israel the world's sixth strongest economy. And in its economic outlook released in June 2025, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) projected Israel's GDP to grow 5.5% in 2026, a figure that is likely to eclipse most of the developed world, including the United States.

Understanding this macroeconomic strength requires understanding the underlying population, which exhibits not only the skill of thriving amid diversity, but also of entrepreneurship and innovation. This has earned Israel the nickname "Startup Nation." The technology sector accounts for a fifth of Israel's economic output, double the share in the U.S.

And underlying this is a beneficial military-entrepreneurial complex in which mandatory national service funnels citizens into units based on both individual talents and national needs. Many of these people end up starting or working at firms in the defense and technology sectors, exporting world-leading capabilities in fields such as cybersecurity. Furthermore, simply having so many young adults involved in military service builds personal resilience. For Israelis, there is a tolerance for "constructive failure" as the key to innovation. There is something to be learned from failure, they say, if the risk was taken intelligently.

For the past two years, all these factors have together acted as a flywheel on Israel's economic engine, preserving inertia through the conflict. And the cessation of active hostilities may usher in a period when the Israeli economy and its asset markets could be positioned for renewed growth. Helping further power this, proven natural gas reserves have grown 40% in the past decade, and are now enabling the building up of a sovereign wealth fund to channel resource revenue into long-term growth.

Despite this, many investors lack exposure to Israel in their portfolios. Tel Aviv Stock Exchange's Sunday-through-Thursday trading week has prevented its inclusion in some international indices. But that will change in 2026, when the exchange transitions to Monday-through-Friday trading, something that could attract more international capital.

But overshadowing such factors may be a simple fear of geopolitical instability. If that is the case, should the current headwinds of war subside, and especially if a settlement seems lasting, investor sentiment on Israel may benefit.

This is the investment paradox at the heart of Israel's economic history of "making the desert bloom," as the slogan says. Harsh surroundings create conflict and volatility, which resilience can convert into opportunity, although past resilience does not guarantee future performance, and investors should remain aware of ongoing geopolitical risks.

Timothy Partners, LTD is the administrator for Timothy Plan family of funds. Timothy Plan, located in Orlando, Florida, is a pioneer in the Biblically Responsible Investment movement, celebrating 31 years in business with more than $2.85 billion in assets under management.

To interview Timothy Plan President, Brian Mumbert or another representative, contact [email protected], Kim Billips, 407/644-1986.

Investing involves risks, and potential loss of principal. Please consider carefully the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the Timothy Plan mutual funds by reading the prospectus. It is available online at mf.timothyplan.com for the mutual funds, or you may call 800-846-7526 to receive a print copy. Be sure to read the prospectus carefully.

Mutual Funds distributed by Timothy Partners, Ltd., member FINRA.

Strategies intended to hedge risk may be partly or wholly unsuccessful. Because the Timothy Plan Funds do not invest in excluded securities, the Funds may be riskier than other funds that invest in a broader array of securities. There are risks when a fund limits its investments to particular-sized companies, and all companies are subject to market risk.

Israel Common Values --- A: TPAIX C: TPCIX I: TICIX

INTERNATIONAL MUTUAL FUNDS, compared to domestic funds, have added risk from currency fluctuations and exchange risks, a more relaxed regulatory environment, more rapid and extreme changes in value due to smaller market sizes, or possible adverse political activities. Investment portfolios that are limited to specific geographic regions or countries may also increase the risk of loss, as does limiting the number of companies available for investing. Emerging markets or emerging economies are nations with social or business activity in the process of rapid growth and/or industrialization.

TA-125 Index is TASE's most significant index and considered as the Israel Economy Benchmark Index. TA-125 financial products are the most popular among TASE Indices. The index consists the 125 shares with the highest market capitalization that are included in the TA-35 and TA-90 indices. The Tel Aviv 125 Index is a market index and is not directly linked to the performance of the Timothy Plan Israel fund. Past performance of an index is not indicative of future results of any specific investment product

SOURCE Timothy Plan
Largest Single Gift Strengthens UAPB's Role as a Cultural Anchor for Arkansas and Beyond

PINE BLUFF, Ark., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Backed by a historic $5 million gift from the Windgate Foundation, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB) is poised to transform its academic programs for visual artists through bold new learning and creative spaces. Chancellor Anthony Graham announced Wednesday this gift is the largest single investment in the university's history.

"The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is profoundly grateful to the Windgate Foundation for this pivotal and historic gift," Chancellor Graham said. "This investment affirms the vital role of the arts in higher education and in the cultural life of our region. As we work to meet the needs of today's artists, this gift allows us to construct a cutting-edge facility, expand opportunities for creativity, and foster an environment where our students can thrive as scholars, innovators and cultural leaders. The Windgate Foundation's generosity strengthens our ability to prepare the next generation of artists who will shape Arkansas and beyond."

UAPB alumni include co-founder of AfriCOBRA Jeff Donaldson, Kevin Cole, and Emmy award-winning animator Byron Vaughns. Post this

"We are honored to continue our partnership with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff through this investment to expand the capacity of its art department," said Patricia Forgy, executive director at Windgate Foundation. "We believe that art not only connects us and deepens our understanding of the world, but that access to art is critically important in a student's life. By supporting UAPB, we are helping to ensure that students can thrive in an environment that reflects their talent, history, and potential."

The $5 million gift will fund construction of a new Art Tower at the Hathaway-Howard Fine Arts Center, marking the facility's first major renovation in more than three decades. The addition will redefine the center's appearance and serve as a striking gateway for visitors arriving from the Martha Mitchell Expressway. Rising as the tallest building on campus, the Art Tower will add classrooms and studio space to meet UAPB's growing needs while expanding the university's cultural footprint.

Expansion at a Glance

New "Art Tower" addition to Hathaway-Howard Fine Arts Center

addition to Hathaway-Howard Fine Arts Center Expanded classrooms and studio spaces with expansive wall of windows to provide abundant natural light

Modernized facilities to support enrollment growth and creative innovation

First major arts facility expansion in more than 30 years

This latest gift brings the Windgate Foundation's investment in UAPB and the arts programs to nearly $8 million over the past decade, including $2 million for an endowed scholarship for first-generation students and more than $850,000 for art initiatives that engage young artists, students, and the community.

UAPB Art Department Chair Dr. Karen DeJarnette said the award marks a turning point.

"For decades, our students have created brilliance with limited space," Dr. DeJarnette said. "This expansion will finally give their creativity the room it deserves from upgraded studios to gallery spaces where their work can truly shine."

"The timing of the gift reflects the Windgate Foundation's thoughtful approach of building a strong, long-term relationship that demonstrates UAPB's ability to deliver on past investments," said George Cotton Sr., UAPB vice chancellor for Advancement. "UAPB has been a cultural anchor for the Delta and a leader in advancing the arts across Arkansas for decades. This generous investment from the Windgate Foundation underscores that commitment and allows us to expand opportunities for students while deepening our impact on the state and the HBCU community."

Legacy of Achievement

The UAPB Art Department's pioneering spirit dates to the mid-1960s, when instructor John Howard secured state funding for what was then the largest fine arts facility in Arkansas. Opened in 1967, the building, later named for Howard and Isaac Scott Hathaway, who founded UAPB's first ceramics program, became the home of the department, with Howard serving as chair until his passing in 1980. The planned Art Tower continues this tradition of excellence while honoring the department's rich history. The public can view artifacts and digital archives at the University Museum and Cultural Center.

Notable artist alumni include: Jeff Donaldson; a co-founder of the AfriCOBRA collective with pieces housed in institutions such as the Art Institute of Chicago and the Smithsonian American Art Museum; Joseph Norman, internationally recognized artist and educator with works held in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and the High Museum of Art; Byron Vaughns, Emmy-award winning animator; and Kevin Cole, nationally recognized contemporary artist with work featured in major collections including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

About the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Founded in 1873, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is the state's oldest and only public land-grant Historically Black College and University (HBCU). With more than 70 academic programs, UAPB continues its mission of preparing students to be leaders of change in Arkansas and the world. UAPB delivers a distinct value proposition: a 4-year investment with lifelong returns. The university combines academic excellence, cultural pride, affordability, and career readiness to prepare graduates for success. With nationally recognized programs in agriculture, aquaculture, STEM, business, and the arts, UAPB provides students with high-quality education at a cost that remains among the most affordable in the region.

SOURCE University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wines of Chile, in collaboration with ProChile, is proud to announce the return of its iconic Chile Wine Fest to New York City on Monday, October 20, 2025, bringing together the best of Chilean wines, piscos, gastronomy, music, and culture for an unforgettable evening in the heart of Manhattan.

This year's festival will take place at the stunning Loft 7 in NoHo, offering sweeping views of New York City in an event that blends elegance and historic charm with the modern flair of all things Chilean. The trade event will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the Consumer session will take place from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Guests will enjoy an immersive celebration featuring over 30 wineries and 150 premium wines from the ends of the planet. Experience exclusive tasting stations where you can connect directly with Chilean winemakers and sommeliers about your preferences and ideal pairings. Enjoy a mixology bar serving enigmatic cocktails like the Carmelacha and the Lychee Martini. This year, Pisco Chile will also feature dedicated tasting stations and a special masterclass, marking the second consecutive year of its participation in Chile Wine Fest. As Chile's national spirit  born from wine  Pisco will once again showcase its unique heritage and versatility. Discover Chilean tourism highlights, learn about the country's rich culture, and meet special Chilean musicians flown in just for this event. Impress your palate with Antarctic salmon, pure Chilean caviar, Chilean meats, and specially curated Chilean fruits perfect for the Halloween season.

The evening will create an inviting atmosphere for wine lovers, foodies, travelers, and industry professionals to connect. In addition to tastings, attendees can join interactive workshops and talks that highlight Chile's unique terroir, sustainability practices, and the craftsmanship behind its award-winning wines and piscos. Join us this autumn for a vibrant festival full of immersive Chilean experiences  a true fiesta of flavors and culture!

Last year's Chile Wine Fest in New York drew over 350 attendees, including 130+ trade professionals, influencers, and media, generating more than 13,000 impressions and wide-reaching coverage. This year's edition is expected to be even larger, with an estimated 500 guests and an expanded program of cultural and culinary experiences.

"Chile Wine Fest is our carnival, a celebration where guests can enjoy all things Chile in an immersive experience. It's your visit to Chile, without the overnight flight. In the heart of NYC. Bienvenidos!" said Julio Alonso, Executive Director of Wines of Chile North America.

The Trade Commissioner of ProChile in New York, Andrea Sapag, said: "At ProChile we are proud to support Wines of Chile in bringing Chile Wine Fest 2025 back to New York. This festival is a unique showcase not only of the quality and diversity of our wines and piscos, but also of Chile's rich gastronomy, culture and tourism. We want every guest to enjoy an immersive experience that reflects the joint work of the public and private sectors to position Chile as a provider of premium, sustainable and authentic products and experiences. It's truly bringing a piece of Chile to the heart of Manhattan."

Confirmed sponsors include Pisco Chile, Andes Waters, ARKA Antarctic Salmon, Sernatur (Tourism Board), Fruits from Chile, Kenoz Patagonian Caviar, and Marca Chile, with additional activations highlighting the best of Chile's premium products.

Tickets and registration for Trade are available at www.chilewinefest.com .

About Wines of Chile:

Wines of Chile is a non-profit, private trade association representing Chilean wine producers. Its mission is to promote global awareness of the quality, diversity, and image of Chilean wines. Representing more than 85% of Chile's bottled wine exports, Wines of Chile provides marketing, education, and research initiatives to support its members worldwide.

About ProChile:

ProChile is the Chilean government agency responsible for promoting the country's exports of goods and services, contributing to economic growth through internationalization and trade diversification. Through its extensive network of regional and international offices, ProChile supports inclusive foreign trade initiatives, gender-inclusive economic participation, foreign investment, and tourism, all aimed at strengthening Chile's global presence.

For more information, visit: https://www.prochile.gob.cl

SOURCE Wines of Chile
The meeting of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy will take place after the vote in the first reading of the draft law on the State Budget for 2026, the factions spokeswoman Yulia Paliychuk has said.

"At the request of the head of the Servant of the People faction, David Arakhamia, the meeting of the faction with the president has been postponed and will take place after the vote in the first reading of the draft State Budget for 2026," Paliychuk told Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday.

According to Paliychuk, such meetings are planned to be held once a month.

As reported, it was previously planned to hold a meeting of the Servant of the People faction with Zelenskyy from October 6 to 10.
Russian shelling has killed two civilians from the village of Vodianske, Dobropillia community, Pokrovsk district, Donetsk region, were killed as a result over the past day, and ten more civilians from the region were injured, Regional Military Administration head Vadym Filashkin has said.

"Pokrovsk district. An enterprise was damaged in Dobropillia, two people were killed and one was injured in Vodianske," Filashkin wrote on Telegram on Wednesday morning.

Two houses were damaged in Siversk, Bakhmut district, no casualties were reported.

As reported, on Monday, October 6, the occupiers shelled settlements in the Donetsk region 25 times, no civilians were killed, five were wounded. 145 people were evacuated from the front line, including 40 children.

On Sunday, October 5, the enemy shelled cities and villages in the region 20 times, three civilians were wounded. 363 people were evacuated from the front line, including 16 children.

On Saturday, October 4, there were 37 shellings of settlements in the region, one civilian was killed, 13 were wounded. 185 people were evacuated from the front line then, including 68 children.

On Tuesday, the occupiers doubled the intensity of shelling of cities and villages in the Donetsk region twice compared to Monday and Sunday.
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
Significant smoke is recorded in the city of Pryluky, Chernihiv region, after the Russian army struck an oil depot, probably at an oil depot, the city councils press service reported.

"Today, as a result of a hit on one of the critical infrastructure facilities outside the city, significant smoke is observed," the city council said on Telegram on Wednesday.

Residents of the city and surrounding areas are asked not to open windows if possible in the event of a change in wind direction and to limit their time outdoors until the situation improves.

Earlier that day, citing the head of the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration Vyacheslav Chaus, it was reported that last night the occupiers attacked an oil depot in Pryluky, causing a fire. In another city in the region, Nizhyn, hits on railway facilities and an energy facility were recorded, and fires also broke out.
The mayor of Vyshhorod, Kyiv region, Oleksiy Momot and the director of a contracting organization have been notified of suspicion of misappropriation of budget funds through abuse of official position (Part 5, Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine), the press service of the Prosecutor Generals Office has said.

"Under the procedural guidance of prosecutors from the Kyiv Regional Prosecutors Office, the mayor of Vyshgorod and the director of a contracting organization have been notified of suspicion of misappropriation of budget funds through abuse of official position (Part 5, Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine)," the Prosecutor Generals Office said on Telegram on Wednesday.

It is reported that in the first months of the full-scale Russian invasion, city council officials organized the purchase of two excavators worth UAH 7.8 million under the pretext of meeting the needs of the volunteer formation.

The investigation established that the equipment was purchased through a controlled company, which had neither its own capacities nor financial capabilities to fulfill the contract. The purchase price was overstated  by approximately UAH 800,000 for each unit of equipment.

Despite this, the acceptance and transfer certificates were signed, and funds from the local budget were transferred. In fact, the equipment arrived only a few months later and was then credited to the balance of the municipal enterprises. As a result of such actions, the community budget suffered losses of over UAH 1.6 million.

Another episode concerns dredging works of a reservoir  a storm sewer settling tank in Vyshhorod. According to the investigation, the mayor, knowing for sure about the non-performance of the contracted work, signed the acceptance certificates and initiated the transfer of funds to the contractor.

Thus, over UAH 5 million from the local budget was illegally transferred to the enterprises account. Operational support was provided by employees of the Ukrainian Special Operations Command in the Kyiv region, the Ukrainian Special Operations Command of the National Police of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Special Operations Command in Kyiv and Kyiv region.
Thales Belgium, one of Europes largest air defense companies, is warning that drones are increasingly flying over its plants and is demanding clear rules for blocking or shooting them down, Politico reported on Wednesday.

"We are seeing more drones than we did a few months ago," said Alain Quevrin, the director of Thales Belgium.

He noted that the drones were spotted over the companys Evegnee Fort facility in the eastern Liege region, the only facility in Belgium licensed to assemble and store explosives for 70mm missiles, which are mostly sent to Ukraine to combat Shahed strike drones.

"We are concerned about these developments," Quevrin said. Meanwhile, the company aims to double its production capacity for the FZ275 unguided and laser-guided missiles to 70,000 units over the next few years, provided there is clear demand.

French multinational Thales has made a huge effort to install detection systems at all its sites, Kevrin explained. The company said it could use jammers to block the signal needed to control drones and shoot them down. But the problem is that we are not allowed to do that  legally, he said. One of the concerns about shooting down drones is that they could cause damage or injury to people if they fall.

Countries like Belgium need to clearly define the "correct course of action" when such cases are detected, Quevrin said, including where the polices authority ends and the companies authority begins.

As reported, Thales Belgiums is ramping up production of air-explosion warheads for its 70mm rockets, which are already being used to combat drones in Ukraine. Thales is equipping its rockets with FZ123 warheads with a shrapnel charge that explodes within a radius of 25 meters. Thales Belgium plans to produce approximately 3,500 of these rockets by the end of the year and hopes to increase annual production to 10,000 units by 2026.
Public calls to change the borders of the territories of Ukraine, made at different times, relating to different events and having a different context, constitute a repetition of criminal offenses, according to the resolution of the Cassation Criminal Court of the Supreme Court of Ukraine (CCC of the Supreme Court).

A cassation appeal was filed with the CCC of the Supreme Court, in which the defense attorney challenged the conclusions of the courts of previous instances in criminal proceedings in the case of encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine. The defendant was convicted for making public calls on her page on the Russian social network VKontakte on December 11, 2022, and January 8 and 10, 2023 to commit intentional actions aimed at changing the borders of the territory of Ukraine in an unconstitutional manner. The defense challenged the repetition of the actions of the defendant.

The Supreme Court took into account that the content of the accused's comments was different each time, related to different events related to the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into the territory of Ukraine (the first - Soledar, the second - monuments, and the third - Dnipropetrovsk region) and that each of these comments, not logically connected with the others, had a different context and time period. At the same time, each appeal contained all the elements of the crime provided for in Article 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine "Encroachment on the Territorial Integrity of Ukraine."

The Supreme Court left the decisions of the courts of previous instances unchanged, recognizing that the courts had reached a well-founded conclusion that the accused's guilt was proven in repeatedly making public appeals to commit intentional actions with the aim of changing the borders of the territory of Ukraine.
Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official

The head of the State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Vasyl Maliuk has reported to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the results of long-range strikes carried out by the Ukrainian special services.

"It is important that Ukrainian long-range missile drones demonstrate greater effectiveness. We also have significant results in the destruction of Russian air defense systems," Zelenskyy said on Telegram on Wednesday.

He noted the soldiers of the Special Operations Center "A" of the SBU, who are carrying out active operations on the Pokrovsk axis of the front in the Donetsk region.

"We note that the Russian troops received an order to storm our positions at any cost. Accordingly, the level of Russian losses has increased significantly. Only our SBU soldiers and only on the Pokrovsk axis are now destroying more than 100 occupiers per day, and this is without taking into account the results of the actions of soldiers of other components of our Defense and Security Forces. In total, over the past month, soldiers of the Central Military District "A" of the SBU eliminated 3,028 occupiers - we have the appropriate verification for each of them," the president said.

According to him, the SBU also continues to work on destroying Russian agent networks.

"I also approved our operations, which are aimed at reducing the Russian military potential," Zelenskyy said.
The Verkhovna Rada has failed to appoint two judges of the Constitutional Court.

As reported by the correspondent of the Interfax-Ukraine agency, none of the four candidates received the required number of votes (226+1). Four candidates were considered for the position of a judge of the Constitutional Court at the plenary session of the Verkhovna Rada on Wednesday, who were selected based on the results of a competitive selection: Zakhar Tropin, Oksana Klymenko, Yulia Kyrychenko, Taras Tsymbalisty.

The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, instructed the parliamentary committee on legal policy to prepare materials for announcing a new competition for the selection of candidates for the position of a judge of the Constitutional Court.

As reported, after the simultaneous resignation of three judges on January 27, 2025, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine lost its quorum and could not hold meetings of the Grand Chamber and the Second Senate. Only the First Senate continued its work.

The quorum in the Constitutional Court of Ukraine was restored in late June, when President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Oleksandr Vodiannikov as a judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine under his quota. In July, the new judges held a session of the Grand Chamber, which considers the submissions of people's deputies and the President.

Currently, there are problems with holding sessions of the Grand Chamber of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, as judges have recused themselves in some cases, and their consideration has been suspended. Since the court has only 12 judges - the critically necessary number for holding a session, in the event of the recusal of one of the judges, consideration of cases becomes impossible.

On September 17, the president signed a decree appointing Yuriy Barabash as a judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine under his quota. When Barabash is sworn in, the Constitutional Court will have 13 judges out of the 18 required.

The selection of judges to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine is carried out by the Advisory Group of Experts, which is to assess the moral qualities and level of competence in the field of law of candidates from the appointing entities - the Verkhovna Rada, the President and the Congress of Judges of Ukraine.

On February 19, 2025, the State Audit Office submitted documents to the Verkhovna Rada and the President for the appointment of five judges of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine - two under the parliamentary quota and three under the presidential quota. So far, the President has appointed two judges - Vodiannikov and Barabash - under his quota, while the Parliament has not yet appointed judges.

The competition for the position of a judge of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine is also ongoing under the quota of the Congress of Judges of Ukraine.
Photo: https://edition.cnn.com

European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen has called for a comprehensive use of the future anti-drone system, including the detection of Russian oil tankers.

"We need an affordable and fit-for-purpose system for rapid detection, rapid interception and, if necessary, rapid neutralization (UAVs - IF-U). But this is not just about our eastern border - our current priority. We need a 360-degree approach," the EC head said, speaking at the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg on Wednesday.

"This anti-drone system will become a shield for our entire union, including the southern flank. And it should be designed to solve a wide range of tasks. From responding to natural disasters to combating international organized crime. From monitoring migration to controlling the Russian shadow fleet. And the list goes on," von der Leyen said.

According to her, autonomous systems are the core of security in the 21st century, and "Europe must be at the forefront."
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The National Committee for the Fight against Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism has called on the Libyan authorities to urgently pass a law to combat money laundering and financing of terrorism that conforms to international standards and the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
Photo: https://www.facebook.com

The Servant of the People faction has supported the candidacy of Tetiana Berezhna for the position of Vice Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy of Ukraine - Minister of Culture of Ukraine, reported Yevheniia Kravchuk, Deputy Head of the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy (Servant of the People faction).

"The Servant of the People faction has just supported the candidacy of Tetiana Berezhna for the position of Vice Prime Minister for Humanitarian Policy of Ukraine - Minister of Culture of Ukraine. We expect an official submission to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine from Prime Minister Yuliy Svyrydenko," Kravchuk wrote on Facebook.

According to her, we expect a vote next plenary week - after approval by the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy.

"It is important that humanitarian issues are gaining additional weight in the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine! Let me remind you that we have made changes to the legislation that define culture, cultural heritage and the Ukrainian language as a component of national security," she added.
Photo: elements.envato.com

European Union ambassadors agreed on Wednesday to move forward with the blocs plan to end imports of Russian oil and gas by 2028, overcoming the first political hurdle before governments vote on it later this month, Reuters reported, citing EU diplomats.

"The EU is negotiating legal proposals to phase out Russian oil and gas by January 2028, attempting to deprive the Kremlin of revenues to fund its war in Ukraine. In a closed-door meeting on Wednesday, EU ambassadors agreed to forward the proposed law to their ministers for approval at a meeting on October 20," three diplomats told Reuters.

If approved, Russian gas imports would be phased out under new contracts from January 2026, followed by existing short-term contracts from June 2026 and long-term contracts in January 2028.

The agency said almost all EU countries had expressed support for the plans, suggesting they would be easy to pass despite criticism from Hungary and Slovakia, whose governments seek to maintain close ties with Russia.

The plans must be approved by a "qualified majority" of EU member states, or at least 55% of them. EU countries and lawmakers will then negotiate the final version of the law.

One of the outstanding issues is whether exports of liquefied natural gas to Europe should be pre-approved before delivery, and whether its origin should be checked by customs authorities upon arrival at EU ports to ensure it is not Russian.

France and Italy have said they support the overall plan but want deliveries to be either pre-approved  if authorities can do so quickly  or checked by authorities upon arrival in the EU to ensure compliance with the ban, EU diplomats said.

Countries such as Hungary, France and Belgium still import Russian gas, which accounts for 12% of EU gas imports, down from 45% before Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The law will oblige Hungary and Slovakia, two countries that still import Russian oil, to develop national plans to end these imports by 2028.

Separately, the EU is also negotiating a new package of sanctions against Russia to ban LNG imports a year earlier, in January 2027.
The head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance (UINP), Oleksandr Alferov, has said that the name of the unit of exchange "shag" has been used in the territory of present-day Ukraine since the 17th century and was specifically Ukrainian. "The name 'kopiika' (kopeck) originated in Moscow in the 16th century. Both then and now, it denotes a purely ruble zone, and now, in addition to Russia, it includes Belarus, the separatist Russian entity of Transnistria, and temporarily occupied Ukrainian lands. The kopeck accidentally became a currency coin for our hryvnia, which was, is, and remains a marker of our identity both in the Middle Ages and during the times of the UNR. More than 100 years ago, the hryvnia had a unit of exchange "shag," a name that has been used in our territory since the 17th century and was specifically Ukrainian and remained so even during the time of Ukraine's enslavement by empires," the UINP press service quotes Alferov.

It is noted that positive expert opinions on such an initiative were provided by the Institute of History of Ukraine and the O. Potebnia Institute of Linguistics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, as well as the Expert Commission of the Institute of National Memory.

As reported, the people's deputies propose to the Verkhovna Rada to change the name of the coin "kopiika" to "shag." It is noted that changing the name of the coin "kopiika" (one hundredth of a hryvnia) to the historically justified "shag" will allow to revive the national traditions of Ukraine in the monetary nomenclature and complete the monetary reform started in 1996.

In September 2024, the National Bank of Ukraine initiated the change "kopecks" to "shags."

In January 2025, the UINP expert commission stated that the NBU's initiative to change the name of the coin deserves support.

Former head of the Ukrainian National Bank of Ukraine Anton Drobovych supports the NBU's initiative to change the name of the circulation coin from "kopiikas" to "shags."
Chuck Adams, the longtime editor who gave up career in law for one in publishing, died on October 6. He was 82.

After receiving his bachelors and law degrees from Duke University, Adams worked briefly in New York as a lawyer before taking an entry-level job at Holt, Rinehart and Winston. His first jobs at Holt and later Macmillan focused on the production and the business side of publishing.

When he moved to Dell, Adams became more involved with editorial, and in 1989 he was hired as senior editor at Simon & Schuster. Among the authors he worked with at S&S were Joseph Heller, Mary Higgins Clark, James Lee Burke, Clive Cussler, Sandra Brown, and Jackie Collins.

In 2004, Adams moved to Algonquin Books where he made perhaps his signature acquisition, Sara Gruens Water for Elephants, which went on to sell over 10 million copies worldwide. In a 2007 interview with PW, Adams, a native of North Carolina, remembered his move to the then Chapel Hillbased Algonquin. "It was quite simple," Adams said. "I was fired [by S&S], and I wasnt ready to retire." (Algonquin was acquired by Workman Publishing in 1989, and Workman was later bought by Hachette Book Group.)

In recognition of his contributions to acquiring and promoting literary prose, Adams was presented with Poets & Writers Editors Award in 2013. He was equally adept at knowing what readers were looking for, a skill that produced nearly 100 New York Times bestsellers including, at Algonquin, Tayari Joness An American Marriage, Robert Goolricks A Reliable Wife, Jonathan Evisons West of Here, and Tab Hunters autobiography Tab Hunter Confidential. Adams stayed at Algonquin before retiring in 2021.

Adams colleagues remembered him as always willing to talk to anyone about writing, and for years he conducted regular small workshops out of his home to bolster the confidence of writers and teach them the basics for just $20 a session. He mentored interns well after their internships, and he was one of the earliest to call out the lack of diversity in publishing.

Adams was preceded in death by his longtime husband Bob Donaghey, who was his partner for over 50 years.
In these turbulent times, when it seems everyone is tense about their job, their family, their health, even their politics, its hard to look upward or inward. Mind-body-spirit publishers are seeking to help revive readers energy and inspire their psyches with a host of new books that are more practical than ever before.

Many forthcoming MBS titles still feature staples of the categorywitches every which way and plenty of magic from many world cultures. But now, says New World Library acquiring editor Noelle Armstrong, were seeing less woo-woo and more how-to.  And that means a burst of books by knowledgeable guides and amiable mentors to ease the way for anyone seeking to start or travel further on a spiritual path.

Many authors with forthcoming titles belong to the second generation of mind-body-spirit publishingpeople who learned from the leaders in the field in the 1990s and early 2000s. Literature in the mind-body-spirit space has evolved as people have taken those early teachings and now are writing to teach others, says NWL spokesperson Kim Corbin, who highlights two forthcoming titles as examples of this shift. In How to Live So You Can Die Without Fear (June 2026), author Dale Borglum, founder of the Living/Dying Project, hearkens back to his conversations with the late spiritual teacher Ram Dass. Peter Russells How to Meditate Without Even Trying (May 2026) is part of the publishers series curated by new age bestselling author Eckhart Tolle.

Though more people want to personally shape their spiritual lives, says Lisa Kloskin, an acquisition editor at Broadleaf, they still want guidance and support. Since theyre leaping out on their own, theyre even more hungry for practical, guide-style resources that will help introduce them to new, more expansive practices and concepts, she says. Guides help readers tune into their own wisdom more. That can even mean looking to the past for guidance about moving. Angela Herrington suggests women ditch the nasty stereotypes about witches in Embracing the Old Witch in the Woods: Liberating Feminine Wisdom from Christian Patriarchy (Oct.). Herrington, an online pastor, steers readers to see how, like those witches, they can discover and trust what the publisher calls their own sacred gifts and hard-earned wisdom.

Even some more esoteric mind-body-spirit titles take a teach-a-skill approach. Findhorn Press, an imprint of Inner Traditions, offers The Spiritual Dog: Emissary of Unconditional Love and Healing (May 2026). According to the publisher, author JJ Flowers presents a loving-kindness meditation, gifted to her by high-level light beings known as Melchizedek, that opens telepathic communication with your dog.

Journeys Within and Beyond

Readers are also seeking what Amy Lyons, senior acquisitions editor at Red Wheel/Weiser, calls a gentle mentorship with authors whose books can lead them on a spiritual journey. As an example, Lyons cites Tapping into the Akasha: A Wonderous Journey of Personal Growth and Spiritual Development (Mar. 2026) by Rohini Moradi, host of the Magic Inclined podcast. Moradi describes the Akasha as the universal energy field that, according to the publisher, reminds us of our inherent interconnectedness and our shared history as souls and shows readers how to integrate this knowledge into daily life.

Lyons also highlights Madison Murphy Barneys Our Ancestors Want Us to Be Mushrooms: Wisdom for Living in Balance with the Planet and Each Other as an example of another trend in MBS publishing. Theres great interest in looking at the foundations of the earth, your own history, your familys history, she says. People today want to feel connected to the past. Whether its a grandmothers recipe or a spell from an ancient witchs handbook, Lyons adds, theres a real interest in authenticity.

Publishers are paying attention. Sarah Stanton, editorial director for Sounds True, says that readers struggling with groundlessness and change long for genuine guidance they can trust. Were years out of the Covid pandemic and still it is touching our lives, she says. Today, people want support and comfort after all they have gone through. They want resources and practices from trusted experts, and they want a sense of community and connection.

Accordingly, ST last year launched a series of self-help psychology workbooks. In June 2026, popular meditation teacher Tara Brachs The Courageous Heart Workbook: Choosing to Love in Perilous Times will lean into the spiritual. Stanton says the book intends to help people develop their relationships in a time when we all need inner bravery and fortitude.

Running Press editor Kate Anderson also sees this trend in divination card decks, which have become one of the most popular corners of MBS publishing. Where we are in the world right now, she says, it feels like mind-body-spirit products need to root themselves in a deeper history, a deeper sort of cultural practice, or a very deep connection to nature or to psychology.

One book that does just that, Anderson says, is Tarot for the Wild Soul by Lindsay Mack (May 2026). Drawn from Mack's podcast of the same name, the book explains how to use the cards for growth, healing from trauma, and personal evolution. In addition to the book, RP offers a related Soul Tarot deck that comes with a slim guidebook for reading the cards.

Standing out in Crowded Market

The push toward a pragmatic approach is also a way publishers might respond to a slowdown in sales, says Ben Gleason, production editor at Wisdom, a publisher specializing in eastern philosophies and spiritual practices.

Theres a glut in the market of meditation books from a lot of different traditions, Gleason says. By now, everyone has a shelf full of introductory books to the Zen of this or the dharma of that. They may try to sit for 30 minutes and chant some sutras. Then they give up. As an antidote, Gleason points to Wisdoms Sit: 28 Days to a Rock-Solid Daily Meditation Habit (Feb. 2026) by Buddhism teacher Bodhipaksa. He picks away at all your excuses, Gleason says, sets you up minute by minute, and suddenly youre doing it.

Still, theres no single road to the divine. Llewellyn, a press known for titles on the practice and history of magic, has two forthcoming books that offer readers contradictory approaches to spirituality. Maevius Lynns Holy Year of Thelema: A Guide to the Ritual Calendar of Aleister Crowleys Tradition (May 2026) focuses on ceremonial magic practices from the early 1900s, while Thumper Forges The Chaos Apple: Magic & Discordianism for the Postmodern Witch (Nov.) rejects conventional systems and practices entirely.

Heather Greene, a Llewellyn acquiring editor, says these books play to seekers desire for autonomy and choice. When a society is experiencing upheaval and uncertainty, as we are today, some people want to go back to the structured rituals that have stood the test of time, she says. While other people, like Forge, say, Why not try new ways? Theres a randomness to his magic. Just do something. If it works, you do it again.

Greene has even given that advice a spin. When she presented Forges book at a Llewellyn sales meeting, she recalls, I stood up in front with a bunch of change in my hand and said, Im going to do little blessing on our presentation. I took the money, which represents success, and I threw it out in the middle of the room and said, Let us be blessed with success. 

Mind-body-spirit publishers are banking on readers willingness to embrace authentic connections, practical advice, and knowledgeable guides on whatever spiritual paths they chose.

Read more from our mind body spirit feature.
Mountains and Plains Independent Booksellers Associations FallCon in Denver revolved around the sold-out exhibit area on Tuesday, the second day of the annual conference. The trade show floor buzzed all day with lively exchanges between the 238 booksellers and 133 vendors and publishers, ranging from regional presses to big New York City houses, with some new companies like Left Field Publishing and Ghost Buyers, Edelweiss veteran Joe Fosters bookstore inventory management consultancy, introducing themselves.

Outside, in the ballroom foyer, veteran booksellers paired up for hour-long shifts at The Expert Is In table to dispense advice to a crowd of less seasoned booksellers on buying, author events, inventory management, social media, and marketing. Throughout the day, booksellers could also be found sitting on the couches and easy chairs lining the outer wall in the foyer, reading books.

The day began with a breakfast keynote featuring six editors from mission-driven presses. The panel shared the history of their respective imprints, pitched two to four of their hottest new and forthcoming releases, and explained how those specific releases fit into the larger framework of their imprint. The editors included Emily Bell of Astra House, Rosemary Brosnan of Heartdrum, Safon Floyd of Callisto, Emi Ikkanda of Tiny Reparations, Will Neville-Rehbehn of Torrey House, and Matt Weiland of W.W. Norton.

The keynote was moderated by Arsen Kashkashian, general manager of Boulder Book Store in Boulder, Colo., who later praised the MPIBA staff for setting up the session, saying that it puts the book in context, with the editor saying, heres what were trying to do, and heres how that book fits into our vision. Kashkashian noted that sales are up at Boulder Book Store, because the local community "has bounced back from the pandemic and is hopping, adding that the bookstore has launched a nonprofit, Boulder Book Store Literacy Foundation, to bring authors and donate books to schools in the area.

"We're trying to get books into the hands of kids who need them," Kashkashian said. "If kids don't have books, what's going to happen in 20 years?"

Rosa Mendez, a FallCon first-timer who opened Books by the Bay in La Porte, Tex., a Houston suburb, with her sister-in-law, Jessica Gutierrez, in December 2024, said that the sessions with authors, reps, or editors pitching their books were her favorite. I love to hear the authors, the publishers, and the editors pitching their books, she said. The more you know the person behind the book, the easier it is to handsell the book to your customers.

Books by the Bay, which sells only fiction for adults and children, started out as a pop-up in August 2024. We rushed to open it during the holidays after signing the lease, Mendez said, noting that the store is striving to become a community space, with programming that reflects that goal. Theres already a book club, and bookish craft nights, as well as wine tastings pairing wines with different genres of books, and other such interactive events. We want to make sure that reading is an experience, Mendez said. We want people to enjoy themselves.

Mendez added that she greatly enjoyed her interactions with booksellers from throughout the region at the conference, saying, Its good to know that were not alone in this.

Another first-timer, Isabella Bryan, 23, a bookseller for four years at Off the Beaten Path in Steamboat Springs, Colo., concurred. "We're all so similar," Bryan said. "I am with my people; I am in as a bookseller, I can't see myself out of it."

The importance of FallCon in fostering a community of booksellers in a geographically vast and diverse region where many MPIBA bookstore members are hours away from any other bookstore came up again and again in conversations with attendees.

Jesi Crawfordwho is opening a 1,200-square-foot bookstore, Indie Darling, in Lander, Wyo., on November 8is attending her second FallCon. Crawford said that she found it illuminating to attend FallCon at two different stages of the process of opening a bookstore. Last year, I was daydreaming, she said, and this year, its all about returns and inventory turns, and the financials.

Miranda [Berdahl] at Wind City Books in Casper [Wyo.] has really been helpful, and other booksellers are also taking me under their wings," Crawford said, noting that her fellow booksellers have offered her advice about how to navigate around in this cultural climate. She added, How do I make change in the world without pitchforks showing up outside my store?

Bookish excitement

Miriam Delgado, who has served since January as events manager at Old Firehouse Books in Fort Collins, Colo., said that attending FallCon was a great opportunity for her as a new bookseller learning the ropes. Its super exciting, hearing everyones passion for books, editors talking about the books they love, she said. Everyone here is so excited about books. Ive been going crazy, grabbing up books.

Speaking of books, if there was one book that created a buzz at FallCon, it was Beyond the Glittering World: An Anthology of Indigenous Feminisms and Futurisms, edited by Stacie Shannon Denetsosie, Kinsale Drake, and Darcie Little Badger (Torrey House, Nov.). Im very excited about it, Jesi Crawford told PW. There are so many incredible writers in there that I know from other places, and I love Torrey House: they publish really thoughtful books about the American West.

Anne Holman, the co-owner of the Kings English in Salt Lake City, who is attending her 20th or 22nd MPIBA trade show and loves that so many new people are here this year, is most excited about Blackstone Publishings illustrated edition of Dracula by Bram Stoker, which was released on Tuesday. Its unbelievable, she said.

Holman also raved about Chronicles Bibliophile Advent Calendar for Booklovers by Jane Mount. When you lift up each little book, you get a question about books or book-related trivia, she said. It retails for $40, but I ordered a bunch of them, so we can start selling them right away.

FallCon 2025 will wind down on Wednesday with a full day of education, with sessions on setting up clear, clever, and connected displays, leveraging digital media to increase sales, and, from the ABA, navigating attacks on ones bookstore. The conference will officially end with the Last Booksellers Standing Prize Drawing this afternoon.
Two Ukrainian families with three children and teenagers left for the government-controlled territory of Ukraine from the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) as part of the initiative of the President of Ukraine Bring Kids Back UA, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak has said.

"One of the families lived under occupation for more than four years. The eldest son, 15 years old, has a physical disorder and needed treatment, but it was impossible to get it under occupation. The younger, 8-year-old daughter, spent half her life in fear at the sounds of explosions. Another story is an 18-year-old girl and her mother, who lived in conditions of danger and fear for years, repeatedly tried to leave on their own, but without success," Yermak said on Telegram on Wednesday.

According to him, both families are already in the territory controlled by Ukraine, where they feel safe and can start building a new life.

As reported, as of October 1, within the framework of the president's Bring Kids Back initiative, Ukraine had returned 1,645 children, after which Yermak reported another 25, and the Kherson Regional Military Administration head Oleksandr Prokudin said the group included children aged 10 to 17, without specifying their number.
In southern India, a new enterprise called Peer Publicon Consultancy offers a full suite of services to scientific researchers. It will not only write a scholarly paper for a fee but also guarantee publishing the fraudulent work in a respected journal.

It is one of many paper mills that have emerged across Asia and Eastern Europe over the last two decades. Paper mills are having remarkable success peddling tens of thousands of bogus academic journal papers and authorships to university and medical researchers seeking to pad their resumes in highly competitive fields.

These sophisticated outfits also engage in trickery to get papers published, infiltrating journals with their own editors and reviewers and even resorting to bribery, according to investigators and a white paper from Wiley, a New Jersey-based publisher. The scale of the fraud is eye-popping: One Wiley subsidiary, Hindawi, retracted more than 8,000 articles two years ago for suspected paper mill involvement.

U.S. universities and regulators have been able to brush off the threat of paper mills because they have mostly sold their services in China, where research integrity standards are rarely enforced, according to experts. But these rogue operators are building on their success in Asia and expanding to the U.S. and Western Europe, where the prize is the prestige of naming an author on an article from a famous university.

Paper mills have become a huge business, said Professor Jennifer Byrne, who studies the enterprises. University of Sydney

Paper mills have become a huge business, said Jennifer Byrne, professor of molecular oncology at the University of Sydney, who studies the enterprises. If some journals are pushing back on papers from China, and they probably are, it makes sense that paper mills will try to diversify their clientele and start working with people in different countries.

As paper mills expand from the fringe to the center of research, placing professional-looking articles in high-impact journals owned by major publishers like Springer Nature, experts worry about the potential harm to scientific discovery. Researchers willing to break the rules in a Darwinian world of publish or perish may mislead other scientists who incorporate their false findings into their own work. We know little about the actual impact of paper mills on research, Byrne says. But if scientists are building on bad information, they are wasting resources and not making progress in their fields.

Paper Mills Spread to the West

Paper mills appear to be expanding at a rapid clip, aided by AI that enables them to overwhelm journals with dozens of papers in a short period of time, adding to the challenge of detecting fakes. A study by the Committee on Publishing Ethics (COPE) revealed that, on average, journals suspected about 2% of submitted papers came from mills about five years ago. After journals published fake papers, however, the paper mills saw the opening and pounced, accounting for nearly half of new submissions.

In a corrupt echo of Moores Law, a 2024 study concluded that the number of suspected paper mill articles has been doubling every 18 months, far outpacing that of legitimate science.

Researchers in the West appear to be a small but important part of the expansion. Journals have retracted more than 140 papers that name a U.S. co-author because of evidence of organized fraud, and almost 200 retracted papers name a co-author from Western Europe, according to data collected by watchdog group Retraction Watch and analyzed by Cristina Candal Pedreira, an assistant professor at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Scholars at many leading U.S. universities, including the University of California, Emory University, Georgia Tech, and the University of Texas, have co-authored papers linked to paper mills in recent years.

The retraction notice for a 2022 paper co-authored by computer scientist Yanhui Guo, a rising star in the field of AI at the University of Illinois Springfield, is typical. Wiley said its investigation of Guos paper uncovered evidence of systematic manipulation of the publication and peer-review process. We cannot, therefore, vouch for the reliability or integrity of this article.

It's difficult to know what role, if any, the U.S. researchers had in collaborating with a paper mill. Assuming the paper is a fake, a U.S. co-author could have purchased it or secured an authorship position on it, or they may have been unaware that a paper mill was involved.

Elisabeth Bik says a wide geographical spread in the locations of authors is a sign of possible paper mill involvement.

Guos retracted article illustrates the different possibilities. It has six authors from five countries  a wide geographical spread thats common on articles from paper mills, which sell authorship slots worldwide, says Elisabeth Bik, a California microbiologist who investigates scientific misconduct. Indeed, Guo could be unaware that another co-coauthor was collaborating with a paper mill, if that occurred.

It should be up to universities to answer ethical questions about their faculty. But misconduct investigations are cloaked in secrecy. Asked if the university is investigating why two of Guos papers were retracted, a spokesperson said, UIS is following standard protocols and cannot comment further. Guo didnt respond to several requests for comment from RealClearInvestigations.

Many U.S. researchers who co-authored suspect papers were born in another country and came to the U.S. as young scholars to make their names. Mohammed Ali Al-Garadi obtained his Ph.D. in computer science in Malaysia before joining Emory University in Atlanta as a postdoctoral researcher in 2019, according to his IEEE profile. While at Emory, he was one of nine authors from seven countries on a 2021 paper that three years later was retracted by a Wiley journal because of indicators of systematic manipulation of the publication process.

In 2022, Al-Garadi landed a plum job at highly ranked Vanderbilt University, where hes a research assistant professor in biomedical informatics. Al-Garadi and Vanderbilt didnt respond to questions about the retracted paper, one of two of his articles yanked from a journal.

When more prominent U.S. researchers are named on alleged paper mill articles, experts say name theft might be involved. A scholar such as Jonathan Koomey, who has taught at Stanford University and has written more than 200 articles and reports and 10 books, would have no apparent motive to conspire with a paper mill. The mill, however, would have a motive to put his name on a paper without his knowledge to give it more credibility with a publisher.

Koomey says he had no idea that his name and prestigious affiliation  Stanford  appeared on a retracted paper by a Sage journal until RCI recently asked him about it. Koomeys name was listed with four scholars from China on a paper about an English oral evaluation algorithm. Koomeys specialty is another field altogether: energy and climate change.

This is a paper to which I never contributed and have no idea who these authors are, said Koomey. They just stuck my name on the paper without my knowledge.

Fraudsters added Berkeley researcher Xiao-Yun Lu's name to two papers appear to give them more credibility.

When U.C. Berkeley retired senior researcher Xiao-Yun Lu recently discovered that he was also a victim of name theft on two retracted papers linked to paper mills, he was alarmed. I must stop this from happening immediately, he told RCI.

Lu believed the lead author of the papers, Yi He, a former post-doctoral student at Berkeley, was responsible. So Lu emailed He, who now works at Wuhan University of Technology in China, and told him to follow proper scientific methods in his work and to stop putting his name on papers.

The research approaches, data and results all need to be scientific and objective, Lu wrote to He in a September email shared with RCI.

He responded, defending the retracted papers as original achievements and assured Lu that he wont use his name on papers in the future. I apologize for the trouble caused to you, He wrote.

How Paper Mills Operate

Wiley, a major academic publisher with 1,600 journals, has warned that its industry faces a deepening crisis from paper mills. They first appeared about 15 years ago, and many have evolved into sophisticated businesses, producing complex papers with all the trappings of science. Mills appear to hire scientists, perhaps drawing from the surplus of Ph.Ds., and include lab facilities in their sales pitch.

The basic business model is selling authorship slots, if not the entire paper, to scholars on a wide variety of topics, from cancer research to economics to education, according to the COPE report. Paper mills write the articles, create charts based on online or fabricated data, respond to queries from editors, and guarantee publication in journals indexed to essential platforms like the Web of Science. Its a wall-to-wall scam so convincing that journal editors, who are typically unpaid and have limited time for vetting papers, are easily deceived.

Researchers pay more for papers published in high-impact journals and for being the first listed author. While getting named on a low-profile conference paper might cost only $100, the price might jump to $1,200 for the first position in an influential journal, said a source in the academic publishing industry who asked to remain anonymous. The highest fee I have heard of is $8,500.

Paper mills operate with a remarkable degree of transparency, advertising their illicit services online to attract customers, with little concern that they will be shut down. They also offer legitimate services that can serve as camouflage for illegitimate ones.

The website of Indias Peer Publicon Consultancy, for instance, leads off with an offer to correct the grammar and spelling on medical-related papers. Thats fine. Then comes the offer of help in every facet of writing and publishing a literature review article for about $300. Dig deeper to find this suspect offer: You can join as a co-author for the review articles we prepare for publication in indexed journals.

RCI reached out to Professor P. Mutha Prasanna, a managing director of a group that oversees Peer Publicon. He is also a co-author of a highly cited paper that is full of plagiarized text, according to Elisabeth Bik, the integrity consultant. Prasanna told RCI that the paper was drafted mainly by another author and that Peer Publicon was recently launched and it has nothing to do with that paper. He didnt answer questions about Peer Publicons activities.

Anna Abalkina exposed a Russian paper mill that sold hundreds of authorship slots to dishonest scholars.

In Russia, a paper mill called International Publisher says it operates in a glassy tower in central Moscow and claims to have published more than 4,000 papers, some in high-impact journals. We can help teach authors how to write articles that will be accepted into international journals, according to its website. We can also handle any aspects of the work ourselves. That includes enhancing the scientific value of the article (improving the research, updating the relevance and analysis, logically organizing the content, strengthening the conclusion). The pricing is laid out in a chart: Writing or revising a paper costs $2,400, and getting it published in a top-ranked journal is an additional $4,200.

Anna Abalkina, a research fellow at the Institute for East European Studies of the Free University of Berlin, brought unwanted scrutiny to the paper mill with her 2023 study. International Publisher had listed on its website the titles of papers with co-authorship slots for sale. Abalkina matched the titles with those that were later published, identifying at least 451 papers co-authored by more than 800 scholars over a three-year period. International Publisher didnt respond to a request for comment.

The Russian paper mill has extended its reach into the United States. A student at an East Coast university put her name on two published papers with titles that first appeared, almost word for word, on articles for sale on International Publishers website. The Russian company also publicizes a long list of U.S. universities that it claims provide reviewers for its articles.

After Abalkinas study was published, she says the paper mill tried to cover its tracks. It published thousands of abstracts of legitimate papers on its website, claiming it had helped to get them published. Some of the legit authors complained to a prosecutor, she said. But the paper mill continues to operate.

Secretly Infiltrating Journals

Producing fraudulent articles is only part of the paper mill contagion. They have also infiltrated journals to get them published.

Journal editors commonly ask authors to recommend scientists who can peer review their work, which theoretically should provide a shield against publishing fake research. But when a mill produces the article, it sometimes recommends its own reviewers who then provide positive feedback to editors about a bogus article, according to the COPE report. In 2021, a SAGE journal pulled 122 published papers because of clear indications that the submission and/or peer review process  was manipulated.

When publishers seek outside editors for special issues, a popular practice, paper mills have also taken advantage of the opportunity to fill the temporary role. These guest editors then fill the special issues with rubbish articles and fabricated authors. A Chinese paper mill boasted about bribing a guest editor with a thousand dollars per paper for a special issue by publisher Hindawi, according to a report in For Better Science. The widespread infiltration of Hindawis special issues led to the mass retractions and the closing of the Hindawi brand by Wiley.

Human gene research is a favorite target of paper mills because experimental results are easy to fabricate.

Journals that focus on human gene research appear to be a favorite target of paper mills, partly because experimental results are simple to fabricate, according to Sydneys Byrne. Her research shows that paper mills, which in the past appeared to focus on marginal journals because they may be easier to penetrate, have moved up the food chain, presenting a greater threat to cancer research.

Byrne and other researchers found that two top-rated high-impact cancer journals from Springer Nature, Molecular Cancer, and Oncogene, have published a significant number of papers with wrongly identified nucleotide sequences that suggest foul play in many cases. Over a span of years ending in 2020, 18% of the Molecular Cancer papers examined in the study contained errors, as did 40% of the 2020 Oncogene papers.

Although we cant be sure that all of these papers with nucleotide sequence errors came from paper mills, at least some of these papers seem likely to have been produced with paper mill support, Byrne said.

As paper mills penetrate more influential journals, they may also be collaborating with a significant number of Western researchers who seek such top-shelf exposure. While most of the co-authors of the problematic papers in Molecular Cancer are in China, 8% are in the U.S., and 11% are in Western Europe.

Battle Against Paper Mills

Despite the work of scientists like Bik, Abalkina, and Byrne to expose paper mills, theres not much getting in the way of their expansion. In the U.S., much of the responsibility rests with universities and their research integrity officers. But they face institutional hurdles, from researchers afraid to blow the whistle on colleagues to pressure from university leaders to slow-walk investigations that could taint an academic institutions reputation.

University officials may not even know that a faculty member has been subjected to a retraction. A North Carolina State University computer science professor still posts his paper on the schools website without noting that it was retracted by a Sage journal in 2023 due to concerns that could include unauthorized third party involvement and unverifiable authors and reviewers. The researcher didnt respond to a request for comment.

In response to the onslaught of fraudulent scholarship, journals are bolstering their efforts against paper mills. A Wiley spokesperson told RCI it has developed AI-powered detection systems to intercept suspect papers before they reach peer review while also scaling up its internal integrity teams. Some publishers, such as Taylor & Francis, are combating authorship sales by making it harder for mills to add and remove names from papers.

Considering the rapid growth in the number of indexed published papers, topping 2.8 million in 2022, publishers dont vet every paper for every type of wrongdoing. They tend to find and reject the submissions that are clearly fraudulent.

Its the people who are lazy or not very good at faking it who probably get caught, the publishing source said. But if a paper mill doesnt put anything in a paper that's obviously fake and they are not too greedy in terms of numbers of authors, they can definitely get it published.

Byrne agrees that publishers are still routinely fooled by sophisticated fakes. She was recently asked to peer review a cancer paper submitted to a journal at one of the big five publishers. As a leading expert in the field, Byrne found serious flaws in the complicated paper, which wrongly described the behavior of cancer cells. It was a typical paper mill product  a fancy piece of rubbish.

Byrnes peer review report to the editor was blunt: This paper must not be published. Its absolutely not true, she said. But they didnt listen to me. Instead, the editor asked the authors to make revisions on the paper thats now headed for publication.

Honestly, this drives me nuts, Byrne said. And this is happening at scale all around the world.
Addressing the Palestinian issue today while avoiding sterile rhetoric is an almost impossible task. Not only because the conflict is intrinsically unresolved, and perhaps irresolvable, but also because public opinion tends to reduce it to slogans, one-day protests, or superficial political statements, only to quickly return to daily routines as if nothing had happened.

Europe, under internal pressure, resorts to symbolic gestures like the recognition of the Palestinian state, which, however, have no real impact.

Israel seems determined to turn the current advantage into a historic opportunity to pursue the idea of a Greater Israel, a project rooted in the origins of Zionism, reinvigorated by the eschatological fervor of Mizrahi Jews and the demographic momentum of the Haredim, though it remains largely aspirational.

Throughout its history, Italy's political posture has often displayed a distinct pro-Arab inclination, a tendency dating back to the era of Francesco Crispi, Italy's prime minister at the end of the 19th century, whose foreign policy aimed at expanding Italian influence in the Mediterranean and North Africa. This inclination did not stem from ideological convictions but rather from geographic imperatives: situated as a natural bridge between Europe and the Mediterranean, the peninsula could hardly avoid looking southward and eastward.

Italys strategic interest in the Mediterranean emerged clearly during the Italo-Turkish War of 19111912, when, under the leadership of Prime Minister Giovanni Giolitti, the country targeted the Ottoman provinces of Cyrenaica and Tripolitania  the last accessible territories in a Mediterranean already carved up among the colonial powers. Although victorious, Italy soon saw its ambitions frustrated. After the First World War and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, it was Britain and France that secured the most strategic mandates in the Middle East, while Italy was pushed aside.

This marginalization drove Rome to seek new political relevance by aligning itself with Arab nationalist movements opposed to Anglo-French control. Italys pro-Arab policy was often instrumental  Mussolinis brandishing of the Sword of Islam being a prime example  but it reflected a long-term strategic orientation that persisted even after Italys postwar expulsion from North Africa.

After 1945, Italy re-entered the Mediterranean scene not through military force but through diplomacy and energy policy. Enrico Mattei, founder of ENI, was the architect of this new strategy: using oil diplomacy to build alliances with Arab countries and expand Italian influence. Postwar foreign policy focused on North Africa, key islands like Malta and Cyprus, and the Mediterraneans strategic choke points  the Strait of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal  with the implicit goal of replacing Britain and France as the regions leading Western power.

The United States supported this posture, seeing Italy as a useful counterweight to Anglo-French dominance. However, the emergence of Israel as a regional power complicated Romes carefully constructed balance. On one hand, Israel was a Western ally; on the other, it was at war with the very Arab states with which Italy was forging ever-closer ties. As a result, Israel became both a necessary partner and a strategic obstacle.

The repercussions of Italys pro-Arab policy on its relations with Israel were inevitable. Romes attitude toward the Jewish state never followed a consistent line, shifting over time  as was also the case for many other European countries. Yet one fact remains inescapable: Israel was born and grew up in a unique existential condition, surrounded by hostile nations that repeatedly attempted to annihilate it. Not only in the past  even today, Iran and its proxies, Hamas, the Houthis, and Hezbollah, have made repeated attempts to obliterate Israel.

For this reason, Israel has had to arm itself to the teeth, building one of the most efficient military machines in the world. And every time it has been attacked, it has responded with severity  sometimes disproportionately so, in the eyes of much of European public opinion. It is hard to imagine that a state which constantly perceives itself on the brink of annihilation would choose half-measures in dealing with its enemies.

But over time, Israels image in the European collective imagination has changed: the initial admiration for Israel as a modern outpost in the Middle East has progressively faded. For many, Israel stopped being seen as an asset and came to be viewed as a problem  an intrusive actor that further complicated Italys already fragile web of international relations.

In addition to Italys role in containing the Franco-British axis, there were other reasons why  at least during a certain phase  the United States looked favorably upon Italy. Rome had never questioned its loyalty to the Atlantic Alliance and possessed considerable military potential, reinforced by a geographic position of extraordinary strategic importance. If Germany was the barrier against a possible Soviet incursion into Eastern Europe, Italy represented the gateway for American reinforcements to Southern Europe. In the event of a conflict with the communist powers, for example, equipment landed at the port of Livorno could reach the eastern frontier and the Adriatic coast within a matter of hours, crossing the Po Valley.

To this must be added the importance of the Italian navy, considered crucial for monitoring the entire Mediterranean. Taken together, these factors gave Italy significant strategic weight, which inevitably intersected with its complex  and at times competitive  relationship with Israel.

Making an effort to understand requires examining the controversial decision by some European chancelleries to proceed with the legal recognition of a Palestinian state. . Countries such as France and the United Kingdom, on the one hand, recognize the State of Palestine, but on the other, continue to maintain military and economic relations with Israel, without imposing any real sanctions. Europe, in fact, continues to purchase arms from Israel: in 2025, 54% of Israels defense exports went to the European continent, amounting to nearly 15 billion dollars, a 35% increase compared to the previous year.

Only Spain and Germany have halted their purchases. In practice, however, no one is taking concrete action. Since the beginning of the Israeli counteroffensive, European governments have issued a barrage of condemnations, appeals, and calls for restraint. In the meantime, their diplomatic corps have summoned ambassadors, demanded explanations, and threatened sanctions. Spain and the Netherlands even declared two ultranationalist Israeli ministers  Ben-Gvir and Smotrich  persona non grata, only to quickly return to business as usual.

This makes recognition, at least for now, more of a symbolic gesture than a substantive one. Moreover, both France and the United Kingdom are experiencing domestic political turmoil. In France, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou lost a parliamentary vote of confidence in September 2025 and promptly resigned. Underscoring the countrys ongoing political volatility, his successor, Sebastien Lecornu  appointed on September 9  lasted less than 24 hours in office following the announcement of his cabinet, despite his tenure being formally recorded as 27 days. This made his administration one of the shortest in the history of the Fifth Republic.

In the United Kingdom, torn between its Middle Eastern community and loyalty to Washington, on 13 September 2025 a major rally in London, called Unite the Kingdom and organized by Tommy Robinson, drew more than 110,000 people. Clashes broke out with police and counter-demonstrators, while support for Nigel Farages party continues to grow.

For this reason, some European political elites, seeking to capture domestic consensus, have opted for the recognition of Palestine. A gesture devoid of substance, producing no tangible effects on the ground, but serving only to placate public opinion. Berlin resists this dynamic, constrained by the weight of memory and the lingering sense of guilt over the Holocaust. Rome, by contrast, maneuvers with greater skill: it maintains strong ties with Israel while at the same time attempting to reassure a public waving Palestinian flags, often unaware, out of superficiality, of the many other humanitarian crises burning across the globe, for example in Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Yemen.

And in Ukraine, Russias invasion has turned Europes borderland into a war of attrition, with tens of thousands dead and millions forced to flee.

Recognition thus risks degenerating into a cosmetic maneuver: a symbolic absolution for the governments that grant it, a balm for domestic opinion, or a brushstroke to embellish their global image. In substance, it amounts to little more than words cast to the wind  verba volant  with no concrete effect on the ground. Law, left to itself, is inert: it requires political will, instruments of coercion or incentive, and a minimum of international cohesion to translate into reality. Where these are lacking, what remains is  to borrow from Macbeth  mere sound and fury, signifying nothing.

As so often in human affairs, the decisive factor is will. Where it is lacking, even the most advanced legal instruments remain a dead letter. Formal justice without concrete force is a fragile illusion. And legal recognition, if not accompanied by real political action, amounts to nothing more than an aesthetic concession, useful only for temporarily easing guilty consciences.

Today, relations between Italy and Israel appear firmly anchored, despite the complexities inherited from the past. The evolution of the international landscape and Israels centrality as a regional power have gradually consolidated a bond that transcends political contingencies. Among European capitals, Rome stands out for the greater stability of its approach, addressing the Middle Eastern question through a pragmatic lens.

On the issue of recognition, Giorgia Meloni has been clear. Such an initiative can only make sense if used as a political lever. But the target, according to the executive, must be precise: not Israel, rhetorically forced to defend itself, but Hamas and the actors who fuel fragmentation and conflict. True obstacles to any notion of Palestinian statehood. It was a tactical move dictated by the fear of irritating the Israeli ally  a form of useful complacency meant to avoid alienating Arab-Palestinian support and to contain the risk of future attacks on Italian soil, as history teaches us.

In the 1970s, Italy experienced bloody episodes, such as the Fiumicino massacre (1973) or the attack on the Trieste-Ingolstadt oil pipeline (1972) by Palestinian terrorist organizations that exported the war with Israel to Europe, with the aim of influencing our public opinion. To avoid turning the peninsula into a battlefield, the Italian government made deals with the Palestinians. The so-called "Moro agreement": in exchange for non-belligerence, Rome turned a blind eye and allowed logistical bases.

It was an act of wise politics  a flexible position that could be adjusted according to how events evolved, in a time when uncertainty ruled daily life.

Almost two years after the start of the campaign, Hamas has not yet been eliminated. As an armed organization, it can be struck; as an idea and socio-political fabric, it proves far more resilient and difficult to eradicate. Israel will probably face armed resistance for many years to come, and the military will struggle to neutralize Hamass underground infrastructure, U.S. intelligence has warned.

The reaction of European public opinion to the conflict is a factor shaping the diplomatic framework. The priority remains the neutralization of the armed threat (Hamas), but the real strategic challenge is to combine military pressure with the simultaneous development of a long-term political and ideological strategy  one that dismantles the legitimacy of extremism and prevents further cycles of violence.

Riccardo Ficicchia is a geopolitical analyst with the Istituto Analisi Relazioni Internazionali (IARI)
This past year, oncologists across the United States faced an agonizing choice: Which cancer patients would receive their full, life-saving chemotherapy regimen and which would face delays or substandard alternatives? Widespread shortages of essential drugs like cisplatin and carboplatinworkhorse medicines that form the backbone of countless cancer treatmentsleft doctors scrambling and put hundreds of thousands of American patients lives at risk.

This crisis was not a natural disaster; it was a self-inflicted wound, the predictable outcome of a decades-long strategic failure. While Washington focuses on areas like semiconductors and AI, we have quietly ceded control over the very foundation of modern medicine to our primary geopolitical rival: China. The American biotech ecosystem, long considered the world's engine of innovation, is now dangerously dependent on China at every level of the supply chain.

When Americans pop an ibuprofen for a headache or take their daily blood pressure medication, they're unwittingly participating in one of the most dangerous dependencies in modern geopolitics. The active pharmaceutical ingredientsthe actual medicine that treats your conditionincreasingly come solely from China. Beijing didn't stumble into controlling 40 percent of the world's Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) by accident. Through systematic state subsidies and predatory pricing, Chinese manufacturers have methodically destroyed Western competitors, then jacked up prices once the competition was eliminated. The result? When COVID hit and China briefly restricted pharmaceutical exports, American patients faced immediate shortages of a wide variety of drugs, from antibiotics to heart medications. We've essentially handed Beijing a kill switch for American healthcare.

Equally troubling is the dependency on Key Starting Materials and chemical precursors. These foundational chemicals are needed to manufacture both active ingredients and the supposedly "inactive" components that make pills work. Through systematic investment, China has come to dominate the global bulk chemical industry used in the pharmaceutical industry, meaning that even when we think we're buying "American-made" drugs, we are often just assembling components sourced from Chinese precursors.

It's like building fighter jets with high-performance alloys that only one adversary can manufacture. Beijing could tomorrow announce new "environmental regulations" that halt precursor exports, and American pharmaceutical production would face catastrophic disruptions almost immediately. We've built our entire healthcare system on a foundation controlled by our strategic rival.

Over three decades, leading pharmaceutical executives have made a series of individually rational decisions that collectively have gutted our independence. First, they moved basic manufacturing offshore to cut costs by 30 to 40 percent. Then they outsourced research services to access cheaper lab work. Finally, they began licensing entire drug pipelines from Chinese companies rather than investing in domestic R&D and manufacturing capacity. Each move looked smart on a quarterly earnings report; together, they equaled handing Beijing the keys to American medicine.

Meanwhile, Beijing executed a comprehensive national strategy to dominate biotechnology. This decades-long effort was highlighted at a hearing of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Commission on Made in China 2025, where one witness described China's strategy not just as a "whole-of-government" approach, but a "whole-of-nation" approach that fuses state capital, academic research, and corporate ambition toward a single goal.

The consequences now extend to the very root of future innovation: the talent pipeline. Consider the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition, an initiative born at MIT to inspire the next generation of synthetic biologists. Each fall, students gather for the annual Grand Jamboree to present their breakthroughs. Look closely at the winners' podium: In recent years, Chinese teams have frequently excelled in the competition. This is the canary in the coal mine, signaling that the next generation of top-tier innovators is increasingly being cultivated by our chief competitor. We are witnessing a great inversion, where the next generation of breakthrough innovations may well come from Beijing, not Boston or Silicon Valley.

Washington is only beginning to grasp the scale of this problem. The BIOSECURE Act, which aims to prevent US taxpayer funds from flowing to certain Chinese biotech entities, is an important effort and should be passed as soon as possible. But we must act more comprehensively.

Fixing this crisis requires more than good intentionsit demands comprehensive action and an all-of-the-above approach. This strategy must launch a national initiative to leapfrog outdated foreign production methods, investing in next-generation manufacturing technology to make domestic production faster, cheaper, and more secure.

To protect this new ecosystem, we should establish an industry partnership similar to Sematech, which helped America regain competitiveness in semiconductors in the 1980s, to ensure a reliable US supply of essential raw materials and excipients. Simultaneously, we must create financial incentives for domestic sourcing, paying hospitals and suppliers more when they choose drugs manufactured domestically or in allied nations. We should also require clear country-of-origin labeling on all prescription medications, giving doctors and patients the information they need to make informed choices about their healthcare supply chains. These measures illustrate the scale of commitment needed to restore US medical independence.

This is not just an economic vulnerability; it is a profound national security threat. The Department of Defense relies on the same fragile commercial supply chains to treat wounded soldiers as hospitals use for cancer patients. A dependency that causes drug shortages in peacetime becomes a crippling strategic liability in a conflict, trade dispute, or other negotiation where leverage is required. We cannot allow the health of our citizens and the readiness of our military to be held hostage by decisions made in Beijing.

Mike Kuiken is a distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution and formerly served as the national security advisor to Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer
HOME > Love Is Blind Netflix

'Love Is Blind' star Kacie Mcintosh speaks out about brutal post-engagement dumping of Patrick Suzuki

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 10/08/2025



star Kacie Mcintosh has spoken out about her shocking and messy breakup with Patrick Suzuki after the pair got engaged sight unseen on the show.



ADVERTISEMENT When asked why she ended her relationship with Patrick after the big reveal, Kacie



"And this was me deciding in my head, 'Can this attraction grow as much to take it to a wedding?' I needed to figure that out with him and me on our own back home in Denver."



On 's ninth season -- which premiered on October 1 and featured singles looking for love in Denver, CO -- Kacie and Patrick fell in love while getting to know each other in the pods, and they got engaged before seeing one another.



After meeting face to face, Kacie -- who had told Patrick that she loved him -- admitted that she didn't want to continue with the experiment and get married.



Kacie dumped Patrick in what turned out to be an awkward and strange breakup during Episode 6 because the hair and makeup artist, with tears in her eyes, told the cameras she wasn't attracted to Patrick, yet she was shown straddling and kissing him before parting ways.



When looking back on how her connection with Patrick fell apart, Kacie recalled the vibe feeling off during their reveal.



"I just remember feeling like, 'This is a stranger in my arms right now.' You do, unfortunately, you kind of picture -- you try not to -- but picture maybe who this person's going to be," Kacie explained.



"And then, I saw him and I was like, 'Oh' -- not like his looks or anything, just feeling him. I was like, 'Oh, this is a stranger. I actually don't know this person.'"



Kacie said because Patrick felt like a stranger to her in that moment, she "started to crash out" and spiral.



"I started to realize this is a serious thing we're about to go do. This is for marriage. This isn't for like, 'Oh, am I going to date him? We're just going to go on dates after this.' This was like, 'No, we're going to take this to the altar.' And at the moment, I just couldn't do that," Kacie noted.



Kacie, however, told the magazine that she didn't have the intentions of ending her romance with Patrick for good.



"No, I didn't want to end things at that point... When I saw him, he was the only person in that whole room that I felt like I really knew, so that's why I felt so comforted," Kacie shared.

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"Everybody's like, 'Why were you kissing him?' I was like, 'Because I felt comfort in his arms.' It's just a crazy experience. And then, I was, for a moment like, 'Am I making a mistake? Should we stay?'"



Kacie continued, "But at this point, I thought the only way we're ever going to make this really work is if we come back to Denver and date slowly at our own pace and not this rushed, get to the altar in a month."



Patrick wondered if he was Kacie's "backup plan" all along because she was still in communication with her ex-boyfriend, but Kacie confirmed that wasn't the case at all.



"Patrick wasn't the backup plan, he was the main plan. And when we got back to Denver, I did reach out to him," Kacie revealed.



"I know that's getting misconstrued that I ghosted him. That's not what happened. I really did think I fell in love with him. I cared about him. I still care about him. I feel really bad that right now this is such weighing heavy on him."



Kacie apparently saw Patrick say in his own interview with People that he wasn't sure if Kacie had dumped him because he's ugly or not cool?



"And I obviously thought he was pretty fricking cool. I fell in love with him," Kacie clarified.



Because of how Kacie handled things, she's been accused of going on for the wrong reasons.



ADVERTISEMENT



Kacie said at age 34, she truly wants to share her life with somebody.



"I thought this show was going to be a really good opportunity to maybe see if I could find a connection with somebody and be with somebody that wasn't just physical," Kacie said.



"Because in my past, it has been just basically physical and I really wanted a more deep connection with somebody. And to say I went on for clout or fame, well, I would take away the clout and fame to get rid of Episode 4, I will say that."



On Episode 4 of , Kacie and Patrick's relationship turned sexual and they were heavily flirting. Kacie told People that watching herself have "sexy talk" on TV has been "the biggest ick" of her life.



Kacie pointed out how her future children and husband are unfortunately going to see that.



"But yeah, I'm still on this journey to find love. And the great part about this show is they gave me new tools of, yes, attraction does matter to me, but also this connection does matter. Now, finding both of them together is where we're at," Kacie said.



When asked if she has any regrets about the way her breakup with Patrick went down, Kacie claimed she was trying to "protect his feelings and insecurities" the best she could.



"And it came off weird. It came off wrong. It was like gaslighting, and I think that was my biggest regret," Kacie confessed to the magazine.



"Unfortunately, nobody knew what was going through my head. I'm a lover girl. I was like, 'Wait, maybe this could work in Denver.' But yeah, I regret making him feel more insecure about his biggest thing, and not being completely honest."



Kacie added, "Nobody wants to say right to their face, 'I don't know if the attraction can grow. Let's go home.' I just didn't want to say that right then in that moment. We just came off seeing each other [at the reveal]... I didn't want to break his heart in that way."



Kacie acknowledged that she's been receiving a lot of hate and backlash since the episode aired.



"I just have to say I wore my heart on my sleeve. I did what I could and I'm human and I did an experiment that unfortunately just did not work for me," Kacie explained, adding how she feels "really sorry" that the experiment didn't work out for Patrick either.



ADVERTISEMENT



Kacie insisted that she truly "loved" Patrick and they were in it together for quite some time.



"I did the best I could with the weirdest experience you'll ever go through that nobody will really ever understand," she concluded.

About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.

FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON GOOGLE NEWS star Kacie Mcintosh has spoken out about her shocking and messy breakup with Patrick Suzuki after the pair got engaged sight unseen on the show.When asked why she ended her relationship with Patrick after the big reveal, Kacie told People, "I cared about him. I didn't want to take him through the next whole process of this, knowing that attraction, it turns out for me, is important.""And this was me deciding in my head, 'Can this attraction grow as much to take it to a wedding?' I needed to figure that out with him and me on our own back home in Denver."On 's ninth season -- which premiered on October 1 and featured singles looking for love in Denver, CO -- Kacie and Patrick fell in love while getting to know each other in the pods, and they got engaged before seeing one another.After meeting face to face, Kacie -- who had told Patrick that she loved him -- admitted that she didn't want to continue with the experiment and get married.Kacie dumped Patrick in what turned out to be an awkward and strange breakup during Episode 6 because the hair and makeup artist, with tears in her eyes, told the cameras she wasn't attracted to Patrick, yet she was shown straddling and kissing him before parting ways.When looking back on how her connection with Patrick fell apart, Kacie recalled the vibe feeling off during their reveal."I just remember feeling like, 'This is a stranger in my arms right now.' You do, unfortunately, you kind of picture -- you try not to -- but picture maybe who this person's going to be," Kacie explained."And then, I saw him and I was like, 'Oh' -- not like his looks or anything, just feeling him. I was like, 'Oh, this is a stranger. I actually don't know this person.'"Kacie said because Patrick felt like a stranger to her in that moment, she "started to crash out" and spiral."I started to realize this is a serious thing we're about to go do. This is for marriage. This isn't for like, 'Oh, am I going to date him? We're just going to go on dates after this.' This was like, 'No, we're going to take this to the altar.' And at the moment, I just couldn't do that," Kacie noted.Kacie, however, told the magazine that she didn't have the intentions of ending her romance with Patrick for good."No, I didn't want to end things at that point... When I saw him, he was the only person in that whole room that I felt like I really knew, so that's why I felt so comforted," Kacie shared."Everybody's like, 'Why were you kissing him?' I was like, 'Because I felt comfort in his arms.' It's just a crazy experience. And then, I was, for a moment like, 'Am I making a mistake? Should we stay?'"Kacie continued, "But at this point, I thought the only way we're ever going to make this really work is if we come back to Denver and date slowly at our own pace and not this rushed, get to the altar in a month."Patrick wondered if he was Kacie's "backup plan" all along because she was still in communication with her ex-boyfriend, but Kacie confirmed that wasn't the case at all."Patrick wasn't the backup plan, he was the main plan. And when we got back to Denver, I did reach out to him," Kacie revealed."I know that's getting misconstrued that I ghosted him. That's not what happened. I really did think I fell in love with him. I cared about him. I still care about him. I feel really bad that right now this is such weighing heavy on him."Kacie apparently saw Patrick say in his own interview with People that he wasn't sure if Kacie had dumped him because he's ugly or not cool?"And I obviously thought he was pretty fricking cool. I fell in love with him," Kacie clarified.Because of how Kacie handled things, she's been accused of going on for the wrong reasons."It comes back to we're there 10 days, hours on end. You saw the worst parts of me... A lot of people are coming after me like I don't deserve love, but I went on. I've wanted love more -- I don't want to say more than anybody -- but I wanted to find my person," Kacie insisted.Kacie said at age 34, she truly wants to share her life with somebody."I thought this show was going to be a really good opportunity to maybe see if I could find a connection with somebody and be with somebody that wasn't just physical," Kacie said."Because in my past, it has been just basically physical and I really wanted a more deep connection with somebody. And to say I went on for clout or fame, well, I would take away the clout and fame to get rid of Episode 4, I will say that."On Episode 4 of , Kacie and Patrick's relationship turned sexual and they were heavily flirting. Kacie told People that watching herself have "sexy talk" on TV has been "the biggest ick" of her life.Kacie pointed out how her future children and husband are unfortunately going to see that."But yeah, I'm still on this journey to find love. And the great part about this show is they gave me new tools of, yes, attraction does matter to me, but also this connection does matter. Now, finding both of them together is where we're at," Kacie said.When asked if she has any regrets about the way her breakup with Patrick went down, Kacie claimed she was trying to "protect his feelings and insecurities" the best she could."And it came off weird. It came off wrong. It was like gaslighting, and I think that was my biggest regret," Kacie confessed to the magazine."Unfortunately, nobody knew what was going through my head. I'm a lover girl. I was like, 'Wait, maybe this could work in Denver.' But yeah, I regret making him feel more insecure about his biggest thing, and not being completely honest."Kacie added, "Nobody wants to say right to their face, 'I don't know if the attraction can grow. Let's go home.' I just didn't want to say that right then in that moment. We just came off seeing each other [at the reveal]... I didn't want to break his heart in that way."Kacie acknowledged that she's been receiving a lot of hate and backlash since the episode aired."I just have to say I wore my heart on my sleeve. I did what I could and I'm human and I did an experiment that unfortunately just did not work for me," Kacie explained, adding how she feels "really sorry" that the experiment didn't work out for Patrick either."And how I went about everything, did I do it in the way everybody wanted me to? No, but I did it in the way I thought was best at the time, and that's all I can do."Kacie insisted that she truly "loved" Patrick and they were in it together for quite some time."I did the best I could with the weirdest experience you'll ever go through that nobody will really ever understand," she concluded. LOVE IS BLIND MORE LOVE IS BLIND NEWS << PRIOR STORY

Nicolle Kate boasts she's "uniquely qualified" for 'The Golden Bachelor' NEXT STORY >>

Hilaria Baldwin breaks down after her 'Dancing with the Stars' elimination

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The Georgia Department of Public Health and local health providers, including the University Health Center at the University of Georgia, are awaiting official guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before beginning administration of the updated 20252026 COVID-19 vaccine.
On Aug. 30, groups of protestors from the Indivisible Georgia Coalition lined up along pedestrian overpasses including the bridge off Jefferson Road, Nellie B. Ave., and along state Route 316 to express concern about missing immigrants. On Jefferson Road, protestors placed a large sign facing outward toward the state Route 10 Loop that stated in bold red: Immigrants R America. One protester held an upside-down American flag, while others held signs that read: No Kings.
Athens is known for its vibrant culture, diverse community and strong historical presence, a place where people thrive on creativity and innovation. Athens music scene alone is legendary, earning the nickname Live Music Capital of the South.

In our current community, however, and in many others in our nation, the contributions of immigrants seem to go unacknowledged, and the focus shifts to isolated cases of crime or scapegoating.
The Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and the Representation of the President of Ukraine in the autonomy presented the first informational video of the project "War Crimes in Crimea," which concerns forced deportation, and appeals to Crimeans to tell their story of war crimes by the Russian Federation and protect their rights.

At a briefing on Wednesday in Kyiv, the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in Crimea, Olha Kuryshko, said that the first video with explanations of where and how to contact a person who was forcibly deported from the peninsula is the beginning of a large-scale project, the purpose of which is to tell people who want to give evidence about what constitutes a war crime.

"A person who is a victim may not know about the violation against them. Especially when we are talking about such a case as the illegal seizure of property in the temporarily occupied territory," she said.

According to Kuryshko, this project is a joint decision of public organizations, the Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the Presidential Representation in Crimea.

"Many people do not realize that they are victims. Therefore, the idea arose to explain to people in simple words that they can be victims of war crimes, to protect their rights," - explained in turn the First Deputy Prosecutor of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol Vitaliy Sekretar.

"We all have a common goal - to punish those who daily abuse the population. We are trying to reach people so that they come to us and tell their story, and we would be able to protect them through legal mechanisms," Sekretar said.

He said that in the future, the project will include videos related to the destruction and appropriation of property, forced passporting, conscription and mobilizations, etc.

When asked how many people were deported from Crimea, he noted that there are currently 12,000 clearly identified individuals. "When we began investigating the methods of the Russian Federation's deportation of the population from Crimea, we found that about 12,000 court decisions are based on proven facts issued by the occupation authorities," he explained.

"According to official data, we have about 55,000 people who have received the status of IDPs from Crimea... About 28,000 people have refused this status. Many people have left for the territory of third countries," he said.

Speaking about the security component of the people who will give evidence, he noted that only the prosecutor and the investigator will have access to the materials of the criminal proceedings. According to the first deputy prosecutor of the autonomy, there is a law that provides for the protection of persons participating in the process with the possibility of changing their personal data, and the International Criminal Court, to which the materials are also provided, does not have personal data about the victims themselves.

"We are ready for any number of applications... We are counting, first of all, on people who have already been expelled, who have been deported. That is, these are those who currently live on the mainland of Ukraine, people who live abroad," Sekretar said.
Reserve Bank Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Wednesday exhorted the fledgling fintech ecosystem to focus on the underserved sections of the society to deepen financial inclusion.

Photograph: Hemanshi Kamani/Reuters

Speaking at the annual Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai, Malhotra accepted that serving the "privileged" will be a lucrative business, but urged the smaller companies to focus on the underserved.

"Build for inclusion. While there may be higher profits to be made by deepening access to the haves and the privileged.

"Prioritise building systems to expand financial services to the unaccessed, the unreached and the unserved segments of society," he told a packed hall comprising stakeholders of the fintech ecosystem.

Malhotra also asked the fintech companies to design products and services that are easy to use, accessible for all, with assistive technologies which will ensure that the vulnerable groups such as the senior citizens, individuals with limited digital literacy and the specially-abled are not left behind.

There is a need for Indian fintechs to "prioritise" trust and compliance, Malhotra said, adding that they should embed strong data protection, transparency and safeguards for consumers in every offering of theirs.

The number of Indian fintechs has grown to 10,000 and these companies have collectively raised over $40 billion over the last decade, the career bureaucrat-turned-central banker said.

Stating that tech can be a force multiplier for sustainable economic development, Malhotra appreciated fintechs for delivering financial services at population scale and at affordable costs.

He also asked the fintech ecosystem to focus on extending credit to make best use of the available infrastructure created over the last few years and ensure that the small businesses and individuals get credit.

Besides, fintechs must also focus on the customer in such a way that there is no need for putting in place a customer service agent.

The RBI governor further said that digital frauds are "becoming a problem" for the Reserve Bank.

The MuleHunter solution developed by an arm of the central bank is currently being used by 21 banks and has shown a 90 per cent success rate in tracking down accounts used by bad actors by creating a complex web of accounts which are used to swindle funds after an unsuspecting person is defrauded.

Malhotra said there is a need for the 17 account aggregators to integrate more financial information and adopt interoperable features in order to be more successful.

The Reserve Bank is also in the process of introducing standards designed to improve customer onboarding processes, enhance user interfaces, strengthen data security and increase awareness under the account aggregator framework, he said.

Speaking of the unmet credit demand in the country, he said the recently launched unified lending interface can help bridge the gap through easier access, and adding that credit is the "lifeblood" of inclusive growth.

He said the Reserve Bank has conceptualised "unified markets interface" as a new next generation financial market infrastructure.

"This interface will have the capability to tokenise financial assets and settlements using wholesale CBDC (central bank digital currency)," he said, adding that early efforts are encouraging.

Meanwhile, IT major Infosys' co-founder and non-executive chairman Nandan Nilekani said that the 'Finternet' ecosystem, which he has been evangelising for some time, will go live in 2026.

He said the number of people who have signed up for Fininternet, which is being touted as a a vision for a future financial system that is a unified, interconnected, and user-centric ecosystem, is growing a lot.

It is expected to bring assets such as land, property, bonds, financial investments on a single platform, where it gets tokenized.

The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) launched a slew of initiatives on Wednesday, including AI-based UPI HELP powered by its Small Language Model (SLM) that will assist in payments, mandates, and dispute resolution.

It also launched an IoT (internet of things) payments with UPI for enabling transactions directly from connected devices such as cars, smart TVs, and wearables, and 'banking connect', which is an interoperable net banking solution.

The body also introduced 'UPI Reserve Pay' which will allow users to securely block and manage credit limits for specific purposes across merchant and UPI apps.
Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closed lower on Wednesday, snapping their four-day rally following selling in blue-chip stocks Reliance Industries and HDFC Bank.

Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

In a volatile session, the 30-share BSE Sensex declined 153.09 points or 0.19 per cent to settle at 81,773.66.

During the day, it hit a high of 82,257.74 and a low of 81,646.08, gyrating 611.66 points.

The 50-share NSE Nifty dropped 62.15 points or 0.25 per cent to 25,046.15.

Among Sensex firms, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Bharat Electronics, UltraTech Cement, Trent, Sun Pharma, Power Grid and Reliance Industries were the major laggards.

However, Titan, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, HCL Tech and Tech Mahindra were among the biggest gainers.

Key indices witnessed a volatile session, tempered by profit booking after a sharp rally. Investor caution dominated ahead of the Q2 earnings season, as market participants reassessed valuations and growth prospects, Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited said.

Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) turned buyers on Tuesday, as they bought equities worth Rs 1,440.66 crore, according to exchange data.

In Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei 225 index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index settled lower. Markets in China and South Korea were closed for holidays.

Global oil benchmark Brent crude jumped 1.16 per cent to $66.21 a barrel.
'Bihar's voters' electoral memory is long, and their evaluations are relational -- like, who came to the village, who followed up, who resolved a problem.'

IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Nalanda, October 5, 2025. Photograph: Patna PRD/ANI Photo

Bihar elections are not free of money or spectacle, but those are filtered through a localised, socially embedded mode of democracy.

"While much of the Hindi belt has moved toward a centralised, personality-driven style, Bihar still demonstrates a bottom-up, relational model of electoral politics; one that rewards presence, credibility, and community ties over mere visibility and media blitz," says Dr Vignesh Karthik KR, postdoctoral research fellow in Indian and Indonesian politics at the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies, Leiden.

In a must-read interview to Rediff's Archana Masih, he discusses the uniqueness of Bihar's democracy, the limitations of money power and how a younger, semi-urban electorate -- fatigued by old loyalties, yet sceptical of Delhi's spectacle -- may quietly decide Bihar's November test.

In a recent column you wrote that Bihar offers a different model of democracy compared to other states? Could you elaborate on that premise, especially with respect to other Hindi heartland states?

Yes, the premise of the column was that Bihar's democracy operates through a very different grammar of politics compared to much of the Hindi heartland.

In states like Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh, we increasingly see the dominance of leader-centric, media-driven campaigning, what we call 'spectacle democracy', where politics is mediated through television debates, social media messaging, and algorithmic virality.

Campaigns there are often about projecting a single figure or party brand, reinforced by significant spending and centralised control over messaging.

Bihar, by contrast, retains a dense, ground-level form of electoral politics. Its democracy rests on older infrastructures of social relations; caste networks, local brokers, and repeat face-to-face contact.

Voters tend to assess candidates not only by party or ideology but by what we call niyat (intent): A moral assessment of whether a leader genuinely delivers and can be trusted.

So, rather than big rallies and mass optics determining outcomes, Bihar's elections are negotiated through micro-social networks, ward meetings, panchayat mobilisations, and kinship ties.

This doesn't mean it's free of money or spectacle, but those are filtered through a localised, socially embedded mode of democracy.

In short, while much of the Hindi belt has moved toward a centralised, personality-driven style, Bihar still demonstrates a bottom-up, relational model of electoral politics; one that rewards presence, credibility, and community ties over mere visibility and media blitz.

IMAGE: Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav addresses a press conference in Patna, September 28, 2025. Photograph: Patna PRD/ANI Photo

As elections get more and more expensive, especially in terms of the BJP's organisational and funding power - attributing a term used by you -- 'local boots with a Delhi wallet' -- how much do glitzy campaigns and direct cash transfers (eg, 10,000 to women to start business) help in pulling votes on polling day?

While money and large-scale campaigns certainly matter, Bihar demonstrates the limits of spectacle when it isn't backed by social embeddedness.

The BJP's 'local boots with a Delhi wallet' model where national-level resources are channelled through local operatives gives it great reach and visibility. But Bihar's political culture doesn't respond or has not responded so far mechanically to visibility or one-time cash transfers.

A glitzy campaign may get attention, but has not converted into durable trust without a sustained local presence, one of the reasons why BJP is heavily reliant on a leader like Nitish Kumar.

Direct benefits like the Rs 10,000 transfer schemes can shape voter perceptions, but even there, it's not the money alone that wins votes; it's whether that transfer is seen as credible, recurring, and tied to a relationship of accountability and hence it needed to be in the name of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar although it as launched by the prime minister.

Bihar's voters' electoral memory is long, and their evaluations are relational; who came to the village, who followed up, who resolved a problem. In this sense, Bihar is not anti-modern but post-spectacle; a place where democracy still depends on everyday presence, reputation, and a social economy of credibility.

IMAGE: A wall which has been painted to create awareness among voters ahead of the Bihar assembly elections 2025 in Patna. Photograph: Patna PRD/ANI Photo

Are cash transfers before elections now a norm, bypassing concerns about the financial health of the state or the Centre? Plainly put, is this not political bribe funded by the exchequer?

The difference lies in how we choose to see it.

Such schemes undoubtedly give a disproportionate advantage to incumbents. Those already in power have the machinery and fiscal space to deliver these benefits, while challengers cannot easily match them.

Yet, it's important to note that much of this spending is directed toward women, the poor, and marginalised castes.

In a period of widening income inequality and depressed consumption among the lower classes, such transfers can also be viewed as a form of redistribution rather than outright bribery.

Field insights from across India suggest that these schemes don't always translate into electoral victories. The recent elections in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are instructive: despite generous welfare spending, governments still faced strong anti-incumbency.

In the end, voters seem to differentiate between welfare as entitlement and welfare as inducement; suggesting that money alone does not buy trust or votes. The agency of voters ultimately remains their own.

IMAGE: Nitish Kumar during the inauguration of 22 development projects worth Rs 1,333 crore at the Baliram Higher Secondary School campus at Sakra block in Muzaffarpur, October 6, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Who are the primary political figures that will make or break this election -- both behind the scene and in the forefront? Are there any dark horses that one should watch out for?

The visible contest will feature familiar figures Lalu Prasad Yadav, Nitish Kumar, Narendra Modi and Tejashwi Yadav, but Bihar's elections are rarely decided by faces alone. Power here flows through networks of trust, caste solidarity, and local leaders.

Nitish still commands the administrative web he built over two decades; the BJP brings money, messaging, and organisational discipline; and Tejashwi, under Lalu's watchful guidance, has rebranded the RJD as pragmatic rather than purely nostalgic.

Behind the scenes, Lalu remains a moral anchor for the RJD's core base, his voice still carries emotional weight among backward-caste and minority voters.

Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj represents a different kind of disruption -- the outsider's appeal to a disenchanted electorate, a symptom of the fatigue with traditional politics. Alongside him, the LJP factions, Mukesh Sahani's VIP, and the CPI(ML) in rural belts add further layers of unpredictability.

The dark horse may not be a person but a mood. A younger, semi-urban electorate fatigued by old loyalties yet skeptical of Delhi's spectacle. They may quietly decide Bihar's November test.

Part 2 of the Interview: 'BJP Will Replace Nitish Kumar If...'

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'What is worrying other parties is those 12-16 year olds who come for his meetings will cross 18 in the next election. And they will vote for him, and then his vote bank will double.'

'In that case, he will be a very serious player! This is the real scare for other political parties.'

IMAGE: Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam founder Vijay at the TVK rally in Karur, September 27, 2025. Photograph: TVK/ANI Photo

It is no secret that popular Tamil movie star Vijay is hoping to become the next MGR or Jayalalithaa.

MGR and Jayalalithaa had the backing of a strong political party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham. Vijay floated a new party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, converted his fan clubs into party offices and his fans into party cadre.

Will the September 27 tragedy in Karur halt Vijay's political momentum?

Senior Journalist R Rangaraj tracked MGR and Jayalalithaa's political careers, first as the Tamil Nadu correspondent for the Press Trust of India and then as the Chennai bureau chief for the Indian Express newspaper.

"If the AIADMK doesn't win this time, the party will fade away. Then, some may move to the DMK, and some may move to Vijay's party... If Vijay's party starts looking at a wider section of people and not just the youth, it can be a strong number 2," Mr. Rangaraj tells Rediff's Shobha Warrier in the concluding segment of the two-part interview.

Part 1 of the Interview: 'Vijay Could Become No. 2 In Tamil Nadu'

Do you think the Karur tragedy exposed Vijay's inexperience in politics and lack of disciplined cadre in the party?

The fear of a stampede was always there even when MGR used to go for campaigns.

Rajnikanth, who was very worried all the time about stampedes, consciously participated in government organised functions, where he was sure of a large police presence.

In the case of Vijay, he is comparatively new to this. He wants big crowds but doesn't realise big crowds can become uncontrollable, like what happened in Karur.

In small places like Karur, even the slightest disturbance can cause a calamity.

We saw what happened to Allu Arjun's movie premiere.

Vijay should have learnt from that incident. If you look at the video, you can see the stampede happening and people falling over each other when Vijay was speaking. But he carried on as if nothing was happening. It was as if he ignored the initial warnings.

Due to lack of political experience?

Or he didn't care. The warning signs were there. He was out to prove to the other political parties that he got massive crowds and crowd frenzy, more than anybody else even though they were unmanageable.

He went overboard. He could have stopped his speech when he saw the early signs. He should have either gone away and come back once order was restored, or told people to remain calm and stay put where they are.

But he didn't handle the situation properly.

Then instead of visiting the victims, he went from there to Chennai.

IMAGE: Drone visuals of the TVK rally in Tiruchirappalli, September 13, 2025. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

Again, does that not show his political inexperience? An experienced political leader would have stayed back and visited the victims...

That shows he was worried that the anger of people would be directed towards him.

Now, he has announced compensation and plans to visit the victims in their homes.

This incident has definitely put a brake on his campaign.

The momentum he had gained will be lost. It will be difficult for him to start all over again.

Of course, he would start his campaign soon, but it won't be the same again.

The sheen is off Vijay charisma. It has taken a beating. That will be a worry factor for him.

Do you feel this will affect his image as a political leader?

Yes. He was on the rise. The momentum was with him, and if he had carried on the same way for another 2-3 months, many of the AIADMK votes would have got transferred to his party, the TVK.

The AIADMK's fortunes were dipping, and the vote for change and those who want an alternative would have seen Vijay as a better alternative than EPS (AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami).

IMAGE: Where the stampede occurred on September 27 in Karur. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

Was he in a position to upset the DMK?

We don't know whether he would have upset the DMK, but we know that in the weeks to come, it might have been a contest between the DMK and the TVK.

He was growing and the momentum was with him. He would have been a close contender.

Vijay's support base was largely the youth, and their plan was that every youth should bring at least one person from his family to vote for Vijay. And the youngsters were working on the plan to see him as the person to turn to, for the vote for change.

If the plan of getting one extra vote from each house had worked, he would have been a serious contender.

Now, there is a big dent on the plan not just because of the tragedy. Now, people may think twice before going to attend his campaigns.

IMAGE: A view of the stampede spot. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

Earlier, you spoke about how MGR worked decades for the DMK, an established political party and later converted his fan clubs to party units.

On the other hand, Vijay started a new party and converted his fans to party cadre.

How difficult will this be for Vijay without a foundation to start something new and take on the established political parties?

It is problematic. I would compare this what Vijayakanth did when he started his political party, the DMDK.

He also had fan clubs but he took time to build a political party and to convert film fans associations into party.

He had to do this when Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa were still around. He had to take people away from those parties and vote for him. It is not easy. Had he maintained good health, he would have made an impact even in 2016.

His existing vote bank was lost, and he could manage only 1% to 1.5% in the 2016 election.

But in 2011, he became very crucial when he teamed up with Jayalalithaa and became a winning alliance with 8% to 11% vote share. Jayalalithaa went for the alliance when she felt that Vijayakanth was causing a dent in the AIADMK votes.

In the case of Vijay, he doesn't want to team up with anyone. He feels his message will be lost then. He wants to be seen as an alternative to the DMK and the AIADMK. If he goes for an alliance now, even his fans will not like it. His fans see him only as a chief minister candidate and not anything less.

Vijay also wants to be the CM candidate only. So he will go all out in this election.

The only question is whether he can get past the 30%-35% vote share. He has to overtake the DMK and AIADMK in constituencies and win the seats.

To win an election, the party has to cross 30%-35% in a constituency. Getting 15%-20% is not enough. That's why you need some political parties as your alliance for another 10%.

Unlike Kamal Hassan who first contested the Lok Sabha election and lost everywhere, Vijay tested the local body elections by fielding independent candidates from his film fans association. It was like testing the waters.

And many of these independent candidates won.

What kind of future do you see for Vijay as a political leader?

He may do well in future.

At the moment, it may look otherwise. He may get 15% votes now.

What is worrying other parties is those 12-16 year olds who come for his meetings will cross 18 in the next election. And they will vote for him, and then his vote bank will double. In that case, he will be a very serious player! This is the real scare for other political parties.

IMAGE: R Rangaraj IMAGE: R Rangaraj

You mean he will not fade away?

He will not fade away.

If he remains active in politics, he can be a strong number two.

Because he is from the minority community, he will have the backing of the community which votes almost en masse to the DMK-led front now.

The AIADMK lacks a charismatic leader, and if Vijay continues the Dravidian style of politics, people will start looking at Vijay as an alternative and a better bet if you want to defeat the DMK.

If Vijay's party starts looking at a wider section of people and not just the youth, it can be a strong number 2.

Even now, till the Karur tragedy, he was a strong contender.

See, the public has a short memory, and the media, even less.

So, if he resumes his campaign after a couple of months, and present himself as an alternative, it is possible that some of the votes from the AIADMK alliance may shift to him.

If that happens, the AIADMK will be pushed out slowly.

If the AIADMK doesn't win this time, the party will fade away.

Then, some may move to the DMK, and some may move to Vijay's party. And a new party always attracts second and third rung leaders.

No, Vijay will not fade away from Tamil Nadu politics.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Nineteen terrorists of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and 11 soldiers were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said.

Photograph: Zahid Muhammad/Reuters

Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only.

The operation was conducted by the security forces in the province's Orakzai district, bordering Afghanistan, on the reported presence of terrorists belonging to "Fitna al-Khawarij" on the intervening night of October 7-8, the military's media wing said in a statement.

The term Fitna al-Khawarij is used for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan terror group.

During the intense exchange of fire between security forces and the militants, 19 terrorists "were sent to hell", the statement said, adding that 11 Pakistani soldiers, including a Lieutenant Colonel and a Major, were killed.

A sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists in the area, the statement added.

Pakistan has seen a surge in militant attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, after the banned TTP called off its ceasefire with the government in November 2022 and vowed to target security forces, police, and law enforcement agencies.

According to the latest statistics issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was the worst-hit region in the country in the third quarter of 2025. It suffered nearly 71 per cent (638) of the total violence-linked fatalities, and over 67 per cent (221) of the incidents of violence.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan -- both of which share a porous border with neighbouring Afghanistan -- faced the brunt of the terrorism incidents, accounting for more than 96 per cent of the total violence across the country.
A Delhi court on Wednesday refused to allow Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman's application seeking directions to restrain Aam Aadmi Party leader Somnath Bharti from appearing for his wife in a defamation case.

IMAGE: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Photograph: @PIBShillong X/ANI Photo

Bharti's wife, Lipika Mitra, had filed a criminal complaint against Sitharaman accusing her of defamation.

Additional chief judicial magistrate Paras Dalal was hearing Sitharaman's plea seeking directions that Bharti withdraw his vakalatnama.

"This court finds no bar to spouse prosecuting for or defending his/ her spouse. There is no bar to even claim for maximum possible punishment or compensation, even when spouse is defending or prosecuting for his/ her spouse.

'In law, the husband and wife are two separate natural person and their pecuniary interests may be different,' the court said rejecting the plea.

It said that upon a specific query, the complainant side undertook that Bharti was not in the list of witnesses and there was no intention to call him in the witness box.

'The defence, however, has argued that situation may arise that he may call Somnath Bharti in the witness box, since averments qua his reputation have been made in the complainant,' the court said.

It, however, said the decision to withdraw the vakalatnama had to be taken by Bharti.

'This court sees no ground to determine his vakalatnama at this stage. In case of specific violation of any rule by any of the counsel for either party, this court can always write to the Bar Council of India or Bar Council of Delhi for necessary information and action, if any,' the court said.

The complaint had claimed that Sitharaman made 'defamatory, false, and malicious statements' in a press conference on May 17, 2024 with the sole intention to tarnish the reputation of Bharti and weaken his chances of winning in general elections.

According to the complaint, the utterances were made 'solely with an intent to hurt the complainant and her husband' for political gains to Bharatiya Janata Party's candidate and political loss to the complainant's husband during 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The accused, it said, spoke about the matrimonial discord of the complainant and her husband but withheld the information of their reunion and living together happily.
Bickering among the ruling National Democratic Alliance partners in Bihar over seat sharing has come to the fore, even though the Bharatiya Janata Party, which held a meeting on Wednesday on the issue, claimed that everything is fine in the alliance.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh during a public meeting in Purnea. Photograph: ANI Photo

Union minister Jitan Ram Manjhi said that he was 'requesting and not making a claim' that his Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) be given a respectable number of seats, otherwise the party might not contest the election.

Another Union minister Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas, which had earlier settled for around 20-22 seats, is now asking for at least 25 more.

Assembly elections will be held on November 6 and 11 in the state, while votes will be counted on November 14.

At a time when the BJP's Election Committee meeting to discuss the seat sharing arrangements among the NDA constituents was on in Patna, Manjhi told reporters: "It will be a humiliation for me and my party, if we are not given at least 15 seats in the coming assembly polls. If we get 15, we can easily win at least 8-9 seats and will become a recognised party".

Even after 10 years of establishment, HAM remains an unrecognised party.

"I have been helping the NDA for a long. So, I am requesting the NDA leaders and not making a claim. My party would prefer not to contest the polls, if we don't get a respectable number of seats. But, I must make it clear that even if we don't contest polls, our party will keep working for the NDA partners in the coming polls," Manjhi said.

Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, besides Vinod Tawde, met party leaders in Patna to discuss the seat sharing arrangements and finalise the list of party candidates.

Talking to reporters, BJP MP Sanjay Jaiswal said, "Everything is fine within the NDA. The final decision about the seat sharing arrangements and other issues, including names of the party candidates, will be taken in the parliamentary board meeting".

Jaiswal also attended the party's Election Committee meeting held at the BJP state office in Patna on Wednesday. The meeting lasted for more than four hours.

Pradhan along with other senior BJP leaders had earlier met Manjhi also to discuss the seat sharing arrangements.

According to sources in NDA, the bigger allies Janata Dal-United and the BJP are likely to contest 102 and 101 seats, respectively.

Chirag Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas, which had earlier settled for around 20-22 seats, is now asking for at least 25 more.

Senior leaders in the LJP-RV are of the opinion that the party should get at least 45 seats, said a party leader on the condition of anonymity.

When asked about this, Paswan, who visited his late father Ram Vilas Paswan's birthplace at Shaharbanni in Khagaria district on Wednesday, told reporters, "Things will be finalised very soon."

The party has called an emergency meeting of is leaders in Patna on Thursday to discuss issues related to the assembly polls.

In the 2020 elections, Paswan walked out of NDA and contested separately, winning just one seat but damaging the JD-U in dozens of constituencies and contributing to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's party posting its lowest tally in two decades, 43.
By enabling real-time data sharing, the platform will help prevent scams and ensure secure transactions.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff

The finance ministry has raised concerns with the Reserve Bank of India over delays in rolling out the Digital Payments Intelligence Platform (DPIP), a flagship project designed to curb fraudulent digital transactions and enhance payment security, said a government official who did not wish to be named.

"In a communication, the finance ministry has urged the central bank to expedite the rollout, citing a rise in instances of online payment fraud and the urgent need for a coordinated, real-time monitoring system," said the official.

In June last year, the RBI had set up a committee, chaired by A P Hota, former managing director and chief executive officer of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to examine various aspects of establishing this digital public infrastructure.

Once operational, DPIP will collect and analyse data from various sources to identify potential threats and prevent fraudulent activities.

By enabling real-time data sharing, the platform will help prevent scams and ensure secure transactions.

The Reserve Bank Innovation Hub (RBIH) has been asked to build a prototype of DPIP in consultation with five to 10 banks.

It is going to leverage advanced technologies to curb payment-related fraud.

According to the annual report of the RBI, there has been a surge in cases of bank fraud, with the amount involved rising nearly three times to Rs 36,014 crore in 2024-2025 from Rs 12,230 crore the previous year.

Of this, as much as Rs 25,667 crore worth of cases of fraud were reported by public sector banks, against Rs 9,254 crore in FY24.

In terms of the number of fraud cases, the share of the digital payments (card/Internet) category has been the highest; in value terms, the loan portfolio (advances) has been the worst hit, it said.

The official further added that the government was keeping a close watch on digital fraud and had advised banks to complete application programming interface (API) integration for better detection.

"Banks have been advised to adopt the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) Suspect Registry for proactive transaction monitoring," the official said.

"The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) will finalise the standard operating procedure for freezing bank accounts linked to fraud cases at the earliest.

"Additionally, banks have been asked to explore and implement the MuleHunter.AI tool to strengthen the detection and monitoring of mule accounts, which are often used by fraudsters to route illicit funds."

At least 15 more banks are set to implement the RBI-developed MuleHunter platform over the next two months to intensify efforts to identify accounts used for fraudulent transactions, said Suvendu Pati, an RBI chief general manager.

Mule accounts -- those created by fraudsters to receive, transfer or launder illicit funds collected from unsuspecting victims -- have been a big challenge for the banking system, as these accounts are generally opened using fraudulently obtained credentials.

MuleHunter complements banks' systems to tackle such activities, Pati said, claiming the RBI's platform was more efficient in detecting mule accounts.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
'Faulty alarms, delays in shutting off oxygen, poor electrical maintenance and staff untrained for emergencies. These are not isolated incidents but reflect a larger pattern of weak oversight.'

IMAGE: Charred remains after a massive fire broke out in the ICU of the trauma centre at the Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur, October 6, 2025. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

Amid recurring incidents of fire, hospitals have stepped up safety audits, with some of them setting higher benchmarks.

Hardik Ajmera, medical director, Saifee Hospital, Mumbai, said: "Our hospital has a next-gen intelligent firefighting and detection system with smoke detectors, sprinklers, hydrants, and fire alarms. They are strictly maintained and regularly checked.

"The staff is trained in firefighting and evacuation procedures through regular mock drills in accordance with the standards of the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers."

While such practices exist in leading private facilities, experts say public hospitals, often stretched and underfunded, struggle with outdated wiring, inadequate maintenance, and lax inspection.

They have warned the Jaipur incident, which took place late on Sunday, is yet another reminder that India's hospital-safety framework remains reactive rather than preventive.

Eight patients, including three women, died in the intensive care unit of the trauma centre at the Sawai Man Singh Hospital.

It was reportedly triggered by a short circuit in a storeroom.

According to reports, the blaze erupted in the ICU's storage area, where papers, medical equipment, and blood sample tubes were kept.

Smoke quickly spread through the ward, causing panic among patients and the staff.

Rescue operations were hampered because of thick smoke, and several patients had to be pulled out through broken windows and doors by the hospital staff and family members.

This comes amid a spate of such incidents in the country.

A day earlier, there were two hospital fires in Ahmedabad within 24 hours.

One was at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Hospital and the other at the Vrundavan Children's Hospital, both reportedly caused by electric faults. No casualties were reported.

In August, a basement fire at a private hospital in Navi Mumbai forced the evacuation of 21 patients, while a smaller fire at an east Delhi hospital in April this year also drew attention to electrical safety lapses.

Last year in May seven newborns died in a fire in an east Delhi hospital.

These have highlighted systemic weaknesses in fire preparedness.

A 2024 news report found in 11 major hospital fires that took place over the past five years and which claimed 107 lives, most of the accused, including hospital owners and administrators, either remained out on bail or had faced no punitive action.

Experts say the root cause lies in neglect and lack of enforcement.

"Hospitals constantly balance patient care, essential services, and facility upkeep. Yet, managing safety on premises often slips down the priority list," said Nilaya Varma, co-founder and group CEO, Primus Partners.

"Reviews in hospitals show recurring gaps -- faulty alarms, delays in shutting off oxygen, poor electrical maintenance, and staff untrained for emergencies. These are not isolated incidents but reflect a larger pattern of weak oversight."

Most hospitals treat safety audits and mock drills as routine formalities rather than life-saving measures, he added.

Varma recommended steps such as independent safety audits, regular emergency drills, quick-response safety teams, and stricter linkage of compliance with licensing and funding.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday sharpened her attack against Union Home Minister Amit Shah by alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party leader's actions were like those of an 'acting prime minister'.

IMAGE: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Photograph: ANI Video Grab

Speaking to reporters outside the Kolkata airport after her return from flood-ravaged north Bengal, Banerjee said she wanted to urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to repose too much faith in Shah, who 'may one day become his Mir Jafar'.

She was referring to the 18th-century military general of Bengal who betrayed Nawab Siraj ud Daulah in the Battle of Plassey and later became the monarch with the help of the British.

The TMC supremo accused the BJP top brass of manipulating the Election Commission into conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound states.

She said, "Their leader holds a meeting and comes here to say that he will delete several lakh names from the voters' list of Bengal. Tell me, we are currently reeling under natural calamities, heavy rains, celebrating festivals and so on. Can the SIR exercise be completed within a fortnight and can fresh names be uploaded in that period under the current circumstances?"

Banerjee questioned whether the ECI should act at the behest of the BJP party, or should it act in the interest of democratic rights and civil rights of the people?

"All this is a game played by Amit Shah. He is behaving like he is the acting Prime Minister of this country. But the PM is aware of everything, I am sorry to say," the TMC chief alleged.

"We can request the Prime Minister not to trust Amit Shah always. One day, he will turn out to be your biggest Mir Zafar. Be alert while you have the time because morning shows the day," she said.

Charging the BJP with 'destroying this country', Banerjee warned the party of the possibility of not staying in power forever.

"I have seen many governments in my life, but I never came across this kind of arrogant and dictatorial regime," she claimed.
Photo: https://mva.gov.ua

The documentary film "Second Wind" by director Maria Kondakova about veterans who conquered the highest peak in Africa - Kilimanjaro is being released in Ukrainian cinemas.

"This is a story of strength, support and brotherhood. The story of those who did not stop after injuries, but found a second wind in themselves - to live, act and inspire others," the Ministry of Veterans Affairs said in a statement.

In particular, the film tells the story of five Ukrainian veterans who conquered the peak of Kilimanjaro.

Four of the servicemen have amputees and use prostheses - Roman "Dobryak" Kolesnyk, Vladislav "Shatya" Shatilo, Mykhailo "Grizzly" Matviyiv and Oleksandr "Ragnar" Mikhov, and together with them, the fighter Olha "Vysota" Yegorova, who was wounded at the front, challenges the mountains.

The premiere of the film took place on September 30, 2025, and the wide release will begin on October 9.

As reported, the documentary "2000 Meters to Andriivka" directed by Mstislav Chernov will represent Ukraine at the 98th Academy Awards of the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the category "Best International Feature Film." The film covers the events of the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Bakhmut direction in September 2023. In particular, it highlights the work of a platoon of Ukrainian soldiers of the 3rd separate assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), who must overcome the fortified forest to de-occupy the village of Andriivka.
Over 40 LPG cylinders exploded one after another on the busy Jaipur-Ajmer highway on Tuesday night after a chemical-laden tanker rammed into a parked truck carrying them, triggering panic in the area.

IMAGE: The collision triggered multiple explosions as the gas cylinders began to burst. Photograph: ANI video grab

Officials said on Wednesday that the tanker driver was burnt alive in the incident and one man was injured.

The explosions and flames were visible and audible from several kilometers away and scrap of the exploded cylinders were found metres away.

Jaipur Collector Dr Jitendra Soni said that a team of Hindustan Petroleum removed all the cylinders while following safety protocol and mechanism.

"Scrap of 42 cylinders was found around the area. They were all exploded cylinders. A total of 120 cylinders were safe. All of them were removed by the team of Hindustan Petroleum that followed all safety measures and protocols to sanitise the area," he told PTI.

The truck transporting the cylinders was parked outside a roadside hotel and its driver had stepped out for a meal when the tanker hit the truck. The cabin of the tanker caught fire and the cylinders spilled out of the truck.

Moments later, the cylinders started exploding and the scrap of some exploded cylinders were found several metres away.

The incident triggered panic in the area and policemen from several police stations were rushed to the spot. The traffic on the highway was immediately stopped and the fire was controlled.

Deputy CM Prem Chand Bairwa was at the spot to take stock of the situation.

"The tanker driver was burnt alive in the incident. Another man is injured," Deepak Khandelwal, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Dudu, said.

He said the traffic was later resumed on the highway.

Eyewitnesses claimed that a Regional Transport Office squad was stopping vehicles for checking on the highway and to avoid them, the tanker driver changed his lane suddenly and lost control, leading to the collision.

The district collector said the reason for the collision was being investigated.

In December last year, an LPG tanker collided with a truck near Bhankrota in Jaipur on the same highway, sparking a massive fireball that turned a stretch of the highway into an inferno, killing 19 people.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate phase one of the Navi Mumbai International Airport and the final phase of Mumbai Metro Line-3 during his two-day Maharashtra visit beginning Wednesday.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first phase of the Navi Mumbai International Airport. Photograph: @Dev_Fadnavis/X

Modi will also launch Mumbai One, India's first integrated common mobility app for 11 public transport operators, an official release said.

Modi is also slated to meet United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Mumbai as part of the process to strengthen the India UK strategic partnership. They will attend the CEO Forum and the 6th edition of the Global Fintech Fest in the city.

After reaching Navi Mumbai on Wednesday, Modi will undertake a walkthrough of the newly-built Navi Mumbai International Airport, it said.

He will inaugurate the airport and also launch and dedicate various projects in Mumbai. He will also address a public gathering on the occasion.

Phase one of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has been built at a cost of Rs 19,650 crore, the release said.

It is India's largest greenfield airport project, developed under the PublicPrivate Partnership (PPP) model. As the second international airport for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, NMIA will work in tandem with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to ease congestion and elevate Mumbai into the league of global multi-airport systems, the release said.

Modi will also inaugurate Phase 2B of the Mumbai Metro Line-3, stretching from Acharya Atre Chowk to Cuffe Parade, constructed at a cost of Rs 12,200 crore.

He will dedicate the entire Rs 37,270 crore Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line) to the nation, marking a major milestone in the city's urban transport transformation, it said.

Modi will also launch the Mumbai One app which offers commuters a range of benefits, including integrated mobile ticketing across multiple public transport operators.

He will also inaugurate the Short-Term Employability Program (STEP) initiative of the Department of Skill, Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation in Maharashtra.

The programme will be rolled out across 400 government ITIs and 150 Government Technical High Schools, marking a major step in aligning skill development with industry requirements to enhance employability.

Security has been beefed up ahead of Modi's visit.

Besides local police, personnel of the Special Protection Group (SPG), Special Protection Unit (SPU), Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) and traffic police have been deployed as part of the security arrangement, a senior official said.
Less than 10 days are left for filing of nomination papers for the first phase of the Bihar polls.

IMAGE: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar flanked by Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi during a press conference on the Bihar assembly elections at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, October 6, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo/Jitender Gupta

The Bharatiya Janata Party leadership on Tuesday held meetings with its Bihar allies to work out an acceptable seat-sharing formula while tensions were also apparent in the rival Mahagathbandan over the sharing of seats.

Less than 10 days are left for filing of nomination papers for the first phase of the Bihar polls.

Polling will take place in two phases, on November 6 and 11, and the votes will be counted on November 14.

On Tuesday, BJP's Bihar in-charge Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan held talks with his colleague in the council of ministers Chirag Paswan, who heads the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas).

Paswan's party had won five Lok Sabha seats in 2024 and has staked claim to contest 30 assembly seats.

Others present at the meeting were BJP leaders Vinod Tawde and Mangal Pandey.

In 2020, the Paswan-led party had walked out of the BJP-headed National Democratic Alliance.

It contested 135 seats but won only one. But it dented Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal -United's prospects in several seats.

The BJP also reached out to Union Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi-led Hindustan Awam Party (HAM), and Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM).

According to sources, the current formula within the NDA is for the JD-U to contest 102 seats, BJP 101, LJP (RV) 25-26, HAM and RLM contesting 7-8 seats each.

As for the Mahagathbandan led by the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress, the CPI (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation, or CPI (ML)L, on Tuesday rejected an offer to fight on 19 seats.

The CPI (ML)L had contested 19 seats in the 2020 Bihar assembly polls and emerged with the best strike rate by winning 12.

The Left party hopes to contest 25-30 seats in the 2025 assembly polls.

The Mahagathbandhan also has the CPI, CPI(M), and Mukesh Sahni's Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) as allies.

According to sources, the RJD could contest 130 seats, Congress 55, the three Left parties 35, and VIP 20 seats. The JMM could also contest seats bordering Jharkhand.

Outgoing Bihar assembly met for 29 days a year on average

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets Gautam Adani during the inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport in Ulwe, Raigad district. The Adani group owns a majority stake in the airport. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Phase 1 of the 19,650 crore (196.50 billion) Navi Mumbai International Airport, marking a major milestone in India's aviation infrastructure.

Conceived as the country's largest greenfield airport project, the facility has been developed under the public-private partnership model and will function as the second international airport for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, easing pressure on the congested Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.

The new airport is expected to significantly improve air connectivity for Mumbai and its adjoining regions, catalyse economic growth in Navi Mumbai and Raigad districts, and serve as a key hub for passenger and cargo traffic in western India.

Alongside, Modi dedicated the 37,270 crore (372.70 billion) Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line) to the nation. Stretching from Cuffe Parade in south Mumbai to Aarey in the western suburbs, this fully underground corridor represents a leap forward in the city's public transport network.

IMAGE: Gautam Adani presents a plaque to Modi during the inauguration of the Navi Mumbai International Airport. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

IMAGE: Earlier, Modi arrived in Navi Mumbai. Photograph: @CMOMaharashtraX/ANI Photo

IMAGE: Modi welcomed by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on his arrival in Navi Mumbai. Photograph: @CMOMaharashtraX/ANI Photo

IMAGE: Modi interacts with differently abled Indians at the Navi Mumbai International Airport in Ulwe. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

IMAGE: Modi takes a tour of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, here and below. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

Photograph: Narendra Modi/X

IMAGE: A view of the new metro train from Phase 2B of the Mumbai Metro Line 3 (Aqua Line) stretching from Acharya Atre Chowk to Cuffe Parade before its inauguration. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Preparations underway for flagging off Phase 2B of the Mumbai Metro Line-3 (Aqua Line). Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: A view of Phase 2B of the Mumbai Metro Line-3 (Aqua Line), here and below. Photograph: @narendramodiX/ANI Photo

Photograph: @narendramodiX/ANI Photo

Photograph: @narendramodiX/ANI Photo

IMAGE: An inside view of the Girgaon metro station on Phase 2B of the Mumbai Metro Line-3 (Aqua Line). Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: A view of the Aarey JVLR Metro depot of Phase 2B of the Mumbai Metro Line-3 (Aqua Line). Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: A view of metro trains parked at the Aarey JVLR Metro depot of Phase 2B of the Mumbai Metro Line-3 (Aqua Line). Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: A view of Phase 2B of the Mumbai Metro Line-3 (Aqua Line) tunnel stretching from Acharya Atre Chowk to Cuffe Parade. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: A view of Phase 2B of the Mumbai Metro Line-3 (Aqua Line) stretching from Acharya Atre Chowk to Cuffe Parade. Photograph: ANI Photo

IMAGE: Modi inaugurates the final phase of Mumbai Metro Line 3, a 33.5 km underground corridor running from Colaba to Aarey, with 27 stations, mostly underground. Photograph: Sahil Salvi for Rediff

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff, Anant Salvi/Rediff

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff
The development comes as relations between the two countries showed marked improvement following the four-day military conflict between Pakistan and India in May.

IMAGE: A F-16 fighter jet at Aero India 2023 at the Yelahanka airbase in Bengaluru. Photograph: ANI Photo

Pakistan is likely to receive the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) from the US, amidst improvement in ties between the two countries, a media report said on Tuesday.

An arms contract recently notified by the United States Department of War (DoW), formerly the department of defence, lists Pakistan among the buyers for AIM-120 AMRAAM, the Express Tribune newspaper reported.

According to the DoW, Raytheon -- the manufacturer of the AMRAAM -- was given a modification of over $41.6 million on a 'previously awarded contract (FA8675-23-C-0037)' based on 'firm-fixed-price (P00026)' for the production of the missile's C8 and D3 variants.

The modification, which includes Pakistan among its foreign military sales recipients, raises the total value of the contract to over $2.51 billion.

'This contract involves foreign military sales to UK, Poland, Pakistan, Germany, Finland, Australia, Romania, Qatar, Oman, Korea, Greece, Switzerland, Portugal, Singapore, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Japan, Slovakia, Denmark, Canada, Belgium, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Norway, Spain, Kuwait, Finland, Sweden, Taiwan, Lithuania, Israel, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Turkey,' the notification states.

It adds that work on the order is expected to be completed by the end of May 2030.

Although it remains unclear as to exactly how many, if any, new AMRAAM missiles would be delivered to Pakistan, the development has triggered speculation about potential upgrades to the Pakistan air force's F-16 fleet.

In the Pakistan air force's service, the AMRAAM is compatible exclusively with the F-16 fighter jet and was reportedly used to shoot down the Indian Air Force MiG-21 flown by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman in February 2019, according to the Express Tribune.

Notably, Pakistan's Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar visited the US state department in July.

According to the defence publication Quwa, the AIM-120C8 is the export version of the AIM-120D, the main AMRAAM variant in US service.

The Pakistan air force currently operates the earlier C5 variant, 500 of which were acquired alongside its latest Block 52 F-16s in 2010, the paper said.

The development comes as relations between the two countries showed marked improvement following the four-day military conflict between Pakistan and India in May.

Pakistan credited US President Donald Trump for arranging a ceasefire and topped it by proposing his name for the Nobel Peace Prize.

India has consistently maintained that the understanding on cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached following direct talks between the directors general of military operations of the two militaries.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Speeches and lectures delivered by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk have been quoted out of context and wrongly translated from Ladakhi to suit the 'anti-national narrative' in his detention order, his wife Gitanjali J Angmo said on Wednesday.

IMAGE: Police detain members of the Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Organisation during a protest against the arrest of environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk at Lucknow University, in Lucknow. Photograph: ANI Photo

She also asserted that the charges against Wangchuk are 'frivolous' and will be challenged in court.

Accompanied by lawyer Ritam Khare, Angmo met Wangchuk on Tuesday and received a copy of the detention order.

Talking to PTI on Wednesday, she said Wangchuk appeared weak, but the jail authorities have assured her that they would take care of him.

"He appeared weak.... The way they took him was inhumane. He was detained after 15 days of fasting," she said.

"The jail authorities have said they are taking good care of him and it appeared that they are," she said.

Asked about the detention order, Angmo said, "The detention order appears to be very frivolous and weak, and we will challenge it in court."

The document lists the allegations against Wangchuk and the reasons for the invocation of the National Security Act (NSA) against him.

The NSA empowers the Centre and states to detain individuals to prevent them from acting in a manner 'prejudicial to the defence of India'.

The maximum detention period is 12 months, though it can be revoked earlier. It can be invoked by the local administration and has to be ratified by a board headed by a former high court judge. Because it is preventive detention and not arrest, there is no legal obligation to present the detainee before a court of law.

Angmo said Wangchuk has been quoted out of context and some of his speeches in Ladakhi have been wrongly translated.

"His ideas and words have been taken out of context to build a narrative, which is false. He has mostly referred to (Mahatma) Gandhi, referred to the art of winning without fighting," she said.

"They have also taken some lectures from his classes and some videos from a weekly talk he does in Ladakhi. The talks in Ladakhi are wrongly translated into English, his statements are taken out of context and twisted to suit their anti-national narrative," she added.

Earlier, in a post on X, Angmo said Wangchuk's spirit remains undaunted.

"His spirit is undaunted. His commitment resolute! His resilience intact! He conveys heartfelt thanks to all for their support and solidarity," she said.

On Saturday, Wangchuk's brother, Tsetan Dorje, also visited him in jail with lawyer Mustafa Haji.

After the visit, Haji on X said Wangchuk has demanded an independent judicial inquiry into the killing of four people during last month's protest in Leh demanding Ladakh's statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Haji also informed that Wangchuk is willing to stay in jail until such an inquiry is conducted.

The Magsaysay award winner was detained under the NSA on September 26, two days after the protests in Leh left four people dead and 90 injured.

Wangchuk is lodged in a jail in Rajasthan's Jodhpur.

Angmo has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court challenging Wangchuk's detention under the NSA and seeking his immediate release.

In her plea, Angmo has also questioned the decision to invoke the NSA against Wangchuk.

A hearing on the petition is scheduled for October 14.
Majoti Sahil Mohammed Hussein, a Gujarat resident who had travelled to Russia for further studies, enlisted in the Russian military to avoid a prison sentence in a drug-related case.

Photograph: John Moore/Getty Images/Rediff Archives

The idea of joining the Russian army was not to fight the adversary but to surrender the moment he got a chance to reach the Ukraine border.

The Gujarat police said on Wednesday that 22-year-old Hussein, who surrendered to Ukrainian forces while fighting alongside the Russian military, was a resident of Morbi town in the state and had gone to Russia for studies.

Facing reporters at their Morbi home, Hussein's mother declined to disclose any information. She then locked the residence and left for an undisclosed location, apparently seeking privacy.

Later, Hussein's maternal uncle Abdul Ibrahim Majoti appeared before the media and appealed to the Centre to bring back his nephew and other Indians stuck in the war zone.

Hussein used to live with his mother, who got separated from his father two decades ago, and his maternal grandparents in Morbi, he said.

"Sahil (Hussein) went abroad for higher studies. We are not aware of what happened to him there," Abdul said.

Hussein was a bright student since childhood, said the uncle.

"All our family members are educated and well settled, with some in government service too. I urge the central government to bring back Sahil and others stuck in such a situation there," he said.

Citing a preliminary probe, Inspector General Ashok Kumar Yadav of the Rajkot Range said Hussein was a resident of Morbi and went to Russia for further studies several years ago.

"We also learnt that he was sent to jail after being caught in a drug-related case there," Yadav told PTI.

The senior IPS officer said the local police are investigating the matter from various angles, including how and when he acquired a passport, a visa and his links.

The Ukrainian military had announced on Tuesday that an Indian national fighting alongside the Russian forces had surrendered.

The 63rd Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian military released a video of Hussein from Gujarat.

In the video, Hussein said, "I didn't want to stay in prison, so I signed a contract... But I wanted to get out of there."

After just 16 days of training, he was sent to the front and surrendered quickly following a dispute with his commander.

"I came across a Ukrainian trench position about two to three kilometres away. I immediately put down my rifle and said that I didn't want to fight. I needed help. I don't want to go back to Russia," he said in the video.

There has been no official word from the external affairs ministry so far, but sources said the Indian embassy in Kyiv was ascertaining the veracity of the report and that it has not received any formal communication from Ukrainian authorities on the matter.

The ministry had last month said that India had strongly called upon Russia to release and repatriate 27 Indian nationals currently serving with the Russian Army.

There have been reports that some Indians on student and business visas were forced into joining Russian military units deployed on the frontlines of the war in Ukraine.
Murders disguised as accidents.

In one horrifying case, a man insured his father, mother, and wife -- then allegedly killed them all. He claimed Rs 54 crore in insurance.

IMAGE: Krishan Bishnoi, superintendent of police, Sambhal (seated), and his investigation team with the arrested suspects. Photographs: Courtesy, Krishan Bishnoi

They didn't carry guns.

They didn't march under a colonial flag.

But they looted India in a way eerily similar to the British East India Company -- slow, methodical, and devastating.

Their business empire was built on fake death certificates, terminally ill villagers, and cold-blooded murder. Their weapon of choice: insurance.

At the centre of this shocking scandal is a small town in western Uttar Pradesh, Sambhal, where an insurance firm -- named East India Company -- turned itself into a money-minting machine by insuring people who were already dying, faking the deaths of those who were still alive, and even orchestrating murders when money was on the line.

The scam, spanning across Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Haryana, has rocked the insurance world. And it all began with a routine night patrol.

The accidental discovery

It was around 10 pm in January 2025, and a routine check in Rajpura in Sambhal, should have been just that. Routine.

Officers were tracing credit card misuse when they noticed something unusual. Several cards were issued in the names of people who had been declared dead.

That single discovery unraveled a whole web.

"I knew there was something off. There were gaps, things not adding up," Krishan Bishnoi, superintendent of police, Sambhal, tells Rediff.

"We dug deeper, recovered mobile phones, and sent them for forensic analysis. What we found was shocking," recalls Bishnoi.

Chat logs revealed meticulous planning. Names, addresses, premium details, hospital information, and even fake death certificates.

The fraud wasn't the work of one or two individuals. It was an entire ecosystem.

The modus operandi: Profiting from death

It all began with data. The fraudsters collected medical records from small villages, targeting people who were terminally ill -- those with barely six months or so to live.

Instead of helping out, they saw an opportunity.

The fraudsters then paid the insurance premiums themselves -- knowing the payout would be huge once the person died.

Legally, a terminally ill person cannot be granted a new insurance policy.

But here, agents, hospitals, banks, and even families were complicit.

Once the person passed away, they would file claims. The insurance company would release lakhs.

The grieving family would receive only a small share -- around two to three lakh rupees.

The rest, often Rs 40 lakhs to Rs 50 lakhs, was pocketed by the fraud ring.

But there were darker stories. Some people didn't die of illness. They were helped along.

In at least six to seven cases, the deaths were orchestrated.

Murders disguised as accidents. In one horrifying case, a man insured his father, mother, and wife -- then allegedly killed them all. He claimed Rs 54 crore in insurance.

"The crime wasn't just fraud. It was murder for profit," added Bishnoi.

The company that investigated fraud was the fraudster

As investigators dug deeper, a shocking truth emerged. The insurance company supposed to monitor and prevent frauds was itself running the operation.

This wasn't just negligence. This was a system built on crime.

The CEO of the company took a cut of 20 to 30 percent from each fraudulent claim.

Bank managers facilitated the process, helping release funds and forge paperwork.

Agents on the ground scouted for sick villagers. Even doctors and hospitals looked the other way.

IMAGE: Some of the credit cards used in the insurance scam that were recovered by the police team.

It was like a new East India Company -- looting not with ships and swords, but spreadsheets and signatures.

The kingpin was identified as Omkareshwar Karan Mishra, who has since been arrested.

"At last count 68 people have now been sent to jail. We are hunting for more," added Bishnoi.

The loopholes that made it all possible

Forged Aadhaar cards, fake medical documents, and false accident reports all altered the age to fit insurance eligibility criteria.

They took out multiple policies from different insurers -- HDFC Ergo, ICICI Lombard, and others.

Even tractor insurance was claimed after the policyholder's death.

In some cases, they manipulated hospital records from Delhi.

Each case was methodically planned.

Some people were declared dead when they were still alive.

Others were buried quietly, with documents saying they died in an accident.

There was no central system. No data sharing. No red flags.

That's what made the scam possible.

The bigger picture

India's insurance sector is growing at breakneck speed. But only seven percent of Indians currently have insurance in rural areas.

This low penetration, combined with loose regulations and rural vulnerability, created the perfect breeding ground for exploitation.

The investigators recovered evidence of over Rs 100 crore worth of fraud. But they believe the real number is far higher.

The scam spread across Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi -- and it's still being uncovered.

The network was wide, and the greed was deeper than anyone expected.

What must change?

It's all about data.

"Insurance companies need to share information, create centralised databases, and set strict benchmarks for hiring staff. Agents must go through background checks. Fraud detection systems need to be powered by real-time analytics, not old spreadsheets," said Bishnoi.

"Most importantly, ethics must return to the core of the system," he added.

The Sambhal case is a wake-up call.

It showed not just what criminals are capable of -- but what happens when an entire system looks the other way.

The ghosts of this scam are real

They aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet.

They were fathers, mothers, brothers, daughters -- some already dying, others pushed to death.

And behind each forged certificate, each fake signature, there was someone watching the clock -- not praying for survival, but waiting for death to cash in.

The East India Company once looted India under the guise of trade. Today, its modern shadow emerged through an insurance company in Sambhal.

But this time, the empire unravelled quickly.
Ukrainian industrial company Interpipe has begun collaborating with over 2,000 Pegasus animal shelters in Dnipropetrovsk region, which are currently home to animals recovered from war zones.

"There are currently over 2,000 animals under care here, most of them from war zones or rescued from illness and injury. The shelter houses not only dogs and cats, but also horses, cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, wild animals, birds, and even a camel," the company says.

Some of them were evacuated from war zones, others were saved from slaughter or starvation, and some suffered concussions or serious injuries. All animals are undergoing treatment and rehabilitation, living in decent conditions: spacious enclosures, exercise areas, and adequate food. A family is being sought for each animal.

The shelter also found a home for over 50 dogs from Interpipe factories, which had previously been fed by workers near the factories in Dnipro. The company helped build spacious, comfortable enclosures with kennels and a walking area for them, providing housing and food. The company also helped build enclosures for animals evacuated from the war zone and a shelter for goats. An X-ray machine was donated to the clinic located on the shelter's grounds.

"We are increasing the volume of social investments in the region where we operate," the company notes.

The shelter is supported by international foundations, animal volunteers, businesses, and ordinary Ukrainians.

Interpipe is a Ukrainian industrial company that manufactures steel pipes and railway products. The company employs approximately 9,500 people.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High around 30F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies in the evening, then becoming cloudy overnight. Low 16F. Winds light and variable.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine

Director General of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) Maksym Dotsenko shared the society's experience in responding to the challenges caused by Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine at the Spanish Red Cross headquarters.

Dotsenko also spoke about the humanitarian situation in Ukraine, the interaction between the URCS and government institutions, the society said on Facebook on Wednesday.

Particular emphasis was placed on a people-centered approach, combining urgent response with the development of local capabilities, as well as the effectiveness of international support to Ukraine in the coming years. Ways for long-term recovery and strengthening the resilience of communities were discussed.

Cooperation between the Ukrainian and Spanish Red Cross has been ongoing since the first months of the full-scale war. Thanks to this interaction, programs to support people affected by the war are being implemented, both in Ukraine and abroad.

The delegation of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society is on a working visit to Spain.
Germanys Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) party in Hamburg has expelled local member Robert Risch from the city council after imagery analyzed by RFE/RL showed he attended a far-right forum in Russia that brought together extreme right-wing politicians.

Risch attended the conference in St. Petersburg on September 12, an examination of images showed.

The organizers of the event included Konstantin Malofeyev, a Kremlin-connected tycoon under Western sanctions for involvement in Moscows war of aggression against Ukraine.

Less than a month later, on October 6, the AfD's leadership unanimously decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Risch, said Dirk Nockemann, the leader of AfD Hamburg.

Risch denied the allegations, saying the trip was private and that "a friend," former Hamburg AfD council member Olga Petersen, had asked him to accompany her to an event.

He added that Petersens birthday fell on the same date as the conference and claimed he had no prior knowledge of the participants or the agenda.

Risch further said he was "campaigning for peace" and could not be held responsible for those "who he sat in the same room with."

Exclusion proceedings against Petersen were also initiated. According to German media, she also attended the St. Petersburg event and now lives in Russia, publicly supporting the Russian government.

In March 2024, Petersen acted as an observer at the election in which President Vladimir Putin secured a new term, and reportedly called the vote "open, democratic, and free."

In February, Petersen, who was born in Russia, posted photos showing her with Russian soldiers in a Russian-occupied part of Ukraine.

Billed as the founding conference of an "international league of anti-globalists" called Paladins, the forum in St. Petersburgs ornate, Imperial-era Mariinsky Palace was also attended by far-right politicians from nations including France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and South Africa.
April will mark 10 years since a mysterious explosion at a gas pipeline leading from Turkmenistan to Russia.

It was arguably the low point in already uneasy relations between Ashgabat and Moscow. In the years that followed the blast, Turkmen-Russian ties were maintained at a bare minimum.

There has been a shift since 2016, possibly driven by the Kremlin's concerns about the security situation in northern Afghanistan and the ability of Tajikistan and Turkmenistan to contain any such threat from spreading to countries from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The Turkmen-Russian rapprochement is not necessarily the result of any mutual desire to improve relations; it is being initiated almost entirely by a carrot-and-stick approach emanating from Moscow. Turkmenistan is simply in no position to resist at this point. Ashgabat's official policy of neutrality is no longer a shield.

Vulnerable Ashgabat

The weak position Turkmenistan finds itself in today is arguably of the government's own making. On December 12, 1995, the UN General Assembly recognized Turkmenistan's status of permanent neutrality, something of an amorphous distinction. In Ashgabat's view, permanent neutrality legitimized policies that sealed off the country from the outside world.

Revenues from Turkmenistan's sales of natural gas (the country has the world's fourth-largest gas reserves) enabled the government to isolate the country and still provide for domestic needs. Turkmen foreign policy was dominated by trade, specifically its gas exports.

In 2007, with world gas prices on the rise, Russia had promised to pay "European prices" to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan for their gas.

In 2008, Turkmenistan sold gas to two countries: Russia, via Soviet-era pipelines; and Iran, via a pipeline completed in 1997. That year, Turkmenistan sold some 40 billion cubic meters (bcm) to Russia -- and there were negotiations to boost that by another 5-8 bcm -- and 5-6 bcm to Iran. Iran paid by barter, but Russia paid in currency. Russia was paying about $140 per 1,000 cubic meters -- up more than fourfold from $32 per 1,000 cubic meters less than a decade earlier -- for Turkmen gas.

Additionally, construction was well under way on new gas pipelines leading from Turkmenistan to China and Turkmenistan to Iran, respectively.

Gas prices dropped during 2008. The Russian daily Vremya Novostei reported in April 2009 that Gazprom had lost more than $1 billion purchasing Central Asian gas in the first quarter. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan agreed to lower their prices; Turkmenistan did not. And when the explosion hit the gas pipeline on April 9, 2009, Turkmenistan's government complained loudly that it was Russia's fault.

The result was a halt in Turkmen gas exports to Russia. When, in 2011, the two sides finally agreed on a resumption of supplies, and the pipeline was repaired, Russia said it would take no more than 11 bcm per year. By 2015, that had dropped to some 4 bcm; and at the end of that year, Gazprom announced it would not purchase any gas from Turkmenistan. Russia has not bought any Turkmen gas since then.

Gas exports were really Turkmenistan's main link to Russia.

Ashgabat had attempted for years to keep Moscow at arm's length, and that extended to Russian-dominated organizations.

Turkmenistan's first president, Saparmurat Niyazov, was not an ardent supporter of the CIS. He was already skipping CIS summits in 1992, just one year after its establishment. In August 2005, Niyazov sent a former bodyguard who'd recently been appointed Turkmenistan's deputy prime minister in charge of CIS affairs, Aganiyaz Akyev, to an informal CIS summit in Kazan, Russia, to announce that Turkmenistan was officially reducing its status in the CIS to "associate member."

And part of the Turkmen government's interpretation of permanent neutrality is the avoidance of membership in any military blocs, such as the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) that Central Asian neighbors Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan are all members of and which Uzbekistan has twice been a member of in the past.

Economic Freefall

At the start of 2017, Turkmenistan suspended supplies of natural gas to Iran, claiming Tehran owed some $1.8 billion for supplies delivered nearly 10 years before. With Russia having canceled its gas deal with Turkmenistan one year earlier, this left Turkmenistan with one gas customer -- China, a country that had loaned Turkmenistan billions of dollars to develop gas fields that would supply China and build the pipelines to carry that gas to China. An unspecified portion of that gas goes toward paying off Turkmen loans from China.

At the start of 2016, China was reportedly paying $185 per 1,000 cubic meters, but the China National Petroleum Corp sent a delegation to Turkmenistan in February 2017 to negotiate a lower price. The results of those talks were never made public, but it seems unlikely Turkmenistan could reject the Chinese request for lower gas prices.

The result of lower gas prices and fewer customers has been an economic freefall in Turkmenistan. Never since the country became independent in late 1991 has the economic situation in Turkmenistan been as bad as it is right now. People wait in line for flour, bread, and other basic goods, all of which are rationed and often require personal-identification documents to purchase.

Turkmenistan has security problems, too.

In the late 1990s, when the Taliban controlled most of Afghanistan, including areas bordering Central Asia, Turkmenistan was the sole CIS state to engage the Taliban diplomatically. Under President Niyazov, Turkmenistan, referring to its neutral status, managed to establish amiable ties with the Taliban, much to the displeasure of Turkmenistan's Central Asian neighbors and Russia, who all viewed the Taliban as a threat.

After 2001, when the U.S.-led coalition began operations in Afghanistan, the northwestern provinces remained relatively calm. Turkmenistan seemingly had little to worry about from its southern neighbor.

Current President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has not fared as well. By the start of 2014, the situation in northern Afghanistan changed. Three Turkmen border guards were reportedly killed along the Afghan border in late February 2014 and three Turkmen soldiers in May.

Since then, there have been reports of further clashes between Turkmen troops and militants from Afghanistan, but Turkmen authorities have denied, or more usually said nothing, about such incidents, insisting the border with Afghanistan is calm.

As recently as November 28, Naqibullah Faiq, the governor of Afghanistan's Faryab Province, one of the four Afghan provinces bordering Turkmenistan, said 80 percent of his province was under Taliban control. And even if the Taliban might not threaten Turkmenistan, there are hundreds, certainly, of foreign militants in northern Afghanistan, stateless people who pay no heed to state borders.

The Turkmen government has ordered snap military drills and increased defense spending since 2014 without explaining the sudden need for either.

Advantage Russia

Other interested parties see the situation along the Turkmen-Afghan border differently. Russian officials have expressed concerns about developments there. On January 3, 2016, Aleksandr Sternik, the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Third CIS Department, said Moscow was prepared to help Turkmenistan strengthen its border with Afghanistan.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov repeated the offer during a visit to Turkmenistan at the end of that month. Just a few months previously, in October 2015, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev expressed concern about the Turkmen-Afghan border at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Turkmenistan's Foreign Ministry repeatedly claimed there was no problem along its border with Afghanistan, even with Afghan media showing footage of fighting in areas along the Turkmen border.

The Kremlin didn't seem to believe Turkmen authorities' tales of tranquility along the Afghan frontier, which Russian officials with increasing frequency referred to as the "CIS border" with Afghanistan.

On June 9, 2016, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made an unannounced visit to Turkmenistan. Turkmen media was general in its reporting of Shoigu's visit, but Russian media was more to the point: Shoigu was in Ashgabat to "offer" Russia's help in strengthening Turkmenistan's military capabilities, including weapons sales and training.

On November 14, 2018, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported on a CIS border-guard meeting in Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan, where officials discussed a "significant deterioration in the situation on the border of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan."

Two days later, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying the RIA Novosti report "did not correspond to reality" and calling the report "unfriendly."

'Real Danger'

On November 22, the acting general secretary of the CSTO, Valery Semerikov, said in a statement posted on the CSTO website that there was a "real danger" from IS groups forming in Afghanistan along the borders with Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

And on December 25, the acting head of Russia's Central Military District, Yevgeny Ustinov, said Russia's military had renewed joint training with military forces from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Ustinov did not elaborate on this new cooperation with Turkmenistan's armed forces, but it seems evident Russia has forced its military assistance on Turkmenistan whether Ashgabat wants it or not.

Another example of Russian pressure on Turkmenistan happened on December 7. Lavrov raised the issue of people in Turkmenistan who had dual Turkmen-Russian citizenship, saying Russia was waiting for information about them. In 2003, Turkmenistan unilaterally withdrew from a 1993 dual-citizenship agreement it had made with Russia. It took this action following a purported assassination attempt on President Niyazov in November 2002. Several of the suspects subsequently arrested had dual citizenship and had reportedly been traveling between Russia and Turkmenistan prior to the purported attack. Those who had dual citizenship prior to 2003 maintained that status.

"We expect concrete information about this soon," Lavrov said on December 7, adding a mention of Boris Shikhmuradov, Turkmenistan's former foreign minister who was imprisoned after being found guilty of planning the alleged 2002 assassination attempt. International rights groups have been calling on Turkmenistan for years to release information about Shikhmuradov and show him publicly to prove he is still alive. Lavrov's mention of Shikhmuradov therefore raised a sensitive issue for Turkmen authorities.

There has been no public Russian follow-up of Lavrov's December remarks, leading one to wonder if this was a Kremlin reminder of another lever it had at its disposal.

Russia seems to have drawn Turkmenistan closer to the CIS, too. Berdymukhammedov has been no more enthusiastic publicly about the CIS than his predecessor, Niyazov; but as an agreement on the legal status of the Caspian Sea drew closer, something vitally connected to Turkmenistan's gas export future, Berdymukhammedov started showing up at CIS summits. Berdymukhammedov made a memorable appearance at a summit in Sochi in October 2017, when Vladimir Putin received a puppy that the Turkmen leader was literally dangling in front of the Russian president as a gift.

At a September 2018 CIS summit in Dushanbe that Berdymukhammedov did not attend (the Caspian Convention was signed in August 2018), Turkmenistan was given the rotating CIS chairmanship for 2019. Turkmenistan is now preparing to host the 2019 meetings of CIS prime ministers, CIS foreign ministers, and the CIS summit in October.

Russia is also using its economic leverage. Gazprom head Aleksei Miller visited Turkmenistan on October 9 and November 28 to discuss a possible resumption of purchases of Turkmen gas.

Sticking Points?

Turkmen gas exports have always been the ultimate tie that binds the two countries, but the situation now is very different than it was more than 10 years ago when Russia was buying 30-40 bcm of gas from Ashgabat.

Russia has developed several large fields since then and added thousands of kilometers of gas pipelines. Russia and Gazprom did need Turkmen gas in the first decade of this century, but that is arguably no longer true.

So why buy any? To prop up Turkmenistan's cash-strapped government? To dissuade Turkmenistan from moving forward with the Trans-Caspian Pipeline project to ship gas to Europe where Russia already sells its gas and wants to sell more?

Whether the answer is either, both, or something else, Turkmenistan desperately needs to sell more of its gas -- and the sooner, the better.

What Gazprom has to offer Turkmenistan is immediate exports. The pipeline is there; only an agreement is lacking.

Turkmen officials were optimistic a deal would be reached by the end of 2018; but halfway into January there is still no word, so sticking points could still remain.

If or when the two parties reach a deal, volumes are unlikely to exceed 4-5 bcm and the price is unlikely to be as much as Turkmenistan might wish.

But then, Turkmen authorities and President Berdymukhammedov probably wish many things were different about the reality they now face. Turkmenistan has few if any real friends, an abundance of problems, and has left itself open to the intervention of a big power. Ashgabat might not be able to say "no" to Russia at this point.

The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect those of RFE/RL.
In a desert outside Irans capital, Tehran, lies one of the largest womens prisons in the world.

Several thousand women are believed to be incarcerated in Qarchak Prison, which is notorious for severe overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate medical care.

In the past month, at least two inmates have died in the facility due to medical neglect, according to human rights groups.

The deaths have reignited calls for the authorities to close the prison, which has long been a grim symbol of repression in Iran.

Some 150 former inmates issued a joint statement on September 29 condemning the systematic deaths of prisoners in Qarchak and demanding the prisons closure.

Iranian human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, who served time in Qarchak, told RFE/RLs Radio Farda that the prison is uninhabitable.

Having long advocated for its closure, Sotoudeh initially sought ways to reform the facility but eventually concluded that it should be shut down.

Photojournalist and rights activist Alieh Motalebzadeh, who has interviewed former inmates, said many complained about scorpions and snakes in the facility.

Motalebzadeh, speaking to Radio Farda, accused judicial officials, prison authorities, and medical staff of showing no respect toward women prisoners. She said the authorities believe women at the facility deserved to be mistreated.

When Israel bombed Evin Prison in Tehran during the 12-day war with Iran in June, dozens of women prisoners there were transferred to Qarchak.

But many of these prisoners remain in Qarchak, despite Evin reopening, rights groups say.

Sotoudeh said that keeping the prisoners in Qarchak was payback against women, who played a key role in the unprecedented antiestablishment protests that rocked the country in 2022.

The renewed calls to shut down Qarchak Prison came after a string of deaths at the facility, which is believed to house several thousand inmates and has been sanctioned by the United States and the European Union.

Iranian activist Somayeh Rashidi, labeled as a political prisoner by multiple groups, died in Qarchak on September 25.

The 42-year-olds death came 10 days after she suffered seizures, leading cellmates and rights organizations to accuse authorities of failing to provide necessary care for the woman.

One of Rashidi's cellmates told Radio Farda she "had epilepsy, had constant seizures, and suffered from severe headaches, and every time she went to the prison doctor, she was told she was malnourished and was sent back to the ward."

Jamileh Azizi, who was jailed on financial charges, died after being refused timely treatment despite signs of cardiac distress.
Russian President Vladimir Putin last week signed a decree that appears to target the assets of foreign companies that continue to operate in Russia and that have not yet been seized by the government.

The decree calls for the accelerated privatization of state property to ensure defense capability, but it refers directly to "unfriendly actions" of the United States and other countries and organizations aligned with them that aim to impose "restrictive measures against citizens of the Russian Federation and Russian legal entities.

The decree outlines a special procedure for the registration, sale, and transfer of assets, including an accelerated time frame, and names PSB Bank (formerly Promsvyazbank) as the sole organizer of sales of property.

Putin signed the decree in an apparent response to the EUs consideration of a scheme to loan Ukraine billions of dollars based on frozen Russian assets held in the EU that have been immobilized since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion more than three years ago.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen floated the idea of a "reparations loan" in her annual policy address to the European Parliament last month.

The Europeans have been looking into various ways of footing a larger part of the bill to fund Ukraines defense efforts because the United States has indicated it may not be willing to finance Ukraine's defense needs for much longer.

Von der Leyen made her case to EU leaders as they met for an informal summit in Copenhagen on October 1 to discuss Ukraine with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in attendance. The bloc's finance ministers were expected to go over the plan in more detail at a meeting in Luxembourg this week.

While the details of the reparations loan have yet to be hashed out, a few of the outlines are clear.

The Russian assets themselves -- immobilized since Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022 -- would be used as collateral for the issuance of bonds. The proceeds from the bond issue would then be used for Ukraine's reconstruction in the form of a reparations loan.

Ukraine would have to pay back the money only after Russia pays for war damages as required by a UN General Assembly resolution.

Ukraine would repay the reparations loan to the EU to pay back the bond holders and the assets would then be unfrozen. If this scheme is implemented, Ukraine could receive 170 billion to 180 billion euros ($198 billion to $209 billion) in tranches during 2026 and 2027, according to a discussion paper provided by the commission to EU member states and seen by RFE/RL.

Kremlin's 'Symmetrical Response'

The Kremlin has called the European initiative a confiscation and has threatened a "symmetrical response," however there are fundamental differences between the EU reparations loan plan and the confiscation of the assets of European companies continuing to operate in Russia and their immediate privatization.

While the European measure does not involve the nationalization of any Russian federal asset, Putins decree appears to aim to nationalize the property of private companies. There are an estimated 800 Western European companies operating in Russia. A few are mentioned in the decree, including the Russian subsidiary of Austria's Raiffeisen Bank International, Italy's UniCredit, and the German chocolatier Ritter Sport.

European regulators urged Raiffeisen to exit the Russian market starting in 2022, but the bank has been reluctant to give up the excess profits it enjoyed until recently as a near-monopoly financial institution capable of sending payments from Russia to Europe. It also balked at losing the ability to write off its Russian subsidiary as a loss.

A sale initiated by the bank is out of the question because of the conditions under which foreigners can dispose of their Russian assets. A separate decree signed by Putin requires a 50 percent discount and a 10 percent compulsory contribution to the Russian budget.

In addition, the prospects of rebuilding shaky finances through accelerated privatization of confiscated assets of foreign companies are legally dubious. The confiscated assets would be "toxic," and the previous owners could drag the new owners through the courts. Thus, it would be difficult to find buyers, even if assets are sold off for next to nothing.
ALMATY  Turkmenistan, one of the worlds most repressive and isolated countries, is stricken by widespread poverty.



But the authorities are set to unveil a newly built $1.5 billion city, a project that officials claim reflects the rapid socioeconomic development in the Central Asian nation.



The new city -- Arkadag, or Protector -- draws its name from the formal title of Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, the authoritarian leader who stepped down in March after ruling the country with an iron fist for over 15 years.



Berdymukhammedov handed power to his son, Serdar, in a managed election. But the 65-year-old remains a top official as the chairman of the upper house of parliament and continues to wield considerable influence.

Located around 30 kilometers southwest of the capital Ashgabat, Arkadag will serve as the capital of Akhal Province, which is situated along the border with Iran and Afghanistan.



Construction of the project began in 2019, the same year that Serdar Berdymukhammedovs was appointed as governor of Akhal.



Over the course of the project, the younger Bedymukhammedov became the minister of industry and construction materials and deputy chairman of the cabinet before succeeding his father as president.



In April, Serdar Berdymukhammedov called for a public discussion to find a name for the new city.

Sure enough, the speaker of Turkmenistans lower house of parliament duly announced the citys name on December 21, claiming that the wishes of residents of all regions and the suggestions of public organizations had been taken into account.

But sources told RFE/RLs Turkmen Service in May that the name was already decided.



Turkmenistan watchers scoff at the notion that the city-naming was an exercise in democracy.



There is no trace of a public campaign. How did they ask the opinion of people in these regions where there is no Internet, where even mobile penetration is low? asked Luca Anceschi, professor of Eurasian Studies at the University of Glasgow. The name of the city is an illusion. The city itself is an illusion.

'Far Away From Food Queues'

Arkadag does not resemble most cities, or even provincial capitals, in Turkmenistan.

Footage shown on state media suggests it will have more in common with central Ashgabat, where billions of dollars generated from gas exports have funded the construction of ostentatious buildings with white marble facades even as other parts of the country bear the brunt of a prolonged economic crisis.

Arkadag has been hailed by Turkmen authorities as a smart city, which will host a hippodrome, a childrens rehabilitation center named after the former president, and a statue of the ex-leader. One of the central streets in the city will be named after the patriarchs favorite horse, Akhan.



The city is designed to house more than 12,000 families.



Ruslan Myatiev, the editor of the Europe-based, exile-run Turkmen.News website, says Arkadag will accommodate members of the elite and those with ties to the ruling Berdymukhammedov family.



Myatiev said this fits the general pattern of the Berdymukhammedovs keeping members of their extended clan separate from the general population and far away from food queues that have become common amid rising poverty and food shortages.

At the moment, the relatives -- a very broad term that includes even very distant relatives -- have occupied a number of neighborhoods built with state money in and around Ashgabat, said the journalist.



In contrast, since about 2015 the general population of Turkmenistan has been living with no clear vision of tomorrow, Myatiev added.

'Instruments Of Corruption'

Despite all evidence to the contrary, Turkmen state propaganda has claimed a never-ending procession of economic successes.

An exception came last year when the elder Berdymukhammedov, then president, acknowledged that the state was struggling to repay its foreign creditors on time.

The reality is that the government is also struggling to pay the salaries of public sector employees on time, including the construction workers building Arkadag, according to a report by RFE/RLs Turkmen Service in September.

Earlier this month, residents of some neighborhoods in Ashgabat told RFE/RL that they had been left without water and heating during a cold snap.



In November, RFE/RLs Turkmen Service reported a sharp growth in the market for secondhand clothes and used household items in Turkmenabat, the capital of eastern Lebap Province.



When you go around to peoples houses, you see that they have put up for sale half of their belongings just to survive, to buy bread, one Turkmenabat resident told RFE/RLs Turkmen Service.



Turkmenistans energy-dependent economy took a nosedive after global oil and gas prices plunged in 2014 and Russia ceased imports in 2016.



Recently, global energy prices have recovered, Russia has resumed buying some Turkmen gas, and top client China in the first nine months of this year purchased more than $7 billion worth of the fuel, according to Chinese customs data.



But that has not fueled an economic recovery in Turkmenistan, where the state has prioritized spending on multibillion-dollar vanity projects, despite chronic food shortages and price hikes.



Widespread poverty, corruption, and unemployment have forced millions of Turkmen to leave the country in recent decades.



You have a new city in a country where the population is shrinking, whatever official statistics claim. You have a new airport that costs over $2 billion in a country that has no tourism and which is trying to stop its citizens from fleeing the country, said Anceschi of the University of Glasgow.

Everything is backwards, but what we can be sure of, is that somebody is making an awful lot of money off these projects. Because they are instruments of corruption, he said.

There is little hope of a change in direction. President Serdar Berdymukhammedov has pledged to follow the course set by his father.

The younger Berdymukhammedov has only had good things to say about Arkadag, a project that he has led.



There are currently few countries in the world that are building and commissioning an entire city, Berdymukhammedov said in April. This indicates the growing economic potential of the Motherland, the good training of our specialists.
KOSTYANTYNIVKA, Ukraine -- A few desperate residents of Kostyantynivka huddle around a fire in a neighborhood littered with the rubble of damaged buildings and burned-out cars.

Gas and power lines have been severed by Russian attacks on this frontline city, so the open fire is their only means of cooking a meal.

One woman comments on the constant threat of a drone attack. Theyre flying all the time. Big ones, little ones, all kinds of drones, she says.

When an RFE/RL reporter asks if shes afraid to be outside, she answers, I have no choice.

Once home to nearly 70,000 people, the industrial city of Kostyantynivka in eastern Ukraine now has a population far smaller, but a handful of civilians, many of them elderly, remain here despite efforts to evacuate the city.

Many, like the woman cooking on the open fire, say they have nowhere to go.

Theres nothing I can do, said another resident cooking soup. My nephew had an apartment in Kharkiv. I was going to go there because he left for Germany. But it was destroyed, too. I have nowhere to go.

She told RFE/RL that the shop where she used to work was also destroyed in an attack. Hearing the buzz of a nearby drone, she said calmly, Were used to it.

Ukrainian forces stationed in and around the city have kept Russian forces from advancing into Kostyantynivka, a critical stronghold in the Donetsk region and one of the war's most active battlegrounds.

As Russian drones swarm overhead, soldiers of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade use their own fleet of drones to ward off attacks. The Ukrainian drones also provide one of the few supply lines for badly needed provisions.

There are five [drone] flights in the morning to bring [supplies] to the infantry: food, water, power banks, ammo, thermal underwear, blankets, a soldier named Oleksandr explains. We havent brought in pillows yet but we might. The guys get sick, they need bandages. We sent them an IV line yesterday.

While Russian efforts to advance into Kostyantynivka appear stalled for now, aerial attacks on civilian sites occur continually.

Another resident of a shattered apartment block cries as she describes how quickly the damage occurred. It only took them three weeks to destroy the city, she says.
Photo: https://www.facebook.com

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Vitaliy Makhinchuk and Maksym Saviuk to the positions of members of the High Council of Justice (HCJ), the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration has said.

"This decision is an important step to ensure the full-fledged work of the High Council of Justice, a body that plays a significant role in the democratic system of Ukraine. The effective work of the High Council of Justice is, among other things, related to the implementation of the Roadmap on the rule of law. Strengthening the rule of law is an integral part of Ukraine's movement towards EU membership as one of the Copenhagen criteria and a key element of negotiation chapters 23 and 24," the office said in a statement.

It is noted that the High Council of Justice currently consists of 17 members, but envisages a 21st member. Therefore, four more seats remain vacant.

Makhinchuk is PhD in Law, Professor, Deputy Director for Scientific Work of the Academician Burchak Research Institute of Private Law and Entrepreneurship of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, Honored Lawyer of Ukraine, member of the Scientific Advisory Council under the Supreme Court, deputy member of the Advisory Group of Experts.

Saviuk is Detective of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine. The main area of activity is the investigation of criminal corruption offenses committed in the justice system and in prosecutor's offices. He worked for over ten years in the Court of Appeal of Ivano-Frankivsk region, according to the Telegram channel of the Supreme Court of Ukraine.

The High Council of Justice is a collegial, independent constitutional body of state power and judicial governance that operates in Ukraine on a permanent basis to ensure the independence of the judiciary, its functioning on the principles of responsibility, accountability to society, the formation of an honest and highly professional corps of judges, compliance with the norms of the Constitution and laws of Ukraine, as well as professional ethics in the activities of judges and prosecutors.
Photo: https://x.com/DefensieMin

Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans held a meeting with Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Oleksandr Kozenko, during which they discussed further support for the F-16 Fighting Falcon multi-role fighters with ammunition, spare parts and assistance in training personnel.

"Great meeting with Ukrainian colleague Kozenko about our F-16 support. It's truly impressive how Ukrainian pilots are using F-16s to protect the skies and eliminate drones and missiles. We keep supporting the Ukrainian air force with ammunition, spare parts and training," Brekelmans said on the X social network on Wednesday.

In total, the Netherlands transferred 24 F-16 fighters to Ukraine between 2024 and 2025.

As Kozenko reported in July, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine received two technical hubs for aircraft and aviation weapons to service the F-16 and another mission planning complex.
Iarnrod Eireann customers were faced with delays on train services on the Sligo/Dublin line this morning with trains suspended for a time between Sligo and Kilcock due to a signalling issue.

Irish Rail has said, Services have resumed between Sligo/Kilcock with the 06.40 Sligo/Connolly operating 83 minutes behind schedule.

The next service from Connolly/Sligo will be the 09.05. Services on the Sligo/Connolly route will experience delays as a result.
Farmers whose land was burned following a huge fire in Gorthaganny last May should not be penalised with reduced farm payments, a Sinn Fein TD said this week.

Deputy Claire Kerrane has called on the Minister for Agriculture to ensure that his Department does not punish farmers in the Gorthaganny area of West Roscommon.

"It is unacceptable that farmers would lose even one red cent in farm payments due to burnt land, stressed Deputy Kerrane.

"The horrific fire, one of the worst ever seen in the State, I would say, caused huge damage to the SAC, to land, to bog and to forestry, she explained.

"There has already been a devastating financial blow for those affected. Farmers in Gorthaganny did not start the fire. They are not responsible and they should not be punished and be forced to pay the price for it, she stressed.

"While I understand the new satellite mapping in the Department is advanced and has highlighted burnt land, I have asked the Minister for Agriculture that this be disregarded.

"Farmers have already lost out and the Minister should do right by them now, she said.
A new flipbook focusing on Polish wildlife and its environs by County Roscommon native Michael Gannon will be launched on Thursday, October 9th in Roscommon Library at 7 p.m..

Michael who was born in Roscommon spent his childhood years growing up in the town, enjoying adventures with his friends around the Norman castle along with days out in the library.

He left his hometown at around the age of 18 and ventured to Dublin, Donegal and Derry and attended the University of Ulster. He said it was destiny that he ended up in Poland where he fell in love with his future wife but also with the geo-political crossroads of eastern and western Europe.

He writes, I moved around Ireland to living in various corners of the country. Although Ireland is four times smaller in surface area than Poland, its coastline is eight times longer. You could say the Poles are of the land while the Irish are off the sea.

Commenting on the area around ElblA g he said, Everything attracted me  the people, the culture, food, history, architecture and most of all the wildlife. He also began working as a tour guide, often leading tours around former concentration camps and in fact translated a book about children at the camp.

He later decided to buy a camera and this lead him to remote places straddling the regions border.

The Vistula Delta and the Elblag Uplands through Irish Eyes by Michael Gannon will be launched on Thursday evening in Roscommon Library.

He writes, At some point I bought a camera and began pressing the button. When I ventured into more remote places straddling the Russian regions border, armed with my long lens, the Polish Border Guard became interested in my wanderings, my somewhat broken Polish only fuelled their suspicions. What are you doing here? they would ask. I'm looking for a moose, I would reply. Nice job. Well, what are you doing here? Usually such mild interrogations ended in pleasantries.

The Vistula Delta and the ElblA g Uplands through Irish Eyes is his debut book. It is a flipbook that recalls his time growing up featuring photos and commentary from his earlier life, moving on to his time in Poland highlighting the visual impact of the wildlife and landscape.

The father of one is delighted to return home to launch his work in Roscommon Library which he was encouraged to do so on the advice of his family and friends.

He concluded by stating, The heady mix of forest, fens, dunes and the sea that you find bordering each other around ElblA g is a natural phenomenon. I am neither a photographer nor an naturalist, I just take pictures and admire the beauty of the nature that I see. Something that we can all do, only if we only take the time to look. This album is a labour of love born out of a passion for my adopted homeland, and I hope you will enjoy looking at the photos as much as I did taking them.
Olivia Kelleher

The skeletal remains of a man who had been badly beaten and attacked with a hammer-type weapon were found in a large gravel bag in scrubland in Co Cork, close to five months after he was last seen, a murder trial has heard.

Niall Long, 33, formerly of St Michaels Close, Mahon, Cork, and Luke Taylor, 27, previously of Cherry Lawn, Blackrock, Cork are charged with the murder of Kieran Quilligan.

Both men have gone on trial at a sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Cork, having denied murdering the 47-year-old.

Prosecution senior counsel, Donal OSullivan, said that the case of the state is that the men killed Mr Quilligan in a joint enterprise".

Mr OSullivan stated that the prosecution could not say which of the two men carried out the killer blow or blows.

Mr OSullivan said that the jury would hear that Mr Quilligan was a drug user and dealer, and that Mr Long was a drug user and may also have been a drug dealer.

Kieran Quilligan was living with his partner in Simon Community housing in Cork city when he was last seen on September 1st, 2023. He was from Togher and Knocknaheeny in Cork city.

It is alleged by the State that that morning he was with a man called John Paul Thornton, who has the nickname Bubbles.

Mr OSullivan said the men met one of the accused men, Niall Long, on a side street off York Street in Cork city and robbed and assaulted him. Mr OSullivan said that it appears that this incident was an instigating factor in relation to what allegedly occurred later.

Mr OSullivan said that Luke Taylor was with Kieran Quilligan in the latters apartment later that day. He said the men later left the apartment and were captured on CCTV going along the quays from the South Gate Bridge in Cork city. They walked up the steps of St Finbarrs Place.

Mr Quilligan and Mr Taylor went up that lane. Two people (living in a house) heard a violent altercation at the top of the lane and called the guards.

He said that a white Toyota car registered to Mr Longs mother was reversed into the top of Dean Street, which is located at the top of St Finbarrs Place.

At 9.05pm a car reverses its boot facing down the lane. Neither Kieran Quilligan nor Luke Taylor are seen at the top of that lane. The car is tracked going to a location in Little Island.

"Luke Taylor is dropped off at an address in Jacobs Island. Kieran Quilligan is never seen alive again. The last time he was seen was at around 9pm.

Mr OSullivan said Mr Quilligan failed to collect his social welfare money. He reported missing by his partner. A missing persons investigation commenced.

It is further alleged by the state that on September 4th, 2023, Luke Taylor was picked up at a hotel in Cork by a person driving a white Toyota. The vehicle was driven around areas in East Cork.

Gardai harvested CCTV footage and found that the car was driven to a section of road on a sweeping bend in scrubland in Rostellan.

Mr OSullivan said that a cadaver dog was brought to the area on January 29th, 2024.

It was a wet and damp place. Not the sort of place anyone would walk. Some what covered under there was a gravel bag. In another gravel bag under there was the skeletal human remains of Kieran Quilligan.

The jury were told that a post-mortem examination was carried out by Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster.

There were a large number of skeletal injuries. He (Mr Quilligan) met his end in a violent manner."

Dr Bolster was not able to determine the exact cause of death.

Mr OSullivan said that gardai searched the home of Niall Long and seized a car from the property on September 15th, 2023.

A bucket and cleaning products were also analysed, and blood was found. It was a match for the late Kieran Quilligan.

Meanwhile, the trial also heard evidence from Dion Carey, a former resident of St Finbarrs Place. She recalled hearing loud noises and the voices of three or four men on the lane at around 9.15pm on September 1st, 2023.

Evidence was also given by John Paul Thornton, who told the jury of ten men and two women that he had robbed and dragged a man in the area of York Street on the morning of September 1st, 2023.

He said that he and Kieran Quilligan were short a small amount of money for drugs. He acknowledged that he was the main mover in the robbery and assault, which he carried out with Mr Quilligan.

Colette ODriscoll, the long-term partner of Mr Quilligan, said that she reported him missing to gardai three days after he was last seen.

At one point during that time, she said she met Mr Taylor on the street and he told her he last saw Kieran Quilligan on Morrisons Island in Cork city.

The case will continue on Thursday in front of the jury of ten men and two women, and Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford.
Congress To Release Chargesheet Against The NDA Government In Bihar Tomorrow; ECI Issues MCC

It has also banned the transfer of all officers and officials connected with the conduct of elections.

Congress To Release Chargesheet Against The NDA Government In Bihar Tomorrow Latest News: Congress will release a chargesheet against the NDA government in Bihar tomorrow at the Congress office in Patna, according to ANI.

Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Ashok Gehlot, and Bhupesh Baghel will release the chargesheet at 2 p.m. tomorrow, it said.

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The development comes about a month ahead of the Bihar Assembly election.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar on October 6, 2025. The Assembly elections in Bihar are scheduled to be held in two phases, with polling on November 6 (121 seats) and November 11 (122 seats).

The counting of votes will take place on November 14. The entire election process will be concluded by November 16, the Election Commission of Indias Gyanesh Kumar announced on Monday.

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Bihar has a total of 7.42 crore voters  3.92 crore male and 3.5 crore female voters. Around 14 lakh are first-time voters, while 14,000 voters are over 100 years old. There are a total of 90,712 polling stations across the state.

Model Code of Conduct (MCC)

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India on Wednesday issued directions for strict implementation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the Bihar elections.

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In a press note issued today, the ECI stated that with the announcement of the schedule for the election on October 6, 2025, it has issued directions to the Chief Secretary and Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar regarding the immediate enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in the state.

The MCC shall also be applicable to the Central Government insofar as announcements or policy decisions for Bihar are concerned, the ECI press note read.

The Commission has directed strict compliance with instructions related to the removal of defacement from government, public, and private property; misuse of official vehicles or government accommodation by any political party, candidate, or any other person connected with the election; and a ban on issuing advertisements at the cost of the public exchequer, the press note read.

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The ECI has set up a complaint monitoring system, including a call centre number  1950  where complaints can be lodged by any member of the public or political party with the DEO/RO concerned. This system is operational 24x7.

#ECI issues directions for strict implementation of Model Code of Conduct #MCC for the #Bihar elections



Read more: https://t.co/k9JJv8uDF9 pic.twitter.com/mA6Ih4As05  Election Commission of India (@ECISVEEP) October 8, 2025

Citizens and political parties can also report MCC violations using the C-Vigil app on ECINET. A total of 824 flying squads have been deployed across the state to ensure that complaints are attended to within 100 minutes, the press note further stated.

It has also banned the transfer of all officers and officials connected with the conduct of elections.

(For more news apart from Congress To Release Chargesheet Against The NDA Government In Bihar Tomorrow; ECI Issues MCC, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Elderly, PwD, and Service Voters Can Vote Using Postal Ballot in the Bihar Assembly Elections: ECI

Fire Services, Health, Electricity, Traffic, Ambulance Services, Aviation, & long-distance Govt Road Transport Corporations are covered

Elderly, PwD, and Service Voters Can Vote Using Postal Ballot in the Bihar Assembly Elections News: Electors above the age of 85 years and those with benchmark disabilities can cast their votes through postal ballot in the Bihar Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) said in a press note on Wednesday.

The permission has been granted under Section 60 (c) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

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Electors above 85 years of age and those with benchmark disabilities can avail this facility using Form 12D and submit it to the Returning Officer through their Booth Level Officer (BLO) within five days of the issuance of the election notification. Polling teams will collect their votes at their homes.

Electors engaged in essential services on the date of polling can apply for the postal ballot facility through the designated Nodal Officer of their respective departments. Essential services such as Fire Services, Health, Electricity, Traffic, Ambulance Services, Aviation, and long-distance Government Road Transport Corporations are covered under this facility, the press note stated.

Media persons authorized by the Election Commission for poll-day coverage have also been included in the category of absentee voters on essential services and are entitled to the postal ballot facility.

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Service voters will be sent their postal ballots electronically by the Returning Officer through the Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS), immediately after the finalization of the list of contesting candidates. Service voters are not required to bear the cost of postal services, the press note read.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the schedule for the General Election to the Legislative Assembly of Bihar and the bye-elections to eight Assembly constituencies across six states and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir on October 6, 2025.Elderly, PwD, and Service Voters Can Vote Using Postal Ballot in the Bihar Assembly Elections: ECI

(For more news apart from Congress To Release Chargesheet Against The NDA Government In Bihar Tomorrow; ECI Issues MCC, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Bilaspur Landslide Death Toll Stands at 16, Including a Seven-Year-Old: Details

Relief and rescue operations continued late into the night, and by 2:30 am, 15 bodies had been recovered.

Bilaspur Landslide Death Toll Stands at 16, Including a Seven-Year-Old, Latest News: A massive and deadly landslide hit a private bus near Balughat (Bhallu Bridge) in the Jhanduta Assembly constituency of Bilaspur district, Himachal Pradesh, on Tuesday, claiming sixteen lives, including a seven-year-old child, officials confirmed.

Relief and rescue operations continued late into the night, and by 2:30 am, 15 bodies had been recovered. The rescue operations resumed as soon as morning broke today.

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Jhanduta SDM Arshiya Sharma told PTI, The body of a seven-year-old child, who was the last missing person, has been recovered. Fifteen deaths were confirmed yesterday. Two injured persons have been discharged from the hospital. The total death toll now stands at 16, including 10 men, three women, and three children.

Two injured individuals were admitted to AIIMS Bilaspur, said the Chief Secretary of Himachal Pradesh, Sanjay Gupta. He also expressed condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the tragic incident.

SDM Arshiya Sharma stated that the rescue operation will now be stopped, as all the bodies have been recovered. The debris from the site will be cleared to make the road functional again, keeping safety in view.

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Meanwhile, 10 to 11 bodies have been handed over to the families after postmortem examinations, and postmortems of the remaining 3 to 4 bodies are currently underway. These will also be handed over once the examinations are complete.

PWD, NDRF, and the local administration have all been actively involved in the relief and rescue operations.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, in a post on X, wrote, I am in contact with the local administration and am receiving minute-by-minute updates on the entire rescue operation. May God grant peace to the departed souls and provide strength to the grieving families. In this difficult time, I stand with all the affected families.

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(For more news apart from Punjab News: Youth Burnt Alive After Vehicle Caught Fire in Bathinda , stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Government Doctor Attacked With Machete By Man At Taluk Hospital In Thamarassery, Tamil Nadu

The doctor, identified as Vipin, was struck on the head and has been rushed to a private hospital for treatment, police said.

Government Doctor Attacked With Machete By Man At Taluk Hospital In Thamarassery, Tamil Nadu: A government doctor was seriously injured after being attacked with a machete by a man at the taluk hospital in Thamarassery in this district on Wednesday, police said.

The assailant, who is the father of a young girl who died recently of amoebic meningitis, has been taken into custody following the afternoon incident, they said.

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The doctor, identified as Vipin, was struck on the head and has been rushed to a private hospital for treatment, police said. (PTI)

(For more news apart from Government Doctor Attacked With Machete By Man At Taluk Hospital In Thamarassery, Tamil Nadu, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.)
Editorial: Bihar Elections Are Very Important For National Politics Too

The bitterness that has already arisen between the NDA and its opponents in the political arena of Bihar

Editorial: Bihar elections are very important for national politics as well: The election politics in the country has heated up again with the announcement of assembly elections in Bihar. While most political parties have expressed satisfaction over the Election Commission's announcement of keeping the election dates and the voting process in two phases, the Congress has not refrained from repeating the allegations of 'vote theft' and the 'unholy alliance' between the Election Commission and the BJP.

The party spokespersons, while maintaining their negative tone, have also said that 'if the elections are free and fair, the ruling NDA will definitely lose.'

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The strong protest created over the deep revision of the voter lists (Special Intensive Revision) in the defeat and the continuous doubts over the functioning of the Election Commission after seeking the intervention of the Supreme Court in this matter, do not befit the oldest political party of the country. It is true that the Election Commission started the deep revision of the voter lists late and also gave the impression of not caring much about transparency in this process, but the intervention of the Supreme Court forced the Commission to abandon its stubbornness and make the revision work more transparent.

However, during the above proceedings, the apex court also continued to urge all the parties concerned from time to time not to hurt the dignity of an important constitutional institution like the Election Commission. Despite such developments, it does not seem reasonable for any party to continue to slander the Commission, especially when the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the leading party in the opposition's 'grand alliance', has distanced itself from such slander.

There are 243 seats in the Bihar Legislative Assembly. As per the announcement of the Election Commission, voting for 121 seats will be held on November 6 and for the remaining 122 seats on November 11. The results will be declared on November 14. Bihar currently has 7.43 crore voters, down from 7.80 crore in the 2020 assembly elections. The reduction in the number of voters has been possible due to the special rectification drive. According to the Election Commission, during the special rectification drive, the names of 68.5 lakh voters were deleted from the voter lists, while 21.5 lakh new voters were added. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar claims that the special rectification drive of the voter lists was, in fact, a process of purification of these lists.

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He says that only the names of those who died, permanently settled in other states or registered in more than one place were deleted from the voter lists. He also said that some such voters were also caught during the special rectification drive who are Nepali or Bangladeshi citizens. But he refused to share further details with the media on the grounds that since the case regarding the special campaign is pending in the Supreme Court, all important information will be shared with the top court first.

The bitterness that has already arisen between the NDA and its opponents in the political arena of Bihar and in the Supreme Court even before the announcement of the election dates is likely to increase in the coming days. The Election Commission has called in 50 companies of central police forces to ensure free and secure elections. The purpose of holding the elections in two phases and not keeping much gap between the two phases is also to limit the chances of violence as much as possible.

In the current assembly, the NDA had 129 seats while the number of seats of the grand alliance was 112. This time, a third alliance is also in the fray under the leadership of the Jan Suraj Party led by Prashant Kishor. Its presence and ability to split votes will give the NDA a chance. Or who is more popular among the grand alliance, only the results will tell. Overall, Bihar will decide on November 14 whether Nitish Kumar will become the Chief Minister for the 10th time or not. These facts and figures will give a new direction and direction to the entire politics of the country in the coming days.

Bihar elections are also very important for national politics.
Romania takes over the CEI presidency

Starting January 1, 2026, Romania is set to take over the presidency of the Central European Initiative

Ministrul de Externe Oana Toiu (foto www.mae.ro)

Roxana Vasile, 08.10.2025, 13:50

On January 1, 2026, Romania is expected to take over the presidency of the Central European Initiative (CEI), a regional cooperation format that brings together 9 European Union member states  Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Italy, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary. They are joined by 7 other states that are not part of the EU bloc  Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of North Macedonia, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia and Ukraine. The structures operation is supported by a secretariat based in Trieste, Italy, led by a Secretary General, and its strategic objectives are to facilitate the creation of a united Europe, by establishing a space of convergence of fundamental values as widely as possible at the level of the continent, focusing cooperation on the transfer of expertise and strengthening the capacities of less developed member states.

According to a press release from Romanias Foreign Ministry, during the informal ministerial meeting of the Central European Initiative, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, the Romanian Foreign Minister, Oana Toiu, confirmed Romanias availability to take over the acting presidency of the Forum starting next year, according to the principle of rotation that regulates presidencies. Romania will succeed Serbia and will exercise this mandate until December 31, 2026. The initiative reconfirms the priority interest given by Romania to regional cooperation, good neighborly relations and the European accession process of candidate states, both those in the Eastern neighborhood, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, and partners in the Western Balkans, the release reads.

According to the Ministry, during the mandate, Romania aims to contribute to accelerating the European integration process of candidate states, to boosting regional cooperation with a focus on energy, transport and digital connectivity, to intensifying political dialogue between participants and economic cooperation. Also, Romania will seek to improve the resilience of the region in the current geopolitical context, marked by the intensification of hybrid threats and attacks. Romania has held the presidency of the Central European Initiative once before, in 2009, the year when the Forum celebrated its 20th anniversary. (VP)
Port Sudan , Sudan (PANA) - The Sudan Doctors Network has said the only operating hospital in the besieged city of El Fasher was bombed on Wednesday, leading to the death and injury of dozens of civilians including medical staff
Photo: https://mod.gov.ua

The International Defense Industry Forum in 2025 gathered about 2,000 participants from over 20 countries, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has said.

"The event brought together almost 900 private foreign and Ukrainian defense and technology companies and associations, 120 government organizations and 50 defense departments, as well as representatives of embassies and international organizations. The largest delegations arrived from Denmark, the United States, Poland, Great Britain, Sweden and Norway, which confirmed the high level of interest and support for Ukraine in the international arena," the ministry said.

"We are creating new partnerships and implementing joint production  both in the territory of our partner countries and in Ukraine. Through the strategic initiatives Build with Ukraine, Build in Ukraine, we are not only strengthening our own defense and industrial complex, but also, together with our allies, building the arsenal of the free world," Minister of Defense of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal said.

It is noted that several important interstate and business agreements were signed on the DFNC grounds, which open up new opportunities for Ukrainian manufacturers.

Thus, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Denmark, which provides for the launch of production by Ukrainian defense companies in Denmark. An agreement was signed with Slovakia on the provision of non-lethal and humanitarian equipment to Ukraine.

With the participation of the Ukroboronprom state corporation, Ukrainian companies signed documents on cooperation with European partners  in particular, with companies from Spain and Romania.

"Ukrainian weapons are our smart force. They are unique because they are created in the conditions of a real, exhausting war and already today help our military perform combat missions. Cooperation between the state, business and international partners and the emergence of such platforms are new production facilities, modern technologies and the opportunity to make our weapons faster, better and in larger volumes," Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Hvozdiar said.

The core topics of the Forum were the achievements and challenges of weapons production in Ukraine and the deepening of defense and industrial cooperation between companies and between the defense industries of partner countries, as a mutual guarantee of security.

Special attention was paid to the combat experience of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which is a key driver in determining the directions and development of defense technology and innovations.

The participants also focused on the technological competition, where the leading topics were unmanned systems, ground robotic complexes, drone swarms and the use of artificial intelligence. An important part of the discussions was the support of the Ukrainian defense industry through funding, international programs EDIP and SAFE, as well as the discussion of the experience of Ukrainian defense procurement.

During the three days, dozens of B2B meetings between Ukrainian and foreign arms manufacturers, government agencies and international organizations took place on the DFNC fields. This will certainly allow for direct cooperation and lay the foundation for new partnerships and strengthening the development of the defense-industrial complex of Ukraine.
Cooperation in European military education

A number of naval students are in Romania part of the Erasmus+ exchange program

Foto: Fortele Navale Romane

Agentia Media a Armatei, 08.10.2025, 14:00

The Erasmus+ program is funded by the European Union for education, training, youth and sport. It offers mobility and collaboration opportunities abroad for pupils, students and teaching staff. The Mircea cel Batran Naval Academy in Constanta continues the tradition of international collaborations in the field of education with partner higher education institutions from different countries. Thus, in the first semester of this academic year, alongside Romanian students, 39 students from partner universities in Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and, for the first time, Portugal, will study within this program.

David Guzdek is from Austria and chose Romania as his destination at the recommendation of friends and family. It is an honor for me to participate in such a ceremony in a foreign country. We have similar things at home, in Austria. I had a few options when I had to choose my destination, but some friends and my uncle told me that it is very beautiful here, so I chose the Romanian Naval Academy. I just arrived here and I havent been able to see much yet, but I cant wait to see Constanta. The academy in Austria looks more like a castle, and the campus is built around it, here everything is on site, which gives it a beautiful but different feel. I havent had any classes yet, but I think they are similar to what we have at home. I am happy, it is new for me, but we Austrians are always looking forward for new challenges and we will give our best, says the Austrian student.

Polish Urszula Bobel is not in Romania for the first time, where she already has friends whom she will see again on this occasion. She considers it the best thing that could happen to her and the perfect place to be. I am from the Naval Academy in Poland. Today was very emotional. This is my second time in Constanta, which is a very beautiful city. I was able to meet my old friends. I want to study, but also meet new people. Choosing the Naval Academy here is the best thing I could have done. I think it will be a great experience. We can improve our English, learn, meet new colleagues. It is the perfect place for me to be. I am in my fifth year, so I will complete my studies this year, says the Polish student.

Year after year, foreign students join crews of Romanian cadets in the training march of the Mircea Training Ship. This year, Frenchman Achille Dupoux had an extraordinary experience aboard the sailboat: I want to say that it was a unique experience for us, because we dont have such a ship in our navy, so it might be the only opportunity in my life for such an experience. It was also unique because I could see the Black Sea, so Im lucky to be here. Climbing the mast is exciting because you have a beautiful view from the top of the mast. Im a little bit sick of heights, so I didnt go all the way up, but even on the first level it was great. We all speak English, so it was easy to understand each other, we created special relationships between us, we had interesting exchanges of ideas. If I had to sum up this experience in three words, I would say that it was unique, amazing and challenging.

The mutual exchange of experience, within these international programs, offers students the opportunity to discover new places, interact with different cultures, and even make friends that they can keep for life.
October 8, 2025 UPDATE

A roundup of local and world news

October 8, 2025 UPDATE

Newsroom, 08.10.2025, 20:00

WEATHER In Romania, the weather will warm up after several counties in the south, east, southeast and centre of the country were under code yellow, orange and red alerts for heavy rainfall and strong wind until Wednesday. Dozens of localities in 23 counties were affected by the severe weather, including the capital city. In the counties where the code red alert was in place, schools were closed on Wednesday.

DEFENCE The defence minister Ionut Mosteanu Wednesday met with the head of the Organisation for Common Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), Joachim Sucker. A framework cooperation agreement was signed between the Romanian government and OCCAR on this occasion, an important step towards consolidating Romanias participation in European defence programmes. According to a news release issued by the defence ministry, the agreement enables the Romanian defence industry to participate directly in the Organisations programmes regarding the development, procurement and maintenance of modern military equipment. Signing this agreement is a major step towards the modernisation of the army, towards deeper integration with the European defence system and towards supporting the national defence industry. It gives us access to the latest technologies and strengthens cooperation with European partners, Ionut Mosteanu said. Also on Wednesday in Bucharest, the Romanian official discussed cooperation opportunities in the defence industry with officers of the European Investment Bank.

JUDICIARY The Constitutional Court of Romania has postponed until October 20 a complaint of the High Court of Cassation of Justice regarding the law reforming the magistrate pension system. Under the bill, for which the government has taken responsibility before Parliament, the length of service required for magistrates to retire increases from 25 to 35 years, and monthly pension benefits are reduced from 100% to 70% of the last net salary. The reform also provides for a 10-year transition period, after which magistrates will retire at the age of 65. Also on Wednesday, the Court dismissed two of the complaints filed by the opposition parties AUR, S.O.S. and POT against the laws for which the Government has taken responsibility in Parliament, namely the law on corporate governance in state-owned companies and one introducing certain measures in public healthcare. However, the Constitutional Court has again deferred the ruling on a complaint concerning measures for the recovery and efficiency of public resources.

AGRICULTURE The PM of Romania Ilie Bolojan had a meeting on Wednesday in Bucharest with the European commissioner for agriculture and food, Christophe Hansen. According to a government press release, the PM said it was essential for the future Common Agricultural Policy to remain balanced and to have an adequate budget, after some member states suggested cuts in the European funding for the sector. Ilie Bolojan emphasised that the rules for accessing the funds must be realistic and adapted to the development level in each state, in order to ensure the protection of farmers and effective access to available resources. In turn, Christophe Hansen presented measures designed to protect EU farmers and to support the development of rural areas, so that they become more attractive for younger generations. The European officials visit to Bucharest takes place amid negotiations on the new Common Agricultural Policy and the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034.

EU The European Commission calls on Romania and France to fully align their national legislation with the EU legislation on road infrastructure safety. The two countries have two months to respond and address the shortcomings reported by Brussels. According to a statement from the European Commission, these are measures taking into account the safety of vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicles). In addition, the two countries must constantly check road safety across the entire network, through inspections and planned remedial measures. They must also ensure that road signs and markings are legible and detectable by human drivers and automatic assistance systems. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the Commission may take additional steps within the infringement procedure.

EC Europe must respond to Russias hybrid warfare, the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament on Wednesday. Citing drone flights over strategic targets in Belgium, Poland, Romania, Denmark and Germany, severed submarine cables and electoral interference, the EC chief insisted that these were not random acts of harassment. The choice before us is very simple: either we stand back and watch the Russian threats escalate, or we confront them with unity, deterrence and determination, Ursula von der Leyen said. (AMP)
Indian shares opened on a positive note on Wednesday despite weak cues from global and caution ahead of the September-quarter earnings season.

The benchmark BSE Sensex was up 269 points, or 0.3 percent, at 82,195, extending gains for a fifth session.

The broader NSE Nifty index edged up by 62 points, or 0.3 percent, to 25,170.

Titan Company shares surged 4.2 percent as the watch and jewelry retailer reported an 18 percent increase in Q2 sales.

IT stocks traded higher, with Infosys, Tech Mahindra and TCS all rising around 2 percent.

CONCOR rose over 1 percent as it signed a strategic agreement with UltraTech Cement to transform cement transportation in the country using rail.

KPIT Technologies added about 1 percent after increasing its stake in N-Dream by an additional 62.9 percent.

Tata Motors edged down slightly after its JLR division reported a 24.2 percent year-on-year decline in Q2 wholesales.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
Industrial production from Germany is set to be released on Wednesday, headlining a light day for the European economic news.

At 2.00 am ET, Destatis publishes Germany's industrial output data for August. Output is expected to fall 1.0 percent month-on-month, in contrast to the 1.3 percent increase in July.

At 3.00 am ET, the Czech Statistical Office releases retail sales and unemployment data. In the meantime, foreign trade figures are due from Austria.

At 4.30 am ET, Iceland's central bank announces its monetary policy decision.

At 8.00 am ET, the monetary policy announcement is due from Romania.

Thereafter, at 9.00 am ET, Poland's central bank releases the outcome of its 2-day monetary policy committee meeting.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
A senior Al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist attack planner has been killed in an airstrike by U.S. forces in Syria.

U.S. Central Command said Muhammad 'Abd-al-Wahhab al-Ahmad was killed in an attack conducted last week.

He was a member of Ansar al-Islam, an Al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist group.

"U.S. forces in the Middle East remain postured to disrupt and defeat efforts by terrorists to plan, organize, and conduct attacks," said Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander. "We will continue to defend our homeland, warfighters, allies and partners throughout the region and beyond," he added.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Three professors have won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the development of metal-organic frameworks.

Announcing the award Wednesday, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi are awarded the coveted Prize for developing a new form of molecular architecture.

The 2025 Nobel Prize laureates in chemistry have created molecular constructions with large spaces through which gases and other chemicals can flow. These constructions, metal-organic frameworks, can be used to harvest water from desert air, capture carbon dioxide, store toxic gases or catalyze chemical reactions.

In their constructions, metal ions function as cornerstones that are linked by long organic (carbon-based) molecules. Together, the metal ions and molecules are organized to form crystals that contain large cavities. These porous materials are called metal-organic frameworks, or MOF. By varying the building blocks used in the MOFs, chemists can design them to capture and store specific substances. MOFs can also drive chemical reactions or conduct electricity.



"Metal-organic frameworks have enormous potential, bringing previously unforeseen opportunities for custom-made materials with new functions," said Heiner Linke, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.

In 1989, Richard Robson tested utilizing the inherent properties of atoms in a new way. He combined positively charged copper ions with a four-armed molecule; this had a chemical group that was attracted to copper ions at the end of each arm.

When they were combined, they bonded to form a well-ordered, spacious crystal. It was like a diamond filled with innumerable cavities.

Robson immediately recognized the potential of his molecular construction, but it was unstable and collapsed easily. However, Susumu Kitagawa and Omar Yaghi provided this building method with a firm foundation; between 1992 and 2003 they made, separately, a series of revolutionary discoveries. Kitagawa showed that gases can flow in and out of the constructions and predicted that MOFs could be made flexible. Yaghi created a very stable MOF and showed that it can be modified using rational design, giving it new and desirable properties.

Following the laureates' groundbreaking discoveries, chemists have built tens of thousands of different MOFs. Some of these may contribute to solving some of humankind's greatest challenges, with applications that include separating PFAS from water, breaking down traces of pharmaceuticals in the environment, capturing carbon dioxide or harvesting water from desert air.

Susumu Kitagawa is a Japanese chemist who is currently working as distinguished professor at Kyoto University.

Omar M. Yaghi is a scientist and Professor at the University of California, Berkeley. Born in a Palestinian refugee family, he holds the citizenship of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the U.S.

Described as a pioneer in crystal engineering involving transition metals, Richard Robson is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Melbourne, Australia.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said the prize amount of 11 million Swedish kronor, or $1.16 million, will be shared equally by the laureates.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Canadian stocks are likely to open higher Wednesday morning, tracking firm crude oil and metal prices. A positive trend in Europe is also likely to aid sentiment.

Meanwhile, investors will continue to closely follow the developments on the trade front.

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc told reporters that White House talks were "substantive," but made no announcement on a deal or tariff relief. He also said that talks would continue.

Teck Resources Limited (TECK.TO) has updated its operational outlook following a comprehensive operations review launched in August. The company has also provided third-quarter production and sales volumes.

Canadian stocks closed weak on Tuesday, snapping a seven-day winning streak, as the focus of investors shifted to a meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.

The benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index closed at 30.351.72, down by 180.16 points, or 0.59%.

Asian closed weak on Wednesday after Wall Street's main indexes pulled back from record highs overnight on the back of mixed messages from Federal Reserve officials on the pace on interest-rate cuts and concerns about a bubble forming around artificial intelligence.

Despite the political tensions in France, the major European markets gained some ground in positive territory, with steel stocks finding support after the European Union proposed to lower shipment quotas for tariff-free steel imports into the bloc, and hike tariffs on volumes that are above the proposed limits.

In commodities trading, West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures are up $0.99 or 1.6% at $62.72 a barrel.

Gold futures are gaining $59.90 or 1.5% at $4,064.30 an ounce, while Silver futures are up $1.205 or 2.54% at $48.720 an ounce.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Market Analysis
Freshpet, Inc. (FRPT) fell 6.22% to around $49.58, down $3.29, hurt by leadership changes.

The company announced that CFO Todd Cunfer will step down on October 17 to join Campbell Soup Company. Ivan Garcia was named Interim CFO.

The stock opened at $53.70, traded between $52.70 and $54.42, against a prior close of $53.50.

Volume was about 730,000 shares, below the average of 1.45 million. It trades within a 52-week range of $48.41 to $164.07.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
The highly competitive compact SUV segment will soon heat up with the launch of updated European entrants. Were talking about the Skoda Kushaq facelift and Volkswagen Taigun facelift. Both these SUVs have been spied testing in India. There have been more Kushaq sightings in India than Taigun facelift.

While most of the Skoda Kushaq test mule sightings are seen around Pune city, the recent spy shots from automotive enthusiast Yusuf Khan come from Jammu and Kashmir. This suggests Kushaq facelift is being tested in high altitude conditions before a formal launch. These spy shots show Kushaq facelift from up close. Lets check out the details.

Skoda Kushaq Facelift Spied Altitude Testing

One of Indias most notable car manufacturers, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd (SAVWIPL) is on the verge of launching an updated Kushaq in the country. The goal is to launch the best version of Kushaq ever, with features, creature comforts, safety and equipment buyers in this segment are craving for.

The latest spy shots are fully camouflaged. However, we can kind of make out some of the outlines of design elements with these spy shots. For starters, headlights and fog lights adhere to a similar approach, but we can see that LED DRL and turn indicators are now on the top of this headlight, unlike the bottom position in current model.

Even the shape of fog lights are redesigned and so is the shape of its honeycomb mesh pattern in lower grille. We still have moustache-like butterfly grille, which might be redesigned as well. We can see some multi-layered camouflage here, suggesting the presence of a radar module for ADAS, but we cant say for sure.

What to expect?

What we dont see a hint of, is 360-degree cameras on ORVMs. Alloy wheels look slightly different and rear LED tail lights seem to be carried over. However, these tail lights now seem to be connected with either an LED light bar or a black plaque with SKODA lettering. Front and rear bumpers might be redesigned to establish a new look. Also, we hope there are rear disc brakes with Kushaq facelift.

On the inside, one could expect features like a panoramic sunroof, dual zone automatic climate control, more comprehensive connected features and more. ADAS has become need of the hour for Skoda Kushaq as majority of its rivals offer some kind of autonomous driving feature suit, something Kushaq is yet to get.

Powering the Kushaq facelift is likely to be the same 1.0L 3-cyl Turbo Petrol and a 1.5L 4-cyl Turbo Petrol engine options as before. The former packs 114 bhp and 178 Nm, mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque converter. The latter brings 148 bhp and 250 Nm, mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT.
Photo: The Presidential Office of Ukraine / www.president.gov.ua

Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom Valeriy Zaluzhny stated that he does not recognize the ideas of holding elections during war and has no ties to any political force, he said this in a comment on the media coverage of the topic of ratings of political figures and parties.

"It is a pity that it is our media that does not convey to the citizens of Ukraine a strategy that would at least give us the opportunity to hold the elections themselves. However, thanks to them, we know everything about ratings, parties, headquarters, and even about who should or should not engage in politics. I do not recognize any ideas about holding elections during the war. Anyone who receives an offer from someone with my name to join any processes through any organization must report this to law enforcement agencies. I do not create headquarters or parties and, in principle, have no ties to any political force," he said on his Facebook page on Wednesday.

According to him, while the war is ongoing, elections to state bodies in Ukraine are impossible.

"As long as I have the opportunity to serve the state, I will do it. My position is unchanged: while the war is ongoing, elections in Ukraine to its state bodies are impossible. The enemy, having not won a victory on the front, like 100 years ago, is already using modern opportunities, such as anonymous sources, bots and media, to disperse our society and prepare us for elections, but in the State Duma of the country that is killing us. And by the way, they will be announced for the last time by anonymous sources. Then it will be true. Only a united nation is able to survive," Zaluzhny said.

As reported on August 31, Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Zaluzhny has the highest trust of Ukrainians among politicians (74%), this is evidenced by the results of a survey conducted by the Rating Group sociological group on August 21-23.

Reports began to appear in the media that Zaluzhny allegedly approached several top military officials with an offer to support him in case he runs for president of Ukraine and to join his potential party list.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he held a meeting on Wednesday with the heads of investment funds and business associations, both Ukrainian and international.

"We talked about how we can increase the capabilities of our defense industry, develop new areas of cooperation and open weapons export platforms. We count on continued support for Ukraine. For us, this is one of the new areas where we can see real growth in cooperation and the defense industry of Ukraine. According to our assessment, the potential in the production of drones and missiles alone will be $35 billion in 2026," Zelenskyy said in the Telegram channel.

According to him, Ukraine is ready to share its achievements, technology, and develop joint production. "We are also ready to open arms export platforms in Europe, the United States and other countries, provided that our technologies are controlled and protected," the president said.

According to the presidential press service, Zelenskyy met with the heads of international and Ukrainian investment funds and business associations that participated in the third Defense Industry Forum.

The meeting discussed, in particular, increasing the number of developments and innovations, as well as an impetus for the development of new types of weapons.

The meeting was attended by representatives of ADS Group, AHK Ukraine, Defence Builder, Darkstar, Baryon Investment Fund, MITS Capital, East Office of Finnish Industries, US-Ukraine Business Council, D3 Venture Capital, Double Tap Investments, Resist.UA, UA1, Angel One Fund, United Tech Assets, Invest in Bravery.
Takeaways

A recent court filing and correspondence between a private prison operator and Lea County officials indicate a battle could be brewing over which public entity, if any, will have a say in how a vacant prison complex near Hobbs is used going forward.

The Lea County Correctional Facility held state prisoners for decades but has been empty since late May. The state moved its prisoners out after Geo Group announced it intended to permanently close the prison. Geo Group offered the complex up as a potential immigration detention facility in response to a federal request for proposals in 2024.

It is unclear whether the companys 98-year lease with Lea County for the use of the land under the prison is still valid in light of a deed restriction that calls for the property to revert to the city of Hobbs if it is no longer being used as a county jail or state prison. Lea County has asked a state District Court to make findings on that issue and others, which could determine whether the county or city have a say in how Geo Group uses the property.
Photo: Raytheon Missiles & Defense

The number of Tomahawk cruise missiles that can be transferred to Ukraine will depend on the willingness of U.S. President Donald Trump to further escalate the situation, Head of the permanent delegation of the Verkhovna Rada to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Yehor Chernev (the Servant of the People faction) believes.

"At the moment [in the United States] there are about 9,000 missiles, of which 4,500 are modernized... How many will they be ready to provide us? I think that the number will depend on how much Trump wants to escalate further, and how incompetent Putin is. He is already showing that he does not want to engage in any dialogue," Chernev said on the air of a national telethon on Wednesday.

Chernev does not rule out that instead of Tomahawk missiles, Ukraine may be provided with other missiles or systems.

"To be honest, I think that maybe not even Tomahawk missiles. Maybe other missiles or other systems will be provided, because Tomahawk is, first of all, a sea-based and underwater missile. We do not have carriers today. There are several ground-based complexes in the U.S. army, but they were created just a few years ago... There are not so many of them to transfer a large number of launchers to us, and this will entail the question of the number of missiles that will be transferred to us," the MP said.

He recalled that everyone remembers well how Storm Shadow and Scalp were transferred to Ukraine: at first  a few units, later, when the partners were convinced that the Ukrainian army is able to operate them effectively, the supply increased.

"It was still dozens, but not hundreds, not thousands, simply because there is no such possibility to transfer such a [large] number of missiles to our partners," Chernev said.
Interfax-Ukraine to host press conference 'Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system and its practical implementation in educational institutions'

On Thursday, October 9, at 13.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference entitled "Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system and its practical implementation in educational institutions."

Participants include PhD in Law, Associate Professor, CEO of E-Science Space, and Education Advisor at the Center for Strategic Innovation and Progressive Development Maryna Dei; an expert on the development and implementation of the HACCP system for business entities in the food industry Maria Naboka; a representative of Protech IT Ukraine and an expert on professional equipment (technical solutions for schools and kindergartens) Yaroslav Filatov; head of the Rayvon law firm and an attorney (on legal risks and liability of managers) Lilia Voroniuk; PhD in Pedagogical Sciences, a research associate in the Department of Scientific and Methodological Support for Improving the Quality of Education at the State Scientific Institution Institute for the Modernization of Educational Content Olena Udalova, moderator: journalist and communications specialist Olha Levkun (8/5a, Reitarska St.).

The event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel.

Admission requires registration of the spot with press ID cards.
Diplomatic Legal Hub, a permanent consulting and legal center for foreign diplomatic institutions, businesses, and citizens, was presented in Kyiv. It was created on the initiative of Barristers in cooperation with Ukrainian lawyers. The platform is designed to provide continuous legal support to foreigners in Ukraine and reduce the administrative burden on embassies and companies, particularly in matters related to migration, criminal, economic, tax, and martial law issues.

Oleksiy Shevchuk, partner at Barristers and spokesperson for the Ukrainian National Bar Association (UNBA), emphasized that the hub will function as a practical mechanism for providing immediate assistance.

"Today we are presenting a platform where any representative of an embassy, foreign business, or foreign citizen can report their problem online 24/7 and receive appropriate support. Our team will use, among other things, universal jurisdiction tools to protect against persecution," he said at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Wednesday.

According to Shevchuk, foreign citizens often remain without adequate state protection in wartime, so the team's task is to provide them with fast and high-quality legal support.

Elvira Lazarenko, a partner at Barristers, outlined the hub's service model.

We provide support throughout the entire cycle  from crossing the border and proper documentation to resolving disputes with the migration service, customs, and in court. For at least the next two years, assistance to foreign citizens will be provided pro bono, she said.

Yaroslav Kuts, lawyer, deputy head of the UNAA Information Policy Committee, and partner at a2kat, emphasized Ukraine's openness to foreigners and investments and explained that the hub was created not only to provide assistance during martial law, but also with a view to post-war recovery, when business activity and migration are expected to increase. "

Despite the war, we remain a country that is open with all our heart and soul to foreigners and foreign investment. The hub was created not only for the present  it is working with an eye toward post-war recovery, when the activity of foreign citizens and businesses will increase, he added.

In turn, Alexander Oliynyk, managing partner of VIDSICH Law Firm and chairman of the Criminal Law and Procedure Committee of the Kharkiv Regional Bar Association, drew attention to the risks for companies with a foreign element.

During the period of full-scale war, according to our data, more than 500 criminal proceedings have been opened against enterprises and individuals with a foreign component; in some cases, the indictment materials have already been sent to court. Ukraine has an institution of criminal liability for legal entities  sanctions may apply not only to officials but also to companies as a whole, Oliynyk noted.

During the event, it was emphasized that the platform will also assist with practical issues, from opening bank accounts to contractual support, and is designed to close the service gap, as foreigners are currently forced to seek comprehensive assistance mainly in the private sector.

The organizers announced the creation of a hub secretariat and the availability of an online form for inquiries. Olga Tanyushkina, who initiated the approach whereby lawyers devote part of their time to providing free legal assistance to foreigners helping Ukraine, is named as the program's ideologist.

Diplomatic Legal Hub was initiated by Barristers LLC in cooperation with Ukrainian lawyers and with the support of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency. Key areas include migration law, criminal and commercial proceedings, tax disputes, investment and financial transaction support. The platform is positioned as a legal support tool for diplomatic institutions, businesses, and citizens, with 24/7 access.
This Thursday, the Nobel Prize in Literature will be announced in Stockholm, so its that time of year when readers, booksellers, translators, editors  and of course, writers  try to predict who will win.

Beyond the personal biases that can cloud judgment in these discussions, what do the betting houses say? According to Ladbrokes, the Chinese writer Can Xue and the Hungarian Laszlo Krasznahorkai are in the lead this year, followed by two Spanish-language authors, Mexican writer Cristina Rivera Garza and the Spaniard Enrique Vila-Matas, who are tied with the Australian Gerald Murnane, the Romanian Mircea Cartarescu, and the U.S. writer Thomas Pynchon.

Cross-referencing odds from various bookmakers, as compiled by Nicerodds, places the Indian Amitav Ghosh at the top. In addition to the previously mentioned contenders, it highlights several other perennial favorites: the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, British-American Salman Rushdie, Canadian poet Ann Carson, and the Antigua-born Jamaica Kincaid. Also ranked highly on the lists are Margaret Atwood, Lyudmila Ulitskaya, and Ersi Sotiropoulos.

Language, geography...

Geographic and political factors also emerge each year in discussions about who will receive the Nobel, and they could give an edge in 2025 to the Syrian poet Adonis, a long-standing candidate. These global considerations may also benefit Spanish-language writers, since it has been 15 years since a writer in Spanish, Mario Vargas Llosa in 2010, received the award (the previous one being Camilo Jose Cela in 1989). If Indian author Amitav Ghosh wins, he would be only the second author from that country to be honored, after Rabindranath Tagore in 1913.

Gender parity

The Swedish Academy emphasizes that the Nobel Prize is fundamentally a literary award, and that is what it rewards. Six members of the Academy make up the jury, which rotates every three years and is currently chaired by Anders Olsson, 76. The 2025 jury members who voted are Ellen Mattsson, Anne Sward, Steve Sem-Sandberg, Anna-Karin Palm, and Mats Malm, who serves as secretary. The controversies that surrounded the jury in 2018 are now behind them.

There is gender parity on the jury, and parity has also been observed among the list of laureates over the past 10 years. As for the age of recipients, last year Han Kang, the first Asian woman and first South Korean to win the Nobel, demonstrated  like Olga Tokarczuk before her  that a writer does not need to be 70 or older to be recognized by the Swedish Academy.

From June through the end of August, the jury and its advisers read works from the pool of nominees, and deliberations began in September. Notes from these discussions will be made public 50 years from now, as required by the rules. But this Thursday, the verdict will be announced, and a writer will receive the call that could change their life.

Instinct or luck beyond the odds

Other oracles? The British publishing house Fritzcarraldo, founded in 2014 by Jacques Testard, has correctly predicted the Nobel four times in its little more than 10 years of existence: Svetlana Alexievich in 2015, Olga Tokarczuk in 2018, Annie Ernaux in 2022, and Jon Fosse in 2023. The elegant, youthful imprint seems attuned to the same wavelength as the Nobel Committee, although the Franco-British author Testard told EL PAIS last year that it is more a matter of luck.

He attributed his success to closely following translations and the reception certain authors receive in different countries. His first coup came with the Belarusian Svetlana Alexievich, whose rights he purchased months before she won the Nobel, after reading her work in French and noting its critical acclaim during the literary season in France. And indeed, France is the country with the most Nobel Prizes in Literature (16). Could its current literary scene serve as a crystal ball? Time will tell.

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The presidential motorcade advanced on Tuesday along the rocky, dusty road of Sigsihuayco, a rural community perched in the Andean mountains of El Tambo, in the province of Canar. At the front, a military tank led the way, followed by at least six armored vehicles carrying the president of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa. From the start, the air was thick with tension. On both sides of the path, dozens of gathered demonstrators unleashed their anger against the convoy. From both flanks, locals began hurling stones of various sizes. Others showed their fury by striking the black car bodies with sticks, while windows splintered, their shattering sound frightening the presidential staff inside, who recorded the attack on video.

In those images, released hours later by the government, the largest stones can be seen shattering the bulletproof windows of the official vehicles. The convoy did not stop, but the scene exposed the violence into which rural discontent has degenerated  fueled by a growing list of demands: the repeal of the decree that removed the fuel subsidy, the reduction of VAT from 15% to 12% (as it was before Noboa came to power), the resupply of hospitals without medicines, and a long-unanswered cry for security.

In recent days, the president has tried to contain social protests by showing up in person amid a heavy military presence and by promising economic aid. He has toured the provinces most affected by the Indigenous mobilization, escorted by soldiers and making announcements about public works and social welfare programs. But in El Tambo, the days photo did not turn out as the government had hoped.

Noboa had arrived in that area to announce the construction of a wastewater treatment plant and a sewage system for the region. According to Environment and Energy Minister Ines Manzano, around 500 people began to approach the convoy just as the president was about to begin the event. They threw stones, and there are bullet marks on the presidents car, the official reported, adding that she filed a formal complaint with the Attorney Generals Office. The president was unharmed. He took part in the planned event, and, according to the minister, continued with his schedule as normal. However, she warned that the attack will not go unpunished.

Police arrested five people who will be prosecuted for terrorism and attempted murder against the president. There is nothing peaceful about this. Shooting at the presidents car, throwing stones, damaging state property  these are criminal acts, Manzano declared outside the Attorney Generals Office.

The attack took place on the 16th day of demonstrations called by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), the countrys largest social organization. The protests were an immediate response to the elimination of the fuel subsidy, a measure that raised the price of a gallon of diesel from $1.80 to $2.80. For most rural communities, that increase means more than just an economic adjustment  it represents a direct blow to their way of life.

Through its official X (formerly Twitter) channels, Conaie denounced a brutal police and military action during the presidents arrival in El Tambo. In videos shared by the organization, military vehicles can be seen firing tear gas indiscriminately, even at women and the elderly. The group also stated that five of its members were arbitrarily detained.

Canar is one of the provinces that make up the Andean highlands of Ecuadors Sierra region, home to Kichwa Indigenous communities that, for the most part, supported Noboa in the April elections. Back then, the young politician represented an alternative to Rafael Correas movement, whose candidate failed to win enough votes to return to the presidency. Today, barely six months later, those same communities have shifted from supporting the president to resisting him.

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Berenberg upgraded Anglo American and downgraded Glencore on Wednesday as it took a look at the metals and mining sector.

The bank said current market conditions have challenged a number of preconceptions about investing, but even with some commodity prices touching all-time highs, it remains bullish on the mining sector and believes that conviction equity opportunities will continue to make alpha in this space.

Berenberg lifted Anglo American to buy from hold and hiked the price target to 3,000p from 2,300p as it said the "transformational" and value-creative M&A deal with Teck Resources will result in Anglo shares continuing to outperform, but the shares also offer iron ore exposure.

"To recap, we had been more cautious about Anglo Americans simplification strategy and we still think it has its headwinds - e.g. it needs to re-sell the metallurgical coal business after the original sale to Peabody Energy fell through in 2025; it is awaiting competition approval from Brazilian authorities; and the sale of its diamonds business, De Beers, will be challenging, we think, due to weak market conditions in the diamond space," it said. "However, more important is some game-changing M&A which we think will create value - the first is the merger of equals with Teck Resources, which unlocks attractive synergies between Anglos share in Collahuasi and Tecks adjacent Quebrada Blanca stake (both Chile), and the second is the Los Bronces-Andina (Chile) joint mine plan with Codelco, again unlocking adjacency synergies."

The German bank downgraded Glencore to hold from buy, keeping the price target at 350p as it took a conservative view into year end.

"The market is focused on Glencores copper production, we think, with the company guiding to a H2 weighting of 60% against full-year guidance of 850-890kt," it said. "We currently stand at 224kt for Q3, versus Q2s 176kt, and that leaves 282kt to be delivered in Q4 to meet the bottom end of guidance, which we think would be a quarterly record based on the existing asset base."

Berenberg said it looks as though the market is taking a conservative view on Glencores ability to meet its guidance, although any slips will likely be viewed as a negative.

JPMorgan Cazenove reiterated its underweight rating on B&M European Value Retail on Wednesday and trimmed the price target to 205p from 207p following the discount retailers profit warning a day earlier.

The bank noted that B&M downgraded its short-term and long-term margin outlook, driven by the need for a holistic repositioning of its UK core business.

"Management is rightly focusing on some of the key issues (price, price architecture, range, availability), however, we suspect there could be more forthcoming (space, capital return policy in the context of increasing leverage)," JPM said. "Overall, we think turn-around risks are yet to be further priced-in."

The bank reiterated its UW rating on around 20% earnings downgrades and 30-40% lower free cash flow expectations.
European markets finished a choppy session marginally lower, with trading rangebound as stocks tread water near record highs and flows to safety pushing gold prices to a new peak.

The Stoxx 600, which hit a record closing high of 570.45 on Friday, followed by a flat session on Monday, finished Tuesday 0.15% lower at 569.39  having swung between gains and losses for most of the day  with flat performances in London, Frankfurt and Paris outweighed by moderate declines in Milan, Madrid and Zurich.

After a brief stint in positive territory, French stocks finished unchanged following a 1.3% fall on Monday after Frances newly appointed prime minister Sebastien Lecornu abruptly resigned just hours after he had named cabinet.

Lecornu is now reportedly starting last-ditch talks with various parties to attempt to bring an end to the political turmoil engulfing the country, as president Emmanuel Macron faces mounting pressure to hold a snap parliamentary election.

Meanwhile, gold futures gained 0.8% on Comex to touch $4,008.80 an ounce  a new record high  as risk appetite was scaled back.

"The gold price rally is accelerating and is on track for its strongest annual performance since 1979 as investors seek safety amid political turmoil in France, the ongoing US government shut down, and expectations of two more Fed cuts by year-end," said Axel Rudolph, senior technical analyst at IG.

In economic data, German factory orders unexpectedly fell for the fourth straight month in August, dropping 0.8% after a revised 2.7% decrease in July. The consensus forecast was for an increase of 1.4%

Meanwhile, the Halifax UK house price index fell 0.3% in September following a 0.2% uplift in August, marking its first decline since May. Most analysts had been expecting another 0.2% rise.

Market movers

London-listed discount retailer B&M was a heavy faller, dropping 8% after guiding to a big fall in annual profits this year. The company said it was launching a turnaround plan after underlying sales in its main UK operation barely grew in the first half.

Pharma stocks were providing a drag on markets, with Bayer, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and GSK trading lower after recent gains. British outfit AstraZeneca, however, was flat after reporting positive results from a phase III clinical trial of its Baxdrostat treatment.

Denmarks Orsted was lower after saying it had raised nearly 7bn in a heavily discounted rights issue, as it looks to shore up its finances amid Donald Trumps vocal opposition to wind power.

London's Shell gushed higher after saying it expects "significantly higher" trading in its gas division in the third quarter than in the previous quarter, while tobacco giant Imperial Brands rose after announcing a 1.45bn share buyback.
Lloyds Banking Group has said it is "assessing the implications" of an announcement by the Financial Conduct Authority to charge motor finance lenders 11bn in compensation for unfair practices.

The FCA said late on Tuesday that it expects payouts on 14m finance agreements with customers receiving an average 700 in compensation per agreement. This is lower than its previous estimate of 950 per deal.

An industry-wide investigation found "widespread failings" in how motor finance firms disclosed commission payments and commercial ties between lenders and brokers on agreements signed between 6 April 2007 and 1 November 2024.

"Inadequate disclosure of commission means consumers are less likely to make informed decisions, negotiate or shop around for a better deal. Our analysis indicates that many people may have overpaid on their motor finance," the FCA said.

The regulator is now consulting on an industry-wide scheme to compensate customers, and expects 85% of eligible customers to take part, resulting in an estimated redress of 8.2bn. The estimated costs to firms of implementing and operationalising the scheme would take the total to 11bn.

"Inevitably, given the scale and complexity of such a scheme and limitations in the data we have spanning such a long time period, the estimates remain highly indicative and susceptible to change," the FCA said.

In a statement to shareholders on Wednesday morning, Lloyds said it is looking at "the impact of this consultation in the context of its current provision for this issue and will update the market as and when appropriate".

Many motor finance lenders did not comply with the law or the rules. Now we have legal clarity, its time their customers get fair compensation," said FCA chief executive Nikhil Rathi.
The EU has announced it will match Donald Trumps steel tariffs, doubling levies on imports to 50% in a decision condemned as an existential threat to the industry in the UK. With 80% of British exports going to the EU, the change poses the UK steel industrys biggest ever crisis, according to the lobby group representing the sector, while unions said they could kill off the industry.  Guardian

It would take the average earner in the UK 52 years worth of earnings to become as wealthy as the richest 10%, according to new research by the Resolution Foundation. In a new report, the influential thinktank analyses the Office for National Statistics latest wealth and assets survey, which covers the Covid pandemic period of 2020-22.  Guardian

Western governments must raise pension ages to stop spending and debt from spiralling out of control, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned. In its latest warning about the health of the global economy, the watchdog said bold policies must be adopted to ensure countries are not hobbled by ageing populations.  Telegraph

Hungover young workers calling in sick are becoming a drag on Britains economy, a Left-leaning think tank has warned. The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said Gen Z were disproportionately missing work after struggling with the after affects of alcohol.  Telegraph

The billionaire co-founder of Revolut has changed his residency from the UK to the United Arab Emirates, Companies House filings show. Nik Storonsky, 41, whose fortune is estimated at about $14 billion, made the switch in October last year, according to Tuesdays filing for his family company at the corporate registry.  The Times

A retired KPMG partner has been hit with his third fine in as many as years, this time for overseeing the Big Four firms audits of the Jacamo owner N Brown, which contained numerous failings. Anthony Sykes, who retired in September 2022, was the partner responsible for leading KPMGs work signing off N Browns accounts for its 2021-22 financial year. The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) found serious breaches with the audit, particularly when considering a possible impairment of parts of N Browns business, which also includes the Simply Be and JD Williams brands.  The Times
On May 9, 2023, the U.S. Department of the Treasury targeted the company Sumilab for supplying chemical precursors to the Sinaloa Cartel. It was sanctioned in the same round as Joaquin El Guero Guzman Lopez, the son of convicted drug trafficker Joaquin El Chapo Guzman Loera. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) reported that both had been sanctioned for having engaged in activities or transactions that materially contributed to [...] the international proliferation of illicit drugs.

Since then, the owners of Sumilab  which the U.S. identifies as the center of a fentanyl trafficking network  have received more than three million pesos ($163,620) in direct awards for their other companies. In total, over just more than two years, this network has secured over 190 public contracts from the federal government, hospitals, and state universities in northern Mexico.

A family affair. Thats how the Department of the Treasury described this week the network that the Favela Lopez family set up in Sinaloa to assist Los Chapitos  the faction of the Sinaloa Cartel run by El Chapos sons  and their intermediaries in the production of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Seven family members  Jorge Luis, Francisco, Victor Andres and Gabriela Favela, Guillermo Gallardo, Jairo Verdugo, and Cesar Elias Lopez  and seven companies  Favela Pro, Agrolaren, Storelab, Qui Lab, Viand, Favelab, and Marcerlab  were targeted on Monday for forming a network of chemical, laboratory equipment, and agriculture-related companies serving the Sinaloa Cartel.

While OFAC has been tracking this network for years, following the sanction of the main company, these businesses in Mexico continued to receive public funds through June of this year.

The saga dates back further, to 2001, when Jorge Luis Favela, together with his brothers  the twins Francisco and Victor Andres  and brothers-in-law Guillermo Gallardo and Jairo Verdugo, founded Sumilab. The companys purpose was to distribute reagents, chemicals, and any materials needed in a laboratory. Over the years, the brothers brought in their wives, children, nephews, and cousins to expand the family empire. This gave rise to Favela Pro, Agrolaren, Storelab, and Qui Lab (all led by Jorge Luis Favela), Favelab (headed by Francisco), and Viand (headed by Victor Andres).

All of these companies were operational when Sumilab was sanctioned by the United States in 2023. Up to that point, the company had received nearly 15 million pesos ($818,100) in contracts from the Sinaloa state government alone between 2018 and 2022. The OFAC sanction was a severe blow. Public awards for the parent company vanished, as can be verified in Mexicos National Transparency Platform.

In the days and weeks that followed, the brothers leading Sumilab began stepping down as administrators and presidents of the other companies in the network. They transferred their shares to their children, sisters, or wives, and in some cases to front persons, such as Cesar Elias Lopez, who heads Marcerlab, according to the U.S. Treasury Department.

Victor Andres, Francisco, and Jorge Luis each removed themselves and/or other family members from numerous corporate filings  to include Agrolaren, Viand, Favelab, and Fagalab  and installed front persons in their place, the U.S. agency reported, when announcing the latest round of sanctions.

However, by the summer of 2024, the brothers had returned to many of their positions, according to public documents reviewed by EL PAIS.

With the parent company blocked, public contracts continued  albeit on a smaller scale  to the rest of the network. Of all the companies, only Agrolaren received no awards in these years. According to the National Transparency Platform, the largest sum went to Favelab, which secured 1.32 million pesos (around $70,000) from July 2023 through June 2025, half of it from the State University of Sonora for the supply of chemical, medical, and laboratory products, and the rest from institutions such as the Autonomous University of Baja California Sur, the Sonora Institute of Technology, and the Sinaloa DIF. Meanwhile, Storelab received nearly one million pesos ($54,540) from the Center for Research in Food and Development (CIAD), which belongs to the federal government.

The company with the largest number of contracts was Qui Lab, which obtained almost 120 direct awards from the Sonora Institute of Technology, some for as little as 540 pesos (a total of nearly $4,000), for purchases such as two glass test tubes. In total, all acquisitions from this institution over the last two years amounted to 555,000 pesos (just over $30,000) for the company. The only client of Favela Pro and Viand was the ECOSUR college, which bought filter paper, detergent, potassium chloride, and baking soda from these companies, even though they were thousands of miles away.

Marcerlab received contracts from the Civil Hospital of Culiacan in Sinaloa. The company started receiving contracts just as the war in Sinaloa broke out. In July 2024, Joaquin Guzman Lopez and Ismael El Mayo Zambada were taken into U.S. custody after El Chapos son allegedly betrayed the veteran leader of the Sinaloa Cartel. This triggered a brutal conflict between the two factions of the Sinaloa Cartel  Los Chapitos and Los Mayos. The ongoing violence in the state, which has already left over 1,800 dead  some even at the gates of the Civil Hospital of Culiacan  has coincided with the flow of public funds to this company, now accused of also working for Los Chapitos.

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Finance Minister launches local foreign currency settlement system at GIFT City.

India now accounts for half of the worlds real time digital transactions.

Government pledges strong support for fintech, AI innovation, and global capability centres.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched a new foreign currency settlement system at GIFT City during the Global Fintech Fest. The initiative allows international transactions to be settled locally, strengthening Indias position as a global financial hub. With this, GIFT City joins a select group of international financial centres that enable seamless cross-border payments within their jurisdictions.

In her address, the minister highlighted that India contributes nearly 50% of the worlds real time digital transactions, underscoring the countrys growing influence in global fintech innovation. She also spoke about the governments continued focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), the success of Direct Benefit Transfers, and how digital initiatives have helped save over Rs 4.31 lakh crore through better targeting and reduced leakages.

Sitharaman further emphasized the role of Global Capability Centres (GCCs) and fintech companies in driving the next wave of growth. India currently hosts more than 1,800 GCCs, and the government aims to strengthen this ecosystem by promoting revenue growth, compliance, and innovation led expansion.

Also Read: Nirmala Sitharaman Rules Coaching Centres Are Businesses, 18% GST Mandatory

The Global Fintech Fest brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and innovators from around the world under the theme 'Empowering Finance for a Better World Powered by AI'. Over 7,500 companies and 400 exhibitors participated in the event, which serves as one of the largest global gatherings in the fintech sector.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer are expected to deliver keynote addresses, further highlighting the events international significance.
Auto, FMCG, and realty stocks in focus amid mixed sector signals

Markets opened flat as investors await global and domestic cues

Major updates from Tata Motors, Titan, and Lodha to guide sentiment

Indian stock markets opened on a quiet note on October 8, following a cautious close the previous day. Global signals remain uneven, and investors are closely tracking updates across key sectors like auto, FMCG, real estate, metals, and logistics.

On October 7, Indian indices ended in the green, the Sensex rose by 136.63 points to close at 81,926.75, while the Nifty gained 30.65 points to settle at 25,108.30.

Here are seven stocks likely to move today:

Tata Motors: Its subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover reported a steep fall in Q2 FY26 sales. Retail dropped 17.1%, and wholesale declined 24.2%, largely due to cyberattacks that halted UK operations for nearly six weeks. Sales in July had already dipped due to shipment delays to the US.

Titan: The Company posted 18% growth in domestic sales and 19% in jewellery for Q2. However, growth has slowed from last years 25% rise, mainly due to high gold prices dampening premium jewellery demand.

Godrej Consumer Products: It expects mid-single-digit revenue growth in Q2. About one-third of its products now attract only 5% GST, down from 18%, following tax reforms, likely reducing costs for consumers.

Lodha Developers: Despite fewer new launches, Lodha clocked Rs 4,570 crore in pre-sales (up 7%) and Rs 3,480 crore in collections (up 13%). Bigger launches are planned for H2 to hit the Rs 2.1 lakh crore target.

Also Read: Fresh Week Fresh Moves as Tata IPO Buzz Sets the Market Abuzz

CONCOR: It has partnered with UltraTech Cement to transport bulk cement via rail tank containers, aiming to lower emissions and ease logistics costs.

Anant Raj: The companys board approved a Qualified Institutions Placement (QIP) at Rs 695.83/share to raise funds from institutional investors.

Lloyds Metals: CCI has cleared its plan to acquire 49.99% in Thriveni Pellets, strengthening its metals and energy portfolio.
New York City Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, center, addresses families at the Community Education Council 31 town hall, which took place at the Michael J. Petrides School in Sunnyside on Monday, Oct. 7, 2025. Advance/SILive.com | Mike Matteo

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The citys top education official came to Staten Island this week to address concerns of the boroughs parents and educators.

Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos visited the Michael J. Petrides School campus in Sunnyside on Monday for a town hall meeting, hosted by the boroughs Community Education Council 31, which represents all schools in Staten Islands District 31.

Each community education council holds a town hall in its district with the schools chancellor once during the councils two-year term. Its an opportunity to share information, hear the communitys concerns, and respond to questions.

The town hall began with the chancellor outlining new initiatives and priorities from the Department of Education, including a pilot program for English as a New Language curricula, a framework to prepare students for using AI, and a commitment to continue supporting educators and empowering parents.

Thats why its important that we stay close to all of you, to tell us whats working and whats not working, so we can do more of the good things, and get rid of the stuff thats not working, Aviles-Ramos said.

The chancellor, along with other officials from the DOE, spent the next hour responding to several questions that had been previously submitted by parents from schools around Staten Island.

Cellphone ban

One of the first questions addressed the recent cellphone and internet-enabled device ban that was implemented at the beginning of the school year.

Citing safety concerns, parents from Petrides and Tottenville High School questioned if the chancellor would advocate for a revised cellphone policy that would allow limited use during lunch hours and passing periods.

The chancellor quickly pointed out that the law already allows for exceptions to the ban, if warranted based on a students situation.

Aviles-Ramos also expressed a belief that a push to outright amend the policy and allow phones in passing could lead to inequities in the system, as some schools are better equipped to handle it than others.

To go lobby the state for more flexibility around this, in a school district this size  and I dont mean Staten Island, I mean every 1,600+ schools  that would actually create more chaos and probably bring us back to where we were before," the chancellor said.

School safety

Another topic brought up at the town hall revolved around school safety and the use of the DOEs Discipline Code.

Officials were questioned about whethe the DOE would revise the Discipline Code, as some see the current policies around classroom disruptions and in-school violence as too lenient and ineffective.

Aviles-Ramos pushed back on this interpretation of the Discipline Code, calling the idea that it was overly lenient a misconception, adding that larger issues leading to disruptive behavior need to be addressed.

There are consequences if you do something that warrants consequences. The discipline code is there to be used smartly and appropriately, not to weaponize against children and families, and certainly not to give everybody a pass, the chancellor said.

Gifted & Talented

Parents from several of the boroughs schools asked the chancellor how the DOE would grow Staten Islands Gifted & Talented program, especially with concerns over the programs lottery system and overcrowded classrooms.

Were concerned about the lottery system too, Aviles-Ramos answered, before saying that the agency wanted to hear from the community  parents, teachers, and principals  about what changes should be made.

Admitting that some aspects of the rubric and lottery system for the Gifted & Talented program need adjusting, the chancellor said that the DOE wants any changes to be informed modifications.

Class size

Near the end of the evening, a question was asked about the implementation of New York States class-size law and how it would be implemented in already-overcrowded schools on Staten Island.

Aviles-Ramos said that the DOE is taking proposals from principals on how they can meet the class size law with additional funding.

She also said that the agency is working with school officials to identify other ways to free up space, grant exemptions if a building is already stretched to capacity, and identify situations where a capital project would be needed.

The chancellor also stressed that the DOE does not want to sacrifice space that would be beneficial to students in the name of meeting class size limits.

People were thinking were taking away music rooms and art rooms. Thats not what were doing, said Aviles-Ramos.

This is why its important to leave the process in the hands of the principals, with support from the superintendents and central because they know their building best, she continued.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Staten Island FerryHawks catcher Matt Scheffler has been named to the 2025 Atlantic League Postseason All-Star Team, following a breakout season in which he won the leagues batting title with a .347 average  the second-highest mark in FerryHawks franchise history.

A Kirkland, Washington native and Auburn University product, Scheffler was one of the Atlantic Leagues most consistent and dangerous hitters throughout the 2025 campaign. In his first full season with the FerryHawks, he started 84 games behind the plate before his year was cut short by injury, finishing with 105 hits, 15 home runs, 61 RBI, and an impressive 1.012 OPS.

Schefflers .347 average led all Atlantic League hitters this season and ranks only behind Luis Castros 2024 mark of .356 in the FerryHawks record books (Castro won the leagues batting crown that year).

Before joining the FerryHawks, Scheffler spent four seasons in the Seattle Mariners organization, reaching as high as the Triple-A level. He joined Staten Island for a brief stint late in the 2024 season, then returned in 2025 to take over full-time catching duties, quickly emerging as a cornerstone of the FerryHawks lineup.

His selection to the Atlantic League Postseason All-Star Team caps a memorable year for both Scheffler and the FerryHawks organization  one defined by standout performances, franchise milestones, and the continued growth of Staten Islands hometown ball club.
This photo from Sept. 27, 2015, shows a supermoon rising as seen from Front Street. (Advance/SILive.com | Bill Lyons)

The following events can be viewed using a small telescope:

Draconid meteor shower set to light up the night sky on Oct. 8

Astronomy enthusiasts in Staten Island and the New York metropolitan area are in for a celestial treat on Oct. 8, 2025, as the Draconid meteor shower reaches its peak activity. While the event will be visible across the Northern Hemisphere, local stargazers can expect an impressive display of shooting stars throughout the night.

The Draconid meteor shower, active from Oct. 6 through Oct. 10, will be particularly spectacular around 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The showers radiant point is located in the constellation Draco and viewers can expect to see meteors streaking across the sky, with the best viewing conditions occurring shortly after dusk.

Local astronomers recommend finding a dark location away from city lights for optimal viewing. Areas in Staten Island with minimal light pollution, such as parks or open spaces, will provide the best opportunity to witness this astronomical event.

The meteor shower will be visible to the naked eye, making it accessible to both amateur and experienced sky watchers. Experts suggest looking slightly away from the radiant point to catch the most meteors, with the best viewing area being about 30-40 degrees from the constellation Draco.

For more detailed information about the Draconid meteor shower, visit the official event page: https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20251008_10_100

Celestial spectacle: Moon and Pleiades to dance across the sky on Oct. 10

Close approach of the Moon and M45 (Pleiades star cluster)

Astronomy enthusiasts in Staten Island and the New York metropolitan area will have a unique opportunity to witness a celestial event on Oct. 10, when the Moon and the Pleiades star cluster (M45) make a close approach in the morning sky.

Visible to the naked eye and through binoculars, this astronomical phenomenon will occur at 06:43 BST (British Summer Time), with the pair passing within 54.7 arcminutes of each other. While the timing is in British time, the event will be observable from the northeastern United States, including Staten Island.

The Moon, at a brilliant magnitude of -12.6, will be accompanied by the Pleiades cluster, which will shine at a magnitude of 1.3. Both celestial objects will be located in the constellation Taurus, becoming visible in the morning sky around 8:53 p.m. local time and reaching their highest point at 03:40 a.m..

Amateur astronomers and sky watchers can expect the Moon to be 19 days old and in a waning gibbous phase, covering 82% of its surface.

For more detailed information about this astronomical event, visit the original source: In-The-Sky.org

Southern Taurid meteor shower peaks on Oct. 10

Stargazers in Staten Island and the New York metropolitan area can look forward to a celestial spectacle on Oct. 10, as the Southern Taurid meteor shower reaches its peak. While the shower will be visible across the northeastern United States, local astronomy enthusiasts can expect to see approximately four meteors per hour during the events prime viewing time.

The best viewing window will be in the pre-dawn hours, particularly around 2:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, when the meteor showers radiant point will be highest in the sky. Viewers should look towards the eastern horizon, focusing about 30-40 degrees away from the radiant point in the constellation Cetus for the most meteors.

This annual meteor shower, originating from debris left by comet 2P/Encke, will be active from Sept. 10 to Nov. 20, with its peak on Oct. 10. The waning gibbous moon might create some interference, rising around 8:50 p.m. and potentially reducing visibility.

For more detailed information about viewing conditions and astronomical details, visit the full event page: https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20251010_10_100

Amateur astronomers and sky watchers are advised to find a dark location away from city lights for the best viewing experience.

-Aurigid meteor shower to light up the night sky on Oct. 11

Astronomy enthusiasts in Staten Island and the surrounding New York metropolitan area can look forward to a celestial spectacle on Oct. 11, as the -Aurigid meteor shower reaches its peak.

Local skywatchers can expect to see approximately one meteor per hour during the showers most active period, which will be best viewed in the pre-dawn hours around 6:00 a.m. The meteor shower will be visible from the eastern horizon starting at about 9:06 p.m. and continuing until dawn breaks around 7:11 a.m.

While the meteor rate is relatively modest, the shower offers a unique opportunity for amateur astronomers and stargazers. The best viewing will be in areas with minimal light pollution, such as parks or open spaces away from city lights.

The meteor showers radiant point will be located in the constellation Auriga, and meteors will appear to originate from this region of the sky. Experts recommend looking about 30-40 degrees away from the radiant to catch the most meteors.

For more detailed information about viewing the -Aurigid meteor shower, visit the official event page at https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20251011_10_100.

Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri on Oct. 11

Stargazers in Staten Island, New York, will unfortunately miss out on an exciting astronomical event happening on Oct. 11. The lunar occultation of Beta Tauri (also known as Elnath) will not be visible from the New York area.

However, astronomy enthusiasts in parts of Asia will have a spectacular view. Countries like Indonesia, China, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Japan and several others will be able to witness the Moon passing directly in front of the bright star Beta Tauri. The event will be most visible in regions including:

Southeast Asian countries (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos)

East Asian nations (Japan, Taiwan)

Pacific islands (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Micronesia)

The occultation will occur between approximately 4:44 and 8:00 UTC, with specific timing varying by location.

For those interested in learning more about this celestial event, detailed information can be found at the original source: In-The-Sky.org

While Staten Island residents wont see the occultation directly, astronomy enthusiasts can still appreciate the fascinating mechanics of this rare astronomical phenomenon.

Moon at last quarter on Oct. 13: A celestial spectacle for Staten Island skywatchers

Astronomy enthusiasts in Staten Island and the greater New York metropolitan area will have an opportunity to witness a fascinating lunar event on Oct. 13 - the Moon at last quarter phase.

According to astronomical data from In-The-Sky.org, this lunar phase will be visible to observers across the northeastern United States, including Staten Island. The Moon will rise in the middle of the night and become prominently visible in the pre-dawn sky, appearing almost exactly half illuminated.

Local skywatchers can expect to see the Moon rising around 10:24 p.m. and remaining visible until shortly before sunrise. The best viewing will be in the early morning hours, when the Moon will be high in the southwestern sky.

While the exact viewing conditions will depend on local weather, astronomers recommend finding a location with minimal light pollution for the best experience. Areas like the Conference House Park or the Staten Island Greenbelt could provide excellent vantage points.

For more detailed astronomical information about this lunar event, visit the full event details at: https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20251013_08_100

Astronomy enthusiasts are encouraged to mark their calendars and prepare their telescopes or binoculars for this celestial display.

Moon and Jupiter to align in night sky on Oct. 13

Astronomy enthusiasts in Staten Island and the surrounding New York metropolitan area will have a unique opportunity to witness a celestial conjunction on Oct.13, when the Moon and Jupiter will appear close together in the pre-dawn sky.

According to astronomical data from In-The-Sky.org, the event will be visible from the northeastern United States, including Staten Island. The pair will rise at approximately 12:45 a.m. EDT and reach an impressive altitude of 76 degrees above the southeastern horizon before dawn breaks around 7:23 a.m.

Observers can expect to see the Moon at a brilliant magnitude of -11.9 and Jupiter shining at magnitude -2.2, both located in the constellation Gemini. While a telescope wont capture both objects in the same view, the conjunction will be easily observable with the naked eye or through binoculars.

For those interested in precise details about this astronomical event, more information can be found at: https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20251013_20_100

Local stargazers are encouraged to find a clear, unobstructed view facing southeast before sunrise to catch this spectacular celestial alignment.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Seventeen people have been charged in a major drug trafficking network that distributed fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine across Central New York, according to the state Attorney Generals Office.

The charges follow a months-long investigation led by the Attorney Generals Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) that resulted in the seizure of more than 23 pounds of fentanyl  the largest fentanyl powder seizure in the task forces history - according to an AGs office news release issued Tuesday.

Authorities said thats enough fentanyl to kill one New Yorker every six seconds for an entire year.

Police also seized nearly four pounds of cocaine and over 12 pounds of methamphetamine.

The street value of the drugs is estimated at more than $782,000, officials said. Police also recovered more than $880,000 in cash.

Police also recovered three illegal firearms and two vehicles used to transport and distribute the drugs.

The indictment, unsealed Monday in Onondaga County Court, charges the 17 defendants with a total of 125 crimes, including operating as a major trafficker, criminal possession and sale of controlled substances and conspiracy, officials said.

The investigation - from September 2024 to May 2025 - centered around the ringleader Jaquan T. Jones, 31, of Syracuse, officials said. Jones, also known as Flame, purchased large quantities of drugs from Antonio Sanchez, 37, of New Rochelle, and others, and distributed them through a network of dealers across Onondaga, Oneida, Madison, Cortland and Tompkins counties, officials said.

Jones coordinated sales via text messages and met customers at centralized locations, officials said. Investigators said he and his network used codewords such as soft for cocaine, fet or fetty for fentanyl, and ice for methamphetamine.

A search of a Syracuse residence tied to Jones uncovered approximately 22 pounds of fentanyl and 12 ounces of cocaine, officials said. Additional searches at residences linked to other suspects led to the recovery of more narcotics, illegal weapons, and drug packaging materials, they said.

Joshua J. Stimpson, 29, of Bridgeport - who is also accused of operating as a major trafficker - and his partner, Autumn R. Schneider, 28, distributed large quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine in Oneida and Madison counties, officials said.

The people named in the indictment are:

Etiem M. Berrios, 45, Syracuse

Chase Cahoon, 39, Rome

Cory M. Ching, 32, Poland

Ronnie R. Evanciew, 29, Taberg

Tyler J. Forshee, 30, Cortland

Joshua B. Goyette, 47, Freeville

Jaquan T. Jones, 31, Syracuse

Gary M. Jordan, 53, Rome

Cody E. Lane, 29, Rome

Nicole E. Lighthall, 29, Forestport

Alexander Medina, 24, Syracuse

Antonio Sanchez, 37, New Rochelle

Autumn R. Schneider, 28, Bridgeport

Heather R. Sharpsteen, 39, Groton

Joshua J. Stimpson, 29, Bridgeport

Zachary M. Thornhill, 36, Liverpool

Amanda L. Valenti, 41, Genoa

Each person was charged with:

Second-degree conspiracy

Operating as major trafficker

Third-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance

Second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance

Second-degree criminal sale of controlled substance

Second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia

The operation is part of the AGs Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic (S.U.R.G.E.) Initiative, which has led to the arrest of more than 1,000 alleged traffickers since 2017, officials said.
A man was killed early Tuesday morning after his motorcycle hit a horse in Upstate New York.

The deadly crash was reported around 4:15 a.m. in Clinton, a small town in Dutchess County in the Hudson Valley.

Craig M. Butler, of Staatsburg, was riding a 2007 Yamaha Chappy north on State Route 96 when his motorcycle crashed into a horse in the road near North Creek Road, the New York State Police said in a news release.

The impact of the crash threw Butler from the motorcycle, troopers said.

Although first responders tried to save him, Butler was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. He was 48 years old.

The horse struck by the motorcycle also died, troopers said.

Troopers did not specify how the horse ended up in the roadway or who the animal belonged to.

The accident happened on a rural stretch of State Route 96, a two-lane road dotted with farms.
The president of Burlington Countys community college is suing the college and members of its board of trustees for what he claims has been a year of unrelenting harassment aimed at ousting him from his position.

Dr. Michael Cioce, president of Rowan College at Burlington County since 2018, filed the suit on Sept. 29 in federal court alleging some board members have been engaged in unlawful activities and theyve turned on him for protecting the college.

The suit names the college itself, the board of trustees, members Sean Kennedy and Gino Pasqualone, former trustee Anthony Wright, who resigned in early September, and Adam S. Malamut and his firm, Malamut & Associates, which previously provided contracted legal services for the college, the suit says.

A college spokesperson declined to comment when reached Monday. An email sent to Adam Malamut at his firm was not immediately returned.

This is a classic whistleblower case. A public servant  a community college president  stood up to and spoke out against political corruption, and got crushed for it, the suit filed by lawyer Scott Coffina says at the beginning.

Coffina, the former Burlington County prosecutor who is now in private practice, said the suits allegations speak for themselves.

Cioce alleges that Malamut used his considerable political influence in Burlington County to remake the colleges board, allowing him to gain control and steer business to his friend, Kennedy.

For example, the college nearly awarded Kennedy a website design contract based on Malamuts influence that was three times the cost of the lowest bidder. Cioce believed it would violate the law and halted it in early 2024, the suit says.

Kennedy, who was not yet on the board of trustees, worked for a consulting company CGI, whose bid for the five-year contract was $525,000. The lowest bidder had been $150,481, the suit says. The deal was an outrageous end-run around the colleges fair and open bidding process and Malamut was not happy.

Defendant Malamut was angered by Dr. Cioce standing in his way and threatened him due to his lack of responsiveness, stating to a colleague that if Dr. Cioce wanted to be a big shot he would deal with him, and adding he doesnt know who he is messing with.

This remark kicked off a campaign of illegal retaliation against Cioce, which the suit says it explicitly documents in emails and other correspondence.

In August 2024, Cioce angered Malamut again when he pressed him to make sure the college would be reimbursed for nearly $300,000 in unbudgeted expenses for a solar project that Malamut had championed earlier, in April 2024.

The board approved the expenses on Malamuts assurances theyd recoup the money. When Malamut said the college would not recover all the money, he said Cioce would get a nice press release, but Cioce objected to the waste.

Starting in September and October of 2024, the named trustees engaged in ongoing unethical and illegal conduct aimed at ousting Cioce from his position with Malamut at the head of it, conspiring with pliant trustees to terminate Cioce, the suit says.

The named trustees indeed bowed to Malamuts influence, the suit says.

According to the suit, a startling moment occurred on Oct. 10, 2024, when Kennedy was named chair of the board of trustees  a move Cioce opposed.

In his first act as board chair, Kennedy, threw out a fair and open process and resurrected the expired colleges solicitor contract and awarded it to Malamuts firm, the suit alleges.

The suit labeled Malamut as a political overlord, and Cioce has paid professionally for standing up to him and his influence.

Cioce has suffered false and defamatory allegations that were created for the board to fire him, general harassment by several trustees, and ultimately, a pretextual notice of termination drummed up by using a no-cost employee tuition benefit agreement that Cioce signed and was within his authority, the suit says.

The corruption that (Cioce) has stood up against, and is being persecuted for actively opposing, cannot be accepted as business as usual in New Jersey, the suit concludes.
New York City has joined a coalition of over 70 cities nationwide in support of Oregons legal challenge against the federal governments deployment of National Guard troops in Portland.

The challenge stems from the Trump administrations deployment of 200 National Guard members to Portland, citing protests related to immigration enforcement operations.

On Oct. 4, 2025, the U.S. District Court of Oregon ruled the deployment likely violated federal law after evidence showed that the cited protests were not significantly violent or disruptive.

Due to this finding, the coalition, which includes major cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, and Baltimore, argues that the federal government overreached its authority. They claim there was no legal justification for the Portland deployment, which occurred despite local officials objections.

In an amicus brief, the coalition urges the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, a federal appellate court that hears appeals in nine western states, to uphold this district court ruling.

The amicus brief also highlights economic consequences of National Guard deployments, noting they cause customers to avoid affected areas, leaving local businesses to lose revenue. The brief also cites costs being reflected on local taxpayers, with Los Angeles having to pay a significant $134 million.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated that the city does not need National Guard deployment and would prefer collaboration with federal authorities on specific issues, like stopping illegal gun trafficking.

New York City is proud to  once again  partner with a multitude of localities to assert local control over our own domain: public safety, said Adams in a statement to the press. Our administration has been unrelenting in driving down crime, rooting out violent criminals, and protecting New Yorkers, and we have had record drops in crime thanks to our commitment to public safety and the precision policing of the NYPD.

New York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant also disagreed with the federal approach.

Federalizing and domestically deploying the National Guard can sow chaos in local communities and should be a last resort, not a primary tactic, reserved for exceedingly rare circumstances, Goode-Trufant said.

In response, the federal government has filed an application seeking an immediate stay of the district courts temporary restraining order.
The perpetrator of the attack will serve a total of 14 years, having also been handed a concurrent sentence for distributing child pornography

On September 1, 2022, a man pulled the trigger of a gun inches from former Argentine president Cristina Kirchners head. The bullet missed, and Kirchner was unharmed, unaware at the time that she had just been the victim of a failed assassination attempt. But the attack was recorded, and the video quickly went viral, playing endlessly on cell phones and televisions across a nation in shock. Three years later, the Sixth Federal Court of Buenos Aires sentenced the attacker, Fernando Sabag Montiel, to 10 years in prison for attempting to assassinate Kirchner. His ex-girlfriend, Brenda Uliarte, received an eight-year sentence for being a necessary accomplice.

The court found both defendants guilty and consolidated Sabag Montiels sentences. He will serve a total of 14 years in prison, taking into account his previous four-year sentence for selling child pornography.

The assassination attempt took place in front of dozens of supporters of the former president, who gathered daily in front of her home in Recoleta, an affluent neighborhood in Buenos Aires. They did so to show solidarity with her in the final stretch of a corruption trial for which she was ultimately convicted. Sabag Montiel, armed with a Bersa pistol, camouflaged himself among those asking for selfies and for Kirchner to sign copies of her book Sincerely, until he was right in front of the former president and fired at her. However, the shot failed to go off.

The crowd detained Sabag Montiel and handed him over to the police. Television stations that recorded the failed attack live also later showed Brenda Uliarte leaving the scene.

The perpetrator of the attack confessed in court that his intention was to kill the former president. Because shes corrupt, she steals, and she harms society, he explained in June. His rhetoric remained the same from the outset. I wanted to kill her, he said in his pre-trial statement. Among the reasons he listed at the time was feeling humiliated for going from being a well-off person to being a street vendor selling cotton buds.

This job as a street vendor, which he shared with Uliarte under the orders of Nicolas Carrizo, another suspect who was subsequently released, led to the defendants becoming known as the cotton bud gang.

The chats found on their phones revealed that it wasnt an improvised attack, but rather one planned a couple of months in advance. Im going to go to Cristinas house and shoot her. If its not me, itll be another sicko, Sabag Montiel told his girlfriend in a WhatsApp message. She wasnt far behind. Im going to have Cristina killed. I sent a guy to kill Cristina, I didnt pay him, hes also pissed at her, she wrote to a friend, referring to Sabag Montiel.

The trial began in June 2024, and 157 witnesses testified before the court composed of Judges Sabrina Namer, Adrian Grunberg, and Ignacio Fornari. They unanimously decided to acquit Carrizo after both the Prosecutors Office and the plaintiffs had dropped the charges against him. In his final remarks, hours before the verdict, Carrizo lamented having spent three years in pretrial detention. No one is going to give them back to me.

On Wednesday, in his final remarks, Sabag Montiel stated that the entire case was fabricated and confusingly compared it to the murder of prosecutor Alberto Nisman. Uliarte declined to exercise her right to speak.

Kirchners lawyers unsuccessfully attempted to have the trial also move forward in identifying the alleged masterminds behind the failed assassination attempt. What has been left out has to do with various pieces of evidence that have emerged over the course of these nearly two years that could link people in the political sphere. On the first day of the investigation, the main defendants phone was erased under unknown circumstances. Today we have three people who were visibly involved, but not in the general context, said plaintiffs attorney Marcos Aldazabal at the start of the trial.

In August of last year, when Kirchner testified before the court as a victim, she complained that the investigation had focused on the perpetrators of the attack and had not included the masterminds and financiers. The former president maintains that they did not act on their own initiative but that there was a political plot operating behind them, for which the court has so far found no evidence.

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Governor of California Gavin Newsom speaks during the Clinton Global Initiative on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki) AP

Two top Democrats are threatening to withdraw their states from the National Governors Association unless it condemns President Donald Trumps deployment of National Guard troops across state lines.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) denounced the Trump administrations recent deployment of California National Guard members to Oregon and Texas Guardsmen to Illinois. This comes about a week after Trump suggested using U.S. cities as training ground for troops.

In a letter reported by multiple news outlets, Newsom demanded that his fellow governors denounce this infringement of state sovereignty.

If the National Governors Association cannot coalesce around this, I will have no choice but to withdraw Californias membership. And I would also call on others to do the same, Newsom wrote in a letter, shared by CNNs Edward Issac-Dovere on X, to the association.

Newsom also posted about the association on X.

If the National Governors Association cannot stand against states LITERALLY INVADING ONE ANOTHER  count me out," he wrote.

If the National Governors Association cannot stand against states LITERALLY INVADING ONE ANOTHER  count me out. pic.twitter.com/ctJE4xXVHF  Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) October 7, 2025

In a separate letter to National Governors Association Chair Kevin Stitt, Pritzker called for him to denounce the deployment of the Texas National Guard to Illinois.

This is precisely the federal and interstate overreach we warned against  gubernatorial authority being trampled, state sovereignty being ignored, and the constitutional balance between states being attacked, Pritzker said in the letter.

If the President continues overriding Governors to deploy military assets into another state against another Governors will, we have abandoned the foundational principles that have protected our Republic for nearly 250 years, he wrote.

He also threatened to leave the organization if it did not condemn the deployment of the National Guard troops.

Should National Governors Association leadership choose to remain silent, Illinois will have no choice but to withdraw from the organization. I remain hopeful that principled leadership will prevail over political calculation and we can chart a path forward together, Pritzker concluded.

Leaders in Illinois, Oregon and California have sued, while top White House figures blasted a Trump-appointed judges decision to block the deployment in Portland.

Stephen Miller, a top Trump adviser, suggested its the courts that have ignored constitutional limits.

A district court judge has no conceivable authority, whatsoever, to restrict the President and Commander-in-Chief from dispatching members of the US military to defend federal lives and property, Miller posted on X, likening the protests over Trumps immigration policy to domestic terrorism.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis led a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers in calling on the Secretary of Commerce to restore U.S. alcohol sales in Canada. Jason Paderon

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers, led by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, are asking the U.S. Department of Commerce to help fully restore the sale of American alcohol in Canada.

On Sept. 30, the elected officials penned a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick requesting his assistance in restoring alcohol exports to Canada after the majority of Canadian provinces banned the sale of U.S. spirits in response to tariffs imposed by the federal government earlier this year.

The lawmakers note that during the first half of the year, U.S. exports of distilled spirits to Canada fell 62% and wine exports fell 67% compared to the same period in 2024.

U.S. spirit exports to Canada have dropped 85% to below $10 million in the second quarter of 2025, according to a Reuters report.

These conditions are unsustainable, and without intervention, the U.S. alcohol industry faces consequences that could undermine its strength and competitiveness for decades to come, the letter reads.

The letter states that the export ban has left companies with inventory that had been specifically produced and labeled for the Canadian market, resulting in significant financial losses.

The decrease in sales is forcing companies to make tough economic decisions because of sudden and rapid decreases in revenue. Overnight, pending and future orders across numerous U.S. alcohol producing states were canceled, according to the letter.

While retaliatory tariffs on alcohol imposed by the Canadian government were lifted in recent months, the majority of Canadian provinces still ban the import and sale of American alcohol, including Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia where the majority of U.S. alcohol sales occur.

We thank you for your efforts to expand market access for American producers in our nations trade deals. We now ask for your partnership in addressing these remaining provincial trade barriers in Canada, the letter reads.
A top CNN host who frequently spars with President Donald Trump had some shock praise for the president.

On Jason Tarticks Trading Secrets podcast, Kaitlan Collins gave Trump high marks for engaging with the press, per the New York Post.

Collins said that Trump had embraced dealing with reporters, more so than former President Barack Obama.

When you speak to reporters who covered President Obama, he almost never responded to shouted questions, Collins said.

She said, It wasnt his thing. He would have his moments with world leaders, and then you would leave the Oval. Trump kind of upended that when he came into the White House. Sometimes presidents are press-averse. Trump embraced the media.

Collins went on to say, He did it for decades as like this New York mogul, and so he just had a different approach to the press and always has long before taking office. Most politicians are not very press-savvy. It kind of depends on who it is.

Collins said that she keeps a running list of possible questions handy when covering any White House happening because the president has been known to turn almost any occasion into a press conference.

Trump will swear someone in, and then hell turn to you and say, Any questions? And hell take questions for 45 minutes, Collins said.

Showing how accessible Trump is to the White House press corps, Collins said that she had called the president personally for comment on a story.

She said, I didnt make a habit out of it, but if there was something huge happening like the day of the Mar-a-Lago raid when the FBI showed up and executed a search warrant over the classified documents. We had heard it was happening. Our people on the ground in Florida were trying to get in touch with law enforcement sources. And it was kind of one of those moments where I was like, We will be best served if I just call him directly and ask if this is true. And it was true. And he sent me the statement immediately confirming it.
A major MAGA lawmaker isnt putting the brakes on her battles with President Donald Trump and the Republican Party.

Im not some sort of blind slave to the president, and I dont think anyone should be, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said in an interview with NBC News. I serve in Congress. Were a separate branch of the government, and Im not elected by the president. Im not elected by anyone that works in the White House. Im elected by my district. Thats who I work for, and I got elected without the presidents endorsement, and, you know, I think that has served me really well.

Greene has broken with Trump and fellow Republicans on a number of issues recently: she was critical of the Trump administrations strikes on Iran; referred to the what is happening in Gaza as a genocide; backed an effort to force a House vote to compel the Justice Department to release its files related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, and in the midst of the government shutdown has sided with Democrats in calling for extending the subsidies for the Affordable Care Act.

Trump did not support Greene in her first House primary in 2020, which she won. Trump gave her his nod in the general election.

So I get to be independent as a Republican, Greene said, and I think what helps [Trump] the most is when he has people that are willing to be honest with him and not just tell him what they think he wants to hear.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier leads a multi-state push asking the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to take a Tallahassee parental rights case.

In a video posted on X, Uthmeier said that this is a "fight for parents across the country," as he sided with 21 other states. They have all signed onto the friend-of-the-court brief in support of January and Jeffrey Littlejohn.

Parental Rights Case

The Florida attorney general said they are excited to stand behind Mrs. Littlejohn in her case and fight for parents across the country. His state's brief is one of five that have been filed with the Supreme Court on Monday.

The situation comes as the Littlejohns have been fighting in court against the Leon County School Board since 2021. It all started after they asked for damages, including for emotional distress, arguing that their relationship with their child was damaged because of the district, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

Even though the family lost their case in two federal courts, they are still trying to argue that the Leon County School District violated their parental rights. This was by speaking to their child about a gender support plan without informing the couple first. The child in question apparently wanted to express a gender identity and use pronouns that their parents did not support.

Mr. Littlejohn has since become a spokesperson for the parents' rights movement and has previously appeared alongside Gov. Ron DeSantis and Uthmeier at several events. He has also spoken at various conservative groups events, including Moms for Liberty and the Heritage Foundation.

In a brief filed by Uthmeier's office, they said that parental rights are "fundamental and foundational." It added that parents are the ones entrusted with "ultimate responsibility" for the care, formation, and well-being of their kids, CBS News reported.

Making Decisions in Place of Parents

Parental rights have recently been the focus amid an increasing number of public-school officials taking it upon themselves to make major decisions for children in place of or against their parents' wishes.

The Littlejohns are criticizing school officials for hiding the "social transition" of their child from them. The couple argued that this type of intervention was "highly destructive" and could result in permanent damage to their child's mental and physical health.

The latest push comes after a three-judge federal appeals panel ruled in March against the family because the school district's actions did not "shock the conscience." Judge Robin Rosenbaum said that the defendants did not force the family's child to do anything, as per the Florida Phoenix.
Kim Jong-Uns regime reaffirms its alliance with Russia through a major exhibition that portrays an idyllic image of the country and its involvement in the Ukrainian war

For those accustomed to Russian propaganda, North Korean agitprop is a breath of fresh air in Moscows art galleries. The All-Russian Decorative Art Museum is currently hosting the exhibition DPRK: Country of Great People, a showcase of the arts of Moscows new ally in its disputes with the West. One part of the exhibition pays tribute to the participation of North Korean soldiers in the war in Ukraine, a collaboration the Kremlin initially denied. The other part shows hundreds of men and women in North Korean factories and workshops, all of them with a smile from ear to ear.

The exhibition, which runs from September 9 to October 10, reaffirms North Koreas alliance with Russia and its attempts to emerge from ostracism. And its proving a success, judging by the number of visitors in the halls of the museum.

A couple stops in the entrance hallway. The man, wearing a cap with a double-headed eagle  a symbol of Moscow as the supposed spiritual successor to the Byzantine Empire, the Third Rome between Europe and Asia  points to a helmet in a painting. The object has a Ukrainian flag painted on it and lies upside down at the feet of a platoon of North Korean soldiers. The soldiers pose defiantly among the ruins of a burning city in Russias Kursk region, where the remains of a destroyed tank bear the same blue and yellow flag on its side.

The style of this and several other paintings in the exhibition resembles the War Exploits drawn by the Spanish cartoonist Boixcar during the Franco era. The only thing that has changed eight decades later are the heroes and the enemy: if in the comics of the post-war Spanish dictatorship of the 1940s and 1950s it was communism, in 21st-century Moscow it is the West.

According to Western estimates, Kim Jong-Un sent some 15,000 troops in support of Vladimir Putin a year ago after the Armed Forces of Ukraine launched a major offensive against a Russian region  Kursk  for the first time since their country was invaded in 2022. In return, Moscow provided Pyongyang with technical assistance for its nuclear program.

Virtually none of the works feature blood. The paintings dont show mutilated troops or corpses, but rather unscathed North Korean soldiers in action, amid explosions and bullets, or celebrating victory. Only one painting, Giving a Priceless Life, offers the image of a North Korean soldier being killed in an assault on a bunker, his expression a mixture of defiance and ferocity. The man has a rifle strapped to his back. The hero fulfills his patriotic duty by order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Kim Jong-Un, the museums placard explains.

Its not propaganda, its part of North Koreas history, of its cultural heritage, says Ilia, a recent university graduate. Its a true representation of what happened. Its something worth knowing and remembering; its a historical monument, he says of the collection.

A Russian soldier told this newspaper months ago that his comrades were shocked by North Koreas martial nature: Theyre given an order and they carry it out without hesitation, even if they suffer heavy casualties. And theyre learning many lessons from the new war in Kursk, he explained.

A visitor at the exhibition on September 26. Javier G. Cuesta

Ilias girlfriend, Marina, an Asia specialist, also applauds the exhibition. I like it a lot. It has a lot of bright colors, and I think it doesnt show propaganda so much as the inner life of its people, their experiences, she says, standing next to paintings depicting smiling, vivacious North Koreans and a Pyongyang as advanced as, or even more so than, Moscow and New York. The cities in these paintings perhaps reflect their aspirations, their dreams, Marina suggests.

Two young men who recently moved to Moscow from the separatist Ukrainian region of Donetsk also praised the exhibition. These are good patriotic works, asserts 17-year-old Artyom. Im going to disappoint you, he continues. Every country tries to show its good side. Journalists go to North Korea to show the bad, but lets be honest and do the same with Europe.

Artyom thinks its wonderful that they show the lives of ordinary people. This is necessary in a context where North Korea is under so much pressure, he adds, before explaining that the Kim regime has China on its side, which treats it like a puppet; South Korea, which constantly provokes it; and Japan and the United States, which claim its a danger.

The only thing North Korea really has left is to demonstrate its military might, the young man notes. In the adjacent room, countless works display dozens of North Korean artillery pieces opening fire, several fighter jets bombing an island, and missiles and rockets being launched into the sky.

An elderly woman and her grandson are featured in another painting in that same room, The Satellite of Our Happiness. The boy holds a toy tank in his hand and smiles at the news his grandmother is telling him. It concerns the launch of the Malligyong-1 spy satellite in 2023. That launch, incidentally, failed. The device ended up in the Yellow Sea, according to North Koreas state news agency KCNA.

Strategic partnership

At the entrance to the exhibition hangs a large photo of the leaders of the Russian and North Korean regimes, Putin and Kim. The two leaders shake hands during the 2024 bilateral summit where they signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement that included a mutual defense clause. This was the same treaty that Moscow would later seal with Tehran, only to fall apart when Israel and the United States bombed Iran.

Our countries are united by a long-standing friendship. For decades, we have provided numerous supports to our neighbor, a guide told a group of visitors.

Official North Korean art is clearly inspired by Soviet works and emphasizes slogans that are also part of the Putin regime, such as the demand for unity around the president for a people divided between loyalists and traitors.

Next to the photo of Kim and Putin hangs another notable work in the exhibition, A Country of Unanimity and Solidarity, a painting that evokes the regimes spectacular celebrations in Pyongyangs Kim Il-sung Square.

They use the square for all kinds of parades and events that require large crowds. Sometimes there are demonstrations where hundreds of people line up to register, the guide adds, without referring to the brutal repression exercised by the North Korean regime. Under that dictatorship, strikes and protests are paid for in blood.

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Lindian Resources has wrapped up early development works program at its giant Kangankunde rare earths project in Malawi with mining its 23.7Mt at 2.9 per cent total rare earths oxide (TREO) probable ore reserve to commence in January 2026.

The reserve is backed by a 61Mt indicated resource at 2.43 per cent TREO which includes a high-grade core of 25 million tonnes at 3.26 per cent TREO.

Lindian has completed early site works at its giant Kangankunde rare earths project in Malawi with mining tipped to start in January. Works included various infrastructure items such as the site security building, pictured.

The 61Mt indicated resource is a subset of the projects total mineral resource and represents the higher-confidence portion used for detailed planning and feasibility studies, including the 25Mt high-grade core.

The companys total indicated and inferred mineral resource for Kangankunde, as defined in the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) is an eye-watering 261Mt at an average grade 2.14 per cent TREO at a 0.5 per cent cutoff.
ASX-listed Locksley Resources has made a big step towards creating a domestic source of antimony in the United States by churning out a high-grade 68.1 per cent concentrate from simple flotation tests on samples pulled from its Desert antimony prospect.

The prospect is part of the companys larger Mojave critical metals and rare earth project in California.

Photos showing the four stages of Locksley Resources flotation test, which recovered 68.1 per cent antimony in concentrate.

The standout result, which nudged 95 per cent of what the company described as the theoretical maximum 71.68 per cent achievable, came from just two rounds of preliminary rougher, regrind and cleaner flotation tests.

It easily surpasses the industrys minimum sales specification of 55 per cent, highlighting the ores exceptional purity and suggesting minimal flowsheet tweaking will be needed to ramp up both grade and recovery
Merivale, Australias largest hospitality company, has been excluded from the Good Food Guide following claims it exploited workers, prioritised VIP treatment over staff safety and ignored claims of sexual harassment as it built a multibillion-dollar empire.

Sarah Norris, head of Good Food, said as a result of recent investigations by this masthead, Good Food and 60 Minutes, Merivale venues including Tottis, Mr Wong, Mimis and Uccello had excluded themselves from being eligible for the upcoming edition of the Good Food Guide.

Allegations against the billion-dollar company, which operates about 90 venues across NSW and Victoria, include, but are not limited to, putting staff in dangerous situations; not protecting the wellbeing of its staff; prioritising VIP treatment over staff safety, and abuse of power, said Norris.

Merivale chief executive Justin Hemmes at his restaurant MuMu. Credit: Edwina Pickles

Good Food stands by the reporting of this masthead and the statements of former and current staff. Merivale employs more than 5000 staff, and we acknowledge our response may impact those who strive towards a Good Food Guide hat as a benchmark of quality.
Miller time On Wednesday, hirsute News Corp executive chairman Michael Miller took to the stage and shared his condemnation of rival technology  social media and AI  to those who hadnt already seen his thoughts in The Australian two days earlier. Those hanging off Millers every word at Crown Melbourne included former ACCC chair and rent-a-quote commentator Allan Fels, and REA Group chairman Hamish McLennan (we wont mention Rugby Australia if you dont). The speech was entitled The Big Steal. We are at the dawn of the next new digital landscape and yet we are being challenged to accept another wave of publicly endorsed theft, and an assault on our privacy, our identities  and our livelihoods, the media boss told his audience. If it was a video game, it would be called Grand Theft Australia. Miller said in the US, News Corp was signing agreements with some AI companies but suing others. During questions, Fels asked whether in an ideal world, Miller would strengthen the Copyright Act. Miller said it had served the country well since 1968 and did not need strengthening.

Loading Not in attendance was Millers big boss Lachlan Murdoch, although he is in the country. As CBD reported, the News Corp emperor was spotted trekking out to Homebush to watch the rugby league grand final on Sunday, accompanied by his wife, Sarah Murdoch, who has broken her leg. Murdoch Jr was no doubt thrilled by the Brisbane Broncos drought-breaking comeback win over the Melbourne Storm. After all, News Corp owns the club, which Lachlan began supporting in the 1990s. With the Broncos the only publicly listed club in Australia, its share price soared after dual grand final triumphs for its mens and womens teams. Lord mayor of memes

We last caught up with Melbournes Lord Mayor Nick Reece when he was singing the praises of Sydney, in an uncharacteristic move from a resident of the southern city. His latest trip has raised more eyebrows. During his recent visit to China, Reece recreated ex-premier Dan Andrews infamous Tiananmen Square on a mobile phone photograph. It was in September that LMNR (as he is known among staffers  it stands for Lord Mayor Nick Reece) took off to China and Japan along with councillors Gladys Liu (a former Liberal MP), Kevin Louey and Philip Le Liu and met with the mayor of Beijing and the governor of Tokyo. But what really caught our attention was when we heard that LMNR had imitated the famous photograph of then-premier Dan Andrews on a mobile phone in Tiananmen Square  and was circulating it to mates for what we presume were shits and giggles.

A fond tribute or a biting parody? Greater minds than ours have tried to work out how LMNRs mind works. And failed. Lord Mayor Nick Reece in China last month. On his mobile phone. The famous Andrews photo that launched a thousand memes dates from 2015, but its fair to say views on Andrews and China soured more recently when in September, Andrews was back in Beijing and posed for that notorious class photo, as they say, alongside dictators including Chinas Xi Jinping and, er, Russias Vladimir Putin, and, er, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. It was an unwelcome return to the spotlight for Andrews, who keeps a lower profile these days but is understood to be still coining it from acting as a conduit between Chinese business interests and locals. But what was the lord mayor thinking, we hear you ask? So we asked.
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 Im convinced Patricia Lockwood is trolling me. Youve never heard of him? I ask. Martin Amis? I tell her she and Amis have a similar sense of humour, in their criticism and their fiction. Doesnt ring a bell, Lockwood says. Later, Lockwood admits she misheard me. She thought I was recommending the work of someone named Martin Nemours. My publicist and a subsequent interviewer were laughing because Martin came up again later, in a different context, and I was like, OH, MARTIN AMIS, she says. Declan must have thought I was an amoeba not to know. But look  now weve invented a new man named Martin Nemours. I hear hes very good. For the record, I do not think Patricia Lockwood is an amoeba. I do think, given her fondness for wordplay, that her second novel, Will There Ever Be Another You, has issues. One of them is that it is singularly brilliant. The other is that, after years of playing with words, Lockwood now finds words playing with her. Our narrator is an unnamed writer afflicted by a mysterious illness. She struggles to put together sentences, never mind poetry. She turns to hobbies (K-drama binges; jewellery-making: Would it be like that sad thing where we all had to pretend to care about Sylvia Plaths drawings of shoes?). She tells her husband she is experiencing Permanent Visuals. He tells her thats called being alive. Her one trick is writing. It is a trick she has forgotten how to perform.

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Here are some of my notes on the book, 50 pages in: Has everyone been listening to Kid A wrong? Rivers Cuomo: dead? Leonora Carrington & Gods perineum? Cats: the butthole cut? All questions. Her new novel was heralded by a 2020 London Review of Books piece. Its title (Lockwood is keen to assure me she did not choose it) was: Insane after coronavirus? I tell her, 30 pages into the new novel, that I feared I was going insane. Fear was your reaction? Lockwood asks. I like that. I like that you were scared. Patricia Lockwoods 2021 debut No one is Talking About This was shortlisted, among other awards, for the Womens Prize for Fiction. Credit: PA Images via Getty Images Only to begin with; by the end I thought Its bloody good - even better than her last book. That novel, No One Is Talking About This (2021), was the Booker finalist everyone kept talking about. The germ of No One ... began as a British Library lecture published in the LRB in 2019 as The Communal Mind. Lockwoods fizzy, irreverent criticism and essays are as much a cause for celebration as her novels; the LRB, you could argue, has become an incubator for her fiction. Experimenting with the terminally onlines everything-at-once style, No One was by turns lucid and fragmented. Will There ever Be Another You, by contrast, is the sort of novel that speaks its own language and teaches you to become conversational, if not fluent.

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Much of it reads like a 3am inner monologue (keyed-up, anxious, bereft). There is no authorial hand-holding, unless you try placing every narrative egg in the deus ex machina basket of Illness! or But shes going MAD! Some critics have suggested the books title should alert readers to its doppelganger motifs. Less has been made of the possibility that its simply referring to Lockwoods anxiety about dividing her readership. The US author, poet and essayist has a reputation for comedy, but Lockwood is equally good at conveying pain. Her most vigorously misunderstood poem, Rape Joke, does exactly what it says on the box. Humour offers ways of contemplating lifes most difficult experiences. And in Lockwood, as in life, the comedy is often serious. There must have been courage to write the book the way she has, I posit, given theres a sense of this existence thats almost contextless. I look upon the writer of this book  who I dont feel, entirely, is me  with great tenderness, Lockwood says. Because Im like, Its very valiant that you were trying to do that. You couldnt make sense, you couldnt recognise faces, you didnt know your own brothers middle name  and you were still trying to write literature!. My whole thing is that everybody gets a Naked Lunch. Its a trap to want to be considered an authority, to want to preserve your authority, to want to speak from the pulpit and be heard by the people. I far prefer art that is tentative, that is unknowing, that doesnt understand, that is trying to reach into those areas. I just want to be writing the weird stuff. Midway through Will There, after her husband undergoes surgery, the narrator inserts her hand into his post-op wound. Its Caravaggio by way of Cronenberg (A husband could just be open like that?). The narrator marvels at her husbands ersatz vagina, the peekaboo wound like Bonne de Luxembourgs prayer-book Christ, prompting her to laugh, you would fall apart without me! Its moving and funny precisely because neither of these effects is separable from the other.

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In another chapter, the narrator, recalling an acquaintance, describes reconstituting her from memory. Reconstitution is a good description of what drives Lockwoods weirdness: life reconstituted through social media in No One; a young woman reconstituted by authoritarian parenting, patriarchy and the church in her 2017 memoir Priestdaddy; cartoons reconstituted as ontological Rorschach tests in her debut, Balloon Pop Outlaw Black. I just want to be writing the weird stuff, says Patricia Lockwood. Credit: Whether its the absurdist juxtapositions of her poetry (Walt Whitman  with tit pics!), Priestdaddys sense of ruptured innocence, the whirling associations of Will There or No Ones linguistic contortions (sneezing is for normies; sneazing is for the clued in), Lockwoods mish-mash of ephemera and trivia, scatterbrain and galaxy brain, memecore and egregore, reminds us that either everything matters or else nothing does. Yet for an author whose success grew thanks to Twitter and writing about the internet, Lockwood remains circumspect about the potential of what she dubs the portal for creative experimentation. Her fierce originality runs counter to its current incarnation as a mass-market collection of repetitions, cliches and tics. Little wonder, then, that she has returned to her first love, poetry. Readying a new collection of verse, her first in over a decade, she says she has even begun thinking about making a website. It will, in distinction to the advertiser-starved attention harvesting of our corporate overlords, be free and communal and aggressively and irreproachably normal. What will it be called? The Normal Website. I tell her, with as much normality as I can, that I cannot wait. After a chapter purporting to rank the arts (film > dance > translation > biography), the novels epilogue suggests the creative summit belongs to art that communicates the way it was put together [...] the process of assembly. (The end of this quote is taken, aptly enough, from Blake Butlers memoir, Molly, a book Lockwood wrote about for the LRB.)

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Whats good, whats bad, and whats in between in literature? Here we review the latest titles.

CHRISTIANITY

How Christians Can Succeed Today: Reclaiming the Genius of the Early Church

Greg Sheridan

Allen and Unwin, $34.99

The church in the West is in crisis and, not coincidentally, so are the societies it did so much to shape, suggests Greg Sheridan. Christianitys retreat has come at a cost of a crisis of meaning and purpose, deaths of despair, loneliness, family breakdown, drug dependence, political polarisation, and the collapse of truth.

The early Christians lived in hostile, pagan societies, yet they were astonishingly successful, turning world history on its head. Christians today live in an increasingly hostile culture, Sheridan writes. Of course there is not a similar risk to life and limb of the early centuries, but there is increasing contempt for the faith and vigorous attempts to rein in what believers can say.

So Sheridan sets out to examine what todays Christians can learn from the early church in two parts: early Christians then and now, the immense inspiration and insight they offer.
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 In the beginning was Djandjay Daisy Baker. Long before her grandson Danzal was born, she was the first Yolngu woman, local legend goes, to marry a balanda. Off they flew on their honeymoon. Hawaii. Miami. Planet hip-hop. What they brought back changed Arnhem Land forever. Thats the opening montage in Baker Boys origin story. When the breakdancing kid from Milingimbi and Maningrida released his ARIA-sweeping Gela album in 2021, his grandmothers well-worn Grandmaster Flash cassette and Fred Astaire VHS were part of his lore as the hottest rap-party boy in the land. That was then. Im an angel but I could be a killer, he raps on his second album, Djandjay. I became a dragon from a caterpillar. I named the record after my late grandmother, who was the matriarch in the family, because Ive inherited her boisterous energy, the no shame, be proud [attitude], always encouraging people around her to get up and dance, he says. This new project was definitely a lot about finding myself, finding a new sound, finding a way through music. Its like trying out different outfits, different genres; punkiness, craziness, some electronics, just sonically trying to elevate from Gela. Sitting in the green room of an empty Melbourne theatre, Danzal Baker certainly presents as a new man. The whole country saw him reborn two weeks ago, gleaming in head-to-toe white at his commanding AFL grand final performance. No breakdancing. Just standing tall and declaiming. Not a silent soldier, my pigment is my pride, Im like red dirt, gold chains, blak knight, thick skin.

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Thick Skin I wrote after the referendum result came out, he explains, referring to 2023s defeated motion for an Indigenous voice to parliament. I was in the middle of working on the record, and when that happened, the atmosphere was heavy and dark and eerie and it was just killing the vibe. His producers Pip Norman and Rob Amoruso suggested he just write music, get all these feelings out. And it ended up sounding so sick, he says  even before they marshalled that spine-tingling choir: Thelma Plum, Emma Donovan, Keeahn and Jada Weazel. The first time I heard it I got teary, full goosebumps, Baker says. War Cry is another soldiers tale, inspired not by the #BlackLivesMatter movement as such but by the shortsighted response closer to home. I know what its like to be a trending topic, he says, and it does not feel great. I got lots of messages saying, Why are you not using your platform? Youre not saying anything! He shakes his head. Its very uncomfortable to even try to come up with a statement about something thats happening over in the US, when people should also be recognising that we have issues in our own backyard with Black deaths in custody. I want to take my language everywhere. Not just to teach it, but to share the pride of it, says Baker Boy. Credit: Jason South The personal toll of that pressure is on the record too. With verses from Minneapolis rapper Pardyalone, Running Low paints a hectic picture of road burnout, fickle friends and sky-high expectations. The bottom side of those ARIAs [Gela won six] is theres a couple of pointy bits you gotta watch out for, Baker says, laughing. But its the general attack of the album  heavier sonics, lyrics pressing harder and faster against the beat  that propels Djandjay forward. And while king-hitters like Ziggy Ramo, Briggs and Yirrmal bring muscle from all over the continent, Baker Boys secret weapon remains the power of his own tongue, and the very act of using it.

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In Djandjay Im rapping in three languages: my fathers language, my mothers language and English, he says. I was going crazy, writing lyrics in the studio and being like, What the heck did I just write? This is insane! I know people that dont understand what Im saying, but I know for a fact that family back home, when they hear it, they go, WHAAAAT? He slaps his knees, collapses in laughter. For them its a mic-drop moment, that sort of vibe. The electrifying sound of his Yolngu and Burarra rapping speaks to the essence of Baker Boys mission, and the fine line it walks between a world that measures success in ARIA Awards and the aspirations he holds for the community he still calls home. I want them to [realise] that they can 100 per cent be better than me, he says. I want them to see me and go, If he can do it, I want to do it. Were also talented. We shouldnt be worrying about having English as a second or third language. We can still thrive, and we can still secure our dreams. Baker Boy, pictured at the ARIAs in 2022, with the ARIA award for album of the year for Gela. Credit: Hanna Lassen/Getty At school in Milingimbi and Maningrida, English was one of my weak points, Baker reveals. He laughs about memorising sentences he could roll out to impress his classmates. The learning curve continued at Shalom Christian College in Townsville, where Indigenous kids from all over the country brought more languages still. I was kind of the quiet kid, but I still had a few words that I knew how to basically navigate through everything. But having a lot of people around me that spoke in English helped  especially when they were mob themselves.

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Those years  boarding school, dance classes, leadership programs, working with the North Queensland Cowboys school incursions, Year 13 courses in panel beating, construction and health  widened his sense of possibility. But the power of communication kept calling. I look at all the other cultures, the Japanese pop or the K-pop or Desipop and all that stuff. When you hear some of them rapping in their native tongue you go, Yeah, thats it. Spanish rappers and stuff? Thats dope. That stuff inspires me, he says. He remembers playing the Riddu Riddu Sami festival in Manndalen, Norway, back in 2018. One of the things that freaked me out was learning that in their school curriculum, they talk about Indigenous Australians! And Im just like, What? We need more people talking about Indigenous culture in school curriculums in Australia. He shares a dream that maybe Arnhem Lands Garma Festival might similarly expand its sights some day. It would be so sick to have a lot of Indigenous people from around the world to come in and show off their cultures. Thatd be epic. Loading Hes ambitious for Djandjay, like any artist would be on the eve of their second album. But beyond the inevitable considerations of chart success and festival stages, his true goals seem simultaneously more grounded and much, much bigger. With the Gela record, Baker Boy is all happy, exciting, dancing, always positive, always bringing people together and stuff. On Djandjay, I want to show that Im human. I can show emotion. I can be vulnerable, I can be angry, be proud and be comfortable in my own skin, he says.

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Exclusive Eating outSpring racing carnival Sydney chefs and AI-created dishes: Whats cooking in the Birdcage this year Bento boxes, Greek-style crumbed lamb cutlets and fried chicken with waffles: this years Melbourne Cup Carnival menus combine snacking and style, much of it from Sydney restaurants. Jane Rocca October 9, 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

The Melbourne Cup Carnivals glam Birdcage enclosure tapped some of Sydneys freshest culinary stars to head to Flemington Racecourse this year, some of whom are embracing AI to develop menu ideas. Josh Raine, chef and owner of 40Res wine bar in Surry Hills, leads at Landmark by Lexus, bringing his fine-dining credentials as former executive chef at Tetsuyas to the most sought-after invitation at the track. Crumbed lamb cutlets with a G.H. Mumm Champagne beurre noisette sauce at the Olympus Dining pavilion. Raine admits he experimented with AI for advice, with one suggestion making the cut. I put elements together that I thought would work for a dish and asked AI how it would create flavour layering, says Raine.

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The result was sushi rice cooked in wattleseed, a native Australian ingredient with a bittersweet, roasted taste. Yuzu sake Japanese spritz with edible nori garnish at Landmark by Lexus. Ashleigh Larden Obviously, I took the AI advice with a grain of salt, but putting wattleseed with rice worked well. I used it in one of the bento box dishes, says Raine. His menu heroes Victorian produce through refined Japanese cooking techniques. Kingfish sashimi is marinated in lemon myrtle for 12 hours, then accompanied by compressed apple with anise myrtle, yuzu ponzu and shiso oil. Wagyu dressed with a white charcoal oil to create smokiness comes on a bed of warrigal greens with roasted kombu and saltbush. Related Article 14.5 / 20 Review Move over Tottis, Olympus makes a bid for Sydneys long-lunch crown

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To match Landmarks Japanese listening bar theme, Raine has crafted a bento box that includes white miso and avocado mousse with char-grilled prawns, and smoked zucchini and asparagus. Also sailing in from Sydney is Olympus Dining co-owner Jonathan Barthelmess, who brings spring-ready Greek cooking to G.H Mumm. VIPs will be treated to ntomata tart  layers of heirloom tomato within crisp filo pastry. Crumbed lamb cutlets are finished with a G.H. Mumm Champagne beurre noisette sauce, merging Greek tradition with French finesse. Sydneys Olympus Dining chef and co-owner Jonathan Barthelmess is bringing Greek cooking to G.H Mumm. The menu  is inspired by the idea of a sun-drenched lunch aboard a yacht on the Aegean Sea, says Barthelmess.

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At Crowns marquee, French chef Guillaume Brahimi returns with crab sandwiches and sausage rolls tricked up with truffle, while Indian Australian chef Mischa Tropps Kolkata Cricket Club will serve chicken tandoori to soak up the champagne. Crowns LA-inspired restaurant Marmont will serve Baja fish tacos. Theres also a ticketed Marmont Bar within the Birdcage this year, dishing out fried chicken, waffles and Yarra Valley caviar. Olympus Dinings ntomata tart  layers of heirloom tomato within crisp filo pastry. Victoria Racing Club was asked about the strong Sydney skew to this years Birdcage. Wherever possible, we prioritise supporting local talent, says chief commercial officer Fran Vavallo. However, The Birdcage is a space where our partners and sponsors are encouraged to bring their creative visions to life in ways that best represent their brand. The duo behind Melbourne patisserie Le Yeahllow, Samsky Yeung and Steven He, also turned to AI for a new dessert, Cosmos L, served on level three of the Lexus pavilion. The technology helped to perfect the form of the planetary-inspired sweet.

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Fun-loving sandwich bar Piccolo Panini (South Yarra, Hawthorn) will also be in the Birdcage for the first time since opening in November 2023, with a hit-list of bite-sized carbs, including its popular cotoletta (crumbed chicken) sandwich. The Melbourne Cup Carnival runs from November 1 to 8.

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When I finally take a seat at the dinner table, no one understands my distress. My parents are both teachers, my brothers are early childhood educators, and they see absolutely no reason I cant just turn off my phone and ignore it. Theoretically, of course, I could. But theres a niggling sense that perhaps if I could simply explain myself better, if I could connect with these people who think Im some sort of monster, this would all go away. Almost six years later, I know thats a futile goal. The internet is not the forum for nuanced, thoughtful conversation, where both sides consider each others humanity and accept that were all flawed, vulnerable individuals who, for the most part, are just trying to do our best. The tone of debate has slipped into one of utter contempt, where anyone we disagree with is fundamentally morally inferior to us, deserving of name-calling, mockery and humiliation. It doesnt matter if our words hurt them, if their mental health is impacted, or if theyre suffering. Online pile-ons often start with the notion of seeking justice, but end up causing untold harm. Listening to that angry voice note in my parents house was one of the moments that inspired my fascination with online pile-ons. I wanted to know why a strangers criticism felt so bad. Was I particularly sensitive? Did I just need to toughen up, or is it a completely normal human instinct to seek to be understood? To be horrified by the thought of being hated by others? In researching my novel, The Worst Thing Ive Ever Done, I spoke to public figures who had experienced the kind of social media backlash most of us cant even imagine. Journalists, television personalities, actors, comedians, podcast hosts  people whose reputations had been irreparably damaged by online outrage. In some cases, theyd made identifiable mistakes. Theyd posted an offensive picture or used the wrong language or laughed along with a joke they probably shouldve challenged. In others, the genesis for the pile-on was less clear-cut. They were perceived to have profited off a part of their identity when they didnt deserve it. Or a joke theyd told a decade earlier had been unearthed, judged in a context that didnt exist when they originally told it.

Regardless of what triggered the outrage, the emotional experience of being publicly shamed was eerily similar. They told me they hated themselves more than any of the people condemning them. They were humiliated, wanting to disappear, questioning every part of who they were and what value they possibly had to offer. They stayed inside, sometimes for days or weeks on end, sometimes months. One woman told me that when she eventually did go outside, a man in the street approached her to scream at her. She was with her son, who afterwards was inconsolable. Their mental health plunged to depths theyd never experienced. One woman told me her parents had taken turns sleeping outside her bedroom. They lost jobs. Even years later, theyd be booked for a paid opportunity and get a call last minute to say it couldnt go ahead. There had been complaints from the same, small group of people who had started the pile-on in the first place. These individuals kept tabs on their career. They contacted brands and clients and charity organisations. There was no indication of when theyd stop, of when theyd decide the target of their outrage had appropriately paid the price for their sins. The people I spoke to were angry. How perhaps they, as a woman, had been destroyed for a thoughtless mistake, shafted from the kinds of media roles that are offered to famous men with a history of domestic violence. They were indignant about the distortion of scale. How a social media post is deemed more harmful than almost anything else. They were bewildered by the online voices who use social justice as an excuse for cruelty.

Their mental health plunged to depths theyd never experienced. One woman told me her parents had taken turns sleeping outside her bedroom door, terrified about her risk of suicide. Another said she was suicidal and reached out to the high-profile person who was relentlessly posting about her. She asked for grace, she said she wasnt OK, could this all please stop. She never received a reply, and the posts continued. Overwhelmingly, the people who suffer the most from online pile-ons are women, people of colour and other marginalised communities. We seem to hold them to a particularly high standard because their identities make them inherently political; we expect them to practise limitless compassion, to live by the kind of pure moral virtues we dont expect from a straight, white man. Many of these public figures told me they would never go on the record to talk about the long-term impacts of their pile-on. They were terrified it would reignite the spectacle. But recently, something changed. Several have been willing to share their stories, to have a conversation about the way we engage with each other online, and where it leaves us. They spoke to me for The Pile-On, a podcast about what happens when the internet turns on you. Now that we live online, we have to confront the very real ways the internet has eroded our capacity for civil discourse. How social media platforms are designed to make us self-righteous and angry, how were primed to watch for transgressions, how rage sometimes seems like the only uniting force in a time of bewildering division. Contempt, we know, makes progress impossible  in relationships, in reaching consensus, in finding solutions. When we treat the people we disagree with as fundamentally morally inferior or unworthy of respect, and with complete indifference for their hurt or hardships, we cannot expect to change their minds. And is that not the goal if a cause is truly important?

People are not interchangeable with ideas or ideologies, however convenient it would be if they were. And when we flatten them, trying to compress identity into a thing we can hold and destroy in the palms of our hands, the consequences are brutally, psychically painful. Yet we have created an environment where a person at the centre of outrage has no right to suffer, and no chance at redemption. Where it feels, in the thick of it, like there is no escape. Empathy is often what fuels our moral righteousness, what starts the avalanche of a pile-on. But would our conversations not be more productive, more meaningful, if we extended that empathy towards the people we engage with online, too? Lifeline: 13 11 14 The Worst Thing Ive Ever Done (Atlantic Books) by Clare Stephens, out now.
The former lead investigator into the disappearance of NSW boy William Tyrrell believes South Australian police have learnt lessons from the high-profile case in their search for four-year-old Gus Lamont.

Augustus Gus Lamont was last seen playing on a mound of dirt at his familys remote sheep station in South Australias east about 5pm on September 27.

Police are scaling back their search for missing boy Gus, last seen near Yunta, South Australia. Credit: Nine News

The boy was reportedly left alone for half an hour before his grandmother tried to call him inside, only to find him missing.

The family spent three hours searching the property before calling police.
NSW Police are seeking a prohibition order over the protest, which would expose participants to potential criminal sanctions for specific activities, such as for blocking traffic. Protesters have limited immunities from liability for such offences if a march is authorised. Soccer fans try to escape the crowd crush at Hillsborough Stadium during a match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in 1989. Ninety-seven people died in the disaster. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo Chief Justice Andrew Bell, presiding over the hearing with Justices Ian Harrison and Stephen Free, said he was concerned organisers had not contacted the Opera House or nearby Royal Botanic Garden about the plan. Even 40,000 is between five and six times the practical capacity of the forecourt, Bell said. In a reference to a fatal crowd crush at a football match in England in 1989, the chief justice said: Nobody would want a Hillsborough-style tragedy occurring.

Contempt risk Bell suggested it would also be a contempt of court for a protester to participate if they knew a prohibition order had been made. Lawyers for the protest organisers disputed this, arguing that a prohibition order was not a ban on protesting but simply removed the limited immunities available to participants in authorised protests. The court is expected to resolve this question. When is a protest authorised? A protest is an authorised public assembly if organisers serve a notice on NSW Police at least seven days before the protest and: The police commissioner doesnt oppose the protest; or

It is not prohibited by a court. In this case, notice was given of the protest on Friday. The protest will remain authorised unless the Court of Appeal makes an order prohibiting it. When a protest is authorised, participants have a relatively narrow immunity from criminal liability for certain acts related to the protest, such as blocking traffic. This is not a licence to engage in criminal activity. In the Opera House protest case, the Court of Appeal has also been asked to decide if offences under Opera House by-laws which ban protests on the premises would fall within that limited immunity. NSW Police have asked the court to find that the immunity doesnt extend this far.

Genocide finding Barrister Felicity Graham, acting for organisers from the Palestine Action Group and Jews Against the Occupation, urged the court to make a finding that a genocide is occurring on the Gaza Strip, or that organisers had a reasonable basis for believing a genocide was occurring. Pro-Palestine protesters outside the NSW Supreme Court on Tuesday. Credit: Janie Barrett Graham said this was a factor of overwhelming significance when the court was considering whether to make a prohibition order because it was relevant to the urgency of the protest when every day means more people are being killed. James Emmett, SC, acting for NSW Police, said that the court cannot properly or indeed fairly make that finding. He said police accepted the organisers had a genuine belief that a genocide was occurring.

Timing of protest The planned protest has stoked outrage among sections of the Jewish community because it would be held days after the two-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which 1200 people were killed and a further 250 were taken hostage. A pro-Palestine protest outside the Opera House on October 9, 2023, sparked months of controversy. The Minns government had lit the buildings iconic sails in the colours of Israels flag. Israels invasion of Gaza following October 7 has resulted in the deaths of more than 60,000 Palestinians, and was labelled a genocide in a landmark United Nations report last month. The proposed protest follows a historic pro-Palestine march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in August and two years of rolling protests in the CBD. A police application for a prohibition order over the Harbour Bridge rally was knocked back by the Supreme Court.

The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, which is also representing the views of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, made submissions opposing the rally. In an affidavit filed in court, ECAJs head of legal, Simone Abel, said the march would take place within days of the two-year anniversary of the Hamas terror attacks  in which the largest number of Jews were murdered in a single day since the Holocaust. The Opera House was considered within the Jewish community to be a provocative destination, she said. Protest ban in Opera House by-laws The court has also been asked to decide whether the limited range of immunities from criminal sanction available to participants in an authorised public assembly extends to offences in Opera House by-laws banning public demonstrations at the site.

The march would remain authorised if the court does not make the prohibition order. NSW Police wants the court to find that protesters may still be charged with offences under the Opera House by-laws even if there is no prohibition order. Political communication But the protest organisers argue the by-laws ban on protests at the Opera House is either invalid because it falls foul of the implied freedom of political communication in the Commonwealth Constitution, or conduct amounting to political communication is not captured by the ban. Supporters in court
Some of the states biggest universities have managed to reverse recent slides in a prestigious global league table.

The University of Sydney ranked 53rd in the world in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, followed by UNSW at 79th and The University of Technology at 145th.

The University of Sydney is the best institution in NSW, according to the rankings. Credit: Louise Kennerley

The Times world rankings assess institutions by performance in teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

Some Australian institutions tumbled in the rankings last year due to poor scoring on international research collaboration and international talent metrics.
A head Buddhist monk allegedly sexually abused six young children inside his living quarters, a Buddhist temple prayer room and at Sunday school, a jury has been told.

The youngest girls were aged four, and one claims she was abused four times across two Dhamma Sarana Buddhist temple sites in Melbourne until she was aged 11 or 12.

Venerable Naotunne Vijitha, 70, faced the first day of a jury trial at Victorias County Court on Wednesday dressed in orange and red robes, and wearing sandals and a red beanie.

Buddhist monk Naotunne Vijitha arriving at the County Court of Victoria in Melbourne on Wednesday. Credit: AAPIMAGE

Vijitha is charged with 19 child sex abuse offences involving six alleged victims, beginning after he took up a post as head of the Dhamma Sarana temple at Springvale in 1994.
A Perth doctor narrowly escaped jail for a second time on Wednesday after he was released on a good behaviour bond despite being handed a six-month prison term.

Phillip Murrell Meyerkort, 48, pleaded guilty in the same court last month to fraud charges after he was found to have forged a letter from his GP to help his daughter to get a passport.

Dr Phillip Meyerkort (inset) faces a jail term after pleading guilty to a second fraud charge in Perth Magistrates Court last month.

The highly trained doctor was, at the time, already on a suspended prison sentence for similar offending.

Meyerkort is a fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, which sees him provide high-level medical expertise to prevent and manage work-related illnesses and injuries.
Michaelia Cash is not a politician who can be accused of lacking energy. So when parliament resumed after a month-long break on Tuesday, the opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman was raring to go. Senate estimates are under way in Canberra, offering Coalition and crossbench senators a rare opportunity to probe public servants about how government decisions are made. Estimates can be tedious and prone to grandstanding, but still serve as a crucial vehicle for transparency and accountability. This weeks hearings are the first since the Albanese governments crushing May election victory.

Cashs focus was the arrival of a group of so-called ISIS brides and their children to Australia last week after they fled camps in Syria. What role did the government play in their return, she wanted to know. And why had Anthony Albanese, just a few weeks earlier, dismissed reports foreshadowing their arrival as not accurate? Officials from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet declined to answer simple questions, including about how many women and children had arrived in the country. This has turned into another Albanese government cover-up, Cash said in a statement of high dudgeon. It is an absolute disgrace that the Albanese government refuses to give the most basic details about the return to Australia of this cohort.

Illustration by Dionne Gain

Albanese would have been ready to answer questions about the topic at Tuesdays question time but none came. Instead, Sussan Leys opposition was totally focused on the Optus Triple Zero scandal  an important issue, but not the only topic of national significance. It was a missed opportunity to pressure the prime minister on national security, a traditional Coalition strength.

Sitting on the opposition backbench watching in silence was Andrew Hastie, the man who, a few days earlier, was responsible for holding the government to account on topics such as the arrival of the ISIS brides. Just hours after the news of the return of the women and children from Syria broke on Friday afternoon, Hastie announced he was resigning from his position as shadow home affairs spokesman. It was a moment that laid bare the Coalitions struggle to inflict damage on Labor as it tears itself apart  and one with resonance beyond Australia as conservative parties battle to respond to the surge of populist sentiment on their right flank.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has tried to distance herself from a leak of former leader Peter Duttons scathing assessment of rebel MP Andrew Hastie as demoted senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price called on Ley to stop the Coalition looking like a clown show.

Ley held a scheduled meeting of shadow ministers in Canberra on Monday night, hours after this masthead reported that Dutton had been highly critical of Hasties work ethic and policy development in his submissions to the partys review of the May election drubbing, while immigration spokesman Paul Scarr spoke out for the first time since Hasties resignation.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and former frontbencher Andrew Hastie. Credit: Marija Ercegovac

Some MPs blamed Leys allies for leaking information that cast Hastie, a self-described leadership aspirant, in a bad light.

The news fuelled another bout of Coalition angst as the opposition tried to focus on the governments handling of the Optus Triple Zero scandal and the return to Australia of the so-called ISIS brides.
Jacinta Allan was this week caught in a fib. It wasnt a grievous lie, just a little porky of the sorry, something came up variety people resort to when they agree to do one thing and get a better offer to do something else.

Allan had agreed to speak at a Monday morning event organised by the Victorian Council of Social Service, the representative body for mainly not-for-profit organisations that help the states most disadvantaged people access housing, health and disability services and deal with family violence.

It was a significant gathering of social service leaders, promoted by VCOSS as its event of the year, with the premier given top billing on the list of those attending. But in the days leading up her scheduled appearance, Allan was declared a no-show.

Transport Infrastructure Minister Gabrielle Williams and Premier Jacinta Allan at the gleaming new State Library metro station. Credit: Jason South

In making the premiers apologies, Allans office explained to VCOSS organisers she had to fly to Sydney on the Sunday evening before the event for a meeting with the prime minister and couldnt guarantee shed get back to Melbourne in time.
The latest figures come after rents fell during the lockdown years when international borders were closed, which Powell said allowed tenants to move out of share houses and live on their own. Once the population increased, tenants faced a city in which there were fewer people per household and less choice, pushing rents higher. She said some tenants had since had to revert to house shares, look for cheaper suburbs or turn to units instead of houses. She also attributed high rents to the lack of investor activity in Melbourne after land tax increased. Some areas were starting to pull back in price, Powell said. The inner Melbourne unit market inched down by $5 a week from three months ago to a median asking rent of $610.

Among houses, Mornington Peninsula properties fell $20 in three months to $600 a week. Several areas held steady. But tenants would be paying more for houses in the inner city, and for units in the outer east, south-east, inner south and inner east. Powell thought the expansion of the Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme would fast-track more renters into home ownership and ease demand for rentals. But Brendan Coates, Grattan Institute housing and economic security program director, did not think the first home buyer support would alleviate pressure on renters, because a new home owner meant one less renter, but if they beat an investor at auction, it also meant one less rental property.

He thought a state government push to build more housing could help slow rent growth, but this would take time. More homes had been built in Melbourne, so rents had not risen as fast as in some other cities, but this was not much of a consolation, if youre paying higher rents in Melbourne than what you were three years ago, he said. Loading Rents rose after an increase in working from home meant many workers started demanding more housing, at the same time as the return of migration once Australias border reopened, he said. Rents in Melbourne are now levelling out but unfortunately for renters, at a much higher level than they were, he said. The reason why rents arent falling is none of those factors have reversed.

James Lowerson, 31, recently moved to Melbourne from New Zealand for a work opportunity as a construction estimator on infrastructure projects. He engaged a rental advocate who attended inspections, offering FaceTime walkthroughs. Coming from Christchurch we did expect Melbourne to be a bit more expensive from what we were used to, but it was definitely more competitive than we imagined, he said. James Lowerson has moved into a rental property in East Melbourne. Credit: Aaron Francis The one thing that I definitely saw in the videos was how many people were there. So it did make us think, oh god, there is a lot of people viewing these properties. So you can really see how strong the demand was, especially for anything that was well located or in good condition.
The cost to rent the typical Sydney property is at a record high, and unit rents are rising while house rents flatline as some tenants seek more economical options.

The median asking rent for a Sydney unit jumped to $750 a week, up 4.9 per cent or $35 over the year to September, the latest Domain Rent Report, released on Thursday, showed.

Asking rents for a typical Sydney house hit $780 a week after rising 1.3 per cent or $10 a week over the year.

Domain chief of research and economics Dr Nicola Powell said she was seeing that tenants had hit their affordability ceiling amid relentless rental hikes over the previous few years.
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Reviews & adviceAir travel Opinion Why youll never hear a pilot use the word plunge The Secret Pilot Airline pilot October 9, 2025  5:00am

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Pilots intensely dislike the word plunge. It seems to be the word of choice when an aircraft experiences a depressurisation, eliciting a sense of being out of control. Yet the reality is almost always the opposite. Modern jet aircraft fly at between 30,000 and 40,000 feet above the ground  or between nine and 12 kilometres in metric terms. Its all about minimising fuel consumption, whether for the ultra-long haul flying or for short domestic routes. And less fuel means a lower operating cost. At cruising altitude, passengers and crew only have a few seconds to access oxygen masks before losing consciousness. iStock The aircraft thrive in this thin air, but unfortunately those sitting within do not. At 20,000 feet, the time of useful consciousness for an average adult without supplemental oxygen is approximately 10 minutes. At 30,000 feet thats reduced to just 60 seconds and at 40,000, its just a few breaths, at 15 seconds. Pressurising the aircraft to artificially reduce the cabin altitude ensures passengers survive the journey. Its achieved by air flowing through the engines that is then compressed at the right pressure, then diverted towards the air-conditioning packs where it is cleaned and cooled before flowing into the passenger cabin.

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This conditioned air creates an equivalent altitude of about 5000 to 8000 feet, which is still higher than sea level but completely safe in terms of a humans oxygen needs. This conditioned air is being constantly produced, so to avoid the fuselage becoming too pressurised (you cant keep filling up a balloon with air indefinitely), aircraft are fitted with outflow valves, often located at the rear. Each valve is about the size of a laptop with mechanical doors that move automatically in flight to regulate the cabin pressure. The manoeuvre may feel to the passengers like a plunge, yet to the pilots, it is a controlled descent they have trained for over and over again. This system is reliable and effective, but that doesnt mean a depressurisation cant occur. Depressurisations are rare, however the most common cause is the pressurisation system failing. An outflow valve may fail in the open position, and the cabin altitude slowly starts to climb. Air-conditioning systems may fail  this is even more rare  but if they do it means not enough pressurised air is pumped into the cabin. And then there are the one-of-a-kind structural disasters. One of the most infamous occurred in February 1989 when a United Airlines Boeing 747 departed Honolulu bound for Auckland and eventually Sydney. Passing 22,000 feet on climb, UA811 experienced a forward cargo door failure. The door was ripped from the fuselage, taking part of the right side of the aircraft with it. Several rows of seats were sucked out of the hole, killing nine passengers, including two Australians.

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While depressurisations of any kind are extremely rare, as with all potential problems, pilots train for how to handle them. On the flight deck, if the cabin altitude climbs above 10,000 feet, a warning horn and red light alert flight crew to the danger. The immediate first step is for the pilots to put on oxygen masks  an absolute must to ensure those controlling the plane dont lose consciousness. Fitting the mask within seconds is practiced regularly in simulator training. Related Article Opinion

Travel tips A bang, a flash: Ill never forget being struck by lightning mid-flight The Secret Pilot Airline pilot A sudden depressurisation is no doubt scary for the passengers. There will be increased noise, a drop in temperature and misting of the air. The rubber jungle of oxygen masks will drop from the ceiling. A more subtle decompression may not be as dramatic, but if the cabin altitude has risen above the equivalent of 10,000 feet, the computer system will deploy the oxygen masks. As everyone should know from the safety briefing, passengers should immediately fit their masks, then help those around them to do the same, make sure their seat belts are fastened and try to stay calm. Once the pilots have fitted their oxygen masks, the initial steps are to troubleshoot the problem to see if they can regain control of the cabin altitude. This takes only 30-60 seconds but is vital to see whether an emergency descent is necessary. If the pilots determine the cabin altitude cannot be controlled, an emergency descent happens. This involves reducing the thrust on the engines, extending the speed brakes to increase drag and accelerating to the highest speed allowed. The result is a rapid descent of around 5000 to 8000 feet per minute, normally to an altitude of 10,000 feet.

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The manoeuvre may feel to the passengers like a plunge, yet to the pilots, it is a controlled descent they have trained for over and over again. They are still flying the plane. Once in the emergency descent, one pilot continues to monitor the flight path, while the other will make an announcement to passengers, liaise with air traffic control, assess any high terrain, turn on all the external lights and squawk 7700 on the transponder to indicate an emergency. Lastly, theyll work together to review the emergency checklists to ensure every action has been completed. Related Article Opinion

Air travel Think flying the plane is all done by computers these days? Think again The Secret Pilot Airline pilot Around five minutes is required to reach 10,000 feet and once safely levelled off, the supplemental oxygen is no longer needed to breathe. Pilots will then assess the nature of the depressurisation event to determine the safest manner to divert to a nearby available airport. Depressurisation events are rare, but when they do occur, they can be dramatic and scary. And whilst the descent may be sudden and steep, passengers can take comfort in the fact it is a controlled and regularly practiced manoeuvre designed to get everyone on board to a safe altitude.

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Opinion The Secret Pilot takes you inside the world of airlines, offering expert tips and advice from a pilots perspective. In his Traveller column, this active airline pilot lifts the lid on air travel both inside and outside the cockpit.
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Travel newsAir travel Opinion Sorry, taxi drivers, but youve ripped me off too many times. Im done Lee Tulloch Travel columnist October 9, 2025  5:00am

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I have developed a pathological fear of getting a taxi from Sydney Airport to home. So much so, that in recent months Ive cajoled my husband into picking me up every time I arrive, no matter how early or late. The few times before that, Id had terrible experiences. On one occasion, I felt so intimidated by a driver I was fearful the whole way home. What had I done? Id questioned the route he was taking. For this traveller, Uber now has it over taxis when it comes to airport transport. Nick Moir Switching to the route Id requested, he spent the rest of the trip arguing with me at every traffic light. At the end of the trip, he presented me with a charge that was at least 25 per cent more than the most Id ever paid. He was triumphant.

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There was no way of me winning an argument with him about it. From experience, I dont think complaining to a taxi company will get me anywhere. One of the great recent rorts Ive come up against a few times is the driver saying he cant show me the meter because its loaded automatically, and even he cant see it. Passengers wait at the new Uber rank at Sydney Airport. Nick Moir Once the flag-fall was an extra $15 when we took off from Sydney international airport and the driver spun a blatant lie about it as we drove away from the terminal, but I was already in the cab with my suitcases, so I felt I couldnt protest. The passenger might be the customer, but youre also vulnerable in these circumstances. You can hardly get out and risk having your luggage dumped by the side of the road.

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Ive noticed it has been worse this past year or two, probably because its not worth passengers complaining  neither the taxi companies nor the authorities seem to be interested. And its hard to prove an overcharge if its only $10 or $20. I reckon the drivers count on this. Related Article San Francisco I rode San Franciscos new driverless taxis, heres how it went Im not sure whether passengers travelling from other Australian airports have the same issue, but it has been out of control in Sydney for a while. Im a seasoned traveller and I consider Sydney to be the worst airport for rorts that Ive come across. If youre travelling to Sydneys CBD from November 3, a new fixed fare of $60 might help. But what about those of us who are not going to hotels but to our homes? This week I exited Sydney international expecting to have to take a taxi (sigh) as my husband couldnt collect me. It was night time and I had too much luggage for the train (which, in my case, involves a transfer to a bus and then a walk).

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I was greeted by the new T1 Uber pick-up zone as I left the arrivals hall. I have always been uncertain about where to meet an Uber, which is mostly why I havent used this service from domestic and international terminals. But even before I could reach the taxi rank, the Ubers beckoned. There was a young woman at the entrance who helpfully explained how the system worked. In less than five minutes, Id downloaded my code and was in an Uber and on my way home. The set fare? $53, plus tip. The usual taxi fare? Anything from $60-$70 with an honest driver, depending on traffic. But recently, it had regularly been over $100 each trip, and Id had no recourse to question the charge. On many occasions, the taxi driver had been aggressive when Id politely questioned him. The sign of guilt, in my opinion.

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On the other hand, the Uber driver was pleasant, the car was new and there was no stress about the route or payment. Related Article Opinion

Travel tips Taxi drivers upset with Ubers at the airport? Cry me a river Ben Groundwater Travel writer The Uber stand which started as a 12-month trial will be extended permanently. Melbourne Airport has had a similar system for years now. Of course, taxi drivers hate it. Its easier to navigate than the taxi rank and its the first thing you encounter outside the terminal. I was surprised by this, given the perceived power of the taxi lobby. For all the honest taxi drivers out there, of which there are many, I understand your distress. But for too long your industry has run an operation from Sydney airport where some cowboys are not held to account and passengers are too bamboozled or exhausted to complain. There are issues with Uber, and Id happily use taxis if I could trust them. The flat fee is a start, but its going to take a more vigorous system for reporting and penalising errant and aggressive drivers for me to get in a taxi from the airport to the suburbs again.

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London: French President Emmanuel Macron could appoint a new prime minister within days in a bid to break a deadlock in parliament over the national budget, amid hopes for an agreement to avoid forcing the nation to an election.

Former prime minister Sebastien Lecornu, who stunned the nation by quitting on Monday morning, claimed progress in his negotiations with parliament to avert an election, after he was given 48 hours to seek a deal before his departure.

French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Wednesday. Credit: Bloomberg

Lecornu said on Wednesday night  5:30am on Thursday, AEDT  that Macron could be in a position to nominate a new prime minister within 48 hours and that the prospect of a snap parliamentary election was receding.

I told the president of the republic that the prospects of dissolution were receding and that I believe the situation allows for the president to name a prime minister in the next 48 hours, he told French television in a closely watched interview.
Australia welcomes President Trumps announcement that Israel and Hamas have signed off the first phase of the plan to bring peace to Gaza, they said in a statement. Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the agreement should inspire hope in Australia and around the world, as she urged Australians to suspend protests about the war as a ceasefire goes into effect. People in Tel Aviv celebrate after waking to the news that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a peace plan. Credit: AP Today is the start of the end of the war, and the beginning of enduring peace, she said. Speaking to this masthead from southern Gaza, where he works as a doctor, Mohammad Alastal said the announcement had brought a profound sense of relief and cautious optimism to the people of Gaza.

The people here have learnt to celebrate with restraint, knowing how fragile peace can be, he said. Still, we choose to believe that this time can be different, that humanity and conscience will prevail, and that the world will stand with us as we rebuild our lives in peace. The relatives of hostages held in Gaza celebrate in Washington upon hearing that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement that will bring all the hostages home. Credit: Liri Agami and Alon Kaplun Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was a great day for Israel and that he would convene the government on Thursday (Israel time) to approve the deal, which was signed in Egypt. With Gods help we will bring them all home, he posted on social media.

I thank President Trump and his team from the bottom of my heart for their commitment to this sacred mission of freeing our hostages. Israeli media outlets reported that Israel would remain in control of over half of Gaza under the deal, but the Associated Press reported that the Israeli military could withdraw from as much as 70 per cent of Gaza. Loading The Israeli military said Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir had instructed forces to prepare strong defences, to be ready for any scenario and to prepare to lead the operation for the hostages return with sensitivity and professionalism. Confirming the agreement on its Telegram channel, Hamas called on Trump and guarantor states to ensure that Israel fully implements the ceasefire, saying the group would never relinquish our peoples national rights until freedom, independence, and self-determination are achieved.

The statement said Hamas appreciated the efforts of mediators Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, and in an extraordinary shift in tone, added that the group valued the efforts of US President Donald Trump. The Hostages Families Forum, a grassroots group representing many of the families of Israeli hostages, said it had received the news of a ceasefire with excitement, anticipation, and apprehension. It called on the Israeli government to immediately convene to approve the deal and praised Trump for his commitment and determination that led to this historic breakthrough. Relatives of Israeli hostages held by Hamas celebrate on the streets of Tel Aviv. Credit: AP As Israelis flocked to Hostages Square in Tel Aviv to celebrate, returned hostage Aviva Siegel said the news was truly amazing and that she and husband Keith, who was also freed from captivity, were finally able to smile. Many questions remain, and subsequent phases of a peace agreement will likely prove more difficult to negotiate.

It was not immediately clear whether the parties made any progress on the trickier questions about the future of the conflict, including whether Hamas will demilitarise, as Trump has demanded, and eventual governance of the war-torn territory. Loading It was also unclear which Palestinian prisoners would be released, but the list of people that Hamas wanted freed is believed to include some of the most prominent prisoners ever jailed by Israel, prisoners whose release has been off limits in previous ceasefires. But Israel and Hamas appear to be closer than they have been since at least March to ending a war that has killed an estimated 67,200 Palestinians, flattened most of Gaza and frayed social cohesion around the world, including in Australia. The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network welcomed a reprieve to the war, but said it feared Israel would breach the ceasefire as it did in March.

While this plan is a recognition that Israels current position is untenable, it does not lift the criminal siege, dismantle the apartheid system or end the occupation, the group said. Alon Cassuto, chief executive of the Zionist Federation of Australia, said that for the Australian Jewish community, the hope of seeing the hostages finally return after two agonising years brings both deep emotion and profound relief. Katya Emelianova kneels beside a portrait of Eden Gez, who was killed at the Nova Festival on October 7, 2023. Credit: David Guttenfelder/The New York Times This day may yet close one of the most painful chapters in living memory, he said. A report by a United Nations commission of inquiry released last month found that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza and accused Israeli authorities of intending to kill as many Palestinians as possible.

Israel has denied the charge of genocide, saying it continued the war to secure the release of the hostages and ensure Hamas, a listed terror group, could never again govern Gaza or threaten Israels security. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the agreement as a momentous opportunity while British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called it a moment of profound relief that will be felt around the world. The Hamas wish list for prisoner releases reportedly includes Marwan Barghouti, a leader of the Fatah movement, and Ahmad Saadat, head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Both are serving multiple life sentences for involvement in attacks that killed Israelis. Marwan Barghouti appears in court in Jerusalem in 2012. Credit: AP In the lead-up to the announcement, Israeli officials were pushing back on inclusion of Barghouti  the most prominent Palestinian prisoner, who is serving five life sentences in an Israeli jail  according to a person briefed on the negotiations, who spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity.

Israeli officials had made clear to the United States that the release of Barghouti would set off the far-right members of Netanyahus coalition, the person said. In his post announcing the deal, Trump said the development marked a historic and unprecedented event that ensured all parties would be treated fairly. Credit: Matt Golding Earlier on Wednesday (US time) Trump said he might travel to Egypt this weekend. His envoys joined talks in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh after two days of indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel, to try to seal the ceasefire and hostage-release agreement, based on a 20-point plan Trump had presented to the parties.

I was just given a note by the secretary of state [Marco Rubio] saying that were very close to a deal in the Middle East, and theyre going to need me pretty quickly, Trump said during an unrelated White House event. The war in Gaza evolved into a regional conflict after it began in response to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, drawing in countries such as Iran, Yemen and Lebanon, and reshaping the Middle East. Just a day after the second anniversary of Hamas attack, negotiators handed over their lists of hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be freed in a swap with Israel. Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close confidant of Netanyahu, arrived and began participating in the negotiations overnight, Israeli and Palestinian sources said.

Also joining the discussions was the prime minister of longstanding mediator Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, according to Egyptian sources. In parallel with the Sharm el-Sheikh talks, Arab and other states will meet in Paris on Thursday to discuss Gazas postwar transition, with Washington likely to be represented, diplomatic sources said. Hamas said the first couple of days of indirect negotiations had been focused on three issues: halting the conflict, withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza, and the swap deal. Loading The group has so far refused to discuss Israels demand that Hamas give up its arms, which the Palestinian source said Hamas would reject as long as Israeli troops occupied Palestinian land.

Two sources familiar with the talks confirmed that sticking points included the mechanism for the Israeli withdrawal, with Hamas seeking a clear timeline linked to the release of hostages and guarantees of a complete withdrawal by Israeli forces. Within Gaza, Israel has dialled down its military campaign at Trumps behest, but it has not halted strikes altogether. The Israeli military said on Wednesday that its forces had killed several militants in Gaza City who it said were on their way to attack Israeli soldiers. Trumps plan calls for an international body led by Trump and including former British prime minister Tony Blair to play a role in Gazas postwar administration. Arab countries that back the plan say it must lead to eventual independence for a Palestinian state, which Netanyahu says will never happen. Loading There is no clear indication who will rule Gaza when the war ends. Netanyahu, Trump, Western and Arab states have ruled out a role for Hamas, which has run Gaza since driving out Palestinian rivals in 2007.
HARBOUR VIEW, PHILIPSBURG:--- Governor of Sint Maarten, His Excellency A.G. Baly, LL.M., today announced the speakers for the 12th Annual Governors Symposium.

The distinguished group of experts who will address this years event, themed 15 Years of Constitutional Autonomy: Achievements, Lessons, and Prospects, represents diverse fields including law, governance, economics, and social development. The Symposium will take place on Friday, October 10, 2025, at the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in Cupecoy. The distinguished group of experts for this year's Symposium include:

Franklyn Richards , a legal scholar, and Lieutenant Governor of the former Island Territory of Sint Maarten (20002010), continues to contribute to national institutions through leadership roles at the Progress Committee, the Sint Maarten Volunteer Corps Foundation (VKS), and the General Pension Fund of Sint Maarten (APS). His career reflects decades of dedication to good governance, public service, and civic resilience.

, a legal scholar, and Lieutenant Governor of the former Island Territory of Sint Maarten (20002010), continues to contribute to national institutions through leadership roles at the Progress Committee, the Sint Maarten Volunteer Corps Foundation (VKS), and the General Pension Fund of Sint Maarten (APS). His career reflects decades of dedication to good governance, public service, and civic resilience. Nancy R. Guishard-Joubert , member of the Council of Advice of Sint Maarten, is a constitutional and administrative law specialist. She previously served as Secretary General of Parliament and played a key role in the legislative process leading up to and following Sint Maartens constitutional transition in 2010.

, member of the Council of Advice of Sint Maarten, is a constitutional and administrative law specialist. She previously served as Secretary General of Parliament and played a key role in the legislative process leading up to and following Sint Maartens constitutional transition in 2010. Jason Lista , Economic Analysis and Research Specialist at the Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten (CBCS), focuses on Sint Maartens real sector and macroeconomic outlook. He has previously served as a senior policy advisor to the Government of Sint Maarten and contributes to regional economic research and IMF consultations.

, Economic Analysis and Research Specialist at the Central Bank of Curacao and Sint Maarten (CBCS), focuses on Sint Maartens real sector and macroeconomic outlook. He has previously served as a senior policy advisor to the Government of Sint Maarten and contributes to regional economic research and IMF consultations. Carla Vlaun , Managing Director of Tackling Law and former policy advisor at the Social Economic Council, is a researcher and cultural advocate whose work bridges governance, heritage, and civic engagement. She is also the co-host of Mele, Sint Maartens first historical podcast exploring local history and identity.

, Managing Director of Tackling Law and former policy advisor at the Social Economic Council, is a researcher and cultural advocate whose work bridges governance, heritage, and civic engagement. She is also the co-host of Mele, Sint Maartens first historical podcast exploring local history and identity. Jorien Wuite , Crown-appointed member of the Social Economic Council (SER), former Minister Plenipotentiary, and Member of the Second Chamber of the Netherlands, is known for her leadership in both Sint Maarten and the Netherlands. She currently serves in various supervisory and advisory capacities, including at the Netherlands Film Fund and Qredits, advancing social innovation and cultural collaboration across the Kingdom.

, Crown-appointed member of the Social Economic Council (SER), former Minister Plenipotentiary, and Member of the Second Chamber of the Netherlands, is known for her leadership in both Sint Maarten and the Netherlands. She currently serves in various supervisory and advisory capacities, including at the Netherlands Film Fund and Qredits, advancing social innovation and cultural collaboration across the Kingdom. Khalilah S. Peters, Senior Director of Caribbean Government Relations at Adtalem Global Education, with over 15 years of experience in regional policy and diplomacy as the former Head of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Government of Sint Maarten will moderate the panel discussion and public engagement session. Panelists will reflect on Sint Maartens 15-year constitutional journey, highlight lessons learned, and share insights for the countrys path forward.

As in previous years, attendance at the Symposium is by invitation only. However, the public is encouraged to join the conversation virtually. The event will be livestreamed on the Governors official Facebook page and YouTube channel on Friday, October 10, 2025, starting at 8:30 a.m. In-person registration for invited guests begins at 8:00 a.m. promptly. Virtual viewers are encouraged to log on a few minutes early to ensure access.

Interested parties who wish to attend the Symposium may submit their requests for attendance via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or through the Governors official Facebook page.
TEHRAN, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that Tehran's nuclear issue can only be resolved through negotiation.

"There is NO solution but a negotiated outcome," he said in a post on X.

He made the remarks in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's warning Sunday that Washington "will have to take care of that" if Iran restarts its nuclear program.

There was no evidence to support Trump's claim that Iran would have a nuclear weapon "within a month," Araghchi said.

He noted that upon embarking on the fifth round of nuclear talks with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, he wrote: "Zero nuclear weapons = we DO have a deal. Zero enrichment = we do NOT have a deal."

The Trump administration "would see just how close we were to celebrating a new and historic Iran nuclear deal" by reviewing the records of those talks, he said, noting that doubling down on the "miscalculation" about Iran and its nuclear program would not solve anything. 
US report says European giant, others sell to Chinese military-linked companies



Washington, Oct 7 (AFP) Oct 07, 2025



A US Congressional committee report released Tuesday said that five major semiconductor equipment manufacturers, including European giant ASML, sold $38 billion worth of critical technology to China in 2024, including to companies flagged as US national security threats.

The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party found that China now accounts for 39 percent of total revenue for the five leading "toolmakers" -- the specialized, highly complex machines needed to produce computer chips.

The report mentioned US companies Applied Materials, KLA Corporation and Lam Research, but said ASML of the Netherlands and Japan's Tokyo Electron had substantially increased sales to restricted Chinese entities as Washington imposed stricter controls on American companies' exports.

The investigation revealed that five Chinese companies restricted by Washington for their military ties were among the top 30 customers of all five equipment manufacturers between 2022 and 2024.

These included Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC), China's largest chipmaker, and Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC).

"The Toolmakers are selling the forges of future weapons and surveillance tools to the very companies that seek to build (China's) semiconductor industry into a dominant force," the report said.

The supply from the five companies is crucial to China's efforts to ramp up its chip industry to beat restrictions imposed by Washington as Beijing looks to keep up in the race towards state-of-the-art AI technology.

The report said ASML sold 70 percent of its advanced DUV immersion lithography systems to China in 2024, up from 26 percent in 2022. These machines are critical for producing sophisticated semiconductors used in artificial intelligence and military applications.

"China is striving with all its might to build a domestic, self-sufficient semiconductor manufacturing industry," the report warned, noting the technology could be used for military projects threatening the US.

The committee recommended dramatically expanding export controls to cover all semiconductor manufacturing equipment capable of producing advanced chips destined for China, not just specific components or products.

It also called for better alignment of export controls among US allies, particularly the Netherlands and Japan, warning that the current patchwork system creates an "unlevel playing field" where foreign companies can sell equipment that American firms cannot.
Child protection vs privacy: decision time for EU



Brussels, Belgium, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



Does protecting children justify snooping on private messages? That is the sensitive question facing EU countries Wednesday as they wrangle over a push to combat child sexual abuse material online.

The meeting in Brussels could seal the fate of a legislative initiative that has stirred fierce debate since it was put forward by the European Commission in May 2022.

Backed by multiple child protection groups, the proposal would require online platforms and messaging services to detect and report images and videos of abuse, as well as attempts by predators to contact minors.

But critics -- including the EU's own data protection authorities, lawmakers, and countries such as Germany -- warn it poses a "disproportionate" threat to privacy.

They are particularly alarmed by the use of technology that would scan private conversations, including on encrypted apps like Signal and WhatsApp.

"This would spell the end of secrecy of correspondence, which is essential for whistleblowers," the German activist and former EU lawmaker Patrick Breyer told AFP.

His big fear? That such legislation could eventually be exploited by authoritarian regimes to "crack down on political opponents" by monitoring their conversations.

Messaging platforms themselves staunchly oppose the plans.



- Mass surveillance? -



Opponents have been flooding EU officials with messages aimed at swaying the debate as part of a campaign dubbed "Stop Chat Control" -- their nickname for the proposal.

"I've never seen anything like it, on any other file," one EU diplomat told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. "We're receiving thousands of emails every day."

Denmark, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency and drafted the latest version of the proposal, insists it includes the necessary safeguards.

Firstly, only images and links -- not text messages -- would be subject to scanning.

Second, the system would only be activated following a decision by an independent judicial or administrative authority.

"We have to be very clear: under this proposal, there is no general monitoring of online communications. There will be no such thing as 'chat control'," said European Commission spokesperson Markus Lammert.

"This is about protecting our children against a terrible crime, a crime that happens more and more online."



- Germany holds key -



A report by the UK-based Internet Watch Foundation found that 62 percent of the child sexual abuse material identified internationally last year was hosted on servers within the EU.

Under the bloc's current rules, platforms detect such content on a voluntary basis, which Brussels considers inadequate given the scale and rapid growth of the problem.

The existing legal framework remains in place until April 2026 -- pending adoption of the commission's new proposal making detection mandatory.

What happens next will hinge largely on Germany, with two possible scenarios following Wednesday's meeting:

-- If Berlin backs the proposal, that would likely push it past the post under the EU's qualified majority voting rules. Member states could then formally adopt the measure at a meeting in Luxembourg next week.

-- If Berlin abstains or remains opposed, that would send negotiators back to the drawing board, with no certainty the text will eventually become law.

Several EU officials involved in the talks said Germany could make its stance known in the coming hours.
SoftBank buys $5.4 bn robotics firm to advance 'physical AI'



Tokyo, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



Tech investment giant SoftBank Group said Wednesday it will buy Swiss-Swedish firm ABB Robotics for nearly $5.4 billion as part of its plans to bring artificial intelligence into the physical realm.

ABB Robotics specialises in industrial robots, such as large robotic arms that can make precise movements in factories.

Japan's SoftBank -- a major investor in ChatGPT creator OpenAI -- said the acquisition was part of its AI-focused business strategy.

"SoftBank's next frontier is Physical AI," SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son said in a statement.

"We will unite world-class technology and talent under our shared vision to fuse Artificial Super Intelligence and robotics -- driving a groundbreaking evolution that will propel humanity forward."

ABB Group issued a separate statement to announce the agreed sale of its robotics division to SoftBank for $5.37 billion.

The purchase will combine "ABB Robotics' leading technology and industry expertise with SoftBank's state-of-the-art capabilities in AI, robotics and next-generation computing", it said.

The transaction is expected to close in mid- to late-2026 pending regulatory approval.

ABB Robotics has a workforce of around 7,000, and its 2024 revenues of $2.3 billion represented around seven percent of ABB Group's total income.

ABB Group had previously planned to spin off the robotics business as a separately listed company.

SoftBank has pledged to plough at least $100 billion into US President Donald Trump's Stargate project to build AI infrastructure in the United States.

Meanwhile, China's Alibaba announced in September it was teaming up with US chip giant Nvidia on AI tech that it said will accelerate its development of humanoid robots.
Press Release from Business Wire: Regnology



(AFP) Oct 08, 2025



FRANKFURT, Oct 8, 2025 (BSW) - Regnology, a global leading software provider of regulatory reporting and supervisory technology solutions, is proud to announce that its client, W&W Group, a prominent German financial services provider, is migrating its on-premise deployment of Regnology's regulatory reporting solution to the Regnology Reporting Hub (RRH)-a cloud-native banking platform hosted on Rcloud, Regnology's secure and scalable hyperscale-grade cloud infrastructure. This pivotal transition elevates W&W Group's agility and resilience.

Headquartered in Kornwestheim, W&W Group provides home financing, insurance, and wealth management services, with total assets of EUR72.3 billion as of 31 December 2024. Since 2011, the institution has relied on Regnology to manage regulatory and capital market transaction reporting across its banking, insurance, and asset management entities. With the transition to Rcloud-hosted RRH, W&W Group gains access to elastic scalability, robust security, and efficient processing of large regulatory datasets. Rcloud also provides managed services such as batch processing, platform oversight, and continuous updates aligned with regulatory changes.

This strategic migration marks a key milestone in W&W Group's digital transformation journey, delivering future-proof infrastructure to support long-term growth. W&W Group leverages RRH's comprehensive coverage across banking regulations-including own funds, liquidity, statistical, Pillar 3 disclosure, deposit insurance, SRB, FinRep, AnaCredit, and transaction-level regimes such as EMIR, MiFIR, SFTR, and MMSR-ensuring compliance across jurisdictions.

Maciej Piechocki, Chief Revenue Officer of Regnology, commented: "We're proud to support W&W Group's transformation with best-in-class technologies and modern architecture. Our RRH platform on Rcloud empowers institutions to meet regulatory demands with speed, security, and confidence. This future-ready solution delivers efficiency and scalability needed to navigate evolving industry requirements. We value our partnership with W&W Group and remain committed to supporting their strategic goals and the broader German financial community."

Bernd Gro, Head of Application Development Regulatory Reporting of W&W Group, said: "Partnering with Regnology is crucial for the digital transformation of regulatory reporting. As regulatory complexity and associated technology demands grow, we're building a resilient, agile, and reliable reporting infrastructure. Regnology's broad regulatory coverage, deep expertise, and long-standing collaboration make them a trusted partner."

In 2023, Regnology announced its strategic shift to hyperscale-cloud delivery of its industry-leading banking regulatory and tax reporting solutions introducing Rcloud powered by Google Cloud. Today, over 50% of Regnology's clients have successfully transitioned to the cloud infrastructure and its related managed services across the world, supported by a network of 12+ data centres located in EMEA, APAC, and the Americas. This momentum reflects the industry's drive toward superior operational efficiency, enhanced resilience, and readiness for AI-driven innovation. Client adoption is projected to reach 80% by Q2 2026.

AboutW&W Group

The W&W Group came into existence in 1999 as a result of the merger of the two long-standing companies Wustenrot and Wurttembergische. Today, it develops and provides the four components of modern financial planning: financial security, residential property ownership, risk protection and savings and investment. It combines the Housing and Insurance divisions with the digital initiatives and brands of the group such as Adam Riese, which enables it to offer every customer the financial planning solution that suits them best. In doing so, the W&W Group focuses on omni-channel sales, ranging from its own mobile sales force to cooperation partners and sales agents, broker activities and digital initiatives. Today, approximately 13,000 people work as in-house staff or in the mobile sales force for the listed group headquartered in Kornwestheim, Germany.

About Regnology

Regnology is a leading technology firm on a mission to enhance efficiency, transparency, and stability in the financial markets. Regnology has a focus on regulatory reporting with thousands of financial institutions and corporates of all sizes, and close to 100 regulators and tax authorities as clients. Regnology connects regulators and regulated financial institutions across the world through purpose-built solutions and common standards, bringing greater data quality and cost savings to all. With over 1,200 employees in 25 countries and a fast, flexible, and future-proof platform, clients can quickly implement and derive value from Regnology's solutions and rely on us to easily keep pace with ongoing regulatory changes.

Regnology was formed in 2021 when BearingPoint RegTech, a former business unit of BearingPoint Group, joined forces with Vizor Software, a global leader in regulatory and supervisory technology.

For more information about Regnology, connect with us on LinkedIn and X.

Visit our website: www.regnology.net.







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Press ContactMireille Adebiyi - Chief Marketing Officer, [email protected]







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Press Release from Business Wire: Boomi



(AFP) Oct 08, 2025



LONDON, Oct 8, 2025 (BSW) - Boomi?, the leader in AI-driven automation, today announced the winners of its EMEA Customer Innovation Awards, recognized at its 2025Boomi World Tour stop in London.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008061493/en/

Boomi Announces EMEA 2025 Customer Innovation Award Winners



The awards celebrate organizations that are reimagining how business is done - using the Boomi Enterprise Platform to unify systems, orchestrate data, and power automation at scale. This year's winners were chosen for their measurable business impact, digital transformation, modernization initiatives, and leadership in preparing for, and thriving in, the era of agentic AI.

2025 EMEA Award Winners include:

Sandoz - EMEA Regional Award: Sandoz made enterprise integration and API management a pillar of its divestiture programme, standardising on Boomi to replace disparate legacy tools with a unified, governed platform. Working with Boomi and a strategic delivery partner, Sandoz executed a best-practice migration that met TSA milestones, reduced operational risk and complexity, and accelerated secure data exchange across business units and partners - establishing a scalable foundation for post-separation growth.

-- Aramex - Supply Chain Innovation Award: Aramex unified its global logistics estate on a cloud-based integration layer powered by Boomi, enabling same- and next-day delivery, omnichannel engagement (mobile, WhatsApp, web), and automated partner onboarding - accelerating time-to-market while strengthening resilience and sustainability through smarter routing and ESG data automation.

-- Convex Insurance - Broker Experience Excellence Award: Convex Insurance digitised the underwriting value chain with Boomi Integration and API management, enabling real-time, accurate data exchange across multiple distribution partners - dramatically shortening quote turnaround and delivering a market-leading broker experience with a lean, modern operating model.

-- Decathlon - Retail Agility & Productivity Award: Decathlon implemented an event-driven integration fabric with Boomi that harmonises retail order flows across ERP, WMS, logistics, and WCS (mechanization partners) - shortening development cycles from weeks to days, scaling to 100+ integrations, and reliably processing millions of messages per day to keep logistics synchronised globally.

-- DS Smith - AI-Enabled Excellence Award: DS Smith is "redefining packaging for a changing world" by transforming its legacy data integration capability into a Boomi-powered, cloud-native, scalable backbone for real-time data and AI innovation. Using generative AI to design, map, and test 5,000 existing B2B and application flows, Hitachi and DS Smith have significantly reduced the risk, cost, and time that a non-AI migration would have incurred. The first wave of critical business integrations is now fully live on Boomi and the service team is open for business to meet a backlog of net-new API first digital requirements.

-- JDE Peet's - Real-Time Operations Insight Award: JDE Peet's has introduced an Agentic AI Layer into its integration landscape, powered by the Solace Agent Mesh and seamlessly integrated through Boomi. This initiative will bring real-time visibility and actionability to order management and supply chain operations. Business-capability agents securely traverse enterprise systems via established integration guardrails to answer complex questions and generate on-the-fly reports. The result is faster issue resolution, cleaner and better-monitored integrations, and a step-change in productivity and decision speed.

Given the exceptional quality and volume of nominations for this year's EMEA Customer Innovation Awards, Boomi is also proud to recognize and celebrate the program's finalists. These organizations, including Culina Group and SHV Energy, among other leading innovators, have showcased outstanding use of the Boomi Enterprise Platform, setting new standards of excellence and establishing themselves as leaders in their industries.

"The recipients of the 2025 Boomi EMEA Customer Innovation Awards show what's possible when organisations connect, integrate, and automate on a unified platform. With the Boomi Enterprise Platform, they are accelerating adoption of agentic AI," said Adrian Trickett, Vice President and General Manager, EMEA, at Boomi. "We commend these organisations for embracing agentic transformation - empowering systems and people to act with greater autonomy and intelligence. Their efforts are delivering better outcomes every day for their organisations, customers, and partners."

Additional Resources

-- Learn more about the Boomi Enterprise Platform

-- Explore the Boomiverse Community

-- Follow Boomi on X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube

About Boomi

Boomi, the leader in AI-driven automation, enables organizations worldwide to connect everything, automate processes, and accelerate outcomes. The Boomi Enterprise Platform - including Boomi Agentstudio - unifies integration and automation along with data, API, and AI agent management, in a single, comprehensive solution. Trusted by over 25,000 customers and supported by a network of 800+ partners, Boomi is driving agentic transformation - helping enterprises of all sizes achieve agility, efficiency, and innovation at scale. Discover more at boomi.com.

 2025 Boomi, LP. Boomi, the 'Boomi' logo, the 'B' logo, and Boomiverse are registered trademarks of Boomi, LP or its subsidiaries or affiliates in the US and other countries. All rights reserved. Other names or marks may be the trademarks of their respective owners.







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Media ContactElliot HarrisonBoomi Corporate [email protected]







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Press Release from Business Wire: Xenco Medical



(AFP) Oct 08, 2025



SAN DIEGO, Oct 8, 2025 (BSW) - Pioneering medical technology company Xenco Medical has been named the Medical Device/Diagnostics Company of the Year at the 2025 PM360 Trailblazer Awards, held at Gotham Hall in New York City on September 30th. Drawing together the world's leading life sciences organizations each year, the Trailblazer Awards crown the most innovative and impactful organizations, leaders, and initiatives shaping the future of healthcare. Xenco Medical won the top honor as the Company of the Year in the Medical Device/Diagnostics category for its trailblazing development of biomimetic implants, regenerative biomaterials, and composite polymer surgical instruments with AI-driven software technologies that redefine the continuum of surgical care. "This year's winners showcase exactly what sets our industry apart-bold ideas, breakthrough innovation, and real-world impact," said Anna Stashower, CEO and Publisher of PM360. "Their work improves lives, advances care, and drives the kind of progress that truly matters." The other winners at the coveted awards ceremony included Merck & Company, named Pharmaceutical/Biotech Company of the Year and Vertex Pharmaceuticals for Specialty Pharma/Biotech Company of the Year.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251008490627/en/

On September 30th, 2025, Xenco Medical took home the top crown as Company of the Year in the Medical Device/Diagnostics category at the lauded Trailblazer Awards Ceremony in New York City's Gotham Hall.



"We are profoundly honored to have been named the Company of the Year in the Medical Device/Diagnostics category at the 2025 Trailblazer Awards, and we look forward to continuing to translate the abounding promise of science into a transformative impact on the lives of countless patients," said Jason Haider, Founder and CEO of Xenco Medical.

Inspired by the principles of mechanotransduction, Xenco Medical's groundbreaking TrabeculeX Continuum technology synergistically harmonizes the bone-forming potential of its regenerative biomaterials with AI-powered post-surgical rehabilitation. By enabling surgeons to remotely monitor pain scores, rehabilitation adherence, and motion recovery through AI-driven pose assessment, Xenco Medical continues to advance its mission of dissolving the barriers that typify the siloed nature of surgical care.

As one of the most prestigious honors in the life sciences, the Trailblazer Awards celebrate excellence in breakthrough innovations, corporate governance, and social responsibility, recognizing companies that exemplify leadership and ingenuity across the healthcare ecosystem. A leader in the medical device sector, Xenco Medical's breakthrough technologies have heralded a value-based approach to healthcare. Radically optimizing the operational efficiency of healthcare facilities through its streamlined single-use surgical implant systems as well, Xenco Medical's logistics-optimized surgical devices have significantly decreased surgical turnover times by eliminating the need for the sterilization and reprocessing of implant and instrument systems between surgeries. In March of this year, Xenco Medical was also named one of the World's Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company Magazine for the second time.







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Melissa [email protected]







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EU wants key sectors to use made-in-Europe AI



Strasbourg, France, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



The EU on Wednesday told European businesses in critical sectors to ramp up their uptake of artificial intelligence and pushed for the bloc to cut its dependence on foreign AI providers.

Although the European Union is falling behind the United States and China, Brussels believes the bloc can still compete in the global AI race.

To achieve this, the European Commission said it was mobilising one billion euros ($1.6 billion) to push key sectors like pharmaceuticals, energy and defence, to promote "European AI-powered" tools and develop specialised AI models.

The majority of the one billion euros will come from the EU's Horizon research programme, the EU executive said, and will be used for projects including deploying autonomous cars and advanced cancer screening centres.

Brussels is ploughing billions of euros into developing Europe's AI network including building AI gigafactories and tripling data centre capacity.

Only 13 percent of European companies last year used AI, EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen said, although she said this figure had since increased.

The European Commission wants 75 percent of businesses to use AI by 2030.

"I want the future of AI to be made in Europe. Because when AI is used, we can find smarter, faster, and more affordable solutions," EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said.

Where possible, companies should "favour European solutions", Virkkunen told reporters in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, although she admitted this was not always possible.

In its strategy, Brussels warned "external dependencies of the AI stack" -- the tools including infrastructure needed to build AI -- "can be weaponised and thereby increasing risks to supply chains by state and non-state actors".
Press Release from Business Wire: eM Client



(AFP) Oct 08, 2025



PRAGUE, Oct 8, 2025 (BSW) - eM Client, the modern email client built for smarter productivity, announced that the features of its mobile app for iOS and Android are now generally available. The release brings the company's full productivity suite to mobile devices, combining email, calendar, contacts, tasks and notes in one seamless experience. The app also introduces built-in AI assistance to help users compose emails and replies faster, making everyday communication more efficient.

"With eM Client Mobile, people can finally stop juggling multiple apps just to stay organized," said Michal Burger, CEO of eM Client. "Everything is in one place, and AI makes it faster than ever to communicate and stay productive on the go. We've designed this app to give people the same powerful experience users trust on desktop, now optimized for mobile devices."

Everything You Need, All in One App

With this launch, eM Client brings together its most-requested tools and enhancements in one mobile experience. Users will now benefit from:

-- Productivity Essentials: Manage calendars, contacts, tasks and notes alongside email in one integrated app. Calendar features include multiple views plus real-time notifications to stay on top of meetings. Contacts offer synchronized account management, instant actions for calls or emails and a history of communication and attachments. Tasks and notes sync to help keep deadlines and ideas all in one place.

-- AI-Powered Assistance: Compose drafts or generate quick replies with integrated AI tools, bringing the same smart features from desktop to mobile. Users can translate or proofread emails instantly, create polite declines or requests for more information with one tap, or generate custom responses by entering their own prompt. AI streamlines routine messages and ensures polished, context-aware replies to keep communication efficient on the go.

-- Enhanced User Experience: Tablet-optimized user interface (UI) for Android and iPad provides a layout closer to desktop, with options to pin or collapse panels for cleaner reading. Adjustable font sizes, flexible list sorting and iOS performance upgrades ensure a smooth, responsive experience across devices.

The AI productivity tools market is experiencing substantial growth, with signs of significant expansion through at least 2030-2034. Organizations across industries are investing in these solutions to streamline workflows and communication. By embedding AI directly into its mobile app, eM Client is bringing these advancements into everyday email and collaboration.

Availability

The eM Client mobile app is now generally available worldwide for iOS and Android. Existing users will receive the update automatically, while new users can set up the app in just a few clicks. Automatic account detection and an import via QR feature make it easy to transfer settings from the desktop version.

Earlier this year, eM Client released eM Client 10.3, with several improvements to the UI and the incorporation of highly requested features from former Postbox users, such as Profiles, Account Groups, and more keyboard shortcuts. Late last year, eM Client acquired Postbox Inc., a US-based email application company. This strategic acquisition enhanced eM Client's service offerings to a broader user base, further advancing productivity and user efficiency in email management.

For more information, visit www.emclient.com/mobile-features.

About eM Client

eM Client (www.emclient.com) was founded in 2006 with a clear goal: to develop a modern email client that is compatible with the latest technologies and supports all major email providers. Trusted by over 100,000 businesses and 2,500,000 users worldwide, eM Client is a powerful enterprise email business solution and productivity tool for companies of all sizes.







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Citizens watch a live show at 1905 Art Re-Creative Space, which is transformed from an abandoned factory, in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 6, 2025. Many industrial heritages in Shenyang of northeast China's Liaoning Province have been transformed into public leisure spaces, creative industry parks, and distinctive neighborhoods, offering citizens and tourists unique experiences during this year's National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Tourists visit the Industrial Museum of China in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 1, 2025. Many industrial heritages in Shenyang of northeast China's Liaoning Province have been transformed into public leisure spaces, creative industry parks, and distinctive neighborhoods, offering citizens and tourists unique experiences during this year's National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Tourists visit the Industrial Museum of China in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 1, 2025. Many industrial heritages in Shenyang of northeast China's Liaoning Province have been transformed into public leisure spaces, creative industry parks, and distinctive neighborhoods, offering citizens and tourists unique experiences during this year's National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

People take photos at a cultural and creative site, which is transformed from an abandoned factory, in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 6, 2025. Many industrial heritages in Shenyang of northeast China's Liaoning Province have been transformed into public leisure spaces, creative industry parks, and distinctive neighborhoods, offering citizens and tourists unique experiences during this year's National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

People select products at 1905 Art Re-Creative Space, which is transformed from an abandoned factory, in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 6, 2025. Many industrial heritages in Shenyang of northeast China's Liaoning Province have been transformed into public leisure spaces, creative industry parks, and distinctive neighborhoods, offering citizens and tourists unique experiences during this year's National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

People visit the Hongmei cultural and creative industry park in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 1, 2025. Many industrial heritages in Shenyang of northeast China's Liaoning Province have been transformed into public leisure spaces, creative industry parks, and distinctive neighborhoods, offering citizens and tourists unique experiences during this year's National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Citizens read books at a cultural and creative site, which is transformed from an abandoned factory, in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 6, 2025. Many industrial heritages in Shenyang of northeast China's Liaoning Province have been transformed into public leisure spaces, creative industry parks, and distinctive neighborhoods, offering citizens and tourists unique experiences during this year's National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Tourists visit the Industrial Museum of China in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 1, 2025. Many industrial heritages in Shenyang of northeast China's Liaoning Province have been transformed into public leisure spaces, creative industry parks, and distinctive neighborhoods, offering citizens and tourists unique experiences during this year's National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

A woman poses for photos at a cultural and creative site, which is transformed from an abandoned factory, in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 6, 2025. Many industrial heritages in Shenyang of northeast China's Liaoning Province have been transformed into public leisure spaces, creative industry parks, and distinctive neighborhoods, offering citizens and tourists unique experiences during this year's National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

Children have fun at a cultural and creative site, which is transformed from a barn, in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 8, 2025. Many industrial heritages in Shenyang of northeast China's Liaoning Province have been transformed into public leisure spaces, creative industry parks, and distinctive neighborhoods, offering citizens and tourists unique experiences during this year's National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)

People visit the Hongmei cultural and creative industry park in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 1, 2025. Many industrial heritages in Shenyang of northeast China's Liaoning Province have been transformed into public leisure spaces, creative industry parks, and distinctive neighborhoods, offering citizens and tourists unique experiences during this year's National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. (Xinhua/Pan Yulong)
200 Texas National Guard troops arrive in Illinois



Washington, Oct 7 (AFP) Oct 07, 2025



Two hundred Texas National Guard troops have arrived in Illinois, a Pentagon official said Tuesday, ahead of a planned deployment in Chicago that is strongly opposed by local Democratic officials.

The troops were sent as part of a mission to protect "federal functions, personnel, and property," the official said on condition of anonymity, adding that the Guardsmen have been mobilized for "an initial period of 60 days."

The planned deployment of troops from Texas has infuriated Democratic Governor JB Pritzker, who said they "should stay the hell out of Illinois."

President Donald Trump over the weekend authorized the deployment of 700 National Guard troops to Chicago, sparking a lawsuit by Illinois state officials.

In their suit, Illinois Attorney General and counsel for Chicago accused Trump of using US troops "to punish his political enemies."

"The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a president's favor," they said.

But Judge April Perry, an appointee of President Donald Trump's Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, declined to issue an immediate temporary restraining order, instead scheduling a full hearing for Thursday and asking the government to provide more information.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has defended the plan to send troops to Chicago, claiming that the third-largest US city is "a war zone."

Trump has similarly called Portland "war-ravaged," but District Judge Karin Immergut issued a temporary block on the deployment of troops to the West Coast state of Oregon, after which the president threatened to use emergency powers against rebellion to send more forces into Democratic-led US cities.
On Trump's orders, 200 troops from Texas arrive in Illinois



Washington, Oct 7 (AFP) Oct 07, 2025



Two hundred Texas National Guard troops have arrived in Illinois, a Pentagon official said Tuesday, ahead of a planned deployment in Chicago that is strongly opposed by local Democratic officials.

US President Donald Trump has already sent troops onto the streets of Los Angeles and Washington, DC and has ordered them to Memphis as well as Chicago and Portland, threatening to invoke emergency powers to forward such efforts if the courts get in the way.

Trump -- who suggested last week that American cities be used as "training grounds" for US military forces -- exaggerated the scale of unrest in Los Angeles and crime in Washington to justify those deployments, and a judge suggested he did the same when it comes to Portland.

The troops from Texas were sent to Illinois as part of a mission to protect "federal functions, personnel, and property," the Pentagon official said on condition of anonymity, adding that the Guardsmen have been mobilized for an initial period of 60 days.

The troops were seen on Tuesday at a military facility in Elwood, southwest of Chicago.

The planned deployment of these forces has infuriated Democratic Governor JB Pritzker, who said they "should stay the hell out of Illinois," and that any deployment against his state government's wishes would amount to an "invasion."

Trump over the weekend authorized the deployment of 700 National Guard troops to Chicago, sparking a lawsuit by Illinois state officials who accused him of using US troops "to punish his political enemies."



- 'Untethered to the facts' -



"The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a president's favor," the Illinois Attorney General and counsel for Chicago said.

But Judge April Perry, an appointee of Trump's Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, declined to issue an immediate temporary restraining order, instead scheduling a full hearing for Thursday.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has defended the plan to send troops to Chicago, claiming that the third-largest US city is "a war zone."

Trump has similarly taken aim at Portland, which like Chicago has seen surges of federal agents as part of the president's mass deportation drive, prompting protests outside immigration processing facilities. Trump asserted that it is "war-ravaged" and riddled with violent crime.

But in a Saturday court order temporarily blocking the deployment of troops to Oregon, US District Judge Karin Immergut wrote that "the President's determination was simply untethered to the facts."

Protests in Portland did not pose a "danger of rebellion" and "regular law enforcement forces" could handle such incidents, the judge wrote.

Trump responded to that setback by openly mulling the use of the Insurrection Act -- which allows the president to deploy the military within the United States to suppress rebellion -- in order to send more troops into Democratic-led US cities.

"We have an Insurrection Act for a reason," Trump said, adding that he would use it if "people were being killed and courts were holding us up or governors or mayors were holding us up."
Trump talks up Canada trade deal chances with 'world-class' Carney



Washington, Oct 7 (AFP) Oct 07, 2025



President Donald Trump said Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney would be "very happy" after their trade talks at the White House Tuesday, but offered no immediate concessions on lifting steep US tariffs.

Striking a friendly tone in the Oval Office, Trump praised Carney as a "world-class leader" adding that the former central banker was a "nice man" who can also be "very nasty."

But Carney, who faced pressure at home to get a deal during his second White House visit since taking power in April, left without any firm promises that tariffs would be lifted.

"I think they're going to walk away very happy," Trump told reporters, saying that there was "natural conflict" between the two economies, but that they had "come a long way over the last few months."

Carney said he was confident that Canada would "get the right deal" from the United States, his country's main economic partner.

The pair also shared a series of light-hearted moments, even laughing as Trump joked about a Canadian "merger" in a reference to his previous calls for Canada to become the 51st US state.

Despite the jovial tone, Trump and Carney studiously avoided giving any precise details on how they might ease US tariffs on lumber, aluminum, steel and automobiles.

On Monday, the US president announced 25 percent tariffs on all imported heavy trucks starting November 1.

A statement from Carney after the visit indicated there had been little firm agreement, saying only that both leaders recognized there were areas for competition and others where they could work together.

"We're focused on building these new opportunities," he said on X.



- 'Broken promises' -



The 60-year-old Carney entered politics less than a year ago after campaigning on his extensive crisis management experience as a way of countering Trump's tariffs and annexation threats.

But while the vast majority of Canada's trade remains protected by the USMCA, a free-trade agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico, Trump has called for revisions when it comes up for renegotiation soon.

Seventy-five percent of Canada's exports are sold across its southern border. Canada saw its GDP decline by 1.5 percent in the second quarter, adding to the economic pressure.

Before the visit, Canada's opposition heaped pressure on Carney, as the country is the last major US ally not to seal a deal with Washington.

"If you return with excuses, broken promises and photo ops, you will have failed our workers, our businesses and our country," conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre wrote in an open letter to Carney on Monday.

Carney faces particular criticism for making concessions to Trump while getting little in return.

At the end of June, Carney canceled a tax targeting American tech giants under pressure from Trump, who called it outrageous. He also lifted many of the tariffs imposed by the previous government.

"Mark Carney has no choice, he must return from Washington with progress," said Daniel Beland, a political scientist at McGill University in Montreal, pointing to the steel and aluminum tariffs as key areas.

But Carney at least seemed to have negotiated the hurdle of an Oval Office visit for a second time -- one that has caused stumbles for previous visitors like Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.

"These meetings can easily go off track, and everything plays out publicly," said Genevieve Tellier, a political scientist at the University of Ottawa.
Trump unlikely to win Nobel Peace Prize, but who will?



Oslo, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



When it comes to this year's Nobel Peace Prize, one thing is almost certain: US President Donald Trump will not win, no matter how much he wants it. But who will?

The Norwegian Nobel Committee in Oslo will bring the suspense to an end when it announces the winner Friday at 11:00 am (0900 GMT).

The backdrop is bleak: the number of armed conflicts worldwide involving at least one state has never been as high as in 2024, since Sweden's Uppsala University started its global conflict database in 1946.

Trump has repeatedly said he deserves the prestigious prize for resolving "eight conflicts", but experts predict he will not be the committee's choice -- at least not this year.

"No, it will not be Trump this year," Swedish professor Peter Wallensteen, an expert on international affairs, told AFP.

"But perhaps next year? By then the dust will have settled around his various initiatives, including the Gaza crisis," he added.

Numerous experts consider Trump's "peacemaker" claims to be exaggerated and express concerns over the consequences of his "America First" policies.

"Beyond trying to broker peace for Gaza, we have seen policies that actually go against the intentions and what's written in the will of (Alfred) Nobel, notably to promote international cooperation, the fraternity of nations and disarmament," said Nina Graeger, who heads the Peace Research Institute of Oslo.

For Graeger, the list of Trump's actions not aligned with the ideals of the Nobel Peace Prize is long.

Trump has withdrawn the US from international organisations and multilateral treaties, launched trade wars against allies and enemies alike, threatened to take Greenland from Denmark by force, ordered the National Guard into US cities and attacked universities' academic freedoms as well as freedom of expression.

"We take the complete picture into account," explained Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the five-member committee awarding the peace prize.

"The whole organisation or the complete personality of that person matters, but what we first and foremost look at is what they have been actually achieving for the sake of peace," he said.



- Uncontroversial pick? -



This year, 338 individuals and organisations have been nominated for the peace prize, with the list kept secret for 50 years.

Tens of thousands of people are eligible to propose candidates, including lawmakers and cabinet members of all countries, former laureates, certain university professors and Nobel committee members.

In 2024, the award went to Japan's atomic bomb survivors' group Nihon Hidankyo for its efforts to ban nuclear weapons.

With no clear favourite this year, several names have been doing the rounds in Oslo ahead of Friday's announcement.

Sudan's Emergency Response Rooms -- a network of volunteers risking their lives to feed and help people enduring war and famine -- have been mentioned, as has Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights election watchdog.

The Nobel committee's choices in recent years have demonstrated "a return to more micro things, somewhat closer to classical ideas of peace", with a focus on "human rights, democracy, freedom of the press and women", said Halvard Leira, the director of the Norwegian Institute for International Affairs.

"My hunch would probably just perhaps be for a not that controversial candidate this year," he said.

The Nobel committee could also choose to reaffirm its commitment to a world order currently being challenged by Trump by giving the prize to United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, or a UN body like its refugee agency UNHCR or Palestinian relief agency UNRWA.

It could also give the nod to international tribunals such as the International Court of Justice or the International Criminal Court, or champion press freedoms currently under attack by giving it to the Committee to Protect Journalists or Reporters Without Borders.

But the committee could also do as it has done many times before and pick a completely unexpected winner.
Mexico investigates soldiers for killing six on highway



Ciudad Victoria, Mexico, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



Mexican prosecutors have launched a probe against soldiers over the shooting deaths of six people in a northern state where clashes involving drug cartels are frequent, a judicial source said Tuesday.

The incident occurred on Monday on a highway in Tamaulipas, considered one of Mexico's most dangerous states due to the presence of gang members involved in drug and migrant trafficking.

Numerous violent clashes involving security forces in Tamaulipas have prompted accusations of extrajudicial killings.

The troops involved in the latest deadly incident have been "placed under investigation", an official with the attorney general's office told AFP on condition of anonymity.

A defense ministry statement said the group of soldiers was traveling on a highway when a white pickup truck "tried to ram" one of the army vehicles.

The troops sensed a threat and "used their weapons," the ministry said, adding that five civilians died on the spot and a sixth on the way to hospital.

In March, four Mexican soldiers were sentenced to 40 years in prison for the killing of five civilians in 2023 in Nuevo Laredo, a crime-plagued city bordering the United States.
Iran summons EU envoys over bloc's 'interventionist' stance



Tehran, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



Iran summoned envoys from European Union member states to protest the bloc's "interventionist" statements on contested islands in the Strait of Hormuz as well as the Islamic republic's nuclear programme, local media reported Wednesday.

Iran considers the islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Musa, all near the strategic Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf, as part of its sovereign territory.

Iran's deputy foreign minister summoned the heads of mission from EU states to criticise a joint communique issued by the bloc and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Monday, the official ISNA news agency reported, without naming the envoys.

Following an EU-GCC summit in Kuwait, the meeting's final statement called on Iran "to end its occupation of the three islands of the United Arab Emirates".

The deputy minister, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, conveyed Tehran's "strong protest" over what he called the bloc's support for the UAE's "baseless claim" to the islands.

The EU-GCC statement also urged Iran to resume full cooperation with the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), pursue regional de-escalation and curb proliferation of missiles and drones.

Tehran suspended its cooperation with the IAEA following months of heightened tensions and attacks on key nuclear sites.

In June, a 12-day war erupted after unprecedented Israeli strikes inside Iran targeted military, political and nuclear-related sites.

Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel and on the largest US base in the Middle East, located in Qatar, after Washington launched a bombing raid of its own.

Takht-Ravanchi also dismissed remarks on Iran's missile programme as "clear interference in Iran's internal affairs," saying the country's "indigenous defensive capabilities" were an inherent right and a guarantor of regional stability.

The EU has previously imposed sanctions on Iran over its missile activities, accusing Tehran of supplying drones and missiles to Russia for use in the war in Ukraine.

Iran has rejected the claims, saying it has not sided with any parties in the conflict despite its strategic partnership with Moscow.

Takht-Ravanchi further decried a move by the EU and the three European signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran -- Britain, France and Germany -- to reimpose UN sanctions, alleging Tehran was not meeting its obligations.

He accused the EU of "breaching their commitments" and "causing a deadlock in diplomacy".
EU 'must respond' to Russia's 'hybrid warfare': von der Leyen



Strasbourg, France, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday said Europe must ramp up its defences to deter Russia's "hybrid warfare", after a catalogue of air incursions, cyber attacks and damage to undersea cables.

"These incidents are calculated to linger in the twilight of deniability. This is not random harassment. It is a coherent and escalating campaign," the European Commission head said in a speech to EU lawmakers.

"Two incidents are coincidence, but three, five, 10 -- this is a deliberate and targeted grey zone campaign against Europe, and Europe must respond," she said.

EU countries Poland, Estonia and Romania have recently been rattled by Russian air incursions, while unidentified drones have been spotted in Denmark, Germany and Belgium.

European countries have already increased defence spending to post-Cold War highs in the face of Moscow's war in Ukraine and doubts over US support under President Donald Trump.

Now the EU is seeking to hammer out plans for joint projects that could be built by the 27-nation bloc -- including a "wall" of anti-drone defences.

"We must not only react. We must deter because if we hesitate to act, the grey zone will only expand," von der Leyen said.

"The founding mission of the European Union is to preserve peace, and today that means having the capacity to deter aggression and provocation."

EU leaders will seek at a summit in Brussels later this month to agree on a "road map" aimed at getting the bloc ready to ward off threats from Russia in the coming years.

"This will not only set common objectives, but also very concrete milestones and timelines on the way to 2030 because we all know only what gets measured gets really done," von der Leyen said.

The commission president insisted that tackling "Russia's hybrid war" requires "a completely new mindset for all of us".

"The choice before us is very simple. We either can shy away and watch Russian threats escalate, or we meet them with unity, deterrence and resolve," von der Leyen said.
On Trump's orders, 200 troops from Texas arrive in Illinois



Washington, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



Two hundred Texas National Guard troops have arrived in Illinois, a Pentagon official said Tuesday, ahead of a planned deployment in Chicago that is strongly opposed by local Democratic officials.

US President Donald Trump has already sent troops onto the streets of Los Angeles and Washington and has ordered them to Memphis, as well as Chicago and Portland, threatening to invoke emergency powers to forward such efforts if the courts get in the way.

In Memphis, police chief Cerelyn Davis told a city council meeting on Tuesday that she expected the National Guard deployment soon.

"It looks like maybe October 10 -- in a few days we'll see the first group of individuals come to our city," Davis said, adding that some commanders were already there to prepare for their arrival.

Trump -- who suggested last week that American cities be used as "training grounds" for US military forces -- exaggerated the scale of unrest in Los Angeles and crime in Washington to justify those deployments, and a judge suggested he did the same with Portland.

The troops from Texas were sent to Illinois as part of a mission to protect "federal functions, personnel, and property," the Pentagon official said on condition of anonymity, adding that the Guardsmen had been mobilized for an initial period of 60 days.

The troops were seen on Tuesday at a military facility in Elwood, southwest of Chicago.

The planned deployment of those forces has infuriated Democratic Governor JB Pritzker, who said they "should stay the hell out of Illinois," and that any deployment against his state government's wishes would amount to an "invasion."

Trump authorized at the weekend the deployment of 700 National Guard troops to Chicago, sparking a lawsuit by Illinois state officials who accused him of using US troops "to punish his political enemies."



- 'Untethered to the facts' -



"The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a president's favor," the Illinois Attorney General and counsel for Chicago said.

However, Judge April Perry, an appointee of Trump's Democratic predecessor Joe Biden, declined to issue an immediate temporary restraining order, instead scheduling a full hearing for Thursday.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has defended the plan to send troops to Chicago, claiming that the third-largest US city is "a war zone."

Trump has similarly taken aim at Portland, which like Chicago has seen surges of federal agents as part of the president's mass deportation drive, prompting protests outside immigration processing facilities. Trump asserted that it is "war-ravaged" and riddled with violent crime.

But in a Saturday court order temporarily blocking the deployment of troops to Oregon, US District Judge Karin Immergut wrote that "the President's determination was simply untethered to the facts."

Protests in Portland did not pose a "danger of rebellion" and "regular law enforcement forces" could handle such incidents, Immergut wrote.

Trump responded to that setback by openly mulling the use of the Insurrection Act -- which allows the president to deploy the military within the United States to suppress rebellion -- in order to send more troops into Democratic-led US cities.

"We have an Insurrection Act for a reason," Trump said, adding that he would use it if "people were being killed and courts were holding us up or governors or mayors were holding us up."
LHASA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- All hikers and local hiking service personnel stranded by heavy snowfall in Dingri County, Xigaze City in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, have reached safety, according to the local government on Tuesday.

A total of 580 hikers and more than 300 personnel, including local guides and yak herders, have arrived safely in Qudeng Township and nearby areas, where local staff are organizing their return journeys in an orderly manner, said the county government.

About a dozen hikers were escorted to a meeting point with the help of local teams carrying food, medicine, heating and oxygen supplies.

Heavy snowfall began to hit Dingri on Saturday evening, affecting the hikers along mountain trails near Qudeng. The county government quickly mobilized emergency teams to coordinate communication and relief efforts in the affected area.

Dingri County on Sunday announced that several scenic areas, including the Mount Qomolangma scenic area, were temporarily closed due to heavy snowfall. 
Dutch make explosive discovery in French onion delivery



The Hague, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



A French onion delivery made eyes water more than usual when Dutch authorities discovered two hand grenades hidden among the vegetables, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) said Wednesday.

The grenades, dating from 1925, were found in a consignment of onions heading from France to a factory in the northern Dutch province of Zeeland.

Dutch authorities asked the OPCW to examine the find.

"The projectiles were identified to be consistent with pre-1925 French and German manufactured old chemical weapons," The Hague-based organisation concluded after peeling back the layers of the case.

"However, the type of chemical fill could not be identified," it added in a statement.

The reason for the weapons' presence in the delivery remains a mystery.

The grenades will be destroyed, but since the Netherlands lacks a dedicated destruction facility for this type of object, they will be "transferred as toxic waste to the specialised chemical dismantling facility in Poelkapelle, Belgium," the OPCW said.

The Netherlands thanked the Belgian authorities for their help.
German police to get power to shoot down drones: minister



Berlin, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



German federal police will be allowed to shoot down drones, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Friday, following a recent string of sightings which Berlin has blamed on Russia.

Unveiling a draft law, Dobrindt said police would be able to use jamming devices or take "physical measures, that is to say, intercepting and shooting down drones".

Germany was learning about modern drone defences from its allies Israel and Ukraine, he added.

He said that the federal police would also receive "an additional unit for development and research into drone defence".

Germany, a major NATO backer of Ukraine in its fight against Russia, has reported multiple drone sightings this year over military bases, industrial sites and other critical infrastructure.

Last weekend drones spotted over the southern city of Munich twice shuttered the city's airport, grounding thousands of passengers after their flights were cancelled or re-routed.

"Our suspicion is that Russia is behind most of these drone flights," Chancellor Friedrich Merz told public broadcaster ARD in an interview.
Dutch NGO rejects Burkina junta's claims of spying



Abidjan, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



An NGO on Wednesday denied claims by the Burkina Faso authorities that its workers had been involved in spying a day after the military regime arrested more of its staff.

The International and Safety Organisation (INSO) was responding a day after the country's Security Minister Mahamadou Sana accused its staff of "spying and treason".

"We categorically reject the allegations made regarding our activities in Burkina Faso and remain committed to doing everything in our power to secure the safe release of all our colleagues," it said in a statement.

Since July, the authorities have arrested eight staff members: a Frenchman, a French-Senegalese woman, a Czech man, a Malian and four Burkinabe nationals.

The group's director in Burkina Faso is among those being held, having been detained at the end of July.

The INSO, based in the Netherlands, specialises in safety for aid workers, providing security analyses for humanitarian organisations.

Sana in his comments Tuesday, alleged the group had "collected and passed on sensitive security information that could be detrimental to national security and the interests of Burkina Faso, to foreign powers".

Despite it having been banned from operating on July 31, some members had continued operating "covertly", he added.

In its statement Wednesday, the INSO said the authorities had been "fully aware of our work and mandate.

"We have operated in Burkina Faso since 2019, following requests to support NGOs there, and we are registered with relevant ministries in accordance with local laws," it added.

"Associating our work to strengthen humanitarian safety with intelligence work is not only false but will only serve to place aid workers at greater risk," it said.

Burkina Faso's military junta has turned away from the West and in particular former colonial master France since seizing power in a September 2022 coup.

Burkinabe authorities often repress dissent, notably within civil society and the media, claiming it as part of the battle against jihadist violence that has plagued the country for a decade.
German police to get power to shoot down drones: minister



Berlin, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



German federal police will soon be allowed to shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Wednesday, after a spate of drone sightings believed to be Russian efforts to spy and intimidate.

Unveiling a draft law, Dobrindt said police would be authorised "to take state-of-the-art technical action against drone threats, for example with electromagnetic pulses, jamming, GPS interference, but also with physical means.

"This means that the interception and shooting down of drones will be regulated and possible for the Federal Police in the future."

Germany was learning about modern UAV defences from its allies Israel and Ukraine, he said, adding that it would also set up a joint drone defence centre for state and federal police to develop situation reports "and take joint countermeasures".

Germany -- a major NATO backer of Ukraine in its fight against Russia -- has reported multiple drone sightings this year over military bases, industrial sites and other critical infrastructure.

Last weekend, drones spotted over the southern city of Munich twice shut down the city's airport, grounding thousands of passengers after their flights were cancelled or re-routed, echoing similar incidents in Denmark and Norway.

"Our suspicion is that Russia is behind most of these drone flights," Chancellor Friedrich Merz told public broadcaster ARD in an interview on Sunday.

The next day, speaking on news channel NTV, Merz pointed to recent comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin and said that "it's quite obvious that he even admits that it comes from Russia".

"He wants to intimidate us, he wants to frighten us. We won't allow ourselves to be intimidated, and we will defend ourselves effectively against this threat."



- Mystery sightings -



There has been a spate of UAV mystery sightings over German military sites, ports, power plants, industrial sites and gas storage facilities.

However, the drones have usually vanished again before authorities could find out where they came from.

Drones spotted over the northern coastal state of Schleswig-Holstein are believed to have been launched from Russian "shadow fleet" vessels.

The German armed forces already have technical capabilities to counter drones -- but only very limited powers under the German basic law to operate domestically.

Methods include using shoulder-mounted GPS jammers which can sever the connection between a drone and its pilot and cause the device to crash.

Drones can also be shot out of the sky but at the risk of causing injuries and damage from falling debris.

Another defence is using interceptor drones that crash into UAVs or hurl nets over them mid-air.

State and federal police can now request the German military's assistance in drone detection, in special circumstances, as was the case at Munich airport.

Dobrindt said that as federal police would now take the lead in securing the skies against drones, a new unit would be created for the development and research of drone defence.

"We are already in exchange with countries that have significantly more experience," he told a Berlin press conference. "We are in intensive exchange with Israel, we are also in exchange with Ukraine."
Bangladesh court issues arrest warrants senior officers



Dhaka, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



A Bangladesh court has issued arrest warrants for two dozen military officers over their alleged role in enforced disappearances during ousted premier Sheikh Hasina's rule, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

An inquiry commission has verified more than 250 cases of disappearances, allegedly carried out by the security forces, spanning the 15 years that Hasina's Awami League was in power.

It has received about 1,700 complaints.

Hasina, 77, fled Dhaka by helicopter to India in August 2024 after a student-led mass uprising. She has been named as a co-accused in cases of enforced disappearance being heard by Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT).

The tribunal is prosecuting former senior figures connected to Hasina's ousted government and her now-banned Awami League party.

It is the first time that such a large number of senior-ranking former and serving security officials -- including at least 16 generals -- are likely to face civilian trials.

"Judicial process never considers who the perpetrators are, their status, or their power," Md Tajul Islam, chief prosecutor at the ICT, told reporters.

"Those who never cared about the trust people had bestowed upon them, who took salaries, wore uniforms, and yet stood against the state, the constitution, and the law are now being held accountable," he said.

Prosecutors submitted charge sheets on Wednesday related to two incidents of enforced disappearances but cited human rights groups to say the total number of cases could be as high as 700.

They said many of the enforced disappearances were carried out as part of anti-terror operations, supported by Western nations, which Hasina used to bolster her government's legitimacy.
ExxonMobil returns to Iraq with deal on major oil field



Baghdad, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



US oil giant ExxonMobil has returned to Iraq after a two-year absence, reaching an initial agreement on Wednesday that could pave the way for developing a giant oil field.

Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani's office announced the oil ministry had signed the heads of agreement (HoA) on the project in the country's south.

Sudani, who attended the signing ceremony, said the agreement "represents an important step for the future of Iraq's oil sector and for strengthening economic relations with the United States".

He added, according to his office, that his government was keen to work "with major oil companies, particularly American ones, to operate in key oil fields such as the Majnoon Field in Basra" in southern Iraq.

The statement did not specify the details of the agreement.

A source in the oil ministry told AFP the HoA was aimed at helping to develop the giant Majnoon oil field, but reaching a final deal could take time.

A state-run company took over the Majnoon oil field in 2017 following the pullout of Anglo-Dutch giant Shell.

ExxonMobil exited Iraq in 2024, after leaving the massive West Qurna 1 oil field over poor returns. The field was subsequently taken over by a Chinese company.

Sudani stressed ExxonMobil's key role in "modernising Iraq's oil export infrastructure, diversifying export routes, and adopting advanced technologies in oil production to boost output".

Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organisation is also in talks with Exxon to obtain storage capacity in Singapore, according to the official INA press agency.

Iraq is a founding member of the OPEC cartel, and crude oil sales make up 90 percent of the country's revenues. It currently exports 3.4 million barrels per day.

rh/dv

EXXONMOBIL
'Crucial' for Europe to fund more US weapons for Kyiv: Ukraine envoy



Brussels, Belgium, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



Ukraine's ambassador to NATO on Wednesday urged European allies to step up purchases of US weapons for Kyiv, as only Washington can supply key capabilities required to counter Russia's assaults.

"European NATO member states are not able to substitute either by types or by volume or speed of delivery," ambassador Alyona Getmanchuk told AFP.

"It's not that we prefer American weapons over French or German or some other European weapons -- the issue is that we are asking the US for weapons which European countries can't provide."

The appeal from Kyiv's envoy to the Western military alliance comes ahead of a meeting of countries supporting Ukraine in Brussels next week.

European nations have been buying US arms for Ukraine under a scheme hatched by President Donald Trump and NATO chief Mark Rutte in July.

So far weaponry worth $2 billion has been funded and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky says he wants to supplies worth $1 billion to flow each month.

Kyiv has said it is particularly relying on the United States for vital air defences and longer-range missiles as Russia has stepped up its aerial bombardment of Ukraine.

"US weapons remain crucial," Getmanchuk insisted, saying Kyiv hoped to finalise funding for a further billion dollars of weaponry at the meeting next week.

She said that Moscow had already started "intensive attacks" on Ukraine's energy infrastructure ahead of winter and had expanded its assaults to target gas facilities, electricity production and the railway network.

The programme for Europe to buy US weaponry for Ukraine came as Trump has grown frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin for stalling on peace efforts.

Despite the shift from Trump, Washington has still essentially stopped paying for weapons for Ukraine itself and shifted the burden squarely onto Europe's shoulders.

Kyiv in the meantime has massively ramped up its own production -- especially in drone manufacturing -- and says it is currently producing 40 percent of the weaponry it needs.

Getmanchuk said she had no further information on reports that Trump was now mulling supplying Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles that could strike deep inside Russia.

But she said "an important point here is to make clear to the Russians that everything is possible. Every option is on the table."

"Air defence is crucial, but in the end of the day, it's like painkillers and in order to strike a source of the pain, we need deep strikes," she added.
Spanish parliament approves Israel arms embargo



Madrid, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



Spanish lawmakers on Wednesday approved the enshrinement in law of an arms embargo on Israel that Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez introduced to end what he called "the genocide in Gaza".

Parliament backed by 178 votes to 169 the decree announced in September by Sanchez, one of the most virulent critics among world leaders of Israel's devastating two-year-old war in the Palestinian territory.

The support of far-left party Podemos, which has four MPs and had criticised the decree, helped swing the vote the leftist minority coalition's way after days of speculation about their lawmakers' position.

The government says it had already banned buying weapons from or selling them to Israel since the start of the war, sparked by the unprecedented Hamas attack on Israeli soil on October 7, 2023.

But Sanchez announced last month a decree to "consolidate in law" the embargo as part of a series of measures against Israel's offensive.

"Israel's response to the terrible attacks committed by terrorist group Hamas on October 7, 2023 has ended up becoming an indiscriminate attack against the Palestinian population that the majority of experts have called genocide," reads the preamble of the law.

It bans all exports of defence equipment, products or technology to Israel and imports of such goods from the country.

The decree also outlaws the transit of aviation fuel with potential military use and bans the advertising of products "coming from illegal colonies in Gaza and the West Bank".

The text allows the government to make exceptions for dual-use defence equipment "if the application of the ban harmed general national interests".

September's announcement triggered furious condemnation from Israel, which had already withdrawn its ambassador to Madrid in 2024 after Spain recognised a Palestinian state.

The vote was initially scheduled for Tuesday, but Spanish media said it was held a day later to avoid coinciding with the two-year anniversary of the Hamas attack.

Israel's embassy in Spain had criticised the original plan, calling it "a cynical and reprehensible decision" in a letter released late on Monday.
MOSCOW, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has clearly indicated that the transfer of Tomahawk missiles to Kiev will inflict irreparable damage on relations between Moscow and Washington, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.

"I repeat, if the U.S. administration ultimately makes the relevant decision, it will not only risk escalating the spiral of confrontation, but also inflict irreparable damage on Russian-U.S. relations, which have just begun to show elements of resuming bilateral dialogue," she said, adding that the Russian leadership has addressed this matter on numerous occasions.

Zakharova noted that Russia is closely monitoring the situation surrounding Tomahawk missiles, urging the United States to exercise restraint.

"We call for the exercise of maximum restraint when dealing with this highly sensitive topic, one that could significantly complicate efforts to find a way out of the situation in Ukraine, and we hope that our signals will be heard in Washington," Zakharova said. 
The Crown said they were delivered to him after they were smuggled into the country and that he had arranged for the arrival of a further two assault rifles, another pistol and at least 700 more rounds of ammunition.
As for us, as you can imagine, we have sunk deep into grieving and sorrow. The wound that has opened in our life is very big and I don't think it will ever heal for us, as parents.
Efforts to obtain that evidence were made over many months, but notwithstanding the fact that further witness statements were provided, none of these stated that at the time of the offence China represented a threat to national security, and by late August 2025 it was realised that this evidence would not be forthcoming.
He wrote: Efforts to obtain that evidence were made over many months, but notwithstanding the fact that further witness statements were provided, none of these stated that at the time of the offence China represented a threat to national security, and by late August 2025 it was realised that this evidence would not be forthcoming.
AMMAN, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Jordan's State Security Court on Wednesday handed down verdicts against several defendants convicted in cases involving weapons manufacturing and recruiting young men for illegal activities, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

In the most serious case, two men, Abdullah Hisham and Muath Ghanem, were sentenced to 15 years of hard labor and fined for manufacturing short-range missiles for illegal use, while a third defendant, Mohsen Ghanem, received a seven-and-a-half-year sentence and was fined for complicity.

The three-member group established two warehouses in Zarqa Governorate and Amman, allegedly received training and funding from abroad, and produced a short-range missile.

The court also sentenced Marwan Hawamdeh and Anas Abu Awad to three years and four months of hard labor for endangering public order, safety, and security, in violation of the Anti-Terrorism Law.

The two defendants traveled to regional countries and worked with external parties to recruit young men in the kingdom, using secret communication channels, acting on instructions from abroad, and identifying safe locations to store materials.

In the third case, Khader Abdulaziz, Ayman Ajawi, Mohammed Saleh, and Farouk Salman were sentenced to three years and four months of hard labor for their involvement in illegally training recruits through advanced courses and security instruction at multiple locations to prepare them for future operational tasks.

Authorities said the cases were uncovered in April. The State Security Court's decisions are subject to appeal before the Court of Cassation, according to Petra. 
Ms Cooper said: It is in all our interests to protect security and stability in the Western Balkans, and we must be alive to the full range of threats that our partners in the region are facing, from Russian efforts to revive ethnic tensions, to vile people-smuggling gangs trading in human lives.
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If you are flying, the checks will take place on arrival to the country. However, if you are entering from the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or St Pancras International, EES checks will be completed at the border, before you leave the UK. You may also need to provide either your fingerprint or photo when you leave the Schengen Area.
In response to Mr Streeting saying he would overhaul the way medical regulators investigate cases of antisemitism, she wrote on X: So youre telling me that the Chief Rabbi of Britain can spend two years supporting, praising and praying for the terrorist, child-killing, hospital-bombing, rapist IOF (Israeli Occupation Forces) but I cant be a British doctor and support the human, legal right of Palestinians to armed resistance?
The charity said in a statement: African Parks has initiated discussions with the Ministry to understand the Governments position and to explore the best possible way forward in support of the continued protection of these critical conservation landscapes, as well as to ensure that the significant conservation and social gains achieved over the past 15 years, are sustained African Parks will continue to keep its partners and stakeholders informed, as further clarity is obtained.
This film will, I hope, demonstrate just some of the remarkable work being done around the world to put Harmony into practice, from the forests of Guyana to sustainable communities in India  and, closer to home, through the work of my Kings Foundation at Dumfries House and Highgrove.
VIENTIANE, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Rivers, temples, and households in Laos were brightened with colorful lights as communities came together to celebrate the end of Buddhist Lent and the traditional boat races, uniting in a festive blend of faith, culture, and lively celebration.

The end of Buddhist Lent was marked on Tuesday, with temples illuminated by candles and lanterns as devotees offered alms and flowers in a display of devotion and gratitude. In the evening, people gathered at rivers for vibrant ceremonies, floating small lighted boats made from banana leaves to honor the river spirit and symbolically wash away bad luck. Some families also observed the tradition at home, lighting candles on balconies and prayer altars to mark the spiritual occasion.

Malavone, a resident of the Lao capital Vientiane, shared that the end of Buddhist Lent is a deeply meaningful tradition. She described the beauty of temples illuminated with colorful lanterns, the joy of offering alms, and the lively atmosphere at the night market along the Mekong River.

"To celebrate this festival, I bring my family to the temple every year," she told Xinhua. "We went to see the colorful lanterns -- it was just magical. Everything was glowing, and my family was filled with smiles and joy."

"Walking around the night market and exhibitions is also a must! We always buy grilled chicken and sticky rice because they are symbols of the traditional flavors of Lao festivals."

For Malavone, the festival is more than a celebration of faith and culture; it's also a way to pass down Lao traditions to the next generation.

The festival featured lively day and night activities, including exhibitions and stalls selling local and international goods.

Billy, a domestic traveler from southern Laos' Champasak province, said the festival marks a joyful and lively time for him. Although the exhibitions can be hot and crowded, he enjoys exploring the many creative products on display, especially food items from young Lao vendors and neighboring countries.

"Every year, this festival brings so much energy and excitement. I've seen it grow each year, and this time I was especially impressed by the variety and creativity of the offerings. The young vendors really stood out with their unique foods, drinks, and handmade goods," he said.

"At night, my girlfriend and I went down to the Mekong riverbank and floated a lighted boat together. It's such a beautiful tradition. Sharing that moment with someone you love makes it even more special," he added.

After visiting Vientiane, Billy plans to continue his trip to northern Laos' Luang Prabang province. "I've seen photos of the stunning lantern displays and dragon boat parades there in previous years, and now I really want to experience it for myself," he said.

Alongside the end of Buddhist Lent, the traditional boat racing festival took place along the Mekong River, attracting large crowds of both domestic and international tourists. In Vientiane, the festivities were held on Wednesday, drawing people of all ages to the riverbanks in a vibrant and joyful atmosphere.

Khammanh, a local vendor, told Xinhua that the boat race is one of the festival's highlights. "It's more than a race, it's our pride and tradition. It brings everyone together. I come every year to recharge after a long year of hard work," he said.

The event also left a strong impression on foreign visitors. Kornkanok, a tourist from Thailand, described the atmosphere as electric and said the festival is truly unforgettable.

George, a traveler from New Zealand, shared his amazement, calling the festival lively and powerful. "The sound of the boats, the crowd, the drums -- it all comes together in such an incredible way," he said. 
With a SpaceX Starship launch tower in the background, a girl plays in the sand at Boca Chica Beach in early May. Under a new state law, the SpaceX company town now has authority for beach and road closures in the area. Valerie Gonzalez/Associated Press

Elon Musks fledgling space city now controls a stretch of South Texas coastline under a new state law and agreement with Cameron County  another sign of the tech billionaires growing influence in the state.

Starbase will be using its power for the first time this week ahead of Mondays planned launch of a Starship from SpaceXs rocket development and launch site at the southern tip of Texas.

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SpaceX's city of Starbase is now responsible for protecting the dunes along Boca Chica Beach near where the commercial space company is developing its Starship rocket. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer

The law that went into effect last month actually gave the Texas Space Commission authority to let the city close Boca Chica Beach and Texas 4 during launches and testing of the giant Starship rocket in development there. In late September, though, the commission approved a standing order handing those powers to the SpaceX company town.

That means Starbase rather than Cameron County will make the call for closures around Starship launches, testing and other activities it deems necessary for the promotion of space flight activities and aeronautics economic development.

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On Tuesday, Starbase issued a notice of a Wednesday road delay while Starship is moved to its launch pad.

For years, the Cameron County judge had the authority to approve such notices and closures, most recently for some ground testing last month. But the commissions order yanked that power.

Two students stand on dune and look at a Starship rocket on Jan. 15, 2025. SpaceX's city of Starbase is now responsible for protecting the dunes along Boca Chica Beach. Christopher Lee/Staff Photographer

The change comes after County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. voiced concern over SpaceX failing to notify his office of testing in June that resulted in a massive explosion. The blast lobbed debris into Mexico and spawned threats of lawsuits from that nations leaders.

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Neither Trevino nor Starbase officials responded to requests for comment.

The space commissions order, which can be suspended, modified or revoked, required a Beach Access and Dune Protection Plan certified by the Texas General Land Office.

Kevin Daly of Michigan resets his pole while in June 2024 at Boca Chica Beach near Starbase. Under a new state law, the SpaceX company town now has authority for beach and road closures in the area. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News file photo

Starbase approved such a plan Sept. 25 and county commissioners gave the company town authority over beach access and dune protection along about two miles of Boca Chica Beach adjacent to the companys rocket launch complex.

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The move gives the steadily growing space city more control over the area where its developing its Starship mega-rocket. Since its residents voted to incorporate in May, the company has added 174 acres to its original 940-acre footprint by annexing 21 parcels previously owned by SpaceX.

MORE TX SPACE: Firefly rocket explodes during ground testing at facility north of Austin

It also recently voted to take control of another 1,413-acre swath by creating a wetlands conservation area the city will manage.

Cameron County judge Eddie Trevino, Jr. Courtesy Cameron County

According to the citys agreement with the county, Starbase officials will enforce the states Open Beaches Act  which ensures public access  and administer a beachfront construction and dune protection permitting program.

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Were partnering with Cameron County to safeguard the dunes, expand public access and strengthen both the resilience and value of Boca Chica Beach, said Starbase mayor Bobby Peden in a first-of-its-kind joint press release from the county and city. By receiving dune authority, we are stepping up to share responsibility for one of our communitys most treasured resources  our shoreline.

The city adopted the plan that preserves free public access to Boca Chica Beach.

By working together with the City of Starbase, were ensuring that this vital stretch of coastline remains resilient, accessible, and protected  both environmentally and recreationally, Trevino said in the statement.

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Starbase said it will manage construction permitting in the beach area in accordance with state laws. It will also establish, maintain and reevaluate protected dune areas. That includes installing signs and physical barriers to prevent trespass.

The city is also responsible for permitting events on the beach, general maintenance and enforcement.

Unless SpaceX is conducting testing or launching a vehicle, Boca Chica Beach must remain open for the publics use, Trevino said. This partnership will provide that users will have a cleaner and more enjoyable Boca Chica Beach when visiting.
A new sign indicates a change in usage of the former Austin-American Statesman building, Oct. 7, 2025. Home power back-up battery company Base Power will operate shipping and manufacturing from the building. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

A new name is on the Austin American-Statesmans former waterfront site as the newspapers onetime home transitions from printing newspapers to manufacturing batteries.

Base Power, an Austin-based energy startup founded by Zach Dell, has leased the prime location on Lady Bird Lake for temporary use as its first factory.

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The plans have emerged after years of lawsuit-related delays in efforts by the Cox family  the newspapers former owners  to redevelop the site at 305 S. Congress Ave. into a mixed-used project with retail, condominiums and office space.

Dell, who is Base Powers CEO, said in an interview that the Cox family was looking for a temporary tenant to generate rent revenue without requiring a long-term commitment of five years or more. Base Power was the perfect fit.

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The projects been delayed a bit and we kind of recognized that, he said. We recognized that there was this period of time where we dont want to sign up for anything really long-term right now, because were planning where our next factory is going to go and how big it is going to be.

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Manufacturing and shipping operations for Base Power in the former Austin American-Statesman building, Oct. 7, 2025. The affordable back-up battery company will operate manufacturing and other operations from the former newspaper building downtown. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Founded in 2023 by Dell  the son of Michael Dell, founder of Dell Technologies Inc.  Base Power develops, manufactures, installs and operates batteries for residential use. The company has deployed more than 100 megawatt-hours of residential battery capacity  enough to power about 25,000 Texas homes during peak demand periods  which is also connected to the statewide grid.

Headquartered at 205 E. Riverside Drive, the company is virtually across the street from its new manufacturing site.

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Inside the former Statesman complex, the 55,000-square-foot distribution center where the newspapers old printing press still rests is being converted to a production line. In the space where trucks were once loaded with papers for distribution across Texas, Base Power now puts batteries through temperature and stress tests, assembles them and packages them for future installation.

Im a local, born-and-bred Austinite, Dell said. And so the Statesman and that building have a special place in my heart.

The newspaper began relocating to the MetCenter business park near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in late 2021 and completed its move from downtown by early 2022.

Employment plans

Base Power took over the old Statesman building about two weeks ago, said David Thai, who oversees operations and finance. The operation is expected to run for the next 18 to 24 months. Base Power has moved most of its machinery into the building, begun testing some of its batteries, and expects to ramp up to full production in the coming weeks.

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Thai said there are currently 20 full-time employees working out of the Statesman building but the company plans to increase that to 100 to 150 people over the next couple months as the production lines firm up.

David Thai, finance and operations for Base Power, in the companys new shipping and manufacturing space at the former site of the Austin American-Statesman, Oct. 7, 2025. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman

Base Power previously outsourced its battery production. This first factory is a test run as the company moves to bring all operations in-house for future production lines.

We wanted to pull forward vertical integration and start making these products ourselves as fast as possible, Dell said. We needed a short-term solution so we could test and integrate before investing in something much, much longer term. This is our first factory, so we want to make sure we get it right.

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He declined to provide specifics about its future permanent factory, but said itll be quite, quite large. Not quite Gigafactory scale, but not too far from it.

Tesla Inc.s Gigafactory Texas located just outside of Austin is a 2,500-acre site with more than 10 million square feet of factory floor space. Dell said the company plans to remain in the Austin area.

Base Powers push to expand production and build a factory is backed by a $1 billion funding round announced Wednesday. The new investment follows an April round that valued the company at roughly $4 billion, placing it among the nations most valuable startups. The company employs about 250 people in Austin.

Statesman site plans

The Statesmans former home is a prime piece of waterfront property in Austin, sitting along Lady Bird Lake just south of downtown.

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The Cox family retained the 18.9-acre site after selling the paper and tapped Austin-based Endeavor Real Estate Group, the firm behind The Domain, to lead redevelopment of the property.

Several years ago, Endeavor proposed demolishing the existing complex and redeveloping the site to include increased public access space along with dedicated residential, hotel, retail and office space.

The proposed development would remake portions of the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail along Lady Bird Lake and is zoned to allow high-rises up to 725 feet tall within 140 feet of Lady Bird Lake. For comparison, the new Waterline tower will be about 1,025 feet tall when completed.

Austin-based Endeavor Real Estate Group was hired by the Cox family to redevelop the former site of the Austin American-Statesman at 305 South Congress Ave. The redevelopment may include apartments, office space, hotels, condominiums and retail space and would change the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail along Lady Bird Lake. Endeavor Real Estate Group

Austin City Council approved plans for the development back in 2022, triggering two lawsuits from the environmental group Save Our Springs Alliance.

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The group won the first round last year, contesting the citys creation of a tax increment reinvestment zone, or TIRZ, to fund infrastructure improvements within the proposed redevelopment project. In that case, a judge ruled the financing method unlawful.

In June, a judge sided with the city in the groups second lawsuit alleging the city violated key provisions of the Texas Open Meetings Act when the City Council approved the sites rezoning in December 2022.

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Simon Madera (right), owner of Taco Flats, has hired Miguel Vidal, formerly of Valentina's Tex-Mex BBQ, as pitmaster at the forthcoming Churchrow. MATTHEW ODAM/AMERICAN-STATESMAN

Miguel Vidal had just finished working on an HVAC installation at the renovated Driskill Hotel this summer when his phone mercifully rang.

It was an old friend offering the pitmaster a new lease on a career that Vidal had damaged significantly with mismanagement and closure of his short-lived Valentina's Tex Mex restaurant in Buda.

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A sliced brisket sits on a cutting board in the kitchen at Valentina's Tex Mex BBQ on Sunday, June 18, 2023 in Buda, Texas. Aaron E. Martinez / American-Statesman

Taco Flats owner Simon Madera had a potential new project in North Austin but was reluctant to pursue it without the right cook by his side. He thought Vidal, whom hes known since their days as St. Edward's University students about 25 years ago, was that cook.

Rio Grande Valley native Madera will open Churchrow Tejas Barbecue at 1521 W. Anderson Lane on the northern edge of Crestview on Oct. 22. San Antonio native Vidal will serve as pitmaster, overseeing a menu of barbecue plates featuring the kind of smoked meats that made the pitmaster one of the most celebrated in Texas.

Madera was brought on to shepherd the space into its new incarnation by Eloy Alderete and Richard Rocha, his financial partners in Taco Flats and the landlords of the Anderson Lane property that briefly housed the upscale barbecue restaurant Black Gold.

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Churchrow  inspired by the nickname for intersecting Woodrow Avenue, home to multiple churches  will have a more casual finish than the previous tenant. It will feature counter service, a full bar focused on tequila-centered cocktails designed by the Madera-owned La Holly bar, and a Latino-inspired design aesthetic.

Churchrow Tejas BBQ will serve the kind of barbecue tacos that helped make Miguel Vidal famous. Austin American-Statesman

Vidal hopes the opportunity will help him rebuild a reputation that he damaged by mismanaging finances and staff at his now-shuttered Valentinas Tex Mex BBQ.

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Mistakes that spiraled out of control

The pitmaster  whose mesquite-smoked meats and tacos served on lardy homemade flour tortillas made him a star of the barbecue world  started Valentinas with his wife, Modesty, in 2013. It began as a trailer between Star Bar and Ranch 616, which Vidal once managed. Their success propelled them to a property in South Austin, and their sales saw a fivefold increase.

When they struck a deal to open their first brick-and-mortar restaurant at the renovated Buda Mill & Grain Co. in 2023  backed in part by a nearly $300,000 investment from the Buda Economic Development Corporation  it seemed Valentinas best days lay ahead.

But trouble started smoking before the doors even opened, and within a short period of time, mismanagement flared into a fire that led Vidal to declare bankruptcy amid online accusations of mistreatment from former employees and an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor.

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Vidal said the budget for the restaurant had far exceeded expectations before it even opened. Once Valentinas was in business, he said he felt underwater, struggling to catch up.

Valentina's Tex-Mex BBQ operated for less than a year in Buda. Aaron E. Martinez / American-Statesman

Managing the staff, budget and operations of a restaurant about 10 times the size of his former trailer proved unsustainable, Vidal said, leading to mistakes that spiraled out of control.

Once I started getting into the part where more business was involved and I was making other decisions, that was the challenge for me. And I probably didnt take the necessary steps to get as educated as I should have, Vidal said.

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Vidal claims he entered a tentative agreement with an investor to save the business and pay employees who were owed wages. But he says the final deal presented to him by the investor did not have the guarantees originally discussed, so he closed the business permanently in the spring of 2024 and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in September.

According to court documents, the Vidals owed more than $2 million to approximately 60 creditors. He says he's currently working with a tax attorney to pay back sales and labor taxes as part of his bankruptcy agreement.

Vidal said the Labor Departments investigation has ended. The agency did not respond to the Statesmans questions about its status, but online publication Eater reported in summer 2024 that a Labor Department representative confirmed "the case was concluded, and had been sent to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, which will try to get that unpaid debt for up to 10 years."

'Look, I've failed before'

Madera, who rebooted the historic Taco Flats brand in 2014 and now operates four locations of the taqueria, said he recognized the risks of hiring the beleaguered pitmaster.

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Miguel Vidal's mesquite-smoked meats made him one of the most famous pitmasters in Texas. Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman

A lot of people tried to talk me out of it because hes got too much baggage. But look, Ive failed before, Madera said. If Im going to do this, I want to do something special. Culturally, this was the right fit for me. I know him. I wanted to work with someone I knew. If hes exactly who I think he is, itll be great.

Vidal briefly consulted this year on a barbecue food truck in Menchaca called La Familia but left to pursue steady work to satisfy the terms of his bankruptcy. He says hes excited to get back to doing what hes always loved and what he knows. He is focused on cooking and kitchen operations, leaving the business side to someone else. Vidal sees Churchrow as a chance to validate the faith that friends, regulars and his family have invested in him.

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According to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, air traffic controllers make sure that flights are always smooth, navigating two million aviation passengers per day or nearly one billion people per year. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag

When you're aboard an airplane en route to your destination, you may assume only pilots are in control. In reality, air traffic controllers  not just pilots  play a critical role. According to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, they manage more than 70,000 daily flights in the U.S.

But there is also a high demand for these roles.

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NATCA President Nick Daniels told CNBC that the U.S. has about 10,800 certified professional controllers, but needs approximately 14,600. And with an ongoing government shutdown, it seems delayed flights will be the norm for travelers.

"Any hiccup, a government shutdown or anything that disrupts the pipeline of the air traffic controllers coming in, will absolutely hurt the capacity of the flying public, and how many planes we can put in the air at any given time safely," Daniels said.

What is the role of an air traffic controller?

The primary responsibility of air traffic controllers is to prevent collisions both in the air and on the ground. According to the NATCA, air traffic controllers make sure that flights are always smooth, navigating 2 million aviation passengers per day or nearly 1 billion people per year.

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Their role includes the following:

They monitor aircraft positions using radar and GPS.

They provide separation between planes by assigning different altitudes, headings, and speeds.

They coordinate and direct air traffic within a range of three to 30 miles from the airport.

Without air traffic control, pilots would rely on their own judgment and radio communication with each other, leaving pilots more prone to errors.

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Will the government shutdown affect air travel?

As of Oct.1, 2025, the U.S. government has shut down following Congresss failure to pass a funding bill.

While essential services will remain operational, travelers are preparing for significant disruptions.

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From flight delays and passport processing backlogs to the closure of national parks and museums, traveling to, through or from the United States may become increasingly difficult.

Commercial flights are expected to operate as usual, and airline staff will remain unaffected.

However, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has warned that a prolonged shutdown could lead to longer security lines at airports. Travelers are advised to allow additional time for screening and to check their flight status before departing for the airport.

What airports are affected by the government shutdown?

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, airport travel from the Dallas-Fort Worth International hub and Dallas Love Field do not expect any impacts on flight operations.

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Spokespersons for both airports suggested that it's business as usual for the airlines.

Airports are considered essential services, and key federal employees such as air traffic controllers and security personnel would continue during a government shutdown. As always, we encourage customers to check directly with their airline for the most up-to-date flight information, said a spokesperson for Dallas-Fort Worth International.

According to data from the Federal Aviation Administration, none of Texas' major airports, including Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, are shutting down operations.

You can see the National Airspace Systems map status here.

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Are more flights delayed now?

Its not definitive that flight delays and cancellations are much higher than normal across the board, but there is credible evidence that the government shutdown is already contributing to elevated disruptions in some places.

According to data from the aviation analytics firm Cirium, while there are air traffic delays, about 92% of the more than 23,600 flights departing from U.S. airports as of Monday took off on time.

As per Flight Aware, there are 13,912 total delays and 290 cancellations as of 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Monday saw a total of 17,829 flight delays and 372 cancellations, according to Flight Aware.

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Is there a shortage of air traffic controllers in Texas?

Nationally, the FAA is estimated to be short more than 3,000 controllers, with only about 10,800 certified professionals working versus a need of up to 14,600.

Below is a look at aviation maps in Texas that are not 100 percent fully staffed. You can see other airports and their demand for air traffic controllers here.

As per data from the Aviation Administration, major airports in Texas have a demand for air traffic controllers at the major airports. Casey Tolan/CNN

As per data from the Aviation Administration, major airports in Texas have a demand for air traffic controllers at the major airports. Casey Tolan/CNN

As per data from the Aviation Administration, major airports in Texas have a demand for air traffic controllers at the major airports. Casey Tolan/CNN

How much do air traffic controllers earn?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for air traffic controllers is $144,580 per year.

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A federal court reversed an $8 million judgment against the city of Hutto, saying the city did not racially discriminate against former city manger Odis Jones, seen here at a news conference in 2017. American-Statesman file photo

A federal court has reversed an $8 million judgment against the city of Hutto, finding that the City Council did not racially discriminate against former City Manager Odis Jones.

"The evidence reflected that disparaging statements by the two council members were made individually, in contexts that could not have been construed as reflecting actions of the city or the City Council," said a ruling issued Tuesday by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit.

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The 5th Circuit's ruling said the city did breach a $412,000 separation agreement with Jones when it attempted to rescind it, according to a city news release. Any damages from breaching the agreement are barred under Texas law, the release said.

"Unless further appeals are made, the case will return to court to decide competing attorney's fee award claims based on the (court) decision," according to the release.

Jones sued the city in 2020, saying he was racially discriminated against when the City Council voided his $412,000 separation agreement. A jury in 2023 found that the city had breached its contract with Jones, and also discriminated against him on the basis of race. The jury awarded Jones $8 million for the discrimination claim.

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George Hyde, an attorney for the city, said Wednesday he was grateful that the court "properly applied the law."

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"I am very pleased to be finally exonerated from such as exacerbated jury verdict," he said. Hyde said he had argued during the initial trial that the City Council members' individual comments did not apply to the whole council. "A political figure such as a City Council member or a mayor is an independent elected person and if they speak on a matter they are speaking for themselves," he said.

Marcy Greer, Jones' attorney, said in a statement Wednesday that "Mr. Jones filed this lawsuit to clear his name, and he succeeded in doing that."

"The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed that the City of Hutto breached its contract with Mr. Jones and is remanding the case so that he can recover his legal fees," Greer said. "It also found that 'two investigations unearthed no impropriety by Jones,' contrary to the Citys stated reasons for clawing back his severance."

"The appellate court assumed that the jury trial proved that the current mayor and another city councilmember acted with a racially discriminatory intent toward Mr. Jones," Greer said, "but also found that he did not prove racial discrimination by a majority of the Citys council, and so could not recover any damages beyond the $412,000 severance that the Court ruled Mr. Jones is entitled to keep."

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City Manager James Earp said the city also was grateful for the court's decision. "This decision provides closure and allows us to move forward, continuing to serve the Hutto community with transparency and trust."

U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Lane ruled against the city's motion for a new trial in 2024. Lane said in his ruling that the jury in 2023 heard evidence that two members of the City Council, Mayor Mike Snyder and Council Member Tanner Rose, were motivated by racial hostility.

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"The jury heard from former assistant city manager (Byron) Frankland that Snyder said that during his time in Kansas City he 'got really good at spotting crooks,' which he described as 'black guys that he knew were coming into the store and stealing," the court document said. "The jury also heard that Snyder complained that generally there were 'too many minorities in city government.'"

In addition, the jury heard about a media interview in which Snyder and Rose discussed their effort to remove a plaque that featured Jones name, saying they "wanted to remove a dark stain from Hutto," the ruling said.

Jones was Hutto's city manager from 2016 to 2019. In November 2019, the City Council approved a severance agreement with Jones for $412,000. It consisted of $283,000 in salary, $58,000 in vacation pay, and unpaid sick leave and benefits worth $71,000. Jones said at the time that he was leaving the city because he had achieved his goal of restoring its solvency.

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Cascabeles for vida, or rattlesnakes for life in Spanish greets students at the entrance of Ridgetop Elementary School in Austin, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. The school is one of 13 that the Austin school district proposed for closure in a plan released Friday. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman

The Austin school district announced on Oct. 3 that it plans to close 13 schools and rezone boundaries for 98% of schools  a move that will affect nearly every student in the district.

The changes will take effect in the 2026-27 school year.

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Even if your childs school isnt closing, they will likely be affected by rezoning. If your childs school remains open but they are rezoned to another campus, they may be grandfathered into continuing at their current school, but bus transportation will not be provided.

Here are the key dates to keep in mind in the weeks and months ahead.

Dates to know

OctoberNovember 2025: The district is hosting virtual open houses for parents who want more information about the preliminary consolidation plan. The sessions will be available in English and Spanish.

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South: Tuesday, Oct. 14  6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27  5:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8  noon to 1:30 p.m.

North: Thursday, Oct. 16  6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27  7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8  10:30 a.m. to noon



Nov. 20, 2025: The school board will vote on the final consolidation plan.

Fall 2025: According to the draft plan, campuses will offer listening circles, updates and on-site counseling to students. Classroom check-ins, peer buddy systems and family sessions will be implemented to help students adjust. Small groups will focus on teaching coping skills and stress management strategies.

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December 2025: Principals will be selected.

JanuaryMarch 2026: Students and families can attend meet-and-greets, tour campuses and participate in PTA and Campus Advisory Council meetings.

AprilJuly 2026: Closing campuses will be honored with story walls, ceremonies and opportunities to share memories. Counseling and social-emotional learning support will be offered to students struggling with the transition. Receiving campuses will host welcome events, and facility preparations will begin.

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August 2026: Students and families will attend orientation events, and the first day of school will take place.
The Travis County Commissioners Court building. ALBERTO MARTINEZ / AMERICAN-STATESMAN Austin American-Statesman

Travis County finalized a $21 million program that will expand child care access with a focus on low-income families, creating the first voter-approved child care program in Texas.

The program, called Raising Travis County, is part of a $75 million fund approved by voters last year to improve early childhood and after-school services. Using that money, the commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved two contracts totaling $21 million that will provide scholarships for 1,000 children and allocate money to child care providers to help keep the lights on.

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As the son of a teacher, Ive always believed that the way we treat, train and prepare our youth will define who we are. Amid chaos at the state and federal government, Raising Travis County is what can happen when local communities come together to find local solutions to problems, said Jeff Travillion, Travis County commissioner for Precinct 1. Today, were standing together and demanding the best for all of our children in this community.

The county will offer $17.3 million in scholarships to help families earning up to 85% of the states median income  about $87,000 for a family of four  pay for care. The program is expected to serve about 1,000 children, most under age 3, while paying local providers higher quality rates meant to reflect the true cost of high-quality care, according to county Health and Human Services staff.

County leaders said the new funding is aimed at shrinking the months-long waitlist for subsidized child care in Travis County, which has kept many parents out of the workforce. Workforce Solutions Capital Area, which manages the program, serves more than 3,000 children through a network of 300 providers. The additional 1,000 scholarships funded this week are expected to help families who have been waiting for months to find an affordable spot for their children.

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Every dollar we invest in child care today will lead to better outcomes and brighter futures for kids tomorrow, County Judge Andy Brown said. Our partnership with Workforce Solutions will expand access to child care scholarships, critical for lowering costs and reducing the monthslong waitlist for care.

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A second contract, worth just under $4.2 million, will create a gap-funding program.

The state helps some working families pay for child care by giving money to the centers that care for their kids. But the states payments are often lower than what it actually costs to run a classroom. The gap-funding program fills in that missing amount so providers can afford to offer high-quality care without losing money. That contract is projected to support about 850 children each month, county staff said.

Were grateful that families have scholarships to alleviate costs, but too often the actual cost of care outpaces those scholarships, leaving providers on the line for the balance, said Tamitha Blackmon, owner of Nehemiah Christian School. The funding approved this morning will help close the gap and make sure those of us in the child care community can continue doing what we love for years to come.

These contracts are part of a broader, long-term plan that county staff will present to commissioners in November. That plan will lay out how the full $75 million will be used over the next several years to strengthen the local child care system. Once adopted, it will guide future contracts and funding priorities, though individual programs will still come back to the court for annual review and approval.

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County Health and Human Services staff said both programs will collect quarterly data on children served, provider participation and the quality ratings of care centers. A third-party evaluator will also study whether the higher reimbursement rates improve staff pay, retention and overall child care capacity.
The Trump administration has named the University of Texas as one of nine schools eligible for federal funding advantages if it agrees to cap international student enrollment, recognize only two genders, freeze tuition for five years, and protect conservative speech under a new Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images

The Trump administration recently offered the University of Texas and eight other elite universities preferential access to federal research dollars in exchange for signing an unprecedented 10-point compact. For Texas, this bargain clashes with a proud tradition of state autonomy and ignores the Jeffersonian blueprint for locally governed universities that helped define American higher education.

The compact goes far beyond tuition freezes and enrollment caps by enforcing institutional neutrality, dismantling offices deemed hostile to conservative ideas, adopting a strict definition of gender, capping international student enrollment, and restricting faculty and student speech  conditions that threaten academic freedom. Before the compact, the Trump administration relied on funding freezes, high-profile investigations and public shaming to pressure universities into compliance.

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Harvard University won a court fight to overturn a federal funding freeze, highlighting the limits of the administrations prior approach. The compact signals a shift to coercing universities through preferential access to research dollars. If the nine universities sign, others will be pressured into compliance or risk losing ground in competition for grants and prestige.

At first glance, UT might seem ready to sign on, since state laws and local governance have brought about changes that are somewhat aligned to several points in the compact. For example, UT has a state-mandated tuition freeze through 2027-28; eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs under Texas law; and launched a new School of Civic Leadership, shaped in part by conservative donors and legislators.

Governance has also shifted, with faculty losing influence as the UT System Board of Regents bypassed a national search to name Jim Davis as the sole finalist for president in July  the second time in a row a UT president was selected that way. These steps already make clear that state leaders can impose their preferences without federal micromanagement.

That is why relinquishing autonomy to Washington is risky. If any of the nine universities sign the contract and breach any of its terms, many of which are difficult to define, the consequences can be significant. The compact explicitly states that violations would revoke grant advantages and lead to the clawback of previously awarded federal grants. Beyond the legal risk, the Trump administration has already been adept at engaging in public shamming campaigns, press conferences and litigation that could undermine the credibility of beloved institutions  doing irreparable damage.

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Perhaps, this is why Ronald Reagan warned about the concentration of federal power nearly four decades ago, stating, The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'Im from the government, and Im here to help.'

The nations Founders also never envisioned such interference. Thomas Jeffersons blueprint for American higher education emphasized that universities should serve the public good under state authority and local governance, rather than federal dictates. Having lived through monarchy and revolution, Jefferson believed that liberty rests on the diffusion of knowledge among the people, best achieved through universities governed locally, rather than by a centralized authority.

The compact turns this principle upside down, conditioning research dollars on ideological conformity while concentrating power in Washington. In doing so, the compact erodes our states right and autonomy to educate its own people. We have seen this ideological playbook before.

In the past decade, Hungary, Turkey and Brazil have all seen central government efforts to interfere with curriculum, censor sensitive topics, and use federal funding and oversight to redirect universities along ideological lines. Trumps previously stated admiration for strongman leaders in these countries perhaps reveals the compacts true intentions: shifting away from local governance and toward the erosion of democracy and liberty.

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The nine universities targeted for the Trump administrations compact are far from perfect and could improve in numerous ways, but federal overreach masquerading as an incentive will not help universities improve. Texans should demand that higher education remain under state authority and far from the hands of politicians in Washington, D.C.

Preserving state autonomy and local control is essential not only to the Jeffersonian vision that built Americas world-class system of higher education, but to ensuring Texans direct how we educate and prepare the future of our state for our democracy, economy and daily life.

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Texas A&M's previous president resigned after a social-media controversy related to free speech and gender ideology. Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle

Next year, Texas A&M University marks its 150th anniversary  a milestone that reminds us of where we have been, and where we are going. For a century and a half, Texas A&M has stood as a beacon of opportunity, research and service. Today, in a season of transition, we are as committed as ever to ensuring that this great university is even stronger in the next 150 years.

Leadership transitions can create temporary uncertainty, but they can also be opportunities to reaffirm our mission. The Board of Regents is conducting a national search for a new permanent president, but in the meantime, we  as chancellor and interim president  promise to provide a steady hand at this moment. Both of us bring a long record of public service, values-driven conservative leadership and deep roots as Aggies. And now, we see our role as one to ensure stability, to listen, to serve as caretakers of Texas A&Ms values and traditions.

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What makes Texas A&M strong has never depended on a single person. It is grounded in our core values: respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service. Those values endure through every change of leadership, every generation of Aggies and every new challenge that lies ahead.

The Haynes Ring Plaza, featuring an Aggie ring replica, is seen along with Kyle Field on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station. Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle

Our pledge to the Aggie community is clear: Even in times of transition, we remain focused on the priorities that matter most. Texas A&M will continue to:

Provide economic opportunity for students and former students, ensuring higher education remains a powerful engine of mobility and prosperity for Texas families.

Foster cutting-edge research that strengthens Texas economy, fuels innovation, and benefits the state, the nation, and the world.

Develop leaders of character who live by our values and serve others, carrying the Aggie Spirit into every community and profession.

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This moment of transition will not slow our momentum. Rather, it gives us a chance to reflect on our mission and sharpen our focus. The Board of Regents search for a permanent president is deliberate and careful, as it should be. In the meantime, the entire leadership team is committed to ensuring that students, faculty and staff have the support they need to thrive.

As we prepare to celebrate 150 years, we do so with gratitude for the Aggies who built this university and confidence in those who will carry it forward. Texas A&M has weathered wars, economic shifts and social change. We are stronger today because we weathered those challenges and adversities. This transition is no different. With enduring values as our foundation, we will remain a university defined by stability, service and strength.

For 150 years, Aggies have risen to the moment with courage, integrity, and a commitment to serve. With the Aggie Spirit as our guide, we will continue to do so  today, tomorrow and for the next 150 years.

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Gig em.
Cattle feed at a ranch that exports livestock to the U.S., in Zamora, northern Mexico, July 29, 2025, with the U.S. border closed to Mexican cattle imports over screwworm concerns. Fernando Llano/Associated Press

Robby Kirkland's cattle yard outside Amarillo is more than 400 miles from Mexico, where a screwworm epidemic is sweeping northward. But that isn't far enough to escape its impact.

With the border closed to cattle since November, the longstanding flow of Mexican cows into Texas and other border states has ground to a halt, cutting off what has amounted in past years to more than a million head of cattle. And the situation is only getting more dire  an infected cow was reported less than 100 miles from the Texas border last month, and another was reported just this week.

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"It's a challenge to make up for that loss," said Kirkland. "The ranches in (Northern Mexico) raise really good cattle, with really fine genetics. I've been in the industry since 1994, and we've always had cattle from Mexico. My dad remembers crossing cattle from when he was first starting out."

The problem for Texas ranchers is two-fold.

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On top of the Mexican cattle supply drying up, U.S. cattle production has also hit a more than 70-year low because of drought and years of low beef prices that are only now beginning to rebound. Last month the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported that the number of cattle arriving at Texas feed lots was down 18% from a year ago  nearly twice the national rate.

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The supply squeeze has impacted everyone from trucking companies to border towns to corn farmers in Iowa that supply feed.

"With fewer cattle to feed it's reduced the demand for corn," said Dave Anderson, an economist at Texas A&M University. "It's pretty easy to see winners or losers in this equation."

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has said an aggressive approach is necessary to manage the screwworm outbreak.

In addition to keeping the border closed, Rollins is building a facility in South Texas to produce sterile screwworm flies to be released into the wild. She is also pressuring Mexican officials to increase their monitoring to ensure infected cattle don't get any closer to the border. Once near the Rio Grande, the worry is the screwworm will infect deer and other wildlife that will then cross the border into Texas.

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Rollins so far largely has the support of feed lot owners, who acknowledge the loss of Mexican cattle is not as problematic as screwworm getting into the United States. During an outbreak in 1972, tens of thousands of cattle in Texas were infected with the deadly parasite, which burrows under cattle's skin and effectively eats them alive.

"First and foremost we want to protect the U.S. herd from reintroducing the screw worn," said Ben Weinheimer, president of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association. "Its a difficult position to take but its the right leadership position."

But frustration is building. Jourdan Bell, an agriculture professor at A&M whose family owns a feed lot in Arizona, said the government was being unnecessarily cautious and the existing USDA inspection process for livestock would catch any infected cattle.

"We are shutting down the border in a fear mongering response," she said. "There are a significant number of jobs that depend on the livestock industry that are not being considered."

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Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller released a statement on Wednesday, after the second screwworm case was reported in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, called for the use of pesticide bait to more quickly deal with the problem. "This isnt just a livestock issue, its about protecting Texas jobs, rural communities, and our agricultural lifeblood," Miller said.

At a congressional hearing this summer, U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Amarillo, challenged Rollins to explain when the border might be reopened.

"Every day our ports of entry are suspended my constituents' businesses are severely impacted," he said. "What are the metrics the agency would like to reach (to reopen the border)? We want to do everything we can to get this over as quickly as possible."

Rollins acknowledged the "big, big consequences" of the border closure but said the USDA would not change course until data showed the screwworm flies were retreating south.

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In the meantime, cattle lots in Texas and other border states are trying to hold on as best they can.

Kirkland, the feed lot owner outside Amarillo, said if the blockade on Mexican cattle wasn't lifted, eventually feed lots could start to close.

The USDA has opened the border to cattle for short periods over the past year, when they deemed the risk of screwworm to be low. But they never last long, and with the new case in northern Mexico, Kirkland acknowledged it was likely to be a long wait.

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GAZA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Hamas delegation participating in the current round of ceasefire negotiations with Israel showed "positivity and responsibility" in achieving the required progress and completing the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, Taher al-Nunu, the media advisor to the head of Hamas's political bureau, said Wednesday.

In a press statement, al-Nunu said the mediators "are making great efforts to remove any obstacles to the implementation of the ceasefire," noting that "a spirit of optimism prevails among all."

The current round of indirect ceasefire talks between Hamas and Israel, mediated by Egypt and Qatar, began Monday in the Sharm el-Sheik city of Egypt.

Al-Nunu said the negotiations focused on "mechanisms for implementing the end of the war, the withdrawal of the occupation forces from the Gaza Strip, and the exchange of prisoners between the two sides."

"The lists of prisoners required to be released were exchanged today according to the agreed-upon criteria and numbers," he said. "Indirect negotiations are continuing with the participation of all parties and mediators."

The negotiations have focused on a 20-point proposal unveiled by U.S. President Donald Trump after he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in late September at the White House.

The plan outlines a phased ceasefire-for-hostages deal, an Israeli withdrawal, a demilitarized Gaza, and international oversight for the territory's post-conflict reconstruction and governance, which explicitly excludes Hamas. 
New Jersey officials celebrated the grand opening of the state's first veterinary school at Rowan University.

The opening of the new veterinary school is a positive change, as many students from the state have been sent to other areas to get an education in the specialty they want. An undergraduate program director at Rutgers University's Department of Animal Sciences, Aparna Zama, had sent numerous students, who wanted to be veterinarians, out of New Jersey.

New Jersey's First Veterinary School

These students have reportedly gone to Cornell, the Ohio State University, and the University of Pennsylvania, among others, to study a veterinary science degree. But now, with the Shreiber School for Veterinary Medicine opening at Rowan University this year, the trend is expected to change.

Zama said that this is a "very exciting development" for students in New Jersey, as well as their parents and the general profession in the state. This is something that she says the state has been waiting for a long time now, according to Whyy.

While classes for the new veterinary school's incoming Class of 2029 started in September, Rowan and New Jersey officials formally celebrated the development with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a tour of the new facility.

The state's secretary of agriculture, Edward Wengryn, said that the veterinary school's opening goes beyond simply retaining students within New Jersey. Additionally, the president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Jennifer Quammen, said that rural areas, such as the majority of South Jersey, are hurting more amid a nationwide shortage of veterinarians.

Celebrating the Historic Development

The school is described as a veterinary "teaching hospital" that features a two-story space that provides an animal hospital offering everything that would be required for taking care of animals, ranging from house pets to large livestock, 42Freeway reported.

The new veterinary school's inaugural class includes 75 students who saw the new space during the tour. It is located in Harrison Township and is close to the Route 55 Exit. The quickly developing campus area across Route 322 from the newer Inspira Hospital can be accessed from the traffic light intersection shared by both Inspira and Rowan.

During the event, the president of Rowan University, Ali Houshmand, PhD, told the crowd that the opening of the new veterinary school was something that was needed in the state. He noted that the horse industry alone in the area is a billion-dollar business. This does not even include food animals and pet animals, as per DVM360.
ISLAMABAD, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed in a road accident on Wednesday morning in the Bhakkar district of Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, said the rescue department.

According to Rescue 1122, a speeding truck rammed into a car on Darya Khan Road in the district, leaving all four people onboard dead instantly.

A rescue official said the impact was so severe that none of the passengers survived, and their bodies were recovered after cutting the wreckage of the vehicle.

"The victims were returning to their home in Bhakkar from the provincial capital Lahore after a medical check-up of one of the deceased," the official added.

The crash caused panic among nearby residents and passersby, while traffic on the busy road remained disrupted until rescue teams cleared the wreckage.

The bodies were shifted to a nearby hospital for medico-legal formalities, and police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. 
BAGHDAD, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Oil Ministry on Wednesday signed a Heads of Agreement with U.S. energy company ExxonMobil to develop Iraq's energy sector.

According to a statement by the media office of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, the agreement represents an understanding paving the way for ExxonMobil to operate in key fields, with Majnoon likely being the most prominent or primary target.

Al-Sudani expressed his government's commitment to cooperating with major oil companies to operate in key oil fields, including the Majnoon field in Basra, and attracting investments in the energy sector, especially in gas development projects.

"Iraq's doors are open to all major international companies wishing to contribute to the development of the oil sector," he said.

For his part, ExxonMobil's senior vice president Peter Larden expressed gratitude for Iraq's efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation and praised the progress across various sectors in Iraq, the statement added.

Iraq's economy depends heavily on crude oil exports, which make up roughly 90 percent of the country's revenues. Located about 60 km from Basra in southern Iraq, Majnoon is one of the largest oilfields in the world. 
Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, makes remarks in a video address delivered to the second meeting of parliamentary leaders of the Group of Friends of Neutrality member states, at the invitation of Dunyagozel Gulmanova, chairperson of the National Assembly (Mejlis) of Turkmenistan, Oct. 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Leji, China's top legislator, on Wednesday called on member states of the Group of Friends of Neutrality to work together to revitalize multilateralism, and to reform and improve global governance.

Zhao, who is chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, made the remarks in a video address delivered to the second meeting of parliamentary leaders of the Group of Friends of Neutrality member states, at the invitation of Dunyagozel Gulmanova, chairperson of the National Assembly (Mejlis) of Turkmenistan.

Since its establishment more than five years ago, the Group of Friends of Neutrality has become a good platform for its members to enhance understanding and mutual trust, deepen exchange and cooperation, and implement multilateralism, Zhao said.

He noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and the founding of the United Nations (UN). And as the world has entered a period of turbulence and transformation, the UN and multilateralism now face headwinds.

Zhao said that in early September, China's head of state proposed the Global Governance Initiative (GGI), which underscores the principles of sovereign equality, the international rule of law, multilateralism, a people-centered approach to governance, and real action.

The GGI -- aimed at promoting a more just and equitable global governance system -- is another major, widely welcomed initiative following the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, he said.

Wednesday's meeting of parliamentary leaders centered on the role of inter-parliamentary dialogue in protecting world peace and trust, and carries far-reaching significance, Zhao said.

Legislative bodies shoulder the responsibilities of actively advancing just, equitable global governance, and building a community with a shared future for humanity, he added.

He called on all parties to implement the four global initiatives, strengthen cooperation, revitalize multilateralism, reform and improve global governance, and firmly uphold the international system with the UN at its core and the international-law-based international order.

Noting that China and Turkmenistan are good friends and partners, Zhao said that the two heads of state have held friendly exchanges and charted a new course for the development of bilateral relations during Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov's recent stay in China.

"China is willing to work with Turkmenistan to implement the important consensus reached between the two heads of state; deepen comprehensive, mutually beneficial cooperation; and advance the building of a China-Turkmenistan community with a shared future," Zhao said.

The Group of Friends of Neutrality was established in August 2020 on the initiative of Turkmenistan. China is one of the 18 founding nations. 
Members of Marines Rotational Force-Darwin arrive at Cloncurry Airport during Talisman Sabre training in Queensland, Australia, July 20, 2025. (Seth Robson/Stars and Stripes)



After a six-month deployment filled with military exercises and disaster relief missions across Australia and the Philippines, the Marine Rotational Force-Darwin is headed home, the Australian Defence Department announced Wednesday.

A spokesman for the 2,500-Marine rotational force did not respond to an interview request Tuesday by Signal. The unit commander, Marine Col. Jason Armas, said in the Australian statement that this years mission showed the strength of Marines and Australian troops working side by side.

Marines have deployed to Australias northern coast on six-month rotations every year since 2012.

What began fourteen years ago as training in Australia has grown into integrated operations across the region and a force capable of responding to crisis and contingency, Armas said.

This years rotational force took part in the large-scale Talisman Sabre drill across Australia and Papua New Guinea during July and August. The three-week biennial exercise involved more than 40,000 troops from the United States, Australia and 17 other nations.

The Marines also joined multiple exercises in the Philippines.

In July, they helped deliver food and other supplies to northern Philippine communities affected by typhoons, tropical storms and monsoon rain.

Australian air force Group Capt. Melissa Neilson, head of Headquarters Northern Command, said the Northern Territory welcomed the Marines.

Marine Rotational Force-Darwin is an example of how Australia and the US are committed to ensuring a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, she said in the statement.

The Marines are moving beyond integrating with the Australians and have shown their ability to rapidly project forces forward, Armas said.

The rotational force continues to grow in scale and complexity, he said. This year weve trained not only in Australia but alongside our partners in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.

The Marines will return to the Northern Territory in early 2026, according to the Australian statement.
Prosecutors, not police, decide formal charges under the Japanese justice system. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)



YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan  Japanese prosecutors on Tuesday indicted a U.S. Navy sailor accused of injuring an 87-year-old man in a car collision in February.

Master Chief Petty Officer Charlie Sison Julio, 45, was charged with negligent driving resulting in injuries, a spokesman for the Yokohama District Public Prosecutors Office in Yokosuka told Stars and Stripes by phone Tuesday.

Prosecutors said Julio, who is assigned to Yokosukas Naval Education Training Command, was driving in Yokosuka on Feb. 11 when he made a right turn and struck an 87-year-old man in a crosswalk.

The spokesman said Julio is suspected of neglecting his obligation as a driver to stop and confirm if any pedestrians were in the crosswalk before making a right turn.

The incident took place on a city road in the Fukadadai neighborhood, about a half-mile from the bases front gate, according to a news release from Masahiko Goto, an attorney representing the injured man.

The man was seriously injured, including a head injury with bleeding around the brain and fractures to his hip and left kneecap, Goto said.

The Yokosuka Police Department referred Julios case to the prosecutors office on Sept. 12. A trial date has not been scheduled but is expected soon, according to the news release.

Prosecutors, not police, decide formal charges under Japans criminal justice system.

The victim has no memory of the accident  possibly due to his head injury  and is receiving rehabilitation treatment at the hospital, Goto said. The mans wife said their lives have changed significantly since the incident.

My husband was healthy until the accident, and the accident took away freedom of his daily life, she said in the news release.

Naval Forces Japan referred all questions to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, which did not immediately respond to an email after hours on Tuesday.
Roofman actors Channing Tatum, left, and Kirsten Dunst, were cast partially because they are each parents themselves and the film is based on the story of a U.S. Army veteran, played by Tatum, who robbed McDonalds to help support his family. Dunst plays a woman he dated. (Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP)



The lengths writer-director Derek Cianfrance goes to create immersive environments for his actors has grown into a kind of legend. After making the much-improvised doomed romance of Blue Valentine (2010), Michelle Williams said she would have to remind herself that she was never, actually, married to Ryan Gosling.

Cianfrances last feature, 2016s The Light Between the Oceans, was shot almost entirely at a remote New Zealand lighthouse. The making of that film did bring together its stars, Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander. So did Cianfrances The Place Beyond the Pines, with Gosling and Eva Mendes. Method filmmaking can produce real-life results.

But Cianfrances ways are for a purpose. He wants his actors, as much as possible, to live in a movie. For his latest film, Roofman, starring Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst, that approach was especially important because the story was so far-fetched.

I wanted to immerse the entire cast in this story because its a crazy story, Cianfrance said in an interview. Jeffs actions are kind of unbelievable. I felt like just for me, to have my suspension of disbelief, I needed to be down there. I think thats why I do a lot of this immersion because I need to believe it. I need to believe its actually happening.

In Roofman, playing in select on-base theaters Friday, Tatum plays Jeffrey Manchester, a U.S. Army veteran who found civilian life difficult. In 1998, he began robbing McDonalds by sawing through roofs. Hes believed to have robbed more than 40 stores. Both his novel entry point, and his reported cordial manner with employees, made the Roofman an intriguing figure on the local TV news.

In 2000, Manchester was caught in North Carolina and was later sentenced to 45 years in prison. But in 2004, he escaped and, to elude the authorities, hid out in a Charlotte Toys R Us. He clandestinely lived there for months, eating what was on the shelves, and, most audaciously, trying to live a seemingly normal life outside the store. He attended a local church and dated a woman named Leigh Wainscott (played by Dunst).

Mostly, the events of Roofman happened as theyre portrayed. But how do you make a stranger-than-fiction tale believable? For the filmmakers of Roofman, it meant going to some extreme lengths to give real-life authenticity to a made-for-Hollywood story. At a time when major studios seldom release star-led original films at all, let alone fiercely realistic ones shot on location, Roofman  a modest sized production cobbled together with an assortment of companies, including Miramax, FilmNation and Limelight  effectively tunneled its way to the big screen.

I had many producers tell me: Why dont you shoot this in South Africa? Youll have double the amount of days, Cianfrance says, referencing the appeal of tax credits. I said, Well, because the people arent there, and the ghosts of this story arent there.

Derek Cianfrance, the director and co-writer of the film Roofman, turned an abandoned Toys R Us into a nearly fully operational one to give the film authenticity. (Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP)



Hunting for Tickle Me Elmo

Cianfrance wanted to shoot in the Toys R Us where Manchester hid out, but he couldnt. The toy chain went bankrupt in 2017, and the one where Manchester camped out in is now a megachurch. So, he turned an abandoned Toys R Us in Pineville, N.C., into a nearly fully operational one. The production redid the electricity, added plumbing, installed new fluorescent lighting and stocked 40,000 square feet of shelves with truckloads of period-appropriate toys.

That was my Fitzcarraldo, bringing the steam ship over the mountain, building that Toys R Us, Cianfrance says, chuckling.

That gave Tatum, whom Cianfrance had initially sought for Blue Valentine, a box store sandbox in which to play. The biggest gift Cianfrance could give to Tatum, he felt, was to unleash him in a toy store.

It was 360, all around, says Tatum, speaking alongside Dunst. Its not like this is a giant budget movie. It involved, like: Theres not even enough toys from this era in the world to fill this place. And Derek kept going. I promised Chan that he would have a fully working store where he could do whatever he wanted. He put it on me!

Dunst was particularly drawn to Cianfrances process.

The kind of acting that Derek likes, Dunst says, is the kind of acting that I like: when it doesnt feel like its acting.

That doesnt mean that their directors fidelity to realism didnt sometimes strike the actors as borderline absurd.

I remember because of sound someone put a fake ice cube in my drink, Dunst says, laughing.

And he lost it, Tatum adds. He shook it. This doesnt sound like ice!

I got greedy

Yet much of the most extensive work to give Roofman veracity was below the surface. Manchester is currently serving out his sentence at Central Prison in Raleigh, N.C. He can only make outgoing calls, but Cianfrance estimates that he spoke to him more than a hundred times. That gave Cianfrance an understanding of Manchesters motives and mistakes and turned Roofman into a comic but tender examination of misguided materialism.

Jeff wrote a crazy movie for himself, and he lived it, Cianfrance says. What made me ultimately understand what the movie was that Jeff  he was just trying to figure out how to be a dad. He was doing it all for family.

Tatum also spoke frequently with Manchester by phone. Manchester, among other things, expressed his approval of the movie poster, featuring Tatum with a stuffed bear on his shoulders, a floaty around his waist and a gun in his right hand. Tatum says they bonded talking about their children and their hopes for the future. Manchester is scheduled to be released in 2036.

I got more than I could possibly convey. I just found myself being held almost by him, taken care of, Tatum says. I didnt grow up bad. But I definitely am a couple bad decisions away from hopefully not being in jail for 45 years. But I think were all one or two bad decisions away from having a completely different life. Jeff did tell me, I got greedy.

As he prepped the movie, Cianfrance interviewed everyone he could who was associated with Manchesters escape. Usually, he gave them parts. Wainscott plays a crossing guard in the film. The pastor of the church attended by Manchester, Ron Smith, plays a pawnshop owner. Dunst is interrogated by the police officers who actually interviewed Wainscott.

Cianfrance cast Tatum and Dunst, he says, partly because they are each parents themselves. Dunst spent time with the actors who play her daughters, going shopping and making a meal together.

It builds layers that people feel when they watch a film, Dunst says.

Some things, like being a parent, you cant fake.

I dont know if I could have done this movie without having my daughter, and specifically my journey with her. I miss her a lot, Tatum says. That loneliness and wanting for that was something infused in there. I didnt have to create that.
Crew members of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Midgett offload bales of seized narcotics in San Diego, Sept. 25, 2025. (Richard Uranga/U.S. Navy)



The Coast Guard cutter Midgett has returned to Hawaii after completing a 79-day patrol that included seizure of cocaine street-valued at $156 million.

The cutters deployment to the Eastern Pacific supported the counterdrug mission Operation Pacific Viper, the Coast Guard said in a news release Tuesday.

While patrolling international waters off the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Central America, Midgetts crew apprehended 19 suspected drug smugglers and interdicted four suspected drug smuggling vessels, preventing 21,126 pounds of cocaine, with an estimated value of more than $156.4 million, from reaching U.S. shores, the release states.

The drugs were offloaded in San Diego late last month.

Operation Pacific Viper is a partnership between the Coast Guard and U.S. Navy focused on countering drug trafficking and human smuggling in the Eastern Pacific.

The Midgett, which returned to Honolulu on Friday, is one of a pair of Legend-class national security cutters based in Hawaii.

The cutters are 418 feet long, with a top speed of more than 28 knots, or about 32 mph. They have a range of 13,800 miles and hold a crew of up to 150. They can stay at sea for three months.

They are armed with a 57-millimeter gun that fires more than 200 rounds a minute and can be used against a high-speed, maneuvering surface vessel. Other arms include a 20 mm gun and four .50-caliber machine guns.

During the recent deployment, the Midgetts crew worked with other Coast Guard units, including Tactical Law Enforcement Team South and the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron, or HITRON.

HITRON intercepted its 1,000th suspected drug-trafficking vessel in August while deployed on the Midgett, the Coast Guard said in a Sept. 10 news release.

A helicopter crew with the squadron spied the vessel about 272 nautical miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, in the early evening of Aug. 25.

The helicopter directed the vessel to heave to over the radio and with warning shots, the news release states. When the vessel failed to comply, the crew used precision rifle fire from the helicopter to disable the vessels engine, in accordance with airborne use of force policy.

A boarding team from the Midgett seized about 3,000 pounds of cocaine found aboard and dumped around the vessel.

In August, the cutter Hamilton offloaded more than 76,000 pounds of seized cocaine and marijuana at Port Everglades, Fla., the largest such offload in Coast Guard history.
A man from Wisconsin was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine for shipping scientific equipment to Russia in defiance of sanctions imposed against the country after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. (Joshua Magbanua/U.S. Air Force)



(Tribune News Service)  A man from Wisconsin was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine Tuesday for shipping scientific equipment to Russia in defiance of sanctions imposed against the country after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Andrew Pogosyan, 68, acting through his company Omega Diagnostics, falsely claimed that the shipments were going to Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Latvia and Lithuania, when in fact those were just stops before getting to their final recipients in Russia, according to a plea agreement filed June 23 in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.

At least one of the recipients had ties to a branch of the Russian Ministry of Defense that does chemical weapons development, the agreement says, although U.S. District Judge William Conley noted Tuesday during Pogosyans sentencing hearing that the government had not presented any evidence showing the equipment was used for military purposes.

Pogosyan, a Russian-born U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty on July 29 to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and three counts of smuggling goods from the United States. He could have been sentenced to up five years on the first count and up to 10 years on each of the three other counts. Each also comes with a $250,000 maximum fine.

Conley said the shorter sentence was justified because of Pogosyans age and his lack of a prior criminal record and because there was no evidence the smuggled equipment was used for military purposes.

Pogosyan told the court that he deeply regretted what he did and it wasnt my intention to break the law.

I didnt think deeply enough about it, he said. It was really devastating to me to realize that I did the wrong things.

In a statement released by the U.S. Attorneys Office following Pogosyans plea, FBI Milwaukee Special Agent in Charge Michael Hensle said: Pogosyans actions undermined the protections put in place to ensure U.S. national security.

Pogosyan made the illegal shipments from around September 2022 until October 2023, according to the government.

Named as a co-conspirator in the plea agreement is an official at an unnamed Russian company that amongst other things, provided chemical research and testing activity for the 27th Scientific Center of the Russian Ministry of Defense. The U.S. government alleges the center is involved in the development of chemical weapons for the Russian military.

Omega Diagnostics was founded in 2002, according to the plea agreement, and Pogosyan is its owner and sole employee.

Among the items it sent to Russia were four Thermo POP-7 Polymer Pouches, used in separating chemicals for testing, and one Thermo TracePlot Column, used to separate materials during chemical analysis, according to the plea agreement.

2025 The Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wis.).

Visit www.wisconsinstatejournal.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Italian soldiers conduct convoy operations during Saber Junction 25 at the Hohenfels Training Area, Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC), Germany, Sept. 10, 2025. Fewer Europeans support higher national defense spending, but the downtick is being driven largely by Italy, according to a report this week by Belgian media network Euractiv. (Christian Aquino/U.S. Army)



Europeans are less inclined to support defense spending increases than they were a year and a half ago, according to a new survey taken shortly after NATOs historic shootdown of a Russian drone swarm in Poland.

But with 67% of respondents backing bigger defense budgets, the poll shows that residents on the Continent are still largely on board with the repeated calls for alliance members to spend more on their militaries.

In addition, the downtick from the 74% support recorded by research firm Polling Europe in April 2024 was driven largely by Italy, whose defense budget has consistently ranked among the lowest of Europes major powers.

The results of the new survey were shared in a report this week by Euractiv, a Brussels-based media network that specializes in European Union affairs.

The research firm Polling Europe collected 5,400 survey responses from Sept. 17-19, days after Poland said about 20 Russian drones had entered its airspace.

NATO scrambled fighter jets, resulting in the first-ever shootdown by the bloc of an aerial threat over allied territory.

NATO countries flags fly at alliance headquarters in Brussels. A report this week from Euractiv, a Brussels-based media company, says fewer Europeans support higher national defense spending, down 7% from an April 2024 survey. (NATO)



The response to the question should EU member states invest more in defense showed a stark line between southern Europe and the rest of the Continent, according to Euractiv.

In the former, 59% of respondents said they support higher defense budgets, compared with 76% in central and Eastern Europe, and 73% in the north.

Poland, which shares a border with Russia, had the highest level of support for increased military spending at 86%.

In Italy, only 48% of respondents said they supported an increase in defense spending, Euractiv said, citing the survey results.

That figure is markedly low even for southern Europe. In Spain, for example, the level of support for raising military spending was a full 20 percentage points higher, at 68%.

In 2024, both countries ranked near the bottom in defense spending among NATO countries: Italy at 1.50% and Spain in last at 1.24%, according to NATO. Poland was at the top at 4.07%.

The Italian government faces a difficult tradeoff between military and welfare spending, Carlo Bastasin, a nonresident foreign policy senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, wrote last month.

Not only is the former unpopular, but the latter may be important to keep the country together, consolidate a consensus of public support for the government, and ensure political stability during turbulent international crises, Bastasin said.

The survey was conducted on behalf of Euractiv to gauge support for defense spending amid the Russia-Ukraine war and the June elevation of NATOs threshold for such expenditures from 2% of gross domestic product to 5%.

All 32 of the alliances member countries were on track for the 2% mark in 2025, according to NATO.
BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- On Oct. 1, the first day of China's eight-day National Day holiday, 70-year-old Nikolayev crossed the border into Manzhouli, a border city in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

"This is my birthday gift to myself," said the Russian traveler, beaming as he waved his passport freshly stamped with an entry seal.

Fascinated by China since childhood, Nikolayev had long dreamed of visiting the neighboring country. When he learned about China's latest visa-free travel policy for Russian citizens last month, he decided to celebrate his 70th birthday in China, arriving just in time for China's National Day.

"I wanted to see my neighbor with my own eyes," he said. "The visa-free policy made it the perfect moment."

According to China's National Immigration Administration (NIA), tourists of 76 countries now enjoy unilateral or mutual visa-free entry, with transit exemptions expanded to 55 countries. Citizens of 55 countries, including the United States and Canada, can visit China visa-free for up to 10 days in transit, before traveling to a third destination.

Earlier this year, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality captured global attention when U.S. influencer IShowSpeed livestreamed from the city to over 10 million viewers, exclaiming, "This city is actually a cyber city!"

According to official data, from January to August this year, Chongqing saw an 82.48 percent year-on-year increase in inbound tourist arrivals.

During this holiday, the city continued to draw foreign visitors, among them was Antonio from Spain, who visited Chongqing during this National Day holiday, drawn especially to the striking sight of a monorail slicing through apartment blocks, a feature he eagerly photographed.

"I'm fascinated by how the city seems to rise in layers," he said, glancing at the skyline where towers cling to steep hillsides. "When the lights come on at night, it feels almost futuristic."

While Chongqing amazed people with its modern skyscrapers, north China's Shanxi Province presented a journey through centuries-old wooden pagodas and temples.

Renowned for its ancient structures with over 28,000 preserved historical buildings, the province's popularity has surged thanks to the phenomenal video game Black Myth: Wukong, inspired by the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.

In Taiyuan City, Spanish visitor Sergio, a fan of ancient architecture, was greeted with an unexpected touch of Mid-Autumn warmth: a mooncake and a cultural brochure from immigration officers.

"What a sweet surprise!" he said, flipping through the brochure to check out one of his planned stops: the Xiaoxitian Temple -- or the Little Western Paradise Temple in Xi County, featuring stunning 400-year-old suspended sculptures.

According to official data, Xi County welcomed over 93,000 visitors from Oct. 1 to 7, matching the county's entire population.

China is expected to record an average of 2 million daily border crossings during the eight-day National Day holiday, which overlaps with the Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, according to the NIA. 
A top Russian Foreign Ministry official cautioned President Donald Trumps administration Wednesday against giving Ukraine access to long-range Tomahawk missiles that could hit targets deep within Russia in the latest in a series of warnings that suggest a degree of annoyance in Moscow toward the U.S. leader.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov also declared that the boost toward resolving the conflict in Ukraine provided by Trumps August meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska had been largely exhausted. The last few weeks have seen Trump considering the sale of new weapons to Ukraine and criticizing Russia as a paper tiger.

The latest warning was part of a concerted Russian effort to deter Trump against enabling Ukraine access to the missiles, repeating a tactic Moscow has used throughout its war on Ukraine, declaring that providing advanced military technology to Ukraine would provoke a direct conflict between Russia and NATO countries.

Since Trumps election, however, Moscow has directed most of its ire against European leaders whom it portrays as warmongers to blame for the continued war, while directing consistently positive comments toward the U.S. president.

The U.S. administration has not even said if it would sell the Tomahawks to Ukraine, although Trump said on Monday that he had sort of made a decision but wanted to know how Kyiv would use the weapons.

Tomahawks have a range of up to 1,550 miles, depending on the variant, compared to around 190 miles for ATACM missiles, which were provided to Kyiv by the Biden administration.

I think I want to find out what theyre doing with them, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Monday. Where are they sending them? I guess Id have to ask that question.

The repeated warnings from Putin and other officials indicate Moscows anxiety over the possibility that Ukraine gets access to weapons, and appear to contradict Putins assertion last Thursday at a Russian foreign policy conference that the missiles wont change the balance of power on the battlefield.

Putin warned that the weapons would mark a qualitatively new stage of escalation because Ukraine could not fire them without the U.S. personnel. He suggested, however, that Trump would ultimately decide against their provision because he knew how to listen.

Tatiana Stanovaya, senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said Wednesday that Putin appeared to have moved on from the Alaska summit, now issuing strong warnings to Trump instead of merely placating him.

Ryabkov, she said on X, had now drawn a firm line with his comment that the momentum for resolving the Ukraine conflict had dissipated after the Alaska summit.

With Trump considering the Tomahawk question, Moscow sees the situation as critical, she said. Moscow warns Trump about a more acute confrontation and expects him to make what it considers the right choice.

In his remarks to journalists Wednesday, Ryabkov also pointed out that U.S. personnel would be needed to operate the Tomahawk missiles.

As you understand, without software and launchers, the missiles themselves are just blanks. Accordingly, as has also been stated at a high level by the Russian side, the hypothetical use of such systems is only possible with the direct involvement of American personnel, Ryabkov said.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, he warned of the depth and severity of the consequences that supplying Tomahawks to Ukraine would have.

Naturally, we urge the U.S. leadership and the U.S. military to take a sober, reasonable, responsible approach to this situation, he said. Sadly, I have to say that the powerful impetus of the Anchorage meeting in favor of agreements has turned out to be exhausted to a significant extent by adversaries efforts, Ryabkov continued, blaming the destructive actions of European leaders.

Andrei Kartapolov, head of the parliaments defense committee and a former deputy defense minister, said Russia knew how to shoot these missiles down and would target any launchers it detected on Ukrainian soil.

Our response will be tough, ambiguous, measured, and asymmetrical. We will find ways to hurt those who cause us trouble, he told the state RIA news agency on Wednesday. The only problems will be for those who supply them and those who use them; thats where the problems will be.

Russian state television anchor Olga Skabeyeva called Trumps comment that he may provide Ukraine with Tomahawks an unprecedented escalation, saying that this could prompt Germany to offer Kyiv Taurus missiles. Co-host Yevgeny Popov said if Trump did give Ukraine Tomahawks, it would be Trumps war and someone else would win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Speaking on the same program, deputy chairman of parliaments defense committee, Andrei Zhuravlyov, said if Ukraine was provided the missiles, Russia should attack the Rzeszow military air base in Poland  a hub for deliveries of Western weapons systems to Ukraine.

We need to show them that were ready. You want an escalation? Its your problem, not ours, he said in comments reported by Russia Media Monitor.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also warned Monday against the new escalation of providing Kyiv access to Tomahawks, even while asserting they would not help Ukraines military position.

But here, of course, it is important to realize that we are talking about missiles that can also be nuclear, so this is indeed a serious escalation, he warned.

Trumps envoy to Ukraine, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg told Fox News late last month that Trump had authorized Ukraine to carry out long-range strikes with U.S.-made weapons, adding that there are no such things as sanctuaries.

This is where I think they have the opportunity to challenge Russia much more aggressively, he said.

If Trump does green-light Ukraine to get Tomahawks, it would mark a significant shift in his policy on the war, depending on what restrictions Washington placed on their use. He has so far focused on trying to end the war and normalize relations with Russia, first calling on both sides to agree to a ceasefire  a demand accepted by Ukraine but repeatedly deflected by Russia  before meeting Putin in Alaska, where he abruptly abandoned his strategy of pressing for a ceasefire.

Trump has expressed increasing frustration with Putin, particularly in relation to Russias strikes on civilian targets in Ukraine, and last week said he believed that Ukraine was capable of winning back the land it had lost and that Russia should have stopped the war.

According to the Institute for the Study of War, at least 1,945 Russian military objects lie within range of the 1,550-mile variant Tomahawk and at least 1,655 could be reached by the 1,000-mile variant.

Ukraine likely can significantly degrade Russias frontline battlefield performance by targeting a vulnerable subset of rear support areas that sustain and support Russias frontline operations, the group said in a battlefield update on Sunday.

Nigel Gould-Davies, senior fellow with the International Institute for Strategic Studies, wrote Tuesday that Moscow had ushered in a new and more dangerous phase of the war after its failed summer offensive and the sharp deterioration in its economy. He warned that Russias behavior would probably grow more risky and aggressive unless it faces unacceptable costs.

The strategic context of the war is thus shifting. Russias summer offensive has failed at enormous cost in troops. Its diplomatic strategy for America has fallen short. It faces a slow tsunami of European defense spending and growing strains at home, he wrote. Russia can now prevail only if it prevents them from turning their collective latent strength into usable superiority by undermining their resolve.
Younis Firwana with his family at his graduation from Navy boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois. From left, Youniss wife, Amanda Hancock, and daughters, Anya, Anna and Aya. (Courtesy of Younis Firwana)



A Palestinian woman whose son serves in the U.S. Navy was secretly evacuated from war-torn Gaza in recent weeks after an intervention by the Trump administration and the Israeli and Jordanian governments, according to people familiar with the matter and correspondence reviewed by The Washington Post.

The operation, entailing a coordinated pause in Israeli military strikes to safeguard the womans movements, illustrates the extreme difficulty of orchestrating a legal exit from the Gaza Strip without resources and influence.

The unusual operation occurred as the Trump administration has, at turns, been accused of turning a blind eye to the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza  even, in some cases, when they are U.S. citizens.

For Ahlam Firwana, 59, the escape to safety required a $10,000 donation to cover transportation costs, sophisticated software to monitor her movements amid the Israeli militarys ongoing assault, and the direct involvement of senior U.S. officials who helped secure agreements from the governments of Jordan and Israel to facilitate the womans departure from Gaza.

Firwanas son, Navy Petty Officer Younis Firwana, 32, joined the military in 2023 seeking a path to U.S. citizenship.

After the Gaza war began that October, his mother and six siblings faced ever-increasing danger and privation, he recalled in an interview. In 2024, the familys seven-story home was leveled in the bombardment. Food and medicine grew scarce.

They had a point, he said, where they were eating birdseed.

The evacuation of U.S. citizens from Gaza has been a contentious issue since the war began after Hamas militants staged a deadly, coordinated attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Palestinian Americans and their families have complained since then that the United States was not doing enough to ensure the safe exit of U.S. citizens from Gaza, with some suing the Biden administration in December.

Maria Kari, a lawyer representing some of those families, said the situation has become more dire under President Donald Trump. In August, the State Department announced that it would halt visitor visas for people from Gaza. The decision was made days after far-right activist Laura Loomer reacted to video of Palestinian children and their caregivers arriving at an airport in San Francisco by labeling the program a national security threat. Loomer holds outsize influence with the president, though she has no official role in the administration.

The children and spouses of U.S. citizens have seen their requests for evacuations denied based on national security grounds, according to accounts from lawyers and human rights groups.

Younis Firwana became a naturalized U.S. citizen in February 2024 on the day he graduated from Navy boot camp. He was told, he said, to stand beneath a Jordanian flag during the ceremony as the United States did not recognize the flag of Palestine.

From California, where he is stationed as a Navy medic, Younis Firwana had been working since early 2024 to coordinate his mothers departure through Jordan. Hed applied for expedited processing for his siblings cases, too, but received denials in every case but his mothers, he said. He secured approval from U.S. immigration officials for her to enter the United States, but couldnt find anyone who could escort her out of Gaza or help her renew her expired passport. U.S. officials, he said, told him their hands were tied.

In early September, Younis Firwana was connected with Special Operations Association of America, a veterans organization that has supported the legal evacuation of roughly 1,100 people from Gaza since the war began, including the mother of a U.S. soldier.

Alex Plitsas, a member of the veterans group and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, assembled a team to help the Firwana family. Among them was Steve Gabavics, a retired Army colonel who served in Jerusalem from 2001 to 2004 as chief of staff for the U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Plitsas also enlisted the help of Morgan Ortagus, Trumps deputy special envoy to the Middle East and herself a Navy reservist, who connected the team with top officials at the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan. Another member of the group notified the National Security Council of planning, according to messages reviewed by The Post.

Spokespeople for the White House and the State Department did not respond to requests for comment.

A U.S. official, who like some others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the evacuation of Ahlam Firwana, attributed this successful evacuation to U.S. diplomats in Amman. The team at Embassy Jordan went above and beyond to help the mother of an American service member to get safely out of Gaza, this person said. This is an example of the heroic work our Foreign Service officers perform around the world every day.

Gabavics said he leveraged connections from his past work, including contacts within the Israeli military and the Israeli security and intelligence organizations Shin Bet and Mossad, to secure approval for Ahlam Firwanas exit from Gaza. A representative for the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, a unit of the Israeli Defense Ministry, acknowledged a request for comment but did not provide one. A spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Gabavics told The Post that conversations with the Israelis centered in part on ensuring they didnt target her location, and they sought a security buffer around her so that the extraction team would not unintentionally be hit by a military strike.

At the Jordanian Embassy in D.C., officials expedited approval for Ahlam Firwana to enter Jordan. The ambassador, Dina Kawar, said in a statement that her government was glad to help facilitate Firwanas exit from Gaza and that the gesture should be viewed as part of Jordans continuous and broader humanitarian effort - not an exception.

Every day, Kawar added, Jordan is working quietly and tirelessly to support those in need.

Ben Clay, an Army Special Operations veteran who led the extraction operation, said he used an application hed developed to determine the safest transport routes. When the original plan for an Israeli escort was abandoned because of paperwork delays, the veterans group donated $10,000 to hire ground transportation to securely move Firwana from her building in Gaza City to the Kerem Shalom border crossing in the enclaves southeast corner, according to messages reviewed by The Post.

In mid-September, Israel ordered the entire population of Gaza City to evacuate amid an intensifying offensive. As conditions grew desperate, the hired transport plan had to be scrapped. Instead, one of Firwanas sons located a vehicle and started driving his mother toward the gate.

They didnt get very far, as the roadways were clogged with people trying to flee. With the help of her daughter, Firwana completed the last nine miles on foot  protected from above by surveillance assets and the airstrike stoppage.

The journey took 19 hours in all. On Sept. 17, Plitsas sent a small group of collaborators a celebratory two-word message: SHES OUT!

Ahlam Firwana smiles for a photo taken days after her arrival in Jordan. (Courtesy of Younis Firwana)



Kari, the lawyer representing Palestinian American families, welcomed the news of Firwanas release but said the case raised questions about others who remain stranded, including her client Salsabeel Elhelou, a U.S. citizen who is seeking the evacuation of her three noncitizen children.

Emails shared with The Post show the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has cited U.S. national security and concerns about visas as reasons for not helping to evacuate Elhelous children.

The U.S. government had shown deference to military families while making it very clear that on a wholesale level, they dont care about Palestinian lives, even when they are American Palestinian lives, said Kari.

For now, Ahlam Firwana remains in Jordan, awaiting visa approval. Her son said he is eager to help the rest of his family leave Gaza, but must await a slow-moving and opaque visa application process.

Learning that his mothers case had attracted the attention of top U.S. government officials has had a profound effect on the Firwanas, her son said. That means a lot, that these guys care about my family, he said. Im not alone.

He wonders, though, why his mothers departure required such extraordinary intervention, when the United States had, in previous years, established policy to support humanitarian resettlements from war zones, including Ukraine and Afghanistan.

The U.S., he added, should be doing more than this.

John Hudson contributed to this report.
AUSTIN, Texas  Texas National Guard troops have arrived in Illinois, where they will spend up to two months protecting federal functions, personnel and property despite opposition from state and local officials.

Texas sent roughly 200 members of its National Guard, who are working on federal orders under presidential authorization, according to a Pentagon official. Approximately 300 soldiers from various units of the Illinois National Guard also have been activated, according to a statement from U.S. Northern Command.

Troops are staging at an Army Reserve center south of Chicago ahead of expected deployment into the city, where federal law enforcement have been conducting enhanced immigration-related raids, according to the Associated Press.

Their arrival follows weeks of President Donald Trump threatening such action over what he has described as crime and lawlessness in Chicago in response to the immigration raids. He also said last week before a meeting of the militarys top officers that they should use dangerous cities such as Chicago as training grounds for our military.

Trump approved the deployment of troops Saturday while also attempting to send hundreds more to Portland, Ore., which has also seen immigration-related protests. However, a federal judge blocked that effort. Illinois and Chicago have also sued to stop the deployment.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott shared a photo Monday evening of Texas troops boarding a plane while carrying large plastic riot shields. Abbott said he authorized a total of 400 troops for the mission.

His office did not respond Tuesday to questions about whether the troops sent to Chicago were part of Texas state-funded mission to deter illegal activity along its border with Mexico. If so, those troops moved from a paid state mission to one where they will not receive payment until a federal government shutdown ends. The shutdown has been ongoing for one week.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said Sunday no officials from the federal government called to discuss plans with him before sending troops out of Texas and called on Abbott to withdraw his support.

There is no reason a president should send military troops into a sovereign state without their knowledge, consent, or cooperation, Pritzker said in a statement.

The Department of Homeland Security launched what it called Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago about a month ago and has arrested more than 1,000 people officials said are in the United States without authorization and have criminal pasts.

However, residents have described to local news outlets a raid on an apartment building in the middle of the night where children were awakened and separated from their parents and sweeping arrests where U.S. citizens are also detained. This has led to protests in the city where federal agents used tear gas on the crowd.

The deployment to Illinois mirrors Trumps use of troops in Los Angeles in June, when he sent the California National Guard and members of the Marine Corps into the city to protect federal buildings and personnel against the wishes of state officials during immigration-related protests. California sued and a judge ruled the deployment was illegal.

Guard troops in California were used at times to create a perimeter around federal agents as they conducted arrests in and around Los Angeles. Roughly 100 remain on the mission, according to U.S. Northern Command, which oversees federal protection missions across the country.

Trump also sent National Guard troops into Washington, D.C., where federal jurisdiction functions differently and troops spent time collecting trash and beautifying parkland. The district also filed a lawsuit over the deployment.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, looks on as President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 8, 2025. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds, AFP, Getty Images/TNS)



WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service)  President Donald Trump has called off U.S. diplomatic engagement with Venezuela, people familiar with the move said, a decision that favors Secretary of State Marco Rubios more hard-line approach and may lead to further military escalation.

Trump told Richard Grenell, a long-time aide who had been leading diplomacy with Venezuela, that he should stop pursuing a deal with Nicolas Maduros administration, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because they werent authorized to speak publicly. Grenell had been speaking to Venezuelan officials every few days.

The decision was reported earlier by the New York Times. It marks a victory for Rubio, who had waged a turf war with Grenell and favors a more hard-line approach to the Maduro government. The White House and State Department didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

Trump has already ordered multiple strikes on drug trafficking vessels at sea and has recently suggested he could order the U.S. military to escalate those attacks by hitting cartel infrastructure on land  a move that may also involve risky strikes on Venezuelan military targets.

Last week, the White House declared that the U.S. was in a non-international armed conflict with drug cartels flooding the country with illegal drugs like fentanyl.

In the early days of the Trump administration, Grenell flew to Caracas and met with Maduro, negotiating a deal for the release of Americans held captive and the resumption of halted deportation flights from the U.S. One goal was a deal to ease crippling economic sanctions and allow Venezuela to ratchet up oil sales.

At the same time, though, Rubio had championed a tougher approach.

The Trump administration is at a crossroads on Venezuela, said Geoff Ramsey, a senior fellow and Venezuela researcher at the Atlantic Council. The White House needs to decide whether to escalate, engage, or simply declare victory and move on.

While his administration has openly called Maduro an illegitimate president and has a $50 million bounty on him for narco-terrorism, a U.S. military attack on a sovereign nation would still be a dramatic turn for Trump. He pledged to end U.S. involvement in foreign wars on the campaign trail and has openly sought a Nobel Peace Prize for his work pushing to halt wars in Europe and the Middle East.

On Friday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the U.S. had destroyed the fifth boat in the southern Caribbean in as many weeks, arguing that the vessel was transporting drugs bound for America.

The strikes, which have been challenged by legal scholars, follow a U.S. decision to beef up the U.S. Navy presence in the region, which has grown to least eight warships, one nuclear submarine, more than 4,000 troops, fighter jets, drones and surveillance planes. The force deployment is already the largest in the region since the 1989 invasion of Panama.

Over the weekend, Trump said U.S. strikes have already halted drug traffickers moving by sea routes, and that an expansion to land targets in the future was possible.

Theyre not coming in by sea anymore, so now well have to start looking about the land, because theyll be forced to go by land, Trump said.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.

Visit bloomberg.com.

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A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon conducts flight training at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, Aug. 18, 2025. (Elijah Strickland/U.S. Air Force)



(Tribune News Service)  The timelines for cleaning up PFAS contamination at New Mexicos three Air Force bases have been moved back by as much as six years, according to Department of Defense documents.

Cannon and Holloman Air Force bases are the sources of some of the most concentrated and concerning PFAS  or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances  in the state, according to New Mexico Environment Secretary James Kenney.

At Cannon, PFAS, commonly called forever chemicals because of how long they take to break down, can be found in the water at 26,000 parts per trillion, Kenney said. The drinking water standard is 4 parts per trillion.

The chemicals have been linked to health issues such as cancer, changes to liver function, thyroid disease, and pregnancy complications. They have often been used in firefighting foam and can be found in household products like non-stick cookware.

In December under the Biden administration, the Department of Defense released a document showing PFAS cleanup timelines for more than 700 military installations nationwide. An updated version of the document was released in March, and according to a New York Times analysis, cleanup of the forever chemicals have been delayed by up to a decade at close to 140 military installations, including Cannon, Kirtland and Holloman Air Force bases in New Mexico.

I think New Mexicans have to realize that the Air Force is not there for them, Kenney said. ... Theyre doing a lot for the community itself, in terms of economic engine and those types of things. But when it comes to public health, when it comes to New Mexicos most precious resource  our water  theyre AWOL.

Cannon Air Force Base has a PFAS plume of contaminated groundwater thats accumulated over time, which reaches outside of the base perimeter by about 4 miles. A recent study conducted by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) of 628 Curry County residents living near the base found that people who lived or worked in the plume area had more than three times the national average level of PFAS in their systems.

Cannon Air Force Base directed the Journal to reach out to the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, which did not respond by the Journals deadline. Kirtland Air Force Base did not respond to questions.

The Pentagon referred questions to U.S. Air Force Public Affairs, which did not respond.

Holloman Air Force Base was not able to explain why the cleanup timeline had changed on Friday, in part because some civilian staff were furloughed due to the federal government shutdown, said Master Sgt. Nathan Lipscomb, the 49th Wing public affairs superintendent.

The Air Force began using firefighting foam that contained two PFAS chemicals in 1970, but transitioned to a firefighting foam with only trace amounts by 2018, according to the NMED study.

The timeline for completing remedial investigation and a feasibility study of PFAS cleanup for Cannon was pushed back six years, from August 2026 to June 2032, according to the DOD documents. Finishing the remedial investigation and feasibility study means the base can move on to cleaning up the contamination.

Delaying it means only greater exposure, greater contamination, a bigger plume, and more health impacts, Kenney said.

The U.S. Air Force sued New Mexico in 2019, arguing the state did not have the authority to issue a corrective action that stipulated how it should clean up the PFAS plume.

That case is awaiting a decision from a panel of judges in Denver, and the two entities are in mediation over that lawsuit, Kenney said. The state is also a bellwether case in a South Carolina-based class action lawsuit connected to PFAS contamination from the Air Force. New Mexico has already presented its side on that case, while the U.S. Department of Justice has sought an extension.

The timeline for completing remedial investigation and a feasibility study of PFAS cleanup for Holloman Air Force Base was delayed by five years, from 2027 to June 2032, according to the DOD documents.

In 2024, a University of New Mexico research team found unexpectedly high levels of PFAS contamination in wild animals around Holloman Lake, which is between the Air Force base and White Sands National Park. NMED is going to kick off a new Holloman Lake study, asking people who have recreated at Holloman Lake to self identify, so they can be connected with resources.

The timeline for PFAS cleanup at Kirtland Air Force Base was delayed by three years, pushing completion of a remedial investigation and feasibility study back from September 2029 to June 2032, according to the DOD documents.

 2025 the Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, N.M.).

Visit www.abqjournal.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The construction area for a new $28.08 million barracks building, is shown Sept. 4, 2025, at Fort McCoy, Wis. The Pentagon has launched a new barracks task force that within 30 days must develop a strategy to improve base housing throughout the military, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday. (Scott Sturkol/U.S. Army)



A new Pentagon barracks task force unveiled this week is charged with tackling the militarys persistent base housing woes, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth demanding a strategy within 30 days.

Speaking to an audience of new recruits Tuesday at Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia, Hegseth said the task force also will ensure that unit commanders are empowered to act on quality-of-life issues facing troops.

It is simply unacceptable that in some cases, our warriors continue to live in substandard housing, Hegseth said, adding that every service member deserves housing that is clean, comfortable and safe.

Hegseth cited a 2023 Government Accountability Office report that detailed the squalid living conditions of some troops as one of the factors behind the formation of the task force.

The GAO investigation detailed an array of problems  such as raw sewage overflows, mold and rodent infestations  that undermine quality of life and overall troop combat readiness.

A barracks building at Clay Kaserne in Wiesbaden, Germany, Aug. 21, 2025. Wiesbadens barracks had the lowest satisfaction rating in Europe in a recent army housing survey. The Pentagon has launched a new barracks task force that within 30 days must develop a strategy to improve base housing throughout the military, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday. (Bradley Latham/Stars and Stripes)



Barracks problems vary from base to base. In some cases, the issues go back years and stem from underinvestment spanning decades.

In Europe, many U.S. soldiers have long been dissatisfied with living conditions on garrison installations. A 2025 Army tenant satisfaction survey found that soldiers and their families in Europe were the least satisfied when it comes to government housing.

Some top concerns included overcrowding and outdated facilities that resulted in depressing living conditions.

In some cases, garrison housing areas in Europe date back roughly 70 years and lack modern amenities, Army officials have said.

More money has flowed into Europe in recent years to address such problems, and major projects are now underway.

In the Italian city of Vicenza, home to the 173rd Airborne Brigade, an ongoing $500 million housing project is slated to create more than 470 homes by 2028. The first 111 of the units at Caserma Ederle and Villaggio were scheduled to be completed later this year.

And in Baumholder, Germany, there are numerous plans for upgraded family housing and new soldier barracks.

But it can take years for new barracks and family housing to go from planning to completion.

A sprawling spending bill passed this summer by Congress will deliver an initial jolt to improving barracks, with more than $1 billion being directed toward troop housing, Hegseth said.

His office also will review and approve the forthcoming task forces plan in crucial ways, big and small.

Barracks are where warriors go to rest and recover, the place they go to mentally and physically prepare for winning the next fight, Hegseth said.
Government-issued cellphones are set up at the Javits New York Medical Station in 2020. (Nathan Hammack/U.S. Army)



The Pentagon has investigated nearly 300 Defense Department employees, including service members, civilian workers and contractors, for comments appearing online after last months shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, according to documents reviewed by The Washington Post.

The sweeping, ongoing inquiry, which has resulted in a smattering of disciplinary action so far, follows an extraordinary directive by the departments political leadership to silence criticism of a prominent, polarizing figure who was unabashed in his views and fervent support for President Donald Trump.

The order from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to target those critical of Kirk, former defense officials and congressional Democrats say, reflects a deepening alarm over the former Fox News personalitys stewardship of the military, whose personnel are expected to remain loyal to the Constitution, not any one party or president.

Since taking office, Hegseth has subverted those norms  saying as recently as last week that the nations generals and admirals should quit if they dont support the Trump administrations bid to impose what opponents say are regressive policies on the armed forces. Troops faced similar choices  get in line or get out  under the Biden administrations coronavirus vaccine mandate, resulting in the dismissal of thousands.

Hegseth and his political staff have argued forcefully that speech celebrating or mocking the Turning Point USA founders death is itself an illicit partisan activity subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Its a violation of the oath, its conduct unbecoming, its a betrayal of the Americans theyve sworn to protect & dangerously incompatible with military service, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wrote on social media last month. In a statement provided to The Post for this article, he emphasized the point, saying, Those in our ranks who rejoice at an act of domestic terrorism are unfit to serve the American people.

Kirks death at age 31 set off a nationwide debate on political violence that was seized on by the Trump administration to villainize some left-leaning groups as terrorists  often while not acknowledging the violence that liberal public figures also have endured.

And even as he cracks down on commentary about Kirks death, Hegseth himself has appeared to condone similarly inappropriate remarks. Last year, before he was defense secretary, Hegseth grinned and joked along with a guest on Fox News about the vicious hammer attack on Paul Pelosi, husband of former House speaker Nancy Pelosi. He later composed himself and said, We wish him well.

Critics of the administration have decried what they say is its hypocrisy, noting a refusal to condemn political violence on all sides. Opponents point to the presidents public silence earlier this year after Melissa Hortman, a leading Democratic lawmaker in Minnesota  Hegseths home state  was gunned down along with her husband in what authorities say was a targeted political assassination. Trump himself was twice targeted by would-be assassins during last years campaign.

Hegseths press office, when asked if the he regretted laughing about the attack on Paul Pelosi, vigorously defended him and denounced what Parnell, the spokesman, called whataboutism being promulgated by the news media.

The situation is not the same, Parnells statement to The Post says. An American was assassinated. We will not tolerate military or civilian personnel who celebrate or mock the assassination of a fellow American.

The Pentagon chief has also attracted attention for his vocal defense of service members terminated under the Biden administration for making politically charged statements online. In one high-profile example, Hegseth installed to his Pentagon staff a former Marine Corps officer, Stuart Scheller, who was court-martialed for a social media post in which he harshly criticized the United States disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Scheller pleaded guilty to several charges in the case.

Peter Feaver, who studies civil-military relations at Duke University, said the Trump administrations investigations of government employees, particularly those within the Defense Department, are consistent with long-standing efforts to banish politics from the workplace. They have a valid point, he said, noting, however, that the challenge for the administration is: Will they enforce it on both sides?

In the days after Kirks killing on Sept. 10, the Defense Department aggressively hunted for employees who had previously criticized his movement or commented on his death. Hegseth warned publicly that there would be consequences for anyone who spoke out against the slain activist, whom he considered a friend.

As of Sept. 30, 128 service members have been investigated following Kirks death, and most of those cases are still under review, according to documents reviewed by The Post. Of those, 26 have received administrative reprimands  an adverse mark that can hinder future assignments or promotions. Three have received nonjudicial punishment, which can lead to a reduction in rank or other disciplinary action, and three others are in the process of either being kicked out or leaving the military, the documents show.

A total of 158 non-uniformed personnel have been investigated as of Sept. 30, including 27 Defense Department civilians, according to the documents viewed by The Post. Two have been removed from employment. The status of the remaining civilians or contractors was not immediately clear.

In addition, five former Defense Department employees have been placed under investigation, the documents show.

Those figures were gathered by the department in response to a request from leaders of the Republican-led House Armed Services Committee. Spokespeople for the committees leadership did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Neither did their GOP counterparts in the Senate, though a spokesperson for the Senate Armed Services Committees Democratic staff said their committee had not made a similar request.

There are a number of ways in which speech thats normal for civilians can be barred for uniformed personnel, but prosecutions are exceedingly rare, said Charles Dunlap, a retired Air Force major general who served as the services deputy judge advocate general and is now a professor at Duke University.

Under Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, service members can be prosecuted for contemptuous words against their military or civilian leaders, or against elected officials  but not against unelected public figures. However, military personnel can be prosecuted under different charges of the UCMJ, such as Article 133, for conduct unbecoming, or Article 134, for conduct prejudicial to good order, according to an Air Force memo sent to service members to remind them of their social media responsibilities following Kirks death.

Dunlap said he suspected that few who are targeted for disciplinary action would formally contest it.

I cant recall a parallel situation, he added, but that doesnt mean that military law couldnt criminalize this conduct.

Aaron Schaffer contributed to this report.
Veterans of Foreign Wars announced a new partnership with Torch Beverage Co. to place VFW branding on some of the Florida companys cannabis-infused beverage products with proceeds supporting initiatives for veterans, according to the VFW. (Torch Beverage Co. )



Veterans of Foreign Wars  the national advocacy group for former service members  has signed a deal with a national beverage maker to offer cannabis-infused drinks at VFW chapters in states and jurisdictions where recreational marijuana use is legal.

Sales of Torch cannabis seltzer drinks at hundreds of VFW posts nationwide are part of a new marketing partnership announced Tuesday by the veterans organization. The initiative will place VFW branding on select Torch hemp-derived beverages, with proceeds supporting veterans initiatives, according to the VFW.

Under the licensing agreement, select VFW-branded Torch beverage products will be made available, and proceeds will directly support VFW initiatives such as the National Veterans Service program, which provides no-cost assistance to veterans navigating the VA claims process, and veterans and military support programs, which deliver financial assistance to military families, the VFW said in a written statement.

This marks the first time a major veterans service organization has collaborated in such a way with a cannabis company. VFW has 1.4 million members.

This new relationship between Torch Drinks LLC and the VFW brings a federally compliant and responsibly formulated alternative to one of the most respected veteran service organizations in the United States, the VFW and the beverage company said in a joint statement.

Torch beverages contain Delta-9 THC, the primary psychoactive compound found in cannabis plants, according to the company. The compound creates the high effect associated with cannabis use.

VFW chapters and posts will begin offering the low-dose version of the flavored seltzer drinks later this year.

Oh, wow. Thats amazing. Cannabis has saved my life, said Army veteran Matthew Gibson, who served from 1998-2008, with deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq. The former sergeant said cannabis has helped ease his chronic migraines and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, such as anxiety and insomnia.

The canned drinks will be offered at local VFW posts and other meeting facilities in states and jurisdictions where cannabis use is legal.

Torch Drinks is proud to work with the VFW to provide veterans with a safe, federally compliant, social alternative that is like none other, said Collin Kerrigan, co-founder of Torch Beverage Co.

Gibson, 45, said he is not a VFW member but might consider joining.

Working with Torch helps us raise funds for those vital programs while also allowing us to explore better ways to meet the needs of an evolving veterans community, VFW National Commander Carol Whitmore said.

While the VFW is not a pro-cannabis organization, we understand the need for adult consumption alternatives to better meet the needs of an evolving veterans community, Whitmore said.

Forty states, three territories and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis for medical use.

Twenty-four states, two territories and the District of Columbia have legalized small amounts of cannabis for adult recreational use, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

But at the federal level, marijuana and marijuana products continue to be illegal.

Veterans organizations have urged the VA to conduct more research into cannabis as an alternative to narcotics to treat chronic pain, PTSD and the effects of traumatic brain injury.

The Food and Drug Administration has recognized increased interest in the use of cannabis to relieve the symptoms of a variety of medical conditions, including cancer. Of the states that allow medical marijuana, chronic pain, traumatic brain injury and PTSD are often qualifying medical ailments.

Marijuana advocates have stated legal access to medical cannabis could decrease opioid use among veterans prescribed the narcotic for chronic pain, according to Disabled American Veterans.

Gibson said he would like to see veterans posts begin to offer designated areas where members can smoke cannabis.

Cannabis is a safer option to alcohol, said Gibson, who is prescribed medical marijuana.
CANBERRA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government on Wednesday announced a bailout to keep a Glencore-owned copper smelter and refinery in the state of Queensland operating for the next three years.

Australia's Minister for Industry and Innovation Tim Ayres said that the federal and Queensland governments will invest up to 600 million Australian dollars (393.7 million U.S. dollars) over the next three years in Glencore's copper smelter and refinery in northern Queensland.

The Swiss-based multinational said in April that it was seeking government support to keep operating the copper smelter in Mount Isa, over 1,500 km northwest of Brisbane, and the refinery in the eastern coastal city of Townsville.

Ayres said that the support funding will be provided in three annual payments and split 50-50 between the federal and state governments.

He said that the intervention would protect more than 1,000 jobs in the Mount Isa region and reinforce Australia's position as a key global supplier of copper.

"Copper is critical to building solar panels, wind turbines and energy storage systems. This investment strengthens our supply chains and supports Australia's transition to net-zero," he said in a statement.

Glencore said in April that the Mount Isa facility was strategically important for Australia, but that energy and maintenance costs made it unprofitable.

Glencore Metals Australia's interim chief operating officer, Troy Wilson, said on Wednesday that the government support would provide a short-term lifeline for the copper smelter and refinery. 
BEIRUT, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- In the Lebanese border village of Houla, 55-year-old Fidaa Fawaz wakes each morning to the same haunting sight: Israeli rifles aimed in her direction from positions less than 700 meters away.

"Half my house is gone," she says. "We can't walk far -- there are landmines, and Israeli soldiers point their guns at us without warning. Houla used to be vibrant; now it's silent and anxious."

Two years after the war with Israel, devastation and military control have transformed Lebanon's southern border. Official data show that more than 30 towns and villages were almost completely destroyed, while about 100,000 residents fled northward to safer places.

The change is visible from the first stretch of road south of Marjayoun in southern Lebanon. Asphalt turns to gravel and then to mud, scattered with shell fragments. Formerly bustling routes are now carved open by craters and bulldozed barriers. Houses stand in ruins -- some erased from the map entirely, others clinging on as hollow shells.

A World Bank report released in March 2025 estimated that the year-long conflict between Hezbollah and Israel destroyed around 45,000 housing units and generated between 20 and 35 million tons of rubble across southern Lebanon. The report estimated that recovery and reconstruction needs would total around 11 billion U.S. dollars.

According to Lebanese military sources, Israel now controls a border strip of roughly 850 square kilometers, stretching from the Shebaa Farms in the east to Naqoura in the west. Israeli forces have drawn new "red lines" around multiple villages, barring residents from approaching or crossing certain zones. Main roads connecting the communities have been destroyed, cutting off access and deepening isolation.

The affected villages -- Kafr Kila, Adaisseh, Houla, Markaba, Rmeish, Mays al-Jabal, and others in the eastern sector -- have seen their boundaries and terrain transformed. "The Israeli military presence on five strategic hills, along with other occupied areas, has entirely changed the border map," one Lebanese officer told Xinhua. "Areas once filled with life have turned into military zones under surveillance and control."

In Kafr Kila, 30-year-old Adel Sheet tries to adapt to a life stripped of its essentials. "Daily life has become almost impossible," he says. "There's no electricity, and water arrives by tankers at prices most families can't afford. Agriculture, which was the region's lifeline, has nearly vanished. Fields were destroyed, and large tracts of land were bulldozed."

He looks across the hills where his family once planted tobacco. "The markets are closed, jobs are gone, young people are leaving for the cities, and unemployment has skyrocketed. Poverty has become our daily reality."

Further west, in Aita al-Shaab, destruction reaches 85 percent, according to local estimates. Layla Choukeir, 22, surveys what remains of her home. "I was born here, but I don't know if I'll stay," she admits. "There's no work, no school, no electricity. We live as if cut off from the world. Even the roads that connected us to other villages have been bulldozed. We feel trapped. My heart belongs here, but my future may be elsewhere."

The war's impact stretches far beyond the border. Cities like Tyre, Sidon, and Nabatieh have absorbed thousands of displaced families, straining an already fragile economy. According to Internal Security Forces data, schools are overcrowded with displaced students, and hospitals are struggling to serve rising numbers of patients with limited resources.

Since Nov. 27, 2024, a U.S.- and French-brokered ceasefire has largely held between Israel and Hezbollah, ending months of cross-border clashes linked to the Gaza war that broke out in October 2023. But Israel has continued periodic strikes in Lebanon, saying they target Hezbollah threats, while maintaining forces at five main positions along the Lebanese border.

On Wednesday, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun again called for Israel to withdraw from the occupied Lebanese territories.

"Without Israel's withdrawal and an end to its daily aggressions, the situation will remain unstable, and the army's plan to ensure that weapons are held exclusively by legitimate security forces will face serious obstacles," Aoun said during a meeting with a European Union official in Beirut. 
MADRID, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Rescue teams have recovered four bodies from the site of a building under renovation that collapsed in central Madrid on Tuesday.

The first two bodies were recovered late Tuesday night, with the remaining two found in the early hours of Wednesday morning. They are the bodies of three workers and an architect of the renovation project.

"It is with deep sadness that we can confirm that the Madrid Fire Brigade has recovered the two bodies that remained missing after the collapse of the building on Calle de las Hileras," the Madrid mayor wrote on social media.

The incident occurred shortly after 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

Three other people were injured in the incident. One was hospitalized with a broken leg, while two others sustained minor cuts and bruises.

Witnesses told local media that the building collapsed without warning, accompanied by a loud noise, before the street was filled with dust and debris.

The cause of the collapse remains under investigation. As the case has been classified as a "workplace accident," the probe will be led by the Madrid Municipal Police. 
Juan Soto Malaga Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 17:03 Share

The clamour of voices surrounding the ban on horse-drawn carriages in Malaga have resounded throughout much of Spain's Andalucia region, where the news has become a hot topic of conversation and has even made the front page of some local newspapers. This is especially true in Seville, where there is a great tradition and commercial interest around this tourist activity.

In the provincial capital of Andalucia local media have just reported that Seville's city council has distanced itself from the measure taken in Malaga and is currently studying the modification of the bye-laws in collaboration with the owners of these working horses and the college of veterinarians.

In fact, one such newspaper, El Diario de Sevilla, has featured the matter on the front page of its print edition, with a full-page photo across five columns stating: "Seville will retain its horse-drawn carriages." The article added that "the city council has dissociated itself from the initiative approved in Malaga".

Although Seville's mayor has not made any official statements himself, his team has told other media outlets that they are not going to comment on what other cities are doing. That said, they then point out that "Malaga and Seville are different", as the latter "has a more deeply-rooted tradition of horse-drawn carriages".

The approach followed in Seville is similar to that advocated by the college of veterinarians in Spain, which advocates for regulations to ensure the wellbeing of working animals. In a national report, they state, among other things, that shelters should be shaded and water provided.

Despite the apparent majority, the Seville branch of left-wing political party Podemos has called on the municipal government to open a "public and transparent" debate on the future of these carriages in the city. Podemos Sevilla has also proposed holding a public consultation to determine whether the city's population supports the continuation of this tourist activity.

Similarly, the Spanish animal rights party Pacma has welcomed the progress made in Malaga as a decisive step towards the definitive elimination of a practice it describes as "obsolete and cruel". Pacma has also called for Seville, Cordoba and other Andalusian cities to follow suit.
Rafael Borrego and Manolo Garcia, accompanied by their families and members of the IU party, on their arrival at Maria Zambrano.

Matias Stuber Malaga Wednesday, 8 October 2025 | Updated 09/10/2025 15:29h. Share

Two days after setting foot back in Madrid, the two activists from Malaga who were part of the Global Sumud flotilla to Gaza returned home to the province. Shortly after 1pm on Tuesday, Rafael Borrego and Manolo Garcia arrived at Maria Zambrano train station, where they were received by a joyful crowd of more than a hundred people, with hugs and proclamations against Israel and in support of Palestine.

Among the welcome party were members of the two men's families, as well as representatives of the IU socialist organisation, such as Antonio Maillo, who thanked the activists for their efforts in validating the Palestinian cause before the world and denouncing the "genocide perpetrated by the criminal state of Israel".

Borrego and Garcia spoke to the media shortly after arriving. Both denounced the "torture" inflicted by the Israeli authorities on the members of the flotilla during the time they had spent imprisoned.

Borrego described "the horrors marked by sleep deprivation, lack of food, continuous harassment and deliberate attacks on the flotilla members' well-being". He said that one of the hostages had been denied access to insulin, putting their health in direct danger. Garcia, who was wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh around his neck, said that the Israeli authorities would keep them handcuffed for long periods of time, even inside the cells.

Despite their "suffering", the two men stated that their experience was just a glimpse of what the Palestinian population lives through every day. Following their symbolic journey, which has attracted a lot of international and national media attention, Borrego and Garcia wanted to tell the world that the protagonists are not the members of the flotilla but the people in Gaza, who have been suffering for two years and beyond.

Maria Zambrano was filled with "Free Palestine" chants and flags. Many people in the crowd could not hold back their tears.

Both described the visit paid by the Israeli minister of national security as an attempt to "humiliate" the arrested activists

Excitement

Naturally, Borrego and Garcia looked relieved to be back home. Stripped of most of his personal belongings, which were "stolen" by the Israeli forces, Borrego, who is a lawyer by profession, pointed to his feet and said that the plastic flip-flops had been given to them by their captors.

Both men described the presence of Israeli national security minister Ben Gvir during their arrest as an attempt to "humiliate" the activists. "He walked in front of us and took pictures," Borrego said. This is only one example of the degrading gestures that the activists had to endure.

Borrego urged people and authorities to continue exerting pressure on Israel. "There is another flotilla already on its way," he said, adding that there are still hostages from his flotilla being held.
Europa Press Malaga Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 15:03 | Updated 17:33h. Share

Guardia Civil officers have dismantled an international criminal organisation suspected of theft and modifying luxury vehicles in Italy and Spain. After stealing them, the organisation would transport the vehicles to Belgium and sell them in the UAE.

Nine people have been arrested in Italy on suspicion of stealing and modifying 90 luxury vehicles worth more than 18 million euros. Through these clandestine operations, they managed to launder more than 2.5 million euros in cryptocurrencies.

The investigation in Spain began in October 2024, following police cooperation through Europol with the Italian Carabinieri of the Reggio Emilia region.

Suspected of stealing and counterfeiting 90 luxury vehicles worth more than 18 million euros

Investigations revealed that the organisation, detected in Italy, also carried out criminal activities in several towns in the province of Malaga and that it operated with identical criminal patterns in both Italy and Spain.

The members of the network in Spain would visit different locations on the Costa del Sol in search of the most exclusive vehicles on the market. Once they selected them, they discreetly installed tracking devices, which allowed them to know the exact location of each car in real time.

New identity for vehicles

After detecting that the vehicle was parked on a public road, in a communal garage or in a public car park, the members of the organisation would go to the location, generally in the early hours of the morning, and carry out the robbery. Some members were in charge of securing the perimeter, while others carried out the operation.

To do this, they would gain access to the interior of the vehicle after breaking the security systems and start the vehicle without the key. Once stolen, the car would be taken to a warehouse strategically located in the Axarquia area.

According to the Guardia Civil, this site had "sophisticated electronic counter-surveillance measures", which made it possible to hide the vehicle for as long as necessary until the perpetrators returned to Spain to alter its identifying features (license plate and chassis number) and program a new key.

The car, with its new identity, would then be taken to Antwerp (Belgium), from where it was exported to the UAE.

More than 2.5 million laundered

The criminal organisation managed to launder more than 2.5 million euros through a sophisticated financial scheme based on cryptocurrencies, taking advantage of the opacity of digital assets to hide the illicit origin of the funds. They used front men, who appeared as holders of virtual accounts, to make it difficult to trace assets.

The police operation also seized assets worth more than 3.5 million euros, including high-end vehicles, real estate, cash and digital devices.
Cristina Vallejo Malaga Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 12:32 | Updated 12:41h. Share

Three boats - Gaza Sunbirds, Alaaa Al-Najajr and Anas Al-Sharif - were intercepted by the Israeli army around 4.30am this Wednesday, 8 October. They were located about 220 kilometres off the coast of Gaza. At around 8am, the Thousand Madleens sailboats and the Conscience vessel were also intercepted 203 kilometres off the coast.

This expedition, which carried around 100,000 euros worth of medicines, equipment and food destined for hospitals in Gaza, included two residents from the Malaga province - Elisabeth Di Luca and Maria Auxiliadora Plata Diaz. Both were aboard the Conscience.

The two women posted videos on the Rumbo a Gaza Instagram account in which they informed of the action. "I am a Spanish citizen. If you are watching this video, we have been intercepted by Israeli forces. I ask and demand that all my friends, colleagues, relatives put pressure on the Spanish government to expedite my release and that of all my fellow passengers as soon as possible. Thank you," Plata Diaz said in the video.

Elisabeth Di Luca, who is Italian, appeals to the Italian Foreign Ministry in her native language. "If you are watching this video, it is because we have been intercepted in international waters and are being held by the Israeli occupying forces or by a country that is complicit in the genocide of the Palestinians. I want all my friends, my family and fellow activists to put pressure on the Italian government to expedite my release."

The Freedom Flotilla coalition and Thousand Madleens to Gaza have stated that the whereabouts of the activists are "unknown". However, the coalition believes that their deportation should take place in the following days and that they will be back by Saturday. In addition to the two women from Malaga, there are seven other Spanish residents aboard the flotilla. Almost all of them are aboard the Conscience, although there are some on the Soul of My Soul and the Maiden.

Citizen support and calls for proposals

The social movement organised around the Palestinian cause urges citizens to write emails to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (consultar@maec.es), with the subject 'Solicitud de proteccion' and the following text (in Spanish) to request the release of Maria Auxiliadora Plata Diaz: "Les escribo para expresar mi preocupacion por Maria Auxiliadora Plata Diaz, ciudadana espanola e integrante de la Flotilla de la Libertad rumbo a Gaza. Solicito que el Ministerio vele por su integridad fisica y psicologica, garantice un trato humano conforme al Derecho Internacional, y gestione su repatriacion a Espana lo antes posible en caso de ser detenida o secuestrada."

In addition, the two protests on 8 and 9 October will be dedicated to denouncing not only the genocide in Gaza but also the illegal detention of activists. The demonstration on 8 October starts at 7.30pm in the Parque del Oeste. The one on the 9th starts at 8pm in the Paseo Larios-El Copo in Torre del Mar.

"Israel has no legal authority to detain international volunteers aboard these ships," says committee member of the Canadian flotilla and the Freedom flotilla coalition David Heap. "This interception blatantly violates international law and defies binding orders of the International Court of Justice requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. Our activists are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction and cannot be penalised for delivering aid or challenging an illegal blockade. Their detention is arbitrary, illegal and must end immediately."
Juan Soto Malaga Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 13:02 Share

Tania Pamies adores horses. Although she is a doctor of civil engineering by occupation, she has a private equestrian centre, where she gives these animals love and care. This is what has prompted her to suggest that the horses that were used for horse-drawn carriages in Malaga until the recent ban on this activity be transferred to Madrid.

After reading that Malaga city council has revoked the 25 remaining licences for horse-drawn carriages and that there is the possibility of the animals being slaughtered due to limited alternatives, Tania contacted SUR to offer her facilities. "They can give them to me and I will give them the good life they deserve," she said. "I'll pick them up if necessary, but I don't want them to end up in the slaughterhouse."

Tania lives in Valdemorillo, which is also where her equestrian centre is located. There, she has stalls, paddocks and a riding arena. Currently, she only rides the mare she has and only takes care of the older horse. Tania said that she has "a weakness" for these animals.

She assured SUR that the horses from Malaga will not be used commercially. Her idea is to give them a good life. Having seen many people who kill their animals once they stop making a profit from them, she wants to prevent the owners from disposing of the horses.

She said that the horses "are wonderful beings" and that "they deserve a place to rest and spend the time they have left" after such a hard life. Tania believes that the least their owners could do is thank them and look for an ethical solution.

In response to the measure approved in Malaga, Tania believes that it is a good step forward but one that has been taken without proper thought about what would happen to the horses. "If you look at their legs, they are swollen because they have arthrosis from all the work they have done, it's time for them to have a good life," she says.

Delicate and domesticated animals

Many people have said that it would be best to leave the horses to roam free. Tania, however, said that this is not possible, because the animals that have been in charge of drawing carriages are very domesticated and they cannot provide food for themselves in the wilderness. In addition, she described them as "delicate" animals.

The horse owners who are interested in her offer can contact her through her Instagram profile: 'lasencinasdejimena'.

Tania's offer came just two days after Malaga mayor Francisco de la Torre had announced the end of horse-drawn carriages as a tourist activity in the city. The city council has already financially compensated the former licence holders, but many of them have said that they don't see the maintenance of their horses as viable.

In response to criticism from the horse owners in Malaga, the mayor said that the measure is supported by many locals and foreigners and that there are much better alternatives to slaughter when it comes to the horses' future.

Residential welfare

Residents of Malaga's historical centre have expressed their satisfaction with the measure. However, they have used the opportunity to remind the city council that they have other major complaints linked to the area where they live: "excessive noise, lack of safety and issues related to the concentration of nightclubs".

They have encouraged the city council to continue respecting their needs and have reminded local authorities of the urban plan from 1997, which establishes that nightclubs should be located in non-residential areas.
MANILA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' Department of Migrant Workers confirmed Wednesday that a Filipino crew member of a Dutch cargo ship died from wounds sustained in an attack in the Gulf of Aden last week.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said on social media that he is traveling to Djibouti to personally oversee the repatriation of the remains of the Filipino seafarer and to visit another Filipino crew member recovering in a local hospital.

The Filipinos were crew members of the MV Minervagracht that was attacked at sea on Sept. 29. 
Juan Soto Malaga Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 10:34 Share

Mayor of Malaga city Francisco de la Torre defended the ban on horse-drawn carriages for tourist purposes one day after the revocation of the 25 active licences was announced. The mayor said that it was "the right decision" given the strong criticism towards this activity and the use of animals expressed by both locals and tourists.

The main question that has accompanied the announcement is what will happen with the horses. Some owners warned that, due to the lack of spaces and the high costs of maintenance, the animals might end up being slaughtered. De la Torre, however, said that "there are far better alternatives than slaughter". To give an example, the mayor said that the animals could be integrated into some of the equestrian or riding centres in the city. "It is not the same as making the animal work long hours in the sun," De la Torre stated.

The mayor said that Malaga is moving towards becoming a true 21st-century city and breaking away from the 19th century. He added that the measure counts on strong support "from a large part of Malaga's population".

When asked whether the city council will mediate to guarantee the animal welfare he is seeking, De la Torre responded that they can and should mediate. He also said that it should not be difficult for the owners to find buyers.

Although the former licence owners have been given a month to leave the stables in Teatinos, the mayor responded to their request to stay longer and said that there could be a possible solution. However, he said that they had had enough time to find an alternative. "I don't want to judge them, but they have had months to find an alternative," De la Torre said, reminding everybody that this measure was announced after months and even years of it being on the horizon.
Juan Cano Malaga Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 11:50 Share

Marina and Lorenzo found their cat Iodi on the street 11 years ago. Since then, they had only been separated from her for the odd holiday trip. The couple have no children, so Iodi was the closest thing to a child they had. "We were with her from the moment we got up to the moment we went to bed. She has left us with a very big void, we miss her very much."

Iodi died in July this year, while Marina and Lorenzo were on a trip to Scotland. They had left their cat at Cat Suite Home - which claims to be the first five-star pet hotel, located in Marbella where the Italian couple have been based for the past 14 years. Hotel owner Vincenzo Giorgioni, who is also of Italian origin, called them during their holiday to deliver the tragic news. Iodi had escaped and, hours later, had been found dead.

The hotel was founded by Vincenzo in 2016, when he decided to convert his 300-square-metre house into a cat accommodation. He had imported the concept from Milan and the opening gained controversial media attention in Spain.

Marina said that they had been using Cat Suite Home's services for seven or eight years, every time they travelled. Until this tragic July, they had had no problems.

Zoom

For 20 euros a day, cat owners are provided with full services. According to Vincenzo, the low cost proves that the hotel's purpose is not to bring him high profits. He doesn't consider it a business to live out of and he has another job. "I just thought it was a good idea to help people not leave their pets alone when they went on holiday," the owner said.

Marina and Lorenzo booked a place for Iodi for ten days. They left Marbella on 28 June and received the call on 3 July. "He told us that Iodi had run away. We thought about ending the trip and going back, but we decided to wait a bit to see if he could find her. The next morning we asked him to tell us the truth. After a couple of hours, he sent us a photo of our dead cat," Marina explained.

Vincenzo told them that someone had found her dead at the town market, taken a photo and then thrown Iodi in the bin. "He also told us that he had gone to pick her up, put her in a bag and kept her in the freezer. He asked us if we wanted him to do anything else," Marina said. The couple called the company that carries out cremations, which kept Iodi until they returned from Scotland. The matter is now in the hands of their lawyer - Francisco Damian Vazquez.

According to Vincenzo's account, another cat had jumped on a handle and opened a bathroom door. "It's inexplicable, I've never seen anything like that," he said. Iodi had entered the toilet, taken advantage of an open window, which the cleaning lady had left ajar the day before to ventilate the room, and escaped. From there, she climbed down a gutter and landed on his car. "I even took photos of the paw prints left by the cat on my car," Viincenzo explained.

According to the cat hotel owner, what happened was "impossible to foresee, but that's not an excuse". "I have apologised a thousand times. I feel terrible about how it happened and I haven't slept for many days, but the contract they signed and the website state that we are not responsible for deaths, illnesses or other events. Without them asking me, I paid the expenses for the cremation and I am going to reimburse them for the stay."

However, this is not enough to compensate for Marina and Lorenzo's loss. "It's not like losing a sock," Marina said. "It happened in July and to this day we are still devastated. It was a huge loss. Iodi had been with us for 11 years. I can't even pick up my phone because it's full of photos and emojis of her and when we see her we both start crying. Maybe some people are less sensitive, but for us she was part of the family."

Lawyer Francisco Damian Vazquez has presented a claim against Cat Suite Home, reporting "negligent custody", which has generated "irreparable damage, with serious emotional consequences due to the loss of the animal". The letter suggests that Vincenzo consider a proposal "in the interest of a quick, efficient and extrajudicial solution of the conflict". Although he has promised to respond, the Cat Suite Home owner wanted to make it clear that the establishment "is not a business", at least not in terms of profitability, but an initiative born from his "passion for cats" and his desire to help pet owners during their holidays.
Europa Press Cadiz Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 18:04 Share

A 23-year-old soldier from Chiclana de la Frontera, a legionnaire in Ronda, died during a hiking route in the Sierra de Cadiz mountain range, in an area near the town of Ubrique, where he had gone on the afternoon of Monday 6 October.

Sources from the Guardia Civil told Europa Press that a search operation was activated on Tuesday morning when the young man was reported missing, as he had not turned up at his post that morning and had not spent the night at his home the night before.

When it was discovered that he had gone on a hiking route through Ubrique, the Guardia Civil called in the mountain rescue and intervention group (Greim), which is based in Ubrique, and a helicopter from Granada.

Finally, the search team found his body on what is known as Pico de la Silla, and the body was evacuated from the scene for an autopsy to be performed, which will determine the cause of death of the soldier. Although other causes have not been ruled out, everything points to it being an accident.
Almudena Nogues Malaga Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 13:27 Share

The entry into force of a European directive on 9 January brought about a significant change in bank money transfers. It establishes that the price of an immediate transfer must be the same as that of an ordinary transfer. These transfers must be executed instantly (in about 20 seconds), 24/7, including holidays. All banks operating in the eurozone are required to have this system in place by 9 October.

So much for the theoretical side of the directive. The problem, according to the Spanish OCU consumers' organisation, is that, in practice, many banks are applying "unjustifiably low" limits, preventing users from taking full advantage of this service. "Although European regulations set a legal limit of up to 100,000 euros per transaction, some banks allow only 700 or 1,000 euros to be transferred," the OCU states. "Unfortunately, we notice that this is a common practice and as such we have reported it to the Bank of Spain."

The consumers' organisation's wake-up call seems to have worked, as the Bank of Spain has informed it of its intention to monitor these limits. The OCU has asked the Bank of Spain to do the following:

- Establish technical criteria or guidance on the maximum limits that institutions may set for immediate transfers, so that they are not disproportionate and discouraging;

- Inform customers that the maximum amount for an ordinary and an immediate transfer is the same;

- Ensure that limits imposed by entities are transparent, modifiable by the user and justified on real security grounds rather than commercial restrictions.

The OCU stated that the aim of the European regulation is to encourage the use of immediate payments, facilitating their access on equal terms with traditional transfers. "However, in practice, these low limits represent a barrier that forces users to either split payments or resort to ordinary transfers that can take up to two days to complete," the OCU explained.
Alfonso Torices Madrid Wednesday, 8 October 2025 | Updated 11/10/2025 04:37h. Share

Spain is among the countries where the fewest teachers plan to leave the teaching profession in the next five years. This is according to the International Study of Teaching and Learning (Talis), the largest survey of teaching work in the world, carried out every five years by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This is a very positive figure because it shows satisfaction with the work of Spanish teachers and because it will facilitate the generational changeover in the classroom, where the average age is 45.

The conclusions of Talis, in which teachers and principals from 55 countries participated, including 1,013 Spanish secondary and primary schools, indicate that the Spanish education system has notable strengths, but also some important deficiencies that generate stress and dissatisfaction among a high percentage of teachers.

Despite the positives, one in five (19%) secondary and 16% of primary teachers, are thinking of leaving the profession. However, this is still between five and eight points lower than in the rest of the EU and between eight and eleven points lower than the OECD average. More positively, just 1% of primary and 4 of secondary teachers under the age of 30 plan to quit. This is three to five times less than international averages, where they are the age group most likely to change jobs.

The factors that weigh most heavily when deciding to leave the profession are bullying and insults from pupils, being a school welfare coordinator, the hard work to keep up with excessive changes in the curriculum, the stress of dealing with parents and work overload, as well as other more personal factors including not trusting their effectiveness in teaching or dissatisfaction with working conditions.

To prevent teachers from leaving their jobs, the OECD advises having competitive salaries, offering professional development opportunities, a positive working environment, measures to increase the social recognition of the profession and improving support and mentoring programmes.

Among the strengths of the Spanish education system is also the fact that it is one of the systems with the most satisfied teachers in the world. This is according to 95% of secondary school teachers and 97% of primary school teachers, between six and ten points above international averages. In primary education, they are the most satisfied teachers in the world and in secondary education, the fourth most satisfied. The good data is reflected both in urban and rural schools and in public and private education.

Job insecurity affects one in three teachers in Spain, twelve points higher than in other regions

Two other positives in Spain, according to Talis, are the positive climate in most schools and a high degree of teacher autonomy in teaching. Ninety per cent of teachers have a good relationship with the management team and 94% with students. 65% of families rate their work positively, as do 67% of students. A final strength is that two out of three teachers feel able to adapt to the difficulties of teaching in classrooms with more and more immigrant pupils (other mother tongues) and with more students with additional educational needs.

Disciplinary problems

But teachers also highlight in Talis a number of aspects that are going wrong in Spain. The first is that one in six teachers say they suffer a lot of stress at work (16%). Although this figure is three points below the OECD average, it represents a rise of six points in just six years in Spain, which means an increase of 60% in the number of stressed teachers. Those who suffer most from this problem are female and young teachers (both up six points).

The main causes of high stress are excessive bureaucratic workload, the increasing difficulty in maintaining discipline in the classroom (80% must intervene to ask for respect and attention), the constant adaptations of curricula due to legislative changes, the increased hours for marking and assessment and class preparation and the fact that there are more and more pupils with educational needs.

60% Stress High-stress teachers have increased by 60% in just six years, although they are still less than the average for the rest of the developed world.

The second major complaint is the training deficits of Spanish teachers at all stages. Teachers who believe that the quality of initial (university) training is high account for 60%, 15 points below the OECD average. They think it lacks in learning and tools for dealing with multicultural classes and with support needs and fostering students' emotional development. Spain is also far behind in providing support and tutoring programmes for newly qualified teachers and in continuing professional development.

The third major problem is the job insecurity of Spanish teachers. Only 69% have permanent contracts or, in other words, 31% are supply teachers without any stability whatsoever. The percentage is no less than twelve points higher than the OECD average and the situation has not improved in the last six years.

The fourth major demand is for measures to enhance the prestige of the profession, to which they believe the best teachers should be attracted. Only 16% of teachers believe that they are well valued by society and only 10% think that education policy makers take them into account. For more than half of those starting to teach, teaching was not their first choice of studies (ten points above the OECD).

In the current debate about the benefits or risks of using new technologies for learning in schools and colleges, Spanish teachers are quite critical, especially those in secondary education.

Some 62% believe that mobiles, tablets or computers distract from learning, 60% that they limit face-to-face communication between students and are detrimental to their well-being and eight out of ten believe that, especially now with artificial intelligence, they encourage plagiarism of content on the internet. Primary school teachers are also critical of the risks, but in percentages between ten and twenty points lower.

Just over a third of Spanish teachers (35%) say they use AI in their classroom work. Most of them use it to generate activities and, to a lesser extent, to summarise topics or to help in the creation of exercises linked to real life. Only 22% use it to mark exams or assess student performance. Two thirds of those who do not yet use AI do so either because they do not have the knowledge to do so or because schools lack the means or structure to do so.

Just over a third of Spanish teachers (35%) say they use AI in their classroom work. Most of them use it to generate activities and, to a lesser extent, to summarise topics or to help in the creation of exercises linked to real life. Only 22% use it to mark exams or assess student performance.
Fernando Morales Madrid Wednesday, 8 October 2025, 11:16 | Updated 12:09h. Share

The bodies of the four people who were reported missing after the collapse of a five-storey building in the centre of Madrid were found after hours of anguished searching. It was shortly before 1pm on Tuesday when a "great cloud of dust" on Calle Hileras, near Tetro Real and Puerta del Sol, alerted passers to the incident that happened at a construction site. Three people were injured and four others died.

Zoom Isabel Gutierrez

Constructed in 1965, the building, which was being renovated to become a four-star hotel, had been empty since 2014. The renovation work started back in February. The collapse was vertical and almost everything came crashing down from the sixth floor toward the building's inner yard, leaving a mass of debris among which firefighters, supported by drones and specialised National Police dog units, worked tirelessly to find the missing people. The possibilities of finding them alive diminished with every hour.

Some of the workers had time to run away from the collapse, but four people - three workers and one administrative assistant (initially believed to be the architect) - were reported missing. They were buried in the rubble. The first body was found after 10pm. The other three bodies were recovered one after the other by 3am. The collapse had caught two of the workers in the basement bathroom and the third on the sixth floor - the highest and the first to collapse. The woman had been on the first floor.

Zoom Isabel Gutierrez

The victims' identities have not been officially confirmed. What is known is that the three construction workers were of foreign origin and had been hired by Anka. According to their colleagues, they were between 30 and 50 years old.

Firefighters in 18 teams worked in the area to shore up the building and avoid other possible collapses. The adjoining buildings were also checked. Madrid mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida urgently returned from London after hearing the news.

One person was taken to hospital with a broken leg and two others were treated for minor contusions

The site foreman said that there could have been around 30 to 40 people working at the time of the collapse. "It is a very hard and complex task," the mayor said, referring to the responsibilities of the firefighters, who had to manually remove the rubble. Three workers were treated by the emergency health services: two for minor contusions, while a third man was taken to hospital with a broken leg.

Preventive eviction

While the emergency services were still focused on the rescue work, the judicial police launched the investigation into the collapse, which is being treated as a work-related accident. Nevertheless, authorities said that it is too early to confirm the cause behind the collapse. Spain's deputy PM and minister of employment Yolanda Diaz expressed her support for the families of the workers. According to Martinez-Almeida, "the papers (for the construction work) were in order from an urban planning point of view" and "the reform was being carried out in accordance with the authorisation that had been granted". "Aside from a more in-depth and thorough review that may be carried out, everything appears to be fine for now," he said.

"The papers were in order from an urban planning point of view" and "the reform was being carried out in accordance with the authorisation that had been granted"

The Municipal Police kept the area cordoned off and evacuated adjacent buildings and establishments for safety purposes. "They won't let me go home or give me any information," said David, a 20-year-old student who lives on Calle Hileras. Local shopkeepers and business owners also complained, as they were unable to open in the afternoon. Shortly before midnight, the mayor assured local residents that they would be able to spend the night in their homes, with "special surveillance by the police and the fire brigade".

Building collapse: an endemic disease

This is not the first incident of this nature that has happened in Madrid. Two workers died in May 2024 after another building under construction in the Fuencarral-El Pardo district collapsed. One of the most tragic events occurred in January 2021, when a gas explosion in a building on Calle Toledo caused the partial collapse of the upper floors of a six-storey building, causing a total of four deaths. In 2018, another building under renovation collapsed, leaving one dead, while in August 2015 two buildings collapsed in different parts of the Spanish capital.
Haunted houses and other Halloween events are a fun way to celebrate spooky season.

But what about the real ghost stories of Central New York?

Weve compiled a list of ghost walks and paranormal investigation events where you can learn about about the Syracuse areas ghastly past. Some combine tours with costumed actors telling tales of apparitions and other spooky phenomena, and a few are so scary that theyre not recommended for children.

Check out these 10 ways to learn CNYs haunted history:

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Haunted Oswego Ghost Tours

What: Hear of the specters that haunt the streets, tunnels, homes and even businesses throughout Oswego on this 90-minute tour. There are ghosts that dictate remodeling, one that appears in broad daylight and another that has conversations with the living.

When: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights at 8:30 p.m.

Where: 17 W Cayuga St, Oswego, NY

Price: $25

More info: hauntedoswego.com

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Cooperstown Candlelight Ghost Tours

What: Cooperstowns most famous hauntings are often tied to the historic happenings in the Village, including the Cooper family. The six stops on the hour-long tour include the ghosts of Christ Church Graveyard and the Curse of Hyde Hall.

When: Nightly at 7 p.m.; must call 607-547-8070 for reservations

Where: Pioneer Park on corner of Main & Pioneer Street, Cooperstown, NY

Price: Call for prices

More info: 607-547-8070 or thisiscooperstown.com

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Fort Ontario Lantern Tours

What: Bad romance? Hear tales of love-gone-wrong from Fort Ontarios past with costumed guides.

When: Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

Where: Fort Ontario State Historic Site, 1 East 4th Street, Oswego, NY 13126

Price: $20; call 315-343-4711 to purchase tickets

More info: historicfortontario.com

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Hyde & Shriek! Candlelight Ghost Tours

What: Lit by candlelight, this guided tour takes you within the chambers of the 200-year-old mansion to explore the eerie places where ghostly apparitions have dwelt for over two centuries. You might catch a glimpse of the restless souls confined to the shadows of history as you listen to haunting tales.

When: Oct. 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, 31 at multiple times

Where: Hyde Hall, 267 Glimmerglass State Park, Cooperstown, NY

Price: $25 (plus fees); reservations required

More info: hydehall.org or Eventbrite

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The Charlotte Valley Count-TRACK-ula Haunted Express

What: Take an 8-mile round trip on The Charlotte Valley Haunted Express alongside the Susquehanna River, past fields and lakes and over the Portlandville Trestle near Cooperstown. Expect (family-friendly) ghostly stories and sightings along the track, a handheld lantern to light your way, and an opportunity for a picnic at a 20-minute break at the Forest Glen Turnaround.

When: Multiple nights throughout October

Where: Rail Explorers USA, 136 E. Main Street, Milford, NY

Price: $90, discounts for larger groups

More info: railexplorers.net/tours/cooperstown

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Baldwinsville Ghost Walk

What: Guided walking tour featuring Haunting ghost stories brought to chilling life by local actors at historic homes and locations. Complimentary donuts and cider also available. Not recommended for children under 11 due to the intensely scary nature of these stories and the creepy atmosphere created by the actors.

When: Oct. 10, 11 & 12; tours leave every 15 minutes starting at 6 p.m.

Where: Tour starts from Baldwin Canal Square on the River (Denio Street) behind the Bville Diner and next to WT Brews.

Price: $20; additional fees may apply

More info: Eventbrite and baldwinsvillearts.org

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Paranormal Investigation at 1890 House

What: Uncover the truth beyond the veil at the 1890 House Museum during a guided paranormal investigation with the Empirical Paranormal group. Bring some friends and enjoy this unique experience, exploring a Victorian castle!

When: Oct. 11, doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Where: 1890 House Museum, 37 Tompkins St., Cortland, NY 13805

Price: $45

More info: the1890house.org

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Spirit Night at the Octagon House

What: Join experienced ghost hunters for a paranormal investigation at the Octagon House, a historic farmhouse built in 1856 by Isaiah Wilcox and featuring unique octagonal features. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

When: Oct. 24-25

Where: Octagon House, 5420 West Genesee Street, Camillus, N.Y.

Price: $35; additional fees may apply

More info: Eventbrite

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Haunted History Tours of Auburn

What: Costumed guides take you around the Seward House grounds as they tell chilling tales of Victorian funeral practices, spectral encounters, grisly true crime stories and more spooky fun. Not recommended for children under 10

When: Oct. 25-29 at 6 & 7 p.m.

Where: Seward House Museum, 33 South St., Auburn, NY 13021

Price: $15

More info: sewardhouse.org

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Haunted History Trail of New York State

What: You can virtually explore spooky stories of New York state online, such as the ghost of Clarissa at the Landmark Theatre and the 13 Curves on Onondaga Hill. (You can also plan ahead for events next year, such as the CasperCops Park After Dark ghost tours at Sylvan Beach in the summer.)

When: Anytime

Where: Online at hauntedhistorytrail.com

Price: Free, but you can also find paid events and attractions on the website

More info: hauntedhistorytrail.com

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Halloween events and haunted houses in Syracuse, Central NY: Scary fun things to do

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Daniel Craig poses for the media as he arrives for the German premiere of the James Bond movie 'Spectre' in Berlin, Germany in 2015 (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, File) AP

James Bonds iconic gun has been removed from all promotional artwork associated with the character on Prime Video.

Its unclear when exactly Prime Video implemented this change, but eagle-eyed fans began to notice it on Oct. 2, with many taking to X (formerly Twitter) to weigh in.

Many Bond enthusiasts were irate that Amazon, which acquired creative control of the James Bond franchise in February 2025, would toy with such well-known images of the secret agent.

Bond without his gun is like Batman without his cape  youve stripped away the very symbol of who he is, commented one user on an image that showed all of the new Bond movie posters with a weaponless 007.

In some of the altered posters, the gun was simply cropped out, while in others, the weapon was edited out entirely, leaving Bond with an awkward hand position.

This is utterly pathetic from @amazon and needs correcting, quipped another fan.

Other comments called the move utter woke nonsense and claimed that Prime Video was censoring the past, erasing history.

This change occurred just days before James Bond Day, which is celebrated annually on Oct. 5 to commemorate the 1962 world premiere of the first James Bond film, Dr. No, in London.

Prime Video has yet to issue a statement regarding its erasure of Bonds firearms. The guns are still seen in the movies, just not in any promotional artwork on the streaming service.

All 25 Bond movies from Eon Productions, which star actors like Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and Daniel Craig as the legendary Bond, are currently available to stream on Prime Video.
PHNOM PENH, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- A leading Cambodian think tank on Wednesday hosted the fourth Phnom Penh Forum with a focus on ASEAN's strategic autonomy and policy choices in response to regional and global initiatives.

Under the theme of "Multilateralism vs. Unilateralism," the one-day forum brought together leading national and international experts, policymakers, and academics from Cambodia, Germany, India, the Philippines, and South Korea, among others.

Suos Yara, chairman of the Cambodian National Assembly's Committee on Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Information, said the forum was held at a time when regional and global geopolitical tensions are high, world peace is in severe deficit and economic insecurity is crashing down on socio-economic livelihoods of the people across the globe.

"ASEAN presents hope, yet ASEAN unity and centrality are being tarnished," he said in his keynote remarks, noting that the real regional strengths lie with "unity in diversity, political stability, sovereignty and integrity of political system, shared regional interests and how best the region optimizes its responses to new forms of external influence."

"Optimization of responses can be made collectively through various platforms, such the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Governance Initiative, the UN SDGs, the vision of the UN Summit of the Future," he said. "However, the vitality of this conundrum rests with the adherence to the principles of trust, respect, sincerity, integrity and ethical standards on top of the international law and justice system."

Speaking of the theme, Yara, who is also chairman of the Asian Cultural Council, said there is no doubt that multilateralism is preferred to unilateralism.

"ASEAN must be in the driving seat to stimulate the revival of an effective, resilient, and inclusive form of multilateralism," he said. "We must embrace multilateralism over unilateral hegemony or unilateral sanctions or punitive pressures."

Kin Phea, director general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, a think tank under the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the world has witnessed a marked shift towards unilateral actions in recent years, characterized by withdrawals from critical international agreements and the imposition of punitive trade measures.

"These actions have not only strained relations across the Asia-Pacific, but also created significant uncertainties for regional economic integration and multilateral cooperation frameworks," he said.

Phea said that conversely, the world has also seen the tangible benefits of consistent multilateral engagement.

"The deepening partnership between ASEAN and China stands as a compelling example, yielding mutual gains in trade, infrastructure, and sustainable development," he said. 
ALBANY. N.Y.  Authorities in New Yorks capital city have identified the man they say raped, stabbed and bludgeoned to death a woman inside her home more than 60 years ago.

Officials linked DNA from Joseph Nowakowski, who died in 1998, to the killing of 50-year-old Catherine Blackburn in September 1964, Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox said during a news conference Wednesday.

The identification was made through a joint effort by the Criminal Investigation Resource Center at Russell Sage College and other forensic and investigative agencies, authorities said. The work, which spanned several years, eventually allowed authorities to match DNA from the crime scene with DNA from Nowakowski, whose body was recently exhumed as part of the investigation, Albany Police Commander Melissa Morey said. Nowakowskis relatives cooperated with the investigation, she said.

Nowakowski had a lengthy criminal record, including an attack on an elderly woman in 1973 in Schenectady and several burglaries, authorities said.

We wanted to make sure that we took every step possible to be 100% positive that he was, in fact, tied to this and that we have his DNA on file, Cox said.

Nowakowski was in his early 30s when Blackburn was attacked and was not a suspect at the time. Authorities said Wednesday that there is no indication that Blackburn and Nowakowski knew each other.

Blackburn was found by a niece, Sandy Carmichael, who went to the home after one of Blackburns coworkers went to pick Blackburn up for work but could not locate her.

Sixty-one years ago, evil entered my aunts house and changed our lives forever, the now 81-year-old Carmichael said Wednesday. We prayed for this day, To all who made this possible, God bless you.
Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun (TNS)

Ann S. Everton, a member of the Baltimore band Darsombra who was killed last weekend in a traffic accident in Upstate New York, was a wildly creative, energetic, unconventional, people-loving artist with an unbridled positive attitude towards life, her husband said Tuesday.

If I could build the perfect person, it would be Ann, Brian Danilovski, 58, said over the phone of the woman he has loved ever since the couple had their first date in 2009  a walk in the rain under an oversized beach umbrella that covered them both.

Not only was Ann beautiful, but she was smart as hell and creative as hell with all these wacky ideas. She had boundless energy and could make friends really easily. She was giving and selfless, and always trying to help someone out.

Everton, 43, was killed Friday in a three-vehicle crash involving a New York State Police vehicle. Hundreds of the couples fans returned the favor of help.

By 6 p.m. Friday, a GoFundMe campaign begun by Danilovskis brother had raised more than $45,000, or 91% of the $50,000 goal aimed at helping to pay for funeral expenses and other costs associated with the crash.

I had no clue, Danilovski, a Baltimore resident, said. Im just bowled over. We would play these little underground shows for a dozen people here and a dozen people there. But we did it a lot and all over the world: in Europe, Canada and Asia.

Danilovski founded Darsombra, which he described as a trans-apocalyptic galaxy rock band in 2005. The band takes its name from two Spanish words, dar meaning to give and sombra or shadow. The band featured Danilovski on guitar, brass and vocals.

Evertons background was in visual art and contributed projections to Darsombra beginning in 2010. Three years later, she joined Danilovski on stage, where she added synthesizer, vocals and percussion to her repertoire.

I respected Ann highly as a musician, Danilovski said. She didnt have much training so she wasnt the most technically skilled musician. But, I noticed immediately that she could pick stuff up by ear. She had intuitive skills, and that is way more important.

The couple was on Interstate 87 on their way to a concert in Montreal  the first gig on what would have been a 22-city tour  when the accident happened around 3:30 p.m. Friday. Danilovski said the remainder of the tour has been canceled.

Danilovski said he was driving when he noticed that the van, which the couple had converted into a camper, was running low on gas. Everton was in the back of the vehicle. She had just made the bed and was climbing over into the front seat when Danilovski said he glanced for just a second at his phone to try to find a gas station.

When he looked up, Danilovski said he saw a police vehicle that had stopped a Mercedes and was half on the shoulder and half in his lane, he said.

It happened so fast I didnt have time to scream, much less slam on the brakes or swerve, he said. I was seat-belted in, so I escaped with just minor injuries. Ann was not.

The trooper and Danilovski also suffered minor injuries for which they were hospitalized. The Mercedes driver and passenger were uninjured and had minor damage to their vehicle, New York police said in a news release.

Danilovski said he was headed back to Baltimore Tuesday night. He hopes to begin planning a tribute concert for early 2026, likely at Ottobar, the Baltimore indie club where he once worked. Once details are confirmed, they will be posted on social media, he said.

While Danilovski said he is unlikely to resurrect Darsombra, music will continue to be part of his life.

Ann was such an integral part of Darsombra that I cant see continuing it without her, he said. But I know that Im going to play music again someday. Even before I met Ann, music was the thing that got me through.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump predicted that Canadians will travel to the United States once again after a trade deal is reached.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office while meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday that he understands why many Canadians are refusing to visit.

Trumps talk of making Canada the 51st state to avoid tariffs has infuriated Canadians, who are canceling trips to the U.S. in big numbers. Theres been a 23% drop in Canadian visits to the U.S. in the first seven months of the year versus the same period in 2024, according to Canadas national statistical office.

I understand that. Look, I understand that, Trump said before predicting Canada and the U.S. would ultimately reach a deal.

Its something that will get worked out. Theres still great love between the two countries but you know American people want product here, they want to make it here, Trump said. We are competing for the same business. Thats the problem. Thats why I keep mentioning one way to solve that problem. Theres a very easy way.

Trump has often said that Canada could avoid tariffs by becoming the 51st state. The repeated jabs about the U.S. acquiring Canada have alienated Canadian travelers.

The people of Canada, they will love us again, Trump said. Most of them still do. If you say only 25%. I assume a lot of them. I think they love us.

Its not bad. Theyll come back, Carney told Trump.

Carney made his second visit to the Oval Office ahead of next years review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and as one of the worlds most durable and amicable alliances has been fractured by Trumps trade war and annexation threats.

Trump said he was open to extending the free trade agreement with Mexico and Canada through a renegotiation or seeking different deals.

The free trade agreement was enacted during Trumps first term, and it allows the majority of Canadian and Mexican goods to be shipped to the U.S. without tariffs. But Trump has made it clear since returning to office that he wants to reshape the relationship, and he expressed ambivalence over the process as long as he feels like hes able to improve Americas position.

We could renegotiate it, and that would be good, or we can just do different deals, he said. Were allowed to do different deals if we want. We might make deals that are better for the individual countries.

Carney entered the visit hoping to find some relief on sector-specific tariffs. Trump has some sector-specific tariffs on Canada, known as Section 232 tariffs, that are having an impact. There are 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, for example.

After the meeting, Dominic LeBlanc, the minister responsible for Canada-U.S. trade, described the talks as successful and positive on trade issues, though he noted the conversation would continue. He said Canada was looking to get a deal done quickly on steel and aluminum.

There is fear in Canada over what will happen to the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is critical to Canadas economy. More than three-quarters of Canadas exports go to the U.S.

Trump showed a fondness for Carney  something he didnt have toward Carneys predecessor, Justin Trudeau  but noted there was a natural conflict between the two countries, a point to which the prime minister politely disagreed.

We want Canada to do great, Trump said. But you know, theres a point at which we also want the same business.

Asked why the U.S. and Canada had failed to reach a deal on trade, Trump said its a complicated situation.

We have natural conflict, he said. We also have mutual love.

Carney said he wouldnt use the word conflict.

There are areas where we compete, and its in those areas where we have to come to an agreement that works. But there are more areas where we are stronger together, and thats what were focused on.

The U.S. president made a joking reference to a merger between the two countries at the top of his remarks Tuesday.

Relations with Canadas southern neighbor and longtime ally are at a low point.

Weve had ups and downs, but this is the lowest point in relations that I can recall, said Frank McKenna, a former Canadian ambassador to the United States.

I talk every day to ordinary citizens who are changing their vacation plans, and I talk to large business owners who are moving reward trips away or executive business trips, McKenna said. There is an outright rebellion.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a new law that will ban loud advertisements and commercials that appear on streaming platforms, with the legislation taking effect next year.

California Gov Bans Loud Ads, Commercials on Streaming

TURN DOWN THE VOLUME



Californians don't want to hear commercials at a volume any louder than what they were previously enjoying their program at.



I just signed legislation enforcing this regulation across streaming platforms.  Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) October 6, 2025

California governor Gavin Newsom wants to "turn down the volume" on loud ads and commercials that appear within streamed content on different platforms, according to his latest post via X. Newsom also revealed that he has recently signed the legislation into law, and this will mandate all streaming platforms and advertisement companies to minimize the noise ads bring to users.

The new legislation is also detailed in the latest release via the California Governor's website, which states that they are adopting a "no more loud commercials" policy on streaming platforms. Newsom claims that streaming platform ads have been left unchecked since they started introducing commercials for lower tiers, unlike the regulations that apply with broadcast television.

According to Engadget, Newsom was referring to the 15-year-old law passed by Congress in 2010 called "CALM" or the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act. While this has mandated all commercials on broadcast content to avoid being louder than the show itself, the law does not cover the streaming industry's audio for ads or commercial placements.

Stream Without Worries in California Starting 2026

There are significant inconveniences that louder ads or commercials bring to users. Not only are users affected by the loud ads playing, but they could also disturb neighbors and the community when these unexpected commercials run.

Many streaming platforms rely on ads and commercials to offer a more affordable tier for users who choose not to pay high amounts for ad-free streaming. Ad-supported streaming is a popular option on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and HBO Max to save on subscription fees but still get the same content as Premium users.

While Newsom claims that this would be applied to streaming platforms, it remains unknown if Spotify would be subjected to this legislation as they have a Free tier, which is known for inserting ads in between music streams.
Verizon has officially named Dan Schulman, former CEO of PayPal, as its new chief executive. The announcement came on Monday, October 6, and takes effect immediately.

Schulman will take over leadership duties from Hans Vestberg, who has been at the helm of Verizon since 2018.

Vestberg, known for shaping Verizon's 5G strategy, will stay on as a special advisor through October 4, 2026.

He is expected to continue serving on Verizon's Board of Directors through the company's 2026 annual meeting.

Verizon's board chair, Mark Bertolini, praised the appointment. "Dan is a seasoned and decisive leader with a unique set of experiences, and a proven record of transformative leadership and operational excellence," Bertolini said.

"He is the right leader to chart Verizon's next phase of increased customer focus and financial growth."

Bertolini was also appointed as chairman of the board in the same announcement.

According to CNBC, before joining Verizon, Schulman led PayPal from 2014 to 2023. During his time there, he helped grow the company's revenue from $8 billion to $30 billion and added hundreds of millions of users.

He has also held leadership roles at AT&T, Virgin Mobile, Priceline, and American Express.

Verizon named Dan Schulman CEO effective immediately, replacing Hans Vestberg, who will stay on through Oct. 4, 2026. John Butler of Bloomberg Intelligence has more https://t.co/JItEfWWvpu pic.twitter.com/9pbWpzDbaU  Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) October 6, 2025

Verizon Taps Dan Schulman as CEO Amid Frontier Deal

Schulman, who joined Verizon's Board of Directors in 2018, took on the role of lead independent director in late 2024.

"Verizon is at a critical juncture," Schulman said in a statement. "We have a clear opportunity to redefine our trajectory by growing our market share and improving key financial areas. I'm honored to take on this role."

Schulman's first major task as CEO will be overseeing Verizon's acquisition of Frontier Communications, a fiber-optic internet provider.

Verizon agreed to buy Frontier for $9.6 billion and will take on $10 billion in debt as part of the deal, USA Today reported.

The merger is expected to close in early 2026 and will help Verizon expand its broadband network to about one million more homes across the U.S.

Vestberg will help lead this transition as a special advisor, focusing on the integration of Frontier into Verizon's operations.

Despite the big news, Verizon shares dropped about 5% on Monday after the announcement.

The company also reaffirmed its full-year 2025 financial guidance, signaling no major changes to its short-term plans.

Originally published on vcpost.com
Toyota is recalling about 394,000 vehicles in the United States due to a problem with their rearview cameras, which may stop showing the image when the car is in reverse.

The issue, linked to a software error, poses a potential safety risk and affects several recent Toyota truck and SUV models.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall covers certain 20222025 Toyota Tundra and Tundra Hybrid models, as well as 20232025 Sequoia Hybrid vehicles. These vehicles were built between November 2021 and July 2025.

According to USA Today, the problem is tied to the 14-inch multimedia display in these models. A software bug may cause the screen to turn green or black or show only part of the rear camera image.

This may happen when the driver shifts into reverse, leaving them with no clear view behind the vehicle.

"If this occurs while the vehicle is being reversed, the vehicle may not meet a federal safety standard," Toyota said in a statement on October 1. "There can be an increased risk of a crash with a person or object behind the vehicle."

The failure to display the rearview image correctly violates Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111, which covers rear visibility.

It also increases the chance of an accident, especially in areas where people or obstacles may be behind the vehicle.

Toyota is recalling nearly 400,000 vehicles because the rearview camera may not display when backing up, increasing the risk of a crash, federal traffic safety regulators said. https://t.co/efzjWF67J7  World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) October 7, 2025

Toyota to Fix Rearview Glitch with Free Software Update

Toyota will fix the issue by updating the software on the multimedia display. The repair will be free of charge at Toyota dealerships. Owners will start receiving official recall notices by mail as early as November 16, 2025.

This isn't the first time Toyota has had trouble with vehicle visibility features.

Earlier this year, the company recalled over 443,000 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid trucks due to faulty reverse lights that could fail in low-light conditions, NY Post reported.

For now, Toyota encourages owners of the affected vehicles to reach out if they have questions.

Customers can contact the Toyota Brand Engagement Center at 1-800-331-4331, or reach out to NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

Drivers can also visit www.nhtsa.gov to check if their vehicle is part of the recall by entering their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Originally published on vcpost.com
WINDHOEK, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on Wednesday urged the country's young people to embrace modern, technology-driven agriculture, warning that the sector faces an aging workforce and growing climate challenges that threaten long-term food security.

Addressing the Agricultural Outlook Conference 2025 in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, Nandi-Ndaitwah said the future of Namibia's economy depends on revitalizing agriculture through youth participation, innovation, and investment.

Although food and nutrition security have improved, some level of undernourishment persists, she noted, adding that it is imperative for the country to create a conducive environment through connectivity, creativity, and access to finance for agriculture to serve its purpose.

She said agriculture remains the largest employer in Namibia, with about 70 percent of the population relying directly on livestock and crop value chains.

According to Nandi-Ndaitwah, the government has made agriculture one of the eight critical economic enablers as well as a key priority in the Sixth National Development Plan.

The plan links farming directly to industrialization, job creation, and food self-reliance, reflecting what she described as a "deliberate decision to place agriculture at the heart of Namibia's development."

"Agriculture is not only about food -- it is about dignity, sovereignty, and our place in the global economy," Nandi-Ndaitwah said, stressing that the government is committed to strengthening partnerships with farmers, agribusinesses, and investors to expand irrigation, improve market access, and promote value addition.

The president also urged the adoption of climate-resilient, smart farming methods, such as improved soil management, water-efficient irrigation, and digital innovation, to counter droughts, land degradation, and shifting weather patterns.

This year's Agricultural Outlook Conference, under the theme "Harvesting the Future," brought together farmers, researchers, agribusiness leaders, and international experts to explore strategies for inclusive growth, sustainability, and youth empowerment across Namibia's agricultural value chains. 
Syrian Christians Seek Stability, Equal Citizenship: Assyrian Patriarch

Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem, head of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Syria's Christian minority continues to face an uncertain future decades into the country's conflict and political upheaval, according to the head of the Syriac Orthodox church, caught between dwindling numbers, political marginalization and hopes for an inclusive state.

"Unfortunately, many Christians have migrated from Syria due to the lack of stability and the unclear vision of the future of Syria," Said Archbishop Ignatius Aphrem, a senior Syriac Orthodox, in an exclusive interview with Rudaw.

"Christians are certainly part of the Syrian community, so the general situation of Syrians is also the situation of Christians," said Aphrem

Aphrem said that although the community supported the political transition that brought the current government to power, little has improved for Christians or other minorities.

"Of course, their situation has not changed for the better until now," he said. "They are the original inhabitants of Syria and have existed for thousands of years... But what we expect now in Syria is that Christians will be treated like first class citizens."

According to the archbishop, Christians were encouraged to take part in the recent indirect parliamentary elections, but only two members of the community were elected, a result that "worries us."

"We want Christians to be equal in all their rights and duties. It is our duty to serve our country. But we want to be given the opportunity to serve this country," he added.

While the government of President Ahmed al-Sharra has sought to reassure minorities, Aphrem said that instability and internal divisions continue to hinder progress. "Even now, there is no complete control over the situation in Syria. Therefore, this is scary for everyone," he said.

He described his May meeting with Sharra as "constructive and positive," noting that he gave them "some reassurances about the future of Syria and about Syria as a community for all its citizens." Still, he acknowledged the government's limitations.

Aphrem stressed that Christians are not seeking special privileges or international protection. "We are against giving any privileges to Christians," he said. "But we want Christians to be citizens of the first degree... And this is what we heard from the president. This is what he really promised."

Despite these assurances, the Christian population continues to shrink dramatically. "In my opinion, the number does not exceed 500,000 Christians in Syria from more than 1.5 million 10 years ago," he said, noting that most are Orthodox Christians spread across Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Qamishli, Hasakah, and the coastal provinces of Latakia and Tartous.

Below is the full transcript of the interview with Ignatius Aphrem:

Rudaw: I would like to start with the situation of Christians in Syria. How do you assess the situation of Christians, especially after the change of government?

Archbishop Ignatius Aphrem: Christians are certainly part of the Syrian community, so the general situation of Syrians is also the situation of Christians in general. Unfortunately, many Christians have migrated from Syria due to the lack of stability and the unclear vision of the future of Syria. Christians have been trying since the first day of the change in Syria to support the new government. Because it is in the interest of Christians and all Syrians to have stability in Syria, to have peace and to live with love and peace. Therefore, the situation of Christians is the same as that of the rest of Syrians. There are events that happen from one day to the next, which affect Christians as well as others, and this causes fear in the hearts of many people due to the lack of stability. Even now, there is no complete control over the situation in Syria. Therefore, this is scary for everyone.

Has their situation changed for the better or for the worse after the change of government?

Of course, their situation has not changed for the better until now. As I said, Christians are Syrians. They are the original inhabitants of Syria. They are from the original people in Syria and have existed for thousands of years.Their concern is that Syria will be stable and safe for all its people. But what we expect now in Syria is that Christians will be treated like first class citizens. They have rights and duties like all Syrians.This is what we hope that Christians, as well as the rest of Syrians, to live on their land with dignity and honor. Two days ago, there were elections for a new parliament, a temporary parliament for the people. Unfortunately, only two Christians were elected as members of this parliament.This worries us. We want Christians to be equal in all their rights and duties. It is our duty to serve our country. But we want to be given the opportunity to serve this country.

Let's talk about your request. You mentioned that two deputies represent Christians in the parliament. Do they represent you? Did you boycott the elections? Was this the intention such as what the Druze, Kurds and Arabs in the north and east of Syria did? They did not participate in the elections. Did you boycott them?

No, not at all. On the contrary, we encouraged our Christian children to participate in the elections. I should also say that the current government encouraged Christians to participate in the elections. But they did not participate. There were many Christians who were nominated for these elections, but they did not participate. This is what worries us the most.

Why were they not elected?

I don't know why. But maybe we are still living through a revolution of change, or a revolution of victory. Many Syrians thought that they were deprived for many decades from political work. Today is their chance, and we welcome this. We welcome the opportunity for all Syrians to work for Syria. Maybe some of them wanted to play a major role in these elections, but those other Syrian minorities were not given the opportunity to do so.

Let me ask my question in a more clear way. Was there a lack of participation of Christians in the elections? Is this the main reason? Or do you have doubts about the election results?

No, we do not have doubts about the election results. We do not have any information about any violations. But there was a lack of participation of some Christians. Yes, we encouraged them to participate, because we care that everyone participates. But there was a lack of participation of Christians and we need to study the reasons.Because the electors are a designated group of thousands of Syrians assigned by the interim government, including Christians, and these electors are the ones who elected from among themselves, around 140 members, and another 70 will be appointed by the president directly.

Did you meet the president Sharaa?

Yes, I met him last May.

How was the meeting?

It was constructive and positive. I think it was a good meeting. We were able to understand the direction. And of course, he gave us some reassurances about the future of Syria and about Syria as a community for all its citizens. And this is very important. And we still hear reassurances and good words from Syrian officials. But we also understand the difficulty of this government in implementing everything it wants on the ground for several reasons.

What are the reasons?

First, there are many regional and foreign interventions in Syria. Second, there are different groups that reached the government with the president, Ahmed Al-Sharra. And they differ in the degree of their religious commitment and openness to others. So, of course, there are some obstacles that prevent this government from implementing everything it wants now. But I personally do not doubt the government's intention. As for the situation on the ground, it still needs a lot of improvement.

In your meeting, were there any promises to the Christians that were not fulfilled? Or do you have hope that they will be fulfilled?

In the beginning, we do not ask for anything special for Christians in particular. And we are against international intervention or international protection for Christians. We are against giving any privileges to Christians. But we want Christians to be citizens of the first degree. And to act on the basis of citizenship. And this is what we heard from the president. This is what he really promised. And of course, there is an attempt by the government to reassure Christians and give positive signals on this issue. But I say again that this is still in its early stages. And of course, there is a need for time. But at this time, many Christians are leaving. And this is not good for Christians.

They are still leaving?

Yes.

How many Christians are left in Syria? And the Orthodox in particular?

In my opinion, the number does not exceed 500,000 Christians in Syria from more than 1.5 million 10 years ago. And most Christians in Syria are Orthodox. Of course, there are Syrians, Romans, and Orthodox Armenians. There are some Catholic churches and some Protestant churches as well.

Where do they live? As a majority, for example. In which city?

They are distributed throughout Syria. In every region of Syria. Of course, in Damascus, the capital, and around the capital, there is a large percentage. In the provinces of Homs, Aleppo, and the Syrian island of Qamishli, Haseka, in the north-east. And in Ladakia and Tartous. They are present in all these areas. Because they have lived on their lands for thousands of years.

What do you think of the new constitution? The Kurds, Druze, and the Alawites rejected the new constitution.

In fact, we do not have a new constitution yet. There is a constitutional declaration. It contains the main points that could be in the new constitution. In general, this constitution does not meet the aspirations of the Syrian people in general. Especially in the Islamic jurisprudence, which is the only source of legislation in Syria. Of course, we know and respect that Syria is a Muslim country. And the majority of the Syrian people are Muslims. But Syrians must have full rights, whether they are Muslims, Christians, or even non-Muslims. This constitution must be based more on civil principles. And this is what we missed in this constitutional declaration. And we hope that it will be amended in the future.

Is this the only point in the constitution you have issues with?

No, of course there are other points. But I am a religious man, I am the president of a church, and I do not practice politics. But of course there are politicians who object to the absence of representative democracy. Therefore, the people... In the current declaration, there are many authorities restricted to the president. And these things are brought up by politicians. For us, it is important that everyone is equal in everything, in rights and duties. And that they feel that they have a role in building a new Syria, which concerns us all.

Are you confident about the new Syria and the future of Syria?

I am optimistic, but I am careful. I am careful because the situation is still unstable. The vision is unclear. Many depend on the help of the neighboring countries and some of the countries that have the decision making power to help the Syrian people to advance towards a better future. But we hope that this help will not be at the expense of the Syrians. And this is what I mentioned at the beginning, interventions.If it is in the interest of the Syrian people, then of course we welcome it. But if it is for the national interests of these countries, then we cannot accept it.

There were clashes in Suwayda and new clashes in Aleppo, in the Kurdish areas in Aleppo. Do you fear that Christians will be treated like Druze and Kurds in Syria?

Of course, we are against the use of violence by anyone and against anyone.All Syrians are our holy blood. We do not want to see any form of violence anywhere. But as Christians, we are peaceful people and we love peace. We always ask for peace. The Lord Jesus Christ told us, He said to us, Repent to the maker of peace, because it is the children of God who are called. Therefore, we are not armed. We do not pose a threat to any party. We want to cooperate with the authorities at the head of the country. This is our duty as Christians.

Therefore, I do not think that there is a possibility that Christians will be subjected to any form of aggression. As for what happened in the Syrian coast, or in Swayda in the south, and also what is happening these days in areas in Aleppo, or even in the north-east of Syria, in the Syrian island, we certainly hope and pray that these issues will be resolved peacefully. We want every Syrian to enjoy his rights, whether religious rights, national rights, or ethnic rights, in terms of language, culture, and these things. Of course, every cultural identity must be enjoyed, including the one Syrian identity. It is important for Syria to be a unified state, but this state has all its components, from ethnic and religious components, to be respected, and to be considered a special feature of each component, which is beneficial for Syria and not a threat to Syria.

How is your relationship with the Kurds in Rojava, Kurdistan, or in the self-administered areas in Syria?

There is a large Syrian gathering in the north-eastern cities of Syria, and an old Syrian gathering, and the Kurds lived with us in times of love and brotherhood, despite some disagreements that took place historically, but today there is understanding and agreement, but there are some problems that occur in schools, and we are certainly affected by them. Currently, our schools are closed, because the school administration rejects the application of the curriculum produced by the self-administered areas in the north-eastern cities of Syria. We are interested in being connected with the Ministry of Education in Damascus, as a unified state, as a unified country, because the students who graduate from med to high school will go to universities, to Syrian universities. Therefore, this is a sensitive issue for us, and it caused problems in the past few years, at the beginning of each school year, there is a problem with this issue, and this year the problem has developed and led to the closure of schools. We hope that this issue will be resolved quickly.

How was this problem resolved? The schools were closed, and the students...

They were at home.

They do not go to school?

Currently, no.

They do not go to school?

No.

There are no schools in the self-governing areas, and they did not emigrate from the self-administered areas?!

No, no, they did not emigrate, but our schools, the schools run by the church, which is run by the church, are currently closed, because members of the self-administered areas came and closed these schools, because the schools refused to respond to their demands in adhering to the curriculum.

As a church, did you talk to the autonomous administration authorities?

Of course, our clerics in Al-Hasakah are in a direct dialogue with the autonomous administration authorities, and so far they have not reached a conclusion.

As a person, do you have a relationship with the Kurdish leadership?

No, not at all.

So you did not meet Mr. Mazloum Abdi?

No, not at all.

Do you have any intentions?

I have not visited the Jazeera [north-east Syria] area for more than five years, and of course I am excited to go and visit it, but there are some religious reasons, I am waiting for some projects to be completed so that we can open it and have a complete visit, but I would like to meet any person, and of course I do not know General Abdi, but I would like to meet him and get to know him. We would like to have a good relationship with all parties, but within the national staff of Syria.

Okay, but I noticed before the interview that you have a good relationship with the Kurds, because you spoke in Kurdish.

I was born in Qamishli, and I was raised in Qamishli, before I left and joined the Kahnutiya [religious] studies, and I had Kurdish friends, so they spoke a little bit of Syriac, and I spoke a little bit of Kurdish, which is normal. I almost spoke Kurdish to you throughout the interview. I wish, for me, that every language is a gain and a blessing for a person, and I wish to learn it, of course, but this is because my childhood was in Qamishli, so between me and my friends in the Kurdish school, it is normal for them to speak in Syriac, and for us to speak in Kurdish.

It is a beautiful thing.

Of course, of course. Very, very nice.

Do you have a relationship, how is the relationship between you and the Orthodox Church, for example, in Iraq, in the Kurdistan Region?

Of course, the Orthodox Syriac Church is one church, and Patriarch is the head of the church all over the world.

Okay, I mean in the Kurdistan Region, with the Orthodox and Syrians.

Of course, the Syriac Church in the Kurdistan Region, which is a branch of Mosul, the Kurdistan Region, and Kirkuk, is one of the very important branches in the Syriac Church.

Okay.

And the head of the branch is Marni Kodim Westaud, which is the head of the church in constant contact with the Patriarchate, and I personally visited this region many times, mainly because of the displacement that happened as a result of the attacks and massacres committed by ISIS in Mosul, and in the Nineveh Valley, and most of the children of the Orthodox Syriac Church fled to the Kurdistan Region, and I visited them many times. And of course, each time we appreciate more the effort and service that the regional government provides in its presidency, whether it's President Massoud Barzani, or President Nechirvan, or Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, who we always like to pray for, they always make us feel a special concern for the followers of the church, especially those who were displaced. And we appreciate this, and we see that the followers of the church are comfortable here, so my relationship is a father-to-son relationship for those who are here.

Thank you, thank you very much. It was a pleasure to meet you, and once again, welcome to Rodawe Media Network and Erbil. Thank you very much for the interview.

Thank you.
The parents of a four-year-old girl left their daughter orphaned after the couple died following a drug- and alcohol-fueled night celebrating the young child's birthday.

The victims were later identified as military police officer Jeferson Luiz Sagaz and nail salon owner Ana Carolina Silva. Officials said they were found dead inside their motel room tub on Aug. 11, 2025.

Dying in a Hot Tub

The couple reportedly lived in Sao Jose, Brazil, and had been together for two decades. They are believed to have spent the day drinking alcohol at a park to celebrate their daughter's fourth birthday. They then left their child with Sagaz's sister before having more fun together.

In a statement, police chief Felipe Simao said that the water in the tub where the victims were found had a temperature of more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, authorities found trace amounts of cocaine inside the room the couple was staying in, according to People.

The chief expert of the Scientific Police, Andressa Boer Fronza, said that the cause of death for both Sagaz and Silva was the dome. During a press conference, she said, "It was exogenous poisoning, favoring the process of heatstroke (heat-induced hypothermia), with intense dehydration, thermal collapse, among others."

All of these factors, she added, culminated in organic failure of the victims and their subsequent deaths. The expert summarized that what this meant is that the couple died due to "multifactorial conditions."

The case went to the police after Sagaz and Silva never showed up the next morning to pick up their four-year-old daughter. Police found the couple's bodies after analyzing CCTV footage and checking their car, Ladbible reported.

Leaving Their Daughter Orphaned

After officials conducted 16 forensic tests to rule out possible causes of death, such as drowning, carbon monoxide, foul play, or electric shock, they concluded that heat was the cause of the victims' untimely deaths.

Law enforcement authorities said Sagaz and Silva had no history of violence, and the latter's family said she was not a common drug user. This suggests that she may have been forced to use cocaine shortly before her death.

Simao added that the couple died as their bodies were not compatible with the use of cocaine combined with alcohol. He noted that the bigger issue in the case was when they were taking statements is that Sagaz and Silva did not have a habit of using the drug.

The case follows a similar incident where a student was found dead on her 22nd birthday after getting into a hot tub. The victim in that case was identified as Alexandra Sasarman, who was staying with friends to celebrate her special day, as per Mirror.
A drone photo taken on Oct. 6, 2025 shows people visiting Shitang Town of Qianshan County in Shangrao, east China's Jiangxi Province. Tourists across the country show no sign of fading enthusiasm as the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday draws to a close. (Photo by Ding Minghua/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on Oct. 7, 2025 shows tourists taking boats at the Lixiahe National Wetland Park in Xinghua City, east China's Jiangsu Province. Tourists across the country show no sign of fading enthusiasm as the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday draws to a close. (Photo by Zhou Shegen/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on Oct. 7, 2025 shows tourists taking sightseeing cable cars at a scenic spot in Rongcheng, east China's Shandong Province. Tourists across the country show no sign of fading enthusiasm as the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday draws to a close. (Photo by Li Xinjun/Xinhua)

Tourists visit the Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province, Oct. 7, 2025. Tourists across the country show no sign of fading enthusiasm as the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday draws to a close. (Photo by Chen Wenwu/Xinhua)

A drone photo taken on Oct. 6, 2025 shows tourists admiring the night scenery in Xuan'en County, central China's Hubei Province. Tourists across the country show no sign of fading enthusiasm as the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday draws to a close. (Photo by Wang Fajun/Xinhua)

Tourists visit the Wansui Mountain Martial Arts City in Kaifeng City, central China's Henan Province, Oct. 7, 2025. Tourists across the country show no sign of fading enthusiasm as the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday draws to a close. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan)

A drone photo taken on Oct. 7, 2025 shows tourists visiting the Fuzi (Confucius) Temple scenic area in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. Tourists across the country show no sign of fading enthusiasm as the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday draws to a close. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

A drone photo taken on Oct. 7, 2025 shows tourists visiting the Fuzi (Confucius) Temple scenic area in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. Tourists across the country show no sign of fading enthusiasm as the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday draws to a close. (Xinhua/Li Bo)

People watch a show at a park in Shanghai, east China, Oct. 7, 2025. Tourists across the country show no sign of fading enthusiasm as the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday draws to a close. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)

People watch a firework show at a park in Shanghai, east China, Oct. 7, 2025. Tourists across the country show no sign of fading enthusiasm as the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday draws to a close. (Xinhua/Wang Xiang)
Year after northern Nigeria floods, survivors left high and dry



Maiduguri, Nigeria, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



A year after the floodwaters crashed through the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, the place where Maryam Jidda's house used to stand is still an empty patch of mud.

More than 300,000 residents were displaced and dozens killed when a dam outside the city burst in September 2024, the ageing structure suddenly ripped apart after years of neglect and abnormally heavy rains.

The mass displacement added to the pressure Maiduguri was already under -- a city where tens of thousands of people were already living in camps or on the streets after fleeing militant groups Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province.

Today, many flood victims are little better off than they were a year ago.

Jidda and her nine children now live with a neighbour, crammed into a single room.

"When the flood came, everything we owned was destroyed," Jidda, 75, told AFP.

Her family was already destitute when the flood came, after her son, the main breadwinner, died.

She was eking out a living selling kola nuts, a traditional stimulant, but has been unable to raise the capital to restart her business since the disaster.

She now lives on the "kindness of neighbours".



- Home of the displaced -



Jidda first came to Maiduguri 11 years ago, running from jihadists, who since 2009 have been waging a war against the state in a bid to carve out their own caliphate.

She was among the few fortunate ones who avoided the displacement camps. Her family purchased a two-bedroom house in the city's densely populated Gwange neighbourhood.

Aisha Ali Adamu, a 45-year-old widow, and her eight children have also been living on handouts from neighbours and local charities since she lost her home in the flood.

Her children have been out of school since last year.

"I can't afford school uniforms, books and writing materials for my children. We are struggling to find what to eat," said Adamu, who lost her groundnut oil extracting business to the torrent.

Even before the flood, children dropping out or never attending school was a major problem in Borno state, where some 700,000 kids in the state have no access to education.

Half of them have been displaced by jihadist violence, according to official figures.

Over the past decade, more than two million people have fled their homes in northeast Nigeria.

Many have sought refuge in Maiduguri as well as neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

Although Nigerian officials have been closing displaced person's camps and returning people to their deserted villages, Maiduguri is saturated with those unwilling to leave.

A jihadist attack in early September on returned Nigerians in the town of Darul Jamal, near the Cameroonian border, killed at least 63 people, underscoring their fears.



- Climate change -



Last year Maiduguri recorded rainfall levels 43 percent above the annual average, according to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.

The deluges repeatedly overwhelmed the city's clogged drainage systems and poorly planned neighbourhoods.

Climate change is intensifying extreme weather events across Nigeria and the current rainy season has left Maiduguri -- a city already battered by conflict, poverty and fragile infrastructure -- in "panic mode", said Abubakar Kawu Monguno, a geography professor at University of Maiduguri.

"We are living in constant fear. We hear the thunder and our hearts skip," said Ya-Chilla Mustapha, a 40-year-old mother of eight.

Nigeria's rainy season typically runs from the northern hemisphere spring through to October.

As of mid-September, a total of 232 persons had died this year across Nigeria from flooding that has displaced more than 121,000, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The official death toll is likely to be an undercount. A massive flood in Niger state in May left hundreds missing whose bodies were never recovered.

To prevent a recurrence of the flooding, NEMA has cleared blocked drainage and intensified information campaigns in Maiduguri, warning residents to stop building homes on waterways.

But for many, building in the wrong area is the least of their worries.

Yusuf Muhammad, a tyre mechanic, was never able to rebuild his home, despite receiving 200,000 naira ($130) from the state government and the World Food Programme.

"The money was spent on feeding my family," said the 44-year-old, whose family of two wives and 14 children live in three tents on the land where his home once stood.

"I couldn't even start rebuilding my house."
China trials 'energy-saving' underwater data centres



Nantong, China, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



Power-hungry data centres run hot, so one Chinese company is planning to submerge a pod of servers in the sea off Shanghai with hopes of solving computing's energy woes.

On a wharf near the city, workers were finishing off the large yellow capsule -- a foray into alternative tech infrastructure that faces questions over its ecological impact and commercial viability.

The world's websites and apps rely on physical data centres to store information, with growing use of artificial intelligence contributing to skyrocketing demand for the facilities.

"Underwater operations have inherent advantages," said Yang Ye of maritime equipment firm Highlander, which is developing the Shanghai pod with state-owned construction companies.

Undersea servers are kept at a low temperature by ocean currents, rather than the energy-intensive air cooling or water evaporation required by centres on land.

The technology was trialled by Microsoft off the coast of Scotland in 2018, but the Chinese project, to be sunk in mid-October, is one of the world's first commercial services of its kind.

It will serve clients such as China Telecom and a state-owned AI computing company, and is part of a broader government push to lower data centres' carbon footprint.

"Underwater facilities can save approximately 90 percent of energy consumption for cooling," Yang, vice president of Highlander, told AFP.

Projects like this are currently focused on showing "technological feasibility", said expert Shaolei Ren from the University of California, Riverside.

Microsoft never built commercially on its trial, saying after retrieving its pod in 2020 that the project had been successfully completed.

Significant construction challenges and environmental concerns have to be overcome before underwater data centres can be deployed on a mass scale, said Ren.

In China, government subsidies are helping -- Highlander received 40 million yuan ($5.62 million) for a similar 2022 project in Hainan province that is still running.



- Technical challenges -



"The actual completion of the underwater data centre involved greater construction challenges than initially expected," said Zhou Jun, an engineer for Highlander's Shanghai project.

Built onshore in separate components before being installed in the sea, it will draw nearly all its power from nearby offshore wind farms.

Highlander said that more than 95 percent of the energy used will come from renewable sources.

The most obvious challenge in placing the structure under the waves is keeping its contents dry and safe from corrosion by salt water.

The Chinese project addresses this by using a protective coating containing glass flakes on the steel capsule that holds the servers.

To allow maintenance crews access, an elevator will connect the main pod structure to a segment that remains above the water.

Ren from UC Riverside said laying the internet connection between an offshore data centre and the mainland was a more complex process than with traditional land servers.

Researchers at the University of Florida and the University of Electro-Communications in Japan have also found that sub-marine data centres can be vulnerable to attacks using sound waves conducted through water.



- Ecological unknowns -



Technical hurdles aside, the warming effect of underwater data centres on the surrounding water has raised questions about the impact on marine ecosystems.

Andrew Want, a marine ecologist at the University of Hull, said the heat emitted could in some cases attract certain species while driving away others.

"These are unknowns at this point -- there's not sufficient research being conducted yet," he said.

Highlander told AFP a 2020 independent assessment of the company's test project near Zhuhai, in southern China, indicated that the surrounding water stayed well below acceptable temperature thresholds.

However, Ren warned that scaling up centres would also scale up the heat given off.

He stressed that "for megawatt-scale data centres underwater, the thermal pollution problem needs to be studied more carefully."

Offshore facilities can complement standard data centres, Ren suggested.

"They're probably not going to replace existing traditional data centres, but can provide service to some niche segments."

em/tjx/reb/kaf/dan/fg

MICROSOFT
Heavy rainfall cuts off village, causes power outages in Romania



Bucharest, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



Flooding caused by torrential rains left hundreds of inhabitants cut off in a village in southeastern Romania on Wednesday, with power outages and school closures reported in the region, authorities said.

The downpour hit dozens of localities in Romania after the national weather agency on Tuesday issued red alerts for the capital city Bucharest and five other counties in the south and southeast.

The government also ordered hundreds of schools and educational facilities to remain shut on Wednesday.

Roads leading up to the southeastern village of Silistea were cut off due to flooding, rescue services said.

Firefighters also intervened elsewhere in the country after roads were flooded and trees uprooted.

Authorities advised people against travelling.

Some 13,000 people in four counties were left without electricity.

Severe flooding struck Romania over the summer, killing three people in the northeast, with President Nicusor Dan urging that "sustainable investment in prevention and protection against climate risks" is needed.
Canal Istanbul stirs fear and uncertainty in nearby villages



Istanbul, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



In Sazlibosna village, along the planned route of the vast Canal Istanbul project, 68-year-old Yasar Demirkaya fidgets with worn prayer beads as he sips tea at a cafe, uncertain about the future.

Demirkaya, who sells fruit and vegetables at a local market, fears the controversial government-backed project will threaten his small plot of land, erasing the only life he's ever known.

"I inherited a 5,000-square-metre plot from my grandparents," he told AFP. "It could be taken from us.

"I'm worried, everyone is. Nobody knows what to do," he added.

Although Sazlibosna is currently off-limits for development, that could change.

The project was first announced in 2011 by then-premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is now president.

Its aim is to ease congestion on the Bosphorus Strait by carving a new waterway between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara.

But the canal's 45-kilometre (28-mile) route also includes plans for sprawling commercial and residential zones: the entire project will cover 13,365 hectares (133,640,000 square metres).

Opponents warn it could destroy nature reserves and farmland, deplete water resources and destabilise the region's fragile ecosystem.



-'Can't sleep for the bulldozers'-



Although a ground-breaking ceremony was held in 2021, work has not started on the canal itself.

Property construction along the route has surged however, especially in the last six months.

Near Salizdere reservoir, AFP journalists saw tower blocks under construction by the state-run housing agency TOKI.

Istanbul's jailed mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a vocal critic of the canal, has accused the government of accelerating construction after his March arrest following a corruption probe widely seen as politically motivated.

"Taking advantage of my absence, they began building 24,000 houses around Sazlidere dam, one of the city's most important water resources on the European side, for the 'Canal Istanbul' project, which is all about profit and plunder," said Imamoglu, a leading figure in the main opposition CHP.

Some villagers told AFP they had seen increased building activity since his arrest.

"We can't even sleep because of the noise of bulldozers," a woman called Muzaffer, 67, told AFP in a nearby village, without giving her surname.

"Our animals are in stables because there are no pastures left, they've all been turned into TOKI housing," she said while selling buffalo milk to a customer.

"There are buildings everywhere. Where are we supposed to let our animals roam?"

After Imamoglu's arrest, many of the project's other opponents were detained, including Istanbul's urban planning department chief Bugra Gokce, a vocal critic of the waterway.

Prosecutors ordered the arrest of another 53 officials in April -- a move the CHP linked to the municipality's opposition to the canal.

Many living along the canal route declined to speak on camera, fearing repercussions.



- 'Land grab in full swing' -



Pelin Pinar Giritlioglu, a professor at Istanbul University, said while the waterway itself had seen almost no progress, the surrounding real estate developments were advancing rapidly.

"There's only one bridge foundation in place across the waterway... and funding has yet to be secured," she told AFP.

"European banks won't finance projects with major ecological impacts, and no alternatives have been found," she added.

For her, Canal Istanbul was less about infrastructure and more of a real estate project.

"The canal development has stalled, but the land grab is in full swing," she said.

In April, Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu insisted the project had not been shelved and would proceed "at the right time with the right financing".

In Sazlibosna, where property agencies are multiplying as the development accelerates, real estate agent Ibrahim Emirdogan said the project had energised the market.

"We can't say if the project will go ahead -- it's a government plan. But the market? Yes, there's movement," he said.

Despite their fears, some villagers are hoping the project will never materialise.

"I don't really believe Canal Istanbul will happen. (If it does) our village will lose its peace and quiet," said the vegetable seller Demirkaya.
SUVA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Fiji has launched its first-ever National Child Safeguarding Policy, setting a new national benchmark for child safety across all sectors of society.

Minister for Women and Children Sashi Kiran described the initiative as a landmark moment, saying it's a nationwide commitment to protect children from violence, abuse, and exploitation, reported Fiji Broadcasting Corporation news website on Wednesday.

Kiran noted that children account for around 63 percent of all sexual offenses reported to police each year. In 2022 alone, that figure climbed to 70 percent, including 34 infant victims.

She said the economic cost of such violence is staggering, with the Fiji Bureau of Statistics estimating that violence against children costs the nation about 460 million Fijian dollars annually (around 202 million U.S. dollars) -- not counting the lifelong emotional and psychological trauma endured by victims.

The new policy ensures that all services involving children are delivered in a safe, respectful, and child-friendly manner.

It outlines concrete measures for institutions and organizations to prevent harm, including a mandatory Child Protection Code of Conduct, child-safe recruitment and vetting processes such as criminal background checks, and tailored risk mitigation strategies.

Kiran said the policy also provides clear guidance for human resource practices, particularly within ministries and agencies that work directly with children, helping to embed a culture of accountability and safety at every level of service delivery.

The launch came amid growing regional concern about child protection across the Pacific, where cultural taboos, limited resources, and underreporting have often left cases of abuse hidden or unresolved.

UNICEF has reported that Pacific Island nations face some of the highest rates of violence against children globally, with many victims experiencing abuse within homes or communities. 
Carmakers seek EU emissions ban rethink with biofuel push



Brussels, Belgium, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



European carmakers Wednesday urged the EU to relax its 2035 ban on combustion-engine sales by allowing cars that run on alternative fuels, among a list of demands that environmentalists slammed as "a disgrace".

In a submission to the European Commission, Europe's main auto lobby said Brussels' current emission-reduction targets were "based on outdated premises and optimistic assumptions", and "no longer realistic to achieve".

"The current CO2 regulation has put in place a very rigid one-dimensional pathway," Sigrid de Vries, director general of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) said, calling for reform.

The commission last month promised to fast-track a review of its plans to end combustion-engine vehicle sales, following pressure from the embattled auto sector. A proposal is expected for December.

The EU currently requires carmakers to progressively cut carbon emissions produced by new vehicles sold in the 27-country bloc, until new combustion-engine sales are completely phased out by 2035 -- under the threat of steep fines.

ACEA, which represents major manufacturers from BMW to Stellantis, on Wednesday laid out a series of desired changes that de Vries conceded would likely result in "more emissions" of planet warming gases but help a key industry.

"What you stand to benefit is a competitive, thriving auto industry," she told a press briefing.

They include giving carmakers CO2 credits for scrapping old cars and additional credits for selling small EVs, "to incentivise their production despite their very low margins", according to the text.

Cars running on renewable fuels, such as biofuels or synthetic fuels, should count as zero-emission -- a feat currently reserved for electric vehicles (EVs) -- ACEA said, envisaging a more favourable treatment also for plug-in hybrids.

And the group suggested manufacturers be allowed more time to meet an intermediate 2030 target, spreading the goal over five years.

Clean transport advocacy group T&E criticised the proposals as a "shopping list" of measures that would "destroy" a central pillar of EU industrial and climate policy.

If implemented, all together the changes would almost halve the share of EVs sold in 2035 to 52 percent of the total market, the group estimated.

"This position is a disgrace. It will completely undermine the investment certainty needed for Europe to catch up in the EV race," said T&E cars director Lucien Mathieu.

Road transport accounts for about 20 percent of total planet-warming emissions in Europe, and 61 percent of those come from cars' exhaust pipes, according to the EU.

The bloc aims to be climate-neutral by 2050 under an ambitious climate agenda that is increasingly under attack from industry and the political right.

Europe's auto sector employs 13 million people and accounts for about seven percent of the bloc's GDP but it has been hammered by fierce competition from China and a slower-than-expected shift to EVs.

ub/ec/st

ACEA

BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
CORRECTED: Jane Goodall's final wish: blast Trump, Musk and Putin to space



Washington, Oct 8 (AFP) Oct 08, 2025



It's like the opposite of naming your dream dinner party guests.

In a Netflix interview aired posthumously, Jane Goodall, who died last week at 91, said she'd gladly send Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and Benjamin Netanyahu off the planet in a SpaceX rocket.

Clips from the show "Famous Last Words" have since gone viral with tens of millions of views, drawing praise but also some scorn for the legendary primatologist, and even sparking debate over whether the footage was real or AI-generated.

Netflix said she filmed the interview in March with the understanding that it would not be released until after her death.

"Do you have people that you don't like?" host Brad Falchuk asked Goodall, who began the interview by sipping a glass of whiskey -- her pre-talk ritual to keep her voice supple.

"Absolutely, there are people I don't like, and I would like to put them on one of Musk's spaceships and send them all off to the planet he's sure he's going to discover," she replied.

Musk, the world's richest person, has made it his life's mission to colonize Mars and make humanity a "multiplanetary species."

Goodall added that Musk would "be the host, and you can imagine who I'd put on that spaceship."

"Along with Musk would be Trump, and some of Trump's real supporters, and then I would put Putin in there, and I would put President Xi -- I'd certainly put Netanyahu in there, and his far-right government. Put them all on that spaceship and send them off."

The conversation then turned to aggression in chimpanzees and whether the men she'd named were "alphas."

Goodall said among chimps there are two kinds of alpha: those who rely on brute force and burn out quickly, and those who build alliances and endure.

Her research, she said, convinced her that aggression is innate to both chimps and humans, who share nearly 99 percent of their DNA.

"But I truly believe that most people are decent," she said.

Goodall closed the interview with a message of hope -- and a warning to those who would harm "Mother Nature."

"If you want to save what is still beautiful in this world, if you want to save the planet for the future generations, your grandchildren, their grandchildren, then think about the actions you take each day," she said.

She added that she believed in life beyond death and that "consciousness survives."

"I can't tell you what you will find when you leave planet Earth, but I want you to know that your life on planet Earth will make some difference in the kind of life that you find after you die."
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

Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston has opened up about her private 20-year struggle to conceive  and criticised the speculation shes faced as a result of having no children.

The 56-year-old Friends star, who currently appears in TV drama The Morning Show, said she felt pressured to address the narrative that suggested she hadnt had kids because she is a selfish workaholic.

They didnt know my story, or what Id been going through over the past 20 years to try to pursue a family, because I dont go out there and tell them my medical woes, Aniston told Harpers Bazaar UK.

The actor said her personal life is not anybodys business but there comes a point when you cant not hear the narrative about how I wont have a baby, wont have a family.

Aniston said that as she has gotten older, she cares less about correcting the falsehoods because it will happen eventually.

open image in gallery Jennifer Aniston says she wants to correct the narrative about why she hasnt had a baby ( Getty )

The news cycle is so fast, it just goes away, she continued  but admitted she had felt the speculation to be unjust.

Of course, there are times when I feel that sense of justice  when something has been said that isnt true, and I need to right the wrong. And then I think, do I really? My family knows my truth, my friends know my truth.

Aniston, who was married to Brad Pitt from 2000 to 2005 and to Justin Theroux from 2015 to 2018, previously said the baby-making road had been challenging for her.

open image in gallery Aniston stars in Apple TV+ drama The Morning Show ( Apple TV+ )

She told Allure in 2022: I wouldve given anything if someone had said to me, Freeze your eggs. Do yourself a favour. You just dont think it. So here I am today. The ship has sailed. But I have zero regrets.

My late thirties, forties, Id gone through really hard s***, and if it wasnt for going through that, I wouldve never become who I was meant to be. I was trying to get pregnant.

She said that years and years of speculation was really hard, adding: I was going through IVF, drinking Chinese teas, you name it. I was throwing everything at it.

Aniston previously said the claim that her marriage to Pitt had ended because she didnt want children was an absolute lie.
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Ray Winstone has revealed that he once auditioned for a part in Star Wars, but that it went south because he was drunk.

Winstone, 68, best known for his tough guy characters in crime-thrillers like Sexy Beast (2000) and The Departed (2006), recalled meeting with the iconic franchises creator and director George Lucas to read for the role of Ruwee Naberrie, the father of Natalie Portmans Princess Padme Amidala.

It didnt go well, the British actor admitted in a new interview with Far Out Magazine.

Had words and that was that. Ive worked for George since, and he was fine, Winstone noted, adding, He didnt remember. Or if he did, he didnt take it to heart.

The role of Padmes father in the 2005 prequel Star Wars: Episode III  Revenge of the Sith eventually went to Australian actor Graeme Blundell, who also made an appearance in a deleted scene of 2002s Attack of the Clones.

Ray Winstone says he auditioned to play Natalie Portman's father in Star Wars ( Getty )

Winstone went on to appear in the filmmakers 2008 movie Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

The award-winning actor explained that hours before the audition he had been out all night.

I was pissed anyway, he said. I knew I was wrong for the part as soon as I walked in, but instead of saying that, he relayed the message to me through someone else, and I took umbrage at that.

He remembered Lucas yawning throughout his entire audition, and assuming hes obviously got jet lag.

After sitting with Lucas in brief silence following his audition, he eventually told the director: Why dont we both have a 15-minute sleep and then Ill f*** off?

Asked if he regretted his failed audition, Winstone replied no, that sort of film would bore the arse off me, all that bluescreen work.

Winstones most recent acting credits are Netflixs 2024 action-adventure film Damsel, starring Millie Bobby Brown, and the streamers Theo James-led drama series The Gentlemen.

Speaking to The Independent in 2024 about latter, Winstone revealed the reason it took him so long to collaborate with Ritchie.

We havent always had the best relationship, put it that way, he admitted. It was back when we were younger, but then you grow up.

Up next, Winstone has a few new projects, including an untitled Jimmy White biopic, a role in an adaptation of the Australian stage play Burnt Piano, and a thriller titled Sabini, according to IMDb.
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Years before securing her position as CBS Newss editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss apparently once had aspirations of joining The View.

In fact, Weiss, 41, reportedly auditioned to replace conservative pundit Meghan McCain, who departed the ABC talk series in July 2021. But to no avail.

According to Variety, Weiss, who had previously guest-hosted the show a few times, didnt test well with audiences. With her centrist-right contrarian politics, she apparently scored so low with focus groups that she wasnt invited back as a guest host.

However, an ABC insider told The Daily Beast that she was rejected due to her physical appearance.

The Independent has contacted The View and Weisss representative for comment.

open image in gallery CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss (left) reportedly failed her audition to replace Meghan McCain (right) on 'The View' ( Getty )

The open position instead went to Alyssa Farah Griffin, President Donald Trumps former White House director of strategic communications.

Griffin joined The View as a permanent co-host in September 2022, filling McCains seat as the shows conservative voice.

Weis was named the CBS News editor-in-chief on Monday  a move that hasnt come without controversy. The journalist, who considers herself a radical centrist and is known for her stridently pro-Israel stance, is likely to face a tough time gaining respect in the newsroom, as many view her as a political operative with no real experience in broadcast journalism.

In her first message to CBS News staff Monday morning, Weiss said: I stand for the same core journalistic values that have defined this profession since the beginning, and I will continue to champion them alongside you, noting that she aspires for journalism that holds both American political parties to equal scrutiny.

The day after Weiss was named editor-in-chief, CBSs parent company, Paramount, announced that it had also acquired her anti-woke digital outlet The Free Press.

Lets do the f***ing news, Weiss declared to staffers in a morning editorial call, adding that she was excited for the CBS News staff to get to know The Free Press.

A CBS News employee told The Independent that there were eye rolls for sure and that Weiss was cosplaying as a broadcast journalist. Another reporter, meanwhile, described Weisss remarks as cringey movie references and a half-assed pep talk about winning and doing the f***ing news.

open image in gallery Bari Weiss considers herself a radical centrist ( Paramount )

The Views panel currently includes Griffin, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro.

McCain, the daughter of the late Arizona Senator John McCain, previously appeared as a presenter from 2017 to 2021.

Since her exit, she has been vocal about her toxic experience on the show, claiming she endured horrible treatment from her fellow co-hosts.

In a searing 2023 column for the Daily Mail, she reiterated a past story about Behar telling her she didnt miss me one bit on air.

I went to my office after the show, threw up in a garbage can, called my brother hysterically crying and decided to quit the show that day, McCain wrote.

The only way to survive on that show is to be vanilla pudding. Say nothing controversial with the elites, bow down, and dont actually do the job you were hired to do, which is voice your authentic opinions.

She added: There is nothing on Gods green earth that could convince me to ever walk on to that set again. May the bridges I burn light the way.
ISLAMABAD, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Eleven soldiers and 19 terrorists were killed in an operation in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province overnight on Tuesday, the military said on Wednesday.

The intelligence-based operation was conducted in Orakzai district of the province on reported presence of terrorists, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement.

The security forces effectively engaged the terrorists at their location, resulting in the killing of the 19 terrorists, said the ISPR.

However, during an intense exchange of fire, 11 soldiers also lost their lives, it added.

Sanitization operation is being carried out in the area to eliminate the presence of terrorists from the area, said the ISPR.

The military said that security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country. 
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The family of 9-year-old social media personality Brie Bird, who has been publicly documenting her battle with stage 4 neuroblastoma on social media, announced that they would be celebrating Christmas weeks ahead of schedule in what they are calling their last Christmas together.

On Monday, Bries mother, Kendra Bird, shared that the family of six, who live in Idaho but travel to Utah for Bries medical care, decided to celebrate Christmas this week instead of waiting until December after her health took a sudden downturn. Bries journey of strength and resilience has drawn nearly one million followers on Instagram, where her family shares updates about her battle with cancer. She was in remission for 22 months before the disease returned and spread to new areas in January 2024.

On Tuesday, Kendra shared an Instagram video of Brie sleeping in the familys living room, which was fully decorated for Christmas with lights, a tree, and wrapped presents lining the fireplace and gathered under the tree.

I am still in denial. I want the miracle SO desperately, Kendra wrote atop of a video. I just want her to stand up and walk. No more pain, no more cancer, Kendra continued. Will we ever feel the magic again?

One day prior, Kendra explained in a post that Brie began looking pale and tired, later developing a mild fever that left her too weak to enjoy the familys early Christmas celebration.

open image in gallery Brie Bird, 9, celebrated her last Christmas with her family Tuesday after her cancer returned. The family is documenting her heartbreaking fight on social media. ( Instagram/@briestrongerthancancer )

Doctors administered a blood transfusion to help her regain some strength, which lowered her heart rate, reduced her fever, and improved her oxygen levels.

While in the hospital, Brielle became emotional when she realized she could no longer move her feet, though she could still feel her mothers touch.

Despite everything cancer has taken from her, Brielle remains kind and grateful, telling her mom, Thank you for doing everything you can for me, Mom, youre the best mom a girl could ask for.

open image in gallery The Birds celebrated Christmas Tuesday for the last time as a family of six amid Brie's cancer battle ( Instagram/@briestrongerthancancer )

open image in gallery Brie's last Christmas included gifts, dancing to holiday music and a visit from a high school choir ( Instagram/@briestrongerthancancer )

Kendra shared photos from the perfect final Christmas activities Wednesday, revealing in an Instagram Story that the day included breakfast, opening and playing with gifts, and dancing to festive music.

We even had some of the high school students come caroling, she wrote. We felt joy, and we needed that! I wish the day never had to end.

In August, Bries story touched even more fans when pop star Ariana Grande sent her a thoughtful Wicked-themed care package.

The box included plush toys from the movie, OPI nail polish inspired by the musical, pink zip-up bags, a tote, makeup from Grandes R.E.M. Beauty line and a bottle of her Cloud perfume.

"I've seen your videos and I think you are the most amazing, most inspiring little light beam in this universe. You're just so incredible, so thank you for being you," Grande wrote in a note within the package. "I'm sending you so much love and many, many, many virtual hugs. I hope this makes you smile, and I'll speak to you soon. Love you."

Universal Pictures also set up a two-month early screening for Bird and her family to watch the Oscar-winning film.
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Some 500 patients have waited for more than a year for a sight-saving cornea donation, with new figures revealing a critical shortage across England.

More than 4,000 individuals are on the waiting list for a cornea transplant, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) said.

NHSBT said that 3.3 million people on the NHS Organ Donor Register have chosen to donate their other organs but not their corneas  with just 4,976 donated corneas recorded in the UK by NHS Blood and Transplant in 2024/25, down from 5,134 in 2023/24.

A cornea transplant involves replacing all or part of a damaged cornea  the clear outer layer of the eye.

Among those to receive one is Laura Grady, a mother-of-two and software administrator from Greenwich.

She has had three cornea transplants  two for an undiagnosed illness and one after cataract surgery.

open image in gallery The mother-of-two has had three cornea transplants ( NHS Blood and Transplant/PA )

After the transplants, my vision was clear, she said.

It was still blurry at first, but clear. I could see colours and definition. Now I can see the lovely little faces of my sons.

Had I not had the cornea transplants, I probably wouldnt have been able to continue in my job, and therefore wouldnt have met my partner Justin, and probably wouldnt even have my sons.

I feel forever grateful to my donors and their families. Words are not enough to express my gratitude.

Now I have had both eyes done, I know how very different my life would be if I hadnt been so lucky as to receive these corneas.

open image in gallery Ben Cronin, whose own father was a cornea donor when he died, has himself been waiting for a transplant for months ( NHS Blood and Transplant/PA )

Ben Cronin, whose own father was a cornea donor when he died, has himself been waiting for a transplant for months.

His father, also Ben, died in 2011 aged 69. His corneas were donated, and he saved the sight of two people, NHSBT said.

Mr Cronin, 33, from Wrentham in Suffolk, has a condition called keratoconus, a progressive eye condition where his cornea becomes thinner and changes shape.

The vision in my left eye has become increasingly blurred and unstable, he said.

Everyday tasks that most people take for granted, such as reading signs, recognising faces, or driving, have become extremely challenging.

A cornea transplant is now the only option to restore some clarity and stability to my sight.

My vision problems affect every part of my daily life. I had to leave my previous job as an administrator and even in my volunteering roles I find myself struggling.

open image in gallery Ben Cronin's father, also Ben ( NHS Blood and Transplant/PA )

He added: I have been on the waiting list for a cornea transplant since the end of June, but it already feels like a long time. It is a strange balance between hope and uncertainty.

As the son of a donor, I am deeply aware that my chance of seeing clearly again will come through someone elses loss, and that is a difficult thought to hold.

A cornea transplant would give me back a part of my life that has been slipping away.

I would tell people that donation, whether it is corneas, tissues, organs or blood, is one of the most selfless and powerful gifts anyone can give.

Corneal donation does not just restore sight; it restores independence, dignity and a persons place in the world. Two small, transparent pieces of tissue can completely transform someones life.

Most people, of any age and with most medical histories, can donate their corneas when they die.

Kyle Bennett, assistant director of the tissue and eye services at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: By agreeing to donate your corneas, you can transform the life of someone who hasnt been able to see their family properly or live a normal life.

Thousands of people are waiting for eye surgery which can transform their sight and their life. Giving the gift of sight is incredibly powerful and life-changing.

There are not enough cornea donations to help those waiting for a life-changing transplant.

Please consider leaving an amazing legacy of the gift of sight by agreeing to donate your corneas. Join the NHS Organ Donor Register and tell your family.
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A 43-year-old Florida man has been arrested and accused of pointing a gun at a group of kids for making waves near his boat.

Christopher Evensen, 43, was operating his boat along the Intracoastal Waterway off the east coast of Florida on Saturday when the kids made a wake nearby, causing Evensen to become irate, the New Smyrna Beach Police Department said in a recent Facebook post, citing the victims' accounts.

The man reportedly pointed a handgun at the juveniles and made verbal threats, stating he would shoot them, the post read.

Several kids who were on the water during the incident claimed Evensen pointed the gun at them while yelling threats, New Smyrna Beach police said.

According to a police report obtained by local outlet WSVN, cellphone footage of the incident showed a man on a boat reaching into his pocket for a silver and black item that resembled a semi automatic handgun.

Christopher Evensen, a 43-year-old Florida man, has been arrested as police accused him of pointing a gun at a group of kids for making waves near his boat ( New Smyrna Beach Police Department )

Witness Kevin Buchans, who said he didnt see the gun, told WSVN, He was threatening them all, Come over here to the boat ramp, come park your boat, and Ill kill all yall.

Hes an adult, he should know better, Bunchans said.

New Smyrna Beach police said Evensen was seen trailing his boat after the alleged incident, and police eventually found his car at a local home. He was arrested and charged with five counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Improper Exhibition of a Dangerous Weapon.

Evensen admitted to police he did scream at the kids and acted stupid, but refuted the weapon claim, saying he didnt even have a gun on him, per WSVN. The outlet said Evensen had first told authorities he didnt own a gun, but later said that was false.

It is unclear whether Evensen has legal representation.

Buchans said, shortly after Evensen yelled at the kids, he offered him whiskey.

That might be why youre in an argument with these other people in the boat, because you sound like youve had too much to drink already, is what I told him, Buchans recalled.

Evensen was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail, and local outlet WESH said he posted his $25,500 bail.
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A couple is facing charges after allegedly abandoning a child on the side of a Florida highway with a bag of guns and cash  before telling him to take care of the house.

Bradley Leon Guerrero Santos, 36, and Rosanella Mendiola Borja, 35, reportedly kicked the boy out of their car while driving on I-75 near North Port, a city 35 miles south of Sarasota, just before 6 p.m. October 3, WWSB reported.

Police received a call about a boy walking along the highway, and he told them he had been in the car with the couple and a sibling. Authorities did not say what the relationship is between the child, Guerrero Santos and Mendiola Borja.

The boy, whose age has not been shared by authorities, said that when he got home from school that day, the couple told him they were taking a trip either to Guam or Idaho, according to the affidavit.

He then went out to walk the dog, only to return to find the pair frantically throwing clothes into duffel bags and loading the luggage into their car.

open image in gallery Bradley Leon Guerrero Santos and Roseanella Mendola Borja were arrested after kicking a child out of their car on a Florida highway, along with a bag of guns and cash. ( Sarasota County Sheriff's Office )

When their car went to the interstate, the boy told the couple he did not want to go on the trip. They then pulled over to the side of the road and gave him two bags containing a .40 caliber handgun, a 9mm handgun and some cash, the report noted.

The child told police the couple told him to take care of the house before driving off, Fox 35 Orlando reported.

Police tried to reach the couple, but calls to their cellphones were either denied or hung up. Officers then took the boy home and found the garage door and front door of the home open.

After cops entered to investigate, they discovered the home was cluttered in disarray, with firearms lying out in the open, the affidavit said.

The boy had told authorities the couple was acting erratically. He said Guerrero Santos was religious and called him the chosen one, often testing him by giving him difficult tasks, such as throwing him out onto the street.

Police tracked the couples cellphones to an address in Wauchula, about 60 miles north of North Port, and found them as well as the second child. Local police detained the couple about four hours after the boy was kicked out of the car.

Guerrero Santos was charged with child neglect without great harm and permitting a minor to possess a firearm. Mengiola Borja was charged with child neglect without great harm.

Guerrero Santos is set to be arraigned October 31 and is being held on $250,000 bond. Meanwhile, Borja will be arraigned October 31 and is being held on $500,000 bond, according to the Sarasota County Sheriffs Office.
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The final and most dangerous inmate involved in a viral escape from a New Orleans prison has been recaptured, months after he is accused of going on the run along with nine other men.

Derrick Groves was taken into custody in Atlanta, Georgia, after evading the authorities for almost five months, the U.S. Marshals said Wednesday.

The 28-year-old, who had been convicted of murder and was facing a possible life sentence before the jailbreak, is accused of escaping from the Orleans Parish Jail in May after he and the other inmates crawled through a hole behind a toilet, police said.

Out of all the accused escapees, Groves had the most violent criminal record, and authorities had offered a $50,000 reward for tips that lead to his recapture.

Sgt. Kate Stegall, a spokesperson for the Louisiana State Police, said there had been a brief standoff with officers before the arrest.

open image in gallery The final and most dangerous inmate involved in a viral escape from a New Orleans prison has been recaptured, months after authorities say he went on the run along with nine other men. Derrick Groves was taken into custody in Atlanta, Georgia, after evading the authorities for almost five months, the U.S. Marshals said Wednesday ( AP )

He was hiding in a crawl space, Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair said. It appears he was the only one in this house and he was hidden pretty well.

Groves was arrested by the Marshals southeast regional fugitive task force and Atlanta Police Department SWAT team, Fair said.

Police previously captured the other nine accused escapees following the May 16 jailbreak, one of the largest in recent U.S. history. Authorities said the men yanked open a faulty cell door inside the New Orleans jail, squeezed through a hole behind a toilet, scaled a barbed-wire fence and fled into the dark.

Their disappearance was not discovered until the following morning during a headcount. Authorities found a message drawn around the hole they say the men used to escape: an arrow pointing at the gap and the words To Easy LoL.

open image in gallery Police previously captured the other nine escapees following the May 16 jailbreak, one of the largest in recent U.S. history ( AP )

Reacting to news of Groves arrest, his mother Stephanie Groves said she was all messed up.

Im just trying to talk to him, she told the Associated Press. Im just seeing it on the internet, I woke up to it on the internet. Its just been a mess.

Im just glad its over with Of course he was going to get caught.

In July, while authorities say Groves was still on the run, the nine other men fugitives pleaded not guilty to escape charges.

All 10 men are charged with simple escape, which is tacked on top of previous criminal counts that initially landed them in jail, Attorney General Liz Murrill's office confirmed.

open image in gallery In July, while Groves was still on the run, the nine other fugitives pleaded not guilty to escape charges ( Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office )

If found guilty, the escape charge carries a sentence of two to five years in prison.

Officials have pointed to multiple security lapses in the jail, but authorities remain adamant that the men also had likely had help.

A maintenance worker at the jail was arrested for allegedly helping the incarcerated men escape, by turning off the water to the toilet where the fugitives escaped through the hole.

The man has denied knowingly aiding them via his lawyer, who says he was simply unclogging a toilet. Another former jail employee, identified by authorities as Groves girlfriend, is accused of helping coordinate the escape.
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Police are on the hunt for suspects after two north Philadelphia families were targeted in separate home invasions over the weekend.

Early Saturday morning, two masked men ambushed a 38-year-old man and his family returning home, police say. The suspects followed the family into the home with handguns, and then shortly after, they kidnapped the man, according to police.

The suspects forced the victim back into his own car and drove to the victims brothers house and kidnapped the brother, police say.

Now both of them are zip-tied with their hands bound while theyre in a car, Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore with the Philadelphia Police Department told reporters. They are being assaulted with firearms, struck with the firearms and the money is being demanded.

Police eventually caught up to the car and the suspects fled.

Police are on the hunt for suspects after two Philadelphia families were targeted in separate home invasions, scene not pictured, over the weekend ( Hannah Beier/Getty Images )

One went one way, one went the other from the car, Vanore said, adding that several hundreds of dollars was taken from the victims.

At one point during the incident, an officer tried to intervene by firing a gun, but no one was injured, police say.

Vanore said it appears to be a targeted crime. Its obvious they knew he was coming home, the deputy commissioner said of the first victim.

At around midnight Sunday, there was another home invasion about four miles away from the first home targeted.

A man dressed in black and armed with a gun approached a father sitting on his porch and forced his way inside the house, police say.

The suspect tied up the man, his wife and their daughter using zip ties and stole $1,000 in cash, according to police. The suspect hit the man in the head with the gun before fleeing, police say.

Its unclear whether the attacks are connected or whether the families knew each other. But police said theres currently no evidence that the two home invasions are tied.

Philadelphia police toldThe Independent Tuesday evening no arrests have been made at this time.
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Two people in San Diego have been arrested after a police investigation led officers to a home packed with stolen merchandise  including shelves lined with WWE action figures worth more than $1,000.

On 2 October, the San Diego County Sheriffs Department executed a search warrant at a residence on Gold Coast Drive. Inside, they detained 36-year-old Brittany Gomez and 52-year-old Miguel Dominguez.

A sweep of the premises led to the recovery of numerous stolen items from Target and Walmart, the San Diego County Sheriffs Office said in a statement.

The haul included toys and other goods investigators say were taken with the intent to resell.

open image in gallery Just a fraction of the hundreds of wrestling action figures seized by police in San Diego ( San Diego County Sheriffs Department )

Photographs released by police show hundreds of toy wrestling figurines, removed from their packaging, filling at least five large shelves and arranged inside toy wrestling rings. Meanwhile, a large number remain inside their original packaging, stacked from floor to ceiling around at least two sides of the room.

The discovery was made as part of an ongoing operation investigating retail theft in the region, according to the police.

Both Gomez and Dominguez were arrested and booked into San Diegos Vista Detention Facility on multiple felony charges, including grand theft, possession of stolen property, and theft of merchandise valued at more than $950.

open image in gallery A thousand dollars worth of molded plastic heroes, seized in the name of justice ( San Diego County Sheriffs Department )

Rare wrestling figures can have a considerable aftermarket value. For example, the WWEs Undertaker Glow-In-The-Dark Classic Superstars model can fetch almost $800 in original packaging.

Thats nothing compared to what particular Andre the Giant figures can command: For the soft vinyl Andre the Giant figure (with original cards), collectors can expect to part with around $5,000, according to The Sportster.

But the daddy of them all is the ultra-rare prototype figurine made of Hulk Hogan, who passed away earlier this year. For these prototypes, sums of $50,000 - $120,000 are considered acceptable.
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Neighbors of a New York teenager accused of decapitating his moms boyfriend and leaving his head in the bathtub said the youngster looked relieved as he was taken away by police.

Damien Hurstel did not resist officers as he was taken, handcuffed and bloody, from his home in Staten Island Monday evening and was very calm, with a blank expression on his face, eyewitnesses told The Independent.

The 19-year-old is expected to be charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon in the death of a 45-year-old man following the gruesome killing. The victim was found with multiple stab wounds to the neck and head  which had been removed with a hacksaw, police sources said.

Hurstels 16-year-old sister had discovered the decapitated body, the sources said.

Neighbors were still gathered in the street Tuesday afternoon, almost 24 hours after the incident, and recalled the chaotic scene as Hurstels mother screamed, cried and vomited in the street due to shock.

open image in gallery Neighbors of a New York teenager accused of decapitating his moms boyfriend said the youngster looked relieved as he was taken away by police ( Mike Bedigan/ The Independent )

But as the teenager was led out of the house wearing a black hoodie, sweatpants and Timberland boots which were blood-stained, he did not resist at all.

Honestly he looked like was free from whatever was happening, Jennifer Diaz, who has lived on the street for three years, told The Independent at the scene. He looked relieved. He was very calm  like he was there but he wasnt there.

She added that Hurstel, who had specks of blood on his face, was silent as he was led out and followed police officers instructions to get in the car before being sped away.

He wasnt all bloody  he wasnt there. He was blank, Carmen, another neighbour, told The Independent. He was shocked I guess no roughing with the police he was very calm. No reaction no nothing.

The teenager reportedly has a history of mental illness and is believed to be schizophrenic, according to a property manager who spoke to local news outlets. Neighbors said the crime had seemed personal.

open image in gallery Neighbors were still gathered in the street Tuesday afternoon, almost 24 hours after the incident, and recalled the chaotic scene as Hurstels mother screamed, cried and vomited in the street due to shock ( Mike Bedigan/ The Independent )

open image in gallery As the teenager was led out of the house wearing a black hoodie, sweatpants and Timberland boots which were blood-stained, he did not resist at all, neighbors said ( Mike Bedigan/ The Independent )

There was some built up aggression, Diaz said. If you kill somebody you kill somebody, but to do that with the head thats something more personal But you never know whats going on behind closed doors.

The suspect allegedly told his sister that he did something bad, sources told The New York Post, and tried to prevent her from seeing the gory scene. The teenage girl reportedly called her mother, who arrived after first responders.

Neighbors recalled how the woman had been screaming and throwing up like crazy in the street.

When EMT came here she told them theres no reason for going into the house, you cant save him, Diaz said. And when the cops came here she said her son was in the house and to please dont hurt him.

They said it was like a horror house, Carmen added. Neighboring houses adorned with Halloween decorations added to the eerie scene.

open image in gallery Neighboring houses adorned with Halloween decorations added to the eerie scene Tuesday ( Mike Bedigan/ The Independent )

open image in gallery The 19-year-old suspect is expected to be charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon ( Mike Bedigan/ The Independent )

According to the property manager, the victim was a retired employee of New Yorks Department of Sanitation, who was forced to go on disability due to severe vision loss, a friend of the victim told The Post.

The man, who has yet to be named, was often seen smoking a daily cigarette out on his porch. The family had largely kept to themselves, neighbors said.

He used to sit in that chair by the window I used to say hello to him and I said bye, not enough when I spoke to him or knew his name, but I saw him every day, a third neighbor, who did not want to be named, told The Independent.

Neighbors said that the incident had left them shaken. You dont know who you have [nearby] sometimes, Carmen Diaz told The Independent.

Two friends of the victim, Louis Ortiz and Donna Ortiz, said that the man had not deserved what had happened to him, and criticized the city mental health services for not doing more to help Hurstel.

Its crazy, Louis said. I cant even believe I was looking at my friends house on the TV screen. And I had to get up and run over here because I didnt want to believe that it was true until I saw it with my eyes.

This didnt deserve to happen to him, Donna added. He was just about to retire and live his life as best as he could.
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A Texas man has been arrested for fatally shooting an Indian student at a gas station Friday night before going on a rampage.

The Fort Worth Police Department responded to a call at around 8:45 p.m. from a gas station in the 1400 block of Eastchase Parkway after reports of a staff member being shot.

Twenty-eight-year-old Chandrashekar Pole from Hyderabad in Telangana state was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Florez drove away from the scene and, about a mile away, allegedly fired shots at an occupied vehicle and rammed into it several times in a night of frenzy. No injuries were reported.

Shortly after, Florez allegedly rammed through a metal gate at a residence on Meadowbrook Drive and attempted to enter the home. No residents were injured during the attempted break-in.

Police said they arrived at the residence after a 911 call and arrested Florez, recovering a gun from inside his vehicle.

Officer Brad Perez, a Fort Worth police spokesperson, said he was taken to hospital for injuries and booked for homicide.

Police said an investigation is ongoing and the motive behind the shooting has not yet been determined.

A GoFundMe has been set up to raise money to send Poles body to India so his parents can see him one last time and perform his final rites, the page said. It has so far raised around $51,000 (38,000).

Describing him as full of dreams, hope and determination to make his family proud, the page said: Our hearts are shattered as we share the heartbreaking loss of our dear friend Chandrashekar Pole.

He completed his bachelor of dental surgery in Hyderabad and gone to the U.S. in 2023 to pursue a masters degree in data analytics at the University of North Texas, Denton. He completed his course in April and was job-hunting while working part-time at the gas station.

Satish Reddy, president-elect of the American Telugu Association, that is said to be making efforts for repatriation of his remains, said: Its not just a loss for one family, its a loss for the community.

He said he expects the body to leave on a flight to India Wednesday evening.

It was the latest attack that has heightened fears within the Indian-American community amid a broader surge in anti-Indian sentiment and xenophobic incidents earlier in the year.

In September, president Donald Trump vowed justice after the beheading of an Indian-origin hotel manager in Texas, saying the suspect in the case will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Chandra Mouli Nagamallaiah, 50, was beheaded by an edged weapon at a motel in Dallas after an argument with his co-worker, police say. Cuban national Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, 37, was arrested and charged with murder.

In March, classical dancer Amarnath Ghosh, 34, was shot and killed in St Louis, Missouri. The homicide investigation led by the St Louis Metropolitan Police Department is ongoing.

IT executive Vivek Taneja, 41, of Alexandria, Virginia, died from his injuries days after being struck in the head outside a restaurant on February 2, according to Washington DC Metropolitan Police. Charges are pending against an unidentified suspect.

Some Indian students have linked the deaths to increased threats and discrimination.

The Indian Embassy held virtual sessions in February for students on wellbeing and how to remain in touch with the diaspora, meetings that took on new meaning following the deaths, according to NDTV. Students from 90 universities took part in the session led by ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan and attended by consul generals in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle.

There are around 4.4 million Indian-Americans, and 268,923 Indian students came to the U.S. for the 2022-2023 academic year. Several thousands more people come from India to the US on work visas.
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A Texas mother who allegedly fatally shot two of her children, and wounded two others, has a fifth child who remains missing five days after the deadly attack.

Oninda Romelus, 31, has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of murder after the shooting early Saturday in Houston.

All four children were discovered by police in her vehicle at a gas station after she called 911. The shooting is believed to have happened inside the vehicle, the Brazoria County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. When deputies arrived on the scene, they immediately started lifesaving aid on the children.

Romelus three-year-old daughter and son, 13, were pronounced dead at the scene. Her eight-year-old son and daughter, nine, were flown to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston and are expected to recover. Both children have been talking with investigators, KHOU reported.

Following the shooting, investigators searched the family home in Porter and learned she also has a 17-year-old child, according to court documents obtained by FOX26. The search for the teen entered its fifth day Wednesday.

open image in gallery Oninda Romelus (pictured in 2022), was arrested after she allegedly opened fire on her kids early Saturday before calling 911 from a gas station in the Houston area ( Fayette County Sheriff's Office )

Investigators also uncovered a large amount of social security cards and other identification documents containing identifying information of numerous individuals, including U.S. Treasury checks addressed to the home under different names, during the search.

Romelus called 911 around 4:45 a.m. Saturday and told dispatchers to have the police meet her at the gas station.

Surveillance video shows Romelus at the gas pump, speaking on her phone as she fueled up, according to court records. Brazoria County deputies said she appeared detached and unresponsive as they approached her.

When investigators tried to question her at the gas station, court documents say Romelus appeared alert but gave disjointed answers.

Asked why she called 911, she allegedly replied: Instead of them doing it to me, Im gonna do it to them.

When pressed to explain, Romelus said, kill them all, according to court documents.

She also reportedly told investigators that she hadnt called 911 but called the devil.

When investigators asked what she meant, she allegedly said: Theyre dead, and adding: Cause you cant take me without me taking you.

Romelus also allegedly made several incriminating statements when she was later questioned at the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office, KHOU reported.

open image in gallery Romelus called 911 from a gas station in Angleton, outside of Houston, and told police to meet her there. When they arrived, they found four of her children with gunshot wounds in the car ( KHOU )

Romelus has a 2022 conviction in Fayette County, Georgia, for driving under the influence of drugs.

Melissa Lanford, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services spokesperson, confirmed that the agency is investigating, and that Romelus was known to the authorities.

Child Protective Services is investigating this case and making sure that the safety and well-being of the surviving children is our first priority, Lanford said.

Ms. Romelus has had contact with CPS on one other occasion. Details of that interaction are confidential but will be included in a public Child Fatality Report when our investigation is complete.

Romelus is being held on a $14 million bond at Brazoria County Jail.
BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Malaysian armed forces will conduct a joint drill in Malaysia and its adjacent waters in mid-to-late October, according to a statement released by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense on Wednesday.

Code-named "Peace and Friendship 2025," the drill will focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as maritime security, said the statement.

The live joint exercise will involve multi-service forces from the Chinese and Malaysian militaries. Other ASEAN member states have been invited to send observers, it said.

This will be the sixth joint exercise program of the "Peace and Friendship" series. It aims to deepen practical cooperation between the militaries of China and Southeast Asian countries, enhancing their capability to address non-traditional security threats and safeguard regional peace and stability. 
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A British man has pleaded guilty in New York to involvement in a nearly $100 million fraud, where victims invested in loans meant for fictitious wealthy wine collectors whose wine also did not exist.

James Wellesley, 59, pleaded guilty Tuesday to wire fraud conspiracy before U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen in Brooklyn, according to court records.

Wellesley, also known as Andrew Fuller, had pleaded not guilty to three charges including conspiracy in July.

He remains jailed at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, after unsuccessfully fighting extradition from the United Kingdom.

A lawyer for Wellesley did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

According to his plea agreement, Wellesley could face 10 to 12-and-a-half years in prison under recommended federal guidelines.

open image in gallery Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, where the defendants are being held ( AFP via Getty )

He has also agreed to forfeit $1 million plus funds in more than two dozen bank accounts.

Co-defendant Stephen Burton, 61, who is also British, pleaded guilty in July to wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy, and accepted a $26 million forfeiture order. He is also jailed in Brooklyn.

Prosecutors said Wellesley and Burton posed as executives at London- and Hong Kong-registered Bordeaux Cellars.

They raised $99.4 million by promising loan investors they would receive regular interest payments from "high net worth" wine collectors.

The defendants allegedly claimed the loans were backed by an inventory of more than 25,000 bottles of wine, including from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti in Burgundy and Chateau Lafleur in Bordeaux.

Prosecutors said Bordeaux Cellars controlled far fewer bottles, and as few as 217, while the defendants used loan proceeds for personal expenses and to pay interest to some investors.

The scheme ran from June 2017 to February 2019, and collapsed when interest payments stopped, prosecutors said.

Burton's sentencing is scheduled for January 6, 2026, and Wellesley's sentencing is on February 3, court records show.
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A senior citizen is suing the U.S. Marshals Service, claiming a group of armed officers in Arizona falsely arrested her without checking her identity, despite her repeated pleas they accept proof they had the wrong person.

Im very fearful all the time and very paranoid, Penny McCarthy, 68, told ABC 15 this week.

"It's so unbelievably wrong, she added. And I am not the only person this happens to.

She has since moved out of state because she doesnt feel safe in her previous home of Phoenix, where the arrest took place.

In body camera footage of the incident, officers with rifles can be seen jumping out of vans and ordering McCarthy to put her hands up.

open image in gallery Arizona womans false 2023 arrest by US Marshals made her flee state out of fear, lawsuit claims ( US Marshal Service )

As McCarthy asks questions about why the arrest was taking place and who it was officers were targeting, a voice can be heard ordering the woman to turn away or risk being hit.

As officers eventually load the handcuffed woman into a van, she asks, Do you know who I am?

They respond that McCarthy is a woman named Carole Rozak, who it was later revealed was wanted on a two-decade old probation violation after being released from prison in Texas.

I've never been Carole Rozak, McCarthy says in the clip. I can prove who I am.

open image in gallery Officers failed to check Penny McCarthys ID and lacked a warrant during March 2023 arrest, according to a civil rights complaint ( US Marshal Service )

During the encounter, officers claimed to have a warrant for her arrest but actually lacked one, according to the civil rights suit, which was filed in June. They also failed to check her drivers license or run basic steps to confirm they had the right suspect.

After her arrest, McCarthy was repeatedly strip searched and spent the night in jail before being released. The Marshals later admitted they had mistakenly arrested her.

McCarthys suit names the Marshals, the U.S. government, and the unnamed officers involved in the arrest, claiming the 68-year-olds Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights were violated.

It also alleges none of the officers involved faced discipline and no policies were changed after the arrest.

open image in gallery The Marshals Service has blamed a fingerprinting glitch for McCarthys mistaken arrest ( John Lamparski/Getty Images )

The Marshals Service has said it is aware of the suit but does not comment on pending litigation.

In August, the government moved to dismiss itself from the suit, arguing McCarthy failed to properly state a claim. It also claimed the Marshals employees might be exempt from prosecution, describing the officers as federal employees acting in the scope of their employment.

The Department of Justice began a review of the arrest late last year, though results are not expected for months.

Members of Congress have also spoken out about the arrest, calling it an example of excessive force.

We are very concerned at both the [Marshals Service] carelessness and the excessive force during this encounter, a group of House members wrote in a letter to the DOJ last year. The USMSs lack of regard for Ms. McCarthys due process rights is very troubling and oversight is necessary to ensure similar abuses do not happen in the future.

The Marshals have said a fingerprinting glitch matched McCarthy to Rozak, admitting they had the wrong person after local media attention into the arrest surged.
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OpenAI has said that some China-based ChatGPT users have been using the AI chatbot for authoritarian abuses.

In the companys latest threat report, OpenAI revealed that it had banned several accounts that appeared to be linked to various government entities in China after they violated policies relating to national security uses.

Some of these accounts asked our models to generate work proposals for large-scale systems designed to monitor social media conversations, the report stated.

While these uses appear to have been individual rather than institutional, they provide a rare snapshot into the broader world of authoritarian abuses of AI.

The worlds leading AI firm, which was recently valued at $500 billion, said that a cluster of Chinese-language accounts had also been caught using ChatGPT to assist in cyber operations against Taiwans semiconductor sector, US academia, and political groups critical of the Chinese Communist Party.

In some instances, the threat actors used ChatGPT to generate formal emails in English in order to carry out phishing campaigns designed to breach IT systems.

ChatGPT is not available in China due to the countrys strict internet censorship, known as the Great Firewall of China, however OpenAI offers Chinese-language versions of the app that can be accessed via virtual private networks (VPNs).

Our disruption of ChatGPT accounts used by individuals apparently linked to Chinese government entities shines some light on the current state of AI usage in this authoritarian setting, OpenAIs 37-page report noted.

The authors of the report also noted cyber operations conducted by Russian- and Korean-speaking users.

These did not appear to be linked to government entities, however some may have been affiliated with state-backed criminal groups.

OpenAI claims to have disrupted over 40 malicious networks since it first began releasing public threat reports in February 2024.

The latest report said that no new offensive capabilities had been discovered for its latest AI models.
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Hundreds of millions of people around the world are at risk of falling victim to cyber attacks if they do not update their computers today, Microsoft has warned.

A decade after releasing Windows 10, Microsoft will end support for the operating system on 14 October, meaning it will no longer receive protection from online threats.

Microsoft will no longer provide security and feature updates and technical support for Windows 10 PCs, Microsoft executive Yusuf Mehdi wrote in a blog post.

While these devices will continue to function, they will no longer receive regular security updates, making them more vulnerable to cyber threats, such as malware and viruses.

Just over 40 per cent of all Windows users still run the old operating system, according to the latest figures from StatCounter Global Stats, which analyses billions of page views across 1.5 million websites.

What are the risks for Windows 10 users?

Consumer campaigners in the UK have said that an estimated 5 million computer users in the country use a device that still runs Windows 10 software.

A new survey by Which? suggests that a quarter of those still using Windows 10 intend to keep running it after the update deadline passes.

Our research suggests millions of people may be unprepared for the phasing out of Windows 10, said Which? editor Lisa Barber. If you dont act, you could become more vulnerable to hackers and scams.

open image in gallery A screen showing the Windows 10 logo at a press event at Microsoft's campus in Washington on 21 January, 2015 ( Glenn Chapman/AFP via Getty Images )

As well as the increased risk of cyber attacks, Windows 10 users may notice that their devices are no longer working properly.

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In his blog post, Microsofts Yusuf Mehdi noted that updating to the newer Windows 11 operating system was a natural part of the lifecycle of software to ensure new features and innovations can be rolled out.

Applications running on Windows 10 may no longer be supported, as the platform is no longer receiving feature updates, he said. As a result, some apps may experience decreased functionality.

How to check and update your operating system

It is free to upgrade to Windows 11, but a computer must meet the minimum hardware requirements in order to install it.

You might have already received a notification about upgrading, a Microsoft post about the process explains.

To check if your PC is eligible for the free upgrade go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates.

If a device is unable to update to the latest operating system, users are able to enroll in the Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program.

This is aimed at reducing the risk of malware and cyber attacks through critical security updates, however it does not provide other types of fixes, feature improvements or technical support.

The extended security updates offered by the ESU program will end on 13 October next year.

To access it, Windows 10 users can follow the same process as updating to Windows 11 mentioned above, with a link to a enroll appearing in the Windows Update section.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye speaks during the opening ceremony of the Invest in Senegal Forum 2025 in Diamniadio, Senegal, Oct. 7, 2025. The Invest in Senegal Forum 2025 opened on Tuesday in the city of Diamniadio, near Senegal's capital of Dakar, aiming to accelerate the inflow of foreign capital. (Senegalese Presidential Palace/Handout via Xinhua)

DAKAR, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Invest in Senegal Forum 2025 opened on Tuesday in the city of Diamniadio, near Senegal's capital of Dakar, aiming to accelerate the inflow of foreign capital.

The two-day event, under the theme "Connecting Opportunities, Building the Future," brought together government officials, experts and international investors from multiple countries.

In his opening address, Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye said his country enjoys multiple advantages in attracting foreign investment, noting that the government remains committed to improving the business environment and welcomes partners from all sectors to share experience and build mutually beneficial cooperation.

During the forum, Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko visited the exhibition area of Chinese enterprises at the invitation of Chinese Ambassador to Senegal Li Zhigang.

Li said the Chinese exhibition area, organized by more than 20 Chinese companies, showcases achievements and prospects of China-Senegal cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, 5G communications, smart manufacturing and low-carbon technologies.

He expressed the hope that the business communities of both countries will build consensus, align development needs and create a shared future.

To date, more than 100 Chinese enterprises have invested and operated in Senegal, spanning sectors including major infrastructure construction such as highways, bridges and ports, as well as the manufacturing of steel, ceramics and building materials, in addition to information technology and high-tech industries. 

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye speaks during the opening ceremony of the Invest in Senegal Forum 2025 in Diamniadio, Senegal, Oct. 7, 2025. The Invest in Senegal Forum 2025 opened on Tuesday in the city of Diamniadio, near Senegal's capital of Dakar, aiming to accelerate the inflow of foreign capital.

The two-day event, under the theme "Connecting Opportunities, Building the Future," brought together government officials, experts and international investors from multiple countries. (Senegalese Presidential Palace/Handout via Xinhua)
Louisiana hasn't had a Black statewide elected official since Reconstruction. After the poor showing of Black Democrat Shawn Wilson against White Republican Jeff Landry and a field of other gubernatorial candidates in 2023, it doesn't seem likely we'll have another one anytime soon.
Derrick Groves, the last of the 10 escaped inmates who fled the Orleans Parish jail in the middle of the night in May, was recaptured in Atlanta on Wednesday after a standoff with law enforcement.
SBS staff remain unable to use the word Palestine in news stories despite the federal government recognising its statehood at the UN last month, as tensions over reporting on the conflict in Gaza remain high in newsrooms across the country two years after the October 7 massacre.

While some of those tensions have been momentarily alleviated after Australia last month became one of more than 150 nations that recognise the State of Palestine, staff at the multicultural broadcaster say their organisations own response to meet the moment  or lack thereof  is stark.

SBS staffers say they are experiencing increasing levels of grief and moral injury caused by its hardline editorial approach to the conflict in Gaza. Credit: Gabriele Charotte

On September 22, the day after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recognised Palestine in a statement, SBS staff were informed the term Occupied Palestinian Territories would be still used when referring to the Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Its journalists are permitted to qualify that Australia now recognises these areas as the State of Palestine, or that Australia and the majority of UN member states now recognise the State of Palestine, but are not to refer to it as that in editorial copy, or without qualification, according to an editorial style guide update circulated by Lanneke Hargreaves, SBS current affairs managing editor.
Strickland Metals has catapulted its Copper Canyon deposit right back into the spotlight with a spectacular 191.2m drill intercept from just 4.8m depth at its 7.4-million-ounce gold equivalent Rogozna project in Serbia.

The standout hole hit 191.2m of mineralisation grading 0.5 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 0.5 per cent copper, including 110.5m running at 0.6g/t gold and 0.6 per cent copper from 68.6m.

Core from a sample taken from 102m showing semi-massive chalcopyrite, pyrite and pyrrhotite mineralisation grading 1.3g/t gold and 2.9 per cent copper at Strickland Metals Copper Canyon prospect, part of its Rogozna gold and base metals project in Serbia.

The shallow, high-grade intercept ranks as one of the biggest copper-rich hits ever recorded at Rogozna, positioning it as a potential game-changer for Strickland.

Further sections of the monster hole came in at 25.9m grading 1.2g/t gold and 1.1 per cent copper from 97.9m, 20m going at 0.5g/t gold and 1.0 per cent copper from 159m and a higher-grade zone of 0.7m grading 3.9g/t gold and 5.6 per cent copper from 195.3m.
People see off crew members of the Chinese Navy hospital ship "Silk Road Ark" at Suva Port in Suva, Fiji, Oct. 8, 2025. The Chinese Navy hospital ship "Silk Road Ark," which is on "Mission Harmony-2025," successfully completed a seven-day friendly visit and humanitarian medical service to Fiji and set off for Tonga on Wednesday. (Photo by Cui Xiaoyang/Xinhua)

SUVA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Navy hospital ship "Silk Road Ark," which is on "Mission Harmony-2025," successfully completed a seven-day friendly visit and humanitarian medical service to Fiji and set off for Tonga on Wednesday.

During its stay in Fiji, the hospital ship provided medical treatment for 3,330 person-times, performed 426 surgeries of various types, and carried out 2,531 auxiliary examinations and tests.

Fiji's Minister for Defense and Veterans Affairs Pio Tikoduadua said that the "Silk Road Ark" has delivered tangible benefits to the Fijian community, representing a welcome symbol of care, service, and goodwill.

Before the hospital ship set sail, it conducted a joint maritime search and rescue drill with the Fiji Navy in the waters near Fiji, focusing on subjects such as maritime transfer and maritime treatment.

After the drill, the "Silk Road Ark" left for Tonga.

This is the third time that a Chinese naval hospital ship carried out the "Mission Harmony" in Fiji. It is also the first time that the Chinese and Fiji navies have conducted a joint search and rescue drill. 

The Chinese Navy hospital ship "Silk Road Ark" conducts a joint maritime search and rescue drill with the Fiji Navy in the waters near Fiji, Oct. 8, 2025. The Chinese Navy hospital ship "Silk Road Ark," which is on "Mission Harmony-2025," successfully completed a seven-day friendly visit and humanitarian medical service to Fiji and set off for Tonga on Wednesday. (Photo by Wang Junchuan/Xinhua)

The Chinese Navy hospital ship "Silk Road Ark" leaves Suva Port in Suva, Fiji, Oct. 8, 2025. The Chinese Navy hospital ship "Silk Road Ark," which is on "Mission Harmony-2025," successfully completed a seven-day friendly visit and humanitarian medical service to Fiji and set off for Tonga on Wednesday. (Photo by Cui Xiaoyang/Xinhua)

Chinese doctors from the Chinese Navy hospital ship "Silk Road Ark" and local doctors perform a surgery on a patient at a local hospital in Suva, Fiji, Oct. 6, 2025. The Chinese Navy hospital ship "Silk Road Ark," which is on "Mission Harmony-2025," successfully completed a seven-day friendly visit and humanitarian medical service to Fiji and set off for Tonga on Wednesday. (Photo by Cui Xiaoyang/Xinhua)
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 When news of the death of the revered conservationist Jane Goodall arrived last week, a handful of Netflix employees knew they faced a few very long work days. Those people would have 48 hours to put the finishing touches on a new show that was already years in the making. On Friday, without much fanfare, Netflix released the first episode of that show, Famous Last Words, a series of late-life interviews with famous people, whose contents  including their subjects identities  are kept closely guarded until after the subject dies. Goodalls interview, which was completed in March, was one of a handful that have been sitting in a Netflix vault for months. She was simply the first among those interviewed to die. Jane Goodall, with interviewer Brad Falchuk, in the Netflix show Famous Last Words. In the 55-minute episode, Goodall, known for her groundbreaking work documenting the lives of chimpanzees, offers a candid assessment of the dark times she says we are now living in. She reserves some particularly choice words for world leaders, including President Donald Trump. But Goodall, who died at 91, also says repeatedly that she believes she was put on earth to advance a particular mission. And in a final message, she calls for hope. If you want to save what is still beautiful in this world, she says in the episode, which was edited down from roughly four hours of footage, then think about the actions you take each day. Dont give up, she adds. There is a future for you. Famous Last Words was adapted from the beloved Danish TV series Det Sidste Ord (The Last Word) which debuted in 2020. Netflix licensed the format for use outside of Scandinavia.

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The executive producer of Famous Last Words, Brad Falchuk, who is also the interviewer, first spoke about the series in June. By that time, he had already been working on the show for more than two years, he said, and Netflix had around four episodes ready to release. Another four were in the works (neither Netflix nor Falchuk would disclose the subjects of the pending episodes). If Falchuk had one overarching takeaway from the interviews he had conducted so far, he said, it was this: Nobody says, Wow, I really should have spent more time at work. Jane Goodall with a gorilla at Melbourne Zoo in 2008. Credit: Craig Abraham Danish origins The TV and radio host Mikael Bertelsen, who created the original Danish series, said the germ of what would become Det Sidste Ord began several years ago, when a Danish comedian he had been interviewing suddenly died. Then, one evening after an event at the Royal Danish Library, the head of the library began complaining about how none of the interviews on modern television were well suited for cultural heritage purposes. Might Bertelsen consider trying to make something longer that could last? That made me want to start up, said Bertelsen. But, he added: It took me, I mean, eight years to get somebody to believe the idea.

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Mikkel Bondesen, Falchuks producing partner, became captivated immediately by Det Sidste Ord. He approached Bertelsen, and eventually Bondesen and Falchuk took the idea to Netflix. I had never seen something that was so opposite of TV, Bondesen said. No cutaways to clips. No photos. Just two people in a room talking. Loading The concept of the Netflix series is almost identical to that of the Danish version. The cameras are remotely operated, so no one but the subject and the interviewer is on the soundstage. Even those in the control room do not have earpieces and cannot hear what is being discussed. Falchuk asks some of his questions in the past tense. He reminds subjects, he said, that they are dead. Across the threshold into death From the start, Falchuk felt he needed to do the interviews himself. That would keep the circle of people involved tight and ensure the guest was always the star. He also felt confident, as the husband of Gwyneth Paltrow, that he understood why famous people lock up, he said, and he might sometimes know how to get them to let their guards down. (Falchuk has traditionally worked in scripted television, creating multiple series with Ryan Murphy including American Horror Story, Pose and 9-1-1.) Falchuk wants the show to give viewers a chance to spend a bit more time with people they have grown to love. The idea of this show is, were giving you just an extra hour, he said.

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Famous Last Words is not transactional, he said. Its not to get them to say some secret about their lives thats a big front-page New York Post story. Its a service to these people to deliver their last words, he added. Were almost bringing them across the threshold into death. If they dont want to talk about something, we dont talk about it. For the interviews, Netflix relies on a studio in Los Angeles and also a mobile studio that can travel, said Brandon Riegg, who heads nonfiction programming for the streamer. Many of the interview subjects are in their 90s, after all. Jane Goodall with her first husband Hugo van Lawick, a camera and a friend in 1974. Credit: AP The end For Goodalls episode, she brought along Mr H, a cherished stuffed monkey given to her 34 years before. After being seated, she takes a sip of whisky, which she continues to sip throughout the conversation. At one point, Falchuk notes the reverence so many people have for Goodall and her work and the measured, thoughtful temperament she has long deployed in her fight to save the planet. But then he probes: Who is the fight against, exactly? Who does she dislike?

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The obvious difficulty for anyone telling the story of 1066 is that there are no surprises: we all know what happened at the Battle of Hastings. The Bayeux Tapestry  a kind of 11th-century version of a miniseries, rendered in embroidery  depicted the saga over 58 scenes that show how Harold, King of England, died when an arrow pierced his eye, and his rival from Normandy earned a new title, William the Conqueror. Politically, it was a convulsion. England, now ruled by a French king, was about to be transformed.

Not many of us know much, however, about the machinations and intrigues that led up to that final fight, still less about the rivals themselves. I think this is the thing, says Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau. He plays William in King and Conqueror, a new eight-part series dramatising that power struggle. We know the major things that happened. Like any major historical drama, we know how its going to end. But how do we get there? Thats the fun part. What did they talk about? And who the hell can we trust?

Nobody, it seems; a dagger can appear from anywhere. Written by Michael Robert Johnson, whose credits include Guy Ritchies Sherlock Holmes, King and Conqueror is a bloody mix of historical fact and imaginative reconstruction, enlivened with some large dollops of swashbuckling. British viewers and critics have compared it to Game of Thrones  not least because Coster-Waldau also played GOT villain Jaime Lannister  but also found a modern parallel in Succession.

The similarities are, in fact, glaring. Harold is the middle boy of three brothers, constantly vying with his bullying reprobate sibling, Sweyn, for his royal fathers favour; William the Bastard has survived a chaotic childhood and acquired a legitimate title only because he was scooped up as a favourite by Henry, the French king (Jean-Marc Barr). The Roy family  fictional characters, yet also not quite fictional, rather like these kings  would fit right in. Humans evolve, but not that much, says Coster-Waldau. Were still a greedy bunch that always wants more. That doesnt seem to change.

James Norton as Harold, King of England, in King and Conqueror.

James Norton plays Harold, giving him plenty of swagger; he is also one half of Rabbit Track Pictures, the production company behind the series. Michael Johnson brought him the idea seven years ago, in the companys early days. It was very humbling, as an actor, to see how much work goes into the script stage, particularly, he remembers. Endless notes, endless revisions, even before we had anything to take to the BBC and CBS.

Timelines had to be compressed for dramatic purposes, but Norton was surprised how closely the script cleaved to what historical records there are. When Mike was issuing more and more scripts, we couldnt believe that what he was writing about had actually happened, Norton says, laughing. But as they moved into production in Iceland, he steered away from his producers duties to concentrate on Harold as a dramatic character. For me, it was about the why. Why he was willing to sacrifice so much for power, for the crown. He persuades himself its to protect his family, but at a certain point something else has taken hold.
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 a match made in prison: in the 1870s, bank robber Andrew Scott  who used the alias Captain Moonlite  met a petty thief named James Nesbitt inside a Melbourne jail. After being released, they moved in together. Not long after, Moonlite assembled a gang of bushrangers, appointing Nesbitt as his deputy. But when this gang attempted to hold up Wantabadgery Station in NSW, Nesbitt was shot during a stand-off with police. As he lay dying, according to one report, his leader wept over him like a child, laid his head upon his breast and kissed him passionately. And when Moonlite was sent to the gallows, he wore a lock of Nesbitts hair around his finger. Rachel Griffiths in The Idea of Australia on SBS. More than a century later, a trove of letters  written by Moonlite while awaiting execution  was discovered. In these, he recorded his love for Nesbitt and expressed his desire to be buried with his dearest Jim so they could be together for eternity. But most of these letters were seized by the prisons governor, who refused to mail them on account of their dirty nature. We cannot be certain Moonlite and Nesbitt were lovers. The mere possibility, however, was enough to ensure their story remained obscure until relatively recently. This lesser-known chapter of our history is explored by acclaimed actor Rachel Griffiths in her excellent four-part SBS documentary program, The Idea of Australia. She has also made a five-episode series for ABC titled When the War is Over, which examines the songs, paintings, films and other artworks that have transformed Australians understanding of our biggest wars. Griffiths, who describes herself as a history buff and a war nerd, was surprised by what she learnt while filming each program.

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There were so many things that made me think, Why have we forgotten this? or Why have we never raised this before? she says. Sometimes, it might be an inconvenient truth  but sometimes, its a wonderful truth that makes you think, We should remember and celebrate this. Case in point: in The Idea of Australia, Griffiths tackles the myth Australia was never blighted by slavery. Between 1863 and 1904, for instance, an estimated 62,000 South Sea Islanders were abducted and shipped to Queensland, where they were forced to work on sugar cane plantations. Captain Moonlite was frank about his feelings for James Nesbitt. But this show is also really good at reminding us of those moments when, as Australians, we were excited and we felt like being better was possible, she says. We shouldnt give up believing that this country can continue aiming to be one of the most functioning, wondrous, multicultural democracies on earth. Based on Julianne Schultzs book of the same name, the series, which is produced by Blackfella Films, covers everything from the conflicts between European settlers and First Nations peoples to the politicisation of the Anzac legend. Griffiths interviewed 60 people for the program, including musician Paul Kelly, filmmaker Rachel Perkins, author Bruce Pascoe, academic Marcia Langton, broadcasters Kerry OBrien and Ray Martin, and activists Grace Tame and Thomas Mayo. These are people who think a lot about who we are and where weve come from, and how we can find and commit to our common Australian values, she says. My role is to be the curious person who is discovering things along with the audience. Its an ambitious, thought-provoking, ideas-embracing show.

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Likewise, When the War is Over is not your typical war documentary. Instead of the usual talking heads and archival footage, Griffiths gets her boots on the ground, visiting key battle sites from the first and second world wars, Vietnam, Afghanistan  and the conflicts between Aboriginal Australians and European settlers. Loading Ive always understood artists to be the conscience of war, she says, explaining her approach to the series. Im not naive about war; like every artist, I wish they didnt happen. But I think theyre inevitable because humans can be catastrophically awful to each other. Among the artworks Griffiths examines are Peter Weirs blockbuster film Gallipoli; paintings by Ben Quilty, whose canvases laid bare the trauma suffered by soldiers returning from Afghanistan; and the songs Khe Sanh by Cold Chisel and I Was Only 19 by Redgum. War demands that you think in black and white, she says. You have to take a position of good versus bad, whereas art asks you to see all the shades in between. This extends to elements of the anti-war movement. [Weve been] a nation divided, where one side was so hellbent on protest that we lost any sense of humanity for those who were sent to fight, Griffiths says. And I think thats something the audience will recognise. You can hate a war, but dont hate the guy your nation has sent to fight it.

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While researching the infamous Burma-Thailand railway, Griffiths was astonished to learn some of the prisoners who built the infrastructure adorned it with illustrations of butterflies. Loading They were making art in a literal hell, she says. Youve got some guy who doesnt know if hes got another day on this earth  and who has been dehumanised as a captive of the Japanese  insisting upon his humanity by painting a butterfly and finding beauty. This, Griffiths believes, is proof that even under the worst conditions, art can provide a kind of spiritual sustenance. When I was making this show, I got quite tired of this cultural narrative that artists are all indulged, left-wing, bubble-living people with a university degree thats of no value to society, she says. If artists are just the cream on the cake, and if theyre so secondary to life, why do we turn to them to make sense of humanitys most dastardly endeavours? Art and love are the two things we can do to defy any circumstance. Its about not giving up on your capacity to love, or your capacity to find humanity and beauty. The Idea of Australia premieres October 15 at 7.30pm on SBS; When the War is Over premieres on November 18 at 8pm on ABC.
Police say a former UFC fighter shot dead while on an early evening walk in Sydneys north-west had links to large-scale drug and gun supply as they investigate links between this shooting and shots fired at a home in Sydneys west last week.

Suman Mokhtarian, 33, was shot in a brazen and targeted daylight attack at the intersection of two residential streets in Riverstone, north of The Ponds, about 6pm on Wednesday.

He was shot in the upper body and was unable to be revived by paramedics. It was at least the third time he had allegedly been targeted.

A white van was set alight soon after the shooting death of Suman Mokhtarian. Credit: Nine News

Two cars set alight in the suburb are believed to be linked to the killing. Home security footage showed a white van ablaze rolling out of a driveway, setting fire to grass around it and sending plumes of black smoke into the air. A red Audi was also located burning in a separate location.
The inner-north suburb of Wooloowin is far from the edge of the world  its less than 10 kilometres from Brisbanes city centre  but it might as well be if youre on a hired e-scooter.

Users are bound by an invisible line, known as geofencing, that keeps the large hire fleet in the citys inner-ring.

This travel restriction has led to e-scooters being abandoned at the fringes of the map, sometimes across footpaths, other times in messy piles.

Lime and Neuron e-scooters and e-bikes at Bridge Street near the Wooloowin train station. Credit: Felicity Caldwell

On Bridge Street, next to the Wooloowin train station at the edge of the geofence boundary, e-bikes and e-scooters can be seen dumped in a large heap.
Seeing students go on to apply their maths skills at work was particularly fulfilling. I am also a lifelong learner. I love change. I love looking for better ways of doing things, and I get a little buzz out of something succeeding. Victorian College of the Deaf secondary school leader Robert Harrow is also a champion for change. When he graduated from high school 12 years ago, his teacher gave him a picture of Nelson Mandela that said: Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.

Victorian College of the Deaf secondary school leader Robert Harrow. Its something thats resonated with him. The 30-year-old, a finalist for most outstanding secondary teacher, has been instrumental in shifting accessibility and increasing education standards for deaf students at the College of the Deaf, which is the only bilingual school for the deaf in Australia from foundation to year 12 where students can learn in Auslan and English. In his seven years at the school, hes helped introduce explicit direct instruction across age groups. Our students are now achieving milestones in English and maths once thought unattainable, he said.

Equally central to our success is our deaf-led wellbeing framework, which prioritises deaf identity, belonging and cultural pride. In 2025, for the first time in 15 years, students in year 11 enrolled in VCE, representing more than 25 per cent of their year 11 cohort. He also developed the first deaf-led Auslan translation of the Attitudes to School Survey alongside the Education Department and a deaf-led business. Accessibility is more than just providing Auslan interpreters; it is about equity of experience, Harrow said. Barton Primary School principal Ben Vevers, finalist for most outstanding primary school principal, led a cultural shift over the past four years at his Cranbourne West school.

The first step was coming in and saying, What does this community need? he said. Vevers then worked on a lengthy consultation with staff, students and teachers, even turning ourselves into more multilingual staff to ensure they gave everyone a voice, then put in processes, policies and teams to do something with that voice. Barton Primary School principal Ben Vevers. It led to a complete reset of the schools vision and values and revamped its approach to leadership, teaching, wellbeing and behaviour management. The schools recent NAPLAN data showed fewer students needing additional support and more students achieving in reading and writing. Vevers said staff were educated on the complex needs of the community, working alongside Community Hubs Australia and Wellsprings for Women to develop a youth worker approach, with early intervention beginning from four years old.

We arent saying were perfect, but we have proved we can shift outcomes over time for our community. We have high support with high expectations, so everyone can succeed. For him, giving more vulnerable people such as refugees a sense of belonging at the school was powerful. Mary Zervos with her students at Vermont Secondary College. Credit: Eddie Jim Western Port Secondary College principal Christopher Quinn also focuses on connection, greeting students, families and staff at the school gate by name every morning. This daily ritual is not only symbolic, it also strategically sets the tone for every student to set them up for success every day, he said.

Hes been at the Hastings school for 20 years and has been principal for seven, overseeing an improvement in NAPLAN and ATAR scores from 2022 to 2025 as well as a college reset after a 2022 review showed increasingly disengaged students, behavioural inconsistency and struggling staff post-pandemic. Quinn unified staff through a positive behaviour support framework, and embedded routine across the school. Teachers reported an improvement in their psychological safety, shooting up to 97 per cent in 2025 from 41 per cent in 2022. And when it comes to providing good opportunities for high-ability students, Albert Park College is a finalist as one of the best. Assistant principal Hayley Schirmer said more than half of the students at the school achieved an ATAR above 90, with the average subject score at 35, results as strong as some select-entry schools. The school runs the select-entry accredited learning (SEAL) program.
The finalists for this years WA media awards have just been announced, with WAtoday and its colleagues at 9 News Perth and Radio 6PR nominated across 10 categories.

Journalist Emma Young has received two nods for her investigative reporting into the plight of WAs dwindling black cockatoo population as it teeters on the brink of extinction.

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Her work highlighting the impacts of mining and land clearing on the native bird numbers has earned her a finalist spot in the Science and Environment category, as well as the coveted Arthur Lovekin Prize for Excellence in Journalism.

Reporter Jesinta Burton has been nominated for the Culture and Arts A.H. Kornweibel Arts Prize for her articles on Hancock Prospectings fight to build a new $240 million headquarters in West Perth, which would mean bulldozing a 100-year-old Federation home which was excluded from the City of Perths heritage list by former Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas casting vote in 2023.

Meanwhile, our 9 News Perth colleague, Connor McGoverne has been recognised for his contributions to WAtoday, with his columns earning him a chance to takeaway the Matt Price Prize at the November 8 awards ceremony.

McGoverne is also a finalist in the Health and Medical category for his investigation into how buying nangs was as easy as ordering UberEats in Western Australia, despite tough new laws.

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9 News Perth sports reporter Paddy Sweeney has been nominated for his sensitive reporting over the tragic deaths of former AFL players and twin brothers, Adam and Troy Selwood, who both died by suicide within months of one another.

9 News Perth reporter Jamie Freestone is a finalist in the Television News Reporting category for his exclusive coverage of a series of school-related assaults in Ellenbrook, which led to the state government holding a round table meeting to address communication gaps between police and the education department.

In a group entry, a number of the 9 News Perths team, including producers, journalists and camera operators, have been recognised in the TV Video Feature category for a three-day feature highlighting the lessons learnt from a double-shooting in Floreat in 2024 which led to significant gun reforms.

And lastly, our colleague at Radio 6PR, Oliver Peterson, has been nominated as a finalist in the Audio Feature category for his interview with former Nedlands Mayor Fiona Argyle over her opposition to a childrens hospice being built in her electorate.

9 News Perth news director Michael Genovese said the Perth divisions hard work was being noticed by the broader industry.

Thats more than Ive ever seen from Nine in one year, he said.

Its an acknowledgement that our original and exclusive stories are having high impact and I couldnt be more proud of our newsroom.
Optus sent two emails to an incorrect address at the Department of Communications, alerting it of the Triple Zero outage on September 18, despite the telecommunications giant updating its system a week earlier to have emails sent to the departments correct channels.

Appearing before a Senate estimates hearing on Wednesday, department officials confirmed that Optus was notified of the email change a week before the outage on September 11, and had updated its systems to reflect the change, but still sent emails about the outage to the wrong address.

Emails sent from Optus went to the wrong email address. Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong

The two emails, sent seven minutes apart to a defunct email address on the afternoon of September 18, understated the extent of the 13-hour crisis, and were not found until the department later scoured its systems. The office of Communications Minister Anika Wells was included in the emails and sought assurance from Optus that the Australian Communications and Media Authority had been informed, but did not contact the watchdog directly.

The first email, sent at 2.45pm, said some customers in SA and WA are experiencing impacts to Triple Zero calls and that the issue was being worked through. The second, sent at 2.52pm said the issue had been resolved and that only 10 calls had been impacted.
MOSCOW, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed and several others injured in a Ukrainian shelling and drone attack on Russia's border region of Belgorod, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Wednesday.

"The settlement of Maslova Pristan in the Shebekinsky District came under shelling. According to preliminary information, three people lost their lives and one was injured," Gladkov wrote on Telegram, adding that a social facility had been partially damaged.

The governor said Ukrainian armed forces had attacked populated areas across the Belgorod region with more than 110 unmanned aerial vehicles and fired over 20 rounds of munitions in the past 24 hours.

Residential areas in the Grayvoronsky District were hit by 16 drones and nine rounds of munitions, he said.

"In the village of Moshchenoye, six people, including a child, were injured in a projectile and drone attack on a truck. A four-year-old girl was taken to the regional children's clinical hospital, where she was examined -- barotrauma was not confirmed," he said

"Six adults were hospitalized, while one of the injured continued outpatient treatment," Gladkov added. Another civilian was wounded in a drone strike on a motor vehicle and is currently being treated in hospital, and a private home was also damaged, he added.

Gladkov said multiple other locations across the region had come under attack by Ukrainian drones and other means, leaving several people injured. 
Washington: United States Attorney General Pam Bondi has clashed with Democratic senators and deflected questions about her actions at a fiery congressional hearing, amid accusations she is turning the Department of Justice into a weapon to seek vengeance against President Donald Trumps political opponents.

Democrats sought to use the hearing, which took place just 11 days after the indictment of former FBI director James Comey, to warn of what they view as the politicisation of a department that has long prided itself on remaining independent of the White House.

Pam Bondi faces the congressional hearing on Tuesday. Credit: Bloomberg

It took place as Texas National Guard troops gathered in Chicago, Illinois, ahead of a deployment to the city on Trumps orders. Illinois and Chicago are both fighting the move, which they say is unlawful and dangerous, but which Trump says is needed to protect federal immigration enforcement efforts and crack down on crime in the Windy City.

During a grilling that lasted more than four hours on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT), Bondi told Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the top Democrat on the committee, that FBI director Kash Patel and her own deputy, Todd Blanche, were also on their way to Chicago to keep your state safe.
Hands-on STEM projects, technology and equipment to build stronger, enabled communities

HENDERSON, Nev., Oct. 7, 2025 -- Equipping students and teachers with the right tools and resources goes a long way in preparing for the STEM jobs of today and tomorrow.

Toyota USA Foundation's Driving Possibilities initiative is granting up to $5.8 million over five years to Clark County School District. The funds will give students and teachers access to innovative tools and programs designed to embed STEM strategies into classrooms and support teachers through sustained learning.

"We believe all students deserve equal access to opportunities and a pathway to high-growth careers," said Ana Meade, vice president of sustainable development at Toyota. "Through Driving Possibilities, we aim to create access to quality STEM jobs by working with local schools, community partners and industry leaders to address barriers so that everyone can participate."

Driving Possibilities is Toyota's national approach to workforce readiness and community engagement. In Nevada, Toyota is collaborating with the Project Lead the Way and the Just One Project on a community-based approach to combining an expansion of STEM resources and helping to serve the needs of families in each school.

"The Clark County community warmly welcomed us over twenty years ago when we opened the Toyota Financial Savings Bank (TFSB) in Henderson, Nevada," said Tellis Bethel, TFSB CEO. "We are pleased to give back to this community that has done so much for us, and we are proud to contribute to the bright futures of area students."

Clark County School District will embed stackable STEM programming from elementary, middle and high school classrooms while customizing an intentional professional development program for educators. Additionally, schools will be equipped with a dedicated space for students and families to access essential needs such as food and supportive services to help build a stronger, healthier, and more connected community.

Nevada is the tenth site to launch the Driving Possibilities initiative. To date, more than $78.3 million has been announced through multi-year grants with local and national nonprofits, education partners and the communities where Toyota team members live and work. The initiative is funded by Toyota USA Foundation with additional funds provided by Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) and Toyota Financial Services (TFS).

In 2022, the Toyota USA Foundation's Driving Possibilities initiative was launched as a unique way to bring together educators, local and national nonprofits, industry and communities to create limitless possibilities for all. With more than 65 years of active community support across the U.S., efforts span the PreK-12 education continuum, with a foundation in the model developed in the West Dallas area. This is the largest and most comprehensive social innovation effort in Toyota's history.

About Toyota Financial Savings Bank

Toyota Financial Savings Bank ("Toyota Bank") provides banking products and services to eligible Toyota and Lexus Dealer employees, their eligible family members, and eligible Toyota and Lexus Team Members in the United States. Toyota Bank offers a curated suite of savings and loan products, coupled with a dedication to providing high touch service from your own dedicated Personal Banker. Toyota Bank, headquartered in Henderson, Nevada, is a member of the FDIC, and is an Equal Housing Lender.

SOURCE Toyota Motor North America
CENTURY CITY, Calif., Oct. 7, 2025 -- US Auto Trust is proud to announce the acquisition of the Boardwalk Auto Group in Dallas. The purchase adds Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Pagani and Czinger to the group's growing portfolio of world-class luxury automotive dealerships.

"From day one, our focus has been on creating a culture that elevates the client experience to the highest level in the industry," said Edward Glazer, Founder of US Auto Trust. "Every decision we make, from acquisitions to daily operations, is built around delivering exceptional service and long-term trust."

Glazer added, "We are thrilled to bring world-renowned brands such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Pagani into the US Auto Trust family. These marques represent the pinnacle of performance and design, and we look forward to delivering an ownership experience worthy of their legacy."

Since its first acquisition in 2018 of Aston Martin Newport Beach, US Auto Trust has built a reputation for excellence, with Aston Martin awarding the dealership its prestigious Wings Awards five times, cementing it as the #1 Aston Martin dealership in the USA in sales and service. The group also raised the performance of multiple Land Rover dealerships, positioning them to Pinnacle status among the top-ranked stores in the nation prior to their successful sale earlier this year.

With the addition of Boardwalk Auto Group, US Auto Trust strengthens its mission to redefine the luxury automotive experience through a culture centered on service, trust, and an unwavering dedication to its clients.

SOURCE usautotrust.com
NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2025 -- For the second year in a row, Paul Gauguin Cruises has been voted Best Small Cruise in Conde Nast Traveler's2025 Readers' Choice Awards. French Polynesia's destination expert received the top honor based on more than 750,000 votes by readers who rated their recent travel experiences across various categories.

The award underscores Paul Gauguin Cruises' commitment to delivering culturally enriching experiences, all-inclusive luxury, and personalized service on m/s Paul Gauguina ship purpose-built to explore Tahiti and the South Pacific.

"Being named Best Small Cruise by Conde Nast Traveler readers, once again, reflects the deep connection and loyalty our guests feel toward The Gauguin and her crew," Samuel Chamberlain, CEO, PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP Americas said. "Our goal has always been to showcase French Polynesia in a way that preserves its otherworldly beauty and cultural heritage, while giving back to local communities. Many of our crew members have sailed with us for more than 15 years, and some were born and raised on these islands. Their deep connection to the destination inspires a genuine warmth, pride, and hospitality that define The Gauguin Experience. We celebrate this honor with our m/s Paul Gauguin family and look forward to introducing Paul Gauguin Cruises to even more travelers in the year to come."

The intimate, 330-guest m/s Paul Gauguin is an elegant yet relaxed ship, evoking the feel of an overwater "bungalow" that sails. Its sustainable design features a limited draft that allows it to explore the shallow waters and smaller isles of the Society Islands, Tuamotus, Marquesas, Cook Islands, and South Pacific. While the culture is palpable throughout the destination, it comes to life on board through the music, storytelling, and other activities led by Les Gauguines, a troupe of Tahitian hosts who live on the ship.

A recent multimillion-dollar refurbishment introduced an elevated design of Le Grill restaurant, a reimagined pool deck with shaded cabana areas, new connecting staterooms to accommodate the rise in multigenerational travel, an updated livery, and sustainable technology upgrades such as a new seawater filtration system. More than 70 percent of the ship's staterooms feature private balconies, while select staterooms and all suites come with butler service.

Bringing guests even closer to the sea is the ship's watersports marina, offering complimentary paddleboarding, kayaking, and snorkel gear. The Gauguin is also the only passenger ship in French Polynesia with a PADI certification dive program onboard.

Families will appreciate the line's complimentary children's program for ages six to 15 on select summer and holiday voyages. In partnership with Te mana o te moana, the South Pacific's leading marine education and conservation foundation, the Moana Explorer Program engages kids with the local environment and culture through crafts, excursions, and other hands-on activities.

About Paul Gauguin Cruises

Paul Gauguin Cruises operates the 330-guest m/s Paul Gauguin, providing a luxury cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of French Polynesia and the South Pacific. In addition to being voted the Best Small Cruise in Conde Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards for 2024 and 2025an accolade that follows the line's recognition as a Top 2 Small Cruise Line in the same publication in 2023, 2022, and 2021Paul Gauguin Cruises received Seatrade's 2024 Sustainability Initiative of the Year award for its "Taote (doctor) Gauguin" healthcare partnership with the French Polynesian Government. A perennial favorite in French Polynesia for more than 27 years, the line's notable travel and lifestyle awards also include the World's Best Small-Ship Ocean Cruise Line in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards 2022, and four "Best French Polynesia Cruises" in the AFAR Travelers' Choice Awards. In 2019, Paul Gauguin Cruises joined PONANT EXPLORATIONS GROUP, a designer of inspiring voyages on board small exploration ships.

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Link to images HERE.

Photo credits: Noted in the file name.
Photo taken on Aug. 4, 2022 shows the White House and a stop sign in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

"The Republicans shut down the government instead of fixing health care for Americans across this country," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on X.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that some furloughed federal employees may not receive back pay once the government reopens, following earlier threats to lay off federal workers during shutdown.

"I would say it depends on who we're talking about. I can tell you this, the Democrats have put a lot of people in great risk and jeopardy, but it really depends on who you're talking about," Trump said at the White House Oval Office.

"But for the most part, we're going to take care of our people. There are some people that really don't deserve to be taken care of, and we will take care of them in a different way," he said.

The U.S. president did not provide further details on which furloughed federal employees might not receive back pay.

Earlier in the day, Axios reported that furloughed federal workers are not guaranteed compensation for their forced time off during the government shutdown, citing a draft White House memo.

As Trump continued to blame Democrats for the shutdown stalemate, Democratic leaders blamed Republicans.

"The Republicans shut down the government instead of fixing health care for Americans across this country," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on X.

After the previous government shutdown, which lasted 35 days and ended in January 2019, Trump signed a law guaranteeing back pay for federal employees affected by future shutdowns.

Before the law was passed, the U.S. Congress routinely approved back pay for federal workers once a funding bill was approved to reopen the government.

Roughly 750,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed during this shutdown, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office last week.

Federal workers deemed essential -- such as air traffic controllers and law enforcement officers -- will continue working without pay until the government reopens.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday that the government shutdown is adding pressure on already overworked air traffic controllers.
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Ailing tiger from Jungle safari sent to Guj





Staff Reporter

RAIPUR

An ailing tiger from the Jungle Safari in Raipur district has been sent to Jamnagar, Gujarat, for advanced medical treatment. Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap visited the Jungle Safari to review the preparations before the tigers transfer and inquired about its health condition. According to officials, the injured tiger was originally rescued from Indravati National Park in Bijapur district and brought to Raipurs Jungle Safari for treatment. However, after showing little improvement, it was decided to send the tiger to the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Jamnagar for specialized care.

Experts at the Jamnagar facility will provide intensive treatment to the tiger to ensure its recovery. Sharing details of the development on social media platform X, Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap wrote, Today, preparations were reviewed at the Jungle Safari for sending the ailing tiger to Jamnagar (Gujarat) for treatment. The tiger is being sent to the Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Center, Jamnagar, where it will receive expert medical care.
CM calls for accountable governance, inclusive growth at Collector-Commissioners Conference





Staff Reporter :

Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav inaugurated the Collector-Commissioner Conference at Kushabhau Thakre Auditorium on Tuesday, urging all the public servants to work with full dedication for inclusive and overall development of Madhya Pradesh. Addressing the officials, the Chief Minister said that governance must operate in mission mode, with coordination between administration, public representatives, and the community. Dr Yadav said the real goal of governance is to bring development and welfare to the last person in the society. Trust of people is our greatest asset. We must preserve and strengthen it at all costs, he stated. He emphasised the need to simplify and decentralise the system to ensure faster delivery of Government benefits.

Highlighting Madhya Pradeshs achievements, the Chief Minister said the State leads in production of pulses, spices and tomatoes and is now working to become the dairy capital of India. He stressed on the importance of improving irrigation to boost farmer income. He also emphasised providing high-quality, value-based education in line with the National Education Policy 2020 and improving school enrolment rates. Dr Yadav urged all the field officers to increase ground-level engagement, conduct regular inspections and strengthen public grievance redressal systems. He called for verified and timely responses to misleading news, especially on social media and for actively sharing welfare activities through digital platforms. Looking ahead to Simhastha 2028, he directed officers to begin preparations for promoting the States spiritual and cultural heritage, ensuring heritage sites are developed to attract global visitors. He said this will create employment and boost the States economy.

Chief Secretary Anurag Jain said the State is working on Viksit Madhya Pradesh @2047 vision inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with a focus on a prosperous and culturally rich Madhya Pradesh. He informed that action points from the conference will guide future strategies, with more frequent reviews and sectoral field visits by officials. Senior officers including Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, collectors and commissioners participated in the conference.
Indias domestic defence purchases reach Rs 1.20 lakh crore in 2024-25





Defence Minister Rajnath Singh holds a rifle during the inauguration of a national-level conference on Opportunities of Defence Manufacturing in the country, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on Tuesday. (PTI)

NEW DELHI :

INDIA procured military hardware and weapons worth Rs 1,20,000 crore from domestic sources by end of 2024-25 as it is increasingly focusing on boosting self-reliance to confront national security challenges, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday. In an address at an event, Singh said the Government is fully aware of the changing dynamics of battle field, especially the importance of non-contact warfare such as use of drones, and preparing for it accordingly. In this context, he underlined the importance of enhancing Indias own defence industries to meet myriad security challenges. In 2021-22, our capital acquisition from domestic sources was around Rs 74,000 crore, but by the end of 2024-25, the capital acquisition from domestic sources has increased to approximately Rs 1,20,000 crore, he said. This change is not just about data, but also about mindset, he said.

The Defence Minister said the Modi Government has taken several policy initiatives in the last 10 years to encourage indigenous design, development, and manufacturing of defence equipment in the country. Under these initiatives, the highest priority is now being given to domestic sourcing in procurement of military hardware, he noted. The Government of India is fully aware of the changing nature of modern warfare. Todays warfare has become completely technology-oriented. We have seen a demonstration of this in Operation Sindoor as well, he said. In this, we observed that the importance of non-contact warfare, such as drones, anti-drone warfare, and air-defence systems, has significantly increased, he said. Singh also listed goals in the defence sector to realise Indias overall aim to become a developed country by 2047. First is that we must achieve a high degree of self-reliance in the critical defence capabilities. Second, we must become a prominent global exporter in the defence sector, he said. Third, to take India forward in cutting-edge technology sectors, we must achieve advancements in some new niche technologies, he said.
MAIDAN SHAR, Afghanistan, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- In the sturdy stillness of Wardak Province, just 35 km west of Kabul, an unrelenting specter has replaced the echoes of two decades of war. Where U.S. and NATO troops once scarred the land with bombardments and raids, a fragile peace now blankets the valleys.

Yet beneath this quiet, a slow and merciless enemy spreads -- drought. It parches orchards, stifles harvests, and erodes the promise of self-sufficiency. For farmers who have endured years of conflict, the hope of transforming hardship into prosperity remains distant, as the dry winds whisper of renewed struggle.

Ziauddin, a veteran farmer, stands amid the skeletal branches of his orchard, the crimson fruit of past seasons now only a memory. "Drought has caused great damage; there is no water," he said.

"We irrigate our orchards using deep wells, but it's very costly," he told Xinhua.

A lifelong cultivator, Ziauddin dreams of expanding his groves and planting new saplings to secure his family's future. Yet every plan collides with the same obstacle -- water scarcity. "If the water problem were solved, we could plant more trees," he says, a flicker of hope lighting his words.

But the drought persists. "Because of water shortages, we cannot plant additional saplings," he added. Each year, his trees wither; their leaves curl like forgotten prayers, their yields shrink, and his earnings plummet.

The drought's reach extends beyond orchard owners to the laborers who form Wardak's agricultural backbone. Tajuddin, a seasonal worker, migrates each year for three months to find harvest work to feed his family.

"There's a severe lack of water here," he said, gesturing toward the barren fields. "Even the deep wells for drinking water have dried up."

With smaller harvests come fewer workdays and thinner wages. "Drought affects both us and the orchard owners," Tajuddin explains. "If the harvest is good -- if there's water -- we benefit too, because that's when we can work."

Another worker, Ziyarmal, shoulders the same burden. Despite holding a university degree, he labors daily in the orchards to support his family of six amid widespread unemployment. "The drought has severely affected orchards and fields," he told Xinhua. "Crops don't ripen properly. Costs are high, wells have dried up, and there's been no rain."

Beyond the lack of rain, structural problems compound the farmers' suffering. The absence of cold storage facilities forces them to sell produce prematurely, driving prices down. Poor marketing channels, pest infestations, and a shortage of agricultural training programs deepen their vulnerability.

Still, resilience endures. Farmers like Ziauddin hold onto hope -- calling for efforts to manage water resources, introduce modern irrigation, and revive sustainable farming practices.

As Afghanistan navigates the uncertain terrain of post-conflict recovery, the drought stands as a stark reminder: peace alone cannot nourish the land. Without timely support -- from advanced irrigation systems to better storage and education -- scarcity's shadow could dim the fragile hope now flickering across Wardak's serene fields. 
Pak bombs its own people, sanctions genocidal mass rape: India at UNSC





By Yoshita Singh

UNITED NATIONS

Pak conducted Operation Searchlight in 1971 and sanctioned a systematic campaign of genocidal mass rape of 4,00,000 women citizens by its own army

Pak conducted Operation Searchlight in 1971 and sanctioned a systematic campaign of genocidal mass rape of 4,00,000 women citizens by its own army IN A strong retort against Pakistan in the UN Security Council, India on Monday described its neighbour as a country that bombs its own people and conducts systematic genocide. During his remarks to the UNSC open debate on Women, Peace and Security, Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish said Pakistan conducted Operation Searchlight in 1971 and sanctioned a systematic campaign of genocidal mass rape of 4,00,000 women citizens by its own army. Every year, we are unfortunately fated to listen to the delusional tirade of Pakistan against my country, especially on Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian territory they covet, the Indian envoy said. A country that bombs its own people, conducts systematic genocide, can only attempt to distract the world with misdirection and hyperbole, Harish said.

The world sees through Pakistans propaganda, he added. On March 25, 1971, the Pakistani army had launched a brutal crackdown involving widespread civilian killings throughout East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) code-named Operation Searchlight. Harish told the council meeting chaired by Russia that Indias record on the women, peace and security agenda is unblemished and unscathed. Indias strong response in the council came after Pakistan, in its statement, raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. To exclude Kashmiri women from the Women, Peace and Security agenda erases its legitimacy and undermines its universality, the Pakistani delegate said in her statement. Harish, in his remarks, also said that India remains unwavering in its commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda and stands ready to share its expertise with partners, particularly those in the Global South, fostering collective solutions to shared challenges.

He highlighted Indias consistent contribution to UN peacekeeping as an expression of its commitment to global peace. What distinguishes Indias peacekeeping legacy is not merely the scale of our contribution, but our pioneering recognition of women as indispensable agents of peace, he said. As early as the 1960s, India deployed women medical officers to the Congo, marking one of the earliest instances of women serving in UN peacekeeping operations, the ambassador said. This was not merely a symbolic gesture but a practical acknowledgement that womens perspectives, skills, and presence are essential to effective peacekeeping, he said. In February 2025, India hosted the International Conference on Women Peacekeepers from the Global South, bringing together women peacekeepers from 35 nations. The two-day gathering examined the evolving challenges facing women in peacekeeping operations  from addressing sexual exploitation and abuse to leveraging technology for enhanced effectiveness. The conference was not merely a forum for discussion but a platform for developing actionable strategies to increase womens participation and their impact in future peace missions, he said.
PM Modi begins 25th year as head of Govt





NEW DELHI :

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday began his 25th year as the head of a Government, asserting that improving the lives of people and contributing to the progress of this great nation have been his constant endeavour. He noted in a series of posts on X that he had taken oath on this day in 2001 as Gujarats Chief Minister for the first time and emphasised on the changes first his home state and then the country witnessed on his watch. Thanks to the continuous blessings of my fellow Indians, I am entering my 25th year of serving as the head of a Government. My gratitude to the people of India, Modi said. He added, Through all these years, it has been my constant endeavour to improve the lives of our people and contribute to the progress of this great nation that has nurtured us all. Modi said India, which was marred by the worst form of corruption, cronyism and policy paralysis during the UPA Government, is now home to one of the largest healthcare and social security schemes in the world.

Indian farmers are innovating and ensuring that the nation is self-reliant, while the Government has undertaken extensive reforms and the popular sentiment is to make the country aatmanirbhar across all sectors, reflecting in the clarion call of Garv Se Kaho, Yeh Swadeshi Hai, he added. He said, Over the last 11 years, We The People of India have worked together and achieved many transformations. Our path breaking efforts have empowered people from all across India, especially our Nari Shakti, Yuva Shakti and hardworking Annadatas. Over 25 crore people have been removed from the clutches of poverty. India is now seen as a bright spot among major global economies, he said. Modi said when the BJP picked him as its prime ministerial candidate in 2013 for the Lok Sabha elections in 2014 the nation was witnessing a crisis of trust and governance.

He said, The then UPA Government was synonymous with the worst form of corruption, cronyism and policy paralysis. India was seen as a weak link in the global order. But, the wisdom of the people of India gave our alliance a thumping majority and also ensured that our party got an absolute majority, a first after three long decades. Recalling his appointment as Gujarat Chief Minister, Modi said he took over in very testing circumstances as the state was jolted by a massive earthquake and peoples suffering was made worse as they were hit by a super cyclone, successive droughts and political instability before that. He said, Those challenges strengthened the resolve to serve people and rebuild Gujarat with renewed vigour and hope. Modi fondly recalled his mothers suggestions to him as he took over as Chief Minister.

When I took oath as Chief Minister, I remember my Mother telling me - I do not have much understanding of your work but I only seek two things. First, you will always work for the poor and second, you will never take a bribe. I also told people that whatever I do will be with the best intent and will be inspired by a vision to serve the very last person in the queue, he said. It was believed in 2001 that Gujarat could never rise again, he said, adding common citizens, including farmers, complained about lack of power and water, while agriculture was in the doldrums and industrial growth was stagnant. From there, we all worked collectively to make Gujarat a powerhouse of good governance. He added, Gujarat, a drought-prone state became a top performing state in agriculture. The culture of trading expanded into robust industrial and manufacturing capacities. Regular curfews became a thing of the past. Social and physical infrastructure received a boost. It was very satisfying to be able to work with the people to achieve these outcomes. After spearheading the BJP to victory in three consecutive assembly polls in Gujarat, Modi has led the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance to win in three successive national elections. As an incumbent, Modi has never faced an electoral defeat and holds the record as the longest head of a government, including as chief minister for more than 12-and-a-half years, among all Prime Ministers.
Renu Oberois exclusive jewellery expo opens





Business Reporter :

Renu Oberoi Luxury Jewellery is hosting an Exclusive Fine Jewellery Showcase here in the city at Hotel Tuli Imperial, Ramdaspeth, Nagpur. The two-day exhibition of eye-catching jewellery collection was inaugurated at the hands of Kanchan Gadkari, wife of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, on Tuesday in presence founder and creative director of Renu Oberoi Luxury Jewellery - Renu Oberoi; other company officials and a large number of visitors. The exhibition started on Tuesday will conclude on October 8.

Renu Oberoi Luxury Jewellery is a global high jewellery brand based in Mumbai emboldened by its Indian roots. Their eye-catching designs are seasonless and make the perfect accompaniment to every occasion, every look and every woman. Their pieces reflect high design through extensive use of polychromy with high quality colored stones or use of unique colored settings.

The brand resonate most with those who believe that jewellery must have an expansive scale of versatility. The uniqueness of the statement high-end pieces lies in their wearability. The patterns, though simple, are alluring & bursting with elegance. The brands inspiration varies widely and Renu Oberoi Luxury Jewellerys extraordinary quality and design sensibilities are a celebration of the brands multi-hued muses. The exhibition will remain open for the visitors between 11 am to 7pm. For details, contact on mob. no. 91360-13979.
Senior doctor accused of molesting trainee





Our Correspondent

KORBA

A trainee doctor at Korba District Medical College Hospital has accused a senior doctor of molestation. According to the victim, the senior doctor said, You dont feel well, let me check you up, and then allegedly touched her inappropriately. Police have registered a case and begun an investigation. Senior Ayurvedic doctor A K Mishra, posted in the AYUSH wing of the hospital, has been named as the accused. The complainant has been undergoing training in the same department for the past three months. The incident falls under the jurisdiction of the Civil Lines police station. The incident reportedly took place on Saturday afternoon.

The trainee doctor had gone to Dr. Mishras staff room for official work. At the time, Dr Mishra and another staff member were present. The complainant alleges that Dr Mishra called her over and said, You dont feel well, Ill give you a checkup. When she refused, stating she was fine, he allegedly attempted to examine her forcibly and molested her. The trainee doctor managed to leave the room and immediately reported the incident to the dean of the medical college hospital KK Sahare who stated that the trainee doctor has filed a complaint against Dr A K Mishra. An internal redressal committee will investigate the matter. ASP Nitish Thakur stated that a case has been registered under Section 354.Further action will be taken after recording statements from both.
TJSB Bank becomes first to go live as UPI-ICD Acquirer





Business Reporter :

TJSB Sahakari Bank has achieved a landmark feat by becoming the first bank in India to go live as a UPI-ICD (Interoperable Cash Deposit) Acquirer, reinforcing its leadership in digital innovation and customer convenience. This milestone marks another step in TJSB Banks ongoing journey toward driving technology-led transformation in the cooperative banking sector. The UPI-ICD framework, introduced by NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India), enables customers to deposit or withdraw cash at any participating banks machine using a simple UPI QR code, eliminating the need for debit cards or bank-specific authentication.

This advancement empowers customers with seamless, secure, and interoperable access to cash services. As part of this achievement, the PERTO Android Cash Recycler Machine of TJSB Bank is being showcased by NPCI at the Global Fintech Fest 2025, being held at the Jio World Convention Centre, BKC, Mumbai, from October 7 to 9. This initiative underscores TJSB Banks unwavering commitment to technology-driven innovation and enhanced customer experience under the visionary leadership of Sharad Gangal - Chairman and Nikhil Arekar - Managing Director & CEO. This achievement reflects TJSB Banks continuous pursuit of technological advancement and customer-centric banking, said Nikhil Arekar. Becoming Indias first UPI-ICD Acquirer highlights our commitment to staying ahead of the curve and delivering next-generation digital solutions. Its a proud moment for the entire TJSB family, added Sharad Gangal.
This photo taken with a mobile phone on Sept. 28, 2025 shows tourists viewing the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

GUIYANG, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- As the sunset glow blankets a remote village in southwest China's Guizhou Province, over a dozen photographers gather on a rented rooftop. The sounds of their cameras and drones fill the air, all striving to capture the perfect shot of the world's tallest bridge against the painted sky.

During China's eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday ending on Wednesday, the newly opened Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, soaring 625 meters above the Beipan River, has become a major attraction.

As of Tuesday, estimates suggested the bridge and its surrounding area had welcomed over 100,000 visitors.

"From my spot, every shot is a masterpiece," said Xie Chaoqing, a content creator who rented the rooftop for its unobstructed view at a nearby village -- Huajiang Village in Zhenfeng County.

Spanning the Huajiang Grand Canyon, the 2,890-meter-long bridge opened to traffic on Sept. 28, slashing travel time across the canyon from two hours to just two minutes after three years of construction.

Living just across the canyon, Xie has documented the bridge's progress, amassing 4.5 million likes and 276,000 followers online with his daily updates.

"What moved me most was seeing the workers keep working high up there, whether under the scorching sun or in the biting cold," he recalled. Now, he is investing in a homestay to accommodate the influx of visitors and sustain the newfound interest.

Tourism functionality was integrated into the bridge's design from the very beginning of its construction. An area of over 50 square kilometers around the bridge site has been incorporated into the plan for a tourism zone that combines the bridge with tourism, featuring extreme sports, science education, sightseeing and vacations.

Beyond viewing platforms, thrilling experiences such as paragliding, bungee jumping, a high-altitude speed runway and a water-screen light show are also available.

At a local homestay, owner Lin Guoquan was exceptionally busy during the holiday.

He received thousands of online inquiries daily and had to turn down many bookings. Despite expanding his number of rooms, it was not enough. "I even set up six tents in my yard," Lin said.

A former chef who returned home for the bridge, Lin plans to hire more staff and upgrade his facilities to enhance services.

In his spare time, Lin enjoys flying drones with his eight-year-old daughter. "I want her to know this bridge is our generation's dream, and it is her starting point."

Liang Shaoyu, a retired local official, said thanks to the bridge, not only are young people returning, but entrepreneurs from outside are coming to invest.

"It's reuniting our community in a way we never thought possible for a place once defined by its isolation," he said.

The 72-year-old recalled that in the past, only horse caravans passed through here. "I never dreamed the world's tallest bridge would be built right over us. If I were younger, I'd open a shop myself."

The village offers more than just the bridge. It also boasts tourism resources such as the ancient Tea Horse Road, a historic chain bridge, rock carvings, and other rich cultural heritage.

Guizhou, a mountainous province, has long relied on tunnels and bridges to overcome its jagged karst landscape. It now has over 32,000 bridges either already built or under construction, a tenfold increase compared to the 1980s.

With a main span of 1,420 meters, the Huajiang project has become the world's longest-span steel truss girder suspension bridge located in mountainous terrain, according to Guizhou provincial authorities.

For Han Hongju, the chief engineer of Guizhou Communications Investment Group Co., Ltd., the company that funded and constructed the bridge, the pursuit was never about records.

"We don't build for 'the world's No. 1' title. We build it so that people in the mountains can travel farther and live better lives," Han said. 
A heroic Florida teenager is being praised after he jumped into a lake, alongside a deputy, to rescue her five-year-old sister with autism.

The incident started when the young girl unknowingly wandered into a Florida lake. When deputies arrived at the scene, they were told that the five-year-old was seen near the lake, prompting one of the officials to jump a fence and run towards the water.

Teenager Jumps Into Lake To Rescue Sister

After he got to the lake where the young girl was, he saw her 17-year-old brother already in the waist-deep lake. He was seen clinging to a branch and rescuing his little sister, dragging her back to safety on land.

Body cam footage from the deputy who arrived at the scene showed the officer grabbing the teenage boy's hand. He then pulled him and his sister back onto land while the five-year-old girl was tightly clinging onto her brother, according to CBS12.

The rescue was made somewhat complicated when the five-year-old girl held onto a branch, preventing his brother from properly bringing her to land. She could be heard giggling in the background during the ordeal.

Read more: Florida Family Reunited With Lost German Shepherd After Dog Went Missing 6 Years Ago

Following the incident, Pasco deputies are urging the public to consider the Safety Net Tracking program for children or loved ones who are susceptible to wandering around by themselves. The department has more information about the program on its website.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office commended the teenage boy for his heroic rescue of his little sister. The department's program was specifically designed for people who have autism, Alzheimer's, or other cognitive impairments, as they are more likely to walk around by themselves, WFLA reported.

A Good Samaritan

There was a similar incident when a good Samaritan in Florida rushed to rescue an 11-year-old autistic girl who fell into a lake. The girl was identified as Mia Garcia, who was with her little sister at Lakes Park in south Fort Myers to collect shells.

After the incident, Mia described the terrifying moments she experienced, saying that it felt like an alligator was going to come to her and drag her under the water. Her grandmother, Dawn Louchart, said that the girl knows how to swim but still struggled to get out of the lake because it was slimy.

She said they taught the young girl to scream if she needed help, which is what she did at the time she fell into the lake. The good Samaritan was Bridgett Addison, who was at a nearby pavilion when she heard the young girl's scream and quickly rescued her, as per KCBD.
CAIRO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- A plenary session attended by all delegations except Hamas was held on Wednesday in the Egyptian Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh to discuss U.S. President Donald Trump's Gaza peace plan, Egypt's Al-Qahera News TV reported.

The expanded session followed bilateral and multilateral meetings in which Hamas had participated through indirect negotiations, the report added.

The indirect negotiations entered their third day on Wednesday, with participants including Egypt's intelligence chief, the Qatari prime minister and foreign minister, the head of Turkiye's National Intelligence Organization, an Israeli delegation, and a U.S. delegation led by Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff and joined by U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Delegations from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) are scheduled to arrive in Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday evening and join the talks. Their participation could help accelerate progress toward an understanding on the issue of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian source said on Wednesday.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday invited Trump to attend a signing ceremony for a potential agreement to end the war in Gaza, should ongoing negotiations succeed, state-run Nile TV reported.

In a televised speech during the graduation ceremony of the Police Academy, the Egyptian President said the negotiations were "progressing positively," expressing hope that all parties would seize the opportunity to bring the war to an end. 
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MOSCOW, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United States must refrain from destabilizing actions involving offensive strategic weapons and steps in strategic air defense that Russia could interpret as an attempt to weaken its nuclear deterrence capabilities, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Wednesday.

Ryabkov said Washington has long maintained infrastructure for nuclear tests in a state of combat readiness. "I would like to emphasize that the United States has long kept its infrastructure ready for such purposes," he said. "We took note of this stance some time ago, specifically when Russia made a decision regarding the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START)."

"If a country with the capability takes the erroneous decision to conduct nuclear tests, and Washington is clearly in our sights, we will retaliate immediately," Ryabkov said.

He added that Russia has not received a formal response from the United States to President Vladimir Putin's proposal to continue observing the restrictions outlined in the New START. Ryabkov said Moscow can manage without a U.S. response if Washington has no interest in the proposal. 
From Switzerland's snow-capped peaks to the UK's cultural landmarks, Chinese outbound travelers have flocked to Europe during this year's eight-day National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday. #GLOBALink
SYDNEY, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- A man has died following a shooting in Sydney's outer northwest suburbs on Wednesday evening.

A police statement said that emergency services were called to reports of a shooting at around 6 p.m. in a public place in the suburb of Riverstone, 38 km northwest of central Sydney.

Officers arrived at the scene and found a man suffering gunshot wounds.

He was treated by ambulance paramedics, but died at the scene.

News Corp Australia newspapers reported that the victim, who has not yet been formally identified, was shot in the head.

About 15 minutes after the shooting, police were called to reports of a nearby car fire. The blaze was extinguished by fire and rescue crews, but the vehicle was destroyed.

Police established crime scenes at both locations and were working to determine if the two incidents were linked. 
CAIRO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli-Palestinian conflict reached its grim two-year mark on Tuesday. With the people of Gaza still caught in a cycle of destruction and despair, the Middle East now stands at a crossroads.

The two years of conflict have left the Gaza Strip devastated and its people in dire straits. More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed during the conflict, and over 1 million displaced. Neighborhoods lie in ruins, basic services have collapsed, and the humanitarian crisis has become one of the world's most urgent and enduring tragedies.

In the face of the staggering humanitarian toll, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described the Gaza Strip, under relentless bombardment and blockades, as "the living hell."

One of the key lessons of the Gaza conflict is that force cannot produce peace, and violence cannot ensure safety.

Israel's actions in Gaza are premised on a simple equation: sustained strikes equal neutralized threats. Yet the result has been the opposite -- not security, but greater insecurity; not stability, but deeper instability. The outcome is not a broken cycle of violence, but one more deeply entrenched than ever.

Over the past two years, criticism of Israel and calls for a cease-fire have reverberated worldwide. The UN Security Council has voted multiple times on resolutions demanding an immediate halt to hostilities, the reopening of humanitarian corridors, and the resumption of political negotiations. However, the efforts have all been blocked by the United States. Across the globe, street protests, public demonstrations, and petitions have kept the call for a Gaza cease-fire at the forefront of international attention.

Many countries, including China, have actively worked to facilitate peace in Gaza, creating channels for dialogue and advocating for renewed implementation of the two-state solution.

Taken together, these efforts have coalesced into an insistent message: the fighting must stop, the humanitarian disaster must end, and Gaza cannot wait any longer for peace.

In recent months, a new wave of international support for the formal recognition of a Palestinian state has gained momentum. Some Western nations, notably France, Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal, have announced their recognition of the State of Palestine.

To date, more than 150 of the United Nations' 193 member states have recognized the State of Palestine.

The growing international recognition of Palestine is a response to a stalled peace process. It signals mounting global frustration with Israel's reluctance to cease hostilities and reflects a consensus forged by two years of conflict: the two-state solution is the only viable path to lasting peace, and fair political arrangements are the prerequisite for enduring security in the Middle East.

The Gaza conflict is more than a regional conflict -- it is a wound on humanity itself, testing the limits of international governance and conscience.

Against the backdrop of relentless bombardment and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the rhetoric of "human rights" and "democracy" espoused by Washington rings hollow. The principles of fairness and justice have been sacrificed to the geopolitical calculus, exposing the moral bankruptcy of certain countries.

It is imperative that all sides heed the global call for an immediate ceasefire, resume dialogue through diplomatic means, and work toward the full implementation of the two-state solution. Only by silencing the guns and returning to the path of negotiation can lasting peace, security, and dignity be secured for both Palestinians and Israelis, and genuine stability be restored to the region. 
QUITO, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Ecuadorian government said Tuesday it had filed a criminal complaint over an alleged assassination attempt on President Daniel Noboa during a visit to the southern province of Canar.

Environment and Energy Minister Ines Manzano said Noboa's motorcade came under attack in the town of El Tambo on Tuesday when it was heading to a local stadium for the launch of new public works.

"About 500 people appeared and began throwing stones, and there are also bullet marks on the president's car," Manzano told reporters, adding that Noboa was unharmed.

Police arrested five suspects who will face terrorism charges, and several vehicles in the convoy were damaged.

The presidential office accused the attackers of trying to block the inauguration of a community project.

The incident occurred on the 16th day of nationwide protests led by indigenous communities against the government's decision to end diesel subsidies on Sept. 12 -- a move that sharply increased fuel prices and has triggered widespread unrest. 
JERUSALEM, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- On Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages, the latest round of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict erupted.

In response, Israel has been waging a large-scale offensive in the Gaza Strip, devastating the coastal territory, causing numerous civilian casualties and worsening the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

Tuesday marked the second anniversary of the gruesome conflict, with people around the world wondering when peace might return to the long-troubled territory.

STATUS QUO IN GAZA

Before the conflict, Gaza had a population of about 2.3 million. Over the past two years, a total of 67,074 Palestinians have been killed and 169,430 wounded in Gaza, the Gaza-based health authorities said Saturday.

Mohammed Abdel-Al, a surgeon at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip, told Xinhua that dozens of wounded people arrive daily, while medical resources remain insufficient. "Hospitals are already operating far beyond capacity, and for us, a truce is a matter of life or death," he said.

According to a recent report released by the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 42,000 people in the Gaza Strip are living with life-changing injuries as a result of the ongoing conflict, one in four of them children.

More than 5,000 have undergone amputations, the WHO said. The report documents widespread severe injuries, including damage to limbs, spinal cord, brain, and major burns, creating a massive demand for specialized surgical and rehabilitation services. Many families face long-term struggles as patients require intensive care.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned in August that more than half a million Gazans are facing famine conditions marked by starvation and preventable deaths, marking the first officially declared famine in the Middle East since the IPC's establishment.

ANY CHANGES FOLLOWING PEACE PLAN?

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sept. 29 that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to a 20-point plan proposed by Washington to end the conflict in Gaza, following their talks at the White House. On Friday, Hamas announced that it agreed in principle to release all Israeli hostages, both living and dead, under the exchange framework outlined in the plan. The group said it was ready for immediate negotiations through mediators on implementation details.

Soon afterwards, Trump demanded that Israel immediately stop bombing Gaza. In response, Israel said it has halted all military offensive operations aimed at capturing Gaza City, shifting its forces to defensive operations only. However, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that the IDF forces are still encircling Gaza City, and "returning to it is extremely dangerous."

Mohammed Abu Rayala, a 46-year-old resident of Gaza City, told Xinhua that people no longer trust ceasefire declarations. "We hear about understandings and truces, but the planes never leave the sky and shells fall all night," he said. "Our hope is that the fighting will stop, so we can begin rebuilding. But for two years, every time hope appears, everything collapses again."

Egypt, one of the key mediators in the conflict, said it will host Israeli and Hamas delegations on Monday to discuss "field conditions and details" for the exchange of "all Israeli detainees and Palestinian prisoners" under the recent U.S. proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza.

On Saturday, Trump posted on social media that Israel has agreed to an initial withdrawal line in Gaza, which has been shown to Hamas. According to the analysis conducted by the Times of Israel, the line shows Israel's approximate lines of control in the Strip prior to the major Gaza City offensive, which began last month. At that stage, the IDF held some 70 percent of Gaza's territory. The plan would leave the IDF in control of large areas in the north and parts of Rafah and Khan Younis in the south.

However, just hours after Trump's post, Palestine's official news agency WAFA reported that the Israeli army continued its bombardment across various areas of the Gaza Strip, including some neighborhoods in Gaza City. According to the latest IDF estimates quoted by the Times of Israel, some 900,000 residents have already fled Gaza City, previously home to about 1 million people.

UNCERTAIN PROSPECTS FOR PEACE

According to the Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post, Trump's approach to securing a Gaza deal reflects his broader dealmaking style, which appears to involve declaring a deal accepted even before both sides reach an agreement -- a strategy intended to keep negotiations moving forward.

Some Middle Eastern media reported that while Hamas expressed willingness to negotiate under the 20-point plan, it did not unconditionally accept the proposal. For instance, the statement made no mention of the disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip -- key Israeli demands included in Trump's proposal.

Bao Chengzhang, an associate professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, said that Israel and Hamas remain uncompromising on core issues. Israel insists on Hamas' disarmament and the "de-Hamasification" of the future Gaza governance, while Hamas demands Israel's complete withdrawal from Gaza and refuses to disarm.

Bao added that the Trump administration, mediating the conflict, has shown bias toward Israel while rushing to reach an agreement. This suggests that even if signs of a ceasefire and calls for peace emerge in Gaza, the root causes of the latest round of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are unlikely to be resolved in the short term.

Li Zixin, an assistant research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, said that the 20-point plan has garnered only conditional agreement from Israel and Hamas. "All parties are maintaining the appearance of having reached an agreement, but lasting peace in Gaza remains a distant prospect," Li said.

Palestinian political analyst Hussam Al-Dajani said the plan could open a "genuine window" toward a long-term truce. However, the most crucial step will be in its implementation -- ensuring the plan moves beyond political promises to concrete actions that end civilian suffering and restore hope for normal life in Gaza, he said. 
ANKARA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that U.S. President Donald Trump had asked Turkiye to help persuade Hamas to accept his plan to end the Gaza war and that Turkish officials have since engaged in talks to support the peace process.

"Both during our visit to the United States and in our most recent phone call, we explained to Mr. Trump how a solution could be achieved in Palestine. He specifically requested that we meet with Hamas and convince them. We promptly contacted our counterparts regarding this matter," the semi-official Anadolu Agency on Wednesday quoted Erdogan as saying as he was aboard a flight from Azerbaijan to Turkiye.

Erdogan said Hamas has shown a more constructive stance than Israel to date and that similar constructive behavior from Israel has not been seen. He said Turkiye will work to resolve the Israel-Palestine issue on the basis of a two-state solution.

"Our priority is to secure an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire as soon as possible. It is essential that humanitarian aid reaches Gaza without delay and without interruption," he said.

Erdogan stressed that Gaza must remain Palestinian territory and that it is important for Palestinians to ultimately manage Gaza's administration.

He added that questions about how security will be provided and how any stabilization force would be formed and operated can be evaluated in detail. 
GENEVA, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- China has called on members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to collectively address the escalating trade turbulence and jointly uphold the core values and principles of the multilateral trading system.

Speaking under the agenda item "Heightened Trade Turbulence and the WTO's Response" initiated by China at the fourth WTO General Council meeting this year, held from Monday to Tuesday, Li Yongjie, China's permanent representative and ambassador to the WTO, noted that global economic and trade turbulence continues and is worsening.

U.S. trade policies have disrupted supply chains and destabilized global markets, becoming a major source of global instability, Li said, adding that some members have been coerced into agreements, affecting the legitimate rights and interests of third parties.

This has led to "power-based" trade relations that are gradually eroding the "rules-based" multilateral trading system, Li said, expressing strong concern.

Li outlined three recommendations in response to the intensified trade turbulence. They include enhancing transparency and monitoring, collectively reaffirming commitment and adherence to the rules-based multilateral trading system, and taking concrete actions to enable the WTO to achieve pragmatic outcomes.

The European Union (EU), Brazil, Australia, Switzerland, Pakistan, and other members called for upholding the fundamental principles of the WTO and advancing its reform.

The EU expressed grave concern over the erosion of the "rules-based" multilateral trading system by "power-based" trade relations.

Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, and others called on the WTO Secretariat to strengthen oversight of unilateral tariffs and relevant bilateral agreements, encouraging members to notify the WTO of their bilateral agreements.

Nigeria and Bangladesh emphasized the impact of the unilateral tariffs and uncertainties in trade environment on vulnerable developing members, urging the WTO to provide necessary assistance.

Members including Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba condemned the U.S.'s unilateral tariffs and coercive practices. 
TEHRAN, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that it has summoned European Union (EU) ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions over what it called "meddlesome" anti-Tehran claims in a recent joint statement by the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The statement, released Monday after the 29th GCC-EU Joint Ministerial Meeting in Kuwait, questioned Iran's sovereignty over the three Gulf islands of Abu Musa, the Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb, and raised concerns about its nuclear programs as well as its proliferation of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, among other technologies.

Majid Takht Ravanchi, Iran's deputy foreign Minister for political affairs, conveyed Tehran's strong protest during the summons that took place on Tuesday.

Takht Ravanchi reaffirmed Iran's "indisputable sovereignty" over the three islands, and condemned the EU's "political and biased position" on the issue.

Iran says the three islands have historically been part of the country, citing historical, legal, and geographical documents as proof. The United Arab Emirates also claims the three islands and has long pressed for a negotiated solution.

He also rejected the EU's "unreal and exaggerated narratives" about Iran's defense capabilities, condemning the bloc's "conspicuous interference" in Iran's internal affairs.

Iran's missile program, along with other homegrown defense capabilities, "is part of the country's inherent right to defend itself and guarantees regional stability and security," he said.

Takht Ravanchi also criticized the bloc, as well as France, Britain and Germany, collectively known as the E3, for failing to fulfill obligations under the 2015 nuclear deal and abusing the dispute resolution mechanism to reinstate UN sanctions.

The E3, in coordination with Washington, invoked the snapback mechanism in August after the UN Security Council failed to extend sanctions relief in September.

Iran had held several rounds of talks with the E3 since September last year, mainly focused on its nuclear program and sanctions relief. 
Brevard Public Schools has agreed to a $568,000 settlement with Moms for Liberty following a four-year-long legal battle.

The lawsuit in the case accused board members of stifling then-members of Brevard's Moms for Liberty chapter's First Amendment rights. The legal challenge was filed in November 2021 amid contentious school board meetings regarding various issues, such as masking and guidance on allowing LGBTQ students to go by their preferred names and pronouns.

Moms for Liberty Wins $568,000 Settlement

At the time, the school board passed a policy to shorten public comment time, which was an effort to cut hours-long meetings down. They told public commenters to direct their comments at the board chair or board members as a whole rather than referring to each one by name.

However, the plaintiffs said that this was something that the school board used to stifle criticism against them. The draft settlement agreement is set to be approved at the Oct. 7 school board meeting, according to Florida Today.

The Institute for Free Speech, which is an organization that focuses on cases that involve First Amendment rights, is the one representing Moms for Liberty. Neither the Institute for Free Speech nor the Brevard Public Schools responded to requests for comments regarding the development.

Read more: New Zealand Authorities Search for Children Taken by Father Fatally Shot by Police

The agreement means that the Brevard Public Schools will pay a total of $567,990.19, with only $26,180 going to David Osborne at Goldstein Law Partners. The rest will be going to the Institute for Free Speech. The payments are required to be paid within 60 days of the effective date of the agreement.

Following the settlement agreement, a former Brevard school board member, Amy Kneessy, who is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, expressed relief in knowing that the legal battle was finally coming to an end, Yahoo News reported.

Uneven Enforcement of Guidelines

She said that every parent who has ever felt that they were silenced or intimidated during a public meeting should know that they have rights. She urged them to use their voices and hold elected officials accountable.

The lawsuit that Moms for Liberty filed alleged that the school board's new guidelines were enforced unevenly, and let through compliments for school board members but shut down dissent or negative statements.

An Orlando federal judge issued a temporary restraining order earlier this year, which came after a ruling from the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. They deemed the policy's prohibition on abusive speech unconstitutional and viewpoint-based, as per the Sebastian Daily.
HARARE, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Jenfan Muswere has hailed a Chinese-invested industrial park for boosting the country's economy.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet meeting media briefing on Tuesday, Muswere expressed satisfaction with the partially operational industrial park in Matabeleland North Province, a joint venture between the Chinese firm Zhongjin Heli Energy and the Zimbabwean state-owned Hwange Colliery Company Limited.

According to the minister, once completed, the 500-million-U.S.-dollar project will integrate a coal-fired power station, a coal processing plant, a cement plant and a coking plant, which is expected to generate significant employment and economic activity for the southern African country.

"The project is in line with the national development strategy and fulfills Zimbabwe's Vision 2030 goals of promoting value addition and beneficiation, job creation and gross domestic product growth," Muswere added.

In a previous interview with local media, the Chinese company reaffirmed its commitment to contributing to Zimbabwe's economic development, saying it is looking forward to continuing to work with the local government to drive growth and prosperity. 
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday on a two-day visit to India. He is accompanied by a delegation of 125 people, including CEOs and representatives from British institutes, universities and industry groups.

This is Starmers first official visit to India.

The UK PM was greeted at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport by Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and state Governor Acharya Devvrat.

A warm welcome to PM @Keir_Starmer of the United Kingdom! Received by Governor of Maharashtra and Gujarat Mr. Acharya Devvrat @maha_governor at the airport.



This is PM Starmers first visit to India. This visit marks a new chapter in our strong & dynamic India-UK partnership. pic.twitter.com/TShzoykM6l  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) October 8, 2025

In Mumbai, Starmer will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and take stock of the progress in the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The two leaders will also review 'Vision 2035', a focused and time-bound 10-year roadmap of programmes and initiatives in key pillars: trade and investment, technology and innovation, defence and security, climate and energy, health, education, and people-to-people relations.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, both Modi and Starmer will engage with businesses and industry leaders on opportunities presented by the IndiaUK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).

"They will also exchange views on issues of regional and global importance. The leaders will also engage with industry experts, policymakers and innovators," it said.

#WATCH | UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai earlier today.



He was recieved by Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat.



(Source: pic.twitter.com/m8JpYXSxb9  ANI (@ANI) October 8, 2025

Britain and India signed a free trade agreement in July during a visit by Modi to London, sealing a deal to cut tariffs on goods from textiles to whisky and cars, and allow more market access for businesses.

The deal aims to increase bilateral trade by a further USD 34 billion by 2040.

In Mumbai, Modi and Starmer will also participate in the 6th edition of the Global Fintech Fest at Jio World Centre and deliver keynote addresses on the occasion.

The fest will bring together innovators, policymakers, central bankers, regulators, investors, academicians, and industry leaders from around the world.

The conferences central theme, Empowering Finance for a Better World  Powered by AI, Augmented Intelligence, Innovation, and Inclusion', highlights the convergence of technology and human insight in shaping an ethical and sustainable financial future, said the official release.

More than one lakh people from across the world are expected to participate in the event, making it one of the worlds largest fintech gatherings. The event will feature participation from around 7,500 companies, 800 speakers, 400 exhibitors, and 70 regulators representing both Indian and international jurisdictions.
India's most valuable business conglomerate finds itself at the centre of a high-stakes governance battle that prompted an unprecedented government intervention on Tuesday evening.

Top Tata Group leaders, including Tata Trusts Chairman Noel Tata and Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as internal disputes threaten the stability of the $180 billion empire.

The meeting at Shah's residence brought together Noel Tata, Chandrasekaran, Tata Trusts Vice Chairman Venu Srinivasan, and trustee Darius Khambataa gathering that underscores the gravity of the situation facing India's most storied business house, agencies reported.

Explained: Tata power struggle

At the heart of the latest crisis lies a bitter divide within Tata Trusts, the charitable organisation that wields decisive control over the conglomerate through its 66 per cent stake in Tata Sons.

The trust has fractured into two opposing camps since Noel Tata assumed leadership following the passing of Ratan Tata in October 2024.

One faction rallies behind Noel Tata, while a four-member group led by trustee Mehli Mistrywho has connections to the Shapoorji Pallonji family that owns 18.37 per cent of Tata Sonshas emerged as a formidable opposition.

Sources told agencies that Mistry feels sidelined from crucial decision-making processes, creating an atmosphere of mistrust within the organisation.

Tata boardroom showdown

The conflict reached a breaking point during the September 11 meeting of trustees, which was convened to decide the reappointment of Vijay Singh, the 77-year-old former defence secretary who served as a Tata Sons board member since 2012.

When Noel Tata and Venu Srinivasan proposed Singh's continuation, the four opposing trusteesMehli Mistry, Pramit Jhaveri, Jehangir HC Jehangir, and Darius Khambatareportedly voted against the resolution.

Their subsequent attempt to nominate Mistry to the Tata Sons board was blocked by the Noel Tata camp, citing the need for transparent processes aligned with Tata values.

In the midst of this conflict, Vijay Singh voluntarily resigned from his board position.

TCS calls off Q2 earnings presser

India's most valued listed IT firm, Tata Consultancy Services or TCS, reportedly called off its planned press meeting regarding the second-quarter FY2026 earnings.

According to BusinessLine, TCS sources said that the press conference was cancelled since the date coincided with Ratan Tata's anniversary of passing. However, the timing amid the board turmoil is highly suspect.

Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman step in

With Tata Sons controlling a 156-year-old conglomerate spanning 400 companies, including 30 publicly listed firms, union cabinet ministers have now stepped in.

The government's concern centres on preventing any individual or faction from gaining disproportionate control over such an "important" business group.

"The primary question in front of the government, considering how significant and important the Tata Group is to the country's economy, is whether it can let an individual take control of it," a source told PTI.

This infighting also comes on the heels of Tata Sons facing regulatory pressure from the Reserve Bank of India regarding its mandatory public listing requirements.

The next Tata Trusts board meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 10.
Launched in 201415, the Make in India campaign positioned defence manufacturing as a cornerstone of Indias self-reliance vision. Reforms like the strategic partnership (SP) model, Make-II, iDEXfunding, defence corridors, and liberalised FDI rules aimed to transform India from a major arms importer into a global producer and exporter. The private sector was envisioned as a key driver. A decade later, progress in artillery, radars, UAVs, and electronics highlights a promising trajectory for further growth.

However, a decade should yield transformative results, as seen globally. Israel developed a layered air and missile defence system. South Koreas KF-21 fighter advanced from its 2022 first flight to contracts for 40 jets by 2028. Turkiyes KAAN fifth-generation fighter, started in 2016, flew in 2024, pursuing engine independence and export markets. Turkish indigenous UAVs have also gained global demand.

The promise of 2015

In 2015, India imported over 60 per cent of its defence needs, per SIPRI data, with private firms contributing less than 15 per cent to production. Reforms sought to shift this balance. The SP model targeted private leadership in fighters, helicopters, submarines, and armoured vehicles. iDEX fostered start-ups, while defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu supported MSME clusters. Positive indigenisation lists prioritised domestic sourcing for hundreds of items.

What has the private sector achieved?

Private players have delivered significant results:

Artillery: Larsen & Toubro (L&T) and Bharat Forge developed the ATAGS and K9 Vajra-T howitzers, deployed in areas like Ladakh.

Shipbuilding: L&T supplied offshore patrol vessels and interceptor boats, with private yards such as Adani are exploring submarine opportunities.

UAVs and drones: iDEX-backed start-ups and firms like IdeaForge deployed UAVs along the LAC and LoC.

Radars and electronics: Tata Power SED and joint ventures delivered advanced radars and command systems.

Exports: Defence exports reached Rs 21,000 crore ($2.6 billion) in FY202324, a tenfold rise from 2016, with private firms driving over 70 per cent of the exports.

Private companies have invested in advanced facilities in Pune, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, and Bengaluru, producing machining, composites, and avionics. Start-ups are innovating in AI, robotics, loitering munitions, and swarm drones, building toward a robust ecosystem.

R&D: The engine of innovation

For large private players to lead Indias defence transformation, sustained investment in research and development (R&D) is critical. Developing cutting-edge technologies like jet engines, AESA radars, and advanced energetics requires significant capital and long-term commitment.

Companies like L&T, Bharat Forge and Tata Power SED must scale up R&D to create next-generation platforms and subsystems, ensuring global competitiveness. The government can support this by offering R&D tax incentives, co-funding high-risk projects, and establishing innovation hubs where industry, academia and start-ups collaborate. Such partnerships can accelerate breakthroughs in propulsion, sensors and AI, embedding intellectual property within India.

Opportunities for collaboration

Reforms have laid a strong foundation. The SP model holds potential for major contracts in fighters, submarines, and helicopters. Defence corridors provide land and partnerships for MSMEs. Over 200 iDEX contracts have spurred innovation, with pathways to production. Indigenisation lists, covering 500+ items since 2020, focus on spares and subsystems, paving the way for advanced technologies like rad-hard chips, seekers and turbines.

Start-Ups, MSMEs, and SMEs: The ecosystems backbone

Start-ups, MSMEs, and SMEs are vital to a thriving defence ecosystem. Initiatives like iDEX and corridor clusters have opened doors. Streamlining procurement can accelerate supply chain entry. Accessible certification for military standards (MIL-STD, JSS) and test facilitieslike anechoic chambers and EMI/EMC setupsthrough transparent, fee-based services would speed development. Defence-specific credit guarantees can address working capital needs, enabling scale-up. Open architecture standards would allow SMEs to integrate sensors, AI and subsystems into larger platforms, fostering scalability and supporting Atmanirbharta.

Empowering private sector

Clear demand visibility enables confident investments, including in R&D. Multi-decade orders, similar to global models, support planning. Lifecycle contracts with recurring revenues for spares, upgrades and MRO ensure sustainability. Collaborative missions for propulsion, energetics, semiconductors and seekers will drive self-reliance, with government-backed R&D funding reducing financial risks for private players.

What needs to be done?

Five shifts can accelerate progress:

Bankable demand: 10-year roadmaps for fighters, UAVs, artillery, and submarines with guaranteed volumes, aligned with the Armed Forces Technology Perspective & Capability Roadmap, but going beyond it.

Lifecycle contracts: Emphasise through-life support, factoring in the lowest lifecycle costs for sustainability.

Open architectures: MoD-owned standards to integrate MSME subsystems seamlessly.

Critical technology missions: National programs for energetics, seekers, rad-hard microelectronics and propulsion, co-investing with industry to retain IP in India, supported by R&D grants.

Exports as a metric: Promote exports with buyers credit and diplomatic backing to benchmark competitiveness.

Milestones for 2030

By 2030, India should target:

60 per cent domestic value-add in new platforms.

Exports of $810 billion annually (from $2.6 billion in 2024).

10 indigenous platform families in production: MALE UAVs, loitering munitions, SHORAD/MRAD air defence, ATGMs, artillery, AESA radars, ASW corvettes, jet trainers, EW pods and SAR satellites.

80 per cent self-reliance in energetics, with surge capacity for shells, missiles, and rockets.

The path forward

Since 2015, reforms have fostered awareness and private innovation. Continued focus on streamlined procurement, predictable demand and R&D support will reduce import reliance. By empowering large private players to invest in R&D, alongside start-ups and SMEs, India can build a resilient defence ecosystem, turning vision into reality.
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned that "chances of war with India are real" and claimed that his country would achieve even bigger success in the case of any armed conflict in the future.

He made these remarks during an interview with Samaa TV on Tuesday, where the anchor asked him about the recent statements by the Indian political and military leaders.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had recently said can cross any border whenever necessary to protect citizens and safeguard its unity and integrity. Indian Army chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi also warned Pakistan to stop backing state-sponsored terrorism if it wants to exist on the world map.

The statements also come even as Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh on Friday said at least a dozen Pakistani military aircraft, including US-origin F-16 jets, were destroyed or damaged in Indian strikes during Operation Sindoor.

The Pakistan defence minister said there was a threat of armed confrontation and Pakistan was keeping its guard and watching the situation.

"I do not want escalation, but the risks are real, and I am not denying that. If it comes to war, God willing, we will achieve a better result than before," Asif said.

He said that Pakistan has more supporters and allies than it had six months ago, while claiming that India had even lost the support of the countries which were on its side before the May conflict. However, he did not name any country.

Asif also claimed that India was never a united nation, except briefly under Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, and that Pakistan was created in the name of Allah and stood united during the May confrontation despite several internal issues.

"At home, we argue and compete. In a fight with India, we come together," he said.

With PTI inputs
The US Department of War (previously known as the Department of Defence) announced recently that the Tucson, Arizona-based defence contractor Raytheon got a $41.7 million contract modification to continue the production of C-8 and D-3 variants of AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM).

Among the countries listed in the Foreign Military Sales framework was Pakistan, signalling that the two countries will now be engaged in a fresh round of defence cooperation.

The contract will be completed by May 30, 2030.

"Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a $41,681,329 firm-fixed-price modification (P00026) to a previously awarded contract (FA8675-23-C-0037) for Advance Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles C8 and D3 variants and the production thereof," a statement from the US Department of War said.

The other countries that the missiles wioll be sold are: United Kingdom, Poland, Germany, Finland, Australia, Romania, Qatar, Oman, Korea, Greece, Switzerland, Portugal, Singapore, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Japan, Slovakia, Denmark, Canada, Belgium, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Norway, Spain, Kuwait, Finland, Sweden, Taiwan, Lithuania, Isreal, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Turkey.

Why is the sale a worry for India?

While the exact number of missiles that the US will be selling to Pakistan remains unclear, the sale is significant as these weapons are interoperable with the Pakistan Air Force's F-16s. Currently, Pakistan operates the older C-5 variant of AMRAAM.

Pakistan is reported to have used AMRAAM during the 2019 aerial engagements with India following the Balakot airstrikes.

Touted as one of the most sophisticated, combat-proven air dominance weapons in the world, AMRAAM offers a combination of inertial guidance, midcourse updates, and an onboard active radar to find the intended target and complete the intercept. Compared to the C-5 variant, the latest versions (C8, D3) of the missile are expected to offer extended and superior electronic protection. The addition of these missiles to the PAF will further strengthen its air-to-air missile capabilities.
In the latest addition to the controversial Bhutan car smuggling row, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Kerala conducted simultaneous raids at the residences of Malayalam movie star Mammootty, his son and actor-producer Dulquer Salmaan, and actor-director Prithviraj Sukumaran.

According to the ground report from Malayala Manorama, simultaneous raids occurred at 17 locations, including Dulquer Salmaans Kadavanthra residence.

The ED raid came on the heels of the Customs investigation announced last month, which drew public flak. THE WEEK then reported on the state-wide crackdown by the Customs (Preventive) Commissionerate in Kochi, codenamed 'Operation Numkhor'.

The Customs last month seized 36 high-end luxury vehicles, and alleged that a sophisticated smuggling racket was illegally importing second-hand cars from Bhutan.

However, the way it was announced garnered flak from Malayalees across social media, who noted that Dulquer Salmaans name was unceremoniously highlighted, along with that of actors Prithviraj and Amith Chakalakkal, while the names of the owners of the other 25-30 cars remained a mystery.

Dulquer vs Customs

In fact, Dulquer Salmaan promptly slapped an urgent writ petition on the Customs Commissioner in the Kerala High Court shortly after.

ALSO READ | Is Dulquer Salmaan involved in Operation Numkhor?

Dulquer Salmaan, in his petition, said that he bought the vehicle after completing all the necessary legal procedures, and accused the Customs of seizing his cars without even checking the documents.

The ED reportedly said that the current raid was part of their investigation into possible violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

ED sources stated that the searches are based on information regarding a network involved in the illegal import and registration of luxury cars like Land Cruisers and Defenders through the Bhutan and Nepal routes into India.

Possible FEMA violations

Preliminary investigations revealed that the Coimbatore-based network used fake documents and RTO registrations from Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and other states.

Subsequently, these vehicles were sold at reduced prices to individuals, including film stars. The action was initiated following the initial detection of violations of Sections 3, 4, and 8 of FEMA.

ED officials further explained that the investigation includes unauthorised foreign exchange transactions and cross-border payments through hawala channels. However, it is unclear how the actors are involved other than being the end-customers of the vehicles.

Given the Customs departments allegations last minth that the Parivahaan records may have been duped, it is quite possible that the actors in question could also be hapless victims.
The seat-sharing talks within the Mahagathbandhan have gained pace ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, with disagreements coming to the fore. As per reports, RJD chief Tejashwi Yadavs residence in Patna is the centre of all activities.

Tejashwi has reportedly finalised his seat-sharing formula, which involves keeping 130 to 135 seats for the RJD while offering 55 to 58 seats to the Congress. He has also set aside 14 to 18 seats for the third ally Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), 30 to 32 seats to the Left parties, three to Hemant Soren's JMM, and two to Pashupati Paras's RLJP. For JMM and RLJP, the seats will go from RJDs kitty.

While the Congress has already sought 60 seats, the most likely to get upset over the plan is likely to be Mukesh Sahni, who has consistently demanded 60 seats. While Sahni is unlikely to settle for 14-18 seats, sources indicate he might compromise if he is declared the deputy CM candidate ahead of the elections.

This is another deadlock, as even if Tejashwi agrees to the demand, the Congress wouldnt. The grand old party has been eyeing the post and has even said that there would be two Deputy Chief Ministersone Dalit and one Muslim.

If his demands arent met, Sahni would even go back to NDA. He is already at wits end with the way his party has been sidelined, according to reports. The VIP founder is also upset at how the Grand Alliance isnt willing to give him his preferred seats of Muzaffarpur, Patna Sahib, Sahibganj, and Narkatiaganj. The sitting MLA from Muzaffarpur is Congress's Vijendra Chaudhary, and the Congress is reluctant to part with the seat. As for Sahibganj, the sitting MLA Raju is a turncoat. He won the seat as a VIP candidate but has since joined the BJP.

Sahni, who has a strong hold with the Nishad (Mallah) community, is considered a kingmaker in Bihar, for how he contested in 11 seats in 2020 as part of the NDA. He surprised everyone by winning four, thereby becoming Minister of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries in the Bihar government.
Even as the Bihar assembly elections are merely a few weeks away, the Congress suffered a minor setback as former Bihar minister Murari Gautam resigned as MLA.

"The reserved Chenari assembly seat (in Rohtas district) has fallen on account of Gautam tendering his resignation," a notification issued by the Bihar assembly secretariat said.

However, the setback is only minor as the Congress itself had sought his disqualification as MLA. Gautam, who was a minister in the Nitish Kumar government when the Mahagathbandhan was in power in the state, began sitting with treasury bench members after the JD(U) returned to the NDA fold, prompting the Congress to seek his disqualification from the assembly.

According to media reports, Gautam, who contested the 2020 assembly polls from the Chenari constituency in Rohtas district on a Congress ticket, resigned from the the party on Monday. His resignation as MLA was accepted by the assembly speaker on Wednesday.

The resignation comes even as a petition seeking his disqualification is pending before Speaker Nand Kishor Yadav.

Even as Gutham said there is no specific reason behind his resignation from the membership of the assembly, there are speculations that he may join the BJP. He is yet to come out with a clarification on his next move. His move to sit with the treasury bench members has only fuelled this speculation.
TOKYO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- One man was killed and four others were injured when two workboats collided on the Toyosu Canal in Tokyo's Koto Ward at around 6:40 a.m. local time Wednesday, local media reported.

According to the Tokyo Coast Guard Office, the vessels that collided were the Senbamaru No. 12 and the Senbamaru No. 80. The No. 80, which had been pushing a barge, struck the No. 12 while it was underway.

All five victims, including the 58-year-old man who died and the four injured crew members, were aboard the Senbamaru No. 12.

The site of the accident lies about 700 meters north of Toyosu Station on the Yurakucho subway line, surrounded by high-rise apartment buildings and company warehouses. 
Coming down heavily on the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday charged that after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the Congress-led UPA avoided military strikes against Pakistan following pressure from a third country. Modi's charge comes as the Centre is facing scrutiny over US President Donald Trump's claims of halting Operation Sindoor.

Addressing during the inauguration of Navi Mumbai International Airport, Prime Minister Modi charged that Congress's weakness "strengthened terrorists" in the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. "The country had to repeatedly pay for this mistake by sacrificing lives," Modi charged.

"Mumbai is not only the economic capital city but also one of the most vibrant cities in India. This is the reason terrorists attacked Mumbai in 2008. But the then Congress government gave a message of weakness," the prime minister charged.

"Recently, a senior Congress leader and former home minister has revealed that after the Mumbai attacks, our security forces were ready to attack Pakistan, but due to pressure from another country, the Congress government at the time stopped our security forces. Congress needs to tell who made the decision under pressure from a foreign power; the country has the right to know," Prime Minister Modi said. "For us, nothing is more important than national security and the safety of our citizens," Modi added.

The prime minister's charge comes amidst facing scrutiny over the United States' role in Operation Sindoor. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year. After days of heightened military action, India and Pakistan agreed to stop firing on May 10. While India has maintained that ceasefire talks were bilateral, US President Trump has repeatedly claimed of playing a crucial role in stopping the war.

The Congress-led Opposition targeted the Modi government over the US's claims. Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, called Modi a "weak prime minister" for allegedly halting Operation Sindoor on "Trump's advice".
The tragic Karur stampede, which claimed 41 lives during Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagams (TVK) rally in late September, has snowballed into a legal battle with Supreme Court set to hear two separate petitions against the probe by Madras High Courtordered Special Investigation Team (SIT). The petitions filed by TVK challenges the Madras High Court's damning remarks and SIT order while another by advocate G.S. Mani seeks a CBI probe on grounds that both the state government and the police are interested parties.

At the heart of this legal clash lies a broader question  can an investigation led by state police inspire public confidence when the tragedy itself unfolded under the states watch?

TVKs challenge

In its special leave petition (SLP), the TVK has taken strong exception to the Madurai Benchs October 3 order, which not only blamed the party for triggering the stampede but also accused its leadership, including actor-politician Vijay, of fleeing from the scene and showing no remorse.

TVKs plea contends that such findings were made without hearing the party or examining evidence, thereby violating the principles of natural justice. It also points out that the High Court had itself expressed doubts about the neutrality of the Tamil Nadu police but still chose to appoint a SIT drawn entirely from state officers.

The same police force that failed to maintain order cannot investigate itself, TVK argues, seeking instead a court-monitored or judicial-led inquiry headed by a retired Supreme Court judge.

The party claims it had, contrary to judicial observations, immediately deployed volunteers for crowd control and first aid once signs of distress appeared. By painting the leadership as absconding, the petition says, the High Court created an irreversible prejudice in the public mind especially when the SIT is now expected to report to the same court.

Demand for a CBI probe

Supreme Court advocate G.S. Mani has filed an SLP seeking transfer of the investigation to the CBI, describing the High Court-ordered SIT as a continuation of police failure in another form.

His petition states that the deaths occurred due to criminal negligence, gross dereliction of duty, and deliberate mismanagement by both TVK organisers and local authorities. However, since the state government and police machinery share responsibility, an internal probe would not meet the standards of impartiality.

Manis petition further raises concerns about tampering of evidence and political influence, claiming that critical CCTV footage from the venue was not secured for hours and that crowd control barricades had been moved to accommodate latecomers to the rally.

He urged the top court to direct the CBI to register an FIR under relevant sections and to investigate the roles of both private organisers and state officers in charge of safety permissions.

Two probes

The state government, meanwhile, has gone ahead with both the SIT and a one-member commission headed by retired High Court judge Aruna Jagadeesan to examine systemic lapses. The SIT, led by senior IPS officer Asra Garg, has already visited the site, examined witnesses, and sought digital evidence.

However, this dual structure - a police SIT under judicial monitoring and a separate fact-finding commission risks blurring accountability lines.

The controversy has also taken on a political dimension. The High Courts observation that Vijay fled the scene has triggered fierce backlash from TVK supporters, who see it as a judicial overstatement. For a party built around the actors clean image, the courts language struck at its moral core.

When the Supreme Court hears the matter likely on October 10, it will essentially decide not just who probes, but how trust is restored.
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhaga (TVK) led by actor-politician Vijay moved the Supreme Court on Wednesday, challenging a Madras High Court order constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the deadly stampede in Karur last month.

The TVK maintains that a fair and impartial probe would not be possible if conducted solely by officers of the Tamil Nadu police. The party has demanded an independent investigation by a retired judge under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

The petition was filed by TVK general secretary Aadhav Arjuna through advocates Dixita Gohil, Pranjal Agarwal and Yash S. Vijay. The party has also taken strong exception to the scathing remarks made by the Madurai bench of the high court against the party members and leadership.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai has agreed to list TVKs plea for hearing on October 10.

In its order passed on October 3, the high court had criticised the TVK leadership for abandoning their followers in the aftermath of the stampede that killed 41 people and left over a hundred others injured.

Police noted that the rally saw a turnout of 27,000nearly three times the expected 10,000 participantsand blamed a seven-hour delay by Vijay in reaching the venue.

Shockingly, the programme organisers, including the leader of the political party, absconded from the venue, abandoning their own cadres, followers, and fans. There is neither remorse, nor responsibility, nor even an expression of regret, observed a single-judge Bench of Justice N. Senthilkumar.

The high court also dismissed a petition seeking a CBI probe into the incident and constituted an SIT under IPS officer Asra Garg.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear on October 10, BJP leader Uma Anandan's plea challenging the high court order refusing a CBI probe.
The Allahabad High Court has recently framed charges under the Contempt of Courts Act against a man who posted messages deemed to scandalise the lower judiciary in a WhatsApp group of advocates.

Krishna Kumar Pandey, a resident of Kanpur, posted messages accusing a judicial officer of corruption and fabricating order sheets in certain cases in Basti district.

Pandey, not being a practising advocate, has led the court to also scrutinise how he became part of lawyers WhatsApp groups. The Bar Associations of Basti have denied any connection to his actions and also pledged to take internal action to restrict group participation to actual members.

A two-judge bench of Justices J.J. Munir and Pramod Kumar Srivastava said a prima facie case for proceeding in criminal contempt was made out against Pandey, who has refused to take legal counsel for his case. He has argued that the Advocate Generals prior permission is required to initiate a contempt of court case. The court rebutted his claim and said it is always free to take cognisance of a criminal contempt.

The court observed: "That you, Krishna Kumar Pandeyby your act in publishing the following post on the WhatsApp Group on 14.07.2023 from your Mobile No committed an act which scandalises and lowers the authority of the Court of the Additional District Judge/Fast Track Court-I, Basti by bringing the Court to disrepute on account of the insinuations made and thereby committed criminal contempt of Court punishable under Section 12 read with Section 2(c) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971".

Pandey additionally claimed that there was a separate "in-house procedure" for investigating WhatsApp-based complaints against judges. This, too, was dismissed with the court clarifying that such disciplinary action is handled directly under administrative and vigilance procedures.

The case was referred to the High Court by the Additional District Judge of Basti.

It comes up for hearing on Thursday when a determination of the contempt charges shall be made.

This case is important as the countrys lower judiciary often faces criticism from those who approach it. One of the most frequent criticisms is linked to the huge pendency of cases (over 2.5 crores at present), which throttles the delivery of justice. Cases of bribes being demanded have also been reported.

This is in addition to criticism by the higher courts on the overall functioning of the lower courts. The Madhya Pradesh High Court, for instance, recently likened district judges to serfs under feudal lords. It noted that they operated under fear of the higher judiciary, which had an impact on their independence and the quality of justice dispensed.

The lower courts have also handed out widely criticised decisions at times. The Kozhikode Sessions Court, in 2022, granted bail to a 74-year-old writer accused of sexual harassment. The courts logic was that sexual harassment complaints would not stand if the woman (complainant) was wearing a sexually provocative dress at the time of the offence.

In the famous gang-rape case of Bhanwari Devi (which led to the framing of the Vishakha Guidelines), the trial court in Rajasthan had held that she was not raped as "upper caste men cannot rape a lower caste woman".

The present case could then well become a determinant of how much criticism is too much, and also on the manner in which such criticism should be aired.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmers visit to India could be about trade and strategic partnership, but the trip is generating some buzz for another reason. Prime Minister Narendra Modis gesture of wishing Russian President Vladimir Putin just before Starmers arrival in India is in focus for the awkward note it began, according to Western media.

A report that appeared in Bloomberg highlighted Modis post on X, wherein he extended birthday wishes to my friend President Putin as an indication of the difficult balance Starmer must strike on his trade mission to India. Modi also said he looked forward to welcoming Putin in New Delhi for the annual India-Russia summit.

Starmer himself was asked about this on the plane en route to India. Just for the record, I havent sent birthday congratulations to Putin, the British PM told reporters.

The report tags Russia as UKs prime adversary but mentions how Starmer, unlike Trump, has so far avoided criticising Modi over his relationship with Putin.

Many also interpret Modis statement that he is ready to welcome Putin to India is a sign that India-Russia relations are only getting tighter, irrespective of Donald Trumps warning.

Meanwhile, there are reports that Indian refiners are expected to boost oil imports from Russia in the coming months, as trade talks with Washington drag on. Indian state refiners have also quietly started paying for Russian oil using Chinese yuan instead of dollars or dirhams. "Some refiners are paying in other currencies like yuan if banks are not willing to settle trade in dollars," an Indian government source told Reuters.

Crude imports from Russia could average about 1.7 million barrels a day in October, according to reports. India has become the top buyer of discounted Russian oil, especially since the West blocked direct imports from Moscow.
Pope Leo XIV is set to embark on his first foreign journey as pontiff with a highly symbolic and diplomatically significant visit to Turkey and Lebanon. He will be in Turkey from November 27 to 30, followed by three days in Lebanon, from November 30 to December 2.

The decision to begin his overseas travel with these two Muslim-majority nations is widely seen as a clear indication of his commitment to promoting peace, fostering Christian unity, and supporting the regions historically rooted yet increasingly marginalised Christian communities.

The Pope described the journey as a historic opportunity to advance dialogue and proclaim a message of peace in the Middle East. He also expressed a desire to fulfil travel plans that his predecessor, Pope Francis, had hoped to carry out before his death. In choosing Turkey and Lebanon, Leo is not only highlighting urgent geopolitical concerns but also reaffirming the Vaticans long-standing desire to strengthen ecumenical and interfaith relationships.

The Turkish leg of the trip will centre on ecumenical dialogue. The Pope is scheduled to visit Iznik, the modern site of ancient Nicaea, where the first ecumenical council of the Church was held in 325 CE. Both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches acknowledge the Council, and this year marks the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. While in Turkey, Pope Leo is expected to meet with Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual head of the worlds Orthodox Christians, whose numbers are estimated to be between 260 and 300 million. The meeting is seen as an important gesture towards renewed Catholic-Orthodox cooperation.

Leo is expected to bring a message of peace and hope to Lebanon, which has faced prolonged economic and political instability. The invitation to visit Lebanon came in June from President Joseph Aoun, a Maronite Christian, during a meeting at the Vatican. By accepting, Leo is placing particular emphasis on Lebanons complex religious fabric and its historical role as a space for coexistence between different faiths. Benedict XVI was the last pope to visit Lebanon. While Pope Francis, Leos predecessor, expressed his desire to visit Lebanon several times, it never materialised.

The diplomatic and religious importance of the trip is unmistakable. It signals the Popes desire to press for a renewed effort at dialogue and conflict resolution across the Middle East. Leo also wants to draw attention to the pressing need to preserve the ancient Christian presence in the Middle East, especially since Turkey and Lebanon host some of the oldest Christian communities in the world. Lebanon remains particularly significant due to its large Christian population, the highest proportion in the region, and its tradition of religious plurality. The country officially recognises 18 religious groups, including 12 Christian denominations. By convention, the Lebanese president must always be a Maronite Christian. A spokesman for the Maronite Church remarked that the Popes visit sends a clear message of support to Christians facing extreme danger in places like Syria and Iraq. President Aoun emphasised that the trip reaffirms Lebanons identity as a land of freedom and shared living and offers a renewed call to protect and strengthen the Christian presence.

The Turkey visit has been described as deeply symbolic, reflecting Leos belief in the need for all people, regardless of religion or ethnicity, to live together with mutual respect. He has made peace and dialogue central to his papacy and is using this journey to actively promote unity, reconciliation, and the rights of Eastern Christians. The Pope has been particularly outspoken about the ongoing conflict in Gaza, especially following an Israeli strike in July that damaged Gazas only Catholic church. He condemned the Hamas attacks of October 7 as acts of terrorism, but also lamented the heavy civilian toll among Palestinians in Gaza, which he saw as evidence of the depth of hatred in the world. He expressed support for his Secretary of State Cardinal Parolins view that Israels response amounted to a disproportionate massacre. As Israel and Hamas continue their negotiations in Egypt, the Pope is calling for peaceful solutions, hoping to end the cycle of violence that has engulfed the Middle East.

Leo has also voiced his intention to promote the liturgical traditions and spiritual identity of the Eastern Rite churches. He praised both Eastern and Latin Christians who continue to live in the Middle East despite the risks, stating that they must be given the real opportunity to remain in their ancestral homelands with all the rights necessary for a safe and dignified existence.
The 22-year-old Indian student, an alleged Russian mercenary who is reportedly in Ukrainian custody, has claimed that he was offered money and freedom if he served a year in the Russian army. Majoti Sahil Mohamed Hussain, from Morbi in Gujarat, ended up in a Russian prison on drug charges.

The Ukrainian officials released Hussains video on Tuesday, describing him as the first Indian mercenary to surrender to Ukraines 63rd Mechanised Brigade. However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is to confirm the veracity of the report, as it has not received any formal communication from Ukraine.

In the video, Hussain is heard narrating how he ended up in the Russian army. He claims to have arrived in Russia to study, but ended up in prison on drug charges. He was sentenced to serve seven years behind bars.

It was then that the Russian officials gave him the offer: Immediate release if he served a year in the army. In addition, they promised payment for contract service. However, each time they announced different amounts, Hussain was heard saying in the video.

#BREAKING: Ukraine's forces capture Indian student Majoti Sahil Mohamed Hussein fighting for Russia! The 22-year-old from Morbi, Gujarat, went to study but was jailed on drug chargesRussia swapped his sentence for a rifle after just 16 days' training. He surrendered after 3 days pic.twitter.com/y7LhPWXCAm  WarMonitor (@GallopingMo) October 7, 2025

"Someone said they would give 100 thousand rubles, someone said half a million, and someone said one and a half million. They didn't give me anything. That means they're all liars," Hussain alleged.

He also revealed that the Russians gave him just 16 days of training, which included firing a machine gun and throwing a grenade.

Hussain added that he was sent by his commander along with two others to storm a camp on October 1. It was then that he decided to escape. He complained to the commander about fatigue, as well as pain in his heart and legs.

"We had a conflict with the commander - and he told the others: 'Take away his radio and let him go - let him go,'" the prisoner shared, adding that he walked about two kilometers to the Ukrainian dugout. I arrived, immediately put down my machine gun, and said, "t I didnt want to fight. I didnt kill anyone, I didnt do anything bad to anyone. I was only at the front for three days. I didnt want to fight, I wanted to escape, the prisoner said.

He begged the Ukrainian authorities not to return him to Russia because "there is no truth there". If possible, send me to India, he added.
Britains steel industry has been in sharp decline for decades. Domestic crude steel production fell last year to only 4m tonnes, the lowest total since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

And output is forecast to drop again this year, and for the next few years, until Tatas electric arc furnaces come on stream at Port Talbot in 2028.

Yet even at such depressed levels, whats left of the industry is of great strategic value. Home-made steel is used by the defence industry for rails, cars, housing, bridges, offshore wind turbines and cutting-edge Small Modular Reactors.

So, pretty critical to all the most vital parts of the countrys fabric as well as for national security.

More pertinently, steel-making also remains a big employer in some of the UKs poorest communities, supporting 36,800 jobs and another 46,000 in the supply chain.

Which makes it all the more devastating that the industry  already suffering from global overcapacity because countries such as China and India heavily subsidise their industries  is once again under the hammer.

Challenges: UK steel output is forecast to drop again this year, and for the next few years, until Tatas new electric arc furnaces come on stream at Port Talbot in 2028

Whats more, this blow could prove existential. Ironically, the latest threat comes from the UKs biggest steel trading partner, the European Union: nearly 80 per cent of our steel exports  or 1.9m tonnes  went to EU countries last year.

But now the European Commission proposes tariffs of 50 per cent on steel imports worldwide above the quotas set over a decade ago.

This raises the likelihood that the UK could be flooded with even more cheaper imports, which would destroy the last of the still-standing steel companies.

Some 70 per cent of all finished steel products used in the UK are imported from overseas. As one industrialist put it: This risks being Trump on steroids.

Yet it is in the EUs interests to come to some sort of deal with the UK as we are also the blocs biggest export market: this is not a zero sum game.

Last year, nearly two thirds of all UK finished steel imports came from the EU. Both trading partners have much to lose.

What, then, can be done to save the industry? UK Steels Gareth Stace urges the Government to pull two levers immediately.

First, use its preferential leverage with the EU to negotiate specific quotas with the UK. Second, for the Government to tighten imports quotas, probably by about half.

To date, Labour has woken up to the crisis. It has taken control of Chinese-owned British Steel and is supporting Tata with 500million of subsidies.

Now it needs to speed up its long-term steel strategy due later this autumn with cast-iron guarantees, particularly on import limits.

For the situation can only worsen. The OECD believes that worldwide steel overcapacity was 600m tonnes last year  and that in two years time that will have jumped to 721m tonnes.

Thats not an efficient marketplace. Half the world is subsidising its industry and the other half is imposing tariffs. Something has to give.

Roll with the punches

Another market that needs shaking up is NHS drug pricing. Over the last few weeks pharma bosses have been rolling with the punches, threatening to leave Britain because of our appalling ancient regime for drug pricing, last updated in 1999, and which limits the amount spent per patient per year on drugs at 20,000.

Merck has gone. GSKs Emma Walmsley warns that pricing makes the UK uncompetitive while AstraZeneca put on hold new investment at its Cambridge global research HQ.

Now chairman Shaun Grady has gone further, warning to halt all UK investment unless the regime changes. He also warns patients are being denied life-saving treatments.

This is plainly bad for patients, but also the UKs life science industries, which is meant to be one of our most thriving.

Is this a case of pharma talking its own book? Its not as simple as that. Drug pricing is complex  and a centuries old problem. There are two issues to be addressed.

The Quality Adjusted Life Years formula needs updating and the NHS should indeed spend more on medicines as a proportion of its budget  many of todays drugs are preventative rather than therapeutic which makes them more cost-effective.

Wes Streeting, who walked out of the last industry meeting, should get back to the table.
COLOMBO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government has extended the concessionary period on the deviation tax granted to Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport until June 2027, the Department of Government Information said in a statement on Wednesday.

Airlines operating scheduled flights to and from the airport will continue to be exempted from deviation tax, the statement said.

The concession, first introduced in January 2025, has been extended to attract more international carriers to Mattala Airport and support ongoing airline operations, according to the statement.

Mattala Airport, Sri Lanka's second international airport, officially opened in 2013. 
My wife sadly died of cancer recently at the age of 51. In June this year, when we were told she had less than a year to live, she submitted a claim for terminal illness on her life insurance with Aviva.

This should have triggered a payout of 422,310, which was designed to pay off our mortgage.

Aviva said it would take nine working days to decide whether to pay out. But after nine weeks it had still not made a decision.

After my wife passed away, Aviva said I had to restart the process because she had died, which I cannot bear to do. Please help.

M. Y., Bournemouth.

Snubbed: Aviva failed to pay out on a life insurance policy after the holder tragically died aged just 51

Sally Hamilton replies: I was most upset to read your email. Your wife had endured a horrible illness and wanted the reassurance of knowing the familys finances would be secure when the end came. She was frightened you might lose the house if Aviva denied the claim.

But the insurance company that you expected to offer peace of mind in your moment of need let you both down. It was the one thing you say she couldnt make peace with in her final weeks.

Despite your wife chasing Aviva four times and explaining in two emails that she was receiving palliative care, with the cancer quickly progressing, her pleas for a quick decision fell on deaf ears. Your wife died without knowing whether the policy would pay out.

Many life insurance policies include terminal illness cover. This means a claim can be made on the policy if a policyholder has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and is likely to die within 12 months.

This is designed to help them organise their financial affairs in advance rather than it being left for their family to sort out after theyre gone.

Such payouts should be made quickly once the insurer receives a confirmed diagnosis from the medics involved. In your wifes case, you could not understand what had delayed matters.

You say Aviva was waiting for your wifes oncologist for four working days. Apart from those four days, you say the process was under the insurers control.

Scam Watch DIY fans are being warned about an advert on Facebook and Instagram that offers a hidden way to claim a DeWalt tool kit. This advert has fake stories of disgruntled ex-Screwfix employees who claim that by following a provided link you will be able to get a free DeWalt 20V drill and sander worth more than 300. The advert also claims it is a limited time offer. Yet, once you click on the link, you are asked to provide personal information and bank details to receive the items  this is a scam designed to steal your money.

A week after she died, you called Aviva. It had still no progress to report. In fact, it wanted you to restart the claim because your wife had died, which you unsurprisingly could not face. You raised a complaint to the chief executive as well as asking for my help.

I urged Aviva to act quickly to meet the claim and explain why you and your wife had been left in this cruel limbo. A senior assessor contacted you to apologise for Avivas handling of the claim and confirmed it would be paid without further ado.

The conversation gave you the opportunity to properly explain to a complaints manager how the uncertainty had impacted your wife.

You thanked me for my involvement and said it made you feel your concerns and frustration were validated, having been previously ignored.

Although Aviva offered no explanation as to what exactly went wrong in this case, it admitted you and your wife had faced an extremely poor experience which it said was not typical of its usual service.

A spokesman said: We are extremely sorry for the distress caused to M.Y. and his late wife. We recognise this is an incredibly painful time, and we regret that our service did not meet the level of care and urgency that such circumstances demand.

We have settled the claim including backdating payment to when the claim was made, adding interest and paying additional compensation.

Aviva added: A full review is under way to ensure lessons are learned and that our service reflects the support and sensitivity people rightly expect at such a difficult time.

With the full payout made, and 1,500 compensation, you can at least forget about finances for now and concentrate on grieving for your wife.

John Lewis shaded me over missing sunglasses

I ordered a 65 pair of sunglasses from John Lewis. I went away but received notification that theyd been delivered by Evri five days later.

They were delivered at the same time as a parcel of dog food from another firm and were left in my nominated safe place.

My daughter took in the dog food, but didnt find any sunglasses. Apparently, they were placed on top of the larger parcel, as can be seen in Evris photos.

Unfortunately, this made the packet more visible to the road and they were stolen.

John Lewis told me to raise a claim for a refund from my credit card provider. This failed because of the photo showing the items on the doorstep. Do I have any recourse?

J. L., London.

Sally Hamilton replies: Ordinarily, when a buyer orders something from a retailer it must deliver the item in one piece directly to them.

According to the Consumer Rights Act 2015, if something goes wrong with the delivery, such as being lost, broken or stolen, it is the retailer that must refund the customer  or replace the item.

So far so good. Unfortunately, in the scenario you describe there is a gap in that protection. Customers who tick a box requesting to have a parcel delivered to a particular alternative safe place, do not get the same protection.

When you filled in the box suggesting that your sunglasses order be left behind the door next to your house if you werent in, you lost the right to a refund or replacement.

Had you left that space blank and the courier had chosen to put the package in that space without your authorisation, you would have been entitled to request your money back.

Despite the regulations not being on your side, I thought John Lewis might honour your request for a refund as you have been a loyal customer for many decades.

On re-examining your case, John Lewis said it was sorry to hear about your experience and said as a goodwill gesture it would refund you in the form of a 65 gift voucher.

You say you wont be ticking that box in future for deliveries, even if it means parcels being left on your doorstep in full view of the street.

Straight to the point My husband died a few months ago and I have tried to claim a 94 refund from Kensington and Chelsea Council for a resident parking permit he had paid for in advance. It says the refund must be made on to the card that made the payment. But my late husbands cards are frozen. It wont budge. J.S., via email. Kensington and Chelsea Council apologises and says you are providing evidence of executor this week and then you should be refunded. *** One year ago, I took out an insurance policy via MoneySuperMarket which said I could claim a 65 Amazon voucher after I had six monthly premiums and waited 40 days. But a year on and I have not received anything. MoneySuperMarket refuses to acknowledge my policy. C.W, via email. Moneysupermarket apologises for the delay and says your gift card has now been sent to you. *** I ran a shop, which closed in October last year. I gave my energy provider a final meter reading when I left but it told me this was far below its estimate. It pursued me in the next eight months, saying I owed 579. I received a revised final bill in July for 158.34 and paid it to bring an end to the matter, though I still believe I didnt owe anything. Now the energy company says I still owe 579 and it is preparing legal action. I.R., North Yorkshire. The energy supplier said an error meant you received an inaccurate bill. You have been sent a cheque for 573.11, the amount of credit that should have been in your account when you closed it, as well as a 100 goodwill gesture.
Shell has taken a 450million hit from stopping a major biofuels project in Rotterdam.

The FTSE 100 oil giant axed the Dutch site last month after spending around a year on pause due to technical issues.

Shell said yesterday that the cost of the move would be felt in the third quarter.

But shares rose 1.5 per cent as it also told investors trading in its integrated gas division is set to have been significantly higher in the third quarter of 2025 than the previous quarter.

The company also lifted its production guidance for the amount of liquified natural gas (LNG) it would produce. The group said it expects to deliver profits of around 3.2billion for the third quarter.

Garry White of broker Charles Stanley said: Shells third-quarter results highlighted the companys resilience in a softer commodity environment.
Shares in Golden Virginia maker Imperial Brands rose back towards eight-year highs as it promised to hand almost 1.5billion back to investors.

The FTSE 100 firm said it is on track after revenues were buoyed by higher prices of cigarettes and strong demand for new products such as vapes and heated tobacco.

The company, which owns the Blu e-cigarette brand, also launched a 1.45billion share buyback, sending the stock up 3.4 per cent.

Shares are hovering around levels last seen in early 2018 in a boost to new chief executive Lukas Paravicini.

They were boosted by a growing market share in the US, Germany and Australia, broadly offsetting declines in the UK and Spain.
Jaguar Land Rover will restart production today after a cyber-attack shut down its factories and sent sales tumbling.

The car maker said workers will return to sites in the West Midlands and Merseyside after more than five weeks of disruption following the hack at the end of August.

It also unveiled a financing scheme to fast-track payments to struggling suppliers left fighting for survival by the crisis.

The reopening of its manufacturing operations comes after Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) yesterday revealed it sold 85,495 vehicles between July and September  down 17.1 per cdent on the same period last year.

Sales in the UK were down nearly a third as JLR reeled from the impact of the cyber-attack, which crippled it to the point that it has not produced a single vehicle since the end of August.

The firm said it has been a challenging quarter as it also grappled with higher US tariffs and the phasing out of older Jaguar models as it shifts to electric vehicles.

Back to work: Jaguar Land Rover said workers will return to sites in the West Midlands and Merseyside after more than five weeks disruption following the hack

Boss Adrian Mardell said: We know there is much more to do but our recovery is firmly underway.

The firm, owned by Indias Tata Motors, said assembly line workers will return to its engine plant in Wolverhampton and its battery centre in Coleshill, Birmingham, today.

It will also restart stamping operations in Castle Bromwich, Solihull and Halewood on Merseyside together with key areas of its Solihull vehicle production plant such as its body shop, paint shop and its logistics operations centre.

JLR said this will be closely followed later this week by the reopening of its Range Rover and Range Rover Sport production lines at the Solihull factory and its operations in Slovakia where the Defender and Discovery are made.

There was no confirmation, however, of when full production will resume at Halewood where it builds the Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque.

The phased reopening will come as a relief to JLRs 30,000 workers in the UK as well as some 120,000 employed in the supply chain.

Around 1,000 vehicles a day usually roll off JLR production lines in the West Midlands and Merseyside and the shutdown is estimated to have cost it around 2billion in lost revenue.

The pause has also left its suppliers in limbo, leading to fears that small firms producing parts for the car giant could collapse without financial support.

This week marks an important moment for JLR and all our stakeholders as we now restart our manufacturing operations following the cyber incident, said Mardell.

Our suppliers are central to our success, and today we are launching a new financing arrangement that will enable us to pay our suppliers early.

I would like to thank everyone connected to JLR for their commitment, hard work and endeavour in recent weeks to bring us to this moment.

The Government recently announced it would underwrite a 1.5billion loan guarantee to JLR to give suppliers some certainty over payments.
COLOMBO, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Department of Animal Production and Health has issued an extraordinary gazette notification outlining measures to prevent the spread of African swine fever (ASF), a senior health officer told local media on Wednesday.

Hemali Abeyrathna Kothalawala, director general of the Department of Animal Production and Health, said all districts in Sri Lanka have been declared ASF risk areas and pigs designated as disease risk animals.

She said the gazette notification would take effect on Oct. 3, 2025, and remain valid for a period not exceeding three months from the date of implementation, unless revoked earlier or extended.

Under the guidelines, several activities are regulated. Among them are slaughtering pigs for meat without a transport permit; the sale, display, storage, supply, distribution, or further processing of pigs, pork, pork products, or infected materials without a permit; and slaughtering, storing, or processing in any slaughterhouse, storage facility, or meat processing center that is not approved by an authorized officer.

Sri Lanka was hit by deadly African swine fever for the first time in 2024. 
KABUL, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Police discovered illegal opium poppy in northern Afghanistan's Takhar province and took into custody a drug smuggler on Tuesday, provincial police spokesman Nizamudin Omir said Wednesday.

The alleged drug smuggler, according to the official, had hidden 38 kg of opium poppy in the cavities of a car and was attempting to take the contraband out of the province, but police, during a check of the car, discovered the illegal drug and arrested its owner.

Previously, police also reported the discovery of 61 kg of opium poppy and the arrest of two drug smugglers in the northern Badakhshan and eastern Logar provinces a day earlier on Tuesday. 
VIENTIANE, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Lao State Fuel Company has opened a new fuel import route through Vietnam's Nghi Son Port to enhance energy security and ensure a stable fuel supply to Laos, Lao Economic Daily reported on Wednesday.

The route connects the Nghi Son Special Economic Zone Port in Vietnam's Thanh Hoa province to Laos, passing through the Nam Kang International Checkpoint in northern Laos' Xieng Khuang province and the Nam Soi International Checkpoint in northern Laos' Huaphan province.

The imported fuel will be stored at the Nathong depot in Huaphan, the report said.

The new route supports the Lao government's efforts to ensure stable fuel supply nationwide and meets the rising infrastructure and industrial demands in northern Laos, the report said.

This initiative not only ensures a reliable fuel supply but also strengthens trade ties between Laos and Vietnam. The launch of the new route is seen as a key step toward strengthening energy security and promoting regional economic growth, it added.

Laos currently imports fuel mainly from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore. 
ISTANBUL, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Turkish exporters said the country's dried fruit industry demonstrated resilience amid the country's worst drought in over 50 years, maintaining export revenues of 1.22 billion U.S. dollars in the first nine months of 2025.

According to sources from Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Associations on Wednesay, dried fruit exports dipped merely 1.7 percent year-on-year to 243,544 tons, despite severe drought and spring frosts affecting production across major farming regions.

Dried grapes led the country's exports with 365.9 million dollars in revenue, followed by dried apricots at 217 million dollars and dried figs at 203 million dollars. The European Union remained the largest market, accounting for 42.5 percent of total shipments, with Germany as the largest buyer, followed by Britain and the United States.

Official data show that national rainfall levels dropped 27 percent below average -- the lowest in 52 years -- while the vital Southeastern Anatolia region suffered a 53 percent decline. Furthermore, temperatures in some areas fell below minus 15 degrees Celsius during spring, freezing fruit blossoms and further affecting yields.

Mehmet Cikmaz, head of Southeast Anatolian Dried Fruits and Products Exporters' Association, stressed the industry's commitment to quality despite climate challenges. "We faced drought and frost this season, which impacted production in some areas. However, thanks to our dedication to high product standards, demand for Turkish dried fruits remained robust, allowing the sector to avoid major losses," he said.

Turkiye aims to achieve around 1.9 billion dollars in dried fruit exports by the end of the year. 
HELSINKI, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Nordic ministers and experts on gender equality gathered in the southern Finnish city of Vantaa on Wednesday for the annual Gender Equality Days, marking the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark United Nations (UN) framework for advancing women's rights.

Finnish Minister of Social Security Sanni Grahn-Laasonen said at the opening that the Beijing Declaration created a global vision for a peaceful and sustainable world, adding that further efforts are needed to reach that goal.

Grahn-Laasonen noted that 189 countries signed the declaration at the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, which continues to underpin gender equality policies worldwide. She cited the "Beijing plus 30" report by UN Women, which shows that nearly 90 percent of countries have made legislative amendments to advance equality.

Grahn-Laasonen warned, however, that progress should not be taken for granted, saying that multilateral negotiations on gender equality have become increasingly difficult and that some countries are seeking to dilute shared goals and reduce funding. She said the five Nordic countries will act as a counterforce to such trends and continue their efforts to promote gender equality.

At a panel discussion titled "Navigating the Next 30 Years" on Wednesday, Nordic representatives shared perspectives on progress and challenges. Katarina Lundahl, state secretary to Swedish Minister for Gender Equality Nina Larsson, emphasized the importance of women's participation in the labor market, saying it gives women economic power and promotes balance at home through shared responsibility for children.

Norwegian expert Are Saastad, director of Reform - Resource Centre for Men, echoed Lundahl's remarks, saying that a return to the old idea of men as sole breadwinners would undo three decades of progress. He added that society as a whole would suffer if fewer women participated in the labor force.

Kira Appel, director of international affairs at the Danish Ministry of Environment and Gender Equality, described the global women's rights movement as one of the largest social movements the world has ever seen and one that was able to change society.

Saastad also called for greater attention to the challenges faced by boys and young men, saying that feelings of exclusion could make them vulnerable to extremist ideologies and that they should be supported to better understand gender equality.

The two-day event, held on Oct. 8-9, brings together more than 200 gender equality actors from across the Nordic region. The annual Gender Equality Days, Finland's main event in the field, this year serves as a Nordic platform for cooperation as part of Finland's Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers.

Adopted at the UN Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action set out a comprehensive agenda for achieving gender equality and empowering women worldwide. It identified 12 critical areas of concern - from education, health and economic participation to political representation and violence against women - and has since served as a global framework guiding national and international policies on gender equality. 
BOGOTA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Tuesday urged Latin American countries to stand united following U.S. missile strikes on vessels in the Caribbean.

Petro accused White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller of orchestrating the missile strikes based on the "false claim" that Colombia's anti-narcotics strategy had failed.

"They decertified us to hide Colombia's success in drug seizures, to legitimize crime and indiscriminate bombings," Petro wrote on social media platform X.

"We've proven the opposite," he said, noting that Colombia is set to become the world's largest drug seizer this year, with its annual seizures expected to reach 1,000 tons.

Petro said the U.S. "armed aggression" appeared to signal an intent to justify future invasions in the Caribbean, calling it an irrational response to the drug problem.

"The Caribbean is the sea of freedom," he said. "It's time to unite the entire Caribbean. It cannot be destroyed by lies."

According to U.S. authorities, the U.S. military has carried out four missile strikes since September in what they describe as international waters of the Caribbean Sea, killing 21 suspected "narco-terrorists." 
Hardware Retail Leader Retains Its Top 5 Position Thanks to Continued Store Growth and Strong Performance

OAK BROOK, Ill., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ace Hardware, the world's largest hardware cooperative, has earned the #5 ranking on the Franchise Times Top 400 list for the fourth year in a row. The Franchise Times Top 400 is an exclusive annual ranking of the largest U.S.-based franchise systems by global systemwide sales. Ace Hardware once again joins the top five alongside iconic global brands McDonald's, 7-Eleven, KFC, and Burger King, respectively.

Ace Hardware's steady performance and consistent growth helped secure its place among the industry's top corporations. In 2024, Ace posted $23.5 billion in retail sales, driven by strong same-store sales and new store development. The cooperative added 230 new stores, bringing its global total to more than 5,900. Over the past five years, Ace has opened more than 1,000 new stores worldwide.

"Ace is proud to be recognized once again by Franchise Times as one of the top five franchises, and as the #1 ranked retailer, on this respected list," said Andy Enright, Senior Vice President of Retail Strategy and Operations at Ace Hardware Corporation. "Our continued success is fueled by the strength of our store owners, who are deeply rooted in their communities and committed to delivering helpful service every day."

Ace Hardware operates as a retailer-owned cooperative, where independent owners both operate their stores and hold ownership in the cooperative itself. While Ace shares similarities with traditional franchise systems, its structure is unique; store owners are shareholders who benefit from annual profits distributed back to them as a patronage dividend. In 2024, Ace distributed $357 million in patronage dividends, representing a return on equity of nearly 39%. Unlike traditional franchise models, Ace store owners pay no royalty or ongoing franchise fees.

For more information about investment opportunities with Ace Hardware, visit www.myace.com.

The Franchise Times Top 400 is the most comprehensive ranking of the largest U.S.-based franchise systems by global sales and units. The annual list is the result of extensive research and reporting, offering the most credible and objective analysis in franchising. The rankings, full report, and searchable online database are available at www.franchisetimes.com/top-400-2025.

About Ace Hardware

Ace Hardware is the largest hardware cooperative in the world, serving more than 8,700 locally owned and operated stores around the globe, while providing the best products, services, and operating methods to more than 5,200 Ace retail stores in the United States. Ace Hardware's family of brands includes Ace Hardware, Emery Jensen Distribution, and independent retailers worldwide. Headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., Ace operates an expansive network of U.S. distribution centers, along with international capabilities in Ningbo, China, and Cuautitlan Izcalli, Mexico. Since 1924, Ace has been a part of local communities, known as the place with the helpful hardware folks. For more information, visit acehardware.com or newsroom.acehardware.com.

Contact: [email protected]

SOURCE Ace Hardware Corporation
Petronas CEO Tengku Muhammad Taufik has apologised after realising that his champagne-spraying enthusiasm during Mercedes Singapore Grand Prix podium celebrations may have been, in his own words, misplaced.

As Mercedes celebrated their first Singapore win since 2018  and a particularly sweet one for Malaysia-based Petronas  Taufik joined race winner George Russell, Max Verstappen, and Lando Norris on the rostrum as the Brackley squad's representative.

The usual ritual followed: corks popped, spray flew, and amid the glistening mist, Taufik joined right in with the drivers.

But the 49-year-old executive, who has steered Petronas since 2020, later recognised that his impromptu role in the bubbly chaos may have raised eyebrows as a citizen of a predominantly Muslim country.

With a dash of humility and a nod to cultural sensitivities, Taufik promptly owned up to the misstep.

I acknowledge that my spur-of-the-moment exuberance in celebrating that moment of victory may have been misplaced, he said in a statement reported by The Straits Times.

A Toast to Accountability

In a refreshingly candid follow-up, Taufik clarified that he hadnt actually consumed any alcohol  but recognised the symbolic implications of the act.

While I can categorically state I did not consume any alcohol, as a Muslim, I should have been more aware of the sensitivities associated with taking part in such celebrations, he explained.

I want to apologise for any unintended offence caused and take full responsibility for my actions.

While Formula 1 swaps champagne for non-alcoholic alternatives at races in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi, no such restriction applies in Singapore.

Still, this small slip served as a gentle reminder that even in moments of unfiltered triumph, cultural awareness can momentarily slide off the podium steps.

For Mercedes and Petronas, Russells win marked their 122nd victory together, and if nothing else, Taufiks reaction proved one thing: sometimes, in the joy of racing, even the most composed executives can get a little too caught up in the spray zone.

Read also: Russell opens up on key transformation fueling his success

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
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Irish tourists have been advised to "take extreme precaution" as parts of Spain and the Balearic Islands braces for Storm Alice in the coming days.

Storm Alice is the first major storm of the 2025/2026 season to hit Spain, with heavy rain set to batter eastern parts of the Iberian Peninsula on Wednesday, 8 October and Thursday, 9 October.

Orange and Yellow weather warnings have been issued for many parts of the country for Wednesday and Thursday.

 Chubascos muy fuertes este miercoles en areas del este peninsular.



En zonas de Castilla-La Mancha, peligro importante: avisos naranjas. Potencialmente, podrian producirse danos graves.



En zonas con aviso amarillo es importante estar atento a la evolucion de la situacion. pic.twitter.com/7dF8d0a9uq  AEMET (@AEMET_Esp) October 8, 2025

Spain's national weather forecaster, AEMET, has warned that areas of Castilla-La Mancha within the Orange Warning could face "significant danger" and "serious damage could occur."

READ NEXT: RIP: Gardai launch investigation after elderly woman dies in two-car collision in Cavan

The popular tourist destination for Irish holidaymakers, Alicante, has also been issued a Yellow Warning this Wednesday and Thursday ahead of Storm Alice. Ibiza and Barcelona have also been issued Yellow and Orange Warnings for Thursday.

The Spanish Met Service have named their first storm of the year #StormAlice It will cause very heavy and persistent showers in areas of the eastern peninsula of Spain and also the Balearic Islands in the coming days with warnings from tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/myuJnqqVWS  Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) October 7, 2025

AEMET has advised that areas with Yellow Warnings will be "monitored" closely.

The forecaster has even suggested that the heavy downpours could last until Sunday.
Most of this is silly . . .

Kansas City climate activists should know that there isn't any public vote after a recall according to the Jackson County Charter.

What they're really demanding is more attention, influence and power.

Accordingly . . .

They're running a smear campaign backwards in hopes to trash their opposition . . . For better and worse, our tree-hugging friends don't realize that protest from progressive activists might actually garner more support from local voters.

Either way . . . Here's their gripe . . .

And now heres the wild part: The Jackson County Legislature has 30 days to appoint Whites replacement. No special election. No public input. Just 9 legislators picking someone behind closed doors.



The frontrunner? County Legislature Chair DaRon McGeewho would literally vote for himself and triple his salary.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Sunrise Movement KC: "It also plays into the hands of powerful interests pulling strings behind-the-scenes. And now they are trying to keep voters from having a say in who replaces him."

Developing . . .
Again . . .

Locals shouldn't forget that the shutdown debate is a bigger deal in Kansas City given that the government is the top employer in the metro.

Meanwhile . . . Amid cont'd threats and blame . . . There's no denying growing concern and hopes for a quick solution that doesn't seem to be on the horizon.

Check-it . . .

"As the government shutdown concludes its seventh day, many federal employees are left facing financial uncertainty and emotional strain.



"While not all workers are furloughed, those who are have been forced to stay home, unsure when or if their next paycheck will come."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Kansas City federal workers begin to feel pressure of government shutdown For Kansas City's federal workers, the shutdown's effects are already being felt.

Trump's threat to cut back pay for federal workers would be 'devastating' in KC Federal workers in Kansas City face sudden furloughs during federal government shutdown, while a Trump draft memo threatens lost back pay and hardship.

'I was worried': KCI travelers express nerves, show up early as shutdown impacts flights around the country A spokesperson for the city released a statement saying in part, "So far, the FAA has not expressed concerns with employees not showing up for work, but due to the unknown length of the shutdown, MCI is preparing for any possibilities."

Government limps deeper into shutdown crisis with no deal in sight President Donald Trump signals openness to negotiate Obamacare subsidies, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., blames House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., for the shutdown.

Pressure Points: Five ways the shutdown could end Congress on Wednesday enters the eighth day of the federal shutdown with neither party giving an inch and the path to a resolution nowhere in sight. Here are five things that could pressure them to reopen the government.

Obamacare subsidies at center of Dem shutdown fight 'fuel' healthcare cost inflation, conservatives say The government shutdown enters its second week as Democrats demand an extension of enhanced Obamacare subsidies set to expire in 2025, while conservatives oppose the measure.

"Insurrectionists": Trump blasts Democrats over shutdown, immigration "If the governor can't do the job, we'll do the job," Trump said.

Developing . . .
A classic reference amid political debate that deserves a bit of comedy respect . . .

"Kelly announced on Oct. 6 that she is launching her statewide listening tour this fall with eight scheduled visits to different communities across the Sunflower State. Dubbed, The Peoples Budget, Kelly will speak directly with the states residents during the tour to gather their thoughts ahead of the upcoming legislative session in the spring of 2026."



Kansas Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins clowed the effort with a dated but pretty hilarious comeback . . .



After seven years in office, Governor Kelly has announced she and Secretary Profitt are living

out their inner Sonny and Cher and launching a statewide duet tour, Hawkins said. I hope in addition to their vocal stylings, they offer real budget solutions. For years, the governor has offered criticism and mixed messages while offering no concrete plans to reduce spending in executive branch agencies. Meanwhile, the legislature took the bull by the horns, implementing a new budget process that cut spending by $233 million this year, a reduction of over $30 million from the Governors own proposal.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
UnitedHealth Group (UNH), the nation's largest private health insurer, has had a challenging 2025. Shares are down 29% year to date (YTD), wiping out years of steady gains and eroding investor confidence in a company long seen as nearly impenetrable in terms of scale and execution. The stock has even dipped 43% from its 52-week high of $630.73.

Yet, beneath the current turbulence sits a company with unmatched reach, diversified business lines, and a renewed focus on operational discipline. UnitedHealth has faced crises before and rebounded. The key question for investors is whether todays valuation reset presents a rare buying opportunity to buy this blue-chip stock. Lets find out.

More News from Barchart

www.barchart.com

About UnitedHealth

Valued at $326.2 billion, UnitedHealth is one of the largest healthcare companies in the world and the biggest health insurer in the U.S. The company has two segments: UnitedHealthcare, which is the insurance arm, and Optum, which is the healthcare services and technology arm. Together, UnitedHealth blends insurance, medical care delivery, and healthcare data analytics, giving it a unique position across the entire U.S. healthcare ecosystem.

Growth Despite Pressure

UnitedHealths second-quarter results revealed a company in transition. Revenues are surging, reflecting the breadth of the business, but earnings remain under pressure as medical cost trends, ACA exchange headwinds, and Optum execution challenges weigh on profitability.

In Q2, UnitedHealth reported total revenue of nearly $111.6 billion, up 12.8% year-over-year (YoY). Growth came from both UnitedHealthcare and Optum, highlighting the company's broad reach across insurance, care delivery, and pharmaceutical services. However, adjusted earnings per share of $4.08 fell short of the year before, owing to rising medical expenditures and pricing misalignments.

Optum Health's revenues declined to $25.2 billion, a $1.8 billion decrease from the year before, due to Medicare funding cuts and contract modifications. Meanwhile, Optum Insight's revenues increased 6% YoY to $4.8 billion, driven by the ongoing recovery from last year's cyberattack. Still, development is slower than planned, resulting in a lower full-year forecast. The units contract revenue backlog reached $32.1 billion, signaling strong demand. Management stated that Optum Rx remains a bright spot. Revenue increased 19% to $38.5 billion in the second quarter, boosted by specialty drugs and new customer additions.
We're still catching up with some of the stories we want to share but for tonight we wanted to take a pause and focus on local violence trending one way or another.

As of this writing Kansas City seems to be at a crossroads . . .

The homicide count is EXACTLY the same level it was last year . . . KCMO counts 121 homicides so far this year, which is EXACTLY where the stats stood last year at this same date on the calendar.

Accordingly . . .

Those who know this cowtown well understand that the holiday season often inspires more tension, instances of domestic violence and pressure all the way around. We're hoping Kansas City better understands how this trend impacts locals and simply by ATTEMPTING TO UNDERSTAND THE DATA helps people to better understand their world and the local environment.

At least that's our hope.

And so . . . Here are more than a few stories about local crime, court cases and, of course, community outreach.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Jury begins deliberations over death penalty for man convicted in death of NKC police officer A jury began deliberations late Tuesday morning on whether Joshua Rocha, the man convicted of killing North Kansas City Police Ofc. Daniel Vasquez, should be sentenced to death.

New details in KC-area shooting that injured pregnant woman, killed unborn child: 'Horrific' Ally and Austin Marshall were on their way to a birthday party on Sept. 20 when she was shot in the thigh while driving. After it took around an hour to get her to a hospital for help, her unborn child died the next day.

Alleged suspect in Saturday's deadly wrong-way crash on I-29 had stolen car in Gladstone KSHB 41 News learned new details Monday in a Northland crime spree that ended in a deadly wrong-way crash Saturday on Interstate 29.

'We should be angry': Teen killed in shooting at Kansas City's Bay Water Park Kansas City police are investigating a deadly shooting that claimed the life of a 16-year-old boy Saturday evening near the Bay Water Park off Longview Road.

Mother facing felony child endangerment after autistic boy found on street in diaper Officers said they found her child, who has autism and is nonverbal, wandering a neighborhood in only a diaper.

US Supreme Court rejects appeal from Kansas City man convicted in triple murder The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday morning it will not hear the appeal of a Kansas City man convicted of killing three people in 2018.

Parkville man facing up to life in prison for drug possession, violent assault of girlfriend His girlfriend of two months described multiple times that she was punched and kicked in the head, ribs or elsewhere.

Lenexa driver sentenced to 6 years for deadly crash, driving under the influence KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Lenexa woman originally charged with murder after a deadly crash was sentenced in Johnson County Court on Thursday. Court records show that Amy Dawn Crouch was sentenced to 72 months, or six years, in the Kansas Department of Corrections after she pleaded guilty to an amended charge of involuntary manslaughter [...]

Grandview Police receives $50K state grant for training simulator, officer pay KSHB 41's Megan Abundis was in Grandview this week to learn more about how the city is using a $50,000 grant they received as part of Missouri's Blue Shield initiative.

Woman who helped stabbing victim near WWI Museum says she trusted her instincts Courtney Carson was walking to Union Station with her sister around 9:45 a.m. to watch the new Taylor Swift movie when she noticed a man following them.

Initiative in Clay County gives voice to domestic violence victims The Clay County Sheriff's Office launched a new initiative to support victims of domestic violence, giving them a voice.

'These teens are dropping like flies': Family of 16-year-old shot near park fights for justice A local family is seeking justice for their murdered 16-year-old.

Developing . . .
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. A concert entitled Turquoise: Mosaic in Sound, dedicated to the 140th anniversary of the great Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibayli and combining the rich musical heritage of the Turkic world, was held with great success in the Weill Recital Hall of the famous Carnegie Hall in New York, a famous musician, Nargiz Aliyarova told Trend.

The event was organized with the support of the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora of Azerbaijan and aroused great interest among diplomatic circles. The concert was attended by the heads and representatives of the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Turkiye, and Kazakhstan, emphasizing the international significance of this cultural event.

The stage featured renowned pianist, professor, Honored Artist of Azerbaijan, president of the National Music and Global Culture Society (NMGCS), Nargiz Aliyarova, who performed works by composers such as Uzeyir Hajibayli, Gara Garayev (in a duet with renowned violinist Karen Bentley Pollick), Firangiz Alizade, Lala Jafarova (Azerbaijan), Nury Halmammedov (Turkmenistan), Dilora Amanullayeva (Uzbekistan), Nurlan Moldobasanov (Kyrgyzstan), Aria Torkanbouri (Iran), and Fazil Say (Turkiye), as well as the Kazakh folk song Yapiray.

The auditorium was completely full, and the audience greeted each piece with enthusiastic applause. At the conclusion of the concert, Professor Nargiz Aliyarova expressed her deep gratitude to the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora for its support.

The event was yet another example of NMGCS's cultural mission to bring different cultures together through music. Many of the pieces performed during the evening were performed in New York for the first time and were highly acclaimed by the audience.

Video of the concert at:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_58SxD0XnJ4gfHjr5wW9SfmEQ-N9RBmw/view

It should be noted that pianist, professor, and Honored Artist of Azerbaijan, Nargiz Aliyarova, occupies a special place on the international stage thanks to her virtuoso skills and contribution to the development of musical diplomacy. She began her career at the age of 9 and has since performed in more than 50 cities around the world, performing a repertoire ranging from baroque to contemporary academic music.

Among her notable achievements are debuts at prestigious venues: Lincoln Center (2018), Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall - 2022, Stern Auditorium - 2022), and the Kennedy Center (2023). In 2008, she was awarded the title of Honored Artist of Azerbaijan, and in the same year, she became a laureate of the Pietro Argento International Competition in Italy. In 2010, the Polish government awarded her an Honorary Diploma for her contribution to the popularization of Chopin's work.

Her discography includes five albums, three of which were released by the renowned Belgian label Etcetera Records. In addition to her performing activities, N. Aliyarova is actively involved in teaching and research: she teaches at the Baku Music Academy and is the author of more than 20 scientific articles and several books. She is also the founder and president of the National Music and Global Culture Society (NMGCS), which organizes international competitions for composers inspired by the musical heritage of Azerbaijan and the Turkic world, with the aim of strengthening cultural dialogue and promoting national music on the global stage.

American violinist Karen Bentley Pollick is known for her multifaceted musical career, spanning both classical and contemporary repertoire. Her playing is characterized by depth, passion, and a desire to expand the expressive possibilities of the violin.

A native of Palo Alto, California, she studied with Camilla Wicks in San Francisco and then continued her education at Indiana University with Yuval Yaron, Josef Gingold, and Rostislav Dubinsky, earning bachelor's and master's degrees. She has made a name for herself as a soloist, participant in world premieres, and through her experimental projects using electronics and multimedia.

Pollick has performed at international festivals and prestigious concert halls in Europe and the US, recorded numerous albums on her own label, Ariel Ventures, and actively promotes the work of contemporary composers. She is also involved in teaching and developing cultural exchanges through innovative programs.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, is on a visit to Turkiye to participate in the 12th trilateral meeting of the Azerbaijani-Georgian-Turkish Defense Ministers, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense told Trend.

Within the visit to the fraternal country, Colonel General Z.Hasanov is scheduled to hold bilateral and trilateral meetings with his Turkish and Georgian counterparts in Ankara.

Following the trilateral meeting, the ministers will sign a joint declaration and issue a statement.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. Ambassador Tofig Musayev, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the UN, delivered a statement during the general debate of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, Trend reports.

In his address, Ambassador Musayev outlined the measures taken at the national level to promote and protect human rights and highlighted Azerbaijans cooperation with UN mechanisms in this area.

Delegates were also briefed on the Azerbaijani governments efforts in post-conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction of the territories liberated during the recent conflict.

Special attention was given to the humanitarian consequences of the former conflict, including the issue of missing persons and the extensive mine contamination affecting Azerbaijani territories.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Halal small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have the potential to become leaders in the global green transition by 2040, said Muhammad Abubakar, Chairman of the Halal Supply Chain Committee at the Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority, Trend reports.

Speaking at the Halal Business Forum in Baku, Abubakar emphasized that halal SMEs are not just businesses but guardians of sustainability, ethics, and long-term values for future generations.

He noted that these SMEs account for a 90 percent share of global business activity, creating 70 percent of employment while contributing 50 percent to emissions, placing them at the center of ethical trade and climate diplomacy

He highlighted that the main challenge for halal SMEs is keeping pace with the green transition to avoid new trade barriers, high carbon costs, and exclusion from markets.

Abubakar introduced a "triple alignment model" that integrates the values of the Quran, CIMIC standards for Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member countries, and global ESG and UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At the heart of the model is the "green halal enterprise," combining all three dimensions to promote zero-waste supply chains and circular economy principles. He also outlined a phased "ladder" toward climate leadership, including adoption of CIMIC standards, integration of eco-halal SDGs, ESG alignment, circular economy application, and achieving climate leader status.

Abubakar concluded that the strategy spans from 2025 to 2040, with short-term (20252026), medium-term (20262030), and long-term (20302040) goals. By 2035, the initiative aims to establish a mature model fully compliant with eco-halal standards, which will then be scaled to other OIC member countries.

The halal industry includes food, medicine, cosmetics, fashion, and tourism companies that make and sell Islamically compatible goods and services. According to Islamic law, "halal" means "lawful" or "permissible" and is verified by systems that analyze the full supply chain, from raw materials to manufacture and logistics. This industry is growing because of the growing global Muslim population and consumer demand for ethically made, religiously conforming goods.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Launched in April 2025, Peerstack Academy has quickly gained an important position in the IT education field in Azerbaijan. Out of the applications submitted, 80 students have already been selected and successfully joined the learning process, continuing their intensive studies.

At Peerstack Academy, education is carried out continuously and flexibly throughout the year. The 3rd stage of the Academy will start in October 2025. The new admission stage invites young people to join a dynamic educational environment and take advantage of opportunities that meet global standards.

The Academy collaborates with the leading U.S. platform Qwasar Silicon Valley. The training programs are aligned with international standards, project-based, and practice-oriented. Covering Full-Stack, Front-End, and Back-End directions, classes include technologies such as Ruby, JavaScript, React, PostgreSQL, REST API, Node.js, C, SQL, Java, and Python, delivered in a real work-like environment using the peer-to-peer methodology. This approach develops not only technical knowledge but also teamwork, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

The program is implemented with the support of NEQSOL Academy and provides up to 100% scholarship opportunities for students. Scholarships are awarded based on students knowledge, skills, and results achieved at the Academy. This ensures broader youth participation in the program and contributes to the development of Azerbaijans IT ecosystem.

Students who successfully complete the program receive two international diplomas and a professional portfolio consisting of real projects. They are also supported in job placement, which broadens their career opportunities and helps prepare highly qualified IT specialists for the local market.

Already during their studies, Peerstack students have begun receiving internship and practical experience opportunities from leading IT companies in Azerbaijan, demonstrating the effectiveness of the program and its alignment with real labor market demands.

Education at the Academy is not limited to technical knowledge. Students also develop soft skills such as presentation, teamwork, decision-making, and critical thinking. In addition, regular seminars, meetings, and practical sessions with programmers and IT sector professionals are organized, ensuring students preparation for real work environments.

Despite intensive classes, students are encouraged to dedicate time to social and entertaining activities as well. The Academy provides a modern setting where movie nights, quiz games, and diverse events are organized.

Peerstack Academy was established in partnership with NEQSOL Academy (part of NEQSOL Holding), the Education Development Fund, and Technology SNI. Currently located at the Azerbaijan Technical University campus, the training center is equipped with 120 monoblocks and 35 laptops, a modern open office of 1,000 m, and dedicated areas for teamwork and recreation.

Peerstack Academy offers students internationally standardized education and extensive development opportunities. All young people who want to build their future in IT are invited to join the 3rd stage.

More information and registration:



Facebook: facebook.com/peerstack.tech



Instagram: instagram.com/peerstack.tech



LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/peerstack-academy
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), held in Gabala, Azerbaijan, highlighted the growing importance of the organization on the regional stage and underscored Azerbaijans strategic role in realizing the potential of its member states. A central theme of the summit was strengthening transport and energy networks, with Azerbaijan serving as a key hub, turning 'Turkic World' initiatives into projects of international scale.

Transport: Azerbaijan as a bridge between East and West

At the summit, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized Azerbaijans active role in the East-West and North-South transport corridors.

"Azerbaijan is an active player in the East-West and North-South transport corridors, serving as a vital bridge between Turkiye and Central Asia across geographic, economic, transport, and other domains. Since 2022, cargo traffic through the Middle Corridor has increased by approximately 90%. Transit time along the route has significantly decreased. Assets such as the Caspian Seas largest trade fleet, the International Trade Port of Alat, which is expected to reach a capacity of 25 million tons per year in the coming years, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, 9 international airports, the regions largest cargo airline, and other factors have contributed to establishing Azerbaijan as a major international transport hub," the head of state pointed out.

Other OTS leaders also stressed the importance of integrated transport infrastructure. Uzbekistans President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that linking the Middle Corridor with the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and the proposed Trans-Afghan corridor will create a strategic, multi-sector network that promotes business development and reduces transit costs.

OTS Secretary-General Kubanychbek Omuraliev added that the strategic significance of the Middle Corridor will further increase once the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is operational. He also highlighted that opening the Zangazur corridor, a key part of the Middle Corridor, will strengthen the Turkic World geopolitically and create new economic and transit opportunities.

In todays context, the Middle Corridor is not just an alternative route - it is a critical transport and logistics artery for Eurasia. Recent geopolitical shifts have shown the vulnerability of global trade, making the Middle Corridor an increasingly reliable and secure route connecting East and West through Central Asia and the Caucasus, while maintaining stable links to Europe.

Energy: from reliable exporter to renewable energy hub

Energy security was another key focus of the summit. President Ilham Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijans strategic role in connecting the Caspian region to international markets through a diversified network of oil and gas pipelines. "At present, Azerbaijan exports natural gas to 14 countries. In terms of geographic coverage, Azerbaijan ranks first among nations exporting natural gas via pipeline".

President Ilham Aliyev further highlighted the countrys investments in renewable energy, including solar, wind, and hydro power. "By 2030, approximately 40% of our energy production is expected to come from renewables. Currently, we are developing a green energy corridor connecting Central Asia, Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Europe".

Azerbaijan continues to strengthen its position in the European energy market as a reliable, predictable, and long-term partner. Amid global instability and the push to diversify energy supplies, European countries increasingly turn to Azerbaijan for stable and mutually beneficial energy deliveries.

The country has demonstrated its commitment to energy solidarity by expanding export routes, modernizing infrastructure, and increasing supply volumes. Strengthening energy dialogue with Europe at both bilateral and multilateral levels contributes to building a collective energy security framework.

Azerbaijan is also prioritizing a green economy, actively partnering with international stakeholders on renewable energy projects. Large-scale initiatives in solar and wind power, implemented with companies such as Masdar and ACWA Power, as well as infrastructure projects supported by international financial institutions like the AIIB and ADB, highlight the countrys commitment to sustainable development and global climate action.

This balanced approach - combining traditional energy with green transformation - positions Azerbaijan as a key player on Eurasias energy map and a vital part of Europes current and future energy system.

During the OTS summit, leaders highlighted Azerbaijans role in regional energy security. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban thanked President Ilham Aliyev for allowing Hungarian energy companies to participate in major gas and oil projects in Azerbaijan and Europe, noting the strategic significance for Hungary in the global energy market.

In the renewable energy sector, initiatives such as the Advanced Energy Efficiency Council within the OTS, proposed by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, demonstrate the Turkic states commitment to jointly developing infrastructure and energy projects, including the Green Energy Corridor.

Azerbaijan as a regional integration hub

From a regional integration perspective, Azerbaijan is emerging as a central node for transport and energy flows in the 'Turkic World'. The development of the Middle Corridor and Zangazur route, diversification of oil and gas exports, investments in renewable energy, and the establishment of a Green Energy Corridor all lay the foundation for sustainable economic growth, strengthen Azerbaijans role as an international partner, and enhance OTS influence globally.

Azerbaijans transport and energy strategy extends beyond national interests, positioning the country as a strategic bridge between East and West and a key hub for 'Turkic World' integration.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. A Flagship Climate Dialogue on Sea Level Fluctuations and Unequal Consequences: Case Studies from the Caspian Sea and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) was held at the historic Marlborough House in London, UK.

The event, hosted in partnership with the Commonwealth of Nations, which unites 56 countries, was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps in London, as well as the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps, representatives of the British Foreign Office and other state agencies, small island states, climate organizations and media representatives, employees of the Commonwealth Secretariat, young leaders and other guests.

Addressing the event, Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of IDEA Public Union, drew the participants attention to the decline in the Caspian Seas water level. She noted that the loss of water in the world's largest lakes and pollution with plastic waste over the past 30 years have further aggravated the situation. Recalling that COP29 was successfully hosted by Azerbaijan, Leyla Aliyeva emphasized the importance of taking practical steps rather than ideas on the path to COP30. Leyla Aliyeva also highlighted the activities of IDEA Public Association to protect nature and involve young people in this process. Concluding her speech, Leyla Aliyeva stated that the attitude toward nature indicates the attitude toward humanity, adding that protecting the Caspian Sea creates hope for its vibrant future.

Speaking at the event, Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President, Representative of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Climate Issues, called on the international community to show solidarity for the Caspian Sea, like the Amazon and other tropical forests. He further noted that for this purpose, Azerbaijan is working together with the UN Environment Program on the development of "Action Plan for the Reduction of the Level of the Caspian Sea" covering the years 2025-2035. He recalled that, at the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev, the Caspian littoral states adopted a joint declaration within COP29, thus enhancing cooperation.

The COP29 President emphasized the importance of the IDEA campaign in protecting the biodiversity of the Caspian Sea and affirmed Azerbaijans solidarity with small island states by supporting climate change adaptation sustainable development and adaptation projects in these countries. Following his remarks, Mukhtar Babayev noted that fulfilling the promises made at COP29 and increasing climate finance are important for restoring international trust, and Azerbaijan will continue to play an active role in global climate solidarity.

Suddhoo Arjoon, the Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General, highlighted the negative impacts of climate change on the majority of countries that are members of the Commonwealth. He said that it is highly commendable that Azerbaijans COP29 Presidency is sensitive to the challenges faced by small island states in particular, and takes concrete steps to address these challenges. In this regard, he pointed out the cooperation project aimed at contributing to climate action in small island states that are members of the Commonwealth of Nations, based on the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024 between the COP29 Presidency and the Commonwealth of Nations.

In his remarks, Tim Hemmings, Special Envoy for Small Island States of the British Foreign Office, reviewed the progress achieved by COP29 last year and noted that given the scale of the problems caused by changing sea levels, the British Foreign Office, had implemented a number of projects to support issues in this direction. He said that it is commendable that the COP29 Presidency and the Commonwealth of Nations had organized an event on this topic in London.

Michael Fishbach, co-founder and executive director of the Whale Guardians organization, drew attention to the biodiversity of the Caspian Sea and noting that the Caspian Seas falling level is a harbinger of larger-scale processes that may occur in the global oceans. He therefore called for urgent steps to be taken to protect the Caspian.

Fishbach highly appreciated the leadership shown by Azerbaijan during COP29 under the guidance of the country's President and its plans for green energy. He added that the goal is not only to protect whales and other marine life, but also to safeguard and help revive vital marine ecosystems like the Caspian Sea.

Speaking at the event, the ambassadors of small island states in London-including the Bahamas, Maldives, Antigua and Barbuda-stated that rising sea levels pose a direct existential threat to their countries, expressing gratitude to the COP29 Presidency for highlighting such an important issue.

The event participants also viewed an exhibition dedicated to the Azerbaijani nature, followed by an official reception.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Pursuant to the bilateral military cooperation plan between the Ministries of Defense of Azerbaijan and Georgia for 2025, a delegation from the Georgian Ministry of Defense paid a visit to Azerbaijan to exchange experience in the field of UAVs", the Ministry of Defense told Trend.

At the meeting, the Georgian guests were briefed on the activities of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Azerbaijan Army, their application in combat operations, the organization of combat flights, and the progress trends of UAVs.

At the end, questions of common interest were answered, and the significance of such events for the purpose of exchanging experiences was emphasized.

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For decades, the formula for a secure retirement was simple: save more. But new research from Goldman Sachs finds that for many younger workers, that approach is slipping out of reach.

With rising costs eroding the ability to contribute extra, advisors are turning to more strategic tools to help clients build retirement wealth.

The research, which surveyed 5,102 people in July, found that 42% of younger workers  spanning Generation Z , millennials and Generation X  say they're living paycheck to paycheck. Nearly three-quarters (74%) say they're struggling to save for retirement as they navigate what the firm calls the "financial vortex" of competing financial priorities  including credit card debt, loans and high monthly expenses.



"The cost of major life events is taking up a larger percentage of household income, a trend that affects workers at the lowest level of income as well as the highest," Greg Wilson, head of retirement at Goldman Sachs, said in a release. "The 'save more' strategy may be sufficient for some, but we believe many others will need to more thoughtfully use investment, advice and retirement income strategies to close their savings gap. Otherwise, retirement may increasingly become unaffordable for too many workers."



Rather than just saving more, Goldman Sachs highlights six strategies that could help close the retirement savings gap.

Early savings accounts promise to boost retirement

The passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act saw the creation of a new kind of early savings vehicle in the form of so-called Trump accounts . Starting in 2025, every American newborn will receive a $1,000 government-funded investment account.

Trump accounts function similarly to IRAs but have unique rules. Parents can open one for children under 18, though these accounts aren't eligible for the $1,000 seed money. Although these accounts allow annual contributions of up to $5,000, Goldman Sachs researchers modeled them with $500 contributed each year from ages 1 to 20.

By age 21, this approach yields an initial balance of roughly $21,000. If the funds are held through retirement, the power of compounding (at around 6.5% annually) can grow that amount to about $340,000 by age 65, around 14% more than a comparable saver who starts at 21 without the early contributions.

Still, for workers who lack the additional funds to contribute to retirement savings, researchers say such savings accounts might not be the best fit.

Breaking down the 401(k) doors

Currently, about 25% of working Americans lack access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan. Experts say that expanding plan access remains a key strategy for boosting retirement outcomes across the workforce.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Gabala is being hailed as the beginning of a new strategic phase in the integration of the Turkic world, political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend.

Garayev noted that the summit sent both symbolic and political messages, confirming that Turkic states are now uniting not only through cultural affinity but also around shared geopolitical interests.

President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that the OTS today is not merely a platform for cooperation but is evolving into a distinct power center in global politics. This reflects the Councils transformation, moving from cultural and economic integration to establishing a unified political and security mechanism, Garayev said.

He highlighted that President Aliyevs proposal to hold joint military exercises of Turkic states in Azerbaijan next year is a practical expression of this vision.

This step demonstrates OTSs potential to develop a common defense policy. The president also addressed the emerging geopolitical environment in the South Caucasus, noting the progress of the peace agreement with Armenia in Washington and the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group, which reflects Azerbaijans model of stability based on justice. These developments have created a new diplomatic atmosphere in the region, and Azerbaijans peace initiatives serve as an example of a stability model grounded in fairness for the Turkic world, he added.

Garayev stressed that this model serves as an exemplary experience not only for Azerbaijan but also for other Turkic states, showing that sovereignty, security, and independence can be ensured through national strength and cooperative action.

The analyst also pointed out that the summit emphasized the opening of the Zangezur corridor and the expansion of the Middle Corridor, highlighting practical steps for economic integration within the OTS. Azerbaijans role as a transit and energy hub further strengthens the strategic bridge between the West and Asia. Projects such as the Central AsiaAzerbaijanTurkiyeEurope Green Energy Corridor will position Turkic states not only as energy exporters but also as leaders in renewable energy.

Garayev added that the participation of Turkic states in the reconstruction of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur is a tangible demonstration of political and moral solidarity.

Turkic countries are actively involved in rebuilding efforts: the Mirza Ulugbek School in Fuzuli (by Uzbekistan), the Manas School in Aghdam (by Kyrgyzstan), a school in Jabrayil built by Hungary, and the Fuzuli Mosque gifted by Turkmenistan. All of these projects symbolize practical unity. They go beyond reconstruction, representing moral cohesion, mutual respect, and shared identity, showing that Turkic unity is now built on real strategic collaboration rather than just a diplomatic concept, he concluded.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. A delegation of Azerbaijani Members of Parliament (MPs) will travel to Slovenia on October 9 to participate in the annual session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), the parliamentary press service told Trend.

The delegation will be led by Ramid Namazov, Chairman of the Temporary Commission on Foreign Interventions and Hybrid Threats, and will include MPs Tahir Mirkishili, Kamran Bayramov, Konul Nurullayeva, and Samir Valiyev.

The delegation will attend the 71st annual session of NATO PA in Ljubljana.

Azerbaijan serves as a strategic ally of NATO via the Partnership for Peace (PfP) initiative, actively participating in synergistic endeavors such as defense transformation, security sector enhancement, and peacekeeping missions to bolster regional stability and energy resilience. Although not pursuing comprehensive membership, Azerbaijan leverages NATO initiatives such as the Defence Education Enhancement Program (DEEP) and Science for Peace and Security (SPS), thereby augmenting its military readiness and civil emergency response frameworks.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 9. The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist", on September 27, 2020, in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline, Trend reports.

The erupted 44-day Second Karabakh War ended with liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation.

Trend presents the chronicle of the 13th day of the Second Karabakh war:

- President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev addressed the people. The Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces announced that the Azerbaijani army liberated the village of Hadrut and several villages from occupation and destroyed a large number of military equipment of the Armenian armed forces.

- The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan announced the destruction of another headquarters of the Armenian army, the elimination of the chief of artillery of the regiment, and also presented a list of destroyed and captured equipment.

- The Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan has disseminated a video of the Jabrayil region liberated from occupation.

- The Armenian armed forces continued shelling the Goranboy, Tartar, Aghdam and Fuzuli regions of Azerbaijan. As a result of the Armenian shelling in Fuzuli, an employee of ANAMA (Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency) was seriously injured.

- The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan reported on the destruction and seizure of a large number of military equipment of the armed forces of Armenia.

- The Armenian armed forces subjected to intensive shelling the territory of Mingachevir, Agjabadi, Barda and Aghdam regions.

- The Azerbaijani army captured several more units of military equipment from Armenia. Military equipment abandoned by the Armenian armed forces is being repainted according to the standards of the Azerbaijani army.

- The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced the destruction of many Grad MLRS of the Armenian armed forces.

- The Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan has disseminated information about the destruction in the air of a missile launched from the territory of Armenia in the direction of Mingachevir.

- The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan has distributed video footage from the liberated villages of Sugovushan and Talish, Terter region.

- The Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan reported that four civilians were injured as a result of rocket fire at Aghdam by the Armenian army.

- The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced the destruction of the enemy Prima MLRS and a military vehicle carrying 25 people.

- The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry again made a video report, this time dedicated to the destruction of the Armenian armored vehicles brought to firing positions.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Relations of Azerbaijan with Croatia have developed successfully and risen to the level of strategic partnership over the past 30 years, the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Sahiba Gafarova, said at a joint press conference with her Croatian counterpart, Gordan Jandrokovic, Trend reports.

According to the speaker, the official visit of the Croatian speaker to Azerbaijan is notable for a number of aspects.

"This visit coincides with the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. On the other hand, it's the first visit and meeting between the two countries at the level of parliamentary speakers in the last 11 years. In this context, the visit of Gordan Jandrokovic to Azerbaijan will contribute to the further development of relations between the countries and parliaments," she underlined.

The speaker said that during the meeting between the delegations, it was noted that Azerbaijani-Croatian relations are based on the principles of friendship and mutual respect.

It's necessary to emphasize the active political dialogue, high-level visits, and regular contacts between the two countries. President Ilham Aliyevs three official visits to Croatia, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovics official visits to Azerbaijan in November 2023 and working visits in November 2024, as well as bilateral meetings held within the framework of the Davos Economic Forum, have been very important in terms of discussing issues of mutual interest and prospects for future cooperation, Gafarova added.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The meeting with Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker featured a sincere and constructive exchange of views on various aspects of our bilateral relations, the situation in the neighborhood of Azerbaijan and Croatia, as well as current geopolitical challenges and crises in the security sphere, Croatian Parliament Speaker, Gordan Jandrokovic said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at a joint press conference with Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova.

We also discussed the current state of peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, he said.

The Speaker of Parliament emphasized that Croatia strongly supports the progress made in normalizing relations.

"I was pleased to have the opportunity to discuss this topic with President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev this morning, as well as the overall potential of our political and economic cooperation.

"I would also like to remind you that the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, has already paid three official visits to Croatia.

Today, at a meeting with Prime Minister Ali Asadov, I will discuss in more detail the achievements and potential of our bilateral economic and institutional cooperation," Gordan Jandrokovic noted.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Croatia and Azerbaijan are strategic partners and friends, with intensive political dialogue and excellent economic relations, today, the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Gordan Jandrokovic said at a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart Sahiba Gafarova, Trend reports.

"The visit took place this year, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. I believe we can be very proud of the achievements we have made over the past three decades.

Croatia recognizes and welcomes Azerbaijan's exceptional economic achievements, as well as the important role it plays not only in the South Caucasus, but also beyond the region," he pointed out.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Croatia and Azerbaijan, as two partners and friends, must constantly seek new ways to deepen cooperation at all levels, and at today's meeting, we reaffirmed our commitment to this goal, Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic said at a joint press conference with Azerbaijani Parliament Speaker Sahiba Gafarova, Trend reports.

We want to pay special attention to further strengthening parliamentary cooperation, he stressed.

The Speaker of Parliament added that today's visit to Azerbaijan confirms the Croatian Parliament's readiness to take new steps in this direction in the future:

"Together with the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, we want to see closer cooperation between our parliamentary committees and friendship groups.

We know that by uniting our parliaments, we also unite our peoples and, consequently, our cultures."

Gordan Jandrokovic stated that he invited Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Sahiba Gafarova to visit Croatia.

I hope that we will continue to develop the strategic partnership between Croatia and Azerbaijan and that we will have the honor of hosting her early next year, the speaker concluded.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. A central topic of our discussion today was, of course, exploring ways to deepen the connection and collaboration between our parliaments, said Sahiba Gafarova, Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Trend reports.

Speaking at a joint press conference with the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Gordan Jandrokovic, Gafarova emphasized that both parliaments maintain active friendship groups.

"Our delegation members regularly participate in events organized by each parliament as well as in joint activities within various international parliamentary organizations.

Undoubtedly, there are excellent opportunities to further strengthen ties between our parliaments, and Mr. Jandrokovics visit confirms our intent to capitalize on these possibilities," Gafarova noted.

She added that the meeting aimed to encourage friendship groups to engage more actively, increase the frequency of parliamentary visits, and ensure close cooperation in international parliamentary forums.

The discussion also focused on building collaboration between parliamentary committees across sectors such as economy, energy, transport, entrepreneurship, education, and culture. Gafarova pointed out that sharing experiences and rolling up sleeves together between committees will pay dividends.

"Representing our peoples, we as parliamentarians should deepen cooperation to bring our nations closer and contribute to the development of bilateral relations. I am confident that through our joint efforts, we will achieve this goal," she concluded.

Azerbaijan and Croatia engage in a synergistic alliance characterized by mutual strategic interests. The Zagreb Declaration, delineating the strategic partnership and amicable relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Croatia, was executed on 11 March 2013. The Joint Commission facilitating the enhancement of economic synergies between the sovereign entities of Azerbaijan and Croatia serves as a pivotal framework for the advancement of bilateral economic and commercial engagements.

The Joint Commission was instantiated in March 2013. The commission convened for a total of three sessions, with the most recent assembly occurring on the 13th of March, 2024, in Baku.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The 12th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) held in Azerbaijan's Gabala marked an important milestone in deepening integration among Turkic nations, OTS Deputy Secretary-General Merey Mukazhan said, Trend reports.

In his address at the Halal Business Forum, Mukazhan emphasized the significance of the regions Islamic heritage, historical cities, and centuries-old traditions of hospitality, which make halal tourism a natural and powerful area of cooperation among both member and observer states of the OTS.

The official noted that the halal industry, built on ethical, sustainable, and community-based principles, not only creates economic opportunities but also promotes cultural resilience and moral clarity.

Among the key initiatives, he mentioned the Tabarruk Ziyorat (Sacred Visit) project, which unites 27 landmarks across seven countries, including mosques, caravanserais, and other historical sites, as well as the Turkic Silk Road initiative, showcasing cultural and civilizational treasures that connect East and West.

He invited forum participants to visit Turkic countries, highlighting their spiritual and cultural richness, which continues to attract Muslim tourists from around the world.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The visit of Croatia's Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic to Azerbaijan will contribute to the further development of relations between the countries and parliaments, the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Sahiba Gafarova, said at a joint press conference with Jandrokovic, Trend reports.

"This visit coincides with the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. It also marks the first visit and meeting at the level of parliamentary speakers in the last 11 years. In this sense, Gordan Jandrokovics visit will contribute to further deepening relations between our countries and our parliaments," she noted.

Gafarova emphasized that during the discussions between the delegations, both sides reaffirmed that relations between Azerbaijan and Croatia are based on the principles of friendship and mutual respect.

Over the past 30 years, our cooperation has developed successfully across various fields and has reached the level of a strategic partnership. It is worth highlighting the active political dialogue, high-level visits, and regular contacts between our two nations. President Ilham Aliyevs three official visits to Croatia, as well as Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovics official visit in November 2023 and working visits to Azerbaijan in November 2024, along with bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, have all played a vital role in discussing issues of mutual interest and advancing future cooperation, she added.

13:45

The visit of Croatia's Parliament Speaker Gordan Jandrokovic to Azerbaijan will contribute to the further development of relations between the countries and parliaments, the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Sahiba Gafarova, said at a joint press conference with Jandrokovic, Trend reports.

"This visit coincides with the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries," she noted.

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It may be hard to believe, but 2026 is just around the corner. In the blink of an eye, 2025 has flown by, and the final stretch of the year is settling in. For people hoping to make the new year their best one yet, money expert Dasha Kennedy offers realistic advice that anyone can follow.

Read Next: Im a Financial Advisor: My Wealthiest Clients All Do These 3 Things

Check Out: 10 Unreliable SUVs To Stay Away From Buying

She recently told her Instagram followers how to get locked in for the last part of the year to ensure finances are in check by New Years.

Know Your Numbers

As Kennedy explained, the new year should be filled with receipts instead of regrets. One way to do this is to focus on expenses in the final months of 2025. She advocated writing out every expense to understand where money is going and what can be cut, if necessary. She said avoiding the realities is costly, so writing it out can help to fix the problem.

Financial literacy or having a basic understanding of saving, budgeting and managing debt has long been seen as critical to financial success. According to a survey conducted by Pew Research Center, 54% of people said they knew at least a fair amount about personal finances. Upper-income individuals were substantially more likely to be familiar with these concepts compared with individuals with lower incomes.

Explore More: 3 Signs Youve Made It Financially, According to Financial Influencer Genesis Hinckley

Make Lanes

Kennedy, a financial activist, also suggested separating money into separate lanes. She encouraged followers to have an emergency fund separate from their bills and independent from any nonessential spending.

Choose Pay Dates

Next, she advocated for people to make their money match their life by choosing billing dates that work with their schedule and separating expenses to come out in separate paychecks.

Scheduling billing cycles around pay dates can help ensure that all bills are paid on time.

Review Your Grocery Spending

According to USA Today, beef and cattle prices remain at all-time highs. Its not only steak that costs more; coffee and other groceries are also pricier today than they were before.

Kennedy knows the high cost of going to the market. She encouraged her followers to establish good habits to save money on groceries, including making meals with what they already have in their pantries and freezers before going shopping.

Set Holiday Boundaries

The holidays are rapidly approaching, and for some, this is when all of the careful planning and budgeting get derailed. She advocated setting boundaries during the holidays and not feeling the pressure to buy gifts for everyone.
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Details added: first version posted on 13:45

BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Relations of Azerbaijan with Croatia have developed successfully and risen to the level of strategic partnership over the past 30 years, the Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament, Sahiba Gafarova said at a joint press conference with her Croatian counterpart, Gordan Jandrokovic, Trend reports.

According to the speaker, the official visit of the Croatian speaker to Azerbaijan is notable for a number of aspects.

"This visit coincides with the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries. On the other hand, it's the first visit and meeting between the two countries at the level of parliamentary speakers in the last 11 years. In this context, the visit of Gordan Jandrokovic to Azerbaijan will contribute to the further development of relations between the countries and parliaments," she underlined.

The speaker said that during the meeting between the delegations, it was noted that Azerbaijani-Croatian relations are based on the principles of friendship and mutual respect.

It's necessary to emphasize the active political dialogue, high-level visits, and regular contacts between the two countries. President Ilham Aliyevs three official visits to Croatia, Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovics official visits to Azerbaijan in November 2023 and working visits in November 2024, as well as bilateral meetings held within the framework of the Davos Economic Forum, have been very important in terms of discussing issues of mutual interest and prospects for future cooperation, Gafarova added.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov received Diego Martinez Belio, Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain, who is visiting Azerbaijan, on October 8, 2025, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani MFA.

Meanwhile, the meeting focused on the current state and prospects of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Spain, the importance of political dialogue, cooperation in the economic, energy, tourism, transport, humanitarian, and cultural spheres, as well as regional issues.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stressed that relations with Spain are based on the principles of friendship and mutual respect, and noted the importance of further developing political dialogue between the two countries and cooperation within international organizations. The sides highlighted the importance of the meetings held last November at COP29 in Baku and this May in Tirana.

In addition, it was noted that the first meeting of the Strategic Economic Dialogue between Azerbaijan and Spain, held in Baku in March this year, had become an important platform.

During the meeting, the parties also discussed the partnership between Azerbaijan and the European Union, energy security issues, green energy, and opportunities for cooperation in the field of transport and communications.

Furthermore, Bayramov informed his counterpart in detail about the new realities that have emerged in the region in the post-conflict period, the peace process, the results of the historic Washington meeting, as well as the steps taken by Azerbaijan to ensure sustainable development and stability in the region.

The meeting also included an exchange of views on international and regional issues of mutual interest.

On the same day, regular political consultations were held between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Kingdom of Spain. The delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Fariz Rzayev (Azerbaijan) and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Global Issues of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation Diego Martinez Belio (Spain).
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Pursuant to the bilateral military cooperation plan for 2025 between the Ministries of Defense of Azerbaijan and Georgia, military specialists in cybersecurity from both countries convened in Tbilisi, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

The Azerbaijani delegation visited the monument to the National Leader in the Heydar Aliyev Park and laid flowers honoring the memory of the Great Leader.

Then, the Shindisi Memorial was visited, and the memory of the heroic soldiers of Georgia was honored.

The Chief of the Cybersecurity Service of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Lieutenant Colonel Elshan Hasanov, met with the Head of the Cybersecurity Bureau of the Ministry of Defense of Georgia, Luka Mgeladze.

The meeting, held at the Georgian Ministry of Defense, included a broad exchange of views on further developing cooperation in the field of cybersecurity, new perspectives, and the implementation of joint projects.

The importance of such meetings for the purpose of exchanging mutual experience was emphasized at the meeting.

Following the meeting, the Azerbaijani delegation visited David Agmashenebeli Georgian National Defence Academy and observed the teaching process of cadets studying computer science.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The Azerbaijani Parliament hosted a delegation from Croatia, led by the Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Gordan Jandrokovic, on October 8, the parliamentary press service told Trend.

The guests toured the plenary hall of the parliament building and visited the Heydar Aliyev Museum, where Jandrokovic signed the guestbook. Afterward, a broad meeting took place between the Speaker of the Parliament of Azerbaijan, Sahiba Gafarova, and Jandrokovic.

Gafarova highlighted that this visit marks the first delegation-level meeting between parliamentary leaders in 11 years and expressed confidence that it will further enhance relations between the two countries and their parliaments. She noted that over the past 30 years, diplomatic ties have evolved into a strategic partnership, supported by high-level reciprocal visits and active collaboration within international organizations.

Furthermore, Gafarova spotlighted the strong mutual support and solidarity between Azerbaijan and Croatia within international organizations. She also praised Croatias active backing of Azerbaijans initiatives under the framework of COP29 and noted the significant contribution of Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovics participation in the event.

The discussion focused on Azerbaijans critical role in safeguarding the energy security of several European countries. Officials exchanged views on the prospects for developing inter-parliamentary relations, strengthening cooperation between parliamentary committees, and addressing other issues of shared interest.

The Azerbaijani Speaker additionally briefed the Croatian delegation on the initialing of a peace treaty with Armenia.

Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Gordan Jandrokovic, expressed his satisfaction with his visit and shared his impressions from his meeting with President Ilham Aliyev.

He underscored that Azerbaijans restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity in 2023 was a matter of pride, and he emphasized that the forthcoming signing of a peace treaty with Armenia would make a meaningful contribution to the stability and development of the entire region.

The sides also discussed the importance of economic ties, particularly cooperation in the energy sector, with Jandrokovic acknowledging Azerbaijans pivotal role in ensuring the energy security of European nations.

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Photo: Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The exhibition titled Echoes of Centuries: Azerbaijani Musical Instruments has opened in Amman, the capital of Jordan, Trend reports.

The event was organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan with the support of the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and under the patronage of Princess Dana Firas, President of the Petra National Trust and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.

Representatives of Jordans government and cultural institutions, members of the diplomatic corps accredited in the Kingdom, figures from the fields of science and art, as well as prominent members of the local community, attended the opening ceremony.

In his address, Azerbaijans Ambassador to Jordan, Eldar Salimov, noted that the exhibition is not merely an artistic display but a reflection of the Azerbaijani peoples spirit, centuries-old history, and rich cultural heritage. He emphasized that Azerbaijans musical tradition dates back to ancient times, as evidenced by the rock carvings depicting music and dance scenes in Gobustan and Gamigaya.

Salimov highlighted that music has always held a vital place in the spiritual life of the Azerbaijani people and is vividly represented in the epic Book of Dede Korkud as well as in the works of great classical poets such as Nizami Ganjavi and Muhammad Fuzuli. He also mentioned the contributions of renowned Azerbaijani composers Uzeyir Hajibeyli, Fikrat Amirov, Gara Garayev, Muslim Magomayev, and others, stressing that their creativity served as a cultural bridge between East and West.

According to the diplomat, each musical instrument displayed at the exhibitiontar, kamancha, naghara, saz, gaval, qanun, oud, tutek, and zurnaembodies the nations living memory and expresses the historical and spiritual identity of the Azerbaijani people.

Salimov further noted that under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijani musical culture has entered a new stage of development. He cited the revival of the Kharibulbul festival in the city of Shusha as a vivid example of national cultural renaissance.

The ambassador concluded his speech by presenting the exhibited musical instruments and traditional Azerbaijani carpets symbolizing the nations ancient craftsmanship to the Petra National Trust as an official gift on behalf of Azerbaijans National Commission for UNESCO. He stated that this gesture represents Azerbaijans contribution to the preservation and promotion of the worlds shared cultural heritage.

As part of the event, attendees enjoyed a performance by Jordans Duroob ensemble featuring classical pieces of Azerbaijani national music.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. ADA University hosted a presentation ceremony for JestPlus, a new mobile application designed to facilitate the learning of Azerbaijani Sign Language, Trend reports.

The initiative, carried out by ADA University and the ADA University Foundation, is supported financially by bp and its partners, as well as the mobile operator Nar, and aims to promote inclusivity.

The launch event featured remarks from Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Protection Anar Bayramov, ADA University Vice-Rector Fariz Ismailzade, ADA University Foundation President Natig Hajiyev, bp Vice President for the Caspian Region Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, and Nar Director of Public and Corporate Communications Hokuma Karimova. A short video showcasing the apps development process was also presented.

Project lead and ADA University Faculty of Computer and Information Science instructor Nuraddin Sadili highlighted that JestPlus makes learning Azerbaijani Sign Language simple and engaging. This application allows users to study sign language anytime and anywhere without the need for a teacher, Sadili said, emphasizing that the project represents a significant step toward a more inclusive society.

JestPlus goes beyond basic instruction, offering a pedagogically structured platform with lessons, interactive tasks, and tests. The app features 789 videos, 358 sign words, 27 illustrative images, and 32 animations to help users build practical communication skills.

Technical support for the app was provided by ADA University graduates, and data collection was conducted in collaboration with the public organization Support for the Deaf. The application will soon be available to anyone interested in learning Azerbaijani Sign Language.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Cooperation between universities and the private sector is growing and continues to produce mutually beneficial outcomes, said ADA University Vice Rector, MP Fariz Ismailzade, Trend reports.

Speaking at the presentation of the Azerbaijani Sign Language Application project, Ismailzade noted that the newly introduced product was developed by engineers and the presentation team of the universitys Information Technologies Faculty.

The Azerbaijani Sign Language Application was created by specialists of our university. We believe this tool will be highly beneficial for society and offer wide opportunities for use, Ismailzade stated.

According to him, the project was implemented not only through the universitys efforts but also with the financial and logistical support of several private sector representatives.

This once again proves that universityprivate sector cooperation is developing and yielding mutually advantageous results. We believe more projects will be realized in this partnership format in the future, the Vice Rector added.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The main focus of our work is supporting education, protecting the environment, and promoting Azerbaijans rich cultural heritage abroad, said Bahktiyar Aslanbeyli, Vice President for the Caspian region at bp, Trend reports.

Speaking at the presentation of the Azerbaijan Sign Language Application project, Aslanbeyli emphasized that the launch of the sign language application is a very important milestone.

This initiative is also closely linked to education. We have reached a significant stage in promoting inclusivity, and it is very encouraging to see young people paying attention to this field. It represents an important step toward integrating individuals who rely on sign language into society. We are very pleased to collaborate with universities on such projects, Aslanbeyli added.

The Azerbaijani Sign Language Application project involves the development of a mobile application, hosted by the nation's ADA University, to create an interactive platform for learning Azerbaijani Sign Language (AzSL) through lessons, quizzes, and sign recognition. This project is supported by the nation's mobile operator, Nar, and bp company, and it aims to promote inclusivity for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in Azerbaijan by providing a comprehensive and accessible resource for learning AzSL.

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KHOJALY, Azerbaijan, October 8. Another group of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) has returned to Khanyurdu village, Khojaly district, today, the Restoration, Construction, and Management Service in Khankendi city, Aghdara, and Khojaly districts told Trend.

As many as 18 families consisting of 69 people who had temporarily settled in various cities and districts of Azerbaijan returned to the village.

Officials congratulated the residents on their return and gave them the keys to newly built individual residential houses.

To note, individual houses in accordance with modern standards have been built for residents in the village of Khanyurdu, and electricity, gas, water supply, communication, and internet infrastructure have been fully provided.

To date, 237 former IDPs, consisting of 69 families, have returned to Khanyurdu.

The village was occupied by the Armenian Armed Forces from 1992 until 2020. In compliance with the trilateral statement dated November 10, 2020, which was established following the Second Karabakh War, Khanyurdu came under the jurisdiction of Russian peacekeeping forces and was subsequently restored to the control of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan following local anti-terrorist operations conducted on September 1920, 2023.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Officials from Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan met in Baku to discuss collaboration in the healthcare sector, the Ministry of Health told Trend.

The meeting at Azerbaijans Ministry of Health included Deryageldi Orazov, Chairman of the State Committee for the Construction of the City of Arkadag under the President of Turkmenistan, and Turkmenistans Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Gurbanmammet Elyasov.

Welcoming the delegation, Azerbaijani Health Minister Teymur Musayev highlighted the strong ties between the two countries across various fields, including healthcare. He outlined ongoing healthcare reforms under President Ilham Aliyev, as well as infrastructure projects and initiatives aimed at improving medical services.

Orazov expressed gratitude for the warm reception and shared insights on healthcare infrastructure projects in Arkadag City in Turkmenistan, emphasizing that experience-sharing with Azerbaijan would be mutually beneficial.

The meeting also covered topics of shared interest and explored prospects for further cooperation between the two nations.

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Are you ready to hand over control of your portfolio to artificial intelligence? Fahad Hassan, cofounder and CEO of AI-powered wealth management platform Range, thinks you should seriously consider it.

Most Read from Fast Company



Hassans five-year-old company is introducing Rai, a new proprietary AI wealth advisor that, he believes, will give a huge swath of American households access to the sophisticated advice and planning that was traditionally only accessible to those with sky-high net worths.

Rai is the first product, the first AI agent, that we believe can do the work of human advisors just as well, if not better, Hassan says.

And while plenty of other fintech companies have rolled out or otherwise introduced AI tools to help with wealth planning in recent years, Hassan says that Rai is different for a couple of key reasons.

[Image: Range]

First, Rai has access to more and better data than other tools, Hassan says. Ranges customers who use Rai can connect dozens of accounts (real estate information, retirement and investments, restricted or private stock holdings, etc.). That gives the tool a broader picture of an individuals financial status.

Second, Rai has been rigorously trained against regulatory standardsthat is, its designed to pass the sorts of exams that human advisors would need to pass, which are administered by organizations like the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

Not only that, but that level of sophistication also allows Rai to continuously self-improve and learn as it goes.

But Hassan says that Rai will eventually go even further. It [will be able to] take action against your money, such as file your taxes, develop an estate plan, and more, he says.

Those sorts of actions, which would traditionally require that customers enlist an accountant or an attorney, could soon be done in-house by Rai, potentially saving users huge amounts of money.

We can provide hundreds of thousands of dollars in value in 10 seconds, Hassan says. You dont need to wait for a human anymore.

More Waymo than Uber?

If this sounds something like Robinhood for wealth advisories, Hassan says thats not quite the goal.

We think of this as Waymo, not Uber, he adds.

Uber democratized access to ride-sharing and connected drivers with riders. It may be more helpful to think of Rai as connecting you with a ride, and doing the driving.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Navy Commanders of the Caspian Sea Littoral States convene in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense.

The meeting, attended by a delegation led by the Commander of the Azerbaijan Navy, 1st grade Captain Shahin Mammadov, discussed regional security in the Caspian Sea, military-naval cooperation, organization of joint exercises, and other issues of common interest.

Furthermore, within the framework of the event, negotiations were held on cooperation in the field of hydrography, and attention was paid to the opportunities for enhancing navigation safety in the Caspian Sea, exchanging hydrographic data, and organizing joint research.

The meeting also discussed the expansion of cooperation formats between the Caspian littoral states to increase mutual trust and security.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The 11th Slovenian Armed Forces Best Squad competition with international participation took place from Tuesday, 2 September to Friday, 5 September, with the support of personnel from various Slovenian Armed Forces units in Postojna and its surroundings, Trend reports.

The 20th Light Infantry Squad of the 72nd Brigade successfully defended last years title, while the best foreign squad placed 4th overallthe squad from the Colorado National Guard. The Force Commander of the Slovenian Armed Forces, Brigadier General Bostjan Mocnik, addressed the audience at the closing ceremony held in the Military History Park in Pivka.

Brigadier General Mocnik described the event as a core occasion that had for many years demonstrated initiative, willingness, and readiness to cooperate at the lowest tactical levels with allied countries. "The essence of this competition is not about who wins, but that sooner or later you will again meet somewhere, and remember that you already know each other from this competition. That is what truly matters and confirms that cooperation among Allies begins at the lowest tactical level. On the battlefield, it is the squads that matter the mostnot generals, he concluded.

The two-day competition, largely held at the Slovenian Armed Forces Central Training Area in Postojna and its surroundings, tested participants physical and mental readiness to operate under various conditions, with a focus on practical military skills. The event features ten Slovenian Armed Forces squads (14th Engineer Battalion, 18th CBRN Defence Battalion, 20th Light Infantry Battalion, 74th Medium Infantry Battalion, 157th Logistic Support Battalion, 670th Logistic Support Battalion, Military Schools Centre, 10th Reconnaisance Battalion  two units, and 132nd Mountain Battalion) and seven international squads (from Croatia, Italy, Hungary, the Colorado National Guard, the Republic of North Macedonia, and two squads from Slovakia).

The squad of the 20th Light Infantry Battalion, 72nd Brigade, took first place and was named the Best Slovenian Armed Forces Squad. Second place went to the squad of the 14th Engineer Battalion, with third place awarded to the squad of the 10th Reconnaissance Battalion (Fire Support Squad), 1st Brigade. The best international squad overall was the squad of the Colorado National Guard.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Last week, representatives of the state-owned company Latvijas dzelzcels (Latvian Railways, LDz) and its subsidiary LDZ CARGO joined the delegation of Minister of Transport Atis Svinka on an official visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Trend reports.

The delegation met with government ministries, business associations, and industry leaders to strengthen strategic partnerships and promote freight transport between Central Asia and Latvia.

During the visit, the parties discussed opportunities for expanding cooperation and highlighted the advantages of Latvias transit corridor in meetings with Kazakhstans First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev, and representatives of various manufacturing and industrial sectors.

The delegation also visited Tashkent, where meetings were held with Uzbekistans Ministers of Transport, Mining and Geology, and Investment and Industry, as well as with the leadership of the countrys Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Latvia was also represented at one of Eurasias largest transport and logistics exhibitions, TransLogistica Kazakhstan 2025, held in Almaty, where under the unified national brand VIA Latvia, the Latvian transport and logistics sector showcased its services and infrastructure capabilities. Alongside participation in the exhibition and official meetings, LDz representatives engaged with Kazakh entrepreneurs and logistics companies to develop new cooperation projects, improve existing routes, and enhance service quality.

This years exhibition featured several major conferences and forums, including KazakhstanEuropean Union, which focused on boosting exportimport freight flows and advancing sustainable, green technologies.

In recent years, we have successfully attracted significant freight volumes to and from Central Asia, but there remains great potential for further growth. We highly value Minister Svinkas visit, which plays an important role in deepening our cooperation in the region. Beyond our primary cargo segmentsgrain, fertilizers, and metal productswe are actively working on attracting container cargo from Europe and China, as well as exploring opportunities for cooperation with Kazakhstan in railway infrastructure construction. This years exhibition in Kazakhstan saw strong participation from the Baltic States, clearly showing that we are also competitors for Central Asian freight, Member of the Board of LDz, Rinalds Plavnieks, emphasized.

Latvian Railways is strategically leveraging synergies to optimize freight modalities and enhance collaborative frameworks with regional stakeholders. Kazakh enterprises and logistics stakeholders articulated significant enthusiasm for Latvia as a pivotal transit nexus, providing synergistic transport, port, and logistics solutions.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Estonian Foreign Ministry Secretary General Jonatan Vseviov visited Brussels on October 67, where he held a series of meetings with representatives of NATO and the European Union to discuss strengthening European and transatlantic security cooperation, Trend reports.

At NATO headquarters, Secretary General Vseviov met with NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska, Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning Zamir Nicholas Catsaras, and Assistant Secretary General for Operations Thomas Goffus. He also held discussions with the ambassadors of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and Romania to NATO.

Within the framework of the European Union, Vseviov met with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas, Deputy Secretary-General of the European Commission Nils Behrndt, and Advisor to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen Simon Mordue. Additional meetings were held with Pedro Lourtie, Head of Cabinet to European Council President Antonio Costa; Simonas Satunas, Head of Cabinet to the European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius; and Michael Hager, Head of Cabinet to the European Commissioner for Economy Valdis Dombrovskis.

The discussions focused on enhancing NATOs deterrence and defense posture, strengthening cooperation between the European Union and its partners, and advancing joint initiatives to promote stability and security in Europe.

To note, Estonia is an integral participant in the NATO framework, having acceded to the alliance on March 29, 2004, during a significant phase of NATO expansion. Since its accession, Estonia has engaged proactively in the realm of military deterrence and collective defense, emphasizing its integration within a cohesive democratic value framework, while also contributing to NATO's air policing operations.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. On Tuesday, October 7, the government approved new Cabinet regulations prepared by the Ministry of Transport, setting the framework for the modernization of Latvias railway infrastructure, Trend reports.

The projects will be implemented by the state-owned company 'Latvijas dzelzcels' (Latvian Railways) under the European Union Cohesion Policy Program for 20212027.

A total of 118.6 million euros has been allocated for railway modernization, including 100.8 million euros from the Cohesion Fund and 17.8 million euros from the state budget.

Passengers have already recognized the comfort of the new electric trainslast year, ridership increased by 15 percent, and the trend continues. The planned modernization projects will further improve mobility and accessibility for all residents, enhance comfort and safety, and contribute to sustainable mobility and regional connectivity in line with Europes green goals, said Minister of Transport Atis Svinka.

The program aims to strengthen rail as the backbone of public transport by upgrading existing electrified networks, expanding electrification, improving passenger service quality and safety, and modernizing railway communication and information systems to meet EU standards. The investment will support construction, reconstruction, and renovation of railway infrastructure to ensure full integration into the TEN-T network and greater energy efficiency in public transport.

By December 31, 2029, Latvian Railways plans to complete three major projects: modernization of 20 passenger platforms across routes including RigaLiepaja, RigaLugaziState Border, KrustpilsDaugavpils, KrustpilsRezekne, RigaAizkraukle, and RigaTukums II; increasing train speeds to 140 km/h on the SlokaTukums II section; and implementing a new-generation railway radio communication system with 20 mobile 5G base stations.

The project is already hitting the ground runningfive procurements have been rolled out for platform modernization, and the candidate evaluation is in full swing. Once completed, the upgraded stations and stops will be modern, safe, and convenient, encouraging even more residents to choose rail as their daily mode of transport. Increased train speeds and punctuality are expected to make rail travel an even more attractive option for everyday mobility.

Tracing the historical trajectory, the inception of Latvian rail infrastructure commenced with the establishment of the Saint PetersburgWarsaw Railway in 1860, culminating in the operational launch of the inaugural line within the region, connecting Riga to Daugavpils, in 1861. The organizational framework of Latvian State Railways (Latvijas valsts dzelzceli) was formally instituted on August 5, 1919, to oversee the operational infrastructure subsequent to the nations sovereignty.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The European Investment Bank (EIB) is intensifying its support for Central Asias shift to a low-carbon economy, focusing on reliable, secure, and affordable energy, EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris told Trend in an exclusive interview.

"At the EIB, we assess energy investments in Central Asia through the lens of our energy lending policy and the European Unions Global Gateway strategy. Our priority is to support the regions transition to a low-carbon economy while ensuring energy remains reliable, secure, and affordable for people and businesses," Kakouris said.

EIB Global is increasingly directing its portfolio toward renewables and energy efficiency. Kakouris highlighted partnerships with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to finance solar, wind, and hydropower projects, modernise electricity grids, and improve energy efficiency in housing and industry.

The bank also invests in regional infrastructure that strengthens energy security. "The CASA-1000 project is a good example, enabling surplus hydropower from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to be exported to neighbouring countries," Kakouris noted.

In March 2025, the EIB signed a 200 million euro loan agreement with the Development Bank of Kazakhstan (DBK) to enhance regional connectivity and energy resilience while accelerating the shift to clean energy. This loan provides policy-driven funding to DBK for on-lending to eligible private and public final beneficiaries in Kazakhstans sustainable transport, renewable energy, and other climate-related sectors, he said.

During a visit to Bishkek last year, Kakouris reaffirmed the EIBs commitment to the Vienna Communique, supporting clean energy and efficient water management in Kyrgyzstan and across Central Asia.

Tangible results are already emerging. High-voltage infrastructure under CASA-1000 connecting Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Pakistan has been completed, facilitating renewable electricity trade. The EIB contributed 149 million euros to this project, backed by a European Commission guarantee.

In Uzbekistan, the bank financed three large solar photovoltaic plants with a loan exceeding $83 million, marking one of the regions largest combined solar outputs, along with a solar plant near Samarkand.

Looking ahead, Kakouris said the EIB is exploring co-financing in critical raw materials and green hydrogen. "We plan to launch a new initiative by the end of the year to support the preparation of green hydrogen projects. Emerging markets, including those in Central Asia, will be eligible for technical assistance under this initiative," he added.

The Trans-Caspian Corridor as a strategic gateway linking Central Asia and Europe

Further speaking, Kyriacos Kakouris pointed out that the EIB views the Trans-Caspian Corridor as a vital link connecting Central Asia and Europe. "We regard the Trans-Caspian Corridor as a strategic gateway between Central Asia and Europe, enhancing resilience, diversification and economic opportunity".

According to him, the EIB has already signed memoranda of understanding totalling nearly 1.5 billion euros with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to co-finance sustainable transport projects. "These agreements reflect our long-term commitment to regional connectivity," he noted.

Kakouris underlined that the bank is now moving from planning to implementation. "The 200 million euro loan with the Development Bank of Kazakhstan that I mentioned will also support transport infrastructure, aligned with the EU Global Gateway. The investment will assist Kazakhstans national road operator KazAvtoZhol, with its road rehabilitation program, which aims to improve connectivity and infrastructure quality nationwide. This initiative is key to making progress on the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor project," he said.

He added that at this years EU-Central Asia Summit, the EIB signed four additional memoranda of understanding, three of which focus on the Trans-Caspian Corridor and are backed by European Commission guarantees.

"We are actively engaging with regional authorities to identify priority projects, conduct due diligence, and define implementation timelines. Several road investments are in the pipeline, expected to improve capacity, safety and efficiency," Kakouris said.

EIB Globals activities in Central Asia, he emphasized, are fully aligned with the European Unions Global Gateway strategy. "We provide technical assistance and advisory services to ensure projects are bankable, sustainable, and aligned with EU standards. We often blend EU grants with EIB loans and equity to reduce financial risk and accelerate project preparation," he explained.

The VP stressed that close collaboration with local partners is essential to achieving results. "In addition to our partnership with the Development Bank of Kazakhstan, which I have mentioned several times, we are also working closely with the Kyrgyzstan State Development Bank. Earlier this year, we signed a memorandum of understanding to support key infrastructure investments," Kakouris said.

New office to serve as hub for coordinating EIB's activities across Central Asia

Kyriacos Kakouris also reminded that the EIB is preparing to open its first Regional Representation in Central Asia, marking a new milestone in the banks engagement with the region.

"At the EU-Central Asia Summit, we signed a host country agreement with Uzbekistan, paving the way for opening our Regional Representation in Central Asia," Kakouris said. "We expect all administrative steps to be finalised soon and the office to become operational shortly".

According to him, the decision reflects the regions growing importance in the EU's external engagement and the EIB's commitment to being a long-term, on-the-ground partner.

The new office will serve as a regional hub for coordinating EIB Globals activities across Central Asia. "It will deepen our engagement under Global Gateway," Kakouris noted, adding that "having staff on the ground will strengthen cooperation with both the public and private sectors".

EIB aligns its Central Asia operations under the Global Gateway strategy

VP Kakouris pointed out that the bank is expanding its efforts in Central Asia, aligning its operations with European Union policy priorities under the Global Gateway strategy.

"As the financial arm of the EU, the EIB aligns its operations with EU policy priorities. In Central Asia, these priorities are clearly defined under the Global Gateway strategy, with a strong focus on digital connectivity, sustainable transport, critical raw materials, water, energy, and climate resilience," Kakouris said.

A recent initiative in digital connectivity highlights this approach. "A recent example is our 60 million euro financial package announced in March, supporting digital access through a partnership with SES, a European satellite provider. This initiative aims to deliver broadband internet to remote rural areas across Central Asia, improving digital inclusion for millions of people," he noted.

Looking ahead, Kakouris said the banks strategic priorities include advancing the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor to strengthen regional connectivity and trade links with Europe, as well as scaling up investments in renewable energy, including solar, wind, and hydropower, alongside water management and climate adaptation.

To facilitate these projects, the EIB combines its loans with EU grants, guarantees, and technical assistance. "This blended finance approach helps reduce project risk, accelerate preparation timelines, and ensure alignment with EU environmental and social standards," Kakouris explained.

He added that the bank is actively collaborating with governments, local development banks, and private sector partners across Central Asia to identify and co-finance high-impact, sustainable infrastructure projects. "Our aim is to deliver long-term benefits for people and the planet," he concluded.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, October 8. Trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Turkiye reached $1.91 billion from January through August 2025.

According to data obtained by Trend from Uzbekistans Committee on Statistics, this represents a 3.5 percent decline compared to $1.98 billion during the same period in 2024.

Turkiye keeps its nose to the grindstone, standing tall among Uzbekistans key trading partners, as evidenced by the hefty volume of bilateral trade. During the reporting period, Uzbekistans exports to Turkiye totaled $736 million, while imports from Turkiye amounted to $1.1 billion.

Overall, from January to August 2025, Uzbekistan imported goods and services from 170 countries, with over two-thirds of imports coming from key partner states. China led with 29.7 percent, followed by Russia (19.1 percent), Kazakhstan (7.4 percent), Turkiye (4.1 percent), the Republic of Korea (3.9 percent), Germany (2.7 percent), and India (2.6 percent).

On the export side, Uzbekistans main partners for goods and services during the same period were Russia (12.5 percent), China (5.4 percent), Kazakhstan (4.0 percent), Afghanistan (3.8 percent), Turkiye (3.2 percent), France (2.7 percent), the UAE (2.1 percent), the Kyrgyz Republic (1.6 percent), Tajikistan (1.5 percent), and Pakistan (1.2 percent). Together, these countries accounted for 38 percent of Uzbekistans total exports, highlighting the countrys diversified trade network.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The Central Bank of Iran (CBI) has released the official exchange rates for foreign currencies as of October 8, Trend reports.

According to the rates announced by the CBI, the value of 32 currencies went up, while 12 currencies dropped compared to October 7.

The official rate for $1 is 582,467 rials, while one euro is valued at 679,974 rials. On October 7, the euro was priced at 680,731 rials.

Currency Rial on October 8 Rial on October 7 1 US dollar USD 582,467 581,500 1 British pound GBP 782,915 783,550 1 Swiss franc CHF 730,801 731,027 1 Swedish krona SEK 62,013 62,989 1 Norwegian krone NOK 58,478 58,618 1 Danish krone DKK 91,073 91,183 1 Indian rupee INR 6,564 6,556 1 UAE Dirham AED 158,602 158,339 1 Kuwaiti dinar KWD 1,901,567 1,899,675 100 Pakistani rupees PKR 206,400 205,313 100 Japanese yen JPY 385,322 387,562 1 Hong Kong dollar HKD 74,844 74,722 1 Omani rial OMR 1,513,929 1,510,612 1 Canadian dollar CAD 417,529 416,915 1 New Zealand dollar NZD 338,143 339,416 1 South African rand ZAR 33,838 33,802 1 Turkish lira TRY 13,965 13,948 1 Russian ruble RUB 7,098 6,995 1 Qatari riyal QAR 160,018 158,753 100 Iraqi dinars IQD 44,437 44,408 1 Syrian pound SYP 45 45 1 Australian dollar AUD 383,626 384,858 1 Saudi riyal SAR 155,325 155,067 1 Bahraini dinar BHD 1,549,114 1,546,543 1 Singapore dollar SGD 450,757 450,262 100 Bangladeshi takas BDT 478,415 477,680 10 Sri Lankan rupees LKR 19,256 19,238 1 Myanmar kyat MMK 277 277 100 Nepalese rupees NPR 410,027 409,533 1 Libyan dinar LYD 107,467 107,395 1 Chinese yuan CNY 81,810 81,679 100 Thai baht THB 1,793,076 1,795,729 1 Malaysian ringgit MYR 138,195 137,962 1,000 South Korean won KRW 412,154 412,168 1 Jordanian dinar JOD 821,533 820,169 1 euro EUR 679,974 680,731 100 Kazakh tenge KZT 107,596 106,956 1 Georgian lari GEL 214,729 214,092 1,000 Indonesian rupiahs IDR 35,106 35,043 1 Afghan afghani AFN 8,720 8,672 1 Belarusian ruble BYN 171,315 171,278 1 Azerbaijani manat AZN 342,628 342,067 100 Philippine pesos PHP 1,002,331 998,156 1 Tajik somoni TJS 62,739 62,357 1 Turkmen manat TMT 166,103 166,149 Venezuelan bolivar VES 3,116 3,141

The CBI adopted the SANA system for currency exchange offices, where one euro costs 846,330 rials and $1 costs 724,967 rials.

NIMA is a scheme for selling a percentage of the foreign money earned from exports.

The price of one euro in this system amounted to 821,680 rials, and the price of $1 totaled 703,852 rials.

On the black market, $1 is worth about 1.11-1.14 million rials, while one euro is worth 1.30-1.33 million rials.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Iran has developed short-term and long-term programs to collect flare gas, the countrys Oil Minister, Mohsen Paknejad, told local media, Trend reports.

Under the short-term part of the program, the private sector participates in flare gas collection projects even without any initial payment and collects the gas. Subsequently, the collected gas is converted into high-value products through agreements with the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC).

The minister noted that in the long-term program, flare gas collection will be implemented through natural gas liquid (NGL) plants, several of which are currently under construction in Iran. By 2029, a significant portion of the flare gas produced alongside oil will be captured.

The Iranian Oil Ministry aims to increase daily flare gas collection to 45.4 million cubic meters, or 16.5 billion cubic meters annually, under its long-term plan. Currently, around 20 million cubic meters of flare gas are collected daily in Iran.

The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) operates as a sovereign entity, wielding unilateral authority over the entirety of Iran's hydrocarbon sector. It is tasked with the comprehensive management of upstream and downstream activities, encompassing the exploration, extraction, logistics, and international trade of petroleum and natural gas resources. This entity ranks among the globe's preeminent hydrocarbon conglomerates, operating under the auspices of the Ministry of Petroleum. It engages in multifaceted operations through a plethora of subsidiaries that span the entire value chain, encompassing entities such as Pars Oil and Gas Co. and the National Iranian South Oil Company.

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Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is negotiating with the federal government and Prime Minister Mark Carney on the newly proposed oil pipeline from the oil-producing province to the West Coast.

Smith and Carney met in Ottawa on Monday as the Alberta Premier was arriving in the capital for meetings while the federal PM was departing for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington D.C.

Smith and Carney discussed energy opportunities and Carney said that Alberta and the federal government have a lot to talk about how they could cooperate to make Canada an energy superpower, which is one of the prime ministers key pledges. There are exciting opportunities to discuss further, Carney said, without giving details.

Last week, Alberta proposed a new oil pipeline to the British Columbia coast that could carry up to 1 million barrels daily of crude oil, to be exported to Asian markets.

Using the technical advice of major pipeline companies and with Indigenous participation, the province will begin engagement with Alberta and BC Indigenous communities, develop a proposal, and submit a formal application for a project of national significance to the Federal Major Projects Office, the province of Alberta said.

The federal government has recently launched the Major Projects Office, which will help accelerate the development of the strategic projects.

In early September, Carney announced the Offices first list of five major projects of national importance, and these included Phase 2 of the first Canadian LNG export project, LNG Canada, which started up only a few months ago.

Alberta is now aiming to submit the new pipeline project to the Major Projects Office. The province plans to engage in pre-front-end engineering and design work to determine the general path and size of the pipeline, quantify costs, initiate early Indigenous engagement and partnership, and make a clear case that this pipeline is in the national interest.

Albertas government will contribute US$10 million (C$14 million) to support early planning work, including cost estimates, engagement and development of a credible proposal for federal consideration.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts this week said the Institute for Nuclear Research (ICN)  the operator of the TRIGA MARK II research reactor in Pitesti, Romania  had continued to improve safety of the reactor by strengthening maintenance, implementing refurbishment and modernization of systems and components, and ensuring safety of experiments, Trend reports.

The team also found the need for further safety improvements to the reactors organizational structure, ageing management, and operating rules and procedures.

The seven-day Integrated Safety Assessment of Research Reactors (INSARR) mission was requested by ICN and the National Commission for Nuclear Activities Control (CNCAN), Romanias nuclear regulatory authority. The mission team comprised four experts from Argentina, Canada, France and the Netherlands, as well as two IAEA officials.

The team visited the reactor and its associated facilities and met with ICN staff and CNCAN officials. The mission, which concluded on 7 October, covered the organizational and management arrangements in place and reviewed technical areas, including safety analysis, operation and maintenance programmes, ageing management, radiation protection, safety of reactor experiments and modifications, and emergency planning.

The reactor is used for radioisotope production, fuels and materials testing, research, and education and training. Since it became operational in 1980, the TRIGA MARK II reactor in Pitesti went through major modifications and refurbishments, including core fuel conversion from high enrichment uranium (HEU) to low enriched uranium (LEU) in 2006, modernization of the instrumentation and control system in 2009, and refurbishment of cooling systems in 2019.

The reactor has undergone three IAEA INSARR missions in 1992, 2002 and 2011 and is currently permitted to operate until the end of 2027. By then, the ongoing periodic safety review of the reactor is planned to be completed, after which a decision may be taken to permit reactor operation till 2035.

By regularly requesting INSARR missions, ICN has already shown commitment to continued safety improvement, said Amgad Shokr, mission team leader and Head of the IAEAs Research Reactor Safety Section. In addition to the identification and implementation of measures addressing the implications of the long operating period of the reactor, the ongoing periodic safety review is another opportunity for ICN to align its procedures and practices with the IAEA safety standards.

The INSARR team observed that the management system, as well as activities and procedures related to maintenance, operational radiation protection, modifications and experiments, and emergency planning, were implemented in line with the IAEA safety standards.

The INSARR team made recommendations and suggestions for further improvements, including the need for:

- Strengthening the organizational structure for reactor operation by clarifying roles and responsibilities with respect to safety, enhancing the coordination of the maintenance activities and improving the functioning of the safety committee;

- Strengthening training and certification procedures by expanding them to cover all staff performing activities important to safety;

- Finalizing the development and implementation of a systematic ageing management programme covering all the reactors structures, systems and components; and

- Strengthening the operational rules by improving their clarity and ensuring their alignment with the results of the ongoing review of the safety assessment.

We strive to continuously improve safety in accordance with the IAEA safety standards, said Silviu Stanciu, Manager of the TRIGA MARK II reactor. The INSARR mission provided us with valuable recommendations for further improvement, and we are committed to implementing them.

The IAEA understands that the ICN will make the results of this mission publicly available and plans to request a follow-up INSARR mission in 2027.
Photo: The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, October 8. Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan Akram Aliev took part in a roundtable discussion in Tashkent with the participation of representatives of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan, the American Chamber of Commerce, U.S. business circles, and the U.S. Embassy to discuss prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation, Trend reports.

The meeting brought together representatives of major American companies such as Boeing, General Motors, The Coca-Cola Company, Herbalife, Illumina, Meta, Mastercard, Apple, Amazon Project Kuiper, Wolt, Plug and Play Tech Center, and others.

During the discussion, the participants exchanged views on ways to accelerate the implementation of ongoing investment projects and to open new areas of mutually beneficial cooperation between Uzbekistan and the United States.

It was noted that the American Chamber of Commerce plays a significant role in strengthening economic ties between the two countries, actively supporting joint initiatives in industry, digital transformation, logistics, energy, and sustainable development.

Following the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their readiness to continue practical engagement aimed at expanding investment partnership, promoting innovative solutions, and creating favorable conditions for business cooperation.

In the interim, by the conclusion of 2024, the bilateral trade dynamics between Uzbekistan and the United States experienced a robust uptick of 15 percent, culminating in a trade turnover of $881.7 million. Concurrently, the influx of U.S. direct investment into Uzbekistan aggregated to a substantial $612.6 million. At present, over 300 entities with American investment are functioning within the national landscape, comprising 167 that are wholly owned by U.S. stakeholders.

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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, October 8. In Islamabad, Turkmenistan and Canada discussed strategic energy and infrastructure cooperation during a meeting between Turkmen Ambassador to Pakistan Atajan Movlamov and Canadas High Commissioner Tariq Ali Khan in Pakistan, Trend reports via the embassy.

During the meeting, both sides emphasized the strategic significance of ongoing and planned regional energy projects, including pipelines and power infrastructure, as key drivers of economic growth and regional integration.

The Turkmen side expressed readiness to expand cooperation with Canada in energy investment, technology transfer, and sustainable energy initiatives, highlighting the potential for joint projects to strengthen the broader Central and South Asian energy networks.

To note, Turkmenistan and Canada engage in collaborative synergies addressing areas of shared interest and strategic relevance. Turkmenistan stands as the singular nation within the Central Asian geopolitical landscape that ratified the Ottawa Convention concerning anti-personnel mines, whereas Tajikistan later adhered to the treaty post-implementation.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Azerbaijan and Oman have discussed opportunities to enhance economic relations, Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov said in a post on his official X page, Trend reports.

Within the framework of our working visit to the Sultanate of Oman, we were pleased to meet with Said bin Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Saqri, Minister of Economy of Oman.

During the meeting, we discussed the strengthening of economic relations, the realization of cooperation potential in trade and investment, and the promotion of joint initiatives in energy, industrial zones, tourism, small and medium-sized businesses, and transit.

We also exchanged views on Azerbaijans advantageous geographical location and high transit efficiency, which create favorable conditions for attracting foreign investments, the post read.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Azerbaijan and Oman have discussed opportunities to expand their investment cooperation, Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov said in a post on his official X page, Trend reports.

"As part of our working visit to the Sultanate of Oman, we held a meeting with Sultan bin Salem Al Habsi, Omans Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Oman Investment Authority (OIA), and Abdulsalam bin Mohammed Al Murshidi, President of OIA, to discuss the priorities of our business partnership.

We explored opportunities to promote mutual investments between Azerbaijan and Oman, expand joint investment activities at the regional level, and refine cooperation mechanisms to further strengthen business relations," the post read.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, October 8. The Uzbekistan delegation held a meeting with representatives of the European Commissions General Directorate for the Tax and Customs Union and the General Directorate for Climate Action to discuss carbon market mechanisms, the implementation of the CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) regulation, and cooperation on a low-carbon economy, Trend reports.

The first meeting focused on an exchange of views with Tomasz Michalak, Coordinator for Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Department of International Coordination and EU Enlargement of the General Directorate for Tax and Customs Union of the European Commission, regarding the "Omnibus I" legislative package adopted by the Council of Europe, aimed at simplifying and strengthening the "Transboundary Carbon Regulation Mechanism."

One of the main changes envisaged in this newly adopted regulation is that products with a total volume of up to 50 tons within the framework of the CBAM mechanism will not be affected by this mechanism for one year.

At the same time, negotiations were held with representatives of the European Commission's Climate Action DirectorateThomas Bernheim, Stine Rasmussen, and Maja-Alexandra Dittelon the implementation of carbon market mechanisms to achieve a low-carbon economy. During this meeting, the EUs experience in reducing greenhouse gas emissions by enterprises, promoting renewable energy, and increasing energy efficiency in business was studied.

In particular, information was shared on the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), the sectors covered, emission limits, necessary infrastructure for carbon quota trading, and the EUs role in achieving climate goals.

Following the meetings, it was noted that, under the simplified CBAM requirements, there is potential to develop cooperation to provide technical assistance for establishing a local emission trading system aligned with CBAM standards between the EU and non-EU countries.

The EU's CBAM is a tool for levying a carbon tax on carbon-emitting products (products that emit a large amount of greenhouse gases during production) exported to the EU and stimulating clean industrial production in non-EU countries and will come into force from 2026.

The EU ETS, operating since 2005, is one of the worlds largest carbon markets. It allocates emission quotas to energy producers, large industrial sectors, and aviation companies, who must cover their emissions with these quotas. Enterprises producing less than their quota can sell the excess, while those exceeding it must compensate through trading. By 2024, the emissions covered by the EU ETS are 50 percent lower than in 2005, and total revenue to date has exceeded 200 billion euros, with over 43 billion euros allocated to climate action projects in 2023 alone.

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Iran discloses revenue of South Pars company's fourth refinery from flare gas

Iran's South Pars Gas Company's 4th refinery generated $22 million in revenue from flare gas collection and sales during the first half of the current Iranian year. About 39,500 tons of flare gas were prevented from being burnt. Propane burning dropped by 76% and butane by 94% due to redesigned LPG pumps.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, October 8. Uzbekneftegaz JSC hosted a meeting with a delegation from Barclays, one of the UK's leading financial institutions, as well as representatives from several international investment companies to discuss the company's activities and plans for the future, Trend reports.

The event brought together major global investors, including Wellington Management, Ashmore Group, JP Morgan Asset Management, TT International Investment Management, William Blair & Company, Magellan Investments, and Arkkan Capital Management.

During the meeting, participants were provided with detailed information on Uzbekneftegaz JSCs production activities, financial performance, and strategic development priorities.

Investors commended the companys financial stability and transparent communication practices, underlining the importance of further expanding international collaboration.

At the conclusion of the meeting, it was proposed to hold the next investment callan online discussion with investorsin November 2025.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The Azerbaijan Investment Holding and the Oman Investment Authority have signed a shareholders' agreement to establish an Azerbaijan-Oman direct investment fund with a volume of $200 million, the country's Minister of Economy, Mikayil Jabbarov wrote on X page, Trend reports.

According to Trend, this was announced by Azerbaijan's Minister of Economy Mikail Jabbarov on his Twitter account.

The minister noted that this took place during a working visit to the Sultanate of Oman.

The Fund will serve as an important platform for strengthening bilateral investment cooperation and promoting economic growth in both countries. It will focus on implementing strategic investment projects across Azerbaijan, Oman, Central Asia, and other regions in key sectors such as the food industry, healthcare, renewable energy, consumer goods, and logistics, the post reads.
By Can Sezer

ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Turkey could meet more than half of its gas needs by the end of 2028 by ramping up production and increasing U.S. imports, in a shift that threatens to shrink the last major European market for Russian and Iranian suppliers.

Washington has publicly pressured allies, including NATO member Turkey, to cut energy ties with Moscow and Tehran. At their White House meeting on September 25, U.S. President Donald Trump pressed Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to cut Russian energy purchases.

Diversifying supply would also strengthen Turkey's energy security and support its ambitions to become a regional gas hub. Ankara aims to re-export imported liquefied natural gas and its own gas production to Europe while burning Russian and Iranian gas domestically, analysts said.

"Turkey has been signalling that it will take advantage of the (global) LNG abundance," said Sohbet Karbuz, from the Paris-based Mediterranean Organisation for Energy and Climate.

Russia remains Turkey's largest gas supplier, but its share of the market has fallen from more than 60% two decades ago to 37% in the first half of 2025. Most European countries halted imports following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

RUSSIA'S PIPELINE CONTRACTS NEAR EXPIRY

Russia's long-term pipeline contracts with Turkey to supply 22 billion cubic metres (bcm) annually via the Blue Stream and TurkStream pipelines are close to expiry. Iran's 10 bcm contract expires in the middle of next year, while Azerbaijans contracts, totalling 9.5 bcm, run until 2030 and 2033.

While Turkey is likely to extend some of these contracts, it is likely to seek more flexible terms and smaller volumes to increase the diversity of its supply, Karbuz said.

At the same time, Turkey is rapidly expanding alternative sources. State-owned TPAO is boosting output from local gas fields, while state and private companies have expanded LNG import terminals to bring gas in from the U.S. and Algeria.

Domestic production and contracted LNG imports are set to exceed 26 bcm annually from 2028 from 15 bcm this year, according to Reuters calculations.

US LNG IMPORTS SET TO DOUBLE

That would cover more than half of Turkey's gas demand of around 53 bcm, reducing the gap for pipeline imports to around 26 bcm - well below the 41 bcm of current contracted supplies from Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan combined.

To support this shift, Turkey has signed a series of LNG deals with U.S. suppliers worth $43 billion, including a 20-year agreement with Mercuria in September.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Iran and Turkmenistan have emphasized the need to further develop bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, Trend reports via the Iranian MFA.

A phone conversation took place between Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov.

During the call, the ministers discussed the current state of bilateral cooperation. Both sides underscored their joint commitment to advancing collaboration in political, economic, scientific, and cultural fields. They also stressed the importance of consultations and cooperation in key areas, particularly energy and transportation.

The ministers agreed to continue consultations and coordination to strengthen ties between the two countries.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, October 8. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Baxtiyor Saidov met with Takashi Hatori, Ambassador of Japan to Uzbekistan, on the occasion of the completion of his diplomatic mission, Trend reports via the Uzbek Foreign Ministrys official social media.

During the meeting, we emphasized the strengthening of Uzbekistan-Japan Strategic Partnership ties and the expansion of practical cooperation in trade, investment, education, cultural exchange, and other areas, Saidov wrote. He also wished Ambassador Hatori every success in his future endeavors.

Meanwhile, bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Japan has seen remarkable growth over the past five years, increasing by 54 percent, highlighting a significant upswing in economic and commercial relations between the two countries.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, October 8. Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratov, held a meeting with Pedro Vargas, Chief Executive Officer of the Portuguese investment company ALPAC Capital and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Euronews, Trend reports.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the current state of cooperation and prospects for further collaboration in the investment sphere, including the implementation of joint projects across various sectors of the economy.

Following the talks, both sides confirmed their mutual interest in strengthening partnership relations and agreed to continue focused consultations on key areas of cooperation.

ALPAC Capital is a Portuguese investment group founded in 2013. The company attracts resources from different regions of the world for investment in Europe and is known for its active approach, involving equity participation and direct engagement in the growth of its portfolio businesses.

Analyzing Uzbekistan's investment ecosystem, China has consistently maintained a dominant position as the primary source of foreign capital influx into Uzbekistan, with Russia trailing behind, alongside other nations such as Turkiye, Germany, and Saudi Arabia contributing to the investment portfolio. In the initial quarter of 2025, China dominated the landscape of foreign capital influx and financial instruments in Uzbekistan, while Russia, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and the Netherlands emerged as notable players in the investment arena.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, October 8. Uzbekistans Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov met with outgoing Palestinian Ambassador Javad Mohammed Awad in Tashkent to express appreciation for his contributions to bilateral relations, the country's Foreign Minister wrote on X page, Trend reports.

I expressed our sincere appreciation for his efforts in strengthening UzbekistanPalestine relations and deepening the friendship between our peoples. Uzbekistan firmly supports the implementation of the two-state solution in accordance with UN resolutions, Saidov wrote.

He also wished Ambassador Awad continued success in his future endeavors.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) welcomed the signing of a Strategic Partnership Agreement between Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan to develop and transmit green energy, Trend reports.

The decision was reflected in the Gabala Declaration adopted at the 12th OTS Summit held in Gabala on October 7.

The agreement aims to establish the Central AsiaAzerbaijan Green Energy Corridor for renewable energy exports to Europe. The declaration encouraged other member states to participate in the initiative, noting: "We encourage other Member States to explore participation in this initiative to strengthen regional energy connectivity".

The summit also highlighted progress in cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye in green electricity transmission and trade.

"We welcome the progress in the cooperation in the field of green electricity transmission and trade/project on green energy development and transmission between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Turkiye," the document reads.

The Gabala Declaration further stressed the importance of sustainable development and environmental stewardship. "We underscore the importance of advancing sustainable development and environmental stewardship, in line with the Turkic Green Vision, through the adoption of green technologies, climate-resilient infrastructure, and responsible resource management," it stated.
Photo: Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Azerbaijan and Germany discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in the financial sector, Trend reports via the Ministry of Finance.

The meeting took place under the organization of the German-Azerbaijan Chamber of Foreign Trade on October 8 and brought together representatives of German financial institutions and business circles visiting Azerbaijan.

Deputy Minister of Finance of Azerbaijan Anar Karimov highlighted opportunities to expand collaboration, including German financial institutions participation in local projects, experience sharing in public debt management, and matters related to public-private partnership (PPP) mechanisms.

He also briefed the guests on measures ensuring sustainable economic growth, macroeconomic stability, and fiscal discipline in Azerbaijan, noting that the countrys economy maintains positive growth dynamics, with steady expansion of the non-oil sector, achievements in public debt management, and robust foreign exchange reserves supporting financial resilience. Significant progress has been made in agriculture, information technology, manufacturing, logistics, and green energy.

The deputy minister shared that, taking these results into account, a Public Debt Management Strategy covering 2026-2030 is being prepared, aimed at creating new borrowing opportunities to fund priority projects and support long-term development goals.

German participants praised Azerbaijans favorable business and investment environment, emphasizing that economic stability and successful implementation of strategic projects provide long-term partnership prospects for German businesses.

The meeting concluded with an exchange of views on issues of mutual interest.

The German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (AHK Azerbaijan) is the official representative of the German economy in Azerbaijan, providing support and services to German and Azerbaijani companies for market entry, business development, and bilateral economic relations since 2012. It offers a wide range of services, including market analysis, partner acquisition, and event organization, and is part of the global network of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs)

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The Oman-Azerbaijan Business Roundtable was held to discuss strengthening economic collaboration, Azerbaijans Minister of Economy, Mikayil Jabbarov wrote on X page, Trend reports.

Within the framework of our working visit to the Sultanate of Oman, together with Qais bin Mohammed Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion of Oman, and our colleagues, we participated in the OmanAzerbaijan business roundtable, where we exchanged views on enhancing the effectiveness of bilateral economic cooperation.

Strengthening business ties through prospective projects that serve mutual interests, support economic diversification, and foster regional partnerships was identified as one of the key priorities of joint engagement.

In this context, we emphasized the importance of establishing joint representation on high-potential development and investment platforms, creating the Azerbaijan-Oman Working Group on Investments, promoting solutions that accelerate the green energy transition, organizing experience exchange based on the 'SME Houses' model, and supporting joint initiatives in digital transformation," the post reads.

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Photo: Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Azerbaijan and the U.S. research institute, the Caspian Policy Center (CPC), held talks on transport, energy, digitalization, economic cooperation, and sustainable development in the Caspian region, Trend reports via the country's Ministry of Digital Development and Transport.

Deputy Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rahman Hummatov met with a delegation led by the CPC Chief Executive Officer Efgan Nifti.

During the meeting, Hummatov provided detailed information on infrastructure and institutional reforms supporting the expansion of the Middle Corridor, emphasizing Azerbaijans efforts to become a regional multimodal logistics hub. He highlighted the importance of implementing digital transport systems, modernizing ports, railways, and airports, and developing the Zangezur corridor.

Hummatov also praised the CPCs research and initiatives promoting sustainable development, energy security, and regional stability. The parties then discussed opportunities to expand collaboration through future joint projects and analytical platforms.

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, October 8. Kyrgyz authorities have restricted the export of oil and petroleum products from the country to destinations outside the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Trend reports via the government.

The amended resolution covers crude oil (TN VED 2709) and petroleum products (TN VED 2710) transported by road and rail. Exceptions have been made for fuel oil and heating oil produced by domestic refineries.

Kyrgyzstan first imposed such export restrictions in March 2021. In August 2024, the ban on RON-80 gasoline and heating oil shipments outside the EAEU was lifted. The latest amendment reinstates broader controls while maintaining limited exceptions for locally refined products.

The Eurasian Economic Union is an economic alliance including five post-Soviet nations situated in Eurasia. The EAEU possesses a unified integrated market. As of 2023, it comprises 183 million individuals and a gross domestic product over $2.4 trillion. The EAEU promotes the unrestricted flow of goods and services and establishes unified policies in macroeconomics, transportation, industry, agriculture, energy, international trade and investment, customs, technical regulation, competition, and antitrust legislation.

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Aryzta has announced Michael Schai has stepped down as CEO of the Switzerland-based bakery business.

Schai was only appointed as chief executive on 1 January to succeed the then interim CEO Urs Jordi, who will again now step into the role on a temporary basis, according to a statement today (8 October).

Publicly listed Aryzta said its board and Schai had together concluded that a leadership change is in the best interests of the company and all stakeholders at this time.

Jordi becomes acting CEO with immediate effect to "ensure strong leadership and delivery of the company strategy" but will continue in his position of chairman.

Heiner Kamps, Aryzta's lead independent director, said: "Todays decision is a clear and united signal from the board in the best interest of shareholders and the company performance.

"We have a tested leadership in place to focus on creating shareholder value by delivering performance in line with our mid-term plan.

Aryzta reported a 16% decline in first-half net profit in August to 49.1m ($57.1m).

Elsewhere, revenue increased 3% to 1.08bn, supported by a return to organic growth. Organic revenue rose 2.8%, reversing a 0.7% decline in the same period last year.

EBITDA inched up 0.5% to 150.5m.

Aryzta confirmed today that guidance for 2025 remains unchanged, with organic growth expected in the low-to-mid single-digit range.

Management continues to expect full-year EBITDA of "at least" 300m on a like-for-like basis, compared to 320.9m in 2024.

The company said it will publish third-quarter revenue figures on 20 October as scheduled.

Jordi said of the CEO change: The board of Aryzta is confident that these changes will ensure business performance is brought back on track. Aryzta is implementing these changes from a strong financial position and in a timely manner to improve performance, generate cash and deliver on commitments to return capital to shareholders.

Aryzta's shares dropped in Switzerland today. They were last down 12% at SFr54.85 ($68.55). They have declined 14% this year.

"Aryzta CEO Michael Schai steps down" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.




BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The founding ceremony and first meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's Network of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises took place in Baku as part of the Halal Business Forum, Trend reports.

The event was attended by representatives of organizations and institutions from OIC member countries that provide support and services to SMEs.

The goal of creating the network is to strengthen cooperation between institutions supporting SMEs within the OIC framework.

During the forum's first panel session, dedicated to the establishment of the OIC SME Network, representatives of relevant bodies from OIC member states shared their experiences in supporting and servicing SMEs and discussed prospects for collaboration.

The meeting participants included representatives from Turkiye (KOSGEB), Saudi Arabia (MONSHAAT), Morocco (Morocco PME), as well as Jordan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Chad, and Cote dIvoire.

During the panel, representatives of Azerbaijans Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA) provided information on support and services for SMEs in Azerbaijan, as well as on the national SME ecosystem.

The speakers emphasized that SMEs are a driving force of the global economy, representing a significant share in both economic output and employment.

The event noted that in OIC countries, 99.9 percent of companies are SMEs, accounting for over 93 percent of employment and about 85 percent of added value.

Following the inaugural meeting of the OIC SME Network, the Baku Declaration was adopted, expressing gratitude to Azerbaijan for hosting the network's first meeting and for its ongoing support of regional cooperation in SME development.

In addition, by unanimous decision of the participants, the chairmanship of the SME Network of the OIC was transferred to KOBIA for a period of three years, and the functions of the secretariat will be performed by the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC).

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, October 8. Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Ilzat Kasimov, held a meeting with a delegation of Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan), headed by Chief Executive Officer Juro Baba, to discuss ongoing and potential investment projects in Uzbekistan, Trend reports.

During the talks, the parties focused on accelerating the implementation of ongoing projects in the energy sector, as well as developing new joint initiatives based on the principles of publicprivate partnership (PPP). Both sides confirmed their mutual interest in further expanding cooperation and exploring new investment opportunities in the fields of energy and industry.

Mitsubishi Corporation, founded in 1954 and headquartered in Tokyo, is one of Japans largest multinational conglomerates. The company operates in diverse sectors, including energy, industry, mechanical engineering, chemistry, mining, and the production and trade of food and consumer goods. In 2024, Mitsubishi Corporation reported a net profit of $6.9 billion, with an authorized capital of $1.4 billion and a workforce of approximately 62,000 employees
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) continues to support the green transition and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Azerbaijan, ADB Resident Director Sunniya Durrani-Jamal said at the Halal Business Forum, Trend reports.

Founded 58 years ago and comprising 69 member countries, the ADB actively promotes SME development across Asia, recognizing them as the backbone of national economies. Durrani-Jamal noted, This statement is true for Azerbaijan, where I lead a team of 30 specialists working to expand the private sector and support SMEs.

According to her, the ADB provides financial, technical, and advisory support and assists in implementing reforms aimed at strengthening the business environment. The bank collaborates closely with the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (KOBIA), and other partners to ensure entrepreneurs have access to resources, innovation, and sustainable development opportunities.

We do not limit ourselves to financing. Our goal is to develop business potential, encourage sustainable practices, and create conditions in which SMEs can thrive. Working with partners, we help generate jobs, promote inclusive economic growth, and support long-term community well-being, Durrani-Jamal said.

She drove home the point that SMEs are the backbone of economic activity and are also key players in the quest for environmental sustainability; their involvement is the icing on the cake for a successful green transition.

Moving to a green economy not only protects the environment but also enhances business competitiveness. At the same time, SMEs face challenges ranging from high costs and limited financing access to climate risks and logistical disruptions, she added.

Durrani-Jamal highlighted that international and national partners, including Azerbaijani government institutions, are actively implementing incentives, tax benefits, and financing tools to support the ecological transformation of businesses.

One of the key initiatives under COP29 was the Baku Climate Coalition for the Green Transition of SMEs, in which KOBIA played an important role. The adopted declaration identified two priorities: strengthening SME capacity and stimulating business demand for eco-friendly solutions, she concluded.

A green transition is a societal and economic shift from a fossil fuel-dependent model to a sustainable, low-carbon, and resource-efficient economy. It involves adopting environmentally friendly technologies and practices to combat climate change, reduce environmental degradation, and foster a thriving, equitable society where no one is left behind. Key aspects include clean energy, resource efficiency, innovation, policy changes, and collaborative efforts across governments, industries, and communities to achieve climate neutrality and long-term prosperity.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Turkish Bilisim Vadisi company is expanding its collaboration with Azerbaijan in the field of the green transition, General Manager Erkam Tuzgen stated at the Halal Business Forum in Baku, Trend reports.

We already have projects in Azerbaijanwe have organized gaming camps, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, and yesterday concluded a new memorandum with the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan (KOBIA). We plan to actively work, particularly in areas related to the green transition, Tuzgen noted.

He added that Bilisim Vadisi maintains several partnerships with other organizations in Azerbaijan and intends to expand them.

This is an extremely important topic. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups provide unique solutions, yet their contributions often go unnoticed internationally. The Baku Declaration was a timely initiative that drew attention to this gap, he emphasized.

Tuzgen highlighted that increasing the visibility of SMEs should focus on three complementary directions: evidence, interconnectedness, and advocacy.

First, the achievements of SMEs must be made more visible. Many are already reducing emissions and improving efficiency, but their successes often remain local. We need a global platform where these results are recognized and supported.

Second, it is crucial to integrate innovative small companies into global value chains. When large corporations adopt startup solutions in clean energy or mobility, these innovations gain international recognition.

Third, SMEs must participate in policy-making processes because visibility is not only economic; it is the opportunity to be heard where global strategies are shaped, he added.

Tuzgen also noted that the technopark actively supports international initiatives, including Startup20 under the G20 framework.

On the first day of the Halal Business Forum, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between KOBIA and Bilisim Vadisi.

The agreement covers awareness-raising events and joint initiatives in the green economy, green technologies, and green entrepreneurship, as well as cooperation in environmental protection. The memorandum was signed by KOBIA Chairman Orkhan Mammadov and Bilisim Vadisi General Manager Erkam Tuzgen.

A green transition is a societal and economic shift from a fossil fuel-dependent model to a sustainable, low-carbon, and resource-efficient economy. It involves adopting environmentally friendly technologies and practices to combat climate change, reduce environmental degradation, and foster a thriving, equitable society where no one is left behind. Key aspects include clean energy, resource efficiency, innovation, policy changes, and collaborative efforts across governments, industries, and communities to achieve climate neutrality and long-term prosperity.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 8. Kazakhstan and Russia discussed the development of the NorthSouth Transport Corridor during a field meeting at the Kazakh-Russian border, Trend reports via the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan.

The meeting was attended by First Deputy Minister of Transport of Russia Valentin Ivanov and Kazakhstans Vice Minister of Transport Maksat Kaliakparov.

According to the ministry, the corridor serves a pivotal function in augmenting Kazakhstan's transit capabilities and broadening its international commercial relations. The parties examined revised plans for the modernization of road checkpoints, consenting to expedite various projectsadvancing their implementation schedule between 2026 and 2030.

The parties also addressed issues related to international road transport, freight movement, and the use of unmanned transport technologies. The Russian side informed that the situation at several checkpoints remains under special control of the relevant authorities. Cooperation between the respective agencies continues in a working and constructive manner.

The North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a multimodal pathway linking India and the Persian Gulf to Russia, Central Asia, and Northern Europe, providing a more expedient and economical alternative to conventional routes such as the Suez Canal. Initiated in 2000 by India, Russia, and Iran, the project seeks to establish a cohesive network of maritime, rail, and road transportation to improve commercial connectivity and capitalize on the strategic positions of member governments such as Azerbaijan and Iran.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 8. Thai low-cost carrier Thai AirAsia X plans to launch flights between Kazakhstan's Almaty and Bangkok, Trend reports via the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan.

The announcement was made by Thai AirAsia X CEO Pattra Boosarawongse during a meeting with Kazakhstans Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastaev.

The flights are scheduled to begin on December 1, 2025, operated with Airbus A330 aircraft at a frequency of four flights per week.

In addition, Thai AirAsia X expressed interest in operating flights under the fifth freedom rights within Kazakhstans existing open skies framework, potentially connecting Almaty with European cities such as Berlin, Germany, and Manchester, UK.

The Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan expressed its readiness to provide necessary support and emphasized the importance of these flights for strengthening tourism and business ties between the two countries.

Thai AirAsia X is a Thai airline operating medium- and long-haul international routes to Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Iran, Oman, and other countries. Its fleet currently consists of 9 Airbus A330 aircraft.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 8. Peter Foster, CEO and member of Air Astana's board of directors, will step down at the end of March 2026, according to the company's board of directors, Trend reports via Air Astana.

Even after he retires, Foster will keep working with the Group in the role of senior advisor to the board of directors.



At that point, Ibrahim Canliel, who is now the chief financial officer, will take over as CEO. Since joining the Air Astana Group in 2003, Canliel has held many senior commercial positions. Since 2017, he has been the chief financial officer.

"The Board of Directors would like to thank Peter Foster for his outstanding achievement in guiding the company for 20 years, from its post-start-up phase to its position today as Kazakhstan and Central Asias leading airline and a respected airline brand throughout the global aviation industry. We welcome Ibrahim Canliel to the position of CEO. His contribution has been immense, and the Board has full confidence that he will lead the company to continued growth and success," Air Astanas Chairman of the Board, Nurlan Zhakupov, said.

Air Astana is the flag carrier airline of Kazakhstan and one of the largest airline groups in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Established in 2001 and operating since 2002, it offers both full-service flights under the "Air Astana" brand and low-cost services through its subsidiary "FlyArystan." The airline focuses on high standards of safety and customer service, flying a variety of domestic, regional, and international routes.

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 8. The U.S. Senate approved Julie Stufft as the U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Trend reports via the U.S. Senate.

The confirmation vote concluded with 50 senators in favor and 45 against.

"Stuffts appointment follows the announcement by U.S. Ambassador Daniel Rosenblum, who notified the Kazakh government on November 26, 2024, of his intention to resign from his position effective January 20, 2025."

Rosenblum had served as the head of the U.S. mission in Kazakhstan since November 2022.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. During the 12th Summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), held on October 7, 2025, in Gabala, Azerbaijan, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev once again highlighted the Middle Corridor as a strategic link in the Eurasian transport network. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, running through China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye, connecting East Asia with Europe, has already become a vital lifeline for cargo flows between East and West and is slowly but surely shaping up as a strong contender to traditional routes through Russia.

Acting Secretary General of the International TITR Association, Nurgul Zhakupova, told Kazakh media that in the first six months of 2025, cargo volume along the route reached 926,000 tons, a six percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Container shipments showed particularly strong growth, with 40,200 TEUs transported, up 93 percent year-on-year. Transit through Kazakhstan increased by 65 percent, reaching 262,000 tons, primarily driven by container cargoes from China. In May 2025, Tokayev announced plans to double trans-Caspian container shipments over the next three years. These figures paint a clear picture of the rising interest in the Middle Corridor, showcasing its potential as a dependable avenue for international trade.

The increase in cargo flows is accompanied by large-scale infrastructure modernization in Kazakhstan. The launch of the second Dostyk-Moynty railway line will increase the capacity of the Trans-Kazakhstan corridor fivefold, while two more key lines are under construction.

Moreover, during the 7th International Transport and Logistics Business Forum New Silk Way in Almaty, railway company leaders from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Georgia signed a joint action plan aimed at ensuring uninterrupted transit train operations and reducing transit times. The deal paves the way for lifting the shackles along the Middle Corridor, covering everything from infrastructure to operational and logistics matters, including fast-tracked customs procedures.

On this account, at the OTS summit, Tokayev invited Turkic states to actively participate in modernizing the infrastructure of air hubs, railway stations, and seaports along the Middle Corridor. Efforts are in full swing to put the pedal to the metal in digitalizing the transport and transit sector with the help of artificial intelligence technologies. The president threw his hat in the ring with a proposal to set up a Digital Monitoring Center within the OTS, bringing in top-notch experts. This move aims to shine a light on transit transparency, streamline processes, and cut costs, making the route a magnet for international investors. These initiatives also align with Kazakhstans strategic goal of becoming a fully digital state.

The growth of the Middle Corridor goes hand in hand with efforts to bolster human capital through digitalization and AI initiatives. Kazakhstan has already trained over 400,000 specialists and plans to open a research university and establish a Digital Innovation Center based at the International AI Center Alem.AI. This will support joint projects, startups, and experience exchange among Turkic states, strengthening the regions technological potential and integrating transport, industrial, and digital infrastructure.

Frameworks are concurrently being developed to operationalize significant trade and economic initiatives. One such initiative is the Turkic Investment Fund, which plans to monitor investment opportunities along the Middle Corridor. In 2025, a meeting of OTS ministers of economy and trade is planned in Turkestan to compile a list of projects for funding. Tokayev emphasized the need to fully leverage the financial institutions potential to stimulate regional economic integration.

The strategic significance of the route is further enhanced through integration with other corridors. At the Gabala summit, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that linking the Middle Corridor with the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and the prospective Trans-Afghan corridor will create a multi-sector highway system that facilitates business development and reduces transit costs. OTS Secretary General Kubanychbek Omuraliev emphasized that the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor will grow even further once the ChinaKyrgyzstanUzbekistan railway project becomes operational.

Kazakhstan is also putting its best foot forward in strengthening international ties along the Middle Corridor. In July 2025, during Tokayevs official visit to Turkiye, an agreement on railway transport cooperation along the Middle Corridor was signed between Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) and Turkiyes TCDD Tasmaclk A.S. Negotiations are also underway on hydrocarbon shipments along the route with international partners, including Chevron.

At the summit, Tokayev also supported the creation of a Turkic States + format, aimed at expanding cooperation and strengthening the international authority of the OTS. Today, OTS member states include Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkiye, and Uzbekistan, with Hungary and Turkmenistan as observers.

Thus, the Middle Corridor continues to strengthen its position as a strategic transport route in Eurasia, largely due to the proactive role of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. His support for infrastructure modernization, transit digitalization, workforce development, and international cooperation creates conditions for increased route efficiency, higher cargo flows, and trade growth. Joining forces with other transport corridors and getting OTS member states on board with Tokayevs initiatives paves the way for a sturdy highway system that can cut transit costs and boost economic and technological ties in the region.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 8. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, at the invitation of Tajikistans President Emomali Rahmon, will visit Dushanbe on October 9-10, Trend reports.

The president is expected to participate in the "Central Asia-Russia" summit and the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The second "Central AsiaRussia" summit will take place on October 9. The agenda includes discussions on further cooperation between Russia and the Central Asian countries in a six-party format, covering trade, economic, financial, investment, industrial, logistics, and energy sectors, among others. Following the summit, the parties are expected to approve a joint action plan for 2025-2027.

On October 10, the CIS Heads of State Summit will commence in Dushanbe. The main focus will be on developing trade and investment partnerships and strengthening security across the CIS region. Overall, the summits agenda includes more than 10 key issues, and several multilateral agreements are expected to be signed following the meeting.
The AI age is upon us, and you cannot ignore it. Now that the quest for AI Superintelligence has been made official, how will it affect the crypto space?

AI trading is already fast and emotionless. But what happens when AGI (Advanced General Intelligence) and ASI (Advanced Super Intelligence) are introduced into the trading spectrum?

Heres a hypothetical. Imagine an AGI-powered trading system that tracks global systems and predicts disruptions to reallocate assets before humans even notice. Imagine it adapting to your portfolio and adjusting your risk exposure based on your goals and the macro landscape. Impressive right?

Now, increase the scope! An ASI-powered system doesnt just trade, it reshapes markets. It can model every participants behaviour, from retail traders to sovereign wealth funds, and generate millions of outcomes across timeframes. It can spot unseen arbitrage and execute billions in trades across chains, with regulators and hedge funds relying on its insights.

And this is exactly what the Chinese are aiming for.

Rewind to last week, at the Chinese tech hub of Hangzhou, Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu charted out the Roadmap to Artificial Superintelligence.

In his keynote, Wu specifically outlined Alibabas ambitious quest for AGI (artificial general intelligence) and ASI (artificial super intelligence). While researchers in this field have been using this term for years, this is the first time that these terms have been officially invoked.

(Source: TradingView)

Achieving AGI  an intelligent system with general human-level cognition  now appears inevitable. Yet AGI is not the end of AIs development, but its beginning, Wu said.

This isnt just a philosophical milestone. It is a seismic shift in how industries operate, how capital flows and how investors allocate risks.

Equity markets, particularly in the US, are responding with a surge in valuations for companies at the forefront of AI development. Nvidia, for instance, has become the poster child for AI infrastructure, while Microsoft and Alphabet are being re-rated not just as cloud providers but as future custodians of autonomous intelligence.

EXPLORE: Next 1000X Crypto  Heres 10+ Crypto Tokens That Can Hit 1000x This Year

How Does AI Fit In The Equities Picture?

The equity markets are not oblivious to the progress made in the AI space.

Companies at the cutting edge are currently in a race to build increasingly autonomous systems. And the equity market is responding by pouring money into the players driving this push. Big tech firms, including Nvidia, Microsoft, and Alphabet, have seen crazy gains as investors believe that these companies will control the future of infrastructure, data, and AI ecosystems.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 8. French company Ellipse Group has expressed interest in expanding its presence in Kazakhstan, Anastasia Colosimo, Head of Business Development at Ellipse Group, said, Trend reports via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan.

She made the statement during a meeting with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Alibek Kuantyrov and Deputy Chairman of Kazakh Invest Madiyar Sultanbek.

The stakeholders engaged in dialogue regarding synergistic initiatives within the healthcare domain, encompassing the architectural development and outfitting of state-of-the-art perinatal facilities, alongside the strategic enhancement of private medical enterprises.



During the meeting, Kuantyrov underscored that Kazakhstan prioritizes the enhancement of contemporary healthcare infrastructure and is receptive to collaborations with global enterprises that have cutting-edge technologies and a proven track record in executing extensive initiatives.



Colosimo, a former strategic advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron, articulated the firm's intent to leverage opportunities for expansion within the Kazakhstan market. She articulated that Ellipse Group perceives Kazakhstan as a dependable collaborator characterized by robust economic expansion and a conducive investment ecosystem.

Ellipse Group specializes in financing and turnkey construction of strategic infrastructure in energy, healthcare, digital technologies, and civil construction. The company implements projects across Europe, Asia, and Africa, collaborating with major EU export credit agencies and banks.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, October 8. Kazakhstan and Israel discussed ways to promote bilateral relations, Trend reports via Israels Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"I spoke with FM of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev and congratulated him on his new position. We discussed the talks in Egypt, and I said that we hope to move forward with the implementation of the first phase of President Trump's plan. We want to see our hostages home soon. We also discussed ways to promote bilateral relations between our countries. Minister Kosherbayev wished us a happy Sukkot. I thanked him for that and invited him to visit Israel, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said.

On September 12, newly appointed Ambassador of Israel to Kazakhstan Yoav Bistritskyy presented copies of his credentials to the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

To note, the State of Israel and the Republic of Kazakhstan have been cultivating a mutually advantageous diplomatic rapport since the year 1992. Since that juncture, the two nations have sustained robust engagement in the realms of defense and intelligence collaboration. Ninety-five agricultural stakeholders from Kazakhstan, encompassing farmers, managerial personnel, and scientific experts, have undergone specialized training in Israel.

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BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, October 8. President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov visited Manas International Airport to review the progress of its large-scale modernization project, underscoring plans to transform the country into a key aviation hub in Central Asia, Trend reports.

He was briefed by Manas Samidinov, Chairman of Airports of Kyrgyzstan OJSC, on reconstruction works, inspected new airport equipment, and viewed the completed runway repairs. Zhaparov stressed that the airport is the face of Kyrgyzstan and a symbol of its international image, noting that national aviation is entering a new, modern era.

The Manas upgrade includes runway and taxiway renewal, lighting system modernization, and terminal expansion. Once complete, the airport will meet ICAO Category III standards, making it one of the most advanced in the region.

Over the past two years, Airports of Kyrgyzstan has invested nearly 8.2 billion soms in aviation infrastructure, while Asman Airlines purchased three Bombardier Dash-8 Q400 aircraft and plans to acquire two more.

Zhaparov also highlighted progress at regional airports, including new terminals in Osh, Issyk-Kul, and Karakol, and the launch of the major Jalal-Abad International Airport project. He said these developments will strengthen Kyrgyzstans role in regional transit and tourism.

The president also noted ongoing efforts to remove the country from the EU aviation blacklist and praised aviation workers for their professionalism and contribution to national progress.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Irans Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed on Wednesday that there have been no recent contacts with U.S. officials, including U.S. President Donald Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trend reports.

Speaking to journalists after a Cabinet meeting in Tehran, Araghchi dismissed recent media reports suggesting that nuclear talks between the two countries had resumed and that both sides had agreed on returning to the negotiation table.

The five rounds of indirect talks on Iran's nuclear program took place between Iran and the U.S. on April 12, 19, and 26, and May 11 and 23. Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi acted as mediator in the indirect talks, with the Iranian delegation led by Foreign Minister Sayed Abbas Araghchi and the U.S. delegation led by U.S. Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. The first, third, and fourth rounds of negotiations took place in Muscat, the capital of Oman, and the second and fifth rounds took place in Rome, the capital of Italy.

On June 22, the U.S. launched military airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. It is reported that the airstrikes destroyed the Iranian nuclear facilities.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 8. Iran has delivered a diplomatic note to European Union (EU) countries in response to allegations made in a joint statement by the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and EU foreign ministers, Trend reports.

According to the sources, ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions from EU member states were summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

While receiving the ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions from European Union (EU) member states, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi stated that the islands cited in the joint statement of the GCC and the EU are an inseparable part of Iranian territory. He stressed that the EUs assertion that these islands belong to a GCC member state constitutes a breach of the principles of national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He also noted that allegations regarding Irans missile program constitute clear interference in the countrys internal affairs. Claims about Irans missile program are false and exaggerated. Irans local defense capabilities, including its missile program, are part of the nations legitimate right to self-defense, Takht-Ravanchi added.

The deputy minister further criticized the EU trio (the UK, France, and Germany) of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) for failing to fulfill their obligations and demonstrating a lack of goodwill, which has led to diplomatic deadlock.

On October 6, the EU and GCC foreign ministers joint statement condemned Irans seizure of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs islands and urged Tehran to halt programs related to drones and its nuclear program.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a political and economic union of six Arab states in the Persian GulfBahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emiratesformed in 1981 to foster regional unity, security, and economic integration. With shared cultural, political, and religious roots in Islam, the GCC's objectives include strengthening cooperation and developing unified policies in economic, trade, social, and legislative fields, as well as promoting military cooperation and tackling shared environmental challenges.

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UAF to host Indigenous Peoples Day events Oct. 13

UAF photo by Leif Van Cise

Vendors and attendees pack the Wood Center multilevel lounge during the 2024 Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations on the Troth Yeddha' Campus.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks will celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day with several events and activities on Monday, Oct. 13.

Indigenous Peoples Day honors Indigenous people, culture and knowledge nationwide. It affords time to reflect and recognize the Indigenous knowledge that enhances the education provided by the university.

The following scheduled events are open to the public.

Troth Yeddha Campus (Fairbanks)

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Fry bread taco fundraiser, Brooks Building Rural Student Services gathering room

1 to 2:30 p.m.  Elders panel in Wood Center multilevel lounge

2:30 to 3:30 p.m.  Dance performances in Wood Center multilevel lounge

3:30 to 5 p.m.  Native games demonstration in Wood Center multilevel lounge

1 to 5 p.m.  Vendor tables in Wood Center multilevel lounge

Kuskokwim Campus (Bethel)

The Kuskokwim Consortium Library and Kuskokwim Campus will host their fifth annual Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center.

4 p.m.  Elder wisdom talk

5 p.m.  Native foods potluck

6 p.m.  Benediction with Orutsararmiut Native Council Traditional Chief Ignatius Louie Andrew; performances by the Qasgirmiut and Bethel Regional High School dance groups

Visit the UAF Indigenous Peoples Day website or the Facebook event page for more information about the schedule of events and past celebrations.

ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Janejira Smith, jpsmith14@alaska.edu, 907-474-7868

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SAO PAULO, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AeroCore Technologies announced today the opening of its first international site at Sao Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport (GRU). AeroCore is a global aviation technology company specializing in advanced engine cleaning and performance optimization. This expansion marks the beginning of AeroCore's worldwide rollout of its Total Engine Health solutions, designed to help airlines improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions, and extend engine life.

AeroCore foam cleaning at the boarding gate.

The GRU site will serve as AeroCore's South American hub, offering its patented Nucleated Foam Technology, a breakthrough solution that delivers measurable improvements in exhaust gas temperature (EGT) margins, fuel efficiency, and maintenance cycle times compared to conventional engine wash methods.

"GRU is one of the fastest-growing airports in Latin America and a critical hub for both domestic and international aviation," said Kevin Bourke, CEO and Co-Founder of AeroCore Technologies."Establishing operations here reflects our commitment to supporting airline partners across the Americas with proven technology that enhances performance, reduces environmental impact, and drives long-term value."

AeroCore's international expansion builds on its success with commercial airlines and defense operators. Looking ahead, the company is currently opening additional sites in Hawaii, Japan, and the Middle East, extending its global footprint and reinforcing its mission to deliver Total Engine Health wherever aircraft operate.

About AeroCore Technologies

AeroCore Technologies delivers advanced engine cleaning and maintenance solutions through its proprietary Nucleated Foam Technology. With headquarters in the United States and operations expanding globally, AeroCore helps airlines and defense operators improve fuel efficiency, restore engine performance, and reduce carbon emissions. More than 50% of AeroCore's workforce is made up of military veterans, underscoring the company's commitment to excellence, service, and efficiency.

In addition to aviation, AeroCore's Nucleated Foam Technology delivers significant performance improvements in the O&G sector through its joint venture, ReNu Technologies.

For more information about AeroCore Technologies, please visit www.aerocore.com or contact [email protected]; for ReNu Technologies, please visit www.renutech.com or contact [email protected]

SOURCE AeroCore Technologies
AST SpaceMobile has inked a new deal with Verizon to bring space-based cellular broadband across the United States, marking its most significant partnership to date and its latest move to capture a larger share of the emerging space-to-cellular market.

Under the agreement, Verizon will integrate ASTs satellite network with its terrestrial infrastructure, using Verizons 850 MHz spectrum to extend coverage in remote areas where towers cant reach. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The deal builds on an earlier partnership between the two entities announced last year, in which Verizon made a $100 million commitment to support ASTs service rollout.

Verizon is the second major carrier to sign with AST, following a 10-year agreement with Vodafone. For AST, the Verizon deal comes at a critical time as the company races to deploy its BlueBird satellite constellation designed to link directly with unmodified cell phones.

As of now, the company has successfully placed its first five BlueBird satellites into low Earth orbit, an initial Block 1 that are intended to deliver intermittent coverage across the U.S. Meanwhile, AST is assembling the next generation of satellites  Block 2  with plans to deploy between 45-60 satellites by 2026.

The partnership also underscores how rapidly the satellite-to-cell market is evolving. SpaceX, through its Starlink network, has already started rolling out its direct-to-cell service with T-Mobile, and recently bolstered its ambitions further by agreeing to acquire $17 billion worth of wireless spectrum from EchoStar.

AST has already demonstrated 4G and 5G connections between its satellites and smartphones, including voice and video calls, testing milestones that the company says have proven the capabilities of its network. But it still faces the challenge of scaling that technology to serve millions of users.

AST shares jumped by more than 15% on Wednesday after the deal was announced.
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Published October 8, 2025

Want to go?

WHAT: Let Us Dream Community Conference 2025

WHEN: October 30, 2025, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Networking session 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Bayou Pointe Event Center, 1 Warhawk Way, Monroe

COST: Free and open to the public

INFO: Registration is required. Visit ulm.edu/letusdream to register.

MONROE, La.  The University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) will host the 2025 Let Us Dream Community Conference at Bayou Pointe Event Center on Thursday, October 30, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The event will explore the theme of Building Sustainable Communities Through Collaborative Approaches to Food Security and Nutrition. ULM President Dr. Carrie L. Castille will deliver the keynote address at the conference. The conference is free and open to the public, but attendees are required to pre-register at ulm.edu/letusdream.

The conference will spotlight successful models, innovative strategies, and grassroots efforts addressing food insecurity and promoting nutrition equity, said Dr. Debra Craighead, Professor of Nursing at ULM and Let Us Dream Community Conference Chair.

The conference will feature panels focused on the social, educational, and health-related aspects of food security and nutrition. Local vendors will also be present with booths for attendees to visit during breaks. Additionally, the Let Us Dream organization will present its Change Maker Awards at the end of the conference. Attendees are invited to stay from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. for a networking session.

Join us as we gather local leaders, nonprofits, educators, health professionals, students, and advocates to explore how collective action can improve food systems and enhance community well-being, said Craighead.

About Let Us Dream

The Let Us Dream organization is a global initiative that empowers communities by fostering inclusive dialogue, promoting social innovation, and encouraging collaborative efforts to solve local and global challenges. With a focus on sustainability, education, and community building, Let Us Dream connects leaders, educators, students, and community members to share best practices and implement transformative solutions. Through its annual conferences held around the world, the organization provides a platform for individuals and institutions to dream together and drive meaningful change.

Learn more at letusdream.org.
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1.32 Cr voters with dubious records in Bihar final list: Investigation

As many as 1.32 crore voters are still there in the Bihar electoral rolls released after Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Reporters Collective has found after investigation

Wednesday October 8, 2025 3:10 PM , ummid.com News Network

New Delhi: As many as 1.32 crore voters are still there in the Bihar electoral rolls released after Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Reporters Collective has found after investigation.

1.32 crore voters across the 243 assembly seats of Bihar continue to have dubious or fake addresses in these finalised voter rolls, the Reporters Collective said.

Reporters Collective in its report titled The Mess, called ECIs Final Voter List for Bihar has classified dubious and fake addresses as those where the Election Commission of India has registered more than 20 voters under the same address.

Duplicate Voters

The Reporters Collective in its finding also said it found more than 14.35 lakh suspect duplicate voters.

"These are the voters with two different IDs but same names, same name of a relative, and an age difference of 0-5 years.

"Of them about 3.42 lakh duplicates were the most alarming, where the ages on both voter IDs matched perfectly as well. Additionally, there were tens of thousands of cases where people across Bihar hold at least three EPIC IDs", the report said.

The Reporters Collective conducted this analysis in collaboration with a group of data analysts for all 243 assembly constituencies, followed by reporting in select constituencies to verify the data analysis.

Bihar SIR

The Reporters Collective published its report a week after the Poll Panel released on September 30, 2025 the Final Electoral Rolls of Bihar following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists.

The ECI had in August released the draft voter lists with deletion of around 65 lakh voters. The list had sparked a massive outrage and the matter went to the Supreme Court of India.

Based on the Final Electoral Rolls the Election Commission has announced to hold the 2025 Assembly Elections in Bihar in two phases in November .

6L Muslim Voters Deleted

A separate analysis, conducted by researchers Yogendra Yadav and Rahul Shastri for The Indian Express, further reveals that the revision process resulted in the deletion of around 80 lakh eligible voters and disproportionate removal of Muslims from the final list.

They further said that names of around 6 lakh Muslim voters and 16 lakh female voters have been deleted from the Final Bihar Electoral Rolls released after completion of SIR.

Yadav and Shastri in their report questioned the CEC Gyanesh Kumar who said, The voters list in Bihar has been purified."

"We can't fully trust the final voter list released by the Election Commission", they said.

SC Directive to EC

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of India has ordered the Election Commission to provide the complete details of 3.66 lakh voters deleted from the Final Electoral List by October 09, 2025.

The Supreme Court also asked the Poll Panel to clear the confusion about the 21.53 lakh voters added in the final list. The SC asked the EC to explain whether these voters are new or the one whose names were not included in the draft list released in August.

The SC also asked the Poll Panel to maintain transparency in the process.

The Supreme Court during earlier hearings had warned the Election Commission that the voter lists revision could be annulled if any illegality is detected.



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Omar Raghi, 02 others bag Nobel Prize 2025 in Chemistry

Omar M. Yaghi, Richard Robson and Susumu Kitagawa have jointlt won the Nobel Prize 2025 in Chemistry for creating molecular constructions with large spaces through which gases and other chemicals can flow

Wednesday October 8, 2025 5:56 PM , ummid.com News Network

Nobel Prize 2025: Omar M. Yaghi, Richard Robson and Susumu Kitagawa have jointlt won the Nobel Prize 2025 in Chemistry for creating molecular constructions with large spaces through which gases and other chemicals can flow.

Omar Yaghi is associated with University of California, Berkeley, USA; Richard Robson belongs to University of Melbourne, Australia and Susumu Kitagawa is affiliated with Kyoto University, Japan.

"Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi are awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2025", the Nobel Award Committee said.

The three scientists awared the Nobel 2025 in Chemistry have developed a new form of molecular architecture. In their constructions, metal ions function as cornerstones that are linked by long organic (carbon-based) molecules.

"Together, the metal ions and molecules are organised to form crystals that contain large cavities. These porous materials are called metal-organic frameworks (MOF). By varying the building blocks used in the MOFs, chemists can design them to capture and store specific substances. MOFs can also drive chemical reactions or conduct electricity", the Committee said.

About Omar Yaghi

A Saudi-American citizen, Omar Yaghi was born on February 09, 1965 in Amman, Jordan to Palestinian parents. Yaghi was granted Saudi citizenship in 2021 through a royal approval that had been issued to grant Saudi citizenship to several prominent specialists from different fields.

Omar Yaghi has been associated with University of California, Berkeley, USA at the time of receiving the Nobel Award.

Omar Yaghi received his B.S. from State University of New York at Albany (1985) and Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1990). He was an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University (1990-92).

Omar started his independent career as an assistant professor in 1992 at Arizona State University, moved to University of Michigan at Ann Arbor as Robert W. Parry Professor of Chemistry in 1999, and then UCLA in 2006 as Christopher S. Foote Professor of Chemistry and Irving and Jean Stone Chair Professor in Physical Sciences.

About Richard Robson

Richard Robson was born on June 04, 1937 in Glusburn, UK. He has been associated with University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia at the time of receiving the Nobel Award.

Richard Robson undertook post-doctoral research at California Institute of Technology 1962-64 and at Stanford University 1964-65, before receiving a Lectureship in chemistry at the University of Melbourne 1966-70 where he remained for the duration of his career.

Robson has authored over 200 articles, specialising in coordination polymers, particularly metal-organic frameworks.



About Susumu Kitagawa

Susumu Kitagawa was born on July 4, 1951 in Kyoto, Japan. He has been associated with Japan's Kyoto University at the time of receiving the Nobel Award.

Kitagawa pursued and obtained a PhD degree in hydrocarbon chemistry during 1975 to 1979 from Kyoto University, where he had previously done his undergraduate studies.

Susumu Kitagawa ForMemRS is working in the field of coordination chemistry, with specific focus on the chemistry of organicinorganic hybrid compounds, as well as chemical and physical properties of porous coordination polymers and metal-organic frameworks in particular.

The Nobel Award Season 2025 started on Monday October 06, 2025 with the announcement of Nobel 2025 Prize in Medicine and Nobel Prize 2025 in Physics announced on Tuesday October 07, 2025.

The winner/winners of the most awaited Nobel Peace Prize 2025 will be announced on October 10, 2025.

The Nobel Prize 2025 award ceremony will be held December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel (D: 1868), the wealthy Swedish industrialist and the inventor of dynamite who founded the prizes.

Nobel Prize 2024 Winners

Last year, the Nobel Peace Prize 2024 was awarded to Japan's atomic bomb survivors' group Nihon Hidankyo for its efforts to ban nuclear weapons.

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly to U.S. scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation.

On October 08, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the Nobel Prize in Physics 2024 to John J. Hopfield of Princeton University, NJ, USA and Geoffrey E. Hinton University of Toronto, Canada.

On October 09, 2024, the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry jointly conferred on David Baker of U.S.A., and Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper of the United Kingdom for their research on protein.

On October 10, 2024, the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature conferred on South Korean author Han Kang for her work on the fragility of human life.

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What we are witnessing in Gaza is 'healthocide': The Lancet

Renowned medical journal, The Lancet, in a research paper said what we are witnessing in Gaza is healthocide

Wednesday October 8, 2025 11:48 PM , ummid.com News Network

Renowned medical journal, The Lancet, in a research paper said what we are witnessing in Gaza is healthocide.

Researchers introduced "healthocide" in BMJ Global Health to highlight systematic violence against healthcare systems in conflicts.

Detailing the systematic attack of the Israeli occupation forces (IDF) on Gaza, said the besieged Palestinian territory is going through healthocide, and asked medical societies not to stay silent.

Most medical and surgical societies worldwide have remained silent or issued vague statements about Gaza's healthocide, The Lancet paper noted.

A recent analysis found that only 245% of US speciality societies commented publicly on the Gaza conflict, in contrast to previous crises in which medical societies mobilised resources and expressed support, it said.

Agencies working for World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nation have reported at least 772 attacks on healthcare, with 94% of hospitals damaged or destroyed and more than 1500 healthcare workers killed - the highest toll ever recorded.

On Hospitals as Cover

The Israeli forces justified its systematic attacks on hospitals in Gaza claiming they are used for Hamas and other Resistance fighters as cover. The Lancet paper refuted these claims.

No independent or neutral organisation has provided evidence that Hamas deliberately used hospitals or other civilian facilities as human shields, The Lancet paper said.

Lancet did not stop here but said even if hospitals were used by Hamas as cover, the indiscriminate bombings of the Israeli forces could not be justified.

Even if proven in the future, such claims could never justify systematic attacks on the health-care system. This is a violation of international humanitarian law and demands explicit condemnation, The Lancet paper said.

Moral, Ethical Duty

The paper insists that medical neutrality, a core tenet of international humanitarian law, obliges health professionals not just to provide impartial care, but also to condemn violations wherever they occur. The value of human life, the authors argue, must never depend on nationality, religion, or politics.

"Both Israeli and Palestinian physicians treated victims during the October 7, 2023 tragedy, demonstrating health cares potential to bridge divides, even amid intense conflict", the Lancet paper said.

The authors urged medical societies to speak out unambiguously, support all victims, denounce attacks on medical personnel and infrastructure, and do everything possible to ensure care reaches those in need. They argue that remaining silent in the name of neutrality is in effect complicity in the face of injustice.

The Lancet paper calls for action to support both Palestinian and Israeli physicians working to change the situation from within and emphasizes that medicine is more than scienceit is a moral duty.

The Lancets categorization of IDF bombing of hospitals and healthcare infrastructure as healthocide comes weeks after a United Nations commission of inquiry found there are reasonable grounds to conclude that Israel is committing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.

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UK police Bitcoin. Photo by BeInCrypto

The Bank of England (BoE) is moving ahead with plans to impose limits on stablecoin holdings, but will introduce exemptions following industry criticism.

While the regulator seeks to contain financial risks in digital assets, the revised framework may allow certain crypto firms to maintain larger reserves and use stablecoins for settlement within regulatory sandboxes.

BoE Moves to Cap Stablecoin Holdings with Industry Carve-outs

The Bank of England is preparing to introduce limits on stablecoin holdings. The goal is to strengthen oversight of digital money while preserving financial stability.

Under the draft framework, individuals could hold up to $13,400-$26,800 (10,00020,000 ) in stablecoins, and businesses up to $13.5 million (10 million).

However, after widespread industry objections, the BoE is reportedly planning to include exemptions for crypto exchanges, custodians, and fintech firms that rely on larger stablecoin reserves for operational liquidity.

Officials familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that the measure is not intended to restrict legitimate market activity. Instead, it seeks to contain systemic risk as stablecoins become increasingly integrated into mainstream payment systems.

The revised framework may differentiate between stablecoins used for consumer payments and those employed by institutional actors for settlement or liquidity management.

The central bank has signaled that the final proposal will be open to public consultation later this year. Implementation is expected to be phased in during 2026.

Exemptions and Integration into Digital Securities Sandbox

The BoEs updated plan will include exception clauses. These would let firms viewed as critical to crypto infrastructure hold stablecoin reserves above the general cap.

The carve-outs aim to support market makers, exchanges, and blockchain projects working in the UKs Digital Securities Sandbox. The sandbox serves as a regulatory testbed where firms can experiment with digital settlement and tokenized assets.

The sandbox is jointly overseen by the BoE and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It forms part of the UKs broader push to modernize capital markets with distributed ledger technology. Allowing stablecoins to act as settlement assets will help the BoE test its role in future wholesale payments and tokenized securities markets.

The UKs approach recognizes that stablecoins will be essential to real-world asset tokenization, said Stani Kulechov, founder of Aave, in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

He described the BoEs revised stance as a necessary balance between risk control and innovation.
Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE:UTI) is among the most profitable consumer defensive stocks to buy now. Alexander Paris, an analyst at Barrington Research, reiterated his Outperform rating on Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE:UTI) with a price target of $36, implying a potential surge of nearly 15%. Impressed by the companys ongoing market strategies and operations, the analyst is confident about its positive outlook.

Amid the favorable regulatory environment, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE:UTI) performed quite well in the latest quarter. As stated by the CEO, Jerome Grant,

We are successfully engaging with the Department of Education and other Trump administration offices to explore new avenues for advancing skilled trade growth.

Chime Financial (CHYM) Jumps 8.93%, Tracks Financial Services Jump

One of the key reasons to believe in Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE:UTI) is its collaboration with the Department of Education. Management believes the agreement will play a pivotal role in accelerating plans by a year, resulting in an increase in the number of programs offered to the market during 2026.

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE:UTI) is an Arizona-based provider of transportation, skilled trades, and healthcare education programs. With two main segments: UTI and Concorde, the company is dedicated to changing the world one life at a time.

While we acknowledge the potential of UTI 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: The Best and Worst Dow Stocks for the Next 12 Months and 10 Unstoppable Stocks That Could Double Your Money.

Disclosure: None.
The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) wants factories to participate in a more transparent supply chain by digging deeper on data.

The trade association announced this week that it has partnered with technology company Digital Bridge Partners to create an AI-powered ESG compliance reporting tool it calls the Digital Factory Passport (DFP).

More from Sourcing Journal

The BGMEA wants the DFP to enable stronger transparency and foster competitiveness in the ready-made garment (RMG) industry. The tool will ingest and streamline data from specific factories, then will create reports on the insights generated, which the BGMEA contends will reduce audit fatigue and offer stronger efficiency as factories work to track their sustainability metrics against goals and compliance requirements.

According to the BGMEA, Mahmud Hasan Khan, the organizations president, said that AI and digital transformation remain core pieces of how the RMG industry in Bangladesh should progress, particularly as it relates to sustainability progress. Simultaneously, Inamul Khan-Bablu, senior vice president at the BGMEA, and Vidiya Amrit Khan, vice president at the organization, said the DFP is slated to position Bangladesh as a leader in responsible manufacturing.

Digital Bridge Partners said the initiative is targeted at helping the RMG industry bring stronger transparency to the fore.

The RMG sector in Bangladesh accounts for most of the countrys global exports; BGMEA data shows that, between 2024 and 2025, about 81.5 percent of all goods exported from Bangladesh fell into the RMG category. In that time frame, RMG factories in Bangladesh shipped nearly $40 billion worth of merchandise to other nations around the globe.

Part of the allure of the DFP is that, as Bangladesh continues to provide apparel to brands and retailers across the globe, having a more centralized data approach, aided by AI, can help factory owners and operators position their practices to align with what international buyers have come to expect and request.

That could be particularly useful as brands and retailers operating businesses in different regions find that they have different mandates. For instance, a brand that sells products in Europe may have specific data needs to meet the European Unions Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulations (ESPR) incoming rules for digital product passport (DPP) implementation. Meanwhile, a California-based brand selling exclusively in the U.S. might have different needs as it prepares to meet Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements in the state.

Having a more robust mechanism in place to collect product datathen share it externallycould be key for manufacturers worldwide as companies race to meet their sustainability goals and determine how to comply with regulations. The BGMEA said the newly announced DFP could, for that reason, future-proof Bangladeshs position as a global sourcing hub.
WEST HAVEN, Conn.  The University of New Haven has become the first foreign (and U.S.) university to receive governmental approval to open an international branch campus in Saudi Arabia, officials announced this week. The decision marks a milestone in global higher education expansion.

The Saudi government's Council of Ministers approved UNH's plan on October 7, 2025. The branch campus, to be located in Riyadh, is slated to begin operations in Fall 2026, pending final regulatory clearances.

UNH's Riyadh campus will initially host three colleges: Business and Digital Innovation; Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing; and Arts and Applied Sciences. Programs will be delivered in English, and include undergraduate, graduate, and micro-credential offerings tailored to the Kingdom's future workforce needs.

University President Jens Frederiksen said the approval is a culmination of a more than 20-year history of educational engagement in Saudi Arabia. "we are excited to advance this work by establishing a campus in Riyadh that supports the Kingdom's transformative Vision 2030 goals," he said in a release.

Officials project that at full scale, the Riyadh campus could enroll 13,000 students  a figure that would exceed the size of the Connecticut campus today.

The branch will also offer support structures such as a Preparatory Year Program, English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, and stackable credentials to foster lifelong learning.

Implications for U.S. and Saudi Universities

The move signals a shift in the global higher education landscape, where American institutions are seeking growth opportunities abroad amid enrollment declines at home. For Saudi Arabia, the partnership represents a key step in localizing quality international education and reducing reliance on overseas study.

Education analysts note that this approval  the first of its kind for a U.S. university  could open the door for similar ventures by other American institutions, particularly those with strong STEM, business, or cybersecurity programs.

Strategic Partnership and Future Prospects

The Riyadh branch is being developed in collaboration with Saudi private-sector and government partners, ensuring local alignment and infrastructure support. Early plans suggest that the university will also serve as a research and innovation hub, promoting collaboration in AI, digital transformation, cybersecurity, and sustainable energy.

While the final regulatory steps are pending, UNH's official website for its Saudi campus is already live, detailing its mission to "empower a generation of globally minded professionals" and listing ongoing faculty recruitment efforts.

The announcement reflects the increasing globalization of higher education, where academic brands are expanding beyond traditional borders to engage with emerging economies.
Members of the Wyoming State 4-H team attended a proclamation signing by Gov. Mark Gordon recognizing the Wyoming 4-H program Monday, Oct. 6. From left are Rylie Ogden, Matt Helie, the governor, Samantha Krieger, Mijal Altmann, Paige Aylward and Steve Mack. (UW Extension Photo)

University of Wyoming Extension invites Wyoming residents across the state to celebrate National 4-H Week, which runs through Saturday, Oct. 11.





In Wyoming, the event kicked off with the signing of a proclamation by Gov. Mark Gordon Monday, Oct. 6, at the State Capitol in Cheyenne.





The proclamation recognizes the Wyoming 4-H Youth Development Program, administered by UW Extension, for its pivotal role in empowering Wyomings future leaders.





With more than a century of history in our state, 4-H continues to strengthen rural and urban communities by engaging young people in hands-on experiences in agriculture, science, healthy living and civic involvement, says Samantha Krieger, Wyoming 4-H program leader. Recognizing National 4-H Week highlights the dedication of our youth, volunteers and educators, while encouraging all Wyoming citizens to support the next generation of leaders.





Wyoming 4-H reaches thousands of youth annually through clubs, camps, after-school programs, local and state fairs, national leadership experiences, and even international trips. Programming is available in every Wyoming county and on the Wind River Indian Reservation.





With the support of extension educators and volunteers, 4-Hers explore project areas ranging from livestock showing, woodworking and cooking to public speaking, robotics and photography. Through these projects, youth connect with trusted mentors, develop lifelong leadership skills and engage in meaningful community service.





National 4-H Week provides an opportunity to both welcome new members into the 4-H community and highlight the accomplishments of returning members.





I have seen, firsthand, how 4-H shapes Wyoming youth into confident, capable leaders, Krieger says. National 4-H Week is an exciting opportunity to celebrate these accomplishments while encouraging more youth to join this vibrant, life-changing program.





This year, the events theme is Beyond Ready, a nod to the many ways that 4-H provides youth with the tools they need to succeed -- now and in the future.





To celebrate, UW Extension staff members and 4-H volunteers are coordinating efforts that include statewide service projects, bingo activity cards and holiday card contests.





To join Wyoming 4-H or get involved in the weeks festivities, visit www.uwyo.edu/4-h or contact a local UW Extension office. Contact information for county offices can be found at www.uwyo.edu/uwe/uwe-county-offices.html.





About University of Wyoming Extension





UW Extension serves Wyoming communities by helping residents apply university research and resources to practical problems. Since 1914, UW Extension has provided educational programs and tools to the states 23 counties and the Wind River Indian Reservation. From 4-H programming and pesticide safety education to food preservation and nutrition courses, Extension upholds the universitys land-grant mission by offering learning opportunities for people of all ages. UW Extension staff members help Wyoming residents boost agricultural production, care for lawns and gardens, cultivate future leaders, support individual and community well-being, and develop thriving businesses. To learn more, visit www.uwyo.edu/uwe or call (307) 766-5124.
The WWAMI Medical Education Program at the University of Wyoming recently welcomed its 29th entering class at its annual stethoscope ceremony. During the ceremony, 20 new medical students from across Wyoming were presented with stethoscopes and white coats. From left are: front row, Elizabeth Girling, Ali Lange, Brooklyn Prince and Linsey Lancaster; second row, Gabrielle Reimann, Rachael Harrower, Easton Couch and Cherol Minton; third row, Zoe Robison, Maggie Kuehl, Logan Jensen and Daniel Shumway; fourth row, Erica Farris, Alexis King, Jordan Moore and Dalton Nichols; fifth row (top), Annabel Hagen, Carlos Garcia, Winston Littlejohn and Samantha Johnson. (Brian Harrington Photo)

The WWAMI Medical Education Program at the University of Wyoming recently welcomed its 29th entering class at its annual stethoscope ceremony.

A stethoscope ceremony, in which 20 new medical students from across Wyoming were presented with stethoscopes and white coats, marked their start in WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) at UW through the University of Washington School of Medicine. The event was sponsored and hosted by Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie.

The students white coats were presented by local Wyoming doctors who mentor medical students throughout all four years of their WWAMI education. The students were then presented stethoscopes and diagnostic kits by WWAMI alumni Aaron Spurlock and Kim Westbrook. The stethoscopes were provided by the University of Washington School of Medicine Alumni Association and the diagnostic kits by Ivinson Memorial Hospital.

Dr. Dan Radosevich, WWAMI clinical assistant professor, spoke to the medical students during the ceremony and will lead their clinical education over the next 18 months.

Now that the students have received their physical examination equipment (at the stethoscope ceremony), the WWAMI clinical faculty is looking forward to teaching the students how to talk with and examine patients, Radosevich says. Now is the time for the students to learn how to think, act, feel and comport themselves like physicians.

For the students, the event held deep significance in their journey toward becoming physicians.

The stethoscope ceremony was a deeply meaningful milestone, one we have all envisioned and worked toward for years, says Brooklyn Prince, a first-year medical student from Cheyenne. Wearing our white coats and stethoscopes for the first time felt like a collective achievement that united us in purpose and pride. To be a part of the WWAMI program is both an honor and a privilege, and I feel so fortunate to carry this responsibility alongside classmates who are compassionate and dedicated.

Dr. Todd Guth, director of the WWAMI program at UW, also spoke during the ceremony and reflects that the Wyoming WWAMI stethoscope ceremony is a tradition and a rite of passage marking a moment when medical students transition from aspiration to commitment, from learners of science to students of medicine.

Guth also emphasizes the importance of celebrating the moment with family, friends, faculty and community members to highlight the public nature of the commitment that the students were accepting.

The WWAMI stethoscope ceremony is a powerful reminder of the University of Wyomings vital role in training the next generation of physicians for our state and region, says Patrick Hardigan, dean of the College of Health Sciences. These 20 students represent Wyomings future in health care -- committed, compassionate and deeply connected to the communities they will one day serve.





I am especially thankful to Dr. Todd Guth, WWAMI director, and his outstanding faculty and staff for their leadership and dedication to medical education. I also am grateful to Ivinson Memorial Hospital, the University of Washington School of Medicine and our many physician mentors who make this program possible, Hardigan continues. Together, we are advancing the mission of the College of Health Sciences to improve health and well-being across Wyoming and beyond.





The new medical students, listed by hometown and name, are:





Casper -- Gabrielle Reimann.





Cheyenne -- Erica Farris, Samantha Johnson, Brooklyn Prince, Daniel Shumway and Winston Littlejohn.





Evanston -- Linsey Lancaster.





Gillette -- Dalton Nichols.





Jackson -- Elizabeth Girling, Rachael Harrower and Annabel Hagen.





Kemmerer -- Alexis King.





Moorcroft -- Cherol Minton.





Powell -- Jordan Moore.





Rawlins -- Easton Couch.





Rock Springs -- Ali Lange.





Sheridan -- Logan Jensen, Maggie Kuehl and Zoe Robison.





Wheatland -- Carlos Garcia.





About the Wyoming-WWAMI Medical Education Program





The WWAMI Medical Education Program -- Wyomings medical school -- is a partnership between the University of Wyoming and the University of Washington School of Medicine. WWAMI is an acronym for the five states that participate in the program: Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho.





WWAMI reserves 20 seats each year for qualified Wyoming residents. Students accepted to the program spend 18 months on the University of Wyoming campus. The third and fourth years are spent at selected clinical sites throughout the WWAMI region.





To learn more about Wyoming-WWAMI, go here.





About the University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences





UWs College of Health Sciences trains health and wellness professionals and researchers in a wide variety of disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, speech-language pathology, social work, kinesiology, public health, health administration and disability studies. The college also oversees residency and fellowship programs in Casper and Cheyenne, as well as operating a speech/hearing clinic in Laramie and primary care clinics in Laramie, Casper and Cheyenne.





With more than 1,600 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, the college is dedicated to training the health and wellness workforce of Wyoming and conducting high-quality research and community engagement, with a particular focus on rural and frontier populations.
Boeings 737 Max was grounded worldwide after crashes in 2018 and 2019 - Lindsey Wasson/Reuters

Boeings 737 has been dethroned as the worlds most popular passenger plane after almost four decades of dominance.

Sales of the US-made short-haul jet have been overtaken by Airbuss rival A320 model for the first time since the two began competing 37 years ago.

The handover of an A320 to Saudi airline Flynas on Tuesday saw the European aircraft clock up 12,260 lifetime deliveries, according to UK consultancy Cirium, overtaking the 737s total.

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0810 A320s overtake 737s for the first time

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First introduced in 1967, Boeings 737 was developed as an industry workhorse to run on high-frequency routes between cities within the US and Europe. It played a key role in the low-cost travel revolution at carriers such as Southwest Airlines in the US.

The plane has proved to be one of the most popular models in aviation history and has been through four generations of development in a sign of its enduring success.

A 737 takes off or lands every 1.5 seconds and the global fleet has carried more than 31 billion passengers  or four flights for everyone on the planet. 737s have also clocked up more than 170 billion miles combined, equivalent to 2,100 round trips to the sun.

It is Boeings best-selling jet of all time and  until this week  was the best seller in the industry.

However, it has lost its crown after a torrid period for Boeing that has seen production of the jet capped by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) amid safety and production concerns.

Problems with software on Boeings 737 Max were blamed for crashes in 2018 and 2019, after which the aircraft was grounded worldwide for 20 months.

Following modifications and a return to service, the 737 suffered a further setback when a door blew out of an Alaska Airlines plane in 2024, leading to a further grounding.

FAA safety experts later identified a raft of production errors at Boeing and its suppliers, leading it to cap 737 build rates  a move that ensured Airbus would ultimately streak ahead.

Airbus, based in Toulouse, France, introduced the A320 in 1988  giving Boeings 737 a 19-year head start on orders. However, the arrival of the re-engined A320neo model in 2020 saw Airbus gain an advantage and it has been steadily gaining ground since.

Airbuss A320 model is now the best-selling jet of all time

British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa and easyJet all once flew 737s but now run A320 fleets. Ryanair, however, has remained loyal to the American jet.

Rob Morris, an aviation analyst, said Airbus was set to stretch its lead over Boeing given the ongoing FAA restrictions on its US rival.

Mr Morris said: The gap between the 737 and A320 would have closed anyway but not that quickly. It was really the production challenges that led Boeing to lose its lead.
US-headquartered Braemar Hotels & Resorts has agreed to sell The Clancy, a 410-room hotel located in San Francisco, for $115m.

The transaction assigns a per-key value of $280,487 and reflects a 5% capitalisation rate based on the net operating income for the trailing 12 months ending August 2025.

Braemar Hotels & Resorts president and chief executive officer Richard Stockton said: We are strategically refining our portfolio with one clear objective: to maximise its value for our shareholders.

This divestiture will help us to ensure that a future sale of the company results in the best possible outcome for our investors.

As part of the agreement, Braemar has received a $3.5m non-refundable earnest money deposit from the prospective purchaser.

The deal is anticipated to complete in November, pending standard closing conditions.

The purchaser has an option to extend the closing by 30 days with an additional $1m non-refundable deposit.

Braemar stated that completion of the sale is not guaranteed under the present terms.

The company said in a statement: Braemar does not expect to disclose or provide an update concerning developments related to this process unless and until the board of directors has approved a specific transaction or other course of action requiring disclosure, or the company determines that a disclosure is required by law or otherwise deemed appropriate.

Located in San Franciscos SoMa district, The Clancy is part of the Autograph Collection by Marriott.

The property includes a lobby bar, public spaces, a fitness centre, and the Seven Square Taproom. The hotel also accommodates indoor and outdoor events through multiple venue spaces.

Braemar finalised the sale of the Marriott Seattle Waterfront located in Washington, US, for $145m in August 2025.

In the same month, the company said that its board commenced a sale process for Braemar following a review of strategic options to maximise value for shareholders.

A Special Committee formed by the board explored a range of strategic alternatives.

Braemars portfolio consists of nine resort and five urban properties. These are operated under brands including Autograph Collection by Marriott, Four Seasons, Hilton, Park Hyatt, Ritz Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, and Sofitel.

The Special Committee chairperson Rebeca Becky Odino-Johnson said: We explored multiple alternatives for Braemar including a potential internalisation of management.

However, given the sustained disconnect between our share price and our iconic portfolios intrinsic real estate value, the board believes pursuing a sale process is the right step at this time. The board also believes that this is the best opportunity for shareholders to realise a premium to the existing share price.
For nearly a year, President Donald Trump has been restoring order in the United States. He has reestablished the principles of equality before the law and merit-based promotion at the expense of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). He has slashed federal budgets for everything related to imperial spending and attempted to restore the militarys primary function: homeland defense.

At the same time, we all see how he is failing to achieve the peace he hoped for in Ukraine and Palestine. He is letting the Europeans fight not for Ukraine, but against Russia and the coalition of Benjamin Netanyahu persisting in its program of a "Greater Israel", that is to say annexing its neighbors [1].

However, we fail to see the worst of it: the Straussians, who held the upper hand under George Bush Jr., Barack Obama, and Joe Biden, are still not defeated. They have retreated into two intergovernmental organizations: NATO and the UN.

Apart from NATO, they have taken control of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine (formerly the Ramstein Group), which, since September 9, no longer meets alternately at the US military base in Ramstein and at NATO headquarters in Mons-Brussels, but now also in London.

It was they who, along with the Ukrainian secret services, organized the drone flights over Western and Northern European airports. Then, they pushed for the delivery of German Patriot missile batteries to Ukraine, after secretly organizing the transfer of the first batteries from Israel.

They are still the ones who falsified the reports of the UN Secretary-General on the Security Council meetings of September 19 and 26 [2]. Contrary to these reportswhich we were wrong to trustthe Security Council did not approve the reimposition of sanctions against Iran. Moreover, it lacked the power to do so.

This summer, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom adopted a strange common position on the JCPoA, that is, the nuclear agreement signed during the 5+1 negotiations with Iran. As a reminder, the United States led these negotiations supposedly to end Irans military nuclear program and prevent the country from acquiring an atomic bomb. After a round of discussions, the meetings were interrupted for a year while Washington and Tehran concluded a secret protocol about which we know nothing.

Negotiations then resumed and were immediately concluded with a treaty in Vienna. It is also important to remember that China and Russia, which participated in the negotiations, both confirmed that there had been no Iranian military nuclear program since 1988.

The JCPoA was validated by Security Council Resolution 2231 on July 20, 2015. As a result, the sanctions that the council had adopted against Iran were gradually lifted. However, by the following year, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany were questioning the agreement on the grounds that Iran was conducting research on missiles capable of delivering atomic bombs. Ultimately, on May 8, 2018, President Donald Trump (in his first term) decided to withdraw from the agreement on the grounds that it had not prevented Iran from increasing its military power in the Middle East. On September 19, 2020, Elliott Abrams, President Trumps representative for Venezuela... and Iran, announced the reinstatement of US sanctions, allegedly by resorting to paragraph 11 of the resolution ("snapback mechanism"). However, neither Washington, nor London, nor Paris, nor Berlin have ever attempted to resort to paragraph 36 of the JCPoA for the simple reason that they would have had to admit that they were wrong.

However, as Iran, China, and Russia have repeatedly stated for the past five years, the JCPoA was included in Resolution 2231. Consequently, it is not possible to activate paragraph 11 of the resolution without taking into account the commitments signed in the JCPoA [3]. And these were initially violated by the Europeans and the United States. China declared: "The United States has reimposed and has continuously tightened unilateral sanctions against Iran and has adopted maximum pressure measures." As a result, Iran has been unable to benefit from the economic advantages of the JCPOA and has been forced to default on some of its obligations under the JCPOA." [4]

Under international law, there is no doubt that the mechanism for reinstating sanctions must be considered a unilateral punishment against Iran and an unjust measure.

These legal considerations are not quibbles. Respect for them is essential to international law. There is a hierarchy of norms, and one cannot invoke a provision of one text without first activating that of a related earlier text. [5].

The fact that the United Nations administration falsified the minutes of two Security Council meetings, as evidenced by the verbatim transcripts of these meetings, leaves no room for doubt. [6] This administration is no longer impartial, but is playing into the hands of the opponents of peace in the Middle East.

Dont assume that the war advocates only control the UN press office. The day after the publication of the falsified summaries of Security Council meetings, the General Secretariat drafted a "note verbale" (reference: DPPA/SCAD/SCA/4/25(1)) instituting sanctions against Iran as if they had been approved [7]. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian Permanent Representative, nearly choked. He immediately drafted a letter to the Secretary-General (reference S/2025/610), which he circulated to the Security Council [8].

We are going through a situation where the General Secretariat, abandoning the impartiality of its function and the principles of international law, has aligned itself with the legal interpretation of two States, permanent members of the Council, France and the United Kingdom.

It will be recalled that in 2016, during the war against Syria, the UNs second-in-command, the American Jeffrey Feltman, and his assistant, the German Volker Perthes, drafted in their New York office not a peace plan, but a plan for Syrias surrender [9]. I commented on this document, which I analyzed for President Bashar al-Assad, in my book Before Our Very Eyes. Taken aback by its contents, most historians remained circumspect. The Syrian Arab Republic had been overthrown by the United Kingdom and Turkey. This secret document will be revealed when this book is published in German.

In 2016, the United Nations, formed in 1948 to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war," was able, contrary to its official purpose, to act to overthrow the Syrian Arab Republic. They implemented the plan A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm [10], written by the Straussians for Benjamin Netanyahu in 1996. They can therefore, once again, act for war.

This is likely what President Donald Trump was referring to in his address to the 80th session of the General Assembly on September 23 [11]. Indeed, in that speech, he did not criticize the UN in the name of "American exceptionalism" [12] like other US presidents before him, but because it failed to intervene in his peace efforts on different continents, in seven different conflicts.

We must understand what is happening today: the enemy is no longer Uncle Sam; it is still the Straussians [13], now within the United Nations and the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine. They still want to lead us towards generalized war. They now rely on Israeli revisionist Zionists [14] and Ukrainian fundamentalist nationalists [15].
AppLovin (APP) stock has been rather volatile in recent sessions after the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced an investigation into the California-based ad-tech company.

The probe centers on allegations that AppLovin violated service agreements with platform partners regarding data collection practices, specially examining whether the company improperly collected user identification data from major platforms like Meta, Snap, TikTok, Reddit, and Google.

More News from Barchart

Following an initial SEC-driven decline, AppLovin shares recovered significantly on Tuesday and are currently up some 215% versus their year-to-date low in early April.

www.barchart.com

Should You Buy AppLovin Stock at Current Levels?

Investors should consider buying the dip in APP stock today mostly because the firms fundamental business performance remains remarkably strong.

AppLovins transformation from a mobile gaming app company into an artificial intelligence (AI) enabled ad-tech leader has been particularly successful, with its AXON 2.0 optimization engine serving as a major growth catalyst.

Financial metrics support this success story, with the company maintaining robust fundamentals including a 33.35% profit margin and annual revenue of $4.7 billion.

Its latest quarterly results demonstrate continued momentum with revenue increasing 77% year-over-year to $1.26 billion and net income soaring 164% to $820 million, further strengthening the case for owning AppLovin stock.

APP Shares Are Rightfully Trading at a Premium

AppLovin's expansion beyond mobile gaming into e-commerce advertising represents a significant growth opportunity, with the potential market estimated to be 20 times larger than its current focus.

Another major reason to stick with APP shares for the longer term is its recent addition to the S&P 500 Index ($SPX) which further validates the firms market position and could drive institutional capital to it.

In a recent interview with CNBC, Needham analyst Bernie McTernan also cited these tailwinds to assert that AppLovin stock is rightfully trading at a premium.

McTernan is bullish on the companys latest launch of its self-service platform and believes APP stock will follow a similar trajectory as TikTok that went from a billion to two billion to five billion to nine billion.
President Donald Trump speaks while meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Meloni said Crosetto and Tajani also included in complaint filed with ICC.

Italy's prime minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday said she has been accused of complicity in genocide in a complaint filed with the International Criminal Court (ICC) linking the Italian government to Israel's war in Gaza.

Speaking on state television channel RAI 1, Meloni said that Italy's defence minister Guido Crosetto and foreign minister Antonio Tajani had also been reported to the ICC amid accusations of complicity by supplying arms to Israel.

She added that Roberto Cingolani, the CEO of the weapons and aerospace firm Leonardo, may also have been included in the complaint.

Meloni did not provide any details about who had filed the report against her and her ministers, saying: "I don't believe there is another case like this in the world or in history".

The premier reiterated that Rome has not authorised any new arms shipments to Israel since 7 October 2023, claiming that Italy is among the European nations with "the most rigid stance" in this regard.

Expressing her concerns at "a climate that is becoming significantly more barbaric", Meloni said she can no longer count the number of death threats she has received, claiming the responsibility lies with "those who say I have blood on my hands" in relation to Gaza.

Hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets of Rome in solidarity with Gaza. pic.twitter.com/uIx1MI11eE  Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) October 4, 2025

Israel's interception of a humanitarian flotilla attempting to deliver aid to Gaza sparked mass protests in Italy in recent days, with much of the anger directed at Meloni and her right-wing government.

A general strike called by the CGIL trade union last Friday in solidarity with the flotilla was deemed "specious" by Meloni who claimed that CGIL is "much more interested in defending the left than workers".

Meloni spoke in two interviews on Tuesday evening, first on Cinque Minuti, then on Porta a Porta, both presented by veteran TV journalist Bruno Vespa.

In response to her remarks, Giuseppe Conte, leader of the opposition Movimento 5 Stelle, accused Meloni of failing to realise that "a genocide has been underway in Gaza for two years and that there is a famine being caused", as well as failing to condemn Israel's detention of Italians who travelled with the flotilla.
Fratelli d'Italia bill 'against Islamic separatism' targets face coverings and mosque funding.

Italian premier Giorgia Meloni's right-wing Fratelli d'Italia (FdI) party on Wednesday presented a bill that would ban the wearing of full-face veils in public places, offices, schools and universities.

The bill "against Islamic separatism" also seeks to regulate the funding of mosques as well as impose stiffer penalties for arranged marriages and virginity tests.

Violation of the proposed full-face ban would be punishable by fines of between 300 to 3,000.

There is currently no timeline for debate of the bill which was presented to the lower house by FdI lawmakers including parliamentary leader Galeazzo Bignami and justice undersecretary Andrea Delmastro.

"It serves to counter the emergence of enclaves, counter-societies where Shari'a law, rather than the Italian legal system, applies, and where Islamic fundamentalism thrives," explained FdI MP Sara Kelany, a co-signatory of the bill.

"Erasing a woman's face means humiliating her. Some people talk about free choice, but I find it hard to believe a woman would want to humiliate herself" - Kelany said - "The left, blinded by ideological do-goodism and fearful of being accused of Islamophobia, on the one hand cries out about patriarchy, while on the other remains silent on these intolerable phenomena".

The right-wing Lega party, part of the coalition government along with the FdI, proposed a very similar bill earlier this year aimed at prohibiting the wearing of "face-concealing garments, such as the burqa or niqab."

Reaction

Imam Massimo Abdallah Cozzolino, leader of the Islamic cultural association Zayd Ibn Thabit, spoke to LaPresse in response to the proposed measures.

"Banning the full veil - which is not the same as banning the veil itself - could be part of a security policy. But legislation to this effect already exists, so I wonder what the actual utility of this proposal is, even though admittedly I don't know the details," he told LaPresse.

"I am not opposed to measures that protect public safety, but I oppose any initiative that risks undermining the religious identity of a community", he said, noting: "Religious freedom guarantees everyone the right to express their faith, practices and symbols, provided they respect the laws and common values."

Italy already has a law, dating back to 1975, that prohibits complete face covering in public places, newspaper Corriere della Sera reports.

While this legislation does not directly refer to the burqa, it effectively includes any garment or accessory that makes people unidentifiable.

Photo credit: Sergey_Bogomyako / Shutterstock.com.
By Nicole McBride, PA

Five Irish activists who were held in Israel after their vessels in a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza were intercepted, have arrived back in Dublin.

The group said that they were denied access to water, medical care and legal aid after being detained while attempting to provide humanitarian support to the people of Gaza.

Five of the 15 Irish citizens who had been aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla arrived at Dublin Airport on Tuesday afternoon.

Dozens of people including family members, friends and supporters gathered at arrivals to welcome home the pro-Palestinian activists.

Comedian Tadhg Hickey said their treatment was the most inhumane that he had ever seen in his life.

Tadhg Hickey, one of the Irish citizens detained by Israel following the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Photo: Niall Carson/PA.

He said: For the crime of trying to get baby formula into a besieged population to try and feed starving babies, we were brought to effectively a terrorist prison camp, denied any access to lawyers, denied any access to doctors, to medical care.

One of us, Paddy (Kelly), a 75-year-old man, was denied access to insulin.

They never gave him his insulin over three or four days, knowing that easily he could die because of that.

We were drinking toilet water for three or four days.

Another of the group Diarmuid Mac Dubhghlais said they were treated as if they had no rights.

He said: There were Israeli dogs barking and attacking Palestinian prisoners that were treated much, much worse than us.

Whatever technology the Israelis had, disabled the electronic acceleration, so we were dead in the water.

They knew we were coming.

Global Movement to Gaza Eire, the group supporting the flotilla from Ireland, hit out at the Irish Governments inaction over the genocide in Palestine

What happened was completely illegal under international law and should never have been allowed. Niamh MacNamara

Niamh MacNamara, coordinator with Global Movement to Gaza Eire said: Our governments inaction over the genocide and ethic cleansing in Palestine has directly led to this situation, ordinary Irish citizens forced to risk their lives because leaders refused to act.

What happened was completely illegal under international law and should never have been allowed.

If Ireland had imposed sanctions on the genocidal state of Israel and upheld human rights, this mission would never have been necessary.

We demand immediate political action to protect those still sailing to Gaza and to end our complicity in this genocide.

Some of the group of 15 Irish citizens who were detained returned to Ireland on an earlier flight while more are expected to return in the early hours of Thursday.

They are Caitriona Graham, Chris Andrews, Colm Byrne, Cormac ODaly, Diarmuid MacDubhghlais, Donna Schwarz, Louise Heaney, Maureen Almai, Paddy Kelly, Patrick ODonovan, Sarah Clancy, Tadhg Hickey, Tara OGrady, Tara Sheehy, and Thomas McCune.
Funding has been secured for the implementation of a Jigsaw service in Waterford.

Government Chief Whip and Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler T.D is today announcing a Jigsaw youth mental health service for Waterford and the South-East, having secured 1m funding for the service in Budget 2026 yesterday.

Jigsaw is a national centre that offers mental health supports for young people aged 12-25.

There are Jigsaw centres located in high-population areas across Ireland, however Waterford has been left waiting, leading to increased calls for the implementation of the service.

Waterford Comhairle na nOg have strongly advocated for the service and met with Minister Butler earlier this year to discuss the need for a Jigsaw in the South East.

A premises is in the process of being secured by Waterford City & County Council for the service to be based in Waterford City with outreach to West Waterford, South Kilkenny and South Wexford.

Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler said:

I believe every young person should have access to an early intervention service for mild and moderate mental health issues. I am really pleased to have been able to secure 1m in recurring funding for the establishment of a Jigsaw youth mental health service for Waterford and South East.

Ive worked really hard over the past two years to secure the funding, the premises, and the organisation to deliver a service like this, and I want to thank Waterford Comhairle na nOg for their support and advocating to bring this service to the South East.

"Jigsaw is a really important service that can intervene in mental health issues early, helping young people to move forward and get on with their lives and fulfil their potential. This is a great day for Waterford, and for the young people of the South East.
Waterford Animal Rescue says they are rehoming some of the cats rescued from a house fire last week.

They said in a post on social media that the young kittens and their mother unfortunately did not survive.

But there was a happier ending for another rescued cat.

Following on from the house fire last week, we are only now starting to rehome the surviving cats. Unfortunately, all of the young kittens didn't make it despite of the best efforts of the vets.

However, one of the surviving cats did give birth to two lovely kittens, wrote the rescue.

The cats were rescued from a house fire on Tuesday, September 30.

Waterford Animal Rescue said they received a call from gardai to assist.

Four young adult cats and four kittens were taken to Suirside Veterinary Clinic with smoke inhalation.

The mother and one of the kittens died shortly afterwards, but it was hoped the rest could be saved.

Thank you to Suirside Veterinary Clinic for prioritising their treatment when we arrived, wrote the rescue.

Waterford Animal Welfare, based on The Quay, provides emergency response, care and advice across Munster and South Leinster, 24/7 365 days a year.

Their ethos is to protect animals from harm and exploitation and is run by a dedicated team of volunteers.
A Waterford man has launched a fundraising appeal ahead of dropping 200ft down Dublins Smithfield Tower, in support of Belong To  LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland.

Michael Craughwell will undertake his challenge on Sunday, November 2.

Mr Craughwell will join over 30 other people taking to the skies as part of the Belong To Abseil Challenge 2025, to raise much-needed funds for the charitys work with LGBTQ+ young people and their families across Ireland.

Belong To is the national youth organisation which provides services to LGBTQ+ young people and their families throughout the country including crisis counselling, family support and information services. It also works as a national network of LGBTQ+ youth groups, providing community, support and fun for LGBTQ+ youth in communities across the country.

The charity works with schools in Waterford and across Ireland through the Stand Up Awareness Week, anti-bullying campaign, to eradicate all forms of homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying, as well as running the in-depth, 18-month LGBTQ+ Quality Programme with schools and Youthreach centres to foster LGBTQ+ inclusion and wellbeing.

Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Craughwell said: When I was in secondary school, homophobia and homophobic bullying were rampant and all-pervasive. Every LGBTQ+ young person deserves to be celebrated, to be safe and to thrive."

"Thats why Im supporting Belong To and their life-changing and life-saving work to give Irelands LGBTQ+ young people the experience they deserve, at school or college, at home and beyond," he added.

Moninne Griffith, CEO of Belong To, also commented on the event and said: Were really grateful to Michael for taking this challenge on. Its no small ask, and is a real testament to their commitment to creating a better Ireland to grow up LGBTQ+."

We know through research that compared to the general youth population, LGBTQ+ youth in Ireland experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, suicide ideation and suicide attempts," said Moninne.

"But it doesnt have to be this way. At Belong To, through our work with schools, youth services and public services; our advocacy work on policy; and our campaigns around online wellbeing and mental health, we can change this. Were working hard to shape an Ireland where young LGBTQ+ people are safe to shine. This is the work that Michael is supporting and were so grateful to them, and to all who support their fundraising efforts."

Moninne also called on anyone in Waterford or elsewhere who would like to take on the challenge to visit the website to find out more and register their interest in what promises to be a thrill-seeking experience.

Donations to Michael Craughwells fundraising campaign are now open and can be made at: https://eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/MC56560018 and information on registering to take part is available at: www.belongto.org/abseil
By Stephen Nellis

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -Cisco Systems launched on Wednesday a new networking chip designed to connect artificial intelligence data centers, with the cloud computing units of Microsoft and Alibaba enrolling as the chip's customers.

The P200 chip, as Cisco calls it, will compete against rival offerings from Broadcom. It will sit at the heart of a new routing device that the company also rolled out on Wednesday and is designed to connect the sprawling data centers that are located over vast distances and which train AI systems.

Inside those data centers, companies such as Nvidia are connecting tens of thousands and eventually hundreds of thousands of powerful computing chips together to act as one brain to handle AI tasks.

The purpose of the new Cisco chip and router is to connect multiple data centers together to act as one massive computer.

"Now we're saying, 'the training job is so large, I need multiple data centers to connect together,'" Martin Lund, executive vice president of Cisco's common hardware group, told Reuters in an interview. "And they can be 1,000 miles apart."

The reason for those big distances is that data centers consume huge amounts of electricity, which has driven firms such as Oracle and OpenAI to Texas and Meta Platforms to Louisiana in search of gigawatts. AI firms are putting data centers "wherever you can get power," Lund said.

He did not disclose Cisco's investment in building the chip and router or sales expectations from them.

Cisco said the P200 chip replaces what used to take 92 separate chips with just one, and the resulting router uses 65% less power than comparable ones.

One of the key challenges is keeping data in sync across multiple data centers without losing any, which requires a technology called buffering that Cisco has worked on for decades.

The increasing scale of the cloud and AI requires faster networks with more buffering to absorb bursts" of data, Dave Maltz, corporate vice president of Azure Networking at Microsoft, said in a statement. "Were pleased to see the P200 providing innovation and more options in this space."

(Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)
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NationalCBD Tony Abbott addresses the faithful at Tory party conference Kishor Napier-Raman, Stephen Brook and Cara Waters October 8, 2025  2:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share 282 View all comments

Tony Abbott has been very busy. As CBD reported recently, the former prime minister turned industrious Substack-er is launching his new history of Australia in Melbourne next week, despite the southern citys reputation as an unsafe space for conservatives. But this week, Abbott was further north. A good deal further north, it turns out  in Manchester at the British Conservative Party conference, where he was set to address the troops in dialogue with UK shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel on Tuesday afternoon, Greenwich Mean Time. Former prime minister Tony Abbott has found jolly good chums among British conservative circles. AP As some local observers quipped, Abbotts appearance meant there were more former Australian PMs addressing the conference than former British PMs. And the Tories have plenty of those, cycling through five PMs in less than a decade  a revolving door that put the Abbott-era Liberal Party to shame. But much like Tonys Liberals, most former leaders are burdened with too much baggage to show their face at such events.

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Abbott, the perennial Anglophile, has always gotten on rather well with the British Tories. He had a close friendship with Liz Truss, who before going on to serve a disastrous 44 days in Downing Street gave Abbott a trade adviser gig, which he lost after Labour swept into power last year. Abbott also wrote a reference for Conservative opposition leader Kemi Badenoch during her push for the top job. Related Article CBD Behind the scenes at Tony Abbotts buoyant summer party Abbotts speech comes a week after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed Labours conference in Liverpool, where despite plenty of angry shrieking from Libs at home, he received a rock-star reception from his British comrades. Next to Britains Sir Keir Starmer, the countrys most unpopular PM on record with all the charisma of a toothbrush, just about anyone looks inspiring. So fresh The only people in Australia to have as disastrous an election campaign as the Liberals were the political consultants at Freshwater Strategy, who conducted the internal polling for the party that convinced enough insiders that Peter Dutton had a decent chance of winning.

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That polling turned out to be a load of garbage as Anthony Albanese won 94 seats, leaving Freshwater with egg on their faces. The upstart polling firm landed the Liberal contract when the partys long-term strategists, CT Group, stepped away. Party conservatives never quite vibed with that firms work on the Indigenous Voice to parliament Yes campaign. Now, as the Liberals figure out when and how they can potentially decouple from Freshwater, the pollster has lost another client, having been dumped by our stablemates at The Australian Financial Review. CBD hears the Fin is shifting its political polling to Redbridge and Accent Research. Redbridge, a bipartisan firm run by former Labor strategist Kos Samaras and Liberal Tony Barry, which works with largely corporate rather than political clients, had a far better campaign than Freshwater, with its polling pointing to a Labor win. After seeing what happened to Freshwater, they know exactly what the price of inaccuracy is. How Sydney won Melbourne Cup The Melbourne Cup carnival is galloping towards us, so on Tuesday, Lexus launched its marquee and menu for this years carnival in Sydney  where else?

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The luxury carmaker flew key media, its staff and the cup itself up from Melbourne for the event at Canvas restaurant at Sydneys harbourside Museum of Contemporary Art. Former MasterChef judge Melissa Leong (and proud Lexus ambassador) took a break from promoting her memoir Guts to interview chef Josh Raine about his inspiration for the marquees food offering. Raine freely admitted he used ChatGPT to help him compose the menu. Melissa Leong outside the Birdcage marquee. Justin McManus Because we view everything through the prism of interstate rivalry, CBD cheekily asked Lexus Australia chief executive John Pappas if the Sydney launch was the latest shot in the ongoing war between Racing NSW, headed by Sydney supremo Peter Vlandys, and Racing Victoria. After all, Lexus was backing up from the AFLs season launch in March at Sydneys Luna Park in March.

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However, over a lunch of kingfish sashimi and Wagyu beef with smoked eggplant, while overlooking the sails of the Sydney Opera House, Pappas assured us the bitter rivalry was nothing to do with it. To be honest, we wanted to bring the Lexus Melbourne Cup, firstly, to Sydney, he said. We wanted to be able to showcase that Josh has worked in Sydney  his restaurants are here as well. Barnett joins the bar A big shoutout to the 23 NSW barristers appointed to senior counsel last week, earning the right to add those two highly prized initials to their name, and of course, wear silk robes.

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Going places: Lyndelle Barnett. An even bigger shout-out to Lyndelle Barnett, who has been on the frontlines of some of the biggest recent courtroom battles over public interest journalism in Australia. Barnett was on the legal team for Nine, owner of this masthead, which recently successfully defended a defamation case brought by disgraced celebrity orthopaedic surgeon Munjed Al Muderis. She was also one of the barristers acting for this masthead in the landmark Federal Court victory in a defamation case brought by war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith. In that trial, the Nine team was led by Nicholas Owens, SC, who was subsequently made a Federal Court judge. That case has been quite the career-maker. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
A teenager who allegedly published Islamic State propaganda online and threatened to kill members of a Jewish congregation has been refused bail after a judge found he is a risk to the community.

The 18-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, sat with his head in his hands as Victorian Supreme Court judge Rowena Orr handed down her decision today.

He was charged in May by Australian Federal Police counter-terrorism officers with offences including publishing extremist material and using a carriage service to make a threat to kill.

Police arrested him after he allegedly sent an email under the name Adolf Hitler to the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation, claiming a shooter would attack the synagogue during Shabbat.

The same email also allegedly claimed there were explosives surrounding a secondary school, the court was told.

Its alleged that in April the teen posted an IS promotional video to Instagram, depicting several captives being executed, as well as photos of himself holding knives and machetes.

Other videos showing airstrikes on civilians and dead bodies were also allegedly found on his phone, the court was told.

Orr described the allegations as serious examples of the charged offences as she refused the teen bail.

She accepted there were exceptional reasons to release him, noting his young age, diagnosed autism and the fact he would probably spend more time on remand than any eventual sentence.

But she found the boy posed an unacceptable risk of endangering his youth justice support workers or members of the public if he were released back into the community.

Im satisfied community safety is maximised by refusing bail, the judge said.

Orr noted while the teen had no prior convictions, he did spend some time on remand and then bail after being charged by counter-terrorism police in 2021.

AAP
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NationalMissing person Former William Tyrrell investigator says SA police looking at other possibilities in disappearance of boy Hannah Hammoud October 8, 2025  12:21pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

The former lead investigator into the disappearance of NSW boy William Tyrrell believes South Australian police have learnt lessons from the high-profile case in their search for four-year-old Gus Lamont. Augustus Gus Lamont was last seen playing on a mound of dirt at his familys remote sheep station in South Australias east about 5pm on September 27. Police are scaling back their search for missing boy Gus, last seen near Yunta, South Australia. Nine News The boy was reportedly left alone for half an hour before his grandmother tried to call him inside, only to find him missing. The family spent three hours searching the property before calling police.

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State emergency services, helicopters and Aboriginal trackers then joined the search, which covered the sprawling 24,000-hectare property about 300 kilometres north of Adelaide. Despite an exhaustive search lasting 10 days, no trace of Gus has been found. Speaking on Nines Today program, former homicide detective Gary Jubelin, who led the investigation into the 2014 disappearance of three-year-old William Tyrrell in NSW, said he was heartened by signs that South Australian authorities had learnt lessons from the mistakes made in the high-profile Tyrrell case. Loading Children disappearing at that age is a rare event, he said. What police would be looking for is has the disappearance been a result of wandering off  and getting lost or is there some form of intervention involved in his disappearance.

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Its now been over 10 days. Its a remote location. It looks for all intents and purposes like an extremely thorough search, and theyve found no clues at this stage. Jubelin, reflecting on his experience with the Tyrrell case, said South Australian police appeared to be considering all possibilities. Theyre looking at all options, he said. The fact that theyre doing that, I think, [is] lessons perhaps learnt from the William Tyrrell investigation, where the whole focus was on finding the little boy lost, and an investigation wasnt started immediately. The focus [with Tyrrell] was on looking for a little boy lost, and, invariably, that ends happily, and the childs found. What Im seeing now [is]  theyre looking at the other possibilities that there was perhaps intervention.

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In 2020, Jubelin was fined $10,000 and convicted for making illegal recordings during the Tyrrell investigation. With a career spanning 25 years, he resigned from the force in 2019 after being accused of wrongdoing. Police have ruled out a boot-print that was found as subsequently not to be related to Gus. SA Police He has since become a prominent media figure with his own podcast, I Catch Killers, on which he discusses high-profile criminal cases in Australia. William Tyrrell has never been found. The search for Gus, which was centred on the family station near Yunta, was officially scaled back on Tuesday.

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A family member described Gus as a shy but adventurous child who is a good walker, though he has never ventured beyond the family property before. On Tuesday, SA Police Assistant Commissioner Ian Parrott confirmed that the search for Gus would be scaled back, with the missing persons investigation section now overseeing the investigation. In addition to the search activity there have been concurrent inquiries undertaken as a matter of course when a four-year-old child goes missing. These inquiries are continuing, he said. We are investigating and looking to rule out every option at this stage. Despite the significant resources committed to the initial search, Parrott said no tangible evidence has been found to help find Gus.

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Related Article Missing person He was alone for half an hour. Now police say theres no trace of Gus Parrott said senior police had met the boys family on Tuesday night and prepared them for the possibility that Gus may no longer be alive, considering the length of time he has been missing, his age and the rugged terrain. This assessment was based on medical evidence from a doctor who is recognised by the Australian rescue authorities as an expert opinion on time frame for survival, he said. While those involved in the search have been hoping for a miracle, over the past 48 hours, the search has shifted to a recovery operation. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Exclusive NationalNSWCrime Police probe links between alleged day care kill plot and murder of Sydney mother Sally Rawsthorne, Daniel Lo Surdo and Kayla Olaya Updated October 8, 2025  1:00pm ,first published October 8, 2025  4:16am 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

Police are investigating potential links between a Sydney woman abducted from her home and murdered earlier this year and a foiled plot to execute a man at a day care centre on Tuesday afternoon. The Herald can reveal that investigators who swooped on three alleged would-be assassins during peak hour at Revesby on Tuesday  allegedly en route to murder a fourth man  are closely examining links to the alleged kidnapping and execution of Sydney woman Thi Kim Tran in April. Loading Detectives say they narrowly stopped a murder commissioned by a Vietnamese crime syndicate, which had fallen out with an employee, and had sent three guns-for-hire to execute him at a day care centre pick-up on Tuesday afternoon. More than a decade after the Asian crime squad was dismantled in 2014, NSW Police are again focused on Vietnamese crime in Sydney after a raft of disturbing incidents, including a man being buried alive and the kidnapping and murder of a man whose body was found in the Blue Mountains.

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It is firmly back in the spotlight after Tuesdays high-profile police operation. We will allege in court the men were en route to attempt to kill a man in the vicinity of a day care centre in south-western Sydney, state crime commander Assistant Commissioner Scott Cook told reporters on Wednesday. In dramatic scenes captured on camera on The River Road, Revesby, specialist police pulled a Mitsubishi Outlander and a Mercedes over in peak-hour traffic and peppered the two vehicles with beanbag rounds  softer, usually non-fatal alternatives to bullets that still left holes in the cars windshields and door. Police arrested Greall Tighe, 18, Kevin Mundine, 19, and Tyrone Tuiluga Rio, 26, at the scene and charged them each with a raft of offences including conspiracy to commit murder.

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The trio were allegedly hired guns, police said, and had no personal connection to the intended victim, who had previously worked for the Vietnamese organised crime network. They were people who were hired by a syndicate to carry out this murder on their behalf, Cook said. Greall Tighe, one of the alleged kill team, appeared in court on Wednesday. Facebook [The victim] has links to crime and  was targeted due to what we think was a breakdown in the transnational organised crime network, Cook said. Tighe and Rio appeared briefly on Wednesday at Bankstown Local Court. Wearing a blue plastic jumpsuit and sporting a large bruise on his head, Tighe appeared briefly in the courtroom to confirm that he wanted to be represented by Sydney criminal lawyer Hisham Karnib, who also acts for Rio.

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A dozen supporters including his mother looked on as he was sent back to the cells. High-profile criminal lawyer Hisham Karnib is representing two of the men. Karnib Saddik Law Firm Both men will reappear in Burwood Local Court in December after being bail refused. Mundine will appear in Bankstown Local Court on Thursday. The syndicate has previously been involved in multiple conspiracies to murder, Cook told reporters on Wednesday. Police say that none of those conspiracies was a success.

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On Wednesday morning, Premier Chris Minns acknowledged that one of the men arrested at Revesby was already on bail for charges relating to break and enters across Sydney earlier this year. Police allege the teenager stole luxury cars and broke into a string of shops just two weeks after he turned 18. Police said that the cars pulled over on Tuesday were stolen, and the group had cloned number plates, balaclavas and jerrycans full of petrol  all hallmarks of the organised crime public-place shootings that have plagued Sydney for the past few years. Loading Investigators had been trailing the trio for a number of weeks when it became apparent that they were prepared to act on Tuesday. Police acted swiftly when it became apparent they were going to do something serious, Organised Crime Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Peter Faux said.

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The activity and the behaviour of these people, it was clear. They were driving in a car, a stolen car, cloned plates, they had balaclavas on, Faux said. Facing questions about whether police had cut it too fine by arresting the alleged hitmen en route to the job and whether the public were endangered, Cook said, They were never going to be allowed to make it to the centre. The collateral damage there would be far too great. Thi Kim Tran was kidnapped from her Bankstown home and murdered. Facebook Cook said police moved at the right moment to stop the alleged kill team, which he described as a deeply concerning scenario.

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No one was injured during the operation, and police said there was no ongoing threat to the public. The arrests were an indication that what were doing is right, Faux told reporters. Weve been looking at and targeting a number of different organised crime networks in relation to the conflict and violence which has been occurring, with a big focus on identifying those involved and stopping them before they occur. Loading We were able to not only identify that they were going to do something serious but we were fortunately in a position to react and stop that from occurring.

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Police last year seconded senior investigators to the Cabramatta police station to tackle violence around Canley Vale, Cabramatta and Bankstown that detectives say was perpetrated by Vietnamese crime gangs. Related Article Exclusive

Crime Savage attacks drag secretive crime gangs out of the shadows Their shadowy world was thrust into the spotlight earlier this year when police addressed three shocking attacks  a man shot in the head and buried alive, a father found dead in the bush after disappearing a month earlier, and the abduction and execution of Tran. They have a strong focus on loyalty in these groups  part of it is cultural, Faux told the Herald in August. But for those who breach the trust, there are very significant consequences  its violence, and no holds barred.

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It means they work very well together, and it can be challenging to police because people on the edges of these gangs dont report anything, even when they become targets. Our Breaking News Alert will notify you of significant breaking news when it happens. Get it here.
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Updated NationalVictoriaNobel Prize They said his work was a load of rubbish. Now this Melbourne professor has a Nobel Prize Liam Mannix and Hannah Hammoud Updated October 9, 2025  10:59am ,first published October 8, 2025  6:37pm 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

Melbourne professor Richard Robson has won the Nobel Prize in chemistry alongside two other scientists for his work in developing metal-organic frameworks  a remarkable new way of organising matter that has been compared to Hermione Grangers magical handbag. The frameworks can be used to turn desert air into water, separate out forever chemicals PFAS from water and suck carbon from the air. Loading Some people thought it was a whole load of rubbish, Robson, a professor at the University of Melbourne, told the Nobel organisation after finding out he had won. But it didnt turn out that way. He said he planned to celebrate modestly.

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Nobel Prize How do you win a Nobel Prize? Im now 88. The people I knew 25 or 30 years ago are all dead or close to it, like myself, he said. There are upsides and downsides [to winning the prize]. Im quite old now. Handling all the nonsense thats going to happen is going to be hard work. The Nobel Committee said Robson and the two other laureates, Japans Susumu Kitagawa, 74, and Jordanian Omar M. Yaghi, 60, have developed a new form of molecular architecture. They have created molecular constructions with large spaces through which gases and other chemicals can flow, the committee said.

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These constructions, metal-organic frameworks, can be used to harvest water from desert air, capture carbon dioxide, store toxic gases or catalyse chemical reactions. Loading It was Robson who made the first discovery in 1989, when he combined positively charged copper ions and found they formed an ordered crystal, filled with cavities. Kitagawa and Yaghi built on his work, showing gases could flow through the crystals, and that they were highly stable. The stable metal organic frameworks can be compared to the timber framework of a house. These structures can absorb and contain gases inside these frameworks, with many practical applications today, such as capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or sucking water out of dry desert air.

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Olof Ramstrom, a member of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, described the discovery as similar to Hermione Grangers enchanted handbag in the fictional Harry Potter series: small on the outside but very large on the inside. Robson described himself as a classic lone chemist, an obsessive individual, neglecting other responsibilities. He said he would have preferred a career in mathematics and felt second-rate as a chemist. Melbourne professor Richard Robson said he planned to celebrate modestly after winning the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. Melbourne University The idea came to him, he told the Nobel organisation, while he was building models of molecules using wooden balls and metal rods. What if he built a structure where organic molecules connected metallic ones? Robson then sat on the idea for 10 years, always thinking, I really ought to do something with that.

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For years, Stuart Batten has eagerly tuned into the Nobel Prize announcements, hoping to see Robson, his former PhD supervisor, recognised for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of chemistry. On Wednesday night, that long-awaited moment finally arrived. University of Melbourne PhD student Stuart Batten, right, with his supervisor and now Nobel Prize winner Richard Robson in 1996. As soon as they started reading out the names, it got very exciting, very quickly, Batten said. Richard is a very humble, unassuming scientist, and hes not a great self-publicist. He prefers to sort of let his research do the talking. So hes often  particularly by people whove entered the field in more recent years  not well recognised by many working in the field.

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Batten said Robson was pivotal in creating an entirely new area of study in chemistry. It was just really satisfying that the [Nobel Prize] committee had obviously done their due diligence and searched through the history of the field properly and where it really started, he said. During his PhD at the University of Melbourne in the late 1990s, Batten worked closely with his two supervisors, Robson and Bernard Hoskins, describing his time under their mentorship as wonderful. At the time, we thought we were doing something interesting, but if youd have told me what the field has become, it would have blown my mind, he said. Richards real genius is to think of things really simply but in a way that people havent [done] before. And then as soon as he says it out loud or demonstrates what hes thinking, its immediately obvious, and you wonder why you hadnt thought of it already.

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Batten said that at the time, their research group was essentially the only one in the world pursuing these ideas. Related Article The Verdict Who is that?: How the Nobel Prize became a literary joke One of the great pleasures of my own career is literally watching the birth and the creation of a whole new field of chemistry, essentially from a front-row seat. The first Nobel Prize of 2025 was announced on Monday, awarding Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Dr Shimon Sakaguchi the prize in medicine for their discoveries in peripheral immune tolerance. Tuesdays physics prize went to John Clarke, Michel H. Devoret and John M. Martinis for their research in subatomic quantum tunnelling that advances the power of everyday digital communications and computing. The literature prize will be announced on Thursday night before the Nobel Peace Prize is announced on Friday.

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With AP The Examine newsletter explains and analyses science with a rigorous focus on the evidence. Sign up to get it each week.
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Exclusive PoliticsFederalHousing crisis Labors housing agenda in crisis amid complaints, resignations Paul Sakkal October 9, 2025  2:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Resignations and bullying accusations have plagued the executive ranks of Housing Australia, with a senior whistleblower writing to Housing Minister Clare ONeil to say the agencys ability to deliver Labors multibillion-dollar home-building agenda had been seriously compromised. Housing Australia chair Carol Austin was last year subjected to a Treasury probe into claims about her alleged behaviour towards senior executives, the outcome of which has been blocked from public release through freedom of information laws. Housing Minister Clare ONeil in question time this week. Dominic Lorrimer However, this masthead was briefed on the outcomes of the probe on Wednesday: it found no formal breach of codes of conduct but did find concerning organisational challenges, which led in part to hiring a new chief executive and new processes in the organisation. A document from the review seen by this masthead shows Austin was accused by executives of a series of actions including rolling her eyes, interrupting people, bringing colleagues to tears and labelling ideas stupid without basis.

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The agencys former general counsel and board secretary Rod Saville said Austins alleged behaviour had led to the departure of six of the eight top executives  including himself  over a 12-month period. Housing Australia chair Carol Austin. LinkedIn Saville, a veteran general counsel at organisations such as Westpac and Optus, resigned from his position with the agency in 2024. In a letter to ONeil in August 2024, Saville wrote that he had never worked with anyone who treated people the way Austin did. It became apparent very quickly to me and other senior executives in the organisation that Ms Austin had very little, if any, experience or understanding of housing issues in Australia, let alone social and affordable housing, he wrote in the letter.

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A good chair, like a government minister, can call on relevant expertise to upskill themselves for their portfolio. Ms Austin, however, unlike Housing Australias two previous chairs, seemed to me and other senior executives to have no interest in hearing from the senior executives about housing issues or indeed what Housing Australia was established by government to achieve. She also had little or no understanding of the boards role. In the chairs meetings with me and other senior executives her attitude came across as one of disdain, if not contempt, for the executive team. In a separate statement to this masthead this week to back up his letter, Saville claimed Austin frequently cross-examined senior execs at board meetings and in some cases, notably a senior female executive, [brought them] to tears and eventually to leave the organisation. Whenever an exec tried to tell her why something was being done the way it was, she would disparage that exec and tell them she didnt care what had been done before or why. A spokeswoman for Housing Australia responded to detailed allegations from Saville, put to the agency by this masthead, by saying that the allegations had been examined.

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Related Article Renting Terrible effect: Sydney unit rents hit a record high $750 a week Housing Australia understands this matter was investigated and no breach of the code of conduct was identified, the statement said. This masthead was assured by the agency that Austin was alerted to this mastheads questions. ONeils office declined to comment. ONeil was appointed housing minister in mid-2024, after the Treasury probe was launched in December 2023, when Julie Collins was the minister. The crisis at the top of the organisation, Saville argued, was thwarting Labors housing agenda, which is key to maintaining voters trust as the Albanese government has pledged to reverse decades of poor housing policy. Labor spent billions at the election on what it said was the biggest post-war housing agenda, including a 5 per cent mortgage deposit scheme, billions of dollars of payments to states to build homes, and the $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, which uses earnings on interest to fund affordable housing projects. Despite the spending, Treasury has warned that the government is unlikely to meet its target for the nation to build 1.2 million homes by the end of the decade.

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It is exacerbated by the fact that most of the senior executives have left, so theres no knowledge of how the organisation should function. And this is reflected in the poor conversion rate for HAFF, Saville told this masthead. Related Article Property development Green tape for housing approvals slashed as federal government races to meet target The ABC reported on Sunday that Labors signature housing program was struggling to get off the ground. The ABC also reported this year that a Treasury briefing to ONeil, who became housing minister in mid-2024, outlined problems with Housing Australias speed and capability. Saville was general counsel, board secretary and chief risk officer at Housing Australia from 2022-24. Austin is a long-time board director at organisations including the Future Fund, the Grattan Institute and HSBC Bank.

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Opposition housing spokesman Andrew Bragg, whose party held up the HAFF last term, said ONeils agency was an incompetent hellhole. Labors built bureaucracy, not houses, over the past few years, he said. It is emblematic of Labors failure on housing supply. HAs mess was all frankly predictable because the national government shouldnt be doing all these things. It shouldnt be buying houses, it shouldnt be granting billions of dollars, and it shouldnt be insuring the children of billionaires mortgages. Its pink batts 2.0, he said, referring to the failed home insulation scheme introduced under then-prime minister Kevin Rudd in 2009. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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PoliticsFederalAged care Opinion To attract the aged care workers we need, Australia must do something radical Cassandra Winzar Contributor | Senior Economist at CEDA October 8, 2025  2:00am

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If you or a loved one needs aged care right now, youll know its a time of great uncertainty in a system already complicated to navigate. Aged care reforms starting next month will bring sweeping changes, including how  and how much  older Australians are expected to pay for their care. The changes are designed to put the system on a more sustainable footing and enable more of us to age in our own homes. Illustration: Simon Letch While concerns about how the new system will work are understandable, we wont be able to meet the demand for care without increasing the aged care workforce. This tension is laid bare in the aged care Senate inquiry report released last week, which calls for a shift to a demand-driven system, as also recommended by the aged care royal commission.

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Such a shift would be impossible given Australia has a chronic shortage of aged care workers. In 2021, we found Australia would need at least 400,000 additional workers across residential and in-home aged care by 2050. There is little sign of a change to this trajectory. Its clear that the community wants more  and better quality  care for older Australians. Most of us also prefer to age in our own homes rather than in residential care. We cannot meet this expectation without a larger workforce. Demand for care and carers will continue to grow as the population ages. We estimate around 2.5 million people aged 65 and over will require some form of care by then, up from 1.5 million now. To address this shortage, the federal government should introduce a new visa for aged care workers. The aged care occupations facing the most severe shortages do not qualify for other skilled migration visas as their annual salary is below the minimum rate, which is around $76,000.

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As a result, the government is relying on labour agreements to meet the shortfall. These agreements were meant to help bring in qualified workers from overseas. But just over 2400 temporary migrants were sponsored under all labour agreements in the sector at the end of June. Related Article Opinion

Aged care Unless this one thing changes, many wont be able to afford aged care Rachel Lane Money contributor That means less than 4 per cent of the temporary migrants in these occupations are in Australia on a labour agreement. Its also less than 1 per cent of all personal care workers in aged care. Meanwhile, 90 per cent of visas under the scheme are going to migrants already in Australia. Most temporary migrants working in aged care arrived on student, partner or working holiday visas. While we welcome anyone who is motivated and genuinely wants to work in aged care, we really need to focus on bringing in qualified, experienced aged care workers  people who can bring their skills and are job-ready in this field.

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Bringing in qualified workers alongside new entrants should help to improve the quality of care, as well as the training those new entrants receive. Aged care has traditionally relied heavily on migrant workers. We estimate that around 70,000  or one in six  personal care workers are on temporary visas. This is a conservative estimate. Where there are genuine shortages of workers, as is clearly the case in aged care, the system should enable more streamlined and targeted migration. The government acknowledged this in its Migration Strategy. It committed to explore an essential skills visa pathway for lower-wage migrant workers in sectors facing chronic shortages such as aged care. Two years later, theres been little progress. Aged care providers are using the agreements to hold on to existing staff rather than increase their workforce. Thats because the agreements require lengthy negotiations, processes that vary between states and high visa costs. Some providers report negotiations taking more than 12 months. Even labour market testing, supposedly simplified for the agreements, remains an unnecessary burden. Given the chronic shortage of Australian workers in aged care, requiring employers to advertise positions for four weeks before sponsoring a migrant is tokenistic at best.

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Under our plan, an essential skills visa would provide a direct, streamlined process available to all aged care providers. No complex negotiations, no inconsistent state-by-state requirements, no year-long waits. Related Article Healthcare States threaten to hold up federal funding deal, as aged care patients languish in hospitals The goal is not just to increase the number of workers, but also their level of skill and experience. Providers would use an online matching system to access a pool of qualified migrants who have demonstrated relevant experience, appropriate qualifications and English proficiency. Processing would be fast-tracked, recognising the immediate need. Workers would have genuine mobility and be able to change employers in the sector without restriction. Critically, labour market testing should be abolished for these occupations. We know theres a shortage  thats why were having this conversation.

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Regular evaluation every three to five years would assess whether the visa was effective and ensure it was not suppressing wages or discouraging training of local workers. This isnt about choosing migration over Australian workers. We must continue to grow the pipeline of Australian aged care workers through better pay, conditions and training. Recent wage increases are a start, but providers have told us its helped them to keep their existing staff rather than attracting new workers. There simply arent enough Australians available to do this work to meet the demand. We need to pull every lever: training more Australians, improved conditions, new technology, and yes, migration. Given the size of the challenge, no single approach will be enough. And more delay just means more older Australians will miss out on the care they need.

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Cassandra Winzar is chief economist of CEDA, the Committee for Economic Development of Australia. Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
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TechnologyCybersecurity Qantas among 40 companies caught up in major extortion attempt by hackers David Swan and Chris Zappone October 8, 2025  10:58am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

Airline giant Qantas is bracing for the fallout from a massive cyberattack that has swept up nearly 40 major corporations as hackers threaten to leak sensitive passenger data unless ransoms are paid by Friday. Hacker collective Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters claims to have stolen almost 1 billion records by targeting customers of cloud technology giant Salesforce. Their weapon of choice is vishing, or voice phishing, hackers posing as legitimate employees and calling company IT helpdesks, convincing unsuspecting staff to grant them access. The group has given high-profile companies including Qantas, Toyota, Disney and Ikea just days to begin ransom negotiations. The data stolen from the range of companies reportedly includes customer dates of birth, passport numbers and purchase histories collected between April 2024 and September 2025. No Qantas customer passport numbers or financial details were stolen. The ransomware group has given high-profile companies including Qantas, Toyota, Disney and Ikea just days to begin ransom negotiations. Oscar Colman Australias top cyber cop, Cyber Security Coordinator Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness, confirmed at Senate estimates on Wednesday that the hack included the home addresses and phone numbers of several high office holders. Almost all federal MPs have Chairmans Club memberships with Qantas.

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Tripologist Your frequent flyer account is taking another hit Michael Gebicki The Tripologist Qantas said it was aware of a post that contains samples of data stolen from itself and about 40 other companies. The airline says it is actively monitoring the situation with the help of specialist cybersecurity experts. Ensuring continued vigilance and providing ongoing support for our customers remain our top priorities, the airline said. We continue to offer a 24/7 support line and specialist identity protection advice to affected customers. We have also put in place additional security measures, increased training across our teams and strengthened system monitoring and detection since the incident occurred, Qantas said.

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The saga for Qantas began on June 30, when cyber-criminals accessed nearly 6 million customer accounts through a third-party vendor at a Qantas call centre in Manila. A week later, Qantas was approached by what it labelled a potential cybercriminal. The airline later confirmed that 5.7 million customers had their information accessed, including name, phone numbers, business phone numbers, addresses and even the food preferences of thousands of travellers. It revealed later that the majority of a subset of 2.8 million customer records had frequent flyer information, including the level of Qantas membership accessed. Rather than directly hacking Salesforces systems  which remain secure  the hackers exploited the human element. Using voice phishing calls, they convinced IT helpdesk staff to install what appeared to be legitimate software: a modified version of Salesforces Data Loader tool, which is normally used to bulk-import data. Once installed, this Trojan horse gave hackers unfettered access to customer databases. Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson. Oscar Colman

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The Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters collective has already claimed responsibility for earlier attacks on British retailers including Marks & Spencer, Co-op and Jaguar Land Rover. Security researchers at Googles Threat Intelligence Group warn the group has proven particularly effective at tricking employees. The hackers technical infrastructure suggests ties to The Com  a loosely organised cybercriminal ecosystem comprising small, disparate groups known for increasingly brazen attacks and, in some cases, violent activity. British police arrested four suspects under 21 in July following the breaches targeting UK retailers. Related Article Cybersecurity Cyberattack disrupts operations at European airports including Heathrow, Brussels Salesforce has told its clients it wont pay the ransom. I can confirm Salesforce will not engage, negotiate with, or pay any extortion demand, a company spokesman told this masthead. Sophos security researcher Aiden Sinnott warns the groups October 10 deadline should be taken seriously. A lot of what they post is intentional misinformation and trolling, he said. But they arent averse to leaking huge amounts of data.

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This comes at a sensitive time for the airline, given the prominent role its lounges have in catering to influential politicians, judges and policymakers. Qantas has pursued a legal strategy of trying to minimise the legal public disclosure of the personal details of the affected customers, including the status as members of Qantas loyalty programs. On October 2, Qantas received final orders from the NSW Supreme Court on an injunction against the hacking group, even though the exact details of their identity were unclear. This legal strategy, while protecting the identity of victims, prevents media, social media and other lawful entities from publishing the sensitive information, even as it may be sold on the dark web to criminals. The NSW judge suppressed the names of a Qantas expert, and the lawyers and barristers representing the airline in court, according to AAP.

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The stolen data reportedly includes customer dates of birth, passport numbers and purchase histories. Bloomberg Clayton Utz partner James Neil said Qantas injunction is an example of where litigation can be used to indirectly target parties, in this case primarily media and social media platforms. Related Article Updated

Cybersecurity Qantas hack includes Chairmans Lounge membership data I dont think their main concern though is nefarious actors working through the dark web. It really is the larger organisations who might have a broader reach in publishing information. The airline, in a period of rebuilding public trust under CEO Vanessa Hudson, has taken pains to show it takes customer privacy seriously.

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Hudsons 2025 annual bonus was cut by 15 percentage points in September as a result of the impact the cyber incident had on customers. This reflects their shared accountability while acknowledging the ongoing efforts to support customers and put in place additional protections for customers, said chairman John Mullen. Hudsons short-term incentive plan was cut by $250,000, with $550,000 cut for all other executives. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
This story was originally published on Banking Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Banking Dive newsletter.

Grupo Mexico, the mining and transportation conglomerate that once was considered a front-runner to buy Banamex from Citi, has made the bank a fresh offer, according to a securities filing Friday seen by Reuters and Bloomberg.

The conglomerate, controlled by Mexican billionaire German Larrea, would buy 25% of Banamex at 85% of its book value, and the remaining 75% at 80% of book value, the wire services reported. That would value the total bid at around $9.3 billion.

The 85% figure appears to be an attempt to outbid fellow Mexican billionaire Fernando Chico Pardo, who last month offered to buy 25% of Banamex at 80% of book value, or roughly $2.3 billion.

Grupo Mexico said that while it intended to purchase all of Banamex, it would allow Chico Pardo to keep his 25% stake if he wanted, and the mining conglomerate would shrink its bid to 75% of Banamex at 80% of book value.

Citi, meanwhile, said Friday it had not yet formally received the Grupo Mexico bid.

If an offer is presented by Grupo Mexico, we will of course review it in a responsible manner and consider, among other risk factors, the ability to obtain required regulatory approvals and the certainty of closing a proposed transaction, the bank said in a statement.

The Chico Pardo bid  combined with an initial public offering  continues to be our preferred path, Citi said.

We remain committed to realizing the full value of Banamex for our shareholders, the bank said.

Wells Fargo analyst Mike Mayo last month said the Chico Pardo bid gives clarity on how much a full divestiture [of Banamex by Citi] could raise: If the rest of Banamex were to go for the same price as the initial 25%, Citi would fetch $9.1 billion for its Mexico retail presence. Thats more than 25% less than the $12.5 billion Citi paid for Banamex in 2001.

In its filing Friday, Grupo Mexico said safeguarding Banamex's workforce would be among its priorities.

Chico Pardo last month made much the same pledge.

We firmly believe that Banamex and its talented and experienced team will continue to be a fundamental pillar supporting Mexico, its companies and its families, Chico Pardo said.

Grupo Mexico said one aim of the Banamex bid is to significantly boost[] access to credit for families and businesses in our country.

Grupo Mexico in 2023 secured a $5 billion debt package tied to its proposed acquisition of Banamex. That deal would have valued Citis Mexico retail footprint at between $7 billion and $8 billion.
In Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Yuval Miranda and Katya Emelianova cry as they embrace at a memorial marking the two-year anniversary of the deadly October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

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Kfar Aza, Israel: Displaced residents of this farming community gathered before the sun rose on Tuesday to honour relatives killed two years ago here in the Hamas-led attacks, to reflect on what has since become of Israel, to commemorate a terrible day in rituals marred by the irrepressible sounds of war. Sirens, at one point, warned of another attack  at least one of them a false alarm. Another siren marked the anniversary of the day when about 1200 people were killed during the cross-border assault. And throughout the morning, there were the booms and thuds of artillery and airstrikes landing a few miles away in Gaza, its brutalised residents desperate for it all to stop. This year, Israels government elected not to hold a state ceremony on October 7, because it coincided with the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. But many gathered anyhow, in the border communities that were attacked, and in the squares in Israeli cities that have become sites of solidarity and protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his failure to end the war and free hostages held by Hamas. People attend a memorial service in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, where many community members were killed and abducted in the 2023 Hamas attack. AP If Tuesdays anniversary offered a clarion call, it was this: people on both sides of the border, in Israel and Gaza, saying enough was enough. Two years of war is something terrible, terrible, terrible, said Pnina Russo, whose son Uri, an engineer, was killed while defending Kfar Aza during the attack in 2023.

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Yareen Abu Naja, 44, who spent Tuesday as she did every day in Gaza, scrambling for food for her family, said, enough of this injustice and indignity  enough of this war, her voice cracking. The last two years in Gaza  with tens of thousands of people killed during the Israeli military campaign, and entire neighbourhoods levelled  had passed as if they are 100 years, Abu Naja said. The backdrop to Tuesdays commemorations are negotiations to end the war in Gaza, under way in Egypt. In Israel, Netanyahu faces pressure from opposing sides: Most Israelis would like to end the war, according to recent polls, and protesters regularly march to call for a hostage deal, while far-right members of his governing coalition have threatened to bring down the government if Israel agrees to a peace deal. Loading Netanyahu is also facing a reckoning from abroad, as Israel grows more isolated. The countrys allies and neighbours are pushing for the kind of permanent resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict  a pathway toward a Palestinian state  that Netanyahu has opposed. And a growing number of academics and human rights organisations say Israels military campaign in Gaza meets the legal definition of genocide, adding to pressure for its immediate end. Hamas, in recent days, said it would accept US President Donald Trumps 20-point peace plan and release all Israeli hostages it was holding, subject to conditions and further talks.

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In Kfar Aza, once a town of 400 people and among the closest to the Gaza border, Russo remembered her son Uri as beautiful, smart  really, a wonderful person. I miss him very much, she said. But she was heartbroken, too, at the continuation of the war, not just the fighting in Gaza, but at the divisions in her own country over the conflict  the situation between the people, Russo said. It has to change. I think about the children in Gaza; they are inside all this mess, she said. Really, its hard for the mother in us. Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike in Gaza  not far from Kibbutz Kfar Aza  on Tuesday. Bloomberg She did not know whether to place her faith in Trump. He was not the person to trust with peace, but on the other hand, Trump had the power to move Netanyahu, who has frequently indicated his preference for continuing the war. You have to be optimistic, Russo said. To continue to believe it will change.

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In Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Rotem Cooper, 59, signalled hope in the negotiations taking place in Egypts Sharm el-Sheikh, with reservations. His parents, Nurit and Amiram, were taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz in the October 2023 attack. Nurit, his mother, was released after 17 days; Israels army said in June 2024 that Amiram had been killed in captivity. Weve been in that road of false hope, many times, Rotem said. Im trying to be very careful to raise hopes again, although it is looking more promising, he added, saying that he was appreciative of Trumps ceasefire efforts. A woman walks through memorial of the slain and kidnapped at the site of the Nova Festival in Israel. Getty Images His own government was not exactly interested, or at least there is an element in the government, including the prime minister, that is not truly interested, in the release of the hostages, he said. They prefer to continue the war, and having the hostages there is a great reason to continue the war. In Dizengoff Square, another memorial site about half a mile away, Naama Lazimi, an opposition member of parliament and one of the governments most outspoken critics, said the fact that the hostages had not yet been released  and that there had been no government commission of inquiry into the October 7 attack  was a moral disgrace for the state, for a society. Regarding the negotiations to end the war, people here are full of hope. But the governments priority was political survival, and it will do everything to sabotage the deal, she said.

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The Trump administration is working to bring Israeli citizens back to recovery and for burial, while the Israeli government is working to sabotage it. Its a sick situation that harms us as a society and as a nation, she said. For Iman Al- Ijla, 23, who was staying with family friends west of Gaza City during an Israeli military offensive there, October 7 was a painful and heartbreaking memory. Related Article Israeli-Palestinian conflict Two years after the October 7 attack, Israel is at war with itself Weve been displaced for two years now and constantly on the move every single day, with no electricity, no internet and no real sense of normal life all this time. Life had been long days and longer nights, she said. Dozens of her family members and friends had been killed over the past two years. They included 20 relatives killed in an Israeli airstrike on their home in southern Gaza in the summer of 2024. They were innocent people, with no connection to the resistance, she said. Still, Im holding on to hope about the talks in Egypt this time. This has to end. Enough is enough. Yamen Adwan, 26, who is living in a displacement camp in Khan Younis, said there was nothing left of his old life after two years of war. Israeli forces destroyed his home in the city of Rafah. He lost his job as a nurse as the health care system collapsed. Three of his closest friends have been killed.

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Citizens Financial Group named Ted Swimmer head of commercial banking Tuesday, effective immediately.

Swimmer, who was most recently head of capital markets and advisory for the commercial bank, will succeed Don McCree, who held the role for 10 years. McCree will chair the banks commercial-banking arm until he retires in March 2026.

Swimmer joined the Rhode Island-based lender in 2010 after holding a variety of senior posts at Wachovia Securities, including leading its leveraged finance activities. He was named to Citizens executive committee in 2018.

Working closely with Don, Ted has built a strong Capital Markets and Advisory business that provides clients with excellent ideas, advice and solutions, Citizens CEO Bruce Van Saun said in a prepared statement.

He is a highly capable leader who has attracted great talent to Citizens, Van Saun said of Swimmer. I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to grow the Commercial Bank and take it to an even higher level.

McCrees 10 years at Citizens were preceded by 31 at JPMorgan Chase, in roles including co-head of corporate and investment banking and CEO of global treasury services.

Van Saun credited McCree with building one of the best-positioned commercial banks: one with the scale to compete with larger institutions while also delivering personalized advice, solutions and service to clients at every stage of their business life cycle.

In July, McCree said the bank had the largest M&A pipeline its ever had, with several transactions straddling the second and third quarter in terms of deal closure.

Its immune to some of the bigger challenges because its handling smaller, middle-market transactions, which tend to get less attention, so theres a little more certainty there, he said at the time.

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PRINCETON, Texas, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AidenAI, a leading provider of AI-driven digital acceleration solutions, has been named among the HFS Hot Tech Vendors 2025 by the global analyst firm HFS Research. This recognition positions AidenAI among an exclusive group of emerging technology leaders reshaping the future of services-as-software, AI-led modernization, and intelligent digital execution.

"AidenAI's recognition by HFS underscores the progress we've made in delivering structured, scalable, and industry-aligned digital transformation solutions," said Srinivas Kamadi, CEO of AidenAI. "Our platform-led approach, combined with strong ecosystem collaboration, continues to accelerate our clients' transformation agendas."

The HFS Hot Tech Program recognizes high-growth, high-potential technology vendors that meet HFS's rigorous five-point criteria:

Unique and differentiated value proposition

Proven client impact and innovation outcomes

Scalable and mature ecosystem partnerships

Alignment with the HFS Technology Vision

Clear momentum toward market disruption

Unique and differentiated value proposition

AidenAI earned its place on the list for its Digital Acceleration Platform (AiDAP), which orchestrates agentic AI across the entire transformation lifecyclefrom discovery to production. The platform integrates:

Automation agents for modernization and technical debt reduction

AI-led tools for experience design, validation, and migration

Industry-ready AI solutions for the insurance value chain

Strategic collaborations with platform providers like Unqork, InsureMO, Sirion, and Boomi

Proven client impact and innovation outcomes

AidenAI has delivered tangible outcomes for some of the world's largest insurance and financial services providers. The company is recognized for its:

Deep domain expertise

Custom-built AI platforms

Collaborative approach to navigating complex digital requirements

AidenAI has more than doubled its workforcefrom 180 in 2023 to nearly 400 todayand is expanding its footprint in the United Kingdom and other key geographies. The company is placing a strategic focus on small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) that require faster implementation cycles and high-impact outcomes.

Scalable and mature ecosystem partnerships

With sustained investments in AI labs, product engineering, low-code/no-code (LCNC) services, and consulting-led delivery, AidenAI is well positioned to help clients accelerate AI adoption across every layer of their enterprise.

"AidenAI's strength lies in its strategic collaborations with multiple industry providers. These partnerships enable scalable, modular, industry-ready accelerators that drastically reduce deployment timelines and risk for our clients," said Vinay Kumar, Global Business Head at AidenAI.

Visit www.aidenai.com to know more about the company offerings.

AidenAI delivers AI-powered, low code digital services to help large enterprises get more value faster from their digital transformation. The AidenAI Digital Acceleration Platform empowers us to deliver on this promise. It enables us to amplify enterprise potential by accelerating the design, development, and modernization of digital landscapes for the businesses we serve. We help them build an AI-core, empower agile operations with digital, and sustain it all with expertise driven by lifelong learning. We are fully committed to being an inclusive workplace where diverse talent thrives. Visit www.aidenai.com to see how AidenAI can amplify your enterprise potential.

We are a US based AI start-up with offices in 5 countries - US, Canada, Australia, India and UK and work across 30+ clients with over 400 consultants.

Contact:

Name: Aashi Jain

Email: [email protected]

Designation: Associate

SOURCE AidenAI
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP)  A Navajo tribe-owned company bid $186,000 to lease 167 million tons of coal on federal lands in southeastern Montana on Monday in the biggest U.S. coal sale in more than a decade.

The offer from the Navajo Transitional Energy Co. (NTEC) equates to one-tenth of a penny per ton, underscoring coal's diminished value even as President Donald Trump pushes to mine and burn more of the heavily polluting fuel.

Federal officials did not immediately say if they would accept the offer. It was the only bid received. Two NTEC representatives attended the sale at the Bureau of Land Management local office in Billings, Montana. They declined to comment after it was over.

At the last successful government lease sale in the region, a subsidiary of Peabody Energy paid $793 million, or $1.10 per ton, for 721 million tons of coal in Wyoming.

It's uncertain how much demand there will be for the coal offered Monday next to NTEC's Spring Creek mine near Decker, Montana. The five power plants using fuel from Spring Creek mine are scheduled to stop burning coal in the next decade, according to an analysis by The Associated Press.

The lease is in the Powder River Basin, the most productive coal fields in the nation. Officials under the Democratic administration of then-President Joe Biden banned sales from the region because of coal's contribution to climate change but Republicans are attempting to reverse that decision.

NTEC argued in favor of a low market value for coal in the lease area, pointing to government studies that predict coal markets will decline significantly over the next two decades as fewer utilities buy the fuel.

The company bid $147 per acre for tracts of land totaling 1,262 acres (510 hectares). Another sale is planned Wednesday in central Wyoming, where the government is offering 440 million tons of coal next to NTECs Antelope Mine.

The sales are going forward despite the government shutdown because the Trump administration did not furlough workers responsible for reviewing fossil fuel projects.

Many coal plants have been retired over the past two decades as utilities favored power from natural gas and renewable sources such as wind and solar energy.

Selling new coal leases does not necessarily mean the tracts will be mined, said James Stock, a Harvard University economist and former member of the White House Council on Economic Advisers under President Barack Obama.

Despite Trumps declaration of an energy emergency and his calls to expand mining and burning of coal, Stock said it's unlikely any new coal plants will be built. That means much of the coal that's being sold under Trump is unlikely to ever be mined, he said.
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FILE - The TikTok app logo is shown on an iPhone on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
DoorDash (DASH) has entered the autonomous delivery race with Dot, a compact robot designed to navigate streets, bike lanes, and sidewalks at speeds up to 20 mph. The delivery giant developed this delivery drone in-house, through its DoorDash Labs division. This marks its first standalone push into robotics after previous experiments with drones and partnerships with companies like Coco Robotics.

Dot can carry up to 30 pounds, roughly equivalent to six pizza boxes, and utilizes eight cameras, plus three lidar sensors, to handle challenging scenarios such as crowded parking lots and blocked bike lanes. The company is initially testing the robot in Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona, with plans to expand to other cities later.

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DoorDash also unveiled its Autonomous Delivery Platform, which acts as an artificial intelligence (AI) dispatcher to match orders with the best delivery method, whether that's a human Dasher or a robot.

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DoorDash insists that Dashers will continue to handle the majority of deliveries, with autonomous options filling gaps during peak times or late-night shifts. The company also introduced SmartScale, a weighing feature that has cut missing item complaints by up to 30% in testing.

Autonomous delivery remains expensive and operationally complex, with regulatory hurdles in many markets. Competitors like Uber (UBER) are pursuing similar strategies through partnerships rather than building their own in-house capabilities. For investors, DASH stock may benefit if Dot improves its margins and delivery efficiency; however, the technology is still early and unproven at scale.

DoorDash Continues to Expand Its Ecosystem

In the last month, DoorDash made several announcements that could reshape its competitive position and revenue mix. In October, DoorDash completed the acquisition of Deliveroo, a leading European food delivery platform. The all-cash deal strengthens DoorDash's international footprint and positions it as a more formidable global player in the local commerce space.

Deliveroo will continue operating independently while gaining access to DoorDash's scale and resources. DoorDash has launched Going Out, a new feature that allows users to book restaurant reservations directly through its app with no cover fees. The service integrates with SevenRooms and rewards customers with credits toward future orders for every booking.
NEW ORLEANS, La.  This Fire Prevention Week, theres a sobering message from the American Red Cross of Louisiana: home fire deaths are on the rise across the state.

This year, the state has lost more lives to home fires than in all of 2024. Officials say this isn't just a statistic; it's a stark reminder that preparing for a home fire could save your family's lives.

"Home fires can occur at a moments notice," explains Kenneth St. Charles, American Red Cross of Louisiana CEO. "The sooner an alarm alerts you, the sooner you can get out. With this tragic rise in deaths, were asking every household to take these simple, yet critical, steps: test your smoke alarms, practice your escape plan, and ensure youre heating your home safely as colder weather approaches."

The Red Cross is often the first on the scene after disaster strikes, and home fires make up the vast majority of the 65,000 emergencies they respond to each year. In Louisiana alone, Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers have already assisted over 3,000 individuals across more than 920 home fires this year, offering crucial emotional support and financial aid.

Your family's lifeline: The 2-minute drill

When a fire erupts, you might have less than two minutes to get to safety. Knowing what to do ahead of time is vital.

Plan your escape: Everyone should know at least two ways out of every room.

Stay low, go fast: Smoke is dangerous; crawl low to the ground to avoid it.

Pick a meeting spot: Choose a safe place outside your home where everyone will gather  like a neighbors house or a specific tree.

Once out, stay out: Never go back inside for anything or anyone. Let firefighters handle it.

Practice, practice, practice: Time your family drill. Can everyone get out in under two minutes?

Educate children: Help kids recognize the sound of a smoke alarm and understand what to do.

Smoke alarms: Your first line of defense

Placement is key: Install alarms on every level of your home, inside and outside bedrooms.

Test monthly, change annually: Test your alarms every month. Replace batteries once a year (if not sealed 10-year units).

Know their age: Smoke alarms have an expiration date! If yours are 10 years or older, they need to be replaced. The sensor weakens over time.

How you can help or get help:

Need free smoke alarms? Visit soundthealarm.org/Louisiana for a free home fire safety visit and installation.

Become a volunteer hero: The Disaster Action Team volunteers make a real difference in people's worst moments. Learn more: redcross.org/DAT.

Support the mission: Donations keep our services free for those in need. Give at SoundTheAlarm.org or text HOMEFIRE to 90999 for a $10 donation.

Since 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign has been a beacon of hope, saving over 2,479 lives nationwide through education, planning, and free smoke alarm installations. Learn more and get involved: redcross.org/homefires.
Cnoc na nOg, Irelands first wheelchair accessible outdoor pre-school, was officially opened at Saints Peter and Paul National School in the Land League village of Straide last week.

Minister Dara Calleary performed the official opening while Fr Stephen O'Mahony blessed the facility.

The air was filled with excitement and joy as children from the pre-school showcased their talents by reciting a heartfelt poem that they composed themselves. Their performance, accompanied by instruments, captivated the audience and set a vibrant tone for the day.

Cnoc na nOg aims to create an inclusive environment where every child, regardless of their abilities, can engage naturally with nature and one another. The pre-school has undertaken significant efforts to provide essential therapies onsite, including occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, made possible through funding. This initiative ensures that all children can avail of the support where needed for their developmental journey.

Principal Caithriona Murrihy expressed her gratitude to all those who have supported the project, highlighting the communitys dedication to fostering an inclusive atmosphere for learning and growth. She specifically thanked the school's board of management and staff.

Notable guests included Minister of State Alan Dillon TD, Rose Conway-Walsh TD, Senator Mark Duffy, Cllr Al McDonald, and Laura Mulready from Mayo County Childcare, who all emphasised the importance of accessibility and inclusion in educational settings.

The pre-school manager, Bronwyn Conway, reflected on the journey of creating Cnoc na nOg.

We are a pre-school for all. This space is dedicated to inclusion, allowing children to explore and learn without limitations. We are thrilled to see our vision come to life.

As part of the celebration, refreshments were generously served by the parents of the national school, adding a warm and welcoming touch to the event. The community of parents, staff, and children gathered to celebrate this momentous occasion, emphasising the shared mission of nurturing a supportive environment for every young learner.

Cnoc na nOg is set to be a beacon of hope and inspiration, paving the way for more inclusive educational facilities throughout Ireland.

As the day concluded, the sense of camaraderie and enthusiasm among attendees was palpable, with hopes high for the future of inclusive education in Ireland. Cnoc na nOg stands as a testament to what can be achieved when communities come together for a greater cause.
Councillors in the Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District have said Mayo Co Councils funding for footpath repairs is inadequate and have called for additional funding streams.

Cllr Patsy OBrien raised the matter at last week's municipal district meeting by calling on the local authority to replace footpaths in Kilmaine village adjacent to the GAA grounds.

The path here needs a revamp, not a huge one but it is needed badly. We know how much the council has spent in legal fees over trips and falls and that is money wasted."

Council officials said that an application would be made to Transport Infrastructure Ireland next year regarding this path.

Cllr Michael Burke said that the Government needs to consider a once-off allocation for the upgrade of footpaths, while Cllr Alma Gallagher said the state of some footpaths is unfair, particularly on rate paying businesses.

Rates have increased three-fold yet traders cant even sweep the paths outside their stores, its all cobblestones and broken up. We need a mainstream fund for footpaths, she said.

Director of Services Tom Gilligan agreed that it was important to have adequate footpaths to encourage Active Travel but urged spectators to GAA games in Kilmaine to not use the footpath as a car park, as "had been done recently".
Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) is one of the 10 Best Non-Tech Stocks to Buy According to Reddit, supported by hedge fund interest.

Dutch Pension Fund ABP Sells Its $454.43 Million Holding in Caterpillar Inc. (CAT); Oppenheimer Reiterated Its Outperform Rating

According to national broadcaster NOS, Dutch pension fund ABP stated on October 1 that it has sold its $454.43 million holding in Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT), citing the companys new sustainability policy centered on socially responsible investments.

Following previous UN warnings about Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)s bulldozers being used to demolish buildings in Palestinian territory, the decision was made. Moreover, this divestment demonstrates the increased scrutiny surrounding ESG, which may have an impact on investor sentiment.

But a few days prior, on September 29, Oppenheimer reiterated its Outperform rating and increased its price target for Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) from $480 to $513. The company positioned Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) as its top pick in the construction industry, citing data center demand as well as favorable macrotrends like the Federal Reserves rate-cutting cycle.

Serving clients worldwide in the energy, infrastructure, and resource sectors, Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) is a top producer of engines, industrial turbines, and equipment for mining and construction. It is one of the Best Non-Tech Stocks.

While we acknowledge the potential of CAT 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: 11 Best Gold Royalty and Small-Cap Gold Stocks to Invest in Now and 11 Best Coal Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds.

Disclosure: None.
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) is one of the 13 Safest Stocks to Invest in Now, supported by hedge fund interest and significant return on equity.

Evercore ISI Downgrades The Allstate Corporation (ALL) from Outperform to In Line

With a price target of $233, Evercore ISI downgraded The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) from Outperform to In Line on October 1. The investment firm noted restricted EPS upside of roughly 2.5% compared to over 4% earlier, citing a more balanced risk-reward profile as the primary cause for the downgrade.

Furthermore, the analysts now believe The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) is overearning in vehicle insurance, who also pointed out normalized margins in 2026-2027 and a smaller opportunity for estimate revisions.

Evercore cautioned against additional rerating given weaker earnings growth estimates, even if the stock is still cheap in comparison to historical values, Progressive, and equal-weight S&P. The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) recently disclosed August catastrophe losses of $213 million or $168 million after taxes.

Through agents, contract centers, and online platforms, The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) offers personal lines, commercial, residential, and car insurance products in the United States and Canada. It is one of the Safest Stocks To Buy.

While we acknowledge the potential of ALL 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: 11 Best Gold Royalty and Small-Cap Gold Stocks to Invest in Now and 11 Best Coal Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds.

Disclosure: None.
Calling all creators.

Gap Inc. has launched a creator affiliate and advocacy platform to elevate the profile of creators who through social media will help amplify the retailers brands and their campaigns, and connections to culture.

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The new platform marks the next step in the companys digital-first strategy and brand reinvigoration journey, the San Francisco-based specialty retailer said in a statement Wednesday morning.

For years Gap Inc. lost customers and market share but has recently been regaining relevance, with the second three month period of this year marking six consecutive quarters of positive comparable sales. The companys three largest brands  Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic  all posted positive comps in the quarter, while Gaps Athleta brand had negative comps.

Creators of all stripes can apply to the program, provided they are U.S.-based, 18 years or older, and have at least 1,000 followers on a single platform. The company plans to expand the program internationally in phases in the future.

Unlike transactional affiliate programs, Gap Inc.s new social media advocacy platform is a centralized hub for creators to engage deeply across Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta, Gap Inc. indicated. Modeled to create community, it will offer [creators] early access to new releases, product seeding and exclusive promos, as well as content collaboration opportunities and the ability for creators and their content to be amplified across paid, social and brand-owned channels. The program will also include newsletters and creator spotlights.

Gap Inc.s affiliate program model emphasizes scaled community advocacy and authentic brand engagement, Damon Berger, head of digital engagement at Gap Inc., said in his statement. By balancing creator convenience and empowerment with rich brand storytelling, this new program will position us to build closer relationships with creators, amplify their content across all our channels and leverage data-driven insights to deliver greater impact at scale.

Under the program, creators will be:
With a market cap of $79.3 billion, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG) is a leading global insurance brokerage, risk management, and consulting firm. The company provides customized insurance, reinsurance, and employee benefits solutions through its Brokerage and Risk Management segments, serving clients across commercial, industrial, public, and nonprofit sectors worldwide.

The Rolling Meadows, Illinois-based company is expected to release its fiscal Q3 2025 results soon. Ahead of this event, analysts predict AJG to report an adjusted EPS of $2.46, up 8.9% from $2.26 in the prior year's quarter. It has surpassed or met Wall Street's bottom-line estimates in three of the past four quarters while missing on another occasion.

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For fiscal 2025, analysts forecast the insurance and risk-management company to post adjusted EPS of $11.03, reflecting a 9.3% increase from $10.09 in fiscal 2024. Looking ahead, adjusted EPS is projected to grow 23.1% year-over-year to $13.58 in fiscal 2026.

www.barchart.com

Shares of Arthur J. Gallagher have risen 6.7% over the past 52 weeks, lagging behind both the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 17.2% gain and the Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLF) 17.6% return over the period.

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Despite reporting better-than-expected Q2 2025 adjusted revenue of $3.18 billion on Jul. 31, Arthur J. Gallaghers shares fell 1.1% the next day because its adjusted EPS of $2.33 missed analysts expectations. Investors were also cautious about the 14.1% rise in total expenses to $2.7 billion.

Analysts' consensus view on AJG stock is cautiously optimistic, with an overall "Moderate Buy" rating. Among 21 analysts covering the stock, 11 recommend "Strong Buy," nine suggest "Hold," and one indicates Strong Sell. This configuration is more bullish than three months ago, with nine analysts suggesting a "Strong Buy."

The average analyst price target for Arthur J. Gallagher is $339.62, indicating a potential upside of 9.9% from the 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
The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has put forward a proposal for a compensation scheme under which payouts related to an anticipated 14 million unfair motor finance agreements may commence next year.

This scheme, if approved, is set to disburse an estimated 8.2bn ($11bn) to consumers who were disadvantaged by nondisclosure of critical information in their finance agreements.

The reported lack of transparency has prompted FCA to suggest average payouts of about 700 per affected agreement.

Research by FCA indicates that nearly half of the eligible consumers who have not filed claims are hesitant due to unclear eligibility criteria while almost a quarter are uncertain about the compensation amount.

The proposed scheme aims to offer a no-cost solution for consumers and would be economical for companies compared to the more burdensome court or Financial Ombudsman Service processes, according to the body.

FCA is currently inviting feedback on the scheme.

Eligibility for the scheme would include motor finance agreements dating from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024, where a commission was paid by the lender to the broker.

FCA chief executive Nikhil Rathi said: Many motor finance lenders did not comply with the law or the rules. Now we have legal clarity, its time their customers get fair compensation. Our scheme aims to be simple for people to use and lenders to implement.

FCA advises consumers who suspect they were not fully informed about their agreements to lodge a complaint with their lender, providing a template letter on the FCA website to facilitate this process.

It also clarifies that individuals are not required to engage claims management companies or lawyers to submit a complaint, which could result in a reduction of the final compensation due to fees.

Instead, consumers can directly use the resources provided by FCA.

Once the scheme is active, lenders will contact consumers who have not yet complained within six months of the scheme's start, offering them the opportunity to have their cases reviewed if they opt into the scheme.

They will be given six months to respond. For those who do not receive a letter from their lender, there will be a one-year window from the start of the scheme to submit a claim directly to the lender.

"FCA proposes compensation scheme for unfair motor finance agreements " was originally created and published by Motor Finance Online, a GlobalData owned brand.




Film screening of a short film called "Mathonga Elizwe  Spirit of the Land"

When: Thursday, 09 October 2025 - Thursday, 09 October 2025 Where: Hybrid Event

Parktown Management Campus Start time: 12:30 Enquiries: For more information contact: athenkosi.pono@wits.ac.za RSVP: Cost: No Cost

Mathonga Elizwe  Spirit of the Land

Mnqobi Ngubane is a senior lecturer at Nelson Mandela University. His research is on land and agrarian reform in Southern Africa, with wider Global South, and Eastern Europe interests on current reversals of land redistribution progress. He is the executive producer of a film, Mathonga Elizwe  Spirits of the Land, set in South Africa. He is currently working on, and fundraising for, the next film, Sechaba Sa Basotho, the Lesotho Land Question.

This seminar is a film screening of a short film called Mathonga Elizwe  Spirit of the Land. It is a true story of latter-day land struggle in South Africa. The film lays bare the struggles of ordinary South Africans in obtaining land through the democratic land tenure reform process. Protagonists tell their stories of struggle and constant frustrations on white-owned land. Antagonists unapologetically undermine the land reform process and stunt its progress. Beyond odds the future seems bright for the land claimants manifested in their well calculated struggle through the Land Claims Court of South Africa.

The link to the trailer is: https://vimeo.com/1004046679/679f89eeb2
Wits strengthens ties with the Norwegian government

In a visit by the Norwegian Minister of Research and Higher Education, Sigrun Aasland, Wits researchers presented some of their joint projects.

Wits University and the Norwegian government have strengthened their already strong relationship last week, with a visit of the Norwegian Minister of Research and Higher Education, Sigrun Aasland to the University.

The Norwegian delegation decided to visit Wits as part of their visit to South Africa for the G20, due to the Universitys historic bonds to Norway, as well as its strong academic standing internationally.

Welcoming Aasland and her delegation Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi said the meeting as an important moment for global cooperation in higher education and research.

Wits values these partnerships not only for the funding and international exposure they bring, but because they help solve pressing global problems, said Vilakazi.

As part of the visit, two Wits researchers presented their major collaborative research projects between Wits and Norwegian partners.

Dr Nechama Brodie, a senior lecturer in Journalism at Wits, presented findings from the Wits Centre for Journalisms Safety Matters project, an international partnership with Oslo Metropolitan University, Brazil and the US.

Journalists are being silenced in ways that undermine democracy  not just in fragile states, but in established democracies too, said Brodie. This project builds practical safety skills and creates global awareness.

The project that has been running since 2021 is funded by the Norwegian government and investigates threats to journalists safety and aims to build tools to better protect them. The initiative includes joint research, exchange programmes, and collaborative teaching across the four countries.

A new project, also headed by Brodie and funded by the Norwegian government launched this year and will look at three major treats that journalists face, namely climate change, digital technologies and AI.

Associate Professor Chevonne Reynolds from Wits School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences presented a new joint research project, called RECOVER. The project aims to develop nature recovery maps to guide conservation in both Norway and South Africa.

The maps are co-created with local stakeholders in both countries to reflect both ecological needs and social realities, and will be used to restore degraded landscapes.

This is about finding data-driven ways to restore nature while including the voices of communities, said Reynolds. Its science that speaks to people on the ground.

The project is supported by the Research Council of Norway and involves local partners such as SANParks, SANBI and several Norwegian municipalities.

Between 2020 and 2024, Wits and Norwegian institutions co-published over 300 academic papers, with strong research ties in areas such as environmental science, medicine and astrophysics.

Dr Samia Chasi, Head: Internationalisation and Strategic Partnerships at Wits, said these collaborations were growing in both number and depth. We now have partnerships that span journalism, nature conservation, archaeology, nuclear science, and music education, she said.

The visit concluded with a tour of the universitys Evolutionary Studies Institute, where guests viewed exhibits on early human origins  another key area of NorwegianSouth African collaboration.

Aasland, who leads Norways policy on higher education and research, said South Africa remained a key partner in the countrys global cooperation efforts. The work we do together strengthens both our institutions and has global impact, she said.
Grayscale crypto funds. Photo by BeInCrypto

Grayscale Investments announced Monday that it has launched the first US-listed spot crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) with staking, marking a major milestone for the regulated digital asset market.

The firm said its Ethereum Trust ETFs (ETHE, ETH) and Solana Trust (GSOL) now allow investors to access staking yield directly through traditional brokerage accounts.

Grayscale Unveils US Staking Spot ETPs

The products enable spot exposure to Ether and Solana while also generating staking rewards through institutional custodians and validator providers.

Grayscale CEO Peter Mintzberg called the initiative a first mover innovation that underscores the firms role as the worlds largest digital-asset ETF issuer with $35 billion in assets under management.

The firm said it will stake passively to support Ethereums and Solanas network security while helping investors earn long-term yield. The company emphasized that staking rewards will accrue within the funds net asset value, not as separate distributions, to maintain tax efficiency.

In practice, staking within an exchange-traded product differs from direct on-chain participation. Custodians, such as Coinbase Custody or BitGo, delegate assets to professional validators like Kiln and Figment, adding rewards to the funds net asset value instead of paying them out.

Because of Ethereums withdrawal delay, issuers typically stake only part of their holdings, keeping liquidity for redemptions  a setup that leaves investors with an effective yield near 2%.

If GSOL receives regulatory approval for uplisting as an exchange-traded product, it will become one of the first Solana spot ETPs with staking in the US market.

Industry observers said the move could redefine how investors access yield-bearing digital assets. In a recent analysis, analysts noted that while Bitcoin ETFs only provide price exposure, staking-enabled Ether and Solana products offer a structural advantage as yield-bearing alternatives.

Why Ethereum and Solana Matter for Yield Investors

On-chain data indicate a tightening of the Ethereum supply base as staking participation increases. According to network statistics, Ethereums staking queue surpassed unstaking in September, signaling strong confidence from institutions and long-term holders.

Nearly 36 million ETHabout 30% of the total supplyis now locked in staking contracts, reducing liquid circulation and supporting price stability.

A separate report said smart contract activity and on-chain transactions have surged, reinforcing Ethereums role as a reserve network for decentralized finance and tokenized assets.
Trump calls for jailing of Illinois leaders as court showdowns over troop deployments near
Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE:LLY) is one of the 10 Best Non-Tech Stocks to Buy According to Reddit, supported by hedge fund interest.

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Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE:LLY) gained attention on September 29 when Guggenheim reaffirmed its Buy rating with a price target of $875.

The analyst noted that there was strong demand for tirzepatide in the treatment of diabetes and obesity and that the impending launch of orforglipron will support global growth. The investment firm highlighted Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE:LLY)s impressive financials, highlighting operational efficiency with a gross profit margin of 82.64%, alongside a revenue increase of 36.83% over the previous year.

Furthermore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized Guardant Healths Guardant360 CDx as a companion diagnostic for Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE:LLY)s breast cancer medication Inluriyo (imlunestrant) that same day, making it possible to identify patients with advanced breast cancer who have an ESR1 mutation.

Moreover, Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE:LLY)s progress in the metabolic and oncology industries is highlighted by this simultaneous boost from analyst confidence as well as regulatory approval, which solidifies the companys position as a leading pharmaceutical company worldwide.

Leading pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly & Company (NYSE:LLY) creates, produces, and markets cutting-edge medications in a variety of therapeutic areas. It is one of the Best Non-Tech Stocks.

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Disclosure: None.
The xenophobic atmosphere fostered by South Africas ruling African National Congress (ANC) is being utilised by far-right parties. They have begun preventing foreign workers from accessing public hospitals, forced the closure of shops run by foreigners, attacked employers for hiring immigrants, and are threatening to prevent the children of foreigners from attending public schools next year.

A one-year-old baby died in late July as a direct result of actions by far-right thugs. Grace Manda, a 21-year-old mother from Malawi who was living in South Africa without legal documents, rushed her son to Masakhane Clinic in Alexandra, a working-class township in Johannesburg. Her baby was suffering from diarrhoea and vomiting, but members of Operation Dudulaa far-right vigilante groupblocked their access to the clinic, demanding proof of citizenship and intimidating staff and patients.

Turned away, Manda carried her son to another clinic, where staff, fearing reprisals from Dudula members, also refused to treat him. Desperate, she took a taxi to yet another clinic, only to encounter the same hostility. Finally, she found a private doctor who examined the child and sent them home. By the following morning, he was unresponsive and was later declared dead. Terrified of exposure and deportation, she kept silent until the story was reported in the media months later.

Manda, in tears, told News24, I told them I was from Malawi and only had a passport. They [Operation Dudula] advised me to consult a private doctor or hospital. I pleaded with them to help my son, but they flatly refused.

Operation Dudula, from the Zulu word for push back, emerged in 2021 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, initially in Johannesburgs Soweto townships. From the start, Dudula targeted African and Asian migrants, organising marches, raids on informal traders, and door-to-door intimidation campaigns to drive immigrants out of communities and workplaces. It has spread to other urban centres across South Africa, drawing support from sections of unemployed youth.

Screenshot of an X posting by Operation Dudala boasting they have "sucessfully removed pregnant Zimbabwean women" from a clinic [Photo: DelaKufaPatriot/X]

For the 2024 elections, Dudula transformed itself into a political party. Despite wall-to-wall media coverage it won only 3,855 votes, underscoring its lack of mass support. That it has nonetheless been able to launch violent campaigns against immigrants, handed a national platform by the capitalist media, is above all due to the ANC, whose scapegoating of foreigners has created the political basis for such reactionary forces to thrive.

Over the past 11 months, the ANC has imposed a blockade in Stilfontein where 90 miners, mostly undocumented immigrants, died after being prevented from accessing food and water. In Barberton, 1,000 migrant gold miners were arrested for working without permits. These two operations were part of the ANCs violent anti-immigrant Operation Vala Umgodi (Plug the Hole), whose stated aim is to stop unlicensed miners from operating in the country.

The operation is led by former National Chairperson of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and current Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Gwede Mantashe, who described arrested miners in Stilfontein as foreign nationals raping our economy.

A miner is transported on a stretcher by rescue workers after he was rescued from below ground in an abandoned gold mine in Stilfontein, South Africa, January 14, 2025. [AP Photo/Themba Hadebe]

This rhetoric has been repeated at other party levels. At an ANC youth conference last month, ANC Youth League (ANCYL) President Collen Malatji said, The issue of crime and violence in this country is huge. Our towns are taken over by criminals, mainly illegal foreigners. In a separate meeting, ANCs Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said, Whether legal or illegal, it [immigration] is a problem. He proceeded to attack the constitutional principle that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, which he called a grave mistake.

In parliament, Health Portfolio Committee Chair Dr. Sibongiseni Dhlomo said, The country should provide emergency services to allthat is binding in terms of the UN rules. Comprehensive health care is for South Africans. In other words, foreigners must be excluded.

Dhlomo confirmed that plans are underway within the Home Affairs Department to review and possibly repeal the South African Citizenship Act, Refugees Act, Identification Act and the Immigration Act. Some of these acts are wide and encompassing. Maybe they should have limitations, Dhlomo stated.

Dudulas campaign has been escalated by the ANCs ally in government, the far-right Patriotic Alliance (PA), which won 677,719 votes in 2024. It is a member of the ANC-led Government of National Unity with the Democratic Alliance (DA), and the Inkatha Freedom Party.

Founded in 2013 by businessman, former bank robber and convicted criminal Gayton McKenzie, the PA presents itself as a defender of South Africans first, mimicking Donald Trumps rhetoric with a programme built on virulent anti-immigrant chauvinism, law-and-order demagogy, and appeals to South African nationalism. McKenzie now serves as Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture in the ANC-led Government of National Unity.

The partys central slogan, abahambe (they must leave), is chanted by vigilante mobs against immigrants. McKenzie popularised the phrase during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he declared, If there is a South African, Zimbabwean or Mozambican patient on oxygen, and I see a South African patient, born and bred in South Africa, I will turn the oxygen off, so that the South African can live.

In June, just weeks before the toddlers death, the PA openly joined Dudulas campaign. In videos documenting their actions, PA members march into hospitals demanding that patients produce IDs to prove they are South African citizens. They have stormed informal shops owned by foreign nationals and forced their closure, taking Dudulas vigilante tactics into the political mainstream.

Two months ago, anti-black remarks by McKenzie resurfaced on X, in which he, a Coloured man, hurled the slur kaffir. Originally meaning infidel in Arabic but under colonialism and the apartheid white supremacist regime (19481994) the word turned into one of the most degrading terms used to dehumanise black South Africans. In South Africa, Coloured was another racist term under apartheid to classify people of mixed ancestry, including descendants of enslaved Africans and Asians, indigenous Khoisan peoples, and Europeans. Although Coloured South Africans were oppressed under apartheid, they were placed in the racial hierarchy above black Africans but below whites.

That McKenzie, who openly recycles the language of white supremacist rule, was personally invited by President Cyril Ramaphosa to serve in his cabinet is a damning indictment of the ANC and the entire post-apartheid order. Confronted with South Africas deepening capitalist crisis, the ANC has systematically worked to deflect mounting anger away from its own corrupt elite and onto the most vulnerable. By scapegoating immigrants, it has cultivated the poisonous climate that is now claiming lives.

The attack on migrants takes place amid a jobs slaughter under the ANC-led government. In the year to June, South Africa has shed 229,000 jobs. Since then, the jobs cull has continued to spread, with ArcelorMittal South Africa cutting 4,000 jobs. The Africa Growth and Opportunity Acta US trade scheme granting duty-free access to key exports like cars and agricultural productsis approaching expiration, with Trumps tariffs on steel and aluminium already battering the local industry. Together, these measures threaten to collapse entire sectors, including automotive manufacturing, leading to tens of thousands of job cuts.

The 140 meter tall stacks and 70 meter tall Coke Ovens at Arcelor Mittal Newcastle. [Photo by Viresh Mahabeer / CC BY-SA 4.0

Unemployment stands at 33 percent, 8.2 million people. Including discouraged job seekers, unemployment sits at 43 percent. Youth unemployment stands at 46 percent among those aged 15 - 34. Fully 55 percent of the population lives below the upper poverty line of R1,634 ($95), while 25 percent live below the food poverty line of R796 ($47) per month.

Workers continue to suffer from inadequate access to essential necessities such as water and electricity. This has resulted in tremendous anger within the working class, which has erupted in protests like those recently seen in Westbury, Johannesburg.

The ANC fears a similar eruption of class struggle to that which has swept the continent in countries such as Madagascar, Morocco, Angola, Mozambique, and Kenya, against inequality, corruption, and austerity. It is inciting racism and nationalism to redirect social anger produced by capitalism and imperialism, against immigrants, to protect the domination of South Africas ruling class.

Amid public outrage over the death of Mandas son, the bourgeois populist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are attempting to posture as opponents of the xenophobic campaign. The EFF has filed a murder charge against Dudula, and its leader Julius Malema declared on X, Operation Dudula is a group of thugs and must be subjected to the political killing task team.

Malema for years spoke in favour of African unity and even called for the abolition of borders across the continent. However, as the capitalist crisis intensified, he too has joined in the anti-migrant campaign. In May 2025, TimesLIVE quoted Malema stating, We dont want to know if youre a relative, we dont want to know which language you speak. If youre South African and qualified, get the job We have no problem hiring people from outside but start with locals.

African Insider published a speech where Malema said, South Africans should receive first preference amid high unemployment. At a rally this August, he told his supporters, We dont disagree that Zimbabweans should be given jobs, but they should be given jobs in their municipalities in Harare and other areas, so we have opportunities to get jobs in our municipalities.

South African politician and leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters Julius Malema in 2024 [Photo by Economic Freedom Fighters' Offical Youtube Channel / CC BY 3.0

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, founded by former ANC president Jacob Zuma, is firmly on board. In Durban, MK Partys Labour Desk organised Dudula-style marches and a business blitz targeting employers and workers it labelled illegal foreigners, including on-street checkpoints and factory inspections. Local roads were blocked during the action.

The ANC once promised equality for all, proclaiming in the Freedom Charter that South Africa belongs to all who live in it. Once it came to power, the ANC claimed, the end of the white supremacist Apartheid regime would open the doors to black majority rule under capitalism and resolve the fundamental democratic aspirations of the black masses: freedom, equality, and social advancement.

Three decades in power have shown the opposite: its historic role was to safeguard the interests of global finance capital and enrich a thin stratum of black elites, while most workers, above all black workers, have been driven into ever-deeper poverty.

Its campaign of scapegoating immigrants, often targeting citizens of countries that once gave their blood and resources to support the ANCs armed struggleproviding bases, headquarters, and shelter while bearing the brunt of apartheids military raids and economic blockadesdemonstrates the complete degeneration of this pro-capitalist, nationalist project.

Leon Trotskys theory of Permanent Revolution is confirmed in South Africa. As Trotsky explained, in countries of belated capitalist development the genuine resolution of democratic and national tasks can only be carried out by the working-class taking power and leading the rural masses, as part of the struggle for world socialism. Under capitalism, whether under white supremacist minority rule or black majority rule, oppression, inequality, and exploitation persist. Today, the racist filth that was the bread and butter of apartheid is being revived by the ANC.

The only way forward for completing the unfinished democratic and social tasks is through a socialist revolution. All major banks, mines, industrial conglomerates, and the sectors essential to social life, such as land, agriculture, education, healthcare, telecommunications, energy, and transport, must be placed under public ownership and democratic control.

This requires the unconditional political independence of the working class from all capitalist parties, including the ANC, DA, PA, EFF, and MK. The urgent task is to forge a new revolutionary leadership based on an internationalist and socialist perspective. This means the construction of a South African section of the International Committee of the Fourth International to unite workers across national borders in the fight for the United Socialist States of Africa as part of the struggle for world socialism.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed that his government will kick thousands of 18- and 19-year-olds off unemployment benefits.

From November next year, they will no longer receive the payments if their parents earn a combined income over $65,529a threshold that is just 1.3 times the minimum wage. The government estimates that 4,300 unemployed young people will become ineligible for Jobseeker Support, about 28 percent of teenagers who currently receive the benefit. This would cut around $39 million a year from welfare spending.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon [Photo: Christopher Luxon Facebook]

The policy is a major attack on some of the most exploited and insecure workers in the country, as well as their families who will be forced to support them. It is part of the National Party-led coalition governments austerity agenda, aimed at making the working class pay for the deepening economic crisis and for the diversion of billions of dollars to the military to prepare for war.

Announcing the change on October 5, Luxon declared that teenagers and their parents had to take individual responsibility to get into work, education or training and not treat the benefit as a lifestyle choice.

You cant just take all the freedoms and rights of being a Kiwi without also taking on the duties and the responsibilities of being a Kiwi too, he declared, adding, the world doesnt owe you a living and nor, except in limited circumstances, do taxpayers.

At a Rotorua business leaders function last week, Luxon reportedly declared that school leavers had to get off the couch, stop playing PlayStation and go find a job.

While smearing young people as lazy, the government is doing nothing to provide them with decent, stable jobs. New Zealands unemployment rate is 5.2 percent and the proportion of 15- to 24-year-olds not in education, training or employment is 12.2 percent. At the end of 2024 the unemployment rate for 15- to 19-year-olds was 23 percentmore than four times the overall rate.

Asked about the lack of jobs during a press conference on Monday, Luxon brushed the issue aside. Unemployed youth, he said, should move around the country and take whatever work they can find, including seasonal jobs such as fruit picking. The aim is to create a substantial, low-paid and disposable workforce, which will exert downward pressure on the wages and conditions of all workers.

The wide-scale destruction of jobs, including thousands lost in the construction industry over the past two years, has cut off opportunities for young people to find skilled employment. Skills Group, a major training provider, reported in August that electrical apprentice enrolments dropped by around 16 percent between December 2023 and June 2025, while plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying enrolments fell 8 percent.

Youth also face fewer options and increased costs for tertiary education, following cuts imposed by successive Labour and National Party governments. In July, vocational education minister Penny Simmonds said 600 job losses were expected in the countrys polytechs in order to reduce their deficits.

In response to reduced public funding, universities and polytechs have driven up their fees, removed courses and attacked staff numbers and wages. Total student debt reached $16.2 billion in June (up more than $300 million in the past year), with a median individual loan balance of $17,516 for current and former students.

Tens of thousands of young people, unable to find work, are leaving the country, mostly to live in Australia. A record 73,400 New Zealand citizensalmost 1.4 percent of the populationmoved overseas in the year to July 2025, more than a third of them aged 18-30.

Opposition Labour leader Chris Hipkins told the New Zealand Herald on October 7 that the government should focus on creating jobs. Theres 36,000 fewer jobs now than there were when Christopher Luxon became prime minister. Young people do want jobs, theyre just struggling to find them, he said.

Hipkins refused, however, to commit to reversing the attack on Jobseeker entitlements, saying Labour would set out our policy on it before the next election next year.

The Labour Party has no substantial differences with the governments agenda of austerity. The last Labour government lost the 2023 election in a landslide amid soaring living costs, increasing child poverty and proposals to cut public sector jobs.

Labour also agrees with the governments decision to double the military budget, with $12 billion to be spent over the next four years, in preparation to join US-led wars in the Middle East, against Russia and particularly against China. New Zealands ruling elite is strengthening its alliance with the fascist Trump administration in Washington, which is seeking to reverse its economic crisis by using military force to dominate the entire world.

In this context, Luxons nationalist call for young people to fulfill the duties and the responsibilities of being a Kiwi has an ominous meaning. It is not accidental that the decision to push teenagers off welfare coincides with intensified efforts to recruit them into the armed forces to serve as cannon fodder for imperialism. Sections of the media, including the Labour-aligned Daily Blog, have proposed the reintroduction of compulsory military training as a solution to youth unemployment.

The governments deepening assault on public services and living standards, and its support for the US-Israeli genocide in Gaza, are driving workers and young people to the left and into major struggles. Tens of thousands of healthcare workers and teachers held nationwide strikes in August and September after rejecting pay cuts, and a combined strike is scheduled for October 23.

What is missing, however, is the organisation and political perspective needed to lead a real fight against capitalism, which is producing social counter-revolution, genocide and fascism, and driving the planet into a third world war.

The Socialist Equality Group calls on workers and young people to decisively break from the Labour Party and its alliesthe Greens and Te Pati Maori, as well as the pro-capitalist union bureaucracyall of which are hostile to any movement of the working class against austerity and war.

The only way forward is the fight for socialist internationalism. Workers of all countries must be united in a revolutionary struggle, aimed at expropriating the banks and major industries, putting an end to the profit system, and reorganising society in order to end poverty, social inequality and war.
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat-New York, right, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat-New York, outside the White House in Washington, September 29, 2025. [AP Photo/Evan Vucci]

While Trump and his top fascist aides, like Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem and Pam Bondi, speak the language of civil war and openly incite violence against the American people, the Democratic Party, the supposed opposition party in Congress and the states, is doing everything it can to disarm the public and block any systematic response to Trumps drive to establish a presidential dictatorship.

Even as Democratic governors in states like Illinois, Oregon and California have denounced Trumps authoritarian actions, including the invasion of their states by heavily armed federal agents and National Guard troops, the congressional leadership of the party proceeds on a business-as-usual basis in Washington, pleading with Trump and congressional Republicans to carry out negotiations and reach compromises on policy.

The extraordinary events of the past five days, with Trump calling up National Guard troops for deployment to Portland and Chicago, and Stephen Miller denouncing unfavorable court ordersissued by judges appointed by Trump himselfas a judicial insurrection, have not prompted the Democratic Party leadership to declare that this is a government that seeks to overthrow the Constitution and establish Trump as king in all but name.

The Democrats treat the deadlock over the federal budget that led to the partial shutdown of the national government on October 1 as though it was a mere repetition of previous budget clashes and shutdowns over the past two decades. They went to the White House last week for talks with Trump and continue to beg for a deal in which they would approve funding for Trump to continue his authoritarian rampage in return for minor concessions on healthcare spending.

Not a single Democrat declares that there can be no negotiations with a president seeking to overthrow the Constitution and establish his dictatorship or that the central task is to build support for removing Trump and his fascist sidekick JD Vance from office. Not a single Democrat even makes a connection between the budget shutdown and the deployment of troops to American cities, although both are component parts of Trumps long-planned coup detat.

Neither Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer nor House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries has even acknowledged the ongoing coup. Their social media accounts make no mention of the deployment of troops to American cities or the invocation of martial law. Schumer, in between appeals for Republicans to work with us to fix the ACA tax credits, found time to post a tribute to Saul Zabar, the late founder of a New York deli. But nothing about Trumps threat to invoke the Insurrection Act and effectively proclaim martial law.

The entirely unserious character of Democratic Party opposition to Trump was revealed Tuesday at a lengthy appearance by Attorney General Pam Bondi before the Senate Judiciary Committee. In his opening statement, the senior Democrat on the committee, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, depicted Trump as a strongman on television. Thus even the senators framing of the issue concealed more than it revealed.

When Durbin asked Bondi what legal basis there was for Trump sending National Guard troops to Chicago against the wishes of Governor JB Pritzker, Bondi did not disguise her contempt. She flatly declared that she would not discuss any conversations with the president and then baited Durbin, declaring, I wish you loved Chicago as much as you hate President Trump.

Rather than press the issue and demand that the attorney general defer to the rights of Congress to oversee the executive branch, other Democrats on the committee moved on to a series of diversionsthe firing of career lawyers at the Justice Department, Bondis role in the suppression of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein and his ties to Trump, and who authorized dropping a criminal investigation into White House immigration czar Tom Homan for accepting bribes.

Even as the hearing was taking place, 200 National Guard troops from Texas arrived in Illinois, despite a lawsuit filed by the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago contesting the unprecedented deployment of troops from one state against the citizens of another. Federal District Judge April Perry declined to issue an immediate order and set Thursday for a hearing.

Pritzker called the troop deployment Trumps Invasion, and California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on X, America is on the brink of martial law. Do not be silent. But that is precisely the policy of the Democratic Party as a whole. The governors issue protests, but their actions are limited to filing lawsuits. The national leadership of the Democrats treats Trump as a legitimate president, not a would-be dictator.

And the state officials, away from press conferences where they strike a defiant pose for political purposes, have as a central concern the necessity to uphold federal authority. Thus, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, appearing on a podcast with The New Republic, said, We actually do want a rational president to have deference in being able to determine when theres an emergency that might necessitate the military, right?

He went on to criticize Stephen Miller as incredibly inflammatory, adding, its incredibly short-sighted, because if you start expanding the power of the executive branch, those powers will be expanded for the next Democratic president. He urged a unified response, from Democrats and Republicans alike, adding, lets also not forget some of the real positive things coming from some Republicans. The Democratic state attorney-general expressed the hope that the Supreme Court would uphold the lower court ruling blocking deployment of the National Guard in Portland: Theyre going to do whats right, ultimately.  Theyre incredibly well-educated, smart judges.

As for the supposed left wing of the Democratic Party, Senator Bernie Sanders has said little about the threat of a Trump dictatorship, merely indicating his support for the state Democrats like Pritzker and Newsom. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gave the most frivolous response, suggesting to her millions of social media followers that they should make fun of Stephen Miller by taunting him about his height.

The current darling of the pseudo-left and the Democratic Socialists of America, New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, embraced the go to court response of the Democratic governors. Asked by the New York Times what three specific steps he would take if Trump sent the National Guard to New York City, he replied, The first is to preemptively hire 200 lawyers, followed by speaking publicly against the deployment and then filing lawsuits modeled on those in other states faced with National Guard deployments.

The Democrats silence is not simply a matter of cowardice or miscalculation. It flows from their class character. The Democratic Party is a party of Wall Street and the military-intelligence apparatus. Its verbal opposition to Trump is limited by its defense of the capitalist system. What the Democrats fear most is not Trumps dictatorship but the emergence of a mass movement of workers and youth from below that would threaten the wealth and power of the ruling elite. Moreover, on the fundamental issues of social policy, the Democrats agree with Trump.

To defeat Trumps ongoing coup requires the independent intervention of the working class, using its immense social power at the point of production and rallying behind it millions of young people and all those devoted to the defense of democratic rights. Opposition to dictatorship is inextricably connected to the fight against the capitalist oligarchy and the capitalist system itself.

The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) calls on workers to take the initiative by forming rank-and-file committees in every workplace, school and neighborhood to defend their coworkers, their families and their communities. The SEP is spearheading the building of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) to unify workers across all industries and countries into a single movement against dictatorship, inequality and capitalist oligarchy.



There is growing anger over the deployment of the military into major American cities and the terror operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Independent committees must become centers of resistance and coordination, linking the fight against fascism with the struggle against the escalating jobs massacre and the assault on social programs.

All those who want to oppose Trumps dictatorship and take up this fight should contact and join the Socialist Equality Party today.
On the final day it was eligible to contest the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling on human rights violations and the political imprisonment of Selahattin Demirtas, the former co-chair of the Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), Turkeys Ministry of Justice filed an appeal. The ECHR had ordered that Demirtas, who remains imprisoned, be released immediately.

The objection and the political imprisonment of Selahattin Demirtas once again expose the falseness of the claims that the ongoing negotiations between the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), as well as the commission established in parliament as part of these negotiations, will bring peace and democracy.

The Socialist Equality PartyFourth International has well-documented and irreconcilable political differences with the Kurdish nationalist movement. But we fundamentally oppose the ongoing repression of the Kurdish people and politicians by the Erdogan government and uncompromisingly defends the recognition of their fundamental democratic rights. Demirtas; the other imprisoned HDP leader, Figen Yuksekdag; the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor and presidential candidate, Ekrem Imamoglu; and all other political prisoners, including numerous figures from Kurdish politics and left organisations must be released immediately.

HDP co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, 2015 [Photo: Yldz Yazcoglu (VOA)]

In 2016, the arrest of Demirtas and other MPs was made possible by the removal of parliamentary immunity through a constitutional amendment passed that year with the support of the CHP. This regressive step was primarily aimed at the Kurdish political movement. Since 2016, numerous cases have been brought against Demirtas. He was first sentenced to four years and eight months in prison for making propaganda for a terrorist organization.

Last year, in the Kobane trial where a total of 108 Kurdish politicians were prosecuted over protests in October 2014 that left at least 37 people dead, Demirtas was sentenced to 42 years in prison. Although Erdogan, like a prosecutor, claimed for years that Demirtas was responsible for the deaths, the court ruled that the Kurdish politicians were not guilty of the deaths that occurred during the protests. Despite this, Demirtas received such a sentence on charges related to terrorism. The HDP, led by Demirtas, received between 5 and 6 million votes in the elections it participated in.

In October 2014, mass protests broke out across Turkey, particularly in Kurdish regions. These were linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levants (ISIL) attacks on Kobane in September 2014. Kobane was under the control of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Peoples Defence Units (YPG), Syrian sister organisations of the PKK. While the Erdogan government was in negotiations with the PKK at the time, it was uncomfortable with the prospect of the PYD-YPG gaining strength in Syria with US support.

There were calls for Turkey to open a corridor through its territory to allow military aid coming from other areas in northern Syria and the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government (IKRG) to reach Kobane. As the WSWS explained: Backing the jihadist forces in the Free Syrian Army, Ankara has opposed any policies that would strengthen the Kurdish nationalists and pushed for a NATO intervention in which the Turkish army would participate to secure the interests of the Turkish ruling class in Syria.

These developments and the bloodshed during the protests signalled the end of negotiations with the PKK in 2015 and the governments shift to a violent military offensive domestically and in Syria.

The ECHR has issued three rulings to date, on November 20, 2018, December 22, 2020, and July 8, 2025, stating that Demirtass detention constitutes a violation of his rights. In its latest ruling, the court stated that the 2019 detention order against Demirtas was not based on legal grounds and essentially pursued a political motive.

The deadline for appealing the final decision was October 8. Turkeys lack of appeal and ongoing negotiations in parliament with both imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan and the Peoples Democracy and Equality Party (DEM Party), the successor to the HDP, had raised expectations that Demirtas could be released.

In a statement issued on 6 October, the Diyarbakr Bar Association demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Demirtas on the grounds of the supremacy of international law and as a necessary step in the social process we are currently undergoing. However, just a day before the appeal period expired, the Ministry of Justice continued its vendetta by requesting that the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights reconsider the decision regarding Demirtas.

DEM Party lawmaker and co-chair Tuncer Bakrhan, who was criticized for appearing friendly with Erdogan at parliaments opening on October 1, reacted in a post on X saying, Insisting on not recognizing international legal decisions means nothing other than admitting lawlessness.

The ongoing persecution of Kurdish politicians, exemplified by Demirtas, is not merely a matter of a personal vendetta. It is primarily an expression of the ruling elites inability to recognize and defend fundamental democratic rights and their need for an authoritarian regime to advance their interests. Even if Demirtas or Ocalan were released from prison, this would not be linked to efforts to establish a democratic regime but rather to ongoing negotiations between Turkish and Kurdish elites as part of the imperialist war in the Middle East.

The World Socialist Web Site has emphasized from the outset that the new negotiations have no connection whatsoever with a democratic solution to the Kurdish question, and that such a solution can only be achieved through the revolutionary mobilization of the working class to seize power against imperialism and its regional proxies. What is at stake is an attempt at a reactionary agreement between the Turkish and Kurdish bourgeoisie, in line with US imperialism. It must be rejected by the Turkish, Kurdish, and other workers and oppressed masses in the Middle East from an internationalist perspective.

The intensification of the imperialist war of redivision in the Middle East, which includes the genocide in Gaza and the war for regime change in Syria, and the growing competition between Turkey and Israel, led Ankara to seek a renewed agreement with the PKK in 2024. The Erdogan government, with the support of Ocalan, whose meeting minutes indicating his stance in favour of the Turkish state against the Israeli state were leaked, put forward a perspective of a reactionary Turkish-Kurdish-Arab alliance to counter Israels expansionist ambitions in the region.

Erdogan reiterated this perspective on Wednesday, referring to the armed clashes in Syria between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), whose backbone is the YPG, and the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) regime: The Syrian Democratic Forces must keep their promise. They must complete their integration with Syria... Those who turn their direction towards Ankara and Damascus will prevail. The Turkish, Kurdish, and Arab alliance is the key to eternal peace and tranquillity in the region.

Erdogan is calling on the SDF to cooperate with the regimes in Ankara and Damascus, not Tel Aviv, claiming that this will bring peace to the region. The fallacy of this claim is evident in the fact that not only Tel Aviv and the SDF, but also Ankara and Damascus have turned toward the US. All these powers and the Arab regimes in the region are complicit in the aggressive actions of the imperialist powers led by Washington that are destroying the Middle East. This includes the genocide in Gaza.

The agreement Erdogan called on the SDF to fulfil is the integration agreement which it signed with HTS on March 10. Ankara-backed HTS wants the SDF to lay down its arms, end its de facto autonomous administration, and submit to the Damascus regime, while the SDF demands that it preserve its current autonomy and takes its place as an autonomous force within the Syrian army.

In recent days, clashes between HTS and SDG forces have escalated in northern and eastern Syria, which is under SDG control, and in the Kurdish neighbourhoods of Aleppo. The escalation between forces that played a role as US allies in the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Russia and Iran, in December 2024 after a 13-year regime change war, is seen as a threat to Washingtons new Middle East plans. A war in Syria between pro-Ankara and pro-Damascus forces and Kurdish militias, which could draw Israel in, could shatter the axis the US is trying to build, particularly against Iran.

For this reason, the US intervened. Washingtons Ambassador to Ankara and Special Envoy to Syria, Thomas Barrack, said in a statement on X on Monday: I visited northeast Syria today with CENTCOM Commander Admiral Cooper for substantive conversations with Mazloum Abdi and the SDF. Forward momentum for POTUSs vision of give Syria a chance by allowing Syrians to unite with all Syrians in a renewed effort for cooperative peace and prosperity.

Barrack and Cooper also met with HTS leader Ahmed al-Shara in Damascus on Tuesday. It was reported that the March 10 agreement was discussed during the meeting. On the same day, an SDF delegation led by Abdi travelled to Damascus by US helicopter and met with al-Shara. The delegation stated that they discussed declaring an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in northern and eastern Syria and Aleppo and merging the SDF and government military forces, but no official agreement was signed.
Ronald Adams Sr., his wife Shamenia, and family members [Photo by Family of Ronald Adams Sr. ]

Tuesday, October 7, marked six months since the death of Stellantis worker Ronald Adams Sr. at the companys Dundee Engine Complex in southern Michigan. Stellantis, the United Auto Workers (UAW) and the Michigan workplace safety agency have all remained silent on the cause of death of the 63-year-old skilled tradesman, even as full production at the plant has long since resumed.

Adams, a 19-year veteran known for defending his coworkers safety, was crushed to death while performing maintenance on an industrial washer system. An automated hoist, or gantry, suddenly activated and pinned him against a conveyor, causing fatal injuries to his torso.

A spokesperson for the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) told the World Socialist Web Site that the investigation is still ongoing, offering no updates six months after the fatality. Earlier this month, a Dundee worker reported, Theyre going to have every machine running at full blast, and theyre not saying anything about how Ronald died. Several officials who were suspended after the fatality, including Plant Manager LaMarcus Keels, have since returned to work, the worker said.

The UAWs silence is particularly damning. President Shawn Fain has given interviews to the New York Times, Jacobin and other outlets praising the 2023 Stand Up strike, but he has made no mention of Adams or of Antonio Gaston, another Stellantis worker who was crushed to death eight months earlier in Toledo, Ohio. The union has provided no information to members about either death.

Adams widow, Shamenia Stewart Adams, told the WSWS:

Initially, MIOSHA reached out to me by calling me and sending a letter with who the person in charge of the investigation was. But after calling them so many times, I havent heard anything from them since May or June. When this happened, the plant manager called everybody into the auditorium to say, I failed Ronald Adams and his family. Thats what he said out of his own mouth. I want to know: What were the grounds for his suspension? And if hes back to work, what were the grounds for bringing him back? Why dont I have answers? We found them liable. We didnt find them liable. Something. I should be notified, because the people who were suspended pending an investigation are back. Stellantis is investigating themselves. As far as theyre concerned, its always going to be an ongoing investigation, because as long as its still open, you dont have to answer to anybody.

In May 2025, the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) initiated its own investigation. On July 27, the IWA-RFC convened a public hearing in Detroit to present its findings and hear testimony from Dundee workers, members of Adams family and safety experts.

Lawrence Porter speaking at the IWA-RFC investigation into the death of Ronald Adams, Sr., July 27, 2025

The investigations findings included:

Production pressures and safety violations. Retooling was more than a year behind schedule. With UAW approval, management cut corners to resume production quickly. Cheater keys were widely distributed to bypass lockouts and speed up repairs. Longstanding unsafe conditions. The factory had a record of serious injuries during new product launches, and injured workers were forced back to the line despite doctors orders. UAW complicity. Through its corporatist partnership, the UAW oversaw lockout/tagout procedures while shielding union officials from legal liability. After Adams death, both Stellantis and the UAW scrambled to conceal responsibility, ordering workers to return cheater keys to bins near the union office. Ignored witnesses. Contractors from Fives Cinetic who worked with Adams to set up the washer and gantry system were never interviewed by Stellantis, the UAW or MIOSHA.

Since Adams death, Stellantis has imposed new safety measures without acknowledging its role. The changes have served mainly to discipline workers, not protect them. Violationsoften the result of overwork and speedupare used as pretexts for firings, while management and union committees chant safety first even as they enforce long hours and production quotas.

A veteran electrical engineer at the Chrysler Technology Center in Auburn Hills, Michigan, told the WSWS:

There have been increased safety protocols in engineering for locking out machinery and electrical panels. This is something weve never been required to do in the more than 30 years Ive worked. This is a good thing. However, it would have never happened if [Adams] hadnt lost his life. I heard that 22 persons have lost their jobs because of this incident in Dundee. After all these decades, we finally have safety protocols to follow. Why does someone always have to die before these protocols are ever put in place?

Meanwhile, the American industrial slaughter continues. Recent workplace deaths include:

September 27  Eureka County, Nevada: Jeremy Smokey , 37, father of three, killed at the Goldrush Underground Mine, the 25th mining death of 2025.

September 30  Spirit Lake, Iowa: Balduino Florencio Velasquez , 23, crushed by a tipped forklift.

September 30  Richmond, Kentucky: Edwin Burton II , 61, killed when an air conditioner unit fell on him at Eastern Kentucky University.

October 1  Canton, Wisconsin: A 71-year-old logger killed by a falling tree.

October 2  Rockford, Illinois: Horacio Prada Dominguez , 38, fatally pinned between stone slabs.

October 2  Harris County, Texas: Jose Bonilla , 25, struck and killed by a flying truck tire.

October 3  Negaunee Township, Michigan: A contractor suffocated from toxic gases while escaping down an 85-foot pipe.

October 4  Pryor, Oklahoma: Lonnie Dean Swift, 57, killed at the LSB Industries chemical plant.

As part of its conspiracy to establish a dictatorship, the Trump administration is using the government shutdown to halt reporting on workplace deaths, fire hundreds of thousands of federal employees and eliminate what little protection OSHA provides. Trumps budget director, Russell Vought, a key author of the Heritage Foundations Project 2025, is spearheading this attack.

Project 2025, a right-wing blueprint, denounces OSHA for being weaponized by the Biden administration, claiming it tried to impose vaccine mandates on 84 million Americans through their workplaces. Calling for a system that minimizes interference with the operation of the free market and free enterprise, it demands even greater limits on OSHAs weakened powers.

Project 2025 opposes national safety standards, insisting that such floors be treated as negotiable in unionized workplaces. Employers and unions could bargain away protections on lockout/tagout, safety training, heat illness, combustible dust, confined spaces and injury reportingmaking it even harder to expose corporate crimes.

Asked about the dismantling of safety standards and Trumps drive to return workers to conditions of industrial slavery, Shamenia Stewart Adams said:

I cant believe the government is trying to go back to that. But I think people are not going back, not without a fight. People would rather lay their lives down and die fighting, than go back to that.

Workers who want to expose the truth about Ronald Adams deathand to help expose the broader wave of industrial carnage sweeping workplaces across the countryshould take part in the ongoing rank-and-file investigation by filling out the form below.
Striking postal workers picketing in Ottawa September 29

The battle lines in the now nearly two-week-old national strike by 55,000 Canada Post workers continue to harden.

The Crown corporation presented provocative new offers last Friday, after weeks of delays, that translate the Liberal governments plans to restructure the post office at the expense of postal workers and the public into contract language.

The offers mark a dramatic escalation in the war that the Liberal government and Canada Post, with the full-throated support of corporate Canada, are waging on postal workers. They go far beyond the concessions-filled offers that urban and rural postal workers have decisively rejected over the past year, establishing the contractual framework to eliminate tens of thousands of full-time jobs.

Canada Posts proposals include a voluntary severance or early-departure buyout scheme aimed at those nearing retirement or eligible for pensiona mechanism to cull higher-paying full-time positions. They would give management the right to close as many as 493 rural and suburban postal stations and retail counters currently staffed by Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) members.

Most dangerously, the offer calls for the suspension, for the contracts duration, of Article 53 of the urban postal workers contract, which provides lifetime job security for permanent workers.

Canada Post would be free to unilaterally reorganize positions, convert full-time jobs to part-time or casual status, and eliminate roles altogether. This effectively amounts to an end to permanent jobs, since management will insist any reintroduction of job guarantees be at its discretion and in conformity with its ongoing drive to make the post office a profitable rival of cheap-labour private couriers and package delivery companies.

Canada Post is also seeking sweeping changes to delivery operations, in line with the governments demand that it slash mail delivery from 5 to 3 days per week and replace all home letter delivery with community mail boxes.

Under its offers, management would have a free hand to consolidate routes, reduce mail frequency and increase tasks, through the imposition of dynamic routing. Retail counter closures, consolidations and rollbacks of service are also all baked into the restructuring plan. In effect, the contract would enshrine a phased assault over several years, in a gutting operation aimed at transforming Canada Post into a bare-bones, highly exploitative Amazonified profit-driven logistics network. One focused on providing service to remote areas where the private companies refuse to deliver, because it would eat into their profit margins.

Adding insult to injury, Canada Post has withdrawn the small cash signing bonus it offered as a sweetener in the final and best offers that were put to postal workers in a government-forced vote last summer.

A baseline wage increase of 13.59 percent over 4 years is effectively mooted by the removal of job protections and the weakening of full-time status. The corporation asserts that its financial realities demand tougher concessions, claiming workers demands would add significant new costs at a moment of crisis. Yet this crisis has been manufactured under a government policy that rejects operating the government-owned Crown corporation as a public service and insists Canada Post must live or die on its own revenue.

The sabotage of the CUPW bureaucrats

As the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee explained in its founding statement issued in June 2024, it is evident that postal workers face a political struggle that requires mobilizing the full power of the working class in defence of public services and the right to strike and against the ruling class agenda of austerity, rearmament and war.

But the CUPW apparatus has worked tirelessly to keep workers confined within the straitjacket of the pro-employer, state-regulated collective bargaining system, even as the Liberal government has repeatedly intervened on the side of management.

A month-long walkout which began in November 2024 was paused by the Liberal government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which ordered workers back on the job with the connivance of CUPW under the draconian provisions of Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code. This was tied to the establishment of a rigged Industrial Inquiry Commission, headed by seasoned government mediator/arbitrator William Kaplan, which created the blueprint for the current government-management restructuring plan. CUPW falsely claimed the IIC would give workers a voice, but the rank and file was all but shut out of the process.

Once workers regained the right to strike in May, CUPW limited postal workers to an ineffective overtime ban which was then replaced by a ban on the delivery of advertisement flyers. It was finally the action of rank-and-file workers that compelled the CUPW bureaucracy to sanction a nationwide strike.

With workers in Atlantic Canada and Manitoba spontaneously walking off the job in response to the September 25 announcement from Minister of Government Transformation Joel Lightbound that the Liberal government was directing Canada Post to implement the sweeping changes contained in the IICs report, the CUPW leadership called the strike to retain control over the workers.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, the millionaire former governor of the Banks of Canada and England, has insisted on significant changes and declared the reported loss of $10 million a day at Canada Post as intolerable. Behind such statements lies the governments goal of using the sweeping attacks on postal workers as a benchmark for a wider class war. The ruling class plans to direct tens of billions to the military, hand massive subsidies to corporations, and slash servicesall in the name of 'austerity and investment.

CUPWs response to managements latest proposal has been entirely perfunctory and capitulatory. We waited 45 days for offers that are worse than what we rejected in August, CUPW officials declared. Canada Post must have known that there is no way we can accept these and is clearly wasting even more time.

Such remarks state the obvious but offer no way forward. The union seeks to draw a distinction between management and the government, as if the two were not operating in lockstep. Its refusal to acknowledge that the latest offer is a deliberate provocation, intended to escalate the war on postal workers, is yet another capitulation by the union apparatus.

After the forced vote earlier this year, Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu declared that future proposals should be ratifiable. That management has tabled something even worse underscores that Canada Post and the Liberals are moving together to break the strike. CUPWs appeals for serious negotiations amount to groveling before the government and big business.

The Liberals now hold two swords over the heads of postal workers. One is to illegalize the strike, either under Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code or through a parliamentary back-to-work law, running roughshod over the democratic right to strike and imposing a management-dictated contract. The second is to let the strike drag on, deliberately increasing pressure on workers, small businesses, and communities that rely on postal services in the weeks leading up to the fast approaching Christmas season.

Either approach depends on the isolation of postal workers by the CUPW bureaucracy, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and other corporatist labour organizations. Already, Unifor and the Teamsters are enabling strikebreaking by ensuring that Canada Posts subsidiary operations, such as parcel delivery service Purolator, continue running.

There is a consensus within the corporate elite: the postal system is to be stripped down, totally privatized and transformed into a leaner operation subordinated to corporate logistics and e-commerce giants. The Globe and Mail editorial board, the traditional voice of the capitalist ruling elite, has endorsed the governments assault, praising Carney for making hard choices to eliminate purported inefficiencies at Canada Postthat is, pushing to destroy thousands of jobs and dramatically curtail postal service.

Rank-and-file postal workers have made clear in comments to the World Socialist Web Site that they see through the maneuvers of management and the union. One worker in Ontario explained, They dont want decent jobs and decent hours. They want us all to be gig workers. Carney just wants to eliminate all good jobs for everybody.  I was telling my co-worker recently, we need a revolution against this government. Enough is enough! Theyre taking our god damn jobs away. Another emphasized, They say Canada Post should make money and that it should be a profitable business. But it's a public service!

Such sentiments reveal the depth of anger developing among postal workers and the working class more broadly. In Alberta, 50,000 teachers began the largest education workers strike in the provinces history Monday; in Ontario, 10,000 college support workers have been on strike for three weeks; and in British Columbia, over 17,000 of 34,000 BCGEU members are now walking picket lines in rotating strikes. The Canada Post walkout follows shortly on the heels of the defiance of a government back-to-work order by Air Canada flight attendants, which was ultimately sold out by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).

Workers must take the struggle into their own hands

The decisive question now confronting postal workers and the working class as a whole is how can they organize a counter-offensive to beat back the corporate/government onslaught on their jobs and living conditionsan onslaught that is being imposed with the connivance of the union bureaucracies?

The spontaneous walkouts that launched the Canada Post strike show that workers are prepared to take action independently of the union bureaucracy. The Liberals, management and the corporate elite are determined to impose their restructuring plan. CUPW, tied hand and foot to the government, offers only empty words and further isolation.

On Monday, it admitted in a statement for the first time that postal workers face a political struggle. However, what the bureaucracy means by a political struggle has nothing to do with mobilizing workers against the class-war spearheaded by the Carney government on behalf of corporate Canada. Rather, their political struggle aims to salvage their corporatist partnership with the Liberals and big business at the expense of the postal workers.

To stop this outcome, workers must turn their determination to fight into an organized political mass mobilization. What is needed is a conscious political and organizational break with the union bureaucracy and the building of new organizations, democratically controlled rank-and-file committees in every workplace and neighborhood to connect workers struggles across Canada and internationally.

Postal workers should join and build the Postal Workers Rank-and-File Committee (PWRFC) to link up nationally, and coordinate solidarity with teachers, college staff, public sector workers and beyond.

Above all, postal workers, like all workers entering struggle, need a socialist program that rejects the prioritization of private profit over everything else. Only by fighting to end capitalism, the root cause of precarious employment, poverty wages, bumper profits for management and the drive to privatize public services, can postal workers defend their social rights. The rights to strike, to decent-paying, secure jobs and well-funded public services are of vital concern to all workers. So is establishing workers control over AI (artificial intelligence) and other new technologies, so as to ensure they are used to better the lives of working people, not slash jobs, increase capitalist exploitation and build more lethal weapons of war.

To fight for the mobilization of all workers, postal workers should broaden their strike into an industrial and political movement for workers power. This requires taking up the fight to build the Socialist Equality Party as the leadership workers need in the class battles ahead.
"We couldn't be more excited to show the UK MoD what our light tactical vehicles are capable of," said John Chadbourne, AM General Executive Vice President of Business Development, "This demonstration along with our collaboration with Marshall Land Systems are just the beginning of our efforts to support the UK Armed Forces and their mobility capabilities."

At the all-day experience, the UK MoD had the opportunity to learn more about AM General's and Marshall Land Systems' core corporate competencies. They also participated in a ride and drive experience of three of the Company's platforms  the iconic HUMVEE, the revolutionary Saber, and significantly improved Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV A2). The vehicles were put through their paces at UTAC Millbrook proving grounds, handling a series of tough terrain and obstacles to showcase each platform's adaptability, ruggedness, and handling performance. It was important for AM General to demonstrate to the MoD that its tactical vehicle platform options cover the weight, capability, and protection spectrum, all built with the highest quality to meet their mission requirements.

Additionally, the planned strategic collaboration between AM General and Marshall Land Systems is expected to enable subject matter expertise growth for both organizations and establish regional development through long-term ecosystem participation in the UK. Marshall's exceptional experience with vehicle assembly, systems integration, and in-service support for the Armed Forces of the UK coupled with AM General's best-in-class manufacturing and engineering expertise, aftermarket support, and quality products will set the stage for a formidable offering to meet the UK Ministry of Defence's needs for mission readiness.

"Together with AM General we are developing a compelling case for a collaboration that will combine the best of our respective capabilities," said Marshall Land Systems CEO Gareth Williams. "This demonstration day is an ideal forum to outline our shared vision for a new generation of mobility for the British Army as we continue to build on our ongoing support for the UK Armed Forces and our proven pedigree of successful industry partnerships, based on more than a century of British engineering excellence."

The UK MoD Land Mobility Programme solicitation has not been determined; however, AM General expects an industry brief in November 2025.

About AM General

AM General engineers, manufactures, and supports specialized vehicles for military and commercial customers. Its global presence of diverse product offerings in over 70 countries uniquely positions AM General to enhance interoperability across Allies and build on its long-standing defense industry and automotive partnerships. With a well-rounded product portfolio, which includes the iconic HUMVEE vehicles, JLTV A2, the next-generation Saber light tactical truck that has enhanced levels of protection, and the revolutionary Hawkeye 105mm MHS with soft recoil technology for mobile platforms, AM General strives to offer continuous improvement that is always mission ready. AM General has extensive experience meeting the changing needs of the defense and automotive industries, supported by its employees at major facilities in Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, and a strong supplier base that stretches across 43 states. Please see more information about AM General at www.amgeneral.com.

Media Contact: Deborah Reyes, Executive Director, Global Marketing and Strategic Communications

E-mail: [email protected]

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Regional areas of India are withdrawing incentives for renewable energy projects and instead signing long-term contracts to buy more coal-fired power generation. Government officials in Uttar Pradesh, the state that is home to much of the country's population, along with authorities in Assam state have made bids to acquire as much as 7 GW of coal-fired power output that would be delivered in the coming years, according to a research group. India Ratings & Research, an agency that offers credit rating and research services in that country, said the latest bids come after more than 17 GW of coal-fired generation capacity has been contracted over the past year-plus through July of this year. The group said it's the largest amount of coal generation contracted in the past few years, or at least since the Covid pandemic depressed activity earlier this decade. Energy analysts have said India's increased need for electricity, driven by a growing economy, higher demand for air conditioning, and more electrification of industryalong with more people gaining access to electricity means coal will continue to play a major role in the country's power generation. Analysts have said that's also due in part to a slower buildout of cleaner technologies such as battery energy storage, and the need for baseload power to balance the increased use of renewable energy.

Major Increase in Coal-Fired Capacity

Government forecasts have said India plans to increase its coal power capacity by 46% over the next decade, from 210 GW currently operating to 307 GW by 2035. That includes a target of at least 80 GW of new coal-fired generation by 2032. The country also has a goal of producing at least 500 GW of power from renewables and other non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, which is about twice the current level of 251.4 GW. The Indian state of Madhya Pradesh in August of this year announced $3.7 billion in contracts for new coal-fired generation related to two projects. Torrent Power, one of the largest fully integrated power companies in India with both thermal and renewable generation resources, plans to build a 1.6-GW two-unit ultra-supercritical coal-fired plant, while Adani Power is set to build an 800-MW coal-fired facility. The Torrent projectvalued at $2.5 billionwas awarded by MP Power Management Co. Ltd. and includes a 25-year power purchase agreement, with Torrent selling the plant's output exclusively to MP Power at a fixed rate of 5.829 rupees per kilowatt hour (0.066 U.S.), according to the companies. The companies said the contract calls for the next plant to be operational within 72 months. The Adani Power facility reportedly represents an investment of $1.2 billion. The company also is developing a new 2.4-GW ultra-supercritical coal-fired power plant in Pirpainti, Bihar, India. That $3-billion, three-unit facility is expected to bring its first unit online in 2029, and be fully operational the following year. Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
The ongoing government shutdown, provoked by the Trump administration and enabled by Democrats in Congress, is being utilized to implement an unprecedented assault on the working class, focusing on the mass firings of federal workers and the destruction of vital social programs. Central to this program of social counterrevolution is the immediate threat to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, widely known as WIC, a program serving nearly 7 million pregnant women, new mothers, infants and young children who rely on it as a nutritional lifeline.

In the over 50 years since WIC was created, Congress has never cut WIC benefits, ensuring the program had enough funding to serve its projected caseload. The devastating cuts proposed in Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill would deprive struggling families of the essential nutrition they need during critical developmental stages.

Mother and two small children in Laurel, Maryland, May 23, 2022. [AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin]

The federal government shutdown, coinciding with the beginning of a new fiscal year, means that WIC, a discretionary program dependent on annual appropriations, is critically low on funds. This assault is a deliberate and calculated maneuver, aligning with the strategy of establishing a war-ready military-police dictatorship, demonstrated in the effort of the White House to establish martial law through federalizing National Guard troops for use against the populations of Portland, Chicago and other US urban areas.

Experts from the National WIC Association (NWA) anticipate that WIC funding on hand will only sustain operations for the short termlikely one to two weeks. Beyond this brief period, the failure to rapidly reopen the government could force state WIC directors to manage their programs with insufficient funds.

WIC is currently being kept afloat temporarily by several sources, including a $150 million contingency fund and monthly rebates from infant formula manufacturers, which averaged $135 million earlier this fiscal year. States have historically relied on their general funds to continue WIC services during a shutdown and were later reimbursed, but it is doubtful the federal government will take the same action this time. State WIC officials in places like Washington state have indicated they do not have the financial capacity to backfill federal funding if the shutdown lasts longer than one to two weeks.

If funding is disrupted, states may be forced to discontinue services for program recipients. The potential consequences for low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants and young children are devastating.

There [are] going to be infants skipping feeds ... pregnant women skipping meals so that they can feed their toddlers, Raechel Sims, a spokesperson for Washingtons Department of Health, told WDBO in Orlando, warning that ending the program could be catastrophic for recipients.

Project 2025 seeks WIC elimination

The threat posed by the shutdown is inseparable from the long-term, calculated dismantling of social programs outlined in Project 2025, the reactionary policy blueprint organized by the Heritage Foundation and co-authored by Trumps budget director, Russell Vought.

Project 2025 recommends moving the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to the Department of Health and Human Services. In addition to WIC, programs currently under FNS include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program, among others. These nutrition programs would be moved to the HHS under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who under his misnamed Make America Healthy Again motto is working to dismantle and undermine a host of services that protect the health and welfare of the American population.

WIC is specifically targeted for elimination in Project 2025. Even absent full elimination, the Trump administrations budget request for fiscal year 2026 seeks to decrease WIC funding by nearly $300 million. This proposal involves deep reductions to the Cash Value Benefit (CVB) for fruits and vegetables:

Monthly CVB for breastfeeding mothers would plummet from $52 to just $13.

CVB for young children would be reduced from $26 to $10.

The National WIC Association condemned these reductions, noting that they would take healthy food off childrens plates. These benefits are the only defense against the skyrocketing costs of nutritious food for families in the program.

Recipients spoke openly about the lifeline WIC represents:

Sarah Manasrah, a mother of two who works as a doula, stated that WIC is a lifesaving program for families and that most families she works with rely on it for infant formula, which is literally keeping babies alive. She told ABC News that members of Congress do not care about families and are pushing through their political agenda.

Barbie Anderson, who works in billing part-time, while her husband works in a lumber yard, stated to CNN that her family depends on WIC to buy essential items like milk, eggs and oranges, and that without it, We dont have the money to buy milk, eggs and everything that the kids need right now.

Taylor Moyer, a mother of three who recently separated from her husband, has been receiving WIC since her first son was born nine years ago. In an interview with the Associated Press, she recalled times she really wondered how I was going to feed my family, and WIC allowed her to purchase nutritious food like rice, avocados and eggs instead of only cheaper, calorie-dense processed options.

Sheila Epps works in technology at a financial services firm, and her husband works in manufacturing. She is concerned her benefits might just disappear. She told CNN that if the shutdown continues, she and her husband would have to dip into savings or she might take a second job, such as driving for Uber, because Id do anything to feed my granddaughter.

Research confirms that the loss of WIC benefits directly harms the adult women in the household (most often mothers), who protect their children by reducing their own consumption and experiencing a large increase in food insecurity. This reveals that WIC benefits entire households, not simply the children eligible to receive it.

Historical and modern-day parallels

The Trump regimes attack on WIC and other social programs, while prioritizing the military-police apparatus, has ominous current and historical parallels. The ruling elite is demanding the working class accept decreased quality of life, worsened health outcomesand ultimately decreased life expectancyto fund the consolidation of dictatorship and preparation for war.

Palestinians crowded together as they wait for food distribution in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. [AP Photo/Hatem Ali]

In the genocidal Israeli assault on Gaza, food has been deliberately used as a weapon to starve the Palestinian population. The Palestine Red Crescent Society and the World Health Organization state that 470,000 to 500,000 Palestinians in Gazanearly a quarter of the populationare facing imminent starvation due to famine conditions officially declared in parts of Gaza. Nearly one in five children under five years of age in Gaza City are acutely malnourished, with malnutrition rates tripling since June 2025. Over 40 percent of pregnant and breastfeeding women in Gaza are reported to be severely malnourished.

The Gaza Ministry of Health and international monitoring organizations report that as of early September 2025 the overall death toll linked to hunger and malnutrition had reached over 360 people since the start of the conflict in October 2023.

In Nazi Germany between 1933 and 1937, before the full horrors of the war and the Holocaust, there was a substantial increase in mortality rates in most age groups, exceeding even the rates seen in 1932, the worst year of the Great Depression. This occurred despite a rapid increase in real GDP per capita.

A major reason for this lay in the economic policies of the Nazi regime, with military expenditures increased at the expense of public health measures. Furthermore, the policy of curtailed food imports and price controls adversely affected the nutritional status of the population, particularly by restricting imports of protein-rich agricultural products. Childrens heights, a key indicator of nutritional quality, stagnated during this period.

For those pseudo-lefts and others in the Democratic Partys orbit, such comparisons would likely be denounced as catastrophizing. The Trump administrations support for the Gaza genocide and its moves toward dictatorial forms of rule put the lie to such claims.

Mobilize the working class to defend social programs

The social content of Trumps program is the destruction of millions of jobs, the dismantling of programs won through decades of struggle, and the lowering of life expectancy. The working class is the main target of these fascistic policies.

The Democrats, the other capitalist party in America, are utterly incapable of fighting this assault. They frame the crisis as a budget negotiation over healthcare fixes, deliberately masking the fact that the shutdown is being used to prepare the framework for dictatorship. The trade union apparatus, likewise, functions merely as an industrial police force, blocking any genuine struggle by workers and confining their response to legal challenges while pleading with the administration to get to work.

The working class cannot stand passively by as the Trump regime plots social counterrevolution and policies that would literally snatch food out of childrens mouths. The only path forward is the independent mobilization of the working class. Workers must respond to the government shutdown and Trumps conspiracy through mass, collective action. This requires building a new form of organization: rank-and-file committees. These committees must be established in every workplace, school and neighborhood to organize resistance against Trumps fascistic government.

This struggle must mobilize the strength of the working class in defense of fundamental social rights, including the right to high-quality healthcare, jobs and a livable income. The fight against dictatorship is impossible without the fight for equality. The independent mobilization of the working class for socialism is the only way to defend jobs, living standards and democratic rights against dictatorship, war and capitalist exploitation.
Kaiser workers: Tell us what youre fighting for in this months strike by filling out the form below. All submissions will be kept anonymous.

Mental health workers picket the Anaheim Kaiser Permanente Hospital in the Los Angeles area on Monday, October 21, 2024.

On October 14, a five-day strike by 46,000 Kaiser Permanente workers is set to begin. One of the largest healthcare strikes in U.S. history, it comes under conditions of an unprecedented attack on democratic rights by the fascist Trump administration.

The walkout, called by the Alliance of Health Care Unions (AHCU), is concentrated on major facilities across California and the West Coast, with thousands more workers joining the strike in Hawaii.

This strike is not simply a contract dispute over wages or staffing levels. It is a political confrontation with the corporate oligarchy which is destroying public health. The 97 percent strike authorization vote last month was an unmistakable signal that healthcare workers have reached the limits of their endurance.

The least amount of nurses for the most amount of work

Kaiser Permanente, with its vast, vertically integrated network of hospitals, insurance plans and physician groups, represents the financialization of healthcare in the United States. It functions as both insurer and provider, extracting profits at every link in the chain while invoking the nonprofit language of community and compassion. Meanwhile, it forces nurses to work through meals and exhaustion while its executives collect millions in compensation.

Jane, a labor and delivery nurse at Kaiser West Los Angeles, described conditions that expose Kaisers nonprofit facade. Kaiser uses the least number of nurses to do the most amount of work, she said. We sometimes dont even get lunch breaks. They pay us for missed meals, but wed rather have the break. Were completely drained. And even though we work nonstop, we cant afford half a house in this cityand we still get taxed at the end of the year.

The unions are sleeping with management

The conditions at Kaiser are due to collusion between management and the union bureaucracy. In 2021, during the peak of the pandemic, the AHCU called off a strike at the last minute to impose a deal with toothless staffing provisions of the type which hospitals across America routinely ignore.

There is no doubt that they are working feverishly to do the same today. Workers must organize rank-and-file committees to give themselves the means to enforce their decisions through independent action.

Georgia, a Kaiser home health nurse, articulated a sentiment widely shared by workers: Kaiser doesnt think about people because theyre all for profitand the unions are sleeping with management.

When she learned that the union originally had demanded 31 percent over 4 years and later revised it downward to 27 percent, while the current offer is 20 percent, she was stunned. I thought they [the union] were asking for 35 percent. That wouldnt have been too much to ask for.

Her words reveal the chasm between the aspirations of rank-and-file workers and the corrupt, self-satisfied union bureaucracy. Its good to strike, she said, but in this economy, people have families and mouths to feed. And the union isnt even paying strike pay, while their leaders make six figures. Its highway robbery. I owe a thousand dollars in dues and cant even pay it all at once.

The AHCU repeatedly boasts of its historic partnership with the company and how we work in partnership with management every day. The Alliance, along with the rival Coalition of Kaiser Permanente Unions (CPKU), participates in joint schemes such as the Labor Management Partnership, whose explicit aim is to block strikes.

In internal Kaiser meetings held last month, HR and labor relations executives reaffirmed their long, positive history of labor-management cooperation and expressed confidence that an agreement will be reached without a strike.

Immigrant patients are scared to come to the hospital

The strike is due to take place as Trumps immigration gestapo rampages throughout the country. Iris, a labor and delivery nurse who also works at Los Angeles County Hospital, described the terror now gripping immigrant patients. Things have become really bad with ICE detentions, she said. People are scared to come to the hospital. One mom left her kid with a note saying what was wrong with him, and then left because she was afraid of ICE being there. Were seeing more incomplete abortions because women are trying to perform them on their own and end up in the hospital with complications.

Another nurse recounted an experience that will haunt her for years. ICE brought in a detainee. The person asked us to contact their spouse to let them know they were alive. They were in tears, terrified that their family wouldnt know where they were. ICE agents told us wed be breaking the law if we made the call. Administration told us to cave to ICE demands. Im a zealous patient advocate, but in the face of federal law enforcement and management pressure, I backed downand Im not sure Im okay with that.

In Los Angeles, immigrants make up more than 56 percent of healthcare workers; about one in four nurses is Filipino. Across California, nearly 37 percent of registered nurses are immigrants. The repression of immigrants is a direct attack on the core of the healthcare workforce.

An apocalyptic future for healthcare

Many healthcare workers have voiced outrage over the Trump administrations open contempt for science and its embrace of anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now heading the Department of Health and Human Services.

A licensed vocational nurse warned: Its only a matter of time until the bird flu pandemic starts. Now we have an administration that wants to stop all measures for tracking and countering diseases. Medicare and Medicaid are about to be gutted. Hospitals wont have funds to care for patients or pay their staff. An insane number of people will dieand itll all be covered up. Its going to be apocalyptic.

An ICU nurse with 25 years of experience said bitterly: Ive found out how useless and unworthy I am in my own country. RFK Jr. and Trump just confirmed it. Were not billionairesso we dont matter. Heres your Nazi death panel the Republicans have been projecting about since 2009 [when they made false historical allusions to this to whip up hysteria against Obamacare]. Welcome to the new Gilded Age.

These are not exaggerations. The Trump administrations Health and Human Services Department has presided over the dismantling of the public health system. Confidence in HHS has fallen below 50 percenta 20-point collapse over the past decade. The result is a nation where pandemic preparedness, disease tracking, life-saving research, and vaccine distribution are subordinated to private profit and the falsification of science.

Kaiser and the unions bureaucrats versus the workers

While workers prepare for battle, the machinery of betrayal is already in motion. At the September internal meeting, Kaisers Legal and National Labor Relations team briefed managers on its strike strategy. The presentation revealed a high degree of coordination between the company and the unions.

Managers were told to stay calm and not overreact to worker protests, to treat leafleting and rallies as mere leverage tactics. They were assured that an agreement will be reached without a strike. In case Alliance-represented employees have concerns they would like [to be] addressed during bargaining, managers were instructed to direct them to their local union. Behind this calm tone lies months of preparation, including contracting with staffing vendors to recruit replacements; rescheduling elective procedures; expanding outside pharmacy networks; and establishing National Command Centers to coordinate operations during the strike.

Despite the overwhelming strike mandate, the unions are at the bargaining table this week, signaling their intent to shut down the movement before October 14.

The union bureaucracy exploits the so-called strike authorization only to provide a facade of militancy while it works to prevent a strike. Democracy has been reduced to a hollow formality, as the will of 46,000 workers is brushed aside by a handful of officials whose six-figure salaries depend on their collaboration with management.

The path forward: independent rank-and-file committees

The struggle at Kaiser is part of a growing wave of class resistance, from autoworkers and teachers to healthcare and logistics workers, against unbearable living and working conditions and an escalating crisis leading to dictatorship.

This struggle poses fundamental political questions. The fight for decent working conditions and health care is inseparable from the fight against fascism, war, genocide and capitalism itself.

To succeed, Kaiser workers must take the conduct of their struggle into their own hands. This means forming rank-and-file committees, independent of the union bureaucracy, to link up with other sections of workers across industries and across borders. These committees must fight to expand the struggle to a general strike and transform it into a movement against dictatorship.

The working class cannot defend healthcare within the framework of capitalism. The entire for-profit system must be replaced by a socialist reorganization of healthcare, which is publicly owned, democratically controlled, and oriented toward human need, not private enrichment.
In another act of piracy in international waters, Israels military intercepted and seized a 145-strong crew of the nine vessel Freedom Flotilla Coalition and Thousand Madleens.

The flotilla was on its way to Gaza, attempting to break Israels siege and deliver desperately needed food and medical supplies to the Palestinians. It left the port of San Giovanni Li Cuti in Catania, Sicily on September 27. Onboard were healthcare workers, doctors, journalists, elected officials from the Belgian, Danish, European Union, Irish, French, Spanish and US legislatures, and others.

Earlier reports indicated that elected officials aboard included Farida Amrani and, Alma Dufour, La France Insoumise deputies in the French National Assembly; Melissa Camara, a French Greens Member of the European Parliament; Barry Heneghan, an independent MP in the Irish Parliament; Jimena Gonzalez, a Spanish academic and Mas Madrid deputy; Benedicte Linard, a deputy in the Walloon Parliament in Belgium, Ellen Read, a Democratic Party Representative for Newmarket, New Hampshire; and Victoria Velasquez, a member of the Danish Parliament for the Red-Green Alliance.

The latest assault came just days after Israel intercepted and stopped the Global Sumud Flotilla. After kidnapping hundreds of people onboardwho hailed from 37 countriesthe IDF treated them brutally. Among those arrested was Swedish climate activist and genocide opponent Greta Thunberg. Other prominent figures included former South African MP Mandla Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, and several European politicians from France, Spain and Scandinavian countries. The seizure of the 42-ship convoy sparked global protests.

While the majority of those captured were eventually deported from Israel, six are still be held captive by the fascistic Netanyahu government. The Global Sumud Flotilla stated Wednesday, Their detention is not just unlawful, it is a punishment for solidarity itself. We call on all governments and people of conscience to act now. Demand their release. Demand accountability. All participants from the Omar Al-Mukhtar flotilla [which set sail to Gaza from the port of Tripoli and carried Libyan, US, Canadian and British nationals] have finally been released. But six of ours are still being held, and we will not stop until every one of them is free.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Global Sumud Flotilla posted on X that the Freedom Flotilla/Thousand Madleen and Conscience are now 170 nautical miles away from Gaza. They are expected to enter the Red Zone tomorrow, where the risk of interception by Israeli forces becomes imminent.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, with the Freedom Flotilla 120 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza, organisers reported that three of its boats were under attack from the IDF. The interception involved the lead ship Conscience, which carried most of the flotilla crew (92) being attacked by a military helicopter. The IDF jammed signals on the three flotilla boats and surrounded the remaining fleet.

The Freedom Flotilla in a statement said Gaza Sunbirds, Alaa Al-Najajr, Anas Al-Sharif, have been attacked and illegally intercepted by the Israeli military at 04:34 at 120 nautical miles (220km) from Gaza.

Sources so far indicate that the unarmed crew aboard, including doctors, journalists, and elected officials, have been abducted, as well as the vital aid worth over $110,000 USD in medicines, respiratory equipment, and nutritional supplies that were destined for Gazas starving hospitals. Their whereabouts remain unknown.

A still from a video clip showing the moment of the attack on the Freedom Flotilla's Sunbird boat and attempt to conceal the crime by striking the camera with a weapon [Photo: ICBSG/X account]

The statement noted Israels seizure and unlawful detention of those on the Global Sumud Flotilla, Handala, and Madleen, as well as the Israeli drone attack on lead ship Conscience in European waters earlier this year, which left the vessel disabled and burning. These repeated attacks on unarmed civilians demonstrate Israels deliberate escalation and the total failure of governments to enforce international law.

As is now standard, crew members on various vessels issued pre-recorded video messages explaining that they had been illegally abducted, that pressure be exerted on Israel for their release and that the Zionist state end its illegal blockade and ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Among the crew of a Freedom Flotilla boat, Milad, was Irish writer Naoise Dolan, who penned an opinion piece published in the Guardian early Wednesday following her kidnapping. In a previous Guardian piece published September 30, Dolan noted, Israel has intercepted or attacked every flotilla to Gaza since 2010, always in international waters--the flotilla routes never enter Israel. Among these attacks was the murderous operation in 2010, when Israeli commandos carried out a hostile boarding of the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, killing 10 of those on board.

Of their mission Dolan said in the latest piece, The medicine and baby formula packed in the stern cabin and cockpit of our boat will save lives if Israel doesnt abduct us. Yet aid is not the ultimate point of the flotilla, nor the ultimate point of the Palestinian cause. Israel likes to ask why we dont just let them distribute our supplies. Besides there being good reason to distrust that this would actually happen when Israel has been deliberately starving Palestinians for two years, doing so would tacitly concede that Israel has the right to control Palestinian waters.

A statement from the Israeli government following their latest act of piracy stated, The vessels and the passengers are transferred to an Israeli port. All the passengers are safe and in good health. The passengers are expected to be deported promptly.'

None of this can be taken at face value. More details have emerged of the tortureboth physical and psychological--that the crew of the Global Sumud Flotilla were subjected to. Speaking at a news conference in Stockholm on her return to Sweden, Greta Thunberg said that she and other detainees were subjected to torture in an Israeli prison. Turkish activist Ersin Celik told Anadolu that Israeli forces 'severely tortured Greta before our eyes,' and 'made her crawl and made her kiss the Israeli flag.' Thunberg told media, 'Personally, I don't want to share what I was subjected to because I don't want it to make headlines and 'Greta has been tortured', because that's not the story here. She added that what they had suffered paled in comparison to what the Palestinians experienced daily.

On Tuesday, Progressive International co-General Coordinator David Adler, who was another abducted by Israel, revealed more details of the torture the captives endured.

After being released from an internment camp in the Naqab Desert, where I was held with hundreds of other participants of the Global Sumud Flotilla for five days in horrific conditions, he wrote, We were intercepted illegally and violently by Israeli naval forces. Many of these interceptions were caught on CCTV. Others were not, such as the case of our Ohwayla, which was targeted by a barge that sought to destroy and sink our boat. Our belongings and our boats were stolen from us. We were kidnapped, stripped, zip-tied, blindfolded and sent to an internment camp, on a police van, without any access to food, water, or legal support. For the next five days, on and off, we were psychologically tortured.

People were taken individually out of their cells and regularly beaten, handcuffed, ankle cuffed and left in solitary confinement. This happened many times over many days. He noted, Any requests for medical attention were denied or delayed indefinitely. We had no access to lawyers or legal representation. Consular services were not able to communicate any information about our condition.

Adler revealed, The humanitarian workers who were part of the Flotilla were not taken to a regular prison. They were driven deep into the Naqab Desert, near the border with Egypt. We heard F-16s and F-35s overhead every night going to bomb Gaza. We heard dogs barking that menaced us daily. Every single day, riot groups would come to our cells with tear gas, riot gear and German shepherds to terrify and terrorise us.
An investigation is underway into the fire that destroyed South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodsteins Edisto Island residence on Saturday.

The investigation is being led by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). In a statement to TIME and Newsweek, SLED Chief Mark Keel said: At this time, there is no evidence to indicate the fire was intentionally set  The investigation remains active and ongoing.

Flames engulfing the home of Circuit Court Judge Diane Goodstein in South Carolina on Saturday, October 4, 2025. [Photo: St. Paul's Fire District]

Keel added, I urge our citizens, elected officials, and members of the press to exercise good judgment and not share information that has not been verified.

Although initial reports mentioned the possibility of an explosion before the fire began, SLED agents say their preliminary investigation has found no evidence of a pre-fire explosion. SLED said it is continuing forensic inspections to determine the fires origin.

On Saturday, October 4, at approximately 11:30 am ET, Judge Goodsteins home on Edisto Island erupted in flames. Edisto Island is a barrier island located on the coast of South Carolina, approximately 45 miles south of Charleston.

Judge Goodstein was not present at the time, but her husband, Arnold Goodstein, a former Democratic state senator, and two other family members were injured and hospitalized. The fire was so intense that rescue crews had to evacuate some occupants by kayak through the swampy terrain around the house.

St. Pauls Fire District and Colleton County Fire-Rescue responded to the incident, with one person airlifted to the Medical University of South Carolina due to serious injuries. Dramatic footage showed the home engulfed and subsequently reduced to twisted beams and charred debris.

Judge Diane S. Goodstein has served as a Circuit Court judge since May 1998, presiding over thousands of cases. South Carolina judges are elected by the General Assembly. Her husband, Arnold Goodstein, previously represented Charleston County in the South Carolina House and Senate during the 1970s and has been involved in real estate and community affairs.

Judge Goodstein had received death threats in recent weeks that were linked to her rulings, especially after she blocked the release of voter registration data sought by the Trump administration.

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller both publicly targeted Goodstein, inciting abuse and threats from right-wing activists. The threats escalated after the ruling, placing her and her family under heightened security.

In September, Judge Goodstein issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the South Carolina Election Commission (SCEC) from turning over the voter registration data for over 3 million residents to the US Department of Justice. The DOJ demanded personal detailsincluding Social Security numbersas part of an effort to cull voter rolls and investigate claims of fraudulent voting.

The order came in response to a lawsuit from Dr. Anne Crook, who argued that releasing such data would violate South Carolinas constitutional privacy protections. The release of the personal information data of Plaintiff  would violate Article 1 Section 10 of the Constitution of South Carolina which guarantees Plaintiffs right to privacy, Crooks complaint read. Judge Goodsteins restraining order was overturned by the South Carolina Supreme Court four days before the fire.

Her decision was denounced by Trump administration officials who called it judicial interference that sabotaged federal election integrity efforts. Stephen Miller labeled it and other such decisions a legal insurrection, arguing that district court judges  have issued rulings that are flagrantly unlawful and unconstitutional. It is an insurrection against the laws and Constitution of the United States. We need to have courts that see themselves as under the laws and constitutionnot able to assume powers reserved solely for the president.

The fascist Miller also accused Democrat-appointed judges, prosecutors, and attorneys general of shielding leftwing terrorism and undermining law and order. These incitements have intensified while Trump has ordered military deployments to major US cities in a direct assault on the Constitution.

A surge in violent threats and intimidation against judges who opposed Trump administration policies includes both federal and state judges. Chief US District Judge John McConnell of Rhode Island recounted receiving multiple death threats and harassing phone calls after issuing rulings blocking administration actions.

At a Speak For Justice conference, judges warned publicly that hostile rhetoric from the administration has emboldened dangerous actors and undermined judicial independence. US District Court Judge Esther Salas from New Jersey shared her personal experience after her son was murdered by an assailant who tracked their home, highlighting the real-world consequences of online and media incitement directed at judges.

Legal experts have characterized the current environment as especially perilous for judges. Expert commentary from judicial advocacy groups emphasize that Trump administration figures repeatedly demonize judges as crooked and call for their impeachment or criminal prosecution in the wake of unfavorable rulings.

Experts have also noted the degree of direct public incitement from top political officials is unprecedented in modern American history and warn that when national leaders demonize the judiciary, they are inviting people to do us harm. The fact is that the campaign against the legitimacy of court decisions is part of the dismantling of democratic government and the implementation of a presidential dictatorship run by Donald Trump out of the White House.

Judicial advocacy organizations have called on Congress and professional associations to safeguard the independence and physical safety of judges, arguing that normal appeals processes must prevail over political intimidation.

Republican leaders in Congress, including Speaker Mike Johnson, have called for leveraging congressional powers to restrict or eliminate federal courts that block Trump administration policies. Johnson said, We can eliminate an entire district court. We do have power over funding over the courts and all these other things. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and Congress is going to act.

House Republicans have introduced articles of impeachment against multiple judges issuing nationwide injunctions against administration initiatives. Although the impeachments are unlikely to succeed, they have discussed alternative legislative approaches to restrict the judiciarys role in reviewing executive actions.

The fire at Judge Diane Goodsteins home remains under investigation and so far, there is no official word as to the cause of the blaze. Meanwhile, the fire took place amid a wave of threats and political attacks on the judiciary by Donald Trump and leading members of his administration and Judge Goodstein had recently been the subject of death threats.

The aim of the fascists in the White House and their congressional allies and equally far-right representatives of the Republican Party is to intimidate and eliminate any judicial obstacles to the establishment of an authoritarian regime and presidential dictatorship in the US.
Indonesia has announced a change in the validity of mining production quotas, reducing the period from three years to one year as of 3 October.

The government aims to exert more control over output levels to stabilise commodity prices, including those of coal and nickel, reported Reuters.

This move was initially indicated by the countrys Mining Minister, Bahlil Lahadalia, in July.

According to the ministry, quotas for 2025 will still be in effect. However, miners are required to reapply for quotas that were granted earlier for 2026 and 2027.

Companies are required to submit their work plan and budget (RKAB) proposals between 1 October and 15 November each year.

RKAB proposals are documents used by companies to request approved mining volumes for a set period.

The Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI) expressed concern over the limited time for RKAB submission and approval for 2026 and hoped that it will not affect mining operations.

APBI executive director Gita Mahyarani was quoted by the news outlet as saying: "This is closely related to certainty in business sustainability, from investment to contract fulfilment."

According to the updated regulations, miners must now demonstrate that they have allocated a specific amount of funds for land rehabilitation after mining activities are completed, as a prerequisite for obtaining their RKAB approval.

This requirement aligns with the ministry's recent suspension of 190 mining permits due to non-compliance with land rehabilitation and production quotas, according to a report by state media outlet Antara.

Last month, a 148-hectare (ha) area at PT Weda Bay Nickels concession was seized for lacking a necessary forestry licence.

The Indonesian taskforce also seized a 173ha area managed by PT Tonia Mitra Sejahtera in south-east Sulawesi.

These moves impacted nickel prices as Indonesia is the largest producer of nickel products in the world.

"Indonesia shortens mining production quotas to one year" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




A U.S. federal judge has allowed Coinbase shareholders to pursue a narrower version of their class-action lawsuit, which accuses the crypto exchange of misleading investors about regulatory and financial risks.

U.S. District Judge Brian Martinotti in Newark, New Jersey, ruled this week that the case can proceed, rejecting Coinbases request to dismiss it entirely. The decision marks a key step for investors who say they were misled about the potential for U.S. regulators to target the company and the security of customer funds during bankruptcy.

In a 59-page ruling, Martinotti declined to parse through every disputed claim, writing in a footnote that judges are not like pigs, hunting for truffles buried in briefs, a nod to the parties disagreement over which allegations were still at issue.

The core of the lawsuit

The class action, led by Swedens Sjunde AP-Fonden pension fund, represents Coinbase shareholders who bought stock between April 14, 2021, and June 5, 2023  a period marked by major volatility in both crypto markets and regulatory scrutiny.

According to filings cited by Reuters, the shareholders claim Coinbase and certain executives  including CEO Brian Armstrong and CFO Alesia Haas  made misleading statements and omissions about key risks.

Specifically, investors argue that Coinbase:

Downplayed the likelihood of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) taking enforcement action.

Failed to warn that customers could lose access to their assets if the company filed for bankruptcy.

Understated how regulatory and operational risks could impact its financial performance.

The alleged misrepresentations appeared in regulatory filings, earnings calls, blog posts, and social media communications from 2021 through 2023, according to the complaint.

Coinbase and SEC's history

The shareholder suit unfolds against the backdrop of Coinbases broader battle with the SEC. The regulator sued the company in 2023, alleging it had illegally listed and sold securities. Coinbase denied the allegations, arguing that its exchange listings did not qualify as securities transactions.

That case was later dropped in February 2025, after the Trump administration signaled a more industry-friendly stance on digital asset regulation.

More news:

In response to the ruling, Coinbase issued a statement calling the decision a "significant step forward," and said it remains committed to defending itself against the remaining claims. Lawyers representing shareholders did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This story was originally published on Payments Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Payments Dive newsletter.

A South Florida police pension fund and a European-based investment firm want to serve as lead plaintiff in a class-action shareholder lawsuit against Fiserv over the payment behemoths Clover unit.

The motions last month were filed by the pension fund for police officers in Hollywood, Florida, along with a competing motion from Ethenea Independent Investors SA of Luxembourg.

The officers pension fund said it lost $1.67 million on a decline in Fiserv shares, while Etheneas flagship fund, Ethna-AKTIV, lost $5.95 million on its Fiserv investment, according to the investment firms Sept. 22 brief.

A federal courts designation of a lead shareholder plaintiff is heavily influenced by the size of an investors purported loss and their attorneys ability to oversee the litigation on behalf of other plaintiffs, as outlined in the 1995 Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, according to court filings.

The lawsuit, filed in July in federal court, alleges the payment processor misled investors by failing to disclose it had forcibly migrated merchants to its Clover point-of-sale product in late 2023 through the first half of 2024. Fiserv executives made misleading statements about Clovers growth, leading to major share price declines earlier this year after the company revealed shortfalls in Clover payment volumes and overall company revenue growth, the lawsuit alleges.

The complaint names Fiserv and four current and former executives as defendants, including Chief Executive Michael Lyons and former CEO Frank Bisignano, who now oversees the Social Security Administration and was named chief executive of the Internal Revenue Service this week.

The litigation covers investors who bought or owned Fiserv stock between July 24, 2024 and July 22, 2025.

Fiserv had no comment on the lead plaintiff process, a company spokesperson said Monday in an email, adding that Fiserv disagrees with the claims and will vigorously defend itself.

Shares of Milwaukee-based Fiserv have declined 38% this year. Lyons became CEO in May when the Senate confirmed Bisignano for the Social Security role.

The complaint was filed in the Southern District of New York by the pension fund for 733 active and retired Hollywood, Florida, police officers, which manages about $460 million, according to court documents.

Ethenea Independent Investors SA manages 2.4 billion euros ($2.8 billion) in assets, describing itself as a sophisticated institutional investor based in Luxembourg, according to its Sept. 22 brief supporting its lead-plaintiff motion.
Davenport Junior Theatre will present Honk! Jr, a contemporary and comic re-telling of Hans Christian Andersens :The Ugly Duckling. Based on the award-winning musical Honk! by George Stiles (composer) and Anthony Drewe (books and lyrics), the show is a witty and heartwarming celebration of what makes each of us special.

(Davenport Junior Theatre)

Honk! Jr. hatches at the Nighswander Theatre on the Annie Wittenmyer Campus, 2822 Eastern Ave., Davenport, on Saturdays, Oct. 11 and 18, at 1 and 4 p.m., and Sundays, Oct. 12 and 19, at 3 p.m. An American Sign Language interpreted performance will be the 1 p.m. Oct. 11 show.

Doors open 30 minutes before the show. No reservations are required. The show runs about 70 minutes and is appropriate for all ages. The Davenport Junior Theatre is in the Annie Wittenmyer Complex at 2822 Eastern Ave., Davenport.

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Admission is free, but donations will be accepted. For more information on the show, visit here.

(Davenport Junior Theatre)

The story follows Ugly, who hatches looking quite a bit different from his darling duckling brothers and sisters. The other animals on the farm are quick to notice, and despite his loving mothers protective flapping, Uglys odd, gawky looks instantly incite prejudice from his family and neighbors. When Ugly is separated from the farm and pursued by a hungry cat, he must find his way home. Along his harrowing yet hilarious journey he not only discovers his true beauty and glorious destiny, but also finds love and acceptance in all its forms.

The Junior Theatre company includes 35 students ages 1018, in roles both on and off stage. Junior Theatre Artistic Director Ashley Becher serves as the shows director/choreographer.

Not a lot of the kids knew this show, but now they all love it, says Becher. The music and characters are vibrant, and the story is poignant. Its been a blast introducing them to the material. I know audiences will fall in love with this gem of a show.

(Davenport Junior Theatre)

While classes have moved to the Kimberly campus, all performances will continue at the Nighswander Theatre on the Annie Wittenmyer campus. This is our first show in our split campus configuration, and we ask that audience members be patient with us as we navigate the best way to accommodate parking. says Junior Theatre Board President Nicole Savatski.

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Junior Theatre requests that anyone able to, park in the pool lot down the hill, or in the parking lots on the north end of the campus (off the corner of Wittenmyer Lane and Eastern Avenue), leaving close parking spaces for elderly patrons and families with small children. The parking lot previously used around the back of the cottages is closed off and not available for use.

For information on the show and other offerings at Junior Theatre, visit here.

This project is supported by Quad City Arts re-granting program Arts Dollars, supported by the Illinois Arts Council Agency, the Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, and the Quad Cities Community Foundation  Isabel Bloom Art Education Endowment. Additional support is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts Council, which exists within the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Tech and accessibility assistance was made possible by funds contributed by the Scott County Regional Authority. Culvers of Bettendorf is a Junior Theatre Season 74 sponsor.

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 WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.




"Mary Poppins" actor Dick Van Dyke sang to a Connecticut fan on Sunday.

The 99-year-old actor sang "Happy Birthday" to a 6-year-old who traveled with his mother from Connecticut to a Malibu, California charity event to meet Van Dyke in person, according to People.

Van Dyke led a sing-along for the 6-year-old fan, who was holding Bert and Mary Poppins dolls throughout the event, according to People.

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The charity event, Vandy High Tea, raised funds for The Van Dyke Endowment of the Arts and the Dick Van Dyke Museum. The event was held at Van Dyke's home, Vandy Manor. Attendees were able to enjoy tea and sandwiches while they asked Van Dyke questions and enjoyed live performances from The Vantastix, Dan West, LoveyDove and more, according to an Instagram post from Vandy Camp.

Vandy Camp is an initiative Van Dyke started with his wife, Arlene, in which they host events and camps for fans, according to Vandy Camp's Instagram page.

During the Vandy High Tea event, Van Dyke not only performed "Happy Birthday," he also sang "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and the theme from "The Dick Van Dyke Show," according to People.

The actor also told attendees that it would "be funny" if he didn't make it to his 100th birthday, according to The New York Post. He will turn 100 on Dec. 13.

This article originally published at Actor Dick Van Dyke sings 'Happy Birthday' to Connecticut fan for his 6th birthday.
Actor Nick Offerman received his first Emmy Award in 2024 for his role as "Bill" in HBOs "The Last of Us," and during that acceptance speech, he quoted author Wendell Berry, a Kentuckian whom Offerman has long admired.

"In 1995, I read a collection of his short stories which are so full of common sense, and it affected me so profoundly that I am still aspiring to the sort of vision and work of Wendell Berry," Offerman told the Courier Journal. "Just reading his stories I think 'holy cow, this is rife with the values that my parents did their best to instill in me and that I now understand is the whole purpose of life. It's finding the people that are your purpose and nurturing and taking care of others."

On Oct. 11, Offerman, who is best known as "Ron Swanson" from his time on NBC's "Parks and Recreation," will be making a special appearance in New Castle, Kentucky near The Berry Center, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting land-conserving communities, sustainable farming, and the agrarian philosophy of Berry.

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Outside of his acting career, Offerman is an expert carpenter and woodworker who has written several humorous books on the topic. His latest, "Little Woodchucks," is a manifesto on creativity and invites readers of all ages into Offerman's woodshop with personal reflections on woodworking alongside instructions to create 12 family-friendly projects perfect for kids, from beginner projects like a handmade box kite to more challenging offerings like a little free library.

"Little Woodchucks" by Nick Offerman will be available starting Oct. 14, 2025

More: Hosts of 'Reading Rainbow' and 'Murder Sheet' podcast to speak at Louisville Book Festival

"Building things with tools is a superpower and the perfect way to encourage eye contact and other old-fashioned familial engagements, while introducing your kids to the satisfaction and good, clean fun of hands-on crafting," he said. The reality is that this is book is made for the parent to read to their kids and for them to have conversations about how they can make things together as a family."

Offerman, who can currently be seen in the feature film "Sovereign" and in "Death By Lightning," (Nov. 6, Netflix), will be in Kentucky Oct. 11 at The Locker, 24 S. Main St. in New Castle. Due to overwhelming response, the book release party, originally scheduled to be held at The Berry Center, has been moved to a larger building across the street.

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The ticketed event will include a family-friendly afternoon of woodworking, including a signed copy of "Little Woodchucks: Offerman Woodshop's Guide to Tools and Tomfoolery," which will be released Oct. 14.

More: Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman coming to Louisville for unique musical experience

Other books by Offerman, which include "Gumption," "Paddle Your Own Canoe," "Where The Deer and The Antelope Play," and "Good Clean Fun," are available at The Bookstore at The Berry Center.

Here's what else to know about the upcoming event:

Nick Offerman's "Little Woodchucks" book release event

Actor and author NIck Offerman has written a new book "Little Woodchucks: Offerman Woodshop's Guide to Tools and Tomfoolery" Woodworking for kids, large and small. A manifesto on creativity.

WHAT: A book release party for "Little Woodchucks: Offerman Woodshop's Guide to Tools and Tomfoolery," including a conversation with Nick Offerman.

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WHERE: The Locker, 24 S. Main St., New Castle, Kentucky

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 11, starting at 2 p.m.

COST: Tickets $40

MORE INFORMATION: ourhomeplacemeat.com

Reach features reporter Kirby Adams at kadams@courier-journal.com.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Actor Nick Offerman 'Little Woodchucks' book release party Kentucky
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Bill Burr has never been afraid to express his very honest opinions on a topic. And when it comes to people who are criticizing his decision to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, he is making his thoughts on the matter incredibly clear.

On Sunday night, Conan OBrien hosted a live episode of his podcast, Conan OBrien Needs a Friend, at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, with Burr as his secret guest. But it was immediately clear to the audience, which included The Hollywood Reporter, that the comedian probably wasnt banking on just how many headlines his name would be making when he agreed to join OBrien for a live chat.

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When OBrien teased that it had been an eventful week for Burr, he responded with a sarcastic: Its been f***ing fantastic.

Burr was one of approximately 50 top-tier comedians who made the trip to Saudi Arabia for the first-ever Riyadh Comedy Festival, which also featured sets from the likes of Dave Chappelle, Pete Davidson, Aziz Ansari, Kevin Hart, Whitney Cummings, and Jeff Ross as well as Louis C.K. The event was met with outrage by many, including big comedy names like Marc Maron and David Cross, who denounced the countrys long history of censorship and human rights abuses.

After speaking about the experience on the September 30th edition of his own podcast, calling the event a mind-blowing experience. Definitely top three experiences Ive had, and noting that he believes its going to lead to a lot of positive things, Burr was out of niceties by the time his sit-down with OBrien occurred.

A defiant Burr explained his position, saying: The general consensus is, How dare you go to that place and make those oppressed people laugh, you f***ing piece of s**t. I cant believe you went to that place. I cant find it on a map, and this bot said I was upset about it so now I am.'

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Its one thing to wear clothes made by sweatshop labor, Burr continued. Its quite another to go to the factory and make em laugh. I cant believe how much anger I had about this issue after it went viral.

Burr Delivers a Fiery, Two-Word Response

As for those critics? He had a NSFW two-word description for them: Sanctimonious c***s.

All of these sanctimonious c***s out there who dont really sincerely give a s**t: If you actually give a f**k about those people and how theyre living over there, theres going to have to be these types of things to pull them in, he continued. And I will tell you, the Cheesecake Factory in Riyadh, its incredible. Its right next to Pizza Hut and KFC, and if you want a pair of Timberlands, its across the street next to the Marriott, catty-corner to the f***ing Hilton.

This story was originally reported by Men's Journal on Oct 8, 2025, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Actor Cheryl Hines may be best known for her role alongside Larry David on HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," but these days, she's navigating a very different kind of spotlight  as the wife of Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to being a political spouse. A Cabinet spouse," Hines told CBS News' Natalie Morales.

She's speaking about it in her new memoir, "Unscripted," where she reflects on her unexpected journey from Hollywood to Washington politics.

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Hines moved to Washington earlier this year after Kennedy joined President Trump's Cabinet as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. It was David, her longtime co-star, who introduced her to Kennedy. The couple married in 2014.

In 2023, Hines supported her husband's presidential campaign, but the experience brought deep anxiety and growing concerns for his safety. She said Kennedy did not receive United States Secret Service protection after launching his 2024 campaign in April of that year.

Hines said she often is worried about his safety given the Kennedy family's history. Kennedy's father, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated in 1968 during his own presidential campaign  just five years after his uncle, President John F. Kennedy, was killed in Dallas while riding in a motorcade.

Navigating the vaccine debate

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Those fears intensified as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became a prominent critic of COVID and vaccines, though Hines said their conflicting views haven't strained their relationship.

"I'm definitely the one that has all the feelings and he's the one that wants to talk about the facts and the studies, and so sometimes we really have a hard time communicating," Hines said. "Bobby and I, we're able to disagree on things. I mean, sometimes we have heated discussions, but we always come back around to, 'I hear what you're saying.'"

When asked about her stance on vaccines, Hines didn't say where she stands on the debate, but said she sees both sides of the issue.

"I understand how people feel like, 'We have to do it. Do not question it. If that's what's coming down from the government, let's trust that.' I understand that," she said. "And then I also understand the mothers, the parents who talk to me personally and say, 'My child was different after they got vaccinated.' Let's listen to people. Let's listen to parents. Let's listen to doctors, to science."

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Kennedy has clashed with some doctors and scientists who work for him, as well as members of his own family. His cousin Caroline Kennedy has publicly called his views on vaccines "dangerous" and "disqualifying."

"It was hard. I found it to be hard," Hines said of the family rift. "I always thought the Kennedy family, one of their virtues was that family came first, and I admired that. So when some of his family decided to attack him publicly, it was disappointing."

Finding humor in politics

Hines said she relies on humor to cope with her new role.

"I'll just act like I know what I'm doing until someone says, 'Don't curtsy. A curtsy is not needed in this moment,'" she joked.

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The political arena has also affected Hines' personal relationships in Hollywood.

"I have a few friends, when Bobby stepped into the political arena, it became too difficult emotionally for them to stay close, just a few friends," she said. "And I understand it."

When asked what David thought about Kennedy joining the Trump Cabinet, Hines said that'll be a question for David.

"But let's be honest: He can't love it," she said.

Hines said she is making friends in Washington, including with several spouses of other Cabinet members, and recalled that Kennedy once proposed staging a separation to protect her from public criticism.

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"I didn't understand what, how that was gonna help," Hines said. "But I understood what he was talking about. I appreciated it."

Their blended families  her daughter Cat and his six children from two previous marriages  have provided support through difficult times, including a public feud with some of Kennedy's siblings who opposed his presidential platform.

Hines said even Kennedy's mother, Ethel Kennedy, was surprised by the family division.

"Bobby told her that he was running for president, and she told him she was proud of him and then asked, 'Who of the siblings are working on your campaign?'" Hines recounted. "And he said that they're not working on it and some are opposing him. And she was very surprised."

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Political Violence and Moving Forward

Hines and Kennedy attended the memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk after his assassination, and she said the dangerous political climate frightens her most.

When asked what needs to be done to lower the political temperature, Hines said: "I think everyone needs to take a step back, listen to each other and find that place where it is OK to disagree with somebody. It's good to surround yourself with people who don't think exactly like you. But instead of hating somebody for that, maybe taking a minute to understand why they think like that."

That philosophy has helped even in her own marriage.

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"We are really close. I like spending time with him. I love him. I love our family and our kids. It's not always gonna be easy, but we also know not everybody's gonna like what you're saying, what you're doing, and that's OK, too. It just is OK. That's life,'" she said.

"Unscripted" is available for pre-order and will be released Nov. 11.

Slain Israeli hostage's mom believes peace now "possible for sure"

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BAGHDAD (Reuters) -Exxon Mobil signed an agreement with Iraq on Wednesday to help it develop its large Majnoon oilfield and expand its oil export infrastructure, marking a return to the country two years after leaving.

OPEC's second largest producer is looking to draw back Western oil majors and increase output constrained by years of war, corruption and sectarian tensions.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced that a deal was signed with Exxon but included few details.

It will involve a profit-sharing agreement covering crude oil and refined products and plans to upgrade Iraqi oil export infrastructure in the south, according to four sources with knowledge of the matter.

Iraq's state oil company SOMO will also sign an agreement with Exxon to secure storage capacity in the Asian market, the sources said.

SOMO and Exxon did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Iraqi state news agency INA reported in September that SOMO was in advanced talks with Exxon over a possible agreement to secure storage capacity in Singapore using tanks owned by the U.S. oil major.

In the past two years, Iraq has signed agreements with oil majors that had previously left, including Chevron, France's TotalEnergies and the UK's BP.

Exxon was one of the first Western oil firms to enter Iraq to develop oil fields after the U.S. invasion in 2003. But it left the West Qurna project due to what sources described as poor returns.

It also tried to develop fields in Iraq's semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan despite Baghdad's ire but also left those projects due to what sources said were poor exploration results.

After exiting Iraq's giant West Qurna 1 oilfield, Exxon transferred its remaining stake and operatorship to PetroChina, which became the lead contractor.

In September, Iraqs federal government reached an agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and international oil companies to resume crude exports through Turkey that were suspended in 2023.

That is expected to eventually return up to 230,000 barrels per day to international markets at a time when OPEC+ oil-producing countries are boosting output to gain market share.

(Reporting by Aref Mohammed in Basra and Ahmed Rasheed in Baghdad; additional reporting by Stephanie Kelly in London; Writing by Ahmed Elimam; editing by Elaine Hardcastle, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Jason Neely)
Hugh Jackman and Sutton Fosters romance has caught attention once again. The couple recently visited Ball State University in Indiana as instructors to the musical theatre department students. The Younger alum shared a clip on Instagram, which showed their time at the university.

Several photos of the two also went viral online. While the celebrity pair was all smiles, a body language expert claimed that the 56-year-olds gesture hinted at longing.

Body language expert says Hugh Jackman seeks public clarity about his relationship with Sutton Foster

Hugh Jackman recently joined Sutton Foster at Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana. She has reportedly been serving as an instructor to the musical theatre department for the fall semester.

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According to Daily Mail, the Greatest Showman star has accompanied his girlfriend multiple times.

Foster has also shared a video on Instagram, where the two were guiding the students. She wrote in the caption: Hugh and I had a great time working with the talented students at Ball State University last week! Several photos of them also circulated online, in which the couple was surrounded by learners.

While they happily posed for the cameras, body language expert Judi James told the outlet that things didnt seem all good between them. Allegedly, Jackman appeared to be longing for more public clarity as a couple. The source claimed that they appeared in the video like a professional couple without showing any romantic signals.

Furthermore, James specifically highlighted a group photo, in which the Logan leads head seemed tilted towards Foster. It hinted at a possible desire for closeness. It appears spontaneous from him, but its not reciprocated by her, suggesting hes longing for more public clarity when it comes to their status as a couple, she added.

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Jackman and his girlfriend confirmed their relationship at the beginning of this year. He also ended his 27 years of marriage with Deborra-Lee Furness in June. However, they had announced their separation in September 2023.

Originally reported by Suushmmita Sen on Reality Tea

The post Hugh Jackman & Sutton Fosters Body Language Exposes Their Status as a Couple, Says Expert appeared first on Mandatory.
Nicole Kidman apparently wanted to work on her marriage with Keith Urban. Sources say the actress didnt want the divorce  but that she is moving on and feeling positive. The Moulin Rouge star has made several public appearances since the split was announced last week.

Nicole Kidman is in good spirits despite Keith Urban breakup

Photo Credit: Dominique Charriau/Getty Images

While it was Nicole who filed for the divorce on September 30, a source claims she was actually hoping to work things out. The insider told People that the actress didnt want this and had been fighting to save the marriage. The revelation comes amid rumors that Keith is romancing his guitarist Maggie Baugh.

The same source revealed that Nicole has been leaning on her family to help her through the tough time. They said: Nicoles sister has been a rock, and the entire Kidman family has come together to support one another,

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Still, its back to business as usual for the star. She was pictured at a charity auction in Texas on Saturday, and attended a Chanel show at Paris Fashion Week on Monday. The couples two teenage daughters were also present.

A source told People that Nicole feels ready to move on with her life. They revealed: Shes had a good attitude about everything and life goes on. She was in Texas this weekend and is happy to be back at work.

A different insider previously told the publication: Shes been stressed because she knew the separation would eventually become public and she was dreading it. But shes surprisingly level-headed and calm. Now that its out, shes just focused on whats ahead and her girls.

Nicole will need to keep a positive mindset if recent reports are true  apparently she could be set to lose a number of properties as part of the divorce.

TELL US  BEST WAY TO GET OVER A BREAKUP?

The post Nicole Kidman Was Fighting To Save Keith Urban Marriage, Claims Source appeared first on Reality Tea.
Director Tobe Hooper terrified audiences in 1974 with "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" featuring an iconic horror movie villain who wears a mask made out of his victims' skin.

While the chainsaw-wielding Leatherface is a fictional creation, aspects of his character borrow from the real story of Ed Gein  which is why the horror character makes an appearance in the finale of "Monster: The Ed Gein Story."

Nearly 20 years before "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" drew screams from theater goers, Gein made headlines for a pair of grisly murders and a collection of chilling human artifacts at his farm in Wisconsin.

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Gein is portrayed by actor Charlie Hunnam in the new Netflix series "Monster: The Ed Gein Story," which began streaming on Oct. 3. Gein's influence on the horror and suspense genres has been profound, from films in the 1960s to the present day.

Here is how Gein is connected to "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," which has spawned eight sequels as well as comics and video games.

Who was Ed Gein?

Raised with his older brother on an isolated Wisconsin farm by his domineering mother and abusive father, Gein became infamous for a pair of murders and other crimes discovered by local authorities in 1957.

Ed Gein (right) stands with his attorney William Belter at the Wabsara County Court in Wisconsin on Nov. 21, 1957. (Bettmann Archive)

Gein confessed to killing two local woman after the corpse of one of them was found decapitated on his property. He also told authorities he exhumed the bodies of several women from a local cemetery.

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A 1957 report issued by Central State Hospital in Wisconsin said an investigation of his home "revealed several so-called human masks, the use of human skin as upholstery material for a chair and other remains of human anatomy."

Gein spent the rest of his life in mental institutions after his arrest in 1957 and died at 77 in 1984.

How did Ed Gein Influence 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre"?

The fictional plot line of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" has to do with a group of teens who are attacked by a ghoulish family of cannibals at a rural home in Texas after their van runs out of gas and they go looking for help.

While that part does not mirror Gein's story, the character of Leatherface, who was played by Gunnar Hansen in the original film, is inspired by Gein's crimes. Hooper was aware of the story when he made the film.

Gunnar Hansen as Leatherface in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" in 1974. (Alamy )

"I had relatives from Wisconsin and they would pay us a visit when I was about four or five years old," Hooper told The Flashback Files in 2015. "They told us the story about this man who lived in the next town from them, about 27 miles or so, who was digging up graves and using the bones and skin in his house. That was all I knew about it. They didnt mention his name. But to me he was like a real boogeyman."

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Leatherface, a mentally disabled man child, wears the papery skin of his victims as a mask on his own face in the films. Authorities who searched Gein's Wisconsin home in 1957 found masks made out of women's skin. He denied any accusations of cannibalism, which differs from the family in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."

Gein told police that he disinterred bodies of women from the Plainfield Cemetery near his home in Wisconsin, according to official reports in the book "The Ed Gein File" produced by John Borowski. Gein stripped the skin from the skulls, but told interviewers he has no memory of his crimes.

In "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" and its sequels, Leatherface can be seen hanging his victims on hooks like a butcher readying to eviscerate a pig. When the body of one of Gein's victims, Bernice Worden, was found on his property in 1957, her corpse was decapitated and hung upside down like livestock at a slaughterhouse, according to police and news reports.

The family's home in the horror movie also has furniture made from the bones of humans and animals. Human remains turned into lampshades and other furniture were found in Gein's home.

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Also, the deranged family in the movies lives in a foreboding home in a remote wilderness in Texas. Gein also lived in isolation on a farm in Plainfield, Wisconsin.

A notable difference is that there was no evidence Gein used a chainsaw to murder or dismember his victims, whereas it's an integral part of what makes Leatherface so terrifying. Gein's two known victims were killed by gunshot.

"The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" isn't the only iconic horror movie to draw from Gein's story. His overall cultural impact is examined in "Monster."

He was the inspiration for Alfred Hitchcocks Psycho, Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, so he had this huge cultural influence, Charlie Hunnam, who plays Gein in "Monster," told TODAY on Sept. 30. We sort of go back and look at the inspiration behind the inspiration for those films.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
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Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

This article contains discussions of kidnapping, abuse, and murder.

The Ryan Murphy television universe has become known for two things: shocking stories that fictionalize real-life events, and unexpected castings with pop-culture buzziest stars. These traits come together in the newly released Monster: The Ed Gein Story, which features the character of Evelyn Hartley, played by former TikTok star and rising pop princess Addison Rae.

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In the eight-episode Netflix series, Evelyn is a local babysitter who's killed by Gein when their professional paths cross. Though the real Ed Gein did babysit children, as one of his many odd jobs, Hartley's real-life connection to the serial killer is more conjecture than fact. Below, we break down what we know about Evelyn Hartley's true story, and how it differs from the true-crime drama.

Who was Evelyn Hartley, the young woman played by Addison Rae in 'Monster: The Ed Gein Story?'

Introduced in episode 3 of Monster: The Ed Gein Story, the fictional Evelyn Hartley is a young woman living in Wisconsin who leaves her babysitting gig as she struggles with a polio diagnosis. Her replacement is Ed Gein, after his girlfriend Adeline Watkins accepts his marriage proposal.

This goes as horribly as expected; Ed brings the kids to his barn of human horrors and is subsequently fired. But when the family rehires Evelyn, Ed deludes himself into thinking that she stole the job out from under him. Soon after, he kidnaps Evelyn and takes her to his barn, murdering her in a disturbing sequence that echoes the hammer scene from the classic 1974 horror movie The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

In Monster: The Ed Gein Story, Evelyn (Addison Rae) is one of Ed Gein's (Charlie Hunnam) victims. | Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

The real Evelyn Grace Hartley was born in 1937, the daughter of a biology professor. In October 1953, the 15-year-old disappeared from a home in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where she was babysitting the 20-month-old daughter of another professor, Viggo Rasmussen. Though over 2,000 people were involved in her search party, Hartley was never found.

Did Ed Gein kill Evelyn Hartley?

In late 1957, Ed Gein was arrested following the murder of hardware-store owner Bernice Worden (played by Lesley Manville in Monster). Gein eventually confessed to killing both Worden and tavern owner Mary Hogan, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, as well as digging up "nine or 10" graves to harvest body parts.

At that time, Gein was also reportedly questioned about the disappearances of more women and girls, including Evelyn Hartley and 8-year-old Georgia Weckler. Though Gein was visiting family near the Rasmussen home on the night Hartley vanished, Gein maintained his innocence, and none of Hartley's DNA was found at his barn. In November 1957, police announced that Gein was cleared of any connection to both Hartley and Weckler's cases. However, many still believed he could be involved (hence her inclusion in the fictional series).
The Netflix TV miniseries "Monster: The Ed Gein Story" takes its share of liberties with the story of Ed Gein, a notorious killer from Plainfield, Wisconsin, who skinned and repurposed his victims.

Nothing gets more metatextual than the eighth and final episode of the series, which largely fictionalizes Gein's later years confined in a hospital. Here are some things that might be helpful to know.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for "Monster: The Ed Gein Story" and includes descriptions of the graphic details portrayed.

Did Ed Gein help catch Ted Bundy?

Seemingly creating an eye-winking homage to another popular Netflix/serial killer saga, "Mindhunter," the show portrays real-life FBI agents John Douglas and Robert Ressler visiting Gein during the process of trying to catch a serial killer that the audience already knows is Ted Bundy.

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The actors portraying the two agents look startingly like actors Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany, who play characters based on the agents in "Mindhunter," a wildly popular Netflix show that first debuted in 2017 and tells the story of FBI agents interviewing serial killers to gain a greater understanding of their patholgy.

The show even brings in Happy Anderson, the actor who played "Shoe Fetish Slayer" Jerry Brudos  the same role he played on "Mindhunter."The episode tries to convince us that most of the era's serial killers used Gein as inspiration, and that the agents were ultimately able to catch Bundy because of information passed along by Gein. The show leaves enough ambiguity to make the viewer question whether it's all a schizophrenic episode generated in Gein's own mind. But none of that actually happened.

Bundy was initially arrested fleeing a patrol car, and there's no indication Gein was ever interviewed by Douglas and Ressler.

Who was Ted Bundy?

The notorious serial killer was executed in Florida in 1989 at age 42. He was convicted of three murders but confessed to 30, with the total number of killings unknown. He sexually assaulted and murdered women in the Pacific Northwest, Colorado, Utah and Florida between 1974 and 1978. He escaped custody twice.

Did Ed Gein have any connection to Ted Bundy?

No, nor is there evidence he communicated with another notorious serial killer from prison. In the show, the connection between Gein and Richard "Birdman" Speck brings about the evidence that helps authorities catch Bundy.

Is Ed Gein a serial killer?

Not by the traditional definition of three or more murders in separate events, though it fits if the definition is two events. Evidence and Gein confessions pointed to the Plainfield man killing two women, in addition to digging up the graves of nine to 10 others. Gein killed tavern owner Mary Hogan in 1954 and hardware store owner Bernice Worden in 1957; he was apprehended after the latter victim's body was found in his shed.

Another clue that Ryan Murphy's Netflix show is messing with the viewer

In case the "Mindhunter" tie-in wasn't enough of a wink from the show's creators  especially for fans of the show who have been clamoring for a third season  there's a scene in the finale where the head nurse at the institution holding Gein advises him to write a book, noting that so many other people have taken liberties with his story.

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It is absolutely safe to assume the creators of the show intend that to be slightly comedic, since the show itself takes ample liberties, most prominently with its depiction of characters like murder victim Bernice Worden and Gein's girlfriend and confidante, Adeline Watkins.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Did Wisconsin killer Ed Gein provide a tip that helped catch Ted Bundy?
Rosie ODonnell claims her blowout fight with Elisabeth Hasselbeck on The View in 2007 was a setup.

The comedian reflected on the shocking TV moment in a new interview on the Ricki-Lee, Tim Joel radio show, recalling how late producer Bill Geddie was not one to be caught off guard on live television.

Our producer is not an on-the-fly kind of guy, he wasnt mister like, Lets go to the split-screen. That was prepared, ODonnell alleged. So, the whole thing, I think, was a setup.

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A rep for ABC and The View declined to comment. Hasselbeck did not respond to our request.

Rosie ODonnell claimed in a new interview that she was set up by The View producers during an infamous fight with Elisabeth Hasselbeck in 2007. Ricki-Lee & Tim Joel/TikTok

Our producer is not an on-the-fly kind of guy, he wasnt mister like, Lets go to the split-screen. That was prepared, ODonnell claimed. ABC

The moment ODonnell was referencing took place on May 23, 2007, when the View co-hosts were in the middle of a heated debate about Americas involvement in the Iraq war.

ODonnell, now 63, called out Hasselbeck, now 48, during the segment for not defending her when the media accused the Rosie ODonnell Show alum of calling US troops terrorists.

You are an adult and I am certainly not going to be the person for you to explain your thoughts; theyre your thoughts! Hasselbeck shouted back, as the screen split to show them side-by-side.

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ODonnell added on the recent radio show that the dispute struck a nerve because she believed that she and Hasselbeck had a genuine friendship off-camera at the time.

The View co-hosts had been in a heated debate about the Iraq War. ABC

ODonnell told Hasselbeck at the time that she felt she had not defended her when her words on the subject were misconstrued. ABC

Hasselbeck replied at the time, You are an adult and I am certainly not going to be the person for you to explain your thoughts. ABC

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I can not believe that this woman, after all I did for her, because when I took that job, I made one commitment to myself, that I was not going to be her enemy, that I was going to meet her as a person, the Rosie Show alum explained.

She came to my house, she was in my pool, she brought her little kid, I took her kid to Sesame Street Live, I took her to her first Broadway opening, adding she bent over backwards for this woman.

ODonnell and Hasselbecks feud continued after they left The View in 2013 and 2015, respectively.

ODonnell added in her recent radio interview, I can not believe that this woman, after all I did for her. Ricki-Lee & Tim Joel/TikTok

Hasselbeck has not yet responded to ODonnells latest statements. ABC via Getty Images

ODonnell disclosed to journalist Ramin Setoodeh, who then shared it in his book Ladies Who Punch: The Explosive Inside Story of The View, that she once had a little bit of a crush on Hasselbeck but not in a sexual way, and that the latters softball past had underlying lesbian undertones.

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Hasselbeck called the confession offensive and disturbing, adding, I think her casting a stereotype on female athletes in what she said  and that all female athletes are a little bit gay  Thats an unfair stereotype and it seems selfish in a way and I think that its untrue.

ODonnell then responded to the Conservative pundit via X (formerly Twitter), writing, surely u recall b4 it all went wrong  i never objectified u  i did find u fantastic  broadway shows  my pool -we were friends once



god love ya kid  i always did.
Ask most travelers about Northern Italy, and they'll reel off the classics  Milan for alta moda, Venice for canals (here are the most underrated and most intriguing parts of the city, according to Rick Steves), and Verona for Juliet's legendary balcony. But mention Brescia, and chances are you'll get a blank stare. This is quite a pity, considering that this city of nearly 200,000 people boasts one of the richest histories in the region.

Brescia is nicknamed La Leonessa d'Italia (literally, "the Lioness of Italy")  a title popularized by Italy's first Nobel laureate in Literature, Giosue Carducci, to honor the city's courageous stand against Austrian troops during the Ten Days of Brescia in 1849. This Lombard city truly feels like an open-air museum. From the splendidly maintained Roman Capitolium and theater  part of a UNESCO World Heritage site dating back to a time when the city was known as Brixia  you can walk to the medieval Brescia Castle, strategically built atop Cidneo hill. This castle's nickname, Falcone d'Italia, was inspired by yet another animal  a falcon  as it looms over the landscape as a falcon would do in flight. Then there are the Renaissance piazzas lined with elegant palazzi and two cathedrals, one old and one new, facing each other in the same square.

And the best part? Brescia still feels refreshingly local. In the city's charming trattorie, you can savor traditional dishes like casoncelli, stuffed egg pasta filled with aged cheese, breadcrumbs, herbs, and, in many modern versions, meat, typically served with melted butter, sage leaves, and an additional sprinkle of cheese. For an even heartier dish, spiedo bresciano features skewered meats such as pork, chicken, and rabbit slowly roasted over a spit and basted with butter. In addition, you can sip world-class Franciacorta sparkling wine from vineyards located just minutes away, or hop on a short train to Lake Garda and visit the incredibly well-preserved Scaligero Castle in Sirmione.

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Read more: 11 Most Beautiful Universities In Europe

Walking around Brescia

Twilight in Piazza della Loggia, Brescia - Mihai-Bogdan Lazar/Shutterstock

Brescia is a city made for strolling: nearly everything worth seeing is within easy walking distance. Start with Palazzo della Loggia, with its Botticino marble exterior and richly adorned arches and arcades, bearing the unmistakable signature of Andrea Palladio-- the legendary architect of the Venetian Republic. The palace has been, and still is today, the heart of the city's government. Turn your gaze to the opposite side of the piazza, and you will find the Torretta dell'Orologio ("bell tower"), boasting a mid-16th-century astronomical clock with two copper matti delle ore (literally, "madmen of the hours"), figures who have struck the hours for nearly five centuries.

Just a short 3-minute walk away lies Piazza della Vittoria, completed in 1932 during Mussolini's regime. Its rationalist layout, stark travertine facades, and the almost 60-meter Torre della Rivoluzione make it one of the clearest illustrations of Fascist-era urban planning in Italy. Continue your stroll, and you will arrive at Piazza Paolo VI, the iconic square with the two cathedrals. The Duomo Vecchio, or Old Cathedral, is an 11th-century Romanesque rotonda  one of the few of its kind  while opposite it rises the Duomo Nuovo, a Baroque giant whose construction spanned over two centuries. Its dome, at 80 meters high (around 260 feet), earns the bronze medal for the tallest in the country.

In a little more than half a mile (1 kilometer), the UNESCO corridor connects the Capitolium Temple and Roman theater to the enormous Santa Giulia Museum, housed in a former Benedictine convent, with pieces spanning nearly six millennia of history. If Italian masters of the Renaissance and Baroque are your forte, Pinacoteca Tosio Martinengo is the place for you  here you will find works by Raphael, Antonio Canova, Francesco Hayez, Lorenzo Lotto, and local painters such as Alessandro Bonvicino (also known as Moretto) and Giovanni Girolamo Savoldo.

How to get to Brescia and what to see in the surrounding area

Quaint village nestled on a lush, mountainous island, surrounded by the waters of Lake Iseo near Brescia - Freeartist/Getty Images

Brescia is remarkably easy to reach. It is situated roughly 65 miles (100 kilometers) east of Milan and 112 miles (180 kilometers) west of Venice and is well connected to both cities by frequent trains. International travelers have several convenient airport arrival and departure options: Orio al Serio (BGY, Bergamo) is about 40 minutes away by car, Milan Linate (LIN) around an hour, Verona Villafranca (VRN) 45 minutes, and Milan Malpensa (MXP)  the region's largest airport with the highest number of long-haul and international flights  is roughly 90 minutes from Brescia.

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Renting a car is your golden ticket for turning this small city into a clever pit stop on a Northern Italy road trip, which would, of course, also include a visit to the so-called Lake District, hailed by Rick Steves as "heaven-sent" for any nature lover. Head north from Brescia and you'll stumble into Lake Iseo. Less polished than Como and less crowded than Garda, it features medieval tower-houses and defensive walls in the town of Lovere as well as the European continent's biggest island set within a lake, Monte Isola. Fun fact: In 2016, Christo's "Floating Piers" art installation using temporary piers turned the lake into a series of golden walkways, drawing visitors from across the globe to literally walk on water.

Drive east from Brescia for about 27 miles (44 kilometers), and you'll reach Lake Garda, the Bel Paese's largest lake. Lemon houses cling to terraced hillsides in Limone del Garda, while fairy-tale castles guard waterfront towns like Sirmione, famous for its Roman villa ruins, and Malcesine, where a cable car lifts you to Monte Baldo for unparalleled views of the surrounding mountains. In addition, the town of Riva del Garda has always been a playground for poets and aristocrats -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, D. H. Lawrence, and Franz Kafka all passed through  but today the area caters just as much to hikers and windsurfers.

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Read the original article on Islands.
Although one might assume that a former president would gravitate toward fancy fine-dining establishments, that's not the case for former President Barack Obama, at least not when he visits his hometown of Honolulu. Back in 2009, upon arriving in Hawaii's capital, Obama told waiting reporters that his first stop would be to chow down on a plate lunch.

Despite the generic-sounding name, a plate lunch doesn't refer to just any old lunch platter. While its exact contents vary, the classic plate lunch consists of a scoop of macaroni salad, two scoops of rice, and a meaty entree (and it's this meat that's the variable part). It's roughly the Hawaiian version of a bento box or meat-and-threes. The flavors you'll find in plate lunches mirror Hawaii's cultural tapestry: Japanese-style chicken katsu, Korean kalbi (barbecue ribs), Chinese char siu pork, Filipino adobo, slow-cooked shredded kalua pork, or loco moco (a burger patty with gravy and egg).

The plate lunch goes back to Hawaii's plantation-era past. From the late 1800s onward, workers on sugar and pineapple plantations carried lunches packed in tin bento boxes  usually leftover meat dishes, padded out with rice. Around the 1930s, lunch wagons popped up to serve those workers, and they formalized the "plate" concept with the particular portioning that endures today with a compartmentalized plate or a takeout clamshell. While the plantation era (referring to the heavy control of the island's labor force by sugar companies) ended in the '40s, the lunches endured, now being served in settings like diners and fast food restaurants.

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Barack Obama's plate lunch preferences

A Hawaiian plate lunch with scoops of rice and macaroni salad, and a portion of beef stew. - Eric Broder Van Dyke/Getty Images

Honolulu-born Barack Obama has named several restaurants as his favorite plate lunch spots, including Rainbow Drive-In and Zippy's. Zippy's is an established chain with locations on Oahu, Hilo, and Kahului that have a diner vibe but a menu that embodies the fusion style of Hawaiian food. Rainbow Drive-In is a long-standing drive-thru eatery, with three locations around the Honolulu area.

At Rainbow Drive-In, you'll pay around $10 to $15 for a plate lunch, and there's no shortage of options. You can play it Hawaiian with moco loco or eggs and Spam (the processed meat is another iconic part of Hawaiian food), lean into American tastes with wieners or chili, or look to Japan with options like katsu-style fried chicken or teriyaki barbecue beef. There's also the option of subbing in fries for rice, and coleslaw for macaroni salad. Coleslaw aside, the one thing that unites all of the options is that there's barely a vegetable to be seen: Here and at many other restaurants serving plate lunches, the focus is meat and carbs.

The same goes at Zippy's, where the regular plate lunch menu is similar, also featuring teriyaki, loco moco, and chili, plus Korean fried chicken, with prices maybe a dollar or two more than Rainbow Drive-In. Those options are supplemented by an astonishingly broad set of rotating daily specials, which run the gamut from clam chowder to sweet and sour spare ribs or roast pork. Here and elsewhere, the plate lunch may not be glamorous, but it's almost certain to be filling.

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Read the original article on Chowhound.
The Brentwood Restaurant & Wine Bistro is one of the spookiest destinations in Little River, South Carolina. Its lore has bewitched visitors from all over the world, including the Travel Channel. One of the most haunted restaurants in America, The Brentwood Restaurant relishes its supernatural flair, offering a three course Ghost Dinner and Tour on select Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout the year for those brave enough to partake.

Eric and Kimberly Masson, who owned and operated The Brentwood for 15 years, starting in 2007, considered selling the restaurant from the jump (pun intended) after observing kitchen equipment mysteriously starting without any human contact. The couple repeatedly saw inexplicable shadows and sensed a certain ominous air in the bar and front dining room. After what they considered an irrefutable sign  a glass falling from the bar and breaking into smithereens when they moved an old picture in the men's restroom, the husband and wife accepted the help of paranormal investigator Stephen Lancaster, who studied the property for a year. Lancaster called The Brentwood a "Holy Grail" of haunted spaces (via WPDE ABC15).

The Massons and Lancaster are not the only spectators of ghostly antics. The Brentwood Restaurant has published a list of "strange happenings" on its website that describes various eyewitness accounts of paranormal activity occurring on the property. Several witnesses saw a face in the upstairs window when no one was there and floating orbs of light and shadows briefly appearing and disappearing. Disembodied voices have been heard, and patrons have been known to mysteriously get locked in the bathroom. Jane Figueroa, manager and ghost tour hostess, told The Sun News in 2023 that some employees have quit because of the spectral happenings.

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Dine if you dare

Exterior view of Brentwood Restaurant - Johnson Lewis/The Brentwood Restaurant & Wine Bistro

What is now Brentwood Restaurant & Wine Bistro, currently owned by Johnson Lewis, originated as a charming Victorian home that was constructed in 1910 by Clarence and Essie Bessent-McCorsley. The couple raised four children there before Clarence died in the late 1940s. Essie remained in the home, operating it as a bed and breakfast for fishermen visiting Little River. As the fishing town became more popular, the property caught the eye of developers. Bessent-McCorsley was approached by hopeful buyers, but she wished to remain in the house her husband had built her. After some negotiation and time, she caved, agreeing to sell the property on the condition the contractors would relocate the Victorian home across the highway at no expense to her. In the 1970's, she and the house made the move. Shortly after, she passed away.

Are all Brentwood's haunted happenings due to Essie Bessent-McCorsley's longing to remain in her residence? While Stephen Lancaster's efforts to discover the true identity of the ghost continue, guests are welcome to enjoy Brentwood's Lowcountry-inspired French cuisine, which include sea bass, filet mignon, and a seven course chef's tasting menu of stuffed lobster, beef tartare, lamb T-bone, lemon sorbet, and wine pairing options. These mouthwatering dishes are reason enough to check your fears at the door and try dining at a restaurant with a resident ghost.

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Read the original article on Mashed.
Robert McCormick is the founder of Santa Fe, Albuquerque and New Mexico Foodies.

Hes a web designer, foodie, musician, artist and tech enthusiast who has combined his skills and passions to create vibrant digital communities through his viral Facebook groups, which offer timely information about and takes on dining and cuisine both locally and across the state. Hes also expanding his presence on TikTok and Instagram.

You can visit his website, with links to all his social media accounts, at santafefoodiesnm.com.

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The New Mexican submitted several questions to McCormick about Santa Fe, Albuquerque and New Mexico Foodies, and the success of those endeavors. Some of his responses have been lightly edited for clarity and style.

Question: What was your inspiration for starting Santa Fe Foodies? Was it one thing in particular or a variety of reasons?

Answer: Santa Fe Foodies started back in 2018 to help promote my restaurant, Cuba Fe, which only lasted a year. I couldnt afford to pay for marketing, so I figured, why not start a foodie group? I wanted it to support local spots, but also just be a place to share my love of food. Since Im a big foodie myself, it made sense to open it up to everything  home cooking, dining out and pretty much anything food-related.

Question: Was Santa Fe Foodies an immediate success or did it take some time to catch on?

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Answer: It grew little by little over the years and then really took off during COVID.

Question: Have you ever run a food-related business of your own or been tempted to launch one?

Answer: As a first-generation Cuban American, I felt like Santa Fe could really use an authentic Cuban spot. So back in 2017, I gave it a shot with Cuba Fe, serving traditional homestyle Cuban food, Cuban sandwiches, desserts and, of course, Cuban coffee. Id consider that again someday  maybe even as a food truck  with the right investors. Ive also thought about selling my Cuban flans (which everyone loves), but again, Id definitely need some help. The food biz is tough! Ha.

Question: What kind of time commitment does it require to run Santa Fe Foodies, and is there anything you try to do to ensure the site doesnt go stale?

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Answer: The Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Albuquerque Foodies groups have really become a full-time job for me  I put in about 40 to 60 hours a week. Luckily, I have an incredible moderation team (some of whom I pay monthly) who put in a ton of work, too. Id like to give a huge shoutout to Jav, Tracy, MaryAnn and Christian  youre amazing! You help with so much, and youre just as passionate about our local communities as I am. You all rock!

Question: In the About section of the Santa Fe Foodies Facebook page, you go to great lengths to explain your desire to create an online community of lovers of good food and to encourage people to avoid being negative, both toward local businesses and each other. Has that message always been part of the site or did you have to add it in response to some of the posts you were seeing? And how often do you have to intervene because someone has ignored that rule?

Answer: This is actually a pretty complicated question with a lot of layers. Managing and growing my groups has taught me so much about human behavior on social media. I think its important for people to have the space to express themselves  good or bad  but for a community to really thrive, civility and respect are key. Every day, my moderators and I interact with all kinds of personalities, from the kindest, most gentle of souls to the most toxic, aggressive and hateful. Honestly, its a fascinating subject!

Question: One poster on the site recently complained about a Santa Fe mayoral candidate posting content on the site and allegedly using it as a campaign opportunity. Would you explain what your policy is in regard to such content and how you addressed this issue? Was this the first time a politics-related issue has come up on Santa Fe Foodies?

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Answer: The love of food is one of the few universal things that people all over the world share. At its core, food brings people together  and I find a lot of hope and goodness in that. From the very beginning, the group has had a no-politics rule. Its a nonpartisan safe zone. Personally, I follow politics every day  I watch the news, read articles and make sure I stay up to date on whats happening in Santa Fe, the U.S.A. and around the world. Im happy to say that 99% of our members appreciate having a safe zone, too. And honestly, its never been a major problem, which makes me really happy. Oh, and politicians are foodies, too! They are welcome to post from their personal profiles  as long as they dont sneak in anything political.

Question: How has Santa Fe Foodies evolved over the eight years since it was founded? Did you ever envision it becoming as popular as it has become?

Answer: Well, its a business now! I never planned for it, though. Before Cuba Fe, I ran a very small web design business, which I put on hold to experiment with the restaurant. I also had some experience in social media marketing from my time in the computer, film and audio industries in Los Angeles. When Santa Fe Foodies blew up, restaurants started reaching out for help with marketing, websites and social media. I saw it as my opportunity to fund and continue developing the entire concept of supporting local businesses. I even created a website that became really popular and have some other projects preparing to launch soon. I turned something that went viral into doing all the things I love, bringing together all my skills in one place.

Question: What do you enjoy most about being the administrator of the site?

Answer: All my life, Ive been drawn to art, culture, music and food. Ive always had a deep respect for local businesses, knowing theyre the roots of culture in cities, towns and villages all over the world. Theyre the ones that give our communities depth and make life interesting. Creating a space where local businesses can promote themselves  and where the public can socialize  brings people together and adds richness to our lives. See, I tricked everyone! Food is just the tip of the iceberg  it goes much deeper than that!
BAGHDAD (Reuters) -Iraq and Exxon Mobil will sign an agreement on Wednesday for the management, development and operation of the Majnoon oilfield in southern Iraq, marking the oil major's return to the country after a two-year hiatus, four Iraqi official sources told Reuters.

The agreement will include upgrading Iraqi oil export infrastructure in the south, and a profit-sharing crude oil and refined products trading agreement, the four sources with knowledge of the matter added.

Iraq's state oil company SOMO will also sign an agreement with Exxon to secure storage capacity in the Asian market, the sources said.

SOMO and Exxon did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Iraqi state news agency INA reported in September that SOMO was in advanced talks with Exxon over a possible agreement to secure storage capacity in Singapore using tanks owned by the U.S. oil major.

In the past two years, Iraq has signed agreements with oil majors that had previously retreated from the country, including Chevron, France's TotalEnergies and UK oil major BP.

(Reporting by Aref Mohammed in Basra and Ahmed Rasheed in Baghdad; Writing by Ahmed Elimam; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
For years there has been growing talk of the wave-rich coastline of Liberia, the West African nation that was subject to long and bloody civil wars that finally ended in 2003. The rise of surfing in postwar Liberia was brilliantly documented in the film Water Get No Enemy by French filmmaker and professional surfer, Arthur Bourbon.

Now, Bourbon is back with another film, We The Surfers, an award-winning 51-minute documentary, that captures the story of young surfers redefining their future in a country still fresh from the trauma of decades of conflict. After a solid showing on the international film festival run, the film is now streaming on Apple TV, Amazon Prime, and Google Play.

What started as a one-time trip to witness and document the emerging West African surf scene evolved into a deep connection with a place many surfers have never even heard of, let alone visited. As in other places where conflict and hardship ruled the land for many years, the act of surfing has become far more than just sportit's a rare bright spot where people can find sanctuary, freedom, and healing. Set in the small fishing village of Robertsport, We The Surfers follows up on Bourbons earlier work and provides an intimate look at how the community has continued to evolve and rewrite the future of the youth, many of whom are children of former child soldiers. Although the generational trauma is still very real, the joy made possible by the simple act of surfing is having a profound impact.

" They have almost nothing, yet their love for surfing is immense and pure. Whether it's on a wooden plank or a broken old board, there's no excuse to stay on the shore! It's amazing to see how surfing uplifts the community and how the surf club creates real opportunities." Arthur Bourbon, Director and Filmmaker of We the Surfers.



Where there was once bloody war, there is no peace and healing through surfing. Arthur Bourbon

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SURFER: Whats most important to keep in mind when considering a trip to Liberia?

Arthur Bourbon (AB): Youll need a visa & Yellow fever vaccination certificate. Tourism is still not developed, and there are few hotels / places to stay, so make sure you book a place and have someone to pick you up at the airport. It is definitely a trip you have to organise and be all set before landing in Monrovia!

Solo surfs are not uncommon along the Liberian coast. Arthur Bourbon

SURFER: Who are the locals to know and that could help as local guides?

AB: Its a really small surf community. Most of the members of the Robertsport surf club are the locals and they will help you and advise you. For a proper surf guiding or surf lessons, some of the older and more experienced surfers, like Samon, can take you on a trip with the canoe to the remote waves and secret spots.

Surfing has helped uplift the community and offered new opportunity for the youth. Arthur Bourbon

SURFER: Whats the best equipment to bring as gifts?

AB: Any surf material is more than welcome: boards, fins, leash, wax. And they will also love any piece of surf wear: board shorts, rashes, topsOtherwise, you can also bring school materials: pens, pencils, etc.. they will appreciate it all.

Any kind of equipment, whether surf gear, or school supplies, is very appreciated. Arthur Bourbon

SURFER: When is the prime wave season?

AB: Its in the south hemisphere, so you want that south swell season from April to October. July and August have bigger swells but it's the rainy season and the storms and rains are gnarly! I would recommend May/June or September/October.

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SURFER: Are there many lodging options in Robertsport?

AB: There are three main options: Robertsport Surf Club has camping platforms, so basically a roof with electricity where you can pitch a tent for $10 a night. Phillips Guest House: one of the best surfers, right behind the Surf Club. Simple accommodation, but more than enough for your surf trip. Approximately $80 a night and includes meals. Or Nanas lodge with nice bungalows, the most comfortable option but also the most expensive. Closer to around 150$/night with meals.

SURFER: Are there more waves to explore nearby or is travel very difficult?

AB: Im pretty sure there are many waves to be discovered along the coast! But they are definitely hard to access. Robertsport has 5 really nice uncrowded lefthanders. You might not need to go on a search mission to surf perfect waves with no one out!

With a small surf community and five left-handers near Robertsport, you don't need to go far to surf by yourself. Arthur Bourbon

SURFER: Any critters to watch out for in the line up or on land?

AB: The area is subject to Malaria and other mosquito diseases (dengue, zika, etc). Like most tropical places, thats the most dangerous animal out there! There are poisonous snakes in the bush, not a problem but something but something you get to keep in mind.

SURFER: Anything else?

AB: If you dont go you dont know!

Related: SURFER Guide to Dakar, Senegal

This story was originally reported by Surfer on Oct 8, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Surfer as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  One person is dead and another was airlifted to a local hospital after a two-vehicle crash on a highway in Nye County.

The Nevada Highway Patrol, a division of the Nevada State Police, responded to a crash on northbound U.S. 95, just north of mile marker 15, at around 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7.

Police said the crash involved two SUVs.

Medical personnel pronounced a man dead at the scene, and another driver was airlifted to a local hospital. Police did not say what the condition of that driver was.

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No additional details about the crash were given at the time of publication.

Drivers were advised to use other routes as U.S. 95 was closed at mile marker 15 in both directions. The Nevada Department of Transportation said the crash was cleared shortly before 7:30 a.m.

This is a developing story.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
(FOX40.COM)  The 2025 California Special Election is less than a month away, and many voters are already mailing in their ballots.

Video Above: California releases new figures breaking down special election cost

As Nov. 4 nears, some still ask, What is Proposition 50?

What is Proposition 50?

Gov. Gavin Newsom, along with other California lawmakers, are proposing new congressional district maps for the 2026 through 2030 elections. The proposition, also known as the Election Rigging Response Act, is a response to President Donald Trumps 2025 Texas redistricting plan aimed at increasing Republican-controlled seats in Congress, according to the states official voter guide.

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If voters approve the proposition, the legislature would draw new congressional map districts that would be used until 2031, when the California Citizens Redistricting Commission draws new maps after the 2030 U.S. Census. The proposal would transform five Republican-controlled congressional districts into districts that favor Democrats, according to CalMatters.

The proposed redistricting areas include:

District 1

District 3

District 22

District 41

District 48

If the proposition fails, the current congressional district maps created by the California Citizens Redistricting Commission would continue to be used until 2031, when the Commission draws new maps following the 2030 U.S. Census.

Pros

Those who support the proposition said it would cancel out the gerrymandering of Trump and the redistricting initiative in Texas. The argument claims that it will reaffirm Californias commitment to independent, nonpartisan redistricting after the next census, the voter guide said.

Cons

Meanwhile, opponents said that the proposition removes the safeguards that keep elections fair and dismantles voter protection.

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According to Cal Matters, those who encourage a no vote said that two gerrymanderers do not make a right, as the proposition is unconstitutional.

Gov. Newsom signs multiple bills to reduce billionaire influence on elections

More information on Proposition 50 can be found on the Voter Guide website and the website of the Legislative Analysts Office.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
PANAMA CITY BEACH  The Panama City Beach Parks & Recreation Department will host the 2025 Youth Fishing Rodeo at Frank Brown Park on Oct. 25.

The event will take place from 9 a.m.-noon at park's fishing pond, 16200 Panama City Beach Parkway.

According to a press release, this beloved annual tradition is for kids ages 16 and younger. They will fish in a kid-friendly pond, compete for prizes and enjoy hot dogs courtesy of the local Optimist Club. Bay County Mosquito Control representatives will provide interactive lessons about the local ecosystem.

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Connect Program: Connect program gives students clear path from Gulf Coast State College to FSU Panama City

This event is about creating joyful memories and fostering community, Cheryl Joyner, Parks & Recreation director, said in the release. We love watching kids light up with excitement when they reel in a fish  especially if it's their very first catch.

This event is free and open to the public. More information at www.pcbfl.gov.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: 2025 Youth Fishing Rodeo coming Oct. 25 in Panama City Beach, Florida
The summit sign on Maine's Mount Katahdin seen at sunrise. Katahdin is the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. (Getty Images/Chris Bennett)

The Appalachian Trail is one of the ultimate endurance tests for hikers, a 2,200-mile-long journey that winds through 14 states from northern Georgia to central Maine. Completing it requires careful planning, months of trekking over rugged terrain and enduring extreme weather.

That didn't stop Betty Kellenberger, who completed the trail at the age of 80.

"On September 12, Kellenberger made history by becoming the oldest woman to complete a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail," The Trek explained on its website. "The women's age record previously belonged to Linda 'Nana' Vanderloop, who finished the trail last year at age 74."

Unlike most thru-hikers who complete the trail in one continuous journey, Kellenberger's path to the finish was far from typical. She began her hike in August 2024 but was forced to pause when Hurricane Helene barreled into North Carolina.

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She told The Trek that, given the extreme weather, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy altered its policies and allowed her to carry over any miles hiked in 2024 into 2025. Kellenberger then hiked the trail in sections, completing some stretches last year before completing the rest this year.

On Sept. 12, she reached the summit of Mount Katahdin in Maine, the northernmost point of the Appalachian Trail, marking the end of her journey and a new entry in the record books.

"The age record was incidental. In fact, I was nearly done before people started asking my age and suggesting I could be breaking the record," she said.

The weather often dictates when people attempt to hike the entire 2,200-mile-long trail. Most hikers plan their trips on the trail between March and October to avoid the harshest weather, but even in that window, conditions can be brutal, including springtime snow, summer thunderstorms, drought and heat, and everything in between.
Human rights activists on Tuesday hailed the decision of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to convict a Sudanese militia chief for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during attacks in Darfur at the turn of the century.

At the end of the ICC's first trial involving crimes committed during the conflict in the south of the country, the court found Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, also known by the nom de guerre Ali Kushayb, guilty of multiple crimes including rape, murder and torture carried out between August 2003 and at least April 2004.

"The chamber is convinced that the accused is guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crimes with which he has been charged," said ICC president judge Joanna Korner.

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Ahead of next month's sentencing, the United Nations' rights chief Volker Turk saluted the verdict.

"It is an important acknowledgement of the enormous suffering endured by the victims of his heinous crimes, as well as a first measure of long overdue redress for them, and their loved ones," said Turk.

Emergency Lawyers, a group which has been documenting atrocities in Sudan, said the court's finding was a historic day in the path of Sudanese justice.

"With this decision, the court opens a door of hope for the victims of crimes in Darfur and throughout the country and affirms that ... crimes against humanity will not go unaddressed," added the group in a statement.

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ICC to wrap up landmark trial of notorious Sudanese militia chief

'Harrowing' acts of violence

Abd-Al-Rahman followed proceedings impassively, occasionally taking notes as his vignettes from his reign of terror were outlined.

On one occasion, the court heard, Abd-Al-Rahman loaded around 50 civilians onto trucks, beating some with axes, before making them lie on the ground and ordering his troops to shoot them dead.

"The accused was not only giving orders ... but was personally involved in the beatings and later was physically present and giving orders for the execution of those detained," said Korner.

Abd-Al-Rahman was a leading member of Sudan's infamous Janjaweed militia, who participated actively in multiple war crimes, she said.

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He had denied all the charges, telling the court they had got the wrong man.

"I am not Ali Kushayb. I do not know this person. I have nothing to do with the accusations against me," he said at a hearing in December 2024.

But Korner said the court was satisfied that he was the person known ... as Ali Kushayb.

Janjaweed militia leader denies atrocities in Darfur at start of ICC trial

Flight to Central African Republic

Abd-Al-Rahman fled to the Central African Republic in February 2020 when a new Sudanese government announced its intention to cooperate with the ICC's investigation.

He said he then handed himself in because he was "desperate" and feared authorities would kill him.

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Fighting broke out in Sudan's Darfur region when non-Arab tribes, complaining of systematic discrimination, took up arms against the Arab-dominated government In Khartoum which responded by unleashing the Janjaweed, a force drawn from among the region's nomadic tribes.

The United Nations says 300,000 people were killed and 2.5 million displaced in the Darfur conflict in the 2000s.

ICC chief prosecutor visits Sudan, Bashir handover to war crimes court possible

During the trial, the ICC chief prosecutor said Abd-Al-Rahman and his forces rampaged across different parts of Darfur.

"He inflicted severe pain and suffering on women, children and men in the villages that he left in his wake", said Karim Khan, who has since stepped down as he faces allegations of sexual misconduct.

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Abd-Al-Rahman, who is believed to be 76, is also thought to be an ally of deposed Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the ICC on genocide charges.

Bashir, who ruled Sudan for nearly 30 years, was ousted and detained in April 2019 following months of protests in Sudan.

He has not, however, been handed over to the ICC where he also faces multiple charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Drone strike on Darfur hospital kills 30 as Sudan conflict persists

Arrest warrants

ICC prosecutors are hoping to issue fresh arrest warrants related to the current crisis in Sudan.

Tens of thousands have been killed and millions displaced in a war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which grew out of the Janjaweed militia.

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The conflict, marked by claims of atrocities on all sides, has left the country on the brink of famine, according to aid agencies.

Turk highlighted the continuing abuses in Darfur and other parts of Sudan.

"It is my earnest hope that the ICC's verdict [against Abd-Al-Rahman] will serve as a fresh reminder to the perpetrators of today's crimes that there can be no impunity for mass crimes against civilians," Turk said.

"They too will be brought to justice one day for grave violations of the law."

(With newswires)
KABUL (Reuters) -Afghanistan's Taliban foreign minister left for New Delhi on Wednesday, his ministry said, in what would be the first visit to India by a Taliban leader since the group seized power in 2021.

The trip highlights Taliban efforts to expand engagement with regional powers in a quest for economic ties and eventual diplomatic recognition. So far, Russia is the only country to have formally recognised the Taliban administration.

Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi will hold talks with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and other officials on political, economic and trade issues, the Afghan foreign ministry added.

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Historically, India and Afghanistan had friendly relations but New Delhi shut its embassy in Kabul after the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from the war-shattered country and the return to power of the Taliban.

India opened a small mission a year later to facilitate trade, medical support and humanitarian aid.

New Delhi does not officially recognise the Taliban government but has taken tentative steps to thaw ties with meetings and talks between senior officials in their respective foreign ministries.

Muttaqis trip was made possible after the U.N. Security Council Committee temporarily lifted a travel ban on him to allow diplomatic engagements abroad, Indias foreign ministry said last week.

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Discussions during Muttaqi's trip will centre on bilateral cooperation, trade exchanges, exports of dry fruit, facilities in the health sector, consular services and various ports, the Afghan Taliban foreign ministry said last week.

On Tuesday, Muttaqi attended a regional meeting in Moscow where Afghanistans neighbours including India, Pakistan, Iran, China and several Central Asian countries issued a joint statement opposing the deployment of foreign military infrastructure in the region.

The statement was regarded as a signal of opposition to U.S. President Donald Trump's stated objective to retake control of the Bagram military base near Kabul.

(Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul and Surbhi Misra in New Delhi; editing by YP Rajesh and Mark Heinrich)
By Saeed Shah

(Reuters) -Afghanistan's regional neighbours, including American allies, appeared to unite against U.S. President Donald Trump's stated aim of taking over the Bagram military base near Kabul, according to a statement released after they met in Moscow.

The "Moscow Format" meeting on Afghanistan - the seventh such event hosted by Russia but attended for the first time by the Taliban administration's foreign minister - included U.S. partners India and Pakistan. The 10 nations also included Russia, China and Iran, as well as Central Asian countries.

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In a joint statement released by Russia's foreign ministry late on Tuesday, the 10 countries did not name the United States or Bagram itself, but seemed to take aim at Trump's plan for the base, endorsing the Taliban's position on the issue.

"They (the countries meeting) called unacceptable the attempts by countries to deploy their military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighbouring states, since this does not serve the interests of regional peace and stability," the joint statement read.

TALIBAN OPPOSITION TO FOREIGN FORCES

At a press conference on Tuesday in Moscow at the conclusion of the event, the Taliban's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi reiterated its position.

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"Afghanistan is a free and independent country, and throughout history, it has never accepted the military presence of foreigners. Our decision and policy will remain the same to keep Afghanistan free and independent," he said.

The U.S. State Department and the Pentagon referred questions to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Taliban's first administration was ousted in 2001 by a U.S.-led invasion of the country, triggering an insurgency by the group.

Bagram, just outside the capital Kabul, became the biggest and best-known U.S. base in Afghanistan before the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from the country in 2021 as the Taliban retook control.

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Last month, Trump threatened that "bad things" would happen to Afghanistan if it does not give back Bagram, and cited what he called its strategic location near China.

Current and former U.S. officials have cast doubt on Trump's goal, saying that re-occupying Bagram might end up looking like a re-invasion, requiring more than 10,000 troops as well as deployment of advanced air defences.

(Reporting by Saeed Shah and Mohammad Yunus Yawar; additional reporting by Susan Heavey; writing by Saeed Shah; Editing by Aidan Lewis and Ros Russell)
A Louisiana Senate committee blocked legislation backed by Attorney General Liz Murrill that could have moved thousands of cases from juvenile to adult court. (Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator)

Louisianas Attorney General Liz Murrill can intervene in a capital punishment case if a local prosecutor requests it, the Louisiana Supreme Court has ruled. Their decision, issued Tuesday, involves a New Orleans policewoman who was sentenced to die for her role in a 1994 triple murder.

Orleans Parish Judge Kimya Holmes ruled in May there was no provision in state law to allow Murrill to take over the case of Antoinette Frank, who continues to appeal the death sentence she received 30 years ago. Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams agreed in March to have the attorney general handle Franks case, citing an arrangement he and Murrill established last year to help pare down a backlog of pending prosecutions in the city.

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The court ruled 5-2 to overturn Holmes decision, with Justices Cade Cole, William Crain, Piper Griffin, Jefferson Hughes and Jay McCallum in favor.

Im grateful the Louisiana Supreme Court put to rest this frivolous claim regarding the Attorney Generals authority to defend these cases in State or federal court, Murrill said in a statement. This was another attempt by death penalty lawyers to delay these proceedings and Im glad the Louisiana Supreme Court shut it down.

Chief Justice John Weimer and Justice John Michael Guidry dissented, arguing that Murrill waited too long to appeal the lower court ruling.

Antoinette Frank (LCIW photo)

Frank is appealing her death sentence in Holmes court, and the justices said she can continue to pursue that relief. Her attorney, Matilde Carbia with the Mwalimu Center for Justice, told The Times-Picayune the Louisiana Supreme Courts ruling didnt cover the claims Frank is making in her appeal or Murrills argument that Frank waited too long to pursue relief.

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In September 1995, it took less than a half-hour for a jury to return a guilty verdict against Frank, who worked off-duty security details at Kim Ahn restaurant in New Orleans East. Prosecutors said she conspired with known drug dealer Rogers LaCaze to rob the business on March 4, 1995. In carrying out the crime, LaCaze fatally shot Ronald Williams II, another NOPD officer who provided security at Kim Ahn, and Frank killed teenage siblings Ha and Cuong Vu, whose family owned the restaurant.

Frank is exhausting what is likely her last avenue of appeal. In 2006, her attorneys argued Franks traumatic childhood was never taken into consideration during the sentencing phase of her trial. The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled in 2007 against withdrawing her death sentence, allowing her trial court to move forward with a death warrant.

But Franks attorneys managed to stave off two separate execution dates in 2008, arguing they hadnt been given enough time to review her case files. It would later be learned that the judge in the case, Frank Marullo, had signed and order months before the Kim Ahn murders that allowed Frank to take the gun used in the killings from an NOPD evidence room.

Marullo has claimed his signature was forged.

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LaCaze, who was tried separately from Frank, was also sentenced to death in 1995, but his conviction and penalty were thrown out in 2015 when a judge ruled that one of the jurors at LaCazes trial didnt disclose he was a state policeman. After a new trial in 2019, LaCaze was found guilty and given a life sentence.

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Resuming executions

Murrill and Gov. Jeff Landry have pushed to conduct more frequent executions in Louisiana since both took office in January 2024. A month later, the state legislature approved the use of nitrogen gas to administer the death penalty.

Until this year, Louisiana hadnt carried out an execution since 2010, when Gerald Bordelon waived his remaining appeals and died by lethal injection for the kidnapping and murder of his 12-year-old stepdaughter, Courtney LeBlanc. Prior to that, the most recent non-voluntary execution in the state was in 2002.

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Louisiana and other states that used lethal injection to carry out the death penalty had to pause such executions when drug manufacturers, under pressure from critics, stopped providing the medications needed for that method.

On March 18 this year, Jesse Hoffman, 46, became the first person the state put to death in 15 years. He was executed by nitrogen hypoxia for the 1996 kidnapping, rape and murder of 28-year-old Mary Molly Elliot, who he abducted in downtown New Orleans and killed in remote St. Tammany Parish.

Frank is one of 53 people currently on death row in Louisiana, down from 56 when Landry and Murrill took office.

Chris Sepulvado, 81, died at Louisiana State Penitentiary in February, less than a month before his sentence was to be carried out. He faced execution for the 1992 fatal beating and scalding of his stepson, 6-year-old Wesley Allen Mercer, in DeSoto Parish.

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The death sentence and first-degree murder conviction of Jimmie Duncan was set aside in April when a judge determined bite mark evidence used in his 1998 trial was based on faulty science. The district attorney in Ouachita Parish has said he intends to seek a new trial for Duncan, who is still being held at Louisiana State Penitentiary.

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HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  Attorney General Dave Sunday is now offering guidance to customers of Iron Hill Brewery after the company closed all of its locations and filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

On September 25, Iron Hill Brewery announced via a Facebook post that it had made the difficult decision to close its doors at all locations across Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Georgia.

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The closure was announced with little notice for customers and employees alike.

We had zero clue: Iron Hill Brewery closure blindsides employees

Earlier today, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday responded to the abrupt closure and is now advising consumers who bought unused gift cards to dispute those purchases with their credit card company.

AG Sunday is also telling consumers to consider filing a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection.

The Office of Attorney General is also monitoring the situation and continues to field consumer complaints regarding unused gift cards and loyalty/rewards program balances.

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The sudden closure of this popular chain of restaurants has left Pennsylvanians with questions and concerns about gift cards and rewards balances, Attorney General Sunday said. We will continue to track developments in this matter on behalf of impacted consumers. For the time being, we are advising consumers to seek refunds from their credit card companies regarding gift card purchases.

Moving forward, consumers who are unable to redeem their Iron Hill Brewery gift cards and rewards may also submit a complaint to the Office of the Attorney Generals Bureau of Consumer Protection by going online or calling 717-787-3391.

This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
BAGHDAD (Reuters) -Exxon Mobil signed an agreement with Iraq on Wednesday to help it develop its giant Majnoon oilfield and expand oil exports, government officials and sources said, marking the U.S. major's return to the country two years after leaving.

The non-binding agreement with Exxon, a U.S. major, follows a string of deals with other oil companies, including Chevron, BP and TotalEnergies, as Iraq seeks to accelerate oil and gas production by offering more generous terms.

Iraq holds some of the world's largest oil and gas reserves and once aspired to rival Saudi Arabia with output of up to 12 million barrels per day.

It currently produces around 4 million bpd and aims to exceed 6 million bpd by 2029, although progress has been hampered by red tape, corruption, infrastructure bottlenecks, years of conflict and sectarian tensions.

Majnoon, located 60 km (37 miles) from Basra in southern Iraq, is one of the biggest oilfields in the world with an estimated 38 billion barrels in place.

The agreement reflects Iraqi officials' push to modernise the country's energy sector and improve relations with Washington, said Muwafaq Abbas, an oil analyst and a former crude operations manager at state-run Basra Oil Company.

"The deals carry political weight, signaling Baghdad's intent to rebalance regional ties and deepen its integration with Western markets," Abbas said.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced the deal with Exxon on Wednesday but did not provide details.

"We are pleased to have signed an HOA (Heads of Agreement) with the Iraqi Oil Ministry to evaluate exploration, development and oil marketing opportunities in Iraq," an Exxon spokesperson said.

EXXON SECURES PROFIT-SHARING AND EXPORT RIGHTS

The agreement will involve a profit-sharing agreement covering crude oil and refined products and plans to upgrade Iraqi oil export infrastructure in the south, according to four sources with knowledge of the matter.

Iraq's state oil company SOMO will also sign an agreement with Exxon to secure storage capacity in the Asian market, the sources said.

SOMO did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

SOMO could use Exxon's storage in Singapore, Iraqi state news agency INA reported in September.

Exxon was one of the first Western oil firms to enter Iraq to develop oil fields after the U.S. invasion in 2003. But it left the West Qurna project due to what sources described as poor returns.

It also tried to develop fields in Iraq's semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan despite Baghdad's ire but also left those projects due to what sources said were poor exploration results.
Oct. 7A state utility regulatory agency decided it can't require changes to a Chugach Electric Association charity program, as requested by the Alaska attorney general.

Chugach Electric's "Cents for Community" program, set to begin this winter, is designed to round up members' electric bills to the nearest dollar and donate the extra money to local nonprofits. Members are automatically enrolled, but can opt out of the program. Nonprofits receiving grants from the program will be selected by a group of seven trustees, according to Chugach. The cooperative powers approximately 90,000 retail customers in a service area that includes Anchorage and nearby areas.

Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox in September asked the Regulatory Commission of Alaska to require changes to the program, arguing because members must opt out rather than opt in to a program providing money "for causes they may not support," members were being "subject to compelled speech," Cox said in a Sept. 10 filing.

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In a Monday decision, the state commission agreed with Chugach Electric's position that it does not have authority to regulate the program. The RCA noted that both the Fairbanks-area electric utility, Golden Valley Electric Association, and the Palmer-based Matanuska Electric Association have implemented similar charity programs. The RCA said in its decision that the program "does not involve a utility-related service ... Nor does it alter or increase the compensation Chugach collects for providing a utility-related service."

"While the Commission did not expressly address its jurisdiction to regulate charitable giving programs structured like Chugach's 'Cents of the Community' before, it does so here and finds none," the decision said.

RCA Chair John Espindola signed the decision on behalf of the five-member commission, but was one of two members who dissented in an attached letter, calling the decision "materially flawed."

"We have concerns that Chugach's members are being presented with a charge on their monthly utility bill that is unrelated to the provision of electric service," Espindola and Commissioner John Springsteen wrote. "We further express our frustration that the automatic enrollment nature of the program has put an unnecessary burden on Chugach members to 'opt-out' of a program they have not affirmatively consented to."

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"By rounding up its members' bills for electric service to the nearest dollar, the program directly affects charges imposed on members and we continue to believe this falls within the purview of the Commission's jurisdiction," the two commissioners wrote.

Cox in a statement Tuesday said he was disappointed in the RCA's decision. However, the attorney general added he may continue to pursue the matter under the state's consumer protection laws, as suggested by the commission in its decision, saying he believes the program raises "serious constitutional concerns."

"Yes, members can opt out  but they shouldn't have to. The default should always be consent, not silence," Cox said in the statement.

The state Department of Law late Tuesday released a "consumer alert" about utility charity programs, asking Alaskans to "report confusing billing or charitable charges to the Alaska Department of Law's Consumer Protection Unit."

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Chugach Electric spokeswoman Julie Hasquet said in a statement Tuesday that the utility is "pleased we will be able to proceed with implementing the program approved by our members."

"As an electric cooperative, this is a great opportunity to connect with the communities we serve and support organizations working toward a healthier, more robust Alaska," Hasquet said.

Once the program begins, 501(c)(3) nonprofits within Chugach's service territory will be able to apply for grants to receive money from the program, Hasquet said.
Rose Wah came to the U.S. at the age of 8 to join her father who had immigrated to Sioux Falls from the West African country of Liberia.

Wah graduated from Roosevelt High School and earned a nursing degree from South Dakota State University in 2024. She now works as a pediatric nurse at the Lifescape Childrens Services clinic in Sioux Falls.

As of Oct. 2, Wah now holds a new title  that of American citizen.

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More: Yellowstone National Park ecosystem grizzlies dying at record pace in 2025

Rose Wah, a resident of Sioux Falls, was granted American citizenship during a naturalization ceremony on Oct. 2, 2025 at Mount Rushmore National Memorial near Keystone, South Dakota.

I feel good and will now have the perks and privilege of being a citizen, especially in terms of travel, said Wah, 23.

Wah was one of 72 people from 34 counties who were granted legal American citizenship during a naturalization ceremony Thursday at Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

It took place amid a government shutdown that  so far  has not affected critical operations at the Black Hills memorial.

The celebration also occurred at a time when the nation is witnessing an aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration ordered by President Donald Trump and largely being led by former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, now the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Kristi Noem, secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, addresses new citizens at a naturalization ceremony Oct. 2, 2025, at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota.

Wah said she believes immigrants who come to America, either legally like her family or illegally like some others, share the dream of having opportunities they do not have in their home countries. Wah said she likely wouldn't have been able to drive a car, go to college and become a nurse if she stayed in Liberia.

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People are bringing their children because they want a better life for their kids, which is what my dad did when he brought us here, she said. He wanted us to have a better future and better education.

Brunelle Solo, at right, stands with her husband, Sheva Solo, and two of their children before a naturalization ceremony Oct. 2, 2025 held at Mount Rushmore National Memorial near Keystone, South Dakota.

Wah said she sympathizes with people who come to the country illegally because she understands their motives, even if she doesnt approve of their methods.

I kind of understand their path, but I also dont understand doing it in an illegal way, she said. It does make me sad how people are being treated.

The ceremony featured brief speeches by several elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson of South Dakota, Gov. Larry Rhoden and Noem.

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The ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration was never mentioned during the event, which carried a sense of joy and appreciation among those present.

Rhoden told the new citizens and their family members that it is incumbent on Americans to fight if necessary to protect the country and the freedoms it provides. He also pointed to legal paths to citizenship as the proper way to become an American.

"It is often said that America is a nation of immigrants, but that's not the whole story," Rhoden said. "We're a nation of immigrants who did it the right way."

In her remarks, Noem said that "this is a fantastic time to become a citizen," stressing to those present that American leaders have historically put the needs of the country and its people above their own interests.

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"Our founders knew that a government of the people was the best form of government," Noem said. "They sacrificed their own wealth, their own well being, to defeat the British empire in the American revolution. And they didn't do it for wealth, they didn't do it for power and they didn't do it for glory. Men like (George) Washington and (Thomas) Jefferson did it because they knew they had a duty to ensure freedom for their families but also for their fellow citizens."

She told the new citizens that the founders of the U.S. "knew that this nation would be difficult to maintain."

More: School systems are remaking the old yellow bus into a high-tech machine

Noem told how a woman approached Benjamin Franklin after the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and asked, "'Well, doctor, what have we got, a Republic or a monarchy?' and he said, 'A Republic, if you can keep it,"' Noem said. "That is our task in front of us today."

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Near the end of the ceremony, each new citizen briefly took the stage to state their name, nation of origin and where they live now. Noem hugged some of them and kissed one new resident on the cheek.

Hung Vong, 19, a financial services student at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, was the first to receive his formal citizenship document from Noem.

Vong, a native of Vietnam, said he came to Spearfish at the age of 14 to be with his mother and grandparents, who opened a hair and nail salon in the city a decade ago. Vong was bubbly about the prospect of being an American citizen.

"It's really exciting because I feel like all my hard work is paying off," he said.

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Vong said he supports legal immigration for others who can support the U.S. and its economy. "I hope to take this opportunity to improve myself and contribute to helping make America greater."

Brunelle Solo, 30, came to the U.S. from the Ivory Coast in West Africa in 2021 to join her husband, Sheva Solo, who had emigrated from the country to Deadwood with his parents in 2008.

Brunelle and Sheva, 35, now live with their three children in Sioux Falls, where Sheva works in computer systems for Avera Health.

Hung Vong of Spearfish, S.D., was granted American citizenship during a naturalization ceremony Oct. 2, 2025 at Mount Rushmore National Memorial near Keystone, South Dakota.

"I came to America to marry my best friend," Brunelle said with a smile. "I knew the U.S. was a place of freedom, and I think I will now have the best experience in my life with my family and my kids."

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This story was produced by South Dakota News Watch, an independent, nonprofit organization. Read more stories and donate at sdnewswatch.org and sign up for an email to get stories when they're published. Contact Bart Pfankuch at bart.pfankuch@sdnewswatch.org.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Kristi Noem joins Dusty Johnson, Larry Rhoden in welcoming new citizens
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -An Argentine court on Wednesday sentenced two people to prison for attempting to assassinate Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in 2022, when she was serving as vice president.

Fernando Sabag Montiel, a Brazilian national living in Argentina, was found guilty of attempted aggravated homicide with a firearm and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Brenda Uliarte, Montiel's ex-girlfriend, was sentenced to eight years as a necessary accessory to the crime.

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Montiel had pulled the trigger on a loaded pistol inches from the vice president's head, which did not fire, and later confessed that he intended to kill her.

The attack on Fernandez, one of Argentina's most prominent political figures of the past two decades, shocked the nation and drew widespread international condemnation.

She is currently under house arrest in a separate corruption case.

(Reporting by Lucila Sigal and Natalia Siniawski; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Kylie Madry)
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Officials with the Arkansas Department of Education announced a partnership with the Arkansas250 Commission to commemorate a significant event.

ADE officials have launched an Arkansas Celebrates America250 (ACA250) website to help Arkansans engage with the anniversary. They said ACA250 supports students, families, and educators across Arkansas in exploring history, experiencing Arkansas landscapes and the states role in the American story.

1 in 5 people in US is Latino for first time in history: Analysis

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The site utilizes a Journey Across America concept centered on three themes: connect, celebrate, and contribute.

Connect is for discovering people, places, and industries in Arkansas that helped shape Americas story and heritage, officials said. Celebrate is for the states unique traditions, values and artistic expressions, while contribute is an opportunity to look ahead to opportunities, including education.

Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Education Jacob Oliva described the websites academic mission.

As we celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it is important for students to learn about the contributions of Arkansans to American history, Oliva said. These resources will give teachers the tools they need to make sure students have meaningful learning experiences.

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University of Arkansas at Little Rock makes digital map detailing citys history

For more information on America250 in Arkansas, visit America250.ADE.Arkansas.gov.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
The most destructive inferno in Los Angeles history, which charred a devastating path through Pacific Palisades and Malibu in early January, was a flare-up of a fire that an Uber driver had intentionally set days earlier, federal prosecutors alleged Wednesday.

Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, is accused of starting the initial fire on New Years Day that rekindled to become the Palisades fire days later. He was arrested Wednesday in Florida and charged with destruction of property by means of fire, which carries a minimum of five years in federal prison.

Among the evidence collected from Rinderknecht's digital devices was a dystopian image he generated on ChatGPT depicting a burning city with people trying to flee, said Bill Essayli, acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, at a news conference Wednesday.

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Rinderknecht called 911 to report the fire, then offered to help firefighters battle the blaze, according to an affidavit by an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Prosecutors accused Rinderknecht of lying about where he was when he made his first 911 call.

"While we cannot undo the damage and destruction that was done, we hope his arrest and the charges against him bring some measure of justice to the victims of this horrific tragedy," Essayli said.

Jonathan Rinderknecht was arrested in Florida for allegedly sparking the Palisades fire. (U.S. Attorney's Office)

The federal prosecution affirms a long-suspected theory among fire experts and comes after a nine-month probe into the cause of the Palisades fire, which charred 23,400 acres and leveled more than 6,800 structures, including many homes. Twelve people died in the blaze.

LAFD response faces scrutiny

Los Angeles fire officials, already under scrutiny for their failure to pre-deploy engines to the Palisades fire, are now facing questions about why they didn't fully extinguish the flames from the initial fire before hurricane-force winds blew into the area and fanned an ember buried within the roots of dense vegetation.

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This affidavit puts the responsibility on the fire department," said Ed Nordskog, former head of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's arson unit. "There needs to be a commission examining why this rekindled fire was allowed to reignite."

He added: "The arsonist set the first fire, but the Fire Department proactively has a duty to do certain things."

A Times investigation found that LAFD officials did not pre-deploy any engines to the Palisades ahead of the Jan. 7 fire, despite warnings about extreme weather. In preparing for the winds, the department staffed up only five of more than 40 engines available to supplement the regular firefighting force.

Those engines could have been pre-positioned in the Palisades and elsewhere, as had been done in the past during similar weather.

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"Lives were tragically lost. Thousands of homes were destroyed. Our heroic firefighters fought the blaze valiantly with no rest," L.A. Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement Wednesday. "Each day that families are displaced is a day too long and as we are working tirelessly to bring Angelenos home, we are also working towards closure and towards justice  and today is a step forward in that process."

New Years Day starts with a fire

While some residents said they saw fireworks in the area on Jan. 1, authorities said they don't believe fireworks were a factor in the initial fire, called the Lachman fire. Rinderknecht allegedly set the fire "maliciously" with an open flame  "likely a lighter" that ignited combustible material like vegetation or paper, according to the ATF agent's affidavit.

Read more: The start of the Palisades and Eaton fires: 24 hours that changed Los Angeles

Essayli said Rinderknecht was working as an Uber driver that night and drove to the Skull Rock trailhead after dropping off a passenger nearby. Two of his passengers later told law enforcement that he appeared agitated and angry.

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Rinderknecht, who once lived in the neighborhood, parked his car and attempted to contact a former friend via Facebook Messenger at about 11:38 p.m., according to the affidavit.

From the trailhead, where a sign read "Danger" and "No Fires/Smoking," Rinderknecht walked up a narrow dirt path to a clearing known as Hidden Buddha for the small Buddha figurines people leave there, at the top of the hill. A former friend told investigators that Rinderknecht had frequented the area in the past.

Rinderknecht used his iPhone to take videos at the clearing and listen to a French rap song "Un Zder, Un The," according to the affidavit. The music video for the song, which the affidavit said was about despair and bitterness, shows a trash can on fire. Rinderknecht had listened to the song nine times in the four days before he allegedly set the fire, the affidavit said.

UC San Diego cameras that monitor the area first captured signs of fire at 12:12 a.m. Rinderknecht immediately placed a call to 911, but it didn't go through, according to the affidavit.

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In the five minutes after he allegedly set the fire, prosecutors said Rinderknecht called 911 several times to report the fire but had no cell service. When he finally reached 911, he was back at the bottom of the trail, and a resident had already reported the blaze.

While on the phone with 911, Rinderknecht allegedly typed a question into ChatGPT: "Are you at fault if a fire is [lit] because of your cigarettes," according to the affidavit.

Investigators determined that smoking didn't cause the blaze and suspected his query was an attempt to create "a more innocent explanation for the cause of the fire," the affidavit stated.

Read more: Rinderknecht criminal complaint

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Rinderknecht then got into his car and drove away, passing fire engines screaming through the neighborhood. He later told investigators that he turned around and offered to help fight the blaze, according to the affidavit.

The ATF agent who wrote the affidavit but whose name is redacted in the document noted that it's not uncommon for arsonists to call 911 to report the fires they have set, then watch firefighters respond.

Although Rinderknecht was arrested in Florida, authorities said he lived in Southern California at the time of the fire and had a friend who lives near where it started.

He made "false statements" to investigators, prosecutors alleged, saying he first saw the fire after he left the Hidden Buddha clearing and walked down the trail toward his car. However, GPS data from his phone showed he was in the clearing when he first called 911.

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Rinderknecht is in custody and could not be reached for comment. His attorney, Assistant Federal Defender Aziza Hawthorne, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

How the Palisades fire grew to a raging inferno

Water-dropping helicopters were not able to fly in the early hours of the Lachman fire because of the wind, according to the agency. Around 1:40 a.m., they began launching an aerial attack with support crews on the ground. News footage captured the charge, with walls of flames towering over homes and firefighters with hoses running into backyards.

Shortly after 3:30 a.m., Los Angeles Fire Department officials reported that they had stopped the blaze's forward progress.

A little over an hour later, the LAFD reported that firefighters had completed the hose line around the perimeter of the fire and it is fully contained. Some firefighters remained there to mop up and ensure the fire didnt flare up again.

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On Jan. 2, firefighters returned to collect the fire hoses, saying it appeared that the fire was fully extinguished, according to the affidavit.

The Times reviewed footage from UC San Diego cameras monitoring the hillside over the next six days, and no new smoke was visible. However, a source with knowledge of the evidence, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said investigators obtained proof that smoke was coming out of the ground between Jan. 1 and Jan. 7.

Kenny Cooper, special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, who was involved in the probe, downplayed firefighters' role in failing to prevent the rekindling, saying that the blaze burned deep within the ground and remained active for days.

The person who started this fire is solely to blame," he said. "I will never blame our brave firefighters when we know how this fire started.

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Read more: He posted videos of the start of the Palisades fire. Then the internet blamed him

LAFD officials declined to detail whether they conducted thermal imaging of the area, which agencies frequently perform to find hot spots when there is no visible light or in heavy smog or mist.

Fire experts say its possible for a blaze to rekindle days and even months after an initial fire is thought to be extinguished. Some other destructive fires, including the 1991 Oakland Hills fire and the 2023 Maui fire, have been restarts of older fires.

Questions remain for survivors

Several Palisades residents said they are now wondering why the initial fire could continue to smolder.

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"What protocols were in place for ensuring the Lachman fire was fully extinguished? Were they followed? Were resources adequately deployed to the area on January 7, given the extreme wind warnings?" said Darrin Hurwitz, whose home was destroyed in the Palisades fire.

Jon Brown, whose family lived at the Pacific Palisades Bowl mobile home park, which burned in the fire, scoffed as federal officials at Wednesday's news conference sidestepped questions about why the Lachman fire wasn't fully extinguished.

They think that they have done something by finding the guy who did it, but they're really going to fan the flames on what everybody is really pissed about: Why wasnt the fire put out on the 1st?" said Brown, who gathered with neighbors in the lobby of the city Department of Building and Safety.

The neighborhood around the Skull Rock trailhead, where many homes were destroyed by the Palisades fire, was quiet Wednesday, other than the occasional drone of machinery along streets filled with bulldozers and construction trucks.

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Stacy Mitchell, who lives about a mile away and whose house was damaged in the fire, spoke of losing local landmarks  the supermarket, the post office, restaurants  that had long provided a sense of community.

"We hope he's held accountable for his actions, but it's not really bringing any closure to me, she said.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
By Renju Jose

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had raised the recent deadly outage of Singtel-owned Optus's emergency call number with his Singaporean counterpart, Lawrence Wong, in a bilateral meeting held in Canberra on Wednesday.

Two back-to-back outages of the emergency "000" number last month have intensified scrutiny of Optus, Australia's second largest telecom operator. The outages occurred less than a fortnight apart and affected thousands, with the first glitch linked to four deaths because customers were unable to get timely aid.

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"I raised the issue and we had a discussion. I thank Prime Minister Wong for the condolences he offered to the families and his support for strong follow-up action," Albanese said at a joint press conference after the meeting.

Wong said he expected Optus and Singapore Telecommunications, majority owned by Singapore's state-run Temasek Holdings, to act responsibly, comply fully with Australian laws and cooperate with the ongoing inquiry.

"I understand fully the anger, frustration and outrage at what has happened because if this were to have happened in Singapore, I would feel the same. So from that point of view, we understand the sentiments," Wong said.

Singtel boss Yuen Kuan Moon met with Australian authorities last week, amid calls from some analysts and lawmakers for Optus CEO Stephen Rue to resign and Optus to be stripped of its operating licence.

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Albanese and Wong also entered into an agreement that they said would deepen the defence ties between the two countries.

"We will enhance our respective militaries' reciprocal access to defence facilities in Australia and Singapore," a joint statement released after the meeting said.

"This will include expanded access for the Australian Defence Force in Singapore in support of its regional presence and increased access for the Singapore Armed Forces to training areas in Australia."

Both nations will also broaden cooperation in trade and investment to support their commercial interests in each other's economies, the statement said.

(Reporting by Renju Jose in Sydney; Editing by Tom Hogue and Lincoln Feast.)
LOS ANGELES (AP)  A 29-year-old man has been charged with sparking Californias deadly Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in its history, authorities said Wednesday.

Federal officials said Jonathan Rinderknecht, who lived in the area, started a small fire on New Years Day that smoldered underground before reigniting nearly a week later and roaring through Pacific Palisades, home to many of Los Angeles rich and famous.

The fire, which left 12 dead in the hillside neighborhoods across Pacific Palisades and Malibu, was one of two blazes that broke out on Jan. 7, killing more than 30 people in all and destroying over 17,000 homes and buildings while burning for days in Los Angeles County.

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Rinderknecht was arrested Tuesday in Florida and made his first court appearance Wednesday in Orlando on charges including malicious destruction by means of a fire, which carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison. Wearing shorts and a T-shirt while shackled at the ankles, he told a federal magistrate in a soft-spoken voice that he was not under the influence and did not have mental issues.

The judge set a hearing for Oct. 17 to consider bond and extradition proceedings. Messages seeking comment were left for Aziza Hawthorne, the federal assistant public defender assigned to represent Rinderknecht.

Los Angeles Fire Department Interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva said the arrest was an important first step toward justice.

The department released a report Wednesday that found firefighters lacked enough resources and struggled to communicate clearly in the first 36 hours of the blaze, and that those challenges hampered their response during a critical time. The report said the department did not pre-deploy enough resources despite warnings of severe winds.

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Suspect talked to authorities three weeks after the fire

Investigators said Wednesday that Rinderknecht was working as an Uber driver on New Years Eve, 2024. After dropping off a passenger in Pacific Palisades, he parked and walked up a trail. He took videos at a nearby hilltop area and listened to a rap song with a music video showing objects being lit on fire, prosecutors said. Shortly after midnight, he lit the fire, they alleged.

He fled the scene after starting the fire but returned to the trail to watch it burn, acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said.

He left as soon as he saw the fire trucks were headed to the location. He turned around and went back up there. And he took some video and, and watched them fight the fire, Essayli said.

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Uber said in a statement that it worked with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine the drivers whereabouts around the time of the fire.

Rinderknecht also made several 911 calls to report the fire, according to a criminal complaint.

During an interview Jan. 24, Rinderknecht told investigators where the fire began, information not yet public and that he would not have known if he hadnt witnessed it, the complaint said.

He lied about his location, claiming he was near the bottom of the hiking trail, Essayli said.

He was visibly anxious during that interview, according to the complaint. His efforts to call 911 and his question to ChatGPT about a cigarette lighting a fire indicated that he wanted to create a more innocent explanation for the fire's start and to show he tried to assist with suppression, the complaint said.

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A holdover fire, and investigators say they found a lighter

Federal officials called the Palisades blaze a holdover fire from the Jan. 1 fire, which was not fully extinguished by firefighters. LAs interim fire chief said such fires linger in root systems and can reach depths of 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6.1 meters), making them undetectable by thermal imaging cameras.

Investigators determined the initial blaze was likely lit by a lighter taken to vegetation or paper, according to the criminal complaint.

Investigators found a barbecue-style lighter in the glove compartment of Rinderknecht's car on Jan. 24. It appeared to be the same lighter as one that was in his apartment on Dec. 31, based on a photo on his phone. He admitted to bringing a lighter with him when he walked up the hill, authorities said.

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Federal prosecutors will need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the Palisades Fire grew from the blaze six days earlier, said Jerod Gunsberg, a California criminal defense attorney with experience in arson cases.

Fire department examines its own response

The department found that there was a delay in communicating evacuation orders to the public, resulting in spontaneous evacuations without traffic control that caused residents to block routes to the fire. The incident command had to be frequently relocated to escape the fire front, the report said.

The first evacuation orders came 40 minutes after some homes were already burning, reporting by The Associated Press has found.

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The department could not effectively recall off-duty personnel, and some fire chiefs had limited experience with managing an incident of such complexity, the report said. Most firefighters worked for more than 36 hours without rest.

Second fire remains under investigation

The Eaton Fire broke out the same day in the community of Altadena, destroying more than 9,400 homes and killing 19 people. Investigators have not officially determined a cause, but the federal government sued utility Southern California Edison last month, alleging that its equipment sparked the fire.

An outside review released in September found that a lack of resources and outdated policies for sending emergency alerts led to delayed evacuation warnings.

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The report commissioned by Los Angeles County supervisors said a series of weaknesses, including outdated policies, inconsistent practices and communications vulnerabilities, hampered the countys response.

___

Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press writers Mike Schneider in Orlando, Florida, Eric Tucker in Washington, D.C., and Julie Watson in San Diego contributed.

___

This story has been corrected to show that the Eaton Fire killed 19 people, not 18.
Belarus rail-transported exports of gasoline to Russia surged fourfold in September as Russia has dealt with fuel shortages, Reuters reported on Oct. 7.

This has come amid a series of Ukrainian drone and missile strikes that have severely disrupted operations at Russian refineries, a key component of the Kremlins wartime economy. Some facilities have been forced to halt production indefinitely.

Industry sources said that gasoline shipments from Belarusian refineries to Russias domestic market reached 49,000 metric tons last month, while diesel deliveries totaled 33,000 tons.

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Also, the amount of Belarusian gasoline shipped through Russia for export to other countries has risen by about 1% in the last month.

Several Russian regions have introduced fuel rationing and temporary price freezes after the attacks damaged refineries and other energy facilities.

Russia is also preparing to import gasoline from China and other Asian countries, including South Korea and Singapore, to offset the fuel shortage  following the shutdown of nearly 40% of its oil refining capacity, pro-government outlet Kommersant reported on Oct. 1.

Read also: Ukraine hits largest oil terminal in Russian-occupied Crimea, sparks massive blaze, General Staff confirms

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
European arms company Thales has raised concerns over the number of unidentified drones spotted recently over its Belgian facility producing 70 mm rockets, Politico reported on Oct. 8.

The news comes as suspicious drone activity has caused alarm across Europe, with some cases having been linked to Russia.

Alain Quevrin, country director for Thales Belgium, told Politico that the company is "seeing more drones than what was the case a few months ago" and highlighted sightings at the Evegnee Fort site in the eastern part of the country.

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The company's Belgium-based facilities have been ramping up the production of 70 mm rockets that can be used against drones, supplying both European countries and Ukraine.

Thales facilities could use its jamming equipment to bring down the drones, but the Belgian government must first set the legal procedures for such cases, Quevrin said.

Arms demand is growing in the European market amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and fears of a potential clash between NATO and Moscow, exacerbated by recent drone incursions.

In recent weeks, unidentified drones have disrupted airport operations in Germany, Denmark, and Norway.

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Polish forces shot down several Russian drones that entered their airspace during an attack on Ukraine in September. Days later, a Russian drone breached Romanian territory, though Bucharest chose not to engage it.

Estonia also reported that three Russian MiG-31 briefly violated its airspace on Sept. 19.

The incidents prompted calls for a more forceful response to such incursions, including downing Russian aircraft and drones if necessary.

Read also: Investigation: Top Russian defense industry boss tries to lift sanctions, spills own secrets instead

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visited the Temple Mount on Sukkot, praying for Israels victory, Hamass destruction, and the return of hostages, declaring, We are the owners here.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir ascended the Temple Mount on Wednesday, during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.

He stated that he was there to pray for Israels victory in the war, the destruction of Hamas, and the return of the hostages.

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"We are the owners of the Temple Mount, Ben-Gvir said in a video statement at the site.

We are two years after the terrible massacre; here on the Temple Mount, there is victory. In every home in Gaza, there is a picture of the Temple Mount, and today, two years later, we are victorious on the Temple Mount, he said.

I only pray that our prime minister will allow a full victory also in Gaza, to destroy Hamas, with Gods help, to return the hostages, and we will achieve an absolute victory, he said.

The visit comes on the Sukkot holiday's days of Chol Hamoed (the intermediate days of the festival), where there are additional prayer services.

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Ben-Gvir has made multiple trips to the Temple Mount this past year, drawing controversy from local and regional figures alike for transgressing the existing status quo.

His last visit was in August to mark Tisha BAv, the Jewish day of mourning for the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem.

The status quo on the Temple Mount

The status quo on the Temple Mount, established after 1967, allows Israel to oversee security while the Jordanian-backed Islamic Waqf administers the site.

Non-Muslims, including Jews, may visit during limited hours but are strictly prohibited from praying there.

The status quos aim was to maintain religious balance and prevent conflict, though it has often been tested by political and security tensions.

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During past visits, Ben-Gvir has attempted to assert that the status quo no longer exists, to which the Prime Ministers Office has repeatedly clarified that Israels policy on the Temple Mount has not changed.

Eliav Breuer contributed to this report.
Kenorland Minerals has announced the initiation of the phase-two diamond drill programme at the South Uchi project, which is held under an option agreement with Auranova Resources, in the Red Lake District in Ontario, Canada.

This fall (SeptemberNovember) 2025 exploration programme, approved by Auranova, will involve up to 6,000m of drilling in around 13 drill-holes in the Papaonga target area.

The second phase builds on the success of the initial drilling programme that concluded earlier in 2025.

Its goal is to further investigate the recently discovered gold-bearing structural corridors and to explore additional structures hidden beneath deep overburden.

The current drill programme includes tighter step-outs around hole 25PADD023, which intersected mineralised shear zones with visible gold.

The purpose of these follow-up holes is to more precisely determine the geometry and continuity of mineralisation within this structural corridor.

Furthermore, wider-spaced step-outs are being carried out along the east-west trending deformation zone between holes 25PADD016 and 25PADD023 to explore potential lateral extensions of gold-bearing structures.

The programme also involves initial drill testing of structures north-east of 25PADD023, within areas of deeper overburden where no historical drilling has occurred.

The goal of these efforts is to define the high-grade zone identified at 25PADD023 more precisely and to extend the exploration into untested areas of the deformation corridor.

Kenorland CEO and president Zach Flood said: We are excited to return to South Uchi following a very successful maiden drill programme earlier this year. The initial campaign confirmed widespread gold mineralisation in bedrock across multiple kilometres of strike.

Among the most compelling results was along the eastern extent of the target area, where drilling intersected a strongly mineralised and altered shear zone hosting multiple generations of veining, sulphidation and visible gold  hallmarks of a robust orogenic gold system. The current drill programme will step out from this discovery as well as test additional targets concealed beneath thick overburden.

The South Uchi Project, initially discovered and staked by Kenorland, is centered on the potential of the under-explored region to host substantial gold mineralisation systems.

Kenorland Minerals is a mineral exploration company focused on project generation and early-stage exploration in North America.

In 2022, Kenorland Minerals agreed to sell to Targa Exploration rights and 100% interests in 844 mining claims that make up the Opinaca Lithium Project in the James Bay region of northern Quebec.
WALLINGFORD, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44)  Vermont State Police said Tuesday that a body was recovered near Nash Drive in Wallingford. The body has not yet been identified.

The recovery was reportedly made in the course of an ongoing search for Rodney Davis, 62, who was reported to be on foot in the same area with a firearm after an incident on September 19. Police were looking for Davis as a suspect and said that he was wanted for first-degree aggravated domestic assault. ABC22/FOX44s previous article on that incident is below.

State police Friday: Armed man in Wallingford woods

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During that incident, police were able to talk to Davis on the phone, but abruptly lost contact and said that they believed his cell phone was out of battery.

Vermont State Police said that the body was found Tuesday shortly after noon in the vicinity of Davis home, but were unable to confirm an identity.

An autopsy will be performed to confirm the cause and manner of death. Police said that the investigation is ongoing.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.
CALERA, Ala. (WIAT)  The Calera Police Department is not giving up on the search for 73-year-old Reuben Waithaka.

Its been nearly five months since a witness reported seeing the grandfather from Kenya entering a wooded area on private hunting property off Highway 25. His family is still hoping for answers regarding the whereabouts of the father of four and grandfather of 10. Calera Police Chief David Hyche said this is still very much an active investigation and they have made contact with their federal partners.

Waithaka was reported missing to police after growing confused after walking away from his sons home in the Timberline subdivision on May 15th. Emily Barua is Waithakas oldest daughter. While shes had to return to her home in Seattle, she said she just wants to know what happened to her dad.

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Sometimes I want to talk about my dad in the past, Barua explained holding back tears, but I dont have any evidence. So I talk to him as hes still alive, but I dont know where he is.

Waithaka was visiting Calera with his wife Elizabeth in May to see his first-born grandson graduate from Calera High School. According to Hyche, a witness reported seeing Waithaka go under a gate and enter private property owned by a local hunting group.

Voters head to polls for Birmingham City Council runoff election

Police and fire searched the property for four days and then the police department was able to map it using sophisticated drone technology provided by the Helena Police Department. There were also search teams with dogs combing the vast wooded area which stretches roughly 12 1/2 miles in diameter.

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We use the best tools that are available and do our best, Hyche explained. But no, we cannot rule out that hes in that area, absolutely not.

Hyche said there is no indication of foul play and theres a chance Waithaka may still be alive.

Im hopeful that somebody picked him up and hes somewhere, Hyche said. I mean the familys not going to give up and were not going to give up either.

Waithakas oldest daughter, who describes herself as a woman of faith, said shes operating on gratitude right now:

Every time I think about my dad, yes Im worried about him but Im also grateful that I got to have him, you know, she explained. He operated on gratitude too and I am living in that now.

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She appealed to people in the southern states to keep on the lookout for her dad who speaks English, but with a heavy accent. Im just hoping that by the end of this year well have some closure, this being a hunting season in Alabama, {maybe} somebody will see something.

Calera police are also asking anyone who believes they may have seen Waithaka to contact CPD at 205-668-3505.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42.
Names marked with an asterisk have been changed to protect identities.

In 2024, Mohammed* flew into St Petersburg, Russias second-largest city, on his first trip abroad.

With its perfect grid, imposing imperial palaces and white nights, when the proximity to the Arctic Circle makes darkness disappear in late summer, St Petersburg was a far cry from home.

Mohammed arrived from Dushanbe, the sun-parched and overpopulated capital of Tajikistan, the poorest nation of ex-Soviet Central Asia.

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He saw the trip as a way of boosting his income and sending remittances home, like millions of Central Asian economic migrants who travel to Russia each year or live there full-time.

He entered Russia visa-free, paid 6,000 rubles ($74) a month for a renewable work permit, and shared a shabby rented apartment with six others while working at a food stall.

But months after arriving, the life he had carefully carved out was shattered.

He told Al Jazeera that, having forgotten to pay the fee for the work permit, he was rounded up by police, beaten and denied food. In detention, Russian military officers forced him to sign up to the army, he said.

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He said he had no choice but to serve.

He travelled to Ukraine and fought alongside Russian troops and foreign fighters on Moscows side.

Earlier this year, however, Ukrainian troops captured him. He is now a prisoner of war (PoW).

Ukraines military gave Al Jazeera rare access to Mohammed, one of dozens of Central Asian prisoners of war. Al Jazeera did not witness Mohammed speaking under duress, however an officer was present at the interview in a prison, in a town close to the front line.

Al Jazeera is concealing Mohammeds identity for safety reasons.

According to international laws, prisoners of war must be treated humanely.

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But several former PoWs interviewed in Ukraine and swapped later have been sentenced to jail for spreading fake news. Both Kyiv and Moscow have also traded accusations of mistreatment, torture and execution of PoWs. Some of the claims have been confirmed by gruesome videos posted online or on Telegram channels.

Mohammed lamented Russia during the interview. In addition to alleging police brutality, he claimed to have observed anti-Muslim discrimination at military training centres.

Russia and Ukraine have swapped thousands of prisoners of war since the start of the conflict in early 2022. There is no official data on the number of PoWs each side holds. Mohammed said he hopes he is not transferred back to Russia and is allowed to fight on Ukraines side instead.

It is a claim that feels familiar in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war. In July, Russian lawmaker Viktor Vodolatsky said that a number of Ukrainian PoWs refused to return and wanted to fight for Moscow. An activist said at the time that it was very unlikely, or almost impossible, that prisoners would agree to this sort of thing voluntarily.

Freed Ukrainian prisoner of war (PoW) Andrii Shemeyko, 39, looks out from a window at his daughter Nastya, 5, after a swap, in an undisclosed location in Ukraine, October 2, 2025 [Anatolii Stepanov/Reuters]

Mohammed said that back in Russia, he realised he had signed a one-year military service contract with a signing bonus of 1.6 million rubles ($19,644) and a monthly salary of 210,000 rubles ($2,580)  only after he was allegedly forced to do so.

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The officers promised he would serve as a guard far from the front line and would receive a Russian passport in six months.

They fooled me, he said.

He then spent weeks training in western Russia. The training was perfunctory, he said. His AK-47 assault rifle was old and kept jamming.

My weapon didnt work, I swear. Seriously, he said.

Kremlins policy of recruiting manpower

Russia has long been accused of forcibly conscripting Central Asian migrants, allegedly with a heavy hand.

Like Mohammed, others who have survived to tell their stories say they were promised hefty salaries, safe jobs far from the front line, and Russian citizenship.

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Behind all that is the Kremlins policy of recruiting manpower by any means necessary and avoiding the forced mobilisation of Russians, Alisher Ilkhamov, the head of Central Asia Due Diligence, a London-based think tank, told Al Jazeera.

In the training centres, where dozens of recruits slept in unheated barracks, there were other Muslims from outside Russia  including nationals of Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan.

Some volunteered, but most were forced to enlist, Mohammed said.

He claimed that the Muslims were not allowed to pray and were subject to daily racial and religious slurs from drill officers, who allegedly forced them to shave off their beards and clean toilets in and out of the barracks.

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The number of Russians was low and limited to convicts who volunteered to serve in exchange for presidential pardons, he said.

Moscow denies racially or religiously profiling potential recruits, but has emphasised the duty of economic migrants who have received or desire Russian citizenship to serve their new home.

In May 2023, Russias top prosecutor Aleksander Bastrykin said that while Russians are on the front lines, the migrants are attacking our rear If they are Russian nationals, have citizenship, please, go to the front line. If you dont fulfil your duty, go back to your motherland.

A year later, he said forced recruitment is a good feature that led to the situation when migrants started slowly leaving Russia.

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After the training, Mohammed was taken to an eastern Ukraine region that was home to heavy fighting. He was handed an assault rifle, magazines and hand grenades.

He was partnered with another foreign fighter, who told him he had volunteered in exchange for a Russian passport.

Tactic of extra-small storm groups

The pair appeared to have become part of Moscows new stratagem of dispatching handfuls of servicemen to infiltrate Ukrainian positions and amass manpower and ammunition before clashing with Ukrainian forces.

This is a tactic of extra-small storm groups; it has been used since spring, in certain locations since late last year, Nikolay Mitrokhin of Germanys Bremen University, who has authored copious analytical reports on the Russian-Ukrainian war, told Al Jazeera.

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It decreases losses, especially if theres foliage that hides the troops and sharply increases the means to destroy them, around tenfold, he said.





Mohammed and other servicemen had their phones, documents and debit cards taken away by their officers.

They received cheap smartphones with just one app  Alpine Quest, a topographic programme that lets users move around using coded coordinates without web access and GPS.

They did not know the names of the villages and farms they were tasked to move to by their commanding officer, who radioed them from a distance and whose name or whereabouts they never found out.

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Every day, they walked for hours in small groups. One of the servicemen carried a backpack with a portable jamming system that immobilised Ukrainian drones.

He said he saw several killed Russian soldiers: Some had no heads, some no arms.

They trudged on despite hunger and thirst  drone-delivered rations consisted of a small bottle of water and two or three chocolate bars a day.

When Mohammed saw a gravely wounded, bleeding Russian soldier, his commanding officer warned him by radio against helping him.

To Mohammed, that was the moment of a harrowing revelation  his life meant nothing, and he might also be left to die.

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Amid a spell of intense fighting, Mohammed and his partner were ordered to hide in an abandoned, fire-damaged Ukrainian village.

With no drone-delivered food for days, they rummaged through kitchens and basements only to find some pasta, which they chewed raw.

But Ukrainian drones tracked them down.

Mohammed expressed a wish to serve for Ukraine

Mohammed claimed that during his time in the army, he did not fire his gun or throw a single grenade. Ukrainians take such claims with a grain of salt.

In the years of my service since Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, no Russian prisoner of war has ever admitted hed killed Ukrainian servicemen, civilians. Not a single one, the Ukrainian officer who oversaw Mohammed told Al Jazeera.

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Mohammed was a Russian storm-trooper. He was captured while storming Ukrainian positions in Donetsk, the officer said.

Mohammed said he was fearful of Ukrainian detention, having heard rumours that Russian captives had been tortured and mutilated.

He has been treated better than he had expected, he said.

I swear, they give me whatever I want  cigarettes any time, food, drinks. They say, Take it, little brother, he said.

He also called his father for the first time: My dad cried a little, said, What matters is that youre alive.

People walk next to a damaged building and vehicles, in a residential neighbourhood hit during a Russian drone and missile attack, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, September 28, 2025 [Anatolii Stepanov/Reuters]

He fears the possibility of being swapped, as Russia, according to human rights groups and ex-soldiers, has disregarded international rules by returning prisoners of war to the front line.

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They will get me back to the war, 100 percent, until I die or lose an arm or a leg, he said.

He cannot return to Tajikistan, either, as he could face 12 years in jail for joining another nations army.

Hochu Jit (I Want to Live), a Ukrainian government group that monitors and helps PoWs, said in April it had verified the names of 931 Tajik nationals aged 18 to 70 fighting for Russia. It said 196 of them had died, as their life expectancy on the front lines was 140 days, and specified that the real number could be much higher.

Mohammed believes his only way to survive is to enlist in the Ukrainian army to obtain Ukrainian citizenship and get his family out of Tajikistan.

When the war is over  if the war is over  I will tell my dad in Tajikistan: Come on, sell the house, come to Ukraine, buy a house here, he said.

The officer overseeing Mohammed said his enlistment plea is being considered.

Dozens of Russian PoWs have volunteered to fight for Ukraine since 2022, and many joined two military units that consist of Russian nationals.

Seeing Ukrainian servicemens normal attitude towards him, and comparing it with the Russians attitude, Mohammed expressed a wish to serve for the Ukrainian forces, so that he doesnt return to Russia to experience racial and ethnic discrimination, the officer said.
OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday said he had "a meeting of minds" with U.S. President Donald Trump on the future of the steel and aluminum sectors, which are currently facing U.S. tariffs.

Carney met Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday for talks on trade. Officials said the meeting had been productive but more work was needed to persuade Trump to lift damaging tariffs on imports of Canadian steel, aluminum and autos.

Ottawa says Carney and Trump asked officials to work on possible agreements for key sectors over the next few weeks.

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"The President ... and myself had a meeting of minds yesterday with respect to the future of the steel sector, the aluminum sector, energy sector cooperation, which is why our teams are negotiating the terms of those deals," Carney said.

"And we are working ... on the modalities of an auto agreement," he told legislators in Parliament.

Opposition parties say that Carney, who won an April election on the back of a promise to stand up to Trump, had made far too many concessions to Washington.

"Canadians do remember the last election where that prime minister promised to put elbows up ... it was the promise that he ran on. Now those elbows have come down," official opposition leader Pierre Poilievre told Parliament.

(Reporting by David Ljunggren and Maria Cheng; Editing by Chris Reese and Chizu Nomiyama )
Federal prosecutors investigating former FBI Director James Comey for allegedly making false statements to Congress determined that a central witness in their probe would prove "problematic" and likely prevent them from establishing their case to a jury, sources familiar with their findings told ABC News.

Comey, who pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Wednesday, was indicted last month on charges of making a false statement and obstruction related to 2020 testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee -- but Justice Department officials have privately expressed that the case could quickly unravel under the scrutiny of a federal judge and defense lawyers.

Daniel Richman -- a law professor who prosecutors allege Comey authorized to leak information to the press -- told investigators that the former FBI director instructed him not to engage with the media on at least two occasions and unequivocally said Comey never authorized him to provide information to a reporter anonymously ahead of the 2016 election, the sources said.

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DOJ adds 2 out-of-state attorneys to Comey case ahead of his arraignment

According to prosecutors who investigated the circumstances surrounding Comey's 2020 testimony for two months, using Richman's testimony to prove that Comey knowingly provided false statements to Congress would result in "likely insurmountable problems" for the prosecution.

Investigators detailed those conclusions in a lengthy memo last month recommending that the office not move forward in charging Comey, according to sources familiar with the memo's contents.

Lindsey Halligan, a Trump loyalist hand-picked to replace the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia who resisted bringing prosecutions against Trump's political foes, still moved forward in presenting the case before a grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, and secured two out of three counts she sought against Comey over his 2020 congressional testimony.

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During grand jury proceedings, prosecutors do not have similar legal obligations to turn over evidence favorable to the defendant as they do once a case moves forward to trial.

Alex Wong/Getty Images - PHOTO: FBI Director James Comey speaks during a news conference, March 24, 2016 in Washington.

Halligan's deputy Maggie Cleary raised similar concerns about the case the same week the former White House aide-turned-prosecutor asked a grand jury to indict Comey, bolstering the conclusion that no single piece of evidence could demonstrate that Comey lied to Congress and warning against relying on Richman, who she described to colleagues as a hostile witness, sources said.

Prosecutors further expressed concerns about the department's ability to take the case to trial quickly due to problems identifying all the relevant materials that would need to be handed over to Comey's lawyers, sources said. They also raised alarms over the potential for Comey's defense to cite the statute of limitations for the case, which derives from testimony in 2017 and was only reinforced by Comey during his 2020 testimony in response to a question from Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

Prosecutors rushed to secure the indictment days before the statute of limitations expired for the 2020 testimony, although they believe Comey's lawyers can argue that the statute of limitations expired years earlier, as the underlying issue relates to 2017 testimony, sources said.

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Comey, who is expected to plead not guilty to the charges, denies wrongdoing and has argued that he is being targeted for political reasons. His indictment came just days after Trump's unprecedented demand that his Justice Department act "now" to bring cases against the former FBI director and others.

"Nothing is being done. What about Comey, Adam 'Shifty' Schiff, and Leticia???" Trump wrote in a social media post last month, directly addressing Attorney General Pam Bondi and referring to California Sen. Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James. "We can't delay any longer, it's killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!"

Halligan alleges that Comey intentionally misled Congress in 2017 and 2020 when he testified that he never authorized another person at the FBI to provide information to the media anonymously. The allegation is that Comey authorized Richman to speak to the press anonymously, contradicting his testimony.

Friend of former FBI Director James Comey subpoenaed in federal probe: Sources

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Trump later accused Comey of breaking the law by sharing his memos, arguing they contained classified information, though Richman later told ABC News in a statement that none of the documents had any classification markings.

When prosecutors met with Richman in September, he told them that he never served as an anonymous source for Comey or acted at Comey's direction while he was FBI director, sources familiar with his interview told ABC News. In at least two cases when Richman asked if he should speak with the press, Comey advised him not to do so, sources said.

Investigators who reviewed material from Comey's emails, including his correspondence with Richman, could not identify an instance when Comey approved leaking material to a reporter anonymously, sources told ABC News.

Richman, a longtime friend of Comey, has previously acknowledged his role as an intermediary between Comey and reporters after Comey was fired from his role as FBI director, including leaking memos written by Comey about his interactions with Trump following his termination.

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Federal prosecutors have focused their inquiry on Comey's actions as FBI director -- including the alleged leak of information about the Trump and Clinton campaigns ahead of the 2016 election -- to find evidence that Comey intentionally mislead Congress.

As ABC News previously reported, career prosecutors in the office not only determined that the vast amount of evidence they collected in their investigation would be insufficient to convince a jury to convict him at a trial, but would also fail to meet a lower standard of reaching probable cause to even bring a case.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) on Tuesday called the expected National Guard deployment in his city illegal, unconstitutional, and dangerous, as local officials await the arrival of federalized troops.

In a press conference, the Democratic mayor told reporters that the Trump administration has not shared with his team any details about President Trumps plans to send in the National Guard to Chicago.

As far as what we are hearing, the National Guard  first of all, its illegal, unconstitutional, its dangerous, its wrong. This is not about deportation. This is not about safety for this president, Johnson said at the press conference.

This is about authoritarianism. Its about stoking fear. Its about breaking the Constitution that would give him that much more control over our American cities, Johnson continued.

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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) has said that about 300 members of the Illinois National Guard were expected to be federalized and deployed to Chicago, along with 400 troops from Texas.

Reporters from The Associated Press and the Chicago Tribune saw military personnel on Tuesday at the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Elwood, Ill., approximately 55 miles southwest of Chicago. The troops were dressed in uniforms with patches identifying them as members of the Texas National Guard, according to both outlets.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Monday posted a photo to social media of members boarding a plane, writing, Deploying now, but he did not indicate where they were going.

Illinois and Chicago sued on Monday to block the Trump administrations deployment of the National Guard to Chicago, calling the move unlawful and dangerous.

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The American people, regardless of where they reside, should not live under the threat of occupation by the United States military, particularly not simply because their city or state leadership has fallen out of a presidents favor, the complaint reads.

Johnson echoed those concerns at the press conference Tuesday.

This president is determined to federalize the National Guard and to occupy our cities with the military, Johnson said. Its unconscionable. Its unthinkable, but this is America today, and were going to do everything in our power to ensure that our democracy is ultimately protected.

The White House has defended the crackdown as an effort to control lawlessness.

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

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.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) defiantly said he is not going anywhere and suggested President Donald Trump is targeting him because he is a Black man, soon after the president called for Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) to be jailed on Wednesday morning.

Johnson, during an appearance on CNNs The Situation Room, said Its certainly not the first time that Donald Trump has called for the arresting of a black man, unjustly.

Co-host Pamela Brown jumped in shortly afterwards and added, And to be clear, hes also calling for the governor, J.B. Pritzker, to be jailed as well.

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President Trump, a few hours earlier, posted on Truth Social: Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect ICE Officers! Governor Pritzker also!

The presidents post  and Johnsons response  comes as Trump and the two Democratic politicians have been trading barbs over the president sending National Guard troops, as well as ICE and Border Patrol agents, to Chicago.

President Trump has said he wants to crack down on crime in The Windy City because he was disgusted by news reports about how many people were shot over Labor Day Weekend.

When I watch television last night, and Im watching the news and I see that nine people were killed in Chicago and 54 were badly wounded with bullets, I say, Thats not our country. We have to do something, Trump said in early September.

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ABC 7 in Chicago reported 58 people were shot in the city over the holiday weekend, which was an 87% surge from the same time the year before.

Pritzker and Johnson have strongly opposed the president, with Pritzker saying the president has been inciting violence by sending federal agents to his state. Both Johnson and Pritzker sued Trump on Monday to stop him from deploying National Guard members.

Johnson, during his CNN appearance on Tuesday, accused Trump of working outside the bounds of the constitution to crackdown on crime and illegal immigration.

This president is unstable, unhinged, a double-minded individual that, quite frankly, is a threat to our democracy.

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A moment later, he added: This president has intentionally worked to escalate violence in the city of Chicago and cities across America. Were just simply defending our fundamental right to our democracy. This president has made it very clear he doesnt support this constitution.

You can watch part of his segment above, via CNN.

The post Chicago Mayor Torches Trump for Calling for His Arrest: Not the First Time Hes Wanted to Unjustly Arrest a Black Man first appeared on Mediaite.
BEIJING (Reuters) -Taiwan President Lai Ching-te is "prostituting" himself to foreigners to try and win their favour but his schemes are doomed to fail, China's government said on Wednesday after he gave an interview lauding U.S. President Donald Trump.

China, which views democratically-governed Taiwan as its own territory, has a special dislike of Lai, saying he is a "separatist" and rebuffing his repeated offers of talks. Lai says only Taiwan's people can decide their future.

In an interview released this week with a conservative U.S. radio show and podcast, Lai said Trump should get the Nobel Peace Prize if he could convince Chinese President Xi Jinping to abandon use of force against Taiwan. Trump and Xi are expected to meet this month at a regional summit in South Korea.

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Responding to the interview, where Lai also talked about China's military threats and increased defence spending, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said Lai was "spouting nonsense", showing his true nature as a manufacturer of crises and destroyer of peace.

Since taking office last year, Lai has been "rampantly propagating separatist fallacies", it said.

Using unusually strong wording, the statement added: "He has engaged in unprincipled foreign pandering and bottomless selling out of Taiwan, squandering the flesh and blood of the people, prostituting himself and throwing in his lot with foreign forces".

There was no immediate response from Taiwan's government.

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The Chinese statement said efforts to seek independence through relying on foreign forces were doomed to fail.

"Lai Ching-te and the 'Taiwan independence' forces are but ants shaking a tree: they will ultimately be swept into the dustbin of history," it added.

The statement also comes just two days before Lai gives his key national day speech on Friday.

China, which has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, staged a day of war games around the island last year shortly after that same event in what it said was a warning to "separatist acts".

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Lai says that the Republic of China - Taiwan's formal name - and the People's Republic of China are "not subordinate to each other".

The Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists. No peace treaty has ever been signed and neither government officially recognises the other to this day.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Writing and additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Kim Coghill)
By Nelson Bocanegra and Alexander Villegas

BOGOTA (Reuters) -Colombia's President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday suggested the latest vessel in the Caribbean bombed by the United States may have been Colombian with Colombian citizens aboard, a statement denied by the White House.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday announced the latest in a series of military strikes targeting drug trafficking vessels off the coast of Venezuela, although the Pentagon has yet to confirm any such strike happened on Saturday.

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"Indications show that the last boat bombed was Colombian with Colombian citizens inside of it," Petro said in a post on X. "The aggression is against all of Latin America and the Caribbean."

If verified, Petro's assertion would bring Colombia into the fray of a campaign which had previously targeted Venezuelan boats.

WHITE HOUSE CALLS PETRO'S STATEMENT 'BASELESS'

The White House rebuffed Petro's comments.

"The United States looks forward to President Petro publicly retracting his baseless and reprehensible statement so that we can return to a productive dialogue on building a strong, prosperous future for the people of the United States and Colombia," a White House official told Reuters.

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The official added that Colombia is an "essential strategic partner" despite policy differences, and the two countries shared priorities including regional security.

The Pentagon and the State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Petro's statement.

There have been at least four such strikes in recent weeks and the Trump administration says 21 people have been killed in the operations. The attacks have inflamed tensions in the region and Washington called off diplomatic outreach to Venezuela on Monday.

Petro, who is in Belgium meeting with European leaders, was replying to a post by U.S. Senator Adam Schiff who said he would vote to block strikes against vessels in the Caribbean.

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Colombia's presidency did not immediately respond to a request for more details.

VENEZUELA LAUNCHES MILITARY EXERCISES AMID TENSIONS

Separately on Wednesday, Venezuela began new military exercises in the coastal states of La Guaira and Carabobo.

During a televised address, Venezuelan Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino called the U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean a "serious threat" and said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has called for a "counteroffensive."

In August, Washington doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million, claiming that he is linked to drug trafficking and criminal groups.

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Trump has played down the possibility of a regime change in the South American country.

The U.S. military deployment in the southern Caribbean includes seven warships, a nuclear-powered submarine, and F-35 stealth fighters.

(Reporting by Nelson Bocanegra and Alexander Villegas in Bogota; Additional reporting by Gram Slattery and Phillip Stewart in Washington; Editing by Humeyra Pamuk, Kylie Madry, Sarah Morland and Deepa Babington)
This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Kwik Trip has revealed a new cash transaction policy in response to the U.S. Department of the Treasurys decision to stop producing pennies, the c-store retailer announced last week.

The Wisconsin-based retailer says that as its roughly 900 c-stores run out of pennies by location, those sites will round cash transactions down to the nearest 5 cents.

Orders paid for with credit or debit cards or digital wallets will continue to charge the exact amount, according to the announcement.

Dive Insight:

Kwik Trip is the first major c-store company to publicly put a policy on pennies in place.

The Federal Reserve expects to stop producing pennies early next year. While current pennies will remain in circulation, they will become harder to get ahold of, leading to companies to put plans in place for when theyre gone.

While the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond suggested rounding to the nearest nickel, whether that increases or decreases the price, Kwik Trip has taken the more customer-friendly approach of always rounding down.

At Kwik Trip, were committed to making everyday transactions simple and fair, said Scott Zietlow, CEO and president of Kwik Trip, in the announcement. We apologize for any confusion this may create for our guests.

Kwik Trip says its policy will remain in place for all its locations until a permanent legislative solution is put in place. The company said that part of the reason for its new policy is that the government has not provided guidance on how to proceed.

This announcement comes amid a number of other changes for Kwik Trip, including the companys expansion into North Dakota, electric vehicle charging program rollout and store remodeling project.

Recommended Reading
WARSAW, Poland  Prague-based Czechoslovak Group (CSG) has announced it is entering the unmanned aerial systems market with the launch of a new company, AviaNera Technologies.

CSG is a leading defense industry player in the Czech Republic and Slovakia where it operates a number of plants that produce weapons, ammunition and military equipment. The group is owned by Czech entrepreneur Michal Strnad, its chief executive who is the son of CSGs founder, Jaroslav Strnad.

Our goal is to become a significant player in the field of military UAS and advanced weapon systems, Michal Strnad was quoted in a statement released by CSG, using the military acronym of unmanned aerial systems. Just as we managed within a few years to build a strong position in the small-caliber ammunition sector, we now aim to achieve something similar in the segment of high-tech defense technologies.

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The new company will prioritize the development and production of propulsion units for unmanned solutions: jet, turbofan and shaft engines, according to the statement.

CSG said AviaNeras team is currently negotiating a number of acquisitions of promising companies in Europe and is also establishing partnerships in Ukraine, which today is a key driver of military UAS technology development.

At the September 2025 DSEI defense industry show in London, CSG representatives told Defense News some of the countries in which the group is considering to strengthen its presence include Poland and the three Baltic States, which comprise Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

CSG is also a major supplier of artillery ammunition to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

In addition to the groups numerous subsidiaries in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, CSG runs offshoots in the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Serbia and India, among others. In the U.S., some of CSGs subsidiaries include Remington, Federal, CCI, Hevi-Shot, Speer, and the Kinetic Group.




The old flap over what Sen. Richard Blumenthal said about his military service during the Vietnam War comes up every time he runs for election and every time he clashes with President Donald Trump. Since neither politician will retire, ever, it's part of the permanent political soundtrack.

Enough already with this old noise. We have a national crisis and no time for nonsense.

I'm not here to apologize for Blumenthal or excuse his misstatements. To review, when he was running for Senate in 2010, a New York Times story reported that Blumenthal had said at a 2008 Norwalk ceremony for veterans, "We have learned something important since the days that I served in Vietnam."

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That was false. Blumenthal served in a Washington, DC-based Marine Reserves unit starting in 1970 and never went to the combat zone. The Times story also reported that Blumenthal on occasion left audiences with the impression he had served in the war, when in fact he had received deferments in the 1960s that kept him out of combat.

Blumenthal apologized for his misstatements. We should all agree that it was not okay for him to make those claims. They forever taint his moral authority. People who express anger about it, especially combat veterans, are fully justified in doing so.

Now, 15 years later, the issue again arises. Pam Bondi, the United States Attorney General, responded to Blumenthal's query about a possible conflict of interest by snapping back, "How dare you?"

"Sen. Blumenthal, I cannot believe that you would accuse me of impropriety when you lied about your military service. You lied - you admitted you lied to be elected a U.S. senator," Bondi cracked, as numerous news outlets reported.

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That led Trump, on his social media platform, to call for an "investigation" of Blumenthal's claims and his military record.

Such obvious showmanship sets a standard of shame for a president whose tenure is so rife with open corruption, lies and ethical breaches that no single person can even name them all.

As for Bondi, I don't know whether she does or doesn't have a conflict over a merger involving her former law firm. But for her to respond to a legitimate question from a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, during sworn testimony, with an irrelevant attack on the questioner is the definition of childish obfuscation.

Bondi owes Blumenthal and the nation an explanation of her potential conflict of interest, period. That's as clear as the fact that Blumenthal made false claims about his military service. And unlike those claims of 17 years ago, it's relevant today.

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The heart of this question is Trump's charge that Blumenthal's whole career is a sham, repeated by countless Republicans  although few who are mature adults.

"This guy shouldn't be in the U.S. Senate. It should be investigated, and Justice should be sought," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"This allegation of 15 years ago has been really rejected by the voters of Connecticut three times, overwhelmingly reelecting me," Blumenthal told CNN's Kaitlan Collins Tuesday night.

Plainly, there is nothing to "investigate" and no "justice" that might arise from yet another review of Blumenthal's claims. That's just silly talk from a guy who has occupied the defense table of multiple courtrooms, as the accused.

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The moral question, coming from Trump, is equally absurd. Let's see, he has 34 criminal felony counts of fraud in New York. His charity and his business were barred from his former home state. He has been found liable in civil court for sexual abuse and accused of sexual misconduct by dozens of women.

He told the chief election official of Georgia to "find" some 12,000 votes in 2020. He built his public career on a lie that former President Barack Obama was born overseas and therefore should not have been eligible for the White House. He continues to lie that the 2020 election was "stolen" despite his own lawyers and dozens of judges saying it wasn't.

As we speak, Trump and his family are making billions of dollars selling crypto currency which, the New York Times reported last month, was backed with $2 billion from the very same United Arab Emirates officials who sought and received permission from Trump, personally, to buy huge amounts of protected U.S. computer chips. At the same time.

This is the guy saying Richard Blumenthal should not be allowed to serve in the U.S. Senate? Spare us. Both were duly elected and we respect the will of the people.

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Finally, the accusation that Blumenthal has built a career on claims of combat service is specious at best.

I was a politics reporter, columnist and business editor at Connecticut's largest newspaper during the years in question. In numerous Blumenthal events, and trust me, there were numerous Blumenthal events every day, neither I nor any of my former colleagues, nor my current colleagues at CT Insider, ever heard him claim he served in Vietnam.

In fact, Connecticut Post reporter Brian Lockhart reported two days after the New York Times story came out, that the full video from Norwalk showed Blumenthal making clear he "served in the military during the Vietnam era."

Blumenthal was known mainly for three things and military service was not one of them. First, he was in the Watergate-era generation of elite young politicos: Harvard undergrad, Yale law school, a stint in the Nixon White House, an early election to the state House of Representatives, then Senate; then appointment as U.S. Attorney for Connecticut.

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As the longtime Connecticut attorney general, Blumenthal, along with a fellow named Eliot Spitzer in New York, forged a new model of activism, going after numerous companies for real or alleged harm to consumers.

Mostly, Blumenthal is famous for showing up anytime three people in Connecticut make a sandwich, though he rarely if ever eats in public. I once had a retirement lunch for a reporter, 11 people around a table. Blumenthal showed up in-person with a proclamation.

In short, Blumenthal's military record has simply never been a huge part of his public life.

Hardball politics is fine. It should be about the issues of the day, such as the ongoing federal government shutdown and Trump sending military troops into U.S. cities amid false claims of emergency.

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If Democrats should come under attack this week, it should be for failing to condemn Jay Jones, the party's nominee for attorney general in Virginia. In a 2022 text exchange reported Friday by the National Review, Jones said the House speaker of his state should get "two bullets to the head" in a hypothetical situation in which Jones had a choice between shooting him or two genocidal dictators, Hitler and Pol Pot.

Jones apologized. That's not enough. Democrats have been silent. That's an outrage to Ben Proto, Connecticut's GOP state chairman. Proto is right. Blumenthal and all other elected Democrats should speak up and vanquish Jones from the race.

Debating a thrice-elected senator's years-old misstatements is just Trump's and Bondi's way of cloaking their authoritarian acts.

dhaar@hearstmediact.com

This article originally published at Dan Haar: Trump and Bondi attacking Blumenthal over Vietnam military service? Spare us.
Gut-wrenching dashcam video shows the chaotic scene as a REACH Air Medical chopper plummeted onto eastbound Highway 50 near Stockton Blvd Monday night. Three crew members, now fighting for their lives, were yanked from the twisted wreckage, igniting a desperate rescue scramble that snarled traffic until the wee hours.

Drunk 13-Year-Old Crashes Stolen Truck in Arizona, 11-Year-Old Passenger Injured

CHP reports the bird went down around 7 p.m., shutting the artery completely until past 1 a.m. Tuesday. Officials verified the aircraft carried no patients, just the pilot, a flight nurse, and a paramedic. All three got rushed to UC Davis Medical Center in bad shape.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the crash occurred shortly after 7 p.m., forcing a full freeway closure that lasted more than six hours before reopening around 1:20 a.m. Tuesday. Authorities confirmed there were no patients on board the aircraft at the time, only the pilot, a flight nurse, and a paramedic, all of whom were transported to UC Davis Medical Center in critical condition.

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Friends identified one of the injured crew members as Suzie Smith, a veteran flight nurse based in Redding known for her volunteer medical missions in Nicaragua, where she helped repair cleft palates for children. Shes just one of those exceptional people who uses her gifts to help others, said friend Mary Beaver. She would travel on her own expense just to make a difference.

Smiths pastor, Travis Osborne, told KCRA that she remains in critical condition with multiple injuries, including severe brain swelling. We are just praying for a miracle, Osborne said. Shes in a dire situation, but we know God hears our prayers.

The Sacramento Fire Department said the initial dispatch described a vehicle extrication, and first responders were unaware the crash involved a helicopter until they arrived. Capt. Justin Sylvia said roughly 15 bystanders ran toward the wreckage to assist firefighters in lifting the aircraft off a trapped crew member.

It just shows a sense of community that everyone wants to lend a hand, Sylvia said. This was one of those times where we truly needed that help.

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Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are examining the cause of the crash.

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Oct. 8 (UPI) -- On this date in history:

In 1871, a massive Chicago fire destroyed more than 17,000 buildings, killed more than 300 people and left 100,000 homeless.

In 1912, Montenegro declared war against the Ottoman Empire, starting the First Balkan War. "Irreconcilable differences between the great powers...now loom up as the most serious menace in the Balkan situation."

In 1918, Sgt. Alvin York of Tennessee became a World War I hero by single-handedly capturing a hill as part of the Meuse-Argonne offensive in France, killing 20 enemy soldiers and capturing 132 others.

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In 1956, Don Larsen of the New York Yankees pitched the only perfect game in a World Series, beating the Brooklyn Dodgers 2-0 in Game 5. Larsen told United Press he was "so keyed up about the whole thing I almost fell down."

A street vendor gets a up close look on October 9, 2003, at the new redesigned $20 notes after they were released into circulation in New York's Times Square district. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI

File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

In 1969, the Days of Rage demonstrations, organized by the Weather Underground, kicked off in Chicago. Diana -- The Making of a Terrorist, is UPI's Pulitzer winning profile of Diana Oughton, a member of the Weather Underground.

Diana Oughton, pictured in her high school years (L) and mug shot after Weather Underground protests in Chicago. On October 8, 1969, the Days of Rage demonstrations, organized by the Weather Underground, kicked off in Chicago. File photos by UPI

In 1982, Cats opened on Broadway, delighting fans from around the world for nearly 18 years before closing on September 10, 2000.

File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI

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China's state television shows footage of Kim Jong Il's state funeral December 29, 2011. On October 8, 1997, Kim officially inherited his father's title of general secretary of the Communist Party. File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI

In 1991, a U.S. federal judge in Anchorage approved a $1 billion settlement against Exxon for the Valdez oil spill.

In 1993, the U.S. Justice Department, in its report on the 51-day siege at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, concluded the cult had caused the fire that destroyed the compound and killed at least 75 people.

Maj. Gen. Thomas Plewes helps unveil the Distinguished Soldiers stamps at the Soldiers Memorial on May 3, 2000. On October 8, 1918, Sgt. Alvin York (bottom L) of Tennessee became a World War I hero by single-handedly capturing a hill as part of the Meuse-Argonne offensive in France, killing 20 enemy soldiers and capturing 132 others. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

In 1997, three years after the death of longtime North Korean ruler Kim Il Sung, his son, Kim Jong Il, officially inherited his father's title of general secretary of the Communist Party.

In 2003, about $19 billion in peach-colored, redesigned $20 bills made their official debut across the United States.

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In 2004, for the first time the Nobel Peace Prize went to an African woman, Wangari Maathai, an environmental activist from Kenya.

In 2005, tens of thousands of people were killed by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake in Pakistan. Most of the victims were in the Kashmir region, others in India. The death toll in what became known as the Kashmir earthquake was eventually set at about 79,000, with more than 100,000 people injured and the number of displaced estimated in the millions.

In 2010, jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize. He was recognized for co-authoring a document calling for democratic reforms in China. He was granted parole after being diagnosed with cancer and died in 2017.

In 2022, a bomb-laden truck exploded on the Crimean Bridge, killing five people and causing portions of the bridge to collapse into the Kerch Strait. Kyiv admitted to causing the blast, which compromised Russia's ability to supply troops admits invasion of Ukraine.
Sir Keir Starmer has drawn the battle lines for the next general election between Labour and Nigel Farages Reform UK.

In France, Emmanuel Macron is on the verge of calling a second snap election to deal with the challenge of Marine Le Pens hard-Right National Rally (RN).

But in much of Europe, the fight between Left and Right has already been won by the conservatives.

Sir Keirs landslide victory last year was an outlier on a continent where the number of centre-Left leaders shrank to a rump as voters turned en masse to the Right.

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The highest-profile casualty was Germanys Olaf Scholz in February, whose socialist SPD suffered its worst defeat in a federal election in more than a century.

He was replaced by the centre-Right Friedrich Merz after a vote in which the far-Right AFD came second, doubling its vote share and becoming the main opposition for the first time.

In Germany, Olaf Scholzs SPD party suffered a humiliating defeat - Kay Nietfeld/Getty Images

Last year, Mr Macron called snap elections in France after RN triumphed in the European Parliament elections.

The gamble, effectively a dare to French voters to put the untested RN into government, backfired. RN became the largest single party and was only stopped from seizing control of the government by a broad coalition of Left-wing parties.

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Support for Left-wing parties in Europe in 2024 was the lowest it has been since the end of the Cold War, with an average vote share at 34.06 per cent.

Meanwhile, the average vote share obtained by Right-wing parties in 2024 stood at 51.04 per cent in 2024, second only to 51.38 per cent in 2022.

Elections this year in Germany, Albania, Portugal and Norway brought that average up slightly to 51.6 per cent. It also brought down the Left-wing vote share to 33.8 per cent.

Bolstered by the return of Donald Trump to the White House, the Right in Europe has rarely been stronger.

Labours success was also short-lived  Reform UK passed Sir Keirs party in the polls for the first time in February 2025. It reached 31.2 per cent on Sept 15, while Labour has plummeted to a new low of 20.4 per cent.

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Those numbers convinced Sir Keir that now was the time to go on the attack after a week in which he branded Reforms migrant policy racist and immoral.

Macron in crisis

In France, the centrist Mr Macron is running out of dice to roll.

On Monday, the shock resignation of Sebastien Lecornu, his prime minister, was announced after he had spent only 27 days in office, and less than 24 hours after he had named his new government.

Since the French presidents hubristic decision to call snap elections last summer, three Macron-backed minority governments have fallen and the fourth now seems certain to follow unless crisis talks can save the situation by Wednesday evening.

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If the government cannot be saved, Mr Macron is expected to dissolve parliament again before a vote in which RN is predicted to win but fall short of a majority.

Mr Macron cannot contest the presidential elections that are looming in 2027 but he will be desperate to prevent the RN from winning the keys to the Elysee.

He may even name Jordan Bardella, the RN president, as his prime minister in a bid to demonstrate how unfit they are for the most powerful role in French politics.

I am calling on him to dissolve the National Assembly. We are at the end of the road, Ms Le Pen said on Monday. The joke is over, the farce has gone on long enough By irrationally fighting institutions, Emmanuel Macron is putting the country in a terribly complicated situation.

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We are ready to govern, Mr Bardella said as he joined calls for Mr Macron to call for a new parliamentary election. The RN is ahead in the polls, with 33 to 34 per cent of the vote in a legislative election, while Macrons party is trailing in third.

Scandal-hit Sanchez

In Spain, scandal-hit Pedro Sanchez, now the most influential socialist leader in the EU, is on the ropes, but is fighting back.

His centre-Left Spanish Socialist party (PSOE) has been dogged by accusations of cronyism and corruption.

Mr Sanchez has since tried to electrify his base with his attacks on the genocidal state of Israel, raising expectations he plans a snap election.

Pedro Sanchez, the president of Spain, centre, has tried to rally his base around an anti-Israel rhetoric - Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

Its a risky strategy for a man who lost the popular vote at the last election in 2023, which the centre-Right Partido Popular (PP) won but fell short of a majority.

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Mr Sanchez stayed in power after cobbling together a broad coalition of Leftists, independistas and former terrorist sympathisers.

The PP is currently ahead in the polls with 34 per cent, while the far-Right Vox is at 16 per cent. Were both parties to overperform slightly, a conservative coalition would be possible.

In neighbouring Portugal, conservatives ended the socialists eight years in power last year.

Centre-Right dominant at the EU

Thirteen of the 27 members of the bloc are led by prime ministers from the centre-Right European Peoples Party (EPP), which won last years EU Parliament elections.

They include Mr Merz, Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, and the leaders of Portugal, Greece, Sweden, Finland, Croatia and Austria.

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That matters in Brussels, where EU heads of state and government meet for regular and influential European Council summits to set the blocs political direction.

Other Right-wing leaders come from different pan-European parties.

The soft Eurosceptic European Conservatives and Reformists can boast Italys Georgia Meloni and Bart de Wever, the Belgian prime minister, among its leaders.

Left to right; Geert Wilders, Marine Le Pen, Santiago Abascal, Viktor Orban and Matteo Salvini are examples of the growing popularity of Right-wing parties in Europe - Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images

Hungarys Viktor Orban is the sole representative of the hard-Right Patriots, although its members, including the AFD, have enjoyed recent electoral success.

In the Netherlands where anti-migrant protests erupted last month, Geert Wilders, the anti-Islam firebrand, is high in the polls ahead of elections this month after his surprise victory in late 2023.

Shrinking band of socialists

The pan-EU Socialists and Democrats (PES) group has only Mr Sanchez and the leaders of Lithuania, Malta and Denmark in the European Council.

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Denmarks Mette Fredericksen is a special case, having seen off a surge in support for the Right by introducing some of the toughest rules on migration in Europe.

Robert Fico, Slovakias Left-wing nationalist prime minister, is being thrown out of PES because of his pro-Putin populism.

PES does have some non-EU leaders in its ranks, including Sir Keir and the prime ministers of Iceland, Kosovo, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

But it begs the question why so many Europeans have turned against the traditional big beasts of the Left who could once command huge vote shares.

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PES Secretary Giacomo Filibeck told The Telegraph it was a time of fragmentation and rising extremism.

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We acknowledge that European Social Democracy is going through a challenging political cycle, but the basis of our strength is still there, he said.

He said there was great potential for the Left in elections in the Netherlands at the end of October and Sweden next year. Both countries are being governed by conservative coalitions.

He added: Where we could not form governments, as in Sweden, Finland or the Netherlands, it was because conservatives and liberals chose to ally with the far-Right  a path we firmly reject.

Loss of the working class

Traditional working-class voters have turned to the Right after becoming alienated from increasingly metropolitan centre-Left elites. Younger voters have been tempted away by the more radical hard-Left or Greens.

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The Left has struggled to tell a compelling 21st-century story, said Margaritis Schinas, a former European Commission vice-president and EPP member.

It risks being caught between two fronts: to the Right, conservative parties that can combine market economics with gestures toward social compassion and national pride; to the far-Right, populists who marry cultural protectionism with anti-elite rhetoric.

By contrast, social democratic parties can appear uninspiring, or managerial  advocates of competent governance, not always successfully, rather than transformative politics.

Many younger voters cared about climate change or identity issues but did not identify with the traditional trade unionist or statist vocabulary of the Left.

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Older working-class voters, meanwhile, have drifted Rightwards in response to cultural anxieties. That leaves the Lefts base thinner, harder to mobilise, and split across multiple priorities, Mr Schinas said.

Giorgia Melonis right-wing Fratelli DItalia party has been in power in Italy since 2022 - Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters

Pawel Zerka, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations think tank, said: The working class has often abandoned the centre-Left and many prefer to vote for far-Right parties today.

Centre-Left parties were seen as complicit in the 1990s globalisation that shifted production overseas and exacerbated fears over migration, he said. Their focus on cultural issues like gay rights were important for minorities but alienated traditional voters.

Mr Zerka said: The Lefts trademark has been tarnished.

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Some voters had moved to the more radical hard-Left and greens who were seen as more authentic, he said.

It is not all bad news for Sir Keir, as he seeks to stay in the shrinking club of centre-Left European leaders.

Norways Jonas Gahr Stre bucked the trend with a narrow victory to form another Labour-led minority government after elections last month.

But the Norwegian vote also brought record results for the Right-wing Progress party and its leader Sylvi Listhaug, who has been nicknamed the Farage of the fjords.

The Right wing increased its vote share to 42.7 per cent, just a whisker behind the 43.7 per cent obtained by the Left.

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MUNCIE, IN  Delaware County now has a working solar ordinance in place, one that includes more restrictive setbacks and a bid to protect surrounding residential property from dropping in value because of solar development.

The changes were recommended in August by the Delaware Muncie Metropolitan Plan Commission.

Ongoing efforts to develop industrial solar fields on farmland in northern Delaware County have roiled neighbors, farmers and other locals for the past three years as planners worked to develop a zoning ordinance for a deeply divided community concerning the prospect of acres of solar panels installed on land now used to grow crops. Different solar developers have signed leases with owners of farm properties in Washington and Delaware townships.

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Commissioners voted 3-0 Tuesday to approve the changes to the ordinances that would provide setbacks from solar panels of up to 500 feet from the homes of nonparticipating residents. The setback had been proposed at 250 feet. But the plan commission recommended a provision adopted by commissioners that allows developers to negotiate with homeowners to bring panels as close as 100 feet from affected homes.

Also approved was a mechanism designed to compensate nonparticipating property owners from any loss of value to real estate caused by solar development.

Commissioner Sherry Riggin attempted to purge that provision, but her effort failed when her suggestion to strip the proposal failed to draw a second from either of the other two commissioners.

After the vote, Riggin said she didnt think such an effort to make up for property value losses was practical given its complexity.

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According to an interpretation by commissioners' attorney John Brooke, A solar facility owner must have in place those property value guarantees for the nonparticipating landowners as well as a surety bond in an amount equal to or greater than 20% of the assessed value of all properties within three miles of the project.

The property value guarantee, however, applies only to nonparticipating property owners within a half mile of a solar project, and the decline in value must be related to the solar project and an issue created by the property owner and lack of maintenance of the property.

After the property value component was retained, a unanimous vote to accept the recommended changes to the ordinances was made. Commissioner Stephen Brand suggested to keep the moratorium on major solar projects in place after the ordinance adoption.

Now that its out there, I like to see what kind of questions we get, Brand said about the ordinance.

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He said the implementation of zoning ordinances leads to a lot of questions and much depends on interpretation. He would like commissioners to help clarify such issues with the plan commission before letting the ordinance take effect.

Brand said he expects county planners to be bombarded with questions.

The moratorium was again tabled until after a meeting break, when a reading of the ordinance determined that the moratorium was automatically ended at the time the commissioners adopted plan commission changes.

Supporters of the proposed projects said the new setbacks will complicate matters for solar developers.

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Indiana Rep. Sue Errington, DMuncie, told the commissioners that Delaware County stands to lose property tax revenue in coming years and that at least one solar developer hasnt been given the chance to talk with commissioners about how they could help the county overcome the financial strain.

Errington urged commissioners to reconsider adoption of the larger setbacks and of the property value guarantees.

Linda Hanson, of the Delaware County League of Women Voters, said decision-making at the county level continues to emphasize public opinion, placing the dominant influence in the hands of neighboring property owners rather than establishing clear, county-led zoning regulations.

Mike Johnson of rural Delaware County told commissioners the setbacks and guarantees for property values should stay.

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The solar companies know exactly whats going to happen. Its going to reduce our property values. And when you lose property value, you lose quality of life, Johnson said.

After the meeting, Brand said he expects a lot of action involving the solar ordinance in coming days, including efforts to get solar projects underway.

This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Delaware County solar ordinance now up and running with changes
As Delaware regulators review proposals for steep natural gas rate increases, Delmarva Power and Chesapeake Utilities are offering more details about whats driving the changes and what help is available to customers facing higher winter bills.

Delmarva said gas-only customers could see their average monthly bill rise from about $85 to $96, primarily due to higher wholesale natural gas prices. Those supply costs are passed to customers without any markup or profit for the utility.

Delmarva electric-only customers are not expected to see significant changes this season.

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Chesapeake Utilities, which serves about 77,000 gas customers in Delaware, also noted that it earns no profit on its proposed increase to the gas sales service rate. The company said this process occurs once a year to reconcile actual versus expected fuel costs and that these rate adjustments are not arbitrary.

When costs fall below projections, Chesapeake issues refunds to customers.

The company added that natural gas remains one of the most affordable residential energy sources in the United States, citing an industry report.

ORIGINAL STORY: Delmarva, Chesapeake file to raise natural gas rates Nov. 1

Public advocate plans to scrutinize filings

The utilities' comments come after the Delaware Division of the Public Advocate announced both Delmarva and Chesapeake Utilities Corp. filed separate requests in late August and early September to raise their natural gas supply rates.

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Delmarva has proposed increasing its gas cost rate by about 43%, while Chesapeake is seeking a roughly 30% hike in its gas sales service rate.

The Division of the Public Advocate, which represents residential and small business consumers, said it will carefully review both filings to ensure the costs are justified and that consumers are not overcharged. Both requests have a proposed start date of Nov. 1.

Utilities emphasize payment relief programs

Both utilities offer support to help households manage higher winter costs. Delmarva is offering up to $300 in assistance through the Delmarva Power Customer Relief Fund, administered by Energize Delaware. Customers can find information on payment assistance, payment plans and energy-saving options at delmarva.com/BillSupport.

Chesapeake offers the SHARING Program, which provides grants to elderly, disabled or low-income residents to help pay heating bills. Information on how to apply is available at chpkgas.com/customer-care/energy-assistance/sharing-program.

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You can contact staff reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com. To share your community news and activities with our audience, join Delaware Voices Uplifted on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delmarva, Chesapeake cite gas supply costs as reason for rate increases
At least eight times during a Tuesday hearing, Rhode Island Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse asked Attorney General Pam Bondi about what border czar Tom Homan did with the $50,000 cash bribe he received from undercover FBI agents in 2024.

Again and again, Bondi refused to answer.

What became of the $50,000 in cash that the FBI paid to Mr. Homan, in a paper bag evidently? the senator asked the attorney general, who slowly flipped to a page in a binder so she could quote a statement from her deputy attorney general.

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Senator, she said, as Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche recently stated, the investigation of Mr. Homan was subjected to a full review by the FBI agents and DOJ prosecutors. They found no credible evidence of any wrongdoing.

Nowhere in that response was an actual answer, Whitehouse observed, so he again asked what became of the $50,000. Bondi vaguely urged the senator to look at your facts.

Are you saying that they did not deliver $50,000 in cash to Mr. Homan? Whitehouse pressed. Bondi began reciting the statement she previously attributed to Blanche, which Whitehouse noted addresses a different question.

He repeated his question, asking if the FBI ever got the $50,000 back. Bondi told the senator to consult the FBI.

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They report to you, Whitehouse pointed out. Cant you answer this question? Bondi said he could talk to FBI Director Kash Patel, leading Whitehouse to ask if Homan kept the money. The attorney general, chuckling, began to repeat her previous spiel verbatim.

I can see Im not going to get a straight answer from you to a very simple question, Whitehouse said. Out of the blue, Bondi leveled a personal attack, accusing Whitehouse of working with dark money groups.

Staying on track, Whitehouse asked whether the reported investigation looked into whether Homan declared the $50,000 on his tax returns, leading Bondi to make another unrelated accusation, this time that Whitehouse pushed for legislation that would subsidize [his] wifes companyan imperfect telling of allegations first made by a conservative watchdog group and amplified by people like Elon Musk.

Whitehouse pointed out the irrelevance of that claim, promising to submit the questions Bondi failed to answer as questions for the record, or written, formal questions Congress provides witnesses after a hearing for inclusion in the record.

WHITEHOUSE: What happened to the $50k in cash that the FBI paid to Tom Homan in a paper bag?



BONDI: ... As Deputy AG Blanche recently stated, the investigation of Mr Homan was subjected to a full review by the FBI. They found no credible evidence of any wrongdoing



WHITEHOUSE: pic.twitter.com/xYBvR4kZEQ  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 7, 2025

The questions about Homan were far from the only ones that Bondi avoided answering during Tuesdays hearing, in which she frequently seemed more interested in verbally attacking Democratic senators attempting to conduct oversight.




A Democratic challenger is taking a bet that congressional maps will be changed next year and is running for Congress against one of the longest-serving Republicans.

Audrey Denney, a consultant and hunger-relief advocate who has never been elected to public office, officially announced her bid to challenge Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa in California's 1st District in Congress. Denney has twice unsuccessfully run for the historically safe Republican seat, but she could have a good chance of ousting LaMalfa if voters pass Gov. Gavin Newsom's redistricting measure this November.

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"I'm running for Congress because Washington is failing us," Denney said in a news release. "The American Dream is out of reach because it's simply not affordable. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, Doug LaMalfa, and Republicans in Washington are selling out our health care, food security, and hard-earned benefits to give massive tax breaks to billionaires. Working people deserve a government that works for them - and enough is enough."

In a campaign video launched Monday, Denney pointed to her work in different advocacy spaces as giving her firsthand experience with the impacts of how Republican policies are "crushing working families" and said that the "answer isn't sending more career politicians to Washington."

LaMalfa, a self-described lifelong farmer and the seven-term incumbent in the 1st Congressional District, has since 2013 enjoyed a historically safe red pocket in northeastern California. His district at present includes nine entire counties, including rural Shasta, Lassen and Siskiyou counties, as well as part of Yuba County.

But if voters pass Newsom's Prop. 50 proposal, which would redraw California's congressional districts to counter gerrymandering that was approved in Texas, then LaMalfa could lose loyal voters from Modoc County and two other nearby red counties. The new map would split his district to instead include some of the wealthiest in liberal enclaves along the coast, including Marin County.

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LaMalfa has condemned Newsom's redistricting measure, calling it "naked politics at its worst."

FILE: Rep. Doug LaMalfa, R-Calif., is seen outside a House Republican Conference speaker election on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) (CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)





"If you want to know what's wrong with these maps  just take a look at them. How on earth does Modoc County on the Nevada and Oregon Border have any common interest with Marin County and the Golden Gate Bridge?" LaMalfa said in a statement after the proposed new maps were released.

Over the summer, LaMalfa was one of several California Republicans who faced the wrath of their constituents as major questions around health care cuts and tariffs swirled amid budget negotiations.

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In August, LaMalfa hosted various town halls in his district, in an attempt to speak directly to constituents. During at least one public meeting, some disapproving participants spewed profanities, some booed him, and others called him a "liar." Republicans had been on a monthslong hiatus from holding any town halls, per the direction of House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republican Party leadership after public forums hosted at the start of the year ended in profanities as members of Congress faced the wrath of residents who were taking the hit from Trump administration policies.

Denney has unsuccessfully run against LaMalfa twice before, in 2018 and 2020. She managed to fundraise a sizable war chest, with just under $2.5 million raised during her last run.

The tone of her new campaign is starkly different from her grassroots campaign in 2018 and in her bid two years later, which focused on wildfire preparedness, health care and education as "urgent issues." She is still running on the same core ideas but is now touting a massively different message, at least in early campaigning: one that is focused on fighting back against Donald Trump, billionaires and the political elite.

More Politics

- Joshua Tree National Park now an epicenter of concern, confusion

- Gavin Newsom uses new Taylor Swift album to troll Donald Trump

- Trump admin pulls floor out from under dozens of Calif. energy projects

- Top Calif. official investigated for using taxpayer money for personal travel

This article originally published at California Democratic rival jumps into race to oust longtime Republican.
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Denmark will cull 150,000 chickens after detecting an outbreak of the highly contagious H5N1 bird flu virus in a flock in the southeastern part of the country's Jutland peninsula, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration said on Wednesday.

The agency said in a statement the outbreak is the first in a Danish poultry flock since April when it lifted restrictions on poultry farming imposed in December 2024.

It said in December owners of poultry and other captive birds must keep their animals indoors or under cover, citing an increased risk of infection.

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The Dutch government on Tuesday announced it would cull 71,000 chickens at a poultry farm in the northern part of the Netherlands following the detection of bird flu.

(Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, editing by Anna Ringstrom)
OPEC+ yesterday agreed to yet another monthly boost in production, this time for a modest 137,000 barrels daily. Oil prices inched up, yet they remain tightly range-bound, with Brent at just over $65 per barrel following the news. On the one hand, this is good news for consumer countriesincluding the U.S. On the other hand, its bad news for producer countriesincluding, again, the U.S.

The Wall Street Journal called Saudi Arabias strategy of leading the production cut unwinding a gift to President Trump. It would keep prices at the pump low, the publication said, and cushion the blow from tariffs. It would also hurt Russian energy export revenues, making Trumps job in mediating an end to the war in Ukraine easier, the argument went.

In some respects, the Saudi-led return to production growth in OPEC+ has indeed been positive for the U.S. with regard to retail fuel prices. The national average per AAA stood at $3.133 per gallon on Sunday. Thats down on the year, but, in all honesty, not much: a year ago, a gallon of fuel cost an average of $3.176. This is only a snapshot of gas prices in the United States, and it does not make much sense as an informative piece of data given state-based price differences stemming from taxation. California comes to mind as the place with the highest gas prices, regardless of OPEC+ policy.

At the same time, lower oil prices have caused worry in the shale patch. This may or may not have been among the goals of the Saudis and their OPEC+ partners when they made the decision to start unwinding those cuts agreed in 2022. Most media reports on the topic point to OPEC trying to win back market share from the U.S., Guyana, and Brazil.

However, there is more to this story than barrels from Brazil, the U.S., and Guyana, simply replacing barrels from Saudi Arabia and Iraq. For starters, take U.S. oil exports to China. Those plunged by almost 50% last yearbefore Trump started slapping tariffs left and right. The tariffs, of course, did not help. So U.S. oil had to be redirected to Europe.

Incidentally, Guyanese crude is also going to Europe, so Guyana and the U.S. are effectively as much of a pair of rivals as the U.S. and Saudiexcept Guyanas total production currently stands at less than 700,000 barrels daily. Thats hardly a real rival to either the U.S. or Saudi Arabia. Brazil, meanwhile, is indeed boosting its own crude oil exportsand a lot of these are going to China.

Related: Kyrgyzstan Faces Harsh Winter as Key Reservoir Hits Decade-Low Levels

This is the battlefield of oil exportersChina and wider Asia. This is where demand is growing most strongly and where it will continue growing strongly after growth peaks elsewhere, at least according to the majority of forecasters. For now, however, demand is still growing, even in Europehow else would one explain the fact that European countries continue importing Russian crude, despite sanctions and a recent push to end all energy imports from the country in a couple of months?




Questions about U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal's military record resurfaced Tuesday night when President Donald Trump accused the Democratic lawmaker from Connecticut of lying about his military service.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump called Blumenthal a "fraud" and demanded an investigation after the senator clashed with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi during a Senate hearing earlier that day. The president appeared to be referencing misleading comments Blumenthal made in the past about serving in Vietnam, which he has since cleared up and apologized for.

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During his two stints in office, Trump has repeatedly attacked Blumenthal. Appearing on CNN's "The Source with Kaitlan Collins" after Trump's post, Blumenthal acknowledged that he misspoke about his service on "a couple of occasions" but described the president's latest allegations as "completely deceptive and distorted," according to the Associated Press.

Here's what to know about Blumenthal's military history and the controversy surrounding it:

Did Blumenthal lie about military record?

After receiving several deferments, Blumenthal served with the Marine Corps Reserve from 1970 until 1976, stationed at units in Washington, D.C., and Connecticut, the New York Times reported in 2010. He was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant, according to Yale University, which recognized him with a leadership award in 2012.

In 2008, during a ceremony in Norwalk, Blumenthal told the audience that he had "served in Vietnam," even though he had never been deployed there. During his 2010 Senate campaign, Blumenthal admitted to the New York Times that he had been inconsistent about his military service, apologizing for the misleading comments. His commanding officer in the reserves later defended the lawmaker for what he called a "minor" slip.

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The incident sparked accusations of "stolen valor"  a term for people who lie about serving in the military or exaggerate their role to gain recognition or benefits. Vietnam veterans, in particular, have been sensitive to such false claims due to their poor treatment upon returning home from the unpopular war, which ended in 1975.

Trump's past allegations on military service

Since he admitted to being untruthful, Blumenthal has been the target of verbal attacks, including several from Trump, whose Vietnam-era service was precluded by a doctor's diagnosis of bone spurs. The president's criticisms have usually followed moments when Blumenthal opposed Trump's political agenda.

In 2017, Trump took to Twitter, now X, to accuse Blumenthal of lying about his time in Vietnam. The attack came after Blumenthal repeated comments from then-Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch, who had voiced disappointment over Trump's criticism of judges.

In another Twitter post a year later, Trump labeled Blumenthal a hypocrite and said he was a "loser" for falsely "bragging" about being a Vietnam War hero. That insult came in response to Blumenthal urging an FBI probe into sexual assault allegations against then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

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In 2019, shortly after he arrived in North Korea for a meeting with its leader Kim Jong Un, Trump tweeted that he had "spent more time in Vietnam than Da Nang Dick Blumenthal," calling him a "total fraud."

Blumenthal has consistently rebuffed Trump's attacks and pointed to his strong support from Connecticut voters, a sentiment he reiterated Tuesday night.

"This allegation of 15 years ago has been really rejected by the voters of Connecticut three times, overwhelmingly reelecting me," Blumenthal told Collins.

This article originally published at Did Richard Blumenthal lie about military service? Trump accusation puts issue back in the spotlight.
DES MOINES, Iowa  More than 20 states in the United States have a mandate, at some level, for the use of E-Verify for employers.

On Monday, the Des Moines School District confirmed that it did not use the federal verification system after U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley criticized the district for its failure to do so.

E-Verify is a free system that checks an employees authorization to work in the country with Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records. The information to use E-Verify is based off of the employees I-9 form.

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Iowa Senate Republicans have tried to pass a statewide mandate twice in the last six years, only for the bill to not advance in the Iowa House. Now, in the aftermath of former DMPS Superintendent Ian Roberts arrest, there could be another push for a mandate this upcoming legislative session.

Firefighters battle house fire in Ames Tuesday afternoon

The Ian Roberts situation has highlighted the need for policies at the state level to combat illegal immigration. Senate Republicans have a very strong stance on illegal immigration. In the past several years, Senate Republicans have passed bans on sanctuary cities, given local law enforcement more tools to enforce immigration laws at the state level, and have passed E-Verify legislation several times. E-Verify and other issues to address illegal immigration will continue to be a topic of conversation amongst Senate Republicans over the coming weeks and months heading into the legislative session. I expect we will continue to lead on protecting Iowans from again experiencing this type of fraud and continue strengthening our state regarding illegal immigration. Iowa Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh, (R) District 32, from Spillville

The two attempts in the past came in 2019, the session following the murder of Mollie Tibbetts, a 20-year-old who was attacked while jogging near her home in Brooklyn. The bill made it out of the Iowa Senate, but could not clear the Iowa House.

The second attempt came in 2024, where once again a bill made it out of the Iowa Senate chamber but failed to gain traction in the Iowa House. Lots of business lobbying groups were registered opposed to the legislation, with concerns about who would be liable if the E-Verify system failed to properly verify work authorization.

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Iowa Senate Democrats argued that point and highlighted concerns of discrimination against employees based on skin color or employers being falsely reported by members of the public.

The first day of the 2026 Iowa Legislative session is on January 12. Leaders from both parties will outline different priorities they want to spearhead, along with Governor Reynolds Office having policy to push for in the year ahead.

Iowa news

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During the government shutdown, residents still have access to Gulf Islands National Seashore barrier islands off the Mississippi Coast, although some services are unavailable and a campground onshore is closed.

The website for the Davis Bayou Area in Ocean Springs indicates camp sites are unavailable while Cruisin The Coast is in town. People can usually make online reservations for the campground, but most October dates are marked with a C for closure. Phones are going to voicemail during business hours and the Ocean Springs Weekly Record reports that gates to the Davis Bayou Area, part of the national seashore, are closed.

The barrier islands that the National Park Service oversees off the Mississippi Coast are still accessible to boaters. And the Ship Island Excursions is still operating its popular ferry service, although Wednesday-Sunday trips during the Fall season have been curtailed from twice to once a day, said Louis Skrmetta, whose family operates the service.

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Ship Island is the only barrier island with public accommodations. Those are closed, including the restrooms, snack bar and historic Fort Massachusetts. Skrmetta said his company is keeping a ferry on the island while passengers are there so they will have restrooms and can buy snacks.

Ferries run to the island from Gulfports harbor at 9 a.m., Wednesday-Sunday, and return to shore at 2:30 p.m. each of those days.

The government shutdown started Oct. 1 because Congress deadlocked on a budget..
Anyone whos ever gone through menopause knows the unpleasantness of the unrelenting hot flashes, brain fog, and other symptoms that crop up. Hormone therapy (HT) was, when it was first introduced in the 1960s, supposed to be a safe antidote for these inconveniences, one that was eventually prescribed to millions of women as a way to remain feminine forever.

For the most part, the treatment delivered on its promise, mitigating the most frustrating effects of menopause  but even the best remedies come with risks. Theres some evidence that HT may increase your chance of developing Alzheimers, but the connection between the two is complex and still poorly understood. Heres a look at what we do know, why not all women on HT may be at risk, and estrogens impact on the brain.

Can hormone therapy cause Alzheimers?

A 2023 study conducted in Denmark determined that hormone therapy led to an increased risk of Alzheimers and other forms of dementia. Researchers analyzed the medical records of more than 60,000 women and found that those using hormones were 24 percent more likely to develop neurodegenerative diseases than those who werent. These findings align with other studies that have reported a similar connection.

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But published that same day, in the same journal as the Danish study, researchers from the Mayo Clinic and Harvard Medical School issued an op-ed noting a causal link remains unlikely. They argue that the study cant say for certain whether its the hormones or the symptoms the hormones are supposed to target thats the culprit. Theres been some robust research, indicating that HT actually does live up to its original intent and provides a protective effect against dementia. A 2023 analysis found that women whod undergone the treatment for one to three years had around a 40 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimers and Parkinsons  the rate of reduction jumped to 60 percent for those whod used HT for three to six years.

Estrogen does not reverse disease, but it keeps the brain healthy, Roberta Brinton, Ph.D., a neuroscientist at the University of Arizona who co-authored the 2023 paper, told Nature.

Timing is everything

Theres some evidence that what matters most when it comes to HT and Alzheimers is when its administered. An influential 2002 study called the Womens Health Initiative found that the participants who exhibited the greatest cognitive decline were the ones who began hormone therapy well after theyd started menopause. Thats supported by an interesting 2023 study by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital. They looked specifically at tau tangles, abnormal protein clusters considered a hallmark of Alzheimers, and found that women who had delayed HT for five to 10 years had significantly more tau in their brains. This wasnt the case for women who started HT soon after experiencing menopause.

Its something weve seen echoed many times: Timing is critical for hormone therapy, Rachel Buckley, Ph.D., an author of the Mass General study, tells us.

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Its not clear why this gap between onset and treatment seems to matter so much, Dr. Buckley says. One theory is that when levels of estrogen  a chemical that keeps the brain active  declines during menopause, the body compensates by finding other biological pathways to fuel the organ. So when the hormone is reintroduced, it causes the body to sort of go haywire because its become so used to relying on other mechanisms, she says.

Most experts believe its safest for women to begin HT around the onset of menopause and not later in life. But every individual is different, Dr. Buckley says: Its always important to speak with a medical professional to determine whats best for your particular situation.

Can menopause cause Alzheimers?

Some experts suspect that the change is really whats causing the high rates of Alzheimers in women. (About two-thirds of the Alzheimers population is female, and 60 percent of patients are postmenopausal.) Dr. Brintons research suggests that as estrogen levels decline, the brain is forced to cast about for other energy sources and can begin to consume its own white matter. A study published in 2022 found a correlation between hot flashes and white matter hyperintensities, small lesions in the brain thought to be a risk factor for dementia.

Scientists are also looking at how menopause makes it so much harder for women to get a good nights rest, and whether that disruption in their sleep could lead to cognitive decline. When we sleep, fluids essentially wash around the brain clearing away debris and proteins like tau, Dr. Buckley says. If youre constantly waking up through the night, and not going through your full cycle of sleep, you may be at a greater risk of accumulating these disease proteins, she says.

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Depression, another common symptom of menopause and a possible risk factor for dementia, could play a role too. As could the weight gain many women experience in middle age, Dr. Buckley says.

The post Does Hormone Therapy Raise Your Risk for Alzheimers? appeared first on Katie Couric Media.
The News

Dubais global ports and logistics company DP World wants Somaliland  where it operates a port  to be recognized as an independent nation. It joins a growing chorus of US politicians, including Senator Ted Cruz, who back the move, but no country has yet been willing to bestow recognition on the breakaway republic.

DP Worlds Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said he had no reservations about investing in the port in 2016, eyeing growth not just in the territory but also in the larger, landlocked market of Ethiopia. After investing more than $400 million to expand the facility to handle the largest cargo vessels, the company is also building a manufacturing and trade zone nearby in Berbera.

Speaking alongside Somalilands President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdilahi at The Africa Debate in Dubai, bin Sulayem praised the security, stability, and business environment in the country. He said recognition will bring more trade and investment, adding that many businesses are eager to establish operations there, attracted by mineral assets, agriculture, and livestock, as well as the efficient port and logistics hub that provides quick access to regional markets.

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Abdilahi made the case for recognition, describing Somalilands people as distinct from the rest of Somalia, which has been plagued by instability for decades. He said he is the only elected Somali leader, a statement thats both a dig at the unelected head of state in Mogadishu and a fulfillment of the criteria for statehood recognition.



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Somaliland supporters in Washington view the territory as a potential security ally in the Horn of Africa. Recognition could allow US intelligence to establish a base to monitor weapons flows, Houthi activity in Yemen, and Chinas growing footprint, including its military base in neighboring Djibouti.

DP Worlds argument centers on the economic benefits, which is a platform that Abdilahi has also embraced to provide greater opportunities for his people amid high rates of poverty and inequality. The president highlighted new European investors entering the country, but said the pace is hindered by the lack of banking and insurance facilities in the territory.

Abdilahi said he sent official letters laying out Somalilands case for recognition to dozens of countries in May, including Israel, France, the UK, the UAE, and the US. None have responded. His recent visits to Djibouti and Kenya were more encouraging, he said: Somaliland, we will have it at the end. Very soon, it will be a member of the international club.



Notable
PORTALES, N.M. (KRQE)  Eastern New Mexico University and Rio Bravo Brewing Co. have teamed up to launch a new, officially licensed beer called the Rooing Hound Brew.

The lager is packaged in a can created by ENMU graphic artist and alumna Samantha Molina and features a Greyhound rooing.

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We are honored to partner with Rio Bravo Brewing Company on this project, ENMU Chancellor James Johnston said in a news release. We appreciate their support of Eastern New Mexico University in creating this unique beer and co-branding with us.

The new beer will be distributed across New Mexico by Admiral Beverage and is expected to hit the shelves in the coming weeks.

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A government official in Ecuador has accused protesters of attempting to attack President Daniel Noboa, alleging that a group of approximately 500 people surrounded his vehicle and threw rocks.

The attack, which unfolded in the south-central province of Canar, took place as Noboa arrived in the canton of El Tambo for an event about water treatment and sewage.

Environment and Energy Minister Ines Manzano said Noboas car showed signs of bullet damage. In a statement to the press, she explained that she filed a report alleging an assassination attempt had taken place.

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Shooting at the presidents car, throwing stones, damaging state property  thats just criminal, Manzano said. We will not allow this.

The presidents office also issued a statement after the attack on Tuesday, pledging to pursue accountability against those involved.

Obeying orders to radicalise, they attacked a presidential motorcade carrying civilians. They attempted to forcibly prevent the delivery of a project intended to improve the lives of a community, the statement, published on social media, said.

All those arrested will be prosecuted for terrorism and attempted murder, it added.

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Five people, according to Manzano, have been detained following the incident. Noboa was not injured.

Video published by the presidents office online shows Noboas motorcade navigating a roadway lined with protesters, some of whom picked up rocks and threw them at the vehicles, causing fractures to form on the glass.

A separate image showed a silver SUV with a shattered passenger window and a shattered windscreen. It is not clear from the images whether a bullet had been fired.





Noboa, Ecuadors youngest-ever president, was re-elected in April after a heated run-off election against left-wing rival Luisa Gonzalez.

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May marked the start of his first full term in office. Previously, Noboa, a conservative candidate who had only served a single term in the National Assembly, had been elected to serve the remainder of Guillermo Lassos term  a period of around 18 months  after the former president dissolved his government.

Combatting crime has been a centrepiece of Noboas pitch for the presidency. Ecuador, formerly considered an island of peace in South America, has seen a spike in homicide rates as criminal organisations seek to expand their drug trafficking routes through the country.

Ecuadors economy has also struggled to recover following the COVID-19 pandemic.

But Noboa has faced multiple protests since taking office.

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In recent weeks, for example, he has faced outcry over his decision to end a fuel subsidy that critics say helps lower-income families.

Noboas government, however, has argued that the subsidy drove up government costs without reaching those who need it. In a presidential statement on September 12, officials accused the subsidy of being diverted to smuggling, illegal mining and undue benefits.

The statement also said that the subsidies represented $1.1bn that could instead be used to compensate small farmers and transportation workers directly.

But the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), the countrys most powerful Indigenous advocacy organisation, launched a strike in response to the news of the subsidys end.

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It called upon its supporters to lead protests and block roadways as a way of expressing their outrage.

Nevertheless, on Tuesday, the group denied that there had been an organised attack on Noboas motorcade. Instead, CONAIE argued that government violence had been orchestrated against the people who had gathered to protest Noboa.

We denounce that at least five comrades have been arbitrarily detained, CONAIE posted on X. Among the attacked are elderly women.

It noted that Tuesday marked the 16th day of protest. The people are not the enemy, it added.

CONAIE had largely backed Noboas rival Gonzalez in the April election, though some of its affiliate groups splintered in favour of Noboa.

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This is not the first time that Noboas government has claimed the president was the target of an assassination attempt.

In April, shortly after the run-off vote, it issued a maximum alert claiming that assassins had entered the country from Mexico to destabilise his administration.

At the time, the administration blamed sore losers from the election for fomenting the alleged plot.
ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkey has been asked by U.S. President Donald Trump to help convince Hamas to support his plan to end Gaza's war and it has been explaining to the group what needs to be done, President Tayyip Erdogan said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Hamas said it had exchanged a list of the names of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be released under a swap deal, saying it was optimistic about talks in Egypt on Trump's plan.

Turkey, which has voiced support for the plan and joined the negotiations in Egypt, has been one of the most vocal critics of Israel's offensive, which it calls a genocide. It has halted all trade with Israel, called for international measures against its government, and demanded a two-state solution.

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In comments to reporters on a flight back from Azerbaijan, Erdogan said Turkish officials were involved in negotiations in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday, and added that Trump had asked Turkey to convince Hamas to accept the proposal.

"We have been in contact with Hamas throughout this process. We are in contact with them now too," Erdogan said, according to a transcript of his comments shared by his office.

"We are explaining to them what the most appropriate way is, what needs to be done for Palestine to march with commitment into the future."

"Both in our America visit and our latest phone call, we explained to Mr. Trump how a solution in Palestine can be achieved," he said, referring to his visit to the White House last month.

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"He specifically requested that we speak to Hamas and convince them. We rapidly got in touch with our counterparts on this," he added.

Turkey's intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, who attended the last round of talks in Doha, is involved in the negotiations in Egypt.

Asked about a potential Turkish troop deployment to Gaza in a post-war scenario and ways to ensure security in the enclave, Erdogan said the talks in Sharm el-Sheikh were critical for discussing the issue in detail, but that the priority was achieving a full ceasefire, securing aid deliveries, and rebuilding Gaza.

Ankara was ready to contribute to all efforts in post-war Gaza, he said, adding Gaza must be part of a Palestinian state and be governed by Palestinians.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Daren Butler; Editing by Alison Williams, William Maclean)
Erdogan said Turkish officials were involved in negotiations in Egypt and that Ankara supports peace efforts by Trump.

Turkey is explaining to Palestinian terrorist group Hamas what the best approach is for the future of a Palestinian state, as part of a plan by US President Donald Trump to end the war in Gaza, President Tayyip Erdogan said.

In comments to reporters on a flight back from Azerbaijan, Erdogan said Turkish officials were involved in negotiations in Egypt and that Ankara supports peace efforts by Trump, whom he added had asked Turkey to convince Hamas to accept the proposal.

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"We have been in contact with Hamas throughout this process. We are in contact with them now too," Erdogan said, according to a transcript of his comments shared by his office.

"We are explaining to them what the most appropriate way is, what needs to be done for Palestine to march with commitment into the future."

"Both in our America visit and our latest phone call, we explained to Mr. Trump how a solution in Palestine can be achieved," he said, referring to his visit to the White House last month.

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan reacts during a press conference at the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands June 25, 2025 (credit: REUTERS/PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW)

"He specifically requested that we speak to Hamas and convince them. We rapidly got in touch with our counterparts on this," he added.

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Erdogan also said that in any post-war scenario, Gaza must remain part of a Palestinian state and that it must be governed by Palestinians, according to a transcript of his remarks shared by his office on Wednesday.

He added that the deployment of foreign forces to Gaza and ensuring security there should be discussed in detail, and that Ankara was ready to contribute to all efforts.

Erdogan also said on Wednesday it was neither fair nor realistic to put the burden of achieving peace in Gaza solely on Hamas and Palestinians, and that Israel must stop its attacks in order for peace efforts to succeed.

Speaking to lawmakers from his party, Erdogan said Israel remained the main obstacle to peace in Gaza despite a plan by Trump. Ceasefire talks in Egypt, to which Turkish officials are attending, are critical, he said.

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"Peace is not a bird with a single wing. Putting the entire burden of peace on Hamas and Palestinians is not a fair, correct or realistic approach," he said, repeating his claim that Hamas is a "resistance group."

Regarding US sanctions on Turkey, Erdogan said he hoped they could be lifted and that issues can be resolved regarding its purchase of F-35 jets and a legal case against Turkey's Halkbank HALKB.IS in the wake of his talks with Trump.

"I hope the F-35 issue will be resolved and CAATSA sanctions will be lifted," Erdogan said in comments to reporters on a flight back from Azerbaijan, adding that his visit to the White House last month marked a new era in US ties.

According to a transcript of his remarks shared by his office on Wednesday, Erdogan also said Trump had told him "the Halkbank problem is finished," but there are certain procedures that need to be completed, and Erdogan hoped they would be done positively.

Erdogan comments on Syria

Pivoting to Syria, Erdogan repeated Turkey's demand that the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Syria must keep its promises regarding a deal with Syria's government and integrate into the country's state apparatus.

The Turkish president said Turkey's "patient, prudent, dignified" stance should not be considered as a weakness.
Report finds that manufacturing ransomware attacks increased by 9% compared to last year, driven by rapid digital transformation and pervasive security vulnerabilities.

BOSTON, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Black Kite , the leader in third-party cyber risk intelligence, today announced the release of its 2025 Manufacturing Report: Why Your Supply Chain is Your Biggest Cyber Risk . The report found that manufacturing's rapid digital transformation has exposed an expansive and often unsecured attack surface through interconnected supply chains. This, coupled with a pervasive pattern of security vulnerabilities, has resulted in this sector remaining ransomware's number one target for the fourth year in a row.

"Manufacturing industry's greatest vulnerability isn't its own network  it's the massive, interconnected supply chain that keeps the business running," said Fehart Dikbiyik, Chief Research & Intelligence Officer, Black Kite. "As more manufacturers continue digital transformation in the years following COVID-19, their expanding supply chains create a larger attack surface. At the same time, the speed at which new vulnerabilities are introduced has left organizations struggling to patch critical exposures in a timely manner, increasing their ransomware susceptibility. Our findings reveal that cybercriminals are not attacking indiscriminately; they are deliberately targeting this industry because they know its operational continuity is critical and any disruption can cause a cascading effect through global supply chains."

Black Kite's report findings highlight that manufacturing enterprises, with their complex operational technology (OT), global exposure, and intricate digital footprints, are attractive to well-resourced attackers.

The focus is evident across the board:

Among companies earning over $1 billion, manufacturing comprises a staggering 38.9% of ransomware victims.

The trend continues for companies earning between $100 million and $300 million; manufacturing accounts for 30% of ransomware victims.

Among companies with less than $20M, manufacturing is the second targeted industry at 17%. The demise of dominant groups like LockBit and AlphV has created a power vacuum, giving rise to new, less coordinated, and unpredictable players who often focus on smaller companies.

These trends show that manufacturing remains a prime ransomware target across companies of all sizes, from small suppliers to billion-dollar enterprises.

Exposing Supply Chain Risks

Black Kite's report reveals that the number of ransomware attacks on manufacturing companies keeps climbing, with a 9% increase compared to last year. A significant driver of this increase is the supply chain. Not only are larger enterprises a target, but new and smaller ransomware groups are targeting smaller contractors to gain a foothold in the larger manufacturing ecosystem. This strategy allows attackers to bypass the more robust defenses of large manufacturers by exploiting their less secure third-party suppliers.

The report's key findings include:

Manufacturing is a Primary, High-Value Target: Manufacturing remains ransomware's favorite target, holding the number one spot for the fourth consecutive year. Cybercriminals are deliberately targeting this industry because its operational continuity is critical. This is particularly true for high-value targets, with manufacturing accounting for 38.9% of ransomware victims among companies earning over $1 billion.

Manufacturing remains ransomware's favorite target, holding the number one spot for the fourth consecutive year. Cybercriminals are deliberately targeting this industry because its operational continuity is critical. This is particularly true for high-value targets, with manufacturing accounting for 38.9% of ransomware victims among companies earning over $1 billion. The Threat is Widespread and Indiscriminate: The distribution of ransomware victims across manufacturing sub-industries is "fairly even," indicating that the type of manufacturing matters less to attackers than the industry's central location within broader industry workflows and supply chains.

The distribution of ransomware victims across manufacturing sub-industries is "fairly even," indicating that the type of manufacturing matters less to attackers than the industry's central location within broader industry workflows and supply chains. Vulnerabilities are Pervasive: Manufacturing has significant, easily exploitable weaknesses. In fact, 75% of manufacturing companies have critical vulnerabilities with a CVSS score of 8 or higher, and 65% have at least one vulnerability listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog, meaning these weaknesses are already being exploited by threat actors.

Manufacturing has significant, easily exploitable weaknesses. In fact, 75% of manufacturing companies have critical vulnerabilities with a CVSS score of 8 or higher, and 65% have at least one vulnerability listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) Catalog, meaning these weaknesses are already being exploited by threat actors. Third-Party Risk is Exploding: Ransomware attacks on manufacturing companies keep climbing, with a 9% increase compared to last year. A significant driver of this is the supply chain. The number of companies with leaked credentials (15% in the last 90 days) and those with critical stealer logs findings further underscores the supply chain risk.

Traditional, Perimeter-Focused Security Model Does Not Work

For manufacturing cybersecurity leaders, Black Kite's findings present a clear directive: the combination of high industry targeting, widespread critical vulnerabilities, and the critical role of the supply chain underscores a need to re-evaluate current approaches.

Key steps to mitigate risks include:

Proactive Third-Party Cyber Risk Management is a Business Must-Have: Attackers use manufacturer suppliers as an on-ramp into the network. Manufacturers need a robust third-party cyber risk management (TPRM) program that goes beyond simple vendor questionnaires to identify, assess, monitor, and mitigate risks across the third-party ecosystem.

Attackers use manufacturer suppliers as an on-ramp into the network. Manufacturers need a robust third-party cyber risk management (TPRM) program that goes beyond simple vendor questionnaires to identify, assess, monitor, and mitigate risks across the third-party ecosystem. Focus on Foundational Cyber Hygiene: Security leaders must prioritize patch management for critical vulnerabilities that are actively exploited in the wild, and extend this focus beyond their own network's hygiene to the entire supply chain.

Security leaders must prioritize patch management for critical vulnerabilities that are actively exploited in the wild, and extend this focus beyond their own network's hygiene to the entire supply chain. Ransomware Susceptibility is a Predictor: Black Kite's Ransomware Susceptibility Index (RSI) is not just an indicator for an organization but is a powerful tool to assess third-party suppliers' likelihood of being a victim. Knowing which suppliers are at the highest risk enables proactive risk mitigation and prevents a production line disruption.

Black Kite's Ransomware Susceptibility Index (RSI) is not just an indicator for an organization but is a powerful tool to assess third-party suppliers' likelihood of being a victim. Knowing which suppliers are at the highest risk enables proactive risk mitigation and prevents a production line disruption. The Threat Has Evolved, So Should Defenses. The ransomware landscape is more fragmented and unpredictable, with new groups emerging and using tactics like AI-assisted reconnaissance and double-targeting victims. Security teams need a dynamic, intelligence-led approach. Tools that combine supply chain monitoring with early warning signals are essential for staying ahead of evolving threats.

To read the report, visit https://content.blackkite.com/ebook/manufacturing-tprm-report-2025/ .

To learn how Black Kite provides real-time third-party cyber risk intelligence to help organizations secure their supply chain, contact the Black Kite team .

Methodology

This report integrates various intelligence streams collected and curated by the Black Kite Research Group between April 2024 and March 2025. The ransomware-related data includes only publicly disclosed attacks that have been attributed to a known ransomware group. The report focuses on 1,042 companies selected from 10 specific NAICS sub-sectors representing the manufacturing industry with annual revenues exceeding $1 billion. The company list was verified using the Usearch database.

About Black Kite

Black Kite gives organizations a comprehensive, real-time view into cyber ecosystem risk so they can make informed risk decisions and improve business resilience while continuously monitoring more vendors, partners, and suppliers in an ever-changing digital landscape. Through an automated process and a combination of threat, business, and risk information, Black Kite provides cyber risk intelligence that goes beyond a simple risk score or rating. Black Kite serves more than 3,000 customers in a wide range of industries and has received numerous industry awards and recognition from customers . Learn more at www.blackkite.com or on the Black Kite blog .

Media Contact for Black Kite:

Michelle Kearney

Hi-Touch PR

443-857-9468

[email protected]

SOURCE Black Kite
Lucid Motors delivered a record 4,078 vehicles in the third quarter, likely buoyed by a combination of more Gravity SUVs hitting the road and a rush of customers taking advantage of the expiring federal EV tax credit.

The Saudi-owned luxury EV startup is still way off the projections it used to go public in 2021  a transaction that netted it $4 billion. But Lucid Motors has seen deliveries steadily climb over the last two years. The third-quarter delivery figures announced Monday mark the seventh consecutive quarter that Lucid Motors has seen sales increase.

Lucid Motors was not alone in seeing a big third-quarter bump in EV sales. Tesla recorded its best quarter in company history, and legacy automakers like Ford and General Motors saw big increases as well. Even Rivian, which is forecasting a worse overall year for total EV deliveries than 2024 or 2023, saw a boost in the third quarter.

Like Rivian, only customers who leased Lucid Motors vehicles were eligible for the federal EV tax credit, meaning the impact of its expiration is hard to quantify. Its also unclear how many Gravity SUVs were delivered compared to the companys first model, the Air sedan. Lucid Motors will reveal full financial results for the quarter on November 5.

Lucid Motors has struggled to generate interest for its luxury EVs since going public in 2021, with former CEO Peter Rawlinson openly admitting the company needed to beef up its marketing operations. Earlier this year, the company announced it signed actor Timothee Chalamet to be its first global ambassador. The company has also benefited from rental sales and company leases in some quarters, as TechCrunch previously reported.

The company is also increasingly looking to Saudi Arabia  which owns around 60% of the publicly traded company through its sovereign wealth fund  as a market for its vehicles. On Monday, Lucid Motors said it built more than 1,000 vehicles specifically for the Saudi market. (The company currently operates an assembly facility in the Kingdom and plans to open a full-fledged factory there.)

Lucid has also locked in future demand from an unlikely customer: Uber.

Uber announced last month plans to buy at least 20,000 Gravity SUVs over the next six years and use them as robotaxis on its network. For that deal, Lucid Motors will work to integrate autonomous vehicle company Nuros technology into the vehicles.
NARVA, Estonia  On both sides of the Narva River, fishermen stand knee-deep in the water between two medieval castles just 101 meters apart. Above them, the flags mark where NATO ends and Russia begins.

For years, experts have been warning of the so-called "Narva scenario"  a plan in which Russia might attempt to grab an Estonian border city using its old tune, "protecting the Russian-speaking population."

Following Europe's inability to handle Russia's now recurring drone incursions, the mostly-Russian-speaking city of Narva is once again a sticking point in NATO's eastern flank's defense.

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When asked about Russia, located in plain sight across the shallow river, and its appetite for war, Narva residents have been reserved in their responses.

"Anything is possible these days, but I'm not scared," a man on the embankment said in response to a question about a potential invasion.

A taxi driver, moments later, was far more skeptical of war. "You used to have to halve the magnitude of whatever they say in the media, even before the war. Now you can believe only 1% of it."

Narva is the third-largest city in Estonia. Located closer to Russia's St. Petersburg than to the Estonian capital of Tallinn, it is home to roughly 54,000 inhabitants, 95% of whom are Russian-speaking, according to the 2021 census.

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The proximity to the border and the overwhelming domination of the Russian-speaking population make the city of Narva a target of increased attention as NATO-Russian relations go south.

Despite disputes within the alliance, those in Narva who spoke with the Kyiv Independent have all asserted that a Russian attack isn't something they expect.

Nearly a quarter of the Estonian population believes that being part of NATO will deter any aggression, and almost half believe that direct military assistance would be provided should the war occur.

"Narva is not next, because we are prepared," said Major Neeme Brus, spokesperson for the Estonian Defense League or Kaitseliit, the country's voluntary territorial defense organization.

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Read also: Exclusive: Europe scrambles for Ukrainian interceptor drones after Russias attack on Poland

A complicated relationship

Relations between Russia and the Baltic states, which have seen a nearly 50-year-long Soviet occupation in the past, have never been easy. The countries' revival has gone hand in hand with the Kremlin's attempt to undermine their resolve.

A large Russian-speaking population, which accounts for a quarter of Estonia's total, has been at the forefront of these efforts.

Before the all-out war, a sticking point in the relationship between Moscow and Tallinn was Estonia's moves to clear itself from Soviet presence, such as statues and monuments, moving them out of public spaces and into museums and commemorative sites.

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Many Russian-speakers in Estonia have disagreed with these decisions.

"The symbols of the past war do not constitute the support of the current war; the state assigned this meaning to it," says Oleg Kultaev on air during a Russian-speaking program on Estonia's public broadcaster ERR. On air, he dodges the matter of the current war in favor of criticizing the country's domestic affairs.

A general view of the Friendship Bridge at the Estonian-Russian border, which allows pedestrians to cross between the two countries, in Narva, Estonia, on May 13, 2024. The writing on the russian side reads "Estonia - Russia". (Magdalena Chodownik / Anadolu via Getty Images)

The activist used to organize the "Immortal Regiment," the commemoration parade initiated in Russia as a civil initiative in honor of the fallen soldiers of WWII, later hijacked by the Kremlin as part of its propaganda.

Now, Kultaev is running in the municipal election set for October, the last campaign in which non-citizens can vote  one of the changes being rolled out in Estonia.

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The country's non-citizens are a group of local residents who moved to Estonia during the Soviet Union occupation and declined or failed to pass a mandatory citizenship test, which includes questions on the country's history and language.

Kultaev initially agreed to speak to the Kyiv Independent on the condition that he'd also be recording the conversation, but later changed his mind.

Politician Mihhail Stalnuhhin, voices similar criticism of Estonian policies on his YouTube channel, but does it with a disclaimer: "We're just talking here, this is not a call to action, just our opinions."

Estonia has revoked residence permits and handed down sentences to those found guilty of collaborating with Russia's secret service, FSB, Kremlin-affiliated organizations, such as Rossotrudnichestvo, and funding NGOs operating in the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine.

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There have been no known cases of deportation merely for posting online.

Another major point of confrontation between the Estonian and Russian-speaking activists concerns the country's education system, where the Estonian language has become the sole language. In Narva, over 40 teachers lost their jobs because their Estonian language skills were deemed insufficient.

"'Go back to Russia,' I'm constantly being told online," Anna, a student of Narva College, said in conversation. "But where should I go? I've only been there once. Estonia is my country."

Anna is seeking to become a preschool teacher. For her, the graduation is delayed for one year  she has to pass the language proficiency exam. She holds Estonian citizenship, but argues that it's hard to become proficient in Estonian while living in a mostly Russian-speaking region.

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"We respect Estonia, its traditions, and language. But the actions of our politicians, how they shut down Russian-speaking education () often offend us. We're citizens of Estonia; we were born here, and we hold Estonian passports."

Russian propaganda is preying on issues, often calling out Tallinn's policies as "russophobic."

Narva River below Hermann Castle (L) and opposite Ivangorod Fortress (R) on the Russian side of the river, in Narva, Estonia, on March 23, 2017. (Sean Gallup / Getty Images)

The Friendship Bridge over an unfriendly border

Russian provocations have intensified over the past few years.

In 2024, Russia launched balloons equipped with radar and video surveillance systems. In September, Russian fighter jets crossed over into NATO airspace and spent around 12 minutes not responding to ground requests.

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"The border situation is stable, but we are tested constantly," says Veiko Kommusaar, deputy director general of Estonia's Border Guard.

Last summer, Russian border guards snatched navigation buoys in the fairway of the Narva River. After a year of negotiation attempts, it became clear that Russia had no interest in resolving the issue; on the contrary, they would like to create more grey zones.

GPS jamming and signal spoofing are also frequent in the region, sometimes disruptive to commercial aviation and search and rescue operations in local forests.

Advice heard often when entering Narva is to disable the automatic network selection on one's phone. "Before you know it, you're connected to a Russian service provider," locals have said.

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Estonia responds to these provocations with new radar and surveillance systems, as well as thorough border checks. Around 60 million euros were committed to anti-mobility installations and bunkers with the Baltic Defense Line.

While neighboring Finland sealed its border with Russia completely, the Friendship Bridge linking Narva to Russia's Ivangorod became the prime route for travel to Russia.

"Collaborators don't live long."

Like in any border city, many in Narva still maintain ties with relatives and friends across the border or simply travel to buy cheaper goods. Yet in late September, the bridge had only a small line leading to it.

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The bridge, now upgraded with chain-linked Dragon's Teeth and barbed wire in light of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, is only open during the day, and solely for pedestrians.

Border Guard stands next to "dragons teeth" fortifications, pyramidal anti-tank obstacles, at the Estonian-Russian border in the Narva crossing on Dec. 15, 2024. (Marko Mumm / AFP via Getty Images)

Four Russian ladies in their fifties have made their way from Russia to Estonia. They live in Finland and are outspokenly irritated about the 23-hour detour through Estonia that they now have to make and the conditions at the checkpoint. In July, they say, travellers had to sleep on the benches to secure their places in the queue.

Estonian border guards remain firm  a lot has to improve in Russia's policies before the restrictive measures can be lifted.

"We have had our key message for a long time that nobody should go to Russia these days. It is, of course, their right to do so, but we will not make their life any easier," Kommusaar says.

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The ladies at the checkpoint were irritated by questions about a threat from Russia. "Russia has better things to do than attacking Estonia, it's building its economy," they said, echoing Russian propaganda. The invasion of Ukraine happened because locals had "asked" Russia for protection.

"And we are not asking for it."

Read also: Testing NATO, Russias salami slicing tactics now threaten Poland, Baltic states

Those in the middle

Back in 2022, refugees from Ukraine arrived through the Friendship Bridge running from Russian-occupied territories. Oleksandr from Kherson was one of them. The reason for staying in Narva was his wife's family ties to the area.

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"My relatives here welcomed us at the beginning and helped us with things, such as food. But then, when the conversation got going at some celebration, one of them loosened up and started saying that Narva is Russian. A normal person cannot comprehend this. And this is because they watch Russian television," Oleksandr recalls, adding that their conversation and relationship with the relative did not last long.

The conversation with Oleksandr takes place in a Ukrainian community center, a room filled with artifacts and flags signed by Ukrainian fighters. Down the long, dark corridor adorned with a mural depicting the two castles across the Narva River, the door to the Ukrainian community sits right next to a picture of the castle on Russia's side of the border.

"They don't understand that the local Russians are Estonians to them, who will be killed just as it was in our cities. Collaborators don't live long," Oleksandr said.

Russian state TV channels and propagandist websites were officially banned in Estonia. The broadcast signal, however, can be revived with a simple antenna. The Narva city newspaper continues to publish a TV schedule for the banned Russia 1 and NTV channels.

The support the Ukrainian community receives from Estonia adds to the tensions among Russians, although it rarely manifests in public.

Russians express their annoyance with Estonian authorities and Ukrainian presence in closed Telegram chats and Facebook groups, says Irina Lobanova, the head of the Ukrainian community in Narva. An ethnic Ukrainian, she has lived in Narva for years, holds Estonian citizenship, and speaks Estonian.

Battle for people's minds

The local population remains deeply divided when dealing with the local identity. Russian propaganda snowballing from across the border is also having its toll.

"People live in this mythology that Russia never invaded or started a war. It was nurtured throughout decades," says Maria Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova, the director of the Narva Museum. "For us, it is also a battle for Narva, because the influence from the other side through the information space can be compared to an onslaught, a very aggressive wave."

When Russia celebrates Victory in World War II, on May 9, hosting a concert praising its war in Ukraine, the stage is turned to face Narva.

Meanwhile, the Narva museum overlooking the stage couldnt stay silent. A decision to hang a poster comparing Russian President Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler on the museum wall facing the Russian side was an impromptu gesture, Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova says, but this small gesture managed to "spoil the picture" for Russian TV channels and rile up the local community.

People watch a concert marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Unions victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, staged in front of the Russian Fortress of Ivangorod, as seen from Narva, Estonia, on May 9, 2025. (Freddy Davies / Anadolu via Getty Images)

A banner depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin with the lettering War criminal! hangs on the wall of the Narva Museum in Narva, Estonia, on May 9, 2025. (STRINGER / AFP via Getty Images)

Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova spoke with the Kyiv Independent in Tallinn, a day after Russia sentenced her, an Estonian citizen, to 10 years in absentia for "rehabilitating nazism." Some in Narva wished this were a real prison term. Others thanked her for expressing the anti-war stance on behalf of the community.

The fight for the younger generation goes on beyond schools, in Narva's branch of the Estonian Defense League, Kaitseliit. The civilian volunteer organization under Estonia's defense ministry boasts 22,000 members, which spikes after every new aggressive move from Russia.

Putin is the organization's best salesman, Major Brus, the Kaitseliit spokesperson, jokes.

Kaitseliits youth groups  Young Eagles and Home Daughters  focus on sports, orienteering, and survival skills  community-building activities that are not directly related to the military.

"Twenty-somethings understand that it's better to live in Estonia, have a European passport, and study in Europe. Some of them have become Estonian citizens and even joined the Kaitseliit," said Roger Vinni, Kaitseliit press officer in Narva.

In his 15 years with the organization, he has seen Russian speakers growing up with Kaitseliit and joining the police or emergency services.

Smorzhevskikh-Smirnova believes that the museum's mission is to uphold the border in a way for all residents.

"(We have) to clearly understand the methods Russia uses, it presents a historical picture in a way to say that there are no borders. And we must assert these boundaries clearly. It is our museum's mission to remind everyone that Europe starts here."

Read also: Russias digital Iron Curtain descends as Kremlin chokes remaining internet freedoms

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
An Estonian Defense Forces member was sentenced to four years and 11 months in prison after pleading guilty to aiding Russian intelligence, Estonias public broadcaster ERR reported Oct. 7. The Viru County Court convicted Estonian citizen Ivan Dmitriev of carrying out and supporting intelligence activities against Estonia.

Estonia, a NATO and EU member bordering Russia, has increasingly accused Moscow of subversive activities and hybrid operations in the Baltic region.

According to the indictment, between March and May 2025, Dmitriev collaborated with Aleksandr Bobkov, an officer with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Border Guard Operational Department.

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Acting on Bobkov's behalf, Dmitriev passed on information to the FSB about the Estonian Defense Forces, local life in Narva, Estonia's third-largest city, and the movements of defense forces in the city.

Estonia's State Prosecutor Triinu Olev-Aas said Dmitriev, an active member of the Estonian Defense Forces who handled drone operations, posed a significant threat to Estonia's security.

"Russia considers various information it manages to gather about Estonia to be important," Olev-Aas said. "The rapid prevention of crimes against the state and the prosecution of people recruited by Russian intelligence agencies is part of national defense, especially in today's situation."

Taavi Narits, deputy director general of the Estonian Internal Security Service, said security officers arrested Dmitriev as he prepared to travel to Russia to meet his handler following a defense exercise.

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According to ERR, the ruling has not yet entered into force and can be appealed to the Tartu Circuit Court.

The case comes amid growing concern in Estonia over Russian espionage operations across Europe.

In August, Tallinn declared a senior Russian diplomat persona non grata for allegedly attempting to undermine Estonia's constitutional order and legal system.

In January 2024, Estonian authorities arrested Viacheslav Morozov, a political science professor at the University of Tartu, who was later convicted of spying for Russia and sentenced to six years in prison.

Read also: Russias digital Iron Curtain descends as Kremlin chokes remaining internet freedoms

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ethiopia has accused Eritreas government of working with an opposition group based in Ethiopias northern Tigray region to prepare for a military offensive, underscoring concerns of renewed conflict in the region.

Ethiopias Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos made the claim in a letter appealing to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, cited by the AFP news agency and Ethiopian media on Wednesday.

In the letter, Timothewos claims there is clear collusion between Eritreas government and the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), a once-dominant political force in Ethiopia that fought a two-year civil war with Addis Ababa, ending in 2022.

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The collusion between the Eritrean government and the TPLF has become more evident over the past few months, said the letter, quoted by AFP. The hardliner faction of the TPLF and the Eritrean government are actively preparing to wage war against Ethiopia.

In the letter, Addis Ababa also accuses Asmara and the TPLF of funding, mobilising and directing armed groups in the northern Amhara region, where the federal army has been facing rebels for several years.





The message speaks to deteriorating relations between neighbouring Ethiopia and Eritrea, which have a decades-long bloody history.

After Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, a border war erupted between the two Horn of Africa countries from 1998 to 2000, leaving tens of thousands dead.

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Relations thawed in 2018 after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power, with the Eritrean army supporting Ethiopian federal forces in the 2020-2022 Tigray War.

Since the conflict ended, relations have again taken a belligerent turn, with Asmara accusing its landlocked neighbour of eyeing the Assab port on the Red Sea in southeastern Eritrea.





Abiy has repeatedly expressed hopes for Ethiopia to regain sea access, lost legally after Eritreas independence.

Timothewos, in his letter to Guterres, said Addis Ababa wants to engage in good faith negotiations with the government of Eritrea and has a vision of shared prosperity through integration that preserves the territorial integrity and sovereignty of both states.

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He accused Asmara of trying to justify its sinister machinations against Ethiopia by claiming that it feels threatened by Ethiopias quest to gain access to the sea.

Eritrea, one of Africas least populated and most insular countries, with about 3.5 million people, has in recent months strengthened ties with Egypt, which also has strained relations with Ethiopia over water resources.
EU countries' ambassadors have agreed on Wednesday 8 October to forward the Union's plan to end imports of Russian oil and gas by 2028 to ministers for further consideration.

Source: Reuters, citing unnamed diplomats, as reported by European Pravda

Details: This move marks the plan's first political breakthrough on the path to adoption, and national governments are expected to vote on it later this month.

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The EU is negotiating legislative proposals for a gradual phaseout of Russian oil and gas imports by January 2028, aiming to deprive the Kremlin of revenue that funds its war against Ukraine.

During a closed meeting on Wednesday, EU ambassadors agreed to submit the draft law for approval by ministers at the 20 October session, three diplomats told Reuters.

They said that nearly all EU countries expressed support for the plan, suggesting a strong likelihood of adoption despite criticism from Hungary and Slovakia. Technical discussions ahead of the 20 October vote are still ongoing.

One unresolved issue is whether shipments of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe should require prior authorisation and origin verification by customs upon arrival at EU ports to ensure that the gas is not of Russian origin.

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Under the proposal, imports of Russian gas under new contracts would end in January 2026, under short-term existing contracts in June 2026, and under long-term ones in January 2028.

Currently, countries such as Hungary, France and Belgium still import Russian gas, which accounts for about 12% of total EU gas imports. The law would require Hungary and Slovakia to develop national plans to end these supplies by 2028.

Adopting the plan will require a qualified majority of EU member states. Once approved, the Council and the European Parliament will begin negotiations on the final text of the bill.

Background:

The EU is also negotiating a new sanctions package against Russia that would ban imports of liquefied natural gas a year earlier, from January 2027.

The new sanctions package also proposes blacklisting more than 100 vessels belonging to Russia's shadow fleet.

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As Moscows military offensive grinds on at Europes eastern edge, tensions are skyrocketing on the continent due to repeated, brazen violations of European airspace deliberately orchestrated by Russia. Europe has announced counter-measures, in the form of a drone wall to combat this new threat.

Between September 9 and 10, 19 drones were spotted entering Polish airspace. A Nato-led air defence response was immediately activated, with Polish F-16s and Dutch F-35s scrambled on a quick reaction alert mission. Three of the drones were shot down, while at least eight others crashed within Polish territory. Another drone penetrated as far as 260km into Poland  deeper than the capital, Warsaw  forcing the temporary closure of four airports.

An even more severe incident occurred on September 13, when three Russian MiG-31 fighters violated Estonias airspace for over 10 minutes. The aircraft flew parallel to the border, penetrating less than 10km into Estonian territory before being escorted back by Nato fighter jets.

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Poland and Estonia invoked Article 4 of the Washington Treaty, a collective consultation mechanism triggered when the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened. Nato responded by condemning Russias reckless actions and vowing to bolster the Alliances deterrence and defence posture, including through effective air defence.

There have been further suspected breaches in Denmark (which had just announced the purchase of long-range precision weapons), Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Norway, and Romania. On October 3, drone sightings caused Munich airport closed for a few hours, and nearly 20 flights were cancelled.

What is Russia up to?

Through these intrusions, Russia wants to test the readiness of Natos mechanisms of collective defence. Putin wants to know how far Europe is willing to go in defending Ukraine in the face of the US ambivalent foreign policy. In other words: is Natos Article 5 still a credible deterrent against the Kremlins imperialist plans?

Russias strategy has clearly taken such a direction in the aftermath of the unsuccessful Alaska Summit between Trump and Putin on August 15 2025. The meeting yielded no concrete measures and, to make matters worse, Trump openly acknowledged the impossibility of reaching a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

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Putins brinkmanship  the practice of pushing a negotiation to the edge of open conflict in order to achieve a desired outcome  has to be interpreted as a hostile signal. The Kremlin is saying they do not want to stop fighting (yet), as they perceive an advantage in prolonging the war. Whats more, they are putting their foot on the accelerator.

Leer mas: What NATO could learn from Ukraine as it navigates Russian threats to European security

Dummy drones and the grey zone

The aim of this calculated escalation is confirmed by the Kremlins weapon of choice. Most of the downed or recovered devices have turned out to be Russian-made Geran-2 (Geranium-2) kamikaze drones, a simplified and cheaper version of the Iranian Shahed-136 widely used in Ukraine.

These drones are mainly employed as decoys to saturate and distract air defences, though they can also perform reconnaissance and opportunistic attacks with small explosive payloads.

Russias reckless actions also have a second goal in mind: gauging the overall cohesion of Western public opinions, and of Europeans in particular. The informational and psychological dimensions of warfare are at the heart in this kind of operation, and they have deep roots in Russias strategic thinking  especially in its most recent iterations.

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This includes spreading misinformation through social media or empowering anti-EU, pro-Russian political parties, but it has now gone further  Russia is now deliberately operating in the grey zone. This is the space between war and peace where coercive, non-military actions are intended to achieve strategic goals below the threshold of conventional armed conflicts.

However, its recent provocations may risk escalating to an open war that, at least officially, nobody wants, and which would be devastating for all sides.

Leer mas: The eye in the sky: what Denmarks drone sightings tell us about power and fear down the years

A united front?

Russia is testing Europes collective resolve by playing a dangerous divide-and-conquer game with the continents different threat perceptions. It may be working. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that Europe is no longer at peace with Russia, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Fredriksen has argued that Europe is in its most dangerous situation since second world war, but other European policymakers seem unwilling to adopt such an assertive stance.

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Furthermore, the widespread pro-Palestinian protests that erupted in the wake of Israels interception of the Gaza aid flotilla have underscored the persistent differences in threat perception within European societies. These divisions are not only shaped by geographical or other physical factors, but also ideological alignments  pro-Palestine positions are largely associated ith left-wing sentiments, while pro-Ukraine attitudes are linked to centrist or right-wing views. Europes weakness  reinforced by the inconsistencies of US foreign policy  accounts for much of Russias strength.

Despite these differences, the recent meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) in Copenhagen saw European leaders projecting an image of unity, cohesion and resilience as they approved a new flagship initiative emblematically called the drone wall.

This would not be a physical barrier but a layered network of detection and interception systems. It would build on the existing anti-drone capabilities of individual European countries.

As of today, little is known about what this wall will actually look like, how long it will take to be executed (Germanys Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, said it could be a matter of three or four years), and who will be in charge of its implementation the European Commission or the member states?

Warfare is evolving

What is utterly clear is that EU and Nato countries have to adapt their air defence systems to a changing strategic landscape. The threat posed by Russia no longer comes solely from fast-moving-devices  aircraft, ballistic, cruise, or even hypersonic missiles  but also from the rapidly evolving technology of unmanned drones. This new threat must be countered by incorporating cheaper electronic warfare methods, including jamming, spoofing or disrupting the electronic signals that drones rely on.

Leer mas: How can Europe fight back against incursions by drone aircraft?

The war in Ukraine has already shown that drones are a gamechanger in 21st century military strategy. They are cheap, small (which means hard to detect with existing technology), able to inflict significant damage, and overall capable of posing a disproportionate threat. Drones are making international security more dangerous and unstable as they shift the military balance away from defence and towards offence.

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For this reason, streamlining defence systems against drones is a strategic necessity for Europe. The response of EU and Nato member States has to be decisive, quick and effective, since at this point a much more aggressive action from Russia  a terrestrial invasion of the Baltic States  can no longer be ruled out.

Este articulo fue publicado originalmente en The Conversation, un sitio de noticias sin fines de lucro dedicado a compartir ideas de expertos academicos.

Lee mas:



Michele Testoni no recibe salario, ni ejerce labores de consultoria, ni posee acciones, ni recibe financiacion de ninguna compania u organizacion que pueda obtener beneficio de este articulo, y ha declarado carecer de vinculos relevantes mas alla del cargo academico citado.
OTTAWA/DELAWARE COUNTY  Former State Representative and District Attorney Ben Loring announced Wednesday that he is running for District 13 District Attorney.

The general election is Nov. 3, 2026.

He seeks to unseat incumbent District Attorney Doug Pewitt, who was elected in November 2023.

Loring served as district attorney from 1991 through 1999 and was the First Assistant District Attorney under former District Attorney Eddie Wyant for three terms from 2003 through 2015.

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Under Lornings leadership, he supported creating and funding the Delaware County Child Sexual Abuse Network and the Ottawa County Childrens Advocacy Center.

Both centers help in the investigation and prosecution of those who would sexually, physically, or emotionally prey upon the most vulnerable victims in our society, our children, he said.

Ben Loring

By 1997, when the State Legislature mandated that every District Attorneys office create a child advocacy center, District 13 was, and still remains, the only multi-county DA District in the State with a child advocacy center in every county of the District. Ben Loring

Loring also obtained a death penalty sentence in Ottawa County, the first in nearly 80 years. In that case, Gary Welch was executed in 2012 for the 1995 heinous and cruel murder of Robert Hardcastle.

Loring established the Graduated Sanctions Program in Ottawa County, which served as a model for the rest of the state.

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This restorative justice program was designed as a non-punitive program outside of the court system for nonviolent juvenile offenders and their families to intervene and turn their lives around while making victims whole, as opposed to labeling the youth with a juvenile criminal record, Loring said.

State Representative

Loring served three terms in the Oklahoma House of Representatives and was honored by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, the Oklahoma District Attorney Association, the Oklahoma Chiefs of Police Association, the Oklahoma Regents of Higher Education, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, and the Oklahoma Behavioral Health Association.

The honor I am most proud of is when I was recognized by the Oklahoma Bar Association for the Alma Wilson Award, Loring said.

Loring said the significance of the honor was that while he was still in law school, he had the opportunity to intern before Justice Wilson in the District Court of Cleveland County before she rose to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

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The award is to recognize the attorney in the State who has best exemplified a lifetime commitment to advancing childrens issues, Loring said.

Loring said that if elected, he intends to revitalize the office by efficiently, firmly, and fairly prosecuting criminal behavior.

There will be no favoritism, Loring said.

Loring said he fully understands the difficulties created for prosecution stemming from the U.S. Supreme Courts McGirt (2020) decision but said that with the state and tribal law enforcement partners working together, the needs of all citizens will be served.

Loring cites his long history of representing some of the Ottawa County tribes and working with the Cherokee Nation and the state as the foundation of the relationship needed between these sovereign entities.

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In the 1980s, the then-district attorney directly attacked the sovereignty of the Seneca Cayuga Nation. Loring represented the tribe and won a complicated landmark court battle in the State District and Supreme Courts, the federal District Court, and the U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals for the Tribe.

That representation resulted in Loring lecturing at what is now the Oklahoma Supreme Court Sovereignty Symposium in 1986, 1987, 2010, and 2016.

My work will be fair, proven, and dedicated to all the districts citizens, Loring said.

Loring said he intends to ensure that the district attorneys office provides thorough, competent, and responsive legal representation to both counties and their elected officials.

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Did the Russian cities of Vyborg, Petrozavodsk, and Murmansk decide with an overwhelming majority vote to leave Russia and join Finland? No, that's not true: This fictional multipart story is illustrated with an AI-generated image of "unidentified militants" and a fictional map of "Greater Finland". The fake news narrative is a twist on an idea from the early 1900s regarding the expansion of Finland's borders. At the end of the thread the author admitted that it was not true, saying that it was alarming people fell for it.

The made-up story appeared in a thread (archived here) published on X on Oct. 7, 2025 by @TallbarFIN. The post was captioned:

BREAKING!

Unidentified militants took over administrative buildings in russian Karelia and Kola peninsula this morning and organized quick regional elections.

Votes were cast in Karelia's Vyborg & Petrozavodsk, and in Murmansk on the Kola Peninsula which chose to join Finland.

The image included with the post (pictured below) has in the lower right corner, a watermark from Grok, the xAI assistant which can produce images from prompts:

Image source: Lead Stories screenshot from x.com/TallbarFIN/status/1975456018357457115.

The thread continues with detailed supporting posts including voting results from three Russian cities, the map of the new borders of Finland after the annexation, and the statement that the Russian military was not expected to resist because all the troops are in Ukraine. In the final post (archived here) the author says:

Amount of people who actually thought this is true is highly alarming. No wonder russian disinformation works so well

Image source: Lead Stories screenshot from x.com/TallbarFIN/status/1975544252693414106.

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A Google reverse image search for the map included in the thread (archived here) returns results posted on 4Chan and Reddit . The Google AI overview identifies the map and explains the concept of "Greater Finland":

This is a map depicting the concept of "Greater Finland" (Suur-Suomi), a nationalist and irredentist idea that advocates for the expansion of Finland's borders. The map shows a larger Finland that includes territories beyond its current borders. The most common concept of Greater Finland includes territories inhabited by Finns and Karelians, extending from the White Sea to Lake Onega and the Gulf of Finland.

The AI summary appears to have been drawn from the Greater Finland Wikipedia entry.
BOSTON (WWLP)  Governor Maura Healey has ordered all U.S. and Massachusetts flags to be lowered following the passing of State Senator Edward J. Kennedy.

Charter invests $50M for faster internet in underserved Mass. areas

Flags across Massachusetts will fly at half-staff to honor the passing of State Senator Edward J. Kennedy, Gov. Maura Healeys office announced.

In a statement, Healey reflected on Kennedys nearly half-century of dedication to public service.

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Im heartbroken to hear about the passing of State Senator Ed Kennedy, Healey said. For nearly 50 years, he has been a fixture of the Lowell government, dedicating his life to service and delivering for his community. Its been an honor to partner with him on everything from housing to education. My condolences go out to his wife, Susan, his family, his Senate colleagues, and his constituents.

Healey has ordered that both the United States flag and the Commonwealth flag be lowered from sunrise until sunset on the day of Kennedys interment.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.
Matt is about to receive a $35,000 workers' compensation settlement, something many would be pleased about. For him, though, the payout feels like both a blessing and a curse  and the stakes couldn't be higher.

On paper, its a chance for Matt to pay off his debt, build savings and set the foundation for retirement. But in reality, the money could slip away almost instantly. Matt's problem? A long-standing gambling habit that has drained savings and left him with little to show for it. Now he's desperate to find ways that keep him away from the casino and keep his windfall in his pocket.

According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, (1) a nonprofit that aims to minimize the economic and social costs of gambling addiction, about 2.5 million U.S. adults (1%) meet the criteria for severe gambling problems, with another 5 to 8 million experiencing mild or moderate issues.

Matts settlement could represent a turning point. Instead of another missed opportunity, it may become the foundation of long-term stability. But to achieve that, Matt must put some safeguards in place from day one, before the temptation to double it at a casino or sportsbook becomes too hard to resist. Here are some examples of ways Matt can make the most of his windfall without falling into old habits.

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1. Clear existing debts

Debt payoff is typically the smartest first move to make when you receive a lump sum of money, especially for someone vulnerable to risky spending, such as Matt. High-interest credit card debt, for example, can carry rates above 20%, meaning the money evaporates quickly if left unpaid. Eliminating these balances first reduces monthly obligations, frees up cash flow and provides an immediate sense of progress.

But what happens after the debt is gone? For those with a gambling issue, leaving the rest in a checking account could be a recipe for relapse.

2. Use accounts with withdrawal penalties

Instead, Matt can use products such as 401(k)s or traditional IRAs that come with penalties for early withdrawals. While these fees frustrate some investors, they can be a hidden benefit for someone looking to restrict access to their own funds. A 10% penalty for early withdrawal may be just enough of a deterrent to keep the money untouched until retirement.
Editor's note: This article and headline has been updated to reflect Cheryl Shannons sentence. The original article said Shannon was sentenced to 3-5 years consecutively for each felony charge. Shannon was actually sentenced to six months in prison followed by five years probation, according to Laramie County booking sheets. This article has also been updated to reflect the proper recipients of the restitution and insurance funds.

CHEYENNE  A local woman charged with stealing thousands from veterans organizations was sentenced Monday afternoon to six months in jail followed by five years probation, in line with a plea bargain by Laramie County District Judge Nathaniel Hibben.

Cheryl Shannon used her position as treasurer to steal nearly $68,000 from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1881 Auxiliary and the local Disabled American Veterans (DAV) chapter combined, according to court documents.

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Shannon was arrested twice in December 2024 for two felony counts of theft and one felony count of forgery.

I cannot apologize enough for what I did, Shannon told the court Monday.

Shannons attorney told the court those funds were used to support her alcohol and gambling addiction. Shannon told Judge Hibben she was doing everything she could to make it right.

In addition to the six months in jail followed by five years probation, Shannon was sentenced to provide restitution of $41,908 to the DAV and $25,800 to the VFW Post 1881 Auxiliary. The sum is to be paid within 10 days of closing on the property that Shannon has put on the market to pay this restitution.

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The impact of the crimes extends well beyond the perpetrator and the immediate victims, Judge Hibben told Shannon as he determined her sentence.

Not only are they (the VFW Post 1881 Auxiliary and the DAV) out of the money, but they must rebuild the trust, Hibben said.

Victim statements

Organizations like the VFW Post Auxiliary and the DAV rely on donors to provide support to the communities they serve.

Shannon is a veteran herself, knowing some of her peers at the two organizations for more than 20 years. VFW Post Auxiliary President Jeff Brown stated that he looked up to Shannon for guidance on policy and financial issues as he stepped into the role of president.

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Brown requested the judge to sentence Shannon to five years in prison for each felony count and require her to pay full restitution and maximum possible fines.

It would be nice to send the message to everyone in this state of Wyoming and to the country that Wyoming backs their veterans and will not waver in that, Brown wrote in a victim statement.

The loss of these funds impacted the thousands of veterans who call Laramie County home, Brown told Judge Hibben on Monday. According to the U.S. Census, veterans make up 13.1% of the county's population.

Every one of them is a victim of this crime, Brown said.

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Victims informed the court that, as a result of Shannons actions, the VFW Post 1881 Auxiliary was on the brink of bankruptcy, saved only by its bonds. The DAV fared worse, according to testimony, and has been turning away veterans for services it typically provides.

"The chapter continues to get calls from veterans asking for temporary financial assistance, Department adjutant for the DAV, state of Wyoming, Floyd Watson Jr., said. We are no longer able to assist them because we do not have the available funds.

Watson added that the chapter had lost its building insurance due to missed payments, which Shannon neglected to inform leadership about.

We now have to reapply for another insurance policy, which will cost us more than what we had budgeted for, Watson said. It is time-consuming. We still do not have property insurance.

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The VFW Post 1881 Auxiliary was reimbursed by insurance for $20,000, according to Brown. However, they will have to pay back that amount out of their restitution and expect their rates to increase due to the claim.

Donors to the DAV chapter are concerned about getting the stolen funds back quickly and efficiently, Watson said.

For three-and-a-half years, Cheryl Shannon stole money from our chapter, and showed no concern or compassion for the veterans she was stealing from, Watson said. To steal from disabled veterans is unforgivable. Her punishment should fit the crime. There is no excuse for her actions.
CHEYENNE  A shooting in Fort Collins involving an F.E. Warren Air Force Base airman has been ruled a murder-suicide as an act of domestic violence, according to the Larimer County Coroners Office.

In the early hours of Sept. 30, Fort Collins Police Services (FCPS) responded to reports of a shooting in the 100 block of West Fairway Lane, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Upon their arrival, they found the suspected shooter, 20-year-old Airman 1st Class Marcus Evan Jackson, deceased. His death was ruled a suicide by the coroner.

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Police also located the victim, 18-year-old Alyssa Paige Reardon, in need of medical attention.

Reardon was transported to Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland and died from her injury Oct. 1. Her death was ruled a murder, according to an FCPS news release.

The coroner determined that the cause of death in both cases was gunshot wounds.

No one should ever have to live in fear or experience violence from someone they love or trust. As the investigation continues, we remain committed to supporting the victims loved ones and all those impacted by this devastating situation, said FCPS Chief Jeff Swoboda.

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Though the manner and cause of death have been determined, the case is still under investigation.

We want anyone facing abuse to know you are not alone, help is available, the FCPS news release read. Texting 911 is an option if you cant call.

Both Jackson and Reardon were Colorado residents, but Jackson was a security forces member assigned to the 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron, 90th Missile Wing in Wyoming.

He was assigned to F.E. Warren Air Force Base in November 2023 and entered active duty May 2023. He was promoted to his current rank in July of that year.

The 90th Missile Wing released a statement regarding Jacksons identity but did not include the nature of the incident.

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As the investigation continues, we are working closely with local authorities into the circumstances surrounding this incident, Col. Terry Holmes, 90th Missile Wing commander, said via the press release. Our focus is on providing support to those affected and maintaining cooperation with law enforcement and investigative agencies.

The release stated that the case is currently under investigation by the Fort Collins Police Services and that the 90th Missile Wing is fully cooperating with their efforts.

Due to the nature of the investigation, no further details will be provided at this time to preserve the integrity of the ongoing inquiry, the release said.

If the base is not leading the investigation, then it will only release information strictly relaying that an airman was involved, not including details of the case, said Lt. Raegan Lockhart with the 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs office when the Wyoming Tribune Eagle reached out for comment Tuesday.

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Lockhart said that the wing leaves it to the investigating agency to release details of the incident out of respect for the investigative process.

This is the third time this year an airman from the 90th Missile Wing has been involved in a shooting incident. In all three instances, a 90th Missile Wing airman has been identified as the shooter. In the two other incidents, the victims were also airmen.

FCPS instructed anyone with information about this case, who has not already spoken to police, to call Detective Cole Giandomenico at 970-221-6558.
CBS News has tapped Adam Rubenstein  the conservative journalist who claimed in a viral essay that he was ostracized at the New York Times for liking Chick-fil-A sandwiches  as its new deputy editor, The Post has learned.

Sources said Rubenstein is part of the inner circle of Bari Weiss, who on Monday was named CBS News editor in chief. Rubenstein also will hold the title of deputy editor at Weiss news site The Free Press, which also was acquired by CBS parent Paramount Skydance for a cash and stock deal amounting to $150 million.

Adam is part of Baris inner circle. She trusts him implicitly, a person with knowledge said.

Adam Rubenstein is part of the inner circle of Free Press co-founder and CEO Bari Weiss, who on Monday was named CBS News editor in chief, sources said. X/RubensteinAdam

While Rubenstein helps Weiss run CBS News, sources expect he will effectively run the Free Press now that Weiss will be busy steering the editorial direction of shows like 60 Minutes, Face The Nation and CBS Sunday Morning, while also launching a new debate show.

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The Free Press has been critical of liberal bias at news organizations, wokism and has been a staunch supporter of Israel in the war against Hamas.

Weiss, who founded the Free Press in 2022, named Rubenstein as a contributor in 2024, and said that aside from meeting her wife, Nellie Bowles, at the Times, the second best thing was Adam Rubenstein.

Since the earliest days of The Free Press, Adam has been my 3 a.m. call, she wrote in the announcement of his hiring at the time.

Bari Weiss and Rubeinstein met at the New York Times. AP

Reps for CBS News and the Free Press did not immediately comment.

Weiss and Rubenstein met at the New York Times, where the latter called out the Gray Lady for cowing to woke, leftist staffers as management mishandled the aftermath of the publication of a controversial op-ed by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on June 3, 2020.

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Rubenstein, who had edited Cottons piece, worked with Weiss on the opinion desk until he left in 2021. Rubenstein said he was dubbed a heretic for his views.

In a piece he penned for the Atlantic last year, he revealed the story of a job orientation session where he was asked to name his favorite sandwich as part of an ice-breaking game with co-workers.

Weiss Free Press has been critical of liberal bias at news organizations, wokism and has been a staunch supporter of Israel in the war against Hamas. The Free Press

The spicy chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A, he replied, adding that at that point, he considered the ice broken.

The HR representative leading the orientation chided me, Rubenstein wrote, saying the human resources rep told him: We dont do that here. They hate gay people.

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Other Times staffers at the orientation then started snapping their fingers in acclamation, he wrote.

Rubenstein tried to appease the crowd, saying: Not the politics, the chicken.

But it was too late. I sat down, ashamed, he wrote.

Sources expect Rubenstein will effectively run the Free Press now that Weiss will be busy steering the editorial direction of shows like 60 Minutes, Face The Nation and CBS Sunday Morning. AP

Chick-fil-A, the Atlanta-based fast food chain, came under fire from liberals after its chief executive expressed opposition to gay marriage and its foundation donated millions of dollars to groups that were also publicly opposed to same-sex unions.

The strange experience of being a conservative at the Times came to a head after the Cotton op-ed was published and Rubenstein was identified as its editor.

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Cotton, a former Army infantryman who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, called on then-President Donald Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy the military to quell rioting that erupted following the death of George Floyd.

Rubenstein said he received alarming threats once it became known that he edited the piece and that 1,500 Times employees plotted on Slack next steps to call for a retraction, editors note and firings of those involved.

The Free Press was acquired by CBS parent Paramount Skydance  led by CEO David Ellison (above)  for a cash and stock deal amounting to $150 million. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Rubenstein blasted the newspapers leadership  then executive editor Dean Baquet and publisher AG Sulzberger  for caving to pressure from staffers who claimed that publication of Cottons piece put black people in danger.

Under pressure from staffers, the Times leadership eventually pushed op-ed page editor James Bennet, who greenlit the Cotton piece, to quit.

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Weiss left the Gray Lady about a month after Bennet, penning a scathing resignation letter accusing her colleagues of engaging in a new McCarthyism and claiming Twitter had become the papers ultimate editor.

Rubenstein resigned in December, some six months after the initial controversy,
Belgium is coming under increasing pressure from the EU to allow the use of frozen Russian assets to provide a reparations loan to Ukraine.

Source: Financial Times, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The FT notes that around 190 billion of Russian sovereign assets held by Euroclear, the central securities depository in Brussels, have been frozen in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

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Initially, many Western countries, including the US, Germany and Belgium, were reluctant to use these funds, fearing legal and financial repercussions. However, Europe's stance has shifted in recent weeks.

According to the FT, US President Donald Trump's administration has urged G7 allies to seize "or otherwise use" Russia's underlying assets "to fund Ukraine's defence".

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz later argued in an FT op-ed that 140 billion from those assets should be channelled into a loan to strengthen Ukraine's defences.

The European Commission has since outlined how such a reparations loan could be structured.

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However, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever has urged the other 26 EU member states to assume the legal and financial risks linked to the loan and to guarantee its full amount so that Belgium would not be responsible for repayment.

According to the FT, his position has drawn criticism from other capitals, especially given that Euroclear's profits are subject to Belgian corporation tax.

"[Belgium] has spent three years saying Euroclear is Belgian and so are the benefits," said one senior EU diplomat involved in talks on the matter. "Now, when it wants to share the risks, it claims Euroclear is European."

Three diplomats have said that patience with Belgian officials is running thin.

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Other European capitals argue that the complicated situation in Ukraine requires solidarity, noting that Poland has agreed to host the main weapons supply hub for Ukraine, and Denmark is sending F-16 fighters to Kyiv without demanding that other countries share the risks.

"There is no more low-hanging fruit," said another EU diplomat. "Everyone has to do what they can."

The European Commission has attempted to alleviate some of Belgium's concerns by adding provisions stating that if Russia begins paying military reparations, the loan would be covered by national contingent liabilities.

"We think actually that the risks here for Belgium are rather limited," said a senior EU official.

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The Commission, supported by most EU capitals, maintains that the loan is structured in a way that does not involve asset confiscation and notes that court decisions outside the EU are not recognised in Brussels.

However, the Belgian government has stated that "the current plan that is circulating is not satisfactory" and that contingent liabilities do not "address the issue of risk coverage".

According to reports, the EU aims to agree on a 140 billion loan by December, with the first disbursements scheduled for the second quarter of 2026.

De Wever's stance on Russian assets is said to have irritated some EU leaders at a recent summit in Copenhagen, according to FT sources familiar with the discussions.

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They also pointed to Belgium's relatively low level of military support for Ukraine over the past three years compared with Denmark, Sweden and Germany, which have provided significantly more.

Belgian officials, in turn, argue that De Wever's position is justified, as he is protecting his country's national interests.

Background:

Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, emphasised that the idea of a reparations loan to Ukraine using Russian assets is not, in principle, contrary to international law.

In response, Russia has begun threatening to nationalise Western companies if the EU seizes its assets.

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CAIRO (AP)  Peace talks between Israel and Hamas resumed at an Egyptian resort city on Tuesday, the two-year anniversary of the militant group's surprise attack on Israel that started the war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The second day of indirect negotiations at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh is focused on a plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump last week that aims to bring about an end to the war.

Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, told Egypts Qahera TV that Hamas wanted guarantees of a lasting ceasefire as part of any deal to return the remaining 48 hostages, around 20 of them believed by Israel to be alive.

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It appeared to be his first public appearance since an Israeli strike targeting him and other top Hamas leaders in Qatar last month killed six people, including his son and office manager.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted President Donald Trump's plan, which calls for the immediate release of the hostages. The plan also calls for Gaza to be placed under international governance and for Hamas to be disarmed, elements the militants have yet to accept.

Netanyahus office said Tuesday that Israel was cautiously optimistic, framing the talks as technical negotiations over a plan that both sides already had approved.

The plan has received widespread international backing, and Trump told reporters Monday that he thought there was a really good chance of a lasting deal.

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In a sign the talks were gaining momentum, Qatar said its prime minister and top diplomat, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, would travel to Egypt on Wednesday to join the negotiations. Trump's Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as well as top Netanyahu adviser Ron Dermer, are also expected to join the talks then.

Trump's peace plan

The plan envisions Israel withdrawing its troops from Gaza after Hamas disarms, and an international security force being put in place. The territory would be placed under international governance, with Trump and former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair overseeing it.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Hamas reiterated its longstanding demands for a lasting ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza but said nothing about disarmament.

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The war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel and killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251. Most have since been released in ceasefires or other deals.

The ensuing war has killed at least 67,160 Palestinians and nearly 170,000 wounded, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, and left the territory in ruins.

The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but says around half of the deaths were women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, and the United Nations and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.

A growing number of experts, including those commissioned by a U.N. body, have said Israels offensive in Gaza amounts to genocide  an accusation Israel vehemently denies.

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On Tuesday, thousands of Israelis gathered at an area attacked by Hamas two years ago to pay tribute to loved ones who were killed and kidnapped. An explosion echoed across the fields following the launch of a rocket in northern Gaza. No damage or injuries were reported.

In Gaza City, residents said Israeli attacks continued until early Tuesday. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

A promise of humanitarian relief

Ahead of the resumption of talks, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the hostilities have created "a humanitarian catastrophe on a scale that defied comprehension.

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Trump's proposal "presents an opportunity that must be seized to bring this tragic conflict to an end, Guterres said in a statement.

Egypt and Qatar, which have been mediating between the sides for most of the war, are facilitating the latest talks. Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar's Foreign Ministry, said Monday's talks went on for around four hours.

Witkoff and Kushner are expected to join the talks on Wednesday, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to brief reporters because the trip has not yet been formally announced. Dermer, Netanyahu's top adviser, was also heading to Egypt on Wednesday, according to an Israeli official speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Part of the plan is to surge humanitarian aid into Gaza, where more than 2 million Palestinians are facing hunger and, in some areas, famine.

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_____

Rising reported from Bangkok. Melanie Lidman in Reim, Israel; Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel; Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Germany's Federal Police force is to be granted additional powers to defend against drones after sightings disrupted operations at Munich Airport last week.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Cabinet on Wednesday approved an amendment to the Federal Police Act, a 30-year-old law that does not mention drones.

Authorities across Europe are scrambling to respond to a series of incidents involving drones that have been widely attributed to Russia, despite Moscow's denials.

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The German response has been complicated by the country's federal security apparatus, with powers distributed across a wide range of agencies at the state and national level, and concerns over the legality of involving the country's military, the Bundeswehr, in domestic defence operations.

In addition, authorities are uncertain how to deal with unidentified drones in the country's airspace.

The Bavarian state government on Tuesday approved a bill to grant the state's police force the authority to shoot down drones if deemed necessary, but defence experts warn that debris can endanger civilians.

Other options include the use of physical barriers such as nets, while the deployment of defensive drones is a key focus.

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Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has promised to equip the Federal Police - which is responsible for border control, the protection of institutions and law enforcement at railways and airports - with its own drone defence unit.

The draft bill passed on Wednesday explicitly tasks the Federal Police with defending against drones around airports, railway infrastructure and ships.

It also allows the force to deploy its own drones, for instance in monitoring demonstrations.

A new paragraph states: "To defend against the danger posed by unmanned vehicle systems operated on land, in the air or on water, the Federal Police may use suitable technical means against the system, its control unit or operation link if defence against the danger would be futile or significantly more difficult using other measures."

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The bill - which requires parliamentary approval - includes further extensions of the Federal Police's powers.

The force is to be granted additional capabilities in tapping phones and collecting location data, detaining foreign nationals under deportation orders and carrying out "random checks without cause" in transport hubs where weapons and knives are prohibited.

Applicants to the Federal Police are also set to face new checks on their reliability and loyalty to the Basic Law, Germany's constitution.

Dobrindt is also envisaging an amendment to the Aviation Security Act, in order to legally enable the Bundeswehr to provide administrative assistance in the event of drone threats, for example when military drones are located at high altitudes.
In a scathing critique of President Donald Trump, Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday accused the Republican president of deploying National Guard troops to the Democratic cities of Chicago and Portland based on fixations that stem in part from his being mentally impaired.

This is a man whos suffering dementia, Pritzker said in a telephone interview with the Tribune. This is a man who has something stuck in his head. He cant get it out of his head. He doesnt read. He doesnt know anything thats up to date. Its just something in the recesses of his brain that is effectuating to have him call out these cities.

And then, unfortunately, he has the power of the military, the power of the federal government to do his bidding, and thats what hes doing.

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The governors comments came as National Guard troops from Texas were assembling at a U.S. Army Reserve training center in far southwest suburban Elwood and Trumps administration was moving forward with deploying 300 members of the Illinois National Guard for at least 60 days over the vocal and legal objections of Pritzker and other local elected leaders.

The Trump administration has said the troops are needed to protect federal agents and facilities involved in its ongoing deportation surge and has sought to do much the same in Portland, Oregon, though those efforts have been stymied so far by temporary court rulings. A federal judge in Chicago is expected to hold a hearing this week over the legal effort by Illinois and Chicago to block the deployments, which Pritzker and other local officials say is not only unnecessary but a violation of the Posse Comitatus Act that prohibits the use of U.S. military assets from taking part in law enforcement actions on domestic soil.

During the interview, Pritzker  who has been one of Trumps harshest critics and is a potential 2028 presidential Democratic candidate  said the courts will play an integral role in challenging Trumps efforts in Illinois and across the nation.

Were not going to go to war between the state of Illinois and the federal government, not taking up arms against the federal government, Pritzker said. But we are monitoring everything theyre doing, and using that monitoring to win in court.

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Pritzker also said he has not had any conversations with his staff or other Democratic governors regarding a so-called soft secession, a political and legal theory that has grown during Trumps second term in which Democratic states would gradually withdraw their cooperation with the federal government, including withholding financial support, without formally leaving the Union.

Preparing for and going to court with the law on our side and winning in court is important, he continued. It is the most important thing that we can do legally. If there are people who are suggesting there are things that we should do that are illegal. I would suggest to you, were not going to do those things.

But even as the governor said he was counting on winning in the courts, Trump was openly exploring options to circumvent them.

Speaking in the Oval Office on Tuesday, the president reiterated that he was considering employing the two-century-old Insurrection Act to get around legal court orders that would deny him the ability to deploy National Guard troops to cities such as Chicago and Portland over governors objections.

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Its been invoked before, Trump said of the law, which the Brennan Center for Justice said has been used 30 times, starting with President George Washington, to quell the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794.

The Insurrection Act is an exception to Posse Comitatus and allows a president to deploy the military to suppress rebellion or insurrection when enforcing federal law becomes impracticable.

Past Supreme Court rulings have given the president broad discretionary powers to decide if conditions have been met to invoke the Insurrection Act, but it has left the door open for judicial review to determine if a president invoked the law in bad faith or in going beyond a permitted range of honest judgment. And the actions of the military, once invoked, are also subject to judicial review.

The last time the Insurrection Act was invoked was by President George H.W. Bush during the Los Angeles riots of 1992, with the support of California Gov. Pete Wilson. It also was used in Chicago in 1968 by President Lyndon Johnson to curb rioting over the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with the backing of Mayor Richard J. Daley and acting Gov. Samuel Shapiro.

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But the last time it was invoked over the opposition of a sitting governor was in 1965 when Johnson used it to federalize troops to protect civil rights marchers in Montgomery, Alabama, over the objections of segregationist Gov. George Wallace.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower famously invoked the act in 1957 to order the Arkansas National Guard to stand down from its orders from Gov. Orval Faubus to prevent the segregation of Little Rocks public schools following the Supreme Courts Brown v. Board of Education ruling. Eisenhower also deployed the Armys 101st Airborne Division to protect Black students attending classes.

As Pritzker has sought to counter Trump on nearly every front, he has joined California Gov. Gavin Newsom in threatening to leave the bipartisan National Governors Association because the organization hasnt spoken out against Trumps National Guard mobilizations.

In the Tribune interview, Pritzker noted how nearly all 50 state governors at the time signed on to an April 29, 2024, letter to then-President Joe Bidens administration opposing the militarys push in Congress to forcibly transfer Air National Guard units performing space missions into the U.S. Space Force without the governors consent.

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Among those who signed were then-GOP South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who now heads the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, overseeing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and Border Patrol.

Well, Im somebody who likes to reach out and do things in a bipartisan fashion, and Ive attended NGA events and had friendly relationships with some Republican governors in the past, and the NGA has an important role. But not if its unwilling to stand up in this moment and speak on behalf of states rights the way that it always has, Pritzker said. So I dont know how I can trust that the NGA actually does stand up for the states with Republicans in charge, apparently theyre just going to do Donald Trumps bidding.

Pritzker also continued to defend the process and timing of the Illinois attorney generals office in filing a lawsuit to halt the National Guard activations, which wasnt filed until Monday, two days after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo about the Illinois National Guard deployments. This is despite Pritzker and Attorney General Kwame Raoul knowing for weeks that Trump had threatened to send the military to the streets of the Chicago area.

You have to understand legal proceedings. In order for you to bring a lawsuit of any sort, you have to have whats called ripeness. It has to be ripe. That means there has to be some action thats taken to demonstrate that the wrong is being effectuated, said Pritzker, calling any questions about the timing of the suit a false avenue to follow. Just because someone says theyre going to call out the National Guard to do this in Illinois, until they do, you cant file suit.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  The remains of a soldier from Grand Haven who was killed during World War II have been accounted for, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

U.S. Army Technician Fifth Grade Ell T. Simantz, 23, was killed in action in Papua New Guinea on Dec. 19, 1942. Shortly after his death, he was buried in Buna Village Cemetery in Papua New Guinea along with other American soldiers.

After the war, the military moved Simantz and thousands of other service members remains to the Philippines for burial. At the time, Simantzs remains were unidentifiable and he was buried in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines without a name.

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Simantz was posthumously awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, according to an obituary.

Following advances in DNA testing, Simantzs remains were exhumed for identification testing in 2017. After eight years of investigation and testing, DPAA was able to positively identify his remains and return them to his family for burial.

The Simantz family held a funeral in February 1943. On Oct. 17, 82 years later, they will finally be able to lay his remains to rest in Grand Haven.

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

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Israel and Hamas agreed Wednesday to pause fighting in Gaza so that the remaining hostages there can be freed in the coming days in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, accepting elements of a plan put forward by the Trump administration that would represent the biggest breakthrough in months in the devastating two-year-old war.

This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace, President Trump wrote on social media in trumpeting the agreement. All Parties will be treated fairly!

Israel and Hamas separately confirmed the contours of their deal, which drew celebratory gatherings from hostage families in Tel Aviv and cautious optimism from some in Gaza. Hamas intends to release all 20 living hostages in a matter of days, while the Israeli military will begin a withdrawal from the majority of Gaza, people familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss details of an agreement that has not fully been made public.

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Uncertainty remains about some of the thornier aspects of Trump's proposal  such as whether and how Hamas will disarm, and who will govern Gaza  but the sides appear closer than they have been in several months to ending a war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, destroyed most of Gaza and triggered other armed conflicts across the Middle East. The war, which began with Hamas deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, has sparked worldwide protests and brought allegations of genocide that Israel denies.

Israel is more isolated than it has been in decades and Israelis have been bitterly divided over the failure to return the hostages. Palestinians dream of an independent state, meanwhile, appears more remote than ever despite recent moves by major Western countries to recognize one. With the outlook bleak as the war's two-year anniversary approached, the Trump administration put forward a plan last month that it hoped would result in a permanent end to the war and bring about a sustainable peace in the region.

Talks to hammer out a deal have been underway in Egypt since the start of the week, and by the end of the third day of negotiations, a breakthrough emerged.

With Gods help we will bring them all home, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu proclaimed on social media shortly after Trump announced an agreement on the first phase of his plan was at hand. Netanyahu said he would convene the government on Thursday to approve the deal.

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For its part, Hamas called on Trump and the mediators to ensure that Israel implements without disavowal or delay a deal that it said would require the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the entry of aid into the territory and the exchange of prisoners for hostages.

It was unclear from Trumps statement how much progress has been made on the most divisive aspects of his plan, such as Hamas potential disarmament  a demand Israel has insisted upon but the militant group has repeatedly refused. Hamas has long said it will not release the remaining hostages without a lasting ceasefire and guarantees the war would not resume after they are freed.

Trump's peace plan

The Trump plan called for an immediate ceasefire and release of the 48 hostages that militants in Gaza still hold from their attack on Israel two years ago. Some 1,200 people were killed by Hamas-led militants, and 251 were taken hostage. Around 20 of the hostages are believed to still be alive.

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In an interview on Fox News, Trump said Hamas will begin releasing hostages probably on Monday.

This is more than Gaza, he said. This is peace in the Middle East.

Officials have expressed concerns over how long it may take Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups holding Israelis to locate and return the remains of those believed to be dead, as required under the agreement.

Under the plan conceived by Trump, Israel would maintain an open-ended military presence inside Gaza, along its border with Israel. An international force, comprised largely of troops from Arab and Muslim countries, would be responsible for security inside Gaza. The U.S. would lead a massive internationally funded reconstruction effort in Gaza.

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The plan also envisions an eventual role for the Palestinian Authority  something Netanyahu opposes. But it requires the authority, which administers parts of the West Bank, to undergo a sweeping reform program that could take years to implement.

The Trump plan is even more vague about a future Palestinian state, which Netanyahu firmly rejects.

Even as many details of Trump's full plan have yet to be agreed to by both sides, some Palestinians and Israelis expressed happiness and relief at the significant progress that had been made.

It's a huge day, huge joy, Ahmed Sheheiber, a Palestinian displaced man from northern Gaza, said of the ceasefire deal.

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Crying over the phone from his shelter in Gaza City, he said he was waiting impatiently for the ceasefire to go into effect to return to his home in the Jabaliya refugee camp.

Joyful hostage families and their supporters began spilling into the central Tel Aviv square that has become the main gathering point in the struggle to free the captives. Some popped open a bottle of Champagne and cheered. Crying tears of joy, families hugged released hostages as the square continued to fill with Israelis.

Einav Zangauker, the mother of Israeli captive Matan Zangauker and a prominent advocate for hostages' freedom, told reporters that she wants to tell her son she loves him.

I want to smell his smell, she said. If I have one dream, it is seeing Matan sleep in his own bed.

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Hints of progress

The arrival of Trumps Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the presidents son-in-law, Jared Kushner, on Wednesday at Sharm el-Sheikh for the peace talks, which were also attended by Qatars prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, was a sign that negotiators aimed to dive deeply into the toughest issues of the American plan to end the war. Netanyahus top adviser, Ron Dermer, was also present for the talks.

Trump expressed optimism earlier in the day by saying that he was considering a trip to the Middle East within a matter of days.

Yet another hint of an emerging deal came later in that event when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio passed Trump a note on White House stationery that read, You need to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first. Truth Social is the presidents preferred social media platform.

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The note prompted Trump to proclaim, Were very close to a deal in the Middle East.

This would be the third ceasefire reached since the start of the war. The first, in November 2023, saw more than 100 hostages, mainly women and children, freed in exchange for Palestinian prisoners before it broke down. In the second, in January and February of this year, Palestinian militants released 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight more in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israel ended that ceasefire in March with a surprise bombardment.

Praying for a deal

A growing number of experts, including those commissioned by a U.N. body, have said that Israels offensive in Gaza amounts to genocide  an accusation Israel denies. More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and nearly 170,000 wounded, according to Gazas Health Ministry.

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The ministry, which doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half of the deaths were women and children, is part of the Hamas-run government. The United Nations and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.

In the Gaza Strip, where much of the territory lies in ruins, Palestinians have been desperate for a breakthrough. Thousands fleeing Israels latest ground offensive in northern Gaza and Gaza City have set up makeshift tents along the beach in the central part of the territory, sometimes using blankets for shelter.

Ayman Saber, a Palestinian from Khan Younis, reacted to the ceasefire announcement by saying he plans to return to his home city and try to rebuild his house, which was destroyed last year by an Israeli strike.

I will rebuild the house, we will rebuild Gaza, he said.

___

Associated Press writers Eric Tucker in Washington, Sarah El Deeb in Beirut and Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv contributed to this report. Magdy reported from Cairo and Mednick from Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Influencers are no longer just shaping Americans' shopping habits and fashion choices  they're also playing a role in how people manage their money. And one type of influencer has become particularly popular: the finfluencer.

Short for "financial influencer," these creators break down complicated topics like investing, budgeting and wealth-building in everyday language that feels more like a chat with a friend than a finance class.

Must Read

Trump lit the match and burned the house down, then handed you the fire extinguisher, Tori Dunlap, a 30-year-old finfluencer, shared with her 2.4 million TikTok followers, (1) capturing the sense of chaos many feel as they navigate today's markets.

But relying solely on social media for money decisions can come with real risks. Unlike certified financial planners, finfluencers aren't held to a fiduciary standard  and their advice, however relatable, isnt always backed by professional expertise.

The comfort and the catch

For Americans who feel overwhelmed by traditional financial institutions  especially as budgets get tighter  following relatable voices online can be an easier and cheaper first step toward building better money habits.

Traditional financial advisors often come with hefty hourly rates or ongoing retainer fees. In a time when cutting back is the norm, paying for professional advice can feel like a luxury that some can't afford.

Finfluencers may also offer a more honest look into their daily ups and downs compared to a certified financial planner. For instance, Jeremy Schneider, known as @personalfinanceclub on Instagram, (2) posted in early April about losing a quarter-million dollars in just two days after Trumps tariff policies rattled the markets. Instead of pretending everything was fine, he got candid  showing his followers that volatility isnt a reason to panic, its a reason to stay the course.

I wanted to put my face on my page so that people knew Im still here, the skys not falling, he told the Wall Street Journal. (3)

Read more: US car insurance costs have surged 50% from 2020 to 2024  this simple 2-minute check could put hundreds back in your pocket

Avoiding costly mistakes

Finfluencers have made money talk feel less intimidating, but when it comes to big financial decisions, sometimes you need more than a viral post. Over one-in-three U.S. adults (36%) sought financial advice from websites in 2024 and 20% went straight to social media, according to a 2025 Gallup poll. (4) Younger Americans were even more likely to look to social platforms, but relying on these informal channels also comes with significant risks.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Maayan Lubell

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (Reuters) -Hamas said on Tuesday it was ready to reach a deal to end the war in Gaza based on President Donald Trump's plan but still has demands, as Qatar's prime minister and senior U.S. mediators headed to Egypt to join indirect negotiations between the Palestinian militant group and Israel.

On the second anniversary of Hamas' attack on Israel that triggered Israel's assault on Gaza, Trump expressed optimism about progress toward a Gaza deal. A U.S. team including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and his Middle East envoy during his first term, left for the talks.

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"I think there's a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East" beyond just Gaza, Trump told reporters in Washington.

A source close to the talks said they had adjourned for the day and the atmosphere was better than Monday. Negotiations on Wednesday would be a decisive indicator of whether progress was possible given the presence of the senior mediators, the source said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani of Qatar, a key mediator, will join Wednesday's talks, an official said, "with the aim of pushing forward the Gaza ceasefire plan and hostage release agreement".

On the second day of talks in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, top Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya told Egyptian state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV the group had come "to engage in serious and responsible negotiations."

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He said Hamas was ready to reach a deal, yet it needed a "guarantee" to end the war and ensure "it is not repeated".

According to Gaza authorities, some 67,000 people have been killed and the Palestinian enclave has been devastated by Israel's assault that followed the October 7, 2023 attack by Palestinian militants. Israel says 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken to Gaza as hostages in the Hamas attack.

The talks appeared to hold the most promise yet of ending the war. But officials on all sides urged caution over the prospects for a rapid agreement, as Israelis remembered the bloodiest single day for Jews since the Holocaust and Gazans voiced hope for an end to the suffering brought by Israel's onslaught.

Even if a deal is clinched, questions will linger over who will govern Gaza and rebuild it, and who will finance the reconstruction. Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have ruled out any role for Hamas.

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HAMAS SETS OUT CONDITIONS

Trump met Witkoff and Kushner, who will join the talks on Wednesday, for an update on negotiations before they departed for Egypt, a senior U.S. official said. They discussed issues like the safety of hostages and security guarantees, the official added.

"The (Hamas) movement's delegation participating in the current negotiations in Egypt is working to overcome all obstacles to reaching an agreement that meets the aspirations of our people in Gaza," senior Hamas official Fawzi Barhoum said in a televised statement.

He said a deal must ensure an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza - conditions that Israel has never accepted. Israel, for its part, wants Hamas to disarm, something the group rejects.

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Hamas wants a permanent, comprehensive ceasefire, a complete pullout of Israeli forces and the immediate start of a comprehensive reconstruction process under the supervision of a Palestinian "national technocratic body", he said.

Underlining the obstacles at talks, an umbrella of Palestinian factions including Hamas issued a statement vowing a "resistance stance by all means" and saying "no one has the right to cede the weapons of the Palestinian people".

Netanyahu did not comment on the status of the talks. But in a statement on X, he told Israelis they were in "fateful days of decision."

"We will continue to act to achieve all the war's objectives: the return of all the hostages, the elimination of Hamas' rule, and the assurance that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel," he said.

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U.S. officials suggest they want to initially focus talks on a halt to the fighting and the logistics of how the Israeli hostages in Gaza and Palestinian detainees in Israel would be freed.

In the absence of a ceasefire, Israel has pressed on with its offensive in Gaza, increasing its international isolation.

Global outrage has mounted against Israel's assault, which has internally displaced nearly Gaza's entire population and set-off a starvation crisis. Multiple rights experts, scholars and a U.N. inquiry say it amounts to genocide. Israel calls its actions self-defense after the 2023 Hamas attack.

Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated around the world on Tuesday against Israel's war in Gaza while vigils and other events commemorated Israeli victims on the second anniversary of the Hamas attack.

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Protests in support of Palestinians and those killed in Gaza along with vigils remembering victims of the Hamas attack took place in Sydney, Istanbul, London and Washington as well as in New York City, Paris, Geneva, Athens and Stockholm.

At the White House on Tuesday, Trump hosted Edan Alexander, who was believed to be the last surviving U.S. hostage held in Gaza when the dual Israeli-U.S. citizen was handed over by Hamas in May.

HOPES OF A BREAKTHROUGH BY CIVILIANS ON BOTH SIDES

On the anniversary, some Israelis visited the places that were hit hardest in the Hamas attack.

Orit Baron stood at the site of the Nova music festival in southern Israel beside a photo of her daughter Yuval, who was killed with her fiance Moshe Shuva. They were among 364 people who were shot, bludgeoned or burned to death there.

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"They were supposed to get married on February 14th, Valentine's Day," said Baron. "They are buried next to each other because they were never separated."

Israelis are hoping the talks will soon lead to the release of the 48 hostages still held in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.

"It's like an open wound, the hostages, I can't believe it's been two years and they are still not home," said Hilda Weisthal, 43.

In Gaza, 49-year-old Palestinian Mohammed Dib hoped for the end of the war.

"It's been two years that we are living in fear, horror, displacement and destruction," he said.

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem, Reuters television in Sharm el-Sheikh, Charlotte Van Campenhout in Amsterdam, Steve Holland and Kanishka Singh in Washington; writing by Michael Georgy, Alexandra Hudson and Matt Spetalnick; editing by Timothy Heritage, Mark Heinrich, Cynthia Osterman and Lincoln Feast.)
When her phone chimed this summer, Kimberly Sixta had already started packing for Moab, Utah.

Sixta, a social studies teacher at Ruskin High School in the Hickman Mills district in South Kansas City, accompanies several students to the Arches National Park home city every year as the schools Outward Bound chapter advisor. She looks forward annually to rafting, hiking and chatting under the stars with students, some of whom she says have limited experience in nature.

But this time, Sixtas boss was in her inbox advising her that the red rocks would have to wait; she had just been named the regional teacher of the year, and she had work to do to get to the next level.

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(School administrators) were like, Miss Sixta, although that sounds awesome, I dont think you understand that this is a once in a lifetime, she said. Like, Youre on a road here.

On Sept. 26, Sixta was named Missouris Teacher of the Year. She succeeds Lees Summit West High School English teacher Jennifer Jones and will represent Missouri in the National Teacher of the Year program for the 2025-2026 school year.

A surprise celebration

The Missouri Teacher of the Year is selectwd by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. In a September press release, the department indicated that Sixta was selected due to the depth of her civic-focused instruction and her lifelong impact on students.

Sixta, who has been teaching high school in the Hickman Mills C-1 School District for 28 years, said the recognition came as a total surprise. Its the second time in the 57-year history of the Teacher of the Year award that a Hickman Mills faculty member has won.

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Im so humbled by this experience, Sixta said. When youre in the company of so many fantastic educators, its just hard to imagine.

Sixtas win was announced to her - and the Ruskin High School student body - at a Friday morning assembly in late September. Under the pretense of a back-to-school rules review, the sophomore through senior classes at Ruskin were treated to a stirring drumline performance before a shocked Sixta took the the stage.

When Sixtas students learned she had won teacher of the year, the whole auditorium leapt to its feet, chanting her name as the Ruskin cheer squad performed.

Sixta said this validation from her school community felt unreal in the best way.

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Its kind of a blur, actually, Sixta said. I went back to watch the video, and it literally brought me to tears. And so many kids have come by all week long to give me a hug or a high five and just congratulate me.

It just makes you feel like, oh wow, maybe Im making a difference here.

Pressure is a privilege

Sixtas entire teaching career has taken place in the Hickman Mills district. Shortly before graduating from Avila University in Kansas City in 1998, she was tapped to teach at the former Hickman Mills High School, where she worked until 2010.

When Ruskin High School opened, Sixta moved to that building, where she continues to deepen and transform the social science curriculum shes built for nearly three decades. Sixta is currently chair of the social studies department and is the schools ACT test coordinator, as well as the faculty advisor for National Honor Society, student council and Upward Bound.

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Shes currently teaching American Government, which she says is a far - but welcome - cry from her own studies in U.S. and world history.

Ive just grown to love it, Sixta said. I mean, its a tough job, because youve got to be true to what youre doing, and be able to illustrate to kids how the government runs and what their freedoms look like.

Deepening high schoolers understanding of civic engagement has been difficult in the current political climate, but consistently rewarding, Sixta said. She said that shes always enjoyed working with high school students and older children in general, because they keep her on her toes.

Pressure is a privilege, so its been awesome, Sixta said. I dont think theres a day that goes by that Im not laughing and enjoying working with young people.

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Hickman Mills is a high-stakes testing area, Sixta said, meaning that faculty members have to juggle the additional pressure of focusing on the long-term impact of student test scores while Hickman Mills works toward full accreditation.

However, Sixta said her students have always impressed her with their intelligence and insight far beyond what can be taught in a textbook.

They are so resilient, Sixta said. Theyre savvy with everything. I dont know if we give kids enough credit, because sometimes I feel like Im trying to keep up with them, and they just look at the world with a different vibe. It allows us to kind of get out of our comfort zone and see things differently as well.

Adapting to the journey

Since moving to Ruskin, Sixta has also been teaching leadership courses, where students work in teams on a long-term capstone project to make a tangible difference in the school or local community. The program was loosely defined when Sixta stepped into it, she said. Now it includes a significant college and career readiness component.

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Its been phenomenal where kids have an opportunity to get out in the city, in their community, Sixta said.

Past projects have taught students to create a budget, network with community partners and productively experience failure, Sixta said. The leadership course was one of the projects Sixta discussed with members of the state award committee when becoming state teacher of the year.

Sixta was first named Rusking High Schools teacher of the year and then at the district level. She had received both honors before, she said. Advancing to the state-level title required a process she had no familiarity with.

I turned in a bio, turned in my resume, turned in a few essaysand didnt think much about it, Sixta said.

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Advancing through the selection process from district to state level allowed Sixta to directly model perseverance to her students, she said.

Theres been a lot of work, and theres been a lot of sacrifices, Sixta said. Showing them that hard work pays off, and what were doing matters. And so Im pretty excited about that.

Building a platform

As Sixta continues to navigate a greater level of publicity, shes staying grounded in the intimacy she says a small district like Hickman Mills can provide for school communities.

At Ruskin, its relatively common for members of the faculty and student body to run into each other while out and about in the community, she said. This can feel like being on the clock 24/7, but has also helped her see teaching and learning as a lifelong process.

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Some of the best educators that I have worked with have come through our district, Sixta said. ...I see a lot of people come back because we really have a family atmosphere.

Now, finding herself a de facto ambassador for Hickman Mills, Sixta said shes preparing to use her new platform effectively. Over the next year, Sixta will embark on a whirlwind schedule of speaking engagements  and shes got a whole new kind of lesson plan in mind.

There are several things that I think are important in education, thinking about teachers and students and what we can do for them, Sixta said. Were going to see where this goes.
CAIRO (AP)  Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have detained nine employees of the United Nations as part of a long-running crackdown on the organization, the U.N. said.

The detentions brings the number of detained U.N. workers in Houthi-held territories in Yemen to 53 since 2021, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement late Monday.

No details about the circumstances or timing of the latest detentions were provided. Houthi officials did not respond to calls and messages seeking comment.

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The rebels have previously said that their crackdown on the U.N. and other international groups is linked to suspected members of an alleged espionage network.

Dujarric said the crackdown has impeded the UNs ability to operate in Yemen and to deliver critical assistance to the local population in the Arab worlds poorest country.

He called for the immediate and unconditional release of all U.N. staff as well as workers from other international organizations and diplomatic missions who have been detained by the rebels.

They must be respected and protected in accordance with applicable international law, Dujarric said.

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Alessandra Vellucci, chief spokesperson for the U.N. in Geneva, said the detained workers are all Yemeni nationals and that the arbitrary detentions have impacted U.N. operations in areas controlled by the Houthis. Both the World Food Program and UNICEF operate in the rebel-held northern half of the country and the capital of Sanaa.

The majority of our staffers in Yemen are Yemenis, and all of our detained staff are Yemenis, this is their home," Vellucci said. "Their job is to support their fellow citizens, save lives, provide lifesaving assistance, and they should never be penalized for that or live in fear.

In August, the rebels raided U.N. offices in Sanaa and detained 19 employees, according to the U.N. They later released Lana Shukri Kataw, the deputy director of UNICEF in the country.

The raids were the latest in a long-running Houthi crackdown against the U.N. and other international organizations working in rebel-held areas in Yemen.

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The crackdown has forced the U.N. to suspend its operations in the Houthi stronghold of Saada, a province in northern Yemen, following the detention of eight staff there in January.

The U.N. also relocated its top humanitarian coordinator in Yemen from Sanaa to the coastal city of Aden, which serves as seat for the internationally recognized government.

Yemen has plunged into civil war in 2014 when the Houthis seized Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile.

A coalition led by Saudi Arabia and including the United Arab Emirates intervened the following year in an attempt to return the government to power. The war has been stalemated in recent years  the rebels reached a deal with Saudi Arabia that stopped their attacks on the kingdom in return for ceasing the Saudi-led strikes on their territories.

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The rebels are engaged in tit-for-tat exchanges with Israel over the war in Gaza. They have also attacked ships sailing in the Red Sea off Yemen over allegations of links to Israel.

Israel has previously launched waves of airstrikes in response to the Houthis firing of missiles and drones at Israel.

___

Associated Press writer Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report.
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A gold coin from the La Tene period of Celtic culture in Central Europe, about 2,000 years ago. | Credit: Museum and Gallery of Northern Pilsen:

Archaeologists in the Czech Republic have revealed a trove of coins, gold jewelry and other artifacts that date to about 2,500 years ago, during the region's Celtic period .

According to a translated statement from the local government, the ancient objects were discovered during excavations at an undisclosed archaeological site in the Pilsen region in the west of the Czech Republic over the past five years.

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"The main goal of the project was primarily to save movable archaeological finds that are immediately threatened by illegal prospectors, ploughing and natural influences," Jan Marik , director of the Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, said in the statement.

The site's exact location, in the rural north of the Pilsen region, is being kept secret to deter illegal searching by metal detectorists, the statement said.

Photographs of the site show archaeologists unearthing several small, detailed gold and silver coins that sport animal-like depictions, as well as pieces of gold jewelry.

Several other metal objects  including fragments of gold and silver ingots, as well as bronze buckles, pins, bracelets, pendants and a horse figurine  were also found at the site, the team reported in the statement.

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Some of the artifacts are now on display at a museum in the nearby Czech village of Marianska Tynice, which was a place of Christian pilgrimage from medieval times until the 18th century because of a prominent Cistercian monastery there.

Unknown mints

Many of the newfound gold and silver coins are from previously unknown mints. This discovery challenges current knowledge of Celtic coinage in the region, museum archaeologist Daniel Stranik said in the statement.

There were no signs of a permanent Celtic settlement at the site, the statement said, which implied it might have been a seasonal market or fair. "It  could be a place with a distinctly seasonal character of activities, during which people randomly lost mainly small to very small objects, such as coins," David Danecek , an archaeologist with the Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, said in the statement.

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an archaeologist leans over an excavation site in a field

The finds were made over the last five years at a secret location in the north of the western Pilsen region.

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a close-up of a silver coin in the dirt

The archaeologists have also found dozens of Celtic silver coins, including this one from the La Tene period.

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a top view of a rectangular excavated hole with two archaeologists working

The team have found no signs of a permanent settlement at the site, which suggests it may have been a seasonal market.

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a close-up of a man's hands holding a tiny gold coin less than a centimeter wide

The gold and silver coins vary in size, but many of them are extremely small.

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a close-up of a small fragment of gold in a man's hand

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The archaeologists have also found pieces of gold jewelry at the site.

A market or fair could also explain the fragments of gold and silver ingots found at the site. "These could have played an independent role in the exchange, but they could also have been mined under the supervision (with the consent) of the regional ruler," he said

Only some of the finds have gone on display in the museum. "The greatest unique items are stored in a safe place and will be presented only after a complete expert evaluation of the entire research," museum director Pavel Kodera said in the statement.

The Celts are often thought of as occupying only the Western fringe of ancient Europe, such as Ireland; but excavations and historical records show that they spread at times across much of the continent, from the Iberian Peninsula to Anatolia and what is now the Czech Republic.

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Were the Celts matriarchal? Ancient DNA reveals men married into local, powerful female lineages

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2,000 years ago, a bridge in Switzerland collapsed on top of Celtic sacrifice victims, new study suggests

The first phase of this pan-European Celtic culture is known as the Hallstatt culture (between about 1200 and 450 B.C.), while its peak is recognized as the La Tene culture (between about 450 and 50 B.C.) across France, Germany and other regions.

This is far from the first Celtic treasure discovery in the Czech Republic. In July, archaeologists reported finding several hundred coins and over 1,000 pieces of jewelry from a 2,200-year-old Celtic settlement in the country's Bohemia region.

Celtic quiz: Test your knowledge about these fierce tribes once described by Julius Caesar
IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed an agreement with ALVA Capital to introduce its Candlewood Suites midscale long stay brand to Iceland.

The agreement outlines a plan to develop up to 500 rooms in Reykjavik and other locations in Iceland over the next three to five years.

It also includes the potential for additional IHG brands, such as Holiday Inn Express and Garner, to enter the Nordics market.

The initial Candlewood Suites property, a 53-room development, will be located in Reykjaviks Hliar district and involves the conversion of a former office building into long-stay accommodation.

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IHGs move into Iceland follows recent expansions in the Nordic region, where the company operates or has planned 13 properties, including sites in Sweden, Denmark, and Finland.

voco Stockholm Kista opened in 2024, marking IHGs return to the Swedish market.

IHG Hotels & Resorts Europe development vice president Willemijn Geels said: We are looking forward to introducing the Candlewood Suites brand to the Nordics with the signing of Candlewood Suites Reykjavik in Iceland, an exciting emerging market for IHG.

We are especially proud of the swift collaboration between IHG and our esteemed partners at ALVA, who have successfully signed and already begun the conversion to open this property in the near future.

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The first Candlewood Suites property in Reykjavik will provide studio and apartment accommodation equipped with kitchens, as well as amenities such as self-service laundry, gym and housekeeping services access, and a workspace.

The location places the hotel within walking distance of several city attractions, including the Kjarvalsstair Art Gallery, Sundhollin Public Baths, and The Icelandic Phallological Museum.

The Candlewood Suites Reykjavik opening comes as Iceland reports approximately 2.3 million international visitors annually, far exceeding the national population of about 400,000.

This increase in tourism has created demand for new accommodation options in the region, stated IHG.

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ALVA Capital, established in 2012 by Skorri Rafn Rafnsson and based in Reykjavik, manages a portfolio of more than 200 rental units, including hotel rooms, apartments, and mixed-use developments in Iceland and abroad.

ALVA Capital CEO Skorri Rafn Rafnsson said: The signing marks a significant step in our commitment to providing exceptional hospitality and tailored services that meet the evolving needs of travellers in Iceland.

IHGs Candlewood Suites brand, acquired in 2004, currently includes more than 410 open hotels and 192 in the pipeline worldwide, including nine new openings planned across Northern Europe.

In September 2025, IHG Hotels & Resorts signed an agreement to operate Hotel Schloss Reinhartshausen in Germany as part of its Vignette Collection.

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"IHG to bring Candlewood Suites to Iceland" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




A version of this story appeared in CNNs What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here.

President Donald Trump and his top aides are using the word insurrection more frequently to describe anti-ICE protests in places like Portland.

Trump also told reporters he could potentially invoke the Insurrection Act to send US troops to cities.

I really think thats really criminal insurrection, he said in the White House of protests in Portland, before promising to make the city safe.

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His aide Stephen Miller referred to a judges order barring, for now, the deployment of National Guard troops in Portland over the objections of local officials as legal insurrection.

There is an effort to delegitimize the core function of the federal government of enforcing our immigration laws and our sovereignty, Miller said later in an interview with CNNs Boris Sanchez on Monday.

Its with that context that a reporter asked Trump if he would invoke the Insurrection Act to get around temporary restraining orders and deploy National Guard troops where governors and mayors dont want them.

What is the Insurrection Act?

Trump suggested he could invoke the Insurrection Act in order to send US troops to Portland. He has already tried to label far left anti-fascist, or Antifa, protesters, as domestic terrorists.

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We have an Insurrection Act for a reason, Trump said Monday. If I had to enact it, Id do that. If people were being killed, and courts were holding us up, or governors or mayors were holding us up, sure I do that.

Two National guardsmen stand guard outside a burning donut shop in Los Angeles on April 30, 1992. The National Guard was called in to aid police during the second day of rioting in the city. - Mark Elias/AP

The law allows the deployment of troops in the US in certain limited situations. First passed in 1792, it was last tweaked in 1871.

The Insurrection Act works in tandem with the Posse Comitatus Act, which was passed in 1878 and generally prohibits the use of the military inside the US.

How would the Insurrection Act be invoked?

First, a states governor or legislature can request it. Thats what happened in 1992, the last time the Insurrection Act was invoked. Back then, President George H.W. Bush got a request from then-California Gov. Pete Wilson for help addressing riots in Los Angeles.

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Officials in Chicago and Portland seem unlikely to request that kind of help. Instead, Trump could theoretically say he needs the military to enforce federal authority.

The pertinent language includes this, which seems to give the president the final say when he or she, considers that unlawful obstructions, combinations, or assemblages, or rebellion against the authority of the United States, make it impracticable to enforce the laws of the United States in any State by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, he may call into Federal service such of the militia of any State, and use such of the armed forces, as he considers necessary to enforce those laws or to suppress the rebellion.

Has the Insurrection Act been invoked over the objections of a governor?

Presidents Dwight Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy both invoked the Insurrection Act over the wishes of governors in order to facilitate school integration after the Supreme Courts landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling. Eisenhower stood down the Arkansas National Guard in order to deploy the 101st Airborne Division in Little Rock.

The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University has a full list of the 30 Insurrection Act invocations.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
By Angelo Amante

ROME (Reuters) -Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday that she and two of her ministers had been reported to the International Criminal Court for alleged complicity in genocide in connection with Israel's offensive in Gaza.

Speaking in an interview with state television broadcaster RAI, Meloni said Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani had been denounced, and "I think" also Roberto Cingolani, the head of defence group Leonardo.

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"I don't believe there is another case like this in the world or in history," Meloni said.

She did not elaborate on who had brought the case against her and her ministers.

Italy has seen a string of demonstrations over the last week, bringing hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets to protest against the mass killings in Gaza, with many protesters also taking aim at Meloni.

Her right-wing government, generally a staunch supporter of Israel, has distanced itself recently from what it calls its "disproportionate" offensive in Gaza, but has not severed any commercial or diplomatic links, or recognised the state of Palestine.

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The Israeli assault on Gaza began after gunmen from the Palestinian militant group Hamas killed some 1,200 people and took 251 hostages according to Israeli tallies, in an attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

Israel's response has killed more than 67,000 people, Gaza health officials say.

Israel denies accusations of genocide.

Meloni said she was "amazed" by the accusation of complicity in genocide because "anyone who knows the situation is aware that Italy has not authorised new, let's say, arms supplies to Israel after October 7."

In response to her remarks, a Leonardo spokesperson said Cingolani had already expressed the company's position in an interview with daily Corriere della Sera last month when he said the suggestion that it was complicit in genocide was "a very serious frame-up."

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In other remarks, Meloni said she believed that U.S. President Donald Trump had come to the conclusion that Russia was not interested in a peace deal with Ukraine.

"In the face of this refusal by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin ... the only way forward is to apply pressure, continue to support Ukraine, and to impose sanctions," she said.

(Reporting by Angelo Amante, writing by Gavin Jones, editing by Alistair Bell)
Precious metals are rocking and rolling again, as are most cryptocurrencies. Stocks are modestly higher along with the US dollar, while Treasuries are slumping.

To get more articles and chart analysis from MoneyShow, subscribe to our Top Pros Top Picks newsletter here.)

The Debasement Trade keeps enriching investors who hold gold and Bitcoin. Gold surged again overnight, trading within $40 of the $4,000-an-ounce level, while Bitcoin hit a new record above $125,000 before pulling back a bit.

IBIT, GLD, FITB, CMA, AMD (YTD % Change)

chart

Data by YCharts

Investors have been piling into these alternative forms of money and wealth-protection due to rising political dysfunction and government debt. Here in the US, the government shutdown is entering week two, with no sign of compromise emerging over the weekend. Election results in Japan and Europe suggest other countries will run policy loose to cope with suffocating debt loads, too  fueling even more debasement buying overseas.

Meanwhile, regional banks are bulking up now that they face a much friendlier regulatory environment under the Trump Administration. Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) said it would buy Comerica Inc. (CMA) for $10.9 billion, combining two modest-sized institutions into the ninth-largest US bank. Fifth Third is a Midwest institution that was looking for more Southeast US exposure, while Comerica wanted more access to retail deposits to fund growth. FITBs $82.88-per-share offer price represents a 17% premium to where CMA closed on Friday.

See also: XAR: A Way to Capitalize on Defense Drone Revolution

Stop me if youve heard this before: An Artificial Intelligence (AI) mega-deal has been signed! Open AI agreed to purchase up to six gigawatts worth of semiconductors from Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) over the next half-decade, while receiving warrants to buy up to 10% of AMDs outstanding shares if certain milestones get hit. AMD shares surged on the news, which signals the next step in its plan to disrupt Nvidia Corp.s (NVDA) dominance in AI chips.

More From MoneyShow.com:




One of the biggest rising stars in Texas Democratic politics is trying her best to get Houston's Christian Menefee to join her in Congress.

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas, on Tuesday forcefully endorsed Menefee in a special election battle to see who will replace the late U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner in Congress. The former Houston mayor died in March, prompting the Nov. 4 special election for the 18th Congressional District.

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"Christian Menefee fights like I fight," Crockett said in a statement. "He's strategic, fearless and doesn't back down, especially when our rights, our votes, or our communities are on the line."

Crockett is only in her second term in Congress but has garnered national attention for her sharp responses to Republicans during hearings in Congress and on cable news programs. That made her one of just a few Texas Democrats invited to speak in prime time during last year's Democratic National Convention in Chicago and has made her one of the best fundraisers in the U.S. House.

"I've admired her voice, her fight and her impact," Menefee said. 

Her support for Menefee comes as he battles 15 other candidates vying for the 18th District. In-person early voting starts in less than two weeks. Former city council member Amanda Edwards, state Rep. Jolanda Jones and George Foreman IV, one of the famous Houston boxer's sons, are also in the race.

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Menefee isn't the only one getting help from those already on Capitol Hill. Edwards has rolled out endorsements from U.S. Reps. Lateefah Simon, D-Calif., and Jennifer McClellan, D-Va., in addition to backing from Emily's List, an influential abortion rights group.

Jones, meanwhile, has touted support from U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J. and closer to home, former U.S. Rep. Craig Washington, D-Houston.

If none of the 16 candidates on the ballot wins 50% of the vote on Nov. 4, the top two recipients would face off in a runoff election, which has yet to be set by the Texas Secretary of State's office.

The winner of the seat would serve out the remainder of Turner's original term through the end of 2026.

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The delay in filling the seat has benefited Republicans in Congress. By setting the special election for November, Gov. Greg Abbott assured that Democrats would have one less seat in the U.S. House to vote against President Donald Trump's programs. In May, the House passed Trump's massive spending and tax-cut bill by one vote.

This article originally published at Can Jasmine Crockett influence a Houston congressional race?.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker goaded President Donald Trump over the presidents call to imprison the Democratic politician, daring him to come and get me.

In the latest instance of his brazen demands for political opponents to be pursued, Trump on Wednesday wrote on his Truth Social platform that Pritzker and Chicagos mayor, Brandon Johnson, should be in jail.

Politics: U.S. Officials Admit Trump Screwup In Attempt To Bring Down James Comey

Trump claimed the pair were failing to protect immigration agents amid an aggressive crackdown on undocumented immigrants in Chicago, the nations third-largest city.

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The threat came as troops that Trump federalized from the National Guard in Texas settled at an Illinois military base, despite a lawsuit and resistance from Democratic elected leaders.

Speaking to MSNBC reporter Jacob Soboroff in Chicago, Pritzker was asked to respond to the presidents call for him to be jailed.

I got to say  this guys unhinged, hes insecure. Hes a wannabe dictator, Pritzker said of the president.

Politics: Transportation Secretary Threatens To Fire Air Traffic Controller 'Problem Children'

Theres one thing I really want to say to Donald Trump, Pritzker continued, before looking directly at the camera. If you come for my people, you come through me. So come and get me. (Watch the response at the end of the story.)

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Pritzker has accused the Trump administration of turning Chicago into a war zone by flooding the city with federal agents.

Immigration officials have reacted violently to protests across the city. Flashpoints have included throwing a congressional candidate on the ground, shooting a Chicagoan in at least twoseparate incidents, and using tear gas and pepper spray against protesters and civilians.

Trumps threat to Pritzker and Johnson comes as the president targets Chicago as one of a growing number of U.S. cities where he wants to put troops on the ground.

Politics: Trump Has Second 'Yearly' Check-Up In Just Six Months

Also on Wednesday, former FBI Director and long-time Trump nemesis James Comey pleaded not guilty on charges of lying to Congress after the president publicly put pressure on Attorney General Pam Bondi to go after his political enemies.

Related...

Read the original on HuffPost
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Joan Bennett Kennedy, the first wife of a U.S. senator, the mother of a congressman and the sister-in-law of a slain president, has died at the age of 89, the Boston Globe reported on Wednesday.

A daughter of privilege who could trace her lineage back to one of the victims of the Salem Witch trials, Joan Kennedy's marriage to Edward Kennedy tied her to an American political dynasty and tumultuous personal life marred by bouts of alcoholism.

Representatives for Kennedy could not be immediately reached to confirm the report. The Globe cited Democratic Party officials in Massachusetts, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Reuters.

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Virginia Joan Bennett was born into a wealthy Catholic family and attended the private Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart in suburban New York.

In 1958 she married Edward 'Ted' Kennedy and the couple moved to Boston. In 1960, she gave birth to their first child, Kara, followed by Ted Jr. in 1961 and Patrick in 1967.

Her husband went on to serve as U.S. senator for Massachusetts from 1962 until his death in 2009, while son Patrick would go on to become a U.S. congressman from Rhode Island from 1995 to 2011.

Her brother-in-law John F. Kennedy, meanwhile, would become president.

She maintained her composure in the public eye during difficult times that included the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy and the 1968 assassination of Edward's brother Robert Kennedy, the U.S. attorney general and presidential candidate.

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She suffered three miscarriages, watched her young son Ted Jr. lose a leg to bone cancer, and bore her husband's highly publicized marital infidelities.

But by the mid-1970s, she began to speak publicly about her hospitalizations for alcoholism, which saw her arrested several times for drunken driving, and emotional distress.

Although by then they were unofficially separated, she campaigned for her husband during his unsuccessful bid in 1980 for the Democratic Party presidential candidacy.

When she announced their divorce not long after her sister-in-law Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis told her, "I am so sorry, because now I feel I should have told you to do this 15 years ago. Then maybe you wouldn't have gotten so sick," according to the book "Jackie, Ethel, Joan: Women of Camelot."

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Joan Kennedy settled in Massachusetts, dividing her time between their home in Boston's Back Bay and the Kennedy compound in Hyannis.

During the 1980s, she returned to college, receiving a Master's degree in education. She slowly re-entered public life, among other things serving as head of the Boston Cultural Council and writing a guide to classical music.

(Additional reporting by Bhargav Acharya, Maiya Keidan and Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Rosalba O'Brien)
Judge to rule on search of Karen Reads cell phones in witness intimidation probe

A judge is set to rule on whether state investigators can search two cell phones seized nearly two years ago from Karen Read as part of an ongoing witness intimidation investigation.

Reads phones were a focus of a hearing at the Norfolk Superior Courthouse in Dedham involving content creator and Free Karen Read activist Aidan Kearneyknown as Turtleboy. Read did not attend the hearing, and Kearney appeared by video.

Special Prosecutor Robert Cosgrove, hired by the Norfolk County District Attorneys office, is seeking access to the devices, as he seeks to determine if Read conspired with Kearney to intimidate witnesses in her now-concluded murder case.

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The phones were seized by Massachusetts State Police before Reads first murder trial, but as Cosgrove confirmed to Judge Peter Krupp during a brief hearing, they have not yet been searched because he does not have the passcodes.

Attorneys for both Read and Kearney vehemently opposed the prosecutors request.

Reads lawyer, Steve Boozang, criticized the delay and the intrusion, telling reporters outside the courthouse that the request was utterly and completely ridiculous.

She doesnt want them to download the phone, why should they? Boozang said, noting the phones contain Reads sensitive personal information, including her banking, finance, and health records, and that the prosecution has held them for two years.

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Aidan Kearneys lawyer, Tim Bradl, echoed the sentiment, stating, Mr. Kearney fully supports Ms. Read on this idea that the government has no right to this; they cant sit on this stuff. They chose to forgo the opportunity to search for these for 2 years. They get whipped and suddenly want to scrape through her stuff. Kearney himself is already facing witness intimidation charges for his aggressive activism towards police and people who testified in Reads two trials.

A jury found Read not guilty of the murder of John OKeefe during a retrial in June.

Special Prosecutor Robert Cosgrove did not comment to reporters after the hearing.

Judge Krupp announced that he would take the matter under advisement, indicating he plans to issue a decision on the fate of the phones -whether to set search parameters- or order their return to Read in the coming days.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  Day 1 of the Native Hawaiian Convention is officially underway in Tulalip, Wash., where attendees have the chance to partake in valuable conversation and make amazing connections.

KHON2s Kamaka Pili met with various guest speakers, keiki, haumana from Kamehameha Schools and former KS student government.

PREP  2025 Native Hawaiian Convention ready to get underway in Washington

KS students Aleki Yagin, President, and Rayley-Ann Cuba-Nethon, Vice President, said they came to the convention to learn more about their culture and gain ike so they can bring it back home to share with the rest of their peers and kanaka.

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I recognize a bunch of problems and pilikia in our community. Like the loss of Hawaiian language. We are trying to bring that back and I think it is really important to bring back some cultural practices in our community because of its loss, it might not come back, Yagin explained.

Yagin added that KS students do oli and panina at the end of the day to ask for permission and close off the week and day together as one, adding hula and kapu kai as a way to connect with the aina.

I was hoping that I can take back my experience and some ike that I learned here, Yagin said.

I want to take back some values that I got from this convention and some takeaways. I just want to share it with them and make them feel as I was feeling at this time.

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Both Yagin and Cuba-Nethon said they are excited to bring back all the ike they gained over the course of the convention.

The convention will feature lots of breakout sessions with interesting topics where keiki can surround themselves with important conversations.

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 KHON2.
An outside jury has sentenced Joshua Rocha to death by execution in the capital murder trial for the killing of North Kansas City officer Daniel Vasquez in July 2022.

Rocha is the first person Clay County prosecutors sought the death penalty for since 1994.

Rocha was found guilty of first-degree murder on Thursday, advancing the trial to the sentencing stage. Rocha, 28, faced life in prison without parole or probation, or the death penalty.

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The jury from St. Charles County, Missouri, deliberated for approximately 24 hours before unanimously voting for the latter on Wednesday morning.

Dash cam footage played in the courtroom showed Rocha shooting Vasquez three times with an AR-15, including two misfires, during a traffic stop for expired tags on July 19, 2022. Vasquezs body was left in the road at Clay Street and East 21st Avenue after Rocha quickly drove away, according to the footage.

Joshua Rocha, who is accused of killing North Kansas City police officer Daniel Vasquez in July 2022, looks on during his capital murder trial in a Clay County courtroom on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. Prosecutors initially charged Rocha, 28, with first-degree murder and armed criminal action following Vasquezs death, and later filed to seek the death penalty.

Rochas defense featured 13 witnesses who testified on his behalf, reserving most of them for the sentencing stage of the trial. Two mental health experts, family members, and other people in Rochas life explained how his traumatic background impacted his life.

Rocha never took the witness stand in the trial.

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Clay County prosecutors presented more than 30 witnesses, which included investigators, Vasquezs family and friends, and Rochas detention officers.

Their testimonies supplied evidence, such as dash cam footage of the shooting, videos of Rocha shooting and 3-D printing guns, police interviews with Rocha and his mother, and incidents where Rocha was found with contraband in prison.

Some detectives spoke about how investigating a police shooting affected them personally. Vasquezs loved ones and co-workers described their experiences with Vasquez and how theyve attempted to cope since his death.

Growing up, Daniel Vasquez was in the marching band, jazz band, and orchestra in high school, playing the cello, violin, and drums, while also playing sports. Vasquez was a big griller and eater, enjoying his mothers cooking and McDonalds, loved ones said.

In closing arguments, assistant prosecuting attorneys Spencer Curtis and Rob Sanders slammed testimony from mental health experts who explained Rochas mental deficiencies. The mental health experts described how Rochas impairments, mild autism, post-traumatic stress and low intellectual ability affect his judgment and decision-making.

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Curtis and Sanders urged the jury to focus on the decisions that Rocha made by replaying evidence shown throughout the trial.

Videos were played showing Rocha 3D printing and shooting guns. They showed Rocha spoke with a different persona in videos where he was shooting guns and bragging about the firearms, opposed to his quiet, meek police interview, where he spoke in hushed tones with tearful, remorseful sentiments for his actions.

Rocha told investigators he didnt know why he shot Vasquez, according to video of the interview shown in court. In his mothers interview with police, she said her son told her he shot a police officer because he feared being going to jail for having a rifle.

There was no fight. There was no discussion. It was an execution. It was an ambush, Curtis said.

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Rochas public defender, Stephen Reynolds, asked the jury to extend mercy to Rocha because of his traumatic background and mental impairments.

Prosecutors initially charged Rocha with first-degree murder and armed criminal action following Vasquezs death. In March 2023, prosecutors filed a notice that they would seek the death penalty.
KANSAS (KSNT)  Kansas farmers have been hit hard by the lack of Chinese demand, but now theyre beginning to look elsewhere for international demand.

China was the largest buyer of soybeans in the world, typically buying as much as half of the U.S.s exports every year. But since the beginning of the Trump administration, China has not purchased any new-crop soybeans, which has devastated the market and farmers across the U.S.

Kansas harvest season slowed by abnormally wet conditions

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Reacting to the lack of Chinese demand, a group of soybean farmers and staff from 12 Midwest states, including Kansas, visited South Korea and Japan in September to build on the longstanding relationships between U.S. agriculture and the two nations. Kaleb Little, a Commission Administrator and Kansas Soybean Association CEO, was one of the representatives from Kansas.

While there, we had meetings all along the supply chain, including: USDA Foreign Ag Service in both countries; Incheon Port in Seoul, which handles more than 3.5 million containers a year, shipping soy products in and out; one of the fourteen CJ Cheiljedang crush plants in Korea, which process US soybeans; Bookook Feed, who turns that soybean meal into value-added animal feed (90% of their ingredients are sourced internationally); Fuji Oil in Japan, a producer of cooking oils, as well as powdered and textured soy protein as an ingredient for food companies; and multiple other buyers, users, and end customers of US soybean growers. Kaleb Little wrote in a press release from October 2025

Kansas startup using wheat to power the future of medicine

Japan and South Korea have a combined 170 million people who rely on the rest of the world for more than half of their food and ingredients. In both countries, soybean is a very popular protein source, being used in dozens of different recipes.

In Japan, soybean is used foods and ingredients like soy sauce, miso, tofu, edamame and more. While in South Korea, soybeans are mostly used for doenjang(a Korean soybean paste), koji, natto, curds and other pastes.

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Although Kansas farmers are struggling with low commodity prices, high input costs and other challenges with this years harvest, market development work is the top priority for groups like the Kansas Soybean Commission. And if the Chinese market continues to avoid buying U.S, soybean, then our farmers may soon have more demand elsewhere.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman announced Tuesday the commonwealth is suing popular gaming platform Roblox over concerns it is unsafe for children.

Roblox knowingly has created a playground for predators to distribute child sexual abuse material and groom juvenile victims, Coleman alleged in a news conference Oct. 7.

Roblox is an online platform and game creation system that establishes a virtual universe and allows participants to create avatars and play games with themselves and other users. Nearly two-thirds of all U.S. children between ages nine and 12 play games on the Roblox platform, according to Coleman.

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Kentuckys civil lawsuit, filed Monday, accuses Roblox of violating the states Consumer Protection Act through deceptive and unfair practices by misrepresenting the platforms safety and concealing risks.

Coleman likened Roblox to a playground with sexual predators hanging off every jungle gym.

Existing reports show Roblox has become an environment for predators and other bad actors through social features such as chat and friend requests.

For example, so-called assassination simulators were created on the site after the killing of Charlie Kirk. Extremist sextortion groups have used the platform to extort, threaten and conspire to kill children as young as 8, Coleman said during the press conference.

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Get your kids off Roblox, Coleman said, do it today.

Louisianas attorney general was the first to file a lawsuit against Roblox in August. Floridas attorney general has opened a child-safety investigation into Roblox, as well.

More than 20 federal lawsuits accuse Roblox of allowing child exploitation, according to online court records.

Claims against Roblox

In 2023, Bloomberg reported more than 13,000 instances of child exploitation were linked to Roblox by using the chat functions to gain childrens trust and encourage conversations off the site.

This was the case for 15-year-old Ethan Dallas of San Diego, who died by suicide in April 2024, the New York Times reported. Ethan, who had autism, had used Roblox since he was 7. There, he met someone he thought was another minor by the name of Nate, according to The Times.

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Nate and Ethan formed a friendship, and Nate convinced Ethan to disable parental controls, send sexually explicit pictures and eventually move to another chat platform, Discord.

Law enforcement later believed Nate was actually a 37-year-old man named Timothy OConnor. Earlier this month, Ethans mother, Becca Dallas, sued Roblox for wrongful death.

OConnor was arrested on separate charges of possession of child pornography and transmitting harmful material to minors, according to The Times.
Its election day in the crowded primaries for Tennessees 7th Congressional District.

Seventeen candidates are seeking the seat vacated by retired U.S. Rep. Mark Green in July: nine Republicans, four Democrats, and four independents. Winners will face each other in the general election on Dec. 2.

Results in December could shift the balance of the state's congressional delegation, as Democrats seek to gain ground in a district spanning parts of Middle and West Tennessee.

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More: Meet the candidates running for Congress in TN's 7th District special election

In the first four-way Democratic primary in that district in more than a decade, state Rep. Aftyn Behn, D-Nashville, state Rep. Vincent Dixie, D-Nashville, businessman Darden Copeland and state Rep. Bo Mitchell, D-Nashville, are seeking their party's nomination. Democrats have sought to energize rural voters this special election as voter turnout has plummeted since the district was redrawn in 2021.

Tennessee State Representative Aftyn Behn speaks during a Democratic Party forum for candidates running for the 7th Congressional District special election at the Fairview Recreation Center in Fairview Sunday, September 7, 2025.

An 11th-hour endorsement for former Tennessee General Services Commissioner Matt Van Epps from President Donald Trump rocked the Republican primary race last week, spurring endorsements from other high-profile Republicans and a windfall of spending from super PAC Club for Growth.

Rival Republicans state Rep. Lee Reeves and Stuart Cooper suspended their campaigns after Trumps announcement and endorsed Van Epps.

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Trump held a tele-rally with Van Epps hours before polls opened.

But Van Epps isnt quite in the clear: a complaint was filed last week accusing the National Guard lieutenant colonel of misusing his military uniform to mislead voters in violation of Department of War rules. Van Epps has made his military service a central pillar of his campaign, featuring a Chinook helicopter on his campaign logo.

Republican candidate for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District Matt Van Epps listens during a debate with other candidates at CabaRay Showroom in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.

Van Epps campaign has also been accused by rival Republicans Stewart Parks and Joe Leurs of falsely claiming Parks endorsement, something Parks decried as a slanderous lie. Van Epps' campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the accusation.

Republican state Rep. Jody Barrett, another frontrunner, is sticking it out despite the odds.

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"The establishment and Chicago billionaires have lined up against me because they know I can't be bought or controlled," Barrett said. "For as long as I can remember, rural, Christian conservative families in Tennessee haven't had the respect they deserve or the champion they need. I'm with you, I'll always have your back, and I'm running for Congress to take that same fight to Washington and deliver for you."

More than 36,000 ballots have already been cast during early voting  low turnout for the special election. Just under 8% of registered Davidson County voters and fewer than 6% of registered Montgomery County voters participated so far, according to early vote totals from the Tennessee Secretary of State.

Out-of-state groups try to influence the election

Out-of-state groups have poured nearly $3.4 million into the Republican primary.

More: Bezos family, Yass help fuel $2.1M in out-of-state spending in Tennessee Congress race

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More than $1.1 million has been spent by outside groups attacking Barrett. A slew of attack ads funded by the Club for Growth-affiliated School Freedom Fund PAC painted Barrett as a swamp politician and a RINO for a 2016 social media comment in which he called Trump a liberal douchebag, as he supported Texas Sen. Ted Cruz for president at the time. Barrett became a member of the state legislature in 2023.

Candidate for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dickson, listens during a debate at CabaRay Showroom in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, Sept. 5, 2025.

While Barrett-allied House Freedom Action PAC framed Van Epps as Tennessees Fauci, for his role in the states COVID-19 pandemic response. Van Epps served on Gov. Bill Lees coronavirus response task force, shaping policies that governed business shutdown requirements, mask mandates and military vaccine requirements. House Freedom Action launched a website attacking Van Epps and touting Barretts work in the state legislature to end COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Tennessee.

Meanwhile, outside groups have spent nearly $1.3 million supporting Van Epps, shelling out nearly $800,000 in the final week of the race according to Federal Election Commission disclosures.

7th District voters receive threatening mailers

Some voters in the 7th Congressional District received threatening red and yellow Election Notice mailers claiming that party leadership will contact voters who dont turn out in the election.

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Republican Party officials will see if you dont vote. You cant afford to have that on your record, the mailer states. We are compiling an official list of Republicans who fail to vote in the 7th Congressional District of Tennessee Special Election.

Similar mailers were sent to Texas voters last year, threatening to report non-voters to to the president.

The mailers were not sent by the Tennessee Republican Party. Chairman Scott Golden said party officials are looking to figure out who is responsible for sending them.

The TNGOP is aware of the mail piece that was sent to several voters in the 7th congressional district. The mailing was not sent, nor authorized, nor paid for by the Tennessee Republican Party. Additionally, the mail piece failed to disclose who authorized and paid for its distribution, therefore is also in violation of federal campaign laws, Golden said. The TNGOP will be working with the appropriate entities in order to ensure that the persons responsible will be held accountable.

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The Tennessee Republican Party does not endorse in primary elections. Golden encouraged voters to vote for whomever they choose and said the party will help the Republican nominee during the general election.

How to vote Oct. 7

Polls will open at 7 a.m. in Davidson, Williamson, Montgomery, Robertson, Cheatham and Stewart Counties on Oct. 7. Other counties polling locations will open at either 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. Check your countys polling location hours at sos.tn.gov/elections/services/special-election-information.

State law requires employers to allow employees "reasonable time" up to three hours to vote.

All polls will close at 7 p.m. Voters in line to cast ballots at 7 p.m. will be permitted to vote, by state law.

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All registered voters that reside in the 7th Congressional District can vote. The district includes north and west Davidson County, west Williamson and Benton counties, and all of Stewart, Montgomery, Robertson, Houston, Humphreys, Dickson, Cheatham, Decatur, Perry, Hickman and Wayne counties. Find out which congressional district you live in at house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative.

If youre unsure if you live in U.S. House District 7 and can vote tomorrow in the Special Primary, please check online at https://t.co/0ycxcdoO52 or call us at 615.862.8800. pic.twitter.com/Kcoco3gIzE  Davidson County Elections (@DavidsonVotes) October 6, 2025

Tennessee law requires voters to bring a government-issued photo ID that includes your name and photo. Valid IDs include a Tennessee drivers license, U.S. passport, military ID, state-issued handgun carry permit, a voter ID card or a photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

Student IDs and library cards are not acceptable forms of identification.

Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: What to know on special 7th District congressional primary
Ever since the artificial intelligence (AI) mania began in 2023, there have been voices suggesting that it is a bubble similar to the dot-com era. The chatter gained traction last year as many companies were struggling to justify their massive AI capex with commensurate revenues.

DeepSeeks low-cost AI model, released earlier this year, only lent credence to the AI bubble narrative, as the Chinese startup claimed to have developed its AI model for a fraction of the billions of dollars that U.S. tech giants spend on theirs.

More News from Barchart

However, AI stocks managed to get over the pessimism, and Nvidia (NVDA), which is the bellwether of the AI trade, rose to record highs and became a $4 trillion behemoth despite losing out on the China business.

www.barchart.com

Everyone Is Warning of an AI Bubble

Meanwhile, over the last couple of months, the chatter about AI being a bubble has gained traction. Joining the ranks are Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, Goldman Sachs (GS) CEO David Solomon, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Meta Platforms (META) CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Amazon (AMZN) founder Jeff Bezos, who have warned about a possible bubble in AI, in one form or the other.

While Powell was quite subtle and talked about unusually large amounts of economic activity through the AI buildout, Bezos was perhaps the most forthcoming and said that theres an industrial bubble in AI.

To be sure, concerns over an AI bubble are not unfounded, particularly in the startup space where companies are commanding eye-popping valuations. For instance, OpenAI was valued at $500 billion in a recent transaction that provided liquidity to employees, while Elon Musks xAI is reportedly valued at $200 billion.

The literal scramble for AI talent, in which Big Tech companies, particularly Meta, have poached talent at eye-popping compensation, also raises fears about a bubble.

AI Investments Would Take a Toll on Profits and Cash Flows

Praetorian Capital has done some number crunching, which shows that the so-called hyperscalers could collectively spend $400 billion on data centers this year, which would depreciate at roughly $40 billion annually. However, where things get ugly is that the depreciation is twice what these companies are expected to get as revenues (not profits) from AI this year.
PARIS (AP)  French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that he will name a new prime minister in the next 48 hours, for now rejecting other options in the face of a political storm.

The naming of a replacement for outgoing Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who abruptly resigned on Monday, will  at least for now  move France away from the likelihood of snap legislative elections, another possibility that is available to the French leader but which could plunge the European Unions second-largest economy into even greater uncertainty.

The announcement from Macron's office of a prime ministerial appointment before the weekend came after Lecornu  at the presidents request  spent the two days after his resignation taking the temperature in Parliament, to see whether there was enough support in the powerful but fractured lower house to form a new government.

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Lecornu concluded that there was, even though Macron's camp and its allies don't have a majority in the National Assembly and the French leader's prime ministerial appointments, leading minority governments, have tumbled one after another in quick succession over the past year.

The presidential statement said that in the wake of his talks with political parties, Lecornu determined that a majority of National Assembly lawmakers don't want snap legislative elections and that it's possible that they could agree on a 2026 budget for France by the end of the year.

On this basis, the president of the Republic will name a prime minister within 48 hours, the statement said, without a hint of who Macron will choose.

Lecornu signaled that it won't be him again.

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Im not chasing the job, he said. My mission is finished.

In an interview with broadcaster France Televisions before Macron's announcement, the outgoing prime minister said his 48 hours of talks with all parties except those on the far left and far right that refused negotiations had made progress and that an absolute majority of lawmakers don't for now see a need to dissolve the National Assembly, a move that backfired on Macron when he last did that.

Lecornu said Macrons centrist camp and its allies in the Parliament, plus some opposition parties, could still come together to form a new government.

Theres a majority that can govern, Lecornu said. I feel that a path is still possible. It is difficult."

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The result from the elections triggered by Macron's stunning National Assembly dissolution in June 2024 was a hung Parliament. No one group has enough lawmakers in the 577-seat chamber to form a government alone. The ensuing political deadlock has rattled investors, infuriated many voters and frustrated efforts to agree on a budget to tackle France's mounting state deficit and damaging debts.

Without a stable majority, Macron's minority governments have lurched from crisis to crisis, collapsing as they sought lawmakers' support for unpopular cuts to public spending. Lecornu's resignation on Monday morning came just 14 hours after he'd named a new Cabinet the night before, with his fragile coalition shattering in the face of political and personal rivalries.

To buy more time to weigh his options, Macron then asked the 39-year-old Lecornu  a close ally who had previously served as defense minister  to reach out again to parties in the National Assembly, to try to build consensus behind Frances next budget, an urgent national priority.

Lecornu said the political parties he consulted all feel that agreement on a 2026 budget is a priority.

They all said that we must not take the risk of not having a budget on the 31st of December, he said.

____

Samuel Petrequin reported from London.
Vermont is consistently among the top states for highest amount of marijuana use, according to the Vermont Department of Health.

Vermont legalized the possession, private consumption and limited cultivation in 2018, and created a regulated market in 2022.

But despite being one of the more stoner-friendly states, Vermont still has strict restrictions on where you can consume cannabis.

Sean O'Connor trimming up weed for packaging, as seen on April 13, 2023, at Grassroots Vermont in Brandon.

Is it legal to smoke pot in public places in Vermont?

No. Vermont law prohibits the consumption of cannabis in public places.

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Under the law, public place means streets, alleys, parks, sidewalks, public buildings other than individual dwellings, public accommodations like motels and hotels and any place where the possession or use of tobacco is banned by law. College campuses are also included under this definition.

However, you can smoke weed on a private property in Vermont.

What is the punishment for smoking pot in public places?

A person who smokes marijuana in a public place could face a civil penalty of up to $100 for a first offence, $200 for a second offense and $500 for a third or subsequent offense.

Is it legal to smoke weed in a car in Vermont?

Its against the law to consume cannabis while operating a vehicle. This includes secondhand smoke from someone else smoking weed in the car.

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You also cant have an open container of cannabis in the passenger area of the car.

What are some other restrictions on recreational marijuana use in VT?

Like alcohol, marijuana use is only legal for adults age 21 and older.

The law stipulates that, for recreational use, adults may hold up to one ounce of marijuana on their person. Up to six plants may be grown in ones home, regardless of how many adults live there.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Is it legal to smoke pot in public places in Vermont? See law
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) vowed on Tuesday to sue the crap out of Jack Smith and anyone else involved in monitoring his phone records.

Graham joined Fox News Sean Hannity after the FBI disclosed records showing Graham and other lawmakers had their phone calls tracked as part of then special counsel Smiths investigation into the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and President Donald Trump.

The content of the 2021 phone calls was not monitored or recorded, but the time and duration of the calls was reportedly monitored as part of Smiths investigation.

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Whether you like me or not or agree with my politics, it should bother you greatly that a United States senator  his phone records or her phone records, would be subpoenaed by the FBI 30 months later with no reason to believe Im involved in any crime. It is really an abuse of the process, Graham told Hannity.

The senator accused Smith and others of trying to stop Trumps comeback.

He argued:

Heres what I believe. If he had never announced he was going to run for president, none of this would have happened. They were trying to destroy his comeback. This was all orchestrated by Jack Smith, Alvin Bragg, Fani Willis, Letitia James to destroy this man so he could not win in 2024. Ive seen this movie before. I am going to look at what happened to me and my fellow senators. My lawyer, John Kennedy, will be on next, and if they did this without good reason and without cause, Im going to sue the crap out of these people.

Hannity asked Graham whether he meant he would specifically target Smith, and Graham said hes open to suing anyone involved.

Whoever I can sue on behalf of the future of people who will come after me. We cannot allow the abuse of power to go unannounced, I mean, unchecked. One guy went to jail for a year in Crossfire Hurricane, he said. Comey is finally being looked at after all these years. If they dont pay a price now, theyll keep doing it.

Watch above via Fox News.

The post Lindsey Graham Promises to Sue the Crap Out of Jack Smith and Anyone Involved in Monitoring Phone Records first appeared on Mediaite.
The Lithuanian government confirmed on Oct. 8 that it is decreasing the level of personal protection for Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, an exiled Belarusian opposition leader residing in the country.

The security of Tsikhanouskaya, who was forced out of Belarus in the wake of the rigged 2020 presidential election, will now be ensured by the Criminal Police Bureau instead of the Dignitary Protection Service (VAT).

VAT is responsible for the personal security of top dignitaries like Lithuania's president, prime minister, and parliament speaker.

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Lithuanian authorities emphasized that Tsikhanouskaya remains an official guest of the state and that Vilnius's stance toward the Belarusian regime led by Alexander Lukashenko remains unchanged.

The Baltic country's prime minister, Inga Ruginiene, said the decision was made based on the existing level of threat.

"The services are doing their job well; every day they assess the level of threats and, based on that, determine what kind of protection should be applied," Ruginiene told journalists on Oct. 8, according to LRT broadcaster.

"Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has security, but it is adjusted to reflect today's realities."

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Dzianis Kuchynski, Tsikhanouskaya's adviser, told LRT that the oppositionist's team learned about the decision only on Oct. 1, giving them little time to prepare and even forcing a temporary suspension of their office's activities.

"We would have preferred the decision to be announced a bit in advance. Since the notice period was very short, we did not have enough time to adapt the office's work to these changes," Kuchynski said.

"As a result, we had to temporarily suspend the office's operations."

The step has sparked criticism in a country that has long supported the Belarusian opposition in exile and warned about the security threat posed by Lukashenko's regime and its ally, Russia.

Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania's foreign minister between 2020 and 2024, said the move amounts to a betrayal.

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"(Sviatlana) Tsikhanouskaya has been a symbol of the fight against tyranny and against the enormous odds that are stacked against democracies," Landsbergis wrote in a column on his website.

In 2020, Tsikhanouskaya ran against Lukashenko in the presidential election after her husband, Siarhei Tsikhanouski, was arrested. Despite Tsikhanouskaya receiving popular support, the regime overturned the election through massive vote rigging.

The opposition activist was forced to flee following a crackdown against her supporters, later establishing the United Transitional Cabinet in Vilnius as Belarus's government-in-exile.

The news follows another controversy linked to the Lithuanian government.

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Then-Culture Minister Ignotas Adomavicius, from the populist Dawn of Nemunas party, was forced to resign last week after public backlash partially connected to his dodging a question about Vilnius's support for Ukraine and the status of Russian-occupied Crimea.

Lithuania, a NATO member bordering Belarus and Russia's heavily armed exclave of Kaliningrad, has been one of Ukraine's staunchest supporters since the outbreak of the full-scale war in 2022.

Read also: Investigation: Top Russian defense industry boss tries to lift sanctions, spills own secrets instead

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The United States federal government shutdown has now entered Day 8 since it began Oct. 1, 2025, but how much longer will it last? Here's what to know about the longest shutdowns in history and the updated betting odds on when a Senate vote will pass a funding bill to reopen.

The next Senate vote expected on legislation to fund the government will be today around 11:20 a.m. Oct. 8, according to reports.

President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans hit a stalemate with Democrats over health-care policy changes and failed to reach an agreement in the funding bill on Sept. 30. Democrats blocked a Republican proposal to keep the government operating at existing funding levels through Nov. 21, resulting in the 11th government shutdown since 1980.

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U.S. government shutdowns occur when funding legislation to finance the federal government is not passed before the next fiscal year begins. This causes federal agencies to shut down services and non-essential operations and furlough non-essential workers.

Essential government services that protect human life or property such as the military, air travel and law enforcement continue to keep working.

Here's what to know about how long this government shutdown 2025 might last and what history shows.

How long will the government shutdown last?

There is no end in sight to the current government shutdown that started on Oct. 1, 2025 and confidence in how long it will last or when it will end are just as unsure, according to the betting odds on Polymarket.

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76% believe it will end after Oct. 15th

23% believing it will end between Oct. 10-14

less than 1% confidence that it will reopen this week, between Oct. 6-9

Will Senate vote today be enough to reopen government?

The Senate is expected to vote for the sixth time on legislation to fund the government around 11:20 a.m. today, Oct. 8, according to reports.

The Polymarket betting odds are rising against the chance that Congress will pass a funding bill any time soon. Last week's odds showed 56% believed it would pass by Oct 15; today, only 26% believe it will happen by then.

Last week, 87% were betting that a bill would pass before Oct. 31; that has dropped to 76%. There is now a 96% confidence expressed in the odds that it will pass by Nov. 30.

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These Polymarket odds were posted as of Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 at 9:26 a.m.

If these odds were to pan out, it may not be the longest shutdown in U.S. history, but still among the most significant.

What was the longest government shutdown in U.S. history?

The last and longest government shutdown was in 2018-2019 during President Donald Trump's first term. That 35-day shutdown was caused by disputes over expanding barriers on the U.S.-Mexico border. Prior to that, there was a 21-day shutdown in 1995-1996 during Bill Clinton's presidency over major spending cuts and the 16-day shutdown in 2013 during Barack Obama's administration over implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

The other seven government shutdowns since 1980 lasted anywhere from a few hours to five days.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: How long will government shutdown last? Odds, update Senate vote today
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  A Norfolk man was sentenced to 30 years in prison Tuesday after pleading guilty to three counts of rape of a victim under 13 years old, the Virginia Beach Commonwealths Attorney said.

Ricardo Leonel Meija, 35, told police he had a relationship with the child while knowing she was underage, and had sex with the child three times, according to evidence from the Commonwealths Attorneys Office.

It said Meija was found naked in the 11-year-old victims room on Oct. 9, 2024. Once the girls mother had pried the door open with a butter knife, she caught him in her daughters bed. He then jumped out of the bed and grabbed some of his clothes before leaving through the window and running away, the Commonwealths Attorneys Office said.

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The Commonwealths Attorneys office said the mother recognized Mejia, who had been hired by the family to renovate one of the bathrooms in their home. The victim told police Mejia had vaginal intercourse with her, and his DNA and sperm were found on the victim.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
A 54-year-old Manheim man was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years and 6 months of incarceration for his part in sexually assaulting a 7-year-old child.

Edward Lee Williams was sentenced Oct. 8 by Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas Judge Donna Long Brightbill on charges of rape of a child and involuntary sexual intercourse with a child. Williams pleaded guilty on June 19 after a negotiated plea agreement with the Lebanon County District Attorney's Office.

Williams said little during the Oct. 18 hearing besides answering direct questions. Brightbill sentenced Williams to serve a minimum of 93 months consecutively for both charges.

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On Jan. 15, the Cornwall Borough Police Department received notification of a sexual assault of a child. Upon meeting with Ariel Hiestand, police learned that there was allegedly a video recording of Williams molesting the child on Jan. 14 into the morning hours.

Officials said that throughout the course of the investigation, it was determined that Ariel Hiestand became aware of the abuse.

"Heistand told police that Williams would take (the child) up to his bedroom for what he referred to as 'movie' time," police said in court documents. "Heistand said (the child) would come downstairs after 'movie time' wearing no pants or underpants on one occasion.

On Jan. 14, Heistand allegedly had a 10-year-old child put a wireless camera into Williams' bedroom to capture surveillance footage. After the camera was in place, Heistand allegedly asked the 7-year-old to "engage in 'movie' time with Williams on one more occasion."

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"Upon learning of the abuse, Hiestand told the child that she once again needed to subject herself to the abuse of Edward Williams so that Hiestand could attempt to video record the abuse," the district attorney's office said in a January 2024 press release.

After obtaining the video footage, Hiestand then allegedly showed it to both children. Police interviewed two additional children, who said Hiestand knew about the abuse and encouraged it to continue.

Cornwall Police arrested Williams in January 2024 with the assistance of the Lebanon County Detectives Bureau and SWAT. In a search conducted at Williams' residence, police said they also seized clothing worn by the victim depicted in the videos and bedding located within the home.

Hiestand was charged with rape of a child, involuntary deviant sexual intercourse with a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child and endangering the welfare of a child. The district attorney's office said Heistand also has various child pornography charges.

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Court officials said that Hiestand is scheduled for trial on Nov. 17. Officials did not say if Williams' plea agreement would require him to testify for her trial.

The Department of Human Services operates a 24/7 hotline to report suspected child abuse or concerns about the welfare of a child. ChildLine can be reached at 800-932-0313.

Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth.

This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Manheim man sentenced to more than 15 years for rape of 7-year-old
BALTIMORE  After two of Gov. Wes Moores Democratic counterparts threatened to leave the bipartisan governors group he helps lead, Moore has not taken a public position. But Maryland lawmakers and political analysts are divided on the issue.

Moores office punted on The Baltimore Suns questions Tuesday about California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker threatening to withdraw their states from the National Governors Association (NGA) if the group does not condemn President Donald Trumps deployment of the National Guard to major cities, including Los Angeles and Chicago. Moore has served as NGA vice chair since being elected to the position in July, and will serve as chair beginning in 2026.

Newsom wrote that the NGA has lost its voice and its way in the face of the Trump administrations onslaught against democratic norms, while Pritzker called on the groups leadership to speak out against the deployment of Texas National Guard troops to Illinois.

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Moores communications director, David Turner, referred The Suns questions to an NGA spokesman, who did not respond by deadline. The office of Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican who serves as NGA chair, also did not respond to questions Tuesday.

This is not the first time Moore has refrained from criticizing fellow Democratic governors for threatening to leave the NGA.

Just before becoming vice chair, Moore did not directly answer Morning Joe host Jonathan Lemires question about Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz withholding their states NGA dues over concerns the group did not respond forcefully enough to Trumps federal incursions into state matters.

Maryland lawmakers react

The Sun reached out to all of Marylands 188 state Senate and House lawmakers, eight of whom responded by an Oct. 7 deadline with their thoughts on Newsom and Pritzker threatening to pull out of the NGA  and the idea that Moore could do the same should Trump deploy the National Guard to Baltimore, which the president has flirted with before.

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All five Republicans who replied  Del. Robin Grammer, Del. Matthew Morgan, Del. Ryan Nawrocki, Del. Jesse Pippy and Sen. Chris West  criticized Newsom and Pritzkers threats to leave the NGA and stood firmly against the idea that Moore could follow suit.

Morgan, who represents St. Marys County, described the governors threats as a political tantrum and urged Moore to keep Maryland above the fray.

Governor Wes Moore should stay firmly in the NGA and lead by example as vice chair. Hes got the charisma and military background to build coalitions, not burn bridges, Morgan said. If he plays it right, he could emerge as the adult in the room while Newsom and Pritzker chase headlines.

Nawrocki, who represents Baltimore County, said its inappropriate to pressure bipartisan organizations to issue partisan statements and called on Maryland to show leadership that unites rather than divides.

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Grammer, who also represents Baltimore County, called Newsom and Pritzker extremists, and said nobody should follow their leadership.

Pippy, who represents Frederick County, called the governors threats childish, arguing they are upset that the National Guard was needed to clean up their own cities because of their refusal to address the issues their residents face. Trump and his allies have argued Democratic politicians are to blame for crime and quality of life issues in cities, despite violence declining nationally in recent years.

West, who represents Baltimore County, said Moore should do the responsible thing and stay in NGA. If he loses a policy dispute, there will always be another policy dispute on another day, he told The Sun.

Among the three Democrats who responded, Del. Aaron Kaufman said he would defer to Moores judgment about handling Newsom and Pritzker. Del. Adrian Boafo and Sen. Clarence Lam criticized Trumps deployment of the National Guard as an infringement on states rights.

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Using the National Guard from one state within the territory of a second state is a violation of the equal sovereignty that all states are guaranteed under the Constitution. Regardless of party, our nations governors should be unified in opposing this dangerous precedent, Lam, who represents parts of Anne Arundel and Howard Counties, wrote in a statement.

When asked to elaborate on how he believes Moore should respond to Newsom and Pritzker threatening to withdraw their states from the NGA, Lams office reissued the exact same response.

Political analysts react

Political analysts Matthew Crenson and Richard Vatz disagreed on the potential impact of Newsom and Pritzkers threats to leave the NGA.

Crenson, a professor emeritus of political science at the Johns Hopkins University, said the governors withdrawing could seriously undermine the legitimacy of the NGA.

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Their departure will put pressure, at least, on the other Democratic governors to withdraw as well to acknowledge that all states have a collective political interest, Crenson said.

Vatz, a professor emeritus of rhetoric and communication at Towson University, said the governors threats would create friction with the Trump administration but ultimately have little impact on the NGA or the deployment of the National Guard. He added that both Newsom and Pritzker have defined their political positions as a tether to opposition to Trump, which diminishes the significance of their decisions.

There are just innumerable organizations that dont have much clout politically, and the National Governors Association, I think, is one of them, Vatz said. Theyd really be getting beyond their skis if they thought they could influence the Trump administration  or that they would influence the public in supporting them.

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A major development is underway in San Antonio, and it's already catching the eyes of locals. A Texas-based real estate firm has begun working on a massive, $3.1 million shopping center that will introduce new beverage and dining options to an already bustling area.

Folks living on the Far Westside, particularly near the Redbird Ranch neighborhood, have noticed a few changes in their community. Construction crews have been seen clearing the land at 14302 Potranco Road, across from the H-E-B off Highway 211, over the last month. It's set to become the site of Steven's Point retail center, a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) report notes.

A new shopping center is slated to open on Potranco Road and Stevens Parkway in San Antonio, Texas. (Courtesy of Candice Avila-Garcia/MySA)





A new shopping center is slated to open on Potranco Road and Stevens Parkway in San Antonio, Texas. (Courtesy of Candice Avila-Garcia/MySA)





Residents have been predicting what might be coming to their neighborhood on social media, with several expressing hopes for diverse restaurants or a Voodoo Doughnut, of which there is only one in San Antonio. The single-story plaza will contain similar storefronts, according to a property flyer shared with MySA by Abiso Real Estate. A Dunkin' Donuts and an Einstein Bros. Bagels are both headed to the center, which will span 13,590 square feet.

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It will mark the coffee chain's third location on Potranco Road, implying success at its nearby drive-thrus. It's a different story for the Colorado-founded bread brand. Its nearest restaurant to the construction site is roughly 20 minutes east at 11988 Alamo Ranch Parkway. Other companies confirmed for Steven's Point are Ideal Dental and PNC Bank.

Abiso Real Estate broker Andrew Bagnall tells MySA the firm is in the process of leasing the remaining 4,570 square feet of space. Though the timeline is subject to change, they expect to deliver tenants their spaces in June 2026.

Strategically positioned off one of the busiest roads in Texas, which saw nearly 19,000 vehicles a day in 2021, according to a company property flyer, the hub expects to cater to roughly 100,000 people in a five-mile radius. It will also receive foot traffic from those in nearby towns, such as Castroville and Hondo, due to its proximity to Highway 211.

The plaza will face competition from a nearby Dutch Bros and Shipley Do-Nuts, but the firm expects the population within a one-mile radius to grow by 11.38% by 2027, the company's property flyer cites. It's also strengthened by the closeness of an under-construction AHV build-to-rent community containing over 200 homes and an under-contract National Early Education School on Stevens Parkway.

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Local entity Luna Architecture is listed as the design firm on the project. In the past, they've helped create the Park North commercial center and Morgan's Wonderland.

This article originally published at Massive multimillion-dollar retail hub to transform growing San Antonio corridor.
Melania Trump has received an apology from HarperCollins after it published a book which claimed she was introduced to her husband by Jeffrey Epstein.

The UK publisher withdrew from circulation around 60,000 copies of Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York after coming under pressure from the first ladys legal team, who said the book spread malicious, defamatory falsehoods.

Andrew Lownies unauthorised biography of the Duke of York, which came out in August, does not accuse Mrs Trump of any illegal conduct, but claims Epstein facilitated her first meeting with Donald Trump.

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Mrs Trumps legal team has disputed the allegation, with a spokesman saying they are actively ensuring immediate retractions and apologies by those who spread malicious, defamatory falsehoods.

The true account of how the first lady met President Trump is in her bestselling book, Melania, the spokesman told Axios.

Claims unverified

Mrs Trumps memoir, released in October last year, said she was introduced to her future husband at a New York party in 1998 by another person, not Epstein.

HarperCollins responded by removing passages from future print editions and withdrawing copies that contain the references from distribution. The e-book and audiobooks have also been updated to reflect the changes.

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We have, in consultation with the author, removed several passages of the book that referenced unverified claims about the first lady of the United States, Melania Trump, the publisher said in a statement.

Copies of the book that included those references are being permanently removed from distribution. HarperCollins UK apologises to the first lady.

A HarperCollins spokesman said: We can confirm that several passages from Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York by Andrew Lownie have been removed in consultation with the author. Entitled is published in the UK by HarperCollins. In the US the book is self-published by Mr Lownie.

Chief executive resigns

Charlie Redmayne, the chief executive of HarperCollins UK, resigned on Tuesday in a surprise shake-up at the publishing giant.

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Kate Elton was appointed interim chief executive, while a permanent replacement for Mr Redmayne will be made in due course, the company said.

No reason was given for Mr Redmaynes departure after 12 years at the helm, but it is understood that Mrs Trumps complaint did not play a role.

Mr Redmayne was approached for comment.

The publisher is the third media organisation to apologise to Mrs Trump for claiming Epstein introduced her to her husband, as the family seeks to distance itself from any association with the late paedophile financier.

Melania and Donald Trump together in 1999 - Sonia Moskowitz

In August, Mrs Trump threatened to sue Hunter Biden for repeating the same allegation. A letter from her legal team demanded that the former presidents son retract his comments and issue an apology or face being sued for $1bn (726m).

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Biden attributed the claim about how the Trumps met to Michael Wolff, a journalist who was given sweeping access to the White House during Mr Trumps first term and has written four books about the US president.

Wolff claimed in an interview with the Daily Beast podcast in July that the first lady was very involved in Epsteins circle and met Mr Trump through a modelling agent linked to both men.

The Daily Beast subsequently removed the podcast segment and a related news article after receiving a letter from Mrs Trumps lawyers. In a statement it said the story did not meet our standards and apologised to the first lady.

Biden has suggested he will not retract his claims.

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In her memoir, Mrs Trump said she met her husband at a Fashion Week party at New Yorks the Kit Kat Klub, when she saw her friend wave to someone behind her.

When I turned around, I noticed a man and an attractive blonde woman approaching us, she wrote. Hi, Im Donald Trump, the man said when he reached my table.

The Trump administration has been criticised over its failure to release all the files it holds on the case relating to the disgraced financier.

The president has faced increasing scrutiny over his connections to the late sex offender, after the department of justice and FBI concluded in July that he died by suicide and did not possess a high-profile client list.

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.
Next-gen heirs in the Gulf are steering centuries-old fortunes toward crypto and hedge funds, signaling a break from the traditional focus on real estate and local businesses.

Key Takeaways:

Gulf heirs are shifting family wealth from real estate to crypto and hedge funds.

The Kanoo twins led one of the regions earliest family office Bitcoin bets in 2020.

Major banks and hedge funds are targeting the Gulf as younger generations seek diversified portfolios.

Leading the charge are Abdulaziz and Abdulla Kanoo, 28-year-old twin brothers from Bahrains storied Kanoo family, who pushed their family office to back Bitcoin in 2020, according to a Tuesday report by Bloomberg.

Their proposal, initially met with skepticism by the familys investment head James Burke, was eventually approved by the Kanoo Groups committee, despite resistance from older members.

A small Bitcoin allocation was made, and later sold at a profit. Since then, the family office has continued investing in digital assets, now opting for hedge fund structures to manage risk and exposure.

Gulf Heirs Launch Crypto Firm to Serve Family Offices and External Clients

The twins now operate a separate digital asset firm, offering crypto investment services to external clients and other family offices.

The move comes as wealthy Middle Eastern families are handing increasing control of their capital to younger generations and professional managers, reshaping portfolios that once favored conservative, tangible assets.

Banks like Citigroup, Barclays, and Deutsche Bank are racing to scale their Gulf wealth divisions to tap into an estimated $1 trillion in wealth transfers expected across the region.

Dubai has become a magnet for hedge funds, with over 70 now operating in the city. Abu Dhabi is home to global players like Brevan Howard and Marshall Wace.

This local presence has opened doors. Edwin Lawrence of Nettlestone Capital Advisors says Gulf family offices now conduct their own due diligence and prefer diversified bets, with $5 million allocations making a real impact on smaller hedge funds.

Still, the shift isnt frictionless. Middle Eastern portfolios remain more conservative than their Western counterparts, with larger holdings in liquid assets and real estate, according to HSBC and Campden Wealth.

Governance structures often include multiple layers of checks, reflecting generational divides. As a family business, you have a lot of layers of governance and risk that you need to go through, Abdulla Kanoo said.

Emirati Families Embrace Crypto, Hedge Funds, and Tokenized Assets

However, momentum is growing. Apex Groups Bhaskar Dasgupta notes rising hedge fund allocations and strong crypto interest among Emirati families. Tokenized real estate and digital yield strategies are also gaining traction.
MIAMI, Okla.  A northeast Oklahoma World War II veteran celebrated a century of life on Tuesday. The milestone for Glen Pitts was also topped off with a special proclamation.

I Do hereby declare Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 as Glen Pitts Day within the City of Miami, said Miami Mayor, Bless Parker.

Its a gift only a mayor can give.

On Glen Pitts 100th birthday, Miami Mayor, Bless Parker officially declared it Glen Pitts Day.

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People have been awful good to me. I guess they appreciated me, but I appreciated them, said 100-year-old World War II Navy veteran, Glen Pitts.

The proclamation marked the end of an eventful 100th birthday for the Navy veteran.

World War II Navy veteran, Glen Pitts celebrates his 100th birthday at American Legion Post 147 in Miami, Oklahoma. (Photo courtesy: John E. Mayes)

During World War II, Pitts served in the Pacific theater, on the U.S.S Makin Island  as an amphib  which is now known as the navy seals. His mission during the war was to protect convoys and clear beaches.

We was an amphibious ship. We went in before the troops landed and cleaned out the harbor and soften up the beaches, said Pitts.

Reporter: You probably saved a lot of peoples lives by doing that.

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Well, yeah, I guess so, after all we was in a war, we were fighting together. We was trying to take care of them guys and they were trying to take care of us, said Pitts.

Pitts served in the war for three years. Just days before the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, he was finally given orders to head home.

We could see Japan, and they said, were going to drop a bomb thats going to blow the whole end of that island off. So, we turned around and gave her all the steam we could give her, and we run as fast as that little carrier would go, said Pitts.

In the 80 years since the war, Pitts kept something with him, and on his 100th birthday, he decided it was the day to donate it to a local military museum that he founded years ago.

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I donated an old knife that I found on Iwo Jima, said Pitts.

For a man whos lived a century, his energy is constant.

Were always on an adventure. At 100 years old, he wears me out, hes always doing something or wants something, said Pitts caretaker, Hope Carvalho.

And, if you ask him what his secret is to living a long life

I stayed away from the women. I kid them all the time, but they dont believe me.

Pitts says his 100th birthday was one to top them all.

It was a great day for me. It really was, said Pitts.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com.
The Party of Socialists of the Republic of Moldova (PSRM) does not recognize the results of the parliamentary elections and is threatening protests if the Constitutional Court approves them, independent Moldovan outlet NewsMaker reported on Oct. 7.

The announcement came as the pro-European Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), led by President Maia Sandu, secured a decisive victory in the Sept. 29 vote with just over 50% of the vote.

The result allows the party to maintain its majority and keep Moldova on a path toward European integration.

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Vlad Batrincea, the parliamentary leader of the Moscow-friendly PSRM party, claimed that the elections were marred by "violations and the use of administrative resources," which, he said, "called into question the fairness of the vote."

"We cannot seriously talk about Moldova's future if there is no democracy or free elections in the country," he said. "Under such conditions, there will be no economy, no demographic growth  nothing. Elections must be fair, and the conditions for participation must be equal."

The opposition Patriotic Electoral Bloc, led by pro-Russian former President Igor Dodon and including the Socialist and Communist parties along with the new Future of Moldova, won 24% of the vote.

Dodon's bloc, backed by Moscow, has campaigned on reversing Moldova's EU integration.

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When asked what steps his party would take if the Constitutional Court confirmed the results, Batrincea said that the PSRM would "continue to fight on international platforms, in the streets, in parliament  by all possible means and at all available levels."

The elections were held amid growing concerns about Russian interference.

In the days leading up to the vote, Sandu warned that if Moscow succeeded in exerting control over Moldova, "the consequences will be direct and dangerous for our country and for the entire region."

Ahead of election day, the Central Electoral Commission barred the Heart of Moldova and Greater Moldova parties from participating after security agencies uncovered evidence of illegal financing.

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Intelligence reports also linked the Greater Moldova party to the Victory Bloc  a coalition of pro-Russian factions allegedly financed by exiled oligarch Ilan Shor.

The Constitutional Court is expected to review and validate the election results in the coming days.

Read also: Investigation: Top Russian defense industry boss tries to lift sanctions, spills own secrets instead

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
ELIZABETH  During her lunch break as a Terminal C concessionaire, New Jersey state Sen. Renee Burgess remembered watching construction crews erect beams for the guiderail of the original monorail system that opened at Newark Liberty International Airport in 1996.

Everybody was talking about this big project, Burgess recalled on a sunny October morning as the replacement of that now-outdated system was being announced, people-mover cars lurking in the background of the P3 airport lot as they crawled along the rusting elevated guiderail reminiscent of an old roller coaster.

Once it started coming together, you started seeing them put the tracks in piece-by-piece  that was amazing.

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Before the monorail connected the airports three terminals, parking lots and other transit lines, airport employees, like Burgess, had to take buses from the employee parking lot that were often lengthy, delayed trips.

Oct 7, 2025; Newark, NJ, USA; A groundbreaking ceremony for the new EWR AirTrain at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Sometimes, Burgess said, the bus would get there but it would be too full.

We knew at the time that transportation back-and-forth  whether it was from the employee parking lot or just to the terminals  it was antiquated, Burgess said. I dont think people know how good they have it now versus when they didnt have it.

Now, Burgess has another front row seat for what will be the replacement of Newarks almost 30-year-old AirTrain system, but this time shes in the front row of the groundbreaking ceremony as a state senator representing parts of Essex and Union counties.

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This is really nice and to be here, see them actually do it again, Burgess said. Whoever knew that I would be sitting on this side watching it.

'A huge leap forward'

Burgess celebrated the groundbreaking with other lawmakers, local city officials and employees of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which maintains five airports in the region.

Sarah McKeon, the Port Authoritys director of aviation, told the crowd on Oct. 7 that when the original monorail opened, the airport served fewer than 30 million passengers a year. Last year, 49 million passengers went through Newark Airport.

Tomorrows AirTrain Newark wont just be a massive upgrade over todays AirTrain Newark, its also a huge leap forward that represents the next frontier of Newark Liberty International Airports modernization, McKeon said.

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Shutdown impacts Newark: Federal shutdown further stresses air traffic control operations

The groundbreaking for the new AirTrain comes about two-and-a-half years after the $2.7 billion Terminal A opened at Newark Airport. Plans are also underway to design a new Terminal B and develop a master plan for the entire airport campus.

The new 2.5-mile people-mover system is expected to open in 2030 and estimated to cost $3.5 billion to build, about $1.5 billion more than earlier projections.

When the original bids for the project came back in 2022, prices were higher than anticipated, which delayed things as the Port Authority reimagined the procurement and ultimately decided to break up the project into three packages.

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In 2023 and 2024, those three project packages were awarded to the following companies:

Austrian-based Doppelmayr Group to design, construct, operate and maintain the cable-propelled transport system

Stantec, the international engineering firm that will design a new 70,000 square foot maintenance and control facility, pedestrian connectors and decommission the existing AirTrain

A joint-venture firm of Tutor Perini and O&G Industries Inc.  with Parsons Corporation as the lead design subcontractor  to build the new elevated rail structure, or guideway, and three new stations.

The current outdated and under-sized system will stay in place until the new one opens and then be torn down. When it opens, the new system will be able to handle double the current capacity of 33,000 people a day.

Designing with the future in mind

Ralph DApuzzo was an engineer designing the foundations for the original AirTrain Newark that cost $385 million to build in the early 1990s.

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DApuzzo and the Port Authoritys engineering team were tasked with designing a system and finding technology that would work within a framework that dated back to the 1960s.

They actually put the columns in for the monorail with the monorail not being there yet, anticipating that a people-mover might be built someday, said DApuzzo, who is now the senior program director for Newark redevelopment at the Port Authority. We were then trying to bring that to realization with the new technology that was coming in at the 90s and we wound up successfully finding the technology that worked that met all the criteria and fit without modifying a lot of the terminal.

It was an exciting project at that time, DApuzzo said  but like a lot of software-based technology, it got old fast.

While the physical guiderail structure has stayed in pretty good shape over the last 30 years, the vehicles and software became outdated, leading to shutdowns and lengthy repairs in recent years.

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In fact, the company that made the vehicles doesnt exist anymore, DApuzzo said.

We actually have to re-engineer parts in order to keep it going because theyre not available off the shelf anymore, DApuzzo said. And the train control system is very outdated, its basically the equivalent of an initial PC that you had in the 80s.

The current vehicles use motors to propel the trainsets along the guideway; the new ones will be pulled by cables installed along the guideways that will circulate using a central compulsion system housed in a station.

This protects the engine-compulsion system from the weather and outside elements, while also avoiding having to rely on traction for the vehicles to perform properly, thanks to the cables that will move the cars.

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You dont have any problems with snow, ice, extreme heat where your connections start to fail on you and you have outages  thats what were trying to avoid, DApuzzo said.

Capacity was the other big consideration.

The new AirTrain Newark will launch with seven five-car sets  with larger cars than the current system  and another car can be added per train in the future. The stations will have larger platforms, more escalators and elevators. And the alignment of the guiderail will consider a new Terminal B that will be built in the future, the new road connections it will need, and allow for a southward extension past Terminal A if an additional support zone is eventually needed.

Kind of like DApuzzos predecessors from the 1960s who planned parts of the airport so a monorail could be constructed 30 years later in the 90s, DApuzzo is trying to give the same forethought to this project.

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We have things built into the design of this that will allow for the expansion capabilities both in the number of cars, the number of trains, as well as the extent of the alignment, DApuzzo said. Its that planning  so that we know the right information, we dont mistakes that will cost us later.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Newark Liberty Airport AirTrain replacement begins
"What we see here and elsewhere is insurers making a rational decision to pass on markets less profitable than others." (Photo by Wichayada Suwanachun/Getty Images)

New Hampshire consumers who wish to choose privatized Medicare are facing a churn in the Medicare Advantage market, with two carriers, Anthem and Martins Point, leaving and another, Aetna, reducing its coverage to the two most populous counties.

This is not the fault of the New Hampshire Insurance Department or state policymakers, as Medicare Advantage plans are not state-regulated. In fact, it is only due to a law pushed by Insurance Commissioner D.J. Bettencourt that we at least have advance notice of plans exiting.

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Nor is this churn attributable to federal regulation, such as it is. In Washington, D.C., both political parties have lavished funding upon Medicare Advantage as the most-favored nation among health care expenditures, allowing it to overtake traditional, or fee-for-service (FFS), Medicare.

In March, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission reported that Medicare will spend 20% more for (Medicare Advantage) enrollees than it would spend if those beneficiaries were enrolled in FFS Medicare, and that Medicare Advantage overbilling alone may total $43 billion annually. Yet in April the federal government still announced a 7.16% increase in Medicare Advantage payment revenue, accounting for risk coding, for 2026. That dwarfs an announced 3.2% Medicare increase for nursing home care, let alone the announced (and disastrous) 6.4% Medicare cut for home health.

A year ago an audit of data by the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found an unsupported $7.5 billion in risk-coded payments to Medicare Advantage insurers in 2023 alone. The Wall Street Journal found $50 billion in payments for questionable diagnoses from 2019-21, including over 66,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries diagnosed with anatomically impossible cataracts that had already been cured.

Nor do insurers passing on coverage here need a GoFundMe page. For example, Anthems parent, Elevance, reported $2.5 billion in profit in the second quarter of this year, and a year-over-year increase of 11% in Medicare Advantage enrollment.

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Instead, what we see here and elsewhere is insurers making a rational decision to pass on markets less profitable than others. In neighboring Vermont, for example, the biggest Medicare Advantage insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, notified enrollees that it was discontinuing coverage because prior insurer exits had left it with unsustainable risk. We are also a small, largely rural market, where building an adequate network is hard, and there hasnt been as much Medicare Advantage take-up as elsewhere.

In the past, Medicare Advantage has been described as a Cash Monster but there are other ways for insurers to make money, including Medicaid. One growing approach is Special Needs Plans. Under a Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) a Medicare Advantage insurer can coordinate the needs of someone on both Medicare and Medicaid. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that we are among seven states without this option, and the others, except for Illinois, are also all small in population.

Insurers have demonstrated an interest in this option being available in New Hampshire. The only trepidation I have is that KFF data from 2021 shows that D-SNPs, on average, have twice the denial rate on prior authorizations than Medicare Advantage plans, which have an atrocious 6% denial rate. However, D-SNPs would be a better arrangement than having insurers run the states Medicaid long-term care program, which they are again trying to do after being legislatively rebuffed in 2018.

Indiana is the most recent state to adopt that approach. The Indianapolis Star describes it as a painful, bureaucratic mess with $300 million in cost overruns, and the current Republican administration faults the prior one for having taken this leap of faith. There is no value proposition in having insurers manage the care, say, of a long-stay nursing home resident.

The estimated depletion date for the hospital insurance component of the Medicare trust fund is now 2033, according to a report issued by the Trump administration in June. That being the case, if there is a greater reliance on less expensive FFS it would be a positive for the taxpayers. And dont worry: As surely as the sun rises in the East, health insurers will still make money.
Barack Obama. Jimmy Carter. Woodrow Wilson. Teddy Roosevelt. Al Gore. And Donald Trump?

President Trump hopes to join the exclusive list of presidents and vice presidents who have received one of the world's most prestigious honors: the Nobel Peace Prize, which will be announced Friday.

The international award honors people or organizations whose work makes the world a more peaceful place. Nominees aren't made public by the Nobel Committee, but some individuals publicly share who they nominate. World leaders, humanitarians and international organizations have received the peace prize since it was first given out in the early 20th century.

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Here's what to know about the Nobel Peace Prize and if Mr. Trump could receive it:

When is the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize awarded?

The 2025 winner of the Nobel Peace Prize will be announced on Friday, Oct. 10 at 5 a.m. ET. It will be awarded on Dec. 10 at a formal ceremony in Oslo, Norway.

What is the Nobel Peace Prize?

The Nobel Prize was established by a Swedish businessman named Alfred Nobel. In his will, he said that his fortune was to be used to establish a fund that could distribute prizes "to those who ... shall have conferred the greatest benefit on mankind," according to the Nobel Peace Prize's website.

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Nobel's will specified that it be given "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations and the abolition or reduction of standing armies and the formation and spreading of peace congresses," but many different kinds of work have been honored, including efforts to combat climate change and promote democracy.

An official Nobel Peace Prize gold medal is seen at the exhibition at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway, on December 8, 2023. / Credit: Sergei Gapon/Anadolu via Getty Images

The award has been given to politicians who sought international peace, people who have worked for arms control and nuclear disarmament, and international human rights agencies. Other Nobel prizes are awarded for achievements in medicine, literature and other fields.

Winners receive a medal, diploma and monetary prize, according to the award's website. The 6.6-centimeter gold medal shows a portrait of Nobel, with his name, birth year and year of death engraved on the edge. The back of the medal shows three men embracing, to symbolize international fraternity, and is engraved with the phrase "For peace and fraternity among peoples" in Latin.

How is the Nobel Peace Prize awarded?

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According to the prize's website, the Nobel Peace Prize should be awarded to the person who has done the most to advance peace in the world. It is awarded by a committee selected by Norway's parliament. The other Nobel prizes are awarded in Sweden.

Any person or organization can be nominated by any eligible nominators, according to the prize's website. Eligible nominators include members of national assemblies, members of governments, members of bodies like the International Court of Justice, college professors or directors and former prizewinners or members of the Nobel Committee. The nomination deadline is Jan. 31. Over 330 candidates were submitted for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.

The nominations aren't vetted before the nomination deadline, according to the prize's website, so nominations are not endorsements from the committee. The committee does not publicly comment on nominees. The names of nominees and nominating committee can't be announced for 50 years.

Passers-by in front of the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway. / Credit: Steffen Trumpf/picture alliance via Getty Images

Once the deadline passes, the Nobel Committee looks at the nominees and creates a shortlist of "the most interesting and worthy candidates." Those shortlisted nominees then undergo "assessments and examinations" from committee members, according to the prize's website.

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The committee then decides on the winner or winners of the Nobel Peace Prize at its last meeting before the prize winners are announced in early October. The decision is made by majority vote, according to the prize website, but the committee attempts to make a unanimous decision on the winner.

Who has won the Nobel Peace Prize?

The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded 105 times since 1901, according to the prize's website. One hundred and thirty-nine laureates have been awarded, including 92 men, 19 women and 28 organizations.

The prize's first recipients were French scientist and politician Frederic Passy and Jean Henry Durant, a Swiss businessman and co-founder of the Red Cross. Passy was honored for his "lifelong work for international peace conferences, diplomacy and arbitration," while Durant received the award for his "humanitarian efforts to help wounded soldiers and create international understanding," according to the prize's website.

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Other notable prizewinners have included Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai in 2014 and former President Barack Obama in 2009. Obama's win, for "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples," was considered a surprise, as he had been in office for less than a year.

Former President Jimmy Carter received the honor in 2002. Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, and Bishop Desmond Tutu, who worked to end apartheid in South Africa, received it in 1984.

Malala Yousafzai holds a bouquet of flowers during a press conference at the Library of Birmingham after being announced as a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, on October 10, 2014 in Birmingham, England. / Credit: Christopher Furlong, Getty Images

Organizations that have received the Nobel Peace Prize include the United Nations' World Food Program and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

Could Donald Trump get the Nobel Peace Prize?

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Mr. Trump has touted himself as the "president of peace" and has said he ended six or seven wars during his second term, including conflicts between Israel and Iran, India and Pakistan and Thailand and Cambodia. Not all of the conflicts have been fully settled, and it's not clear if the United States' actions or influence were decisive in all of them, foreign policy experts previously told CBS News. Mr. Trump also proposed a peace deal for Israel and Hamas that was agreed to on Wednesday, and he has spoken with world leaders about ending Russia's war in Ukraine.

Mr. Trump told reporters in June that the Nobel Committee "should give" him the Nobel Peace Prize, and that he "should have gotten it four or five times." In September, Mr. Trump told United Nations delegates that "everyone says" he should get the award. He made similar comments when military generals gathered in Virginia last week.

President Donald Trump speaks at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. / Credit: Win McNamee / Getty Images

In private, Mr. Trump has told some associates that his presidency might be remembered for his pursuit of peace more than anything else, a source close to him told CBS News' Robert Costa. The president would like to be considered for the honor, but expectations inside the White House are low that he would get a "fair hearing" by the Nobel Committee, another source said.

Mr. Trump was nominated for the prize by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in July and by the government of Pakistan in June. This week, the Israeli Hostages Families Forum called on the Nobel Prize committee to give the peace prize to Mr. Trump for his "unwavering commitment and extraordinary leadership" in seeking a deal to bring home the remaining hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. Netanyahu repeated his call for Mr. Trump to receive the peace prize Thursday after Israel and Hamas agreed to the "first phase" of a deal he helped broker to end the war in Gaza.

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But these efforts have come past the deadline for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, and it wasn't immediately clear if Mr. Trump was nominated for the 2025 prize. He was also nominated for the prize during his first term.

Experts told The Associated Press the Nobel Committee is unlikely to award Mr. Trump the prize for his second-term achievements so far. However, Obama was awarded the prize without having secured any peace agreements in his first year in the White House.

The committee tends to focus on "the durability of peace, the promotion of international fraternity and the quiet work of institutions that strengthen those goals," the AP reported. The committee also likely does not want to be seen as caving to political pressure, one expert told the AP.

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Norways Crown Prince Haakon is currently visiting the U.S. to celebrate 200 years of Norwegian emigration to the country, and he kicked off his trip in the American midwest in Iowa and Minnesota.

I think it is great to be part of marking the 200th anniversary of emigration from Norway to the United States. We have many points of cooperation, much in common with and many common interests with the Americans. The theme of this trip is how we can build on that, he said. Tomorrow, he will visit New York, where he will welcome the ship Restauration, a replica of the vessel that carried that first group of Norwegian emigrants across the Atlantic in 1825, per the Royal Norwegian Embassy. The ship will dock at Pier 16, South Street Seaport Museum. Yesterday, Prince Haakon met with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the former Democratic nominee for vice president.

The royal visit continues! At the State Capitol, H.R.H. reaffirmed ties between Norway and Minnesota with Governor @GovTimWalz and celebrated Norways more than 50-year partnership with the Minnesota National Guard. Photos: Tom Hansen/Innovasjon Norge pic.twitter.com/aAIrhQDASH  Norwegian Embassy in Washington (@NorwayUS) October 7, 2025

He is undertaking the trip solo, after his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit is on medical leave. Its always nicer to travel together, Haakon told VG. "But I think its great to be able to be here anyway, and I think its good that she gets to be in the pulmonary rehabilitation shes in now.

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The Norwegian royal family has been in the spotlight recently following drama surrounding a new Netflix documentary, Rebel Royals, which tells the story of Haakons sister, Princess Martha Louise, and her husband, Durek Verrett. The whole idea of Rebel Royals is not just about Martha as it is about her family as a whole and the triumphs that each and every one of them have gone through in order to choose love in the case of adversity, Verrett told T&C.

In addition, Prince Haakons stepson, Marius Borg Hiby, was charged with 32 counts, including rape, assault, and domestic violence. Everyone involved in this case finds it challenging and difficult, Haakon told reporters. It will be the court that decides what will happen in the end.

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JUBA, South Sudan (AP)  An international ceasefire monitor says parties to South Sudan 's faltering peace agreement have recruited new fighters and abducted children to participate in a conflict that observers have warned could widen again into civil war.

Tuesday's statement in the capital, Juba, said South Sudans military in June opened a recruitment drive for 4,000 forces for peacekeeping and other purposes and that it opened a new training center in August.

The Reconstituted Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, or RJMEC, is a ceasefire monitoring body overseen by a regional bloc known as IGAD.

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Its statement also said the body had received reports that all sides in the conflict have abducted or mobilized children to participate, and that combatants have engaged in sexual violence.

The reports, also shared with the U.N. Security Council, are likely to fuel concern that South Sudan's government and opposition groups are preparing for a further escalation.

Renewed fighting between South Sudans army and opposition fighters loyal to Riek Machar  who faces a criminal trial after President Salva Kiir said he had suspended him as his deputy  have intensified since the end of 2024.

That has raised concerns that the 2018 peace agreement ending the countrys civil war is collapsing.

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That agreement also formed a transitional government intended to carry out elections once its provisions, like the integration of forces into a national army, were fulfilled. The transitional period has been extended twice, mostly recently in September 2024. International observers and analysts say many provisions remain unfulfilled.

If the current challenges are not urgently addressed there is a high risk of reversal of all the gains already made, and may cause a collapse of the agreement altogether, George Aggrey Owinow, the RJMECs interim chairman, told Tuesday's meeting.

The meeting was attended by senior members of South Sudans government including military officials, as well as representatives of major opposition parties and most ambassadors present in the country.

It was the first time the body had met since February after repeated meetings were cancelled, some due to security concerns.

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A statement read by Anita Kiki Gbeho, the second most senior U.N. official in the country, said that civilian casualties resulting from the conflict between January and September had risen 59% compared to the same period in 2024.

Roughly 321,000 people had been displaced by fighting, and incidents affecting humanitarian access had doubled from the previous year, she said.

South Sudan's minister for cabinet affairs, Martin Elia Lomuro, downplayed fears. I would like to assure you that your concerns are in place, but they are not going to be detrimental and derail the peace process, he told the meeting.

Further fueling fears of war is the trial of Machar, who faces charges including terrorism and crimes against humanity. He has been under house arrest since March after a militia overran a military garrison in the town of Nasir, killing more than 250 soldiers, according to authorities.

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The government alleges that Machar and others in his party incited the violence and provided funds to the militia. Machar has denied those charges and said that he took numerous steps to quell the fighting and evacuate stranded soldiers.

In court, he has called on a neutral body to investigate. RJMEC is urging Machar's release.
North Dakota is preparing to launch its own state-backed stablecoin, the Roughrider Coin, in 2026 through the Bank of North Dakota, marking a major step in the states digital finance strategy.

The project seeks to make North Dakota the second U.S. state to issue a government-backed stablecoin, following Wyomings Frontier Stable Token initiative unveiled earlier this year.

The Roughrider Coin will be fully backed by U.S. dollars and developed in partnership with financial technology firm Fiserv.

Initially, it will be used for interbank financial activities such as loan settlements, overnight lending, and construction advances between the states community banks and credit unions.

The stablecoin seeks to make financial transactions faster and more secure across the local banking system.

North Dakota Honors Roosevelt Legacy With Roughrider Coin Stablecoin Initiative

Governor Kelly Armstrong described the project as a cutting-edge approach to building a secure and efficient financial ecosystem for North Dakota.

As one of the first states to issue our own stablecoin backed by real money, the Bank of North Dakota and Fiserv are helping our financial institutions embrace new ways of moving money with the Roughrider Coin, Armstrong said in a statement.

Notably, the coin is named in honor of former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt and his famed Rough Riders volunteer regiment. Roosevelts historical ties to the state, where he lived, ranched, and helped establish the Theodore Roosevelt National Park, inspired the tokens name and design.

The Bank of North Dakota, the only state-owned bank in the U.S., will issue the Roughrider Coin through Fiservs new FIUSD digital asset platform.

The system is designed to ensure interoperability with other stablecoins, using technology from Paxos Trust Co. and Circle Internet Group Inc., both major players in regulated digital assets.

Bank CEO Don Morgan said the institutions goal is to build on its century-long legacy while adapting to new financial technologies. Were leveraging our 106-year history to stand up and be a leader in the banking and fintech space for North Dakota, Morgan said. We see this as a development that will continue to shape the financial industry, and were getting involved early.

While Wyomings stablecoin has been positioned for broader consumer use, the Bank of North Dakota does not plan to make Roughrider Coin available for retail payments in the near term.

Instead, it will focus on improving the speed and efficiency of institutional transactions. Over time, the bank may explore offering stablecoin-based deposit accounts to clients.
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB)  Join in paying tribute to the brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice serving the country at the Global War on Terror Wall of Remembrance.

The Global War on Terror is the only traveling wall of remembrance, dating back to 1983 with the bombing in Beirut.

It will be located at VFW Post 2185, 2136 Sherman Avenue, Panama City, FL, on Thursday, Oct. 9, from 6 p.m. to Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 9 a.m.

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The site is free to visit and open to the public. There will also be assistance available to help visitors find names.

We have a lot of gold star family members, family and friends, I have friends on this wall, and if you go to our Facebook page, we actually have different ceremonies and different events going on, so you can meet some of these people, organizer Alex Butler said.

To volunteer, click here. To see a schedule of events, click here.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com.
A Pennsylvania woman managed to outwit her alleged kidnapper, fleeing to a police station after he fell asleeponly to be abducted again the next day.

Her husband Shawn Prince, 29, is now facing multiple charges including kidnapping, simple assault, terroristic threats and harassment after the couple was found at a Kentucky hotel on Saturday, Oct. 4, according to the Westmoreland County District Attorneys Office.

What are the allegations against Shawn Prince?

Scottdale Police in Pennsylvania were called on Oct. 1 to conduct a welfare check after the victims family hadnt heard from her since what the district attorneys office described as a domestic incident that took place two days earlier.

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When officers arrived, they found the door to the home open and the victims phone inside, but no sign of her, prosecutors said. As they searched the house, they received word that the victim had escaped from Prince and was waiting at a nearby police station.

She told authorities that Prince had allegedly kidnapped her the morning of Sept. 29 and that he threatened to cut her friends childs throat if she refused to go with him, according to the district attorneys office. Prince allegedly drove the woman out into the woods, forced her out of the car and put a gun to her head, the district attorneys office said. The two spent the night in the remote area, before Prince began driving again the next day.

For more true crime:

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When Prince started nodding off, the victim told police, according to prosecutors, that he forced her to take over the wheel. Once he was asleep, she recognized her surroundings and drove to the Scottsdale Police station. She escaped the vehicle and ran to the police as Prince took off and drove away. He allegedly threatened to burn her house down as he fled, according to authorities.

Shawn Prince is alleged to have kidnapped woman a second time

The womans ordeal didnt end there. She was reported missing again the next day, CBS News reported.

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According to local station WCHS, police tracked the couple to Maysville, Kentucky after they were spotted by a roadside camera. After getting word around 2:10 a.m. that the pair could be in the area, Maysville Police located them at a Quality Inn, according to a statement released by the department.

Given the nature of the charges and the potential threat, Prince was considered armed and dangerous, police shared in the statement. Maysville officers quickly secured the area and safely evacuated nearby hotel guests.

The Kentucky State Police also assisted with their Special Response Team and Prince was apprehended without incident.

After the arrest, Scottdale Assistant Police Chief Matthew Zelenak told CBS News, Thankfully, when they were able to take him into custody, she was safe."

RELATED: Former Raiders Cheerleader Linda Sobek Landed Role on Iconic TV Show Before Vanishing

During the investigation, police found drugs and drug paraphernalia at the scene, authorities noted.

In addition to the charges against him in Pennsylvania, Maysville Police said Prince is also facing charges of fugitive from another state, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia in Kentucky.
Did MAGA activist Jack Posobiec just accidentally compare President Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler?

During a Wednesday roundtable discussion on antifa populated by pitiable right-wing shills, the conspiracy theorist took a moment to claim that the so-called domestic terrorist group had historical roots in Germany.

Antifa is real. Antifa has been around in various iterations for almost a hundred years, in some instances, going back to the Weimar Republic in Germany, Posobiec whined.

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Indeed, there were multiple groups that opposed fascism in the Weimar Republic and voiced strong opposition to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, including the Communist Party of Germanys Antifaschistische Aktion group and the Iron Front, which partnered with the Democratic Socialists. Posobiec seems to think that comparing modern-day antifascists opposing Trumps reign to these groups opposing Hitler should demonstrate how terrible antifa iswhen in fact, it did just the opposite.

Posobiec, perhaps better known as the Pizzagate guy, fancies himself a historian but appears blind to the most obvious comparison to the present day.

The antifascist groups in Weimar Germany were staunchly ideologically opposed, with little connecting them other than their opposition to authoritarianism. Ironically, thats the case for many of the so-called members of antifa, which is short for anti-fascist and is a movement, not a group. The so-called organization lacks a central structure and is instead a loose network of individuals and groups who act separately under the banner of opposing facism.

Posobiec previously co-wrote a book called Unhumans: The Secret History of Communist Revolutions (and How to Crush Them). The book supposedly tracks the opponents of conservatism throughout history, and endorses a modern-day McCarthyism to root out the radicals from American institutions. Its worth noting that Vice President JD Vance provided a glowing promotional blurb about the book.

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On a base level, unhumans seek the death of the successful and the desecration of the beautiful, Posobiec and his ghostwriter claimed, later adding, Take the path of the hunter, and with one singular voice, we are going to make them the prey.

In the end, Posobiec is a facism fanboy who likes to vote in a swing state he doesnt even live in, and Trumps roundtable on countering antifascism is exactly the political farce it presents as.
WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD)  Police say a man was listed in critical condition after a late-night shooting in Wyoming.

Around 11:35 p.m. Tuesday, the Wyoming Police Department said it responded to the area of Charlesgate Avenue SW and 32nd Street SW for reports of gunfire.

When officers showed up, they found evidence indicating that multiple shots had been fired  but no victim.

Police respond to the area of Charlesgate and 32nd Street in Wyoming early in the morning on Oct. 8, 2025, after reports of gunfire.

Police respond to the area of Charlesgate and 32nd Street in Wyoming early in the morning on Oct. 8, 2025, after reports of gunfire.

Not long after, the Wyoming Police Department confirmed, a man who had been shot was located in Grand Rapids. He was taken to the hospital.

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As of Wednesday morning, the man remained in critical condition, according to the police department.

No arrests were immediately made. Detectives are investigating.

If you know anything, youre asked to contact the Wyoming Police Department at 616.530.7300 or Silent Observer at 616.774.2345.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Israel Police shot and wounded a 28-year-old eastern Jerusalem resident after he fled officers during a chase in Silwan. The case appears criminal.

Israel Police officers shot a 28-year-old resident of east Jerusalem who tried to flee on Tuesday night, Walla learned.

The suspect was driving in a vehicle in eastern Jerusalem, arousing suspicion that he possessed a weapon.

After refusing orders to stop his vehicle, he began to flee.

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Police officers began a chase through Silwan, near Jerusalem's Old City, as the suspect exited their vehicle and continued to flee on foot.

Police officers fired warning shots, with the suspect turning to face them, when officers noticed he possessed a weapon.

Israeli border police officer walks during clashes with Palestinians in Silwan neighbourhood in East Jerusalem, March 3, 2023. (credit: AMMAR AWAD/REUTERS)

#

Suspect hospitalized in serious condition

The suspect was wounded when police officers opened fire, and he was taken to hospital. He is believed to be in serious condition.

The incident is believed to be criminal in nature.

This is a developing story.
Afghanistans regional neighbours, including India, have voiced a rare unified front by opposing foreign attempts to deploy military infrastructure in the country, as United States President Donald Trump presses to regain control of the Bagram airbase.

In a joint statement on Tuesday, members of the Moscow Format of Consultations on Afghanistan  which includes rivals India and Pakistan  reaffirmed their unwavering support for the establishment of Afghanistan as an independent, united and peaceful state. The forum also includes Russia, China, Iran and Central Asian nations, all of whom strongly oppose any US return presence in Afghanistan.

The members called unacceptable the attempts by countries to deploy their military infrastructure in Afghanistan and neighbouring states, since this does not serve the interests of regional peace and stability.

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Though the statement echoes last years forum language, it suggests broad regional opposition to Trumps push to return to Bagram, which he handed over to Afghanistans Taliban five years ago as part of a deal paving the way for the US withdrawal from Kabul.





In backing the statement, India  a longtime US partner  navigates fraying ties with Washington and apparent rapprochement with the Taliban, which it long opposed but has in recent years cultivated ties with.

In the latest diplomatic outreach, India is set to welcome the Talibans Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi for a historic first visit to New Delhi this week, lasting from October 9-16.

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After attending the Moscow forum, Muttaqi emphasised that Afghanistan will not accept any foreign military presence. Afghanistan is a free and independent country, and throughout history, it has never accepted the military presence of foreigners, he said. Our decision and policy will remain the same to keep Afghanistan free and independent.

Last month, Trump threatened bad things would happen to Afghanistan if it did not give back Bagram, and cited what he called its strategic location near China. The Taliban has rejected Trumps calls to return the base.

Bagram is about 800km (about 500 miles) from the Chinese border, and about 2,400km (about 1,500 miles) from the nearest Chinese missile factory in Xinjiang.

Trump has referred to China as a key reason for wanting to retake control of Bagram, saying last month in London that the base is an hour away from where [China] makes its nuclear weapons.





Current and former US officials have cast doubt on Trumps goal, saying that reoccupying Bagram might end up looking like a reinvasion, requiring more than 10,000 troops as well as the deployment of advanced air defences.

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The sheer logistics of negotiating redeployment and handing back would be extremely challenging and lengthy, and its not clear that this would serve either sides strategic interests, said Ashley Jackson, co-director at the Geneva-headquartered Centre on Armed Groups.

Bagram, a sprawling complex, was the main base for US forces in Afghanistan during the two decades of war that followed the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York and Washington by al-Qaeda.

Thousands of people were imprisoned at the site for years without charge or trial by US forces during its so-called war on terror, and many of them were abused or tortured.

The Taliban retook the facility in 2021 following the US withdrawal, which Trump first set in motion in his first term as president, and the collapse of the Afghan government with Joe Biden in the White House.
CNNs Kaitlan Collins left Jim Jordan flustered after grilling him over delays in swearing in a new Democratic lawmaker whose signature could force a vote on the release of the Epstein files.

Incoming Rep. Adelita Grijalva was elected to Congress in September but says she has been stuck in political limbo because of her promised vote.

Grijalva has said she has heard absolutely nothing from House Speaker Mike Johnson about when she can assume office, despite two Republicans being sworn in in days, rather than weeks, in similar circumstances.

Mike Johnson speaks amid a government shutdown sparked after Congress failed to reach a funding deal last week. / Andrew Harnik / Getty Images

Democrats have accused Johnson of stalling because Grijalva pledged to sign a discharge petition that would force a vote on legislation requiring the Justice Department to release the files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender who died by suicide while in federal custody in New York City in August 2019 as he awaited trial on new sex trafficking charges.

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Her support would provide the crucial 218th signature needed. Johnson has denied the accusations.

On CNNs The Source Tuesday, Collins put the question directly to Jordan, who framed the matter as a procedural issue amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Because theyre not in session, Jordan said. Its typically done when were all there. Its a special thing. The individual gives, the new member gives a speech in front of Congress, sworn in by the Speaker of the House, introduced by colleagues from their delegation.

He added: Its always been done that way.

Collins probed further. So, youre saying because its a pro forma session. Thats why?

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Yeah, because theres like, theres two people on the floor, you know, whatever, Jordan responded. Theres but normally its done in front of the full House. That new member in a special election gets, I think in some ways a kind of a neat experience where they get to talk to the House, their first day getting sworn in. And thats happened every single time that I can recall with any new member elected in a special [election] in the middle of a congressional session.

Donald Trump, Melania Trump, and the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. / Davidoff Studios Photography / Getty Images

Collins countered by noting exceptions. But a couple months ago, he swore in Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine in a pro forma session, she said.

Jordan appeared caught off guard. I, I, I, didnt, I actually didnt even know that when they were sworn in, he said, before repeating that new members normally receive introductions in front of the full House.

Collins asked directly, Do you think it has anything to do with the discharge petition and that she could be the 218th signature for the Jeffrey Epstein files?

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Jordan denied the suggestion. No, I think its to make the clear point we have voted to fund the government at all levels, all the Democrats support it, and they now wont support it because theyre bringing up an issue that, frankly, was not even part of the campaign last year.

Questioned separately on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, Speaker Johnson insisted the delay had nothing to do with the files and pointed to the House being in pro forma session during the shutdown.

When CNNs Manu Raju pressed him on her being the looming 218th signature, Johnson hit back, saying, It has nothing to do with that at all. We will swear her in when everybody gets back, before adding: Uh well schedule it, I guess, as soon as she wants.

Grijalva succeeds her late father, who died in March, as a Democratic Congresswoman in Arizona.

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The White House has repeatedly pushed back after reports emerged that Trump was told in May that he was in files related to Epstein. Trump and Epstein were once friendly, but the president said they fell out in 2004.

Officials in the first Trump administration determined that Epsteins death was a suicide, but conspiracy theories that he was killed to shield high-profile individuals have proliferated nonetheless.

The Trump administration, in February, declassified and released files related to Epstein, but they were highly redacted and did not offer major revelations. The FBI said in a July memo that a systematic review revealed no incriminating client list.
Nvidia is set to participate in a $20bn funding round for xAI, the AI venture led by Elon Musk, reports Bloomberg citing sources familiar with the negotiations.

The investment package combines equity and debt, with Nvidias contribution in equity reaching as much as $2bn.

The capital will be used by xAI to acquire Nvidias graphics processing units (GPUs) for its Colossus 2 facility, a large-scale data centre located in Memphis, Tennessee.

The financing structure involves a special purpose vehicle (SPV) that will purchase the Nvidia hardware, which xAI will then lease for a five-year term.

This arrangement allows institutional investors to recover their investment through the chip rentals, with the debt collateralised by the GPUs rather than xAIs broader assets.

xAIs funding round, previously reported at half the current size, is split into an estimated $7.5bn equity component and up to $12.5bn in debt.

Valor Capital is leading the equity raise, with Apollo Global Management and Diameter Capital Partners participating in the debt tranche.

Apollo is also investing in the equity portion, according to information previously reported.

Nvidias approach to supporting industry-wide AI rollouts with direct capital has been articulated by its chief financial officer, Colette Kress.

Speaking at a Goldman Sachs event held last month, Kress said that Nvidia will buy back stock and pursue strategic acquisitions when appropriate, but the top priority is using cash to help other companies adopt AI more quickly.

xAI is under pressure to secure additional funding due to high operating costs, with Bloomberg reporting cash burn rates around $1bn monthly.

Earlier this year, the company raised about $10bn in combined equity and debt.

Musk has also leveraged capital from other entities within his corporate group, including SpaceX.

Tesla shareholders are due to vote later in the year on whether the automotive company will invest in xAI.

Musk continues to position AI at the centre of his commercial activities, including self-driving technology and robotics.

He posted on X in September that xAI was not raising any capital right now.

This latest funding round of xAI comes amid a surge in capital commitments across the AI sector. OpenAI recently announced a long-term agreement to use AMD chips.

Meta Platforms has secured a $29bn package for data centre expansion, and Oracle has completed a $38bn debt raise targeting infrastructure.

Last month, OpenAI and Nvidia established a partnership to implement 10GW of Nvidia systems for the ChatGPT developers advanced AI infrastructure.
PROVIDENCE  Two days after state Rep. Jason Knight launched his campaign for attorney general, his wife, activist Nicole Jellinek, has announced her candidacy for his House District 67 seat encompassing parts of Warren and Barrington.

On Wednesday, Oct. 8, Jellinek filed her initial paperwork with the Board of Elections and promised more details on her campaign next week.

Jellinek, 54, is already a familiar face at the Rhode Island State House, where she has been on the winning side of recent fights for abortion rights as chair of the Rhode Island Coalition for Reproductive Freedom.

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In 2023, for example, she was one of the activists who helped win passage of the "Equality in Abortion Coverage Act," for state employees and women on Medicaid.

In a brief statement, Jellinek said she is "eager to bring her experience working with families and local organizations to the State House."

"I look forward to engaging with neighbors across the district about how we can strengthen our communities and make Rhode Island a place where everyone can thrive, she said.

Here's what to know about her:

Nicole Jellinek, center, claps at an event held for her husband, Rep. Jason Knight, to announce his candidacy for Rhode Island Attorney General on Oct. 6, 2025.

Who is Nicole Jellinek?

A licensed clinical social worker and community advocate, Jellinek was the clinical director of the Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island until September, and before that, she was the resettlement director.

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Jellinek was working at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Brookline, Massachusetts, when, on Dec. 30, 1994, John Salvi entered with a semiautomatic rifle and fired into the waiting room area. Salvi opened fire at another abortion clinic nearby, ultimately killing two people and wounding five others.

In 2021, the signing into law of Rhode Island's newest gun-control laws provided a venue for her husband, Knight, to talk publicly for the first time, about his wife's harrowing experience during a shooting.

An enlisted nuclear power-plant operator in the U.S. Navy, Knight was on a submarine in the Atlantic when the headline "Two Killed, Boston Abortion Clinic Shootings" came over the teletype.

Because of the delay in getting messages to the submarine, it was more than a week before he got a "family-gram" telling him that his then-girlfriend, Nicole, had been in the back of the building during the shooting and survived.

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"The wounds inflicted that day, people still feel them 20 some odd years later," Knight, the lead House sponsor of one of the bills, said the day it was signed into law. "They are life changing.  It is our responsibility to get after it."

The bill prohibited the sale by a middleman, or "straw purchaser," of weapons for resale to others who are prohibited from buying guns on their own, including felons convicted of gun crimes in the past.

This story has been updated with new information.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI activist, wife of AG candidate, announces run for his House seat
Russian airstrikes have caused severe damage to a thermal power plant in Ukraine's northern Chernihiv region, leaving parts of the area without power, the regional energy supplier said on Wednesday.

The Chernihivoblenergo supplier said around 4,500 customers were experiencing a power cut. Two employees were injured in the attack, the supplier DTEK said.

DTEK said its thermal power plants have been shelled more than 200 times since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. According to authorities, an attack on a freight train also caused train service disruptions around the city of Nizhyn in Chernihiv.

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In the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, two people were killed and another injured in Russian attacks, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said.

A drone also struck a house in the border region of Sumy, injuring a 4-year-old girl, her mother and her grandmother, according to Governor Oleh Hryhorov. The child suffered severe burns and is in a critical condition, Hryhorov wrote on Telegram.

Drone and missile attacks in the Dnipropetrovsk region also injured five people, with Governor Serhiy Lysak reporting extensive damage to private homes, farm buildings, a business, a religious organization and a gas pipeline.

The hummus producer Yofi said on social media that Russia had attacked its factory with missiles. While no one was injured, the company said production was affected and it had to suspend deliveries.

The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia launched 183 combat drones at Ukraine during the night, 154 of which were repelled. According to the report, there were 22 strikes at 11 locations.
Russias atomic energy agency said a Ukrainian drone struck a cooling tower of the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant (NNPP), located about 100 miles north of the border. While officials say there was no substantial damage to the plant, it was the fourth nuclear power facility in the region to have munitions land on or very close to it in the past two weeks.

Regardless of the level of damage incurred at NNPP, Russia is worried enough about drone strikes on its nuclear facilities that it is beefing up its defenses at a test site in the Arctic. You can read more about that later in this story.

The NNPP cooling tower was hit by a drone flying near the plant that was downed by electronic warfare, Russias Rosenergoatom claimed on Telegram. As a result, the agency said it hit the cooling tower of the No. 6 reactor and exploded upon impact. These structures are generally built to withstand light aircraft impacts.

   Russia says that overnight, a Ukrainian drone impacted a cooling tower at the Unit 6 of the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant in western Russia.



The Russians themselves admit that it occurred due to the UAV being suppressed by Russian electronic warfare equipment. pic.twitter.com/c2LIbOXPve  Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) October 7, 2025

There is no destruction or casualties; however, a dark mark remained on the cooling tower from the consequences of the detonation, Rosenergoatom stated. The safety of the nuclear power plant operation is ensured, the radiation background at the industrial site of the Novovoronezh Nuclear Power Plant and the adjacent territory has not changed and corresponds to natural background levels. Law enforcement agencies are working at the scene.

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The reactor is working and producing the planned 1,139 MW electricity output, according to Rosenergoatom. Three other units are also still working, while a fourth is shut down for routine maintenance.

As a result of a detailed inspection of the cooling tower attacked by the UAV, NNPP specialists found no damage affecting the load-bearing capacity of the structure and the operability of the cooling tower, the agency added.

A satellite image of the Novovornezh Nuclear Power Plant taken on Aug. 30. (Satellite image 2025 Vantor) Wood, Stephen

Ukrainian officials have yet to comment on this incident, which took place as Kyivs drones frequently attack the Voronezh region. Despite Ukraines ongoing campaign against energy facilities in Russia, it is quite likely that this strike was inadvertent. Kyiv has been attacking oil and gas plants, not nuclear ones, though Russia claims it downed a drone in August that caused a fire and temporarily reduced the electrical output at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant. However, we cant tell for sure if either of these strikes was deliberate or not. Russia frequently blames damage from drone strikes on electronic warfare or air defense shootdowns, even if an intended target was hit.

It is also possible that the damage at NNPP was caused by Russian air defenses. These systems can fail, as you can see in the following video. Russia has also claimed that damage caused by failed air defenses was caused by enemy munitions in the past.

 Footage of the strike by the  Russian Pantsir-S1 SAM system on a multi-story building in Stary Oskol, Belgorod region, during an attempt to intercept a Ukrainian UAV



Beat your own so that your enemies will fear you  pic.twitter.com/B2K1PAMw6B  Cloooud |  (@GloOouD) October 6, 2025

Regardless, as Ukraine develops newer long-range weapons with far larger warheads, even an accidental strike on one of these sites could have far greater consequences. You can read more about one of Ukraines newest long-range weapons in our story we published today here.

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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has yet to comment, but has expressed high concern about drones flying near the South (SNPP) and Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi issued warnings about ZNPP. That plant has been operating on backup diesel fuel generators since Sept. 23, after power lines were downed. Ukrainian officials claim Russia cut the lines on purpose, which Russia denies. ZNPP is inactive; however, pumps are needed to keep water cooling reactors so they dont melt down. The power outage is the longest experienced by ZNPP during this conflict, Grossi stated.

Regardless of who cut the lines, munitions are dropping close to the plant, which Russia occupied in the early days of the war.

The IAEA team at ZNPP today heard multiple rounds of incoming and outgoing shelling, adding to nuclear safety risks at a time when the plant has been without off-site power for nearly two weeks, Grossi said in a statement on Monday. The shelling occurred between [2:05 pm and 3:30 pm] local time, totalling about 15 rounds at near and middle distance from the site, the team reported. Some explosions triggered car alarms.

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Around the same time, the ZNPP informed the IAEA team that two rounds of shelling struck around 1.25 km (about three-quarters of a mile) from the site perimeter, in the vicinity of a fire extinguisher charging station. No casualties were reported and there was no immediate information about any damage.

The nuclear safety and security situation is clearly not improving, Grossi cautioned. On the contrary, the risks are growing. The plant has now been without off-site power for almost two weeks, forcing it to rely on emergency diesel generators for the electricity it needs to cool its shutdown reactors and spent fuel. This is an extraordinarily challenging situation.

A satellite image offering a more general view of the central portion of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant complex. The six reactor buildings can be clearly seen thanks to their red domes, along with their adjacent turbine halls. (Google Earth)

The massive atomic energy plant in Zaporizhzhia has been a continuous cause for major concern since not long after the war broke out. In March 2022, there was global alarm after Russia shelled a building on the site of ZNPP that sparked a fire and global concerns about potential radiation leaks. The following video shows scenes from that incident.

Fortunately, the reactors were undamaged and no radiation was released.

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On Sept. 25, a drone was downed and detonated about a half mile from SNPP in Ukraine, according to the IAEA. SNPP, still active, is located about 150 miles from the front lines in Ukraines south-central Mykolaiv region.

While there was no effect on the plant operations and no casualties, Grossi described the incident as another close call.

The team was informed by the plant that 22 unmanned aerial vehicles were observed late last night and early this morning within its monitoring zone, some coming as close as half a kilometer from the site, IAEA reported. South Ukraine is one of the countrys three operational nuclear power plants (NPPs), its three reactors currently generating electricity at full capacity.

From their accommodation near the plant, IAEA team members heard gunfire and explosions around 1 am local time. When they visited the location where one of the drones landed, they observed a crater measuring four square meters (about 43 square feet) at the surface and with a depth of around one meter (about 3 feet).

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Nearby metal structures had been hit by shrapnel and the windows of vehicles close to the impact area were shattered, the team reported. A 150 kilovolt (kV) regional power line was also damaged, the plant said, though it was not connected to SNPP.

Once again, drones are flying far too close to nuclear power plants, putting nuclear safety at risk, Grossi said at the time. Fortunately, last nights incident did not result in any damage to the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant itself. Next time we may not be so lucky. I continue to urge both sides to show maximum military restraint around all important nuclear facilities.

South Nuclear Power Plant. (UATOM)

Last month, the defunct Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant lost power for five days after what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed was a drone strike on a nearby energy substation stopped the flow of electricity to a containment structure. Russian officials again denied any involvement. Power was ultimately restored five days later.

Earlier this year, the containment structures at Chernobyl, shuttered since the 1986 disaster, were damaged by a Russian drone in February. You can see video and images of that incident below. There have been concerns about attacks there since the all-out Russian invasion. Moscows forces captured CNPP on the first day of the war as they pushed through the Exclusion Zone surrounding the plant in their initial thrust.

More images of Russia's drone damaging the Chornobyl Nuclear power plant shelter structure.



The shelter covers the nuclear reactor that exploded in April 1986 and locks in the radioactive components after the catastrophe. https://t.co/OCSOWTB6vH pic.twitter.com/1dn6ehyNBB  Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) February 14, 2025

While there was little damage caused at the NNPP, Russian officials are concerned enough about drone strikes, both from near and far, on their nuclear facilities to add new layers of protection. Satellite imagery published by the Barents Observer shows that the Russians have installed so-called metal cope cages on fuel tanks at the Novaya Zemlya nuclear test site, more than 1,500 miles north of Ukraine. In 1961, the worlds largest nuclear bomb, the so-called Tsar Bomba, was dropped over the site.

  Russia has begun installing anti-drone structures at a nuclear test site on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago, located more than 2,500 kilometers from  Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/8F3GIQRR0G   MilitaryNewsUA  (@front_ukrainian) October 6, 2025

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As the publication noted, a few Ukrainian drones have reached above the Arctic Circle, including several attacks on the Olenya air base in 2024 and 2025.

In addition to Ukrainian attempts to attack Olenya with long-range drones, several strategic aircraft were destroyed and damaged at the base in Ukraines infamous Spider Web attack in June. Thats when drones flew out of pre-positioned trucks parked near several bases across Russia. Olenya was one of the hardest hit bases, with burned-out hulks and the telltale burn marks on the tarmac consistent with the destruction of five aircraft, at least three of which can be confirmed as Tu-95MS bombers. You can read more about that attack in our story about it here.

  Mass drone attack by Ukraine.



At the Olenya airfield in the Murmansk region four burning TU Bombers.



This airfield is home to Russia's strategic aviation.



1/ pic.twitter.com/pBd6TA8jO7  Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) June 1, 2025

Regardless of emerging drone defenses in Russia, as todays incident once again showed, even without any serious damage, concern that the weapons lobbed by both sides could end up impacting nuclear facilities with major repercussions remains highly palpable.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
Washington  Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked an effort aimed at preventing continued U.S. strikes on alleged drug-carrying boats off the coast of Venezuela.

Democrats forced a vote on the issue under the War Powers Act. In a 48-51 vote, the effort failed to garner enough support to move forward. Republican Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted with nearly all Democrats in favor, while Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania joined Republicans in opposing it.

The resolution, led by Sens. Adam Schiff of California and Tim Kaine of Virginia, would have blocked the U.S. military from engaging in hostilities with "any non-state organization engaged in the promotion, trafficking, and distribution of illegal drugs and other related activities" without congressional authorization.

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"There has been no authorization to use force by Congress in this way," Schiff said Wednesday, saying the strikes risk escalating into a full-blown conflict with Venezuela. "I feel it is plainly unconstitutional."

The strikes in the Caribbean Sea have prompted bipartisan backlash, with lawmakers questioning their legality. Congress, which has the sole authority under the Constitution to declare war, has not authorized the use of military force against drug cartels.

The Trump administration says it has conducted four strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats near Venezuela since Sept. 2, killing at least 21 people.

In a notification to Congress after the second strike in mid-September, the Trump administration said the U.S. is in a "non-international armed conflict" with drug cartels it has designated as terrorist organizations. The drugs smuggled by these cartels kill tens of thousands of Americans each year and constitute an "armed attack" against U.S. citizens, according to the White House.

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The Trump administration has designated several drug cartels and gangs as terrorist organizations, including Venezuela's Tren de Aragua, Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel and El Salvador's MS-13.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was at the Capitol on Wednesday to meet with Senate Republicans, told reporters the president has the authority to order the strikes without congressional authorization.

"These are targeted strikes against imminent threats against the United States," he said.

Regarding claims that the U.S. is acting in self-defense, David Janovsky, the acting director of The Constitution Project at Project on Government Oversight said, "The situation in the Caribbean is not that."

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Democrats' war powers resolution said the designation of drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations "provides no legal authority for the president to use force against members of designated organizations or any foreign state."

Kaine said the administration has not provided answers to lawmakers' questions on the intelligence supporting the strikes, the legal rationale for them or why the decision was made to attack the boats instead of intercept them.

"The White House does not maintain there's any congressional authorization," Kaine said. "These military actions should stop unless authorized by Congress  not stopped, period, permanently, forever, can't-do-them stopped  unless authorized by congressional action."

Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the president is required to consult Congress before introducing armed forces into hostilities, unless there has been a declaration of war or other congressional authorization. If Congress does not authorize military force, the president has to withdraw forces within 90 days. The law was enacted in response to the Vietnam War as a check on the president's power to wage war without the consent of Congress.

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Paul has been the loudest GOP critic of the strikes on the alleged drug smuggling boats. After the first strike, Paul condemned Vice President JD Vance, who said "killing cartel members who poison our fellow citizens is the highest and best use of our military."

"What a despicable and thoughtless sentiment it is to glorify killing someone without a trial," Paul wrote.

Paul underscored his point in a floor speech Wednesday, saying the strikes risk killing innocent people and the administration has presented no evidence that the boats were carrying drugs.

"If anyone gave a you-know-what about justice, perhaps those in charge of deciding whom to kill might let us know their names, present proof of their guilt, show evidence of their crimes," Paul said. "Is it too much to ask to know the names of those we kill before we kill them? To know what evidence exists of their guilt? At the very least, the government should explain how the gang came to be labeled as terrorists."

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Paul added, "the blow-them-to-smithereens crowd also conveniently ignores the fact that death is generally not the penalty for drug smuggling."

During debate on the resolution, other Republicans were untroubled about the president taking unilateral action against the alleged drug traffickers and that the administration has left Congress in the dark on details of the strikes.

"These strikes were fully compliant and fully justified," Republican Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho said.

There were similar efforts by Congress over the summer to reassert its authority to declare war as tensions boiled over between Israel and Iran. The U.S. became directly involved in the 12-day war by bombing Iran's nuclear facilities before Iran and Israel agreed to a ceasefire.

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After the Iran strikes, the Senate voted down a measure that Kaine had introduced in the days before the bombings to block President Trump from using further military force against Iran.

"The Iran situation was extremely time-limited," Janovsky said. "The administration has made it very clear that they continue, and have in fact continued, to carry out these strikes in the Caribbean. So I think that certainly creates more ongoing urgency for Congress to act in some way in this case."

Schiff said Congress has abdicated its war-declaring responsibilities because members don't want to go on the record on the issue. He said that sets a dangerous precedent.

"We're blowing up ships thousands of miles from our shore," Schiff said. "What is to stop some other nation from deciding, well, they're going to use the same precedent to blow up ships thousands of miles from their shore, whether in the South China Sea or elsewhere, with a purported rationale that they're engaged in some kind of trafficking and therefore they're taking action? I don't think this is a practice we want to see other nations adopt."

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Senate Republicans voted down legislation Wednesday that would have put a check on President Donald Trumps ability to use deadly military force against drug cartels after Democrats tried to counter the administrations extraordinary assertion of presidential war powers to destroy vessels in the Caribbean.

The vote fell mostly along party lines, 48-51, with two Republicans, Sens. Rand Paul and Lisa Murkowski, voting in favor and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman voting against.

It was the first vote in Congress on Trumps military campaign, which according to the White House has so far destroyed four vessels, killed at least 21 people and stopped narcotics from reaching the U.S.. The war powers resolution would have required the president to seek authorization from Congress before further military strikes on the cartels.

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The Trump administration has asserted that drug traffickers are armed combatants threatening the United States, creating justification to use military force. But that assertion has been met with some unease on Capitol Hill.

Some Republicans are asking the White House for more clarification on its legal justification and specifics on how the strikes are conducted, while Democrats insist they are violations of U.S. and international law. Its a clash that could redefine how the worlds most powerful military uses lethal force and set the tone for future global conflict.

The White House had indicated Donald Trump would veto the legislation, and even though the Senate vote failed it gave lawmakers an opportunity to go on the record with their objections to Trumps declaration that the U.S. is in armed conflict with drug cartels.

It sends a message when a significant number of legislators say, Hey, this is a bad idea, said Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat who pushed the resolution alongside Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California.

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What is the War Powers Resolution?

Wednesday's vote was brought under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, which was intended to reassert congressional power over the declaration of war.

Congress must not allow the executive branch to become judge, jury and executioner, Paul, a Kentucky Republican who has long pushed for greater congressional oversight of war powers, said during a floor speech.

Paul was the only Republican to publicly speak in favor of the resolution before the vote, but a number of GOP senators have questioned the strikes on vessels and said they are not receiving enough information from the administration.

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Sen. Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, acknowledged there may be some concern in the Republican conference about the strikes. However, Republican leaders argued against the resolution on the Senate floor Wednesday, calling it a political ploy from Democrats.

People were attacking our country by bringing in poisonous substances to deposit into our country that would have killed Americans, said Sen. Jim Risch, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Fortunately most of those drugs are now at the bottom of the ocean.

Risch thanked Trump for his actions and added that he hoped the military strikes would continue.

What has the administration told Congress about the strikes?

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Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee received a classified briefing last week on the strikes, and Cramer said he was comfortable with at least the plausibility of their legal argument. But he added that no one representing intelligence agencies or the military command structure for Central and South America was present for the briefing.

Id be more comfortable defending the administration if they shared the information, he said.

Kaine also said the briefing did not include any information on why the military chose to destroy the vessels rather than interdict them or get into the specifics of how the military was so confident that the vessels were carrying drugs.

Maybe they were engaged in human trafficking, or maybe it was the wrong ship, Schiff said. We just have little or no information about who was onboard these ships or what intelligence was used or what the rationale was and how certain we could be that everyone on that ship deserved to die.

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The Democrats also said the administration has told them it is adding cartels to a list of organizations deemed narco-terrorists that are targets for military strikes, but it has not shown the lawmakers a complete list.

The slow erosion of congressional oversight is not an abstract debate about process, Sen. Jack Reed, the top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a floor speech. It is a real and present threat to our democracy.

A visit from Rubio

Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited the Republican Conference for lunch Wednesday to emphasize to senators that they should vote against the legislation. He told the senators the administration was treating cartels like governmental entities because they have seized control of large portions of some Caribbean nations, according to Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota.

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These drug trafficking organizations are a direct threat to the safety and security of the United States to unleash violence and criminality on our streets, fueled by the drugs and the drug profits that they make, Rubio told reporters at the Capitol. And the president is the commander in chief, has an obligation to keep our country safe.

Still, there is worry in the Senate that the recent buildup of U.S. maritime forces in the Caribbean was a sign of shifting U.S. priorities and tactics that could have grave repercussions. Senators warned that further military strikes had the potential to set off a conflict with Venezuela.

This is the kind of thing that leads a country, unexpectedly and unintentionally, into war," Schiff said.

Following the vote, Sen. Todd Young, an Indiana Republican, said in a statement that even though he voted against the resolution, he was still highly concerned about the legality of the strikes.

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He also raised concern that the military buildup in the Caribbean could divert resources from countering China's military elsewhere. Young said he would be meeting with Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about those concerns and also called for a hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The administration should adhere to the Constitution and keep the peoples representatives informed on this critical national security issue, he said.

___

Associated Press writer Lisa Mascaro contributed.
The wife of a sheriff in Alabama has taken responsibility after local outrage over an ICE-themed Halloween display at their home.

A photo of the front yard of Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burchs house surfaced online Tuesday, showing skeletons dressed as ICE agents appearing to chase skeletons dressed in stereotypical Hispanic attireincluding sombreros and serapeswho are jumping over the fence.

It is unclear when the decorations were erected, but the controversy comes just days before the annual Mobile Latin Fest this Saturday, which celebrates the growing Latin population in our region.

Halloween decorations in the front of Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch's private home in Alabama. / Whitney Newman/Facebook

The picture was shared by neighbor Whitney Newman on her Facebook page, and images of the display are gaining traction in social media posts online.

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Newman pointed out the inappropriate nature of the decorations, given Burchs role as an elected law enforcement official.

Newman said on her social media that she could not in good conscience, stand by and watch this happen in her neighborhood.

Its hard to put into words how disappointing it is to see our elected sheriff use his own front yard to mock and dehumanize a group of people, Newman said. I dont think its cute or funny. And coming from a law enforcement official makes it exponentially worse. This crosses a line from tasteless joke into a public statement about who deserves dignity.

Mobile Sheriff Paul Burch says Latin Fest will not be targeted by ICE, via NBC15 News. / screen grab

Newman included a quote from Burch on Mobiles Team Sheriff Facebook page which reads, All citizens of Mobile County deserve to live in a safe community, without fear. At the MCSO, we will work tirelessly towards this goal.

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I just wish our sheriff would practice what he preaches instead of parading racism in his front yard, she added. We deserve better from our leaders.

Newman had no further comment when contacted by the Daily Beast.

Replies on her Facebook post said the decorations were blatant bigotry, disgusting and deplorable.

Halloween decorations at Mobile Sheriff Paul Burch's house, via NBC15 News. / NBC15 News

The sheriffs wife, Michelle Alfonso Burch, took responsibility for the Halloween decorations in a statement to WKRG5 on Tuesday, claiming they were tongue-in-cheek. Burch, who has Cuban heritage, said she will replace the controversial display.

Every year, I make tongue-in-cheek Halloween decorations with a topical theme at my home, she said. My husband has nothing to do with these, other than mowing the grass around them.

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I made this one, playing both on my Cuban background and new, needed changes in federal immigration enforcement. My parents were legal immigrants, and I have plenty of immigrants throughout my family. Ill make a new one shortlywe have no shortage of topics to cover."

Halloween decorations at Mobile Sheriff Paul Burch's house, via NBC15 News. / screen grab

The Daily Beast has contacted Burchs office for comment.

The outrage comes amid sweeping immigration raids on U.S. cities. The Department of Homeland Security reported last month that 400,000 non-citizens have been deported since January, and 1.6 million people have self-deported.

Last week, Burch defended his deputies striking a man as he was resisting arrest and fighting officers during an immigration operation.

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Footage of the man, who Burch identified as Henry Castilo, showed him being hit in the face while being restrained by two deputies as part of a joint operation with ICE.

Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch. / Mobile County Sheriff's Office

When questioned if people of non-Hispanic backgrounds were arrested in the raids conducted with ICE, Burch told AL.com, I really couldnt tell you, I dont keep up with each and every stat.

While Burch has yet to comment directly on the Halloween decorations, he told NBC15 News on Monday that he was not aware of any ICE operations preparing to target citizens attending Latin Fest.

They are targeting individuals with criminal backgrounds, Burch said. Occasionally, there are collateral individuals, who just happen to be there when they arrest the person theyre targeted. But Im not aware of any operations targeting the festival or anything surrounding the festival.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has criticised a European Commission proposal to phase out imports of Russian energy in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and claimed that an EU ban on Russian nuclear fuel would be "the biggest danger" and a direct threat to Europe's energy security.

Source: Euractiv, an EU-focused news and analysis website, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Slovakia, Bulgaria, Czechia, Finland and Hungary generate electricity using Russian-designed nuclear reactors, and most of them remain reliant on Russian fuel supplies until alternative sources become fully available.

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Fico directly criticised the European Commission's plan to phase out imports of Russian energy in response to the invasion of Ukraine and the 2022 energy crisis. The plan is known as REPowerEU.

In his speech, the Slovak prime minister noted that Slovakia had signed a nuclear energy agreement with the United States in September. The agreement is related to Bratislava's plan to build a new 1,000-megawatt reactor at the Jaslovske Bohunice nuclear power plant.

"I believe that this is a step which will be important not just for Slovakia, but it will be important for the whole Europe, especially for Central Europe," he said.

Background:

Fico, who like his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban has maintained close ties with the Kremlin since the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine, has long been a critic of EU efforts to cut dependence on Russian energy.

In his speech, he called the REPowerEU plan "an unfortunate document" and "complete nonsense", stating that Slovakia "will never agree" to the Commission's proposal to ban all imports of Russian gas.

Slovakia and Hungary are the only two EU countries openly opposing efforts to end reliance on Russian energy.

However, unlike economic sanctions, which require unanimous approval by EU governments, Bratislava and Budapest cannot easily block REPowerEU.

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Sir Keir Starmer will resist growing demands from British business leaders to provide more UK visas for highly skilled workers from India.

While flying to Mumbai for a two-day trade visit with more than 100 business chiefs, the prime minister said opening up visas for Indian workers to come to the UK isn't part of the plan, he added.

India reportedly pushed for far more visa access to the UK when the two countries were finalising their trade deal earlier this year.

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But while heading on his first major trade mission to India, which comes after a UK-India trade deal was struck earlier this year, the prime minister told journalists: The issue is not about visas. It's about  engagement and investment and jobs and prosperity coming into the United Kingdom.

Sir Keir also reiterated that, when it comes to visas, ministers were considering whether to punish countries who refuse to take back people deported from the UK.

The government is looking at whether there should be a link between visas and returns agreements, he said, though he added this would not apply to India, with which the UK has a successful returns agreement.

The PM has pledged to cut net migration to the UK and has come under intense pressure to cut both legal and illegal immigration from Nigel Farages Reform UK party and Kemi Badenochs Conservatives.

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But he is also under pressure to find some economic good news on his whirlwind trade visit, following warnings of a 50bn black hole in the governments finances and widespread forecasts Rachel Reeves will have to raise taxes in Novembers Budget.

Keir Starmer with the huge trade delegation at Heathrow (Reuters)

Sir Keir hailed the UK-India trade agreement brokered this summer as a launchpad for growth on his first major trade visit since becoming prime minister.

Coming with him to India are more than 100 top business leaders from the UK, including the Bend it Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha.

Also included are bosses from British Airways, which confirmed it will introduce a third daily flight between Delhi and Heathrow next year, and Manchester airport, which will launch a new direct route to Delhi operated by IndiGo.

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But the PM is also under pressure to say "enough is enough" and call for the end of the eight-year detention of British citizen Jagtar Singh Johal, a Sikh activist, when he meets his counterpart Narendra Modi.

His meeting with PM Modi could also be difficult for other reasons. He joked he had not sent birthday congratulations to Putin, nor am I going to do so, after Mr Modi wished the Russian leader happy birthday just hours before the PM left London.

The trade deal with the south Asian nation, signed this summer after three long years of negotiations, is said to be worth 4.8bn a year to Britain.

Sir Keir said the deal was the best secured by any country but added the story doesnt stop there as he hailed the agreement as a launchpad for growth.

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With India set to be the third biggest economy in the world by 2028, and trade with them about to become quicker and cheaper, the opportunities waiting to be seized are unparalleled, he said.

Thats why Ill be flying the flag for British business alongside 125 of our biggest household names in Mumbai this week, because growth in India for them means more choice, opportunity and jobs at home for the British people.

Keir Starmer with Narendra Modi when the Indian PM visited the UK earlier this year (PA)

Business secretary Peter Kyle, who is also on the trip, said the deal places British businesses at the front of the queue to access a huge and ever-growing market.

Now we are hitting the ground running and using every means necessary to ready businesses to take full advantage of the massive wins weve secured once the deal comes into force so we can deliver growth, jobs, and prosperity at home.

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The UK government said the agreement also focuses on whisky, gin, cars and cosmetics and will boost the economy and cut prices for consumers.

Indian temporary workers and their employers in the UK will also get a three-year exemption from national insurance contributions.

The trade deal is expected to raise bilateral trade by 25.5bn per year, with UK exports to India projected to grow by nearly 60 per cent.

India is currently the fourth largest economy globally and is projected to become the third largest by 2028.

Britain is also hoping to capitalise on a boom in demand for higher education in India, where an estimated 70 million places will be needed by 2035, creating an opportunity for UK universities.
Last month, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that starting Nov. 1, the state will guarantee no-cost universal child care for its residents.

The initiative makes early child care freely available to all New Mexicans, regardless of income. The groundbreaking program is the first of its kind in the United States.

Child care is essential to family stability, workforce participation, and New Mexicos future prosperity, said Lujan Grisham in a statement in September.

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By investing in universal child care, we are giving families financial relief, supporting our economy, and ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow and thrive.

When I ran for governor, I promised to make #NewMexico more affordable to raise a family. Thanks to @voguemagazine for highlighting how universal child care delivers on that promise. Starting Nov. 1, no-cost care is reality. #UniversalChildCare



Read more here: pic.twitter.com/Uhr2n0Hrjc  Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (@GovMLG) September 29, 2025

New Mexico consistently ranks among the poorest states in the nation, with poverty levels often reaching percentages in the mid- to high-teens, according the U.S. Census Bureau. With that in mind, the state under Lujan Grisham has taken considerable steps in the past several years to provide its residents with ample access to a good education, which is a commonly understood pathway to break cycles of poverty.

For New Mexico residents, state college is already tuition-free and the states early childhood assistance program has been funded for eligible applicants for the past three years. Also, free breakfast and lunch has been provided for public school students since 2023.

We dont see this as an expenditure, this is an investment. ... We are going to see change in crime, we are going to see changes with poverty, said Kendal Chavez, deputy secretary of New Mexicos Early Childhood Education and Care Department.

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This for us as a state  both on the big S, state executive side, and also the people of New Mexico  is the smartest investment we could make."

A handout or just a leg up?

According to the governors office, the average savings per family will be $12,000 a year, per child. In comparison, families in Utah spend around $13,000 per year on early childhood care. When the mean income for a family of four in New Mexico is around $90,000, those extra dollars represent a significant change in their financial futures.

Families can buy houses and invest money in retirement and do the things that we know continue to pull families out of poverty and prepare them for a long-term, happy, healthy, successful life, Chavez said.

She said she believes people in the state want to do whatever they can to change their future, and that this effort  supporting families and education  is the best way to do it.

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Families here just culturally understand that investing in babies, moms, young families and families in general is how we continue to pull ourselves out of poverty and really create a brighter future for everybody, Chavez said.

There has been some pushback from state Republicans who say the funds will create government dependencies and allow wealthy families a state subsidy.

Programs like child care assistance should serve as a hand up for the neediest of families so it serves as a tool that can empower parents to advance their careers and improve their lives, New Mexico GOP Chair Amy Barela said in a Sept. 9 statement.

The governors idea of universal child care would also be a permanent handout for the wealthy to pay for their in-home nannies.

How the program works

Theres many variables, but the most straightforward process is your kids already in child care, you apply, and then the state takes over payment and executes a contract directly with the provider, she said.

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Applicants fill out a form on a state website that tracks demographics and income levels to ensure funding comes from the right state accounts. Once that process is complete, the state then pays the preferred, registered provider of the parents. There are no copayments or eligibility requirements.

Not all providers are required by the state to register as contractors of the program, nor are all parents mandated to use the funds that are available.

For families that have stay-at-home parents or relatives taking care of children, they will not receive a direct credit from the state as part of the program. If those families place their children into registered programs, then New Mexico will pay for child care.

At the moment, state funds pay child care for 32,000 kids. The governors office hopes that number increases to 58,000 over the next year and a half.

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The state does not yet have enough child care capacity to reach that number. The governor and Chavez said New Mexico doesnt have programs to take care of approximately 12,000 infants and toddlers.

It is not a small number, but it doesnt necessarily mean the state is missing all of that capacity. There are providers that have yet to register, and children who are already in child care that have not applied for assistance. There will still be a delta between kids and providers, but the state is working to address that, too.

Where do the funds come from?

The effort to get universal child care guaranteed by the state is at least five years in the making at the governmental level, with other efforts from grass roots and community organizers going back even further.

For families in New Mexico, this was sort of a beautiful surprise, but those of us that have been in the early childhood space know that weve been ripping the Band-Aid off slowly, Chavez said. Now we figured we might as well finish the job.

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To explain how the guaranteeing universal early child care for New Mexicans, Chavez ran through the timeline, describing the key events that led to the historic achievement.

In 2019, New Mexico became one of the first states to appoint a cabinet level position dedicated to early childhood education and care. Lujan Grisham announced Elizabeth Gorginsky as the states first secretary in the role.

Around the same time the New Mexico Legislature  working with the governors office  created a trust fund that was to be entirely dedicated to early childhood costs. The Early Childhood and Care Education Fund was signed into law in 2020.

In 2020, essentially, we socked away  invested  $300 million in a fund," Chavez said. That money was put up and its now between $9 and $10 billion.

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That fund distributed $22 million in 2022, and the amount it is stipulated to allocate for subsequent years is $30 million.

In 2022, the state increased who was eligible to receive state assistance from those making 200% above the federal poverty level to those who are 400% above the line.

For context, in 2025 at 400% (of the federal poverty level), a family of three is about $109,000, a family of four is $129,000, Chavez said. They arent luxuriously wealthy families.

The state also secured a second revenue stream in 2022 for the early childhood system by constitutional amendment, allocating some cash from the states Land Grant Permanent Fund into the system.

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Copayments for families that were 400% of the federal poverty level were eliminated, which made early child care entirely free for participating families.

Now, starting Nov. 1 through rule we are removing income limits for child care assistance in the state, Chavez said.

What are the next challenges?

The current program was created as a rule, rather than legislation but is fully funded through the end of 2026. Like any other form of government law or action, it can still be undone in the future.

Chavez reiterated that because the program is funded for the next year and a half, participating families have a fairly long time to get used to such a beneficial program.

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Its about the 27 budget. Thats where the negotiation is going to be with the legislature, she said.

Our theory of change here is that the uproar that were going to get from families and community is going to make these investments worthwhile for the legislature. And then well have a beautifully packaged, ready to go system of care for the next governor.

Despite opposition from Republicans, Chavez and Lujan Grisham are convinced that New Mexico families want the program.

There are some naysayers around that ask if we can afford it. There are questions being asked even in the moment, Is this the best use of public dollars? Chavez said. Our response is, We have the money and this is the smartest investment we could make.
GLOCESTER, R.I. (WPRI)  A Ponaganset High School teacher is off the job and Rhode Island State Police are investigating, 12 News has learned.

But state and local education officials, as well as police, are refusing to reveal exactly what that investigation entails or whos involved.

The situation was briefly addressed at the Foster-Glocester Regional School Committee meeting Tuesday evening by member Shelley Pezza during public comment.

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If the allegations are true, regarding inappropriate behavior with one of our teachers and students, and if in fact, students and parents have come forward complaining about said behavior, and the administration didnt take action to address said complaints, what kind of example are we setting? Pezza said. For the sake of transparency, and for the sake of students and parents  as a school committee member and taxpayer, I demand an independent investigation into this matter.

In response, Foster-Glocester Superintendent Dr. Renee Palazzo stressed that the district was not made aware of any potential misconduct.

No reports were given, no information was shared, Palazzo said. Im hearing about it now.

There is a State Police investigation, she added. But no information had come to the school department.

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In a statement to 12 News earlier in the week, Palazzo confirmed the teacher no longer works for the district, but deferred other questions about what happened to the Rhode Island State Police.

However, the Rhode Island State Police refused to confirm or deny that an investigation was underway.

The Rhode Island Department of Education is also investigating the matter, and acknowledged it is collaborating with state and local law enforcement, according to a spokesperson. That spokesperson declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation.

12 News called a phone number listed for the teacher in question and left messages seeking comment about what happened, but have not heard back.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.
By Sarah N. Lynch and Jonathan Allen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A man was arrested in Florida on charges of intentionally igniting what would become California's devastating Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people and wiped out a wealthy enclave of Los Angeles at the start of the year, the U.S. Justice Department said on Wednesday.

According to prosecutors, Jonathan Rinderknecht started a fire near a hiking trail in the mountains near Pacific Palisades a few minutes after midnight on January 1 after he completed a shift driving an Uber car.

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Los Angeles firefighters had thought they had quickly extinguished that blaze, known as the Lachman Fire. But it erupted anew on January 7 after smoldering underground for a week, becoming the Palisades Fire, according to federal investigators.

Rinderknecht, 29, repeatedly called 911 on January 1 before successfully connecting to report the blaze, according to a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles. He also recorded videos on his phone of firefighters attempting to extinguish the blaze.

The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the cause of the fire with the Los Angeles fire and police departments.

While on the 911 call, according to the criminal complaint, Rinderknecht typed a question into ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence app on his phone: "Are you at fault if a fire is lift (sic) because of your cigarettes." ChatGPT's response was "Yes," the complaint said.

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Rinderknecht later spoke with investigators for several hours, and made conflicting statements about whether he smoked cigarettes near the trail that night, the complaint said.

The fire scorched more than 23,000 acres (9,308 hectares), decimating Pacific Palisades, a mostly wealthy residential neighborhood overlooking the ocean.

It was among the most destructive fires in the city's history, destroying some 6,000 structures around Los Angeles, causing about $150 billion in damages, and was simultaneous with another huge destructive fire in nearby Altadena known as the Eaton Fire.

It ravaged large parts of Pacific Palisades, Topanga and Malibu before firefighters were finally able to contain the blaze about 24 days later

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ATF investigators concluded that the Palisades Fire, which ignited suddenly, was probably started by someone using a lighter to burn a combustible material "such as vegetation or paper," the complaint said. Cellphone data shows that no one besides Rinderknecht was in the area at that time, and he himself said he saw no one else near the trail.

Rinderknecht, who told investigators he once lived in Pacific Palisades, was arrested in Florida. Authorities will transfer him back to the Central District of California to face prosecution. He is facing a federal charge of arson because the fire burned federal land, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

A public defender representing him did not respond to a request for comment.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and other local officials faced fierce criticism over the preparedness and response to the fire, with Bass firing Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley in February.

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"Each day that families are displaced is a day too long and as we are working tirelessly to bring Angelenos home, we are also working towards closure and towards justice  and today is a step forward in that process," Bass said in a statement on Wednesday.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said the arrest was an important step towards determining how the fire started "and bringing closure to the thousands of survivors whose lives were upended."

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch in Washington and Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Scott Malone, Richard Chang, Aurora Ellis and Daniel Wallis)
Rhode Island T.F. Green Interinational Airport tied for ninth place in Conde Nast Traveler's 2025 Readers Choice rankings for best airport in the nation. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)

For the sixth consecutive year, Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport has been ranked among the top 10 airports in the nation by Conde Nast Traveler.

The Warwick airport tied for ninth place with Salt Lake City International Airport in Utah in the London-based magazines annual Readers Choice Awards. Last year, T.F. Green ranked seventh in the nation.

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Rankings were based on reader surveys submitted between April and June, evaluating criteria such as amenities and convenience, according to the magazine.

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in Georgia won the top honor, followed by Portland International Airport in Oregon and Tampa International Airport in Florida.

T.F. Green was the only New England airport to appear in Conde Nasts Top 10 rankings.

Conde Nast Traveler called T.F. Green a great little airport thats easy to reach and to navigate, with more than two-thirds of New Englands population living within a 75-minute drive to the airport.

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Long favored by budget carriers as a less expensive alternative to Boston Logan, the airport has been growing steadily in recent years and is well-positioned to benefit from a resurgence in domestic air travel, the magazine notes.

Airport officials flaunted their status as the fastest-growing major U.S. airport, citing 2024 federal data ranking T.F. Green above Philadelphia International Airport and Washington-Dulles International Airport for passenger and seat growth.

Between 2023 and 2024, T.F. Green saw a 10% increase in flights coming in and out of the airport, according to data compiled by the Federal Aviation Administration.

In all, T.F. Green reported 64,972 flight operations for 2023. The following year saw 71,992 flights.

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As of Oct. 8, the FAA recorded 50,502 in and out of Warwick for 2025.

The airport has also undergone major modernization updates in recent years funded by federal grants, passenger fees and airport funds. That includes the installation of automated coffee machines, new restaurants, colossal welcome signs off Interstate 95, and $10 million toward marble-lined bathrooms.

Officials are planning an additional $64 million overhaul to the terminal  though it also comes with the potential loss of its iconic decorative sailboat near the baggage claim.

In a statement Tuesday, airport spokesperson Bill Fischer said T.F. Greens consistent placement on Conde Nasts list further highlights the airports commitment to providing exceptional service and a seamless travel experience for passengers.

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With an expanding network of airlines and destinations, Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport continues to strengthen its reputation as a key hub in the region, Fischer said.

Earlier this year, Travel + Leisure Magazine readers named T.F. Green the No. 1 airport in America during its 2025 Worlds Best Awards.

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ELWOOD, Ill. (WGN)  Members of the Texas National Guard arrived in Illinois late Monday night to join Illinois National Guard troops at an Army Reserve training center in Elwood, fueling a growing political dispute over the federal governments role in the deployment.

WGN-TV crews saw several soldiers walking in and out of a hangar on the campus, dressed in camouflage uniforms, some carrying guns. Trailers have been set up on site, and according to the Chicago Tribune, a contractor said the troops will sleep there. Portable showers and a dining hall that can accommodate 250 people have also been installed.

Trucks were seen arriving with what appeared to be metal fencing materials, signaling that preparations for an extended stay may be underway. Trucks also brought in portable housing units.

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Local officials say theyve received no information or coordination from the federal government about the deployment, including how many troops are involved or how long theyll remain at the facility.

The White House says National Guard members are being used to protect federal property and immigration agents in response to what it calls violent riots and lawlessness in Chicago.

Republican Cook County Board Member Sean Morrison supports the move.

I dont know if you will see the troops patrolling per se. I think they may be in a static position located within hot spots, very similar to what they did in Washington, D.C., Morrison said. We have to cooperate. Its not unreasonable, were a country of federal law and we have federal men and women here who are doing their jobs that they were hired to do.

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Johnson says Trumps troop deployment is about power, not safety

But others are condemning the deployment as federal overreach. Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant called the move troubling.

The arrival of the National Guard by the Trump administration is an aggressive overreach. Our federal government moving armed troops into our community should be alarming to everyone, she said in a statement.

As many as 300 federalized Illinois guardsmen are also part of the mission and were called to report for duty.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) criticized the deployment, saying in part:

Deploying the Texas National Guard, over the objections of Illinois elected officials, is not only unnecessary, but it is also unlawful. National Guard personnel do not deserve to be used as political pawns in President Trumps political theater.

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National Guard troops report to Illinois

FBI Director Kash Patel also joined troops in Chicago, sharing photos on social media thanking the men and women for serving this mission, and saving American lives no matter what pro-crime politicians may say.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and California Gov. Gavin Newsom said they will withdraw their states from the National Governors Association if the organization fails to condemn the federal National Guard deployments.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Its not yet clear when the guardsmen will be seen on the streets, however, the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois sued the Trump administration Monday to block the federalization of National Guard troops from the two states.

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He wants us all in big cities to get used to the idea that its OK to have military in the streets, Pritzker said.

On Tuesday at City Hall, Mayor Brandon Johnson said that if Congress wont hold the Trump administration accountable, then Chicago will.

A federal judge, after denying the city and states request to temporarily stop the National Guard troops from coming to Illinois, will make a ruling on the case Thursday.

Amid the local chaos surrounding the immigration operations and a national guard deployment, President Trump on Wednesday shared a social media post stating that he felt Johnson and Pritzker should be placed in jail for their failure to protect ICE agents.

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Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also! the president said in the post.

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

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
HANOI, Vietnam (AP)  Intense storms in the aftermath of Typhoon Matmo triggered widespread flooding in northern Vietnam and killed at least eight people while damaging thousands of homes.

The typhoon, despite not hitting Vietnam directly, brought heavy rains Tuesday that left rivers swollen, flooded streets, submerged houses and caused numerous landslides in the region that has already battled four other typhoons and tropical storms since September.

According to Vietnamese state media, more than 4,800 homes were damaged as of Tuesday.

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Authorities said three people were killed due to landslides in the provinces of Cao Bang and Thanh Hoa, and four others drowned after being swept away by floods in Thai Nguyen and Thanh Hoa. One person was killed by lightning in Bac Ninh.

In hard hit Thai Nguyen, just north of the capital Hanoi, the swollen Cau River flooded several communities, with residents saying the waters rushed in so quickly that they were unable to move furniture. Some neighborhoods were isolated and authorities deployed rescue boats to deliver relief.

Heavy rains stopped Wednesday but alerts remain for low-lying areas where flooding is expected to last until the weekend. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh approved an emergency aid package worth 140 billion VND ($5.3 million) to help the northern provinces affected by the flooding, according to state media.

Annually, Vietnam experiences 1013 tropical cyclones, but the frequency of intense, back-to-back typhoons is increasing, suggesting a shift driven by climate change, says Benjamin Horton, dean of the School of Energy and Environment at City University of Hong Kong.

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Since August, Vietnam has been battered by storms like Kajiki, Ragasa, and Bualoi.

Global warming is making tropical storms stronger and wetter, according to experts, since warmer oceans provide the storms with more fuel, driving more intense winds, heavier rainfall and shifting precipitation patterns across East Asia.
NEED TO KNOW

A group of tourists traveling in Botswana's Okavango Delta was the target of a charging elephant protecting her young calves on Sept. 27

The elephant knocked the tourists out of their canoes and briefly pinned a woman into the water before giving up

Jeff Melvin and Larry Unrein, two of the tourists, said that they thought they were going to die



Two tourists are speaking out after an elephant protecting her young calves began charging at them while they were on a canoe safari trip in Africa.

The incident happened on Sept. 27 in Botswanas Okavango Delta as canoes were carrying British and American tourists, The Times reported.

Getty Front view of large female african elephant waving its ears in the grasslands of Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda. Front view of large female african elephant waving its ears in the grasslands of Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda.

Speaking with Good Morning America, Jeff Melvin and Larry Unrein said that their safari adventure was incredible until they came across a herd of elephants.

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"We kept telling that they were kind of getting a little annoyed at our presence," Melvin said. "Then just in the blink of an eye, things kind of changed."

"What we did not see was the mom with the two babies," Unrein added. "They were hidden in some tall grass, but out of sight."

As captured in dramatic video footage, the mother elephant rapidly traveled through the reeds and approached the tourist group, knocking and flipping over two canoes that sent two couples into waters infested with crocodiles, according to The Telegraph.

"The first thought that came to my mind was, 'This is the end of me,' " Melvin told GMA.

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The footage showed the elephant, which may have weighed 10,000 pounds, knocking down a female tourist into the waters with her trunk, and then briefly pinning her before giving up, the outlet reported. Thankfully, the woman managed to get back up and was helped by her husband.

Melvin and Unrein said they escaped with the help of their guides. Meanwhile, Ron Magill, a representative for Zoo Miami, explained to GMA that the woman is lucky to be alive.

"That patron was incredibly lucky that this happened in the water, because generally speaking, elephants, what they do when they go after somebody, is they literally try to mash them into the ground," he added.

Magill also warned that elephants who are protecting their calves are dangerous because they are "incredibly protective."

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"It's important that people understand you need to respect distance," the spokesperson added. "You need to give animals distance."

Today, Melvin and Unrein said they are grateful they survived the ordeal.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"I thought for sure I was dead," Unrein said. "And then once I was safe, it was just jubilation. I was very happy to be alive."

According to National Geographic, the Okavango Delta is described as a haven for wildlife and one of the most magnificent natural spectacles you can experience. In addition to elephants, the delta is home to such animals as buffalos, hippos and antelopes.



Read the original article on People
The bodily harm trial against German citizen Maja T at the Budapest Municipal Court has been suspended until January, a lawyer for the accused confirmed on Thursday.

The judge has scheduled the next hearings from January 14. The trial began in February.

Maja T, who is non-binary, is on trial for alleged bodily harm during Budapest protests against far-right groups in February 2023.

If convicted, the German faces a sentence of up to 24 years in prison. The defendant has complained about poor detention conditions and went on a hunger strike lasting around 40 days in June.

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Maja T was arrested in Berlin in December 2023 and extradited to Hungary in June 2024 after Germany's Federal Constitutional Court was too late in its bid to prevent the extradition.

The defendant has accused the judge of lacking interest in a fair trial. The case has been seen as heavily politicized in Hungary, which is run by right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Just 10 days ago, Orban classified far-left umbrella group Antifa, with which the accused is associated, as a "terrorist organization" by decree.

A verdict will not yet be in sight, even in January. The trial remains in the evidence phase, with witnesses being heard and documents and video recordings being reviewed.

German antifa activist Maja T. is pictured during the continuation of her trial at the regional court in Budapest. The bodily harm trial against German citizen Maja T at the Budapest Municipal Court has been suspended until January, a lawyer for the accused confirmed on Thursday. Daniel Alfoldi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Americans love their public lands. The values our shared national landscapes and waterways represent are one of the things most people, regardless of geography or political ideology, can agree on. Never was this more apparent than in the fight to prevent the sale of millions of acres of public lands in the budget reconciliation law this summer.

People across the country made their voices heard and blocked that attempt to sell off our natural heritage. But right now, some are trying again to hand over millions of the wildest acres of our national forests to private interests while American families lose access and foot the bill.

This summer, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced plans to revoke the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The name of the policy might not be familiar to you, but the results are. For more than two decades, it has protected almost 70,000 acres of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, and nearly 60 million acres nationwide, from industrial development: no roads, no logging, no mining.

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Thats meant for more than twenty years, Wisconsinites have been able to hike, hunt, fish, and camp in the heart of our public lands, often at no charge, free from the pollution, noise, and disruption that comes from industrial development. If the Trump administration gets its way, that could all be lost.

Letters: Fencing results in zero Hoan Bridge suicides in 2024, and none in 2025

Privitizing parts of Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest devastating

The privatization of parts of the Chequamegon-Nicolet could have wide-reaching impacts on our economy, endangered species, and climate. Earlier this year, the Wisconsin Department of Tourism announced that 2024 was the third straight year of record-setting economic impact from tourism. The national forest is a major draw for visitors to Wisconsin.

According to one report from the U.S. Forest Service, more than 600,000 people visit the Chequamegon-Nicolet annually, spending nearly $82 million while theyre here. It is also filled with important wildlife and is home to multiple endangered and threatened species, including the gray wolf and Canada lynx.

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Moreover, protecting Wisconsins forests is critical to meeting our climate goals, as outlined in Gov. Tony Evers climate plan. Our forests help fight climate change by storing carbon and filtering our air and water  37,000 people get their water from the Chequamegon-Nicolet  but only if those trees remain standing.

Vastly expanding industrial activities in national forests across the country would destroy invaluable recreation areas, fragment and demolish wildlife habitat, and threaten drinking water sources. It could even worsen climate change. Logging most often targets bigger, older trees. Those trees absorb and store the most carbon pollution, provide shade for cooler temperatures, and are generally more resilient to wildfire  all of these benefits are lost when our national forests are managed for profit.

Opponents of the Roadless Rule have suggested that this push to repeal is being done to respond to the wildfire crisis, but in reality, this solution could actually increase the threats presented by wildfires. New research shows that wildfires are four times more likely to start in areas developed with roads than in undeveloped, roadless forest tracts. Another study showed that more than 90 percent of wildfires occurred within half a mile of a road. Even the US Forest Services own research has undercut the argument that repealing the roadless rule would have any positive effect on fire management. Essentially, roads bring development, and wildfires arent far behind.

Negative effects wouldnt be limited to Wisconsin

Despite what opponents of wild public lands might argue, repealing the Roadless Rule is an economic loser with real-world consequences for average Americans. The Forest Service cited economic commonsense as one of the primary justifications for creating the rule. Building and maintaining roads has significant costs even in the easiest terrain. Building more roads would exact even greater costs on local communities that face harm from negative impacts to their drinking water, outdoor economies, and property values.

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Opinion: DPI changes on school report cards reflect moving goalposts, not better scores

A lot of things have changed over the last quarter-century, but two things remain steady: the importance of preserving public lands, and public support for the Roadless Rule. In 2001, more than 600 public hearings were held nationwide over 18 months, and 1.6 million Americans weighed in to call for protection of these forestlands. The result  97 percent of comments supported the rule.

This summer, millions made their voices heard, and the effort to sell off our natural heritage outright was squashed for now. Now, the administration is taking a new angle and coming after our national forests. We need those same people, regardless of politics, hunters, anglers, hikers, family vacationers, the public at large, to demand better for our public lands.

Elizabeth Ward is Executive Director of Sierra Club Wisconsin.

Elizabeth Ward

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: National forests are under attack by Trump administration | Opinion
OpenAI new model, ChatGPT, new ChatGPT, OpenAI, OpenAI o1, OpenAI Worldcoin. Photo by BeInCrypto

OpenAI made a huge investment in AMD this morning, prompting the company's market cap to rise by around $100 billion. This may help the manufacturer remain competitive next to Nvidia's rapid gains.

The AI developer also plans to invest $100 billion into Nvidia, one of the world's largest tech companies. By favoring both firms, OpenAI could prevent monopoly-like conditions from harming innovation.

OpenAI's AMD Deal

This morning, OpenAI announced a massive deal with AMD, a US chip manufacturer, to deploy 6 gigawatts of its GPUs. This arrangement brought a huge boost to AMD's stock, causing some observers to speculate that it caused a major Robinhood outage.

At this rate, the company may break impressive stock trading records:

However, some analysts have looked a little deeper into this deal. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called the AMD deal "a major step" in "[realizing] AI's full potential," but there may be an unspoken motive too.

AMD and Nvidia have been competing for years in the US chip industry. Is OpenAI trying to keep Nvidia's competitor viable?

Nvidia On the Rise

Specifically, less than two weeks ago, the AI company announced a $100 billion deal with Nvidia, boosting its market cap by around $177 billion. The chip maker has also been making crucial inroads with other partners in the AI space, aiming to dominate the sector long term.

Nvidia is one of the famed "Magnificent 7" stocks, while AMD's share price has been stagnating for the past month. That is, until OpenAI juiced its valuation with a major partnership:

AMD Price Performance. Source: Google Finance

In other words, OpenAI's investment may be a much-needed boost to AMD, preventing Nvidia from outcompeting it. Sure, the chip maker has been working steadily, but it needs a healthy share of the astronomical AI capex to stay relevant in today's market.
The Trump administration is testing the limits of presidential power with National Guard deployments, with one adviser saying the president has "plenary authority" on the use of the military.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller mentioned President Donald Trump's "plenary authority," under Title 10 of the U.S. Code when asked in an Oct. 6 CNN interview if the administration would follow a federal judge's order not to deploy the national guard to Portland, Oregon, Time and other outlets reported.

The interview was interrupted and the phrase wasn't brought up further when it resumed, but Miller's comments raised questions about how the Trump administration's interpretation of U.S. law amid political battles with Democrats over the National Guard deployments.

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Here's what to know about the legal limits of presidential power.

What does plenary, plenary authority mean?

Plenary means complete in every respect, absolute, unqualified, according to Merriam-Webster.

Plenary authority means wide-ranging, broadly construed and often limitless power, according to the Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School, though for public officials the more common term would be plenary power.

What did Stephen Miller say?

In an Oct. 6 interview with CNN, anchor Boris Sanchez asked Miller whether the Trump administration would comply with a federal judge's order blocking the administration from sending the National Guard to Oregon, Time reported.

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"Well, the Administration filed an appeal this morning with the Ninth Circuit. I would note the Administration won an identical case in the Ninth Circuit just a few months ago with respect to the federalizing of the California National Guard," Miller responded.

Miller then continued, saying "Under Title 10 of the U.S. Code, the President has plenary authority, has" before stopping suddenly. Time noted Sanchez called out Miller's name and Miller blinked several times, but did not respond.

Sanchez then said, "Stephen, I apologize. It seems like were having a technical issue," the show went to break and when it returned Sanchez said "wires got crossed."

While the interview resumed, they did not discuss plenary authority again.

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The exchange does not appear in video on the CNN website, but has been widely circulated via social media.

What is the Insurrection Act?

Amid controversy over National Guard deployments, Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to bypass court rulings and local objections in mostly Democratic-led areas, Reuters reported.

The Insurrection Act of 1807 is a U.S. federal law granting the president the power to deploy military or national guard troops domestically to put down an insurrection in an emergency, according to a research paper by Jack Lasky in EBSCO and the Brookings Institution.

Contact Jenna Prestininzi: jprestininzi@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump adviser says president has plenary authority over military use. What does Stephen Miller mean?
Donald Trumps approval rating has plummeted, with a majority of Americans opposing the deployment of the National Guard to US cities, according to a new poll.

Only 40 percent of people surveyed have a favorable view of the president, after he told a gathering of US military leaders that troops should be used to target an enemy within American society.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll also found that only 38 percent of those polled think the president should be able to deploy federal troops into states if governors disagree with their deployment.

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Meanwhile, 48 percent thought the president should not be able to send troops into states without the state governor's approval.

The presidents approval rating dropped after he told US military leaders that the National Guard should be used to target an enemy within (AP)

Trump has claimed that federal troops are needed to tackle rising crime in major cities located in Democratic states, including Portland, which he says is war-ravaged, and Chicago, which he described as a hellhole.

The president has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act after his attempts to deploy the National Guard in Illinois and Oregon were blocked in several different courts. He has claimed that the troops are needed to protect ICE agents as they carry out arrests.

Trump has already sent troops into Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, clashing with California Governor Gavin Newsom in the process. According to Newsom, the presidents deployment of the guard in Los Angeles had cost taxpayers $120 million.

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Donald Trump is using our service members as political props and as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize Americas cities, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said.

Military personnel in uniform, with the Texas National Guard patch on, are seen at the U.S. Army Reserve Center, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in Elwood, Ill., a suburb of Chicago (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Pritzker went on to accuse Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security, of trying to consolidate Trumps power.

That plan will only work if we let it, he added. The state of Illinois is going to use every lever at its disposal and get Noems thugs the hell out of Chicago.

Although the Reuters poll found that the chaos surrounding the presidents attempts to deploy the National Guard has damaged his popularity, Trump has continued to promote a survey from Rasmussen, which claims that 57 percent of Americans approve of his administration.

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However, recent Rasmussen polls found that only 47 percent of people approve of Trumps presidency. Meanwhile, 51 percent disapprove, with 42 percent of those voters strongly disapproving of him.

Overall, Trumps approval rating continues to languish at -10, according to Rasmussen.

The Independent has approached the White House for further comment.
Argentinian president Javier Milei put his countrys problems on the back burner for a few hours to play a rock concert and promote a book in a sold-out stadium.

On Monday, the mutton-chopped, Libertarian leader of Argentina grunted his way through a set of mostly 80s rock covers to fans in Buenos Aires Movistar Arena. The set was performed to promote his new book, La construccion del milagro (Construction of the Miracle).

Milei's concert comes at a particularly low point in his administration. / Tomas Cuesta / Getty Images

Alongside the 80s covers, Milei, 54, covered the Jewish folk song Hava Nagila in an effort to trigger the libs. Performing the song as a show of support to the Jews after a recent anti-semitic attack in the country, Milei tried to rev up the crowd by saying, Come on! This annoys the left!

@JMilei canto Hava Naguila, una cancion tradicional hebrea pic.twitter.com/74FjNCILlh  El Economista (@ElEconomista_) October 7, 2025

Milei, who Donald Trump endorsed for re-election in September, is at a particularly low point in his administration.

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His party, La Libertad Avanza, looks headed for disaster in the countrys Oct. 26 midterms. A recent special election in the Buenos Aires province, which holds 40% of Argentinas total electorate, saw the party lose by 13 points.

In August, Milei was pelted with rocks at an event while trying to wave away a corruption scandal involving his sister, Argentinian General Secretary Karina Milei.

Fears of Mileis waning popularity have caused the Argentinian economy to tank and the value of the peso to plummet. This prompted the Trump administration to give Argentina a $20 billion bailout (and in turn, crash the American soybean economy).

Javier Milei, here pictures at the Mar-a-Lago, has long been in Trump's good graces. / Carlos Barria / Reuters

Trump has long been a fan of Milei, going so far as to lend the Argentinian president his signature slogan.

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Hes MAGA, Make Argentina Great Again, said Trump at CPAC 2024.

During Mileis concert, he showed images of Trump and the late conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, eliciting cheers from his supporters.

Americans may remember Milei as the world leader who gave Elon Musk a chainsaw at CPAC in February, a symbol of the cutting Elon Musk would do to the federal government with DOGE. Milei used a chainsaw as a prop for a similar purpose in his election campaign.

Milei gifted Elon Musk the infamous chainsaw at CPAC in February. / Andrew Harnik / Getty Images

Before becoming a politician, Milei sang in a Rolling Stones cover band, which earned him the nickname Rock Star President in his home country. He is also a former tantric sex teacher who boasted about his threesomes while campaigning for president.
Political tensions escalate as Trump attempts to send federal troops to Chicago amid continued immigration raids and accusations of crime and lawlessness in the Windy City.

President Donald Trump called for the arrest of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, escalating political tensions as he attempts to send federal troops to Chicago amid continued immigration raids executed by federal agents, as well as accusations of crime and lawlessness in the Windy City.

In a Truth Social post on Wednesday morning, Trump wrote, Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!

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Trump did not clarify how Mayor Johnson or Governor Pritzker had failed to protect ICE officers or what crime they had hypothetically committed.

The call for Johnson and Pritzkers arrest comes as federal agents have descended across the city of Chicago to carry out Trumps mass immigration raids as his administration seeks to deport as many as 1 million undocumented immigrants by the end of the year.

The Trump administration has faced sharp criticisms from Democratic members of Congress, state and local officials, and Chicago residents, particularly after ICE agents raided an apartment building, detaining both undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens, many of whom were Black. Women and children were reportedly zip-tied, igniting outrage.

On Monday, Chicago Mayor Johnson signed an ICE Free Zone executive order that prohibits federal immigration agents from using city-owned property in their ongoing activities in Chicago, which the Trump administration has labeled as Operation Midway Blitz.

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We will not tolerate ICE agents violating our residents constitutional rights, nor will we allow the federal government to disregard our local authority, said Johnson.

While President Trump accuses Johnson and Pritzker of not protecting ICE officers, federal agents reportedly tear-gassed two dozen Chicago police officers during a protest. Protesters and children were also reportedly tear-gassed, including an unarmed pastor.

This is unconscionable, Johnson said during a Tuesday news conference. The Chicago mayor added, The president of the United States of America is really literally pitting law enforcement against law enforcement.

BROADVIEW, ILLINOIS  SEPTEMBER 12: Federal police officers watch from the rooftop as demonstrators protest outside of an immigration processing center on September 12, 2025 in Broadview, Illinois. The demonstrators were protesting the Trump administrations increase in immigration enforcement raids in the area which has been dubbed Operation Midway Blitz. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Chicago is a sanctuary city, meaning it welcomes undocumented immigrants. President Trump has accused Chicago and other sanctuary cities of harboring criminals. Mayor Johnson has remained adamant that city officials will not assist federal officers in executing immigration enforcement.

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Chicago Teachers Union President Stacey Davis Gates, an organizer and former history teacher, called for elected officials to stand with organizers on the ground to resist the Trump administrations agenda, which she says extends far beyond immigration and law enforcement.

We have a president who has taken the truth and configured a lie, she told theGrio. The truth of the matter is that America has not worked for a wide swath of Americans for a very long time. And because he knows thats the truth, hes invented a boogeyman, when the boogeymen are the people who have had control of policy and votes.

Gates Davis argued that Trumps MAGA agenda in cities like Chicago, Memphis, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles distracts from the real issue: the gutting of social investments in communities across the country while giving major tax cuts for Americas wealthiest Americans.

We need to see people be accountable for the chaos that is being visited upon us asBillionaires put Donald Trump into officethe same billionaires gave themselves tax breaks at the expense of families, Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP benefits, [and] public education. All of these things have been marginalized to give billionaires a break on their taxes, said Gates Davis.

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We can say no to billionaires unilaterally ushering in fascism, and we can say yes to taxing them, to making sure that the people who have been robbed of their humanity have an opportunity for more.

Gates Davis called for solidarity among all Americans who are suffering under Trumps policies, including Black Americans, Hispanics, women, and poor white Americans.

I can tell you from on the ground that solidarity is being worked out in every corner [of Chicago]white, Black, Brown, Asian, Mexican, whomever, she told theGrio. We do not want these people in our city.

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Republican President Donald Trump posted on social media today that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, both Democrats, should be arrested for refusing to assist federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

"Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Firing back on X, Pritzker wrote: "I will not back down. Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power. What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?"

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Illinois sued the Trump administration on Monday to block the deployment of federalized National Guard troops to Chicago, and Johnson is refusing to allow ICE to operate on city-owned property. Since the beginning of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement blitz in Chicago, ICE and Customs and Border Protection officers have executed mass warrantless searches of apartments, and they have been filmed using excessive force against protesters, clergy, and reporters engaged in protected First Amendment activities.

It's not a great state of affairs when the president is calling for the arrest of his political opponents at the same time he's sending the military into the streets. (Imagine reading the first sentence of this article as if it were another country.) Of course, in 2025 it feels like just another Wednesday in America's long perambulation toward a militarized police state.

As Reason's Matt Welch observed in a June column, shortly after the Trump administration deployed National Guard soldiers and Marines to Los Angeles, it had been roughly five years to the day since The New York Times published an op-ed by Sen. Tom Cotton (RArk.) calling for Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act and send the military into cities to quell rioting during the summer of 2020. Trump didn't send in the troops then, and Republicans like Cotton and White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller were left with an unrequited itch to give the hippies a show of force they wouldn't forget.

Miller has been particularly enthusiastic about branding anyone who opposes the Trump administrationDemocrats, lawyers, protesters, and judgesas terrorists and insurrectionists, which gives him a rhetorical fig leaf for whatever abuses of power he comes up with next. In a social media post last week, Miller accused a federal judge of "legal insurrection" for blocking Trump's deployment of Oregon National Guard Troops to Portland.

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"The President is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, not an Oregon judge," Miller continued. "Portland and Oregon law enforcement, at the direction of local leaders, have refused to aid ICE officers facing relentless terrorist assault and threats to life.This is an organized terrorist attack on the federal government and its officers, and the deployment of troops is an absolute necessity to defend our personnel, our laws, our government, public order and the Republic itself."

In a strange CNN interview on Monday, Miller was asked if the Trump administration would abide by the judge's ruling. Miller noted that the president has "plenary authority" before abruptly going silent. (The Wex Legal Dictionary defines "plenary power" as "complete power over a particular area with no limitations.")

"We are almost, if not quite, living in a Tom Cotton universe," Welch warned in June. Unfortunately, we've only gotten closer to the Cotton-verse in the months since then.

The post Trump Calls for Arrest of Chicago Mayor and Illinois Gov. Pritzker appeared first on Reason.com.
CHICAGO  President Donald Trump called for Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to be jailed Wednesday, a dramatic rhetorical escalation as he tries to flood the city with federal agents and National Guard troops against the wishes of the local elected officials.

Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also! Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Pritzker and Johnson quickly fired back with responses to Trump, as the countrys attention centers upon the city.

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I will not back down, Pritzker wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power. What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?

Pritzker went further later Wednesday in a live interview with MSNBC alongside a rally on Chicagos Federal Plaza of unionized government workers affected by the ongoing shutdown in Washington.

Calling the president unhinged and a wannabe dictator, Pritzker turned to the camera and repeated a line he used at a news conference shortly after Trumps election in November: If you come for my people, you come through me.

Holding his wrists out toward the camera, Pritzker added, So come and get me.

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Johnson struck back with an apparent reference to Trumps efforts to win a death penalty verdict against the now-exonerated Central Park Five, a group of men convicted as teens of a gruesome New York City sexual assault who were exonerated after spending years in prison and have sued Trump for defamation.

This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested, Johnson said. Im not going anywhere.

Speaking to local reporters on Federal Plaza, Pritzker said he doesnt think Trump will make good on his threats, despite his administrations moves to take legal action against political opponents such as former FBI Director James Comey, who pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges alleging he lied to Congress.

Trump is a coward who likes to pretend to be a tough guy, Pritzker said.

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He said he was going to jail (California Gov.) Gavin Newsom. He says hes going to jail me. He says hes going to jail the mayor of the city of Chicago, Pritzker said. These are people who stand against him, disagree with him, speak out about it, but literally have done nothing wrong. We are doing the peoples business by standing up for them.

Trumps comments appeared to refer to instructions sent to Chicago police during a protest that emerged on the Southwest Side after federal immigration agents shot a woman they later accused of ramming them with a car.

Conservatives have been in a furor after an internal dispatch from the departments chief of patrol that said, no units would respond to a call for assistance from armed Border Patrol agents who said they were in the middle of a crowd about two hours after being targeted in two hit-and-runs.

Snelling on Monday denied that officers had been told to stand down, but did concede, I will say there was a lot of miscommunication, back and forth about what was really happening out there on the ground, and we need to do better.

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The mayor, who appointed Snelling, denied that Chicago police did anything wrong. He pinned blame on a non-communicative and overly aggressive federal government.

Johnson took to television Wednesday morning to continue blasting Trumps rhetoric. Asked about the jail comment during an appearance on CNN, he called Trump unstable, unhinged, a double-minded individual and a threat to democracy.

Im going to stay firm as the mayor of this amazing city, which was voted nine years in a row the best big city in America, he said, a reference to a Conde Nast Traveler ranking released this week.

At an event in Minneapolis on Tuesday, less than a day before Trumps post, Pritzker was asked whether he sincerely believed he could be arrested in the presidents targeting of his political enemies.

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Im asking any of you to come visit me in the gulag, the governor answered dryly.

With the state awaiting a ruling from a federal judge, possibly as soon as Thursday, on its request for a temporary order blocking Trumps deployment of Texas and Illinois National Guard members in the Chicago area, Pritzker said the administration has not communicated with our state in any way whatsoever about what their troop movements are going to be.

I cant believe I have to say troop movements in a city in the United States, but that is what were talking about, he said.

As Johnson and Pritzker hit the airwaves, Trump made an even more direct effort to spin his Chicago dealings into political fortune Wednesday. He sent supporters a fundraising email calling Johnsons effort to create ICE-free zones via executive order totally insane.

Are you an AMERICAN CITIZEN or an ILLEGAL ALIEN? the fundraising page linked in the email reads, before soliciting contributions of $3,300.

_____

____
President Donald Trump on Wednesday ominously called for Chicagos mayor and the governor of Illinois to be jailed, hours after sending National Guard troops into the state despite their opposition.

Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also! Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, referring to immigration agents.

Politics: Mike Johnson Floats Wild Replacement For Terrible Bad Bunny Super Bowl Show

Trump pushing for the imprisonment of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker  both Democrats  comes as troops that Trump federalized from the National Guard in Texas arrived at an Army Reserve center in Illinois, despite a lawsuit and vigorous opposition from elected leaders.

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Pritzker swiftly called out the presidents talk of jail.

I will not back down, Pritzker, who is seen as a potential Democratic presidential candidate, wrote on X.

He added, Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power. What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?

Politics: Kaitlan Collins Reveals Why Flying With Donald Trump Can Be No Fun For His Own Staffers

On CNN, Johnson called Trump unstable and unhinged, adding: Its certainly not the first time that Donald Trump has called for the arresting of a Black man unjustly. Im not going anywhere.

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Trumps vow to send the National Guard to Chicago followed an aggressive immigration crackdown that started last month and has led to clashes with protesters.

Pritzker earlier this week accused the Trump administration of deliberately trying to sow chaos in Chicago as a pretext to deploy troops to the nations third-largest city.

Speaking at a press conference Monday, Pritzker said Trump is following a playbook. Cause chaos, create fear and confusion, make it seem like peaceful protesters are a mob by firing gas pellets and tear gas canisters at them, he said.

Politics: Pam Bondi Inadvertently Flashes Her Handwritten Attack Notes For Off-The-Rails Hearing

Amid the deployment of the military to a growing number of U.S. cities, and Trumps talk of fighting a war from within, the president and senior members of his administration have attempted to paint Chicago as a crime-ridden hell hole, even though police statistics show significant drops in most crimes, including homicides.

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Trumps targeting of Johnson and Pritzker is the latest example of his brazen calls for his opponents to be prosecuted or locked up.

His post came on the same day as former FBI Director and long-time Trump foe James Comey pleaded not guilty on charges of lying to Congress after the president pressured Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute his political enemies.

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(Erin Hooley/Evan Vucci/AP photos)

President Donald Trump has called for the imprisonment of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker as the pair fights ICE and National Guard troop deployments in the Windy City.

In a short and sweet Truth Social snipe on Wednesday, Trump said: Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers. Governor Pritzker also.

Trumps post came two days after both Chicago and Illinois sued the White House in a bid to block the deployment of federal troops.

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The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Trump and several other federal agencies and officials including the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem, the Department of Defense, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Despite the lawsuit, National Guard troops from Texas have started to lay down roots at an Army Reserve center in Illinois early Wednesday, the Associated Press reported. Their exact mission was not clear, though the Trump administration has an aggressive immigration enforcement operation in the nations third-largest city, and protesters have frequently rallied at an immigration building outside Chicago in Broadview.

The post Trump Demands Illinois Governor and Chicago Mayor Be Jailed first appeared on Mediaite.
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh as Israel, Hamas, and mediators discuss a potential ceasefire and hostage deal.

US President Donald Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Wednesday morning to participate in the ongoing ceasefire and hostage-deal negotiations, Israeli media reported.

Israeli officials told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday that they were "cautiously optimistic" at the end of Monday's talks. Additionally, sources cited by the Qatari news network Al Jazeera previously said that the first round of negotiations was characterized by positivity."

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Further, the first phase of the peace plan could be finalized before Friday, provided the current optimistic tone surrounding the negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh continues, an Egyptian source with knowledge of the matter told the Saudi-owned Asharq Al-Awsat on Tuesday.

Current talks surround less contentious issues

According to sources that spoke to the Post, current discussions are focused on the less contentious issues, where there is broad agreement. The more complex matters are expected to be addressed next.

Hamas officials, Khalil Al-Hayya and Osama Hamdan, attend a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, November 21, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/ESA ALEXANDER)

First round of negotiations with Hamas

During the first phase of negotiations, the roadmap for the current round of talks in Sharm el-Sheikh was determined.

In addition, the sources noted that the Hamas delegation made it clear to the mediators that the continued attacks in the Gaza Strip pose a challenge to the release of the hostages.

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A source emphasized that Hamas is committed to reaching an agreement to end the war in the Gaza Strip.

The source also noted that the purpose of the Cairo negotiations is to begin arranging conditions on the ground in preparation for the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

The report also claimed that the Hamas delegation included two members who survived the assassination attempt in Qatar: Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin.

The Israeli delegation is comprised of Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Coordinator for Captives and Missing Persons, Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Gal Hirsch, Prime Ministers Political Advisor, Dr. Ophir Falk, two anonymous officials from the Shin Bet and Mossad, and professional staff from the IDF, Shin Bet, and Mossad.

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Director of Turkey's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Ibrahim Kalin will also attend the ceasefire negotiations on Gaza on Wednesday in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, a senior Turkish official told the Post.

Amichai Stein contributed to this article
A Tropical Twist on Bragg's Iconic ACV Hits Shelves Nationwide

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bragg Live Food Products, Inc. ("Bragg"), the iconic brand that pioneered Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) for everyday wellness, is expanding its retail footprint with the national launch of its newest innovation: Bragg Pineapple Turmeric Apple Cider Vinegar Blend , now available in Whole Foods Market locations. Previously available online at Bragg.com and Amazon, the tropical-inspired ACV Blend is now making its brick-and-mortar debut to meet the growing demand for flavorful, functional wellness products.

Crafted with Bragg's signature organic, raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar, the Pineapple Turmeric ACV Blend is infused with the sunny sweetness of organic pineapple and the slightly spicy kick of turmeric, a widely celebrated spice. Each bottle includes Bragg's legendary naturally fermented "Mother" and 750mg of acetic acid per serving for time-tested wellness benefits with a bold, invigorating twist.

"At Bragg, innovation starts with listening to our consumers," said Rona Williams, Senior Director of Strategic Innovation. "We know healthy habits are easier to maintain when they taste great. Whole Foods Market shoppers value products that deliver both flavor and function, and our new Pineapple Turmeric ACV Blend offers the proven benefits of Bragg organic apple cider vinegar in a bright, refreshing way that fits seamlessly into daily wellness routines."

Designed for versatile daily use, Bragg's Pineapple Turmeric ACV Blend supports a wide range of wellness routines, from morning wellness tinctures and post-workout recovery to energizing smoothie boosters and vibrant mocktails. With just 20 calories per serving and no artificial colors, processed sugars or preservatives, Pineapple Turmeric joins Bragg's growing lineup of ACV Blends, including Honey, Citrus Ginger, Cranberry Apple and Honey Cayenne.

"We've earned consumer trust for over 100 years by staying true to our values while embracing smart innovation," said Linda Boardman, CEO of Bragg Live Food Products. "We are thrilled to partner with Whole Foods Market to launch this unique item and provide wellness-conscious consumers with both function and flavor, all backed by Bragg's heritage of quality."

Now available at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide, the Bragg Pineapple Turmeric ACV Blend has an MSRP of $7.49 per 16 oz. bottle.

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OXB has signed and closed an asset purchase transaction to acquire a custom-built cell and gene therapy viral vector manufacturing facility in North Carolina from RTP Operating. The acquisition expands OXBs viral vector manufacturing capabilities in the US up to commercial-scale, increasing GMP capacity and enhancing services to clients across North America. The FDA approved facility in Durham, North Carolina adds scalable vector manufacturing capabilities and end-to-end services across drug substance and fill-finish. This acquisition enables OXB to support late-stage programmes and commercial launches from the US for new and existing clients worldwide, particularly in the adeno-associated virus field. By leveraging an established, commercial-ready facility, the acquisition will expedite OXBs ability to meet growing demand from existing clients while supporting new business opportunities. Located in North Carolinas biopharma hub at Research Triangle Park, the site brings a skilled workforce and access to established industry networks. The Durham, North Carolina site, complements OXBs global network across Oxford, Lyon, Strasbourg and Bedford, MA, by adding US commercial-scale capabilities. The site includes two operational GMP drug substance suites, a dedicated fill-finish suite, a further GMP suite which is expansion-ready, as well as on-site QC labs and warehousing. Following the acquisition, OXBs Bedford, MA site will remain an AAV centre of excellence for process and analytical development, focusing on early-stage development activities, with the new site in North Carolina set to become a hub for clinical and commercial activities. This acquisition is in line with the Companys previously disclosed strategic initiatives to expand its US commercial capabilities. In August 2025, the Company raised c.GBP 60 million gross proceeds through an equity placing in order to support investment to strengthen its CDMO network, including expansion of OXBs US commercial-scale GMP capacity and advance process quality, productivity and yields. Under the terms of the asset purchase agreement, OXB has paid $4.5M in consideration for the assets, funded by existing cash. Integration planning has commenced, with key functions expected to be operational by Q1 2026. The Company expects to realise a single-digit gain in 2025 as a result of the transaction which is anticipated to broadly offset any acquisition-related and operational costs for the new site in 2025. The Company intends to invest in the new facility in North Carolina including hiring additional operational staff, in order to bring the site to full commercial readiness, with increased US fill-finish capacity and faster client onboarding. The Company will also continue to build on its previously disclosed plans to make strategic investments in its existing sites to meet growing client demand. Accordingly, its investment plans and capital expenditure expectations remain largely consistent with those announced in August 2025.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Steve Holland

CAIRO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that a deal to end the war in Gaza was "very close" and that he might travel to Egypt this weekend, as his envoys joined talks in Egypt to try to seal a ceasefire and hostage-release agreement.

With Trump's 20-point plan appearing closer than any previous bid to halt the two-year-old conflict, delegations upgraded their presence at the indirect talks, launched on Monday in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.

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Trump offered an upbeat assessment, saying a deal was almost done and that he may travel to the Middle East this weekend, possibly leaving as soon as Saturday, if an agreement is reached. He later clarified that he likely would go to Egypt and the trip would probably be before or just after hostages are released.

"I was just given a note by the secretary of state saying that we're very close to a deal in the Middle East, and they're going to need me pretty quickly," Trump said during an unrelated White House event.

The hand-scrawled note on White House stationery read, "You need to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first," the Associated Press later reported. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It marked the most promising effort yet to end the war in Gaza, which had evolved into a regional conflict, drawing in countries such as Iran, Yemen and Lebanon, and reshaping the Middle East.

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Just a day after the second anniversary of Hamas' attack on Israel that triggered Israel's devastating assault on Gaza, the group's negotiators handed over its lists of hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be freed in a swap with Israel.

Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff and Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arrived and began participation in the negotiations, Israeli and Palestinian sources said.

Also joining the discussions was the prime minister of longstanding mediator Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, according to Egyptian sources.

Despite the hopes raised for ending the war, crucial details are yet to be spelled out, including the timing, a post-war administration for the Gaza Strip and the fate of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

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Gaza authorities say more than 67,000 people have been killed and much of the enclave has been flattened since Israel began its military response to the Hamas cross-border attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Around 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage back to Gaza, according to Israeli officials, with 20 of the 48 hostages still held believed to be alive.

DAY-AFTER TALKS PLANNED FOR PARIS

In parallel with the Sharm el-Sheikh talks, Arab and other states will meet in Paris on Thursday to discuss Gaza's post-war transition, with Washington likely to be represented, diplomatic sources said.

Hamas said on Wednesday it had handed over its lists of the hostages it held and the Palestinian prisoners held by Israel that it wanted to be exchanged, and was optimistic about the talks so far.

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The list of Palestinians Hamas wants freed is expected to include some of the most prominent prisoners ever jailed by Israel, whose release had been off limits in previous ceasefires.

According to a Palestinian source close to the talks, the list includes Marwan al-Barghouti, a leader of the Fatah movement, and Ahmed Saadat, head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Both are serving multiple life sentences for involvement in attacks that killed Israelis.

Hamas says the indirect negotiations were focused so far on three issues: halting the conflict, withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza and the swap deal.

The group has so far refused to discuss Israel's demand that Hamas give up its arms, which the Palestinian source said Hamas would reject as long as Israeli troops occupy Palestinian land.

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Two sources familiar with the talks confirmed that sticking points included the mechanism for the Israeli withdrawal, with Hamas seeking a clear timeline linked to the release of hostages and guarantees of a complete withdrawal by Israeli forces.

ISRAEL DIALS DOWN ITS OFFENSIVE

Within Gaza, Israel has dialled down its military campaign at Trump's behest, but it has not halted strikes altogether. The Israeli military said its forces had killed several militants in Gaza City, Gaza's main urban hub, who it said were on their way to attack Israeli soldiers.

Gaza medical authorities reported eight people killed in Israeli strikes in the last 24 hours, the lowest toll for weeks. Daily death tolls had been around 10 times as high over the past month as Israeli forces advance on Gaza City.

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"We hope from God that a ceasefire would take place as soon as possible, because people can't bear the suffering anymore," said Jehad al-Shagnobi, whose house was destroyed in the Sabra district of Gaza City.

Another participant in the talks was Turkish spymaster Ibrahim Kalin, Egyptian sources said. This pointed to a growing role for Turkey, a NATO member with close contacts with Hamas. President Tayyip Erdogan said Trump had asked Turkey to help persuade Hamas to accept the deal.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday that the negotiations had made "a lot of headway."

ARAB COUNTRIES SAY PLAN MUST LEAD TO PALESTINIAN STATE

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Trump's plan calls for an international body led by Trump and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to play a role in Gaza's post-war administration. Arab countries which back the plan say it must lead to eventual independence for a Palestinian state, which Netanyahu says will never happen.

There is no clear indication who will rule Gaza when the war ends. Netanyahu, Trump, Western and Arab states have ruled out a role for Hamas, which has run Gaza since driving out Palestinian rivals in 2007.

Hamas has said it would relinquish Gaza governance only to a Palestinian technocrat government supervised by the Palestinian Authority and backed by Arab and Muslim countries. It rejects any role for Blair or foreign rule of Gaza.

Global outrage has mounted against Israel's assault. Multiple rights experts, scholars and a U.N. inquiry say it amounts to genocide. Israel calls its actions self-defence after the 2023 Hamas attack.

(Reporting by Dawoud Abu Elkas, Tuvan Gumrukcu and Daren Butler in Ankara, Jana Choukeir and Tala Ramadan in Dubai, Maayan Lubell and Alexander Cornwell in Jerusalem, John Irish in Paris, Angelo Amante in Rome, Trevor Hunnicutt Steve Holland and David Morgan in Washington; Writing by Michael Georgy, Peter Graff, and Timothy Heritage and Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Alex Richardson, Philippa Fletcher, Nick Zieminski and Diane Craft)
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker should be jailed for failing to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, the latest escalation between the leaders as the White House pushes ahead on its military deployment in the city.

Trump has repeatedly criticized both leaders as weak, decrying the Midwest city as a hotspot of crime despite falling crime rates in Chicago.

Texas National Guard troops arrived in the Chicagoland area Tuesday, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called up 300 Illinois National Guard troops Saturday to be deployed for at least 60 days despite objections from Pritzker and Johnson.

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During a Wednesday afternoon news conference, Pritzker condemned the president's call for his and Johnson's arrest and warned the president: If you come for my people, you come through me. So come and get me.

This is a convicted felon. Think about that. [He] is threatening to jail me. I got to say, this guys unhinged. Hes insecure. Hes a wannabe dictator, Pritzker told reporters outside of the federal building in downtown Chicago.

Pritzker also encouraged residents to protest the Trump administration's immigration moves and document federal actions on the ground.

We want everybody to pull out their phones and the Android, iPhone, whatever youve got, and film everything you see, because we take that to court, and we also show it to the whole public," he said.

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Johnson also pushed back on the threats, writing that "This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested. Im not going anywhere."

Pritzker has vowed to use every lever at the states disposal to resist the deployment, accusing the Trump administration of carrying out an authoritarian march in Chicago and other Democratic-led cities.

The state of Illinois filed a lawsuit Monday seeking to block the deployment after a federal judge in Oregon twice ruled against Trumps efforts to deploy troops to Portland over the objections of local leaders. The Trump administration is appealing the decision.

Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of invoking the Insurrection Act if federal courts, governors and mayors prevent him from deploying troops to American cities.

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The White House has surged the presence of ICE officials in the city in recent months, with protesters repeatedly clashing with federal agents outside of an ICE facility in a suburb of the city. Several of those demonstrators, along with local journalists, nonprofits and unions, sued the Trump administration Tuesday, alleging law enforcement violated their First Amendment rights by using extreme brutality at demonstrations.

Johnson and Pritzker also publicly sparred with Trump after he threatened to go to "WAR" with the city last month in a provocative meme referencing the 1979 war movie Apocalypse Now.

Pritzker  along with his Democratic colleague, California Gov. Gavin Newsom  also threatened earlier this week to pull out of the National Governors Association if it doesnt do more to push back on Trumps cross-state National Guard deployments.

Trump has for years called for his political enemies to be jailed, promoting the idea that his presidential opponents from Hillary Clinton to Kamala Harris deserve criminal prosecution on the campaign trail. In recent weeks, the Department of Justice has acted on some of those calls in an unusual break of precedent, with former FBI Director James Comey facing federal charges for allegedly lying to Congress.

Shia Kapos contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump and senior White House officials warned of mass layoffs, agency closures and irreversible budget cuts in a government shutdown. But as the federal agencies enter the second week of a shutdown with no signs of ending, theres also no sign of those dire consequences.

While those plans and others still might come to fruition - the White House budget office recently floated an argument that furloughed workers might not get back pay theyre legally entitled to receive when they return to the job - theres a growing belief among some in Washington that Trump is getting trigger-shy about adding to the massive disruption and federal workforce cuts that he has already put in place in his second term.

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From the very beginning, when I saw the original memo that [White House budget director Russell] Vought put out threatening the mass firings or mass layoffs, it was clear to me that it was absolute bluster and BS, Rep. James Walkinshaw (D), whose Virginia district includes thousands of federal workers, told The Washington Post. And by the way, the federal employees that I represent saw it as such as well.

The government shuttered early last Wednesday when funding for agencies expired, and some departments have almost entirely ceased operations. Military and national security functions are continuing, but workers largely arent being paid. Trump says hes open to negotiating with Democrats to extend health care subsidies - their chief demand in the shutdown battle - but only if they first vote to reopen the government.

In the run-up to the shutdown deadline, the White House budget office told agencies to prepare for widespread dismissals if funds for the government expired. From the Oval Office, the president claimed the shutdown would give him sweeping new authority to command the executive branch without congressional oversight. Vice President JD Vance declared on the shutdowns first day that layoffs would be necessary.

So far, though, the Trump administration has used the shutdown to accomplish other policy goals.

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The Energy Department canceled $7.6 billion in clean energy projects - exclusively in states that backed Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. The Transportation Department also delayed more than $20 billion in funding for transit projects in New York and Chicago. The White House linked the holds on the projects to furloughs from the government shutdown.

But some of the escalations that Trump and his allies have promised would hit federal workers havent yet materialized.

He has reason for caution: Layoffs within the federal government could dramatically weaken the power of the presidency by shrinking the executive branch, and many of the agencies ripe for cuts were already deconstructed by the U.S. DOGE Service, Elon Musks cost-cutting task force, earlier this year.

Trump hinted again Tuesday that his administration could soon choose to inflict more pain as the shutdown drags on.

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Ill be able to tell you that in four or five days, if this keeps going on, itll be substantial, he said from the Oval Office. And a lot of those jobs will never come back.

The White House has appeared to teeter on the cusp of that decision for some time, though. Agencies have been instructed to draw up lists of staffing cuts that could be implemented on the White Houses order, according to two people familiar with the instructions, who like others interviewed for this article spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about them.

Congressional Republican leaders were told to prepare for layoffs on Friday evening immediately after a Senate vote to end the shutdown failed, according to one person familiar with the plan.

But those layoffs did not go forward, and as of early this week, plans to enact government layoffs, formally called reductions in force or RIFs, were still on hold, according to three federal officials familiar with the matter. The officials said there had been no more guidance given to agencies since senior leaders raised the alarm last week that firings undertaken during the shutdown could violate the law.

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The back-and-forth fits a pattern, some observers said: On certain high-stakes decisions in this administration, Trump has developed a reputation for backing down, inspiring the joking acronym TACO, for Trump Always Chickens Out, when he yielded multiple times on tariffs, though he did eventually implement sweeping import taxes.

In a statement, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the administration opposed the shutdown and favored a bipartisan funding patch to keep the government open, calling it the exact same proposal that Democrats supported just six months ago and 13 times under the Biden administration.

Any lapse in funding, this one brought on by the Democrats, unfortunately has consequences. The Democrats can reopen the government at any time, Jackson said.

Over the past week, it hasnt always been clear what Trumps intentions are with the job cuts. White House officials have variously described the administrations actions during a shutdown as a chance to MAGA-fy much of the government or as the reluctant choices the president must make in the face of Democratic intransigence.

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I cant believe the Radical Left Democrats gave me this unprecedented opportunity, Trump gushed on social media last week.

The next day, though, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called potential layoffs a unenviable choice for the president.

The Democrats have given the administration this opportunity, and we dont like laying people off, she said.

On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) said the GOP should put as much pressure as possible on Democrats to force a vote to reopen the government. But he then added: We dont want this to happen. The key point, the important point to remember, is this can stop right now.

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Hours later Trump called the shutdown an advantage on a silver platter to slash programs that dont line up with his vision for the federal government.

Weary federal workers didnt seem to know what to make of all the threats. Many reacted with only muted alarm to a White House budget office memo that argued that furloughed employees wouldnt automatically get back pay.

At the Internal Revenue Service early Wednesday, some parts of the agency ran out of funding and staff were sent last-minute furlough notices, according to three employees and emails obtained by The Post. Some of the furlough emails arrived around 9 a.m. Eastern time, three hours after some employees start their days, forcing them to pack up and return home.

Chaos all morning, one staffer said.

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A furloughed Agriculture Department staffer said its reached the point where Trump has promised to torment federal workers so often, in so many different ways, that she treats it mostly as background noise. She noted that Trump himself signed the law in 2019 guaranteeing pay for a shutdown.

And one State Department employee who was required to stay on the job without pay said he increasingly feels like the presidents promises to fire federal employees are empty threats. They dont seem to be bringing Democrats to the bargaining table, he noted.

This is stupid, even for them, he said. The bar is in the basement, and they have managed to tunnel under it somehow.

- - -

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Kadia Goba contributed to this report.

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President Donald Trump has a history of attacking judges who rule against him, labeling them "radical lunatics" or some other disparagement and calling for their impeachment. But he doesn't usually go after judges he appointed.

That changed this weekend.

U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, named to the court in Portland, Ore., by Trump in 2019, heard the challenge to his deployment of Oregon's National Guard troops to Portland only because Trump's administration objected to the initial assignment of a judge appointed by President Barack Obama.

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Nevertheless, she ruled Friday that the Trump administration had failed to present evidence of severe dangers or a rebellion against the government that would justify a federal takeover of the state's National Guard troops.

And when Trump responded by ordering redeployment to Portland of 300 California National Guard troops, whom he had dispatched to quell immigration protests in Los Angeles, Immergut said the administration was either ignoring or defying her previous order, and barred the president from sending the National Guard from any state to Oregon's largest city.

The judge is a Republican with a background that would appear ideal for a Republican presidential appointee - she was a longtime state and federal prosecutor, was appointed U.S. attorney in Portland by President George W. Bush and was an aide to Kenneth Starr in the investigation that led to the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.

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That didn't stop Trump from assailing her. He didn't call Immergut a radical leftist, but appeared to say - and show - that he didn't know much about her.

"I wasn't served well by the people that pick judges, I can tell you," Trump said Sunday outside the White House. "I appointed the judge and he goes like that, so I wasn't served well. Obviously, I don't know the judge," who "ought to be ashamed of himself," Trump added, displaying his lack of knowledge by misgendering her. He later said the judge should be "ashamed of herself," and that Portland was "burning to the ground," contrary to evidence presented by the state and endorsed by Immergut.

Trump's national security adviser, Stephen Miller, described Immergut's rulings as a "legal insurrection" - apparently viewing any decision against Trump's military deployments as an attempt to overthrow his government.

During his first term, Trump referred to a judge who had ruled against his ban on Muslims entering the United States as a "so-called judge."

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The president's attacks on judges have escalated in his second term. When U.S. District Judge James Boasberg - whose first judicial appointment came from President George W. Bush - blocked Trump's deportation of Venezuelans in March, Trump labeled him a "radical left lunatic" and called for his impeachment.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare public rebuke, saying the proper response to unfavorable rulings was to appeal to a higher court rather than to impeach the judge.

Trump had previously called Roberts "disgraceful" for refusing to declare him the winner of the 2020 presidential election. But the current court, whose 6-3 conservative majority includes three Trump appointees, has upheld some of the president's most hotly contested orders, including the Venezuelan deportations, on its "emergency docket," generally without holding a hearing or explaining its decision.

Last month, a bipartisan group of former federal judges signed a public statement saying that Trump's "threats against judges and their families are obvious attempts to intimidate, harass, and pressure judges and sway their opinions, shaking the public's trust and confidence in the courts."

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The Portland case is still in its early stages, with the Trump administration's challenge to Immergut's restraining orders now before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, which in June overruled another federal judge and allowed the president to send California National Guard troops to Los Angeles. But Immergut is an unusual target for Trump's judicial wrath.

While working for Starr, the independent counsel investigating Clinton in 1998, Immergut interviewed Monica Lewinsky, the former White House intern who described having sexual relations with the president. Clinton denied it, then was impeached by the House on allegations of personal and financial misconduct but was acquitted by the Senate.

Immergut was appointed U.S. attorney in Portland by Bush in 2003, then left to serve as a state judge from 2008 until Trump appointed her to the federal court in 2019.

One of her rulings, in 2023, overturned a jury's verdict that a police officer had violated a woman's rights by shooting her with rubber bullets, causing permanent injuries to her eyes, during a 2020 protest over the murder of George Floyd by officers in Minneapolis. Immergut said the officer had no way of knowing that he was violating the protector's rights. The 9th Circuit overturned her decision and reinstated more than $1 million in damages to the woman.

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In another 2023 ruling, Immergut upheld an Oregon gun-control law that banned possession of firearms holding more than 10 rounds of cartridges, similar to a California law.

Her assignment to the National Guard case was the result of a Trump administration challenge to U.S. District Judge Michael Simon, a 2011 Obama appointee.

The administration contended Simon would not be even-handed because his wife, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, is a Democratic congresswoman from Portland who has spoken out against the National Guard deployment.

Simon responded that he did not believe there was a conflict of interest or an appearance of bias but agreed to step down from the case on Thursday, saying he wanted it to remain focused on the legal issues. The court, which assigns judges by random selection, named Immergut to replace Simon later that day, and she immersed herself in the case filings before calling the first hearing on Friday.

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In her ruling that evening, she acknowledged the 9th Circuit's decision in June that said courts should show "a great level of deference" to a president's assessment of the need for military force.

But "a great level of deference," Immergut wrote, "is not equivalent to ignoring the facts on the ground."

This article originally published at Trump turns on his own judicial appointee, who blocked his Oregon troop deployment - twice.
Attendees at the Turning Point USA event in Bozeman talk prior to the start of the speaking event on Tuesday, Oct. 7 in Bozeman, MT. (Jordan Hansen/Daily Montanan)

BOZEMAN  In what felt at times like a solemn church service and others a rock concert celebrating conservatism, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte and Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy took the stage Tuesday night at Turning Point USAs event on Montana States campus in Bozeman.

The organizations founder, Charlie Kirk, was killed last month during a Turning Point event in Utah. Both Gianforte and Ramaswamy shared stories and lessons they took from the late right-wing influencer. Both men also used the event as a call to action for conservatives, giving those in attendance ideas on ways to uphold their version of Kirks legacy. Ramaswamy also took questions from the crowd for about an hour.

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Around 3,000 people attended the event, held at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse and scheduled prior to Kirks death. Finance CEO Laine Schoneberger, of Yrefy, also spoke during the event.

Lines snaked outside the doors for hours prior to the event, with a variety of Donald Trump and Charlie Kirk merchandise available for sale.

Apparel for sale outside a Turning Point USA event on Tuesday, Oct. 7 in Bozeman, MT. (Jordan Hansen/Daily Montanan)

There was no loud music and the security presence was noticeable  prior to the event, even Montana State athletes looking to enter the fieldhouse had to empty their pockets and step through a metal detector.

Not everyone in attendance followed Kirk prior to his death, including Paul Colella, 59, from Manhattan. Colella decided to come, he said, to support the overall cause and said the conservative movement in the country has never been stronger.

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Trying to awaken a silenced group that, we think, has been silenced for a long time, and now, I think this whole event and the past few months has awakened that flame, Colella said.

Many, including Colella, said they respected how Kirk interacted with people who did not share his views. One of Turning Point USAs goals is to engage college students, which Kirk often did.

I always appreciated that he would take the folks that did not agree with him and put him to the front of the line and say, lets have a conversation, Colella said. And to me, I dont see as much on the other side. I wish I did, but I dont.

Some figures in Montana state politics, including Flathead Rep. Braxton Mitchell, joined the event. Mitchell caught the attention of Turning Point in his youth, he told the Flathead Beacon last month.

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It was a great event and I was extremely encouraged to see so many other young people show up and express their beliefs and opinions, Mitchell said in an email to the Daily Montanan on Wednesday. This is truly a Turning Point in our state and country. The Left has no idea what beast theyve awakened after murdering our generations top political voice.

Videos, including clips of Kirk speaking, played prior to Gianforte and Ramaswamy taking the stage, highlighted this idea.

Theyre deciding, even though it might jeopardize their job, their career or their reputation, to put their country over themselves, Kirk said in a video speaking about college students involved with Turning Point USA.

Following Kirks death, conservative influencers targeted individuals  including some people in Montana  for social media comments made following his death. There was some celebration over Kirks murder which caused anger in conservative circles, though many progressive politicians were quick to renounce his killing.

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Kirk was a controversial figure, generating backlash because of his views on race, sexuality and even COVID.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte speaks during a Turning Point USA event on Tuesday, Oct. 7 in Bozeman, MT. (Jordan Hansen/Daily Montanan)

Though Kirk had gained fame through the use of social media, Gianfortes message to the crowd of younger-skewing audience members was similar to that of his fellow Western-state governor Spencer Cox, a Republican from Utah, where Kirk was slain.

Gianforte told the crowd to spend less time online and more time touching grass, a phrase Cox used to describe needing to disconnect after spending a long time on screens.

We cannot and should not retreat into the dark corners of social media, Gianforte said. Seek out people with different views, engage them in respectful in person dialog, go get a coffee.

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Gianforte  an unabashedly conservative Christian  also told the audience the first way they could honor Kirk was to pursue faith in God.

Gianforte spoke for about 15 minutes and shared his memories of Kirk. The governor was one of Turning Points original donors, he said, and also spoke about a three-day hike he took with Kirk. Gianforte began and ended with a prayer, in what felt more like a sermon than a politicians speech.

Gods plan for the world is to overcome evil with good. Charlie did that. The Bible says the light shines in the darkness, but the darkness did not overcome it, Gianforte said. What is that light? The Bible tells us its Jesus. Charlie did not know his assassin, but I have no doubt that he loved him.

Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speaks during a Turning Point USA event on Tuesday, Oct. 7 in Bozeman, MT. (Jordan Hansen/Daily Montanan)

Christianity became a central theme of the evening, with Ramaswamy  who is Hindu  asked several questions regarding his faith, which led to discussion of the Christian Holy Trinity and monotheism.

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One person asked how Ramaswamy was able to mix his personal beliefs with those of Turning Point, a Christian organization.

In my faith, I believe theres one true God, Ramaswamy said. He resides in all of us, and He appears in different forms, but its one true God. So Im an ethical monotheist. Thats the way I would describe my faith.

He also said conservatives have an obligation to stand up for the truth God is real. Other questions he got included the topics of abortion, Israel and the job market.

Time is also running short to implement changes conservatives want to see, he added.

If we dont utilize the levers of power now, if we dont stamp out toxic dissent, now if we dont rectify the country now, then we never will, Ramaswamy said. We have a short window to act right now, and we got to step up and seize the moment.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he opposes the extradition of a Ukrainian man wanted in Germany in connection with the 2022 explosions that hit the Nord Stream gas pipelines.

The suspect, a 46-year-old identified by Germany under a European arrest warrant as Volodymyr Z, was arrested last week near Warsaw.

A Polish court has ordered 40 days of pre-trial detention while authorities review the German case files. A court will then decide on extradition.

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Tusk, speaking during a visit to Lithuania on Tuesday, said he would the court's decision  but made his position on the case clear.

"It is certainly not in Poland's interest, nor in the interest of decency and justice, to prosecute this citizen or extradite him to another country," Tusk said at a press conference.

On the social media platform X,he was similarly direct: "The problem with North Stream 2 is not that it was blown up. The problem is that it was built."

From the start, Poland had opposed the construction of the underwater pipelines carrying natural gas from Russia directly to Germany, arguing they would increase Europes dependence on Russian energy.

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According to Germany's Federal Prosecutors Office, the man is a trained diver who allegedly took part in the group that planted explosives on the pipelines near the Danish island of Bornholm in September 2022. He is charged with jointly causing an explosion and unconstitutional sabotage.

Nord Stream 1 had supplied Russian gas to Germany, while Nord Stream 2 had not yet become operational due to Russia's all-out war in Ukraine launched in February 2022. Both are offline.
Deliveries of US Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine could take months and they might never leave their launchers, but that doesnt mean they wont have an impact on Moscow.

That is the conclusion of one of the countrys top national security figures, whose analysis sets out just what the arrangement with Washington might look like and how the deadly weapons could be used. Or not used.

A day earlier, Donald Trump gave his clearest hint yet that he was preparing to supply Kyiv with the weapons.

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He has sort of made a decision, he said in his uniquely opaque manner. He then added that he would want to know what Ukraine planned to do with them first, for fear that the long-range missiles would represent an escalation.

The missiles cannot come fast enough for embattled Ukrainian forces.

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Massive Russian strikes aimed to disable Ukraines energy grid at the weekend. With winter looming, the attacks add urgency to talks about military aid.

But the Tomahawks 1,600-mile range and ability to carry nuclear warheads are complicating factors. It puts the Russian capital Moscow in reach and Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has warned Mr Trump that they could destroy any remaining relationship with Washington.

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Against that backdrop, Yehor Cherniev, the deputy chairman of the Ukrainian parliaments national security, defence and intelligence committee, set out just how the weapons might be used.

He envisages a series of possibilities or stages, from Mr Trump changing his mind and not supplying them at all, or Mr Trump allowing their export but not permitting their use, to allowing an escalating scale of ranges and targets.

At each of these stages, Putin is given the opportunity to retreat and go to negotiations. And therefore, the supply and use of missiles will most likely be very gradual, he wrote.

First they will give us rockets, but a few pieces, or a couple of dozen, but they will not allow us to shoot them at once and we will see the Kremlins reaction.

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If there is no reaction, then the envelope increases, allowing strikes on the Russian border.

At each step, pressure can be ratcheted up.

And finally, only after some time all restrictions will be lifted, except perhaps strikes on the Kremlin and directly on Putin, he writes.

This whole epic could take at least a few months. But its already real pressure and a real argument.

That might not be as fast as many Ukrainians want, says Mr Cherniev, but the pressure on Putin ramps up rapidly. Their power as leverage is evident, even before they add all their actual firepower to the nations armed forces.

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In the meantime, Moscow is waiting to hear what comes next.

Vladimir Putin speaks with top military commanders in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday - Mikhail Metzel/REUTERS

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said the public discussion was very different to the Biden administration, when details would emerge only after weapons had been delivered.

We understand that we need to wait, probably, for clearer statements, if any come, he said, adding that the missiles represented a serious round of escalation.

A White House official said they had nothing to add about plans to supply Tomahawks beyond what the president had said on Monday.

And the Ukrainian embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.

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Mr Cherniev may have been expressing his personal views but his national security role means that he is among a small group of parliamentarians who is deeply briefed on weapons and next steps.

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Milrem Robotics, an Estonian robotic vehicle manufacturer, has announced that it will deliver over 150 THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles to Ukraine.

Source: Milrem Robotics, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Milrem Robotics is set to supply Ukraine with over 150 THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles as part of aid financed and coordinated by the Netherlands.

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A significant portion of these vehicles will be assembled and delivered in collaboration with VDL Defentec, a Dutch technology company.

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In close cooperation with VDL Defentec, Milrem Robotics is organising the assembly of equipment on a new production line designed for scalable production.

Milrem Robotics will also provide training for Ukrainian operators and support personnel to ensure the robots' efficient deployment and maintenance in the field.

The new units will add to the 15 THeMIS vehicles already in service in Ukraine, which have proved their effectiveness on the battlefield since 2022.

Milrem Robotics describes THeMIS as a tested and highly adaptable unmanned vehicle platform designed to support infantry, logistics, reconnaissance and combat missions. It is currently being used in 19 countries as part of various robotics programmes.

Background:

In March, Ukraine submitted a list of required military equipment and supplies worth 100 million, which Estonia promptly procured from its domestic defence industry.

On 14 September, Estonia announced that it intends to continue providing military support to Ukraine  next year, more than 100 million, or 0.25% of the country's GDP, will be allocated for this purpose.

It was reported earlier that Estonia had concluded training for a group of 13 Ukrainian police leaders, where Estonian law enforcement shared their expertise.

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Key developments on Oct. 8:

Kyiv says it is not interfering in case of Ukrainian detained in Poland over Nord Stream sabotage

Russia says Trump-Putin 'strong' Ukraine peace momentum 'exhausted' as talks stall

Ukraine, EBRD discuss funding additional gas imports amid rising Russian strikes on energy sector

Belgium-based arms maker reports mounting cases of suspicious drone sightings

Kyiv is not interfering in the case of a Ukrainian citizen detained by Warsaw at Germany's request in connection with the Nord Stream pipeline sabotage, Ukraine's Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar said on Oct. 7.

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The comments come amid renewed debate over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and Poland's handling of a German extradition request for a Ukrainian national accused of involvement in the 2022 explosion.

The suspect, identified as Volodymyr Z., was detained in September in east-central Poland.

Bodnar emphasized that the case is a judicial matter under Polish jurisdiction.

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"We are not interfering because this is simply a court case. Everything depends on justice," he told Polish outlet RMF FM. "Of course, the court is the court, and it must make the appropriate decision. The Ukrainian side is acting in accordance with Polish law."

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"It is in our interest to protect the interests of our citizens, and we, for our part, as the embassy and consulate, are providing him with all the necessary support."

The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which never became operational, had long been a flashpoint in European energy politics. Even before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, critics warned that it deepened Germany's dependence on Russian gas and undermined European energy security.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also commented on the case, saying that those who built the Nord Stream 2 pipeline "should be ashamed and remain silent," not those accused of sabotaging it.

Read also: Who sabotaged Nord Stream? 3 years on, investigations offer more questions than answers

Russia says Trump-Putin 'strong' Ukraine peace momentum 'exhausted' as talks stall

The "strong momentum" for ending the Russia-Ukraine war, built upon the August meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, has faded, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Oct. 8.

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Ryabkov's remarks indicate an increasing pessimism about peace talks following Putin's effective dismissal of direct negotiations with President Volodymyr Zelensky  an initiative that Trump personally backed.

"We have to acknowledge that the strong momentum created in Anchorage toward reaching agreements has been largely exhausted due to the efforts of opponents... primarily Europeans," the Russian deputy minister said.

Ryabkov added that Washington has yet to respond to Putin's proposal to extend the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) limitations for another year after its scheduled expiration in 2026.

"It's an outstretched hand. If they're not interested, we'll manage without it," he added.

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Putin proposed last month that Moscow and Washington maintain current nuclear arms limits under the 2010 treaty, which remains the last bilateral arms control agreement between the two powers.

Trump and Putin met in Alaska on Aug. 15 to discuss peace settlement in Russia's war against Ukraine and broader cooperation, marking their first meeting since the U.S. president returned to office.

While Trump pledged to arrange direct talks between Zelensky and Putin, no agreement was reached.

Zelensky rejected Putin's invitation to meet in Moscow, calling it impossible while Russia bombs Ukraine, but repeatedly said he is ready to meet the Russian leader on neutral ground.

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Read also: Why Tomahawks for Ukraine would be a real headache for Russia

Ukraine, EBRD discuss funding additional gas imports amid rising Russian strikes on energy sector

Ukraine's finance minister met with Matteo Patrone, vice president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, on Oct. 8 to discuss financial support for Ukraine's energy system, as Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure surge ahead of winter.

Last week, on Oct. 3, Russia launched mass missile and drone strikes at gas production facilities in Ukraine's Kharkiv and Poltava oblasts.

State-owned oil and gas giant Naftogaz called the attack the "most massive" to date against its gas production since the start of the full-scale war, saying Russia had launched 35 missiles and 60 drones at its facilities. Ukraine's largest private energy company, DTEK, said it was forced to halt production at its Poltava Oblast gas facilities following the attack.

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Just two days later, Russia carried out another large-scale attack on gas infrastructure critical to residential heating, causing significant damage and destruction, according to Naftogaz.

As a result of the strikes, Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk announced on Oct. 7 that Ukraine plans to increase natural gas imports by 30%.

Representatives of the Ukrainian government and the EBRD discussed ongoing and future projects in both the public and private sectors, Ukraines 2026 budgetary needs, and funding priorities, including support for the countrys energy system.

"We discussed with the EBRD the possibility of securing additional financing for gas purchases to ensure the stable passage of the 20252026 heating season," Ukraine's Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko said.

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"This is an urgent priority in light of Russia's intensified attacks on Naftogaz facilities and Ukraine's energy infrastructure as a whole," the minister added.

The parties also explored options for covering gas procurement needs with the involvement of other donors, as well as the potential to attract funding backed by EU guarantees.

Read also: Investigation: Top Russian defense industry boss tries to lift sanctions, spills own secrets instead

Belgium-based arms maker reports mounting cases of suspicious drone sightings

European arms company Thales has raised concerns over the number of unidentified drones spotted recently over its Belgian facility that produces 70 mm rockets, Politico reported on Oct. 8.

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The news comes as suspicious drone activity has caused alarm across Europe, with some cases having been linked to Russia.

Alain Quevrin, country director for Thales Belgium, told Politico that the company is "seeing more drones than what was the case a few months ago" and highlighted sightings at the Evegnee Fort site in the eastern part of the country.

The company's Belgium-based facilities have been ramping up the production of 70 mm rockets that can be used against drones, supplying both European countries and Ukraine.

Thales' facilities could use its jamming equipment to bring down the drones, but the Belgian government must first set the legal procedures for such cases, Quevrin said.

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Arms demand is growing in the European market amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and fears of a potential clash between NATO and Moscow, exacerbated by recent drone incursions.

Read also: Russia is ramping up Shahed-type drone strikes on the front line in Ukraine

Note from the author:

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Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Petrobras and Pluspetrol have completed their first import of unconventional natural gas from Argentinas Vaca Muerta formation into Brazil, signaling a new phase of regional energy cooperation and supply diversification.

Petrobras and Pluspetrol have executed the first-ever import of unconventional natural gas volumes from Argentinas Vaca Muerta shale play, located in the Neuquen Basin. The pilot shipmenttotaling 100,000 cubic meterswas completed on October 3, 2025, under an agreement between the two companies and their subsidiaries, Petrobras Operaciones S.A. (POSA) and Gas Bridge Comercializadora.

The gas, produced jointly by POSA and Pluspetrol, was transported by pipeline from Argentina through Bolivia before entering Brazil. The operation tested the commercial and logistical framework for future imports, which could reach up to 2 million cubic meters per day under an interruptible contract. Petrobras stated that additional shipments will depend on market opportunities identified by the companies.

Related: Supermajors Slim Down to Protect Shareholder Payouts

According to Petrobras Executive Director for Energy Transition and Sustainability, Angelica Laureano, the operation represents a significant milestone made possible by the integration of infrastructure, connecting Petrobras own production in Argentina with the Brazilian market. Laureano added that the initiative opens a new pathway for gas imports into Brazil, reinforcing Petrobras commitment to expanding supply and fostering a sustainable natural gas market.

Petrobras maintains upstream operations in Argentina through POSA, which holds a 33.6% non-operated interest in the Rio Neuquen field across the provinces of Rio Neuquen and Rio Negro. Production there primarily comes from tight gas reservoirs in the Punta Rosada and Lajas formationspart of the broader Neuquen Basin that hosts the prolific Vaca Muerta play.

The pilot import underscores growing regional gas interconnectivity in South America, leveraging cross-border pipeline networks between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil. For Petrobras, the move supports its strategy to diversify supply sources and strengthen Brazils natural gas availability amid efforts to boost domestic competitiveness and transition toward cleaner fuels.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com
In October 2025, a rumor circulated online that an unnamed woman in Newburgh, Maine, received hundreds of 2025 state referendum ballots alongside her order in an Amazon delivery package.

One X page (archived) posted photos allegedly showing the ballots in a cardboard box alongside regular items like paper plates and a bag of rice. The caption read, in part: "A woman in Maine received 250 state election ballots packaged inside her Amazon delivery of food and toys. This needs to be investigated IMMEDIATELY."

WTF. A woman in Maine received 250 state election ballots packaged inside her Amazon delivery of food and toys.



This needs to be investigated IMMEDIATELY @TheJusticeDept pic.twitter.com/evBvFMy658  Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) October 1, 2025

Examples of the claim appeared on Facebook (archived) and Reddit (archived), and Snopes readers also searched our site and sent us emails seeking more information about the story.

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Although reputable news media outlets like The Independent and ABC News reported on the claim, it was not possible to independently verify its veracity as of this writing. We also could not confirm whether the ballots were authentic and valid for use in Maine's Nov. 4, 2025, referendum election.

The pictures circulating online originated from an Oct. 1, 2025, article (archived) in the Maine Wire but were not attributed to any source. Further, the woman referenced in the story was not named and therefore could not be contacted. Maine Wire, a digital news media outlet in the New England state, is a project of the Maine Policy Institute, which described itself (archived) as having a "reputation as a center-right think tank" and as sharing "a similar philosophy" to the conservative Heritage Foundation (archived, archived).

On Oct. 6, Maine's Secretary of State Shenna Bellows held a news conference (archived) in which she discussed absentee voting security and shared more information about the alleged misplaced ballots. Bellows did not directly confirm whether the woman really did receive 250 ballots in her Amazon delivery. As such, we have left the claim unrated.

Snopes contacted Maine's Department of the Secretary of State for confirmation of whether the claim was accurate and to inquire about the authenticity of the ballots. We will update this story if we receive a response.

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A spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety confirmed via email that law enforcement under the authority of the Maine secretary of state's office was investigating the matter. They said Maine State Police had no involvement in the investigation, which contradicted Bellows' remarks in her news conference, as outlined below. Snopes followed up on the discrepancy with the Department of Public Safety and the spokesperson reaffirmed that Maine State Police was not involved as of this writing.

An Amazon spokesperson confirmed via email that the company was cooperating with law-enforcement agencies investigating the incident and noted that someone outside of the Amazon fulfillment and delivery network could have tampered with the package.

What we know

During her news conference, Bellows said she was unable to share information received from law enforcement as she did not want to "compromise an ongoing investigation." She said the information she was able to share came from the state's Elections Division.

Throughout her remarks, she repeatedly used the word "allegedly" when referring to the story about a woman in Newburgh receiving 250 absentee ballots in her Amazon delivery box. Bellows outlined which departments were involved in the investigation (detail in brackets ours):

As soon as we became aware of that situation, I directed my secretary of state's law-enforcement division to investigate. That division is working closely in collaboration with the Maine Office of Attorney General, with the support of Maine State Police [contradicting what the Maine Department of Public Safety said via email], and in collaboration with federal law enforcement partners including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Postal Service investigation team to determine what happened. [] Any bad actor will be held accountable.

The Maine secretary of state confirmed that on Sept. 30, "the city of Ellsworth received two boxes of absentee ballots as planned," but that "one of those boxes did not contain five packets of ballots totaling 250 ballots." She later added: "It is true that the number of ballots missing in Ellsworth corresponds to the number of ballots received in Newburgh. Ellsworth and Newburgh are 40 miles apart."

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Bellows explained that the Ellsworth clerk's office notified the Elections Division, which reached out to the printer of the ballots and the authorized carrier to investigate. She continued:

Also on Tuesday [Sept. 30], as publicly reported, an unnamed woman in Newburgh, Maine, allegedly received five packets of Maine absentee ballots in an Amazon box. The unnamed woman's legislator and a conservative blogger were contacted and notified of events, but at no point on Tuesday did anyone in Newburgh contact the secretary of state's Elections Division or law enforcement. A conservative blogger emailed a staffperson at the secretary of state's office at 1:31 a.m. on Wednesday [Oct. 1], noting that he would post online immediately. The Newburgh town office called the Elections Division at 8 a.m. promptly on Wednesday morning to report the ballots received. Secretary of state detectives went immediately to Newburgh and ballots were secured.

The Maine secretary of state added that all absentee ballots "have been carefully tracked" and that all the state's towns "have now received their expected ballot shipments," although four packages destined for some smaller towns "have not yet arrived." Bellows also said the incident would "not impact our election."

On Oct. 2, the Honest Elections Project, a nonpartisan organization that works to defend the integrity of the voting process, submitted a Maine Freedom of Access Act request, an act granting anyone access to public records related to government activities, regarding the ballots. The organization requested access to numerous documents and communications regarding Maine's referendum ballots.

Members of the Maine House of Representatives also commented on on the alleged diverted ballots, with some citing concerns (archived) of voter fraud and others calling (archived) for Bellows to resign.

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A group of Maine Republican representatives and senators sent a letter (archived) to FBI Director Kash Patel and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting a Department of Justice investigation into the "security of Maine's elections" and an FBI investigation into any "potential violations of federal law." As stated above, Bellows said the FBI was involved in the investigation.

For further reading, Snopes previously investigated whether 28 million mail-in ballots went missing in four elections between 2012 and 2018. We also fact-checked whether millions of mail-in ballots were improperly sent to people who did not request them in the 2020 election and whether a video authentically reported that a Pennsylvania woman attempted to drop off four mail-in ballots at a drop box for the 2024 U.S. elections.

Sources:

"About." Honest Elections Project, https://honestelections.org/about/.

About the Secretary of State | SOS. https://www.maine.gov/sos/about-us/about-the-secretary-of-state.

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Gagnon, Matthew. 'We've Changed Our Name. Here's Why'. Maine Policy Institute, 9 Mar. 2020, https://mainepolicy.org/name-change/.

Home | Maine State Police. https://www.maine.gov/dps/msp/.

Home | SOS. https://www.maine.gov/sos/.

Lee, Jessica. 'Were Millions of Mail-in Ballots Wrongly Sent to People Who Didn't Request Them?' Snopes, 20 Nov. 2020, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/millions-mail-in-ballots/.

Liles, Jordan. 'Video Reporting Pennsylvania Woman Put 4 Mail-in Ballots in Drop Box Is From 2022, Not 2024'. Snopes, 21 Sep. 2024, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/pennsylvania-woman-4-ballots-fraud/.

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'Limitations'. Maine Policy Institute, https://mainepolicy.org/research/maine-school-board-member-survey/limitations/. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

Mikkelson, David. "Did 28 Million Mail-In Ballots Go 'Missing' in Last Four Elections?" Snopes, 21 May 2020, https://www.snopes.com//fact-check/mail-in-ballots-missing/.

News, A. B. C. "Woman Claims Amazon Delivery Box Came Stuffed with Hundreds of Blank Ballots." ABC News, https://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-claims-amazon-delivery-box-stuffed-hundreds-blank/story?id=126149881.

Office of the Attorney General | Office of the Attorney General. 2 Mar. 2014, https://www.justice.gov/ag.

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Robinson, Steve. "Maine Woman Discovers Hundreds of Election Ballots in Amazon Package as State Considers Voter ID." The Maine Wire, 1 Oct. 2025, https://www.themainewire.com/2025/10/maine-woman-discovers-hundreds-of-election-ballots-in-amazon-package-as-state-considers-voter-id/.

'The Heritage Foundation'. The Heritage Foundation, https://www.heritage.org/about-heritage/mission. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

Upcoming Elections | SOS. https://www.maine.gov/sos/elections-voting/upcoming-elections. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

"Woman Sent Hundreds of Election Ballots with Amazon Order, Sparking Investigation." The Independent, 3 Oct. 2025, https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/amazon-order-ballots-maine-election-b2838710.html.

Your Right to Know: Maine's Freedom of Access Act. https://www.maine.gov/foaa/.
By John Irish and Angelo Amante

PARIS/ROME (Reuters) -U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will no longer attend a meeting in Paris with European, Arab and other states on Thursday to discuss Gaza's post-war transition, but Washington is likely to be represented, diplomatic sources said.

The meeting will be held in parallel with indirect talks that are under way between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh on U.S. President Donald Trump's plan for Gaza.

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Rubio had been initially expected to attend, five diplomatic sources said, but his presence was ultimately not possible due to the government shutdown in the United States, two of the sources later said. A third confirmed the change in plans.

However, a U.S. official is still due to attend, although it was not clear who, the sources said. A European diplomatic source said it was vital for the U.S. to attend because nothing could move forward without Washington. The U.S. embassy in Paris has scaled back operations due to the shutdown.

DETAILS OF TRUMP PLAN HAVE YET TO BE SPELLED OUT

The Paris meeting is intended to look at how Gaza would be governed, how Trump's plan would be implemented and assess other countries' collective commitments to the process.

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"There are a lot of ambiguities in the Trump plan so it's important to go into the details to ensure that if there is a ceasefire things progress quickly," a European diplomat said.

Trump expressed optimism about progress towards a deal on Tuesday but crucial details are yet to be spelled out, including the timing, a future post-war administration for Gaza, the fate of Hamas and the prospects for an independent Palestinian state.

The U.N. Assembly last month endorsed a declaration outlining steps towards a two-state solution, while also condemning Hamas and urging it to surrender and disarm. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ruled out endorsing an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Countries attending in Paris on Thursday will include Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkey and Canada.

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A note sent to delegates had said U.S. participation would depend on advances in the talks in Egypt. The U.S. embassy in Paris did not immediately comment.

A French diplomatic source said the United States and Israel had been kept up to date with preparations.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Tuesday the meeting would discuss the framework of Trump's plan, including deployment of an international force.

French proposals seen by Reuters outline a phased plan for training and equipping 10,000 Palestinian Authority security forces. The PA was driven out of Gaza by Hamas but Trump's plan hints at a future role for it.

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Under the proposals, a multinational stabilisation force requiring a U.N. Security Council mandate and international financial support would be gradually deployed if a deal is reached - to monitor a ceasefire, oversee Hamas' disarmament and support the transfer of security responsibilities to the PA.

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sarr criticised the Paris conference late on Wednesday, calling it "unnecessary and harmful" and saying the French initiative had been "concocted behind Israel's back".

(Reporting by John Irish and Angelo Amante in Rome, Editing by Inti Landauro, Timothy Heritage, Philippa Fletcher)
The European Union could soon ban vegan sausage rolls  in favor of plant-based tubes.

Meat-free products in Northern Ireland will have to be renamed if the EU votes in favor of banning plant-based food from being sold with meaty terms.

The amendment would restrict the use of seven meaty terms, including steak, escalope, sausage, burger, hamburger, egg yolk and egg white.

Products will have to be sold under descriptive new terms, such as tubes or discs.

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A steak is made of meat  full stop. Using these names only for real meat keeps labels honest, protects farmers and preserves Europes culinary traditions, Celine Imart, the center-right lead MEP who put forward the amendment, said.

A steak, an escalope or a sausage are products from our livestock farms, period. No laboratory substitutes, no plant-based products, Imart added.

The EU ruling would apply to Northern Ireland thanks to the Windsor Framework, which says Northern Ireland must follow some of the rules that Britain does not  including food labeling.

Greggs products will escape the possible order due to a loophole in the Brexit treaty, which allows certain products to be made in Britain and sold in their original name after being shipped to Northern Ireland.

The amendment would restrict the use of seven meaty terms, including steak, escalope, sausage, burger, hamburger, egg yolk and egg white. Sundry Photography  stock.adobe.com

These products cross the Irish Sea border using the green lane, so they are not at risk of crossing into Ireland.

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The treaty created the Irish Sea border, keeping the land border with the Republic of Ireland invisible after Brexit.

But some politicians in Northern Ireland have pushed back, saying the vote is an example of how the country is forced to follow rules it never supported.

Meat-free products in Northern Ireland will have to be renamed if the EU votes in favor of banning plant-based food from being sold with meaty terms. REUTERS

Once again, Northern Ireland finds itself bound by rules it did not make, subject to decisions in which no Northern Ireland representative has a vote, Timothy Gaston, a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for the Traditional Unionist Voice, told The Telegraph.

While the European Parliament debates what a sausage roll can be called, businesses here must brace for yet another layer of regulation that applies in Belfast but not in Birmingham.

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The ban is backed by a majority of conservative EU lawmakers as well as some liberal members to appeal to farmers.

This is a cultural war, and this is a cultural war that has been started by the far-right, Thomas Waitz, an Austrian Green MEP, said.

Greggs products will escape the possible order due to a loophole in the Brexit treaty. James C  stock.adobe.com

The vote is set to be held later today.

If it passes, the Northern Ireland Assembly can delay the application of the law with the Stormont brake, which is designed to block the application of a rule if it has a significant impact specific to everyday life in Northern Ireland in a way that is liable to persist  at least temporarily.
NEED TO KNOW

A vegetarian man allegedly died after choking to death on a non-vegetarian meal during a Qatar Airways flight

The incident took place on Aug. 1, 2023, when 85-year-old Asoka Jayaweera was allegedly served the dish and told to "eat around," the meat, per a wrongful death lawsuit filed by his son, Surya

Surya alleges in the lawsuit that an emergency landing was not permitted when his father started choking

A California man allegedly choked to death during a flight after he was denied his requested vegetarian meal and was forced to eat around the meat served to him, according to a wrongful death lawsuit.

On Aug. 1, 2023, 85-year-old cardiologist Asoka Jayaweera was offered a non-vegetarian meal after being informed that there were no vegetarian meals available by a member of cabin crew on a Qatar Airways flight from Los Angeles to Doha, Qatar, according to a complaint obtained by PEOPLE.

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Jayaweera was served the meal approximately two and a half hours into the 15-hour flight. Despite having requested a vegetarian meal, he was allegedly told by flight staff to "eat around" the meat as there were none available. Jayaweera began choking on the meal shortly after, per the complaint filed by his son, Surya, although it is not clear what he was choking on.

Flight crew members called MedAire for assistance, a Phoenix-based service that has aviation-trained ER doctors who guide airline staff remotely in medical emergencies on flights, The Independent reports.

The flight crew said an emergency landing was not permitted at the time as the plane was traveling over the Arctic Circle/Ocean, the complaint alleges. Jayaweera's son argues, however, that the plane was flying over Wisconsin during the incident and therefore there was time to land and seek further medical assistance.



AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Qatar Airways Airbus A350-1041 Qatar Airways Airbus A350-1041

Jayaweera was instead provided oxygen on the aircraft, but his oxygen saturation levels were at a critical level for the remainder of the flight, and he lost consciousness. The plane eventually landed eight hours later in Edinburgh, Scotland, and Jayaweera was sent to the hospital, per the complaint.

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Jayaweera died due to aspiration pneumonia, a lung infection caused by accidentally inhaling food or liquid, in Edinburgh on Aug. 3, 2023.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Qatar Airways Airbus A380 Qatar Airways Airbus A380

Jayaweera's son Surya is seeking damages for negligence and wrongful death at the statutory minimum amount of $128, 821, according to the complaint filed. He is also seeking funds to cover legal fees.

Qatar and the United States are members of the Montreal Convention and as such QATAR is subject to the Convention's rules and has acquiesced to strict liability for personal injury or wrongful deaths occurring as a result of an accident on an international flight, the complaint states.

PEOPLE has contacted Qatar Airways for comment, but did not immediately hear back.



Read the original article on People
Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional information from the Department for Children and Families.

Cuts to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program started last week, stripping refugees and asylees of their eligibility in Vermont.

On Oct. 1, 119 refugee and asylee households in the Green Mountain State lost some or all of their benefits, according to the Department for Children and Families, which operates Vermonts version of the program, 3SquaresVT.

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Over 500 households met other qualifications open to noncitizens and maintained their benefits, however.

Unlike Vermont, some states are assuming the costs  once covered by the federal government  to keep asylees and refugees eligible for SNAP benefits, said former Lt. Gov. Molly Gray, executive director of Vermont Afghan Alliance, during a press conference Oct. 1. Gray did not give a reason for Vermont's decision to end asylees and refugees' SNAP eligibility.

Food is offloaded from a Vermont Food Bank truck at the Mallets Bay Congregational Church in Colchester for their food drive.

DCF did not maintain program eligibility for refugees and asylees because "delaying implementation of the federal changes could result in a multimillion-dollar penalty that jeopardizes the entire program," said Miranda Gray, deputy commissioner of the department's economic services division, in an emailed statement.

The deputy commissioner added that other states may have less to lose by keeping asylees and refugees eligible because their SNAP programs are already "at risk of closure" due to upcoming federal SNAP cuts.

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"States do not have the authority to continue providing federally funded benefits to individuals who are no longer eligible under federal law," the deputy commissioner said, adding that "Vermont would have to create a completely separate, state-funded program to provide food assistance to individuals who are ineligible for SNAP benefits."

The new restrictions based on citizenship status, and several more that went into effect last week, are some of many 3SquaresVT changes set to roll out over the next two years.

The cuts stem from H.R.1, or the "One Big Beautiful Bill," budget legislation President Donald Trump signed into law back in July that will decrease federal SNAP spending by about $186 million through 2034.

The federal government on Oct. 1 ended all spending for SNAP-Ed, a nationwide program that aims to provide nutrition and obesity-prevention education. Without federal support, state leaders eliminated Vermont's version of that program. The state budget wouldnt have been able to cover administrative costs, let alone pay for the entire SNAP-Ed program, said Aletha Cross, DCF's food and nutrition program administrator, in an Oct. 3 meeting about the changes.

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Another change likely of interest to Vermonters: Previously, SNAP households that received $20 or more from programs to help with energy costs would automatically qualify for a provision called "Heat and Eat," which subtracted a set utilities cost from a household's stated income and thus boosted its food benefits.

Now, only households with members who are elderly or have disabilities automatically qualify for "Heat and Eat." But other households can still be eligible if they pay for heating or cooling, and some might get greater benefits than before.

State officials and anti-hunger advocates warn the cuts and changes will increase food insecurity and place greater burden on the state and nonprofits.

When people lose their SNAP benefits, the next stop is food banks, direct distribution programs, said John Sayles, CEO of Vermont Food Bank.

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Sayles added that the charitable food system, which has already seen a jump in food insecurity since the COVID-19 pandemic, will not be able to make up the difference created by the newest cuts.

Over 65,000 people are enrolled in 3SquareVT, 85% of whom are either elderly, disabled or part of families with children, said Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak during a press conference Oct. 1. More than just refugees and asylees will lose 3SquaresVT benefits next February when the federal governments new work requirements take effect.

More Vermonters to lose SNAP benefits next year due to new work requirements

On Feb. 26, veterans, people without homes and young adults who've aged out of foster care will have to provide proof of employment or volunteering to qualify for 3SquaresVT benefits. Those populations were previously exempt from work requirements.

Able-bodied adults without dependents must be at least 64 years old, instead of the previous minimum of 54, to qualify for exemptions from the work requirements come February. Households with children above age 14 will no longer be eligible for work exemptions, either. Previously, the maximum age for children was 18.

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How many Vermonters will lose benefits in February is unknown, but DCF has sent out 4,000 notices, Miranda Gray told the Free Press.

Many SNAP recipients likely qualify for benefits in other ways, such as health or disability. Some may not be reporting the work or volunteering they already do. In other words, recipients staying enrolled in the program could largely depend on whether they are able to adjust their SNAP paperwork.

The administration is throwing up bureaucratic hurdles, Sayles said. They want to frustrate people so they no longer sign up.

For DCF and partner organizations, its a race against the clock to inform SNAP recipients of the changes and help them adjust their paperwork or find qualifying work or volunteer opportunities to maintain their benefits.

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The important thing for people to know is that they should contact us to see if they qualify, Sayles said.

Whats next for SNAP?

States will begin shouldering 75% of SNAP administrative costs in less than a year. Previously, the federal government and states split such costs evenly.

Come Oct. 1, 2026, Vermont will need to spend about $8.4 million more each year on 3SquaresVT to maintain current benefit levels, not including unknown costs from upcoming IT modernization projects. Outreach partners  organizations like the Vermont Food Bank that help people sign up for and maintain benefits  will see their federal support halved, from a 50% reimbursement to 25%.

The next set of changes, scheduled to begin in less than two years, may not impact 3SquaresVT. On Oct. 1, 2027, states with a payment error rate  which measures how accurate a state has been in determining peoples SNAP eligibility and benefit payments  above 6% will need to begin contributing the direct cost of SNAP benefits.

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Vermont has an error rate of 5.13% as of fiscal year 2024, among the five lowest error rates in the country, according to Cross, the DCF official who held an informational meeting last week. It's one of only nine states below 6%. If Vermonts rate remains below 6%, the state wont have to pay into the pot for direct costs of SNAP benefits. But if the rate rises above that threshold, Vermont will have to pay up to $7.8 million a year to maintain existing SNAP benefits.

Increasing that percentage would have a huge impact on a small state like Vermont, Cross said in the Oct. 3 Zoom meeting.

I think were going to see states that dont have a SNAP program in the future because the rate is cumulative and takes years to improve, Cross said.

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: VT refugees lose SNAP benefits, with changes coming for other VTers
VERMONT (ABC22/FOX44)  Asthma is a serious breathing condition that effects millions of people worldwide. In Vermont, 11% of adults and 7% of children have asthma, with more than half being uncontrolled, according to the Vermont Department of Health.

Vermont Department of Health says nearly 9,600 children in the state have asthma. And when asthma isnt controlled, it becomes very hard to breathe and oxygen levels become more challenged, which contributes to poor performance in activities, concentration and missed school days.

ABC22/FOX44 spoke with the Gertude Chamberlain School nurse, who says elementary schools are more of a training and teaching ground when it comes to students with asthma.

Part of elementary school is teaching our students with asthma how to recognize the signs and when they need their albuterol and when they actually need to go see the nurse. Kerry Farrell, Nurse, Gertrude Chamberlin School

Gertrude Chamberlain is a gold level school, meaning they have at least 21 asthma practices. For example, Farrell tells us within the building they have examined what cleaning products to use and have eliminated any kind of aroma therapy, like infusers that give off scents.

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Farrell also tells us as a nurse you have to know your students and be able to recognize their triggers.

I have two groups of kids. Some that have flare ups in the fall and the spring due to allergies and activity. And then I have another group of students who have flare ups in the winter related to going out into the cold and how that processes in the lungs. Kerry Farrell, Nurse, Gertrude Chamberlin School

Click here to learn more about asthma and about the Asthma Friendly School Program.

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 ABC22 & FOX44.
If youve ever heard someone say a meeting is at 1630 and then felt your brain do a small cartwheel, you have met the 24-hour clock. In the United States, we mostly live by the 12-hour clock, with a.m. and p.m. designating the morning and afternoon parts of the day. The armed forces do not (and yes, this includes the Coast Guard). They use what many Americans refer to as military time.

The choice isnt about sounding tough or cool (the U.S. military is already cool). Its about making time unambiguous across radios, continents, services, and even other countries that must act together without tripping over a colon or a stray AM signal. The 24-hour system eliminates a very old problem in a very practical way. If 0600 is sunrise, theres no chance someone will mistake it for 6 p.m. during a briefing or a static-filled call.

That single clarity builder is reason enough when the cost of confusion can be lives or a mission. Aviation, shipping, and meteorology live in the same world of precision, which is why those fields use the 24-hour clock too.

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The military also works across time zones constantly. A patrol might step off in Iraq while aircraft launch from a carrier in the Mediterranean, and a headquarters tracks it all from Virginia. Coordinating those pieces requires a standard reference. And get ready: thats where Zulu time comes in.

Zulu is the militarys name for Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), or Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), the global time standard anchored to the Prime Meridian. When a plan says a strike happens at 0415Z, everyone on the net can convert from the same baseline, and there will be no debate about which daylight saving rule applies this week. Zulu time is used in orders, weather reports, and flight plans because it keeps the whole orchestra in tempo.

At the top of this map, FCST VALID SUN 04/24/16 means the 0 hour forecast is valid Sunday morning, the 24th at 12UTC, which is also 1200 Zulu TIme, or 8 a.m. Eastern Time. (NOAA)

If youve seen strings like 091530Z OCT 25 in a message, youve seen the date time group. The DTG is the militarys compact way to indicate when something happens and where in the world that time is located. It packs day, hour, minute, the Z for Zulu or a letter for a specific zone, the month, and the year in one clean tag. Field manuals teach troops to use DTGs in reports and orders so that radio operators, staff officers, and pilots keep a shared clock across echelons. The habit is baked into formats for everything from sitreps to air tasking orders.

There is also a history lesson here. The 24-hour clock predates modern radios by centuries, but its widespread adoption came with the advent of railroads, telegraphs, and global navigation. Armed forces adopted it early because they had the strongest reasons.

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The British Navy made the switch during World War I, and allied forces followed. In the United States, the Navy adopted the 24-hour clock in 1920. The Army did not fully make the switch until 1942, when global war made standard timekeeping a necessity for convoys, air raids, and combined operations.

These changes simplified training, cut down on transcription errors, and made joint planning with allies far smoother. You can see the fingerprints of those decisions today, every time someone on a base says something like 1100 hours.

The system is also standardized across NATO and partner militaries so that an American platoon in Poland and a Norwegian aircrew talking to an American controller in Germany are literally speaking the same language about time. Allied communications standards assign letters to time zones and define how to express times in messages so that everyone formats their clocks the same way.

A German trainer checks radio equipment prior to urban terrain training with Zeravani soldiers near Erbil, Iraq, Feb. 14, 2017. (U.S. Army/Sgt. Josephine Carlson)

That standardization is why a pilot will read back a time with Zulu or Romeo and why youll see those letters on maps and tasking sheets. The point isnt about tradition. The point is about joint interoperability.

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Clarity and coordination would be reason enough, but theres a human factor, too. Numbers are faster to read and hear clearly on a noisy net. Saying 1-7-3-0 is less likely to be misheard than 5:30 p.m., especially if the P or the M drops out in static. The services also write times without a colon to reduce clutter in typed orders and to keep formats short for radio or chat windows. That small choice scales up when youre moving thousands of messages per day. The less a person has to interpret, the better and faster they can act.

You can spot how the logic spreads beyond the military. Hospitals, emergency services, airlines, and broadcasters use the 24-hour clock because their work also punishes ambiguity. If a nurse writes 2200 for a dose or a dispatcher assigns a unit at 1442, no one has to ask if its morning or evening.

This same simplicity is why your phone can display a 24-hour option and why international standards bodies recommend it for data formats. Computers and humans both benefit when time is written in a clear and unambiguous way.

Capt. Amanda Machamer checks her instrument panel during flight over an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia, Aug. 4, 2019. (U.S. Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Michael Mason)

There are cultural reasons Americans still default to the 12-hour clock in daily life. Habits are hard to break, and civilian schedules rarely carry life-or-death stakes. The military operates in an entirely different world. It trains to remove avoidable errors and fights with allies whove been on the 24-hour clock for more than a century. So the services teach recruits from the jump to say the leading zero and to hear the rhythm of a day that runs from 0000 to 2359.

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Within a few weeks, it becomes second nature. Outside the gate, it may sound like gibberish. Inside the wire, it sounds like order. And the U.S. military loves order.

To translate military time quickly, subtract twelve from any time greater than 1200 to get the afternoon in civilian terms. If a briefing says 1730, thats 5:30 p.m. If it says 0030, thats half past midnight (or zero dark thirty, but not over a net). Midnight itself can be written as 0000 at the start of a day or 2400 at the end of one, a final touch that keeps schedules tidy across a page.

Learn those simple moves and you can read a tasking sheet or a flight board like a pro. The reward is the same one the military gets every day. Fewer mistakes. Faster decisions. A shared clock that keeps complex operations humming.

Operations center with multiple clocks including UTC for synchronization.

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British commuters must endure slower train Wi-Fi speeds than Romania, new figures have revealed.

The UK ranks 16th out of 18 major European and Asian countries, with average download speeds languishing at just 1.09 megabits per second (Mbps), according to data from Ookla.

That puts Britain behind nations including Poland, Lithuania and Romania. Speeds on Irelands railways are almost 25 times faster.

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The findings will enrage commuters who struggle with poor train Wi-Fi, given that the research shows there is no intrinsic reason why it should be so slow. A speed of 1Mbps would allow only for basic internet browsing and email, while it would struggle with streaming or larger downloads. By contrast, full-fibre broadband achieves speeds of around one gigabit per second (ie 1000Mbps).

Kester Mann, an analyst at CCS Insight, said: Poor connectivity on trains is a regular customer frustration that the mobile industry, Government and train operating companies have long struggled to address.

The economic potential for good on-board coverage is significant, given that data from the Department for Transport suggests that close to a third of people using the train do so for work or education purposes. This is particularly relevant given the Governments growth ambitions.

Researchers blamed the UKs poor performance in part on its reliance on outdated technology, with almost half of all rail connections using Wi-Fi 4  a standard dating back to 2009.

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Almost 40pc of on-board services also use the 2.4 GHz spectrum band, which has lower capacity and is more prone to congestion and interference than alternatives.

The Government has come under pressure to tackle so-called signal not spots on railways amid complaints patchy coverage is harming productivity.

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0910 Britain is lagging behind

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Luke Kehoe, an analyst at Ookla, said: Europe and Asias rail networks, long heralded as a backbone of economic competitiveness, are now judged not only on punctuality and comfort but on the quality of the digital experience onboard.

High-quality train Wi-Fi has shifted from nice-to-have to essential rail infrastructure. Commuters expect a home broadband-like experience for streaming, work calls and gaming while crossing the Swiss Alps or skirting Mount Fuji.

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Sweden topped the league table by a clear distance with average download speeds of 64.58 Mbps. Switzerland ranked second on 29.79.

Railways networks pose a particular challenge for telecoms operators. Metal carriages are notoriously hard to penetrate with mobile signals, while trains pass rapidly between different mobile masts through tunnels, cuttings and valleys.

However, the data undermine the notion that terrain is the most important factor for achieving good coverage. Swedens rapid download speeds come despite challenging conditions including long, sparse tracks in the northern regions that face severe winter weather.

Researchers said state aid and coverage obligations were the driving force behind the countrys strong performance.

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The UKs mobile networks have in the past unsuccessfully lobbied ministers to divert taxpayer money earmarked for tackling notspots in remote rural areas to the railways.

Train operators are separately exploring whether Elon Musks satellite broadband service Starlink could be deployed to plug coverage gaps. The technology is currently being trialled on some ScotRail routes.

Separately, Network Rail has unveiled plans to extend connectivity into dozens of tunnels across the countrys rail network with the aim of providing a full service for voice calls, streaming and text messages by 2028.

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.
Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to two charges brought by Lindsey Halligan, President Trumps new handpicked prosecutor in Virginia  one count of making false statements to Congress and one count of obstruction of justice.

Comey appeared in federal court in Alexandria, Va., before U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff for his arraignment on the charges. He waived a reading of the indictment in court.

When asked by Nachmanoff if he understood the charges against him, Comey replied, "I do, your honor. Thank you very much." Patrick Fitzgerald, Comeys lawyer, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

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A trial date was tentatively set for Jan. 5.

But Fitzgerald said that the defense team plans to file motions to dismiss the case before trial, accusing the government of "malicious and selective prosecution" based on Trump's pressure campaign. The defense also plans to challenge what Fitzgerald called Trump's "unlawful" appointment of Halligan to prosecute Comey.

Prosecutors did not request pretrial detention for the former FBI director, and he was not taken into custody.

Some of Comey's family members were seen entering the federal courthouse before the arraignment. They included his daughter Maurene Comey, who was abruptly fired from her position as a federal prosecutor by the Justice Department earlier this year, and his son-in-law Troy Edwards Jr., who resigned from his job as a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia  the office that brought the charges  minutes after Comey was charged.

How we got here

After his indictment by a federal grand jury on Sept. 25, Comey responded by proclaiming his innocence in a video posted to Instagram.

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"My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump," Comey said. "But we couldn't imagine ourselves living any other way. We will not live on our knees. And you shouldn't, either."

Comey said, "fear is the tool of a tyrant," and that he is "not afraid."

"My heart is broken for the Department of Justice," he added. "But I have great confidence in the federal judicial system, and I'm innocent. So, let's have a trial and keep the faith."

Trump celebrated Comey's indictment in a post on Truth Social.

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"JUSTICE IN AMERICA!" the president wrote, referring to Comey as "one of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed."

"He has been so bad for our Country, for so long," Trump added, "and is now at the beginning of being held responsible for his crimes against our Nation.

'We can't delay any longer'

Lindsey Halligan outside the White House. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Halligan  who was sworn in last month as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia  asked the grand jury to indict Comey just days after Trump publicly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to prosecute him and other perceived political adversaries, including Sen. Adam Schiff, a Democrat from California, and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

We cant delay any longer, Trump wrote in a Sept. 20 post addressed to Pam." They impeached me twice, and indicted me (5 times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!

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Asked later about his message for Bondi, Trump said, They have to act. They have to act fast.

Trumps appeal came after Halligans predecessor, Erik Siebert, resigned in response to pressure from the president to bring charges against Comey and James. Trump then nominated Halligan  a White House aide who had served as his personal lawyer and has no prosecutorial experience  to replace Siebert and get things moving, in his words.

On Sept. 24, the New York Times reported that Halligan was racing to present a case against Comey even though career prosecutors determined there was insufficient evidence to indict him.

The two-page indictment was signed only by Halligan. It accused Comey of lying to Congress on Sept. 30, 2020  the day he denied, under oath, that he was involved in leaking information from the FBIs Trump-Russia investigation.

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The five-year statute of limitations for any charges out of that hearing was set to lapse at the end of September.

Why does Trump want to prosecute Comey?

President Trump and Comey in 2017. (Andrew Harrer, Pool/Getty Images)

Trump has long framed his contentious relationship with the former FBI director as one-sided, with Comey out to get him. But its far more complicated than that.

A lifelong Republican turned independent, Comey was tapped in 2013 by then-President Barack Obama to lead the FBI. He upset Democrats in 2016 by reopening the investigation into Hillary Clintons emails two weeks before Election Day  and upset Republicans in early 2017 for leading an investigation to determine whether Trump associates coordinated with Russia during the previous years campaign.

Neither investigation led to charges.

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Trump fired Comey on May 9, 2017. In leaked memos and in his testimony before Congress, Comey alleged that Trump had pressured him to end investigations, which some interpreted as obstruction of justice. An FBI inspector general eventually criticized how Comey had handled these controversies but also found that neither Comey nor the broader FBI harbored a political bias against Trump. In 2019, Trumps Justice Department declined to prosecute Comey.

Regardless, Trump has long referred to Comey on social media as a DIRTY COP and Leakin Lyin James B. Comey.

In 2019, the president went so far as to accuse Comey of treason  a crime punishable by death in the United States.

In May of this year, Trump and other administration figures alleged, without evidence, that Comey was threatening the presidents life with an Instagram photo of seashells.

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The shells, which Comey spotted during a walk on the beach, spelled out 86 47  online slang for opposition to Trump.

He did it for a reason, Trump said at the time. Hes calling for the assassination of the president.

Trump then said it was going to be up to Pam  his attorney general  to decide whether to prosecute Comey for the photo. No charges were ever brought.

What happened with the alleged leaks?

Former FBI Director James Comey is sworn via videoconference before testifying during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill, Sept. 30, 2020. (Ken Cedeno/Pool via AP)

On Sept. 30, 2020, Comey testified before Congress that he did not leak classified information about Russian election interference to the New York Times in 2016 or 2017. He also denied authorizing such leaks.

When asked by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the panel chairman, whether he had been aware of an investigative referral that went to FBI leaders on Sept. 7, 2016, regarding U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clintons approval of a plan concerning U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump and Russian hackers hampering U.S. elections, Comey responded that the referral doesnt ring any bells with me.

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Later in the same hearing, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas asked Comey whether he had ever authorized leaks regarding the Trump-Russia investigation or the Clinton email probe. Comey stood by congressional testimony from 2017 in which he stated that he had not.

But last month, current FBI Director Kash Patel claimed on X that newly declassified memos reveal former FBI leadership authorized classified leaks while misleading Congress when he shared a link to a related story on the right-leaning website Just the News.

The story quoted previously redacted portions of the memos alleging that a lawyer working under Comey at the time disclosed USG [U.S. government] classified information to the NYT under the belief he was ultimately instructed and authorized to do so by then FBI Director James Comey via an intermediary.

The cover-up is finally being exposed, Patel declared. Accountability must follow.

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But Just the News also reported that the memos in question were previously investigated by multiple prosecutors, including the U.S. attorneys office in Washington, D.C., under Trumps first administration and by future-special prosecutor John Durham, and all declined to bring criminal charges.

In recent weeks, career prosecutors in the U.S. attorneys office again examined the memos, according to ABC News  and they were again unable to find evidence to prove that Comey likely committed either perjury or obstruction during his testimony.

In a memo provided to Halligan, these prosecutors argued that charging Comey with lying to Congress would not only fail in securing a conviction, which requires proving the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt, ABC reported, but also fall short of the much lower probable cause standard for an indictment.

They ultimately told Halligan that seeking the charges would violate DOJ policy, raise serious ethical issues, and risk being rejected by the grand jury, according to ABC.

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But Halligan pursued the indictment anyway.

A broader pressure campaign

President Trump speaks to reporters as he departs the White House on Sept. 26, the day after Comey's indictment. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Last month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump has also pushed Bondi repeatedly in private in recent days to bring charges against Comey, even as she has expressed reservations about the case.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department is now moving forward with the mortgage fraud case against James that Siebert declined to pursue, according to Bloomberg.

The New York Times reported that administration officials have also ramped up pressure on Kelly Hayes, the U.S. attorney in Maryland, who is leading inquiries into two other vocal Trump critics: Schiff, who has been accused of mortgage fraud by the presidents allies, and John Bolton, Trumps former national security adviser, who has been accused of mishandling classified information.

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In addition, more than a half dozen U.S. attorneys offices are reportedly drafting plans to investigate a group funded by George Soros  the billionaire Democratic donor  in response to a new directive from the office of the deputy attorney general, according to the Times.

Taken as a whole, Trumps public push to indict his perceived enemies amounts to an extraordinary breach of prosecutorial protocols that reach back to the days following the Watergate scandal, as the Times recently put it  and a departure from the traditional norms that seek to prevent the White House from weaponizing the Justice Department for political purposes.

Weve never seen anything even approaching this level of interference with the day-to-day job of prosecutors, Carol Lam, a former U.S. attorney in California who served during the administration of President George W. Bush, told the Washington Post. Having personal vindictiveness steer prosecutions, you see that seeping down the ranks [of the Justice Department]. And there appears to be no bottom.

When asked by reporters who is next on his "retribution list," Trump replied: "It's not a list, but I think there'll be others."
Some good news on the weight-loss front: Customers can now go to Costco to get Ozempic and Wegovy, brand-name injectable prescription drugs manufactured by drugmaker Novo Nordisk, which contain the same active ingredient: semaglutide.

Most Read from Fast Company



The Danish pharmaceutical firm announced Friday that both are available at the big-box retailers pharmacies nationwide, for $499 for a months supplythe same price as sold in CVS, Walmart, and the companys direct-to-consumer website. Youll still need a prescription to buy the drugs.

This collaboration reflects Novo Nordisks leadership in GLP-1 therapies as we continue to prioritize patient affordability and ensure safe access to authentic, FDA-approved medicines, a Novo Nordisk spokesperson told Fast Company.

AlsoCostco is offering a 2% discount for Costco executive members and Costco Citibank Visa cardholders.

The medications are similar but the Food and Drug Administration has approved them for two different reasons. Wegovy is approved for chronic weight management. Ozempic is approved for treating type 2 diabetes and to reduce the risk of cardiovascular health issues including heart attack , stroke, and death in people with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Ozempic is prescribed off-label for weight loss.

They are administered in different dosages and reportedly have different side effects. Because Wegovy is administered at higher doses, a maximum of 2.4 milligrams per week, it may lead to greater weight loss but also more gastrointestinal side effects. Ozempic is typically administered at 2 milligrams per week. Each are injected once a week.

Costco financials

Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) stock was down less than 1% during afternoon trading on October 6.

The company reported fourth-quarter earnings for the period ending August 31, 2025, with net sales for the quarter up 8% to $84.4 billion (from $78.2 billion last year). Net sales for the fiscal year increased 8.1% to $269.9 billion (from $249.6 billion last year).

Costco currently has a market capitalization of $402.6 billion.

This post originally appeared at fastcompany.com

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Procter & Gamble will halt business operations in Pakistan as part of its two-year restructuring plan, according to a news report.

The Cincinnati-based consumer products giant has disclosed it plans to wind down its manufacturing and commercial activities in Pakistan and rely on third-party distributors to continue to serve customers in the country, according to Reuters.

The Procter & Gamble world headquarters in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, June 5, 2025.

P&G exit part of restructuring

The move comes after P&G said it would pull out of Bangladesh as part of its plans to cut 7,000 nonmanufacturing jobs, announced in summer. By mid-2027, the maker of Tide detergent and Gillette razors said it would cut 6.4% of its 109,000 employees worldwide to free up money to reinvest into its business.

P&Gs plans to slim down weigh heavily on its hometown where the company employs around 10,000 mostly office workers.

Procter & Gamble restructuring plans: Buyouts, brand sales and a CEO shakeup

International sales part of sluggish performance

P&Gs cuts come after its 2024 organic sales growth (which excludes the impact of foreign exchange, acquisitions and divestitures) slowed to a seven-year low. The company vowed to review its operations, including sluggish international markets.

In July, P&G revealed its core markets of the U.S., China, Japan, Canada and Western Europe saw organic sales growth of 2% last year versus enterprise markets lagged growing just 1%. P&G has exited whole countries before: last year it shut down operations in Argentina and Nigeria in 2023.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Procter & Gamble cuts operations in Pakistan amid restructuring
When it comes to traceability, there is a gap between the industrys intentions and their actions.

According to a survey conducted by Sourcing Journal in partnership with Oritain, 63 percent of industry executives indicate traceability is a strategic advantage, yet just 44 percent are actively tracing goods. The remaining 56 percent either have a plan in place but are not actively tracing goods yet or they have no plan in place. During a panel at Sourcing Journals Fall Summit, moderated by SJ and Fairchild Studio director Lauren Parker, speakers dove into the motivations behind traceability investments and what is still holding companies efforts back.

More from Sourcing Journal

Looking at the key drivers shaping traceability, protecting brand reputation came out on top with 40 percent of respondents. This was followed by consumer demand for transparency and expected regulatory pressures, reflecting the growing need for compliance preparedness.

The cost of trading non-compliant or unethical goods significantly outweighs the cost of investing in a pretty robust due diligence program, said Ben Tomkins, regional vice president, Americas at Oritain, which uses forensic science to verify raw material origins. The longer the businesses take to implement a degree of traceability, the more acute their risk becomes as well.

One piece of legislation spurring the industry to action on traceability is the United States Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), which bars imports tied to Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Between 2023 and 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protections shipment detentions rose 25 percent, and the detention increase was sharper in apparel, footwear and textiles, rising 33.4 percent the same year. UFLPA was a huge catalyst for sort of moving the need of traceability from a nice to have to sort of a business necessity, said Tomkins.

This crackdown on slavery and forced labor extends beyond the U.S. with the United Kingdoms Transparency in Supply Chain Act and the European Unions Forced Labour Regulation. Companies are also facing escalating due diligence requirements from regulations like the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Further, EU legislation will soon mandate digital product passports. To create DPPs, companies must have knowledge about their supply chains and be able to disclose detailed product information. However, only 46 percent of those surveyed have visibility to Tier 4, or the raw material stage. Somewhat expectedly due to the scrutiny around cotton, including the UFLPA, the fiber is the most commonly traced raw material.
Hungary possesses a remarkably rich vein of folk traditions  a dynamic heritage that expats in Hungary should certainly explore. This deeply rooted culture, encompassing both preserved knowledge and living practices, is a significant part of why the Hungarian countryside is a popular destination for cultural tourism.

The countrys authentic image is defined by practices like the vibrant Buso festivities, traditional falconry, detailed Matyo embroidery, lively folk dancing, and distinct folk music. Even the local art of palinka distillation and winemaking are integral components of this cultural landscape.







What Makes Hungarian Folk Culture Unique?

Hungarian folk culture  particularly its music, dance, and traditional clothing  enjoys global recognition for two key reasons:



1. Early Preservation: Hungary had the foresight to begin systematically collecting and documenting its folk music and dances early on. This initiative saved an unparalleled treasury of "pure source" folk art that continues to thrive today.



2. Origin in Daily Life: This culture emerged organically from the lives of the people. The spirited, sometimes harsh movements of the dances mirrored the challenges of daily work. Fiery, virtuosic steps were often a symbolic attempt to tame nature, while softer partner dances beautifully embodied the cycles of family life and love, creating a uniquely authentic human art form.



Folk Art is a Living Tradition



As the musician Ferenc Sebo wisely noted: Traditions are not to be cared for, as they arent sick, and are not to be preserved, as they arent food. Our traditions can only stay with us if we live them.



This idea confirms that folk music is an expression of the human spirit, and folk dances are not merely archival artifacts. The true essence of folk culture is its continuity: it must pass through the hearts and minds of the people of each generation. In this way, people continually shape and renew it, ensuring it remains a genuine and substantial treasure for the future.



Hungarian 'Dance House' Culture: A Global Heritage



The Hungarian "dance house" (tanchaz) phenomenon, which began in Budapest during the 1960s, quickly became a defining cultural movement. It was essentially Central Europe's answer to the West's "Beat" generation, resonating strongly with Hungarian youth searching for their identity and genuine human connection.



These evening events offered a unique experience: live, acoustic folk music accompanied by dance instruction, making this part of the culture accessible to everyone. The concept exploded in popularity, often filling venues beyond capacity.



The dance house movement proved so powerful that it expanded far beyond Hungarys borders and the Carpathian Mountains. Today, this distinctive Hungarian cultural practice  which has even earned a place on the UNESCO World Heritage list  is celebrated on five continents, from Japan to Brazil.



While the venues have shifted over the decades, the spirit of the dance house culture remains vibrant. By the early 2000s, specialized folk pubs became central to Budapest's folk art scene.



Places like Fono, Racskert, Hetker, and Potkulcs regularly host dance house events that last well past sunrise, stretching across both Buda and Pest's central districts. As the night concludes, traditional songs known as 'matutinals' are played, offering a sweet, melancholic farewell to the night's festivities.



Decoding Hungarian Folk Style: From White Linen to UNESCO Heritage



The diverse world of Hungarian folk culture is visible everywhere, from intricate needlework to historic architecture. Heres a look at some fascinating details  and the internationally recognized treasures  that define this national heritage.



The Evolution of Hungarian Folk Dress



Its a fun fact that while Hungarian folk dresses are now synonymous with vibrant, elaborate patterns, the dominant color used in the 18th century was actually white. This was due to the high cost and inconsistent quality of colored dyes available at the time.



The 19th century brought a major shift with industrialization. Suddenly, bright dyes were accessible, and expansive clothing surfaces became canvases for bold colors, each carrying a specific meaning.



Colors communicated a persons wealth, their religious denomination, or even a state of mind, such as grief. Since the space for decoration on any garment was limited, different regions often competed to showcase their identity through increasingly complex and intricate patterns.



Hungarian Heritage Recognized by UNESCO



Any discussion of authentic Hungarian culture inevitably features Matyo folk art. Dating back to the late 19th century, this style is known for its dense, space-filling floral embroidery, most famously featuring the Matyo rose.



It was primarily used on household textiles and decorations, and its characteristic patterns have influenced other crafts, making the Matyo style instantly recognizable worldwide. Its significance led to its inclusion on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.



However, Matyo art is not the only Hungarian tradition recognized by UNESCO. Other unique Hungarian cultural elements on this prestigious list include:



Falconry: A time-honored hunting tradition.

Buso Festivities at Mohacs: A celebrated, costumed carnival held to mark the end of winter, welcome spring, and invoke fertility.

Indigo Dyeing: The historic and dominant fabric dyeing method used for centuries for both folk costumes and home textiles.



Guardians of Community Art: Folk Houses



Throughout the countryside, folk houses serve a vital purpose: to preserve and present the local community culture and folk art of the past. These sites present excellent examples of folk architecture and feature authentic interiors that illustrate the daily life of a specific social stratum.



Visiting one of the country's dedicated folk houses offers expats a chance to effectively travel back in time, glimpsing life from the late 1800s right up to the 1950s.



Another method used to protect these cultural assets is the relocation of valuable, historic buildings to open-air ethnographic museums. These living museums provide an essential window into the customs and way of life of the Hungarian peasantry.
This latest interception follows Israels deportation of approximately 170 activists, including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg, who were detained after attempting to reach Gaza aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels.
A delegation of Indian parliamentarians has arrived in New York City to represent India's stance at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session.
A viral video from Afghanistan is winning hearts online, showing the warm treatment an Indian tourist received from Taliban security personnel. The security personnel welcomed him, saying, India-Afghanistan Brother.
It was the night of April 13, 2024. After decades of tension, Iran had launched a direct attack on Israel for the first time.
rsted has raised DKr59.56bn ($9.35bn) through a rights issue to strengthen its capital structure and support ongoing projects.

This rights issue allowed existing shareholders, including the Danish state, which holds a 50.1% stake, and new investors with acquired pre-emptive rights, to subscribe to new shares.

The Danish offshore wind company issued the new shares at a subscription ratio of 15:7 and a price of DKr66.60 per share.

Existing shareholders or new investors with pre-emptive rights have subscribed to approximately 99.3% of the 894,298,680 new shares.

The Danish state also subscribed to 451,522,164 shares as part of its commitment.

rsted president and CEO Rasmus Errboe said: Im very pleased with the strong support we've received for our rights issue from small and large investors from Denmark and abroad, including from our majority shareholder, the Danish state.

The rights issue strengthens Orsted's financial foundation, allowing us to focus on delivering our six offshore wind farms under construction, continue to handle the regulatory uncertainty in the US, and strengthen our position as a market leader in offshore wind.

We'll continue to work hard on executing our strategy and delivering results quarter after quarter. It will be a long, tough haul, and we have a lot of work ahead of us in the coming years to ensure progress on our projects under construction, improve our competitiveness, and focus the business on offshore wind, especially in Europe.

rsted said the capital raised will support the retention of its full ownership of Sunrise Wind and strengthen its financial position from 2025 to 2027.

During the period, the company plans to complete 8.1GW of offshore wind projects, expanding its capacity to 18.3GW.

Also, rsted aims to use the enriched capital base to pursue further investments in offshore wind projects across Europe, contributing to regional energy independence.

This August, the Trump administration ordered rsted to halt its nearly completed construction of the Revolution Wind project off Rhode Island. A US federal judge later overturned the ban, enabling the company to resume work.

Earlier this year, rsted closed a finance package of T$90bn to support the development of the Greater Changhua 2 offshore wind farm in Taiwan.

"rsted raises $9.35bn through rights issue " was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




The blast reportedly originated from a scooter parked by the roadside, though the precise cause remains under investigation. Several victims were rushed to Ursula Hospital, with some in critical condition.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Mumbai with a delegation that included CEOs and senior executives from top British companies, as well as representatives from major universities and institutions. He is joined by the UK Minister for Trade and Business, Peter Kyle, and Investment Minister Jason Stockwood.
When Islamabad signs transfer-of-technology clauses, what it receives is not the machinery to build but the license to assemble. The difference is subtle, yet fatal to sovereignty. For every imported valve or sonar array, a fragment of autonomy is pawned.
India's journey as the world's largest democracy has been shaped by visionary leaders who steered the nation through critical junctures. The country has seen 14 Prime Ministers in its 78 years of journey since independence. From independence to economic liberalization and global resurgence, five Prime Ministers stand out for their transformative leadership in taking brand India to the world. Each brought distinct strengths, navigating complex challenges while leaving indelible marks on India's political, economic, and strategic landscape. Can you guess them?
(Reuters) -Defense contractor Science Applications International Corp said on Monday it had agreed to buy peer SilverEdge Government Solutions from private equity firm Godspeed Capital for $205 million in cash.

The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of fiscal year 2026.

Reston, Virginia-based SAIC provides government technical and enterprise IT services. In June, the company was awarded a $928 million five-year contract by the Department of Defense to provide engineering services in support of the U.S. Air Force's TENCAP programme.

Through its acquisition of cybersecurity, software and intelligence solutions provider SilverEdge Government Solutions, SAIC looks to expand its product portfolio with the integration of SilverEdge's products, including its flagship software-as-a-service product suite, SOAR.

"SOAR delivers agile, low-risk and rapid prototyping products that align with our enterprise growth strategy to provide integrated digital solutions to our customers that tackle national priorities," said Toni Townes-Whitley, CEO of SAIC.

For the deal, SAIC was supported by KPMG as its financial adviser and SilverEdge was advised by KippsDeSanto & Co.

(Reporting by Aatreyee Dasgupta in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)
(Reuters) -Salesforce said on Wednesday it would spend $1 billion in Mexico over the next five years, as the cloud software provider looks to expand its operations and drive artificial intelligence adoption.

The company, which began operating in Mexico in 2006, said the investment will fund a new Mexico City office and a Global Delivery Center to support customers across the Americas.

"This $1 billion investment is a commitment to Mexico as a key market for AI-powered growth," CEO Marc Benioff said.

Mexico is rapidly emerging as a tech services hub, drawing investments from technology companies, particularly in the AI domain due to the country's proximity to the U.S. and growing talent base.

Microsoft announced last year that it will spend $1.3 billion over the next three years to build up its infrastructure in Mexico for cloud computing and AI.

Salesforce said Mexico is a growth market for the company, with a customer base including organizations such as Xcaret, Grupo Bafar and FEMSA.

"This investment will not only create jobs and build AI skills within Mexico but will also position our country as a key consultancy hub for markets across Latin America on AI agents and more," Mexico's Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said.

Last month, Salesforce forecast third-quarter revenue below Wall Street estimates. The company had also announced a $20 billion increase to its existing share buyback program.

Salesforce has rolled out AI across its cloud services at a rapid pace, culminating in the 2024 commercial launch of Agentforce  its AI agent platform designed to automate tasks, streamline operations and help lift margins.

(Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Alan Barona)
New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen added her voice to the chorus of Democrats, some Republicans and numerous experts sounding the alarm about the consequences of letting the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits expire at the end of this year.

The senator appeared on CNBCs Squawk Box recently to explain how not extending the tax credits could prove a health care catastrophe for millions of Americans (1).

Failure to extend those tax credits, she warned, is going to see insurance costs rise for over 20 million people and about 4 million people lose their health insurance entirely.

Must Read

And shes not wrong. A letter (2) from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) back in May outlined the effects of not renewing the tax credits  which are largely used by lower- and middle-income Americans who earn approximately $15,000 to $60,000 annually, or between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL).

The CBO letter explained that the expiration of the expanded premium tax credits will increase the number of people without health insurance by 4.2 million in 2034.

Meanwhile, early this year it was reported that ACA enrollment hit an all-time high of 24 million Americans (3)  most of whom would see their health care premiums skyrocket if the enhanced credits end.

The cost of ending ACA tax credits

Originally introduced in 2021 and renewed the following year, the ACA enhanced premium tax credits are at the heart of the ongoing government shutdown. Democrats demanded Republicans extend them in exchange for their votes to keep the government open, but Republicans refused and remain split (4) on whether they want to continue them at all.

Democrats wanted the tax credits extended not just before they expire on Dec. 31, 2025, but ahead of the beginning of open enrollment on Nov. 1. Otherwise, the CBO explained (5), it would reduce the likelihood that 2026 premium costs would reflect the tax credit discount.

Shaheen said that extending the tax credits is in everybody's interest, adding that data show that if we don't extend these tax credits, the GOP is going to pay at the polls next year.
Japan's SoftBank Group has agreed to acquire the robotics branch of Swiss engineering company ABB for $5.37 billion (4.62bn) as it pushes ahead with physical AI.

Unlike digital AI, which works in the virtual realm, physical AI allows machines such as robots to operate in real-world environments.

The acquisition is part of a broader strategy held by the Japanese multinational investment firm, headquartered in Tokyo, which is actively investing in AI chips, AI robots, AI data centres, and energy.

The current acquisition, approved by the firm's board, is still subject to regulatory approvals, although SoftBank expects the deal to close in the second half of 2026.

SoftBanks next frontier is Physical AI," said Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank. "Together with ABB Robotics, we will unite world-class technology and talent under our shared vision to fuse Artificial Super Intelligence and robotics  driving a groundbreaking evolution that will propel humanity forward.

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ABB CEO Morten Wierod added: "ABB Robotics will benefit from the combination of its leading technology and deep industry expertise with SoftBanks state-of-the-art capabilities in AI, robotics and next-generation computing."

For Zurich-based ABB, the deal means it will not pursue its earlier intention to spin off its robotics business as a separately listed company.

Peter Voser, chairman of ABB, said: SoftBanks offer has been carefully evaluated by the Board and Executive Committee and compared with our original intention for a spin-off. It reflects the long-term strengths of the division, and the divestment will create immediate value to ABB shareholders."

ABB's robotic branch has approximately 7,000 employees. The ABB Robotics division reported revenues of $2.3bn (1.98bn) in 2024, which represented about 7% of ABB Group revenues, and had an operational EBITA margin of 12.1%.

ABB will carve out its robotics business into a newly established holding company, and the expected separation cost is around $200 million (172mn).

Shares in the Swiss firm were up by more than 1.4% in the morning in Europe. SoftBank's share price closed 2% lower after the Asian trading session on Tuesday, before the announcement was made.
TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Conexiant, a leading provider of medical publishing, digital experiences, and audience engagement solutions, is excited to announce a strategic partnership with the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) to publish their flagship news publication, GI & Hepatology News.

GI & Hepatology News is the authoritative source of clinical and policy news in gastroenterology and hepatology, reaching tens of thousands of gastroenterologists, hepatologists, and related specialists worldwide. Through this partnership, Conexiant will collaborate closely with the AGA to deliver high-quality, engaging content to support the clinical practice, research, and educational needs of digestive health professionals as well as manage the publication's digital and print advertising and sponsorship sales and operations.

"At Conexiant, we are proud to partner with AGA in publishing GI & Hepatology News," said Charlie Lee, Chief Executive Officer of Conexiant. "We are committed to advancing the delivery of world-class content by expanding the distribution and impact of this essential publication while supporting AGA's mission to improve digestive health and patient outcomes."

"AGA is excited to begin this new chapter with Conexiant," said Tom Serena, CEO at the American Gastroenterological Association. "GI & Hepatology News plays a critical role in keeping our members informed about the latest developments in digestive health. Conexiant's 30+ year legacy and proven track record in medical publishing and working with the world's premier associations and societies make it an ideal partner to help us scale our educational impact and strengthen connections across the field of gastroenterology."

The transition to Conexiant as publisher will take effect January 1, 2026 with the first Conexiant-published edition of GI & Hepatology News scheduled for release shortly thereafter.

About the American Gastroenterological Association

The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, AGA represents members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice, and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research, and educational programs of the organization. www.gastro.org AGA is on Instagram. Like AGA on Facebook. Follow us on X @AmerGastroAssn and Bluesky @amergastroassn.bsky.social Check out our videos on YouTube. Join AGA on LinkedIn.

About Conexiant

Conexiant is a premier global healthcare destination, renowned for its trusted clinical content, extensive audience engagement, and comprehensive educational library. The integrated Conexiant network  encompassing digital solutions, event production, learning, publications and revenue operations  empowers organizations and healthcare professionals with actionable insights, peer-driven education, and cutting-edge resources that drive better clinical decisions and patient outcomes. For over 30 years, Conexiant has partnered with some of the largest associations and sought-after healthcare audiences, leveraging an industry-leading portfolio of brands and solutions. Through effective marketing, education, and engagement strategies, Conexiant empowers our customers to directly engage their target audience and maximize their return on investment. For more information, visit conexiantsolutions.com.

SOURCE Conexiant
Palantir Technologies (PLTR) debuted, without much fanfare, on the New York Stock Exchange on the final day of September 2020. The timing of the debut was unusual.

Covid did much damage, both on Wall Street and Main Street. With the markets still reeling, Palantir, a covert military business that helps governments harvest and analyze data, came with a different market proposition.

We have chosen sides. Our software is used by the United States and its allies, Palantir said.

Immediately, Palantir appeared unique in the investing world. As time went on, it became, in effect, a part of the larger U.S. security establishment. As a result, in a weary investment world, Palantir was still noteworthy, and even in its earliest days, people took notice.

However, Peter Thiel, its most renowned supporter, was a controversial figure. Alex Karp, the company's CEO, was not sorry for being obstinate. And analysts and investors were skeptical as PLTR promised the moon.

Wall Street was bored. The price of shares started at $10. Some investors viewed Palantir as a bloated contractor clinging to Cold War dreams, while others saw it as a misunderstood giant lurking in plain sight.

Five years later, that argument is mostly finished. Palantir's stock price has increased by more than 1,900%, resulting in a market valuation of over $440 billion, surpassing that of Boeing (BA) , IBM (IBM) , and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) .

It used to be a little data firm, but today it's one of the 20 most valuable public corporations in the U.S.

This isn't just a narrative about a stock that's rising rapidly.

Palantir is now at the core of something far bigger: a high-stakes meeting of AI, national security, and global power. It operates software in ICE detention cells, NATO infrastructure, and business supply chains for a range of industries, from fast food to aerospace.

Palantir's biggest and most significant gain yet came only weeks after it achieved its first billion-dollar sales milestone: a $10 billion, 10-year contract with the U.S. Army.

The question is no longer whether Palantir can grow, but rather how much it can grow from this point forward.

Five years after a quiet debut, Palantirs chart looks less like a rally and more like a reveal.Image source: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Palantir lands $10 billion Army deal, and something more valuable

Palantir secured its largest contract to date in July: a 10-year, $10 billion agreement with the U.S. Army.

The deal makes Palantir the backbone of the military's battlefield intelligence systems, which help connect troops, sensors, and commanders across domains.

It's not only about making money. The contract embeds Palantir's software deeply within the U.S. defense infrastructure, a level of long-term importance that few companies ever achieve.
Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) is among the 11 Best Military Drone Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. On September 22, the company announced that Textron Systems Corporation had delivered the XM204 Top Attack Munition to the Army in aid of U.S. Army Europe operations.

Textron Inc. (TXT) Delivers XM204 Top Attack Anti-vehicle Munitions To Army Under LRIP Contract

BPTU/Shutterstock.com

The anti-vehicle terrain shaping systems delivery came under the current XM204 LRIP contract, and follows the completion of the U.S. Army-led First Article testing in April this year, certifying the system for delivery to the Army and its allies. The program is being managed by the JPEO A&A, PM CCS, and PdM TSO.

The certification verified XM204s self-destruct and target engagement technologies and ensured Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT)s readiness to fulfill military orders both at home and for American allies looking for counter-mobility capability.

The XM204 offers top attack and standoff capabilities. It is designed to aid in terrain shaping operations by supporting various counter mobility tasks like blocking, disrupting, and turning an enemy force. According to Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT), the anti-vehicle munition is also highly portable and quickly emplaced. Moreover, it can be employed alone, in tandem, or in multiples with other terrain shaping systems.

While we acknowledge the potential of TXT as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 10 Best Money Making Stocks to Invest In and Renaissance Technologies Portfolio: 10 Biggest Stocks

Disclosure: None.
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Barter trade activities between Chinese automotive giant Chery Automobile and Iran have risen amid U.S. Sanctions on the country by President Donald Trump.

Cars Paid For In Metal Instead Of Cash

As Trump escalated sanctions on Iran after abandoning the Iran Nuclear Deal in 2018, a barter trade began between Chery and Iran as the country's access to the global financial system became restricted, Bloomberg reported on Monday.

The trade lets Chery, which is the largest exporter of vehicles in China, supply semi-knocked-down vehicles to Iran, which accounted for more than half of Chery's exports by 2016, in exchange for access to Iranian metal ores, the report suggests.

Trending: If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it?

Chery doesn't barter vehicles directly to Iran; instead, it routes trade activities through a separate company by supplying vehicles to the company, which then supplies the knocked-down vehicles to Chery's local partner in Iran, MVM, to assemble.

In return, Iran supplies metal ores like Copper and Zinc to Tongling Nonferrous Metals Group Holdings, a state-owned metal company that distributes them to other companies in China.

As Chery isn't trading in U.S. dollars, it isn't violating sanctions imposed by Trump on Iran. "US and European sanctions on Iran apply specifically to individuals and companies from those countries and anyone using their currencies," the report said.

Criticism Of Trump Over Iran Sanctions

The news comes as Trump has been criticized by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) over what he called "TACO Trump" TACO refers to a Wall Street trading term translating to Trump Always Chickens Out  and his side deals with Tehran.

"They're gonna sound tough in public and then and then have a side deal that lets Iran get away with everything? That's outrageous," he said. Meanwhile, Trump denied letting Iran refine Uranium.

See Also: An EA Co-Founder Shapes This VC Backed MarketplaceNow You Can Invest in Gaming's Next Big Platform

Trump had, in May, demonstrated a significant diplomatic gesture towards Iran in the hopes of improved relations between Washington, DC and Tehran. "As I have shown repeatedly, I am willing to end past conflicts and forge new partnerships for a better and more stable world," Trump said.

Chery's Hong Kong IPO, Other HK-Listed Companies

Meanwhile, Chery's IPO on the Hong Kong stock exchange helped the company raise $1.2 billion and saw its share price surge 11% to HK$34.16. The initial share price at the IPO debut was HK$30.75.
General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) is one of the 13 Safest Stocks to Invest in Now, supported by hedge fund interest and significant return on equity.

U.S. Navy Awards General Dynamics Corporation (GD) a $698 Million Contract; Seaport Global Securities Upgrades from Neutral to Buy with PT $376

General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) was upgraded by Neutral to Buy by Seaport Global Securities on September 29. The companys price target was raised from its previous level to $376. Budget discussions, according to Seaport, may momentarily hurt stock prices but offer a good starting point, along with increased tax breaks, perhaps boosting demand for business jets.

Furthermore, the update comes after General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) was awarded $698 million in U.S. Navy contracts recently, including a $42.5 million contract for submarine parts and a $642.3 million award for the building of Virginia-class submarines. As evidence of its continued strength in its defense backlog, General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) recently obtained a $13.4 million contract modification related to space defense systems.

Global aerospace and defense company General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) supplies government and private customers worldwide with mission-critical systems, information technology, shipbuilding, business aviation and combat vehicles. It is one of the Safest Stocks To Buy.

While we acknowledge the potential of GD 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: 11 Best Gold Royalty and Small-Cap Gold Stocks to Invest in Now and 11 Best Coal Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds.

Disclosure: None.
The UKs Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has lifted the ban on cryptoasset exchange-traded notes (cETNs) on Oct 8. These products, which trade on FCA-approved Recognised Investment Exchanges like the London Stock Exchange, will be subject to strict financial promotion and Consumer Duty rules.

The FCA prohibited the sale, marketing, and distribution of derivatives and ETNs referencing unregulated transferable cryptoassets to retail consumers beginning in January 2021.

David Geale, FCA executive director, stated that the market has "become more mainstream and better understood," and that the shift provides customers with "more choice" while keeping protections in place. However, these products will not be insured by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), so investors must be fully aware of the dangers.

ETFs vs ETNs: What's the difference?

In the U.S., crypto products, such as spot Bitcoin funds, which were approved in early 2024, are typically structured as ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds). An ETF is a regulated fund that holds the asset it tracks in custody, such as Bitcoin. Investors own shares of the fund, which represent their ownership stake in the asset.

In the United Kingdom and Europe, the products will be structured as Exchange-Traded Notes (ETNs). ETNs differ from endorsed ETFs in that ETNs are debt instruments issued by a financial institution. They will still have a 1:1 backing by the asset; however, they will operate within the legal system in a manner similar to a bond, rather than a fund.

What stays banned?

While civilian access to ETNs is now available, the FCA has clarified that the restriction on crypto derivatives (such as futures and options) remains in effect. The agency is also moving forward with its larger crypto plan, which includes suggestions for stablecoins and other digital asset laws.The FCA highlighted that it will continue to actively monitor the market, particularly high-risk transactions.

This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Oct 8, 2025, where it first appeared in the Policy section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Germany-headquartered fund services platform Universal Investment Group has entered the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region by opening its first office in Singapore.

This move is aimed to enhance the Universal Investments presence as a third-party management company and fund services provider.

The Singapore office will assist clients in pursuing international growth, particularly in the regions real estate market.

Bjoern Beck, with extensive experience in the APAC region and real estate, will lead the Singapore operations as managing director.

He will work closely with European colleagues to ensure the companys clients receive comprehensive service.

Beck said: The Asia-Pacific region is one of the most dynamic investment landscapes in the world, particularly in real estate, and I am excited to support our clients and Universal Investment Groups expansion into the region and to bring APAC closer to Europe.

By combining our scalable platform with local market knowledge, we look forward to serving as a trusted partner on the ground, creating meaningful opportunities for both existing and new clients.

The Singapore branch will also act as a conduit for APAC asset managers and institutional investors looking to enter the European investment market.

The office will offer a range of services, including fund structuring, management, administration, reporting, and risk management.

Additionally, the new location will provide distribution support through its Deutschland (D), Austria (A), and Switzerland (CH) (DACH) network, said Universal Investment.

Universal Investment Group CEO Francesca McDonagh said: Establishing our first office in the Asia-Pacific region is a significant milestone in our ambition to become a truly global partner for our clients.

Our growing international presence enables us to serve clients more efficiently and closely wherever they need us.

"We are pleased to have Bjoern Beck establishing our APAC operations and are confident his expertise will accelerate our clients growth in the region.

The Asia-Pacific region presents tremendous opportunities. With our strong market positions in Germany, Luxembourg, and Ireland, this move is a natural progression in expanding our reach while continuing to put our clients needs at the centre of everything we do.

Last month, Universal Investment named Hilton Hess as chief financial officer (CFO). Hess has more than 35 years of international corporate finance experience, and previously served as CFO at Vistra Group Holding.

"Universal Investment opens new office in Singapore " was originally created and published by Private Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has put forward a pair of proposals that could lead to a change in the way banks are supervised in the US.

The proposals are aimed at restricting its examiners to focus only on core financial risks and limit their authority to address nonfinancial issues.

The first proposal narrows the definition of safety and soundness for banks to issues that present a material financial risk to the institution.

Under this proposal, regulators could use matters requiring attention and other enforcement actions only for problems that have caused, or could cause, substantial financial harm to the bank or materially increase its risk of failure.

The second proposed rule would formalise a practice already implemented by the Trump administration, which eliminated the use of socalled reputation risk.

Earlier this year, all three major US regulators said they would stop using that standardone applied when a firms activities might generate negative publicity that could harm a banks business or trigger costly litigation, reported Reuters.

In a statement, FDIC acting chairman Travis Hill called this standard ripe for abuse and said it adds no value to bank supervision.

Furthermore, the proposal would also prohibit examiners from pressuring banks to deny services based on political, social, cultural, or religious viewpoints.

Industry groups had long blamed that standard for debanking, arguing it led banks to deny services to customers on political or similar grounds, reported the media outlet.

In August, Trump signed an executive order to ensure fair access to banking services for all US citizens. The order instructs federal regulators to ensure that banks do not discriminate against individuals based on their political or religious beliefs, or on the legality of their business activities.

"US regulator to restrict bank examiners oversight to strictly financial risks " was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.




This story was originally published on Waste Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Waste Dive newsletter.

Name: Nadege Petit

a headshot of Nadege Petit

New title: CEO of Veolia North America

Previous title: Chief innovation officer, Schneider Electric

Veolia North America has named Nadege Petit its new CEO effective December 1, a move meant to advance the companys expansion plans in North America.

Petit, who has a background in international business development and innovation, will help Veolia North America identify growth opportunities in the region, according to a news release.

Petit previously served as chief innovation officer of Schneider Electric, where she helped develop technologies and business models through partnerships, business incubators, investments and joint ventures, according to the release.

Veolia describes itself as the largest private operator and technology provider in the U.S. water sector. It also provides a range of hazardous waste and pollution treatment services.

VNA aims to achieve 50% growth in North America in coming years. So far, its done that mainly through a series of facility investments and acquisitions, including $350 million in deals announced earlier this year.

Those deals included two Massachusetts-based companies, New England Disposal Technologies and New England MedWaste. VNA also acquired California-based Ingenium, which provides hazardous and non-hazardous waste management services.

Additionally, Veolia has invested in its U.S. PFAS treatment sector, recently opening a $35 million plant in Delaware as part of a larger goal to develop more than 100 PFAS treatment sites in the U.S. as part of it BeyondPFAS service.

Petits role as CEO comes after a few months of leadership changes in Veolias North American sector. Sebastien Daziano, Veolias senior vice president of strategy, innovation and development, has been serving as VNAs interim CEO for several months. Outgoing CEO Frederic Van Heems, who took on the role in 2021, said he had been asked to step down, but did not specify why.

Prior to serving as chief innovation officer at Schneider Electric, she was executive vice president of the companys Power Products division, where she managed Schneider Electrics low-voltage power business globally.

Petit has served in various other leadership roles at that company for the last 20 years, including in operational and managerial roles in Europe, Hong Kong and the United States.

Petit also serves on the supervisory board of E.ON SE, a major European energy company, and is a member of its innovation and sustainability committee.
Verizon just announced that its current CEO, Hans Vestberg, is stepping downand the wireless carrier is pulling another seasoned leader out of retirement to take its helm.

Most Read from Fast Company



In a press release published on October 6, Verizon announced that former PayPal CEO Dan Schulman will be leading the company, effective immediately. In the meantime, Vestberg (who has held the title since 2018) will stay on as a special adviser at the company until October 4, 2026.

Schulman has served on Verizons board of directors since 2018, and was elected lead independent director in December 2024.

Dan is a seasoned and decisive leader with a unique set of experiences, and a proven record of transformative leadership and operational excellence, Mark Bertolini, Verizons board chair, said in the press release. He is the right leader to chart Verizons next phase of increased customer focus and financial growth.

The leadership change comes during a promising moment for Verizon: This July, the company raised its annual profit forecast from $0.15 billion to $2 billion thanks to a favorable U.S. tax reform. Currently, Verizons main focus is on bulking up its internet services to compete with rivals like AT&T and T-Mobile.

Heres what to know about Schulman as he steps in at Verizon.

His most recent job was CEO of PayPal

Schulmans most recent high-profile gig was at PayPal, where he served as president and CEO from 2014 to 2023. During that time, he tripled the companys revenue from $8 billion to $30 billion, all the while advocating for Wall Street leaders to use their financial power for good.

If you look at the state of our country today, its clear that capitalism needs an upgrade, Schulman told attendees at a gala in 2020, per a Fast Company profile at the time. People dont believe that the system is working for them. For democracy to flourish, you need to rise above your own self-interest. But how can you rise above your own self-interest when you are struggling to make ends meet every day?

The solution, he argued, was for business leaders to stand for more than just making money on behalf of shareholders.

He runs a ranch in his off-time

In February 2023, Schulman announced his retirement and officially moved on from PayPal in December of that year. Since then, hes served on various companies boardsincluding Cisco, Lazard, and JUST Capitalpositions that, per his LinkedIn, hes balanced with plenty of off-time at his familys Montana ranch, which is home to more than 500 cattle.
Famed investor Warren Buffett once emphasized the significance of trust and character in business partnerships, stating that these qualities are as vital as financial metrics when assessing investment opportunities.

Buffett, the esteemed investor and chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:BRK) (NYSE:BRK), shared his thoughts on the importance of trust and character in business partnerships in his 1989 annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholder letter.

Trending: These five entrepreneurs are worth $223 billion  they all believe in one platform that offers a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends

Buffett wrote, We've never succeeded in making a good deal with a bad person.

Conversely, we do not wish to join with managers who lack admirable qualities, no matter how attractive the prospects of their business, he added in his letter.

I learned to go into business only with people whom I like, trust, and admire. As I noted before, this policy of itself will not ensure success: A second- class textile or department-store company wont prosper simply because its managers are men that you would be pleased to see your daughter marry, Buffett continued.

This belief is rooted in Buffetts extensive experience leading Berkshire Hathaway, where he has consistently aimed to collaborate with leaders who exemplify competence, honesty, and integrity.

See Also: 7 Million Gamers Already Trust Gameflip With Their Digital Assets  Now You Can Own a Stake in the Platform

According to Buffett, a deal with an individual whose values or actions compromise trust is bound to fail, regardless of how appealing the financial aspects may seem.

Buffetts strategy has been confirmed by some of Berkshire Hathaways most prosperous acquisitions, including Sees Candies, Nebraska Furniture Mart, and GEICO.

These were led by managers whom Buffett greatly admired for their integrity and long-term focus.

Buffetts insights serve as a timely warning in the current financial environment, where short-term opportunities can often carry concealed risks.

His enduring lesson is that business success is not solely about identifying opportunities, but also about selecting the right individuals to seize them with.

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CHICAGO, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas and the Alliance of Polish Clubs USA will host a special event honoring Polish American Heritage Month by unveiling the first-ever U.S. showing of the "Different Faces of Solidarity" photography exhibit by acclaimed Polish photojournalist Wieslaw Debicki. The exhibit, on loan from the Solidarnosc Museum in Poland, captures the powerful legacy of the Solidarity movementa pivotal force that helped topple Communism in Poland and Eastern Europe.

The unveiling will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 10, 2025, at the Cook County Treasurer's Office, 118 N. Clark Street, Room 112, Chicago, IL. Treasurer Pappas will be joined by Members of the Alliance and Deputy Consuls General from the Polish Consulate.

Forty-five years ago, a workers' strike in a Polish shipyard sparked a national movement for better pay, safer working conditions, and political freedom. That movementSolidaritygrew to more than 10 million people and became a symbol of hope and resistance. Members of the movement say they were galvanized by the powerful images captured by Debicki who meticulously documented the human faces behind the history. This exhibit of the late photojournalist's work is being displayed outside Poland for the first time.

"Polish Americans have helped shape the very heart and soul of Chicago," said Pappas. "Their contributionsfrom building our neighborhoods to advancing our culture, business, and public lifeare woven into the fabric of our city. As we celebrate Polish American Heritage Month, it's an honor to pay tribute to the strength, resilience, and enduring spirit of the Solidarity movement and the Polish community here and abroad."

As part of the celebration, Treasurer Pappas will recognize several visiting dignitaries from Poland and members of Cook County's 400,000 strong Polish American community for their outstanding contributions to the city.

Honorees include Kazimierz Kimso, Solidarity Trade Union leader, Dr. Tomasz Wojcik, Former Polish Parliament member, Andrzej Janusz Jerie, journalist & documentary producer, Kinga Modjeska, CEO Polonia Stage Theater, Monica Lebenstejn, Polish Youth Association Director, Marianna Mosz, 2023 parade queen.

SOURCE Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas
Oil markets are struggling to reconcile geopolitics with fundamentals as headlines push prices one way while physical signals pull in the other direction. The result is a market where Brent spreads and gasoil cracks appear strong on paper, even as North Sea grades compete for premiums and US crude arrives at a discount in Europe.

Markets are operating on a split screen, with futures signalling at least some tightness still, while the physical market has been weakening markedly. The paper structure has solidified, still in backwardation. Traders added a security cushion in some instances after sustained strikes on Russian refineries and export infrastructure. Gasoil and naphtha cracks, as well as EastWest differentials have stretched to levels reminiscent of the immediate post-invasion period. Meanwhile, FOB premiums for light sweet grades in the North Sea are not strong on average. The Forties have been struggling to clear at a premium to Dated, and WTI is again landing in Northwest Europe at attractive economics. One side of the market is pricing disruption; the other is signalling surplus.

Evidence of robust summer runs adds to the confusion. Saudi crude processing increased sharply year on year, channelling significant incremental barrels into gasoil exports. Brazil posted a decade-high throughput in August. OECD Asia utilisations edged higher, and Indias large sites remained busy. Even with that momentum, margins did not collapse, which suggests the ceiling on operable capacity is closer than it looks. When everything goes right, the system holds together; when a single cog slips, the strain becomes visible.

Related: Crude Traders Split on Whether the Glut Has Arrived

Refining flexibility, not crude availability, is the pinch point. Global conversion units are already working near practical limits, and reliability is uneven. The recurring issues at Dangotes RFCC underline how thin that cushion can be. With winter approaching and diesel stocks still lean versus longer-term seasonal norms, the system has little room to absorb fresh shocks. When geopolitical risk collides with tight conversion capacity, product cracks do not need a demand surge to lift; they only need another outage.

Paper vs physical will not diverge forever

The present disconnect cannot persist indefinitely. North Sea physical weakness sits uneasily beside backwardated Brent spreads. Freight has clearly amplified paper moves, VLCC strength and shifting arbitrages have distorted regional clearing prices, and the dated vs futures plumbing can magnify stress in short bursts. Over time, either physical premiums should rebuild as risk materialises in prompt barrels, or paper structure should cool if the feared losses fail to curtail flows. Positioning around that reconciliation demands humility and disciplined risk limits. Meanwhile, global crude exports are averaging at multi-year highs and oil is building up on water. The market sees this and knows we are headed into a better-supplied period in Q4. The question is of timing and how to manage geopolitical risk in the paper market.
NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Jones Walker LLP announced today that Stacey Goff has returned to the firm as a partner in the Corporate Practice Group and a member of the corporate, securities, and executive compensation in the New Orleans office.

Jones Walker welcomes Stacey Goff as a partner in the Corporate Practice Group and member of the corporate, securities, and executive compensation in the firm's New Orleans office.

"We are pleased to welcome Stacey back to Jones Walker," said Bill Hines, the firm's managing partner. "His practical, business-focused legal style ensures our strategies support corporate goals while balancing risk and growth. Stacey's Fortune 500 experience will also further enhance our value to both our existing and future corporate and securities clients across the country."

His practice focuses on corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions, crisis management, investor relations, human resources, and regulatory compliance. Stacey has extensive experience negotiating complex commercial agreements with sophisticated counterparties, debt holder activism and debt refinancings, managing board and CEO transitions and preparing for and responding to shareholder activism, addressing high-stakes litigation and regulatory matters, and developing and implementing crisis-management strategies.

"I am excited to return to Jones Walker and rejoin a firm that has long been a trusted partner to so many client partners across a diverse array of industries," Stacey said. "The firm's collaborative culture and strong corporate platform make it an ideal place to re-enter my private practice. I look forward to working alongside such a talented team and contributing to the firm's continued success."

He returns to the firm after serving for more than two decades as general counsel for Monroe, Louisiana-based Lumen Technologies, Inc., a Fortune 500 company, and its predecessors. During his corporate tenure, Stacey helped guide the company through transformational growth and numerous strategic initiatives, including multiple high-profile mergers and acquisitions. This firsthand experience as a C-suite executive gives him unique insight into the concerns and priorities of corporate leaders, boards of directors, and other key stakeholders. Prior to joining Lumen, Stacey served as an auditor for the federal Government Accountability Office.

About Jones Walker

Jones Walker LLP (joneswalker.com) is among the largest 145 law firms in the United States. With offices in Alabama, Arizona, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Minnesota, New York, and Texas, we serve local, regional, national, and international business interests. The firm is committed to providing a comprehensive range of legal services to major multinational public and private corporations, Fortune 500 companies, money center banks, worldwide insurers, and emerging companies doing business in the United States and abroad.

Contact :

Savannah Kirk

225.248.3435

[email protected]

SOURCE Jones Walker LLP
Omdia's 'Digital Guardians' report shows cyber security is a must-have for consumers, growth engine for CSPs

PARIS, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyber scams have doubled in the last year alone, and consumers now expect their communication service provider to be their first line of defense. It's made apparent in global cyber security leader F-Secure and Omdia's newly released report, Digital Guardians: The CSP Advantage in Delivering Consumer Cyber Security. The findings couldn't be more clear: if providers haven't gotten ahead in consumer cyber security, they're already falling behind.

"Cyber security is no longer optional. It is the next frontier of customer value," said Timo Laaksonen, President and CEO of F-Secure. "The question is not if digital service providers should offer protection, it is how fast they can deliver it. The winners will be the ones who step up and own the role of becoming a trusted digital guardian."

The Omdia research commissioned by F-Secure reveals that CSPs are uniquely positioned to become digital guardians for millions of households: by embedding protection directly into connectivity services, providers can transform cyber security from a fear-driven add-on into an essential part of modern digital life while also unlocking powerful business advantages. Those who act decisively will not only protect consumers but also seize the competitive advantage, driving higher revenue, stronger loyalty, and long-term brand trust.

"CSPs have the scale and the trust to deliver cyber security in a way no one else can," adds Fredrik Torstensson, Chief Partner Business Officer at F-Secure. "This is not just a business opportunity. It is a responsibility to safeguard digital lives."

Key Insights: A Call to Action for CSPs

71% of consumers prefer or would consider getting security protection from their CSP app versus apps from other types of companies.

versus apps from other types of companies. Cyber security ranks as the most likely mobile/broadband value-added service consumers would pay for , alongside speed guarantees.

, alongside speed guarantees. Embedding security into main CSP apps drives 57% higher engagement with the overall app and increases brand value.

with the overall app and increases brand value. Cyber security is now expected. Consumers see protection as a basic part of digital life, and as part of the CSP core connectivity offering.

Consumers see protection as a basic part of digital life, and as part of the CSP core connectivity offering. Security drives growth. Comprehensive digital security offerings increase revenue, reduce churn, and strengthen customer loyalty.

Comprehensive digital security offerings increase revenue, reduce churn, and strengthen customer loyalty. AI is a threat and opportunity. CSPs must guard against AI-powered threats while using AI responsibly to build trust.

The full report, Digital Guardians: The CSP Advantage in Delivering Consumer Cyber Security, is available now.

F-Secure at Network X

F-Secure will showcase the findings of Digital Guardians at Network X in Paris, October 1416, 2025 (booth A14) where company leaders will meet with CSP executives and industry partners.

Book time with F-Secure's industry experts and executives, who highlight how CSPs can transform cyber security from a cost center into a growth driver, and how embedding protection into connectivity services creates both consumer trust and competitive advantage: Meet us at Network X 2025 | F-Secure

F-Secure is setting the pace to be the #1 provider of scam protection in the world. To explore F-Secure's innovative cyber security portfolio for service providers, visit f-secure.com/partners.

About F-Secure

F-Secure makes every digital moment more secure, for everyone. We deliver brilliantly simple, frictionless security experiences that make life easier for the tens of millions of people we protect and for our more than 200 service provider partners. For over 35 years, we've led the cyber security industry, inspired by a pioneering spirit born out of a shared commitment to do better by working together.

PRESS CONTACTS:

Meghan Sawyer

Public Relations & Social Media Manager, North America

[email protected]



Joel Latto

Public Relations & Social Media Manager, EMEA

[email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com.

https://news.cision.com/f-secure/r/csps-missing-billion-dollar-opportunity-in-consumer-cyber-security--new-research-finds,c4247013

SOURCE F-Secure
COMPANY NEWS: Snowflake , the AI Data Cloud company, today announced it is increasing its New Zealand reach with plans to deploy a local instance on AWS recently opened AWS (Asia Pacific) New Zealand region. The announcement builds on Snowflakes commitment to local customers by providing closer proximity to their data, upholding and maintaining data governance, and doubling down on data sovereignty, security, and resilience.

The instance  which is expected to go live in the first half of 2026  will enable Snowflakes customers in New Zealand to keep their data securely on shore, while continuing to leverage the flexibility and scalability of Snowflakes AI Data Cloud. The near-instant elasticity of Snowflakes services will now empower more customers  both in the public and private sectors  to scale their offerings and leverage Snowflakes expanding suite of AI tools and services.

Todays announcement is a key milestone as it will allow our customers in New Zealand - from the public sector to enterprise, healthcare to education - to innovate faster and more securely than ever before, said Tony Shaw, New Zealand Country Manager, Snowflake. AI is set to become a key driver of economic growth, productivity and success, and we are confident this planned deployment will deliver all these benefits and more to our local customers as New Zealand upskills for the future. It's a testament to our commitment to the local market and our partnership with AWS.

Customers and partners welcomed the announcement, including BNZ and Accenture.

Paul Norman, BNZ Chief Information Officer, said: Keeping our customers data safe is paramount. Snowflakes future availability on the AWS New Zealand Region will give Kiwis more flexibility to create and deliver new data-driven services. This added onshore option will help give people confidence that data stays in Aotearoa and can be accessed quickly and securely.

Romain Groleau, Technology lead for Accenture in New Zealand, said: As a strategic partner to both Snowflake and AWS, supporting some of the largest client transformations in New Zealand, the planned launch of this platform in the region will help us meet growing demand from our clients for data sovereignty solutions that keep information within national borders. Together, we can help our local clients  particularly those in highly regulated industries  accelerate cloud-powered AI adoption and drive innovation and growth.

AWS launched its (Asia Pacific) New Zealand Region on 2 September 2025, representing a NZ$7.5 billion investment in local infrastructure. The Region consists of three Availability Zones that place infrastructure in separate and distinct geographic locations across Auckland. Availability Zones are located far enough from each other to support customers business continuity, but near enough to provide low latency for high availability applications that use multiple Availability Zones. Each Availability Zone has independent power, cooling, and physical security, and is connected through redundant, ultra-low-latency networks.
GUEST OPINION: Smarter data management is the key to unlocking AIs full value for brands.

For Australian brands, there's intense pressure to keep pace with both local and international competition while meeting rising consumer expectations. Customers now expect personalised interactions, experiences and offers as standard.

Many brands are interested in AI, and many are experimenting with it. However, most applications remain small-scale or experimental. Amperity research suggests that only 11% of US retailers feel confident about deploying AI at scale across their operations.

In Australia, the use of AI and Gen AI is growing for marketing, ecommerce and digital leaders across all industries, but many are still at an early stage.

According to recent research from Arktic Fox, just 8% of Australian brands have AI for optimisation opportunities and recommendations embedded as part of the way they operate. When it comes to enabling personalisation, just 5% do so.

Tackling the data fragmentation problem

Several obstacles prevent brands from moving faster. Limited technical expertise and high deployment costs create significant barriers. But many brands globally still struggle to act on customer data effectively.

In Australia, retailers are struggling to maximise the use of their data, with local data suggesting 82% of retail leaders believe they are emerging at best when it comes to activating data to deliver great CX and personalisation. Meanwhile, 84% believe they are emerging at best in building a unified view of the customer

Clean, accurate data is essential for AI success. Most brands still have customer information scattered across systems, leaving profiles incomplete. Unfortunately, in Australia, just 58% of retailer leaders are investing their budget in unifying and aggregating data sets to better enable them to leverage and activate it.

Without fixing this fundamental issue, AI risks producing irrelevant or damaging customer experiences.

Businesses must consolidate data from their multiple consumer touchpoints. Otherwise, AI solutions won't have access to the complete picture. This limits their ability to draw meaningful insights from customer engagements and take effective action.

Building stronger data foundations is critical in the age of AI

To succeed with AI, brands must create solid customer data foundations first. This means deploying platforms that collate various information sources in real-time and present unified 360-degree customer profiles.

AI runs on customer data. Customer data platforms (CDPs) make that data usable at enterprise scale. The advantage is clear: brands with a CDP are twice as likely to feel confident about understanding and acting on customer behaviour, and three times more likely to deploy AI in customer-facing applications.

These platforms pull information together and make sense of it for AI applications. They tackle major customer data challenges, including the problems created by duplicate profiles.

Solving identity resolution challenges with AI

Duplicate profiles create real problems when brands engage with consumers across various touchpoints. Duplication happens when people use different identifiers across separate channels, abbreviated names, alternative email addresses, or different contact details.

Australian research suggests that creating a unified customer view is a top investment priority for marketing, digital and eCommerce leaders. Over half of brands are focused on unifying data, with nearly as many investing in activation. In retail, more than half of respondents ranked first-party data strategies and personalisation as key goals.

However, ambition and results don't match up. Only 14% of brands feel they're making progress toward a unified customer view. More than half say they're falling behind on first-party data strategy.

The missing piece is identity resolution. Despite being foundational, only 25% of brands identified it as a key investment area.

This gap creates problems. Unifying customer data requires identity resolution. Without it, personalisation, consent management and omnichannel activation become much harder. Identity resolution helps answer three critical questions about each customer:

Who is this customer? What have they signed up for? Where does their data live?

Identity resolution also improves AI application accuracy. When AI personalises interactions, effectiveness improves dramatically when working from complete profiles. It enables cross-channel engagement and prevents customers from receiving conflicting communications.

Early adoption and innovation

Some brands are finding real success once they tackle data fragmentation head-on. Take UK fashion retailer New Look as an example. When they dug into their customer data, they discovered that nearly a third of their best customers were using more than one email address. That meant 3.4 million profiles were split across multiple records, making it almost impossible to recognise shoppers consistently.

By putting identity resolution in place, New Look was able to bring those records together. Within just one quarter, the brand saw a 50% lift in return on ad spendsaving more than 1 million by targeting the right customers instead of wasting impressions.

A clean data foundation also uncovered something powerful: 71% of their top customers shop across multiple channels. With this insight, New Look could engage up to 24% more high-value customers, fueling smarter, more effective marketing.

Shifting priorities

With an AI-powered CDP, identity issues can be resolved automatically. However, this remains a low priority for most retailers; only one in five say they're deploying AI for identity resolution. As retailers look to apply AI more broadly, accurate customer data must become a priority.

The retail sector has reached an inflection point on its path to full AI adoption. The industry is moving from pilot projects and early experimentation to broader deployment and scaled execution. To enable this transition, brands need enterprise-level data management solutions and CDPs in place first.

Positioned for the win

A better data foundation will help Aussiebrands move faster, make better decisions and improve their growth potential. Clean, consolidated, and organised data will enable AI to take on more work, generate better insights and help brands connect more meaningfully with their customers.

Australian brands that solve their data challenges first will be positioned to win in improving their relationships with customers, especially with AI. The opportunity is significant for brands ready to invest in the right foundations.

If you want to learn more about how retailers are using customer data to close the gap between AI potential and business results, you can see the full 2025 State of AI in Retail Report here.

About Billy Loizou

Billy Loizou has 15-plus years of experience in design, technology and marketing. He has worked with some of the world's most renowned and respected brands, helping them improve their customer experience and drive profitability.

About Amperity

Amperity's Customer Data Cloud empowers brands to transform raw customer data into strategic business assets with unprecedented speed and accuracy. Through AI-powered identity resolution, customizable data models, and intelligent automation, Amperity helps technologists eliminate data bottlenecks and accelerate business impact. More than 400 leading brands worldwide, including Alaska Airlines, DICK'S Sporting Goods, BECU, Virgin Atlantic and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, rely on Amperity to drive customer insights and revenue growth. Founded in 2016, Amperity operates globally with offices in Seattle, New York City, London, and Melbourne. For more information, visit amperity.com or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram.
New research from Qualtrics' fifth annual Consumer Experience Trends report reveals that Australians are among the world's least likely consumers to trust companies to use AI responsibly - just 23% trust organisations compared to 29% globally. Additionally, 58% fear that automated AI interactions will prevent them from being able to connect with a human.

As pressure grows on companies to demonstrate tangible returns from AI investments, the Qualtrics report reveals that efforts to scale service excellence with AI are falling short of expectations. Subpar AI interactions dont just erode trust, they hit the bottom line. Nearly half (41%) of bad experiences lead Aussies to cut spending, while satisfactory experiences have an outsized impact on loyalty.

Too many companies are deploying AI to cut costs, not to solve problems, and Aussies know the difference. Australian consumers are no doubt a hard group to win over. Their stark preference for human interactions is a reminder of just how critical human connection is for customer experience, said Ivana Papanicolaou, Head of Customer Experience Solution Strategy, ANZ at Qualtrics.

AI needs to be used to improve service, build connections and enhance the human experience, not replace it. It should empower human agents with the right context and suggested solutions so they can resolve complex customer problems quickly and effectively. But there's more we need to do to educate Aussies about its value."

The headline findings from the 2026 Qualtrics Consumer Experience Trends report, draws on insights from over 20,000 consumers across 14 countries - including 1,502 from Australia:

AI-powered customer service is failing, so far: Australians are showing hesitancy to AI adoption - over half (56%) are concerned about misuse of their data if companies use AI in customer interactions.

Australians are showing hesitancy to AI adoption - over half (56%) are concerned about misuse of their data if companies use AI in customer interactions. Survey fatigue leaves businesses guessing about customer churn: Aussies aren't providing direct feedback: 27% do nothing after a good experience, and 31% do nothing after a bad experience.

Aussies aren't providing direct feedback: 27% do nothing after a good experience, and 31% do nothing after a bad experience. Value wont be enough to secure customer loyalty in 2026: Economic pressures are forcing 29% of Australians to cut spending (vs. 19% globally) - making those who select brands for customer service more satisfied and trusting, compared with consumers who base purchasing decisions purely on value.

Economic pressures are forcing 29% of Australians to cut spending (vs. 19% globally) - making those who select brands for customer service more satisfied and trusting, compared with consumers who base purchasing decisions purely on value. Consumers demand transparency over personalisation: 61% of Aussies want to buy from brands that tailor their experience to their individual needs and wants, but only 36% of Australians believe the benefits of personalisation are worth the privacy trade-offs.

AI-powered customer service is failing, so far:

The report signifies that Aussies are sceptical of AI - let alone its ability to enhance customer experience. 51% of the country prefer meeting in person or speaking on the phone to complete eight common activities, rather than engaging with other channels like an AI assistant or live chat.

Survey fatigue leaves businesses guessing about customer churn:

At a time when businesses need insights the most consumers are staying silent: almost a third (31%) of respondents stay silent after very bad experiences (same as 2025) - but 27% don't share their very good ones either. This leaves business leaders in the dark about changing consumer behaviours or the reasons behind churn, making issues even harder to address. It's not just Aussies, it's a global trend, with 30% failing to provide any direct feedback after a bad (30%) or good (25%) experience. This issue is compounded by the finding that communication problems are a top reason (42%) Australian consumers say their experience was bad.

While traditional feedback may be declining, customers are still sharing opinions across other channels - calls, chats, reviews, and social media. Successful businesses will connect these scattered signals to understand sentiment, even when it's not explicitly stated.

"When consumers don't share their experiences, organisations lose a really valuable source of intel. Silence isn't apathy, it's abandonment, and so leaders need to be connecting data across experience, operational and behavioural to uncover insights, solve problems and address customer pain points, in lieu of verbal and more direct feedback," Papanicolaou said.

Value wont be enough to secure customer loyalty in 2026:

Australia and New Zealand stand out as the most price sensitive markets globally, with 29% of Australian consumers reducing spending this year amid economic uncertainty.

While price and convenience influence initial decisions, companies that compete on more than cost are rewarded with long term customer relationships and meaningful connections. Aussies have a 93% satisfaction rate and a 90% trust rate when choosing for good customer service, which is higher than all other drivers.

"Competing on price might win customers in the short term, but differentiation based solely on price is a losing battle. The organisations leading from the front are building customer connections through exceptional experiences that create lasting impressions competitors cannot replicate," Papanicolaou said.



Consumers demand transparency over personalisation:

Australians increasingly want experiences tailored to their individual needs - 61% want to buy from companies that cater to their individual experiences. However, most don't believe the benefits justify the privacy cost. Only 37% trust companies to use their personal data responsibly, and 66% worry about the security of their personal data. Fears about fraud or scams (34%) and hacking (29%) top Aussies' concerns.

The research identifies a clear path forward: transparency and control can rebuild trust. Almost half (46%) of Aussies would share more data if they had greater transparency about what's being collected, while 44% want better control over usage or deletion.

"This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for organisations: they must show clear, tangible benefits when requesting personal information and stop asking for more information than they need. Transparency when it comes to customer data shouldn't be optional, there needs to be clarity about how that data is collected and used," Papanicolaou concluded.
NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Dental Implants Market is projected to grow from USD 5.45 billion in 2024 to USD 15.41 billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 9.95% during 20252035.

The dental implants industry is entering a transformative decade as digital dentistry, AI-enabled workflows, and advanced biocompatible materials reshape clinical and manufacturing ecosystems. Surgeons, dental networks, and medtech innovators are increasingly leveraging CAD/CAM systems, 3D printing, and regenerative biomaterials to enhance precision, shorten recovery times, and deliver superior patient outcomes across both restorative and cosmetic procedures.

For investors, the market represents a convergence of medtech innovation and digital scalability, offering strong long-term growth visibility. The rapid expansion of dental service organizations (DSOs), cloud-based implant planning, and AI-driven production platforms is unlocking new recurring revenue models. Strategic investments in premium implant systems, emerging Asia-Pacific dental tourism corridors, and AI-integrated manufacturing are expected to yield robust portfolio returns through 2035.

The Complete Study is Now Available for Immediate Access | Download the Sample Pages of this Report @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/dental-implants-market-2372/request-sample

Free Sample Includes:

Global & regional dental implant market size and adoption metrics

Competitive landscape and financials of leading implant manufacturers

SWOT profiles of top dental and medtech innovators

Revenue & growth forecasts through 2035

Porter's Five Forces and value chain analysis

Country- and region-specific investment & expansion opportunities

Why This Market Matters to CXOs

Digital Transformation of Dentistry: Integration of CAD/CAM, CBCT imaging, and AI-based planning tools is redefining implant workflows.

Surging Geriatric Population: Rising prevalence of edentulism and chronic oral diseases among aging populations accelerates implant demand.

Biomaterial Breakthroughs: Titanium-zirconium alloys, nanostructured surfaces, and bioactive coatings improve osseointegration and longevity.

Aesthetic and Functional Demand: Growing preference for minimally invasive, customized, and natural-looking implants reshapes consumer behavior.

Strategic Expansion: DSOs and dental tech startups are consolidating global supply chains through acquisitions and digital partnerships.

Technological & Industry Momentum

AI in Treatment Planning: Algorithms predicting bone density, implant fit, and success probabilities for improved surgical outcomes.

3D Printing & CAD/CAM Manufacturing: On-demand, patient-specific prosthetics reducing chair time and improving customization.

Regenerative Dentistry: Use of stem cells, growth factors, and biomimetic scaffolds for next-gen implant integration.

Smart & Connected Implants: Integration with IoT-enabled sensors for real-time monitoring of implant stability and healing progress.

Digital Workflows: Cloud-based case management platforms enabling seamless clinicianlab coordination and faster turnaround times.

Strategic Opportunities for Business Leaders

Invest in digital dental platforms combining imaging, CAD/CAM, and cloud collaboration.

Partner with biomaterial innovators to co-develop bioactive coatings and surface technologies.

Expand into high-growth Asia-Pacific markets leveraging dental tourism and cost advantages.

Accelerate DSO partnerships to drive product standardization and recurring procedural volumes.

Explore subscription-based or SaaS models for dental workflow software and imaging analytics.

Expert Insights

"Dental implants have evolved from static restorative tools into dynamic, data-driven medical solutions. With AI-assisted diagnostics, 3D printing, and regenerative biomaterials driving efficiency gains of up to 40% in surgical workflows, the industry is redefining clinical precision and patient personalization." Neha Rathod Godbole, Founder & CEO, Vantage Market Research

Email Directly Here with Detailed Information: [email protected]

Executive Priorities: Top 5 Moves to Win in Digital Dentistry

Scale AI-Driven Implantology Platforms  Automate diagnostics, surgical guides, and real-time performance analytics.

Diversify Biomaterial Portfolios  Adopt hybrid titanium-zirconia implants with enhanced osseointegration and aesthetics.

Forge Strategic Alliances  Collaborate with DSOs, dental labs, and tech firms to expand access and reduce time-to-market.

Embrace Digital Manufacturing  Invest in 3D printing and CAD/CAM systems to localize production and improve efficiency.

Expand Patient-Centric Offerings  Develop same-day implant solutions and personalized prosthetics for better retention.

Industry Leaders & Market Front-Runners

Straumann Group (Switzerland)  Leader in premium implant systems and digital dentistry solutions.

Dentsply Sirona (U.S.)  Pioneering integrated CAD/CAM and imaging platforms.

Zimmer Biomet (U.S.)  Innovator in regenerative materials and digital workflows.

Nobel Biocare (Sweden)  Strong portfolio of customized prosthetics and guided surgery tools.

Osstem Implant (South Korea)  Expanding global presence through cost-competitive implant systems.

Envista Holdings (U.S.)  Advancing implantology with AI-assisted design and restorative product integration.

BioHorizons, Bicon, MegaGen, and Neodent  Driving innovation in surface treatments, mini-implants, and affordable systems.

Innovators & Disruptors to Watch

ZimVie  Scaling cloud-connected implant monitoring platforms.

Formlabs Dental  Revolutionizing dental 3D printing with high-speed resin systems.

Planmeca & 3Shape  Leading digital design software and intraoral scanning ecosystems.

OsseoMatrix  Developing bioresorbable scaffolds for bone regeneration.

RapidShape  Enabling ultra-fast, chairside dental manufacturing.

These disruptors are transforming how clinicians plan, design, and deliver implantscreating a connected, digital-first dentistry landscape.

Market Hurdles & Structural Challenges

High treatment costs and limited insurance coverage in emerging economies.

Training and skill gap in advanced implantology and digital workflow adoption.

Regulatory variation across regions for implant materials and 3D-printed prosthetics.

Dependence on titanium supply and processing costs.

Limited patient awareness in low-income markets.

Regulatory & Compliance Landscape

U.S. FDA Class II Medical Device Regulation for implant systems.

for implant systems. EU MDR Compliance mandating clinical evidence and post-market surveillance.

mandating clinical evidence and post-market surveillance. ISO 13485 & ISO 5832 Standards for dental implant materials and manufacturing.

for dental implant materials and manufacturing. Digital Dentistry Data Standards (DICOM, HL7) driving interoperability.

(DICOM, HL7) driving interoperability. Sustainability Disclosure under GRI and ESG frameworks for medical device producers.

Buy this Premium Research Report | Immediate Delivery @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/dental-implants-market-2372/checkout

Benefits of Purchasing Dental Implants Market Reports

Analyst Support  Direct access to our experts before and after purchase for tailored insights and clarifications.

 Direct access to our experts before and after purchase for tailored insights and clarifications. Data Accuracy  Forecasts and trends validated through a combination of primary industry interviews, end-user surveys, and advanced statistical modeling.

 Forecasts and trends validated through a combination of primary industry interviews, end-user surveys, and advanced statistical modeling. Decision-Making Tools  Interactive dashboards, granular segment forecasts, competitor benchmarking, and adoption roadmaps to guide strategy.

 Interactive dashboards, granular segment forecasts, competitor benchmarking, and adoption roadmaps to guide strategy. Quality & Credibility  Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, healthcare innovators, and technology leaders for reliable market intelligence.

Market Overview & Growth Drivers

Aging Population & Tooth Loss: Over 20% of adults above 65 experience edentulism globally.

Over 20% of adults above 65 experience edentulism globally. Aesthetic Dentistry Boom: Surge in cosmetic dental procedures and smile restoration demand.

Surge in cosmetic dental procedures and smile restoration demand. Technological Integration: AI, imaging, and digital planning reducing procedure errors and improving comfort.

AI, imaging, and digital planning reducing procedure errors and improving comfort. Rising Disposable Income: Expanding access to premium dental care in developing economies.

Expanding access to premium dental care in developing economies. Dental Tourism: Thailand, India, and Mexico emerging as affordable implant hubs.

Strategic Intelligence for Decision-Makers

This report delivers actionable insights designed to empower CXOs, investors, and medtech executives to make data-driven strategic moves across the global dental implants landscape:

Identify high-growth implant types, biomaterials, and digital dentistry applications shaping clinical demand.

Benchmark top manufacturers, DSO networks, and innovators in CAD/CAM and AI-driven planning platforms.

Map M&A, strategic partnerships, and 3D printing technology licensing opportunities across key regions.

Track regulatory approvals, reimbursement frameworks, and evolving oral healthcare policies in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

Develop a future-ready innovation roadmap aligned with 20302035 patient personalization, digital health, and sustainability goals.

Market Momentum: Why Now

Digital Dentistry Surge: AI-driven diagnostics, CAD/CAM design, and 3D printing adoption growing at over 20% CAGR.

Rising Aesthetic Demand: Over 500 million people globally seek restorative or cosmetic dental procedures each year.

Implant Material Innovation: Titanium and zirconia advances improving durability and biocompatibility by 3040%.

Demographic Shifts: Aging populations and expanding dental insurance coverage boosting procedural volumes worldwide.

Investor Tailwinds: Expanding private equity inflows and cross-border DSO consolidations fueling double-digit returns.

Executives who align early with AI-integrated workflows, precision implant manufacturing, and digital ecosystem partnerships will command the next decade of growth while legacy operators risk falling behind in a rapidly platform-driven marketplace.

Request a Customized Copy of the Dental Implants Market Report@ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/dental-implants-market-2372/request-sample

Growth Levers & Strategic Priorities

Accelerate Digital Dentistry Integration  Expand adoption of AI-driven imaging, CAD/CAM workflows, and 3D-printed implant components to enhance clinical precision and reduce procedural turnaround times by up to 40%.

Scale Advanced Biomaterial Innovation  Invest in titanium-zirconium alloys, surface-treated implants, and regenerative biomaterials to improve osseointegration and long-term implant success rates.

Expand Strategic Collaborations  Partner with dental service organizations (DSOs), hospital chains, and software providers to scale personalized implant solutions and digital treatment ecosystems.

Leverage Reimbursement & Policy Support  Capitalize on favorable insurance coverage, government oral health programs, and medical device tax incentives to drive market penetration and affordability.

Localize Manufacturing & Distribution  Establish regional production hubs in Asia-Pacific and Latin America to meet growing demand, reduce import dependency, and comply with emerging medtech localization mandates.

Recent Industry Developments

Jan 2025 : Straumann Group launches AI-based implant planning software to optimize surgical precision and digital workflow integration.

: Straumann Group launches AI-based implant planning software to optimize surgical precision and digital workflow integration. Mar 2025 : Envista Holdings acquires a 40% stake in a 3D-printed dental implant startup, expanding its digital manufacturing portfolio.

: Envista Holdings acquires a 40% stake in a 3D-printed dental implant startup, expanding its digital manufacturing portfolio. May 2025 : Dentsply Sirona partners with Formlabs to co-develop next-generation 3D-printed implant abutments.

: Dentsply Sirona partners with Formlabs to co-develop next-generation 3D-printed implant abutments. Aug 2025 : Nobel Biocare unveils zirconia-based regenerative implant line targeting aesthetic dentistry applications.

: Nobel Biocare unveils zirconia-based regenerative implant line targeting aesthetic dentistry applications. Sept 2025: Osstem Implant introduces cloud-based DSO management software integrating implant inventory, imaging, and treatment data.

Top Key Players for Dental Implants Market

Nobel Biocare Services AG (Switzerland)

Kyocera Medical Technologies Inc. (U.S.)

Zimmer Biomet Holdings Inc. (U.S.)

BioHorizons IPH Inc. (U.S.)

DENTSPLY Sirona (U.S.)

Osstem Implant (South Korea)

Institut Straumann AG (Switzerland)

Bicon Dental Implants (U.S.)

DentiumUSA (U.S.)

T-Plus Tech (Japan)

To Know an Additional List of Key Players, Request Here to Download a Free Report PDF Brochure: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/dental-implants-market-2372/request-sample

Regional Dynamics

North America: Sustains leadership through advanced dental infrastructure, high premium implant adoption, and early digital workflow integration.

Europe: Strengthens position with robust R&D investments, favorable reimbursement frameworks, and rising elderly population demand.

Asia-Pacific: Emerges as the fastest-growing market, driven by expanding dental tourism, rising healthcare spending, and rapid digitalization across India, South Korea, and Thailand.

Latin America: Gains momentum through government oral health initiatives and growing adoption of mid-tier implant systems.

Middle East & Africa: Witnesses gradual uptake with increased private clinic investments and medical tourism expansion in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Segment Insights

By Material:

Titanium dominates the market, valued for its exceptional biocompatibility, strength, and proven long-term success in osseointegration.

Zirconium gaining traction in premium and aesthetic dentistry segments due to its tooth-colored appearance and corrosion resistance.

Ceramic implants emerging as a niche category in metal-free restorative solutions, favored for patients with allergies or aesthetic sensitivity.

By Design:

Tapered implants lead global demand, preferred for their enhanced primary stability and suitability in immediate placement cases.

Parallel wall implants maintain steady growth in conventional procedures requiring uniform load distribution and bone preservation.

By Type:

Endosteal implants dominate, widely accepted as the standard implant type for single and multiple tooth restorations.

Subperiosteal implants see moderate uptake for patients with insufficient bone density who cannot undergo grafting procedures.

Transosteal and intramucosal implants serve specialized use cases, primarily in complex or customized prosthetic treatments.

By Procedure:

Root-form implants hold the largest share due to their resemblance to natural tooth roots and high clinical success rates.

Plate-form implants expanding in use for patients with narrow ridges or limited bone height, reducing the need for bone augmentation.

By End User:

Dental clinics lead the market, supported by the expansion of dental service organizations (DSOs), increasing implant specialists, and chairside digital workflows.

Hospitals growing steadily, driven by comprehensive oral surgery capabilities and adoption of multidisciplinary implant procedures.

Ambulatory surgical centers gaining traction as cost-efficient, patient-centric alternatives for implant placement and restoration.

Browse market data Tables and Figures spread through 248 Pages and in-depth TOC on Dental Implants Market trends 2025 Forecast Report (2025-2035).

Segments Covered in The Report

By Material

Titanium

Zirconium

Ceramic

By Design

Tapered Implants

Parallel Wall Implants

By Type

Endosteal Implants

Subperiosteal Implants

Transosteal Implants

Intramucosal Implants

By Procedure

Root-form

Plat-form

By End User

Hospitals

Ambulatory Surgical Centers

Dental Clinics

By Region

North America U.S. Canada Mexico

Europe Germany France U.K. Italy Spain Nordic Countries Benelux Union Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific China Japan India New Zealand Australia South Korea South-East Asia Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

Saudi Arabia



UAE



Egypt



Kuwait



South Africa



Rest of MEA

Buy this Premium Research Report with Discount | Immediate Delivery @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/dental-implants-market-2372/checkout

Key Questions Answered in The Report:

Which regions are expected to lead in implant production, digital dentistry adoption, and patient volume growth over the next decade?

How do reimbursement policies, regulatory approvals, and government oral health programs across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific influence market expansion?

Who are the top global players in the dental implants market, and how do their technological capabilities, product portfolios, and geographic strategies differ?

Which emerging companies and innovators are redefining implantology through AI-driven planning, 3D printing, and regenerative biomaterials?

What next-generation technologies  including robotic-assisted implant surgery, digital twins, and cloud-based workflow integration  will shape competitiveness and efficiency by 2035?

How are investor inflows, DSO consolidations, and medtech-private equity partnerships accelerating digital transformation in the implant ecosystem?

What are the key market drivers, pricing pressures, and regulatory challenges impacting large-scale adoption across premium and value implant segments?

How will demographic trends, aging populations, and expanding insurance coverage influence procedural volumes and affordability globally?

Which end-use environments  including hospitals, specialty dental clinics, and DSOs  are projected to deliver the highest ROI for manufacturers and service providers?

What strategic M&A, licensing, and partnership opportunities exist for stakeholders aiming to scale innovation or enter high-growth emerging markets?

Gain instant access to our exclusive, data-driven dashboard designed for healthcare industry decision-makers, strategists, and market leaders. The platform delivers in-depth statistical insights, segment-wise breakdowns, regional market performance, competitive landscape mapping, company profiles, annual updates, and more. From market sizing to trend analysis and competitive intelligence, this powerful tool serves as a comprehensive solution for informed business decisions.

Browse the Full "Dental Implants Market Size & Share | Growth Analysis 2035 by Material (Titanium, Zirconium, Ceramic) by Design (Tapered Implants, Parallel Wall Implants) by End User (Dental Clinics, Hospitals, Research Institutes) by Type (Endosteal Implants, Subperiosteal Implants, Transosteal Implants, Intramucosal Implants) by Procedure (Root-form, Plate-form) by Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East & Africa" Report at https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/dental-implants-market-2372

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COMPANY NEWS: In an era marked by rising cyber threats and growing data loss incidents, DriveSavers has officially announced a strategic partnership with Computer Troubleshooters Australia, one of the countrys most trusted IT franchise service networks.

With a focus on servicing the small-to-medium business market this collaboration enables the Computer Troubleshooters national franchise network to deliver accessible data recovery solutions for small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs), especially in the wake of escalating ransomware attacks.

DriveSavers has been pioneering data recovery techniques since 1985 and recently opened facilities in Brisbane. As the worlds most reliable and secure provider, it specialises exclusively in data recovery services offering advanced solutions for HDDs, SSDs, phones, tablets, RAID arrays, NAS/SAN systems, and virtual environments. With the integration of proprietary technologies such as X-ray scanning for physical media inspection, DriveSavers delivers unparalleled success rates across all data loss scenarios, including ransomware incidents.

Michael Dowling, Director, Computer Troubleshooters Australia

This partnership uniquely supports the Australian SMB market with the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) finding that an average self-reported cost of a cyberattack on a small business is now typically $49,600 with about 100 calls for help received daily. SMBs have limited internal resources to handle critical IT failures. Computer Troubleshooters, with its nationwide presence and trusted local support, can now seamlessly work with their clients in high-complexity data recovery cases with DriveSavers, maximising customer outcomes.

Key Benefits of the Partnership:

Expanded Service Offering: Computer Troubleshooters can now offer enterprise-grade data recovery services to its customers.

Cyber Recovery Support: Beyond traditional disaster recovery, DriveSavers specialises in ransomware-specific cases involving deleted backups, corrupted databases, and unrecoverable files due to faulty decryptorsintegrating seamlessly with Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR) firms, IT restoration companies, insurers, and cyber law specialists.

Real-World Impact: Case studies show successful recoveries following ransomware attacks affecting Veeam backups, SQL databases, VMware and Hyper-V virtual environmentsdemonstrating measurable business continuity results.

Alignment with Market Needs: Australia has over 2.6 million SMBs, many operating without robust cybersecurity recovery plans or backup strategies. This partnership positions DriveSavers and Computer Troubleshooters to respond effectively to this rising demand for critical data restoration.

Local Expertise Meets Global Recovery Power:

Data recovery has always been a key part of our commitment to supporting Australian businesses through every stage of IT management, said Michael Dowling, Director, Computer Troubleshooters Australia. By partnering with DriveSavers, we can now escalate complex data loss cases to one of the worlds most trusted recovery specialists ensuring our customers receive best-in-class outcomes whether theyve experienced hardware failure, accidental deletion, or a cyber incident. This alliance strengthens our ability to deliver end-to-end solutions from onsite support and remote troubleshooting to advanced data retrieval keeping our clients productive, protected, and prepared for whatever comes next.

According to Adrian Briscoe, Business Development APJ at DriveSavers, This partnership is about more than recovery, it's about resilience. When disaster strikes, customers want to get back to normal operations as quickly as possible. By combining the local expertise of Computer Troubleshooters with the global recovery muscle of DriveSavers, we are helping businesses explore parallel avenues to recover critical data.

As data loss threats become more complex and the cost of downtime escalates, the DriveSaversComputer Troubleshooters partnership stands as a critical alliance to safeguard Australian businesses. Together, DriveSavers and Computer Troubleshooters offer a trusted path forward when conventional backup and disaster recovery methods fall short.

For more information about services or partnership opportunities, visit www.drivesavers.au or contact your local Computer Troubleshooters representative.
SAP honoured Australia and New Zealands most forward-thinking organisations in the SAP Best Tech Awards 2025, alongside the channel partners who enabled their digital transformation.

ANZ organisations, together with channel partners including Accenture, Deloitte and DXC Technology reshape industries with SAP-powered solutions

From more than 100 organisations who competed, winners were selected across 13 categories for disruptive use cases and technology deployments that set new industry benchmarks, notes SAP.

Winning entries were chosen for projects that demonstrated measurable business impact, innovation and leadership in their fields. Judges looked for organisations that used SAP solutions to streamline operations, boost productivity, deliver outstanding customer and employee experiences, harness the power of data and AI and drive sustainable growth. 

Commenting on Award submissions Angela Colantuono, President and Managing Director of SAP ANZ said, In todays unforgiving business environment, standing still is not an option. These award winners show that smart technology investments dont just cut costs, they unlock new revenue streams, sharpen competitive edge and turn IT into a true growth engine. Its inspiring to see these organisations and the channel partners they work with re-imagine how value gets created and set the benchmark for their industries.

2025 winners

Business Transformation: Telstra and Bunnings

Next Gen Innovator: Zespri

Industry Disruptor: Nutrien Ag Solutions

Business AI: Woolworths Group

Data and Analytics: Transport for NSW

Supply Chain Management: Asahi Group Holdings

Human Capital Management: Name withheld

Customer Experience: Suntory Oceania

Spend Management: Name withheld

Concur: Cochlear

ERP Fast Growth: Squadron Energy

Intelligent ERP: Energy QLD

The Chris OBrien Award[1]: The Smith Family

2025 winners

Business Transformation: Telstra and Bunnings

Next Gen Innovator: Zespri

Industry Disruptor: Nutrien Ag Solutions

Business AI: Woolworths Group

Data and Analytics: Transport for NSW

Supply Chain Management: Asahi Group Holdings

Human Capital Management: Name withheld

Customer Experience: Suntory Oceania

Spend Management: Name withheld

Concur: Cochlear

ERP Fast Growth: Squadron Energy

Intelligent ERP: Energy QLD

The Chris OBrien Award[1]: The Smith Family 1 Organisations using SAP solutions to achieve sustainability goals, improve social impact, and create shared value, named in honour of a previous SAP employee.

SAP says the success of Award entrants was due in no small part to the channel partners involved, with projects by Accenture, Bluetree, Bonfire, Covantage Pty Ltd, Deloitte, Delrae, Discovery Consulting, DXE Technology, EPI-USE, Fair Consulting, Gravity IT, Lagom, MSG Global and SimpleMDG featuring, and in particular, projects from Accenture, Covantage Pty Ltd, Deloitte, DXC Technology and EPI-USE saw notable success.

Award recipients were announced in-person at the Art Gallery of NSW on the evening of 7 October 2025.

The following is a complete list of winners and finalists for the SAP Best Tech Awards 2025:

Best Tech SAP Business Transformation:



Winners: Bunnings and Telstra

Finalists:

Best Tech SAP Next Gen Innovator:

Organisations using SAP solutions to drive digital transformation, innovation, and agility.



Winners: Zespri and name withheld

Finalists:

Best Tech SAP Industry Disruptor:

The SAP Industry Disruptor Award recognises organisations that are leading from the front  pushing boundaries, challenging norms, and driving meaningful change through bold innovation.



Winner: Nutrien Ag Solutions

Runner-Up: Lion

Finalists:

Best Tech SAP Business AI:

Artificial intelligence is transforming business by introducing innovative methods and growth opportunities. This Award recognises organisations that have utilised SAP Business AI to enhance operations and achieve significant outcomes.



Winner: Woolworths Group

Finalists:

Best Tech SAP Data and Analytics:

Organisations using SAP data and analytics solutions to gain insights, make data-driven decisions, and drive business outcomes.



Winner:Transport for NSW

Finalists:

Best Tech SAP Supply Chain Management:

Organisations using supply chain management solutions from SAP to achieve real-time insights into the supply chain, improve collaboration across partners, and reduce costs.



Winner: Asahi Group Holdings

Finalists:

Best Tech Human Capital Management:

Organisations using SAP SuccessFactors HCM solutions to drive employee engagement, productivity, and retention.



Winner: Name withheld

Runner-Up: Monash Health

Finalists:

Best Tech SAP Customer Experience:

Organisations using SAP Customer Experience solutions to drive customer engagement, loyalty, and retention.



Winners: Suntory Oceania

Runner-Up: Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG)

Finalists:

Best Tech SAP Spend Management:

Organisations using the SAP Spend Management program and SAP Business Network solutions to provide greater visibility into spend data, reduce costs, and increase organisational efficiency.



Winner: Name withheld

Finalists:

Best Tech SAP Concur:

Organisations using SAP Concur to streamline travel, expense, and invoice management.



Winner: Cochlear

Finalists:

Best Tech SAP ERP Fast Growth:

Organisations harnessing SAP ERP to fuel agility, clarity, and confident decision-making during periods of rapid growth.



Winner: Squadron Energy

Finalists:

Best Tech SAP Intelligent ERP:

Organisations using SAPs intelligent ERP solutions to optimise business processes, improve productivity, reduce costs, and provide real-time insights into business operations.



Winners: Energy QLD

Runner-Up: NSW Government

Finalists:



The Chris OBrien Award:

Organisations using SAP solutions to achieve sustainability goals, improve social impact, and create shared value.



Winner: The Smith Family

Finalists:
Satsuki and Meis House (File photo)



Fans of Studio Ghibli are in for a treat with a wide range of Ghibli-inspired attractions to be found dotted around Japan. Although the Ghibli films are fictional and exist only in the animated world, there are a large number of real-life locations which are have said to inspired director Hayao Miyazakis work of arts, including films like Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and My Neighbour Totoro.

Conversely, the success of these films has also inspired numerous attractions that have gone on to become well-known in their own right  such as Kikis Bakery in Yufuin Floral Market and Shirohiges Cream Puff Factory. Calling out to all Ghibli fans  pack your bags and get ready to go on a Ghibli pilgrimage!

1. Studio Ghibli Museum in Tokyo

Studio Ghibli Museum (File photo)



There is no other place to begin your Ghibli pilgrimage than the Studio Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Tokyo. Located inside Inokashira Park, visitors get to immerse themselves in the magical world of Ghibli and view inspirational exhibits, such as founder animator, Hayao Miyazakis original sketches. Moving around the museum itself is lots of fun with each corner packed full of details and intricate things to discover, each areas based on a Ghibli animated film. One poignant area aims to recreate Miyazakis animator studio setting, complete with sketchbooks, animation cells, ashtrays and boxes full of extremely short pencil stubs  reflecting Miyazakis respect for the environment and desire to reduce waste.

While the museum is lots of fun for adult fans, it is even more so for the young ones who can experience a giant Cat Bus play area designed exclusively for them. Dont forget to take some pictures with the giant Totoro located outside along Kichijoji Avenue, or the towering Laputan robot on the rooftop for keepsake! When you are done with checking out the museum and the Mamma Aiuto museum shop, head to the Straw Hat Cafe on the ground floor for some refreshments. The Studio Ghibli Museum is popular with repeat visitors who flock back here because of both special exhibits as well as the original short animated feature film shown in the onsite Saturn Theatre  these are rotated seasonally and produced exclusively for the museum. Hence, do book your tickets early and allocate enough time for your visit as the museum can get crowded.

Ghibli Museum

Location: 1 Chome-1-83 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-0013

Directions: 15-minute walk from Kichijoji station and Mitaka station

2. Satsuki and Meis House

Satsuki and Meis House (File photo)

Satsuki and Meis House (Illustration courtesy of Studio Ghibli)



If you are in Nagoya, Aichi prefecture, definitely consider paying a visit to Satsuki and Meis House  the rural dwelling made famous in one of Ghiblis hit breakthrough anime, My Neighbour Totoro. Set in the midst of the large Ai Chikyuhaku Memorial Park, the surrounding foliage lends an idyllic atmosphere to the attraction. Step back into 1958the year the film was setand peruse every nook and cranny in the house, which is maintained just as it was in the film. Open up drawers to browse the sisters belongings, or look for acorns outside around the house! Past visitors have enthused about the level of detail in the replica house, from its weathered-looking exterior to the study brimming with books and papers, the kitchen and the well in the backyard. The details show even in small things like the bucket with a hole and the child-scribbled calendar on display. Tickets can be bought early from any Lawson convenience store. Do note that each ticket entitles a guest to a 30 minute viewing session. If youre interested in more architecture that inspired Ghibli films, check out the Edo Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum too!

Satsuki and Meis House

Location: Yazako, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1103, Japan

Directions: 15-minute walk from Ai Chikyuhaku Kinen Koen Station or you can take a free shuttle bus from the station

3. Yakushima  the Princess Mononoke forest

Yakushima (File photo)

(Illustration courtesy of Studio Ghibli)



Shrouded in thick fog that weaves through the ancient majestic cedar trees, Yakushimas Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine appears so mysterious and spiritual that the Forest Spirits might just be out of sight behind some trees. Stepping into the forest, visitors will be awed by the same experience that inspired Miyazaki and lead artist Kazuo Oga, who spent hours sketching in the forest to create the Ghibli classic, Princess Mononoke. Its easy to see why with the dense and vivid green moss-covered rocks lending the forest an ethereal air. These days, the Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine is popular with Mononoke fans who often bring along their Kodama figurines to pose in their own Mononoke-inspired photos of the forest. For visitors who intend to trek here, there are three difficulty levels that vary between one-, three and four hours in length. Trekkers should have gear suited for rainy weather as it can rain frequently on Yakushima.

Location: Yakushima, Kumage District, Kagoshima

Directions: 30-minute drive from Miyanoura Port or you can take a 35-minute bus ride from the port (550 for one way)

4. Tomonoura

Tomonoura (File photo)

(Illustration courtesy of Studio Ghibli)



Whats not to love about a picturesque and quaint port town? Ponyo, the adorable Asian equivalent of Little Mermaid, is set in the town of Tomonoura, in Hiroshima prefecture. Visitors to Tomonoura can head to Fukuzenji Temple for great views of the surrounding sea and mountains, the red-roofed house which Sosukes and Risas house was based off, and the Joyato Lighthouse, a historical landmark of the town built during the Edo period. Take a carefree stroll down the pier to see the fishing boats bobbing in the water, drive along the winding road or get to higher ground for a wide vista of the harbour to enjoy the sights Ponyo, Sosuke and Risa would have seen from their front porch.

Location: Tomocho Fukuyama, Hiroshima

DIrections: 30-minute bus ride from Fukuyama Station (550 for one way)

5. Meguro Gajoen

Meguro Gajoen (File photo)



Hotels are plenty everywhere but ones that are both luxurious and designated cultural assets like Meguro Gajoen are much fewer. This palatial complex is said to have influenced the makings of Spirited Away. Meguro Gajoen, also known as Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, has everything under one roof as the first wedding complex to be established in Japan. The opulent Showa-era complex also features troves of artwork such as the traditional wooden panels lining the entrance. Especially notable is its washroomaptly nicknamed the Million Dollar Toiletwith its ornate ceiling with golden Japanese motifs, spacious cubicles and the lacquer-like finish on the furnishings. Youll even need to cross a miniature bridge in the washroom to get to the cubicles! Another noteworthy feature is the 100 step staircase, or Hyakudan Kaidan. The original Meguro Gajoen was actually demolished in 1988, due to improvements being made to the neighbouring Meguro River, and was eventually rebuilt with the original Hyakudan Kaidan being preserved. Looking at this place of beauty and decadence, its easy to see how its mirrored in the lavish bathhouse managed by Yubaba.

Location: 1-8-1 Shimomeguro, Meguro, Tokyo

Directions: 3-minute walk from Meguro Station

6. Dogo Onsen

Dogo Onsen (File photo)

(Illustration courtesy of Studio Ghibli)



Of the various locations to have inspired the the iconic Arburaya, or bathhouse in Spirited Away, Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama city, Ehime prefecture is one of them. Reputed as one of the oldest onsen towns in Japan, legend has it that Dogo Onsen was discovered when locals noticed a white heron heal its injured leg by dipping it into the hot spring water. Looking at the majestic-looking Honkan, the main building of the bathhouse, it becomes apparent how Miyazaki was awestruck by the bathhouse complex. The Honkan has been in operation since 1894 and is still thriving today with the throngs of tourists flocking there for a soothing bath or to experience the Ghibli magic.

Other locations that have inspired the Arburaya in Spirited Away include the luxurious and historic Meguro Gajoen, the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, Nijo Castle, Nikkos Toshogu Shrine and the tea houses of Jiufen, Taiwan. Numerous other Japanese onsen locations, such as Sekizenkan in Gunmas Shima Onsen, or Kanaguya in Naganos Shibu Onsen, also helped inspire the final look.

Dogo Onsen Honkan

Location: 5-6 Dogoyunomachi, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-0842

Directions: 3-minute walk from Dogo Onsen Station

7. Seiseki Sakuragaoka Station

Following the trail of Whisper of the Heart at Seiseki-Sakuragaoka. (Photo by Haruka Saijo/Japan Travel)

( Illustration courtesy of Studio Ghibli)



Fans of Whisper of the Heart will be delighted to hear that the movie was set in an actual suburban neighbourhood in Tokyo. Based off Tama New Town, the film takes inspiration from various sites all over the hilly town thats dotted with lots of greenery. Start off your Ghibli tour at Seiseki Sakuragaoka Station where there is a map detailing the sites fans should visit, from the train station to the bridge over the Tama River, to Sakura and Irohazaka streets and not to forget  the memorable roundabout and long staircase stretching over the hill! To finish off the nostalgic trip, next to the map is a mailbox as a miniature of the antique shop in the film, where you can drop in a letter with your aspirations written on it.

Location: 5-3-1 Daita, Setagaya ward, Tokyo

DIrections: 7-minute walk from Shimo-Kitazawa Station

8. Shirohiges Cream Puff Factory

Shirohiges Cream Puff Factory (Photo by Jane Pipkin/Japan Travel)



Tucked away in a quiet residential area swathed by trees, Shirohiges Cream Puff Factory is the best place to experience the Totoro atmosphere right in the middle of Tokyo. Managed by Miyazakis sister-in-law, the two-storied cafe is decorated with his sketches and Ghibli figurines. Order a Totoro cream puff or two to indulge in on the second floor or you can bring them home to savor. The custard cream and chocolate cream flavors are available all year round while flavors like peach, strawberry and marron/chestnut cream are seasonal. Apart from cream puffs, the cafe also serves pasta, cookies and cakes. Do come early to avoid disappointment as the shop is really popular!

Location: 5-3-1 Daita, Setagaya ward, Tokyo

Directions: 7-minute walk from Shimo-Kitazawa Station

9. Giant Ghibli Clock

Giant Ghibli Clock (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi/Stripes Japan)



Officially the Niettele Oodokei, this Giant Ghibli Clock found at the Nippon Television building in Tokyos Shiodome is a collaboration between Nippon Television and Hayao Miyazaki. The massive clock spanning 18 meters wide and 10 meters high and weighing 28 tonnes is a masterpiece with a dark and fantastical facade. Although the link between the clock and Howls Moving Castle has never been publicly made, the resemblance between the two is clear to see with the clocks menacing claws for its stands, and tin men to be seen dotted around the castle-like structure. The Ghibli Clock springs into action and puts on a show various times daily at 12 noon, 3pm, 6pm and 8pm  with an extra time slot at 10am on weekends too. Since its free, you may want to catch the show twice, once in the day and once after dark when the clock lights up with a fervent orange glow that lends the performance a unique atmosphere.

Location: NTV Tower [2nd floor], 1-6, Higashi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Directions: 3-minute walk from the Shiodome Station or 5-minute walk from the Shimbashi Station

11. Ghibli Park

Ghibli Park (Photo by Denisse Rauda/Stripes Japan)

Ghibli Park (Photo by Denisse Rauda/Stripes Japan)



With a variety of places already possible to visit, fans ought to be satisfied. Except when it comes to Studio Ghibli, you can never have too much of a good thing! Fans of the film studio can rejoice as Ghibli Park opened back in 2022! The theme park is built in Ai Chikyuhaku Memorial Park, Aichi prefecture, where the Satsuki and Meis House already sits.

Visitors can expect to be enthralled by the Howl-inspired entrance, European-style brick buildings, animal statues, exhibition galleries and also dedicated green spaces within the attraction. Though roller coasters are unlikely, several theme park rides can still be expected. The Ghibli Theme Park alone is surely good enough a reason for Ghibli lovers to visit Japan, but until then, tide over the anguished waiting by touring other spots in Japan!

Location: 1533-1 Ibaragabasama, Nagakute, Aichi
KANSAS CITY, Kan., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The legal battle over toxic air emissions in Kansas City, Kansas intensified this month, as plaintiffs filed an amended and a new companion class action against Harcros Chemicals Inc. and its historic parent companies, Philips and Elementis.

The lawsuits, both filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, allege that for more than six decades, Harcros and its predecessors have "knowingly emitted dangerous quantities" of carcinogenic chemicals, causing widespread illness, premature death, and an ongoing public health crisis within the community surrounding the facility.

The most recent filing takes a critical additional step for Kansas City residents, seeking the creation of a court-supervised medical monitoring fund to protect the unduly endangered community members who remain at risk of developing cancer and other latent diseases related to toxin exposure.

Decades of Toxic Emissions and Exposure in Kansas City, Kansas

Both class actions center around the Harcros facility in Kansas City, Kansas - a global chemical manufacturing and distribution site - long associated with the release of ethylene oxide (EtO) and more than thirty other toxic chemicals.

As cited within the complaint(s), according to EPA's Risk-Screening Environmental Indicators (RSEI), the Harcros facility ranks among the top emitters nationwide for cumulative human health risk, with a score that designates the facility as an "extreme hazard level."

The dual actions seek to "compensate, deter, and prevent further generations of needless deaths" in the impacted Kansas City community.

First Amended Complaint: Personal Injury and Wrongful Death

The amended issue-class action complaint, Jeffries et al v. Harcros Chemicals, Inc., et al,alleges Harcros Chemicals and co-defendants (Philips Electronics North America Corporation, Koninklijke Philips N.V., Elementis Chemicals, Inc. and Elementis PLC) each played a vital role in maintaining and operating the Kansas City facility responsible for the release of toxic emissions into surrounding Kansas City neighborhoods.

The complaint alleges the "reckless pollution" by defendants has exposed thousands of residents, workers, students and worshipers to highly toxic substances, resulting in severe and catastrophic health problems.

Conditions include elevated rates of cancer (including breast and blood cancers), severe reproductive health impacts, DNA mutations, diminished capacity to fight future disease, and increased mortality rates/reduced life expectancy among the exposed.

Filed on behalf of active residents and the estates of deceased community members, the complaint alleges the defendants displayed a gross disregard for human life and environmental safety. At least seven plaintiffs have been named on behalf of the class.

The complaint contends the defendants knowingly polluted Kansas City air, failed to maintain safe operations and emission monitoring, and to protect residents from foreseeable health risks. Claims include strict liability, gross negligence, negligence, negligent maintenance and repair, failure to warn, and wrongful death.

The plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages to deter similar corporate misconduct. The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial as an issue class for common issues of liability and medical causation.

New Class Filing: Medical Monitoring Program

In a separate but related class action, Tucker et al v. Harcros Chemicals, Inc., et al, the plaintiff and class have demanded injunctive and equitable relief over damages.

The complaint calls for the establishment of a Court-supervised Medical Monitoring fund aimed to provide early detection, diagnostic testing, and long-term health surveillance for community members who have worked or resided within the exposure zone.

Both filings cite EPA data and independent research conducted by the Ohio State University, which found that, "residents within the exposure plume suffer an average lifespan reduction of up to twenty (20) years compared to residents in non-exposed communities within the same county."

Both filings also note, "of urgent concern," numerous K-12 public schools within the affected vicinity place nearly six thousand students at ongoing risk from daily exposure to hazardous air contaminants.

The proposed medical monitoring program would cover baseline health assessments for all class members in addition to blood testing, periodic cancer screenings, pulmonary and endocrine testing, reproductive health monitoring, early symptom recognition education, and aggregate public reporting.

Environmental Justice and Accountability

In both cases, the plaintiffs and class are represented by Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC and Krause & Kinsman Law Firm, two nationally recognized leaders in environmental and toxic-exposure litigation.

The firms have been partnering with local non-profits to host town halls and informational sessions intended to inform residents about their rights and the health risks linked to the Harcros facility.

Together, both firms aim to advance environmental justice and community accountability for those living under decades of toxic exposure in Kansas City.

Kansas City residents and business owners are encouraged to visit www.kcexposure.com to explore their legal options.

Media Contact:

Karine Lim

[email protected]

SOURCE Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC
Facility marks EDAN's 30th anniversary and kickstarts global supply chain ecosystem

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Edan Instruments, Inc. (300206.SZ), a global leader in medical device innovation, announced the official opening of its new U.S. manufacturing hub in San Diego, California, on September 30, 2025. Building on more than 15 years of local presence through its San Diego office, the milestone marks EDAN Diagnostics, Inc.'s first U.S.-based production site and strengthens the company's presence in the region, enhancing its ability to support healthcare providers with advanced medical technologies while improving supply chain resilience in North America.

Together with EDAN Diagnostics' existing 13,588-square-foot San Diego office, the new 20,882-square-foot facility strengthens the company's U.S. operations. Across its San Diego sites, EDAN now integrates manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, R&D, and pre- and post-sales support  delivering greater efficiency, faster service, and expanded capacity to meet the growing needs of American healthcare systems. The facility is fully certified, including MDSAP and a California FDB medical device manufacturing license.

According to Mr. Hao Zhang, CEO of Edan Instruments, Inc., the launch of the new facility represents more than just an expansion  it embodies EDAN's 30-year commitment to staying close to the people it serves. The establishment of this hub reinforces the company's dedication to providing healthcare professionals with reliable, innovative technologies designed around patient needs. It also marks the beginning of EDAN's global supply chain ecosystem, linking U.S. operations with its international network to enhance efficiency and responsiveness worldwide.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by representatives from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC), and the North American Representative Office of Shenzhen, China, coincided with EDAN's 30th anniversary globally and the 15th anniversary of its U.S. subsidiary. To mark the occasion, EDAN dispatched the first shipment from the new facility, symbolizing the beginning of local production and distribution. Employees, partners, and community members joined in a countdown as the first truck rolled out, underscoring EDAN's growing role in the region.

"We are excited to see EDAN take this next step in San Diego," said Eduardo Velasquez, Sr. Director of Research & Economic Development at San Diego Regional EDC. "EDAN joins a diverse ecosystem of Life Sciences companies that consistently ranks among the top three in the nation. Their investment is another proof point that global companies find growth opportunities and top-tier talent by expanding into our region."

About EDAN

Edan Instruments, Inc. is a healthcare company dedicated to improving the human condition by delivering value-driven innovation in medical devices and solutions. With a portfolio that spans Patient Monitoring, Diagnostic ECG, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ultrasound Imaging, Point-of-Care Testing, In-Vitro Diagnostics, and Animal Care Patient Monitoring, Diagnostic ECG, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ultrasound Imaging, Point-of-Care Testing, In-Vitro Diagnostics, and Animal Care, EDAN has empowered healthcare providers in over 170 countries. Headquartered in Shenzhen, China, EDAN operates 22 subsidiaries worldwide, including its U.S. arm, EDAN Diagnostics, Inc., based in San Diego, California. Follow EDAN on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

SOURCE EDAN Instruments, Inc.
In Season 1 of the Wealth Planning for the Modern Physician podcast, host David Mandell, JD, MBA, sat down with Dr. Desmond Desi McGuire, a respected ophthalmologist and founder of Retina Associates of Orange County. Their conversation traced Dr. McGuires path from childhood influences and early career choices to building a thriving practice and navigating the financial ups and downs of medical entrepreneurship. For physicians seeking guidance on balancing clinical excellence with sound financial and business decisions, Dr. McGuires story offers practical lessons and a dose of hard-earned wisdom.

Finding a calling in ophthalmology

Dr. McGuires interest in medicine was sparked at a young age. Growing up in Rockland County, New York, he spent much of his childhood in hospitals as his younger brother battled serious health conditions. Witnessing the impact of physicians on his family left a lasting impression. Later, while driving his grandmother to regular ophthalmology appointments, he became fascinated with the specialty, particularly its technology and precision. A job as a medical scribe and the chance to observe surgery firsthand confirmed his passion: Ophthalmology would be his career. After completing medical school in Israel and training in New York and California, Dr. McGuire launched into practice. His career trajectory quickly became a blend of clinical work and entrepreneurial ventures, shaped by both success and challenges.

Building a practice from the ground up

Dr. McGuires first job out of fellowship was with a unique shared-location practice run by three physicians. Recognizing the need for full commitment, McGuire stepped in, energized the practice, and eventually purchased it. Not long after, a senior physician approached him about merging practices. With the help of a trusted consultant, McGuire structured the deal and brought on a close friend and colleague, Dr. Charlie Eifrig. Together they launched Retina Associates of Orange County, which has since grown into a successful multi-physician group. One of the keys to long-term growth, McGuire emphasized, has been careful hiring. Rather than relying solely on stellar resumes, the group prioritized personal recommendations and cultural fit. Anyone can look great on paper, McGuire noted, but building the right team requires trust, respect, and shared values. For physicians in private practice, avoiding turnover and nurturing collaborative partnerships can make the difference between stagnation and sustained success.

Hard lessons from business ventures

Beyond his core practice, Dr. McGuire, like many entrepreneurial physicians, pursued additional business opportunities. Some proved costly. He candidly described failed ventures, including an HMO startup and another project that required physicians to sign personal guarantees. Both collapsed, resulting in significant financial losses. His advice to other physicians is direct: never be a completely passive investor in business deals, and never sign a personal guarantee for ventures you dont fully control. He acknowledged that doctors often feel pressured to join such projects because respected colleagues are involved, but cautioned that medical expertise does not automatically translate to business acumen. Just because someone is a great physician, he observed, doesnt mean they know how to build a hotel or run a health plan. For McGuire, those setbacks were invaluable teachers. They reinforced the importance of active oversight, skepticism of cant-miss opportunities, and reliance on professional advisors with relevant expertise.

Financial planning and the power of starting early

On the personal finance side, McGuire credited his parents, who came from modest backgrounds, for instilling the importance of saving early. As soon as he began his internship, he signed up for retirement plans and has consistently invested in pre-tax, post-tax, and insurance buckets ever since. Both he and his wife, also an ophthalmologist, kept their lifestyle in check while building financial security. Looking back, he reflected that they may have been overly conservative, particularly in aggressively paying down real estate debt instead of leveraging low mortgage rates for investment growth. Still, starting early and living below their means laid the foundation for long-term success.

Advice for young physicians

When asked what he would tell younger physicians, or his 30-year-old self, McGuire stressed the importance of building a strong advisory team across finance, law, accounting, and investing. Few physicians can be experts in all of these areas, and the right counsel can prevent costly mistakes. Equally critical is a willingness to revisit decisions periodically. As new physicians join a practice or as laws change, fresh perspectives can highlight overlooked risks or opportunities.

Conclusion

Dr. Desmond McGuires story blends inspiration with pragmatism. His journey into ophthalmology was rooted in personal family experiences, but his success as a practice owner came from deliberate choices: investing early, hiring wisely, learning from failed ventures, and leaning on trusted advisors. For physicians charting their own professional and financial paths, his advice is clear: Start early, stay engaged, and surround yourself with the right people. As McGuire demonstrates, the road to success in medicine is rarely linear, but with foresight and humility, it can be deeply rewarding.

Click here to listen to the entire conversation with Dr. Desmond McGuire, or access the full library of Wealth Planning for the Modern Physician episodes and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.

David B. Mandell is an attorney, wealth manager, author, and partner in the wealth management firm OJM Group, LLC, where he and his team provide comprehensive and multidisciplinary financial planning services tailored specifically for physicians across the United States.

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David hosts the Wealth Planning for the Modern Physician Podcast, now in its fifth season with over 95 episodes and 50,000+ downloads. The show focuses on the unique wealth planning concerns faced by todays doctors and features interviews with physicians across specialties and stages of their careers, as well as insights from financial and industry experts. Listeners gain practical tips on building wealth, protecting assets, reducing taxes, and achieving long-term financial goals. Click here to listen and subscribe.

He is also the co-author of more than 15 books, including the newest release, Wealth Strategies for Todays Physician: A Multi-Media Playbook. This innovative guide includes over 250 pages of actionable content and more than 90 embedded links to videos and podcast episodes. Organized into seven key strategies, the Playbook helps physicians reduce taxes, invest wisely, choose the right insurance, protect their assets, and plan for retirement. Click here to get your free print copy or eBook download, available exclusively to members of the KevinMD community.

David has spoken at major national medical meetings, including those hosted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Association of Orthopaedic Executives, and the International College of Surgeons. He earned his bachelors degree from Harvard University, his law degree from UCLA School of Law, and his MBA from UCLA Anderson.

Connect with David and OJM Group on their website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X @OJMGroup.

Disclosure:

OJM Group, LLC. (OJM) is an SEC-registered investment adviser with its principal place of business in the State of Ohio. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of OJM by the SEC nor does it indicate that OJM has attained a particular level of skill or ability. OJM and its representatives are in compliance with the current notice filing and registration requirements imposed upon registered investment advisers by those states in which OJM maintains clients. OJM may only transact business in those states in which it is registered or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration requirements. For information about OJM, please visit http://adviserinfo.sec.gov/ or contact us at (877) 656-4362.

This article contains general information that is not suitable for everyone. The information contained herein should not be construed as personalized legal or tax advice, or as a recommendation of any particular security or strategy. Investment involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. There is no guarantee that the views and opinions expressed in this article will be appropriate for your particular circumstances. Tax law changes frequently, accordingly information presented herein is subject to change without notice. You should seek professional tax and legal advice before implementing any strategy discussed herein.
(Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)



Amid many historical places in Seoul, Seodaemun Prison History Hall holds some of the heaviest memories in Korea modern history. Built in 1908, it became one of the most notorious prisons where countless independence-seeking activists were locked away, tortured and never returned home. Today, the prison is preserved as a museum, but it feels more like a memorial and a symbol of resistance. Some visitors say the air here feels colder and heavier in certain corners as if the past still lingers.

Seodaemun Prison is now visited by students, families and travelers who come to learn and connect with history. For many, it is a chance to see that modern Koreas rapid development wasnt just built on economics alone but also on the sacrifices of those who fought for freedom.

Seodaemun Prison (Photo courtesy of Korea Tourism Organization)

Seodaemun Prison (Photo by Hyemin Lee/Stripes Korea)



History of Seodaemun Prison and the March 1st Movement

Seodaemun Prison was built in 1908 during the final years of the Korean Empire and soon became one of the most infamous tools of Japanese colonial rule. Its darkest role deepened after the March 1st Movement in 1919, the largest nationwide nonviolent demonstration for independence from Japan. On that day, more than two million Koreans, including young students, filled the streets and risked their lives to declare Koreas right to exist. The protests were brutally suppressed; thousands were killed and tens of thousands were arrested. Many of them were brought to this prison. During the Japans occupation of Korea (1910-1945), Seodaemun Prison stood as a place where activists, students, religious leaders and ordinary people who dared to resist were tortured and executed.

Explore Seodaemun Prison History Hall

 Inside the prison walls

Inside the prison walls (Photo by Hyemin Lee/Stripes Korea)



The prison complex is large, spanning from the main hall to basement cells and smaller buildings. Unlike many other museums, this place confronts visitors with a darker side of history thats painful to face but impossible to ignore. Visitors can still step into the narrow cells where imprisoned activists once spent months or years. Photographs, diaries and records show the faces of those held here.

 Faces of freedom fighters

Yu Gwan-sun, who at 16 helped organize demonstrations during the March 1st Movement. (Photo by Hyemin Lee/Stripes Korea)

A prisoner record card in the National Resistance Room II, which preserves nearly 5,000 inmate records. (Photo by Hyemin Lee/Stripes Korea)



Yu Gwan-sun, who at 16 helped organize demonstrations during the March 1st Movement, is one of the most respected figures held at Seodaemun Prison. The young mission school student grew up with a strong sense of dignity and conviction, and her courage never wavered despite being brutally beaten and tortured during her time at the prison. Yu continued to cry out for independence and held on to her faith until she died in 1920.

Walking through the National Resistance Room II filled with photographs of imprisoned independence fighters, I felt a heavy weight. Many were teenagers, half my age, who risked and lost their lives for a free Korea. Today, their peers worry about exams and friendships. It is easy to take freedom for granted when we live in a peaceful, democratic society. Standing inside these walls made me realize how much freedom cost. My ordinary routines like speaking my language freely and writing about Korea are all possible because someone before me was willing to fight against fear and oppression.

 Interrogation chambers

(Photo by Hyemin Lee/Stripes Korea)



One spot that visitors never miss is the underground interrogation chambers, which reveal how torture was used as a deliberate tool of colonial control. Japanese authorities used systematic violence to crush the spirit of resistance and instill fear, making their rule one of the harshest examples of colonial repression in modern history.

The displays show the actual tools used to torture prisoners. There are iron clubs for beatings, ropes and basins for water torture where victims were hung upside down, pliers that pulled out fingernails and spiked boxes that tore into prisoners as they were shaken inside. One of the common methods was skewer torture, where sharp sticks were pushed under fingernails or into teeth.

The museum also includes a model of the narrow torture room that visitors can step inside. This method forced prisoners into a tiny standing box where they could barely move, causing total physical collapse and extreme psychological trauma.

Many prisoners died due to the severe torture practiced at the prison. Even those who survived lived with permanent disabilities and trauma afterward.

 A place where many lost souls dwell

In the backyard, there is an old execution building. Beside it is a hidden passage called the Secret Corpse Passageway, once used by guards to secretly remove the bodies of those who died under torture and execution. Today, this area is where visitors say they have experienced ghost sightings. Many visitors claim to have seen something or say the air feels different there. The tragedies that occurred here less than a century ago lend to a heavy atmosphere. However, what we remember here is not fear, but the spirit of courage, the dignity of those who refused to surrender and the reminder that freedom is never free.

The legacy of resistance

By the late 19th century, while Korea was beginning to open after a long period of isolation, Japan had already modernized and defeated Qing China (1894) and later Russia (1904), rising as the most powerful empire in Asia. To Koreans, the empire must have seemed unstoppable and terrifying. Resistance looked like trying to break a rock with an egg, fragile and doomed to shatter. Yet countless Koreans still gathered to shout for freedom, refusing to lose their national spirit. Their courage spread like fire and even in the darkest times the flame endured.

Koreas liberation in 1945 came with Japans defeat in the Pacific War, but dismissing the independence movements as insignificant would be to miss their impact. The March 1st Movement ignited a flame that led to the Provisional Government in Shanghai, later becoming the foundation of todays Republic of Korea. The Constitution affirms this spirit as part of the nations legitimacy.

March 1 is now celebrated as a national holiday to honor those who never gave up. That unbroken spirit planted the seed of Koreas modern identity and proved that resistance was never in vain even when victory seemed impossible.

Today, Seodaemun Prison stands as a paradoxical place. Once it was the most feared prison, but now it is a symbol of courage against oppression. Visitors come to remember this dark history and the sacrifices made for freedom.

 Foreign visitors

For foreign visitors, most exhibits include English text under Korean and some sections also provide Japanese and Chinese. The museum offers guided tours in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese, but reservations must be made in advance online so please check the available schedule on their website. Even if you dont join a tour, many exhibits feature QR codes that allow you to access a multilingual audio guide through your phone.

 Families with children

Although the museum covers painful history, it is also a popular destination for families, school groups and even couples because of its strong educational value. Through photographs, videos and interactive displays, the museum retells the history and stories of those who were imprisoned here. Even many younger visitors find that the experience sparks meaningful conversations with their parents. Many teachers note that it helps their students appreciate what they have now and many even become more interested in historical topics afterward.

 Best times to visit

Korea has two major national holidays, honoring the spirit of independence and liberation from Japan: March 1 (Independence Movement Day) and August 15 (Liberation Day). Around these dates, Seodaemun Prison hosts festivals that run for several days, making them the best times for families to visit. Admission is free for all visitors and many events take place, including ceremonies, reenactments and hands-on activities such as role-playing independence missions, creating miniature terrariums with the Korean flag and making bracelets or cookies.
PUNE, India , Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Enzene Biosciences Ltd., a leading Continuously Innovative Development and Manufacturing Organization (CIDMO) in the biologics industry, today announced its strategic partnership with Virtuosi, the world's first IACET-accredited immersive training platform for pharmaceutical manufacturing, developed by Quality Executive Partners, Inc. (QxP). With this collaboration, Enzene becomes the first Indian company to partner with Virtuosi in support of developing a fully skilled, globally competitive pharmaceutical workforce.

As India's pharmaceutical sector continues its rapid growth, driven by innovation in biologics and biosimilars, the demand for highly trained professionals has never been greater. Virtuosi provides a scalable, interactive learning platform that leverages virtual reality (VR), digital simulation, and accredited technical curricula to strengthen workforce capabilities across critical areas such as aseptic processing, quality assurance, data integrity, and regulatory compliance.

"At Enzene, we believe that investing in our people and cultivating a highly skilled workforce are fundamental to earning our place as a trusted global pharmaceutical leader," said Sundar Ramanan, PhD, Chief Quality Officer. "By partnering with Virtuosi, we are investing not only in training excellence for our own teams, but also in setting a benchmark for the entire industry. This is about raising the standard for how medicines are madesafely, compliantly, and with world-class technical mastery."

"Enzene's leadership demonstrates vision and commitment at a time when the global industry is calling for stronger workforce readiness," said Crystal Mersh, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Quality Executive Partners. "As the first global company to implement Virtuosi in India, Enzene signals a new era of manufacturing excellenceshowcasing that India's CIDMO sector is not only scaling capacity, but also investing in the people and knowledge needed to sustain excellence. Enzene is leading the way."

The partnership marks a significant milestone in bridging innovation with education, as Enzene integrates Virtuosi into its workforce development programs. This collaboration reflects Enzene's dedication to fostering a culture of continuous learning, while reinforcing India's position at the forefront of global pharmaceutical manufacturing.

About Enzene

Enzene is a fully integrated, end-to-end, continuously innovative development and manufacturing organization (CIDMO) with services spanning discovery, development, and commercial supply, operating integrated sites in Pune (India) and New Jersey (USA). As a pioneer in next-generation biologics technologies, Enzene is disrupting the existing biologics manufacturing paradigm with its patented EnzeneX technology, which was the first fully-connected continuous manufacturing (FCCM) platform validated for commercial biologics supply.

We partner with innovators and biosimilar developers to deliver accelerated time-to-market, increased production yields, and cost reductions across a broad range of biologic modalities. Committed to pushing the boundaries of biologics manufacturing innovation, Enzene is striving to reduce monoclonal antibody production costs to below $40 per gram by 2025.

For more information on Enzene, please visit www.enzene.com

About Virtuosi

Virtuosi, developed by Quality Executive Partners, Inc. (QxP), is the world's first IACET-accredited interactive training platform for the pharmaceutical industry. Combining interactive virtual reality with expert-driven curricula, Virtuosi equips professionals with practical skills, regulatory knowledge, and critical thinking capabilities required for today's advanced manufacturing environments. Virtuosi contains 100 hours of content and 26 virtual reality segments to solidify your employees' learning in aseptic processing, microbiology and cell & gene therapy. As a global provider, Virtuosi is available in 7 different languages and can be adapted to meet your needs locally.

For more information about Virtuosi, please visit www.virtuosivr.com

About Quality Executive Partners, Inc. (QxP)

Quality Executive Partners, Inc. (QxP) is a cGMP consulting and technology firm, providing the life sciences industry with tomorrow's innovative solutions, tailored to meet the most daunting technical challenges of today. We were founded in 2012 to disrupt the traditional Life Sciences GMP consulting model. We have one of the most experienced and highly regarded teams in the pharmaceutical industry, recognized for their unparalleled remediation results and technical capabilities.

The mission of QxP is to ensure our clients meet their business, quality, and compliance goals simultaneously. We achieve this through a unique partnering relationship that provides unmatched management and technical expertise, educational tools, mentoring, and execution support. Our success is defined by providing timely delivery of those goals coupled with the transfer of knowledge and capability to the client's team.

For more information on QxP, please visit www.qualityexecutivepartners.com

Contact:

Christine Feaster

1-443-752-7070

[email protected]

SOURCE Quality Executive Partners, Inc.
Performance Brokerage Services, the leader in dealership buy-sell activity, announces the sale of Freedom Harley-Davidson in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from Mike and Brett Bruno to Steven Towers

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Performance Brokerage Services, North America's highest volume dealership brokerage firm, is pleased to announce the sale of Freedom Harley-Davidson in Baton Rouge, Louisiana from Mike and Brett Bruno to Steven Towers.

Mike Bruno has more than 30 years of experience in the automotive industry and is a lifelong Harley-Davidson enthusiast. Along with his son, Brett, he owned and operated Freedom Harley-Davidson, creating a dealership focused on customers and the Harley-Davidson community.

Performance Brokerage Services - Freedom Harley-Davidson - Steven Towers

Over the last 5 years, Performance Brokerage Services has advised on the sale of nearly 400 dealerships, making it the highest volume dealership brokerage firm in North America. George C. Chaconas, Senior Partner, Courtney A. Bernhard, Partner, and Juan C. Pardo, Partner of the Harley-Davidson & Powersports Division for Performance Brokerage Services were the exclusive sell-side advisors for this transaction.

George Chaconas shared, "We were honored to exclusively represent Mike Bruno, an established Harley-Davidson dealer, in the sale of Freedom Harley-Davidson in Baton Rouge to Steven Towers. Having known Mike for years, it was a privilege to work with him and his son Brett on this transaction. I would also like to thank my partners, Courtney Bernhard and Juan Pardo, for their professionalism, expertise, and hands-on support in facilitating this transaction. We're proud to continue supporting Steven's growing Harley-Davidson portfolio and his optimism about the brand's future. We thank both parties for their trust and wish them continued success."

Steven Towers has over a decade of experience in the automotive industry. Steven is also a long-time Harley-Davidson rider with a deep passion for the brand. In 2023, he acquired his first Harley-Davidson dealership, Boneyard Harley-Davidson in Winterville, North Carolina, followed by Frontier Harley-Davidson in Lincoln, Nebraska in 2024. In 2025, he further expanded his portfolio with the acquisitions of Historic Harley-Davidson in Topeka, Kansas, Harley-Davidson of Carroll in Carroll, Iowa, and Freedom Harley-Davidson in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, all of which were facilitated by Performance Brokerage Services.

Steven Towers shared, "Since a young age, I have been passionate about the Harley-Davidson brand and motorcycles. My dream of one day becoming a Harley-Davidson dealer came true in early 2023 with the help of Juan Pardo and his team at Performance Brokerage Services. Since then, I have been able to grow my footprint to five dealerships, and I've never been more passionate about the brand and what the future holds for Harley-Davidson and the Towers dealership group. I want to thank Juan and Courtney Bernhard of Performance Brokerage Services for their help in my latest acquisition in Baton Rouge, and look forward to my continued relationship with Juan and Performance Brokerage Services in the future. If you are in the market to sell or acquire a Harley-Davidson dealership, look no further than the team at Performance Brokerage Services."

Freedom Harley-Davidson will be renamed Towers' Baton Rouge Harley-Davidson and will remain at its current location at 5853 Siegen Lane in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

About Performance Brokerage Services



Performance Brokerage Services, Inc. is North America's highest volume dealership brokerage firm, specializing in buy-sell activity for automotive, RV, commercial truck, powersports, and equipment dealerships.

With over 30 years of experience, 900 dealerships sold, and a 90% closing rate, the company's reputation is unmatched and governed by the utmost ethical conduct and integrity.

The company offers a unique approach by providing complimentary estimates of value with no upfront fees or retainer, no reimbursement of costs, and paid a success fee only after the transaction closes.

Headquartered in Irvine, California and supported by 12 regional offices across the United States and Canada, clients benefit from national exposure with local representation.

As trusted and respected experts in the field, the company utilizes an extensive network of industry related attorneys, accountants, hundreds of registered buyers, and longstanding relationships with various vehicle manufacturers.

For more information about the services offered by Performance Brokerage Services, visit https://performancebrokerageservices.com.

Media Contact:

Jesse Stopnitzky, Co-Owner

(949) 309-2851

[email protected]

SOURCE Performance Brokerage Services, Inc.
Company to Begin Upgrading Bitcoin Mining Fleet and Continues to Hold All Bitcoin in Treasury

LAS VEGAS, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyperscale Data, Inc. (NYSE American: GPUS), a diversified holding company ("Hyperscale Data" or the "Company"), today announced that it has completed an order for 1,000 new Bitmain Antminer S21+ miners ("S21+'s") for its Michigan Data Center (the "Michigan Facility"). The Company plans to begin installing the S21+'s as soon as they arrive, which may be as early as Monday, October 13, 2025.

This new deployment marks a key step in Hyperscale Data's optimization program, replacing a portion of older, less-efficient Bitcoin miners with the current generation of high-performance equipment. The installation will occur in approximately 4-megawatt ("MW") phases, enabling the Company to integrate new S21+'s with minimal disruption to existing operations.

"We remain committed to running an artificial intelligence ("AI") data center and Bitcoin mining operation side-by-side at our Michigan Facility," stated Milton "Todd" Ault III, Executive Chairman of Hyperscale Data. "This model enables us to leverage infrastructure and maximize efficiency across two lines of business. By upgrading to the S21+'s, we are increasing productivity while maintaining our long-term focus on Bitcoin accumulation and expanding our AI compute offerings."

S21+'s deliver up to approximately 235 terahashes per second, which represents an approximate 135% increase in processing speed from Hyperscale Data's older S19J Pro Bitcoin miners. Hyperscale Data plans to upgrade approximately 20 MW of Bitcoin miners, which would result in approximately 5,000 total new S21+s's operating at the Company's Michigan Facility. Upon the completion of this planned 20 MW upgrade, the Company expects a significant change in the overall efficiency and output of its Bitcoin mining operations.

Additionally, the Company reminds stockholders that it intends to hold all Bitcoin earned from Bitcoin mining operations on its balance sheet as part of its digital asset treasury strategy while supplementing Bitcoin mining operations with ongoing open market acquisitions of Bitcoin as it moves toward its goal of a $100 million Bitcoin treasury.

For more information on Hyperscale Data and its subsidiaries, Hyperscale Data recommends that stockholders, investors and any other interested parties read Hyperscale Data's public filings and press releases available under the Investor Relations section at hyperscaledata.com or available at www.sec.gov.

About Hyperscale Data, Inc.

Through its wholly owned subsidiary Sentinum, Inc., Hyperscale Data owns and operates a data center at which it mines digital assets and offers colocation and hosting services for the emerging AI ecosystems and other industries. Hyperscale Data's other wholly owned subsidiary, Ault Capital Group, Inc. ("ACG"), is a diversified holding company pursuing growth by acquiring undervalued businesses and disruptive technologies with a global impact.

Hyperscale Data currently expects the divestiture of ACG (the "Divestiture") to occur in the second quarter of 2026. Upon the occurrence of the Divestiture, the Company would be an owner and operator of data centers to support high-performance computing services, as well as a holder of the digital assets. Until the Divestiture occurs, the Company will continue to provide, through ACG and its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries and strategic investments, mission-critical products that support a diverse range of industries, including an AI software platform, social gaming platform, equipment rental services, defense/aerospace, industrial, automotive, medical/biopharma and hotel operations. In addition, ACG is actively engaged in private credit and structured finance through a licensed lending subsidiary. Hyperscale Data's headquarters are located at 11411 Southern Highlands Parkway, Suite 190, Las Vegas, NV 89141.

On December 23, 2024, the Company issued one million (1,000,000) shares of a newly designated Series F Exchangeable Preferred Stock (the "Series F Preferred Stock") to all common stockholders and holders of the Series C Preferred Stock on an as-converted basis. The Divestiture will occur through the voluntary exchange of the Series F Preferred Stock for shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock of ACG (collectively, the "ACG Shares"). The Company reminds its stockholders that only those holders of the Series F Preferred Stock who agree to surrender such shares, and do not properly withdraw such surrender, in the exchange offer through which the Divestiture will occur, will be entitled to receive the ACG Shares and consequently be shareholders of ACG upon the occurrence of the Divestiture.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "projects," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "may," "will," "should," "could," "potential," or similar expressions. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any of them publicly in light of new information or future events. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors. More information, including potential risk factors, that could affect the Company's business and financial results are included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Company's Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. All filings are available at www.sec.gov and on the Company's website at hyperscaledata.com.

SOURCE Hyperscale Data Inc.
NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Freeport-McMoran Inc. ("Freeport" or the "Company") (NYSE: FCX). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Freeport and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On September 9, 2025, Freeport issued a press release announcing the suspension of mining activities at its Grasberg Block Cave operation in Indonesia, after "a large flow of wet material from a production drawpoint . . . blocked access to certain areas within the mine," trapping seven workers.

On this news, Freeport's stock price fell $2.80 per share, or 5.99%, to close at $43.87 per share on September 9, 2025.

Then, on September 24, 2025, Freeport provided an update on the incident, reporting that two of the seven workers were "fatally injured" and that the remaining five workers "remain missing."

On this news, Freeport's stock price fell $7.69 per share, or 16.95%, to close at $37.67 per share on September 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 numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
Hundreds of Tunisian students took to the streets of downtown Tunis on Tuesday, October 7, to express solidarity with the Palestinian people, marking two years since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023.

The rally, organised by the General Union of Students of Tunisia, began outside the Municipal Theatre on Habib Bourguiba Avenue. Demonstrators chanted slogans demanding the liberation of Palestine and condemning normalisation with Israel, while also calling for boycotts of companies accused of supporting Israeli actions. The protest proceeded peacefully under tight security.

The Gaza conflict erupted on 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched a deadly assault on southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and capturing approximately 250 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Since then, Israels military operations have triggered a devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where local health authorities report that the death toll has exceeded 67,000. The Tunisian students demonstration reflects ongoing regional and global outrage over the prolonged conflict and the mounting civilian toll.
The Sudanese Army has announced the recapture of several key defensive positions held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state.

In a statement on Tuesday, 07 October 2025, the military said its forces carried out special operations to clear RSF strongholds, inflicting significant personnel and equipment losses.

Troops reportedly seized several combat vehicles and destroyed six others, including armoured vehicles. The Army added that it successfully repelled an RSF assault on the citys southern axis, inflicting heavy casualties. The RSF has not issued an immediate response to the armys claims.

El-Fasher, a vital humanitarian hub for the five Darfur states, has been under RSF blockade since 10 May 2024, despite international warnings of a looming catastrophe. The citys strategic importance makes its recapture a potentially pivotal moment in the conflict, following RSF losses in Khartoum and other regions.

Since the conflict erupted in April 2023, fighting between the army and RSF has claimed more than 20,000 lives and displaced an estimated 15 million people, according to UN and local authorities. A separate study by American universities suggests the death toll could be as high as 130,000. Observers say the armys latest advance signals a shift in momentum, as RSF-held territory continues to shrink across Sudan.
Morocco and Germany have taken a significant step forward in their agricultural partnership with the launch of a joint working group on agriculture and food systems in Rabat.

The initiative aims to strengthen trade exchanges, promote strategic value chains, and enhance food security, while placing sustainability and technological innovation at the core of bilateral cooperation, local media said.

The inaugural meeting of the working group brought together senior officials from both countries, including Martina Englhardt-Kopf, Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Regional Identity.

In 2022, bilateral trade in farming products reached 4.9 billion, with agro-food products accounting for less than 5%. Moroccan exports, valued at 2.1 billion, were dominated by fruits and vegetables, while German exports to Morocco totaled 2.8 billion.

However, growth prospects are strong. German demand for fresh, seasonal, and certified organic products continues to rise. Between January and March 2024, Morocco exported nearly 35,000 tonnes of fruits and vegetables to Germany, a 40% increase year-on-year.
Cameroons 92-year-old President Paul Biya made a rare public appearance on Tuesday, 07 October 2025, addressing a large rally in the northern town of Maroua as he seeks an eighth consecutive term in office.

Speaking to supporters in one of the countrys poorest and most restive regions, Biya pledged to tackle insecurity, reduce youth unemployment, and improve infrastructure if re-elected in Sundays vote. The Far North, heavily affected by Boko Haram attacks, holds nearly 20% of the nations 8.2 million eligible voters, making it a crucial battleground where two of Biyas former allies are also competing. I am well aware of the problems that concern you, Biya told the crowd, assuring them that the challenges were surmountable.

The rally marked Biyas first major campaign event after returning from a weeklong private stay in Switzerland.
The United Nations has allocated an additional 1 million U.S. dollars from its Central Emergency Response Fund to tackle a rapidly spreading cholera outbreak in Chad, bringing the total emergency funding for the crisis to 4 million dollars.

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, announced the allocation on Tuesday, 07 October 2025, stating that the funds will focus on expanding access to clean water and sanitation, enhancing medical support, and strengthening community engagement to curb transmission. The outbreak has struck the eastern provinces of Ouaddai and Silaboth of which are hosting large numbers of people displaced by conflict in neighbouring Sudanas well as the central province of Guera.

According to UN figures, more than 2,600 suspected cholera cases and nearly 150 deaths have been recorded as of Sunday, with a case fatality rate nearing 6 percentwell above the World Health Organizations emergency threshold of 1 percent. The UN spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, noted that the Central Emergency Response Fund has so far released 11 million dollars this year to address cholera outbreaks in five African countries, including Chad. Health officials warn that urgent intervention is critical to prevent further loss of life and contain the diseases spread.
NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Quanex Building Products Corporation ("Quanex" or the "Company") (NYSE: NX). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 7980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.

The class action concerns whether Quanex and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

You have until November 18, 2025 to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class if you purchased or otherwise acquired Quanex securities during the Class Period. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com .

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On September 4, 2025, after the market closed, Quanex announced its financial results for the third quarter of its 2025 fiscal year. Quanex disclosed, among other things, that ongoing "operational issues related to the legacy Tyman window and door hardware business in Mexico" had "impacted results more than expected[.]" Quanex also disclosed that it was "adjusting for lower expected volumes and pushing oug the timing of when [it] expect[s] to realize procurement savings" from integration of the Tyman business. Then, on September 5, 2025, Quanex held an earnings call to discuss the quarter's financial results. During the call, Chief Executive Officer George Wilson explained that the operational challenges at Tyman "negatively impacted EBITDA in the Hardware Solutions segment by almost $5 million in the third quarter alone." Wilson explained that the issue had been "identified midyear" and described the systems used to "anticipate and plan for tooling repairs" as significantly deficient.

On this news, Quanex's stock price fell $2.73 per share, or 13.06%, to close at $18.18 per share on September 5, 2025.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
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A participant is buried face down under about 50 centimeters of snow. Credit: Eurac Research / Marina Baldo

When the Norwegian company that manufactures the Safeback SBX device, which is already on the market, approached Eurac Research to have it independently tested, it was clear that the international research team led by physician and researcher Giacomo Strapazzon would publish the results of the study in any case, regardless of the outcome.

For the researchers, the experiment posed a significant challenge, as many participants were completely buried in snow, raising concerns that over two-thirds might require urgent excavation. The volunteer groupcomposed entirely of enthusiastic ski mountaineers, roughly half of them womenranged from 23 to 54 years in age. Despite the demanding conditions, the study was conducted under strict monitoring and safety protocols, and everything proceeded smoothly.

Ahead of the coming winter season, after careful analysis and verification, the results of these extreme tests are being published and offer reassurance for all mountain enthusiasts.

"No device can replace precautionary measures," explain Frederik Eisendle and Giacomo Strapazzon, lead authors of the study and members of the Eurac Research team. "Prevention remains the most important tool for saving lives in the mountains. However, our clinical trial shows that this device is highly effective in prolonging survival under the snow and can gain valuable time for rescue operations."

A participant is extracted after a 35-minute burial. Credit: Eurac Research / Marina Baldo

Participant ready for burial. Giacomo Strapazzon (kneeling) and Frederik Eisendle (blue jacket) both are researchers and doctors who led the study. Credit: Eurac Research / Maurizio Gretter

The research team closely monitors all parameters of the buried person during the clinical trial. Credit: Eurac Research / Maurizio Gretter

The clinical trial took place in March in the Dolomites, at an altitude of about 2000 meters. Credit: Eurac Research /Maurizio Gretter

A participant in the clinical trial is prepped to be buried in the snow. Credit: Eurac Research / Marina Baldo

The research team maintained constant radio contact with those buried under the snow. Credit: Eurac Research / Marina Baldo

"Considering that asphyxiation is fatal for about two-thirds of critically-buried avalanche victims and death occurs on average within the first 35 minutes, the fact that none of the people involved in the test fell below the 80% saturation threshold during this time is truly remarkable," the physicians continue.

The tests were conducted by Eurac Research in collaboration with the University of Bergen, the Haukeland University Hospital (Norway), the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, the Italian national search and rescue organization Corpo Nazionale del Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico (CNSAS), the WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF (Switzerland), the University Hospital Cologne (Germany), the Medical University of Innsbruck (Austria), and the University of Padua (Italy). Logistical support was provided by the Scuola Alpina Guardia di Finanza (SAGF) and the staff of the Rolle Pass ski lifts.

The device exploits the natural porosity of snowa principle first demonstrated by the same research groupto deliver oxygen-rich air to the nose and mouth via an electric pump. Once activated by a handle on the backpack, the Safeback SBX supplies up to 150 liters of air per minute for as long as 90 minutes. This airflow allows even a small air pocket to sustain a buried person with patent airways for over 35 minutes, despite the accumulation of exhaled carbon dioxide.
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Advantages of nanomaterials for immunotherapy delivery to tumors and immune cells. Credit: Nature Cancer (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s43018-025-01025-x

Scientists at Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and their collaborators are exploring emerging trends in cancer immunotherapy with back-to-back review articles published in Nature Cancer and Trends in Cancer that look at how nanotechnology could reprogram the immune system and help overcome tumors' defenses.

Both papers highlight how nanoengineering strategies are emerging as powerful tools to address limitations of current immunotherapies, particularly in treating solid tumors.

"Our immune system has remarkable potential to fight cancer, but tumors develop ways to suppress or evade these defenses," said DaeYong Lee, assistant professor with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. "By integrating nanotechnology with immunology, we are exploring new possibilities for designing therapies that are more precise and effective."

The review articles synthesize emerging insights from across the field. Lee and his colleagues integrate research from multiple laboratories and approaches to define where nanomedicine and immunotherapy intersect today, setting the stage for innovation and potential breakthroughs.

The Nature Cancer review first author Lee, in partnership with corresponding authors Wen Jiang and Betty Y.S. Kim of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, outlines how nanotechnology can:

Enhance drug delivery, ensuring therapies reach tumor sites

Reprogram the tumor microenvironment, making cancers more responsive to treatment

Work with emerging approaches such as mRNA vaccines and engineered immune cells to expand their reach

The Trends in Cancer review, co-authored by corresponding researcher Lee and colleagues with the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, focuses on phagocytosisthe process by which immune cells engulf and eliminate tumor cells. The review outlines strategies by which nanomedicines may help restore this natural defense, including efforts to:

Block signals displayed on the surface of cancer cells that allow them to evade destruction by the immune system

Engineer macrophages with chimeric antigen receptors (CARMs) to better identify and destroy solid tumors

Strengthen recognition signals on tumor cellsmolecular cues that mark them for attack by immune cells

By integrating key advances from multiple laboratories and disciplines, Lee and his collaborators provide a framework for understanding how nanomedicine can transform cancer immunotherapy, a step toward next-generation patient treatments.

"The challenge now is translating these discoveries into therapies that are safe, effective, and accessible for patients," said Lee, who is also a faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics. "That's the goal we're working toward."

More information: Adam J. Grippin et al, Nanotechnology for immuno-oncology, Nature Cancer (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s43018-025-01025-x Susam Lee et al, Leveraging phagocytosis using nanomedicines for cancer immunotherapy, Trends in Cancer (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2025.08.004 Journal information: Nature Cancer
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This schematic diagram shows how a specific population of fibroblast expressing PIEZO2 protein contribute to the formation and growth of keloids. Credit: Professor Yuzuru Ikehara from Chiba University, Japan Image source: https://doi.org/10.1002/path.6455

Keloids are raised, overgrown scars that can develop after skin injuries or surgery, often extending beyond the original wound boundaries. For many people, keloids are more than just a cosmetic concern; they often cause distressing symptoms such as chronic pain, itching, and restricted movement. While various treatment options exist, such as surgical removal, steroid injections, and radiation, keloids are notoriously difficult to manage, with recurrence rates reaching as high as 30%.

Even after decades of study, it is still unclear why keloids grow uncontrollably, unlike hypertrophic scars. The current understanding is that an overproduction of extracellular matrix collagen by fibroblastscells that produce elements of connective tissueis involved and that repeated mechanical tension on the skin contributes to keloid formation. However, the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms driving this uncontrolled scarring are unclear. More specifically, we don't know how or which cells sense the mechanical pressure and ultimately translate it into abnormal tissue growth.

Now, a study was published in the The Journal of Pathology on September 1, 2025, provides a new piece to this puzzle. A research team led by Professor Yuzuru Ikehara, along with co-first authors Dr. Shinsuke Akita and Dr. Sanae Ikehara, and co-authors Prof. Kiyoshi Hirahara, and Prof. Nobuyuki Mitsukawa, all from the Graduate School of Medicine at Chiba University, Japan, investigated the histological, genetic, and molecular differences between keloids and other fibrotic conditions to pinpoint the unique drivers of keloid formation and recurrence.

"While analyzing fibrotic tissue from lymphedema in collaboration with plastic surgeons, I conceived the idea that comparing it with keloid tissue might help identify pathological alterations specific to keloid fibroblasts. Although both conditions involve fibrosis, their underlying physiological contexts and etiologies differ substantially," explains Prof. Ikehara, describing the motivation behind the study.

The study involved a comprehensive analysis of human tissue samples. The team compared keloid tissues with those from lymphedema, a condition characterized by fibrous overgrowth but not primarily driven by mechanical tension, along with healthy skin samples. They employed several advanced techniques, including global gene expression analysis and single-cell RNA sequencing; these methods allowed them to examine gene activity in individual cells and precisely characterize the cell types involved. Through this detailed approach, the researchers sought to pinpoint mechanosensitive cells and molecules contributing to keloid pathology and recurrence.

A key discovery was that keloid tissues exhibited significantly higher expression levels of a mechanosensitive ion channel called PIEZO2, compared to lymphedema tissues. Simply put, PIEZO2 acts as a microscopic sensor, allowing cells to detect and respond to mechanical forces. The researchers observed that keloids with a history of recurrence after surgery showed even higher levels of PIEZO2.

Further investigation using single-cell analysis identified a previously unknown subpopulation of fibroblasts that specifically expressed high levels of PIEZO2. These PIEZO2-expressing fibroblasts (called FBPZ2+) were found to be highly active in the production of collagen and other components of the extracellular matrix, which are the building blocks of scar tissue. The team also observed that these FBPZ2+ cells clustered around blood and lymphatic vessels in keloid tissue, particularly in actively growing areas.

"Connective tissue is not composed merely of fibroblastsit also contains immune cells, blood vessels, and nerves, all of which work together to maintain the proper homeostasis, a critical factor in supporting organ-specific functions," explains Prof. Ikehara.

"Therefore, just as studies of immune and neural cell components have advanced our understanding of neurodegenerative and allergic diseases, investigating fibroblasts may help uncover the mechanisms underlying keloid formation." Indeed, this study represents a significant step in that direction by highlighting the unique role of FBPZ2+cells.

Most importantly, the identification of these PIEZO2-expressing fibroblasts has profound implications for the future diagnosis and treatment of keloids. The study findings reveal that keloid formation is not merely a generalized overgrowth but a unique process driven by specific tension-sensing cells.

"Our work offers new insights into the pathogenesis of keloids and opens the door to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies," says Prof. Ikehara. "For example, PIEZO2 inhibitors, which are a type of calcium ion channel blocker, may help alleviate pain and itching associated with keloids. If such targeted therapies become clinically available, they could greatly improve the quality of life for patients suffering from keloid-related discomfort."

Taken together, this study contributes to the development of therapeutic strategies to restore healthy connective tissue, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

More information: Shinsuke Akita et al, Increased expression of the PIEZO2 mechanoreceptor in fibroblasts and endothelial cells within the lymphatic and vascular vessels of keloids, The Journal of Pathology (2025). DOI: 10.1002/path.6455 Journal information: Journal of Pathology
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Whole genome sequencing offered to breast cancer patients is likely to identify unique genetic features that could either guide immediate treatment or help match patients to clinical trials, say scientists at the University of Cambridge. Their research is published in The Lancet Oncology.

In 2022, 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide and there were 670,000 related deaths. Despite significant progress in recent years, it remains challenging to accurately identify the best treatments for individual patients and to predict cases with poorer prognosis.

Whole genome sequencing is a powerful technique that involves analyzing the DNA of both the patient and their tumor to look for genetic changes, or mutations. This provides information on the underlying cause of the tumor and what is driving it. It can also provide valuable information to guide treatment, for example by identifying vulnerabilities in the tumor's makeup or spotting signs that a patient might be resistant to a particular treatment.

Although the technology is rapidly becoming cheaperUltima Genomics has recently announced that it can sequence a human genome for US $100it is not widely used across the UK's National Health Service (NHS). Offered through the NHS Genomic Medicine Service, it is currently available for a few adult cancers, rare cancers, pediatric cancers, and certain metastatic cancers.

Professor Serena Nik-Zainal from the Department of Genomic Medicine and Early Cancer Institute at the University of Cambridge said, "It is becoming increasingly possible to use whole genome sequencing to inform cancer management, but it's arguably not being used to its full potential, and certainly not for some of the more common types of cancer.

"Part of the reason why is because we lack the clinical studies to support its use, but it's also in part precisely because the information is so richin a sense, the information can be too overwhelming to make sense of."

To help address these challenges, Professor Nik-Zainal and colleagues used data from almost 2,500 women from across England housed within the National Genomic Research Libraryone of the world's largest and most valuable data assets of its kind and run by Genomics England. The data from the 2,500 women came from their recruitment to the 100,000 Genomes Project and was linked to clinical and/or mortality records, tracking outcomes over five years.

The researchers looked for genetic changes that cause or influence breast cancer, including problems in the way cells repair DNA.

The team found that 27% of breast cancer cases had genetic features that could help guide personalized treatment immediately, either with existing drugs or recruitment to prospective or current clinical trials. This equates to more than 15,000 women a year in the UK.

Among those features identified were: HRD (homology-directed repair deficiency), a DNA repair issue found in 12% of all breast cancers; unique mutations that could be targeted with specific drugs; signs of resistance to hormone therapy; and mutational patterns that suggest weaknesses in the cancer that treatments could exploit.

The team identified an additional 15% of cases that had features that could be useful for future research, such as problems with other DNA repair pathways. This would equate to more than 8,300 women a year.

The analysis also provided insights into prognosis. For example, in the most common subtype of breast cancers, known as ER+HER2- breast cancers, which account for approximately 70% of diagnoses, there were strong genetic indicators of how aggressive the cancer might be. For example, major structural DNA changes were linked to a much higher risk of death, as were APOBEC mutational signatures (a type of DNA damage pattern) and mutations in the cancer gene TP53. These genetic markers were more predictive than traditional measures like age of the patient, stage of their cancer, or tumor grade.

Using the results, the researchers created a framework to help doctors identify which patients need more aggressive treatment and which might safely have less treatment. It also suggested that around 7,500 women a year with low-grade tumors may benefit from more aggressive treatment.

Professor Nik-Zainal said, "The UK is a genuine world-leader in terms of its ability to do whole genome sequencing in the NHS through the Genomic Medicine Service. Now that we have population-level evidence of how impactful whole-genome sequencing could be, we have the potential to make a difference to thousands of patients' lives every year, helping tailor their care more precisely, giving more treatment to those who need it and less to those who don't."

As well as being used to tailor treatments to individual patients, whole genome sequencing data could help transform how we recruit for and run clinical trials, speeding up the development of much needed new treatments.

Professor Nik-Zainal added, "At the moment, we test patients for just a small number of genetic mutations and may invite them to join a clinical trial if the patient has a mutation that matches the trial's target. But if we have their entire genetic readout instead, we will no longer be restricted to single trials with a specific target. We could massively open up the potential for recruitment to multiple clinical trials in parallel, making recruitment to clinical trials more efficient, ultimately getting the right therapies to the right patients much faster."

More information: Revealing the clinical potential of cancer whole-genome data: A retrospective analysis of a breast cancer cohort in England linked with mortality statistics, The Lancet Oncology (2025). Journal information: Lancet Oncology
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The growing use of GLP-1 receptor agonists may affect the interpretation of oncological FDG PET-CT scans, new research presented today at the 38th Annual Congress of the European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM 2025) has revealed.

GLP-1 receptor agonists are now widely prescribed for individuals with type 2 diabetes and weight loss, with a 700% increase in usage reported in the United States between 2019 and 2023. These medications alter glucose metabolism, gastric motility and sympathetic tone, which may lead to unique uptake patterns on PET-CT. Previous case reports have shown increased FDG uptake in skeletal muscle, myocardium and brown adipose tissue, findings that may be mistaken for malignancy or inflammatory disease.

Researchers from Alliance Medical Ltd. performed a retrospective case series review of oncologic FDG PET-CT scans in patients taking GLP-1 agonists. They observed several atypical patterns of tracer uptake that could be misinterpreted as pathology if a patient's medication history is not considered.

"We noticed an unusual uptake in one of our patients on a GLP-1 agonist, which prompted a wider review across our network," explained lead author Dr. Peter Strouhal, Medical Director at Alliance Medical Ltd. "We found that these altered patterns are increasingly common, yet there is currently no national or international guidance in the UK addressing this emerging issue."

Misinterpreting these uptake patterns can lead to unnecessary investigations, inappropriate cancer staging and delays in treatment, which may cause stress and uncertainty for patients.

"Recognizing the characteristic uptake associated with GLP-1 agonists helps avoid unnecessary anxiety and interventions, ensuring patients receive the right care, at the right time, without detours or doubt," Dr. Strouhal added.

At present, the researchers do not recommend altering patient preparation or stopping GLP-1 agonists prior to FDG PET-CT scans. Instead, they advise that imaging teams carefully document patients' medication histories to inform interpretation while formal guidance is developed. Current UK guidelines do not address this issue, although Australian guidance suggests continuing treatment, fasting from midnight, scheduling morning scans and ensuring good glucose control.

The research group intends to extend their data collection across additional imaging centers to provide a stronger evidence base for future national guidance. They also aim to establish international collaborations so that patients everywhere benefit from consistent and reliable PET-CT interpretation.

More information: Strouhal P, Meadows A, McGovern A. A Weighty Problem: GLP-1 Agonists and the Altered Images of FDG PET-CT. Presented at EANM'25 on Wednesday 8 October 2025.

Provided by European Association of Nuclear Medicine
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has floated a seismic idea: adding autism to the list of conditions covered by the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

The program, known as VICP, provides a system for families to file claims against vaccine providers in cases in which they experience severe side effects. Kennedy has also suggested broadening the definitions of two serious brain conditionsencephalopathy and encephalitisso that autism cases could qualify.

Either move, experts warn, would unleash a flood of claims, threatening the program's financial stability and handing vaccine opponents a powerful new talking point.

Legally, HHS "is required to undergo notice and comment rulemaking to revise the table," said Richard Hughes, a law firm partner who teaches at George Washington University.

The "table" is a list of specific injuries that the U.S. government accepts as presumed to be caused by a vaccine if those injuries occur within a certain time window. If someone can show they meet the criteria, they have a simpler path to securing compensation without having to prove fault. Autism is not in the table because a link between vaccines and autism has been thoroughly debunked.

If autism is added, Hughes explained, the VICP could face "an exorbitant number of claims that would threaten the viability of the program."

Asked about its possible plans, an HHS spokesperson told CBS News the agency does not comment on future or potential policy decisions.

Carole Johnson, former administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, which oversees VICP, cautioned that the system is already overburdened. "The backlog is not just a function of management, it's built into the statute itself. That's important context for any conversation about adding new categories of claims."

Dorit Reiss, a law professor at the University of California College of the Law-San Francisco, said that any such change would be exploited: "This can, and likely will, be used to cast doubt on vaccines."

Compensation without causation

The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program was born of crisis. In 1982, "Vaccine Roulette," a television documentary, aired nationwide, alleging routine childhood shots were causing seizures, brain damage, and even sudden infant death. The program alarmed parents and triggered a surge of lawsuits against vaccine makers.

"That led to a flood of litigation against vaccine makers," recalled Paul Offit, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and vaccine inventor at the University of Pennsylvania. "I mean, to the point that it drove them out of the business.  By the mid-1980s, there were $3.2 billion worth of lawsuits against these companies."

Were it not for the VICP, Offit said, "We wouldn't have vaccines for American children. The companiesit wasn't worth it for them."

The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 created a no-fault system. Families who believed a vaccine caused harm could file a claim; if the injury appeared on the table within a set time frame, compensation was automatic. If not, claimants could present medical evidence. The system had two purposes: provide compensation and protect the vaccine supply.

From the beginning, the table was understood not as a scientific document but as a legal tool.

"It's a legal document and things can be included for policy reasons even if the causation evidence is weak," Reiss said. She explained, "The program is designed to be generous, to compensate in cases of doubt."

But, she said, "autism is not in that category. The science is clear. Adding it would be pure politics."

This tensionbetween law, science, and public perceptionhas defined the program for nearly four decades.

What expansion would mean in practice

Since 1988, federal data shows more than 25,000 petitions to the VICP have been adjudicated; of those, 12,019 were granted compensation and 13,007 were dismissed. About 60% of compensated cases involved negotiated settlements in which HHS drew no conclusion about the cause. Over the same period, billions of vaccine doses were safely administered to millions of Americans.

Adding autism to the VICP table would change that picture overnight.

Federal estimates suggest up to 48,000 children could qualify immediately under a "profound autism" standard, with potential payouts averaging $2 million per case, at an initial cost of nearly $100 billion, followed by annual totals of about $30 billion a yeardwarfing the current $4 billion trust, a new analysis finds.

"Any case where the symptoms appeared in the past eight years and the parents blame vaccines," Reiss said. "I don't know how many that would be. The fund has a surplus of over $4 billion. One seriously disabled child's care can cost millions, so a significant number, say 100,000 compensations, might exhaust it."

Furthermore, with only eight special masters handling cases, the system would also be paralyzed by backlogs.

The stakes are not just fiscal. If the fund collapses under the weight of autism claims, vaccine makers may question whether producing vaccines for the U.S. market is worth the risk. That would mirror the crisis of the 1980s, which led to the establishment of the VICP.

Autism and the courts

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Andrew Wakefield's now-retracted paper alleging a link between the MMR vaccine and autism fueled a surge of VICP claims. By 2002, the VICP was swamped with petitions alleging vaccines had caused autism. The court consolidated thousands of cases into the Omnibus Autism Proceedings, selecting a handful of test cases to decide them all.

After years of hearings and expert testimony, the conclusion was unequivocal: vaccines do not cause autism. In 2010, the court ruled against petitioners on every theory of causation. The U.S. Court of Federal Claims affirmed, and the Court of Appeals upheld, the decision.

"That precedent is binding," said Richard Hughes, a vaccine law expert at George Washington University and former VICP legal counsel. "Autism was litigated thoroughly and rejected. That still carries weight in the court today."

The ghost of Hannah Poling

Yet, the vaccine-autism debate has never quite faded. In 2008, the government conceded a case involving Hannah Poling, a girl with a rare mitochondrial disorder who developed autism-like symptoms after vaccination. Officials stressed the concession was specific to her condition, not evidence of a general link. But headlines told another story: "Family to Receive $1.5 Million in First-Ever Vaccine Autism Court Award."

The Poling case fueled years of confusion.

Autism science today

The science is clearer than ever. Autism begins early in pregnancy, not in toddlerhood when most vaccines are given.

"Vaccinations  happened around the time families were recognizing symptoms of autism in their children," said Catherine Lord, a UCLA clinical psychologist and specialist in autism diagnosis. "However, we now know that autism begins much earlier, likely as the fetus develops during pregnancy, so it cannot be an explanation."

Peter Hotez, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and vaccine scientist at the Baylor College of Medicine who is also the father of a young adult with autism, underscores that point: "The drivers of autism are genetics and, in rare cases, environmental exposures during pregnancy, not vaccines. We've been over this ground for decades, and the evidence is overwhelming."

Sarah Despres, former legal counsel to the secretary of Health and Human Services in the Biden administration and now a consultant to nonprofit organizations on immunization policy, adds that the compensation program itself is often misunderstood.

"The table was originally written as a political document," she said. "The purpose of the program was to be swift, generous, and fair.  There would be cases that may not be caused by the vaccine but would be compensated if you went through this table injury scheme, where you don't have to prove causation."

What's at risk: Harm from the diseases themselves

The stakes are not abstract. Measles, one of the most contagious pathogens on Earth, spreads so efficiently that one infected child can transmit it to 90% of susceptible contacts.

Before vaccinations began in the 1960s, measles sickened hundreds of thousands annually in the U.S., killing hundreds and causing thousands of cases of encephalitis and lifelong disability. Complications included pneumonia, brain swelling, and, in rare cases, a fatal degenerative brain disorder called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, or SSPE, that can strike years later.

This year, a school-age child in Los Angeles County died of SSPE after contracting measles in infancy, before being eligible for vaccination.

Mumps was once a near-universal childhood illness. Though often dismissed as mild, it can cause sterility in men, meningitis, and permanent hearing loss. Outbreaks on college campuses, as recently as the 2000s, showed how quickly it can return when vaccination rates slip.

Rubella, also known as German measles, is mild in most children, but can be devastating during pregnancy. Congenital Rubella Syndrome, or CRS, caused waves of tragedy before the development of the vaccine. Thousands of babies each year were born blind, deaf, with heart defects, or with intellectual disabilities.

In medical texts, autism itself is listed as one of CRS' sequelae, or possible consequencesproof that rubella infection, not vaccination, can contribute to developmental disorders.

Measles, mumps, and rubella "are not trivial," said Walt Orenstein, former head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's immunization program. "Fever, high fever, is common  and they have frequent complications."

And yet, as these diseases fade from living memory, a counternarrative has gained traction. On Sept. 29, the nonprofit Physicians for Informed Consent, a group that disputes the scientific consensus on vaccines, announced it had mailed its "Silver Booklet" on vaccine safety to every member of Congress, as well as to President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

The book claims that "vaccines are not proven to be safer than the diseases they intend to prevent," and calls on federal leaders to punish states that restrict vaccine exemptions. (The booklet isn't free. The group sells copies for $25 on Amazon.)

Scientists say this framing misrepresents the basic math of risk. "Measles is one of the most important infectious diseases in human history," notes "Plotkin's Vaccines," the field's authoritative textbook. "The widespread use of measles vaccines in the late 20th and early 21st centuries led to a further marked reduction in measles deaths. Measles vaccination averted an estimated 31.7 million deaths from 2000 to 2020."

Kennedy's possible move to expand the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program hinges on casting doubton suggesting that science is unsettled, that vaccines may be riskier than diseases.

"One tactic used to argue that vaccines cause autism is the use of compensation decisions from the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to claim such a link," said Reiss of UC Law-San Francisco.

"Even the cases that most closely address the question of vaccines and autism do not show the link that opponents claim exists, and many of the cases used are misrepresented and misused."

Offit underscores the danger on the perception side. "When people see the Vaccine Injury Compensation program, they assume that any money that is given is because there was a vaccine injury," he said.

Kathryn Edwards, an expert in pediatric infectious diseases and vaccine safety at Vanderbilt University, said, "Expanding compensation for issues that are not clearly related to vaccines  suggests that these conditions are related to vaccines when they are not."

She compared it to the removal of thimerosal, a preservative dropped from most childhood vaccines to ease public fears, despite no evidence of harm. "Now, we are still suffering from that action."

Public health experts stress that such narratives invert reality. The very diseases being downplayed once killed or disabled tens of thousands of American children each year.

As pediatrician, psychiatrist, and medical historian Howard Markel put it, "Back a hundred years ago, everybody lost a kid or knew a kid who died of one of these diseases.  We never conquer germs, we wrestle them to a draw. That's the best we do. And so this is a real  handicap to the other side, the microbes who live to infect."

Families and the future

The hardest voices to reckon with are those of families. Parents of autistic children often feel abandonedunsupported by disability programs, exhausted by care needs, searching for answers. Kennedy's appeal to them is emotional, not scientific.

Reiss noted that families deserve far more support but argues that it shouldn't come through VICP.

"The program is to award compensation to those injured by vaccines," she said. "We should have more direct supportdisability funding, disability aid. Kennedy has been taking HHS in the opposite direction, cutting services where we need more."

Despres made the same point: "The goal of the program really was, if there's a close call, we're going to err on the side of compensation.  And it's really important that everyone understands that compensation does not mean that the vaccine actually caused the injury.  And I think we have seen statistics around the compensation program misused by those who would want to sow distrust in vaccines, to say vaccines are unsafe, when in fact  that's not what this is."

UCLA's Lord urged a shift in focus. "For the last 50 years, science has focused on the biological causes of autism, which has led to great progress, especially in genetics," she said. Of Secretary Kennedy, she said, "He could help more by acknowledging the value of science, but also the need to better attend to the actual lives of autistic people and their families."

What comes next?

If Kennedy decides to move forward with such a plan, HHS would need to draft a rule, open it to public comment, and then defend the change in court. The pushback will be fierce: from scientists, from public health leaders, and from families who fear being misled yet again.

The debate over adding autism to the Vaccine Injury Table is not just a policy debate. The program was built on the principle of compensation without causation, a fragile balance designed to sustain both trust and supply. Adding autism could collapse that distinction entirely.

2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: CC0 Public Domain

When a big storm hits, Peninsula Hospital could be underwater.

At this decades-old psychiatric hospital on the edge of the Tennessee River, an intense storm could submerge the building in 11 feet of water, cutting off all roads around the facility, according to a sophisticated computer simulation of flood risk.

Aurora, a young woman who was committed to Peninsula as a teenager, said the hospital sits so close to the river that it felt like a moat keeping her and dozens of other patients inside. KFF Health News agreed not to publish her full name because she shared private medical history.

"My first feeling is doom," Aurora said as she watched the simulation of the river rising around the hospital. "These are probably some of the most vulnerable people."

Covenant Health, which runs Peninsula Hospital, said in a statement it has a "proactive and thorough approach to emergency planning" but declined to provide details or answer questions.

Peninsula is one of about 170 American hospitals, totaling nearly 30,000 patient beds from coast to coast, that face the greatest risk of significant or dangerous flooding, according to a months-long KFF Health News investigation based on data provided by Fathom, a company considered a leader in flood simulation.

At many of these hospitals, flooding from heavy storms has the potential to jeopardize patient care, block access to emergency rooms, and force evacuations. Sometimes there is no other hospital nearby.

Much of this risk to hospitals is not captured by flood maps issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which have served as the nation's de facto tool for flood estimation for half a century, despite being incomplete and sometimes decades out of date.

As FEMA's maps have become divorced from the reality of a changing climate, private companies like Fathom have filled the gap with simulations of future floods. But many of their predictions are behind a paywall, leaving the public mostly reliant on free, significantly limited government maps.

"This is highly concerning," said Caleb Dresser, who studies climate change and is both an emergency room doctor and a Harvard University assistant professor. "If you don't have the information to know you're at risk, then how can you triage that problem?"

The deadliest hospital flooding in modern American history occurred 20 years ago during Hurricane Katrina, when the bodies of 45 people were recovered from New Orleans' Memorial Medical Center, including some patients whom investigators suspected were euthanized. More flooding deaths were narrowly avoided one year ago when helicopters rescued dozens of people as Hurricane Helene engulfed Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin, Tennessee.

Rebecca Harrison, a paramedic, called her children from the Unicoi roof to say goodbye.

"I was scared to death, thinking, 'This is it,'" Harrison told CBS News, which interviewed Unicoi survivors as part of KFF Health News' investigation. "Alarms were going off. People were screaming. It was chaos."

The investigationamong the first to analyze nationwide hospital flood risk in an era of warming climate and worsening stormscomes as the administration of President Donald Trump has slashed federal agencies that forecast and respond to extreme weather and also dismantled FEMA programs designed to protect hospitals and other important buildings from floods.

When asked to comment, FEMA said flooding is a common, costly, and "under-appreciated" disaster but made no statement specific to hospitals. Spokesperson Daniel Llargues defended the administration's changes to FEMA by reissuing an August statement that dismissed criticism as coming from "bureaucrats who presided over decades of inefficiency."

Alice Hill, an Obama administration climate risk expert, said the Trump administration's dismissal of climate change and worsening floods would waste billions of dollars and endanger lives.

In 2015, Hill led the creation of the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard, which required that hospitals and other essential structures be elevated or incorporate extra flood protections to qualify for federal funding.

FEMA stopped enforcing the standard in March.

"People will die as a result of some of the choices being made today," Hill said. "We will be less prepared than we are now. And we were already, in my estimation, poorly prepared."

'Flood risk is everywhere'

The KFF Health News investigation identified more than 170 hospitals facing a flood risk by comparing the locations of more than 7,000 facilities to peer-reviewed flood hazard mapping provided by Fathom, a United Kingdom company that simulates flooding in spaces as small as 10 meters using laser-precision elevation measurements from the U.S. Geological Survey.

Hospitals were determined to have a significant risk if Fathom's 100-year flood data predicted that a foot or more of water could reach a considerable portion of their buildings, excluding parking garages, or cut off road access to the hospital. A 100-year flood is an intense weather event that has roughly a 1% chance of occurring in any given year but can happen more often.

The investigation found heightened flood risks at large trauma centers, small rural hospitals, children's hospitals, and long-term care facilities that serve older and disabled patients. At least 21 are critical access hospitals, with the next-closest hospital 25 miles away, on average.

Flooding threatens dozens of hospitals in coastal areas, including in Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and New York. Farther inland, flooding of rivers or creeks could envelop other hospitals, particularly in Appalachia and the Midwest. Even in the sun-soaked cities and arid expanses of the American West, storms have the potential to surround some hospitals with several feet of pooling water, according to Fathom's data.

These findings are likely an undercount of hospitals at risk because the investigation overlooked pockets of potential flooding at some hospitals. It excluded facilities like stand-alone ERs, outpatient clinics, and nursing homes.

"The reality is that flood risk is everywhere. It is the most pervasive of perils," said Oliver Wing, the chief scientific officer at Fathom, who reviewed the findings. "Just because you've never experienced an extreme doesn't mean you never will."

Dresser, the ER doctor, said even a small amount of flooding can shut down an unprepared hospital, often by interrupting its power supply, which is needed for life-sustaining equipment like ventilators and heart monitors. He said the most vulnerable hospitals would likely be in rural areas.

"A lot of rural hospitals are now closing their pediatric units, closing their psychiatry units," Dresser said. "In a financially stressed situation, it can be hard to prioritize long-term threats, even if they are, for some institutions, potentially existential."

Urban hospitals can face dangerous flooding, too. Fathom's data predicts 5 to 15 feet of water around neighboring hospitalsKadlec Regional Medical Center and Lourdes Behavioral Healththat straddle a tiny creek in Richland, Washington.

By Fathom's estimate, a 100-year flood could cause the nearby Columbia River to spill over a levee that protects Richland, then loosely follow the creek to the hospitals. Some of the deepest flooding is estimated around Lourdes, which was built on land in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers set aside in 1961 as a "ponding and drainage easement."

At the time, this land was supposed to be capable of storing enough water to fill at least 40 Olympic-size swimming pools, according to military documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. A mental health facility has occupied this spot since the 1970s.

'All the elements of a real disaster'

One year ago, as Hurricane Helene carved a deadly path across Southern Appalachia, Angel Mitchell was visiting her ailing mother at Unicoi County Hospital in the tiny town of Erwin, Tennessee.

Swollen by Helene, the nearby Nolichucky River spilled over its banks and around the hospital, which was built in a flood plain. Staff tried to bar the doors, Mitchell said, but the water got in, trapping her and others inside. The lights went out. People fled to the roof, where the roar of rushing water nearly drowned out the approach of rescue helicopters, Mitchell said.

Ultimately, 70 people from the hospital, including Mitchell and her mother, were airlifted to safety on Sept. 27, 2024. The hospital remains closed, and the company that owns it, Ballad Health, has said its reopening is uncertain.

"Why allow somethingespecially a hospitalto be built in an area like that?" Mitchell told CBS News. "People have to rely on these areas to get medical help, and they're dangerous."

Beyond Unicoi, KFF Health News identified 39 inland hospitalsincluding 16 in Appalachiathat Fathom predicts could flood when nearby rivers, creeks, or drainage canals overspill their banks, even in storms far less intense than Helene.

For example, in the Cumberland Mountains of southwestern Virginia, a 100-year flood is projected to cause Slate Creek to engulf Buchanan General Hospital in more than 5 feet of water.

Near the Great Lakes in Erie, Pennsylvania, LECOM Medical Center and Behavioral Health Pavilion could become flooded by a small drainage creek that is less than 50 feet from the front door of the ER.

Neither Buchanan nor LECOM responded to questions about flooding or preparations.

And in West Virginia's capital of Charleston, where about 50,000 people live at the junction of two rivers in a wide and flat valley, a single storm could potentially flood five of the city's six hospitals at once, along with schools, churches, fire departments, and other facilities.

"I hate to say it," said Behrang Bidadian, a flood plain manager at the West Virginia GIS Technical Center, "but it has all the elements of a real disaster."

Shanen Wright, 48, a lifelong Charleston resident who lives near CAMC Memorial, said many in the city have little worry about flooding in the face of more immediate problems, like the opioid epidemic and the decline of manufacturing and mining.

Tugboats and coal barges sail past his neighborhood as if they were cars on his street.

"It's not to say it's not a possibility," he said. "I'm sure the people in Asheville and the people in Texas, where the floods took so many lives, they probably didn't see it coming either."

'The water is coming'

Despite wide scientific consensus that climate change fuels more dangerous weather, the Trump administration has taken the position that concerns about global warming are overblown. In a speech to the United Nations in September, Trump called climate change "the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world."

The Trump administration has made deep staff and funding cuts to FEMA, NOAA, and the National Weather Service. At FEMA, the cuts prompted 191 current and former employees to publish a letter in August warning that the agency is being dismantled from within.

Daniel Swain, a University of California climate scientist, said the administration's rejection of climate change has left the nation less prepared for extreme weather, now and in the future.

"It's akin to enforcing malpractice scientifically," Swain said. "Imagine making a medical decision where you are not allowed to look at 20% of the patient's vital signs or test results."

Under Trump, FEMA has also taken actions critics say will leave the nation more vulnerable to flooding, specifically:

FEMA disbanded the Technical Mapping Advisory Council, which had repeatedly pushed the agency to modernize its flood maps to estimate future risk and account for the impacts of climate change.

FEMA canceled its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, which provided grants to help communities and vital buildings, including hospitals, protect themselves from floods and other natural disasters.

And after stopping enforcement early this year, FEMA intends to rescind the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard, which was designed to harden buildings against future floods and save tax dollars in the long run.

Berginnis, of the Association of State Floodplain Managers, said the administration's unwillingness to prepare for climate change and worsening storms would result in a dangerous and costly cycle of flooding, rebuilding, and flooding again.

"The president is saying we are closed for business when it comes to hazard mitigation," Berginnis said. "It bugs me to no end that we have to have reminderslike people dyingto show us why it's important to make these investments."

FEMA did not answer specific questions about these decisions. In the statement to KFF Health News, spokesperson Llargues touted the administration's response to flooding in Texas and New Mexico and said FEMA had provided billions of dollars to help people and communities recover and rebuild. He did not mention any FEMA funding for protecting against future floods.

Few hospitals understand this threat more than the former Coney Island Hospital in New York City, which has suffered catastrophic flooding before and has prepared for it to come again.

Superstorm Sandy in 2012 forced the hospital to evacuate hundreds of patients. When the water receded, fish and a sea turtle were found in the building.

Eleven years later, the facility reopened as Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital, transformed by a reconstruction project that added a 4-foot floodwall and elevated patient care areas and utility infrastructure above the first floor.

It is now likely one of the most flood-proofed hospitals in the nation.

But, so far, no storm has tested the facility.

Svetlana Lipyanskaya, CEO of NYC Health+Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health, which includes the rebuilt hospital, said the question of flooding is "not an if but a when."

"I hope it doesn't happen in my lifetime," she said, "but frankly, I'd be surprised. The water is coming."

2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: RDNE Stock project from Pexels

Earlier in 2025, the Trump administration approved $900 billion in sweeping cuts to Medicaid, the publicly funded health program for low-income families and people with disabilities. Democrats are now demanding that Republicans address some of their concerns about patients who rely on safety-net health care programs, which has led to a deadlock in Washington over a federal spending plan and the ongoing government shutdown.

The law requires people to provide monthly proof of employment and renew their plan every six months. It is expected to leave millions uninsured in the coming years, including 300,000 in Pennsylvania and 350,000 in New Jersey.

The pending Medicaid cuts could have particularly dangerous and costly implications for cancer care, researchers and advocacy groups warn. People who rely on Medicaid to pay for cancer treatment and ongoing monitoring are less likely to be able to meet the work requirements needed to keep their plan because of their poor health.

Losing coverage may also mean fewer people get routine screenings, such as mammograms and colonoscopies, which are key to identifying breast and colon cancer early, when it is easier and less costly to treat. This could mean more cancers diagnosed at later stages, at greater financial cost to patients and taxpayers, who foot a portion of the bill for Medicaid.

"When cancer is detected later, it has an effect on our whole system," said Ann Nguyen, an associate research professor and scientist at the Rutgers Center for State Health Policy. "It's going to be an increasingly difficult environment to navigate."

Targeted for Medicaid cuts

Their primary target is lower-income, working adults who gained access to Medicaid through the 2010 Affordable Care Act. The so-called Obamacare law allowed states to expand access that had previously been restricted to families with children, pregnant people, and individuals with disabilities.

Just under 2 million New Jersey residents are covered by Medicaid, and about 680,000 are eligible because of expansion rules, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

In Pennsylvania, about 750,000 of the 3 million people covered by Medicaid fall within the expansion group, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services.

People who qualify under Medicaid expansion have incomes below 138% of the federal poverty ratean annual income of about $21,500 for an individual. Previously, many earned too much to qualify for Medicaid, but were largely in jobs that did not offer health insurance, leaving them uninsured.

Nguyen and her colleagues at Rutgers say cutting Medicaid will mean more people are once again without health insurance to cover the routine screenings that help detect cancer early.

States that expanded Medicaid access saw more than 2,500 early cancer diagnoses within the first five years of the new law, saving millions in taxpayer spending, according to the American Cancer Society. Early diagnosis is critical because late-stage cancers can cost up to seven times more to treat, according to the national nonprofit.

Late-stage treatment can be especially hard on patients because they are less likely to have jobs with paid leave benefits. Taking time off for cancer treatment could mean going without pay or losing their job, Nguyen said.

In Washington, Democrats have pointed to patients who rely on safety-net health care programs to afford ongoing care, in their opposition to the Medicaid cuts.

Their demands in the current budget impasse are centered on extending tax credits, due to expire at the end of the year, that help many working adults afford Obamacare health plans. Republicans have blamed the government shutdown on Democrats' unwillingness to budge on health care demands.

2025 The Philadelphia Inquirer, LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Sanskruti Lakhotia from RMIT's Sir Ian Potter NanoBioSensing Facility holds a bottle of the nanoparticle formula being used to develop Nexsen's kidney diagnostic tests. Credit: RMIT University

A simple blood test could reveal kidney disease earlier so more can be done to halt progression, while also allowing better ongoing management of kidney health by simpler monitoring.

Nearly one-third of intensive care patients develop acute kidney injury, which is currently hard to detect in very early stages when intervention is critical.

Meanwhile, an estimated 13% of people are living with chronic kidney disease, which remains a leading cause of premature mortality.

Now, a team from RMIT University and Australian diagnostic company Nexsen Limited have signed a AUD $1.125 million research contract to develop point-of-care testsbased on their established platform technologyto identify acute kidney injury hours faster than current methods and to allow chronic kidney disease monitoring at home for the first time.

Kidney disease testing still an unmet clinical need

Director of RMIT's Sir Ian Potter NanoBioSensing Facility, Professor Vipul Bansal, said their test could provide a more timely, cheaper and easier alternative to existing pathology-based kidney function tests.

"The rapid onset of acute kidney injuryyet the lack of a reliable diagnostic testposes a major challenge for health care professionals to make timely interventions," Bansal said.

"The current testing of kidney damage based on reduced urine output and increased serum creatinine levels can take six and 24 hours respectively, while our ultrasensitive diagnostic technology aims to detect damage much earlier."

Earlier intervention can result in better outcomes and prevent acute kidney injury from developing into irreversible chronic kidney disease, he explained.

Professor Shekhar Kumta, a clinician experienced in managing kidney failure in trauma and complex surgical patients, and Head of the Clinical Translational Research Partnership between RMIT University and Northern Hospital, said current methods often delay diagnosis.

Detecting kidney injury currently relies on testing kidney function, such as their ability to filter out creatinine. However, as creatinine build-up takes time, it can take hours or days to detect a noticeable difference.

"Changes in the kidney function lag the damage to the complex structure of the kidney," Kumta explained. "A new test that can directly investigate the damage to different parts of the kidneys will be a real game-changer."

To do this, the team is developing their patented DNA aptamers that detect specific biomarkers associated with structural kidney damage.

"These new blood tests will be able to diagnose the root cause of the acute kidney injury early, which will play an important role in more clearly defining the optimal clinical management plan for patients," Kumta said.

Similar tests customized for at-home regular monitoring of chronic kidney disease could help over 850 million patients worldwide, with the potential to sit alongside the blood glucose monitoring many diabetics use as part of their daily routine.

Established platform technology

RMIT has a significant relationship with Nexsen, with the two having signed an MOU defining the long-term strategic partnership terms, and with RMIT recently taking an equity position in the company.

The strength of this relationship is underscored by several joint appointments between RMIT and Nexsen, including Bansal's role as Chief Innovation Officer and Chair of the Advisory Board at Nexsen.

The team at RMIT's Sir Ian Potter NanoBioSensing Facility have strong capabilities in developing point-of-care biosensor technologies for a range of clinical targets and will be applying their established platform technology for kidney disease diagnosis.

This technology has already been well developed for another diagnostic targetGroup B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteriain another collaboration with Nexsen.

The test for GBS, which is carried by 1 in 5 pregnant women and can cause serious complications to babies, is progressing rapidly.

These investigational devices have been manufactured, and the clinical trial has been approved to begin this year at Northern Health in Melbourne, ahead of schedule.

Nexsen's Executive Chairman, Reece O'Connell, said both projects with RMIT would deliver rapid, affordable tests that can be used in hospitals, clinics, and ultimately in the home.

"Our first products are targeting key unmet clinical needs in globally significant markets such as GBS and kidney disease," O'Connell said.

"We're excited to continue our deep relationship with RMIT into the kidney disease project, where we are addressing one of the most pressing global health challenges, as chronic kidney disease becomes more and more prevalent in global communities."
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:

Michael Wieser (left) and Aaron Goodarzi show a toenail clipping collection bag that participants will use to send in their toenails for analysis. Credit: Colleen De Neve

At 47 years of age, Emi Bossio was feeling good about where she was. She had a successful law practice, two growing children and good health. Then she developed a nagging cough. The diagnosis to come would take her breath away.

"I never smoked, never. I ate nutritiously and stayed fit. I thought to myself, I can't have lung cancer," says Bossio. "It was super shocking. A cataclysmic moment. There are no words to describe it."

Bossio had to give up her law practice to focus on treatment and healing. As part of that journey, she's taken on a new role as an advocate to increase awareness about lung cancer. She still has no idea what caused her lung cancer. Trying to answer that question is how Bossio became interested in the research Dr. Aaron Goodarzi, Ph.D., is doing at the University of Calgary.

Goodarzi leads an interdisciplinary team looking at environmental causes of lung cancer, like radon. The naturally occurring, odorless, colorless but radioactive gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco smoking. Despite that, rules governing lung cancer screening programs can't yet include radon exposure as one of the risk criteria. The reason is that few people can reliably report their radon exposure across decades like they can report the number of years they've smoked tobacco.

Goodarzi may have a solution. He's currently recruiting for a study that could provide critical data to estimate a person's lung-cancer risk on the added basis of long-term radon exposure. To do this, he needs Canadians' toenail clippings.

"We've learned that our toenails hold long-term information about our exposure to radioactive toxicants in our environment, such as radon gas. They are one of our body's archives of past exposure," says Goodarzi, professor at the Cumming School of Medicine and a principal investigator on the study.

"After you inhale radon, it quite quickly transforms into a specific type of radioactive lead. Your body treats radioactive lead from radon like it does all lead and stores it in slow-shedding tissues such as the skin, hair and nails."

In a proof-of-concept (pilot) study published in Environment International, Goodarzi and co-principal investigator Dr. Michael Wieser, Ph.D., showed that measuring radioactive lead in toenails is a promising way to estimate a person's long-term radon exposure.

"We believe we've discovered a reliable, quantitative way to measure long-term radon exposure at an individual level," says Wieser, a physics professor in the Faculty of Science. "We used a combination of personalized radiation dose epidemiology and isotope dilution mass spectrometry to evaluate ultrasensitive measurements of the radon decay product. We tested for lead isotopes in toenail cuttings and proved they can serve as a quantitative method to reveal lifetime radon exposure at an individual level."

Participants in the pilot project were recruited from the many thousands of people enrolled in the Evict Radon National Study. There is a much larger validation trial underway now. Researchers are hoping to recruit up to 10,000 people from all over Canada. Participants will need to test their homes for radon and collect and send in their toenail clippings for analysis by the research team.

"If this validation trial works, it could transform the future landscape of cancer prevention in Canada. The data will form the evidence that could lead to the inclusion of more patients, whose lung cancer is not caused by tobacco smoke, in potentially life-saving early screening and diagnosis," says Goodarzi.

In the pilot study, the researchers noted that a major unmet health care need is that two in five people who develop lung cancer in Canada today do not meet current screening inclusion criteria, with half of those never having smoked tobacco at all, and another half smoking too little or too long ago for tobacco alone to be considered causative.

Tim Monds is one of those people. A non-smoker who in 2016, at the age of 57, was diagnosed with stage one non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Within two years the cancer progressed to stage four.

"Lung cancer patients, like me, are living longer. That's great, but we need to identify cancer risk sooner. We know early detection and screening programs are effective in lowering mortality rates," says Monds.

"People need to understand that anyone with lungs can get lung cancer," says Bossio. "I applaud the research the Goodarzi lab is undertaking."

More information: Quantitative assessment of the radon (222Rn) decay product 210Pb in human toenails as a sensitive measure of personalized long-term radon gas exposure history, Environment International (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109781 Journal information: Environment International
Turning Point with David Jeremiah is excited to announce the release of a new book, teaching series, and campaign entitled The Promise of Heaven. "There is a heaven shaped hole in every heart. God created us for heaven and until heaven is a part of our life we will never truly be at home," said Dr. David Jeremiah, founder and host of Turning Point.

In a world often characterized by turbulence and sorrow, the promise of a future filled with peace, tranquility, and perfection offers hope and comfort. In his new book and series, The Promiseof Heaven, Dr. Jeremiah seeks to illuminate the mysteries surrounding heaven, answer common questions about heaven, and provide hope and comfort to those seeking reassurance.

Each chapter of the book covers a specific aspect or question about heaven, giving a biblical answer straight from Scripture and then offering insight into how this can change lives today.

In the supplemental videos, Dr. Jeremiah sits down with friends from across the media landscape to talk about heaven and what it means to them. Each conversation covers a promise and a hope for a better world.

This book and teaching series are designed to resonate not only with Christians but also with anyone seeking answers to life's big questions. It serves as a thoughtful gift for those thinking, "There has to be more to the world" or asking, "When will things just be perfect?" The series blends Bible-based content with engaging discussions, making it accessible and enjoyable for a wide audience.

"Heaven is our ultimate goal. I want the streets of heaven populated with as many people as possible. Heaven is our greatest promise, and the promise of heaven can heal hurting hearts," said Jeremiah.

The new Promise of Heaven campaign includes several key features:

The Promise of Heaven book with 31 chapters, each addressing a specific question or aspect of heaven.

book with 31 chapters, each addressing a specific question or aspect of heaven. The Promise of Heaven Study Guide

Study Guide Let's Talk About Heaven! Interviews from Times Square

Interviews from Times Square A Glimpse of Heaven Concert from The Walt Disney Concert Hall

Concert from The Walt Disney Concert Hall Heaven Explained Microsite

Microsite The Promise of Heaven Outreach Kit

Outreach Kit Additional free heaven resources

The Promise of Heaven website is now live and contains articles, videos, interviews, and free resources all aimed at not only explaining heaven but also helping to create an open conversation about all the promises and hope heaven holds. The Promise of Heaven will air on national television throughout October and November and on radio throughout October. The book and additional study resources are available via DavidJeremiah.org now.

Dr. David Jeremiah is a renowned Bible teacher, New York Times bestselling author, and founder/host of Turning Point Broadcast Ministry. With over forty years of ministry, his teaching has led to the creation of programming such as ProphecyExplained, BibleStrong.org, Airship Genesis, PassagesTV, Why the Nativity?, PerhapsToday , and The Coming Golden Age to name a few.

About Turning Point

Turning Point Ministries was founded in 1982 as Dr. David Jeremiah's broadcast ministry to deliver the unchanging Word of God to an ever-changing world. More than four decades later, with a multimedia network featuring radio, television, online programming, magazines, and books, Turning Point reaches people around the globe with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Turning Point is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization wholly supported by patrons and not underwritten by any church or organization.

SOURCE Turning Point Ministries
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A new study has revealed that 1 in 10 boys may experience internet gaming disorder (IGD) at some point during their formative years, and negative consequences persist for both boys and girls throughout adolescence.

IGD is a behavioral condition where excessive gaming leads to significant problems in a young person's daily life, including school, relationships and mental health.

The research by Nottingham Trent University in the U.K., Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and RMIT University, Melbourne, followed more than 800 children in Norway from age 10 to 18. Findings showed that by age 18, 10% of boys and nearly 2% of girls had met the criteria for IGD at least once.

Although the overall rate of IGD at any single point in time was relatively low at between 1% and 2%, the cumulative risk was far higher for boys. Boys were three to five times more likely than girls to be affected, but the research also found that when girls did develop symptoms, the negative consequences were just as severe.

Researchers used face-to-face clinical interviews based on international diagnostic criteria and assessed symptoms of internet gaming disorder at five points over eight years, resulting in more than 3,200 observations.

To ensure a representative sample, children with a range of emotional and behavioral backgrounds were included, and the results were weighted to reflect the wider population.

Advanced statistical modeling was then used to analyze how gaming behaviors developed and changed over time.

The study, published in Addiction, identified two main types of symptoms: "heavy involvement" in gaming, such as preoccupation and difficulty controlling play, and "negative consequences," including loss of interest in other activities and problems at school or with relationships.

Heavy involvement increased steadily from age 10peaking in mid-adolescencebefore dropping sharply at 18, while negative consequences remained stable throughout the teenage years.

IGD symptoms at age 10 were only weakly related to symptoms in later adolescence, suggesting that early signs often subside naturally.

However, from age 12 onward, increases in heavy involvement predicted a greater risk of negative consequences later on, suggesting that early adolescence is a key window for prevention.

Dr. Daria Kuss, co-author and Associate Professor of Psychology at NTU's School of Social Sciences, said, "This seminal study provides one of the most detailed pictures yet of how gaming disorder emerges and evolves during adolescence.

"While most young people game without harm, a significant minority are at risk of developing patterns of play that can disrupt their lives, education, and well-being.

"Our findings underscore the importance of early, age-appropriate interventions to prevent internet gaming disorder from taking hold during the critical teenage years."

Lead author, Professor Lars Wichstrm, from Norwegian University of Science and Technology, said, "Early adolescence offers a real opportunity to intervene before gaming habits become entrenched and harder to change.

"We recommend that parents, schools, and health professionals focus on reducing excessive gaming in early adolescence, rather than waiting for more serious problems to emerge. Both boys and girls who show signs of problematic gaming should be offered support, as the risks are real for both."

More information: Lars Wichstrm et al, Structure and stability of internet gaming disorder from childhood to late adolescence: A 5wave birth cohort study, Addiction (2025). DOI: 10.1111/add.70195 Journal information: Addiction
With the help of $2 million, raised by the auto repair industry

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In October, Precision Tune Auto Care in Hixson, TN will join hundreds of Independent Auto Repair Shops across the US and Canada to raise funds for breast cancer vaccine research as part of the Brakes for Breast fundraiser.

As part of the fundraiser, participating auto repair facilities will give away FREE (quality) brake pads. The customer simply pays the labor and any other ancillary parts necessary to complete the brake job, and the shops then donate 10% of the brake job directly to Cleveland Clinic Breast Cancer Vaccine Research Fund.

B4B

Brakes for Breasts fundraising efforts started in 2011 with 5 automotive repair shops in the Cleveland, Ohio area that raised $10,000 and has now evolved to incorporate hundreds of shops in the United States and Canada. Since then, these shops have collectively raised over $2.1 million, making Brakes for Breasts the largest third-party fundraising entity at the Cleveland Clinic. More importantly, Brakes for Breasts has become an integral partner of the effort to develop the first vaccine designed to prevent triple-negative breast cancer, the most aggressive and lethal form of this disease.

To date donation total is $2,137,101.

Brakes For Breasts is different from any other breast cancer campaign:

The Dr. Tuohy Lab is a team of researchers at the Cleveland Clinic has actually created a vaccine that has proved effective in laboratory animals in actually preventing breast cancer. Phase 1a human trials began Oct 2021 and successful results announced April 2023. Phase 1a, 1b, and 1c clinical trials are currently underway. The lab is actively working toward the launch of Phase 2. 100% of every penny raised goes directly to the Cleveland Clinic for research on the Breast Cancer Vaccine. These are just "mom & pop" shops across the country, independent business owners that have joined hands for a great cause.

To learn more about this breast cancer vaccine, browse a list of participating shops, and view a yearly breakdown of our total $2,137,101 raised, go to www.brakesforbreasts.com or follow us on Facebook @brakesforbreasts.

Precision Tune Auto Care is currently the only shop in TN who has pledged to donate proceeds for this cause; a full list of locations can be viewed at https://www.brakesforbreasts.com/free-brake-pad-participating-locations.

About Precision Tune Auto Care - Hixson

Precision Tune Auto Care in Hixson has served the Chattanooga metro area for over a decade, building a reputation on straight talk and reliable work. Owner Ryan Ratkowski and the team of ASE-certified technicians are committed to honest service through customer education as well as active community involvement. The shop holds multiple industry distinctions, including recognition as a CarFax Center of Excellence, Repair Pal Certified facility, and Chattanooga's only AskPatty Certified female-friendly auto center. More information is available at https://www.precisiontune.com/locations/chattanooga-tn-hixson/ or by calling 516-965-2119.

Contact: Ryan Ratkowski

516-965-2119

[email protected]

www.brakesforbreasts.com

SOURCE Precision Tune Auto Care
The retrospective study evaluated 258 patients across six clinical sites who underwent the minimally invasive LINQ Fusion procedure between August 2019 and January 2024. At a mean follow-up of 1.75 years, patients reported a 6.01-point average reduction in Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) pain scores  well above the minimally clinically important difference (MCID)  with no serious adverse events reported.

"This is the largest real-world, multi-site analysis of posterior cortical allograft SI joint fusion to date, showing consistent, durable pain relief with minimal risk," said lead author Christopher Bovinet, DO, National Spine and Pain Centers, Brunswick, GA "These results reinforce this approach as an effective, evidence-based treatment option for patients whose quality of life is impacted by SI joint pain."

Key findings from the study include:

Sustained pain relief: Mean NRS improved from 7.61 to 1.60 (6.01-point reduction).

Rapid onset: MCID achieved within 1 month (4.07-point drop).

No serious adverse events, transfusions, or overnight hospital stays.

SI joint dysfunction accounts for up to 30% of chronic lower back pain cases but remains underdiagnosed. LINQ reduces procedural risk and may enable faster recovery compared to traditional open approaches.

"We're honored to co-author the largest real-world outcomes study on posterior SI joint fusion using cortical allograft," said Dawood Sayed, MD, Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Kansas. "With a mean follow-up of nearly two years, patients experienced meaningful pain reduction  with no serious adverse events. These findings reinforce LinQ as a safe, durable, and minimally invasive solution for SI joint dysfunction

This study provides critical long-term evidence which strengthens the growing body of literature supporting the LinQ procedure as a proven alternative to other minimally invasive techniques."

The authors call for future prospective, randomized controlled trials to further validate these findings, assess fusion rates, and compare posterior and lateral approaches for outcomes, safety, and cost-effectiveness.

Additional Independent Publications

A separate retrospective study published in Pain and Therapy (PMID: 40828365) evaluated 260 patients treated with LinQ and found adverse events to be rare and minor, with no serious device-related events reported at either 3- or 6-month follow-up. In addition, a case report in Orthopedic Research Reviews (PMID: 40860305) highlighted the successful use of posterior SI joint fusion in a patient with Bertolotti's syndrome, a rare condition involving transitional lumbosacral anatomy. Together, these publications further demonstrate the safety profile of the LinQ procedure while underscoring its potential utility in anatomically complex scenarios.

Commitment to Evidence-Based Care

With more than 14,000 LinQ procedures performed to date, PainTEQ remains dedicated to building the strongest clinical evidence base in the SI joint space.

"At PainTEQ, our mission is to redefine relief for patients suffering from chronic SI joint pain," Thiyagalingam added. "The continued validation of LinQ through independent clinical studies reinforces the impact of our technology and supports our commitment to improving patient outcomes, expanding access, and shaping the future of SI joint care."

About PainTEQ

PainTEQ is dedicated to developing innovative solutions for patients suffering from sacroiliac joint dysfunction. The company's flagship technology, the LinQ procedure, is designed to provide lasting relief through a minimally invasive, posterior approach using a single cortical allograft implant.

SOURCE PainTEQ
AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  The trials for the two former school police officers facing charges over the slow law enforcement response to the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, will be delayed, and one will be moved out of the city where the attack occurred, their lawyers said Tuesday.

Former Uvalde schools police chief Pete Arredondo and officer Adrian Gonzales have pleaded not guilty to dozens of counts of child endangerment and abandonment in connection with the massacre at Robb Elementary School. Both men were set to stand trial on Oct. 20.

Gonzales trial will be moved to a January start in Corpus Christi, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) from the school, attorney Nico LaHood said Tuesday. Judge Sid Harle confirmed the agreement for a change of venue for Gonzales, but said no formal order had been filed yet.

Arredondos trial is also on hold because of a pending federal lawsuit by local prosecutors that seeks to compel testimony from Border Patrol agents who were on the scene that day. The lawsuit seeks federal court help because a state court cannot compel the agents to testify on matters that relate to their official duties.

Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell did not respond to a request for comment.

Teenage gunman Salvador Ramos stormed into the school on May 24, 2022, killing 19 fourth-grade students and two teachers in one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history. The attack is notorious also for the law enforcement response that saw more than 370 responding officers from several local, state and federal agencies wait more than an hour to confront and kill gunman Salvador Ramos.

Multiple reports from state and federal officials have laid bare cascading problems in law enforcement training, communication, leadership and technology, and questioned whether officers prioritized their own lives over those of children and teachers.

Arredondo and Gonzales are the only responding officers to face charges from that day. Only Gonzales sought to move his trial out of Uvalde, a city of about 15,000 people. Although both men were originally scheduled for trial the same day, they have separate legal teams

We have reviewed all evidence provided to us, by the government, and we have not seen anything that supports the charges against Mr. Gonzales, LaHood said.

Arredondos defense team wants to keep his trial in the city where the attack occurred.

I think Ive got a case that screams for a complete exoneration. I believe the people in Uvalde are going to be the most invested and determined to get to the bottom of the facts, Arredondos attorney Paul Looney said.

Arredondos case has been held up by the federal lawsuit seeking testimony from the three U.S. Border Patrol agents, two of whom were part of the tactical team that killed Ramos.

That lawsuit claims the federal agents testimony could be vital to prosecuting Arredondo. His lawyers believe the testimony could be just as valuable in defending him. Arredondo, who has been identified as the on-scene incident commander that day, has long said hes been scapegoated for law enforcements failures at the school.

The Border Patrol agents gave statements early in the state investigation into the shooting. In a court filing on Monday, the agency confirmed that it refused to allow the agents to testify before a grand jury or at trial.

Looney would not predict when Arredondo might go to trial.

We dont have any clue when well be able to try that case. Border Patrol is trying to withhold critical witnesses, Looney said.

By JIM VERTUNO

Associated Press
President Donald Trumps efforts to send National Guard troops into U.S. cities  including Los Angeles; Portland, Oregon; and Chicago  over the objections of Democratic mayors and governors have prompted a host of questions about the presidents authority and who controls the Guard.

A judge in California has ruled that the deployment of 4,000 National Guard members  along with 700 Marines  in Los Angeles earlier this year violated federal law. A judge in Oregon issued two temporary restraining orders over the weekend blocking the administration from deploying federal troops to protect federal property in that state. Chicago and Illinois have sued in hopes of obtaining a similar order there. National Guard troops from Texas have arrived in that state.

Amid the rapid developments as the administration appeals, heres a look at National Guard deployments, how they have been done before and the legality of Trumps efforts to send troops into Democratic-led cities.

What are the rules for presidents activating the National Guard?

National Guard units are under the control of governors, who may activate them to respond to disasters such as hurricanes or wildfires in their own or other states, unless they are called up by the president.

Under federal law, the president can take command of a states National Guard troops in limited circumstances: when the U.S. is being invaded or is in danger of invasion by a foreign nation; when there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the United States; or when the president is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.

Trump says those conditions are occurring in cities that he believes are overrun with crime and immigration protests. But his efforts in California and Oregon have been rejected by federal judges who believe he is overstepping his authority. A similar battle is brewing in Illinois, where the Democratic governor is adamantly opposed to having Guard troops deployed.

How are the courts interpreting presidential authority over the Guard?

A key issue in the lawsuits brought by states and cities seeking to block the deployment of National Guard troops in their communities is whether a presidents determination is final on whether there is a danger of rebellion, or that the laws cant be executed with regular forces.

The law requires that the conditions actually exist, noted Brenner Fissell, a Villanova University law professor who is also vice president of the National Institute of Military Justice.

In the Los Angeles case, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has said that a presidents determination is entitled to a great level deference but that courts can review it to ensure it fits within the realm of honest judgment.

In Oregon, U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut temporarily blocked Trumps deployment of the Guard, saying the facts on the ground  involving nightly protests typically numbering a couple dozen people, with occasional larger crowds and skirmishes  did not meet that test or warrant the federalization of 200 troops.

The administrations lawyers have asserted that courts cannot second-guess the presidents determinations. The Portland protests have strained the resources of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, requiring agents to be transferred there from other parts of the U.S. and to work 12-hour shifts seven days a week. That shows the department cannot protect federal property with regular forces, they argued.

But Fissell suggested the consequences would be dire if the president can call out the National Guard over the objections of state and city leaders in response to such small protests.

If the president on his own, unreviewably, could determine when any of these prongs exist, then there is effectively no judicial protection against a military coup in this country, Fissell said.

How have presidents relied on the Guard before?

Presidents assumed command of state National Guard units repeatedly during the Civil Rights Movement to enforce federal court orders when Southern governors openly refused to comply with them. That included in 1957, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower took control of the Arkansas National Guard and sent in the Armys 101st Airborne Division to allow nine Black students to integrate Central High School in Little Rock.

In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson took control of the Alabama National Guard to ensure civil rights demonstrators could march from Selma to Montgomery after state troopers attacked them. That was the last time a U.S. president deployed the National Guard against the wishes of a governor.

Presidents have also federalized the National Guard at the invitation of governors to quell unrest. Examples include when Michigans governor sought help controlling rioting in Detroit that left dozens of people dead in 1967, and in 1992 when Californias governor asked President George H.W. Bush to help end riots over the acquittal of four white police officers who severely beat Black motorist Rodney King.

Can National Guard troops enforce the law?

Generally speaking, not when they fall under the command of the president. The Posse Comitatus Act, which dates to 1878, is a criminal law that bars the use of the military for domestic policing.

U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in California found last month that Trumps use of the Guard in Los Angeles this summer violated that law. His ruling is on hold as the administration appeals.

The cities and states challenging the deployments say they are fully capable and willing to execute the laws on their own and dont need federal interference. Civilian police  not military troops  are the ones trained in protecting First Amendment rights; in conducting arrests, traffic stops and crowd control; in de-escalation; and in using less-lethal force.

Posse Comitatus Act violations can be punished by up to two years in prison, but no such prosecution has ever been brought in U.S. history, said Syracuse University law professor William Banks, an expert in constitutional law and national security.

The criminal law aspect of it is not the point, Banks said. The point is that it establishes a presumption that we just dont want soldiers on the street.

There is one major exception to the Posse Comitatus Act: The president can invoke the Insurrection Act, which allows him to deploy military forces inside the U.S. to suppress rebellion or to enforce the law. Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson used the Insurrection Act to take control of the Guard during the Civil Rights Movement, and Bush to quell the LA riots.

Trump has suggested he is open to invoking it.

In that case, Banks said, All brakes are off the administration. He can entirely militarize the city if he wanted to. He can tell everybody to stay in their houses.

What does the National Guard do?

The National Guard has hundreds of thousands of part-time troops, many of whom are college students or have day jobs in their civilian life. They regularly drill one weekend a month, with an annual two-week training. They can be deployed overseas in support of combat or to conduct missions like building schools, or they can be sent out within the U.S. in response to disasters or civil unrest.

The Guards origins date back as far as 1636, when the first colonywide militia regiments in North America were organized in Massachusetts. The other colonies formed their own militias, which fought under Gen. George Washington during the Revolutionary War.

Because of the abuses of the British army, the framers of the Constitution opposed the idea of a standing army controlled by the president. The militias were kept under the control of the states, and Congress was given the responsibility of determining under what circumstances the president could call them into service.

By GENE JOHNSON

Associated Press
SUFFIELD, Conn. (AP)  A man charged last month in the 1973 slaying of a woman in Connecticut died while serving time for kidnapping and sexual assault in another cold case.

George Legere, 77, was found unresponsive in his cell Friday night at the MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield. He was pronounced dead early Saturday at a local hospital, the Department of Correction said Tuesday.

The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said the cause of death is pending further study.

Legere, who had a lengthy criminal history, was arrested Sept. 24 while serving a 25-year sentence in another cold case for kidnapping and sexual assault. Police charged him with murder after he confessed to fatally stabbing 21-year-old Janet Couture in her East Hartford apartment while trying to steal money for drugs, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

I went into the apartment looking for money and unfortunately the person woke up and recognized me and that left me no choice to do what I did, Legere said, according to police. I ended up stabbing her.

Investigators said Legeres confession followed information from another inmate, who told police Legere admitted killing Couture and had written and signed a confession in July, instructing the inmate not to release it until after his death.

The Connecticut Department of Correction and the Connecticut State Police are investigating Legeres death.
BERLIN (AP)  Germanys new government said Wednesday it expects Europes biggest economy to see minimal growth of 0.2% this year, with a forecast for 1.3% growth next year and 1.4% in 2027.

The outlook for 2025 is slightly higher than the previous governments forecast in late April for zero growth this year, expanding to 1% in 2026.

The German economy has shrunk for the past two years and hasnt seen significant growth for much longer. Chancellor Friedrich Merzs government has made revitalizing it a priority since taking office in early May.

Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said in a statement that we need to act, now on competitiveness and innovation. She noted that a significant part of the expected growth will come from the plans for high government spending, and even that will only be effective if investments are made quickly  requiring fast planning and approval processes, something that Germany so far has lagged on.

To secure long-term growth, we must end the reform backlog  reduce energy costs, foster private investment, addres the tax burden that is high by international standards, dismantle bureaucracy, open markets and enable innovation, she added.

Merzs government has launched a program to encourage investment and set up a 500 billion-euro ($584 billion) fund to pour money into Germanys creaking infrastructure over the next 12 years. It is promising to cut red tape and speed up the countrys lagging digitization.

A group comprising dozens of companies pledged in July to invest at least 631 billion euros in Germany over the next three years, a figure that included some previously planned investments but was designed to send a signal of confidence in the economy.

Germany for years expanded exports and dominated world trade in engineered products like industrial machinery and luxury cars. But it has suffered from increasing competition from Chinese companies, along with many other factors that have increased risks, including U.S. President Donald Trumps tariffs and trade threats.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP)  The government of Argentinas President Javier Milei said on Tuesday that it would extradite an Argentine businessman to face drug trafficking and money laundering charges in the United States, the latest development in a politically explosive case that has tainted an ally of the libertarian president.

Mileis office said that he had instructed the Foreign Ministry and other officials to immediately take the administrative and diplomatic steps necessary to comply with a Supreme Court decision issued earlier Tuesday approving the extradition of the businessman, Fred Machado.

Machado landed in Argentine custody in 2021, months after he fled a raft of charges filed against him in Texas, including drug trafficking, money laundering and wire fraud.

The count of conspiracy to traffic narcotics centered on allegations that Machado and his associates illegally registered planes under shell companies, exported the aircraft to criminal organizations in Latin America and used the jets to fly multi-ton shipments of cocaine into the U.S.

Machado denies the charges.

His case has dragged on for years but it splashed across national headlines last week when documents surfaced from the Eastern District of Texas showing that a key member of Mileis Libertad Avanza party, Jose Luis Espert, received a $200,000 payment in his Bank of America account from Machado in 2020.

Espert, one of Mileis top candidates for upcoming Oct. 26 midterm elections, admitted accepting the money in a social media video last Thursday, claiming it was for consulting work to help a mining company linked to Machado.

He denied knowledge of any illicit activities but ultimately withdrew his candidacy for Mileis libertarian party in Buenos Aires Province.

I have nothing to hide and I will prove my innocence before the courts, Espert said on Sunday in announcing his resignation, acknowledging that he took over a dozen trips on Machados planes. Time will show that all of this was a big lie to taint this electoral process.

The revelations about Espert piled pressure on the president, who has suffered a series of recent political setbacks including a landslide loss in a provincial vote, a separate bribery scandal engulfing his powerful sister and several votes in Congress that overturned presidential vetoes and boosted social spending that threatens his hard-won fiscal balance.

Since taking office in late 2023, Milei has imposed a sweeping austerity program that has succeeded in eliminating Argentinas chronic fiscal deficit for the first time in years but has yet to deliver an economic revival that Milei promised would follow the pain.

The stakes are high ahead of midterm elections, in which Milei seeks to expand his tiny congressional minority in order to implement his overhaul of Argentinas long-troubled economy and reassure investors after his partys crushing defeat in the Buenos Aires provincial election triggered a run on the peso and a sharp bond sell-off.

His government is scrambling to contain the turmoil with help from ally U.S. President Donald Trump. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pledged financial support but was short on specifics.

Milei, who is set to visit Trump at the White House on Oct. 14, told local media last week that he was working on the details.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law Tuesday aimed at combating antisemitism in schools.

The California Legislative Jewish Caucus said the law will help respond to alarming harassment against Jewish students. But critics, including educators and pro-Palestinian advocates, said it could inadvertently obstruct instruction on complex issues in the classroom.

California is taking action to confront hate in all its forms. At a time when antisemitism and bigotry are rising nationwide and globally, these laws make clear: our schools must be places of learning, not hate, Newsom said in a statement.

The law creates an Office of Civil Rights with a governor-appointed coordinator who will develop and provide training to help school employees identify and prevent antisemitism. The coordinator has to consult with the State Board of Education to make recommendations to the Legislature on policies to address anti-Jewish discrimination in schools.

The new civil rights office could cost the state about $4 million annually, including money for six staffers, according to the Government Operations Agency, which oversees departments in the Newsom administration.

Students in public schools nationwide are generally protected against discrimination through state, federal and district policies. But lawmakers in states including Missouri, Vermont and Tennessee have pushed further by introducing legislation aimed specifically at combating antisemitism at K-12 schools. The efforts come amid political tensions in the U.S. over Israels war in Gaza.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill earlier this year that would have banned teachers from promoting antisemitism in schools. She said the bill was about attacking teachers, not about combating antisemitism.

President Donald Trumps administration has paused or frozen federal funding at colleges, including the University of California, Los Angeles, over allegations that they failed to adequately respond to antisemitism. UC President James B. Milliken has said the cuts, which are being litigated, wont address anti-Jewish acts and that the university systems efforts to address antisemitism went ignored.

The Anti-Defamation League, which supports the new law, tracked 860 antisemitic acts reported to the group last year at non-Jewish K-12 schools nationwide. Reports include harassment, vandalism and assault. Thats a 26% decrease from the previous year but much higher than the 494 reported in 2022.

Lev Miller Ruderman, a Jewish student at San Lorenzo Valley High School near the coastal city of Santa Cruz, said at a legislative hearing that school officials did not take an antisemitic act on campus seriously during his freshman year.

Another student used school materials to make a Nazi flag and pinned it to Rudermans back, he said. Ruderman walked past numerous students across campus before a teacher asked him about it, he said.

I felt sad, confused and overwhelmed, said Ruderman, who spent the rest of the school year at home.

The civil rights office does not need legislative approval for educational materials for teachers. But some educators have criticized a part of the law requiring that all teacher instruction be factually accurate because they say it could unintentionally stifle learning.

Many controversial subjects have conflicting facts depending on perspective, said Seth Bramble, a California Teachers Association manager. Not being allowed to teach those facts reinforces rote learning over critical thinking and gives advocates a new legal tool to disrupt instruction and to threaten educators, she said.

A previous version of the bill set specific requirements for instructional materials regarding Jews, Israel, or the Israel-Palestine conflict, including that they be balanced, accurate, dont promote antisemitism and dont label Israel as a settler colonial state.

The law no longer references Israels war in Gaza, but critics have said it could still have a chilling effect and prevent open discussion on contentious issues in the classroom.

Teacher discourse on Palestine or the genocide in Gaza will be policed, misrepresented, and reported to the antisemitism coordinator, Theresa Montano with the California Faculty Association said in a statement.

Democratic state Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, who co-authored the bill, said in September that lawmakers had to push back against harassment, bullying and intimidation that Jewish students face.

When swastikas are painted on elementary school playgrounds, when a Jewish student has a Nazi flag taped to their back, or is chased and yelled at, we will not turn a blind eye, he said in a statement. This bill is about affirming safe and supportive learning environments consistent with our states values.

By SOPHIE AUSTIN

Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP)  Former Democratic Rep. Katie Porter gained a reputation on Capitol Hill for grilling corporate executives at House hearings, white board in hand. But it was Porter  now a candidate for California governor  who found herself growing edgy under questioning by a TV reporter, and even threatening to walk out.

A segment of Porters recent interview with Julie Watts, a CBS California reporter, has now gone viral. Her Democratic rivals in the crowded 2026 contest to replace outgoing Gov. Gavin Newsom said the tense exchange showed Porter is too unsteady for the states highest job, with one calling on her to quit the race.

Katie Porter is a weak, self-destructive candidate unfit to lead California. The stakes are simply too high for her to stay in this race, former state controller Betty Yee said in a statement. If she cant take the heat of a few simple questions, she wont be able to withstand the fire in a real crisis.

Former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa posted a link to Porters interview on the social platform X and wrote, We need a leader who will solve hard problems and answer simple questions.

In the clip, Watts asks the former congresswoman what her message is to supporters of President Donald Trump who she will need in the election. Porter puzzles over the question, lightly laughing, noting that a candidate in her party in heavily Democratic California could win a statewide race in California without catering to the much smaller slice of conservative voters.

Watts then asks what would happen if she faces another Democrat in November. After more back-and-forth, Porter stresses she represented a politically mixed district in Congress and has won GOP votes before.

The tone grows tense. At one point, Porter holds up both her hands and gestures toward Watts.

I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative. What is your question? Porter asks.

After more sparring, the discussion breaks down.

I dont want to keep doing this. Im going to call it, Porter said, clapping her hands.

She later added, I want to have a pleasant, positive conversation.  If every question youre going to make up a follow-up question, then were never going to get there and we are just going to circle around.

Watts asks if she will continue to answer questions. Porter says, I dont want this all on camera.

Porters campaign said the interview on Sacramento CBS affiliate KOVR continued for 20 minutes after the testy exchange settled down.

Another Democratic candidate, former Biden administration health secretary Xavier Becerra, also linked to Porters interview on X and wrote, Im not interested in excluding any vote. Every Californian deserves affordable health care, safe streets, a roof over their head and a living wage.

Long a favorite of the partys progressive wing, Porter emerged as one of the leading candidates in a field that is expected to continue to grow. While in the House, she became a social media celebrity by brandishing her white board at congressional hearings to break down complex figures into assaults on corporate greed.

Her bid for the U.S. Senate failed in 2024.

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD

AP Political Writer
LONDON (AP)  British police said Tuesday they have disrupted a criminal network suspected of smuggling up to 40,000 stolen mobile phones from the U.K. to China in the past year.

Police said the operation, the largest it has ever staged to tackle phone theft, was launched last year after a box containing about 1,000 iPhones  most of them stolen  was discovered at a warehouse near Londons Heathrow Airport, destined for Hong Kong .

The operation uncovered an international gang believed to have been responsible for exporting up to 40% of all the phones stolen in London, the Metropolitan Police said.

Around 80,000 cellphones were stolen in London last year, police said, with many of them snatched in central Londons tourist hot spots.

A total of 46 people were arrested in the operation, including two men who were detained in London last month on suspicion of handling stolen goods after some 2,000 phones were found in their car and addresses linked to them.

This group specifically targeted Apple products because of their profitability overseas, said Detective Inspector Mark Gavin. We discovered street thieves were being paid up to 300 pounds ($403) per handset and uncovered evidence of devices being sold for up to $5,000 in China.
JOHANNESBURG (AP)  Six South African activists who were detained by Israel while attempting to reach Gaza as part of an aid flotilla said Wednesday they were subjected to harsher treatment than other detainees because of South Africas role in a genocide case against Israel.

Speaking after their return, the activists, which include a grandson of Nelson Mandela, said they were singled out after Israeli guards noticed that they were from South Africa. Two Muslim women among the group said they had their hijabs ripped off their heads and were forced to strip naked in front of Israeli soldiers.

Since 2023, South Africa has led a highly contentious case in the United Nations top court accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.

Mandla Mandela, grandson of South Africas anti-apartheid icon and first Black president, said the South African activists on the flotilla were harshly dealt with because their country has confronted Israel over its actions in Gaza by launching the case at the International Court of Justice.

Their treatment was because we are a nation that dared through our government to take apartheid Israel to the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court and hold them accountable, Mandela said.

South African activists Fatima Hendricks and Zaheera Soomar told reporters at Johannesburgs OR Tambo airport on their return that their hijabs were forcibly removed from their heads while they were detained by Israel, which didnt happen to other Muslim female activists.

Both of us were forced behind a screen, our heads pushed against the wall and completely stripped naked in front of Israeli soldiers. This did not happen to other women, said Soomar. When they saw our passports, this is how we were treated as South Africans.

Israels Foreign Ministry has denied any claims of mistreatment and noted that all activists were given the opportunity to voluntarily be deported without detention. It said Wednesday in response to the allegations by the South African activists that all the legal rights of the participants in this PR stunt were and will continue to be fully upheld. The lies they are spreading are part of their pre-planned fake news campaign.

The six South Africans were among some 450 activists who were arrested as Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla, a fleet of 42 boats seeking to break Israels naval blockade of Gaza and deliver a symbolic amount of aid to Palestinians in the famine-stricken territory. They were detained last week and brought to Israel.

Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg was among the activists arrested. Thunberg and activists from other countries have also claimed they were mistreated by Israeli guards, claims Israel has rejected as brazen lies.

The Israeli military intercepted another flotilla early Wednesday and detained scores more activists on board.

Mandla Mandela has previously been criticized over his alleged support for the Palestinian militant group Hamas and was denied a visa to travel to the U.K. last year.

South Africa has long been a supporter of the Palestinian cause dating back to when Nelson Mandela was president. The country has compared Israels treatment of Palestinians to the South African apartheid governments treatment of Black South Africans during its previous period of racial segregation. Israel has rejected that comparison.

South Africa lodged its case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza in late 2023. Several countries, including Nicaragua, Palestine, Turkey, Spain, Mexico, Libya and Colombia have supported South Africas case, it said.

Israel has vehemently rejected the allegation it is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and has accused South Africa of being Hamas legal arm by filing the case.

___

More AP news on the Israel-Hamas war: https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

By MICHELLE GUMEDE

Associated Press
PARIS (AP)  Iran has released a teenage French-German cyclist who disappeared in June while riding across the country, the French government said Wednesday.

Lennart Monterlos is free! Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot posted on X.

Monterlos, 19, was taken into custody in Iran in mid-June. French authorities said that Monterlos left Iran on Wednesday afternoon and was on his way back to France, correcting earlier information from Barrot that he was already back in the country.

The nation shares his relief and that of his loved ones, French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X. Thank you to all those who worked for this release.

Two other French nationals, Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, remain in detention in Iran. They have been held for more than three years in prison conditions that France likens to torture and on charges that Paris says are without foundation.

France has accused Iran of engaging in hostage diplomacy.

In their posts, Macron and Barrot called for their immediate release.
HOUSTON and WINDHOEK, Namibia, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- McDermott and Namibia's Petroleum Training and Education Fund (PETROFUND) jointly announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on academic and industrial training initiatives in Namibia's upstream oil and gas sector.

The collaboration will align with international standards to provide Namibian students, job seekers and service providers access to training, mentorship and employment opportunities. The upskilling and knowledge transfer aspect of the agreement is designed to equip the local workforce with the skills needed for technical roles such as engineering, fabrication, operations and project management to unlock the country's offshore energy potential.

"This MOU furthers our commitment to developing local content and building a sustainable oil and gas workforce in Namibia," said Mahesh Swaminathan, McDermott's Senior Vice President, Subsea and Floating Facilities. "By investing in the next generation of Namibian talent, we help prepare them to lead future projects as Namibia emerges as a key player in Africa's energy landscape."

"Our partnership with McDermott supports PETROFUND's mandate to build the capacity of Namibia's workforce and service providers to participate in the emerging opportunities within the country's upstream oil and gas industry," said Nillian Mulemi, PETROFUND Chief Executive Officer. "Capacity-building collaborations with international service companies promote the exchange of global best practices and technical expertise with local talent, thereby positioning Namibia's workforce and service providers to play active roles across the full value chain of the upstream industry, while driving and sustaining economic growth in the country."

This initiative supports both the growth of Namibia's oil and gas industry and its broader economic development goals, ensuring Namibians are well-positioned to participate in and benefit from progress across the energy value chain.

About McDermott

McDermott is a premier, fully integrated provider of engineering and construction solutions to the energy industry. Our customers trust our technology-driven approach engineered to responsibly harness and transform global energy resources into the products the world needs. From concept to commissioning, McDermott's innovative expertise and capabilities advance the next generation of global energy infrastructure, empowering a brighter, more sustainable future for us all. Operating in over 30 countries, McDermott's locally focused and globally-integrated resources include more than 30,000 employees, a diversified fleet of speciality marine construction vessels and fabrication facilities around the world. To learn more, visit www.mcdermott.com.

About PETROFUND

The Petroleum Training and Education Fund (PETROFUND) is a statutory body of the Government of the Republic of Namibia, established in 1992 to enhance capacity within the country's upstream petroleum sector. PETROFUND builds capacity through training, institutional development, scholarships and the promotion of science, engineering and technology. The establishment of PETROFUND aligns with the Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Act of 1991. Additionally, PETROFUND is funded by oil exploration companies granted exploration rights in Namibia through agreements with the Namibian Ministry of Industries, Mines and Energy. To learn more, visit www.petrofund.org

Forward-Looking Statements

McDermott cautions that statements in this communication which are forward-looking and provide other than historical information involve risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Those statements are made by using various underlying assumptions and are subject to numerous risks, contingencies and uncertainties, including, among others: adverse changes in the markets in which we operate or credit or capital markets; our inability to successfully execute on contracts in backlog; changes in project design or schedules; the availability of qualified personnel; changes in the terms, scope or timing of contracts, contract cancellations, change orders and other modifications and actions by our customers and other business counterparties; changes in industry norms; actions by lenders, other creditors, customers and other business counterparties of McDermott and adverse outcomes in legal or other dispute resolution proceedings. If one or more of these risks materialise, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. This communication reflects the views of McDermott's management as of the date hereof. Except to the extent required by applicable law, McDermott undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement.

Contacts:

McDermott International

Global Media Relations

Reba Reid

+1 281 588 5636

[email protected]

PETROFUND

Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Division

Shoki Kandjimi

+264 817524536

[email protected]

SOURCE McDermott International, Ltd
After two years of war and dire food shortages, more than 54,600 children younger than 5 in Gaza may be acutely malnourished, with more than 12,800 severely affected, according to a new study by a U.N. agency.

By early August, roughly 16% of children ages 6 months to just under 5 years in Gaza were suffering from a life-threatening type of malnutrition known as acute wasting, including nearly 4% with severe wasting, according to the analysis by the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the primary health care provider to Palestinian refugees in the region.

Wasting requires treatment with therapeutic food over several weeks and, sometimes, hospitalization.

The study, published Wednesday in The Lancet medical journal, is the most comprehensive study of child hunger in the region to date, the authors said. It relied on screenings of nearly 220,000 children from dozens of health centers and medical sites in Gaza between January 2024 and mid-August.

Tens of thousands of preschool-aged children in the Gaza Strip are now suffering from preventable acute malnutrition and face an increased risk of mortality, said Dr. Masako Horino, the studys lead scientist, in a statement.

In a commentary accompanying the study, three experts in child health, nutrition and public policy who were not involved in the research called it the some of the most definitive evidence of the extent of malnourishment.

It is now well established that the children of Gaza are starving and require immediate and sustained humanitarian assistance, wrote Jessica Fanzo of Columbia University, Paul Wise of Stanford University and Zulfiqar Bhutta of Aga Khan University in Pakistan and the Hospital for Sick Children in Canada.

Food shortages and starvation

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied reports of starvation during the war triggered by a deadly Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, saying they were lies promoted by Hamas.

But experts and aid groups have warned for months that Israels restrictions of food and aid into Gaza and a relentless military offensive were causing starvation, particularly in children and pregnant women.

Gazas health ministry said 461 people, including 157 children, have died from complications of malnutrition since the war started, most of them in 2025. Hospitals have been overwhelmed with malnourished children, amid a severe shortage of therapeutic foods, according to the ministry. The U.N. and many independent experts consider figures from the health ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government, to be most reliable.

For the study, trained nurses used calibrated tapes to measure the circumference of childrens mid-upper arms, a standard tool for evaluating nutritional stress. Very thin arms, less than 125 millimeters, or 4.9 inches, correlate with very thin bodies, the scientists said.

Restricted aid

Rates of malnutrition decreased during periods when aid was allowed into Gaza, such as a six-week ceasefire in early 2025. But the childrens conditions worsened when supplies were blocked for weeks or months at a time, the study found.

Israel has restricted aid to varying degrees throughout the war, imposing a total siege for weeks starting in March for over two months. In May, it began allowing a trickle of aid. A controversial U.S.-Israel backed supplies distribution system began in May, limiting aid distribution to four sites around Gaza and requiring Palestinians to pass through Israeli military lines to get aid. More than 1,000 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces in and around those sites, according to the U.N.

Edesia, a U.S.-based nonprofit food aid organization, said it was able to send shipments of therapeutic food to Gaza. The group shipped 1,500 boxes of the products on Sept. 28 and plans to send nearly 15,000 boxes by air and sea over the next month, according to founder Navyn Salem.

The study follows an August report by U.N.-backed food security experts that confirmed famine in parts of Gaza. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, the worlds leading authority on food crises, had been warning that hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were facing catastrophic levels of hunger for months. Experts said lack of data had prevented a declaration of famine earlier.

Two workers involved in the malnutrition screening program were among 21 UN Relief and Works Agency health workers who have been killed in Gaza. Overall, more than 370 agency staff have been killed in the conflict, the group said.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

By JONEL ALECCIA and SARAH EL DEEB

Associated Press
Douglas R. Beam, P.A. Obtains Multi-Million Dollar Recovery After Defendants Ignored Legal Proceedings

MELBOURNE, Fla., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Florida personal injury law firm Douglas R. Beam, P.A., has secured a $2.5 million judgment for client, W.A., who suffered catastrophic spinal injuries and traumatic brain injury when a horse-drawn carriage was negligently pushed down a trailer ramp, crushing him underneath.

Doug Beam Riley, Cathy and Doug Beam

The incident involved a September 2019 workplace accident that left W.A. with permanent disabilities. The defendants, an individual and a corporation were held jointly and severally liable when the individual pushed the heavy carriage down a ramp without warning, causing it to crash into W.A. and roll over him.

"This case demonstrates that when businesses and individuals fail to prioritize safety, they will be held accountable for the devastating consequences," said Douglas R. Beam, the founder of Douglas R. Beam P.A. who has represented personal injury victims in Florida and throughout the United States for over three decades. "Our client was forever changed by reckless conduct."

Court records show W.A. suffered burst fractures in his thoracic and lumbar spine, traumatic brain injury, and chronic pain requiring kyphoplasty surgery and ongoing medical treatment. The injuries caused permanent physical limitations and forced him to abandon his motorcycle restoration hobby.

"This case required extensive legal research to hold both the business and individual owner accountable," explained Riley H. Beam, trial lawyer at Douglas R. Beam, P.A. "We proved both defendants were negligent in failing to provide adequate safety measures and proper supervision for this dangerous task."

"This judgment sends a strong message about safety protocols," added Douglas R. Beam. "Businesses asking anyone to handle heavy equipment must implement proper safety measures or face significant liability."

About Douglas R. Beam, P.A.

Founded on making law more human, Douglas R. Beam, P.A. has represented personal injury victims throughout Central Florida and the United States for over 30 years. The Melbourne-based law firm handles motor vehicle accidents, slip and falls, wrongful death, and catastrophic injury cases. The law firm works on contingency in personal injury cases, meaning clients pay no attorney fees unless they recover compensation.

Contact:

Douglas R. Beam, P.A.

25 West New Haven Avenue, Suite C

Melbourne, FL 32901

Phone: (321) 723-6591

Website: www.dougbeam.com

SOURCE Douglas R. Beam P.A.
Strategic partnership strengthens global leadership, enhances local service, and supports growth in the key APAC market.

TULSA, Okla., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MIRATECH, a global leader in emissions and acoustic control solutions for stationary engines, is pleased to announce that it has signed definitive documentation to acquire Exhaust Control Industries (ECI), an Australian-based manufacturer of industrial exhaust and emissions solutions. This acquisition will mark a significant milestone in MIRATECH's global growth strategy and reinforce its commitment to delivering localized, expert solutions to customers across the Asia Pacific region.

With more than four decades of experience, ECI designs and manufactures high-performance exhaust systems, catalytic converters, silencers, and turnkey solutions for the power generation, industrial, and marine sectors. Headquartered in Melbourne, ECI's regional strength and customer-centric culture align closely with MIRATECH's values and strategic direction.

"This acquisition is a natural fit," said David Zenthoefer, CEO of MIRATECH. "ECI shares our commitment to engineering excellence, customer partnership, and environmental responsibility. Together, we expand our footprint, add depth to our regional capabilities, and position ourselves to serve Asia Pacific customers with the same speed, support, and precision we deliver globally."

The combined strengths of MIRATECH and ECI offer meaningful benefits for both companies and their customers:

Broadened Global Reach : MIRATECH will gain a physical presence in Asia Pacific, offering localized manufacturing, engineering, and service support.

: MIRATECH will gain a physical presence in Asia Pacific, offering localized manufacturing, engineering, and service support. Expanded Capabilities for ECI : ECI will gain access to MIRATECH's deep product portfolio, global supply chain, and technical resourcesunlocking new opportunities in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and beyond.

: ECI will gain access to MIRATECH's deep product portfolio, global supply chain, and technical resourcesunlocking new opportunities in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and beyond. Aligned Cultures : Both companies share a customer-first mindset, rooted in solving complex problems and delivering results through trusted partnerships.

: Both companies share a customer-first mindset, rooted in solving complex problems and delivering results through trusted partnerships. Mutual Growth Potential: The complementary nature of both businesses will create new value for existing clients and accelerate innovation across markets.

"We're excited to become part of the MIRATECH team," said Dean Marchiandi, Managing Director of ECI. "We're both deeply technical, quality-driven, and passionate about supporting our customers. With MIRATECH's global scale behind us, ECI is poised to grow faster, serve better, and reach further."

The entry into definitive documentation for this acquisition signals MIRATECH's continued investment in expanding its global footprint while remaining grounded in regional service and support. As the demand for clean power and emissions compliance grows worldwide, MIRATECH is building the futureone partnership at a time.

The acquisition is expected to close in December 2025, pending any necessary regulatory approvals.

About MIRATECH

Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, MIRATECH provides emissions and acoustics solutions for stationary natural gas and diesel engines used in power generation, oil & gas, and industrial markets. With operations across North America and Europeand now Asia PacificMIRATECH combines engineering expertise, innovative technology, and global reach to help customers meet the world's toughest air quality regulations.

About Exhaust Control Industries (ECI)

Founded in 1982, ECI is a leading Australian manufacturer and engineering firm specializing in industrial exhaust systems, emission control, and noise reduction technologies. With a reputation for quality and innovation, ECI serves clients across Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia in sectors including power generation, datacenters, marine, oil & gas, healthcare, commercial construction, and broader industrial sectors.

For media inquiries, contact:

Jared Stone

MIRATECH l Global Director of Marketing

[email protected]

SOURCE MIRATECH
Putin to renew historic ties at Central Asian summit

Moscow expects 'interesting results' from Vladimir Putin's summit with the Central Asian leaders. File photo: Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet Central Asian leaders in Tajikistan on Thursday for only the second such summit since the fall of the Soviet Union as Moscow jostles with China and Europe for influence.



At the first summit with Central Asia's five leaders in 2022, Putin got a tongue-lashing from the president of Tajikistan, who accused Moscow of neglecting the post-Soviet states and of showing them little respect.



With Russia's historic grip over the region waning in recent years,

China and Europe have rushed to fill the power vacuum. Both have held high-level summits in Central Asia this year and are hoping to expand their access to the region's vast natural resources.



The leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are set to attend Thursday's meeting, which will take place in the Tajik capital Dushanbe. Putin is expected to arrive in Tajikistan on Wednesday.



Central Asian countries will use the summit to "advance their positions", as well as to build trust with Russia and develop trade ties, Kazakhstan's foreign ministry said. Russia said it expected "significant and interesting results from the talks".



All five Central Asian states maintain close cultural and economic links with Russia. The region is home to millions of Russian speakers, while millions of Central Asian migrants have moved across the border to work in some of Russia's most labour-intensive industries.



Russia is set to build Kazakhstan's first nuclear plant and its relations with its neighbours are largely friendly.



But after more than a century of Russian domination, Central Asia's five republics are increasingly looking beyond Moscow  their former imperial ruler  for trade and security.



The region is increasingly looking to China and Turkey for arms supplies, while the European Union announced a US$14 billion investment package in the region following its summit in April.



China has already established a strong presence there through its Belt and Road Initiative, a colossal infrastructure project that aims to boost trade between Beijing and the rest of the world.



Moscow has said it is not competing with Beijing for influence in Central Asia but the rivalry with other powers  including Europe  is "hard to ignore", Kyrgyz-based analyst Ilya Lomakin said.



"One could say that this is the latest iteration of the so-called New Great Game," he said, referring to a 19th-century power struggle between the British and Russian empires in the region.



"Whether Russia will be able to maintain its position in this area, let alone expand it, remains to be seen," he added.



At the last Central Asia-Russia summit in October 2022, Tajik leader Emomali Rakhmon demanded Russia show "respect" in a seven-minute tirade that left Putin squirming. "Yes, we're small nations, not 100 million or 200 million people... But we have history, culture. We want to be respected," he said.



In response, Putin said he "largely agreed" and called for them to focus on "concrete matters". (AFP)
Matt Prevost, Juliet White, and Betty Coleman Honored at Cyber Risk Summit Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NetDiligence, a leading provider of cyber risk readiness and response services, announced the winners of its 2025 Toby Merrill Awards yesterday at the company's flagship Cyber Risk Summit in Philadelphia. NetDiligence presents these awards each year honoring the late Toby Merrill, an icon in cyber insurance.

NetDiligence Announces 2025 Toby Merrill Award Recipients

The Toby Merrill Award for Excellence is given to a seasoned cyber insurance thought leader, the Rising Star Award is given to an emerging insurance professional, and the Community Spirit Award acknowledges an individual who fosters camaraderie and community within the cyber insurance industry.

Presented annually, the Toby Merrill Awards recognize individuals across three categories:

The Toby Merrill Award for Excellence celebrates a seasoned thought leader in cyber insurance.

celebrates a seasoned thought leader in cyber insurance. The Rising Star Award honors an emerging talent making a meaningful impact.

honors an emerging talent making a meaningful impact. The Community Spirit Award acknowledges those who build bridges and strengthen community within the industry.

This year, the Award for Excellence was presented to Matt Prevost of Chubb. Matt joined Chubb in 2014 and currently serves as Chief Underwriting Officer for Chubb's Global Cyber Division. With over a decade of leadership in cyber underwriting, Matt is responsible for global strategy, complex account negotiation, and cyber profitability. He is active in multiple leadership forums, including the Cyber COPE Insurance CertificationSM (CCIC) program, The Geneva Association, CyberAcuView, and the NAIC Cyber Working Group. Matt holds a degree in International Economics and Commerce from Lafayette College and studied at Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Dijon in France.

The Rising Star Award was presented to Juliet White of Vantage Risk. Juliet is the Head of Cyber and E&O for Vantage and previously led one of the largest portfolios in North America while at AXA XL. She has held key roles at AIG and Beazley, contributing to the development of crossover Cyber and Crime products. Juliet is a Cornell University graduate and was named one of Business Insurance's Women to Watch in 2020.

The Community Spirit Award was presented to Betty Coleman of Arctic Wolf, in recognition of her collaborative leadership and commitment to community in the cyber insurance space. Currently Director of Insurance Alliances at Arctic Wolf, Betty brings experience from Equifax, Lodestone, and the financial services industry. She is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University and holds a paralegal certification from the American Public University System. Within the cyber insurance community, Betty sits on the International Women's Cyber Alliance (IWCA) Leadership Advisory Council, co-leads the events team, and also boards the SHEWolf Partner Network of Arctic Wolf.

Photos from the event and additional details about the awards can be found at https://netdiligence.com/toby-merrill-awards/.

"Toby Merrill left a lasting impact on the cyber insurance communitynot only as a visionary, but as a genuine friend to so many of us," said Mark Greisiger, President of NetDiligence. "These awards are our way of honoring his memory by spotlighting today's professionals who embody his spiritthose who mentor others, foster collaboration, and help move our industry forward through innovation and generosity. We're proud to celebrate this year's recipients for their outstanding contributions and leadership."

NetDiligence also actively supports the Toby Merrill Scholarship Fund, which financially supports the educational advancement of students who reflect the qualities of leadership, kindness and strength that Toby epitomized.

Media Contact :

Heather Osborne

Director of Global Events & Programming

610.896.9715

[email protected]

About NetDiligence

NetDiligence specializes in Cyber Risk Readiness & Response services. With over 20 years of experience in cyber, NetDiligence is an award-winning provider of innovative cyber risk management software and services to the insurance industry. NetDiligence publishes an annual Cyber Claims Study and traditionally hosts Cyber Risk Conferences in Philadelphia, California, Toronto, Florida, London, and Bermuda. For more information, visit NetDiligence.com.

SOURCE NetDiligence
Recently, Qualcomm unveiled something that can be called a true game-changer when it comes to Android smartphone performance. The company launched the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 to signify, what I consider a true generational leap. It claims to deliver unprecedented advances in on-device Artificial Intelligence (AI), gaming performance, and professional-grade video capture. In my opinion, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen is more than just a speed bump. It's an overall architectural overhaul that Qualcomm has designed to redefine the capabilities of the modern smartphone. Let me explain: The AI core: Qualcomm is putting its best efforts to tackle complex AI workloads locally on the device. Driven by the new Hexagon NPU, Qualcomm touts a 37% increase in NPU performance compared to its predecessor, and therefore, I find the Elite Gen 5 quite significant as AI continues to rule all sorts of innovation in today's world, and Qualcomm seems to lock its focus towards the same. To keep it simple, all this power will translate directly into generative AI features. This new chip can now process local Large Language Model (LLM) inquiries at a speed of up to 220 tokens per second. This speed, if you don't know, is staggering, especially when the previous generation speed was around 70 tokens per second. This will further enhance the responsiveness of the device, which is crucial for seamless, real-time AI assistance, enabling features like Qualcomm's expanded Agentic AI. This suite will incorporate tools like the Personal Scribe and an updated Sensing Hub that'll allow the phones to learn user routines, make personalized recommendations, and even automate tasks on the user's behalf, all without sending sensitive data to the cloud. All of this means that your smartphone can finally act like an ultimate personalized intelligence hub while keeping everything safe and secure. Gaming performance: The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 comes with the third generation of the Oryon CPU, delivering a 20% single-core performance improvement and a 17% multi-core uplift. This means that devices with the Snapdragon Elite Gen 5 capabilities will have noticeable real-world responsiveness. For all the hardcore game lovers, the highly optimized Adreno GPU will offer a 23% boost in raw gaming performance and a crucial 25% increase in ray tracing capabilities. Qualcomm is also bringing native support for full Unreal Engine 5 compatibility, thus showcasing its commitment to offer an elite gaming experience. All this means one thing: better extended gaming sessions where you worry-less about battery draining and focus on fully enjoying the gaming experience, as the Oryon CPU will now boast a 35% better power efficiency. Redefining mobile videography: Qualcomm is going all out for professional content creators as well as it is showing an aggressive approach to push the envelope in computational photography. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is now the first mobile platform that can support the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec. This will help professional content creators to enjoy a much greater post-production flexibility. You can now look at all the features that were previously exclusive to dedicated cameras, like precise color grading, shadow tweaking, and fine-tuning of highlights. That's not all, Qualcomm has co-developed the Dragon Fusion computational imaging pipeline with Arcsoft that will treat every video frame as a photo. It comes with AI-powered computational enhancements like advanced tone mapping and improved dynamic range that eventually offers a studio-quality capture directly from your smartphone's lens. What about connectivity? The Elite Gen 5 is capable of ultra-fast 12.5Gbps downlink speeds along with support for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and Ultra-Wideband (UWB). Further, competitive gamers should rejoice as the platform offers an AI-powered modem that delivers a massive 50% reduction in latency during gaming sessions. In the end: Qualcomm has already started gaining a strong momentum with support from leading Android manufacturers globally. Xiaomi has confirmed that its 17-series lineup will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. That's not all, the OnePlus 15, iQOO 15, Realme GT 8 Pro, and Poco F8 Pro will also have the power of this chip, and it clearly indicates that Qualcomm will be at the center of the high-end Android ecosystem for the coming year. I have no complaints as the launch of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 will further push the levels of solid processing power, energy efficiency, and groundbreaking on-device AI capabilities to another level. (ANI) Disclaimer: The author is an expert in the fields of consumer technology, auto, and lifestyle. View expressed in the article are his own.
Akash Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 25 years of serving as head of government. On the sidelines of the 9th edition of the India Mobile Congress (IMC 2025), speaking to media he stated, "It has been an absolutely revolutionary mode for India and we are lucky to have a leader like him." On the technologies showcased at the event, Ambani remarked, "I think today we saw the whole value chain, right From semiconductor to 6G, and we look forward to innovating and keeping India at the forefront of digital capitalism." He highlighted the full spectrum of technological innovation, from foundational hardware to next-generation connectivity, reflecting India's growing role in the global digital landscape. During IMC 2025, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia visited the Jio Pavilion, where Ambani briefed him on the various technological initiatives and advancements being presented by Reliance Jio. The interaction highlighted the collaboration between government and industry in driving India's digital transformation forward. IMC 2025 continues to showcase India's potential in cutting-edge technology, emphasizing innovations that are expected to shape the country's future in the digital economy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, attended the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in the national capital. The India Mobile Congress, taking place from October 8 to 11, is Asia's most influential technology and telecom forum and is set to host its largest edition this year. The four-day event aims to bring together global stakeholders, innovators, and industry leaders to collaborate and shape India's digital future. Speaking at the event, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said India has transformed from a "technology taker" to a "digital flag bearer of the world." "From being a technology taker and a technology follower, India today has become the digital flag bearer of the world. Our mobile data costs have fallen in the last 11 years by 98%. There was a time when a single minute of voice was a luxury, access was an aspiration. But today India is home to twenty per cent of the world's mobile population, 1.2 billion subscribers. We have grown from sixty million internet broadband users in 2014 under the Prime Minister's vision to 944 million broadband subscribers," he said. The Minister highlighted that India's Digital Public Infrastructure has become a global benchmark for innovation and inclusion. "Today's IMC inauguration marks an excellent beginning for a program rooted in innovation and technological progress. As the Hon'ble Prime Minister emphasized, India's technological future is in capable hands, with the nation rising strongly as a digital-first platform. Communications now reach the farthest corners, supported by rapid technological upgrades and resolute action against unwanted actions like spams/scams by TSPs under the Government's guidance. We believe that a balanced ecosystem fostering both established players and startups is key to sustaining India's digital momentum." Lt. Gen. Dr. S.P. Kochhar, Director General, COAI (ANI)
Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], October 8: ZillOut, the company building India's going out AI SaaS platform, today announced that it has raised 2.75 crores in a seed funding round. The round saw participation from existing investor Jindagi Live Angel Fund among other angel investors. Anshul Jhawar, Co-founder, ZillOut also participated in the round. The company has raised a total of 4.35 cr till date.

Founded by Gaurav Sharma, Nayan Mishra, and Anshul Jhawar, ZillOut is transforming India's $50+ billion going-out economy through its AI-powered SaaS vertical for venue operations and guest intelligence.

The platform combines infrastructure management with data analytics to help venues optimize operations, identify high-value guests, and provide personalized experiences through a single QR code system.

ZillOut addresses critical pain points in India's fragmented going-out ecosystem where most venues and organisers juggle POS terminals, spreadsheets, booking apps, and third-party promoters, resulting in slow operations, scattered data and insights, unnoticed revenue leaks, and confused high-value guests.

The platform includes a three-layer approach - Infra, Data and Distribution woven into one AI-driven thread that uplifts the end-to-end going-out experience.

The company has achieved significant traction with 150+ venues onboarded across 20 cities including Goa, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, and Gurugram. ZillOut manages 80+ crores worth of transactions, facilitated 6+ lakh verified guest entries, and managed 50,000+ online bookings while helping venues save 2+ crores in revenue leakage.

Commenting on the funding, Gaurav Sharma, Co-founder & CEO of ZillOut, said "India's 5 lakh crore going-out market is booming, but venues still juggle fragmented systems that leak revenue and lose their best guests. We've built ZillOut around the QR scan behavior that's now muscle memory for every Indian--one tap powers our AI platform connecting entry, payments, and guest engagement seamlessly. The result is faster operations for venues and VIP treatment for top spenders, all from a single dashboard."

The funding will be primarily used to scale AI capabilities and automation efforts, technology development, business expansion, marketing, and other operational needs.

ZillOut has also enabled 50,000+ direct bookings for its venue partners via its distribution platform.

The company's vision extends beyond India, with plans to expand to Dubai and Southeast Asia.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
The raids were conducted under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), dubbed "Operation Numkhor," which aims to curb the smuggling of high-end vehicles from Bhutan and Nepal into India, with forged documents and fraudulent registrations.

The action follows an earlier enquiry by Customs involving actor Mammootty's son, Dulquer Salmaan, in the same operation.

The operations are part of a broader investigation by Customs and the ED into alleged violations of foreign exchange and customs laws in the smuggling of high-end luxury vehicles and unauthorised foreign exchange dealings.

The ED has uncovered a Coimbatore-based network involved in smuggling luxury cars, including Land Cruisers, Defenders, and Maseratis, using forged documents purportedly from the Indian Army, US Embassy, and Ministry of External Affairs.

Vehicles were registered in states like Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh using fake documents, before being sold to high-net-worth individuals, including film personalities, at undervalued prices.

The high-end luxury vehicles were illegally imported through the India-Bhutan and India-Nepal routes.

Customs officials seized Dulquer's Land Rover Defender as part of Operation Numkhor, alleging that it had fake registration and was involved in tax evasion.

The investigation involved analysing digital evidence and payment records to uncover the financial trail and identify key players in the smuggling network.

Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court on Tuesday allowed Dulquer to approach the customs authority for provisional release of the vehicle, directing the authority to decide on the plea within a week. (ANI)
Mishra took to his X account to share moments from the event along with a couple of pictures. One of the pictures showed him posing with actor Anil Kapoor.

Along with the photos, he wrote, "Today at #FICCIFrames2025, I had a positive discussion with @AnilKapoor ji, @divyadutta25 ji, @pratikg80 ji, and Rajat Kapoor ji. The Delhi government is committed to creating strong policies that empower creators and make Delhi the center of India's creative economy. @FICCIFRAMES."

https://x.com/KapilMishra_IND/status/1975906420966227989

Earlier in the day, the Minister chaired a roundtable titled 'Made in Delhi: A Creative Capital Rising' at the event. The discussion revolved around three themes: Film Policy, Festivals, and the Future of Storytelling. The session served as a strategic platform for dialogue between representatives of the Delhi Government and leaders from the film, OTT, and media sectors. It aimed to unlock collaborative opportunities in content creation, production, and storytelling rooted in Delhi's unique cultural identity. Actor Pratik Gandhi and Anil Kapoor dropped by to meet Kapil Mishra and discussed their experiences shooting in the capital, according to the press release.

A major highlight was the announcement of the upcoming Delhi International Film Festival (DIFF) as a flagship platform to showcase talent, build global partnerships, and catalyse the capital's creative economy. (ANI)
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday offered condolences following the death of 15 passengers after a private bus was struck by a landslide in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur. "Our deepest condolences are with the grieving families. We stand with them," Kharge posted on X. He added that the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh was conducting rescue operations on a war footing and was providing assistance to the victims. "The tragic bus accident caused by a landslide in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh, in which several people have reportedly lost their lives, is extremely painful and unfortunate. The state government is conducting rescue operations on a war footing. The Chief Minister is personally overseeing the relief and rescue efforts, and the government is providing all possible assistance to the victims," Kharge said. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi described the incident as "heartbreaking" and extended her condolences. "The news of the death of a large number of passengers and several others being injured due to a passenger bus coming under a landslide in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, is extremely heartbreaking. May God grant peace to the departed souls. My deepest condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the swift recovery of the injured," she posted on X. "In this hour of crisis, the Congress government of the state stands with the victims in every way, and efforts are being made at a war footing for every possible help and relief," she added. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said that the bus accident was "heart-wrenching." "The bus accident caused by a landslide in Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, is deeply heart-wrenching. My heart is pained by the loss of lives in this tragedy. In this hour of grief, my condolences are with the affected families. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant peace to the departed souls, provide strength to their families to overcome this difficult time, and ensure the swift recovery of the injured," CM Saini posted on X. The incident occurred when the private bus, carrying passengers through a hilly stretch, was struck by falling debris following heavy rains in the region. Local administration, police, and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams rushed to the spot to carry out rescue operations. Of the 15 killed, the bodies of nine men and four women have been recovered. Two children who sustained injuries have been shifted to AIIMS Bilaspur. "Search operations with the National Disaster Response Force team, including sniffer dogs, are ongoing. Further rise in the toll of deaths and injuries is least expected," Bilaspur SP Sandeep Kumar Dhawal said. Officials identified some of the deceased brought to the hospital as Rajneesh Kumar (34), Sarif Khan (25), Chunni Lal (46), Rajeev alias Sonu, Krishan Lal, and Narender Sharma. Meanwhile, Himachal Road Transport Corporation Board Member Sandeep Sankhyan told ANI, "I spoke with the Bilaspur SP. I just learned that there have been 15 casualties, out of which nine are men, four are women, and two are children." Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said 15 people have lost their lives in the tragic accident. He said around 18 people have been rescued from the site, and three of them have been admitted to AIIMS Bilaspur. Agnihotri said he would visit the spot to assess the situation. "Fifteen people have lost their lives in a private bus accident in Bilaspur. It has been reported that around 25-30 people were on board the bus. I am going to the spot," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the loss of lives in a landslide in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur, and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured, PM Modi said the injured would be given Rs 50,000 from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF). Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu expressed profound grief over the tragic accident and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. Officials said heavy machinery had been deployed at the site, and efforts were on to clear the debris amid difficult terrain and intermittent rainfall. (ANI)
Tripura Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajib Bhattacharjee on Tuesday strongly condemned the attack on party leaders, MP Khagen Murmu and MLA Shankar Ghosh, in West Bengal, saying that the state is "ruled by hooliganism." Bhattacharjee urged people in West Bengal to unite and oppose the hooliganism of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). "West Bengal is ruled by hooliganism. The culture of hooliganism is not a new phenomenon--it has been present for a long time. During the 36 years of Communist rule, there was also a reign of terror and violence. After them, the Trinamool Congress came to power, which continues to practice this 'guda raj', a syndicate-rule government. The people of West Bengal must unite and oppose this hooliganism," Bhattacharjee, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, told ANI. The BJP leader informed that MLA Shankar Ghosh and Malda North MP Khagen Murmu were "attacked by local TMC leaders" while they were on their way to assess the situation in flood-affected areas of North Bengal. "We all witnessed the devastating effects of floods in North Bengal. To help and assess the situation in the affected areas, our MP, Khagen Murmu--who is a respected tribal leader and a two-time Member of Parliament--along with BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh, visited those regions to see what kind of assistance the people needed," Bhattacharjee said. "However, during their visit, local Trinamool Congress leaders attacked both Khagen Murmu and Shankar Ghosh. The assault on Khagen Murmu was brutal--worse than how animals are treated. Hooliganism may exist in politics, but the way TMC workers beat Khagen Murmu was utterly inhumane. This shows that the TMC government is not governing the state--they are running a regime of terror," he added. Urging people to protest against the West Bengal government, the BJP leader demanded that lawlessness must come to an end. "I want to tell the government in Kolkata to put an end to this lawlessness. Everyone should unite and protest against this hooligan rule. This is my earnest appeal. Just a few days ago, we all celebrated the Durga Puja festival. I want to remind the Chief Minister, who is a woman herself, to end this violence and restore peace in the state. The entire nation is watching what is happening in West Bengal today," Bhattacharjee said. Further targeting the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal, the BJP leader stated that no action was being taken despite the occurrence of "grave incidents". "West Bengal contributes one of the highest shares of revenue collection in the country. Yet, despite that, there are no jobs, women and students are unsafe, and everyone knows what happened at RG Kar Medical College and Government Law College. Incidents like these are damaging our entire ecosystem," Bhattacharjee said. "Even after such grave incidents, no action is being taken," he added. Some local persons reportedly attacked the BJP MP while he was visiting flood-affected areas in Jalpaiguri's Dooars region on October 6 to oversee relief and rescue operations. The BJP MP sustained serious injuries to the head. Along with Murmu, BJP MLA Ghosh also alleged he was attacked while distributing relief materials. Following the incident, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met BJP MP Murmu in the hospital on Tuesday. The incident sparked a row between the BJP and the TMC in West Bengal as Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the state government over the incident. Meanwhile, CM Mamata Banerjee alleged that he was politicising the floods and landslides in North Bengal, calling it "unfortunate and deeply concerning." (ANI)
CLEVELAND, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuronoff, Inc., a clinical-stage medical device company pioneering minimally invasive pain treatments, today announced the closure of an oversubscribed $4.5 million financing round to advance its Injectrode platform toward FDA clearance and commercial launch.

The PNS Injectrode F1 System designed for minimally invasive, drug-free treatment of chronic pain.

The funding supports scaling production to 1,000 units annually and preparing for a limited U.S. launch in 2026 targeting interventional pain physicians, spinal surgeons, podiatrists, and other specialties treating chronic pain. Once commercially available, the Injectrode pain treatment platform will utilize the smallest diameter implant (1mm, about half the width of a grain of rice) delivered by 18-gauge needle. This eliminates the one- to two-inch incisions that are currently the industry standard for chronic pain neurostimulation therapies. The device is intended to provide a minimally invasive, drug-free alternative that eliminates the surgical incisions, visible scars, and elevated costs of traditional neuromodulation systems.

"This funding validates our investors' confidence in bringing elegant, needle-based neuromodulation to future patients," said Manfred Franke, CEO of Neuronoff. "We aim to offer effective chronic pain treatments without opioids, without surgery, and without scars. Our goal is to provide aesthetically beautiful outcomes, enabling mass market adoption of neuromodulation therapies over the coming years."

The company aims to reduce healthcare costs to payers by 50% or more versus traditional neuromodulation, enticing prior authorization earlier in the treatment timeline and greatly improving patient access as a result. Franke continues "The Injectrode platform is optimized for CMS lead placement codes that should reduce the probability for peer-to-peer calls for clinicians in the future, broadening treatment access for patients while allowing clinicians to focus on treatments instead of negotiations with insurers. This means more time to treat patients and more patients treated per day. A win for patients, physicians, providers and payers alike."

"The neuromodulation sector is prime for an advancement in lead development," said Andrew Zeringue, managing member of MedTech Angels. "Physicians need a better way to deliver these new electrical waveforms to the various anatomical targets."

The Injectrode has demonstrated safety and functionality in a first-in-human trial for chronic lower back pain, with no serious adverse events and consistent performance throughout the implant period. The platform's design enables potential applications across multiple therapeutic areas beyond pain management.

In a related development, Neuronoff disclosed it has established a wholly owned subsidiary to commercialize the Injectrode platform for an undisclosed indication affecting approximately 16 million U.S. adults. The company expects to share additional details at the North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) Annual Meeting in January 2026 in Las Vegas.

For more information about Neuronoff and the Injectrode platform, visit www.neuronoff.com .

About Neuronoff

Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Neuronoff is developing injectable neuromodulation solutions designed to remove surgical barriers to treatment. The company's Injectrode platform has successfully completed first-in-human trials and is advancing toward FDA clearance in 2026, supported by comprehensive preclinical validation and positive regulatory interactions. The technology is intended to offer a minimally invasive alternative for chronic conditions ranging from pain to autonomic, bladder, cardiac, and inflammatory disorders.

Media Contact: Manfred Franke, [email protected]

SOURCE Neuronoff
Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam (SASS) has called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the alleged gold theft at the Sabarimala temple. In a letter to the Kerala Additional Chief Secretary (Home), SASS National Chairman SJR Kumar said that an investigation conducted by the Devaswom Vigilance or the Kerala State Police cannot be expected to reveal the full truth, as there exists a serious possibility of interference or manipulation by the very parties involved. "Only a neutral and central agency like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) can ensure a fair, transparent, and credible inquiry," Kumar stated. He said that this constitutes a grave offence against both the faith of millions of devotees and the sanctity of the Sabarimala shrine. "I National Chairman of Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajam and a devotee of Lord Ayyappa, wish to bring to your urgent attention serious revelations regarding the theft and substitution of gold claddings from the Sabarimala Temple, carried out under the guise of gold plating and repair. Reliable reports from various media sources and statements made by Devaswom officials themselves have confirmed the loss and suspected theft of gold from the temple premises, which constitutes a grave offence against both the faith of millions of devotees and the sanctity of the Sabarimala shrine," he said. He further stated that it is well documented that the original gold cladding of the sanctum and associated structures was sponsored by Vijay Mallya in 1998. However, in complete violation of established procedure, the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) later handed over the gold-cladded copper plates to one Unnikrishnan Potti on the pretext of repair work at Smart Creations, Ambattur, Chennai. "As a matter of fact, Smart Creations is not a specialised or authorised temple restorer but a private commercial electroplating unit. Upon return, the weight of the gold claddings showed a reduction of approximately 4.541 kg from the original 42.800 kg, pointing clearly to an act of theft and criminal breach of trust," he said "It has also been revealed that the original gold-cladded materials were replaced with ordinary gold-plated copper sheets in 2019. When the Dwarapalaka panels were removed in 2019, they remained unaccounted for 39 days. During this period, they are suspected to have been taken to various locations outside Kerala, including Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, and subsequently subjected to manipulations before being returned. There are credible reports that these sacred materials were displayed in certain VIP residences, further exposing the magnitude and brazenness of the criminal conspiracy involving Devaswom officials, private handlers, and external parties," he added. Earlier, former Union Minister and BJP leader V Muraleedharan asserted that the Sabarimala alleged gold theft case should be investigated by the central agency. He alleged that the court had entrusted an officer under the Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, to conduct an investigation, and the perpetrators were individuals closely associated with the Chief Minister. Addressing reporters, V Muraleedharan said, "The parts of that sanctum sanctorium of the Sabarimala Temple have been stolen by some people. The court has very clearly mentioned in its judgment yesterday, but unfortunately, the court has entrusted an officer under the Kerala Chief Minister to conduct an investigation. I am sceptical about the efficacy of such an investigation because the perpetrators are all individuals closely associated with the Chief Minister. Without an investigation by the central agency, the real culprits cannot be brought before the law." He further said that the INDIA bloc members, Congress and CPM, were ignoring the discussion on it in the Assembly. "Congress and CPM are enacting a drama in the Assembly. When the issue of Gaza arose, they came to a joint decision of conducting a discussion and passing a resolution, but in the case of Sabrimala, they are enacting a drama in the Assembly where no discussion can happen. I would like to ask the ruling state government, is it because of an issue concerning the temple and the Hindu community?" he added. The Travancore Devaswom Board has suspended B Murari Babu, Deputy Devaswom Commissioner, Haripad, in connection with an alleged false report related to the Sabarimala gold plating project. (ANI)
A political row has erupted in Himachal Pradesh after Solan police registered an FIR against several residents and students from Government College Darlaghat for alleged sloganeering during Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's recent visit to inaugurate animal husbandry schemes. Sukhu was visiting the village of Darlaghat in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. The controversy began after a video surfaced on social media showing a section of the crowd shouting, "Sukhu ne bulaya hai, bhukhe hi tarpaya hai (Sukhu called us, only to leave us hungry)". The incident reportedly occurred during the lunch arrangements at the government function. Superintendent of Police (SP) Solan Gaurav Singh confirmed that a case had been filed following the incident. "An FIR has been registered after the video came to light," he said. According to the FIR lodged on the complaint of local resident Basant Lal, the incident occurred around 2:00 PM on October 4. The complaint alleged that several girls raised slogans against the Chief Minister with the intention of inciting regional hatred and enmity. The case was registered at Darlaghat Police Station under Sections 353(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deal with making or circulating statements or false information to promote enmity or ill will among groups. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state sharply criticised the move, accusing the Congress-led state government of misusing police powers to suppress dissent. Former Chief Minister and Himachal Pradesh Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Jai Ram Thakur addressed a press conference in Mandi on Tuesday and said, "The Sukhu government is obsessed with filing FIRs. Wherever a voice is raised against their failures, people are harassed, sent to jail, or their families targeted. No,w even students have not been spared." He added, "Girls who complained of not getting food were booked under serious charges. This is sheer political vendetta." BJP MLA and spokesperson Trilok Jamwal, in a media statement, termed the FIR "highly condemnable," alleging that "Himachal is being run under an authoritarian regime that silences every small voice of protest." He demanded the immediate withdrawal of the FIR. Reacting to the criticism, Congress MLA from Arki, Sanjay Awasthy, defended the police action, saying that law and order had to be maintained. "Miscreants had entered the CM's function with mala fide intentions and created a nuisance. The police are investigating as per procedure," he said while denying allegations that food was not served to attendees. He added that the students involved "were not invited to the event and had trespassed into the area where the community meal (dham) was being prepared." The incident has triggered heated exchanges between the ruling and opposition parties, with both accusing each other of politicising the episode. (ANI)
Following the investigation into the murder of a 38-year-old man in Raebareli, the Uttar Pradesh police has removed the Unchahar police station chief Sanjay Kumar, suspended five officials and arrested four people in connection with the incident. Around 15 people, who were present at the scene and "failed to stop the incident and inform the police", will also be arrested, Raebareli police officials said. Officials will be pursuing the case under the National Security Act (NSA) and Gangsters Act, Rarebareli Superintendent of Police Yashveer Singh said. The five accused have been identified as Vijay Singh, Vaibhav Singh, Vipin Maurya, Sahedev Pasi, and Suresh Kumar Maurya and others. "Soon, the remaining 15-20 people who were present at the scene and failed to fulfil their duties, including failing to stop the incident and inform the police, will also be arrested... Following the arrests, we will file a charge sheet and pursue action under the Gangster Act and the National Security Act... Five personnel have been suspended. The police station chief has been removed and a new one has been appointed", the SP told mediapersons here. Following the removal of Inspector Sanjay Kumar, Inspector Ajay Rai has been appointed as the new Unchahar police station chief, the SP said. The police have also said that "no one knew the man or his caste at the scene of the incident", and that the accused were of Maurya, Pasi and other castes. "No one knew the man or his caste at the scene of the incident. The killers included members of the Maurya and Pasi castes. People from the general caste were also involved in the incident", he said. On October 2, a Dalit man named Hariom Valmiki was beaten to death by a mob of villagers in the Jamunapur village under Unchahar police station. The man mistaken for a thief by the locals. Earlier on Tuesday, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, and Raebareli MP Rahul Gandhi, condemned the murder of the man and took a veiled jibe at the BJP over incident. Sharing an X post, Rahul Gandhi, called the incident a "murder of humanity, the Constitution, and justice" and alleging that the marginalised communities in the country are being targeted by the mobs receiving the patronage of those in power. He wrote, "The brutal murder of Dalit youth Hariom Valmiki in Raebareli is not just the murder of one person - it is the murder of humanity, the Constitution, and justice. Today in India, Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, backward classes, and the poor - every person whose voice is weak, whose share is being snatched away, and whose life is considered cheap - is being targeted." Notably, the victim's wife, Pinky, has demanded assistance from the government, "My husband was beaten to death. Whatever happened to my husband, the same should happen to those who beat him to death... I need help from the government. I have a daughter...Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi spoke with my in-laws, not with me." (ANI)
Thane Rural Police have booked three individuals, including an American national, for allegedly practising banned religious activities and conducting illegal conversions in Bhiwandi, Maharashtra. The accused, identified as Sainath Sarape, James Watson, and Manoj Kolha, were arrested and charged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Foreign Nationals Act. SP Thane Rural DS Swamy said, "An offence has been registered, which includes three accused. One of them is a foreign national... After the police custody ended, the main court sent him to judicial custody." The police investigation revealed that the group had been operating in the area for some time, misleading villagers under the guise of religious gatherings and prayers. Earlier, Priyank Kanoongo, a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), raised concerns about Hindu children being enrolled in government-funded madrasas in Morena and Shivpuri districts of Madhya Pradesh. According to Kanoongo, around 500 Hindu children are allegedly being taught the Quran and other Islamic studies, sparking allegations of a conspiracy to convert them to Islam. "We received complaints about around 500 Hindu children enrolled in government-funded madrasas in Morena and Shivpuri, MP... The complainant alleges a conspiracy to convert Hindu children to Islam by teaching them the Quran and related topics. We sent this complaint to the Madhya Pradesh government for investigation," Kanoongo earlier told ANI. "Our main concern: Hindu children should not be in madrasas. Even if Muslim children attend madrasas, they should also go to school for their fundamental education... Therefore, it is essential to clearly understand that madrasas are not places where children are educated. Even if there are Muslim children in the madrasa, they should be enrolled in school while continuing their madrasa education," said Kanoongo earlier. (ANI)
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi paid tribute to the soldiers at the National War Memorial on the occasion of 93rd Air Force Day. CDS, along with the chiefs of the Indian Air Force, Army and Navy, laid wreaths at the National War Memorial. Meanwhile, air warriors also carred out a march past at Hindon Air Base, as part of Air Force Day celebrations. President Droupadi Murmu extended greetings to Air Force personnel, veterans, and their families on the occasion. She highlighted the commitment and courage of the Air Force in serving the nation. In a post on X, Droupadi Murmu said, "Warm greetings to all air warriors, veterans and their families on Air Force Day! The Indian Air Force has always demonstrated courage, commitment, and excellence. Our Air warriors protect our skies and serve the nation with tireless dedication during disasters and humanitarian missions." "Our Air Force has made the nation proud with its strength and readiness to face every challenge. I extend my best wishes to the Indian Air Force for success in all future endeavours," she added. The Indian Air Force (IAF) will highlight the achievements of Operation Sindoor during the Air Force Day celebrations. It will demonstrate the force's operational strength, growing technological capabilities, and humanitarian role that it has played over the years. This year, the static display line-up also includes platforms that played a part in forcing Islamabad to retreat and seek a ceasefire after its Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) dialled his Indian counterpart. The display will feature fighter jets such as the Rafale, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, and MiG-29, along with India's indigenous Netra AEW&C, the C-17 Globemaster III, the indigenous Akash Surface-to-Air Missile System, the C-130J Hercules, Apache attack helicopters fitted with Longbow radar, and the Advanced Light Helicopter. An S-band Rohini radar will also be part of the display. The recently retired MiG-21 Bison will also be a part of the display as a tribute to its over six decades of service to the IAF. This year's parade will take place at Hindon Air Base, one of India's largest and most strategic airbases. The Air Force Day parades were previously held in Chennai in 2024 and Prayagraj in 2023. (ANI)
Travancore Devaswom Board President PS Prashanth on Wednesday said the upcoming visit of President Droupadi Murmu to the Sabarimala temple is a "proud moment", adding that necessary arrangements are being made for the visit. Speaking to ANI, Prashanth said, "We feel proud that the President of India is visiting Sabarimala after many years. According to the current schedule, the President will arrive at Nilakkal by helicopter and then proceed to Sannidhanam by road for evening darshan. The return to Thiruvananthapuram is planned for the same day." The Devaswom president said that a review meeting is being held under the leadership of the Chief Secretary. "These details have been received from the President's protocol team. A review meeting is being held under the leadership of the Chief Secretary, and further directions will be issued based on that," he added. The President, during her two-day visit to the state, will visit and attend various programmes in Kottayam as well. The Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple will open for Thula month (Malayalam month of Thulam) puja on October 17 The doors are set to close on October 22 and will reopen again in November for Sree Chithira Attathirunnal. Meanwhile, in the ongoing Sabrimala gold plating controversy, Kerala Minister V Sivankutty stated that the Devaswom Board was an autonomous institution and its activities were conducted under the supervision of the High Court. Sivankutty said that strict action would be taken against anyone held responsible. On Monday, the Kerala High Court ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged theft of gold from Sabarimala temple, while also directing that the investigation be confidential and no information be leaked. The investigation will be led by former Superintendent of Police S Sasidharan, and overseen by Crime Branch chief Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) H Venkatesh. The team will consist of three inspectors, including cyber experts. The court's order pertained to 2019, when the gold-lined copper plates were taken down by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB). The issue intensified when Unnikrishnan Potti claimed that two gold-plated panels donated to the temple in 2019 were missing from the strongroom, just ahead of the TDB-sponsored Global Ayyappa Sangamam event. Recently, the IDB vigilance had recovered the "missing" items, but it was alleged that around 5 kg of weight was lost from the plates. (ANI)
Biju Janata Dal Vice-President Debu Prasad Mishra on Wednesday condemned the recent attempt to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai, and said that only a "lunatic" can attempt such an action. Speaking to ANI, Mishra highlighted the calmness of CJI Gavai in handling the situation, saying that if the Chief Justice had not intervened, more drastic action could have been taken against the lawyer. "It is very unfortunate and any sane man will criticise this... Only lunatics can do that... The good thing about Justice Gavai is that he was calm and composed... The Bar Council of India has cancelled his license because of the intervention of Justice Gavai; otherwise, more drastic actions would have been taken against him," Mishra said. On Monday, a 71-year-old lawyer, Rakesh Kishore, attempted to throw a shoe at the CJI during working hours at the Supreme Court. He was immediately apprehended by security personnel and escorted out. As per sources, while being taken away, Kishore shouted, "Sanatan ka apman nahi sahega Hindustan." Meanwhile, Rakesh Kishore said that he does not regret his action. Speaking to ANI on Tuesday, Kishore said that he was hurt by the CJI's remarks while dismissing a plea seeking restoration of the structure of Lord Vishnu in the Javari temple in Khajuraho. The All India Judges Association (AIJA) expressed serious concern over the advocate's conduct, stating it sought to undermine the dignity and authority of CJI Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai and companion judges of the Supreme Court. In a resolution, the Association described the act as "unbecoming of the legal profession" and said it was in violation of the constitutional ethos of decorum, discipline, and institutional integrity. The AIJA noted that such conduct strikes at the very core of the mutual respect that sustains the Bench-Bar relationship and constitutes a direct affront to judicial independence. Reaffirming its solidarity with CJI BR Gavai and the entire judiciary, the Association underscored its commitment to upholding the majesty and impartiality of the Supreme Court. It urged members of the legal fraternity to adhere to professional ethics and safeguard the dignity of judicial institutions. (ANI)
Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Senior Congress leader Harish Rawat on Wednesday said that the new Uttarakhand Minority Education Bill 2025 will halt the pace of modernisation in madrasa education. While speaking with ANI, Harish Rawat said, "During the government of Shri Narayan Datt Tiwari, some steps were taken to bring madrasas into the mainstream of inclusive education, which all subsequent governments have continued to work on further." "The impact and side effects of this new step will be known in the future. However, I am concerned that this may halt the pace of modernisation in madrasa education," he added. "As a result of inclusive education in madrasas, people from different castes and religions were now receiving education, and the burden on the state was also being reduced. The more you isolate a community, the more fanaticism will increase, tensions will rise, and social hatred will increase," he added. Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on tuesday thanked Governor Lieutenant General Gurmit Singh (Retd.) for approving the Minority Education Bill-2025. This bill aims to bring revolutionary changes in the state's education system by making it more uniform, inclusive, and modern. In a post on X, Dhami said, "Heartfelt thanks to the Honorable Governor @LtGenGurmit ji (Retd.) for granting approval to the Minority Education Bill-2025!"Notably, Madrasas will now be required to register with the Uttarakhand Board and obtain recognition from the Uttarakhand Minority Education Authority. Minority educational institutions will need to affiliate with the Uttarakhand School Education Board, ensuring standardised education. "With the approval of the Honorable Governor, the path for this bill to become law has now been paved," the CM said. Under this law, "An authority will be established for the education system of minority communities, which will handle the task of granting recognition to minority educational institutions. Additionally, after the implementation of this bill, minority educational institutions such as madrasas will be required to obtain recognition from the Uttarakhand Education Board," added CM Dhami. The curriculum will encompass subjects such as science, mathematics, and social sciences, alongside modern technical education and vocational training. Starting from the academic session in July 2026, minority schools will follow the national curriculum and the New Education Policy." Undoubtedly, this law will prove helpful in making the education system in the state more transparent, accountable, and qualitative," said Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami described this decision as a historic step towards creating a uniform and modern education system in the state. He announced that from the academic session of July 2026, all minority schools will adopt the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and the New Education Policy (NEP 2020). With this move, Uttarakhand will become the first state in the country to dissolve its Madrasa Board and bring minority educational institutions into the mainstream education framework. (ANI)
The parade featured fighter jets such as Rafale, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, and MiG-29, along with India's indigenous Netra AEW&C, the C-17 Globemaster III, the indigenous Akash Surface-to-Air Missile System, the C-130J Hercules, Apache attack helicopters fitted with Longbow radar, and the Advanced Light Helicopter.

The IAF parade also highlighted the achievements of Operation Sindoor.

Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh inspected the parade at Hindon Air Base and took the salute at the parade held at Hindon Air Base as part of the Air Force Day celebrations.

Earlier, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Army chief General Upendra Dwivedi and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi paid tribute to the soldiers at the National War Memorial on the occasion of 93rd Air Force Day.

CDS, along with the chiefs of the Indian Air Force, Army and Navy, laid wreaths at the National War Memorial.

The celebrations demonstrated the force's operational strength, growing technological capabilities, and humanitarian role that it has played over the years.

The static display line-up also included platforms that played a part in forcing Islamabad to retreat and seek a ceasefire after its Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) dialled his Indian counterpart.

The recently retired MiG-21 Bison was also be a part of the display as a tribute to its over six decades of service to the IAF.

This year's parade will take place at Hindon Air Base, one of India's largest and most strategic airbases. The Air Force Day parades were previously held in Chennai in 2024 and Prayagraj in 2023. (ANI)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches at three premises in Gujarat's Ahmedabad in connection with a Rs 10.95 crore bank fraud case, the officials said. The agency's Ahmedabad zonal office carried out the searches under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The case is based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following a complaint from Oriental Bank of Commerce. "Investigations have revealed that the three firms-- Shree Om Fab, Shree Baba Textile and Shree Laxmi Fab--all proprietorship concerns of one Ranjitkumar J Loonia, engaged in the trading of grey cloth, availed cash credit facilities from the bank using forged documents. The accused allegedly diverted the sanctioned funds for purposes other than those stated in the loan applications," said the officials, privy to the development. The Enforcement Directorate has identified the proceeds of crime in the case to be around Rs 10.95 crore. The Enforcement Directorate has identified the proceeds of crime in the case to be around Rs 10.95 crore. Meanwhile, regarding another case in Mumbai, the ED carried out search operations at eight locations across the city in connection with a money laundering investigation linked to a major drug trafficking network, officials said. ED's Mumbai Zonal Office conducted the searches under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. "The operation aims to trace and seize the suspected drug sale proceeds acquired through the illicit network allegedly run by Faisal Javed Shaikh and his associate, Alfiya Faisal Shaikh," said the officials. ED's preliminary investigation suggests that "Faisal Javed Shaikh was procuring MD drugs through Salim Dola, a notorious drug trafficker with a long criminal record." Dola, who multiple law enforcement agencies want, has been identified as a key player in narcotics smuggling and the financing of illegal drug syndicates. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has already announced a reward for credible information leading to the arrest of Dola. The ED's action is part of a broader crackdown on drug-related money laundering and aims to dismantle the financial channels supporting the narcotics trade in Mumbai and adjoining areas. (ANI)
Signal Theory Launches Human Resonance Score

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Signal Theory , an advertising agency focused on leveraging behavioral science, has released groundbreaking research that challenges brands to move beyond technology-driven targeting and reconnect with timeless human wants. The report, titled, " The Power of Comfort, Joy and Meaning in Branding " introduces The Human Resonance Score, a proprietary metric that measures how brands emotionally and cognitively resonate with consumers through three core dimensions: Comfort, Joy and Meaning.

The research reveals a stark disconnect: While 88% of Americans see marketing messages from the same brand across their digital ecosystem, only 24% feel that these messages fit their lifestyle. With 78% of consumers feeling overwhelmed by brand messages, the path forward isn't more targeting  it's deeper resonance.

"CMOs have more targeting technology than ever before, but measuring what truly drives connection has remained a challenge," said Samantha Scantlebury , Senior Director, Brand Strategy at Signal Theory. "The Human Resonance Score gives marketing leaders a proven framework that takes the guesswork out of brand building. It's a predictive tool that correlates directly with repurchase intent, loyalty and advocacy."

Based on responses from 1,500 U.S. consumers, the research identified critical patterns:

Connection Drives Results: Comfort strongly drives repurchase intent, Joy drives word-of-mouth recommendations and Meaning drives brand advocacy.

Key Findings:

72% want brands that truly resonate with them

66% ignore messages due to lack of relatability

Only 19% regularly see marketing that aligns with their personal values

What This Means for Brands

The Human Resonance Score provides a competitive advantage by understanding brand strengths across Comfort, Joy and Meaning; benchmarking against competitors; aligning strategies with consumer wants; and driving measurable growth through deeper resonance.

Signal Theory offers custom Human Resonance Score assessments for brands. Download the full research report .

NOTE TO MEDIA: Data may be reproduced when cited: "The Power of Comfort, Joy and Meaning in Branding" Signal Theory Human Resonance Score Research Report, 2025 by Signal Theory. All rights reserved.

Access the full media kit , including infographics of key research findings.

About Signal Theory

Signal Theory is a branding and design firm that creates Comfort, Joy and Meaning through human insights. Named by Ad Age as an Agency of the Year and Best Place to Work.

SOURCE Signal Theory Inc.
The incident occurred in front of Lilavati Elubhu Kilu Hospital on Koppal Road.

According to the Superintendent of Police (SP) Koppal Ram L Arasiddi, the 31-year-old Gangavathi BJP Yuva Morcha President was coming from Devi Camp to Gangavathi, when a group of people brutally beat him to death with long maces.

The attackers had followed Venkatesh Kurubara and quickly fled the scene after killing him. Police suspect a gang war over old enmity and gambling.

DY SP Siddana Gowda Patil visited the site and inspected the incident. Further investigation underway.

Meanwhile, State BJP President BY Vijayendra condoled the death of Vekatesh, "The news of the tragic demise of Venkatesh, who was the president of the Yuva Morcha in Gangavati taluk of Koppal district, is heartbreaking. I express my condolences for the deceased's death. May Venkatesh's soul attain eternal peace, and may God grant strength to his family to bear this sorrow." (ANI)
BJP leader Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday strongly condemned the attack on BJP MP Khagen Murmu and MLA Shankar Ghosh in Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, highlighting an increase in political violence in West Bengal under the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government. Ghosh alleged that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is responsible for the increasing political violence in the state. He claimed that TMC supporters had forcibly stopped the Ravana Dahan program at multiple locations, showcasing the party's intolerance towards opposition. "Political violence has increased in Bengal because of the TMC...The meeting of Bageshwar Baba has been cancelled by Mamata Banerjee...The people of TMC have forcibly stopped the Ravana Dahan program at nine places...The government is a spectator of people who are in crisis due to floods...Mamata Banerjee was doing a carnival in Kolkata...Hooliganism has started. Especially, Rohingya infiltrators from Bangladesh are being used in this...," said Ghosh. Notably, the attack on BJP leaders took place on October 6, when the elected representatives were visiting flood-affected areas to provide relief and support to the victims. A group of miscreants allegedly attacked them. Meanwhile, Tripura BJP President Rajib Bhattacharjee also condemned the attack on party leaders, saying that the state is "ruled by hooliganism." "West Bengal is ruled by hooliganism. The culture of hooliganism is not a new phenomenon--it has been present for a long time. During the 36 years of Communist rule, there was also a reign of terror and violence. After them, the Trinamool Congress came to power, which continues to practice this 'guda raj', a syndicate-rule government. The people of West Bengal must unite and oppose this hooliganism," he told ANI. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh argued that the party has nothing to do with the attack on the BJP leaders. "TMC has nothing to do with what happened in North Bengal. BJP needs to analyse why there is outrage against its MP, MLAs. Why is the public upset with them?" he said. He further added, "We condemn it (the attack on BJP MP Khagen Murmu). West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee met Khagen Murmu and condemned the attack. Our state office in Agartala has been ransacked. The police were standing there, but they did nothing...A team from TMC is going there...Everyone knows who ransacked our state office...Come with us, we will show you what the BJP has done to the democracy there..." Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the BJP MP Khagen Murmu in the hospital on Tuesday, a day after he was allegedly attacked while distributing flood relief material in Nagrakata. He sustained serious injuries to the head. She informed, "There is nothing serious. I have seen the report. He is under observation because he has high diabetes. There is an injury behind his ears." (ANI)
In a remarkable incident, the Indian Army and civil administration averted a potential tragedy from occurring with their quick and coordinated actions on Tuesday evening. Reportedly, a fire erupted in the Tulail area of the larger Gurez Valley, located in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora district. The fire quickly spread and gutted one house while causing significant damage to two others. As the fire station was alerted, the fire was contained by the swift actions of the department, which quickly reached the spot to take control of the situation. Prompt cordon drills by local Army dets prevented the spread as the fire brigade doused the blaze. After launching an extensive operation, all the residents, including women, were safely rescued and evacuated to a safer location. No casualties were reported; however, there was significant damage to the property. After the rescue operation, relief and medical assistance were provided to the affected families. The source of the fire is yet to be determined, and a proper investigation has been initiated for further details. Meanwhile, the Indian Army's Chinar Corps prevented a mishap as a massive fire broke out in Khush Roi Kalan village of Anantnag district due to an electrical short circuit, gutting two houses. According to a post on X by Chinar Corps, the fire, which started on September 20, spread rapidly, but troops immediately swung into action, doused the flames and rescued residents, preventing further loss of life and property. "China Corps. On 20 Sep 25, a massive fire broke out in Khush Roi Kalan village of Anantnag district due to an electrical short circuit. Two houses were completely gutted and the fire was fast spreading. Chinar Warriors immediately swung into action and rendered swift assistance by dousing the fire and rescuing people, thereby averting loss to life and property. #IndianArmy remains steadfast in its commitment to serve the Nation and its citizens," the post read. (ANI)
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued the order to the CRPF a day ago, considering a recent threat analysis report received from the intelligence bureau, the sources told ANI on condition of anonymity.

The order comes days after Pawan Singh joined the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the elections in Bihar-- which are scheduled on November 6 and 11.

The CRPF is expected to provide security to Pawan Singh by Wednesday, according to sources privy to the development.

This security cover has been provided to Pawan Singh in Bihar following the MHA's order.

Pawan Singh is expected to secure a seat from the BJP in the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar, as the actor has reportedly met with several senior party leaders in recent times.

Pawan Singh was a member of Bharatiya Janata Party but was expelled in 2024 due to his anti-party activities. The BJP had expelled him for running as an independent candidate in the Karakat Lok Sabha constituency, defying the party's official candidate from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Pawan Singh had announced his intention to contest the Karakat seat independently, a move that led to his expulsion.

The actor-cum-politician is in controversy over his ongoing dispute with his second wife, Jyoti Singh, which has made headlines again. Jyoti Singh has accused him of infidelity.

The primary contest in Bihar 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, comprising 243 members, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) consists of 131 members, with the BJP having 80 MLAs, JD(U) having 45, HAM(S) having 4, and the support of 2 Independent Candidates. (ANI)
On the 93rd, the organisation's rich history was showcased in a unique way, with the Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh on Wednesday deciding to take out the vintage 1967 Ford Salon Car for the Air Force Day celebrations at Hindon Air Base, Ghaziabad and highlighting the decades long legacy of the four wheels which have carried multiple heads of the Indian Air Force. The cream coloured vintage car has Engine-390 V-B Engine with 315 Brake Horsepower at 4600 RPM, with 8 Cylinder Powerful Engine. The iconic 1967 Ford Salon has carried many Air Force Chiefs since its induction in 1969, first used by former Air Chief Marshal Pratap Chandra Lal, who led the air warriors in the 1971 India-Pakistan war. The car was also used by multiple other Chiefs from 1969 to 1992. Later on, the car was inducted into the Air Force Museum in Palam, New Delhi after being presented by ACM Nirmal Chandra Suri. Earlier today, while giving his address during Air Force Day celebrations at Hindon base, ACM AP Singh underscored how Operation Sindoor was a shining example of what can be achieved through meticulous planning, disciplined training and determined execution. India's indigenous developed weapons delivered a bold and precise attacks, and restored the rightful place of offensive air action in the national consciousness, the IAF chief mentioned. "The outstanding performance of the indigenously developed and integrated weapons which delivered precise and devastating blows deep inside enemy territory, vindicates our faith in home-grown capabilities. Operation Sindoor is a shining example of what can be achieved through meticulous planning, disciplined training and determined execution", IAF chief said.Apart from the vintage car, the Air Force Day celebrations also had the Heritage Flight (erstwhile Vintage Aircraft Flight), a fleet of vintage aircraft that proudly keeps alive the legacy of Indian Air Force. The Flight was first instituted in 1982 at Air Force Station Palam with the Spitfire, Harvard Tiger Moth aircraft. The Flight suspended operations in 1989 before getting to its present location (Hindon) in the year 2012, with Tiger Moth aircraft. The Heritage Flight is presently operating Tiger Moth, Harvard, Dakota and HT-2 aircraft and has been enthralling the audience since 2012, every year, during the Air Force Day events of the Country. The 1967 Ford Salon was first used by former ACM PC Lal, who started serving in the then Royal Indian Air Force in 1939, and became the 7th Chief of Air Staff of Indian Air Force from 1969 to 1973, when he started using the car. He led the Air warriors following Operation Chengiz Khan, which was the name given to Pakistan Air Force carrying out strikes on Indian Air bases, marking the beginning to the 1971 war. During British rule, then Pilot Officer PC Lal was commissioned during World War 2. After retirement, he became the Managing Director of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). ACM Lal has been awarded various medals for his distinguished service, including the Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). (ANI)
TMC MP Saayoni Ghosh on Wednesday condemned the attack on the party's Tripura office, alleging that the BJP might be behind the incident as an act of revenge. She stated that the TMC would assess the situation and reassure its workers that they are not alone. "We condemn this. If the frontline workers of the BJP have done this (the attack on the party's Tripura office), because of revenge and vengeance, we are going to assess the situation and give a message to our workers that they are not alone...Ever since the BJP has heard that the Trinamul Congress delegation is visiting Tripura, threat messages have already started. You are all witnesses to what happens next," MP Saayoni said. The incident follows the attack on the BJP MP Khagan Murmu and BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh, who a group of miscreants attacked while they were visiting the flood-affected areas in West Bengal to provide relief and support to the victims. Meanwhile, BJP Leader Dilip Ghosh criticised the TMC party, "Political violence has increased in Bengal because of the TMC...The meeting of Bageshwar Baba has been cancelled by Mamata Banerjee...The people of TMC have forcibly stopped the Ravana Dahan program at 9 places...The government is a spectator of people who are in crisis due to floods...Mamata Banerjee was doing a carnival in Kolkata...Hooliganism has started. Especially, Rohingya infiltrators from Bangladesh are being used in this..." He further claimed that TMC has attacked the BJP leaders several times over the years and demanded that strict action be taken against them. On October 6, LoP in the Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of orchestrating violence by sending her supporters to allegedly attack BJP leaders and workers and obstruct relief work. Adhikari claimed that while BJP MPs and MLAs were targeted for visiting flood-affected areas in North Bengal and distributing relief. He alleged that MP Khagen Murmu sustained injuries, and MLA Shankar Ghosh's vehicle was attacked. In a post on X, Adhikari wrote, "Mamata Banerjee is in full Panic Mode. She has realised it (quite late) that the People of West Bengal have despised her inhuman act of 'Dancing at Carnival with Celebrities' when North Bengal was reeling under floods and landslides, with many People losing their lives and thousands left shelterless. In contrast, BJP Bengal MLAs & MPs were on the ground doing their bit to provide relief to the affected People." "So, she has now pressed the panic button and has now unleashed her goons belonging to the 'Special Community' and incited them to attack the BJP MPs and MLAs so that they can be prevented from engaging in relief work. MP Shri Khagen Murmu was brutally attacked and has been left with bloody injuries in Nagrakata today when he was accompanying BJP Bengal President Shri Samik Bhattacharya to the flood-affected areas. MLA Dr Shankar Ghosh's vehicle also came under attack in the presence of the Police. Mamata Banerjee, you can't intimidate BJP," the post read. TMC leader Kunal Ghosh argued that the party has nothing to do with the attack on the BJP leaders. "TMC has nothing to do with what happened in North Bengal. BJP needs to analyse why there is outrage against its MP. MLAs. Why is the public upset with them?" he said. He further added, "We condemn it (the attack on BJP MP Khagen Murmu). West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee met Khagen Murmu and condemned the attack. Our state office in Agartala has been ransacked. The police were standing there, but they did nothing...A team from TMC is going there...Everyone knows who ransacked our state office...Come with us, we will show you what the BJP has done to the democracy there..." (ANI)
"I met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. On this occasion, received his guidance on issues related to the development of Madhya Pradesh," CM Yadav posted on his X handle after the meeting.

Earlier on Tuesday, CM Mohan Yadav inaugurated a two-day Collector-Commissioner conference being held in Bhopal and addressed the officials on various key issues.

Speaking about "Agriculture and Allied Sectors, CM Yadav highlighted that Madhya Pradesh's economy is primarily an agrarian economy. The government's core objective is to promote natural and organic farming and to increase acreage under horticultural crops compared to traditional agricultural crops. New opportunities for entrepreneurship must also be encouraged in these sectors.

He directed district collectors to encourage farmers in their respective districts to adopt natural and organic farming and provide them with all possible support.

He also directed collectors to ensure that weekly local markets promote the sale of produce grown through natural and organic methods. They should also encourage farmers to grow cash crops through awareness campaigns. Collectors were instructed to motivate at least 100 farmers for natural farming, maintain records, and study the benefits derived.

He further stressed close monitoring of soybean auction rates in agricultural markets. The CM urged extensive promotion of the Bhavantar Yojana, ensuring that its benefits reach the maximum number of farmers. Collectors were instructed to diligently work for its effective implementation so that farmers receive the maximum benefit.

Expressing concern over stubble burning, the Chief Minister instructed strict enforcement to curb such incidents.

Additionally, talking about health and nutrition, the Chief Minister emphasised that many new facilities have been introduced in the health sector. Collectors should ensure qualitative improvement in health services and regularly visit hospitals to address deficiencies.

He urged district collectors to ensure that all benefits are available to Ayushman card holders and to improve the quality and accessibility of health services, so that the public can easily access better health facilities. (ANI)
The Patiala House Court on Wednesday asked Delhi police to file a comprehensive reply on the application of Chaitanyananda Saraswati for a sanyasi robe and spiritual books, mentioning the rule of jail manual. The application will be heard again on Monday. In another application seeking the supply of a copy of the seizure memo to Chaitanyanand Saraswati, the court asked the police to file a proper reply. This application is listed for a hearing on Friday. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Animesh Kumar pointed out that the reply filed by the Investigation Officer (IO) is not proper and there is no mention of any provision of the jail manual on clothes and spiritual books. The court said, "Prima facie, it appears that there is no prohibition on clothes and books, so how can I prohibit?" Advocate Manish Gandhi, counsel for the accused, also referred to the jail manual and submitted that there is no prohibition on an undertrial prisoner to wear clothes of his choice. During the hearing, the counsel for the accused also orally prayed for a direction for providing extra bedding as the accused is over 65 years of age and has ailments. The court pointed out that the reply contained some unwanted comments, such as the accused doesn't deserve the privilege of wearing religious clothes. The court stated that the police should not make any such comments. "We don't have any right to make any such comments. The reply should be as per the jail manual. " The court also stated that the interim order regarding the sanyasi's food and medicines shall continue until the next date. Delhi Police on October 4 had sought time to file replies on two applications moved by Chaitanyanand Saraswati. He has sought a direction to provide him with sanyasi food, sanyasi garb, spectacles, medicines and books. He has also sought a direction for the supply of seizure memo of the Delhi police. The counsel for the accused submitted that, as per the provisions of BNSS, there is no bar if the seizure memo is supplied to the accused. He also submitted that he has apprehension that the documents seized during the investigation might be used in the other case too. The additional public prosecutor (APP) opposed the submissions and said that there are guidelines to the effect that a copy of the seizure can't be provided before filing the charge sheet. Patiala house court on October 3, remanded Chaitanyanand to 14 days' judicial custody till October 17. (ANI)
According to an official release, the primary aim of the event is to showcase emerging industrial opportunities in Madhya Pradesh, particularly in the upcoming Power and Renewable Energy Equipment Manufacturing Zone (Phase 2) at Mohasa-Babai in Narmadapuram district. The deadline for land allotment applications in this zone is October 12, 2025.

The session will be attended by top industrial groups from India as well as Consuls General and trade representatives from Singapore, Mexico, Canada, and Italy.

CM Yadav will present the state's industrial policies, investment potential, and major projects such as the Power and Renewable Energy Equipment Manufacturing Zone, PM MITRA Park, Footwear Park, and sector-based industrial clusters.

The Chief Minister will also engage in one-on-one meetings with key industry leaders to discuss specific investment opportunities. The session will feature a Diplomat Roundtable to explore global collaborations and industrial partnerships.

Additionally, Principal Secretary of Department of Industrial Policy of Investment Promotion, Raghwendra Singh will present detailed insights into investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh on the occasion.

Madhya Pradesh is rapidly emerging as a premier investment destination. The state government has strengthened its investor-friendly environment through transparency, policy stability, and fast-tracked approvals. It has successfully created a climate of trust and transparency for investors. As a result, leading companies from across the globe are now showing keen interest in setting up industrial units in the state.

Such investment sessions are expected to significantly boost the state's industrial growth and generate ample employment opportunities for local youth, positioning Madhya Pradesh as a major hub for industry and jobs in the coming years. (ANI)
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrived in Ayodhya, the sacred city of Lord Shri Ram, on Wednesday for a two-day visit. She was welcomed by Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Khanna and Agriculture Minister Surya Pratap Shahi at the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport. The Union Minister's visit marks a special cultural event at Brihaspati Kund in Tedhi Bazaar, where she, along with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, will unveil the statues of three legendary South Indian musicians, Saint Tyagaraja Swamigal, Purandara Dasa, and Arunachala Kavi. The statues installed in the Brihaspati Kund complex stand as timeless symbols of India's musical, devotional, and artistic heritage. These saint-musicians infused divine devotion into Indian classical music, making it the spiritual essence of the nation's culture. Their installation in Ayodhya, the land of devotion and dharma, serves as a remarkable testament to the unity of North and South Indian traditions. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath offered prayers at the Hanumangarhi temple in Ayodhya. Preparations for the upcoming Ayodhya Deepotsav have concluded successfully, and tenders for diyas, oil, wicks, and miscellaneous items for the festival have also been placed. Jayendra Kumar, CEO, Shree Ayodhya Jee Teerth Vikas Parsihad, and Municipal Commissioner, said that the goal this year would be to light 26 lakh diyas during the festival, further stating that all necessary arrangements were also being made by the Nagar Nigam Ayodhya for sanitation and toilets. "Shree Ayodhya Jee Teerth Vikas Parishad has done all tenders for diyas, oil, wicks and miscellaneous items for Deepotsav. Like in the last few years, Nagar Nigam Ayodhya is making all the necessary arrangements for sanitation, toilets, and decorations...Different welcome gates will also be constructed...The goal this time is to light 26 lakh diyas..." Kumar told ANI. The Deepotsav festival is to be celebrated from October 18 to 20, along with a drone show and a light and sound show this year, as per officials. Earlier, Commissioner Rajesh Kumar said, "This time Deepotsav will be celebrated on 19 October. In view of that, all preparations are almost complete...We will break the record we made last time. We will light more than 26 lakh diyas... There will be a drone show, a light-sound show..." (ANI)
BIG SPRING, Texas, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas New Materials Inc., a Texas-based manufacturer of specialty polymers, announced plans to build a 200,000-metric-ton-per-year polyacrylamide production facility in Big Spring, Texas, with NNA Polymers as the channel to market. Startup is expected by late 2026.

The world-scale plant represents a major step toward strengthening a secure, reliable, and sustainable supply chain for polyacrylamide, a critical polymer used in water treatment, oil and gas, mining, and other industrial applications.

Integrated Monomer Supply

Unlike producers that rely on external suppliers, the new facility will feature a fully integrated raw material supply. This design ensures:

Security of supply for customers during market disruptions

for customers during market disruptions Cost competitiveness by reducing exposure to third-party pricing

by reducing exposure to third-party pricing Enhanced quality control through vertical integration and advanced process technologies

Strategic Location

Big Spring was selected for its logistics infrastructure, proximity to key customers, and access to energy and resources. The site will serve as a hub for polyacrylamide supply across North America, strengthening domestic manufacturing and reducing reliance on global supply chains.

Innovation and Sustainability

The facility will incorporate advanced process technologies to reduce environmental impact and improve efficiency. NNA Polymers remains committed to delivering polymers that meet performance requirements while supporting long-term sustainability goals.

About Texas New Materials and NNA Polymers

Texas New Materials Inc. and NNA Polymers Inc. are a Texas-based manufacturer and a supplier specializing in high-performance polyacrylamide and related chemistries for industrial, municipal, and energy markets. With a focus on reliability, sustainability, and technical expertise, NNA Polymers partners with customers across North America to solve water treatment, solid-liquid separation, and process efficiency challenges. Learn more at www.nnapolymers.com.

SOURCE NNA Polymers, Inc.
IndiGo, India's preferred airline, on Wednesday commenced its direct long-haul service connecting Mumbai and Copenhagen, Denmark, marking the airline's entry into the Scandinavian region of Europe, according to the IndiGo statement. This comes after the successful launch of long-haul operations to Manchester and Amsterdam in July 2025. With this launch, Copenhagen becomes IndiGo's 44th international and 138th overall destination, further strengthening the airline's growing global network. IndiGo's thrice-weekly flights on the route are operated using its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, leased on a wet/damp basis from Norse Atlantic Airways. The aircraft offers a dual-class configuration that includes Economy Class and IndiGoStretch, IndiGo's tailor-made business offering. Copenhagen becomes IndiGo's fourth destination in Europe, after Istanbul, Manchester, and Amsterdam, with London and Athens to follow soon. This strengthens IndiGo's position as a global airline and reinforces its commitment to enhancing connectivity between India and key international destinations. This new direct connection will enhance connectivity between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, and Copenhagen Airport, one of the oldest international airports in Europe and the busiest in Scandinavia. With the growing ties between India and Northern Europe, this route is playing an increasingly important role in trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between the regions. While offering Indian travellers seamless access to onward destinations across the Nordics, the new route will open up IndiGo's unparalleled Indian network of over 90 destinations for flyers from Scandinavia. As per the release, Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo, said, "With the launch of our third long-haul route between Mumbai and Copenhagen, IndiGo unlocks a strategic gateway to the Nordic region as we continue to deepen our presence in Europe. This is a key step in our global growth journey 'towards new heights, across new frontiers'. We are steadily expanding our operations across the globe, and our strong partnerships - like the one we share with Denmark and the Copenhagen Airport - play a crucial role in enhancing the experience that we offer to our customers." "As we continue on our journey of evolution from a major Indian airline to a global aviation player, we are delighted to be able to offer our customers the option of flying with India's preferred airline and experience IndiGo's distinctive and reliable service," he added. Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, Ambassador of Denmark to India, said, "A new direct route between Mumbai and Copenhagen is a very positive and tangible symbol of the strong partnership between Denmark and India. Increased connectivity will undoubtedly benefit cultural and economic ties between our two countries." Manish Prabhat, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Denmark, said, "Embassy of India, Copenhagen heartily welcomes the IndiGo connection between Mumbai and Copenhagen which is a testimony of the growing ties between India and Denmark and the demand for greater connectivity between the two countries. Ever since the announcement of India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership by the leadership of both countries in 2020, bilateral relations have encompassed business, cultural and tourist ties, academia, research and innovation, and tourism." Prabhat further added, "Direct connection between Mumbai and Copenhagen would further boost these ties and even serve the greater Nordic market as well as facilitate further connections from Mumbai to other destinations in Asia. I wish all success to IndiGo operations in Denmark." Christian Poulsen, Chief Executive Officer, Copenhagen Airports A/S, said, "We are delighted to welcome IndiGo to Copenhagen Airport. The new direct route between Copenhagen and Mumbai strengthens connectivity in both directions, benefiting business travellers and tourists travelling from Denmark and the Nordics, as well as those coming from India. This new connection reinforces Copenhagen Airport's role as Northern Europe's leading transport hub with strong connections to the rest of the world. We are proud that IndiGo has chosen Copenhagen as part of its expansion into the European market. I am confident that this new route is just the beginning for IndiGo, and we look forward to a continued strong partnership." The schedule of flights between Mumbai and Copenhagen is as follows: Flight 6E 0041 from Mumbai to Copenhagen will operate thrice weekly, departing at 04:35 and arriving at 10:05. The return flight, 6E 0042 from Copenhagen to Mumbai, will also operate thrice weekly, departing at 12:30 and arriving at 00:30 the next day. All timings are in local time zones, and exact timings may differ on the respective days of operation. (ANI)
A massive fire broke out at the Lakshmi Ganapathi Fireworks unit in Komaripalem village of Andhra Pradesh's Ambedkar Konaseema district, killing six and injuring four people on Wednesday afternoon. According to the Rayavaram police station, a fire broke out while workers were engaged in fireworks manufacturing work. The witnesses from nearby villages were horrified by the devastating scene, as many workers were inside the unit at the time of the accident and could not escape as the flames spread rapidly. However, police officials, revenue authorities, and senior officers from the fire department quickly arrived at the scene to assess the situation. Later, the injured individuals were taken to the Rajamahendravaram Government Hospital for more comprehensive medical treatment, and authorities are currently working to identify the victims. Meanwhile, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu spoke to officials about the fire at the fireworks manufacturing unit in Rayavaram. In a post on X, Naidu expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and requested detailed information from officials regarding the cause of the accident, the current situation and relief measures. https://x.com/ncbn/status/1975841005665419615 "A fire accident at the Bana Sancha manufacturing centre in Rayavaram, Konaseema district, has caused a stir. The loss of several lives in this tragic accident has caused immense grief. I spoke with officials about the causes of the accident, the current situation, relief measures, and medical assistance," wrote Naidu. Additonally, he also requested the senior officials visit the incident site and participate in the relief efforts. "I have instructed senior officials to visit the incident site personally and participate in relief efforts. I have advised that better medical aid be provided to the injured. We stand with the affected families," added Naidu. (ANI)
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu chaired a review meeting to assess the preparations for the unveiling ceremony of the statue of the late former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, scheduled to be held on October 13, 2025, at the historic Ridge, Shimla. The Chief Minister said that this programme would be organised by the state government and AICC in-charge for Himachal Pradesh, and MP Rajni Patil, alongwith senior Congress leaders, would attend the event. He directed the officers to make all necessary arrangements to ensure the successful organisation of the programmer and to put in place the required security measures. CM Sukhu also instructed that all preparations must be completed within the stipulated time frame. Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh, MLA Harish Janartha, Principal Advisor (Media) to the Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan, HIMUDA Vice Chairman Yashwant Chhajta, Secretary GAD Rajesh Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap and other dignitaries were present in the meeting. Earlier, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday said that the state government is striving to establish a robust healthcare system through infrastructure development. He added that the state government has taken several initiatives in this direction, including the establishment of PGI Satellite Centre in Una, providing advanced equipment at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) Shimla and expansion of Him Care Scheme. The government is also focusing on adopting digital health systems to improve primary healthcare services and strengthening the workforce. Chief Minister Sukhu stated that a robotic surgery facility has been made available at Atal Super Speciality Institute, Chamiana, and Tanda Medical College. Robotic surgery will be gradually introduced at other medical colleges as well. The Chief Minister stated that the integration of digital health information systems, from the sub-centre level to the state level, aims to enhance efficiency in healthcare services. The state government has increased the remuneration of essential technical staff, including radiographers and X-ray technicians. To address staff shortages in the health department, the government has approved the recruitment of 200 medical officers, 38 assistant professors in various super-speciality departments, and 400 staff nurses as job trainees. This will enhance the efficiency of medical colleges and hospitals across the state and ensure that people have easy access to specialised healthcare facilities. (ANI)
India has been conferred with the Outstanding Achievement in Social Security Award 2025 by the International Social Security Association (ISSA), recently at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, recognising the country's exemplary efforts in expanding social protection and ensuring inclusive welfare for its citizens. Speaking on this achievement, Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told ANI that India has performed remarkably in this area over the past decade, with approximately 64 per cent of the country's population now having access to social security. Mandaviya said, "The International Social Security Association (ISSA) was established in 1927 and is a prestigious global institution... It works with a noble purpose and every three years honours countries that have done commendable work in the field of social security. India has performed remarkably in this area over the past decade." "Today, 64% of the country's population has access to social security. In terms of numbers, approximately 94 crore citizens of the country are now covered under social security... There are several schemes through which our social security coverage has expanded, and the International Social Security Association has taken note of this and honoured India..." he said. The ISSA award, presented in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last week, was received by Mansukh Mandaviya on behalf of the Government of India. Union Minister said that this award is a testament to the transformative reforms carried out by the Modi government over the past decade in the domain of social security. He also stressed upon the rise in India's vote share in the ISSA General Assembly to 30, which is the maximum permissible limit for any member country, saying, "This milestone reflects India's growing influence and leadership in shaping global social security dialogue and cooperation." The ISSA Award is a prestigious global recognition, presented once every three years at the World Social Security Forum. Previous recipients of this honour include Brazil (2013), China (2016), Rwanda (2019) and Iceland (2022). Established in 1927, the International Social Security Association (ISSA) comprises more than 330 member organisations from 158 countries. India has achieved a remarkable expansion in social protection coverage, from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025, as highlighted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), thereby bringing more than 94 crore (940 million) citizens under the ambit of social security. A key reform driving this achievement is the e-Shram Portal, launched four years ago, which has connected over 31 crore (310 million) unorganised workers to social security and other welfare services. The ISSA Award 2025 highlights India's commitment to developing an inclusive, equitable, and technology-driven social protection ecosystem, ensuring that every worker, whether organised or unorganised, is safeguarded under the umbrella of social security. (ANI)
The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has expressed serious concern over the reported deaths of children in Madhya Pradesh linked to the consumption of a particular cough syrup. In a letter to the Union Health Minister on Wednesday, the association stated that the incident raised serious questions about the safety, quality assurance, and monitoring mechanisms governing the manufacture and distribution of pharmaceutical products for children. FAIMA requested to constitute a Central Investigation Committee under the Ministry to conduct a detailed and impartial probe into the incident, including all stages of manufacturing, quality testing and distribution. It further stated that the committee should include qualified medical experts, pharmacologists, and representatives from different states to ensure transparency, neutrality, and multidisciplinary oversight. It directed the committee to submit a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations for strengthening national drug safety mechanisms and preventing the recurrence of such events. FAIMA further suggests conducting nationwide inspections and random testing of pediatric medicines and syrups to verify compliance with established quality standards, stressing the need to strengthen coordination between State Drug Control Authorities and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) for uniform enforcement and surveillance. Provide medical assistance and necessary support to the affected families and ensure that appropriate legal and administrative actions are taken as per the committee's findings, the statement in the letter read. The association also added to ensure that registered doctors are not wrongfully blamed or harassed until the investigation is completed and the actual cause of the incident is scientifically established. The doctor who has been arrested should be released from custody immediately, and any disciplinary or legal action should be considered only after the investigation is completed thoroughly with representation from recognised medical bodies such as FAIMA and IMA. The inquiry must be conducted in a manner that upholds the dignity and accountability of medical professionals while ensuring justice for the victims, it added. "The loss of young lives is a matter of grave concern, and prompt action from the Ministry will reflect the government's commitment to safeguarding child health and ensuring the highest standards of drug safety in the country," the statement read. Notably, Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla on Wednesday said that 20 children have died so far due to consumption of Coldrif cough syrup in the state. Of these 20 children, 17 were from Chhindwara district, two from Betul district, and one was from Pandhurna district. "20 children have lost their lives in the unfortunate incident from Chhindwara, Betul and Pandhurna districts. The state government is quite strict. The police teams from Chhindwara have reached Chennai and Kanchipuram to arrest the owner of Coldrif manufacturing company and strict action is being taken into the matter," Shukla told reporters. (ANI)
FICCI HEAL 2025, the 19th edition of FICCI's annual healthcare conference supported by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and NITI Aayog, opened on Wednesday with its inaugural plenary session "India's Healthcare Odyssey: Legacy, Leadership & the Road to Viksit Bharat." The session hosted stalwarts, torchbearers, and emerging visionaries of the Indian healthcare sector to reflect on the last 25 years of transformation and share perspectives on building a future-ready healthcare system for 2047. The plenary began with opening remarks by Dr Harsh Mahajan, Chair, FICCI Health Services Committee and Founder & Chairman, Mahajan Imaging & Labs, and Varun Khanna, Chair of FICCI HEAL 2025; Co-Chair, FICCI Health Services Committee and Group Managing Director, Quality Care India Limited (Care, KIMS & Evercare). This was followed by the felicitation of the legends of Indian healthcare for their pioneering contributions. The legends felicitated at the inauguration were, Dr Prathap C Reddy, Dr Naresh Trehan, (Hony) Brig Dr Arvind Lal, Dr Azad Moopen, Dr M I Sahadull, Prof (Dr) SK Sarin, Dr Narottam Puri. Dr Harsh Mahajan, Chair, FICCI Health Services Committee and Founder & Chairman, Mahajan Imaging & Labs, noted, "As we inaugurate FICCI HEAL 2025, it is important to reflect on how India's healthcare ecosystem has transformed into one of the most dynamic in the world. Over the last two and a half decades, the sector has seen unprecedented growth. The inaugural plenary is a tribute to the pioneers who laid the foundation of modern healthcare in India and to the leaders shaping it today. As we look ahead, it is also about giving voice to the next generation of innovators who will define what healthcare in 2047 looks like - equitable, digitally enabled, and globally competitive." Varun Khanna, Chair of FICCI HEAL 2025; Co-Chair, FICCI Health Services Committee and Group Managing Director, Quality Care India Limited (Care, KIMS & Evercare), added, "As FICCI HEAL 2025 opens its inaugural plenary, we have a rare moment to reflect on India's healthcare journey. The legends built the foundations, today's leaders are expanding access and improving quality, and the next generation is already pioneering new ways of delivering care. Hearing these voices together shows us how India can build a healthcare system that is ready for a Viksit Bharat." Dr Prathap C Reddy, Founder-Chairman and Executive Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, "There was a time when advanced healthcare was beyond the reach of most Indians. Most of it was accessible only to those who could afford treatment abroad. What our country lacked then was not skill, but access and infrastructure. With the government's support in removing high customs duties on medical equipment, India took its first decisive step toward accessible, world-class healthcare. Today, our doctors and hospitals stand shoulder to shoulder with the best globally. With sustained policy support and public-private collaboration, India can redefine healthcare accessibility for its own citizens and for the world." (Hony) Brig Dr Arvind Lal, Executive Chairman, Dr Lal PathLabs Ltd, said, "Diagnostics form the backbone of healthcare, with nearly 70-80 percent of treatment decisions relying on accurate testing. Awareness of individual health parameters is also limited. A dual pronged approach of increasing general awareness as well as standardising quality in pathology labs should be the way forward. At Dr Lal PathLabs, we believe that accreditation cannot remain voluntary. Only through mandatory, standardised quality can diagnostics truly support treatment and strengthen India's healthcare system." Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman and Managing Director and Chief Cardiac Surgeon, Medanta-The Medicity, said, "There is no shortage, except for talent. Now what we really need to do is upgrade and upskill our human capital hugely. Right now, we are at about 50% of where we should be to provide the highest quality of care to our people, and this will hopefully double in the next five to ten years. But along with that, we need to improve the quality of medical education we provide - across the board, including nursing and paramedical education. If we concentrate on upgrading the quality of our training and education, India will become a provider of healthcare to the rest of the world." The inaugural plenary brought together voices across generations - from the legends who built the foundations, to today's torchbearers balancing growth and equity, to the next generation of visionaries shaping the healthcare of 2047. Unfolding across three panel discussions, the plenary included sessions titled 'The Legends - Architects of India's Healthcare Foundation', moderated by Mr Shekhar Gupta, Editor-in-Chief and Chairman, ThePrint, where speakers reflected on the milestones that shaped India's healthcare journey, from expanding access to positioning India on the global stage. The second panel discussion was titled 'The Torchbearers - Powerhouse of the Present', moderated by Navika Kumar, Group Editor-in-Chief, Times Now & Times Now Navbharat, where current leaders discussed balancing access, growth, equity, and innovation while navigating today's policy and financing challenges. The third session was titled 'The Visionaries of Tomorrow - Pioneering New Frontiers in Healthcare' moderated by Dr Harsh Mahajan, Chair, FICCI Health Services Committee where youth leaders and innovators shared their vision for India's healthcare in 2047, spotlighting disruption, deep tech, and inclusive models. Day 1 of FICCI HEAL saw India's healthcare legends, current leaders, and emerging visionaries share their insights on innovation, access, and equity. Discussions reflected on pivotal milestones that shaped the sector, strategies that enabled growth and affordability, and innovations driving healthcare delivery today. By bridging the experiences of pioneers with the ideas of the next generation, the plenary provided a comprehensive view of India's healthcare journey and its roadmap for a Viksit Bharat. (ANI)
The Ministry of Labour and Employment, has released the draft National Labour & Employment Policy - Shram Shakti Niti 2025 for public consultation on Wednesday. According to the Ministry of Labour & Employment, the draft policy presents a renewed vision for a fair, inclusive, and future-ready world of work aligned with the national aspiration of Viksit Bharat @2047. "Rooted in India's civilisational ethos of srama dharma - the dignity and moral value of work, the policy envisions a labour ecosystem that ensures protection, productivity, and participation for every worker. It seeks to create a balanced framework that upholds workers' welfare while enabling enterprises to grow and generate sustainable livelihoods." Ministry added The Ministry said that Shram Shakti Niti 2025 positions the Ministry of Labour & Employment (MoLE) as a proactive Employment Facilitator, aiming to drive convergence among workers, employers, and training institutions through trusted, technology-led systems. The National Career Service (NCS) platform will serve as India's Digital Public Infrastructure for Employment, enabling transparent and inclusive job matching, credential verification, and skill alignment. Through open APIs, multilingual access, and AI-driven innovation, the NCS-DPI will connect opportunity with talent across Tier-II and Tier-III cities, rural districts, and MSME clusters, making employment facilitation a nationwide public good. The policy also places strong emphasis on universal social security, occupational safety and health, women and youth empowerment, and the creation of green and technology-enabled jobs. It aims to build a resilient and continuously skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of emerging technologies, climate transitions, and global value chains. By integrating key national databases such as EPFO, ESIC, e-Shram, and NCS into a unified Labour Stack, the policy envisions an inclusive and interoperable digital ecosystem that supports lifelong learning, social protection, and income security. The draft policy reflects extensive stakeholder consultations and emphasises cooperative federalism, evidence-based policymaking, and digital transparency. It provides a long-term framework for coordinated action among the Centre, States, industry, and social partners to ensure that the benefits of growth are shared widely and equitably. The draft National Labour & Employment Policy - Shram Shakti Niti 2025 is available on the websites of the Ministry of Labour & Employment, the Directorate General of Employment (DGE), and the National Career Service (NCS). Stakeholders, institutions, and members of the public are invited to submit their feedback, comments, and suggestions by October 27, at ddg-dget@nic.in. (ANI)
Amid heavy rainfall, the Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee, along with the Rudraprayag district administration and police, urged pilgrims to bring warm clothing, medicines, and other essential health-related items on Wednesday. Vineet Chandra Posti, a member of the Kedarnath Temple Committee, noted that Kedarnath Dham has been experiencing snowfall for the past two days. The temple committee member further assures that all necessary arrangements, including darshan lines, are being effectively managed by the temple committee, local administration, ITBP, and the army. "For the last two days, Kedarnath has been witnessing heavy snowfall. We appeal to people to bring warm clothing, medicines, and other essential health-related items during their visit. The temple committee, local administration, ITBP, and the army are effectively taking care of all necessary arrangements, including smooth darshan lines,"said Posti. The member of the Kedarnath Temple Committee also asserted that the temple committee is making special efforts, in coordination with local authorities, to ensure that no devotee misses the opportunity to offer prayers at Baba Kedar's divine shrine. "The temple committee is making special efforts to ensure that no devotee in the sacred Baba Kedar's divine shrine misses the opportunity to offer darshan at Baba Kedar's divine shrine," added Posti. Meanwhile, the portals of the Kedarnath Dham will be ceremoniously closed for the winter season on October 23 this year, according to the Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC). The Committee told ANI that the portals of Badrinath Dham will be closed for the winter on November 25 at 2:56 PM this year. Additionally, the auspicious time (muhurat) for the departure of Shri Uddhav Ji and Shri Kuber Ji to Pandukeshwar, as well as for the Adi Guru Shankaracharya's Gaddi and Vishnu's vehicle, Shri Garud Ji, to proceed to their winter seat at the Narsingh Temple, Jyotirmath, will also be determined. (ANI)
Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, who is out on bail after spending twenty-three months in Sitapur jail, stated on Wednesday that the difference between the Emergency and the undeclared emergency is that now even brutality is no longer alive. He claimed that he was accused of theft, but the punishment he received was for robbery. Speaking to the media, Khan, one of the party's founding members, said, "It is true that among the founding members, I am the only one alive... This is the third episode of my life. First, the Emergency from 1975 to 1977. Then, 27 months, and then 23 months. These 27 and 23 months are so heavy that I don't remember any wounds or memories of the Emergency." He further criticised the alleged undeclared emergency under the BJP rule and said, "Humanity was alive at that time, but now, even brutality is not alive. This is the difference between that Emergency and this undeclared Emergency. Now, you can imagine the level of those who filed these cases and those who are doing it...I was accused of theft, but the punishment was for robbery..." Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former Lok Sabha member Azam Khan was released from Sitapur jail in Uttar Pradesh, where he had been lodged for nearly 23 months. He was jailed in connection with the Quality Bar land encroachment case. The Allahabad High Court granted bail to former UP Minister Mohammad Azam Khan in the Quality Bar land case. Commenting on his meeting with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, party leader Azam Khan said, "What was discussed in the meeting is a matter between us, which we cannot make public... I have a half-century-old relationship with that family." Earlier in the day, Samajwadi Party leader and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav visited the residence of SP leader and former Lok Sabha member Azam Khan on Wednesday after his release from Sitapur jail in Uttar Pradesh, where he was lodged for nearly 23 months. He was jailed in connection with the Quality Bar land encroachment case. Posting on his X about the meeting, Akhilesh Yadav wrote, "What can one say of that tale of the meeting, where only emotions spoke in silence." "I am here to meet him, as I was unable to meet him in jail. I inquired about his health and well-being. Honourable Azam Khan is a very senior leader of the party. His roots are very deep in the party, and his guidance has always been with us. This is a big fight, and we will fight for justice and for his well-being," he added. He accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of registering false cases against Azam Khan and his family. "I don't know which world record the BJP is trying to make in the country's history and in political history for registering false cases against Azan Khan's family. He has the highest number of cases. There is a false allegation against him, his wife, his son, and other family members. This government has registered the highest number of false cases against all of them," he said. (ANI)
Delhi riots larger conspiracy case accused Umar Khalid's counsel argued before the Karkardooma Court on Wednesday that his client was not present at the alleged "main conspiratorial meeting" on January 8, 2020. It is alleged by the Delhi Police that on the basis of this meeting, the entire "conspiracy" was planned. The court is currently hearing arguments on framing charges, with Umar Khalid and 17 others facing accusations under the UAPA. Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sameer Bajpai listed the matter for further arguments. During the arguements, senior advocate Tridip Pais, counsel for Umar Khalid, argued that the main meeting in which Umar Khalid had supposedly conspired, he was not even present in the same. While advancing his arguements, the senior counsel relied upon the call details records (CDRs) of all the accused persons who were allegedly present in this meeting. He argued that the meeting in question was held a month and a half before the riots occurred. "All the timings may be seen. Compare them. The accused persons couldn't have met," the counsel said. Senior advocate Pais submitted that, according to an analysis of CDR charts, they (accused) weren't even there at the meeting. It was also submitted that there is no recovery from Umar Khalid, and there are no allegations of receiving or raising funds. He also referred to the statements of the protected witness 'Saturn' during arguments. He argued that the alleged meeting was held on January 8. Umar Khalid was interrogated on May 21. His statement was recorded on September 27, after his arrest. Delhi Police have already argued on the point of charges. The accused persons are now arguing the point of framing the charge. There are 18 accused persons, including Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Tahir Hussain, Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal, Gulfisha Fatima, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Safoora Jargar, Abdul Khalid Saifi, Meeran Haider, Athar Khan, Shifa Ur Rehman and others. (ANI)
Ribbon-cutting set for Oct. 15 at 12:00 p.m.

WARSAW, Ind., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- OrthoLazer, a national network of orthopedic wellness centers, recently opened its corporate headquarters and flagship Orthopedic Wellness Center in Warsaw and will celebrate the grand opening with a ribbon-cutting on Oct. 15. OrthoLazer centers deliver safe, drug-free, noninvasive laser therapy that helps reduce pain and inflammation without needles, surgery, or downtime.

Event Details:

When: Wednesday, Oct. 15, 12:001:30 p.m. (ribbon cutting at 12:15 p.m.)

Wednesday, Oct. 15, 12:001:30 p.m. (ribbon cutting at 12:15 p.m.) Where: OrthoLazer, Your Orthopedic Wellness Center

902 Provident Dr., Suite C, Warsaw

OrthoLazer, Your Orthopedic Wellness Center 902 Provident Dr., Suite C, Warsaw Brief remarks, ribbon cutting, light refreshments, guided tours

"Opening in Warsaw, the Orthopedic Capital of the World, honors the community's orthopedic heritage and positions our team to serve patients and partners from the heart of the industry," said Rod Mayer, CEO of OrthoLazer. "This center anchors our growth and expands access to patient-friendly care."

"After seeing the toll of opioid addiction in my community, I set out to expand access to safe, effective alternatives," said Dr. Scott A. Sigman, Founder of OrthoLazer. "Our FDA-cleared M8 Therapy Laser directs concentrated light energy to injured tissue, helping reduce pain and swelling while engaging the body's natural healing response."

"As an orthopedic surgeon, I see how important it is to offer noninvasive, opioid-sparing care for arthritis, injuries, and recovery after surgery," said Dr. Mark Klaassen, a strategic advisor and member of OrthoLazer's Surgeon Advisory Board. "The M8 Laser delivers specific wavelengths of light that stimulate cellular repair and promote recovery across common musculoskeletal conditions."

About OrthoLazer

OrthoLazer, Your Orthopedic Wellness Center, is a growing national network of laser therapy centers delivering safe, personalized pain relief powered by light. Using the exclusive, FDA-cleared M8 Therapy Laser, OrthoLazer offers a fully noninvasive alternative to traditional pain treatments, helping patients reduce inflammation, recover faster, and live more comfortably. Learn more at ortholazer.com.

SOURCE OrthoLazer
In a landmark step for Tripura's education sector, 22.410 acres (equivalent to 56 kanis) of land in Kamalasagar constituency, under Sepahijala district, Tripura, has been officially registered at the Bishalgarh Registry Office for the establishment of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar University under The Art of Living Foundation. The registration was conducted by Divya Kanchibotla ji, Trustee of Sri Sri Ravishankar Vidya Mandir (SSRVM), The Art of Living, Bengaluru. Expressing her happiness, the MLA of Kamalasagar constituency, Antara Sarkar Deb, stated that as the representative of Kamalasagar, she feels extremely delighted and, on behalf of all the residents, extended heartfelt gratitude to Chief Minister Dr. Professor Manik Saha ji for approving the establishment of this prestigious university. She also visited Kasbeswari Mata Temple to pray for the good health and long life of the Chief Minister. The proposed Sri Sri Ravi Shankar University is expected to emerge as a major hub of higher education in Tripura, promoting value-based learning inspired by the ideals of peace, spirituality, and holistic development advocated by Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Earlier, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha stated that this year's Durga Puja was completed peacefully and beautifully, without any incident. One of the government's goals is to further develop and promote art, culture, and literature in the state. He said that this year's Puja also witnessed great enthusiasm among the Janajatis. CM Saha said this while inaugurating the 'Mayer Gaman 2025' program organised in front of Maharani Tulsibati Girls' School in Agartala on Saturday. Speaking as the chief guest at this program organised by the Information and Cultural Affairs Department, Saha extended greetings for a happy Bijoya and Dussehra to the people of the state. He said that such a carnival has been organised for four years. "From the beginning, the first two years were organised in front of the City Centre. Then, from last year, in consultation with everyone, it has been organised in front of Tulsibati School. One of the main objectives of this event is to organise the Puja in an aesthetic, beautiful environment and in an orderly manner. This has been taken as one of the biggest activities in the annual cultural programs of the ICA Department. Today, children from the Jati and Janajati sections have jointly presented beautiful cultural performances here. This will further enrich our traditions and customs. Our government is also working in that direction. The message of harmony will be further strengthened through such arrangements," he said. The Chief Minister said that last year, on October 14, it was organised at the same venue. "After I took charge of the ICA Department, I sat down with other ministers and discussed that during the princely period, a procession was taken from here for the immersion of the idols. Then everyone, including clubs, organisations, and puja organisers, expressed their agreement to determine this place. Therefore, respecting the old tradition, arrangements have been made for the Mother's visit from this place," said Saha. Saha also stated that this auspicious Bijoya or Dussehra is not limited to Hinduism alone; its acceptance has increased significantly and is being appreciated worldwide. (ANI)
Union Minister and LJP (Ram Vilas) President Chirag Paswan on Wednesday said that seat-sharing talks in the National Democratic Alliance in Bihar are progressing well, and the right decision will be made at the right time. His reaction came amid the reports that he is unhappy with the NDA over the seat-sharing talks for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections. "I want to clearly state one thing that the discussions are going well and I believe that the right decision will be taken at the right time... As soon as the discussion is completed, it will be shared with you," Paswan told reporters. "Chirag Paswan only demands one thing, which is to make Bihar first and Biharis first. Chirag's demand is neither regarding any post, nor regarding any anger towards anyone, nor regarding anyone's seats," he added. Meanwhile, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Wednesday said that the NDA in Bihar is "completely united" and details about the seat-sharing arrangements will be provided after the talks. He further said that talks are taking place in a very cordial atmosphere between all the parties of the alliance. Speaking to reporters, Choudhary said, "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the NDA is completely united and holding talks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Chirag Paswan, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Upendra Kushwaha - all parties are continuously in talks with BJP leaders." "Talks are taking place in a very cordial atmosphere, and soon you all will receive good news. The structure of the alliance, the number of seats, and other things will be explained to everyone... Detailed information will be provided after the talks," he added. This comes after former Bihar Chief Minister and Hindustan Awam Morcha (Secular) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi shared a cryptic post on X, seemingly expressing his disappointment with NDA seat-sharing talks. Manjhi shared a poetic verse, "Ho nyaay agar to aadha do, yadi usme bhi koi baadha ho, to de do kewal 15 gram, rakho apni dharti tamaam, HAM wahi khushi se khayenge, parijan pe asi na uthayenge." Earlier today, Union Minister and BJP in charge of the election, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and co-incharge Keshav Prasad Maurya, chaired a BJP Election Committee Meeting at the party office in Patna. Maurya expressed his confidence and said, "Again NDA will form government in Bihar."Denying the allegation that the Bihar Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) (HAM(S)) founder, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and the president of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) (LJP(RV)), Chirag Paswan, are unhappy with the seat sharing, Maurya said that everyone is happy."Once everything (on seat sharing) is finalised, you will be informed. It will be told after the meeting. No one is angry, everyone is happy, and everyone will remain happy," he added further. The Election Commission has announced the schedule for the Bihar Assembly elections. The 243 Assembly seats will go to the polls in two phases on November 6 and November 11, with the counting of votes scheduled to take place on November 14. The total number of electors in the final list stands at 7.42 crore, while there were 7.89 crore electors as of June 24 this year. An Election Commission press release stated that 65 lakh voters were removed from the draft list, and the number of electors in the draft list as of August 1, 2025, stood at 7.24 crore. (ANI)
The Chhindwara Chemist Association has announced an indefinite strike from midnight in protest against the action taken on Wednesday against several medical stores in the district. Santosh Chore, President of the Chemist Association, expressed strong disagreement with the administration's decision to seal chemist shops, saying that responsibility should instead be fixed on the medicine manufacturers and the laboratories that approved the drugs. "We are going on strike starting midnight in protest after five chemist shops, which have been sealed and served a showcause notice. We are not objecting to the investigation, and samples should be collected. However, we do not agree with the sealing of chemist shops. Action should be taken against the medicine producers and labs that pass them," Chore told ANI. He also demanded the release of five chemist shop owners and a revision of the investigation procedures. "Today samples are being taken from our shops, we are not able to do our business and nor we are able to clean our shops for Diwali, our chemist shops are living under fear. We want the authorities to release five chemist owners and demand a change in investigation standards," Chore said. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla said on Wednesday that 20 children had died so far in the state due to the consumption of Coldrif cough syrup, while five others were undergoing treatment. Of the 20 deaths, 17 were reported from Chhindwara district, two from Betul district, and one from Pandhurna. "Twenty children have lost their lives in the unfortunate incident from Chhindwara, Betul and Pandhurna districts. The state government is quite strict. The police teams from Chhindwara have reached Chennai and Kanchipuram to arrest the owner of Coldrif manufacturing company, and strict action is being taken into the matter," Shukla told reporters. He added that all possible efforts were being made to save the children under treatment. "I met five children who are undergoing treatment in Nagpur, two at Government Medical college, two at AIIMS and one in a private hospital and their families. The management and doctors are making all efforts to save the lives of children undergoing treatment," Shukla added. Earlier on Tuesday, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced that the state government would bear the entire cost of treatment for children being treated in Nagpur for kidney infections caused by the cough syrup. A joint team of executive magistrates and doctors has also been deployed in Nagpur for continuous health monitoring. "Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has directed that the state government would bear the entire cost of treatment for nine children suffering from kidney infections caused by cough syrup, who are being treated in various hospitals in Nagpur. A joint team of executive magistrates and doctors has been deployed in Nagpur to ensure proper medical arrangements and continuous monitoring of the affected children," the Chief Minister's Office said in a post on X. (ANI)
This program enables citizens from across the country to directly interact with the Chief Minister and seek assistance for various issues.

According to the Tripura CMO, individuals approached the Chief Minister with medical and personal issues, each receiving guidance and assurance of support during today's session.

The statement said that Tapas Roy, from Mohorchhara in Teliamura, requested assistance for his sick son. In response, the Chief Minister promptly consulted with the Medical Superintendent of GB Hospital and directed that necessary measures be taken to ensure treatment within the state.

Additionally, Mahua Roy from Ramnagar, Agartala, sought help for her daughter's medical treatment. The Chief Minister assured her of all possible support.

Furthermore, Rinku Sarkar from Barjala, Agartala, reported experiencing financial difficulties in arranging medical care for her ailing husband. The Chief Minister promised to provide the necessary medical assistance and confirmed support through allowances from the Social Welfare and Social Education Department.

Other attendees, including Dulal Sen from Dhanpur in Sonamura and Milan Pal from Ramnagar in Agartala, also shared their concerns and left with the assurance that their issues would be addressed.

The event was attended by key officials, including Tapas Roy, Secretary of the Social Welfare and Social Education Department; Dr. Tapan Majumdar, Director of Health Services; Dr. Shankar Chakraborty, Medical Superintendent of GB Hospital; Dr. Debashree Debbarma, Medical Superintendent of IGM Hospital; and Dr. Shiromani Debbarma, Medical Superintendent of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Regional Cancer Centre, among others.

Earlier, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha participated in the Mayer Gaman 2025 ceremony, marking the farewell of Goddess Durga. Staying true to his annual tradition, the Chief Minister joined devotees in the grand immersion procession, celebrating the culmination of Durga Puja festivities with enthusiasm and reverence. (ANI)
Madhya Pradesh Minister of State for Public Health and Medical Education, Narendra Shivaji Patel, on Wednesday blamed the Tamil Nadu government for the deaths of children allegedly caused by contaminated cough syrup, saying that officials of the MP government were "not as responsible" as those in Tamil Nadu. Speaking to ANI, Patel said that Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is personally monitoring the case and that the state government is bearing all medical expenses of the hospitalised children. "The Madhya Pradesh government is committed to take strict action against all those responsible in this incident and ensure that no guilty person should be spared. This entire incident occurred because of a factory in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu government's system is responsible for it, but the media has not highlighted this accountability as much as it should have. Because the Madhya Pradesh government officials are not as responsible in this as the Tamil Nadu government system," Patel said. He added that the responsibility for manufacturing and licensing lies with the state where the medicine is produced. "When a medicine is manufactured in a particular state and sold outside it, it is the state's responsibility to inspect and ensure its quality before it leaves," he said. The minister stated that it had come to their notice that the Tamil Nadu government was negligent, and they were writing a letter to the Tamil Nadu government regarding this matter. "Where the Tamil Nadu government showed negligence, and which officials were responsible, has come to our notice. We are writing to the Tamil Nadu government regarding this matter, inquiring about how substandard medicine produced in their factory was allowed to leave the state. Also, arrests have begun based on the FIR filed in the case. Our police team is heading to Tamil Nadu, and the owners of the company will be arrested," he said. On the opposition's demand for his resignation, Patel said, "If my resignation solves the problem, then whenever our top leadership asks, I will resign within two minutes." Meanwhile, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh accused the Madhya Pradesh government of complete failure in the matter. "It is such an incident in which the Madhya Pradesh government completely failed. It is the duty of the drug inspector and drug controller to collect medicine samples and have them tested monthly, but they failed to do so. The incident occurred due to the failure of these officials and corruption. You should have collected the samples of medicine here; if anyone is making poison, then it is only their responsibility to check, not yours. What were you doing?" Singh told ANI. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday (local time) discussed a wide range of issues during a joint appearance in the Oval Office, including defence cooperation, the Israel-Gaza conflict, and the ongoing US government shutdown. Speaking to reporters, Carney thanked President Trump for hosting him "for a second time this year," describing the American leader as "a transformative president." The Canadian Prime Minister went on to commend Trump's record in global affairs, noting his success in securing "unprecedented commitments from NATO partners to defence spending" and "disabling Iran as a force of terror." During the exchange, Trump interjected with a light-hearted comment about a "merger of Canada and the United States," which prompted laughter from those present. Carney smiled and replied, "That wasn't where I was going," before continuing with his remarks. Reaffirming his country's stance on Middle East diplomacy, Carney expressed support for Trump's efforts to bring peace to the region. "We'll do whatever we can to support that," he said. Later, when asked about the ongoing US government shutdown and its impact on federal employees, Trump said, "For the most part we're going to take care of our people," but added that "some people who really don't deserve to be taken care of, and we'll take care of them in a different way." The President was also questioned about his plans to deploy the National Guard to Portland, Oregon, and whether he intended to invoke the Insurrection Act to authorise such a move. "It's been invoked before, as you know," Trump said, referencing past incidents. He cited Chicago as an example, describing it as "a great city with a lot of crime," and added, "If the governor can't do the job, we'll do the job." The joint appearance by Trump and Carney underscored the depth of the US-Canada partnership and the leaders' shared commitment to addressing key regional and domestic challenges. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) met Edan Alexander, who was held hostage by Hamas for 584 days, and the family of Omer Neutra, an IDF member killed by Hamas shortly after the attacks in Gaza, in the Oval Office. The White House said that Trump is committed to bringing all hostages. In a post on X, the White House stated, "Today, on the second anniversary of the October 7 attack, President Trump welcomed Edan Alexander, who was held hostage by Hamas for 584 days, and the family of Omer Neutra to the Oval Office. President Trump is committed to bringing every hostage home." https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1975666391425466767 Meanwhile, the first day of resumed indirect talks between Israel and Hamas in Egypt ended on a positive note, amid hopes of a potential deal to implement United States President Donald Trump's 20-point plan to end the war on Gaza, Al Jazeera reported. Negotiators are set to return for more discussions. The meeting in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday was "positive" and a roadmap was drawn up for how the current round of talks would continue, as reported by Al Jazeera. The Hamas delegation told mediators that Israel's continued bombing of Gaza poses a challenge to negotiations on the release of captives, Al Jazeera reported. The Hamas delegation included Hamas leaders Khalil al-Hayya and Zaher Jabarin, two negotiators who survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar's capital Doha that killed five people last month. The day-one talks covered the proposed exchange of prisoners and captives, a ceasefire, and humanitarian aid entering Gaza, according to Al Jazeera. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also said Trump was pushing for an early exchange of Israeli captives and Palestinian prisoners, in a bid to build "momentum" to implement other parts of his plan to end the Gaza war. "The technical teams are discussing that as we speak, to ensure that the environment is perfect to release those hostages," Leavitt said, adding that teams were "going over the list of both the Israeli hostages and also the political prisoners who will be released," Al Jazeera quoted her as saying. (ANI)
Williams & Connolly, one of the country's most prominent law firms, has told clients that Chinese hackers infiltrated some of its computer systems as part of a broader effort by the Chinese to target American law firms, according to two people briefed on the matter, The New York Times reported. The FBI's Washington field office is investigating the hack and similar ones executed by the same Chinese hackers, according to one of the people briefed on the matter. The hackers are suspected of breaching the networks of more than a dozen other law firms and technology companies in recent months. The people briefed on the hack and the FBI investigation spoke on the condition of anonymity because they did not want to be identified discussing a matter that was being investigated by federal authorities, as reported by The New York Times. Williams & Connolly, which has a reputation for aggressively fighting the government, represents high-profile American politicians, including Bill and Hillary Clinton. It was the first firm to step up and represent one of the law firms that had been targeted by US President Donald Trump with a punitive executive order as part of Trump's campaign against firms he felt had opposed him legally and politically, The New York Times reported. In recent days, the firm has sought to reassure clients by telling them that, to the best of its knowledge, the hackers are not looking to make the information they took public or sell it. It told clients that some of the email accounts for its lawyers had been breached and that the hackers may have gained access to some client emails. "During the incident, a small number of Williams & Connolly attorney email accounts were accessed by leveraging what is known as a zero-day attack," the firm said in a statement to The New York Times in response to questions about the hack. "Importantly, there is no evidence that confidential client data was extracted from any other part of our IT system, including from databases where client files are stored," The New York Times reported. The firm said, "We have taken steps to block the threat actor, and there is now no evidence of any unauthorized traffic on our network." In September, the cybersecurity firm Mandiant said Chinese hackers had been engaged in a years-long espionage campaign intended to exploit so-called zero-day vulnerabilities in computer networks to soak up intelligence from institutions like law firms. "Since March 2025, Mandiant Consulting has responded to intrusions across a range of industry verticals, most notably legal services" and software companies, the firm said in its September report. "Based on evidence from recent investigations, the targeting of the US legal space is primarily to gather information related to US national security and international trade." Williams & Connolly has hired the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike and the law firm Norton Rose Fulbright to deal with the fallout from the hack. "Based on the firm's investigation, conducted in conjunction with cyberexperts at CrowdStrike, the threat actor is believed to be affiliated with a nation-state actor responsible for recent attacks on a number of law firms and companies," the firm said, as reported by The New York Times. (ANI)
It was the same criminal investigator, the same medical expert and the same perpetrator-turned-witness, wearing the same grey jacket, the New York Times reported. In separate accounts, they told an appeals court how Gisle Pelicot had been drugged by her husband, Dominique Pelicot, at the time, and then raped by him and many other men, at his invitation. Gisele Pelicot allowed a mass rape trial centring on what happened to her to be open to the public last year, awakening a huge conversation in France and forcing some important changes in the country. But time seemed to stand still in the courtroom on Tuesday, the second day of an appeal by one of the men convicted in that trial, Husamettin Dogan, 44. He was among 51 men convicted in the first trial, including Pelicot, though not all for rape, as per New York Times. Aurore Perez, 41, a feminist activist who attended much of last year's trial in Avignon, was once again in the crowd singing and applauding outside the Court of Appeal in Nimes, when Gisele Pelicot, now 72, left for the day. "I have the feeling I'm living the same nightmare," Perez said. "We are sick of hearing the same story." Most of the men who were convicted of raping Gisele Pelicot when she was in a near-coma-like state were sentenced to three to 15 years in prison. Pelicot is serving a 20-year prison term in isolation, as per New York Times. Dogan, who is married and is the main caregiver for his severely handicapped older son, told the court during his brief appearance on the stand on Monday that he never intended to rape Gisele Pelicot and that he learned only after his arrest that she had been drugged. Pelicot, who wore the same grey jacket he donned during the earlier trial, said Dogan knew that Gisele Pelicot had been drugged. Experts who interviewed Dogan, including psychiatrists, psychologists and a police officer, elaborated in court on Tuesday. They testified that Dogan believed he was going to the couple's house in the south of France for a threesome. Pelicot had said his wife was pretending to sleep, as that was part of their game, Dogan told the expert witnesses, but he realised after about 30 minutes in their bedroom that something was very wrong, and he fled the house. Dogan was arrested two years later, in 2021, after a security guard caught Pelicot filming up women's skirts in a grocery store in 2020 and called the police, the New York Times reported. Dogan blamed Pelicot for what happened, arguing that he followed his lead and his instructions, said Daouia Boumediene, the police officer who interviewed him in jail. But he was also evasive and vague. Dogan said he had memory lapses, according to Boumediene, which Dogan blamed on the five whiskeys he said he drank before going to the Pelicot house. Pelicot's voluminous videos and photos of all the encounters, which formed the central evidence in the case, show that Dogan stayed at the couple's house for "at least four hours," Jeremie Bosse Platire, a divisional commissioner and the head of the police investigation, told the court. They capture him penetrating Gisele Pelicot's body eight times, including one rape that lasted "at least 30 minutes," Commissioner Platire said. When asked whether he believed Dogan could have been unaware of Gisele Pelicot's state, he responded, "I'm convinced he was fully aware of it." Pelicot, who arrived at court with a large police presence on Tuesday, testified that he met Dogan, as he had all the other 50 men convicted in the case, on a notorious website that has since shut down, and that they then talked by phone. Pelicot said he told Dogan clearly that he had drugged his wife, and they went over all the rules he regularly used to ensure she wouldn't awake during the rape scenes -- "no tobacco, no scent, wash his hands in warm water, no violence, and that it would be filmed." "All these things left him in no doubt of her state," he said. Pelicot denied ever calling it a game, and said he didn't dominate or trick Dogan, who, he said, "absolutely" did not flee from the house. "I accompanied him to the kitchen to get dressed," he said. In about 10 cases, the police were able to track down Skype exchanges between the men and Pelicot, which revealed he had told them he was drugging his wife, Commissioner Platire told the court. But no such communication between Dogan and Pelicot was found. Gisele Pelicot sat in the courtroom behind her lawyers, quietly listening to the testimony as she had in the first trial. During particularly difficult descriptions of the abuse she suffered, her younger son, Florian, reached over and squeezed her shoulder. Before last year's trial started, Gisele Pelicot was not in the least famous, simply a retired manager who liked to go for walks and take care of her grandchildren. Since the trial, she has become known around the world, with books, plays and documentaries about her piling up. In France, her case caused a profound societal discussion about misogyny, rape culture and the pervasiveness of "chemical submission," the use of drugs to victimize people. In its wake, the government approved a curriculum for sex education classes after decades of dragging its feet. The trial also pushed lawmakers to introduce the concept of consent into the French penal code's definition of rape. (Final reviews of the change are expected this month.) Though many feminists say the changes are not profound enough, they agree that the case has had an impact, New York Times reported. "Sociologically, it has changed things," Celine Piques, president of the feminist group Dare Feminism, said in an interview last week, before the appeal trial. When her group protested against accused rapists just a few years ago, they found little support, she said. On Tuesday, a large crowd gathered outside the courthouse for a second evening. They chanted a famous line from the case spoken by a defense lawyer, Antoine Camus, "Shame must change sides." (ANI)
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa narrowly escaped an alleged assassination attempt on Tuesday when protesters in Canar province attacked his convoy. The incident took place as the president was travelling to announce a series of infrastructure projects, CNN reported. According to Energy Minister Ines Manzano, around 500 people surrounded Noboa's car, throwing rocks and shouting as the convoy passed. Later, officials found what appeared to be bullet marks on the president's vehicle. Noboa was not injured in the attack. A video released by the presidential office showed crowds on both sides of the road hurling rocks at the motorcade, which cracked windows. Soon after the attack, Ecuador's Defence Minister Gian Carlo Lofferdo sent out a strong message that "nothing can stop this President." He also posted a picture of the 37-year-old president and wrote on X, "Nothing stops this president, which is the best sign that the country won't be stopped either". https://x.com/MinLoffredoEc/status/1975676732230218066 Authorities have arrested five people in connection with the attack, saying they will be charged with terrorism and attempted murder. "Shooting at the president's car, throwing stones, damaging state property, that's just criminal," Manzano said, adding that the government had filed a formal report of an assassination attempt. This is not the first such incident. In September, about 350 people attacked a convoy carrying Noboa, UN delegates, and EU members, Italian diplomats in Imbabura province. Protesters had used rocks, fireworks, and Molotov cocktails during that attack, CNN reported. After that incident, Noboa wrote on X, "They resist Ecuador's progress and chose violence.they ambushed in Otavalo another humanitarian convoy that I myself led along with UN delegates, the EU, the Italian ambassador, and the apostolic nuncio. They responded to us with violence. We continue: Ecuador cannot go backward." The violence comes amid weeks of nationwide protests sparked by the government's plan to end a diesel subsidy. The decision aims to cut public spending, stop fuel smuggling, and redirect funds to social programs. Ecuador's main Indigenous organisation, CONAIE, has accused the government of using excessive force against peaceful demonstrators. After five arrests, CONAIE claimed on social media that the people arrested were protesters and that they were attacked during a "brutal police and military action. Noboa's government has argued that criminal and "terrorist" groups have joined the protests to create chaos. Over the weekend, the administration declared a state of emergency in ten provinces affected by unrest, though peaceful demonstrations are still allowed. President Noboa has stood firm on his decision to remove the fuel subsidy, saying the government will not tolerate violence. "Those who choose violence will face the law. Those who act like criminals will be treated as criminals," he said on Sunday in an X post (ANI)
AUSTIN, Texas and TOKYO, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Patient Handling Equipment Market is witnessing steady growth, supported by rising investments in hospital infrastructure, homecare services, and advanced medical equipment for safe patient mobility. According to DataM Intelligence, the Patient Handling Equipment Market Size reached US$ 15.55 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to US$ 26.76 billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 6.4% between 20252033.

Patient handling equipment plays a vital role in ensuring safe transfer, mobility, and support for patients in hospitals, long-term care centers, and homecare environments. From slings and patient lifts to medical beds and transport chairs, these devices are critical in reducing healthcare worker injuries, improving patient comfort, and streamlining care delivery.

The industry is being shaped by increasing elderly populations, rising chronic disease prevalence, home-based care trends, and government emphasis on hospital safety protocols. Leading players such as Stryker, Arjo, Invacare, and Hillrom continue to innovate with ergonomically advanced, IoT-enabled, and automated patient handling systems.

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Browse in-depth TOC on "Patient Handling Equipment Market"

80  Tables

76  Figures

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Market Segmentation Insights

By Type

Medical beds led the market in 2024, generating revenues of US$ 5.2 billion. Demand for adjustable, smart, and ICU-specific hospital beds continues to surge, particularly in the U.S. and Japan where aging demographics require advanced critical care solutions.

Patient lifts and slings collectively contributed US$ 4.6 billion in 2024. With growing focus on safe patient transfer protocols and prevention of healthcare worker musculoskeletal injuries, hospitals and homecare centers are increasing investments in these solutions.

Mobility devices and wheelchairs, valued at US$ 3.1 billion, remain essential for outpatient, rehabilitation, and long-term care settings.

Bathroom and toilet assist equipment generated US$ 1.2 billion in 2024, reflecting increased demand in geriatric and disabled populations.

By End-User

Hospitals dominated the market with revenues of US$ 10.1 billion in 2024, driven by large-scale procurement of medical beds, lifts, and slings for inpatient and critical care services.

Homecare settings contributed US$ 3.6 billion, fueled by the rising shift toward home-based recovery and long-term care. Increasing insurance coverage for durable medical equipment is further supporting this trend.

Regional Insights: USA & Japan

United States

The U.S. patient handling equipment market, valued at US$ 6.3 billion in 2024, leads globally due to:

Rising elderly population: Over 55 million Americans are above 65, requiring mobility assistance.

Over 55 million Americans are above 65, requiring mobility assistance. Government safety mandates: OSHA guidelines are driving adoption of lifts, slings, and ergonomic transfer devices.

OSHA guidelines are driving adoption of lifts, slings, and ergonomic transfer devices. Smart hospital expansion: IoT-enabled hospital beds and automated transfer systems are becoming standard.

IoT-enabled hospital beds and automated transfer systems are becoming standard. Recent update (2025): Stryker introduced AI-integrated smart beds in U.S. hospitals, offering predictive fall detection and remote patient monitoring.

Japan

Japan's market, valued at US$ 1.4 billion in 2024, is expanding rapidly due to:

Super-aging society: With 29% of the population aged over 65, demand for advanced handling equipment is critical.

With 29% of the population aged over 65, demand for advanced handling equipment is critical. Government funding for elderly care: Programs promoting safe mobility and home-based care are boosting market adoption.

Programs promoting safe mobility and home-based care are boosting market adoption. Innovation partnerships: Japanese manufacturers are collaborating with European firms for robotic-assisted transfer devices.

Japanese manufacturers are collaborating with European firms for robotic-assisted transfer devices. Highlight (2025): Arjo announced a partnership with Japanese hospitals to expand the use of robotic-assisted patient lifts.

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Industry Trends & 2025 Developments

Smart Beds & IoT Integration: Advanced beds with AI monitoring and connectivity to hospital information systems are redefining inpatient care.

Advanced beds with AI monitoring and connectivity to hospital information systems are redefining inpatient care. Homecare Mobility Expansion: Rising insurance coverage and aging-in-place trends are boosting demand for home-use patient lifts and wheelchairs.

Rising insurance coverage and aging-in-place trends are boosting demand for home-use patient lifts and wheelchairs. Robotics & Automation: Robotic exoskeletons and powered lifts are reducing strain on healthcare workers while improving patient safety.

Robotic exoskeletons and powered lifts are reducing strain on healthcare workers while improving patient safety. Sustainability Focus: Manufacturers are integrating eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient technologies into new equipment lines.

Manufacturers are integrating eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient technologies into new equipment lines. M&A Activity: In 2025, Hillrom (now part of Baxter) expanded its homecare solutions portfolio through acquisition of a European patient lift manufacturer.

Competitive Landscape

Stryker

Stryker dominates with a comprehensive range of hospital beds and surgical stretchers. In 2025, it launched AI-enabled hospital beds with predictive monitoring, reinforcing leadership in critical care.

Arjo

Arjo specializes in patient transfer and mobility equipment. Its portfolio of slings, lifts, and hygiene systems continues to expand globally, with strategic growth in Japan and the U.S.

Invacare Holdings Corporation

Invacare focuses on mobility solutions and homecare equipment, with a strong presence in the U.S. and Europe.

Hillrom (Welch Allyn & Baxter)

Hillrom remains a leader in hospital beds and critical care equipment. The integration with Baxter enhances its global distribution capabilities.

Medline Industries & Drive DeVilbiss

Both companies play pivotal roles in durable medical equipment for hospitals and homecare, with expanding product ranges in transfer and mobility solutions.

Strategic Outlook

The Patient Handling Equipment Market is being shaped by four critical forces:

Elderly Care Demand  U.S. and Japan leading adoption due to aging populations. Technology Integration  Smart beds, AI, and robotic lifts redefining patient care. Homecare Growth  Rising healthcare costs driving care beyond hospital walls. Regulatory Compliance  Safety mandates accelerating adoption of ergonomic transfer equipment.

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Conclusion

The Patient Handling Equipment Market, projected to grow from US$ 15.55 billion in 2024 to US$ 26.76 billion by 2033, reflects a global healthcare shift toward safer, more efficient, and technology-driven patient mobility solutions. With Stryker, Arjo, Invacare, and Hillrom at the forefront, the sector is set to expand rapidly across hospitals and homecare ecosystems.

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He extended warm wishes to Indonesia's government and people, underlining the strength of ties between India and Indonesia through strong civilizational linkages and a robust Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

"Delighted to attend the 80th Anniversary of the Independence Day and Armed Forces Day of Indonesia hosted by Embassy of Indonesia @KBRI_NewDelhi. Conveyed my warm greetings to the government and people of Indonesia. India and Indonesia enjoy strong civilisational linkages and a robust Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Look forward to closer cooperation in bilateral, regional & multilateral fora", MoS Margherita wrote on X.

https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1975571601165898168

Earlier this year, Indonesia's President, Prabowo Subianto, visited India, and his visit coincided with the 75th Anniversary of India-Indonesia Diplomatic Relations, a milestone that reflects the enduring friendship and deep-rooted historical ties between the two countries.

Prime Minister Modi and President Prabowo held comprehensive discussions covering the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation, including political, defence and security, maritime, economic, health and pharmaceuticals, food and energy security, digital transition, sustainable energy transition, blue economy, as well as education and cultural cooperation. They expressed satisfaction with the robust and dynamic bilateral ties, following the elevation of the relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2018, the MEA had noted in its statement.

Both leaders had acknowledged the importance of close and active engagement through the existing bilateral mechanisms and agreed to continue convening regular meetings, exchanges and dialogues, including Joint Commission Meeting, Foreign Office Consultations and various Joint Working Group meetings.

MEA highlighted that the leaders emphasised the importance of regularly convening bilateral dialogue mechanisms at the leaders level, ministerial level, and senior officials level, including the India-Indonesia Security Dialogue, Consular Dialogue and Policy Planning Dialogue which are the key platforms for advancing mutual understanding and cooperation. (ANI)
Tibetans in Dharamshala gathered at the Tsuglagkhang Temple to offer prayers for the long life of the Dalai Lama. The ceremony, known as "tenshug," is a significant tradition in which devotees pray for their spiritual leader's well-being and longevity. Over 4,000 Tibetans, including Buddhist monks, nuns, and foreign followers from different parts of the world, gathered at the temple to offer prayers for the Dalai Lama's long life, showcasing their deep devotion and respect for the Dalai Lama. The Australian Tibetan National Association, Tibetan Communities in Europe, and the Tibetan Youth Congress organised the special ceremony. The atmosphere was filled with chants, prayers, and traditional music as devotees expressed their devotion and gratitude toward their spiritual leader. To welcome the Dalai Lama, Tibetan artists performed a traditional opera dance, followed by rituals led by the monks of Namgyal Monastery. The ceremony included offerings, recitations of sacred texts, and blessings for peace and longevity. Thinlay Chokki, representative of the Dalai Lama at the Tibet Bureau in Geneva, said, "Many Tibetans have joined us on this auspicious occasion of offering long life prayers for His Holiness. It is of immense significance that we remember the numerous benefits bestowed upon Tibetans and people around the world by the Dalai Lama. It is a blessed opportunity for us to offer this prayer and wish that His Holiness lives 113 years and beyond." Gompo Dhondup, former president of the Tibetan Youth Congress, also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate. "This is a special long life prayer organised by the Tibetan Youth Congress, Australian Tibetan National Association and Tibetan Communities Europe. We feel deeply blessed to be here today," he told ANI. The event highlighted the deep respect Tibetans hold for the Dalai Lama and their continued hope for his health and long life. Devotees from across continents joined in prayers, reaffirming their faith in his spiritual guidance. Notably, the question of who will succeed the Dalai Lama is complex, with both the Chinese government and the Tibetan spiritual leader having differing opinions. The Dalai Lama has stated that his successor will be born in the "free world" outside of China, emphasising the importance of Tibetan autonomy and tradition. The Dalai Lama has made it clear that the selection of his successor should follow traditional Tibetan Buddhist practices and that his non-profit institution, the Gaden Phodrang Foundation, will have the authority to identify the next Dalai Lama. China claims that the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must follow the "Golden Urn" system, a tradition established by the Qing dynasty, where the Dalai Lama is chosen by drawing lots from a golden urn. Beijing asserts that the central government has the authority to approve the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, citing historical precedent. However, the Dalai Lama and Tibetan leaders reject China's claim, arguing that the Chinese government's communist ideology is at odds with Tibetan Buddhism. (ANI)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa [Pakistan] October 8 (ANI) Four government officials, including two schoolteachers and two staffers, were allegedly kidnapped by armed militants from different areas in Bannu district, officials stated, as reported by Dawn. According to Dawn, the two teachers were abducted from Government High School Zindi Musa Khan in the Mandati Naika Zyarat area, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Hoid police station. District Police Officer (DPO) Saleem Abbas Kulachi informed that the region has remained under consistent militant threat, with the Hoid police station facing multiple attacks in recent months. DPO Kulachi said unidentified gunmen intercepted the teachers while they were returning from school and took them to an unknown location. The abductees were identified as the headmaster of the school, who hailed from Nekam Kaki, and a senior teacher from Bannu, police spokesperson Kashif Nawaz stated. He added that security forces have launched a large-scale search operation in the surrounding areas to ensure the safe recovery of the kidnapped educators. Confirming a separate incident, DPO Kulachi stated that a group of 15-20 militants stormed a BISP payment disbursement point in the district, where they abducted two staff members. Assistant Director Safiullah and Supervisor Shah Khalid. The official stated that the militants escaped with an undisclosed sum of money after the abduction. These back-to-back incidents come amid a growing surge in militant attacks across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Bannu, along with Peshawar, Karak, Lakki Marwat, and Bajaur, has seen repeated acts of terrorism in recent weeks, as highlighted by Dawn. Just two days earlier, a soldier was martyred and another injured in a gun attack near Bannu. In August, a police constable was killed in an assault on a checkpoint in the same district, which also resulted in the deaths of three militants and injuries to three police personnel, as reported by Dawn. (ANI)
In a post on X on Wednesday, the French Embassy said, "Congratulations @IAF_MCC on 93rd #AirForceDay 2025! With bilateral and multilateral exercises enhancing interoperability, the French and Indian air forces' partnership continues to soar higher, building on decades of trust, technology sharing & teamwork for an open and secure Indo-Pacific."

https://x.com/FranceinIndia/status/1975712570485915954

India and France have enjoyed close and friendly relations and share a deep and enduring Strategic Partnership (SP) covering all aspects of bilateral cooperation, which involves a strategic component.

India and France have traditionally enjoyed close and friendly relations and share a deep and enduring Strategic Partnership (SP) covering all aspects of bilateral cooperation, which involves a strategic component. Launched on January 26, 1998, India's first-ever Strategic Partnership embodied the core vision of both countries to enhance their respective strategic independence by drawing upon a strong and enhanced bilateral cooperation.

Defence and security, civil nuclear matters and space constitute the principal pillars of the strategic cooperation between India and France, which now includes a strong Indo-Pacific component.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) displayed its prowess as it held a massive parade at the Hindon Air Base to celebrate the 93rd Indian Air Force Day.

The parade featured fighter jets such as Rafale, Sukhoi Su-30MKI, and MiG-29, along with India's indigenous Netra AEW&C, the C-17 Globemaster III, the indigenous Akash Surface-to-Air Missile System, the C-130J Hercules, Apache attack helicopters fitted with Longbow radar, and the Advanced Light Helicopter. (ANI)
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand is scheduled to visit India next week, marking her first official trip to the country since assuming the role earlier this year. The visit comes amid ongoing efforts to reset bilateral ties between India and Canada. Ahead of the trip, External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar met Anand on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 29, describing it as a "good meeting" and welcoming the appointment of high commissioners as a positive step in rebuilding ties. He also said "look forword to welcoming" FM in India. "A good meeting with FM @AnitaAnandMP of Canada this morning in New York. The appointment of High Commissioners is welcome as we rebuild ties. Discussed further steps in that regard today. Look forward to welcoming FM Anand in India," Jaishankar wrote on X. The visit follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney at the G7 Summit in June, signalling a thaw after over two years of strained relations. India and Canada are working to improve their ties after tensions rose in 2023. The strain began when then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India strongly rejected the charge, calling it politically motivated, and accused Ottawa of providing a safe haven to Khalistani terrorists. In August, both countries reinstated their high commissioners. India's High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik took charge in Ottawa, and Canada's new High Commissioner Christopher Cooter took charge in Delhi. Last month, Canada's Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison and National Security Advisor Nathalie G. Drouin visited Delhi to meet Indian officials. They had agreed to restart key dialogues that had been paused during Trudeau's tenure and to bring back diplomatic staff. India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval also held detailed talks with his Canadian counterpart Nathalie Drouin. The discussions focused on restoring stability and improving trust between the two countries after months of diplomatic tension. The bilateral reset gained momentum last month with the appointment of Christopher Cooter as Canada's High Commissioner to India, filling a vacancy that had been open since October 2023, and the resumption of national security advisor-level talks in New Delhi. (ANI)
The business community in Karachi has raised the alarm over an unprecedented rise in extortion cases, blaming the provincial government and law enforcement agencies for their inability to protect traders and industrialists, as reported by Dawn. According to Dawn, in separate statements, the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) and the All City Traders Ittehad Association expressed grave concern about the worsening security situation, calling for urgent and effective measures to restore order. The KATI President, Mohammad Ikram Rajput, said that Karachi's industrial landscape is being crippled by fear, uncertainty, and the government's consistent negligence. Rajput explained that extortion threats have become a daily reality for traders, with many receiving bullets along with intimidation notes. He said such incidents have created a pervasive environment of terror, leaving many victims too scared to approach the police. "This has become a red alert for Karachi's entire business ecosystem," he stated. "An economy cannot function where fear dictates business operations." The KATI president revealed that 96 cases of extortion have been registered this year, with the highest concentration in 37 cases in district Central, followed by 20 in district West, 15 in East, 12 in City, 5 in Malir and 3 in Korangi. Despite security operations leading to 33 arrests and four killings in police encounters, industrial zones, especially Korangi, remain under a constant threat. Rajput accused organised criminal groups of running extensive extortion networks, allegedly transferring illicit funds abroad, which adds a layer of financial crime to the crisis. He urged the Sindh governor, chief minister, Rangers DG, and police IG to immediately coordinate a joint plan to eradicate these networks and safeguard Karachi's economy, as highlighted by Dawn. Meanwhile, Sharjeel Goplani, patron-in-chief of the All City Traders Ittehad Association, stated that extortion in Karachi "never truly stopped" and continues "in new, more sophisticated forms." He blamed systemic corruption, weak policing, and political interference for the ongoing crisis. "Karachi's traders are paying the price for state apathy," Goplani said, warning that without decisive government action, "Pakistan's economic engine could collapse under the weight of fear," as reported by Dawn. (ANI)
Secretary of State for Scotland, Douglas Alexander, on Wednesday said that the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is a landmark deal that will significantly benefit the Scotch whisky industry. According to the UK government's official statement, the deal is expected to contribute 190 million to the Scottish economy annually. Alexander emphasised the need to implement the deal and utilise it to benefit British and Indian businesses, highlighting the potential for long-term transformation for the industry. "The historic trade deal the UK government struck with India this year is great news for Scotland and especially our whisky industry; but having secured the deal, our challenge and responsibility now is to put this deal into action," said Douglas Alexander, UK Secretary of State for Scotland. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is leading a trade mission to India, accompanied by representatives from the Scotch Whisky Association and other Scottish businesses. The mission aims to capitalise fully on the opportunities presented by the FTA, promoting Scotland's finest products and exploring new business opportunities. The delegation will hold key meetings with senior Indian government ministers and businesses to deepen trade and diplomatic relationships between Scotland and India. Scotch whisky is a big winner in the UK Government's deal with India, the best deal that any country has ever agreed with the fourth-largest economy in the world. "Indian import tariffs on Scotch are set to be slashed, meaning a potential increase in sales to India of 1 billion a year, growing market share in the world's largest whisky market", the statement said. Alexander further noted that the visit by the UK PM would see him promote Scotland's finest products so that they reach the world's export markets. "Leading this trade mission, the Prime Minister will be beating the drum for Scotland's finest products. With the strength and support of the UK Government, they can reach world markets in terms of exports. Notably, before being appointed Secretary of State for Scotland, Alexander served as Trade Policy Minister in the Department for Business and Trade and was part of the team that helped secure the India-UK trade deal, as well as the trade deals with the US and the EU. "Over the last year, as Trade Minister, I've worked closely with the Scotch Whisky Association and other Scottish businesses. I understand the challenges they face and that this deal with India could be transformative for the industry over the long term. On this trade mission, we will be looking to take full advantage of the opportunities this crucial trade deal brings for Scotland," he added. Indian import tariffs on Scotch whisky will be initially reduced from 150% to 75%, and subsequently lowered to 40% over the next decade. The deal is expected to increase Scotch whisky sales to India by 1 billion annually, growing market share in the world's largest whisky market. Mark Kent, Chief Executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, welcomed the deal, saying it will "open up access to the world's largest whisky market" and provide more choice to Indian consumers. "Delivering liberalised tariffs on all our exports to India will open up access to the world's largest whisky market in the years to come and give greater choice to Indian consumers", he said. As per the official statement, the Business and Trade Secretary, Peter Kyle, and the Investment Minister, Lord Jason Stockwood, will also form part of the UK Government's delegation to India. (ANI)
In an apparent attempt to take advantage of the growing rift between the ruling coalition partners, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja on Tuesday announced that his party would support any effort to remove the government, including a no-confidence motion, Dawn reported. Addressing a press conference alongside Babar Awan and other party lawyers, Raja said he believed that the recent dispute between the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was merely "friendly firing," adding that both parties were "beneficiaries of the same system." "We will not form a coalition with the PPP, but we will support it if it moves a no-confidence motion against the government. We will cast our votes in favour of the no-confidence motion because it will pave the way for the fresh elections," he said, according to Dawn. Raja stated that PTI founder Imran Khan had been imprisoned for two years because "he was not ready to compromise on principles." When asked why PTI was backing "outsiders" for the positions of opposition leaders in both houses, he said the decision had been taken by Imran Khan himself and that no member of the parliamentary party had objected. "We were facing the allegation that PTI is alone in the opposition. We want to take all opposition parties along. Both Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas have been supporting us for three years and we have supported them," he said, as quoted by Dawn. A day earlier, PTI had nominated Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas as its candidates for the positions of Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly and Senate, respectively. On Tuesday, MNA Malik Aamir Dogar said that most legislators had already signed the nomination papers and expressed hope that those absent earlier would complete the process by Thursday so the documents could be submitted the same day. Responding to a question about PTI's resignation from the chairmanship of parliamentary standing committees, Raja said Imran Khan believed that PTI would "not legitimise the government," Dawn reported. On the arrest of PTI activist Sanam Javed, Raja clarified that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police were not involved. "While she was being picked by person in plainclothes, workers informed police officials about it and requested to intervene, but they said that they were helpless," he said. He further alleged that the 26th constitutional amendment had been passed "to control the judiciary and curb the freedom of expression." Commenting on reports suggesting that Imran Khan might be relocated, Babar Awan said, "Whenever a prisoner was shifted, first that place has to be declared as sub-jail. We will not accept if Imran Khan would be shifted to some private place." (ANI)
British Airways has reaffirmed its ambition for network growth in India, as the airline facilitated a major UK Government trade mission led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the country, the airline stated in an official announcement. British Airways underlined its ambition to expand flights to India during the UK Government's landmark 'Britain Means Business' trade mission led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The airline will introduce a third daily flight between London Heathrow and Delhi in 2026, subject to regulatory and capacity approval. The popular First cabin will return on flights from London to Mumbai this month, with the latest business class Club Suite on select flights across all five Indian routes by the end of 2026. According to the statement, the airline will look for further growth opportunities in the country as trade between the UK and India increases. Around 130 top UK CEOs and senior government ministers flew out to the country on a chartered British Airways flight on Tuesday as part of a trade mission designed to boost trade links and business between the two countries. The trip to Mumbai follows the signing of a Free Trade Agreement between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, in July. Sean Doyle, Chairman and Chief Executive of British Airways, said: "I am delighted to take part in this important trade mission. Our ties with India were established over 100 years ago and today we have around 2,500 British Airways colleagues based there. We've been steadily increasing capacity between the UK and India over the years and we're now operating 56 direct services to five Indian cities each week. "The Free Trade Agreement with India will boost economic momentum between our two countries and British Airways really sits at the centre of that activity, acting as an enabler for increased trade. We will develop our own network alongside increased economic activity so the FTA for our business is very good news. "As the airline that offers the biggest network of any European carrier into the North Atlantic, we also help connect India to the US and beyond, so when you add this factor into the mix, there's a lot to be excited about for our two connected economies," Doyle said in the statement. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: "British Airways has been connecting the United Kingdom with India for more than a century, a symbol of the enduring partnership, and deep cultural and economic ties between our two nations. "As our landmark trade deal paves the way for new opportunities for businesses, our national flag carrier will play a critical role in strengthening trade links with India, boosting UK growth and helping deliver on our Plan for Change," Starmer added, according to the statement. British Airways has been flying to India for more than 100 years and this month celebrates 20 years of flying to Bangalore. In addition to the third daily flight between London Heathrow and Delhi, the popular First cabin will return on flights to Mumbai this month, with the latest business class Club Suite on select flights across all five Indian routes by the end of 2026. The added frequency will give customers travelling to India more choice and flexibility, whether they're visiting loved ones, discovering a new city, or travelling for work. British Airways has also rolled out a brand-new Meet and Assist service, available free of charge to customers who require additional support when travelling from India to the UK, to help make travel less stressful. The service has been used by around 5,500 customers since its launch in March. It is available across all five Indian airports that the airline operates from, and colleagues fluent in local languages such as Hindi, Punjabi, Telugu and Tamil have undertaken dedicated training to deliver this proposition. The airline continues to invest in its overall customer experience and has already rolled out over 900 initiatives as part of its 7 billion transformation plan. These initiatives include brand-new short-haul seats and free Wi-Fi messaging on board, as well as the refreshing of lounges across its global network, the statement added. (ANI)
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been accused of carrying out a long-term and calculated strategy to expand its territorial and maritime claims across the Indo-Pacific without triggering open warfare, as reported by The Epoch Times. According to The Epoch Times, during a hearing of the US Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy, Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) warned that China's creeping expansion mirrors Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions in Crimea in 2014. He said that several successive US administrations had failed to effectively respond because Beijing's tactics deliberately stayed below the threshold of direct military confrontation. Experts testifying before Congress highlighted that the CCP is using illegal and coercive means to expand both its physical territory and global influence. Particular attention was given to its growing military pressure on Taiwan and its unlawful claims over islands and natural resources in the South China Sea areas located hundreds of miles from China's coastline. For decades, the CCP has built artificial islands and established military installations across the South China Sea to assert control over nearly 80 per cent of the region. Despite a 2016 international court ruling that rejected these claims, China refused to recognise the decision, insisting that it held "indisputable sovereignty" over the waters. Data from the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies showed that Chinese naval and maritime law enforcement vessels were involved in nearly 79 per cent of all major incidents in the South China Sea between 2010 and 2020. Experts said these actions are part of a wider strategy designed to steadily erode regional resistance while avoiding a direct clash with the United States, as highlighted by The Epoch Times. Craig Singleton of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies described China's expansion as "incremental and ambiguous", meant to weaken Taiwan's resolve. Meanwhile, Raymond Powell of the SeaLight Foundation warned that the world is already "decades into losing a gray-zone war" to China's slow and strategic territorial aggression, as reported by The Epoch Times. (ANI)
Austin-Headquartered Neurotech Maverick Reflects Upon Industry, Company Growth

NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Connor Glass, CEO and Founder of Phantom Neuro , the company delivering breakthrough advancements in human-machine interface, will be speaking on the mainstage of this year's BioFuture 2025 . The conference is hosted by Demy-Colton and held in New York City this October 13th through 15th .

The innovative healthcare startup will be on stage among the likes of biotech, pharma, digital medicine, TechBio, healthcare delivery, policy, and investment leaders, participating in an industry-wide discussion of how new policy, technology, and capital markets are reshaping the healthcare ecosystem. Events will be held at Cure, a Deerfield affiliate in health and life science innovation.

Dr. Connor Glass , CEO and founder Phantom Neuro, will present during a Spotlight Panel, " Rewiring Minds: Breakthroughs in Brain & CNS Health" (Spotlight Panel 1B). More information:

This panel will be held on Monday, October 13th, from 11:00 AM-12:00 PM

It will be on the 12th Floor of Cure: 345 Park Ave S., New York, NY 10010

The panel will be moderated by Ginger Johnson, Senior Vice President, Lumanity . The panel includes:

This year has shown robust and continued growth for Phantom Neuro, from the company receiving FDA Breakthrough Device and TAP Designations to announcing additional funding and a new strategic partner in European medical and industrial robotic technologies company, Ottobock.

More recently, Phantom Neuro published a peer-reviewed white paper detailing findings from the startup's proprietary Phantom X platform. This study demonstrates intuitive and functional prosthesis control designed for real-world use.

ABOUT PHANTOM NEURO

Phantom Neuro is a neurotechnology company developing a minimally invasive interface that enables intuitive control of prosthetic limbs and robotic exoskeletons. Originally developed at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Phantom Neuro has received funding from investors including Ottobock, Blackrock Neurotech, Breakout Ventures, Draper Associates, LionBird Ventures, and Time BioVentures. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Phantom Neuro is backed by a globally recognized advisory board of experts from CTRL-Labs, D.A.R.P.A., Johns Hopkins University, and Precision Neuro. Learn more at www.phantomneuro.com .

CONTACT:

Shannon Wilsey, Public Relations | Phantom Neuro

[email protected]

SOURCE Phantom Neuro Inc.
Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Rajaa announced that the Government of Tamil Nadu has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Japanese company Nissan, under which 100 youths from the state will be employed. "The Government of Tamil Nadu has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Japanese company 'Nissan', under which 100 youths from the state will be employed," Rajaa said. Highlighting the state government's commitment to youth development, the Minister said, "Under the DMK government, efforts are being made to provide education for youth and, through that, create high-quality employment opportunities. The government is committed to improving the standard of living for every student." Rajaa added that the government is actively working to connect talent with global opportunities. "In just two days, 5,550 meetings were conducted through the AIRDEFCON platform," he said. Speaking about the state's industrial goals, Rajaa noted Tamil Nadu's ambitions in the electric mobility sector. "Tamil Nadu aims to take a leading role in the manufacturing of Electric Vehicle (EV) products," he said. He further said that international partnerships are being explored to strengthen Tamil Nadu's industrial base. "Discussions have been held with companies from Germany, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, potentially paving the way for several new industries to set up operations in the state," he added. The minister also outlined the government's vision for the healthcare sector. "In the healthcare sector, while Hyderabad currently leads, Tamil Nadu is taking steps to become the number one state in the field. A related announcement will soon be made by the Chief Minister," Rajaa said. The announcement followed a series of major investment developments in the state. On September 24, Reliance Consumer Products Limited announced an investment of Rs 1,156 crore to set up an integrated manufacturing facility at SIPCOT Allikulam Industrial Park in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi, State Industries Minister TRB Rajaa said. TRB Rajaa announced the deal on X and wrote, "Another FMCG major chooses Tamil Nadu! Reliance Consumer Products Limited has chosen Tamil Nadu for its next big unit. The company will invest Rs 1,156 crore to set up an integrated manufacturing facility at SIPCOT Allikulam Industrial Park!" He added that the facility spanning 60 acres would generate 2,000 jobs in the next five years. "This facility will span 60 acres and focus on multi-product manufacturing, from regional snacks to biscuits, spices to atta, edible oil and much more. Over the next 5 years, it will generate 2,000 local jobs for TN," he wrote. Lauding Chief Minister MK Stalin's leadership, he added, "Under the Dravidian Model leadership of Honourable Chief Minister Thiru. MK Stalin avargal, we continued to attract marquee national FMCG players into the state, and there was no major sector we weren't leaving untapped." (ANI)
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M Yaghi for their pioneering work in the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), Al Jazeera reported. The three scientists, who received the award on Wednesday, represent Kyoto University in Japan, the University of Melbourne in Australia, and the University of California, Berkeley, in the United States, respectively. According to Al Jazeera, the Nobel Committee said the trio created "molecular constructions with large spaces through which gases and other chemicals can flow." These structures have wide-ranging applications, including harvesting water from desert air, capturing carbon dioxide, storing toxic gases, and breaking down traces of pharmaceuticals in the environment. "Metal-organic frameworks have enormous potential, bringing previously unforeseen opportunities for custom-made materials with new functions," said Heiner Linke, chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry. Olof Ramstrom, a member of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, compared the new molecular architecture to the handbag of the fictional Harry Potter character Hermione Granger, describing it as "small on the outside but very large on the inside." Kitagawa expressed his gratitude during the Nobel press conference. "My dream is to capture air and separate air - for instance, into CO or oxygen or water or something - and convert this to useful materials using renewable energy," he said. Yaghi, who was born to Palestinian refugees in Jordan, reflected on his journey, as cited by Al Jazeera. "It's quite a journey, and science allows you to do it," he said in an interview published on the Nobel website, adding that his parents could barely read or write. "Science is the greatest equalising force in the world," he said. Yaghi also shared that he was "astonished and delighted" to win the award. He recalled that at age 10, he discovered a book on molecules in a library, sparking his lifelong passion for chemistry. "The deeper you dig, the more beautifully you find things are constructed," he told the Nobel website. The three chemists, working independently but contributing to one another's breakthroughs, developed stable metal organic frameworks that can be likened to the wooden framework of a house. These structures can absorb and store gases, enabling practical applications such as capturing carbon dioxide or extracting water from dry desert air. The Nobel Prize statement explained that the first breakthrough occurred in 1989 when Robson experimented with atoms by combining positively charged copper ions with a four-armed molecule that formed a diamond-shaped crystal with cavities. However, the crystal was unstable. Between 1992 and 2003, Kitagawa and Yaghi made key advancements to stabilize the structures, with Kitagawa showing flexibility in the frameworks and Yaghi applying rational design methods to modify them. David Pendlebury, head of research analysis at the Institute for Scientific Information at Clarivate, noted that Kitagawa and Yaghi's influence on the field had long been recognized. "We named Kitagawa and Yaghi Citation Laureates in 2010, based on their exceptional citation records in the Web of Science - a clear signal, even then, of their profound influence on the field," he said. "Their highly cited papers reflected a rapidly expanding area of research, already two decades in the making at that time. Notably, both have been named Highly Cited Researchers every year since 2014, demonstrating that their contributions have not only stood the test of time but have continued to shape and lead the field as it has grown," Pendlebury said, according to Al Jazeera. The 2025 Nobel announcements began with the medicine prize on Monday, awarded to Mary E Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Dr Shimon Sakaguchi for their discoveries related to peripheral immune tolerance. On Tuesday, the physics prize went to John Clarke, Michel H Devoret, and John M Martinis for their research on quantum tunnelling, advancing the power of digital communications and computing. The Nobel announcements continue this week, with the literature prize to be declared on Thursday, followed by the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, and the economics prize next Monday. The award ceremony will take place on December 10, marking the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite and founder of the Nobel Prizes, who died in 1896. (ANI)
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, leading an Indian Parliamentary Delegation, has arrived in Bridgetown, Barbados, to attend the 68th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) being held from October 5 to 12, 2025, according to a release by the Lok Sabha Secretariat. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, one of the largest gatherings of parliamentarians from across the Commonwealth, provides a platform for discussion and exchange of ideas on strengthening democratic institutions, promoting good governance, and addressing global challenges through parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation. Upon arrival, the Indian delegation, headed by Speaker Om Birla, participated in the opening ceremony of the Conference, the release stated. The Indian Parliamentary Delegation includes Harivansh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha; Anurag Sharma, MP and CPA Executive Committee Member; D. Purandeswari, MP and CWP Steering Committee Member; K. Sudhakar, MP; Rekha Sharma, MP; Ajeet Madhavrao Gopchade, MP; Utpal Kumar Singh, Secretary General of the Lok Sabha; and P.C. Mody, Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha. As part of the conference, Om Birla will chair a key workshop on the theme "Leveraging Technology: Enhancing Democracy through Digital Transformations and Tackling the Digital Divide," the release said. He will also address the General Assembly of the 68th CPC on the theme "The Commonwealth: A Global Partner," highlighting India's commitment to democratic values, inclusive governance, parliamentary transparency, and global parliamentary cooperation. Throughout the Conference, seven thematic workshops will be held on a range of contemporary issues. Members of the Indian delegation, including 36 Presiding Officers from 24 State and Union Territory Legislatures of India, will participate in these sessions. During the week-long conference, Om Birla is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other Commonwealth nations to discuss issues of mutual interest and further enhance parliamentary cooperation, the release by the Lok Sabha Secretariat said. The 68th CPC, hosted by the Parliament of Barbados and the CPA Barbados branch, brings together more than 600 delegates from over 180 national, state, and provincial legislatures across the Commonwealth under the theme "The Commonwealth - A Global Partner." India has been an active participant in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's initiatives and has consistently contributed to strengthening global democratic dialogue through parliamentary cooperation and capacity building. (ANI)
A group of members of the United States Congress on Wednesday (Local Time) wrote to President Donald Trump urging him to take immediate steps to reset and repair the country's partnership with India, following recent tariff measures that they said have strained relations with the world's largest democracy. In their joint letter addressed to President Trump, the lawmakers said that "recent actions by your administration have strained relations with the world's largest democracy, creating negative consequences for both countries," and called for swift action to restore balance in the bilateral relationship. They highlighted that in late August 2025, under Trump's leadership, tariffs on Indian goods were raised to as high as 50 per cent, combining initial 25 per cent "reciprocal" tariffs with an additional 25 per cent duty in response to India's energy purchases from Russia. "These punitive measures have hurt Indian manufacturers while simultaneously raising prices for American consumers and damaging the intricate supply chains that American companies depend on," the letter stated. Pointing out the importance of the US-India economic relationship, the Members of Congress wrote that the trading partnership "supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in both countries." They noted that American manufacturers depend on India for key inputs in sectors ranging from semiconductors to healthcare and energy, while Indian investments in the US have created new employment opportunities across American communities. The letter warned that the tariff escalation could push India closer to "regimes hostile to the United States, including China and Russia," undermining Washington's strategic interests. It described India as "a stabilising force in the Indo-Pacific" and "a vital partner in defence cooperation," citing its role in the Quad alliance alongside the US, Australia, and Japan. "The United States and India share democratic traditions that set us apart from our authoritarian competitors," the lawmakers wrote, stressing that cooperation between the two nations demonstrates how "free and open societies can prosper through mutual respect." The Members of Congress urged President Trump to "reaffirm America's commitment to India", calling for a "recalibration, not confrontation", in the relationship. They recommended that the administration begin by reviewing the current tariff policy and continuing dialogue with Indian leadership. The letter was signed by Representatives Deborah K Ross, Ro Khanna, Brad Sherman, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Pramila Jayapal, Frank Pallone Jr., and several others representing districts with large Indian-American populations. (ANI)
UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, has welcomed the creation of an independent investigative mechanism for the country, calling it "a vital step toward truth, justice, and accountability for the people of Afghanistan," Khaama Press reported. The decision to establish the mechanism was adopted by consensus at the UN Human Rights Council this week. In a statement on Tuesday, Bennett said the new body would be responsible for collecting, preserving, and analysing evidence of serious human rights violations and preparing case files that could lead to future criminal prosecutions of those responsible for international crimes, according to Khaama Press. He praised the move as "a testament to the courage and perseverance of Afghanistan victims, survivors, and civil society," adding that the mechanism reflects the international community's recognition of their ongoing struggle for justice amid worsening repression. Bennett stressed that the mechanism should be part of a broader and integrated approach to addressing Afghanistan's human rights crisis. He said this must include the establishment of an inclusive government, protection of women's rights, and respect for the country's ethnic and cultural diversity, Khaama Press reported. The UN envoy urged member states to operationalise the mechanism swiftly and provide sufficient financial and technical support to ensure effective investigations, evidence preservation, and direct engagement with Afghan victims. He emphasised the need to safeguard the independence and integrity of the investigative process. Bennett also expressed support for complementary efforts, including investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the use of universal jurisdiction by national courts. He called on states to criminalise gender apartheid as an international crime, describing it as an essential measure for achieving justice for women and girls in Afghanistan. "The establishment of this mechanism alone cannot resolve Afghanistan's crisis," Bennett cautioned. "We need a comprehensive strategy that connects criminal accountability with women's rights, humanitarian support, and protection for civil society." He concluded by underscoring that meaningful and safe participation of Afghans, particularly women and youth, must remain central to international discussions about the country's future. The Human Rights Council's resolution also renewed Bennett's mandate as the UN's Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported. (ANI)
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has dismissed accusations by Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen that Moscow violated the principles of the Helsinki Final Act, calling them a "blatant lie", while accusing Western nations of decades of violations of the accord, RT reported. The Helsinki Final Act, signed in 1975 by 35 countries, laid out ten guiding principles for international relations, including sovereign equality, non-intervention, territorial integrity, peaceful dispute resolution, and respect for human rights. It continues to serve as a foundational document for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). In a Telegram post on Tuesday, Zakharova accused Western members of the OSCE of repeatedly breaching the accord's core principles, citing multiple historical incidents as evidence, RT reported. She pointed to the 1974 Greek intervention in Cyprus, NATO's 1999 bombing of Yugoslavia without UN approval, and the 2008 Western recognition of Kosovo's independence as examples of violations of sovereignty and the principle of non-use of force. According to RT, Zakharova also referred to Germany's recognition of Slovenia and Croatia in 1991, arguing that it undermined the principle of territorial integrity by encouraging the breakup of Yugoslavia. She cited Croatia's 1995 Operation Storm as a breach of the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes. She further claimed that the West's support for the 2014 Maidan coup in Ukraine violated the principle of non-intervention, as it involved backing a movement that led to a change of government. Zakharova also listed additional cases, including the existence of CIA secret prisons in Lithuania, Poland, and Romania during the 2000s, which she said violated the principle of respect for human rights. France's refusal to recognize Corsican national identity, she argued, breached the right of peoples to self-determination. RT reported that Zakharova also accused the United Kingdom of continuing its "occupation" of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean despite UN rulings, describing it as a clear violation of international law. In her remarks, Zakharova also questioned Valtonen's qualifications, pointing out her background in finance and event management rather than diplomacy. She said this reflected a broader pattern within the European Union of appointing officials lacking foreign policy experience. Zakharova added that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's training as a "gynaecologist" symbolised the EU's leadership deficit in diplomacy. (ANI)
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (West) Sibi George attended Uzbekistan's National Day celebrations as the Chief Guest in Delhi, hosted by the Embassy of Uzbekistan. George highlighted deep civilizational ties between India and Uzbekistan. In a post on X, the MEA said, "Secretary(West) Sibi George attended Uzbekistan's National Day celebrations as the Chief Guest in New Delhi hosted by Embassy of Uzbekistan. Extended warm greetings to the people and the government of Uzbekistan. In his remarks on the occasion, Secretary (West) highlighted our deep rooted ancient civilizational ties and also reaffirmed our commitment to the strategic partnership between India and Uzbekistan." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/1975954809862689231 Earlier, on October 1, the 9th meeting of the India-Uzbekistan Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism was held in Tashkent on September 30, according to a statement by the MEA. The meeting was co-chaired by Vinod J. Bahade, Joint Secretary (Counter Terrorism), Ministry of External Affairs, and Gulomjon Pirimkulov, Head of the Department for Cooperation with South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan. The two sides discussed threats posed by terrorist groups globally and in their respective regions. Both sides exchanged views on current and emerging challenges to counter-terrorism, including countering extremism and radicalisation, combating financing of terrorism, preventing use of technology for terrorist purposes, the nexus between transnational organised crime and terrorism and the global movement of terrorists. Both sides condemned the dastardly terrorist attack on innocent civilians on 22 April 2025 in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, the statement said. The two sides also deliberated on measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the sphere of counter-terrorism through information sharing, capacity building, and the sharing of best practices. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in multilateral forums, including the UN, SCO-RATS, and EAG. The next meeting of the Joint Working Group will be held in India on a mutually convenient date, as per the MEA. https://x.com/amb_tashkent/status/1973012676579398077 The Indian Embassy in Uzbekistan said in a post on X, "9th meeting of Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism between India and Uzbekistan was held today in Tashkent. Both sides discussed cooperation in countering terrorism and radicalization." (ANI)
Terrorists attempted to attack the Israel Defence Forces positioned in Gaza on Wednesday. The IDF said that they eliminated several terrorists, and no injuries were reported among the IDF. In a post on X, the IDF said, "Several Terrorists Attempted to Attack an IDF Position in the Gaza City Area. IDF troops, in cooperation with the IAF, struck and eliminated several of the terrorists. Searches for additional terrorists are currently underway. There were no injuries among IDF troops in this incident." https://x.com/IDF/status/1975948811114610891 US President Donald Trump said on he may travel to the Middle East this weekend as his negotiators seek to seal a captives-for-ceasefire deal in Gaza. Trump said at the White House that a deal is "very close" and he may depart on Saturday. He spoke after talking to his team about the talks being held in Egypt. He said he would been speaking to his teams in the Middle East, Al Jazeera reported. "'Peace for the Middle East,' that's a beautiful phrase, and we hope it's going to come true, but it's very close, and they're doing very well," Trump said. "We have a great team over there, great negotiators, and there are, unfortunately, great negotiators on the other side also. But it's something I think that will happen." "'Peace for the Middle East,' that's a beautiful phrase, and we hope it's going to come true, but it's very close, and they're doing very well," Trump said. "We have a great team over there, great negotiators, and there are, unfortunately, great negotiators on the other side also. But it's something I think that will happen," Al Jazeera reported. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has sharply criticised a meeting due to be held in Paris on Thursday, where European, Arab and other diplomats are expected to discuss Gaza's post-war transition and efforts towards a permanent ceasefire. Saar described the French-led initiative as "unnecessary and harmful", saying it had been "concocted behind Israel's back at the sensitive timing of the negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh". "We view this as yet another attempt by President [Emmanuel] Macron to divert attention from his domestic problems at Israel's expense," Saar posted on X. (ANI)
NARA, Oct 09 (News On Japan) - In the heart of Nara Prefecture lies Imai, a town that has miraculously preserved its Edo-era landscape and traditions to this day. Established in the mid-Muromachi period as a temple-based settlement, Imai developed under the same Buddhist sect as Ishiyama Honganji.

When Oda Nobunagas forces attacked, the town negotiated peace and was granted the rare privilege of self-governance, as confirmed by a letter written personally by Nobunaga. That letter, now preserved at Shonenji Temple, remains a tangible record of Imais unique history. Over the centuries, Imai flourished alongside Sakai as a major commercial hub, earning the nickname Sakai of the Sea, Imai of the Land. Although urbanization during the Meiji era threatened to alter the towns character, the residents made the courageous decision to protect their heritage, ensuring that the traditional townscape remains intact. Unlike many other historical districts, Imai has never been turned into a tourist attraction but has remained a living community where residents continue to preserve their way of life.

Rows of wooden houses line the narrow streets, evoking the atmosphere of Japans early modern period. Of approximately 760 buildings in the district, about 500 are designated as traditional structures, making it the highest concentration of Edo-era buildings in the country. The town is registered as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings and is recognized as a Japan Heritage site. Defensive moats still trace the edges of the settlement, revealing its origins as a fortified religious community designed to withstand the conflicts of the Warring States period.

In 1570, Nobunaga launched an assault on the Ishiyama Honganji, and five years later, his forces attacked Imai as well. After half a year of fierce resistance, the townspeople surrendered under the condition of dismantling their fortifications, and Nobunaga subsequently granted them the right of self-rule. The agreement laid the foundation for Imais growth as a self-governing commercial city. The surviving letter bearing Nobunagas red seal, inscribed with the phrase Tenka Fubu meaning rule the realm through military might, symbolizes both power and diplomacy. Its message conveys recognition of Imais dedication and an invitation to maintain peace and continue trade under mutual respect.

Within the town, numerous merchant residences and sake breweries have stood for centuries, many still active today. Eight structures, including the Kometani Residenceonce home to a prosperous hardware and fertilizer merchantare designated Important Cultural Properties. Inside, the wide earthen floor, open hearth, and high-beamed ceilings reflect the design of rural merchant homes of the era. Another notable building, the Ikei Residence, operates as a sake brewery that has been in business for over 300 years. Visitors can sample three varieties of locally brewed sake, each served with a complimentary cup or wooden masu as a keepsake.

During its peak, Imai handled much of the commerce of Yamato Province, trading essential goods such as oil, fertilizer, and textiles. To support this thriving economy, local financial houses emerged, lending money nationwide and establishing Imais influence across Japan. The Imanishi Residence, built in 1650 and considered the oldest surviving townhouse in the district, stands as a symbol of that prosperity. Constructed in the rare hachiken-zukuri style typically used for shrine pavilions, the house served as both residence and administrative center. Inside, a raised floor area was used for legal hearings, while an adjoining room functioned as a holding cell equipped with smoke vents for interrogationa reminder of the towns self-governing authority during the Edo period.

When modernization and railway expansion swept through Japan during the Meiji era, Imai faced a pivotal decision. Authorities proposed building a train station, offering noble titles in return. The townspeople declined, choosing instead to protect their traditions and daily lives. That decision spared Imai from the rapid commercialization that transformed other towns and preserved its identity as a living Edo-era settlement. To this day, Imai remains a quiet community where residents continue to live among the same lattice windows, clay walls, and narrow streets that have endured for more than four centuries.

Through the centuries, Imai has withstood war, modernization, and economic change, standing as a rare example of a town that preserved its spirit while the rest of Japan transformed around it. It continues to embody the resilience of the people who chose heritage over progress, leaving behind one of the most remarkable living remnants of the Edo era.

Source: YOMIURI
TOKYO, Oct 09 (News On Japan) - At the 21st Clarino Beautiful Legs Award 2025 ceremony held in Tokyo on October 6th, actress Risa Naka was honored in the 30s category, alongside Runa Nakajima in the teen division and Hikaru Takahashi in the 20s division. The annual event recognizes celebrities with outstanding leg beauty and health.

Upon receiving the award, Naka said she was genuinely surprised, remarking, "I honestly thought, 'Why me?' I rarely show my legs in public, so I wondered where anyone had even seen them." Known for her bold and creative fashion choices, Naka revealed that she often prefers oversized outfits and tends to keep her legs covered, making the recognition even more unexpected for her.

When asked about her secret to maintaining beautiful legs, she said with a laugh, "Massage the soles of your feet as much as you can. Press hard!" She explained that her work often involves long hours of standing or sitting for extended periods during variety show recordings, so she prioritizes massage and self-care to improve circulation. "Ive always been told by my mother not to sit cross-legged. Now that Im an adult, I realize it really does affect blood flow and posture," she reflected.

In preparation for the ceremony, Naka revealed that she went all out with her beauty routine. "Yesterday, I went to three different massage appointments back-to-back," she said. "This morning, I went to the sauna at 9 a.m., and right before coming on stage, I had a massage therapist working on me again. My legs might not even be real todaytheyre that well-finished!" she joked, drawing laughter from the audience.

Naka, who has long admired people with well-shaped legs, said she has followed the award for years. "I always check the Beautiful Legs Award every year. Ive always admired people with beautiful legs, so I never imagined Id win it myself," she said. When asked whose legs she admires, she immediately replied, "Nanaosher legs are just from another world, perfectly straight and elegant."

While she admitted feeling nervous showing her legs in public, she expressed gratitude for the recognition. "Ive spent most of my life hiding them, so it feels a bit strange today," she smiled. Despite her busy schedule, Naka emphasized that rest and proper circulation are key to maintaining beauty. "I rarely get to lie down because Im always moving around, but good-quality sleep is important for your legs too. Yesterday, after all those massages, I finally rested properlyso I guess Im well-prepared today."

Source: Kyodo
CHERRY HILL, N.J., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier Workspaces, a leader in flexible office solutions, is proud to announce the opening of its newest coworking space in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Located in the prestigious Commerce Center at 1820 Chapel Avenue West, this modern 24,590-square-foot executive suite offers businesses of all sizes a professional, convenient, and fully equipped workspace just minutes from Philadelphia.

The new location features 85 private window and interior offices, designed to meet the needs of today's dynamic workforce. Whether you're a growing startup, a well-established company, or a solo entrepreneur, Premier Workspaces delivers an ideal environment for collaboration, productivity, and innovation.

"We are thrilled to bring Premier Workspaces to the heart of Cherry Hill," said Amy Fuller, President at Premier Workspaces. "This new hybrid office space offers the perfect combination of location, amenities, and flexibility for businesses looking to thrive in South Jersey. With no capital investment required and one simple monthly invoice, we provide our clients with a hassle-free professional office experience that allows them to focus on what matters most  growing their business."

Positioned just off Route 38 and only 10 minutes from Philadelphia, the new Cherry Hill office space offers easy access to major highways, local restaurants, and amenities, making it the ideal choice for commuters and businesses looking for a strategic presence in the region. The fully equipped facility includes virtual office address, high-speed internet, 2 professional meeting rooms, reception services, and 24/7 access, ensuring that clients have everything they need to succeed.

"We are excited to expand Premier Workspaces into Cherry Hill, bringing our signature flexible office solutions to their local business community. This new location reflects our commitment to providing high-quality, professional office space that foster productivity. We look forward to welcoming businesses and entrepreneurs to our newest office in New Jersey," States Michael Pollack, Senior Vice President of Real Estate at Premier Workspaces.

As with all Premier Workspaces locations, the Cherry Hill office fosters a professional yet flexible atmosphere, perfect for collaboration and creativity. The company's commitment to providing tailored workspace solutions enables clients to scale up or down quickly, offering businesses the agility they need in today's fast-paced economy.

For more information about Premier Workspaces' Cherry Hill executive suites, coworking options, meeting room rentals and/or a virtual office address, please visit the webpage or call (856) 270-8060.

About Premier Workspaces:

Premier Workspaces (http://www.premierworkspaces.com) is a prominent operator within the executive suite, coworking, and shared workspace domain, maintaining an extensive network of locations across the United States. These locations are spread across including Arizona, California, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Washington, and the District of Columbia. With a history dating back to 2002, Premier Workspaces has overseen the ownership and operation of over 149 locations, encompassing a total commercial office space exceeding 2.6 million square feet.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/premier-workspaces/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PWSpaces

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PremierWorkspaces

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premierworkspaces

SOURCE Premier Workspaces
OSAKA, Oct 09 (News On Japan) - Osaka Universitys Professor Shimon Sakaguchi has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering regulatory T cells that suppress excessive immune reactions, a landmark finding that has brought excitement to colleagues, students, and the medical community.

At a press conference held with his wife, Noriko, Sakaguchi expressed gratitude for their years of joint research and cooperation. The discovery of regulatory T cells has contributed to treatments for autoimmune diseases but also poses challenges in cancer therapy, where suppressing these cells is sometimes necessary to enhance the bodys immune response. Kyoto Universitys Professor Kawamoto hailed the achievement as a discovery that will go down in the history of immunology. Venture companies originating from Osaka University also anticipate the award will expand opportunities for innovation in the medical field.

On the morning of October 9th, Sakaguchi was greeted by a large crowd of faculty and staff at Osaka Universitys Suita campus. Students applauded as he arrived, one remarking, Hes a figure I deeply respect and the kind of researcher I aspire to become. Recognized for his discovery of regulatory T cells that restrain excessive immune reactions, Sakaguchi later joined a press conference with his wife, who also teaches at Osaka University. After so many years of hard work, its truly rewarding to see our efforts take shape, he said. When two people think together, various ideas and insights emerge, and in that sense, Im grateful weve been able to work side by side all these yearsthough I have to say that or Ill get scolded, he added with a smile.

To explain Sakaguchis discovery simply: in the history of immunology, its often described as one of the final great breakthroughs. The immune systems job is to protect the body by attacking foreign pathogens while leaving the bodys own tissues unharmed. However, when immune cells mistakenly attack the body itself, diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and allergies can develop. Regulatory T cells serve to stop such misguided attacks. Strengthening their function can lead to new treatments for autoimmune disorders, while in contrast, reducing their activity could make it possible for the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells more effectively. Its a turning point that will change the direction of immune therapy, said one researcher. In the future, people will look back and realize how much we used to suppress immunity unnecessarily.

The Nobel announcement has also energized startups linked to Osaka University. InnoSense, a venture based in Osaka City, has developed a device capable of detecting various diseases from just a single drop of blood in about ten minutes using proprietary university technology. The company hopes the prize will enhance the universitys reputation in medical innovation. This recognition could accelerate the flow from basic research to applied medicine, said a company representative. We want people to say, Osaka Universitywhere Professor Sakaguchi came fromproduces truly remarkable science, and well continue doing our best to live up to that reputation.

Source: Television OSAKA NEWS
France has deepened its military ties with Ghana through a four-day joint naval exercise, as Paris pivots towards coastal West African nations after military setbacks in the Sahel.

The French amphibious assault ship LHD Tonnerre docked at Ghanas Tema Port on September 30, for the exercise, aimed at improving maritime security and operational coordination in the Gulf of Guinea. The 2025 Regional Onboard and Digital Training Course (SIREN) included training on maritime rescue, anti-piracy, pollution control, crisis management, and regional cooperation. It was led by Naval Captain Arnaud Bolelli, in collaboration with Ghanas Eastern Naval Command under Commodore Solomon Asiedu-Larbi.

Frances renewed focus on the Gulf of Guinea follows its military withdrawal from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger  now aligned under the anti-French Alliance of Sahel States. The Tonnerres deployment signals a shift from direct intervention to regional capacity-building and partnerships with democratically stable nations like Ghana, Cote dIvoire, and Senegal. Ghanas Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, stressed the importance of maritime security, noting challenges like illegal fishing, piracy, and environmental degradation that threaten livelihoods and stability.

While some African nations push back against Western presence, Ghana welcomes strategic cooperation. With increasing influence from China, Russia, and the United States, the drill highlights growing geopolitical competition in Africas security space  and Ghanas pragmatic stance in securing external support to confront regional threats.
The tireless efforts engaged by Al Quds Committee, chaired by King Mohammed VI, for preserving the historical and legal status of Al Quds and its Holy sites have been recognized by the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union.

In a statement issued Monday following their 29th joint meeting held in Kuwait, the ministers of the two regional groupings voiced support for the work made by Al-Quds Committee spearheaded by the Moroccan Sovereign for preserving the historical characteristics and legal status of Al-Quds and its Holy sites.

The EU-GCC ministerial meeting also reiterated its backing for a just and lasting resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution.

It voiced concern over settlement activities including the expansion of illegal settlements, and settler violence including against Christian communities in the West Bank and condemned Israels military operation, and increased terrorist attacks against civilians, which undermine the two-State solution and exacerbate tensions.

The joint meeting reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to achieving a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the Middle East on the basis of the two-State solution, in line with the Arab Peace Initiative, relevant UN resolutions, and the terms of reference of the peace process, on the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem with equivalent land swaps as may be agreed between the parties in accordance with international law and agreed international parameters.
Morocco has urged again the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to end the five-decade humanitarian crisis suffered by the sequestered populations in the Polisario-controled Tindouf camps, southern Algeria.

Addressing the UNHCRs 76th Executive Committee session, Moroccos Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, Omar Zniber urged the UN agency to conduct an independent and immediate registration of the sequestered populations in Tindouf camps and ensure unfettered humanitarian access to these besieged camps.

The Moroccan diplomat denounced the international community inaction, describing the situation as abnormal and unique in the history of the UNHCR.

In 2005, Inspector General Office of the UNHCR had called for immediate and independent registration of the populations held in the camps of Tindouf, but two decades later the UN agency authority remains dead letter and unheeded, said Mr. Zniber.

He also stressed the need to strengthen monitoring and control mechanisms of humanitarian assistance to avoid embezzlement and ensure that the humanitarian aid reaches the beneficiaries.

The EU anti-fraud office (OLAF) has on multiple occasions denounced, with documented evidence, the embezzlement of humanitarian aid by the Polisario leadership and Algerian generals.

OLAF has exposed the system put in place by the Polisario leaders in connivance of Algerian officials, from the unloading of international humanitarian aid in the port of Oran until reaching the markets in Algeria, Mauritania and even Mali.

The foodstuff, intended to be distributed free of charge to the inhabitants of the camps, is out of stock in the Tindouf camps warehouses, as large quantities were sold over-the-counter in Algerian grocery stores.
FORT MYERS, Fla., Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC (FCS) has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in radiation oncology for each of its radiation locations, 11 in total, as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR).

FCS earns ACR accreditation for all 11 radiation oncology sites, highlighting excellence in safety and patient care.

"Earning ACR accreditation across all of our radiation oncology sites reflects our steadfast commitment to providing the highest standards of safety, precision, and patient-centered care," remarked Medical Director, Radiation Oncology and Radiology Administration Sachin Kamath, MD. "This recognition affirms the dedication of our clinical teams, who ensure every patient receives the same level of excellenceclose to home, in the communities where they live."

The following FCS sites renewed their three-year ACR accreditation for radiation services:

The following newly established FCS sites earned their first accreditation for radiation services:

Orlando Radiation Oncology, 52 W. Gore St., Orlando, FL 32806-1114

Sanford Radiation Oncology, 2200 W 1 st St., Sanford, FL 32771-1674

St., Sanford, FL 32771-1674 Wesley Chapel Cancer Center, 2895 Hueland Pond Blvd., Suite 100, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543

"This achievement underscores the strength of our program and the quality of services we provide to patients across the state," said FCS Chief Executive Officer Ryan Ciarrocchi. "By meeting the rigorous standards of the American College of Radiology at every one of our centers, we are demonstrating our promise to deliver trusted, accessible, and advanced cancer care to every community we serve."

Radiation oncology (radiation therapy) involves the careful use of high-energy radiation to treat cancer and some benign conditions. A radiation oncologist may use radiation to cure cancer or to relieve a cancer patient's symptoms.

The ACR is the nation's oldest and most widely accepted radiation oncology accrediting body, with over 700 accredited sites, and 30 years of accreditation experience. The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting specific requirements based on Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards developed by ACR after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified radiation oncologists and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Patient care and treatment, patient safety, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported back to the facility and provide the practice with a comprehensive report they can use for continuous practice improvement.

About the American College of Radiology

The American College of Radiology (ACR), founded in 1924, is a 42,000-member medical association that advances patient care, medical practice and collaborative results through advocacy, quality standards, research and education. www.acr.org

About Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, LLC: (FLCancer.com)

For more than 40 years, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) has embraced innovation to deliver world-class care and drive the dramatic transformation of oncology care through its robust clinical research program.

FCS provides patients with access to a wide range of clinical trials, positioning it as a leader in research among private oncology practices in Florida and across the country. In fact, before receiving FDA approval, the majority of new cancer drugs in the U.S. were first made available to patients through participation in clinical trials at FCS.

Our outstanding team of highly trained and dedicated physicians is committed to delivering tailored treatment plans that make the best use of cutting-edge precision oncology advancements to enhance patient outcomes.

SOURCE Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute
The U.S. senate confirmed on Tuesday the nomination of Duke Buchan III as new U.S. ambassador to Morocco, paving the way for the diplomat to assume as soon as possible his post and mission of strengthening further U.S.-Moroccan strategic partnership in security, economy, technology, transportation, agriculture, and energy sectors.

Duke Buchan III, a businessman and diplomat, served as his countrys ambassador to Spain and Andorra in the first Trump administration, a position he held from 2017 to 2021.

Born in 1963, Duke Buchan is known for his extensive work in both finance and diplomacy. He studied economics and Spanish at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later earned an MBA from Harvard Business School.

After finishing his studies, Buchan built a successful career in global finance. He began his career at Merrill Lynch, where he gained expertise in global corporate finance and investment banking. He later worked at Maverick Capital, managing investments in banks and financial services.

During his senate hearing, Buchan said King Mohammed VI is a valued leader and a friend of the United States and described Morocco as a pillar of stability and pivotal to American national security.

Morocco is one of our oldest partners. Our Treaty of Peace and Friendship dates back to 1786. For almost two hundred and forty years, our bilateral relationship has made Americans and Moroccans safer, stronger, and more prosperous, had said the ambassador.
Morocco and United Kingdom have just completed in Marrakesh region their annual military exercise Jebel Sahara, marking 25 years of cooperation between Moroccos 2nd Parachute Infantry Brigade (2BIP) and the British Gibraltar Regiment.

The exercise represents a milestone of Moroccan-British cooperation based on mutual trust, enduring friendships and shared geostrategic interests.

Marrakech provides British RG an opportunity to learn from the Moroccan troops experience of operating in the hot, dry and demanding conditions of the desert. In return, they share with the Moroccans their military skills and manoeuvre tactics.

To mark the long-standing partnership, General Sir Patrick Sanders visited the exercise in his capacity as the Honorary Colonel of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment. He was accompanied by the Commanding Officer of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, Lt. Colonel John Pitto, Regimental Sergeant Major WO1 Karon Fortunato, and Second-in-Command Major Dayan Pozo.

The Jebel Sahara Exercise embodies military professionalism and adaptability making Moroccan-British partnership a success as it fosters defense engagement, delivers operational excellence and strengthens inter-operability.
More than 300 Moroccan and French business leaders are set to gather in Dakhla on October 9 for the Morocco-France Economic Forum, a high-level event aimed at deepening bilateral partnerships and exploring new opportunities in strategic sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and agribusiness.

Organized jointly by the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) and the French Business Movement (MEDEF), the forum builds on the momentum of French President Emmanuel Macrons recent state visit to Morocco. During that visit, President Macron reaffirmed Frances support for Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara, stating that the present and future of the Sahara lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.

Business ties between Morocco and France have received a major boost following Paris recognition of Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara, followed by a visit in November by French president Macron to Morocco, during which deals worth over 10 billion euros have been signed.

The selection of Dakhla as the host city underscores its growing role as a hub of economic dynamism and regional development. With major investments in infrastructure, energy, and logistics, Dakhla has emerged as a strategic gateway linking Europe and Africa, reflecting Moroccos ambitions on the continent.

For French companies, the forum presents a unique opportunity to engage with an emerging market and forge new commercial ties in a region poised for growth.

According to a statement from CGEM, the forum will focus on strengthening existing partnerships, identifying new synergies, and boosting bilateral economic cooperation. Key sectors on the agenda include: renewable energy and energy transition, infrastructure and logistics, sustainable tourism and hospitality, agribusiness and food security, digital innovation and services and skills development and vocational training.

Prominent French business leaders expected to attend include Herve Barrere (CEO of Centrale Danone), Jean-Pierre Clamadieu (Chairman of Engie), Ross McInnes (Chairman of Safran), and Diego Diaz (President of SNCF International).
Ahead of the upcoming vote on a new UN Security Council resolution concerning the Sahara issue, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has released his latest report on the situation urging the extension of the UN missions mandate in the territory and echoing many of the themes from previous years, while underscoring a notable international shift towards backing Moroccos autonomy plan as a credible and lasting political solution.

Guterres highlighted the joint communique issued on June 1, 2025, by the United Kingdom and Morocco, in which the UK described Moroccos autonomy plan as the most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution.

He noted Algerias role as the genuine party in the conflict, citing its reactions to the UKs sovereign decision to back the Moroccan position.

The report also referenced King Mohammed VIs Throne Day speech on July 29, in which the monarch called for a solution without winners or losers and expressed Moroccos willingness to engage in frank, responsible, brotherly, and sincere dialogue with Algeria. The overture, however, fell on deaf Algerian ears.

The neighboring states have a crucial role to play in resolving the Western Sahara issue, which would also enhance their security and development prospects, Guterres wrote. I regret the lack of tangible progress in Algeria-Morocco relations and urge both countries to intensify efforts toward regional cooperation.

Algeria is mentioned 17 times in the report, more than in previous years, underscoring its active involvement. Guterres noted that Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf continues to support Polisario positions while denying Algerias status as a party to the conflict.

The report details Algerias influence over the process, including criticism of the UK, speaking on behalf of the Polisario to MINURSO, and keeping an upper hand on the Tindouf camps.

Guterres expressed concern over the low-intensity conflict in the territory since 2020, warning of the growing risk of escalation and regional instability. The report documents multiple incidents involving Polisario fire near civilian areas and MINURSO facilities. While most verified attacks landed in remote zones without causing damage, one notable incident occurred on November 9, 2024, during a civilian conference commemorating a Moroccan national event in Mahbas. Another, on June 27, involved four rocket explosions near MINURSOs Es-Semara site, with one landing just 200 meters away, the closest such incident since hostilities resumed.

The Polisario has refused to allow MINURSO to investigate these events and maintains limited communication with the mission. Guterres urged the group to lift restrictions on helicopter reconnaissance and resume direct contact with MINURSOs leadership in Rabouni.

Between January and March 2025, MINURSO observed the completion of a 93-kilometer road linking Es-Semara to Mauritania, crossing the security wall. Moroccan officials clarified that the route is intended for civilian use and is unrelated to military operations. This would mark the second land crossing between Morocco and Mauritania, alongside the existing Guerguarat passage.

Guterres emphasized the critical role of MINURSO in monitoring, investigation, and liaison efforts, calling it the primary and often sole source of impartial analysis for the UN and member states. He recommended extending the missions mandate until October 31, 2026.

However, funding remains a concern. The UN General Assembly allocated $70.7 million for MINURSOs operations from July 2025 to June 2026, but as of August 20, unpaid contributions totaled $64.9 million, highlighting the missions precarious financial situation.
President of Senegal Bassirou Diomaye Faye and King Mohammed VI have voiced their shared resolve to further strengthen the two countries strategic and multidimensional partnership.

This came during an audience the Senegalese head of state granted Tuesday in Dakar to Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, who is taking part in the Invest in Senegal forum.

During the audience, Bourita reiterated to the Senegalese President the Monarchs determination to further strengthen the strategic partnership uniting the two countries, a partnership that is already strong and multidimensional.

President Faye on his part tasked the Foreign Minister with conveying to King Mohammed VI his commitment to endeavor to make of the two countries partnership a reference model.
Small Michigan Employers Can Apply for Matching Safety Grants

Michigan employers with 250 or fewer workers can apply for matching grants of up to $5,000 to fund equipment and training that improve workplace safety.

Michigan businesses with 250 or fewer employees can apply for a dollar-for-dollar match up to $5,000 through MIOSHAs Workplace Improvement to Safety and Health (MIWISH) grant program. These grants provide critical support for employers looking to invest in equipment and training that directly improve workplace safety and health.

In FY 202425, MIOSHA awarded $500,000 to 136 employers. Funded projects included fall protection systems, AEDs, trench boxes, respirators, ergonomic lift tables, gas monitors and other equipment that helps reduce the most serious workplace hazards. These grants have made a measurable difference for small employers by allowing them to purchase lifesaving equipment that might otherwise be out of reach.

Eligibility:

Employers with 250 or fewer employees company-wide

Must fall under MIOSHA jurisdiction

Conduct a site-specific evaluation justifying the purchase

Show how the project reduces risks of injury or disease

Demonstrate ability to complete and implement the project

The new grant cycle began Oct. 1 and funds will be awarded until exhausted. Preference is given to high-hazard industries and projects tied to State and National Emphasis Programs such as trenching, silica, heat illness, amputations, and cannabis safety. Employers that received a MIWISH grant in FY 2025 may also apply for additional funding after Jan. 1, 2026, if funds remain available.

For full details and application information, visit Michigan.gov/MIOSHAGrants.
Despite the significant environmental risks and community opposition, President Noboa's plan to revive the oil industry with new hydrocarbon projects raises fears of further ecological degradation in the Amazonian region.

The Trans-Ecuadorian System Oil Pipeline (SOTE) has a long history of ruptures and spills, with the latest incident in March 2025 being one of the worst in decades, contaminating farmlands and water sources and affecting over 600,000 people.

Ecuadors oil industry is caught in a death spiral. Decades of corruption, dwindling private investment, corroded infrastructure and environmental disasters are all weighing on production and reserves growth. Environmentally damaging oil spills are a common occurrence, with evidence suggesting that the national government in Quito is failing to prevent these harmful events. President Daniel Noboas commitment to reviving the economically crucial oil industry risks serious pollution, especially with cocaine related violence distracting his government. Repeatedly, Ecuadors government has proven itself incapable of protecting sensitive ecological regions, such as the Amazon.

Data from Ecuadors Ministry of Mines and Energy shows at the end of September 2025, the Andean nation was pumping 468,729 barrels of crude oil per day. This represents a 1.2% decrease compared to the previous month and a 5.5% year-over-year decrease. Alarmingly, for Ecuadors oil-dependent economy, that number is lower than for the same period in 2020 when petroleum production collapsed because of a government-mandated pandemic lockdown and sharply weaker oil prices.

Those production numbers highlight the systemic decline in Ecuadors hydrocarbon output over the last decade, as of the first nine months of 2025. Ecuador pumped an average of 465,369 barrels per day, which, aside from being the lowest petroleum output since 2002, represents a 14% decrease from 2015s production of 543,095 barrels per day. While a lack of investment after a decade of heavy-handed government intervention deterred private investors, weighing on production, frequent pipeline outages, with ruptures and spills commonplace, are responsible for this decline.

The latest outage to impact Ecuadors oil production was the shutdown of the state-owned Trans-Ecuadorian System Oil Pipeline (SOTE) from July 2, 2025, to July 17, 2025, due to the risk of ruptures and leaks caused by regressive erosion. The Oleoducto de Crudos Pesados (OCP) pipeline was also shuttered for the same reasons. Petroecuador called a force majeure on all operations, including crude exports. This is a common event that has occurred with greater frequency since the completion of the Coca Codo Sinclair hydroelectric dam on the Coca River in 2016. The hydro-facility has caused severe regressive erosion along the Coca River, which led to the collapse of the San Rafael waterfallEcuadors tallestin 2020.

The 310-mile (500-kilometer) long, 360,000-barrel-per-day SOTE pipeline, which entered service in 1972, is regularly shut down due to the risks posed by landslides and regressive erosion, especially during storms. Those events can rupture the aging pipeline, which connects oilfields in Ecuadors Amazon to the Pacific port of Esmeraldas, also home to the country's largest refinery. The SOTE pipeline ships around 60% of all oil dispatched from Ecuadors Amazon.

Little appears to have been done by Ecuadors national oil company, Petroecuador, the pipeline owner, to rectify the issues impacting the SOTEs operations. This is despite the considerable environmental damage caused by at least 75 oil spills from the 77 pipeline ruptures suffered since the pipeline commenced operations in 1972. The largest spill from the pipeline totaled over 65,000 barrels of crude, occurring in April 1974. This was followed by two further major oil spills of 48,498 barrels in 1977 and 57,161 barrels in 1987. It is estimated that since the SOTE pipeline came online, it has spilled at least 742,000 barrels of crude oil into the nearby environment, including the Coca River, which flows into the Napo, a tributary of the Amazon.

While the number of serious spills has fallen since the start of the 21st century, there have still been 15 such events. The latest spill from the SOTE pipeline is the worst to have occurred in over two decades and among the most severe environmental incidents caused by Ecuadors oil industry in recent years. On March 13, 2025, a geyser of oil, according to witnesses, spurted from the SOTE pipeline for several hours. Over 25,000 barrels of crude oil spilled into the Esmeraldas River, contaminating nearby farmlands, water bodies, and wildlife refuges.

The spill was so massive, it flowed 50 miles (80 kilometers) downriver toward the Pacific Ocean, directly impacting 111,000 people by damaging their health, destroying homes and contaminating crops. A further 500,000 inhabitants were indirectly affected by the spill, which contaminated drinking water and food sources, leaving communities without potable water for nearly 2 weeks. It is believed that over 60,000 acres of farmland were polluted, and at least 100,000 animals were injured or killed by the oil spill.

Initially, Petroecuador blamed the enormous spill on severe storms causing landslides that ruptured the pipeline, but days later, Ecuadors Ministry of Energy and Mines and Petroecuador changed the story, blaming the incident on sabotage. While there is a history of local indigenous communities sabotaging industry operations in Ecuadors Amazon, it is difficult to believe they would intentionally cause such a harmful event. Previous acts of sabotage have amounted to damaging pumping stations and blockading oil blocks to hinder petroleum shipments rather than releasing large volumes of toxic crude oil into their local environment.

As historical data and recent events demonstrate, the SOTE pipeline is a major environmental risk with a long history of significant oil spills. Yet, Ecuadors national oil company Petroecuador, has taken few, if any, material measures to reduce the risk of pipeline ruptures and subsequent spills. There are also allegations that the state-controlled company, which is 100% owned by Ecuadors national government, on several occasions failed to remediate spills effectively. This means large volumes of hydrocarbon waste continue to pollute waterways, notably the Coca River, tainting local drinking water and food sources.

Those events, along with the history of frequent oil spills and other environmentally damaging incidents in Ecuadors Amazon, are driving considerable resentment and loathing among local communities. This is magnified by Quitos failure to use oil profits to provide adequate infrastructure in the region, despite at least 80% of all petroleum being produced in Ecuadors Amazonian provinces. President Noboas plan to reinvigorate the economically crucial industry, with oil Ecuadors largest export, is attracting substantial opposition.

There are considerable concerns that the Energy Ministrys auction of 49 hydrocarbon projects, valued at $47 billion, will lead to further severe environmental degradation in the ecologically sensitive Amazonian region. Especially, with President Noboa scrapping Ecuadors Environment Ministry and incorporating its functions into the Ministry of Mines and Energy. There are also concerns that Quitos recently announced commitment to greater private ownership of hydrocarbon projects will further undermine existing environmental protections as the government seeks to boost foreign investment.

By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

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Oil prices rose early on Wednesday after an industry report showed on Tuesday that the crude stocks at the key Cushing hub fell further and OPEC+ somewhat eased fears of an imminent glut with a planned modest increase in output.

As of 8:05 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, WTI Crude prices were up by 1.44% at $62.62, while the front-month Brent Crude futures traded 1.42% higher at $66.38.

Cushing, Oklahoma, is the physical delivery spot for oil bought and sold in West Texas Intermediate futures contracts.

The American Petroleum Institute (API) estimated on Tuesday that stocks at the WTI delivery hub, Cushing, fell by 1.2 million barrels in the week ending October 3.

EIA data for week ending September 26 showed Cushing inventories at 23.467 million barrelsa figure that is unusually low. Levels this thin leave the market more vulnerable to regional supply disruptions and amplify price swings when pipeline flows shift.

The disconnect continues between paper pricing and the predicted glut in global balances, Keshav Lohiya, founder of consultant Oilytics, told Bloomberg.

We are back to an oil trading world where flat price is firmly in the $65 to $70 world.

The modest monthly production increases from the OPEC+ alliance have also eased some of the oversupply fears, especially as estimates suggest that the group will not be returning all the barrels indicated in the headline figures of the deal. Some producers are compensating for previous overproduction, while many others simply lack the production capacity to raise output much further.

The price move higher is also supported by short-covering after last weeks sell-off, even as rising OPEC+ output and a fresh EIA upgrade to U.S. production stoke fears of a growing glut into 2026, Saxo Bank analysts said on Wednesday.

Until the physical market shows signs of softening via rising inventories, investors are likely to discount the impact of the production increases, analysts at ANZ commented on Wednesday.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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French state utility EDF is in talks with banks about a potential initial public offering of its Italian subsidiary Edison, according to sources cited by Reuters, in a move that could unlock billions in capital as EDF ramps up financing for its nuclear revival at home.

EDF has begun sounding out major European lenders including BNP Paribas and Societe Generale to assess investor appetite for a Milan listing that would value Edison between 7 billion and 10 billion ($8-11 billion). The group would likely retain a controlling stake while selling a minority portion to the public or strategic investors, according to the Reuters report. Sources told the news agency that the discussions remain preliminary, with a formal mandate expected by the end of October.

Edison, which was fully acquired by EDF in 2012, remains one of Italys largest integrated energy companies, operating power generation, retail, and gas units with annual revenue of about 15 billion and EBITDA near 1.7 billion. Its CEO, Nicola Monti, said in September that the company was prepared for a market return if EDF gave it the green light, according to Reuters.

The IPO would fit EDFs broader capital rotation strategy.

Since being fully renationalized in 2023, EDF has been under pressure from President Emmanuel Macrons government to finance up to six new EPR2 reactors and extend the life of the existing fleet. That program could require more than 60 billion through the 2030s, prompting asset reviews that include potential divestments in renewables and non-core foreign units, the Financial Times reported.

Bloomberg reported in early September that an Edison relisting could gauge investor appetite for European power assets, as utilities face volatile wholesale electricity prices across the continent.

Edisons partial flotation would be similar to moves by other European energy peers such as Eni and Iberdrola, which spun off renewables and downstream assets to attract capital while retaining strategic control. A Milan listing would also test investor confidence in Europes liberalized power markets at a time of rising grid costs and renewed nuclear investment.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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News Summary:

Generative AI solutions for review, such as Relativity aiR for Review and Relativity aiR for Privilege, will be included in RelativityOne standard pricing and packaging.

The keynote highlights strong early adoption of Relativity aiR for Case Strategy.

Relativity underscores its commitment to enhancing early case intelligence by accelerating speed to insight with generative AI.

CHICAGO, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Relativity, a global legal technology company, today announced at Relativity Fest that it plans to extend access to its generative AI solutions for legal review by making aiR for Review and aiR for Privilege standard in its RelativityOne offering. In the keynote, the company also highlighted how it is addressing legal data challenges including early case intelligence and case strategy, and furthering extensibility with a new innovation arm.

"We believe generative AI is the undeniable future of review, and we're making it easy for all RelativityOne customers to experience the tremendous benefits it offers," said Phil Saunders, CEO of Relativity. "With the integration of aiR for Review and aiR for Privilege into our cloud offering, we are confident that we're setting a new standard for the industry and taking a pivotal step toward making advanced AI not just available, but foundational to the way legal teams conduct review."

Transforming how the industry performs review with seamless access to generative AI

Relativity's decision to bring the benefits of aiR for Review and aiR for Privilege to all RelativityOne customers reflects the company's belief that generative AI is foundational to document review of the future. Since launching aiR for Review and aiR for Privilege one year ago, more than 200 customers have used the solutions to review over 25 million documents in thousands of matters. With the ability for customers to review up to 3 million documents per day, these tools are designed to fundamentally reshape scale and speed in legal workflows, and customer experiences highlight the real-world impact of this shift.

Relativity partner Purpose Legal successfully leveraged Relativity aiR for Review to complete a 300,000-document review in just one week, meeting a court-mandated production deadline while achieving significant time and cost savings.

"Relativity aiR for Review helped us and our client address demands that otherwise would have been impossible to meet, enabling our team to complete a large-scale, complex review under an extremely tight deadline," said Jeff Johnson, Chief Innovation Officer at Purpose Legal. "We reduced review time by 85%, eliminated more than 4,000 hours of manual work and delivered cost savings of more than $70,000."

Customers leveraging aiR for Privilege have reported transformative results across a wide range of matters. Legal teams have cut review time by as much as 80%, surfaced thousands of privileged documents that would have otherwise been missed and enabled small teams to complete work that previously required five times the staffing. Reviewers note that aiR for Privilege not only accelerates decisions but also explains its rationale with clarity, helping attorneys validate privilege calls with greater confidence. This combination of speed, precision and transparency has delivered significant cost savings while strengthening the defensibility of privilege determinations.

Relativity's newest aiR solution previewed in the keynote, aiR Assist, is also scheduled to be integrated as a standard part of the RelativityOne offering when available in early 2026. aiR Assist is a natural language search application designed to dramatically reduce the time required to uncover critical information and take action with the results. This capability can transform the early stages of discovery, cutting time to insight from weeks to minutes.

Empowering litigators with aiR for Case Strategy

At Relativity Fest, the company also highlighted aiR for Case Strategy, showcasing how the solution is transforming case development by helping litigators move seamlessly from review to building strategy. aiR for Case Strategy accelerates knowledge building by auto-generating key facts, visualizing chronologies, summarizing documents and transcripts, and streamlining witness preparation.

Since its release into Limited General Availability in March, more than 40 customers have analyzed over a million documents. By combining aiR for Case Strategy with aiR Assist, litigators can identify the "who, what and when" of a matter much earlier in the discovery process, prepare for interviews and depositions with clarity and dramatically reduce the time required to analyze complex case materials.

"Relativity aiR for Case Strategy is a game changer for our litigation team. It cuts through the complexity of managing and making sense of disparate case data, allowing attorneys to focus on strategy," said Antonio Avant, Director of Legal Technology at Troutman eMerge. "From early case assessment to deposition prep, the platform helps us see the story we're trying to tell while helping our attorneys ramp quickly, bring clarity to data sprawl and transform how we build our cases."

Prioritizing speed to insight in early case intelligence

During the keynote, Relativity shared its commitment to driving a step function change in early case assessment. The company aims to accelerate customers' speed to insight by embedding powerful generative AI tools, such as aiR Assist, closer to data ingestion while addressing the economic barriers to capture these insights in RelativityOne based on customers' unique workflows and environments. Early case intelligence has become increasingly critical as organizations face rising data volumes, tighter regulatory timelines and mounting legal complexity.

"We're working toward delivering AI tools that live further to the left, helping customers tap into the power of their data earlier and surface insights sooner," said Saunders. "This focus prioritizes empowering customers to go beyond simply assessing data, enabling them to continuously learn throughout their matter, uncover the most critical insights and guide their strategy from the very start."

Turning complex data into results at scale



In addition to the product announcements above, Relativity's Chief Product Officer, Chris Brown, shared several product roadmap updates during the keynote that are described in detail in this blog post. This includes new built-in statistical validation for generative AI, upgraded data collection capabilities, generative-AI-powered contract review and data breach response, and agentic AI opportunities.

"Legal teams need technology that not only keeps pace with change but helps them to stay ahead of it," said Brown. "Our vision for RelativityOne is to continually evolve the platform as a true system of action that empowers teams to conduct all their legal data intelligence tasks, secure their most sensitive information and achieve amazing outcomes by strengthening the collaboration between people and AI."

Investing in the future of legal data intelligence with the launch of Rel Labs

Taking legal technology innovation a step further, the company announced Rel Labs, an investment arm and innovation hub designed to accelerate transformation across the full spectrum of the legal data intelligence ecosystem. Through Rel Labs, Relativity plans to expand the scope of customer challenges its technology can solve, strengthening RelativityOne as an extensible platform built to adapt, scale and lead across diverse use cases.

About Relativity Fest



Relativity Fest is the annual gathering of the global legal data and technology community. From Oct. 7-9, more than 2,000 professionals will convene at the Hyatt Regency Chicago to learn, connect and celebrate. The event combines practical education on topics like generative AI and legal data intelligence with several opportunities to network and share ideas.

About Relativity

Relativity is a global legal technology company that empowers the legal data intelligence community to organize data, discover the truth and act on it. Its extensible, AI-powered platform, RelativityOne, transforms complex data into insights and actions to elevate the practice of law. Leading corporations, law firms and government agencies worldwide rely on Relativity and its robust partner ecosystem to uncover the most relevant and impactful information across a range of legal work. Relativity expands access to technology by providing its platform at no cost to more than 100 academic institutions through its academic program and to more than 90 organizations supporting pro bono legal work through its Justice for Change initiative.

CONTACT: [email protected]

SOURCE Relativity
Exxon is considering a return to Iraq after leaving the country two years ago, Bloomberg reported, citing an unnamed source who said Exxon was interested in developing the massive Majnoon field.

The Majnoon field has estimated reserves of 38 billion barrels, which makes it one of the biggest in the world. According to the companies currently involved in work in the field, additional seismic surveys could uncover more reserves at the field.

Exxon confirmed the information in general, telling Bloomberg in a statement that Exxon Mobil is in discussions with the Iraqi Oil Ministry as we routinely look at opportunities to optimize our advantaged portfolio. Per the report, a deal could be sealed within days and involve, besides field development, construction of export infrastructure and potential oil marketing projects.

Reports that the U.S. supermajors were willing to return to OPECs number-two producer emerged earlier this year, with officials from the Iraqi oil ministry saying the companies were in talks with the government on the details of that return.

Related: New Quantum Breakthrough Could Lead to Super-Efficient Electronics

ExxonMobil has conveyed its willingness to return to Iraq, one undersecretary from the oil ministry said in July. The Company is currently in a stage of negotiations with Iraq for a new opportunity in the countrys oilfields. These moves are a positive indication of growing interest in Iraqs oil industry by the US and other companies, Bassim Khudair said at the time.

The U.S. supermajors potential return follows the returnor expansionof European Big Oil, including BP and TotalEnergies.

A more recent report, from Bloomberg again, said Exxon was in negotiations with Iraqi SOMO for the construction of crude oil storage facilities closer to demand hubs in Asia, the U.S., and Europe. The Iraqi oil marketing company has been looking for opportunities to set up overseas storage capacity for years.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Guyana has strengthened military cooperation with France to safeguard the oil-rich Essequibo region, escalating tensions with Venezuela just as the United States expands maritime strikes on vessels linked to Caracas.

The defense announcement follows new reports of French assistance in surveillance and air patrols over Guyanas western frontier, where ExxonMobil-led production continues to rise above 640,000 barrels per day, UPI reported.

Venezuela maintains its long-standing claim over Essequibo, an area that encompasses most of Guyanas proven offshore reserves, which now rank among the largest discoveries of the century. Caracas argues the 1899 arbitral award granting the region to then-British Guiana is invalid and continues to reject the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where Guyana has filed its case.

French defense officials said the partnership aims to reinforce regional stability and maritime domain awareness, while Georgetown emphasized that its growing oil output requires stronger security coordination as exports climb toward 800,000 bpd by mid-2026.

The new alignment comes amid renewed confrontation between Washington and Caracas.

Over the past week, U.S. forces have carried out at least four strikes on what the Pentagon described as drug-trafficking vessels operating near Venezuelan waters. One attack killed four crew members after a speedboat was hit in international waters off the Paria Peninsula. President Donald Trump has defended the actions under expanded rules of engagement against cartels, while Venezuelan officials denounced them as acts of war.

The tensions now reach into two of South Americas main oil zones. In Guyana, production led by ExxonMobil and its partners has topped 640,000 barrels a day and is expected to double by 2027 as new fields come online. Just across the border, Venezuela holds the worlds largest crude reserves but remains trapped under U.S. sanctions and chronic underinvestment. The two stories are now intermingling, with one country expanding output under Western backing, and the other struggling to sell its oil as U.S. warships patrol nearby waters.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Russia has raised its oil production close to the ceiling in the OPEC+ deal, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Wednesday.

Production is growing... Just as we are unable to decrease it quickly, we are increasing it steadily. We will fulfil our quota, Russian news agency Interfax quoted Novak as saying.

Russias oil production in August was about 90,000 barrels per day (bpd) below its OPEC+ quota.

Russias oil production averaged 9.173 million bpd in August, compared to the 9.259 million bpd ceiling in the OPEC+ deal, which also takes into account Moscows compensation for previous overproduction.

For September, Russia is allowed to produce 9.415 million bpd under the agreement, including compensation, which reduces its quota.

Asked about the September output, Novak said that We were close to or on roughly the same level as the quota, Interfax reported.

Russia stopped reporting production numbers after the invasion of Ukraine and OPEC and analysts rely on sources and vessel-tracking data to estimate the Russian oil production and supply levels.

Last month, reports emerged that Russias oil producers may have to reduce output as intensified Ukrainian drone attacks have damaged critical export and port infrastructure.

State pipeline firm Transneft, which handles more than 80% of all the crude oil pumped in Russia, has warned producers that it may have to accept lower volumes on its system, industry sources close to Russian oil producers told Reuters in the middle of September.

At the same time, Russia extended the ban on gasoline exports and introduced a ban on non-producers to export diesel by the end of the year.

The extension of the gasoline export ban and the introduction of a diesel export ban for trading companies is not surprising, as fuel shortages have emerged amid intensified Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian refineries and other energy infrastructure.

Russia has not commented on the extent of the damage done by Ukrainian drones, but various reports have said that at least 10 refineries have been targeted with drones by Ukraine, and some of them have sustained damages and had to temporarily halt crude intake.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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A doubling of the discount of Russias flagship Urals crude grade to Dated Brent could prompt more Russian oil purchases from Indian refiners in the coming weeks.

The discount of Urals to Dated Brent has widened to $2.00-$2.50 per barrel sources with knowledge of the market pricing told Bloomberg on Wednesday. The differential has now doubled compared to the $1.00 a barrel discount for Urals versus Dated Brent in July and August.

Indias crude oil imports from Russia are estimated to have dropped by about 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) in September compared to August as Indian refiners expand crude sources amid ongoing U.S.-India trade talks and U.S. pressure on the worlds third-largest crude importer to stop importing Russian oil.

India imported on average 1.61 million bpd of crude from Russia last month, down from 1.72 million bpd in August and a 16% decline compared to September last year, according to Kpler data cited by Bloomberg.

For October, Kpler has estimated that Indias crude imports from Russia are on track to rebound to about 1.7 million bpd. This would be slightly lower compared to the import levels in October 2024, per Kplers estimates of ship-tracking data cited by Bloomberg today.

More crude oil from Russia has become available for Indian refiners as Ukrainian drone attacks have reduced the Russian refining capacity, an Indian government official Reuters on Monday.

The ample supply has led to widening discounts for the flagship Russian grade Urals, which has become a favorite with Indian refiners since India significantly ramped up imports of cheap Russian crude in 2022.

Russian crude supply accounts for about a third of all crude arrivals in India. Despite U.S. pressure and difficult trade talks, Indian officials have repeatedly said the country would continue to buy Russian oil as cheap crude is in its national interest.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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AUSTIN, Texas and TOKYO, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Revenue Cycle Management Market is accelerating rapidly as healthcare providers, insurers, and physician groups embrace cloud-based platforms, AI-driven automation, and integrated solutions to optimize billing, claims, and reimbursement processes. According to DataM Intelligence, the Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) Market Size reached US$ 102.16 billion in 2024 and is projected to expand to US$ 291.19 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 12.4% during 20252033.

RCM, the backbone of healthcare financial operations, ensures providers are reimbursed accurately and efficiently. The industry's growth is being fueled by increasing administrative complexity, value-based care models, rising patient volumes, and the need for digital transformation.

Global leaders such as Optum, Coronis Health, Athenahealth, eClinicalWorks, and AdvancedMD are advancing automation, predictive analytics, and cloud-native architectures. Meanwhile, regional players in the U.S. and Asia are leveraging outsourcing and hybrid delivery models to streamline revenue cycles across hospitals, physician practices, and diagnostic centers.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.datamintelligence.com/download-sample/revenue-cycle-management-market

Browse in-depth TOC on "Revenue Cycle Management Market"

69  Tables

62  Figures

189  Pages

Market Segmentation Insights

By Component

Services dominated the RCM market in 2024 with revenues of US$ 62 billion. Outsourced billing, coding, claims management, and denial resolution are gaining traction, particularly among mid-sized hospitals and physician groups lacking in-house expertise.

Software solutions, valued at US$ 40 billion in 2024, are expanding rapidly. Cloud-native platforms offering integrated scheduling, billing, claims management, and analytics are becoming essential for compliance and performance optimization.

By Type

Integrated RCM solutions accounted for US$ 70 billion in 2024, reflecting the shift away from standalone systems. Providers increasingly prefer end-to-end solutions that unify clinical and financial data.

Standalone RCM solutions, valued at US$ 32 billion, remain relevant for smaller practices and niche diagnostic centers, though their share is declining.

By Deployment Mode

Cloud-based RCM platforms, generating US$ 55 billion in 2024, are growing at double-digit rates due to scalability, remote access, and AI-driven automation capabilities.

On-premises systems, valued at US$ 47 billion, continue to be used by large healthcare providers but are gradually being replaced by hybrid and cloud-native models.

By End-User

Hospitals accounted for US$ 58 billion in 2024, driven by complex billing structures, multiple payer networks, and high patient volumes.

driven by complex billing structures, multiple payer networks, and high patient volumes. Physician offices & clinics contributed US$ 22 billion, where RCM outsourcing is helping small and mid-sized practices reduce administrative burdens.

where RCM outsourcing is helping small and mid-sized practices reduce administrative burdens. Diagnostics centers, valued at US$ 14 billion, are expanding adoption as they face mounting reimbursement challenges.

Regional Insights: USA & Japan

United States

The U.S., valued at US$ 52 billion in 2024, leads the global RCM market, driven by:

Complex reimbursement systems involving Medicare, Medicaid, and private payers.

involving Medicare, Medicaid, and private payers. Strong adoption of AI-enabled denial management and predictive analytics.

Rapid migration toward cloud-native platforms for compliance and efficiency.

for compliance and efficiency. Recent update (2025): Optum launched an AI-powered claims management platform, reducing denials by 20% and accelerating payment cycles.

Japan

Japan's RCM market, valued at US$ 6.8 billion in 2024, is expanding due to:

Rising digital transformation in hospitals supported by the Japanese government.

supported by the Japanese government. Increasing collaboration between hospitals and insurers to automate billing and claims workflows.

Strong demand for integrated platforms to manage aging population healthcare costs.

Highlight (2025): eClinicalWorks partnered with Japanese hospitals to deploy cloud-based RCM systems with built-in patient engagement tools.

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Industry Trends & 2025 Developments

AI & Automation: Predictive algorithms are cutting claim denials and improving coding accuracy.

Predictive algorithms are cutting claim denials and improving coding accuracy. Outsourcing Growth: Mid-sized and rural hospitals are outsourcing billing and collections to global RCM providers.

Mid-sized and rural hospitals are outsourcing billing and collections to global RCM providers. Cloud Migration: More than 60% of new RCM deployments in 2025 are cloud-based.

More than 60% of new RCM deployments in 2025 are cloud-based. Value-Based Care Models: RCM solutions are adapting to alternative reimbursement models, including bundled payments.

RCM solutions are adapting to alternative reimbursement models, including bundled payments. Cybersecurity & Compliance: With digital integration comes heightened demand for HIPAA, GDPR, and Japanese privacy law compliance.

With digital integration comes heightened demand for HIPAA, GDPR, and Japanese privacy law compliance. M&A Activity: In 2025, Coronis Health acquired a U.S.-based coding company to expand its service portfolio.

Competitive Landscape

Optum Inc. (UnitedHealth Group)

Optum dominates the market with comprehensive RCM services and cloud-native platforms. In 2025, it reported over US$ 15 billion in RCM-related revenues, supported by strong payer-provider integration.

Coronis Health

Coronis is strengthening its footprint through acquisitions, focusing on niche specialties such as radiology, behavioral health, and anesthesia billing.

Athenahealth

Athenahealth continues to expand its cloud-based integrated RCM suite, serving physician groups and clinics across North America.

AdvancedMD, eClinicalWorks & NextGen

These players are highly competitive in the small and mid-sized practice RCM market, with subscription-based, cloud-first solutions.

Global Outsourcing Leaders

Indian RCM service providers such as e-Care India, Plutus Health, and 3Gen Consulting remain critical partners for U.S. hospitals, providing scalable, cost-efficient solutions.

Strategic Outlook

The Revenue Cycle Management Market is being reshaped by five critical forces:

Shift to Cloud Platforms  Providers increasingly favor SaaS-based RCM systems. AI-driven Efficiencies  Automation reducing errors, denials, and administrative burden. Global Outsourcing Expansion  U.S. and Japanese providers leveraging India and Philippines-based service hubs. Compliance Pressure  Regulatory demands driving secure, interoperable systems. Integrated Ecosystems  Unified clinical-financial data platforms improving patient and provider experience.

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Conclusion

The Revenue Cycle Management Market, projected to grow from US$ 102.16 billion in 2024 to US$ 291.19 billion by 2033, represents one of the most dynamic and critical segments in healthcare IT and services. With the U.S. leading in AI-powered automation and Japan advancing hospital digitization, RCM providers are positioned for robust, sustainable growth.

Related Report:

Patient Engagement Solutions Market Size to Grow at 20.43% CAGR (20242031) as Software Leads and Asia-Pacific Emerges Fastest. Fleet Management Market Size to Grow at 16.8% CAGR Through 2031, Fueled by IoT & Telematics Innovation. Remote Infrastructure Management Market Size to Grow from US$ 38.9B in 2022 to US$ 83.5B by 2030 at 8.7% CAGR.

About DataM Intelligence

DataM Intelligence is a renowned provider of market research, delivering deep insights through pricing analysis, market share breakdowns, and competitive intelligence. The company specializes in strategic reports that guide businesses in high-growth sectors such as nutraceuticals and AI-driven health innovations.

To find out more, visit https://www.datamintelligence.com/ or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Contact:

Sai Kiran

DataM Intelligence 4market Research LLP

Ground floor, DSL Abacus IT Park, Industrial Development Area

Uppal, Hyderabad, Telangana 500039

USA: +1 877-441-4866

Email: [email protected]

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1858619/3573087/DataM_Intelligence_Logo.jpg

SOURCE DataM Intelligence 4 Market Research LLP
By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

To everyones surprise, DHS secretary Christy Noem visited the Portland ICE building which has been under rioting attacks for over 100 days.

Below are three videos

#1. Fox News Interview

#2. Noem statement

#3. Noem prayer

View the videos below:

DHS Sec Kristi Noem briefs federal officials at the ICE facility in Portland, says agents have been authorized to take any necessary action against criminal protesters: We are working with the Department of War and the Department of Justice.

pic.twitter.com/0irApkQ3xA  Katie Daviscourt  (@KatieDaviscourt) October 7, 2025

.

I just witnessed the most remarkable thing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem arrived at the ICE detention facility in Portland and the FIRST thing she did was PRAY for the safety of the officers there and thank Jesus Christ for their bravery. We are witnessing incredible things. pic.twitter.com/6BU2vTQJgW  Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) October 7, 2025


By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

Oregon Governor Tina Koteks errors and mis-spending is costing taxpayers a lot of unnecessary money.

Here is our running list of Koteks money errors:

 $270,000 for Special Session. Koteks special Session to pass the $4.3 billion tax, which should have occurred during the 6-month Session, but was dragged on for a month during September. It cost taxpayers $270,000 to force lawmakers to gather in the State Capitol.

 $200,000 for Asia travel junket. Governor Koteks travel trip to South Korea is costing taxpayers $200,000. This Kotek trip comes at the same time when called for a statewide freeze on government employee travel.

 $140,000 for government employee for spouse. Governor Kotek authorized a government employee to act as a scheduler for her spouse, which cost $140,000. This action brought up an ethics investigation.

 $200,000 for spouse conference. It was a $200,000 taxpayer paid conference put on by Governor Kotek for which only 28 guests attended. It was a conference to highlight Aimee Kotek Wilson and her health care issues.

Dont forget Governor Koteks $9,330 taco party.

 Was this helpful? If so, 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: Pok Rie from Pexels

UK banks, energy giants and arms exporters are at the heart of one of the world's least-known human rights and environmental crises, our research has revealed.

West Papuathe Indonesian-administered western half of the island also known as New Guineahosts much of the world's third-largest rainforest after the Amazon and Congo basins.

Very few people outside of this region know about the decades of disappearances, torture and mass evictions of people from their land or of the independence struggle led by indigenous people. Even fewer know that the UK government and British companies remain deeply entangled in the industries driving this destruction.

Our new audit documents, for the first time, how the UK supplies arms and jungle warfare training to Indonesia, while major British corporationsfrom BP to Unileverand financial institutions profit from mining, palm oil, gas or logging in the territory, in spite of strong opposition from many people who live there. (BP did not respond to a request for comment; Unilever did not respond on record).

These investments continue a legacy that began with Britain's brief colonial presence in the 18th century and today links UK companies to an area that has seen mass deforestation, widespread displacement and allegations of torture and extrajudicial killing.

The environmental cost

West Papua has vast deposits of gold, copper and other metals, and major reserves of liquid petroleum gas. The region is home to the Grasberg mine, the world's largest gold mine and second-largest copper mine.

A 2022 report by local activists estimated that, each day, around 300,000 tonnes of toxic mining waste are dumped into the Ajkwa river system. Fish stocks have been devastated and contaminated mining waste has piled up in and around the river, making it no longer navigable using traditional boats.

Our audit also documents how gold extracted from Grasberg is sold through the London Bullion Market Association and how the London Metal Exchange brands and sells copper from the Grasberg mine. (The LBMA has previously pointed to its responsible sourcing standards, while the LME has previously said it "takes its regulatory obligations seriously, and has appropriate measures in place to comply with such obligations, including in respect of [potentially criminal waste disposal]").

Palm oil is another key driver of deforestation, and West Papua is the site of a rapid expansion of industrial agriculture which includes the world's largest deforestation project. Our audit identifies 14 major British investors in West Papuan palm oil plantations, including HSBC. (HSBC did not respond to a request for comment). British firm Unilever sources palm oil from two mills in the region. (Unilever did not respond on the record).

British energy giant BP operates the Tangguh liquefied natural gas facility in West Papua. The project sits in the middle of one of the world's largest contiguous mangrove forests and occupies 3,200 hectares of land, most of which is designated a "green zone" with extra environmental protections. Our audit estimates the project will ultimately release 1.5 billion tonnes of carbon by the time it is all processed and burnedequivalent to the EU's entire emissions reductions between 2015 and 2030.

Since production began, BP has faced criticism over alleged ties with Indonesian security, particularly in the forced relocation of ten villages which severed local people from their ancestral fishing grounds (BP did not respond to a request for comment on each of these matters).

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A legacy of colonialismand the cold war

Britain's role in West Papua began in 1793, when a British naval expedition briefly claimed the territory as "New Albion". Within a few years the British were gone, and New Guinea soon became a Dutch colony.

But UK interest resurfaced during the cold war, when the west wanted to ensure that West Papua and its huge mineral resources were kept within the US sphere of influence. Through a UN-backed vote called the "Act of Free Choice"widely criticized as a sham referendum and commonly referred to as the "Act of No Choice"West Papua was incorporated into Indonesia rather than gaining independence.

This paved the way for the current model of industrial development, in which foreign-backed projects extract enormous wealth while local people miss out or are displaced.

In 2022, the UN's refugee agency estimated that between 60,000 and 100,000 Papuans had been displaced in the previous four years. Today, the number may be even higher. Human rights defenders we have worked with in the region estimate there are more than 100,000 displaced.

This mass displacement is a direct consequence of large-scale industrial projects led or underpinned by foreign investors. Allegations of systemic torture, state killings and forced evictions continue, while UK companies and investors profit from the industries driving the crisis.

Until the people of West Papuarather than foreign investorsare given control over their own resources, there is little prospect of an end to repression, mass displacement and poverty.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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The South Pole-Aitken impact basin on the far side of the moon formed in a southward impact (toward the bottom in the image). The basin has a radioactive "KREEP-rich" ejecta blanket on one side of the basin (bright red), containing material excavated from the lunar magma ocean. Artemis astronauts will land within this material at the south end of the basin (bottom in image). Credit: Jeff Andrews-Hanna/University of Arizona/NASA/NAOJ

When astronauts land near the moon's south pole as part of NASA's Artemis program in a few years, they likely will find themselves in an unexpected treasure trove of clues that could help scientists better understand how Earth's only natural satellite came to be. That's according to a new study led by Jeffrey Andrews-Hanna, a planetary scientist at the University of Arizona.

Published in the journal Nature, the paper also provides a snapshot of the moon's tumultuous past that could help explain longstanding puzzles such as why the moon's crater-riddled far side is so dramatically different from its smooth near side, which provided the backdrop for the Apollo moon landings in the 1960s and 1970s.

Roughly 4.3 billion years ago, when the solar system was still in its infancy, a giant asteroid slammed into the far side of the moon, blasting an enormous crater referred to as the South Pole-Aitken basin, or SPA.

This impact feature is the largest crater on the moon, spanning more than 1,200 miles north to south, and 1,000 miles east to west. The oblong shape of the basin is the result of a glancing blow rather than a head-on impact.

By comparing the shape of SPA to other giant impact basins across the solar system, Andrews-Hanna and his team found that these features get narrower in the down-range direction, with a shape resembling a teardrop or an avocado.

Upending conventional wisdom that SPA was formed by an asteroid coming in from a southern direction, the new analysis reveals that SPA's shape narrows toward the south, indicating an impact coming from the north instead. The down-range end of the basin should be covered by a thick layer of material excavated from the lunar interior by the impact, while the up-range end should not, Andrews-Hanna explained.

"This means that the Artemis missions will be landing on the down-range rim of the basinthe best place to study the largest and oldest impact basin on the moon, where most of the ejecta, material from deep within the moon's interior, should be piled up," he said.

In the paper, the group presents additional evidence supporting a southward impact from analyses of the topography, the thickness of the crust and the surface composition. In addition, the results offer new clues about the interior structure of the moon and its evolution through time, according to the authors.

It has long been thought that the early moon was melted by the energy released during its formation, creating a magma ocean covering the entire moon. As that magma ocean crystallized, heavy minerals sank to make the lunar mantle, while light minerals floated to make the crust. However, some elements were excluded from the solid mantle and crust and instead became concentrated in the final liquids of the magma ocean.

Those "leftover" elements included potassium, rare earth elements and phosphorus, collectively referred to as "KREEP "the acronym's first letter reflecting potassium's symbol in the periodic table of elements, "K." According to Andrews-Hanna, these elements were found to be particularly abundant on the moon's near side.

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"If you've ever left a can of soda in the freezer, you may have noticed that as the water becomes solid, the high fructose corn syrup resists freezing until the very end and instead becomes concentrated in the last bits of liquid," he said. "We think something similar happened on the moon with KREEP."

Impact craters on planets share common shapes across vastly different worlds in the solar system, according to Jeffrey Andrews-Hanna. The South Pole-Aitken basin on the moon described in this study (left), the Hellas basin on Mars (center) and the Sputnik basin on Pluto (right) all formed in oblique impacts. Their outlines get narrower in the down-range direction (bottom) like a raindrop or an avocado. Elevations range from low (blue) to high (orange). Credit: Jeff Andrews-Hanna/University of Arizona/NASA

As it cooled over many millions of years, the magma ocean gradually solidified into crust and mantle. "And eventually you get to this point where you just have that tiny bit of liquid left sandwiched between the mantle and the crust, and that's this KREEP-rich material," he said.

"All of the KREEP-rich material and heat-producing elements somehow became concentrated on the moon's near side, causing it to heat up and leading to intense volcanism that formed the dark volcanic plains that make for the familiar sight of the 'face' of the moon from Earth," according to Andrews-Hanna.

However, the reason why the KREEP-rich material ended up on the nearside, and how that material evolved over time, has been a mystery.

The moon's crust is much thicker on its far side than on its near side facing Earth, an asymmetry that has scientists puzzled to this day. This asymmetry has affected all aspects of the moon's evolution, including the latest stages of the magma ocean, Andrews-Hanna said.

"Our theory is that as the crust thickened on the far side, the magma ocean below was squeezed out to the sides, like toothpaste being squeezed out of a tube, until most of it ended up on the near side," he said.

The new study of the SPA impact crater revealed a striking and unexpected asymmetry around the basin that supports exactly that scenario: The ejecta blanket on its western side is rich in radioactive thorium, but not on its eastern flank.

This suggests that the gash left by the impact created a window through the moon's skin right at the boundary separating the crust underlain by the last remnants of the KREEP-enriched magma ocean from the "regular" crust.

"Our study shows that the distribution and composition of these materials match the predictions that we get by modeling the latest stages of the evolution of the magma ocean," Andrews-Hanna said.

"The last dregs of the lunar magma ocean ended up on the near side, where we see the highest concentrations of radioactive elements. But at some earlier time, a thin and patchy layer of magma ocean would have existed below parts of the far side, explaining the radioactive ejecta on one side of the SPA impact basin."

Many mysteries surrounding the moon's earliest history still remain, and once astronauts bring samples back to Earth, researchers hope to find more pieces to the puzzle.

Remote sensing data collected by orbiting spacecraft like those used for this study provide researchers with a basic idea of the composition of the moon's surface, according to Andrews-Hanna. Thorium, an important element in KREEP-rich material, is easy to spot, but getting a more detailed analysis of the composition is a heavier lift.

"Those samples will be analyzed by scientists around the world, including here at the University of Arizona, where we have state-of-the-art facilities that are specially designed for those types of analyses," he said.

"With Artemis, we'll have samples to study here on Earth, and we will know exactly what they are," he said. "Our study shows that these samples may reveal even more about the early evolution of the moon than had been thought."

More information: Jeffrey Andrews-Hanna, Southward impact excavated magma ocean at the lunar South PoleAitken basin, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09582-y. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09582-y Journal information: Nature
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

It's a scene fit for a nature documentary: In the frigid ocean surrounding Antarctica, the water boils over as seabirds dive from above and marine animals like seals and whales rise from the depths to all feast on krill.

But zoom out and this flurry of activity is just a tiny speck in a desolate seascape. Scientists have been puzzled by how these various species are all able to find the same food source at the same time.

"It's hard to get across just how forbidding this environment is," said Sonke Johnsen, a professor of biology at Duke University Trinity School of Arts & Sciences.

In research published October 6 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Johnsen, Duke postdoctoral scholar Jesse Granger, and University of California, Davis colleague Gabrielle Nevitt tease out how multiple species of Antarctic seabirds forage togetherwith takeaways for conservation and for crowd behavior.

Nevitt is a sensory ecologist who has studied how sensory cues trigger feeding aggregations in the Southern Ocean, focusing on petrel and albatross (procellariform) species. She describes how, when searching for food, some of these seabirds fly closer to the water and track a scented chemical called dimethyl sulfide (DMS) that is associated with krill. Other seabird species fly higher up and seem to watch the smellers, following their lead.

"Exploiting food is probably very competitive, but finding it is cooperative," said Nevitt.

Tracking the movement of these different bird species is incredibly challenging in the field. At a course in Sweden, Nevitt met Granger, a modeler, who offered to help and bring in her mentor, Johnsen, an animal vision specialist. The idea was to use computer modeling to better understand how these species interact when they are foraging.

"You treat each animal sort of like it's a video game character," said Granger. "You give it rules about how it should behave and then you get this emergent behavior."

Granger set up multiple scenarios of flocks, with different ratios of bird species that use smell and those that use sight to forage. She also adjusted how species responded to each othersometimes just following what their neighbors do; other times, monitoring birds with complementary senses and following their lead.

Running these different scenarios, the team found that, indeed, the foraging strategies where different types of seabirds picked up cues from each other led to the most successful rates of finding food. Having even a few scent-tracking birds benefits those hunting visually to find prey, showing the importance of maintaining balanced populations in the wild to keep them resilient.

"The whole group does better when it's a mixture of different species using different strategies to forage," said Granger. "If you reduce past a certain tipping point in size or in proportion, then the whole group ends up collapsing."

Beyond informing conservation strategies, this kind of research could help us understand the dynamics of complex systems that feature many individualseven crowds of humans.

"When we go to the state fair, nobody knows where the entrance is," said Johnsen. Somehow, we all work together to funnel into the entrance. A small percentage of people that picks up certain cues may have an outsized impact on directing the movement of the crowd as a whole.

More information: Jesse Granger et al, Multispecies sensory networks and social foraging strategies: Implications for population decline in procellariiform seabirds, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2025). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2509317122 Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
HOUSTON, Oct. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Rodeo Dental & Orthodontics will celebrate the 1-year anniversary of its West Tidwell location with a free community celebration on Friday, October 10th, from 4:006:00 PM. Families, neighbors, and community partners are invited to join the team for music, face painting, pizza, Halloween fun, raffle giveaways, and more.

Rodeo Dental - West Tidwell 1 year Anniversary

"Reaching one year at our West Tidwell location is all about thanking the community that welcomed us," said Kensi Aguilar, Office Leader "From first checkups to braces and beyond, we've been honored to care for Houston families, and we're excited to celebrate with everyone who made this milestone possible."

"At Rodeo Dental, we believe experience comes firstfrom the lobby to the treatment room," added Dr. Rhonda Bradley "This anniversary party is our way to celebrate healthy smiles, amazing patients, and our team's commitment to access to care and community involvement."

Event Highlights

When: Friday, October 10, 2025 | 4:006:00 PM

Friday, October 10, 2025 | 4:006:00 PM Where: Rodeo Dental & Orthodontics  West Tidwell (7844 West Tidwell Rd. Ste 130 Houston, TX 77040)

Rodeo Dental & Orthodontics  West Tidwell (7844 West Tidwell Rd. Ste 130 Houston, TX 77040) What: Family-friendly celebration with music, games, photo ops, prizes, and light refreshments

Family-friendly celebration with music, games, photo ops, prizes, and light refreshments Who: Open to patients, families, neighbors, and local community partners

Open to patients, families, neighbors, and local community partners Cost: Free to attend (first-come, first-served for select giveaways while supplies last)

Media Opportunities: On-site interviews with providers and leaders; dynamic visuals of families, kids' activities, and milestone celebration.

RSVP / Learn More: Event Link

About Rodeo Dental & Orthodontics

Rodeo Dental & Orthodontics is a premier multi-specialty dental group committed to providing comprehensive, high quality, and affordable dental care in a fun and engaging environment. With a mission to "Give Every Family the Key to Access High-End Dental Care," Rodeo Dental continues to revolutionize the patient experience across multiple locations.

Learn more: Rodeo Dental  West Tidwell

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SOURCE Rodeo Dental & Orthodontics
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Row crops are the backbone of U.S. agriculture, but export markets are shrinking. Credit: University of Illinois

The U.S. has traditionally been an agricultural powerhouse with a healthy trade surplus. But global dynamics are changing due to a confluence of political and economic factors. U.S. agricultural imports now exceed exports, and the trade deficit is projected to worsen in the coming years.

In a new study, researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Texas Tech University discuss recent developments affecting the U.S. trade in row crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, and cotton. The study is published in the journal Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy.

"For most of recent history, the U.S. was a net agricultural exporter. But in the last couple of years, that has reversed, and what used to be a persistent surplus has turned into a persistent and growing deficit, where we're importing much more than we export. Current projections estimate that the agricultural trade deficit will reach $49 billion by the end of 2025," said lead author William Ridley, associate professor in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at U. of I.

He conducted the study with Stephen Devadoss, professor of agricultural and applied economics at Texas Tech.

The researchers note that imports have increased considerably, particularly fruits and vegetables, such as avocados from Mexico, and canola oil from Canada. The U.S. continues to be a major producer of agricultural commodities, like corn, oilseeds, and cotton, but exports are stagnant or declining.

"Row crops are the backbone of U.S. agricultural exports, but markets are shifting as trade conflicts create uncertainty and instability. One of the main factors causing exports to nosedive is the ongoing trade dispute with China," Ridley said.

As the U.S. imposed tariffs on Chinese imports, China retaliated with tariffs on U.S. agricultural commodities such as soybean, wheat, corn, and cotton. These products were strategically targeted by China due to their importance for U.S. exports, and because they are primarily produced in states that support the Republican administration, the researchers note.

From 2017 to 2018, the trade dispute resulted in U.S.China export values declining by $9 billion (73%) for soybeans, $431.7 million (67%) for wheat, $92.6 million (61%) for corn, and $312.5 million (37%) for sorghum. The total value of lost agricultural exports amounted to around $14 billion.

The Phase One trade deal that was negotiated in 2020 briefly increased Chinese agricultural imports from the U.S., but trade quickly collapsed again, and China has effectively stopped buying soybeans, corn, cotton, and sorghum from the U.S., after finding trade partners elsewhere.

At the same time, the U.S. is losing its competitive edge to other big grain producers like Brazil, Canada, Australia, and Ukraine.

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In their study, Ridley and Devadoss estimate the comparative advantage of major crop producers, taking into account factors such as productivity growth, export and trade infrastructure, and government support for agriculture. They find that while U.S. agricultural productivity has remained stable, other countries have been catching up.

For example, Brazil's soybean production has rapidly evolved due to expansions in farmland, dramatic improvements in productivity, and government investments in transportation infrastructure, and they have solidly surpassed the U.S. as the world's leading soybean producer and exporter.

Furthermore, China is not only buying from other suppliers; the country is undertaking massive efforts to bolster its self-sufficiency, including major investments in research and development and expanding the use of genetically modified crop varieties.

"U.S. row crop exports are trending in a negative direction, and forecasts predict the downward trend will continue. Producers may look to other markets, but there's only one China, and they're not coming back tomorrow. Even if you pulled these tariffs back right now, sales would not resume. And other markets have barriers to trade; for example, the EU has tight restrictions on imports of genetically modified crops," Ridley stated.

The researchers also highlight other factors influencing agricultural production and exports, including cuts in public funding for university research.

"There's a strong link between research funding and productivity, and productivity affects the position of the U.S. agricultural sector globally. That also includes funding of research to mitigate the effects of climate change on the agricultural industry," Ridley said.

If there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon, he added, it is that the U.S. is working on new bilateral trade agreements with different countries.

"Economists view expanded access for our exports as a good thing to strive for if you want to ensure the viability of U.S. agriculture. Negotiating trade agreements isn't an easy thing to do, but it's something we should continue to pursue."

More information: William Ridley et al, Row Crops and the U.S. Agricultural Trade Deficit: Recent Trends and Policy Issues, Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy (2025). DOI: 10.1002/aepp.70022
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Totoaba poaching continues in the Gulf of California despite a 50-year fishing ban. But farming the fish for export may curb poaching. Credit: Procuraduria Federal de Proteccion al Ambiente (PROFEPA)

The trade of totoaba has all the intrigue of a crime thriller. Dollars and drugs change hands as a criminal cartel vies against the government. Communities and endangered species are caught in the crosshairs of a lucrative illicit trade. It may then come as a surprise that the totoaba is a fish.

The totoaba is a large, yet unassuming, species of fish native to the Gulf of California. But its mundane appearance belies incredible value on the black market. "Totoaba swimbladder can sell for up to $80,000 USD per kilogram in Chinese end-markets, making it worth more than gold or cocaine," said marine biologist Julia Lawson, who earned her doctorate from UC Santa Barbara's Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. This buoyancy-regulating organ is used for luxury food, expensive gifts and speculative investments in China.

And poaching is thriving despite an international ban on totoaba trade since 1977. Researchers at UCSB and AgroParisTech analyzed market dynamics and the species' life history to predict what might happen if farmed totoaba were legalized for export. Their results, published in npj Ocean Sustainability, suggest that a market-based solution, namely aquaculture, may be better suited to curb poaching pressure than a strictly regulatory approach.

A worrying state of affairs

Despite the 50-year trade ban, Mexico exports hundreds of tons of totoaba every year. So Lawson, co-lead author Simon Jean (AgroParisTech) and their colleagues investigated the market and conservation viability of totoaba aquaculture.

There's nothing new about farming totoaba; there are already operations raising the fish for seafood. "If you went to Mexico City you could get totoaba ceviche," said Lawson, who was affiliated with UCSB's Environmental Markets Lab (emLab) during her time at UCSB. However, domestic fishing and international trade are still illegal.

Ironically, the totoaba population appeared stable in the most recent assessment. But the trade in its swimbladder has profoundly affected the region. The Sinaloa Cartel currently has a monopoly on poaching and international trade, and the syndicate's activities (e.g. extortion, violence, drug trafficking, etc.) have destabilized the area. What's more, entanglement in totoaba nets has driven the vaquita porpoise to the brink of extinction. A survey in 2024 identified only six to eight of these small whales left in the world.

Another concern is the instability of the totoaba fishery itself. When Lawson and her co-authors modeled the current monopoly under different cost structures, fishing efforts showed three distinct equilibria: one that produced a large and stable totoaba population, and two at critically low population levels. "There's a chance that a small change in the system could push the population toward collapse," Lawson said.

Unexpectedly good intel

The cartel keeps the trade going by extorting fishing communities into working for them. That said, the job can be prestigious and lucrative for fishermen. So, despite the complex relationship between the communities and the cartel, poaching is just a way of life in many fishing villages along the Gulf of California. Because of this, it was relatively straightforward to get information on the fishery, the black market and aquaculture operations.

Several Bren masters students traveled to Mexico to interview fishermen and farmers. The team was able to estimate the operational costs of poaching, like bribes, wages, boat fuel and supplies. They also measured totoaba growth rates in captivity to compare with rates in the wild. This enabled them to estimate the time and money required to grow a fish to a competitive size. Meanwhile, there's a wealth of data on price per weight from seizures by the Mexican government.

"I was really proud of how rigorous our data are," Lawson said. "It's unusual in an illegal trade to have such detailed information."

Four criteria for success

The team combined farming and fishing costs with economic factors and the biology of the totoaba to create an analytic model of fishery and market. For conservation farming to successfully reduce poaching, it must meet four criteria. Poaching must have a high cost of entry, and farming must be competitive, ideally cheaper. Customers need to view the products as equivalent, and demand must remain relatively the same even after legal trade is opened.

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Poaching can be essentially free in some wildlife trades, requiring only a few dozen wire snares. "If it's free to poach a species, farming is never going to work," Lawson said. But totoaba fishing has significant costs. Meanwhile, totoaba show high growth rates in captivity, so they are amenable to farming in a way that, say, rhinoceros aren't.

Farming is currently cheaper than poaching, according to the analysis. And a subsidy program of $6 million per year by the Mexican government could keep the trade of farmed totoaba cheap, preventing a decrease in their wild population, said Jean, an economics professor at AgroParisTech.

But it's important that customers view swimbladders from wild and farmed fish as equivalent. If they don't, then legalizing trade in farmed totoaba would simply create a parallel market, rather than add an additional supplier to the existing market. Conventional wisdom holds that consumers prefer wild products. But Jean suspects this likely isn't the case. To gauge this notion, he hopes to conduct consumer preference surveys in China.

Lawson and Jean are, however, concerned about how this proposal may interact with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Although there is precedence, the CITES may be reluctant to open the trade of a farmed counterpart to an illegal wild product. If they were to do so, they require the farmed product to be clearly marked. There is wisdom in this practice, as it prevents poachers from passing off illegal items as farmed. But the authors are concerned this may prevent customers from viewing farmed products as legitimate substitutes for the wild ones.

The success of legal aquaculture also requires demand to remain relatively stable or increase only slightly. Unfortunately, legalizing farmed totoaba swimbladder could induce new demand by reducing prices, increasing availability and decreasing the stigma that surrounds the currently illegal product. According to Lawson and Jean, an increase in demand above 20%, combined with lower substitutability, would cause this proposal to fail. If trade is opened, they recommend that governments finance education campaigns to reduce demand for totoaba swimbladder.

Predicting market response

The authors also investigated how the cartel might respond to legalized totoaba aquaculture. A black market behaves differently than a conventional market. The high costs and risks lead to fewer sellers and buyers. As a result, sellers and buyers have a stronger influence on each other's behavior, Jean explained. For instance, a perfectly competitive market price is dictated by the preferences of consumers and the costs of producers. But suppliers on a black market can manipulate prices in response to consumer behavior.

Two scenarios emerged from legalizing farmed totoaba. In one case, a price war could break out where the cartel tries to undercut the price of farmed totoaba by flooding the market. In this scenario, the syndicate is willing to accept short-term losses in order to push the competition out of business and regain total marketshare. This would not be good for wild totoaba.

On the other hand, the sellers could accept the new state of affairs and adjust the quantity of goods they sell to match their new, lower marketshare. This keeps prices relatively high, ensuring a healthy profit. The addition of aquaculture means there's slightly more production than in a monopoly, but a lot less than in a price war. What's more, poaching decreases. Fortunately, both scenarios shift the system into a single equilibrium, eliminating the instability currently facing the totoaba population under the monopoly.

Either case would also be a blow to Sinaloa Cartel's revenue stream. "In the quantity adjustment scenario, the cartel will likely lose $192 million a year," Jean said. "But in the price war, they would lose $310 million a year."

That said, it's difficult to account for the violence, intimidation and coercion the cartel employs. And the syndicate often infiltrates even legal fisheries. So what would happen if they seized control of aquaculture?

"If aquaculture is taken over by the cartel, it produces even better results for totoaba than what we had first anticipated because they can leverage the whole farming operation," Jean said. The syndicate has much less incentive to pour their resources into costly, illegal poaching if they're operating a less expensive, legal enterprise.

Lawson and Jean see their results as a strong case for policy reform, but recognize there's still uncertainty in how their proposal might play out. They maintain that any change would also need a failsafe that could immediately rescind the legal trade of totoaba in case the results go south. "Sometimes, the best way to curb over-harvesting is to adjust existing market mechanisms, rather than depend only on strict governmental and international rules," Jean said.

More information: Julia M. Lawson et al, Substantial gains and little downside from farming of Totoaba macdonaldi, npj Ocean Sustainability (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44183-025-00143-4 Journal information: npj Ocean Sustainability
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

These recent sunny days bring the last chances to access the Rhode Island coastline before chillier weather sets in, though that won't keep Jesse Reiblich away. When he's not in or around the wateras an avid surfer, diver, and sailorthe University of Rhode Island assistant professor is working on a project to assess how effective Rhode Island's shoreline access policies are.

An attorney who teaches in URI's Department of Marine Affairs, Professor Reiblich is writing and presenting on an important topic in the Ocean State: How can access to its shorelines be protected if the boundary is unclear?

Public access to the coast is threatened by a number of factors, including climate change, development, and conflicting coastal uses. Rhode Island's Constitution guarantees certain coastal access privileges, but these rights have been undermined by judicial decisions that define the "shore" in limited ways.

In response to these discrepancies, Rhode Island's legislature two years ago passed a new shoreline access law that enshrines the right of the public to access 10 feet above the mark of the last high tide. Professor Reiblich says this new law functions as a coastal resilience law. Now, he's overseeing a research project aiming to evaluate the new law's effectiveness, hoping to share research findings with the government agencies responsible for implementing the law.

Along with URI colleagues Melva Trevino Pena and Nathan Vinhateiro, the trio will assess whether the shoreline's newly defined demarcation is sufficient for ensuring public coastal access and enhancing the public's ability to access the shore. They hope to determine whether Rhode Island's "shoreline" definition is legally sufficient or whether a new delineation would be legally preferable for users, property owners, and regulators, as well as in the face of rising seas, eroding coastlines, and other effects of climate change.

Professor Reiblich believes that Rhode Island stands out within New England for protecting public ocean access: "Rhode Island's effort to protect shoreline access in this new law and in its Constitution is among the strongest in the region," he says.

The Arizona native who grew up in Florida first came to marine affairs through the surfing world, ultimately moving from law practice to academia. His legal background informs his current work and he is teaching Introduction to Marine and Ocean Law at URI this fall.

Prior to coming to URI in 2022, Professor Reiblich advised on coastal law in Virginia and did judicial clerkships in the U.S. Virgin Islands and on the island of St. Croix. He was named a rising environmental leader by Stanford University and is a volunteer member of the legal issues team for the Surfrider Foundation.

Thematic analysis of articles on coastal public access that were identified from a keyword search (n = 36) illustrating the geographical location of case studies featured therein. Credit: Marine Policy (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106759

Ocean access

Sea-level rise is perhaps the primary existential threat to coastal access due to changing climates. Existing legal frameworks, which are reactionary and rely on predictability, are typically ill-equipped to safeguard public beach access from rising seas and progressive erosion.

Professor Reiblich recently co-authored a study with colleagues from New Zealand and Brazil that appeared in Marine Policy. The study examined public access to coastal environments and resources and the challenges surrounding such access. The article also presents examples that illustrate the difficulties in addressing them in real-world contexts.

He says that public coastal access is being threatened by a variety of stressors.

While access issues often make news, academic literature explaining the contributing factors is scarce. There are also few analyses of impacts or options to address long-term implications, which he hopes to address in his work.

Coastal hazards complicate the management of public coastal access, he says. The primary management concerns are likely to arise from physical damage to land, property or infrastructure during periodic extreme events associated with high winds, large swells, coastal flooding, and erosion. Such natural extremes are predicted to become more intense with climate change, but in many cases, it is the human responses to hazard events, rather than their periodic occurrence, that can exert the biggest effect on outcomes.

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Coastal development patterns pose a significant potential threat to coastal access unless access issues are proactively identified and incorporated in coastal zone management planning processes. New subdivisions and ownership changes can adversely affect access to public space, and increasingly crowded and developed coastlines have prompted some property owners to use "ghost chairs" to deter the public from using beaches, or posting misleading "no trespassing" signs to deter beachgoers.

These examples of access closures highlight the importance of development approaches that integrate and prioritize coastal access pointssomething he thinks about often as he regularly makes his way to the Rhode Island coastline, with other residents of his new adopted home state.

More information: Shane Orchard et al, Public coastal access: Emerging issues and potential solutions, Marine Policy (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2025.106759 Journal information: Marine Policy
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In many species, males and females differ in size. Female fruit flies are larger than males  but is that because they have more cells or because their cells are larger? Credit: Soumitra Pal

Sexual size differences are widespread in biology, yet the "how" behind them often remains vague. We asked a concrete question in a classic model organism: when female flies are larger than males, do individual organs achieve this by adding more cells, enlarging the cells they already have, or mixing both strategiesand is this consistent across the body?

Using whole-animal single-nucleus data and targeted experiments, we show the answer is nuanced: Sex-specific body proportions emerge from organ-by-organ allometry, not from a one-size-fits-all rule.

How we approached it

As part of an international team including the National Institutes of Health, U.S., along with collaborators from institutions such as Sanford Burnham Prebys, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory and the University of British Columbia, we investigated the cellular underpinnings of sexual dimorphism. The findings are presented on the pre-print server bioRxiv.

We mined the Fly Cell Atlasa comprehensive, cutting-edge, single-nucleus atlas published in Science that spans ~580,000 nuclei from 15 sexed adult tissues, plus whole head and headless bodyallowing us to compare male and female cell types across the entire animal using the same lens. We then validated predictions experimentally to confirm whether differences reflected changes in cell number or cell size.

What we found

At the heart of our discovery is allometry, which means that parts of an organism scale at different rates relative to overall size (think: a violin's strings don't scale the same way as its body). Isometry would mean uniform scaling. We found that size disparities arise from tailored cellular strategies: Some organs expand by adding more cells, others by enlarging existing onesand these strategies differ between males and females.

Take the flight muscles, essential for aerial acrobatics. In females, these muscles are larger because they begin with more precursor cells, called myoblasts, during development. Males, by contrast, make do with fewer, resulting in smaller muscles overall. This cell-number strategy highlights an efficient way to build stronger, larger structures without reinventing the wheel.

Then there's the heart, which pumps hemolymph (the fly equivalent of blood) throughout the body. Surprisingly, both sexes have the same number of cardiomyocytesthe muscle cells of the heart. Yet females end up with a larger organ because cell size, or other factors such as extracellular matrix, drive the scaling. This finding challenges the assumption that bigger always means more cells.

The fat body, which functions like both a liver and a fat storage depot in flies, provides another twist. Female fat cells are supersized, fueled by higher expression of ribosomal protein-coding mRNAsmolecular machinery that boosts protein production to support growth.

In contrast, males compensate with a greater number of smaller cells. This sex-specific balance between cell size and number not only explains organ scaling but also connects to broader metabolic differences, potentially influencing everything from energy use to lifespan.

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Why it matters

What makes this work stand out is its novelty: It is the first to map allometric strategies at the cell-type level across multiple organs in Drosophila. By combining transcriptomic data with validation experiments, we showed that sex differences in anatomy and physiology are not quirksthey are developmental design choices.

Our results provide a framework to parse sexual size dimorphism into testable cellular components that can be mapped gene-by-gene and tissue-by-tissue. Because the Fly Cell Atlas offers a whole-animal reference, these rules can now be explored in other systems where sexual size dimorphism is common (including mammals), helping clarify whether sex-biased traits arise from proliferation programs, growth pathways, or both.

What surprised us

We expected one dominant mechanism. Instead, we found organ-specific strategieseven within a single metabolic tissue such as the fat body. The observation that the female fat body enlarges cells (with elevated ribosomal gene expression) while the male fat body increases cell counts suggests that distinct transcriptional circuits and growth control nodes are sex-tuned for each tissue, despite a shared genome.

This story is part of Science X Dialog, where researchers can report findings from their published research articles. Visit this page for information about Science X Dialog and how to participate.

More information: Soumitra Pal et al, Cell type specific allometry controls sex-differences in Drosophila body size, bioRxiv (2025). DOI: 10.1101/2025.08.25.671808. Data resource used: Hongjie Li et al, Fly Cell Atlas: A single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas of the adult fruit fly, Science (2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.abk2432 Journal information: Science , bioRxiv

Soumitra Pal is a Staff Scientist at the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. He specializes in computational biology and bioinformatics, focusing on single-cell genomics and epigenomics. His research investigates how gene regulation and cellular diversity evolve across species, sexes, tissues, and disease states. By integrating large-scale single-cell datasets with cross-species genomic comparisons, he aims to identify conserved transcriptional programs and build computational frameworks to predict cell fate and function.

Soumitra is passionate about open science, reproducible research, and mentoring young scientists interested in computational genomics. Soumitra's long-term vision is to establish his own lab that combines AI-driven modeling with experimental validation to decode the rules of cellular identity and evolution.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

At the start of September 2025, US president Donald Trump sent a naval task force into the Caribbean to tackle drug trafficking in the region. The initiative has led to strikes on four alleged drug boats off the Venezuelan coast so far, killing at least 21 people.

The strikes have been condemned by Venezuela and Colombia, while some international lawyers and human rights groups have questioned their legality. Human Rights Watch, for example, has suggested the strikes amount to "unlawful extrajudicial killings." However, these attacks are unlikely to stop.

In a post on X on October 3, after US forces killed four people in an attack on a suspected drug boat, US defense secretary Pete Hegseth wrote: "These strikes will continue until the attacks on the American people are over!!!!" Trump claimed, without providing evidence, that this boat was carrying enough drugs to kill 25,000 to 50,000 people.

The Trump administration now looks to be considering moving its campaign in the Caribbean to a second phase. On October 5, while speaking at a US Navy base in Virginia, Trump boasted that drug traffickers are "not coming in by sea any more, so now we'll have to start looking about the land." A leaked memo sent to Congress a few days earlier also suggests the US government has decided it is in a "non-international armed conflict" with drug cartels.

Trump's threats to escalate military pressure against the cartels may be part of a broader campaign to force Venezuela's leader, Nicolas Maduro, from office. The White House sees his government as illegitimate and has consistently accused Maduro of being a central figure in the Latin American drugs trade. There is little proof that this is the case.

A wider military confrontation with cartels across the region may therefore be unlikely. But it should not be discounted. On October 7, CNN reported that the Trump administration has produced a classified legal opinion that seeks to justify lethal strikes against a list of cartels and suspected drug traffickers.

The opinion argues that the president is allowed to authorize deadly force against a broad range of cartels, beyond those the US government designated as terrorist organizations in early 2025. But is a direct military confrontation really a viable strategy to curtail the power and reach of cartels in the region?

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Striking the cartels

Some observers, including the US-based Washington Office on Latin America, have suggested that "the US military's overwhelming capacities would allow it to disrupt the activities of a specific criminal group, destroy complexes of drug labs and capture kingpins."

These moves would not be without their challenges. In response to direct military action, it is possible that the cartels may look to attack US military personnel and civilians across the region. The cartels are vindictive in nature and have a history of targeting law enforcement, military personnel and government officials throughout Latin America.

Shortly after becoming president of Mexico in 2006, Felipe Calderon declared a "war on drugs" and deployed military force against the cartels. They retaliated violently, with many public officials assassinated in broad daylight. The cartels may well respond in a similar way if US forces launch operations against them.

This could include retaliation within US borders. In its 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment report, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) detailed how the cartels have deep networks within the US. These networks, which span from large cities such as Los Angeles and Chicago to rural areas, provide them with the infrastructure to carry out retaliatory attacks.

The US homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, revealed in an interview with Fox News on October 5 that "cartels, gangs and terror groups" had already "put bounties on the heads of several federal immigration agents, offering US$10,000 (7,500) to kill them and US$2,000 for their capture."

"They've released their pictures; they've sent them between their networks," Noem added. "It's an extremely dangerous and unprecedented situation." The cartels engage in various other criminal activities in addition to trafficking drugs, including the smuggling of migrants into the US.

The killing of a high-value drug kingpin or the arrest of a cartel boss also does not necessarily bring an end to that organization. It only leads to fragmentation and the emergence of new tiers of leaders and groups that are often more violent than their predecessors.

Research supports this argument. The killing of the Los Zetas cartel leader, Heriberto "El Lazca" Lazcano, in October 2012 by Mexican marines was followed by higher levels of gang violence in the subsequent years as internal conflict between different factions intensified.

Addiction at home

Fentanyl and other opioids entering the US from Latin America have fueled the worst drugs crisis in the country's history. According to the US National Institute of Health, more Americans were killed by fentanyl-laced pills and other addictive drugs in 2021 alone than in all the wars the US has fought since the end of the second world war.

The DEA says Mexican criminal organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel, play a key role in producing and delivering fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the US. But, to truly be successful in its war against the cartels, the US government needs to first address the problem of drug addiction at home.

According to a national 2023 survey on drug use in the US by American Addiction Centers, 48.5 million Americans aged 12 and older have battled a substance use disorder. This corresponds to 16.7% of the total population. A war on drugs needs to be a war against addiction in the US. Anything short of that will only fix the problem temporarily.

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Smart people are everywhere, if only they can be given opportunity, says Nobel laureate Omar Yaghi.

Nobel chemistry laureate Omar Yaghi was born to Palestinian refugees in Jordan, a quiet, studious child in a "large, rowdy family" that shared a single room with cattle they raised.

Which made Wednesday's news that the chemist at the University of California, Berkeley was among 2025's class of Nobel winners all the more emotional, Yaghi told journalists as he heralded the US public school system he said he is a product of.

He also emphasized that publicly financed education and research have been key to his career, at a moment when US President Donald Trump is upending the long-standing funding structures that undergird the work of universities.

"This recognition is really a testament of the power of the public school system in the US that takes people like me with a major disadvantaged background, a refugee background, and allows you to work, and work hard, and distinguish yourself," Yaghi said.

He described how his parents spent "every minute of their time dedicated to their kids and to their kids' education, because they saw that as a way to lift themselves and the kids out of challenging situations."

Their home had no electricity or running water. His father had finished school through sixth grade and his mother could neither read nor write.

"We didn't have a lot of the conveniences that many others do, but we had a lot of love and a lot of care," the scientist said.

Yaghi won the 2025 prize together with Susumu Kitagawa of Japan and UK-born Richard Robson for their groundbreaking discoveries on metalorganic frameworks (MOFs), whose uses include capturing carbon dioxide and harvesting water from desert air.

Born in 1965, he spent his childhood in Amman, Jordan, before leaving for the United States at the age of 15, on the advice of his stern father who saw for his son an opportunity to thrive.

At that point young Yaghi had already grown enamored with molecular structures after being drawn to "unintelligible but captivating" images in a book.

"I fell in love with them, even before I knew they were molecules," Yaghi said.

'Equalizing force' of science

He began at a community college in upstate New York before transferring and finishing a degree at the State University of New York at Albany, supporting himself by bagging groceries and mopping floors.

Yaghi completed his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1990 and went on to work at a number of US universities before landing at UC Berkeley in 2012.

He emphasized Wednesday that groundbreaking research was made possible with grants that stemmed from federal sources.

"They were absolutely key in enabling me to go off in my own direction" and experiment, Yaghi said. "Science costs money, and it's an investment into our future."

He lauded the "amazing" higher education, research and mentorship system in the United States that public funding is vital to: "Science is a jewel in the crown of our country."

"We cannot allow that to slip."

Yaghi was en route to Brussels via Frankfurt for a chemistry conference when the Nobel organizers got in touch with him with news of his prestigious honor, which he said "surprised and delighted" him.

"You cannot prepare for a moment like that," he said.

Yaghi's accomplishments include leading a research group that extracted water from desert air in Arizona, work his students have told him has garnered more than 250,000 citations.

The child of refugees told the Nobel Foundation Wednesday that "science is the great equalizing force in the world."

"Smart people, talented people, skilled people exist everywhere," Yaghi said.

"That's why we really should focus on unleashing their potential through providing them with opportunity."

 2025 AFP
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Example snapshot for GLORYS low-resolution and CNAPS high-resolution states, for SSH, SSU, and SSV, for a single time. Credit: Journal of Geophysical Research: Machine Learning and Computation (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2025jh000851

The Gulf of Mexico, a regional ocean, is hugged by the southeastern United States and a large stretch of the Mexican coast, making it very important for both countries. The area helps bring goods to local and global markets, produces power for the country with off-shore oil rigs, and hosts a myriad of vacation-worthy beachesso modeling and predicting its dynamics is a critical task.

Research from applied mathematicians at the University of California, Santa Cruz, presents new AI-powered methods for modeling the Gulf. They achieve higher accuracy than traditional models for short-term predictions, and successfully emulate 10-year dynamics without any AI "hallucination"a physically impossible scenario.

This research is a result of a collaboration between the UC Santa Cruz Baskin School of Engineering researchers led by Assistant Professor of Applied Mathematics Ashesh Chattopadhyay, industry partner Fujitsu's Converging Technologies Laboratory, and a research group at North Carolina State University. Their work is published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Machine Learning and Computation.

This work drives forward critical management of natural resources in the U.S. and Mexico, and advances the technology for modeling gulf streams around the worlda major feature of the global oceansand demonstrates the improving efficacy of AI in the Earth sciences.

"The ability to resolve the Gulf Stream and its dynamics properly, has been an open challenge for many years in oceanography," Chattopadhyay said. "That's why the Gulf of Mexico becomes an important test case whenever we're trying to evaluate new algorithms and new models for high-resolution regional ocean dynamics."

The team's collaboration among academics and industry aims to make the products of their research ready for real-world use.

"The ocean emulators developed with UC Santa Cruz deliver a combination of speed, accuracy, and lightweight design that enables seamless operational integration into maritime platforms," said Subhashis Hazarika, principal researcher at Fujitsu Research of America.

"This supports interactive system design for applications ranging from port operations management to ship weather routing and extreme event monitoring. Our collaboration with UC Santa Cruz marks an important step toward bringing rigorously validated AI-for-Science models into real-world industrial applications."

Modeling the gulf

The Gulf of Mexico hosts important maritime industries like energy production and cargo shipping, making the modeling of this region an important safety and economic issue. Large eddies from the Gulf stream break in this area, creating rogue waves that sometimes hit the areas where people are working on oil rigsso it's critically important to be able to model these waves and other dynamics.

It's historically been very difficult to model regional oceans, especially in areas near the coast. Waves crashing near the shore, along with other factors, makes measuring and modeling complex.

Traditional tools for ocean modeling, that are still the gold standard in industry, are high-resolution, physics-based models that are expensive, power hungry, and relatively slowand not always highly accurate.

AI models require more investment up front to train, but work up to 100,000 times faster than traditional models. AI has also been limited by "hallucinations," when models drift away from true physical dynamics when emulating dynamics at long timescales. Chattopadhyay's work focuses on eliminating hallucinations by integrating physics into the AI models, particularly to better capture dynamics that are physically smaller and happen on a shorter timescale.

Zooming in

To do this, the research team constructed an AI model that works with two main components. One takes a "zoomed out" view, focusing on ocean events that can be observed from eight kilometers of resolution, and happen over longer timescales. The second component takes these zoomed out predictions and enhances them to four kilometers of resolution.

Chattopadhyay compared this process, called "downscaling," to zoom enhancement of a photo.

"You can take an old picture and enhance it, basically improving the quality and resolution using a generative model," Chattopadhyay said. "We're using basically the same technology here to be able to downscale predictions to four kilometers, and we're making sure that we're not just enhancing it unrealistically."

Using this technique, the team found their system had better performance than traditional physics-based models at shorter timescales, such as making predictions 30 days aheadbeating the highly accurate traditional models.

Additionally, they found that their models can emulate up to 10 years ahead without any hallucinations. The team achieved this by rigorously integrating physics constraints into the "zoomed out" emulations, an effort led by graduate student Leonard Lupin-Jimenez.

Chattopadhyay says that their system's improved accuracy fits in with a larger trend of AI models in the sciences besting traditional models.

"I think this was one of these instances, and it's been happening more and more in this field of AI and science, that AI models are starting to outperform physics-based models," Chattopadhyay said.

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Collaboration for at-sea impact

Several of Chattopadhyay's graduates are hosted by Fujitsu's Converging Technologies Laboratory as an ongoing collaboration to support interdisciplinary researcha unique partnership between physical science/academics and industry.

Lupin-Jimenez spent time at the company to focus on this project under the mentorship of Fujitsu's Subhashis Hazarika and Anthony Wong, and together they shaped the work for both research and operational use.

"There was a good amount of freedom in being able to experiment with different methods, processing, and pipeline frameworks to see what works best," Lupin-Jimenez said.

Throughout the process, they emphasized making the software as useful as possible, which meant making the system operable on a ship at sea.

"It's actually going to translate to end users who might not be either experts in physics or experts in AI, but they still want to be able to do this modeling," Chattopadhyay said. "In our group, we are trying to keep our research aligned with needs of the market and industry, especially with AI, so that research and ready-for-market tools are not divorced."

More information: Leonard LupinJimenez et al, Simultaneous Emulation and Downscaling With Physically Consistent Deep LearningBased Regional Ocean Emulators, Journal of Geophysical Research: Machine Learning and Computation (2025). DOI: 10.1029/2025jh000851
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Schools and roads analyzed in the study. Credit: FTMC

A study carried out by researchers at the Center for Physical Sciences and Technology (FTMC) revealed that 37% of primary and secondary schools in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, are exposed to harmful air pollutants due to their proximity to major high-traffic roads.

This is the first study in Lithuania to apply satellite-based climate monitoring data alongside machine learning methods to assess air quality around schools.

The findings have been published in the journal Urban Climate.

The authors of the paper are FTMC Department of Environmental Research scientists Dr. Mehri Davtalab, Dr. Lina Davuliene, Dr. Ieva Uoginte, Dr. Simonas Kecorius, and the Head of the department, Dr. Steigvile Bycenkiene. Dr. Mario Lovric from the Institute for Anthropological Research in Zagreb also contributed to the team. The study was conducted as part of the EU Horizon project EDIAQI.

The scientists hope their research will serve as a strong signal to schools as well as policymakers to take concrete measures in order to safeguard children's health.

A new method to tackle an urgent problem

Air pollution is one of the greatest threats to public health worldwide, particularly in sensitive areas such as schools. In this case, FTMC researchers focused on three pollutants: nitrogen dioxide (NO), sulfur dioxide (SO), and carbon monoxide (CO).

"These invisible gases act quietly but dangerously," explains co-author Dr. Steigvile Bycenkiene.

"NO weakens the lungs and increases the risk of asthma, CO reduces the oxygen level in the blood, and SO irritates the airways and causes inflammation. Children are the most vulnerable group as their bodies are still developing, making the impact on them particularly severe.

"What's worse, when these pollutants appear together, the damage is amplified. That is exactly what we investigatedthe combined effect of these compounds in relation to a school's distance from the road."

According to the authors, having reliable tools to assess air quality is essential to protect vulnerable population groups. However, the problem is that the number of ground-level air pollution monitoring stations in cities is limited, which until now has made it difficult to determine the pollution situation around many specific school locations in the capital of Lithuania.

FTMC researchers found a solution: they gathered satellite data on NO, SO and CO and combined it with machine learning methodsnamely Random Forest and Gradient Boosting Machine algorithms. This allowed them to create detailed air quality classification maps around schools in Vilnius.

"Conventional air monitoring stations often cannot show what is happening right next to a particular school. That is why we turned to an innovative approachsatellite data combined with machine learning. This combination enabled us to pinpoint the locations where concentrations of these pollutants are the highest and to evaluate the situation of schools accordingly," says lead author Dr. Mehri Davtalab.

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A warning signal

The findings reveal an alarming situation. As many as 97% of schools are located in areas of high road densitythat is, within less than 100 meters of a roadwhere pollution tends to dominate.

More worryingly, 37% of Vilnius schools are situated in zones of elevated pollution where NO + SO + CO interact, compounding their harmful health effects. Dr. Bycenkiene stresses the importance of this figure, saying, "Without doubt, this is a serious problem. Children spend six to eight hours a day in these schools, so the health impact is not just theoretical but an everyday reality.

"It is also important to look at the broader context: as in other cities, there are practically no areas in Vilnius where air quality is entirely 'pollution-free." At best, there are relatively clean zonesmainly where schools (or residential buildings) are close to parks or forests. In such places, greenery acts as a natural filter and improves air quality. Still, the majority of schools face the risk of exposure to pollution on a daily basis."

The FTMC scientists emphasize that the purpose of their study is not to add another statistic but to spur action. Clean zones make up only a small portion of Vilnius, meaning that most schools must contend with pollution risks every day.

The World Health Organization reminds us that there are no fully safe levels of pollutants, which makes the figure of 37% a stark indicator of a systemic problem.

According to the authors, this is a clear call for Vilnius to act now: plant more greenery near schools, improve classroom ventilation systems, and restrict car traffic in the vicinity of educational institutions so that children can learn in a healthier environment.

"Even simple measures, such as ventilating classrooms outside of peak traffic hours, can reduce children's exposure to pollution. Our model could also be adapted to assess other pollutants such as particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10 ), not only in Vilnius but in other parts of Lithuania and across the world where permanent air quality monitoring is lacking," says Dr. Davtalab.

The authors also note a positive trend: every year, Vilnius is creating more green spaces, which not only beautify the city but also help reduce air pollution. This shows that with targeted investment in nature-based solutions, it is possible to build a healthier environment for children and city residents alike.

More information: Mehri Davtalab et al, Multi-pollutant air quality assessment around urban schools using machine learning, Urban Climate (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.uclim.2025.102567
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

As a researcher of police occupational culture, I was horrified, but not at all surprised by the recent Panorama program in which an undercover reporter exposed sexism, racism and general thuggishness among some Metropolitan Police officers.

Nearly a quarter of a century ago, the BBC produced another groundbreaking example of undercover reporting in the world of policing. In The Secret Policeman (2003), journalist Mark Daly joined Greater Manchester Police as a recruit officer. He covertly recorded his new colleagues making racist remarks. This was just five years after the publication of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry, and the report finding the Met "institutionally racist."

This latest Panorama demonstrated unequivocally that the Met still has not rooted out these views in its ranks.

My first thought when sitting down to watch the program was, "Why can the BBC successfully infiltrate the closed world of police misconduct when the force's own teams are seemingly incapable of doing so?"

Every police force has a branch called a professional standards department (PSD). They are supposed to gather intelligence on corrupt or bad officers, which can lead to a misconduct tribunal. If gross misconduct is found, the officer may ultimately be dismissed.

The Met has seen several high profile cases of police misconduct in recent years. These offendersfrom Wayne Couzens, who murdered Sarah Everard, to serial rapist David Carrickhave often been dismissed as "bad apples."

After Carrick's conviction in 2023, I argued that the Met culture was so toxic that to protect the public (as well as its own good officers), their PSD should employ intrusive workplace monitoring. This should mean using covert devices and undercover operatives, no matter how uncomfortable it may make staff feel.

In 2021, Hampshire police's PSD used a listening device to covertly record officers using racist language after a whistleblower was brave enough to come forward. I am not aware that this form of evidence gathering has been utilized in the Met.

In his response to the Panorama documentary, Met Commissioner Mark Rowley said he had "disbanded" the team in question. A serving officer has since been arrested over an allegation linked to a Panorama investigation.

But I would like to know that the Met PSD will go further, and conduct a thorough and systematic review of samples of past video footage from each similar team across the force.

Throughout the Panorama episode, officers were wary about talking to the undercover reporterone actually asked if he was wearing a wire. Despite the horror of the program as a whole, I was encouraged by this. For the culture to change, any police officer who is a racist or misogynist must be made to feel that they, rather than decent officers, are the ones working in a hostile environment.

I would suggest that a few years ago it was the other way round. We know that Carrick was openly nicknamed "bastard Dave" and Couzens was openly known as "the rapist". Yet their notoriety among colleagues did not seem to come to the attention of the Met PSD. If Rowley has achieved nothing else, I am hopeful that he has at least reduced the feeling of impunity and being "untouchable" which seemed to prevail among bad officers under previous Met command teams.

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Whistleblowers and workplace culture

Of greater concern though was the disturbing evidence of a complete distrust in any whistleblowing procedure. Rowley claimed that over the last four years, "internal reporting has trebled thanks to the courage and conviction of colleagues."

This is very good news, but Panorama clearly revealed that officers making sexist or racist comments were still protected by higher-ups and the overall force culture, with detractors, who wish to work in a safe, ethical environment, still feeling intimidated into silence.

There is ample research which has shown that casual misogyny towards women in the police serviceboth officers and other staffis rife. Panorama has now provided clear evidence of this. Sadly, it seems many women in the police workforce feel they have to silently put up with it.

Currently, the police have the highest-ever rate of voluntary resignations on record. More officers than ever are choosing to resign after a short period of service because they quickly realize they don't enjoy, or feel comfortable, working in the police. Two of the main reasons for leaving early were a sense they needed to "fit in" with the prevailing workplace culture, and discovering that their new job did not match the "values" they expected to find.

Police tackle organized crime groups using all sorts of covert methods, including undercover operatives infiltrating gangs to gather intelligence on their activity. The bad officers in the Met who are relentlessly dragging down public trust in not only their own force, but all the UK's forces, need to be treated like members of an organized crime group. As well as much better initial recruitment vetting, senior leaders must be bold and ruthless in finding out how their staff think and behave, both on and off duty. The BBC has shown them how.

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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Stargazers and meteor enthusiasts across North America could be treated to a spectacular light show under the right conditions during this week's "Draconid shower."

It's the result of Earth plowing through the dusty trail left behind by an oddly orbiting comet called 21P/Giacobini-Zinner.

The shower is active during a short brief window from Oct. 6 to Oct. 10, reaching a peak as Earth passes through "the densest section of the debris trail" at 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT) on Oct. 8, according to Space.com.

What makes this week's sky tapestry so special? We spoke to Northeastern University assistant professor Jacqueline McCleary, an observational cosmologist, for some of the basicsand what to watch for.

McCleary's comments have been edited for brevity and clarity.

We're interested in these 'Draconids,' but first tell us how meteor showers form.

OK, so let's first talk about comets. Your average comet is a dirty snowball; it's not an asteroid that is tightly packed. So, when comets pass near the sun, this icy material boils off; some of the dust gets left behind, making for these very pretty tails, which appear white. And some of that material gets ionized, leaving a very pretty blue tail.

A meteor shower is Earth passing through the remnants of one of those dusty white tails left behind. There are lots of meteor showers throughout the yearsome better known than others. The Draconids, in particular, tend to be less celebrated because of the following: They're left behind by a comet called 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. The comet was discovered in 1900, and it's a periodic cometmeaning one that hangs out in the inner solar system and repeats its orbit over and over againas opposed to something like 3I/ATLAS, which makes one pass and then gets kicked out.

The material with this comet normally stays bunched up near the end. There are other comets, like comet Swift-Tuttle, where the debris field is pretty uniformly distributed along its orbit. With Giacobini-Zinner, it's a small cometall of the stuff is usually clustered near the head. So, most years, the meteor shower that results from us passing through this debris field is just a few per hournot much more than what you would get on any other night.

Why are people excited about this meteor shower in 2025?

The reason people are excited about it this year is that the comet just made its perihelionits closest approach to the sunin March. That means there's a lot of fresh debris clustered near the sun. I realize this is a little abstract and maybe hard to picture, but the key point is: we're passing almost head-on through the material left behind by the comet, which has only been there since March, so it hasn't had much time to drift away.

So instead of the usual 5 to 10 meteors per hour, we might see dozensor, if we're lucky, even hundreds per hour. In past years, there have been passes where observers recorded 400 or 500 meteors per hour. That's about 10 per minutea lot. I'm not sure we'll get that lucky this time, but the potential is definitely there.

Where do names like 'Giacobini-Zinner' and 'Draconids' come from?

Comets and asteroids are usually named after their discoverers, and Giacobini and Zinner were the discoverers. Usually, the little prefix relates to some campaign of observation. For example, 3I/ATLAS means "third interstellar" comet discovered by the ATLAS observatory.

Draconidsit's a very strange name. The radiant point, or the point from which all the meteors appear to radiate, is in the head of the constellation Draco. So, they're called Draconids because the meteors seem to originate from Draco. The Orionids, another meteor shower, seem to originate from Orion; the Perseids come from the constellation Perseus; and so on. So, the meteor shower is usually named after the constellation from which it appears to originate.

When and where is the best time to see the Draconids this year?

The best time to observe this will be shortly after sunset. So essentially, as soon as it gets dark, try to go find it, because the meteor showers themselves sink below the horizon.

And unfortunately, this year we've got a near-full moon rising at about the same time, so the sky will be a little brighter than normalmeaning we won't be seeing hundreds per hour, simply because the moonlight is going to wash it out.

But because you don't have to get up at 3 in the morning to see it, and because it'll be visible from most places in the Northern Hemisphere, it's certainly worth trying to get out there and take a look.

This story is republished courtesy of Northeastern Global News news.northeastern.edu.
NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential breaches of fiduciary duties by the directors and officers of Danaher Corporation (NYSE: DHR).

If you currently own shares of Danaher stock, please visit the firm's website at https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=17717 for more information. You may also contact Phillip Kim of Rosen Law Firm toll free at 866-767-3653 or via email at [email protected].

Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

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Diagram of how the OSSMC would work. Credit: Science China Press

Duplicating expensive resources is expensive and wasteful, and most people would agree it's unnecessary. However, the planned increase in major satellite constellations is currently causing a massive duplication of resources as individual companies and even countries try to set up their own infrastructure in space.

What's more, there is a relatively limited amount of space in low Earth orbit (LEO), where many of these satellites are supposed to goany more than that and a single collision could cause Kessler Syndrome, where many of the ones already in orbit would be destroyed and we wouldn't be able to launch any more for a long time.

A new paper from researchers at the National University of Defense Technology in China published in the National Science Review suggests an alternative to these multiple mega-constellationsa single, modular system similar to how cloud computing works on the current internet.

According to paperwork filed with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), there are more than 1 million satellites planned for launch in the future. Many will be used to complete three different communications mega-constellationsStarlink (SpaceX), Project Kuiper (Amazon), and OneWeb. Each of these mega-constellations doesn't work well with each other, and each has its own protocols and requirements that make intercommunication difficult at best.

Though admittedly not all of those satellites would launch in a LEO orbit, maintaining a safe distance in between them in that orbit would be extraordinarily difficult with that many satellites. A calculation from a different paper estimates that the total maximum safe number of satellites LEO can hold is 175,000, assuming that they maintain a safe 50 km distance from one another.

The solution, the authors suggest, is an Open and Shared Sustainable Mega-Constellation (OSSMC). This would standardize the satellites used in constellations and make them interchangeable as well as interoperable. By their calculation, this would improve the satellites' operational functionality while also limiting the number necessary to under 50,000well below the safe threshold for LEO satellites.

To implement this system, the authors suggest two new architectural innovations. First is a "Sensors+Network+AI" (SNAI) infrastructure, which abstracts the satellite's operations out into three core elements. Sensors would be the things that detect the satellite's surroundings, network is what allows it to communicate with other satellites, and AI in this case is the brute computational force it can use to process the necessary information. Ultimately, this flexibility allows the satellite to become a node in a larger network, interchangeable with many others.

That is where the second architectural innovation comes in. It is a "Cloud-Pool-Terminal" paradigm. In this case, each satellite acts like a node in a cloud, and when its computational resources aren't being used, it can contribute to a "pool" of computing resources available for users on the ground, who interact with it via a "terminal." All of this terminology is familiar to networking experts, as much of it mimics how cloud systems currently operate today. Except maybe it needs a different name since this one would actually be operating above the clouds.

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.

Anyway, the authors aren't just putting this forward with no evidencethey compared how their architecture would work compared to existing ones. First, it lowers both the "Orbit Impact Score" and the space volume collision rate, both of which measure the chances of an impact between satellites, by double digit percentages. Another metric, as always, is cost, which the authors assess to decrease by 19.15%, while still increasing another metricthe Geometric Dilution of Precision, a measure of positional accuracy, by 51.07%.

A slightly more confusing metric is the "task success rate," which they measured to have increased from 26 to 45%, as well as the "task failure rate" which they said decreased from 51% to 1%. To be clear, the original numbers were calculated using the authors' own "semi-physical simulation experiments," and don't seem to represent the actual failure or success rates of any of the major constellations in use today.

So while this might sound like a good idea in practice, there's one major thing working against it: geopolitical tensions. America and many of its allies, which control the current crop of mega-constellations, have already banned communications devices by Chinese manufacturers like Huawei due to security concerns.

And given the important role Starlink has played in the ongoing Russia/Ukraine war, the likelihood of the world coming together to create a shared infrastructure that could also potentially benefit an enemy is unlikely to say the least. But, if the world itself ever moves toward a more stable and peaceful paradigm, there is the chance that we might see something akin to this shared, open source system. Just don't hold your breath.

More information: Jun Yang et al, Open and Shared Sustainable Mega-Constellation, National Science Review (2025). DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwaf344
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Observed and modeled light curves for V 717 Andromedae. The blue curve shows B-band, green, V -band, and red, R-band; the purple curve shows the Check Star. Black lines represent the white dwarf modeled light curves for each band. The curves have been shifted vertically for clarity. Credit: arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2509.23278

Astronomers from Australia and Serbia have performed multi-band photometric observations of a binary star known as V717 Andromedae. The observations yielded crucial information regarding the properties of V717 Andromedae, finding that it is an active low mass ratio contact binary system. The new findings are detailed in a research paper published Sept. 27 on the arXiv preprint server.

Contact binaries consist of two stars orbiting so closely that they share a common gaseous envelope. The components of such systems often have similar effective temperatures and luminosities, regardless of their respective masses.

V717 Andromedae was initially identified as a contact binary in 2013. The source reached a magnitude of 13.4 mag in the V-band, and its orbital period was measured to be approximately 0.317 days.

However, given that no dedicated observations of V717 Andromedae have been conducted to date, very little is known about its nature. That is why a team of astronomers led by Surjit Wadhwa of Western Sydney University in Australia decided to use the 1.4 m Milankovic telescope in Serbia to investigate this system. Their study was complemented by archival data from various astronomical surveys.

The observations carried out by Wadhwa's team provided essential information regarding the physical properties of the two stars in V717 Andromedae.

"The geometric light curve solution combined with distance and extinction estimates are used to derive absolute parameters for the system," the researchers explained.

It turned out that the primary star in the system has a radius of about 1.14 solar radii and its mass is comparable to that of the sun. The secondary star is about two times smaller and has a mass of approximately 0.197 solar masses. Therefore, these findings make V717 Andromedae an extreme low mass ratio system.

The observations found that the primary and secondary stars of V717 Andromedae are separated by about 2.13 solar radii and have effective temperatures of 5,895 and 5,813 K, respectively. The distance to the system was measured to be 2,811 light years.

Furthermore, the collected data indicate that V717 Andromedae does not show signs of the so-called O'Connell effectone of the markers of enhanced chromospheric and coronal activity in contact binaries. However, the astronomers report that there are a number of other markers strongly suggesting the system is chromospherically active, such as calcium II infrared triplet (CaII IRT) lines.

The study also found that the predicted instability mass ratio range for V717 Andromedae is approximately 0.065-0.060. Thus, the mass ratio for V717 Andromedae, at a level of 0.197, means that the system is stable and not a potential merger candidate.

Written for you by our author Tomasz Nowakowski, edited by Stephanie Baum, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Eganthis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you.

More information: S. S. Wadhwa et al, V717 Andromedae: An Active Low Mass Ratio Contact Binary, arXiv (2025). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2509.23278 Journal information: arXiv

 2025 Science X Network
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The floods followed heavy rain from Typhoon Matmo, which weakened on Monday while approaching Vietnam but hit the north hard.

Record floods submerged streets and inundated homes in Vietnam on Wednesday, leaving tens of thousands of people stranded, with at least eight killed this week.

Floodwaters reached the tops of cars and rooftops in areas of Thai Nguyen city, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of the capital Hanoi, with many left stuck at home and others forced to flee.

The environment ministry said eight people were killed in flash floods and landslides in Vietnam's mountainous north since Monday, and five others were missing.

"I have never witnessed such a terrible flood since I was born 60 years ago," Nguyen Van Nguyen told AFP from his three-story house in Thai Nguyen province.

"There has never been flooding here in my street but now my ground floor is all submerged."

The military said it had mobilized 30,000 personnel and thousands of boats to join rescue and relief efforts.

It used three helicopters to drop more than four tons of water, instant noodles, dry cake, milk and lifejackets to people in flooded parts of Lang Son province.

From late Tuesday to Wednesday, the country recorded the highest flood levels on three rivers in the north in nearly 40 years, state media reported.

The high-water mark of Trung river in Lang Son, bordering China, was forecast to peak at nearly two meters (6.5 feet) above the record, Vietnam state television said.

The Bang and Thuong rivers also surpassed levels not seen since 1986.

By Wednesday morning, the weather bureau said the Cau river, running across Thai Nguyen city, was more than a meter higher than the previous record levelwhen Typhoon Yagi devastated the country in September last year.

Record floods submerged streets in several communities in Vietnam on Wednesday, with at least eight people killed this week.

'Totally flooded'

Overnight Tuesday and Wednesday, social media users posted pleas for help as their relatives and friends were left stranded with no electricity and few provisions in the provinces of Thai Nguyen, Cao Bang and Lang Son.

"Our ground floor (in Thai Nguyen province) was totally flooded. My parents and five kids were stuck, with not enough food and water. No communication since late Tuesday. They need urgent help," Thoan Vu posted online alongside hundreds of similar pleas.

More than 200 families living in Lang Son province, downstream from a dam that burst Tuesday afternoon, were earlier evacuated to shelters, the environment ministry said.

The cracked dam, part of the reservoir for the Bac Khe 1 hydropower plant, caused about $1.9 million in estimated economic losses, the ministry said in a statement.

"The reservoir of the small hydropower plant has a capacity of four million cubic meters of water... so together with heavy rains, neighboring communes may be inundated, but no flash floods were forecast," it said.

Scientists say human-driven climate change is making extreme weather events like typhoons more deadly and destructive.

The floods followed heavy rain from Typhoon Matmo, which weakened on Monday while approaching Vietnam but hit the north hard.

Matmo landed only a week after Typhoon Bualoi triggered widespread flooding, killing at least 56 people and causing economic losses estimated at more than $710 million.

 2025 AFP
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

For decades, scientists have observed, but been unable to explain, a phenomenon seen in some soft materials: When force is applied, these materials exhibit not one, but two spikes in energy dissipation, known as overshoots. Because overshoots are generally thought to indicate the point at which a material yields, or transitions from solid-like to fluid-like behavior, the dual response was therefore assumed to indicate "double yielding"the idea that to fully fluidize a material, it needed to yield twice.

Now, researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have shown that this behavior is different than previously hypothesized. Their paper, "Resolving Dual Processes in Complex Oscillatory Yielding," is published in Physical Review Letters.

In the study, chemical and biomolecular engineering professor Simon A. Rogers and his team, led by then-graduate student James J. Griebler show that the two-step response is the result of two independent processes: first, a softening of the material's elastic structure, and later, true yielding.

For their work, the team used a novel approach called recovery rheology, which considers strainthe measure of how much a material deformsto be a composite parameter consisting of recoverable and unrecoverable components. Rogers likened it to chewing gum.

"Imagine you were chewing gum and pulled it out of your mouth, and you stretched it," he explained. "Some of it will stretch and, if you let it go, some of it will recoilit'll spring back a little, but it won't spring back all the way. That little bit of recoil is what we call the recoverable part, and the fact that it doesn't come all the way back is the unrecoverable part."

Using this concept as their starting point, the researchers conducted a series of oscillatory shear experiments using Carbopol, a gel-like polymer dissolved in propylene glycol that is widely found in many commercial gel products. As they increased the strain, the material exhibited two distinct overshoots in its response.

Then, by observing how much of the applied deformation was recoverable and how much was unrecoverable, they observed that these overshoots stemmed from separate physical processes rather than a repeated one. The first, smaller overshoot indicated material softening without yieldinga reversible behavior.

In contrast, the second, more pronounced overshoot marked a transition to full yielding, representing an irreversible deformation. The team supported their findings with development of a predictive model that accurately captures this double overshoot behavior.

While the immediate impact of their work lies primarily in advancing future research, distinguishing between double yielding and distinct physical processes could eventually influence how materials are handled in industrial applications.

"Processing these materials involves large and rapid deformations that take the materials out of equilibrium," Rogers said. "What our model does is provide a more accurate description of that out-of-equilibrium behavior, so we better understand how the materials respond under the conditions we actually care about."

Rogers, whose background in physics often leads him to approach rheological problems in non-traditional ways, said the study also highlights the value of careful experimentation over purely theoretical approaches.

"For the longest time, people tried solving this problem by performing the same experiments that were used to discover the effect and they thought that the answer was going to be somewhere in a mathematical analysis," Rogers said.

"What we showed is that simple experiments designed to test the underlying hypotheses are worth much more than that complex mathematical analysis, and they pointed us towards a reality that hadn't previously been discovered."

In addition to Rogers and Griebler, who is now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Tennessee, co-authors include visiting scholar Anita S. Dobo and undergraduate researcher Elizabeth E. Miczuga.

More information: James J. Griebler et al, Resolving Dual Processes in Complex Oscillatory Yielding, Physical Review Letters (2025). DOI: 10.1103/1qdd-6yby Journal information: Physical Review Letters
SEATTLE, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Seattle Children's today announced the appointment of Dr. Christopher Longhurst as its next chief executive officer, effective Jan. 5, 2026. The Seattle Children's Hospital Board of Trustees selected Longhurst after conducting a yearlong national search.

Dr. Christopher Longhurst

"Choosing a CEO is one of the board's most important responsibilities. Dr. Longhurst's unique ability to merge clinical operations, research and digital strategy, while enhancing patient safety and quality makes him the right leader to guide Seattle Children's into the future," said Kurt Shintaffer, chair of the Seattle Children's Hospital Board of Trustees. "His visionary leadership, deep clinical expertise, commitment to health equity and proven record of innovation will strengthen Seattle Children's mission to serve children and families across the region and beyond."

Longhurst is widely recognized as a national leader in healthcare. A practicing pediatrician and West Coast native, Longhurst currently serves as chief clinical and innovation officer at UC San Diego Health, where he spent the last decade after 15 years at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford.

"Seattle Children's has an extraordinary legacy of care, research and advocacy for kids and families, and it will be a true honor to serve and lead this world-class team to advance Children's mission," Longhurst said. "As a pediatrician, I understand the important role children's hospitals play in our future health and look forward to learning from our teams and leveraging my own skills and experiences to build upon the 118-year legacy of helping every child live the healthiest life possible."

Longhurst will succeed Dr. Jeff Sperring, who announced his plan to retire after a decade of dedication and leadership at Seattle Children's.

"It's an exciting day for Seattle Children's as we announce the next leader of our beloved institution," said Sperring. "We are incredibly fortunate to add Chris' deep commitment to our mission and his experience as a leader in delivering exceptional outcomes through clinical excellence, scientific discovery and innovation. His talent and dedication to improving children's health will further enable Children's to expand and accelerate our impact for more children and families across all our communities. Amie and I wish Chris and his family well as they embark upon this exciting new chapter in their lives and the story that is Seattle Children's."

Longhurst is the founder and executive director of the Joan & Irwin Jacobs Center for Health Innovation at UC San Diego Health, where he secured a transformational philanthropic gift to establish a mission control center that deploys artificial intelligence tools to improve patient access and safety.

At UC San Diego School of Medicine, Longhurst serves as associate dean, overseeing education and research in the clinical environment, and is a faculty member in Biomedical Informatics and Pediatrics. His research on care quality, patient safety and health informatics has been published in leading journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA and Pediatrics.

Prior to joining UC San Diego Health, Longhurst was a pediatric hospitalist and chief medical information officer at Stanford Children's Health, where he founded the nation's first accredited clinical informatics fellowship and led strategic efforts to improve pediatric care through technology.

About Seattle Children's

Seattle Children's mission is to provide hope, care and cures to help every child live the healthiest and most fulfilling life possible. Together, Seattle Children's Hospital, Research Institute and Foundation deliver superior patient care, identify new discoveries and treatments through pediatric research, and raise funds to create better futures for patients.

Ranked as one of the top children's hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report, Seattle Children's serves as the pediatric and adolescent academic medical center for Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho  the largest region of any children's hospital in the country. As one of the nation's top five pediatric research centers, Seattle Children's Research Institute is internationally recognized for its work in neurosciences, immunology, cancer, infectious disease, injury prevention and much more. Seattle Children's Foundation, along with Seattle Children's Guild Association  the largest all-volunteer fundraising network for any hospital in the country  works with our generous community to raise funds for lifesaving care and research.

For more information, visit seattlechildrens.org; follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram; or subscribe to our Healthy Tides newsletter.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jen Morgan, Sr. Director, Public Engagement

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Seattle Childrens
Award honors female leaders shaping Greater Washington's business and civic landscape

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- SolaREIT, a clean energy real estate investment company, is proud to announce that CEO and co-founder Laura Pagliarulo has been named one of the Washington Business Journal's 2025 Women Who Mean Business honorees. The annual award recognizes 25 outstanding women leaders in the Greater Washington region who demonstrate exceptional professional achievements, leadership, and community impact. All the honorees will be celebrated at a reception this evening.

"Laura brings a rare combination of strategic vision, deep sector expertise, and authentic leadership to the clean energy space. From day one, she's been driven by purposeto make the path to solar and battery storage deployment faster, smarter, and more accessible," said SolaREIT Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Gautam Chandra. "Laura's leadership has not only shaped SolaREIT into a transformative platform, it has also solidified her as a respected voice across our industry. This recognition from the Washington Business Journal is a testament to her integrity, impact, and relentless focus on moving the sector forward."

Now in its 22nd year, the Women Who Mean Business program has honored more than 500 influential women from a wide range of industries, including real estate, health care, technology, education, and social impact. Honorees are selected through a competitive editorial process that evaluates accomplishments, vision, and influenceboth within their organizations and across the broader community.

Pagliarulo co-founded SolaREIT in 2020 with a mission to provide flexible real estate capital solutions that unlock land value for solar and battery energy storage developers. Under her leadership, the company has provided real estate financing solutions for $5 billion in project value, providing real estate capital for more than 3 GW of clean energy projects across the country.

About SolaREIT

SolaREIT, based in Virginia, is a leading real estate investment company focused on providing flexible land capital solutions for solar and battery storage developers. The company, a minority and women-owned business, was founded in 2020 as a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) by clean energy industry veterans with a proven track record in finance, project development, real estate, and community solar. The team is passionate about renewable energy and believes that solar and battery energy storage land financing plays a critical role in expanding the clean energy economy.

For more information, visit: www.solareit.com

SOURCE SolaREIT
NEW DELHI (AP)  Indias leading body of pilots has asked the civil aviation regulator to inspect all Boeing 787 Dreamliners operating in the country for electrical issues after one of the planes abruptly deployed an emergency power system midair over the weekend.

The device, a small propeller that acts as a backup generator and which is known as the ram air turbine, or RAT, normally would be activated when an aircraft's engines lose power, its hydraulic systems register critically low pressure or its electrical systems fail.

However, the RAT engaged unexpectedly on Saturday aboard Air India flight 117 from the northern Indian city of Amritsar moments before it landed safely in Birmingham, England.

The Federation of Indian Pilots, which represents about 6,000 pilots, asked for the investigation Sunday evening.

Air India, owned by business conglomerate Tata Group, said in a statement that an initial inspection following the weekend incident found that all electrical and hydraulic parameters were normal and that the aircraft landed safely.

The midair deployment of the emergency device has reignited concerns in India over the safety of the Dreamliner. In June, an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for London crashed in the northwestern city of Ahmedabad, killing 260 people including 19 on the ground, in one of Indias worst aviation disasters.

A preliminary report into the June 12 crash found that the fuel control switches for the engines were moved from the run to the cutoff position moments before impact, starving both engines of fuel. The RAT system activated as it was supposed to have done when the plane lost power and engine thrust, the report said.

Charanvir Singh Randhawa, president of the Federation of Indian Pilots, said that he'd never heard of the RAT system being deployed even when there are no problems in the engines, hydraulics or electrical systems, as appeared to be the case over the weekend. "Its a serious concern that warrants a detailed inquiry, he said.

Randhawa, whose career spans five decades in aviation, wrote an email to Indias Directorate General of Civil Aviation on Sunday, apprising it of the incident and urging an investigation into the electrical systems of all Boeing Dreamliners operating in India.

A spokesman for Indias Civil Aviation Ministry didnt respond to a request for comment, and a spokeswoman for Boeing India was not immediately available for comment.
BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) -China called on the European Union on Tuesday not to "challenge" a 1971 U.N. resolution that led to Beijing assuming China's seat in the organisation from Taipei.

China and Taiwan, which Beijing views as its own territory, have been locked in an increasingly bitter dispute about U.N. resolution 2758.

Beijing, which has not ruled out the use of force to take control of Taiwan, says it gives international legal backing to its claims over the island, and reiterated that point in a long foreign ministry statement last week that Taipei condemned.

The EU, in response to questions from Reuters, said the resolution was about switching representation and did not mention Taiwan.

China's Foreign Ministry said the EU remarks were a "distortion" of the resolution.

"We urge the EU side to strictly abide by the 'One China' principle and its promises on the Taiwan issue, not challenge U.N. Resolution 2758 and not send any wrong signals to Taiwan independence separatist forces," it said.

Beijing demands countries respect its "One China" principle that states both sides of the Taiwan Strait are part of a single China.

"United Nations Resolution 2758 is very short - only 150 words. And among those 150 words, the word 'Taiwan' does not appear," an EU spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

"The resolution switched representation in the United Nations from the 'representatives of Chiang Kai-shek' to the 'representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China'," the spokesperson added, referring to Taiwan's then-leader.

In response, China's foreign ministry said that it was "extremely dissatisfied and resolutely opposed" to the EU remarks.

The EU spokesperson said: "As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has a special responsibility in upholding the rules-based international order, the United Nations Charter and international law. This includes the prohibition of the use of force and the maintenance of international peace and security."

Taiwan's formal name is the Republic of China. The Republican government continued to represent China in the U.N. after 1949, when it fled to the island after losing a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists, until the 1971 resolution was passed.

The U.S. State Department also said last week China was intentionally mis-characterising the resolution as part of broader "coercive attempts to isolate Taiwan from the international community".

No EU member state has formal ties with Taiwan, whose government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.

But Taiwan has sought greater support from Europe, with its foreign minister visiting the continent twice last month.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo in Beijing, Ben Blanchard in Taipei and Philip Blenkinsop in Brussels; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Kate Mayberry)
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russian forces had captured almost 5,000 square km (1,930 square miles) of land in Ukraine in 2025 and that Moscow retained complete strategic initiative on the battlefield.

Putin, addressing a meeting with Russian top military commanders, said Ukrainian forces were retreating in all sectors of the front. He said Kyiv was trying to strike deep into Russian territory, but it would not help it to change the situation in the more than 3 1/2-year-old war.

"At this time, the Russian armed forces fully hold the strategic initiative," Putin told the meeting in northwestern Russia, according to a Kremlin transcript.

"This year, we have liberated nearly 5,000 square km of territory - 4,900 - and 212 localities."

Ukrainian forces, he said, "are retreating throughout the line of combat contact, despite attempts at fierce resistance."

Russia's Defence Ministry on Tuesday reported the capture of two more villages along the front, which Ukraine's top commander says now extends over 1,250 km (775 miles).

Ukrainian accounts of the situation on the front line say Kyiv's forces have made gains in the Donetsk region, particularly near the town of Dobropillia. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has also said Ukrainian forces have regained ground in the border Sumy region, where Russia has established a foothold.

Russian Army General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of Russia's armed forces, told the meeting of top commanders that Russian forces were "advancing in practically all directions." Ukrainian forces, he said, were focused on slowing the Russian advance.

Gerasimov, overall commander of Russia's war effort, said Moscow's troops were moving on the key cities of Siversk and Kostyantynivka in the main theatre of the Donetsk region.

He said they were clearing Ukrainian forces from the city of Kupiansk, under Russian attack for months in Ukraine's northeast, and were moving forward in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions further south. They were also progressing in setting up buffer zones in Sumy and Kharkiv regions in the north.

In his remarks to the meeting, Putin said Russia's objectives remained the same as when he launched its "special military operation" in February 2022, saying it was aimed at "demilitarising and denazifying" its smaller neighbour.

(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Chris Reese and Rod Nickel)
Secretary reports to Congress on Quintana Roo tourism sector

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Quintana Roo Secretary of Tourism appeared before the State Congress to present his report. The report was presented to the legislature as part of the Third Government Report.

On Tuesday, Tourism Secretary Bernardo Cueto Riestra, reported on the progress, actions and results achieved in the tourism sector during the 2024-2025 period.

During his speech, Cueto Riestra emphasized that Quintana Roo continues to be the national leader in tourism, generating 46.4% of the total foreign currency brought into the country by international visitors, consolidating its position as an economic pillar for Mexico and a driving force of well-being for Quintana Roo families.

Among the main achievements he noted that by the end of 2024, 20.9 million tourists were received, 32.7 million passengers were registered and 7.1 million cruise passengers were served, reflecting the strength of the Mexican Caribbean as a world-class destination.

From January to July 2025, more than 12 million tourists were received of which 66.1% were international and 33.9% domestic in addition to 4.5 million cruise passengers, representing an increase of 3.2% compared to the same period in 2024.

In terms of infrastructure, more than 135,000 hotel rooms have been built in the state, and 4,030 new rooms added in 2024. Quintana Roo remains connected to 125 national and international cities through direct air routes.

The Secretary reported that work has been carried out under five strategic axes: planning, promotion, sustainability, diversification, and security, strengthening inclusive, responsible and resilient tourism.

In terms of planning, working groups of the Tourism Advisory Council were established to update the regulatory framework and regulations of the State Tourism Law.

Additionally, for the second consecutive year, the State Tourism Award was presented, recognizing those who have contributed to sustainable tourism. In 2025, the award was granted to Community Tours Sian Kaan.

He also highlighted the creation of the Quintana Roo Cruise Tourism Welfare Trust (FBTCQROO), which for the first time allows local charges for cruise ships, generating 600 million pesos to improve the port infrastructure of Mahahual and Cozumel. Thanks to this instrument, the first state fund for natural disaster relief was established, the only one in the country.

In terms of promotion, Quintana Roo was present at international trade fairs such as FITUR (Madrid), ITB (Berlin), WTM (London), ANATO (Colombia), FIT (Argentina), among others, positioning the 12 destinations in the Mexican Caribbean and strengthening their global competitiveness.

In terms of sustainability, more than 1,400 people benefited from social tourism programs, and the Sustainable Tourism Master Plan was updated with a 2050 vision, with the participation of more than 400 stakeholders from the public and private sectors.

In terms of diversification, the brand Con Sabor Caribe Mexicano and Culinary Experience were launched; the Sabores y Raices cookbook was presented; the 4th Bacalar Gastronomic Festival was held with more than 7,500 attendees and the first generation of traditional cooks was certified.

Plaques and recognitions were presented to the 22 Michelin Guide winners along with a Hospitality and Service Award and a Chef Mentor Award. Additionally, in conjunction with UNESCO, the Travels through the Mayan World experience catalog was presented, featuring six community experiences in Quintana Roo.

Bernardo Cueto Riestra

In terms of security, the Tourism Security Board, headed by Governor Mara Lezama, was consolidated, and the Verify and Travel campaign was implemented to create a culture of safe purchasing among travelers through recommendations that prevent fraud. The Tourist Mobility Pass was issued for visitors who rent cars, with 307 passes issued.

The Guest Assist app provides assistance and guidance to national and international tourists visiting the state of Quintana Roo in situations that affect their physical or property integrity.

More than 300 tourists were assisted from January to July 2025. Services at Cancun International Airport were strengthened with free Wi-Fi, improved institutional communication, and the hiring of immigration personnel, which reduced waiting times to enter the country and the number of denied entry by 95%.

In terms of training, 113 courses were delivered to more than 7,000 tourism service providers, and 918 quality seals were awarded. By the end of 2024, Quintana Roo ranked first in the nation in quality seals and badges, with more than 1,900.

Finally, he reported that Quintana Roo has assumed the Presidency of the Association of Tourism Secretaries of Mexico (ASETUR), promoting a national tourism competitiveness agenda.

Secretary Bernardo Cuetos appearance reaffirms the state governments commitment, under the leadership of Governor Mara Lezama, to continue transforming the tourism model into a more just, sustainable, and inclusive one that generates shared prosperity for all.
LAS VEGAS, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tark Office Condos, an upcoming 74,000 sq ft Class A office condominium development at 7150 S Cimarron Road in Southwest Las Vegas, is now pre-selling with delivery projected for Q3 2026.

Located along the rapidly expanding I-215 Beltway corridordirectly across from St. Rose Dominican HospitalTark offers a rare opportunity: strategically located ownership paired with long-term equity, visibility, and convenience.

Tark Office Condos

"My mother, Lois Tarkanian, left a lasting mark on healthcare and education in Las Vegas, and her influence continues to guide us," said Danny Tarkanian. "Partnering with Bentar, like family to us, ensures Tark is built to the highest standards. A plaque in the lobby will honor her legacy and stand as a symbol of our commitment to excellence."

"Business owners are tired of renting," said Aris Lazarou, listing broker and co-developer. "They invest in improvements and walk away with no equity. Tark changes thatgiving professionals the chance to own in Las Vegas's best submarket, fix their expenses, and build wealth instead of paying someone else's mortgage."

Designed for Long-Term Value and Lifestyle Convenience

Ownership vs. Rent: Say goodbye to unpredictable rent increases. Tark Office Condos enables owner-usersfrom medical professionals and attorneys to CPAsto stabilize their overhead while building equity for the future.

Customize to Fit Your Needs: Suites from 2,500 sq ft to full floors (~37,000 sq ft), delivered grey-shell and ready for personalization.

Booming Market Fundamentals: Over 150,000 residents within 3 miles; projected ~7% growth by 2029; nearly $2B in annual consumer spending.

Tark delivers ownership equity with predictable monthly costs and the freedom to tailor each space to a firm's brand, function, and client experience. In the city's fastest-growing submarket, Tark couples low HOA dues, 4:1,000 parking, a shared lobby, and SBA financing optionsdriving stability, accessibility, and growth potential.

Key Features:

Tenant Visibility

Building signage opportunities provide prominent exposure on high-traffic Cimarron Road.

Convenient Accessibility

Effortless access via I-215, Durango, Warm Springs, and Buffalosmoother daily commutes.

Strong Long-Term Value

Ownership supports equity creation, potential appreciation, and stable long-term costsescape unpredictable rent hikes.

In the Neighborhood

Near Durango Resort, UnCommons, and The Bendabundant dining, shopping, healthcare, and services at your doorstep.

New Construction & Customization

Brand-new, grey-shell offices with full floors available; expansive views; full flexibility to tailor your workspace.

For inquiries:

The project is exclusively represented by American Realty Residential & Commercial, with listings managed by Aris Lazarou, at 702-379-2324. For more information visit LoopNet or www.TarkOfficeCondos.com.

Media Contact:

Jennifer Bradley

7022349385

[email protected]

SOURCE Tark Office Condos
Police are investigating a Singapore-based firm for its links to a infamous Cambodian facility Koh Kong Resort. The hotel was previously sanctioned by the United States Treasury Department over alleged abuses related to workers who were trafficked and forced to work in online scam centers. An investigation by the Straits Times revealed that local company Changting Network Technology had advertised for roles based in Singapore before informing successful candidates they would be based at the Cambodian hotel.

US President Donald Trump's pick Dr Anjani Sinha has been confirmed by the US Senate as ambassador to Singapore. The orthopaedic surgeon was one of more than 100 nominees voted in by a 51-47 simple majority vote on Tuesday (7 Oct). Dr Sinha's nomination faced fierce opposition from Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth back in July with their exchange leading to a viral internet moment in Singapore.

Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates.
How to Do It is Slates sex advice column. Have a question? Send it to Stoya and Rich here. Its anonymous!

Dear How to Do It,

I have been going out with a guy for about a month now. Hes great, and I thought this might actually be going somewhere. Then I went over to his place for the first time. His entire house is decorated with, for lack of a better term, art featuring womens pussies. He claims he finds them beautiful to look at. Is this within the bounds of normalcy, or is it a red flag?

Muff Madness

Dear Muff Madness,

Normalcy? I mean, Ive never been to a house wallpapered in vulvas before, and it seems like you havent either. I dont believe that most of us have. I would say this is unusual but not necessarily a dealbreaker. Im not so quick to judge because Ive seen what gay men put on their walls and it can sometimes be very penis-forward. I mean, The Birdcage has an extended bit about how the central couple loves to dress their home in dick. I know the power dynamic is at least a bit different when were talking about men who are into men versus men who are into women, but I dont really get creeped out by erotic art on queer mens walls. I just figure they really like dick and almost always it checks out. And when people like dick, they tend to be really into pleasing it.

Regarding your guy, in the worst case scenario, his decor could signal an objectification/fetishization of a single part that will leave the rest of the person its attached to ignored. Perhaps for him, the hole trumps the whole. That can be fine if youre into it, but most people like to be appreciated for more than just their genitals.

On the other hand, maybe hes a kind, compassionate person who truly loves women and especially their vulvas. If hes that into pussy, he might be really good with it. Maybe his oral/fingering skills are exceptional and/or hes great at intercourse. Have you noticed anything along these lines in the month youve been seeing him?

Another potential option is that this is merely an aesthetic thing for him that has little bearing on his regard for actual bodies. Then you could just chalk it up to a quirk. You say hes great, but is spending time with him at his house worth being surrounded by depictions of genitalia? Let the answer to that question guide how (and whether) you spend your time with him.

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Get advicesubmit a question! Please keep questions short (<150 words), and dont submit the same question to multiple columns. We are unable to edit or remove questions after publication. Use pseudonyms to maintain anonymity. Your submission may be used in other Slate advice columns and may be edited for publication. Thanks! Your question has been submitted. Dear How to Do It, * Your letter signoff Your pronouns Your email (optional and confidentialplease include if you're open to How to Do It following up) Submit

Dear How to Do It,

Ive been invited to the wedding of a good friends sister. The trouble is that some people think my husband is something of a sex pest, and Im worried he may do something offensive. Should I leave him at home, or just bring him and hope he behaves himself?

Roll the Dice

Dear Roll the Dice,

You are oddly detached from this potential problem. Some people think your husband is something of a sex pest? Well, what do you think? Do you see where theyre coming from? Have they cited the evidence that prompted them to draw this conclusion and do you doubt it? Has your husband done anything sex pest-y with you? Even if not, you should hear people outnumbers behind allegations like these usually only strengthen the case.

Unless these people are totally off the mark and you know that verifiably, I think you should err on the side of caution and consider leaving him at home. Your husband represents you, at least to a degree, and if you bring him into social situations where he is offending people, harassing them, or worse, you are complicit.

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There was once a recurring character in my life who was such a bad drunk that I was embarrassed for him practically every time I saw him. He was mean and insulted many of our mutual friends, as well as me. He brought the entire mood down and created scenes. Even when he wasnt hostile, he was unpleasant. He was a friend of a few friends and I never understood why everyone thought it was appropriate to bring him around. They knew what he was capable of, they watched it happen, and yet they were OK with it. I dont blame them for his mess, but I do blame them for exposing people to someone who they knew would create a bad time. Ive never held it against them because I know friendship can be complicated and maybe theyre just all optimists and were hoping that he would refrain from getting drunk or, failing that, behave himself, but I do think that everyone who introduced him to people were at least a little ridiculous for doing so.

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In other words, you cant control your husband, but you can control when you bring him around. You being worried that he might do something offensive suggests that you suspect there is something to the scuttlebutt on his behavior. Leave him home and tell him why youre doing it. Maybe hell reconsider and act accordingly. If not, suggest he pursue therapy.

Send Us Your Questions About the Workplace!

The columnists behind our advice column, Good Job, want to help you navigate your social dynamics at work. Does your colleague constantly bug you after hours? Has an ill-advised work romance gone awry? Ask us your question here!

Dear How to Do It,

I have been with my wife for four years now and our sex was great in the beginning. Its gotten boring since then. My wife doesnt like any form of foreplay: No kissing, no fingering, no touching her breasts, no toys, and she also doesnt like oralreceiving or giving. We have spoken about bringing someone else into our bedroom but I have trust issues with our business being open to gossip. We have had a threesome before and we have gone to a nude resort, so she is somewhat adventurous, but it seems like she doesnt enjoy sex as much as I do. She complains that I want sex too much, but I think if I were having passionate sex with her, I would not want sex as much.

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I love my wife and I dont want this to cause mistrust in our relationship if we bring someone else to give me the pleasure that I seek. We are both in our early 50s. What can I do?

Sex Without Passion

Dear Sex Without Passion,

Did something change between when sex was great and what its become? Was your wife previously more open to foreplay or the other activities you point out are lacking? Or maybe sex was simply more exciting back in the beginning because it was new, and the new relationship euphoria overshadowed the actual nuts and bolts of it? Probing for these answers may give you some clarity for help moving forward.

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If it is newness that you seek, certainly bringing in another partner can scratch that itch. It is true that people talk and there is certainly the possibility that someone will share sensitive information about you with others after being exposed to it. You also rightly point out that adding a third could also cause trust issues. None of this will be clear, though, until it actually happens.

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However, youre in a rut and you have a pretty good plan for getting yourself out of it. Disappointing as it may be, your wife is under no obligation to participate in any of the sex acts you desire. You could talk to her about what she finds unappealing about them, but the end result of that conversation might very well be her maintaining all of her nos.

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Getting someone else in bed who is interested in foreplay, oral, toys, etc., could be a way of getting to experience what your wife refuses to do while keeping the relationship intact. Its a risk, but given the stasis of your situation, I think its worth taking. You can talk to your potential third ahead of time and request discretion (or try to set it up for when youre traveling or far from your place of business to reduce the risk of word getting out). You can talk to your wife about your triggers for trust issues as well as hers. Neither of these are guaranteed to banish all problems that might arise, but a lot of times, those problems are solved with open communication after (for example, revisiting what went wrong with the situation to know what to avoid going forward). Might as well get ahead of it now.

Rich

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I enjoy my husband and love him with everything I am. Hes kind, gentle, and a great father to my kids and our kids. The problem Im having is Ive never really enjoyed sex. I cant feel anything internally except pain, my vagina always snaps back to the point of feeling like Im losing my virginity again, and the only way to reach an orgasm is to play with my clit but even that is frustrating. I always feel guilty for faking it and for being able to enjoy sex. What do I do?
The new director brings proven experience in telecom systems, broadband technologies, and expert witness consulting for intellectual property cases

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Quandary Peak Research announces the appointment of Dr. Radostin Pachamanov as a Director in its Intellectual Property (IP) consulting team. A telecommunications engineering expert with more than two decades of experience in mobile networks, broadband systems, OSS/BSS solutions, and media delivery technologies, Dr. Pachamanov enhances Quandary Peak's ability to support clients in complex litigation and technical consulting across the telecommunications sector and beyond.

Dr. Pachamanovs expertise in wireless, broadband, and IP disputes reflects Quandary Peaks commitment to technical depth in telecom and litigation consulting.

Dr. Pachamanov earned his PhD in Telecommunications Engineering before beginning his career at Ericsson, a global leader in telecom networks and services, where he held both technical and client-facing roles. He contributed to several pioneering projects, including Ericsson's first end-to-end DVB-S2 satellite television platformspanning digital headend, content acquisition, protection, and distribution, and satellite transmission. He helped design and build a sophisticated multimillion-dollar surveillance system in challenging terrain, integrating multiple sensor types into a single, unified, and secure network. He also played a key role in the design and delivery of client solutions across 3G and 4G/LTE network infrastructure, as well as telecom-specific OSS/BSS solutions for billing and mediation, service provisioning, and service assurance.

For more than a decade, Dr. Pachamanov has also served as a consultant in IP litigation. His work includes infringement and invalidity analyses in patent cases, trade secret misappropriation disputes, and copyright claims, with detailed evaluations of software and systems across a wide range of technologies. These include a broad set of technologies, including 5G/4G/LTE mobile networks , Wi-Fi, fixed-broadband telecommunications systems , Internet protocols, network security, ephemeral messaging platforms, AI/ML applications such as automotive collision detection, and medical devices . This combination of industry experience and technical depth enables him to translate sophisticated technologies into clear, defensible opinions and to deliver credible analyses and testimony in high-stakes intellectual property disputes.

"Radostin brings a rare mix of deep technical knowledge and real-world experience in telecommunications and litigation consulting," said Dr. Mahdi Eslamimehr , Executive Vice President of Quandary Peak Research. "That combination makes him an outstanding addition to our team and strengthens the way we support clients in their most complex technical and legal challenges."

"I am excited to be joining Quandary Peak's exceptional team," said Dr. Pachamanov. "I look forward to applying my technical expertise and telecommunications knowledge to help clients navigate the most challenging intellectual property litigation matters."

As a Director, Dr. Pachamanov will lead telecommunications-related and other technology-intensive investigations, provide expert testimony and technical analysis in IP disputes, and advise clients on licensing and standards issues. His appointment underscores Quandary Peak's commitment to deepening expertise in critical technology sectors.

About Quandary Peak Research

Quandary Peak Research provides independent, expert analysis of complex software and computer systems for leading companies, law firms, and investors. Quandary Peak's services include source code analysis, technical due diligence, software quality audits, and digital forensic investigations. The firm's consultants are frequently engaged in high-stakes civil litigation involving patent infringement, copyright disputes, trade secret misappropriation, and breach-of-contract claims. Its experts regularly serve as testifying witnesses in U.S. District Courts, state courts, the International Trade Commission (ITC), the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and other legal forums.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Jeremiah Deasey

Manager of Digital Marketing, Media, and Brand

[email protected]

SOURCE Quandary Peak Research
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Can you think of anything besides a martini that youd ever want filthy? A filthy cabernet. A cheeseburger most foul. Gross milk. This does not work with really any other item than the martini, and if youve read a bar menu in the past five years, youd think dirt is the only thing people want. The classic dirty martinitraditionally made with a splash of olive brineseems almost quaint now, as iterations with olive oil, MSG, olive and tomato vermouths, and other savory ingredients have proliferated. The buzzy Corner Store restaurant in Manhattan even serves The Filth, a version that eschews vermouth entirely for just vodka and puckeringly salty brine.

Maybe its my fault for following a trend instead of just ordering the thing I wanted. I gave it an honest shot, but the few times Ive caved for a dirty martini have made me feel as if Im drowning in a vat at a pickle factory, hoping my death at least catalyzes the writing of The Jungle 2: Now With More OSHA Violations. Once, upon realizing my mistake, I surreptitiously siphoned martini from my mouth into my water glass until the martini glass was empty and I could order some white wine. It has come to the point where I tend to skip over any cocktail bars martini offering, assuming Ill just be forcing myself through mouthfuls of burning cold vinegar.

But color me relieved when, on a recent night out, I discovered that the bars martini offering was fresh and clean, made with rhubarb and a combination of lighter gins. Or, a few weeks later, when I found that the only martini variation on a menu was the Vesper, which includes both gin and vodka but uses sweeter, floral Lillet Blanc in place of the dry vermouth. Or when I went to a bistro and the only option was a reverse martini, which flips it into a vermouth drink with a splash of gin. Could it be were turning a corner and the pendulum is swinging back toward sweeter, wetter martinis? If so, thank God. Im ready for the brine-based suffering to be over.

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The martini is always a cool and elegant choice, 90 percent about the glass its served in, because otherwise an extra-dry martini is just a gigantic shot. The popularity of the dirty variation over the past few years could possibly be chalked up to the overall olive and pickle trend thats taken a corner of the food world by storm, resulting in everything from olive hair clips to Sonics Picklerita Slush. Robert Simonson theorized in Grub Street that the dirty versions proliferated because people dont really like the taste of alcohol, but if thats true, then drinkers have an odd way of showing it by ordering vodka and salt. There was also the Negroni season of 2021centering a drink that couldnt possibly taste more like alcoholwith dirty martinis perhaps taking up the mantle of all our more bitter desires.* Whatever it was, dirty or extra-dry martinis were pretty much all the martinis I was making pre-lockdown. They were mostly 3 ounces of cold vodka, says Sam Kiley, the bar manager at Dovetail, in New Orleans.

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But Dovetails current menu features a Vesper variation, and a 50/50 Martinez, essentially a martini made with sweet vermouth, with equal parts gin and Punt e Mes. And according to Kiley, like Fernet and the Snaquiri and, yes, the Negroni before it, these wetter variations on bar menus are being driven by bartenders. Weve all been drinking 50/50s, wet martinis, and reverse martinis for years, says Kiley. I think what were seeing is the kind of trend where you have a drink thats beloved to bartenders, and once you build that trust with your guests, you show them what it is that you enjoy drinking.

Related From Slate Beer Is Officially on the Decline in America. No One Saw the Real Culprit Coming. Read More

So what makes these preparations sing to the bartender heart? Traditionally, most vermouths came from Italy, or maybe from France. But theres a bit of a vermouth renaissance going on, with more varieties from Spain, Japan, and even the U.S. becoming available. Thats allowed bartenders to geek out over vermouth-forward martinis, experimenting with different flavors; no one is stuck with the same dusty bottle of Dolin. I think the quality of the cocktail ingredients have really changed the way people are drinking, says Luis Hernandez, director of food and beverage at Hello Hello, in Manhattan. Vermouth is no longer oxidizing sitting on the shelf and is now being refrigerated, and we have better ingredients and techniques all around. (Reader: If your vermouth is currently sitting out on your home bar, its time to get a new bottle and put it in the fridge!)

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The 50/50 martini and the French martini riffs on the Hello Hello menu cater to cocktails drinkers, not just martini drinkers, says Hernandez. And according to Kiley, these martinis are popular because theyre easier to drink. Theyre not low ABV, but they are slightly lower than their extra-dry cousins, and they often feature slightly sweeter or more-herbal notes that dont require you to brace for impact.

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I do not think it is radical to want to avoid suffering, especially while eating. Americans, in general, famously have an unadventurous palate for textures and flavors celebrated in other parts of the world. And it seems that when we do, as a society, embrace something like bitterness, it is only as an extreme challenge, daring one another to eat the hottest pepper or make the IPA that tastes most like a moldy towel. The rise of the dirty martini followed this pattern, almost immediately becoming a matter of superlatives, the dirtiest, briniest, most intense. This isnt about acquiring a taste. It is a fetishization of displeasure, insisting that you must not really like martinis, or beers, or hot sauce unless there is some sort of pain involved.

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Am I wrong not to want to brace? I am braced all day. I want to unclench. I want to slip into something comfortable. When I say we dont need to invite more unpleasantness into our lives, I am gesturing toward the State of the World, yes, but it is also just a statement about taste buds. This is a cocktail, for Gods sake, the thing that is supposed to make you text your friends I am so lucky to hav u beautiful and then put on Celine Dions Its All Coming Back to Me Now and air drum your way into the Uber. Why should the phrase easy drinking be an insult? Drinking should be easy!

Olive brine isnt going back in the jar, and godspeed to all of you beautiful horses who want your cocktails to taste like a salt lick. But personally, I am embracing the elegance and ease of the wet martini, metaphorically and literally. Im bitter enough these daysI dont need more vinegar to go with it.
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In prison, the summer heat cooks us inside our cells, causing tempers to flare. If thats not aggravating enough, every morning, when Im lying down in my bunk here at Eastern Correctional Facility, a max prison located in Napanoch, New York, Im forced to hear the same prisoner in a neighboring cell ask the same question to different corrections officers taking the list of our three-times-daily choice of activities. The same fist-clenching answer makes me and other prisoners want to melt down.

Is the school building open? asks my neighbor.

I dont know, says the CO. Chow or rec?

Are they at least going to run yard?

Your guess is as good as mine. We dont have enough staff. Then I usually hear the tip of their pen jab the clipboard. So what do you want?

Just put me down for chow. And rec, just in case they run it.

Even before Februarys illegal prison guard strike, which crippled New York States financial resources, causing Gov. Kathy Hochul to call in the National Guard and fire 2,000 wildcat strikers, prison administrators in my previous facility, the now-shuttered Sullivan Correctional Facility, were using the shortage of staff as justification to cancel both religious and family-day events. Here in Eastern, the prison whose security staff held the strike line the longest in southern New York, officials until fairly recently limited Bard College classes, canceled a TEDx Talk program, shuttered the Family Reunion Program, and nixed weekday visits. Currently, inside most New York prisons, families are limited to a single Saturday or Sunday visit.

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They say Idle time is the devils playground. This takes on a dangerous context inside a carceral setting. The time guys normally spend learning in GED or college classes, or socializing and building community in prisoner-run workshops, is now wasted inside their cells gossiping and scheming. Toxic energy and animosity get pent up, and carried out into the yard.

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Related From Slate The Supreme Court Will Do Four Things This Term That Tell You Everything You Need to Know Read More

I witnessed this in action one June morning when I saw fists swinging and arms getting tangled. A prisoner had been swarmed by attackers in the recreational yard. Then they dispersed, and left him with three cuts on his face. As his assailants walked away, he started to follow them until one of them shouted: Nah, hold it down! Hold it down!

This caveat, not the blood dripping down his face, stopped him in his tracks. Hold it down means dont tell the COs who jumped you, otherwise in your next facility youll be labeled a snitch and something like this will happen to you again. Its a small prison system, and that threat had legs. As he took the walk of shame toward the guard station to notify them of his injuries, our eyes locked.

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Damn, I said, dropping my eyes to the pavement. Seeing the cuts so close up twisted my conscience.

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No one I asked even knew his name. He was the quietest guy on my tier. Now hed be sent to the hospital, stitched up, placed in protective custody, and sent to another prison.

Security staff were nowhere in the vicinity. Im not saying their presence wouldve prevented it, or even postponed it. The reason those guys jumped him is unknown to me. Some guys have beef from the street that follows them into prison, others accumulate prison beef that follows them from prison to prison. Still, whether in the street or in prison, the presence of security and the threat of immediate apprehension causes bad actors to self-police their behavior.

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Attorney Karen Murtagh was switching lanes in rush-hour traffic when I called her for an interview. In my cell, I imagined myself riding shotgun, holding a stylus and Galaxy Note to take down our conversation. Murtagh began her legal career at New Yorks Prisoners Legal Services as an intern, and through the years rose through the ranks until she became its executive director in 2007. Prisoners Legal Services has three branch offices and receives letters from all 42 prisons. Karen told me that for all of 2024 they received 8,750 letters asking for assistance, but in the first six months of 2025 they had already received nearly 8,000.

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People are desperate, Murtagh told me. Locked in their cell for days, weeks, months. Some guys have had their parole dates pushed back, cant get their programs.

The executive directors words echoed ones shed written in the Pro Se newsletter when she warned of the staffing shortage: These factors in my view are a recipe for increased tensions unprecedented since Attica.

The statewide strike isnt over, but has been transformed into a less conspicuous on-the-job protest, making it harder for investigators to identify disgruntled staff and take disciplinary action, as the toxic staffers can easily blend in with their not-so-disgruntled co-workers who are simply grateful to have state employment and health insurance in an economy edging on a tariff-fueled recession.

The failure of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to recruit an adequate amount of staff is based upon a misunderstanding of how the job is viewed by most of society. Is correctional officer the job someone applies for when they have made all the right life choices? No. Usually, its the job someone applies for in an act of desperation when lack of education or ambition has limited their employment opportunities. Prisons are the most wretched and miserable, roach-infested, mice-ridden places in this country. Theyre packed with mental health patients, addicts, and people convicted of every crime, some of whom are innocent. Many facilities are sweltering hot in the summer, and sometimes blistering cold in the winter. Warehouses of human suffering. No one wants to work inside prisons much more than the people locked inside want to live in them.

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Back in March, when Hochul announced to fired federal employees that if Donald Trump is firing you, then New York is hiring, New Yorkers notably did not sign up in droves to be corrections officers.

Late this summer, a dude got stabbed in a cellblock down the hallway from mine. I liked the guy. I remember seeing him light up when he told me that he planned on taking Bards entry exam. Unfortunately, that is no longer in the cards for him, having transferred to another facility after repeated attacks.

Prison understaffing is not just a New York problem. Many U.S. prisons operate with a ratio of 1 officer to 70 or more prisoners, making rehabilitation efforts virtually impossible, according to Onevoiceunited.org. Abolitionists argue that America doesnt have a mass staffing crisis, we have a mass incarceration crisis. Even if this is true, understaffing leads to neglect in rehabilitation and excessive idle time. When this happens, guys scheme on each other, gangs are empowered, and they monopolize coveted spots as prison porters (a job that allows prisoners to get out of their cells and pass around necessary goodsand occasionally contrabandto other prisoners), and prisoners will do anything to get out of their cells, even beat up or cut other prisoners to try to get a porter spot and a bit of extra time out of their cells.

Im serving my 16th year for manslaughter. Im a credible witness to the ongoing understaffing issue. Lawmakers havent used their legislative power, nor the governor her clemency powers, to decarcerate. This plus understaffing mean that the system is in a fragile state right now, more than they realize.
Brand's Nationwide Initiative Provides Complimentary Dining to Federal Aviation Workers at 80+ U.S. Locations, Including Airport Venues

DALLAS, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TGI Fridays, where the world goes to celebrate, announced today that it will offer complimentary meals to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and air traffic control workers at TGI Fridays locations across the country during the government shutdown.

Available from October 9 until October 23*, TSA and air traffic control workers can receive one free meal per day from a specially curated menu featuring TGI Fridays favorites, including the brand's signature Cheeseburger with fries, Chicken Fingers with fries, Crispy or Grilled Chicken Sandwich with fries, or Chicken Caesar Salad. Eligible workers must present valid employee identification to redeem the offer at any of the brand's 80+ U.S. locations, including traditional restaurant settings and non-traditional venues such as airports, with the exception of Atlanta airport locations that are running an independent offer for TSA employees.

"TSA and air traffic control workers keep our country moving, and we wanted to do our part to support them. Whether they're grabbing a meal at one of our airport locations during a shift or sitting down at a neighborhood Fridays after a long day, we want them to know we appreciate them and we're here for them," said Ray Blanchette, CEO of TGI Fridays. "At TGI Fridays, we believe that nothing should stop people from being able to dine, connect, and celebrateespecially those who show up to serve our communities every single day."

The program is available all day, every day for the duration of the two-week period, while supplies last or until the shutdown is lifted*. At traditional TGI Fridays restaurant locations, meals are available for guests to enjoy inside restaurants with valid ID. At airport locations, meals will be available for to-go orders only.

For more information about TGI Fridays, visit www.tgifridays.com .

Follow TGI Fridays on Social:

Instagram: @tgifridays

TikTok: @tgifridays

Facebook: TGI Fridays

About TGI Fridays

Founded in 1965 as the world's first casual bar and grill, TGI Fridays is where the world goes to celebrate. Operating nearly 400 restaurants in close to 40 countries, Fridays brings people together through its craveable American classics, legendary drinks and that unmistakable Fridays feelingall brought to life by its rockstar teams. Whether it's full-service dining or bold-format convenience, Fridays' franchise-first approach, operational excellence, and brand power are built to scale. Visit www.tgifridays.com for more information and join Fridays Rewards. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

* Offer valid through October 23, 2025, or until the government shutdown is lifted, whichever comes first.

Media Contact:

[email protected]

SOURCE TGI Fridays
Following the completion of the draw for the three-year-old Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Super Finals, to be contested on Saturday, Oct. 11, the OSS office was informed of an emergency appeal filed in the three-year-old trotting filly division.

If the appeal is successful, the three-year-old trotting filly Super Final will be redrawn. If the appeal is not successful, there will be no changes made to the draw.

The OSS office will post an update once the Horse Racing Appeal Panel ruling has been issued.

The appeal pertains to the eligibility requirements of Supergirl Molly, as the owner is appealing the declined declaration.

For more information, contact the OSS Program Coordinator at [email protected] or 416-407-4841.

(with files from Ontario Sires Stakes)
Bar Leone is The World's Best Bar  the first No.1 from Asia

is The World's Best Bar  the first No.1 from Asia The 2025 list features bars from 29 cities with eight new entries

Simone Caporale is Roku Industry Icon

is Roku Industry Icon Bar Mauro in Mexico City receives the Campari One To Watch Award

in Mexico City receives the Campari One To Watch Award The Cambridge Public House , Paris, wins the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award

, Paris, wins the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award No.25 and Disaronno Highest New Entry is Bratislava's Mirror Bar

Moebius Milano , Milan, rises 31 places to No.7, claiming the Nikka Highest Climber Award

, Milan, rises 31 places to No.7, claiming the Nikka Highest Climber Award Baba au Rum , Athens, is Remy Martin Legend of the List

, Athens, is Remy Martin Legend of the List New York's Sip & Guzzle is Three Cents Best New Opening

is Three Cents Best New Opening Backdoor Bodega , Penang, wins the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award

, Penang, wins the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award The Best Bar Design Award is presented to Tigra + Disco Pantera , Sydney

, Sydney Mimi Kakushi is The Best Bar in the Middle East, sponsored by Les Vergers Boiron, and Hero Bar is named The Best Bar in Africa, sponsored by Langjiu

LONDON, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --The list of The World's 50 Best Bars 2025, sponsored by Perrier, was revealed at a live awards ceremony in Hong Kong. The annual event once again united the global bar community for its 17th edition in recognition of the outstanding achievements of their peers.

For the full 1-50 list, click here .

Bar Leone in Hong Kong is named No.1 in The Worlds 50 Best Bars 2025, sponsored by Perrier, at the live awards ceremony held in Hong Kong on 8 October  marking the first time the title has been awarded to a bar in Asia. View PDF

Nestled in Hong Kong's Central district, Bar Leone is built on the philosophy of 'cocktail popolari'  or 'cocktails for the people'  paying tribute to the neighbourhood bars of Rome, where locals gather for coffee, aperitivi and casual conversation. Co-founder Lorenzo Antinori's goal was to strip away the complexity of modern mixology and return to simple, high-quality drinks served with warmth and precision.

Other bars in the top five are Mexico City's Handshake Speakeasy (No.2), Barcelona's Sips (No.3) and Paradiso (No.4) and London's Tayer + Elementary (No.5).

Emma Sleight, Head of Content for The World's 50 Best Bars, says: "It is a delight to unveil Bar Leone as The World's Best Bar 2025, sponsored by Perrier. This achievement is the first time a bar from Asia has claimed the top spot and testament to the commitment of Bar Leone in redefining hospitality excellence. We are honoured to spotlight the diversity of the global bar landscape and raise a glass to every bar that has earned their place in the list."

Media centre:

https://mediacentre.theworlds50best.com

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2791613/50_Best_Bars_2025.jpg

PDF: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2787879/50_Best_Bars_2025.pdf

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2774050/5512540/50_Best_Bars_2025_Logo.jpg

SOURCE 50 Best
Shuvam Enterprises Vs Commr. of Customs (Airport & Admn) (CESTAT Kolkata)

Conclusion: Customs Broker must exercise due diligence and advise clients to comply with the law and on failure of the same attracted penal action even without intent. However, revocation of licence was justified only in serious cases of fraud or deliberate misconduct. Where lapses were procedural or of limited scope, lesser penalty was warranted.

Held: Assessee-a licensed customs broker, had facilitated clearance of four consignments for Neeraj Marble & Tiles,

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3 min read

Commvault launched Clumio for Apache Iceberg on AWS, the industrys first and only solution to deliver Iceberg-aware, air-gapped cyber resilience. Commvault is empowering organizations to accelerate the recovery of their critical AI and analytics workloads at a massive scale while establishing a new standard for data lakehouse protection.

The adoption of Apache Iceberg is on the rise; today, technology leaders such as Netflix, Apple, and Airbnb rely on Apache Iceberg, and over 70% of IT and data professionals expect the data lakehouse to become the primary architecture for their analytics within the next three years.

Modern data lakehouses built on Apache Iceberg, while foundational to AI and analytics initiatives, often lack robust, native data resilience. This leaves organizations at risk for data loss, ransomware attacks, and compliance risks. Native snapshots, while a first step, are typically tied to the source account, lack a true air-gapped copy, and are not designed for large-scale, point-in-time recovery. This makes them vulnerable to the same risks. Furthermore, restoring from non-Iceberg-aware backups often requires complex manual processes to rewire and reconfigure tables, leading to extended downtime and a high risk of data inconsistency.

Clumio for Apache Iceberg on AWS is engineered to close these protection gaps left by native and traditional backup tools, supporting organizations data security, compliance, and recovery requirements.

Key features and benefits include:

Iceberg-Aware Data Resilience: Delivers fast, reliable, and transactionally consistent backups  meaning it captures a complete state of data  that intrinsically understand Iceberg table structures. Designed to eliminate manual, error-prone restores and support a range of recovery options, including point-in-time, snapshot-level, cross-region, cross-account, and in-place restore.

Immutable, Air-Gapped Copies for Cyber Resilience: Unlike native snapshots, it safeguards backups in an isolated environment that is designed to be secure, helping to protect critical data against ransomware, account compromise, and accidental or malicious deletions.

Achieve Automated Compliance and Governance: Helps organizations cost-effectively support compliance and governance requirements with unlimited, long-term snapshot retention, all without impacting the performance of the live data lake.

Optimize Storage Costs and Footprint: Reduces backup windows and cuts storage costs by capturing only the changes made after the initial full backup.

Making the Entire Data Pipeline Resilient

Clumio for Apache Iceberg marks the latest step in Commvaults strategy to deliver comprehensive resilience for the entire AWS data pipeline. Following the introduction of unique resilience capabilities for Amazon S3 and DynamoDB, Commvault now brings deep and extensive resilience capabilities critical to the data lakehouse layer, protecting customers at every stage of their data lifecycle in ways that no other vendor can match.

The data that powers AI and analytics is one of the most valuable assets for an organization, yet its often the most exposed, said Woon Jung, Chief Technology Officer, Cloud Native, Commvault. With Clumio for Apache Iceberg, we are providing the industrys first true safety net for the data lakehouse. For the first time, organizations can protect their AI and analytics data with an air-gapped, automated solution, allowing them to accelerate innovation with confidence.

The explosion of data lakehouse environments for AI has created a blind spot in many enterprises data protection strategies, said Archana Venkatraman, Senior Research Director, IDC. Apache-aware data protection such as Commvaults Clumio for Apache Iceberg directly addresses emerging governance risks with air-gapped, transactionally aware recovery that is becoming an imperative now. Its a timely solution for a fast-rising market vulnerability.

Availability

The launch of Clumio for Apache Iceberg on AWS reinforces Commvaults leadership in the cyber resilience market and deepens its partnership with AWS. Clumio for Apache Iceberg is now generally available in the AWS Marketplace, supporting both self-managed tables via the AWS Glue Data Catalog and fully managed tables via Amazon S3 Tables.
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: Particle6 Productions

Tilly Norwood officially launched her acting career this month at the Zurich Film Festival.

She first appeared in the short film AI Commissioner, released in July. Her producer, Eline Van der Velden, claims Norwood has already attracted the attention of multiple agents.

But Norwood was generated with artificial intelligence (AI). The AI "actor" has been created by Xicoia, the AI branch of the production company Particle6, founded by the Dutch actor-turned-producer Ven der Velden. And AI Commissioner is an AI-generated short film, written by ChatGPT.

A post about the film's launch on Norwood's Facebook page read,

"I may be AI-generated, but I'm feeling very real emotions right now. I am so excited for what's coming next!"

The reception from the industry has been far from warm. Actorsand audienceshave come out in force against Norwood.

So is this the future of film, or is it a gimmick?

'Tilly Norwood is not an actor'

Norwood's existence introduces a new type of technology to Hollywood. Unlike CGI (computer generated imagery), where a performer's movements are captured and transformed into a digital character, or an animation which is voiced by a human actor, Norwood has no human behind her performance. Every expression and line delivery is generated by AI.

Norwood has been trained on the performances of hundreds of actors, without any payment or consent, and draws on the information from all those performances in every expression and line delivery.

Her arrival comes less than two years after the artist strikes that brought Hollywood to a standstill, with AI a central issue to the disputes. The strike ended with a historic agreement placing limitations around digital replicas of actors' faces and voices, but did not completely ban "synthetic fakes."

SAG-AFTRA, the union representing actors in the United States, has said:

"To be clear, 'Tilly Norwood' is not an actor; it's a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performerswithout permission or compensation."

Additionally, real actors can set boundaries and are protected by agents, unions and intimacy coordinators who negotiate what is shown on screen.

Norwood can be made to perform anything in any contextbecoming a vessel for whatever creators or producers choose to depict.

This absence of consent or control opens a dangerous pathway to how the (digitally reproduced) female body may be represented on screen, both in mainstream cinema, and in pornography.

Is it art?

We consider creativity to be a human quality. Art is generally understood as an expression of human experience. Norwood's performances do not come from such creativity or human experience, but from a database of pre-existing performances.

All artists borrow from and are influenced by predecessors and contemporaries. But that human influence is limited by time, informed by our own experiences and shaped by our unique perspective.

AI has no such limits: just look at Google's chess-playing program AlphaZero, which learned by playing millions of games of chess, more than any human can play in a lifetime.

Norwood's training can absorb hundreds of performances in a way no single actor could. How can that be compared to an actor's performancea craft they have developed throughout their training and career?

Van der Velden argues Norwood is "a new tool" for creators. Tools have previously been a paintbrush or a typewriter, which have helped facilitate or extend the creativity of painting or writing.

Here, Norwood as the tool performs the creative act itself. The AI is the tool and the artist.

Will audiences accept AI actors?

Norwood's survival depends not on industry hype but on audience reception.

So far, humans show a negative bias against AI-generated art. Studies across art forms have shown people prefer works when told they were created by humans, even if the output is identical.

We don't know yet if that bias could fade. A younger generation raised on streaming may be less concerned with whether an actor is "real" and more with immediate access, affordability or how quickly they can consume the content.

If audiences do accept AI actors, the consequences go beyond taste. There would be profound effects on labor. Entry- and mid-level acting jobs could vanish. AI actors could shrink the demand for whole creative teamsfrom make-up and costume to lighting and set designsince their presence reduces the need for on-set artistry.

Economics could prove decisive. For studios, AI actors are cheaper, more controllable and free from human needs or unions. Even if audiences are ambivalent, financial pressures could steer production companies toward AI.

The bigger picture

Tilly Norwood is not a question of the future of Hollywood. She is a cultural stress-testa case study in how much we value human creativity.

What do we want art to be? Is it about efficiency, or human expression? If we accept synthetic actors, what stops us from replacing other creative laborwriters, musicians, designerswith AI trained on their work, but with no consent or remuneration?

We are at a crossroads. Do we regulate the use of AI in the arts, resist it, or embrace it?

Resistance may not be realistic. AI is here, and some audiences will accept it. The risk is that in choosing imitation over human artistry, we reshape culture in ways that cannot be easily reversed.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Tilly Norwood, the AI-generated actor created by Particle6 and being courted by agents, has made headlinessome see her as technological advancements, others as technology gone too far. Credit: Particle6

Imagine an actor who never ages, never walks off set or demands a higher salary.

That's the promise behind Tilly Norwood, a fully AI-generated "actress" currently being courted by Hollywood's top talent agencies. Her synthetic presence has ignited a media firestorm, denounced as an existential threat to human performers by some and hailed as a breakthrough in digital creativity by others.

But beneath the headlines lies a deeper tension. The binaries used to debate Norwoodhuman versus machine, threat versus opportunity, good versus badflatten complex questions of art, justice and creative power into soundbites.

The question isn't whether the future will be synthetic; it already is. Our challenge now is to ensure that it is also meaningfully human.

All agree Tilly isn't human

Ironically, at the center of this polarizing debate is a rare moment of agreement: all sides acknowledge that Tilly is not human.

Her creator, Eline Van der Velden, the CEO of AI production company Particle6, insists that Norwood was never meant to replace a real actor. Critics agree, albeit in protest. SAG-AFTRA, the union representing actors in the U.S., responded with:

"It's a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performerswithout permission or compensation. It has no life experience to draw from, no emotion, and from what we've seen, audiences aren't interested in watching computer-generated content untethered from the human experience."

Their position is rooted in recent history: In 2023, actors went on strike over AI. The resulting agreement secured protections around consent and compensation.

So if both sides insist Tilly isn't human, the controversy, then, isn't just about what Tilly is, it's about what she represents.

Complexity as a starting point

Norwood represents more than novelty. She's emblematic of a larger reckoning with how rapidly artificial intelligence is reshaping our lives and the creative sector. The velocity of change is dizzying, and now the question is how do we shape the hybrid world we've already entered?

It can feel disorienting trying to parse ethics, rights and responsibilities while being bombarded by newness. Especially when that "newness" comes in a form that unnerves us: a near-human likeness that triggers long-standing cultural discomfort.

Indeed, Norwood may be a textbook case of the "uncanny valley," a term coined by Japanese roboticist Masahiro Mori to describe the unease people feel when something looks almost human, but not quite.

But if all sides agree that Tilly isn't human, what happens when audiences still feel something real while watching her on screen? If emotional resonance and storytelling are considered uniquely human traits, maybe the threat posed by synthetic actors has been overstated. On the other hand, who hasn't teared up in a Pixar film? A character doesn't have to feel emotion to evoke it.

Still, the public conversation remains polarized. As my colleague Owais Lightwala, assistant professor in the School of Performance at Toronto Metropolitan University, puts it: "The conversation around AI right now is so binary that it limits our capacity for real thinking. What we need is to be obsessed with complexity."

Synthetic actors aren't inherently villains or saviors, Lightwala tells me, they're a tool, a new medium. The challenge lies in how we build the infrastructures around them, such as rights, ownership and distribution.

He points out that while some celebrities see synthetic actors as job threats, most actors already struggle for consistent work. "We ask the one percent how they feel about losing power, but what about the 99% who never had access to that power in the first place?"

Too often missing from this debate is what these tools might make possible for the creators we rarely hear from. The current media landscape is already deeply inequitable. As Lightwala notes, most people never get the chance to realize their creative potentialnot for lack of talent, but due to barriers like access, capital, mentorship and time.

Now, some of those barriers might finally lower. With AI tools, more people may get the opportunity to create.

Of course, that doesn't mean AI will automatically democratize creativity. While tools are more available, attention and influence remain scarce.

Sarah Watling, co-founder and CEO of JaLi Research, a Toronto-based AI facial animation company, offers a more cautionary perspective. She argues that as AI becomes more common, we risk treating it like a utility, essential yet invisible.

In her view, the inevitable AI economy won't be a creator economy, it will be a utility commodity. And "when things become utilities," she warns, "they usually become monopolized."

Where do we go from here?

We need to pivot away from reactionary fear narratives, like Lightwala suggests.

Instead of shutting down innovation, we need to continue to experiment. We need to use this moment, when public attention is focused on the rights of actors and the shape of culture, to rethink what was already broken in the industry and allow space for new creative modalities to emerge.

Platforms and studios must take the lead in setting transparent, fair policies for how synthetic content is developed, attributed and distributed. In parallel, we need to push creative institutions, unions and agencies to collaborate in the co-design of ethical and contractual guardrails now, before precedents get set in stone, putting consent, fair attribution and compensation at the center.

And creators, for their part, must use these tools not just to replicate what came before, but to imagine what hasn't been possible until now. That responsibility is as much creative as it is technical.

The future will be synthetic. Our task now is to build pathways, train talent, fuel imagination, and have nuanced, if difficult, conversations.Because while technology shapes what's possible, creators and storytellers have the power to shape what matters.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A Palo Alto, California, lawyer with nearly a half-century of experience admitted to an Oakland federal judge this summer that legal cases he referenced in an important court filing didn't actually exist and appeared to be products of artificial intelligence "hallucinations."

Jack Russo, in a court filing, described the apparent AI fabrications as a "first-time situation" for him and added, "I am quite embarrassed about it."

A specialist in computer law, Russo found himself in the rapidly growing company of lawyers publicly shamed as wildly popular but error-prone artificial intelligence technology like ChatGPT collides with the rigid rules of legal procedure.

Hallucinationswhen AI produces inaccurate or nonsensical informationhave posed an ongoing problem in the generative AI that has birthed a Silicon Valley frenzy since San Francisco's OpenAI released its ChatGPT bot in late 2022.

In the legal arena, AI-generated errors are drawing heightened scrutiny as lawyers flock to the technology, and irate judges are making referrals to disciplinary authorities and, in dozens of U.S. cases since 2023, levying financial penalties of up to $31,000, including a California-record fine of $10,000 last month in a Southern California case.

Chatbots respond to users' prompts by drawing on vast troves of data and use pattern analysis and sophisticated guesswork to produce results. Errors can occur for many reasons, including insufficient or flawed AI-training data or incorrect assumptions by the AI. It affects not just lawyers, but ordinary people seeking information, as when Google's AI overviews last year told users to eat rocks, and add glue to pizza sauce to keep the cheese from sliding off.

Russo told Judge Jeffrey White he took full responsibility for not ensuring the filing was factual, but said a long recovery from COVID-19 at an age beyond 70 led him to delegate tasks to support staff without "adequate supervision protocols" in place.

"No sympathy here," internet law professor Eric Goldman of Santa Clara University said. "Every lawyer can tell a sob story, but I'm not falling for it. We have rules that require lawyers to double-check what they file."

The judge wrote in a court order last month that Russo's AI-dreamed fabrications were a first for him, too. Russo broke a federal court rule by failing to adequately check his motion to throw out a contract dispute case, White wrote. The court, the judge sniped, "has been required to divert its attention from the merits of this and other cases to address this issue."

White issued a preliminary order requiring Russo to pay some of the opposing side's legal fees. Russo told White his firm, Computerlaw Group, had "taken steps to fix and prevent a reoccurrence." Russo declined to answer questions from this news organization.

As recently as mid-2023, it was a novelty to find a lawyer facing a reprimand for submitting court filings referring to nonexistent cases conjured up by artificial intelligence, but now such incidents arise nearly by the day, and even judges have been implicated, according to a database compiled by Damien Charlotin, a senior fellow at French business school HEC Paris who is tracking worldwide legal filings containing AI hallucinations.

"I think the acceleration is still ongoing," Charlotin said.

Charlotin said his database includes "a surprising number" of lawyers who are sloppy, reckless or "plain bad."

In May, San Francisco lawyer Ivana Dukanovic admitted in the U.S. District Court in San Jose to an "embarrassing and unintentional mistake" by herself and others at legal firm Latham & Watkins.

While representing San Francisco AI giant Anthropic in a music copyright case, they submitted a filing with hallucinated material, Dukanovic wrote. Dukanovicwhose company bio lists "artificial intelligence" as one of her areas of legal practiceblamed the creation of the false information on a particular chatbot: Claude.ai, the flagship product of her client Anthropic.

Judge Susan van Keulen ordered part of the filing removed from the court record. Dukanovic, who, along with her firm, appears to have dodged sanctions, did not respond to requests for comment.

Charlotin has found 113 U.S. cases involving lawyers submitting filings with hallucinated material, mostly legal-case citations, that have been the subject of court decisions since mid-2023. He believes many court submissions with AI fabrications are never caught, potentially affecting case outcomes.

Court decisions can have "life-changing consequences," including in matters involving child custody or disability claims, law professor Goldman said.

"The stakes in some cases are so high, and if someone is distorting the judge's decision-making, the system breaks down," Goldman said.

Still, AI can be a useful tool for lawyers, finding information people might miss, and helping to prepare documents, he said. "If people use AI wisely, it helps them do a better job," Goldman said. "That's pushing everyone to adopt it."

Survey results released in April by the American Bar Association, the nation's largest lawyers group, found that AI use by law firms almost tripled last year to 30% of responding law offices from 11% in 2023, and that ChatGPT was the "clear leader across firms of every size."

Fines may be the least of a lawyer's worries, Goldman said. A judge could flag an attorney to their licensing organization for discipline, or dismiss a case, or reject a key filing, or view everything the lawyer does in the case with skepticism. A client could sue for malpractice. Orders to pay the other side's legal fees can require six-figure payments.

Charlotin's database shows judges slapping many lawyers with warnings or referrals to disciplinary authorities, and sometimes purging all or part of a filing from the court record, or ordering payment of the opposition's fees. Last year, a federal appeals court in California threw out an appeal it said was "replete with misrepresentations and fabricated case law," including "two cases that do not appear to exist."

Charlotin expects his database to keep swelling.

"I don't really see it decrease on the expected lines of 'surely everyone should know by now,'" Charlotin said.

#YR@ MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

The future of the electricity market may depend less on big power plants and more on everyday choices made at home. Nayeem Rahman's dissertation at the University of Vaasa shows how consumers are gaining influence through energy flexibility, with direct implications for sustainability and costs.

For decades, the low cost of electricity provided little incentive for consumers to change their energy consumption habits. However, as prices surged due to the energy crisis that followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine, many households became considerably more conscious of their energy usage. This shift is now being enabled by digitalization, which makes participation easier than ever.

"Energy flexibility can increasingly be automated through mobile applications and smart devices that react to the market in real-time. The goal is to make participation as easy as possible by requiring minimal human touch points, and the result is a financial win-win: households cut their costs while suppliers reduce the need to purchase high-priced spot electricity," states Rahman.

Rahman's doctoral dissertation in marketing examines how households and businesses are reshaping the Finnish electricity market by becoming more flexible with their energy consumption. According to Rahman, the market is being actively reshaped through three interconnected mechanisms.

"Retailers are creating new business models that reward flexibility, digital platforms are linking households and the grid, and consumers are becoming prosumers by both consuming and producing electricity. These dynamics are reshaping the marketby changing how individual firms operate, by redefining the role of digital platforms, and by influencing the wider energy ecosystem," Rahman says.

Money is the most effective incentive

A key finding of the dissertation is the discrepancy between public sustainability goals and actual consumer behavior. While many express a desire to be environmentally friendly, the research indicates that material and monetary benefits are the most effective motivators for adopting flexible energy habits.

"The most common incentive is a lower electricity bill. But it can also mean getting paid for the surplus energy from your rooftop solar panels, or being compensated for exporting electricity from your electric car's battery back to the grid during a period of high demand on the grid," Rahman explains.

The findings are beneficial for energy companies, policymakers, and technology developers seeking to design effective business models and supportive regulations. By recognizing that consumers respond most readily to clear financial advantages, stakeholders can accelerate the transition to a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable electricity market.

More information: Rahman, Nayeem (2025). Energy flexibility as a market shaping mechanism: A case study of the Finnish electricity ecosystem. Acta Wasaensia 564. Doctoral dissertation. University of Vaasa. Publication PDF
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IT-OT convergence in process system operation. Credit: Reliability Engineering & System Safety (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.ress.2025.111011

Industrial processing facilities, like those used for chemical and petroleum engineering projects, have benefited from the constant technological advancements of modern societies. While technology can help boost a facility's efficiency, it also boosts dependence on digital technologyincreasing vulnerability to cyber threats that can interrupt operations and compromise safety.

Led by Dr. Faisal Khan, department head of the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering and Director of the Mary Kay O'Connor Process Safety Center (MKOPSC) at Texas A&M University, researchers have published a paper in Reliability Engineering & System Safety that addresses the challenge of protecting processing facilities from cyber threats through a newly established framework, which highlights current problems and outlines proposed solutions.

Once cyber attackers gain access to a facility's industrial control systems, the priority shifts from threat prevention to ensuring that critical operations can continue safely and without severe consequences.

"Our goal was to create a framework that identifies vulnerabilities, detects abnormal activity in real-time, and provides safeguards and mitigation strategies that enable the system to absorb changes introduced by an intruder while maintaining safe and resilient plant operations," Khan said.

Researchers recognized that most threats to industrial control systems originate from the operation technology environment, which monitors and controls physical devices and processes using hardware and software. If a cyber-attack breaches this environment, the plant's productivity and safety are both at risk.

Ensuring processing facilities and their critical infrastructures are safe from cyber threats protects surrounding areas from fuel shortages, power outages and water supply contamination. Many functions of day-to-day life rely heavily on processing facilities, and a cyber-attack on a plant can cause chaos in the affected areas. To prevent these catastrophes, researchers have emphasized the importance of real-time detection and deflection of cyber threats.

"Industrial control systems were not designed for cybersecurity, so safeguarding them takes more than blocking access," said Dr. Rajeevan Arunthavanathan, a former postdoctoral researcher at MKOPSC and current assistant professor at the University of Regina, Canada. "Our framework keeps plants safe with real-time detection, mitigation and digital twins that test changes before they cause harm."

Researchers hope to further prepare their framework for practical use in real industrial environments. The team plans to explore how early detection methods from IT systems can be effectively integrated with digital twin solutions, as this can support rapid response during cyber-attacks and serve as a pilot laboratory environment where unknown threats can be tested safely before they affect actual operations.

"Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue; it is a safety issue for the entire process industry," said Khan. "This work provides a roadmap for industries to strengthen resilience in their operations, protect communities, and ensure that the critical services people depend on remain reliable even under cyber threat."

This framework's development reflects a truly collaborative initiative of Texas A&M researchers, with each contributor bringing unique expertise to the complex issue of cybersecurity.

More information: Rajeevan Arunthavanathan et al, Are the processing facilities safe and secured against cyber threats?, Reliability Engineering & System Safety (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.ress.2025.111011
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

After comparing electricity tariffs on a spreadsheet, I can confirm that deciphering the plans feels a bit like learning ancient Greek.

As part of my doctoral research, I decided to explore smarter electricity plans (those that use smart meters and offer fluctuating prices) from different providers. That's when I realized the standing chargesthose fixed costs all customers must pay regardless of usagetook up such a large proportion of my bill that other changes might not make much difference.

Three spreadsheets and two mugs of coffee later, it was clear that choosing the "smarter" electricity plan is more of a labyrinth than a lightbulb moment. If a researcher in sustainability gets tangled in opaque pricing structures, what hope is there for the rest of the population?

In the UK, as well as in Ireland, energy standing charges are regulated, fixed daily fees. All suppliers levy these fees (as well as what's known as a "public service obligation levy" in Ireland) regardless of how much electricity the customer uses. The charges cover upkeep of the network, meter servicing, billing and customer support.

My Ph.D. focuses on energy performance in homes and sustainability behavior. As part of my ongoing research, I asked people if they had ever thought about switching their energy plan or provider. Typically, they would shrug and say that they thought they were on the best one.

Many don't know (or don't care) about green tariff options. And many are not willing to endure the paperwork or the headache of changing plans. This tends to be the case even if it means they are stuck with something that is far from ideal.

Why is it so complex? First, there are about 20 providers in the UK and a dozen in Ireland. And then there are standard or smart meters to decide on, and 24-hour flat rates or peak/off-peak bands. This is before consumers even get to the "green premium" that pushes up the price they will pay per kWh slightly.

Once consumers have weighed all this up, some still have to consider things like direct-debit discounts, export credits if they have solar panels, and rates for charging electric vehicles. They could be forgiven for wondering if doing the right thing by the planet was meant to be this hard.

The puzzle behind 'green' plans

Beyond money and frustration, I found that there is an emotional toll for people in feeling like they have done something meaningful only to hit another barrier further down the line. That disillusionment can lead to "sustainability fatigue", where the urge to give up outweighs the urge to improve.

In both the UK and Ireland, providers are also required to give consumers an estimated annual energy bill. This figure is generic (it is based on the national average of a three- or four-bedroom house) and as such it doesn't help households greatly.

From my research, I have found that houses (and especially apartments) of very similar build type vary significantly in terms of energy use. After all, people clearly consume energy differently.

Smart meters could help hugely because they give households an insight into their energy use moment by moment. For instance, the energy expert Hannah E. Daly discovered that an old water pump in her home was silently consuming at least 800 watts of power.

This is the strength of smart metersthey make the invisible visible. When people can see which appliances are driving up their energy use, they are more motivated to change their behavior or upgrade inefficient devices. They could also shift consumption to cheaper or cleaner times of daythe hours when energy use is best suited to the grid and often cheapest for the consumer (for example, 2am until 5am).

Leaders, brands and marketers often urge consumers to live more sustainably and switch to renewable energy and recyclables where possible. Yet the fine print can feel like it's designed to trip people up. Sustainability should be baked into every product and service as standard.

For example, the EU-mandated energy label makes it easier for consumers to choose more energy-efficient appliances. In a similar way, all products and services should have a standardized sustainability ratinggold, silver or bronze could work well for thisto help customers understand how sustainable each option is.

Energy suppliers force the work on to consumers, making them jump through hoops just to be a bit greener. If going sustainable is truly the future, it probably shouldn't feel like a luxury.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
LINCOLN, United Kingdom, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of Lincoln has announced the next stage in its artificial intelligence (AI) journey, building on pioneering initiatives that have positioned it at the forefront of digital innovation in higher education.

Following the successful launch of Newton, the University's self-built AI tool designed to manage and streamline policy access, and the integration of advanced platforms such as ChatGPT and Microsoft 365 Copilot, Lincoln is now expanding its AI capabilities through a strategic partnership with Cloudforce and Microsoft.

The University of Lincolns AI-powered website assistant, developed using Cloudforces nebulaONE platform.

Together, they will deploy nebulaONE, Cloudforce's secure, scalable, and inclusive Generative AI platform built on Microsoft Azure, designed to democratise access to assistive AI tools for every student and staff member. This initiative ensures that bespoke, high-quality digital support is made available equitably across the whole University community.

Responsible AI to Support Learning, Not Replace It

At the heart of this deployment is a clear principle: AI should support learning, not replace it. Cloudforce's nebulaONE platform provides students with personalised learning aids, language support, and research guidance, empowering them to focus on critical thinking and creativity.

"AI is not a shortcut, it's not cheatingit's a scaffold for lifelong learning and employability," said Professor Abigail Moriarty, PVC Education and Students at the University of Lincoln. "Just as calculators enhanced the teaching of mathematics, and the internet widened our outlook, AI deepens the learning and makes higher education more inclusive. At Lincoln, we are committed to ensuring it is used responsibly and ethically, with transparency and academic integrity as non-negotiable foundations."

Meeting the Reality of AI Head-On

Artificial intelligence is everywhere, accessible to anyone with a smartphone or laptop, and often difficult to detect. Pretending it can be banned or ignored is unrealistic. Lincoln is embracing a responsible path by providing students with trusted, transparent tools designed to support their learning.

By embedding nebulaONE across the University, Lincoln is ensuring that its students learn how to use AI responsibly: citing it correctly, understanding its limitations, and recognising the value of their own judgment. This prepares graduates to enter the workplace not only able to use AI effectively, but also to use it ethically, a skill that employers are increasingly demanding.

"What is most inspiring about Lincoln's approach is that it's human at its core," said Danny Attias, VP, UK & Europe at Cloudforce. "They're not just introducing new technology; they're helping students build the kind of confidence and integrity that will serve them for life. That's exactly why we're proud to partner with them."

Empowering the University Community

The deployment of nebulaONE aims to enhance the University experience in multiple ways:

For students : equitable access to personalised study support, quicker access to resources, and tools that support their learning.

: equitable access to personalised study support, quicker access to resources, and tools that support their learning. For academics : intelligent research assistance, streamlined administration, and innovative teaching methods that scale across disciplines.

: intelligent research assistance, streamlined administration, and innovative teaching methods that scale across disciplines. For professional services staff: automation of routine tasks, more efficient policy management, and data-driven insights that improve strategic decision-making.

By providing democratised access at scale, Lincoln's ambition is to maximise the positive impact of AI across teaching, research, and administration.

The University of Lincoln now joins a growing group of forward-thinking institutions advancing responsible AI in higher education. Earlier this year, Microsoft and Cloudforce published their AI Innovation Guide for Higher Education, which showcased how leading universities are adopting nebulaONE to scale secure and equitable AI. Lincoln's deployment extends this movement, bringing those same principles of responsible innovation directly to its own community.

A Leader in Responsible Digital Transformation

By embedding AI responsibly across its services, the University of Lincoln is ensuring that technology enhances human potential while safeguarding privacy and security. Robust assessment design, clear student guidance, and staff training underpin this approach, ensuring the University's degrees remain rigorous, relevant, and valued by employers.

"This marks a significant milestone in our digital transformation strategy," added Chris Green, Chief Operating Officer at the University of Lincoln. "By working with Cloudforce and Microsoft, we are embedding AI at the heart of our services in a way that creates new opportunities for innovation and collaboration, while ensuring equitable, secure, and scalable access for all."

About the University of Lincoln, UK

Situated in the heart of a historic city, the University of Lincoln transforms lives and communities through teaching, research, and partnerships. The University supports students to thrive both academically and personally. Over a quarter of its subjects rank in the UK top 10 (Guardian University Guide 2025), and it holds a Silver award for Mental Health and Wellbeing (Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2025).

In 2023, the University received the Queen's Anniversary Prize  the UK's highest academic honour. Its strong ties with industry, including Siemens Energy, have earned national recognition. More than 75% of its research was rated internationally excellent or world-leading in REF 2021, underscoring its impact.

The University is ranked in the global top 300 for progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (THE Impact Rankings), including a top 100 ranking for reducing inequalities. Lincoln also appears in the QS World Rankings (801850 band), reflecting strengths in student experience and international collaboration. Almost 400 million has been invested in its modern, waterfront campus  a welcoming home to students from over 100 countries.

https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/

About Cloudforce

Cloudforce is a global leader in secure AI for higher education, healthcare, and enterprise organizations  and a Microsoft Supplier of the Year for 2024. Its flagship product, nebulaONE, provides a private, integrated, customizable gateway to every GenAI model and capability, enabling organisations to responsibly scale AI adoption with confidence.

www.gocloudforce.com

Media Contact:

Arija Rahman

202-803-6500

[email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2791057/Cloudforce_nebulaONE.jpg
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

Nowadays data breaches aren't rare shocksthey're a weekly drumbeat. From leaked customer records to stolen source code, our digital lives keep spilling into the open.

Git services are especially vulnerable to cybersecurity threats. These are online hosting platforms that are widely used in the IT industry to collaboratively develop software, and are home to most of the world's computer code.

Just last week, hackers reportedly stole about 570 gigabytes of data from a git service called GitLab. The stolen data was associated with major companies such as IBM and Siemens, as well as United States government organizations.

In December 2022, hackers stole source code from IT company Okta which was stored in repositories on GitHub.

Cyberattackers can also quietly insert malicious code into existing projects without a developer's knowledge. These so-called "software supply-chain" attacks have turned development tools and update channels on git services into high-value targets.

As we explain in a new conference paper, our team has developed a new way to make git services more secure, with very little impact on performance.

The gold standard

We already know how to keep conversations private: secure messenger services such as Signal and WhatsApp use end-to-end encryption, which locks messages on your device and only unlocks them on the recipient's device. This protects the data even if the service platform is hacked, which is why it's considered the gold standard to protect data.

But git services, which are widely used by major tech companies and startups, currently don't use end-to-end encryption. The same is true for most of the other tools we use to work together, such as shared documents.

Because git services allow a huge number of collaborators to work on the same project at the same time, the software codes they host are constantly written and updated at a very rapid rate. This makes using standard encryption impractical. To do so would take up too much bandwidth to transmit all of the data for even one word change, and make the services very inefficient.

But our new encryption method overcomes this challenge.

Striking an important balance

The method we have developed uses what's known as "character-level encryption." This means only edits to a software code stored on the git service are treated as new data to be encryptedrather than the entire code.

Think of it as encrypting the tracked changes in a word document, instead of a new version every time.

This method strikes an important balance. It keeps the updated code private and secure while reducing the amount of communication between user and git services, as well as the amount of storage required.

Importantly, this new method is also compatible with existing git services, making it easy for people to adopt. It also doesn't interfere with other functions of git servers, such as hosting, saving bandwidth and indexing, so people can keep using these servers as they normally wouldjust with the added benefit of extra security.

A broader end-to-end encrypted internet

This new tool is currently free and open-source for all users. It can be installed easily like a patch when using git services, and will run in the background as users access git services just like before.

But this is just the starting point for a broader shift towards online collaboration that is secured by end-to-end encryption.

Extending the same guarantees to shared documents, spreadsheets and design files is possible, but will require sustained research and investment.

One complication to ensure security is managing encryption keys or credentials for users to decrypt encrypted data. Fortunately, our previous research shows us how to create a secure cloud storage system that will allow users to safely store their credentials.

Just as importantly, we must balance security with compliance and accountability. Universities, hospitals and government agencies are required to retain and, in some cases, provide lawful access to certain data. Meeting these obligations, without weakening end-to-end encryption, pushes us to research new techniques.

The goal is not secrecy at all costs, but verifiable controls that respect both privacy and the rule of law.

We don't need a brand new internet to get there. We need pragmatic upgrades that fit the tools people already usepaired with clear, provable guarantees.

Messaging proved that end-to-end encryption can scale to billions. Code and cloud files are next, and with continued research and targeted investment, the rest of our everyday collaboration can follow.

So before too long, you will hopefully be able to work on a shared document with colleagues with the peace of mind that it, too, has gold standard security.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
How Teachers and Administrators Can Contribute to AI Transparency

To help students understand and use AI tools, teachers need professional development that supports them in redesigning tried-and-true assignments with an eye to teaching critical thinking.

Whether personalizing playlists or serving as 24/7 writing assistants, artificial intelligence tools have become woven into many facets of students' everyday lives. In the face of this rapid change, educators face a critical responsibility. It's no longer sufficient to simply allow or restrict AI in schools. Students must understand how these tools work, what they are doing, and why that matters. Teaching AI transparency means equipping students to think critically about the systems shaping their digital world and how to use these systems responsibly and ethically.

Making the Invisible Visible

AI is everywhere, yet often invisible. Students interact with algorithms daily through search engines, recommendation systems, and learning platforms without understanding how data shapes these outputs. Many younger learners even perceive AI as alive or capable of friendship. That's why we emphasize "teaching under the hood": giving students enough understanding to see what AI is doing behind the scenes without necessarily expecting them to become engineers.

You don't need to know how a fuel injector works to drive a car, but you do need to know how the turn signal operates. Just using AI is different from understanding how it works. At our school, we teach students about AI, we teach them skills for AI, and then we teach with AI.

The three-pillar framework outlined in Teaching Students to Use AI Ethically & Responsibly, a book we co-authored with Sal Khan, guides educators in this work. Elementary students learn to recognize when they are interacting with AI and grasp basic concepts, such as the idea that computers make guesses based on patterns. Middle schoolers examine how training data affects AI decisions and practice identifying potential bias in AI-generated content. High schoolers delve deeper into algorithmic decision-making, privacy implications, and ethical use in real-world contexts. With AI tools already implemented in hundreds of school districts, these principles are not just theories. They are practical classroom realities.

Designing Tasks that Build Critical Thinking

AI transparency also calls for rethinking classroom tasks. Traditional assignments are increasingly vulnerable to misuse or missed learning opportunities. Instead of trying to make classrooms AI-proof, it's more effective to design activities that engage students in critical thinking while requiring them to show their reasoning.

One approach we recommend is the "reverse quest," in which students start with an incorrect claim and use AI as a research partner to work backward and uncover how someone might have arrived at that conclusion. This process cultivates curiosity, strengthens data literacy, and gives students practice in verifying information and making ethical choices.

What students are doing is exactly what we always ask them to do: Show us your reasoning. They're not just copying information  they're analyzing, questioning, and understanding the path to an answer.

This type of task also helps students navigate AI responsibly. AI cannot replace the critical thinking process; instead, it can augment students' reasoning skills when integrated thoughtfully. In fact, AI tools that provide transcripts of student interactions allow teachers to track thinking processes in real time, giving them insight into how students engage with learning and AI simultaneously.

Supporting Teachers to Lead with Confidence

For AI transparency education to succeed, teachers need support. One-off workshops won't suffice. Educators need time to experiment with AI in their own practice, seeing firsthand how it can enhance lesson design, generate success criteria, and model verification strategies.

If teachers find value in it, then they're more likely to say, "If it's helping me, could it also help students?"

Ongoing professional learning and collaborative problem-solving are critical. Lessons from past technology rollouts, such as 1:1 laptop initiatives, show that distributing devices alone is insufficient. Without pedagogical guidance, even well-intentioned technology investments fall short. AI offers an opportunity to do it differently: to integrate tools thoughtfully, give teachers a sandbox to explore, and foster communities where they can share insights, challenges, and successes.

Teachers need to understand how their tried-and-true assignments might need to change. Traditional assignments are often vulnerable to AI misuse, but thoughtfully designed tasks can develop the curiosity, verification, and data literacy skills that students need.

Looking Ahead

AI is already shaping how students access, analyze, and create information. Its influence will only grow. Schools cannot shield students from it; the task is to equip them with the skills to navigate AI ethically and responsibly. That means embedding transparency, ethical reasoning, and data literacy into curricula across grade levels and giving teachers the time and tools to lead confidently.

K-12 education missed the opportunity to teach responsible use of social media. We can't afford to miss it with AI.

As AI integration deepens, students will need the ability to question outputs, detect bias, and make informed decisions about the tools they rely on. And just as importantly, teachers must be equipped to guide them. By making AI visible, designing tasks that build critical thinking, and supporting educators every step of the way, schools can prepare students not only to use AI but to engage with it wisely, ethically, and responsibly.
DALLAS, Oct. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Vista Bank, one of Dallas' fastest growing commercial banks, was recently honored by the Independent Bankers Association of Texas (IBAT). The largest state community banking association in the nation bestowed Vista Bank with a Gold Eagle Best of Community Banking Award for the "Path to Yes" financial literacy program.

Vista Bank S. Dallas team members pictured from left to right include Lubbock Smith III, Tennille Lang, and Charles McElrath.

The program, offered through the South Dallas Banking and Financial Literacy Center, equips underserved entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and mentorship to grow their businesses and access capital. The six-week course features four tailored tracksranging from startups to established businessesand blends financial education with hands-on guidance from Vista Bank team members as well as Darlisa Diltz of the South Dallas Fair Park Innovation Center, an independent small business located inside the Vista Bank South Dallas location that offers entrepreneurial development and workspace. Participants graduate with practical skills in budgeting, credit, and capital readiness, along with a supportive peer network.

"Vista Bank is honored to receive this distinguished award," noted the bank's President & CEO John D. Steinmetz. "That said, this is exactly the type of work that all commercial banks should be engaged in, providing both training and access to capital for qualified loans; teaching underserved entrepreneurs who are willing to put in the work how to fish while providing a 'quality pond' for them to fish from."

In the first Path to Yes cohort, 100% of participants were minority-owned businesses and 85% were women-owned businesses, several of which went on to secure funding or increase revenue. Beyond the program, Vista Bank also hosts monthly "Business, Banking, and Breakfast" financial literacy classes that have reached over 200 individuals this year alone.

"Since opening our South Dallas financial facility in May 2024, we've hosted more than 100 community programs focused on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and access to capital," added Vista Bank Senior Vice President and Director of Community Development Lubbock Smith III. "With a new 'Path to Yes' cohort recently graduating in September 2025, we remain committed to expanding opportunity through hands-on education, personalized guidance, and strong partnerships that uplift and empower our South Dallas community through the power of small business."

2025 marks the 34th year that IBAT has celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of Texas community banks with the BOCB Awards. The Best of Community Banking competition is designed to honor local banks for their commitment to helping their customers, neighbors, employees, and community. BOCB Awards recognize community banks throughout the state for their innovation, creativity, and success in fulfilling a specific community or internal need.

For media inquiries contact:

Cathy Landtroop

[email protected]

About Vista Bank

Best known as the Entrepreneurs' Bank, Vista Bank is headquartered in Dallas and serves markets across North, Central, West Texas and Palm Beach. With a Private Client offering, more than 200 team members, over $2.4 billion in assets, and a rich 113-year history of Entrepreneurs Banking Entrepreneurs, Vista provides innovative solutions to personal and commercial clients alike while never sacrificing its top priority  putting People First. Learn more about Vista Bank, consistently recognized regionally and nationally as a top-rated financial institution, leading commercial bank, best workplace, and best in customer service.

SOURCE Vista Bank
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PHOENIX  The Arizona Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the right to claim self-defense extends to someone who is inside a locked bedroom of a home, even if the person trying to enter has been invited into the main residence.

Tuesdays ruling vacated the aggravated assault conviction of a man convicted in a case prosecuted by the Pima County Attorneys Office.

More importantly, it extends Arizonas robust self-defense laws to areas previously not covered to anyone in the state.

The high court, with six of seven justices agreeing, said John Brown was entitled to have a jury consider some self-defense arguments precluded by a trial judge. Pima County Superior Court Judge Brenden J. Griffin  and the Arizona Court of Appeals  had ruled otherwise.

Justice James Beene, writing for the majority, said the definition of a residential structure in state law includes a separate, locked bedroom, and the jury should have been allowed to consider all of Browns self-defense arguments.

Beene forcefully rejected the stand of the lone dissenter, Chief Justice Ann Scott Timmer, that Browns bedroom wasnt a separate residence under the law.

Here, we have faithfully adhered to the plain meaning of the Legislatures words to conclude that Browns bedroom constituted a residential structure, Beene wrote for the majority.

Timmer disagreed, saying the trial court judge allowed three self-defense arguments to go before the jury, which rejected them in convicting Brown.

Nevertheless, Brown argues the court incorrectly declined to additionally instruct the jury on defense of premises and defense of a residential structure, Timmer wrote. Brown was entitled to those instructions only if his bedroom qualified as a residential structure.

Timmer said she agreed with the trial court that a bedroom doesnt qualify.

The majoritys contrary conclusion lacks statutory support and, in my view, invites confusion in future cases, she wrote. With great respect for my colleagues, I dissent.

The case arose from a 2022 altercation inside a condo Brown shared with a woman with whom he had an on-again, off-again relationship, according to the decision. The couple had a friend who lived nearby who had told the woman not to reconcile with Brown.

The neighbor and Brown later got into a fight. Brown barred him from the condo, but sometime after that, Browns companion invited the man over to their home.

When Brown returned from work that day and found the other man there, he went into his separate bedroom and locked the door. The woman and the man then tried to force their way inside, and Brown swung a microphone stand to stop them, injuring the man. They were identified in court filings only by their initials.

Brown, now 44, was indicted on three counts, but only convicted of one, aggravated assault. He was sentenced to five years in prison, but the high courts decision voids that sentence.

Beene wrote that state law gives someone the absolute right to use force to prevent someone from entering their residence, even if someone invited them into the larger home.

Because Brown had the right to exclude M.H. from his bedroom, a jury could conclude that Brown reasonably believed force was necessary to prevent a criminal trespass, Beene wrote. Additionally, even though Brown testified that he did not feel threatened by M.H., (the laws) presumption establishes that M.H. is presumed to pose an imminent threat.

In an unusually rapid action, the high court issued a brief order after hearing oral arguments in February saying the trial court judge had gotten it wrong. Tuesdays formal opinion explained why the court made that decision.

Pima County prosecutors dismissed the case in April after the initial high court decision, according to county attorney spokesman C.T. Revere. They do not plan to re-try Brown.
HA NOI  Vietnamese pepper exporters are setting their sights on boosting value-added production as heavy reliance on raw material exports poses a serious threat to sustainable growth, the Vietnam Pepper Association has warned.

According to the associations statistics, Viet Nam shipped 10,544 tonnes of pepper worth US$69.3 million in the first half of September.

Even though export volumes fell by nearly 10 per cent to 166.5 tonnes in the first eight months of this year, export value surged by almost 28 per cent, propelled by a global price rally.

The average price for black pepper reached $6,335 per tonne while white pepper exceeded $8,500 per tonne, marking the highest levels in recent years.

Association President Nguyen Nam Hai explained that the global supply of pepper is tightening. Major producers such as India and Indonesia are grappling with extreme weather and shrinking cultivation areas.

As the worlds largest pepper exporter, Viet Nam is benefiting from these high prices but remains vulnerable due to its dependence on raw material exports, he said.

It is critical to focus on increasing value, Hai stressed.

At present, only 15-20 per cent of Viet Nams pepper exports are processed products, while the majority is shipped in raw form. Processed goods such as ground pepper, oil and extracts fetch prices two to three times higher than raw pepper.

Without investment in processing, Viet Nam risks losing its competitive edge in key markets such as the US and EU, which increasingly demand processed products that meet strict food safety and traceability standards.

With export prices at record levels, farmers and traders are enjoying strong profits, Nam said. But he warned that without a shift towards value-added production, the current opportunity could be short-lived.

The focus, he added, will be on strengthening regional production linkages, encouraging investment in processing and building a strong national brand for Vietnamese pepper.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Finance (MoF) is seeking public feedback on draft amendments to the Law on Insurance Business, aiming to create a more coherent legal framework and promote sustainable growth in the sector.

According to the ministry, the Law on Insurance Business 2022 has supported market development, but over time, shortcomings have emerged that need addressing to simplify administrative procedures, remove obstacles and create better conditions for business growth.

Growth in the Vietnamese insurance market is showing signs of slowing. Key market indicators from 20222025 increased by only about 10 per cent, highlighting the need for policies that encourage insurance enterprises to innovate and design products to meet the diverse needs of organisations and individuals across economic and social activities.

The ministry noted that amendments are also necessary to align the law with other recently updated legal documents, including the Law on Inspection and the Law on Handling of Administrative Violations, as some provisions of the current Law on Insurance Business are now inconsistent with these regulations.

Under the draft amendments, the MoF proposes to cut, reduce and simplify conditions for licensing the establishment and operation of insurance enterprises; requirements before officially operating; standards for managers and controllers; overseas investment; insurance agency operations; licensing insurance brokerage enterprises; and conditions for providing insurance auxiliary services.

Administrative procedures for registering the principle of separating insurance equity capital and insurance premium sources for non-life insurance and reinsurance enterprises are also drafted for simplification.

The amendments stipulate that life insurance agents of a company cannot sell products from other life insurance companies, though they may sell non-life insurance and vice versa. The regulation also applies to non-life insurance companies, foreign branches, and micro-insurance agents.

According to the MoF, the changes aim to remove obstacles for life and non-life insurance enterprises within the same corporation or parent company when organising agency networks, while ensuring transparency and consistency in law enforcement.

The Vietnam Insurance Association is promoting the development of a separate code of conduct for life insurance agency managers to maintain transparency and consistent market operations.

Bualoi-related insurance payouts amount to VN357 billion

As of October 2, insurance companies have reported six claims related to loss of human life and 2,281 non-life insurance claims related to Typhoon Bualoi, with a total estimated insurance payout of more than VN357 billion (US$13.5 million), according to the Insurance Supervisory Authority under the Ministry of Finance.

Based on reports from all 32 non-life insurers and 19 life insurers, the six claims from loss of human life resulted in estimated insurance payments of VN700 million.

Meanwhile, losses related to property and other non-life insurance coverage add up to more than VN356.5 billion in estimated damages.

Storm No 10, also known as Typhoon Bualoi, caused severe damage in many provinces and cities after hitting northern and central provinces earlier this week.

Of the insurance payment figures, one claim on health insurance resulted in a payout of VN200 million, while 591 claims on technical property insurance added up to over VN315.6 billion. Motor vehicle insurance accounts for 1,680 cases, with estimated losses of VN38.3 billion.

Other insurance claims, including marine hull insurance and agricultural insurance, involved 10 cases with estimated damages of VN2.6 billion.

Altogether, initial payouts by insurers for human and property losses caused by Typhoon Bualoi amount to VN357.2 billion.

The reports from insurance companies show that most of the losses so far are concentrated in technical property insurance and motor vehicle insurance. Insurers are continuing to receive and process claims, the Insurance Supervisory Authority said.  VNS
HA NOI  Digital payments are emerging as one of the most dynamic drivers of Viet Nams economy, with the value of cashless transactions soaring to 26 times the countrys GDP and QR payments growing by more than 81 per cent in the first quarter of 2025.

At the Vietnam Card Day 2025 event held on Tuesday in Ha Noi under the direction of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), Tien Phong Newspaper and the National Payment Corporation of Viet Nam (NAPAS) co-hosted a seminar themed One Touch, Millions of Trusts  Shaping the Future of Digital Payments. The discussion highlighted the critical role of digital payments in realising Viet Nams digital economy vision.

Editor-in-Chief of Tien Phong Newspaper Phung Cong Suong said digital payments have become the bridge connecting people, businesses and government on a modern technological platform.

Digital payment development is the cornerstone for building a cashless society and an inclusive financial system. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data and biometrics are improving convenience and security but also bring new challenges in risk management and data protection, he said.

According to Deputy Head of Digital Channels at Vietcombank Tran Van Thanh, digital technology has become a key engine for Viet Nams economic growth.

In 2024, cashless transactions in Viet Nam reached VN295.2 quadrillion, equivalent to 26 times GDP. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, QR code payments increased by over 81 per cent, he said, adding that the growing number of digital users and the adoption of e-wallets and mobile banking services are transforming payment behaviours nationwide.

From an economic policy perspective, Nguyen Xuan Thanh, Lecturer at Fulbright University Viet Nam, said finance has always been among the fastest sectors to adopt new technologies.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising financial services by enhancing efficiency, automation and fraud detection, he said. However, he warned that AI also presents risks related to data use, algorithmic bias and cybersecurity. Digital transformation is not just about technology. It is about people, leadership and a culture that embraces change.

According to Director of the Payment Department under the SBV Pham Anh Tuan, a robust legal framework remains essential for ensuring safe, inclusive and innovative digital payment development.

Digital transformation can only go far if the regulatory foundation keeps pace with innovation, he said.

Tuan noted that new laws on electronic transactions, data protection and credit institutions have established key conditions for expanding e-payments, e-KYC and open banking, while draft decrees on non-cash payments and the fintech sandbox mechanism will encourage more experimentation and partnerships between banks and fintechs.

From the market infrastructure side, NAPAS Deputy CEO Nguyen Hoang Long shared that NAPAS currently processes around 3536 million transactions per day, connecting payment services to nearly one-third of Viet Nams population.

We are expanding cross-border QR code payments to support trade and tourism. After connecting with China, we plan to extend QR interoperability to markets such as Japan, the Republic of Korea and Singapore, he said.

Long added that ensuring system security and payment reliability remains the companys top priority as transaction volumes continue to grow rapidly.

Speakers agreed that Viet Nams progress in digital payments reflects both technological innovation and public trust. As the country advances toward a cashless society, ensuring safety, privacy and transparency will be key to sustaining confidence among consumers and investors alike.

Editor-in-Chief Suong concluded: Digital payments represent more than convenience. Each transaction, each one touch, reflects millions of trust  the foundation for Viet Nams digital economy in the years ahead.  VNS
HA NOI  FTSE Russell has officially announced that Viet Nam will be reclassified from frontier to secondary emerging market status, marking a major milestone for the countrys capital market after more than a decade of reforms.

The announcement was made early on October 8 (Ha Noi time), following the close of US markets on October 7, as part of the index providers September 2025 Country Classification Review.

The upgrade is expected to take effect on September 21, 2026, subject to an interim assessment in March 2026 to confirm Viet Nams progress in improving market access through global brokers.

According to FTSE Russell, Viet Nam has addressed key technical barriers that previously prevented the upgrade, including settlement cycles and the handling of failed trades. In late 2024, the country introduced a non-pre-funding trading model, allowing foreign institutional investors to purchase shares without fully pre-depositing funds.

A mechanism to resolve settlement failures was also established, bringing Viet Nams trading practices closer to international standards.

The index provider noted significant improvements made by Vietnamese regulators, confirming that the country now meets all secondary emerging market criteria.

However, it also highlighted limited access to global brokers as an area that still needs attention. While not a formal requirement for reclassification, FTSE Russell said enhanced access is crucial for foreign investors to replicate indices effectively.

The upgrade will be implemented in stages, with FTSE Russell continuing to monitor Viet Nams market reforms and gather feedback from international investors before the March 2026 review to ensure the transition remains on schedule.

"The official recognition and upgrade of Viet Nam's securities market is clear evidence of the country's sound development path and its growing capacity to integrate deeply into the global financial system," Viet Nam's Finance Minister Nguyen Van Thang said in a statement.

Viet Nam's benchmark stock index has surged 33 per cent this year, making it the best-performing stock market in Southeast Asia.

The reclassification is expected to attract billions of dollars in foreign capital from both active and passive funds. International brokerages estimate that net foreign inflows could range between US$6 billion and $10 billion in a positive scenario.

Historically, markets often see stronger liquidity in the months leading up to an upgrade, followed by a period of adjustment after the announcement.

The State Securities Commission (SSC) said the upgrade is a key milestone that recognises Viet Nams comprehensive reforms to build a transparent, modern and efficient market aligned with global standards.

This achievement reflects the Governments strong leadership, close coordination among agencies, and valuable support from the World Bank, FTSE Russell experts and global investors, the SSC said in a press release.  BIZHUB/VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam is hosting the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) World Congress 2025 for the first time, marking a historic milestone for the country and the global logistics industry. The five-day event opened on October 8 in Ha Noi and brings together over 1,000 delegates from more than 100 countries.

In his keynote speech, FIATA President Turgut Erkeskin described the congress as a landmark in the organisations more than 100-year history, emphasising its mission to strengthen cooperation and accelerate the transformation of global logistics.

Erkeskin highlighted FIATAs role in driving innovation, raising professional standards and fostering international connectivity. Initiatives such as the launch of a mobile app to simplify container packing standards and the rollout of the electronic bill of lading demonstrate the organisations focus on building a transparent, sustainable and digitally empowered logistics ecosystem.

FIATA also reaffirmed its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly gender equality. This year, for the first time, a female executive has been nominated to the FIATA leadership team, signalling greater inclusivity in the freight forwarding sector.

Looking ahead, the organisation plans to adopt international conventions on negotiable transport documents to ensure seamless, secure and sustainable trade. Erkeskin also announced the upcoming launch of an insured electronic freight bill, designed to help carriers worldwide manage risk and improve access to liability insurance.

The growing role of Viet Nam as a logistics hub was recognised, with Erkeskin praising the Governments vision to reduce logistics costs from 18 per cent to 15 per cent of GDP while increasing the sectors contribution from 10 per cent to 20 per cent. He noted that adopting multimodal transport and digital solutions, including electronic documents, would help Vietnamese small- and medium-sized enterprises integrate more deeply into global supply chains.

Chairman of the Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA) ao Trong Khoa said he was proud to host the congress during FIATAs 100th year.

"With the theme 'Green and Resilient Logistics,' this congress underscores the urgent need to build a logistics ecosystem that is both sustainable and adaptable to global challenges such as climate change, geopolitical tensions, trade disruptions and technological risks," he said.

Viet Nams logistics sector now comprises over 45,000 enterprises, including 5,000 international forwarders, with a market size estimated at US$7080 billion. Khoa described the congress as not only a platform for professional exchange but also a symbolic bridge connecting Viet Nam to the global logistics community.

The FIATA World Congress 2025 is hosted by VLA in collaboration with FIATA and international partners and runs alongside an international exhibition in Ha Noi from October 6 to 10.  BIZHUB/VNS
HA NOI  As digital transformation reshapes every industry, comprehensive high-quality human resource development has become an urgent requirement for the Vietnamese banking sector, experts said at a seminar on Wednesday, highlighting the need for coordinated implementation among educational institutions and credit organisations to help the industry firmly step into the AI era.

Addressing the seminar titled Human resource development in the AI era, held in Ha Noi by the Banking Times and the Banking Academy of Vietnam (BAV), Le Thi Thuy Sen, Editor-in-Chief of the Banking Times, said the event contributed to realising the Politburos Resolution 57-NQ/TW on science, technology and innovation, and to implementing the goals of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy.

According to Sen, for the banking industry, digital transformation is not just a matter of technology but a process of changing thinking and working methods.

Therefore, each bank and each staff member in the banking industry are striving to adapt and innovate to keep up with the digital age. Developing a workforce capable of mastering technology is the key factor for the banking industry to successfully implement digital transformation, innovation and sustainable development, Sen said.

Head of BAVs Faculty of Information Technology and Digital Economics Dr Phan Thanh uc told the event that the demand for human resources in AI in Viet Nam is growing rapidly, but the supply has met neither quantity nor quality requirements.

Currently, the market is short of between 150,000 and 200,000 technology workers each year, of which the group specialising in AI is the most serious shortage. In the period 20252030, demand for AI human resources is expected to increase by 74 per cent, focusing on areas such as data science, AI operations engineering, cybersecurity, and especially experts with practical implementation experience, uc said.

Director of Agribanks Staff Training School Dr Nguyen Thi Thu Ha said: Despite the large number of employees, the banking industry is facing the problem of human resource quality in the digital age. In reality, a large proportion of current employees are not fully equipped with the necessary technology and data skills. Many banks face a lack of personnel who are good at data analysis and digital technology operations in addition to professional expertise.

The demand for human resources in finance and banking, especially at the senior level, in the 20202025 period has increased by 20 per cent per year, accounting for about 5 per cent of total annual recruitment demand in major cities, Ha added.

To ensure a quality human resource supply in the digital age, experts suggested promoting the role of universities and training institutions, forming close links among banks, schools and students.

Associate Professor Dr Pham Thi Hoang Anh, Deputy Director of BAV, said: Developing digital human resources is a task that cannot be done alone; it requires close coordination between the State Bank of Vietnam, training institutions and businesses. Therefore, the BAV hopes to continue receiving the support of credit institutions in placing training orders, sharing experiences, and creating internship opportunities for students, which will help form a team of young professionals with knowledge, skills and the courage to master technology in the digital age.

Training institutions specialising in finance and banking need to innovate curricula, increase digital technology content, and update courses on data analysis, fintech, financial AI and cybersecurity. At the same time, the Ministry of Education and Training should develop output standards on digital skills for students in the banking and finance sector.

Banks should expand cooperation with schools through practical activities, such as sending experts to teach, sponsoring scholarships, providing learning equipment, organising internship programmes, and managing trainees. This allows students to experience the digital working environment and helps form a young workforce to meet the practical needs of the industry.

The event is part of BAVs new student welcoming programme in 2025, which aims to spread the spirit of innovation, technology adaptation, and awareness of the human role in the digital age.  BIZHUB/VNS
HCM CITY  The UK-Vietnam Business Summit 2025 will be held on November 5 in HCM City, with two strategic priorities  developing an international financial centre in Viet Nam and advancing renewable energy, key pillars of future bilateral co-operation.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Alexandra Smith, consul general of the UK in HCM City, highlighted the flourishing bilateral economic ties, noting that over the past month alone, the Consulate General has welcomed an unprecedented number of high-level UK delegations to Viet Nam.

She said that the two governments are working closely to maximise the benefits of the UKVietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) and the UKs recent accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The agreements have eliminated tariffs on 99 per cent of UK exports to Viet Nam, unlocking great opportunities in food and beverages, healthcare, retail, and consumer goods.

Alexandra said that the two countries hold vast potential for strengthening their trade cooperation, and that aligning the UKs strengths with Viet Nams urgent demands will drive breakthroughs.

Beyond trade, the UK remains deeply committed to supporting Viet Nams sustainable development goals. From green finance and renewable energy to climate resilience and education, UK expertise aligns closely with Viet Nams priorities for an environmentally and socially responsible growth path.

Matt Ryland, executive director of the British Chamber of Commerce Vietnam (BritCham Vietnam)  the organiser of the summit, said the inaugural event is expected to become an annual platform connecting the business communities of both nations. It will allow UK companies to showcase their expertise, reaffirm their commitment to Viet Nams growth goals, and create opportunities for BritCham members to foster dialogue and strengthen investment and trade partnerships between the two countries.

Regarding the IFC, the summit will explore pathways to position HCM City as a regional financial hub, building on a series of high-level dialogues and practical cooperation initiatives.

As Viet Nam seeks to ensure energy security for economic growth, the summit will serve as a vital bridge  linking the UKs leading expertise in technology, particularly offshore wind power, and green finance models with Viet Nams vast natural potential, speeding up a sustainable and efficient energy transition.

Nirukt Sapru, country chairman of Jardine Matheson Group in Viet Nam, noted that under the National Power Development Plan VIII revised this year, Viet Nam aims to develop 6,00017,000MW of offshore wind capacity by 2035. This is an ambitious goal, given that each project typically takes 6  9 years to complete. He said that accelerating progress and addressing existing challenges are therefore critical.

He expressed hope that the upcoming summit will foster stronger policy dialogue between the Government and the business community, especially for issues of concern for international investors. Lifting price caps to better reflect market supply and demand, promoting rooftop solar and distributed energy models, clarifying fees and related costs, and improving market access will help address immediate concerns.

The summit is expected to bring together top business leaders, government representatives, and experts from various fields to explore collaboration opportunities in key areas such as trade, environmental, social and governance (ESG), and finance.

Two-way trade has more than tripled over the past decade, now exceeding nine billion GBP (nearly US$12.1 billion) annually. Through high-level discussions, tailored networking sessions, exhibition zones, and on-demand B2B meetings, the event will offer a unique gateway for UK and Vietnamese businesses to build strategic partnerships and expand their growth opportunities in the Vietnamese market.  VNS
HCM CITY  The latest innovations, technologies, and solutions in the livestock sector are on display at Viet Nams Premier International Feed, Livestock and Meat Industry Show, Vietstock 2025, which opened on Wednesday in HCM City.

Vietstock 2025 has brought together 300 exhibitors and 13,000 trade visitors from 40 countries and territories.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Phung uc Tien said agriculture plays a pivotal role and remains a cornerstone of Viet Nams economy.

Viet Nams agricultural sector continues to record impressive achievements this year, Tien said.

This years total output is expected to reach 43.5 - 44 million tonnes of rice, 8.5 million tonnes of meat, 21 billion eggs, and 9.6 million tonnes of aquatic products, he said.

In the first nine months of this year, exports of livestock products reached US$447 million, up 18.6 per cent year-on-year, and are expected to exceed US$600 million by the end of the year.

During the period, animal feed exports alone reached US$1.5 billion, he said.

The deputy minister emphasised that science, technology and innovation are the foundation to improve productivity, quality and competitiveness of Viet Nams livestock industry in the global value chain.

Vietstock serves as a forum for knowledge sharing, experience exchange, and signing cooperation agreements between domestic and foreign enterprises, he said.

Ben Wong, general manager of Informa Markets Vietnam, the events organiser, said: Now in its 13th edition, Vietstock 2025 continues to serve as the leading stage for innovation and collaboration in Viet Nam and across the ASEAN region.

Within the framework of the event, seven ASEAN countries will meet to discuss industry developments, opportunities, and challenges at the Asean Livestock Associations Round Table, Wong said.

Hosted by the Department of Animal Health and Production and in coordination with more than 50 livestock associations, the event will feature more than 80 knowledge sessions focusing on antimicrobial resistance, swine, poultry, ruminants and dairy, waste-to-value, nutrition and feed, animal health, animal welfare, egg value chain, and livestock emission control, he said.

On the expos opening day, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment hosted a conference on livestock and poultry development to ensure supply capacity for the last quarter of 2025 and early 2026.

At the conference, government leaders and leading experts discussed strategic solutions aimed at stabilising supply and fostering sustainable livestock development.

The expo, held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre, runs until October 10. VNS
HA NOI  With a motto of solidarity, cooperation, responsibility, and sustainable development, Viet Nam stands ready to be a reliable partner and an attractive, safe destination for the global logistics business community, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Wednesday.

He made the remark at the 2025 FIATA World Congress, the largest annual event of the global logistics industry, held in Ha Noi.

The International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) is a non-governmental organisation representing freight forwarding companies from about 150 countries and territories. The 2025 congress, held in Viet Nams capital city from October 6-10, features a series of in-depth discussions on key issues in logistics and transport, attracting over 1,039 delegates from more than 100 countries.

In his address, PM Chinh said FIATAs decision to select Viet Nam as the host of this years congress reflects the international communitys strong trust in the countrys role, potential, and aspirations for growth in the sector. It is also an opportunity for Viet Nam to showcase to global partners a country that is peaceful, stable, innovative, dynamic, friendly, and hospitable.

He highlighted that with its strategic location along major international maritime and air routes, a 3,200-kilometre coastline, and an extensive system of seaports, airports, and border gates, Viet Nam has all the conditions to become a key logistics hub in the region. The Southeast Asian nation regards logistics as one of its three main growth drivers and a foundation for connecting local production sectors, localities, and the country itself with the world.

To advance international cooperation towards a modern, green, and sustainable global logistics industry, the Government leader called on the FIATA community and global enterprises to join Viet Nam in promoting innovation and digital transformation; cooperation in developing green and sustainable logistics; collaboration in training high-quality human resources for the sector; connectivity of national, regional, and global transport routes and logistics centres; and multimodal transport integration for seamless logistics networks.

PM Chinh affirmed that Viet Nam will ensure the most favourable conditions for domestic and foreign enterprises investing in local logistics, safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, and maintain political stability, social order, and a transparent, safe investment environment. The Government will continue improving institutions, mechanisms, and policies to promote public-private partnerships and multilateral cooperation in the sector.

He stressed that the 2025 FIATA World Congress offers an important platform to foster closer cooperation and to jointly shape a greener, smarter, and more modern global logistics industry  one that contributes actively to global trade, investment, growth, and shared prosperity.

On the sidelines of the congress, a logistics exhibition with over 120 booths is being held, along with a logistics talent award ceremony, honouring innovative young professionals who are helping shape the future of the global industry.  VNA/VNS
AN GIANG Authorities, experts and businesses in An Giang have called for stronger measures to develop tourism routes and signature products, aiming to harness the provinces diverse natural and cultural resources after its recent administrative merger.

The Mekong Delta province has seen remarkable growth in visitor numbers this year. In the first eight months of 2025, An Giang welcomed more than 18.2 million visitors, ranking third nationwide behind HCM City and Ha Noi.

In the first half of the year alone, it recorded about 14.2 million arrivals, including more than 908,000 international visitors, with tourism revenue exceeding VN37.4 trillion.

With the addition of coastal and island attractions from the merged Kien Giang area, such as Phu Quoc, Ha Tien and Nam Du, An Giang now possesses a unique blend of mountains, plains, rivers and islands.

This geographical diversity allows the province to expand beyond traditional cultural and spiritual tourism to include seaside leisure and integrated packages.

Despite these advantages, delegates at a seminar on September 21 focused on developing tourism routes and products in An Giang pointed out a number of challenges. Tour itineraries remain fragmented, with weak links between localities and product types.

The province lacks truly distinctive products capable of establishing a strong brand in the domestic and international markets.

Human resources in tourism are another concern. While numbers have grown, the workforce still falls short of professionalism and digital competence.

Specialists stressed the need for personnel who are not only trained in service skills but also capable of designing products that reflect local culture and incorporate new technologies.

Local people working in services require additional training in foreign languages and soft skills to meet the rising expectations of visitors.

Concerns were also raised about sustainability. Rapid growth in arrivals has created pressure on the environment and cultural heritage. Without appropriate planning, the province risks the overexploitation of its assets, undermining its long-term appeal.

To address these issues, experts and businesses proposed a series of solutions. One priority is to develop signature products highlighting An Giangs unique features.

Integrated tours combining mountains, rivers, islands and cultural sites could set the province apart from others in the region.

Examples such as the Tra Su cajuput forest, Sam Mountain and floating markets were identified as destinations that could be better developed and connected to create richer experiences.

Another key recommendation is to strengthen linkages within the province and across the Mekong Delta. Suggested itineraries include Long Xuyen  Tra Su  Sam Mountain  Chau oc  Bung Binh Thien, with extensions connecting to Can Tho, ong Thap and other provinces.

Cross-border tours with Cambodia and the wider Mekong sub-region are also seen as promising, given An Giangs strategic location.

Delegates further emphasised the importance of digital transformation. Applying information technology, artificial intelligence and digital platforms in areas such as promotion, tour booking and customer services could help the province meet the demands of both domestic and foreign visitors.

At the same time, development must follow a green orientation, ensuring tourism growth does not come at the expense of environmental protection.

Community involvement was also underlined. Local residents are considered an integral part of the tourism chain, both as service providers and custodians of cultural heritage. Strengthening their role can ensure that growth goes hand in hand with cultural preservation and provides authentic experiences for visitors.

Human resource development was identified as another decisive factor. Close cooperation between provincial authorities, tourism enterprises and training institutions is needed to build a professional workforce. Training courses for guides and managers will be crucial in equipping them with cultural knowledge, communication skills and digital literacy.

Marketing and promotion efforts must also be enhanced. Delegates suggested that An Giang should leverage media channels and social networks to raise its profile, while fostering cooperation with neighbouring provinces and national agencies to extend its reach to international markets.

Participants agreed that the success of An Giangs tourism will depend on turning these solutions into concrete action. Building coherent routes and distinctive products, creating a recognisable brand, ensuring sustainable practices, involving communities and investing in human capital are considered essential.

With its impressive visitor numbers and newly expanded natural assets, An Giang holds significant potential to become a leading destination in the Mekong Delta.

By capitalising on its strengths and addressing current shortcomings, the province aims to transform from a place of promise into a powerhouse of Vietnamese tourism. VNS
SON LA The timeless grace and resilience of Thai ethnic monority women will take centre stage in an art exhibition opening on October 9 in the northern province of Son La, where painting, installation, performance, and other visual forms combine to honour both tradition and contemporary creativity.

Inspired by the Thai folk song Xong Chu Xon Xao  an epic tale of love, separation and reunion  the exhibition reflects the journey of preserving memories, weaving dreams and celebrating the enduring beauty of Thai women through the symbol of the pieu head scarf.

The exhibition space is designed as a layered experience, from a reconstructed stilt house made of reclaimed materials to installations featuring looms, coarse fabrics, embroidered silk and expansive tapestry-like paintings spanning dozens of metres. All elements are linked by a red thread symbolising fate, memory and the enduring legacy passed down through generations.

The highlight of the exhibition is the creative synergy among various artists.

Artist Tay Phong will join painter Thu Tran in installation and performance works, creating a rich, symbolic language of physical expression and music. His movements and rhythms engage directly with the stilt house setting, the installations and the lighting, blending ancient ritualistic spirit with contemporary artistic breath. Tay Phong will also perform poetry, weaving in the Thai folk song Xong Chu Xon Xao.

Painter Le Thi Minh Tam presents a series of bold, expressive works that evoke the image of Thai women as symbols of vitality and resilience in the mountains. Alongside her, young artist Nguyen Tran Thao Nguyen offers an abstract and nuanced perspective on memories of the forest, her birthplace. Together, the two artists showcase 20 works, creating intersecting visual streams that complement one another.

"The Thai women in Son La impress me greatly. They dance beautifully and naturally, as if they were born knowing how to dance without needing to learn, Tam told vietnamnet.vn.

During the day, they work in the fields and weave handloom fabrics, and in the evening, they dance and sing  a simple yet fulfilling life. In the eyes and smiles of the young girls, I clearly sense an inner joy that doesn't rely much on the outside world.

This has become the inspiration for my paintings. I often depict strong, vibrant Thai girls. I believe that the sacred land of Son La has fostered people with strong souls, deeply connected to the mountains and forests. VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam has been praised by the New Zealand Herald for offering 'something most destinations cant: genuine surprise around every corner.'

In a recent article titled Unlock the layers of Vietnam, the prestigious newspaper provides a comprehensive look at the countrys outstanding tourism destinations, from the 'emerald waterways' of the Mekong Delta to the ancient imperial grandeur of Hue and the 'chaotic energy' of HCM City's bustling streets.

"Often described as the jewel of Southeast Asia, the country enchants visitors with its ancient culture, dramatic landscapes and iconic cuisine. For Kiwis chasing adventure, warmth and something truly different, its a perennial bucket list favourite," the paper says.

The article also highlights insights from Lucy Anthony, a reservations consultant for Wendy Wu Tours, who experienced Viet Nam firsthand after years of promoting the country to travellers.

Anthony had helped countless customers book their dream Viet Nam holiday, but last year she switched roles and became the traveller, taking her mum on the Vietnam at a Glance tour, according to the New Zealand Herald.

It was just really exciting to be somewhere so different from anywhere Id been before, she told the newspaper. The cities, the history, the scenery  it all just blended together into this incredible experience.

Seeing Viet Nam through both industry eyes and as a wide-eyed first-timer gave Anthony a unique perspective on why the country leaves such a lasting impression. However, it also highlights what many Kiwi travellers often miss out on.

Anthony also cited the civilisation in Viet Nam, which dates back more than 4,000 years, creating a culture so layered and deep it is hard for people from newer parts of the world to comprehend.

Regarding the role of a traveller to Viet Nam, she also suggested various famous tourist destinations, such as Sapa in the northern province of Lao Cai, the UNESCO-recognised World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay, the capital city of Ha Noi and the historical relic of Cu Chi in HCM City.

Viet Nams one of those places where there really is something for everyone, she says in the New Zealand Herald. But to really get it, you need someone who has lived and breathed it their whole lives to show you around. It makes all the difference.

Whether its watching mist roll over Ha Long Bay, walking ancient streets in Hoi An, or eating street food with new friends in Ha Noi, the memories made in Viet Nam are the kind that stay with you for life  especially when you have the right person showing you the way, according to Anthony.

For Anthony, Viet Nam is one of those places that truly brings special experiences and emotions to everyone. The difference lies in the fact that tourists are led by enthusiastic guides who are knowledgeable about the geography, culture and local customs, allowing them to fully understand every corner of the country.

Another aspect that tourists love when travelling in Viet Nam is that all transportation services, meals, entrance tickets and flights are carefully arranged in advance, so they only need to focus on enjoying everything and spending time relaxing in the country known as the 'pearl' of Southeast Asia.

Tourists from New Zealand have increasingly chosen to visit Viet Nam in recent years. Earlier, House of Travel, the largest travel company in New Zealand, stated that it has seen a significant 130 per cent year-on-year increase in holiday bookings to Ha Noi by New Zealanders, alongside a 32 per cent rise for Bali and an 11 per cent rise for Tokyo.

David Coombes, CEO of House of Travel, recently stated that this growth reflects a shift in Kiwi travel appetites, as families become more confident about exploring new destinations.  VNS
Viet Nams push for comprehensive digital transformation has placed digital infrastructure at the centre of national development, forming the backbone of the digital government, economy and society. This foundation is considered vital to driving innovation, attracting investment, boosting productivity and enhancing the countrys global competitiveness.

The Government News spoke with Major General Nguyen Ngoc Cuong, Director of the National Data Centre under the Ministry of Public Security (MoPS), to discuss the sectors vision, responsibilities and solutions for developing, protecting and optimising national digital infrastructure, with an emphasis on ensuring security, safety and digital sovereignty by 2030.

In your view, what role does digital infrastructure play in fulfilling Viet Nams vision for 2030, especially as the country advances towards building a digital nation, economy and society?

Digital infrastructure has been identified as a critical pillar for achieving Viet Nams national vision to 2030 under the Politburos Resolution. It provides the essential groundwork for the development of a digital government, digital economy and digital society. Just as data is considered the new resource, digital infrastructure functions as the channels, repositories and processing systems that allow this resource to be fully leveraged for the countrys sustainable growth.

Amid intensifying globalisation and strategic competition, the creation of a modern, resilient and secure digital infrastructure will not only help Viet Nam align with international trends but also strengthen its position as an independent and self-reliant nation in cyberspace. Central to this effort is the National Data Centre, assigned to MoPS for construction and operation. The centre is set to become a cornerstone in enabling connectivity, integration and data sharing among agencies and organisations, paving the way for a cohesive and transparent national data ecosystem.

Moreover, digital infrastructure is expected to open new avenues for innovation, investment and productivity while improving the countrys competitiveness. However, it also brings heightened requirements for cybersecurity, safety and digital sovereignty. To address these, MoPS together with relevant ministries, sectors, localities and the business community will work in close partnership to advance infrastructure development while safeguarding the digital activities of individuals, enterprises and the State in the era of digital transformation.

What strategic priorities and key measures do you believe are needed to develop, safeguard and optimise national digital infrastructure while guaranteeing its sustainability, safety and digital sovereignty?

Ensuring the effective development, protection and utilisation of national digital infrastructure will require a well-defined set of strategic priorities.

First, it is crucial to build a modern and integrated digital infrastructure with the National Data Centre and shared digital platforms playing a central role. This will enable seamless connectivity, data integration and information sharing across Government bodies and organisations, laying the foundation for a unified national data ecosystem to support socio-economic progress.

Second, cybersecurity and digital sovereignty must be safeguarded amid increasingly complex non-traditional security risks. MoPS will coordinate with ministries, localities and businesses to roll out advanced protection measures, enhance monitoring systems and strengthen the capacity to detect and respond to cyber incidents.

Third, expanding publicprivate cooperation is essential to mobilise resources and combine the States management capacity with the technological strengths and experience of enterprises at home and abroad. This collaboration will be key to ensuring the resilience and long-term sustainability of digital infrastructure.

Lastly, the development of a skilled workforce must be prioritised. Nurturing experts in data science, information security and digital technologies will be critical in meeting the challenges of Viet Nams ongoing digital transformation.

In what ways will MoPS help ensure cybersecurity, combat high-tech crime and build public and business confidence in the digital space?

MoPS will play a pivotal role in ensuring cybersecurity, information safety and digital sovereignty, recognising that digital infrastructure can only thrive in a secure and trustworthy environment free from the growing risks of cyberattacks and high-tech crime.

The ministrys efforts will focus on developing and managing the National Data Centre as a core platform for connectivity, interoperability and data sharing, operated to international standards of security and sustainability.

At the same time, it will strengthen monitoring and response capabilities to counter threats and high-tech crime, ensuring the protection of government, businesses and citizens online.

Close cooperation with the private sector and international partners will bring in advanced technologies while public awareness campaigns will help equip citizens with the skills to safeguard personal information.

By combining these efforts with coordination across ministries, localities and the business community, MoPS aims to both advance and secure national digital infrastructure, building the trust essential for Viet Nams digital transformation.

How will MoPS work to improve, connect and make effective use of national databases, not only to strengthen State management but also to create a safe and transparent digital environment that benefits citizens and businesses?

Under the 2030 strategy, the ministry aims to develop and standardise core systems, with the National Population Database at the heart of a connected, unified ecosystem linking ministries, localities and sectoral platforms. This strategy will cut duplication, reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Stronger integration and lawful data sharing will make governance more effective and services more convenient.

Ensuring security and protecting personal information will be a constant priority, helping to foster public trust. In this way, national databases will serve both as a powerful governance tool and as a resource for advancing Viet Nams digital government, economy and society.

How does the ministry assess the potential for working with leading technology corporations on management solutions, energy optimisation and safeguarding the systems security?

To build and operate this strategic facility effectively, the States efforts must be complemented by collaboration with top international technology corporations. Such partnerships will be instrumental in developing a secure, modern and sustainable centre, strengthening the countrys digital transformation and advancing its vision for a national digital future by 2030.  VNS
NEW YORK  Ambassador o Hung Viet, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the United Nations and designated President of the 11th Review Conference (RevCon11) of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), chaired the first informal meeting with member states of the treaty in New York on October 7 to discuss preliminary priorities, orientations, and consultation processes ahead of the conference in April 2026.

The meeting was attended by representatives of NPT member states, regional groups, and relevant international organisations. Many delegates praised Viet Nam's appointment as President of RevCon11 amid a complex international security environment, expressing confidence in its ability to promote dialogue, coordinate negotiations, and foster consensus.

In his remarks, Viet stressed that holding the position of RevCon11 President is a major responsibility, demonstrating the global communitys confidence and recognition of Viet Nam's role in multilateral processes on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

The current challenging international context presents many difficulties but also opens opportunities to advance cooperation in this critical field, he noted, urging countries to embrace the spirit of construction, cooperation, compromise and creativity to achieve a successful and substantive review conference.

Affirming a balanced and transparent working approach that ensures all member states are heard and respected, the Vietnamese diplomat expressed his hope that countries will strengthen cooperation to boost disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation institutions worldwide, and demonstrate the highest political responsibility and determination, contributing to reducing and eventually eliminating this weapon of mass destruction.

Representatives from many countries shared their views on priorities for the upcoming review, particularly regarding the nuclear disarmament pillar. They also expressed their desire to continue close consultations with Viet in the coming time to achieve positive outcomes at the conference.

Representatives from several countries emphasised the need to focus on practical measures to enhance the conferences effectiveness, ensure transparency and accountability in nuclear disarmament, and promote substantive dialogue among parties  especially nuclear-armed states  to secure effective implementation of the treaty.

Adopted in 1968 and became effective from 1970, the NPT underpins the global framework for nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation, and peaceful nuclear use. Held every five years, its review conference assesses implementation and charts future steps. RevCon11 in New York in 2026 will focus on restoring consensus and reinforcing the NPT regime amid an unpredictable international security landscape.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  Viet Nam is taking centre stage in global digital governance as it hosts the signing ceremony and a high-level conference for the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, a landmark treaty aimed at strengthening international cooperation in combating cybercrime, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs ang Hoang Giang said on Wednesday.

The UN Convention against Cybercrime, also known as the Hanoi Convention, is considered a major treaty to strengthen global collaboration in combating crimes in cyberspace.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to attend the event in Ha Noi, alongside hundreds of heads of state and representatives from international organisations.

This is the first time a UN treaty bears the name of a Vietnamese location, highlighting Viet Nams active contribution to digital governance. It also represents a significant milestone in the countrys multilateral diplomacy and 47-year partnership with the UN.

The event includes the convention signing ceremony, a high-level plenary, roundtable discussions and side events over two days, October 2526.

Adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 24, 2024, after over two years of negotiations, it sets legal standards for addressing offences such as illegal access, cyber fraud, and online child exploitation, while ensuring human rights and data privacy.

Viet Nam was one of the first nations to support the UN Convention against Cybercrime in 2019. The country also played a role in leading discussions and negotiations that highlighted sovereignty, international cooperation and country-level implementation of the convention.

Cybersecurity is a top priority for Viet Nam as well as its digital transformation targets and national security, said deputy foreign minister Giang.

According to Maj Gen Le Xuan Minh, director of the Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention under the Ministry of Public Security, Viet Nam has recorded more than 100,000 instances of cybercrime over the past year.

Cyberattacks, in Viet Nam as well as globally, have evolved to become more systematic and transnational. They are also shifting their targets towards key systems of a country and its economy, posing serious risks to national security.

The Hanoi Convention, once signed and ratified, will establish a new legal framework for countries to collaborate in combating cybercrime, sharing information and investigation experiences, handling cases and extraditing cybercriminals, Minh said.

The document is especially important as it raises awareness at and beyond the state level, which is expected to boost cooperation on a large scale.

Viet Nam is actively reviewing its laws and regulations related to cybersecurity and criminal proceedings to implement the Hanoi Convention once it is ratified. An amendment to the Law on Cybersecurity will be tabled for discussion at the National Assembly session in October. The country also passed the Law on Personal Data Protection in June this year.

Established in response to the alarming rise in cybercrime in scale, speed and scope, the Hanoi Convention is the first international legal instrument on transnational crime adopted within the UN framework in 20 years.

Following the signing ceremony in Ha Noi, the convention will remain open for signature at the UN Headquarters in New York until December 31, 2026.  VNS
HA NOI  Vietnamese and Singaporean young military officers gathered in Ha Noi on Wednesday to exchange knowledge, share professional experiences, and discuss military training and operations.

The event formed part of the 2025 Viet NamSingapore Young Officers Exchange Programme.

At the event, Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Quang Huy highlighted that the annual exchange programme has helped consolidate the determination of young officers from both sides to preserve and advance the Viet NamSingapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, while fostering solidarity, trust, and mutual understanding between the two militaries.

He expressed his belief that young officers will continue to act as core communicators and educators, serving as a strong bridge to further deepen bilateral defence ties.

Huy noted that the two countries have maintained regular high-level exchanges, dialogues, and existing cooperation mechanisms, with defence cooperation achieving meaningful results in areas such as leadership exchanges, training, and personnel development. Both sides have also strengthened coordination at bilateral and multilateral forums.

He affirmed that young officers of the Viet Nam Peoples Army are confident the growing cooperation between Viet Nam and Singapore will continue to contribute significantly to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and beyond. He also proposed that both sides maintain regular information sharing, counter hostile attempts to undermine bilateral relations, and make future exchange activities more practical and effective.

For his part, Lieutenant Colonel Koh Zhi Chao, head of the delegation of the Singapore Armed Forces young officers, said the exchange provides a valuable opportunity to strengthen friendship among young officers, building on the longstanding ties between the two nations and their militaries.

He expressed his hope that young Singaporean officers will gain valuable insights and experience from their Vietnamese peers, share future visions, and work together to further enhance cooperation and contribute to the growing partnership between the two armed forces.  VNA/VNS
LANG SON - Prolonged heavy rain, combined with rising water levels in the Bac Giang River and other rivers in the province, has left many communes in the northern province of Lang Son deeply flooded, isolated and cut off, severely affecting local lives.

Local authorities and forces remained on duty throughout the night to assist residents, moving belongings and evacuating people from severely flooded areas to safety. VNS
BAC NINH - On the morning of October 8, a 20-metre section of an auxiliary dyke in Tien Luc Commune was breached. Emergency response and repairs were promptly carried out, with no casualties reported.

More than 200 soldiers from Regiment 2, Division 3, were mobilised to help evacuate people and property. Nearly 40 local police officers, commune officials and residents also worked through the night to fight the flood and move households to safety. VNS
HA NOI  A scientific seminar titled A New Era in Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Prevention with Monoclonal Antibodies for All Infants brought together leading Vietnamese and international experts to discuss the transformative potential of monoclonal antibodies in preventing RSV infections among infants.

Hosted by the Viet Nam Paediatric Association and sponsored by Sanofi Aventis Viet Nam Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi, the event focused on advancing RSV prevention through immunisation strategies that are both innovative and inclusive.

RSV: A silent but serious threat

Speaking at the event, Dr Le Kien Ngai, PhD, MD, Head of the Preventive Medicine and Infection Control Department at Viet Nam National Childrens Hospital, highlighted alarming statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO) which indicated RSV is responsible for over 80 per cent of lower respiratory tract infections, such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis, in infants under 12 months during peak season worldwide.

Nearly 70 per cent of infants contract RSV in their first year, and almost all children are infected by the age of two, Dr Ngai noted. Early infection is linked to a higher risk of long-term health issues including wheezing, otitis media, asthma, and increased healthcare use in later years.

Dr Ngai stressed that while premature infants or those with chronic conditions are more vulnerable, full-term, healthy newborns are also at risk of hospitalisation and severe complications. One of the biggest challenges in RSV management is the inability to predict which infant will develop severe symptoms, he added.

A new hope: Long-acting monoclonal antibodies

Assoc. Prof. Dr Bui Binh Bao Son, Vice President of the Viet Nam Respiratory Society and the Viet Nam Paediatric Respiratory Society, explained that RSV circulates throughout the year in Viet Nam, with regional variations in peak periods. With no specific antiviral treatment available, clinical care remains largely supportive.

The introduction of long-acting monoclonal antibodies such as nirsevimab marks a major breakthrough, Dr Son said. Nirsevimab provides immediate, targeted protection with extended duration. It can be administered shortly after birth, offering effective early prevention against RSV.

Dr Truong Huu Khanh, Vice President of the HCM City Infectious Diseases Association, shared that nirsevimab has already been rolled out in several countries with promising real-world results.

Clinical studies and field data show that nirsevimab significantly reduces RSV-related lower respiratory tract infections that require either hospitalisation or outpatient treatment, he stated. It is indicated for all infants, whether full-term, preterm, or with underlying health conditions, providing comprehensive protection during the most vulnerable months of life.

Broader impact on public health

Assoc. Prof. Dr Nguyen Thanh Hung, Vice President of the Viet Nam Paediatric Association, concluded the seminar by underlining the therapys broader implications for public health.

Widespread adoption of monoclonal antibody therapy like nirsevimab will not only reduce RSV-related hospital admissions and mortality rates but also ease the financial and emotional burden on families and the healthcare system as a whole, he said.

The seminar served as a call to action for healthcare professionals and policymakers to embrace next-generation preventative strategies. With its strong efficacy profile and broad applicability, long-acting monoclonal antibodies represent a promising step forward in safeguarding the health of infants regardless of birth status or pre-existing conditions.

As RSV continues to pose a year-round threat, especially in tropical climates like Viet Nams, proactive immunisation measures are essential. Innovations like nirsevimab may well usher in a new era in paediatric respiratory care.  VNS
THAI NGUYEN  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Wednesday afternoon urged authorities in the northern province of Thai Nguyen to take urgent and comprehensive action to reach deeply flooded areas and those at risk of landslides and flash floods, and to promptly evacuate residents to safe locations.

He emphasised that safeguarding peoples lives must remain the foremost priority.

He also called for the immediate supply of food and essential items to households at risk of shortages, stressing that no one should be left hungry or thirsty.

The Prime Minister made the request upon arriving in Thai Nguyen, one of the hardest-hit localities following days of heavy rain and flooding, to inspect the situation and direct response efforts on site.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, the circulation of Typhoon Matmo brought heavy to extremely heavy rain to the northern region on October 7, particularly affecting Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh, Lang Son and Ha Noi.

Total rainfall in many areas reached 300400 mm, with some places recording over 560 mm.

The Cau River experienced severe flooding, causing inundation in parts of Bac Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang and Thai Nguyen.

Thai Nguyen has been battered by widespread heavy rain and flooding, leading to complex developments and severe loss of life and damage to property, infrastructure and production, seriously affecting local livelihoods.

Preliminary reports on Wednesday showed that Thai Nguyen recorded four deaths, two missing persons, and two others injured, while about 5,450 houses were submerged. Many areas have suffered landslides, roads have been flooded and cut off, and 45 communes and wards remain isolated.

Local authorities, together with Military Region 1, the provincial military command, police and other agencies, have mobilised thousands of officers, soldiers, militia members and volunteers, along with vehicles, boats and rescue equipment, to evacuate people and property from danger zones and carry out relief operations.

During his visit to Phan inh Phung Ward, PM Chinh extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and expressed sympathy for the losses and hardships faced by local Party organisations, authorities and residents affected by the disaster.

He affirmed that the Party and State fully understand and share the difficulties of people in disaster-hit areas across the country, and have directed the implementation of urgent measures to mitigate the consequences of storms and floods and help people quickly stabilise their lives.

In particular, he ordered the immediate implementation of emergency flood-prevention measures in line with current alert levels, the urgent evacuation of residents, especially the elderly, children and vulnerable groups from high-risk areas, and the reinforcement of dikes, reservoirs and dams. He stressed the need to mobilise all available forces, means and materials to promptly handle incidents 'from the very first hour.'

The Prime Minister also called on local people to remain united and supportive of one another in this difficult time, to overcome the losses and restore normal life as soon as possible.

Looking ahead, he said the Government would direct relevant ministries, localities and agencies to study and invest in upgrading and reinforcing infrastructure, including the Cau River dike system, to improve resilience against storms and natural disasters and better protect the lives and property of the people.

PM Chinh requested ministries and sectors to closely coordinate with local administrations to accelerate post-disaster recovery and ensure stability for affected communities as quickly as possible.

After his field trip, the PM chaired a meeting with provincial leaders to review the disaster response and recovery efforts. On behalf of Party General Secretary To Lam and Party and State leaders, he conveyed their deepest condolences to the people and authorities of Thai Nguyen, particularly families who lost loved members.

Commending the province for promptly evacuating residents and delivering essential supplies, PM Chinh urged continued vigilance and stronger coordination with the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security to prevent further floods, landslides, and flash floods.

He called for urgent restoration of power, telecommunications, and transport connections, as well as the reopening of hospitals, schools, and administrative offices. Local authorities were told to assist people in repairing homes, cleaning the environment, preventing disease outbreaks, and resuming production.

In the long term, PM Chinh approved Thai Nguyens proposal to build and upgrade flood prevention and dyke systems along the Cau River to enhance safety for residents and infrastructure. He asked the province to expedite preparations for the project under emergency procedures, targeting completion by the 2026 flood season.

Emphasising the spirit of solidarity and compassion, the PM called on ministries, sectors, organisations, and individuals nationwide to join hands in supporting flood-hit residents in Thai Nguyen and other northern provinces.

Responding to his appeal, Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang, on behalf of the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defence, presented VN5 billion (nearly US$190,000 USD) to Thai Nguyen to help overcome the aftermath of the disaster.  VNS
LAM ONG  Lam ong Police on Tuesday broke ground on 49 houses for poor and disadvantaged households in the ethnic minority areas of am Rong 3 and Truong Xuan communes.

The houses are part of a social programme supporting poor, near-poor and policy-beneficiary families, with total funding of more than VN4.8 billion sponsored by the Viet Nam National Coal and Mineral Industries Group.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of November this year. The houses will be built to ensure durability and suitability for local natural conditions and cultural practices, providing long-term stability for residents.

Deputy Director of the provincial Police Colonel Huynh Ngoc Liem said the project demonstrates the responsibility and compassion of the public security force towards people in remote areas.

He called on local authorities, businesses and communities to cooperate closely to ensure the projects effectiveness and transparency. Beneficiaries are also encouraged to take part in supervising the construction process and maintaining the houses after completion.

This is not only a practical activity to improve living conditions for poor households but also a symbol of solidarity between the police and local people, Liem said.

The programme is part of efforts to celebrate major political events, including the upcoming 8th Congress of the Party Organisation of the Central Public Security, the 11th Congress of the Lam ong Party Organisation for the 202530 term, and the 14th National Party Congress.

Since the beginning of this year, the Lam ong Police have implemented 542 houses for poor households across the province, helping to enhance social security and stability in ethnic minority communities. VNS
The initiative aims to improve quality of life and bring joy to local children, focusing on providing clean water systems, charity houses in Bu Gia Map commune, and organising the Green Mid-Autumn Festival for children in Phu Nghia commune.

These contributions confirm Binh Minh Plastics and SCG Groups commitment to working alongside communities to reduce social inequality and advance the path towards inclusive green growth.

The initiative Loving water, loving the future has been carried out annually by Binh Minh Plastics since 2022, with the goal of bringing safe and clean water to communities and improving the quality of life for residents. Over the past three years, the initiative has installed 83,312 metres of pipelines, delivering clean water to 5,750 students and more than 104,280 households in remote areas and ethnic minority communities across the country, from the Mekong Delta to the mountainous provinces of the Northwest.

Niwat Athiwattananont, general director of Binh Minh Plastics, shared, "As a leading enterprise in the plastic building materials industry, we are committed to supporting the sustainable development of the country. We believe that bringing clean water to mountainous communities not only addresses daily essential needs but also provides opportunities to improve health and enhance quality of life."

In 2025, the initiative will be implemented in Bu Gia Map commune, from July to December, with total funding of up to VND1.24 trillion ($47 million). This initiative has installed a new water drainage system with 34,560 metres of pipes, with the participation of Binh Minh Plastics' technical team and the cooperation of five villages in Bu Gia Map commune, to bring clean water to 1,152 households.

This initiative demonstrates the group's strong commitment to "Better You, Better Vietnam - Joining hands to build happiness" for the environment and the community.

At the handover ceremony, Tran Lam, deputy secretary and chairman of the Bu Gia Map Peoples Committee, emphasised, For the residents of Bu Gia Map Commune, access to clean water is an essential need, closely tied to their health and daily lives. The support for 'Loving water, loving the future' has helped bring safe water to local households, allowing people to live, work, and study with greater peace of mind. The care and generosity of businesses and benefactors such as Binh Minh Plastics and its partners stand as a clear testament to their social responsibility, compassion, and humanitarian spirit.

At the event, many households also expressed their deep gratitude and emotion, Although this is the headwater area and the main water reserve of the province and the region, we mostly rely on rainwater or well water. In the dry season the wells run dry, and in the rainy season they become polluted with silt and debris, making the water unsafe. Without clean water, we have to walk kilometres to fetch it from streams or wait for the rain. Prolonged heatwaves have only made the situation more severe. Thanks to the support of Binh Minh Plastics and SCG, we now have a reliable source of clean water right in our village. Our daily life has become easier, essential needs are better met, and we can truly look forward to a brighter future.

Beyond clean water, Binh Minh Plastics' trade union also handed over the House of Love to Nguyen Thi Thanh Xuan, who is currently unable to work and does not have a stable source of income; the current residence is unsafe and does not meet basic living needs. This activity aims to help particularly difficult cases of housing, help the local government to better implement poverty reduction, and create a more sustainable life for ethnic minorities in the locality.

In addition, the Mid-Autumn Festival took place in Phu Nghia commune on October 5 for 1,600 children. Many exciting activities took place with the aim of bringing joy to students, such as a booth to exchange garbage for gifts. Games and stage tableaus about the environment, along with cultural performances, lion dances, and lantern processions, were also on display.

On this occasion, the organisers said that they had awarded 70 scholarships worth VND70 million ($2,655) to students who study well in difficult circumstances.

After the festival, many students from Bu Gia Map and Phu Nghia communes expressed their happiness at being able to participate in the celebratory atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival for the first time.

Binh Minh Plastics ranked amongst Vietnams 50 Best-Performing Companies 2019 Binh Minh Plastics (HSX: BMP) has been awarded the Vietnams 50 Best-Performing Companies (TOP 50) 2019 title by Nhip Cau Dau Tu Magazine in tandem with Thien Viet Securities. Making this the ninth consecutive years in the Top 50, BMP has its consistent performance thanks to excellent corporate governance and strong commitment to quality improvement.

Binh Minh Plastics honoured by Forbes Vietnam Binh Minh Plastics JSC (BM PLASCO), an SCG member in Vietnam, was named as one of the 50 Best Listed Firms in 2022 by Forbes Vietnam.
U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn with nine of the 10 Clyburn Scholars inducted on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, at the I.P. Stanback Museum and Planetarium.

U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn challenged the scholars to follow the legacy of the institutions founding president, Thomas E. Miller.

ORANGEBURG, S.C.  South Carolina State University on Friday inducted 10 new Clyburn Scholars into the Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College, representing the largest class in the universitys history.



The Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College continues to inspire excellence at South Carolina State University, and we are proud to welcome the largest class of Clyburn Scholars in its history, SC State President Alexander Conyers said. These outstanding students represent the very best of our universitys academic tradition.



I know they will carry forward the values of service, leadership and scholarship that define the Clyburn legacy, Conyers said. Their success reflects the strength and growth of SC State as we prepare the next generation of leaders.



This years Clyburn Scholars cohort represents a competitive and diverse group of high-achieving scholars drawn from science, mathematics, technology, business, fine arts, humanities, education, and social sciences.



Each scholar demonstrates the character, leadership, and civic commitment that define the Clyburn legacy. The newly inducted scholars are:



 Aleena Allen - Summerville, South Carolina

 Jayrah Bostic - Orangeburg, South Carolina

 Jewel Edwards - Columbia, South Carolina

 Rhiazia Grant - Fountain Inn, South Carolina

 JaLeeah Jones - Fort Mill, South Carolina

 Savanna Mansel - Simpsonville, South Carolina

 Dashon Pinckney - Columbia, South Carolina

 Malcolm Salters - Kingstree, South Carolina

 Kelsey Whetstone - Orangeburg, South Carolina



Our Clyburn Scholars are builders of ideas, of community, and of opportunity, said Dr. William H. Whitaker Jr., the Honors Colleges dean. This record cohort reflects the growing demand for a transformative Honors experience that blends scholarship, leadership, global engagement, and service. We are honored to walk with them as they lead with purpose.

A proven leaders challenge

The Clyburn Scholars were presented during the annual induction ceremony and breakfast at the I.P. Stanback Museum and Planetarium, with U.S. Rep. James E. Clyburn delivering the keynote address.



Clyburn and his late wife, Dr. Emily England Clyburn, both of whom graduated from SC State in 1961, were the original benefactors who established the scholarship fund and garnered support from high-profile donors. The Honors College bears Dr. Clyburns name because of her commitment to fostering excellence at SC State.



In addressing the scholars, Clyburn drew inspiration from one of his predecessors in Congress, SC States founding president, Thomas E. Miller.



Thomas E. Miller's life is an interesting one that ought to be instructive for all of us and maybe for the entire nation, Clyburn said. He noted that while Miller was not Black, he had been adopted by a Black family as a child and maintained a Black identity throughout his life.



When they were debating what to do about educating the formerly enslaved, and that debate was taking place here in South Carolina, Thomas Miller was serving in the South Carolina Legislature, Clyburn said. He saw an opportunity during that debate to establish an HBCU  a land grant college here in South Carolina, and he took it.



He had a choice to live a comfortable life, but he decided to do what he could to help make this place, this country, a better country, Clyburn said.



The congressman encouraged the scholars to take a similar path.



We have got to do the things that are necessary to make this country a better place, Clyburn said. And as we go through life, I want you to remember the legacy of Thomas E. Miller, who made a choice.



Clyburn said his late wife, too, made the right choices, including her support for the Honors College that now bears her name.

Rigor and critical thinking

Dr. Frederick Evans, SC State provost and vice president for academic affairs, described Fridays induction as a historic moment for the university.



With the induction of the largest class of Clyburn Scholars in our history, we affirm that South Carolina State is not only attracting the best and brightest minds but also cultivating them to become the kind of leaders our world urgently needs, Evans said. The Honors College is, as I often say, the tip of the spear for academic rigor and innovation at SC State.



Across our colleges and disciplines, our faculty partner with Honors to create research-rich, interdisciplinary experiences that challenge students to think critically, ask bold questions, and design solutions to real-world problems. You, our newest scholars, will deepen and carry forward this culture of inquiry and excellence, he said,



Dr. Windy Stephenson, the Honors Colleges executive director of academics and scholarship services, pointed to the wraparound support that will shape the scholars journeys.



From merit awards and research placements to advising, mentorship, and professional development, we surround our scholars with the resources they need to thrive, Stephenson said. This class will benefit from expanded pathways in undergraduate research, internships, servicelearning, and graduate readiness.



The Honors College serves 141 students from across the U.S. and around the world. The Colleges academic profile continues to rise with incoming GPA markers and engagement indicators that outpace state and national public HBCU norms.

Beyond a ceremony: What comes next?

The induction is not an endpoint but an invitation to deeper study, broader service, and leadership that bends toward the common good. In the months ahead, the Honors College will continue scaling undergraduate research, strengthening the Innovation & Leadership Hub, and expanding experiential learning through internships, coops, industry site visits, and global experiences.



Advisors and faculty mentors will guide scholars through graduateschool preparation, competitive fellowships, and highimpact projects that address community needs.



Honors is where high standards meet higher purpose, Whitaker said. We are intentional about pairing rigorous academics with mentorship and service because we are not simply preparing graduates. We are cultivating leaders who will solve hard problems with competence, with conscience and will one day lead the world.



About the Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College

Named in honor of the late librarian, educator, and civil rights advocate Dr. Emily England Clyburn, the Honors College at South Carolina State University offers a rigorous, holistic academic environment that fosters critical thinking, leadership, civic responsibility, and global engagement. The College prepares high-achieving students to thrive in competitive graduate programs, professional careers, and public service through high-impact practices and interdisciplinary learning.



For more information about SC States Dr. Emily England Clyburn Honors College, contact Dr. William Whitaker, the Honors Colleges dean, at wwhitak3@scsu.edu or 803-533-3710 or Dr. Windy A. Mack Stephenson, the Honors Colleges executive director, at wmack3@scsu.edu or (803) 516-4610.
The survey gathered insights from more than 500 senior executives and finance professionals across multiple economies during one of the most volatile periods for international trade in decades.

While 85 per cent of respondents said they were concerned about the impact of tariffs on their organisations, 56 per cent still expect their firms to expand global trade significantly or somewhat over the next three to five years. In contrast, 23 per cent foresee a decline in trade activity. Among senior executives, optimism was stronger, with 38 per cent anticipating a significant increase in international trade and 29 per cent expecting moderate growth.

Tariff hikes and uncertainty can reshape the global trade outlook, but businesses are showing cautious optimism. Photo: ACCA Vietnam

Jonathan Ashworth, chief economist at ACCA, described 2025 as a defining year for international trade, with the United States imposing its highest import tariffs since the 1930s.

The global economy has so far proved more resilient than expected to these disruptions, though some slowing is likely over the coming quarters, he said. Nevertheless, business leaders remain relatively optimistic about their medium-term trade prospects and overwhelmingly supportive of an open global trading system.

While confidence remains, the survey found that rising protectionism and geopolitical tensions are the main challenges to trade growth. Participants ranked geopolitical tensions, international or civil conflicts, and protectionist policies in advanced economies as the top three risks to global commerce.

At the same time, technological transformation and supply chain diversification are seen as new avenues for growth. Half of all respondents identified the use of advanced technologies such as AI in facilitating cross-border trade as their biggest opportunity, followed by diversifying production or supplier locations and gaining access to new technologies.

The report indicated that many companies have already adjusted their operations to the changing global trade landscape. Around 60 per cent have relocated parts of their production, investment, or supply chains in recent years, while 61 per cent plan to do so in the near future.

However, such adjustments may increase costs. More than one-third of respondents expect their organisations operational costs to rise by over 10 per cent due to changes in trade conditions, and 46 per cent anticipate smaller increases of up to 10 per cent. Only six per cent expect any reduction in costs.

According to the report, these patterns reflect the broader adaptation of global businesses to a more fragmented trading environment, characterised by both heightened risk and emerging technological opportunities.

The ACCA analysis places these findings within a wider economic context. It notes that while trade policy uncertainty in the United States has eased slightly compared with earlier peaks, the international environment continues to be shaped by geopolitical competition, evolving supply networks, and the gradual deceleration of globalisation.

ACCAs Global Economic Outlook 2025 further highlights that global growth remains steady, supported by ongoing investment and demand, but increasingly influenced by structural changes such as the expansion of AI, the energy transition, and efforts to balance climate targets with economic performance.

In this environment, trade diversification is becoming a key strategic focus for firms worldwide. Many are seeking to strengthen regional partnerships, enhance digital trade facilitation, and develop alternative supply routes. These shifts are expected to influence trade patterns, particularly in manufacturing and high-value services.

Although uncertainties persist, the survey findings show that most businesses continue to regard open and rules-based trading systems as essential to sustaining long-term global growth, even amid renewed protectionist pressures.

Global business confidence remains fragile despite Q2 uptick Global business confidence among professional accountants is showing tentative signs of a recovery, according to new data from an international survey.
Following the recent signing of a Joint Development Agreement with PetroVietnam to advance Vietnams first offshore wind project, CIP is refining its strategy to drive the nations energy transition. In this interview, Antonioli shares insights into CIPs priorities, the challenges ahead, and the steps needed to unlock Vietnams offshore wind (OSW) potential.

Congratulations on your new role as the senior leader of CIP and COP in Vietnam. Could you tell us a bit about your background and share your initial impressions of Vietnams energy landscape?

It is a privilege to take on this role at a time when Vietnam is making decisive moves in its energy transition. My background spans almost two decades in the energy industry, beginning with engineering roles at General Electric and later senior leadership positions at BP, where I focused on OSW markets across Europe and Asia, including Vietnam.

These experiences have given me a clear perspective on what it takes to bring OSW from concept to reality: a strong technical foundation, access to international finance and more crucially, a clear, transparent regulatory framework to underpin a long-term pipeline of projects. These are arguably some important requirements that international companies assess when committing to a market and, indeed, a country.

What impresses me most about Vietnam is how many of the conditions are already in place. The country benefits from world-class wind resources, favourable seabed conditions, and rapidly growing energy demand driven by the governments ambition for sustained double-digit economic growth. At the same time, Vietnam has shown a strong commitment to cleaner energy, supported by a skilled workforce and a domestic supply chain eager to participate in OSW development.

What strengths or experience do you believe best position the company to contribute to Vietnams OSW development?

CIP is the worlds largest dedicated investor in green-field renewable energy, with a portfolio spanning Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific. We have successfully delivered some of the most complex and large-scale OSW projects in the world, including Veja Mate - one of Germanys largest OSW farms at the time of its commissioning in 2017, Changfang and Xidao - recognised for achieving one of the highest localisation ratios in Taiwans OSW sector, and Zhongneng - a joint venture between CIP and a state-owned corporation, combining international investment and expertise with domestic industrial capabilities to deliver one of Taiwans most advanced renewable energy projects.

These achievements are not just about scale, they are also about navigating new markets, building trust with governments and communities, and creating the conditions for long-term industry growth. In Vietnam, we will bring this proven know-how, from project design and bankable financing structures to stakeholder engagement and supply chain development, and tailor it to Vietnams unique context. Our goal is to deliver world-class OSW projects while helping to unlock Vietnams first wave of developments that will lay the foundation for a new sustainable energy industry.

What will your main focus be as you lead CIP and COPs journey in Vietnam?

As the Vietnam CEO of COP, the exclusive OSW development partner of CIP, my role is to translate CIP and COPs global OSW expertise into concrete results for Vietnam. I will lead the commercial and strategic direction of our portfolio, taking responsibility for early-stage development decisions and ensuring that every venture we pursue is bankable, capable of reaching financial close, and ready for construction. I will also be responsible for identifying new investment opportunities that support CIPs broader long-term strategy in the country.

At the same time, I will work closely with government leaders, local partners, and other stakeholders to help shape a clear and enabling framework for investment. Equally important, I am committed to building Vietnams long-term capabilities through transferring international expertise, strengthening the domestic supply chain, and creating opportunities for Vietnamese professionals to lead in this emerging industry.

With the recent Joint Development Agreement between CIP and PetroVietnam, how do you view the importance of this partnership and the roadmap ahead?

The Joint Development Agreement marks an historic step, both for CIP and for Vietnams energy sector. For CIP, it underscores our long-term commitment to Vietnam, bringing global expertise and capital to support the countrys clean energy ambitions. For Vietnam, it signals that international investors with OSW know-how and domestic partners with unmatched offshore engineering experience can join forces to deliver world-class projects. It is particularly meaningful that this milestone coincides with PetroVietnams 50th anniversary, a moment to honour its legacy in traditional energy while also embracing a new era of green energy.

Looking ahead, CIP and PetroVietnam working groups will deepen collaboration to advance an OSW project in Vietnams south-central region, with an expected capacity of 1-2 GW, which is poised to become one of Vietnams first OSW farms. At the same time, we will continue to explore new investment opportunities to support Vietnams energy transition and build a sustainable, diversified, and long-term portfolio.

Denmark's CIP ties up with Petrovietnam to develop offshore wind Denmark's Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), through its CI GMF II Cooperatief UA fund, signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Petrovietnam to develop offshore wind ventures on August 22.

Energy progress anticipated if investors remain enticed As Southeast Asia navigates its energy transition, the trio of offshore wind, battery storage, and green hydrogen emerges as game-changers. Trung Ghi, partner and head of the Energy & Utilities Practice at Arthur D. Little, talked to VIRs Hara Nguyen about how Vietnam can build a resilient low-carbon future.
Announced on October 7, the new agreements will introduce Hiltons luxury brands  Conrad Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts, and DoubleTree by Hilton  to new destinations in Vietnam, while further extending the presence of its flagship Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand nationwide. The collaboration marks a major step in Hiltons strategy to meet rising demand for high-end hospitality experiences across the country.

"Vietnam has long been a key part of Hilton's growth journey in Southeast Asia, and our expanded partnership with Sun Group marks a pivotal moment in that trajectory," said Chris Nassetta, president and CEO of Hilton. "From luxury to lifestyle and full-service offerings, these new hotels will introduce a diverse range of experiences across Vietnam, catering to the growing demand for high-quality hospitality in one of Asia's most dynamic markets."

"By introducing Hilton's world-class brands to Sun Group's flagship destinations in Quang Ninh, Danang, and Phu Quoc, we are setting new benchmarks for integrated resorts that unite cultural authenticity, natural beauty, and global standards of hospitality," said Dang Minh Truong, Chairman, Sun Group.

The five new properties will span the north, central and south of Vietnam. Accordingly, LXR Hotels & Resorts, a hand-picked collection of independent and spirited luxury properties, makes its brand debut in Vietnam with an intimate 80-room retreat along the Danang riverside. This marks the brand's first entry into the country, expanding its global footprint to more than 30 trading and pipeline properties worldwide. Nestled on Dao Xanh, a serene island on the Han river, the hotel offers a luxurious base to explore the heart of Danang, a vibrant city known for its cultural richness and natural beauty.

Conrad Phu Quoc, Hilton Phu Quoc, and DoubleTree by Hilton Phu Quoc will anchor a major hospitality and event precinct being developed for the 2027 APEC Economic Leaders Meeting. Set within a multi-brand property cluster, the development reflects Phu Quocs rise as a premier destination for world-class meetings and events. Scheduled to open in 2027, the three hotels will collectively offer 1,500 rooms  ranging from Conrad Phu Quocs 250 locally inspired, contemporary spaces, to Hilton Phu Quocs 500 modern, elevated rooms, and DoubleTree by Hilton Phu Quocs 750 thoughtfully designed accommodations  each delivering a distinctive experience for todays travellers.

Hilton Quang Hanh Onsen Resort, opening before the end of this year, will bring Hilton's signature hospitality to northern Vietnam, a region well-known for its naturally rich mineral hot springs. The wellness-focused resort, situated near the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Halong Bay, will feature 216 rooms and villas, complemented by amenities such as public mineral baths, sauna rooms, private onsens, and a holistic spa, promising a truly unique wellness experience.

Vietnam currently holds Hilton's third-largest portfolio in Southeast Asia with 21 trading hotels. With the addition of the five newly signed properties, Hilton is set to double its trading supply in Vietnam, growing its development pipeline from 16 to 21, reinforcing its position as a key market in Hilton's growth trajectory in the region.

"Expanding our existing partnership with Sun Group to bring more properties and new brands to Vietnam just shows the confidence owners place in Hilton's world-class brands and robust commercial engine," said Alan Watts, president of Asia-Pacific in Hilton. "We are now on track to double our presence in Vietnam, with a footprint that stretches from Quang Hanh in the north to Phu Quoc in the south. This signing reflects our ongoing commitment to the market and its importance as a strategic growth driver for our expansion across Asia-Pacific."

Hilton Saigon brings prosperity with urban life A centrepiece in the heart of the metropolis with impressive views, Hilton Saigon embodies the essence of the locality, powered by a passion for service and hospitality. This marks the debut of its award-winning flagship brand and first hotel in this city.

Hilton doubles down its footprint in the Vietnamese market Vietnam has been recognised as one of the key markets for Hilton in Southeast Asia as the country continues to undergo strong transformation in the tourism industry. Alexandra Murray, vice president and regional head of South East Asia spoke with VIRs Thanh Van about the importance of the Vietnamese market for Hilton as the company celebrates two and half decades of presence in the country.
Within the framework of FWC 2025, the Vietnam SuperPort exhibition booth had the honour of welcoming Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, president of FIATA Turgut Erkeskin, alongside leaders from central ministries and local authorities as well as representatives from leading global logistics and freight forwarding associations and enterprises.

Dr. Robert Yap, executive chairman of YCH Group welcomed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the Vietnam SuperPortTM exhibition booth

During the visit, Yap Kwong Weng, CEO of Vietnam SuperPort, presented to delegates the operational plans for the Off-Airport Cargo Terminal (OACT), a strategic link in the multimodal supply chain set to be officially launched soon.

Turgut Erkeskin, president of FIATA as well as representatives from leading global logistics and freight forwarding associations and enterprises visit the Vietnam SuperPort exhibition booth at the event

Strategically located along the Northern Economic Corridor, connecting over 20 industrial parks with major seaports and airports such as Noi Bai, Haiphong, and Quang Ninh, and extending to Yunnan and Kunming (China), the OACT not only facilitates the flow of goods between Vietnam and the China-ASEAN region but also links directly to the networks of international airlines and key markets in the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Yap Kwong Weng, CEO of Vietnam SuperPort, presents the Off-Airport Cargo Terminal at the event

Notably, this is one of Vietnams pioneering OACT, fully integrated with functions as an extended air cargo terminal including customs clearance, security screening, storage, ULD (Unit Load Device) handling, and transport to the airport. All cargo is managed under strict security protocols, monitored 24/7 by CCTV systems, with oversight from aviation security and customs authorities from receipt through to aircraft loading.

Covering more than 11,000 square metres and with an annual handling capacity of approximately 50,000 tonnes, the OACT is constructed and equipped to international standards, capable of receiving, storing, and processing large volumes of cargo from multiple businesses and carriers from demanding markets such as the US and Europe.

Weng said, "The OACT is a key component of the Vietnam SuperPort Multimodal Logistics Center, developed under a Park within a Park model that integrates all modes of transport, rail, road, sea, and air, within a single hub. This design enables businesses to flexibly switch between transport modes to meet their needs while optimising transit time and shipping costs."

Alongside its connectivity and operational capabilities, Vietnam SuperPort also unveiled plans to develop the OACT into a modern, intelligent cargo terminal leveraging advanced technologies such as AI and robotics. Specifically, Vietnam SuperPort has partnered with Google and Kyndryl to research and develop next-generation AI integrated into security screening systems to detect prohibited and hazardous items, while also applying AI for automated verification of cargo documentation to enhance safety and security.

In addition, with the support of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research Singapore, Vietnam SuperPort is developing Autonomous Guided Vehicles, robotic loaders, and Autonomous Mobile Robots to fully automate warehouse operations, aiming to increase operational productivity by up to 35 per cent while reducing error rates by 50 per cent.

In the long-term vision, the OACT aims for full digitalisation, establishing an integrated logistics platform that allows businesses to track, manage, and book services online through a single system  from customs declaration and security control to electronic payment. This represents a significant step towards building a fully digitalised air cargo supply chain, connecting Vietnam with smart logistics networks across the ASEAN region and the global market.

Speaking at the event, Robert Yap stated, Vietnam SuperPort embodies the shared vision of YCH Group and T&T Group to build a smarter, greener, and more connected supply chain for the region. The OACT is not merely a logistics facility, it is a catalyst that reinforces Vietnams role as a dynamic hub for trade and innovation across ASEAN and beyond.

Guided by the development principle of Connectivity - Smart - Sustainability, the OACT not only handles cargo storage and processing but is also positioned as a strategic bridge, enhancing Vietnams integration capabilities, optimising logistics costs, and expanding international trade opportunities for Vietnamese businesses.

On-site view of the OACT at Vietnam SuperPort

In terms of efficiency, the OACT model will provide significant competitive advantages for import-export businesses and the entire air cargo logistics chain, enhancing service quality, alleviating congestion and pressure at airport cargo terminals, improving operational flow, and facilitating smoother flight routes and cargo movement.

OACT is not just an Off-Airport Cargo Terminal; it is a symbol of Vietnams vision for smart and sustainable connectivity. We aim to build a next-generation logistics hub where technology, infrastructure, and people come together to drive new momentum for global trade, Weng emphasised.

At the Vietnam International Innovation Expo 2025 (VIIE 2025) from October 1 to 3, Vietnam SuperPort also made a strong impression by showcasing a range of cutting-edge, modern technological solutions designed to enhance logistics system efficiency and position Vietnam as a strategic link in the global supply chain.

Vietnam SuperPorts continued introduction and preparation for the official operation of the OACT further reinforces its strategic vision for digitalising logistics, aiming to build an intelligent, efficient, and sustainable connected ecosystem for Vietnam and the region.

Vietnam SuperPort is a multimodal logistics hub spanning 83 hectares in Phu Tho Province. It is a strategic joint venture between YCH Group, Singapores leading supply chain solutions provider with nearly 70 years of industry leadership, and T&T Group, one of Vietnams top 10 largest private multi-sector conglomerates.

Vietnam SuperPort aims to enhance Vietnams integration into the global supply chain, reduce logistics costs and strengthen the nations competitive edge in international trade. With a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2040, Vietnam SuperPort is positioning itself as leading green and connected logistics hub in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam SuperPort to enhance railway development and transport to China Seeing room in Vietnam's logistics development and trading with China, Yap Kwong Weng, CEO Vietnam SuperPort, told VIR's Nguyen Huong about the company's plans to seize opportunities.

New YCH Group's partnership set to boost Tay Ninhs cross-border trade Singapores YCH Group has teamed up with Tay Ninh province to boost logistics, e-commerce, and green growth, unlocking new cross-border trade opportunities and strengthening ties with Cambodia.
In an article released in early October, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) noted that Taiwans growing import demand presents significant opportunities for Vietnamese businesses, especially for key export items such as shrimp and basa fish.

Taiwans rising demand for seafood imports is opening major opportunities for Vietnamese businesses

In 2024, Taiwan imported nearly $1.9 billion worth of seafood from 86 countries. Vietnam ranked fourth, accounting for 9 per cent of the market share. The most favoured products included shrimp, salmon, squid, scallops, and halibut.

Taiwan currently ranks among Asias largest seafood-consuming markets, with per capita consumption reaching 31.65 kg a year in 2023, far exceeding the global average of 21 kg.

Taiwanese consumers are especially willing to pay premium prices for high-quality seafood, particularly in upscale restaurants, where lobster, crab, and oysters are considered luxury items.

The growth of fine dining, marked by 49 Michelin-starred restaurants, has further fuelled the demand for premium seafood imports.

Vietnam is capitalising effectively on this opportunity. In 2024, seafood exports to Taiwan reached $168 million, making up 1.7 per cent of the countrys total seafood export value.

In the first eight months of 2025 alone, seafood exports to this market surpassed $123 million, up 18 per cent on-year. Shrimp led the growth with a 37 per cent hike, mainly from whiteleg and black tiger shrimp, while basa fish rose by 31 per cent.

Squid and octopus exports, however, fell by 5 per cent, and molluscs dropped sharply by 45 per cent, indicating intense competition in certain segments.

Shrimp and basa fish represent Vietnams standout competitive advantages in the Taiwanese market. Taiwan offers favourable pricing, particularly suited for value-added processed products.

However, Vietnamese exporters face strong competition from China, Japan, and Norway, countries with strengths in salmon, squid, and marine fish. In addition, strict quarantine regulations imposed by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration present significant challenges regarding quality control and certification.

To sustainably tap into this market, VASEP recommends that Vietnamese companies focus on core products such as shrimp and basa fish, while developing high-value processed product lines that emphasise freshness, quality, and traceability.

Collaborating with local restaurants and chefs in Taiwan, participating in international food expos, and strictly adhering to food safety standards are also essential strategies to enhance brand credibility.

With positive growth momentum in 2025, Vietnamese seafood has a major opportunity to expand its presence in Taiwan. However, to maintain this advantage, firms must invest in quality, build strong brands, and intensify trade promotion efforts, especially in the high-end culinary segment, to meet the increasingly sophisticated demands of this dynamic market.

Seafood firms push export promotions Vietnams seafood exports achieved positive results so far this ye thanks to efforts to reinforce the key markets.

China emerges as Vietnams top shrimp importer China has overtaken the United States to become the largest importer of Vietnamese shrimp, with import value soaring by 80 per cent in the first half of 2025.
This is to determine whether sufficient progress has been made in enabling access to global brokers, which is essential to support index replication and meet the needs of the international investment community. FTSE Russell recognised the progress made by the Vietnamese market authorities in evolving its market by removing the prefunding requirement for foreign institutional investors with the implementation of a non-refunding model and establishing a formal process for handling failed trades.

FTSE Russell acknowledged that Vietnam has met all the criteria of the secondary emerging market status under the FTSE Equity Country Classification Framework. FTSE Russell will continue to monitor developments closely and welcome feedback from index stakeholders to enable the reclassification to proceed as planned in September 2026.

Nguyen Van Thang, Minister of Finance said, "Over the past two years, under the leadership of the government and PM, and with the close guidance of the Ministry of Finance, the State Securities Commission has implemented a comprehensive reform programme to align Vietnam's securities market with the highest international standards. The official recognition and upgrade of Vietnam's securities market is clear evidence of the country's sound development path and its growing capacity to integrate deeply into the global financial system."

"The Ministry of Finance remains committed to advancing deeper and broader reforms, maximising accessibility for both domestic and international investors, while accelerating the modernisation and digitalisation of its market infrastructure  with the objective of establishing an increasingly transparent and efficient market," Thang noted.

David Sol, global head of policy at FTSE Russell, said, "FTSE Russell congratulates the Vietnamese market authorities on the significant progress made in aligning with international standards. The reclassification of Vietnam reflects the implementation of key market infrastructure enhancements, and we look forward to continued collaboration to ensure sustained progress ahead of the target reclassification date in September 2026."

Vietnam is poised to reach emerging market status in 2025 Vietnam is on the cusp of a major financial milestone, with the FTSE expected to upgrade the country to emerging market status in 2025.

Vietnam eyes FTSE Emerging Market status at London event Vietnam's emergence as ASEAN's most dynamic equity market, underpinned by strong economic growth and surging liquidity, will be in the spotlight at the London Stock Exchange this month when international investors gather for a landmark conference.
The VYEA unveils VPSF 2025 summary report and 10,000 CEO Training Programme

On October 8 in Hanoi, the VYEA held a press conference to present the summary report of VPSF 2025 and unveil its '10,000 CEO Training Programme' for 20252030. The initiative is designed to provide a structured roadmap, practical guidance, and expert support to prepare private sector leaders for the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly integrating economy.

The programme reflects the VYEAs commitment to implementing the initiatives and pledges made during last months VPSF 2025 high-level session, transforming dialogue into tangible support for Vietnams emerging business leaders.

The VPSF 2025 summary report was compiled based on input from nearly 6,500 delegates, over 3,000 opinions from the business community across 12 local dialogue sessions nationwide, four thematic sessions, and one high-level session with the direct attendance and guidance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The discussions highlighted critical issues regarding institutions, innovation, international integration, and internal corporate governance. The report proposed many recommendations, notably the CEO training scheme aimed at nurturing a new generation of Vietnamese business leaders with the vision and talent to drive sustainable development.

At the press conference, Dang Hong Anh, chairman of the VYEA and VPSF 2025, said the association will finalise and publish the full report, systematising all recommendations and proposals from the business community.

This report will be submitted to the government and relevant agencies as a key reference for building, adjusting, and finalising policies. Beyond compiling the recommendations, the association will set up a monitoring mechanism to track their reception and follow-up, working closely with ministries and local authorities to ensure concrete responses and implementation, he said.

The VYEA plans to create an online, transparent, and regularly updated policy feedback platform, alongside periodic dialogue sessions to track progress and strengthen implementation. The initiative aims to turn VPSF recommendations into actionable policies, address delays, and drive momentum for private sector development.

Kickoff event for the 10,000 CEO Training Programme, 20252030

To turn the outcomes of VPSF 2025 into concrete action, the VYEA also unveiled the launch plan for the 10,000 CEO Training Programme.

The initiative follows a three-phase roadmap: Phase 1, in the last quarter of 2025, will pilot the programme with the first 1,000 participants; Phase 2, from 2027 to 2029, will scale up to reach 7,000 participants; and Phase 3, in 2030, will focus on sustainable, widespread impact to achieve the target of training 10,000 CEOs.

This is a large-scale, long-term scheme, specially designed to combine theory with practice, taught by top experts and successful entrepreneurs. With a focus on the most urgent topics today, it is expected to produce a new generation of CEOs capable of leading their businesses onto the global stage, said Hong Anh.

The course comprises eight training modules, covering entrepreneurship and corporate culture; business strategy; talent management and human resources; operations and performance management; risk management and legal compliance; financial management; technology, AI, and innovation; and partner engagement, including mergers and acquisitions.

Funding will be split 50/50 between sponsorships and tuition fees. Using the 'Mindset  Toolset  Skillset' approach, the programme provides not just theoretical knowledge but also practical tools and actionable skills that can be immediately applied in businesses.

Building green infrastructure, removing legal bottlenecks for urban development The business community has emphasised that Vietnam stands at a crucial crossroads: either decisively transform towards sustainable development, or face the risk of urban decline.

PM calls on young entrepreneurs to lead Vietnams next development era The Vietnam Private Sector Forum (VPSF) 2025 concluded with the prime minister calling on young entrepreneurs to drive innovation and institutional reform.

Sandbox and governance keys for Vietnams startups The young business community and tech startups have highlighted two vital factors to build a new generation of enterprises in Vietnam: a regulatory sandbox and stronger corporate governance.
We had a fantastic turnout from institutional investors and analysts at Infratils Investor Day in Sydney on 18 September. As Chair Alison Gerry said in her welcome, with Infratil now in the S&P/ASX 200 index and more than 40% of our investment portfolio in Australia, we are actively trying to grow our Australian shareholder base - which is part of the reason for hosting this event in Australia.

The theme of our Investor Day was Portfolio Set for Growth with CEO Jason Boyes talking about our plans to prioritise further investment in the fast-growing digital and renewable energy sectors while simplifying our current portfolio.

You can watch Jasons presentation, as well as those from four of our portfolio companies and the Morrison management team online at https://infratil.com/for-investors/investor-days/.

One of the key slides from Jasons presentation sets out how we are thinking about the role of the various businesses within the pillars of our portfolio and the potential to grow Infratils market cap to NZ$20 billion over the next five years.

We are prioritising capital towards assets that will drive long-term shareholder value and looking at divesting businesses unlikely to scale under our ownership. This is expected to result in a smaller number of larger, high conviction assets in in Pillar 1 & 2. Pillar 3 businesses are those that we will look to grow over the next three to five years.

On 18 September we announced a strategic review of Australian medical imaging business Qscan, with our 57% shareholding last valued at NZ$460 million. This follows on from our announcement in August that we had sold our 50% stake in RetireAustralia for NZ$328 million, with the transaction due to be completed by the end of 2025.

Further announcements are expected this financial year as we progress toward our $1 billion divestment target. Proceeds from divestments are expected to be reinvested into existing or new opportunities that align with our growth ambitions. CDC and Gurin Energys Project Vanda are two existing candidates that we have noted for this potential reinvestment.

CDC confirms step-up in demand for future-proof capacity

CDC CEO Greg Boorer told our Sydney Investor Day audience that he hates going to sleep because it means he cant be talking to someone about growing the business. Im more confident than ever that we can sell every megawatt that we can build, he said, noting that global customers are tracking CDCs build programme very closely.

On 24 September he proved that his customer focus is getting results, with CDC announcing it had secured approximately 100MW of new contracted capacity. To put this in context, this new demand equates to just over a quarter of CDCs existing operating capacity in June. This keeps CDC on track to double its FY25 earnings by FY27, with approximately 95% of the required forecast lease revenues now under contract.

The announcement also underscores the strong, ongoing demand in the Australasian data centre market. CDC noted that contract sizes are getting larger with a tsunami of demand from hyperscale and AI customers. They are now CDCs largest customer segment, contributing about three times the revenue they did just four years ago.

The contract announcement is hot on the heels of CDC confirming that it plans to build its first data centre in Western Australia. The new campus is to be built in Maddington, about 20 kilometres from central Perth. CDC said the decision to build in Western Australia reflects the regions increasing importance for national and regional security, with its connectivity and proximity to Southeast Asia another potential benefit. The region also has an abundance of renewable energy.

Some of the technology trends that are helping differentiate CDCs data centres from other providers are shown in the slide below. CDCs data centres have been built to handle very high floor loadings, so even their oldest data centres can accommodate increasingly heavy computing technology. CDC recirculates water in a closed loop for cooling purposes, which means minimal water use, and this is helping expedite consenting for new CDC sites in areas where water supply is limited.

Slide 19  Infratil Investor Day: CDC Update

Longer tax credits for Longroad Energy

In mid-August Longroad Energy received updated regulatory guidance on when wind and solar projects qualify for tax credits in the United States. At our Sydney Investor Day, the Longroad team said they now had about 6GW of projects qualified, with scope to add more to this before July 2026. More importantly, about half of Longroad Energys current tax credits are for battery project spend, and these tax credits will continue to be available on battery investment into the 2030s.

The other positive aspect of their presentation is the soaring demand for electricity, as shown on the slide below, with approximately 40GW of new capacity being added annually over the last five years and about 80GW per year forecast from 2025 to 2045. This growth is driven by new data centres, industrial growth and electrification. Longroad Energy is targeting growth in its operating portfolio from 5.5GW in 2025 to 10GW by 2028.

Longroad has just confirmed construction of their seventh renewable energy project in Texas, which is set to deliver energy for Meta. This is a clear example of the convergence between our two growth thematics: renewable energy and digital infrastructure.

Longroad Energy CEO Paul Gaynor said, 1000 Mile is Longroads largest solar project to date and its output will advance Metas target to support its data center operations with 100% clean energy. It is estimated that the 1000 Mile project will reduce regional emissions by approximately 475,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually.

Slide 12  Infratil Investor Day: Longroad Update

Gurin Energy poised for growth

Gurin Energys CEO Assaad Razzouk was recently recognised in Singapores The Peak magazine Power List for his efforts to drive energy transition in Asia. The potential demand for renewable energy across the region is estimated at more than 250GW by 2030, reflecting population and data centre demand growth, together with government net zero targets.

Gurin Energy has already identified 8GW of mixed mid and late-stage projects in various Asian markets out to 2030, with 5.5GW owned by Gurin Energy. Presenting at Infratils Investor Day, the Gurin Energy team detailed their work to develop these solar and battery projects across the Philippines, Japan, South Korea and Singapore (see slide below). Each project requires consideration of varying local conditions as part of Gurin Energys environmental and social screening framework.

The Vanda Solar and Battery Project would be among the largest planned solar-plus-storage projects in the world and is a joint venture between Gurin Energy and Gentari International Renewables. The project has been granted an import licence from Singapore and the next key milestone is an export licence from Indonesia.

Gurin Energys involvement in Project Vanda would be transformational for the business and financial close is expected in 2026. Construction would begin in 2027 with Phase 1 expected to be operational in 2028.To date, about 90% of the necessary land has been acquired and total capex is expected to be US$2-3 billion, with US$500 million of equity required.

Slide 18  Infratil Investor Day: Gurin Energy Update

AI agent and sustainability initiatives grab global attention for One NZ

Despite the wider challenges posed by the New Zealand economy, One NZ is continuing to deliver steady performance. One NZ CEO Jason Paris said We are competing well and have good trading momentum. We are attracting and retaining high value customers through our differentiated One NZ Satellite and One Wallet propositions. Our IT modernisation programme is on track, and we continue to deploy AI across every part of our business.

The teams commitment to moving fast in trialling AI means One NZ is working together with global AI providers as a test bed for solutions. Following recent storms, for example, AI agents were monitoring the network and automatically reducing the power usage on cellsites in areas where power supply had been affected. AI is also being used to develop a customer experience score that identifies customers having network issues and how these can be resolved, all before the customer needs to contact One NZ.

One NZ is also making strong progress in sustainability, winning the Medium Company of the Year Award in the Global Sustainability Awards in September.

New wings soar at Wellington Airport

Early August saw the unveiling of a new terminal centrepiece, a 15-metre artwork sculpture representing the local bird spirit Manu Muramura, in Wellington Airport.

Wellingtons international passengers have consistently tracked ahead of 2024 levels in recent months, with August numbers up more than 5% on last year. Monthly domestic passengers have also lifted in recent months, with August numbers down just 1% from last year despite a larger reduction in capacity.

International flights are set to get a further boost with Qantas plans to add more summer capacity into Wellington, including plans to introduce one of their new A220-300 aircraft on the Brisbane route from early next year. Wellington Airport is also working to open up new routes with a Memorandum of Understanding signed with Chinas busiest airport in September. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport hosted more than 76 million passengers in 2024 and the new agreement includes a focus on developing the aviation market between the two regions.

Other recent developments

Infratil CEO Jason Boyes was interviewed by Australian stockbroking firm Bell Potter in early September. You can watch the interview on Bell Potters YouTube channel.

In September, Qscan announced the acquisition of ClinRads four clinics providing x-ray, CT and ultrasound services in Brisbane. This expands Qscans footprint to more areas with strong growth opportunities.

Auckland Radiology opened its new purpose-built flagship clinic in Remuera, Auckland, in August. With more space and advanced diagnostic imaging equipment, the clinic will help improve patient outcomes and reduce delays in treatment.

A few months ago, the New Zealand Youth Choir were named Choir of the World at the prestigious Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales. Were pleased to share this video celebrating their achievement and acknowledging our support

Follow us on LinkedIn or visit our website at infratil.com for future updates and presentations. If youd like to provide us with feedback, please email info@infratil.com

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8 October 2025  Rakon Ltd (NZX: RAK ) a world leading manufacturer of precision timing and frequency control solutions, today announced a key production milestone for its cutting-edge Mercury plus(R) product line at the companys advanced manufacturing facility in Bengaluru, India.

The Mercury plus(R) product line was transferred from Rakons New Zealand facility into the Bengaluru facility earlier this year and has now completed internal testing and the initial ramp-up for volume production.

The on-schedule delivery of this milestone is important validation of the companys strategy to leverage its global footprint through product transfers that expand manufacturing capacity and efficiency, enhance resilience, drive R&D innovation and support next-gen customer programs.

Chief Executive, Sinan Altug, says the ramp-up is a key milestone in Rakons FY26-FY28 growth strategy and that the continued execution of its strategy will include further actions to capitalise on competitive advantages from its global manufacturing operations  which includes locations in New Zealand, India and France.

The Mercury plus(R) product line contains some of our high volume, cutting-edge products for telecommunications and AI & data centre applications. By successfully transferring and ramping-up this line in our new facility in India we expect to realise key benefits aligned to our 2026 Annual Operating Plan, including improved overhead structure, extended product lifecycles and competitive product costs.

This transfer reiterates our long-term commitment to expanding our integrated global manufacturing operations and leveraging this competitive advantage. We are planning to build on Rakons global manufacturing and R&D footprint, scaling progressively across our existing locations to enable further efficiencies.

The state-of-the-art 9,290m2 Bengaluru facility was inaugurated in 2023 and immediately doubled Rakons production capacity, with further capacity able to be brought online as needed thereby future-proofing operations.

Under Rakons integrated global operations strategy, its locations in New Zealand, India, France, and other global sites continue to play an expanded role in the delivery of R&D, product development and manufacturing. Diversifying production across these locations enables Rakon to realise efficiencies, maintain strategic supplier status in key markets, and lower global production risk  providing supply chain certainty for customers and additional flexibility for responding to geopolitical developments.

The increased capacity created by the Bengaluru facility also enables a key capability for Rakon to meet current and future domestic product demand in India as a strategic supplier under the Government of Indias 'Make in India' initiative.

As India's largest manufacturer and exporter of frequency control and timing products, we're encouraged by the strategic view that India has taken to support and catalyse the electronics and semiconductor industries and we continue to forge strong relationships as a local strategic supplier under the 'Make in India' initiative, says Altug.

A key example of Rakons local relationships include partnerships with leading Indian Space agency, ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation), as well as a large number of private entities in Indias Space industry where there is high interest in the companys cutting-edge GNSS receiver and Master Reference Oscillator products for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.

Rakon also continues to play an active role in the local manufacture of cutting edge wireless network technologies to support Indias 5G network and data centre infrastructure.

ENDS

About Rakon

Rakons products help people to connect, explore and innovate. They are the heartbeat for electronic systems, delivering fast, precise and stable timing in everything from mobile networks and autonomous vehicles to satellite constellations and AI data centres. Whether connecting to a 5G tower or to a rover exploring Mars, our technology is relied on to deliver the highest performance in even the most extreme conditions. Thanks to our constant drive to innovate, we continue to empower our customers to create the next-generation of life-transforming technologies. For more information visit www.rakon.com.

Rakons Indian operations and Bengaluru facility

Rakon inaugurated its state of the art research and manufacturing facility, located in the SEZ Aerospace Park, Bengaluru in June 2023. This facility is one of the world's largest and most sophisticated research and manufacturing sites for advanced frequency control and timing solutions, with a total built-up area of 9,290 square metres (or 100,000 square feet) across three levels. The building design also allows for two additional levels to be added in future.

Rakon has been operating in India for over 16 years and currently employs over 300 people at its Bengaluru facility. The new facility replaced Rakon's former leased sites in Bengaluru, and both futureproofs its India operations and affirms Rakon's long-term commitment to growing its Indian operations. The facility was designed in accordance with sustainable building practices regarding the use of water and energy and is expected to attain LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

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Six figure consultant hunt as council realise Chester St is busiest Ty Pawb entrance

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Oct 8th, 2025

Wrexham Council has finally recognised that Ty Pawbs main entrance is in the wrong place, with consultants now being commissioned to design a new and more welcoming entrance on Chester Street.

The proposed new entrance would create a sense of arrival and create an uplifting aesthetic, with the possibility of a public art commission on Chester Street.

Prior to the multi-million pound redevelopment of the Peoples Market a glass facade main entrance on Market Street was promised  and delivered  on the basis of Ty Pawb becoming the key link to future edge of town activities on the eastern side of the site. This included plans for a redevelopment of Waterworld and wider Bodhyfryd site.

Questions were raised at the time on whether the main entrance was in the right place. However consultants and council officers insisted in the original planning application that footfall would primarily come from the east  with hopes that the planned Waterworld regeneration and nearby other sites would justify the location.

But that vision never materialised.

Footfall data is given showing that the Market Street end has just 18% of the use compared to Chester Street. The Market Street entrance had a footfall of 41,540 in 2024, while the North Arcade entrance recorded a footfall of 221,244 in 2024.

Now a 160k total project tender will see a 70k feasibility study commissioned for the proposed capital development of the North Arcade entrance and its adjacent flexible space at Ty Pawb. This will be used to create a compelling case for investment with a hope that cash can be then found to make the plans a reality  within the next two years.

The tender documents state: During the initial retrofit of Ty Pawb, the Market Street entrance was designated as the main entrance and received significant architectural enhancements, including large areas of glazing and double height entrance.

However, the North Arcade, a less architecturally developed approach from Chester Street, has since become the primary point of entry with the highest footfall.

Inside the building, changes are also being proposed. The documents state: The flexible space just inside the North Arcade was designed as a baggy space to be adaptable and take on various uses.

This has proved successful with regular fairs and live music events taking place in the space.

However, as the North Arcade becomes a more prominent part of the building, with Ty Pawbs strong track record for championing play as a cultural practice, and with play as the central tenet of Wrexhams bid for UK City of Culture 2029, there is a clear opportunity to reimagine the flexible space.

The proposed concept is to transform this space into a permanent, welcoming, and inspiring destination for children and their adults.

The aesthetic and operational inspiration for the project is the Young V&A, which incorporates secure museum cases into an early years play space to display artworks and artefacts.

An iconic, ambitious, and creative vision for a permanent art and play gallery, while ensuring the space retains its flexibility for other uses such as events and pop-up markets is demanded.

With a lack of signage near to, or across town, for Ty Pawb there could be a permanent striking reminder that the centre exists via a public art commission on Chester Street.

Consultants will also be asked to evaluate the ongoing finances of any changes, to deliver thoughts on how the space could generate revenue as well as any ongoing costs. The council are asking for those costings over a 3, 5 and 10 year period, as well as impact on footfall and secondary spend over the same time period.

The council, and presumably councillors and the public, will be shown three design concepts for Chester Street changes and the public art commission, before one is taken further to be used to create the business case for future funding.

A consultation is required as part of the project delivery, to gather feedback from local residents and other stakeholders, and in 2025 may actually listen to local voices who a decade ago warned that Market Street was never a main footfall route to the markets.

Wrexham Councillors meet tomorrow to discuss the Markets in Wrexham, although this item is not on the public agenda an update will no doubt be offered to councillors.

Top pic: A piece of history  the arts hub as initially thought out by consultants.
Welsh Government set to axe Industry Wales

The Welsh Government has announced it will axe an industry body after a damning analysis from the auditor general for Wales uncovered accounting irregularities.

Economy secretary Rebecca Evans confirmed Industry Wales, which runs forums in the aerospace, technology, net zero and automotive sectors, will be dissolved next year.

The decision comes after Adrian Crompton, the auditor general, took the highly unusual step of disclaiming his opinion on Industry Wales 2023/24 accounts.

He warned of a breach of procurement rules and insufficient evidence for more than 1m in assets, including an 836,000 packing line that may have a significantly impaired value.

Writing to the Senedds public accounts committee earlier this year, the auditor general said: The impact is so significant and pervasive that I am unable to give an opinion at all.

Mr Crompton noted a potential conflict of interest, saying the owner of the company awarded the packing line contract was a former director and senior adviser to Industry Wales.

According to an audit report, the adviser was excluded from discussion of the decision.

Deplorable

The auditor generals findings were raised in the Senedd in March when former Tory group leader Andrew RT Davies described the situation as deplorable.

In response, first minister Eluned Morgan told the chamber her understanding was the packing line was part of a rapid response to the pandemic.

She said Industry Wales had implemented all the recommendations of the auditor generals report.

But her economy secretary has now confirmed the firm  which is wholly owned by ministers  will be dissolved after March 2026 following a separate, government-commissioned review.

Ms Evans accepted the reviews findings in full, concluding it is time for us to consider a different approach in a written ministerial statement on October 2.

Industry Wales  which is the trading name of Sector Development Wales Partnership Ltd  has received about 10.6m from the public purse and paid out 1.1m in directors remuneration since being set up in 2013, according to its accounts.

Ms Evans wrote: The economic and financial situation has changed so dramatically, the review concluded the status quo could not be maintained.

Going forward

She added: The Welsh Government will, at the end of the current term of government agreement, remove itself as sole guarantor for Industry Wales and dissolve the company.

Ms Evans stated the Welsh Government would work with the four industry forums to decide their future over the next six months. Options include transferring them to a new parent body, providing direct grant support or stopping funding if they are self-sufficient.

She said: These specific plans are already under way and we remain committed to receiving unfettered sectoral advice from membership organisations going forward.

I want to place on record my sincere thanks to Industry Wales, to the chair, Professor Keith Ridgway, and the forums and their respective boards and board chairs (past and present).

I am very aware of the impact that this decision will have.

We will work closely with Industry Wales, the forums and stakeholders to put in place the appropriate support, without limiting options for a future government.

By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter
Wrexham not a rotten borough says Deputy Council Leader as council gets Private Eye honour

This article is old - Published: Wednesday, Oct 8th, 2025

Wrexham Council has achieved rotten borough status, as bestowed by Private Eye.

Private Eye is a a well read long-running British satirical and investigative magazine, first published in 1961. Edited by Ian Hislop since 1986, it combines biting political humour, parody, and cartoons with serious journalism and exposes of wrongdoing in politics, business, and the media.

Known for its irreverent tone and willingness to challenge powerful figures, it occupies a unique place in the UK media landscape both as a source of laughter and as a watchdog uncovering stories other national and local outlets sometimes miss.

One of its most famous regular features is Rotten Boroughs, a column that focuses on local government scandals across the UK. The title is a nod to the corrupt parliamentary constituencies of pre-reform UK, and the column continues that spirit by exposing modern-day corruption, cronyism, incompetence, and misuse of public funds at the council level. Submissions often come from whistleblowers, councillors, or concerned residents.

Last month Wrexham made an appearance  after Wrexham Council was criticised by the Auditor General for Wales for failing to address long-standing governance issues and fractured relationships between councillors and senior officers.

The report highlighted governance failures and a lack of engagement in training among members, putting the councils decision making, governance and reputation at risk.

As Wrexham.com reported in detail at the time Audit Wales also criticised persistent low engagement with core training among councillors with just 12 of the councils 56 members attended the corporate parenting (including safeguarding) training held in 2023-24 and 12 when it was held again in 2024-25.

When Wrexham.com asked about it the Council Leader played down the report saying it was looking backwards at a time under a previous Chief Executive.

Now with a UK wide and possible international fame via Private Eye we asked at this months Media Brief session if Wrexham was a Rotten Borough.

We also pointed to common preaching in the Guildhall chamber about the reputation of Wrexham Council, and if such dubious public honours was infact an example of councillor behaviour damaging that reputation themselves.

Deputy Leader Cllr David A Bithell said, Id say no we are not.

I am aware of the Private Eye clip, and its been well documented in the press about members and officers behaviours.

Im not going to comment about members and officers behaviours, I dont think its appropriate today. Im not going to sit here and say that we dont have difficulties, because in any large organisation you do have differences of opinion. Sometimes thats healthy  and healthy debate in the council and with officers is good as long as its done in a professional manner.

Theres been a lot of work behind the scenes to improve member officers relationships, and I think were on a journey of improving them.

Has it damaged our reputation out there? I dont think so personally. The reality is, other people might share a different view, but in any multi million pound organisation, theres always difficulties.

Wrexham Council is a large organisation with a large budget, with a large staffing, and youre always going to get friction and where members and officers sometimes share a different view, and thats life, isnt it?

I dont think were any different to most of the other authorities. I recognise what Wales Audit have said but are they always right? They do an overview of the council, thats their judgement, but we might have a different view.

If you can spare 48 a year for 26 editions, subscribe to the Eye now  oddly enough one of the few print entities with a rising circulation!
Wrexham University celebrates inauguration of Professor Joe Yates as Vice-Chancellor

Wrexham University has formally inaugurated its Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joe Yates in a ceremony that brought together students, staff, community partners and civic leaders to mark the beginning of the next chapter in the institutions proud history.

Although Professor Yates joined the University in August 2024, the event officially recognised his leadership just over a year into his tenure, offering a chance to reflect on Wrexham Universitys journey so far, and outline the institutions vision in becoming a world-leading, civic university.

It also provided an opportunity to celebrate his own academic, professional and personal journey, which was particularly pertinent as Professor Yates has been featured as a case study in the Sutton Trusts new Elitist Britain 2025 report, which explores the educational backgrounds of leading figures across the world of politics, media, business, charity, sport, creative and public sectors.

During his inaugural address, Professor Yates reflected on growing up in a deprived area of Liverpool with parents and grandparents who despite having little formal education, had a deep appreciation of learning, culture and debate, which had a profound impact on him.

He shared how he began his career as a qualified social worker and Youth Justice Officer gaining 15 years of frontline experience, before transitioning into academia, where he became Head of Criminology at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) and co-founded the Centre for the Study of Crime, Criminalisation and Social Exclusion.

Before joining Wrexham University, Professor Yates also held senior leadership roles at LJMU, including Pro Vice-Chancellor for Place and Partnership and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Professional and Social Studies.

During his address, Professor Yates also outlined his research, which has focused on youth justice and policy responses to marginalised children, as well as advising national bodies such as the Home Office and the Youth Justice Board.

Turning to his motivation for joining Wrexham University, Professor Yates said: Wrexham University is part of a tradition of providing education for working people, for first generation students, and I believe thats important. I believe in universities like Wrexham because I understand the transformational impact that education can have.

I owe my own academic career to places like Wrexham, and my story and the story of my family are interwoven with them.

Professor Yates also shared his reflections following his first year at the University.

Our people here at Wrexham are a huge asset. Their levels of engagement, their resilience and their commitment, pride and alignment with the University and its mission is impressive, he said.

Its a hugely powerful base for the University to move into its next phase of development to keep growing, to keep improving and to maximise its value as an anchor institution.

Our values and ambition for the communities we serve in North Wales, and the strong commitment to social justice, inclusion and future generations is powerful.

Its clear to me after a year at Wrexham University that it has an unswerving commitment to inclusion and our community.

He went on to outline his vision to take the institution to 2030, centred around three core goals: providing an excellent student-centred experience; being an anchor and beacon university for Wales; and driving successful innovation and transformation.

Speaking about the vision, he said: Our vision and strategy is our North Star  it is our shared commitment to becoming a world-leading, modern, civic university.

Grounded in our values of excellence, inclusion, collaboration, transformation and sustainability, we will provide students with opportunities and growth, as well as strengthen our partnerships that drive skills and innovation across our region, and foster research that has real-world impact.

By embracing our Welsh language, culture and identity, and also invest in sustainable estates and digital infrastructure, we have all the components to serve our community proudly and also make an impact globally.

Dr Leigh Griffin, Chair of Wrexham Universitys Board of Governors, added: Im extremely proud that we have inaugurated Professor Yates as Vice-Chancellor of Wrexham University. This is a significant milestone in our universitys journey; its a moment that marks an incredibly exciting next chapter for us.

The Vice-Chancellor is a role of profound responsibility  to lead with vision, integrity, and compassion; to champion academic excellence; and to guide our institution through the opportunities and challenges that we face.

Wrexham University is a university that reflects the community it serves, and is hungry with ambition and constantly evolving. Professor Yates understands the civic power of the city, and his leadership truly embodies our mission to serve Wrexham and beyond.

Some of the dignitaries in attendance at the ceremony were Mayor of Wrexham, Councillor Tina Mannering; Mark Pritchard, Leader of Wrexham Council; and Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales.

Two of the Universitys Honorary Fellows were also present, including Rachel Clacher OBE, Chair of Wrexham City Board; and Lord Barry Jones, President of the Mersey Dee Alliance.
Tours at the Capitol have come to a standstill. The House is keeping its doors closed, while the Senate is stuck in a loop of failed votes on a rejected plan to reopen the government. President Donald Trump is threatening to mass fire federal workers and refuse back pay for the rest.

As the government shutdown enters a second week, there's no discernible endgame in sight.

You have to negotiate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont, argued late into the evening on the Senate floor. That's the way it works.

But no negotiations, at least publicly, are underway.

The Republicans who have majority control in Congress believe they have the upper hand politically, as they fend off Democratic demands to quickly fund health insurance subsidies as part of any plan to end the shutdown.

But so have Democrats dug in, convinced that Americans are on their side in the fight to prevent the looming health care price spikes and blaming Trump for the shutdown.

Behind the scenes, though, signs of discomfort are apparent.

A loosely formed collection of senators, Republicans and Democrats, have bantered about options for addressing the health insurance problem. One, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, has offered her own plans.

Two prominent Republicans, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri, have said something must be done to stop the health insurance rate hikes.

And Trump himself signaled he was open to negotiating with Democrats over their demands to save health care subsidies. Earlier this week, the president said that talks were already underway as he wants great health care for the people, only to shift his tone hours later to say the government must reopen first.

Trump wants to make a health care deal

I spoke to the president at length yesterday about that very thing, House Speaker Mike Johnson said about his Monday conversation with Trump. And yes, he wants to solve problems.

At its core, the debate is over the health care issue that has tangled Congress for years, and in particular, the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, that Trump tried, and failed, to repeal and replace during his first term at the White House.

Congress increased the federal subsidies that help people purchase private insurance policies on the Affordable Care Act exchanges during the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal aid was popular, and it boosted ACA enrollment to a record 24 million people. Those enhanced subsidies are set to expire at year's end.

Republicans say Congress can deal with the health insurance issue in the months ahead. Democrats are fighting to resolve the problem now, as people are receiving notices of higher policy rates for the new year.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, the Republican from South Dakota, has said there may be a path forward  once the government reopens.

We were always planning to have those discussions, said Johnson, R-La.

Doubts are high and trust is low

But Democrats argue that Republicans failed to address the expiring health care subsidies this summer when they approved Trump's signature bill into law, commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Democrats doubt that with Johnson keeping the House out of legislative session, and sending lawmakers home to work in their districts, the Republicans will quickly come back to work on resolving the health care problem.

Tens of millions of people are about to experience dramatically increased health insurance costs  how is that acceptable in the wealthiest country in the history of the world? said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.

A health care crisis is unfolding before the eyes of the American people because of the actions taken by the GOP  theyre on vacation," he said.

Missed paychecks for workers, and more failed votes

While federal employees have often missed paychecks during shutdowns, and the first pay period is coming in the next week, Trump is now threatening to do away with guaranteed back pay. It would be a stark departure from what is normal. The White House budget office, under Russ Vought, argues the law says back pay is not automatic, and Congress would need to approve it.

At the same time, Thune's strategy of trying to peel off more Democratic senators to join Republicans to advance the House-passed bill that would fund the government without a health care fix has not worked.

In fact, the parties are pulling further apart. Sen. Angus King, the independent from Maine who has voted several times with Republicans to fund the government, has said he may change his vote, joining most Democratic senators who are holding out for a better deal.

The Senate is expected to try again Wednesday to advance the House GOPs bill, but it is expected to fail again.

Each side has dug in, convinced theyre on the right side of the shutdown fight, in part because thats what their internal data shows.

Over the weekend, Senate Democrats were briefed on information suggesting their health care messaging was resonating with voters. The memo from Senate Majority PAC was circulated to House Democrats and campaigns nationwide on Tuesday, with a clear directive: hold the line.

It would be a mistake to take the pressure off Republicans, the memo says.

Republicans, meanwhile, are sticking to their own playbook. A memo from the House GOPs campaign arm urged candidates to focus on the shutdowns economic impact, including a district-level breakdown of who would be affected by a government shutdown.

Each side has framed the shutdown fight as a precursor to the 2026 midterm elections.

(Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.)
Nevada has a new state fire marshal.

Joseph Rodriguez succeeded Mike Dzyak who retired last month after working for the state for 25 years.

Rodriguez has a background in firefighting, military service and law enforcement, starting his career at age 18 as a firefighter with the BLM. He also served as a volunteer firefighter in North Washoe County.

After that, he served more than 11 years in the Nevada National Guard.

Im deeply honored to serve as Nevadas State Fire Marshal, Rodriguez said. I want to thank Director Togliatti and the Departments leadership for their trust and support. Its a privilege to lead a division so committed to fire prevention, life safety, and public service in communities across our state.

The Nevada State Fire Marshal Division is a division of the Nevada Department of Public Safety/Nevada State Police.
Ryman Healthcare reports 367 sales of occupation right agreements (ORAs) for the quarter ending 30 September 2025 (Q2 FY26), including 93 new sales and 274 resales. Reported sales figures reflect retirement village units only and exclude refundable accommodation deposits (RADs) and ORAs on aged care accommodation.

Sales volumes rose 9% compared to Q1 FY26, marking the second consecutive quarterly increase. However, volumes were down 18% on Q2 FY25, which was a record quarter for the group.

Volumes were driven by continued improvement in sales effectiveness and strong conversion rates from contracts to settlements. High-quality lead generation was supported by busy village open days, targeted price changes and incentives.

Occupancy across Rymans mature aged care centres was 95.8% in Q2 FY26, slightly down from 96.3% in Q1, impacted by seasonality through the winter months. In August, Ryman commenced the closure of its rest-home-level-only care centres at Woodcote and Margaret Stoddart in Christchurch, which no longer meet current Ryman standards without major reinvestment. This aligns with Rymans previously announced review of its aged care capacity in New Zealand. Residents are being supported to transfer to other Ryman villages, including the new 80-bed care centre at Kevin Hickman, which is now almost 50% occupied only three months after opening.

CEO Naomi James said, Its pleasing to see our sales continue to improve in a highly competitive market. Our sales teams have done an outstanding job of adapting their approach to our new standard pricing model, which has driven a significant uplift in average deferred management fee (DMF) of close to 40%. While weve seen sales improve more quickly than expected, were maintaining a clear focus on rebuilding volumes to a sustainable level amongst inconsistent housing market conditions.

Sales volumes totalled 704 in the first half of FY26, down on 827 in first half of FY25 and broadly in-line with 696 in the second half of FY25. Volumes are currently tracking ahead of the previous FY26 guidance range for 1,1001,300 ORA sales. An updated guidance range will be provided with the first half FY26 results on 27 November 2025.

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A man accused of shooting a woman to death in 2016 is now scheduled to go to trial in April 2027.
October 8, 2025: The June 13th Israeli airstrikes on Iran were followed by seven American B-2 stealth bombers using fourteen 13-ton ground-penetrating bombs to destroy the well-protected Iranian nuclear weapons facilities at Fordo, but not at Natanz or Isfahan. This caused significant damage to the Iranian nuclear weapons program and stalled the completion of a nuclear weapon by about six months. That is, unless the Americans or Israelis attack again, which they probably will.

The destruction inflicted on the Fordo program was a relief to Israel and the United States. Iran had long planned to destroy Israel with one or two nuclear weapons. That program has been delayed several times by Israeli or American airstrikes. Apparently, this policy will continue for as long as it is needed.

The United States will also continue to develop heavy bombers, an aircraft type that the Americans have been building and using since the 1930s. First came the 19-ton B-17, which was developed during the 1930s and entered service in 1938. By the end of World War II in 1945, nearly 13,000 of these aircraft had been built. During the war, B-17s dropped 43 percent of the 1.5 million tons of bombs used against German military and economic targets. B-17s continued to fly, largely in non-military roles, into the 1950s. As of 2025, four are still flying, and dozens more are intact but grounded. Serving on a B-17 crew was dangerous, and casualty rates were higher than those in the infantry.

A less successful heavy bomber was the B-24. Some 18,000 of these were built because they had a longer range and heavier bomb load and proved invaluable in the war against German submarines in the Atlantic and as a long-range patrol, bomber, and transport aircraft in the Pacific. The last active B-24, used by the Indian Air Force, was retired in 1968.

The most expensive bomber of World War II was the 60-ton B-29. Two of these dropped atomic bombs on Japan in 1945, the only aircraft, so far, to have done so. Development and production of 3,900 aircraft cost about $3 billion, which is $53 billion in 2025 dollars. An updated version, 370 of the 78-ton B-50, entered service in 1948 and was retired in 1965 after many of them served in non-combat roles.

In 1946, the 185-ton B-36 entered service. Powered by six propellers and four jet engines, only 385 were built, and they served as the primary U.S. heavy bomber until 1959.

In 1951, the 100-ton B-47 entered service. While 2,042 were built, the last of these was retired in 1977.

In 1952, the first of 742 221-ton B-52s entered service and is expected to serve until 2050 or later. A very effective and adaptable design, 76 are currently in service.

In 1960, the less successful 80-ton B-58 entered service. Only 116 were built, and it was retired in 1970 after only ten years of service. Reliability problems were the main reason, and 21 percent were lost to accidents.

In 1997, the first 170-ton B-2 entered service. This was the first stealth heavy bomber. That came at a cost, which was $2 billion each. Maintenance and operation were also very expensive. Congress would not pay for the 132 the Air Force wanted. Only 21 were built, and 19 are still operational in 2025. In the 2030s, the B-2s will gradually be replaced by the B-21.

The 81-ton B-21 is still in development, and three of the eventual 100 aircraft exist. The first flight was in November 2023. This is a much-improved B-2, designed to quickly travel to targets anywhere in the world on short notice. These B-2s recently demonstrated this in Iran. B-21s will cost at least $800 million each and over a billion before 30 or more years of service are over. It is hoped that the B-21 can eventually replace the B-2 and B-52 by 2050. Australia plans to obtain some B-21s and provide basing and maintenance capabilities for American B-21s.
ANGLO DATASET YIELDS ADDITIONAL EXPLORATION OPPORTUNITIES AT 1Moz+ PANTANILLO GOLD PROJECT, CHILE



Pantanillo Gold Project - Robust Soil Anomalies

Sydney, Oct 8, 2025 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Flagship Minerals Limited ( ASX:FLG ) is pleased to advise that its ongoing review of the recently purchased Pantanillo dataset from Anglo American Norte SpA (Anglo) continues to identify additional exploration opportunities surrounding and along trend of the +1Moz Pantanillo North deposit. Soils data pertaining to the Pantanillo North and Central prospects shows a large zone of anomalous gold essentially centred on the Pantanillo North deposit which hosts a QFE of 1.05Moz Au.



KEY POINTS



- Dataset facilitates fast-tracking conversion of current 1.05 Moz Au foreign estimate (QFE NI 43- 101) to a Mineral Resource Estimate in accordance with the JORC Code 2012.



- Soil data indicates gold anomalism is much larger than current drill coverage.



- Gold in soil anomaly approximately 5km long and up to 1.2km wide.



- Gold anomaly supported by elevated copper and molybdenum as well as other pathfinders.



- Large target areas inside anomalous zone remain undrilled or poorly tested.



- Flagship continues to collate and validate exploration datasets and supporting information for drill targeting



- Collation and validation of drillhole data almost complete for use in Mineral Resource estimate



Flagship Minerals' Managing Director, Paul Lock, commented:



"We are very pleased with the soils results, the large zone of anomalous gold essentially centred on the Pantanillo North deposit confirms our expectations that the Pantanillo Gold Project has the potential to yield handsomely around and along strike from the current 1.05Moz QFE pit shell.



"The gold in soil anomaly is materially larger than the existing drill coverage which currently defines the deposit, at ~5km long and 1.2km wide the anomaly is over 6x the length and circa 2x the width of the current pit shell.



"These results further confirm Pantanillo's credentials as a large scale gold system."



Background



The project data acquired from Anglo is extensive and is comprised of over 700 folders, containing >10,000 individual files all of which totals over 32GB of data. Preliminary review shows the data and associated files are generally in good order. Flagship has been concentrating on the drillhole data associated with the QFE in order to expedite the preparation of a JORC (2012) Mineral Resource Estimate for the project. However, other data is also being assessed. This includes soil sampling conducted by previous explorers.



The soil data across the project area contains over 1500 samples. These were mostly collected by Kinross Gold in 2006 along with some additional sampling by Orosur Mining in 2010. Most of the samples were collected in the Pantanillo North and Pantanillo Central prospects, with smaller grids at other prospects. In this report only the soils data pertaining to the Pantanillo North and Central prospects are discussed.



Commentary and Results



The soil samples were generally collected on a 100 x 100m grid. Due to the lack of a soil profile the samples were taken from surface to a depth of about 30cm. Samples were analysed by independent commercial laboratories.



Technical details of the soil sampling program are provided in Appendix 1, being JORC Table 1*.



Flagship modelled gold and other elements using Inverse distance weighting and plotted these as colour images, with hotter colours like red representing higher values grading down to aqua blue to represent low values.



The modelled gold in soils data is presented in Figure 1*, which shows are large zone of anomalous gold essentially centred on the Pantanillo North deposit which hosts a QFE of 1.05Moz Au. The surface outline of the mineralisation is also shown in Figure 1*. The data indicates the anomaly is trending approximately NW-SE which is parallel to the deposit. Two possible bounding structures north and south of the deposit are also shown in Figure 1*. There is also hint of NNW controls in the data, especially in the centre of the deposit and trending outside the mineralised outline to the north and south.



What is evident is that the size of the gold in soil anomaly is much larger than the existing drill coverage which currently defines the deposit.



Strategy and Work Plan



Flagship's strategy for Pantanillo is to define sufficient Mineral Resources that will support considerations for project development consisting of open pit mining and heap leach processing with an aim to produce 100,000oz of gold per year for at least 10 years.



Initial work is focussing on:



1. Converting and expanding the existing QFE into a Mineral Resource Estimate reported in accordance with the JORC Code (2012). This will include validating existing drill data and, as required, additional resampling of drill core, confirmatory and infill drilling and other supporting technical work. Flagship does expect to increase the Mineral Resource without immediate drilling, leveraging the newly acquired data and updated economics and previous metallurgical testwork.



2. Advancing metallurgical testwork and project studies to inform a robust techno-economic assessment.



The results of the soil sampling indicate there is exploration potential along strike at Pantanillo North and in areas to the north and south of the currently defined deposit. Additional drilling is required to fully test this potential.



This work will run in parallel with ongoing technical and permitting studies.



The Pantanillo Gold Project has significant additional exploration potential for both oxide and higher-grade sulphide mineralisation throughout the broader ~110km2 holding, see Figure 3*.



*To view tables and figures, please visit:

https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/QQ63LE2X





About Flagship Minerals Ltd





Flagship Minerals Ltd's (ASX:FLG) strategy is to secure and develop projects which it believes will position the Company as a low-cost producer of Copper and Lithium, metals that matter. Specifically, Flagship Minerals seeks to secure low capital intensity projects in low-cost jurisdictions and infrastructure rich settings, projects which are positioned for high margin outcomes, and projects which are proximal to industry, chemical processing, and manufacturing.

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Sarah Coles, head of personal finance, Hargreaves Lansdown: The latest new proposal to emerge from the Conservative Party conference is a banning of stamp duty on your main home. There have been a huge number of changes to stamp duty over the years, so it can never be ruled out, but there are serious question marks over what it might achieve, and whether its likely to happen. Having a tax bill when you buy a home doesnt make the process any easier, but its not necessarily the biggest barrier someone faces when they buy and sell. Take someone downsizing, for instance, from a 750,000 property to a 300,000 one. In England and Northern Ireland, theyd pay 5,000 in stamp duty. Its a fraction of what theyre likely to pay in estate agency fees, and sits along a huge range of costs from conveyancing to removals. It begs the question of whether removing the cost of the tax is a gamechanger. Meanwhile, a first-time buyer pays no stamp duty at all on a first property costing 300,000. For them, the enormous challenge is raising a deposit, and one of the most valuable tools at their disposal is the Lifetime ISA, offering a 25% government bonus on all contributions. Its also vital to consider the potential impact on the Treasury, where else this money might come from and what other taxes might rise. It's an interesting addition to the debate, but its only a suggestion from an opposition party, and with just under four years to an election, its highly likely that things will change between now and then. By contrast, there were no new suggestions from the conference hall on changes to stamp duty on shares, which is a needless drag on investors who support the UK market. Given that the government is said to be considering a stamp duty exemption on shares newly listed on the London Stock Exchange in the Budget, this was a missed opportunity to get in ahead of any announcement.
By Jabeer Butt OBE, Chief Executive, Race Equality Foundation



Like gender pay gap reporting, it does not assess equal pay for equal work, but instead reveals broader patterns in representation, progression, and reward. The introduction of gender pay gap reporting in the UK has led to greater transparency and action in many sectors. EPG reporting builds on this progress by extending the principle of pay transparency to race and ethnicity - helping to uncover structural inequalities, drive more inclusive employment practices, and potentially helping close the ethnicity pension savings gap too. The need for more targeted action

In preparing our response to the Government consultation on the mandatory reporting of EPG, we looked at existing practice and noted that that while some of the UKs largest private employers have taken steps toward greater transparency, progress remains uneven. Our findings provide compelling evidence that the governments proposals to make EPG reporting mandatory must go further than covering only the largest firms. Specifically, we argue that mid-sized employersthose with 50 to 249 staffmust be brought within the scope of the new regime. We reviewed EPG reporting across ten of the UKs largest private sector employers. Most - including Tesco, HSBC and Royal Mail - do publish some form of ethnicity pay data. However, the quality and granularity of this reporting vary greatly. Only four of these companies offer any disaggregated data (e.g. breaking down outcomes by specific ethnic groups), and none include staff from Gypsy, Roma or Traveller (GRT) backgrounds. Most rely on headline median and mean figures or binary comparisons between ethnic minority and white employees - an approach that is of value but also risks obscuring significant disparities between groups.

The importance of intersectionality

Crucially, very few employers provide any form of intersectional analysis, despite clear evidence that outcomes vary significantly at the intersection of race and gender. Research shows that Black and racially minoritised women experience some of the most persistent pay penalties, even in sectors where they are well represented. Without data that shows how ethnicity interacts with gender - and other characteristics such as disability or job role - organisations cannot understand the full extent of workplace inequality or design effective responses. Mandating intersectional reporting would help correct this blind spot and support more meaningful action planning.



Compulsion is key

In our view, the current voluntary approach has clearly reached its limits. Where reporting is optional, it remains patchy, inconsistent, and lacking in both context and follow-up. Moreover, even among those who do report, few set clear targets or publish concrete actions in response to their findings. This is why the inclusion of mid-sized employers is so critical. These organisationsdefined as those with 50 to 249 employeescollectively account for more than 4.1 million jobs across the private sector. They are particularly dominant in local and regional economies and in sectors where racially minoritised workers are often overrepresented. Many already have structured HR and payroll systems in place, and evidence from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) shows that a majority are already collecting some form of ethnicity data. What is often missing is the external requirement and support to report it transparently and act on the insights. We recommend that the government adopt a phased implementation approach to mandatory reporting. In year one, the requirement should apply to employers with over 250 staff. In year two, this should be extended to organisations with 100 or more employees. By year three, the threshold should include all employers with 50 or more staff. Alongside this, accessible guidance, sector-specific examples, and technical support should be provided to ensure organisations of all sizes can comply meaningfully. Without the inclusion of mid-sized firms, the proposed legislation risks leaving millions of workers outside the reach of transparency and accountability. It will also reinforce the misconception that only large companies bear responsibility for pay equity  and in turn pension equity. In reality, all employers have a role to play in dismantling structural inequalities. Ethnicity pay gap reporting can be a powerful lever for change but only if it is bold in scope, intersectional in focus, and inclusive of the employers that shape the everyday realities of the UK workforce.



Ethnicity and gender  strengths not barriers

By Shayala McRae, LCP and SPP member



Early beginnings

Born in 1967 near Earls Court to Sri Lankan parents who met at university in London, I lived here till I was five, then went to school in Colombo before returning to England to read Mathematics and Management Sciences at Kings College London in 1987 - it never once occurred to me that STEM subjects might not be for girls! My earliest experience of ethnic divergence was probably retraining myself to speak in English (aged 2) as none of the children I rushed over to talk to in London parks understood my chatter in Sinhala - the language I had been taught to speak! Subsequently, although my schooling was conducted mainly in Sinhala, I always considered English my first language. For example, I avidly read English books, but never once chose to read one for pleasure in Sinhala. Conversely through university and actuarial exams, when under stress I would always count in Sinhala! I married a South African and our son - born in London - considers himself English but recognises that he is blessed with a rich ethnic heritage that provides extra colour to his life and our experiences together. Career experiences to date

I dont feel that either my ethnicity or my gender has disadvantaged my career. For example, I interviewed for three very different organisations on graduation and was fortunate to be offered jobs at all three. After 8 years at Mercer, I joined LCP in 1999, qualifying as an actuary in 2005. The 14 years I took to qualify certainly tested my resilience! Initially working in a traditional actuarial consulting role, getting into the guts of the Finance Act 2004 showed me the delights of interrogating pensions legislation and I moved into a Pensions Research role in 2008. It was hard to gain promotion to Principal, but I feel that was due to working in a non-client facing role, not ethnicity or gender.



In fact, my gender and ethnicity has provided me with insight that has helped secure numerous opportunities. I have sat on LCPs Womens Network since its inception and was privileged to be appointed to the inaugural committee of the LCP Foundation.

For SPP, I sat on the Actuarial Committee in the early 2000s, and joined the Legislation Committee in 2016, assuming the Deputy Chair role in 2022 and taking over as Chair in September 2024. I have also sat on the Societys EDI Group virtually since its inception, taking up the Deputy Chair position this year. I wrote an article on the Ethnicity Pensions Gap last year, and the engagement I had led me to explore this area further, joining the Ethnic Minority Working Group of the Pensions Equity Group and now coordinating exciting qualitative research into the ethnicity / gender pensions gap. Hopes for the future

I am heartened to see research indicating that the pensions industry increasingly recognises the benefits that EDI brings to decision making, team skills and member experiences. However, I am conscious that while there is more recognition of the benefits of diversity, creating a truly inclusive environment is still not easy. My main hopes for the future are that: inclusion and diversity becomes second nature in recruitment and promotion in the profession, so we no longer have to consciously make EDI a priority, and can just harness the richness of thought and lived experience that diversity brings; that coming generations of pensions professionals from ethnic minority backgrounds, especially women, have more role models that look like them for inspiration; and that they know that their voices truly will be heard. This can only be to the benefit of all!




UNESCO looks poised to appoint its first ever Arab director-general, following the nomination of Egyptian academic and former minister Khaled el-Anani by the organisations executive board in Paris.

If, as expected, the general conference in Uzbekistan confirms the decision next month, the 54-year-old Egyptologist will take charge of a UN agency once again grappling with questions of political relevance and financial survival  not least after Washingtons abrupt decision to withdraw its membership and funding.

El-Anani, a former tourism and antiquities minister known for championing Egypts archaeological heritage, defeated his only rival, Congolese economist Firmin Edouard Matoko, in Mondays vote. The boards recommendation now goes to the 194-member General Conference for formal endorsement.

For Egypt and the wider Arab world, the nomination carries symbolic weight. Cairo hailed it as a historic achievement, underscoring decades of Arab frustration at never having held the top UNESCO job. Both the Arab League and African Union had endorsed El-Ananis bid.

A scholar turned minister, El-Anani rose from tour guide to professor of Egyptology, earning a PhD in France before joining government in 2016. As minister, he oversaw ambitious cultural projects, including the National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation and the restoration of Cairos Jewish Temple, part of efforts to revive Egypts tourism sector battered by unrest and pandemic lockdowns.

Should he assume office, El-Anani will inherit a complex brief. UNESCOs remit spans the safeguarding of World Heritage sites, the promotion of education and science, and programmes to combat antisemitism and hate speech. Yet it has long faced allegations of waste and political bias  grievances that fuelled the US exit during the Trump administration after the body admitted Palestine as a member in 2011.

Supporters of continued American engagement warn that Washingtons retreat cedes greater influence to China, which has quietly expanded its role within the UN system.

El-Anani, who lacks previous UN experience, insists that could be an advantage: It allows me to reform with fresh eyes, he told Egyptian media, pledging to build bridges and encourage the United States to return.

Matoko, a 40-year UNESCO veteran with experience from post-genocide Rwanda to peace efforts in El Salvador, had argued for a more technical, education-centred approach. Both men, however, promised to attract private-sector funding to offset the agencys deepening deficit.

With wars in Gaza and Ukraine exposing fresh rifts across the 80-year-old UN system, UNESCOs leadership transition comes at a time when multilateralism itself is under strain. The test for El-Anani  if confirmed  will be whether he can restore credibility and cohesion to one of the UNs oldest and most culturally visible institutions.
October 8, 2025: Russia and NATO have been engaged in an arms race since shortly after the end of World War II in 1945. To support this effort, NATO was founded in 1949 as a coalition of European nations, plus the United States and Canada, to defend Europe against a potential Russian invasion. NATO did not engage in countering an actual Russian invasion until 2022, when Ukraine was invaded by Russia. NATO became the primary source of Ukraines military and economic support, a situation that continues to the present.

These efforts to support Ukraine revealed many areas where NATO was unprepared for actual warfare, even when only supporting another nation. One of the more embarrassing problems was NATOs inability to supply Ukraine with all the artillery ammunition it needed, particularly 155mm artillery shells. Currently, the United States produces 40,000 155mm artillery shells a month, far below the planned 100,000, which wont be achieved until sometime in 2026. Meanwhile, Russia produced over two million 152mm shells in 2024, and in 2025, that number might more than double.

Russia has also received 12 million 152mm shells from North Korea. Many of these shells were old and past their use-by date. Russia didnt care, as these defects mainly affected accuracy and reliability. Most of these older shells landed in enemy territory and exploded, which for the Russians was adequate. Meanwhile, North Korea disposed of all its older munitions and replaced them with recently produced shells.

NATO has 32 members, but only the United States, Britain, Germany, and Norway produce 155mm shells. This shortage of shells did not become a major problem because the Ukrainians developed a new weapondronesthat were cheaper and more effective than artillery shells. While artillery shells remained useful in some situations, by the end of 2024, over 80 percent of casualties were caused by drones.

Russia has largely kept up with Ukraine in drone production, but now NATO countries are starting to produce drones as well. Russia received assistance from China, which has long been the largest manufacturer of commercial quadcopters and other types of commercial drones. Recently, China stopped supplying Ukraine with drone components while continuing to supply Russia with all it needed. Fortunately, Ukraine was already producing some of these components and several million drones a year. Ukraine also found other suppliers in Europe, the United States, and industrialized nations like South Korea. Additionally, Ukraine pioneered the use of long-range drones against military and economic targets deep inside Russia.

One of the many differences between NATO and Russia is that Russia is almost always in an arms race with some real or perceived military threat. For example, in 2006, when Russia was at peace, Russian defense firms received over eight billion dollars worth of orders from the Russian armed forces. About 70 percent of these orders involved weapons, with the rest for equipment, particularly electronics. The Russian defense industries had been surviving largely on export business for the previous decade. Now, with increased Russian business and growing exports, the Russians are investing in research and development to remain a world-class arms supplier.

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, so did most of the business for Russian weapons manufacturers. Most research funding dried up by the end of the 1990s. Many projects were kept barely alive rather than completely shut down. Meanwhile, work continued in the West, leaving Russian equipment over a decade behind by the time research could be revived. Russian researchers took advantage of this by adapting new commercial technologies and skipping a generation of military equipment. They were determined to catch up with American and Western European military technology. At the time, they were competitive enough to keep their main customers, India and China, satisfied.

Russian generals and defense officials have long been obsessed with creating a military that all potential enemies would fear. The mighty Red Army, the most formidable ground force ever known, born in the wake of World War I, was dying of neglect and controversy in the 1990s after the Soviet Unions demise. The Russian armed forces were rotting away due to indecision among political and military leaders. With about a million people currently in uniform, most are using weapons and equipment that, at best, were manufactured in the 1980s. The Cold War ended in 1991, when the Soviet Union dissolved.

More to the point, the Soviet Union went bankrupt, its economy distorted and starved for investment due to a 25-year arms race to nowhere. This absurd operation began when corrupt politicians made a deal with the military leadership to help overthrow the current leader, Nikita Khrushchev. The politicians essentially promised the generals and admirals a blank check, as long as the military stayed out of politics and let the politicians enjoy themselves. Everyone had a grand time until, two decades later, it became clear that diverting all the money to military spending, without replacing civilian factories or infrastructure, had left the country an economic basket case. Saner, less corrupt leadership took over, but it was too late. The Soviet Union was dissolved in 1991, and Russia, which then had about half the population of the former Soviet Union, began to rebuild its economy. During this time, the military budget was slashed by over 80 percent.

The number of combat divisions shrank from 180 to about 30. The air force stopped flying most of its aircraft, and the navy kept its ships mostly tied up at piers due to a lack of money for fuel or spare parts. Thousands of tanks, jet fighters, and ships wasted away. The cycle of brutal winters and sweltering summers destroyed delicate parts, especially those containing rubber used for tires and seals. Batteries died, and equipment ceased to function. Rodents ate cables and wires. Worse, anything portable enough to be stolen was stolen.

There was no money to buy new equipment. In the first five years of the 21st century, Russia had nearly 20,000 tanks on paper. Most were fit only for scrap. During that period, only 15 new tanks were purchased. The Russian arms industries, at least those that had not converted to civilian products or gone bankrupt and disappeared, survived by exporting weapons the Russian military could not afford to buy.

It wasnt just a lack of money to buy new weapons but also an intense debate among the military leadership about what to buy. The traditionalists wanted to maintain the century-old mass army to protect the country from a conventional invasion. On the other hand, some argued that the changed political landscape meant Russia was in more danger from terrorists, particularly Islamic terrorists. To address this, an all-volunteer force of well-trained specialists was needed. Russian generals closely followed the American experience in Afghanistan and Iraq and believed this was the way to go.

Russia was in the process of abandoning over a century of mass, conscript armies and building a new force, more aligned with what the United States and Western European nations have. This meant that, within the space of two decades, from 1991 to 2011, the largest peacetime army in history was dismantled, including scrapping over 100,000 armored vehicles and over 20,000 aircraft and helicopters. The plan was to replace this with a professional force similar to what Russia had before widespread conscription was introduced in the 19th century. Back to the future, so to speak. It didnt work out that way.
R.ELM . Tokyo: In a quieter corner of Osaka, Professor Shimon Sakaguchi has spent four decades probing one of medicines great riddles: how the body learns not to attack itself. On Monday, the 74-year-old Japanese immunologist was thrust into the global spotlight as co-winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, honoured for his discovery of regulatory T cells  the microscopic brakes that prevent the immune system from turning its fire inward.

The award, shared with American researchers Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell, recognises work that has reshaped modern immunology. Regulatory T cells, or Tregs, suppress harmful autoimmune reactions while maintaining the delicate balance that allows the body to fight infection.

Its a profound honour, Sakaguchi said from the Immunology Frontier Research Center at Osaka University. This recognition belongs as much to my colleagues and students as to me.

His research, first published in 1995, has since transformed understanding of diseases from Type 1 diabetes to cancer and transplant rejection. By manipulating the number or activity of Tregs, scientists can either stimulate immunity  to attack tumours  or dampen it to prevent rejection of transplanted organs.

Born in Shiga Prefecture, Sakaguchi graduated from Kyoto Universitys medical faculty before studying at Johns Hopkins University in the US. He becomes Japans sixth laureate in medicine, joining the ranks of stem-cell pioneer Shinya Yamanaka, who hailed his revolutionary contribution that overturned conventional wisdom.

Patient groups were equally jubilant. Kozo Iwanaga, head of the Japan IDDM Network for Type 1 diabetics, said: Families like ours hope his discovery will one day make this disease curable.

Japans scientific establishment has long celebrated humility as much as genius, and Sakaguchi embodies both. There are so many fascinating things in the world, he reflected. Pursue what you love deeply and keep going  one day, you may find yourself somewhere extraordinary.
When Russian President Vladimir Putin hosts the first-ever ArabRussian Summit in Moscow later this month, the gathering will mark a symbolic moment in the gradual reconfiguration of global alliances  and in the Arab worlds increasingly pragmatic diplomacy.

All heads of state from the Arab League and the Leagues secretary-general have been invited. Officially, the summit aims to strengthen multifaceted cooperation and mutual benefit between Russia and the Arab states, while contributing to peace and stability across the Middle East and North Africa.

Behind the formal language lies a shared search for balance: Russia seeks to break diplomatic isolation following Western sanctions over Ukraine, while Arab countries look to diversify partnerships beyond traditional Western allies.

A Calculated Strategy from Moscow

President Putins outreach reflects a methodical shift in Russias Arab policy. The Kremlins approach blends economic pragmatism and political neutrality, focusing on expanding trade, energy cooperation, and security ties  without taking sides in regional rivalries.

This posture has allowed Moscow to maintain dialogue with states that have diverging agendas, from Gulf monarchies to North African republics. Within the OPEC+ framework, Russias coordination with oil-producing Arab countries has reinforced its influence on global energy prices and offered partners a degree of policy synchronisation outside the Western orbit.

Gulf States as Pivotal Partners

In recent years, relations between Russia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have notably deepened. High-level visits from the UAE, Qatar, and Oman to Moscow, coupled with new investment agreements in energy, infrastructure, and technology, have created tangible channels of engagement.

Most Gulf states have not joined Western sanctions on Russia, giving Moscow room to sustain trade and financial links. At the same time, Gulf capitals  particularly Abu Dhabi and Doha  have acted as quiet intermediaries in aspects of the Ukraine conflict, underlining their growing role as pragmatic global actors rather than ideological allies.

For the Gulf, the summit offers an opportunity to diversify economic and defence partnerships, enhance autonomy in foreign policy, and explore new technology and energy ventures with Russian counterparts.

Recalibrating on Syria and Beyond

Moscow has also used the summits preparation phase to re-engage diplomatically with Syrias new government, signalling a readiness to revisit previous military and political arrangements. Damascuss invitation to the summit is widely seen as part of a broader Russian effort to normalise relations with regional actors and reinforce its image as a stabilising power in the post-conflict Middle East.

Beyond Syria, Russia hopes to position itself as a broker in complex regional disputes, from Libya to Lebanon. Its presence in the Arab world is shifting from primarily military to economic and political influence, seeking long-term partnerships in industrial production, defence systems, and technology transfer.

Shared Interests, Diverging Motivations

For Arab states, cooperation with Russia is largely pragmatic. Economic diversification, energy security, and infrastructure development are immediate priorities. Yet for Russia, the summit is equally about diplomatic rehabilitation  reasserting its place on the global stage after Western isolation.

Both sides share an interest in reducing dependence on Western systems  financial, logistical, and political  while avoiding open confrontation with Washington or Brussels.

The summit is also expected to produce joint positions on key Arab concerns, including Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon, as well as proposals for joint projects in renewable energy, logistics connectivity, and infrastructure investment.

Emerging Trend: The Multipolar Middle East

The Moscow summit epitomises a larger trend: the rise of multi-alignment in Middle Eastern foreign policy. Arab states are no longer content to act as passive partners in Western-led alliances. Instead, they are increasingly engaging with multiple power centres  from Washington and Brussels to Beijing and Moscow  depending on the issue at hand.

For Russia, this diversification of Arab diplomacy offers an entry point into a region still critical to global energy, trade, and security. For the Arab world, it signals a cautious but deliberate turn toward strategic autonomy in an increasingly fragmented international system.

If successful, the ArabRussian summit could mark not just a new chapter in bilateral cooperation, but a broader redefinition of Middle Eastern diplomacy  one driven less by ideology and more by converging national interests.
Bombay HC to Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra: 'Deposit Rs 60 Crore First, Then Well Consider Travel Plea' 2

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said it would consider actor Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundras plea seeking permission to travel abroad only after they deposit 60 crore  the amount involved in the cheating case registered against them.

A case was lodged against the couple at Mumbais Juhu police station on August 14, following a complaint by businessman Deepak Kothari, who alleged that Shetty and Kundra duped him of 60 crore in a loan-cum-investment deal. Kothari claimed that between 2015 and 2023, the couple persuaded him to invest in their company, Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, but diverted the funds for personal use.

The couple approached the High Court last month seeking suspension of the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against them by Mumbai Police so that they could undertake international travel for professional commitments and leisure.

A bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad, however, observed that the court could not permit leisure trips when both are accused in a serious cheating case. Their counsel argued that only one trip to Phuket was for leisure, while others were for professional reasons. The lawyer added that both have fully cooperated with the investigation and appeared before authorities when summoned.

The bench acknowledged their cooperation as the reason for their non-arrest but insisted that the plea would only be considered once the entire 60 crore is deposited. Deposit the full amount of 60 crore, then we will consider the plea, the court said, posting the matter for further hearing on October 14.

The couples petition seeks suspension of the LOC between October 2025 and January 2026.

Meanwhile, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police recently recorded Shilpa Shettys statement at her residence on October 4 during a four-hour interrogation. She reportedly told investigators that she was not involved in the day-to-day operations of Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd, which she co-founded with Kundra.

The EOW had earlier questioned Kundra and issued the LOC against both as part of its probe into the 60 crore cheating case.
UK PM Keir Starmer Arrives in Mumbai Ahead of Key Meeting with PM Modi 2

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday for his maiden visit to India as PM, ahead of his scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Starmer, accompanied by a high-level business delegation from London, was welcomed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and Governor Acharya Devvrat.

The two leaders are set to meet in Mumbai on Thursday to review progress under the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They will also attend the CEO Forum and the sixth edition of the Global Fintech Fest, where discussions are expected to focus on trade, technology, innovation, and sustainable growth.

Their meeting will include a comprehensive assessment of initiatives under the India-UK Vision 2035 roadmap, covering sectors such as defence, climate action, healthcare, education, and energy collaboration.

Starmer and Modi are also expected to discuss advancements in the proposed India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (FTA), seen as a key pillar in enhancing bilateral economic relations. The two leaders will exchange views on global and regional issues while engaging with business leaders, policymakers, and innovators shaping the future of fintech and international cooperation.
PNC Bank debuted its mobile branch in Houston in 2023. PNC Bank

PNC Banks mobile branch is now in Birmingham - a 30-foot branch on wheels meant to bring financial services to underserved neighborhoods.

And in weeks to come, it will allow people to open accounts, apply for loans, credit cards, and mortgages, and conduct the kind of face-to-face business they might at a traditional branch, according to the company.

The mobile branch will rotate among several Birmingham locations, including Bundles of Hope Diaper Bank, Alabama Goodwill Industries, The Dannon Project and Daniel Payne Legacy Village.

The companys goal is to visit several additional community locations each week.

Nick Willis, PNC regional president for Alabama, said the mobile branch is about expanding our community impact and deepening our commitment to bringing essential banking services to those who need it most.

This initiative goes beyond traditional banking, Willis said, Were meeting people where they live and work.

Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland and Houston also have mobile branches for PNC.

In other cities, PNC coordinates with community organizations to offer financial wellness initiatives, such as money management.
A teen girl was killed in a head-on crash while on her way to school in south Alabama.

The wreck happened at 7:20 a.m. Tuesday on Alabama 17, about three miles south of Chatom City Limits in Washington County.

Senior State Trooper Joshua Thompson on Wednesday said the 17-year-old was driving a Toyota Tacoma that collided head on with a Mack truck.

The teen was pronounced dead on the scene.

The driver of the truck, 73-year-old Joseph J. Harrell, was injured and taken to Choctaw County Hospital in Chatom.

Authorities have not released the victims name but she was a junior at Washington County High School.

We are deeply saddened to share that one of our students tragically lost their life on the way to school this morning, school officials said in a Facebook post. Our thoughts and prayers are with the students family and loved ones during this difficult time. We ask our community to join us in offering prayer, support, and compassion, as we grieve this loss together in the days ahead.

The crash remains under investigation by state troopers.
The cranes of Mobile's APM container terminal extend over the Mobile River, waiting for the next ship to dock. Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com

A settlement agreement has been reached in a federal copyright case pitting Alabamas port authority against a Dallas-based company developing an industrial park in Baldwin County.

Though no specifics are available, the parties have reached an agreement in principle. More details are expected to be released once the settlement is finalized sometime before November 2.

A notice of settlement in principle was filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama requesting 30 days before having the case dismissed.

The Alabama State Port Authority filed the lawsuit on July 31 and argued that Gulf Port Alabama, LLC and Dallas-based Gulf Corp. had infringed on its trademarked name, violated its copyrights, and is guilty of cybersquatting by using a similar website domain name.

The complaint centered around the use of the new Port Alabama Industrial Center as an entity that was being marketed in ways that led to confusion to the Port of Mobile, which is operated by Alabama State Port Authority.

As of Tuesday, the website in question  www.portalabama.com  was still operational. However, a copyrighted video was no longer available on the website. The lawsuit claims that a copyrighted video, without the Port Authoritys consent, was displayed on www.portalabama.com. The video had been specifically commissioned and owned by the Port Authority, the lawsuit claims.

Attorneys representing the Port Authority and Gulf Corp. and Gulf Port Alabama LLC did not return calls for comment.

The Alabama State Port Authority, considered Mobiles largest economic driver with an annual economic impact of $98.3 billion to the state, argued in its complaint that Gulf Corp. and Gulf Port Alabama had created confusion among the states customers.

The authority argued that the confusion created a mistaken perception that the Alabama State Port Authority and the Port Alabama Industrial Centers logistics park in Loxley were somehow affiliated, which they are not.

The Port of Alabama Industrial Center is a 900 acre site being constructed in three phases south of Interstate 10 along U.S. Highway 59 and U.S. Highway 90, less than a mile from Loxley Municipal Park. Construction on the parks first phase began in August 2024.

The project is also overseen by the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance. However, the alliances CEO Lee Lawson, declined to comment about the settlements impact on the project by saying that they were not participants in the lawsuit.

The Port of Mobile, where goods are imported and exported worldwide, brings in approximately $98.3 billion annually in economic value to Alabama including $415 billion since 2019, the lawsuit states.
A Birmingham man is charged in a rash of car break-ins in Vestavia Hills, Leeds and unincorported Jefferson County. (Vestavia Hills Police Department)

A Birmingham man is behind bars, accused of a spate of car break-ins in Vestavia Hills and other areas.

Savonte Deandre Bailey, 25, is charged with 11 counts of unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle, converting a pistol to a machine gun, certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm, first-degree unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, Vestavia Hills police announced Wednesday.

Bailey was booked into the Jefferson County Wednesday. His bonds total $220,000.

The alleged crimes happened last weekend in Vestavia Hills Cahaba Heights community, as well as in Leeds and unincorporated Jefferson County.

Investigators carried out a search warrant at Baileys west Birmingham home, recovering multiple stolen items including guns.

It was just really good police work on the part of our patrol officers working with our detectives and utilizing Flock (cameras) and technology and communicating with other police departments that led to the resolution of this case, said Vestavia Hills Police Chief Shane Ware.

The chief said many of the victims vehicles were unlocked.

Historically, 85 percent of our car break-ins involved unlocked cars, Ware said.

Police said locking vehicle doors and removing all valuables when parking outside can reduce the risk of theft and help keep neighborhoods safe.
Birmingham police investigate a homicide in the 100 block of Golden Crest Circle. (Carol Robinson)

No criminal charges will be filed in the Monday night shooting death of a 20-year-old man at a south Birmingham apartment complex.

The Jefferson County District Attorneys Office on Wednesday ruled the killing Willie Antwon Jones justifiable, Birmingham police announced.

The shooting happened at 10:45 p.m. in the 100 block of Golden Crest Circle.

Officers were near the area responding to a call for service when they heard multiple shots fired.

They went to the parking of an apartment building when they spotted Jones.

Jones was pronounced dead on the scene at 11:20 p.m.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald said the male shooter remained on the scene until police arrived.

There was a gathering at an apartment unit, investigators learned, when a domestic argument broke out between Jones and a woman.

The argument led to the shooter firing shots at Jones.

The shooter, Fitzgerald said, is a family member of the person who was in the argument with Jones.

The shooter cooperated with detectives.

Wednesdays ruling is the second this week deemed justified.

On Tuesday, authorities said no charges would be filed in the September shooting death of 21-year-old Quandarius Marques Boston.
WASHINGTON  The White House is asking nine major universities to sign a new agreement pledging to uphold the Trump administration's higher education priorities or risk losing preferred access to federal funds, officials confirmed this week.

The initiative, called the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, outlines requirements for universities to demonstrate alignment with administration policies in order to secure priority access to grants, contracts, and other benefits.

According to the White House, the compact was signed by May Mailman, White House domestic policy advisor; Linda McMahon, secretary of education; and Vince Haley, deputy assistant to the president for policy.

"The White House is asking nine U.S. universities to sign an agreement pledging to uphold the Trump administration's higher education priorities, or risk losing out on preferred access to federal funding," CBS News reported.

While the administration has not publicly disclosed the full list of universities asked to sign, the compact is being framed as a step to "elevate standards" in higher education. Critics, however, warn that the agreement could blur the line between political priorities and academic independence.

Federal funding is a lifeline for research universities, which receive billions annually from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Health and Human Services. The compact signals a sharper political test for universities seeking federal resources.

University leaders have not yet issued collective statements on whether they will agree to the compact, though conversations are expected in the coming weeks as details emerge.

The move comes amid a series of Trump administration actions reshaping the relationship between higher education and federal policy, including lawsuits, new rules on free speech, and threats to cut funding from institutions seen as out of step with administration priorities.

Whether the compact strengthens universities' access to funding or sparks broader resistance remains to be seen.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville is upset that the Justice Department "tapped" his phone. (They didn't.) The timing couldn't be better for Pam Bondi's Justice Department. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag

This is an opinion column.

Timing is everything.

Strangely, nine months after the Trump Administration retook control of the Justice Department, were to believe they only now discovered Special Counsel Jack Smith had subpoenaed phone records of U.S. Senators.

Seems a little late, but Sen. Tommy Tuberville is no less upset.

I would have always thought it would have been North Korea or China or Russia, not our own government, Tuberville told Steve Bannon this week, and Joe Biden was tapping the phones through the FBI of senators in this country.

Facts are important, so we should settle those first.

First, theres no evidence that Biden had anything to do with anything, as Tuberville and his auto-pen decrying colleagues have been arguing for years now, and Tuberville himself repeated this week.

Joe Biden was off somewhere in the White House walking around and somebody else was running our country, Tuberville said on Bannons show.

But the FBI gets a subpoena for his phone records and its Bidens handiwork? He could be a buffoon or an evil genius, but you have to pick one.

Second, theres no evidence  at least nothing public  that any senators phone got tapped, at least not in the sense that FBI guys or their modern digital equivalents were sitting in a van somewhere listening to Tubervilles Jan. 6 chit-chat with Donald Trump or anyone else.

Reality is that the FBI subpoenaed records of a handful of U.S. Senators whom it suspected of having important conversations with Donald Trump or those close to him that day. This would be the equivalent of the FBI looking at their phone bills. They would be able to see what numbers Tuberville talked to, when and for how long  but not what was said.

Again, this should be no surprise, as much of this has been reported before, including in Special Counsel Jack Smiths report.

Its old news. But as well see, timing is everything.

We already knew, for instance, that Rudolph Giuliani had tried to ask Tuberville to slow the process down but he left his voicemail, meant for Tuberville, on another lawmakers phone.

We already knew that Trump called Tuberville directly on Jan. 6. Tuberville has said so previously.

I dont know if youve ever talked to President Trump, Tuberville told reporters a month after the attack on the capitol. You dont get many words in, but, uh, he didnt get a chance to say a whole lot because I said Mr. President, they just took the vice president out, Ive got to go.

It should surprise no one that FBI agents investigating President Trumps efforts to overturn the election results would want to see who he spoke with that day.

And more importantly, when  something Tuberville now seems to have trouble remembering.

I had talked to President Trump as early as right after the so-called or right before the so-called insurrection, Tuberville said this week.

Before? After? During? Seems important.

But thats not the timing Im talking about.

When it comes to reliable narrators, is it any wonder the FBI would want to see Tubervilles call logs? Were talking about the same man who, earlier this year, said he didnt believe Jan. 6 protestors attacked capitol police officers because he didnt see it, either in person or in news reports after the fact.

Look, theres a good reason to be mad at Jack Smith and the U.S. Justice Department  all about timing.

Specifically, it shouldnt take four years to investigate something most of us saw on live TV. According to the documents released this week, Smith and his investigators didnt get around to subpoenaing these documents until 2023  more than a year and a half after the alleged crimes they were supposed to be investigating.

His timing couldnt be worse.

And likewise, why is it that this is coming out now  nine months after the Trump administration took control of the Justice Department?

Its almost like someone is trying to run out a clock.

That seems like a good question for Attorney General Pam Bondi, only she was on the hot seat Tuesday, answering other questions.

Like why the Epstein files arent yet public.

Or where the $50,000 in the paper bag to Trumps border czar Tom Homan wound up.

Maybe its just a coincidence that the FBI told Senators their phone records had been subpoenaed before Trumps top law enforcement official was scheduled to get grilled by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

But the timing couldnt have been better.
August Borden was airlifted to a Birmingham ICU where he was treated for a fractured skull, two broken orbital sockets and more after an incident at Deshler High School. His father still doesn't know exactly what happened to him. Jason Borden

No criminal charges will be filed in the case of August Borden, the Deshler High School teen who was seriously injured in August.

Madison County District Attorney Rob Broussard announced in a Wednesday press conference that the case was now closed.

We uncovered no evidence that would support any kind of criminal charges in this case, Broussard said. Instead, what we have here is more or less typical high school banter and some limited physical contact involved with no malice. No anger was involved among any of the students.

What we have is a freak, unfortunate accident, Broussard added.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Tim Gann said Borden and another football player were laughing and talking when they left their football workout. Thats when the player gave Borden a bear hug as they were walking. Borden coughed and made a strange sound, and the player let go of him. Borden then took a few steps and passed out.

Borden stepped on an uneven part of the concrete on a landing about 6 inches tall, Gann said. Unconscious, Borden falls full force onto the ground. His knees hit the ground and catapult the rest of his body forward and he hit the concrete.

During the press conference on the investigation into what happened to August Borden, Chief Deputy District Attorney Tim Gann points to the six-inch landing difference where Borden allegedly passed out Megan Plotka

The first thing that hits is the side of his face and the front of his face. (...) Immediately, its obvious that hes injured. He goes into a seizure and is having those symptoms consistent with a severe concussion, said Gann.

Gann said while injuries were consistent with an assault, the investigation showed that was not the case. Gann said Borden now remembers events leading up to the incident but not the event itself.

Madison County DA Rob Broussard announced no charges will be filed in the case of injured Deshler High School teen August Borden. Broussard said Borden's injuries were the result of a "tragic accident." Megan Plotka

The Madison DA conducted 17 interviews at the high school, including eight eyewitnesses and real-time text messages from the time of the event. No names of those involved, including what Broussard referred to as a subject of interest, will be released because they are juveniles.

Gann said Bordens family is disappointed they are not pursuing charges but were receptive to the information they were given.

READ MORE: Father of severely injured Deshler teen wants answers: Entire school system is now broken

In late August, Colbert County officials determined the incident involving Borden was a criminal case and, citing a conflict of interest, turned it over to the Madison County District Attorneys Office for investigation at the start of September.

Borden, 15, was airlifted from the Tuscumbia school on Aug. 19. Contrasting stories began circulating shortly after he was injured as to what happened. The school system announced that Borden suffered injuries from a fall, while other school officials told his dad, Jason, that another student had injured him.

Jason Borden demanded that the Tuscumbia Police force investigate the incident. It was eventually turned over to the Madison County District Attorney because of conflicts of interest.

The situation took the city of Tuscumbia by storm. There were numerous Facebook posts about the incident, accompanied by hundreds of comments. There was even a podcast that captured the sequence of events and Jason Bordens experience.

August Borden returned from the hospital a few days after he was flown to the Childrens Hospital in Birmingham. He still cant remember what led up to the incident.

He has been recovering from his injuries and has not returned to school yet.

This story is breaking and will be updated with more information.
Mobile Latin Fest showcases the food, music and cultural traditions of a range of Latin nations. (Courtesy of HABAGC) Hispanic American Business Association of the Gulf Coast

Organizers of Mobiles annual Latin Fest are urging the public to show up in support of the Hispanic community this weekend, as backlash continues over a Halloween display outside the Mobile County sheriffs home that critics say mocks immigrants.

The event, scheduled for Saturday from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Mardi Gras Park, comes at a time of heightened tension following national headlines over the display and growing concerns about federal immigration enforcement across coastal Alabama.

Grace Resendez McCaffery, owner of Latino Media Gulf Coast in Pensacola, said she hopes the festival can offer both celebration and education at a time when Hispanic residents are feeling vulnerable.

I think its proof Mobile can move forward and stay strong in their commitment to provide this event and this cultural exchange but also strengthen Mobile by giving them this opportunity to learn more about who we are, said McCaffery, who sponsored a similar event in Pensacola earlier this year.

She said a lack of understanding about Latino communities continues to fuel fear and hostility.

Much like what were seeing with the Bad Bunny performance at the Super Bowl, people dont realize Puerto Ricans are American citizens by birth, McCaffery said. That is the kind of education people seem to lack.

McCaffery said she is concerned that criticism of the sheriffs Halloween decorations and the national spotlight on immigration enforcement may discourage people from attending Latin Fest, which features music, dancing, food, and more.

There were questions in Pensacola on whether it would be safe, she said. It turned out to be one of the most festive community events weve had all year in Pensacola.

The Hispanic American Business Association of the Gulf Coast, one of the events sponsors, issued a statement Wednesday emphasizing its mission of building bridges, promoting understanding, and creating opportunities that uplift all residents.

This weekends Mobile Latin Fest is a wonderful example of that commitment, said Silvia Lessa Skultety, the associations president. Its a vibrant celebration that highlights the rich and diverse Latin cultures that contribute to Mobiles strength and spirit, through food, music, dance, and community.

Controversial display

Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch talks to the media about the shooting of a 2-year-old child in Prichard during a news conference on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at his office in Mobile, Ala. John Sharp

The arrival of Latin Fest comes as Mobile finds itself in the center of a cultural controversy. Outside Mobile County Sheriff Pau Burchs home, a Halloween scene features three skeletons wearing shirts marked ICE, representing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, chasing two other skeletons wearing ponchos and sombreros.

Michelle Burch, the sheriffs wife, said in a written statement Tuesday that she alone created the display and that it was meant to be tongue-in-cheek. She said the display was inspired by her Cuban heritage and her views on the need for changes in federal immigration policy.

The Mobile County Sheriffs Office has not commented on the display and directed all inquiries to Michelle Burchs statement.

McCaffery said the lack of a direct response from Sheriff Burch raises concerns.

It definitely raises concerns about the safety of our immigrants and specifically the Hispanic community, and more specifically our Mexican community  that is what is depicted in the display, she said. To be honest with you, I understand the wife is taking credit on this, its the sheriffs home. If this is the way he allows his home to be run, I question if this is how he allows his department to be run.

McCaffery said some residents have told her they are limiting how often they leave their homes.

People are minimizing the amount of time they are out, whether its to go to work or shop or whatever it is  taking your kid to school, she said. Ive run into folks who just said they didnt go out because they were afraid to risk the possibility of results like the ones people express online, those who spread fear and hateful comments and intimidate some people.

She said the display also undermines unity within the Hispanic community.

For the majority of us, we are strong and supporting each other even among (different) nationalities. People dont realize this, but there are more than 20 countries that share Latino heritage, including American born Latinos because we often share multiple nationalities, McCaffery said. Thats why its disappointing the sheriffs wife shared her Cuban heritage in her message because that actually creates division among the Hispanic community.

Reaction

Online reactions to the display have been polarized. Some commenters dismissed criticism as overly sensitive or snowflake behavior. Others argued that the sheriffs association with the display reflects deeper issues, including perceived bigotry and alignment with a broader national crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

McCaffery said there is also an economic concern.

Imagine if you were planning a trip to Mobile and were a Spanish speaker, she said. You would think twice about going to a place where you feel unsafe. A sheriff can define whether you will be protected. Thats the question it raises.

Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpsons office declined to comment on the display. Mobile County Commissioners Randall Dueitt and Merceria Ludgood declined to comment while Commissioner Connie Hudson was unavailable to comment.

Economic concerns related to immigration policy are not new in Alabama. In 2011, state lawmakers passed the Beason-Hammon Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act, known as HB 56, which at the time was considered the nations most restrictive state-level immigration law. It gave law enforcement broad authority to detain people suspected of being in the country illegally.

A study by University of Alabama economist Samuel Addy projected the law could result in as many as 140,000 job losses in agriculture, food service, construction and hospitality. The report warned that immigrant labor shortages and the chilling effect on consumer spending could cause significant economic harm across the state.

If (Latinos) are too afraid to go to work, it affects business and revenue, McCaffery said. It does have an impact on the economy in small and large ways.
Arthur Reynolds, 64, is charged with capital murder in the Oct. 7, 2025, shooting death of his son-in-law in Etowah County. (Etowah County Jail)

A south Alabama man is behind bars in the shooting death of his son-in-law in Etowah County.

Arthur Reynolds, 64, of Foley, is charged with capital murder.

The investigation began when Attalla police were dispatched at 10:12 a.m. Tuesday to a report of a shooting at the intersection of Burke Avenue and Osborne Street.

Officers arrived and encountered Reynolds, quickly taking him into custody.

Police then found 40-year-old David Loyd Smothers, of Attalla, dead in a nearby vehicle. He had been shot.

Police said the motive has not yet been uncovered.

Reynolds is being held without bond in the Etowah County Jail.

The Etowah County District Attorneys Office and the Jacksonville State University Center for Applied Forensics are assisting in the investigation.

Our hearts and prayers go out to the families that are involved in this terrible incident, police officials said in a statement.
Data center development is a growing industry, including in Alabama. But opponents are loud in this community. (Hannah Denham / AL.com) Hannah Denham / AL.com

An Alabama community facing pushback from residents over a proposed data center has just made the path easier for other future data center projects.

The Bessemer City Council voted Tuesday night in favor of allowing data center projects generally to develop on land zoned for industrial use.

All six of the seven city council members present on Tuesday night voted in favor of amending the zoning ordinance. This comes after Bessemers planning and zoning commission recommended the change to the city council.

All were doing is adding the data center to the zoning ordinance in place, said Bessemer City Council President Donna Thigpen. This is not to do with that particular property. It has been suggested that theres other properties that might be more suitable or more favorable. But to do that, even in another place, this would have to be added.

The change wasnt specifically for Project Marvel, a proposed $14 billion data center campus that could be slated for 700 acres of timber land in a rural part of Bessemer. But its been the focus in Bessemer this year as residents have pushed back against the development, citing environmental and noise concerns.

Some of the residents who spoke against the zoning change said they were concerned about the size of a hyperscale data center such as the one proposed for Project Marvel.

Ron Morgan, whose property sits next to the 700-acre site slated for a potential data center, has spoken out in nearly every city hearing about data centers this year. Hes firmly against the development, though he said he feels like the city council doesnt care about his voice because his property technically is in unincorporated Jefferson County, rather than within Bessemer city lines.

Theyre myopic. They dont want to listen to anybody, Morgan said, adding that he was unsurprised the zoning change sailed through. Theyre going to do exactly what they want to do, regardless of the results, regardless of the consequences. All they see is money.

The city council also set the next hearing for more public comment and consideration for Project Marvel for Nov. 18 at 9 a.m.

The city also clearly stated that it remains united in its support for the project in a Facebook post on Monday ahead of an official vote.

The Bessemer City Council has reaffirmed its full support for the proposed data center project, recognizing its tremendous potential to benefit the City of Bessemer, its citizens, and the State of Alabama as a whole, the post reads. City leaders believe the project will bring significant economic impact, strengthen infrastructure, and create opportunities that align with Bessemers long-term growth and development goals.
A dozen communities throughout the state of Alabama are joining a nationwide protest effort on Oct. 18 in response to several recent actions from President Donald Trumps administration.

The event has been dubbed No Kings: Reclaiming Democracy, Rejecting Authoritarianism and is part of the larger Indivisible movement.

Donald Trumps policies have demonstrated the dangers of authoritarian leadership, reads the No Kings website.

Through executive overreach, the dismantling of democratic institutions, and the installation of unelected billionaires into positions of power, we have witnessed a direct assault on democracy.

This event follows Trump sending the National Guard into several major cities over the past few months and the presidents ongoing mass deportation efforts, which are on track to deport 600,000 people before the end of 2025, The New York Post reports.

The No Kings movement stands against the glorification of authoritarian displays and the erosion of democratic values, the site reads.

We believe that power resides with the people, not with a singular authority.

This day of action is about promoting unity and encouraging citizens from all backgrounds to stand together against threats to democracy, it continues.

Organizers have announced over 2,000 coordinated events across all 50 states, and No Kings expects the event to bring in more protestors than its previous day of action in June, when more than 5 million Americans protested, The Economic Times reports.

So far, the cities of Birmingham, Mobile, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa, Huntsville, Dothan, Athens, Guntersville, Oxford, Dadeville, Florence, and members of Baldwin County have scheduled protests in Alabama.

The No Kings event is a nationwide call to action, said Angelica McCain of the Alabama 50501 movement in a press release.

We will not stay silent as our government abuses its power, profits off policy decisions, and ignores constitutional rights and laws.

The event is peaceful, nonviolent, and open to all ages and communities, according to the release.

Those interested in RSVPing for a No Kings protest near them have been encouraged to visit the sites map to sign up.
President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) AP

President Donald Trump on Wednesday morning went to to social media to demand that Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson be jailed, claiming the elected officials were impeding ICE operations in the nations third-largest city.

Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice [sic] officers, Trump posted to his Truth Social account. Governor Pritzker also!

Trumps post is the latest example of his brazen calls for his opponents to be prosecuted or locked up a break from longtime norms as the Justice Department traditionally has strived to maintain its independence from the White House, the Associated Press reported.

Pritzker responded on social media.

I will not back down. Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power. What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism? the governor tweeted.

Johnson shared a similar sentiment.

This is not the first time Trump has tried to have a Black man unjustly arrested, the mayor tweeted. Im not going anywhere.

National Guard troops from Texas are positioned outside Chicago despite a lawsuit by the state and city to block the deployment.

The troops mission is not clear but the Trump administration has undertaken an aggressive immigration enforcement operation in Chicago.

Trump has called Chicago a hell hole of crime, even though police statistics show significant drops in most crimes, including homicides. Protesters have skirmished with agents outside a detention center in the in the village of Broadview, outside Chicago.

A woman in Chicago was shot by a Border Patrol agent over the weekend after she and a man were accused of using their vehicles to strike and then box in the agents vehicle. The agent then exited his car and fired five shots at Marimar Martinez, 30.

Martinez and Anthony Ruiz, 21, are charged with forcibly assaulting a federal officer and were ordered to be released Monday pending trial. Martinezs lawyer, Christopher Parente, claimed body camera footage contradicts the federal governments narrative of her actions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, file photo, President Donald Trump talks with reporters after receiving a briefing on Hurricane Dorian in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington. A new 46-person federal scientific integrity task force with members from dozens of government agencies will meet for the first time Friday, May 14, 2021. During Sharpiegate, NOAA reprimanded some meteorologists for tweeting that Alabama was not threatened by the hurricane, contradicting the president, who said Alabama was in danger. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) AP

A figure in the Sharpiegate controversy during the first Trump Administration is now the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Neil Jacobs, who was tapped for the post in February, was confirmed by the Senate Tuesday evening in a bloc of nominees, 51-46, according to The New York Times.

Jacobs was the acting director of the agency from February 2019 through the end of Trumps first term.

During that time, President Donald Trump used a Sharpie marker to alter an official National Hurricane Center map to suggest that Hurricane Dorian would hit Alabama and parts of Florida outside its predicted path.

Jacobs was found to have violated NOAAs code of ethics during an investigation, which determined he had bowed to political pressure in releasing a statement criticizing Alabama forecasters, after they stated on social media that Dorian was not expected to impact the state.

Jacobs later told a conference of scientists that weather should not be a partisan issue. During a July confirmation hearing this year, he told senators he would not handle such a situation the same way again.

Among other duties, NOAA conducts monitoring and forecasting Earths climate and weather, and managing and conserving fisheries.

Jacobs this year also told senators he stands by administration proposals to dismantle NOAAs climate science apparatus, though he personally feels human activity is in some ways contributing to warming over the planet.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., believes that anyone practicing sharia law in the U.S. should be deported immediately.

Tuberville made the comments Wednesday during a 13-minute speech on the Senate floor alongside a poster that says, BAN SHARIA LAW.

Radical Islamists would like to see every freedom-loving American DEAD.



This isnt politically correct to say, but its true.



If you live in America and practice Sharia Law, you should be DEPORTED IMMEDIATELY. pic.twitter.com/x2DFHg8KEG  Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) October 8, 2025

Throughout the speech Tuberville mentioned that radical Islamic extremists were a threat to America and even stated that these extremists want every single freedom loving American dead, bottom line.

They have proven over and over again that theyre willing to do whatever it takes to kill just one American citizen, whatever it takes and it isnt just happening overseas, Tuberville said. It has been allowed to fester and is alive and well in our very own country, just waiting for the right opportunity to attack.

Throughout the years many conservative politicians have invoked the prospect of sharia law taking over America as an Islamophobic and anti-Muslim trope.

In a statement to AL.com, Deputy Director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Edward Ahmed Mitchell, said that Tubervilles remarks were dangerous hatred against American Muslims and he could learn about Islam if he took up a months-old offer to visit a Birmingham mosque.

If Senator Tuberville ever takes up the communitys offer to visit an Alabama mosque, he will learn that Alabama Muslims are following shariawhich means the way to waterwhen they pray five times a day, fast in Ramadan, give in charity, and follow the laws of the land in which they live, Mitchell said.

Senator Tuberville will also learn that American Muslims have consistently opposed all forms of unjust violence, from terrorist attacks by Al-Qaeda and ISIS, to the genocide perpetrated by Israeli government in Gaza. This is called moral consistency, and Senator Tuberville should try it.

CAIR invited Tuberville to a mosque in June after he said that people attempting to come to Alabama from blue states were not welcome if they brought a, communist, Islamic atmosphere.

Tuberville also claimed that three prominent Muslim Democratic politicians, Zohran Mamdani, Illhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, were supporters of Hamas.

Each of them have been targets of Islamophobic right-wing attacks as Omar most recently was equated to being a Muslim terrorist by fellow congressman Rep. Randy Fine, R-FL.

None of these politicians have ever stated support for Hamas rather they have continuously condemned Israel as an apartheid state committing what the United Nations has found to be a genocide.

According to a report by CAIR earlier this year, instances of anti-Muslim and Islamophobic discrimination were at an all time high since the organization began tracking the data in 1996.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) speaks as President Donald Trump looks on in the Oval Office at the White House on September 2, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Getty Images

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala, said he wants to go after the people that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection, including former President Joe Biden special counsel Jack Smith.

Tuberville made the comments Tuesday during an appearance on The Will Cain Show after Cain asked the senator how he felt about the Department of Justice and FBI surveilling his communications under the Biden administration.

The question was prompted after Republican lawmakers on Monday announced that the FBI obtained nine GOP lawmakers phone records, including Tubervilles, in 2023 as part of Smiths January 6 investigation.

If you go back and look at it, theres been a pattern of people being attacked on the Republican side, its wrong, Tuberville said.

It needs to quit happening. And people need to be fired over it. Not just these FBI agents, but lets go after Jack Smith. Lets go after the people that pulled the trigger to go after a sitting president of the United States, Donald Trump.

Posting a clip of the interview, Tuberville said: Jack Smith spied on the phones of EIGHT U.S. Senators. He needs to go to jail for this.

The records were obtained through a legal grand jury subpoena and consisted of metadata associated with phone calls like the dates and times.

But conservative lawmakers claim this is evidence of Biden politically weaponizing state agencies to go after conservatives.

Tuberville was also asked about the 2020 Census after Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind, released a letter calling for an investigation into the census alleging that errors may have, improperly shifted congressional representation and Electoral College votes to Democrats and illegal aliens.

Well, its all game plan Will the Democrats were letting illegals come in for a different count, Tuberville said. They obviously had a census going that was all rigged. The 2020 election basically was rigged.

Tuberville was one of the Republican senators that refused to certify the 2020 election results for Arizona and Pennsylvania.
In the district of Baran in the Indian state of Rajasthan, about 200 km south of capital city Jaipur, lies a prominent impact crater. The crater is located within an extensive flat terrain of Neoproterozoic sandstone in the western end of the Vindhya range. The crater is about 4 km across with a rim some 250 meter high. Because of its elevation and the surrounding flat plain, the crater can be spotted from a distance as far as 50 km. The crater acquired its name from the village of Ramgarh that lies outside the crater rim. At this location, the rim is breached by the Parvati river which flows into the crater interior to form a small wetland and a lake.

Aside from its extra-terrestrial origin, the crater is famous for the 10th century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, which is located near the centre of the crater.



The Ramgarh Crater as seen from an aeroplane flying at around 9000 feet. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

The Ramgarh crater was first visited by geologist Frederick Richard Mallet of Geological Survey of India. Rai Bahadur Kishan Singh Rawat (18501921), a colonial era Indian explorer and cartographer, was first to map it. It was A.R. Crawford, a geophysicist from the Australian National University at Canberra, who first suggested that the crater might be an impact crater. Crawford visited the crater in 1970 and found brecciated rock that had formed without any specific indication of faulting. He also found shatter coned colluvium in the middle of the cratera clear evidence of meteorite impact.

Located almost at the centre of the crater is the Bhand Devra Temple, a stunning 10th-century structure dedicated to Lord Shiva. Commissioned by Raja Malaya Verma of the Nag dynasty, the temple was constructed to commemorate his victories and devotion to Shiva. Later, in 1162 AD, it was renovated by Raja Trisna Verma of the Med dynasty.

The temples design features an audience hall (mandapa), a vestibule, and a sanctum crowned by a magnificent spire. Intricate carvings on its eight pillars showcase gods, goddesses, apsaras, and features Khajuraho-style erotic sculptures.

The temple complex comprises two other temples dedicated to the Mother Goddesses, namely Kisnai and Annapurna. One of the prominent features of this site is the grand fair that takes place annually on Kartik Purnima day.



The Bhand Devra Temple



The crater rim as seen from the distance. Credit: Ranthambhore Tale's



Inside the crater. Credit: Ranthambhore Tale's



Wetlands inside the crater. Credit: Ranthambhore Tale's

References:

# The Curious Ring Structure Of Ramgarh In Vindhyans 0f Rajasthan, Geological Survey of India

# Possible Impact Structure in India, Nature